Great Lives

BBC Radio 4

4.2 (460)
DOCUMENTARY
UPDATED BIWEEKLY

Biographical series in which guests choose someone who has inspired their lives.

JUN 30

Sir Seretse Khama, first president of Botswana

Seretse Khama was born in 1921 in Bechuanaland when it was still a British Protectorate. In 1966 he became Botswana's first president. In between he married a white Londoner, Ruth Williamson, was exiled by the British, and made to renounce his interest in succeeding as head of the Bangwato. It's an extraordinary and notable life, and he's been nominated by Professor Mike Bode, an astrophysicist and visiting professor to Botswana. As well as archive of Seretse Khama, the programme includes contributions from Bishop Trevor Mwamba and Susan Williams, author of Colour Bar: The Triumph of Seretse Khama and His Nation. The producer for BBC Studios Audio in Bristol is Miles Warde

28 min
JUN 23

Emily Williamson, co-founder of the RSPB

For over a hundred years no one thought too much about the origins of the RSPB, but among its founders was a woman in Didsbury opposed to the use of feathers in fashionable hats. Emily Williamson was outraged by the widespread slaughter of egrets and the crested grebe. She had tried to join the all-male British Ornithological Union, and when that failed she established her own Society for the Protection of Birds. Nominating Emily is Hannah Bourne-Taylor, author of Fledgling and Nature Needs You, which is about her own campaign for the introduction of swift bricks into all new buildings. Helping Hannah discover more about this little known life is author Tessa Boase, who discovered Emily's role; plus Beccy Speight the current head of the RSPB. Matthew Parris presents. The producer in Bristol for BBC Studios Audio in Miles Warde.

28 min
JUN 16

Tina Turner

Rock Icon Tina Turner proposed by the actress and author Rebecca Humphries. Tina Turner began life as Anna Mae Bullock in Nutbush, Tennessee, joining Ike Turner's band in St Louis at the age of 17. Her presence, her performances and her voice captivated audiences, but this is really a story of triumph over abuse. After she left Ike Turner with nothing but her name, she built a successful solo career in her 40s and rose to become one of the best-selling artists of all time, filling arena into her 70s. Tina Turner is nominated by Rebecca Humphries. Presented by Matthew Parris, produced in Bristol for BBC Studios Audio by Ellie Richold

28 min
JUN 9

Raymond Blanc on Professor Nicholas Kurti

The chef Raymond Blanc nominates his mentor and friend, the physicist Professor Nicholas Kurti. Kurti was born in Hungary but fled to Oxford when Hitler came to power. Pushing the frontiers of low-temperature physics during his career, he went on to create‘molecular gastronomy’ in retirement. Raymond Blanc approached Kurti after a lecture the professor gave in his 80s. Blanc asked to help him understand the science behind his trials with leaky puff pastry and souffles that wouldn’t rise. Kurti agreed and so began a friendship of fun and great respect. As Raymond Blanc says; “Imagine! Two complete geniuses!” Raymond Blanc also promises to give Matthew “The best steak of your life”. Presented by Matthew Parris and produced by Ellie Richold in Bristol for BBC Studios Audio

28 min
JUN 2

Dervla Murphy, author of the classic Full Tilt

At the age of 10 Dervla Murphy was given an atlas and a bicycle, and so began an adventurous life. Her account of a journey to India became a classic called Full Tilt but she also went to Cuba, Ethiopia and the Andes where our guest first met her in a doss house. Hilary Bradt is the founder of the Bradt Travel Guides and is picking Dervla Murphy as a great example of the adventurous female traveller, never afraid of a little hardship. Joining her in studio is Rose Baring who edited Dervla's last three books. A joyful episode which includes some excellent archive of Dervla Murphy plus the writer Antonia Quirke. The producer for BBC studios Audio in Bristol is Miles Warde

