Profile

George Mpanga, better known as George the Poet, is a British spoken word poet, podcaster and advocate for social change. Born in north London after his parents fled Uganda in the 1980s, he’s become an increasingly significant voice in the debate on race and class in the UK. His innovative style mixes music and poetry. It has won him critical acclaim both as a recording artist and a social commentator, playing to a wide range of audiences, from the Cheltenham Literature Festival to 1Xtra. His award-winning podcast ‘Have You Heard George’s Podcast?’ blends fiction, news and music to depict inner city life.Mark Coles speaks to friends, family, and colleagues to find out more.Presenter: Mark Coles Producer: Jim Frank Researchers: Soila Apparicio and Sowda Ali Production Co-ordinator: Janet Staples Studio Engineer: Nigel Appleton Editor: Alex Lewis

Last October, British sprint cyclist, Mark Cavendish, broke down on TV, fearing he’d cycled the last race of his career. Now the 36 year-old is making sporting history, against the odds. After illness and injury, the man dubbed the Manx Missile has now equalled the record – set by cycling legend Eddie Merckx - for the most Tour de France stage wins. And, if things go well for him on this last weekend of the Tour, he could even top that tally of 34. And yet, Cavendish only secured a place in the team at the absolute last minute. Few expected him to take part, never mind secure win after win. Mark Coles talks to friends and family of the sportsman who says he’s addicted to winning.Presenter: Mark Coles Producer: Sally Abrahams Researcher: Soila Apparicio Production Co-ordinator: Janet Staples Studio Engineer: Neil Churchill Editor: Richard Vadon Commentary of Tour de France 2021 Stage 4 win courtesy of Eurosport.

For almost a decade Raheem Sterling has been one of English football’s most talked about players. Born in Jamacia and raised in the shadow of the Wembley arch, he burst onto the scene as a precocious 17 year old talent at Liverpool. But for all his talent on the pitch, Sterling has been just as defined by his battles off it. He has had frequent tussles with the tabloid press and has become one of the most outspoken voices against the racist abuse suffered by black players.Edward Stourton gets behind the headlines and speaks to those that know him best to find out how the quiet young boy from Brent become one of English football’s most talismanic figures.Producers: Beth Sagar-Fenton & Matt Murphy Production Co-ordinator: Janet Staples Mix: Graham Puddifoot Editor: Richard Vadon

He's 23, with 16 Grand Slam titles to his name and focused on winning his first Wimbledon singles title. Yet British wheelchair tennis champion, Alfie Hewett, is facing the end of his career because of a change in rules. The elite sportsman, from Norwich, Norfolk, is currently ineligible to compete beyond 2021 after being told by the International Tennis Federation that his disability is not severe enough. Mark Coles talks to friends, family and career professionals to find out how the sports-loving six year-old was suddenly forced to adapt from running around a football pitch to being in a wheelchair. And how this life-changing event has shaped him into the player he is today. Presenter: Mark Coles Researchers: Lauren Moore, Sowda Ali and Bethan Head Production Co-ordinator: Janet Staples Producer: Sally Abrahams Studio Engineer: Rod Farquhar Editor: Alex Lewis

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie is one of Nigeria’s foremost literary voices. Her writing is noted for its touching examination of homeland, identity and feminism. For more than a decade she has been coaching and mentoring promising young authors through her yearly workshops in Lagos, bringing a new generation of African writers to mainstream attention.On the subject of transgender people and feminism, Chimamanda Adichie has been criticised by some on social media for comments she made in a 2017 TV interview, in which she said "my feeling is trans women are trans women". She was branded transphobic and there were calls for her to be banned from book events. This past week, she has hit back, writing a furious online essay slamming some of her critics and arguing that social media platforms have become too toxic.Mark Coles talks to friends and family about the award-winning writer whose outspoken nature has seen her drawn into a social media firestorm.Presenter: Mark Coles Producer: Sally Abrahams Researcher: Matt Murphy and Sowda Ali Editor: Alex Lewis

The military commando turned self-made tech millionaire who’s now Prime Minister of Israel. The right-wing, nationalist, supporter of Jewish settlement in the West Bank has formed an unlikely alliance of left and right, secular and religious, Jewish and Arab. Once the chief of staff to Benjamin Netanyahu, Naftali Bennett brought an end to his old boss’s 12 years in power.Presenter: Mark Coles Researcher: Sowda Ali Studio manager: Graham Puddifoot Programme co-ordinator: Janet Staples Producer: Joe Kent Editor: Alex LewisARCHIVE I24NEWS English: 'Kingmaker' Naftali Bennett Hopes to Become Israel's Next Prime Minister – February 2021 Zionist Federation of Australia: Lockdown Learning 15 with Naftali Bennett. June 2020 ABC News: The ABC Evening Newscast - July 1976 Brookings Institution: Saban Forum 2014 - A Conversation with Naftali Bennett. December 2014

