Last Word

Dr Ittai Gradel, Dame Shirley Porter, Professor Nigel Dunnett, María Nieves Rego

08 May 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Dr Ittai Gradel, the Danish antiquities dealer who uncovered the theft of hundreds of artefacts from the British Museum. Katie Razzall recalls how he ...

Xia De-hong, Lord Hunt of Chesterton, Joan Burstein, Bill Leader

01 May 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Xia De-hong, inspired her daughter Jung Chang to write the best selling book Wild Swans about her trials and tribulations at the hands of the Chinese ...

Andy Kershaw, Dame Averil Cameron, Dr Judith Rapoport, Desmond Morris

24 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Matthew Bannister on Andy Kershaw, the radio DJ who championed world music, traversing the globe to bring new and eclectic sounds to a mainstream au...

Asha Bhosle, Sir Neil Cossons, Professor Harold Ellis, Daphne Selfe

17 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Matthew Bannister onThe Indian singer Asha Bhosle who soundtracked countless Bollywood films and collaborated with Boy George, Michael Stipe and Damon...

Sir Craig Reedie, Bronwen Naish, Geoff Yeadon, Margareta Magnusson

10 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Matthew Bannister onSir Craig Reedie, the sports administrator who led London’s successful bid for the 2012 Olympics and went on to become President...

Robert Fox, Mary Rand MBE, Sir Tony Hoare, Biruté Galdikas

10 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

John Wilson onRobert Fox the producer who had a career that spanned theatre, film and television. We have tributes from Colin Firth, Rupert Everett ...

Dame Jenni Murray, Len Deighton, Lynda Hale, Jurgen Habermas

27 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Matthew Bannister onThe Woman’s Hour presenter Dame Jenni Murray. Mark Steel joins us to recall her triumphant debut as a stand-up comedian. Len Dei...

Yanar Mohammed, MP Phil Woolas, Professor Robin Weiss, Jane Lapotaire

20 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Matthew Bannister onYanar Mohammed who campaigned for women’s rights in Iraq and set up a secret network of shelters for those fleeing abusive relat...

Paul Conroy, Kenith Trodd, Astrid Llewellyn, Jo Purvis

13 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Matthew Bannister onPaul Conroy, the photojournalist who worked extensively in war zones in the Middle East and the Balkans. He was with the Sunday Ti...

Neil Sedaka, Drusilla Beyfus, Professor Dame Carole Jordan, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei

06 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Matthew Bannister onNeil Sedaka the prolific songwriter who had Sixties hits with Oh Carol and Happy Birthday Sweet Sixteen and made a Seventies comeb...

Martyn Butler, Allan Massie, Professor Nicola Fear, Willie Colón

27 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Matthew Bannister onMartyn Butler who was a central figure in the UK’s early response to HIV and AIDS. He was a co-founder of the Terrence Higgins T...

Reverend Jesse Jackson, Diane Munday, Philippe Gaulier, Lady Jean Wilson

20 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Kirsty Lang onReverend Jesse Jackson the leading American civil rights campaigner.Diane Munday who fought to make abortion legal and co-founded the Br...

Meredith Hooper, David Young, Dorothy Solomon, Derek Kelly

13 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Matthew Bannister on:Meredith Hooper, the prolific author who wrote several books about Antarctica. We have a tribute from her son, the Oscar winning ...

Sir Nicholas White, Lord Wallace, Professor Deborah Cameron, Sly Dunbar

06 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Matthew Bannister onSir Nicholas White, whose research on tropical diseases saved millions of lives.Lord Wallace, the Liberal Democrat who served in t...

Sir Mark Tully, Dame Gillian Wagner, Dr Gladys West, Richard Larn OBE

30 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Matthew Bannister on Sir Mark Tully who reported on India for the BBC for decades, covering some of the most significant events in the country’s rec...

Molly Burkett, Sir James Munby, Edith Flanigen, Aldrich Ames

23 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Matthew Bannister onMolly Burkett, who devoted her life - and her home - to rescuing thousands of injured birds and animals. At times these included a...

Claudette Colvin, Ian Balding, Gerry Gable, Bob Weir, Juliet Robertson

16 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Matthew Bannister on Claudette Colvin the American civil rights campaigner who refused to give up her seat on a segregated bus, nine months before Ros...

