Poet Pam Ayres chooses the lad himself, Tony Hancock. Read more
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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.
Freya Stark
Travel writer Dervla Murphy discusses the life of another woman traveller, Freya Stark.
Sir Kyffin Williams
Rolf Harris discusses the life of the Welsh painter Sir Kyffin Williams.
The A-Z of Dr Johnson
Politician Boris Johnson chooses the creator of the English dictionary, Dr Samuel Johnson.
Miriam Makeba
Kate Humble discusses the South African singer and anti-apartheid activist, Miriam Makeba.
Harry Houdini
Paul Daniels explores the life of Harry Houdini, with help from biographer William Kalush.
Rudyard Kipling
John Major discusses the life of Rudyard Kipling, poet to the British Empire.
Henry V
Sir Ranulph Fiennes discusses the life of Henry V and tries to separate fact from myth.
Tennessee Williams
Stand-up comedian Rich Hall discusses the life of playwright Tennessee Williams.
Vivian Stanshall
Neil Innes discusses the life of his colleague and friend Vivian Stanshall.
Hannah Arendt
Munira Mirza discusses the life of the influential political philosopher Hannah Arendt.
Nero
Christopher Biggins champions the life of the Roman Emperor Nero.
Lise Meitner
Jenny Agutter champions the life and work of pioneering Austrian physicist Lise Meitner.
Picasso
Photographer David Bailey discusses the life and work of Pablo Picasso.
Bill Hamilton
Professor Richard Dawkins discusses the evolutionary theorist Bill Hamilton.
Bertolt Brecht
Playwright John Godber discusses the life of German writer Bertolt Brecht.
Robin Hood
Human rights lawyer Clive Stafford Smith discusses Robin Hood.
Douglas Jardine
Peter White discusses the controversial England cricket captain Douglas Jardine.
Matthew Flinders
Sir Stuart Rose discusses the life of the cartographer who mapped Australia.