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Last Word

BBC Radio 4

Radio 4's weekly obituary programme, telling the life stories of those who have died recently

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27 episodes
weekly
Avg 27 min
English

Episodes 27

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Friday · 27 min
“A powerful wordsmith and artist” – remembering the playwright and cultural critic Bonnie Greer
Also, farmer Wendell Berry, historian Frances Stonor Saunders and producer Jeremy Thomas.
September 11 · 27 min
Gloria Steinem: The journalist and activist who rewrote the rules for women
Also, the magician Juan Tamariz, judge Sir Andrew Nicol and ballerina Pauline Clayden.
September 4 · 27 min
Yayoi Kusama: The artist who painted infinity
Also, war criminal Ratko Mladić, actor Tim Curry and luthier Violet Hensley.
August 28 · 27 min
Dolly Parton: From the Smoky Mountains to Glastonbury Legend
Also, journalist Dierdre McSharry, Professor Pat Easterling and rugby's Sir Billy Boston.
August 21 · 27 min
Zhu Rongji: The reformist Chinese Premier who ordered 100 coffins
Also, Professor Paul Veys, actress Hayden Panettiere and conservationist Rosemary Parslow.
August 14 · 27 min
William Orbit: The pioneering DJ who reinvented Madonna
Also, Long Marcher Wang Quanying journalist Lady Hornby and horse trainer Monty Roberts.
August 7 · 27 min
Rod Liddle: Part-time punk turned professional provocateur
Also, music manager Vicki Wickham, artist Simone Forti and director Justin Hardy.
July 31 · 27 min
Gunther von Hagens: The life of "Dr Death" the man who founded Body Worlds
Also, businessman Sir Ian Wood, historian Juliet Gardiner, and dancer Dinkie Flowers.
July 24 · 27 min
Brenda Fricker: The first Irish woman to win an Oscar
Also, journalist David Willey, horticulturalist David Austin and aviator Wally Funk.
July 17 · 27 min
Sam Neill: The silent child with a stutter who became a movie star
Matthew Bannister on two actors, a musician and a chef.
July 10 · 27 min
Bonnie Tyler: How the "sweet soul singer" found her growl
Matthew Bannister on an iconic singer, dissident bookseller, cosmonaut and a TV director.
July 3 · 27 min
The Good Life of Dame Penelope Keith
Matthew Bannister on an acting icon, crusading journalist, silent sister, ringmistress.
June 26 · 27 min
"He became one of the most powerful men in the world” - the story of the man who shaped modern economics
John Wilson on an economist, a visible difference campaigner, a sailor and a singer.
June 19 · 27 min
A “bone marrow love for the Labour party” Lord Kinnock remembers Lord Hattersley
Matthew Bannister on a politician, a speech therapist, a journalist and a musician.
June 12 · 27 min
Founder of the ‘MOBOs’ and champion of black music – Kanya King
Matthew Bannister on a black music champion, a spy, a Vietnam War nurse and an author.
June 5 · 27 min
Larry King: The man behind Billie Jean King’s feminist tennis revolution
Matthew Bannister on a sport disruptor, Cold War spy, media innovator and art provocateur.
May 29 · 27 min
Clarence B Jones, Judith Chalmers, Dr Anna Ritchie, Professor Frank Land
Matthew Bannister on a lawyer, a broadcaster, an archaeologist and a computer pioneer.
May 22 · 27 min
Michael Pennington, Cynthia Shange, Scott Hastings, Beverley Martyn
Kirsty Lang on an actor, an activist, a rugby player and a singer.
May 15 · 27 min
Ruth Slenczynska, Dame Bridget Ogilvie, Tony Worthington, Russell Tyner KC
Kirsty Lang on a virtuoso pianist, leading scientist, peace-seeking MP and legal pioneer.
May 8 · 27 min
Dr Ittai Gradel, Dame Shirley Porter, Professor Nigel Dunnett, María Nieves Rego
Matthew Bannister on an antiquities dealer, a politician, a horticulturalist and a dancer.

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