Blair

Tony Blair, Britain’s former Prime Minister, tells the story of his ten years in power (1997 – 2007) and the major events which marked his premiership. Concentrating on the world crises and conflicts during this period and built around in-depth interviews with Mr Blair in which he talks candidly about his very close alliance with America; his attempts... More »

Tony Blair, Britain’s former Prime Minister, tells the story of his ten years in power (1997 – 2007) and the major events which marked his premiership.

Concentrating on the world crises and conflicts during this period and built around in-depth interviews with Mr Blair in which he talks candidly about his very close alliance with America; his attempts to forge international coalitions to tackle threats to world peace; the rise of fundamentalist Islamic terrorism post 9/11; and the war on Iraq.

The programs contain a wide range of interviews with world leaders and other senior figures involved in the extraordinary global events of the last decade. They talk about their relationship with Mr Blair – including the rows and disagreements – and how the fateful decisions that have shaped world events were taken. Interviewees include President George W Bush, President Clinton, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, former Spanish Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar, former UN Secretary General Kofi Anan.

The people who have shaped our world in the last few years relive these turbulent times and recount their personal involvement in world events. The series also contains new material shot during Tony Blair’s last few weeks in power and in his current role as Middle East Envoy for the Quartet (US, Russia, EU and UN).

Unique behind the scenes access to Tony Blair and his office enables the Blair story to be right up-to-date using previously unseen material.

Part 1: Blair at War
Tony Blair and George W Bush, the two leaders who took their nations to war in Iraq, talk openly about the decision to topple Saddam Hussein. Blair’s belief that nations should act together to tackle threats was born of his experience in the Balkans and reinforced when al Qaeda attacked on the US on September 11th. Blair talks of his failure to keep the international coalition together over Iraq, and for the first time admits he was isolated diplomatically by the time of the invasion in March 2003 – “Truthfully I was in a position which didn’t really have a constituency anymore”, he says. Blair is dismissive of suggestions that the chaos of post-war Iraq was the result of poor planning and asserts that the war in Iraq is a “visceral, profound struggle between what is right and what is wrong” which he fears the West may not have the stomach to win.

Part 2: Blair in Power
This concluding episode tells the story of Tony Blair's gradual conversion from a consensus politician who brought together many shades of public opinion, to a leader who divided Britain. In candid interviews, Tony Blair talks frankly about his decade as Prime Minister and the qualities needed to lead a country whilst playing a role on the international stage.

Tony Blair speaks in detail for the first time about his deep religious convictions and the influence they had on the way he governed. He says that his religious belief is a profound aspect of his personality and shaped the way he responded to events. The program also reveals the depth of the depression into which Blair sank in 2004, and how his faith saw him through.

This episode also gives the most detailed account yet of the crucial relationship at the heart of Tony Blair's government - between the Prime Minister and his Chancellor. Former Cabinet ministers and advisors speak frankly about the long-running tensions between Tony Blair and Gordon Brown, his successor as Prime Minister.

With unique access to the former Prime Minister, the series captured Tony Blair‘s last weeks in Downing Street, recorded his reaction to his resignation at his constituency home and filmed him in his next role as Middle East Envoy.

Interviewees
Tony Blair
George W. Bush
Hans Blix
Kofi Annan
Joschka Fischer
Bill Clinton
Hashim Thaci (former political leader of Kosovan Liberation Army)
John Bolton (Former Under-Secretary for Arms Control and International Security)
Sir John Sawers (Foreign Affairs Adviser to Tony Blair, 1999-2001)
David Manning (Foreign Policy advisor to Tony Blair 2001-2003)
Jack Straw
Alastair Campbell
General Charles Guthrie (Chief of the Defence Staff 1997- 2001)
Jeremy Greenstock (UK Permanent Representative to the UN)
Christopher Meyer (Former British Ambassador to the United States)
Tim Cross (Deputy Head of the coalition’s Office of Reconstruction and Humanitarian Assistance in Iraq)
Stephen Wall (Former advisor to Tony Blair on Europe)
Robin Butler (Former Cabinet Secretary 1988-98)
Val Amos (Former Junior Minister at the Foreign Office)
William Hague (Former Leader of the Conservative Party)
Iain Duncan Smith (Former Leader of the Conservative Party)
Hoshyar Zebari (Minister of Foreign Affairs 2003 – to date)
Gerard Errera (Ambassador of Franc to the UK 2002-2007)
 Less «