Last Word

BBC Radio 4

Radio 4's weekly obituary programme, telling the life stories of those who have died recently

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20 episodes
Updated Friday

Episodes20

Newest first

Friday · 27 min
The life and times of "Dr Death" - the Body Worlds founder Gunther von Hagens
Also, businessman Sir Ian Wood, historian Juliet Gardiner, and dancer Dinkie Flowers.
July 24 · 27 min
Brenda Fricker: The first Irish woman to win an Oscar
Also, journalist David Willey, horticulturalist David Austin and aviator Wally Funk.
July 17 · 27 min
Sam Neill: the silent child with a stutter who became a movie star
Matthew Bannister on two actors, a musician and a chef.
July 10 · 27 min
Bonnie Tyler: How the "sweet soul singer" found her growl
Matthew Bannister on an iconic singer, dissident bookseller, cosmonaut and a TV director.
July 3 · 27 min
The Good Life of Dame Penelope Keith
Matthew Bannister on an acting icon, crusading journalist, silent sister, ringmistress.
June 26 · 27 min
"He became one of the most powerful men in the world” - the story of the man who shaped modern economics
John Wilson on an economist, a visible difference campaigner, a sailor and a singer.
June 19 · 27 min
A “bone marrow love for the Labour party” Lord Kinnock remembers Lord Hattersley
Matthew Bannister on a politician, a speech therapist, a journalist and a musician.
June 12 · 27 min
Founder of the ‘MOBOs’ and champion of black music – Kanya King
Matthew Bannister on a black music champion, a spy, a Vietnam War nurse and an author.
June 5 · 27 min
Larry King: The man behind Billie Jean King’s feminist tennis revolution
Matthew Bannister on a sport disruptor, Cold War spy, media innovator and art provocateur.
May 29 · 27 min
Clarence B Jones, Judith Chalmers, Dr Anna Ritchie, Professor Frank Land
Matthew Bannister on a lawyer, a broadcaster, an archaeologist and a computer pioneer.
May 22 · 27 min
Michael Pennington, Cynthia Shange, Scott Hastings, Beverley Martyn
Kirsty Lang on an actor, an activist, a rugby player and a singer.
May 15 · 27 min
Ruth Slenczynska, Dame Bridget Ogilvie, Tony Worthington, Russell Tyner KC
Kirsty Lang on a virtuoso pianist, leading scientist, peace-seeking MP and legal pioneer.
May 8 · 27 min
Dr Ittai Gradel, Dame Shirley Porter, Professor Nigel Dunnett, María Nieves Rego
Matthew Bannister on an antiquities dealer, a politician, a horticulturalist and a dancer.
May 1 · 27 min
Xia De-hong, Lord Hunt of Chesterton, Joan Burstein, Bill Leader
Matthew Bannister on a mother, a meteorologist, a retail pioneer and a recording engineer.
April 24 · 27 min
Andy Kershaw, Dame Averil Cameron, Dr Judith Rapoport, Desmond Morris
Matthew Bannister on a DJ, a historian, a psychiatrist and a zoologist.
April 17 · 27 min
Asha Bhosle, Sir Neil Cossons, Professor Harold Ellis, Daphne Selfe
Matthew Bannister on a singer, a curator, a surgeon and a model.
April 10 · 27 min
Sir Craig Reedie, Bronwen Naish, Geoff Yeadon, Margareta Magnusson
Matthew Bannister on a sports administrator, a musician, a cave diver and an author.
April 10 · 27 min
Robert Fox, Mary Rand MBE, Sir Tony Hoare, Biruté Galdikas
John Wilson on theatre producer, an athlete, a computer scientist, a primatologist.
April 3 · 27 min
Dame Jenni Murray, Len Deighton, Lynda Hale, Jurgen Habermas
Matthew Bannister on a broadcaster, an author, a footballer and a philosopher.
March 20 · 27 min
Yanar Mohammed, MP Phil Woolas, Professor Robin Weiss, Jane Lapotaire
Matthew Bannister on a campaigner, a politician, a virologist and an actor.