The Wargame: Could Britain cope with a Russian attack? Sky puts leaders under pressure
Could Britain cope with a Russian attack? Sky’s The Wargame puts real politicians in a simulated crisis where their next decision could deepen the danger.
A Russian attack on British soil. A government forced to respond. That is the fictional emergency at the heart of The Wargame, Sky’s new series that puts experienced politicians, military figures and intelligence specialists inside a crisis room and asks them to make the decisions nobody would want to face.
Beginning on Monday 21 September, the four-part programme gives its participants responsibility for guiding Britain through a simulated national disaster. As intelligence arrives and fresh developments threaten to overturn their thinking, viewers will see how the people around the table respond when experience alone cannot give them an easy answer.
Inside the room where Britain’s response is decided
The Wargame takes place six months into an imagined future, with a Russian attack triggering an urgent British response. The participants gather in a COBR-style crisis room, where they must work through the emergency as though it were unfolding in real time.
For anyone watching, there is an uncomfortable question running through the premise: would you trust the choices being made? The format gives viewers a chance to follow the arguments inside the room while considering how they would respond to the same information.
Political rivals share the responsibility
Michael Gove takes the role of Prime Minister, with Nicola Sturgeon serving as his deputy. Bringing them together at the head of a fictional government is one of the programme’s strongest draws, placing two recognisable political figures at the centre of the same national emergency.
Penny Mordaunt becomes Defence Secretary, while Harriet Harman takes on the Home Office and Jim Murphy serves as Foreign Secretary. Sayeeda Warsi assumes the Attorney General role, with Ayesha Hazarika responsible for communications.
Military and intelligence experience also shapes the room. General Sir Richard Barrons serves as Chief of Defence Staff, Kim Darroch takes the National Security Adviser position and Christopher Steele becomes intelligence chief.
Beyond the British Cabinet, Lord Robertson takes the role of NATO Secretary General and Anthony Scaramucci becomes US Secretary of State. A team of Russia experts led by author Keir Giles faces them from the opposing side of the simulation.
Watch the official trailer:
A crisis designed to test their judgement
The exercise was developed with academics, military and defence experts, including Sky News’ security and defence editor Deborah Haynes. That expertise underpins a scenario intended to put the participants through a realistic test of decision-making under pressure.
The series combines documentary and dramatic elements, building on the Sky News podcast of the same name. Production comes from The Garden, whose previous work includes 24 Hours in Police Custody and Attack on London: Hunt for the 7/7 Bombers.
Across four hour-long episodes, the focus is on how the emergency develops and how those tasked with managing it react. The appeal is the chance to watch experienced figures wrestle with a threat that refuses to stay neatly contained within a briefing.
The final episode will be followed immediately by a live discussion hosted by Cathy Newman in front of a studio audience. Cast members will return to reflect on the pressures they faced and the wider questions raised by the exercise.
The Wargame’s most unsettling prospect is seeing familiar public figures reach a moment when there is no comfortable choice left. Its fictional emergency puts their judgement on display, giving viewers four nights to decide whether they find the response reassuring or alarming.
The Wargame airs nightly on Sky and NOW from Monday 21 September to Thursday 24 September. A special live discussion follows the final episode.
