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Great Lives Episodes

  1.

    Martha Gellhorn

    Journalist Camilla Wright nominates the war reporter Martha Gellhorn for greatness.

  2. Richard Beckinsale

    Alan Davies nominates actor Richard Beckinsale who tragically died aged just 31.

  3. Joan Littlewood

    Actor Victor Spinetti explains his admiration for director Joan Littlewood.

  4. Albert Einstein

    Scientist and broadcaster Kathy Sykes chooses the iconic physicist, Albert Einstein.

  5. Millicent Garrett Fawcett

    Feminist campaigner Lesley Abdela discusses the extraordinary suffragist leader.

  6. John H Hammond

    Joe Boyd shines a spotlight on the career of record producer John H Hammond.

  7. Charles Darwin

    Businessman and academic Adair Turner talks about the life of Charles Darwin.

  8. Nina Simone

    Joanna Macgregor nominates the chanteuse and civil rights activist Nina Simone.

  9. Stanley Baldwin

    Former minister Lord John Biffen nominates Conservative Prime Minister Stanley Baldwin.

  10. Julia Ward-Howe

    Elaine Showalter nominates the 19th-century American writer Julia Ward-Howe.

  11. WH Auden

    Broadcaster Jeremy Vine chooses the poet, WH Auden.

  12. Eleanor Roosevelt

    Civil liberties lawyer Helena Kennedy nominates Eleanor Roosevelt.

  13. Max Miller

    Garry Bushell nominates the 'cheeky chappie' who portrayed the voice of the working class

  14. Leon Trotsky

    Christopher Hitchens nominates Leon Trotsky, hero of the Russian Revolution.

  15. Robin Day

    News presenter Krishnan Guru-Murthy nominates his illustrious predecessor Robin Day.

  16. WG Grace

    Piers Morgan nominates WG Grace as the greatest English cricketer of all time.

  17. Tamara Karsavina

    Broadcaster and agony aunt Anna Raeburn nominates the ballerina Tamara Karsavina.

  18. Ignaz Semmelweis

    Writer Frances Cairncross nominates the forgotten hero of medicine Ignaz Semmelweis.

  19. Johnny Weissmuller

    Athlete Duncan Goodhew nominates the athlete-turned-actor Johnny Weissmuller.

  20. Ella Fitzgerald

    Ivan Massow nominates the great jazz singer, with expert advice from Cleo Laine.

  21. Sigmund Freud

    Matthew Parris presents Craig Brown's nomination of Sigmund Freud.

  22. Julian Clary on Noel Coward

    Matthew Parris presents Julian Clary's nomination of Noel Coward.

  23. Andrew Carnegie

    Jeff Randall explores the life of the businessman and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie.

  24. Morecambe and Wise

    Penelope Keith champions the achievements of one of the most famous comic duos of all time

  25. Marty Feldman

    Annie Nightingale champions manic-eyed comic Marty Feldman.

  26. Dorothy Parker

    Writer and actress Helen Lederer nominates the writer-poet Dorothy Parker.

  27. Nevil Shute

    Historian and broadcaster Adam Hart-Davis nominates the author Nevil Shute.

  28. Beatrix Potter

    Fiona Reynolds, former director of the National Trust, chooses writer Beatrix Potter

  29. Thomas Cromwell

    Historian and author Derek Wilson proposes 16th century politician Thomas Cromwell.

  30. Zhao Ziyang

    Robert Thomson maps the rise and fall of the reforming Chinese premier Zhao Ziyang.

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