Mugshots podcast lifts the lid on the powerful and influential

Award-winning journalist Michael Crick delves into the hidden backgrounds of the powerful and influential in his podcast Mugshots.

In a new collaboration with Podmasters, former BBC and C4 journalist, Michael presents no-holds-barred profiles of key people in the headlines, with each episode taking a deep dive into a major figure’s past, principles and motivation.

Crick talks to friends, colleagues and associates who know a major personality well to build up a behind-the-scenes picture of how today’s movers and shakers became who they are, what drives them and what they want.

Among those included in this series of Mugshots are Angela Rayner, Vladimir Putin and Paul Dacre.

Michael Crick was a founding member of Channel 4 News in 1982 and has worked on Panorama and Newsnight where he was political editor. Books he has written include best-selling biographies of Arthur Scargill, Jeffrey Archer and Alex Ferguson.

“I’m thrilled to enter the exciting world of podcasts with Podmasters,” says Michael. “We’ll be uncovering the secret lives and motivations of some very big figures in the weeks to come. And the versatile podcast format means we can act quickly when a new figure bursts into the headlines.

“Podcasts have brought a new dimension to independent journalism, and I’m delighted to get to work in this vital new world.”

Podmasters Group Editor Andrew Harrison adds: “Michael is a legend in journalism and his name makes the rich and powerful quake in their handmade brogues. We’re honoured to welcome him to the growing Podmasters team and we know that Mugshots will become addictive listening.

“Our hit podcasts including Oh God, What Now?, Doomsday Watch and Origin Story reached over 14 million listeners in 2022 alone, so we know listeners are hungry for bold and original news and politics coverage. Mugshots is a brilliant addition to the Podmasters audio universe and we can’t wait to get it out into the world.”

Mugshots launches today, 13 February with a minimum of 13 episodes every Monday on all platforms.