

Profile
BBC Radio 4
An insight into the character of an influential figure making news headlines
Episodes
Mentioned books

Mar 28, 2026 • 15min
Dame Sarah Mullally
Dame Sarah Mullally has been installed as the new Archbishop of Canterbury this week. The former nurse from Woking is the first woman to occupy the role of de facto leader of the Church of England and leader of the global Anglican communion. In contrast to her Eton and Oxford educated predecessor Justin Welby, Sarah Mullally attended her local comprehensive before studying nursing at South Bank Polytechnic. By the age of thirty seven she was appointed Chief nursing officer for the NHS, a meteoric rise that brought with it a six-figure Whitehall salary and meetings with the prime minister. But five years later she threw it in to become a junior priest earning less than twenty thousand pounds a year. Her supporters see her as a safe pair of hands, a leader who will steady the ship after years of abuse scandals and bitter rows over sexuality and identity. But following her appointment some of the more conservative and evangelical Anglicans have said they will no longer recognise the authority of the Archbishop of Canterbury. So who is the new Archbishop and what will her tenure hold? Becky Milligan finds out.

Mar 24, 2026 • 32min
Benjamin Netanyahu
Benjamin Netanyahu was born in Tel Aviv in 1949, the year after the State of Israel was founded. One of three brothers, Netanyahu spent much of his early years in the United States pursuing his education. But following his older brother’s death, Netanyahu found himself drawn into a career in the public eye. Using his military experience to advise on security matters, in 1984 Netanyahu became Israel’s Ambassador to the UN and established himself as a champion of Israel on the international stage. But soon, his attention was drawn closer to home. He returned to Israel and entered the world of politics; in 1993, he became the leader of the Likud party, and was elected prime minister in 1996, a position he's held for much of the following decades. During his time in power Netanyahu has tried to portray himself as Israel’s protector. However, in recent years, allegations of corruption and lapses in national security have damaged his reputation and polarised Israelis' views about him. His handling of the conflict in Gaza following Hamas’ October 7th attacks has drawn criticism at home and abroad. Now, Netanyahu has joined forces with the US president Donald Trump to conduct what they termed as ‘major combat operations’ against Iran. But will this war restore Netanyahu’s reputation as ‘Mr Security’, or draw Israel into another intractable conflict?Mark Coles profiles the longest-serving Israeli prime minister. Presenter: Mark Coles
Producers: Nick Holland and Mhairi MacKenzie
Production Coordinator: Maria Ogundele
Sound: Morgan Roberts
Editor: Justine Lang

Mar 21, 2026 • 15min
Ed Miliband
Former Labour leader, Ed Miliband, is now Secretary of State for Energy. A role more important than ever with surging energy costs due to the conflict in Iran.
Born in 1969, Ed grew up in London’s Primrose Hill. His father, a Marxist academic, and his mother a human rights activist, Ed’s life was steeped in politics from the beginning. After attending a local state school in North London, he followed in the the footsteps of his older brother, David, to Oxford University and then to the Labour party where Ed climbed the ranks from advisor to MP.The Miliband brothers battled for the leadership in a historic contest that played out in front of the nation. Ed pipped David at the post, becoming leader of the Labour party in 2010. After losing the general election to David Cameron in 2015, Ed Miliband stepped away from front line politics. But after coming back into the political spotlight when Keir Starmer appointed him Energy Secretary in 2024, does he have his eye on leadership again?

Mar 14, 2026 • 15min
Wunmi Mosaku
A journey from Manchester choir kid to acclaimed screen actor. Stories of RADA auditions, a breakthrough BAFTA and moves into American TV. Deep dives into researching hoodoo for a Southern gothic role and reconnecting with ancestral roots. Reflections on awards, racial controversies and the realities of a rising international career.

Mar 7, 2026 • 15min
Pete Hegseth
Pete Hegseth, a former Army officer turned media figure and current US Defense Secretary. He discusses military service and deployments, his rise from Fox News to the Pentagon, controversies around confirmation and conduct, cultural battles like removing DEI, and operational headlines such as Signal chat leaks and Operation Epic Fury.

Feb 28, 2026 • 19min
Mackenzie Crook
Mackenzie Crook, actor-director and creator of gentle hits like The Detectorists and Small Prophets, remembered by friends and collaborators. Anecdotes cover his oddball beginnings, breakthrough as Gareth in The Office, a turn to writing and directing at forty, obsessive metal-detecting on set, and a tender, nature‑loving personality that shaped his whimsical work.

Feb 21, 2026 • 15min
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 LangArchive
CNN
Middle East Eye
AP
NBC
LA Times
CBS

Feb 14, 2026 • 15min
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 LangArchive:
MTV
The Golden Globes
Warner Bros
E!

Feb 7, 2026 • 15min
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 LangArchive:
Olympics.com
AFP
IOC
Dominican Convent Primary School Harere
Sporting Witness BBC World Service
Sky News

Jan 31, 2026 • 15min
Stephen Miller
A deep look at the political rise of a controversial architect of hard-line immigration measures. Traces his upbringing, early provocations, and campus notoriety that pushed him into national politics. Explores alliances with conservative power players and his role crafting sweeping travel bans and family separation policies. Examines how style, strategy, and loyalty shaped his influence.


