Craig …is there any way of downloading it on a podcast or other type of recording if we can’t listen to it live?

I assume it’ll be on the BBC iPlayer for a week after broadcast.

I was amazed to hear the BBC were doing this.

I hope David Hare does justice to your book Craig, which I thoroughly recommend to anyone, by the way.

It’s on NOW and like you, am far more excited than I should be!

I am listening and enjoying it very much but have just been made to feel sick by hearing Blair speak when Shock and Awe was enacted on Baghdad.

Feel better now as Dr Who aka Craig Murray sings my favourite G&S song. You must be fun to be with Craig.

Damn, I just missed it! I’m going to try and get it from the BBC website, it’s usually there for 7 days after broadcast. For some stupid reason, I had it my mind that it was in the evening.

Great day. First man u get cut down to size, and now some truth on the radio…

One thing did surprise me – the part involving Clare Short, and her resignation, seems not to have been included. A shame. That would seem to be relevant.

certainly will read/buy the great play

@tricia:

There’s a lot more in it than the book. But at the moment, they compliment each other

I am listening to it now on Radio 4.

Superb and I only wish that you could have been called to give evidence to the Iraq inquiry.

New Labour and their opposames the tories have been supporting abuses of UN law. The truth must be exposed constantly and often.

Keep up your excellent work.

Seemed like a very fair portrayal of your situation, as you have described it over the years on this medium – I hope you also have found it so.

Tennant was as good as expected.

Excuse me,I don’t want to sound like a “conspiraloon” but the line in Murder in Samarkand where the ambassador(i.e.you)dismisses the idea that there is a serious Islamist threat in the country is rather troubling.

Why,if it was just unbelievable to hear in Uzbekistan that Islamist fighters were on their way over the hills to commit terrorist acts-why is it possible to believe that this was the case in NY on 911?

Sorry to bring up this hoary old chestnut again.

Brilliant ending… “Why am I a hero?” It just hangs…

Just listened to it Craig it was very well done and hopefully will get more people to read the book and ask the questions you raise.David Tennant was excellent but Nadira would have been much better played by Nadira

Just listened to it. Great stuff! I hope it will be a good influence in many places.

Brilliant! True to the book, funny, moving, damning.

Lang may yer lumb reek!

@freeborn

Good debating point…

It’s not! It’s also ridiculous that a few Islamist militants brought the all powerful US govt almost to breaking point. Either gross, gross, gross incompetence… or collusion.

Thanks for being honest despite all they have done to silence you.

Bravo. Never thought I would hear that on ZBC.

Very surreal when the credits were followed by the news – first item – Gordon Brown asking voters to give a second look at (Nu) Labour. Never, never.

thought the adaptation was fantastic, i only found out about the play last night, i will have to get the book now.

I will have to be honest, i had never heard of you before, but now i have heard your story, i do not feel pity, but a sense of strenth within you. You kept your principles to the last moment.

Thank you to David Tennant for reading your part as i hope it made more people aware of what has went on.

Governments cannot be shamed – they have no conscience. It’s the same with Companies and Corporations. Human Rights are meaningless to those who pursue power and profit. What a horrible fucking world!

Just sat and listened to the BBC radio 4. Quite amazing ! I switched on the radio without knowing this program was being played. As I listened I thought I had heard of some of these things going on in the news some time ago…At the end I realised it was based on truth…

It confirms my suspicions regarding the Iraqi war and the double dealing politicans we have in this country…

More power to your elbow Craig.

I thought that was fantastic – I know very little about David Tennant, but he did the official confrontations wonderfully. Found the off switch just as Cameron pops up on the next programme

A very thought-provoking story, with some moving moments, and some rather cringe-inducing ones too.

And I confess to giggling at hearing David Tennant singing “I am the very model”.

brilliant drama – so sad though the suffering inc yours.

Respect

Mike

As a radio play it was both entertaining and gripping. I enjoyed it very much. Did it portray you correctly? It seemed to fit the mental picture of Craig Murray that I have developed but I guess only you and those who know you well can answer that question.

Awesome buddy. Don’t ever say never – some of us are high fliers too and treat politics like marbles. A good man is hard to find. Love to the family. As always….

