Profile

In a few days a 59-year-old man will almost certainly ascend to one of the most powerful positions in the world. His name is Xi Jinping and the signs are he's about to become the President of China. There have been no debates, no campaign ads, and no forensic interviews. Getting a measure of the man is not easy. But in the course of this edition of Profile Tim Franks talk to some of those who have been closest to him.Producer: Kai Wang.

Lucy Ash profiles the Russian lawyer and anti-corruption campaigner Alexei Navalny, who this week topped a ballot to elect leaders of the opposition to President Putin. He came to prominence as a leader during the anti-Putin demonstrations in Moscow last December, the biggest such rallies since the end of the Soviet Union. He has also been fighting against corruption through a website that invites the public to report suspected cases to the police or prosecutors. One of his tactics, was to become a minority shareholder in major Russian oil companies, banks, and ministries to ask awkward questions about holes in state finances. Those holes are huge. Last year Dmitri Medvedev - then President now PM - said that a trillion roubles-thirty-three billion dollars- disappears annually on government contracts. Aleksey Navalny's anti graft campaign has won him popularity across a wide spectrum of Russian society, including nationalists with far right connections. This has unsettled many of more liberal supporters. And in a week when three other opposition activists have been charged with causing mass unrest, does he have what it takes to challenge the tough man in the Kremlin? Producer Arlene Gregorius.

As the new James Bond film "Skyfall" opens next week, Mary Ann Sieghart profiles its director Sam Mendes, a man who wanted to play cricket for England but went on to become a theatre supremo before winning critical acclaim in Hollywood.Born in Reading and brought up by a single mother, Sam Mendes was educated at Magdalen College School in Oxford, where he demonstrated a competitive streak as captain on the cricket pitch, and Cambridge University where he won critical acclaim for a production of "Cyrano de Bergerac". At just twenty four, he directed Judi Dench in Chekhov's "The Cherry Orchard" and as she tells Profile " one day when we were rehearsing, I said Sam, I would like to try this another way, can I show you? And he said to me, well you can but it won't work and so during the filming of Skyfall, he asked me to do something and so, I thought I'd complete the circle and I said, well I'll do it but it won't work and he roared with laughter. So we have closed the circle on it."Later he joined the Royal Shakespeare Company where he forged a life long collaboration with actor Simon Russell Beale. He remembers how Sam would bring humour into the rehearsal room. "We had a fart machine in Twelfth Night. I cannot tell you what pleasure it gave him. It was only used once in the play. Toby Belch and Andrew Aguecheek were sitting on the sofa having a talk after a night on the town and they had a sort of farting competition. I would be in the middle of some very complicated Malvolio bit, something emotionally precise and then this fart would go off. And he loved all that. That was absolutely Sam the schoolboy."But it was as artistic director to the Donmar Theatre in London that Mendes made his mark, winning five Olivier Awards. Moving into Hollywood, he sealed his success with five Oscars for his first film "American Beauty" starring Kevin Spacey. And now, Mendes has chosen to direct a British classic, a James Bond film "Skyfall".

Claire Bolderson profiles US Republican vice-presidential candidate Paul Ryan. Producers: Smita Patel and Chris Bowlby.

Chris Bowlby profiles the South Korean pop star Psy, sudden global star whose Gangnam Style has topped the UK singles charts, and whose video is the most popular video ever on Youtube. How has a Korean star swept the world, what lies behind his success, and why is he now selling fridges? And how has the world's most closed society, North Korea, responded to the global Gangnam craze? Producer: Smita Patel.

Edward Stourton profiles Justin Welby, former oil executive and now Bishop of Durham, emerging as one of the most striking candidates for the post of Archbishop of Canterbury. He became a priest after a long business career, and has chaired an NHS trust along the way. When he was Dean of Liverpool he allowed bellringers to play John Lennon's 'Imagine' from the cathedral bells. He has visited Africa regularly, and played a key role in attempts to resolve disputes between parts of the Anglican Communion. So how has someone who has been a bishop for less than a year become a candidate for the top Anglican job? Those who know him, and have followed his career from inside and outside the Church, offer their insights. Producers:Smita Patel and Chris Bowlby.

