Rev Ron Lancaster: The Master Blaster Pastor

After the attempted assassination of former Russian spy Sergei Skripal in Salisbury in 2018, Vladimir Uglev was one of only a few scientists to speak out against the Kremlin, criticising its denials of the use of Novichok, a nerve agent he created. Vitaly Shevchenko is a Russian expert and Chief Analyst at BBC Monitoring, and tells Uglev’s story.The poet and academic Jack Mapanje was a powerful voice for artistic freedom in Malawi. But, after the publication of a poetry collection which included satirical references to the autocratic regime of President Hastings Banda, he was imprisoned in 1987 without trial. His publisher Rebecca Nana Ayebia Clarke recalls the impact that Jack's work had on her. Dr Beverly Whipple was one of the most influential sexologists of the last half-century who drove the revolution for female sexuality in the 1980's becoming internationally renowned for her bestselling book "The G Spot", helping to establish sexuality as a serious field of scientific inquiry. Her protégé Dr Nan Wise reveals her continued impact on the field.Clem Cattini was a session drummer who performed on more than 40 number one records in the UK with the likes of Tom Jones, Dusty Springfield, and the Walker Brothers. Throughout the 1970s he worked as the house drummer on Top of the Pops, playing with everyone from ABBA to The Wombles. From the BBC Archives, John Wilson shares an interview he did with Clem for Radio 4 in 2010. Ursula von Rydingsvard was an internationally renowned sculptor whose monumental work was exhibited around the world, including at the prestigious Venice Biennale. Born in wartime Germany to Polish and Ukrainian parents, she spent some of her early her childhood in refugee camps before her family emigrated to the United States in 1950. Sarah Coulson, senior curator at the Yorkshire Sculpture Park who, recalls working with Ursula on a special exhibition there. Presenter: John Wilson Producer: Ben Mitchell Assistant Producer: Imy Harper Researcher: Jesse Edwards Editor Glyn Tansley

Rev. Ron Lancaster, aka The Master Blaster Pastor, combined his duties as a clergyman and teacher with becoming one of the UK’s leading pyrotechnic experts. He was behind the displays at the London 2012 Olympics, the Queen's Jubilee in 1977 and many other significant public occasions. Ron’s son Mark Lancaster remembers digging up the Queen's rose garden for that display, aged seven, and shares his memories of his father.The American civil rights leader Dolores Huerta rallied farm workers in the 1960s and 70s to fight for their rights, under the battle cry, “Yes we can!”; a phrase later popularised by Barak Obama. She was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2012 and her work is celebrated every year in California on 10th April which has been designated Dolores Huerta day. Gustavo Arellano, a columnist for the LA Times, met Dolores on several occasions and recalls the impression she left on him.  Jean Phillips-Martinsson drew on her challenging personal experiences to become one of the founders of the International Prader-Willi Syndrome Organisation. Her son Anders was diagnosed with the rare genetic condition as a teenager, which can lead to lethargy, feeding difficulties and floppiness in babies, delayed development and behavioural challenges in children, and an insatiable hunger as patients get older. Tony Holland is President Emeritus of the International Prader-Willi Syndrome Organisation and shares Jean's commitment to improving the lives of those affected by the condition.Dónal Lunny was a hugely influential figure in the world of Irish traditional music. Playing in bands like Planxty, The Bothy Band and Moving Hearts, he was renowned as a fine instrumentalist and also an arranger and producer. He was much in demand as a collaborator, appearing on albums by stars like Kate Bush, Sinéad O’Connor and Mark Knopfler. Bandmate Andy Irvine tells us what it was like to play with him.  Presenter: Matthew Bannister Producer: Ben Mitchell Assistant Producer: Catherine Powell Researcher: Jesse Edwards Editor: Glyn TansleyArchive: Archive:BBC One, New Year’s Eve, 31/12/2014; BBC News, 31/10/1957; BBC One, Silver Jubilee, Fires of Friendship, 06/06/1977; BBC One, In the Making: Fireworks, 01/06/1977; BBC One, Firework Fiesta, 05/11/1977; BBC Radio 4, Woman’s Hour, 23/10/2013; Courier California, Dolores Huerta, uploaded to YouTube, October 2026; BBC One, The One Show, 06/12/2023; “In Time “, Director / Writer - Nuala O'Connor, Producer - Iarfhlaith Ó Domhnaill, Executive Producer - P.J. Mathews, South Wind Blows (South Wind Blows Productions), Released 2025

