Last Word

Matthew Bannister onLord Hutchinson of Lullington, the barrister who appeared in many celebrated cases, including defending the publication of Lady Chatterley's Lover and the director of the play Romans In Britain and securing the acquittal of Howard Marks on drug smuggling charges. Linda Nochlin the feminist art historian who wrote a celebrated article in the 1970s entitled "Why Have There Been No Great Women Artists?"Dennis Banks the Native American activist who campaigned for the rights of his people and took part in the siege of Wounded Knee.Geoff Tootill, who helped to design the world's first stored-programme computer, known as "Baby".

Matthew Bannister on The chef Antonio Carluccio who transformed Italian cooking in the UK.Sima Wali who devoted her life to campaigning for the rights of Afghan women.The Pulitzer Prize winning American poet laureate Richard Wilbur.Mary Reveley, the Yorkshire based race horse trainer who saddled more than two thousand winners.And Dudley Simpson who composed the theme from the TV series Blake's Seven and incidental music for Dr Who.Interviewed guest: William Sitwell Interviewed guest: Suleiman Wali Interviewed guest: Michael Carlson Interviewed guest: Cornelius Lysaght Interviewed guest: Matthew Sweet.

Matthew Bannister onHoward Pendleton who made the Marquee Club a launch pad for scores of rock stars including the Rolling Stones, the Who and David Bowie and started the Reading Festival.Glenn Barr, the Unionist leader who brought Northern Ireland to its knees for thirteen days.Iona Opie who devoted her life to collecting nursery rhymes and studying children's use of stories and language. Gary Flather QC, the eminent lawyer who was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis and campaigned to make the legal profession more accessible for disabled people. And Sir John Manduell who founded and led the Royal Northern College of Music, building its international reputation.

Matthew Bannister onThe campaigning Maltese journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia who was killed by a car bomb after exposing corruption in politics and business. Fats Domino - the rock and roll pioneer who was second only to Elvis in record sales.Rodney Bickerstaffe, the trade union leader who campaigned for the minimum wage.Geoffrey Schild, the virologist who laid the foundations for the creation of a universal flu vaccine.And Rosemary Leach, the actress best known for roles in Jewel In The Crown on TV, A Room With A View on film and 84 Charing Cross Road on stage.

Matthew Bannister onSean Hughes, the comedian who pioneered stand up with a narrative and was a team captain on "Never Mind the Buzzcocks".Architect David Marks who mortgaged his house as he battled to turn his design for the London Eye into an international landmark.Major Khush Ahmad-ul-Mulk, the last surviving son of the Mehtar of Chitral who ruled the state in the North West of Pakistan for over forty years.Sir Brian Barder who was Britain's ambassador to Ethiopia during the famine of the 1980s. He was involved in delicate negotiations to get aid through to the starving. And Marge Calhoun from California - known as "The First Lady of Surfing". Interviewed guest: Terry Eselun Interviewed guest: Julia Barfield Interviewed guest: Asad Ul Mulk Interviewed guest: Owen Barder Interviewed guest: Jonathan Steele Interviewed guest: Rhona Cameron Interviewed guest: Bruce Dessau.

Julian Worricker on:Lillian Ross, who wrote for the New Yorker, and created a new form of journalism....The Iraqi president after the fall of Saddam Hussein, Jalal Talabani - a prominent Kurdish politician....The boxer Terry Downes, who held the world middleweight title in the 1960s....Sybil Flory, a seamstress who evaded the Japanese in 1941, and found her sister six decades later....Hedley Jones, a Jamaican musician who designed and built the country's first sound systems....and traffic lights....

Matthew Bannister onThe actor Tony Booth, best known for playing Alf Garnett's left wing son-in-law in the TV comedy Till Death Us Do Part - and notorious for his womanising and heavy drinking. His daughter Cherie Blair shares her memories. Lillian Bettencourt who was the richest woman in the world - as heiress to the L'Oreal cosmetics group. She was also embroiled in a bitter court battle over how her fortune should be divided.William G. Stewart, best known as the host of the long running TV quiz "Fifteen to One", He was also a respected producer and director.And the rock star Tom Petty - best known for hits like "Free Fallin'" and "I Won't Back Down".

Hugh Hefner shaped modern sexuality while launching the Playboy empire, sparking debate about his legacy. Stanislav Petrov's critical decision during the Cold War potentially saved millions from nuclear disaster. Teddy Taylor boldly challenged the European Union, reflecting a steadfast political stance. Liz Dawn's portrayal of Vera Duckworth on Coronation Street endeared her to audiences for nearly thirty years, blending humor with heartfelt moments. Each guest brings a unique perspective to pivotal cultural and historical narratives.

Matthew Bannister onDavid Shepherd, the artist who painted trains, aeroplanes and elephants and worked tirelessly to conserve wild animals. Nancy Hatch Dupree, the American born adventurer and writer who devoted her life to creating an archive of Afghan culture and history.Gordon Williams, the Booker prize shortlisted author whose novel The Siege of Trencher's farm became the controversial film Straw Dogs.Pat Albeck the designer known as "the queen of the tea towel" who produced popular fabric designs for John Lewis and the National Trust.Harry Dean Stanton, the gaunt, hollow-eyed actor best known for films like "Paris, Texas" and "Repo Man". Image of David Shepherd courtesy of the David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation.

Matthew Bannister onSir Peter Hall, the director who founded the Royal Shakespeare Company, ran the National Theatre and created many acclaimed theatrical and operatic productions.Kate Millett, the radical feminist whose 1970 book Sexual Politics suggested that men's institutionalised power over women is a social construct, rather than innate or biological. Sir Edward Du Cann, the Tory MP and businessman who chaired the 1922 backbench committee, fell out with Edward Heath, and went bankrupt in the 1990s.J.P. Donleavy, the US-born Irish writer whose bawdy tale of Dublin Life - The Ginger Man - sold fifty million copies.