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Last Word

BBC Radio 4
Malaria
MI5
BBC
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
Nora Cortiñas
Civil Rights Movement
Television

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

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes570Founded16 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Society & CultureDocumentaryPersonal Journals

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Artwork for Last Word

Latest Episodes

Larry King teamed up with his wife Billie Jean King to start the women’s professional tennis circuit in the USA.

Baroness Ramsay was MI6 Head of Station in Helsinki during the Cold War and then became a leading figure in Labour politics.

Caroline M... more

Matthew Bannister on

Clarence B Jones the American lawyer and civil rights campaigner who helped Martin Luther King to write his famous I Have A Dream speech.

Judith Chalmers, the TV and radio presenter best known for her globetrotting holiday seri... more

Kirsty Lang on Michael Pennington, the Shakespearean actor who preferred a life on stage to the glamour of Hollywood. For Dame Judi Dench, he was her 'Mr Plum', she recalls his life.

Cynthia Shange defied apartheid to become the first Black woman to... more

The virtuoso pianist, Ruth Slenczynska was the last living student of Sergei Rachmaninoff. She began performing at the age of four, and was once reputed to be the greatest child prodigy since Mozart.

From the Australian outback to the forefront of B... more

Key Facts

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Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Dame Judi Dench
Dame Judi Dench discusses her former leading man Michael Pennington and their RSC days
Theatre, Royal Shakespeare Company
Episode: Michael Pennington, Cynthia Shange, Scott Hastings, Beverley Martyn
Nonhle Thema
Actress and presenter, daughter of Cynthia Shange
Television / South African media
Episode: Michael Pennington, Cynthia Shange, Scott Hastings, Beverley Martyn
Joe Boyd
Record producer associated with Beverley Martyn; provided insights into her career
Music industry
Episode: Michael Pennington, Cynthia Shange, Scott Hastings, Beverley Martyn
Cynthia Shange
Pioneer Miss World contestant and actress, daughter of Cynthia Shange
South African entertainment
Episode: Michael Pennington, Cynthia Shange, Scott Hastings, Beverley Martyn
Scott Hastings
Former Scottish rugby player, broadcaster, mental health advocate
Sports / Media
Episode: Michael Pennington, Cynthia Shange, Scott Hastings, Beverley Martyn
Beverley Martyn
British folk singer associated with George Martin and Paul Simon
Music
Episode: Michael Pennington, Cynthia Shange, Scott Hastings, Beverley Martyn
Bridget Ogilvie
Dame Bridget Ogilvie, Wellcome Trust leader and scientist
Wellcome Trust
Episode: Ruth Slenczynska, Dame Bridget Ogilvie, Tony Worthington, Russell Tyner KC
Tony Worthington
Former Labour MP
UK Parliament
Episode: Ruth Slenczynska, Dame Bridget Ogilvie, Tony Worthington, Russell Tyner KC
Russell Tyner
Crown Prosecutor
Legal field
Episode: Ruth Slenczynska, Dame Bridget Ogilvie, Tony Worthington, Russell Tyner KC

Reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars from 325 ratings
  • Great Programme

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

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Teac 2021
    Australia4 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 Kingdom3 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 Kingdom4 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Listeners praise thorough biographical detail and thoughtful presentation.
A few criticisms note occasional pacing or topics that feel broad or traditional.
The show is valued for its varied, quality guests and moving memorial tone.

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
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Last Word

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

A thoughtful obituary-focused programme that profiles notable figures who have recently died, weaving personal memories, career milestones, and cultural impact across arts, science, sports, politics, and public life. Episodes commonly feature intimate reminiscences from colleagues, family, and peers, alongside context about the era and field each figure influenced. A standout pattern is the breadth of subjects—from actors and musicians to scientists and public servants—delivered with measured respect, archival material, and analyses of legacy. The show often pairs multi-guest segments to build a mosaic of lives touched by public attention, making it useful for listeners seeking moving biographical storytelling and professional insights into... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Last Word?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Last Word:

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

How many episodes of Last Word are there?

Last Word launched 16 years ago and published 570 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Last Word?

Recent guests on Last Word include:

1. Dame Judi Dench
2. Nonhle Thema
3. Joe Boyd
4. Cynthia Shange
5. Scott Hastings
6. Beverley Martyn
7. Bridget Ogilvie
8. Tony Worthington

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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