In short
A fictional geopolitical thriller mixing Britain-Russia “Great Game” brinkmanship with a 2010 Afghanistan raid, all tied to a 2025 North Sea air disaster (BA-236) caused by deliberate GPS/GNSS spoofing, likely by a Russian vessel, escalating pressure on the UK government and peace talks.
Guest backgrounds
No guests are named in the transcript. The episode is presented as a scripted dialogue with roles like “Prime Minister,” “Alex,” “Ezra,” “Henry,” “Anthony Harcourt (Director of GCS),” “Mikhail Rochkov (Ambassador),” and military personnel (e.g., Lance Corporal Wade, Corporal Tom McDuff, Private Scott Robertson, Corporal Sean Wade).
Key claims
GPS spoofing was deliberate GNSS interference consistent with spoofing; the crash is framed as a Russian-linked grey-zone act; holding Russia accountable risks World War III; Afghanistan “new war model” emphasizes “clean-up” with ROE constraints and sniper/link-up tactics.
Notable examples
North Sea L1-L2 signal correlation (Royal Navy ISR + RAF Rivet Joint); Afghanistan Helmand compound assault using ROE upgrade requests; claymores/mines and a failed/contested execution; later Kremlin/US backchannel blame and a speech listing passenger names.
Written by AI. May contain mistakes. Listen to the episode to check what was said.
Chapters
Tap a time to open that second in VOThe Great Game Explained
0:12 to 1:19
Learn about the strategic struggle known as the Great Game between Britain and Russia.
“Strategic struggle between Britain and Russia.”
GPS Disturbance and Warfare Strategy
1:19 to 4:28
Discussion on GPS disturbance, its implications, and its use in modern warfare.
“Only it isn't much of a fucking game if one player is turning away from the board, eh Alex?”
Afghanistan: The Current Situation
4:28 to 11:30
An overview of the operations and challenges faced in Afghanistan in 2010.
“Situation right now in the year of our Lord, 2010.”
Political Tensions and Accountability
11:30 to 14:01
The discussion revolves around international politics and accountability regarding Russia.
“What if they send, like, a dozen trucks?”
Political Maneuvering and Accountability
14:01 to 18:08
Explore the complexities of international politics and accountability related to a recent tragedy.
“Our Prime Minister, when we terminate the journey, please remember, do not exit the vehicle until my say so.”
Military Strategy in a War Zone
18:09 to 22:38
Learn about tactical operations and decision-making in a military context during a compound occupation.
“We want this spot for now, but we don't want to go fish for it.”
Diplomatic Tensions and Historical Context
22:39 to 28:00
Understand the historical precedents of international incidents and current diplomatic challenges.
“five down, vehicle three, four dismounts, six, seven, eight, down, down, down!”
Discussing Weakness and Political Grit
28:00 to 29:50
Explore the themes of weakness in leadership and the desire for stronger political systems.
“When I say I want a system like Russia, like the United States, I'm talking about...”
Conversations Among Military Personnel
29:50 to 33:39
Engage in a dialogue among soldiers about their experiences and the state of their comrades.
“That extra half was accidental, by the way.”
Tension and Decision-Making in Combat
33:39 to 35:48
Delve into the heated discussions about tactical decisions and differing opinions during combat.
“I'm here because he clapped himself off early.”
Show all 18 chapters
International Relations and Crisis Management
35:48 to 39:22
Analyze the complexity of international relations amid crisis situations and their impact on decision-making.
“You're a fucking anorak Duff Go get your fucking readers on then And get out my fucking face My way, you would have been fine.”
Personal Connections Amid Political Turmoil
39:22 to 41:50
Witness the personal interactions and emotional connections amidst the backdrop of political crisis.
“We find ourselves in a tricky spot, my friend.”
Family and Personal Matters
41:50 to 42:00
Conclude with a glimpse into family dynamics and personal matters in a tense atmosphere.
Family Conversations and Magic Hats
42:00 to 44:30
Engaging family dynamics unfold with playful banter and storytelling.
“You're going to turn into a book if you read any more, eh?”
The Hard Truth of Loss
44:30 to 46:18
A difficult conversation about loss and responsibility ensues between two characters.
“Get the directors, the engineers who were supposed to be looking after that plane, cutting corners or...”
Political Tensions and Personal Struggles
46:18 to 49:47
The weight of political decisions and personal feelings collide amidst tragedy.
“so you can at least have a slightly difficult conversation with me.”
