Great Lives Podcast
Biographical series in which guests choose someone who has inspired their lives.
Episodes to download
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Michael Dobbs on Guy Burgess
Tue 13 Jan 2015
Michael Dobbs looks back at the life of Cambridge spy Guy Burgess.
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Philippa Langley on Richard III
Tue 6 Jan 2015
Matthew Parris talks to Philippa Langley about the life of Richard III.
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Tom Solomon on Roald Dahl
Tue 30 Dec 2014
Professor Tom Solomon talks about his former patient, writer Roald Dahl.
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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
The 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
Great Rock and Roll Lives
Stories of inspiration from great musicians from Bowie to Billie Holliday
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