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 (since April 2006) Matthew Parris. A distinguished guest is asked to nominate the person it feels is truly deserving of the title "Great Life". The presenter and a recognised expert (a biographer, family member or fellow practitioner) 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 0, August–November 2001
Series 1, May–August 2002
Series 2, October–December 2002
Series 3, April–June 2003
Series 4, October–December 2003
Series 5, April–June 2004
Series 6, October–December 2004
- 1The programme originally scheduled was by the guest film-maker David Puttnam (who nominated the Irish nationalist leader Michael Collins). It was withdrawn due to "production quality".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 7, April–June 2005
Series 8, October 2005 – February 2006
Series 9, April–June 2006
1Coward was previously nominated by Peter Bazalgette in Series 4 Programme 1
Series 10, August–September 2006
Series 11, December 2006 – January 2007
Series 12, April–May 2007
Series 13, August–October 2007
Series 14, December 2007 – January 2008
Series 15, April–May 2008
Series 16, August–September 2008
Series 17, December 2008 – February 2009
Series 18, April–May 2009
Series 19, August–September 2009
Series 20, December 2009 – February 2010
Series 21, April–May 2010
Series 22, August–September 2010
Series 23, November 2010 – January 2011
- Garvey was previously nominated by Yvonne Brown in Series 7 Programme 7 1
Series 24, April–May 2011
Series 25, August–September 2011
Series 26, December 2011 – January 2012
Series 27, April–May 2012
Series 28, July–September 2012
Series 29, December 2012 – January 2013
Series 30, April–May 2013
Series 31, August–October 2013
Series 32, December 2013 – January 2014
Series 33, April–May 2014
Series 34, August–October 2014
Series 35, December 2014 – January 2015
Series 36, April–May 2015
Series 37, August–September 2015
Series 38, December 2015 – January 2016
Series 39, April–May 2016
Series 40, August–September 2016
Series 41, December 2016 – January 2017
Series 42, April–May 2017
Series 43, August–September 2017
Series 44, December 2017 - January 2018
Series 45, April–May 2018
Series 46, July–September 2018
Series 47, December 2018 – January 2019
Series 48, April–May 2019
Series 49, July–September 2019
Series 50, December 2019 – January 2020
Series 51, April–June 2020
Series 52, August–September 2020
Series 53, December 2020 – January 2021
Series 54, April–June 2021
Series 55, August–September 2021
Series 56, December 2021 – January 2022
Series 57, April–May 2022
Series 58, May–September 2022
Series 59, December 2022 – January 2023
Series 60, April–May 2023
Series 61, June–September 2023
Series 62, November 2023 – January 2024
Series 63, April 2024 – May 2024
Series 64, August 2024 –
References
External links
- Great Lives at BBC Online
- Detailed list of Great Lives episodes
