Radio Lives

Radio Lives was a long running BBC Radio 4 biographical series consisting of portraits of great radio figures. Running over seven series from 1990–96, each episode featured a personality who was influential either on the air or behind the scenes, and was presented by someone with a keen interest in their subject. The programmes demonstrated a striking range of subjects as varied as Edward R. Murrow (the voice of Britain for an American radio audience at the height of the London blitz) to Kenneth Williams, and William Hardcastle (inaugural presenter of The World at One) to Nancy Spain (socialite). Presenters have included Patricia Routledge, Charles Kennedy, Mark Lawson and Humphrey Carpenter.

Programmes

Series 1, 19 July – 23 August 1990

Subject Presenter ProducerC. E. M. Joad June Knox-MawerJulian HaleGracie FieldsPatricia RoutledgeElizabeth BurkeJ. B. S. HaldaneProfessor John DurantMark SavageStephen PotterMark LawsonHamish MykuraGilbert HardingBrian MastersNigel AchesonA. P. HerbertCharles KennedyFiona Couper

Series 2, 23 May – 20 June 1991 Subject Presenter ProducerDerek McCullochTrevor HillSimon ElmesIsobel BarnettJune Knox-MawerMark SavageTommy HandleyPhil SmithJulian HaleJ. B. PriestleyRonald EyrePenny LawrenceWilliam HardcastleChristopher CookFiona McLean

Series 3, 6 August – 10 September 1992 Subject Presenter ProducerMary StocksAnne KarpfJulian HaleJimmy ClitheroePhil SmithSimon ElmesEdgar LustgartenJonathan GoodmanMatt ThompsonAudrey RussellRoisin McAuleyFran AchesonEdward R MurrowChristopher CookFiona McLeanA. G. StreetSean Street

Series 4, 27 May – 1 July 1993 Subject Presenter ProducerSir Hugh GreeneAlasdair MilneJulian HaleJimmy Edwards Nigel FarrellRonni Davis René CutforthPeter WhiteNigel AchesonNancy SpainNatalie WheenMatt ThompsonMarghanita LaskiDavid WheelerLouise PurslowLouis MacNeiceHumphrey CarpenterFiona McLean

Series 5, 9 June – 14 July 1994 Subject Presenter ProducerKenneth WilliamsRussell DaviesSimon ElmesHermione Gingold Matt ThompsonChester WilmotPhilip KnightlyJulian HaleLeslie WelchJon StockAnn-Marie EvansPeter EckersleyDerek RobinsonBella BannermanR. D. Smith Humphrey CarpenterFiona McLean

Series 6, 29 June – 3 August 1995

Subject Presenter Producer(s)Gerald PriestlandRobert FoxSimon ElmesFrankie HowerdDylan WinterMatt ThompsonKenny EverettRobert SandallChris PalingEamonn AndrewsPeter WhiteNigel Acheson and Kim NormantonCharles ParkerLaurie TaylorSally FlatmanJack de ManioNick BakerCathy Drysdale

Series 7, 31 October – 5 December 1996 Subject Presenter ProducerJon PertweeNick BakerPeter HoareBrian RedheadMichael BywaterBob CarterLiberaceMatt ThompsonFreya StarkPeggy ReynoldsSarah Bowen Russell HartyRichard ColesFiona CouperA. J. AyerLaurie TaylorJulian Hale

References