Great Lives Episodes Episode guide
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Lady Hale on Lady Rhondda
Lady Hale on Lady Rhondda.
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William Lever, Lord Leverhulme, founder of Unilever
The mighty soap manufacturer, William Lever, chosen by the boss of Iceland
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Noor-Un-Nissa Inayat Khan
The muslim princess who became a WW2 Special Agent
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Jeanne Baret, first woman to sail round the globe
Nina Sosanya picks Jeanne Baret, first woman round the globe.
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Rory Sutherland on Johnny Ramone
The advertising guru Rory Sutherland on the founder of the New York punk band, the Ramones
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JRR Tolkien, creator of The Hobbit
Niall Ferguson chooses JRR Tolkien, creator of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings
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Ruth Rogers on James Baldwin
Ruth Rogers chooses the life of writer James Baldwin.
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Yanis Varoufakis on Hypatia
The life and brutal death of a gifted mathematician and philosopher from the ancient world
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Dorothy Byrne on Catherine of Siena
The president of Murray Edwards College, Cambridge champions the life of the Italian saint
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Peggy Seeger on her husband Ewan MacColl
Ewan MacColl - folk singer and labour activist - was born Jimmy Miller in Salford in 1915.
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Josiah Wedgwood, master potter
Tristram Hunt on Josiah Wedgwood, vase maker general to the universe!
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Frantz Fanon
The anti-colonial writer and psychiatrist from Martinique is the choice of Lindsay Johns
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Althea Gibson
The first black tennis player to win Wimbledon is the choice of Professor Devi Sridhar.
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Yehudi Menuhin
Violinist Tasmin Little on her hero, Sir Yehudi Menuhin.
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Hans Christian Andersen
Author of The Little Mermaid and The Emperor's New Clothes, he was 'a very strange orchid'
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The Surprise Lives
A runaway rollercoaster of Great Lives.
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Rosie Millard on Edward III
Rosie tells Matthew Parris that Edward III was a cultural hero who deserves greater fame.
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Ben Miller on William Hazlitt
Actor and comedian Ben Miller nominates essayist William Hazlitt.
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Arlo Parks on Elliott Smith
Singer-songwriter Arlo Parks nominates the young life of singer Elliott Smith.
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Jonathan Dimbleby on Harry Hopkins
President Roosevelt's right hand man in World War Two, Harry Hopkins.
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KT Tunstall on Ivor Cutler
Singer-songwriter KT Tunstall nominates Scottish humorist Ivor Cutler
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Black and British pioneer Kenny Lynch
Veteran black and British entertainer Kenny Lynch.
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Chinua Achebe, Nigerian novelist
Yasmin Alibhai-Brown picks Nigerian novelist Chinua Achebe.
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The Talented Mr Ripley author, Patricia Highsmith
Sometimes known as 'the stalker's balladeer', she is director Jonathan Kent's choice.
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Rights activist Cesar Chavez nominated by Cori Crider
Human rights lawyer Cori Crider explains why she is inspired by the life of Cesar Chavez.
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Caroline Catz on Delia Derbyshire
Actor Caroline Catz chooses Delia Derbyshire, who realised the theme to Doctor Who.
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David Jonsson on Jean Michel Basquiat
Actor David Jonsson champions artist Jean-Michel Basquiat
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Rob Rinder on Jessica Mitford
Jessica Mitford is championed by Robert Rinder.
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Diane Morgan on Air Chief Marshal Hugh Dowding
Comedian and actor Diane Morgan chooses the life of Air Chief Marshal Hugh Dowding
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The Great Lives of Great Lives
After 450 episodes, Matthew Parris thinks it's time to find out what makes a great life.
