Every year, the Today programme hands over the editors' reins to public figures in the period between Christmas and new year.
The 2011 guest editors were Baroness Boothroyd, Stewart Lee, Mo Ibrahim, Lord Coe, Tracey Emin and Sir Victor Blank. Find out more about their programmes below.
LORD COE 26th DECEMBER
A double Olympic gold medallist, Sebastian Coe served as an MP from 1992 to 1997, became a peer in 2000 and led London's successful bid for the 2012 Olympics.
His programme investigated sporting rivalry, the Olympic legacy and sport's relationship with science and literature.
Born in Sudan and educated in Egypt and England, Mo Ibrahim's entrepreneurship in mobile communications has made him a billionaire.
The foundation which bears his name encourages better governance and leadership in Africa. "I'm going to use this opportunity to really promote my continent," he says. "Africa is full of optimism."
"It is not going to be boring, it is going to be fun," he says. "Stay with us, and you're going to hear some of the most wonderful voices out of Africa."
One of the foremost, and most controversial, British artists of recent years, Tracey Emin's often confessional works can be seen in galleries around the world.
Her programme looks at the link between art and economic growth, takes a tour round her hometown, Margate, and investigates how hospital food can be made better.
There was also be poetry, read by a number of famous names, as well as a reflection on how teachers are portrayed in popular culture.
Sir Victor Blank is the former chairman of Lloyds Banking Group, General Universal Stores and the Trinity Mirror Group. He is now UK business ambassador for the government.
His programme looked into selfless leadership, asking FW De Klerk how he steered South Africa out of apartheid and former cricket captain Michael Vaughan how he led the England team.
And he explored the UK's small philanthropists who give their time and effort for the good of others.
The first and only female Speaker of the House of Commons, Betty Boothroyd enjoyed a stage career as a dancer before becoming involved in politics in the 1960s and entering Parliament as the MP for West Bromwich in 1973.
She has sat as a crossbench peer since standing down as Speaker in 2000.
Her programme explored "the case against the government's plans for the abolition of the House of Lords", heard from an expert on garden pests and took a colourful trip into musical theatre.
Oxford graduate Stewart Lee came to prominence as one half of a comedy act with Richard Herring. He wrote the controversial Jerry Springer: The Opera and his BBC TV series Stewart Lee's Comedy Vehicle was nominated for a Bafta.
His programme features novelist AS Byatt, Oliver Cromwell, a discussion on professional critics and will "reflect, rather selfishly, exclusively on things that have been bothering me for the last 12 months".
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