Liberte: Short film shines light on unsung British WWII secret agent Noor Inayat Khan

Published

2 years ago

February 21, 2023

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“Beautiful, striking and petite,” Noor Inayat Khan was “the unlikeliest of spies”.

An accomplished musician and children’s writer, described as “a daydreamer” by her friends, few would have foreseen that she would go on to earn the George Cross for her service to her country.

Now, 80 years after her first mission, the little-known Second World War heroine will have her story told in the short film Liberte, documenting her time as a British secret agent.

Actress and journalist Sam Naz, who wrote and co-produced the film, as well as playing the lead role, told Sky News: “I just couldn’t quite believe that here was a woman that looked like me, who had played such an important role during World War Two, and yet I had been taught nothing about her. And it kind of sparked something in me… I couldn’t shake her off.”

Naz, who has worked for the BBC, Radio 5 Live and currently presents for Sky News, searched out newly declassified files on Khan in the National Archives, visited the Imperial War Museum and retraced Khan’s steps around the safe house in Paris where she was held, as well as reading interviews from people who had known her.

She also visited the historic Nazis headquarters in Paris, 84 Avenue Foch, during the German occupation. This was where Khan was first held, and from where she twice tried to escape.

Naz says: “I looked at that building in awe, but it was impossible not to think of some of the horrors that happened in those makeshift cells in that building.”

At the time Khan was recruited as a spy, the allies were struggling to win the war, and Churchill was under pressure to come up with a solution.

A new spy agency – the Special Operations Executive (SOE) – was set up, and as the number of suitable men to send into key countries dwindled, women saw themselves recruited into dangerous roles for the first time.

As a fluent French speaker, and previous native of Paris (her family fled France when it fell to the Nazis), Khan was an invaluable asset to the resistance.

After first joining the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force, she moved on to the SOE where she was given special training as a wireless radio operator in occupied territory and in June 1943 was sent out into the field.

She was the first woman to ever do so – all the female agents before her had been sent as couriers.

Khan’s new persona was children’s nurse, Jeanne-Marie Renier, but to her SOE colleagues, she was known simply as Madeleine.

Naz explains: “When you think of a spy and when you visualize how TV, drama and film have portrayed spies, she’s the opposite. She’s a woman of colour. She’s of Indian descent. She’s a Muslim.

“I really wanted to put her front and centre. I wanted to showcase her and highlight this remarkable woman who had played such a key role.”

‘Unbreakable’ inner strength

At the time, the life expectancy of someone in that role was just six weeks. This was because the Nazis were able to pick up the radio signals and work out where they were being transmitted from. But that didn’t put Khan off, far from it.

She arrived on her mission, only to find that the entire network she had been sent to join – codenamed “Prosper” – had all been captured by the Nazis.

She insisted on remaining in Paris to undertake what has since been called “the most dangerous post in France” – becoming the sole British radio operator operating in the city and doing her best to help rebuild the network and bring in new agents.

But it was after being betrayed by the Gestapo and captured by the Nazis that her true grit and courage became clear.

Naz explains: “She remained as that key link to London at great risk to herself. Eventually, they caught up with her, but that kind of courage is remarkable.”

Khan was held for around 10 months, and eventually sent to Germany, but never once cracked under Nazi brutality.

Considered “a particularly dangerous and uncooperative prisoner” according to records, she was kept separate from other inmates.

Describing testimony given by her German captors after the war, Naz says: “They talk about how others came and went and some were very quick to crack… But with her, there was this inner strength that just was unbreakable.”

Her “conspicuous courage, both moral and physical” would later be praised in reports of her capture.

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It was that strength that Naz says was the most important element of the film: “Her resilience and her refusal to break under that immense pressure and turmoil that she would have gone through and being tested to the limit by the Nazis.”

‘Heart-wrenching and awe-inspiring’

Executed in the Dachau concentration camp in September 1944 along with three other female prisoners, Khan’s final word is believed to have been Liberte – the title of the film.

Five years after her death she was posthumously awarded the George Cross by the King.

With this year marking the 80th anniversary of her mission, Naz says it became more important to her than ever to keep Khan’s memory alive.

“I think drama really is powerful in doing that and bringing those people back to life for a moment on screen. And I think it just felt like the perfect medium to tell her story… I just hope I did it justice.”

Directed and co-produced by Christopher Hanvey, the film also features music composed in Khan’s memory by her late brother Hidayat Inayat. Her family has called the film “heart-wrenching and awe-inspiring”.

In 2020, Khan became the first woman of South Asian descent to have a blue plaque honouring her. It’s displayed on the wall of her wartime London home, 4 Taviton Street in Bloomsbury, London.

While Liberte may be complete, Naz isn’t quite ready to let Khan go. Her production company, Laconic Raven, is now developing the drama mini-series SOE about the Special Operations Executive which Khan was part of. The show will tell the story of five women, including Khan.

Naz says: “We’ve had SAS Rogue Heroes, which focuses on the brilliant work done by the men. But I think it’s time for the women to have their showcase too…

“It’ll blow your mind. And they’re from all backgrounds. There’s working-class women. There are young mothers who went out there. They’re incredible. And they all deserve their own time in the spotlight.”

Liberte premieres tonight on Sky History at 10.15pm and will then be available on NOW.

Entertainment

Glastonbury 2025 line-up revealed

Published

10 hours ago

March 6, 2025

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The 1975 and Olivia Rodrigo will be among the stars headlining Glastonbury Festival this year, it has been announced.

Glastonbury organisers have revealed the line-up for this summer’s event, taking place between 25 June and 29 June, after months of speculation.

The 1975 will take to the iconic Pyramid Stage on the Friday to headline, then Canadian singer-songwriter Neil Young will perform on Saturday and Olivia Rodrigo on the Sunday.

Other big names performing include British pop sensation Charli XCX, rapper Loyle Carner electronic group The Prodigy.

The announcement comes after Sir Rod Stewart was booked for the Sunday teatime legend slot and Young was confirmed as a headliner earlier this year.

Young’s announcement in January came amid some confusion, as he had days before told fans he was pulling out of the festival because the BBC’s involvement was a “corporate turn-off”.

The Canadian singer-songwriter later said this decision was down to “an error in the information I received”.

The 1975 will be headlining for the first time, having made their Glastonbury debut in 2014.

The Cheshire band, known for hits such as Somebody Else and Chocolate, have regularly made headlines due to the antics of frontman Matty Healy.

Glastonbury, which takes place at Worthy Farm in Somerset in the summer, has worked closely with the BBC – its exclusive broadcast partner – since 1997.

Appetite for the esteemed festival saw standard tickets sell out in 35 minutes in November.

They cost £373.50 plus a £5 booking fee, up £18.50 from the price from the 2024 festival, and were sold exclusively through the See Tickets website.

The date for the resale – where tickets not fully paid for are put back up for purchase – is set for some time in spring.

The headliners last summer on the iconic Pyramid Stage were Dua Lipa, SZA and Coldplay, who made history as the first act to headline the festival five times.

2026 is likely to be a year off for Glastonbury, with the festival traditionally taking place four out of every five years, and the fifth year reserved for rehabilitation of the land.

Entertainment

Sabrina Carpenter and Charli XCX BRIT Awards appearances spark hundreds of Ofcom complaints

Published

1 day ago

March 5, 2025

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Sabrina Carpenter and Charli XCX BRIT Awards appearances spark hundreds of Ofcom complaints

Ofcom received 825 complaints over the Brit Awards, with the majority relating to Sabrina Carpenter’s raunchy performance and Charli XCX’s outfit, the media watchdog says.

US pop star Carpenter, 25, sported a red sparkly military-style blazer dress for her performance at the awards show on Saturday night, paired with stockings and suspenders for a rendition of Espresso.

The song was mixed with a Rule Britannia mash-up, as dancers in military parade dress followed her.

She then switched to a red sparkly bra and shorts for her next song, Bad Chem, which she performed alongside dancers in bras and shorts while sitting suggestively on a large bed.

Carpenter later received the global success award at the ceremony, and was also nominated in the international artist and international song of the year categories.

But much of the buzz on social media surrounded her performance, which took place before the 9pm watershed.

Ofcom said some of the complaints were also aimed at British pop sensation Charli XCX, who dominated the night by winning five awards, including album of the year.

Some viewers took issue with her outfit – a black see-through dress.

The singer addressed the concerns during her acceptance speech for artist of the year, saying: “I heard that ITV were complaining about my nipples. I feel like we’re in the era of ‘free the nipple’ though, right?”

Carpenter paid tribute to the UK in her acceptance speech, saying: “The Brits have given me this award, and this feels like such an insane honour in a very primarily tea-drinking country… you really understood my dry sense of humour because your sense of humour is so, so dry. So I love y’all more than you even understand.”

Entertainment

Why is Noel Clarke suing The Guardian?

Published

1 day ago

March 5, 2025

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Actor Noel Clarke begins his High Court libel case against The Guardian’s publisher today.

Clarke, 49, is suing Guardian News and Media (GNM) over a series of articles it published about him in April 2021.

They were based on the claims of 20 women Clarke knew “in a professional capacity” who allege his behaviour towards them amounted to sexual misconduct.

Clarke, known for his roles in the Kidulthood trilogy and Dr Who, “vehemently” denies “any sexual misconduct or wrongdoing”.

What will the trial cover?

Clarke is suing GNM for libel, sometimes also referred to as defamation.

It’s a civil tort – not a criminal offence – defined as false written statements that have damaged the person’s reputation. This means Clarke can seek redress or damages but no one will face charges or prison.

Clarke claims the articles The Guardian published in 2021 altered public opinion of him, damaged his reputation, and lost him work.

He said after the allegations emerged: “In a 20-year career, I have put inclusivity and diversity at the forefront of my work and never had a complaint made against me.

“If anyone who has worked with me has ever felt uncomfortable or disrespected, I sincerely apologise. I vehemently deny any sexual misconduct or wrongdoing and intend to defend myself against these false allegations.”

The Guardian is defending the claim on the basis of truth and public interest.

It said in its statement: “Our reporting on Noel Clarke in 2021 was based on the accounts of 20 brave women. After we published our first article, more women came forward.

“At trial, 32 witnesses are set to testify against Mr Clarke under oath. We look forward to a judge hearing the evidence.”

The trial will only focus on liability – not the amount of damages to be paid if Clarke is successful.

The actor tried and failed to get the case struck out in January, with his legal team saying it had “overwhelming evidence” of “perversion of the course of justice”.

His lawyers told the High Court three of the journalists involved in the articles had “deliberately and permanently” deleted messages, which meant he could not get a fair trial.

Lawyers for GNM told the court there was “no adequate evidential basis” for Clarke’s application for a strike out and said it sought “to smear Guardian journalists and editors without any proper justification”.

The trial, which will be presided over by judge Mrs Justice Steyn, is expected to last between four and six weeks.

What has happened since the articles were published?

A month before the articles about him were published in April 2021, Clarke received BAFTA’s outstanding contribution to British cinema award.

However, once the allegations against him emerged, he was suspended by the organisation and the prize rescinded.

His management and production company 42M&P told Sky News they were no longer representing him and Sky cancelled its TV show Bulletproof, starring Clarke and Top Boy actor Ashley Walters as the lead roles.

ITV also decided to pull the finale of another of his dramas, Viewpoint, following the Guardian articles.

The Met Police looked into the allegations against Clarke for any potential criminal wrongdoing, but in March 2022 announced they “did not meet the threshold for criminal investigation”.

Clarke filed the libel claim the following month and has attended several of the preliminary hearings in person.

He says he has faced a “trial by media” – and that the ordeal has left him suicidal and in need of professional help.

‘Rising star’

Clarke made his TV debut in a revived version of Auf Wiedersehen Pet in 2002.

Soon after he played Mickey Smith in Dr Who and Kwame in the six-part Channel 4 series Metrosexuality.

He wrote and starred in the film trilogy Kidulthood, Adulthood, and Brotherhood, which were based in west London, where he grew up, and explored the lives of a group of teenagers given time off school after a bullied classmate takes their own life.

It was a box office success and eventually saw Clarke given BAFTA’s rising star prize in 2009.

Anyone feeling emotionally distressed or suicidal can call Samaritans for help on 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org in the UK. In the US, call the Samaritans branch in your area or 1 (800) 273-TALK.