Sonia Boyce, artist
26 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In 2022 Sonia Boyce became the first Black British woman to represent Britain at the Venice Biennale...
Jenny Beavan, costume designer
19 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Jenny Beavan has won three Oscars for her costumes for the films Room with a View, Mad Max: Fury Roa...
David Sedaris, writer
12 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
David Sedaris is a writer whose humorous stories and wry takes on everyday encounters have led to 13...
Professor Corinne Le Quéré, climate scientist
26 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Corinne Le Quéré is the Royal Society Research Professor of Climate Change Science at the Universi...
Michael Pollan, writer
19 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Michael Pollan’s award-winning writing about plants, nature and food combines anthropology and phi...
Gabby Logan, broadcaster
12 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Gabby Logan presents a range of popular BBC sports programmes and hosts high-profile sporting events...
Lesley Manville, actor
05 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Lesley Manville made her debut on the West End stage as a teenager in 1972, and since then has taken...
Sir Malcolm Walker, retailer
05 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Sir Malcolm Walker is the chairman and co-founder of the frozen food supermarket chain Iceland. He w...
Kirsty Young, broadcaster
22 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Kirsty Young was the award-winning presenter of Desert Island Discs between 2006 and 2018, interview...
Cate Blanchett, actor
08 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Cate Blanchett is arguably the most celebrated Australian actor ever, winning two Academy Awards, th...
Edward Enninful, editor
01 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Edward Enninful is the editor-in-chief of British Vogue and the editorial director of Vogue in Europ...
Baz Luhrmann, director
25 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Baz Luhrmann is an Australian director whose debut film, Strictly Ballroom, became one of Australia’...
Steven Spielberg, director
18 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Steven Spielberg is the most successful director of his generation and the highest-grossing director...
Barry Hearn, sports promoter
18 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Barry Hearn is a promoter who has been at the forefront of some of the biggest snooker, boxing and d...
Professor Jean Golding, epidemiologist
11 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Professor Jean Golding is an epidemiologist who is best known for founding the Children of the Ninet...
Richard E Grant, actor
04 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Richard E Grant was born in Swaziland, now Eswatini, one of the smallest countries in Africa, and to...
Professor Angela Gallop, forensic scientist
27 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Professor Angela Gallop is a forensic scientist who has helped solve some of the most notorious viol...
Rick Rubin, music producer
20 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Rick Rubin is a multiple Grammy-winning record producer who has worked with a wide range of artists ...
Maxine Peake, actor
13 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Maxine Peake is an actor and writer who first came to public attention in 1998 as Twinkle in the Vic...
Kevin Sinfield, rugby player
06 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Kevin Sinfield OBE is one of the most decorated players in the history of English rugby league. He c...
Dr Waheed Arian, doctor
30 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Dr Waheed Arian is a radiologist who set up a charity called Arian Teleheal in 2015. The charity en...
Jay Blades, presenter and furniture restorer
23 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Jay Blades is a furniture restorer who is best known for presenting the Repair Shop on BBC One. The...
Sue Barker, presenter and tennis player
16 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Sue Barker is a television presenter and former professional tennis player. She presented the BBC’...
John Legend, musician
03 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The American singer and songwriter John Legend has won two Emmys, 12 Grammys, an Oscar and a Tony aw...
Clare Smyth, chef
28 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Clare Smyth is a highly acclaimed chef and is the first British woman to win the coveted three Miche...
Kate Moss, model
21 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Kate Moss came to fame in the 1990s, and her distinctive look went on to embody the era of Cool Brit...
Kate Ewart-Biggs, Deputy Chief Executive, British Council
13 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Kate Ewart-Biggs is the deputy chief executive of the British Council, which aims to build connectio...
Andrew Ramroop, tailor
06 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Andrew Ramroop is a Savile Row tailor, whose international client list has included film stars and r...
Adele, singer and songwriter
31 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Adele is a singer and songwriter who has achieved record-breaking sales and global recognition for h...
Bono, singer and songwriter
24 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Bono is a singer, songwriter and the frontman of U2, one of the most recognisable and successful ban...
Rita Tushingham, actor
17 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Rita Tushingham first won international acclaim as a teenager, playing Jo in the film A Taste of Hon...
Frances O'Grady, General Secretary of the TUC
10 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Frances O’Grady is the General Secretary of the Trades Union Congress (TUC), the UK's umbrella gro...
Jon Ronson, writer and broadcaster
03 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Jon Ronson is a writer and broadcaster whose award-winning podcast and Radio 4 series Things Fell Ap...
David Harewood, actor and presenter
26 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
David Harewood is a British actor and presenter who found global fame playing the CIA director David...
