

Last Word
BBC Radio 4
Radio 4's weekly obituary programme, telling the life stories of those who have died recently
Episodes
Mentioned books

Apr 6, 2018 • 28min
Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, Drue Heinz DBE, Ray Wilkins MBE, Eric Bristow, Steven Bochco
Photo: Winnie Madikizela-MandelaMatthew Bannister onWinnie Madikizela-Mandela who was one of the leading anti apartheid campaigners in South Africa, but also faced allegations of being involved in violence and fraud. Drue Heinz, who used the money from her husband's canned food business to become a major supporter of writers and artists.Ray Wilkins, the footballer who captained England and played for 12 different clubs including Chelsea and Manchester United.Eric Bristow, five times world darts champion.And Steven Bochco, the American TV writer and producer who brought us Hill Street Blues and LA Law. Archive clips: Sport on Four, Radio 4 12/01/1985; Sporting Greats, BBC TV 30/03/1999; Woman's Hour, Radio 4 02/10/1986.

Mar 30, 2018 • 28min
Charles P Lazarus, Marielle Franco, John Brookes, Zena Skinner, Oskar Groning
Photo: Zena SkinnerJulian Worricker on:Charles P Lazarus, the founder of Toys 'R' Us - a store chain which, for decades, captured the hearts of consumers around the worldBrazilian political activist Marielle Franco, who grew up in the favelas and was elected to Rio city council Landscape designer John Brookes, described as 'the man who made the modern garden'....Zena Skinner, one of the most popular chefs on television in the 1960s and 70sAnd convicted Nazi war criminal, Oskar Groning, who became known as the bookkeeper of AuschwitzArchive clips from: AUSCHWITZ: THE NAZIS AND ‘THE FINAL SOLUTION’, BBC ONE 11/01/2005; GARDENER’S WORLD, BBC TWO; GARDENER’S QUESTION TIME, RADIO 4

Mar 23, 2018 • 28min
Brenda Dean, William McAlpine, Keith O'Brien, Katie Boyle, Garech Browne
Photo: Lady Dean of Thornton-le-FyldeMatthew Bannister onLady Dean of Thornton-le-Fylde who, as Brenda Dean, was the leader of the print union Sogat during the bitter Wapping dispute of 1986.Sir William McAlpine who combined running the family construction business with a passion for saving the UK's railway heritage, including the Flying Scotsman.Cardinal Keith O'Brien who resigned as Archbishop of St Andrews and Edinburgh after apologising for sexual misconduct.Katie Boyle, the TV and radio broadcaster who presented the Eurovision Song Contest.Garech Browne, who devoted himself to recording and promoting Ireland's traditional music.Archive clips from: WOMAN'S HOUR, RADIO 4 23/08/1981; A LIFE IN QUESTION, RADIO 4 21/12/2003; BBC NEWS, RADIO 4 24/02/2010; SUNDAY, RADIO 4 19/03/2012; THE REUNION, RADIO 4 25/08/2017; LEGENDS:THE CHIEFTAINS, BBC TV 14/03/2008; FRANCIS BACON: A BRUSH WITH VIOLENCE, BBC TV 28/01/2017.

Mar 16, 2018 • 28min
Professor Stephen Hawking, Hubert de Givenchy, Michele Hanson, Sir John Sulston, Sir Ken Dodd
Photo: Professor Stephen HawkingMatthew Bannister onProfessor Stephen Hawking, one of the world's best known scientists who carried out pioneering research into black holes. The Astronomer Royal, Sir Martin Rees pays tribute.Hubert de Givenchy, the French fashion designer who dressed Audrey Hepburn.Michele Hanson who wrote a popular newspaper column about her struggles to bring up her teenage daughter. That daughter - Amy - pays tribute.Sir John Sulston, the biologist who led the project to sequence the human genome.And the comedian Sir Ken Dodd, whose shows could last into the early hours of the morning.Archive clips from:TODAY PROGRAMME, RADIO 4 14/3/2018; THE KEY TO THE UNIVERSE:THE SEARCH FOR THE LAWS OF CREATION, BBC TV 27/01/1977; KEN DODD:HOW TICKLED I'VE BEEN, RADIO 2 03/11/2007; DESERT ISLAND DISCS, RADIO 4 03/06/1990; HOME TRUTHS, RADIO 4 03/01/2004; LATE NIGHT WOMAN’S HOUR, RADIO 4 26/05/2017; THE LIFE SCIENTIFIC, RADIO 4 29/11/2011; DESERT ISLAND DISCS, RADIO 4 13/05/2001

Mar 9, 2018 • 28min
Trevor Baylis, Lerone Bennett Jr, Penny Vincenzi, Ian Aitken, Sir Roger Bannister
Photo: Sir Roger BannisterMatthew Bannister onTrevor Baylis, the eccentric inventor who came up with the wind up radio.Lerone Bennett, the American academic who wrote many influential books on black history including "Before the Mayflower".Penny Vincenzi the best selling novelist who told stories of glamorous heroines, romance and business intrigue.Ian Aitken one of the UK's most influential political columnists. Jim Naughtie pays tribute.Sir Roger Bannister, the neurologist who was the first person to run the mile in under four minutes. We'll find out what happened when he tried to help me do the same. Producer: Neil GeorgeArchive clips from: MATTHEW BANNISTER, Radio 5 Live 5.5.2004; TOMORROW'S WORLD, BBC TV 24.9.1997 and 15.4.1994; GO4IT, BBC TV 11.5.2008; ABRAHAM LINCOLN:SAINT OR SINNER, BBC TV 3.2.2011; RADIO 2 ARTS PROGRAMME 13.10.2000; KALEIDOSCOPE, RADIO 4 14.11.1995.

