"call for the dead" was first adapted as a bbc radio 4 drama in 1978. subsequently, it was the first story to be broadcast in bbc radio 4's major series to feature all the smiley novels ("the complete smiley"), with simon russell beale in the main role. other characters and actors are as follows: inspector mendel—kenneth cranham; elsa fennan—eleanor bron; ann smiley—anna chancellor; peter guillam—richard dillane; maston—james laurenson; dieter frey—henry goodman; adam scarr/mundt—sam dale; ludo oriel—janice acquah; nursing sister—caroline guthrie; with benjamin askew and jonathan tafler. the novel was adapted as a 90-minute drama by robert forrest, produced by patrick raynor, and was transmitted on 23 may 2009.