Great Lives

Sir Richard Francis Burton was an explorer, adventurer, soldier, author, poet, sexologist and translator. He brought us the Kama Sutra and spoke 29 languages. The author Monica Ali champions this racy character and tells Matthew Parris why this 19th-century explorer is a Great Life. They are also joined by historian and broadcaster Matthew Ward.Producer: Perminder Khatkar.First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 2015.

George Washington Williams was an incredibly early, mould-breaking, self-made black intellectual who fought in the American civil war and went on to write the first history of African Americans. He met King Leopold of Belgium and exposed that country's treatment of Africans under Belgian colonial rule.Nominating the life of George Washington Williams is television presenter, and former Paralympic medallist, Ade Adepitan. The expert witness is Dr David Brown, Senior Lecturer in American Studies at the University of Manchester. The presenter is Matthew Parris.Producer: Perminder KhatkarFirst broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 2015.

Matthew Parris meets the former leader of the Conservative Party Michael Howard to discuss the life of Elizabeth I of England. They're joined by Professor Paulina Kewes of Jesus College Oxford. Producer: Maggie AyreFirst broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 2015.

Matthew Parris's guest is Vicky Pryce, the Greek born economist, who attracted media headlines on her conviction over speeding points incurred by her former husband, Chris Huhne. Vicky has chosen the film star turned politician, Melina Mercouri who believed culture to be as important as money or power - if not more so. As Minister for Culture, she promoted Greece's cultural heritage and fought for the return of the Elgin Marbles. Some consider one her greatest achievements to be the founding of the European Capital of Culture. Expert witness is Adrian Wootton OBE, Chief Executive of Film London and Victoria Solomonidis contributesProducer Maggie AyreFirst broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 2015.

On May 29 1953, Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay reached the summit of Everest. Both men immediately became famous worldwide. Actor Sir Ian McKellen, then a young teenager in Burnley, was clearly struck by the achievement. In later life he met Hillary in New Zealand and has strong memories of a modest man whose first job was beekeeping. Hillary also took a tractor to the South Pole in 1958 and became High Commissioner to India in 1985 "I did a good job on Everest," Hillary once said, "but have always known my limitations and I found being classified as a hero slightly embarrassing."Joining Sir Ian McKellen, is the author of Everest 1953, Mick Conefrey. He reveals the epic story of the first ascent, plus discusses Hillary's work with the Himalayan Trust.Presented by Matthew Parris. Producer: Miles WardeFirst broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in August 2015.

Val McDermid thinks crime writing is most definitely a suitable job for a woman. She believes women are good at observing the minutiae of life and incorporating them into clue development. Despite writing a book entitled 'An Unsuitable Job For A Woman', PD James evidently thought the same. Val McDermid discusses her grea life with the help of James's friend, the literary critic Peter Kemp.Presented by Matthew Parris. Producer: Maggie AyreFirst broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in June 2015.

Matthew Parris hears why David Blunkett has chosen Louis Braille, the 18th century French boy who blinded himself in his father's workshop, as his great life - with the help of guest expert the RNIB's Kevin Carey. Producer: Maggie AyreFirst broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in May 2015.

Matthew Parris meets the American Ambassador Matthew Barzun whose choice of great life is his wartime predecessor, John Gil Winant - the man widely held to have helped seal the special relationship between Britain and America and to have brought the US into the war effort.Producer: Maggie AyreFirst broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 2015.

Marlon Brando - greatest actor of the 20th century? Film critic Antonia Quirke definitely thinks he is. But the star of the Godfather, On the Waterfront and A Streetcar Named Desire divides opinion in this lively assessment of his life. Presented by Matthew Parris. With contributions from writer Robyn Karney and Joe Queenan in the USA. Producer: Miles Warde First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in May 2015.

"John Clare, I cried last night for you" wrote Wendy Cope in a poem dedicated to the earlier poet, who overcame monumental setbacks such as a poverty-stricken upbringing and a long struggle with mental illness. However, Clare managed to write some of the most sensitive poetry in the English language. At one point he was known as "the English Robert Burns" but then his fame dropped away and many people now remember him solely for his cri de coeur, "I Am." Expert witness is John Clare's biographer, Sir Jonathan Bate. Producer Christine HallFirst broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in May 2015