Last Word

Matthew Bannister on:Carlos Menem, the flamboyant President of Argentina during the 1990s who transformed the country’s economy, but was dogged by allegations of corruption.Mary Wilson, a founding member of the Supremes who rivalled the Beatles for chart success during the 1960s. Robin Pooley, the businessman who started in the meat trade before switching to become Chief Executive of the Potato Marketing Board and transforming the fortunes of that humble root vegetable.Larry Flynt, the multi-millionaire pornographer who saw himself as a champion of free speech. Producer: Neil GeorgeInterviewed guest: Jill Hedges Interviewed guest: Professor Ernesto Calvo Interviewed guest: John Tuckwell Interviewed guest: Michael Pollitt Interviewed guest: Adam White Interviewed guest: Peter WhiteArchive clips from: Breakfast with Frost, BBC One, TX 25.10.1998; Midweek, Radio 4, TX 2.3.2011; Ken Bruce, Radio 2, TX 16.9.2019; BBC Breakfast, BBC One, TX 12.7.1994; No Triumph No Tragedy - Larry Flynt, Radio 4, TX 19.1.1999

Matthew Bannister onGeorge Shultz, the US Secretary of State during the Reagan years who came close to brokering a deal to abolish all US and Soviet nuclear weapons.Yvonne Conolly, Britain’s first black female head teacher who overcame racism to become a role model for others.Maureen Colquhoun, the first UK member of parliament to be openly in a same sex relationship. When they heard the news, her local Labour Party deselected her.Christopher Plummer, the Canadian born actor who played many roles on stage and screen, but will always be remembered as Captain Von Trapp in The Sound of Music.Producer: Neil GeorgeInterviewed guest: Angela Errigo Interviewed guest: Rose Gottemoeller Interviewed guest: Philip Taubman Interviewed guest: Denise Patrick Interviewed guest: Dame Angela Eagle Interviewed guest: Peter TatchellArchive clips from: Maureen Colquhoun on Countdown to Number 10, Radio 4 TX 3.5.1979; I Was Britain’s First Black Headteacher, BBC World Service TV, TX 8.3.2020; West Indian Teacher, Pathe News TX 1969; William Shatner’s memories of Christopher Plummer, BBC World News TX 5.2.2021

Matthew Bannister onThe biologist Lewis Wolpert who developed new theories about embryo development and was a passionate communicator of science.The award winning actor Cicely Tyson, best known for portraying strong, dignified African American women on stage and screen. Saudi Prince Khalid Abdullah who became one of the world’s most successful racehorse owners. His horses included the great Frankel who was unbeaten in 14 races.Captain Sir Tom Moore, the second world war veteran who became a national hero when he raised millions of pounds for NHS charities as he approached his 100th birthday. Producer: Neil GeorgeInterviewed guest: Julian Muscat Interviewed guest: Brough Scott Interviewed guest: Matt Wolfe Interviewed guest: Prof Jim SmithArchive clips from: Desert Island Discs, Radio 4 TX 25.6.1996; The Essay, Radio 3 TX 25.3.2008; Conversations, Radio 3 TX 27.3.1993; The Michael Ball Show, Radio 2 TX 6.9.2020

Matthew Bannister onLarry King, the American TV interviewer whose long running show on CNN attracted guests ranging from Presidents to pop stars. Christiane Amanpour pays tribute.Catherine Ennis, the organist at the City of London Church of St Lawrence Jewry who helped to design four major organs in the capital. Dame Margaret Weston, the Director of the Science Museum who spread funding around the UK by opening the National Railway Museum in York and the National Museum of Photography, Film and Television in Bradford.Gerry Cottle, the charismatic circus owner who overcame bankruptcy and sex and cocaine addiction to evolve the art form as public tastes changedProducer: Neil GeorgeInterviewed guest: Christiane Amanpour Interviewed guest: Michael Carlson Interviewed guest: Sir Roger Gifford Interviewed guest: Sir Andrew Parmley Interviewed guest: Heather Mayfield Interviewed guest: David Morgan Interviewed guest: Professor Vanessa Toulmin Interviewed guest: John HazeArchive clips from: Profile, Radio 4 TX 26.03.1974; In Tune, Radio 3 TX 14.10.2016; Desert Island Discs, Radio 4 TX 21.9.1984

Matthew Bannister on:Phil Spector, the influential record producer who created the “Wall of Sound”. He died while serving a prison sentence for murdering actress Lana Clarkson.Grace Robertson, the photojournalist known for chronicling working class life in post war Britain.Paul Nihill, one of the world’s finest race walkers who won 96 consecutive races and was the first male British athlete to compete in four consecutive Olympic games. Producer: Neil GeorgeInterviewed guest: Mick Brown Interviewed guest: Prof. Amanda Hopkinson Interviewed guest: David AinsworthArchive clips from: Five Master Photographers, Radio 3 TX 14.8.1990; Olympic Memories Part 3/6 - Mexico 1968, Radio 4 TX 1.4.1984; Olympics 1964: 50km walk, Radio 4 TX 18.10.1964

