Described as “incredibly bright, borderline eccentric and very Thatcherite”, Kwasi Kwarteng has been MP for Spelthorne in Surrey, since 2010. Born in London to Ghanaian parents, Kwasi Kwarteng excelled academically – he was an Eton scholar, got a double first from Cambridge University and a scholarship to Harvard. He’s worked as a newspaper columnist, a financial analyst and has written several books on history and politics. Kwasi Kwarteng is a long-time friend and close political ally of the ne...
Sep 10, 2022•15 min
Winner of this year’s Olivier Best Actress Award for her role in the musical Cabaret, now nominated for a Mercury Prize with Bernard Butler for their album, For All Our Days That Tear the Heart. Mark Coles profiles Killarney actress and singer Jessie Buckley, speaking to some of the family, friends and mentors who’ve helped her along the way. Credits • Wild Rose, Universal Pictures, Directed by Tom Harper. • Out to Lunch with Jay Rayner, A Somethin’ Else / Jay Rayner production with Sony Music E...
Sep 03, 2022•14 min
Despite finishing second in the vote amongst her Conservative parliamentary colleagues, Liz Truss is seen by many as the favourite to win the leadership contest when party members have their say. But who is the woman bidding to become the UK’s third female Prime Minister? Timandra Harkness follows her unconventional journey in British politics - from child of CND campaigners to preferred candidate of the political right. Presenter: Timandra Harkness Producers: Bob Howard and Ben Cooper...
Jul 30, 2022•16 min
Just seven years after first entering Parliament as Conservative MP for Richmond, North Yorkshire, Rishi Sunak is now one vote away from becoming Prime Minister. From replacing party grandee William Hague to managing the country’s finances through the coronavirus pandemic, Mark Coles follows his journey in British politics and talks to those who know him outside the political world of Westminster. Presenter: Mark Coles Production team: Sally Abrahams, Diane Richardson and Ben Cooper Editor: Rich...
Jul 23, 2022•15 min
Born in the Netherlands, the England women's football manager had a successful playing career both at home and in the US, before hanging up her boots. Mark Coles tracks her journey from playing alongside boys at the age of six to the England dugout. Presenter: Mark Coles Production team: Sally Abrahams, Diane Richardson and Ben Cooper Editor: Richard Vadon
Jul 16, 2022•14 min
The new Chancellor who came to the UK as a child refugee, began a business selling Teletubbies merchandise and is now tipped by some to become Prime Minister. Mark Coles charts the meteoric rise to power of the man who's been in the cabinet less than a year. Presenter: Mark Coles Production team: Sally Abrahams and Kirsteen Knight Editor: Richard Vadon
Jul 09, 2022•14 min
Timandra Harkness tells the story of the the US Supreme Court Justice at the centre of overturning the right to abortion in America. How did he go from poverty in Georgia to highest court in the land? And why did his politics change from campaigning for black rights to anti-affirmative action conservatism?
Jul 02, 2022•15 min
As national rail strikes disrupt train travel across the UK, what makes RMT leader Mick Lynch tick? And how did he become the leader of one of Britain's most powerful unions? With Mark Coles. Produced by Bob Howard
Jun 25, 2022•14 min
Kate Bush, whose song Running up that Hill is storming the charts across the world. The singer exploded onto the music scene at the end of the 1970s with Wuthering Heights, the first UK number one song performed and written by a female artist. Kate Bush has experimented throughout her career, sometimes being in the public eye and at other times composing at home while bringing up her son. With Timandra Harkness. Produced by Bob Howard
Jun 18, 2022•14 min
Johan Lundgren, Chief Executive Officer of Easyjet, one of Europe's biggest airlines. The carrier has been faced customer fury after cancelling hundreds of flights. Johan Lundgren has dealt with extremely trying personal and professional situations at different times in his life. Mark Coles hears about his youthful career ambition - to become a trombonist. Producer: Bob Howard Researcher: Natasha Fernandes Sound: James Beard Production Coordinator: Brenda Brown Editor: Hugh Levinson
Jun 11, 2022•15 min
What makes Ben Stokes, the New Zealand born poster boy of English cricket and England's new captain tick? He has at times courted controversy but was the hero in England's world cup triumph. With Mark Coles. Produced by Bob Howard
Jun 04, 2022•14 min
Boris Johnson’s Mr Fixit - a Deputy Chief of Staff - brought in to steady the ship at the height of the "Partygate" allegations. Described as politically astute and determined for the Conservatives to win the next election, Canzini's career in the Tory party began in the 1980s. He's a long-standing Brexiteer who's worked alongside former Conservative leader, William Hague, and is a close ally of the Tories’ election guru, Sir Lynton Crosby. His critics worry he is pushing the Prime Minister furt...
