The Spy Behind the Iron Curtain

Dan Snow's History Hit

This episode contains high-speed chases, modified cars and a mission to uncover secret enemy technology. It's everything you'd find in a James Bond movie, but also on a Cold War BRIXMIS mission- one that today's guest Dave Butler was part of, gathering intelligence on Soviet firepower as Britain prepared for World War Three.

During their time in East Germany, Dave and his fellow officers were given the opportunity to legally break the speed limits and laws and ignore the police; it was dangerous work and the trick was to avoid being caught by the enemy cars chasing them. For the 70th anniversary of Ian Fleming's first Bond book 'Casino Royale' Dan finds out if life as a spy is really anything like the Bond stories.

Produced by Mariana Des Forges, edited and mixed by Dougal Patmore.

Clips courtesy of

Casino Royale (2006) / Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Sony Pictures, Columbia Pictures, Sony Pictures Releasing/ Martin Campbell

Casino Royale (1967) / Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer / John Huston

The Graham Norton Show/ BBC

Goldfinger / United Artists/ Guy Hamilton

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