Doris Lessing. Spirited, straight-talking Nobel Laureate. Read more
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Doris Lessing
Doris Lessing. Spirited, straight-talking Nobel Laureate.
Alan Sainsbury
James Naughtie considers the champion of the self-service supermarket.
Alfred Hitchcock
Master of obsession, suspense and terror, Alfred Hitchcock.
Laurence Olivier
Olivier's theatre and stage career spanned more than 60 years with 12 Oscar nominations.
Benjamin Britten
James Naughtie profiles one of the greatest composers of the 20th century.
Dorothy Hodgkin
One of the most successful chemists of the 20th century.
Harold Pinter
James considers one of modern Britain's most influential dramatists, Harold Pinter.
Richard Doll
Epidemiologist instrumental in proving the link between cigarette smoking and lung cancer.
Philip Larkin
One of the great English poets, famous for his day job as librarian at Hull University.
Barbara Windsor
James Naughtie on Barbara Windsor's very British combination of grit and naughtiness.
Alfred Denning
James Naughtie profiles one of the most influential judges of the 20th century.
Paul Foot
James Naughtie considers the significance of campaigning journalist Paul Foot.
Francis Bacon
James Naughtie profiles the haunting artist of suffering, pain and death.
John Lennon / Paul McCartney
James Naughtie assesses the pair at the heart of the Beatles, Lennon and McCartney.
Margot Fonteyn
Jim Naughtie considers the life and legacy of the eminent prima ballerina.
Peter Hall
James Naughtie considers the colossus of 20th century English theatre.
Terence Conran
James considers the impact of Terence Conran - designer, retailer, restaurateur and writer
Enoch Powell
James Naughtie considers the controversial parliamentarian Enoch Powell.
Cicely Saunders
James Naughtie profiles the founder of the modern hospice movement.
Basil D'Oliveira
James Naughtie remembers the South African cricketer who aided the fight against apartheid
George Best
James Naughtie considers the life and achievements of the footballer from Northern Ireland
Germaine Greer
James considers the provocative feminist and academic.
Robert Edwards
James Naughtie profiles the Nobel Prize-winning scientist who pioneered IVF.
Jack Jones
James considers the lasting impact of the trade union leader.
Roald Dahl
James Naughtie profiles the storyteller who enchanted children with his grotesque tales.
David Bowie
James Naughtie considers the influence of the musical innovator and trendsetter.
Talaiasi Labalaba
James Naughtie uncovers the little-known tale of SAS hero Talaiasi Labalaba.
Jocelyn Bell Burnell
James Naughtie profiles Jocelyn Bell Burnell, the astrophysicist who discovered pulsars.
Roy Jenkins
James Naughtie profiles the politician who left the Labour Party to set up the SDP.
Vivienne Westwood
James Naughtie considers the headline-making fashion designer and former punk.
Jayaben Desai
James Naughtie profiles the sewing machinist who led an infamous strike in the 1970s.