It is Andy Murray's year: he missed out in the men's singles at Wimbledon but made up for it by winning an Olympic Gold by defeating Roger Federer in straight sets in the men's singles. Now the Scotsman has won his first grand slam in the US Open against Novak Djokovic. It has taken Murray grit and determination to get where he is. He has struggled with a fiery temper and his own demons as well as a problem with his knee which forced him to stop playing tennis for at least six months. He has also faced difficulties in his personal life. When he was eight, he attended Dunblane Primary School where lone gunman Thomas Hamilton killed 16 children and their teacher. His parents separated when he was around ten and his promise as a young tennis player took him to a tennis academy in Spain far away from home.Producers: Mark Savage and Arlene Gregorius.

Edward Stourton profiles Pete Cashmore, one of the world's most popular bloggers and tweeters, who founded the successful social media news website Mashable.He started it as a teenager in his bedroom in Scotland seven years ago and hired his first writer two years later. His company is now based in the US and employs 80 staff. His website attract millions of readers, and three million follow him on Twitter. The 27 year old has been described as "the Brad Pitt of the blogosphere".Cashmore is also one of the founders of the Social Good Summit, which takes place in New York this weekend to coincide with UN Week. The conference aims to connect people from all over the globe via social media. So will Pete Cashmore become a billionaire web entrepreneur and philanthropist? And what does he mean when he says he has been a "lifelong fan of unicorns"? Producers: Arlene Gregorius and Hannah Barnes.

The new Conservative party co-chairman Grant Shapps is a man with a colourful past. The former grammar schoolboy is a pilot, rapper and successful businessman - but he's also battled cancer and survived a near fatal car crash. Geeta Guru-Murthy profiles the pugnacious and sometimes controversial politician tasked with bringing home the Tory vote.Producer: Chris Bowlby.

Claire Bolderson profiles Frances O'Grady, soon to become the first woman to lead the Trades Union Congress. She hears from colleagues and close observers of the trade union scene about how she has risen so far, how she has dealt with the macho traditions of union leadership, and what kind of challenge she may mount to the government as austerity bites.Producers: Chris Bowlby and Anna Meisel.

If nine-times gold medal winner Lee Pearson adds a further three golds to his collection at the London 2012 Paralympics, he could surpass the modern era record haul of 11.Dressage champion Pearson was born with a condition called arthrogryposis which twisted his limbs.He won a Children of Courage medal in 1980 aged six, with Margaret Thatcher insisting on carrying him up the stairs of number 10.An outspoken character on various issues, including the levels of funding in disabled sport and the recognition that goes with it, Pearson has a 100% record in his field, having won gold in every event at every Games he has ever competed in.So what drives him? And how will he cope with the pressure knowing that if he continues his winning streak in London in the coming weeks, he will be one of the most successful Paralympians in history?Presenter: Gerry Northam Producer: Kate O'Hara.

The most senior official at the Home Office is resigning after a 33-year civil service career. Dame Helen Ghosh - who has led the department since January 2011 - will take up the role of director general of the National Trust. She is one of a number of permanent secretaries who have left the civil service this year. She said she was "torn about leaving" but the chance to work for the National Trust was "a rare opportunity". Dame Helen Ghosh has worked in Government since 1979 for both Conservative and Labour Ministers. Her tenure included controversy at Defra over the Rural Payments Agency and more recently at the Home Office with concerns over the Border Agency. Chris Bowlby assesses her career and the qualities that propelled her to the senior ranks in Whitehall and asks what they tell us about the approach she is likely to bring to her new role. Producer: Ian Muir-Cochrane.

British cycling is enjoying unprecedented success and cyclists are now household names. Dave Brailsford, the performance director of the British cycling team, has been widely credited with Britain's rise to the top. His winning methods include combining an encyclopaedic knowledge of the sport with an obsessive work ethic, relentlessly crunching numbers and other data in a constant quest for any competitive advantage, however small. But he's not just a numbers man. Ruth Alexander talks to those who know Brailsford, and finds out what motivates the quiet cycling supremo.Presenter Ruth Alexander Producer Ben Crighton.

