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

Subscribe today on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

For almost 40 years, Richard Moore was a career spy in Britain&rsquo;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&rsquo;t expect recognition.
03:00 - &ldquo;I certainly haven&rsquo;t left the world in a better place than I found it&rdquo;
05:02 - China as an &ldquo;opportunity and a threat&rdquo;
07:20 - UK&rsquo;s China spy scandal
09:44 China should &ldquo;get their embassy&rdquo; in London
10:22 - Getting the &ldquo;tap on the shoulder&rdquo; at Oxford University
14:16 - Telling your children you&rsquo;re a spy
16:28 - What is spycraft really like?
22:00 - Intelligence work post 9/11
28:15 - &ldquo;Putin has no intention of doing a deal&rdquo;
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&rsquo;s notes on Bloomberg Weekend: https://www.bloomberg.com/latest/weekend-interview
Contact The Mishal Husain Show mishalshow@bloomberg.net
Subscribe today on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Make sense of the world with one essential conversation, every week. Mishal Husain, one of Britain's best interviewers, brings her signature blend of curiosity and tenacity to weekly conversations with world leaders, business titans, and cultural icons, revealing who they really are and how they see the world changing around them.

Subscribe today at Bloomberg.com/audio or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. For annotated transcripts of Mishal's conversations head to Bloomberg.com/latest/weekend-interview

Make sense of the world with one essential conversation, every week. Mishal Husain, one of Britain's best interviewers, brings her signature blend of curiosity and tenacity to weekly conversations with world leaders, business titans, and cultural icons, revealing who they really are and how they see the world changing around them.
Subscribe today at Bloomberg.com/audio or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. For annotated transcripts of Mishal's conversations head to Bloomberg.com/latest/weekend-interview

The Mishal Husain Show

Richard Moore Was Paid to Steal Secrets, Not Solve Mysteries

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/80349adb-dcbe-44d3-a71b-b39401036e9b/transcript

Advertisement