Great Lives

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

Radio 4,609 episodes

Episodes

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Sir David Chipperfield on Le Corbusier
The architect Sir David Chipperfield chooses Le Corbusier.
31 Dec 2013,30 mins
Meg Rosoff on Isabella Bird
Novelist, Meg Rosoff explores the life of the Victorian travel writer Isabella Bird
24 Dec 2013,30 mins
Michael Horovitz on Allen Ginsberg
Michael Horovitz nominates fellow poet Allen Ginsberg as his Great Life.
17 Dec 2013,30 mins
Ricky Ross on Hank Williams
Ricky Ross from Deacon Blue champions songwriter Hank Williams. Matthew Parris presents.
10 Dec 2013,30 mins
Al Murray on Bernard Montgomery
Comedian Al Murray champions the life of Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery.
01 Oct 2013,30 mins
Sir Brendan Barber on John Steinbeck
Sir Brendan Barber champions John Steinbeck.
24 Sep 2013,30 mins
Konnie Huq on Ada Lovelace
TV presenter Konnie Huq chooses the mathematician Ada Lovelace.
17 Sep 2013,30 mins
Peter Bowles on George Devine
Matthew Parris is joined by Peter Bowles to discuss the life of director George Devine.
10 Sep 2013,30 mins
Paul Mason on Louise Michel
Paul Mason talks to Matthew Parris about the 19th-century French anarchist, Louise Michel.
03 Sep 2013,30 mins
Julie Burchill on Ava Gardner
The writer Julie Burchill talks to Matthew Parris about the Hollywood star Ava Gardner.
27 Aug 2013,30 mins
Tanika Gupta on Rabindranath Tagore
Tanika Gupta nominates Rabindranath Tagore. With Matthew Parris and Ketaki Kushari Dyson.
20 Aug 2013,30 mins
Gabriel Gbadamosi on Fela Kuti
Gabriel Gbadamosi chooses as his Great Life the inventor of Afrobeat, musician Fela Kuti
13 Aug 2013,30 mins
Russell Grant on Ivor Novello
Entertainer Russell Grant nominates Welsh composer and film star Ivor Novello.
06 Aug 2013,30 mins
Florence Nightingale
Dr Lucy Worsley, chief curator at Historic Royal Palaces, chooses Florence Nightingale.
28 May 2013,30 mins
Primo Levi
Edmund de Waal, ceramicist and author chooses Holocaust writer Primo Levi.
21 May 2013,30 mins
Salvador Dali
John Cooper Clarke nominates Salvador Dali for great life status, melting clocks and all.
14 May 2013,30 mins
Bill Shankly
Mumsnet founder Justine Roberts champions the life of the Liverpool manager Bill Shankly.
07 May 2013,30 mins
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
Gyles Brandreth praises the life of the creator of Sherlock Holmes.
30 Apr 2013,30 mins
David Livingstone
John Blashford-Snell explains why he admires fellow explorer, Dr David Livingstone.
23 Apr 2013,30 mins
Kenny Everett
Chris Tarrant chooses one of the great pioneers of modern radio - Kenny Everett.
16 Apr 2013,30 mins
Galileo
Bobby Friction champions the Italian physicist and astronomer Galileo Galilei.
09 Apr 2013,30 mins
George Bell
Peter Hitchens nominates George Bell, who condemned the bombing of Germany.
02 Apr 2013,30 mins
William Robinson
Gardener Carol Klein's choice is wild garden hero, William Robinson. With Matthew Parris.
29 Jan 2013,30 mins
Nancy Mitford
Grace Dent loves Nancy Mitford, author of Love in a Cold Climate. From 2013.
22 Jan 2013,30 mins
Aubrey Beardsley
Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen on his passion for Aubrey Beardsley. Matthew Parris presents.
15 Jan 2013,30 mins
John Stuart Mill
Matthew Parris and Max Mosley celebrate the life of John Stuart Mill.
08 Jan 2013,30 mins
Grigori Rasputin
Grigori Rasputin, mad monk or righteous spiritual man ?
01 Jan 2013,30 mins
Ralph Vaughan Williams
Matthew Parris and Stuart Maconie celebrate the life of Ralph Vaughan Williams.
25 Dec 2012,30 mins
Prince Alamayu
Lemn Sissay chooses Prince Alamayu who, like him, was Ethiopian but fostered in Britain.
18 Dec 2012,30 mins
Jean Cocteau
Francesca Simon tells Matthew Parris why Jean Cocteau's is a Great Life.
11 Dec 2012,30 mins