At All Costs
‘I’m not losing another Sandbagger!’

An Bulgarian spy chief believes he may be ousted and makes overtures to the SIS.

Another riveting episode. The scenes of Tom Elliot trapped behind the Iron Curtain are among the most difficult watch in the series. After the sudden death of a Sandbagger in the previous episode, the last thing the audience is expecting is another disaster in the Eastern Bloc.

If The Sandbaggers were a more typical series, where heroes are usually infallible, Burnside would have saved Tom Elliott. Burnside fails miserably, even deciding ultimately to ‘end it for him.’ Rare is it on television do we see a protagonist take such a drastic step.

He is surprisingly kind in the assessment of Peele that he gives to Mike. Moreover, Peele is surprisingly supportive of Burnside's desire to go to Sofia with Willie.

Personnel file
Cast changes for season two include the introductions of Sandbaggers Tom Elliott and Mike Wallace. We also have the first appearances of D-Int Edward Tyler and Karen Milner. This episode also boasts the only appearance of C’s wife, Lady Greenley.

Secrets of the secret service
Burnside reveals that pay for a Sandbagger is £5,700 per annum.

Production notes
This is the second and last episode to use incidental music, and it's the same 39-second cue as in Special Relationship. This is the only episode with a pre-title sequence scene: a clip from the climax of Special Relationship.