A history podcast that explores the narratives, turning points and characters that shape conflicts, encompassing a blend of social and military history. Following on from the series on the Falklands War, best-selling military historians Patrick Bishop and Saul David turned their attention to the war in Ukraine, and now every Wednesday look back to the seismic events of 1945.
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358. Hero or Villain: Episode 5 - Josip Tito (00:41:59)
In this episode of Hero or Villain, Roger Moorhouse and Patrick Bishop evaluate the military career of Josip Broz Tito, the "titan of Central Europe" who led the Yugoslav partisans during World War II and served as President until 1980.
The discussion traces his journey from a decorated Austro-Hungarian sergeant major to a revolutionary swayed by communism while a POW in Russia.
The hosts highlight his strategic brilliance in liberating Yugoslavia largely through indigenous guerrilla efforts and his notable "independent streak" in defying Stalin to pursue a "Third Way" during the Cold War. While acknowledging the high human cost of his tactics and post-war repressions like the Bleiburg repatriations.
What do you think? Is he a hero or a villain?
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If you have any thoughts or questions, you can send them to - podbattleground@gmail.com
Producer: James Hodgson
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357. Ordinary People Don't Carry Machine Guns (00:27:03)
With the Battleground: Ukraine team taking a Christmas break, we have a special interview for you this episode.
Saul is joined by Journalist, writer and pacifist turned volunteer soldier Artem Chapeye, who tells his story plus his thoughts and reflections on the war in Ukraine.
Artem recently wrote the book: Ordinary People Don't Carry Machine Guns.
Join us next week for an update on the latest news from Ukraine.
If you have any thoughts or questions, you can send them to - podbattleground@gmail.com
Producer: James Hodgson
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356. Hero or Villain: Episode 4 - Tony Blair (00:46:33)
In this episode of Hero or Villain, Roger Moorhouse and Patrick Bishop examine the polarising military legacy of Tony Blair. They debate whether the former Prime Minister was a noble champion of "liberal interventionism" or a reckless architect of regional chaos.
The discussion moves from the early humanitarian successes in Kosovo and Sierra Leone to the strategic overreach of Afghanistan and the catastrophic intelligence failures of the Iraq War.
By weighing Blair’s initial moral imperatives against the long-term destabilisation of the Middle East, Roger and Patrick attempt to settle the ledger on one of modern history's most disputed figures.
What do you think? Is he a hero or a villain?
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If you have any thoughts or questions, you can send them to - podbattleground@gmail.com
Producer: James Hodgson
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355. Battleground Christmas Special 2025 (01:12:14)
In a now annual Battleground tradition, for a special Christmas treat we've recorded a special festive episode discussing the standout history books of the year, and the wider stories that surround them.
Patrick, Saul and Roger are joined by friends of the podcast - publicist and historical novelist Richard Foreman and book critic, writer and journalist Antonia Senior.
If you have any thoughts or questions, you can send them to - podbattleground@gmail.com
Producer: James Hodgson
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354. Seizing Russia's Frozen Assets & the Counter-Strike at Kupyansk (00:52:28)
In this pivotal episode of Battleground: Ukraine, Patrick Bishop and Saul David discuss the high-stakes EU summit in Brussels that could decide the financial future of the conflict.
With Kyiv facing potential bankruptcy by the spring, the hosts break down the urgent debate over seizing €210 billion in frozen Russian assets to fund a "reparations loan."
We also look at the latest from the front lines and are joined by the Public Affairs Officer at the Khartiia Corps of the National Guard of Ukraine - Volodymyr Dehtyarov for an exclusive update on their recent successful counteroffensive in the Kupyansk area, showcasing the hi-tech warfare and grit that continues to define the Ukrainian defence on the ground.
If you have any thoughts or questions, you can send them to - podbattleground@gmail.com
Producer: James Hodgson
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353. Hero or Villain: Episode 3 - Charles de Gaulle (00:41:48)
In the latest episode of our Hero or Villain series hosts Patrick Bishop and Roger Morehouse ask the ultimate question about one of the 20th century's most controversial figures: Was Charles de Gaulle a hero or a villain?
De Gaulle remains a giant of French and world history, looming over his nation's political landscape and physical fabric, with over 3,600 public spaces named after him. He is regularly polled as the most important figure in French history, even surpassing Napoleon.
Join the debate as Patrick and Roger delve into the General's life and legacy, exploring the pivotal role he played in the Second World War and analyzing what might have happened to a post-war France without his unifying presence. Hear the arguments, weigh the evidence, and decide where this controversial figure truly falls on the ledger.
What do you think? Is he a hero or a villain?