Very enjoyable and very moving in places, as it should have been. David Hare did a good job packing in so much into 90 mins. Your book is much better though.

I was under the impression that evidence from the ongoing Iraq enquiry was going to be threaded inside the play.

Maybe something for a future David Hare effort ?

Ooops, yes I plan on buying your books after hearing it.

Dear Mr Murray,

Remember D. Hare’s plays from the 80s and have found them banal but not this one which had a profound ring of truth. I had a similar response to the attack on Iraq (it never was a war) and held a candle-lit vigil at the end of my road in London. It was unbelievable and I optimistically expect that Mr Blair will be charged with crimes against humanity one day.

Thank you for your courage.

Mary Philo (London teacher)

Great production Craig. I’m glad Hare went with the serious stuff rather than the farcical side. Wonder whether Tennant was a bit miscast; he sounded too young and callow to my ears, I would have preferred more gravitas.

It might be worth chasing up Amazon and your publishers. Amazon don’t have copies in stock and are offering only a 5 to 9 day dispatch time for the paperback, despite it having a healthy 2208 sales ranking.

@Freeborn: regarding the “Islamists on the hills”, I seem to remember from the book that Craig has been to the sites where it was claimed terrorist training camps had been set up – and found nothing. The claims, it seems, had been invented by the Uzbek regime to prop up financial support from the US in their ‘war on terror’.

@Clive – I would think someone will make an MP3 of it in due course – watch this thread for links.

A fantastic performance by David Tennant.I have been fortunate enough to visit Uzbekistan several times as a performing musician.I’ve been the recipient of Uzbek hospitality, and spent time witnessing and being humbled by Uzbek life and all it’s hardships. You are a brave man Craig, keep on with the fight for truth and justice.

Well done: this world CAN be horrible and immoral, but at least there are still people like you who cannot just stand by and watch injustice being done.

So glad the BBC broadcast this. Good luck to you, Craig.

Respectfully, Ellie

The play was brilliant, extremely well done. Brought tears to my eyes a couple of times. You remain in my top 10 list of heros. Bless you and thank you.

@Craig – *** the link to the book in your left sidebar is broken – goes to the wrong domain. Can you get your web person to fix? ***

I lostcount of the number of marches and vigils I was part of in te run up to war with Iraq. Today is a good, day – and it wouldn’t have happened without Craig’s determination and a high profile figure like David Tennant prepared to be courageous. I remember hearing Chris Martin at the Brits just before the start of Iraq war – but he pulled back. I often wondered why… there was so much support for what he was saying.

Lost my phone, keys & wallet on last raz – s’pose should get that sorted eh?The portrayal of the FCO was very much a viewpoint expressed by a minion (soz) and to that extent, whilst Larry may have been your buddy, it highlighted your lack of clubability.

At what point did you realize that politicians ran the game? Later rather than sooner by the sounds of it.

It was educational in the sense of its honesty. Your nieveity was/is brilliant.It’s a bit hard to speak at the moment as the phrase ‘up against the wall motherfucker’ is kinda a motto but give me 10 years and i’ll get you back in the FCO – even if it’s just for a beer.

Cheers again.

I’ve just finished listening to the Saturday play on the BBC. I really enjoyed it and I must track down the book. The story is made all the more riveting by being based on real events.

@d-the-p

If politicians run the game, how did this get broadcast?

I listened in because David Tennant was in it, was unaware even if it was a true story (apologies for my ignorance). A great story, and all the more so as I found when I googled Clive Murray and found this site. You are indeed a Hero, sir!

An excellent adaption, it worked very well, even stripped down so much from the book. mary, the first story on the following news about Gordon Brown’s speech was indeed so surreal.

i have to confess to never having heard your story before today. if it wasn’t for the fact that i had heard the Mark Lawson interview with David Hare before the play was aired, i would have thought i was listening to something similar to the very best of John le Carre. all praise to the BBC for doing what they do best, to David Hare for making me sit up and take notice and most of all to you, for showing everyone that it is still possible, for a very human human being, to stand up against the big guns.

Dear Craig,listened to the David Hare play and thought it was splendid! I remember some of the history of this though the Iraq War tended to dominate things. There are some good people in the LP – but I think it has been rotten at the core for some time now. It is very sad for people like myself who fought for so many decades to get Labour elected. Perhaps it is time to use your talents on other causes 0 such as the chaos in Haiti?

