The Rest Is Classified

Latest Episodes:

157. The Road to Iraq: What the Spies Got Wrong (Ep 5) May 17, 2026

Show notes

Who was “Curveball”? Why did Colin Powell rely so heavily on flawed intelligence in his presentation to the UN? And how did this set the tone for the opposition to war?

As David and Gordon reach the penultimate episode in their series on Iraq WMD, they discuss how things could have gone so badly wrong.

-------------------

Join the Declassified Club to go deeper into the world of espionage with exclusive Q&As, interviews with top intelligence insiders, regular livestreams, ad-free listening, early access to episodes and live show tickets, and weekly deep dives into original spy stories. Members also get curated reading lists, special book discounts, prize draws, and access to our private chat community.

Just go to ⁠⁠⁠therestisclassified.com⁠⁠.

-------------------

Email: ⁠⁠therestisclassified@goalhanger.com⁠

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@restisclassified⁠

Video Editor: Joe Pettit

Social Producer: Emma Jackson

Assistant Producer: Alfie Rowe

Producer: Becki Hills

Head of History: Dom Johnson

Exec Producer: Tony Pastor

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

156. The Road to Iraq: Tony Blair's Campaign for War (Ep 4) May 13, 2026

Show notes

What was the difference between the so-called “dodgy dossier” and the real dossier prepared by Tony Blair and Alastair Campbell? Why did the US rush their vital National Intelligence Estimate? And why was the intelligence so weak?

Listen as David and Gordon explore how the US and UK sold the case for war in Iraq to the public.

-------------------

THE REST IS CLASSIFIED LIVE 2026 at The Rest Is Fest: Buy your tickets ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to see David and Gordon live on stage at London’s Southbank Centre on 4 September: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/whats-on/the-rest-is-classified-live/⁠⁠⁠⁠

-------------------

Sign-up for our free newsletter where producer Becki takes you behind the scenes of the show: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://mailchi.mp/goalhanger.com/tric-free-newsletter-sign⁠-up⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

-------------------

Just go to ⁠⁠therestisclassified.com⁠ or join on Apple Podcasts.

-------------------

Get a 10% discount on business PCs, printers and accessories using the code TRIC10. Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://HP.com/CLASSIFIED⁠⁠⁠⁠ for more information. T&C's apply.

-------------------

Email: ⁠⁠therestisclassified@goalhanger.com⁠

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@restisclassified⁠

Video Editor: Vasco Andrade

Social Producer: Emma Jackson

Assistant Producer: Alfie Rowe

Producer: Becki Hills

Head of History: Dom Johnson

Exec Producer: Tony Pastor

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

155. The Road to Iraq: How 9/11 Changed Everything (Ep 3) May 10, 2026

Show notes

How significant a role did 9/11 play in the decision to go to war in Iraq? And why did Tony Blair commit to standing by George W. Bush “no matter what”?

Listen as David and Gordon continue their series on Iraq WMD, charting the moment the West’s relationship with the Middle East changed, forever.

-------------------

Sign-up for our free newsletter where producer Becki takes you behind the scenes of the show: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://mailchi.mp/goalhanger.com/tric-free-newsletter-sign⁠-up⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

-------------------

Just go to ⁠⁠therestisclassified.com⁠ or join on Apple Podcasts.

-------------------

Get a 10% discount on business PCs, printers and accessories using the code TRIC10. Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://HP.com/CLASSIFIED⁠⁠⁠⁠ for more information. T&C's apply.

-------------------

Email: ⁠⁠therestisclassified@goalhanger.com⁠

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@restisclassified⁠

Video Editor: Joe Pettit

Social Producer: Emma Jackson

Assistant Producer: Alfie Rowe

Producer: Becki Hills

Head of History: Dom Johnson

Exec Producer: Tony Pastor

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

154. The Road to Iraq: Saddam Hussein's Fatal Error (Ep 2) May 06, 2026

Show notes

Why did Saddam Hussein secretly destroy his weapons of mass destruction? When did the CIA start plotting against the Iraqi dictator? And did Hussein and Osama bin Laden ever meet?

In the second part of their series on Iraq WMD, David and Gordon chart how the mystery of Saddam Hussein’s weapons deepens.

-------------------

Sign-up for our free newsletter where producer Becki takes you behind the scenes of the show: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://mailchi.mp/goalhanger.com/tric-free-newsletter-sign⁠-up⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

-------------------

Just go to ⁠⁠therestisclassified.com⁠ or join on Apple Podcasts.

