Shows / Profile
Episodes
- Profile
Lord Green
Mark Coles profiles the former HSBC boss and trade minister Lord Green after an uncomfortable week in which revelations about HSBC's Swiss arm aiding tax…
- Profile
Frank Field
Chris Bowlby profiles the veteran Labour MP and co-author of this week's report on hunger, Frank Field, who is one of the most unusual politicians in Britain…
- Profile
Ashraf Ghani
The presidential election in Afghanistan was drawn-out and controversial. The man who emerged as the winner is a United States-trained anthropologist who is…
- Profile
Arminka Helic
One of the less likely political partnerships of recent years has been that of the Conservative Foreign Secretary William Hague and the Hollywood actor and…
- Profile
Grace Mugabe
Grace Mugabe has been an almost silent figure at her husband, Robert Mugabe's side for almost two decades. Now she is starting to flex her own political…
- Profile
Benedict Cumberbatch
An insight into man of the moment, Benedict Cumberbatch. Code-breaker, physicist, Victorian sleuth. Overnight he became an object of obsession with a…
- Profile
Christopher Nolan
Film director Christopher Nolan's latest $160m blockbuster Interstellar opens next week. Mark Coles examines the more humble beginnings of his film making…
- Profile
Sir Andrew Green
Migration Watch UK's founder Sir Andrew Green is to become a member of the House of Lords. Presenter Jo Fidgen talks to Sir Andrew's old friends and colleagues…
- Profile
Richard Flanagan
Writer Richard Flanagan is the 2014 winner of the Man Booker Prize. His novel "The Narrow Road to the Deep North" is a story set among prisoners of war, forced…
- Profile
Douglas Carswell
Douglas Carswell has become UKIP's first elected MP in Westminster. A free-thinking Eurosceptic Conservative, Carswell was never shy to criticise "our supine…
- Profile
Ricky Tomlinson
Ricky Tomlinson is a top TV actor with starring roles including Brookside and The Royle Family. But he has a controversial trade union past, and was once…
- Profile
Shane Smith
How did Shane Smith - a hard-partying, tattooed former Ottawa punk rocker - turn a community magazine into an international multi-media empire? Mark Coles…
- Profile
Rona Fairhead
Edward Stourton profiles Rona Fairhead, the woman nominated to replace Lord Patten as chair of the BBC Trust. She's a high achiever who excelled at school and…
- Profile
Petro Poroshenko
There is every sign this weekend that Russia's proxy war with Ukraine could become a full-blown conflict between states. The crisis now coming to a head has…
- Profile
Nicholas Macpherson
Sir Nicholas Macpherson, largely unknown outside Whitehall, has become a key figure in the Scottish independence debate. And as head of the Treasury since…
- Profile
Haider al-Abadi
As Iraq's divisive Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki steps down, hopes are now pinned on his likely successor, Haider al-Abadi to restore trust with the Kurdish…
- Profile
Karren Brady
Jo Fidgen explores the life and times of Karren Brady, successful in business, TV star in The Apprentice and now a rising political star in the Conservative…
- Profile
Radoslaw Sikorski
Becky Milligan profiles Poland's foreign minister, Radoslaw Sikorski, a one-time teenage rebel, Oxford networker, daring reporter - and now a key voice in the…
- Profile
Mazher Mahmood
The so-called "fake sheikh" - investigative journalist Mazher Mahmood - hit the headlines this week after singer Tulisa Contostavlos's drugs trial, which was…
- Profile
Nicky Morgan
After this week's cabinet reshuffle Mark Coles profiles Nicky Morgan. Who exactly is the new education secretary? Producer: Smita Patel.
