Great Lives

BBC Radio 4

Biographical series in which guests choose someone who has inspired their lives.

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20 episodes
Updated June 2

Episodes20

Newest first

June 2 · 27 min
Cartoonist Naji al-Ali
Mona Chalabi chooses Naji al-Ali, Palestinian cartoonist shot in London in 1987.
June 1 · 27 min
Cleopatra picked by Kate Williams
Kate Williams picks Cleopatra, queen of ancient Egypt for over 20 years.
May 19 · 27 min
Ade Edmondson on singer Sandy Denny
Ade Edmondson - star of The Young Ones and much more - chooses the singer Sandy Denny.
May 19 · 27 min
Tony Garnett picked by Harry Bradbeer
The director of Fleabag and Killing Eve picks the producer of Kes and Cathy Come Home.
May 19 · 27 min
Peter Cook picked by Jon Harvey aka Count Binface
Comedian Jon Harvey picks Peter Cook as his hero for Great Lives.
May 19 · 27 min
Coco Khan picks Edith Garrud, the jujitsu fighting suffragette
Journalist Coco Khan picks the formidable jujitsu fighting suffragette, Edith Garrud.
May 19 · 27 min
William Gladstone, four-time PM
Trevor Lyttleton picks William Gladstone, Victorian prime minister and tory turned liberal
May 11 · 27 min
Alistair McGowan on HE Bates
Impressionist, poet and comedian Alistair McGowan on author HE Bates
May 11 · 27 min
Beverley Knight on Sister Rosetta Tharpe, the godmother of rock and roll
Beverley Knight picks the great Rosetta Tharpe, gospel singer turned pioneer.
March 2 · 27 min
Daisy Dunn on Marcus Agrippa, ancient Rome's king of cement
Classicist Daisy Dunn picks Marcus Agrippa, right-hand man of the emperor Augustus.
February 23 · 27 min
Dr Sian Williams nominates Anna Freud
Psychoanalyst Anna Freud is the choice of broadcaster and psychologist Dr Sian Williams.
February 16 · 27 min
Pianist and broadcaster Keelan Carew nominates Russian composer Nicolai Medtner
Pianist and broadcaster Keelan Carew champions the pianist and composer Nicolai Medtner.
February 10 · 27 min
Comedian Helen Lederer on Joan Rivers
Famous guests pick someone who has inspired their lives.
February 10 · 27 min
John Cooper Clarke on Johnny Green, road manager of The Clash
Famous guests pick someone who has inspired their lives
January 28 · 27 min
Helen Carr picks Christine de Pizan at the Gloucester history festival
Famous guests picks someone who has inspired their lives.
January 19 · 27 min
Alex Wheatle, the Bard of Brixton
Ashley John Baptiste chooses Alex Wheatle, author of the Crongton novels.
January 12 · 27 min
Spitfire pilot Jeffrey Quill picked by astronaut Tim Peake
Famous guests pick someone who has inspired their lives.
Nov 3, 2025 · 27 min
Oliver Postgate
Andrew Davenport, creator of In the Night Garden, chooses Oliver Postgate.
Oct 27, 2025 · 27 min
Sylvia Plath
The writer Sylvia Plath, chosen by Lucy Jones.
Oct 20, 2025 · 27 min
Elizabeth Day on Hatshepsut
Famous guests pick someone they love or admire.