The chief strategic advisor to PM Boris Johnson who thrives on getting things done and who was once regarded as Margaret Thatcher's favourite council leader. A former alarms company executive, Edward Lister's political career began in the London Borough of Wandsworth which was at the forefront of Thatcherism at the turn of the 1980s. A council leader for nearly two decades, he made the leap to City Hall when Boris Johnson made him his deputy - and he's been a trusted aide and fixer ever since. D...
Oct 24, 2020•14 min
The former bricklayer steering Liverpool through the latest coronavirus lockdown. Liverpool was the first region to face the toughest restrictions as the second wave of the pandemic takes hold. The man in charge of dealing with this new crisis is the first mayor of the city region, Steve Rotheram. Becky Milligan charts his rise, from a 16-year-old school leaver to prominent politician. Producer: Ben Crighton Researcher: Luke Radcliff
Oct 17, 2020•14 min
The man from Indiana who's "a heartbeat away" from the US presidency. Mark Coles tells the story of how a Catholic boy with Democratic Party leanings became a born-again evangelical and a hero of the Republican right. With President Donald Trump's recent bout with Covid-19, there has been more and more attention paid to the man next in line for the Oval Office. But there are doubts about whether a majority of the American public agree with the vice-president's strictly socially conservative view...
Oct 10, 2020•14 min
Billionaire Chuck Feeney said he would give away all of his money by 2020 – and he’s done it. An entrepreneur from childhood, he amassed a huge fortune in the duty-free business, before spending it on projects ranging from concert halls in Ireland to AIDS support in South Africa. For many years the money was only given out on condition of secrecy, that his name should never be mentioned in connection with the donations. Mark Coles finds out what’s driven this unique mission - and what his family...
Oct 03, 2020•13 min
Lewis Hamilton could be about to equal Michael Schumacher's incredible record of 91 Grand Prix wins - but can he achieve even more? The first black Formula 1 driver has been a champion since childhood, when he ran rings around the adults with his remote control car. Three decades on he's tipped to equal and even exceed the long standing record - but is he now determined to achieve as much off the track as on it? We hear from those who know Hamilton best, including an exclusive interview with his...
Sep 26, 2020•14 min
The woman who could soon be "a heartbeat away" from the presidency. This week voters in some states started sending in their ballot papers for the US presidential election. If the Democrats win when results are announced in November, it's vice presidential candidate Kamala Harris who'll be second in line to the Oval Office. She would be the first black person, the first woman and the first person of Indian descent to become VP. But what is Kamala Harris really like? Why has she attracted critici...
Sep 19, 2020•14 min
Why is the former Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott such a controversial choice for trade adviser? Appointed by the Government to help negotiate post-Brexit deals for the UK, his supporters say he's a persuasive political operator and already has three free trade agreements under his belt. But others have been staggered by his appointment, saying he has a track record of sexism and homophobia, and will prove an "embarrassment" to the UK. Mark Coles speaks to colleagues, critics and even Abbo...
Sep 12, 2020•14 min
Those in the know say he's "the ultimate keeper of secrets" - Simon Case was announced this week as the new Cabinet Secretary and head of the Civil Service. Aged just 41 and with a CV that takes him from GCHQ to Kensington Palace, he's now set to take on a role at the heart of government, heading up a workforce of more than 400,000 people. But with Covid an ongoing problem and Brexit on the cards - and without any experience of running a department - has the so-called "Rolls Royce of Sir Humphre...
Sep 05, 2020•14 min
Health secretary Matt Hancock announced last week that Public Health England will be replaced with a new National Institute for Health Protection. Baroness Dido Harding, who ran NHS Test and Trace in England, will be heading up this new agency too, for now. Who is she? And why are some cynical about whether she'll be able to handle the new role? Dido Harding started out on a pig farm in Dorset, and has spent most of her adult life splitting her time between the corporate world and her beloved ho...
Aug 29, 2020•14 min
The no-nonsense scientist whose team is developing a coronavirus vaccine at record speed. Mark Coles discovers the many talents of Oxford University vaccine specialist, Professor Sarah Gilbert. Producer: Ben Crighton Researcher: Di Richardson
Jul 25, 2020•14 min
President Trump calls him a quality guy, others call him a dirty trickster. Mark Coles looks at the life of political strategist Roger Stone, who’s advised Republican politicians since the 1970s and proudly wears a tattoo of President Nixon on his back. Stone was convicted of lying to congress and witness tampering in 2019 but his sentence was commuted by President Trump, days before he was due to report to prison. This programme contains clips from Netflix Film Get Me Roger Stone. The writers a...
