Podcast Episodes

Shappi Khorsandi on Emma, Lady Hamilton

Comedian and author Shappi Khorsandi has been desperate to tell the story of Emma, Lady Hamilton as she’s quite simply one of her greatest fans.

Ever…

7 years, 2 months ago

Matt Lucas on Freddie Mercury

Matt Lucas champions Freddie Mercury of the band, Queen.

To what extent can a troubled childhood contribute to an adult's need to perform?

Farrokh Bu…

7 years, 4 months ago

Rohan Silva on Colin Chapman

The arrival of Lotus shook up motor sport in 1960s and 70s. In Formula One, Colin Chapman made his cars lighter and quicker than anyone else, often …

7 years, 4 months ago

Suzanne O'Sullivan on Oliver Sacks

Matthew Parris meets Suzanne O'Sullivan to discuss her medical and literary hero, Oliver Sacks.

She first came across his work on a beach in Thailan…

7 years, 4 months ago

Nikesh Shukla on the Great Gama

Ghulam Mohammad, or the Great Gama Pehlwan as he was more commonly known, was a Muslim wrestler born into a Kashmir family in India in 1878.

When wri…

7 years, 5 months ago

Sathnam Sanghera on Alexander Gardner

Author and Journalist Sathnam Sanghera nominates a Great Life; a man dismissed as a fantasist and a liar in his own lifetime.

Alexander Gardner was a…

7 years, 5 months ago

Mark Steel on Charlie Chaplin

Mark Steel makes the case for Charlie Chaplin being one of the most radical comedians of his time.

He reckons it's sad that most see Chaplin as that …

7 years, 5 months ago

Tim Smit on Humphrey Jennings

Tim Smit has admired Humphrey Jennings since seeing Danny Boyle’s Olympics Opening Ceremony in 2012.

Jennings was a film maker, artist, and co-founde…

7 years, 5 months ago

Russell Kane on Evelyn Waugh

Comedian Russell Kane nominates novelist, Evelyn Waugh.

One of the greatest prose stylists of 20th century literature, not to mention one of the fu…

7 years, 5 months ago

Samira Ahmed on Laura Ingalls Wilder

In the summer of 2018, the name of Laura Ingalls Wilder was erased from a children's literary medal set up in her honour six decades ago.

Readers of …

7 years, 5 months ago