Last Word

Matthew Bannister onIris Apfel the colourful fashion and interior designer whose own dress sense made an impact until her death aged 102.Dr Colin Murray Parkes, the psychiatrist once described as “the David Attenborough of the bereavement world.”Baroness Henig, the deputy House of Lords Speaker who was a historian and expert on the security industry.Jim Lawrence who became skipper of a Thames sailing barge aged eighteen and went on to set up a successful sail making business in Essex. Interviewee: Dame Zandra Rhodes Interviewee: Laura Higginson Interviewee: Debbie Kerslake Interviewee: David Henig Interviewee: Baroness McIntosh of Pickering Interviewee: Simon Devonshire KCProducer: Catherine PowellArchive used: Iris Apfel on BBC Radio 4 “Woman's Hour” 31/07/2015; Colin Murray Parkes on BBC Radio 4 “Word of Mouth - The Language of Bereavement and Grief” 14/01/23; BBC Wales “Aberfan 2 days after the disaster” 24/10/1966; BBC News 20/09/2001; St Thomas Church Memorial Service, BBC New Special, BBC, 20/09/2001; Colin Murray Parkes courtesy: Cruse Bereavement Support, YouTube 23/09/2019; Baroness Henig on Woman's Hour - 20/10/2011; House of Lords 08/11/23; Parliamentlive.tv. BBC Parliament “Levelling up and Regeneration” 6/9/24; Jim Lawrence: Jim Lawrence singing, “The Singing Bargee”, Paul Desmond, YouTube 14/11/2012; Jim Lawrence Recalls His Early Days, Paul Desmond, YouTube uploaded 14 Nov 2012

John Wilson on the celebrated sculptor Nicholas Dimbleby, responsible for numerous well known commissions around the country. Lord Patrick Cormack the politician, historian and prolific author.Wendy Mitchell, the author and blogger who was diagnosed with young onset dementia and worked tirelessly to help improve the understanding of the condition. Eleanor Fazan, the theatre director, choreographer and actor. Her career spanned almost 70 years and saw her working with some of the biggest names in the business.Archive Details Archive used:. “Wogan” BBC 1 10/12/1986. BBC Midlands Today News 13/7/2011. BBC News West 09/09/1999. “The Bright Side of Life” BBC Radio 4 21/11/2023 & 28/11/2023 Parliamentlive.tv 21/02/23 & 05/09/19. The Michael Ball Show, BBC Radio 2, BBC, 16/01/2022 Wendy Mitchell reads from “Somebody I used to know”. Bloomsbury publishing, uploaded to Youtube 29 Jan 2018. "The Complete Beyond The Fringe" Label - Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company. Oh! It's a Lovely War, Title Oh! It's a Lovely War Performer - Courtland and Jeffries Album - Oh! It's A Lovely War (Volume 1) Label - CD41 Recordings. Stage to Screen BBC

John Wilson onAlexei Navalny, the anti-corruption campaigner and leading opponent of President Vladimir Putin, who has died in a Russian state prison. Dr Brooke Ellison, an American academic and disabilities rights advocate who drew on her own experience of living with quadriplegia.Gertrude Wright, who survived the bombing of her German home city during World War Two and went on to become a translator for Field Marshall Montgomery.And Steve Brown, the music composer who worked on comedy productions such as Alan Partridge, Spitting Image, Dead Ringers and many more productions. Steve Coogan and Harry Hill pay tribute.Interviewee: Nikolai Petrov Interviewee: Jean Ellison Interviewee: Professor Stephen Post Interviewee: James Holland Interviewee: Steve Coogan Interviewee: Harry HillProducer: Gareth Nelson-DaviesArchive used: Alexei Navalny, Profile, BBC Radio 4, 27/10/2012; BBC News, 05/12/2011; Alexei Navalny, HardTalk, BBC News, 19/01/2017; Navalny, Cable Network News, Dogwool, BBC Storyville, Director: Daniel Roher; 2022; Brooke Ellison, Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation, 21/09/2010; Brooke Ellison, Tedx Talks, YouTube uploaded 14/07/2015; Brooke Ellison interview, Maryland Coalition for Inclusive Education, YouTube upload 28/09/2023; Brooke Ellison Harvard Commencement Speech, June 2000; Magdeburg Blitzed, Pathe Gazettes/Pathe, 1944; Steve Brown, The Mitch Benn Music Show, BBC Radio 4 Extra, 12/04/2009 (original TX 2006); Steve Brown/Glen Ponder, Knowing Me, Knowing You with Alan Partridge, BBC Two, 05/08/2002; Spend, Spend Spend promo, Barbara Dickson/Steve Brown/Justin Green, Chariot Records, Released 06/05/2016; I Can't Sing! The X Factor Musical, YouTube 04/11/2013; Steve Brown singing on Newsnight, BBC TWO, 20/03/1992