With his trademark blonde hair and a reputation for colourful antics, Boris Johnson has had a seemingly unstoppable rise through the ranks of UK politics. After seizing a second term as London mayor earlier this year and thanks to the Olympic games coming to London, he's become firmly associated with the city on the world stage. But alongside his various careers as mayor, journalist, author and quiz show panellist, it seems his political prospects within the ranks of the Tory party also remain strong. Recent polls suggest a groundswell of support for him as a potential future leader of the party. James Silver charts the rise and rise of a unique politician.Producer - Gail Champion.

Pascale Harter looks at the life and career of the singer Engelbert Humperdinck. Producers: Arlene Gregorius Smita Patel.

With mixed news about audiences and losses in its Annual Report, the creative controller of Channel 4, Jay Hunt, is in the spotlight. Andy Denwood profiles one of the most powerful women in broadcasting.Since arriving at the publicly owned broadcaster last year, Hunt has promised to take creative risks and bring a sense of mischief. There have been new commissions - The Undateables and Make Bradford British - but changes to the flagship Channel 4 News programme with additional presenters and new reporters has ruffled feathers in the newsroom. The younger audience is falling and Ofcom have asked for its strategy of how to re-engage viewers. Jay Hunt - who began life in Australia as Jacquiline - had a meteoric rise from a young researcher at the BBC. Despite ructions over her changes to the Six O'Clock News and accusations of dumming down, by the age of 40 she was controller of BBC1 steering the Corporation's premier channel through controversies: the Jonathan Ross affair, the sacking of Carol Thatcher and the charge of ageism against former Countryfile presenter Miriam O'Reilly. Now at Channel 4 her ability to attract a strong team and build a successful network is being put to the test.

Greece's far left-wing bloc, Syriza, made dramatic gains in last weekend's election to become the country's second largest party. The vote has split the country politically and the party's charismatic young leader Alexis Tsipras is credited with its success based on a populist anti-austerity message. After three failed attempts to form a government the country now faces another election - and the far left coalition could well make further gains.Tsipras has been described as a cool, mild-mannered politician who shuns neckties and likes to get around on his motorcycle. Born four days after the fall of Greece's military dictatorship in July 1974, his first political experiences were as part of Greece's school occupations in 1991. Mr Tsipras became leader of Syriza in 2008 and was elected to parliament in 2009. He first emerged on the political scene when he came third in the Athens mayoral race. The former communist youth activist has been accused by some of inciting violent protests and failing to condemn their actions. Others claim he is misleading voters by promising an economic future he cannot possibly deliver. Presenter: Andy DenwoodProducer: Rob Cave.

Multi-lingual, a good listener and a surprise choice for arguably the biggest job in British sport - manager of the England football team.Hodgson has coached football teams in eight different countries during a career which has lasted 36 years. He is said to have revolutionised the techniques of some players - he took Switzerland to the last 16 of the 1994 World Cup. He's much better known in Italy than the UK after his time at Internationale Milan.At Fulham he was regarded as an eccentric but clever choice as they avoided relegation before reaching the 2010 Europa League Final. Hodgson is not into mind games and isn't known for saying things for impact - like some other Premier League managers. Some say he is bereft of ego and a gentleman, others that he can be as passionate and defensive as the rest. He has a rigorous approach to preparation - players at Liverpool complained about the complexity of his training schedules. A great lover of literature he is said to have read the works of nearly every Nobel prize winner - not intimidated by taking on the works of foreign authors. Gerry Northam profiles the man friends say has a complex character - on the one hand obsessed with football, on the other never happier than when away from the beautiful game.Producer: Samantha Fenwick.

Mary Ann Sieghart profiles Jeremy Hunt, the Culture Secretary, who has come under pressure to resign following the release of emails to the Leveson Inquiry. The compromising emails suggest that he or his office was providing inside information to the Murdoch family over the BSkyB takeover bid. He, however, insists that he behaved with complete integrity during the process.Producers: John Murphy Anna Meisel.

Chris Bowlby profiles Ralf Hutter, the only founding member left of the German electronic band Kraftwerk. Coming from an obscure industrial background, Kraftwerk first formed in 1970, and are now credited with being hugely influential on a host of musicians and on music of diverse types, including electronic, hip hop, house and drum and base. Notoriously uncommunicative with the outside world, Kraftwerk used to only have a fax machine as a point of contact at their studio though Ralf Hutter says even that has now gone. Krafwerk have just completed a major series of concerts in New York and are promising that they will be releasing a new album "very soon" - the first in nearly a decade. Producer: John Murphy.