Jul 18, 2020•14 min
As the UK imposes sanctions on 49 people implicated in the deaths of Sergei Magnitsky and Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, Mark Coles profiles the man whose global anti-corruption campaign has led to the government’s action, financier Bill Browder. Producer: Ben Crighton Researcher: Diane Richardson
Jul 11, 2020•14 min
As theatre bosses across the country warn they face devastation amid the coronavirus pandemic, actor Sir Ian McKellen is preparing to tread the boards in an age-blind interpretation of Hamlet. It will be one of the first major new theatre productions to start rehearsals in the UK since auditoriums went dark in March. The renowned theatre and film actor said he was happy to be working again in the role of the young prince he first played nearly 50 years ago. Becky Milligan speaks to close friends...
Jul 04, 2020•14 min
Boris Johnson says she’s a ‘brilliant thinker’ who inspires him. Now he has chosen Munira Mirza, the head of the No 10 policy unit, as the person to establish a new government commission on racial inequalities. Her appointment has proved controversial. Mirza has questioned the existence of institutional racism and criticised previous inquiries for fostering a “culture of grievance”. Her critics say her mind is already made up on the issues the commission will seek to investigate. Last weekend, B...
Jun 27, 2020•14 min
The Manchester United forward is credited with forcing a government U-turn this week, following his open letter calling on the government to end child poverty and extend free school meals for children during the summer holidays. Born in Wythenshawe and raised by a single mum, Marcus Rashford caught the eye of professional clubs at an early age. At first training with both Manchester City and Manchester United, he decided to dedicate himself to the Reds, and rapidly rose through the ranks. He deb...
Jun 20, 2020•14 min
Former NASA astronaut Dr Kathy Sullivan, the first American woman to walk in space, has made history again by travelling to the deepest known point on earth. Last Sunday, the 68 year-old space-walker and oceanographer travelled seven miles below the surface of the Pacific ocean to reach the Challenger Deep, the ocean's lowest spot, becoming the first woman to do so. Mark Coles talks to her fellow astronauts as he profiles one of the world’s most intrepid explorers. Producer: Viv Jones Producer: ...
Jun 13, 2020•14 min
America hasn't witnessed civil unrest like this since the late 1960s. There have been protests and rioting in cities across the US, following the death of a black man, George Floyd, in police custody in Minneapolis. In Atlanta, at the height of the demonstrations, the rapper Killer Mike - the son of an Atlanta policeman - addressed protesters calling for calm and urging them to go home. His speech went viral around the world. On Profile this week, Mark Coles looks at his life and career. He talk...
Jun 06, 2020•14 min
Suella Braverman is a barrister, MP and Brexiteer. In February 2020 she was appointed to the role of Attorney General for England and Wales and Advocate General for Northern Ireland. This week she found herself in the headlines after sending a tweet in support of Dominic Cummings, a senior government adviser caught travelling across the country during lock down. Edward Stourton profiles the minister for Fareham and government's chief legal adviser. Producer: Sandra Kanthal, Vivien Jones Editor: ...
May 30, 2020•14 min
Mark Coles profiles Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, who was the first African to be elected Director-General of the World Health Organisation. Three years on, he finds himself at the centre of a political storm. Some say he has been too soft on China - where the coronavirus began. Others accuse the WHO of being too slow to declare a global public health emergency and US President, Donald Trump, has threatened to withdraw funding. Now one of the most recognisable faces in the world due to the pand...
May 23, 2020•14 min
The coronavirus crisis presents a difficult challenge for opposition MPs seeking to win national support without being accused of opportunistic point scoring. One shadow minister has managed to get the nation’s attention. Dr Rosena Allin-Khan, Shadow Minister for Mental Health, is both an MP and an A&E doctor. During lockdown she has been working shifts at her local hospital and her first-hand experience there led her to accuse the Health Secretary Matt Hancock of manipulating testing figure...
