Leonard Bernstein

Conductor Charles Hazlewood chooses Leonard Bernstein.

• 30 mins

Simone de Beauvoir

Actress Diana Quick selects philosopher Simone de Beauvoir for Great Lives.

• 30 mins

Lewis Carroll

Writer Lynne Truss chooses the creator of Alice in Wonderland, Lewis Carroll.

• 30 mins

Kathleen Ferrier

Broadcaster Sue MacGregor nominates singer Kathleen Ferrier who died tragically young.

• 30 mins

Paul Robeson

Anna Ford nominates singer, actor and civil rights activist Paul Robeson.

• 30 mins

Richard Pryor

Skills minister David Lammy puts the case for the revolutionary comedian Richard Pryor.

• 26 mins

Edward Lear

Nicholas Parsons nominates Edward Lear, now remembered best for his nonsense verse.

• 30 mins

Field Marshal Bill Slim

General Mike Jackson nominates Field Marshal Bill Slim, leader of the WW2 Burma campaign.

• 30 mins

Petra Kelly

Green MP Caroline Lucas nominates Petra Kelly, the German Green superstar politician.

• 30 mins

AE Housman

Author Colin Dexter nominates scholar and poet AE Housman. With Robert Douglas-Fairhurst.

• 26 mins

Juan Manuel Fangio

Stirling Moss nominates the great racing driver Juan Manuel Fangio.

• 30 mins

Ian Curtis

Poet Simon Armitage nominates Joy Division singer Ian Curtis.

• 30 mins

Joyce Grenfell

Arabella Weir nominates Joyce Grenfell. Biographer Janie Hampton assists.

• 30 mins

Graham Greene

War reporter Tim Butcher chooses an exploration into the strange world of Graham Greene.

• 30 mins

Kirsty MacColl

Broadcaster Janice Long champions the life and work of singer-songwriter Kirsty MacColl.

• 30 mins

Eduardo Paolozzi

Restaurateur Antonio Carluccio nominates the Scottish artist Sir Eduardo Paolozzi.

• 30 mins

William Shakespeare

Poetry curator Daisy Goodwin nominates the Bard himself, William Shakespeare.

• 30 mins

Hans Fallada

Fast Show comic Simon Day tells Matthew Parris why he is fascinated by writer Hans Fallada

• 30 mins

Hildegard Von Bingen

Cerys Matthews on why 12th-century nun Hildegard von Bingen qualifies as a great life.

• 30 mins

Gerald Durrell

Former England player Graeme le Saux champions the life of conservationist Gerald Durrell.

• 30 mins

Emily Dickinson

The reclusive American poet Emily Dickinson is the choice of fellow poet Gwyneth Lewis.

• 30 mins

Edwin Lutyens

Simon Jenkins proposes Edwin Lutyens, architect of New Delhi and the Cenotaph.

• 30 mins

Philip K Dick

Michael Sheen champions Philip K Dick who has had an influence on his production of Hamlet

• 30 mins

Ludwig Wittgenstein

Ludwig Wittgenstein, fascinating and misunderstood thinker, is chosen by Raymond Tallis.

• 30 mins

Thomas Hobbes

Steven Pinker joins Matthew Parris to discuss the life of the philosopher Thomas Hobbes.

• 30 mins

Ludwig II of Bavaria

Brian Sewell on his love of 'Mad' King Ludwig II of Bavaria.

• 30 mins

Lonnie Donegan

Downton Abbey actor Jim Carter champions the life and work of skiffle king Lonnie Donegan.

• 30 mins

Gracie Allen

Actress Emma Kennedy chooses the life of the American comedienne Gracie Allen.

• 30 mins

Joseph Rotblat

Astronomer Royal Sir Martin Rees champions the life of his hero, physicist Joseph Rotblat.

• 30 mins

Razia Sultana

Conservative politician Baroness Warsi nominates a 13th-century Indian princess.

• 30 mins

Dylan Thomas

Dylan Thomas chosen by Welsh poet Owen Sheers.

• 30 mins

Oscar Wilde

Will Self nominates Oscar Wilde.

• 30 mins

Gertrude Stein

Erin Pizzey chooses Gertrude Stein. With Diana Souhami. Presented by Matthew Parris.

• 30 mins

George Lyward

Tom Robinson explains how educationalist George Lyward saved his life.