After North Korea's controversial rocket launch and celebrations to mark the centenary of the birth of the country's "Great Leader," David Torrance profiles the country's new young leader, Kim Jong-un. Little is known about him in this most secretive of states. But after the death of his father Kim Jong-Il late last year, he has begun to establish his authority in relation to North Korea's military and ruling communist party, and he has been confirmed this week in the most senior political office. He will also have to decide how far to seek rapprochement with the outside world. Has his education, partly in Switzerland, made him a new kind of North Korean leader? Producers: John Murphy, Chris Bowlby.

With The Hunger Games topping cinema box-office charts, Gerry Northam profiles Suzanne Collins, the children's author who wrote the best-selling books on which the film is based. Her trilogy, set in a post-apocalypse America, is said to have been inspired by a combination of Greek myth and reality television as well as Collins' own upbringing as the daughter of an air-force officer who served in Vietnam. So how much do we know about the woman behind the phenomenon now being described as the US equivalent of Harry Potter? Producer: Ian Muir-Cochrane.

As the threat of strike action by fuel tanker drivers looms over the Easter break, Mukul Devichand profiles Len McCluskey, the left winger who became general secretary of Unite in 2010. As the UK's biggest union and the Labour party's biggest donor, Unite is often in the headlines - many generated by its leader. Len McCluskey courted controversy by raising the prospect of strikes during the Olympics and was roundly criticised by both the Coalition and the Labour party. He has been an outspoken critic of Ed Miliband's leadership despite having played a key role in getting him elected. This week's Profile asks what Len McCluskey stands for and charts his journey from white-collar worker on the Liverpool docks to the most powerful trade union leader in the country.Presenter: Mukul Devichand Producer: Phillip Kemp.

Rosie Goldsmith profiles Dame Edna Everage, one of entertainment's most colourful characters . Dame Edna stepped into the public spotlight in 1950s as a dowdy Melbourne housewife. Over the years her popularity has soared and she has turned into a flamboyant "gigastar". She is known for her outlandish outfits, her wit and her derision of the cult of celebrity. But she is soon to leave the stage - her forthcoming tour of the UK will be her last. . Her manager, Barry Humphries, the man behind the creation of Dame Edna's stage persona, said "she's a little weary of touring and strange hotels". Producers: John Murphy Anna Meisel.

Claire Bolderson profiles the founder of Wikipedia, Jimmy Wales, who is working as an unpaid advisor to the UK Government helping open up policy making to the public. He's an information evangelist and his belief in the power of shared knowledge has driven the remarkable success of Wikipedia, the online encyclopaedia. With entries on more than 20 million subjects looked at by more than 450 million people per month, Jimmy Wales' creation is one of that handful of internet successes that really have changed our lives. The programme hears from associates of Jimmy Wales and from his critics. And of course from the man himself.Producers: Lesley McAlpine Anna Meisel.

Chris Bowlby profiles the Socialist Party candidate for the French presidential elections, Francois Hollande. He's not a man well known to people in the UK. But within a couple of months, he could be a key figure in European politics and he's promising a radical challenge to economic orthodoxy in France and in the EU. Among his proposals is a 75% tax rate for French euro millionaires and a re-negotiation of the EU's plan to save the Euro. Francois Hollande's challenge is personal not just political. A man once known as 'Mr Pudding', who rides around Paris on a moped, he says he'll be 'president normal', after the bling of the Sarkozy era. Producer: Lesley McAlpine.

