For almost 40 years, Richard Moore was a career spy in Britain’s Secret Intelligence Service. Only his closest friends and family knew what he did for a living. When he was appointed chief of the agency in 2020, that changed: The name of the person in the top role is the only one made public.
In his first broadcast interview since leaving his post in September 2025, Moore talks to Mishal Husain about managing China, the psychology of Vladimir Putin and why spies shouldn’t expect recognition.
03:00 - “I certainly haven’t left the world in a better place than I found it”
05:02 - China as an “opportunity and a threat”
07:20 - UK’s China spy scandal
09:44 China should “get their embassy” in London
10:22 - Getting the “tap on the shoulder” at Oxford University
14:16 - Telling your children you’re a spy
16:28 - What is spycraft really like?
22:00 - Intelligence work post 9/11
28:15 - “Putin has no intention of doing a deal”
33:46 - Strikes on Venezuela
40:00 - Life on the outside
Watch this podcast here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLe4PRejZgr0Ns_wjGlmjlPz0cded0nTYS
You can find the written version of this interview with Mishal’s notes on Bloomberg Weekend: https://www.bloomberg.com/latest/weekend-interview
Contact The Mishal Husain Show mishalshow@bloomberg.net
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