Last Word

Matthew Bannister onThe Swiss climber Ueli Steck, famous for his daring high speed ascents of the world's most challenging mountains without the use of oxygen.Lord Williams the human rights expert who advised three Labour Foreign secretaries.Sylvia Moy who co-wrote many of Stevie Wonder's best known songs, including "I Was Made To Love Her" and "My Cherie Amour."Captain James Dickson, the experienced seaman who was winched down onto the deck of the oil tanker Braer when it ran aground in high seas on the coast of Shetland.And Jon Prinz, the food scientist and custard expert described by Heston Blumenthal as "brilliant and barking mad in equal measure". Producer: Neil George.

Matthew Bannister onRobert Pirsig, author of the best selling book Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance.Shobha Nehru, the Hungarian woman who married into India's most powerful political dynasty - and used her position to confront Prime Minister Indira Ghandi about human rights abuses. Michael Ballhaus, the cinematographer who worked closely with Martin Scorsese.Leo Baxendale, the cartoonist and publisher who created the Bash Street Kids and Minnie the Minx.And Bruce Langhorne, the guitarist on some of Bob Dylan's best known songs. Producer: Neil George.

Matthew Bannister onThe film director Jonathan Demme - best known for the multi Oscar winning films Silence of the Lambs and Philadelphia.Robert Taylor who helped to develop the first networked computers - a forerunner of the internet - and inspired the creation of modern personal computers.Cathy Hopkins who campaigned for the residents of St Helena to get back their British citizenship.Peter Farrer, the Liverpool tax inspector who enjoyed cross dressing and became an expert on the history of women's costume. And Dorothy Torry, secretary to six BBC Directors General, including Lord Reith. Producer: Neil George.

Matthew Bannister onThe theatre director Michael Bogdanov, who co-founded the English Shakespeare Company. His National Theatre production of the Romans In Britain led to an obscenity trial. The ethnomusicologist Louis Sarno who fell in love with the music of an obscure tribe of pygmies in the Central African Republic and went to live with them.Sheila Abdus Salaam, who became the first African American woman to serve as a judge on New York's highest court.Dick Potts, the ecologist who worked to save Britain's grey partridge population.Don Rickles, the American comedian who made his name by insulting Frank Sinatra and was the voice of Mr Potato Head in the Toy Story films.

Julian Worricker on:The society columnist and Holocaust survivor, Masha Leon....Actor Tim Pigott-Smith and director Christopher Morahan, who worked together on ITV's The Jewel in the Crown....Playwright Parv Bancil whose work tackled issues affecting young British Asians....Marthe Gosteli, who was at the forefront of the campaign to get women the vote in Switzerland....And the broadcaster, host of 'Sounds of the Sixties', Brian Matthew.

Matthew Bannister on the Black Power activist and journalist Darcus Howe. He was a leading campaigner for equal rights in the 1970s and 80s.Athletics coach Andy Coogan who spent three and a half years as a prisoner of the Japanese during the second world war.Dr Sylvia Moody, the clinical psychologist who pioneered greater understanding of dyslexia in adults.The Russian poet Yevgeny Yevtushenko who became a star in the West during the 1960s.Peter Shotton - who was at school with John Lennon, played the washboard in the Quarrymen and made his fortune from a chain of American-style diners.

Matthew Bannister onPlaywright and novelist David Storey who drew on his experiences as a professional rugby league player in some of his work. The South African anti apartheid activist Ahmed Kathrada who spent twenty six years in prison with Nelson Mandela and then became his parliamentary adviser.Barbara Buss who edited Woman Magazine in its 1970s heyday.And Lucky Gordon, the drug dealer, jazz singer and cook whose brief relationship with Christine Keeler led to the uncovering of the Profumo Affair in the 1960s. Producer: Neil George.

Matthew Bannister onMartin McGuinness, who went from being a violent IRA commander to a peace making politician.Chuck Berry, hailed as the father of rock n roll by musicians from Keith Richards to John Lennon and Bruce Springsteen.The Nobel prize winning poet Sir Derek Walcott, who brought the Caribbean experience to the wider world. Salome Karwah, who survived Ebola in her native Liberia, went back to help other sufferers and then died from complications after childbirth.And Colin Dexter, creator of the immortal detective Inspector Morse. Producer: Neil George.

Matthew Bannister onThe racing driver John Surtees who won world championships on two wheels and four.Gordon Thomas who wrote best selling books about espionage and religion.Sir Howard Hodgkin - one of the UK's most admired modern painters.H. Boyd Woodruff, the microbiologist who isolated life saving antibiotics in soil.Joni Sledge one of four singing sisters in the disco group Sister Sledge.Producer: Neil George.

Matthew Bannister on The human rights lawyer Sir Nigel Rodley. He helped to draft the United Nations Convention Against Torture and became its special rapporteur on the issue. Pete Overend Watts, the bass player from Mott the Hoople. His platform soled boots were so high that if he fell over on stage he needed a roadie to put him back on his feet again. Louise Hulton the maternal health expert who worked tirelessly to improve conditions for childbirth around the world.And Sir Cosmo Haskard, the colourful Governor of the Falkland Islands, who helped to stop the Labour government from handing them to Argentina in the 1960s. Producer: Neil George.