Goalhanger
350 British civilians are dead and Russia is responsible. Number 10 hits back as a hapless Prime Minister plays his hand in the age of regime decapitation.
Bear Hunt is a technically rigorous action drama exploring the political manoeuvres, operational challenges and conflict expertise required to assassinate a head of state.
Billed as a British Bourne, this geopolitical thriller pulls listeners into the white-hot corridors of power in Westminster and Washington. To the battlefields where the nation’s best learnt their killing trade. And to the mission itself, deep behind enemy lines.
Goalhanger’s award-winning drama team worked with current and former military and defence professionals to shape the most accurate and daring mission conceivable: a forensic exploration of what it takes, in the modern age, to kill the President of the Russian Federation.
This behind the scenes feature contains spoilers. Gordon Corera (The Rest Is Classified) interviews Tony Pastor (Co-Founder, Goalhanger) David Allen (Technical Producer) Joel Emery (Writer) and Adam Jarrell (Director). Strong language. Listener discretion is advised. Music provided by Audionetwork Copyright 2026. Property of Goalhanger. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The final phase of Duffy's mission underway. Shaun Wade is fast approaching. COBRA; scrambling to collect their units and get them out at the earliest opportunity. All the while Chinese forces are hunting down their target. Strong language, violence. Listener discretion is advised. Donald Pirie as Tom "Duffy" MacDuff Naomi Miller as Mel Murray Lauren Ingram as Miriam Brann Michael Lyle as Addie Azikiwe Adam Jarrell as Keith Boxall Freddie Trenholme as Shaun Wade Freddie Trenholme as Charlie Higgs Shin-Fei Chen as Blackbird Amir Haider as Mo Majeed Trev Fleming as Master Vaner Paul Harrop as Hughesy Jack Ayres as Jamie Aarons Jenny Mac as Sarah Nicholls Thomas Mitchells as Alex Kernoway Michael Ashtiany as Scott "Robbo" Robertson Lance Fuller as US President Harry Frost as Simeon Shaw Trev Fleming as Show Voice Additional voices Dennis Zhao Adam Jarrell Joel Emery Chen Lei Wu Shin-Fei Chen Darcey Ferguson Lucy Carpenter Pete Gold Hannah Baxter-Eve Edited by: Joel Emery Technical Producer: David Allen Written by: Joel Emery Directed by: Adam Jarrell and Joel Emery Producer: Neil Fearn Executive Producer: Tony Pastor Music provided by Audionetwork Copyright 2026. Property of Goalhanger. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Shaun Wade has a location. The Hotel Nuo is the only possible spot in Beijing where Duffy could take out his target. He even has a room. But he needs sign-off from London to raid it. Miriam is in Doha for the Russian peace summit. Duffy tells Robbo of his plan. The Russian President is due to land at Tianjin airport and the parade on the Chang'an Road is imminent. Strong language, violence. Listener discretion is advised. Donald Pirie as Tom "Duffy" MacDuff Naomi Miller as Mel Murray Lauren Ingram as Miriam Brann Michael Lyle as Addie Azikiwe Adam Jarrell as Keith Boxall Freddie Trenholme as Shaun Wade Shin-Fei Chen as Blackbird Jack Ayres as Jamie Aarons Michael Ashtiany as Scott "Robbo" Robertson Jenny Mac as Sarah Nicholls Thomas Mitchells as Alex Kernoway Eoin Lynch as Father Corcoran Chen Lei Wu as Tao Dimitry Rozental as Russian President Trev Fleming as Show Voice Additional voices Dennis Zhao Adam Jarrell Joel Emery Chen Lei Wu Shin-Fei Chen Nikita Chernov Darcey Ferguson Lucy Carpenter Pete Gold Edited by: Joel Emery Technical Producer: David Allen Written by: Joel Emery Directed by: Adam Jarrell and Joel Emery Producer: Neil Fearn Executive Producer: Tony Pastor Music provided by Audionetwork Copyright 2026. Property of Goalhanger. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The vice of the United States and Russia begin to tighten around the Miriam Brann government. Backed into a corner on her own deal, she flies to Washington, to seek guidance. Meanwhile Duffy makes a flight of his own upon receiving a coded message from an old friend. Brann ally and friend Sarah Nicholls pitches her bombshell revelations to Jamie Aarons, Leader of the Opposition, a vital player in her husband's move against Brann. Strong language, violence. Listener discretion is advised. Donald Pirie as Tom "Duffy" MacDuff Michael Ashtiany as Scott "Robbo" Robertson Naomi Miller as Mel Murray Adam Jarrell as Keith Boxall Jack Ayres as Jamie Aarons Freddie Trenholme as Shaun Wade Shin-Fei Chen as Blackbird Lauren Ingram as Miriam Brann Michael Lyle as Addie Azikiwe Lance Fuller as US President Trev Fleming as Master Vaner Paul Harrop as Hughesy Jenny Mac as Sarah Nicholls Darcey Ferguson as Steph Trev Fleming as Show Voice Additional voices Dennis Zhao Adam Jarrell Joel Emery Chen Lei Wu Shin-Fei Chen Edited by: Joel Emery Technical Producer: David Allen Written by: Joel Emery Directed by: Adam Jarrell and Joel Emery Producer: Neil Fearn Executive Producer: Tony Pastor Music provided by Audionetwork Copyright 2026. Property of Goalhanger. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The plan to infiltrate Special Forces Sgt. Shaun Wade into Beijing under the cover of Charlie Higgs is executed. Agent Blackbird of British Intelligence awaits link-up on the ground. Duffy has made it to Beijing as Lead Instructor for PAP/Wujing 'The Snow Leopards'. Meanwhile in London, Miriam Brann is coming under pressure from the Opposition, led by its left-wing leader, Jamie Aarons. Her Russia deal begins to sour with the British public. Long-time ally and journalist Sarah Nicholls wants to understand what has happened with Belgrave Square and Sgt. MacDuff. Strong language, violence. Listener discretion is advised. Donald Pirie as Tom "Duffy" MacDuff Naomi Miller as Mel Murray Jack Ayres as Jamie Aarons Freddie Trenholme as Shaun Wade Shin-Fei Chen as Blackbird Lauren Ingram as Miriam Brann Michael Lyle as Addie Azikiwe Trev Fleming as Master Vaner Paul Harrop as Hughesy Harry Attwell as Dan Whitworth Chen Lei Wu as Tao Jenny Mac as Sarah Nicholls Freddie Trenholme as Charlie Higgs Eoin Lynch as Father Corcoran Darcey Ferguson as Steph Trev Fleming as Show Voice Additional voices Dennis Zhao Adam Jarrell Joel Emery Shin-Fei Chen Lucy Carpenter Jenny Mac Pete Gold Hannah Baxter-Eve Edited by: Joel Emery Technical Producer: David Allen Written by: Joel Emery Directed by: Adam Jarrell and Joel Emery Producer: Neil Fearn Executive Producer: Tony Pastor Music provided by Audionetwork Copyright 2026. Property of Goalhanger. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
With the operation discovered, Miriam Brann has a decision to make. The mission must be stopped. The unreachable Duffy must be reached. The act must be prevented. Meanwhile Duffy is now in China, although not in his desired location of Beijing, but rather the Changbai Mountains in North Eastern China. He finds an opportunity to get himself training the right personnel, in the right place, for the right time.Strong language, violence. Listener discretion is advised. Naomi Miller as Mel Murray Michael Lyle as Addie Azikiwe Lauren Ingram as Miriam Brann Donald Pirie as Tom "Duffy" MacDuff Chen Lei Wu as Tao Adam Jarrell as Keith Boxall Al Murray as Major Gen. Grant Garson Freddie Trenholme as Shaun Wade Jack Ayres as Jamie Aarons Dominic Sandbrook as Hugh Freddie Trenholme as Charlie Higgs Michael Ashtiany as Scott "Robbo" Robertson Dan Rhun as Zach Darcey Ferguson as Steph Trev Fleming as Show Voice Additional voices Dennis Zhao Adam JarrellJoel Emery Edited by: Joel Emery Technical Producer: David Allen Written by: Joel Emery Directed by: Adam Jarrell and Joel Emery Producer: Neil Fearn Executive Producer: Tony Pastor Music provided by Audionetwork Copyright 2026. Property of Goalhanger. