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Last Word

BBC Radio 4
BBC
Malaria
MI5
Sly Dunbar
Shipwrecks
CIA
Cold War
Dr. Lowitja O'donoghue
World War II
Pope Francis
Dick Cheney
Scottish Parliament
Deborah Cameron
Nicholas White
Lord Wallace
Yvonne Brewster
Mary May Mcgee
Civil Rights Movement
Nora Cortiñas
Television

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

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes585Founded16 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Personal JournalsDocumentarySociety & Culture

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Artwork for Last Word

Latest Episodes

Playwright and critic Bonnie Greer was a frequent panellist on programmes such as Newsnight and Question Time where she took part in one of its most contentious episodes. Kirsty spoke to Judith Antell who was Bonnie's agent and friend for over 20 yea... more

The pioneering feminist leader, Gloria Steinem, moved the dial on critical issues regarding women’s health and reproductive rights as well as equal pay. But, she was first and foremost a journalist who started out, in her words, “as a girl reporter” ... more

The work of Japanese avant-garde artist Yayoi Kusama is famed for its use of dots and inspired the likes of Andy Warhol. She was a work of art herself, often photographed wearing a bright orange wig and technicolour clothes covered in her signature p... more

Dolly Parton broke the mould for country music over a seven-decade career, winning 10 Grammy awards, selling more than 100 million records worldwide, and writing in excess of 3,000 songs. Born in the Smokey Mountains of Tennessee, her childhood was o... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Frances Morris
Former director of Tate Modern who curated a Kusama retrospective
Tate Modern
Episode: Yayoi Kusama: The artist who painted infinity
Kevin Bishop
Actor who worked with Tim Curry on Muppet Treasure Island
Actor, BFI/UK film community
Episode: Yayoi Kusama: The artist who painted infinity
Tim Judah
Author and journalist who has written about Ratko Mladić
The Economist/Pen International or related outlets
Episode: Yayoi Kusama: The artist who painted infinity
Violet Hensley
Luthier and fiddle player known as the Stradivarius of the Ozarks
Independent craftsman
Episode: Yayoi Kusama: The artist who painted infinity
Sandra Flagg
Daughter of Violet Hensley and interviewee for her memories
Private individual
Episode: Yayoi Kusama: The artist who painted infinity
Emily Eavis
Glastonbury Festival co-organiser who commented on Dolly Parton's performance
Glastonbury Festival
Episode: Dolly Parton: From the Smoky Mountains to Glastonbury Legend
Pat Easterling
Professor of Greek and classical studies
University of Cambridge
Episode: Dolly Parton: From the Smoky Mountains to Glastonbury Legend
Mary Beard
Classicist and broadcaster
University of Cambridge / Media
Episode: Dolly Parton: From the Smoky Mountains to Glastonbury Legend
Deirdre McSharry
Editor and magazine journalist, Cosmopolitan
Cosmopolitan / Country Living
Episode: Dolly Parton: From the Smoky Mountains to Glastonbury Legend

Hosts

Jasmine Dottie Waller
Host of Last Word (BBC Radio 4 obituary programme)
Keelin Carew
Host of the programme

Reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars from 329 ratings
  • Great Programme

    Informative biographical details, well presented. People are dying to get onto this programme!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Teac 2021
    Australia8 months ago
  • Always something to absorb

    Really - my music collection has expanded thanks to this podcast- I never expected that.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    paulsplanet
    United Kingdom4 years ago
  • 😭😭😭😭😭😭

    Techno blade now please 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    hgjfvghjhfjgfghjgfhfjhg
    United States4 years ago
  • Death loses its sting!

    The range of people is excellent and interesting: a good listen.

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    Grandmatriarch
    United Kingdom4 years ago
  • It’s 2022

    In 2022 why dose Matthew Bannister think it’s ok to say “ taken the Micky “ dose he not know that it’s an anti Irish saying from the last century?

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    kelly
    United Kingdom5 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Listeners praise the biographical depth and compassionate tone.
A few critical comments note occasional pacing or brevity in some episodes.
Quality of guests and stories is consistently engaging for fans of obituary-forward storytelling.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Bill Dare, Clint Hill, Valérie André, Gene Hackman
Q: What was it like to make that journey back to Dallas?
Clint found that revisiting the site allowed him to come to terms with his past and acknowledged that he did everything he could that day.
Bill Dare, Clint Hill, Valérie André, Gene Hackman
Q: Did you blame yourself for the president's death?
Clint felt he should have done more to prevent the assassination, despite his recognition of doing all he could at the time.
John Boyega on campaigner Richard Taylor, father of Damilola Taylor
Q: Do you ever imagine what sort of life he might be living now if he hadn't been killed that night?
I think that Damilola would have been right there if not more.
John Boyega on campaigner Richard Taylor, father of Damilola Taylor
Q: And how will you remember Richard Taylor?
I will definitely remember Richard Taylor as a pioneer of something great in a small community, for using his tragic loss to influence and push young people in a great direction.
John Boyega on campaigner Richard Taylor, father of Damilola Taylor
Q: What was your impression of Richard Taylor when he launched that campaign and his determination to create something positive out of such an appalling personal tragedy?
It was definitely inspirational to me because a lot of us at the time was looking for a way out.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
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Professions
Age Range
Household Income
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Frequently Asked Questions About Last Word

What is Last Word about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Obituary-focused conversations span politics, medicine, science, culture, and the arts, using memories, expert recollections, and archival material to paint multi-faceted portraits of recently deceased figures. Episodes highlight reformist leadership, medical breakthroughs, cultural icons, and public service, weaving personal anecdotes with professional legacies. The approach tends to blend reverence with critical context, often featuring tributes from colleagues, historians, and family, making it informative, human, and curious for listeners who enjoy biographies, historical context, and cross-disciplinary storytelling.

Where can I find podcast stats for Last Word?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Last Word. 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 Last Word and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Last Word get?

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What are the audience demographics for Last Word?

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How many subscribers and views does Last Word have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Last Word 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 Last Word?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Last Word:

1. Great Lives
2. Profile
3. This Cultural Life
4. Private Passions
5. Desert Island Discs

How many episodes of Last Word are there?

Last Word launched 16 years ago and published 585 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 Last Word?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Last Word?

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What guests have appeared on Last Word?

Recent guests on Last Word include:

1. Frances Morris
2. Kevin Bishop
3. Tim Judah
4. Violet Hensley
5. Sandra Flagg
6. Emily Eavis
7. Pat Easterling
8. Mary Beard

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.

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