Biographical series in which guests choose someone who has inspired their lives.
Radio 4,·609 episodes
Martin Broughton nominates Dick Francis, champion jockey and champion author.
04 Dec 2012,·30 mins
Naomi Wolf nominates Edith Wharton for Great Lives.
25 Sep 2012,·30 mins
Alan Johnson tells Matthew Parris about the impact George Orwell had on his life.
18 Sep 2012,·30 mins
Film-maker Stephen Frears champions his mentor, Karel Reisz.
11 Sep 2012,·30 mins
Comedian and performer Ken Dodd explains why Stan Laurel inspired him to go into comedy.
04 Sep 2012,·30 mins
Matthew Parris and his guest Natalie Haynes encounter the Latin poet Juvenal.
28 Aug 2012,·30 mins
Matthew Parris in conversation with actor Bill Paterson about Leonard Maguire.
21 Aug 2012,·30 mins
Conservative politician, author and adventurer Rory Stewart chooses Sir Walter Scott.
14 Aug 2012,·30 mins
Josephine Bonaparte, first empress of France, chosen by Janine di Giovanni.
07 Aug 2012,·30 mins
Des Lynam chooses Henry Cooper for Great Lives.
31 Jul 2012,·30 mins
Lynn Barber talks to Matthew Parris about Sebastian Walker of Walker Books.
22 May 2012,·30 mins
Diana Athill joins Matthew Parris to explore the life of Spanish painter Goya.
15 May 2012,·30 mins
Eric Pickles chooses Hollywood director John Ford.
08 May 2012,·30 mins
Alexei Sayle explains why scholar and literary critic Edward Said inspired him.
01 May 2012,·30 mins
Tom Robinson explains how educationalist George Lyward saved his life.
24 Apr 2012,·30 mins
Erin Pizzey chooses Gertrude Stein. With Diana Souhami. Presented by Matthew Parris.
17 Apr 2012,·30 mins
Will Self nominates Oscar Wilde.
10 Apr 2012,·30 mins
Dylan Thomas chosen by Welsh poet Owen Sheers.
03 Apr 2012,·30 mins
Conservative politician Baroness Warsi nominates a 13th-century Indian princess.
31 Jan 2012,·30 mins
Astronomer Royal Sir Martin Rees champions the life of his hero, physicist Joseph Rotblat.
30 mins
Actress Emma Kennedy chooses the life of the American comedienne Gracie Allen.
17 Jan 2012,·30 mins
Downton Abbey actor Jim Carter champions the life and work of skiffle king Lonnie Donegan.
03 Jan 2012,·30 mins
Brian Sewell on his love of 'Mad' King Ludwig II of Bavaria.
Steven Pinker joins Matthew Parris to discuss the life of the philosopher Thomas Hobbes.
Ludwig Wittgenstein, fascinating and misunderstood thinker, is chosen by Raymond Tallis.
Michael Sheen champions Philip K Dick who has had an influence on his production of Hamlet
06 Dec 2011,·30 mins
Simon Jenkins proposes Edwin Lutyens, architect of New Delhi and the Cenotaph.
The reclusive American poet Emily Dickinson is the choice of fellow poet Gwyneth Lewis.
Former footballer Graeme le Saux champions conservationist Gerald Durrell.
27 Sep 2011,·30 mins
Cerys Matthews on why 12th-century nun Hildegard von Bingen qualifies as a great life.
20 Sep 2011,·30 mins
