PODCAST

Last Word

BBC Radio 4

Radio 4"s weekly obituary programme, telling the life stories of those who have died recently

society & culture personal journals

All Episodes

27:50

Mel Parry, Professor Alice Coleman, Hugh Callaghan,...

Last Word ·

2023/06/09

Matthew Bannister onMel Parry, the SAS veteran who was part of the team that stormed the Iranian embassy in London in 1980.Professor Alice Coleman, the geographer whose modifications to modernist high rise estates won the support of Margaret Thatcher.Hugh Callaghan, the labourer who was one of six men arrested after the Birmingham pub bombings of 1974. He served 16 years in prison for a crime he didn’t commit. Cynthia Weil, the American songwriter behind hits like The Righteous Brothers’ “You’ve

27:36

Jeremy Clarke, Dr Moira Woods, Iain Johnstone, Rita Lee

Last Word ·

2023/06/02

Matthew Bannister onJeremy Clarke, who chronicled his experiences of living a “low life” in the Spectator magazine for more than 20 years. We have a tribute from Eric Idle.The women’s rights campaigner Dr. Moira Woods, who set up the Irish Republic’s first dedicated sexual assault treatment unit.Iain Johnstone, the film critic and documentary maker who told the stories of stars like Dustin Hoffman, Barbra Streisand and John Wayne.Rita Lee, the singer known as Brazil’s “Queen of Rock”Interviewee:

28:00

Tina Turner, Martin Amis, Leroy Cooper, Rolf Harris,...

Last Word ·

2023/05/26

Matthew Bannister on Tina Turner, the singer who overcame an abusive relationship to become an international superstar Martin Amis, one of the literary giants of his generation Leroy Cooper, the photographer who captured the social history of his area of Liverpool Rolf Harris, the entertainer who was imprisoned for sexually assaulting young girls Marlene Bauer Hagge, the last surviving founding member of the US Ladies Professional Golf AssociationInterviewee: Dan Franklin Interviewee: Leee

27:26

Newton Minow, Vicky Neale, Lois Keith, Gerald Rose

Last Word ·

2023/05/19

Matthew Bannister onNewton Minow, who was just 35 when he was appointed chairman of the US Federal Communications Commission by President John F. Kennedy. He gave a famous speech describing TV as a “vast wasteland” and helped to set up the Public Broadcasting Service.Vicky Neale, the mathematician who responded to her diagnosis with cancer by launching a podcast discussing the role of maths in cancer research. Lois Keith, who campaigned for equal rights for disabled people.Gerald Rose, the

27:51

Grace Bumbry, Don Short, Dame Rosemary Cramp, Wee...

Last Word ·

2023/05/12

Matthew Bannister onThe opera singer Grace Bumbry who broke down barriers by becoming the first black performer at the Bayreuth Festival.Don Short, the showbusiness journalist who coined the term “Beatlemania” and became good friends with the Fab Four.Dame Rosemary Cramp, the archaeologist who deepened our understanding of the Anglo Saxon period.And Wee Willie Harris, the flamboyant rock’n’roller name checked in Ian Dury’s song “Reasons To Be Cheerful”Interviewee: David Brewer Interviewee: Daisy

27:45

Harry Belafonte, Jerry Springer, Valerie Winn, Kate...

Last Word ·

2023/05/05

Matthew Bannister on Harry Belafonte, the singer and actor who was also a leading civil rights campaigner.Jerry Springer, whose TV talk show was once voted the worst in history – but was watched by millions around the world.Valerie Winn, the runner who became the face of a campaign to allow women to compete in top level middle distance races.Kate Saunders, the novelist, journalist and critic who won the Costa Prize for Children’s Literature for her book Five Children on the Western

27:51

Barry Humphries, Len Goodman, Professor Elizabeth...

