 NEIL BURNSIDE (Roy Marsden)
Director of operations ("D-OPS") for
the British SIS (Secret Intelligence Service). Burnside is himself a former Sandbagger,
and feels there is no room for "fair play" in the war with the K.G.B. He
therefore seems to have no qualms about lying to underlings, equals or superiors to
achieve his ends, and frequently mounts operations without official approval. He also
seems callous, brutal, and emotionless, but on closer evaluation he can be seen to be
severely stressed by what the job has forced him to become. Mr. Marsden has had a long
career in British theater and television. He has more recently come to the notice of
American audiences for his definitive portrayals of P.D. James' Detective-Commander Adam
Dalgleish, and for a guest appearance opposite the late Jeremy Brett in an episode
("The Last Vampyre") of the Granada Sherlock Holmes series. For more on Roy
Marsden, visit http://www.geocities.com/Broadway/Alley/2595/roym.html
- a very nice page on this terrific actor, whose performance was the lynchpin of this
series.
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 WILLIE CAINE (Ray Lonnen)
"Sandbagger One"; senior officer in the Special
Section. An ex-paratrooper sergeant seconded to the SIS, Willie is better suited to a ham
sandwich and a pint of stout than caviar and a vodka martini. He hates violence and is
sometimes horrified by Burnside's ruthlessness, but is described by Burnside as the best
special agent in the world.
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 "C"/SIR
JAMES GREENLEY (Richard Vernon)
A career diplomat who nonetheless is showing a
surprising amount of sagacity as the newly appointed head of SIS. He knows when to jump in
and when to hold back. Interestingly, he signs his name in green ink, as did former
real-life "C" Mansfield-Cumming, and Ian Fleming's "M". |
 SIR GEOFFREY WELLINGHAM (Alan MacNaughtan)
As Permanent Undersecretary of State at the
FCO (Foreign and Commonwealth Office), liaison between SIS and the Government is Sir
Geoffrey's bailiwick. He also happens to be Burnside's ex-father-in-law, which can
simultaneously be a blessing and a curse to Neil. A canny, intelligence-wise official who
remains above all a career politician.
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 MATTHEW PEELE (Jerome Willis)
C's second-in command as Deputy-Chief of SIS,
Peele is "the office bugbear and tyrant who is cordially disliked by all the
staff." He's also a career officer and former head of Station whose experience would
give great weight to his opinions-except he seldom seems to have any of his own. He does,
however, show depth and backbone when you least expect it. Mr. Willis has continued to
work with Roy Marsden, playing a coroner in the Dalgleish series. |
 JEFF ROSS (Bob Sherman)Chief of London Station for CIA, Jeff Ross is a good old boy whose
friendship with Neil keeps the Special Relationship going. They're both willing to bend
the rules for each other, but Jeff often displays the classic
"cover-thy-backside" mentality and is not above pulling the occasional
"fast one" (under Company orders) at SIS' expense. |