Matthew Bannister onThe much-loved Radio 1 and 2 DJ Steve Wright. We have a tribute from his former colleague Simon Mayo.Baroness Flather, who was the first Asian woman to sit in the House of Lords.Alan Mills, the Wimbledon tennis referee who had to deal with tantrums on court.Angela Peberdy, the train announcer known as “the golden voice of British Rail”.Producer: Ed PrendevilleArchive Used The Six o’clock News, BBC 1, 25/06/1985; Network East: Big Talk, Asia 2 BBC 2, 14/11/1998; Daily Politics, BBC2, 17/01/2012; Three Bridges - Platform 4 for the Victoria train - 27/01/1989; Lewisham - Platform 4 for the Bexleheath line service to Dartford - 26/07/1990; Angela Peberdy On London Plus, 27/11/1986; Newsnight, BBC Two, 17/06/1983; BBC Breakfast Time, BBC 1, 19/06/1986; Steve Wright's Sunday Love Songs Extra, BBC Radio 2, 08/02/24; Steve Writght in the Afternoon, BBC Radio 2, 09/03/2010; Steve Wright in the Afternoon, BBC Radio 2, 22/02/2008; Steve Wright in the Afternoon, BBC Radio 2, 28/09/22; Steve Wright in the Afternoon, BBC Radio 2, 27/09/22; Steve Wright, BBC Radio 1, 10/01/94; Steve Wright, BBC Radio 1, 24/12/93; Steve Wright, BBC Radio 2, 29/09/22; Steve Wright, BBC Radio 2, 25/09/22; Steve Wright, BBC Radio 2, 14/09/22; Steve Wright - Sunday Love Songs, BBC Radio 1, 04/02/2010; Steve Wright in the Afternoon, BBC Radio 2, 29/09/2022; Steve Wright, BBC Radio 1, 01/01/1988

Matthew Bannister onDr Lowitja O’Donoghue who overcame a traumatic childhood to become one of Australia’s leading campaigners for the rights of indigenous people.Ian Lavender, the actor best known for playing Private Pike in Dad’s Army.Robie Harris, whose book explaining sex to children made her one of America’s most banned authors.Barry John, the Welsh and British and Irish Lions fly-half known simply as “The King”. Interviewee: Stuart Rintoul Interviewee: Paul Abbandonato Interviewee: Hilary Gagan Interviewee: Rick Wakeman Interviewee: Michael EmberleyProducer: Gareth Nelson-DaviesArchive used:Dr O’Donoghue speaking at the Indigenous Health and Wellbeing Conference 2016, Lowitja Institute International, YouTube upload 07/09/2023; Dr Lowitja O'Donoghue, Australian Biography Series 3, Film Australia Collection 1994, Director & Producer Frank Heimans, YouTube upload 01/06/2021; Native Title Act News Report, BBC News, BBC One, 22/12/1993 Barry John: The King, BBC One Wales, 08/032013; Barry John, Scotland v Wales, Five Nations, BBC One, 1971; Barry John, Cardiff v Wales, BBC One Wales, 1969; Barry John playing for Lions v New Zealand, BBC One Wales, 22/03/2013; Barry John, Desert Island Discs, BBC Radio 4, 12/12/1978; Robie Harris On Kids' Right To Read, National Coalition Against Censorship, YouTube, 01/02/2014; Robie Harris on KidLit TV, 07/11/2014; Ian Lavender, Celebrity MasterMind, BBC One, 01/01/2009; , Dad's Army: Series 5, Asleep in the Deep, BBC One, 04/01/1977; Dads Army, Battle of the Giants!, BBC One, 26/08/1972; Dads Army, The Deadly Attachment, 31/10/1973; Ian Lavender interview, Today, BBC Radio 4, 14/11/2022; Ian Lavender interview, 5’s Company, 1997, Freemantle, YouTube upload 24/08/2018

