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

27:46

Sir Craig Reedie, Bronwen Naish, Geoff Yeadon,...

Last Word ·

2026/04/10

Matthew Bannister onSir Craig Reedie, the sports administrator who led London’s successful bid for the 2012 Olympics and went on to become President of the World Anti-Doping Agency. Lord Coe pays tribute. Bronwen Naish, the musician who devoted her life to promoting the joys of the double bass.Geoff Yeadon, the world record breaking cave diver from Yorkshire.And Margareta Magnusson, best known as the author of the book “The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning”.Producer: Ed PrendevilleAssistant

27:45

Robert Fox, Mary Rand MBE, Sir Tony Hoare, Biruté...

Last Word ·

2026/04/10

John Wilson onRobert Fox the producer who had a career that spanned theatre, film and television. We have tributes from Colin Firth, Rupert Everett and Robert’s brother, the actor Edward Fox.Mary Rand MBE, the first British woman to win an Olympic athletics gold medal at the 1964 Tokyo Olympic Games.Sir Tony Hoare, one of the world’s leading computer software designers who developed algorithms and languages which have become industry standards. Biruté Galdikas, the primatologist and

27:35

Dame Jenni Murray, Len Deighton, Lynda Hale, Jurgen...

Last Word ·

2026/03/27

Matthew Bannister onThe Woman’s Hour presenter Dame Jenni Murray. Mark Steel joins us to recall her triumphant debut as a stand-up comedian. Len Deighton who created “anti-James Bond” novels including The Ipcress File, Billion Dollar Brain and Horse Under Water.Lynda Hale, the footballer who battled against sexism to play in the first official England women’s international in 1972.Jurgen Habermas, the German philosopher who came up with the influential concept of “the public sphere”.Producer: Ed

27:43

Yanar Mohammed, MP Phil Woolas, Professor Robin...

Last Word ·

2026/03/20

Matthew Bannister onYanar Mohammed who campaigned for women’s rights in Iraq and set up a secret network of shelters for those fleeing abusive relationships. She was shot dead on 2nd March.Phil Woolas, a key figure in the New Labour project who became MP for Oldham East and Saddleworth.Professor Robin Weiss, the eminent virologist who carried out important work to understand HIV.Jane Lapotaire, the classical actor who won a Tony Award for her portrayal of Edith Piaf.Interviewee: Nawal

27:45

Paul Conroy, Kenith Trodd, Astrid Llewellyn, Jo Purvis

Last Word ·

2026/03/13

Matthew Bannister onPaul Conroy, the photojournalist who worked extensively in war zones in the Middle East and the Balkans. He was with the Sunday Times reporter Marie Colvin when she was killed in Syria. Kenith Trodd, the TV producer best known for his work with Dennis Potter on series like Pennies from Heaven and The Singing Detective. Stephen Poliakoff pays tribute. Astrid Llewellyn who skippered the first all-female crew to take part in a Tall Ships Race. Jo Purvis, the DJ who promoted LGBTQ+

27:46

Neil Sedaka, Drusilla Beyfus, Professor Dame Carole...

Last Word ·

2026/03/06

Matthew Bannister onNeil Sedaka the prolific songwriter who had Sixties hits with Oh Carol and Happy Birthday Sweet Sixteen and made a Seventies comeback with Solitaire and Love Will Keep Us Together. Graham Gouldman pays tribute. Drusilla Beyfus, the journalist best known for her books on etiquette. Her daughter Alexandra Shulman shares her memories.Professor Dame Carole Jordan, the leading astronomer who was an authority on the coronae of the sun and cool stars.And Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the

27:43

Martyn Butler, Allan Massie, Professor Nicola Fear,...

Last Word ·

2026/02/27

Matthew Bannister onMartyn Butler who was a central figure in the UK’s early response to HIV and AIDS. He was a co-founder of the Terrence Higgins Trust and gave his own home phone number as a helpline.Allan Massie, the Scottish author and critic whose hero was Sir Walter Scott. Sir Ian Rankin pays tribute. Professor Nicola Fear, the epidemiologist who studied the effects on military personnel of serving in the Iraq War and Afghanistan.Willie Colón, the American trombonist who was inspired by his

27:42

Reverend Jesse Jackson, Diane Munday, Philippe...

