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Michael Palin nominates Ernest Hemingway as his Great Life. Read more
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Ernest Hemingway
Michael Palin nominates Ernest Hemingway as his Great Life.
Monty Python's Michael Palin chooses the American writer, Ernest Hemingway.
Jonathan Meades on Edward Burra
Writer Jonathan Meades nominates the English artist Edward Burra.
Jazzie B on James Brown
Soul II Soul's Jazzie B chooses the life of musician and singer James Brown.
Baroness Oona King on Ida B Wells
Ida B. Wells the African American civil rights activist is chosen by Baroness Oona King
Ray Mears on Rommel
Ray Mears champions the life of Field-Marshal Erwin Rommel.
Tom Shakespeare on Gramsci
Dr Tom Shakespeare tells Matthew Parris why Antonio Gramsci's is a Great Life.
Labi Siffre on Arthur Ransome
Matthew Parris invites singer songwriter Labi Siffre to nominate his choice of life.
Stella Rimington on Dorothy L Sayers
Dame Stella Rimington explains to Matthew Parris why Dorothy L Sayers fascinates her.
Andrew Adonis on Joseph Bazalgette
Lord Adonis chooses Victorian engineer, aka 'The Sewer King', Sir Joseph Bazalgette
Professor Edith Hall on Lucille Ball
Matthew Parris invites Professor Edith Hall to nominate her idol.
Arthur Smith on Emil Zátopek
Comedian Arthur Smith tells Matthew Parris about the life of Olympic runner Emil Zátopek.
Laura Bates on Louisa May Alcott
Laura Bates tells Matthew Parris why Louisa May Alcott of "Little Women" is her Great Life
Brian Eno on Lord Young of Dartington
Brian Eno champions the life and work of social reformer Michael Young.
Tom Solomon on Roald Dahl
Professor Tom Solomon talks about his former patient, writer Roald Dahl.
Philippa Langley on Richard III
Matthew Parris talks to Philippa Langley about the life of Richard III.
Michael Dobbs on Guy Burgess
Michael Dobbs looks back at the life of Cambridge spy Guy Burgess.
Eve Pollard on Nora Ephron
Journalist Eve Pollard explores Hollywood screenwriter Nora Ephron with Matthew Parris.
Mervyn King on Risto Ryti
Mervyn King champions the life of the former Prime Minister of Finland Risto Ryti.
Sir Trevor McDonald on Learie Constantine
The veteran broadcaster Sir Trevor McDonald chooses the life of Learie Constantine
Rachel Johnson on Ottoline Morrell
Rachel Johnson author and journalist champions the life of Ottoline Morrell.
Kulvinder Ghir on Zoran Music
Comedian and actor Kulvinder Ghir nominates the life of the artist Zoran Music.
Dame Helen Ghosh on James Lees-Milne
Matthew Parris talks to the National Trust's Dame Helen Ghosh about James Lees-Milne.
Wendy Cope on John Clare
Matthew Parris talks to Wendy Cope about her poetic hero John Clare. From 2015.
Nelson
Explorer Benedict Allen chooses Horatio Nelson.
Antonia Quirke on Marlon Brando
Marlon Brando - greatest actor of the twentieth century?
US Ambassador Matthew Barzun on JG Winant
Matthew Parris meets US Ambassador Matthew Barzun to talk about his wartime predecessor.
David Blunkett on Louis Braille
Matthew Parris hears from David Blunkett about the life of Louis Braille. From 2015.
Val McDermid on PD James
Matthew Parris talks to crime writer Val McDermid about the life of PD James.
Ian McKellen on Edmund Hillary
Sir Ian McKellen nominates mountaineer Edmund Hillary as his inspirational figure.
Vicky Pryce on Melina Mercouri
Economist Vicky Pryce nominates the Greek film star and politician Melina Mercouri.
