Dr Hannah Fry - Codebreaker

Episodes

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2020022220220919 (BBC7)* This programme was to have been broadcast on Saturday 10th September but was postponed following the death of Her Majesty The Queen. *

Dr Hannah Fry delves into the BBC Radio Archive to uncover a fascinating selection of programmes all about codes, secrets and ciphers.

As a mathematician, Hannah specialises in understanding patterns of human behaviour.

And nowhere does the human factor smash headlong into the reality of numbers than in the secretive world of code-breaking.

Have a pen and paper handy as she'll be giving you a code to try and crack, offering hints which will help throughout the programme.

She's being helped by two experts who between them have got numbers and words covered:

* Bobby Seagull - Maths teacher and author of The Life-changing Magic of Numbers.

* Richard Rogan - Editor of The Times Cryptic Crossword.

They'll share their insights into codes, and give their takes on Hannah's fascinating selection from the archive:

* A creepy delve into the world of Cold War number stations - Simon Fanshawe investigates in ‘TRACKING THE LINCOLNSHIRE POACHER'.

* David Baddiel tries to understand Cryptic Crosswords.

* A famous example of a literary code in Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes story ‘THE ADVENTURE OF THE DANCING MEN', adapted by Bert Coules.

* In ‘THE BLETCHLEY GIRLS', Tessa Dunlop tracks the stories of some of the often side-lined women at the codebreaking station Bletchley Park in the Second World War,

* In a special episode of ‘THE INFINITE MONKEY CAGE', Katy Brand joins the team in the security agency GCHQ to talk ciphers.

So, pens at the ready. Listen out for the clues - and get cracking.

Image credit: Paul Wilkinson

01Number Stations And Crosswords20210630As a mathematician, Dr Hannah Fry specialises in understanding patterns of human behaviour.

Nowhere does the human factor smash headlong into the reality of numbers than in the secretive world of code-breaking.

In the first of three programmes, Hannah is delving into the BBC archives to present a fascinating selection of features all about codes, secrets and ciphers.

Plus insights galore from Hannah's two experts who've got numbers and words covered: Maths teacher Bobby Seagull - author of ‘The Life-changing Magic of Numbers' and Richard Rogan - editor of The Times Cryptic Crossword.

Featuring:

* The Lincolnshire Poacher

Simon Fanshave delves into the creepy world of cold war number stations. [BBC Radio 4 2005]

* David Baddiel Tries to Understand - Cryptic Crosswords [BBC Radio 4 2015]

Have a pen and paper handy, because Hannah's got a code for you to try and crack...

Dr Hannah Fry hacks into the BBC archive for the best in codes, ciphers and secrets.

02Brilliant, Holmes20210707As a mathematician, Dr Hannah Fry specialises in understanding patterns of human behaviour.

Nowhere does the human factor smash headlong into the reality of numbers than in the secretive world of code-breaking.

In the second of three programmes, Hannah is delving into the BBC archives to present a fascinating selection of features all about codes, secrets and ciphers.

Plus insights galore from Hannah's two experts who've got numbers and words covered: Maths teacher Bobby Seagull - author of ‘The Life-changing Magic of Numbers' and Richard Rogan - editor of The Times Cryptic Crossword.

Featuring:

* ‘The Return of Sherlock Holmes: The Dancing Man' [BBC Radio 4 1993]

Dr Hannah Fry hacks into the BBC archive for the best in codes, ciphers and secrets.

03Bletchley Park And Beyond20210714As a mathematician, Dr Hannah Fry specialises in understanding patterns of human behaviour.

Nowhere does the human factor smash headlong into the reality of numbers than in the secretive world of code-breaking.

In the last of three programmes, Hannah is delving into the BBC archives to present a fascinating selection of features all about codes, secrets and ciphers.

Plus insights galore from Hannah's two experts who've got numbers and words covered: Maths teacher Bobby Seagull - author of ‘The Life-changing Magic of Numbers' and Richard Rogan - editor of The Times Cryptic Crossword.

Featuring:

* The Bletchley Girls [BBC Radio 4 2015]

* An extract from The Infinite Monkey Cage: GCHQ [BBC Radio 4 2018]

Dr Hannah Fry hacks into the BBC archive for the best in codes, ciphers and secrets.