Podcast Episodes

Edward Said

Edward Said was a man, who, in his own words, lived two quite separate lives. First there was the scholar and literary critic of Columbia University,…

14 years, 1 month ago

George Lyward

The musician and broadcaster Tom Robinson nominates educationalist George Lyward in this episode of Great Lives.

Aged 15 and struggling with his sexua…

14 years, 1 month ago

Gertrude Stein

Gertude Stein, American poet, writer and art collector, lived most of her life in France.

She was one of the first people to spot the genius of Picas…

14 years, 1 month ago

Oscar Wilde

Oscar Wilde, author of The Importance of Being Earnest and The Ballad of Reading Gaol, is proposed by Will Self, a writer once described as a 'high p…

14 years, 1 month ago

Dylan Thomas

Dylan Thomas, arguably Wales's most famous poet, comes under scrutiny on Great Lives.

A man famous both for his linguistic exuberance and his chaotic…

14 years, 1 month ago

Razia Sultana

Co-chairman of the Conservative party, Baroness Warsi recalls her Pakistani-born father during her Yorkshire childhood telling her about the heroic m…

14 years, 4 months ago

Vera Brittain

The writer and pacifist Vera Brittain is discussed by her daughter Baroness Shirley Williams and Dr Clare Gerada, Chair of the Royal College of GPs.

V…

14 years, 4 months ago

Gracie Allen

Matthew Parris is joined by the actress Emma Kennedy to explore the life of the American comedienne Gracie Allen. George Burns and Gracie Allen were …

14 years, 4 months ago

Joseph Rotblat

Astronomer Royal Sir Martin Rees tells Matthew Parris why his hero, physicist Joseph Rotblat, lived a "great life".

Rotblat was a brilliant physicist…

14 years, 4 months ago

Lonnie Donegan

Downton Abbey actor Jim Carter tells Matthew Parris why skiffle king Lonnie Donegan is his hero.

Lonnie Donegan is probably best remembered for the …

14 years, 4 months ago