Great Lives Podcast
Biographical series in which guests choose someone who has inspired their lives.
Episodes to download
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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.
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Antonia Quirke on Marlon Brando
Tue 12 May 2015
Marlon Brando - greatest actor of the twentieth century?
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Wendy Cope on John Clare
Tue 5 May 2015
Matthew Parris talks to Wendy Cope about her poetic hero John Clare. From 2015.
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Dame Helen Ghosh on James Lees-Milne
Tue 28 Apr 2015
Matthew Parris talks to the National Trust's Dame Helen Ghosh about James Lees-Milne.
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Kulvinder Ghir on Zoran Music
Tue 21 Apr 2015
Comedian and actor Kulvinder Ghir nominates the life of the artist Zoran Music.
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Rachel Johnson on Ottoline Morrell
Tue 14 Apr 2015
Rachel Johnson author and journalist champions the life of Ottoline Morrell.
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Sir Trevor McDonald on Learie Constantine
Tue 7 Apr 2015
The veteran broadcaster Sir Trevor McDonald chooses the life of Learie Constantine
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Mervyn King on Risto Ryti
Tue 27 Jan 2015
Mervyn King champions the life of the former Prime Minister of Finland Risto Ryti.
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Eve Pollard on Nora Ephron
Tue 20 Jan 2015
Journalist Eve Pollard explores Hollywood screenwriter Nora Ephron with Matthew Parris.
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Michael Dobbs on Guy Burgess
Tue 13 Jan 2015
Michael Dobbs looks back at the life of Cambridge spy Guy Burgess.
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Philippa Langley on Richard III
Tue 6 Jan 2015
Matthew Parris talks to Philippa Langley about the life of Richard III.
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Tom Solomon on Roald Dahl
Tue 30 Dec 2014
Professor Tom Solomon talks about his former patient, writer Roald Dahl.
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Brian Eno on Lord Young of Dartington
Tue 23 Dec 2014
Brian Eno champions the life and work of social reformer Michael Young.
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Laura Bates on Louisa May Alcott
Tue 16 Dec 2014
Laura Bates tells Matthew Parris why Louisa May Alcott of "Little Women" is her Great Life
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Arthur Smith on Emil ZΓ΅topek
Tue 9 Dec 2014
Comedian Arthur Smith tells Matthew Parris about the life of Olympic runner Emil ZΓ΅topek.
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Professor Edith Hall on Lucille Ball
Tue 30 Sep 2014
Matthew Parris invites Professor Edith Hall to nominate her idol.
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Andrew Adonis on Joseph Bazalgette
Tue 23 Sep 2014
Lord Adonis chooses Victorian engineer, aka 'The Sewer King', Sir Joseph Bazalgette
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Stella Rimington on Dorothy L Sayers
Wed 10 Sep 2014
Dame Stella Rimington explains to Matthew Parris why Dorothy L Sayers fascinates her.
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Labi Siffre on Arthur Ransome
Tue 9 Sep 2014
Matthew Parris invites singer songwriter Labi Siffre to nominate his choice of life.
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Tom Shakespeare on Gramsci
Tue 2 Sep 2014
Dr Tom Shakespeare tells Matthew Parris why Antonio Gramsci's is a Great Life.
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Great Rock and Roll Lives
Stories of inspiration from great musicians from Bowie to Billie Holliday
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