As two men begin life sentences for the murder of Stephen Lawrence, Andy Denwood profiles Imran Khan the lawyer who helped the teenager's family in their tireless fight for justice. When he was first contacted about the murder of a young black man in south London, Khan was a little known-solicitor who had qualified only 18 months earlier. He's since acted in some of the most high profile cases in recent British legal history. He represented the family of Victoria Climbie at the public inquiry into her death and has also been involved in major terrorist trials, including the 21st July London bombings. Born in Karachi, Pakistan, in 1964, his family emigrated to England four years later. But life in 70's and 80's east London was tough. They were the only Asian family on their street and Khan would often get into fights at school. These early experiences are thought to have motivated him to fight against racism and injustice. They also shaped his political views and he stood in the 1997 general election for East Ham, representing Arthur Scargill's Socialist Labour Party.Producer: Samantha FenwickNB This programme has been edited from the original broadcast in which we wrongly described the Socialist Labour Party as "defunct".

Once described as the 'rock star version of Willie Wonka', Michael Acton Smith is emerging as one of the major players in Britain's high tech industry. You may not have heard of him, but any five to eleven year old will know of his Moshi Monsters video game website, where children tend a virtual pet. Moshi Monsters is growing rapidly and has 50 million members worldwide. Acton Smith began his first business in the late 1990s when he was not long out of university. Despite recent success he has suffered major setbacks in the past. Rory Cellan-Jones profiles the 37 year old who is already making waves beyond these shores. Producer: Kate Dixon.

Emily Buchanan profiles the Archbishop of Canterbury and examines his long struggle to stop the Anglican Church from fragmenting. Rowan Williams was tipped at an early age for high office and he is rated as possibly the most intellectually talented Archbishop of Canterbury for a thousand years. Yet after all the high hopes at his appointment, many are disappointed at what they see as a lack of key leadership qualities. Dragged into seemingly endless rows about gay clergy and women bishops, Williams has had to endure a great deal of abuse from some members of the world's 77 million strong Anglican Communion. His period of office has even been described as a crucifixion. Is he misrepresented by Britain's tabloid press or does he actively court controversy? His opposition to the Iraq war, his call for reparations for the slave trade and his candid predictions that last summer's riots could easily be repeated have raised eyebrows among parts of the political establishment. In 2008, he provoked an outcry after saying the application of Sharia law in England under certain circumstances was unavoidable.A former Religious Affairs Correspondent, Emily Buchanan speaks to those who know him well including the Bishop of London, his school friend John Walters, his biographer Rupert Shortt, and the satirist Ian Hislop. She discovers how Rowan Williams' warm and sympathetic character, with the ability to see all sides of a question, is both his great strength and his weakness. Producer: Lucy Ash.

Profile this week looks at the physicist Peter Higgs who in the 1960s predicted the existence of the so-called "God Particle" which scientists think they glimpsed at CERN this week. The Higgs boson - which has so excited the scientific community this week - is a subatomic particle which gives mass to all matter and the quest to find it has been described as the holy grail of physics.Peter Higgs made his prediction in the mid-1960s when he was a relatively young scientist, adding a crucial element to the Standard Model of the universe. At the time the significance of his work was not widely recognised or understood, and one leading scientific journal even turned down one of his early papers setting out his groundbreaking theory.Higgs, now in his 80s, is very much a theoretical scientist. Colleagues say he has never excelled at practical experiments, and to this day he doesn't get on with computers.What kind of man is he? Samira Ahmed talks to those who know the scientist, and asks what makes him tick.Producers: Ben Crighton and Arlene Gregorius.

Samira Ahmed profiles Newt Gingrich, the American former Speaker of the House who is now a leading contender for the Republican nomination to run against Barack Obama in next year's US presidential election. Earlier this year he was largely written off as a presidential contender when many of his staff left his campaign. But now he has made a dramatic comeback.In the 1990s he was one of the Republicans who led the impeachment proceedings against President Bill Clinton for perjury over his affair with White House intern Monica Lewinsky. Yet at the same time Mr Gingrich was engaged in his own extra-marital affair with the woman who became his third wife.Samira Ahmed talks to people who have known and worked with Newt Gingrich throughout his career. She hears of similarities between Gingrich and Clinton: both had difficult relationships with their step-fathers, dominating mothers, and both wanted to be transformational figures. But Gingrich appears to lack Clinton's personal charm.Gingrich is both attacked and admired as an ideological politician, although some say he is driven by pragmatism and has an acute sense of what will play well with his supporters.With a controversial past - he was fined $300,000 for ethics breaches in Congress - how has he turned things round? Who is the real Newt Gingrich, and would he make a good president? Producers: Ben Crighton and Arlene Gregorius.

