Fred Astaire

Dr Michael O'Donnell discusses celebrated singer, actor and choreographer Fred Astaire.

• 30 mins

Giovanni Falcone

Journalist Misha Glenny remembers the life of anti-Mafia campaigner Giovanni Falcone.

• 30 mins

Alfred, Lord Tennyson

Andrew Motion champions the life of Alfred, Lord Tennyson, Poet Laureate for over 40 years

• 30 mins

Joe Slovo

David Miliband discusses the life of Joe Slovo, a leading member of the ANC.

• 30 mins

John Cornford

George Galloway chooses British poet and political activist John Cornford.

• 30 mins

Freya Stark

Travel writer Dervla Murphy discusses the life of another woman traveller, Freya Stark.

• 30 mins

Sir Kyffin Williams

Rolf Harris discusses the life of the Welsh painter Sir Kyffin Williams.

• 30 mins

The A-Z of Dr Johnson

Politician Boris Johnson chooses the creator of the English dictionary, Dr Samuel Johnson.

• 30 mins

Miriam Makeba

Kate Humble discusses the South African singer and anti-apartheid activist, Miriam Makeba.

• 30 mins

Harry Houdini

Paul Daniels explores the life of Harry Houdini, with help from biographer William Kalush.

• 30 mins

Rudyard Kipling

John Major discusses the life of Rudyard Kipling, poet to the British Empire.

• 30 mins

Henry V

Sir Ranulph Fiennes discusses the life of Henry V and tries to separate fact from myth.

• 30 mins

Tennessee Williams

Stand-up comedian Rich Hall discusses the life of playwright Tennessee Williams.

• 30 mins

Vivian Stanshall

Neil Innes discusses the life of his colleague and friend Vivian Stanshall.

• 30 mins

Hannah Arendt

Munira Mirza discusses the life of the influential political philosopher Hannah Arendt.

• 30 mins

Nero

Christopher Biggins champions the life of the Roman Emperor Nero.

• 30 mins

Lise Meitner

Jenny Agutter champions the life and work of pioneering Austrian physicist Lise Meitner.

• 30 mins

Picasso

Photographer David Bailey discusses the life and work of Pablo Picasso.

• 30 mins

Bill Hamilton

Professor Richard Dawkins discusses the evolutionary theorist Bill Hamilton.

• 30 mins

Bertolt Brecht

Playwright John Godber discusses the life of German writer Bertolt Brecht.

• 30 mins

Robin Hood

Human rights lawyer Clive Stafford Smith discusses Robin Hood.

• 30 mins

Douglas Jardine

Peter White discusses the controversial England cricket captain Douglas Jardine.

• 30 mins

Matthew Flinders

Sir Stuart Rose discusses the life of the cartographer who mapped Australia.

• 30 mins

Buckminster Fuller

TV producer John Lloyd discusses the life of American architect Richard Buckminster Fuller

• 30 mins

Jack Johnson

Matthew Syed chooses the first African-American world heavyweight boxing champion.

• 30 mins

Carl Sagan

Physicist Brian Cox reveals how Carl Sagan's Cosmos TV show changed his life.

• 30 mins

Charlotte Guest

Sarah Hogg chooses as her champion Lady Charlotte Guest.

• 30 mins

Harold Pinter

Matthew Parris introduces the life of writer Harold Pinter, chosen by Diane Abbott MP.

• 30 mins

Arthur Wharton

Viv Anderson champions the life of Arthur Wharton, the first black professional footballer

• 30 mins

John Lennon

John Lennon is the life nominated by writer John Harris. Matthew Parris presents.

• 30 mins