Kirsty Lang on Shinzo Abe - Japan’s longest-serving prime minister who sought to end a wartime legacy of defeat and occupation and to tackle the economy through ‘Abenomics’. Actor Mona Hammond is best known for her TV role in Eastenders. Lorna de Smidt, the anti-apartheid and anti-racist activist who cut her political teeth in the Black Consciousness Movement in South Africa in the late 1960s. And Monty Norman - Composer and singer who wrote the James Bond main theme and a string of successful musicals as well. Producer: Neil George Interviewed guest: Nakano Koichi Interviewed guest: Dr Kristin Surak Interviewed guest: Michael Buffong Interviewed guest: Graham de Smidt Interviewed guest: Matthew Sweet Archive clips used: BBC News, Report on death of Shinzo Abe, 08/07/2022; BBC Radio 4, The World This Weekend, Votes counted for Japanese election, 29/07/2007; BBC One, Eastenders 25/10/2010; Humphrey Barclay Productions for Channel 4, Desmond's S01E04 26/01/1989; BBC Radio 4, The Archers 28/12/2003; BBC Two, Storm Damage (1989), 23/01/2000; Paramount Pictures/ Albert S. Ruddy Productions/ Alfran Productions, The Godfather Part 1 (1972); BBC Radio 4, News Bulletin19/03/2001; BBC Two Omnibus - Monty Norman interview 17/10/1982.
Matthew Bannister on Baroness Greengross, who championed the rights of older people as Director General of the charity Age Concern. Sonny Barger, the leading American Hell’s Angel who was arrested 21 times and spent 13 years in prison. Technoblade, the young Youtuber who amassed millions of followers for his commentaries on the video game Minecraft. Qin Yi, the leading Chinese film star whose career spanned eight decades. Producer: Neil George Interviewed guest: Gail Perry Interviewed guest: Alexandre Kalache Interviewed guest: Zhen Zhang Interviewed guest: Chris Berry Interviewed guest: Deanne Stillman Archive clips used: BBC Radio 4, Woman's Hour 07/03/2003; BBC Radio 4, Woman's Hour 03/03/2004; BBC News, News report on Dementia 03/07/2012; BBC Two, Hell's Angels 04/01/2004; BBC Four, Storyville - Gimme Shelter 11/12/2009; KSAN Radio/ Stefan Ponek/ from Storyville - Gimme Shelter, Sonny Barger Interview 11/12/2009; EricSalasProductions/ YouTube Channel, Sonny Barger Exclusive Int...
Matthew Bannister on Dame Deborah James who raised millions of pounds for cancer research by talking openly about living with - and dying from - bowel cancer. Yves Coppens, the charismatic French palaeontologist who led the team that discovered hominid remains estimated to be 3.2 million years old. Revel Guest OBE, the documentary film producer who became chair of the Hay Literary Festival. Samuel Bhima, the first Malawian to become a Fellow of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. Producer: Neil George Interviewed guest: Jude Rogers Interviewed guest: Zeresenay Alemseged Interviewed guest: Corisande Albert Interviewed guest: Maliza Bhima Archive clips used: BBC Radio 5 Online, Raising a Glass to Deborah James 28/06/2022; BBC Two, The Making of Mankind - One Small Step 11/05/1981; FRANCE 24 English, Yves Coppens dies at 87 23/06/2022; PBS (US), PBS Ident by Paul Alan Levi; Trans Atlantic Film, Placido 1983; Dreamworks Pictures/ Touchstone Pictures/ Reliance Entertai...
Matthew Bannister on Dom Phillips, the freelance journalist who was ambushed and shot dead on a trip into the Amazon rain forest. Stephen S. Thompson, the novelist and screenwriter who won a BAFTA for his TV drama telling the story of his brother’s experiences during the Windrush scandal. Caroline Drummond, who campaigned for greater links between farming and environmental protection – and oversaw the launch of Open Farm Sunday. Maureen Hiron, the top-class bridge player who invented many new games including Continuo and Quizwrangle. Producer: Neil George Interviewed guest: Sian Phillips Interviewed guest: Sylvia Colombo Interviewed guest: Anthony Bryan Interviewed guest: Krishnendu Majumdar Interviewed guest: Minette Batters Interviewed guest: Ian Pigott Interviewed guest: W. Eric Martin Interviewed guest: Deej Johnson Archive clips used: BBC News 24, Dom Phillips and Bruno Pereira 16/06/2022; Metrópoles - Café da Manhã Com Jornalistas 14/06/2022; BBC News Online, Amber Rudd's...
Matthew Bannister on Dame Paula Rego, the acclaimed Portuguese-born artist who later made her home in the UK and was renowned for making vivid and disturbing work focussing on the subjugation of women. We talk to her son Nick Willing. Bruce Kent, the Catholic priest who became a leader of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament. Hilary Devey CBE, who founded a multi-million pound freight distribution business and was one of the Dragons on the TV show Dragons Den. Producer: Neil George Interviewed guest: Nick Willing Interviewed guest: Jacky Klein Interviewed guest: Kate Hudson Archive clips used: BBC Radio 4, Desert Island Discs - Dame Paula Rego 07/12/1997; Kismet Film Company/ BBC, Paula Rego - Secrets and Stories 25/03/2017; Eric Minh Swenson Art Films, Samella Lewis - Pioneering Visual Artist and Educator 19/12/2016; BBC Radio Ulster, Bruce Kent documentary 13/03/1988; British Movietone, Aldermaston March - Natural Sound 12/04/1963; British Movietone, The March to Aldermaston in Tr...
