Last Word

Pictured: Peter MayhewMatthew Bannister onGrand Duke Jean of Luxembourg, who served with the Irish Guards during the war, liberated his own country and then presided over its prosperity. Terry Rawlings, the film editor who worked on Alien, Chariots of Fire and the Bond film Goldeneye.Neus Català, the Spanish communist who fought Franco, joined the French resistance and survived a Nazi death camp. Heather Harper, the operatic soprano who was called up at the last minute to perform in the premiere of Benjamin Britten's War Requiem. Peter Mayhew, the actor best known for playing Chewbacca in the original Star Wars films.Interviewed guest: Patricia Treble Interviewed guest: Major General Sir Robert Corbett, KCVO, CB Interviewed guest: Ridley Scott Interviewed guest: Michael Eaude Interviewed guest: Eduardo Bennaroch Reader: Helen Clapp Producer: Neil GeorgeArchive clips from: Passing Out Parade: HRH Prince Jean of Luxembourg, BBC Sound Archive, 29/07/1943; Alien, directed by Ridley Scott, Brandywine Productions/Twentieth Century-Fox Productions 1979; Blade Runner, directed by Ridley Scott, The Ladd Company/Shaw Brothers/Warner Bros./Blade Runner Partnership, 1982; Heather Harper: A Musical Portrait, BBC Two 30/08/1984; Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope, directed by George Lucas, Lucasfilm/Twentieth Century Fox 1977.

Pictured: Lyra McKeeMatthew Bannister onLyra McKee, the 29 year old Northern Irish journalist who was shot dead by the New IRA. Una-Mary Parker who was the social editor of Tatler, a commentator on the Royal family and the author of best-selling novels. Mira Markovic, the wife of the Serbian President Slobodan Milosevic, who denied her husband's responsibility for atrocities during the Bosnian war. Doreen Spooner, the first woman to work as a staff photographer on a Fleet Street newspaper.And Edward Kelsey, the actor who played Joe Grundy in The Archers for 34 years.Interviewed guest: Sarah Kay Interviewed guest: Baba Hobart Interviewed guest: Adam Lebor Interviewed guest: Cathy Vandeputte Interviewed guest: Felicity Green Producer: Neil GeorgeArchive clips from: BBC News, 24/04/2019; Stephen Nolan, 5 Live 19/04/2019; TEDxStormont Women, November 2017; Just A Nimmo: Gossip and Gossip Columnists, BBC Two 03/02/1977; Best Behaviour, Radio 4 25/09/1991; HARDtalk, BBC News 10/09/2001; BBC News 28/06/2001; The World Tonight, Radio 4 01/11/1996; Breakfast Time, BBC One 29/01/1988; PM, Radio 4 13/10/1986; Woman's Hour, Radio 4 15/02/1988; BBC News, 02/10/1983; The Archers, Radio 4 17/03/2015; Breakfast Time, BBC One 26/03/1985; The Archers, Radio 4 18/07/2018.

Pictured: Nadja PodereginJulian Worricker on:David Thouless, whose work in the world of quantum mechanics earned him a share of the Nobel Prize for Physics.The Serbian actress, Nadja Poderegin, who went from 'Bond girl' on screen to be a publisher and novelist.Stand-up comedian, Ian Cognito, whose act was much loved on the comedy circuit but never allowed on TV.Michael O'Donnell, who combined a medical background with a career in journalism and broadcasting, notably on Radio 4.And the songwriter Les Reed, who co-wrote memorable songs for the likes of Englebert Humperdinck and Tom Jones.Interviewed guest: Michael Thouless Interviewed guest: Professor Andy Schofield Interviewed guest: Tanya Firth Interviewed guest: Toby Hadoke Interviewed guest: Dr Harvey Marcovitch Interviewed guest: Laurie Taylor Producer: Paula McGinleyArchive clips from: Profile, Radio 4 09/10/2016; From Russia With Love, directed by Terence Young, Eon Productions 1963; Goldfinger, directed by Guy Hamilton, Eon Productions 1964; Comic To Comic: Ian Cognito, Radio 4 Extra 07/04/2012; Stop The Week, Radio 4 14/11/1987; O'Donnell Investigates, BBC Two 19/09/1988; Midweek, Radio 4 11/12/2002; Relative Values, Radio 4 30/08/1988; The Songwriters: Les Reed, Radio 2 18/11/1975; Les Reed Interviewed By Debbie Greenwood, Radio 2 29/03/1988.

