Biographical series in which guests choose someone who has inspired their lives.
"John Clare, I cried last night for you" wrote Wendy Cope in a poem dedicated to the earlier poet, w
Matthew Parris's guest is Dame Helen Ghosh, Director General of the National Trust, who chooses as h
Comedian and actor Kulvinder Ghir nominates the life of the artist Zoran Music. Matthew Parris finds
Rachel Johnson author and journalist champions the life of Ottoline Morrell. The Bloomsbury hostess,
The veteran broadcaster Sir Trevor McDonald chooses the life of Learie Constantine, the Trinidadian
Mervyn King, former Governor of the Bank of England tells Matthew Parris why the life of the Prime M
Former newspaper editor and writer Eve Pollard tells Matthew Parris why Nora Ephron, the screenwrite
Michael Dobbs champions the life of Guy Burgess - journalist, diplomat and spy. Between 1935 and 195
When Philippa Langley and other members of the Richard III Society helped to discover the body of th
Writer Roald Dahl is well known as the author of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Fantastic Mr Fox
Brian Eno has worked with David Bowie, David Byrne and U2 but his choice of Great Life is not a rock
Laura Bates, journalist and curator of the Everyday Sexism Project, explains to Matthew Parris why t
Matthew Parris – himself current holder of the House of Commons marathon record time – meets comedia
Matthew Parris discovers that Edith Hall, Professor of Classics at King’s College, London, has a sur
Matthew Parris hears from Labour peer Lord Adonis why Joseph Bazalgette, the Victorian engineer, has
Dame Stella Rimington, former director of MI5 and a celebrated crime writer herself, nominates for a
Singer-songwriter Labi Siffre discusses the life and work of Arthur Ransome. Siffre says that the Sw
Dr Tom Shakespeare is a lecturer at the Medical School in the University of East Anglia and prominen
The life of Erwin Rommel, for a time Hitler's favourite general is nominated by Ray Mears. Matthew P
Matthew Parris leads a discussion on Ida B. Wells the African American civil rights and women's righ
