The Surprise Lives
Great Lives
BBC
4.2 • 1.3K Ratings
🗓️ 3 June 2021
⏱️ 28 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
"Step one: invite notable guest. Step two: get them to talk about someone else."
After nearly 500 episodes, Great Lives feels like a stable series, but there have been surprises along the way. From Bernard Manning on Mother Theresa to Timmy Mallett on Richard the Lionheart, there's a tradition of guests picking unexpected people they admire. Cerys Matthews on Hildegard of Bingen, Diane Morgan on Air Chief Marshall Hugh Dowding, Iain Lee on Andy Kaufmann, and Lemn Sissay on Prince Alemayu of Ethiopia: "Maybe this is the first Great Life that is a life that hasn't happened," he says. Also features Josie Long on Kurt Vonnegut plus a host of other famous voices in the mix.
Presented by Matthew Parris Produced by Miles Warde
Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Before you listen to this BBC podcast, I'd like to introduce myself. |
| 0:03.7 | My name's Stevie Middleton and I'm a BBC Commissioner for a load of sport podcasts. |
| 0:08.4 | I'm lucky to do that at the BBC because I get to work with a leading journalist, experienced |
| 0:12.2 | pundits and the biggest sport stars. |
| 0:14.3 | Together we bring you untold stories and fascinating insights straight from the players' |
| 0:18.5 | mouths. |
| 0:19.5 | But the best thing about doing this at the BBC is our unique access to the sport world. |
| 0:25.0 | What that means is that we can bring you podcasts that create a real connection to |
| 0:28.8 | dedicated sports fans across the UK. |
| 0:31.2 | So if you like this podcast, head over to BBC Sounds where you'll find plenty more. |
| 0:40.6 | We're starting today with a letter because that's how it usually starts. |
| 0:46.0 | Direct, would you like to be a guest on great lives? |
| 0:50.0 | All you have to do is nominate someone you admire and tell us why. |
| 0:54.4 | That's it really and we take it from there. Play the tape. |
| 0:58.8 | I have chosen Robert Hawke because I know so little about him. |
| 1:08.4 | Robert Falcon Scott, the author Nancy Mittford. |
| 1:11.8 | Charlie Parker, TNT. |
| 1:13.8 | Well, there's lots of comedy in Virginia off. |
| 1:17.0 | I think she was a comedian. |
| 1:18.5 | Pope John Paul II. |
| 1:19.9 | Donna Sammar. |
| 1:20.8 | Elizabeth. |
... |
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