Profile this week takes a look at the Senegalese singer Youssou N'Dour who has surprised many by announcing he is to quit music for a career in politics. The son of a car mechanic, N'Dour went on to become one of the most influential recording artists in the world. With presidential elections taking place in Senegal next February, Edward Stourton asks if N'Dour has what it takes to succeed on the political stage.Producers: Ben Crighton and Hannah Barnes.

With Parliamentary elections due next week, Chris Bowlby charts the career of 76 year old Field Marshal Mohamed Hussein Tantawi, the key figure in Egypt's new political crisis.A young military officer at the time of Suez, Tantawi went on to fight against the Israelis in the wars of 1967 and 1973. Rising through the military ranks, he was appointed Defence Minister by President Hosni Mubarak in 1991. Known as a courteous but inscrutable figure, Tantawi came to be viewed as the loyal heir apparent to President Mubarak. But when the democracy demonstrators of Tahrir Square demanded the President's resignation earlier this year, it was his right hand man Mohamed Tantawi who told the longstanding premier that his time was up. Nine months later the demonstrators are back, frustrated by the slow pace of political change. And this time they are demanding Tantawi's resignation.Producer: Kate O'Hara

Meryl Streep is famous for achieving both critical and box office success throughout her long career. With more academy award nominations than any other actor in history, her face is recognisable worldwide. The young Meryl Streep tasted early success in landmark films such as 'The Deer Hunter' and 'Kramer vs Kramer'. Going on to star in the harrowing 'Sophie's Choice', she picked up the Academy Award for Best Actress and garnered critical acclaim for her mastery of a Polish accent.The box office hit 'The Devil Wears Prada,' where she played a ruthless magazine editor cemented her position as one of Hollywood's most bankable female stars. The 2008 hit musical 'Mamma Mia!' allowed her to indulge her first love of singing and once again demonstrated her remarkable versatility. Now as she takes on the role of another famous woman, former Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher, Andy Denwood charts her extraordinary career.Reporter - Andy Denwood Producer - Gail Champion.

The Labour MP Tom Watson compared James Murdoch with "a Mafia boss" while questioning him about phone hacking this week. He has led the charge in Parliament against News International, and has been forensically campaigning on phone hacking for years. While many of his Labour colleagues regard him as a hero for his role in taking on the Murdoch empire, Watson wasn't always so popular. A close ally of Gordon Brown, he called for Tony Blair to resign in 2006, although he denied Brown conspired with him to bring down the Prime Minister.Edward Stourton profiles the pioneer blogger and populist campaigner, who is unafraid to take on powerful figures in and out of politics.Producer Bill Law.

The new President of the European Central Bank, Mario Draghi now finds himself at the centre of the European financial crisis. The appointment of an Italian to this key role, from a country no stranger to inflation and which is itself at risk of defaulting may have raised some eyebrows, but Draghi was once dubbed 'Super Mario' for his combination of financial and diplomatic intelligence. Lesley Curwen profiles the urbane economist and charts his path to the top of European banking.Reporter: Lesley Curwen Producer: Gail Champion.

Profile this week takes a look at the firebrand of Italian politics, Umberto Bossi. The controversial leader of the Northern League party, who takes a strident line on immigration and crime, is currently at the centre of the Euro crisis. Critics accuse Umberto Bossi of holding up Italy's economic reform which is vital for the survival of the Euro. Geeta Guru-Murthy discovers how this former electrician and singer has become such an infamous politician who could have a dramatic effect on Europe.Producers: Emma Rippon and Anna Meisel.

Liam Gallagher, John Leckie and John Robb talk about Stone Roses' Ian Brown after the legendary band announced this week that they are reforming. Brown formed the band with school friend John Squire but the rift between the two saw the break-up after just two albums and left a generation of music fans hanging. Brown went on to have a solo career but now he and his former bandmates have made amends. He and the band made a huge mark on music and influenced many who met him including bands such as Oasis and in their early days, Radiohead. Producer: Wesley Stephenson.