The multi-talented performer has just made BAFTA history, after taking top honours for ‘I May Destroy You’, her drama about sexual consent. The TV show – which she created, wrote, directed and starred in - also won best mini-series. It was inspired by Michaela Coel’s own experience of sexual assault after her drink was spiked.Born in London to Ghanaian parents, 33 year-old Michaela Coel grew up with her single mum and older sister on a council estate in London’s East End. At eighteen, she became a Christian. Her conversion kick-started her writing career as she began penning and performing poems praising Jesus. After winning a scholarship to the prestigious Guildhall School of Music and Drama, her graduation piece - unusually- featured her own work, a play called ‘Chewing Gum Dreams'. It was about life on her estate and a girl desperate to lose her virginity. She later developed that into the award-winning Channel 4 comedy, Chewing Gum. Now Michaela Coel has been dubbed 'Queen of British TV' after her latest BAFTA success for her drama, 'I May Destroy You'. Mark Coles tells the story of her life, by talking to those who spotted her talents from a very young age, including friends from school, the church and the world of theatre. Presenter: Mark Coles Intake producer: Matt Toulson Producer: Sally Abrahams Editor: Alex Lewis

Joanne Anderson has just taken on what many might call one of the toughest jobs in local government - leading the Labour council at the centre of corruption allegations. Liverpool-born and bred, the 50 year-old single mum only became a Labour councillor in 2019. But she was encouraged to stand as mayor when her predecessor, Joe Anderson (no relation) stood down after being arrested over claims relating to bribery, which he strongly denies. Growing up on a council estate east of the city centre, community activism is in Joanne Anderson's blood. She was barely out of nappies when her mum took her along to protest against poor housing conditions. She's spent most of her career helping companies, charities and councils improve diversity and promote equal opportunities. Now she’s got the top job at Liverpool city council and is promising a fresh start. So who is Joanne Anderson? And how did a woman who until recently, was outside the city’s political inner circle, come to be its Mayor? Talking to close friends, family and colleagues, Adrian Goldberg charts Joanne Anderson’s rise from council flat to council leader.Presenter: Adrian Goldberg Intake producer: Matt Toulson Producer: Sally Abrahams Editor: Alex Lewis

Kate Bingham took on one of the hardest jobs in the Covid pandemic - finding and procuring the necessary vaccines to stop people dying. A venture capitalist who invests in new drugs, she got the call from the Prime Minister who asked her to chair the UK’s Vaccine Taskforce. Once she had worked out which vaccines to back and order in advance, she and her team had to get the systems in place to roll them out in record time. Before this she had spent 30 years in private equity in the city, which she has now returned to. Described by many as "a force of nature" she defied critics and sceptics and successfully secured 350 million doses of six different vaccines which started going into people's arms at the end of last year. The number of doses administered in the UK has now past 60 million and everyone over the age of 30 is being offered the jab. Via in depth interviews with close friends and colleagues from throughout her life and commentators, Mark Coles reveals the character behind the woman responsible for securing a pipe-line of Covid vaccines for the UK population. Presenter: Mark Coles Researcher: Stefania Okereke Studio manager: James Beard Programme co-ordinator: Janet Staples Producer: Jim Frank and Caroline Bayley Editor: Richard Vadon and Alex LewisPhoto Credit: Tom Kates

Edwin Poots has been named as the new leader of the Democratic Unionist Party. A farmer from the outskirts of Lisburn, not far from Belfast. Mr Poots entered political life in 1997 - and, since then, he's slowly but steadily risen to the top. He's held four Ministeries including health and agriculture and is viewed across the sectarian divide as a shrewd political strategist. A devoutly religious and committed member of the Free Presbyterian church, Mr Poots's ultra-conservative views on issues such as abortion and gay marriage have attracted heavy criticism over the years, as has his strongly held belief that the earth is approx. 6,000 years old.His supporters, however, insist that his personal beliefs have no bearing on his ability to do his job - and to lead the DUP into a new era. Via in-depth interviews with family, close personal friends and political commentators, Becky Milligan reveals the character behind the caricature sketched by media, the real person behind the public persona of Edwin Poots.Presenter: Becky Milligan Researcher: Stefania Okereke Studio manager: Rod Farquhar Programme co-ordinator: Janet Staples Producer: Paul Connolly Editor: Richard Vadon and Alex Lewis