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BBC Radio 4

4.1 (97)
DOCUMENTARY
UPDATED BIWEEKLY

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

4 DAYS AGO

Peter Mandelson

Having helped mastermind Labour's renewal in the 1980s and 1990s, one of British politics best-known figures has just embarked on his latest role. And, it's a long way from Hartlepool, in the post-industrial North-East of England, where he first became an MP. Born in 1953, Peter Mandelson started on the road to party politics as a researcher at the Trades Union Congress. After a stint as a TV producer, he left to take up the role of Labour's director of communications, but his real ambition was a place in Parliament. Even his sternest critics accept he is a slick political operator and a good networker, but he’s a controversial figure – with a big challenge ahead. Stephen Smith takes a closer look at the UK’s new ambassador to the US, and the man once dubbed the "Prince of Darkness". Production Team Producers: Sally Abrahams, Mantej Deol, Marianna Brain, Chloe Scannapieco Editor: Ben Mundy Sound: James Beard Production Co-ordinators: Maria Ogundele and Jack Young Credits London Weekend Television station ident 1970s Jon Culshaw, Imposter Syndrome UK tour

15 min
FEB 1

Alexander Lukashenko

Despite just winning a seventh consecutive presidential term, a look at Alexander Lukashenko’s early life reveals rather humbler origins. Brought up by a single mother in a poor village in eastern Belarus, he first made his mark as the manager of a farm in the late 1980s. After moving into politics at the end of that decade, he quickly established his reputation as a man with authoritarian instincts – and by 1994, he was elected president of Belarus for the first time. Ever since, he has managed a balancing act between Russia, his closest economic and political partner, and overtures to the West. But, the country’s faced sanctions following its role in the invasion of Ukraine, while many Western governments have labelled this latest election as a sham. Stephen Smith takes a closer look at the man often referred to as Europe's last dictator. Production Team Producers: Sally Abrahams, Charlotte McDonald and Nathan Gower Editor: Ben Mundy Sound: James Beard Production Co-ordinator: Maria Ogundele and Jack Young Guests Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, leader of the democratic opposition of Belarus Olga Dryndova, Editor of Belarus-Analysen, University of Bremen Katia Glod, Russia-West Policy Fellow at the European Leadership Network and Non-resident Fellow with Centre for European Policy Analysis, Washington DC Pavel Latushka, former Minister of Culture, Belarus government, now Belarus opposition politician Rosemary Thomas, former UK ambassador to Belarus Credits Animal Farm by George Orwell, recording produced by Ciaran Bermingham Narrated by Roger Ringrose

15 min
JAN 25

Poppy Gustafsson

A mathematician and cyber defence expert, Poppy Gustafsson has been handed an integral role within government, as the prime minister attempts to grow the economy and attract international investment. She was born in 1982, to parents John and Gilly. Her father ran an agricultural sales business, while her mother was a journalist. In her early career, Poppy Gustafsson worked for a venture capital firm before co-founding Darktrace, a cybersecurity company, in 2013. She would go on to take the role of co-CEO in 2016 and became the sole CEO in 2020. Darktrace was among the first companies in its field to use artificial intelligence (AI) or machine learning to improve cyber-security. So, as ministers attend the World Economic Forum in Davos, what tricks does this one time CEO of the Year have in store? Mark Coles has been taking a closer look. Production Team Producers: Sally Abrahams and Bethan Ashmead Latham Editor: Ben Mundy Sound: James Beard Production Co-ordinator: Maria Ogundele and Jack Young

15 min
JAN 18

Claudia Sheinbaum

She is the renowned scientist who studied environmental engineering, and went on to hold the role of mayor of Mexico City during the Coronavirus pandemic. Late last year, Claudia Sheinbaum made further history. "For the first time in the 200 years of the [Mexican] Republic, I will become the first woman president of Mexico," she said before taking office. Born in 1962, Claudia Sheinbaum’s father was a chemical engineer and her mother, a biology professor. Both parents descended from Jewish immigrants from Europe who settled in North America. She’s enjoyed remarkably high poll ratings since taking office, but critics suggest she will live under her mentor’s shadow, and her biggest test is yet to come. As Donald Trump gets ready to enter the White House for a second time, Claudia Sheinbaum has already had to respond to his suggestion to rename the Gulf of Mexico to Gulf of America. So what lies ahead? Stephen Smith has been talking to her friends, colleagues and peers to find out more about Mexico’s history-maker. Production Team Producers: Sally Abrahams and Bethan Ashmead Latham Editor: Ben Mundy Sound: Neil Churchill Production Co-ordinator: Maria Ogundele and Jack Young Credits Emilia Perez, Trailer Director, Jacques Audiard; Production companies: Why Not Productions, Page 114, Pathe, France 2 Cinema, Saint Laurent Productions "Claudia: El Documental", Director: Rodrigo Imaz; @ClaudiaSheinbaumP https://youtu.be/NDuUL-RQvMU The Nobel Peace Prize, 2007, Nobelprize.org

