HARDtalk

Nick Robinson, presenter of BBC Radio 4's Today programme and the Political Thinking podcast, speaks to former US President, Joe Biden. The pair met in Biden's home state of Delaware, in a hotel where he had launched his political career more than half a century ago.In his first interview since leaving the White House, Biden talks about democracy under threat, Ukraine and the future of NATO, and America's place in the world - all at a time when we commemorate the 80th anniversary of VE, or Victory in Europe, Day. Biden himself was just a few years old at the end of the Second World War.He'll also give his opinion on how his successor, President Trump, is faring so far in his second term. The Interview brings you conversations with people shaping our world, from all over the world. The best interviews from the BBC. You can listen on the BBC World Service, Mondays and Wednesdays at 0700 GMT. Or you can listen to The Interview as a podcast, out twice a week on BBC Sounds, Apple, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.Presenter: Nick Robinson Producers: Ben Cooper, Katie Solleveld Editor: Max DevesonGet in touch with us on email TheInterview@bbc.co.uk and use the hashtag #TheInterviewBBC on social media.

Catherine Byaruhanga, presenter and correspondent for the BBC News Channel, speaks to Tidjane Thiam, the main opposition leader in the Ivory Coast. Mr Thiam is a former CEO of Credit Suisse, with a lengthy and successful career in the financial sector abroad. Now, he wishes to stand for the Ivory Coast presidency - but his candidacy has been blocked by an Ivorian court. It has ruled he cannot run as he was not an Ivorian citizen when he registered on the electoral roll. Tidjane Thiam says the decision is politically motivated, a claim firmly rejected by the government of the Ivory Coast. But he is defending his right to run.Despite years of civil war since the turn of the century, Ivory Coast has a high level of income compared to its neighbours. But Mr Thiam believes more can be done to attract investment and to boost business - and that he has the financial expertise and contacts to make it happen.The Interview brings you conversations with people shaping our world, from all over the world. The best interviews from the BBC. You can listen on the BBC World Service, Mondays and Wednesdays at 0700 GMT. Or you can listen to The Interview as a podcast, out twice a week on BBC Sounds, Apple, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.Presenter: Catherine Byaruhanga Producers: Lucy Sheppard, Madeleine Drury Editor: Max DevesonGet in touch with us on email TheInterview@bbc.co.uk and use the hashtag #TheInterviewBBC on social media.

Nada Tawfik, North America correspondent, speaks to Prince Harry about reconciliation with the royal family after his loss in court over his security arrangements in the UK The Prince stepped down from his duties as a working royal in 2020 and moved to the United States with his wife, Meghan. After his tax-payer funded protection was downgraded, he said it was too dangerous to bring his family back to the UK without adequate police protection and took the government to court.The Interview brings you conversations with people shaping our world, from all over the world. The best interviews from the BBC. You can listen on the BBC World Service, Mondays and Wednesdays at 0700 GMT. Or you can listen to The Interview as a podcast, out twice a week on BBC Sounds, Apple, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.Presenter: Nada Tawfik Producers: Lucy Sheppard, Madeleine Drury Editor: Max DevesonGet in touch with us on email TheInterview@bbc.co.uk and use the hashtag #TheInterviewBBC on social media.

James Copnall, presenter of Newsday, speaks to Emi Mahmoud, Sudanese activist and poet, about the war that has claimed more than 150,000 lives since it began two years ago. In what the United Nations has called the world's largest humanitarian crisis, about 12 million people have also been forced to flee their homes.Emi speaks about the pain of losing many members of her family, the brutality of the current conflict in the western region of Darfur which she believes to be genocide, and the trafficking of women and girls caught up in the fighting. In the aftermath of the destruction of the Zamzam camp for displaced people, she describes life in the community there - and calls on the world to do more to resolve the violence in Sudan. As an award-winning poet, she uses her poems to spread her message.The Interview brings you conversations with people shaping our world, from all over the world. The best interviews from the BBC. You can listen on the BBC World Service, Mondays and Wednesdays at 0700 GMT. Or you can listen to The Interview as a podcast, out twice a week on BBC Sounds, Apple, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.Presenter: James Copnall Producers: Clare Williamson, Lucy Sheppard, Madeleine Drury Editor: Max DevesonGet in touch with us on email TheInterview@bbc.co.uk and use the hashtag #TheInterviewBBC on social media.

