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BBC Radio 4

Last Word

Matthew Bannister on

Dame 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 Martyn and Donovan - who shares his memories. 

Interviewee: Chris Packham
Interviewee: Professor Ben Garrod
Interviewee: Michael Rosen
Interviewee: Magnus Linklater
Interviewee: Donovan
Interviewee: Jacqui McShee
Interviewee: Martin Simpson

Producer: Gareth Nelson-Davies

Archive used: 
Tony Harrison, Meriden, BBC World Service, 21/10/1992; The Mysteries, Cottesloe Theatre, The National Theatre, Channel 4 Television, Directed by Bill Bryden, Writer Tony Harrison,,1985; V by Tony Harrison reads short extract from the poem 'V'. BBC Radio 4, 21/01/2013; Menzies Campbell Elected Leader Of The Liberal Democrats, BBC News, 02/03/06; Menzies Campbell, Desert Island Discs, BBC Radio 4, 17/10/2004; Menzies Campbell, Iraq War, BBC News, 24/02/2009; Danny Thompson plays bass, extract from, Pentangle - Blue Monk, Songs From The Two Brewers, ITV, Danny Thompson YouTube Channel, 08/05/1970;

Dame Jane Goodall, Tony Harrison, Lord Menzies Campbell, Danny Thompson

Matthew Bannister on

Sir 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 Visconti.

Interviewee: Andrew Whalley
Interviewee: Greg Dyke
Interviewee: Professor Kevin Webb
Interviewee: Rita Di Santo

Producer: Ed Prendeville

Archive used:
The Late Show, BBC Television 01/02/1989 ; The Eden Project, BBC News 15/03/2001 ; Desert Island Discs – Nicholas Grimshaw , BBC radio 4 , 14/12/2003; John Stapleton in conversation , BBC Radio Wales 01/11/2013; John Stapleton, Argentina report; Newsnight, BBC Two, 13/04/1982 ; John Stapleton , report on Motorways, Nationwide, BBC One, 01/03/1976; The Time The Place, Central Television, ITV, 09/11/1992; John Stapleton, BBC Election 1987, 12/06/1987; Watchdog, BBC One, 11/01/1988 ; John Stapleton report, Panorama, The Class of 81, BBC One, 07/09/1981; Life File , BBC 12/02/1988; The Leopard, director: Luchino Visconti, from the novel by Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa, Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corp 1963; Hardtalk - Claudia Cardinale , BBC 29/11/2011

Sir Nicholas Grimshaw, John Stapleton, Mary Elizabeth Dodd, Claudia Cardinale

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 on the big screen. Director Chris Columbus pays tribute.

Interviewee: Chris Columbus
Interviewee: Michael Feeney Callan
Interviewee: Professor Joanna Innes
Interviewee: Professor John Blair
Interviewee: Amy Booth

Producer: Gareth Nelson-Davies

Archive used: 
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, Trailer, 20th Century Studios Youtube Channel, uploaded 18/09/2015; Robert Redford interview, Parkinson, BBC Television, 1980; Barefoot in the Park film trailer, 1967, Paramount movies digital channel uploaded 10/10/2014; All the President's Men - Original Theatrical Trailer, Warner Brothers Rewind YouTube Channel uploaded 09/07/2014; Rosa Roisinblit interview, BBC Newsnight, 04/04/2013; Guillermo Pérez Roisinblit interview, 60 minutes, CBS News Television, 60mins Facebook channel uploaded 28/07/2025; Mother of plaza de mayo report, International Assignment, BBC Radio 4, 04/09/1981; Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, Official Trailer, Harry Potter YouTube Channel, uploaded 24/09/2023; Stuart Craig interview, The One Show, 05/03/2012; Stuart Craig Interview, The Film Programme, BBC Radio 4, 09/11/2007;

