Podcast
The Wargame
Hosted by Sky News · EN
Russia knows our weaknesses. But do you?
A major five-part series from Sky News and Tortoise which imagines how a Russian attack on the UK could play out – and invites real-life former ministers, military chiefs and other experts to figure out how to defend the country.
Written and presented by Sky News' security and defence editor, Deborah Haynes.
This is Deborah's second podcast series for Sky News. In her first series, Into The Grey Zone, Deborah explores the murky evolution of warfare.
What do assassinations, cyber hacks and disinformation have in common? They're all weapons used by states against each other in a grey zone of harm under the threshold of war, but could be just as dangerous if ignored.
18episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
The Big Bluff | The Wargame Ep 7
Dec 200:59:56Tap to summarizeIn this final episode, discover what happens as the threat from Russia returns and the UK attempts to rearm. Join us for The Wargame: Decoded on January 29th in London. -Russia knows our weaknesses. But do you? The Wargame from Sky News and Tortoise imagines how a Russian attack on the UK could play out – and invites real-life former ministers, military chiefs and other experts to figure out how to defend the country. Written and presented by Sky News' security and defence editor, Deborah Haynes. -Come to “The Wargame: Decoded” - our live event in January 2026. It will put you in the mind of the people who took part. Deborah Haynes and some of our participants, including Sir Ben Wallace, Amber Rudd and Jack Straw, will talk through the decisions they made, the pressures they felt - and there’s chance to experience some of the key moments of the Game for yourself. How would the UK respond in a crisis? And how prepared are we? Join us for The Wargame: Decoded on January 29th in London.
Transcribe →The Ministry of Defiance | The Wargame Ep 6
Dec 201:02:17Tap to summarizeSo, how has the UK been left so poorly defended? Candid interviews with almost every real-life defence secretary since the end of the Cold War reveal all. Join us for The Wargame: Decoded on January 29th in London. -Russia knows our weaknesses. But do you? The Wargame from Sky News and Tortoise imagines how a Russian attack on the UK could play out – and invites real-life former ministers, military chiefs and other experts to figure out how to defend the country. Written and presented by Sky News' security and defence editor, Deborah Haynes. -Come to “The Wargame: Decoded” - our live event in January 2026. It will put you in the mind of the people who took part. Deborah Haynes and some of our participants, including Sir Ben Wallace, Amber Rudd and Jack Straw, will talk through the decisions they made, the pressures they felt - and there’s chance to experience some of the key moments of the Game for yourself. How would the UK respond in a crisis? And how prepared are we? Join us for The Wargame: Decoded on January 29th in London.
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The Choice | The Wargame Ep 5
Jun 2300:53:36Tap to summarizeHostilities worsen despite attempts to broker a ceasefire. What happens next requires difficult decisions and hard choices. -Russia knows our weaknesses. But do you? A major five-part series from Sky News and Tortoise which imagines how a Russian attack on the UK could play out – and invites real-life former ministers, military chiefs and other experts to figure out how to defend the country. Written and presented by Sky News' security and defence editor, Deborah Haynes.
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Ultimatum | The Wargame Ep 4
Jun 1600:58:19Tap to summarizeA city is on fire. The UK fights back. Russia and Britain both have nuclear weapons. Will either country use them? -Russia knows our weaknesses. But do you? A major five-part series from Sky News and Tortoise which imagines how a Russian attack on the UK could play out – and invites real-life former ministers, military chiefs and other experts to figure out how to defend the country. Written and presented by Sky News' security and defence editor, Deborah Haynes.
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Where's the War Book? | The Wargame Ep 3
Jun 1600:48:39Tap to summarizeThe Prime Minister must address the nation. Meanwhile his ministers and officials do their best to deal with a crisis the UK hasn’t seriously prepared for in a generation. -Russia knows our weaknesses. But do you? A major five-part series from Sky News and Tortoise which imagines how a Russian attack on the UK could play out – and invites real-life former ministers, military chiefs and other experts to figure out how to defend the country. Written and presented by Sky News' security and defence editor, Deborah Haynes.
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Armed Attack | The Wargame Ep 2
Jun 900:54:08Tap to summarizeHostilities with Russia erupt into an unprecedented attack. The Prime Minister and his team scramble to respond. Will the UK’s allies choose to help them? -Russia knows our weaknesses. But do you? A major five-part series from Sky News and Tortoise which imagines how a Russian attack on the UK could play out – and invites real-life former ministers, military chiefs and other experts to figure out how to defend the country. Written and presented by Sky News' security and defence editor, Deborah Haynes.
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False Flag | The Wargame Ep 1
Jun 900:59:03Tap to summarizeTensions with Russia escalate, and an imaginary week in the near future takes a turn for the unexpected. The Prime Minister calls an emergency Cobra meeting.-Russia knows our weaknesses. But do you? A major five-part series from Sky News and Tortoise which imagines how a Russian attack on the UK could play out – and invites real-life former ministers, military chiefs and other experts to figure out how to defend the country. Written and presented by Sky News' security and defence editor, Deborah Haynes.
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Introducing... The Wargame
May 20, 202500:02:50Tap to summarizeA bunker. A scenario. A group of former senior ministers, military chiefs and other experts. Russia knows our weaknesses – but do you? Sky News' security and defence editor Deborah Haynes presents The Wargame – a major new five-part series from Sky News and Tortoise, set in the near future. Launching 10th June.
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Introducing... The World with Richard Engel and Yalda Hakim
Sep 30, 202400:01:34Tap to summarizeSky News’ Yalda Hakim and NBC’s Richard Engel have covered world events for years. Now, they team up for a new podcast to share their experiences from the frontline. They debrief from global flashpoints and discuss their encounters with the biggest decision makers. They’ll also be joined by some of those key players to help make sense of world events. From conflict in the Middle East, to the US election, and the war in Ukraine there is no better place for analysis and expertise.New episodes from Richard and Yalda every Wednesday, starting October 9th.
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Introducing... Unreliable Witness: Who is Ellie Williams?
Mar 25, 202400:32:21Tap to summarizeIt’s the height of lockdown, 19-year-old Ellie Williams claims on social media she's been raped and exploited by an Asian grooming gang across the north of England. Photos of her alleged injuries add to the outrage and the post goes viral - shared more than 100,000 times. Social media rumours lead to attacks on Asian men and businesses in her hometown of Barrow-in-Furness. But when she's arrested for perverting the course of justice, things really explode and there are protest rallies and claims of a cover-up. At her trial, the prosecution say she lied, faked text messages and even caused the catalogue of injuries to herself. In season 6 of StoryCast, Sky News' Jason Farrell and Liz Lane, who reported on the case at the time, return to Barrow to investigate what could have led her to make these claims and if, underneath it all, there is some other truth buried among the lies. With access to her family, police investigators and those most impacted by her allegations, we ask: Is Ellie Williams a villain - or a victim of something else? And what happened after the trial - once all the media attention died down and new allegations began to emerge? This is episode one of Unreliable Witness. For the full season, follow Unreliable Witness wherever you get your podcasts.
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