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BBC Radio 4

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An insight into the character of an influential figure making news headlines

1 DAY AGO

Wunmi Mosaku

She’s already won a Bafta for her portrayal of a hoodoo healer in the Southern gothic, Sinners. But can British actress Wunmi Mosaku win an Oscar too? Mosaku says her role has helped her connect with her ancestry and find parts of herself she thought she had lost. Born in Nigeria in 1986, Wunmi moved to Manchester as a very young child, growing up in Hulme and Chorlton with her parents and two sisters. Her first taste of performing came aged seven when she joined Manchester Girls Choir which she remained a member of until she was eighteen. But it wasn’t just singing where she excelled. Her sixth form drama teachers spotted her talent and she successfully auditioned for RADA. A decade after graduation she won her first Bafta for her portrayal of the mother of the murdered London schoolboy Damilola Taylor. American directors must have been watching as she began spending more time working stateside. She was cast in sci-fi series Lovecraft Country followed by a trip to Baltimore for a role in We Own This City. Then director Ryan Coogler got in touch and now she’s tipped for an Oscar. Stephen Smith charts the rise and rise of Wunmi Mosaku.

15 min
7 MAR

Pete Hegseth

It’s been a busy first year for the US Defense Secretary. From signal chat controversies to Operation Epic Fury, Pete Hegseth has been making headlines. Born in Minneapolis in 1980, Hegseth had what could be described as an ‘All-American’ upbringing. A basketball player at school he continued playing during his University career at Princeton where he majored in Politics. He also enrolled in the ROTC (reserve officers’ training corps) which turned out to be a career defining decision. After stints in Iraq and Afghanistan, Hegseth returned home and began his career on the political side lines - heading up two veterans charities. But his campaigning job dried up after a whistle blower report alleged he was drunk and abusive at work. Next he moved to Fox News where he caught the eye of President Trump, a notorious consumer of the right wing network. This was the beginning of Hegseth’s meteoric rise to power. His confirmation for Defense Secretary hearing saw him answer questions about sexual assault allegations and claims he didn’t have enough experience for the job. But Hegseth successfully defended himself and was soon installed at the Pentagon. Mark Coles explores how he got there. Production Team: Presenter: Mark Coles Producers: Annabel Deas and Katie Solleveld Production Coordinators: Maria Ogundele and Gemma Ashman Sound: Neil Churchill Editor: Justine Lang Archive: BBC Fox US Army Christ Church

15 min
28 FEB

Mackenzie Crook

‘Small Prophets’ has quietly taken the world by storm. A whimsy, magical and gentle show providing a tonic to modern life. Its creator, Mackenzie Crook, could arguably described in a similar way. Born in Sutton-on-hone a village near Dartford in 1971, his creative brilliance was evident to friends early on but instead of drama school he started work at Pizza Hut. Moving to London in his early twenties he shared a flat where dry rot led to the stairs collapsing. But his luck began to change when he took his stand up comedy routine to Edinburgh. He caught the eye of comedian Bob Mortimer and shortly after was cast as Gareth in ‘The Office’ the oddball Territorial Army reservist with one of the worst haircuts on television. Crook went on to star in quirky independent and blockbuster Hollywood films alike, but aged forty he decided he wanted to write his own material and move behind the camera to direct. His first offering was the critically acclaimed series ‘The Detectorists’. So who is the man behind the magic? Production team: Presenter: Becky Milligan Producers: Annabel Deas, Tom Gillett and Katie Solleveld Production Coordinators: Maria Ogundele and Gemma Ashman Sound: Neil Churchill Editor: Justine Lang Archive: BBC Television Treasure Trove Productions Blue House Productions Crooksite

19 min
21 FEB

Gavin Newsom

California’s governor, Gavin Newsom, has long clashed with US President Donald Trump - filing more than 50 lawsuits against the administration to date. Now, with a new memoir coming out, all signs seem to be pointing at Newsom himself running for the top job in 2028. Born in San Francisco in 1967, Newsom lived in two worlds - the first, among the wealth and glamour of his father’s friends, the billionaire Getty family, often joining them on luxury trips abroad. The second was a modest home provided by his working single mother, attending the local public school where he struggled with dyslexia. After launching a successful wine and hospitality business, with backing from the Gettys, Newsom now has two stints as Mayor of San Francisco and two as Governor of California under his belt, and looks to be eyeing up a possible presidential run for the Democrats. So who exactly is the man once known as ‘Mayor McHottie’ by his fans and ‘Newscum’ by the Trump administration? Production Team: Presenter: Mark Coles Producers: Keiligh Baker and Katie Solleveld Production Coordinators: Maria Ogundele, Katie Morrison and Gemma Ashman Sound: Neil Churchill Editor: Justine Lang Archive CNN Middle East Eye AP NBC LA Times CBS

