Podcast Episodes

Christina Lamb on Benazir Bhutto

Benazir Bhutto made history when, aged 35, she became the first democratically elected female Prime Minister of a Muslim majority country.

Her family…

7 years, 8 months ago

Helen Glover on Alison Hargreaves

Olympic rower Helen Glover champions the life of mountaineer Alison Hargreaves.

Alison's short life was defined by her love of the mountains. She be…

7 years, 8 months ago

Mark Carwardine on Douglas Adams

"Imagine a puddle waking up one morning and thinking, this is an interesting world I find myself in - fits me rather neatly, don't you think?"

Douglas…

7 years, 8 months ago

Cherie Blair on Dame Rose Heilbron

For Cherie Blair, leading barrister and QC, picking her great life was simple – her role model is Rose Heilbron, England's first woman judge.

Wh…

7 years, 8 months ago

Greg Jenner on Gene Kelly

Public historian Greg Jenner has always loved Gene Kelly.

"So much better than he had any right to be."

Born in Pittsburgh in 1912, Gene Kelly was a b…

7 years, 8 months ago

Patricia Greene on Bess of Hardwick

Actress Patricia Greene (Jill Archer in BBC Radio 4's The Archers) makes the case for Elizabeth, Countess of Shrewsbury, or Bess of Hardwick as she's…

7 years, 9 months ago

Simon Evans on JS Mill

Towards the end of his comic rant about the descent of man, Simon Evans does something very dangerous.

He starts to read out to his audience an extra…

7 years, 9 months ago

Erica Wagner on Roald Amundsen

"We are ready to take the Pole in any kind of weather on offer," wrote the Norwegian Roald Amundsen in December 1911.

Born in 1872, Amundsen is part …

7 years, 9 months ago

Hanif Kureishi on David Bowie

"Suddenly this light comes into your life" - says Hanif Kureishi, referring to his hero, his great life, David Bowie.

Hanif, an author, screenwriter …

7 years, 10 months ago

Barbara Stocking on Catherine the Great

Catherine the Great assumed power in a St Petersburg coup, extended the empire into Crimea, Ukraine and Alaska. is Russia's longest lasting female ru…

8 years ago