CNBC Meets

CNBC Meets with Tania Bryer airs globally on CNBC. The series profiles celebrities and their philanthropy. Bryer has interviewed amongst others, Bill Clinton, Sir Richard Branson, Jimmy Carter, Angelina Jolie, Tom Cruise, Matt Damon, Sean Penn, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Mayor of London Boris Johnson, Cherie Blair, Tony Blair, Bob Geldof, Naomi Campbell, Sir Philip Green, Chelsea Clinton, Tamara Mellon, Jon Bon Jovi, Andre Agassi, will.i.am, Jessye Norman, Prince Albert II of Monaco, Carla Bruni-Sarkozy, Prince Andrew, The Duke of York, Lang Lang, Maria Sharapova, Diane von Furstenberg and Dolly Parton.^[2]

CNBC Meets: In the Press

Former US President Bill Clinton admitted to Bryer in 2013 that if the US had gone into Rwanda sooner following the start of the 1994 genocide, at least a third or 300,000 lives could have been saved. Clinton explained that the failure of his administration to act during the genocide, which claimed the lives of around one million Rwandans, was one of the reasons behind the establishment of the Clinton Foundation. "If we'd gone in sooner I believe we could have saved at least a third of the lives that were lost ... it had an enduring impact on me."^[3][4]

In 2014, former US President Jimmy Carter told Bryer he "could have wiped Iran off the map" with the weapons he had during the hostage crisis. Carter also claimed that if he had proved himself "manly" and had used military force, a second term in the Oval Office would have been possible. "I think I would have been re-elected easily if I had been able to rescue our hostages from the Iranians ... I would say I would send one more helicopter because if I had one more helicopter we could have brought out not only the 52 hostages, but also brought out the rescue team, and when that failed, then I think that was the main factor that brought about my failure to be re-elected."^[5]

In a 2015 interview, celebrated opera soprano Jessye Norman told Bryer that "racialism was practiced at the highest levels of government" in the US. She attacked the US Congress and the "unprecedented roadblocks" they had put in the way of President Barack Obama: "... the roadblocks that members of Congress put in front of this President are unprecedented and they have very little to do with his policies and very much to do with the fact that he's African American. And I say that loudly because I know it to be true. I'm not running for office so I don't have to hedge my conversations here about this. It's racialism practiced at the highest levels of government, that is a thing which should not even be allowed. We should be better than that, we should be bigger than that."^[6]

In a rare interview at Buckingham Palace in 2014, Prince Andrew, The Duke of York revealed to Bryer that he remains friends with his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson for the sake of his family and because he feels it would be "illogical" not to. He said it was important they have a good relationship for their daughters and called her a "fantastic mother". He told Bryer, "It's just part of life's rich tapestry. If you've been married to somebody I just see it as illogical not to be a friend at the end of the day, regardless of what your set of circumstances are." The Duke also spoke about his time in the Royal Navy and revealed that he feared for his life during the Falklands War when he was shot at as he co-piloted a Sea King helicopter during one mission. "It's not particularly nice to be shot at and I can attest to that and you just look at life in a different way and you try to achieve more."^[7][8]

In 2011, Naomi Campbell showed Bryer her childhood home in Streatham, London. She also addressed her past aggressive behaviour, her five-year battle to overcome cocaine addiction and her close relationship with Nelson Mandela.^[9][10]

In 2014, Matt Damon revealed to Bryer that he would be "open" to reprising the role of Jason Bourne. Damon talked about stardom, his upbringing and how meeting childhood friend Ben Affleck changed their lives. He spoke about the battles they had to overcome to make Good Will Hunting and how he felt when he won his Oscar. He also discussed why he chooses to keep his family out of the spotlight and how he copes with fame: "It kind of happens overnight and you're aware that the world is exactly the same as it was yesterday … It's a very surreal experience because you know intellectually that the world is the same, it's just never ever going to be the same for you."^[11]

