Codename (TV series)
A 1970 BBC espionage series set at Cambridge University.
Codename was a BBC espionage thriller that aired for a single series of thirteen episodes in 1970. The show followed the operations of a secret organisation called MI17, which operated out of a residential hall at Cambridge University. Gerard Glaister produced the series, which starred Clifford Evans, Alexandra Bastedo, Anthony Valentine, and Brian Peck. A pilot play, featuring a different cast, preceded the series.
At the time of broadcast, the lead actors were already known from other shows: Valentine from *Callan*, Bastedo from *The Champions*, and Evans from *The Power Game*. The first episode appeared on the cover of *Radio Times*. Despite this, *Codename* failed to attract the same audience as its ITV rival *Callan*, and no further series were commissioned. No episodes survive in the BBC archive, though a recording of the pilot exists.
- producer
- Gerard Glaister
- network
- BBC
- year
- 1970
- episodes
- 13
- lead_actors
- Clifford Evans, Alexandra Bastedo, Anthony Valentine, Brian Peck
- status
- No episodes survive in the BBC archive
Lore & Background
Codename was produced by Gerard Glaister and starred Clifford Evans as Sir Iain Dalzell, Alexandra Bastedo as Diana Dalzell, Anthony Valentine as Philip West, and Brian Peck as Culliford. The leads were well known from other series when this series was originally transmitted: Valentine from Callan, Bastedo from The Champions, and Evans from The Power Game. The first episode featured on the cover of the Radio Times. The programme was preceded by a one-off pilot play, with a different cast.
Reader's Guide
Codename was a British espionage thriller series produced by the BBC in 1970, lasting for one series of thirteen episodes. It followed the activities of the secret organisation MI17, operating from a residential hall at Cambridge University. Despite featuring actors familiar from other popular series—Anthony Valentine from Callan, Alexandra Bastedo from The Champions, and Clifford Evans from The Power Game—and receiving a Radio Times cover for its first episode, the series failed to capture the public imagination. Unlike its rival Callan on ITV, no further series were made. No episodes survive in the BBC archive, though a recording of the pilot exists. Its significance lies in its status as a forgotten BBC espionage drama from the early 1970s, notable for its cast and its complete loss from the archive.
Did You Know?
- No episodes survive in the BBC archive, though there is a recording of the pilot.
- The series was preceded by a one-off pilot play with a different cast.
- The first episode featured on the cover of the Radio Times.
- The leads were well known from other series: Valentine from Callan, Bastedo from The Champions, and Evans from The Power Game.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Codename (TV series)?
Codename is a 1970 British espionage thriller produced by the BBC, consisting of a single thirteen-episode series. It centres on the covert operations of a fictional intelligence unit known as MI17.
Who are the main actors in Codename (TV series)?
The series stars Clifford Evans, Alexandra Bastedo, Anthony Valentine, and Brian Peck, all of whom were already recognised from other British television programmes such as Callan, The Champions, and The Power Game.
Where is Codename (TV series) set?
The show takes place at Cambridge University, where the secret organisation MI17 conducts its operations out of a residential hall on campus.
Do any episodes of Codename (TV series) still exist?
Unfortunately, no episodes of the series survive in the BBC archive, making it a lost television production.
Who produced Codename (TV series) and was there a pilot?
Gerard Glaister produced the series for the BBC in 1970, and a pilot episode featuring an entirely different cast was filmed before the main thirteen-episode run.
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