

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

Jan 20, 2017 • 28min
Baroness Heyhoe Flint, Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, Una Kroll, William Peter Blatty, Sir James Mancham
Matthew Bannister onBaroness Rachael Heyhoe Flint who captained the England women's cricket team to victory in the World Cup.Iranian President Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, one of the key players in the country's revolution.Dr. Una Kroll, a tireless campaigner for the ordination of women.William Peter Blatty who wrote the book and the film "The Exorcist"And Sir James Mancham, the first President of the Seychelles Producer: Neil George.

Jan 13, 2017 • 28min
Lord Snowdon, Graham Taylor, Jill Saward, Peter Sarstedt, Clare Hollingworth
Matthew Bannister onLord Snowdon - renowned photographer and Princess Margaret's former husband.Graham Taylor - the football manager who had success with Watford and Aston Villa, but was lampooned for his performance with England. Jill Saward, the rape survivor who campaigned for the rights of those who suffer sexual violence. The singer and songwriter Peter Sarsdedt, best known for the song "Where Do You Go To My Lovely?"And Clare Hollingworth, the war reporter who broke the story of the Nazi invasion of Poland. Producer: Neil George.

Jan 6, 2017 • 28min
John Berger, Debbie Reynolds and Carrie Fisher, Henry Heimlich, Patsy Crampton, Brian Widlake and George Michael
Julian Worricker on:The writer and art critic John BergerMother and daughter actresses, Debbie Reynolds and Carrie FisherThe surgeon who came up with the life-saving heimlich manoeuvre, Henry HeimlichThe linguist Patsy Crampton, who worked at the Nuremberg trials before going on to translate more than 200 children's booksBroadcaster Brian Widlake, well known for the Money Programme and the World at OneAnd one of the biggest names in popular music, George Michael.Producer: Neil George.

Dec 23, 2016 • 28min
Michael Nicholson, Zsa Zsa Gabor, Lord Prior, Rabbi Lionel Blue, Pauline Oliveros
Julian Worricker on:The journalist and TV correspondent, Michael Nicholson, who covered numerous conflicts for ITNThe actress and socialite Zsa Zsa Gabor, famous for her one-liners and nine husbandsJames Prior, who served in government under Margaret Thatcher despite her regarding him as a 'wet'Rabbi Lionel Blue, a regular presenter on Thought for the Day on Radio 4and the composer Pauline Oliveros. an electronic music pioneer best known for her philosophy of 'deep listening'.Producer: Neil George.

Dec 16, 2016 • 28min
Peter Gibson, AA Gill, Coral Atkins, William Chaloner, Ian McCaskill
Matthew Bannister onPeter Gibson the master glazier who devoted his life to the care of the stained glass windows in York Minster.AA Gill, who overcame alcoholism and dyslexia to become one of the UK's best known critics.Coral Atkins who gave up a career as an actress to run homes for disadvantaged children.William Chaloner, an authority on fossil plants who used pollen from the past to reconstruct ancient environments.Ian McCaskill, the BBC weather man much imitated by impressionists.

Dec 9, 2016 • 28min
John Glenn, Peter Vaughan, Jayalalithaa Jayaram, Greg Lake
Matthew Bannister on John Glenn, the astronaut who was the first American to orbit the earth and later the oldest man ever to be sent into space.The actor Peter Vaughan, best known for his roles in Porridge, Our Friends In the North and latterly Game of Thrones.Jayalalithaa Jayaram, the autocratic chief minister of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu who was imprisoned for corruption, but re-elected afterwards. And Greg Lake - the guitarist and singer who was part of the supergroup Emerson, Lake and Palmer and recorded a classic Christmas single. Producer: Dianne McGregor.

Dec 2, 2016 • 28min
Andrew Sachs, Fidel Castro, Mose Allison, The Honourable Margaret Rhodes
Matthew Bannister onAndrew Sachs, the actor who was so much more than Manuel in Fawlty Towers. We hear about his acclaimed radio career.Also the Cuban leader Fidel Castro - brutal dictator or benevolent champion of his people?The jazz and blues singer Mose Allison, whose songs were covered by the Who, the Clash, Bonnie Raitt and Van Morrison.And The Honourable Margaret Rhodes, the Queen's cousin, who became a celebrity after writing her memoirs of life in the royal household. Producer: Neil George.

Nov 25, 2016 • 28min
Martin Aitchison, Sir Mota Singh QC, William Trevor, Ruth Gruber, David Mancuso
Kate Silverton on:Martin Aitchison who worked with Barnes Wallis on the bouncing bomb but made his name illustrating the Peter and Jane ladybird books.Sir Mota Singh, the Kenyan born Barrister who became Britain's first ethnic minority judge making headlines worldwide as the first judge in 300 years not to wear the horse hair wigWilliam Trevor - one of Ireland's greatest writers - a novelist, playwright and short story writer, his work was compared with ChekhovRuth Gruber, journalist, author, humanitarian and spy. She documented Stalin's gulags, life in Nazi Germany and the plight of Jewish refugeesand David Mancuso, dance music legend and music host who founded the Loft in New York.Producer: Neil George.

Nov 18, 2016 • 28min
Robert Vaughn, Sir Sigmund Sternberg, Carolyn Hardy OBE, Ewen Whitaker, Claude 'Curly' Putman
Matthew Bannister onRobert Vaughn - the actor who made his name as Napoleon Solo in "The Man From Uncle" TV series and also appeared in films like "The Magnificent Seven", "Bullitt" and "The Towering Inferno".Ewen Whitaker, the self taught astronomer who became an expert on the geography of the moon and helped direct Apollo 12 to its landing site. Carolyn Hardy, who turned the National Gardens Scheme into a stand alone charity and was vice chairman of the Royal Horticultural Society.Sir Sigmund Sternberg, the businessman who founded the Three Faiths Forum to encourage dialogue between Jews, Muslims and Christians.Claude "Curly" Putman - the country singer who wrote "D.I.V.O.R.C.E" and "The Green Green Grass of Home". Producer: Neil George.

Nov 11, 2016 • 28min
Leonard Cohen, Lt Col Robert Montgomery MC, Janet Reno, Sir Jimmy Young
Matthew Bannister onThe singer, songwriter and poet Leonard Cohen. He was accused of depressing a generation, but many found his songs inspiring.Lieutenant Colonel Bob Montgomery - the explosives expert who played a leading role in a daring Commando raid on the port of Saint Nazaire during the second world war.Janet Reno - the US Attorney General General under President Bill Clinton - she dealt with many controversial issues, including the Whitewater and Monica Lewinsky scandals. Sir Jimmy Young. For thirty years his mixture of news and music entertained and informed millions on Radio 2. Producer: Neil George.


