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BBC Radio 4
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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.
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Nov 25, 2023 • 15min

Javier Milei

The new President of Argentina, Javier Milei swept into power winning fifty-five percent of the popular vote. He's threatened to take a chainsaw to the economy, replace the peso with the dollar and blow up the Central Bank. With looks more reminiscent of a seventies rock star, will this unconventional economist be able to solve the hyperinflation that is crippling Argentina's economy once more. Or will his lack of experience and support in government cause this self-professed anarcho-capitalist to have to change tack?CONTRIBUTORS Juan Luis González, author, El Loco. Lilia Lemoine, Vice president of the Libertarian Party in Argentina. Ana Lankes, Latin America Correspondent, The Economist. Ezequiel Gonzalez-Ocantos, Professor of Comparative and Judicial Politics, Department of Politics and International Relations, University of Oxford.PRPDUCTION TEAM Presenter: Stephen Smith Producers: Diane Richardson, Julie Ball Editor: Bridget Harney Sound Engineer: James Beard Production Co-ordinator: Maria Ogundele
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Nov 18, 2023 • 15min

James Cleverly

James Cleverly, a former artist turned politician, discusses his unexpected transition into politics, his rapid rise through various political positions, and his ability to connect with people. The podcast explores his approach to fitting in and foreign policy, as well as examining the qualities of a politician and the challenges they face.

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