Belgrano. Part 1 [Drama]

By Richard Monks

A two-part drama for Radio 4

Drama based on the true story of Clive Ponting, a top civil servant, who leaked documents about the sinking of the Argentinian Cruiser, General Belgrano. Ponting was put on trial but sensationally acquitted by the jury despite his breach of the Official Secrets Act.

The drama examines what drove Ponting to turn his back on Whitehall and why he walked free from court despite the judge directing the jury to convict him. The writer, Richard Monks, drew on Government Papers, newspaper reports, interviews and court transcripts as well as Ponting's own account for the drama.

The drama includes some imagined scenes and characters.

Clive Ponting - John Heffernan

Sally Ponting - Ruth Everett

Richard Mottram - Geoffrey Streatfeild

Ffion - Dorothea Myer-Bennett

Tam Dayell/Michael Heseltine/Inspector Hughes - Ewan Bailey

Peter Blaker/Admiral Sir John Fieldhouse - Neil McCaul

Wreford-Brown/John Stanley - Michael Begley

John Nott/Inspector Broome - Matthew Durkan

Jerry Wiggin/Second Officer - Tayla Kovacevic-Ebong

Cleaner/P.A. - Rebecca Crankshaw

Directed by Sally Avens

What drove civil servant Clive Ponting to leak papers about the sinking of the Belgrano?

Drama by Richard Monks based on the true story of Clive Ponting, a top civil servant who leaked documents about the sinking of the General Belgrano during the Falklands War.