Physicist Jim al-Khalili nominates Gertrude Bell who shaped modern-day Iraq. Read more
now playing
Gertrude Bell
Physicist Jim al-Khalili nominates Gertrude Bell who shaped modern-day Iraq.
Mary Stott
Katharine Whitehorn chooses journalist and campaigner Mary Stott.
Thomas Edison
Sir Clive Sinclair discusses fellow inventor Thomas Edison with Matthew Parris.
Leonard Bernstein
Conductor Charles Hazlewood chooses Leonard Bernstein.
Simone de Beauvoir
Actress Diana Quick selects philosopher Simone de Beauvoir for Great Lives.
Lewis Carroll
Writer Lynne Truss chooses the creator of Alice in Wonderland, Lewis Carroll.
Kathleen Ferrier
Broadcaster Sue MacGregor nominates singer Kathleen Ferrier who died tragically young.
Paul Robeson
Anna Ford nominates singer, actor and civil rights activist Paul Robeson.
Richard Pryor
Skills minister David Lammy puts the case for the revolutionary comedian Richard Pryor.
Edward Lear
Nicholas Parsons nominates Edward Lear, now remembered best for his nonsense verse.
Field Marshal Bill Slim
General Mike Jackson nominates Field Marshal Bill Slim, leader of the WW2 Burma campaign.
Petra Kelly
Green MP Caroline Lucas nominates Petra Kelly, the German Green superstar politician.
AE Housman
Author Colin Dexter nominates scholar and poet AE Housman. With Robert Douglas-Fairhurst.
Juan Manuel Fangio
Stirling Moss nominates the great racing driver Juan Manuel Fangio.
Ian Curtis
Poet Simon Armitage nominates Joy Division singer Ian Curtis.
Joyce Grenfell
Arabella Weir nominates Joyce Grenfell. Biographer Janie Hampton assists.
Graham Greene
War reporter Tim Butcher chooses an exploration into the strange world of Graham Greene.
Kirsty MacColl
Broadcaster Janice Long champions the life and work of singer-songwriter Kirsty MacColl.
Eduardo Paolozzi
Restaurateur Antonio Carluccio nominates the Scottish artist Sir Eduardo Paolozzi.
William Shakespeare
Poetry curator Daisy Goodwin nominates the Bard himself, William Shakespeare.
Hans Fallada
Fast Show comic Simon Day tells Matthew Parris why he is fascinated by writer Hans Fallada
Hildegard Von Bingen
Cerys Matthews on why 12th-century nun Hildegard von Bingen qualifies as a great life.
Gerald Durrell
Former England player Graeme le Saux champions the life of conservationist Gerald Durrell.
Emily Dickinson
The reclusive American poet Emily Dickinson is the choice of fellow poet Gwyneth Lewis.
Edwin Lutyens
Simon Jenkins proposes Edwin Lutyens, architect of New Delhi and the Cenotaph.
Philip K Dick
Michael Sheen champions Philip K Dick who has had an influence on his production of Hamlet
Ludwig Wittgenstein
Ludwig Wittgenstein, fascinating and misunderstood thinker, is chosen by Raymond Tallis.
Thomas Hobbes
Steven Pinker joins Matthew Parris to discuss the life of the philosopher Thomas Hobbes.
Ludwig II of Bavaria
Brian Sewell on his love of 'Mad' King Ludwig II of Bavaria.
Lonnie Donegan
Downton Abbey actor Jim Carter champions the life and work of skiffle king Lonnie Donegan.
Gracie Allen
Actress Emma Kennedy chooses the life of the American comedienne Gracie Allen.