A Book for Comfort
49:47 to 50:33
A light-hearted moment with a beloved book provides a glimpse of comfort amidst turmoil.
Going on a Bear Hunt
50:33 to 51:26
The episode concludes with the anticipation of a playful adventure in a familiar story.
Transcript
Automatic transcript. May contain errors.0:00This series contains strong language and violence. It is fiction. Resemblance to reality is coincidental. This is Bear Hunt.
0:43Outoxys! Race! Race!
1:03The great gain... ...was called. East India Company coined it, but... Kipling, many others, all used in it. Great game. Strategic struggle between Britain and Russia. Two centuries long. Still going, clearly. Only it isn't much of a fucking game if one player is turning away from the board, eh Alex? Give your old pal Pilgrim a call.
1:43over the North Sea. And this year, 2025 is no different, Prime Minister. At 21.11 hours, the captain and first officer believe the plane to be on course, 225 degree true. ATC confirm and get the same data, but their altitude readings are differing with the cockpit readings. At 21.11, if both parties understood that reality, that's not a problem. Because this can happen and does. Does happen, that's right, Prime Minister. Not typically on the North Sea, though. Now, we have from this point at 2111... The, um... Prime Minister? Hmm? Can we grab you for a second? Yeah, of course, Ezra. Has Henry got a speech?
2:25Can I have this written up, please? Chris, yeah. Thank you. Fran wants to get on top of it because there's reports saying it was a near-empty flight, and that's just... Not... Um... What is it? Cobra. Right. It's from Royal Navy ISR vessel, correlated with RAF rivet joint tasking. This vessel was in the North Sea, and these are the abnormally strong L1-L2 signals it picked up at 2100 hours. Right, Phil, can you hear... Did you get that? Yeah. What's Anthony saying? We're talking a signal consistent with... GPS disturbance. Dis... Disturbance. Deliberate? Do we think? Phil? Yes. Yeah. Yes. It's deliberate.
3:18Likely deliberate. Um. Deliberate GNSS interference. Um. Consistent with spoofing. Yeah. From a vessel in the area. NATO. We assess, uh, Prime Minister. With high confidence it was Russian.
3:39There was... The, um, someone said it earlier, the oil rig. Yes, Prime Minister. It had incorrect coordinates, same patch of the Central North Sea we're talking about here. Just sort of zooming out for a moment, it's general activity that they were doing. Spoofed all GPS readings, yes, a part of their Grey Zone warfare strategy. Grey Zone warfare. Right. So this GPS spoofing... He got the... No, no, sorry. No, no, go on. Yeah, that activity, yes, that got BA-236.
4:28Keep me updated on the search. Prime Minister. Prime Minister.
4:38Afghanistan. Afghanistan, 15 years earlier. Situation right now in the year of our Lord, 2010. Turns out turning poppy fields to coffee plantations here in Helmand is pretty fucking hostile work. Someone decided that since we can't buy Terry out, we're going to dig him out and sow some fucking peace. Lots of fucking democracy. Have some of that, Terry, and do things the other way. American way. Q-Op Moshterac, which commenced a few months back. February 2010, I think. It's part of the new war model. Five months on, part of the new war model. Americans want a clean-up job before we deliver police, engineers and government in a box.
5:30And today's clean-up is to run a link-up with a sniper element, is that right? Ooh, do you want to take this brief, necky cunt? I'll finish fucking talking, shall I? Course. Course? Yes, of course, Lance Corporal Wade, sir.
5:52Robertson, is it, yeah? Is, yeah. Go one click north, yeah? Fuck off as fast as you can to Sierra Papa Romeo 03984070 and link up with Duffy. Duffy. Corporal Tom McDuff. Thank you, Lance Corporal. Oh. What's needed for him? He's been there a pretty decent amount of time. Piss will need throwing. Maybe he's got a dump in there for you and all. Understood. That's the thrill of this job, Robertson, mate. You never know. Could be piss, could be dump, could be spunk, eh? hey and if you drink all that you'll get a mention in debrief
6:46step in that vehicle and I'll blast it I'm serious we'll just fucking blame Terry Taliban
7:07Corporal. Corporal McDuff. We're in Hellman, not Catrack. Duffy. Robbo, come take a pewman. You're lucky day. Empty piss bottle. Not a drop. That's impressive. Slight dehydration and a packet of Biscuit Brown before we left. I'm locked down tighter than a jock's pockets. You see the Taliban out there? Oh, aye. Of course. There's a set of rangefinders in my day sack. Yep, sure, sure. I spy with my 40 power eye something beginning with D. Desert. No. Deckers. Duo of Deckers with a dushka. Jen? I'll bring you in, I can't see them. See Alpha 1-4? Big compound with a wall, come left a fist to the line of the trees heading right to left, with a ditch behind it.
