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

Apr 4, 2017 · 27 min
Gary Kemp on EW Godwin
Gary Kemp of Spandau Ballet chooses architect-designer, Edward William Godwin.
Jan 24, 2017 · 27 min
Chris Patten on Pope John XXIII
Chris Patten nominates Pope John XXIII. With Professor Eamon Duffy and Matthew Parris.
Jan 17, 2017 · 27 min
Len Goodman on Lionel Bart
Len Goodman champions Lionel Bart, the man who created the musical Oliver, as his hero.
Jan 10, 2017 · 27 min
Akram Khan on Srinivasa Ramanujan
One of the UK's leading choreographers nominates the Indian mathematician Ramanujan.
Jan 3, 2017 · 27 min
Suzannah Lipscomb on CS Lewis
CS Lewis, author of the Narnia Chronicles, chosen by historian Suzannah Lipscomb.
Jan 3, 2017 · 27 min
Ruth Holdaway on Helen Rollason
Ruth Holdaway champions sports broadcaster, Helen Rollason.
Dec 20, 2016 · 27 min
Orlando Murrin on Dinu Lipatti
Matthew Parris invites Orlando Murrin to discuss the life of Romanian pianist Dinu Lipatti
Dec 14, 2016 · 27 min
Sir Ben Kingsley on Elie Wiesel
Sir Ben Kingsley champions the life of holocaust survivor Elie Wiesel as his great life.
Dec 2, 2016 · 27 min
Cary Grant
Lucy Porter, the comedian and writer, champions Cary Grant as her Great Life
Sep 27, 2016 · 27 min
Cyrus Todiwala on Dadabhai Naoroji
Cyrus Todiwala picks Dadabhai Naoroji who in 1892 became Britain's first Asian MP.
Sep 20, 2016 · 27 min
AA Gill on Arthur Neville Chamberlain
AA Gill nominates Arthur Neville Chamberlain as his great life.
Sep 13, 2016 · 27 min
Eliza Carthy on Caroline Norton
Eliza Carthy chooses Caroline Norton who campaigned for women in the 19th-century.
Sep 7, 2016 · 27 min
Maureen Lipman on Dame Cicely Saunders
Maureen Lipman champions the life of hospice campaigner Dame Cicely Saunders.
Aug 30, 2016 · 27 min
Tony Hawks on Marshall Rosenberg
The life of the creator of nonviolent communication Marshall Rosenber, with Matthew Parris
Aug 26, 2016 · 27 min
Dag Hammarskjold
Matthew Parris on the life and death of Dag Hammarskjold
Aug 16, 2016 · 27 min
Sara Pascoe on Virginia Woolf
Sara Pascoe champions Virginia Woolf, author of 'Mrs Dalloway' and 'A Room of One's Own'.
Aug 9, 2016 · 27 min
Alex Salmond on Thomas Muir
Alex Salmond chooses Thomas Muir, whom he describes as the father of Scottish democracy.
Aug 2, 2016 · 27 min
Hilary Devey on Gracie Fields
The life of Dame Gracie Fields is championed by Hilary Devey. From 2016.
May 31, 2016 · 27 min
Frank Turner on Joseph Grimaldi
Frank Turner chooses Joseph Grimaldi who changed the face of Clowning forever.
May 24, 2016 · 27 min
George Fox
George Fox, founder of the Quakers, nominated by Ann Limb