Great Lives
BBC Radio 4Biographical series in which guests choose someone who has inspired their lives.
| Publishes | Twice weekly | Episodes | 408 | Founded | 19 years ago |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Listeners | Categories | HistoryDocumentarySociety & Culture | |||
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Latest Episodes
Naji al-Ali was one of the best known cartoonists in the Arab world. His creation, a little boy called Handala, always stands with his back to the viewer, hands behind his back, watching whatever Naji al-Ali has drawn. He's been picked by the Pulitze... more
"Age cannot wither her, nor custom stale her infinite variety." She's the most famous character in antiquity, made more famous by Shakespeare and Hollywood films. But this Cleopatra is not the one Kate Williams has come to nominate. She wants to move... more
Ade Edmondson - star of The Young Ones, The Comic Strip Presents, Bottom and much more besides - chooses the singer Sandy Denny. "I think a large part of my Englishness comes from Sandy Denny," he says of the singer perhaps best known for her work wi... more
Tony Garnett was born in Birmingham and, after a brief career as an actor, found a new role behind the scenes of The Wednesday Play. These rapidly gained a reputation in the sixties for social realism, and together with Ken Loach and Roger Smith, Ton... more
Key Facts
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Recent Guests
Hosts
Reviews
- Learn new things
And enjoy doing so!
Host is really good.
Apple Podcasts5MaryH1nge
United Kingdom7 months ago - Fantastic except for Matthew
I do love Great Lives but Matthew Parris is very irritating. His opinions should be irrelevant and his droning, patronising tone silenced. Let the guest and experts speak.
Apple Podcasts4hannakusoUnited Kingdom8 months ago - Learn new things
And enjoy doing so
Apple Podcasts4MaryH1ngeUnited Kingdom8 months ago - Richey Edwards episode
An unusual subject for the show, but an important one. I thoroughly enjoyed this episode, thank you.
Apple Podcasts5LL-77United Kingdoma year ago - Usual beeb
Selective selection of those that have passed. The bias of this ‘objective’ cult is becoming tiring…
Apple Podcasts1Capn_ChaosUnited Kingdoma year ago
Listeners Say
Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.
Chart Rankings
How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.
Apple Podcasts | #145 |  United States/Society & Culture/Documentary |
Apple Podcasts | #31 | United Kingdom/Society & Culture/Documentary |
Apple Podcasts | #101 |  Canada/Society & Culture/Documentary |
Apple Podcasts | #144 | United Kingdom/Society & Culture |
Apple Podcasts | #43 |  Australia/Society & Culture/Documentary |
Apple Podcasts | #47 |  Italy/Society & Culture/Documentary |
Talking Points
Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.
Audience Metrics
Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Great Lives
What is Great Lives about and what kind of topics does it cover?
Biographical conversations spotlight historical figures and cultural pioneers, with guests who pick a figure that shaped their life and outlook. The show often blends intimate storytelling with scholarly context, exploring how the subject's work, era, and personality influenced broader culture. Episodes frequently feature historians, writers, actors, journalists, and artists who bring archival detail, personal anecdotes, and critical perspective, making each edition feel both educational and warmly human. Notable strengths include a diverse range of subjects across history and arts, thoughtful host dynamics, and strong emphasis on legacy and impact, which can be highly engaging for audiences interested in biography, culture, and storytellin... more
Where can I find podcast stats for Great Lives?
Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Great Lives. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Great Lives and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.
How many listeners does Great Lives get?
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What are the audience demographics for Great Lives?
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How many subscribers and views does Great Lives have?
To see how many followers or subscribers Great Lives has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.
Which podcasts are similar to Great Lives?
These podcasts share a similar audience with Great Lives:
1. Last Word
2. This Cultural Life
3. Desert Island Discs
4. Private Passions
5. In Our Time
How many episodes of Great Lives are there?
Great Lives launched 19 years ago and published 408 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.
How do I contact Great Lives?
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Where can I see ratings and reviews for Great Lives?
Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Great Lives from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.
View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.
How do I access podcast episode transcripts for Great Lives?
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What guests have appeared on Great Lives?
Recent guests on Great Lives include:
1. Patrick Humphries
2. Susanna Capon
3. Ken Loach
4. Jon Harvey
5. Coco Khan
6. Dr Naomi Paxton
7. Trevor Lyttleton
8. Ruth Windscheffel
To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.