Great Lives Podcast
Biographical series in which guests choose someone who has inspired their lives.
Episodes to download
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Sarah Vine on Dante
Tue 8 Apr 2014
Sarah Vine chooses Dante, author of the Italian literary masterpiece the Divine Comedy
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Evelyn Glennie on Jacqueline Du Pre
Tue 1 Apr 2014
The English Cellist Jacqueline Du Pre is championed by solo percussionist Evelyn Glennie.
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DJ Sara Cox nominates singer Lisa 'Left Eye' Lopes
Tue 28 Jan 2014
Sara Cox nominates the American hip hop artist and rapper Lisa 'Left Eye' Lopes.
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Mark Constantine on Kahlil Gibran
Tue 21 Jan 2014
Businessman Mark Constantine champions the life of Kahlil Gibran with Matthew Parris.
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Dave Allen chosen by Adil Ray
Tue 14 Jan 2014
Irish Comic Dave Allen is chosen by actor and comedian Adil Ray. Matthew Parris presents
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David Baddiel on John Updike
Tue 7 Jan 2014
Writer and comedian David Baddiel explores the life of novelist John Updike.
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Sir David Chipperfield on Le Corbusier
Tue 31 Dec 2013
Architect, Sir David Chipperfield, chooses Le Corbusier
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Meg Rosoff on Isabella Bird
Christmas Eve 2013
Novelist, Meg Rosoff explores the life of the Victorian travel writer Isabella Bird
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Michael Horovitz on Allen Ginsberg
Tue 17 Dec 2013
Michael Horovitz nominates fellow poet Allen Ginsberg as his Great Life.
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Ricky Ross on Hank Williams
Tue 10 Dec 2013
Ricky Ross from Deacon Blue champions songwriter Hank Williams. Matthew Parris presents.
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Al Murray on Bernard Montgomery
Tue 1 Oct 2013
Comedian Al Murray champions the life of Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery.
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Konnie Huq on Ada Lovelace
Tue 17 Sep 2013
TV presenter Konnie Huq chooses Lord Byron's daughter, the mathematician Ada Lovelace.
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Peter Bowles on George Devine
Tue 10 Sep 2013
Matthew Parris is joined by Peter Bowles to discuss the life of director George Devine.
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Paul Mason on Louise Michel
Tue 3 Sep 2013
Paul Mason talks to Matthew Parris about the 19th-century French anarchist, Louise Michel.
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Julie Burchill on Ava Gardner
Tue 27 Aug 2013
The writer Julie Burchill talks to Matthew Parris about the Hollywood star Ava Gardner.
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Tanika Gupta on Rabindranath Tagore
Tue 20 Aug 2013
Tanika Gupta nominates Rabindranath Tagore. With Matthew Parris and Ketaki Kushari Dyson.
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Gabriel Gbadamosi on Fela Kuti
Tue 13 Aug 2013
Gabriel Gbadamosi chooses as his Great Life the inventor of Afrobeat, musician Fela Kuti
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Russell Grant on Ivor Novello
Tue 6 Aug 2013
Entertainer Russell Grant nominates Welsh composer and film star Ivor Novello.
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Florence Nightingale
Tue 28 May 2013
Dr Lucy Worsley, chief curator at Historic Royal Palaces, chooses Florence Nightingale.
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Primo Levi
Tue 21 May 2013
Edmund de Waal, ceramicist and author chooses Holocaust writer Primo Levi.
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Salvador Dali
Tue 14 May 2013
John Cooper Clarke nominates Salvador Dali for great life status, melting clocks and all.
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Bill Shankly
Tue 7 May 2013
Mumsnet founder Justine Roberts champions the life of the Liverpool manager Bill Shankly.
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Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
Tue 30 Apr 2013
Gyles Brandreth praises the life of Arthur Conan Doyle, the creator of Sherlock Holmes.
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David Livingstone
Tue 23 Apr 2013
John Blashford-Snell explains why he admires fellow explorer, Dr David Livingstone.
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Kenny Everett
Tue 16 Apr 2013
Chris Tarrant chooses one of the great pioneers of modern radio - Kenny Everett.
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Galileo
Tue 9 Apr 2013
Bobby Friction champions the Italian physicist and astronomer Galileo Galilei.
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George Bell
Tue 2 Apr 2013
Peter Hitchens nominates George Bell, who condemned the bombing of Germany.
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William Robinson
Tue 29 Jan 2013
Gardener Carol Klein's choice is wild garden hero, William Robinson. With Matthew Parris.
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Nancy Mitford
Tue 22 Jan 2013
Grace Dent loves Nancy Mitford, author of Love in a Cold Climate. From 2013.
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