''Confessional'' is a British

espionage Espionage, spying, or intelligence gathering is the act of obtaining secret or confidential information (intelligence) from non-disclosed sources or divulging of the same without the permission of the holder of the information for a tangibl ...

thriller television miniseries starring Robert Lindsay,

Keith Carradine Keith Ian Carradine ( ; born August 8, 1949) is an American actor who has had success on stage, film, and television. He is known for his roles as Tom Frank in Robert Altman's film ''Nashville'', Wild Bill Hickok in the HBO series '' Deadwood ...

Simon Chandler Simon Chandler (born 1953) is a British film, television and theatre actor. He often plays senior establishment figures such as Members of Parliament and senior civil servants. Biography Born in 1953 and educated at Bedford School, Chandler's ...

, Robert Lang, Valentina Yakunina and

Arthur Brauss Arthur Brauss (born 24 July 1936) is a German actor, perhaps best known for his work in Sam Peckinpah's ''Cross of Iron''. Brauss was born in Augsburg, Germany. Partial filmography * '' Stop Train 349'' (1963, directed by Rolf Hädrich), as I. ...

. This series based on the 1985 spy novel of the same name by

Jack Higgins Henry "Harry" Patterson (27 July 1929 – 9 April 2022), commonly known by his pen name Jack Higgins, was a British author. He was a best-selling author of popular thrillers and espionage novels. His novel '' The Eagle Has Landed'' (1975) sol ...

and adapted for the television by James Mitchell and directed by

Gordon Flemyng Gordon William Flemyng (7 March 1934 – 12 July 1995) was a Scottish television and film director. He was also a writer and producer. He directed six theatrical features, several television films and numerous episodes of television series, some ...

, it was produced by

Granada Television ITV Granada, formerly known as Granada Television, is the ITV franchisee for the North West of England and Isle of Man. From 1956 to 1968 it broadcast to both the north west and Yorkshire but only on weekdays as ABC Weekend Television was it ...

for the

ITV ITV or iTV may refer to: ITV *Independent Television (ITV), a British television network, consisting of: ** ITV (TV network), a free-to-air national commercial television network covering the United Kingdom, the Isle of Man, and the Channel Islan ...

network and originally aired in four parts from 4 to 25 October 1989. The plot follows a rogue terrorist turned Soviet

assassin Assassination is the murder of a prominent or VIP, important person, such as a head of state, head of government, politician, world leader, member of a royal family or CEO. The murder of a celebrity, activist, or artist, though they may not ha ...

, code named Cuchulain, trying to prevent a peace agreement between the parties involved in

Northern Ireland Northern Ireland ( ga, Tuaisceart Éireann ; sco, label= Ulster-Scots, Norlin Airlann) is a part of the United Kingdom, situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, that is variously described as a country, province or region. Nort ...

Cast

* Robert Lindsay as Thomas Kelly *

as Liam Devlin *

as Fox * Robert Lang as Brigadier Charles Ferguson *Valentina Yakunina as Tanya Maslovskaya *

as General Maslovsky *

David de Keyser David de Keyser (22 August 1927 – 20 February 2021) was an English actor and narrator. Life and career Born in London in August 1927, in the mid-sixties de Keyser worked twice with the writer, actor and director Jane Arden (director), Jane A ...

as Professor Cherny *Stephen Holland as Davey *

Helen Rappaport Helen F. Rappaport (née Ware; born June 1947), is a British author and former actress. She specialises in the Victorian era and revolutionary Russia. Early life and education Rappaport was born Helen Ware in Bromley, grew up near the River Med ...

as Major Belova *

Niall Toibin Niall is a male given name of Irish origin. The original meaning of the name is unknown, but popular modern sources have suggested that it means "champion" (derived from the Old Irish word ''niadh''),. According to John Ryan, Professor of Early an ...

as Sean Gallagher *Hugo Conlon as Irish newsreader *Colum Convey as Billy *Tony Hawkins as English newsreader *Peter Majer as Levin *Michael John Paliotti as Father Michael Kelly *

Anthony Quayle Sir John Anthony Quayle (7 September 1913 – 20 October 1989) was a British actor and theatre director. He was nominated for an Oscar and a Golden Globe for his supporting role as Thomas Wolsey in the film ''Anne of the Thousand Days'' (1969). ...

as The Pope *

Catherine Rabett Catherine Rabett (born 20 July 1960), sometimes known as Katie Rabett, is a British actress. She played Cecily "Cissy" Meldrum in the BBC sitcom '' You Rang, M'Lord?'' (1988–1993). She was a member of Hot Gossip, Arlene Phillips's groundbr ...

as Jane Barclay

Episodes

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Confessional (Tv Series) 1989 British television series debuts 1989 British television series endings 1980s British drama television series ITV television dramas 1980s British television miniseries British thriller television series Television shows based on British novels Television series by ITV Studios Television shows produced by Granada Television English-language television shows Espionage television series Television shows set in England Television shows set in the Republic of Ireland British spy television series