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Great Lives Episodes

  1.

    Bette Davis

    Tracy-Ann Oberman champions the life of one of the silver screen's most enduring icons.

  2. Dietrich Bonhoeffer

    Actor David Soul champions the life of German pastor and theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer.

  3. Beachcomber

    The Snowman author Raymond Briggs chooses JB Morton, aka Beachcomber.

  4. Billy Marsh

    Michael Grade and William G Stewart champion the life of theatrical agent Billy Marsh.

  5. Luciano Pavarotti

    Luciano Pavarotti is nominated by the music promoter Harvey Goldsmith.

  6. William Hogarth

    Eighteenth-century satirist and painter William Hogarth is nominated by Ian Hislop.

  7. Lady Hester Stanhope

    Deborah Meaden nominates the Georgian hostess, diplomat and spy Lady Hester Stanhope.

  8. Field Marshal Bill Slim

    General Mike Jackson nominates Field Marshal Bill Slim, leader of the WW2 Burma campaign.

  9. David Ervine

    Lesley Riddoch nominates former Loyalist paramilitary turned politician David Ervine.

  10. Henry VII

    Former chancellor George Osborne nominates Henry VII, founder of the Tudor dynasty.

  11. Alan Freed

    Bob Harris nominates Alan Freed, the first ever rock 'n' roll DJ.

  12. Robert Hooke

    David Attenborough nominates the largely forgotten 17th-century inventor and illustrator.

  13. Richard Pryor

    Skills minister David Lammy puts the case for the revolutionary comedian Richard Pryor.

  14. Lord Longford

    Jon Snow champions jails reform campaigner and politician, Lord Longford.

  15. AE Housman

    Author Colin Dexter nominates scholar and poet AE Housman. With Robert Douglas-Fairhurst.

  16. Joyce Grenfell

    Arabella Weir nominates Joyce Grenfell. Biographer Janie Hampton assists.

  17. Edward Lear

    Nicholas Parsons nominates Edward Lear, now remembered best for his nonsense verse.

  18. Ian Curtis

    Poet Simon Armitage nominates Joy Division singer Ian Curtis.

  19. Paul Robeson

    Anna Ford nominates singer, actor and civil rights activist Paul Robeson.

  20. Juan Manuel Fangio

    Stirling Moss nominates the great racing driver Juan Manuel Fangio.

  21. Paavo Nurmi

    Former athlete Steve Cram nominates 鈥楩lying Finn鈥� Paavo Nurmi. Matthew Parris presents.

  22. Charles Bukowski

    Comedian Rhona Cameron chooses the German-American writer and poet, Charles Bukowski.

  23. Peter Cushing

    Actor and writer Mark Gatiss chooses horror film star, Peter Cushing.

  24. Hermann Buhl

    Mountaineer Joe Simpson takes up the cause of the pioneering Austrian climber Hermann Buhl

  25. Katherine Mansfield

    Jacqueline Wilson chooses the writer Katherine Mansfield. With Angela Smith as witness.

  26. Groucho Marx

    Roger Graef champions the great comic Groucho Marx.

  27. Howard Florey

    Richard Sykes champions Sir Howard Florey, a forgotten man in the discovery of penicillin.

  28. Alfred Russel Wallace

    Travel writer Redmond O'Hanlon proposes the pioneering naturalist Alfred Russel Wallace.

  29. George Cruikshank

    Quentin Blake nominates illustrator George Cruikshank.

  30. Thora Hird

    Impressionist Jan Ravens chooses the award-winning actress, Dame Thora Hird.

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