Nigerian Novelist and Poet - Ben Okri

Britain has already seen the first skirmishes in what could be a protracted battle between the Cameron government and organised labour. In the short term, schools and fuel suuplies could be hit by strikes; looking further ahead, there's talk of union protests targeting the London Olympics. Stephen Sackur speaks to Len McCluskey, leader of Unite, Britain's biggest union. He talks of defending workers' rights within the law, and outside it, if necessary. How far is he prepared to go?

28 Mar 201223min

Frank Chikane served in the South African presidential office from the time of Nelson Mandela to Jacob Zuma - so he was privy to what went on behind the scenes. Now he has written a book in which he describes for the first time his account of Thabo Mbeki's removal as South Africa's president. He says it was a painful and humiliating episode for Mr Mbeki and it exposed the deep rivalry at the heart of the ruling African National Congress which continues to divide it today.Zeinab Badawi asks if the ANC become so riven with factionalism and corruption that it can no longer govern effectively.

26 Mar 201223min

In a special edition of Hardtalk, recorded in front of an audience in the village of Portmeirion in North Wales, Stephen Sackur talks to Sir Mark Walport the Director of the Wellcome Trust. One of the world's most important funding institutions for biomedical research, it distributes close to a billion dollars' worth of grants every year. Much of it goes to cutting edge genetic research which promises to transform human healthcare, but also raises profound ethical questions. Our scientific knowledge is expanding but what about the wisdom with which we use it?

23 Mar 201223min

Hardtalk is in New York City with a guest who is a woman who has spent her life challenging assumptions that go with the label 'physically disabled'. Aimee Mullins had both of her legs amputated below the knee when she was just a year old. She went on to become a champion athlete, an actor and highly paid model. She has been feted as an inspiration across America. Stephen Sackur asks, What is the real lesson of the remarkable story of Aimee Mullins?(Image: Aimee Mullins. Credit: Reuters)

21 Mar 201223min

Otis Williams is the sole constant in the life of one of the most successful groups in Motown history. He formed The Temptations in 1961, and the record sales tell a story of extraordinary success.If rock and roll was about sex and drugs, Motown was all that and more. So how has he sidestepped the cocaine addiction, the drink and the depression that killed other members of his group? Did he ever feel he got his just rewards for so much success? And when will he finally decide he has had enough?(Image: Otis Williams. Credit: Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

19 Mar 201223min

The Maldives was plunged into political crisis when the former president Mohamed Nasheed resigned, claiming to have been forced out of his position. He was succeeded by his former vice president - Mohamed Waheed - who denies allegations of taking part in a coup. President Waheed is now building a government of national unity, but with tensions still running high between him and supporters of his predecessor, how safe is the island nation's democracy?(Image: Maldivian President Mohamed Waheed Hassan. Credit: Associated Press)

16 Mar 201223min

A year has passed since the uprising that ended the 30-year rule of Egypt's former president, Hosni Mubarak. Since then the country has struggled to establish democracy and credible elections under the control of the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces. Human rights abuses are continuing and the animosity between pro-democracy activists and the Establishment is escalating. Abdel El-Menawy is the former head of Egyptian television. He helped draft Hosni Mubarak's final speech and has written a book detailing the final days of his rule. Presented by Stephen Sackur.(Image: An Egyptian boy wearing an Egyptian national flag in Tharir Square. Credit: Getty Images)

14 Mar 201223min

Tunisia is the first Arab nation to be transformed by people power but how successful has the transition to democracy been? Stephen Sackur talks to Said Ferjani who is a key figure in the Ennahda Movement - the moderate Islamist political party which dominates the democratically elected Tunisian government. Ennahda says it is committed to building a Muslim democracy. Is Tunisia a model which the rest of the Arab world can follow?

12 Mar 201223min