Sign up to save your podcasts
Or
Share Spy talk
Share to email
Share to Facebook
Share to X
Share to email
Share to Facebook
Share to X
Or
Spy talk
One Cold War spy has his story retold by journalist Simon Kuper, while the granddaughter of another - Charlotte Philby - writes novels that explore the human side and cost of espionage. Nigel Inkster, former MI6 director of operations and intelligence, looks at the role of spying in present day relations between China and the US, while journalist Margaret Coker explains how old school intelligence gathering without any hi-tech bells and whistles has been reaping rewards in Iraq. Rana Mitter hosts a conversation about spying fact and fiction.
The Happy Traitor: Spies, Lies and Exile in Russia - The Extraordinary Story of George Blake by Simon Kuper is out now.
Charlotte Philby's most recent novel is A Double Life.
The Great Decoupling: China, America and the Struggle for Technological Supremacy by Nigel Inkster is out now.
Margaret Coker's book Spymaster of Baghdad is out now.
Penguin Classics is re-issuing Len Deighton's novels.
In our archives you can find Stella Rimington in discussion with Alan Judd https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b048ngpw
John le Carré in conversation with Anne McElvoy https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b039q13n
The links in the world of French philosophy and spies https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0b2mfh3
And a playlist of programmes on War and Conflict https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p06kgbyb
Producer: Torquil MacLeod
View all episodes
By BBC Radio 4
4.3
286286 ratings
One Cold War spy has his story retold by journalist Simon Kuper, while the granddaughter of another - Charlotte Philby - writes novels that explore the human side and cost of espionage. Nigel Inkster, former MI6 director of operations and intelligence, looks at the role of spying in present day relations between China and the US, while journalist Margaret Coker explains how old school intelligence gathering without any hi-tech bells and whistles has been reaping rewards in Iraq. Rana Mitter hosts a conversation about spying fact and fiction.
The Happy Traitor: Spies, Lies and Exile in Russia - The Extraordinary Story of George Blake by Simon Kuper is out now.
Charlotte Philby's most recent novel is A Double Life.
The Great Decoupling: China, America and the Struggle for Technological Supremacy by Nigel Inkster is out now.
Margaret Coker's book Spymaster of Baghdad is out now.
Penguin Classics is re-issuing Len Deighton's novels.
In our archives you can find Stella Rimington in discussion with Alan Judd https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b048ngpw
John le Carré in conversation with Anne McElvoy https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b039q13n
The links in the world of French philosophy and spies https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0b2mfh3
And a playlist of programmes on War and Conflict https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p06kgbyb
Producer: Torquil MacLeod
More shows like Arts & Ideas
View all
Global News Podcast
7,877 Listeners
The LRB Podcast
318 Listeners
The Archers
1,085 Listeners
Newshour
1,074 Listeners
In Our Time
5,576 Listeners
The Documentary Podcast
1,801 Listeners
In Our Time: Culture
618 Listeners
6 Minute English
1,766 Listeners
Learning English Conversations
1,041 Listeners
The Infinite Monkey Cage
1,960 Listeners
Great Lives
496 Listeners
Backlisted
585 Listeners
London Review Bookshop Podcast
131 Listeners
Front Row
130 Listeners
Start the Week
160 Listeners
Bookclub
243 Listeners
The TLS Podcast
181 Listeners
The Week in Art
217 Listeners
You're Dead to Me
3,215 Listeners
The Bomb
1,014 Listeners
A brush with...
146 Listeners
This Cultural Life
107 Listeners
Close Readings
91 Listeners
Past Present Future
347 Listeners