The Defence Of The Realm

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0120091012Peter 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.

0220091013Peter 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.

0320091014Peter 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.

0420091015Peter 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 LAST20091016Peter 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.