Great Lives Episodes Available now
Rachmaninov
Conductor Leonard Slatkin proposes composer Sergei Rachmaninov for great life status.
Scott of the Antarctic
Author Beryl Bainbridge selects explorer Robert Falcon Scott as a hidden romantic.
Captain James Cook
Media executive and broadcaster Greg Dyke chooses explorer Captain James Cook.
James Gillray
Political cartoonist Steve Bell chooses the 18th-century caricaturist James Gillray.
Richard Crossman
Politician Tam Dalyell chooses cabinet minister and political diarist Richard Crossman.
Benedict Spinoza
Nobel Prize-winning chemist Sir Harry Kroto chooses the philosopher Benedict Spinoza.
Umm Kulthum
Novelist Ahdaf Soueif chooses acclaimed Egyptian singer Umm Kulthum as his great life.
MR James
Muriel Gray chooses the ghost story writer MR James.
Rachel Carson
Writer Bea Campbell chooses pioneering environmental protection scientist Rachel Carson.
CLR James
Darcus Howe discusses his uncle, the sportsman, writer and revolutionary CLR James.