Matthew Bannister on Amanda Claridge, the archaeologist who was a leading expert on ancient Rome. Sidhu Moose Wala, the acclaimed Indian rapper who was shot dead at the age of 28. Mark Sykes, the upper-class gambler, con man, gun smuggler and playboy. Paul Vance, who wrote the song 'Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini' and whose death was announced prematurely in 2006. Producer: Neil George Interviewed guest: Richard Hodges Interviewed guest: Professor Richard Alston Interviewed guest: Bobby Friction Interviewed guest: Lady Colin Campbell Interviewed guest: Douglas Thompson Archive clips used: BBC Radio 3, Night Waves - Roman Empire Exhibition 20/10/2000; BBC One, Nationwide - Pompeii 19/11/1976; BBC News 31/05/2022; ABP Sanjha / YouTube Channel, Sidhu Moose Wala in Big Trouble 04/05/2020; BBC Radio 4, Last Word 29/09/2006.
Matthew Bannister on Dervla Murphy, the intrepid travel writer who cycled from her native Ireland to India. Lester Piggott, the jockey who rode thousands of winners and broke many records, including winning the Derby 9 times. Anne Howells, the acclaimed mezzo soprano known for her beautiful voice and sense of mischief. Producer: Neil George Interviewed guest: Antonia Quirke Interviewed guest: Hilary Bradt MBE Interviewed guest: Susan Griffiths Interviewed guest: Frank Keogh Interviewed guest: Sir John Tomlinson CBE Interviewed guest: Mark Rice-Oxley Producer: Neil George Archive clips used: BBC Radio 4, Desert Island Discs - Dervla Murphy 17/01/1993; BBC Radio 4, Wheels Within Wheels ep 2 23/12/2001; BBC Radio 4, Intrepid Women 19/05/1980; BBC Radio 4, Wheels Within Wheels ep 3 30/12/2001; BBC Sport, AP McCoy tribute to Lester Piggott May 2022; BBC News 06/06/1970; BBC News, Frankie Dettori tribute to Lester Piggott 30/05/2022; BBC News, Willie Carson tribute to Lester Piggott 30/05...
Matthew Bannister on Baroness Haleh Afshar, the Iranian-born academic and activist who made her home in the UK and campaigned for women’s rights. Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Emir of Abu Dhabi and President of the United Arab Emirates who led the transformation of his country and was a key ally of the West. Kay Mellor, the TV writer best known for series like 'Band of Gold', 'Fat Friends' and 'The Syndicate'. Vangelis, the prolific composer who won an Oscar for the soundtrack to the film 'Chariots of Fire'. Producer: Neil George Interviewed guest: Molly Newton Interviewed guest: Janet Veitch OBE. Interviewed guest: Sameer Hashmi. Interviewed guest: Paul Allen. Archive clips used: BBC Radio 4, Desert Island Discs - Baroness Haleh Afshar 28/12/2008; FOX 5 New York, The first minutes of the reporting of the 9/11 attacks from WNYW 11/09/2001; BBC Radio 4, Today Programme - Kay Mellor tribute 18/05/2022; BBC Radio 4, Desert Island Discs - Kay Mellor OBE 29/10/2017; Granada TV...
Matthew Bannister on Shireen Abu Akleh, the respected Al Jazeera reporter who was shot dead while covering an Israeli military raid in Jenin in the occupied West Bank. Robert Gillmor, the wildlife artist best known for his striking paintings of birds. Leonid Kravchuk who oversaw Ukraine’s transition to independence after the collapse of the Soviet Union and became its President. Carrie White, the hairdresser who styled some of Hollywood’s biggest stars and became addicted to drink and drugs. Producer: Neil George Interviewed guest: Dalia Hatuqa Interviewed guest: Stephen Moss Interviewed guest: Dr Taras Kuzio Interviewed guest: Helena de Bertodano Interviewed guest: Pitita Alcala White Archive clips used: BBC News 24, Newsday 12/05/2022; BBC News,14/05/2022; Al Jazeera English, 74 years of Nakba 2022; xeno-canto.org, Pied Avocet (Recurvirostra avosetta); BBC One, Animal Magic 23/11/1971; YouTube/Behind Nhu, Eurasian collared dove call 17/05/2020; BBC Radio 4, The World Tonight 28/...
Matthew Bannister on Kathy Boudin, the American radical activist who was sent to prison for her part in the killing of a security guard and two police officers during a robbery. While serving her sentence she became a campaigner for penal reform. Dennis Waterman, the actor best known for his roles in TV series 'The Sweeney', 'Minder' and 'New Tricks'. Sidney Altman, the American biologist who won the Nobel prize for his work on the function of RNA... And Régine Zylberberg, the French nightclub owner who claimed to have invented the discotheque. Producer: Neil George Interviewed guest: Baroness Helena Kennedy QC. Interviewed guest: Dr Thomas R. Cech, Ph.D. Interviewed guest: Hugh Schofield Archive clips used: CBS Sunday Morning, Weather Underground's accidental bombing 06/03/1970; Center for Justice at Columbia University, Interview with Kathy Boudin 09/05/2022; BBC One, Life and Times of Dennis Waterman 06/12/2000; Danziger Productions Ltd, Night Train To Inverness (1960); Cy Howar...