8:15I can't see him. Are you going to drop him? Not really how things are done anymore, sadly. An ROE issue or what? We're on card Alpha now. What's that? Shorthand for JSP 398A, of course. Of course. We're self-defense only. We lost hostile intent a few weeks ago. Not to worry. If we want to kill two little gentlemen like this, we got at us nicely, Robbo. Tungsten 99, this is Tungsten 32 Alpha. We are at Grid Sierra Papa Romeo 03984070. A pair of fighting-age males PID'd in vicinity of Alpha 1-4 with one times crew served heavy weapon. Requesting ROE upgrade to hostile intent. Over. Nine-nine, read back.
9:09Tungsten 32 grid, Sierra Papa Romeo 03984 070 PID. Two times fighting age metal sticking you from vicinity of Alpha 14 with one X crew served heavy weapon. Requesting ROE upgrade to hostile intent. Wait out. They must be using that ditch to move around. Now you're thinking, Robo. Tungsten 32 Alpha 99 Tungsten 32 Alpha, send it 99 message from Tungsten 0 Alpha 427 ROE request in, I'd maintain eyes on, over We can't touch him Because of what, Obama? No we can't, says Mr Yes We Can Welcome to 2010 Tungsten 32 Alpha out Double press the button at the top of the box Get me a range to the trees
9:59Your dick is a total blur to me That's 1760 metres to the trees Roger My usual advice would be If you can't be best, be first But we might have to let them have the opening pop What do you mean? We can't shoot at them Unless They shoot at us first What are you doing? Peek-a-boo Get on the net, let 9-9-9, we're taking effective. 9-9, 3-2, Charlie, come!
10:37Come! Wait, wait out, wait out. Tungsten 9-9, this is Tungsten 3-2. Contact at last time in given locations. Two times FAM killed, crew served, weapons still operable. No friendly injuries. Maintain eyes on for follow-up, over. 9-9, Roger. No friendly WIA. Two times enemy KIA. CSW still in position. Maintaining eyes off. Help. They were a mile away. Right? A mile away. We were well within effective of that dushka. They had us pinned down. Scared for our lives. We had to act. Right. Private Scott Robertson nearly shat himself with fear. Not that bad. Brave new world, Robbo. What do we do now? Like we said to Nine-Nine, we maintain eyes on until tonight.
11:30What if they send, like, a dozen trucks? Landslide. Landslide? What does that mean? It means get the fuck out as quickly as possible.
11:52The President will be on the call momentarily, Prime Minister. Sure, yep. Thank you. Prime Minister? Azra. Apologies, just a moment away from a chat with the President. No, of course. Your brother. He says it's urgent and he can be really quick. Prime Minister Cronaway. No, but thanks, Ezra. Mr. President. I'm so sorry. The... My heart goes out to you. To the British people. We're totally... We're shocked. We're shocked here. We're... Everything is at full capacity. Trying to help you guys as best we can. All day. All night if I have my way. Ha. Thank you, Mr. President. That's, um... Yes, apologies.
12:37I couldn't talk earlier. Oh, no. Oh, no. Not at all. Not at all. But thank you, Mr. President, for your words on BA-236 and your help and strength. Yes, so... Well, it's important... Oh, pardon me. No, go on, please. It's important that we stick together on this, Alex. Keep a clear line between our teams. And look, I can speak to the whole supply chain. The manufacturers, the engineers, they listen to me, Alex. They listen to me, and when they listen to me, when I talk, they listen. So whatever it takes to get to the bottom of it. Absolutely horrible situation. Just horrible. Yes, that's exactly what I wanted to broach with you.
13:28We've got some intelligence, actually.
13:36Are you prepared to come in? Thank you, Scott. No problem, sir. Fucking maniacs. Would you like me to isolate your conversations? If our MI6 acting director is going to open with calling the British press epic maniacs, then yes, probably a good idea. Yeah, well, you've heard worse, right, Robbo? Ex-Special Forces? Couldn't possibly comment, ma 'am. I'll give you your privacy. Thanks. Robbo, that's a new one. Scott Robertson, sir. Of course. Our Prime Minister, when we terminate the journey, please remember, do not exit the vehicle until my say so. Will do.
