Cover

1 9 8 1 (UK)
6 x 60 minute episodes

This Tuesday night drama series from Thames Television concerned the devious and sometimes bizarre activities of an obscure Department of State which vetted spies.

Most of the series took place in the offices of TSTS, a small firm in the City of London, which specialised in the selection of top executives for top jobs in industry and commerce.

At least, that was their cover story. In fact, the real job of TSTS was the testing, assessment and selection of spies and undercover agents of all kinds to work for the British Government’s intelligence services.

There was only a small staff at TSTS – six in all – and they had plenty of work on their hands.

Not that the Government needed so many agents, but the turnover rate was high. Once an agent’s cover was blown, he was useless. And, of course, it was a dangerous game: the agents tended to get killed.

The percentage of failures was also considerable. TSTS wouldn’t recommend anyone who was not a thoroughly competent liar and deceiver.

The department head, Cragoe, was played by Royal Shakespeare Company heavyweight Alan Howard, with Clive Arrindell as ace spy-tester Wigglesworth and Sandra Dickinson (the dumb blonde from the St Bruno advert) as Zelda.

Wigglesworth
Clive Arrindell
Cragoe
Alan Howard
Zelda
Sandra Dickinson
Susan
Sarah Porter
Herbert
Nicholas Jones
Stocker
Malcolm Terris

Episodes

Six Little Mice Sat Down To Spin | Pussy Passed by and She Peeped In | What Are You Doing, My Little Men? | Weaving Coats for Gentlemen | Shall I Come in and Cut Off Your Threads? | No, No, Mistress Pussy, You’d Bite Off Our Heads