Welcome to Legacy and the second part of our series on Mikhail Gorbachev, the former Soviet leader,

who's a hero in the West, but in his homeland, even Stalin's more popular.

When we left you last time, Gorbachev has overcome his humble background, rising through the Communist Party,

and then taking advantage of the quick succession of deaths of ageing leaders to become the new, fresh-faced symbol of change.

However, his reforms are causing economic chaos.

But it's on the international stage that Gorbachev looks like he's going to achieve

success and popularity. As a matter of fact, even before he'd become leader of the Soviet Union,

one of the West's most formidable leaders had spotted something she liked in The Rising Star.

December the 16th, 1984, Chekess, the British Prime Minister's country residence.

In a walnut-panelled drawing room, Margaret Thatcher adjusts her pearl and gold,

Trefari brooch. Across the snow-covered lawn, she watches the Russian delegation's car arrive.

Umbrellas shelter the visitors from the drifting snowflakes.

An aide announces their arrival.

Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Soviet Legislature, Mr. Mikhail Gorbachev and his wife, Reyesa.

Mrs Thatcher shares a knowing glance with her husband, Dennis.

Visits from authoritarian states invariably follow the same pattern, initial bemusement at a woman prime minister, then condescension, finally surprise as she exceeds their expectations.

So she feels a jolt of surprise,

as a balding man with a distinctive port wine birthmark

bounds towards her, a wide grin on his face,

arm outstretched.

Beside him, in a pinstriped grey jacket and silk necktie,

his wife cuts a poised, confident figure.

...