The Belgrano Diary

Latest Episodes:

Aftershock: The War on Terror – Episode 1: With Us or Against Us Nov 21, 2025

Show notes

In the days after 9/11, George W. Bush declared a state of emergency and initiated what would become an unprecedented expansion of US power. Public debate narrowed: there were new limits on what was acceptable, and not acceptable, to say. The London Review of Books published a number of pieces that challenged this consensus, forcing its editor, Mary-Kay Wilmers, to defend the paper on national radio.

This is the first episode in a six-part series. To listen to the rest of the series follow Aftershock: The War on Terror in:

Apple Podcasts: https://lrb.me/wotapple

Spotify: https://lrb.me/wotspotify

Other podcast apps: https://lrb.me/wotlinktree

Archive:
Rutgers Law Review, ‘CNN Live’/CNN, ‘Good Morning America’/ABC, ‘Good Day New York’/FOX5 New York/FOX, ‘SmackDown’/USA Network/WWE, ‘Meet the Press’/NBC/NBC News Productions and ‘Broadcasting House’/BBC Radio 4/BBC

Introducing ‘Aftershock: The War on Terror’ Nov 15, 2025

Show notes

After 9/11, George W. Bush launched a global War on Terror. What followed was an unprecedented expansion of American power, from Guantánamo Bay to drone strikes, mass surveillance to the weaponisation of the financial system. Asked when it would end, Vice-President Dick Cheney replied: ‘Not in our lifetime.’ Two decades later, we’re still living in its shadow.

Aftershock: The War on Terror is a new six-part podcast from the London Review of Books. Daniel Soar, a senior editor at the paper, revisits the magazine’s coverage and reflects on the ways 9/11 has changed the world we live in.

First episode coming 20 November. Find the series in:

Apple Podcasts: https://lrb.me/f16f79

Spotify: https://lrb.me/eb54a6

Or wherever you get your podcasts.

Episode 6: The Trials May 03, 2024

Show notes

The Belgrano affair reaches its climax as the stories of Narendra Sethia and Clive Ponting connect. The two whistleblowers appear in court and the diary makes its final journey.

The Belgrano Diary is a new six-part series from the Documentary Team at the London Review of Books, hosted by Andrew O’Hagan. We’ve brought a selection of relevant writing from the LRB archive – including pieces by Tam Dalyell, who plays an important part in the story – in front of the paywall for the duration of the series: lrb.me/thebelgranodiary

You can listen to exclusive interviews and other bonus material, all for a one-off payment of just £4.99 at: https://lrb.me/belgranodiarysc

Archive: ‘The Scottish Independence Podcast – Episode 172’/Michael Greenwell, ‘Live from Downing Street’/ITV/TV-Am, ‘Nott, John William Frederic (Oral History)’/Imperial War Museum, Parliamentary Recording Unit

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

Episode 5: The Hounds Apr 25, 2024

Show notes

Lieutenant Sethia is accused of a second crime: the theft of HMS Conqueror’s log books. Two journalists and the Serious Crime Squad try to hunt him down.

Episode 6 will be released on 2 May. If you’d prefer not to wait, you can listen to the whole series NOW, as well as exclusive interviews and other bonus material, all for a one-off payment of just £4.99 at: https://lrb.me/belgranodiarysc

For more on the mystery of the missing Log Books, read Stuart Prebble’s Secrets of the Conqueror, which tells the remarkable story of the submarine’s Cold War operations before and after the Falklands War.

Archive: ‘World in Action – A View from the Conqueror’/ITV/Granada Television, Parliamentary Recording Unit

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

Episode 4: The Crown Jewels Apr 18, 2024

Show notes

Armed with the diary, Tam Dalyell goes on the attack – but the cover-up continues. A whistleblower from within the Ministry of Defence is arrested for a breach of the Official Secrets Act.

The Belgrano Diary is a six-part series from the Documentary Team at the London Review of Books, hosted by Andrew O’Hagan.

