大象传媒

From Eric Morecambe to Ernest Shackleton.

In the first of three programmes, Matthew Parris and original producer Miles Warde reveal how the 大象传媒 Radio 4's Great Lives series was born, as they recall the rows, revelations and rank incompetence behind 400 editions.

Deep in the summer of 2001, a new programme tiptoed out onto the airwaves.

The concept was simple 鈥� book someone famous to talk about someone dead. Except there was a problem; famous people don鈥檛 talk much about someone else.

In a world of the celebrity plug, getting voices to commit to a show where they couldn鈥檛 talk about themselves proved tough. 12 slots to fill, and nobody signed up.

400 episodes later鈥� Barbara Castle, Beryl Bainbridge, Bernard Manning, eventually everyone says yes.

In this episode, Christopher Hitchens was so incensed presenter Matthew Parris that he walked out. 鈥淵ou鈥檙e a bleeding Tory,鈥� he said, 鈥渁nd always have been. Have you done? I have to be somewhere at one.鈥�

Featuring material never previously played - nominators and experts about their hopes and fears.

Plus archive of original presenters Joan Bakewell and Humphrey Carpenter; plus a special selection of the very best of Great Lives.

鈥淭here鈥檚 a joy in judging people by their choice of hero. It鈥檚 one reason Matthew Parris鈥檚 Great Lives series has run for 40 series.鈥� Ben Preston, Radio Times editor, 2016.

Programme extracts include:

* Penelope Keith on Morecambe and Wise
* Piers Morgan on WG Grace
* Bernard Manning on Mother Teresa

Rosie Boycott on Ernest Shackleton.

Produced at 大象传媒 Bristol by Miles Warde.

Made for 大象传媒 Radio 4 Extra and first broadcast in December 2017.

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