Margaret Papandreou was the American born wife of the socialist Greek Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou. When her husband was elected in 1981, Margaret refused to disappear into the background. Instead, she embarked on a series of high-profile campaigns for women’s rights that brought her international attention. Her son George Papandreou, also a former Greek premier, shares his memories.For 30 years Loyd Price was one of the senior animators behind the success of Wallace and Gromit and other Aardman series. Loyd worked on “Wallace and Gromit: A Close Shave”, “The Curse of the Were Rabbit”, “The Shaun the Sheep Movie” and “Chicken Run”. He co-directed and wrote “Wallace and Gromit’s Cracking Contraptions” and won a Visual Effects Society Award for his character animation on Gromit. Sir Peter Lord, co-founder of Aardman Animations, reflects on Loyd's career. Malcolm Edwards was the respected publisher of novels by authors including Ian Rankin, Anthony Horowitz and Harlan Coben. His first job in publishing was at Gollancz where he followed his passion for science fiction by managing a list which included Sir Arthur C Clarke, the “Dune” author Frank Herbert and Sir Terry Pratchett. Malcolm then moved to Harper Collins before becoming managing director of Orion. Jon Wood worked with Malcom on Harlan Coben’s breakthrough novel “Tell No-One", and author Kate Mosse collaborated with Malcolm during the publication of her best-selling novel 'Labyrinth'. Tarby Davenport founded The Weird and Wonderful Wood festival in Suffolk. It began as a small, affordable, family-friendly celebration of woodlands and traditional crafts in 1994. The two-day event now attracts over 10,000 people to enjoy circus performances, music and crafts whilst still maintaining that original ethos. Her daughter Sarah Barker spoke to Matthew about the woman who kept the spirit of the sixties alive in Suffolk.Presenter: Matthew Bannister Producer: Ed Prendeville Assistant Producer: Catherine Powell Researcher: Jesse Edwards Editor: Andrea KennedyArchive: First Socialist Government in Greece, BBC Radio 4, 21/10/1981; Woman's Hour (Margaret Papandreou), BBC Radio 4, 26/07/1982; Newsnight (Margaret Papandreou), BBC Two; A Close Shave, BBC One, 1995; Chicken Run, Feature Film (Aardman Animations / DreamWorks / Pathé), 2000; Weird & Wonderful Wood, uploaded to Youtube 04/02/2026 (Permission granted by Sarah Barker); The Coode Street Podcast, Episode 158: Live with Malcolm Edwards and David G. Hartwell, Coode Street Podcast, 06/09/2013;

American evangelist Jim Bakker built up the multi-million dollar Praise the Lord TV network, but ended up in prison after being convicted of fraud. Often working alongside his wife Tammy Faye, Jim became one of the best-known evangelical preachers in the United States. At its height, his PTL – or Praise the Lord – Network was pulling in 14 million viewers. But Jim’s career would eventually end in ignominy and imprisonment. Matthew spoke to John Wigger who is the author of “PTL: The Rise and Fall of Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker’s Evangelical Empire”. Douglas Dunn, the Scottish poet and academic, wrote movingly about the death of his wife. Douglas has often been described as one of Scotland’s greatest modern poets. His subject matter ranged widely from working class life to personal grief. He won both the Whitbread Prize and the Queen’s Medal for Poetry. His fellow poet, and friend, Sean O'Brien reflects on Douglas's life and works. Chloe Fisher was an internationally respected authority on breastfeeding and devoted herself for over fifty years to improving the care of mothers and babies. Chloe qualified as a midwife in 1956 and worked in