Bryan McAllister’s personal reference notebook
July 31, 2026Short & citedBlog
Civic Viewpoint.
A quiet encyclopedia with a personal desk
Kept by Bryan McAllister — short guides, clear facts, and the Canadian angle when it matters.
Screen & Stage • Series

The Night Manager

The Night Manager is a British spy thriller television series based on John le Carré’s 1993 novel of the same name.

Updated July 31, 20261 min readCited sources

The Night Manager is a British spy thriller television series based on John le Carré’s 1993 novel. It follows hotel night manager Jonathan Pine as he is recruited to infiltrate the circle of an arms dealer.

What it is

The series is a drama and espionage thriller that first premiered on BBC One on 21 February 2016. It has two series and 12 episodes in total. The story centres on Jonathan Pine, a former soldier turned hotel night manager, who is recruited by intelligence officer Angela Burr to get close to arms dealer Richard Roper.

Key details

Tom Hiddleston stars as Jonathan Pine, with Hugh Laurie as Richard Roper and Olivia Colman as Angela Burr. The cast also includes Elizabeth Debicki, Tom Hollander, Diego Calva, Camila Morrone, Paul Chahidi, Hayley Squires, and Indira Varma. The series is based on John le Carré’s 1993 novel, updated to a contemporary setting.

Why it matters

The Night Manager is a standout example of British espionage drama, known for its strong performances and taut storytelling. It is available to Canadian audiences through international television and streaming distribution, reflecting the broader popularity of such series in Canada.

In short

  • British spy thriller based on John le Carré’s novel.
  • Tom Hiddleston and Hugh Laurie lead the cast.
  • Two series, 12 episodes total.
  • Premiered on BBC One in February 2016.
Canadian angle

The series is available to Canadian audiences through international television and streaming distribution, and it is part of the broader popularity of British espionage dramas in Canada.

Quick questions

Who is the cast of The Night Manager?
Main cast includes Tom Hiddleston, Hugh Laurie, Olivia Colman, Tom Hollander, Elizabeth Debicki, Diego Calva, Camila Morrone, Paul Chahidi, Hayley Squires, and Indira Varma.
How many episodes of The Night Manager?
The series has 12 episodes across 2 series.
Is The Night Manager based on a book?
Yes. It is based on John le Carré’s novel The Night Manager.

Sources

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Night_Manager_(British_TV_series)
    Supports: Series premise, cast, genre, source material, number of series and episodes, original premiere.
  2. TV Guide — https://www.tvguide.com/tvshows/the-night-manager/cast/1030620315/
    Supports: Plot description and cast list.
  3. The Movie Database — https://www.themoviedb.org/tv/61859-the-night-manager/cast?language=en-US
    Supports: Cast list and episode counts for credited performers.
  4. IMDb — https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1399664/
    Supports: Series identity, premise, and cast.
  5. Rotten Tomatoes — https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/the_night_manager/cast-and-crew
    Supports: Synopsis, cast, and original air date.
  6. Fandom — https://the-night-manager.fandom.com/wiki/The_Night_Manager
    Supports: Premiere dates and adaptation details.
  7. BBC — https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/profiles/4jb3yw7zpZDQQrmVz4LGK8f/the-characters
    Supports: Character-to-actor mapping for major roles.
  8. Apple TV — https://tv.apple.com/us/show/the-night-manager/umc.cmc.6dh3kg34kvfttyac93nxs8yjm
    Supports: Synopsis, cast, and adaptation description.