Greg Jenner

But despite her decades in power, she's much less famous in the English-speaking world than, of course, her contemporary Queen Victoria.

Although Suu Kyi does have a brief appearance in Bernardo Bertolucci's 1987 film The Last Emperor.

So who was this woman who ruled China for nearly five decades?

How did she cling to power for so long?

And why was it never wise to accept one of her cakes?

Let's find out.

Professor Yang Wen, before we get into Sir Xi's birth, could you please paint us a picture of China at the time?

Yeah, so she's the last Manchu, it's the last of the Qing dynasty.

Right.

Right.

And the centre of power would be what we now call Beijing.

But was called Peking then.

And they lived, what was their palace like?

What was it called?

Forbidden for whom?

Ah, us, Sophie.

They've been on the throne for four centuries at the start of our story.

And Sophie, given that Suu Kyi ends up ruling China for this five-decade stretch, what kind of family do you think she comes from?

In terms of what?

In terms of money, power, military?