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BBC Radio 3 is a radio channel that started transmitting on the 30th September 1967. It replaced Third Programme.

BBC Radio 3

Radio 3

Twenty Minutes

Factual: Arts, Culture & the Media: Arts

Eclectic arts magazine programme, exploring a range of fascinating subjects

Eclectic arts magazine programme, exploring a range of fascinating people, places and events

Twenty Minutes: Eyeing the Spymaster

Discussion & Talk

Factual: Arts, Culture & the Media

Music: World

Eyeing the Spymaster

10/04/2009

BBC Radio 3 - Twenty Minutes, Eyeing the Spymaster

Poet Alison Brackenbury responds to John de Critz's portrait of Sir Francis Walsingham.

Poet Alison Brackenbury responds to John de Critz's portrait of Sir Francis Walsingham, whose writings Judith Bingham used in composing See and keep silent.

Poet Alison Brackenbury explores John de Critz's portrait in the National Portrait Gallery of Sir Francis Walsingham, whose writings composer Judith Bingham incorporated in her work See and keep silent. She responds to the famous spymaster with a new piece, illustrated by some of Walsingham's own writing, that reveals his importance and captures his character.

Walsingham developed the subtle art of international espionage in the service of Elizabeth I. He was very successful, uncovering the Throckmorton and Babington Plots. He maintained contacts as far afield as Aleppo and pioneered 'secondary spying' - sending diplomats to one foreign court whose real purpose was to gain information not about that country's intentions but those of others who also had delegations there.

Live music and the arts: broadcasts more live music than any other radio network. Classical music is its core. Genres include world and new music, jazz, speech and drama.

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