May 28, 2022•15 min
Jack Monroe rose to fame with her blog 'A Girl Called Jack’, sharing her struggles as a single mum on benefits, with just £10 a week to spend on food. She’s become a best-selling, award-winning writer of cookery books and she campaigns against poverty. A regular on TV and social media, talking benefits and food banks, Jack Monroe has attracted the wrath of some right-wing commentators. She successfully sued former newspaper columnist, Katie Hopkins, for comments made online. Now, she’s threateni...
May 21, 2022•14 min
She wants to be a first minister for all, having led her party to a historic election win. Sinn Féin now hold the most seats in the Northern Ireland Assembly, entitling them to the position of first minister. From local councillor to would-be leader of the power sharing executive, Mark Coles looks at the life and career of Michelle O'Neill, the IRA man's daughter, changing the image and appeal of nationalist party, Sinn Féin. Presenter: Mark Coles Production team: Sally Abrahams, Diane Richardso...
May 14, 2022•15 min
The brutal and corrupt regime of Ferdinand and Imelda Marcos was overthrown in 1986, yet their son, known as Bongbong, is leading the race to become the next president of The Philippines. Edward Stourton profiles the life and career of Philippine presidential hopeful, Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
May 07, 2022•15 min
Her multi-media work celebrates the achievements of women in music and art, challenges racial and sexual bias and asks how our cultural institutions can become more inclusive. From pastels to a cappella, Mark Coles profiles the life and career of Sonia Boyce, winner of this year's Venice Biennale, international art exhibition. Sonia Boyce’s winning entry entitled 'Feeling Her Way' features the improvisations of five black female musicians, Poppy Ajudha, Jacqui Dankworth MBE, Sofia Jernberg, Tani...
Apr 30, 2022•14 min
Playwright, screenwriter and creator of the hit TV sitcom Derry Girls, about five school friends in 1990s Northern Ireland - getting up to all sorts.
Apr 23, 2022•15 min
The far-right politician going head-to-head with Emmanuel Macron in the French presidential elections. Mark Coles charts Marine Le Pen's life and political career, which began alongside her father Jean-Marie Le Pen - founder of the far right Front National party. Today she has sought to soften her image by playing down her party's past policies by taking on issues such as the cost of living crisis, as she challenges for the French presidency for a third time. Producers: Sally Abrahams and Diane ...
Apr 16, 2022•15 min
Despite being fired by Amazon early in the pandemic, Chris Smalls continued to campaign for better rights and conditions for Amazon employees, setting up the Amazon Labor Union last year. Now the Staten Island warehouse where Chris used to be based has made history, becoming the first Amazon workplace in the United States to vote for union representation, a serious defeat for Amazon which has been fighting against unionisation. Timandra Harkness hears about the man behind this historic vote, spe...
Apr 09, 2022•15 min
Martin Lewis of MoneySavingExpert has helped millions of people save money through consumer advice and big campaigns on bank charges and mis-sold PPI credit insurance. But now with the cost of living crisis, has he "run out of tools"? He grew up in a Jewish family in Cheshire. He lost his mother in an accident just before his 12th birthday, an event that had a lasting influence on him. He later became a journalist and financial campaigner, motivated by wanting to help others save money. The succ...
