If somebody insisted that I name my favourite film of 2009 so far, I would probably identify Let the Right One In.

If the same maniac demanded to know my favourite-ever TV drama, I would be tempted to say the BBC's 1979 adaptation of John Le Carré's Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy.So, the news that Tomas Alfredson, director of the Swedish vampire film, is to helm a film version of the espionage drama seems designed to fill the Reel News breast with joy. Hmm? There's an awful lot of information to pack in a feature film. Who could possibly play George Smiley?

Oh, Lord. I’m beginning to sound like a Harry Potter fanatic.