The Magnus Archives – Sheeple Chase 3: "Da, Minister"

Release Date: October 16, 2025
Hosts: Georgie Barker (Sasha Sienna) & Celia Ripley (Lorianne Davies)

Episode Overview

In this tongue-in-cheek, conspiracy-driven episode, Georgie Barker and Celia Ripley investigate the rumor that UK Prime Minister Harold Wilson was secretly a Soviet spy (“Da, Minister”). Through quick banter and comedic flair, the co-hosts blend historical detail with satire, attempting to separate Cold War paranoia from reality…or just have a laugh at how far down the rabbit hole such rumors can go.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Setting the Scene: The 1960s and Harold Wilson

• Timeframe: 1964, height of the Cold War, rock and roll, lead paint, and alleged KGB agents on Downing Street. (07:04)
• Premise Introduced: The theory that the Labour PM Harold Wilson was a Soviet puppet. (07:29)
  • F: “Today we are looking at UK Prime Minister Harold Wilson and whether he was a Soviet puppet planted in Downing street through a combination of manipulation, assassination and good old fashioned corruption. Spoilers? Probably not.” (07:29)

Origin of the Conspiracy

• Defection of Anatoly Golitsyn: In 1963, this KGB agent defected and listed supposed Soviet agents in the UK and US, including Wilson. (07:51)
• Raincoat Connection: The MI5 started looking at Wilson due to a convoluted “raincoat chess” connection — a Lithuanian immigrant raincoat factory owner possibly linked to the KGB via chess games. (08:46)
  • E: "Notorious hotbed of international communist conspiracy." (08:42)
  • F: "The guy who owned the factory was a Lithuanian immigrant. And someone had already told someone who worked at MI5 that that guy had played chess with a guy who might have talked to a different guy who was in the KGB." (08:46)

MI5 Investigation & Angleton’s Role

• MI5’s View: Initially dismissive; filed Golitsyn’s claims but didn’t treat them as significant. (09:19)
  • F: “In his memoirs, Peter Wright said that they thought it was rubbish, but because it came from the head of the CIA's counterintelligence division, they had no choice but to file it somewhere.” (09:35)
• James Angleton (CIA): Notoriously paranoid, described as "not above exaggeration" and even manufacturing evidence. (09:43–10:03)
  • F: “And Wright said he was known to manufacture evidence when none existed.” (10:03)
• Gallitzin's Reputation: Official MI5 historian labels him “an unreliable conspiracy theorist.” (10:37)

Evidence Against (or Not)

• Surveillance: Wilson was bugged extensively—house, office, car—yet no evidence ever surfaced of Soviet contact. (12:29–12:38)
• Motivation: Surveillance was more about concern Wilson could be compromised (not that he was a spy). (13:06)
• Wilson’s Perception: He became aware of the bugging, considered paranoid by peers—but, as Celia notes:
  • E: "But it's not paranoia if they really are out to get you." (13:40)

Ghosts, Hauntings, and Paranoia

• The Ghost Rumor: Wilson believed 10 Downing Street was haunted; constant mechanical whirring and whispering (possibly covert recordings). (13:47–14:25)
  • E: “He’d hear people whispering about him behind his back, but when he turned around, there’d be no one there. And there was this constant mechanical whirring just on the edge of his hearing.” (14:10)

Actual Plots and Coups

• At least three real-life conspiracies to oust Wilson, including:
  • 1968 Plot: Orchestrated by Cecil King (Daily Mirror boss), attempts to enlist Lord Mountbatten; fails due to Mountbatten's integrity and a “random” called Sir Solly. (15:00–15:59)
    • E: “So that was the whole plot. A meeting that could have been a fax.” (15:59)
    • F: “King did publish a front page call for Wilson to be removed from office by any means necessary, but he was fired from the Mirror for it.” (16:04)
  • 1974 Plot: More rumors than proven fact; Mountbatten’s public military exercises and ex-military forming private armies. (16:21–16:48)
    • E: “Who wasn’t secretly recording him?” (16:59)
  • Information Sabotage: MI5 leaking to Tories, Wilson’s secretary handing info to Thatcher, and ongoing surveillance by journalists. (17:02–17:14)
  • Raincoat Guy: Allegedly bought the secretary a house—more confusion to the tangle of conspiracy.

Satirical Theorizing

• New Theory: Wilson was actually cursed by a vengeful Tory wizard in disguise. (17:21)
  • E: “Harold Wilson wasn't a Soviet spy, but he was being cursed by a vengeful Tory wizard disguising himself as a Lithuanian chess playing raincoat seller…” (17:21)
  • F: “Makes about as much sense, doesn’t it?” (17:42)

Final Verdict

• E: "Not a chance. The KGB would have to queue for days behind all the other plots just to get near him." (17:49)
• F: “I think 1960s conservatives just didn’t know the difference between wanting a slightly higher tax rate and full on militaristic communism.” (18:45)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Surveillance:
  • E: “So they decided to secretly compromise his privacy.” (13:13)
  • F: “Pretty much. Irony.” (13:17)
• On MI5 History:
  • E: "What kind of job is official MI5 historian? All your sources are classified. So do all your footnotes just say, trust me?" (10:48)
• On Conspiracies:
  • E: "If even a tenth of them were real, the poor guy must have been wading through hidden cameras just to get to the loo at night." (18:18)
• Episode Wrap-Up:
  • F: “That's it for this week, folks. Thank you for listening. Please don't forget to rate, review us, compliment us however you like. Georgie and I will be back with a new mystery every week.” (18:58)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Conspiracy Introduction: 07:04–07:29
• Golitsyn Defection and Raincoat Chess: 07:51–09:01
• MI5 Investigations & Angleton: 09:19–10:37
• Gallitzin and Gaitskell’s Death: 10:56–11:11
• Surveillance Details: 12:27–13:06
• Wilson’s “Ghost” Experiences: 13:47–14:25
• Details on Actual Plots: 15:00–17:21
• Final Verdict and Satirical Wrap-up: 17:42–18:58

Conclusion

“Sheeple Chase 3: Da, Minister” is an irreverent, witty, and informative romp through one of the UK’s weirdest conspiracy theories. Through droll conversation and sharpened skepticism, Georgie and Celia debunk the legend of Harold Wilson, Soviet spy—and suggest the truth is stranger, and far sillier, than fiction.

For fans who love conspiracies, Cold War history, or just a good satirical take on political paranoia—the episode hits all the right notes.