A groundbreaking podcast series from Sky News has laid bare the critical vulnerabilities in the United Kingdom's national defence, drawing on astonishingly frank testimony from former ministers. The seventh episode of 'The Wargame', titled 'The Big Bluff', was released on Wednesday 3 December 2025.
Revealing Candid Interviews With Former Defence Chiefs
The investigative series, produced in collaboration with Tortoise Media, features remarkably open interviews with nearly every individual who has served as Defence Secretary since the Cold War concluded. These conversations form the core of a chilling exploration into how prepared—or unprepared—the nation truly is for a major conflict.
Written and presented by Sky News' own Security and Defence Editor, Deborah Haynes, the podcast employs a narrative-driven 'what-if' scenario. It meticulously imagines the unfolding of a hypothetical Russian attack on the UK. The format then brings together former ministers, retired military chiefs, and other top experts to work through how the country could be defended in such a crisis.
A Live Event to Experience the Crisis Firsthand
To deepen public understanding, Sky News is hosting a special live event in London. 'The Wargame: Decoded' is scheduled for 29 January 2026. This unique experience is designed to place attendees in the mindset of the decision-makers who participated in the original exercise.
Deborah Haynes will be joined by several high-profile participants from the podcast, including former Defence Secretary Sir Ben Wallace, ex-Home Secretary Amber Rudd, and former Foreign Secretary Jack Straw. They will discuss the intense pressures they faced, the reasoning behind their simulated decisions, and the stark realities of crisis management.
Attendees will also get a chance to engage with key moments from the wargame themselves, offering an immersive insight into the monumental challenges of national defence strategy.
The Central Question of National Preparedness
The podcast forces listeners to confront two urgent and interrelated questions. First, how would the UK actually respond in a moment of severe international crisis? Second, and perhaps more importantly, how prepared are we right now?
The series suggests that while potential adversaries have a clear understanding of the UK's strategic weaknesses, the same level of awareness may be dangerously lacking among the British public and within political discourse. By simulating conflict and interrogating past policymakers, 'The Wargame' aims to bridge that gap in understanding and spark a vital conversation about the future of the nation's security.
