05. Smiley goes to meet Jim Prideaux who is now back in Britain having survived his experience in Czechoslovakia. His testimony and that of others sheds new light on the "Testify" fiasco and source "Merlin". Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy is a 1979 seven-part drama spy mini-series, directed by John Irvin. Jonathan Powell produced this adaptation of John le Carré's novel Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (1974). The mini-series, which stars Alec Guinness, Michael Jayston, Ian Richardson, Anthony Bate, Ian Bannen, Hywel Bennett, George Sewell, Beryl Reid, Susan Kodicek, Terence Rigby, Alexander Knox, Michael Aldridge and Patrick Stewart was shown in the United Kingdom from 10 September to 22 October 1979 and in the United States beginning on 29 September 1980.