Last Word
Radio 4's weekly obituary programme, telling the life stories of those who have died recently
- Update frequency
- every 6 days
- Average duration
- 27 minutes
- Episodes
- 531
- Years Active
- 2015 - 2025
Madeleine Albright (pictured), Peter Padfield, Christina Smith, Sheila Paine
Matthew Bannister on
The first female US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, who was a leading advocate of the NATO bombing campaign aimed at stopping ethnic cleansing in the Balkans.
Peter Padfield…
Bruce Page, Dottie Frazier, Josephine Veasey (pictured), Maynard Davies
Matthew Bannister on
Bruce Page, the investigative journalist best known for leading the Sunday Times Insight team’s expose of the Thalidomide scandal.
Dottie Frazier, the pioneering American scuba div…
Mary Coombs, Paul Farmer, Leslie Lonsdale-Cooper, William Hurt (pictured)
John Wilson on Mary Coombs, the world's first female computer programmer in the commercial sector; Paul Farmer, a medical anthropologist who saved millions of lives in the world's poorest countries; …
Shirley Hughes (pictured), Roger Graef, Shane Warne
Matthew Bannister on
Shirley Hughes, the children’s author and illustrator whose books created a welcoming and recognisable picture of family life.
Roger Graef, the documentary filmmaker who revealed t…
Sonny Ramadhin (pictured), Sister Catherine Wybourne, Captain Raymond Savage, Anna Karen
Matthew Bannister on
Sonny Ramadhin, the West Indian bowler who was one of the heroes of the side that scored a famous victory over England in 1950.
Sister Catherine Wybourne, who was known as the 'dig…
Jamal Edwards MBE, P.J. O'Rourke (pictured), Romaine Hart OBE, Ronnie Campbell
Matthew Bannister on
Jamal Edwards, the young music entrepreneur whose YouTube channel supported the careers of grime and rap stars like Dave, Skepta and Stormzy.
P.J. O’Rourke, the conservative Amer…
Beryl Vertue CBE (pictured), Flavio Carboni, Phil Harvey, Lata Mangeshkar
Matthew Bannister on
Beryl Vertue, the TV and film producer who brought us 'Men Behaving Badly' and 'Sherlock'. The actors Martin Clunes and Martin Freeman pay tribute.
Flavio Carboni, the Italian whee…
Bamber Gascoigne (pictured), Norma Waterson, Claire Tomlinson, Thich Nhat Hanh
Matthew Bannister on
Bamber Gascoigne, the broadcaster and author best known as the long serving host of the TV quiz show 'University Challenge'.
Norma Waterson, the revered singer who was part of the …
Sir Crispin Tickell, Barry Cryer (pictured), Darlene Hard, Elza Soares
Julian Worricker on:
The diplomat Sir Crispin Tickell, who advised four prime ministers, and influenced international policy on climate change...
The writer and performer, Barry Cryer, whose work spann…
Meat Loaf (pictured), André Leon Talley, Jana Bennett, Kristin Baybars
Matthew Bannister on
Meat Loaf, the rock opera singer best known for his album Bat Out Of Hell.
André Leon Talley, the fashion editor who played a leading role at US Vogue magazine and supported the ca…
Lord Sainsbury, David Stuart, Elizabeth Selby, Ronnie Spector (pictured)
Matthew Bannister on
Lord Sainsbury of Preston Candover who led the expansion of the family grocery business during the 1970s and 80s.
David Stuart, the former gay escort and drug dealer who turned his…
Sidney Poitier (pictured), EO Wilson, Sarah Weddington, Assunta 'Pupetta' Maresca
Matthew Bannister on
Sidney Poitier, the first black man to win a 'Best Actor' Oscar, known for his powerful performances in ‘In The Heat of The Night’, ‘Lilies of the Field’ and ‘To Sir, With Love’. …
Lord Rogers (pictured), April Ashley MBE, Joan Didion, Ray Illingworth
Matthew Bannister on
Lord Rogers of Riverside, the influential architect who designed the Pompidou Centre in Paris and the Lloyds Building in London.
April Ashley, the transgender model who partied wit…
Janice Long (pictured), Marvin Hagler, Esther Bejarano, Leslie Bricusse
Julian Worricker on
Janice Long, the pioneering female DJ who was heard on Radios 1 and 2 and was a familiar face on Top of the Pops.
“Marvellous” Marvin Hagler, one of the greatest middleweight boxin…
bell hooks (pictured), Shirley McGreal, Lionel Blair, Melvin Van Peebles
Julian Worricker on
The feminist writer bell hooks, credited with prompting new, radical thinking about race, gender and class.
Shirley McGreal, founder of the International Primate Protection League, …
Mary Maher, Robbie Shakespeare (pictured), Anwar Ditta, Anne Rice
Matthew Bannister on
The journalist and feminist Mary Maher. She edited the women’s page of the Irish Times and was a prime mover in campaigns for equal rights.
The bass player Robbie Shakespeare. Wit…
Sir Antony Sher (pictured), Roger Phillips, Judy Totton
Matthew Bannister on
Sir Antony Sher, one of the finest actors of his generation, who was also a writer and a painter. We have a heartfelt personal tribute from his husband, the Artistic Director of t…
Stephen Sondheim (pictured), Sir Frank Williams, Jo-Carroll Dennison
Matthew Bannister on
Stephen Sondheim, the acclaimed composer and lyricist who revolutionised the stage musical. We have a tribute from Imelda Staunton who gave award-winning performances in some of …
Ian Wallace, Rossana Banti, Ivy Nicholson (pictured), Cedric Robinson MBE
Matthew Bannister on
Ian Wallace, one of the most influential figures in British ornithology. At one time he had seen a wider variety of species of birds than anyone else in Britain.
Rossana Banti, th…
Aaron Beck, Joan Carlyle (pictured), Etel Adnan, Anne Bradford
Kirsty Lang on Aaron Beck the Eminent psychiatrist who developed cognitive behavioural therapy into the world’s most popular treatment for depression and anxiety.
Joan Carlyle the principal soprano a…