Last Word

Pictured: Nik Powell

Matthew Bannister on

James Le Mesurier, the former British Army Officer who set up the organisation that trained the White Helmet volunteers who rescue people from bomb sites in Syria.

Nik Powell, the businessman who helped Richard Branson to start Virgin Records and went on to produce a string of acclaimed British films.

Frank Dobson, the Labour M.P. who became Health Secretary under Tony Blair and embarked on an ambitious hospital building programme.

Hazel Vincent Wallace, who founded the Thorndike Theatre at Leatherhead in Surrey, which became known as one of the finest venues outside London.

Interviewed guest: Stephen Woolley

Producer: Neil George

Archive clips from: PM, Radio 4 13/11/2014; Today, Radio 4 12/11/2019; The White Helmets, directed by Orlando von Einsiedel, Grain Media / Violet Films 2016; PM, Radio 4 11/11/2019; Masterclass with Nik Powell, Australian Film Television and Radio School 22/03/2017; The Evil Dead, directed by Sam Raimi, Renaissance Pictures 1981; The Company of Wolves, directed by Neil Jordan, Incorporated Television Company / Palace Pictures 1984; The Film Programme, Radio 4 01/09/2013; Who Wants to be a London Mayor? Carlton/ITV 25/04/2000; The World Tonight, Radio 4 02/06/1995; Labour Party Conference, BBC Sound Archives, 30/09/1997; Theatre and Stage Stars, Huntley Film Archives 26/01/2015; Sybil Thorndike Theatre, British Pathé 1969; Thorndike Theatre, British Movietone / AP 09/22/1969; Theatrical Balance Of Payments, Radio 3 01/12/1968.

Pictured: Gay Byrne

Matthew Bannister on

Gay Byrne, the Irish TV and radio presenter who occupied a unique place in the nation's culture and public life. He presented the Late Late Show for thirty-seven years, often causing controversy when he covered changing social issues.

Sadako Ogata, the Japanese academic who served as UN High Commissioner for Refugees in the 1990s. She was noted for her fearless approach and for putting the refugee crisis on the political map. The current Commissioner recalls his time working with her.

And the Hollywood producer Robert Evans, who was behind classic films like The Godfather, Love Story and Chinatown, but was almost as well known for his colourful private life as his on-screen hits. The actor and director Simon McBurney pays tribute.

Interviewed guest: Joe Duffy

Producer: Neil George

Archive clips from: Gay Byrne RTE tribute, RTE News 04/11/2019; The Gay Byrne Show, RTE Radio 1 14/06/1996; The Late Late Show RTE One 01/02/1966; The Meaning of Life, RTE One October 2010; The Meaning of Life, RTE One February 2015; The World Tonight, Radio 4 14/07/1993; Special Report on the Rwandan Genocide, SABC 1994; Sadako Ogata Expresses the Need to Prevent Future Genocide, AP Archive 21/07/2015; BBC News 1991; Today, Radio 4 21/06/1999; 1800 News Bulletin, Radio 4 02/08/1994; Brian Linehan's City Lights: Robert Evans Interview 1977, Reelin’ In The Years Productions; Man of a Thousand Faces, directed by Joseph Pevney, Universal International Pictures 1957; The Sun Also Rises, directed by Henry King, Twentieth Century Fox 1957; The Godfather, directed by Francis Ford Coppola, Paramount Pictures / Alfran Productions 1972; The Cotton Club, directed by Francis Ford Coppola, Zoetrope Studios / Producers Sales Organization / Totally Independent / Robert Evans Company 1984.

Pictured: Charles Jencks

Matthew Bannister on

The architectural historian Charles Jencks, who was known as the godfather of postmodernism. He also involved leading architects in designing cancer treatment centres named after his wife Maggie. Lord Foster pays tribute.

Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the fanatical leader of ISIS who was behind the killing and torture of thousands of victims.

Irene Shubik, the TV producer who created "Rumpole of the Bailey" and "The Jewel in the Crown".

Raymond Leppard, the conductor and arranger who revived interest in baroque Italian opera with acclaimed productions at Glyndebourne.

Interviewed guest: Dame Laura Lee DBE

Producer: Neil George

Archive clips from: Desert Island Discs, Radio 4 06/07/2012; Look North, BBC One 29/12/11; Islamic State Leader, Wall Street Journal 05/07/2014; In Tune, Radio 3 15/11/2013; In Tune, Radio 3 13/12/2010; Rumpole of the Bailey, BBC One 1975; The Jewel in the Crown, Granada Television 1984; Edna, the Inebriate Woman, BBC One 21/10/1971.

Pictured: Alicia Alonso

Matthew Bannister on

Alicia Alonso, the Cuban ballerina who went on dancing when her sight began to fail. She also set up the National Ballet Company of Cuba.

Deborah Orr, the witty columnist who also edited the Guardian Weekend magazine.

Joyce Cansfield, the British Scrabble champion and 1983 Brain of Mensa who set more than a thousand crossword puzzles for the Times.

Clora Bryant, the American trumpeter who overcame sexism to forge a career in jazz.

Interviewed guest: Mike Lanchin

Producer: Neil George

Archive clips from: Witness: The First Lady of Cuban Ballet, BBC World Service 28/10/2015; Off the Page, Radio 4 19/07/2010; Carrie Fisher: Guardian column by Deborah Orr, 04/01/2017; Motherwell by Deborah Orr, Orion January 2020; Woman's Hour, Radio 4 26/12/2017; Catchword, BBC Two 02/02/1988; Cross Talk, Radio 4 07/01/2001; Countdown, Channel 4 1982; Central Avenue Sounds Part 3, Radio 3 24/02/2001.

Pictured: Alexei Leonov

Matthew Bannister on

The Soviet cosmonaut Alexei Leonov who was the first person to walk in space.

