Faces of the week

Our regular look at some of the faces which have made the news this week. Above are JOHN PRESCOTT (main picture), with CINDY CRAWFORD, OPRAH WINFREY, KOSTAS KENTERIS and ELMER BERNSTEIN.

JOHN PRESCOTT

When the cat's away, the mice will play. In charge of the country while the prime minister is on holiday abroad, John Prescott can't keep out of the news.

As a former cruise liner steward, John Prescott's experience on the high seas came in very handy this week.

While on a nostalgic trip to north Wales with his wife Pauline, the couple stayed at the same hotel in Bala in which he once worked as a porter.

Trying his hand at white-water rafting, he and his bodyguard spotted a kayaker with blood pouring from a head wound. The pair waded in and hauled the man to safety.

At the helm: John Prescott kayaking

Not long afterwards, Mr Prescott was surveying the damage caused by more rushing water, this time in the Cornish village of Boscastle, which had just been devastated by flash floods.

Then he was subjected to a torrent of a different kind - a verbal lashing from the mother of a soldier killed in Iraq. Mr Prescott was apologising, on behalf of his boss, for a letter of condolence which was delivered nearly seven weeks after the tragedy.

Defending the prime minister is a crucial part of the deputy's job, even if it sometimes means putting your own interests aside.

John Prescott, it's widely believed, never liked the new Labour label, has always distrusted spin doctors, and is dubious about such policies as tuition fees.

"Every prime minister needs a Willie," Mrs Thatcher once said of her loyal deputy, Willie Whitelaw. Prescott and Whitelaw may be miles apart as people, but a crucial attribute they have in common is a lack of ambition for the top job.

For this reason, Roy Hattersley wrote recently that "John Prescott is the best deputy leader Labour has ever had".

Brake on PM

It is often said that Mr Prescott lacks the eloquence and strong Commons performances required of a prime minister anyway.

His willingness to trade blows with egg-throwing protesters could also be a mark against any leadership bid.

But, according to Roy Hattersley, John Prescott has successfully curbed some of Tony Blair's extremes.

"On all the essential democratic issues - education, health, housing - Prescott has been on the progressive side of the argument," he says.

Prescott is also said to have led a Cabinet revolt in February, against David Blunkett's bid to push through tough new anti-terror laws.

John Prescott spans Labour's divide

On the other hand, some Labour MPs on the left have accused John Prescott of selling out his proletarian principles by failing to prevent such policies as the private finance initiatives, foundation hospitals and the Iraq war.

What's more, Prescott's pet project, to devolve power to the English regions, has more or less been ditched, and his 10-year transport plan has been rewritten by Alistair Darling.

Observers agree, though, that John Prescott has been instrumental in maintaining stability within the Labour Party, being an important mediator between the Blair and Brown camps.

He has signalled his determination to remain deputy prime minister after the next election, so that he can act as a kingmaker in Labour's leadership race, whenever that may be.

He told Mr Blair that he deeply regretted the comments he made back in May when he said that "when the plates appear to be moving, everyone positions themselves". It unintentionally sparked a flurry of speculation about Mr Blair's future.

For John Prescott knows that, in his position, he, above all, should not rock the boat. Not bad advice for white-water rafting.

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CINDY CRAWFORD Supermodel Cindy Crawford who, 10 years ago, famously declared she would rather go naked than wear fur, appears to have changed her mind. She has modelled five mink coats for the Blackglama company. The move has angered animal rights groups who claim the fur industry is still barbaric. Crawford has followed in the footsteps of Naomi Campbell who had a similar change of heart. Unlike a leopard, it seems a supermodel can change her spots.

OPRAH WINFREY Oprah Winfrey, queen of the daytime chat show, was one of 12 jurors who convicted a Chicago man of murder, following a three-day trial in Cook County, Chicago. "It was an eye-opener for all of us", she said, "a huge reality check." Reporters scrutinised her every move in court, even noting what she ate for lunch. The experience has also benefited Oprah professionally. Next week, some of the jurors will appear on her show. Full story

KOSTAS KENTERIS Greek sprinter Kostas Kenteris, along with his team-mate Ekaterini Thanou, pulled out of the Olympic Games this week, after being summoned to explain himself by the IOC. The pair stand accused of missing two drugs tests; shortly after they were due to be tested in Athens, they said they were involved in a motorcycle accident. As he left hospital, Kenteris told a media scrum: "After the crucifixion will come the resurrection." Full story

ELMER BERNSTEIN Elmer Bernstein, the man behind some of Hollywood's favourite film scores, died this week at the age of 82. Movies such as The Great Escape and The Magnificent Seven are memorable as much for Bernstein's music as for the acting. Hugely prolific, he composed soundtracks for more than 250 films and television shows. He was nominated 14 times for an Oscar, though he won only once, for Thoroughly Modern Millie. Full story

Compiled by Bob Chaundy of the BBC News profiles unit