Last Word

Matthew Bannister onSir Neville Marriner the conductor who founded the Academy of St Martin in the Fields and led them to become the world's most recorded orchestra.Father Gabriele Amorth, the Catholic Church's leading exorcist who said he'd tackled over a hundred cases of demonic possession.Beryl Crockford, one of the first two British women to become rowing world champions. Professor Louis Herman the American psychologist who caused a sensation by communicating with dolphins.Rod Temperton, a member of the band Heatwave who wrote a string of hits for Michael Jackson including the title track of his album Thriller. Producer: Neil George.

Matthew Bannister onShimon Peres, the Israeli elder statesman who was twice Prime Minister of his country and won the Nobel Peace Prize for his part in negotiating the Oslo Accord with the Palestinians. Nathalie Evans who co founded the Twycross Zoo and provided the chimps for the PG Tips TV adverts.Arnold Palmer, the legendary golfer who won 91 professional titles and was followed by fans known as "Arnie's Army".Bill Mollison, the Australian author and lecturer who was known as the "father of permaculture".Produced by Neil George.

Matthew Bannister on American playwright Edward Albee, who won three Pullitzer prizes but not for his best known work "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?".Physicist James Cronin who won the Nobel Prize for his work on the asymmetry between matter and anti matter.Health administrator Caroline Thomson, who persuaded the people of the Scottish Highlands to confront the challenges of HIV and AIDS.Zoologist and academic Sir Frederick Holliday. He was vice chancellor of Durham University and campaigned to save the UK's otter population. Actress Charmian Carr best known for playing the teenager Liesl in the film "The Sound of Music." Produced by Neil George.

Matthew Bannister onBarry Myers who directed some of the best known commercials of the 1970s and 80s, including ads for Hovis, Olympus Cameras and Cadbury's Flake. Eileen Younghusband, who worked as a filter officer during the Second World War, spotting the approaching aircraft and V2 rockets launched against Britain by the Nazis.The Edinburgh based artist Robin Spark, who had a troubled relationship with his mother, the writer Muriel Spark.Keith MacDougall, the Norfolk countryman who balanced a passion for shooting with a commitment to conservation.And Prince Buster the Jamaican musician who was one of the pioneers of Ska. Produced by Neil George.

Matthew Bannister onThe Bishop of Durham the Right Reverend David Jenkins. A respected theologian, he was noted for his controversial views.The diplomat Dame Margaret Anstee who overcame sex discrimination to hold senior roles at the United Nations. She led relief missions at many of the world's major trouble spots. .The President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov who faced international condemnation for his violent treatment of his opponents. And Richard Neville who edited the 1960s counter culture magazine Oz, and faced obscenity charges in a notorious court case.

Matthew Bannister on João Havelange, the President of the international football federation, FIFA, who stepped down amid allegations of corruption.The French fashion designer Sonia Rykiel who broke the conventions of haute couture to produce wearable clothes for women on the go. Gene Wilder, the comedy film actor best known for his roles as Willy Wonka in Charlie and The Chocolate Factory and in Mel Brooks films like Blazing Saddles and Young Frankenstein.And Toots Thielemans, the jazz musician who played the harmonica and made his name by whistling along to his own guitar.Producer: Neil George.

Julian Worricker on....The co-writer of 'Yes Minister' and 'Yes Prime Minister' - Sir Antony Jay....Donald Henderson, American epidemiologist, who led the WHO's campaign to eradicate smallpox....The aristocrat Tom Cholmondeley, who divided opinion in his native Kenya after he shot dead two black men on his ranch....Nursing leader, Patsy Wright-Warren, who went on to travel the world for the Ryder-Cheshire Foundation.....and the entertainer and actor, Brian Rix, who was one of the country's leading campaigners for people with learning disabilities.Producer: Neil George.

Matthew Bannister onthe Bishop of Derry Edward Daly. He was famously photographed waving a bloodstained white handkerchief as he tended to a young man shot by the army on Bloody Sunday. The Egyptian born chemist Ahmed Zewail who won the Nobel prize for his work on revealing the minute details of chemical reactions. Suzanne Wright who raised millions of dollars for research into autism after her grandson was diagnosed with the condition.The Duke of Westminster, one of the UK's wealthiest landowners and a close friend of the royal family.And the Brazilian plastic surgeon Ivo Pitanguy. To his many celebrity patients he was known as the Michelangelo of the scalpel. Producer: Paul Waters.

Matthew Bannister onLuc Hoffmann, the Swiss conservationist who co-founded the World Wildlife Fund and fought to save endangered species and wetlands. Sylvia Peters, one of the best known faces on BBC television in the 1950s. The film stuntman Joe Powell who took part in many death defying exploits.The editor of the Archers William Smethurst who introduced the characters of Eddie Grundy and Nigel Pargetter.And Sandy Pearlman, rock manager and producer who created the Blue Oyster Cult and changed the sound of the Clash. Producer: Paul Waters.

Matthew Bannister on Thomas Sutherland the Scottish-born American professor who was held hostage for more than six years in Lebanon. We hear from his fellow hostage Terry Anderson.The singer, songwriter and producer Gary S Paxton. He brought us the Monster Mash and thousands of other songs and lived up to his nickname "His Weirdness"Sally Beauman, who was given a reported million pound advance for her best selling novel Destiny, but transcended the bonk buster genre. Frank Dickens, the cartoonist who satirised office life in the Bristow comic strip and often liked to strip naked himself. And Marni Nixon, whose singing voice was dubbed over Hollywood movie stars when they couldn't hit the high notes.Producer: Paul Waters.