Original version

BBC Two Northern Ireland

Inside the Foreign Office

Documentaries

Factual: Politics

Privileged access to the strange, secretive and fascinating world of British diplomats.

Over a compelling and turbulent year, film-maker Michael Waldman gains privileged access to the strange, secretive and fascinating world of British diplomats.

Series 1

BBC Two Scotland

Until 03/01/2009 BBC Two Wales (analogue) was known simply as BBC Two Wales. BBC Two Wales (digital) was BBC 2W. From 03/01/2009 BBC Two Wales schedules on both analogue and digital became identical

BBC Two Wales

BBC Two England

England

Simulcast of network BBC Two in high definition.

BBC Two HD

Simulcast of BBC Two Wales in high definition

BBC Two Wales HD

Simulcast of BBC Two Northern Ireland in high definition

BBC Two Northern Ireland HD

Inside the Foreign Office: Series 1

Michael Waldman

Chris O'Donnell

Shona Thompson

Jonathan Smith

Inside the Foreign Office: Series 1: Episode 1: Keeping Power and Influence

Keeping Power and Influence

Episode 1

Episode 1: Keeping Power and Influence

BBC Two - Inside the Foreign Office, Series 1, Keeping Power and Influence

How can the UK maintain its influence on the world stage - and in doing so protect itself?

Gaining privileged access over a compelling and turbulent year, film-maker Michael Waldman explores the strange and secretive world of British diplomats.

Keeping power and influence is the priority task of Sir Simon Macdonald, the permanent secretary - the chief civil servant - in a Foreign Office headed, for the moment, by foreign secretary Boris Johnson. Politicians may come and go, but civil servants remain. We follow the diplomats as they wrestle with a series of crises and challenges.

At the United Nations in New York, as world leaders gather for the special General Assembly week, the UK team juggles tasks from the delicate matter of who sits where - and the protocol status of Ivanka Trump - at the prime minister's session on modern slavery; to briefing Boris on what to say to his Russian opposite number Sergei Lavrov, as Russia continues to support the Assad regime in bombing Syria.

At the UK Mission to the UN, this special week is coordinated by Harriet O'Brien and Senay Bulbul. They give Waldman a spirited, secret, night-time guided tour of the Security Council. Neither diplomat fits the mould of the traditional British stereotype: Senay is the daughter of Turkish immigrants, and as Harriet says, 'I left state school at 16 - if you'd told my 16-year-old self that I'd be a diplomat based in New York, I'd have just... died!'

Their colleague, diplomat-lawyer Ahila Sornarajah, is trying to get all 15 members of the Security Council to agree to a UK-proposed resolution to enable Daesh (Islamic State) fighters to be prosecuted anywhere in the world. A distinct touch of glamour is brought to the proceedings as human rights lawyer Amal Clooney works with Ahila and the British team. Their boss is UK ambassador to the UN Matthew Rycroft. He has to host all the British ministers visiting this week - including the foreign secretary and the prime minister - as well as dealing with unpredicted events around the world. When the Rohinga refugee crisis suddenly erupts in Burma, sensitive, private diplomacy is needed to try to get the Burmese government to listen to the world's outrage. He rapidly organises a discrete lunch meeting with all the major players - including Nikki Haley of the US, the Russians, the Chinese and foreign ministers from Burma's neighbours - but persuading the Burmese themselves to turn up needs extra delicate diplomacy. As the ministers arrive in the next room, Boris Johnson is given a quick no-holds-barred briefing by UK officials on how to deal with the Burmese delegation.

BBC Two

Knowledge, drama, comedy and the arts for a broad adult audience.

BBC Two is a lively channel of depth and substance, carrying a range of knowledge-building programming complemented by great drama, comedy and arts.

Privileged access to the strange and secretive world of British diplomats.

Accessibility links

Programme Index

Inside the Foreign Office

Series 1

Episode 1: Keeping Power and Influence

Contributors

Genres

Formats

Brand

Series

BBC Two Northern Ireland

About BBC Two