主播大秀

Erasmus Darwin

Paul Nurse discusses scientist, inventor and poet Erasmus Darwin, grandfather of Charles.

• 30 mins

CLR James

Darcus Howe discusses his uncle, the sportsman, writer and revolutionary CLR James.

• 30 mins

Rachel Carson

Writer Bea Campbell chooses pioneering environmental protection scientist Rachel Carson.

• 30 mins

MR James

Muriel Gray chooses the ghost story writer MR James.

• 30 mins

Umm Kulthum

Novelist Ahdaf Soueif chooses acclaimed Egyptian singer Umm Kulthum as his great life.

• 30 mins

Benedict Spinoza

Nobel Prize-winning chemist Sir Harry Kroto chooses the philosopher Benedict Spinoza.

• 30 mins

Richard Crossman

Politician Tam Dalyell chooses cabinet minister and political diarist Richard Crossman.

• 30 mins

James Gillray

Political cartoonist Steve Bell chooses the 18th-century caricaturist James Gillray.

• 30 mins

Captain James Cook

Media executive and broadcaster Greg Dyke chooses explorer Captain James Cook.

• 30 mins

Scott of the Antarctic

Author Beryl Bainbridge selects explorer Falcon Scott as a hidden romantic.

• 30 mins

Rachmaninov

Conductor Leonard Slatkin proposes composer Sergei Rachmaninov for great life status.

• 30 mins

Bob Marley

Poet Benjamin Zephaniah explores the life of reggae legend Bob Marley.

• 30 mins

James Hogg

Geneticist Steve Jones chooses 19th-century fiddle-playing shepherd and writer James Hogg.

• 30 mins

GK Chesterton

Richard Ingrams nominates author and journalist GK Chesterton for regularly being right.

• 30 mins

The Man in the Iron Mask

Military historian Richard Holmes nominates the mysterious Man in the Iron Mask.

• 30 mins

David Lloyd George

Athlete Tanni Grey-Thompson chooses her Welsh compatriot, politician David Lloyd George.

• 30 mins

Elizabeth I

Broadcaster and campaigner Esther Rantzen chooses Queen Elizabeth I.

• 30 mins

Noel Coward

TV producer Peter Bazalgette chooses the actor, lyricist and playwright, Noel Coward.

• 30 mins

Dr Samuel Johnson

Poet Kit Wright chooses author and creator of the English dictionary, Dr Samuel Johnson.

• 30 mins

Flora Sandes

Kate Adie discusses Britain's first commissioned female officer in World War One.

• 30 mins

Sarah Bernhardt

Comedienne Jenny Eclair chooses one of the first acting superstars, Sarah Bernhardt.

• 30 mins

Bernardo O'Higgins

Writer Brian Keenan chooses Bernardo O'Higgins, who liberated Chile in the 19th century.

• 30 mins

Octavia Hill

Trade unionist and politician Brenda Dean chooses National Trust founder Octavia Hill.

• 30 mins

Tommy Cooper

Writer and broadcaster Clement Freud chooses comedian Tommy Cooper.

• 30 mins

Charles Dickens

Satirist and writer Armando Iannucci chooses novelist Charles Dickens.

• 30 mins

Ian Dury

Comedian Linda Smith nominates musician, actor and artist Ian Dury.

• 28 mins

Mary Kingsley

Journalist Ann Leslie chooses the pioneering writer and explorer Mary Kingsley.

• 30 mins

Tchaikovsky

Economist Ruth Lea chooses the great Russian composer. Stephen Johnson adds his expertise.

• 30 mins

Tom Paine

Writer and political activist George Monbiot chooses 18th-century revolutionary Tom Paine.

• 30 mins

Benjamin Disraeli

Kenneth Clarke chooses the Victorian politician, Benjamin Disraeli.

• 30 mins