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Oleg Gordievsky

Kirsty Young's castaway is former spy Oleg Gordievsky.

Kirsty Young's castaway this week is Oleg Gordievsky. He is the highest-ranking KGB officer ever to become a spy for the British. The insights he gave into the Soviet hierarchy and culture over the course of 10 years were so significant that, according to some, he did more than any other individual in the West to hasten the demise of the communist regime. A bright pupil with an aptitude for languages, he joined the KGB's diplomatic corps thinking it would allow him to travel and fulfil his interest in politics. But he was first enchanted by the liberty enjoyed in the West and then so horrified by the Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia that he started to feed information to MI6.

He risked his life for a decade, but in 1985 he was recalled to Moscow - his cover had been blown and he realised he had just weeks to live. An incredible escape plan was activated and, after shaking off the KGB surveillance teams that followed him everywhere, he escaped by tram, train and bus to the border with Finland - where British agents bundled him into the boot of a car and carried him to freedom.

Now, his life is in Britain - he has married a British woman and his courage has been recognised through the honours system. But he believes his existence is a precarious one - after the death of his friend Alexander Litvinenko last year he has felt increasingly worried about his own safety and believes Britain is no longer the safe haven it once was.

[Taken from the original programme material for this archive edition of Desert Island Discs]

Favourite track: Erbarme Dich by Johann Sebastian Bach
Book: Encyclopaedia Britannica
Luxury: Good toiletries for my bath.

Available now

45 minutes

Last on

Fri 15 Feb 2008 09:00
ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4

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Music Played

  • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

    Piano Concerto No. 23 in A major - 2nd movement

    Soloist: Alfred Brendel Orchestra: The Academy of St Martin in the Fields Conductor: Sir Neville Marriner

    • Mozart: Piano Concertos Nos 23 & 27.
    • Philips.

  • Π€Ρ‘Π΄ΠΎΡ€ Шаляпин

    Song Of The Volga Boatmen

    • Bass of the Century.
    • Conifier.

  • Richard Wagner

    Liebestod (from Tristan und Isolde)

    Soloist: Birgit Nilsson

    • Tristan und Isolde.
    • Deutsche Grammophon.

  • Marlene Dietrich

    Peter

    • The Essential Marlene Dietrich.
    • EMI.

  • Iannis Xenakis

    Herma

    Performer: Claude Helffer

    • Chamber Works 1955-1990.
    • Disques Montaigne.

  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    1st Movement of String Quartet in E flat Major

    Orchestra: TakΓ‘cs Quartet

    • Beethoven: quartets op 59 & op 74.
    • Decca.

  • Castaway's Favourite

    • Johann Sebastian Bach

      St Matthew Passion - Erbarme dich

      Soloist: Marjana Lipovsek Choirs: Leipzig Radio Choir, The Dresden Cathedral Boys' Choir Orchestra: The State Orchestra of Desden Conductor: Peter Schreier

      • Bach: St Matthew Passion.
      • Philips.

  • Paul Lincke

    Berliner Luft

    Orchestra: Berlin Philharmonic Conductor: Daniel Barenboim

    • Classical Spectacular: Berlin Philharmonic.
    • Teldec.

  • Book Choice

    • Encyclopaedia Britannica

  • Luxury Choice

    • Good toiletries for my bath

Credits

Presenter Kirsty Young
Interviewed Guest Oleg Gordievsky

Broadcasts

  • Sun 10 Feb 2008 11:15
    ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4
  • Fri 15 Feb 2008 09:00
    ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4

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