The Rise and Fall of ... - 5. Anarchy on the Thames

1977, and as Britain prepared to celebrate the Queen’s Silver Jubilee, the Sex Pistols were plotting something else entirely. Fresh from being dropped by two major labels, they signed with Virgin Records and unleashed God Save the Queen… a blistering punk anthem that tore into the monarchy and shattered British tradition.

It was banned by the BBC, blacklisted from shops, and allegedly kept from reaching Number 1. And then, on Jubilee Day, the Pistols took to the Thames in a now-legendary riverboat stunt that ended with police raids and arrests.

Episode 5 is the story of how the Pistols hijacked Britain’s biggest party, declared war on the establishment, and created the most controversial single in UK history.

Featuring archive interviews from: Richard Branson, Johnny Rotten, Steve Jones, Paul Cook, Malcolm McLaren and Sid Vicious alongside new interviews with the legendary Sex Pistols official photographer Dennis Morris and groundbreaking bass player Jah Wobble.

Presented by Gina Birch and Steve Lamacq

A BBC Audio Production

Published on Monday, 27th October 2025.

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