Last Word

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Factual: Life Stories

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

Last Word: Shane MacGowan, Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, Lord Darling, Joan Jara

Shane MacGowan, Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, Lord Darling, Joan Jara

BBC Radio 4 - Last Word, Shane MacGowan, Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, Lord Darling, Joan Jara

Matthew Bannister on a singer, a judge, a politician and a campaigner.

Matthew Bannister on singer Shane MacGowan, judge Sandra Day O’Connor, politician Lord Darling and campaigner Joan Jara.

Matthew Bannister on

Shane MacGowan the lead singer of The Pogues who was famous for his song writing but also his abuse of drugs and alcohol. His sister joins us to discuss the roots of his talent and his excesses. 

Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, the first woman to be appointed to the US Supreme Court.

Lord Darling, the Labour politician who was Chancellor during the financial crash of 2008.

Joan Jara, whose husband, the singer Victor Jara was killed by the Pinochet regime in Chile. She campaigned for justice on behalf of thousands whose relatives died or disappeared.

Interviewee: Siobhan MacGowan
Interviewee: James Fearnley
Interviewee: Justice Ruth McGregor 
Interviewee: Alan Day
Interviewee: Catherine MacLeod
Interviewee: Almudena Bernabeu

Producer: Gareth Nelson-Davies

Archive used:
Shane MacGowan interview, BBC Two, Crock of Gold: A Few Rounds with Shane MacGowan, BBC iPlayer, First broadcast 16/03/2021;  Sandra Day O’Connor , 60 Minutes, YouTube uploaded, 01/12/2023; Sandra Day O'Connor nomination to the Supreme Court by President Reagan, CBS, 19/08/1981; Sandra Day O’Connor interview, PBS Newshour, 04/04/2013. Supreme Court Ruling Bush v Gore, BBC Newsnight, 08/12/2000; Alistair Darling interview ,10 Years After the Financial Crash with Alistair Darling, RBS Events, YouTube uploaded, 25/09/2017; Chile News report. The World at One, BBC Radio 4, 19/09/1973; Joan Jara interview, Woman’s Hour, BBC Radio 4, 04/09/1988; Joan Jara interview, Weekend Woman’s Hour, BBC Radio 4, 20/09/2003; Sandra Day O'Connor Retires, BBC News, BBC Radio 4,  01/07/2005;

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Last Word

Shane MacGowan, Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, Lord Darling, Joan Jara

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