David Brown, producer of the BBC TV's Trump - The First 100 Days, speaks to Kurt Volker, former US ambassador to NATO, about the whirlwind start to President Trump's second term in office.In this conversation, Ambassador Volker, who previously served as Trump's special envoy to Ukraine, shares his assessment of the president's programme of change - and the extraordinary pace of reform. He gives the inside take on Trump - from that explosive White House press conference with Ukraine's President, Volodomyr Zelensky, to his plans for the Middle East - and sets out how Mr Trump plans to make America great again.Ambassador Volker decodes President Trump's head-line grabbing statements on US territorial expansion and international relations - and explains the risks of doing away with diplomatic convention.The Interview brings you conversations with people shaping our world, from all over the world. The best interviews from the BBC. You can listen on the BBC World Service, Mondays and Wednesdays at 0700 GMT. Or you can listen to The Interview as a podcast, out twice a week on BBC Sounds, Apple, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. Presenter: David Brown Producers: Clare Williamson, Lucy Sheppard Editor: Max DevesonGet in touch with us on email TheInterview@bbc.co.uk and use the hashtag #TheInterviewBBC on social media.

Dan Roan, the BBC's sports editor, speaks to Sir Jim Ratcliffe, billionaire businessman and co-owner of Manchester United Football Club. In this conversation, Sir Jim discusses the changes he's implementing both on and off the pitch, as well as his vision to transform the iconic club into one of the world's most profitable businesses. Born into a modest family, he's been a lifelong Manchester United supporter. After studying chemical engineering at university he set up his chemicals business, INEOS, in 1998. He is still the Chairman and Chief Executive. INEOS has invested in cycling, Formula One motor racing and sailing. He's been running Manchester United for just over a year and he himself admits its been a challenging 12 months. In this interview, you'll hear how he is applying his business skills to turn the club – currently struggling both on the pitch and financially – into a success. With a substantial debt estimated at around one billion pounds, the club has seen job cuts and ticket price increases. Sir Jim acknowledges that the anger directed at him is understandable but remains focused on his goal: to make Manchester United the most profitable club in the world. The Interview brings you conversations with people shaping our world, from all over the world. The best interviews from the BBC. You can listen on the BBC World Service, Mondays and Wednesdays at 0700 GMT. Or you can listen to The Interview as a podcast, out twice a week on BBC Sounds, Apple, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. Presenter: Dan Roan Producers: Clare Williamson, Mantej Deol & Gabriel May Editor: Sam Bonham Get in touch with us on email TheInterview@bbc.co.uk and use the hashtag #TheInterviewBBC on social media.

Victoria Uwonkunda, reporter and presenter for BBC News, speaks to Bobi Wine, the Ugandan opposition politician, as he reflects on the personal and political challenges he has faced as well as his determination to run again as President in the next election. Born in the slums of Kampala, Bobi Wine -birth name Robert Kyagulanyi - first entered the political arena in 2017 when he was elected to parliament with huge popular support, so much so that he became known as the ghetto president. He went on to run against President Yoweri Museveni in the 2021 election - taking on a leader in power for nearly 40 years.But the campaign was rocked by violence and for Bobi, countless times in jail.Now Bobi Wine is preparing to run again in the 2026 presidential election. The Interview brings you conversations with people shaping our world, from all over the world. The best interviews from the BBC. You can listen on the BBC World Service, Mondays and Wednesdays at 0700 GMT. Or you can listen to The Interview as a podcast, out twice a week on BBC Sounds, Apple, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.Presenter: Victoria Uwonkunda Producers: Clare Williamson, Gabriel May Editor: Sam BonhamGet in touch with us on email TheInterview@bbc.co.uk and use the hashtag #TheInterviewBBC on social media.

