Society & CultureDocumentaryHistory

Great Lives

BBC Radio 4

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

Episodes 28

Counted on this page — what you have heard stays on this device, so it is not something the list can be paged by.

February 10 · 27 min
Comedian Helen Lederer on Joan Rivers
Famous guests pick someone who has inspired their lives.
February 10 · 27 min
John Cooper Clarke on Johnny Green, road manager of The Clash
Famous guests pick someone who has inspired their lives
January 28 · 27 min
Helen Carr picks Christine de Pizan at the Gloucester history festival
Famous guests picks someone who has inspired their lives.
January 19 · 27 min
Alex Wheatle, the Bard of Brixton
Ashley John Baptiste chooses Alex Wheatle, author of the Crongton novels.
January 12 · 27 min
Spitfire pilot Jeffrey Quill picked by astronaut Tim Peake
Famous guests pick someone who has inspired their lives.
Nov 3, 2025 · 27 min
Oliver Postgate
Andrew Davenport, creator of In the Night Garden, chooses Oliver Postgate.
Oct 27, 2025 · 27 min
Sylvia Plath
The writer Sylvia Plath, chosen by Lucy Jones.
Oct 20, 2025 · 27 min
Elizabeth Day on Hatshepsut
Famous guests pick someone they love or admire.

Showing 21–28 of 28 episodes