Richard Desmond told Bryer in 2011 that being described as "porn baron" or "porn king" was "inaccurate". He says: "Porn to me is illegal and we had magazines which were sold through WH Smith and John Menzies." Desmond called Rupert Murdoch both an "inspiration" and a "rival", but said he is not "the greatest manager" he has ever come across. Desmond also talked about launching celebrity magazine OK! in 1993 in a challenge to Hello!, which he claimed was "dull" and "out of touch" with the British public. Desmond said taking on Hello! was the "hardest thing" the company had ever done. He explained OK! overtook its rival with the help of Michael Jackson's baby, the death of Princess Diana and the Beckhams.^[12]

Bryer was the last person to interview iconic hairdresser Vidal Sassoon before he died. In a highly personal and moving interview he spoke about his impoverished childhood, his years in a Jewish orphanage in the East End of London and candidly about how his mother could not afford to look after them during the Depression. Sassoon talked about how he revolutionised the hair industry in the 1960s, how he grew his global hair empire and how he overcame many tragedies including the death of his brother and his daughter, and how he was facing the biggest battle of his life overcoming leukaemia.^[13]

London Mayor Boris Johnson admitted frittering away his student years "fooling around", but said he hoped his "embarrassing" antics with the Bullingdon Club drinking society could now be forgotten. Reminded of his membership of the Bullingdon alongside Eton contemporary David Cameron, the Mayor told Bryer: "I owe the Oxford Union and the institutions there a huge amount. If I have a regret, it's that I spent so much time fooling around, frittering my time at Oxford when I should have focused more on serious stuff."^[14]

Cherie Blair told Bryer that the press attention on her life in Downing Street had been 'hurtful' at times and that it was naive not to give any interviews when her husband first came into office. She thought, "Why would anyone necessarily be interested in other things? ... But because people were interested and – because I didn't give interviews – it ended up that everything became focused on my appearance." While Blair was sometimes angered and "hurt" at the press attention on herself and her children, she said she did not have contempt for the British press: "Everyone's only human and there were times when of course it was hurtful. But he (Tony) always said to me, 'You complain about the British press like you complain about the British weather: it's a fact of life. When it's nice, the sun comes out and we celebrate that, but you have to take the rain as well.'"^[15]

The CNBC Conversation

Bryer also presents The CNBC Conversation series meeting international headline-makers and conducting rare interviews including HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco, Former South African President F.W. De Klerk, Former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan and fashion titan Tom Ford.

The CNBC Conversation: In the Press

HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco talked to Bryer about his mother Grace Kelly and the values that his parents instilled in him as a child.

Bryer sat down with fashion designer and businessman Tom Ford for an interview about his Texas childhood, his feelings about Yves Saint Laurent, who wrote him "harsh" letters at the time he was creative director of the fashion house, and how he spiralled into depression and his mid-life crisis. Ford also talked about his relationship with his partner Richard Buckley and how fatherhood has changed his life. He gave a few hints about his new screenplay and revealed that he would love to dress the Duchess of Cambridge. "She's a beautiful woman, she's smart and I think she's doing an incredible job'.^[16][17]

Former U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan told Bryer that he was "bitterly disappointed" that the international community had not responded faster to the Ebola crisis, as the public health systems in the three African countries affected had "collapsed". He warned that a "dark cloud" could be cast over Africa if the press continued its scaremongering over Ebola.^[18]

Former South African President F.W. de Klerk spoke about his transformative role as the final head of state under Apartheid rule, in an interview with Bryer in June 2015. De Klerk was appointed to lead a country racially segregated by law, but won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993 along with the late Nelson Mandela for working to end Apartheid. In the exclusive interview, de Klerk discussed his "real friendship" with Mandela and how the fall of the Berlin Wall helped smooth the way for Apartheid's collapse. He also discussed the corruption allegations regarding South Africa's hosting of the 2010 World Cup and the government of Jacob Zuma.^[19]

Sustainable Future

Bryer presents CNBC's Sustainable Future, the series examines how the planet's biggest businesses are changing to reduce their impact on climate change; the first episode aired on 12 April 2021.^[20]

Finding Solutions

Bryer presents CNBC's Finding Solutions series, which focuses on individuals from around the world who are actively making a difference to our planet and who have been recognised for it.^[21]

CNBC Meets: Episodes

The CNBC Conversation: Episodes

Trailblazers: Episodes

The Leadership League: Episodes