BBC RADIO DRAMA: THE DEFECTOR by Eric Saward

The Defector by Eric Saward was broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 1979.
Story:
Thriller: A senior East German official announces to the British his plan to defect, The message however comes via an intermediary, who is later found murdered before he could identify who the defector is. What the intermediary does say however is that the defector will bring with him the name of a double agent within the British ranks.

[@hanschristophercharles6981]

This was also a good film with Montgomery Clift. (He's seen in the photo above,) Filmed in West Germany & released in 1966. he died shortly after the film was finished.

[@patriciatwomey9850]

Montgomery Cliff was such a great actor

[@michaelellard4664]

BBC radio plays are the greatest.

[@u11851]

Not anymore.

[@gavrilopricip11]

Seward is always one of my favorites

[@josephinethorns7680]

Thank you for this brilliant radio drama. So atmospheric of the old telephones being dialled. Love these old spy dramas, Foreign Office plays and similar.

[@tyroniousyrownshoolacez2347]

You're welcome

[@stephendavies2410]

Ko

[@sheilajackson4839]

Top notch storytelling. Acting is superb. Really tight and well written story that kept me guessing. The tension builds and then another plot twist. Thank you for posting.

[@mrmkgrdy8065]

Fabulous really enjoyed this great drama and well produced,thanks for uploading 👍

[@susanotway7875]

Very enjoyable. Great acting. Well worth a listen.

[@Fanflame]

A very enjoyable listen. Thanks for uploading.

[@maryannrisser1967]

This is terrific!!! One of the best and one of my most favorite thriller-dramas. I wish so many more were similar to this in quality, nuanced and intelligent dialogue, plot tautness, etc., etc. Also, the strong cast was quite up to the challenges. If this is considered "old school," so be it! Many more of them, please … bring it on!!

[@mathonamoore123]

Hi, Ken Whitmore is brilliant too. I just watched Colder Than of Late, by him and it was superb too. Please, check it out. I'm listening to this one now, because I liked your review:) Stay safe, God bless, love from Ireland xx

[@johnclark2819]

@@mathonamoore123 .😔

[@jackdnorth]

No I’m lol L lol lol lo lol L l

[@patriciatwomey9850]

I agree 100%. Describes interdepartmental rivalries and highlights the snobbery and possible short sightedness of recruitment to services

[@richardlong364]

8.l

[@deborahjames7556]

Didn't want this to end. Loved it .

[@GillianFarmer-bk8pi]

So enjoyed the storyline and Brilliant acting, the best espionage drama play ever. 5:03

[@davidskeeterskeeter1835]

Many many heartfelt thanks 👏👏👏🇬🇧

[@royhadley686]

Thank you

[@feralbluee]

i agree with MaryAnn. couldn’t say it much better. most suspenseful drama i’ve heard in ages. the acting was superb as was the direction. thank you so much :) 🌷🕵🏻‍♂️

[@padraigsheerin5527]

More of these please: the perfect antidote to working from home!

[@lydiamarks8577]

Great listening 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 Thanks for uploading 👍

[@leilal8053]

Good radio 📻 drama. 👌👍

[@sailorsquatandhisseaman]

Outstanding performance! Thanks so much for what you do for us! ❤️☮️🙏🏽

[@scottgeorge4268]

Really terrific story, realistic performance. Thank you 👍❤

[@pragatibhushan8697]

Thank s a lot for posting

[@ferushabitus668]

This is very good. I still remember the story even though I heard this awhile back.

[@Shoshana-xh6hc]

Superb! 😃 thank you!

[@seltaeb9691]

In the 60s & 70s I listened to Radio 4 Saturday night drama which was always 90mins approx & gave you depth like a film. Now 60mins is max, why?

[@etahenry3377]

I think the assumption is that the listeners don't have the attention span these days.Bless them

[@sheilahay3370]

Loved this story, a big thank you it was not who I was and expecting to be the defector which made the story even better

[@larryparis925]

Thank you for sharing.

[@maxinejacobson4006]

Very good, thoroughly enjoyed it.

[@carmelgrace1939]

Thoroughly enjoyed this. Thank you!

[@hollygoodson6025]

I just love the Scottish man’s voice!