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The hunt for the missing Belgravia asset is setting Downing Street ablaze. Addie Azikiwe and SIS trigger undercover agents in Grand Cayman to seek the beneficiary director of ALMA Ltd. Meanwhile in the Strait of Hormuz, Captain Vaner is tasked with moving his MV Steadfast cargo through the blockade. Strong language, violence. Listener discretion is advised. Michael Lyle as Addie Azikiwe Lauren Ingram as Miriam Brann Donald Pirie as Tom "Duffy" MacDuff Trev Fleming as Master Vaner Paul Harrop as Hughesy Thomas Mitchells as Alex Kernoway Naomi Miller as Mel Murray Christopher Tester as James Murray Oscar Pirie as Luke Murray Dominic Sandbrook as Hugh Kelly MacBride as Lylah Sean B as Wes Paul Waggott as Paul Marta da Silva as Beatrice Pete Gold as Martin Lance Fuller as US President Dimitry Rozental as Russian President Darcey Ferguson as Steph Trev Fleming as Show Voice Additional voices Galen Arnett Adam Jarrell Joel Emery Edited by: Joel Emery Technical Producer: David Allen Written by: Joel Emery Directed by: Adam Jarrell and Joel Emery Producer: Neil Fearn Executive Producer: Tony Pastor Music provided by Audionetwork Copyright 2026. Property of Goalhanger. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
2026. Regime decapitation. Maduro captured. Khamenei dead. Miriam Brann is 100 days into her tenure as UK Prime Minister. Her overhaul in full force. Spearheaded by Chief of Staff Addie Azikiwe. He has a new task. This one set by Washington. Return Russia's seized assets. All of them. Strong language, violence. Listener discretion is advised. Michael Lyle as Addie Azikiwe Lauren Ingram as Miriam Brann Donald Pirie as Tom "Duffy" MacDuff Luke Jasztal as Sir Pilgrim Moore Trev Fleming as Master Vaner Paul Harrop as Hughesy Harry Attwell as Dan Whitworth Thomas Mitchells as Alex Kernoway Jenny Mac as Sarah Nicholls Hannah Baxter-Eve as Rebecca Harp Darcey Ferguson as Steph Isi Adeola as Vince Jeff Tullin as Albert Amir Haider as Mo Majeed Marc Rico Ludwig as US Ambassador Michael Ashtiany as Scott "Robbo" Robertson Macdonald Nkemda as Patrick Sabobo Trev Fleming as Show Voice Additional voices Adam Jarrell Joel Emery Jenny Mac Lucy Carpenter Dan Rhun Dennis Li Jamaldeen H Pete Gold Jasmine Kerr Edited by: Joel Emery Technical Producer: David Allen Written by: Joel Emery Directed by: Adam Jarrell and Joel Emery Producer: Neil Fearn Executive Producer: Tony Pastor Music provided by Audionetwork Copyright 2026. Property of Goalhanger. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Sir Pilgrim Moore has found his man. Duffy is back on British soil. Prime Minister Alex Kernoway takes his case and his country's plight to NATO. All under the creeping shadow of the forthcoming election. All the momentum is with Miriam Brann. Strong language, violence. Listener discretion is advised. Donald Pirie as Tom "Duffy" MacDuff Luke Jasztal as Sir Pilgrim Moore Thomas Mitchells as Alex Kernoway Naomi Miller as Mel Murray Lauren Ingram as Miriam Brann Jenny Mac as Sarah Nicholls Magnus Rook as Felix Batzing Nalan Burgess as Azra Simsek Dimitry Rozental as Russian President Naomi Miller as Clare Amir Haider as Dipesh Choudhury Trev Fleming as Show Voice Additional voices Adam Jarrell Joel Emery Lucy Carpenter Dan Rhun Pete Gold Jasmine Kerr Hannah Baxter-Eve Edited by: Joel Emery Technical Producer: David Allen Written by: Joel Emery Directed by: Adam Jarrell and Joel Emery Producer: Neil Fearn Executive Producer: Tony Pastor Music provided by Audionetwork Copyright 2026. Property of Goalhanger. