Last Word

Matthew Bannister on

Joyce Bryant (pictured), the American singer who was named by Ebony magazine as one of the five most beautiful black women in the world.

Squadron Leader George 'Johnny' Johnson MBE, the last surviving airman who took part in the Dambuster raids.

Dame Clare Marx, the first woman to be elected President of the Royal College of Surgeons.

Joseph Kittinger, who held the record for the world’s highest skydive for over 50 years. He jumped from 19.5 miles above sea level.

Producer: Neil George

Interviewed guest: Jim Byers

Archive clips used: Metromedia Television, WNEW-TV interview with Joyce Bryant; Benedict Bogeaus Production, Mr Ace (1946) film clip; BBC News 24, HARDtalk- George ‘Johnny’ Johnson interview 05/01/2018; Associated British Picture Corporation, The Dam Busters (1955) film clip; BBC Radio 3, Private Passions 24/04/2022; BBC One, Hi-De-Hi! 26/02/1981; BBC Radio 4, The Men Who Fell to Earth 31/03/2009; 1895 Films, Apollo – Missions to the Moon (2019) documentary clip.

Matthew Bannister on

Christine McVie who wrote some of Fleetwood Mac’s biggest hits and was a key player in the turbulent history of the band.

Jiang Zemin, who became Chinese President after the 1989 protests in Tiananmen Square and presided over the opening up of the country’s economy.

Derek Granger, the TV and film producer best known for the acclaimed adaptation of Brideshead Revisited.

Producer: Neil George

Interviewed guest: Tim Sullivan

Matthew Bannister on

Doddie Weir (pictured), the leading Scottish rugby player who spent the last few years of his life raising funds for research into the causes of Motor Neurone Disease.

Hebe de Bonafini, the human rights activist from Argentina who led the Mothers of Plaza de Mayo in campaigning to trace victims of the country’s so-called “Dirty War”.

Irene Cara, the singer and actor best known for her role in the film “Fame” and for co-writing the hit song “Flashdance”.

Cornelia Schroeder, the virologist from East Germany who made a significant contribution to the treatment of herpes and influenza.

Producer: Neil George

Interviewed guest: Prof Kai Simons

Archive clips used: Dr Ludwig/YouTube channel, ‘Der heimliche Aufmarsch‘ 22/08/2021; British Pathe/YouTube channel, Soviets close off East Germany 1952 10/11/2020; British Pathe/YouTube channel, Berlin riots in 1953 13/04/2014; BBC ARCHIVE: rugby commentary, BBC Scotland TX 04/03/1995; M P YouTube channel, Jim Telfer’s tribute to Doddie Weir 26/11/2022; British and Irish Lions YouTube channel, Doddie’s ‘mistaken identity’ 04/07/2020; Lorraine YouTube channel, Doddie Weir interview 29/11/2018; Rugby Republic YouTube channel, Doddie honoured NZ rugby stadium this autumn 13/11/2022; lozleo/YouTube channel, Irene Cara performs on ‘The Original Amateur Hour’ in 1967 29/08/2011; BBC ARCHIVE: Pebble Mill, BBC Two TX 27/02/1996; PROFILES Featuring Mickey Burns channel, Profiles host Mickey Burns interviews Singer, Songwriter and Actress Irene Cara 14/01/2014; Al Jazeera/YouTube channel, Tribute to Hebe de Bonafine 22/11/2022; BBC ARCHIVE: International Assignment, Radio 4 TX 4/9/1981

Matthew Bannister on

Mehran Karimi Nasseri – otherwise known as Sir Alfred (pictured). He was the Iranian migrant who lived for eighteen years in terminal one of the Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris.

Sue Baker, the motoring journalist who presented Top Gear.

Ann Savours, the archivist and polar historian who wrote books on the search for the Northwest Passage and Captain Scott’s ship the Discovery.

Wilko Johnson, the former guitarist with Dr Feelgood who was diagnosed with terminal cancer in 2013 and given ten months to live. He undertook a farewell tour, but then a nine hour operation changed the prognosis.

Producer: Neil George

Interviewed guest: John Shirley

Archive clips used: Clip from the trailer for Terminal Man, Rotten Tomatoes Classic Trailers YouTube Channel, Uploaded 13/12/2017; Clip from the trailer for Jonathan Dove's opera 'Flight', Minnesota Opera YouTube Channel, Uploaded on 24/01/2020; BBC Archive: BBC World News - 13/11/2022: An Iranian man who lived in a Paris airport for 18 years has died; BBC Archive, Top Gear 27/09/1983; BBC Sound Archive, Mastertapes 19/05/2018; BBC Archive, World News 07/08/2013

Matthew Bannister on

Peter de Savary, the serial entrepreneur who ran private members’ clubs, once owned both Land’s End and John O’Groats and spent a fortune trying to win the America’s Cup for the UK.