Robert Redford, Barbara Harvey, Rosa Roisinblit, Stuart Craig

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 Prendeville

Archive used:
The Royal Wedding: HRH Duke of Kent and Miss Katharine Worsley in York Minster, BBC, 08/06/1961; Real Story, BBC One, 15/03/2004; Royal Wedding, BBC Archives, 08/06/1961; Desert Island Discs, BBC Radio 4, 21/12/1990; Ladies’ Singles, 1993 Wimbledon Championships, BBC Archives; Desert Island Discs, BBC Radio 4, 21/12/1990; BBC Look North Hull, BBC, 06/09/2025; The Clothes Show, BBC; Rick Davies Interview, WLNG 92.1FM, “Lunch on the Deck”; Bark Out Loud Dogs Media, LLC – Supertramp Interview

The Duchess of Kent, Giorgio Armani, Valerie Pearlman, Rick Davies

John Wilson on

Joe 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 RAF radar station in Shetland and turned it into a space port.

Interviewee: Gareth A Davies
Interviewee: Eileen Gallagher
Interviewee: Debbie Jevans
Interviewee: Chris Jones
Interviewee: Scott Hammond

Producer: Gareth Nelson-Davies

Archive used: 
Joe Bugner, Desert Island Discs, BBC Radio 4, 11/06/1973; Battle of Britain Heavyweights, Cooper v Bugner, BBC, 16/03/1971; Ali v Bugner, World Championship Fight, BBC, 01/07/1975; Ann McManus interview, BBC Radio 4, Front Row, 08/03/2006; Coronation Street, Hayley tells Roy scene, Coronation Street YouTube channel, uploaded 07/02/2015; Bad Girls, Season 1 Episode 1 - Trailer, Bad Girls YouTube Channel, uploaded 18/06/2019; Bad Girls, ITV Promo, 1999; Angela Mortimer interview, 1961, BBC; Wimbledon Women's Singles Championship, BBC Radio, 1961; Frank Strang interview, BBC Radio Shetland, 17/07/2025; Frank Strang interview; Frank Strang obituary, BBC Radio Shetland, 13/08/2025;

Joe Bugner, Ann McManus, Angela Mortimer Barrett, Frank Strang

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 characters

Producer: Ed Prendeville

Archive;
BBC News, BBC, 02/07/2014; BBC News, BBC, 12/05/2013; BBC News, BBC, 05/04/2008; BBC News, BBC, 14/09/2008; Late Again, BBC Two, 14/03/1992; BBC News Ten, BBC, 07/10/2008; On Your Farm: A New Dawn for British Farming?, BBC, 24/07/2016; The Food Programme, BBC, 04/06/1976; Farming Today, BBC, 21/08/2025; Farming, BBC, 21/08/1977; The Last Human Cannonball (Episode 5), BBC Radio 4 Extra, 28/11/2009; Sara’s People, BBC Radio Wales, 01/01/2004

David Richardson, Doris Lockhart Saatchi, Dame Annette Brooke, Byron Rogers

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 Shirley, the pioneering computer scientist and founder of her own software company

Kay Dunbar who founded the Ways with Words literary festival which ran in Devon for 30 years 

Eric Midwinter was one of the three co-founders of u3a to encourage continued learning in retirement

Producer: Ed Prendeville

Archive used:
Desert Island Discs, BBC, 12/03/2006; Billy Budd, Rank Film Distributors, 1962; Superman II, Warner Bros, 1980; Far from the Madding Crowd, Warner-Pathe Distributors, 1967; Front Row, BBC, 16/05/2013; Morning Live, BBC, 08/03/2022; HARDtalk, BBC, 07/03/2000; Spotlight, BBC News Plymouth, 11/07/2023; Spotlight, BBC News Plymouth, 02/09/1996; Archive on 4: Kindertransport, BBC, 09/2015; Lifespan, AS Choices, 16/08/1987; Armchair Discussions with u3a, u3a UK, n.d.; You and Yours, BBC, 12/12/2016

