JD Vance, from 'hillbilly' roots to potential VP nominee for Trump. Raised by grandparents in Rust Belt town amid mother's drug addiction. Discusses his evolution from Trump critic to supporter, exploring personal journey and political aspirations.

Shabana Mahmood is the new Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice. Born in Birmingham in a Kashmiri Pakistani family, she has three siblings, one of whom is her twin. From an early age her father ensured that the children were aware of the world around them, and made them each read five minutes from the Times newspaper every evening. Inspired by the 1990's TV series, 'Kavanagh QC' to become a lawyer, Shabana Mahmood attended Lincoln College, Oxford University, a year below a certain Rishi Sunak. After a few years working in law, she changed career and moved into politics, in 2010 winning the seat of Birmingham Ladywood for Labour, which she has held to date. Stephen Smith talks to those who know her. Presenter: Stephen Smith Producers: Diane Richardson and Julie Ball Editor: Penny Murphy Production Co-ordinators: Maria Ogundele and Rosie Strawbridge Sound mix: Hal HainesCONTRIBUTORS William Audland KC, 12 Kings' Bench Walk Chambers David Gauke, former Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice Jane Haynes, Journalist Birmingham Live/Mail Baroness Sayeeda Warsi, former, Chair of the Conservative Party and Minister without Portfolio. Lord Tom Watson, former MP West Bromwich East & deputy leader of the Labour partyCREDITS Kavanagh QC - Central TV for ITV productions Political Thinking - Nick Robinson BBC R4/BBC Sounds

Evan Gershkovich is the Wall Street Journal's Moscow reporter. He's been imprisoned in Russia since March last year, and has just gone on trial there - the first American journalist to be jailed in Russia since the Cold War. He's accused of espionage, something he, his employer and his government all strenuously deny. To his friends, like Jeremy Berke, he is "the most extroverted person that I've ever met in my whole life". He loves football and is a dedicated Arsenal fan - so much so that he'd get his flatmates in Brooklyn up at 7am on Sunday mornings - despite them having been out on the town together till the early hours - to watch Arsenal matches with him on TV. The son of Soviet-born, Jewish parents who'd fled to the USA in the late 70s, he grew up speaking Russian at home. Once in Moscow as a reporter, his fellow correspondents - many of whom quickly became friends too - were impressed by his drive, his knowledge of Russia's language and culture, his ease at making contacts, and his willingness to go the extra mile - often literally, to places like the remote Russian republics of Udmurtia and Yakutia. He's now been detained for fifteen months and counting. Gershkovich's friends and family say his release can't come too soon; they're waiting to welcome him home with hugs, and the desire "to never let him leave again". Presenter: Mark Coles Producers: Arlene Gregorius and Julie Ball Editor: Penny Murphy Production Coordinator: Maria Ogundele

Before she became one of the best-selling musicians of all time, Shania Twain worked for the family tree-planting business, singing for tips in lumberjack bars to help make ends meet. Stephen Smith charts the rise of a hard-up Canadian country girl, from a violent family home, to a country-pop crossover superstar. This year's Glastonbury 'Legends' slot will be the first time some will have seen or heard from Shania in decades - we hear about the disease that robbed her of her voice at the peak of her powers in the early 2000s and, along with a devastating divorce, led to a 15-year gap between albums. Contributors: John Kim Bell, former producer and boyfriend Lindsay Ell, guitarist Jake Gosling, music producer Marc Bouwer, fashion designerPresenter: Stephen Smith Producers: Simon Tulett and Natasha Fernandes Sound: Neil Churchill Production Coordinators: Maria Ogundele and Sabine Schereck Editor: Penny Murphy

Sometimes known as the “sultan of swing,” Professor Sir John Curtice has become an institution of election coverage in the UK. But is there more to the man than stats and figures? There might be some broad beans and jam, as Mark Coles finds out.Rev Dr Lisa Curtice, John’s wife Phil Tremewan, childhood friend John Leston, friend from university David Dimbleby, broadcaster Paddy O’Connell, BBC broadcasterPresenter: Mark Coles Producers: Ivana Davidovic, Diane Richardson and Julie Ball Sound: James Beard Production Coordinator: Maria Ogundele Editor: Tom Bigwood

Who is National Rally's 28-year-old leader, Jordan Bardella? Stephen Smith looks at the life of the boy from the Paris suburbs who joined the far-right as a teenager and rapidly became the face of National Rally, helping to bring success for the party in the European elections.Contributors Cécile Alduy, Professor of French Studies, Stanford University, Political Scientist, Sciences PO Paris Aymeric Durox, National Rally Senator Pascal Humeau, Communications Advisor and Media Trainer Bénédicte Paviot, UK Correspondent France 24 Pierre-Stéphane Fort, Jordan Bardella biographerPresenter: Stephen Smith Producers: Diane Richardson, Ivana Davidovic and Julie Ball Sound: Neil Churchill Production Coordinators: Maria Ogundele and Rosie Strawbridge Editor: Tom Bigwood

