Invisible Hands

This is the story of a hidden force that changed Britain forever — free market capitalism — and the invisible hands that shaped it.

David Dimbleby traces the history of an idea that charts his lifespan. It started in a fighter plane in the Battle of Britain, gained traction in shadowy post-war London backrooms and rose to heights of excess in the new champagne bars of the City. Now it's 2025 and it has come to define every aspect of life in Britain. This idea transformed the economy, politics and, ultimately, society itself.

But how did it happen? Who are the barely known people behind it? What did they want, and how do they reflect on their legacy today?

As the nation faces new challenges, could a new way of thinking about the economy emerge to challenge the influence of this once radical idea.