Lane, who was in the control room during the Iranian Embassy siege of 1980, still keeps fit by cycling and hill walking.

The episode's plot is based on the Iranian Embassy Siege in 1980.

"We can't quite forget what happened in May," he said of the embassy siege in Beijing, "but it ought to be put in context."

In 1980, he was also involved in the Iranian Embassy siege in London.

Still, Mr. Asgharzadeh's reputation as an organizer of the embassy siege continues to haunt his political career.

In 1980, the Iranian Embassy siege took place in Knightsbridge, lasting several days.

It is thought that he was crucial in planning the West German embassy siege in Stockholm, though he himself did not take part.

The fires that occurred during the Iranian Embassy Siege in London were caused by stun grenades.

Fowzi Nejad in 1981, the sole terrorist survivor of the Iranian Embassy Siege.

The act was a result of a government review of the law related to the inviolability of diplomatic premises following the 1984 Libyan Embassy Siege.