TV series
The amazing true story of the world's first international super spy
Reilly, Ace of Spies is a 1983 television miniseries dramatising the life of Sidney Reilly, a Russian Jew who became one of the greatest spies ever to work for the British. Among his exploits, in the early 20th-century, were the infiltration of the German General Staff in 1917 and a near-overthrow of the Bolsheviks in 1918. His reputation with women was as legendary as his genius for espionage.
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Checked Sep 4, 2026
Reilly: Ace of Spies is available to stream on Britbox, Britbox (Via Amazon Prime), and Spectrum On Demand in United States. Use the direct links below to open the provider.
Reilly, Ace of Spies is a 1983 television miniseries dramatising the life of Sidney Reilly, a Russian Jew who became one of the greatest spies ever to work for the British. Among his exploits, in the early 20th-century, were the infiltration of the German General Staff in 1917 and a near-overthrow of the Bolsheviks in 1918. His reputation with women was as legendary as his genius for espionage.
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Episode 1
1901: Professor Sydney Rosenblum is taken from a train and held under unofficial arrest in a provincial Russian village, suspected of stealing confidential oil surveys. The young wife of an elderly vicar may hold the secret to his escape.
Directed by Jim GoddardWritten by Troy Kennedy MartinGuest stars John Rhys-Davies, Sebastian Shaw, Denis Holmes, John Hart Dyke, John Monckton, Howard Lew Lewis, Vic Tablian, Michele Copsey
Episode 2
1904: Reilly is stationed in Port Arthur and forced to help the Japanese, against his better judgement, in taking the port from the Russians. As a mass evacuation gets under way, Reilly’s plans are put at risk by a soft-spoken detective.
Directed by Martin CampbellWritten by Troy Kennedy MartinGuest stars David Suchet, Derek Newark, Joris Stuyck, Paul Williamson, Alex McCrindle, Richard Rees, Richard Ireson, Richard Ridings
Episode 3
1905: A British operation to steal German ship plans is in danger of being uncovered. Zaharov wants the plans and Cummings wants a compromised agent saved, but Reilly decides on a unique approach to the problem.
Directed by Martin CampbellWritten by Troy Kennedy MartinGuest stars David Hayman, Bill Nighy, David Ryall, Joanne Whalley, Bernard Gallagher, Paul Humpoletz, Philip Bird, Renny Krupinski
Episode 4
1906: Reilly’s search for Margaret takes him to Paris, where Cummings forces him into helping secure an oil contract from an Australian who may sell to the Rothschilds. An unexpected turn of events reunites Reilly with his sister.
Directed by Martin CampbellWritten by Troy Kennedy MartinGuest stars Diana Hardcastle, Peter Howell, Denis Lill, Colin Jeavons, Paul Brooke, Roger Kemp, Nancy Nevinson, David Millett
Episode 5
1910: Apparently now working for the Germans in Russia, Reilly is to bid on their behalf for a valuable weapons contract, giving him a chance to finally get his revenge on Zaharov.
Directed by Jim GoddardWritten by Troy Kennedy MartinGuest stars Peter Egan, Geoffrey Whitehead, Antony Brown, Roger Hume, Arnold Diamond, John Rapley, Dan Meaden, Alf Joint
Episode 6
1910: Reilly’s winning of the weapons contract depends on his marriage to a Russian Countess. Unfortunately, Margaret’s reappearance, engineered by Zaharov, threatens to ruin everything.
Directed by Jim GoddardWritten by Troy Kennedy MartinGuest stars Leo McKern, Jeananne Crowley, Celia Gregory, John Castle, Aubrey Morris, Noel Johnson, Christopher Northey, Jonathan Adams
Episode 7
1918: Back in Russia, Reilly is tasked with appealing with the Bolsheviks to end their peace treaty with Germany and return to the war. When Lenin refuses, he sets in motion a plan to overthrow the government and place himself in power.
Directed by Jim GoddardWritten by Troy Kennedy MartinGuest stars Derek Smith, David Markham, William Wilde, Christopher Douglas, Alfred Molina, Alec Linstead, Shevaun Briars, Richard Albrecht
Episode 8
1918: Reilly’s plans come under strain when the British fail to give Savinkov the promised military support and Dzerzhinsky scuppers plans to assassinate Lenin. But then unexpected events change everything.
Directed by Jim GoddardWritten by Troy Kennedy MartinGuest stars Brian Protheroe, Michael Aldridge, Bill Wallis, Jack Klaff, Jan Chappell, Barry Stokes, Sara Clee, Jude Alderson
Episode 9
1918: Reilly and his friends filter back to Britain and face questioning from an official enquiry. As Lenin's condition becomes stable, both Reilly and Dzerzhinsky plan their next moves.
Directed by Martin CampbellWritten by Troy Kennedy MartinGuest stars Lindsay Duncan, Kenneth Cranham, Ian Charleson, Clifford Rose, Robert Walker, Rupert Frazer, Jane Maud, Bill Gavin
Episode 10
1924: Reilly is in exile in New York drumming up support and money for Savinkov’s anti-bolshevik movement. A new organisation, the Trust, campaigns for Savinkov’s return, but Reilly suspects that Dzerzhinsky is behind them.
Directed by Martin CampbellWritten by Troy Kennedy MartinGuest stars Celia Gregory, Eleanor David, Caroline Hutchison, Meg Davies, David Lyon, Forbes Collins, Heather Canning, Kathleen Byron
Episode 11
1925: Reilly’s propaganda war against the Trust has gone well enough for them to reach out and invite him to Russia. He hopes to finally undermine Dzerzhinsky’s operation, but Dzerzhinsky is already under scrutiny from Stalin.
Directed by Jim GoddardWritten by Troy Kennedy MartinGuest stars Clive Merrison, Warren Clarke, Tusse Silberg, Rob Heyland, Frances Barber, Peter Godfrey, Stephen Frost, Royston Tickner
Episode 12
1925: Reilly has been arrested and is subjected to interrogation and torture. Back in Britain, Pepita fights to find out the truth while Cummings campaigns for his release. As Dzerzhinsky’s whole operation is put under threat, a last minute deal is attempted.
Directed by Martin CampbellWritten by Troy Kennedy MartinGuest stars Norman Rodway, Tom Bell, Hugh Fraser, Joanne Pearce, Malcolm Terris, Laura Davenport, Anthony Higgins, David Burke
Episode information updated Sep 18, 2026
Sam NeillSidney Reilly
Peter EganFothergill
Leo McKernZaharov
Jeananne CrowleyMargaret
John CastleCount Massino
Aubrey MorrisMendrovovich
Jonathan AdamsBritish Ambassador
ITV1United Kingdom
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