Great Lives

Latest Episodes:

Hilary Devey on Gracie Fields Aug 02, 2016

Show notes

A singer, comedian, music hall and film star from Rochdale, Gracie Fields was the nation’s darling. But in the midst of World War II, and at the phenomenal peak of her career, our great life fell in love and married an Italian and had to flee to America. She was disowned by the British public who called her a deserter and she was slated in every newspaper.

Championing this week’s Great Life is businesswoman and TV personality Hilary Devey known to viewers of BBC 2's Dragons' Den and Channel 4's The Intern. Helping her to unravel the life of Gracie Fields is Sebastian Lassandro, President of the Dame Gracie Fields Appreciation Society.

Presenter Matthew Parris

Producer Perminder Khatkar

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in August 2016.

Frank Turner on Joseph Grimaldi May 31, 2016

Show notes

Frank Turner chooses Joseph Grimaldi, the first celebrity of Pantomime who changed the face of Clowning forever. Matthew Parris presents, and Mattie Faint is the expert. Grimaldi was born into a theatrical family, making his stage debut aged two dressed as a monkey and being flung around the stage on the end of a chain by his tyrannical father. The chain snapped but Grimaldi survived, making the papers and turning Grimaldi into a little celebrity. His performances as 'Clown', combining acrobatics, satire and music, made him a big draw for the crowds, and his role in 'Mother Goose' turned him into a huge star. He developed the make-up we now associate with clowns but behind this iconic look was a man suffering from depression, extreme physical disintegration and a series of personal tragedies. Frank Turner, former punk and now folk singer-songwriter, sees himself primarily as an entertainer and has developed an interest in Pantomime and Music Hall. For him, Grimaldi gave everything to his audiences and physically destroyed himself in the process - something he sees as honourable. He describes Grimaldi's farewell speech as one of the most beautiful eulogies to the business of being a performer.

Producer: Toby Field

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 2016.

George Fox May 24, 2016

Show notes

George Fox, born in 1624 in Leicestershire, is best known as the founder of the Quakers. In early life he was apprenticed to a shoemaker, and for a while he worked as a shepherd as well. But it was as a preacher travelling widely across the land that he made his name, and also received the most abuse. As he writes: "... the people fell upon me in great rage, struck me down and almost stifled and smothered me. And I was cruelly beaten and bruised by them with their hands, Bibles and sticks."

Nominating the dissenting George Fox is Ann Limb, chair of the Scout Association. Also in studio, Jonathan Fryer, editor of George Fox and the Children of the Light.

Matthew Parris presents, and the producer in Bristol is Miles Warde.

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 2016.

Charles Moore on Gordon Hamilton-Fairley May 17, 2016

Show notes

Gordon Hamilton-Fairley was a brilliant cancer specialist, the father of oncology in the UK.

Then in 1975 he was killed by an IRA bomb intended for a politician who lived in his street. Former editor of the Daily Telegraph Charles Moore chooses a man cut down in his prime. Joining him in the studio are three members of the Hamilton-Fairley family; plus the cancer specialist Ray Powles, who provides a compelling picture of how basic treatment for cancer sufferers used to be.

Presenter: Matthew Parris Producer: Miles Warde

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 2016.

Richard the Lionheart May 16, 2016

Show notes

Richard the Lionheart has been portrayed on screen by Sean Connery, Anthony Hopkins and Patrick Stewart, quite a starry list. But what is the reality behind the legend of this famous king?

Richard's nominator is Timmy Mallett, a legend of children's TV but also unexpectedly a history graduate. Great historical characters, he says, have great stories attached to them, and Richard's life was not short of adventure, particularly on the Third Crusade.

Applying a cool head to Richard's life is the historian and broadcaster Helen Castor. She concedes that much of Timmy's enthusiasm is probably deserved.

Presenter Matthew Parris attempts to discover the truth about whether the Lionheart was in fact gay.

Producer: Miles Warde.

Produced in BBC Bristol and first broadcast on Radio 4 in May 2016.

Graeme Lamb on Christine Granville May 03, 2016

Show notes

Lt-Gen Sir Graeme Lamb, former head of British special forces, champions the life of wartime spy Christine Granville, assisted by her biographer Clare Mulley.

Christine, born Kristina Skarbek, was a glamorous swashbuckling heroine who skied into occupied Poland to distribute Allied propaganda, and parachuted into southern France to work with the Resistance after D Day. Murdered after the war by a jilted lover, she is little known today - thanks partly to the efforts of a group of men she had been close to, who formed a committee to "protect her reputation" from suggestions of sexual impropriety.

Matthew Parris chairs the discussion.

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 2016.

Sudha Bhuchar chooses the life of Zohra Sehgal Apr 26, 2016

Show notes

She was known as 'the grand old lady of Indian cinema' who starred in many Bollywood films famous in India, but not at first in Britain. We got to know her best in her later years when Zohra Sehgal starred in the TV series – 'The Jewel in The Crown' and films such as 'Bend it like Beckham'. When interviewed aged 101 and asked what she had enjoyed most in her life she said 'Sex, sex and more sex '.

Nominating this week's Great Life is actress and playwright Sudha Bhuchar who along with the expert witness, Film Historian Lalit Mohan Joshi, tell the presenter Matthew Parris, how Sehgal broke boundaries to become the first Indian actor to have an international career.

The producer is Perminder Khatkar.

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 2016.

Ray Peacock chooses the life of Lenny Bruce Apr 21, 2016

Show notes

To his followers Lenny Bruce was a genius and a free speech hero. To his detractors he was labelled sick and dirty. Bruce shocked his audiences intentionally. In his uncompromisingly frank humour he took on organized religion, government, jingoism, capitalism, the death penalty, war, and sexual mores.

But he was eventually destroyed by the battle he fought with the US justice system.

The comedian, Ray Peacock nominates Lenny Bruce as his great life as he regards him as a pioneer in stand-up. Along with expert Dr Oliver Double and presenter Matthew Parris they uncover a controversial life.

To illustrate the life of Lenny Bruce this programme does play some audio which some listeners may find offensive.

The producer is Perminder Khatkar.

Nancy Dell'Olio chooses the life of Lucrezia Borgia Apr 21, 2016

Show notes

Nancy Dell'Olio champions Lucrezia Borgia, a Renaissance woman who was much maligned.

Lucrezia Borgia was the Pope's daughter and, over the centuries, her name has been a byword for poison, incest and intrigue. Novels, television series, plays and an opera have been written about her. But was she just a victim of malicious gossip that vastly exaggerated her actual misdeeds?

Nancy Dell'Olio explains why she identifies with Lucrezia Borgia and with the help of historian Sarah Dunant attempts to debunk some of the myths.

Produced by Perminder Khatkar.

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 2016.

Alfred Hitchcock Apr 07, 2016

Show notes

Anthony Horowitz regards Alfred Hitchcock as a genius who changed the language of cinema and made some of the most memorable films of the 20th century.

However, the film director is also seen as a troubled man who was at times abusive towards some of his leading ladies.

The expert witness is Nathalie Morris; Senior Curator at the BFI, National Archive.

Presenter: Matthew Parris

Producer: Perminder Khatkar

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in April 2016.

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