Julian Worricker on the film-maker Michael Apted, famous for his work on the 7UP documentary series, but who also directed nearly 30 feature films.Kay Ullrich, an MSP after the first elections to the Scottish parliament, who Nicola Sturgeon described as one of the most influential figures in her life.Katharine Whitehorn, whose column in the Observer revolutionised the journalism that women wrote....and read.And the Vatican Latinist, Reginald Foster, who served four Popes, and who would never acknowledge that the language he was expert in was anything other than alive.Producer: Neil GeorgeInterviewed guest: Claire Lewis Interviewed guest: Shelley Joffre Interviewed guest: Nicola Sturgeon Interviewed guest: Julie Welch Interviewed guest: David WilleyArchive from: Today Programme, Radio 4 TX 8.1.2021; On Top of A Column, Radio 4 TX 14.7.1971; A Point of View, Radio 4 TX 12.9.2008; Reginald Foster, High Priest of Latin, Radio 4 TX 16.4.1992; Today Programme, Radio 4 TX 27.12.2008; A World in Your Ear, Radio 4 TX 19.12.2003

Matthew Bannister onSir Brian Urquhart, the international civil servant and war veteran who played a key role in setting up United Nations peacekeeping forces.Albert Roux, the French-born chef who, with his brother Michel, helped to revolutionise the quality of British restaurant cooking.Dame Rachel Waterhouse, the chair of the Consumers’ Association whose campaigns were behind many significant improvements in consumer legislation. And Gerry Marsden, lead singer of Gerry and the Pacemakers, best known for his hit versions of “You’ll Never Walk Alone” and “Ferry ‘Cross The Mersey”.Interviewed guest: Alison Bernays Interviewed guest: Andrew Gilmour Interviewed guest: Rowley Leigh Interviewed guest: Brian Yates Interviewed guest: Peter Parfet Interviewed guest: Spencer LeighProducer: Neil GeorgeArchive clips used: Profile: Brian Urquhart, Radio 4, 28.2.1981; Pathe News – Shaping the Future; The Liberation of Bergen Belsen –WS Historic Moments; Desert Island Discs: Albert & Michel Roux, Radio 4, 1986; Albert & Michel Roux on Roux Scholarship – YouTube; File on 4: Quangos, Radio 4, 7.6.1978; Farming Today, Radio 4, 17.10.1988

Matthew Bannister on Stella Tennant, the iconic fashion model who rose to prominence in the 1990s, becoming the face of Chanel. George Bizos, the South African human rights lawyer who represented Nelson Mandela at the Rivonia Trial. Joan Feynman, the astrophysicist who made important breakthroughs in her study of auroras and solar cycles. Actor Rishi Kapoor, who appeared in almost 100 films and defined Bollywood for a generation.Interviewed guest: Plum Sykes Interviewed guest: Sir Nicholas Stadlen Interviewed guest: Christopher Riley Interviewed guest: Laura Tenenbaum Interviewed guest: Haroon RashidArchive clips from: HARDtalk, BBC News 11/10/2011; Remembering Rivonia, BBC World Service 06/03/2018; Nelson Mandela Released from Prison, BBC News Archive 11/02/1990; The Fantastic Mr Feynman, dir. Christopher Riley, BBC2 12/05/2013; Bobby, R.K. Films Ltd 28/09/1973; Prem Rog, K.R. Films Ltd. 31/07/1982; Agneepath, Dharma Productions/Eros International 26/01/2012.Producer: Dan Hardoon

Julian Worricker onMillie Jones, the singer who brought ska rhythms and Jamaican culture to a global audience with her hit song My Boy Lollipop.JJ Williams, the Llanelli, Wales and British Lions winger who became one of the stars of world rugby.Dame Fanny Waterman, who co-founded the Leeds International Piano Festival and introduced many of the greatest pianists of our time.And consumer champion Maurice Healy, editor of Which? magazine and director of the National Consumer Council, who was instrumental in bringing in shopping on a Sunday, cheaper air fares and better food labelling.Interviewed guest: Chris Blackwell Interviewed guest: Chris Salewicz Interviewed guest: Phil Bennett Interviewed guest: Petroc Trelawny Interviewed guest: Richard ThomasProducer: Paul Waters

Matthew Bannister on The author John le Carré , the pen name of David Cornwell, who drew on his own experiences as a spy to elevate the espionage novel to new heights. Patience Thomson, the educator who devoted herself to helping children with reading difficulties and set up a publishing house to create books for them. Michael Morpurgo pays tribute. Doug Scott, the pioneering mountaineer who was the first Englishman to climb Mount Everest. His friend Sir Chris Bonington recalls Doug’s adventures. Dame Barbara Windsor – the much loved actor who went from Carry On to Eastenders.Interviewed guest: Adam Sisman Interviewed guest: Sir Chris Bonnington Interviewed guest: Denise Prior Interviewed guest: Alice Thomson Interviewed guest: Michael MorpurgoProducer: Neil George