Oxford, often helping women to give birth at home. She would go on to write some of the most influential texts on breastfeeding and to chair the Royal College of Midwives’ working group on the subject. Matthew spoke to her friend and colleague Sally Inch. The Scottish singer and TV presenter Lena Martell had a massive hit single in 1979 with 'One Day At A Time'. It sold millions of copies and beat off challenges from Michael Jackson and Abba to stay at number one for three weeks. In her long musical career Lena toured widely around the world, released thirty albums and also had her own TV show which entertained audiences of 12 million. Dougie Stevenson was Lena’s recording manager for many years and also played pedal steel guitar in her band. Presenter: Matthew Bannister Producer: Ed Prendeville Assistant Producer: Catherine Powell Researcher: Jesse Edwards Editor: Andrea KennedyArchive: My Kind of Music (Lena Martell), ITV; Lena Martell, BBC Television; Lena Martell in Studio Concert (with Mike Newman and The Pattersons), BBC Television; Lena Martell in Concert, BBC Television; Top of the Pops (Big Hits 1979), BBC One; 1979; File on Four: The Electronic Church, BBC Radio 4; Today, BBC Radio 4, 26/03/1987; News, BBC Radio, 28/05/1987; News, BBC Radio, 05/10/1989;

Margaret Hamilton was a trailblazer in her field, leading the team who developed the software for Nasa's Apollo missions. This was where the term "software engineering" was first coined. Margaret's work in the 1960s, ultimately enabled the astronauts on Apollo 11 to land on the moon. In 2016, Hamilton's life work was honoured by Barack Obama with the Presidential Medal of Freedom for her contribution to science and space travel. Kevin Fong is the presenter of the podcast '13 minutes to the moon' which tells the story of the Apollo 11 mission. He explained to Matthew the significance of Margaret's work, and how it was put to the ultimate test just three minutes before the astronauts landed on the moon. The Bosnian Serb politician Biljana Plavšiċ, was the only woman to be charged with crimes against humanity for her role in the Balkans conflict of the 1990s. For nearly four years, she was vice-president of Republika Srpska, a Serb enclave in Bosnia that declared itself a separate state in 1992. It was the beginning of a program of brutal ethnic cleansing aimed at driving out Muslims, Croats and other non-Serbs. The BBC's Allan Little reported from Bosnia throughout the conflict and interviewed Biljana Plavšiċ on a number of occasions. During the swinging 60s, Felicity Green was a trend-setting fashion editor at the Daily Mirror. She championed the work of many of the top young designers who made their names in that decade. In 1973 she became the first woman to sit on the board of a national newspaper and in later years went onto teach journalism at Saint Martin’s School of Art in London. Deborah Bee was a student of Felicity's in the 1980s, and they remained friends throughout the rest of her life. George Fenton was without doubt one of the UK’s, if not the world’s, most prolific and versatile film composers. He wrote scores for dozens of Hollywood blockbusters including Gandhi, Dangerous Liaisons and Cry Freedom. He had long working relationships with directors like Richard Attenborough, Ken Loach and Nora Ephron. But he came back to the UK to play a significant part in the global success of the BBC’s natural history programmes narrated by Sir David Attenborough, including Blue Planet, Frozen Planet and Planet Earth. Alastair Fothergill was the the producer of those series for the BBC. Producer: Ed Prendeville Assistant Producer: Catherine Powell Researcher: Jesse Edwards Editor: Andrea KennedyArchive: Desert Island Discs, BBC Radio 4, 11/05/2003; Blue Planet (Episode 1), BBC One, 24/09/2009; The Blue Planet (Series 1: Tidal Seas), BBC One, 29/09/2000; Bergerac (Series 4: The Last Interview), BBC One, 11/10/1985; Desert Island Discs (Cassandra Wilson), BBC Radio 4, 17/04/2011; Apollo 11 Archive, NASA; Apollo 8 Archive, NASA / Internet Archive; 13 Minutes to the Moon, BBC World Service / BBC Sounds; Oral History of Margaret Hamilton, Computer History Museum, Uploaded to Youtube.

