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

Hanif Kureishi

Dylan Jones

Perminder Khatkar

Great Lives: Hanif Kureishi on David Bowie

Hanif Kureishi on David Bowie

BBC Radio 4 - Great Lives, Hanif Kureishi on David Bowie

Hanif Kureishi nominates his friend David Bowie as his hero.

4 Extra Debut. Author and screenwriter Hanif Kureishi chooses his friend and hero, David Bowie. With Matthew Parris. From 2018.

"Suddenly this light comes into your life" - says Hanif Kureishi, referring to his hero, his great life, David Bowie. 

Hanif, an author, screenwriter and film maker, went on to become friends with Bowie in the 1990's after they worked together when Bowie wrote the soundtrack to Kureishi's TV adaptation 'The Buddha of Suburbia'. 

For Hanif it was also Bowie who inspired him to become an author and filmmaker - he says for a "mixed race Pakistani kid living in a crummy terrace bored out of my mind, I wanted to get out - I wanted to explore, I wanted to express myself, I wanted to be free".

Hanif gives his personal insight into the life of David Bowie.

The expert witness is Dylan Jones - author of 'David Bowie A Life' and 'When Ziggy Played Guitar'. 

Presenter:  Matthew Parris  

Producer: Perminder Khatkar

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in July 2018.

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

Hanif Kureishi on David Bowie

Contributors

Genres

Brand

BBC Radio 4 Extra

About BBC Radio 4 Extra