Doris Lessing

Doris Lessing. Spirited, straight-talking Nobel Laureate.

• 12 mins

Alan Sainsbury

James Naughtie considers the champion of the self-service supermarket.

• 12 mins

Alfred Hitchcock

Master of obsession, suspense and terror, Alfred Hitchcock.

• 12 mins

Laurence Olivier

Olivier's theatre and stage career spanned more than 60 years with 12 Oscar nominations.

• 12 mins

Benjamin Britten

James Naughtie profiles one of the greatest composers of the 20th century.

• 12 mins

Dorothy Hodgkin

One of the most successful chemists of the 20th century.

• 12 mins

Harold Pinter

James considers one of modern Britain's most influential dramatists, Harold Pinter.

• 12 mins

Richard Doll

Epidemiologist instrumental in proving the link between cigarette smoking and lung cancer.

• 12 mins

Philip Larkin

One of the great English poets, famous for his day job as librarian at Hull University.

• 12 mins

Barbara Windsor

James Naughtie on Barbara Windsor's very British combination of grit and naughtiness.

• 12 mins

Alfred Denning

James Naughtie profiles one of the most influential judges of the 20th century.

• 12 mins

Paul Foot

James Naughtie considers the significance of campaigning journalist Paul Foot.

• 12 mins

Francis Bacon

James Naughtie profiles the haunting artist of suffering, pain and death.

• 12 mins

John Lennon / Paul McCartney

James Naughtie assesses the pair at the heart of the Beatles, Lennon and McCartney.

• 15 mins

Margot Fonteyn

Jim Naughtie considers the life and legacy of the eminent prima ballerina.

• 12 mins

Peter Hall

James Naughtie considers the colossus of 20th century English theatre.

• 12 mins

Terence Conran

James considers the impact of Terence Conran - designer, retailer, restaurateur and writer

• 12 mins

Enoch Powell

James Naughtie considers the controversial parliamentarian Enoch Powell.

• 12 mins

Cicely Saunders

James Naughtie profiles the founder of the modern hospice movement.

• 12 mins

Basil D'Oliveira

James Naughtie remembers the South African cricketer who aided the fight against apartheid

• 12 mins

George Best

James Naughtie considers the life and achievements of the footballer from Northern Ireland

• 12 mins

Germaine Greer

James considers the provocative feminist and academic.

• 12 mins

Robert Edwards

James Naughtie profiles the Nobel Prize-winning scientist who pioneered IVF.

• 12 mins

Jack Jones

James considers the lasting impact of the trade union leader.

• 12 mins

Roald Dahl

James Naughtie profiles the storyteller who enchanted children with his grotesque tales.

• 12 mins

David Bowie

James Naughtie considers the influence of the musical innovator and trendsetter.

• 12 mins

Talaiasi Labalaba

James Naughtie uncovers the little-known tale of SAS hero Talaiasi Labalaba.

• 12 mins

Jocelyn Bell Burnell

James Naughtie profiles Jocelyn Bell Burnell, the astrophysicist who discovered pulsars.

• 12 mins

Roy Jenkins

James Naughtie profiles the politician who left the Labour Party to set up the SDP.

• 12 mins

Vivienne Westwood

James Naughtie considers the headline-making fashion designer and former punk.

• 12 mins