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Traitor: Directed by Alan Bridges. With John Le Mesurier, Jack Hedley, Vincent Ball, Neil McCallum. Dishillusioned by his rich, aristocratic upbringing in Britain, top foreign office diplomat Adrian Harris became a spy for the Russians.
The episode was a television play that was originally broadcast on 14 October 1971. "Traitor" was written by Dennis Potter, directed by Alan Bridges, produced by Graeme MacDonald, and starred John Le Mesurier as Adrian Harris, a character loosely based on Kim Philby.
Western journalists visit Moscow to interview Adrian Harris (John Le Mesurier), a former controller in British intelligence who was also a Soviet agent passing on vital information, and who has now defected.
In 1971, Le Mesurier received his only award: a British Academy of Film and Television Arts "Best Television Actor" award for his lead performance in Dennis Potter 's television play Traitor; it was one of his few lead roles.
Cast: John Le Mesurier (Adrian Harris); Jack Hedley (James); Vincent Ball (Simpson); Neil Mccallum (Blake); Jon Laurimore (Thomas) Show full cast and credits. Adrian Harris, a British defector now living in Moscow, is forced to confront his past when interviewed by a group of hostile Western journalists. Show full synopsis.
John Le Mesurier ... Adrian Harris: Jack Hedley ... James: Vincent Ball ... Simpson: Neil McCallum ... Blake: Jon Laurimore ... Thomas: Lyndon Brook ... Sir Arthur Harris: Diana Fairfax ... Lady Emma: Richard Marner ... Michaelov: Terence Bayler ... Duty Clerk: John Quentin ... Craig: John Saunders ... Schoolmaster: Sean Maddox ... Little Adrian
Although preferring comedy, Le Mesurier also excelled in drama, winning a BAFTA award for Best Actor of the Year in 1971 for his performance in Dennis Potter's "Traitor (1971) (TV)". In 1977, during "Dad's Army", he had become very ill, but he recovered and continued acting until his death six years later.
