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| Faces of the week | Faces of the week |
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| Our regular look at some of the faces which have made the news this week. Above are Aaron Sorkin (main picture), with SIR CHRISTOPHER EVANS, BINDI IRWIN, "LUCY'S BABY" and SAM ALLARDYCE. | Our regular look at some of the faces which have made the news this week. Above are Aaron Sorkin (main picture), with SIR CHRISTOPHER EVANS, BINDI IRWIN, "LUCY'S BABY" and SAM ALLARDYCE. |
| Aaron Sorkin | Aaron Sorkin |
| Fear not, ye pining West Wing Fans. A mere four months after the Bartlet administration's shining stars cleared their desks, a new series featuring some of the show's cast and written by its creator, Aaron Sorkin, has opened in the States. | Fear not, ye pining West Wing Fans. A mere four months after the Bartlet administration's shining stars cleared their desks, a new series featuring some of the show's cast and written by its creator, Aaron Sorkin, has opened in the States. |
| Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip is the latest addition to that most American of genres: a TV show about a TV show. | Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip is the latest addition to that most American of genres: a TV show about a TV show. |
| Loosely based on Saturday Night Live, it features the West Wing's Josh Lyman (played by Bradley Whitford), Danny Concannon (Tim Busfield) and Joe Quincy (Matthew Perry of Friends fame). | Loosely based on Saturday Night Live, it features the West Wing's Josh Lyman (played by Bradley Whitford), Danny Concannon (Tim Busfield) and Joe Quincy (Matthew Perry of Friends fame). |
| Whitford and Perry play the hot-shot producers drafted in to save the failing topical sketch show, Busfield is one of the programme's studio directors. | Whitford and Perry play the hot-shot producers drafted in to save the failing topical sketch show, Busfield is one of the programme's studio directors. |
| Sorkin believes that Studio 60, produced by his long-term TV associate Thomas Schlamme is, at heart, on the same territory as both The West Wing and his earlier foray into television, the cult hit Sports Night. | Sorkin believes that Studio 60, produced by his long-term TV associate Thomas Schlamme is, at heart, on the same territory as both The West Wing and his earlier foray into television, the cult hit Sports Night. |
| "It's about a group of people committed to professionalism, committed to each other, committed to what they're doing, and hopefully we enjoy watching them every week," he says. | "It's about a group of people committed to professionalism, committed to each other, committed to what they're doing, and hopefully we enjoy watching them every week," he says. |
| Bradley Whitford and Matthew Perry star in Studio 60And, if the first 10 minutes of the pilot show is anything to go by, Sorkin has yet another hit on his hands. | Bradley Whitford and Matthew Perry star in Studio 60And, if the first 10 minutes of the pilot show is anything to go by, Sorkin has yet another hit on his hands. |
| The opening scene of Studio 60 is nothing less than a tour-de-force, featuring Judd Hirsch as the show's disillusioned executive producer, finally cracking-up when forced to drop a sketch deemed too controversial by the programme's corporate paymasters. | The opening scene of Studio 60 is nothing less than a tour-de-force, featuring Judd Hirsch as the show's disillusioned executive producer, finally cracking-up when forced to drop a sketch deemed too controversial by the programme's corporate paymasters. |
| After running on to the set during the start of the programme, he delivers an eloquent, impassioned and impromptu denunciation, damning big business, the religious right and the industry watchdog, the Federal Communications Commission, before having the plug pulled on him. | After running on to the set during the start of the programme, he delivers an eloquent, impassioned and impromptu denunciation, damning big business, the religious right and the industry watchdog, the Federal Communications Commission, before having the plug pulled on him. |
| Theatrical breakthrough | Theatrical breakthrough |
| Echoes of the late Peter Finch's Academy Award winning rant in the film Network are clear and most probably deliberate. | Echoes of the late Peter Finch's Academy Award winning rant in the film Network are clear and most probably deliberate. |
| Though beaten in the ratings by CSI: Miami, the initial critical success of Studio 60 must be a singular vindication for Sorkin, whose struggles with his bosses have become the stuff of legend. | Though beaten in the ratings by CSI: Miami, the initial critical success of Studio 60 must be a singular vindication for Sorkin, whose struggles with his bosses have become the stuff of legend. |
| Aaron Benjamin Sorkin was born in New York City in 1961. A theatre graduate from Syracuse University, he dabbled in acting before committing himself to writing plays. | Aaron Benjamin Sorkin was born in New York City in 1961. A theatre graduate from Syracuse University, he dabbled in acting before committing himself to writing plays. |
