Main content

Sir David Weatherall, Penny Marshall, Evelyn Berezin, Zhores Medvedev, Nancy Wilson

Matthew Bannister on haematologist Sir David Weatherall, film director Penny Marshall, inventor Evelyn Berezin, Soviet dissident Zhores Medvedev and singer Nancy Wilson.

Pictured: Nancy Wilson

Matthew Bannister on

Sir David Weatherall, the world renowned haematologist and geneticist who pioneered molecular approaches to medicine.

Penny Marshall, the first woman to direct a film which grossed more than a hundred million dollars. She also starred in the US TV sitcom Laverne and Shirley.

Evelyn Berezin who invented the first computerised word processor for secretarial use.

Zhores Medvedev, the Soviet scientist who revealed the use of psychiatric hospitals to lock up political dissidents.

Nancy Wilson the versatile Grammy award winning singer who recorded jazz, pop and R&B songs.

Interviewed guest: Tom Soloman
Interviewed guest: Larushka Ivan-Zadeh
Interviewed guest: Matthew Kirschenbaum
Interviewed guest: Jonathan Steele
Interviewed guest: Tina May

Producer: Neil George

Archive clips from: Eureka: David Weatherall, Radio 4 03/12/95; Science at War: Hydrogen Bomb, 大象传媒 Two 10/12/98; Newsnight, 大象传媒 Two 21/03/84; Newsnight, 大象传媒 Two 28/04/86; Happy Days, Henderson Productions/Miller-Milkis-Boyett Productions/Paramount Television; Big, American Entertainment Partners II LP/Gracie Films/Twentieth Century Fox, 1988; The Talk of the Town, 大象传媒 TV 30/04/72; Oral History of Evelyn Berezin, Computer History Museum, Interviewed by Gardner Hendrie 10/03/14 in New York.

Available now

28 minutes

Sir David Weatherall

Born 9 March 1933; died 8 December 2018, aged 85.

Last Word spoke to his friend and former student Tom Soloman.

Penny Marshall

Born 15 October 1943; died 17 December 2018, aged 75.

Last Word spoke to film critic Larushka Ivan-Zadeh.

Evelyn Berezin

Born 12 April 1925; died 8 December 2018, aged 93.

Last Word spoke to Matthew Kirschenbaum, Associate Director, Maryland Institute for Technology in the Humanities.

Zhores Medvedev

Born 14 November 1925; died 15 November 2018, aged 93.

Last Word spoke to Guardian columnist Jonathan Steele.

Nancy Wilson

Born 20 February 1937; died 13 December 2018, aged 81.

Last Word spoke to singer Tina May.

Broadcasts

  • Fri 21 Dec 2018 16:03
  • Sun 23 Dec 2018 20:30

Podcast