Maya Angelou at the BBC

Ten years after her death, American writer, poet and activist Maya Angelou remains one of literature’s most significant and inspirational figures, with acclaimed works like I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings still considered amongst the most important works of the 20th century.

Here, longtime admirer and cultural critic Bonnie Greer looks back on Maya’s extraordinary life through an exploration of the BBC’s rich archives, demonstrating how, as well as being a great writer, Maya was a television natural thanks to her unique combination of storytelling skills and unstoppable charisma.