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

27:55

Dick Cheney, Yvonne Brewster, Mary McGee, Peter Watkins

Last Word ·

2025/11/07

Matthew Bannister onDick Cheney, the Republican politician who was Vice President under George W Bush and played key roles in both Gulf Wars.Yvonne Brewster, the Jamaican-born director and actor who founded the Black British Theatre Company Talawa.Mary ‘May’ McGee, the Irish woman who brought s successful legal challenge against the country’s ban on contraception.Peter Watkins, the film maker whose powerful depiction of a nuclear attack on the UK was banned by the BBCProducer: Gareth

27:44

Prunella Scales CBE, Gillian Tindall, Roger Smith,...

Last Word ·

2025/10/31

Matthew Bannister onThe actor Prunella Scales, best known for playing Sybil in the TV comedy Fawlty Towers. Her son Samuel West reflects on her long career and happy marriage to fellow actor Timothy West. Gillian Tindall, the writer who pioneered the technique of exploring history through the portal of a particular house or area. Roger Smith, who co-founded and ran the Great Outdoors Challenge, encouraging thousands to walk across Scotland.Anthony Grey, the novelist and journalist who was held in

21:23

SPECIAL EDITION: Prunella Scales

Last Word ·

2025/10/31

In this special edition of Last Word, Matthew Bannister talks to the actor Samuel West about his mother Prunella Scales.Prunella died on the 27th October, aged 93.Known for her work on stage and screen over many decades – Prunella was particularly renowned for her role as Sybil on Fawlty Towers. In addition to countless other roles, she appeared as Queen Elizabeth II in Alan Bennett’s A Question of Attribution in the early 90s – earning a BAFTA nomination. In later life – as she began living with

27:44

Raila Odinga, Bill Colley, Baroness Rosalind Howells,...

Last Word ·

2025/10/24

Matthew Bannister on The influential Kenyan politician Raila Odinga, who was detained for his pro-democracy campaigns, but went on to be the country’s Prime Minister. Bill Colley, who designed and built traditional wooden racing boats.Baroness Rosalind Howells of St Davids, who campaigned for racial equality and supported the family of Stephen Lawrence after his murder.And Sister Marion Irvine, the American nun who took up marathon running in middle age and went on to break many records.Producer:

27:45

Peter Gurney, Diane Keaton, Peter Hall, Angela Bond

Last Word ·

2025/10/17

Matthew Bannister onPeter Gurney, the George Medal winning bomb disposal expert who regularly risked his life to defuse explosive devices, including the mortars that were fired at 10 Downing Street by the IRA in 1991.Diane Keaton, the actor best known for her collaboration with Woody Allen in Annie Hall and Manhattan.Peter Hall, the pioneering English winemaker from Sussex who turned his Breaky Bottom grapes into acclaimed sparkling wines.Angela Bond, who saved the much-loved Bush Theatre in West

27:46

Patrick Bradley, Dame Jilly Cooper, Sara Jane Moore,...

Last Word ·

2025/10/10

Matthew Bannister onPatrick Bradley, the Chief Electoral Officer for Northern Ireland at the height of the Troubles.Dame Jilly Cooper, the best-selling author of the racy “Rutshire Chronicles”.Sara Jane Moore, the political extremist who tried to assassinate US President Gerald Ford.Dame Patricia Routledge, the actor best known for her portrayal of Hyacinth Bucket in the TV comedy Keeping Up Appearances.Producer: Ed PrendevilleArchive: With Bennett: Patricia Routledge, BBC Radio Ulster FM,

27:46

Dame Jane Goodall, Tony Harrison, Lord Menzies...

