Great Lives

Original version

BBC Radio 4 Extra

Your digital radio entertainment station showcasing the best in comedy and drama

Your digital radio entertainment station showcasing the best in comedy and drama. With recent favourites from BBC Radio 4.

Discussion & Talk

Factual: Life Stories

Biographical series in which guests choose someone who has inspired their lives.

BBC Radio 4 FM

BBC Radio 4 LW

Matthew Parris

Timmy Mallett

Helen Castor

Miles Warde

Great Lives: Richard the Lionheart

Richard the Lionheart

BBC Radio 4 - Great Lives, Richard the Lionheart

Timmy Mallett chooses Richard the Lionheart. With Helen Castor and Matthew Parris.

Children’s TV’s Timmy Mallett nominates Richard the Lionheart. With historian Helen Castor and Matthew Parris. From 2016.

Richard the Lionheart has been portrayed on screen by Sean Connery, Anthony Hopkins and Patrick Stewart, quite a starry list. But what is the reality behind the legend of this famous king? 

Richard's nominator is Timmy Mallett, a legend of children's TV but also unexpectedly a history graduate. Great historical characters, he says, have great stories attached to them, and Richard's life was not short of adventure, particularly on the Third Crusade. 

Applying a cool head to Richard's life is the historian and broadcaster Helen Castor. She concedes that much of Timmy's enthusiasm is probably deserved. 

Presenter Matthew Parris attempts to discover the truth about whether the Lionheart was in fact gay.

Producer: Miles Warde.

Produced in BBC Bristol and first broadcast on Radio 4 in May 2016.

BBC Radio 4

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

Accessibility links

Programme Index

Great Lives

Richard the Lionheart

Contributors

Genres

Brand

BBC Radio 4 Extra

About BBC Radio 4 Extra