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Stella Rimington on Dorothy L Sayers

Dame Stella Rimington explains to Matthew Parris why Dorothy L Sayers fascinates her.

• 30 mins

Andrew Adonis on Joseph Bazalgette

Lord Adonis chooses Victorian engineer, aka 'The Sewer King', Sir Joseph Bazalgette

• 30 mins

Professor Edith Hall on Lucille Ball

Matthew Parris invites Professor Edith Hall to nominate her idol.

• 30 mins

Arthur Smith on Emil Zátopek

Comedian Arthur Smith tells Matthew Parris about the life of Olympic runner Emil Zátopek.

• 30 mins

Laura Bates on Louisa May Alcott

Laura Bates tells Matthew Parris why Louisa May Alcott of "Little Women" is her Great Life

• 30 mins

Brian Eno on Lord Young of Dartington

Brian Eno champions the life and work of social reformer Michael Young.

• 30 mins

Tom Solomon on Roald Dahl

Professor Tom Solomon talks about his former patient, writer Roald Dahl.

• 30 mins

Philippa Langley on Richard III

Matthew Parris talks to Philippa Langley about the life of Richard III.

• 30 mins

Michael Dobbs on Guy Burgess

Michael Dobbs looks back at the life of Cambridge spy Guy Burgess.

• 30 mins

Eve Pollard on Nora Ephron

Journalist Eve Pollard explores Hollywood screenwriter Nora Ephron with Matthew Parris.

• 30 mins

Mervyn King on Risto Ryti

Mervyn King champions the life of the former Prime Minister of Finland Risto Ryti.

• 30 mins

Sir Trevor McDonald on Learie Constantine

The veteran broadcaster Sir Trevor McDonald chooses the life of Learie Constantine

• 30 mins

Rachel Johnson on Ottoline Morrell

Rachel Johnson author and journalist champions the life of Ottoline Morrell.

• 30 mins

Kulvinder Ghir on Zoran Music

Comedian and actor Kulvinder Ghir nominates the life of the artist Zoran Music.

• 30 mins

Dame Helen Ghosh on James Lees-Milne

Matthew Parris talks to the National Trust's Dame Helen Ghosh about James Lees-Milne.

• 30 mins

Wendy Cope on John Clare

Matthew Parris talks to Wendy Cope about her poetic hero John Clare. From 2015.

• 30 mins

Nelson

Explorer Benedict Allen chooses Horatio Nelson.

• 30 mins

Antonia Quirke on Marlon Brando

Marlon Brando - greatest actor of the twentieth century?

• 30 mins

US Ambassador Matthew Barzun on JG Winant

Matthew Parris meets US Ambassador Matthew Barzun to talk about his wartime predecessor.

• 26 mins

David Blunkett on Louis Braille

Matthew Parris hears from David Blunkett about the life of Louis Braille. From 2015.

• 30 mins

Val McDermid on PD James

Matthew Parris talks to crime writer Val McDermid about the life of PD James.

• 30 mins

Ian McKellen on Edmund Hillary

Sir Ian McKellen nominates mountaineer Edmund Hillary as his inspirational figure.

• 25 mins

Vicky Pryce on Melina Mercouri

Economist Vicky Pryce nominates the Greek film star and politician Melina Mercouri.

• 30 mins

Michael Howard on Elizabeth I

Michael Howard, Conservative Party former leader, tells Matthew Parris about Elizabeth I.

• 30 mins

George Washington Williams

Ade Adepitan champions the life of George Washington Williams.

• 30 mins

Monica Ali chooses Richard Francis Burton

The author Monica Ali champions the life of the explorer Richard Francis Burton.

• 30 mins

Genghis Khan

American commentator Joe Queenan chooses the Mongol leader Genghis Khan.

• 30 mins

Frances Crook on Barbara Castle

Frances Crook proposes Labour politician Barbara Castle. Roy Hattersley is witness

• 30 mins

Hannah Rothschild on Thelonious Monk

Hannah Rothschild looks back at the life of jazz musician Thelonious Monk.

• 26 mins

Nick Stadlen on Bram Fischer

Nick Stadlen champions the life of the Afrikaner Revolutionary Bram Fischer.

• 30 mins