Roger Graef champions the great comic Groucho Marx. Read more
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Groucho Marx
Roger Graef champions the great comic Groucho Marx.
Katherine Mansfield
Jacqueline Wilson chooses the writer Katherine Mansfield. With Angela Smith as witness.
Hermann Buhl
Mountaineer Joe Simpson takes up the cause of the pioneering Austrian climber Hermann Buhl
Peter Cushing
Actor and writer Mark Gatiss chooses horror film star, Peter Cushing.
Charles Bukowski
Comedian Rhona Cameron chooses the German-American writer and poet, Charles Bukowski.
Paavo Nurmi
Former athlete Steve Cram nominates ‘Flying Finn’ Paavo Nurmi. Matthew Parris presents.
Lord Longford
Jon Snow champions jails reform campaigner and politician, Lord Longford.
Robert Hooke
David Attenborough nominates the largely forgotten 17th-century inventor and illustrator.
Alan Freed
Bob Harris nominates Alan Freed, the first ever rock 'n' roll DJ.
Henry VII
Former chancellor George Osborne nominates Henry VII, founder of the Tudor dynasty.
David Ervine
Lesley Riddoch nominates former Loyalist paramilitary turned politician David Ervine.
Lady Hester Stanhope
Deborah Meaden nominates the Georgian hostess, diplomat and spy Lady Hester Stanhope.
William Hogarth
Eighteenth-century satirist and painter William Hogarth is nominated by Ian Hislop.
Luciano Pavarotti
Luciano Pavarotti is nominated by the music promoter Harvey Goldsmith.
Billy Marsh
Michael Grade and William G Stewart champion the life of theatrical agent Billy Marsh.
Beachcomber
The Snowman author Raymond Briggs chooses JB Morton, aka Beachcomber.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Actor David Soul champions the life of German pastor and theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer.
Bette Davis
Tracy-Ann Oberman champions the life of one of the silver screen's most enduring icons.
Tony Hancock
Poet Pam Ayres chooses the lad himself, Tony Hancock.
Margot Fonteyn
Horticulturalist Rachel De Thame champions her heroine, the ballerina Margot Fonteyn.
Robert Kennedy
Ken Livingstone discusses his hero, US politician Robert Kennedy.
Roy Jenkins
Journalist Polly Toynbee chooses one of the most noted of post-war politicians Roy Jenkins
Sir Thomas Beecham
David Mellor promotes the life of conductor Sir Thomas Beecham.
Carl Gustav Jung
Ruby Wax discusses the life and work of Carl Gustav Jung.
Frank Sinatra
Broadcaster and DJ Colin Murray chooses Frank Sinatra.
John Coltrane
Musician Andy Sheppard chooses influential saxophonist John Coltrane.
Fred Astaire
Dr Michael O'Donnell discusses celebrated singer, actor and choreographer Fred Astaire.
Giovanni Falcone
Journalist Misha Glenny remembers the life of anti-Mafia campaigner Giovanni Falcone.
Alfred, Lord Tennyson
Andrew Motion champions the life of Alfred, Lord Tennyson, Poet Laureate for over 40 years
Joe Slovo
David Miliband discusses the life of Joe Slovo, a leading member of the ANC.
John Cornford
George Galloway chooses British poet and political activist John Cornford.