Molly Parkin, Kristina Gjerde, Michael Barton, Eva Schloss

09 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Matthew Bannister onThe colourful life of artist, fashion editor, sex columnist and bonkbuster author Molly Parkin. Her daughter shares the highs and ...

Brigitte Bardot, Sir Alec Reed, Alwyn Crawshaw, Dame Shân Legge-Bourke

02 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Jon Kay on The French actor Brigitte Bardot who starred in over 40 films in the 1950s and 60s before a career-change saw her give up the big screen to...

Antony Price, Sister Stan Kennedy, Ena Collymore Woodstock, John Carey

26 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Jon Kay on Fashion designer Antony Price who fused together the worlds of fashion and music in the 70s and 80sSister Stan Kennedy, the nun who founded...

Rob Reiner, Joanna Trollope, Stanley Baxter, Sophie Kinsella

19 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Matthew Bannister onRob Reiner, the film director, screenwriter and actor behind pictures like “This Is Spinal Tap”, “Stand By Me” and “When...

Iain Douglas-Hamilton, Vera Weisfeld, Frank Gehry, Martin Parr

12 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Matthew Bannister onIain Douglas-Hamilton, the zoologist who devoted his life to the study and conservation of African elephants.Vera Weisfeld, the bu...

Sir Tom Stoppard, Pam Hogg, Yanxin He, Jack Shepherd

05 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Matthew Bannister has a star-studded cast on this week’s Last Word: Sir David Hare pays tribute to his friend and fellow playwright Sir Tom Stoppard...

Jimmy Cliff, Charlotte Bingham, Skye Gyngell, David Bellos

28 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Kirsty Lang on: Jimmy Cliff, who took reggae music onto the global stage. His former record producer and founder of Island Records, Chris Blackwell pa...

Baroness Newlove, Zoe Wicomb, Sir Geoffrey Bindman KC, Professor Roland Paxton

21 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Matthew Bannister on:Baroness Newlove, who turned a tragic event in her own life into a powerful campaign for victims’ rights.Zoe Wicomb, the South ...

James Watson, Pauline Collins, Judith Vidal-Hall, Dugald Ross

15 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Matthew Bannister onJames Watson who shared the Nobel Prize for identifying the structure of DNA, but was widely condemned later in life for his racis...

Dick Cheney, Yvonne Brewster, Mary McGee, Peter Watkins

07 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Matthew Bannister onDick Cheney, the Republican politician who was Vice President under George W Bush and played key roles in both Gulf Wars.Yvonne Br...

Prunella Scales CBE, Gillian Tindall, Roger Smith, Anthony Grey

31 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Matthew Bannister onThe actor Prunella Scales, best known for playing Sybil in the TV comedy Fawlty Towers. Her son Samuel West reflects on her long c...

SPECIAL EDITION: Prunella Scales

31 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this special edition of Last Word, Matthew Bannister talks to the actor Samuel West about his mother Prunella Scales.Prunella died on the 27th Octo...

Raila Odinga, Bill Colley, Baroness Rosalind Howells, Sister Marion Irvine

24 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Matthew Bannister on The influential Kenyan politician Raila Odinga, who was detained for his pro-democracy campaigns, but went on to be the country’...

Peter Gurney, Diane Keaton, Peter Hall, Angela Bond

17 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Matthew Bannister onPeter Gurney, the George Medal winning bomb disposal expert who regularly risked his life to defuse explosive devices, including t...

Patrick Bradley, Dame Jilly Cooper, Sara Jane Moore, Dame Patricia Routledge

10 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Matthew Bannister onPatrick Bradley, the Chief Electoral Officer for Northern Ireland at the height of the Troubles.Dame Jilly Cooper, the best-sellin...

Dame Jane Goodall, Tony Harrison, Lord Menzies Campbell, Danny Thompson

03 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Matthew Bannister onDame Jane Goodall, the primatologist and environmental campaigner who changed our understanding of animal behaviour. Chris Packham...

