Great Lives Folgen

The Greek politician and economist takes us back to ancient Alexandria and the life of the first woman to make her name as a mathematician. But Hypatia is best known now for being brutally murdered. Yanis Varoufakis makes the case for her as a philosopher and mathematician, and explores how her story has been interpreted and misinterpreted in the centuries after her death. He's joined by the writer and broadcaster, Professor Edith Hall.Presented by Matthew Parris and produced for BBC Audio in Bristol by Chris Ledgard

The president of Murray Edwards College, Cambridge and former Channel 4 editor champions the life of a 14th-century mystic. Like Dorothy Byrne, famous for her scathing attacks on broadcasting executives in the 2019 MacTaggart Lecture, Catherine of Siena stood up to powerful men. She lobbied Popes, attacked corruption in the Catholic church, and played an active role in the troubled Italian politics of the late 14th century. Alongside Francis of Assisi, she is one of two patron saints of Italy. Carolyn Muessig, Chair of Christian Thought at the University of Calgary, provides the expert analysis.Presented by Matthew Parris and produced for BBC Audio in Bristol by Chris Ledgard

Ewan MacColl sang "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" to Peggy Seeger down the phone.When they met, Peggy says, he was in the grip of his midlife crisis. "I'm fond of saying the poor boy didn't stand a chance," she tells Matthew Parris.This programme is her attempt to set the record straight. "I'd like to do a bit of justice to him, because there's an awful lot of myths, an awful lot of bad talk, misunderstandings."Ewan MacColl was born Jimmy Miller in Salford, which he wrote about in 1949 in his song, "Dirty Old Town."He made his name in theatre, was married to Joan Littlewood, and after the Second World War he was a powerful force behind the folk revival. Along with Peggy Seeger and Charles Parker, he created the famous Radio Ballads.With Peter Cox, author of Set Into Song.Featuring many examples of Ewan MacColl's music and his voice.Producer: Miles WardeFirst broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in September 2021.