Bob Le Sueur MBE, who risked his life during the German occupation of Jersey by helping Russian slave workers to escape.

Ela Bhatt (pictured), the Indian trade unionist who campaigned for the rights of street vendors and other self-employed women.

Hannah Pick-Goslar, the German-born Israeli nurse and Holocaust survivor who was a close friend of Anne Frank.

Producer: Neil George

Interviewed guest: Savannah de Savary

Archive clips used: OxfordUnion YouTube Channel, Peter de Savary – Business Advice 22/03/2013; BBC World News, Madonna and Guy Ritchie marry 22/12/2000; BBC Sound Archive, Peter de Savary – America’s Cup 02/07/1983; BBC Sound Archive, The America’s Cup 27/09/1983; BBC Radio 5Live, Backtrackers – Jersey Under Occupation 02/05/1991; BBC Radio 4, Open Country 24/11/2011; British Pathé/ Gaumont British Newsreel, Liberation of the Channel Islands (1945); BBC Two, Gandhi – The Rise To Fame 10/10/2009; BBC Two, India – Ruins of the Raj 11/12/1990; Yad Vashem – The World Holocaust Remeberance Center, ‘That’s What I Hope’ – The Story of Hannah Pick 13/01/2020; BBC Two Holocaust Memorial Day 27/01/2005.

Matthew Bannister on

Leslie Phillips CBE (pictured), the actor who made his name in the Navy Lark and the Carry On Films, then became a respected character actor.

Dame Valerie Beral, the epidemiologist who created the million women study and investigated the safety of the contraceptive pill and HRT.

Avtar Singh Jouhl, the trade unionist and activist who campaigned for racial equality.

Atarah Ben-Tovim MBE, the flautist who inspired generations of children to take up music.

Producer: Neil George

Interviewed guest: Peter Bradshaw

Archive clips used: BBC News, HardTalk Extra – Leslie Phillips 2000; Peter Rogers Productions/ Beaconsfield Productions, Carry On Teacher (1959); BBC Radio 4 Extra, The Navy Lark – Left Hand Down A Bit! 28/03/2009; Sol C. Siegel Productions/ Metro-Goldwyn-Meyer, Les Girls (1957); Peter Rogers Productions/ Beaconsfield Productions, Carry on Nurse (1959); Impact Quadrant/ Izaro Films/ Quadrant Films, Spanish Fly (1976); Amblin Entertainment/ Warner Brothers, Empire of the Sun (1987); BBC Radio 4, The Skivers 17/03/1994; BBC Radio 4, The Life Scientific – Valerie Beral 05/02/2013; Jagwant Photobooks, Avtar Singh Jouhl interview – 2021; Midlands Today/ YouTube, Malcolm X visits Smethwick 03/10/2014; BBC Radio 3, Sound Archive – Atarah Ben-Tovim 11/05/1972; Thames TV, Seeing And Doing – Atarah Ben-Tovim 1985; BBC Radio 3, Atarah’s Music Box 04/10/1976; BBC Radio 4, Woman’s Hour 02/06/2004; Sandie Smith/ YouTube Channel, Atarah Ben-Tovim and Sophie Clavel at Chateau Rigaud 16/09/2016.

Matthew Bannister on

Baroness Blood (pictured), the trade unionist, community worker and peace campaigner who became the first woman from Northern Ireland to be given a life peerage.

Jerry Lee Lewis, the rock 'n' roll pioneer whose turbulent private life included bigamy, violence and drug addiction.

Ian Jack, the journalist known for his long form articles and for editing the Independent on Sunday and the literary magazine Granta.

Hilaree Nelson, the intrepid ski mountaineer who completed more than forty challenging expeditions in 16 countries.

Producer: Neil George

Interviewed guest: Monica McWilliams

Archive clips used: Newsline Belfast/ YouTube, NI Women's Coalition Launch and Forum 1996; BBC News, Lady Blood being sworn into the House of Lords 02/11/1999; BBC Radio 4, The House of Ladies - The Mouldbreakers 17/08/2005; YouTube, Jerry Lee & Myra Lewis interview 1958; BBC Radio 3, Night Waves 16/05/2007; The North Face, Mentors - Hilaree Nelson 04/09/2018; Men's Journal/ YouTube, The Line Between Good and Evil 20/01/2021; OutsideWatch/ YouTube, Failure Is Next To Success - Hilaree Nelson Elements 26/06/2020; AP Archive, US extreme skier cremated in Nepal 02/11/2022; The North Face, Lhotse ft. Hilaree Nelson and Jim Morrison 15/10/2019.

