Great Lives Podcast
Biographical series in which guests choose someone who has inspired their lives.
Episodes to download
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Frederick the Great of Prussia
Tue 11 Apr 2023
Frederick the Great, the most surprising king of Prussia.
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Adjoa Andoh on Zora Neale Hurston
Tue 24 Jan 2023
Bridgerton's Adjoa Andoh chooses the iconic American writer Zora Neale Hurston
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Comedian Chris McCausland on Kurt Cobain
Tue 17 Jan 2023
Kurt Cobain is nominated by comedian Chris McCausland.
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Roger Deakin, wild swimmer and author of Waterlogged
Tue 10 Jan 2023
Nick Hayes, author of the Book of Trespass, nominates Roger Deakin.
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Minette Batters on Henry Plumb
Tue 3 Jan 2023
Matthew Parris is joined by the president of the National Farmers' Union, Minette Batters.
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Bob Harris on Sir Matt Busby, Manchester United manager
Tue 27 Dec 2022
Presenter Bob Harris champions Manchester United manager Sir Matt Busby.
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Noddy Holder on Chuck Berry
Tue 20 Dec 2022
Slade frontman Noddy Holder champions the life of rock n roll pioneer Chuck Berry.
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Olivia Laing on Christopher Lloyd, Gardener and Writer
Tue 13 Dec 2022
Writer Olivia Laing nominates the gardener and writer Christopher Lloyd.
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Olia Hercules on Alla Horska, Ukrainian painter
Tue 6 Dec 2022
Cookbook author and activist Olia Hercules nominates the Ukrainian painter Alla Horska.
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Bonnie Greer on the Women of the Morant Bay Rebellion
Tue 27 Sep 2022
Bonnie Greer nominates the women of the Morant Bay Rebellion in Jamaica.
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Astrid Lindgren, creator of Pippi Longstocking
Tue 20 Sep 2022
Cressida Cowell on her hero Astrid Lindgren, creator of Pippi Longstocking.
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George Lascelles, 7th Earl of Harewood nominated by Lesley Garrett
Tue 13 Sep 2022
Soprano Lesley Garrett celebrates the life of George Lascelles, 7th Earl of Harewood
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Romy Gill on poet Amrita Pritam
Tue 6 Sep 2022
Chef Romy Gill celebrates a poet whose work was heavily influenced by Partition.
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Rosalind Franklin picked by Kate Bingham, former head of the UK government's vaccine taskforce
Tue 30 Aug 2022
Rosalind Franklin, whose work was central to the discovery of DNA.
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Dame Kathleen Ollerenshaw, Educationalist
Tue 23 Aug 2022
Sir John Timpson picks Dame Kathleen Ollerenshaw.
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Pat Nevin on Johan Cruyff
Tue 2 Aug 2022
Pat Nevin picks Johan Cruyff, the Dutch footballer who changed how the game was played.
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Joan Rhodes, strongest woman in the world
Tue 24 May 2022
Anna Maxwell Martin proposes Joan Rhodes, variety artiste and strongwoman
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Rob Newman on Franklin D Roosevelt
Tue 17 May 2022
Comedian Rob Newman nominates one of his heroes, President Franklin D Roosevelt.
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Mr Manchester Tony Wilson nominated by Terry Christian
Tue 10 May 2022
Terry Christian from The Word on Tony Wilson of Factory Records and The Hacienda.
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Janet Ellis on Puffin editor Kaye Webb
Tue 19 Apr 2022
Blue Peter's Janet Ellis champions a children's publishing sensation.
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Tom Hopkinson, editor of Picture Post
Tue 12 Apr 2022
Donald Macintyre on Tom Hopkinson, editor of Picture Post and Drum.
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Spike Milligan
Tue 25 Jan 2022
Comedian and poet Henry Normal picks his comedy hero - Spike Milligan.
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Roma Agrawal on Mrinalini Sarabhai
Tue 18 Jan 2022
The engineer and author Roma Agrawal on Indian classical dancer Mrinalini Sarabhai.
Great Rock and Roll Lives
Stories of inspiration from great musicians from Bowie to Billie Holliday
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