| His first Broadway success, the 1989 stage version of A Few Good Men, was made into a blockbuster movie three years later, starring Tom Cruise, Demi Moore, and Jack Nicholson as the Marine Colonel involved in a secret conspiracy. | His first Broadway success, the 1989 stage version of A Few Good Men, was made into a blockbuster movie three years later, starring Tom Cruise, Demi Moore, and Jack Nicholson as the Marine Colonel involved in a secret conspiracy. |
| The West Wing was a landmark in televisionNicholson's character's courtroom outburst, "You can't handle the truth!" caught the public's imagination. But Sorkin's screenplay, which examined the age-old themes of morality, power and responsibility, was a shining example of the scriptwriter's art. | The West Wing was a landmark in televisionNicholson's character's courtroom outburst, "You can't handle the truth!" caught the public's imagination. But Sorkin's screenplay, which examined the age-old themes of morality, power and responsibility, was a shining example of the scriptwriter's art. |
| The success of his screen debut led to other work, including Malice and The American President. He also helped to re-work the scripts to Schindler's List and Enemy of the State. | The success of his screen debut led to other work, including Malice and The American President. He also helped to re-work the scripts to Schindler's List and Enemy of the State. |
| But it is The West Wing - screened in the UK on Channel 4 - which transformed both Sorkin's reputation and, arguably, the face of US television. | But it is The West Wing - screened in the UK on Channel 4 - which transformed both Sorkin's reputation and, arguably, the face of US television. |
| The fictional account of President Jed Bartlet's two terms in the White House was big budget. It was also played by actors - including Martin Sheen, Rob Lowe and Alison Janney - more associated with films than TV. | The fictional account of President Jed Bartlet's two terms in the White House was big budget. It was also played by actors - including Martin Sheen, Rob Lowe and Alison Janney - more associated with films than TV. |
| Sorkin's upbeat view of the Clinton administration that never was, employed Billy Wilder-style quick-fire dialogue and lengthy tracking sequences of characters walking and talking, dubbed "pediconferencing" by the show's fans. | Sorkin's upbeat view of the Clinton administration that never was, employed Billy Wilder-style quick-fire dialogue and lengthy tracking sequences of characters walking and talking, dubbed "pediconferencing" by the show's fans. |
| And he was unrepentant about the romantic view of politics engendered by his creation. | And he was unrepentant about the romantic view of politics engendered by his creation. |
| Drug arrest | Drug arrest |
| "We were used to our leaders being portrayed in popular culture as either Machiavellian or complete dolts," he said. | "We were used to our leaders being portrayed in popular culture as either Machiavellian or complete dolts," he said. |
| "It was nice, I think, to see them once a week as extremely capable, hard-working, dedicated public servants who thought about the country before they thought about themselves." | "It was nice, I think, to see them once a week as extremely capable, hard-working, dedicated public servants who thought about the country before they thought about themselves." |
| But the West Wing's seven-year odyssey, which garnered two Golden Globes and 26 Emmys, was not all plain sailing for its creator. | But the West Wing's seven-year odyssey, which garnered two Golden Globes and 26 Emmys, was not all plain sailing for its creator. |
| Sorkin's habit of writing right up to, even beyond, deadline created budget overruns and often resulted in delays in filming which angered the show's backers. | Sorkin's habit of writing right up to, even beyond, deadline created budget overruns and often resulted in delays in filming which angered the show's backers. |
| Insecure and with his private life increasingly in turmoil, something had to give and, in April 2001, it did. Spectacularly. | Insecure and with his private life increasingly in turmoil, something had to give and, in April 2001, it did. Spectacularly. |
| Aaron Sorkin has battled drug addictionSorkin was arrested at Burbank Airport in possession of magic mushrooms, crack cocaine - "a drug I absolutely love" - and marijuana. He escaped a prison sentence but had to under-go rehab. He split from his wife shortly after. | Aaron Sorkin has battled drug addictionSorkin was arrested at Burbank Airport in possession of magic mushrooms, crack cocaine - "a drug I absolutely love" - and marijuana. He escaped a prison sentence but had to under-go rehab. He split from his wife shortly after. |
| Aaron Sorkin finally left The West Wing in 2003 and, though some hardcore fans complained that it was never the same again, the show remained a favourite of both viewers and critics until its finale in May this year. | |
