Main content

Great Lives Episodes

  1.

    Michael Dobbs on Guy Burgess

    Michael Dobbs looks back at the life of Cambridge spy Guy Burgess.

  2. James Hogg

    Geneticist Steve Jones chooses 19th-century fiddle-playing shepherd and writer James Hogg.

  3. Philippa Langley on Richard III

    Matthew Parris talks to Philippa Langley about the life of Richard III.

  4. Bob Marley

    Poet Benjamin Zephaniah explores the life of reggae legend Bob Marley.

  5. Tom Solomon on Roald Dahl

    Professor Tom Solomon talks about his former patient, writer Roald Dahl.

  6. Rachmaninov

    Conductor Leonard Slatkin proposes composer Sergei Rachmaninov for great life status.

  7. Brian Eno on Lord Young of Dartington

    Brian Eno champions the life and work of social reformer Michael Young.

  8. Scott of the Antarctic

    Author Beryl Bainbridge selects explorer Robert Falcon Scott as a hidden romantic.

  9. Laura Bates on Louisa May Alcott

    Laura Bates tells Matthew Parris why Louisa May Alcott of "Little Women" is her Great Life

  10. Captain James Cook

    Media executive and broadcaster Greg Dyke chooses explorer Captain James Cook.

  11. Arthur Smith on Emil Z谩topek

    Comedian Arthur Smith tells Matthew Parris about the life of Olympic runner Emil Z谩topek.

  12. Richard Crossman

    Politician Tam Dalyell chooses cabinet minister and political diarist Richard Crossman.

  13. James Gillray

    Political cartoonist Steve Bell chooses the 18th-century caricaturist James Gillray.

  14. Benedict Spinoza

    Nobel Prize-winning chemist Sir Harry Kroto chooses the philosopher Benedict Spinoza.

  15. Umm Kulthum

    Novelist Ahdaf Soueif chooses acclaimed Egyptian singer Umm Kulthum as his great life.

  16. MR James

    Muriel Gray chooses the ghost story writer MR James.

  17. Rachel Carson

    Writer Bea Campbell chooses pioneering environmental protection scientist Rachel Carson.

  18. CLR James

    Darcus Howe discusses his uncle, the sportsman, writer and revolutionary CLR James.

  19. Erasmus Darwin

    Paul Nurse discusses scientist, inventor and poet Erasmus Darwin, grandfather of Charles.

  20. Professor Edith Hall on Lucille Ball

    Matthew Parris invites Professor Edith Hall to nominate her idol.

  21. Katherine Graham

    Broadcaster Kirsty Young chooses newspaper publisher Katherine Graham.

  22. Andrew Adonis on Joseph Bazalgette

    Lord Adonis chooses Victorian engineer, aka 'The Sewer King', Sir Joseph Bazalgette

  23. Tom Spring

    Sports writer Frank Keating nominates 19th century bare knuckle boxer, Tom Spring.

  24. Stella Rimington on Dorothy L Sayers

    Dame Stella Rimington explains to Matthew Parris why Dorothy L Sayers fascinates her.

  25. Labi Siffre on Arthur Ransome

    Matthew Parris invites singer songwriter Labi Siffre to nominate his choice of life.

  26. Lord Byron

    Sue Limb nominates 'mad, bad and dangerous to know' poet, Lord Byron.

  27. Tom Shakespeare on Gramsci

    Dr Tom Shakespeare tells Matthew Parris why Antonio Gramsci's is a Great Life.

  28. Ray Mears on Rommel

    Ray Mears champions the life of Field-Marshal Erwin Rommel.

  29. Louis Armstrong

    Band leader Chris Barber chooses legendary jazz trumpeter, Louis Armstrong.

  30. Baroness Oona King on Ida B Wells

    Ida B. Wells the African American civil rights activist is chosen by Baroness Oona King

  2. 1
  3. …
  4. 9
  5. 10
  6. 11
  7. 12
  8. 13
  9. …
  10. 20