Pictured: Sydney BrennerMatthew Bannister onSydney Brenner, the Nobel Prize-winning biologist who worked with Francis Crick to map DNA. Dan Robbins, the artist who invented painting by numbers.Edda Tasiemka, the archivist who kept a comprehensive newspaper and magazine cuttings collection in her North London home.Ian McDonald, the Ministry of Defence spokesman during the Falklands War who became a familiar face on TV and was known for his sonorous delivery.Interviewed guest: Professor Jonathan Hodgkin Interviewed guest: Larry Robbins Interviewed guest: Robert Lacey Interviewed guest: Ian Mather Interviewed guest: Revel Barker Producer: Paula McGinley

Pictured: Agnès VardaMatthew Bannister onMichel Bacos, the pilot of the Air France jet that was hi-jacked to Entebbe in 1976. He was offered the chance to leave, but chose to stay with the hostages until they were freed in a dramatic raid by the Israelis.The film director Agnès Varda, known as the mother of the French New Wave.The impresario Victor Hochhauser who specialised in bringing top Russian artists to the UK.The biochemist Barbara Low who used X-ray crystallography to identify the structure of penicillin.Ranking Roger, the singer and frontman of the 70s ska revival band The Beat.Interviewed guest: Rosemary Bacos Interviewed guest: Paul Martin Interviewed guest: Terri White Interviewed guest: Norman Lebrecht Interviewed guest: Helen Berman Interviewed guest: Pauline Black Producer: Neil GeorgeArchive clips from: Raid on Entebbe, directed by Irvin Kershner, 20th Century Fox Television, Edgar J. Scherick Associates, 1977; La Pointe Courte, directed by Agnès Varda, Ciné Tamaris, 1956; Cléo from 5 to 7, directed by Agnès Varda, Ciné Tamaris, Rome Paris Films, 1962; Front Row, Radio 4 13/07/2018; Today, Radio 4 30/03/2019; In Tune, Radio 3 17/11/2017; Liz Kershaw, 6 Music 09/07/2016.

Pictured: Baroness WarnockMatthew Bannister onBaroness Warnock, the philosopher who set down the principles which govern human fertilisation treatment and embryo research. William Hucklesby, the Police Commander who led the anti-terrorist branch at the time of the Hyde Park and Brighton bomb attacks. Rose Hilton, the artist who put her career on hold to support her husband, but gained recognition after his death.Professor Lord Bhattacharyya, who brought together academics and industrialists at the Warwick Manufacturing Group.And Scott Walker, the chart-topping singer who moved into experimental music later in life.Interviewed guest: Baroness Onora O’Neill Interviewed guest: Sally Cheshire Interviewed guest: Alex Hucklesby Interviewed guest: Christopher Burke Interviewed guest: Ian Collins Interviewed guest: Professor Dave Mullins Interviewed guest: Sir Vince Cable Producer: Neil GeorgeArchive clips from: Meeting Myself Coming Back: Mary Warnock, Radio 4 12/07/2014; Desert Island Discs, Radio 4 04/12/1988; The World Tonight, Radio 4 20/04/1984; PM, Radio 4 06/09/1982; BBC News 19/12/1983; Sound Archive: Brighton Press Conference, Radio 4 13/10/1984; Rose Hilton interviewed by Susan Marling, 2017 (not broadcast); Woman's Hour, Radio 4 05/04/2011; The Politics Show: West Midlands, BBC One 11/12/2011; Midlands Today, BBC One 09/12/2011; Scott Walker talks to Jarvis Cocker, 6 Music 2017; The Late Show, BBC Two 10/05/1995.

