Great Lives

What was so notable about Grigori Rasputin ? "The hypnotic power shining in his exceptional gaze," said one observer. The photos are indeed remarkable, and so are the myths. This programme begins wit...

1 Jan 201326min

Matthew Parris talks to writer, broadcaster and 6Music presenter Stuart Maconie about the life of Ralph Vaughan Williams. The expert witness is Em Marshall-Luck, chairman of the Ralph Vaughan Williams...

25 Dec 201224min

Francesca Simon is a writer, journalist and - most famously - the creator of the "Horrid Henry" series of children's booksShe describes herself as "a giddy fan" of the artist, film-maker and poet Jean...

11 Dec 201227min

The date is 1956, Aintree, and Dick Francis is riding the Queen Mother's horse to victory in the Grand National. Except Devon Loch collapses bizarrely to the ground within sight of the finishing post....

4 Dec 201227min

Whilst at school, a young Alan Johnson was given some money by a teacher and told to go and buy four copies of any book for the school library.He headed down the Kings Road in Chelsea, stopping only f...

28 Sep 201228min

"If only we'd stop trying to be happy we could have a pretty good time." Edith Wharton is as well known for her wit as for her novels. Born in 1862, she was the first woman to win the Pulitzer Prize, ...

25 Sep 201227min

Film director Stephen Frears discusses the life of his mentor, Czech-born director, Karel Reisz, with the help of critic and Reisz's friend, John Lahr. Frears is one of Britain's most successful direc...

11 Sep 201228min

Ken Dodd explains to Matthew Parris why movie legend Stan Laurel inspired him to get into comedy.Born Stan Jefferson into a theatrical family, in Lancashire, he later moved to the United States, where...

4 Sep 201227min