Great Lives Podcast
Biographical series in which guests choose someone who has inspired their lives.
Episodes to download
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Alex Salmond on Thomas Muir
Tue 9 Aug 2016
Alex Salmond chooses Thomas Muir, whom he describes as the father of Scottish democracy.
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Hilary Devey on Gracie Fields
Tue 2 Aug 2016
The life of Dame Gracie Fields is championed by Hilary Devey. From 2016.
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Frank Turner on Joseph Grimaldi
Tue 31 May 2016
Frank Turner chooses Joseph Grimaldi who changed the face of Clowning forever.
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Charles Moore on Gordon Hamilton-Fairley
Tue 17 May 2016
Cancer pioneer Gordon Hamilton-Fairley, killed by an IRA bomb when he was just 45.
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Richard the Lionheart
Tue 10 May 2016
Timmy Mallett chooses Richard the Lionheart. With Helen Castor and Matthew Parris.
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Graeme Lamb on Christine Granville
Tue 3 May 2016
Lt-Gen Sir Graeme Lamb champions wartime spy Christine Granville. Matthew Parris chairs
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Sudha Bhuchar chooses the life of Zohra Sehgal
Tue 26 Apr 2016
Playwright and actress Sudha Bhuchar nominates the life of actor Zohra Sehgal.
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Ray Peacock chooses the life of Lenny Bruce
Tue 19 Apr 2016
Comedian Ray Peacock nominates the controversial life of Lenny Bruce.
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Nancy Dell'Olio chooses the life of Lucrezia Borgia
Tue 12 Apr 2016
Nancy Dell'Olio champions the much maligned Lucrezia Borgia.
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Eliza Manningham-Buller chooses Abraham Lincoln
Sat 23 Jan 2016
Eliza Manningham-Buller on why she regards Abraham Lincoln as a great life.
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Nitin Sawhney on Jeff Buckley
Tue 19 Jan 2016
Nitin Sawhney champions the life of American singer-songwriter Jeff Buckley
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Susan Calman on Molly Weir
Tue 12 Jan 2016
Comedian Susan Calman chooses the life of actress Molly Weir.
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Martin Jennings on Charles Sargeant Jagger
Tue 5 Jan 2016
Martin Jennings nominates the British sculptor Charles Sargeant Jagger.
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Precious Lunga chooses Wangari Maathai
Tue 29 Dec 2015
Matthew Parris explores the remarkable life of Professor Wangari Maathai.
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Alvin Hall chooses James Baldwin
Tue 22 Dec 2015
Matthew Parris meets financial guru Alvin Hall, whose hero is James Baldwin.
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Roger Saul chooses Gertrude Jekyll
Tue 15 Dec 2015
Fashion designer Roger Saul chooses garden designer Gertrude Jekyll
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Dickie Bird on the life of Sir Leonard Hutton
Tue 8 Dec 2015
Dickie Bird champions his hero Sir Leonard Hutton.
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Toyah Willcox on Katharine Hepburn
Tue 29 Sep 2015
Toyah Willcox nominates her hero Katharine Hepburn who she met and worked with.
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Nick Stadlen on Bram Fischer
Tue 22 Sep 2015
Nick Stadlen champions the life of the Afrikaner Revolutionary Bram Fischer.
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Hannah Rothschild on Thelonious Monk
Tue 15 Sep 2015
Hannah Rothschild looks back at the life of jazz musician Thelonious Monk.
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Monica Ali chooses Richard Francis Burton
Tue 1 Sep 2015
The author Monica Ali champions the life of the explorer Richard Francis Burton.
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George Washington Williams
Tue 25 Aug 2015
Ade Adepitan champions the life of George Washington Williams.
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Michael Howard on Elizabeth I
Tue 18 Aug 2015
Michael Howard, Conservative Party former leader, tells Matthew Parris about Elizabeth I.
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Vicky Pryce on Melina Mercouri
Tue 11 Aug 2015
Economist Vicky Pryce nominates the Greek film star and politician Melina Mercouri.
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Ian McKellen on Edmund Hillary
Tue 4 Aug 2015
Sir Ian McKellen nominates mountaineer Edmund Hillary as his inspirational figure.
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Val McDermid on PD James
Tue 2 Jun 2015
Matthew Parris talks to crime writer Val McDermid about the life of PD James.
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David Blunkett on Louis Braille
Tue 26 May 2015
Matthew Parris hears from David Blunkett about the life of Louis Braille. From 2015.
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US Ambassador Matthew Barzun on JG Winant
Tue 19 May 2015
Matthew Parris meets US Ambassador Matthew Barzun to talk about his wartime predecessor.
Great Rock and Roll Lives
Stories of inspiration from great musicians from Bowie to Billie Holliday
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