The Sandbaggers

Neil Burnside

Willie Caine

Matthew Peele

Jeff Ross (17 episodes, 1978-1980)

Sir Geoffrey Wellingham (14 episodes, 1978-1980)

Mike Wallace (13 episodes, 1980)

'C'

Diane Lawler (12 episodes, 1978-1980)

Although Sandbaggers is meant to depict Britain's S.I.S., the structure of Burnside's department is modeled on the C.I.A. Directorate of Operations.

Creator Ian Mackintosh was developing the next season of Sandbaggers at the time of his disappearance. According to actor Ray Lonnen, MacKintosh was considering having the character Willie Caine promoted to D-Ops, while Neil Burnside (played by Roy Marsden) would move up to "C" (head of S.I.S.). However, after MacKintosh's (apparent) death, the producers decided to end the series because they felt no one could write Sandbaggers as well as MacKintosh.

Burnside: If I want to send an agent to the lavatory, I need the Foreign Secretary's permission. If I want him to do anything when he gets there, I need the Prime Minister's written approval!