Sir Nicholas Grimshaw, John Stapleton, Mary Elizabeth Dodd, Claudia Cardinale

26 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Matthew Bannister onSir Nicholas Grimshaw, the architect who designed the international terminal at London’s Waterloo Station and the Eden Project.J...

Robert Redford, Barbara Harvey, Rosa Roisinblit, Stuart Craig

19 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Matthew Bannister on:Robert Redford, the film star who believed his striking good looks could be a curse as well as a blessing.Barbara Harvey, the med...

The Duchess of Kent, Giorgio Armani, Valerie Pearlman, Rick Davies

12 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

John Wilson on: The Duchess of Kent, who stepped back from royal duties to teach music in primary schools. Giorgio Armani whose suit designs help def...

Joe Bugner, Ann McManus, Angela Mortimer Barrett, Frank Strang

05 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

John Wilson onJoe Bugner, the heavyweight boxer who fought the titans of the sport from Henry Cooper, Muhammed Ali and Joe Frazier. Ann McManus, the w...

David Richardson, Doris Lockhart Saatchi, Dame Annette Brooke, Byron Rogers

29 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

John Wilson on: Broadcaster David Richardson who was for over 60 years a leading voice in the farming community Doris Lockhart Saatchi, the Art ...

Terence Stamp, Stephanie Shirley, Kay Dunbar, Eric Midwinter

22 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

John Wilson on: Actor Terence Stamp, the Oscar nominated 60s screen icon who went onto play many villains in his later film career Baroness Stephanie ...

Jim Lovell, Biddy Baxter, Razia Jan, Iris Williams

15 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Matthew Bannister onJim Lovell, the astronaut who commanded the ill-fated Apollo 13 mission.Biddy Baxter, the editor who left an indelible stamp on th...

Dame Stella Rimington, Sylvia Young, Sir Jamie McGrigor, Joan Anderson

08 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Matthew Bannister onDame Stella Rimington, the first woman to be Director General of MI5, who made the service more open and accountable.Sylvia Young,...

Dame Cleo Laine, Hulk Hogan, Margaret Boden, Tom Lehrer

01 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Matthew Bannister onDame Cleo Laine, whose glorious voice was equally at home singing jazz, pop and classical music. Her daughter Jacqui Dankworth sha...

Ozzy Osbourne, Connie Francis, Jacqui Browne, Douglas Chamberlain

25 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Matthew Bannister onOzzy Osbourne, the Black Sabbath lead singer known for his outrageous antics, many while under the influence of drugs and alcohol....

Sir Ian Blair, Jennie Street, Dr Anna Ornstein, Muhammadu Buhari

18 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Matthew Bannister on Lord Blair the former Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police.Jennie Street who helped to rehabilitate people on her suburban far...

Lord Tebbit, Daphne Boden, James Leprino, Sir Francis Graham-Smith

11 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Matthew Bannister onLord Tebbit, who as Norman Tebbit was a member of Margaret Thatcher’s cabinet, introducing trade union reform and privatisation....

Courtney Griffiths KC, Sara Venn, Nina Kuscik, Mohammad Hussain

04 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Matthew Bannister on Courtney Griffiths, one of the first black lawyers to become a Queen’s Counsel. Sara Venn, who turned unloved spaces in Br...

Michael Lachmann, Pik-sen Lim, Leon Krier, David 'Syd' Lawrence

27 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Matthew Bannister on The TV director Michael Lachmann who made some of the most acclaimed documentaries about science. Professor Brian Cox and Dame ...

Sir Geoff Palmer, Barbara Holdridge, Kim Woodburn, Sly Stone

20 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

John Wilson onSir Godfrey “Geoff” Palmer, the scientist whose discovery of a new brewing method revolutionized the industry and saved them million...

Brian Wilson, Frederick Forsyth, Uriah Rennie, Edmund White

13 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Kirsty Lang onBrian Wilson, the driving force behind The Beach Boys who were one of the most successful bands of the 1960s. Fredrick Forsyth, the writ...

Valmik Thapar, Nancy Blaik, Norma Meras Swenson, Dr Stuart Farrimond

06 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Kirsty Lang on Wildlife conservationist Valmik Thapar who spent five decades trying to protect India’s tigersNancy Blaik, the driving force behind t...