Terence Stamp, Stephanie Shirley, Kay Dunbar, Eric Midwinter

Matthew Bannister on

Jim 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

Archive used:
The Festival of Politics, The Scottish Parliament, 2009; Jim Lovell on Apollo 13 Mission, permission granted by NASA Media Team; 13 Minutes Presents: The Space Shuttle – Apollo 13: Bonus 1. Jim Lovell, 14/04/2020; Desert Island Discs, BBC Radio 4, 06/06/2014; Blue Peter, BBC One, 18/11/1963; The Things We Forgot to Remember, BBC Radio 4, 30/05/2005

Jim Lovell, Biddy Baxter, Razia Jan, Iris Williams

Matthew Bannister on

Dame 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 Mitchell

Archive:
Al Murray’s Great British Spy Movies, BBC Four, 21/04/2015; Woman’s Hour, BBC Radio 4, 28/07/2011; Newsround, BBC One, 25/02/1992; BBC News, BBC One, 16/07/1993; Stella Rimington: Security and Democracy – Is There a Conflict?, The Richard Dimbleby Lecture, BBC One, 12/06/1994; Death on the Rock, ITV (uploaded to YouTube), first broadcast 28/04/1988; BBC News, BBC One, 08/09/2001; EastEnders Feuds: The Beales vs The Mitchells, BBC Three, 18/05/2007; Doctor Who trailer – “Rose: I’ve got a choice”, BBC One (uploaded to YouTube), c.2005; BBC Radio Wales – Aled Jones, 06/06/2010; Through the Keyhole, BBC 1, 10/05/1999; Saving Our Salmon, BBC Two Scotland, 16/10/2018; The Radio Café, BBC Radio Scotland, 31/12/2008; Desert Island Discs: Allan Ahlberg, BBC Radio 4, 12/07/1980; Hula Girl (documentary), dir. Amy Hill & Chris Riess, Snap Pictures, 2018

Dame Stella Rimington, Sylvia Young, Sir Jamie McGrigor, Joan Anderson

Matthew Bannister on

Dame 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 Mackintosh.

Producer: Ed Prendeville

Archive used
First Lady of Jazz – Cleo Laine, BBC Radio 4 Extra, 30/10/2022; Front Row, BBC Radio 4, 28/05/2018; Desert Island Discs, BBC Radio 4, 05/09/1997; Jonathan Ross Presents: Hulk Hogan, BBC One, 14/04/1994; Is Wrestling Fake? – Hulk Hogan, Pebble Mill, BBC One, 31/03/1993; WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event – Hulk Hogan vs. Big Boss Man (Steel Cage Match), 1989; Hulk Hogan B-Roll, Including Strongest Slam and Hall of Fame Speech, provided by WWE; The Life Scientific – Margaret Boden, BBC Radio 4; Kaleidoscope, BBC Radio 4, 02/06/1980; Parkinson, BBC One, 04/10/1980; Desert Island Discs: Tom Lehrer, BBC Radio 4, 12/07/1980

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

Matthew Bannister on

Dr. Spencer Silver, the American chemist who invented the adhesive used in Post It Notes.

Kevin Jackson, the writer, broadcaster and critic described as a “21st century man of letters”.

Patricia Brown, who played a leading role in cracking German codes at Bletchley Park during the second world war.

Asfaw Yemiru, the former street boy from Ethiopia who founded a school for orphans in Addis Ababa which has given free education to thousands of students. 

Producer: Neil George

Interviewed guest: Linda Spencer 
Interviewed guest: Art Fry
Interviewed guest: Tom Sutcliffe
Interviewed guest: Iona Brown 
Interviewed guest: Dr Tessa Dunlop
Interviewed guest: Beneberu Demissie Kassa 
Interviewed guest: Revd Canon Tim Kinahan

Archive clips used: Twenty Minutes_Dutch Icons_Vermeer: Radio 3, TX 8.10.2002; Saturday Review: Radio 4, TX 9.11.2019

Spencer Silver, Kevin Jackson, Patricia Brown, Asfaw Yemiru

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