News
‘The Godmother of English ballet’, Dame Ninette De Valois Read more
now playing
Ninette de Valois
‘The Godmother of English ballet’, Dame Ninette De Valois
Lady Eve Balfour
Lady Eve Balfour was a pioneering organic farmer and founder of the Soil Association.
Chi-chi Nwanoku on Jessye Norman
Chi-chi Nwanoku picks the American singer Jessye Norman who became a global star of opera.
Ken Loach on Gerrard Winstanley
Ken Loach on Gerrard Winstanley.
Mohammad Mossadegh, PM of Iran ousted in a coup
Mohammad Mossadegh was toppled in a coup in Iran in 1953.
Iszi Lawrence on Diana Barnato Walker
Iszi Lawrence chooses record-breaking aviator Diana Barnato Walker
John Gray on JG Ballard
Philosopher John Gray chooses the iconic futuristic writer JG Ballard.
Eartha Kitt proposed by Faye Tozer
Faye Tozer from Steps nominates a singer and dancer with a trademark growl.
Jimmy Wales on Thomas Jefferson
The founder of Wikipedia, Jimmy Wales, picks the third president of the United States.
Mr Motivator picks Harry Belafonte
Mr Motivator chooses the King of Calypso, whose hits include Day-O and Jump in the Line.
Actor Niamh Cusack on the life of poet Mary Oliver
Actor Niamh Cusack chooses the American poet Mary Oliver.
Alan Freeman picked by Simon Mayo
Simon Mayo picks his broadcasting hero, Pick of the Pops's Alan 'Fluff' Freeman.
Harry Enfield on Gerard Hoffnung
Comedian Harry Enfield chooses the cartoonist, musician and raconteur Gerard Hoffnung.
Sir Bruce Forsyth
Sir Bruce Forsyth, nominated by the political writer and broadcaster Steve Richards
Antoni Gaudi
Antoni Gaudi, nominated by Baroness Ros Altmann.
Katherine Rundell on E Nesbit
Writer Katherine Rundell nominates fellow children's author E Nesbit.
James Dyson on Frank Whittle
James Dyson chooses the inventor of the jet engine, Frank Whittle.
Queen Emma
Alice Roberts chooses the wife of two kings - Aethelred and Canute.
Lady Rachel MacRobert, chosen by Hayaatun Sillem
Dr Hayaatun Sillem chooses the extraordinary life of Lady Rachel MacRobert.
Harriet Harman on Maria Callas
Harriet Harman nominates opera star Maria Callas.
Mary Portas on Anita Roddick
Mary Portas chooses the founder of The Body Shop Dame Anita Roddick as her Great Life.
Miriam Margolyes on Charles Dickens
The great Miriam Margolyes chooses her hero, Charles Dickens
Zing Tsjeng on Swedish painter Hilma af Klint
Biography series in which famous guests choose someone who has inspired their lives.
Film director Julien Temple on Elizabethan bad boy Christopher Marlowe
Biographical show in which famous guests choose someone who has inspired their lives.
The Roman Emperor Nero
Biographical series in which guests choose someone who has inspired their lives.
The surgeon Henry Marsh picks 'the saviour of mothers' Dr Semmelweis
Biography show where famous guests pick someone from history they ire or love.
Jo Brand picks American blues singer Bessie Smith
The biography show where famous guests pick someone they ire or love.
Anneka Rice picks the largely forgotten Jane Morris, muse to Rossetti and wife of William Morris
Anneka Rice picks Jane Morris, wife of William Morris and muse to Dante Gabriel Rossetti.
Ekow Eshun on the first openly gay footballer, Justin Fashanu
Biography show where famous guests pick someone they ire or love.
Doug Allan on Captain Jacques Cousteau
Wildlife cameraman Doug Allan nominates oceanographer and explorer Jacques Cousteau.
Dr Hannah Critchlow picks Professor Colin Blakemore
Dr Hannah Critchlow selects the neurobiologist Professor Colin Blakemore.
