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Edward Said

Alexei Sayle explains why scholar and literary critic Edward Said inspired him.

• 30 mins

John Ford

Eric Pickles chooses Hollywood director John Ford.

• 30 mins

Goya

Diana Athill joins Matthew Parris to explore the life of Spanish painter Goya.

• 30 mins

Sebastian Walker

Lynn Barber talks to Matthew Parris about Sebastian Walker of Walker Books.

• 30 mins

Henry Cooper

Des Lynam chooses Henry Cooper for Great Lives.

• 30 mins

Josephine Bonaparte

Josephine Bonaparte, first empress of France, chosen by Janine di Giovanni.

• 30 mins

Walter Scott

Conservative politician, author and adventurer Rory Stewart chooses Sir Walter Scott.

• 30 mins

Leonard Maguire

Matthew Parris in conversation with actor Bill Paterson about Leonard Maguire.

• 30 mins

Juvenal

Matthew Parris and his guest Natalie Haynes encounter the Latin poet Juvenal.

• 30 mins

Stan Laurel

Comedian and performer Ken Dodd explains why Stan Laurel inspired him to go into comedy.

• 30 mins

Karel Reisz

Film-maker Stephen Frears champions his mentor, Karel Reisz.

• 30 mins

George Orwell

Alan Johnson tells Matthew Parris about the impact George Orwell had on his life.

• 30 mins

Edith Wharton

Naomi Wolf nominates Edith Wharton for Great Lives.

• 30 mins

Dick Francis

Martin Broughton nominates Dick Francis, champion jockey and champion author.

• 30 mins

Jean Cocteau

Francesca Simon tells Matthew Parris why Jean Cocteau's is a Great Life.

• 30 mins

Prince Alamayu

Lemn Sissay chooses Prince Alamayu who, like him, was Ethiopian but fostered in Britain.

• 30 mins

Ralph Vaughan Williams

Matthew Parris and Stuart Maconie celebrate the life of Ralph Vaughan Williams.

• 30 mins

Grigori Rasputin

Grigori Rasputin, mad monk or righteous spiritual man ?

• 30 mins

John Stuart Mill

Matthew Parris and Max Mosley celebrate the life of John Stuart Mill.

• 30 mins

Aubrey Beardsley

Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen on his passion for Aubrey Beardsley. Matthew Parris presents.

• 30 mins

Nancy Mitford

Grace Dent loves Nancy Mitford, author of Love in a Cold Climate. From 2013.

• 30 mins

William Robinson

Gardener Carol Klein's choice is wild garden hero, William Robinson. With Matthew Parris.

• 30 mins

George Bell

Peter Hitchens nominates George Bell, who condemned the bombing of Germany.

• 30 mins

Galileo

Bobby Friction champions the Italian physicist and astronomer Galileo Galilei.

• 30 mins

Kenny Everett

Chris Tarrant chooses one of the great pioneers of modern radio - Kenny Everett.

• 30 mins

David Livingstone

John Blashford-Snell explains why he admires fellow explorer, Dr David Livingstone.

• 30 mins

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

Gyles Brandreth praises the life of the creator of Sherlock Holmes.

• 30 mins

Bill Shankly

Mumsnet founder Justine Roberts champions the life of the Liverpool manager Bill Shankly.

• 30 mins

Salvador Dali

John Cooper Clarke nominates Salvador Dali for great life status, melting clocks and all.

• 30 mins

Primo Levi

Edmund de Waal, ceramicist and author chooses Holocaust writer Primo Levi.

• 30 mins