Rylan Clark is on the cusp of becoming a national treasure. Having defied the odds of most reality TV stars, he has managed to stay the course, cementing his already steady career rise to the top with his most recent television outing with Rob Rinder 'Rob and Rylan's Grand Tour', which showed the viewing public a whole new side to his talents. Brought up in the East End by his mum, Linda. Rylan or Ross as his family and friends know him, was always performing from a young age, according to his mum. The family moved to Essex when he was around 11 going to school in Upminster, where Ross was a mischievous and talented student. After a few years in retail he started modelling and went off to Ibiza where he was in tribute bands to Take That and Westlife. His big break came when he appeared on X Factor in 2012. Although he didn't win, he did make an impression, and after winning Celebrity Big Brother his career took off. Mark Coles charts the rise of Rylan Clark. Presenter: Mark ColesContributorsScott Bryan, TV critic and broadcasterLinda Clark, MotherBernice Cole, Make-up artist and friendNader Dehdashti, Agent and friend Mark Duncan, Deputy Headmaster, Coopers' Company and Coborn SchoolRobert Rinder, Broadcaster and barrister CREDITSX Factor - Thames and Syco Entertainment Rob and Rylan's Grand Tour - Rex Productions Keeping Up Appearances - BBC Masterchef - Endemol Shine UK How to Be a Man - Mindhouse production for BBC Sounds How to Be in the Spotlight - Mindhouse production for BBC SoundsProduction Team Producers: Julie Ball, Diane Richardson & Ivana Davidovic Editor: Tom Bigwood Sound: James Beard Production Co-ordinator: Maria Ogundele

Alan Bleasdale, the Liverpudlian screenwriter and playwright, is in the spotlight this week as a stage version of his iconic 1980's TV series 'Boys from the Blackstuff' opened at the National Theatre. Born in Liverpool, an only child who first went into teaching, his first public work was 'Scully' for Radio Merseyside, a kind of Liverpudlian Adrian Mole, which he wrote whilst he was still teaching. But it was 'Boys from the Blackstuff' that made him a household name with one of the characters, Yosser Hughes' line 'Gissa job' providing a chant on the stands of his beloved Liverpool Football Club. His work has courted controversy with successive governments, although he says he's not political, only voting for the first time at the age of 38. Now in his late 70's and 40 years on from the original television series, he's back in the spotlight. Stephen Smith talks to friends and colleagues about his work, phobias and how to tell if you're having a heart attack. Presenter: Stephen SmithPRODUCTION TEAMProducers: Julie Ball and Diane Richardson Researcher: Marianna Brain Editor: Bridget Harney Sound: Neil Churchill Production co-ordinators: Maria Ogundele and Sabine Schereck ContributorsPeter Ansorge, former Script Producer, BBC Drama and Commissioning Editor, Drama C4James Graham, Playwright and ScreenwriterRobert Lindsay, ActorSir Michael Palin, Actor and AuthorTony Schumacher, Author and ScreenwriterTrevor Stent, former teaching colleague CREDITSBoys from the Blackstuff, BBC DramaDesert Island Discs, BBC R4GBH - Channel 4Scully's New Years Eve, BBC

Ann-Marie Powell, is the exuberant and colourful, garden designer, whose' Octavia Hill 'Garden was one of the eight main gardens in competition at the Chelsea Flower Show this year. After dropping out of college she spent six months travelling in India, Nepal and New Zealand, which inspired her to take up gardening. Attending Capel Manor horticultural college her first job was working in sales for a large nursery. But Ann-Marie's colourful personal style and outgoing personality led her employer to encourage her to apply for a job as a presenter on a TV gardening show. She soon blossomed into a popular gardening show host working with fellow gardeners like Carol Klein, Joe Swift and gardening supremo, Monty Don. In addition to running her own successful garden design business from the home she shares with her husband and two boys, on the Hampshire borders, she feels it's important that everyone should have access to green spaces, no matter where they live. During lockdown her Instagram page 'My Real Garden' was a big hit broadcasting garden tips and advice everyday. Presenter: Mark Coles CONTRIBUTORS Julian Bundy - Husband Angela Halksworth - Co-owner, Tendercare Nurseries Janet Morgan - Friend Jane Owen - Garden Designer Mark Straver - Hortus Loci Cleve West - Award winning Garden Designer Tamsin Westhorpe- Gardener and Horticulture WriterCREDITSGardens, Weeds and Words Podcast - Presented by Andrew O'Brien Real Gardens - Channel 4 RHS National Trust My Real Garden - Instagram - Ann-Marie Powell PRODUCTION TEAM Producers: Julie Ball and Diane Richardson Editor: Bridget Harney Production Co-ordinator: Maria Ogundele Sound: David Crackles

You may know her from Play School, Bafta or the House of Lords, Baroness Floella Benjamin doesn’t sit still, she’s even appeared in panto.Stephen Smith hears about the remarkable life of the Trinidad-born actress, TV presenter and author, who campaigns passionately for children and the Windrush generation.Contributors Colin Webb, Publisher, 'Coming to England' Nero Ughwujabo, Senior Strategy Adviser - Equality Diversity and Inclusion, The Prince's Trust Lord Simon Woolley, Principal at Homerton College, Cambridge University Johnny Ball, Children's TV presenter Paul Nicholas, Actor Linzi Beuselinck, Actress Jeremy Swan, Children's TV producer Ros Edwards, TV producerCredits BAFTA Aladdin and The Forty Thieves, BBC 1984 Desert Island Discs, Baroness Floella Benjamin, BBC Radio 4, October 2020Presenter: Stephen Smith Producers: Diane Richardson and Drew Hyndman Editor: Tom Bigwood Sound: Neil Churchill Programme Coordinators: Maria Ogundele and Sabine Schereck