Great Lives

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

Radio 4,611 episodes

Episodes

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Jeanne Baret, first woman to sail round the globe
Nina Sosanya picks Jeanne Baret, first woman round the globe.
21 Dec 2021,28 mins
Rory Sutherland on Johnny Ramone
The advertising guru Rory Sutherland on the founder of the New York punk band, the Ramones
14 Dec 2021,28 mins
JRR Tolkien, creator of The Hobbit
Niall Ferguson chooses JRR Tolkien, creator of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings
07 Dec 2021,28 mins
Ruth Rogers on James Baldwin
Ruth Rogers chooses the life of writer James Baldwin.
28 Sep 2021,28 mins
Yanis Varoufakis on Hypatia
The life and brutal death of an ancient world mathematician and philosopher: Hypatia
21 Sep 2021,28 mins
Dorothy Byrne on Catherine of Siena
The president of Murray Edwards College, Cambridge champions the life of the Italian saint
14 Sep 2021,28 mins
Peggy Seeger on her husband Ewan MacColl
Peggy Seeger picks her long time partner, Ewan MacColl, folk singer and labour activist.
07 Sep 2021,28 mins
Josiah Wedgwood
Tristram Hunt on Josiah Wedgwood, vase maker general to the universe!
31 Aug 2021,28 mins
Frantz Fanon
The anti-colonial writer and psychiatrist from Martinique is the choice of Lindsay Johns
24 Aug 2021,28 mins
Althea Gibson
The first black tennis player to win Wimbledon is the choice of Professor Devi Sridhar.
17 Aug 2021,28 mins
Yehudi Menuhin
Violinist Tasmin Little on her hero, Sir Yehudi Menuhin.
10 Aug 2021,28 mins
Hans Christian Andersen
Author of The Little Mermaid and The Emperor's New Clothes, he was 'a very strange orchid'
03 Aug 2021,28 mins
The Surprise Lives
A runaway rollercoaster of Great Lives.
01 Jun 2021,28 mins
Rosie Millard on Edward III
Rosie tells Matthew Parris that Edward III was a cultural hero who deserves greater fame.
25 May 2021,28 mins
Ben Miller on William Hazlitt
Actor and comedian Ben Miller nominates essayist William Hazlitt.
18 May 2021,28 mins
Arlo Parks on Elliott Smith
Singer-songwriter Arlo Parks nominates the young life of singer Elliott Smith.
11 May 2021,28 mins
Jonathan Dimbleby on Harry Hopkins
President Roosevelt's right hand man in World War Two, Harry Hopkins.
04 May 2021,28 mins
KT Tunstall on Ivor Cutler
Singer-songwriter KT Tunstall nominates Scottish humorist Ivor Cutler
27 Apr 2021,28 mins
Black and British pioneer Kenny Lynch
Veteran black and British entertainer Kenny Lynch.
20 Apr 2021,28 mins
Chinua Achebe, Nigerian novelist
Yasmin Alibhai-Brown picks Nigerian novelist Chinua Achebe.
13 Apr 2021,28 mins
The Talented Mr Ripley author, Patricia Highsmith
Sometimes known as 'the stalker's balladeer', she is director Jonathan Kent's choice.
06 Apr 2021,28 mins
Rights activist Cesar Chavez nominated by Cori Crider
Human rights lawyer Cori Crider explains why she is inspired by the life of Cesar Chavez.
26 Jan 2021,28 mins
Caroline Catz on Delia Derbyshire
Actor Caroline Catz chooses Delia Derbyshire, who realised the theme to Doctor Who.
19 Jan 2021,28 mins
David Jonsson on Jean Michel Basquiat
Actor David Jonsson champions artist Jean-Michel Basquiat
12 Jan 2021,28 mins
Rob Rinder on Jessica Mitford
Aristocrat turned civil rights activist Jessica Mitford is championed by Robert Rinder.
05 Jan 2021,28 mins
Diane Morgan on Air Chief Marshal Hugh Dowding
Comedian and actor Diane Morgan chooses the life of Air Chief Marshal Hugh Dowding
29 Dec 2020,28 mins
The Great Lives of Great Lives
After 450 episodes, Matthew Parris thinks it's time to find out what makes a great life.
22 Dec 2020,28 mins
David Spiegelhalter on Frank Ramsey
Statistician David Spiegelhalter champions the short, brilliant life of Frank Ramsey.
15 Dec 2020,28 mins
Katherine Parr, sixth wife of Henry VIII
Who would marry a serial killer? Katherine Parr, sixth wife of Henry VIII
08 Dec 2020,28 mins
Xuanzang, Chinese monk and traveller
Michael Wood on the great Chinese Buddhist monk Xuanzang.
29 Sep 2020,28 mins