Great Lives

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

Episodes (275 available)

Great Lives

Cartoonist Naji al-Ali

Mona Chalabi chooses Naji al-Ali, Palestinian cartoonist shot in London in 1987.

1 Jun 2026

28 mins

Great Lives

Cleopatra picked by Kate Williams

Kate Williams picks Cleopatra, queen of ancient Egypt for over 20 years.

25 May 2026

28 mins

Great Lives

Ade Edmondson on singer Sandy Denny

Ade Edmondson - star of The Young Ones and much more - chooses the singer Sandy Denny.

18 May 2026

27 mins

Great Lives

Tony Garnett picked by Harry Bradbeer

The director of Fleabag and Killing Eve picks the producer of Kes and Cathy Come Home.

11 May 2026

28 mins

Great Lives

Peter Cook picked by Jon Harvey aka Count Binface

Comedian Jon Harvey picks Peter Cook as his hero for Great Lives.

4 May 2026

28 mins

Great Lives

Coco Khan picks Edith Garrud, the jujitsu fighting suffragette

Journalist Coco Khan picks the formidable jujitsu fighting suffragette, Edith Garrud.

27 Apr 2026

28 mins

Great Lives

William Gladstone, four-time PM

Trevor Lyttleton picks William Gladstone, Victorian prime minister and tory turned liberal

20 Apr 2026

27 mins

Great Lives

Alistair McGowan on HE Bates

Impressionist, poet and comedian Alistair McGowan on author HE Bates

13 Apr 2026

27 mins

Great Lives

Beverley Knight on Sister Rosetta Tharpe, the godmother of rock and roll

Beverley Knight picks the great Rosetta Tharpe, gospel singer turned pioneer.

6 Apr 2026

28 mins

Great Lives

Daisy Dunn on Marcus Agrippa, ancient Rome's king of cement

Classicist Daisy Dunn picks Marcus Agrippa, right-hand man of the emperor Augustus.

2 Feb 2026

27 mins