Profile

How did Shane Smith - a hard-partying, tattooed former Ottawa punk rocker - turn a community magazine into an international multi-media empire?

Mark Coles looks at the life of one of the founders of V…

How did Jack Ma, a teacher with no business training, become one of China's - indeed, the world's - most successful entrepreneurs?

The BBC's business editor Kamal Ahmed looks at the man behind the onl…

There is every sign this weekend that Russia's proxy war with Ukraine could become a full-blown conflict between states.

The crisis now coming to a head has been in the making ever since Ukraine decla…

As Iraq's divisive Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki steps down, hopes are now pinned on his likely successor, Haider al-Abadi to restore trust with the Kurdish and Sunni communities and fight off the a…

Jo Fidgen explores the life and times of Karren Brady, successful in business, TV star in The Apprentice and now a rising political star in the Conservative party. How did she succeed in the male-dom…

Becky Milligan profiles Poland's foreign minister, Radoslaw Sikorski, a one-time teenage rebel, Oxford networker, daring reporter - and now a key voice in the Ukraine crisis and an important force in…

The so-called "fake sheikh" - investigative journalist Mazher Mahmood - hit the headlines this week after singer Tulisa Contostavlos's drugs trial, which was triggered by one of his newspaper investi…

After this week's cabinet reshuffle Mark Coles profiles Nicky Morgan. Who exactly is the new education secretary?

Producer: Smita Patel.

Elizabeth Butler-Sloss has been chosen this week to lead a major enquiry into abuse allegations. But the choice has proved controversial, with claims that she is too close to the establishment. A spe…

Speculation abounded this week as to whether Elizabeth Warren hopes to be the Democratic candidate in the next US election.

Elizabeth Warren has had a rapid rise to prominence since her election as Se…

London barrister Amal Alamuddin has become engaged to one of the world's most elusive bachelors, Hollywood A-lister George Clooney. But she is an impressive figure in her own right. As a high-flying …

The owners of Manchester United find themselves under the spotlight once again following the sacking of manager David Moyes, Alex Ferguson's replacement. American billionaire Malcolm Glazer and his f…

Mark Coles profiles new Culture Secretary, Sajid Javid. Son of 1960s immigrants from Pakistan, after a stellar banking career he's now in the Cabinet. What's behind his rise? And what kind of Culture…

Narendra Modi is tipped to become the next Prime Minister of India but he's a controversial character, both loved and loathed. In this edition of Profile, Ritula Shah travels to India to find out mor…

Edward Stourton profiles Matteo Renzi, the new Italian prime minister. He asks if this former boy scout - nicknamed 'demolition man' for his desire to smash the political establishment - can turn aro…

Ahead of the budget Mary Ann Sieghart profiles Rupert Harrison. He's the top economic adviser to George Osborne, and the man some call the 'real Chancellor' and 'the most important man you've never h…