Podcast Episodes

The Duchess of Kent, Giorgio Armani, Valerie Pearlman, Rick Davies

John Wilson on:

The Duchess of Kent, who stepped back from royal duties to teach music in primary schools.

Giorgio Armani whose suit designs help define the look of the 1980s and beyond.

Valerie Pea…

Published on 2 months ago

Joe Bugner, Ann McManus, Angela Mortimer Barrett, Frank Strang

John Wilson on

Joe Bugner, the heavyweight boxer who fought the titans of the sport from Henry Cooper, Muhammed Ali and Joe Frazier.

Ann McManus, the writer for Coronation Street who went on to be one…

Published on 2 months, 1 week ago

David Richardson, Doris Lockhart Saatchi, Dame Annette Brooke, Byron Rogers

John Wilson on: Broadcaster David Richardson who was for over 60 years a leading voice in the farming community Doris Lockhart Saatchi, the Art collector who along with her former husband Charl…

Published on 2 months, 2 weeks ago

Terence Stamp, Stephanie Shirley, Kay Dunbar, Eric Midwinter

John Wilson on:

Actor Terence Stamp, the Oscar nominated 60s screen icon who went onto play many villains in his later film career

Baroness Stephanie Shirley, the pioneering computer scientist and fo…

Published on 2 months, 3 weeks ago

Jim Lovell, Biddy Baxter, Razia Jan, Iris Williams

Matthew Bannister on

Jim Lovell, the astronaut who commanded the ill-fated Apollo 13 mission.

Biddy Baxter, the editor who left an indelible stamp on the children’s TV show Blue Peter. Sarah Greene pay…

Published on 3 months ago

Dame Stella Rimington, Sylvia Young, Sir Jamie McGrigor, Joan Anderson

Matthew Bannister on

Dame Stella Rimington, the first woman to be Director General of MI5, who made the service more open and accountable.

Sylvia Young, whose drama school turned out countless stars of…

Published on 3 months, 1 week ago

Dame Cleo Laine, Hulk Hogan, Margaret Boden, Tom Lehrer

Matthew Bannister on

Dame Cleo Laine, whose glorious voice was equally at home singing jazz, pop and classical music. Her daughter Jacqui Dankworth shares her memories.

Hulk Hogan, who spearheaded the …

Published on 3 months, 2 weeks ago

Ozzy Osbourne, Connie Francis, Jacqui Browne, Douglas Chamberlain

Matthew Bannister on

Ozzy Osbourne, the Black Sabbath lead singer known for his outrageous antics, many while under the influence of drugs and alcohol.

Jacqui Browne, the Thalidomide survivor who campa…

Published on 3 months, 3 weeks ago

Sir Ian Blair, Jennie Street, Dr Anna Ornstein, Muhammadu Buhari

Matthew Bannister on

Lord Blair the former Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police.

Jennie Street who helped to rehabilitate people on her suburban farm.

Dr Anna Ornstein, a psychoanalyst and survivor…

Published on 3 months, 4 weeks ago

Lord Tebbit, Daphne Boden, James Leprino, Sir Francis Graham-Smith

Matthew Bannister on

Lord Tebbit, who as Norman Tebbit was a member of Margaret Thatcher’s cabinet, introducing trade union reform and privatisation.

Daphne Boden, the harpist who played for the Queen…

Published on 4 months ago