On Wednesday, I’ll be off out watching a band, so obviously, I don’t care much about what’s on TV. In saying that, I’m not heartless and I won’t leave you with a tip.  At 10pm on ITV4, the razor sharp 1965 flick, The Ipcress File is on. The film is based on Len Deighton’s first spy novel which had everything except a name for its hero. This led producer Harry Saltzman to decide on Harry Palmer. For the role, he cast the virtually unknown Michael Caine and the rest is, well, history.

The Ipcress File exists largely to counterpart to the Bond movies,
which Saltzman also co-produced. The story uncovers KGB operatives in
the British Secret Service and enables Caine to talk cock-er-ney, wear
specs and generally be your average bloke… something you’d never
catch Sean Connery’s Bond doing. It’s more filthy Tube stations than
cocktails in St Tropez. It’s a cracking spy thriller with fabulous
acting and stunning visual effects (especially during the ‘hypnosis
scene’). It still works as a film and thanks to some droll humour,
spot-on acting and a cracking John Barry score, this is a film that
won’t fail to impress you. [Mof Gimmers]