You can listen to exclusive interviews and other bonus material, all for a one-off payment of just £4.99 at: ⁠https://lrb.me/belgranodiarysc⁠

Archive: ‘The Scottish Independence Podcast – Episode 172’/Michael Greenwell, Parliamentary Recording Unit

Episode 3: Small Lies Big Lies Apr 11, 2024

Show notes

Lieutenant Sethia quits the navy and moves to the Caribbean. He thinks the Falklands War is behind him, but back in the UK, an eccentric, anti-war MP notices a discrepancy in the government’s account of the sinking and starts to investigate.

The Belgrano Diary is a six-part series from the Documentary Team at the London Review of Books, hosted by Andrew O’Hagan.

You can listen to exclusive interviews and other bonus material, all for a one-off payment of just £4.99 at: ⁠https://lrb.me/belgranodiarysc⁠

Archive: ‘BBC News’/BBC/BBC News, ‘Nationwide: On the Spot’/BBC 1/BBC, ‘1983 Election Coverage’/BBC1/BBC, Parliamentary Recording Unit

Episode 2: Gotcha! Apr 04, 2024

Show notes

HMS Conqueror stalks the Belgrano, but Britain’s Rules of Engagement prohibit an attack. Margaret Thatcher makes a decision and Lieutenant Sethia and the Conqueror crew get ready to fire.

The Belgrano Diary is a new six-part series from the Documentary Team at the London Review of Books, hosted by Andrew O’Hagan.

You can listen to exclusive interviews and other bonus material, all for a one-off payment of just £4.99 at: https://lrb.me/belgranodiarysc

Archive:

‘Admiral Woodward on Argentine Air Threat in the Falklands War’/Sal Viscuso, ‘War in the Falklands’/History Channel/ITN Factual, ‘The City of London’s Salute to the Task Force’/BBC, Parliamentary Recording Unit

Get in touch: podcasts@lrb.co.uk

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

Episode 1: Half a Million Sheep Can't Be Wrong Mar 28, 2024

Show notes

When Argentina invades the Falkland Islands, Margaret Thatcher sends a huge flotilla on an 8000-mile rescue mission – to save a forgotten remnant of the empire, and her premiership. Onboard the nuclear submarine HMS Conqueror, Lieutenant Narendra Sethia starts to keep a diary.

The Belgrano Diary is a six-part series from the Documentary Team at the London Review of Books, hosted by Andrew O’Hagan. It investigates the bloodiest and most controversial military action of the Falklands War: a story of government cover-ups and conspiracies; of whistleblowers, crusading politicians and journalists fighting for the story. And caught in the middle of it all, a young officer whose account of what happened contradicted Thatcher’s in every crucial detail.

You can listen to exclusive interviews and other bonus material, all for a one-off payment of just £4.99 at: ⁠https://lrb.me/belgranodiarysc⁠

Archive:

‘Good Morning Britain’/ITV/TV-Am, ‘Newsnight’/BBC/BBC News, ‘Falkands War – The Untold Story’/ITV/Yorkshire Television, ‘Leach, Henry Conyers (Oral history)’/Imperial War Museum, ‘President Regan’s Press Briefing in the Oval Office on April 5, 1982’/White House Television Office, ‘Diary’/James M. Rentschler, TV Publica/Radio y Televisión Argentina S.E, The Falklands War: Recordings from the Archive/BBC Worldwide, Parliamentary Recording Unit

Get in touch: podcasts@lrb.co.uk

Trailer Mar 20, 2024

Show notes

On 2 May 1982, the British submarine HMS Conqueror sank the Argentinian warship, the General Belgrano, killing 323 men. It was the bloodiest event of the Falklands War – and the most controversial.

The account of the sinking given by Thatcher's government was inaccurate in every crucial detail – and the truth would only emerge from the pages of a private diary, written by an officer onboard the submarine.

The Belgrano Diary is a story of war in the South Atlantic, iron leadership, cover-ups and conspiracies, crusading politicians and competing journalists, and an unlikely whistleblower.

A six-part series from the Documentary Team at the London Review of Books, hosted by Andrew O’Hagan.

Archive:

‘Good Morning Britain’/ITV/TV-Am, Parliamentary Recording Unit

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

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected