Agent Sonya: The Soviet spy who came in from the Cotswolds

Agent Sonya: The Soviet spy who came in from the Cotswolds

Author: The Times September 24, 2020 Duration: 36:10

She was a top Soviet spy and a colonel in the Red Army, who had plotted to kill Hitler and sent secrets from the British atomic bomb programme to Stalin. So how did Agent Sonya - or Mrs Burton to her neighbours - evade MI5 for so long?


Guests: 

Ben Macintyre, associate editor and columnist, The Times, and author of Agent Sonya: Lover, Mother, Soldier, Spy.

Rosa Ellis, interactive journalist, The Times and The Sunday Times.


Host: David Aaronovitch.


"Merfolk Music Box" by Komiku is licensed under CC0 1.0 (looped from original)


"Melancholic Ending" by Soft and Furious is licensed under CC0 1.0

This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here.


Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.


Each morning, The Story arrives with a clear purpose: to move beyond the headlines and explore the forces and people shaping our world. Guided by the experienced reporting of Manveen Rana and Luke Jones, this daily podcast from The Times delves into the most significant political developments and news events with a level of depth and context that only their global network of journalists can provide. You’ll hear more than just summaries; you’ll get a nuanced understanding of why a story matters, who it impacts, and what might happen next. The analysis is sharp and the storytelling is compelling, designed to fit into your morning routine seven days a week. It’s a direct line to the frontline reporting and editorial expertise of one of the world’s most respected news organizations. This consistent, in-depth approach makes the podcast a reliable resource for anyone looking to truly comprehend the day’s events. Supported by readers of The Times and The Sunday Times, the production maintains a commitment to journalistic integrity and thorough exploration, ensuring every episode provides substance and clarity.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 108

The Story
Podcast Episodes
Why Trump's attack on the Fed affects us all [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:50
President Trump announced on Truth Social this week that he had fired Federal Reserve board member Lisa Cook. While most people had no idea who she was, her sacking could have a massive impact. The move is seen as part o…
Hard borders, harder politics: Europe's migration crisis [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 25:18
Yesterday Nigel Farage unveiled Reform UK’s plans to tackle the issue of small boats and illegal migration. It's a problem that's driven European politics for almost a decade, we look to the continent for lessons they've…
Ukraine needs to become an 'indigestible porcupine' [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:09
With the prospect of peace in Ukraine looking increasingly clouded following Donald Trump's attempts at inter-continental deal-making, the former head of the UK military, General Sir Nick Carter, tells Tom Newton Dunn th…
The prison chief linked to organised crime - The Sunday Story [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:35
Bobby Cunningham was 31 when he became Head of Security at Wandsworth Prison, Britain’s most notorious jail, where he was tasked with fighting corruption. The Sunday Times's Whitehall editor Gabriel Pogrund reveals his d…
Inside the Church of England's 'sex cult' - The Saturday Story [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:39
Chris Brain, the leader of a Church of England ‘sex cult’ known s the Nine O'Clock Service, has been found guilty of 17 charges of indecent assault, three decades after its collapse. Why did the Church fail to learn less…
The Brit standing up to China: can Starmer save Jimmy Lai? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:30
Pro-democracy campaigner, media mogul and British citizen Jimmy Lai has been imprisoned in China for five years and on trial for two. As the closing statements are made, what will happen to one of China’s most prominent…
'There's an AI bubble' - but what happens when it bursts? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 24:59
Nvidia's the first company to be worth more than $4trilllion, developers are being offered salaries in the billions, and companies that don’t even have a product are securing investments beyond their wildest dreams. Yet…
SPECIAL INVESTIGATION:  Tommy Robinson's far-right coaching [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:10
The Times can reveal the English Defence League founder is charging around £28 a minute for videos giving practical advice to supporters on migrant hotel protests and anti-Islam activism. The private consultations raise…
Has Trump already handed Putin victory? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:37
Zelensky landed in Washington DC, accompanied by European leaders, to try and stem the fallout from the Alaska summit between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin. Will Ukraine be forced to cede territory to secure peace? And…