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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

BBC Radio 4 LW

Matthew Bannister

Aatish Taseer

Anna Farmar

John Kani

Trevor Nelson

Paul Waters

Last Word: Aretha Franklin, VS Naipaul, Winston Ntshona, Nan Joyce

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17/08/2018

Aretha Franklin, VS Naipaul, Winston Ntshona, Nan Joyce

BBC Radio 4 - Last Word, Aretha Franklin, VS Naipaul, Winston Ntshona, Nan Joyce

Matthew Bannister on an author, an activist, an actor and a singer.

Obituary Series. Matthew Bannister on author VS Naipaul, activist Nan Joyce, actor Winston Ntshona and singer Aretha Franklin.

Pictured: Aretha Franklin

Matthew Bannister on

Sir VS Naipaul, the Nobel prize winning author of acclaimed books including "A House For Mr Biswas" and "A Bend in The River". He was a controversial figure who fell out with some of his fellow writers and was accused of cruelty in his relationships. 

Nan Joyce, who campaigned for the rights of Ireland's travelling people.

Winston Ntshona,, the South African actor who won a Tony award for his Broadway performance in Athol Fugard's play "Sizwe Banze Is Dead" but was arrested by the apartheid government on his return home. 

And the "Queen of Soul" Aretha Franklin.

Producer: Paul Waters

Archive clips from: African and Caribbean Writing: A House for Mr Biswas, Radio 4 03/05/1981; Desert Island Discs, Radio 4 05/07/1980; Profile, Radio 4 11/05/1984; Omnibus, Radio 1 21/04/1988; Paul Gambaccini: Aretha Franklin Interview, Radio 1 01/01/2000; Night Waves, Radio 3 19/03/2007.

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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Aretha Franklin, VS Naipaul, Winston Ntshona, Nan Joyce

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