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PODCAST

Down the Line: a Secret Army podcast

Secret Army pod

A podcast reviewing and celebrating the classic BBC TV drama series Secret Army. Episode by episode, every month.

tv & film tv reviews

All Episodes

109:52

Series 2, Episode 7: Weekend

Down the Line: a Secret Army podcast ·

2025/11/01

When two American evaders kidnap Kessler and hold him aboard Hans Von Broecken's barge Lifeline's agents inevitably become involved and tragedy ensues. This episode, written and directed by Paul Annett, weaves together: Nazi art theft - with both Albert and Monique, and Kessler on the trail of a priceless Rubens painting; the return of our favourite bargee and his wife - Hans and Lena; and the rash actions of two scared Americans, in a complex but enjoyable episode of Secret Army.As well as

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73:08

Interview with Hazel McBride

Down the Line: a Secret Army podcast ·

2025/09/06

In today's special episode of 'Down the Line' AJ interviews Hazel McBride who played Madeleine Duclos in the second and third series of Secret Army. Hazel shares how she won the role, her memories of playing opposite Clifford Rose, recording in the studio and filming on location, and what she has been doing since Secret Army. If you enjoyed this interview please consider making a donation of any amount you wish to Hazel's chosen charity which is the Actors' Benevolent Fund, a charity which supports

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01:31:38

Series 2, Episode 6: Scorpion

Down the Line: a Secret Army podcast ·

2025/08/02

AJ and Andy review the second season episode Scorpion in which Brandt is joined in Brussels by his wife Erika, and Albert learns that the Line has been compromised by another infiltrator. Ultimately, it is none other than Hans Van Broecken who is enlisted to unmask the fake evader.As well as thoroughly enjoying the arrival of guest star Brigitte Kahn, your hosts discuss the episode's many couples, the glorious Madame Van Artevelde, the sets by Austin Ruddy. and its expertly handled themes such as

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01:38:04

Series 2, Episode 5: Not According to Plan

Down the Line: a Secret Army podcast ·

2025/07/05

AJ and Andy review the series two episode in which Natalie and her new boyfriend Francois are injured when a communist group blows up the train on which they are travelling. These Brussels-based communists are led by Paul Vercors who it transpires is determined to take over Lifeline via Max Brocard. For this David Crane-scripted and Viktors Ritelis-directed episode AJ and Andy find themselves conducting impromptu investigations into: the communist's terrible plan; the sudden introduction of

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01:46:42

Series 2, Episode 4: Trapped

Down the Line: a Secret Army podcast ·

2025/06/07

This month AJ and Andy are thrilled to be joined on the podcast by writer Joseph (Joe) Lidster as they discuss the legendary series two episode Trapped, penned by N (Norman) J Crisp. If you need a reminder, it's the episode in which Monique is shot while down the line and has to be rescued by her Lifeline colleagues before Kessler arrives and identifies her. Joe explains how he came to watch Secret Army during lockdown and specifically why he fell in love with the character of Monique and the fact

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01:50:45

Series 3, Episode 3: Lucky Piece

Down the Line: a Secret Army podcast ·

2025/04/05

When a Polish scientist needs to be operated on and rescued from Belgium, his handler, a British agent called Bradley encounters Lifeline. When he discovers that Natalie is being tailed by the Germans he elects to intervene...This month AJ and Andy review Juliet Hammond's favourite episode, the Natalie-centric Lucky Piece, in which we first meet maverick secret agent Nick Bradley played by Paul Shelley. The pair debate the episode's potential chauvinism, how Natalie is depicted, and the

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37:59

Interview with Constantine Gregory (Ivan in Russian...

Down the Line: a Secret Army podcast ·

2025/03/01

This month we take a short break from the second series for an interview which AJ conducted with actor Constantine Gregory who played one of the two Russians in Russian Roulette: Ivan Ilyich Kusnetsov. American-born Constantine shares details of his Russian ancestry, his friendship with Richard Marner, and highlights from his career as both an actor and as a dialogue coach on films such as The Last Emperor and Conspiracy with Kenneth Branagh. We are grateful to Constantine for sharing his memories

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01:39:35

Series 2, Episode 2: Russian Roulette

Down the Line: a Secret Army podcast ·

2025/02/01

'That megalomaniac upstart is rapidly degenerating into a latter-day Caligula!'Our review of Secret Army's gripping second series continues with John Brason's Russian Roulette: soon after hearing about the death of their leader Lisa, Lifeline have to contend with two Russian evaders, Brandt is asked to join a plot against Hitler, and Albert accepts Kessler's invite to a sinister garden party... While AJ realises just how much of the episode they had forgotten, Andy disagrees with himself from the

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53:58

Interview with Jan Francis

Down the Line: a Secret Army podcast ·

2025/01/18

In this special episode of Down the Line, AJ Interviews none other than Jan Francis who played Lisa Colbert: codename Yvette, in Secret Army. As well as her memories of being cast in the show, Jan recalls its creator and producer Gerry Glaister, and the learning curve she and her fellow cast members went on as they found out about the historical reality behind the series.Having recently watched the series again on Talking Pictures, Jan also reflects on whether Secret Army still stands up today. She

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01:55:15

Series 2, Episode 1: The Hostage

Down the Line: a Secret Army podcast ·

2025/01/04

AJ and Andy finally arrive at Series 2 and its fair to say they're excited to be here. They discuss the big changes between seasons as Lifeline takes up its new centre of operations in the high-class Restaurant Candide in the Grand Place and Albert, Monique and Natalie begin to rub shoulders with the enemy on a daily basis. Along the way your hosts also discuss the off-screen departure of Jacques Bol, the Birthday Paradox and this episode's terribly misjudged instrumental music. As ever the

