News
Journalist Ann Leslie chooses the pioneering writer and explorer Mary Kingsley. Read more
now playing
Mary Kingsley
Journalist Ann Leslie chooses the pioneering writer and explorer Mary Kingsley.
Tchaikovsky
Economist Ruth Lea chooses the great Russian composer. Stephen Johnson adds his expertise.
Tom Paine
Writer and political activist George Monbiot chooses 18th-century revolutionary Tom Paine.
Benjamin Disraeli
Kenneth Clarke chooses the Victorian politician, Benjamin Disraeli.
Joseph Banks
Scientist Lord Robert May nominates the naturalist and botanist, Joseph Banks.
Gilbert and Sullivan
Dillie Keane chooses the musical duo Gilbert and Sullivan.
Robert FitzRoy
Baroness Margaret Jay chooses pioneering meteorologist Vice-iral Robert FitzRoy.
Vivien Leigh
Barrister Christina Gorna chooses Oscar-winning Vivien Leigh.
Leonard Woolf
4 Extra Debut. Jilly Goolden nominates writer and political thinker Leonard Woolf.
Burt Lancaster
Broadcaster Gerry Anderson chooses Hollywood legend, Burt Lancaster.
Marvin Gaye
Innovative soul singer Marvin Gaye is the choice of historian and broadcaster Tim Marlow.
Sir Edward Elgar
Charity founder Marjorie Wallace chooses composer Edward Elgar.
Michael Collins
Film producer Lord Puttnam chooses the Irish nationalist leader Michael Collins.
Captain Henry Morgan
Writer and photographer Lucinda Lambton chooses the supposed pirate captain.
George Sand
Mary Kenny nominates the 19th-century French novelist.
Charles M Schulz
Valerie Grove selects Charles M Schulz, creator of the Peanuts cartoon strip.
Robert Louis Stevenson
Poet Douglas Dunn nominates Robert Louis Stevenson, author of Treasure Island.
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Francine Stock presents the biographical details of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's great life.
John D Rockefeller
Martin Smith, the Chairman of English National Opera proposes John D Rockefeller.
Elizabeth Gaskell
Amanda Vickery and Jenny Uglow discuss the life of the Elizabeth Gaskell.
Ronald Reagan
Lord Powell nominates Ronald Reagan for great life status.
Lord Powell nominates former US President Ronald Reagan.
Duke of Wellington
Francine Stock presents a discussion about the first Duke of Wellington.
Mae West
Writer Kathy Lette proposes the blondest bombshell of them all, Mae West.
R D Laing
Francine Stock presents a discussion about the Glaswegian psychiatrist R D Laing.
Samuel Coleridge-Taylor
Composer Howard Goodall champions the composer Samuel Coleridge-Taylor.
Vasily Grossman
Francine Stock presents a discussion about the Soviet writer Vasily Grossman.
Zhao Ziyang
Robert Thomson maps the rise and fall of the reforming Chinese premier Zhao Ziyang.
Thomas Cromwell
Historian and author Derek Wilson proposes 16th century politician Thomas Cromwell.
Beatrix Potter
Fiona Reynolds, former director of the National Trust, chooses writer Beatrix Potter
Nevil Shute
Historian and broadcaster Adam Hart-Davis nominates the author Nevil Shute.