Lord Archer of Weston-Super-Mare - Jeffery Archer - was a top sprinter in his 20s, an MP at 29, a multi-million best-selling author and a close confidant of Conservative Prime Ministers, his career came crashing down following unwise investments, a scandal involving a sex worker and a conviction for perjury. A life worthy of a novel, told by journalist Michael Crick when he wrote 'Stranger than Fiction', an unauthorised biography of Jeffrey Archer. Cassandra Wilson was once described by Time magazine as the best singer in America. She was also a Grammy award winner who had a distinctive and versatile voice which allowed her to move seamlessly from experimental jazz to the great American song book and on to covers of well-known pop songs. Alyn Shipton, presenter of Radio 3’s Jazz Record Requests and Research Fellow at the Royal Academy of Music, only ever gave one five star review to a jazz performer, and that was to Cassandra. During the 1990s BBC journalist Mark Doyle became one of the most trusted voices reporting for TV and radio on Africa. His balanced and thoughtful dispatches gained him many admirers across the continent. He was an eyewitness to terrible events during the civil war in Sierra Leone and the genocide in Rwanda:. Milton Nkosi was a former Africa bureau chief for the BBC, he worked closely with Mark for many years. Presenter: Matthew Bannister Producer: Ed Prendeville Assistant Producer: Ribika Moktan Researcher: Jesse Edwards Editor: Andrea KennedyArchive: Cassandra Wilson in Conversation with Robert Sandall, BBC Radio 3, 02/11/2002; Jazz Library: Cassandra Wilson, BBC Radio 3, 04/07/2008; 24 Hours, BBC One, 04/12/1969; Desert Island Discs: Jeffrey Archer, BBC Radio 4, 31/01/1981; Jeffrey Archer Resigns, BBC News, 26/10/1986; The Ian Wooldridge Interviews: Jeffrey Archer, ITV, 05/03/1982; Newsnight, BBC Two, 24/07/1987

The spectacular designer to the stars Bob Mackie, who created Cher’s notorious “nude illusion” dress. From Diana Ross to Tina Turner and more recently from Miley Cyrus to Sabrina Carpenter, wearing a Bob Mackie creation, most likely studded with sequins and elaborate embroidery and with a revealing cut, was bound to turn heads and lead to acres of media coverage. Joe McFate was Bob’s Design Director for over thirty years. He explained the design process Bob went through with every single dress he created, the relationship Bob had with the celebrities he dressed, and the Elton John costume which went wrong, but brought Bob the most joy. Stephanie Cole, the actor best known for playing formidable characters in Tenko and Open All Hours. At the age of 17 in her first paid acting role, Stephanie was cast as the 90-year-old medium Madame Arcati in Noel Coward’s Blithe Spirit. Caroline Frost is the TV Editor of the Radio Times. and told Matthew being offered parts much older than her years became something of a recurring theme for her. Stephanie worked regularly in theatre and on TV but her big break came midway through her career in her 40s when she played the role of Dr Mason in Tenko. Peter Llewellyn-Jones who played a leading role in the development of British Sign Language, helping to create the profession of sign language interpreter and train the next generation. Graham Turner is policy and research lead at the British Deaf Association, he explained how Peter was at the fore of bringing BSL to public attention in the 80s and 90s when he interpreted at political party conferences, on television and in theatres. Peter also co-presented television programmes such as Insight and The Riddlers, both were groundbreaking for deaf children. In later years, Peter was also involved in the academic development of the language at several universities.Emma Bonino, was an Italian politician who championed women’s rights in her native country. Through her campaigning she brought about the legalisation of abortion, the right for women to divorce and the abolition of the death penalty. Emma Bonino first got involved in Italian politics after she became pregnant aged 26 and had an abortion, even though it was illegal at that time. Her motivation, she said, was to make sure no other woman had to suffer the humiliation she went through. The Italian journalist Sabina Castelfranco told Matthew that she has much to thank Emma Bonino for, "maybe more than any other woman in Italy". Presenter: Matthew Bannister Producer: Ed Prendeville Assistant Producer: Ribika Moktan Researcher: Jesse Edwards Editor: Andrea KennedyArchive: BBC News