Craig – thank you for being you. Although I have been following all the subtexts of the ludicrous WarOnTerror for years with ever mounting despair, and having read your books a while ago, the play was powerfully moving – more condensed (obviously) but as such more direct in impact.

As a fellow Scot of a similar age I admit I lost all hope of any decency or morality in our politics decades ago; however your courage in telling your truths cuts through the wall of cynicism that I need to carry on and I find myself still wiping my eyes 30 minutes after the play.

You are an inspiration and should be very very proud.

At least we are still free to discuss these matters; at least for now.

I wish you and Nadira all possible good fortune and would be proud to buy the beer next time you are in Auld Reekie.

John

Absolutely brilliant. I had read about Craig Murray in the press while has was the ambassador in Uzbek and I thought he sounded interesting then.

Awesome. Very glad to see your story handled so well, and also that it continues to get a growing audience. It’s important for justice, and you personally deserve it too.

Cheers

What an amazing story. I tuned in quite by chance just after the start of the play, and was some way in before it dawned on me that it must be generally based on real events.

Well done to the BBC for broadcasting it such a relatively short time after it is set, and involving as it does people still in politics and public life.

Your book is headed for my birthday wishlist now, for sure!

Thank you.

Riveting play, riveting material, enormous admiration for your activity in Tashkent, Crag Murray. I spent over 2 years as a hostage in Beijing during the Cultural Rev, so familiarity with the FO and troublesome deep Asian postings not a million miles from my experience. Focussed as never before on your story, Craig and I send you my deepest admiration for your idealism and courage, that was certainly not typical FO stuff. Just published my secret shorthand diaries to mark the 40th annivesary of my release. Shall continue to look further into your assigment etc. Top marks too to the two Davids, Hare and Tennant. Heard it start in my car on short journey and could not turn it off, sat for an hour in a car parked transfixed. Well, well done! Warmest good wishes in whatever else dyou do. Anthony

I listened keenly to the play, because I admire David Hare and have seen most of his plays at the National. I also am a member of Amnesty so it was a subject that interests me. Then I got onto the internet.

Firstly, I was amazed that so much was true and still managed st last to get through the Victorian censorship laws that rule the ordinary press.

Secondly, I was delighted that at last there seems to be a way to show up the horrible hypocrisy which exists in our foreign policy. May this continue.

Thirdly, I wish you well in your endeavour to get torture eliminated from the EU, even if it can’t be from the world…

Hi Craig,

I mistakenly posted the following on your ‘Dundee’ blog:-

I’ve just listened to David Hare’s play ‘Murder in Samarkand’ based on your memoir. An incredibly powerful ‘story’ of which I was previously unaware – I still haven’t fully taken it in.

Quote 1:

“If you are winning, they re-write the rules”.

True of the UK civil legal process too!

Quote 2:

“Just because the allegations were not proved does not mean they are not true”.

In the UK civil divorce process that translates as: ‘Just because truth is denied as a defence does not mean that truth cannot be fabricated as an indictment’.

Quote 3:

“I admire people who pay the price for their principles”.

The UK civil legal process disavows actions based on principle. In so doing, it undermines its pretensions to support morality and justice, and will happily see the impoverishment of the principled litigant.

Conclusion:

What you say of the UK executive is true also of the UK legal system and, therefore, of the UK ‘establishment’ as a whole. Was not British imperial ‘gun-boat diplomacy’ based on the fear of the threat of punitive action rather than the ability to carry it out? That deceit/subterfuge is as true today in the exercise of British power – nationally and internationally – as it was 150 years ago. It politicises even the legal process.

I’m afraid that UK voters who believe in democracy are guilty of naivety and self-deception.

Is there something I can do to help you, and people like you (not forgetting David Hare), to allow you to flourish and prosper for all our sakes?

Best regards

David Rothwell

Two other thoughts -

1. was the execrable and revolting Straw listening in?

2. Was Craig’s wife involved in discussing the production and was she happy about the dramatisation of her part in the story?

Heard the play. Thought it was excellent. i didn’t know a lot about your story prior to this. If even a miniscule part of it is true then you were treated in a shameful way – but you probably know that already.

