Episode 1

James Naughtie asks if British diplomacy is still fit for purpose.

A century ago, much of the map of the world was coloured with the pink of the British Empire. Britain's diplomats reigned supreme, with the reassurance of a gunboat to support them. Much has changed since that time, and continues to change. As Britain faces new threats and new priorities across the globe, how are the foreign office and its diplomats changing?