Ellie Simmonds, swimmer
18 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Ellie Simmonds has competed at four Paralympic Games, winning five gold medals and breaking world re...
Bradley Walsh, presenter and actor
12 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Bradley Walsh is a familiar face to many millions of TV viewers, as the host of quiz shows including...
Fiona Hill, foreign affairs specialist
05 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Fiona Hill is a foreign affairs specialist who advised Presidents George W Bush, Barack Obama and Do...
Desert Island Discoveries
29 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Lauren shares handpicked gems from the Desert Island Discs back-catalogue with Radio 1 presenter Vic...
Winnie Byanyima, executive director of Unaids
24 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Winnie Byanyima is a human rights advocate and executive director of Unaids, the joint UN Programme ...
Alan Cumming, actor
17 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Alan Cumming's wide-ranging career on stage includes playing Hamlet, starring opposite Daniel Radcli...
Robert Plant, singer and songwriter
10 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Robert Plant is a singer and songwriter who was Led Zeppelin’s frontman from the band’s inceptio...
Oti Mabuse, dancer
03 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Oti Mabuse is a dancer, choreographer and TV talent show judge. She has enjoyed great success on the...
Professor Nick Webborn, Chair of the British Paralympic Association
27 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Professor Nick Webborn has chaired the British Paralympic Association since 2017. He is a world-lead...
Anne Tyler, writer
20 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Anne Tyler is a novelist and short story writer. Her 23 novels include the Accidental Tourist, Dinn...
Leslie Caron, actress
13 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Leslie Caron is an award-winning actress and dancer who starred in some of the most memorable films ...
Professor Sir David Spiegelhalter, statistician
06 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Professor Sir David Spiegelhalter specialises in medical statistics. He is the Chair of the Winton ...
Lyse Doucet, journalist
30 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Lyse Doucet is the BBC’s award-winning chief international correspondent, reporting from a range o...
John Caudwell, businessman
23 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
John Caudwell is a businessman and philanthropist who founded the mobile phone company Phones 4U in ...
Deborah Levy, writer
16 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Deborah Levy is a writer whose novels Swimming Home and Hot Milk were both shortlisted for the Booke...
Simon Reeve, broadcaster and writer
09 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Simon Reeve is a broadcaster and writer best known for his TV documentaries which combine travel and...
Richard Osman, writer and broadcaster
28 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Richard Osman is a broadcaster, TV producer and writer who co-presents the quiz show Pointless on BB...
Dame Prue Leith, writer and broadcaster
19 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Dame Prue Leith is a broadcaster, writer, former restaurateur and a judge on the television show the...
Jack Thorne, screenwriter
12 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Jack Thorne is a writer who has enjoyed great success with his scripts for the stage, cinema and tel...
Helen Macdonald, writer and naturalist
05 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Helen Macdonald is a writer and naturalist who is best known as the author of H is for Hawk which wo...
Neil Gaiman, writer
28 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Neil Gaiman is a writer whose list of titles spans many forms from novels, including American Gods, ...
Carl Hester, dressage rider
21 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Carl Hester is a dressage rider who has competed in six Olympic Games, winning a team gold at London...
Dame Jo da Silva, engineer
19 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Dame Jo da Silva is a structural engineer and disaster relief specialist. Her humanitarian work has...
Joanne Harris, writer
07 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Joanne Harris is a writer who is best known for her novel Chocolat, which was made into an Oscar-nom...
Peter Schmeichel, footballer
31 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Peter Schmeichel is widely regarded as one of the greatest goalkeepers in the modern game. In 1999,...
Michael Sandel, philosopher
24 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Michael Sandel is a political philosopher and professor of government theory at Harvard University i...
Deborah Meaden, businesswoman
17 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Deborah Meaden is a businesswoman and entrepreneur. She’s been one of the investment ‘Dragons...
Dame Sarah Connolly, mezzo-soprano
10 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The mezzo-soprano Dame Sarah Connolly has sung at the most prestigious venues around the world, incl...
Tom Ilube, entrepreneur
03 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Tom Ilube is an entrepreneur, known for his successful start-up companies, and a philanthropist. He ...
Tracey Ullman, actor and comedian
26 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Tracey Ullman was the first woman to be offered her own television sketch show – both in Britain a...
Baroness Hale of Richmond, former judge
19 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Brenda Hale, Baroness Hale of Richmond, is a former judge who served as the first female president o...
Michael Holding, cricketer
12 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Michael Holding is a cricket commentator and former West Indies bowler. He’s widely regarded as on...