Alan Yentob, Richard Garwin, Dr Joy Schaverien, Anne Merriman

30 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Matthew Bannister on Alan Yentob, the BBC’s only Creative Director, who commissioned many successful TV programmes, was known as an impresario of ta...

Hannah Deacon, Andrew Norfolk, Dame June Clark, Martin Graham

23 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Matthew Bannister onHannah Deacon who ran a successful campaign to allow her son – and many others – to be treated with cannabis after he was diag...

Sir Tom Farmer, Elaine Wynn, Sue Stapely, Joseph Nye

16 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Matthew Bannister on: Sir Tom Farmer, the Edinburgh born businessman who built up the tyre and exhaust company Kwik Fit.Elaine Wynn, who worked with h...

Jane Gardam, Sir Roger Birch, Mike Peters, Francoise Hampson

09 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Kirsty Lang onThe author Jane Gardam, whose works included The Queen of the Tambourine and Old Filth.Sir Roger Birch, the former Chief Constable of Su...

Virginia Giuffre, Rosy Bremer, LJ Smith, Wizz Jones

02 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Matthew Bannister on Virginia Giuffre, who waived her anonymity to accuse the billionaire Jeffrey Epstein and his friend Ghislaine Maxwell of sex abus...

Pope Francis, Paddy Higson, David Sassoon

25 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Matthew Bannister onPope Francis, the first Latin American Pope who was noted for his humility and modest lifestyle.Paddy Higson, the TV and film prod...

Anne Scargill, Ronnie Appleton, Cecil Wright, Mario Vargas Llosa

18 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Matthew Bannister onAnne Scargill, who founded the Women Against Pit Closures group when her husband Arthur was leading the Miners Strike of the 1980s...

Lord Kalms, Melissa Llewallyn-Davies, Rex Cowan, Wilma Finla

11 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Matthew Bannister onLord Kalms, who turned his family’s camera shop into the multi-million-pound Dixons electronics chain. Melissa Llewellyn-Davies...

Val Kilmer, Jane Reed, Sir Torquil Norman, Dr Marika Sherwood

04 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Matthew Bannister on The Hollywood actor Val Kilmer, best known for his roles in Top Gun, Batman Forever and The Doors. Jane Reed, the media execu...

Oleg Gordievsky, Renee Goddard, Professor Richard Fortey, Sofia Gubaidulina

28 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Matthew Bannister on Oleg Gordievsky, the KGB agent who defected to Britain and became a valued source of secret intelligence during the 1970s and 80s...

Group Captain John Allman ‘Paddy’ Hemingway DFC, Dame Julie Kenny, Tuppy Owens, Dick McTaggart

21 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Matthew Bannister on: Group Captain John Allman ‘Paddy’ Hemingway DFC , the last surviving pilot who fought in the Battle of Britain during the se...

Athol Fugard, Janet Pharaoh, Alison Halford, Johnny Green

14 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Kirsty Lang on: Athol Fugard, the playwright whose art became synonymous with exposing the inequities of the Apartheid regime in South Africa. Janet P...

Bill Dare, Clint Hill, Valérie André, Gene Hackman

07 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Matthew Bannister on Bill Dare, the writer and producer behind some of Radio 4’s best loved comedies, including “The Now Show” and “Dead Ringe...

Roberta Flack, Dr D G Hessayon, Keith Dewhurst, Rose Hanks

28 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

John Wilson on:Musician Roberta Flack, best known for The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face and Killing Me Softly. Dr David Hessayon, the author of a se...

Rick Buckler, Margaret Miles-Bramwell, Harry Stewart Jr, Maureen Halton

21 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

John Wilson on Rick Buckley, the drummer in The Jam, one of the most popular and influential British bands of the 70s and 80s. Margaret Miles-Bra...

Nigel McCrery, Andrée Dumon, Lord Dafydd Elis-Thomas, Diana Melly

14 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Matthew Bannister onNigel McCrery, the former police officer who created the popular TV series “Silent Witness” and “New Tricks”.Andrée Dumon...

Tony Martin, Pete Wilkinson, Loretta Ford, Marianne Faithfull

07 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Matthew Bannister onTony Martin, the Norfolk farmer who shot dead a burglar and started a national debate about the rights of householders to defend t...

