Great Lives Podcast
Biographical series in which guests choose someone who has inspired their lives.
Episodes to download
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Susie Dent on Thomas Mann
Tue 1 Aug 2023
Susie Dent chooses the German writer Thomas Mann, who wrote Death in Venice.
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Jon Ronson picks Terry Hall of The Specials
Tue 16 May 2023
Terry Hall, lead singer of The Specials and Fun Boy Three - includes Lynval Golding
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Sir Edward Coke, prosecutor of Guy Fawkes
Tue 9 May 2023
Jesse Norman picks Sir Edward Coke, lawyer and Parliamentarian.
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Kofi Annan
Tue 2 May 2023
Gillian Burke chooses the seventh secretary-general of the United Nations.
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Frederick the Great of Prussia
Tue 11 Apr 2023
Frederick the Great, the most surprising king of Prussia.
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Adjoa Andoh on Zora Neale Hurston
Tue 24 Jan 2023
Bridgerton's Adjoa Andoh chooses the iconic American writer Zora Neale Hurston
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Comedian Chris McCausland on Kurt Cobain
Tue 17 Jan 2023
Kurt Cobain is nominated by comedian Chris McCausland.
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Roger Deakin, wild swimmer and author of Waterlogged
Tue 10 Jan 2023
Nick Hayes, author of the Book of Trespass, nominates Roger Deakin.
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Minette Batters on Henry Plumb
Tue 3 Jan 2023
Matthew Parris is joined by the president of the National Farmers' Union, Minette Batters.
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Bob Harris on Sir Matt Busby, Manchester United manager
Tue 27 Dec 2022
Presenter Bob Harris champions Manchester United manager Sir Matt Busby.
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Noddy Holder on Chuck Berry
Tue 20 Dec 2022
Slade frontman Noddy Holder champions the life of rock 'n' roll pioneer Chuck Berry.
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Olivia Laing on Christopher Lloyd, Gardener and Writer
Tue 13 Dec 2022
Writer Olivia Laing nominates the gardener and writer Christopher Lloyd.
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Olia Hercules on Alla Horska, Ukrainian painter
Tue 6 Dec 2022
Cookbook author and activist Olia Hercules nominates the Ukrainian painter Alla Horska.
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Bonnie Greer on the Women of the Morant Bay Rebellion
Tue 27 Sep 2022
Bonnie Greer nominates the women of the Morant Bay Rebellion in Jamaica.
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Astrid Lindgren, creator of Pippi Longstocking
Tue 20 Sep 2022
Cressida Cowell on her hero Astrid Lindgren, creator of Pippi Longstocking.
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George Lascelles, 7th Earl of Harewood nominated by Lesley Garrett
Tue 13 Sep 2022
Soprano Lesley Garrett celebrates the life of George Lascelles, 7th Earl of Harewood
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Romy Gill on poet Amrita Pritam
Tue 6 Sep 2022
Chef Romy Gill celebrates a poet whose work was heavily influenced by Partition.
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Rosalind Franklin picked by Kate Bingham, former head of the UK government's vaccine taskforce
Tue 30 Aug 2022
Rosalind Franklin, whose work was central to the discovery of DNA.
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Dame Kathleen Ollerenshaw, Educationalist
Tue 23 Aug 2022
Sir John Timpson picks Dame Kathleen Ollerenshaw.
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Pat Nevin on Johan Cruyff
Tue 2 Aug 2022
Pat Nevin picks Johan Cruyff, the Dutch footballer who changed how the game was played.
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Joan Rhodes, strongest woman in the world
Tue 24 May 2022
Anna Maxwell Martin proposes Joan Rhodes, variety artiste and strongwoman
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Rob Newman on Franklin D Roosevelt
Tue 17 May 2022
Comedian Rob Newman nominates one of his heroes, President Franklin D Roosevelt.
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Mr Manchester Tony Wilson nominated by Terry Christian
Tue 10 May 2022
Terry Christian from The Word on Tony Wilson of Factory Records and The Hacienda.
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Great Rock and Roll Lives
Stories of inspiration from great musicians from Bowie to Billie Holliday
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