

Profile
BBC Radio 4
An insight into the character of an influential figure making news headlines
Episodes
Mentioned books

Feb 3, 2024 • 15min
General Sir Patrick Sanders
General Sir Patrick Sanders has served in Afghanistan, Iraq, Kosovo, Bosnia and Northern Ireland, rising through the ranks from Infantry Officer to Head of the Army. It's not a position he expected to reach and says "my first sergeant would never have seen this coming".He's spoken candidly about experiencing depression following a tour in Iraq, having lost a number of his own infantry regiment, encouraging others to seek help.Most recently General Sanders has ignited debate about the size of the army, suggesting that the "pre-war generation" should be prepared for the possibility of a potential land war, stating "Ukraine brutally illustrates that regular armies start wars; citizen armies win them."As he prepares to leave the post of Chief of the General Staff (CGS), Mark Coles looks at the life and career of General Sir Patrick Sanders, speaking to some of the family, friends and colleagues who know him best.Credits
The Benedictine Monks of Worth Abbey
Centre For Army Leadership Podcast
British Army Time to Talk
BFBS Sitrep Podcast
GB NewsPresenter: Mark Coles
Production: Ellie House and Diane Richardson
Production Co-ordinators: Sabine Schereck and Maria Ogundele
Sound: Neil Churchill
Editors: Richard Vadon and Matt Willis

Jan 27, 2024 • 15min
Jurgen Klopp
He’s led Liverpool Football Club to countless victories and is adored by fans for his touchline antics. As he announces his departure from Liverpool FC after nine years, Timandra Harkness looks at the life of Jurgen Klopp, from his childhood in the Black Forest to the young player who could run like the wind, before hanging up his boots to become a coach.Presenter: Timandra Harkness and Becky Milligan
Production: Ellie House, Phoebe Keane, Diane Richardson
Production Coordinators: Maria Ogundele
Editor: Richard Vadon

Jan 20, 2024 • 15min
Gabriel Attal
Stephen Smith looks at the life of the newly appointed French prime minister. The child of film producers, at one stage it looked like he was bound for a career in entertainment.Instead, Gabriel Attal has become the youngest PM in modern French history and he hopes to revive President Macron's government. One of his first tasks will be to lead the French government into the European Parliament elections in June.Contributors
Marisol Touraine, former French Minister of Health, chair of Unitaid.
Mireille Clapot, National Assembly member for Drôme.
Philippe Marliere, Professor of French and European Politics, University College London.
Dominic Gould, Actor.
Sophie Pedder, Paris Bureau Chief, the Economist.Credits
France 24
TF1, France.
La Belle Personne, directed by Christophe Honoré
Institut National de l'AudiovisuelPresenter: Stephen Smith
Production: Daniel Gordon, Leontine Gallois, Diane Richardson
Editor: Richard Vadon
Sound: Andrew Fell
Production Coordinators: Maria Ogundele, Katie Morrison, and Janet Staples

Jan 13, 2024 • 15min
Colleen Hoover
The ‘New Adult’ romance author topping book charts, and breaking records - she’s even outsold the Bible. Who is Colleen Hoover? The small-town Texan turned hit novelist is a TikTok sensation. Young women film themselves sobbing as they read her books, and queue for hours to meet her. Her meteoric rise to fame, from a small trailer on the family farm, reads like one of her stories. And now, her hit novel - ‘It Ends With Us’ - is set to hit the silver screen.Presenter: Mark Coles
Producers: Ellie House and Diane Richardson
Editor: Richard Vadon
Studio Manager: Neil Churchill
Production Coordinators: Maria Ogundele, Katie Morrison, and Janet Staples

Jan 6, 2024 • 15min
Richard Tice
Reform UK - formerly known as 'The Brexit Party' - has hit 10% in polls for the first time. And its leader, Richard Tice, is gearing up to contest the next general election. In a press conference this week, he vowed that Reform UK candidates would stand in every seat in England, Wales, and Scotland - posing a threat to Conservative candidates across the country. Dubbed a "bad boy of Brexit", who is the businessman turned politician leading this charge from the right? Presenter: Paul Connolly
Producers: Ellie House, Diane Richardson, Julie Ball
Editor: Richard Vadon
Studio Manager: James Beard
Production Coordinator: Janet Staples