Matthew Bannister on

Dame Carmen Callil (pictured), the Australian-born publisher who founded the feminist Virago Books.

Ivy Jo Hunter, known as the 'forgotten man of Motown', he co-wrote Dancing In The Street for Martha Reeves and the Vandellas.

Kathleen Booth the mathematician and pioneering computer designer.

Dietrich Mateschitz, the billionaire who turned the Red Bull energy drink into a global success by sponsoring sports clubs and daring stunts, including backing two Formula One motor racing teams.

Producer: Neil George

Interviewed guest: Harriet Spicer

Archive clips used: BBC Radio 4, Desert Island Discs – Carmen Callil; Audible Audio/ Spoken Realms, My Brilliant Career by Miles Franklin 30/03/2021; The Red Bull Company, Rapunzel commercial 1991; BBC One, Formula 1 – The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 14/11/2010; Red Bull Stratos, Red Bull Space Dive 14/10/2012; TikTok.com @pianograndad – Alan Melinek.

Matthew Bannister on

Ian Hamilton KC, the Scottish lawyer who, as a student, took part in removing the Stone of Destiny from Westminster Abbey and returning it to Scotland.

Professor Audrey Evans, the paediatric oncologist who founded a global network of homes where the families of her young patients could stay during their treatment.

Parvatiben Solanki, who teamed up with her husband to launch Garavi Gujarat, one of the biggest selling Asian news magazines outside India.

Robbie Coltrane OBE (pictured), the actor best known for playing Hagrid in the Harry Potter films and the criminal psychologist 'Fitz' in Cracker.

Producer: Neil George

Interviewed guest: Kevin Drummond KC

Archive clips used: crisden1/ YouTube Channel, Òran na Cloiche performed by Ruairidh Caimbeul 14/07/2010; Infinity Features Entertainment/ The Mob Film Company/ Alliance, Stone of Destiny (2008) movie clip; BBC World Service, The History Hour - How I took the British Coronation Stone 29/12/2018; British Pathé, ‘The Stone’ Returns 1951, AP Archive, Stone of Scone Is Returned After 700 Years In UK 21/07/2015; Modern Hero/ YouTube Channel, Meet Dr. Audrey Evans 27/05/2017; RMHC/ YouTube Channel, Ronald McDonald House Charities 16/07/2020; BBC One, Black Adder the Third, Ink and Incapability 05/06/1987; BBC Radio 4, Desert Island Discs – Robbie Coltrane 09/02/1992; BBC News Scotland 10/04/2014; BBC Scotland, Tutti Frutti – The Boy Can’t Help It 03/05/1987; Eon Productions/ United Artists, GoldenEye (1995) movie clip; A+E Networks/ Granada Television, Cracker – Murder On The Train 27/09/1993; Hat Trick Productions, Clive Anderson Talks Back – Robbie Coltrane interview 29/10/1993; Warner Bros./ Heyday Films/ 1492 Pictures, Harry Potter And The Philosopher’s Stone (2001) movie clip; Casey Patterson Entertainment/ Pulse Films/ Warner Horizon Unscripted Television, Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return To Hogwarts (2022); Warner Bros./ Heyday Films/ 1492 Pictures, Harry Potter And The Chamber Of Secrets (2002) movie clip.

Matthew Bannister on

Dame Angela Lansbury (pictured), the stage and screen actor best known in recent years for her role in the TV series Murder She Wrote.

Lady Keswick who was Director of the Conservative think tank the Centre for Policy Studies after being a special adviser to Kenneth Clarke at Education and the Treasury. He pays tribute.

Sacheen Littlefeather, who staged a high profile protest about the representation of Native Americans in Hollywood when she declined an Oscar on behalf of Marlon Brando.

Franca Fendi, one of five sisters who took an Italian leather and fur business from a small shop in Rome to a multi-million pound international fashion house.

Producer: Neil George

Interviewed guest: David Benedict

Archive clips used: Corymore Productions/ Universal Television, Murder She Wrote S05E10 10/02/1990; Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Gaslight (1941) clip; Wallis Productions, Blue Hawaii (1961) clip; Audible Audio/ W.F. Howes Ltd, The Colour Of The Sky After Rain – by Tessa Keswick 22/10/2020; BBC Radio 4, PM 17/06/2003; ABC7/ KGO-TV, Escape To Alcatraz – Documentary 13/06/2021; Firelight Media/ Native American Public Telecommunications/ WGBH, Wounded Knee 16/01/2009; Oscars – YouTube Channel, 45th Annual Academy Awards® 27/03/1973; BBC Radio 4, Short Cuts 12/07/2016; KPIX Public Affairs Presentation, I Believe – Sacheen Littlefeather interview 1976; BBC News, Academy apologises to Sacheen Littlefeather 16/08/2022.