14:16Is there a transcript? Of what? Of your call with the President. No. This is what I'm relaying to you. He wants... Look, their position on it was decided. What was the reasoning for their position? Peace talks? We'll obstruct peace talks with this... this... With the truth? Yeah. I mean... yeah. Three weeks until the election. The Americans won't do it. And she certainly won't. Won't do what, exactly? Hold the Russians accountable. Holding the Russians accountable is World War III. I'm not saying World War III, Alex. I'm saying demands, public admission, responsibility. Crack the whip. They took down a British passenger jet containing 350 people.
15:13It was an accident. Says who? Says who, Alex? Say the Russians. There's a back channel between the US and... And Russia? Yeah. On this? On BA236? That's... yeah. Why am I just hearing about this now? Because the President talks too much. He loves all this. The aides basically tore him away from the bloody phone. God almighty, all this for the fucking president of Russia.
16:02Apparently so. We're non-combatants in a grey zone war. They fuck around all the time. They fuck around with infrastructure, with military equipment, with this GPS spoofing. and our biggest ally is now protecting them. It's only ever the Ukrainians that actually have the balls.
16:33In three weeks, we'll have a Moscow sympathiser in Washington, Jerusalem and London. Thanks. You could win the election on this, by the way. You could. with this information and with Miriam's position on Russia. I am not going to benefit politically from this tragedy. No, I see that. None of us are, it would seem. Drop me here, Robbo. Mel. I have to go. We take slow steps. We don't rush. We engage with the Europeans on this. Fucking Europeans. Jesus. We open up a dialogue and we seek a consensus. Consensus, yeah, lovely The offer, by the way, to take the permanent role I'm not going to take it The kids are that age Tobias, actually, the 13-year-old Grounded him Because, what was it, he'd written FAFO all over his homework diary All over it That didn't bother us at first, to be honest Until the teacher told us what it stood for Bloody kids, eh?
17:43Good luck with the re-election, Alex. We'll speak on Monday, okay? This is a fluid situation. Things change. Okay? Monday? I'll see. Let me just think over... Of course.
18:03What did it stand for? F.A.F.O. Fuck around. Find out.
18:23Ram, get the occupant's attention. Afghanistan. 2010. Best behaviour, boys. We want this spot for now, but we don't want to go fish for it. Not with the locals. What's fish? Acronym. For what? Fighting some cunt's house. Nah. Salam alaikum, Madam British Army. I'm awfully sorry, but we're going to have to occupy your house. Ram, usual score. Ask her who else is in the compound and get her to open all the interior doors. Robbo, Sean, go with her. Round up the family and move them to the main building. Take any phones, beepers off them. Move back! Sean, Sean, they're not fucking DT's, man. Tungsten 99, this is Tungsten 32.
19:02Calls then complete at Alpha 1. We're here at this delightful four-story block at Alpha 1. This road here is where Pred Rick and Sakani and his 40 cunts will come past us in about an hour Towards his bed down location Sean, I want you and Ram Where is he? Ram Danny! In here, please! Come on, in your kit Sorry, Dan Right, Sean and Ram, you are to quietly occupy this compound Daisy, chain some clay mozzles along the roadside here and sit at this point Right, that's the wall breach we can see out the window G2 is four trucks with three to four fighting age males per vehicle When they come alongside, let them have it with their minds.
19:41That should thin the numbers down and stop the vehicles. Anyone who dismounts gets maximum aggression. In the unlikely event of capitulation ram, detainee control is your job to get them on the ground and disarmed as quickly as possible. Unlikely event. Killer capture. I can, he's mid-level, yeah, but I watch his videos. I read his shite. He actually believes in the cause. He will contentedly martyr himself and his mate, so in all likelihood, he'll beg you to send them to his virgins. Oblige him What have they got though? RPGs? S-Fests? J2 says no And this tower is bait We set up a fake firing point And they'll go for it Robo and I will set up here Sean and Ramel on the compound wall Here at 90 degrees To them from us Be first Hit them before the buildings We're going to give them the tower Elevation's overrated It's a prime spot we're giving up Duffy They won't get there And we don't need it 45 minutes to set up if we look fucked at any point, we call landslide.
20:41Further. Feels a lot like we're running away from where they need us. Behind here.
