Defection! The Case of Colonel Petrov

"Defection! The Case of Colonel Petrov" is a television play episode of the BBC One anthology television series Play of the Month originally aired on 27 September 1966.

It was based on the book The Case of Colonel Petrov by Michael Bialoguski, which has been filmed for American television as "The Case of Colonel Petrov". Bialoguski was a consultant on the show. A number of Australian expatriate actors living in London featured in the cast.

The Age wondered why the story, which took place in Australia and had a massive impact on Australian politics, had been adapted for British television but not Australian television.

It aired in the US in 1968.

Cast

 * Lee Montague as Michael Bialoguski
 * Nigel Stock as Colonel Petrov
 * Madge Ryan as Dusya
 * Charles Tingwell as Johnson
 * Jerome Willis as Zaryezov
 * Colin Jeavons as Kislytsin
 * George Roubicek as Bradley
 * Lyndel Rowe as Jessie
 * Walter Sparrow as Roberts
 * George Pastell as Pakhomev
 * James Bree as Lifanov
 * Honora Burke as Sonya
 * Robert Marsden as Koukharenko
 * Kenneth Colley as Yolinichev
 * Alec Mango as Prudnikov
 * Lala Lloyd as Lily Klodnitsky
 * Peter Van Dissel as Chomentowski
 * John Kidd as Mackenzie
 * Willoughby Gray as Colonel Trex
 * Lloyd Lamble as Beckett
 * Michael Golden as Generalov
 * David Joel as Reporter
 * Deirdre Denham as Air hostess
 * William Curran as Thompson
 * Charles Rea as Narrator (voice)

Reception
The Observer called it "efficient".