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Categories: Factual: Life Stories

  1. Stuart Sutcliffe: the Lost Beatle

    The tragic story of Stuart Sutcliffe, the talented young artist who died at the age of 21.

    BBC Four

  2. The Extraordinary Equiano

    The story of Olaudah Equiano, a black slave who become an English gentleman.

    BBC Two

  3. Kenneth Williams in his Own Words

    Series of archive clips in which Kenneth Williams tells his life story.

    BBC Four

  4. The Photographer, his Wife, her Lover

    Paul Yule's film uncovers the life of O Winston Link, a giant of contemporary photography.

    BBC Four

  5. Joe Zawinul: A Musical Portrait

    Profile of the late Joe Zawinul, founder of the jazz-rock band Weather Report.

    BBC Four

  6. Censored at the Seaside: The Postcards of Donald McGill

    Film about Donald McGill, whose saucy postcards became part of the seaside holiday.

    BBC Four

  7. Lloyd George: The People's Champion

    Huw Edwards presents a profile of the former Prime Minister.

    BBC Four

  8. Geisha Girl

    Documentary about a 15-year-old Japanese girl's arduous training to become a geisha.

    BBC Four

  9. The Man who Loved Sherlock Holmes

    Investigation into the death of Richard Lancelyn Green, a Sherlock Holmes expert.

    BBC Four

  10. Wildlife in a War Zone

    Biologist Sanjayan Muttulingam returns to the Sierra Leone home he fled during civil war.

    BBC Four

  11. The Wild Life of Gerald Durrell

    Profile of the conservationist and best-selling author of My Family and Other Animals.

    BBC Four

  12. Solomon Burke: Everybody Needs Somebody

    Documentary tracing the life of the late, great soul singer, Solomon Burke.

    BBC Four

  13. Johnny Cash: The Last Great American

    Documentary profiling the life of the legendary country music star Johnny Cash.

    BBC One

  14. Samuel Johnson: The Dictionary Man

    Drama documentary telling the story of the creation of the first English dictionary.

    BBC Four

  15. Hannah Glasse: The First Domestic Goddess

    Clarissa Dickson Wright presents a profile of Hannah Glasse, who wrote The Art of Cookery.

    BBC Four

  16. A Poem for Harry - A Tribute to Harry Patch

    Andrew Motion's tribute to the last veteran of the Great War trenches, Harry Patch.

    BBC Two

  17. Rebel Physician: Nicholas Culpeper's Fight for Medical Freedom

    Benjamin Woolley presents the story of 17th-century radical pharmacist Nicholas Culpeper.

    BBC Four

  18. John Buchan: Master of Suspense

    Docudrama about the life of author John Buchan, best known for his novel The 39 Steps.

    BBC Four

  19.

    Wainwright: The Man Who Loved the Lakes

    Documentary recalling the life of eccentric Lancastrian Alfred Wainwright.

    BBC Four

  20. Peter Scott: A Passion for Nature

    Documentary about Peter Scott, who swapped wildfowling for leading a conservation movement

    BBC Four

  21. Greg Dyke on Lord Reith

    Ex-director general of the BBC Greg Dyke explores the life and legacy of Lord Reith.

    BBC Four

  22. Val Doonican Rocks

    Pauline McLynn narrates an affectionate portrait of Irish entertainer Val Doonican.

    BBC Two

  23. North Korea: Crossing the Line

    Documentary about Comrade Joe, an American defector to the communist state of North Korea.

    BBC Four

  24. The Real Mr Pooter

    Documentary about George Grossmith, author of classic comic novel The Diary of a Nobody.

    BBC Four

  25. The Surgeon Of Crowthorne

    A tale of murder, madness and lexicography. A rich convict's links to the OED.

    BBC Radio 4 Extra

  26. Another String: So Long as Lobsters Swim the Sea

    Playwright and fisherman Nick Darke looks to his nets and pots off Padstow. From June 1997

    BBC Radio 4 Extra

  27. Lucifer Matches: The Letters of Charlotte Bronte

    In her correspondence, Jane Eyre's creator rarely minced her words.

    BBC Radio 4 Extra

  28. Who Was Bessie Head?

    Hugh Quarshie talks to those who knew one of Africa's most brilliant writers: Bessie Head

    BBC Radio 4 Extra

  29. When Harry Met Sooty

    Jack Dee presents the rags-to-riches story of Britain's most famous glove puppet.

    BBC Radio 4 Extra

  30. John Mortimer's Life, Love and the Law

    The novelist, playwright, QC and Rumpole creator entertains an audience.

    BBC Radio 7

  31.

    The Armstrong Tapes

    The life of Louis Armstrong as told through his archive of tape recordings.

    BBC Radio 4

  32. Charles Chilton - Another Time of My Life

    At the BBC for 46 years, Charles Chilton recalls his early career at Broadcasting House.

    BBC Radio 4 Extra

  33. The Dalesman

    Harry Gration explores the story of a magazine dedicated to life in the Yorkshire Dales.

    BBC Radio 4 Extra

  34. Fragments in Time

    Christopher Morris searches for the owner of a 1940s wartime diary, found in Sussex.

    BBC Radio 4 Extra

  35. The Holton Players

    Jim Broadbent revisits his Lincolnshire village roots.

    BBC Radio 4 Extra

  36. Who Wears the Trousers?

    Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz created a TV phenomenon, but their marriage paid the price.

    BBC Radio 4 Extra

  37. The First Private Eye

    Val McDermid probes the man who gave the world the term "private eye".

    BBC Radio 4 Extra

  38. The Name of the Father

    The story of William Lloyd Webber, the genius who spawned a musical dynasty.

    BBC Radio 4

  39. A Great Wall

    Jo, diagnosed with cancer at the age of 29, walked the Great Wall of China for charity.

    BBC Radio 4

  40. Sunflowers

    Tim Marlow investigates Van Gogh's late passion for sunflowers.

    BBC Radio 4 Extra

  41. There's A Guy Works Down Our Local Swears He's Elvis

    Ian McMillan delves into the world of Elvis impersonators.

    BBC Radio 4 Extra

  42. The Man Who Made Mock Turtle Soup

    The life of the first Victorian celebrity chef, Alexis Poyet. With Michel Roux.

    BBC Radio 4 Extra

  43. Seems Like a Nice Boy: The Story of Larry Grayson

    Terry Wogan and Isla St Clair recall one of Britain's most popular entertainers

    BBC Radio 4 Extra

  44. Chekhov's Death: Fact and Fiction

    Julian Evans explores the blend of fact and fiction surrounding Anton Chekhov's demise.

    BBC Radio 4 Extra

  45. Tiny Tim

    The story of eccentric American falsetto singer and ukulele player, Tiny Tim.

    BBC Radio 4 Extra

  46. Ouch! Men and Shaving

    Brian Perkins shaved off his beard after 30 years. But how did he maintain his good looks?

    BBC Radio 4

  47. The Late Mrs Buggins

    Cooking wartime rations with a smile. Mabel Constanduros aka Grandma Buggins was a pioneer

    BBC Radio 4 Extra

  48. Making the Grade

    Exploring students', teachers' and parents' experiences of music grade exams.

    BBC Radio 4

  49. Andrew McGibbon - I Was Morrissey's Drummer

    Andrew McGibbon charts his on-off percussive relationship with The Smiths' former frontman

    BBC Radio 4 Extra

  50. The Diary

    Stories and insights into the secret world of ordinary diary-writers.

    BBC Radio 4

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