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If you have any thoughts or questions, you can send them to - podbattleground@gmail.com
Producer: James Hodgson
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352. Kyiv Under Pressure: The Fate of Donbas (00:45:50)
Join us as Saul David and Roger Moorhouse digest the latest news from Ukraine, including the intense pressure mounting on Kyiv as the Trump administration reportedly issues an ultimatum to Zelensky to concede territory—likely the Donbas—to end the war.
Despite this, they look at analysis that shows that Ukraine can win a protracted war of attrition against Russia's exaggerated claims of victory.
We are also delighted to be joined by friend of the show Boldi Gyori, who updates us on the latest developments on the ground in Ukraine and also discusses his recent experience behind the front line with Ukrainian electricity repairmen.
If you have any thoughts or questions, you can send them to - podbattleground@gmail.com
Producer: James Hodgson
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351. Hero or Villain: Episode 2 - Arthur Harris (00:41:01)
In the second episode of our Hero or Villain series, Patrick Bishop and Roger Moorhouse examine Air Marshal Sir Arthur Harris, the controversial chief of RAF Bomber Command, known as "Butcher Harris" due to the staggering losses suffered by his crews .
Harris vigorously pursued the necessary policy of area bombing German cities , a campaign he justified as crucial for shortening the war and preserving Allied lives. While his blunt, unapologetic zeal made him a target for post-war criticism.
Whilst Patrick and Roger deliver their verdict on Harris' legacy. What do you think? Is he a hero or a villain?
Cast Your Vote! Join the debate and cast your vote on Arthur Harris: https://forms.gle/LUtBHnKwD3nuiUMk9
If you have any thoughts or questions, you can send them to - podbattleground@gmail.com
Producer: James Hodgson
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350. "Make Money Not War": The $2 Trillion Price Tag on Trump's Ukraine "Peace" (00:48:32)
Patrick Bishop and Roger Moorhouse discuss a familiar feeling of "deja vu" as the latest US peace mission to Moscow—led by envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner—ends with no substantial progress. They argue that Russian President Putin is deliberately "stringing Trump along" to keep the outside world waiting while Russia continues to make incremental gains on the ground.
The hosts also dive into a revealing Wall Street Journal article suggesting a "chilling" motivation behind the American peace efforts: charting a path to bring Russia's $2 trillion economy "in from the cold," positioning American businesses to beat European competitors to the dividends.
They also examine the widening corruption scandal in Ukraine and joining them to discuss this is friend of the show Askold Krushelnycky, who helps them look at the negative impact of the scandal on Zelensky's standing at home and abroad, and why Putin cannot afford to stop the war short of a total victory.
Finally, the hosts answer a listener's questions including one about Ukraine's "remarkably bold" and "symbolic" drone attacks on Russia's "shadow fleet" of oil tankers.
If you have any thoughts or questions, you can send them to - podbattleground@gmail.com
Producer: James Hodgson
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349. Hero or Villain: Episode 1 - Erwin Rommel (00:38:45)
In the first of our latest Battleground history series Patrick Bishop and Roger Morehouse tackle Field Marshal Erwin Rommel, the Nazi Germany commander revered by enemies for his "war without hate".
Together they peel back the decades of mythology, challenging the image of Rommel as the "good German".
How much did Rommel, who served as Hitler’s personal security commander , know about the regime’s atrocities?
Was the positive postwar Western image of Rommel merely a convenient tool for rehabilitating Germany during the Cold War?
Whilst Patrick and Roger deliver their verdict on Rommel's legacy. What do you think? Is he a hero or a villain?
Cast Your Vote! Join the debate and cast your vote on Erwin Rommel: https://forms.gle/7e4FGMEJuRr3A4vP9
If you have any thoughts or questions, you can send them to - podbattleground@gmail.com
Producer: James Hodgson
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348. The 28-Point Scandal (00:40:21)
Join Saul David and Patrick Bishop as they dissect the latest surrounding the war in Ukraine, including the extraordinary collapse and revision of the US 'peace plan' for Ukraine.
What started as a controversial 28-point proposal—heavily suspected to have been drafted by Russia and passed on by US envoy Steve Witkoff (as revealed in leaked calls)—has now been reduced to a 19-point framework that Ukraine can accept, but which the Kremlin is actively rejecting despite President Trump's optimistic claims of "tremendous progress."
The hosts explore the initial pro-Russian demands, the damning evidence of Moscow's influence, and the uncomfortable reality that the amended plan still offers Russia an amnesty for war crimes. Crucially, they analyze the deepening economic crisis in Russia, with collapsing energy exports suggesting Putin may soon be unable to fund his war of aggression, even as the conflict grinds on.
