Polonium & the Piano Player

Sky News’ Yalda Hakim and NBC’s Richard Engel have covered world events for years. Now, they team up for a new podcast to share their experiences from the frontline.    

They debrief from global flashpoints and discuss their encounters with the biggest decision makers. They’ll also be joined by some of those key players to help make sense of world events.  

From conflict in the Middle East, to the US election, and the war in Ukraine there is no better place for analysis and expertise.

New episodes from Richard and Yalda every Wednesday, starting October 9th.

With relations between London and Moscow deteriorating, Derek Conlon escapes to a new life, but destiny and the nuclear poison appear to have decided his fate.

Narrated by Diana Magnay. Written and produced by Robert Mulhern.
Production support by Chris Scott, and Dave Terris. Musical credit: "Olive" by Jake Chudnow, Original instrumentals by Derek Conlon. Digital by Phil Whiteside and Ronan Hughes. Legal support by Matt McKenzie. Graphics and Design by Matt Simpson and Sophia Leale. Continuity announcement -- Kit Bradshaw. Video by Alex Marshall and Cat Roper Davies. Social Media support from Adam Tate. Archive from Simon Windsor and thanks to former Moscow Correspondent Alex Rossi.

As one of the biggest police investigations in British history gets underway, Derek Conlon is astonished to learn that he too has been poisoned. But having crossed into the world of espionage, that’s only the beginning of his problems.

Episode 4 released Monday August 3, 2020.

Narrated by Diana Magnay. Written and produced by Robert Mulhern. Production support by Chris Scott, and Dave Terris. Original Music by Derek Conlon. Digital by Phil Whiteside and Ronan Hughes. Legal support by Matt McKenzie. Graphics and Design by Matt Simpson and Sophia Leale. Continuity announcement by Kit Bradshaw. Video by Alex Marshall and Cat Roper Davies. Social Media support from Adam Tate. Archive from Simon Windsor and thanks to former Moscow Correspondent Alex Rossi.

A former KGB agent takes us deep into the world of the Russian spies who have just poisoned Alexander Litvinenko and piano player Derek Conlon using a miniature nuclear weapon.
(Episode 3 released 27th July).
Narrated by Diana Magnay.
Produced by Robert Mulhern

Ex-KGB spy Alexander Litvinenko is lured by Russian agents to a meeting in a 5-star London hotel. What happens next will change his life, the relationship between the UK and Russia, and suck the hotel's piano player Derek Conlon into a world of espionage and murder.
(Episode 2 released Monday 20 July).
Narrated by Diana Magnay.
Produced by Robert Mulhern

Two Russian agents release a miniature nuclear weapon in a 5-star London hotel. But former KGB spy Alexander Litvinenko is not the only victim?
From Sky News StoryCast.