Nazir Afzal, lawyer
01 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Nazir Afzal is a solicitor and the former chief crown prosecutor for north-west England. Among his n...
Robert Macfarlane, writer
25 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Robert Macfarlane is a writer whose books about the natural world, including The Wild Places and The...
Dame Jessica Ennis-Hill, athlete
18 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Dame Jessica Ennis-Hill is an Olympic gold medallist and three-time world champion heptathlete, and ...
Professor Noel Fitzpatrick, veterinary surgeon
12 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Professor Noel Fitzpatrick is a veterinary surgeon who presents the television series The Supervet. ...
Paul Costelloe, fashion designer
04 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Paul Costelloe is a fashion designer who recently celebrated his 36th year showing at London Fashion...
Margaret Busby, publisher
27 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Margaret Busby is a publisher and editor who was the chair of the Booker Prize jury in 2020.She has ...
Richard Wilson, actor and director
20 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Richard Wilson is an actor and director who became a household name when he played the part of Victo...
Yo-Yo Ma, musician
13 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Yo-Yo Ma is a cellist and one of the world's most high-profile classical musicians. He has performed...
Heather Hallett, former judge and crossbench peer
06 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Heather Hallett, Baroness Hallett of Rye, is a former judge and a cross-bench peer. Called to the Ba...
Amanda Khozi Mukwashi, charity CEO
30 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Amanda Khozi Mukwashi is the chief executive of Christian Aid, leading development and humanitarian ...
Alexei Sayle, comedian
23 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Alexei Sayle is a comedian and writer, who began his career just over 40 years ago at the small Come...
Brian Greene
16 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Brian Greene is a theoretical physicist, mathematician and writer, whose area of research is string ...
Billie Piper, actor
09 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Billie Piper is an Olivier Award winning actor and former pop star.She was born in Swindon in Septem...
Professor Sir Simon Wessely
28 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Professor Sir Simon Wessely is the first ever psychiatrist to be awarded a Regius professorship – ...
Maggie O'Farrell, writer
21 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Maggie O’Farrell has written eight novels, a memoir and a children’s book. In 2020 her novel Ham...
Dame Louise Casey, crossbench peer
14 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Baroness Casey of Blackstock is a former civil servant specialising in social welfare, who has worke...
Mark Strong, actor
07 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Mark Strong has appeared in more than 60 films, along with numerous TV dramas and plays. His career ...
Claire Horton, charity worker
28 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Claire Horton is the former chief executive of Battersea Dogs and Cats Home, and is currently direct...
Sophia Loren
21 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Sophia Loren is the first performer to win the Best Actress Academy Award for a role in a foreign la...
Malala Yousafzai, activist
14 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Malala Yousafzai is an activist who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize when she was 17 - becoming the...
George McGavin, entomologist and broadcaster
07 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
George McGavin is an entomologist, explorer and broadcaster, who has spread the word about the impor...
Monica Galetti, chef and restaurateur
31 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Monica Galetti is a chef, restaurateur and cook book writer, who is also known as a judge on the tel...
Tim Peake, astronaut
24 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Major Tim Peake, is an Army Air Corps officer and a European Space Agency astronaut. He was the firs...
Samantha Power
17 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Samantha Power was the USA's youngest ever ambassador to the UN, during President Barack Obama’s s...
David Olusoga, historian and broadcaster
10 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
David Olusoga is a historian, writer and broadcaster who has presented a range of programmes includi...
Colonel Lucy Giles
27 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Colonel Lucy Giles is an officer of the British Army’s Royal Logistic Corps and is currently Presi...
Sir Cliff Richard
20 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Sir Cliff Richard makes a second trip to the island he first visited 60 years ago, when he had just ...
Minette Batters
13 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Minette Batters is the first woman to become President of the National Farmers' Union, representing ...
Professor Sir Jeremy Farrar
06 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Professor Sir Jeremy Farrar is Director of the Wellcome Trust, a global charitable foundation which ...
Helen Oxenbury
29 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Helen Oxenbury is an illustrator of children’s books whose work has featured in many very popular ...
Arsène Wenger, former football manager
22 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Arsène Wenger was the manager of Arsenal FC for 22 years, becoming the longest-serving and most suc...
Sir Keir Starmer, Leader of the Opposition
15 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Sir Keir Starmer is the leader of the Labour Party, and the leader of the opposition.Named after Kei...
David Mitchell, novelist
13 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
David Mitchell has published eight novels, two of which – number9dream and Cloud Atlas – have be...
Hilary McGrady, Director General of the National Trust
01 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Hilary McGrady is Director General of the National Trust.She was born in Lisburn, Northern Ireland, ...