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Storyville

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1997

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Documentary

Summary

BBC documentary strand featuring contemporary one-off films from around the world that cover a wide range of genres and subjects and have compelling narratives and character-based stories.

The Last Spy

Summary

The story of CIA officer Peter Sichel - a Jewish refugee who fled Nazi Germany before becoming one of the most influential figures in American intelligence. Sichel rose to serve as the CIA's first Station Chief in post-war Berlin and played a pivotal role in some of the defining geopolitical events of the Cold War. Featuring interviews with the man himself before his death in 2024

Review

David Butcher

Peter Sichel could be a figure from John le Carré, or a forerunner of Saul in Homeland. Sichel died in 2025 at the age of 102, but when this documentary interviewed him, he was still a font of vividly remembered tales from his career in espionage.

He had led a remarkable life. Born Jewish in 1920s Germany, he and his winemaking family escaped the Nazis by fleeing to France and then New York, where he enlisted the day after Pearl Harbor. Assigned to America’s new intelligence service, he rose rapidly and, while serving in postwar Berlin, foresaw the Cold War when his superiors still insisted the Soviets were allies.

Katharina Otto-Bernstein’s film gives Sichel space to tell his story, including a colourful postscript: when he left the CIA, Sichel returned to the wine trade and made a huge success of a little known brand – Blue Nun.

How to watch

Next showing

channeltimestatus

BBC Four

Tue 17 Nov 10pm - 11:40pm

BBC Four HD

Tue 17 Nov 10pm - 11:40pm

Show repeats

Details

Languages

Formats

Colour | HD | SUB | WIDE

Credits

Crew

rolenameExecutive producerSimon KilmurryExecutive producerDavid DinersteinExecutive producerFrida TorresblancoExecutive producerFrank MurrayProducerKatharina Otto-BernsteinDirectorKatharina Otto-BernsteinWriterKatharina Otto-BernsteinProducerOleg DubsonProducerKathrin LohmannProducerSabine Schenk