The Defence Of The Realm

Episode

First
Broadcast

Comments

20091012

Peter Firth reads from Christopher Andrew's history of the British Security Service, MI5.

Using material released by the organisation's archives to mark its centenary year, this charts MI5's successes and failures through the two World Wars, the Cold War and the complex modern world of counter-terrorism.

How myth gave rise to reality as the rumour mills of fiction created a climate of fear and suspicion. Introduced by Gordon Corera.

How myth gave rise to reality as the rumour mills of fiction created a climate of fear.

20091013

Peter Firth reads from Christopher Andrew's history of the British Security Service, MI5.

The advice of those with access to German informants goes ignored by the Chamberlain government in the months leading up to the Second World War.

The advice of those with access to German informants goes ignored by the government.

20091014

Peter Firth reads from Christopher Andrew's history of the British Security Service, MI5.

The recruiting of spies was never an exact science, owing much to the clubbable atmosphere of Oxbridge and public schools.

Spy recruitment owed much to the clubbable atmosphere of Oxbridge and public schools.

20091015

Peter Firth reads from Christopher Andrew's history of the British Security Service, MI5.

The most publicly turbulent disagreements between the spies and the politicians to whom they reported occurred during Harold Wilson's final term in office.

The most public disagreements between spies and politicians occurred under Harold Wilson.

05 LAST

20091016

Peter Firth reads from Christopher Andrew's history of the British Security Service, MI5.

Bringing the story up to date.

Episodes

Episode	First Broadcast	Comments
01	20091012	Peter Firth reads from Christopher Andrew's history of the British Security Service, MI5. Using material released by the organisation's archives to mark its centenary year, this charts MI5's successes and failures through the two World Wars, the Cold War and the complex modern world of counter-terrorism. How myth gave rise to reality as the rumour mills of fiction created a climate of fear and suspicion. Introduced by Gordon Corera. How myth gave rise to reality as the rumour mills of fiction created a climate of fear.
02	20091013	Peter Firth reads from Christopher Andrew's history of the British Security Service, MI5. Using material released by the organisation's archives to mark its centenary year, this charts MI5's successes and failures through the two World Wars, the Cold War and the complex modern world of counter-terrorism. The advice of those with access to German informants goes ignored by the Chamberlain government in the months leading up to the Second World War. The advice of those with access to German informants goes ignored by the government.
03	20091014	Peter Firth reads from Christopher Andrew's history of the British Security Service, MI5. Using material released by the organisation's archives to mark its centenary year, this charts MI5's successes and failures through the two World Wars, the Cold War and the complex modern world of counter-terrorism. The recruiting of spies was never an exact science, owing much to the clubbable atmosphere of Oxbridge and public schools. Spy recruitment owed much to the clubbable atmosphere of Oxbridge and public schools.
04	20091015	Peter Firth reads from Christopher Andrew's history of the British Security Service, MI5. Using material released by the organisation's archives to mark its centenary year, this charts MI5's successes and failures through the two World Wars, the Cold War and the complex modern world of counter-terrorism. The most publicly turbulent disagreements between the spies and the politicians to whom they reported occurred during Harold Wilson's final term in office. The most public disagreements between spies and politicians occurred under Harold Wilson.
05 LAST	20091016	Peter Firth reads from Christopher Andrew's history of the British Security Service, MI5. Using material released by the organisation's archives to mark its centenary year, this charts MI5's successes and failures through the two World Wars, the Cold War and the complex modern world of counter-terrorism. Bringing the story up to date.