20:50What have we got, Robbo? Nice bye, come on. OK, four trucks in a line in front of us, about a kilometre away from getting to where Wade and Ram are. They're still headed for the compound. Good. That's our fake firing position up there. Why do they think we're there? Because that's the ideal spot. Corporal Sean Wade said it himself. One of Hereford's finest, no less. I like to stand at the window for a good bet after entry. The locals feed that to Terry, where we are, and they can't help themselves but charge for it, thinking they can fuck a wee group of infidels. Instead, it's a four-storey rat trap covered by fire.
21:30We'll ping them arriving. He'll bottleneck for Wade and Ramdani's compound. Wade hits him with the claymores and we'll pick him off from here. By the time Wade and Ram get personal with him, the fight's over. What if they get spooked and retreat? Not really something Terry does, Robbo. But if they do, I-Star follows him out of town, right? Aye, and we watch him get deleted from orbit.
22:00What are they doing?
22:08Shit. Shit indeed. Tungsten 99, this is Tungsten 32. Contact, wait out. 99 project. Contact, wait out. Night night, fellas.
22:24Allahu! Allahu! Allahu! Allahu!
22:37Three down, four down, five down, vehicle three, four dismounts, six, seven, eight, down, down, down!
22:599 down Vehicle 4 stationary now moving Vehicle 4 making for compound He's got the best S vest driver's side Wait Wait Wait Wait Clack the fucking mines now Wait Landslide Landslide
23:24What the fuck is Duffy doing?
Read the full transcript
23:31Hit it. Hit it! Hit it! Keep hitting them! Keep fucking hitting them! Get down!
23:49Why can't you patch it? You won't do a patching request. Who won't? Russian President. Of course. Right. In here.
24:03This is Mikhail Rochkov, Ambassador. Mr. Ambassador. Premier Minister here, sir. I hope the conversation will be productive. I'll get to know soon. Yes, thank you, Mikhail.
24:23Hello. Hello, Mr. Prime Minister Carnivale. Secretary Kuchaev. No, sir. I was told... Mr. Prime Minister. Yeah, no, hello, Secretary Kuchaev. Apologies, lots going on here. We send our condolences. Thank you, Secretary. Thank you, Secretary. And the President, he won't be joining the call? He sends heartfelt apologies. Heartfelt apologies. What would that be for, exactly? We hope our friends in Washington have expressed our concern at this misfortune. Misfortune. The... How does the technical fault of the computer have been? Glitch. Glitch. This glitch. Mr. Secretary, it... Right, so, looking at it from where our teams look at it, It's the GPS spoofing.
25:46It's an intentional... We were very sad. I remember 88. Do you remember 88? Um, 88? No, I don't. So, the act, Mr. Secretary, in the North Sea... The U.S. brought down Iran Airlines flight. In 1988, yes. That's, yeah, very sad. Shoot out of the sky. How many fatalities for your flight? 350. 350. Okay. So Iran Airlines was 290. Libya Airlines in 73. Over 100 dead. All these lives. Secretary Kuchiev, I am not interested, to put it bluntly, in 1988. And 1973, I am interested in right now, this year. A big year for you. For your job. I am really bloody interested, actually, in the activity of the Russian flag-deantar vessel in the North Sea at 2100 hours last night.
27:00That, that really interests me. I think it was in Siberia in 2001. The Ukrainians, they shoot down a Russian passenger aircraft. Fuck off! Fucking, fucking, Mr. Frick!
27:28Man in the Kremlin is playing, Alex. You've got to ask yourself, do you want to play or not? You know what they say when you come across the bear? You don't fucking run. That triggers a pursuit, right? You make yourself bigger. Louder. You keep eye contact. The bear isn't looking for a fight. No, it doesn't want that. It's looking to dominate. It's looking for weakness. Silence is weakness. Hesitation is weakness.
28:20It's weakness. It's the same slunkishness. Britain's centrist dad is at the wheel in his little electric car hugging the middle aid and his battery is running out overtaken on the right and overtaken on the left no no what I offer is grit and resolve you're used to it no no you've asked the question and I'm answering it You're used to a system that rewards weak, indecisive people. When I say I want a system like Russia, like the United States, I'm talking about... No, no, no. I am talking about rewarding the strong. Rewarding the fighters, the grafters, in systems that are streamlined, stripped back, not swamped in process, right?
29:14Not the... Prime Minister Kurnoway, perhaps it isn't just you, perhaps it's your whole party who don't have what it takes. You know, one of them said to me the other day, they said, we call him Prime Minister Turn away. Turn away from the difficult questions. Turn away from the hard tasks. Turn away from what the British people really want.
