Great Lives Podcast
Biographical series in which guests choose someone who has inspired their lives.
Episodes to download
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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.
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Konnie Huq on Ada Lovelace
Tue 17 Sep 2013
TV presenter Konnie Huq chooses Lord Byron's daughter, the mathematician Ada Lovelace.
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Peter Bowles on George Devine
Tue 10 Sep 2013
Matthew Parris is joined by Peter Bowles to discuss the life of director George Devine.
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Paul Mason on Louise Michel
Tue 3 Sep 2013
Paul Mason talks to Matthew Parris about the 19th-century French anarchist, Louise Michel.
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Julie Burchill on Ava Gardner
Tue 27 Aug 2013
The writer Julie Burchill talks to Matthew Parris about the Hollywood star Ava Gardner.
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Tanika Gupta on Rabindranath Tagore
Tue 20 Aug 2013
Tanika Gupta nominates Rabindranath Tagore. With Matthew Parris and Ketaki Kushari Dyson.
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Gabriel Gbadamosi on Fela Kuti
Tue 13 Aug 2013
Gabriel Gbadamosi chooses as his Great Life the inventor of Afrobeat, musician Fela Kuti
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Russell Grant on Ivor Novello
Tue 6 Aug 2013
Entertainer Russell Grant nominates Welsh composer and film star Ivor Novello.
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Florence Nightingale
Tue 28 May 2013
Dr Lucy Worsley, chief curator at Historic Royal Palaces, chooses Florence Nightingale.
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Primo Levi
Tue 21 May 2013
Edmund de Waal, ceramicist and author chooses Holocaust writer Primo Levi.
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Salvador Dali
Tue 14 May 2013
John Cooper Clarke nominates Salvador Dali for great life status, melting clocks and all.
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Bill Shankly
Tue 7 May 2013
Mumsnet founder Justine Roberts champions the life of the Liverpool manager Bill Shankly.
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Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
Tue 30 Apr 2013
Gyles Brandreth praises the life of the creator of Sherlock Holmes.
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David Livingstone
Tue 23 Apr 2013
John Blashford-Snell explains why he admires fellow explorer, Dr David Livingstone.
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Kenny Everett
Tue 16 Apr 2013
Chris Tarrant chooses one of the great pioneers of modern radio - Kenny Everett.
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Galileo
Tue 9 Apr 2013
Bobby Friction champions the Italian physicist and astronomer Galileo Galilei.
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George Bell
Tue 2 Apr 2013
Peter Hitchens nominates George Bell, who condemned the bombing of Germany.
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William Robinson
Tue 29 Jan 2013
Gardener Carol Klein's choice is wild garden hero, William Robinson. With Matthew Parris.
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Nancy Mitford
Tue 22 Jan 2013
Grace Dent loves Nancy Mitford, author of Love in a Cold Climate. From 2013.
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Aubrey Beardsley
Tue 15 Jan 2013
Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen on his passion for Aubrey Beardsley. Matthew Parris presents.
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John Stuart Mill
Tue 8 Jan 2013
Matthew Parris and Max Mosley celebrate the life of John Stuart Mill.
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Ralph Vaughan Williams
Christmas Day 2012
Matthew Parris and Stuart Maconie celebrate the life of Ralph Vaughan Williams.
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Jean Cocteau
Tue 11 Dec 2012
Francesca Simon tells Matthew Parris why Jean Cocteau's is a Great Life.
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Dick Francis
Tue 4 Dec 2012
Martin Broughton nominates Dick Francis, champion jockey and champion author.
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George Orwell
Tue 18 Sep 2012
Alan Johnson tells Matthew Parris about the impact George Orwell had on his life.
Great Rock and Roll Lives
Stories of inspiration from great musicians from Bowie to Billie Holliday
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