Profile

The Speaker of the House of Commons - John Bercow - stunned MPs this week when he announced he was "strongly opposed" to US President Donald Trump addressing Parliament when he visits Britain.

It's already led one Conservative backbencher to table a motion of no confidence in him.

John Bercow is no stranger to controversy. His brutal put downs of MPs and ministers in the Commons have often grabbed the headlines.

Bullied at school because he was short, he began his political career on the far right - a member of the notorious Monday Club.

But over the years, in his own words, his political views have "mellowed" - to the point where many Tories now regard him as a traitor and plot to unseat him.

On Profile this week, Mark Coles examines the highs and lows of Speaker Bercow's life and career.

Producer Smita Patel

Mark Coles profiles the man who runs NHS England. He oversees a workforce of one and a half million people, a budget of over £100 billion. According to some he's the fourth most powerful person in England.

Producers: Beth Sagar-Fenton and Joe Kent.

Becky Milligan profiles the man who could be the next President of America. Mild mannered, disciplined and a seasoned politician, Mike Pence was largely unknown until he was selected by Donald Trump to serve as his Vice-President.

PRODUCERS: Beth Sagar Fenton and Joe Kent

Arlene Foster had been hoping to celebrate her first twelve months in charge of Northern Ireland this week.

Instead, she's found herself forced out of office.

It's got little to do with religion, constitution or the almost four THOUSAND people who've lost their lives during political conflict over the decades.

The DUP leader and Northern Ireland First Minister has had to step down in a bitter row over renewable energy subsidies.

On Profile, Mark Coles looks back at Arlene Foster's life and career and the reasons behind this week's political upheavals.

Producer Smita Patel

It's the end of an era.

Dippy the dinosaur has left the building.

Gifted to King Edward VII in 1905, a 70 foot long cast of a fossilised dinosaur skeleton discovered in America has been on display at London's Natural History Museum for more than a century.

It's become the country's most recognisable museum exhibit - seen by an estimated 90 million people.

Now it's being replaced by the real skeleton of a giant blue whale...Dippy's 292 plaster cast bones setting off instead on a nationwide tour.

On Profile this week, Mark Coles examines how Dippy the replica Diplodocus has become a national treasure.

Producer Smita Patel

David Davis will be a major figure in the coming year as minister in charge of Brexit. In this week's Profile, Chris Bowlby hears how he was was shaped by a council house upbringing, SAS training, a turbulent political career and a significant love of sugar.

Producer: Smita Patel

On Profile this week we explore the life and career of one of the world's best loved children's illustrators. Over the last half century - much to his horror - Raymond Briggs has become a part of Christmas. Two books about a grumpy Father Christmas have become bestsellers. The film adaptation of his 1978 picture book 'The Snowman' has been shown on TV every Christmas for the past three decades. And now, this Christmas, the BBC is screening 'Ethel And Ernest' - a new film of Briggs' 1998 book about his parents. Mark Coles talks to Raymond Briggs' family and friends to find out what his books are really about.

Producer: Smita Patel

Skinny dipping with Nigel Farage, punching a business partner, and bankrolling Brexit - Edward Stourton tells the story of Arron Banks.

What next for the man who spent more than £7 million campaigning for Britain to leave the EU?

Producers: Ed Davey and Joe Kent.

On Profile this week Mark Coles looks at the life and career of Sharon White.

The daughter of immigrant parents who came to Britain from Jamaica in the 1950s, she rose rapidly through the ranks of the civil service to become one of the most powerful women in Whitehall.

In March 2015, she became chief executive of the communications regulator, Ofcom.

The watchdog is in the news this week for trying to force BT to legally separate from Open Reach which runs the country's broadband network.

Brexit negotiations between the EU and the UK are months away. And - as we keep hearing - there will be no discussion before notification (of the now infamous Article 50).

But we do know who will represent the EU in those negotiations: the French politician Michel Barnier, who met his counterpart David Davis this week.

Born in the Savoie region in south-east France, Barnier has been a committed Gaullist since he was a teenager. At 27 he made history in France by becoming the youngest MP ever elected. And in 1992 he took great pride in bringing the Winter Olympics to his region.

His allies say he is a reasonable, sensitive negotiator. His critics tell us he can be self-important and cold. Everyone agrees he will be fiercely committed to defending the EU's interests in the complex Brexit negotiations ahead.

Presenter: Becky Milligan