Glasgow shoppers' shock when Le Carre's Cold War came to city

Window shopping at Watt Bros took an odd turn back in the late 1970s, when the famous and now-closed department store had a starring role in what was to become a classic TV series.

A baffled shopper looks at the Czech posters inside Watt Bros, c 1979. Pic: Newsquest

“Today, the BBC is broadcasting its landmark 1979 production of Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy and Glasgow features prominently in episode one…only you’d hardly recognise it,” smiles Jonathan Moran, who has recently written the production notes for the BBC Studios blu-ray release of Tinker Tailor follow up, Smiley’s People.

“All seven episodes of the acclaimed adaption of John le Carré’s novel starring Sir Alec Guinness as George Smiley will be broadcast over the bank holiday weekend on BBC4.

A still from the series filmed partly in Glasgow. Pic: BBC

“When the production took place in 1978 it wasn’t possible to shoot in the Czech city of Brno, a key location in the novel, as filming behind the Iron Curtain presented too many challenges.”

Jonathan adds: “The BBC sent production designer Austen Spriggs to the Czech Republic to take photos of the location, signage and advertising hoardings (for which he actually got himself arrested!) so that parts of Glasgow could be dressed as Brno.

“A location scout had stumbled across Watt Brothers’ marble underground shopping mall, which was then being used for storage, and recognised this could easily be dressed as a perfect Eastern European arcade. The surrounding area was also deemed perfect for a lengthy sequence in the story.”

The marble basement which doubled as an Eastern European arcade in Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy. Pic: Herald and Times

On the day of the shoot all the street signs around Hope Street and Sauchiehall Street were changed for Czech ones and rubber cobbles were put down in the street. Some Eastern European cars and appropriately dressed extras helped convince the viewers they were behind the Iron Curtain.

Ian Bannen with Watt Bros in background before matte was added. Pic: BBC

“To complete the illusion, the upper parts of the buildings shot in Hope Street and also above the entrance to the old Gaumont cinema in Sauchiehall Street (now the Savoy Centre) were replaced by matte paintings,” says Jonathan. “This would have been achieved by painting on a sheet of glass which would have been placed in front of the camera.”

The old Gaumont (now Savoy). Pic: BBC

Of the principal cast only veteran Scottish actor Ian Bannen was required on location in Glasgow. He is pictured here standing next to the crew as they prepare to film in Kintra Street.

Jonathan says: “It is still possible to identify the Kintra Street location from the distinctive building with a high circular window which stands to this day.

A scene from Kintra Street, c 1978/79. Pic: BBC

“Filming in Scotland concluded in a forest near Aberfoyle where Bannen’s character Jim Prideaux goes to meet a defecting Czech General.”

Jonathan, who lives in Essex, runs a small website (guinessissmiley.blogspot.com) about the productions of Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy and Smiley’s People.

“It would be great to see if any Glasgow Times Past readers have photos of the filming?” he adds. “Maybe some people saw it happening – it would be great to hear their stories.”

READ MORE: I Grew Up in Glasgow: 'A boulder from the blasting at Dixon's Blazes came through our window'

Do you recall when Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy was filmed in Glasgow in 1978 and 1979? We would love to hear from you.

Get in touch by emailing ann.fotheringham@glasgowtimes.co.uk