Great Lives Episodes Episode guide
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Richard Nixon
Historian Dominic Sandbrook discusses the life of Richard Nixon.
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Sappho
Greek poet Sappho - intellectual or vamp?
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John Lennon
John Lennon is the life nominated by writer John Harris. Matthew Parris presents.
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Arthur Wharton
Viv Anderson champions the life of Arthur Wharton, the first black professional footballer
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Carl Sagan
Physicist Brian Cox reveals how Carl Sagan's Cosmos TV show changed his life.
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Charlotte Guest
Sarah Hogg chooses as her champion Lady Charlotte Guest.
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Matthew Flinders
Sir Stuart Rose discusses the life of the cartographer who mapped Australia.
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Buckminster Fuller
TV producer John Lloyd discusses the life of American architect Richard Buckminster Fuller
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Douglas Jardine
Peter White discusses the controversial England cricket captain Douglas Jardine.
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Robin Hood
Human rights lawyer Clive Stafford Smith discusses Robin Hood.
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Bertolt Brecht
Playwright John Godber discusses the life of German writer Bertolt Brecht.
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Bill Hamilton
Professor Richard Dawkins discusses the evolutionary theorist Bill Hamilton.
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Agustin Barrios Mangore
John Williams discusses the life of Paraguayan guitarist Agustin Barrios Mangore.
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Picasso
Photographer David Bailey discusses the life and work of Pablo Picasso.
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Lise Meitner
Jenny Agutter champions the life and work of pioneering Austrian physicist Lise Meitner.
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Nero
Christopher Biggins champions the life of the Roman Emperor Nero.
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Hannah Arendt
Munira Mirza discusses the life of the influential political philosopher Hannah Arendt.
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Vivian Stanshall
Neil Innes discusses the life of his colleague and friend Vivian Stanshall.
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Tennessee Williams
Stand-up comedian Rich Hall discusses the life of playwright Tennessee Williams.
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Henry V
Sir Ranulph Fiennes discusses the life of Henry V and tries to separate fact from myth.
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Rudyard Kipling
John Major discusses the life of Rudyard Kipling, poet to the British Empire.
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Harry Houdini
Paul Daniels explores the life of Harry Houdini, with help from biographer William Kalush.
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Miriam Makeba
Kate Humble discusses the South African singer and anti-apartheid activist, Miriam Makeba.
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The A-Z of Dr Johnson
Politician Boris Johnson chooses the creator of the English dictionary, Dr Samuel Johnson.
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Sir Kyffin Williams
Rolf Harris discusses the life of the Welsh painter Sir Kyffin Williams.
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Freya Stark
Travel writer Dervla Murphy discusses the life of another woman traveller, Freya Stark.
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John Cornford
George Galloway chooses British poet and political activist John Cornford.
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Joe Slovo
David Miliband discusses the life of Joe Slovo, a leading member of the ANC.
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Alfred, Lord Tennyson
Andrew Motion champions the life of Alfred, Lord Tennyson, Poet Laureate for over 40 years
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Giovanni Falcone
Journalist Misha Glenny remembers the life of anti-Mafia campaigner Giovanni Falcone.