Last Word ·

2026/02/20

Kirsty Lang onReverend Jesse Jackson the leading American civil rights campaigner.Diane Munday who fought to make abortion legal and co-founded the British Pregnancy Advisory Service.Philippe Gaulier whose internationally renowned clown school which helped to shape the careers of many leading actors. Lady Jean Wilson who travelled the world building a charity that cured millions of avoidable blindness Interviewee: Lord Woolley of WoodfordInterviewee: Sally Phillips Interviewee: Cal

27:45

Meredith Hooper, David Young, Dorothy Solomon, Derek...

Last Word ·

2026/02/13

Matthew Bannister on:Meredith Hooper, the prolific author who wrote several books about Antarctica. We have a tribute from her son, the Oscar winning film director Tom Hooper.David Young, the American lawyer who was in charge of a team known as “The Plumbers” who tried to stop leaks of sensitive information from the Nixon White House.Dorothy Solomon, the manager and agent who steered the careers of The Dubliners, The Bachelors and many other stars of the 1960s and 70s. Sharon Osbourne pays

27:47

Sir Nicholas White, Lord Wallace, Professor Deborah...

Last Word ·

2026/02/06

Matthew Bannister onSir Nicholas White, whose research on tropical diseases saved millions of lives.Lord Wallace, the Liberal Democrat who served in the Scottish and Westminster parliaments and was Deputy to three First Ministers.Professor Deborah Cameron who studied the use of language from a feminist perspective.Sly Dunbar, the Jamaican drummer who played on hundreds of hit records and teamed up with bass player Robbie Shakespeare to form “The Riddim Twins”.Interviewee: Professor Nicholas

27:36

Sir Mark Tully, Dame Gillian Wagner, Dr Gladys West,...

Last Word ·

2026/01/30

Matthew Bannister on Sir Mark Tully who reported on India for the BBC for decades, covering some of the most significant events in the country’s recent history. Dame Gillian Wagner who campaigned to raise the standards of residential care in the UK.Dr. Gladys West, the mathematician whose work paved the way for the development of GPS.Richard Larn OBE, the diver who was one of the UK’s leading experts on shipwrecks.Interviewee: Sarah TullyInterviewee: Qurban Ali Interviewee: Lucy

27:45

Molly Burkett, Sir James Munby, Edith Flanigen,...

Last Word ·

2026/01/23

Matthew Bannister onMolly Burkett, who devoted her life - and her home - to rescuing thousands of injured birds and animals. At times these included a killer whale, a pigmy hippopotamus and a beer drinking crow. Sir James Munby, the respected judge who was President of the Family Division and was instrumental in opening it up to greater public scrutiny.Edith Flanigen, the chemist who invented molecular sieves or zeolites which have made a critical impact on the petroleum refining industry.Aldrich

27:44

Claudette Colvin, Ian Balding, Gerry Gable, Bob Weir,...

Last Word ·

2026/01/16

Matthew Bannister on Claudette Colvin the American civil rights campaigner who refused to give up her seat on a segregated bus, nine months before Rosa Parks’ celebrated protest.Ian Balding, the racehorse trainer who saddled many winners for Queen Elizabeth II.Gerry Gable, the anti-fascist activist and co-founder of Searchlight magazine, who wasn’t afraid to break the law in his relentless pursuit of the far right.Juliet Robertson, the Scottish educationalist who was a passionate advocate for

27:43

Molly Parkin, Kristina Gjerde, Michael Barton, Eva...

Last Word ·

2026/01/09

Matthew Bannister onThe colourful life of artist, fashion editor, sex columnist and bonkbuster author Molly Parkin. Her daughter shares the highs and lows of living with Molly.Kristina Gjerde, the maritime lawyer who fought to protect the high seas.Michael Barton, the BBC executive who oversaw the expansion of English local radioEva Schloss, the holocaust survivor who became Anne Frank’s stepsister.Producer: Ed Prendeville Assistant Producer: Ribika Moktan Researcher: Jesse Edwards Editor: Glyn

27:49

Brigitte Bardot, Sir Alec Reed, Alwyn Crawshaw, Dame...

