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Great Lives Episodes

  1.

    Paul Mason on Louise Michel

    Paul Mason talks to Matthew Parris about the 19th-century French anarchist, Louise Michel.

  2. Julie Burchill on Ava Gardner

    The writer Julie Burchill talks to Matthew Parris about the Hollywood star Ava Gardner.

  3. Tanika Gupta on Rabindranath Tagore

    Tanika Gupta nominates Rabindranath Tagore. With Matthew Parris and Ketaki Kushari Dyson.

  4. Gabriel Gbadamosi on Fela Kuti

    Gabriel Gbadamosi chooses as his Great Life the inventor of Afrobeat, musician Fela Kuti

  5. Russell Grant on Ivor Novello

    Entertainer Russell Grant nominates Welsh composer and film star Ivor Novello.

  6. Florence Nightingale

    Dr Lucy Worsley, chief curator at Historic Royal Palaces, chooses Florence Nightingale.

  7. Primo Levi

    Edmund de Waal, ceramicist and author chooses Holocaust writer Primo Levi.

  8. Salvador Dali

    John Cooper Clarke nominates Salvador Dali for great life status, melting clocks and all.

  9. Bill Shankly

    Mumsnet founder Justine Roberts champions the life of the Liverpool manager Bill Shankly.

  10. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

    Gyles Brandreth praises the life of Arthur Conan Doyle, the creator of Sherlock Holmes.

  11. David Livingstone

    John Blashford-Snell explains why he admires fellow explorer, Dr David Livingstone.

  12. Kenny Everett

    Chris Tarrant chooses one of the great pioneers of modern radio - Kenny Everett.

  13. Galileo

    Bobby Friction champions the Italian physicist and astronomer Galileo Galilei.

  14. George Bell

    Peter Hitchens nominates George Bell, who condemned the bombing of Germany.

  15. William Robinson

    Gardener Carol Klein's choice is wild garden hero, William Robinson. With Matthew Parris.

  16. Nancy Mitford

    Grace Dent loves Nancy Mitford, author of Love in a Cold Climate. From 2013.

  17. Aubrey Beardsley

    Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen on his passion for Aubrey Beardsley. Matthew Parris presents.

  18. John Stuart Mill

    Matthew Parris and Max Mosley celebrate the life of John Stuart Mill.

  19. Grigori Rasputin

    Grigori Rasputin, mad monk or righteous spiritual man ?

  20. Ralph Vaughan Williams

    Matthew Parris and Stuart Maconie celebrate the life of Ralph Vaughan Williams.

  21. Prince Alamayu

    Lemn Sissay chooses Prince Alamayu who, like him, was Ethiopian but fostered in Britain.

  22. Jean Cocteau

    Francesca Simon tells Matthew Parris why Jean Cocteau's is a Great Life.

  23. Dick Francis

    Martin Broughton nominates Dick Francis, champion jockey and champion author.

  24. Edith Wharton

    Naomi Wolf nominates Edith Wharton for Great Lives.

  25. George Orwell

    Alan Johnson tells Matthew Parris about the impact George Orwell had on his life.

  26. Karel Reisz

    Film-maker Stephen Frears champions his mentor, Karel Reisz.

  27. Stan Laurel

    Comedian and performer Ken Dodd explains why Stan Laurel inspired him to go into comedy.

  28. Juvenal

    Matthew Parris and his guest Natalie Haynes encounter the Latin poet Juvenal.

  29. Leonard Maguire

    Matthew Parris in conversation with actor Bill Paterson about Leonard Maguire.

  30. Walter Scott

    Conservative politician, author and adventurer Rory Stewart chooses Sir Walter Scott.

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