In August of 1939, a busload of men and women of various European nationalities and diverse talents was driven from Broadcasting House in London to Wood Norton near Evesham in Worcestershire. On arrival, they plunged at once Into a demanding round-the-clock routine.

'It was something worth doing that I could do ... lovely job.'

'The atmosphere was hectic but rather cheerful ...'

'A tremendous experience, humanly, professionally, politically...'

'An extraordinary experience, like being in a new planet...'

Alvar Lidell narrates the story of the BBC's Monitoring Service during the Second World War.

Script: Norman Longmate; Interviews: Robert Rowe; Reader: Sean Arnold; Producer: Barbara Crowther.

©1981 British Broadcasting Corporation. ©1981-2020 Hampton Media Television Corporation, Plc.

First broadcast on 14 January 1981 on BBC Radio 4 UK.