Great Lives Episodes Episode guide
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Alvin Hall chooses James Baldwin
Matthew Parris meets financial guru Alvin Hall, whose hero is James Baldwin.
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Roger Saul chooses Gertrude Jekyll
Fashion designer Roger Saul chooses garden designer Gertrude Jekyll
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Dickie Bird on the life of Sir Leonard Hutton
Dickie Bird champions his hero Sir Leonard Hutton.
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Ronald Reagan
Lord Powell nominates former US President Ronald Reagan.
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Toyah Willcox on Katharine Hepburn
Toyah Willcox nominates her hero Katharine Hepburn who she met and worked with.
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Nick Stadlen on Bram Fischer
Nick Stadlen champions the life of the Afrikaner Revolutionary Bram Fischer.
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Hannah Rothschild on Thelonious Monk
Hannah Rothschild looks back at the life of jazz musician Thelonious Monk.
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George Sand
Mary Kenny nominates the 19th-century French novelist.
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Frances Crook on Barbara Castle
Frances Crook proposes Labour politician Barbara Castle. Roy Hattersley is witness
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Genghis Khan
American commentator Joe Queenan chooses the Mongol leader Genghis Khan.
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Monica Ali chooses Richard Francis Burton
The author Monica Ali champions the life of the explorer Richard Francis Burton.
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Captain Henry Morgan
Writer and photographer Lucinda Lambton chooses the supposed pirate captain.
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George Washington Williams
Ade Adepitan champions the life of George Washington Williams.
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Michael Howard on Elizabeth I
Michael Howard, Conservative Party former leader, tells Matthew Parris about Elizabeth I.
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Michael Collins
Film producer Lord Puttnam chooses the Irish nationalist leader Michael Collins.
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Vicky Pryce on Melina Mercouri
Economist Vicky Pryce nominates the Greek film star and politician Melina Mercouri.
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Edward Elgar
Writer, broadcaster and charity founder Marjorie Wallace chooses composer Edward Elgar.
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Ian McKellen on Edmund Hillary
Sir Ian McKellen nominates mountaineer Edmund Hillary as his inspirational figure.
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Marvin Gaye
Innovative soul singer Marvin Gaye is the choice of historian and broadcaster Tim Marlow.
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Leonard Woolf
4 Extra Debut. Jilly Goolden nominates writer and political thinker Leonard Woolf.
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Vivien Leigh
Barrister Christina Gorna chooses Oscar-winning Vivien Leigh.
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Robert FitzRoy
Baroness Margaret Jay chooses pioneering meteorologist Vice-Admiral Robert FitzRoy.
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Gilbert and Sullivan
Dillie Keane chooses the musical duo Gilbert and Sullivan.
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Joseph Banks
Scientist Lord Robert May nominates the naturalist and botanist, Joseph Banks.
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Benjamin Disraeli
Kenneth Clarke chooses the Victorian politician, Benjamin Disraeli.
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Val McDermid on PD James
Matthew Parris talks to crime writer Val McDermid about the life of PD James.
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Dr Samuel Johnson
Poet Kit Wright chooses author and creator of the English dictionary, Dr Samuel Johnson.
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David Blunkett on Louis Braille
Matthew Parris hears from David Blunkett about the life of Louis Braille. From 2015.
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Octavia Hill
Trade unionist and politician Brenda Dean chooses National Trust founder Octavia Hill.
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US Ambassador Matthew Barzun on JG Winant
Matthew Parris meets US Ambassador Matthew Barzun to talk about his wartime predecessor.
