Unmasked: Extreme Far Right

Written by: BBC Radio Wales
  • Summary

  • My name is Dan Jones.

    Except that's not my real name.

    You can't know my real name, because some of the people I am going to tell you about could be dangerous.

    I will walk you through how I managed to infiltrate and became a trusted member of a far right group called 'Patriotic Alternative'.

    Month after month I wear a "mask", use an alias, to find out what's really going on.

    I spend a weekend at PA's summer camp, and even manage to get into their secretive annual conference.

    What I discover is that it's not all swastikas and football hooligans.

    Some of PA's members were civil servants, an NHS worker, and even a teacher.

    In this year-long investigation, I reveal what it's like to be undercover, my double life and the constant fear of being outed.

    All to uncover what some PA member's true beliefs are.

    (C) BBC 2025
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Episodes
  • Introducing... Unmasked: Extreme Far Right
    Jan 21 2025

    Warning: There are parts of this episode that some might find offensive and disturbing.

    My name is Dan Jones.

    Except that’s not my real name.

    You can’t know my real name, because some of the people I am going to tell you about could be dangerous.

    I will walk you through how I managed to infiltrate and became a trusted member of a far right group called ‘Patriotic Alternative’.

    Month after month I wear a “mask”, use an alias, to find out what’s really going on.

    I spend a weekend at PA's summer camp, and even manage to get into their secretive annual conference.

    What I discover is that it’s not all swastikas and football hooligans.

    Some of PA’s members were civil servants, an NHS worker, and even a teacher.

    In this year-long investigation, I reveal what it’s like to be undercover, my double life and the constant fear of being outed.

    All to uncover what some PA member’s true beliefs are.

    Producer: Paul Heaney Sound design: Cathy Robinson Executive Producer: Karen Voisey Production consultant: Jayne Morgan BBC Sounds commissioner: Bridget Curnow Production Manager: Andrea Deere Researchers: Alexandra Bánfi, Ben Summer

    Extracts from: Joe Marsh talking about peaceful protesting. ‘Patriotic Weekly Review’. 31 July 2024. Mark Collett social media post Joe Marsh talking about tactics. ‘Welsh Invasion Update’. 3 August 2024. Joe Marsh social media post

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    3 mins
  • 6. Now they know
    Jan 20 2025

    Warning: There are parts of this episode that some might find offensive and upsetting - including people using very strong language, and the strongest racist language.

    As Dan finally takes his mask off, some PA members and supporters face difficult questions on their doorsteps. PA's leader is also put in the hotseat. Might some of the people Dan has been talking to have broken the law? And when more people hear about what Dan has discovered, will there be consequences?

    Producer: Paul Heaney Sound design: Cathy Robinson Executive producer: Karen Voisey Production consultant: Jayne Morgan BBC Sounds commissioner: Bridget Curnow Production manager: Andrea Deere Researchers: Alexandra Bánfi, Ben Summe

    Extracts from: Mark Collett talking about undercover reporter. 'Patriotic Weekly Review with the Golden One'. 15 January 2025. Mark Collett social media post Joe Marsh talking about protesting outside mosques. 'Welsh Invasion Update'. 3 August 2024. Joe Marsh social media post

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    24 mins
  • 5. Riots and grand plans
    Jan 20 2025

    Warning: There are parts of this episode that some might find offensive and upsetting, including strong language.

    As riots break out in the UK, Dan is still a member of a far right group, where emotions are running high. PA's leader is telling him about his plans for the future, and how he can be a part of it. At some stage Dan's mask will have to come off. What happens then?

    Producer: Paul Heaney Sound design: Cathy Robinson Executive producer: Karen Voisey Production consultant: Jayne Morgan BBC Sounds commissioner: Bridget Curnow Production manager: Andrea Deere Researchers: Alexandra Bánfi, Ben Summer

    Extracts from: Mark Collett online comments about Southport. 'Patriotic Weekly Review - with Joe Marsh'. 31 July 2024. Mark Collett social media post Joe Marsh online comments about Southport. 'Welsh Invasion update'. 3 August 2024. Joe Marsh social media post 'PA Camp 2024'. 18 July 2024. Patriotic Alternative social media post 'FREE Sam Melia Demo - Political Prisoner Update - with Laura Towler'. 5 April 2024. Mark Collett social media post 'Free James Costello Protest - Mark Collett and Laura Towler'. 23 September 2024. Patriotic Alternative social media posts Laura Towler talking about Sven Longshanks. 'FREE Sam Melia Demo - Political Prisoner Update - with Laura Towler'. 5 April 2024. Mark Collett social media post PA supporting the Southport rioters. 'Facing the storm - PA Conference 2024'. 1 November 2024. Mark Collett social media post Joe Marsh talking about Stradey Park Hotel, Llanelli. Chief Moody social media post. (Captured from Me talking to Chief Moody last week about the Stradey Park Hotel in Llanelli. 23 July 2023. Joe Marsh social media post)

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    17 mins

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