Clare English meets the entrepreneurs, mavericks, trend-setters and seminal thinkers who have forged a path to the top

Broadcaster and current affairs specialist Clare English talks to 12 extraordinary trailblazers. Here are the inspiring stories of politicians and inventors, scientists and surgeons, models, parents, creatives and founders. All, in their own field and in their own way, have broken new ground and changed the world.

David Blunkett tells how he rose to high political office despite being blind from birth; Kim Cotton discusses the highs and lows of becoming the UK's first surrogate mother; and Ian Ritchie talks about pioneering the first web browser - and reveals the missed opportunity that could have made him millions. From EastEnders actor Michael Cashman, who made history with UK TV's first gay kiss to Professor Sir Alan Cuschieri on spearheading keyhole surgery and David Gow on coming up with the idea of the world's first bionic hand, each has a compelling tale to share.

Also included are three episodes from another BBC Radio Scotland series, Women on Top, in which Clare English chats to successful women about the sacrifices they had to make to reach the top, and whether they really have it all. We hear from Nicola Sturgeon about her life in Scottish politics; Marie Claire editor Marie O'Riordan on the glamour of the fashion industry; and Krissi Murison on becoming NME magazine's first female editor, and whether her gender makes any difference on the job.

Presented by Clare English

Pioneers
Produced by Philip Sime

With: David Blunkett, Sir Alec Jeffreys, Kim Cotton, Ian Ritchie, Michael Cashman, James Goodfellow, Michael Apted, Shannon Murray, Professor Sir Alfred Cuschieri, Roy Day and Mike Tunstall of The Samaritans, David Gow

First broadcast on BBC Radio Scotland: 23 December 2010-3 February 2011 (Series 1), 25 August-29 September 2011 (Series 2)

Women on Top

With Nicola Sturgeon, Marie O'Riordan and Krissi Murison

First broadcast on BBC Radio Scotland: 29 January 2009, 15 January 2009 and 17 June 2010