This programme starred Roy Marsden as a MI5/MI6 Officer responsible for a small section called ' The Sandbaggers' Operatives who are tasked with doing whatever dirty work is necessary. The head of the Sandbaggers section is played by Ray Lonnen. The problem is that for most of the time Lonnen is the only person in the section !! The programme is not an action adventure,. but more a saga of internal politics. Marsden, as Neil Burnside, as the advantages of marrying the bosses daughter. Although the marriage has not worked out, they are still friends and he is able to get help when necessary. An enjoyable series, well worth seeing again, if I get the chance.

I completely agree with the astute reader comments. This was a brilliant show. Good 'spy' drama without gun fights and fiery explosions. Even the British portrayal of the American agent -- slovenly, incessantly eating and talking with his mouth full, crude -- nice one Brits!I rate this English drama show right up there with I, Claudius and Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy.Just proves what the Brits and Japanese know -- riveting drama doesn't require car chases and cleavage.Thank you London and PBS!

I bought the dvd's after reading raves about this on the internet. The series keeps your attention through each well written and acted episode. It's major flaw is that unlike the best spy shows from an earlier era, the politics aren't so grey. The mistrust and disloyalties only hint at uneasy conclusions but are ultimately neatly wrapped up and one-sided. Not surprising I suppose for a series leading us into the Reagan-Thatcher years. It makes me cringe when people compare this to John LeCarre. "The Spy Who Came in From the Cold" is precisely what this is not. Though it might have been less realistic, Secret Agent was braver (and better). Still, it's worth a rental.

I can't remember how I managed to stumble across this series a good many years ago now, but somehow - and I still haven't been able to work out just how - it managed to hook me almost instantly. There is so much subterfuge, nasty, backroom dealings and internal politics going on and plain intrigue that it hardly matters that there's almost no real action in this series. Virtually everything goes on in the offices of the Sandbagger unit and there's not even very much outdoor camera work, so I suspect this series was made on an incredibly cheap budget, but the scripts are good, the plots are believable, the acting is excellent when you consider that these guys are spies who are not meant to betray too much emotion, and the tension is constant. Good British psychological drama.