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

Sep 21, 2021 · 27 min
Yanis Varoufakis on Hypatia
The life and brutal death of a gifted mathematician and philosopher from the ancient world
Sep 14, 2021 · 27 min
Dorothy Byrne on Catherine of Siena
The president of Murray Edwards College, Cambridge champions the life of the Italian saint
Sep 7, 2021 · 36 min
Peggy Seeger on her husband Ewan MacColl
Peggy Seeger picks her long time partner, Ewan MacColl, folk singer and labour activist.
Sep 1, 2021 · 27 min
Josiah Wedgwood
Tristram Hunt on Josiah Wedgwood, vase maker general to the universe!
Aug 24, 2021 · 27 min
Frantz Fanon
The anti-colonial writer and psychiatrist from Martinique is the choice of Lindsay Johns
Aug 17, 2021 · 27 min
Althea Gibson
The first black tennis player to win Wimbledon is the choice of Professor Devi Sridhar.
Aug 10, 2021 · 27 min
Yehudi Menuhin
Violinist Tasmin Little on her hero, Sir Yehudi Menuhin.
Aug 3, 2021 · 27 min
Hans Christian Andersen
Author of The Little Mermaid and The Emperor's New Clothes, he was 'a very strange orchid'
Jun 3, 2021 · 27 min
The Surprise Lives
A runaway rollercoaster of Great Lives.
May 25, 2021 · 27 min
Rosie Millard on Edward III
Rosie tells Matthew Parris that Edward III was a cultural hero who deserves greater fame.
May 18, 2021 · 27 min
Ben Miller on William Hazlitt
Actor and comedian Ben Miller nominates essayist William Hazlitt.
May 12, 2021 · 27 min
Arlo Parks on Elliott Smith
Singer-songwriter Arlo Parks nominates the young life of singer Elliott Smith.
May 6, 2021 · 27 min
Jonathan Dimbleby on Harry Hopkins
President Roosevelt's right hand man in World War Two, Harry Hopkins.
Apr 27, 2021 · 27 min
KT Tunstall on Ivor Cutler
Singer-songwriter KT Tunstall nominates Scottish humorist Ivor Cutler
Apr 20, 2021 · 27 min
Black and British pioneer Kenny Lynch
Veteran black and British entertainer Kenny Lynch.
Apr 15, 2021 · 27 min
Chinua Achebe, Nigerian novelist
Yasmin Alibhai-Brown picks Nigerian novelist Chinua Achebe.
Apr 7, 2021 · 27 min
The Talented Mr Ripley author, Patricia Highsmith
Sometimes known as 'the stalker's balladeer', she is director Jonathan Kent's choice.
Jan 26, 2021 · 32 min
Rights activist Cesar Chavez nominated by Cori Crider
Human rights lawyer Cori Crider explains why she is inspired by the life of Cesar Chavez.
Jan 19, 2021 · 28 min
Caroline Catz on Delia Derbyshire
Actor Caroline Catz chooses Delia Derbyshire, who realised the theme to Doctor Who.
Jan 12, 2021 · 27 min
David Jonsson on Jean Michel Basquiat
Actor David Jonsson champions artist Jean-Michel Basquiat