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01:56:33

Interview with Juliette Hammond (Christmas Special 2024)

Down the Line: a Secret Army podcast ·

2024/12/25

It's our 2024 Christmas Special and this year our festive offering is a brand new interview with Juliette Hammond who played Natalie in all three series of Secret Army! As well as talking about her memories of the series, in an interview first, she also casts her mind back to playing other roles during her career: the telepath Pella in Blake's 7, the duplicitous Miranda in Only Fools and Horses, and Miss Hawk in the Look and Read series Dark Towers. She also recounts her experiences of growing up

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01:45:04

Review of Series One

Down the Line: a Secret Army podcast ·

2024/12/07

AJ and Andy look back over the first series of Secret Army ahead of their exploration of series two. Andy shares memories of Clifford Rose while AJ teases content from a forthcoming interview with Jan Francis. They also consider their favourite directors, writers, regular characters and guest stars and reveal choices sent in by listeners. As a piece of bonus content in the final 20 minutes AJ interviews Abigail Brown who played the farmer's daughter in the first episode of Secret Army before

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01:36:44

Episode 16: Be the First Kid in Your Block to Rule...

Down the Line: a Secret Army podcast ·

2024/11/02

With Kessler determined to capture the British agent, Curtis must find a way out of Brussels as a great encirclement of the city begins...AJ and Andy finally reach the end of the first series and tackle matters as diverse as the relationship between Lisa and Curtis, the replacement of Brandt by Reinecke, and what Lifeline is doing outside at the end of the episode! Along the way they find much to enjoy: the ideas that Lisa and Monique come up with; the typically Vik Ritelis direction; and the sheer

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01:26:07

Episode 15: Suspicions

Down the Line: a Secret Army podcast ·

2024/10/05

When Curtis falls under suspicion for the murder of Hugh Neville, the future of Lifeline is in doubt as Brandt and Kessler come dangerously close to uncovering their operations...Andy is thrilled to have arrived at what he consider to be a blueprint for the series Secret Army and even dispensed with his usual poker face when watching it with Ryan. AJ meanwhile couldn't help but notice the wintry feel or the amount of times characters came in and out of doors! There's also high praise for both

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01:36:55

Episode 14: Good Friday

Down the Line: a Secret Army podcast ·

2024/09/07

When the brothers of a Brussels-based monastery elect to harbour an evader, Kessler arrives on the scene and his usual tactics are in no way dulled as he confronts these 'men of God' on one of their holiest days: Good Friday.This month, AJ and Andy are delighted to be joined by Alex Wilcock as together they muse upon the many theological themes, meanings and metaphors in John Brason's script. They also consider chosen family and chosen names, whether Lisa is a calming influence, and, as ever, the

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50:10

An interview with Hetty Baynes (Yvonne)

Down the Line: a Secret Army podcast ·

2024/08/17

AJ and Andy interview Henrietta 'Hetty' Baynes who played Yvonne in three different episodes of Secret Army. Hetty recalls working on the Candide studio set, rehearsing in Acton and the joy of working with the series regulars. She also reflects on what motivated Yvonne and the character's possible journey after the war. Hetty also recounts highlights from her varied TV career including Bergerac, Running Scared and Jonathan Creek and how she met and fell in love with film director Ken Russell while

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01:29:21

Episode 13: Bait

Down the Line: a Secret Army podcast ·

2024/08/03

AJ and Andy explore James Andrew Hall's second contribution to Secret Army: Bait, a clever tale centring around a woman, Catherine Bidout, living in Brussels who has not been interned despite being British. She is part of a trap prepared by Kessler, and Brandt is in danger of falling right into it. When Lifeline are also summoned to help, both the future of the evasion line and the Luftwaffe Major are at stake. As well as the pair's enjoyment of the inclusion of so many older female characters, AJ

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01:22:37

Episode 12: Hymn to Freedom

Down the Line: a Secret Army podcast ·

2024/07/06

This month AJ & Andy appraise Michael Chapman's sole contribution to Secret Army: Hymn to Freedom, which explores the political and personal motivations of the Quisling-like Van Reijn as he attempts to leave Occupied Belgium behind. Andy has issues with Chapman's storytelling style, while AJ has cause to sing a refrain of 'Interchangeable Men'. Elsewhere, a draughts trope irritates Andy, AJ considers how differently they might react to Lisa if a man talked to them like Curtis does, and both of

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01:25:25

Episode 11: A Question of Loyalty

Down the Line: a Secret Army podcast ·

2024/06/01

This month AJ and Andy review one of the most celebrated episodes of the first series in which Lifeline is threatened when Monique gets too close to an SS officer impersonating an evader. As well as exploring the welcome character development for both Monique and Albert, and the bravura performance by Angela Richards in particular, the pair also discuss Clifford Rose's portrayal of the ruthless Kessler. They reserve special attention for the episode's sublime 'No Compartments' speech which is

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27:07

An interview with Christopher Douglas (Noel Uys)

Down the Line: a Secret Army podcast ·

2024/04/20

AJ interviews actor and writer Christopher Douglas who played downed South African airman Noel Uys in the Series 1 episode Identity in Doubt. Christopher is now best known for playing Ed Reardon in radio's Ed Reardon's week but was happy to cast his mind back to 1977, his co-stars, director Vik Ritelis, and his time in the mud! If you enjoyed this episode please donate to Christopher's chosen charity: Blood Cancer UK: https://bloodcancer.org.uk/ You can also donate by phone on: 0808 1695155 Next

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