Britain’s Cold War story is bigger than you ever knew.
In this explosive episode of History Rage, host Paul Bavill sits down with historian and author Fraser McCallum to uncover the often-overlooked story of Cold War Britain. Too often reduced to a superpower showdown between the United States and the Soviet Union, the Cold War was a global conflict — and Britain was absolutely central to it.
Fraser, author of Cold War Britain: 50 Years in the Shadow of the Bomb, reveals how the Cold War reshaped the UK — from British intelligence and its notorious spy scandals to the rise of protest movements like CND and the Greenham Common protests. He shows how Britain’s nuclear ambitions, NATO involvement, and cultural life all intertwined with a conflict that defined half a century.
You’ll discover:
- Why Britain’s role in the Cold War was far greater than most people realise
- How the UK was vital to the creation of NATO and the success of the Berlin Airlift
- The devastating truth behind British nuclear weapons testing and its human cost
- How British intelligence in the Cold War was rocked by class privilege and spy scandals such as the Cambridge Five
- The way Cold War protests like Aldermaston and Greenham Common shaped politics and public debate
- How the Cold War left its mark on British culture, television, music, and everyday life
- Why the Cold War’s legacy still influences British politics and society today
From the NHS scaling back services to fund the bomb to Margaret Thatcher turning “Iron Lady” into her personal brand, this episode reveals the Cold War as a British story — one of espionage, nuclear strategy, protest, and pop culture.
If you’ve ever thought of the Cold War as a distant standoff between Washington and Moscow, Fraser McCallum will change your mind. The story of Cold War Britain is one of courage, compromise, scandal, and survival — and it still shapes our world today.
🎟️ Don’t miss the chance to engage with history live! Join us at the Imperial War Museum Podcast Live Festival on 1st November: https://www.iwm.org.uk/events/podcast-live
📚 Connect with Fraser MacCallum:
- Follow him on Instagram: @fraser_mcca11um
- Find him on X (Twitter): @fmcca11um
- Purchase his book: Cold War: 50 Years in the Shadow of the Bomb: https://shop.iwm.org.uk/products/cold-war-britain-fifty-years-in-the-shadow-of-the-bomb?srsltid=AfmBOoobMcNPt3aIzk7bpNozuodXXP973Amue5pjiI7NddhTvz9l-No-
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