Mar 2, 2018 • 28min
Sir Lawrence Byford, Sridevi Kapoor, Dame Beulah Bewley, Ernest Hecht, Lewis Gilbert
Photo: Sridevi KapoorMatthew Bannister onErnest Hecht, who founded the Souvenir Press, which published books from Nobel prize winners like Pablo Neruda, academics like Noam Chomsky and best sellers on sexual techniques and toilet paper. Lewis Gilbert who directed Alfie, Educating Rita and three James Bond movies.Dame Beulah Bewley who carried out significant research into the effects of smoking on children and advanced the cause of women in medicine.Sir Lawrence Byford, the Chief Inspector of Constabulary who examined the failings of the hunt for the Yorkshire Ripper.Sridevi Kapoor who was often described as Bollywood's first female superstar.Archive clips from: NEWS, Radio 4, 21.9.1984; THE REUNION, Radio 4, 26.08.2016; YORKSHIRE RIPPER INVESTIGATION, Radio 4, 19/01/1982

Feb 23, 2018 • 28min
Billy Graham, Laura Lee, John Morris, John Bosco McAtasney, John Pitman
Photo: Billy GrahamMatthew Bannister onThe evangelist Billy Graham who preached to millions around the world and offered spiritual advice to 12 American Presidents.Laura Lee, the sex worker who campaigned for the rights of her colleagues.John Morris who composed many film soundtracks, including the music for Mel Brooks' comedies The Producers and Blazing Saddles. John Bosco McAtasney, the last hand weaver of damask linen in Ireland.And John Pitman, the TV reporter and producer who started his career on Braden's Week and took Sheena Easton into the Big Time. Esther Rantzen pays tribute.Archive clips from: I GOT UP OUT OF MY SEAT, Radio 4 25/05/2007; THE FROST COLLECTION, Radio 4 20/05/2008; MEN'S HOUR, Radio 5 Live 18/05/2014; COUNTRY TIMES, Radio Ireland 03/04/2000; STILL STANDING, Radio Ireland 06/04/1992; BRADEN'S WEEK, BBC TV 29/4/1972; MAN ALIVE, BBC TV 16/01/1979; THE BIG TIME:SHEENA EASTON:THE MAKING OF A STAR, BBC TV 21/04/1981; JUST ANOTHER DAY: GREYHOUND RACING, BBC TV 12/12/1986.

Feb 16, 2018 • 28min
Morgan Tsvangirai, Douglas Botting, Professor Patricia Lindop, Asma Jahangir, Vic Damone
Photo: Morgan TsvangiraiMatthew Bannister onMorgan Tsvangirai, leader of Zimbabwe's opposition Movement for Democratic Change and Prime Minister from 2008 to 2013.Douglas Botting, film maker, author and explorer who flew a hot air balloon across Africa and sailed a hovercraft down the Orinoco.Professor Patricia Lindop, who researched the effects of radiation on human tissue.Asma Jahangir, the lawyer from Pakistan who campaigned for the rights of the country's persecuted minorities.And Vic Damone, the crooner who recorded more than two thousand songs.Interviewed guest: Alex Magaisa
Interviewed guest: Anna Botting
Interviewed guest: Dr Giles Camplin
Interviewed guest: Patricia Dixon
Interviewed guest: Mohammed HanifArchive clips from: The Choice, Radio 4 07/12/2004; The World About Us: River of Death, BBC Two 19/01/69; Balloon From Zanzibar, BBC Two 23/08/62; The World About Us: Three Men in a Balloon, BBC Two 13/12/70; On The Bosom of the Air, Radio 4 19/09/1962; Hot to Handle: The Two Faces of Radiation, BBC One 17/03/66; Science and Society, BBC One 22/03/66; Nihal, BBC Asian Network 17/11/2010; Taking A Stand, Radio 4 01/01/2002; Outlook, BBC World Service, 22/11/2010; Woman's Hour, Radio 4, 07/06/2005; The Arthur Askey Variety Show, Radio 4 Extra, 07.06.2015; The John Dunn Show, Radio 2, 01/01/00.

Feb 12, 2018 • 28min
John Mahoney, Hannah Hauxwell, Professor Kenneth Richard Seddon OBE, Sir John Cotterell, Naomi Parker Fraley
Photo: John MahoneyJulian Worricker on:The actor John Mahoney who played Marty Crane in one of America's best-loved sitcoms, Frasier.Hannah Hauxwell, whose solitary life as a farmer in the Yorkshire Dales, was captured in an award-winning TV documentary.Scientist Ken Seddon, a global leader in his field of inorganic chemistry and pioneer of so-called 'super solvents'.Landowner Sir John Cotterell, who helped raise funds to save the Mappa Mundi from being sold by Hereford Cathedral.And feminist icon, Naomi Parker Fraley, the inspiration for "Rosie the riveter", the factory worker who featured in a US wartime poster.Archive clips from: The World This Weekend, 12/11/89 Radio 4; The Third Ear, 11/01/89 Radio 3; Woman's Hour, 25/09/90 Radio 4; Too Long A Winter, 30/01/73 Yorkshire Television.

Feb 2, 2018 • 28min
Ingvar Kamprad, Elizabeth Hawley, Robert Mann, Jon Castle, Dorothy Malone
Ingvar Kamprad, the visionary behind Ikea, recounts his rise from humble beginnings to revolutionizing home furnishing. Elizabeth Hawley shares her experiences documenting every Himalayan climb since 1963, navigating a male-dominated field. Musician Robert Mann reflects on his influential role with the Juilliard Quartet. Greenpeace activist Jon Castle discusses the emotional toll of environmental advocacy aboard the Rainbow Warrior. Oscar-winning actress Dorothy Malone opens up about her career choices, balancing fame with family.