Great Lives

BBC Radio 4

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

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408 episodes
Updated June 2

Episodes408

Newest first

May 28, 2019 · 27 min
Kamila Shamsie chooses Asma Jahangir
Kamila Shamsie champions the life of the human rights lawyer Asma Jahangir.
May 21, 2019 · 27 min
Shirley Collins on Alan Lomax
Shirley Collins and Billy Bragg on the legendary American song-hunter Alan Lomax.
May 15, 2019 · 27 min
Jeremy Deller on The Beatles' manager Brian Epstein
Turner Prize artist Jeremy Deller chooses The Beatles manager Brian Epstein.
May 7, 2019 · 27 min
Caroline Criado-Perez on Jane Austen
The feminist campaigner and writer Caroline Criado-Perez champions the life of Jane Austen
May 1, 2019 · 27 min
Kirill Gerstein on Ferruccio Busoni
Kirill Gerstein chooses conductor, composer and virtuoso Ferruccio Busoni
Apr 23, 2019 · 27 min
Malcolm Lowry, nominated by Ian McMillan
As a young man looking for a literary hero, poet Ian McMillan found writer Malcolm Lowry
Apr 18, 2019 · 27 min
Catherine de Medici nominated by Helen Lewis
Helen Lewis nominates the so-called 'Black Queen' of France, Catherine de Medici.
Apr 16, 2019 · 31 min
Aethelflaed, Lady of the Mercians, chosen by Tom Holland
Tom Holland chooses Aethelflaed, Lady of the Mercians
Apr 2, 2019 · 28 min
Shappi Khorsandi on Emma, Lady Hamilton
Shappi Khorsandi chooses Emma, Lady Hamilton Lord Nelson’s mistress.
Jan 22, 2019 · 30 min
Matt Lucas on Freddie Mercury
Matt Lucas chooses Freddie Mercury
Jan 15, 2019 · 27 min
Rohan Silva on Colin Chapman
Matthew Parris profiles the inventor of the car that changed the face of Formula One
Jan 8, 2019 · 27 min
Suzanne O'Sullivan on Oliver Sacks
Neurologist and author Oliver Sacks is Suzanne O'Sullivan's hero, she tells Matthew Parris
Jan 1, 2019 · 27 min
Nikesh Shukla on the Great Gama
The Great Gama, the strongest man in the world, championed by author Nikesh Shukla.
Dec 28, 2018 · 27 min
Sathnam Sanghera on Alexander Gardner
Writer Sathnam Sanghera nominates adventurer Alexander Gardner
Dec 25, 2018 · 27 min
Mark Steel on Charlie Chaplin
Charlie Chaplin wasn’t funny but a political rebel. Mark Steel nominates him as his hero.
Dec 19, 2018 · 27 min
Tim Smit on Humphrey Jennings
Eden Project founder chooses documentary maker and artist Humphrey Jennings
Dec 11, 2018 · 27 min
Russell Kane on Evelyn Waugh
Comedian Russell Kane nominates novelist Evelyn Waugh.
Dec 4, 2018 · 30 min
Samira Ahmed on Laura Ingalls Wilder
Laura Ingalls Wilder: author Tracy Chevalier joins Samira Ahmed
Sep 25, 2018 · 27 min
Christina Lamb on Benazir Bhutto
Christina Lamb, author and journalist nominates Benazir Bhutto as her great life.
Sep 20, 2018 · 27 min
Helen Glover on Alison Hargreaves
Olympic rower Helen Glover nominates the mountaineer Alison Hargreaves who died on K2.