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

Oct 2, 2014 · 27 min
Professor Edith Hall on Lucille Ball
Matthew Parris invites Professor Edith Hall to nominate her idol.
Oct 2, 2014 · 27 min
Andrew Adonis on Joseph Bazalgette
Lord Adonis chooses Victorian engineer, aka 'The Sewer King', Sir Joseph Bazalgette
Sep 10, 2014 · 27 min
Stella Rimington on Dorothy L Sayers
Dame Stella Rimington explains to Matthew Parris why Dorothy L Sayers fascinates her.
Sep 9, 2014 · 27 min
Labi Siffre on Arthur Ransome
Matthew Parris invites singer songwriter Labi Siffre to nominate his choice of life.
Sep 2, 2014 · 28 min
Tom Shakespeare on Gramsci
Dr Tom Shakespeare tells Matthew Parris why Antonio Gramsci's is a Great Life.
Aug 26, 2014 · 27 min
Ray Mears on Rommel
Ray Mears champions the life of Field-Marshal Erwin Rommel.
Aug 19, 2014 · 27 min
Baroness Oona King on Ida B Wells
Ida B. Wells the African American civil rights activist is chosen by Baroness Oona King
Aug 12, 2014 · 27 min
Jazzie B on James Brown
Soul II Soul's Jazzie B chooses the life of musician and singer James Brown.
Aug 5, 2014 · 27 min
Jonathan Meades on Edward Burra
Writer Jonathan Meades nominates the English artist Edward Burra.
May 27, 2014 · 27 min
Ernest Hemingway
Monty Python's Michael Palin chooses the American writer, Ernest Hemingway.
May 13, 2014 · 27 min
John Craven on Brunel
John Craven proposes Victorian Engineer, Isambard Kingdom Brunel, as a great life.
May 6, 2014 · 27 min
Isy Suttie on Jake Thackray
Isy Suttie chooses Yorkshire-born singer songwriter Jake Thackray
May 6, 2014 · 24 min
Emma Kirkby on Henry Purcell
Soprano Emma Kirkby discusses the life of composer Henry Purcell with Matthew Parris
Apr 29, 2014 · 27 min
Deborah Moggach on Arnold Bennett
The author Deborah Moggach talks about the life of Potteries writer Arnold Bennett.
Apr 22, 2014 · 28 min
Marcus du Sautoy on Jorge Luis Borges
Blind Argentinian writer Borges is championed by Marcus de Sautoy.
Apr 15, 2014 · 27 min
Sir Mark Walport on Sir Hans Sloane
Sir Hans Sloane, founder of the British Museum, is championed by Sir Mark Walport.
Apr 9, 2014 · 28 min
Ian Curtis
Poet Simon Armitage nominates Joy Division singer Ian Curtis.
Apr 8, 2014 · 27 min
Sarah Vine on Dante
Sarah Vine chooses Dante, author of the Italian literary masterpiece the Divine Comedy
Apr 1, 2014 · 27 min
Evelyn Glennie on Jacqueline Du Pre
English Cellist Jacqueline Du Pre is championed by solo percussionist Evelyn Glennie.
Jan 28, 2014 · 27 min
DJ Sara Cox nominates singer Lisa 'Left Eye' Lopes
Sara Cox nominates the American hip hop artist and rapper Lisa 'Left Eye' Lopes.