Show Notes
In their first joint interview, the director of the UK spy agency GCHQ and the top general in charge of cyber operations for the military talk about how the UK is using the power of cyber to push back against adversaries with the creation of a whole new National Cyber Force.Jeremy Fleming and General Sir Patrick Sanders also reveal new details about how the UK used offensive cyber in the fight against Islamic State, attacking the terrorist group’s ability to fly drones, use their mobile phones and spread online propaganda.We also hear from a woman who was once described as the UK’s best offensive cyber spy.Sally Walker has since left GCHQ and says she is choosing to speak out – now she’s once again a member of the public – to help generate a wider debate about the cyber grey zone.Interviews:Jeremy Fleming, director of GCHQGeneral Sir Patrick Sanders, commander of Strategic CommandSally Walker, cyber expertTobias Elwood, Conservative MP, chair of the defence select committee and former foreign officer and defence ministerCredits:Written and narrated by Deborah Haynes Edited and produced by Chris ScottProduction support from Michael GreenfieldThe head of Sky News Radio is Dave Terris
More from The Wargame
As the world becomes more uncertain and the UK rethinks its approach to defence, we've launched the Sky News Defence Insider app to give subscribers exclusive access to insights and analysis, put your questions directly to the experts and get special access to live events. As listeners of The Wargame, we thought you might be interested. Click HERE to sign up. 3 month free trial for new customers. Cancel before trial ends to avoid charges. After free trial, subscription auto-renews at standard charges (currently £14.99 per month / £134.99 per year). Cancel anytime effective from next billing date.
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 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.
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. - 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.
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 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.
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 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. Episode 5 will be released on 24th June 2025.