π Historyπ₯ Toplijstπ³ 13 votes
Which British spy or codebreaker deserves the top spot in your personal hall of fame?
From Bletchley brains to Cold War operatives, Britain has produced some of the most fascinating figures in espionage history. Rank them by who genuinely earns your respect, admiration, or grudging fascination.
Put the items in your preferred order.
A
Alan Turing
Turing's work at Bletchley Park is credited with shortening WWII by years, yet Britain repaid him with prosecution. A genius whose legacy still stings.
B
Kim Philby
The most notorious of the Cambridge Five, Philby fooled MI6 for decades before defecting to Moscow. Villain or fascinatingly complex? You decide.
C
Joan Clarke
A brilliant cryptanalyst who worked shoulder to shoulder with Turing, yet was paid less and rarely credited. History is finally catching up.
D
Christine Granville
Polish-born but serving Britain, she skied across mountains, charmed Gestapo officers and saved fellow agents from execution. Bond wishes he had her nerve.
E
Oleg Gordievsky
A double agent for MI6 whose intelligence may have prevented nuclear war in 1983. Smuggled out of Moscow in a car boot, no less.
Drag the photo to reorder
