Profile

Baroness Louise Casey has this week delivered an excoriating review into the standards of behaviour and internal culture of the Metropolitan Police. It’s just the latest of a series of tough reports issued by Casey during a career tackling deep-rooted social issues, including homelessness and anti-social behaviour.Casey is now a cross-bench peer and go-to troubleshooter for governments of all stripes, but her route to the top of public life has been unconventional. Profile speaks to close friends and colleagues of a civil servant known for her fearlessness and no-nonsense style.Presenter: Mark Coles Production team: Sally Abrahams and Nathan Gower Editor: Simon Watts Sound Engineer: Graham Puddifoot

Shadow chancellor and former economist Rachel Reeves, who was a national chess champion aged 14.

Scottish screenwriter Lesley Paterson’s debut film, All Quiet on the Western Front, has won seven BAFTAs and has nine Oscar nominations, including Best Adapted Screenplay. It took her and co-writer Ian Stokell sixteen years to get their script to screen, with Netflix and German director, Edward Berger. On the way, Paterson competed in extreme off-road triathlons, winning five world titles and putting the prize money towards the adaptation rights for the novel. Now the movie is winning awards and provoking debate among critics.Timandra Harkness talks to family, friends and colleagues about Paterson’s childhood going to ballet classes with knees still muddy from rugby, her journey from Stirling to Hollywood, and how her drive to win has got her through every challenge.Presenter: Timandra Harkness Production team: Sally Abrahams, Georgia Coan and Nathan Gower Editor: Simon Watts Sound engineer: Neva Missirian

Born in Jamaica to parents who were both doctors, Professor Dame Angela McLean was fascinated by science from a young age. After studying maths at university, her PhD thesis involved pioneering work on measles. She’s also done ground-breaking research into HIV/AIDS. During the coronavirus pandemic, Dame Angela played a key role drawing up advice for the government. Mark Coles speaks to friends, family and colleagues to find out more about the ‘no-nonsense’, straight-talking scientist who loves theatre, birdwatching and campfires. Presenter: Mark Coles Producers: Sally Abrahams and Georgia Coan Editor: Simon Watts Production Co-ordinator: Sabine Schereck Sound Engineer: Rod Farquhar

Born in London, to Jamaican parents who came to Britain as part of the 1950s Windrush generation, Shirley J. Thompson fell in love with music from a very young age – and it has remained her life’s passion. She’s created music for film, TV, orchestras and opera. Mark Coles talks to family and friends to find out what influences her work. Presenter: Mark Coles Producers: Sally Abrahams and Georgia Coan Editor: Simon Watts Production Co-ordinator: Sabine Schereck Sound Engineer: James Beard

Irish actor Barry Keoghan spent most of his childhood in foster homes, losing his mother to addiction issues when he was just 12-years-old. He found his passion for acting after answering a casting notice for a short indie film in his local shop window.Keoghan was so determined to succeed that he’s often made his own audition tapes to send to studios. Praised by directors for his natural talent, Keoghan has risen from starring in the Irish drama series ‘Love/Hate’ as a ‘cat killer’ in 2013, to the current hit ‘The Banshees of Inisherin’. His moving performance as the comical yet heart-breaking Dominic is wowing critics.So can Barry Keoghan take home all the awards this year? Mark Coles speaks to his friends, colleagues and teachers about his rise from the streets of Summerhill in Dublin to success in Hollywood.CreditsIreland Unfiltered with Dion FanningIn the Envelope: The Actor’s Podcast The Banshees of Inisherin Director and writer: Martin McDonagh Searchlight PicturesBetween the Canals Director and writer: Mark O’Connor High Fliers FilmsDunkirk Director: Christopher Nolan Warner Bros. Hairspray Director: Adam Shankman Warner Bros.Presenter: Mark Coles Producers: Diane Richardson, Beth Ashmead-Latham and Georgia Coan Editor: Simon Watts Production Co-ordinator: Sabine Schereck Sound Engineer: Rod Farquhar

Health Secretary, Steve Barclay, spent his gap year serving with the Royal Fusiliers. Now he finds himself in the line of fire from striking health workers, in a long-running dispute over pay. His job is to somehow find a solution to the row, without adding to the Treasury’s headaches.Can this rugby-loving sky-diver rise to the challenge? Adrian Goldberg talks to family and friends to find out why some Whitehall officials tremble under his forensic questioning – and why he’s been likened to popular TV detective, Columbo. Presenter: Adrian Goldberg Production team: Sally Abrahams, Diane Richardson and Beth Ashmead-Latham Production co-ordinator: Sabine Schereck Studio engineer: Graham Puddifoot Editor: Penny Murphy

The naturalist, broadcaster, author and campaigner has announced he is taking a three-month sabbatical from his TV work to give himself some ‘brain space’.After rising to prominence in the 1980s as a presenter on the BBC children's TV programme The Really Wild Show, Chris Packham has spent nearly four decades exploring and explaining the natural world on our screens. Along the way he's written books, fronted numerous environmental campaigns, and also raised awareness of living with Asperger's Syndrome.Mark Coles hears from Chris Packham's family, friends and colleagues about his life and career.Presenter: Mark Coles Producer: Ben Cooper Researchers: Bethan Ashmead-Latham and Diane Richardson Editor: Simon Watts Production Co-ordinators: Maria Ogundele and Sabine Schereck Sound Engineer: Graham Puddifoot

Nan Goldin has been documenting her life through photography since her teens, revealing and intimate portraits exploring issues from sex and drug addition to domestic violence and parenthood. Laura Poitras's film celebrating Nan's work, 'All the Beauty and the Bloodshed' has been nominated for an Oscar.Mark Coles looks at the life of the acclaimed artist, whose addiction to prescription opioids made her determined to hold Purdue Pharma and their owners the Sackler family accountable for the US Opioid addiction crisis. The campaign resulted in galleries and museums around the world cutting financial ties with the Sacklers, because of their link to the prescription opioid OxyContin.Presenter: Mark Coles Producers: Viv Jones, Tural Ahmedzade and Ben Cooper Editor: Richard Vadon

After suffering a fall that has left him paralysed, the playwright, screenwriter and author has begun sharing his thoughts with the world from his hospital bed.Born in suburban Bromley to an English mother and a Pakistani father, Hanif Kureishi turned to the arts to escape his everyday surroundings growing up. He became one of the most celebrated writers of his generation.Mark Coles hears from Kureishi's friends, family and old colleagues, as he explores the life and career of the man whose works include The Buddha of Suburbia and My Beautiful Laundrette.Presenter: Mark Coles Producers: Ben Cooper and Diane Richardson Editor: Simon Watts Production Co-ordinators: Maria Ogundele and Sabine Schereck Sound Engineer: Neil Churchill