If you have any thoughts or questions, you can send them to - podbattleground@gmail.com
Producer: James Hodgson
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347. Battleground Korea: Episode VI - The Unfinished Truce and Enduring Legacy (00:38:11)
In this final episode of our Korean War series, hosts Saul, David, and Roger Morehouse examine the enduring legacy of the 1953 Armistice, exploring the human cost of the conflict and the profound ways it continues to shape modern geopolitics.
Joining them to discuss this is political analyst Robert Kelly, who helps detail why the lack of a formal peace treaty defines the high-risk security situation, the peninsula's extreme militarisation, and the chilling role of North Korea's nuclear arsenal and its current support for Russia in the Ukraine conflict.
If you have any thoughts or questions, you can send them to - podbattleground@gmail.com
Producer: James Hodgson
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346. Lord Robertson on Putin's Propaganda, NATO's Future, and the Russian 'Surrender Plan' (00:23:24)
Former NATO Secretary General, Lord Robertson of Port Ellen joins Saul, David, and Patrick Bishop for an authoritative briefing from the House of Lords.
The former Secretary General also provides a stinging critique of the 28-point peace plan floated by the Trump administration, labelling the demands—which included territorial cession—a "Russian plan".
Robertson also firmly refutes the narrative of a missed opportunity to bring Russia into NATO, dismissing it as "Putin propaganda," and highlights the Russian leader's early deception by pointing to his own signature on the 2002 Rome Declaration guaranteeing European territorial integrity.
Robertson offers an assessment of NATO’s resilience, arguing the alliance is a "real bargain" for the US that is unlikely to be abandoned, but stresses the urgent need for Europeans to increase their defence spending.
He concludes with the high stakes of the conflict: "If Russia stops fighting, there will be peace. If Ukraine stops fighting, there will be no Ukraine."
If you have any thoughts or questions, you can send them to - podbattleground@gmail.com
Producer: James Hodgson
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345. What's in this Peace Plan? - Reaction Special (00:21:32)
With the latest news from Ukraine coming to light as to the seriousness in which the Trump administration are pushing this latest peace proposal, Patrick Bishop and Roger Moorhouse give their reaction to the leaked contents.
If you have any thoughts or questions, you can send them to - podbattleground@gmail.com
Producer: James Hodgson
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344. Pokrovsk, Polish Sabotage, & the Secret Peace Plan (00:56:56)
This week discussing the latest from Ukraine, Patrick Bishop and Saul David examine the ongoing, costly Battle for Pokrovsk, arguing that Russia's fixation on capturing cities continues to highlight strategic incompetence and desperation—a point underscored by the recent crackdown on pro-war milbloggers.
They also dissect the "unprecedented act of sabotage" on the Polish rail network, a critical aid route to Ukraine. Is Russia's increasingly reckless hybrid warfare campaign—including recent naval and drone provocations—a sign of fundamental weakness or a dangerous attempt to destabilise NATO's border states?
Finally, the hosts scrutinise reports of a secret US-Russian peace plan that allegedly requires Ukraine to make major concessions, including ceding land and limiting its military.
Plus, an interview with director Benjamin Goldhagen about his documentary, The Steel Porcupine, which puts the conflict and the Ukrainian will to resist into essential context.
If you'd like to watch the documentary film you can find it online here: https://www.thesteelporcupine.com/
If you have any thoughts or questions, you can send them to - podbattleground@gmail.com
Producer: James Hodgson
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343. Battleground Korea: Episode V - The War of Wills and the Grind for Peace (00:38:30)
This episode plunges into the brutality of static warfare. We explore the Chinese Spring Offensive of 1951 and the desperate defensive battles fought to hold the line, looking at the heroic and horrific three-day stand of the Glorious Glosters at the Battle of Imjin River—a sacrifice often credited with saving Seoul, and the Battle of Kapyong where the 27th Commonwealth Brigade fought their final battle.
Saul and Roger also analyse the new reality: a "war of inches" fought over insignificant ground, where immense human cost was exacerbated by the massive, destructive scale of American area bombing.
As the fighting raged, armistice talks began at Panmunjom, but quickly stalled on a single, intractable issue: the fate of the Prisoners of War. We dissect the controversial "voluntary repatriation" policy—the West's insistence on not forcing men back to Communism—which turned POW camps into ideological battlegrounds and peace negotiations into a two-year agony.