I’ll be buying the book in the hope that it will inspire me to beat a dirty campaign against me.

I wish you the very best of luck and would love to hear you speak in the future.

Good play, good book, good cause. Hang in there.

I loved the adaptation, and if I hadn’t already read the book, this play would make me want to.

How wonderful to see so many new visitors here as a result of the play. Those simple closing lines were particularly effective, I thought. The aim of the government is to normalise the obscenities of aggression and sadism, but the final sentences of the play remind us that normal, healthy people feel enormous revulsion at such things and are shocked when their instinct is questioned. Although I think that nowadays a kind of heroism is required in order to say so.

Exellent play and David T as you a great choice.

Surprised that the BBC put it on.

As a Labour Party activist and a Quaker it saddens me that you went through all this and were dealt with so shabbily by the government.

The truth must be told. Sonja

Heard the first five minutes of the play this afternoon on my way to the shop – ended up going on a long drive instead (1.5 hours actually!) as I couldn’t stop listening. Thank you. And keep going. Am now off to buy your book!

Great play and very relevant to Chilcot enquiry and govt. secrecy. I have followed your story, Craig from the beginning, listening to the early reports of human rights abuses in Uzbekistan and your brave struggle and interviews, and you have come through! Very well done, terrific script by David Hare and your part played with such verve by David Tennant. You must be delighted. Memorable and important.

Excellent,

The dramatization brought out all the emotions and passions in the listener.

Hope the play will help your efforts to raise the plight of the people in Uzbekistan and our government’s collusion in maintaining such regimes.

Superlative stuff, enjoyable and powerful; Hare coaxed a wonderful performance out of David Tennant, of whom I’ve not hitherto had a very high opinion. Most of the supporting roles were well done also.

I saw the excellent ‘The Power of Yes’ earlier this week , and noticed many of the actors in that were also used by Hare in this production- and it showed. I particularly liked the fact that he used the same actor to voice both Karimov & the US ambassador !

Both the Beeb, and David Tennant, have gone up in my estimation today. I hope this performance raises your profile- perhaps the Beeb will now put you on the Any Questions/QT rota (from which you appear to be excluded at the present time) ?

haven’t even heard it yet (am waiting to listen with a friend later) but am so happy for this obvious point of light. Thank you, and Nadira, and everyone involved.

I thought the BBC did an absolutely superb job, very impressive and inspiring. Tennant may be on the young side, but he did a brilliant job representing Craig’s passion and commitment. Some things I don’t recollect reading in the book – unfortunately I can’t check just now, as most of my huge library is in storage.

We definitely need more people like Craig around.

Just want to add that often BBC radio plays are quite dull & you can’t listen for more than a few mins, but this was so listenable and the humour kept you from feeling total despair. I had a tear in my eye at the last line. David Tennant had the right mix of cheekiness and strength.

Download via bittorrent

http://btjunkie.org/torrent/Murder-in-Samarkand-by-David-Hare/4196b3cb7b8132d11ddf508d73e0ebad2bf49f2c542d

As a 62 year old East london bloke who is totally not interested in politics at any level purely because I pervceive al politicians are interested fundamentally in only temselves and making money ( I have felt that long before it was the accepted wisdom), I have just listened to the play on Radio 4 and am stunned. It was excellent on many levels but it forced me to google you as I’d never heard of you-sorry!!(I would never bother normally as I can’t be asked- I am sure you get the pattern)and would say please move to Chelmsford and stand in the upcoming election and I wil get off my bum to vote for you.

Right Mr Murray, where do I start?

I have to admit that I listened to the radio play for David Tennant and his yummy Scottish accent (I’m just a girl …) and now I have even more respect for the man, because by picking this job he promoted a story that I feel is very important and has to be told.

And my copy of your book is on the way – bless the new online shopping world

I stayed up late to listen to the play last night. Well worth it. I read the book some time ago, when you came to talk in Truro; so I was gripped by your story again. We need to be reminded of how lacking in backbone and values our system is. The night before, ( another late night)I watched “on expenses” on BBC4. Another drama with an important story to tell.Have you seen it?

There’s a version here, but you need to login first (registration is free):

http://radioarchive.cc/torrents-details.php?id=8129