29:49So, how is it, Robbo? Yes, Prime Minister. That you drove me most of last night. I've had three and a half hours sleep. That extra half was accidental, by the way. And yet, you're still here. Just the three for me, sir. Sleep is overrated, I find. Ah, the discipline of Hereford. Something like that, sir. Is it a Hereford? or is it Poole? Poole is SBS. Course. Hereford is SAS. That's right, sir. Well, try and catch me up now in the car park. I've got to refuel. Good for you. I mean the car. Right. I'm still on duty. I'll come back and sit in with the protection team until you're done. Someone said you were leaving us to do NCA work.
30:41We drew it last night, sir. Oh, I'm out of the loop. You're staying on? Staying on. Really? Good stuff. I'd like to say the same for myself. Last night changed my mind, sir. Of course.
31:08Wade! Grab the honey!
31:15Can I help Lance Coldwell? No you fucking can't. Fuck me.
31:25What? Nothing. How er... how's the ram? Stand there Robert. Block that line. Fucking blinding me. Like this? Over that way, yeah. Stay there.
31:48You want to know how Ramdani is? You go ask him. Yeah. But it ain't good, from what I've heard. They've had to take his eye. Fuck.
32:06Boys? Hey, Duffy. Oh, fuck. All right, Sean? Better than he looks, right? Well, that's what he was saying anyway. You got the shite end of the stick on that one, Sean, right?
32:23What happened with the Claymores, pal? Are you serious? Okay, okay. Hey, we got the jackpot. Bravo won, a canny confirmed, and at least a dozen of his lads. That's put the groundholders and locals in a more stable position. I want to... You know me, I want to say thanks in my own way. I brought a bunch of these from Hereford for just such a fucking thing, you know? I was going to give one to Ram, but I don't know how he'd feel about having a saint round his neck. Here, Shawnee boy, you deserve this, man. Fucking Iron Man. Fucking Sean Iron Man Wade, eh? Archangel, St Michael. Good spot. Captain of Heaven's Army.
33:13Tough cunt, but a good cunt. Fucking pardre now, are you? Sean, I'm not... Good for you. Singing fucking Bible verses, mate. This is the Archangel, yeah? Patron saint of all warriors, particularly paras. Watches our backs, pal, eh? Someone fucking does then. That's a relief. Did you have any angel give you the gen did he? Because that makes fucking sense now. Sean, no S-Vest. I asked you one question. You said no S-Vest. I'm here because he clapped himself off early. Or it was a partial detonation. Otherwise They'd still be finding me and Ram With fucking tweezers I raised it Asked it And I asked you too Why would I fucking make it up Sean For a laugh You think I'd do it for a fucking laugh pal You want to get a car now I'd be the fucking I could have flat packed him on the fucking lunch break Duffy Let's just call it for a second With a fucking radicalised room Sean They love death more than we love life We aren't winning this from the air We need to defeat them face to face Secure the country in the eyes of the locals So they stop fearing the Taliban And start trusting us I don't want your fucking Saint Michael Archangel shit I think you would have fared better with a fucking RPG Sean Wanted to take your chances with that Sorry?
34:52Didn't they fucking realise pal? Fuck off Duffy, come on Where are we with the fucking Claymos? What were you doing building fucking sandcastles or something, Sean? Because you seem pretty fucking thrilled to bring up Pekani's vest, but the RPG and that towering inferno you wanted to camp out in, nah? Nothing. Triple stacked, I-Star. It was a track VI. Response time would have been 15 seconds. That's what they fucking said, did they? After the fucking fact. Where were your fucking Claymores? Duff You don't make decisions Sean and that's fucking fine Fine So don't fucking backseat drive me Fuck off ROE's changed mate It's 2010 pal Do your fucking homework Listen to my fucking plan Cause I make decisions and you don't And that's why I decide what Sean Wade does out there We get it?
35:48You're a fucking anorak Duff Go get your fucking readers on then And get out my fucking face My way, you would have been fine. Your way was either the rocket or getting closed down by a fucking jihadi when there was perfectly good claymore sat there. That's the way you see it. After the fact. Finally made a decision then, Sean. Good for fucking you, pal. Proud of you.
36:26I don't know if I want to hear her thoughts on this. Yeah, exactly that, Anthony. We got sent around the houses to what they would say is the stated position of the executive office, which is stumped until peace talks concluded. So, on that point, Anthony and Ben, the Ukrainians, they're pretty solid on this. There's no change. So, Phil, there's no actual change in the Russian position on peace talks? Exactly, yeah, since their last summit, if you can even call it that, five months ago, there's no change. So, what concerns me is we're hamstrung now by something that the Americans believe is happening.