Rev Don Cupitt, Phyllis Dalton, Cecile Richards, Michael Longley

31 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Matthew Bannister on The Reverend Don Cupitt, the controversial theologian whose TV series “The Sea of Faith” asked in what form - if any - is Chr...

Dame Joan Plowright, Sir Jim Walker, Barbara Clegg, Denis Law

24 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Matthew Bannister on Dame Joan Plowright, one of the most acclaimed actresses of her generation who was married to Laurence Olivier. Dame Judi Dench p...

Tony Slattery, Rosalind Savill, Paddy Hill, Noreen Riols

17 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Matthew Bannister onThe comedian and actor Tony Slattery. Sir Stephen Fry reflects on his friend’s talent – and struggle with addiction and poor m...

Special Edition: Tony Slattery

17 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Tony Slattery was known for his quick-witted improvisations on the popular Channel 4 show Whose Line Is It Anyway?, from 1988 onwards. He also played ...

Jean-Marie Le Pen, Catherine Brown, Baroness Oppenheim-Barnes, Johnnie Walker

10 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Matthew Bannister on Jean-Marie Le Pen, who built up the French right wing National Front Party before being ejected from it by his daughter.Catherine...

Jimmy Carter, Caroline Miller, Manmohan Singh, Jean Adamson

03 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Kirsty Lang onFormer US President Jimmy Carter whose time in office between 1976 and 1980 was beset by economic and diplomatic crises. Caroline Miller...

Nikki Giovanni, Gerd Heidemann, Cherry Hill, Sir Richard Carew Pole

27 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

John Wilson on Nikki Giovanni, a leading poet in the 1960s Black Arts Movement who is hailed as one of the most important artist-intellectuals of the ...

Baroness Wilkins, Charles Handy, Renee Bornstein, Tony Brignull

20 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Matthew Bannister onBaroness Wilkins who became a wheelchair user after an accident aged 19 and went on to present TV programmes on disability issues ...

Wolfgang Stange, Lord Renfrew, Julie Stevens, Mary McGee

13 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Matthew Bannister on Wolfgang Stange, the director and choreographer who founded the Amici Dance Theatre Company which integrates able bodied and di...

Vicky Stone, Penny Chuter, Clifton Wharton Junior, Peter Sinfield

06 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Matthew Bannister onVicky Stone, the film maker who travelled to the remotest parts of Africa to make her award winning wildlife documentaries.Penny C...

Madeleine Riffaud, Chris Topp, Barbara Taylor Bradford, Dr Julian Litten

29 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Matthew Bannister onMadeleine Riffaud, the French resistance fighter who was tortured by the Gestapo, became a journalist and was embedded with the Vi...

Lord Prescott, Stephanie Collie, Dame Janet Nelson, Frank Auerbach

22 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Matthew Bannister onLord Prescott, the working-class lad who became Deputy Prime Minister.Stephanie Collie, whose costume designs for “Peaky Blinder...

Timothy West, Sir John Nott, June Spencer, Nadia Cattouse

15 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Matthew Bannister on the versatile actor Timothy West whose roles ranged from Shakespeare to soap operas. Sir Ian McKellen pays tribute.Sir John Nott,...

Quincy Jones, Janey Godley, Lyudmila Trut, Dr Paul Stephenson

08 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Matthew Bannister onQuincy Jones, the music producer, composer and arranger who worked with artists ranging from Frank Sinatra to Michael Jackson.Jane...

Dick Pope, Sister Sally Butler, Professor Tim Darvill OBE, Patti McGee

01 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Matthew Bannister on Dick Pope, the cinematographer who worked closely with Director Mike Leigh on films like “Secrets and Lies” and “Mr Turner”...

Sir Mike Jackson, Lily Ledbetter, Safeya Binzagr, Steve Piotrowski

25 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Matthew Bannister onGeneral Sir Mike Jackson, the Chief of the General Staff at the time of the Iraq War.Lily Ledbetter, whose campaign for equal pay ...

Alex Salmond, Ethel Kennedy, Ratan Tata, Fleur Adcock

18 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Kirsty Lang on Alex Salmond, the former First Minister of Scotland. Ethel Kennedy, wife of Robert F Kennedy who went onto become a campaigner for Huma...

