Film-maker Stephen Frears champions his mentor, Karel Reisz. Read more
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Karel Reisz
Film-maker Stephen Frears champions his mentor, Karel Reisz.
George Orwell
Alan Johnson tells Matthew Parris about the impact George Orwell had on his life.
Edith Wharton
Naomi Wolf nominates Edith Wharton for Great Lives.
Dick Francis
Martin Broughton nominates Dick Francis, champion jockey and champion author.
Jean Cocteau
Francesca Simon tells Matthew Parris why Jean Cocteau's is a Great Life.
Prince Alamayu
Lemn Sissay chooses Prince Alamayu who, like him, was Ethiopian but fostered in Britain.
Ralph Vaughan Williams
Matthew Parris and Stuart Maconie celebrate the life of Ralph Vaughan Williams.
Grigori Rasputin
Grigori Rasputin, mad monk or righteous spiritual man ?
John Stuart Mill
Matthew Parris and Max Mosley celebrate the life of John Stuart Mill.
Aubrey Beardsley
Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen on his passion for Aubrey Beardsley. Matthew Parris presents.
Nancy Mitford
Grace Dent loves Nancy Mitford, author of Love in a Cold Climate. From 2013.
William Robinson
Gardener Carol Klein's choice is wild garden hero, William Robinson. With Matthew Parris.
George Bell
Peter Hitchens nominates George Bell, who condemned the bombing of Germany.
Galileo
Bobby Friction champions the Italian physicist and astronomer Galileo Galilei.
Kenny Everett
Chris Tarrant chooses one of the great pioneers of modern radio - Kenny Everett.
David Livingstone
John Blashford-Snell explains why he admires fellow explorer, Dr David Livingstone.
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
Gyles Brandreth praises the life of Arthur Conan Doyle, the creator of Sherlock Holmes.
Bill Shankly
Mumsnet founder Justine Roberts champions the life of the Liverpool manager Bill Shankly.
Salvador Dali
John Cooper Clarke nominates Salvador Dali for great life status, melting clocks and all.
Primo Levi
Edmund de Waal, ceramicist and author chooses Holocaust writer Primo Levi.
Florence Nightingale
Dr Lucy Worsley, chief curator at Historic Royal Palaces, chooses Florence Nightingale.
Russell Grant on Ivor Novello
Entertainer Russell Grant nominates Welsh composer and film star Ivor Novello.
Gabriel Gbadamosi on Fela Kuti
Gabriel Gbadamosi chooses as his Great Life the inventor of Afrobeat, musician Fela Kuti
Tanika Gupta on Rabindranath Tagore
Tanika Gupta nominates Rabindranath Tagore. With Matthew Parris and Ketaki Kushari Dyson.
Julie Burchill on Ava Gardner
The writer Julie Burchill talks to Matthew Parris about the Hollywood star Ava Gardner.
Paul Mason on Louise Michel
Paul Mason talks to Matthew Parris about the 19th-century French anarchist, Louise Michel.
Peter Bowles on George Devine
Matthew Parris is joined by Peter Bowles to discuss the life of director George Devine.
Konnie Huq on Ada Lovelace
TV presenter Konnie Huq chooses Lord Byron's daughter, the mathematician Ada Lovelace.
Sir Brendan Barber on John Steinbeck
Sir Brendan Barber champions John Steinbeck.
Al Murray on Bernard Montgomery
Comedian Al Murray champions the life of Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery.
Ricky Ross on Hank Williams
Ricky Ross from Deacon Blue champions songwriter Hank Williams. Matthew Parris presents.