Profile
An insight into the character of an influential figure making news headlines
- Update frequency
- every 7 days
- Average duration
- 14 minutes
- Episodes
- 647
- Years Active
- 2010 - 2025
General Abdul Fattah al-Sisi
Edward Stourton profiles the Commander of Egypt's Armed Forces, General Abdul Fattah al-Sisi, now the most powerful man in Egypt. General al-Sisi was appointed Defence Minister and Head of the Army b…
Mo Farah
Jane Deith profiles Mo Farah.
This week he became the first British man - and only second man ever - to hold the Olympic and World 10,000m and 5,000m titles.
He was born in Somalia and moved to Britain…
Mark Carney
Chris Bowlby profiles the new governor of the Bank of England, Mark Carney, who unveiled his economic strategy this week.
Heralded as 'the outstanding central banker of his generation' by George Osbor…
Haifaa Al-Mansour
Mary Ann Sieghart profiles Haifaa Al-Mansour, Saudi Arabia's first female film director.
Haifaa Al-Mansour directed the recently-released Wadjda, the first film entirely shot in Saudi Arabia. The film…
Andre Geim
Helen Grady profiles Professor Sir Andre Geim who is one of the most unusual scientists working in Britain - perhaps the world - today.
This week he was awarded the Royal Society's Copley Medal, belie…
Samantha Cameron
Edward Stourton profiles Samantha Cameron. There's been debate this week about the degree to which her views influence government policy. But what do we actually know about the Prime Minister's wife?
…
Alastair Cook
With the Ashes underway, Mark Coles profiles the England cricket captain Alastair Cook. Born on Christmas Day in 1984, Cook's first career was as a chorister at St Paul's Cathedral. A talented musici…
Pep Guardiola
This week the football world ascended dizzying heights of breathlessness over the retirement of Sir Alex Ferguson. But as one footballing titan steps down, another - a man who is, in some ways, the a…
Margaret Hodge
As she wages war against tax avoidance, Margaret Hodge - Chair of the Public Accounts Committee - is enjoying a blazing Indian summer in her political life. As Edward Stourton discovers, her politica…
Alisher Usmanov
Alisher Usmanov has just been named the richest man in Britain. Born in Uzbekistan, Usmanov made his fortune in the collapsing Soviet Union. His empire has stretched from plastic bags to minerals, te…
Robert Mueller
Mark Coles profiles the long-serving and influential head of the FBI, Robert Mueller. Mueller took on the job one week before the 2001 World Trade Center attacks. Now, as he approaches retirement, th…
Elizabeth Llewellyn
Mary Ann Seighart profiles Elizabeth Llewellyn, the daughter of Jamaican immigrants, who had an obvious talent for singing from an early age. Her school-teachers in south London encouraged her to tak…
Jeff Bezos
Amazon first became the world's biggest bookshop and then went on to revolutionise shopping as we know it. What began in 1994 as a small start-up in a Seattle suburb has become arguably the most sign…
Lucy Winkett
Mary Ann Sieghart profiles the Reverend Lucy Winkett, Rector of St James's Piccadilly, and a former Canon of St Paul's Cathedral in London. Many inside the Church see her as favourite to become the f…
Magnus Carlsen
Chris Bowlby looks at the 22-year old Norwegian chess player Magnus Carlsen. He has the highest rating in the world ever and has been called the Mozart of chess.
He is currently in London playing the …
Zhang Xin
Chris Bowlby profiles the British-educated Chinese property billionaire Zhang Xin, one of the most powerful women in business. She is in advanced talks to buy 40 per cent of Manhattan's iconic Genera…
Justin Bieber
Justin Bieber, the 19-year-old Canadian pop star, is an internet phenomenon with 35 million Twitter followers. His first hit is the most-watched video in YouTube history.
He has upset fans on his UK t…
Beppe Grillo
Beppe Grillo has achieved a stunning success in the Italian elections with the performance of the new citizens' protest network - the Five Star Movement. He is its guiding star, a comedian-turned pol…
Mike Ashley
Mike Ashley began his business career as a teenager with a single shop in 1980s Maidenhead. Now his international Sports Direct empire makes him millions. Among his more recent acquisitions was Newca…
Tom Ford
Designer Tom Ford has become a brand in his own right. Running his own label, producing and directing the film 'A Single Man' and dressing the stars are just some of his successes.
Now as he prepares …