Summary
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
Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Welcome back to the home of the oxymoron. Evil genius. He asked the newspaper to print his obituary early so he'd enjoy it. That's like hiding at your own funeral. Yeah, a big, great gig. I'm Russell Kane. Join me to weigh in on whether the biggest players in history are more evil or genius. Becoming that rich, I'd say that is some level of genius. It also helps |
| 0:21.2 | it. It's a long time ago, right? It's like the podcast version of telling your kids the ice cream |
| 0:26.1 | van plays music when it's out of ice cream. Listen to evil genius on BBC Sounds. BBC Sounds, |
| 0:34.5 | music, radio, podcasts. Hello, after you hear this podcast, you may have to destroy it. |
| 0:41.2 | Our subject today is spies. |
| 0:43.4 | We've got tales of intrigue from Kim Filby's granddaughter, |
| 0:46.6 | a biography of Philby's colleague in treachery, George Blake, |
| 0:50.0 | a cutting-edge take on the next frontier in intelligence, |
| 0:52.6 | China versus the US, |
| 0:57.8 | and the tale of the men who's spying saved post-war Iraq. |
| 1:01.5 | Special Agent Rahnemitter and guests after this word. |
| 1:12.6 | Sound of Gaming, the monthly show from BBC Radio 3, which opens up the incredible world of gaming music. I'm Louise Blaine, and every month I'll be featuring some of the very best gaming scores, |
| 1:18.6 | offering insights into how the music works with the gameplay, |
| 1:22.6 | talking to composers about how they set about creating their scores. |
| 1:26.6 | I've classic tracks, I've also got the latest new releases. composers about how they set about creating their scores. |
| 1:31.2 | I've classic tracks. I've also got the latest new releases. |
| 1:36.0 | Subscribe to Sound of Gaming on BBC Sounds. |
| 1:42.7 | There's a whiff of skullduggery in the air. Spies have been in the news for a while now. |
| 1:45.2 | Britain's recent integrated review of defence and security has talked about the need to do more with the Five Eyes, our intelligence |
| 1:49.7 | partners. New threats seem to be emerging from Russia and China. And yet, when we think of spies, |
| 1:56.3 | nah, come on, you know the drill. Saville-Rosuit, martini, licensed to thrill. Admit it. When it comes to |
| 2:04.1 | how spy is spy, we're more enthralled to 007 or even Le Carre smile than the idea that the perfect |
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