| At upwards of $2.5m an episode, Studio 60 aspires to the Hollywood production values of The West Wing, Lost and The Sopranos. | At upwards of $2.5m an episode, Studio 60 aspires to the Hollywood production values of The West Wing, Lost and The Sopranos. |
| And its importance is such that NBC and CBS became mired in a bidding war for the right to show it. NBC won, agreeing to pay what has been called a "near record licence fee". | And its importance is such that NBC and CBS became mired in a bidding war for the right to show it. NBC won, agreeing to pay what has been called a "near record licence fee". |
| With that sort of money riding on the success of Studio 60, Aaron Sorkin will be expected to deliver, and deliver big. There are few outside observers who expect him to do anything else. | With that sort of money riding on the success of Studio 60, Aaron Sorkin will be expected to deliver, and deliver big. There are few outside observers who expect him to do anything else. |
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| Sir Christopher Evans | Sir Christopher Evans |
| The millionaire bio-tech businessman Sir Christopher Evans has become the third person to be arrested in the cash-for-peerages row. Sir Christopher, whose company manages investment in biotechnology research, is the first Labour donor to be arrested in the investigation. He said he was "extremely shocked and dismayed" at the move, adding, "there was nothing raised in the interview that caused me or my solicitor any concern... I have done nothing wrong and have absolutely nothing to hide." | The millionaire bio-tech businessman Sir Christopher Evans has become the third person to be arrested in the cash-for-peerages row. Sir Christopher, whose company manages investment in biotechnology research, is the first Labour donor to be arrested in the investigation. He said he was "extremely shocked and dismayed" at the move, adding, "there was nothing raised in the interview that caused me or my solicitor any concern... I have done nothing wrong and have absolutely nothing to hide." |
| Full story | Full story |
| Bindi Irwin | Bindi Irwin |
| A public memorial service for the Crocodile Hunter, Steve Irwin, has taken place Australia. The Australian prime minister, John Howard, led the tributes in front of 5,000 people at Australia Zoo in Queensland. Steve Irwin's eight-year-old daughter Bindi paid a remarkably-poised tribute, saying: "My daddy was my hero. He was always there for me when I needed him. He listened to me and taught me so many things. But most of all he was fun." | A public memorial service for the Crocodile Hunter, Steve Irwin, has taken place Australia. The Australian prime minister, John Howard, led the tributes in front of 5,000 people at Australia Zoo in Queensland. Steve Irwin's eight-year-old daughter Bindi paid a remarkably-poised tribute, saying: "My daddy was my hero. He was always there for me when I needed him. He listened to me and taught me so many things. But most of all he was fun." |
| Full story | Full story |
| "Lucy's baby" | "Lucy's baby" |
| Scientists say that a 3.3 million-year-old skeleton of the earliest child ever found shows that the ancient ancestor of modern humans walked upright but may also have climbed trees. The German-led palaeontological team spent four years recovering the well-preserved remains of a three-year-old girl of the species Australopithecus afarensis - which includes the fossil skeleton known as "Lucy" - in the Dikika area of Ethiopia, 400 kms northeast of the capital Addis Ababa. | Scientists say that a 3.3 million-year-old skeleton of the earliest child ever found shows that the ancient ancestor of modern humans walked upright but may also have climbed trees. The German-led palaeontological team spent four years recovering the well-preserved remains of a three-year-old girl of the species Australopithecus afarensis - which includes the fossil skeleton known as "Lucy" - in the Dikika area of Ethiopia, 400 kms northeast of the capital Addis Ababa. |
| Full story | Full story |
| Sam Allardyce | Sam Allardyce |
| The Bolton Wanderers football manager, Sam Allardyce, has said that he is "utterly innocent" of allegations, made by the BBC's Panorama programme, that he received illegal payments in return for signing players. Mr Allardyce added "I am determined to clear my name and have asked my lawyers to determine my next steps." The Football Association has said that it will be carrying out its own independent investigation into the allegations, which also implicated other football figures. | The Bolton Wanderers football manager, Sam Allardyce, has said that he is "utterly innocent" of allegations, made by the BBC's Panorama programme, that he received illegal payments in return for signing players. Mr Allardyce added "I am determined to clear my name and have asked my lawyers to determine my next steps." The Football Association has said that it will be carrying out its own independent investigation into the allegations, which also implicated other football figures. |
| Full story | Full story |
| Written by BBC News Profiles Unit's Andrew Walker | Written by BBC News Profiles Unit's Andrew Walker |