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Episode details

Radio 3,28 Jun 2026,86 mins

John Nichol, writer, former RAF Navigator

Private Passions

Available for 29 days

Thirty-five years ago, during the Gulf War, the face of the RAF navigator John Nichol appeared on news bulletins around the world. His Tornado jet had been shot down over Iraq, and he was captured, tortured and paraded on Iraqi television. Together with the pilot John Peters, he wrote about these experiences in their best-selling book Tornado Down. Since then, he's written many more books about military history, on topics ranging from the Spitfire to the Unknown Warrior. His most recent book, Blitz, focuses on the effects of German bombing, not just on London, but in Glasgow, Cardiff, Manchester and his native north east. John's music includes Chopin, Aaron Copland, Arthur Sullivan and Elgar.

Programme Website
More episodes

Tracklist

  1. Track
    Artist
  2. 1.
    Enigma Variations, Op 36 (Variation 9, 'Nimrod')
    Enigma Variations, Op 36 (Variation 9, 'Nimrod')
    Edward Elgar
  3. 2.
    Fanfare for the Common Man
    Fanfare for the Common Man
    Aaron Copland
  4. 3.
    La Serenissima
    La Serenissima
    Gian Piero Reverberi & Franco Giordano