The Wargame is a 2026 British television series produced by The Garden and was broadcast on Sky One. The series premiered on 21 September 2026 and consisted of five parts. It was described as a "constructed documentary" combined with a "propulsive drama". The show was followed by a live edition with an audience.
Background The series was produced by The Garden, a production studio operated by ITV Studios. The series was developed alongside prominent academics, military and defence experts as well as Sky News' Security and Defence Editor Deborah Haynes to better replicate high-level decision-making.
Plot The series is based on a Sky News podcast of the same name. The plot of The Wargame revolves around a fictional Russian attack on the United Kingdom in 2027.
Episode 1 The first episode begins with the Cabinet of the United Kingdom meeting in a Cabinet Office Briefing Room, referred to as a "COBRA meeting". The COBRA meeting is advised of three high-profile events that occurred overnight: two off-duty Royal Air Force F-35 Lightning fighter pilots were shot dead in a car park outside a pub in Lincolnshire; a cyber attack on NHS Yorkshire resulted in a failure of the computer systems used to manage ambulance responses; and a Russian research vessel has appeared off the coast of Orkney. The Russian oceanographic research vessel Orlan is located near a submarine communications cable and has not responded to Royal Navy and HM Coastguard attempts to contact them. Cabinet debate whether these three incidents are in fact linked, and whether to wait for certainty or act swiftly with partial information.
Closely followed by HMS Loughborough, the Russian vessel Orlan runs aground on rocks near Orkney, with the Royal Navy vessel starting a rescue effort. Social media posts from a nearby cargo ship show Russian sailors being loaded onto the British ship, with Orlan foundering close by. Russian news channels allege that the research vessel was intentionally destroyed as a result of the actions of the Royal Navy vessel, and demand that the captain of Loughborough be prosecuted. Cabinet refuses to do so, highlighting the suspicious actions of the ship. Meanwhile, police and intelligence reports confirm that the two pilots had been killed by a domestic organised crime network which was bankrolled by Russia. While considering how to respond, a Russian hunter-killer submarine sinks HMS Loughborough.
Episode 2 The sinking of Loughborough results in the death of a large number of sailors. Rescue efforts continue, while the Foreign Secretary and Defence Secretary meet online with the NATO Secretary General, who informs them that the alliance led by the United States recommends not escalating. Amid the lack of an official response from the UK, Deputy Prime Minister Nicola Sturgeon is sent to present a press conference confirming the sinking of HMS Loughborough, and a significant loss of life. Microphones are fitted to the podium rather than her clothing, but a few minutes after the meeting a possible deepfake viral video emerges online, alleging a "hot mic" incident where she personally insults the U.S. President for supposedly appeasing Russia. In response, the U.S. President posts a social media message deprecating the UK and refuses to talk to the Prime Minister. The Foreign Secretary meets with an enraged U.S. Secretary of State, who confirms the American position of de-escalation with Russia, emphasising the UK's position as a middle power, that should not seek to antagonist a great power such as Russia.
A Royal Air Force P-8 Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft locates the Russian submarine that sank HMS Loughborough. After a brief debate in the COBRA meeting, the PM orders that the submarine be destroyed, which they then do. In response, Russia retaliates with ballistic and cruise missiles aimed at various military targets across the United Kingdom. The strikes result in significant damage, with only one Type 45 destroyer deployed to protect HMNB Clyde, as well as a handful of Sky Sabre air defence systems to protect air bases, leaving the cities largely undefended. While the majority of missiles hit legitimate military and government targets, one missile intended for the SIS Building strikes a residential tower block.
Episode 3 A covert drone attack on several targets in the United Kingdom takes place, with an estimated forty drones launched from cargo trucks from British territory. A number of targets are hit, including a power station in Trafford, leaving GCHQ North and 600,000 homes without electricity, as well as a fuel depot at HMNB Portsmouth which severely immobilises the Royal Navy and necessitates an evacuation of Portsea Island.
With little support from NATO or the United States, the Prime Minister considers the possibility of strikes on strategic infrastructure in the Russian territories of Kaliningrad and Murmansk. A "Coalition of the Willing" is assembled, made up of Baltic and Scandinavian states. The Russian government accuses the United Kingdom of escalating the conflict into a full-scale European war. It issues an ultimatum stating that it is ready to cease hostilities, but only on the grounds that the current British government resign. Cabinet refuses to back down, stating that they would not bow to Russian pressure.
Social media posts calling for the government to resign increase, leading to protests throughout the country, which quickly turn violent. The intelligence services assess that they have reason to believe that Russia is attempting to stage a coup, through support for anti-government figures and the use of troll farms. Cabinet propose harsh measures such as invoking the Civil Contingencies Act and National Security Act to shut down the internet, take control of transport and media infrastructure and arresting political figures sympathetic to Russia, but consider that taking such moves would be perceived as against 'British values', and play into the Russian narrative.
