Biographical series in which guests choose someone who has inspired their lives.
Philosopher John Gray chooses as his great life the iconic British writer of dystopian and speculati
Broadcaster and author Iszi Lawrence chooses the aviator Diana Barnato Walker. Coming from a privile
Walter Murch picks Mohammad Mossadegh, prime minister following the nationalisation of the Anglo-Ira
The award-winning Sound Recordist and Musician, Chris Watson nominates his hero, Ludwig Koch. In 188
An aristocrat in an eye patch, a jazz saxophonist, a crime novelist and a pioneering organic farmer.
Veteran British film director Ken Loach nominates the 17th century radical pamphleteer and and leade
On the 11th June 1988 Jessye Norman performed a spine-tingling rendition of 'Amazing Grace' to a pac
The Godmother of English - and Irish - ballet, Dame Ninette De Valois or ‘Madam’ as she was known to
Born in 1922, Hattie Jacques began her career in music hall before graduating onto the radio comedie
It's a famous name - there's Raffles Hotel and Raffles Hospital, plus the rafflesia, the largest flo
Thomas Mann was a German writer whose books explored themes around family, beauty and the creeping t
"It's the complicated ones I enjoy the most." Matthew ParrisTony Benn, MP from 1950 to 2001, packed
When Jon Ronson was growing up, he went to see The Specials play in Cardiff. "I went on my own to So
Edward Coke was born in Norfolk in 1552. He's best known as a judge and Parliamentarian, the link sa
In 1997 Kofi Annan became the seventh Secretary-General of the United Nations. The nineties were a
"The most important thing to do in your life is not to interfere with somebody else's life." Frank
Frederick the Great had a brute of a father. When young Frederick was captured trying to run away, h
Broadcaster Qasa Alom chooses the first African American tennis player to win the US Open and Wimble
The best-selling author of How to Train Your Dragon, Cressida Cowell, explains her love for the Swed
Actor Adjoa Andoh has a list of TV, theatre and film credits as long as your arm. She's best known w