-------------------

Get a 10% discount on business PCs, printers and accessories using the code TRIC10. Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://HP.com/CLASSIFIED⁠⁠⁠⁠ for more information. T&C's apply.

-------------------

Email: ⁠⁠therestisclassified@goalhanger.com⁠

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@restisclassified⁠

Video Editor: Joe Pettit

Social Producer: Emma Jackson

Assistant Producer: Alfie Rowe

Producer: Becki Hills

Head of History: Dom Johnson

Exec Producer: Tony Pastor

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

153. The Road to Iraq: Weapons of Mass Destruction (Ep 1) May 03, 2026

Show notes

How did Saddam Hussein become one of history’s most notorious dictators? How did the Iran-Iraq war begin? And what really happened to Iraq’s weapons of mass destruction?

Listen as David and Gordon begin their 6-part series on one of history’s biggest intelligence failures: Iraq WMD.

-------------------

Sign-up for our free newsletter where producer Becki takes you behind the scenes of the show: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://mailchi.mp/goalhanger.com/tric-free-newsletter-sign⁠-up⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

-------------------

Just go to ⁠⁠therestisclassified.com⁠ or join on Apple Podcasts.

-------------------

Get a 10% discount on business PCs, printers and accessories using the code TRIC10. Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://HP.com/CLASSIFIED⁠⁠⁠⁠ for more information. T&C's apply.

-------------------

Email: ⁠⁠therestisclassified@goalhanger.com⁠

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@restisclassified⁠

Video Editor: Vasco Andrade

Social Producer: Emma Jackson

Assistant Producer: Alfie Rowe

Producer: Becki Hills

Head of History: Dom Johnson

Exec Producer: Tony Pastor

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

152. Britain’s Man Inside the IRA: Unmasking the Traitor (Ep 4) Apr 29, 2026

Show notes

What brought about Stakeknife’s downfall? How did the IRA react when they realised there was a spy at the very top of their organisation? And what was Operation Kenova, and how did it reveal the truth of the Stakeknife case?

In the final part of their journey into the infamous mole inside the IRA, David and Gordon delve into the fractious aftermath of Stakeknife’s exposure as a “tout”.

-------------------

THE REST IS CLASSIFIED LIVE 2026 at The Rest Is Fest: Buy your tickets ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to see David and Gordon live on stage at London’s Southbank Centre on 4 September: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/whats-on/the-rest-is-classified-live/⁠⁠⁠

-------------------

Sign-up for our free newsletter where producer Becki takes you behind the scenes of the show: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://mailchi.mp/goalhanger.com/tric-free-newsletter-sign⁠-up⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

-------------------

Just go to ⁠⁠therestisclassified.com⁠ or join on Apple Podcasts.

-------------------

Get a 10% discount on business PCs, printers and accessories using the code TRIC10. Visit ⁠⁠⁠https://HP.com/CLASSIFIED⁠⁠⁠ for more information. T&C's apply.

-------------------

Email: ⁠⁠therestisclassified@goalhanger.com⁠

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@restisclassified⁠

Video Editor: Charlie Rodwell

Social Producer: Emma Jackson

Assistant Producer: Alfie Rowe

Producer: Becki Hills

Head of History: Dom Johnson

Exec Producer: Tony Pastor

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

151. Britain’s Man Inside the IRA: From Spy to Executioner (Ep 3) Apr 26, 2026

Show notes

What happens when an agent has to commit horrific crimes whilst undercover? What did the British government know about Stakeknife’s crimes? And did the IRA suspect Scappaticci of being a double agent?

Listen as David and Gordon reach the height of Stakeknife’s power and explore the morality of a British agent committing murder undercover.

-------------------

THE REST IS CLASSIFIED LIVE 2026 at The Rest Is Fest: Buy your tickets ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to see David and Gordon live on stage at London’s Southbank Centre on 4 September: ⁠⁠https://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/whats-on/the-rest-is-classified-live/⁠⁠

-------------------

Sign-up for our free newsletter where producer Becki takes you behind the scenes of the show: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://mailchi.mp/goalhanger.com/tric-free-newsletter-sign⁠-up⁠⁠⁠⁠

-------------------

Just go to ⁠⁠therestisclassified.com⁠ or join on Apple Podcasts.

