Podcast Episodes

Caroline Catz on Delia Derbyshire

Actor Caroline Catz chooses Delia Derbyshire, the musician and composer best known for her work at the BBC Radiophonic Workshop where she realised th…

5 years, 4 months ago

David Jonsson on Jean Michel Basquiat

Artist Jean-Michel Basquiat rose to fame in the 1980's Lower East Side New York arts scene.

Andy Warhol was his friend and collaborator, Madonna a on…

5 years, 4 months ago

Rob Rinder on Jessica Mitford

Jessica Mitford was the fifth born of the notorious Mitford Sisters. Born into the aristocracy, as a child she had her own language, collected a runn…

5 years, 4 months ago

Diane Morgan on Air Chief Marshal Hugh Dowding

Comedian and actor Diane Morgan chooses the life of Air Chief Marshal Hugh Dowding.

Air Chief Marshal Hugh Dowding is best known for his role in the…

5 years, 5 months ago

David Spiegelhalter on Frank Ramsey

Frank Plumpton Ramsey contributed original ideas to the fields of logic, mathematics, economics and philosophy. He was a friend and respected interlo…

5 years, 5 months ago

The Great Lives of Great Lives

Back in the late summer of 2001, a new biography series aired on Radio 4. Matthew Parris was not the first presenter, but he has chaired more edition…

5 years, 5 months ago

Katherine Parr, sixth wife of Henry VIII

In her book The Taming of the Queen, Philippa Gregory asks a simple question of her subject, Katherine Parr. Who would marry a serial killer?

Katheri…

5 years, 5 months ago

Xuanzang, Chinese monk and traveller

It was an extraordinary journey, and a life that reads like a fairy tale. Xuanzang was born at the start of the seventh century in China. He studied …

5 years, 8 months ago

James Graham on John Maynard Keynes

James Graham, the award-winning playwright whose work includes the TV dramas "Brexit: The Uncivil War" and "Quiz", tells Matthew Parris why he is ins…

5 years, 8 months ago

Sir David Adjaye on Okwui Enwezor

“I was astonished by the experience of standing there, where the two oceans met. I knew at that very moment this would be my concept: the meeting of …

5 years, 8 months ago