Mark Savage, the BBC's music correspondent, speaks to Lady Gaga, American singer-songwriter and actress, as she reflects on the making of her new album, the joy of attracting a younger audience and finding happiness in love.Born Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta in 1986, Lady Gaga has spent 18 years in the music industry and sold over 170 million records. She's an actress as well as a musician and even has her own vegan cosmetic brand. In 2019, Time magazine named her one of the 100 most influential people in the world. Known for her flamboyant fashion and bold public image, Lady Gaga has often found herself in the glare of the media spotlight - and her latest work touches on the complex relationship she has with fame. In this interview, you'll hear her thoughts on art and identity, being a super-fan of Elton John, and the lack of female role models in the music industry, The Interview brings you conversations with people shaping our world, from all over the world. The best interviews from the BBC. You can listen on the BBC World Service, Mondays and Wednesdays at 0700 GMT. Or you can listen to The Interview as a podcast, out twice a week on BBC Sounds, Apple, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.Presenter: Mark Savage Producers: Clare Williamson, Mantej Deol & Gabriel May Editor: Sam BonhamGet in touch with us on email TheInterview@bbc.co.uk and use the hashtag #TheInterviewBBC on social media.

Audrey Brown, Host of Focus on Africa, speaks to Akinwumi Adesina, the President of the African Development Bank, as he reflects on the achievements and challenges of the past 10 years in office.In his two terms he's focused much of his time on advocacy, strategic positioning, and amplifying the continent's voice on the global stage. We hear about his ‘High Fives' framework, which includes getting power to the millions without electricity and improving the quality of life for African people. He also tells us about his vision, the challenges facing the continent and how he draws on his faith and his personal experiences in his work.The Interview brings you conversations with people shaping our world, from all over the world. The best interviews from the BBC. You can listen on the BBC World Service, Mondays and Wednesdays at 0700 GMT. Or you can listen to The Interview as a podcast, out twice a week on BBC Sounds, Apple, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.Presenter: Audrey Brown Producer: Clare Williamson and Gabriel May Editor: Sam BonhamGet in touch with us on email TheInterview@bbc.co.uk and use the hashtag #TheInterviewBBC on social media.

BBC foreign correspondent in the Netherlands, Anna Holligan, speaks to David Van Weel, the Dutch justice minister as he calls on citizens to prepare a 72-hour emergency kit - to enable people to be self-sufficient for three days in case of a disaster. The kits should include enough food and water to survive for 72 hours - in case of war and other catastrophes. It's part of a European-wide strategy as geopolitical uncertainty spreads globally.He tells us the nature of the risks and where they're coming from and whether Europe should still feel reassured about NATO defence. The Interview brings you conversations with people shaping our world, from all over the world. The best interviews from the BBC. You can listen on the BBC World Service, Mondays and Wednesdays at 0700 GMT. Or you can listen to The Interview as a podcast, out twice a week on BBC Sounds, Apple, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.Presenter: Anna Holligan Producer: Clare Williamson Editor: Sam Bonham Get in touch with us on email TheInterview@bbc.co.uk and use the hashtag #TheInterviewBBC on social media.Image: David van Weel (Credit: Patrick van Katwijk/Getty Images)

Mpho Lakaje, presenter of the BBC's Africa Daily podcast, speaks to Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, president of Namibia.The former freedom fighter is the country's first female head of state - and only the second ever directly elected female leader in Africa.Namibia is celebrating thirty five years of independence this year - yet most of the country's agricultural land remains in the hands of the white minority, and land reform is a key priority for President Nandi-Ndaitwah. Namibia's former colonial power Germany has apologised for the genocide committed under its rule at the start of the twentieth century, but it has yet to make good on the promise of reparations. Mrs Nandi-Ndaitwah remains confident the development funding will be provided - however, she is not able to give a clear time frame. The Interview brings you conversations with people shaping our world, from all over the world. The best interviews from the BBC. You can listen on the BBC World Service, Mondays and Wednesdays at 0700 GMT. Or you can listen to The Interview as a podcast, out twice a week on BBC Sounds, Apple, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. Get in touch with us by emailing TheInterview@bbc.co.uk or using the hashtag #TheInterviewBBC on social media.

