Great Lives Folgen

Goldfrapp's Will Gregory is centre-stage at the Colston Hall in Bristol to tell Matthew Parris why he feels a kinship with Flann O'Brien.The Irish writer's books 'At Swim-Two-Birds' and 'The Third Policeman' are now hailed as literary masterpieces, but only came to prominence after the author's death. Carol Taaffe, who has written about Flann, helps make sense of the man who wrote under three pseudonyms - Brian O'Nolan, Flann O'Brien, and Myles na gCopaleen. They look more closely at the novels and newspaper column he wrote alongside his job in the Civil Service, whilst maintaining a steady presence in Dublin's pubs. Will reads extracts he believes illustrate the brilliance with which O'Brien slips between realism and surrealism, and Carol sheds light on who said that 'At Swim-Two-Birds' "....was just the book to give your Sister if she's a loud dirty boozy girl." Producer: Toby FieldFirst broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in December 2017.

City boss Dame Helena Morrissey champions the life of the pioneer of women's cricket.Baroness Heyhoe Flint ruffled feathers and shook up a male-dominated sport.Dame Helena makes the case for why this ground-breaker is a great life. Presented by Matthew Parris.With Dr Raf Nicholson who teaches history at Queen Mary University of London and is a writer on the women's gameDame Helen has also made it to the top of her career in a male dominated world of the City. She is founder of the 30% Club, a campaign group whose aim is to get a minimum of 30% women on FTSE-100 boards. Now working as Head of Personal Investing with Legal and General Investment Management. Producer: Perminder KhatkarFirst broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in September 2017.

Constance Markievicz led an amazing life - a leading figure during the Easter Rising of 1916, she was the first woman elected to Parliament though she never took her seat.Markievicz was born into a wealthy Anglo-Irish family and gained her exotic surname from marriage to a Polish count. She was adventurous, flamboyant, committed to woman's rights, court-martialled and nearly shot. Nominating her is Andrea Catherwood, ex-ITN correspondent who made her first documentary for BBC Radio 4. Presented by Matthew Parris.With Lindie Naughton, author of Markievicz - A Most Outrageous Rebel. Producer: Miles WardeFirst broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in September 2017.