Pictured: Dick DaleMatthew Bannister onGillian Freeman, the novelist and screenwriter whose books include The Leather Boys, a story of a gay love affair between two working class men in the 1960s.Sir Peter Hutchison who travelled to remote parts of the world to collect rare plants.Sister Dorothy Bell, the nun who after a career devoted to education, turned her attention to AIDS awareness.And the King of the Surf Guitar Dick Dale.Interviewed guest: Michael Arditti Interviewed guest: Edward Thorpe Reader: Mathilda Thorpe Reader: Harriet Thorpe Interviewed guest: James Hutchison Interviewed guest: Simon Milne Interviewed guest: Sister Dr Bernadette Porter Interviewed guest: Emma Cole Producer: Neil GeorgeArchive clips from: Woman's Hour, Radio 4 22/03/1978; In Search Of The Golden Pleione, Radio 4 30/04/1982; Losing the Habit, Radio 4 29/04/2009.

Pictured: Jacques LoussierMatthew Bannister onMike Oliver, who was paralysed from the neck down after diving into a swimming pool as a teenager. He became the UK's first Professor of Disability Studies and transformed the debate about disabled people's rights. Jacques Loussier, the French pianist and composer best known for his jazz arrangements of the works of J.S. Bach. Professor Richard Lacey, the microbiologist who warned of the dangers to humans of mad cow disease.The Reverend Ruth Scott, the Anglican vicar known for her appearances on Radio 2's Pause for Thought and Radio 4's Thought for the Day.Interviewed guest: Colin Barnes Interviewed guest: Peter White Interviewed guest: Alyn Shipton Interviewed guest: Dr John Heritage Interviewed guest: The Reverend Chris Scott Producer: Neil GeorgeArchive clips from:

Pictured: Simon NortonMatthew Bannister onFrance-Albert René, the Seychelles President who came to power in a coup and stayed in office for more than 25 years. Simon Norton, the brilliant but eccentric mathematician who became fascinated by public transport. Belle Tutaev who campaigned for better early learning provision for the UK's children.Ian Adamson, the Northern Ireland doctor who wrote many learned history books and became Lord Mayor of Belfast. And Keith Flint, the flamboyant lead singer of The Prodigy.Interviewed guest: Tim Ecott Interviewed guest: Alexander Masters Interviewed guest: Professor Marcus du Sautoy Interviewed guest: Mary Tutaev Interviewed guest: Neil Leitch Interviewed guest: Professor Wesley Hutchinson Interviewed guest: Helen Brooker Interviewed guest: Andrew Harrison Producer: Neil GeorgeArchive clips from: Seychelles Daily TV, 17/04/18; World at One, Radio 4 03/12/81; Early Years Alliance, 23/02/12; Lifetimes: Ian Adamson, Radio Ulster 2002; Keith Flint Interview, Radio 1 09/05/96.

Pictured: André PrevinMatthew Bannister onAndré Previn, the conductor and pianist whose repertoire ranged from the classics to film and jazz music. He took part in a celebrated sketch with Morecambe and Wise. John Haynes, publisher of the Haynes manuals which gave amateur mechanics a step by step guide to repairing their cars.Tony Mendez, the CIA operative who smuggled American diplomatic staff out of Tehran disguised as a film crew. The story later became the Hollywood film Argo.Lady Grantchester, who played a key role in the success of the Littlewoods retail and football pools empire.Interviewed guest: Edward Seckerson Interviewed guest: Annette Haynes Interviewed guest: Peter Earnest Interviewed guest: Professor Peter Toyne Interviewed guest: John Suenson-Taylor, Lord Grantchester Interviewed guest: James Suenson-Taylor Producer: Neil GeorgeArchive clips from: Desert Island Discs, Radio 4 18/08/1996; How to Write an Instruction Manual, Radio 4 21/08/2009; Argo, directed by Ben Affleck, Warner Bros./GK Films/Smokehouse Pictures 2012.