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Colleen McCullough, Richard von Weizsaecker, Carl Djerassi, Geraldine McEwan and Lotte Hass

Matthew Bannister on the lives of author Colleen McCullough, German president Richard von Weizsaecker, chemist Carl Djerassi, actress Geraldine McEwan and diver Lotte Hass.

Matthew Bannister on

Colleen McCullough, the Australian writer of the bestseller The Thorn Birds who spent her later life on a Pacific island.

Richard von Weizsaecker, President of Germany at re-unification, who gave a highly significant speech about the country's attitude to its troubled 20th Century history.

Carl Djerassi, the chemist who was known as the father of the contraceptive pill.

The actress Geraldine McEwan, who had a distinguished stage career and played Miss Marple on TV.

And the diver Lotte Hass who worked alongside her husband to pioneer underwater films which enchanted TV viewers in the 1950s.

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28 minutes

Colleen McCullough (pictured)

Last Word spoke to Shona Martyn, Publishing Director of HarperCollins in Australia and New Zealand and to the Senior Editor at Head of Zeus, Rosie de Courcy.

Born 1 June 1937; died 29 January 2015 aged 77.

Richard von Weizsäcker

Matthew spoke to Dr Isabelle Hertner, Deputy Director at Institute of German studies at University of Birmingham and to Professor Michael Stuermer, former advisor to the German Chancellor Helmut Kohl.

Born 15 April 1920; died 31 January 2015 aged 94.

Carl Djerassi

Matthew spoke to his son, Dale Djerassi and to Dr Lara Marks, author of Sexual Chemistry.

Born 29 October 1923; died 30 January 2015 aged 91.

Geraldine McEwan

Matthew spoke to theatre critic, Michael Coveney.

Born 9 May 1932; died 30 January 2015 aged 82.

Lotte Hass

Matthew spoke to Reg Vallintine, former head of BSAC and author of various diving books.

Born 6 November 1928; died 14 January 2015 aged 86.

Credits

Role Contributor
Presenter Matthew Bannister
Interviewed Guest Shona Martyn
Interviewed Guest Rosie de Courcy
Interviewed Guest Isabelle Hertner
Interviewed Guest Michael Stuermer
Interviewed Guest Dale Djerassi
Interviewed Guest Lara Marks
Interviewed Guest Michael Coveney
Interviewed Guest Reg Vallintine

Broadcasts

  • Fri 6 Feb 2015 16:00
  • Sun 8 Feb 2015 20:30

Podcast