• 30 mins

Edward Said

Alexei Sayle explains why scholar and literary critic Edward Said inspired him.

• 30 mins

John Ford

Eric Pickles chooses Hollywood director John Ford.

• 30 mins

Goya

Diana Athill joins Matthew Parris to explore the life of Spanish painter Goya.

• 30 mins

Sebastian Walker

Lynn Barber talks to Matthew Parris about Sebastian Walker of Walker Books.

• 30 mins

Henry Cooper

Des Lynam chooses Henry Cooper for Great Lives.

• 30 mins

Josephine Bonaparte

Josephine Bonaparte, first empress of France, chosen by Janine di Giovanni.

• 30 mins

Walter Scott

Conservative politician, author and adventurer Rory Stewart chooses Sir Walter Scott.

• 30 mins

Leonard Maguire

Matthew Parris in conversation with actor Bill Paterson about Leonard Maguire.

• 30 mins

Juvenal

Matthew Parris and his guest Natalie Haynes encounter the Latin poet Juvenal.

• 30 mins

Stan Laurel

Comedian and performer Ken Dodd explains how Stan Laurel inspired him to go into comedy.

• 30 mins

Karel Reisz

Film-maker Stephen Frears champions his mentor, Karel Reisz.

• 30 mins

George Orwell

Alan Johnson tells Matthew Parris about the impact George Orwell had on his life.

• 30 mins

Edith Wharton

Naomi Wolf nominates Edith Wharton for Great Lives.

• 30 mins

Dick Francis

Martin Broughton nominates Dick Francis, champion jockey and champion author.

• 30 mins

Jean Cocteau

Francesca Simon tells Matthew Parris why Jean Cocteau's is a Great Life.

• 30 mins

Prince Alamayu

Lemn Sissay chooses Prince Alamayu who, like him, was Ethiopian but fostered in Britain.

• 30 mins

Ralph Vaughan Williams

Matthew Parris and Stuart Maconie celebrate the life of Ralph Vaughan Williams.

• 30 mins

Grigori Rasputin

Grigori Rasputin, mad monk or righteous spiritual man ?

• 30 mins

John Stuart Mill

Matthew Parris and Max Mosley celebrate the life of John Stuart Mill.

• 30 mins

Aubrey Beardsley

Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen on his passion for Aubrey Beardsley. Matthew Parris presents.

• 30 mins

Nancy Mitford

Grace Dent loves Nancy Mitford, author of Love in a Cold Climate. From 2013.

• 30 mins

William Robinson

Gardener Carol Klein's choice is wild garden hero, William Robinson. With Matthew Parris.

• 30 mins

George Bell

Peter Hitchens nominates George Bell, who condemned the bombing of Germany.

• 30 mins

Galileo

Bobby Friction champions the Italian physicist and astronomer Galileo Galilei.

• 30 mins

Kenny Everett

Chris Tarrant chooses one of the great pioneers of modern radio - Kenny Everett.

• 30 mins

David Livingstone

John Blashford-Snell explains why he admires fellow explorer, Dr David Livingstone.

• 30 mins

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

Gyles Brandreth praises the life of Arthur Conan Doyle, the creator of Sherlock Holmes.

• 30 mins

Bill Shankly

Mumsnet founder Justine Roberts champions the life of the Liverpool manager Bill Shankly.

• 30 mins

Salvador Dali

John Cooper Clarke nominates Salvador Dali for great life status, melting clocks and all.

• 30 mins

Primo Levi

Edmund de Waal, ceramicist and author chooses Holocaust writer Primo Levi.

• 30 mins

Florence Nightingale

Dr Lucy Worsley, chief curator at Historic Royal Palaces, chooses Florence Nightingale.

• 30 mins

Russell Grant on Ivor Novello

Entertainer Russell Grant nominates Welsh composer and film star Ivor Novello.

• 30 mins

Gabriel Gbadamosi on Fela Kuti

Gabriel Gbadamosi chooses as his Great Life the inventor of Afrobeat, musician Fela Kuti

• 30 mins

Tanika Gupta on Rabindranath Tagore

Tanika Gupta nominates Rabindranath Tagore. With Matthew Parris and Ketaki Kushari Dyson.

• 30 mins

Julie Burchill on Ava Gardner

The writer Julie Burchill talks to Matthew Parris about the Hollywood star Ava Gardner.

