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Categories: Factual: Life Stories

  1. Brian Wilson

    Profile of Brian Wilson, the controversial journalist, businessman and politician.

    BBC ALBA

  2. Sammy Davis Jr: The Kid in the Middle

    Film telling the life story of the dancer, actor, singer and civil rights campaigner.

    BBC Four

  3. Rik Mayall: Lord of Misrule

    A tribute to comedian Rik Mayall, who left a body of work that spanned four decades.

    BBC Two

  4. Darcey Bussell's Looking for Audrey

    Darcey Bussell discovers a tale of broken dreams behind Audrey Hepburn's image.

    BBC One

  5. Elizabeth Jane Howard Remembered

    A celebration of author Elizabeth Jane Howard, including an interview with Martin Amis.

    BBC Radio 4 Extra

  6. Dylan Thomas: Rock and Roll Poet

    A programme marking one hundred years since the birth of poet Dylan Thomas.

    BBC News

  7. Irving Henry Jones Remembers WWI

    Irving Henry Jones recalls his experiences of the First World War.

    BBC Radio Wales

  8.

    Jim Allen: A Man of His Words

    Christopher Eccleston looks at the life and works of the Socialist playwright Jim Allen.

    BBC Radio 4 Extra

  9.

    The Secretaries of Juliet

    Jolyon Jenkins meets the women of Verona who answer letters sent to Shakespeare's Juliet

    BBC Radio 4 Extra

  10.

    Kitch!

    Musician and poet Anthony Joseph tries to get to the heart of Calypso star Lord Kitchener

    BBC Radio 4 Extra

  11. The Northern Lights

    Documentary on those servicing the last manned lighthouses in northern Scotland in 1969.

    BBC ALBA

  12. Somerset Blues: The Story of Acker Bilk

    Clarke Peters presents a profile of jazz clarinettist Acker Bilk.

    BBC Radio 2

  13.

    The True Story of Abner Jay

    Laura Barton pieces together the true story of Abner Jay, a most unusual musical talent.

    BBC Radio 4 Extra

  14.

    Churchill's Grave

    William Crawley visits Winston Churchill's final resting place in Bladon, Oxfordshire

    BBC Radio 4 Extra

  15.

    The Real MacColl

    John Cooper Clarke looks back at the life of broadcaster and folk singer, Ewan MacColl.

    BBC Radio 4 Extra

  16. Inez: A Challenging Woman

    The life of trade union leader and human rights campaigner Inez McCormack.

    BBC One Northern Ireland

  17. The Joy of Mozart

    Tom Service delves into the life and times of Mozart to try and rediscover his greatness.

    BBC Four

  18. Beloved Wilderness

    A look at the work of the Highlands and Islands Development Board in the 1960s.

    BBC ALBA

  19. My Right to Die - Debbie's Story

    Emma Glasbey tells the story of right-to-die campaigner Debbie Purdy's final year.

    BBC One

  20. Songs of Love and Politics

    Peggy Seeger talks to Sally Boazman about how politics and music have defined her life.

    BBC Radio 2

  21. Poet on the Frontline

    Documentary about the Polish daredevil war correspondent and author Ryszard Kapuscinski.

    BBC Four

  22. The Holocaust - My Family Story

    Adrian Goldberg tells his family's story of the Holocaust.

    BBC Radio 5 Live

  23. Regina: The First Woman Rabbi

    Film about Regina Jonas, who became the first officially ordained female rabbi in 1935.

    BBC Four

  24. Lynne Truss: Pick of the Archive

    Lynne Truss introduces her favourite radio programmes from the BBC archive.

    BBC Radio 4 Extra

  25. Lance Armstrong: The Road Ahead

    Lance Armstrong talks to Dan Roan about life as sport's most notorious drugs cheat.

    BBC News

  26. Daniil Trifonov: Piano Sensation

    Portrait of the highly praised pianist and composer Daniil Trifonov.

    BBC Four

  27. Twin Sisters: A World Apart

    The true story of twin sisters from China, adopted by two separate sets of parents.

    BBC Four

  28. William McIlvanney: Living With Words

    An intimate and funny portrait of Scottish writer William McIlvanney.

    BBC Two Scotland

  29. The Lives and Work of Somerset Maugham

    A look at the complex life and popular work of the writer Somerset Maugham.

    BBC Radio 4 Extra

  30. Sax Appeal: Ivy Benson's All Girl Band

    Melanie C celebrates the life and music of British band leader Ivy Benson.

    BBC Radio 2

  31.

    Man with the Mohican

    David Morrissey explores the life Roger Hill, theatre director, DJ and transvestite artist

    BBC Radio 4 Extra

  32. Spike Milligan: Love, Light and Peace

    Portrait of the truly unique comedy genius of Spike Milligan, as told in his own words.

    BBC Four

  33. Being James Galway

    An intimate and revealing portrait of flautist Sir James Galway.

    BBC One Northern Ireland

  34. Edgar Wallace: The Man Who Wrote Too Much?

    Mark Billingham investigates the life of Edgar Wallace, the 'fiction factory' of crime.

    BBC Radio 4 Extra

  35.

    Jane Russell and the Springtown Mother

    The story of an adoption which became an international scandal in the 1950s

    BBC Radio 4 Extra

  36. Transgender Lives

    Jo Clifford talks to Scottish trans people and hears stories of love, fear and transition.

    BBC Radio Scotland

  37. Ride of a Lifetime

    Paralympic medallist Karen Darke goes on a high-altitude bike ride from Tibet to Nepal.

    BBC Radio Scotland

  38. Hillary Clinton: The Power of Women

    Twenty years on from Hillary Clinton's groundbreaking speech, has anything really changed?

    BBC Two

  39. Ricky Ross Meets Nils Lofgren

    A journey through the life and music of American rock artist Nils Lofgren.

    BBC Radio Scotland

  40.

    This is Me Totally Sausage

    Henning Wehn looks at the difficulties of speaking and understanding English.

    BBC Radio 4 Extra

  41. Patrick Kielty Meets Garth Brooks

    Patrick Kielty travels Boston to meet country superstar Garth Brooks.

    BBC Radio 2

  42.

    Billie Holiday: Fine and Mellow

    An exploration of the dramatic life and jazz legacy of singer Billie Holiday

    BBC Radio 4 Extra

  43. Good Morning Vietnam Revisited

    Adrian Cronauer shares the true story of his time as an iconic radio DJ in Vietnam.

    BBC Radio 2

  44.

    The Fishwives’ Tale

    The women who overcame grief through friendship and sea shanties

    BBC Radio 4 Extra

  45. Derek Jarman - Blue

    Derek Jarman's experience confronting HIV and Aids. First broadcast on C4 and BBC Radio 3.

    BBC Radio 4 Extra

  46. The Shepherd's Life by James Rebanks (Omnibus)

    Powerful account of growing up in a farming family in the Lake District.

    BBC Radio 4 Extra

  47. Air na Rigs/Life Offshore

    A glimpse into the daily lives of those working on North Sea oil platforms.

    BBC ALBA

  48.

    My Mother's Sari

    Dr Shahidha Bari looks at the history of the sari.

    BBC Radio 4 Extra

  49. Paula Radcliffe: The Marathon and Me

    Marathon world-record holder Paula Radcliffe looks back on her extraordinary career.

    BBC Sport

  50. Peter Brook, Theatrical Revolutionary

    Theatre and film director Peter Brook discusses his career highlights and legacy.

    BBC Radio 4 Extra

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