Last Word ·

2026/01/02

Jon Kay on The French actor Brigitte Bardot who starred in over 40 films in the 1950s and 60s before a career-change saw her give up the big screen to campaign for animal welfareSir Alec Reed who founded the UKs most successful recruitment agency and, through his philanthropy, raised millions for charityAlwyn Crawshaw, the artist who encouraged millions to paint landscapes through his how-to books and TV programmes Dame Shan Legge-Bourke who transformed the Glanusk estate in the Black Mountains and

27:47

Antony Price, Sister Stan Kennedy, Ena Collymore...

Last Word ·

2025/12/26

Jon Kay on Fashion designer Antony Price who fused together the worlds of fashion and music in the 70s and 80sSister Stan Kennedy, the nun who founded one of Ireland’s largest homelessness charitiesEna Collymore Woodstock, the Jamaican barrister and magistrate who throughout her career broke many barriers for women John Carey, the academic and former chief literary critic for The Times who took no prisoners with his reviews.Producer: Ed PrendevilleAssistant Producer: Ribika Moktan Researcher: Jesse

27:46

Rob Reiner, Joanna Trollope, Stanley Baxter, Sophie...

Last Word ·

2025/12/19

Matthew Bannister onRob Reiner, the film director, screenwriter and actor behind pictures like “This Is Spinal Tap”, “Stand By Me” and “When Harry Met Sally”.Stanley Baxter, the Scottish comedian best known for his impersonations of Hollywood stars and royalty. The actor Bill Paterson pays tribute. And Joanna Trollope and Sophie Kinsella, two best-selling novelists who, in their different ways, told stories of modern life and relationships.Interviewee: Hadley FreemanInterviewee: Linda

27:52

Iain Douglas-Hamilton, Vera Weisfeld, Frank Gehry,...

Last Word ·

2025/12/12

Matthew Bannister onIain Douglas-Hamilton, the zoologist who devoted his life to the study and conservation of African elephants.Vera Weisfeld, the businesswoman whose chain of What Every Woman Wants stores offered fashion designs at bargain prices.Frank Gehry, the architect best known for his flamboyant designs for the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao and the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los AngelesMartin Parr whose celebrated colourful photographs showed the messy details of British life.Producer: Ed

27:46

Sir Tom Stoppard, Pam Hogg, Yanxin He, Jack Shepherd

Last Word ·

2025/12/05

Matthew Bannister has a star-studded cast on this week’s Last Word: Sir David Hare pays tribute to his friend and fellow playwright Sir Tom Stoppard.Boy George recalls the flamboyant fashion designer Pam Hogg.Sir Mark Rylance gives an insight into the many talents of the actor, director and writer Jack Shepherd.We also remember Yanxin He, one of the last surviving speakers in a village that spoke a secret language that helped women to share their suffering in a patriarchal society.Interviewee: Sir

27:36

Jimmy Cliff, Charlotte Bingham, Skye Gyngell, David...

Last Word ·

2025/11/28

Kirsty Lang on: Jimmy Cliff, who took reggae music onto the global stage. His former record producer and founder of Island Records, Chris Blackwell pays tribute. Charlotte Bingham, the writer who mined the experience of her upbringing and relationships to pen dozens of novels and screenplays.Skye Gyngell, the Australian born chef whose devotion to fresh seasonal produce made a lasting impact on modern British cooking.David Bellos, the award-winning literary translator who revelled in linguistic

564 results

Last Word

All Episodes

Similar Podcasts

Voices of Life

APG Mannheim

Promo Estereo Podcast

Promo Estereo

Talking Timelines Podcast

Talkingtimelines

גיקונומי

ראם שרמן ודורון ניר

Drømmefanger

Drømmefanger