• 30 mins

Paul Mason on Louise Michel

Paul Mason talks to Matthew Parris about the 19th-century French anarchist, Louise Michel.

• 30 mins

Peter Bowles on George Devine

Matthew Parris is joined by Peter Bowles to discuss the life of director George Devine.

• 30 mins

Konnie Huq on Ada Lovelace

TV presenter Konnie Huq chooses Lord Byron's daughter, the mathematician Ada Lovelace.

• 30 mins

Sir Brendan Barber on John Steinbeck

Matthew Parris is joined by Sir Brendan Barber who chooses John Steinbeck as a Great Life.

• 30 mins

Al Murray on Bernard Montgomery

Comedian Al Murray champions the life of Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery.

• 30 mins

Ricky Ross on Hank Williams

Ricky Ross from Deacon Blue champions songwriter Hank Williams. Matthew Parris presents.

• 30 mins

Michael Horovitz on Allen Ginsberg

Michael Horovitz nominates fellow poet Allen Ginsberg as his Great Life.

• 30 mins

Meg Rosoff on Isabella Bird

Novelist, Meg Rosoff explores the life of the Victorian travel writer Isabella Bird

• 30 mins

Sir David Chipperfield on Le Corbusier

Architect, Sir David Chipperfield, chooses Le Corbusier

• 30 mins

David Baddiel on John Updike

Writer and comedian David Baddiel explores the life of novelist John Updike.

• 30 mins

Dave Allen chosen by Adil Ray

Irish Comic Dave Allen is chosen by actor and comedian Adil Ray. Matthew Parris presents

• 30 mins

Mark Constantine on Kahlil Gibran

Businessman Mark Constantine champions the life of Kahlil Gibran with Matthew Parris.

• 30 mins

DJ Sara Cox nominates singer Lisa 'Left Eye' Lopes

Sara Cox nominates the American hip hop artist and rapper Lisa 'Left Eye' Lopes.

• 30 mins

Evelyn Glennie on Jacqueline Du Pre

The English Cellist Jacqueline Du Pre is championed by solo percussionist Evelyn Glennie.

• 30 mins

Sarah Vine on Dante

Sarah Vine chooses Dante, author of the Italian literary masterpiece the Divine Comedy

• 30 mins

Sir Mark Walport on Sir Hans Sloane

Sir Hans Sloane, founder of the British Museum, is championed by Sir Mark Walport.

• 30 mins

Marcus du Sautoy on Jorge Luis Borges

Blind Argentinian writer Borges is championed by Marcus de Sautoy.

• 30 mins

Deborah Moggach on Arnold Bennett

The author Deborah Moggach talks about the life of Potteries writer Arnold Bennett.

• 30 mins

Isy Suttie on Jake Thackray

Isy Suttie chooses Yorkshire-born singer songwriter Jake Thackray

• 30 mins

John Craven on Brunel

John Craven proposes Victorian Engineer, Isambard Kingdom Brunel, as a great life.

• 30 mins

Emma Kirkby on Henry Purcell

Soprano Emma Kirkby discusses the life of composer Henry Purcell with Matthew Parris

• 30 mins

Ernest Hemingway

Michael Palin nominates Ernest Hemingway as his Great Life.

• 30 mins

Ernest Hemingway

Monty Python's Michael Palin chooses the American writer, Ernest Hemingway.

• 25 mins

Jonathan Meades on Edward Burra

Writer Jonathan Meades nominates the English artist Edward Burra.

• 30 mins

Jazzie B on James Brown

Soul II Soul's Jazzie B chooses the life of musician and singer James Brown.

• 30 mins

Baroness Oona King on Ida B Wells

Ida B. Wells the African American civil rights activist is chosen by Baroness Oona King

• 30 mins

Ray Mears on Rommel

Ray Mears champions the life of Field-Marshal Erwin Rommel.

• 30 mins

Tom Shakespeare on Gramsci

Dr Tom Shakespeare tells Matthew Parris why Antonio Gramsci's is a Great Life.

• 30 mins

Labi Siffre on Arthur Ransome

Matthew Parris invites singer songwriter Labi Siffre to nominate his choice of life.

• 30 mins

Stella Rimington on Dorothy L Sayers

Dame Stella Rimington explains to Matthew Parris why Dorothy L Sayers fascinates her.

• 30 mins