15 min
14 FEB

Teyana Taylor

It’s awards season - and one name that keeps cropping up is Teyana Taylor. She’s nominated for her first Oscar, for her role in One Battle After Another, and has already won the Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actress and her latest album was just nominated for the Best R&B Grammy. For many, it would appear Taylor has burst on to the scene from nowhere - but for those who know her, these nominations are the culmination of more than two decades of work in the industry. Signed at just 15 to Pharrell’s record label, appearing in a Jay-Z music video and choreographing a dance for Beyonce, her early years in New York’s Harlem weren’t exactly the usual teenage experience. Her 16th birthday was immortalised on the small screen as part of MTV’s My Super Sweet Sixteen series, before she released her first record and began acting. Now a mother-of-two, Taylor has released four albums to date, starred in her own reality TV series and will make her directorial debut next year. So, as Hollywood prepares for the award’s night of the year, Stephen Smith examines how she got here. Production Team: Presenter: Stephen Smith Producers: Keiligh Baker and Katie Solleveld Production Coordinators: Maria Ogundele and Gemma Ashman Sound: James Beard Editor: Justine Lang Archive: MTV The Golden Globes Warner Bros E!

15 min
7 FEB

Kirsty Coventry

As the 2026 Winter Olympics kick off in Italy, we look to the most powerful woman in sport - the International Olympics Committee President, Kirsty Coventry. The most decorated African Olympian of all time, the 42-year-old mother-of-two made history as both the first African and the first woman to hold the title when she was elected last year. Kirsty began swimming from an early age, in the family pool in Harare, Zimbabwe, where her mother gave swimming lessons to local children. Her talent was soon spotted, and she competed in her first Olympics in at just aged 16, going on to compete in four more. With seven Olympic medals and several World Records under her belt, she decided to take on a role at the International Olympic Committee, quickly climbing the ranks. Her reign is being closely watched by both her supporters and her detractors - from the decisions she makes around Russian and transgender athletes being allowed to compete, to the challenge global warming creates for running the competition. So, as the Winter Olympics begin, Mark Coles examines how she got here. Production Team: Presenter: Mark Coles Producers: Keiligh Baker and Katie Solleveld Production Coordinators: Maria Ogundele and Gemma Ashman Sound: James Beard Editor: Justine Lang Archive: Olympics.com AFP IOC Dominican Convent Primary School Harere Sporting Witness BBC World Service Sky News

15 min
31 JAN

Stephen Miller

The fatal shooting of two Minnesota residents by federal agents has contributed to the fiercest public backlash yet against the Trump administration’s hard-line immigration policy. The man widely seen as the driving force behind this controversial approach, is White House Deputy Chief of Staff, Stephen Miller. Born in 1985 and raised in liberal Santa Monica, California, Miller is the grandson of Jewish refugees. Outspoken from an early age, he made his name as a teenager through conservative talk radio appearances and student newspaper columns, before gaining national attention at Duke University defending members of the lacrosse team falsely accused of rape. From fringe political outsider to trusted adviser, Miller has gone on to shape some of the most consequential policies of the Trump era, including the so-called Muslim travel ban and family separations at the border. So, as immigration once again dominates the US news agenda, Becky Milligan examines how he got here. Production Team: Presenter: Becky Milligan Producers: Laurie Kalus, Katie Solleveld, Sophie Van Brugen and Keiligh Baker Production Coordinators: Maria Ogundele and Gemma Ashman Sound: James Beard Editor: Justine Lang Archive: Fox News Paramount Miller Brewing Co. ABC

15 min
24 JAN

Mark Rutte

The Secretary General of NATO has been dubbed the Trump whisperer after talks with Donald Trump at Davos appeared to help trigger a sudden U-turn on Greenland and threatened tariffs. Mark Rutte was born in The Hague in 1967, began his career in business at Unilever and entered politics in 2002 eventually becoming the Dutch prime minister where he steered the Netherlands through economic turmoil, domestic crises and global shocks. Appointed Secretary General of NATO in October 2024 he has led the organisation through a tumultuous time in global politics. Mark Coles takes a closer look at Mark Rutte’s life. Production Team Presenter: Mark Coles Producers: Keiligh Baker, Katie Solleveld, Sally Abrahams Production Co-ordinator: Maria Ogundele & Gemma Ashman Sound: Neil Churchill Editor: Justine Lang Archive: Guardian News, 2024 Sky News tv47 BBC TV Bloomberg News

15 min

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4.3

out of 5

271 Ratings

Zak Brown

09/12/2025

Donnamimi

Fascinating hearing how influential people came to be
Disgraceful

6 Jan

Rosenbaum & Wolf

The profile of Mamdani was an absolute whitewash. It didn’t mention his refusal to condemn terrorism nor did it mention how some of his close associates celebrated the Pogrom of 7th October.
Timely insight

14/07/2024

Catmindu

The week I’m wondering who is this person in the news is followed by a profile of the person. I love that. And I appreciate the light touch approach bringing 3D perspective to the person in the spotlight
Amazing!

20/09/2022

MintyNeon

Concise and informative! I’ve learnt so much and it has opened my eyes to a lot of things I didn’t know about popular figures, a great listen for commutes or if you have a bit of time on your hands.