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

Aug 10, 2022 · 27 min
Holly Walsh on BS Johnson
Holly Walsh picks BS Johnson, fiery sixties novelist
Aug 2, 2022 · 27 min
Pat Nevin on Johan Cruyff
Pat Nevin picks Johan Cruyff, the Dutch footballer who changed how the game was played.
May 31, 2022 · 27 min
Judy Garland
Ethel Gumm, better known as Judy Garland, picked by Susie Boyt.
May 24, 2022 · 27 min
Joan Rhodes, strongest woman in the world
Anna Maxwell Martin proposes Joan Rhodes, variety artiste and strongwoman
May 17, 2022 · 27 min
Rob Newman on Franklin D Roosevelt
Comedian Rob Newman nominates one of his heroes, President Franklin D Roosevelt.
May 10, 2022 · 27 min
Mr Manchester Tony Wilson nominated by Terry Christian
Terry Christian from The Word on Tony Wilson of Factory Records and The Hacienda.
May 3, 2022 · 27 min
Gil Scott-Heron
Joe Swift on Gil Scott-Heron
Apr 26, 2022 · 27 min
Lolita Chakrabarti on actor Ira Aldridge
Lolita Chakrabarti on actor Ira Aldridge.
Apr 19, 2022 · 27 min
Janet Ellis on Puffin editor Kaye Webb
Blue Peter's Janet Ellis champions a children's publishing sensation.
Apr 12, 2022 · 27 min
Tom Hopkinson, editor of Picture Post
Donald Macintyre on Tom Hopkinson, editor of Picture Post and Drum.
Apr 8, 2022 · 27 min
Brian Cox on Lindsay Anderson
Brian Cox on Lindsay Anderson
Jan 25, 2022 · 36 min
Spike Milligan
Comedian and poet Henry Normal picks his comedy hero - Spike Milligan.
Jan 18, 2022 · 27 min
Roma Agrawal on Mrinalini Sarabhai
The engineer and author Roma Agrawal on Indian classical dancer Mrinalini Sarabhai.
Jan 11, 2022 · 27 min
Lady Hale on Lady Rhondda
Lady Hale chooses the suffragette and businesswoman, Margaret Haig Thomas - Lady Rhondda.
Jan 10, 2022 · 27 min
William Lever, Lord Leverhulme, founder of Unilever
The mighty soap manufacturer, William Lever, chosen by the boss of Iceland
Dec 28, 2021 · 27 min
Noor-Un-Nissa Inayat Khan
The muslim princess who became a WW2 Special Agent
Dec 21, 2021 · 27 min
Jeanne Baret, first woman to sail round the globe
Nina Sosanya picks Jeanne Baret, first woman round the globe.
Dec 14, 2021 · 27 min
Rory Sutherland on Johnny Ramone
The advertising guru Rory Sutherland on the founder of the New York punk band, the Ramones
Dec 7, 2021 · 27 min
JRR Tolkien, creator of The Hobbit
Niall Ferguson chooses JRR Tolkien, creator of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings
Sep 28, 2021 · 27 min
Ruth Rogers on James Baldwin
Ruth Rogers chooses the life of writer James Baldwin.