at One,BBC One,20/08/2018; Cult Heroes: Happy Birthday Mr President, BBC Radio 4, 13/11/1990; Bob Mackie – Naked Illusion; Cher Meets Rylan, BBC Two, 09/06/2026; Elton John: Uncensored, BBC Two, 28/11/2019; This Is Your Life (Series 35, )BBC One, 21/12/1994; Waiting for God, BBC One, 28/06/1990; Tenko (Series 3, Episode 10, BBC Two, 16/12/1984; Open All Hours (Series 4, "Soulmate Wanted"), BBC One, 01/09/1985; Witness History, BBC World Service, 19/09/2023; HARDtalk, BBC World News / BBC World Service, 28/10/2013; News (Peter Llewellyn-Jones), BBC World Service,10/03/1994; Spotlight, BBC World Service, 20/01/1998; See Hear: 25th Anniversary Special, BBC Two; Insight: The Pretty Nasty Programme, Yorkshire Television, 1983

Playwright and critic Bonnie Greer was a frequent panellist on programmes such as Newsnight and Question Time where she took part in one of its most contentious episodes. Kirsty spoke to Judith Antell who was Bonnie's agent and friend for over 20 years. They discuss how Bonnie's father being stationed in the UK during World War 2 shaped her view on the country; the surprising backlash Bonnie faced after appearing on a 2009 edition of Question Time with the then leader of the British National Party, they also discuss the project Bonnie was most proud of in her later career. Jeremy Thomas was a film producer whose 80 plus films ranged from the Oscar Award-winning The Last Emperor to the hugely controversial 'Crash'. He also produced wartime drama Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence, the gangster thriller Sexy Beast and the adaptation of William S. Burroughs' Naked Lunch. Mark Cousins wrote and directed “The Storms of Jeremy Thomas” which documented his eclectic career. He tells Kirsty how through his films Jeremy "wanted to dig deeper into human life, his films are about the biggest questions". (Please note: In the introduction to this item we incorrectly stated that Mark was the producer of 'The Storms of Jeremy Thomas'. Mark was the writer and director.) Wendell Berry, the Kentucky farmer and environmental campaigner who warned for many years of the excesses of industrial society. As a writer, he published hundreds of essays, poems and more than forty books. Wendell argued for most of his life that small-scale agriculture was essential to the preservation of the land and culture. Writer Paul Kingsnorth has been reading Wendell's work since the 90s and recently worked with him to compile a series of his essays into a book. He discusses Wendell's philosophy to farming, the environment, the wider community and how they are all intrinsically linked together. Wendell famously never owned a computer and only wrote with a pencil, which presented challenges, and unexpected joys, for Paul when editing the book. Frances Stonor Saunders was a historian who exposed secret CIA attempts to manipulate public opinion through popular culture during the cold war. Her 1999 book 'Who Paid the Piper' was hugely successful and groundbreaking in its work. It was said that it "single-handedly established a new branch of sub-history" and is to be republished in 2026. Frances' brother Alexander Stonor Saunders explains how she was able to uncover the range of CIA activities, they included the production of an animated version of George Orwell's Animal Farm.Presenter: Kirsty Lang Producer: Ed Prendeville Assistant Producer: Ribika Moktan Researcher: Jesse EdwardsARCHIVE: Conversation Piece, BBC Radio 4, 01/12/1988; Start the Week, BBC Radio 4, 28/06/1999; The Food Programme, BBC Radio 4, 25/08/2002; Fast Food Nation, BBC Film Network, 03/05/2007; Question Time, BBC One, 22/10/2009; Front Row, BBC Radio 4, 09/12/2010; Belief, BBC Radio 4, 31/12/2010; GMT, BBC News / World News, 21/11/2011; The Film Programme, BBC Radio 4, 16/10/2014; My Food Hero: Ella McSweeney Meets Wendell Berry, BBC Radio 4, 24/08/2015; Front Row, BBC Radio 4, 29/07/2024; Era of Reclamation (Ep. 1: In Search of Black History), British Museum