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Former Spymaster Sir Pilgrim Moore is establishing a feasibility study. He consults with the finest the British defence and intelligence communities have to offer. To fulfil his life's work. Once the linchpin between SIS and Number 10, Pilgrim now seems an insurgent against a stilted Whitehall-washed network of middle-management. A deep and covert technical plunge is required when devising his latest and final plan... to kill the President of the Russian Federation. Strong language, violence. Listener discretion is advised. Luke Jasztal as Sir Pilgrim Moore Thomas Mitchells as Alex Kernoway Donald Pirie as Tom "Duffy" MacDuff Adam Jarrell as Keith Boxall Harry Frost as Simeon Shaw Tom Wylde as Prof. Wyn Ellis Joel Emery as Daniel Marcell Jeff Tullin as Albert Michael Ashtiany as Scott "Robbo" Robertson Nalan Burgess as Azra Simsek Lance Fuller as US President Marc Rico-Ludwig as President's Staffer Trev Fleming as Show Voice Additional voices Galen Arnett Mike Provenzano Sean B Edited by: Joel Emery Technical Producer: David Allen Written by: Joel Emery Directed by: Adam Jarrell and Joel Emery Producer: Neil Fearn Executive Producer: Tony Pastor Music provided by Audionetwork Copyright 2026. Property of Goalhanger. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
A British passenger jet has crashed into the North Sea with 350 on board. GCHQ monitoring and Royal Navy vessels establish GPS interference from a hostile power brought it down. With an election just weeks away Prime Minister Alex Kernoway's options are limited, Washington is insisting on restraint in an effort to preserve peace talks in Ukraine. 15 years earlier Tom "Duffy" MacDuff was in the heat of battle in Helmand province. Strong language, violence. Listener discretion is advised. Thomas Mitchells as Alex Kernoway Naomi Miller as Mel Murray Luke Jasztal as Sir Pilgrim Moore Donald Pirie as Tom "Duffy" MacDuff Freddie Trenholme as Shaun Wade Michael Ashtiany as Scott "Robbo" Robertson Lauren Ingram as Miriam Brann Nalan Burgess as Azra Simsek Scott Tunnix as Sam Kernoway Karim Kronfli as Peter Kernoway Romy Emery as Grace Kernoway Muhammad Luqman as Mohammed "Ram" Ramdani Lance Fuller as US President Denis Michallet as President Tousart Nicolas Sayce as Anthony Harcourt Dan Rhun as Phil Joel Emery as Ben Harry Frost as Air Investigation Technician Trev Fleming as Show Voice Additional voices Adam Jarrell Darcey Ferguson Joel Emery Rahmat Dewan Lucy Carpenter Edited by: Joel Emery Technical Producer: David Allen Written by: Joel Emery Directed by: Adam Jarrell and Joel Emery Producer: Neil Fearn Executive Producer: Tony Pastor Music provided by Audionetwork Copyright 2026. Property of Goalhanger. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
350 British civilians are dead and Russia is responsible. Number 10 hits back as a hapless Prime Minister plays his hand in the age of regime decapitation. Bear Hunt is a technically rigorous action drama exploring the political manoeuvres, operational challenges and conflict expertise required to assassinate a head of state. Billed as a British Bourne, this geopolitical thriller pulls listeners into the white-hot corridors of power in Westminster and Washington. To the battlefields where the nation’s best learnt their killing trade. And to the mission itself, deep behind enemy lines. Goalhanger’s award-winning drama team worked with current and former military and defence professionals to shape the most accurate and daring mission conceivable: a forensic exploration of what it takes, in the modern age, to kill the President of the Russian Federation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices