The Plotters were Lovers

Tuesday's radio 4 drama: The Babington Plot examines the doomed attempt to assassinate Queen Elizabeth I and restore a catholic monarchy.

The write-up says: At the centre of the story is the relationship between the "reluctant terrorist" Anthony Babington, whose youthful idealism was not matched by the required conviction, and his co-conspirator, Robert Poley, who persistently encouraged him and became his lover – but was, in fact, a government spy leading Babington to the gallows.

Through the eyes of witnesses, listeners can hear the tragic ambiguity of this relationship as it heads towards its final betrayal.
Furthermore, another conspirator, Thomas Salisbury, is played by Simon Barnett (the older Simon Doonan in Beautiful People).

The Babington Plot, which was aired on Radio 4 at 2.15pm, is available until 9 December on iPlayer here.