Last Word ·

2025/10/03

Matthew Bannister onDame Jane Goodall, the primatologist and environmental campaigner who changed our understanding of animal behaviour. Chris Packham pays tribute.Tony Harrison, the Yorkshire born poet who took his writing to new audiences through theatre and TV. Michael Rosen assesses his work. Lord Menzies Campbell, the former leader of the Liberal Democrats.Danny Thompson, the upright bass player who blended folk and jazz and worked with musicians ranging from Kate Bush, Paul Weller to John

27:34

Sir Nicholas Grimshaw, John Stapleton, Mary Elizabeth...

Last Word ·

2025/09/26

Matthew Bannister onSir Nicholas Grimshaw, the architect who designed the international terminal at London’s Waterloo Station and the Eden Project.John Stapleton, the TV presenter who fronted Watchdog with his wife and ITV’s breakfast and daytime shows. His friend Greg Dyke pays tribute.Mary Elizabeth Dodd, the physiotherapist who pioneered new treatments for cystic fibrosis.And the glamorous Italian film star Claudia Cardinale who was a muse for the directors Federico Fellini and Luchino

27:49

Robert Redford, Barbara Harvey, Rosa Roisinblit,...

Last Word ·

2025/09/19

Matthew Bannister on:Robert Redford, the film star who believed his striking good looks could be a curse as well as a blessing.Barbara Harvey, the mediaeval historian who revealed fascinating details of the lives of the monks of Westminster Abbey.Rosa Roisinblit, one of Argentina’s Grandmothers of the Plaza de Mayo who finally tracked down the grandson who had been abducted at birth and given up for adoption. And the Oscar winning film designer Stuart Craig who brought the Harry Potter world to life

27:31

The Duchess of Kent, Giorgio Armani, Valerie...

Last Word ·

2025/09/12

John Wilson on: The Duchess of Kent, who stepped back from royal duties to teach music in primary schools. Giorgio Armani whose suit designs help define the look of the 1980s and beyond. Valerie Pearlman who made legal history by being the first judge in the UK finish a trial via fax machine and video link from her hospital bed. Rick Davies, who sold millions of records in the 70s and 80 as one of the two singers in the band Supertramp.Producer: Ed Preneville

27:52

Joe Bugner, Ann McManus, Angela Mortimer Barrett,...

Last Word ·

2025/09/05

John Wilson onJoe Bugner, the heavyweight boxer who fought the titans of the sport from Henry Cooper, Muhammed Ali and Joe Frazier. Ann McManus, the writer for Coronation Street who went on to be one of the founders of Shed Productions that created hit drama series such as Bad Girls, Footballer Wives and Waterloo Road.Angela Mortimer Barrett, the multiply Grand Slam winning tennis player – winner of the 1961 Wimbledon women’s singles championship. And Frank Strang, the entrepreneur who bought a

27:51

David Richardson, Doris Lockhart Saatchi, Dame...

Last Word ·

2025/08/29

John Wilson on: Broadcaster David Richardson who was for over 60 years a leading voice in the farming community Doris Lockhart Saatchi, the Art collector who along with her former husband Charles Saatchi transformed the UK art scene in the 80s and 90s Dame Annette Brooke who for 14 years was the Liberal Democrat MP for Mid Dorset and North Poole Byron Rogers, the biographer and journalist who sought out and chronicled the lives of many eccentric charactersProducer: Ed

27:37

Terence Stamp, Stephanie Shirley, Kay Dunbar, Eric...

Last Word ·

2025/08/22

John Wilson on: Actor Terence Stamp, the Oscar nominated 60s screen icon who went onto play many villains in his later film career Baroness Stephanie Stamp, the pioneering computer scientist and founder of her own software companyKay Dunbar who founded the Ways with Words literacy festival which ran in Devon for 30 years Eric Midwinter was one of the three co-founders of u3a to encourage continued learning in retirementProducer: Ed PrendevilleArchive used:Desert Island Discs, BBC, 12/03/2006; Billy

27:53

15/08/2025

Last Word ·

2025/08/15

Matthew Bannister onJim Lovell, the astronaut who commanded the ill-fated Apollo 13 mission.Biddy Baxter, the editor who left an indelible stamp on the children’s TV show Blue Peter. Sarah Greene pays tribute.Razia Jan, the Afghan/American who founded a school for girls in Afghanistan after 9/11.Iris Williams, the Welsh born singer whose career took off after an appearance on Radio 2.Producer: Ed Prendeville

27:51

Dame Stella Rimington, Sylvia Young, Sir Jamie...