Matthew Bannister onFrank Farian, the German music producer behind the hugely successful group Boney M, who caused controversy when it was revealed that his duo Milli Vanilli had been miming at all their live shows. We hear from Boney M singer Liz Mitchell.Medical journalist Caroline Richmond who founded the Campaign Against Health Fraud, now known as HealthSense.Professor Phil Baines, the respected typographer who designed many book covers and public signs as well as the memorial to the victims of the 7/7 2005 bombings in London.Norma Izard, who managed the England Women’s Cricket team, leading them to win the World Cup and creating the trophy for the women’s Ashes series.Producer: Ed PrendevilleArchive used: London Plus, BBC 1 South East, 09/10/1985; Sixty Minutes, BBC 1, 07/06/1984; BBC Breakfast Time, BBC, 25/03/1986; Caroline Richmond’s interviewed on Woman’s Hour, BBC Radio Four, 27/04/2000; England v New Zealand - Women's World Cup Final, 5 Live, 01.08.1993; Phil Baines - Form and content: reflections on the practice and responsibilities of book design, Real Smart Media, 25/04/2012; From Priesthood to Art and Design, Central Saint Martins

Matthew Bannister onNorma Barzman, the screenwriter from the Golden Age of Hollywood who fled to Europe after facing being blacklisted from the House Un-American Activities Committee for her Communist views. Lord Saye and Sele, the aristocrat who served in the army during the Second World War, then worked to restore the historic family seat Broughton Castle.James 'Jim' Hobson, the Assistant Chief Constable of West Yorkshire who was in charge of the Yorkshire Ripper enquiry when Peter Sutcliffe was arrested.Susan Campbell, the illustrator who co-founded the Walled Kitchen Garden Network.Interviewee: Larry Ceplair Interviewee: John Barzman Interviewee: Martin Fiennes Interviewee: Franco Pardini Interviewee: Jim Buckland Interviewee: Caroline ConranProducer: Gareth Nelson-DaviesArchive used:CSULB Human Rights Forum - Norma Barzman, the Advanced Media Production Center, California State University Long Beach, Beach TV CSULB, YouTube, uploaded 06/04/2009; The Locket (1946), RKO Radio Pictures; Norma Barzman, Hollywood Exiles, Podcast, BBC World Service, 15/01/2024; The House Committee of Un-American Activities Actuality, Omnibus, Hollywood on Trial, BBC Two, 04/11/1973; Give us This Day (1949) Dir, Edward Dmytryk; IMDB; Lord Saye and Seye interview, From D-Day to Bergen-Belsen: Lord Saye & Sele, Dir/Prod Nathan Portlock-Allan, YouTube uploaded 26/01/2021; Lord Seye and Sele, SignPost, BBC, 25/04/1962; News Conference, Newsbeat, BBC Radio, 04/09/1979; The Yorkshire Ripper Files: A Very British Crime Story, BBC Four, 11/04/2019; Susan Campbell "Trained Fruit in Historic Kitchen Gardens", Garden Conservation YouTube uploaded 30/09/2022; Susan Campbell makes her first visit to Althorp, Episode 8, Walled Garden Historian, spencer1508.com;

Matthew Bannister onAnnie Nightingale who was Radio 1’s first female presenter and its longest serving DJ. Her son remembers meeting Jimi Hendrix over breakfast in her kitchen and the 72-hour-party at her home featuring some of the biggest names of the dance music scene.Isca Salzberger-Wittenberg, the psychoanalyst who changed the approach to treating young people’s mental health.Bryan Ansell, the games designer who co-created Warhammer and helped led the growth of the Games Workshop company.And Charlie Allan who was a Scottish farmer, an economist, a broadcaster and a caber tossing champion.Interviewee: Alex Nightingale Interviewee: Rabbi Jonathan Wittenberg OBE Interviewee: Dr Valerie Sinason Interviewee: Sir Ian Livingstone CBE Interviewee: Susie Malcolm Interviewee: Frieda MorrisonProducer: Gareth Nelson-DaviesArchive used: Annie Nightingale 1940-2024, BBC Radio 1, 14/01/2024; Annie Nightingale, Desert Island Discs, BBC Radio 4, 24/07/2020; Interview with Annie Nightingale, Sussex-BBC Centenary Interview part of the Connected Histories of the BBC project, Full interview Connected Histories connectedhistoriesofthebbc.org; Annie Nightingale interview, BBC Radio 1, Vintage, 22/12/2018; Old Grey Whistle Test, 100 Voices, BBC Four, 23/02/2018; The Oldest Living Child Psychotherapist, 99 year old Isca Wittenberg, Legacy Interview, MINDinMIND, Youtube uploaded, 02/03/2021; Dungeons and Dragons News report, BBC News South East, 06/10/1983; Fantasy Board Games report, BBC Breakfast, BBC News 20/08/1984; Warhammer 40000, Darktide, Soundtrack, Fatshark Youtube, uploaded 18/11/2022; Charlie Allan sings, Blue Grey Coo and Other Bothy Ballads, Ardo Pedigree Cattle, published 1979; Charlie Allan, Man O' Pairts,BBC Radio Scotland, 03/01/2024;

