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Great Lives Episodes

  1.

    John Coltrane

    Musician Andy Sheppard chooses influential saxophonist John Coltrane.

  2. Frank Sinatra

    Broadcaster and DJ Colin Murray chooses Frank Sinatra.

  3. Carl Gustav Jung

    Ruby Wax discusses the life and work of Carl Gustav Jung.

  4. Sir Thomas Beecham

    David Mellor promotes the life of conductor Sir Thomas Beecham.

  5. Roy Jenkins

    Journalist Polly Toynbee chooses one of the most noted of post-war politicians Roy Jenkins

  6. Napoleon Bonaparte

    Television and radio presenter Stuart Hall discusses his lifelong hero, Napoleon Bonaparte

  7. Robert Kennedy

    Ken Livingstone discusses his hero, US politician Robert Kennedy.

  8. Margot Fonteyn

    Horticulturalist Rachel De Thame champions her heroine, the ballerina Margot Fonteyn.

  9. Tony Hancock

    Poet Pam Ayres chooses the lad himself, Tony Hancock.

  10. Bette Davis

    Tracy-Ann Oberman champions the life of one of the silver screen's most enduring icons.

  11. Dietrich Bonhoeffer

    Actor David Soul champions the life of German pastor and theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer.

  12. Beachcomber

    The Snowman author Raymond Briggs chooses JB Morton, aka Beachcomber.

  13. Billy Marsh

    Michael Grade and William G Stewart champion the life of theatrical agent Billy Marsh.

  14. Luciano Pavarotti

    Luciano Pavarotti is nominated by the music promoter Harvey Goldsmith.

  15. William Hogarth

    Eighteenth-century satirist and painter William Hogarth is nominated by Ian Hislop.

  16. Lady Hester Stanhope

    Deborah Meaden nominates the Georgian hostess, diplomat and spy Lady Hester Stanhope.

  17. Field Marshal Bill Slim

    General Mike Jackson nominates Field Marshal Bill Slim, leader of the WW2 Burma campaign.

  18. David Ervine

    Lesley Riddoch nominates former Loyalist paramilitary turned politician David Ervine.

  19. Henry VII

    Former chancellor George Osborne nominates Henry VII, founder of the Tudor dynasty.

  20. Alan Freed

    Bob Harris nominates Alan Freed, the first ever rock 'n' roll DJ.

  21. Robert Hooke

    David Attenborough nominates the largely forgotten 17th-century inventor and illustrator.

  22. Richard Pryor

    Skills minister David Lammy puts the case for the revolutionary comedian Richard Pryor.

  23. Lord Longford

    Jon Snow champions jails reform campaigner and politician, Lord Longford.

  24. AE Housman

    Author Colin Dexter nominates scholar and poet AE Housman. With Robert Douglas-Fairhurst.

  25. Joyce Grenfell

    Arabella Weir nominates Joyce Grenfell. Biographer Janie Hampton assists.

  26. Edward Lear

    Nicholas Parsons nominates Edward Lear, now remembered best for his nonsense verse.

  27. Ian Curtis

    Poet Simon Armitage nominates Joy Division singer Ian Curtis.

  28. Paul Robeson

    Anna Ford nominates singer, actor and civil rights activist Paul Robeson.

  29. Juan Manuel Fangio

    Stirling Moss nominates the great racing driver Juan Manuel Fangio.

  30. Paavo Nurmi

    Former athlete Steve Cram nominates 鈥楩lying Finn鈥� Paavo Nurmi. Matthew Parris presents.

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