Esther McVey

20/10/2018 14 min

Listen "Esther McVey"

Episode Synopsis

Government minister Esther McVey has become a lightening rod for anger about benefit cuts and welfare reform. The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions knows all about financial struggle, starting out in life as a foster child. Mark Coles finds out how the former presenter has gone from a breakfast TV sofa to the front benches of the House of Commons. In a rare interview, Esther’s father Jim tells us why he decided to put his daughter into care, and how he helped kick-start her on-screen career. We find out what a former producer really thinks of her, and her partner Conservative MP Philip Davies reveals what made him fall for Esther.

More episodes of the podcast Profile

Karl Bushby 27/12/2025
Mary Berry 20/12/2025
David Harewood 13/12/2025
Zak Brown 06/12/2025
Zarah Sultana 29/11/2025
David Hockney 15/11/2025
Afua Kyei 08/11/2025
Andy Burnham 01/11/2025
Sanae Takaichi 27/10/2025