28 min
MAY 26

Ned Ludd mythical leader of the Luddites

We don't even know if Ned Ludd was real, but perhaps that was the point. "You could say he was everyone and no one - and that's what made him so terrifying for the authorities." Leader of the Luddites, who often signed letters and proclamations Ned Ludd, he is shown in one engraving wearing mismatched shoes and a blue polka dot dress, suggesting a world turned upside down. He's been picked by the popular historian Alex von Tunzelmann, and joining her in studio to discuss Ned and the Luddites (and the neo-Luddites too) is Katrina Navickas, historian of protest; plus the playwright Joe Ward-Munrow who recently staged The Legend of Ned Ludd at the Liverpool Playhouse. Alex von Tunzelmann is the author of Fallen Idols and presenter of The Lucan Obsession on Radio 4. The presenter is Matthew Parris and the producer for BBC Studios Audio in Bristol is Miles Warde

28 min
MAY 19

Richey Edwards of The Manic Street Preachers

Richey was, beautiful says Cummins, a natural icon and a gift to photograph. He also believes his writing has been overshadowed by the fact of his disappearance in 1995. "I think nobody has looked beyond that for quite a long time.” Manic Street Preachers biographer, Simon Price, also knew Richey Edwards and says he was "the most intelligent rock star I've ever met". This programme covers alcoholism, anorexia, and self-harm, but it also celebrates Richey’s sensitivity and, as Price says, the fact that he is one of those "icons of alienation" like Ian Curtis and Kurt Cobain who will " always be there for people to discover the genius of his work". Presented by Matthew Parris and produced for BBC Studios by Ellie Richold.

28 min
MAY 12

Benny Hill

Biography show in which the guest picks someone they admire. Benny Hill is a thorny choice but playwright Jonathan Maitland is determined that - despite accusations of sexism and racism later in his career - Britain's most successful comedian deserves a second look. Benny was fired by Thames TV in 1989. "The show was past its sell-by date," was the official line. Critics had been questioning The Benny Hill Show for almost a decade, but in the 1950s and 1960s he was seen as a pioneer, particular for his work on TV. Joining the discussion is the comedian and writer Helen Lederer, bringing a little nuance to the show. Contains archive of Ruth Jones, Barry Cryer, David Cameron and Benny himself. The producer in Bristol is Miles Warde

27 min

See All (382)

4.2

out of 5

460 Ratings

Biographical malpractice by Suzy Klein

01/19/2022

Geoplanter

I listened to the biography of the late, great Austrian actress, Hedy Lamarr, as told by Suzy Klein. I consider it biographical malpractice that she left out the very significant fact that Hedy was born Hedwig Kiesler, to a Jewish family! Her first husband was an arms merchant, Friedrich Mandl. He was half-Jewish through his father. In addition, Mandl actually did some arms business with Mussolini and Hitler! The reason these ethnic facts are so significant is because when she came into her own an as actress, the pre-war Nazi period was her milieu. Anyway, that was quite an omission.
Appaling Episode on Nero

08/26/2024

saperlo

The Great Life episode on Nero is one of the worst rewrites of history I’ve ever heard and is almost a parody of the BBC and its agenda-led output. Apparently his was a “great life” because he was an leading thespian and was bisexual. These are things the BBC love. But his sordid, mass execution of Christians (people the BBC hate) is quickly glossed over and even thrown into doubt. When Hermann Goering was caught fleeing Nazi Germany in 1945 it was noted that his nails were coated in red varnish. He was also a particular lover of the arts. So perhaps we’ll soon have another episode on the greatly misunderstood and demonised head of the Luftwaffe. This series needs a new production team and a new presenter without an agenda.
We thought they were great lives

08/25/2023

Joey 5cents

Mixed feelings about this podcast. I appreciate the breadth of subjects and the breezy tone of the show. But it seems the goal of each episode is to lessen our appreciation & respect for the subject as they are made 'more human' and seemingly more 'relatable'. Of course these historical figures were far from perfect; I just find it irritating that we end up hearing a conversation that deconstructs their 'greatness' in a very postmodern, self-congratulatory way. I find myself thinking "well I guess 'so & so' wasn't that great after all." :(
Catherine de Medici

07/24/2023

nucuplmnjuyh

Learn how to pronounce her last name: it’s Médici, not Medìci. It’s not a matter of interpretation! One of your guests knows it and the other doesn’t.