Down the Line: a Secret Army podcast

• Series 2, Episode 6: Scorpion

  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 change, class, and dignity. As usual we also hear from Ryan after he watches the episode for the very first time and Alex who has a very different take on Scorpion to AJ and Andy... Elsewhere, AJ details their visit to the immersive exhibit at the Avro Heritage Museum:  https://www.avroheritagemuseum.co.uk/ and the experiences of Bomb Aimer Frank Tolley: https://www.iwm.org.uk/history/frank-tolley   If you would like to contact us then please email us on, or send a voicenote to: [email protected] or send us a message on Bluesky: AJ is on secretarmypod.bsky.social while Andy can be found at andypodding.bsky.social. AJ is also still on Twitter at @secretarmypod. We'd love to hear from you, especially your takes on the Series 2 episodes The Big One and Little Old Lady which are in preparation. Thank you for listening and for coming down the line with us again. Next Time: Weekend

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• Series 2, Episode 5: Not According to Plan

  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 Francois; and the portrayal of the Belgian black market.  Elsewhere they explore the development of Albert and Monique's relationship, the fate and travels of a perfume box and discuss their 'least 5' favourite episodes of Secret Army, of which this is most definitely one. As well as hearing from Alex and Ryan on their thoughts we hear from Belgian Peter Thiebaut on his memories of the series. We also mark the passing of Andree Dumon, the last survivor of the Comete Line, the evasion network on which Lifeline is based: https://heldenvanhetverzet.be/artikels/in-memoriam-andree-nadine-dumon-1922-2025-english-version If you would like to contact us then please email us on, or send a voicenote to: [email protected] or send us a message on Bluesky: AJ is on secretarmypod.bsky.social while Andy can be found at andypodding.bsky.social. AJ is also still on Twitter at @secretarmypod. We'd love to hear from you, especially your takes on the Series 2 episodes Weekend and The Big One which are in preparation. Thank you! Next Time: Scorpion

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• Series 2, Episode 4: Trapped

  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 that the show eventually becomes her story. From his perspective as a writer he also celebrates how unique each character is, with Madeleine, introduced in this episode, being a great example.  Other aspects of the show discussed in this episode include: background noises in the Candide; hat-action; eating and smoking in hospital; women being bored by men; a surplus of courgettes; and how, in Joe's opinion, N J Crisp effectively created Secret Army! We also hear, as usual, from Ryan and from Adam Wright who first became acquainted with the series on Talking Pictures.  Joe Lidster can be found at: https://linktr.ee/josephlidster  The book AJ mentions is Belgium in the Second World War: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Belgium-Second-World-Jean-Michel-Veranneman/dp/1783376074 The faded Netherlands Ry Wagons-Lits railway poster seen behind Natalie in this episode (and which has subsequently been purchased by Ryan for Andy) is at the top of this webpage and in full further down the page: https://retours.eu/en/60-bagdatopoulos-railway-posters/  If you would like to contact us then please email us on, or send a voicenote to: [email protected] or send us a message on Bluesky: AJ is on secretarmypod.bsky.social while Andy can be found at andypodding.bsky.social. AJ is also still on Twitter at @secretarmypod. We'd love to hear from you, especially your takes on the Series 2 episodes Scorpion and Weekend which are in preparation. Thank you! Next Time: Not According to Plan

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• Series 2, Episode 3: Lucky Piece

  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 directorial choices made by Viktors Ritelis. Elsewhere, Andy is excited to share a new location find, while AJ debates if Bradley is a cat person or not. We also hear from Andy's partner, Ryan; Alex Wilcock; and our end credits guest: Dr Madeleine Jowett.  The book that AJ mentions is 'London 1945' by Maureen Waller. If you would like to contact us then please email us on, or send a voicenote to: [email protected] or send us a message on Bluesky: AJ is on secretarmypod.bsky.social while Andy can be found at andypodding.bsky.social. AJ is also still on Twitter at @secretarmypod. We'd love to hear from you, especially your takes on the Series 2 episodes Scorpion and Weekend which are in preparation. Thank you! Next Time: Trapped (with special guest Joe Lidster)

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• Interview with Constantine Gregory (Ivan in Russian Roulette)

  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 wth us. If you enjoyed the interview and would like to show your appreciation for his contribution, then please consider donating to his chosen charity: Turning Tides: https://www.turning-tides.org.uk/ which seeks to end local homelessness in the UK.  If you would like to contact us then please email us on, or send a voicenote to: [email protected] or send us a message on Bluesky: AJ is on secretarmypod.bsky.social while Andy can be found at andypodding.bsky.social. AJ is also still on Twitter at @secretarmypod. We'd love to hear from you, especially your takes on the Series 2 episodes Not According to Plan and Scorpion which are currently in preparation. Thank you! Next Time: Lucky Piece

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