Great Lives

Edmund de Waal chooses a writer he believes is one of the greatest of the modern age - Primo Levi, author of the Periodic Table. Born in 1919 in Turin, Levi was an Italian Jew, one of the few deported to Auschwitz who would escape alive. Ceramicist and author Edmund de Waal joins Matthew Parris to discuss how Levi's work inspired The Hare With Amber Eyes - his own memoir of his family's history as Jews in 19th and 20th century Europe. And biographer Ian Thomson, one of the last to interview Levi, explains why we shouldn't confuse Levi the writer with Levi the man. Producer: Lizz Pearson

John Cooper Clarke, poetry's Punk Laureate and the Bard of Salford, nominates Salvador Dali for great life status - melting clocks, Mae West lip sofas, lobster telephones and all. Producer: Mark Smalley

Mumsnet founder Justine Roberts champions the football manager Bill Shankly, who nurtured Liverpool to become one of the world's greatest sides. Matthew Parris chairs. Producer: Jolyon Jenkins

Broadcaster Gyles Brandreth nominates Sir Arthur Conan Doyle as his "Great Life". Matthew Parris chairs, assisted by biographer Andrew Lycett. Producer: Jolyon Jenkins

Dr David Livingstone was the Victorian equivalent of an astronaut - a man who ventured into the interior of Africa to report on territory that was wholly unknown to Europeans. In this programme, the explorer Colonel John Blashford-Snell explains why he admires his predecessor. Matthew Parris chairs the discussion, assisted by Dr Sarah Worden of the National Museum of Scotland. Producer: Jolyon Jenkins

Chris Tarrant nominates Kenny Everett, mad little geezer and genius deejay. Matthew Parris presents with help from biographer James Hogg and Captain Kremmen of the Star Corps.

Bobby Friction - DJ and broadcaster better known for his Bhangra music remixes - champions Galileo Galilei, the Italian physicist and astronomer. For Bobby Galileo is almost 'God like' - If he didn't recant it would have been the ultimate two-fingered salute". Expert contributions come from Dr David Berman from Queen Mary, University of London. Producer : Perminder Khatkar.

Peter Hitchens chooses George Bell, bishop of Chichester, who spoke out against the area bombing of Germany in 1944. Matthew Parris presents.

Gardener Carol Klein's great life is a hero of the wild garden, William Robinson. Matthew Parris presents with expert help from Robinson's biographer Richard Bisgrove.

Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen on the Victorian artist Aubrey Beardsley, whose shocking originality he compares to that of Alexander McQueen. Laurence's first foray into art was copying Beardsley drawings to sell at his school - with the more erotic ones fetching a premium price... Biographer Matthew Sturgis fills in the detail of Beardsley's short but extraordinary life, and Matthew Parris presents. Producer Beth O'Dea

Max Mosley chooses John Stuart Mill, British philosopher and author of On Liberty. Matthew Parris presents.

Was Rasputin really the lover of the Russian queen ? Richard Herring nominates his hero with help from Bob Service. Matthew Parris presents.

Classical composer Ralph Vaughan Williams is the hero of 6Music presenter Stuart Maconie. Matthew Parris is intrigued, and brings along the Chair of the Ralph Vaughan Williams Society to tell us more.

Children's author Francesca Simon chooses for her great life the writer, poet, filmmaker and artist Jean Cocteau. Matthew Parris presents.

Dick Francis, champion jockey and bestselling author, chosen by Martin Broughton. Matthew Parris presents.