The le Carré Cast - A podcast on John le Carré novels

This episode we discuss John le Carré’s 1979 novel Smiley’s People with guest Charles Beaumont, a former undercover MI6 operative and author of A Spy Alone and A Spy at War. Beaumont describes first discovering le Carré at university through The Honorable Schoolboy and argues the Cold War novels still illuminate modern Russia’s state cruelty […]

This episode I’m joined by author David Goodman, author of A Reluctant Spy and the new sequel Solitary Agents. We talk about reading John le Carré as a kind of travelogue and why place matters so much in spy fiction. David shares how his dissertation on spy novels was a stepping stone to writing espionage […]

This episode I welcome back author and Bond expert Jeremy Duns to tackle the “le Carré or Fleming?” debate from a different angle: what they thought of each other. We talk generational differences (Fleming shaped by WWII, le Carré by Cold War service.) We read an Allen Dulles interview where Fleming praises The Spy Who […]

This episode we have another episode of le Carré Cast Reads, where we look at a book that I think fellow le Carré fans will enjoy. This time it’s the nonfiction memoir My Family and Other Spies. I’m joined by it’s author Alistair Wood. Alistair grew up living in the Service’s training camp and his […]

This episode we are back with author James Wolff to continue to discuss John le Carré’s novel The Naïve and Sentimental Lover. We talk more about these characters, James Kennaway’s Some Gorgeous Accident, and the reality of marriage vs reality. What song by a well known band is based on the novel? What did le […]

This episode I’m pleased to have returning guest, author James Wolff to the show. We discuss John le Carré’s novel The Naïve and Sentimental Lover. If you’ve never read the novel and aren’t really interested in doing so, this is the show for you! We talk about the strange love triangle at the heart of […]

This episode I welcome podcaster Matt Gourley to the show for a wide ranging conversation about all things George Smiley. We talk about Matt’s work podcasting on James Bond, how he started reading le Carré, and the difference between Bond and Smiley. We make an attempt to cast Tinker, Tailor using only former James Bond […]

This week had some sad news as we learned that Len Deighton passed away at the age of 97. He’s a huge part of how we think of modern espionage fiction and many of his works will stand the test of time. This seemed like a good moment to remember a singular moment in spy […]

In this episode, I speak with author Dave Hutchinson about his science fiction writing, how that’s overlapped with espionage and his favorite le Carré novel. We talk about his book series set in a near future Europe that has splintered into tiny nation states, his latest novel The Essence which returns to the spy world […]

In this episode, I talk with drinks writer Henry Jeffreys about how John le Carré used various alcoholic beverages in his work. We talk about Henry’s interactions with le Carré while he working in publishing, le Carré’s legacy and what goes into the drink called a White Lady. In addition, we explore different types of […]

In this episode, I talk with the writer of the new comic book miniseries The Circus: Losing Control set in the world of John le Carré. We talk about Matt’s fascination with spies, his research for the comic and how he got the Circus out of Vauxhall Cross and back where it belongs. In addition, […]

In this episode, I talk with Clay about the season finale of THE NIGHT MANAGER season 2. We talk about Roper and Roxy, blue cars and that finale episode body count. Plus, what could happen in season 3? Finally, is this – The Night Manager, or how I learned to stop worrying and love (?) […]

In this episode, I talk with returning le Carré Cast guest Mark Meynell about the fifth episode of THE NIGHT MANAGER season 2. We talk about that showdown between Pine and Roper, Teddy’s reversal and where things might go in that final episode of the season. Plus, did Roxy just swipe right on Roper? Finally, […]

In this episode, I talk with returning le Carré Cast MVP Matthew Bradford about the fourth episode of THE NIGHT MANAGER season 2. We talk about how things got supercharged with this episode. Roper returns! Columbian Motorcycles! David Farr’s Dreams! Plus, those Columbian locations, Hugh Laurie’s birthday and ALL CAPS EMAILS! Finally, this episode changes […]

In this episode, I return with more of my favorite moments from episodes this past year. I hope you enjoy it. Thanks for a great 2025 and have a wonderful 2026! Nick Harkaway Federico Varese Michael Idov Matthew Bradford Tiffany Babb Clay Major Steven Ritterman Jeff’s site – SpyWrite.com Jeff’s twitter – @spywrite Listen on […]

In this episode, I talk with Clay about the third episode of THE NIGHT MANAGER season 2. We talk about the throple action, wearing business attire on covert missions, and why you should always make sure to keep at least 20 million dollars in your bank account. Plus, that shocking episode ending reveal!! Finally, where […]

In this episode, I picked some of my favorite moments from episodes this past year. I hope you enjoy it. We’ll be back soon with part 2! Ben H. Winters Mark Meynell Keir Graff Scott O’Connor Tod Hoffman Helen Lewis Jessica Douthwaite Jeff’s site – SpyWrite.com Jeff’s twitter – @spywrite Listen on Apple Podcasts Listen […]

In this episode, I talk with Scott and Cam of the SpyHards podcast about the first two episodes of THE NIGHT MANAGER season 2. We talk about a season of THE NIGHT MANAGER that never happened due to le Carré’s view of a second season, whether we are happy how they are staking out new […]

In this episode, I talk with John Ramm, who is currently portraying George Smiley in the play The Spy Who Came in from the Cold at Soho Place. We talk about how he ended up with the role, differences between the Festival run and the run on the West End, and working with the cast. […]

In this special end of year episode, I welcome back my guests from this past year to answer two questions – Which le carre novel would you want to read again for the very first time? Why? and What le Carre novel would you most want to pick up and re read right now? Why? […]

In this episode, I welcome le Carré superfan Clay Douglass Major to the show. We talk about his trip to London to see new theater production of The Spy Who Came in from the Cold, his visit to Oxford and the le Carré exhibition and touring some of the famous Smiley sites of London. We […]

In this episode, writer and podcaster Keir Graff returns to continue discussing John le Carré’s novel The Russia House. We talk about Barley Blair, Katya and that ending. Plus differences between the movie and the book. Plus, some fun comments from le Carré himself about the book. All that and much more in this episode. […]

In this episode, writer and podcaster Keir Graff joins to discuss John le Carré’s novel The Russia House. We talk about whether book people would make good spies and le Carré’s eye for local details. We also discuss whether this book has more P.G. Wodehouse than other le Carré novels. Plus, would an editor nowadays […]

In this episode, we talk with Helen Lewis and her new book, The Genius Myth. We talk about how to think about artists with problematic pasts, the influence of wives on “geniuses” and how to create a legacy. Plus, what would a le Carré video game look like? All that and more in this episode. […]

In this episode, we welcome Federico Varese to the show. Federico is the co-curator of the new exhibition being held by the Bodelian Libraries showing off some of the materials the library has in the John le Carré archive. He also served as editor of Tradecraft: Writers on John le Carré a new collection of […]