Lord Ouseley, Norman Ackroyd, Lore Segal, Cissy Houston

11 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

John Wilson on Lord Ouseley, the co-founder of the anti-racism football campaign ‘Kick it Out’ and former Chair of the Commission for Racial Equal...

Kris Kristofferson, Camilla Carr, Hassan Nasrallah, Maria Benitez

04 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

John Wilson onKris Kristofferson, the singer, songwriter and actor who appeared with Barbra Streisand in ‘A Star is Born’ Camilla Carr, the aid wo...

Peter Jay, Ed Johnson, Dame Elizabeth Esteve-Coll, Deborah Roberts

27 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Matthew Bannister onPeter Jay, who was economics editor at the Times and the BBC and also Britain’s Ambassador to the United States.Ed Johnson, the ...

Dr George Berci, Olga Craig, Michaela Mabinty DePrince, Tony Strong

20 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Matthew Bannister on Dr George Berci, the surgeon who pioneered the use of miniature cameras in operations to minimise cutting and accelerate patients...

James Earl Jones, Dr Helen Fisher, Sergio Mendes, Maureen Nicol

13 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Matthew Bannister on James Earl Jones, the versatile actor whose roles ranged from the voice of Darth Vader to Tennessee Williams and Shakespeare. A...

Claire Lomas, Phil Swern, Countess of Airlie, Geoff Mumford

06 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Matthew Bannister onClaire Lomas MBE, who was paralysed from the chest down after a riding accident and went on to complete the London Marathon wearin...

Mike Lynch, Nell McCafferty, Ruth Colvin, Sven-Göran Eriksson

30 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Matthew Bannister on Mike Lynch, who was one of the UK’s most successful tech entrepreneurs.Nell McCafferty, the Irish journalist and feminist campa...

Phil Donahue, Countess Diana Phipps Sternberg, Mary Gibby, Toumani Diabaté

23 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Matthew Bannister on American TV host Phil Donahue – pioneer of the daytime talk show.Countess Diana Phipps Sternberg, the Czech born interior desig...

Susan Wojcicki, Lord Colwyn, Sir Ernest Hall, Mísia

16 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Kirsty Lang onSusan Wojcicki, the first woman to lead a major company in Silicon Valley.Lord Colwyn, a jazz loving politician who cared passionately a...

Lord Fellowes, Professor Helen Whitwell, David Power, Irène Schweizer

09 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Matthew Bannister onLord Fellowes, who was private secretary to Queen Elizabeth during the 1990s.Professor Helen Whitwell, the forensic pathologist wh...

Edna O’Brien, Sir Kenneth Grange, Ewy Rosqvist, John Mayall

02 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

John Wilson onEdna O’Brien, one of Ireland’s greatest writers. In a career spanning over 60 years she wrote 17 novels and many short stories, play...

Dr Mildred Stahlman, Ray Reardon, Val McIver, Eddie Spence

26 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Matthew Bannister on Dr Mildred Stahlman, the American paediatrician whose discovery helped to improve the outcomes of premature babies around the wor...

Dr Ruth Westheimer, Mike Corfield, Shelley Duvall, Veronica Smith

19 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Matthew Bannister on Dr Ruth Westheimer who offered frank advice about sex on TV and radio.Mike Corfield, the conservator who developed new methods of...

Dr Richard Taylor, Jack Rowell, Claudia Williams, Christophe Deloire

12 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Matthew Bannister onDr Richard Taylor, the retired hospital consultant who became the independent MP for Wyre Forest.Jack Rowell, the rugby coach who ...

Frank Duckworth, Leah Levin, Professor Mary-Lou Pardue, Joss Naylor

05 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Matthew Bannister onFrank Duckworth, the statistician whose name will forever be associated with the Duckworth-Lewis method of calculating scores for ...

Sir Oliver Popplewell, Lynn Conway, Tony Bramwell, Francoise Hardy

21 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Kirsty Lang on the Judge and cricketer Sir Oliver Popplewell. His godson Stephen Fry pays tribute.The computer pioneer and transgender advocate Lynn C...