Will Self nominates Oscar Wilde. Read more
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Oscar Wilde
Will Self nominates Oscar Wilde.
Gertrude Stein
Erin Pizzey chooses Gertrude Stein. With Diana Souhami. Presented by Matthew Parris.
George Lyward
Tom Robinson explains how educationalist George Lyward saved his life.
Edward Said
Alexei Sayle explains why scholar and literary critic Edward Said inspired him.
John Ford
Eric Pickles chooses Hollywood director John Ford.
Goya
Diana Athill joins Matthew Parris to explore the life of Spanish painter Goya.
Sebastian Walker
Lynn Barber talks to Matthew Parris about Sebastian Walker of Walker Books.
Henry Cooper
Des Lynam chooses Henry Cooper for Great Lives.
Josephine Bonaparte
Josephine Bonaparte, first empress of France, chosen by Janine di Giovanni.
Walter Scott
Conservative politician, author and adventurer Rory Stewart chooses Sir Walter Scott.
Leonard Maguire
Matthew Parris in conversation with actor Bill Paterson about Leonard Maguire.
Juvenal
Matthew Parris and his guest Natalie Haynes encounter the Latin poet Juvenal.
Stan Laurel
Comedian and performer Ken Dodd explains how Stan Laurel inspired him to go into comedy.
Karel Reisz
Film-maker Stephen Frears champions his mentor, Karel Reisz.
George Orwell
Alan Johnson tells Matthew Parris about the impact George Orwell had on his life.
Edith Wharton
Naomi Wolf nominates Edith Wharton for Great Lives.
Dick Francis
Martin Broughton nominates Dick Francis, champion jockey and champion author.
Jean Cocteau
Francesca Simon tells Matthew Parris why Jean Cocteau's is a Great Life.
Prince Alamayu
Lemn Sissay chooses Prince Alamayu who, like him, was Ethiopian but fostered in Britain.
Ralph Vaughan Williams
Matthew Parris and Stuart Maconie celebrate the life of Ralph Vaughan Williams.
Grigori Rasputin
Grigori Rasputin, mad monk or righteous spiritual man ?
John Stuart Mill
Matthew Parris and Max Mosley celebrate the life of John Stuart Mill.
Aubrey Beardsley
Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen on his passion for Aubrey Beardsley. Matthew Parris presents.
Nancy Mitford
Grace Dent loves Nancy Mitford, author of Love in a Cold Climate. From 2013.
William Robinson
Gardener Carol Klein's choice is wild garden hero, William Robinson. With Matthew Parris.
George Bell
Peter Hitchens nominates George Bell, who condemned the bombing of Germany.
Galileo
Bobby Friction champions the Italian physicist and astronomer Galileo Galilei.
Kenny Everett
Chris Tarrant chooses one of the great pioneers of modern radio - Kenny Everett.
David Livingstone
John Blashford-Snell explains why he admires fellow explorer, Dr David Livingstone.
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
Gyles Brandreth praises the life of Arthur Conan Doyle, the creator of Sherlock Holmes.
Bill Shankly
Mumsnet founder Justine Roberts champions the life of the Liverpool manager Bill Shankly.