If you have any thoughts or questions, you can send them to - podbattleground@gmail.com
Producer: James Hodgson
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342. On the Brink: Is Pokrovsk About to Fall? (00:52:16)
In this crucial episode of Battleground: Ukraine, hosts Saul David and Patrick Bishop dissect the high-stakes battle for Pokrovsk, a strategic rail and supply hub now facing an overwhelming Russian onslaught.
Despite recent slowdowns in the Russian advance and successful Ukrainian counter-attacks—which have inflicted record casualties on the invaders—the city’s defences appear to be on the verge of collapse. We examine the claims from Ukrainian officials that "We are losing Pokrovsk," the implications of unverified footage showing Russian forces entering the city, and what the loss of this key position would mean for Ukraine’s morale and the entire Donbas "fortress belt."
They also dissect the shocking corruption scandal uncovered by Ukraine's anti-corruption units, which demonstrates both the scale of corruption in Ukraine and also the success of measures being used to combat it.
We also welcome back friend of the podcast, intrepid Hungarian war reporter Boldi Gyori, who shares his recent experiences from the frontlines in Kramatorsk.
If you have any thoughts or questions, you can send them to - podbattleground@gmail.com
Producer: James Hodgson
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341. Battleground Korea: Episode IV - The Dragon Awakens (00:44:40)
After their great victory at Inchon, UN forces race north toward the Chinese border, dreaming of ending the war fast. But, they ignore the warning signs coming from China...
In this episode, that gamble backfires. We detail the chilling reality of late 1950 when hundreds of thousands of Chinese troops launch a massive, counter-offensive. The UN forces are caught completely by surprise by the overwhelming attack and the brutal Korean winter.
The episode covers the desperate fight and retreat and the devastating consequence: UN forces are pushed back and the loss Seoul for a second time.
As the war spirals out of control and he pushes for escalation, the political fallout leads directly to President Truman's dramatic sacking of the commanding General, Douglas MacArthur. The conflict has now exploded into a terrifying new war with no end in sight.
If you have any thoughts or questions, you can send them to - podbattleground@gmail.com
Producer: James Hodgson
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340. The Uncertain Stasis: Is the War in Ukraine Truly Frozen? (00:45:27)
After a two-month absence, Patrick Bishop returns to the Battleground microphone to join Saul David, offering a fresh, big-picture perspective on the war in Ukraine.
Looking beyond the daily headlines, Patrick characterises the current state of the conflict—across military, diplomatic, economic, and political fronts—as an "uncertain stasis." While the war seems outwardly frozen, the hosts discuss whether powerful undercurrents could soon force a significant breakthrough.
They dive into the battlefield reality, analysing the potential fall of Pokrovsk and debating its true strategic significance for both Kyiv and Moscow. Is this the long-awaited Russian breakthrough, or just a costly, rubble-filled victory that simply sets the stage for more stalemate?
If you have any thoughts or questions, you can send them to - podbattleground@gmail.com
Producer: James Hodgson
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Battleground Korea: Episode III - The Tide Turns (00:39:52)
The only way out is with a gamble.
In Episode 3, the Korean War narrative shifts from desperate survival to audacious counter-attack. The Allied line is breaking, the port of Pusan is on the verge of collapse, and the entire war rests on the success of General Douglas MacArthur's ambitious plan.
Ignoring every warning, MacArthur stakes the entire conflict on a single, risky amphibious assault: Operation Chromite at the tidal port of Inchon. We explore the incredible strategic audacity, the geographical obstacles, and how this audacious flanking maneuver shatters the North Korean People's Army (NKPA).
But victory is brief. As the 27th "Fire Brigade," the first British Commonwealth ground troops, advance north from the Pusan Perimeter, they confront the brutal reality of coalition warfare. We detail the intense and tragic Battle of Hill 282, where a catastrophic moment of friendly fire costs the lives of Commonwealth soldiers and forces the rapid formation of the resilient Commonwealth Brigade.
If you have any thoughts or questions, you can send them to - podbattleground@gmail.com
Producer: James Hodgson
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338. From Rebuilder to Drone Builder: The Huge Impact of Foreign Volunteers in Ukraine (00:33:36)
Host Saul David interviews special guest Richard Woodruff, a young British volunteer in Ukraine since 2022.
Richard shares his journey from rebuilding destroyed homes in Bucha and Irpin to delivering critical humanitarian aid near the front lines. He recounts his immediate response to the Kakhovka Dam disaster, using speedboats to rescue stranded civilians and animals.
The discussion focuses heavily on his current work running what is described as Ukraine's largest volunteer-controlled drone factory, which has produced over 5,500 FPV drones credited with destroying millions in Russian equipment. Richard also discusses the future of the war, the challenge of international support, and his post-war plans to moving to Kharkiv to help lead the massive rebuilding effort.
