Last Word

Matthew Bannister on Mike Lynch, who was one of the UK’s most successful tech entrepreneurs.

Nell McCafferty, the Irish journalist and feminist campaigner who took part in the “contraceptive train” protest in 1971.

Ruth Colvin, who founded the American “Literacy Volunteers” organisation to help adults who couldn’t read or write

Sven-Göran Eriksson, the Swedish born football manager who became the first non-British coach of the England football team.

Interviewee: Suranga Chandratillake

Producers: Ben Mitchell and Ed Prendeville

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Matthew Bannister on American TV host Phil Donahue – pioneer of the daytime talk show.

Countess Diana Phipps Sternberg, the Czech born interior designer who was at the centre of a vibrant social scene in London during the swinging 60s.

Professor Mary Gibby OBE, the botanist who specialised in the study and classification of ferns.

Toumani Diabaté, the Malian musician known around the world for his virtuoso kora playing.

Interviewee: Bill Brioux

Producer: Gareth Nelson-Davies

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Kirsty Lang on

Susan Wojcicki, the first woman to lead a major company in Silicon Valley.

Lord Colwyn, a jazz loving politician who cared passionately about improving the nation’s teeth.

Sir Ernest Hall, a piano playing entrepreneur, who oversaw the regeneration of a former textile mill in Halifax.

Mísia, the musician who found international acclaim by bringing a modern twist to traditional Portuguese Fado music.

Interviewee: Mike Isaac

Producer: Gareth Nelson-Davies

Archive used:

Susan Wojcicki on Studio 1.0, Bloomberg Technology, YouTube upload 15/11/2016; Susan Wojcicki, Leadership Live with David Rubenstein, YouTube uploaded 28/05/2020; Susan Wojcicki, Washington Post, YouTube uploaded 18/06/2020; Susan Wojcicki, CNN Business, YouTube uploaded 04/05/2017; The Secret Life of The Third Baron Colwyn, BBC Radio 4, 24/05/1979; Lord Colwyn, House Of Lords Dental Care debate, Parliament TV 01/02/2018; Lord Hall speech, Live Music, House of Lords, Parliament TV, 27/01/2012; Westminster Special: The Ballot for the Last Hereditaries, BBC Radio 4, 05/11/1999; Sir Ernest Hall, Desert Island Discs, BBC Radio 4, 26/04/1998; Sir Ernest Hall, Private Passions, BBC Radio 3, 18/09/2005; Sir Ernest Hall – Busoni Piano Concerto op.39 – Prologo e Introito, Sir Ernest Hall YouTube channel, Sheffield Symphony Orchestra - Halifax Choral Society - John Langstaff, uploaded 30/10/2022; Mísia interview, Showcase: Misia - Exploring emotions with Fado, TRT World, YouTube uploaded 09/06/2016;

Matthew Bannister on

Lord Fellowes, who was private secretary to Queen Elizabeth during the 1990s.

Professor Helen Whitwell, the forensic pathologist who inspired the central character in the TV series “Silent Witness”.

David Power, the Irish businessman who co-founded one of the world’s biggest gambling companies – Paddy Power.

Irène Schweizer, the pianist and feminist who made a big impact in the male-dominated world of jazz.

Interviewee: Hugo Vickers

Producer: Gareth Nelson-Davies

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John Wilson on

Edna O’Brien, one of Ireland’s greatest writers. In a career spanning over 60 years she wrote 17 novels and many short stories, plays and essays.

Sir Kenneth Grange, the prolific designer whose works included the Kenwood Chef, the parking meter and the Intercity 125 train.

Groundbreaking Swedish rally driver Ewy Rosqvist.

The British blues musician John Mayall, the man who nurtured the young talents of Eric Clapton, Peter Green, Mick Fleetwood and many more.

Producer: Ed Prendeville

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Matthew Bannister on Dr Mildred Stahlman, the American paediatrician whose discovery helped to improve the outcomes of premature babies around the world.

Ray Reardon, the former miner and police officer who was a World Snooker Champion six times.

Val McIver, the Scottish local councillor who campaigned to set up the University of the Highlands and Islands.

Eddie Spence, who decorated elaborate wedding cakes for members of the royal family for decades.

Interviewee: Dr Meg Rush

Producer: Catherine Powell

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Matthew Bannister on Dr Ruth Westheimer who offered frank advice about sex on TV and radio.

Mike Corfield, the conservator who developed new methods of preserving archaeological artefacts in the places where they were discovered.

Shelley Duvall, the actor who worked closely with Robert Altman, played Wendy in The Shining and Michal Palin’s star-crossed lover in Time Bandits. Michael shares his memories.

Veronica Smith, who, as a young woman, was forced to give up her baby for adoption. She later founded the “Movement for an Adoption Apology”.

Producer: Ed Prendeville

Archive used

Matthew Bannister on

Dr Richard Taylor, the retired hospital consultant who became the independent MP for Wyre Forest.

Jack Rowell, the rugby coach who transformed the fortunes of Bath and took England to the World Cup semi-finals.

The artist Claudia Williams, who painted large scale canvases including images of women and children who lost their homes in the Welsh village of Tryweryn.

Christophe Deloire, the French journalist who became director general of the organisation Reporters Without Borders.

Producer: Ed Prendeville

Archive used

Matthew Bannister on

Frank Duckworth, the statistician whose name will forever be associated with the Duckworth-Lewis method of calculating scores for rain affected cricket matches.

Leah Levin, who campaigned to overturn miscarriages of justice and gain reparations for victims of torture.

Professor Mary-Lou Pardue, the eminent biologist who fought against sexism at the American University, M.I.T.

Joss Naylor, the fell runner who broke the Lake District 24-hour record three times and ran the fastest known times on the Three Peaks and the Pennine Way.

Interviewee: Rob Eastaway

Producer: Gareth Nelson-Davies

Archive used:

Frank Duckworth interview, Broadcasting House, BBC Radio 4, 21/06/2021; England Test Match Special, West Indies v England, BBC ONE, 16/03/1968; England Cricket Sport Report, BBC Sport, 30/01/2005; Leah Levin keynote speech, Kingston University graduation ceremony, 2019; Leah Levin interview, London Plus News, BBC ONE South East, 11/10/1984; Leah Levin , BBC Breakfast Time, BBC ONE, 04/10/1985; A Conversation with Mary Lou Pardue, MIT Department of Biology, YouTube Upload, 24/08/2020; Joss Naylor profile, Countryfile, BBC ONE 30/07/2018; Joss Naylor interview, Farming Today, BBC Radio 4, 19/06/2021; Joss Naylor interview, Nationwide, BBC ONE, 1973; Joss Naylor interview Cherry Pit Spitting , BBC News, 02/07/1981;

Kirsty Lang on the Judge and cricketer Sir Oliver Popplewell. His godson Stephen Fry pays tribute.

The computer pioneer and transgender advocate Lynn Conway.

The music mogul and friend to the Fab Four Tony Bramwell.

One of France’s best loved singer song-writers Francoise Hardy.

Interviewee: Stephen Fry

Producer: Catherine Powell

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