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

The le Carre Cast
John Le Carré
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
Cold War
The Honourable Schoolboy
Espionage
George Smiley
A Most Wanted Man
Hong Kong
Sarah Gainham
Audio Drama
Radio Drama
1970's London
BBC Radio 4
The Spy Who Came In From the Cold
Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy
A Murder Of Quality
Vietnam War
1970s London
Deep State
Mac Rogers

Exploring the works of John le Carré, each episode looks at a specific novel or an unexplored aspect of his life and work. Join us as we take a deep dive into the world of espionage John le Carré has revealed.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes88Founded4 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
ArtsSociety & CultureBooks

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Artwork for The le Carré Cast

Latest Episodes

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 nat... more

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... more

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 ... more

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 ... more

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Recent Guests

Henry Jeffreys
Award-winning drinks writer and author of Empire of Booze
The Critic (drinks columnist)
Episode: Drinks and le Carré with Henry Jeffreys
Mark Meynell
Thoughtful commentator on le Carré's Legacy of Spies and its emotional impact.
Episode: Best of 2025 – Part 1
Helen Lewis
Journalist discussing her book The Genius Myth and its relevance to le Carré.
The Atlantic
Episode: Best of 2025 – Part 1
Jessica Douthwaite
Co-curator discussing exhibitions related to le Carré's novels.
Episode: Best of 2025 – Part 1
John Ramm
Actor known for portraying George Smiley
Episode: Playing George Smiley – John Ramm Interview
Ben Winters
Author of The Last Detective Trilogy and Underground Airlines
Episode: 2 Questions on le Carre
Todd Hoffman
Author of Le Carré's Landscape and former intelligence officer in Canada
Episode: 2 Questions on le Carre
Scott O'Connor
Author who discusses the writing style of le Carré
Episode: 2 Questions on le Carre
Clay Douglas Major
Author and speaker on le Carré's works
Episode: 2 Questions on le Carre

Host

Jeff Quest
Host of The le Carré Cast, known for concise, insightful moderation and deep knowledge of John le Carré's work.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 147 ratings
  • Love the show but…

    NM episode 3 recap, Jeff’s audio is entirely missing. Very frustrating!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    johnchristianplummer
    United States2 months ago
  • Night Manager Ep 3 pod

    The audio is cut off from one of the participants?

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    MiamiSpurs fan
    United States2 months ago
  • Great host but some very irritating guests

    Whoever the guest who appears under the pseudonym Bee is, she was worthless. She repeatedly contradicted her own opinions, she seemed ignorant of details in the books, and she was completely unaware of any historical and cultural contexts. And she obviously found herself to be very funny; she wasn’t. I stopped listening the quarter of the way in Part 1of the episode that was supposed to be about Call for the Dead and skipped the second completely. Not worth the time listening.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Aspiring Hermit
    United States2 months ago
  • A must for all le Carré fans

    A great listen!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    lanemat
    United States3 months ago
  • Badly needed podcast

    Thanks for this podcast, true appreciation of an immense writer

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    s??65834
    United States7 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Listeners praise the host's calm, knowledgeable style and the depth of guest insights.
Guests are consistently well-chosen and bring varied expertise.
Episodes are thorough yet accessible, with some comments about audio quality or pacing in rare cases.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#63
United Kingdom/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#150
United Kingdom/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#87
Finland/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#92
Spain/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#106
Singapore/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#138
Ireland/Arts/Books

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Drinks and le Carré with Henry Jeffreys
Q: How has drinking in Britain evolved from the 60s to the 90s according to your perspective?
Drinking culture shifted from wine-dominated and wine-signifier social circles to a broader acceptance of varied drinks like lager and affordable branded wines, with a decline in traditional sherries, port, and Madeira as everyday staples, alongside a rise in New World wines and a reconceptualization of alcohol as a signifier of class and modernity.
Best of 2025 – Part 2
Q: What was your experience working with le Carré on his drafts?
It was a huge amount of fun, and I was impressed by how he took on board my comments and suggestions in his writing process.
Best of 2025 – Part 2
Q: How did you first meet John le Carré and get involved with his work?
I was a student at the University of Oxford doing my doctoral thesis on the Russian Mafia when I received a letter from John le Carré seeking my advice.
2 Questions on le Carre
Q: What le Carré novel would you most want to pick up and reread right now?
I think I've wanted to pick up Legacy of Spies again and I haven't done it.
2 Questions on le Carre
Q: Which le Carré novel would you want to read again for the very first time?
I think I might say The Russia House because I was in the intelligence service at the time that it was written, that it was published.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About The le Carré Cast

What is The le Carré Cast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A thoughtful, literature-forward show that analyzes John le Carré's novels and related life themes through scholarly discussions, expert commentary, and occasional case-study style episodes. Recurring strengths include deep dives into narrative technique, character motivation, and historical context, often with guests who bring literary, journalistic, or espionage-focused perspectives. A standout trait is the careful, spoiler-conscious approach that balances accessibility for new readers with insights for long-time fans, along with a steady host who frames conversations with precision and curiosity. Potential listeners who enjoy rigorous analysis of espionage fiction, literary history, and adaptations will likely find this podcast highly en... more

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Which podcasts are similar to The le Carré Cast?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The le Carré Cast:

1. Spybrary Spy Podcast
2. The Rest Is Politics: US
3. The Rest Is History
4. The Rest Is Classified
5. The Rest Is Politics

How many episodes of The le Carré Cast are there?

The le Carré Cast launched 4 years ago and published 88 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on The le Carré Cast?

Recent guests on The le Carré Cast include:

1. Henry Jeffreys
2. Mark Meynell
3. Helen Lewis
4. Jessica Douthwaite
5. John Ramm
6. Ben Winters
7. Todd Hoffman
8. Scott O'Connor

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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