He's long been one of the most powerful figures in British government, but few outside Whitehall have heard of him. The next Cabinet Secretary Jeremy Heywood has been at the centre of British government for two decades. He's been close to top politicians ranging from Norman Lamont to Tony Blair to David Cameron. And he's been in the thick of controversial episodes such as Black Wednesday, rows within the Brown government, and the global financial crisis. So what's the secret behind the huge influence of a man who shuns the limelight? Chris Bowlby profiles "the insider's insider".Producer: Smita Patel.

Claire Bolderson profiles Lord Justice Leveson, the judge who is leading the public inquiry into the phone hacking scandal and relationships between politicians, journalists and police officers. Brian Leveson was born and brought up in Liverpool and worked there, as a young barrister, for a number of years before becoming a QC. His later career involved some of the biggest commercial trials of the time - among them BCCI, Polly Peck and Barings. He also prosecuted Ken Dodd on behalf of the Inland Revenue and, in a rare setback, he lost the case. And he's turned his hand to the criminal bar and prosecuted one of the UK's most infamous serial killers - Rosemary West. If he handles the public inquiry into phone hacking successfully, many believe he will be one step closer to the ultimate legal prize - the position of Lord Chief Justice. Contributors Judge Henry Globe Dominic Carman Sasha Wass QC Producers: Rosamund Jones Linda Pressly.

Stelios Haji-Ioannou, the easyJet entrepreneur at the heart of the low-budget airline revolution, is the subject of this week's Profile. Stelios - as he is better known - has just set up Fastjet.com in a surprise move that has angered executives at his old company. Presenter Rosie Goldsmith talks to friends, foes and fans of the Greek-Cypriot tycoon.Producer: Lucy Proctor.

As President Obama announces his deficit reduction plan, which includes the 'Buffett Rule', to increase taxes on America's richest, Profile looks at the billionaire investor Warren Buffett. At 81 years of age, he's one of the richest men in the world closing in on a personal fortune of nearly 40 billion dollars. Recently Buffett decided to do a small tax survey in his Omaha office to find out what proportion of everybody's salary was being taxed. He discovered that he was paying a much lower share of his income in tax than his staff. So he proposed that that America's tax laws be changed so that he and his "mega-rich friends" pay more income tax. President Obama took the call. Mary Ann Sieghart talks to family, friends and Buffett experts to get an insight into the man known as the 'Oracle of Omaha' who many say has inspired a new American tax system.Producer Deiniol Buxton.

Profile looks at the man who was appointed this week to the top job in policing - the new Metropolitan Police Commissioner, Bernard Hogan-Howe. Described as a tough, straight northerner, he spent five years running the Merseyside police to 2009. He introduced a zero tolerance approach to crime which he describes as "total policing". Under his leadership there were significant falls in crime and anti-social behaviour.He is not afraid to court controversy and spoke out against judges for being soft on gun crime. He adopted a high public profile with regular web-chats and appearances on radio phone-ins.He has a love of horses and also made regular public appearances on horsebackDanny Shaw talks to former colleagues, politicians and criminologists and others and finds out what drives Bernard Hogan-Howe and what sort of Metropolitan Police Commissioner he might be.

Rick Perry won the seat of Governor of Texas vacated by George W Bush when he was elected President of the United States. Perry has held the post for over ten years, making him the longest serving governor in state history. Now he is seeking nomination as the Republican Party's candidate to oppose Barack Obama in the 2012 Presidential election. Over last few weeks he's become a front runner to succeed, taking part in a series of televised debates within the last few days. In this week's Profile, we hear from his former scouting buddies in the small village of Paint Creek where he was raised that "there are only three things to do in Paint Creek: school, church and scouting". They describe the simple farming background that influenced his life and informed his politics. We also hear from Retired Lt General Joseph Weber Marine, a contemporary of Perry at Texas A+M University. The Governor's father was a B17 Gunner in WW2 and flew missions out of the U.K. "I know Rick visited where he'd been and was very interested in looking at the airfields and the history of the U.S. air force working with the RAF." says Weber.Other contributors to this profile of a possible contender for the next Commander-in-Chief include musician Ted "the Nuge" Nugent who believes Rick Perry is the best hope of making the whole of the United States more like Nugent's adopted home of Texas which has: "the greatest hunting the world, no income tax plus I can carry a machine gun in my trunk". We also hear from Christy Hoppe, Bureau chief of the "Dallas News" who has known Rick Perry for over twenty years about the real story behind the "economic miracle" that some claim Texas has achieved under Perry.Presenter: Chris Bowlby.

