Great Lives

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

Radio 4,609 episodes

Episodes

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Dervla Murphy, author of the classic Full Tilt
Famous guests pick someone who has inspired their lives
05 May 2025,27 mins
Ned Ludd mythical leader of the Luddites
Famous guests pick someone who has inspired their lives
28 Apr 2025,28 mins
Richey Edwards of The Manic Street Preachers
Guests pick great lives they admire or are passionate about.
21 Apr 2025,27 mins
Benny Hill
Benny Hill is this week's surprising selection for Great Lives.
14 Apr 2025,30 mins
Maggi Hambling picks muse and lover Henrietta Moraes
Artist Maggi Hambling picks her muse.
07 Apr 2025,28 mins
Mark Billingham chooses George Harrison
Crime writer Mark Billingham nominates the musician, singer and songwriter George Harrison
03 Feb 2025,30 mins
Ellen E Jones nominates Florynce Kennedy
Film journalist Ellen E Jones nominates the flamboyant American activist Florynce Kennedy
27 Jan 2025,30 mins
A N Wilson selects Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe picked by writer A N Wilson.
20 Jan 2025,30 mins
Jessica Fostekew on Boudica
Comedian Jessica Fostekew nominates the ancient English warrior queen, Boudica.
13 Jan 2025,27 mins
Reginald D Hunter selects Eugene V Debs
Five time socialist presidential candidate Eugene Victor Debs picked by Reginald D Hunter.
06 Jan 2025,28 mins
Pen Hadow nominates Sir Peter Scott
Conservationist Peter Scott, founder of Slimbridge, is picked by Pen Hadow.
30 Dec 2024,28 mins
Lauren Cuthbertson on Margot Fonteyn
The Royal Ballet's Lauren Cuthbertson on quintessential British ballerina Margot Fonteyn.
23 Dec 2024,28 mins
Dr Hannah Critchlow picks Professor Colin Blakemore
Dr Hannah Critchlow selects the neurobiologist Professor Colin Blakemore.
16 Dec 2024,27 mins
Doug Allan on Captain Jacques Cousteau
Wildlife cameraman Doug Allan nominates oceanographer and explorer Jacques Cousteau.
09 Dec 2024,28 mins
Ekow Eshun on the first openly gay footballer, Justin Fashanu
Biography show where famous guests pick someone they admire or love.
23 Sep 2024,28 mins
Anneka Rice picks the largely forgotten Jane Morris, muse to Rossetti and wife of William Morris
Anneka Rice picks Jane Morris, wife of William Morris and muse to Dante Gabriel Rossetti.
16 Sep 2024,28 mins
Jo Brand picks American blues singer Bessie Smith
The biography show where famous guests pick someone they admire or love.
09 Sep 2024,28 mins
The surgeon Henry Marsh picks 'the saviour of mothers' Dr Semmelweis
Biography show where famous guests pick someone from history they admire or love.
02 Sep 2024,28 mins
The Roman Emperor Nero
Biographical series in which guests choose someone who has inspired their lives.
26 Aug 2024,28 mins
Film director Julien Temple on Elizabethan bad boy Christopher Marlowe
Biographical show in which famous guests choose someone who has inspired their lives.
19 Aug 2024,28 mins
Zing Tsjeng on Swedish painter Hilma af Klint
Biography series in which famous guests choose someone who has inspired their lives.
12 Aug 2024,28 mins
Miriam Margolyes on Charles Dickens
The great Miriam Margolyes chooses her hero, Charles Dickens
05 Aug 2024,28 mins
Mary Portas on Anita Roddick
Mary Portas chooses the founder of The Body Shop Dame Anita Roddick as her Great Life.
27 May 2024,28 mins
Harriet Harman on Maria Callas
Harriet Harman nominates opera star Maria Callas.
20 May 2024,28 mins
Lady Rachel MacRobert, chosen by Hayaatun Sillem
Dr Hayaatun Sillem chooses the extraordinary life of Lady Rachel MacRobert.
13 May 2024,28 mins
Queen Emma
Alice Roberts chooses the wife of two kings - Aethelred and Canute.
06 May 2024,28 mins
James Dyson on Frank Whittle
James Dyson chooses the inventor of the jet engine, Frank Whittle.
29 Apr 2024,28 mins
Katherine Rundell on E Nesbit
Writer Katherine Rundell nominates fellow children's author E Nesbit.
22 Apr 2024,28 mins
Antoni Gaudi
Antoni Gaudi, nominated by Baroness Ros Altmann.
15 Apr 2024,28 mins
Sir Bruce Forsyth
Sir Bruce Forsyth, nominated by political writer and broadcaster Steve Richards.
08 Apr 2024,28 mins