The pioneering feminist leader, Gloria Steinem, moved the dial on critical issues regarding women’s health and reproductive rights as well as equal pay. But, she was first and foremost a journalist who started out, in her words, “as a girl reporter” forced to do light fluffy magazine features, a role she resented. She went on to write serious investigative pieces before co-founding Ms Magazine, the first magazine owned and run by women. Amy Richards, co-founder of Gloria’s Foundation, remembers her.With his top hat, big smile and pack of cards, Juan Tamariz, was an instantly recognisable magician, known in his home country of Spain as "The Maestro". He studied physics and film at university, two disciplines which he wove into his magic, and was also fascinated by psychology and philosophy. He was a funny and charismatic performer who appeared regularly on TV in Spain and here in the UK. His former student, and fellow magician, Jorge Blass shares his memories.Sir Andrew Nicol was a British barrister and judge who defended the rights of journalists and broadcasters in several high-profile cases – such as his defence of journalists from the New Statesman who were held in contempt of court for interviewing jurors in the infamous Jeremy Thorpe trial. He later went on to cowrite the first book on Media Law, alongside fellow KC Geoffrey Robertson, with whom he also founded the internationally renowned Doughty Street Chambers. The ballerina Pauline Clayden began her career amid the destruction of the Second World War with the internationally renowned Sadler’s Wells Ballet - know known as the Royal Ballet. She was thought of as one of the most talented performers of her time, but perhaps unfortunately for her, she shared the stage with Margot Fonteyn, and thus never became a principal ballerina. Her friend and critic Alastair Macaulay shares her life in dance - her passion until her death at 103.Presenter: Kirsty Lang Producer: Ben Mitchell Assistant Producer: Alice McKee Researcher: Jesse Edwards Editors: Andrea Kennedy and Glyn TansleyArchive: BBC World Service, Witness History, 02/12/2024; BBC Radio 2, John Dunn Show, 02/04/1984; BBC Radio 4, Desert Island Discs, 25/03/2016; BBC News, 100 Women, 03/12/2023; BBC One, Paul Daniel’s Secrets, 06/12/1995; BBC One, Paul Daniel’s Secrets, 10/01/1996; BBC Radio 4, PM, 22/06/1979; BBC One, News, 02/11/2020

The work of Japanese avant-garde artist Yayoi Kusama is famed for its use of dots and inspired the likes of Andy Warhol. She was a work of art herself, often photographed wearing a bright orange wig and technicolour clothes covered in her signature polka dots. But, behind the canvas Yayoi was suffering with her mental health and spent almost five decades living in a psychiatric hospital. Frances Morris, the former Director of Tate Modern, now chair of the Gallery Climate Coalition, curated a retrospective exhibition of Kusama’s work.  The Bosnian Serb General Ratko Mladić was jailed for life in 2017 for genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity. He was known as the "Butcher of Bosnia" and infamously ordered the death of thousands of men and boys in the town of Srebrenica in July 1995. The author and journalist Tim Judah met and interviewed Ratko Mladić and tells his story.When the actor Tim Curry slapped on full make up, donned fishnet stockings and corset and let loose his uniquely powerful voice, no one in the audience was ever going to forget meeting the Rocky Horror Show's Frank N Furter. Curry was born in Warrington in 1946 and his first acting job came after university in the original London production of the equally groundbreaking rock musical “Hair” in 1968. He was known also as the original Pennywise from Stephen King's "It”, the naturalist Nigel Thornberry in the much-loved children’s series “The Wild Thornberrys”, and Long John Silver in the 1996 film “Muppet Treasure Island” alongside a young Kevin Bishop who recalls his experience of working with Tim Curry.Violet Hensley has died at the astonishing age of 109. She was one of the last surviving links back to depression-era America, she was also a luthier, or instrument maker, and a fine fiddle player. Her instruments were of such high quality that she became known as the “Stradivarius of the Ozarks”. Violet made her first instrument when she was 14, but four years later she got married and stopped performing and making fiddles while she raised nine children. After a thirty-year break, she started making music again. Her daughter Sandra Flagg remembers her.Presenter: Matthew Bannister Producer: Ben Mitchell Assistant Producers: Lowri Morgan and Alice McKee Researcher: Jesse Edwards Editor: Andrea KennedyArchive: BBC One, Newsnight, 01/02/2012; BBC Radio 4, Front Row, 09/02/2012; BBC One, News, 26/05/2011; BBC World Service, Witness History, 29/10/2025; BBC One, News, 04/11/2011; BBC, Film Week, 26/07/1975; “Muppet Treasure Island”, directed by Brian Henson, produced by The Jim Henson Company and The Walt Disney Company, 24/05/1996 (UK release)