Matthew Bannister onCamila Batmanghelidjh who founded the charity Kids Company to help disadvantaged children. The charity collapsed amidst controversy, although she was later cleared of any wrongdoing.Sir Roy Calne, the surgeon who carried out the UK’s first successful liver transplant operation. He was also a talented artist. Glynis Johns, the actor best known for playing the suffragette Winifred Banks in the film of Mary Poppins.JPR Williams, one of the greatest full backs in rugby history, who made many appearances for Wales and the British & Irish Lions. Sir Ian McGeechan pays tribute. Interviewee: Steve Chalke Interviewee: Tim Rayment Interviewee: Professor John Wallwork Interviewee: Peter Jackson Interviewee: Sir Ian McGeechanCORRECTION: in this episode, Professor John Wallwork is credited as a former Chairman of Royal Papworth Hospital, NHS Foundation. He was in fact the current Chairman at time of recording. Producer: Gareth Nelson-DaviesArchive used: Camila Batmanghelidjh interview, Desert Island Discs, BBC Radio 4, 27/10/2006; Camila Batmanghelidjh interview, Woman's Hour, BBC Radio 4, 12 Feb 2016; Camila Batmanghelidjh interview, Listed Londoner, BBC Radio London, recorded 01/2013; Woman's Hour, BBC Radio 4, Podcast, 25/02/2021; Sir Roy Calne interview, Desert Island Discs, BBC Radio 4, 01/03/1996; Sir Roy Calne interview, History of transplantation, ISN Video Legacy Project, 2003; Glynis Johns interview, Desert Island Discs, BBC Radio 4, 24.04.1976; JPR Williams try, Wales v England 1976, 5 Nations championship, Guinness Six Nations YouTube channel, uploaded 06/03/2020; JPR Williams drop goal 1971, British & Irish Lions, uploaded 13/03/2017; JPR Williams needed stiches during match, Bridgend v New Zealand, 1978;

Matthew Bannister onJohn Pilger, the campaigning journalist who made award winning films about human rights abuses and was an outspoken critic of British and US foreign policy.K.M. Peyton, the author of many “pony” books for children and adolescents, including the “Flambards” trilogy.Paula Murphy, the American racing driver once described as “the fastest woman on wheels”.Michael Blakemore, the versatile theatre director who was the only person to win Tony Awards for Best Play and Best Musical in the same year.Interviewee: Sam Pilger Interviewee: Anthony Hayward Interviewee: Meg Rosoff Interviewee: Hilary Peyton Interviewee: Pam Miller Interviewee: Conrad Blakemore Interviewee: Greta ScacchiProducer: Gareth Nelson-DaviesArchive used: John Pilger, Desert Island Discs, BBC Radio 4, 18/02/1990; Year Zero: The Silent Death of Cambodia, (ATV) ITV, 1979 p/d David Munro; Cambodia: Year One, (ATV), ITV, 10 September 1980, p/d David Munro; John Pilger interview with Kim Hill, TVNZ's 1News, 1 News, YouTube uploaded, 24/11/2023; KM Peyton interview, Front Row, BBC Radio 4, 27/04/2009; KM Peyton interview, Womans Hour, BBC Radio 4, 20/02/2016; Flambards TV Series, TV Theme and scene extract, ITV, 02/02/1979; Paula Murphy interview/clips, Paula Murphy: Undaunted, Documentary, Fox Sports, Director Pam Miller, released 2023, Michael Blakemore interview, Theatre Talk, YouTube uploaded 04/08/2013; John Lahr talks with director Michael Blakemore, Conversations, The New Yorker, YouTube uploaded 23/07/2014;