37:18Do they believe it's happening? Well, if Washington thinks there's a chance for peace and they think... If 350 innocent people are the price to pay for that. We inform Mel of the latest. What? The Norwegians and the French believe Russian and possibly US vessels made for the crash site. Oh, God. We can assume good intentions, but it doesn't seem to be shaping up that way. Yeah, the activity in the area tracks with what Anthony's team picked up and what the French are telling us. What are we saying here? Well, it may be, Mel, but the Russians, and possibly an American vessel, we're not quite sure, may have wished to intercept the data.
38:11Look, that's a pun to get down there. You know, divers, the black box is in a sealed unit. Maybe they were persuaded out of that decision. We don't know, but they swarmed the area. Prime Minister, it's two options for the speech. This is A and then B is... These are the names. The passengers. Yeah. Just read the names out. No other, no sort of... I see. How long would that... He says top end of nine minutes. Right. So Henry says you... because of the election, you can't really be seen to make this about that. No, of course. So this speech is still a speech, in a sense. Right, I see. We're not politicising by just reading the names, I understand.
39:05Great. Thanks, Asbro. Thanks to Henry as well. Absolutely. Your brother tried again. Greg took it. Same message. Urgent, but he'll be quick. Yes, thanks. Prime Minister, I've got to stop on the phone. On speaker, please, Dan. Bonjour, Julien. Bonjour. Ça va? Ça va. Et toi? Je suis en enfer, Julien. Pas Cobra. Oui, Cobra. Cobra est descendu en enfer. Um, Julien, we are... We find ourselves in a tricky spot, my friend. Listen, Alex, I have the same political weather as you right here. I have the storm out the window, and it's raging, and I have to ask myself whether I brave it. We have, um... To get our case, we can produce infallible evidence, Julian.
40:02Flawless. Right, Mel? Absolutely. 100%. The storm has blown away many things, Alex. Decorum, discussion, donate. Data. Oui. They don't care. It will be ignored. If not, it will be twisted. Monsieur President, hi, Anthony Harcourt here, Director of GCS. Bonjour, Anthony. One of your vessels raised with us that they spotted Russian activity on the crash site. Is that confirmed? Oui, Anthony. I'm sorry to say that was the case. Right.
40:42What we would like to do is collect... You okay, Prime Minister? There's a passenger. From the plane. I have to check this now. The Prime Minister just needs to attend to something briefly. Azra! Azra! This speech, the names this is from the plane manifest Yeah, Henry's here Henry! Henry's here, he can... Henry, Henry, Henry Everything alright? Henry! Prime Minister You can do option A. Eloise Rice Here, on the list I need you to check the plane manifest on her passport Her birthday would be March Born in March She'd be 41, 42, something like that her real surname is Kernaway but maybe she hasn't changed her passport or something like that I'll look now Azra, tell Robbo tell Scott to bring the car and tell my brother I'm on the way
42:15You're going to turn into a book if you read any more, eh? I said three more grandadads! We've done three. We've done two. I can tell your daddy that you're fibbing. I'm not fibbing. Is that mummy? It's... No. So, she's not going to be back just yet. Let me go and see.
42:45Hi, Dad.
42:59He's upstairs. Don't. He's upstairs. Don't let her see it. Come on. In the kitchen. I can't tell him. You've got to tell him. He knows, Alex. He knows, but he wants... No, I know, I know, I know. That whole bloody world is coming down on him. Okay! Gracie! What's this? Magic hat! Magic hat? You never told me you were magic. Been pulling books from him, haven't you, eh, lovey? Do you want to see what we're supposed to say? Yeah, the rainer comes out the head. Do you want to do that with me? I absolutely do. I, um, I just need to go and see your daddy first, and then we can do the book, can't we?
43:55Yes, yes, we can do that, even though you're the king. Prime Minister. Yes, I'm the Prime Minister. Just. Come on, Gracie, go.
44:30Hey Sam. Alright? Yeah.
44:42So... On our... side of things... It looks like... that...
44:56I'm so sorry, Sam. I'm so sorry, mate. I'm sorry. It's okay. It's okay. It's okay. It's all right. It's all right. How did... How was... It's a plane. Like a prop of... She's not hired some two-seater prop. Like, it's... She was in business class. She was so excited, Alex. I'm... Yeah. It was a technical... Just... Massive error. Massive.