May 16, 2020•14 min
Some on the left of his party think he’s too establishment and Washington thinks he’s a rebel out to do his own thing, but Andrew Cuomo has gained widespread support for his handling of the coronavirus crisis. Mark Coles looks at the life of the New York Governor, a son of one of America’s most respected politicians. Producer: Sandra Kanthal Researcher: May Cameron Editor: Ravin Sampat
May 09, 2020•14 min
Supreme Leader of North Korea had not been seen in public for a number of weeks, setting off a global frenzy regarding his whereabouts and health. Speculation was rife as to who would succeed him. The most likely candidate is his closest confidant. A young woman whose always by his side. Becky Milligan pieces together the mystery of Kim Yo-jong. Politician and sister of Kim Jong-un. Producer Smita Patel Researcher Darin Graham Editor Ravin Sampat
May 02, 2020•14 min
A look at the life of Matt Hancock, Secretary of State for Health & Social Care for England. He has been criticised for promises he's made about testing and supply of personal protective equipment for health workers. According to newspaper reports, unnamed Downing Street sources have been suggesting the targets are "arbitrary" and "irrational". Mark Coles talks to friends, family and his mentor - the former Chancellor George Osborne - to find out more about Matt Hancock. An expedtion to the ...
Apr 25, 2020•14 min
Dame Vera Lynn's story is well known. She's regarded by many as one of Britain's national treasures. Dubbed 'the forces sweetheart' during the Second World War, her songs like 'We'll Meet Again' and 'There'll Always Be An England' became synonymous with hope and survival during dark times. It's rare for us to profile someone so iconic. But courtesy of a mention by the Queen in her recent address to the nation, at 103 years old Vera Lynn is trending again. She even has a number one single on the ...
Apr 18, 2020•14 min
On Profile this week, we look at the man who has effectively become Britain’s acting Prime Minister. The 46-year-old Foreign Secretary, Dominic Raab, asked to deputise “where necessary” for Boris Johnson while he recovers from coronavirus. A staunch Brexiteer and a karate black belt, he’s perhaps not the best-known member of the Cabinet. So, who is he and – more importantly - is he up to the job? A former lawyer, Raab has experience in international justice – but his hard-line on Brexit as well ...
Apr 11, 2020•14 min
Anthony Fauci Is a doctor, immunologist and director of the USA’s National Institute of Allergy & Infectious Diseases. He’s also a lead member of the White House coronavirus task force. Mark Coles talks to those who know him well. First broadcast on Saturday 4th April 2020. Producer: Ben Crighton Researcher: Bethan Head
Apr 04, 2020•14 min
On Profile this week - it’s a personal one. In lockdown at home because of the coronavirus, presenter Mark Coles has turned to music to help get him through the past few days…captivated by an album he bought by chance in a London record store a couple of weeks ago. It’s called‘Esja’- the debut album from a little-known 29 year old Polish pianist, Hania Rani. The music is sublime and minimalist…solo acoustic piano inspired in part by the mountains and countryside of Iceland where some of it was r...
Mar 28, 2020•14 min
The Bank of England's new governor started work on Monday amid global turmoil. The world economy is in chaos as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. How will he handle the difficult decisions to come? Edward Stourton profiles Andrew Bailey, from his childhood in Leicester all the way to Threadneedle Street. This is not the first crisis in his long banking career, but it may well be the toughest. Producers: Eleanor Biggs and Rosamund Jones
Mar 21, 2020•14 min
The coronavirus epidemic is a growing crisis for England's chief medical officer. He has faced criticism from journalists, politicians and public health specialists. Mark Coles finds out about the life and career of Professor Chris Whitty. He is a physician, a plague expert and an epidemiologist. But that's just for starters. He has also studied law, economics and business. But how will he cope with a role in the bright political spotlight? First broadcast on Saturday 14th March 2020. Producers:...
Mar 14, 2020•14 min
The Home Secretary Priti Patel has been accused of bullying civil servants. The Cabinet Office is investigating several allegations about Ms Patel's behaviour, all of which she denies. Sir Philip Rutnam, the Home Office's most senior official, resigned on 29 February, alleging Ms Patel's conduct towards staff included "swearing, belittling people, making unreasonable and repeated demands". Since then, similar allegations have emerged from the Department for Work and Pensions and the Department f...
Mar 07, 2020•14 min
