Terrifying TV experiment shows what would happen if Russia attacked Britain as politicians respond
A new show which puts politicians through the ringer as they simulate high-stakes war briefs is coming to your television tonight (21 September).
Ever wondered how the UK Government would react from the first inkling of an impending attack, to the full-scale war efforts?
Now you don't have to. Sky has just released its TV show, which sees real-life political figures come together to enact a simulation of what would happen if a country like Russia, was to attack Great Britian.
The Wargame's trailer, which you can watch right now, explores the moment in time where an alternative reality takes over.
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This time, Russian aggression dominates headlines, and the people in the room have to put their heads together to figure out the best plan of action to protect their nations.
The 'what if' thriller sees the likes of former MI6 officer Christopher Steele, politician Michael Gove, former Labour chair Harriet Harman, former First Minister of Scotland, Nicola Sturgeon, her former Secretary of State for Scotland Jim Murphy, General Sir Richard Barrons, former Secretary of State and Defence Penny Mourdant, Baroness Sayeeda Warsi and Kim Darroch, take on the big bad threat.
The four-part show is a documentary series, which is based on the Sky News podcast.
Produced by The Garden, The Wargame will allow viewers to watch as the experts are sealed in a COBR‑style crisis room have to make minute‑by‑minute decisions under immense pressure to protect and save as many as they can.
The first episode tonight is set around 'the assassination of two RAF fighter pilots' which 'coincides with a crippling cyberattack on the NHS in Yorkshire', says Sky.
"As Prime Minister Michael Gove convenes COBR, a suspected Russian spyship, the Orlan, is detected suspiciously close to critical undersea communication cables in Scottish waters."
From there, the leaders will need to do all they can to keep the region safe.
However, episode two will bring 'the biggest loss of military life in a single day since World War Two' as things spiral.
Here's how it'll play out:
- Prime Minister - The Rt Hon. the Lord Gove PC
- Deputy Prime Minister - The Rt Hon. Nicola Sturgeon PC
- Defence Secretary - The Rt Hon. Dame Penny Mordaunt DBE PC
- Home Secretary - The Rt Hon. the Baroness Harman KC PC
- Foreign Secretary - The Rt Hon. Jim Murphy PC
- Attorney General - The Rt Hon. the Baroness Warsi PC
- Director of Communications - The Baroness Hazarika MBE
- Chief of Defence Staff - General Sir Richard Barrons KCB CBE
- National Security Adviser - The Rt Hon. the Lord Kim Darroch KCMG
- Intelligence Chief - Christopher Steele
As for what the politicians involved feel about the show, they've been largely supportive of its creation and simulation.
For example, Sturgeon revealed that her role as Deputy PM meant she could 'challenge the consensus' due to the fact she 'was the only anti-nuclear person around the table'.
She said of her own experience in those situations: "I’ve been in COBR meetings after terrorist attacks, and I think the show managed to replicate the scenario pretty well. If anybody watches and wonders if that’s what it's really like inside a crisis room, the answer would be ‘yes’."
Sturgeon went on to explain she also had a thought of how she wants viewers to feel after watching the show.
"I know this is a controversial opinion, but I hope they see that politicians are human
beings trying to do their best in a very imperfect and flawed way," she said of the UK's defence capabilities. "I also hope it sparks debate beyond the political space."
Mordaunt went on to say the simulations seen in the show are 'as close to real as you could possibly get.'
She explained: "I have completed a few similar exercises both in COBR for the UK government and also when I was the Minister for the Armed Forces and chaired the EU battle group – where we had our allies round the table. This production had a bigger budget – ha! – but it really is exceptional, everything is hyper-accurate and people will come away having a sense of what those rooms are
Like."
Warsi went on to share her reasons for taking part in the show, revealing she has been worried about the UK's understanding of war and danger.
She said she has had these fears 'for quite some time', noting: I’ve been concerned about our general lack of understanding of war. I think that’s partly because, thankfully, even when we have been at war, it's been ‘over there’ - whether that was Iraq or the Falklands. The country as a whole hasn't really experienced it and so don’t really understand what a government would have to do to prepare itself for a world that is more dangerous than it's been since the second World War."
She added: "That was the reason I wanted to take part – this is a TV show on a really important issue that can reach a lot of people, that makes clear the arguments and will focus people's minds far
more than a speech at Chatham House."
The best part about this show is if you don't want to wait weekly for the episodes to drop – there's no need.
That's because the episodes will air nightly until 24 September, and will be followed up with a special live programme: The Wargame: Live.
The live show will be filmed in front of a studio audience, according to Sky's press release, and hosted by Cathy Newman.
Britt Jones