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 7, 2011 · 28 min
William Shakespeare
Poetry curator Daisy Goodwin nominates the Bard himself, William Shakespeare.
Sep 27, 2011 · 28 min
Gerald Durrell
Former footballer Graeme le Saux champions conservationist Gerald Durrell.
Sep 20, 2011 · 27 min
Hildegard Von Bingen
Cerys Matthews on why 12th-century nun Hildegard von Bingen qualifies as a great life.
Sep 13, 2011 · 27 min
Edwin Lutyens
Simon Jenkins proposes Edwin Lutyens, architect of New Delhi and the Cenotaph.
Sep 6, 2011 · 28 min
Hans Fallada
Fast Show comic Simon Day tells Matthew Parris why he is fascinated by writer Hans Fallada
Aug 23, 2011 · 27 min
Eduardo Paolozzi
Restaurateur Antonio Carluccio nominates the Scottish artist Sir Eduardo Paolozzi.
Aug 9, 2011 · 28 min
Kirsty MacColl
Broadcaster Janice Long champions the life and work of singer-songwriter Kirsty MacColl.
Aug 2, 2011 · 27 min
Graham Greene
War reporter Tim Butcher chooses an exploration into the strange world of Graham Greene.
May 24, 2011 · 27 min
Harold Pinter
Matthew Parris introduces the life of writer Harold Pinter, chosen by Diane Abbott MP.
May 17, 2011 · 27 min
Jack Johnson
Matthew Syed chooses the first African-American world heavyweight boxing champion.
May 10, 2011 · 28 min
Petra Kelly
Green MP Caroline Lucas nominates Petra Kelly, the German Green superstar politician.
May 3, 2011 · 28 min
Lewis Carroll
Writer Lynne Truss chooses the creator of Alice in Wonderland, Lewis Carroll.
Apr 26, 2011 · 27 min
Kathleen Ferrier
Broadcaster Sue MacGregor nominates singer Kathleen Ferrier who died tragically young.
Apr 19, 2011 · 25 min
Simone de Beauvoir
Actress Diana Quick selects philosopher Simone de Beauvoir for Great Lives.
Apr 12, 2011 · 28 min
Leonard Bernstein
Conductor Charles Hazlewood chooses Leonard Bernstein.
Apr 5, 2011 · 26 min
Thomas Edison
Sir Clive Sinclair discusses fellow inventor Thomas Edison with Matthew Parris.
Feb 1, 2011 · 28 min
Marcus Garvey
Playwright Kwame Kwei-Armah on Marcus Garvey, the inspirational 20th-century black leader.
Jan 25, 2011 · 28 min
Mary Stott
Katharine Whitehorn chooses journalist and campaigner Mary Stott.
Jan 18, 2011 · 28 min
Gertrude Bell
Physicist Jim al-Khalili nominates Gertrude Bell who shaped modern-day Iraq.
Jan 4, 2011 · 28 min
Aneurin Bevan
Lord Kinnock chooses the life of Aneurin Bevan, the founder of the NHS.