Great Lives Episodes Episode guide
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Martha Gellhorn
Journalist Camilla Wright nominates the war reporter Martha Gellhorn for greatness.
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Richard Beckinsale
Alan Davies nominates actor Richard Beckinsale who tragically died aged just 31.
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Joan Littlewood
Actor Victor Spinetti explains his admiration for director Joan Littlewood.
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Albert Einstein
Scientist and broadcaster Kathy Sykes chooses the iconic physicist, Albert Einstein.
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Millicent Garrett Fawcett
Feminist campaigner Lesley Abdela discusses the extraordinary suffragist leader.
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John H Hammond
Joe Boyd shines a spotlight on the career of record producer John H Hammond.
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Charles Darwin
Businessman and academic Adair Turner talks about the life of Charles Darwin.
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Nina Simone
Joanna Macgregor nominates the chanteuse and civil rights activist Nina Simone.
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Stanley Baldwin
Former minister Lord John Biffen nominates Conservative Prime Minister Stanley Baldwin.
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Julia Ward-Howe
Elaine Showalter nominates the 19th-century American writer Julia Ward-Howe.
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WH Auden
Broadcaster Jeremy Vine chooses the poet, WH Auden.
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Eleanor Roosevelt
Civil liberties lawyer Helena Kennedy nominates Eleanor Roosevelt.
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Max Miller
Garry Bushell nominates the 'cheeky chappie' who portrayed the voice of the working class
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Leon Trotsky
Christopher Hitchens nominates Leon Trotsky, hero of the Russian Revolution.
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Robin Day
News presenter Krishnan Guru-Murthy nominates his illustrious predecessor Robin Day.
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WG Grace
Piers Morgan nominates WG Grace as the greatest English cricketer of all time.
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Tamara Karsavina
Broadcaster and agony aunt Anna Raeburn nominates the ballerina Tamara Karsavina.
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Ignaz Semmelweis
Writer Frances Cairncross nominates the forgotten hero of medicine Ignaz Semmelweis.
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Johnny Weissmuller
Athlete Duncan Goodhew nominates the athlete-turned-actor Johnny Weissmuller.
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Ella Fitzgerald
Ivan Massow nominates the great jazz singer, with expert advice from Cleo Laine.
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Sigmund Freud
Matthew Parris presents Craig Brown's nomination of Sigmund Freud.
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Julian Clary on Noel Coward
Matthew Parris presents Julian Clary's nomination of Noel Coward.
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Andrew Carnegie
Jeff Randall explores the life of the businessman and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie.
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Morecambe and Wise
Penelope Keith champions the achievements of one of the most famous comic duos of all time
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Marty Feldman
Annie Nightingale champions manic-eyed comic Marty Feldman.
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Dorothy Parker
Writer and actress Helen Lederer nominates the writer-poet Dorothy Parker.
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Nevil Shute
Historian and broadcaster Adam Hart-Davis nominates the author Nevil Shute.
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Beatrix Potter
Fiona Reynolds, former director of the National Trust, chooses writer Beatrix Potter
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Thomas Cromwell
Historian and author Derek Wilson proposes 16th century politician Thomas Cromwell.
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Zhao Ziyang
Robert Thomson maps the rise and fall of the reforming Chinese premier Zhao Ziyang.