15 min
JAN 11

Allan Leighton

He's been described as the best connected man in the business world. Allan Leighton’s the arch-moderniser who's led some of the UK's most well-known companies. His career started at Mars Confectionery in the mid-70s, working his way up through the business over nearly two decades. But, it was in the 90s that Allan Leighton really made his name. He moved to Asda in 1992, becoming Chief Executive four years later. There he was credited with a successful turnaround of the supermarket and oversaw its acquisition by Wal-Mart in 1999. By the 2000s, Allan Leighton had left Asda to 'go plural', as he put it, and went on to take prominent positions in companies including Royal Mail, Co-Op, Dyson and lastminute.com. But late last year, the supermarket chain came calling again. Mark Coles has been talking to his friends and peers to understand where Allan Leighton came from and what’s in store for him at Asda. Production Team Producers: Nathan Gower and Sally Abrahams Editor: Ben Mundy Sound: James Beard Production Co-ordinators: Maria Ogundele and Jack Young Credits: Marketing Academy: Rene Carayol interviews Allan Leighton Mars Maltesters, TV advert 1970s Walmart Rollback TV advert 1998 Asda Rollback TV advert

15 min
JAN 4

Thomas Tuchel

He’s been described by his new bosses at the Football Association as, "one of the best coaches in the world". Thomas Tuchel has also earned a reputation as a “control freak”, with “charming” yet “divisive” attributes. Born in Krumbach, Bavaria in 1973 his football journey began as a youngster when his father coached him at his local club. After growing into a promising defender, a knee injury brought his playing career to an end at the age of 25, but he’d already turned his eye to coaching. Spells at Augsburg, Mainz, Borussia Dortmund, Paris Saint-Germain, Chelsea and Bayern Munich followed. As did the honours, including a Champions League title. But, as he now embarks on the international stage, Mark Coles has been talking with Thomas Tuchel’s friends and colleagues to find out more about the man leading the Three Lions. Production Team Producers: Bob Howard and Drew Hyndman Editor: Ben Mundy Sound: John Scott Production Co-ordinator: Maria Ogundele

15 min
12/28/2024

Ruth Jones

Oh! What’s occurrin'? Good question… This week’s Profile, with Stephen Smith, is focusing in on a woman born in Bridgend in south Wales, who loved to participate in musical theatre as a child – and went on to create one of Britain’s best-loved sitcoms. With a degree in drama under her belt from the University of Warwick, Ruth Jones initially found work at BBC Wales in both TV and radio comedy. She soon branched out into theatre, before gaining a role in the popular ITV series Fat Friends. It was there that she would work with James Corden for the first time. But not the last. The pair went onto create BBC Three hit, Gavin & Stacey in 2007. Seventeen years on, the sitcom has just provided us with one last trip to Barry Island and Billericay. So grab a chicken bhuna, lamb bhuna, prawn bhuna, mushroom rice, bag of chips, keema naan, nine poppadoms and listen to this episode of Profile on the woman known for her iconic role as Nessa. Production Team Producers: Ben Cooper and Diane Richardson Editors: Ben Mundy and Sarah Wadeson Sound: John Scott Production Co-ordinator: Maria Ogundele Credits Gavin & Stacey 2008 Christmas Special: BBC / Baby Cow Productions Little Britain: BBC Barry Islands In The Stream: BBC / Comic Relief / Mercury Records

15 min
12/21/2024

Daniel Křetínský

Since it was privatised over a decade ago, there's been speculation around the future of the UK's troubled postal service, Royal Mail. Now the government has approved its purchase by the Czech billionaire, Daniel Křetínský, a relative unknown here in the UK. Born in communist Czechoslovakia in 1975, Křetínský was a teenager when the Berlin Wall came down. He started his career as a lawyer, but after taking a job in an investment firm soon acquired a reputation as a financial prodigy. He went on to make his fortune in energy investments, but has since expanded to become a big player in the media scene, as well as buying stakes in businesses in Western Europe, especially France and the UK. In this episode of Profile, Stephen Smith finds out more about the man who's set to take on the challenge of turning around a once cherished national institution. Production Team Producers: Nathan Gower and Ben Cooper Editor: Sarah Wadeson Sound: John Scott Production Co-ordinator: Maria Ogundele Credits Canal+

15 min

See All (622)

4.1

out of 5

97 Ratings

Seems good

11/06/2015

Bluthhousing

Listened to the Rand Paul profile, thought it was a bit biased but it was clear they did their research.
Woke

07/22/2019

Mjpism_VII

You’ll look back on this and ask yourselves why you chose to highlight 2019’s Hitler—Omar.
Fun, Interesting Show

11/12/2018

Jack_McCoy

Fun, fast, entertaining, interesting. Like a better, more peppy version of A&E’s “Biography” series. Sometimes they go too soft on their subjects, but I guess that’s the nature of the beast — this is NOT meant to be an investigative show, merely an intro to different figures you may have seen in the news. I find it really addicting.
2016

02/10/2016

SuckeredByItunes

Has it been cancelled? No new ones have come out in a month now.