The BBC's South America correspondent Ione Wells speaks to Daniel Noboa, President of Ecuador, ahead of the close-run presidential election.Since Mr Noboa came to power 16 months ago, he has taken an uncompromising stance on the violence gripping his country. With criminal gangs locked in a battle to control lucrative drug routes, President Noboa has militarised his country's streets and prisons. Now he's calling on the United States and Europe to provide forces for back-up.Migrants fleeing Ecuador point to the chronic violence but also rising unemployment as reasons for leaving. In response, Mr Noboa has pledged to increase opportunities, tackle inflation and bring the violence under control, but his critics say his tough stance has brought about little change. He also faces accusations of human rights abuses.The Interview brings you conversations with people shaping our world, from all over the world. The best interviews from the BBC. You can listen on the BBC World Service, Mondays and Wednesdays at 0700 GMT. Or you can listen to The Interview as a podcast, out twice a week on BBC Sounds, Apple, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. The Interview was made by Clare Williamson and Lucy Sheppard. It was hosted by Ione Wells. The editor is Sam Bonham.Get in touch with us by emailing TheInterview@bbc.co.uk or using the hashtag #TheInterviewBBC on social media.

Laura Kuenssberg talks to Justin Welby, the former Archbishop of Canterbury. As the figurehead for the 85 million people in over 165 countries who call themselves Anglicans, he presided over some of the key events in the Commonwealth of the last ten years, including the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II. But his tenure was clouded, and eventually ended, by an abuse scandal that shook the church. This interview is the first with Justin Welby since he resigned. The Interview was made by Clare Williamson and Lucy Shepherd. It was hosted by Laura Kuenssberg. The editor is Sam Bonham. Thanks to our colleagues all over the BBC, and all over the world, for their support making The Interview.

Laura Kuenssberg introduces The Interview podcast. First episode Monday 31 March. Conversations with people shaping our world, from all around the globe. The best interviews from the BBC.The HARDtalk podcast has become The Interview. Listen to The Interview for the best conversations from the BBC, the world's most trusted international news provider. We hear from titans of business, politics, finance, sport and culture. Global leaders, decision-makers and cultural icons. Politicians, activists and CEOs. Each interview is around 20-minutes, packed full of insight and analysis, covering some of the biggest issues of our time. How does it work? Well, at the BBC, our journalists interview amazing people every single day. And on The Interview, we bring them to you. It's your one-stop-shop to the best conversations coming out of the BBC, with the people shaping our world, from all over the world. Get in touch with us on emailTheInterview@bbc.co.uk and use the hashtag #TheInterviewBBC on social media.

A final look back at some of the encounters and moments that have encapsulated the programme's commitment to rigorous, well-researched interviews with people in power.

Ahead of HARDtalk's closure, at the end of this month after 27 years, here's a chance to look back at some of the most memorable interviews of the programme's early years. It's an extraordinary archive featuring interviews with Donald Trump, Nelson Mandela, Nina Simone, Robin Williams and Martha Gellhorn.

Stephen Sackur speaks to Reid Hoffman, the tech billionaire who co-founded LinkedIn and is a prophet of positivity about Artificial Intelligence.

Stephen Sackur is in Frankfurt for an exclusive interview with Christine Lagarde, president of the European Central Bank. Donald Trump has triggered what could become a global trade war and has prompted European governments to make massive new defence spending commitments. Is the European economy capable of withstanding Trump 2.0?

Stephen Sackur is in Paris to talk to former Prime Minister of France Dominique de Villepin. With Donald Trump in the White House, the alliance between the US and Europe's democracies looks fragile. Is Europe capable of becoming a superpower in its own right?

Stephen Sackur speaks to Roger Carstens, former US Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs. Did the deals he strike from Russia to Iran risk making the problem worse?(Photo: Roger Carstens, former US Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs appears via video on Hardtalk)

Stephen Sackur speaks to the UN Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk. As conflicts destroy millions of lives around the world, are we sleepwalking into a dystopian future?(Photo: Volker Türk, UN Commissioner for Human Rights appears via video on Hardtalk)

Stephen Sackur speaks to the dissident artist Badiucao, whose cartoons and drawings challenge President Xi Jinping and the Chinese state. He lives in exile in Australia, but does that mean he's beyond Beijing's reach?

Stephen Sackur speaks to the former senior judge, barrister and writer Lord Sumption whose latest book assesses the health of democracy and the rule of law

Stephen Sackur speaks to US Congresswoman Victoria Spartz. Born and raised in Ukraine and now a Donald Trump loyalist, what does she make of the US president's strategy of pushing for peace in Ukraine by labelling Ukraine's President Zelensky a dictator and appearing to hand Vladimir Putin a series of diplomatic gifts?

