Unmasked: Extreme Far Right

BBC Radio Wales
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My name is Dan Jones. Except that's not my real name. You can't know my real name, because some of the people I am going to tell you about could be dangerous. I will walk you through how I managed to infiltrate and became a trusted member of a far right group called 'Patriotic Alternative'. Month after month I wear a "mask", use an alias, to find out what's really going on. I spend a weekend at PA's summer camp, and even manage to get into their secretive annual conference. What I discover is that it's not all swastikas and football hooligans. Some of PA's members were civil servants, an NHS worker, and even a teacher. In this year-long investigation, I reveal what it's like to be undercover, my double life and the constant fear of being outed. All to uncover what some PA member's true beliefs are.

Episodes

  1. 21/01/2025

    Introducing... Unmasked: Extreme Far Right

    Warning: There are parts of this episode that some might find offensive and disturbing. My name is Dan Jones. Except that’s not my real name. You can’t know my real name, because some of the people I am going to tell you about could be dangerous. I will walk you through how I managed to infiltrate and became a trusted member of a far right group called ‘Patriotic Alternative’. Month after month I wear a “mask”, use an alias, to find out what’s really going on. I spend a weekend at PA's summer camp, and even manage to get into their secretive annual conference. What I discover is that it’s not all swastikas and football hooligans. Some of PA’s members were civil servants, an NHS worker, and even a teacher. In this year-long investigation, I reveal what it’s like to be undercover, my double life and the constant fear of being outed. All to uncover what some PA member’s true beliefs are. Producer: Paul Heaney Sound design: Cathy Robinson Executive Producer: Karen Voisey Production consultant: Jayne Morgan BBC Sounds commissioner: Bridget Curnow Production Manager: Andrea Deere Researchers: Alexandra Bánfi, Ben Summer Extracts from: Joe Marsh talking about peaceful protesting. ‘Patriotic Weekly Review’. 31 July 2024. Mark Collett social media post Joe Marsh talking about tactics. ‘Welsh Invasion Update’. 3 August 2024. Joe Marsh social media post

    3 min

  2. 20/01/2025

    6. Now they know

    Warning: There are parts of this episode that some might find offensive and upsetting - including people using very strong language, and the strongest racist language. As Dan finally takes his mask off, some PA members and supporters face difficult questions on their doorsteps. PA's leader is also put in the hotseat. Might some of the people Dan has been talking to have broken the law? And when more people hear about what Dan has discovered, will there be consequences? Producer: Paul Heaney Sound design: Cathy Robinson Executive producer: Karen Voisey Production consultant: Jayne Morgan BBC Sounds commissioner: Bridget Curnow Production manager: Andrea Deere Researchers: Alexandra Bánfi, Ben Summe Extracts from: Mark Collett talking about undercover reporter. 'Patriotic Weekly Review with the Golden One'. 15 January 2025. Mark Collett social media post Joe Marsh talking about protesting outside mosques. 'Welsh Invasion Update'. 3 August 2024. Joe Marsh social media post

    24 min

  3. 20/01/2025

    5. Riots and grand plans

    Warning: There are parts of this episode that some might find offensive and upsetting, including strong language. As riots break out in the UK, Dan is still a member of a far right group, where emotions are running high. PA's leader is telling him about his plans for the future, and how he can be a part of it. At some stage Dan's mask will have to come off. What happens then? Producer: Paul Heaney Sound design: Cathy Robinson Executive producer: Karen Voisey Production consultant: Jayne Morgan BBC Sounds commissioner: Bridget Curnow Production manager: Andrea Deere Researchers: Alexandra Bánfi, Ben Summer Extracts from: Mark Collett online comments about Southport. 'Patriotic Weekly Review - with Joe Marsh'. 31 July 2024. Mark Collett social media post Joe Marsh online comments about Southport. 'Welsh Invasion update'. 3 August 2024. Joe Marsh social media post 'PA Camp 2024'. 18 July 2024. Patriotic Alternative social media post 'FREE Sam Melia Demo - Political Prisoner Update - with Laura Towler'. 5 April 2024. Mark Collett social media post 'Free James Costello Protest - Mark Collett and Laura Towler'. 23 September 2024. Patriotic Alternative social media posts Laura Towler talking about Sven Longshanks. 'FREE Sam Melia Demo - Political Prisoner Update - with Laura Towler'. 5 April 2024. Mark Collett social media post PA supporting the Southport rioters. 'Facing the storm - PA Conference 2024'. 1 November 2024. Mark Collett social media post Joe Marsh talking about Stradey Park Hotel, Llanelli. Chief Moody social media post. (Captured from Me talking to Chief Moody last week about the Stradey Park Hotel in Llanelli. 23 July 2023. Joe Marsh social media post)

    17 min

  4. 20/01/2025

    4. An unpleasant job

    Warning: There are parts of this episode that some might find offensive and upsetting - including people using very strong language, and the strongest racist language. Unemployed sofa-surfer Dan is offered work. It's from a familiar face, but what will it involve? When his plan starts to fall apart, he has to call for help. Producer: Paul Heaney Sound design: Cathy Robinson Executive producer: Karen Voisey Production consultant: Jayne Morgan BBC Sounds commissioner: Bridget Curnow Production manager: Andrea Deere Researchers: Alexandra Bánfi, Ben Summer Extracts from: 'The Collaborator and The Ancestor - The Ayatollah's 2024 PA Conference Speech'. 29 October 2024. Patriotic Alternative social media post Joe Marsh talking about Stradey Park Hotel, Llanelli. Chief Moody social media post. (Captured from Me talking to Chief Moody last week about the Stradey Park Hotel in Llanelli. 23 July 2023. Joe Marsh social media post) Joe Marsh talking about closing the borders. Joe Marsh talking about peaceful protest. Mark Collett talking about low IQ. 'Patriotic Weekly Review - with Joe Marsh'. 31 July 2024. Mark Collett social media post 'Free James Costello Protest - Mark Collett and Laura Towler'. 23 September 2024. Patriotic Alternative social media posts

    19 min

  5. 20/01/2025

    3. Pushed to the limit

    Warning: There are parts of this episode that some might find offensive and upsetting - including people using very strong language, and the strongest racist language. Dan has found himself part of a security team, ushering people to a secret location. People seem very excited about the event's guest speaker - who is a convicted criminal from overseas. What will he find when lots of the people he has been investigating get together under one roof? When the talk turns to collaborators - he has to quickly think of an escape plan. Producer: Paul Heaney Sound design: Cathy Robinson Executive producer: Karen Voisey Production consultant: Jayne Morgan BBC Sounds commissioner: Bridget Curnow Production manager: Andrea Deere Researchers: Alexandra Bánfi, Ben Summer Extracts from: 'Hope Is Our Duty - Blair's Cottrell's 2024 PA Conference Speech'. 31 October 2024. Patriotic Alternative social media post 'The Collaborator and The Ancestor - The Ayatollah's 2024 PA Conference Speech'. 29 October 2024. Patriotic Alternative social media post

    19 min

  6. 20/01/2025

    2. Where it all began

    Warning: There are parts of this episode that some might find offensive and upsetting - including people using very strong language, and the strongest racist language. After being put in a tight spot, Dan takes us back to the beginning of his story. When things kick off at town near where he lives, he goes to investigate. One of the people he meets talks about weapons. Another says its time to fight - or die. Producer: Paul Heaney Sound design: Cathy Robinson Executive producer: Karen Voisey Production consultant: Jayne Morgan BBC Sounds commissioner: Bridget Curnow Production manager: Andrea Deere Researchers: Alexandra Bánfi, Ben Summer Extracts from: 'PA Camp 2024'. 18 July 2024. Patriotic Alternative social media post Someone told they'll get arrested for saying that. 7 July 2023. Phillip Watkins social media post Protestors and police sirens. 5 October 2023. Joe Marsh social media posts (original creator unknown) Someone shouting "you're scum". 15 July 2023. Joe Marsh social media post (original creator unknown) Someone being told to "get off the road". 5 October 2023. Joe Marsh social media posts (original creator unknown) Protestors shout about "hope you have a conscience". 5 August 2023. Joe Marsh social media post (original creator unknown) Roger Phillips interview. 5 August 2023. Voice of Wales social media post Roger Phillips and Joe Marsh. Radio Aryan / Radio Albion (nationalist podcast), James Allchurch (Sven Longshanks) Joe Marsh and Roger Phillips talking about BNP. 'Welsh Invasion News Update'. 20 September 2024. Joe Marsh social media post Joe Marsh talking about "scroungers" outside Stradey Park Hotel Llanelli. 30 July 2023. Joe Marsh social media post 'Llanelli protest. To the people commenting about wanting to help. Just come down here. All welcome'. 17 September 2023. Joe Marsh social media post 'End of year activism stream. Joe Marsh with Mark and Laura'. 1 January 2024. Mark Collett social media post, Patriotic Alternative Joe Marsh talking about a "small army". 'End of year activism stream. Joe Marsh with Mark and Laura'. 1 January 2024. Mark Collett social media post, Patriotic Alternative Joe Marsh rallying supporters. 8 February 2024. Patriotic Alternative social media post 'Drag Queen Story Hour supporters behaving badly. National Waterfront museum Swansea'. 19 February 2024. Paul Price social media post

    22 min

  7. 20/01/2025

    1. Summer camp

    Warning: There are parts of this episode that some might find offensive and upsetting - including people using very strong language, and the strongest racist language. Dan Jones finds himself in the beautiful countryside, but his campmates are the far right. He's wearing a mask - using a false name - but so is the group he's here with. On a hike he hears what some of its members really think. But on returning to camp, he discovers the group is about to be found out - which could mean that Dan is outed too. Producer: Paul Heaney Sound design: Cathy Robinson Executive producer: Karen Voisey Production consultant: Jayne Morgan BBC Sounds commissioner: Bridget Curnow Production manager: Andrea Deere Researchers: Alexandra Bánfi, Ben Summer Extracts from: Speech about demographic changes. 'Stafford Anti-Migrant Accommodation Flash Demo'. Patriotic Alternative social media post (captured from 'Epic video of speeches at Stafford demo'. Joe Marsh) Someone told they'll get arrested for saying that. 7 July 2023. Phillip Watkins social media post

    19 min

Trailer

About

My name is Dan Jones. Except that's not my real name. You can't know my real name, because some of the people I am going to tell you about could be dangerous. I will walk you through how I managed to infiltrate and became a trusted member of a far right group called 'Patriotic Alternative'. Month after month I wear a "mask", use an alias, to find out what's really going on. I spend a weekend at PA's summer camp, and even manage to get into their secretive annual conference. What I discover is that it's not all swastikas and football hooligans. Some of PA's members were civil servants, an NHS worker, and even a teacher. In this year-long investigation, I reveal what it's like to be undercover, my double life and the constant fear of being outed. All to uncover what some PA member's true beliefs are.

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