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Great Lives Episodes

  1.

    Queen Emma

    Alice Roberts chooses the wife of two kings - Aethelred and Canute.

  2. James Dyson on Frank Whittle

    James Dyson chooses the inventor of the jet engine, Frank Whittle.

  3. Katherine Rundell on E Nesbit

    Writer Katherine Rundell nominates fellow children's author E Nesbit.

  4. Antoni Gaudi

    Antoni Gaudi, nominated by Baroness Ros Altmann.

  5. Sir Bruce Forsyth

    Sir Bruce Forsyth, nominated by the political writer and broadcaster Steve Richards

  6. Harry Enfield on Gerard Hoffnung

    Comedian Harry Enfield chooses the cartoonist, musician and raconteur Gerard Hoffnung.

  7. Alan Freeman picked by Simon Mayo

    Simon Mayo picks his broadcasting hero, Pick of the Pops's Alan 'Fluff' Freeman.

  8. Actor Niamh Cusack on the life of poet Mary Oliver

    Actor Niamh Cusack chooses the American poet Mary Oliver.

  9. Mr Motivator picks Harry Belafonte

    Mr Motivator chooses the King of Calypso, whose hits include Day-O and Jump in the Line.

  10. Jimmy Wales on Thomas Jefferson

    The founder of Wikipedia, Jimmy Wales, picks the third president of the United States.

  11. Eartha Kitt proposed by Faye Tozer

    Faye Tozer from Steps nominates a singer and dancer with a trademark growl.

  12. John Gray on JG Ballard

    Philosopher John Gray chooses the iconic futuristic writer JG Ballard.

  13. Iszi Lawrence on Diana Barnato Walker

    Iszi Lawrence chooses record-breaking aviator Diana Barnato Walker

  14. Mohammad Mossadegh, PM of Iran ousted in a coup

    Mohammad Mossadegh was toppled in a coup in Iran in 1953.

  15. Burt Lancaster

    Broadcaster Gerry Anderson chooses Hollywood legend, Burt Lancaster.

  16. Ken Loach on Gerrard Winstanley

    Ken Loach on Gerrard Winstanley.

  17. Chi-chi Nwanoku on Jessye Norman

    Chi-chi Nwanoku picks the American singer Jessye Norman who became a global star of opera.

  18. Lady Eve Balfour

    Lady Eve Balfour was a pioneering organic farmer and founder of the Soil Association.

  19. Ninette de Valois

    鈥楾he Godmother of English ballet鈥�, Dame Ninette De Valois

  20. Ludwig Koch

    Chris Watson on Ludwig Koch

  21. Kate Raworth on Donella Meadows

    Economist Kate Raworth chooses the Environmental Scientist Donella 'Dana' Meadows

  22. Sophie Scott on Hattie Jacques

    Neuroscientist Sophie Scott chooses comedy legend, Hattie Jacques

  23. Stamford Raffles, founder of Singapore and London Zoo

    The head of ZSL, Matthew Gould, picks the founder of London Zoo

  24. Susie Dent on Thomas Mann

    Susie Dent chooses the German writer Thomas Mann who wrote 'Death in Venice'.

  25. Tony Benn

    Ellie Gibson picks the Labour politician Tony Benn

  26. Jake Arnott on John Gay

    The satirist and writer of The Beggar's Opera nominated by Jake Arnott. With Ian Hislop.

  27. Jon Ronson picks Terry Hall of The Specials

    Terry Hall, lead singer of The Specials and Fun Boy Three - includes Lynval Golding

  28. Sir Edward Coke, prosecutor of Guy Fawkes

    Jesse Norman picks Sir Edward Coke, lawyer and Parliamentarian.

  29. Kofi Annan

    Gillian Burke chooses the seventh secretary-general of the United Nations.

  30. Frank Zappa

    John Robins is obsessed by Frank Zappa - here's why

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