Profile

Born in communist East Germany, to a German mother and Iranian father, Sahra Wagenknecht has long been the face of the country’s hard left.

But her own breakaway political movement, supporting a higher minimum wage as well as an end to weapons deliveries to Ukraine, appears to be gaining further support.

And with Germany set to hold elections early next year, following the collapse of the governing coalition, some think the 54-year-old will play a pivotal role in the future politics of the EU's largest economy.

In this edition of Profile, Mark Coles takes a closer look at the leader of the Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance (BSW).

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She is one of the highest-ranking women in the Labour Party, now holding the position of home secretary.

Yvette Cooper, born in Inverness in 1969, grew up in Hampshire and went on to forge a career in politics full of firsts.

She served as the first female chief secretary to the Treasury. She also became the first minister to take maternity leave, and she was one half of the first married couple in the cabinet - alongside Ed Balls.

But not everyone is convinced Yvette Cooper has the answers to the big problems in her in-tray, particularly on the small boats issue.

Stephen Smith talks to friends and political allies, to understand the views and events that have shaped this veteran Labour politician.

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From his hilltop glass mansion in ancient Tbilisi, he’s accused of cultivating Georgia’s shift from the west over the past decade.

And, with his political party’s recent victory in the parliamentary elections, that trajectory appears set to continue for some time yet.

Bidzina Ivanishvili is the guiding force behind the Georgian Dream party, but what else do we know about the mysterious billionaire?

In this edition of Profile, Mark Coles takes a closer look at the man who keeps animals, collects rare trees, and who spent much of the 1990s in Russia founding companies.

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The Liverpool-born comedian, known for his razor-sharp wit, has traded in his stand-up routines for some serious dance moves of late.

Chris McCausland is the first blind contestant to take part in the BBC show, Strictly Come Dancing - and he's being tipped as a possible winner.

In his 20s, Chris lost most of his sight due to retinitis pigmentosa. But that didn’t slow down his career. He's been lighting up the comedy scene since 2003, with regular appearances on hit programmes like 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown and Would I Lie to You. He's also taken to the iconic stage of Live at the Apollo.

In this edition of Profile, Stephen Smith talks to some of his closest friends, fellow comedians and former colleagues about his life, Strictly success - and the time he attended a job interview in the wrong trousers.

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He's the man who masterminded Labour's general election campaign, and now holds one of the most important positions in Downing Street.

Morgan McSweeney was recently appointed the prime minister's chief of staff, after Sue Gray quit the role. But what do we know about him?

Born in Macroom, County Cork, he moved to London aged 17. He soon joined the Labour party under Tony Blair, working in a junior role at their headquarters.

He rose through the ranks, forging a reputation as a skilled campaign strategist, and has been credited with being the brains behind this year's landslide victory.

Mark Coles speaks to the people who know him - from school friends back home in Ireland, to others who've worked with him.

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She’s a girl from New York's Lower East Side whom grew up to a life of stardom and is now known by just one name.

Gaga, a classically trained pianist, has secured Grammy-winning songs like Poker Face and Rain on Me. While her performance in A Star Is Born was Oscar-nominated.

Along the way, there’s been a meat dress, a high-profile stance against US military policy, and a collaborative album with Tony Bennett.

Her latest work, Harlequin, is a companion album to her new big screen performance in Joker: Folie à Deux.

From all-conquering song thrush to screen favourite, Stephen Smith has been find out about the life of Gaga.

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He’s not yet completed a hundred days in his new job, but David Lammy finds himself overseeing the UK’s response to rising tensions in the Middle East.

Born to Guyanese parents in north London, and raised by his mother from the age of 12 after his father left them, the foreign secretary is known for his advocacy for social justice, equality, and human rights.

His journey to the top of British politics began with a legal career – becoming the first black Briton to study a masters in law at Harvard. At 27, David Lammy became Parliament’s youngest MP when he was elected in Tottenham, and he went on to become a junior minister under Sir Tony Blair.

In opposition, he spent some of his time on Labour’s back benches – though now finds himself front and centre, facing countless fast-moving global challenges.

Mark Coles meets some of the people who know David Lammy best - from childhood friends, to his beloved 'Aunty May'.

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Archive

It’s a tiny computer with a catchy name: Raspberry Pi. But what's the story behind the man who thought up this affordable device?

His name is Eben Upton. He has gone from being a child desperate to make computer games, to the head of a company described as a ‘city darling’.

The firm reported higher than expected profits in its first report, after being listed on the London Stock Exchange.

Stephen Smith has been speaking to Eben Upton’s childhood friends, former colleagues and some big hitters in tech and business.

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Some call it one of the trickiest jobs in the country. How do you stop the small boats trying to cross the English Channel and smash the smuggling gangs?

The government has appointed Martin Hewitt to the role- he’s leading the UK’s new border security command. It’s a tough job, so can he do it?

Martin Hewitt is a former senior police officer and chair of the National Police Chiefs’ Council. He is also the man who oversaw the policing of Covid lockdowns.

Mark Coles has been speaking to some of his colleagues, former colleagues and the journalists who reported on him.

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This week we delve into the life of the First Minister of Wales Eluned Morgan, the first woman to hold the position. Morgan was introduced to politics at a very young age by her parents, who were both councillors.