Stephen Sackur speaks to one of India's most influential media voices, N. Ram, Director of The Hindu Publishing Group. With independent journalists complaining of intimidation and social media facing new curbs, is freedom of expression under threat in the world's biggest democracy?

Stephen Sackur speaks to Laila Soueif - mother of Alaa Abdel Fattah, a political prisoner in Egypt - and Alaa's sister Sanaa Seif.

Stephen Sackur is in Washington D.C. for an exclusive interview with Jake Sullivan, who was National Security Adviser in the Biden White House. From Afghanistan to Ukraine to Gaza, he faced a series of rolling crises. Did the failings of the Biden administration prepare the ground for Trump 2.0?

Sarah Montague speaks to the UN's humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher. As President Trump pulls almost all America's foreign aid spending, what will the impact be on those around the world who most rely on it?

Stephen Sackur speaks to Omar Abdullah, chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir. This mountainous territory neighbouring Pakistan has long been a source of political tension and violence. Can the chief minister work with Delhi to find a pathway to peace and stability?

Stephen Sackur is in New Delhi for an exclusive interview with the recently retired Chief Justice of India and Supreme Court judge, Dhananjaya Chandrachud. With Indian politics dominated by Narendra Modi and the Hindu nationalist BJP, have the courts successfully protected the country's secular constitution?

Stephen Sackur is in New Delhi to speak India's Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas, Hardeep Singh Puri. India has big ambitions to be a global economic superpower. What does that mean for the country's geopolitical alliances and commitment to decarbonisation?(Photo: Hardeep Singh Puri, India's Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas)

Sarah Montague speaks to Basem Naim, a senior political figure in Hamas. Its violence and hostage-taking on October 7th led to an overwhelming Israeli onslaught in Gaza. A fragile ceasefire is now in place, but how can long-term peace be achieved?

Stephen Sackur speaks to Mouaz Moustafa, founder of the US-based Syrian Emergency Task Force. He campaigned to bring the Assad regime to justice for its crimes. Now power is in new hands, will Syrians get justice for the dark past and freedom for a better future?

Stephen Sackur speaks to former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert. He is a fierce critic of current Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and says only territorial compromise can save Israel from a grim future. But is his simply a voice in the political wilderness?

Stephen Sackur speaks to Vladimir Kara-Murza, the anti-Putin activist who was twice poisoned, then imprisoned in Russia. He was freed in a prisoner swap last summer, and is now lobbying the West to intensify the pressure on the Kremlin. But is there any reason to believe Putin is vulnerable?

Sarah Montague speaks to award-winning filmmaker Asif Kapadia. His latest film 2073 combines science fiction with documentary to paint a bleak picture of our possible future: a world destroyed by climate change, authoritarian dictators and tech oligarchs. Why produce something so political now?

Sarah Montague speaks to Alice Edwards, the UN special rapporteur on torture. It's been 40 years since the introduction of the UN Convention Against Torture, but she says it's still happening at unacceptable levels. Is it possible to eradicate something that has been around for as long as humans have existed?

Stephen Sackur speaks to the British novelist Alan Hollinghurst, author of Our Evenings and the Booker Prize-winning The Line of Beauty. Over four decades, how has his writing and his view of Britain changed?

HARDtalk's Stephen Sackur looks back on some of the most powerful moments from 2024 in his end of year review.

Stephen Sackur speaks to former Ukrainian foreign minister Dmytro Kuleba. Russian forces are gaining ground along the frontline in eastern Ukraine, and US president-elect Donald Trump wants the war to end. What are Ukraine's options now?

Stephen Sackur speaks to the former editor of The Washington Post Marty Baron. Donald Trump accused him of peddling lies and fake news. He called it independent evidence-based journalism. Does the re-election of Trump suggest the mainstream media is in terminal decline?

Stephen Sackur is in Oslo for an exclusive interview with 92-year-old Terumi Tanaka who survived the atomic bombing of Nagasaki and is receiving the Nobel Peace Prize on behalf of Japanese survivors' group Nihon Hidankyo. Eight decades on, is nuclear war unthinkable, or not?