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Ben Macintyre’s latest book tells the story of the 1980 hostage crisis at the Iranian Embassy. On the evening of the sixth day the criteria is met for deploying the SAS. Jamie Parker reads.

Ben Macintyre sets the pulse racing in his new book when he returns us to the spring of 1980. On 30th April, six heavily armed gunmen burst into the Iranian Embassy on Princes Gate in London, taking 26 people hostage, what followed was an intense set of events involving police negotiators, decisions makers at the highest levels, and the SAS. Jamie Parker reads.

In The Siege Ben Macintyre takes us on a journey through the crisis, painting a minute-by-minute picture of six days filled with terror and uncertainty for the hostages, the gunmen and the authorities.

When all avenues to resolve the crisis bloodlessly were exhausted, the SAS were deployed, and millions gathered around their televisions to watch the unprecedented events unfold.

Ben Macintyre’s previous titles include, Colditz, Agent Sonya, and The Spy and The Traitor. Several have been adapted for film and television – Operation Mincemeat, A Spy Among Friends and SAS Rogue Heroes.

Jamie Parker is known for his work on radio – Hamlet, Going Infinite, The Gold Finch; the stage – The History Boys, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Next to Normal, and screen - Becoming Elizabeth, The Crown and Des.

Abridged by Richard Hamilton
Produced by Elizabeth Allard