With Kessler determined to capture the British agent, Curtis must find a way out of Brussels as a great encirclement of the city begins... AJ and Andy finally reach the end of the first series and tackle matters as diverse as the relationship between Lisa and Curtis, the replacement of Brandt by Reinecke, and what Lifeline is doing outside at the end of the episode! Along the way they find much to enjoy: the ideas that Lisa and Monique come up with; the typically Vik Ritelis direction; and...

When Curtis falls under suspicion for the murder of Hugh Neville, the future of Lifeline is in doubt as Brandt and Kessler come dangerously close to uncovering their operations... Andy is thrilled to have arrived at what he consider to be a blueprint for the series Secret Army and even dispensed with his usual poker face when watching it with Ryan. AJ meanwhile couldn't help but notice the wintry feel or the amount of times characters came in and out of doors! There's also high praise for...

When the brothers of a Brussels-based monastery elect to harbour an evader, Kessler arrives on the scene and his usual tactics are in no way dulled as he confronts these 'men of God' on one of their holiest days: Good Friday. This month, AJ and Andy are delighted to be joined by Alex Wilcock as together they muse upon the many theological themes, meanings and metaphors in John Brason's script. They also consider chosen family and chosen names, whether Lisa is a calming influence, and, as...

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, Running Scared and Jonathan Creek and how she met and fell in love with film director Ken Russell...

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 are at stake.  As well as the pair's enjoyment of the inclusion of so many older female...

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 considers how differently they might react to Lisa if a man talked to them like Curtis does, and...

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 Kessler.  They reserve special attention for the episode's sublime 'No Compartments' speech which...

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 charity: Blood Cancer UK: https://bloodcancer.org.uk/ You can also donate by phone on: 0808...

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 the first time, and appreciation of the sequence in which Monique is attacked as a collaborator...

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 series so is very keen for people to take this rare opportunity (it has been closed for some time) to...

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 appearance of Souad Faress as Maria, the hidden history of the people of colour who played key roles as...

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 resistance agent Victor. And like the preceding episode, Lost Sheep, it is masterfully penned by N J...

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 and as an ebook: https://amzn.eu/d/3RiEzAb If you enjoyed this interview please consider donating a...

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 Crisp's intelligent script, they share stories of location hunting and consider the episode's...

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 reliable Belgian Christmas facts.   There's also a tale of a French Christmas past from AJ and a...

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 interview with Angela: (https://soundcloud.com/azuktvdrama/19b-interview-with-angela-richards)  You...

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') are somewhat sidelined as the episode takes a 'Play for Today'-style focus centred around the...

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 disappointed by Rear Gunner Eric Finch's northern-ness and both they and Andy are infuriated by...

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 here: the Chantal sisters for instance and the climactic scenes towards the end of the...

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 Brandt and Kessler lock horns over Nazi coffee and some bourbon biscuits, while courtesy of...

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 - as opposed to the series regulars, some of whom we are still being introduced to, such as cycle...

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 donate to Austin Ruddy's chosen charity: The Salvation Army food bank in Ripon, Yorkshire:...

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 instalment that had to introduce a huge number of characters as well as setting the scene for the style...

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 cast and crew members too! If you would like to get involved, get in touch at @secretarmypod on...