Last Word

Matthew Bannister on

Luc Hoffmann, the Swiss conservationist who co-founded the World Wildlife Fund and fought to save endangered species and wetlands.

Sylvia Peters, one of the best known faces on BBC television in the 1950s.

The film stuntman Joe Powell who took part in many death defying exploits.

The editor of the Archers William Smethurst who introduced the characters of Eddie Grundy and Nigel Pargetter.

And Sandy Pearlman, rock manager and producer who created the Blue Oyster Cult and changed the sound of the Clash.

Producer: Paul Waters.

Matthew Bannister on

Thomas Sutherland the Scottish-born American professor who was held hostage for more than six years in Lebanon. We hear from his fellow hostage Terry Anderson.

The singer, songwriter and producer Gary S Paxton. He brought us the Monster Mash and thousands of other songs and lived up to his nickname "His Weirdness"

Sally Beauman, who was given a reported million pound advance for her best selling novel Destiny, but transcended the bonk buster genre.

Frank Dickens, the cartoonist who satirised office life in the Bristow comic strip and often liked to strip naked himself.

And Marni Nixon, whose singing voice was dubbed over Hollywood movie stars when they couldn't hit the high notes.

Producer: Paul Waters.

Matthew Bannister on

The American journalist Sydney Schanberg who won the Pulitzer prize for his reporting on Cambodia. His story was turned into the film "The Killing Fields".

The archaeologist Beatrice de Cardi, once described as "a cross between Miss Marple and Indiana Jones".

The publisher Lord Evans of Temple Guiting, who, as Matthew Evans, led Faber and Faber to great success. His friend Melvyn Bragg pays tribute.

The futurist Alvin Toffler best known for his 1970 book "Future Shock".

And the comedy producer Jimmy Gilbert who brought us "The Frost Report", "Last of the Summer Wine" and "Fawlty Towers".

Producer: Dianne McGregor.

Matthew Bannister on

Abdul Sattar Edhi. Known as Pakistan's "Angel of Mercy", he built up a foundation which brought healthcare, orphanages and women's shelters to the poorest people in his country.

Dr. Suzanne Corkin - the neuroscientist who spent years studying a patient known as "H.M." An operation on his brain had left him with profound amnesia.

Bernardo Provenzano - the Sicilian mafia boss nicknamed "The Tractor" because he mowed down all his enemies.

And Garry Marshall the comedy writer and director who brought us "Happy Days" and "Pretty Woman."

Producer: Neil George.

Matthew Bannister on

The comedian Caroline Aherne who created Mrs Merton and the Royle family and struggled with the pressures of fame.

Holocaust survivor and author Elie Wiesel. Described by President Obama as "one of the great moral voices of our time", he won the Nobel Peace Prize.

The poet Sir Geoffrey Hill whose work focused on English history, landscape and religion.

The Conservative politician Lord Mayhew. As Northern Ireland Secretary under John Major, he laid the foundations for the peace process.

And the film director Michael Cimino - best known for the Deer Hunter which won five Oscars.

Producer: Dianne McGregor.

Matthew Bannister on

The Pakistani qawwali singer Amjad Sabri. A huge star in his homeland, he was shot dead in his car in Karachi.

The auctioneer Lorna Kelly who turned her back on a glittering New York lifestyle to work with Mother Teresa.

The psychologist Jerome Bruner whose work brought new insight into how children learn.

Bob Holman who gave up his academic career to live and work with people on housing estates.

And Scotty Moore who played guitar on many of Elvis Presley's biggest hits.

Producer: Dianne McGregor.

Matthew Bannister on

The parasitologist Sylvia Meek who led the fight to reduce deaths from malaria.

Harry Rabinowitz who conducted the music for many films and TV series, including the English Patient and Upstairs Downstairs.

Ethel Bush who was one of the two first policewomen to be awarded the George Medal for bravery.

Sam King, the RAF veteran from Jamaica who later travelled to Britain on the Empire Windrush and became Mayor of Southwark.

And Chips Moman, the record producer who worked with Elvis Presley, Aretha Franklin and Willie Nelson.

Julian Worricker on:

The playwright Sir Peter Shaffer, most famous for 'The Royal Hunt of the Sun, 'Equus' and 'Amadeus'...

The physicist, Sir Denys Wilkinson, considered an expert on the electromagnetic properties of nuclear isotopes...

The dancer, Peggy Spencer - also a choreographer, adjudicator and dance event organiser...

And the man voted the sportsman of the last century, heavyweight boxer and civil rights campaigner, Muhammad Ali.

Reeta Chakrabarti on:

The MP Jo Cox , who was brutally killed in the street, after meeting local people in the West Yorkshire constituency she represented

The musician Dave Swarbrick, who found fame with the folk group Fairport Convention - and who celebrated the premature publication of his obituary by a newspaper, 17 years before his death.

The chess player Viktor Korchnoi, a grandmaster of the international circuit, who defected from the Soviet Union and whose career became enmeshed in Cold War politics.

And the showbiz writer Wendy Leigh, who produced racy celebrity biographies and steamy novels, and who had a long affair with the publishing tycoon Robert Maxwell.

Matthew Bannister on

Carla Lane who wrote hit TV comedies including The Liver Birds, Bread and Butterflies. Wendy Craig pays tribute.

The ICI Chairman Sir Denys Henderson, who fought off a takeover bid from Lord Hanson and split the company into two parts.

Jane Fawcett, the former debutante who worked with the code-breakers at Bletchley Park and then fought to conserve many of Britain's greatest Victorian buildings.

And Alan Devereux who for nearly fifty years played Sid Perks in the Archers.