MUMBAI: BBC World's flagship current affairs interview programme HARDtalk , will celebrate its tenth anniversary this week and will air repeat telecasts of interviews of some people who have made history.

Known for its interviews with politicians and newsmakers from around the world, the special anniversary episodes will put the spotlight on Dr Naji Sabri and Sir Jeremy Greenstock on 16 April, Meles Zenawi on 17 April and Romeo Dallaire on 18 April.

Presenter Stephen Sackur says, "I've met many world leaders who have enormous respect for HARDtalk, and I can think of no bigger programme with which to be involved. I've had pretty much the best job in the BBC as a foreign correspondent, and the only way of topping that was through HARDtalk, putting tough questions to the people who shape our world."

Stephen took over from former presenter Tim Sebastian in January 2005. Tim presented HARDtalk since it began in March 1997 and recorded more than 1500 editions.

Tim adds, "It was an enormous privilege to be in a position to ask leading questions and to travel the world trying to get answers. We left some bruised political egos in our wake, and some important feathers ruffled."

HARDtalk is broadcast on BBC World daily from Monday to Thursday, with five showings per day in Europe, the Americas and Africa and three in Asia, Australasia and the Middle East. The programme has gained an international reputation for asking tough questions of global leaders, political figures, the military, campaigners and representatives of the world's leading organisations. HARDtalk is edited by Carey Clark.