EPISODE 3 | I DIDN’T RAISE MY BOY TO BE A SOLDIER

On 2 April 1917, President Woodrow Wilson went to Congress to seek permission to declare war. He was met with tumultuous applause and on 6 April 1917 America finally entered the conflict. A new drama from Martyn Wade - ENTER THE PEACE BROKER - brings America’s journey into war vividly alive. Based on first-hand accounts – diaries, letters and contemporary press coverage – it is a compelling story of duplicity and diplomatic intrigue, of colourful personalities engaged in great power politics, and of secret communications between Washington, London and Berlin set against the backdrop of war.

NOVEMBER 1916. President Wilson is recovering from the stress of the election campaign. In Britain, the Asquith coalition is about to fall. The push for peace intensifies and Wilson finds himself wrong-footed by a peace offer from Berlin. Is Germany in earnest or is it a cynical ploy?

CAST (IN ORDER OF APPEARANCE)KURT RIEZLER – Gunnar Cauthery | LORD NORTHCLIFFE – Henry Goodman | COLONEL HOUSE – Nathan Osgood | EDITH BOLLING – Laurel Lefkow | AJ BALFOUR – Tim Woodward | MARGOT ASQUITH – Sophie Thompson | FRANCES STEVENSON – Tuppence Middleton | COUNT VON BERNSTORFF – Chris Pavlo | WILLIAM HINES PAGE – William Hope

CREDITSScript consultant - Professor Sir Hew Strachan | Producer - Catriona Oliphant | Director - Elizabeth Rigbey | Sound design - David Chilton | Songs performed by Jessica Walker, with James Holmes on piano

A ChromeRadio Production 2017 | With thanks to the Rothermere Foundation

#History #WW1