Great Lives


Great Lives is a BBC Radio 4 biography series, produced in Bristol. It has been presented by Joan Bakewell, Humphrey Carpenter, Francine Stock and currently Matthew Parris. A distinguished guest is asked to nominate the person they feel is truly deserving of the title "Great Life". The presenter and a recognised expert are on hand to discuss the person's life. The programmes are 28 minutes long, originally broadcast on Fridays at 23:00, more recently at 16:30 on Tuesday with a repeat at 23:00 on Friday.

Programmes

Series 6, October–December 2004

  • 1The programme originally scheduled was by the guest film-maker David Puttnam. It was withdrawn due to "production quality".

Hogmanay Special, 31 December 2004

  • Carpenter died on 4 January 2005, this was his last Great Lives programme 1

Series 9, April–June 2006

1Coward was previously nominated by Peter Bazalgette in Series 4 Programme 1

Series 17, December 2008 – February 2009

Series 23, November 2010 – January 2011

  • Garvey was previously nominated by Yvonne Brown in Series 7 Programme 7 1

Series 31, August–October 2013

Series 39, April–May 2016