-------------------

Get a 10% discount on business PCs, printers and accessories using the code TRIC10. Visit ⁠⁠https://HP.com/CLASSIFIED⁠⁠ for more information. T&C's apply.

-------------------

Email: ⁠⁠therestisclassified@goalhanger.com⁠

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@restisclassified⁠

Video Editor: Adam Thornton

Social Producer: Emma Jackson

Assistant Producer: Alfie Rowe

Producer: Becki Hills

Head of History: Dom Johnson

Exec Producer: Tony Pastor

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Why Do Russian Spies Interfere in Global Politics? Apr 23, 2026

Show notes

What does a Russian interference campaign look like? What did Russian spies get up to in Hungary recently? And are Chinese spies the next threat to international politics?

Listen as David and Gordon are joined by novelist, screenwriter and journalist Tom Bradby, for this special bonus episode to discuss Russian interference in global politics and the murky world where politics and espionage intersect.

-------------------

Stream Secret Service now on ITVX. Visit https://www.itv.com/watch/secret-service/10a3104

-------------------

Sign-up for our free newsletter where producer Becki takes you behind the scenes of the show: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://mailchi.mp/goalhanger.com/tric-free-newsletter-sign⁠-up⁠⁠⁠⁠

-------------------

Just go to ⁠⁠therestisclassified.com⁠ or join on Apple Podcasts.

-------------------

Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠therestisclassified@goalhanger.com⁠⁠⁠

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@restisclassified⁠

Social Producer: Emma Jackson

Account Manager: Emma Densley

Assistant Producer: Alfie Rowe

Producer: Becki Hills

Head of History: Dom Johnson

Exec Producer: Tony Pastor

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

150. Britain’s Man Inside the IRA: How to Run a Killer (Ep 2) Apr 22, 2026

Show notes

How did the British security forces recruit agents during The Troubles? And how did the IRA try and hunt down those who had become informers?

In the second part of their series on the infamous Stakeknife, David and Gordon explore the murky underworld of informers and agents during The Troubles in Northern Ireland.

-------------------

THE REST IS CLASSIFIED LIVE 2026 at The Rest Is Fest: Buy your tickets ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to see David and Gordon live on stage at London’s Southbank Centre on 4 September: ⁠https://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/whats-on/the-rest-is-classified-live/⁠

-------------------

Sign-up for our free newsletter where producer Becki takes you behind the scenes of the show: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://mailchi.mp/goalhanger.com/tric-free-newsletter-sign⁠-up⁠⁠⁠

-------------------

Just go to ⁠⁠therestisclassified.com⁠ or join on Apple Podcasts.

-------------------

Get a 10% discount on business PCs, printers and accessories using the code TRIC10. Visit ⁠https://HP.com/CLASSIFIED⁠ for more information. T&C's apply.

-------------------

Email: ⁠⁠therestisclassified@goalhanger.com⁠

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@restisclassified⁠

Video Editor: Lorcan Moullier

Social Producer: Emma Jackson

Assistant Producer: Alfie Rowe

Producer: Becki Hills

Head of History: Dom Johnson

Exec Producer: Tony Pastor

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

149. Britain’s Man Inside the IRA: The Truth Behind Stakeknife (Ep 1) Apr 19, 2026

Show notes

Who was the real man behind the infamous codename, “Stakeknife”? Why did he join the ranks of the IRA? And how did he become a spy for the British?

Listen as David and Gordon begin a four-part series delving into the true story behind the British state’s most valuable IRA mole during The Troubles.

-------------------

Sign-up for our free newsletter where producer Becki takes you behind the scenes of the show: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://mailchi.mp/goalhanger.com/tric-free-newsletter-sign⁠-up⁠⁠⁠⁠

-------------------

Just go to ⁠⁠therestisclassified.com⁠ or join on Apple Podcasts.

-------------------

Get a 10% discount on business PCs, printers and accessories using the code TRIC10. Visit ⁠⁠https://HP.com/CLASSIFIED⁠⁠ for more information. T&C's apply.

-------------------

Email: ⁠⁠therestisclassified@goalhanger.com⁠

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@restisclassified⁠

Video Editor: Bruno di Castri

Social Producer: Emma Jackson

Assistant Producer: Alfie Rowe

Producer: Becki Hills

Head of History: Dom Johnson

Exec Producer: Tony Pastor

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices