1. Thomas Cromwell

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. 16 October 2015

The wily characters from history who pulled strings in the shadows. Thomas Cromwell's cloak-and-dagger work helped steer Henry VIII through his troubles with Rome and several wives.

2. Sir Francis Walsingham

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. 23 October 2015

History's scheming spymasters in profile. The six-part series focuses on the remarkable cunning of Francis Walsingham, whose spy network foiled many plots against Queen Elizabeth I.

3. Robert Cecil

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. 30 October 2015

Robert Cecil was a formidable political operator, whose extraordinary web of informers helped to foil the infamous Gunpowder Plot of 1605.

4. Cardinal Richelieu

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. 6 November 2015

Profiles of the super snoopers who blazed a trail in espionage. As Louis XIII's diabolical chief minister, Cardinal Richelieu was feared and hated thanks to his complex spy network.

5. Zofia Potocka and Mata Hari

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. 13 November 2015

History's most notorious covert operatives. The astonishing tale of Zofia Potocka, the beautiful lover of Grigory Potemkin who ran a successful spy network in the Russo-Turkish War.

6. Elizabeth Van Leew

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. 20 November 2015

The early innovators of intelligence. The American Civil War was notable for its female spymasters. Elizabeth van Lew's effective network even smuggled out messages in hollow eggs.