Great Lives Podcast
Biographical series in which guests choose someone who has inspired their lives.
Episodes to download
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Aethelflaed, Lady of the Mercians, chosen by Tom Holland
Tue 16 Apr 2019
Tom Holland chooses Aethelflaed, Lady of the Mercians
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Catherine de Medici nominated by Helen Lewis
Tue 9 Apr 2019
Helen Lewis nominates the so-called 'Black Queen' of France, Catherine de Medici.
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Shappi Khorsandi on Emma, Lady Hamilton
Tue 2 Apr 2019
Shappi Khorsandi chooses Emma, Lady Hamilton Lord Nelson’s mistress.
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Rohan Silva on Colin Chapman
Tue 15 Jan 2019
Matthew Parris profiles the inventor of the car that changed the face of Formula One
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Suzanne O'Sullivan on Oliver Sacks
Tue 8 Jan 2019
Neurologist and author Oliver Sacks is Suzanne O'Sullivan's hero, she tells Matthew Parris
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Nikesh Shukla on the Great Gama
New Year's Day 2019
The Great Gama, the strongest man in the world, championed by author Nikesh Shukla.
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Mark Steel on Charlie Chaplin
Christmas Day 2018
Charlie Chaplin wasn’t funny but a political rebel. Mark Steel nominates him as his hero.
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Tim Smit on Humphrey Jennings
Tue 18 Dec 2018
Eden Project founder chooses documentary maker and artist Humphrey Jennings
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Russell Kane on Evelyn Waugh
Tue 11 Dec 2018
Comedian Russell Kane nominates novelist Evelyn Waugh, with Ann Pasternak Slater helping
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Samira Ahmed on Laura Ingalls Wilder
Tue 4 Dec 2018
Laura Ingalls Wilder: author Tracy Chevalier joins Samira Ahmed
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Vera Brittain
Fri 9 Nov 2018
Baroness Shirley Williams discusses her mother, the feminist and pacifist Vera Brittain.
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Christina Lamb on Benazir Bhutto
Tue 25 Sep 2018
Christina Lamb, author and journalist nominates Benazir Bhutto as her great life.
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Mark Carwardine on Douglas Adams
Tue 18 Sep 2018
Douglas Adams the author of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
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Cherie Blair on Dame Rose Heilbron
Tue 11 Sep 2018
Cherie Blair chooses her role mode, England's first woman judge, Rose Heilbron
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Greg Jenner on Gene Kelly
Tue 4 Sep 2018
'Horrible Histories' consultant Greg Jenner on his all time favourite - Gene Kelly.
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Helen Glover on Alison Hargreaves
Tue 28 Aug 2018
Olympic rower Helen Glover nominates the mountaineer Alison Hargreaves who died on K2.
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Patricia Greene on Bess of Hardwick
Tue 21 Aug 2018
Patricia Greene, the actress who plays Jill Archer, nominates Bess of Hardwick as her hero
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Simon Evans on JS Mill
Tue 14 Aug 2018
Comedian Simon Evans nominates JS Mill, author of On Liberty.
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Erica Wagner on Roald Amundsen
Tue 7 Aug 2018
Erica Wagner and Matthew Parris on Roald Amundsen, first man to the South Pole.
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Hanif Kureishi on David Bowie
Tue 31 Jul 2018
Hanif Kureishi nominates his friend David Bowie as his hero.
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Barbara Stocking on Catherine the Great
Tue 29 May 2018
Catherine the Great is chosen by Dame Barbara Stocking. Matthew Parris presents.
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Suzy Klein on Hedy Lamarr
Tue 22 May 2018
Hedy Lamarr, actress, inventor, and the most beautiful woman in the world.
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Mica Paris on Josephine Baker
Tue 15 May 2018
Soul singer Mica Paris tells Matthew Parris why Josephine Baker is her heroine.
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Simon Callow on Orson Welles
Tue 8 May 2018
Matthew Parris meets the actor Simon Callow to discuss the life of Orson Welles.
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Tej Lalvani on Richard Feynman
Tue 1 May 2018
Tej Lalvani nominates the physicist and bongo playing Richard Feynman as his great life.
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Laura Serrant on Audre Lorde
Tue 24 Apr 2018
Laura Serrant chooses the poet and activist Audre Lorde. From 2018.
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Adrian Utley of Portishead on Miles Davis
Tue 17 Apr 2018
Miles Davis chosen by Adrian Utley of Portishead.
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Ayesha Hazarika on Jayaben Desai
Tue 10 Apr 2018
Ayesha Hazarika champions her hero Jayaben Desai who led the Grunwick strike in 1976.
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Jim Moir on Captain Beefheart
Tue 3 Apr 2018
Jim Moir, aka Vic Reeves, chooses the life of Don van Vliet - Captain Beefheart.
Great Rock and Roll Lives
Stories of inspiration from great musicians from Bowie to Billie Holliday
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