Last Word ·

2023/04/28

Matthew Bannister onBarry Humphries, best known for his comic creations Dame Edna Everage and Sir Les Patterson. We have tributes from Rob Brydon and John Humphrys.Len Goodman, who went from working as a welder to international fame as head judge of Strictly Come Dancing.Professor Elizabeth Murray, a pioneer in the use of digital technology in health care.And Jah Shaka, dub reggae star, producer and sound system king.Interviewee: Rob Brydon Interviewee: John Humphrys Interviewee: Mary

27:07

Anne Perry, Dame Mary Quant, Jean Argles, Ahmad Jamal

Last Word ·

2023/04/26

Matthew Bannister onAnne Perry, the best-selling crime novelist who committed a murder when she was a teenager.Dame Mary Quant, the influential fashion designer at the heart of the swinging 60s. Pattie Boyd recalls the coat Mary designed for her wedding to George Harrison.Jean Argles, who – with her sister - served as a codebreaker during the second world war.Ahmad Jamal, the jazz pianist and composer whose restrained but intense style inspired Miles Davis. Joe Stilgoe pays tribute.Producer: Gareth

27:07

Ben Ferencz, Seymour Fortescue, Valerie Elliott,...

Last Word ·

2023/04/25

Matthew Bannister on Ben Ferencz, the last surviving prosecutor at the Nuremberg War Crimes Trials. He devoted his life to campaigning for an international system of justice for the victims of such crimes. Seymour Fortescue, the banker who pioneered the credit and debit card revolution.Valerie Elliott, the respected journalist who reported on politics and then rural affairs.Rachel Pollack, the author and trans activist best known for her award-winning novel Unquenchable Fire and for creating the

27:42

Nigel Lawson, Emahoy Tsegué-Maryam Guèbrou, Ken...

Last Word ·

2023/04/07

Matthew Bannister onNigel Lawson – Baron Lawson of Blaby, the reforming Chancellor of the Exchequer under Margaret Thatcher. He cut income tax, led the campaign of privatisation and paved the way for the Big Bang in the City of London.Emahoy Tsegué-Maryam Guèbrou, the Ethiopian-born nun acclaimed for her unique musical compositions.Ken Buchanan, the Scottish boxer who became World Lightweight Champion.Mary Rayner, the children’s author and illustrator best known for her books about Mr and Mrs Pig

27:44

Paul O'Grady, Gordon Moore, Vera Selby, Simon Emmerson

Last Word ·

2023/03/31

Matthew Bannister on Paul O’Grady, who made his name as the drag queen Lily Savage, and went on to become a much-loved TV and radio star.Gordon Moore, the tech entrepreneur who founded the chip maker Intel and came up with Moore’s law which says that computer processing power doubles every two years. Vera Selby who challenged sexist prejudice to become the women’s world snooker champion – twice.And Simon Emmerson who put together two hugely influential bands – the Afro Celt Sound System and the

27:35

Jacqueline Gold CBE, Lance Reddick, Traute Lafrenz,...

Last Word ·

2023/03/24

Matthew Bannister on Jacqueline Gold CBE – the businesswoman who turned Ann Summers from a couple of seedy sex shops into a multi-million pound high street success.Lance Reddick, the American actor best known for playing Cedric Daniels in The Wire.Traute Lafrenz, the last known survivor of the White Rose Group that actively resisted the Nazis in Germany during the second world war.Lynn Seymour, one of the greatest dramatic ballerinas of the twentieth century.Producer: Gareth Nelson-Davies

28:07

Chaim Topol, Zandra Flemister, Bill Tidy MBE, Avis...

Last Word ·

2023/03/17

Matthew Bannister onThe actor and singer Chaim Topol (pictured), best known for his performances in the musical Fiddler on the Roof.Zandra Flemister, the first African American woman to work as a Secret Service special agent.The prolific cartoonist Bill Tidy MBE who created the Cloggies and The Fosdyke Saga.Avis Fawcitt, the Leicestershire music teacher who devoted her life to the Orphean Youth and Concert Orchestra.Producer: Neil GeorgeInterviewed guest: John Collinge Interviewed guest: Sylvia

28:05

Judith Heumann, Brian Tufano, Sir David Elliott KCMG,...