Last Word ·

2025/08/08

Matthew Bannister onDame Stella Rimington, the first woman to be Director General of MI5, who made the service more open and accountable.Sylvia Young, whose drama school turned out countless stars of stage, screen and music.Sir Jamie McGrigor, the Conservative Member of the Scottish Parliament for the Highlands and Islands, who introduced a bill to protect tartan.And Joan Anderson the former model who brought the hula hoop to America.Producer: Ben MitchellArchive:Al Murray’s Great British Spy

27:46

Dame Cleo Laine, Hulk Hogan, Margaret Boden, Tom Lehrer

Last Word ·

2025/08/01

Matthew Bannister onDame Cleo Laine, whose glorious voice was equally at home singing jazz, pop and classical music. Her daughter Jacqui Dankworth shares her memories.Hulk Hogan, who spearheaded the transformation of American wrestling from niche activity to global phenomenon.Professor Margaret Boden, whose expertise in cognitive science helped to shape the future of artificial intelligence.Tom Lehrer, the American satirical songwriter and mathematician. We have a tribute from Sir Cameron

27:51

Ozzy Osbourne, Connie Francis, Jacqui Browne, Douglas...

Last Word ·

2025/07/25

Matthew Bannister onOzzy Osbourne, the Black Sabbath lead singer known for his outrageous antics, many while under the influence of drugs and alcohol.Jacqui Browne, the Thalidomide survivor who campaigned for the rights of disabled people in Ireland.Professor Douglas Chamberlain, the cardiologist who pioneered the use of defibrillators by ambulance crews, saving many lives.Connie Francis, the Italian American singer known for hits like “Who’s Sorry Now?”, “Stupid Cupid” and “Pretty Little

27:51

Sir Ian Blair, Jennie Street, Dr Anna Ornstein,...

Last Word ·

2025/07/18

Matthew Bannister on Lord Blair the former Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police.Jennie Street who helped to rehabilitate people on her suburban farm. Dr Anna Ornstein, a psychoanalyst and survivor of the Holocaust. Muhammudu Buhari, the former President of Nigeria.Interviewee: Sean O’Neill Interviewee: Anita Ollerenshaw Interviewee: Dr Sharone Ornstein Interviewee: Mayeni JonesProducer: Ed PrendevilleArchive used: BBC Radio 4, 31/12/1983; BBC News, 05/01/1984; Newshour Extra, BBC, 03/04/2015;

27:53

Lord Tebbit, Daphne Boden, James Leprino, Sir Francis...

Last Word ·

2025/07/11

Matthew Bannister onLord Tebbit, who as Norman Tebbit was a member of Margaret Thatcher’s cabinet, introducing trade union reform and privatisation. Daphne Boden, the harpist who played for the Queen and taught for more than fifty years at the Royal College of Music. James Leprino who built a multi-billion-dollar business by supplying cheese to pizza chains. And the former Astronomer Royal, Sir Francis Graham-Smith, who helped to transform our understanding of the origins of the

27:50

Courtney Griffiths KC, Sara Venn, Nina Kuscik,...

Last Word ·

2025/07/04

Matthew Bannister onCourtney Griffiths, one of the first black lawyers to become a Queen’s Counsel. Sara Venn, who turned unloved spaces in Bristol into community gardens growing food for low-income families. Nina Kuscik, the American marathon runner who broke down barriers to women participating in long distance running. Sergeant Mohammed Hussain, one of the last surviving Muslim veterans of the second world war. Producer: Catherine PowellArchive used: BBC News: Courtenay Griffiths,

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