Dec 30, 2023 • 15min
Sir Mufti Hamid Patel
Sir Mufti Hamid Patel, chief executive of education trust, Star Academies, which runs schools often in deprived areas, many of which have achieved outstanding results. Sir Mufti Hamid Patel left school in Blackburn at 16, without himself excelling academically. Having worked in local government in Blackburn, he then ran a Muslim girls school before starting Star Academies. The trust has grown to include 34 primary and secondary schools mainly in northern England, the Midlands and East London.
New government ways of monitoring progress, show almost half the top twenty achieving schools in the country are run by Star. PRODUCTION TEAM
Presenter: Mark Coles
Producer: Bob Howard
Editor: Richard Vadon
Sound: Neil Churchill
Production Co-ordinator: Maria Ogundele

Dec 23, 2023 • 15min
Polly Neate
Polly Neate. CEO of the housing and homelessness charity Shelter. Recently rescued in a dramatic cliff top drama, Neate was determined to fight social injustice from an early age. She started life as a journalist and then worked for the charities Action for Children and Women's Aid before taking the top job at Shelter. Her climbing injury has left her on crutches but she continues her professional work campaigning to help the homeless and is still determined to carry on climbing. PRODUCTION TEAM
Presenter: Mark Coles
Producer: Bob Howard
Editor: Richard Vadon
Sound: Graham Puddifoot
Production Co-ordinator: Maria Ogundele

Dec 16, 2023 • 15min
Tucker Carlson
Tucker Carlson, the American conservative political commentator and newscaster.He was born in California and from the age of six was brought up by his father after his mother left the family home. Tucker Carlson followed in his father's footsteps when he left college and took up a career in journalism. He's worked for CNN, MSNBC and Fox News from which he was 'let go' in April this year. As he launches his own streaming website 'Tucker Carlson Network', Stephen Smith finds out about the man who has been described as one of the most influential people in American media in recent years. CONTRIBUTORS
Neil Patel, Co-founder and CEO of Tucker Carlson Network
Chadwick Moore , Journalist and Author of 'Tucker' a biography of Tucker Carlson
Alex Shephard, Senior Editor, 'The New Republic'
Heather Hendershot, Professor of Communications and Journalism, Northwestern UniversityPRODUCTION TEAM
Producers: Diane Richardson, Julie Ball
Editor: Bridget Harney
Sound: James Beard
Production Co-ordinator: Maria OgundeleCREDITS
Network, MGM 1976, Peter Finch, Faye Dunaway-
Tucker Carlson Network, Last Country Inc
Anchorman - The Legend of Ron Burgundy, Dreamworks Pictures

Dec 9, 2023 • 14min
Olivia Colman
Olivia Colman, Oscar winning actress. Stephen Smith charts her career from an appearance at the age of 4 in a school nativity play, through to her current project as Mrs. Scrubbit in the new 'Wonka' film. Olivia Colman first came to public attention as a comedy actress in 'That Mitchell and Webb Look' and then 'Peep Show' but she always felt she could do more. It was being cast in the British film 'Tyrannosaur' that brought her to the attention of Hollywood. Now she's on her way to National Treasure status with the likes of Dame Judi Dench and Dame Helen Mirren. CONTRIBUTORS
Paterson Joseph, Actor, Producer, Writer. Screen Credits, Boat Story, Vigil
Paul Hands, Former Director of Drama, Gresham's School
Anna Smith, Film Critic, Broadcaster and host of 'Girls on Film' podcast
Catherine Shoard, Film Critic, The GuardianPRODUCTION TEAM
Producers: Diane Richardson, Julie Ball
Editor: Bridget Harney
Sound: Neil Churchill
Production Co-ordinator: Maria OgundeleCREDITS
Peep Show, Channel 4
Wonka, Warner Bros. Pictures
L'Orchestre Cinematique, Pure Imagination (Newley/Bricusse)
Oscars Award Ceremony 2019 - Best Actress Award
The Crown, Netflix , Writer: Peter Morgan
Life in Stages, Episode 1 Olivia Colman, National Theatre

Dec 2, 2023 • 15min
Sam Altman, CEO, OpenAI
Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, discusses the development and impact of AI technology, his upbringing and early life, building AI for the betterment of mankind, his personal life, the release of ChatGPT, and his removal and subsequent reinstatement as CEO of OpenAI.