Profile BBC Radio 4
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- Society & Culture
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An insight into the character of an influential figure making news headlines
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Beyoncé
Beyoncé recently released her Country album, 'Cowboy Carter' and already it's at the top of the Billboard Country Charts. She's come a long way from the quiet, shy girl singing in school talent competitions and the local church choir. Breaking into the mainstream with the all girl group Destiny's Child and the launch a solo career which would ultimately propel her to the ranks of global superstar.
With contributions including her father, Mathew Knowles and Radio 2 DJ and broadcaster, Trevor Nelson. After breaking the barriers of Country what's next for Queen B and how will she handle it?
PRESENTER: Mark Coles
CONTRIBUTORS
Mathew Knowles, Father, Founder of Music World Entertainment Corp
Trevor Nelson, BBC R2 DJ, Broadcaster and Presenter
Cache McClay, Beyonce Reporter, USA Today
David Lee Brewer, Opera Singer and Vocal Coach
Jon Hetherington, Fan
Tiffany Monique Ryan, Vocalist
PRODUCTION TEAM
Producers: Julie Ball & Madeleine Drury
Researcher: Jay Gardner
Editor: Tom Bigwood
Sound: James Beard
Production Co-ordinator: Maria Ogundele
CREDITS
Coachella, The Homecoming, Netflix
Girls Tyme, Star Search, TPE/Rysher Entertainment
The People's Workshop
BBC R2 Trevor Nelson's Divas - Beyonce
BBC R1 Trevor Nelson R & B Show
Barack Obama Inauguration Ball - ABC
MUSIC
Texas Hold 'Em, Beyonce
Publisher: Parkwood Entertainment/Columbia
All Night, Beyonce
Publisher: WarnerBros Music Corp
Run the World (Girls), Beyonce
Publisher: Parkwood Entertainment/Columbia -
Simon Harris
Although Simon Harris reportedly describes himself as an 'accidental politician', he has managed to make a career out of it. His interest in politics was sparked at the age of 15 when he set up a support group in his local town to campaign for better secondary education for autistic people after he saw his parents struggle to get help for his younger brother. From then on his path was set. After a brief dalliance with Fianna Fail he joined the youth wing of the Fine Gael party at 17. He gave up his degree studies in year three of a four year course to work as an assistant to the then leader of the opposition in the Irish Parliament. By the age of 24 he was elected to parliament with the nickname 'Baby of the Dail' and was a junior minister by the age of 27. Since then he's held two further ministerial posts.
Now, after the shock resignation of former Taioseach, Leo Varadkar in late March, he was elected unopposed as leader of the Fine Gael party and now is expected to be confirmed as the new Taoiseach when the parliament returns after the Easter break. With a new nickname, 'The Tik Tok Taoiseach' because of his use of social media he's on track to break another record, set by his predecessor as the youngest Taoiseach in history to date.
Kate Lamble finds out what makes him tick outside of Tik Tok and his rapid rise to the top job in Irish politics.
PRESENTER: Kate Lamble
CONTRIBUTORS
Frances Fitzgerald, MEP, Dublin, Ireland
Councillor Ray McAdam, Fine Gael
Alice O'Donnell, Triple A Alliance
Jennifer O'Leary, BBC Ireland Correspondent
Fionnan Sheahan, Ireland Editor, The Irish Independent
PRODUCTION TEAM
Producers: Julie Ball & Madeleine Drury
Researcher: Jay Gardner
Editor: Tom Bigwood
Production Co-ordinators: Katie Morrison & Sabine Schereck
Sound: Nigel Appleton -
Bishop Rosemarie Mallett
Rosemarie Mallett’s star has risen quickly in the Church of England. After a career in academia and a period of disenchantment with the institution, she became a priest in 2005, attracting the attention of senior members of the clergy for her engagement with communities and issues of social justice alike.
Bishop Rosemarie was herself born into a situation shaped by slavery, in the then colony Barbados, before coming to the UK as a child. Now a senior cleric, she has co-authored a report on how the Church of England should make amends for its historic financial involvement in the transatlantic slave trade, which has attracted praise from some and criticism from others.
Stephen Smith talks to those who know Mallett best, exploring how her life has shaped her approach to music, ministry, and racial justice.
Presenter: Stephen Smith
Producer: Nathan Gower
Production team: Debbie Richford, Drew Hyndman
Editor: Tom Bigwood
Programme Coordinators: Sabine Schereck, Maria Ogundele
Sound Engineer: Rod Farquhar -
Vaughan Gething
Vaughan Gething this week became Wales’ new First Minister, and the leader of Welsh Labour. He’s the fifth person to hold the post and the first black leader of a national government in Europe.
No stranger to breaking barriers, this employment lawyer rose apace to the top of student and trades unions alike, before election to the Welsh Senedd and ministerial office, charged with overseeing first health and then the economy.
Mark Coles looks back at how a cricket-mad schoolboy became First Minister of the land of his father - a journey from Zambia to Cardiff by way of rural Dorset - and finds out what drives him from those who know him best.
Presenter: Mark Coles
Producer: Nathan Gower
Production Team: Debbie Richford, Drew Hyndman, Julie Ball
Production Coordinator: Katie Morrison
Editor: Tom Bigwood
Sound Engineer: Graham Puddifoot -
Michael Gove
The current Secretary for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, Michael Gove, first joined the cabinet in 2010 and has remained there for most of the past 14 years in various posts. He’s served four prime ministers.
During that time he has provoked controversy from many areas - from teachers, lawyers, landlords for the policies he has championed. But he has also attracted friends and enemies in his own party due to his decisions over Brexit, leadership bids and party politics.
Presenter: Mark Coles
Producers: Charlotte McDonald and Debbie Richford
Editor: Tom Bigwood
Production Co-ordinator: Katie Morrison
Sound Engineer: James Beard
Credits
Sky News
ITV -
Sir Paul Marshall
The millionaire hedge fund manager Sir Paul Marshall has recently hit the headlines, both for his growing media portfolio and controversy over his social media activity.
After an eclectic career spent mostly in the background, from philanthropic work to high-powered finance, Sir Paul seems to be increasingly exerting his influence on the media and politics. He already backs GB News and UnHerd and is reported to be preparing a bid for the Telegraph and Spectator.
Stephen Smith asks what shaped and drives Paul Marshall, by talking to those who know him best.
Presenter: Stephen Smith
Producer: Nathan Gower
Assistant Producer: Debbie Richford
Editor: Matt Willis
Programme Coordinator: Sabine Schereck
Sound Engineer: James Beard
Archive:
Speech by Paul Marshall to the Alliance for Responsible Citizenship Conference 2023
Citizen Kane, RKO Radio Pictures
Customer Reviews
Seems good
Listened to the Rand Paul profile, thought it was a bit biased but it was clear they did their research.
Woke
You’ll look back on this and ask yourselves why you chose to highlight 2019’s Hitler—Omar.
Fun, Interesting Show
Fun, fast, entertaining, interesting. Like a better, more peppy version of A&E’s “Biography” series. Sometimes they go too soft on their subjects, but I guess that’s the nature of the beast — this is NOT meant to be an investigative show, merely an intro to different figures you may have seen in the news. I find it really addicting.