Sally Soames, the photographer who made portraits of many leading politicians and celebrities as well as working in war zones. Her niece Claudia Winkleman and sister in law Eve Pollard pay tribute.

Kary Mullis, the Nobel Prize-winning biochemist who invented PCR - a revolutionary technique for speeding up the process of analysing DNA. He also enjoyed surfing and experimented with LSD.

Reg Watson, the TV producer behind the successful soap operas Crossroads and Neighbours.

Interviewed guest: Doug Millard

Producer: Neil George

Archive clips from: Soviet Astronaut Leaves Spacecraft During Flight, BBC Sound Archive 21/03/1965; Two Sides of the Moon, Radio 4 13/04/2004; Today, Radio 4 12/10/2019; South East At Six, BBC One 30/09/1983; Kary Mullis: Google Tech Talk 17/09/2010; Horizon: Psychedelic Science, BBC Two 27/02/1997; The Kary Mullis Nobel Prize, Bonhams Auctioneers 19/01/2016; Crossroads, ITV 1985; Eyewitness with Reg Watson, Daily Motion; Neighbours, BBC One 1987; Harry Enfield and Chums, BBC One 1997; The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, Radio 4 September 2004.

Pictured: Ginger Baker

Matthew Bannister on

Su Beng, the activist known as the father of Taiwan independence.

Ginger Baker, the legendary drummer with rock super group Cream who struggled with drug addiction and an unpredictable temper.

John Haylett who was editor of the socialist paper the Morning Star at a crucial time in its history.

Diahann Carroll, the African American actress who starred in many films and stage shows as well as her own TV comedy "Julia" and the soap opera "Dynasty".

Interviewed guest: Felicia Lin

Producer: Neil George

Archive clips from: Chiang Rattles The Sabre, Pathe News 1957; The Seven Ages of Rock, 6 Music 10/03/2015; Nationwide, BBC One 11/05/1978; Julia, 20th Century Fox Television/ Hancarr Productions / Savannah Productions 17 September 1968; Claudine, directed by John Berry, Third World Cinema / Twentieth Century Fox 1974; Dynasty, Aaron Spelling Productions 1 May 1982; One on One: Sir David Frost, BBC One 21/10/2002.

Pictured: Jessye Norman

Julian Worricker on:

The multiple award-winning American soprano, Jessye Norman, whose performances wowed audiences around the world....

Peter Sissons, the acclaimed television journalist, who moved from ITN to the BBC to present Question Time and the main evening news....

The author, Al Alvarez, poetry editor of the Observer newspaper, and renowned poker player....

And Marita Lorenz, who survived Bergen-Belsen as a child, and went on to become a spy involved in a near-assassination of Fidel Castro....

Interviewed guest: Sir Clive Gillinson CBE

Producer: Neil George

Archive clips from: International Profile, Radio 4 29/07/1988; Jessye Norman Interview, Radio 3 06/08/2000; CD Review, Radio 3 23/08/2014; ITN News 21/11/84; Question Time, BBC One 09/12/1993; BBC News, BBC One 30/03/2002; Desert Island Discs, Radio 4 19/03/2000; The World Of Books, Radio 4 25/05/1978; Timewatch, BBC Two 07/10/1992; Geraldo Rivera interviews Marita Lorenz, 23 Sep 2013; Archive Hour: Something Is Terribly Wrong, Radio 4 22/11/2003.

Pictured: Jacques Chirac

Julian Worricker on:

Jacques Chirac, mayor of Paris for eighteen years, who served twice as French Prime Minister and twice as French president....

The man who took on the toughest of managerial assignments - running British Leyland in the late 1970s - Sir Michael Edwardes....

US television journalist and presenter, Cokie Roberts, credited with changing the role of women in the newsroom....

Pat Cavendish O'Neill, the racehorse trainer and breeder, who built up a menagerie of rescue animals in Kenya and South Africa.

Interviewed guest: Agnes Poirier

Producer: Neil George

Archive clips from:

Pictured: Chester Williams

Matthew Bannister on

Sheikh Yusuf Motala who founded the first traditional Islamic seminary in the UK, and trained hundreds of Imams.

Chester Williams, the only black rugby player in the South African team that won the World Cup in 1995.

Jan Ruff O'Herne who was forced to work in a brothel by the Japanese army during the war. She kept her story secret for fifty years, but ended her life campaigning against the use of rape as a weapon of war.

Ric Ocasek, the singer who wrote many hits for the American rock band The Cars, including 'Drive' and 'My Best Friend's Girl'.

Interviewed guest: Innes Bowen

Producer: Neil George

Archive clips from: Sunday, Radio 4 15/09/2019; Australian Story: Australian Comfort Woman Jan Ruff O'Herne, ABC 2001; Chester Williams - Champion of a New South Africa, Real Rugby 10/08/2016; Outlook, BBC World Service 14/10/2015; South Africa win the 1995 RWC, World Rugby 04/05/2016; Speedster Williams bags four tries on debut, World Rugby 14/09/2015; Invictus, directed by Clint Eastwood, Warner Bros 2009; Nelson Mandela & Francois Pienaar moment at RWC 1995, World Rugby 24/06/2015; Entertainment Tonight, Syndicated 1985.

Matthew Bannister on

Hans Rausing, the Swedish-born industrialist who led the Tetra Pak company. In the 1990s he topped the Sunday Times Rich List ahead of the Queen. His daughter Sigrid pays tribute.

Sir Dawda Jawara the first President of independent Gambia who faced two coup attempts.

Sue Crockford, a feminist campaigner who made influential films about the social history of North London.

Terrance Dicks, who was screenwriter and script editor for Dr Who and also wrote novelisations of the series.

Producer: Neil George

Interviewed Guest: Esau Williams