The end of the war thrust Britain, the Allies and the Soviets straight into an arms race to develop the fastest jet fighter. Flying at supersonic speed, breaking the sound barrier, was the ultimate objective. It was as important to all three nations as the space race was to prove ten years later.
Read moreClose to the Enemy and the Plan to Oust Hitler
Part 4 of Close to the Enemy revealed, Foreign Office official, Harold Lindsay-Jones’ (Alfred Molina) secret of a planned coup to overthrow Hitler in 1938. Although Harold’s character is fictional the storyline is rooted in historical fact.
Read moreBBC Artsnight - Know Your Enemy: Stephen Poliakoff in Conversation →
Stephen Poliakoff has long been obsessed with the secret history of Britain in the 20th century. His latest work, Close to the Enemy, looks at the clandestine work of the secret service after the end of the Second World War.
Historian and broadcaster David Reynolds talks to Poliakoff about the inspiration behind Close to the Enemy, as well as the always tricky relationship between history and fiction.
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