Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

Gyles Brandreth praises the life of the creator of Sherlock Holmes.

• 30 mins

Bill Shankly

Mumsnet founder Justine Roberts champions the life of the Liverpool manager Bill Shankly.

• 30 mins

Salvador Dali

John Cooper Clarke nominates Salvador Dali for great life status, melting clocks and all.

• 30 mins

Primo Levi

Edmund de Waal, ceramicist and author chooses Holocaust writer Primo Levi.

• 30 mins

Florence Nightingale

Dr Lucy Worsley, chief curator at Historic Royal Palaces, chooses Florence Nightingale.

• 30 mins

Russell Grant on Ivor Novello

Entertainer Russell Grant nominates Welsh composer and film star Ivor Novello.

• 30 mins

Gabriel Gbadamosi on Fela Kuti

Gabriel Gbadamosi chooses as his Great Life the inventor of Afrobeat, musician Fela Kuti

• 30 mins

Tanika Gupta on Rabindranath Tagore

Tanika Gupta nominates Rabindranath Tagore. With Matthew Parris and Ketaki Kushari Dyson.

• 30 mins

Julie Burchill on Ava Gardner

The writer Julie Burchill talks to Matthew Parris about the Hollywood star Ava Gardner.

• 30 mins

Paul Mason on Louise Michel

Paul Mason talks to Matthew Parris about the 19th-century French anarchist, Louise Michel.

• 30 mins

Peter Bowles on George Devine

Matthew Parris is joined by Peter Bowles to discuss the life of director George Devine.

• 30 mins

Konnie Huq on Ada Lovelace

TV presenter Konnie Huq chooses Lord Byron's daughter, the mathematician Ada Lovelace.

• 30 mins

Sir Brendan Barber on John Steinbeck

Sir Brendan Barber champions John Steinbeck.

• 30 mins

Al Murray on Bernard Montgomery

Comedian Al Murray champions the life of Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery.

• 30 mins

Ricky Ross on Hank Williams

Ricky Ross from Deacon Blue champions songwriter Hank Williams. Matthew Parris presents.

• 30 mins

Michael Horovitz on Allen Ginsberg

Michael Horovitz nominates fellow poet Allen Ginsberg as his Great Life.

• 30 mins

Meg Rosoff on Isabella Bird

Novelist, Meg Rosoff explores the life of the Victorian travel writer Isabella Bird

• 30 mins

Sir David Chipperfield on Le Corbusier

Architect, Sir David Chipperfield, chooses Le Corbusier

• 30 mins

David Baddiel on John Updike

Writer and comedian David Baddiel explores the life of novelist John Updike.

• 30 mins

Dave Allen chosen by Adil Ray

Irish Comic Dave Allen is chosen by actor and comedian Adil Ray. Matthew Parris presents

• 30 mins

Mark Constantine on Kahlil Gibran

Businessman Mark Constantine champions the life of Kahlil Gibran with Matthew Parris.

• 30 mins

DJ Sara Cox nominates singer Lisa 'Left Eye' Lopes

Sara Cox nominates the American hip hop artist and rapper Lisa 'Left Eye' Lopes.

• 30 mins

Evelyn Glennie on Jacqueline Du Pre

English Cellist Jacqueline Du Pre is championed by solo percussionist Evelyn Glennie.

• 30 mins

Sarah Vine on Dante

Sarah Vine chooses Dante, author of the Italian literary masterpiece the Divine Comedy

• 30 mins

Sir Mark Walport on Sir Hans Sloane

Sir Hans Sloane, founder of the British Museum, is championed by Sir Mark Walport.

• 30 mins

Marcus du Sautoy on Jorge Luis Borges

Blind Argentinian writer Borges is championed by Marcus de Sautoy.

• 30 mins

Deborah Moggach on Arnold Bennett

The author Deborah Moggach talks about the life of Potteries writer Arnold Bennett.

• 30 mins

Isy Suttie on Jake Thackray

Isy Suttie chooses Yorkshire-born singer songwriter Jake Thackray

• 30 mins

John Craven on Brunel

John Craven proposes Victorian Engineer, Isambard Kingdom Brunel, as a great life.

• 30 mins

Emma Kirkby on Henry Purcell

Soprano Emma Kirkby discusses the life of composer Henry Purcell with Matthew Parris

• 30 mins