If you want to have a look at Richard's work check it out here: https://frontlinekit.org/
If you have any thoughts or questions, you can send them to - podbattleground@gmail.com
Producer: James Hodgson
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337. Battleground Korea: Episode II - The Brink and the Breaking Point (00:34:06)
The lightning war begins. Following the invasion, the North Korean military executes a devastating blitzkrieg attack, sweeping through South Korea and shattering all initial resistance.
Saul and Roger are joined by experts Robert Lyman and David Allison, who help dive into the details of the chaotic early stages of the Korean War.
First we look at the desperate retreat of the overwhelmed South Korean and early US forces as they are pushed towards Pusan. Then we look at the crucial global response: the newly formed UN Security Council, seizing a rare opportunity, debates and authorises a multinational intervention.
Can a global force be assembled in time to halt the seemingly unstoppable North Korean war machine?
The episode climaxes at the Pusan Perimeter. Battered, exhausted, and pushed to the absolute limit of the peninsula, UN and South Korean forces make a final, desperate stand. This is North Korea's furthest advance.
Outnumbered, outgunned, and with their backs literally against the sea. The fate of South Korea hangs by a thread.
Next time: The Tide Turns.
If you have any thoughts or questions, you can send them to - podbattleground@gmail.com
Producer: James Hodgson
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336. The Diplomatic Roller Coaster & The New Realities of Drone Warfare (00:49:39)
Join Saul David and Roger Moorhouse as they break down a week of diplomatic upheaval, and look at the latest from the front lines with a report from Hungarian war reporter Boldi Gyori, recently returned from Donetsk.
Hopes for a quick peace vanished after the US-Russia Budapest summit was scuttled by Moscow's refusal to freeze the front lines.
The hosts analyse the shifting politics surrounding long-range missiles: why President Trump withheld Tomahawks, and why Washington seemingly green-lit a major Ukrainian Storm Shadow missile strike on a critical Russian chemical plant.
On the home front, we examine new Western sanctions hitting Russia's oil and gas giants, reports of horrific war crimes against civilians in Donetsk and Kharkiv, and the long-term future of Ukrainian air power with the massive Swedish deal for up to 150 advanced Gripen E fighter jets.
If you have any thoughts or questions, you can send them to - podbattleground@gmail.com
Producer: James Hodgson
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335. Battleground Korea: Episode I - The Spark of Division (00:33:54)
Welcome to Battleground Korea: The Unfinished War.
We begin by exploring how Korea, a nation scarred by decades of Japanese occupation, was suddenly and arbitrarily divided by the victorious Allies in 1945. The line was the 38th Parallel.
This division birthed two fiercely opposing regimes and leaders: the Soviet-backed communist Kim Il Sung in the North, and the American-backed nationalist Syngman Rhee in the South. As the Cold War escalated, Korea rapidly became a volatile proxy battleground between East and West.
"With American and Soviet forces withdrawing, the fragile peace along the 38th Parallel began to unravel. Skirmishes grew bloodier and more audacious. Both Kim Il Sung and Syngman Rhee openly spoke of unifying the peninsula—by force. The question wasn't if the two Koreas would clash, but whether their civil conflict would ignite a wider conflagration, pulling in the global superpowers. The stage was set, but who would make the first devastating move?"
The episode concludes with the secret plotting that sealed Korea's fate. Kim Il Sung relentlessly lobbied Josef Stalin and Mao Zedong for the necessary support. After months of manoeuvring, the communist giants finally gave their approval, providing the crucial political green light.
Next time: The Invasion.
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Producer: James Hodgson
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334. Kremlin Rattled by Trump's Tomahawk Offer (00:26:20)
This week Roger Moorhouse and Saul David analyse a week of potential shifts in the conflict.
On the frontline: Ukrainian civilians evacuate Kupiansk as security deteriorates; a UN humanitarian convoy is deliberately attacked in Kherson; and a strike hits a Kharkiv hospital. Ukraine continues hitting back, targeting the Feodosia oil terminal in Crimea amidst a potential chemical threat from a ruptured ammonia pipeline.
In the diplomatic sphere, Donald Trump rattles the Kremlin by suggesting he might send Tomahawk cruise missiles to Ukraine, prompting intense Russian warnings. Meanwhile, signs of Putin's diplomatic discomfort appear as he is forced to apologize to Azerbaijan, and early whispers of internal dissent surface in Russia's major cities.
If you have any thoughts or questions, you can send them to - podbattleground@gmail.com
Producer: James Hodgson
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