Great Lives

Biographical series in which guests choose someone who has inspired their lives.

Radio 4,609 episodes

Episodes

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Eve Pollard on Nora Ephron
Journalist Eve Pollard explores Hollywood screenwriter Nora Ephron with Matthew Parris.
20 Jan 2015,30 mins
Michael Dobbs on Guy Burgess
Michael Dobbs looks back at the life of Cambridge spy Guy Burgess.
13 Jan 2015,30 mins
Philippa Langley on Richard III
Matthew Parris talks to Philippa Langley about the life of Richard III.
06 Jan 2015,30 mins
Tom Solomon on Roald Dahl
Professor Tom Solomon talks about his former patient, writer Roald Dahl.
30 Dec 2014,30 mins
Brian Eno on Lord Young of Dartington
Brian Eno champions the life and work of social reformer Michael Young.
23 Dec 2014,30 mins
Laura Bates on Louisa May Alcott
Laura Bates tells Matthew Parris why Louisa May Alcott of "Little Women" is her Great Life
16 Dec 2014,30 mins
Arthur Smith on Emil Zátopek
Comedian Arthur Smith tells Matthew Parris about the life of Olympic runner Emil Zátopek.
09 Dec 2014,30 mins
Professor Edith Hall on Lucille Ball
Matthew Parris invites Professor Edith Hall to nominate her idol.
30 Sep 2014,30 mins
Andrew Adonis on Joseph Bazalgette
Lord Adonis chooses Victorian engineer, aka 'The Sewer King', Sir Joseph Bazalgette
23 Sep 2014,30 mins
Stella Rimington on Dorothy L Sayers
Dame Stella Rimington explains to Matthew Parris why Dorothy L Sayers fascinates her.
10 Sep 2014,30 mins
Labi Siffre on Arthur Ransome
Matthew Parris invites singer songwriter Labi Siffre to nominate his choice of life.
09 Sep 2014,30 mins
Tom Shakespeare on Gramsci
Dr Tom Shakespeare tells Matthew Parris why Antonio Gramsci's is a Great Life.
02 Sep 2014,30 mins
Ray Mears on Rommel
Ray Mears champions the life of Field-Marshal Erwin Rommel.
26 Aug 2014,30 mins
Baroness Oona King on Ida B Wells
Ida B. Wells the African American civil rights activist is chosen by Baroness Oona King
19 Aug 2014,30 mins
Jazzie B on James Brown
Soul II Soul's Jazzie B chooses the life of musician and singer James Brown.
12 Aug 2014,30 mins
Jonathan Meades on Edward Burra
Writer Jonathan Meades nominates the English artist Edward Burra.
05 Aug 2014,30 mins
Ernest Hemingway
Monty Python's Michael Palin chooses the American writer, Ernest Hemingway.
27 May 2014,25 mins
Ernest Hemingway
Michael Palin nominates Ernest Hemingway as his Great Life.
27 May 2014,30 mins
Emma Kirkby on Henry Purcell
Soprano Emma Kirkby discusses the life of composer Henry Purcell with Matthew Parris
20 May 2014,30 mins
John Craven on Brunel
John Craven proposes Victorian Engineer, Isambard Kingdom Brunel, as a great life.
13 May 2014,30 mins
Isy Suttie on Jake Thackray
Isy Suttie chooses Yorkshire-born singer songwriter Jake Thackray
06 May 2014,30 mins
Deborah Moggach on Arnold Bennett
The author Deborah Moggach talks about the life of Potteries writer Arnold Bennett.
29 Apr 2014,30 mins
Marcus du Sautoy on Jorge Luis Borges
Blind Argentinian writer Borges is championed by Marcus de Sautoy.
22 Apr 2014,30 mins
Sir Mark Walport on Sir Hans Sloane
Sir Hans Sloane, founder of the British Museum, is championed by Sir Mark Walport.
15 Apr 2014,30 mins
Sarah Vine on Dante
Sarah Vine chooses Dante, author of the Italian literary masterpiece the Divine Comedy
08 Apr 2014,30 mins
Evelyn Glennie on Jacqueline Du Pre
English Cellist Jacqueline Du Pre is championed by solo percussionist Evelyn Glennie.
01 Apr 2014,30 mins
DJ Sara Cox nominates singer Lisa 'Left Eye' Lopes
Sara Cox nominates the American hip hop artist and rapper Lisa 'Left Eye' Lopes.
28 Jan 2014,30 mins
Mark Constantine on Kahlil Gibran
Businessman Mark Constantine champions the life of Kahlil Gibran with Matthew Parris.
21 Jan 2014,30 mins
Dave Allen chosen by Adil Ray
Irish Comic Dave Allen is chosen by actor and comedian Adil Ray. Matthew Parris presents
14 Jan 2014,30 mins
David Baddiel on John Updike
Writer and comedian David Baddiel explores the life of novelist John Updike.
07 Jan 2014,30 mins