Is The Secret Life of Arthur Ransome on BBC iPlayer UK?

Name: The Secret Life of Arthur Ransome
Director: Andrew Thompson
Genre: Documentary
Released: 2005
Rating: 8.5
Cast: Griff Rhys Jones, Sergei Podbolotov, Hugh Brogan

Yes, The Secret Life of Arthur Ransome (2005) is currently available to stream on BBC iPlayer UK.

Film

The Secret Life of Arthur Ransome(2005)

Documentary

59m

Last verified: 20/04/2026 — This information may be out of date

8.5/10IMDb

NRRotten Tomatoes

NRMetacritic

Viewer Rating

Have you seen this? Rate it.

Also included free with:

BBC iPlayer
Watch on BBC iPlayer

As an Amazon Associate, WhereToStream earns from qualifying purchases. Some links are affiliate links.

Synopsis

To generations Arthur Ransome's books, including Swallows and Amazons, were an integral part of growing up. But was there a darker side to the author? In this drama-documentary, the enthusiastic Griff Rhys Jones follows a trail that begins in Russia, reveals close links with many leading Bolsheviks, an affair with Trotsky's secretary and previously unreleased KGB documents about Ransome. But was Ransome actually spying for the British secret service all along?(English)