4. On the Road

Ben Macintyre's new book centres on an unknown Cold War story set in 1980s Tehran. Today, a KGB double agent makes a perilous journey. Read by Jamie Parker.

The best-selling historian Ben Macintyre's new book is a timely and remarkable story of Cold War espionage set in 1980's Tehran during the Iranian Revolution.

It's 1981, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini has swept to power and the Soviets are preparing to overthrow his fledgling Islamist regime. If their plans were to succeed, the American response could see the Western superpower resort to nuclear weapons. One double agent sets out to thwart the KGB and change the course of the Cold War. In turning to the MI6, the Soviet spy set in train a series of events that continue to have ramifications in the Middle-East and throughout the world today.

Ben Macintyre is the acclaimed author of many best-selling books including several titles which have featured as Book of the Weeks on BBC Radio 4. They include The Siege, Colditz, The Spy and the Traitor and Operation Mincemeat. Many of his books have been adapted for stage and screen. Series three of SAS: Rogue Heroes is in production, and The Siege is being adapted for the screen. Ben Macintyre is a columnist and Associate Editor at The Times.

Jamie Parker is an award-winning English actor and singer known for originating the role of Harry Potter in the West End and Broadway productions of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. He won the 2017 Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actor and received a Tony Award nomination. He also was in the original cast of The History Boys by Alan Bennet. Alongside his stage and screen work, he has appeared in numerous radio dramas.

Abridged by Katrin Williams
Produced by Elizabeth Allard