Last Word ·

2023/03/10

Matthew Bannister onJudith Heumann (pictured), the American disability rights campaigner who led the longest non-violent occupation of a Federal building in US history.Brian Tufano, the cinematographer who shot films like Quadrophenia, Trainspotting and Billy Elliot.Sir David Elliott, a key figure in the negotiations that created the European single market.Elizabeth Foulkes, who helped to define common standards for architects in the UK.Producer: Neil GeorgeInterviewed guest: Thomas

27:48

Lady Betty Boothroyd, Marianne Mantell, John Motson...

Last Word ·

2023/03/03

Kirsty Lang on The extraordinary Lady Betty Boothroyd (pictured) who went from humble beginnings in a Yorkshire mill town to becoming Westminster’s first female Speaker.John Motson OBE - the BBC’s voice of football for half a century,The pioneering New York publisher Marianne Mantell who paved the way for audio books... And Lithuanian pianist Sulamita Aronovsky who founded London’s International Piano competition.Producer: Neil GeorgeInterviewed guest: Julia Langdon Interviewed guest: Matthew

28:04

Dorothy Pitman Hughes, Ralph Hooper OBE, Raquel...

Last Word ·

2023/02/24

Kirsty Lang on Dorothy Pitman Hughes who brought black women into the 70s Feminist movement and inspired Gloria Steinem.Raquel Welch (pictured), the Hollywood actor who became a Sixties sex symbol after playing a cavewoman in the film 'One Million Years BC'.The aeronautical engineer Ralph Hooper OBE who designed the revolutionary Harrier jump jet.And Dickie Davies, the sports presenter best known for anchoring ITV Saturday afternoons in the 70s and 80s.Producer: Neil George Interviewed guest:

28:06

David Vaughan OBE, Burt Bacharach, Janet Anderson,...

Last Word ·

2023/02/17

Matthew Bannister onProfessor David Vaughan OBE, who was a leading expert on the effects of climate change on glaciers in the Antarctic.Burt Bacharach (pictured), who wrote scores of hit songs including 'I Say A Little Prayer', 'Do You Know The Way To San José' and 'Raindrops Keep Fallin’ On My Head'.Janet Anderson, the Labour MP who wrote entertaining reports of proceedings in parliament for Queen Elizabeth.Eileen Sheridan – one of Britain’s greatest cyclists, she held the speed record for the

28:09

Frene Ginwala, Lady Martha Bruce OBE, Pervez...

Last Word ·

2023/02/10

Matthew Bannister onFrene Ginwala (pictured), one of the leading figures in the anti-apartheid struggle in South Africa, who became Speaker of the country’s first democratically elected parliament.Lady Martha Bruce OBE, governor of Scotland’s first purpose built prison for women. General Pervez Musharraf, who took power as President of Pakistan in a military coup and supported George Bush’s War on Terror.Paco Rabanne, the designer who created clothes from metal, plastics and wood.Producer: Neil

27:50

Ralph Ehrmann, Sylvia Syms, Rabbi Dr Abraham Levy, Jo...

Last Word ·

2023/02/06

Matthew Bannister on Ralph Ehrmann, the German-born businessman behind the success of the Airfix model kits that delighted a generation of young boys in the 1960s and 70s. Sylvia Syms (pictured), the actor whose roles ranged from beautiful heroines in the 1950s and 60s to Margaret Thatcher and The Queen Mother later in life. Rabbi Dr Abraham Levy, the leader of the UK’s oldest Jewish community who was awarded the OBE for services to interfaith relations. Jo Sandilands, who edited the

28:13

Howard Baderman, David Crosby, Milly Thompson, Brenda...

Last Word ·

2023/01/27

Matthew Bannister onHoward Baderman, the hospital consultant who transformed the discipline of emergency medicine and treated casualties from high profile events like the Kings Cross Tube Fire and the sinking of the Thames river boat The Marchioness.David Crosby (pictured), the singer and songwriter with the Byrds and Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young whose life went through periods of chaos through drug addiction.Milly Thompson, the artist who, as a member of the BANK collective, satirised the

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