Ashenden (TV series)

*Ashenden*
Ashenden
Genre	Drama; Espionage;
Based on	Ashenden: Or the British Agent by W. Somerset Maugham
Written by	David Pirie
Directed by	Christopher Morahan
Starring	Alex Jennings; Joss Ackland; Ian Bannen; Jason Isaacs;
Theme music composer	Stephen Oliver
Composer	Carl Davis
Country of origin	United Kingdom
Original language	English
No. of series	1
No. of episodes	4
Production
Executive producer	Michael Wearing
Producers	Joe Knatchbull; Julian Hope;
Cinematography	Chris Seager
Editor	Dave King
Running time	53 minutes
Production company	Kelso Films for BBC
Original release
Network	BBC1
Release	17 November –; 8 December 1991

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.

Cast

Alex Jennings as John Ashenden
Joss Ackland as Cumming
Ian Bannen as 'R'
Jason Isaacs as Andrew Lehman
Sarah Bullen as 'R's secretary
Fiona Mollison as Sarah
Jane Hollowood as Maid
Peter Stockbridge as Roberts
Harriet Walter as Giulia Lazzari
Alan Bennett as Grantly Caypor
René Auberjonois as John Quincy Harrington
Elizabeth McGovern as Aileen Sommerville
Alfred Molina as Carmona

Episodes

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

External links

Ashenden at IMDb