Bear Hunt

Goalhanger 7 - Ep6 | The Second Soldier

350 British civilians are dead and Russia is responsible. Number 10 hits back as a hapless Prime Minister plays his hand in the age of regime decapitation. Bear Hunt is a technically rigorous action drama exploring the political manoeuvres, operational challenges and conflict expertise required to assassinate a head of state. Billed as a British Bourne, this geopolitical thriller pulls listeners into the white-hot corridors of power in Westminster and Washington. To the battlefields where the nation’s best learnt their killing trade. And to the mission itself, deep behind enemy lines. Goalhanger’s award-winning drama team worked with current and former military and defence professionals to shape the most accurate and daring mission conceivable: a forensic exploration of what it takes, in the modern age, to kill the President of the Russian Federation.

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Episode's summary

Duration 1:01:21

Published 07 Oct 2026

A high-stakes political and military crisis unfolds as the 'Tiberius' operation, an alleged plan to assassinate the Russian President in China, comes to light. British leadership discusses using economic leverage against Zambia to locate Duffy while planning a covert counter-operation to mirror the tactics used by Sir Pilgrim. The mission evolves into 'Operation Caligula,' where actor Charlie Higgs is recruited to serve as a double for a special forces operator to facilitate an extraction in Beijing. As operatives navigate Chinese surveillance, the Prime Minister prepares a coded message to command the target to stand down.

Chapters

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Highlights

The President of Russia.
00:01:05 · This identifies the high-profile target, codenamed Tiberius, at the center of the unfolding operation.

Find out what can be done to break their economy to pieces.
00:07:33 · The Prime Minister expresses an aggressive intent to use economic pressure against Zambia to gain intelligence.

China, it is not separate distinctions of public surveillance and civil protection. It is totally centralised.
00:23:01 · A former China strategist explains the integrated nature of Chinese domestic intelligence and surveillance systems.

If spoken of publicly, the government will deny your existence.
00:41:08 · The recruiter emphasizes the extreme level of secrecy and the personal cost of breaking the agreement.

We send in a second Sean Wade. An actor, Charlie Higgs.
00:52:27 · The Prime Minister reveals the core strategy of using an actor to act as a decoy for the real operative.

Episodes

07 Oct 2026

This episode navigates a series of intense geopolitical confrontations, beginning with a maritime mine explosion in the Strait of Hormuz and investigations into hidden offshore assets like 'Alma Limited' in the Cayman Islands. The narrative explores themes of national security, the gravity of intelligence roles, and the complexities of UK-Russia relations. As tensions escalate, an intelligence briefing reveals a high-stakes operation involving a Special Forces operative codenamed Duffy targeting the Russian President in China. The episode concludes with the Prime Minister's arrival in Beijing amidst discussions of shifting diplomatic landscapes.

30 Sep 2026

In this episode of 'Bear Hunt,' a series of intense, fictionalized dramatic sequences unfold involving political intrigue, military operations, and global crises. The narrative follows the Prime Minister as she manages the implementation of the 'CORE' initiative while navigating international tensions with Russia, Iran, and Venezuela. The episode explores high-stakes maneuvers including the reclassification of frozen Russian assets, maritime breakthroughs in the Strait of Hormuz, and diplomatic disputes over property ownership at 32 Belgrave Square. The tension escalates through discussions on GPS interference, ballistic technical analysis, and a confrontation regarding mysterious files and deceased mentors.

23 Sep 2026

This episode explores a high-stakes conspiracy to assassinate the Russian President using former British soldier Sergeant Tom McDuff, an operation designed to bypass official MOD channels through a private enterprise. As NATO grapples with Russian grey zone warfare, cyber attacks, and GPS spoofing, the political landscape shifts following a UK election victory for Miriam Brand. The narrative follows the collapse of Alex Curnoway's political standing amidst news of a planned kinetic operation against Russia. Amidst escalating maritime interference and domestic political upheaval, the former Prime Minister ultimately authorizes the clandestine mission to China as a decisive response to ongoing geopolitical aggression.

16 Sep 2026

This episode explores a series of intense geopolitical scenarios, ranging from military combat and political tension to high-stakes strategic planning. The narrative moves through recruitment interviews for strategic consultancies, discussions on Russian interference, and a theoretical exercise involving an asymmetrical operation to assassinate the Russian President. The discussion further delves into the implementation of 'super sanctions' by the UK government and the logistical complexities of operations in Vladivostok. The episode concludes with a meeting regarding risk research and a detailed look at a geopolitical assassination plot involving Russia and China, alongside insights into jungle warfare training.

09 Sep 2026

This episode weaves together a modern-day political crisis and a 2010 military operation in Afghanistan. In the present, a suspected Russian GPS spoofing incident in the North Sea has downed a British airliner, forcing the Prime Minister to navigate intense diplomatic pressure and the personal devastation of a family tragedy. The narrative also explores a flashback to Afghanistan, detailing a high-stakes military ambush strategy against insurgent vehicles and the tactical complexities of ground warfare. The episode culminates in an emotional confrontation between the Prime Minister and Sam, as the focus shifts from geopolitical blame to the human cost of the crash.

09 Sep 2026

Bear Hunt is a geopolitical action thriller audio drama from Goalhanger. The narrative follows a high-stakes strategic struggle between Britain and Russia, centered on the aftermath of a Russian attack on a British passenger jet carrying 350 people. As intelligence assessments suggest high confidence in Russian involvement, the story explores the extreme consequences of holding the Kremlin accountable, including a mission involving an Operation Order to target the President of Russia.

02 Sep 2026