It was an extraordinary journey, and a life that reads like a fairy tale. Xuanzang was born at the start of the seventh century in China. He studied as a monk and travelled for 16 years - first westwards, and then in a crescent back and down over the Himalayas to India . He returned a famous man, laden with Buddhists texts and artefacts. Historian Michael Wood has followed much of his route; he first discovered Xuanzang at university and became intrigued about his life. "I'm tempted to say this is one of the greatest lives in all the civilisations of the world," says Michael.  Joining him in discussion is Frances Wood and the presenter Matthew Parris. The producer in Bristol is Miles Warde

Xuanzang, Chinese monk and traveller

Biographical series in which guests choose someone who has inspired their lives.

Personal Journals

Society & Culture

History

Philosophy

Places & Travel

Gerard Hoffnung’s life was short.  He died in 1959 at the age of 34, but this cartoonist, musician, broadcaster and raconteur achieved a lot in that time.  Born in Berlin, he lived most of his life in London.  His charming cartoons which often gently poked fun at musicians and conductors were printed in magazines and books.  His wife Annetta said he was always on-show and even a trip to the bank could turn into an uproarious occasion.  Having caught the attention of the BBC he recorded a series of interviews with Charles Richardson, and his delivery of 'The Bricklayer's Lament' to the Oxford Union in 1958 is considered a triumph of comedic story-telling.  The Hoffnung concerts which combined music and comedy sold out quicker than Liberace. Harry Enfield discovered Hoffnung when he was looking through the records in his local library.  He knows it's boring for comedians to talk about timing but Hoffnung's was brilliant, and he finds it annoying that comedy wasn't even his main job.  Harry got to know the family later on and his impersonation of Gerard became the inspiration for his own character 'Sir Henry'.  Harry's joined in the studio by Gerard and Annetta's children, Emily and Benedict Hoffnung. Future episodes in this series include Alice Roberts on Emma, Queen of England, Journalist Steve Richards on Bruce Forsyth and Baronness Ros Altman on Antoni Gaudi. Presenter: Matthew Parris
Producer: Toby Field for BBC Studios Audio

Harry Enfield on Gerard Hoffnung

In 1961 Alan 'Fluff' Freeman took over as the host of the BBC Radio's 'Pick of the Pops' and changed music broadcasting forever.  From the opening "Greetings pop pickers" Alan would count down the hottest records of the week punctuating the end of each track with minimal detail before introducing the next.  It was exhilarating radio and his staccato delivery and catchphrases of "Right, all right, stay bright" and "Not 'Arf" he influenced a generation of broadcasters.   Simon Mayo was a DJ at Radio 1 at the same time as 'Fluff' and says his broadcasting hero coming came into his studio and said "Simon, darling" before kissing the back of his own hand that he'd placed over Simon's mouth.  Simon remembers the end of Fluff's time at Radio 1 and speaks openly about his own departure from the BBC in 2018.  He tells Matthew Parris that it was Fluff's economy of words that impressed him when sometimes he'd simply say "and" to link two records, and how Freeman gave once gave him a notebook full of opera and classical music recommendations. Behind-the-scenes Alan was generous, kind and encouraging, but he was also a deeply private man who few got to know well.  But one person who did was producer Phil Swern who worked with Alan for many years. Presenter: Matthew Parris
Guest: Simon Mayo
Guest: Phil Swern Producer: Toby Field for BBC Audio Bristol

Alan Freeman picked by Simon Mayo

The Pulitzer Prize winning poet Mary Oliver died in 2019.  She was best known for her poetry that reflected her love of the natural world and her famous poem 'Wild Geese' is said to have literally saved people's lives with its message of hope and redemption.  An abusive childhood led the young Mary to escape into the woods near her home in Ohio where she discovered a love of nature that was to sustain her throughout her life.  She found love with the photographer Molly Malone Cook and they lived happily for many years in Provincetown Massachusetts.  Her life and work are greatly admired by many including this week's guest the actor Niamh Cusack and Mary's friend Baroness Helena Kennedy. Producer: Maggie Ayre Extracts of Mary Oliver from The Onbeing Project with Krista Tippett and from a conversation with Coleman Barks for the Lannan Foundation

Actor Niamh Cusack on the life of poet Mary Oliver

Harry Belafonte became the King of Calypso with hits like 'Day-O' and 'Jump in the Line' but he would later describe himself as an activist who became a musician and an actor.   Fitness guru Derrick Evans MBE AKA 'Mr Motivator' spent much of the 90s on TV wearing brightly-coloured spandex and encouraging people to be more active.  He stresses the political messages that underpin Calypso music and celebrates the stand Belafonte took in the campaign for civil rights in America in the 1960s.  Derrick moved from Jamaica to the UK when he was a boy and remembers the impact of the Belafonte film 'Carmen Jones'. Presenter: Matthew Parris
Guest: Derrick Evans AKA 'Mr Motivator'
Producer: Toby Field for BBC Audio Bristol

Mr Motivator picks Harry Belafonte

In 1776 Thomas Jefferson penned the Declaration of Independence, kick-starting the movement against British rule and putting in place the foundations for democracy in what became the United States of America.  But he was a man of contradictions.  He argued passionately against slavery but was a slave-owner.  He had a relationship with an enslaved woman, Sally Hemings which may have started in France when she was just fourteen.  He became the third President of the United States, and he loved philosophy, nature and wine. Jimmy Wales first-learned of Jefferson and the founding fathers when he was in school.  The founder of Wikipedia fell in love with Encyclopaedias when his Mother bought a set from a travelling salesman.  Jimmy's fascinated by Jefferson's political principles and intrigued by his many contradictions, and with the help of Kathleen Burk they discuss Jefferson's political legacy and how his attitudes to slavery are impacting on how he's seen today.  Presenter: Matthew Parris
Guest: Jimmy Wales
Guest expert: Kathleen Burk, Professor Emerita of Modern and Contemporary History at University College London
Producer: Toby Field for BBC Audio Bristol

Xuanzang, Chinese monk and traveller

Download our free app to listen on your phone