The History Of Secrecy

Title

First
Broadcast

Repeated

Comments

A Time Of No Secrets

20161223

20180502 (R4)

Transparency is a political and cultural ideal, entrusted with fostering accountability and strengthening democracy, a pan-political good: embraced by the Left as well as the Right. Openness is advocated not just for governments, but for people too. The assumption, we must air our secrets for our own health and peace of mind. 'You are only as sick as your secrets,' a saying that has been used by Alcoholics Anonymous for decades, sums it up. We hear from a cross dresser who by keeping his desire to dress as a woman a secret gives himself the space to experiment. He believes that only those who need to know should know about his secret to protect his relationships.

Produced by Kate Bissell.

Transparency is apparently the opposite of secrecy, but is it really a panacea?

Tiffany Jenkins presents a narrative history of secrecy.

Produced by Kate Bissell.

Transparency is apparently the opposite of secrecy, but is it really a panacea?

Tiffany Jenkins presents a narrative history of secrecy.

Family Secrets

20161222

20180425 (R4)

Is secrecy within the family harmful, or can it offer a necessary form of protection?

Tiffany Jenkins presents a narrative history of secrecy.

Is secrecy within the family harmful, or can it offer a necessary form of protection?

Tiffany Jenkins presents a narrative history of secrecy.

God's Secrets

20161220

20180418 (R4)

Tiffany travels to Rome to The Vatican's Secret Archive to discover how open they are at allowing access to a vast historical archive connected to the Catholic Church and Tiffany explores the importance of secrecy in creating a space and a connection to the divine. She explores whether accepting secrecy and mystery leads to wisdom as knowing what you don't know is wisdom itself.

Produced by Kate Bissell.

A look at the purpose and power of secret objects and knowledge in different religions.

Tiffany Jenkins presents a narrative history of secrecy.

Produced by Kate Bissell.

A look at the purpose and power of secret objects and knowledge in different religions.

Tiffany Jenkins presents a narrative history of secrecy.

State Secrets

20161221

This programme traces the development of the 'state secret'. In the twentieth century Secrecy became known as the British disease. We even kept secret the fact we were keeping secrets. Tiffany looks at the growth of the Official Secrets Act which sought to control access to information which the state judged to need withholding. Visits the National Archives as new MI5 files are disclosed for the first time Tiffany finds out why a certain amount of state secrecy is essential.

Produced by Kate Bissell.

Tracing the development of the 'state secret', with a look at newly disclosed MI5 files.

Tiffany Jenkins presents a narrative history of secrecy.

The Age Of Secrecy

20161219

20180411 (R4)

Secrets have never been more suspect. Post Snowden, post Savile, institutions which keep secrets are automatically seen as having something to hide, and openness and transparency are seen as the new imperatives. Any deviation from the new orthodoxy of honesty is punished - by exposure.

But the story of secrecy is not as black and white as our contemporary prejudices would have it. For centuries secrecy has been seen to serve a useful purpose. It has protected citizens from the prying eyes of governments, it has protected the feelings of individuals and kept couples together. It has safeguarded professional integrity, and protected the vulnerable from abuse. Have we lost more than we have gained by abandoning our respect for the power and sanctity of secrecy?

Produced by Kate Bissell.

In the Middle Ages it was thought alchemy could unravel the secrets of nature.

Tiffany Jenkins presents a narrative history of secrecy.

Episodes

Title	First Broadcast	Repeated	Comments
A Time Of No Secrets	20161223	20180502 (R4)	Transparency is a political and cultural ideal, entrusted with fostering accountability and strengthening democracy, a pan-political good: embraced by the Left as well as the Right. Openness is advocated not just for governments, but for people too. The assumption, we must air our secrets for our own health and peace of mind. 'You are only as sick as your secrets,' a saying that has been used by Alcoholics Anonymous for decades, sums it up. We hear from a cross dresser who by keeping his desire to dress as a woman a secret gives himself the space to experiment. He believes that only those who need to know should know about his secret to protect his relationships. Produced by Kate Bissell. Transparency is apparently the opposite of secrecy, but is it really a panacea? Tiffany Jenkins presents a narrative history of secrecy. Transparency is a political and cultural ideal, entrusted with fostering accountability and strengthening democracy, a pan-political good: embraced by the Left as well as the Right. Openness is advocated not just for governments, but for people too. The assumption, we must air our secrets for our own health and peace of mind. 'You are only as sick as your secrets,' a saying that has been used by Alcoholics Anonymous for decades, sums it up. We hear from a cross dresser who by keeping his desire to dress as a woman a secret gives himself the space to experiment. He believes that only those who need to know should know about his secret to protect his relationships. Produced by Kate Bissell. Transparency is apparently the opposite of secrecy, but is it really a panacea? Tiffany Jenkins presents a narrative history of secrecy.
Family Secrets	20161222	20180425 (R4)	Is secrecy within the family harmful, or can it offer a necessary form of protection? Tiffany Jenkins presents a narrative history of secrecy. Is secrecy within the family harmful, or can it offer a necessary form of protection? Tiffany Jenkins presents a narrative history of secrecy.
God's Secrets	20161220	20180418 (R4)	Tiffany travels to Rome to The Vatican's Secret Archive to discover how open they are at allowing access to a vast historical archive connected to the Catholic Church and Tiffany explores the importance of secrecy in creating a space and a connection to the divine. She explores whether accepting secrecy and mystery leads to wisdom as knowing what you don't know is wisdom itself. Produced by Kate Bissell. A look at the purpose and power of secret objects and knowledge in different religions. Tiffany Jenkins presents a narrative history of secrecy. Tiffany travels to Rome to The Vatican's Secret Archive to discover how open they are at allowing access to a vast historical archive connected to the Catholic Church and Tiffany explores the importance of secrecy in creating a space and a connection to the divine. She explores whether accepting secrecy and mystery leads to wisdom as knowing what you don't know is wisdom itself. Produced by Kate Bissell. A look at the purpose and power of secret objects and knowledge in different religions. Tiffany Jenkins presents a narrative history of secrecy.
State Secrets	20161221		This programme traces the development of the 'state secret'. In the twentieth century Secrecy became known as the British disease. We even kept secret the fact we were keeping secrets. Tiffany looks at the growth of the Official Secrets Act which sought to control access to information which the state judged to need withholding. Visits the National Archives as new MI5 files are disclosed for the first time Tiffany finds out why a certain amount of state secrecy is essential. Produced by Kate Bissell. Tracing the development of the 'state secret', with a look at newly disclosed MI5 files. Tiffany Jenkins presents a narrative history of secrecy.
The Age Of Secrecy	20161219	20180411 (R4)	Secrets have never been more suspect. Post Snowden, post Savile, institutions which keep secrets are automatically seen as having something to hide, and openness and transparency are seen as the new imperatives. Any deviation from the new orthodoxy of honesty is punished - by exposure. But the story of secrecy is not as black and white as our contemporary prejudices would have it. For centuries secrecy has been seen to serve a useful purpose. It has protected citizens from the prying eyes of governments, it has protected the feelings of individuals and kept couples together. It has safeguarded professional integrity, and protected the vulnerable from abuse. Have we lost more than we have gained by abandoning our respect for the power and sanctity of secrecy? Produced by Kate Bissell. In the Middle Ages it was thought alchemy could unravel the secrets of nature. Tiffany Jenkins presents a narrative history of secrecy.