Last Word

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BBC Radio 4 FM

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

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Factual: Life Stories

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

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Last Word: Ben Ferencz, Seymour Fortescue, Valerie Elliott, Rachel Pollack

Ben Ferencz, Seymour Fortescue, Valerie Elliott, Rachel Pollack

BBC Radio 4 - Last Word, Ben Ferencz, Seymour Fortescue, Valerie Elliott, Rachel Pollack

Matthew Bannister on a lawyer, a banker, a journalist, an author

Matthew Bannister on lawyer Ben Ferencz, banker Seymour Fortescue, journalist Valerie Elliott, author Rachel Pollack

Matthew Bannister on Ben Ferencz, the last surviving prosecutor at the Nuremberg War Crimes Trials. He devoted his life to campaigning for an international system of justice for the victims of such crimes. 

Seymour Fortescue, the banker who pioneered the credit and debit card revolution.

Valerie Elliott, the respected journalist who reported on politics and then rural affairs.

Rachel Pollack, the author and trans activist best known for her award-winning novel Unquenchable Fire and for creating the first mainstream transgender superhero. Her friend Neil Gaiman pays tribute.

Producer: Gareth Nelson-Davies

Interviewee: Don Ferencz
Interviewee: Neil Gaiman 
Interviewee: Andrea Gittleman 
Interviewee: Alisa Kwitney
Interviewee: Rick Kelsey
Interviewee: Jennie Fortescue 
Interviewee: Tony Harrop-Griffiths


Archive used:
British Pathe, The Nuremberg Trials (1945), VS Court Assembling, YouTube, uploaded 13/04/2014;  Ben Ferencz interview, BBC News, HardTalk, 22/07/2017;  Rachel Pollack interview on The Tarot of Perfection, YouTube uploaded 14/07/2010; Rachel Pollack discussing her inspirations, Fortress Comics, YouTube uploaded  04/05/2022; Valerie Elliott, Genethod Gwent, Come Down to Earth Boy, YouTube, uploaded 18/12/2018;

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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Last Word

Ben Ferencz, Seymour Fortescue, Valerie Elliott, Rachel Pollack

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