Bette Davis

Tracy-Ann Oberman champions the life of one of the silver screen's most enduring icons.

• 30 mins

Tony Hancock

Poet Pam Ayres chooses the lad himself, Tony Hancock.

• 30 mins

Margot Fonteyn

Horticulturalist Rachel De Thame champions her heroine, the ballerina Margot Fonteyn.

• 30 mins

Robert Kennedy

Ken Livingstone discusses his hero, US politician Robert Kennedy.

• 30 mins

Roy Jenkins

Journalist Polly Toynbee chooses one of the most noted of post-war politicians Roy Jenkins

• 30 mins

Sir Thomas Beecham

David Mellor promotes the life of conductor Sir Thomas Beecham.

• 30 mins

Carl Gustav Jung

Ruby Wax discusses the life and work of Carl Gustav Jung.

• 30 mins

Frank Sinatra

Broadcaster and DJ Colin Murray chooses Frank Sinatra.

• 30 mins

John Coltrane

Musician Andy Sheppard chooses influential saxophonist John Coltrane.

• 30 mins

Fred Astaire

Dr Michael O'Donnell discusses celebrated singer, actor and choreographer Fred Astaire.

• 30 mins

Giovanni Falcone

Journalist Misha Glenny remembers the life of anti-Mafia campaigner Giovanni Falcone.

• 30 mins

Alfred, Lord Tennyson

Andrew Motion champions the life of Alfred, Lord Tennyson, Poet Laureate for over 40 years

• 30 mins

Joe Slovo

David Miliband discusses the life of Joe Slovo, a leading member of the ANC.

• 30 mins

John Cornford

George Galloway chooses British poet and political activist John Cornford.

• 30 mins

Freya Stark

Travel writer Dervla Murphy discusses the life of another woman traveller, Freya Stark.

• 30 mins

Sir Kyffin Williams

Rolf Harris discusses the life of the Welsh painter Sir Kyffin Williams.

• 30 mins

The A-Z of Dr Johnson

Politician Boris Johnson chooses the creator of the English dictionary, Dr Samuel Johnson.

• 30 mins

Miriam Makeba

Kate Humble discusses the South African singer and anti-apartheid activist, Miriam Makeba.

• 30 mins

Harry Houdini

Paul Daniels explores the life of Harry Houdini, with help from biographer William Kalush.

• 30 mins

Rudyard Kipling

John Major discusses the life of Rudyard Kipling, poet to the British Empire.

• 30 mins

Henry V

Sir Ranulph Fiennes discusses the life of Henry V and tries to separate fact from myth.

• 30 mins

Tennessee Williams

Stand-up comedian Rich Hall discusses the life of playwright Tennessee Williams.

• 30 mins

Vivian Stanshall

Neil Innes discusses the life of his colleague and friend Vivian Stanshall.

• 30 mins

Hannah Arendt

Munira Mirza discusses the life of the influential political philosopher Hannah Arendt.

• 30 mins

Nero

Christopher Biggins champions the life of the Roman Emperor Nero.

• 30 mins

Lise Meitner

Jenny Agutter champions the life and work of pioneering Austrian physicist Lise Meitner.

• 30 mins

Picasso

Photographer David Bailey discusses the life and work of Pablo Picasso.

• 30 mins

Bill Hamilton

Professor Richard Dawkins discusses the evolutionary theorist Bill Hamilton.

• 30 mins

Bertolt Brecht

Playwright John Godber discusses the life of German writer Bertolt Brecht.

• 30 mins

Robin Hood

Human rights lawyer Clive Stafford Smith discusses Robin Hood.

• 30 mins