- Profile
Elizabeth Butler-Sloss
Elizabeth Butler-Sloss has been chosen this week to lead a major enquiry into abuse allegations. But the choice has proved controversial, with claims that she…
- Profile
Elizabeth Warren
Speculation abounded this week as to whether Elizabeth Warren hopes to be the Democratic candidate in the next US election. Elizabeth Warren has had a rapid…
- Profile
Amal Alamuddin
London barrister Amal Alamuddin has become engaged to one of the world's most elusive bachelors, Hollywood A-lister George Clooney. But she is an impressive…
- Profile
The Glazer Family
The owners of Manchester United find themselves under the spotlight once again following the sacking of manager David Moyes, Alex Ferguson's replacement…
- Profile
Sajid Javid
Mark Coles profiles new Culture Secretary, Sajid Javid. Son of 1960s immigrants from Pakistan, after a stellar banking career he's now in the Cabinet. What's…
- Profile
Narendra Modi
Narendra Modi is tipped to become the next Prime Minister of India but he's a controversial character, both loved and loathed. In this edition of Profile…
- Profile
Sir Alan Ayckbourn
Sir Alan Ayckbourn is about to turn 75 years old and one of his best-known plays is currently running at the National Theatre in London. Known for his acerbic…
- Profile
Matteo Renzi
Edward Stourton profiles Matteo Renzi, the new Italian prime minister. He asks if this former boy scout - nicknamed 'demolition man' for his desire to smash…
- Profile
Rupert Harrison
Ahead of the budget Mary Ann Sieghart profiles Rupert Harrison. He's the top economic adviser to George Osborne, and the man some call the 'real Chancellor'…
- Profile
Vladimir Putin
Russian president Vladimir Putin's motives and aims are at the heart of the Ukraine crisis. In this week's Profile, Mary Ann Sieghart speaks to those who've…
- Profile
Janet Yellen
Janet Yellen is President Obama's choice to replace Ben Bernanke as Chairman of the United States Federal Reserve when his term ends later this month, making…
- Profile
Idris Elba
After playing Baltimore drug boss Stringer Bell in The Wire, and Detective John Luther on British television, Idris Elba is now appearing in a very different…
- Profile
Vitali Klitschko
As the drama of street protests in Ukraine continues, Mark Coles profiles 'Dr Ironfist', the world boxing champion turned opposition political leader Vitali…
- Profile
Michelle Bachelet
Edward Stourton profiles the Michelle Bachelet, the favourite in this weekend's presidential election in Chile. If Bachelet wins as expected, then it will be…
- Profile
Nicola Sturgeon
With the SNP announcing its plans for an independent Scotland this week, Lesley Curwen profiles Nicola Sturgeon - a figure who may be key to the party's…
- Profile
Bill de Blasio
Bill de Blasio, sometime supporter of the Sandinista revolution in Nicaragua, will soon take over as mayor of New York. He's overcome the suicide of his war…
- Profile
Sachin Tendulkar
India means Sachin and Sachin means India. So how did a shy 16-year-old cricketer come to embody a nation and its hopes and dreams? Sachin Tendulkar's career…
- Profile
Alison Saunders
She's been described as the UK's most experienced criminal prosecutor, responsible for bringing some of the most infamous criminals to justice. But she also…
- Profile
Jim Ratcliffe
He is one of a small number of people who has made it to both the North Pole and the South Pole. He runs ultramarathons. He climbs mountains. Oh, and he is a…
- Profile
Andrew Mitchell
Last year, long-standing Conservative MP Andrew Mitchell was forced to resign his new job as Chief Whip after being accused of calling police officers guarding…
- Profile
Rufus Norris
It's 40 years since the National Theatre was led by someone who wasn't a Cambridge graduate, but this week it was announced that Rufus Norris - who spent his…
- Profile
Maajid Nawaz
This week saw the surprising exit from the English Defence League of its leaders Tommy Robinson and Kevin Carroll. Instrumental in their decision to leave was…
- Profile
Paul Dacre
A gifted journalist with his finger on the pulse of Middle England? Or 'the most dangerous man in Britain' as the Guardian newspaper has described him? Mark…
- Profile
Hassan Rouhani
Iran's new president Hassan Rouhani has been centre of attention at the UN this week. He's promising a new approach to talks with the West over his country's…
- Profile
Billy Connolly
Comedian Billy Connolly has announced new film and touring plans despite facing ill health. Mark Coles explores how Connolly has long used humour to defy…
- Profile
Sergei Lavrov
Mark Coles profiles Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, a key figure in the Syria crisis. Has this chain-smoking, vodka-loving diplomat managed to restore…
- Profile
Angela Merkel
Chris Bowlby profiles German Chancellor Angela Merkel - always underestimated, physicist and ruthless politician, the woman at the centre of the eurozone…
- Profile
John Kerry
Mark Coles explores the life of US Secretary of State, John Kerry, who is taking a global leadership role over Syria. As President Obama said when he nominated…
- Profile
General Abdul Fattah al-Sisi
Edward Stourton profiles the Commander of Egypt's Armed Forces, General Abdul Fattah al-Sisi, now the most powerful man in Egypt. General al-Sisi was appointed…
- Profile
Mark Carney
Chris Bowlby profiles the new governor of the Bank of England, Mark Carney, who unveiled his economic strategy this week. Heralded as 'the outstanding central…
- Profile
Haifaa Al-Mansour
Mary Ann Sieghart profiles Haifaa Al-Mansour, Saudi Arabia's first female film director. Haifaa Al-Mansour directed the recently-released Wadjda, the first…
- Profile
Andre Geim
Helen Grady profiles Professor Sir Andre Geim who is one of the most unusual scientists working in Britain - perhaps the world - today. This week he was…
- Profile
Samantha Cameron
Edward Stourton profiles Samantha Cameron. There's been debate this week about the degree to which her views influence government policy. But what do we…
- Profile
Alastair Cook
With the Ashes underway, Mark Coles profiles the England cricket captain Alastair Cook. Born on Christmas Day in 1984, Cook's first career was as a chorister…