[@paulbennett772]

John Sampson

[@lyndamcardle4123]

Very similar accent to that of Bill Paterson.

[@patriciatwomey9850]

Especially the tongue in cheek reference to Scottish whiskey!

[@etahenry3377]

Brilliant,thanks

[@taxidude]

Dann it! I wanted it to continue!

[@carmelgrace1939]

Much enjoyed.Thank you.

[@monoecumsemper]

Great quality radio drama by Eric Saward. Does anybody know another Saward masterpiece (not sure about the title) "Venom and Dagger" ? (drama located in British India about death by snake venom, guilty conscience and revenge)

[@dreadelectric7745]

EXCELLENT!

[@miked3679]

Excellent story!

[@helenacresswell9553]

Nice to listen to

[@harryflash5202]

Good spy thriller in the tradition of le Carré

[@TVBasil]

Great upload. Thanks. I wonder if anyone else knows who Arch Stanton is. "Blondie!"

[@atheneaberdeen9926]

Good acting here. Rather like the use of the telephone to punctuate the action sequences.

[@robinsutcliffe-video_art]

Great play! I'm not sure that East Germany had an Embassy though, we don't recognise you as a country, so no Embassy for you : ) I think they had to use the Soviet Embassy

[@shantibel]

Entertaining reprise of cold war spy games.

[@debramcfadden2701]

I enjoyed that

[@aussieagle]

Very good 👏

[@tobobobo2842]

Enjoyed that.

[@coelettburgess7612]

That was good! I figured it out when Shaw went missing like everyone else I’m sure, but wow what a great escape! I didn’t suspect him for a minute. Makes you think huh? Excellent listen thanks 😊

[@9erner]

👍👍👍👍

[@JohnGleeson-cx5lg]

Its very well done but unbelievably far fetched when the section under investigation for a mole is allowed to manage negotiations for a defector

[@lindapreater840]

That was great 👍

[@robertsmuggles6871]

The car index numbers quoted suggest this is set in 1974. Very few east>west defections during this time and even fewer west>east defections. Great payoff in sowing distrust within the enemy service. Deceptive and disruptive.

[@alimasoumy3031]

Very entertaining.

[@crisstole6830]

just great

[@deegeraghty3421]

Excellent even if so dated now 'east Germany' no longer exists. Shows the stupidity of the cold war ! Thank you for these dramas.

[@CandiceBradleyPhD]

It’s not outdated. It’s history.

[@UPTHETOWN]

You think the cold war is over?

[@simonbarnes9736]

Cold war alive and kicking evening news reporting on ukraine is like being in the 70,s all over again

[@MarkFoster321789]

The Cold War has returned for the 21st century sadly.

[@henrikibjensen3869]

Now we are at war, real war. But we use technical ways to get intel, and have implemented reliable security procedures. So we miss the restaurant meetings and the good red wine. Regrettably, the ppl are still killed.

[@solophiesoterica]

Greer could still be the double agent, and he had shaw killed. Just saying.

[@davidhull1481]

Is that Montgomery Clift in the thumbnail?

[@2msvalkyrie529]

Looks like him . Not sure why he's loitering outside the Gents toilets though ? One does hear rumours of course.

[@hanschristophercharles6981]

@David Hull, yes it is him. "The Defector" was filmed and released in 1966. It was Clift's final film before he died.

[@davidhull1481]

Erm, what happened? What was the significance of the last words?

[@warrenalexander5285]

That was probably a bit dated, but excellent nonetheless

[@michealburnett6]

Hahaha Like it 😝

[@hyperionsixzeroeight5064]

audio muffled, not clear, hard to understand.

[@Beauloqs]

let me guess, American.

[@petersale148]

😅😅😅😅❤

[@alexdavies7394]

That was disappointing. The story didn't amount to anything, all rather pointless. I don't know why this upload has a picture of the film with Montgomery Clift. That bears no resemblence to this BBC radio drama, it has a completely different plot.

[@2msvalkyrie529]

Poundland version of John leCarre . As unintentional parody it works quite well. No spy thriller cliche left unused . Abysmal ....and that's putting it mildly..!

[@patriciatwomey9850]

Ah John le Carre is king

[@cuztardo1966]

👍👍👍👍