45:37You... You get them over a barrel, Alex. Whoever did this? It's... Yeah. Geopolitics, but yeah. Of course. Of course. It's not politics. Get the directors, the engineers who were supposed to be looking after that plane, cutting corners or... Right, yeah. Huh? I said yeah. Of course, mate. Of course. Alex. Yeah. I've got to go and have the fucking hardest conversation of my fucking life with a five-year-old in there who's just lost her mum. Your sister-in-law. so you can at least have a slightly difficult conversation with me.
46:26I was... With everything going on, I was busy. Not that. I know you were busy. I'm not stupid. Planes gone down. You're the Prime Minister. Mm-hmm. What do you mean, geopolitics? Oi! Sam, Sam, no. Sam, come on. What was it? Jesus. God. Terrorists? No, no. Americans or... Russian? Look at me. This is about family. This is about Eloise. Oh, it's fucking... Sam. Sam. Shh, shh. What's... What's gonna happen to the... What's gonna happen then? to the fucking cunts in the Kremlin, Alex. Shh, shh, shh. There should be bombers and missiles flying and... Shh, shh. It's complex. Oh, what are you going to fucking stand up?
47:29What a legacy for our fucking vote. Every week it feels like at the moment I'm defending you when you get brought up. Oh, now. Now he's doing a good job. Oh, look at the fucking NHS waiting lists. Oh, they're good, eh? You've done nothing! Sam. You're going to go out doing fucking nothing! Where are you, mate? Where are you? I'm going to go downstairs. I'm going to put the kettle on. Kev Osborne. Kevin Osborne, remember him? Look at that little flicker, see? You're in there. You're in there. I'll see you in a bit. You know, when you got elected first time round, these press law came asking about Kev Osborne.
48:21Said they knew you kicked the shit out of him when we were in school. Said he had a four-hour operation. Said you beat him so hard he had a seizure. I denied it. Of course I did. But I tell you what, mate. I wanted to scream it from the fucking rooftops. Yeah, Alex Conaway smashed his fucking face in because that cunt Kev had the nerve to pick on me. His little brother. And now look, eh? It should be Kev that's got that debilitating fear of conflict. But it isn't, is it? It's you. Gonna put the kettle on.
49:13Boo! Ah, here she is! Abba da da ba da dee! Ha! And we have a book! A book! Let's have a look here. What have we got?
49:27And then I'll come by in the morning. Of course. Thank you, Alex. Don't...
49:38Prime Minister, even. Dad. Get a good night, will you? Yeah, you too.
49:53A book!
49:59A book! We have a book! Let's have a look here. What have we got? My favourite book! Prime Minister? We're going on a bear hunt. Pilgrim? We're going to catch a big one. Well... I'll be ready to play. I'm not scared.
51:24Transcription by CastingWords
From the publisher
A British passenger jet has crashed into the North Sea with 350 on board. GCHQ monitoring and Royal Navy vessels establish GPS interference from a hostile power brought it down. With an election just weeks away Prime Minister Alex Kernoway's options are limited, Washington is insisting on restraint in an effort to preserve peace talks in Ukraine. 15 years earlier Tom "Duffy" MacDuff was in the heat of battle in Helmand province.
Strong language, violence.
Listener discretion is advised.
Thomas Mitchells as Alex Kernoway
Naomi Miller as Mel Murray
Luke Jasztal as Sir Pilgrim Moore
Donald Pirie as Tom "Duffy" MacDuff
Freddie Trenholme as Shaun Wade
Michael Ashtiany as Scott "Robbo" Robertson
Lauren Ingram as Miriam Brann
Nalan Burgess as Azra Simsek
Scott Tunnix as Sam Kernoway
Karim Kronfli as Peter Kernoway
Romy Emery as Grace Kernoway
Muhammad Luqman as Mohammed "Ram" Ramdani
Lance Fuller as US President
Denis Michallet as President Tousart
Nicolas Sayce as Anthony Harcourt
Dan Rhun as Phil
Joel Emery as Ben
Harry Frost as Air Investigation Technician
Trev Fleming as Show Voice
Additional voices
Adam Jarrell
Darcey Ferguson
Joel Emery
Rahmat Dewan
Lucy Carpenter
Edited by: Joel Emery
Technical Producer: David Allen
Written by: Joel Emery
Directed by: Adam Jarrell and Joel Emery
Producer: Neil Fearn
Executive Producer: Tony Pastor
Music provided by Audionetwork
Copyright 2026. Property of Goalhanger.
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