Great Lives Episodes Episode guide
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Edwin Lutyens
Simon Jenkins proposes Edwin Lutyens, architect of New Delhi and the Cenotaph.
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Hans Fallada
Fast Show comic Simon Day tells Matthew Parris why he is fascinated by writer Hans Fallada
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William Shakespeare
Poetry curator Daisy Goodwin nominates the Bard himself, William Shakespeare.
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Eduardo Paolozzi
Restaurateur Antonio Carluccio nominates the Scottish artist Sir Eduardo Paolozzi.
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Emily Dickinson
The reclusive American poet Emily Dickinson is the choice of fellow poet Gwyneth Lewis.
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Kirsty MacColl
Broadcaster Janice Long champions the life and work of singer-songwriter Kirsty MacColl.
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Graham Greene
War reporter Tim Butcher chooses an exploration into the strange world of Graham Greene.
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Harold Pinter
Matthew Parris introduces the life of writer Harold Pinter, chosen by Diane Abbott MP.
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Jack Johnson
Matthew Syed chooses the first African-American world heavyweight boxing champion.
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Petra Kelly
Green MP Caroline Lucas nominates Petra Kelly, the German Green superstar politician.
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Lewis Carroll
Writer Lynne Truss chooses the creator of Alice in Wonderland, Lewis Carroll.
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Kathleen Ferrier
Broadcaster Sue MacGregor nominates singer Kathleen Ferrier who died tragically young.
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Simone de Beauvoir
Actress Diana Quick selects philosopher Simone de Beauvoir for Great Lives.
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Leonard Bernstein
Conductor Charles Hazlewood chooses Leonard Bernstein.
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Thomas Edison
Sir Clive Sinclair discusses fellow inventor Thomas Edison with Matthew Parris.
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Mary Stott
Katharine Whitehorn chooses journalist and campaigner Mary Stott.
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Gertrude Bell
Physicist Jim al-Khalili nominates Gertrude Bell who shaped modern-day Iraq.
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JB Priestley
Comedian Barry Cryer nods to his Yorkshire roots by choosing JB Priestley.
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Aneurin Bevan
Lord Kinnock chooses the life of Aneurin Bevan, the founder of the NHS.
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Sammy Davis Jr
Dancer and actor Lionel Blair chooses his friend, Sammy Davis Jr.
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Samuel Beckett
Business guru Sir Gerry Robinson chooses playwright Samuel Beckett.
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DH Lawrence
Poet John Hegley chooses the author of Lady Chatterley's Lover, DH Lawrence.
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Malcolm McLaren
Public relations expert Mark Borkowski discusses the life of the Sex Pistols' manager.
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Walt Disney
Gerald Scarfe, merciless political cartoon satirist, chooses an icon who created icons.
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Michel de Montaigne
Professor Robert Winston chooses a famous writer from the French Renaissance.
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Winston Churchill
Lord Digby Jones chooses wartime leader, Winston Churchill.
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Golda Meir
Edwina Currie discusses the life of former Israeli prime minister Golda Meir.
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Simone Weil
Eleanor Bron discusses the life of French philosopher and mystic Simone Weil.
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Mary Carpenter
Camila Batmanghelidjh discusses the life of her Victorian equivalent, Mary Carpenter.
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Richard Nixon
Historian Dominic Sandbrook discusses the life of Richard Nixon.
