Listen to the former Head of MI6 on the origins of coronavirus and spying at UK universities

The coronavirus crisis has strained relations between China — the source of the pandemic — and Europe, one of the regions worst hit by the disease. But the strain is particularly evident in Britain, where before the crisis, the government had been forging closer links with the Chinese.

Links that former Head of MI6, Sir Richard Dearlove warns against in an explosive interview with this week’s Planet Normal podcast, hosted by Allison Pearson and Liam Halligan.  Telegraph subscribers can listen exclusively to the full interview on the player below. In this uncut version, Sir Richard opens up about why he believes organised intelligence activities at British universities aren't merely the stuff of spy novels, and how the UK has passed the Brexit cut-off point.

Allison Pearson and Liam Halligan will be replying to your comments below this article at 11am on Thursday 4 June. Join them to discuss this week’s podcast.