Introducing... The Wargame

Introducing... The Wargame

Author: Sky News May 20, 2025 Duration: 2:50
A 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.

What would actually happen if the UK faced a direct, hostile act from Russia? The Wargame, a compelling five-part documentary series from Sky News in collaboration with Tortoise, moves beyond hypothetical headlines to stage a detailed, realistic scenario. Guided by Sky News security and defence editor Deborah Haynes, this podcast convenes a remarkable room of former government ministers, senior military commanders, and national security experts to pressure-test the nation's defences in real time. Listeners are brought into the tense, methodical discussions as these figures grapple with cascading crises, logistical nightmares, and stark political choices, revealing the complex machinery-and potential vulnerabilities-of the British state under threat. Haynes, who previously presented the series Into The Grey Zone, structures each episode like a gripping, high-stakes inquiry, blending narrative urgency with forensic analysis. The result is an immersive audio experience that illuminates the fragile intersections of policy, intelligence, and military capability. This isn't speculative fiction; it's a sobering, meticulously researched exploration of contemporary geopolitics, asking difficult questions about preparedness and resilience in an increasingly volatile world. Tune in for a rare, insider perspective on the decisions that would define a conflict, and the sobering realities behind the headlines.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 18

The Wargame
Podcast Episodes
The Big Bluff | The Wargame Ep 7 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 59:56
In 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 Warga…
The Ministry of Defiance | The Wargame Ep 6 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:02:17
So, 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. -Russ…
The Choice | The Wargame Ep 5 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 53:36
Hostilities 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 wh…
Ultimatum | The Wargame Ep 4 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 58:19
A 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 imagi…
Where's the War Book? | The Wargame Ep 3 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 48:39
The 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 majo…
Armed Attack | The Wargame Ep 2 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 54:08
Hostilities 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 serie…
False Flag | The Wargame Ep 1 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 59:03
Tensions 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 ser…
Living in the Grey Zone - MI5 and the Russia threat | Grey Zone Ep 9 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 50:56
In this final episode, we have the first ever interview with serving MI5 officers who work in counter intelligence.Tom and Kate talk about the challenge of grey zone threats from Russia and reveal their shock at the Sali…
When The Grey Zone Becomes A War Zone | Grey Zone Ep 8 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:28
What happens when the grey zone becomes a war zone and what might future wars look like, with hypersonic missiles, artificial intelligence and cyber changing calculations?These are questions Sky News journalist Deborah H…
China - A Battle of Values | Grey Zone Ep 7 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 46:25
This episode explores a global battle of values between China and leading democracies over issues like Hong Kong, Taiwan and Xinjiang.It’s being fought with an array of covert weapons, from cyber attacks and information…