Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy Wrap Party - Moles Not Admitted!

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If we could turn the clock back 46 years to the day then we would find the cast and crew of Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy heading into a frantic final period of filming as the end of production approached. The series had been blighted by industrial action and cast illness, and the production team were playing catch up at the end of a shoot which had begun in October the previous year.

Our BBC insider, Source Merlin, has been able to provide details about those final few days of filming and also shared a remarkable piece of Tinker Tailor memorabilia which, to our knowledge, has never been published before.

On the penultimate day of production Merlin confirms filming took place at the Dover Marine/Western Docks Station, featuring Michael Jayston and Hywel Bennett. These scenes, which were originally due to have been shot in Southampton, had been postponed on several occasions and were set up in very short order. Apparently the filming information and location contact details were taken from another recently shot programme schedule and the unit was despatched to Dover on the hoof! 

We have previously confirmed that the final scenes shot for the series were those taken from Mendel's lookout in Shaftesbury Avenue on the 18th March 1979. 

All of which brings us to the 19th March 1979. Source Merlin confirms cast and crew gathered for an end of shoot party at The Island Queen in Noel Road, which they had regularly frequented during the filming of the Witchcraft safe house scenes. 

John Rundle recalls that The Island Queen was a popular location for the BBC as he went there twice while working on The Chinese Detective in 1980/81. He remembers having a meal in the restaurant which at the time was called 'Upstairs at the Island Queen'.

Merlin confirms that Sir Alec Guinness did briefly attend the end of shoot party. The unit were very fond of The Island Queen and everyone made a huge effort, despite being exhausted beyond belief. 

And for anyone who may have doubted it, we offer one proof of Merlin's existence! Merlin kept the invitation to the wrap party which is reproduced below. If you look closely you will see that it reads 'moles not admitted' in very small writing. We have no word on whether Gerald gained access!

Merlin has also confirmed that a long rumoured Christmas party did take place at Clarebell House in Cork Street in December 1978. Sadly, we can't confirm the exact date. Merlin does recall that Graeme McDonald attended that party but the camera department did not. Due to industrial action, they were not working overtime and returned to Television Film Studios, Ealing before 17:30. 

My thanks to Source Merlin for sharing their invitation to the wrap party with us. If you have any information about the filming of Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy or Smiley's People that you think would be of interest to visitors to this site feel free to drop us a line at guinnessissmiley@icloud.com

Screencaps (c) BBC 1979

Scans of the invitation to the wrap party courtesy of Source Merlin