Great Lives Podcast
Biographical series in which guests choose someone who has inspired their lives.
Episodes to download
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Brian Eno on Lord Young of Dartington
Tue 23 Dec 2014
Brian Eno champions the life and work of social reformer Michael Young.
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Laura Bates on Louisa May Alcott
Tue 16 Dec 2014
Laura Bates tells Matthew Parris why Louisa May Alcott of "Little Women" is her Great Life
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Arthur Smith on Emil Z谩topek
Tue 9 Dec 2014
Comedian Arthur Smith tells Matthew Parris about the life of Olympic runner Emil Z谩topek.
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Professor Edith Hall on Lucille Ball
Tue 30 Sep 2014
Matthew Parris invites Professor Edith Hall to nominate her idol.
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Andrew Adonis on Joseph Bazalgette
Tue 23 Sep 2014
Lord Adonis chooses Victorian engineer, aka 'The Sewer King', Sir Joseph Bazalgette
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Stella Rimington on Dorothy L Sayers
Wed 10 Sep 2014
Dame Stella Rimington explains to Matthew Parris why Dorothy L Sayers fascinates her.
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Labi Siffre on Arthur Ransome
Tue 9 Sep 2014
Matthew Parris invites singer songwriter Labi Siffre to nominate his choice of life.
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Tom Shakespeare on Gramsci
Tue 2 Sep 2014
Dr Tom Shakespeare tells Matthew Parris why Antonio Gramsci's is a Great Life.
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Baroness Oona King on Ida B Wells
Tue 19 Aug 2014
Ida B. Wells the African American civil rights activist is chosen by Baroness Oona King
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Jazzie B on James Brown
Tue 12 Aug 2014
Soul II Soul's Jazzie B chooses the life of musician and singer James Brown.
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Jonathan Meades on Edward Burra
Tue 5 Aug 2014
Writer Jonathan Meades nominates the English artist Edward Burra.
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Ernest Hemingway
Tue 27 May 2014
Monty Python's Michael Palin chooses the American writer, Ernest Hemingway.
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Emma Kirkby on Henry Purcell
Tue 20 May 2014
Soprano Emma Kirkby discusses the life of composer Henry Purcell with Matthew Parris
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John Craven on Brunel
Tue 13 May 2014
John Craven proposes Victorian Engineer, Isambard Kingdom Brunel, as a great life.
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Isy Suttie on Jake Thackray
Tue 6 May 2014
Isy Suttie chooses Yorkshire-born singer songwriter Jake Thackray
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Deborah Moggach on Arnold Bennett
Tue 29 Apr 2014
The author Deborah Moggach talks about the life of Potteries writer Arnold Bennett.
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Marcus du Sautoy on Jorge Luis Borges
Tue 22 Apr 2014
Blind Argentinian writer Borges is championed by Marcus de Sautoy.
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Sir Mark Walport on Sir Hans Sloane
Tue 15 Apr 2014
Sir Hans Sloane, founder of the British Museum, is championed by Sir Mark Walport.
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Sarah Vine on Dante
Tue 8 Apr 2014
Sarah Vine chooses Dante, author of the Italian literary masterpiece the Divine Comedy
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Evelyn Glennie on Jacqueline Du Pre
Tue 1 Apr 2014
English Cellist Jacqueline Du Pre is championed by solo percussionist Evelyn Glennie.
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DJ Sara Cox nominates singer Lisa 'Left Eye' Lopes
Tue 28 Jan 2014
Sara Cox nominates the American hip hop artist and rapper Lisa 'Left Eye' Lopes.
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Mark Constantine on Kahlil Gibran
Tue 21 Jan 2014
Businessman Mark Constantine champions the life of Kahlil Gibran with Matthew Parris.
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Dave Allen chosen by Adil Ray
Tue 14 Jan 2014
Irish Comic Dave Allen is chosen by actor and comedian Adil Ray. Matthew Parris presents
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David Baddiel on John Updike
Tue 7 Jan 2014
Writer and comedian David Baddiel explores the life of novelist John Updike.
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Sir David Chipperfield on Le Corbusier
Tue 31 Dec 2013
Architect, Sir David Chipperfield, chooses Le Corbusier
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Meg Rosoff on Isabella Bird
Christmas Eve 2013
Novelist, Meg Rosoff explores the life of the Victorian travel writer Isabella Bird
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Michael Horovitz on Allen Ginsberg
Tue 17 Dec 2013
Michael Horovitz nominates fellow poet Allen Ginsberg as his Great Life.
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Ricky Ross on Hank Williams
Tue 10 Dec 2013
Ricky Ross from Deacon Blue champions songwriter Hank Williams. Matthew Parris presents.
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Al Murray on Bernard Montgomery
Tue 1 Oct 2013
Comedian Al Murray champions the life of Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery.
Great Rock and Roll Lives
Stories of inspiration from great musicians from Bowie to Billie Holliday
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