Sir Trevor McDonald on Learie Constantine

The veteran broadcaster Sir Trevor McDonald chooses the life of Learie Constantine

• 30 mins

Rachel Johnson on Ottoline Morrell

Rachel Johnson author and journalist champions the life of Ottoline Morrell.

• 30 mins

Kulvinder Ghir on Zoran Music

Comedian and actor Kulvinder Ghir nominates the life of the artist Zoran Music.

• 30 mins

Dame Helen Ghosh on James Lees-Milne

Matthew Parris talks to the National Trust's Dame Helen Ghosh about James Lees-Milne.

• 30 mins

Wendy Cope on John Clare

Matthew Parris talks to Wendy Cope about her poetic hero John Clare. From 2015.

• 30 mins

Nelson

Explorer Benedict Allen chooses Horatio Nelson.

• 30 mins

Antonia Quirke on Marlon Brando

Marlon Brando - greatest actor of the twentieth century?

• 30 mins

US Ambassador Matthew Barzun on JG Winant

Matthew Parris meets US Ambassador Matthew Barzun to talk about his wartime predecessor.

• 26 mins

David Blunkett on Louis Braille

Matthew Parris hears from David Blunkett about the life of Louis Braille. From 2015.

• 30 mins

Val McDermid on PD James

Matthew Parris talks to crime writer Val McDermid about the life of PD James.

• 30 mins

Ian McKellen on Edmund Hillary

Sir Ian McKellen nominates mountaineer Edmund Hillary as his inspirational figure.

• 25 mins

Vicky Pryce on Melina Mercouri

Economist Vicky Pryce nominates the Greek film star and politician Melina Mercouri.

• 30 mins

Michael Howard on Elizabeth I

Michael Howard, Conservative Party former leader, tells Matthew Parris about Elizabeth I.

• 30 mins

George Washington Williams

Ade Adepitan champions the life of George Washington Williams.

• 30 mins

Monica Ali chooses Richard Francis Burton

The author Monica Ali champions the life of the explorer Richard Francis Burton.

• 30 mins

Genghis Khan

American commentator Joe Queenan chooses the Mongol leader Genghis Khan.

• 30 mins

Frances Crook on Barbara Castle

Frances Crook proposes Labour politician Barbara Castle. Roy Hattersley is witness

• 30 mins

Hannah Rothschild on Thelonious Monk

Hannah Rothschild looks back at the life of jazz musician Thelonious Monk.

• 26 mins

Nick Stadlen on Bram Fischer

Nick Stadlen champions the life of the Afrikaner Revolutionary Bram Fischer.

• 30 mins

Toyah Willcox on Katharine Hepburn

Toyah Willcox nominates her hero Katharine Hepburn who she met and worked with.

• 30 mins

Dickie Bird on the life of Sir Leonard Hutton

Dickie Bird champions his hero Sir Leonard Hutton.

• 30 mins

Roger Saul chooses Gertrude Jekyll

Fashion designer Roger Saul chooses garden designer Gertrude Jekyll

• 30 mins

Alvin Hall chooses James Baldwin

Matthew Parris meets financial guru Alvin Hall, whose hero is James Baldwin.

• 30 mins

Precious Lunga chooses Wangari Maathai

Matthew Parris explores the remarkable life of Professor Wangari Maathai.

• 30 mins

Martin Jennings on Charles Sargeant Jagger

Martin Jennings nominates the British sculptor Charles Sargeant Jagger.

• 30 mins

Susan Calman on Molly Weir

Comedian Susan Calman chooses the life of actress Molly Weir.

• 30 mins

Nitin Sawhney on Jeff Buckley

Nitin Sawhney champions the life of American singer-songwriter Jeff Buckley

• 30 mins

Eliza Manningham-Buller chooses Abraham Lincoln

Eliza Manningham-Buller on why she regards Abraham Lincoln as a great life.

• 30 mins

Alfred Hitchcock

Anthony Horowitz champions the life of Alfred Hitchcock.

• 30 mins

Nancy Dell'Olio chooses the life of Lucrezia Borgia

Nancy Dell'Olio champions the much maligned Lucrezia Borgia.

• 30 mins