Fighting for the people
Making the leap from top level sport to politics is not unique: Pakistan’s Imran Kahn did it; Britain’s Sebastian Coe’s done it… but Filipino, Manny Pacquiao, takes things to a new level. As an active boxer – and the world’s first fighter to win eight world titles in no less than eight different weight divisions – earlier this year he was also elected to Congress in the Philippines.
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Now, Mike Costello, the BBC’s Boxing Correspondent travels to the Philippines to spend time with this sporting legend as he trains for his fight with Antonio Margarito and his new political role. Mike discovers who Pacquiao is as the boxer, the newly appointed politician and man of the Filipino people.
Speaking with people that know, love and work with Pacquiao, his story of poverty to one of the world’s most high earning sportsmen is compelling.
Mike Costello hears Manny's first hand account of life growing up on the streets of General Santos and he explores the boxer's political life; asking what impact a sportsman can have on his country's future?
Meet the real Manny Pacquiao - on air and online from Friday 26 November.
Acclaimed drama and its author come to BBC World Service
Damon Galgut’s internationally acclaimed novel is the story of an idealistic medical graduate who arrives at an isolated South African hospital to take up a year's community service.
In a BBC World Service double bill hear a dramatised version of the book in World Drama and then hear the author answer questions about the novel in World Book Club.
Watch a short clip of Damon Galgut talk about his favourite books, authors and reading Enid Blyton as a boy.
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World Drama : The Good Doctor - on air an online from 27 November - click times
World Book Club with Damon Galgut - on air and online from 4 December - click times
Not afraid of giving people a hard time
The BBC’s hard-hitting interview programme, HARDTalk returns. The product of intensive research and in-depth investigations, each programme is a one-on-one interview with an international newsmaker or personality.
The programme aims to get behind the news stories and under the skin of the people of influence who make and shape our world. Political leaders and decision-makers are held to account in what can often be a highly-charged and intense encounter.
HARDTalk’s main presenter, Stephen Sackur is a highly respected journalist and was recently honoured by the Association of International Broadcasters when he won the accolade International Personality of the Year - television award. The judges said Stephen was knowledgeable and well-prepared – and not afraid to hold his interviewees to account.
HARDtalk - on air and online from 30 November.
The programme is also broadcast on BBC World News and the BBC News Channel.
If you would like advanced previews and information about forthcoming BBC World Service programmes, please subscribe to our click World Agenda weekly email.
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