This three-hour special, made for 4 Extra, features a perfect blend of archive and studio interviews. Comedian Angela Barnes is an ardent nuclear bunker enthusiast with a passion for all things Cold War.

Angela Barnes’ Cold War Secrets explores this fascinating, frightening and relevant period in modern history, from Churchill's Iron Curtain speech in 1946 to the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989. Using both factual and comic archive to reveal what we didn't know then but we do know now, the show brings a unique and surprising insight into the Cold War, from bunkers and other civil defence plans, to the Royal Observer Corps, numbers stations, and the secret police services behind the Iron Curtain.

In her journey to find out more about this period of history, Angela talks to author Anna Funder (Stasiland), discusses pre-unification Germany with stand-up Henning Wehn, and strategises for the end of the world with comedian John Robins.

Batten down the hatches, ready the invisible ink and prepare your code names.

Programmes featured include Le Carre on Spying, The Bed-Sitting Room, and excerpts from documentaries Broadcast From The Bunker and The Stasi Jigsaw Puzzle.

Producer: Adnan Ahmed

A BBC Studios production for BBC Radio 4 Extra

Made for BBC Radio 4 Extra

Radio 4 Publicity