Schools are closed, while reservists are mobilised and the National Health Service reserves hospital beds and blood. Emboldened by the further pledged support of Poland and Ukraine, who offer the capability of ATACMS tactical ballistic missiles and deep-strike drones, cabinet opt for a conventional strike option on both Kaliningrad and Murmansk simultaneously, in order to "humiliate" the Russians as much as possible.
Episode 4 The strikes against Kaliningrad and Murmansk inflict heavy casualties on Russian forces. A battle damage assessment reveals that targets were hit in close vicinity to Russian nuclear weapons facilities. The Russian leadership relocates to secure facilities in the Ural Mountains, and in response, the British Cabinet evacuates London for their own secure bunker. Several cabinet members call for de-escalation, suggesting that the United States may be able to help. Instead, the U.S. Secretary of War berates them, asking what they expected after carrying out the strikes. France and Germany pledge to assist the UK, but social media shows the public divided. Some welcome the support of Europe, while others call for de-escalation amid shortages of basic goods. Riots and looking breaks out throughout the country, with many fleeing to the countryside or across the channel to Europe.
Military intelligence identifies the transportation of at least one Oreshnik intermediate-range ballistic missile, capable to carrying either conventional or nuclear warheads. With a flight time of 22 minutes, the UK has no means of intercepting it. If the missile was equipped with a tactical nuclear payload in the range of a Hiroshima scale explosion that would destroy a city, or a strategic warhead that could largely destroy the entire United Kingdom. This presents a quandary, as the UK nuclear deterrent has no tactical option, or any response would be strategic and escalatory. Cabinet assesses its options, proposing another series of strikes using F-35 stealth aircraft launched from Finland and Norway, including attempting to destroy the Oreshnik launcher in Murmansk. The European force begins moving assets to support the operation, including deploying supporting troops to Germany and sending the French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle to the North Sea. In response, the President of Russia announces that it has raised its forces to full nuclear readiness in response. On social media, public confidence in de-escalation evaporates completely. Due to a lack of organised shelters, many people escape to the wilderness or shelter in the London Underground. The UK appeals to the United States again for help to little avail.
The launch of an Oreshnik missile is detected. It remains unclear whether it is carrying a nuclear warhead. The Prime Minister is asked whether he is ready to authorise the launch of the United Kingdom's strategic Trident missiles in response.
Episode 5 The fifth episode, entitled The Wargame: Aftermath, never answers the cliffhanger question. Instead it was a studio-based discussion programme hosted by Cathy Newman with a live studio audience, in front of which members of the cast "reflected on the pressures of decision-making at the highest level and explored the wider questions raised from this thrilling documentary series".
In the show Newman remarked that a number of the participants are now receiving money from defence lobbyists. The real life UK Secretary of Defence Wes Streeting was also on the show and remarked that now that people have seen what kind of threats the country may face they will be more sympathetic to increases in military spending in future UK budgets.
Cast The series featured politicians from various political parties and well-known figures from outside government including Michael Gove, Nicola Sturgeon, Penny Mordaunt, Sayeeda Warsi, Harriet Harman, Jim Murphy, Ayesha Hazarika, Richard Barrons, Kim Darroch, Christopher Steele, George Robertson and Anthony Scaramucci. Gove starred as Prime Minister, while Sturgeon acted as Deputy Prime Minister, Mordaunt acted as Defence Secretary, Harman acted as Home Secretary, Murphy acted as Foreign Secretary, Warsi acted as Attorney-General, Hazarika acted as Director of Communications, Barrons acted as Chief of Defence Staff, Darroch acted as National Security Advisor, Steele acted as Intelligence Chief, Robertson acted as the Secretary General of NATO and Scaramucci acted as the United States Secretary of State. They were opposed by a team of Russia experts led by Keir Giles. It also featured social media snippets of real life reactions.
Production Sky was upfront about the heavy use of generative AI to produce scenes showcasing Russian attacks on targets in the United Kingdom. Fake TikTok clips from real-life influencers demonstrating the public reaction to government decisions were also used.
Release The first trailer for The Wargame was released on 9 September 2026. It was broadcast on Sky One from 21–24 September 2026 and consisted of five parts. It included a special live episode and was also released on the streaming service Now.
Podcast The series is based on a Sky News podcast series of the same name, initially launched in June 2025. It featured a different cast, apart from Barrons & Murphy, and was also devised by Sky News' defence and security editor Deborah Haynes and Dr Rob Johnson, Director of the Oxford Changing Character of War Centre.
Reception