Edward Stourton profiles Vanessa Redgrave, the multi-award and Oscar-winning actress and political activist. A leading member of the Redgrave family of actors, she is the daughter, wife, mother and aunt of some of Britain's best known actors and directors. She has hit the headlines just as often for her political and human rights activities, as for her stage, film and theatre work. This week, she is in the news for supporting the travellers currently facing eviction from a site in Basildon. Producers: Arlene Gregorius and Harbinder Minhas.

Mustafa Abdul Jalil is a former Justice Minister for the Gaddafi regime and now head of Libya's National Transitional Council. He publicly challenged Gaddafi's authority and offered his resignation but it was turned down and the dictator preferred to keep Mustafa Abdul Jalil close, apparently encouraged by the leader's son Saif al-islam Gadaffi.Known as a man of integrity and a stickler for the law, he defected in February after visiting the city of Bengazi, and saw peaceful protestors being shot. In May Mr Abdul Jalil did the rounds of European capitals calling on their governments to support the rebel National Transitional Council. But as Nick Ravenscroft reports there are doubts as to whether he has the leadership qualities to manage the disparate groups and steer the country toward democracy. Producer: Rob Cave.

The Arsenal manager, Arsene Wenger is credited with turning around the fortunes of his club and forging a new approach to football management. Known as the 'Professor' and lauded as a genius, he now faces criticism from some of his own loyal fans. Andy Denwood profiles the Frenchman at the heart of English football. Producer - Gail Champion.

The Home Secretary, Theresa May, is centre stage as she deals with the aftermath of riots across England which have shocked the country and led to the recall of Parliament. The police are under scrutiny for their tactics and performance in London particularly, with reported tensions arising between the Home Secretary and the Met Commissioner. May is a politician who's not afraid to challenge the existing order - and speak the unspeakable. Last year, she told the police that they need to cut their spending and re-organise the way they work. As the chair of the Conservatives in the early 2000s, she said the party was perceived by the public as the "nasty party." It was a start of the rebranding of the Conservatives.The daughter of a clergyman, she attended an independent convent and a number of state schools before going to Oxford. After graduating, she joined the City - working for a time at the Bank of England. She took the hard route into politics - starting off stuffing envelopes in a constituency office before being elected as a councillor in the London Borough of Merton where she spent the best part of a decade.She has a reputation for being focussed on the job and having a Thatcheresque work ethic with few outside interests. Simon Cox profiles Theresa May, one of only four women to hold the key offices in British politics.

When Iran makes the news it is often that country's flamboyant and provocative president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad who finds himself under the spotlight. But the man who wields real power in Iran is not Ahmadinejad, nor was it any of his predecessors as president. Instead it is the man who has served as the head of the country's religious structure since 1989, the Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.The Ayatollah owes his rise to power to two men - his predecessor as Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini and the previous president, Hashemi Rafsanjani. Ayatollah Khamenei has been a cleric for most of his life, beginning as a religious scholar in the city of Mashhad at the tender age of 11. He served several terms in jail as a result of his religious convictions during the secular dictatorship of the Shah. His rise to power began with the revolution of 1979 that turned Iran into the Islamic Republic. Khamenei became, first president, a post with relatively little power, and his election as Supreme Leader after the death of Khomenei was a surprise to all. Many believe this was engineered by Rafsanjani to allow Rafsanjani himself to remain in control.But Khamenei has gradually made himself the most powerful man in Iran - and he's done so by recruiting the Revolutionary Guard to his side. There are those who say that far from a religious dictatorship, Iran is in fact a military dictatorship. But Ali Khamenei is 72 and with 70 per cent of the Iranian population having been born since the revolution, it's not clear that the post of Supreme Leader will survive his death.Producer TIM MANSEL Presenter JAMES REYNOLDS.

With a year to go until London 2012 Shari Vahl profiles John Armitt CBE, Chairman of the Olympic Delivery Authority and charged with delivering the £9bn project on time and budget.