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

Ernest Hemingway

Michael Palin nominates Ernest Hemingway as his Great Life.

• 30 mins

Ernest Hemingway

Monty Python's Michael Palin chooses the American writer, Ernest Hemingway.

• 25 mins

Jonathan Meades on Edward Burra

Writer Jonathan Meades nominates the English artist Edward Burra.

• 30 mins

Jazzie B on James Brown

Soul II Soul's Jazzie B chooses the life of musician and singer James Brown.

• 30 mins

Baroness Oona King on Ida B Wells

Ida B. Wells the African American civil rights activist is chosen by Baroness Oona King

• 30 mins

Ray Mears on Rommel

Ray Mears champions the life of Field-Marshal Erwin Rommel.

• 30 mins

Tom Shakespeare on Gramsci

Dr Tom Shakespeare tells Matthew Parris why Antonio Gramsci's is a Great Life.

• 30 mins

Labi Siffre on Arthur Ransome

Matthew Parris invites singer songwriter Labi Siffre to nominate his choice of life.

• 30 mins

Stella Rimington on Dorothy L Sayers

Dame Stella Rimington explains to Matthew Parris why Dorothy L Sayers fascinates her.

• 30 mins

Andrew Adonis on Joseph Bazalgette

Lord Adonis chooses Victorian engineer, aka 'The Sewer King', Sir Joseph Bazalgette

• 30 mins

Professor Edith Hall on Lucille Ball

Matthew Parris invites Professor Edith Hall to nominate her idol.

• 30 mins

Arthur Smith on Emil Zátopek

Comedian Arthur Smith tells Matthew Parris about the life of Olympic runner Emil Zátopek.

• 30 mins