Great Lives

BBC Radio 4

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

Subscribe Listen in podnod RSS feed Show website

408 episodes
Updated June 2

Episodes408

Newest first

Jan 2, 2018 · 27 min
Nazir Afzal on Gandhi
Nazir Afzal chooses Mahatma Gandhi as his great life.
Dec 19, 2017 · 28 min
Louise Richardson on Daniel O'Connell
Louise Richardson nominates Daniel O'Connell, hero of Catholic emancipation in 1829.
Dec 12, 2017 · 27 min
Cornelia Parker on Marcel Duchamp
Marcel Duchamp, father of conceptual art, is fellow artist Cornelia Parker's great life.
Dec 5, 2017 · 31 min
Will Gregory on Flann O'Brien
Goldfrapp's Will Gregory takes the stage to nominate Irish writer Flann O'Brien.
Sep 26, 2017 · 27 min
Helena Morrissey on Rachael Heyhoe Flint
City boss Helena Morrissey champions Rachael Heyhoe Flint as her great life.
Sep 19, 2017 · 28 min
Andrea Catherwood on Constance Markievicz
Constance Markievicz, Irish rebel countess and the first woman elected to Parliament.
Sep 12, 2017 · 33 min
Nicholas Stern on Muhammad Ali
Muhammad Ali is economist Nicholas Stern's great life as he tells Matthew Parris.
Sep 5, 2017 · 38 min
Helen Sharman on Elsie Widdowson
British spacewoman Helen Sharman chooses scientist Elsie Widdowson as her great life.
Aug 29, 2017 · 29 min
Tracy Chevalier on Mary Anning
Novelist Tracy Chevalier chooses the fossil hunter Mary Anning as her great life.
Aug 22, 2017 · 27 min
Don McCullin on Norman Lewis
Don McCullin chooses his old travel companion Norman Lewis for Great Lives.
Aug 9, 2017 · 27 min
Maxine Peake on Ellen Wilkinson
Maxine Peake nominates her working class hero the MP Ellen Wilkinson as her great life.
Aug 8, 2017 · 29 min
Stephen Fry on PG Wodehouse
Stephen Fry nominates his hero, PG Wodehouse, who just simply cheers him up.
Jun 1, 2017 · 28 min
Peter Williams of Jack Wills chooses Steve Jobs
Peter Williams of Jack Wills champions the abrasive Steve Jobs, founder of Apple.
May 30, 2017 · 26 min
Iain Lee on Andy Kaufman
Cult legend Andy Kaufman chosen by Iain Lee as his great life.
May 16, 2017 · 27 min
Sue Cameron on Emma of Normandy
Twice queen of England and mother of two kings, but have you heard of Emma of Normandy?
May 9, 2017 · 27 min
Steven Knight on Sitting Bull
Steven Knight, creator of ‘Peaky Blinders’, nominates Sitting Bull.
May 2, 2017 · 27 min
Peaches Golding on Shirley Chisholm
Peaches Golding OBE, nominates African American politician Shirley Chisholm.
Apr 25, 2017 · 27 min
Anton Du Beke on Arnold Palmer
Anton Du Beke chooses the golfer Arnold Palmer to discuss with Matthew Parris.
Apr 20, 2017 · 27 min
Ermonela Jaho on Mother Teresa
The Albanian opera singer Ermonela Jaho chooses the life of Mother Teresa of Calcutta.
Apr 11, 2017 · 27 min
Germaine Greer on Dame Elizabeth Frink
Germaine Greer nominates sculptor Dame Elizabeth Frink. Presented by Matthew Parris.