Great Lives Podcast
Biographical series in which guests choose someone who has inspired their lives.
Episodes to download
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Baroness Oona King on Ida B Wells
Tue 19 Aug 2014
Ida B. Wells the African American civil rights activist is chosen by Baroness Oona King
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Jazzie B on James Brown
Tue 12 Aug 2014
Soul II Soul's Jazzie B chooses the life of musician and singer James Brown.
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Jonathan Meades on Edward Burra
Tue 5 Aug 2014
Writer Jonathan Meades nominates the English artist Edward Burra.
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Ernest Hemingway
Tue 27 May 2014
Monty Python's Michael Palin chooses the American writer, Ernest Hemingway.
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Emma Kirkby on Henry Purcell
Tue 20 May 2014
Soprano Emma Kirkby discusses the life of composer Henry Purcell with Matthew Parris
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John Craven on Brunel
Tue 13 May 2014
John Craven proposes Victorian Engineer, Isambard Kingdom Brunel, as a great life.
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Isy Suttie on Jake Thackray
Tue 6 May 2014
Isy Suttie chooses Yorkshire-born singer songwriter Jake Thackray
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Deborah Moggach on Arnold Bennett
Tue 29 Apr 2014
The author Deborah Moggach talks about the life of Potteries writer Arnold Bennett.
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Marcus du Sautoy on Jorge Luis Borges
Tue 22 Apr 2014
Blind Argentinian writer Borges is championed by Marcus de Sautoy.
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Sir Mark Walport on Sir Hans Sloane
Tue 15 Apr 2014
Sir Hans Sloane, founder of the British Museum, is championed by Sir Mark Walport.
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Sarah Vine on Dante
Tue 8 Apr 2014
Sarah Vine chooses Dante, author of the Italian literary masterpiece the Divine Comedy
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Evelyn Glennie on Jacqueline Du Pre
Tue 1 Apr 2014
English Cellist Jacqueline Du Pre is championed by solo percussionist Evelyn Glennie.
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DJ Sara Cox nominates singer Lisa 'Left Eye' Lopes
Tue 28 Jan 2014
Sara Cox nominates the American hip hop artist and rapper Lisa 'Left Eye' Lopes.
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Mark Constantine on Kahlil Gibran
Tue 21 Jan 2014
Businessman Mark Constantine champions the life of Kahlil Gibran with Matthew Parris.
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Dave Allen chosen by Adil Ray
Tue 14 Jan 2014
Irish Comic Dave Allen is chosen by actor and comedian Adil Ray. Matthew Parris presents
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David Baddiel on John Updike
Tue 7 Jan 2014
Writer and comedian David Baddiel explores the life of novelist John Updike.
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Sir David Chipperfield on Le Corbusier
Tue 31 Dec 2013
Architect, Sir David Chipperfield, chooses Le Corbusier
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Meg Rosoff on Isabella Bird
Christmas Eve 2013
Novelist, Meg Rosoff explores the life of the Victorian travel writer Isabella Bird
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Michael Horovitz on Allen Ginsberg
Tue 17 Dec 2013
Michael Horovitz nominates fellow poet Allen Ginsberg as his Great Life.
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Ricky Ross on Hank Williams
Tue 10 Dec 2013
Ricky Ross from Deacon Blue champions songwriter Hank Williams. Matthew Parris presents.
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Al Murray on Bernard Montgomery
Tue 1 Oct 2013
Comedian Al Murray champions the life of Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery.
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Konnie Huq on Ada Lovelace
Tue 17 Sep 2013
TV presenter Konnie Huq chooses Lord Byron's daughter, the mathematician Ada Lovelace.
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Peter Bowles on George Devine
Tue 10 Sep 2013
Matthew Parris is joined by Peter Bowles to discuss the life of director George Devine.
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Paul Mason on Louise Michel
Tue 3 Sep 2013
Paul Mason talks to Matthew Parris about the 19th-century French anarchist, Louise Michel.
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Julie Burchill on Ava Gardner
Tue 27 Aug 2013
The writer Julie Burchill talks to Matthew Parris about the Hollywood star Ava Gardner.
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Tanika Gupta on Rabindranath Tagore
Tue 20 Aug 2013
Tanika Gupta nominates Rabindranath Tagore. With Matthew Parris and Ketaki Kushari Dyson.
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Gabriel Gbadamosi on Fela Kuti
Tue 13 Aug 2013
Gabriel Gbadamosi chooses as his Great Life the inventor of Afrobeat, musician Fela Kuti
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Russell Grant on Ivor Novello
Tue 6 Aug 2013
Entertainer Russell Grant nominates Welsh composer and film star Ivor Novello.
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Florence Nightingale
Tue 28 May 2013
Dr Lucy Worsley, chief curator at Historic Royal Palaces, chooses Florence Nightingale.
Great Rock and Roll Lives
Stories of inspiration from great musicians from Bowie to Billie Holliday
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