The Rest is Classified, a new series under ‘The Rest Is…’ strand, was announced by the podcast company Goalhanger this week. Launching this Wednesday (the 27th November), this new series delves into the world of spies and international espionage. It will be hosted by former CIA analyst and spy novelist David McCloskey and veteran national security journalist Gordon Corera.
The series promises to shine a light on famous operations, hidden stories and insights on the subtle forces moving the news agenda. The first episode is a deep dive into the 1953 Iranian coup d'état and how MI6 and the CIA worked together to overthrow Iran’s democratically elected leader. Expect the same breeziness and nerdy detail that has made The Rest Is such a distinctive and celebrated podcasting brand.
Speaking of espionage, Stakeknife makes for another new release this week from BBC Radio 5 Live. The ten part series looks at how, during The Troubles, the IRA’s internal security unit killed over 40 alleged informers who were accused of passing information to the British army and authorities. In particular, the series examines Freddie Scappaticci, a high ranking agent in the IRA who was involved in the torture and killing of 18 informants, yet was himself a double agent. He was a secret British Intelligence mole, known under the codename ‘Stakeknife.’
“Just how was one man allowed to lead a double life for so long?” asks the show’s host and reporter Mark Hogan. The series is made by the award-winning team behind the series Where is George Gibney?, a podcast about an Olympic coach who went missing after being charged with child sex abuse. The new series can be found on the same podcast feed.
