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

Sep 18, 2018 · 31 min
Mark Carwardine on Douglas Adams
Douglas Adams the author of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
Sep 11, 2018 · 27 min
Cherie Blair on Dame Rose Heilbron
Cherie Blair chooses her role mode, England's first woman judge, Rose Heilbron
Sep 5, 2018 · 30 min
Greg Jenner on Gene Kelly
'Horrible Histories' consultant Greg Jenner on his all time favourite - Gene Kelly.
Aug 21, 2018 · 27 min
Patricia Greene on Bess of Hardwick
Patricia Greene, the actress who plays Jill Archer, nominates Bess of Hardwick as her hero
Aug 14, 2018 · 28 min
Simon Evans on JS Mill
Comedian Simon Evans nominates JS Mill, author of On Liberty.
Aug 8, 2018 · 27 min
Erica Wagner on Roald Amundsen
Erica Wagner nominates the first man at the South Pole: Roald Amundsen
Jul 31, 2018 · 27 min
Hanif Kureishi on David Bowie
Hanif Kureishi nominates his friend David Bowie as his hero.
May 29, 2018 · 28 min
Barbara Stocking on Catherine the Great
Catherine the Great is chosen by Dame Barbara Stocking. Matthew Parris presents.
May 22, 2018 · 29 min
Suzy Klein on Hedy Lamarr
Hedy Lamarr, actress, inventor, and the most beautiful woman in the world.
May 15, 2018 · 28 min
Mica Paris on Josephine Baker
Soul singer Mica Paris tells Matthew Parris why Josephine Baker is her heroine.
May 9, 2018 · 29 min
Simon Callow on Orson Welles
Actor Simon Callow selects the life of a Hollywood great - Orson Welles.
May 2, 2018 · 27 min
Ayesha Hazarika on Jayaben Desai
Ayesha Hazarika champions her hero Jayaben Desai who led the Grunwick strike in 1976.
May 1, 2018 · 29 min
Tej Lalvani on Richard Feynman
Tej Lalvani nominates the physicist and bongo playing Richard Feynman as his great life.
Apr 26, 2018 · 27 min
Laura Serrant on Audre Lorde
Laura Serrant chooses the poet and activist Audre Lorde. From 2018.
Apr 17, 2018 · 29 min
Adrian Utley of Portishead on Miles Davis
Miles Davis chosen by Adrian Utley of Portishead.
Apr 3, 2018 · 29 min
Jim Moir on Captain Beefheart
Jim Moir, aka Vic Reeves, chooses the life of Don van Vliet - Captain Beefheart.
Jan 25, 2018 · 27 min
Gisela Stuart on Joseph Chamberlain
Gisela Stuart nominates Joseph Chamberlain as her great life.
Jan 23, 2018 · 27 min
Liza Tarbuck on Nikola Tesla
Liza Tarbuck nominates Nikola Tesla as her great life. Matthew Parris presents.
Jan 16, 2018 · 28 min
Justin Marozzi on Herodotus
Herodotus - father of history or father of lies? Matthew Parris presents.
Jan 2, 2018 · 27 min
Hertha Ayrton
Helen Arney, scientist and geek songstress, nominates pioneer physicist Hertha Ayrton.