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BBC Radio 4 is a radio channel that started transmitting on the 30th September 1967. It replaced BBC Home Service.

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Last Word

Factual: Life Stories

Radio 4's weekly obituary programme, telling the life stories of those who have died recently

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Matthew Bannister

Christopher Cook

Frederick Forsyth

Tim Rice

Simon Mansfield

Jo Durie

Russell Fuller

Richard Benyon

Ian McEwan

Gail Rebuck

Neil George

Last Word: Sir George Christie, Leslie Thomas, Elena Baltacha, Sir William Benyon and Deborah Rogers

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09/05/2014

Sir George Christie, Leslie Thomas, Elena Baltacha, Sir William Benyon and Deborah Rogers

BBC Radio 4 - Last Word, Sir George Christie, Leslie Thomas, Elena Baltacha, Sir William Benyon and Deborah Rogers

Matthew Bannister remembers Glyndebourne's owner, an author, a Tory MP and a tennis player

Obituary. Matthew Bannister remembers Glyndebourne owner Sir George Christie, Virgin Soldiers author Leslie Thomas, literary agent Deborah Rogers and tennis player Elena Baltacha.

Matthew Bannister on

Sir George Christie, who ran the Glyndebourne opera at his family home in Sussex - and oversaw the rebuilding of the theatre.

Leslie Thomas, the Barnado's boy who drew on his experience of National Service to write The Virgin Soldiers. Frederick Forsyth and Sir Tim Rice pay tribute.

Deborah Rogers, agent to many leading writers. Ian McEwan and Dame Gail Rebuck remember her.

Sir William Benyon, the Conservative MP who championed Milton Kenyes and re-built the family's estate.

And Elena Baltacha, Britain's former number one tennis player, who died of liver cancer aged thirty.

Intelligent speech, the most insightful journalism, the wittiest comedy, the most fascinating features and the most compelling drama and readings anywhere in UK radio.

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Sir George Christie, Leslie Thomas, Elena Baltacha, Sir William Benyon and Deborah Rogers

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