Down the Line: a Secret Army podcast

AJ and Andy interview Henrietta 'Hetty' Baynes who played Yvonne in three different episodes of Secret Army. Hetty recalls working on the Candide studio set, rehearsing in Acton and the joy of working with the series regulars. She also reflects on what motivated Yvonne and the character's possible journey after the war. Hetty also recounts highlights from her varied TV career including Bergerac, R...

AJ and Andy explore James Andrew Hall's second contribution to Secret Army: Bait, a clever tale centring around a woman, Catherine Bidout, living in Brussels who has not been interned despite being British. She is part of a trap prepared by Kessler, and Brandt is in danger of falling right into it. When Lifeline are also summoned to help, both the future of the evasion line and the Luftwaffe Major...

This month AJ & Andy appraise Michael Chapman's sole contribution to Secret Army: Hymn to Freedom, which explores the political and personal motivations of the Quisling-like Van Reijn as he attempts to leave Occupied Belgium behind.  Andy has issues with Chapman's storytelling style, while AJ has cause to sing a refrain of 'Interchangeable Men'. Elsewhere, a draughts trope irritates Andy, AJ c...

This month AJ and Andy review one of the most celebrated episodes of the first series in which Lifeline is threatened when Monique gets too close to an SS officer impersonating an evader. As well as exploring the welcome character development for both Monique and Albert, and the bravura performance by Angela Richards in particular, the pair also discuss Clifford Rose's portrayal of the ruthless Ke...

AJ interviews actor and writer Christopher Douglas who played downed South African airman Noel Uys in the Series 1 episode Identity in Doubt. Christopher is now best known for playing Ed Reardon in radio's Ed Reardon's week but was happy to cast his mind back to 1977, his co-stars, director Vik Ritelis, and his time in the mud!  If you enjoyed this episode please donate to Christopher's chosen cha...

When a lock keeper is killed and Jacques is injured, Natalie's fate looks uncertain as she is taken hostage by an impetuous evader whose identity is in doubt... AJ and Andy critique 'the one with the mud' and find a lot more to discuss and explore than this episode's memorable denouement. There is high praise for Juliet Hammond-Hill's performance as Natalie as the character takes centre-stage for...

In today's mid-month bonus edition AJ interviews Bridget Bree who has lived in Belgium since 2017. Bridget is currently renting 28 Grand Place, the location used as the exterior of the Candide in the second and third series of Secret Army. Bridget and the '316 community' ( https://www.316.be ) are renting the building as a space for an art exhibition until the summer. Bridget is a fan of the serie...

There is trouble in Paris and Lisa is about to get in very deep water in nearby Senlis. But when her uncle Gaston finds himself interrogated by Kessler himself it is set to be a dark day for Lifeline.  As they review Too Near Home, AJ and Andy discuss its writer, master of suspense and spy storytelling - Robert Barr, the reliably distinctive direction of Viktors Ritelis and, thanks to the appearan...

This month AJ and Andy review one of their favourite episodes from the first series: Guilt. Naturally, they love the more active role it affords Angela Richards' Monique as she follows Curtis into France to determine if he is a double agent.  Guilt is of course a continuation of the story begun in Lost Sheep, dealing with the aftermath of the betrayal of Flt. Lt. Peter Romsey and the death of resi...

We are just too good to you! In this, another special extra edition of Down the Line, AJ catches up with Christopher Guard who played Peter Romsey in Lost Sheep. Chris shares his memories of working on Secret Army and also reflects more broadly on his time working in television in the 70s. He also shares details of his entertaining autobiography: And Then It Was Now, which is available in print an...

Its a new year and a new time slot! From now on we will be publishing new episodes on the first Saturday of every month. Today, AJ and Andy tackle Lost Sheep, the seventh episode of the first series, which features Christopher Guard as evader Peter Romsey - the Lost Sheep of the title - and Peter Barkworth as writer Hugh Neville. As well as celebrating the performances and exploring Norman John Cr...

In a special Christmas episode Andy takes up the editing reins for a change and guides Saint Nicholas's festive sleigh as he and AJ celebrate Secret Army and this podcast with a little help from Albert, Monique, Natalie. Max and a group of Belgian orphans. As well as reflecting on what they have learned through collaborating and creating together, there's also a fiendish quiz and some entirely rel...

This week AJ interviews Angela Richards who played Monique Duchamps in all three series of Secret Army. Rather than covering her time on Secret Army (as discussed in Andy's 2020 interview with her for his UK TV Drama Podcast - see link below) AJ covers brand new ground with the supremely talented actress and singer.  Music: For All Our Yesterdays written and performed by Angela Richards Andy's int...

This time AJ and Andy review Growing Up - the very first episode of Secret Army to go before the cameras back in April 1977. It tells the story of a young Belgian boy - Jean-Paul Dornes played by Max Harris - who discovers and assists a downed airman - Sgt Clfford Howson played by Norman Eshley - with tragic consequences. Once again the Lifeline regulars (in AJ's head 'The Baker Street Irregulars'...

Today the Down the Line team review the episode that Andy always describes as the start of Secret Army proper: Second Chance. Although it introduces yet more new characters: Hans and Lena, the story has our Lifeline regulars more centre stage and we finally hear Monique sing. It's a tightly plotted piece with a weighty moral dilemma at its absorbing and memorable conclusion. Elsewhere AJ is disapp...

We've reached episode 4 of the first series and Arden Winch's Child's Play. While AJ has beef with Mr Winch, Andy struggles to believe this is directed by Viktors Ritelis. Although both agree that this is not the best episode of Secret Army, due to the sheer amount of exposition and the fact that it takes place down the line away from most of the Lifeline regulars, they still find things to enjoy...

This week AJ and Andy tackle the third episode of Secret Army's first series: Radishes with Butter, written by John Brason and directed by Paul Annett.  It chiefly deals with the Final Solution: the deportation of Jews from Brussels to death camps, via the story of one family - the Schliemanns - who Curtis wants Lifeline to help even though Lisa insists that they cannot get involved. At Gestapo HQ...

This week AJ and Andy explore the filmic second episode of Secret Army: Sergeant on the Run. This leads them to consider the unique directorial style of Latvian-born Viktors Ritelis with his penchant for metaphor and stark European realism. They also discuss how this episode might have placed better later in the run due to its focus on a guest character - Sergeant Walker played by Martin Burrows -...

In this special bonus interview AJ speaks with Secret Army's principal designer Austin Ruddy who created all the key sets for the series including all the Candide interiors, the German offices at the Avenue Louise, and the Colbert family home.  Ruddy describes how he became a TV production designer and his memories of working on Secret Army. If you enjoyed this bonus episode you might like to dona...

This week your hosts, AJ and Andy, talk a little more about the inception of the series, specifically the contribution of creator (uncredited) and producer Gerard (Gerry) Glaister) and script editor and writer John Brason, as well as reviewing the first episode: Lisa - Code Name Yvette, written by Willis Hall and directed by Kenneth Ives.  Hall had the unenviable task of writing an opening instalm...

Introducing 'Down the Line' a new podcast exploring, reviewing and celebrating the classic BBC wartime series Secret Army. In this special introductory episode your hosts, Andy and AJ describe what their new podcast will include and why they love Secret Army.  New episodes will be available every 2 weeks and will explore every instalment in depth. Along the way there will be bonus interviews with...