Ashenden is a BBC1 four part TV series based on the 1927 spy novel, Ashenden: Or the British Agent, by W. Somerset Maugham, that aired from 17 November to 8 December 1991, directed by Christopher Morahan, with Alex Jennings in the title role, Joss Ackland as Cumming, Ian Bannen as 'R' and Jason Isaacs as Andrew Lehman. Guest actors included Harriet Walter as Giulia Lazzari in the first episode, Alan Bennett as Grantly Caypor in the second, René Auberjonois as John Quincy Harrington in the third, with Elizabeth McGovern as Aileen Sommerville and Alfred Molina as Carmona, the titular character, in the final story. A framing device at the start of each episode shows progressively more of an aged Ashenden living in France in the mid-1960s, reacting adversely to a piece of music on the radio. The final episode – which gives the context to this section – closes with a return to this "future" setting.

Ashenden
Genre
Based onAshenden: Or the British Agent by W. Somerset Maugham
Written byDavid Pirie
Directed byChristopher Morahan
Starring
Theme music composerStephen Oliver
ComposerCarl Davis
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Original languageEnglish
No. of series1
No. of episodes4
Production
Executive producerMichael Wearing
Producers
  • Joe Knatchbull
  • Julian Hope
CinematographyChris Seager
EditorDave King
Running time53 minutes
Production companyKelso Films for BBC
Original release
NetworkBBC1
Release17 November (1991-11-17) –
8 December 1991 (1991-12-08)

Cast

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Episodes

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  1. The Dark Woman (17 November 1991)
  2. The Traitor (24 November 1991)
  3. Mr Harrington's Washing (1 December 1991)
  4. The Hairless Mexican (8 December 1991)
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