Apr 02, 2022•15 min
She made history in the US this week as the first black woman to go through Senate confirmation hearings for an appointment to America’s all powerful Supreme Court. A person of profound faith, Ketanji Brown Jackson poured her soul into her studies. She excelled at Miami Palmetto Senior High School where she was a champion debater, star performer and the president of her class. She graduated from Harvard University where she met her husband Patrick Jackson and formed life-long friendships. From t...
Mar 26, 2022•15 min
One of Britain’s most popular authors, Dame Jacqueline Wilson is famous for stories of sassy children, troubled teens and struggling parents. Her books explore themes including death, divorce and depression. Now, the award-winning writer, who created characters like Tracy Beaker, Hetty Feather and Vicky Angel, has just released a new story - her 114th novel to date, about teenage pregnancy. The novelist lived through a difficult childhood and her own marriage ended in divorce. But, after decades...
Mar 19, 2022•15 min
She took the defining picture of Putin’s war so far: a family killed by Russian troops as they tried to flee to safety. The US photojournalist, Lynsey Addario, has reported from almost every major conflict in the twenty-first century, and now she is on the ground in Ukraine, documenting suspected war crimes. Lynsey Addario - who reported on the Taliban before most of the western world knew who they were - has borne witness to war, humanitarian disaster and the worst effects of climate change. Sh...
Mar 12, 2022•14 min
As the Ukraine crisis continues to escalate, NATO Secretary General, Jens Stoltenberg, finds himself in the thick of it - tasked with preventing a third world war. Norway’s former prime minister gained international renown for his stoic response to the 2011 terror attacks. Described by NATO colleagues as the ‘Trump whisperer’, he is known for being cool, calm and collected under pressure. Does he have what it takes for this latest challenge? Mark Coles profiles the longest serving NATO chief in ...
Mar 05, 2022•15 min
He’s gone into business with Facebook owner Mark Zuckerberg, but this isn’t Nick Clegg’s first leadership coalition. He was nicknamed Calamity Clegg but now the papers are calling him Master of the Metaverse. The former deputy prime minister has turned his fortunes around from a bashing at the ballot box, to becoming Silicon valley’s latest top dog. Mark Coles profiles the man hired to fight Facebook’s fires.
Feb 26, 2022•14 min
The defence secretary topping Tory polls has had some strong words to say about Russian activity on the border of Ukraine. Adrian Goldberg profiles the soldier turned politician Ben Wallace.
Feb 19, 2022•14 min
Jimmy Carr has been condemned for his ‘abhorent’ Holocaust joke about the murders of thousands of people from the Roma, Sinti and traveller communities. Mark Coles looks at the life and career of the controversial comedian. Presenter: Mark Coles Producer: Joe Kent Researcher: Drew Miller Hyndman Editor: Damon Rose
Feb 12, 2022•14 min
Spotify reportedly paid $100m in 2020 for rights to The Joe Rogan Experience, the streaming service's top podcast. The show is said to be downloaded around 200 million times a month. Joe Rogan hosts a variety of guests who discuss their views on a range of issues - but some episodes have featured false and misleading claims. Big names from the music industry, including Neil Young and Joni Mitchell, have asked Spotify to remove their music from the platform. They have criticised the music streami...
Feb 07, 2022•14 min
Zelensky was an actor and comedian who became a household name in Ukraine by starring in a TV series about a teacher who accidentally became president. In a surreal case of life imitating art, Zelensky found himself elected in 2019 with zero political experience. As the threat of a Russian invasion looms, Mark Coles profiles a man on the brink of becoming an unlikely wartime leader.
Jan 29, 2022•14 min
From pub landlady to chief interrogator, Adrian Goldberg profiles Sue Gray, the woman who secretly “runs Britain”, and is leading the investigation into Downing Street parties. We hear about her unconventional background, a mysterious career break involving brushes with the IRA, and her meteoric rise to become Whitehall’s most feared inquisitor. She’s been called “the most powerful person you’ve never heard of”. But, will she be able to withstand the pressure of investigating her own boss, the P...
Jan 22, 2022•14 min
