BBC Radio Podcasts from The New Elizabethans

Queen Elizabeth II

James Naughtie profiles Queen Elizabeth II, who celebrated her diamond jubilee in 2012.

Simon Cowell

James Naughtie profiles Simon Cowell, who made his name and fortune on talent shows.

Rupert Murdoch

James Naughtie profiles Rupert Murdoch, the global media magnate.

Fred Goodwin

Jim Naughtie considers Fred Goodwin, the banker now bereft of his knighthood.

Tony Blair

James Naughtie profiles Tony Blair, the Labour Prime Minister who swept to power in 1997.

Alex Salmond

Jim Naughtie considers the Scottish politician with a passion for an independent Scotland.

Diana, Princess of Wales

James Naughtie reflects on the glamorous life and untimely death of the Princess of Wales.

Tim Berners-Lee

The inventor of the World Wide Web and unlikely hero of the Olympic opening ceremony.

Doreen Lawrence

Jim Naughtie profiles the campaigner and mother of murdered teenager Stephen Lawrence.

John Hume/David Trimble

Jim Naughtie profiles the Irish politicians who shared the Nobel Peace Prize in 1998.

Goldie

James Naughtie considers the contribution of the musician, artist and DJ.

Charles Saatchi

James Naughtie reflects on the high-flying advertising executive and art collector.

Norman Foster

James considers the architect who has transformed the world's skylines and landscapes.

Anita Roddick

James Naughtie considers the influence of one of Britain's most successful businesswomen.

Salman Rushdie

James Naughtie considers the Booker Prize-winning British Indian novelist.

Amartya Sen

James Naughtie profiles the Nobel prize-winning economist.

Ralph Robins

James Naughtie on the industrialist credited with turning around Rolls Royce's fortunes.

Billy Connolly

James Naughtie considers Scottish comedian Billy Connolly,

David Hockney

James Naughtie profiles the artist who has long been at the forefront of British art.

Margaret Thatcher

James Naughtie considers the longest-serving prime minister of the 20th century.

David Attenborough

James Naughtie considers the celebrated broadcaster and naturalist.

Stuart Hall

James Naughtie profiles Stuart Hall, leading thinker on British culture, race and identity

Jayaben Desai

James Naughtie profiles the sewing machinist who led an infamous strike in the 1970s.

Vivienne Westwood

James Naughtie considers the headline-making fashion designer and former punk.

Roy Jenkins

James Naughtie profiles the politician who left the Labour Party to set up the SDP.

Jocelyn Bell Burnell

James Naughtie profiles Jocelyn Bell Burnell, the astrophysicist who discovered pulsars.

Talaiasi Labalaba

James Naughtie uncovers the little-known tale of SAS hero Talaiasi Labalaba.

David Bowie

James Naughtie considers the influence of the musical innovator and trendsetter.

Roald Dahl

James Naughtie profiles the storyteller who enchanted children with his grotesque tales.

Jack Jones

James considers the lasting impact of the trade union leader.

Robert Edwards

James Naughtie profiles the Nobel Prize-winning scientist who pioneered IVF.

Germaine Greer

James considers the provocative feminist and academic.

George Best

James Naughtie considers the life and achievements of the footballer from Northern Ireland

Basil D'Oliveira

James Naughtie remembers the South African cricketer who aided the fight against apartheid

Cicely Saunders

James Naughtie profiles the founder of the modern hospice movement.

Enoch Powell

James Naughtie considers the controversial parliamentarian Enoch Powell.

Terence Conran

James considers the impact of Terence Conran - designer, retailer, restaurateur and writer

Peter Hall

James Naughtie considers the colossus of 20th century English theatre.

Margot Fonteyn

Jim Naughtie considers the life and legacy of the eminent prima ballerina.

John Lennon / Paul McCartney

James Naughtie assesses the pair at the heart of the Beatles, Lennon and McCartney.

Francis Bacon

James Naughtie profiles the haunting artist of suffering, pain and death.

Paul Foot

James Naughtie considers the significance of campaigning journalist Paul Foot.

Alfred Denning

James Naughtie profiles one of the most influential judges of the 20th century.

Barbara Windsor

James Naughtie on Barbara Windsor's very British combination of grit and naughtiness.

Philip Larkin

One of the great English poets, famous for his day job as librarian at Hull University.

Richard Doll

Epidemiologist instrumental in proving the link between cigarette smoking and lung cancer.

Harold Pinter

James considers one of modern Britain's most influential dramatists, Harold Pinter.

Dorothy Hodgkin

One of the most successful chemists of the 20th century.

Benjamin Britten

James Naughtie profiles one of the greatest composers of the 20th century.

Laurence Olivier

Olivier's theatre and stage career spanned more than 60 years with 12 Oscar nominations.

Alfred Hitchcock

Master of obsession, suspense and terror, Alfred Hitchcock.

Alan Sainsbury

James Naughtie considers the champion of the self-service supermarket.

Doris Lessing

Doris Lessing. Spirited, straight-talking Nobel Laureate.

Francis Crick

James Naughtie profiles the molecular biologist who helped discover the structure of DNA.

Vladimir Raitz

James Naughtie sees how Vladimir Raitz pioneered the package holiday.

Michael Young

James looks at the energetic and innovative founder of Which? and the Open University.

Graham Greene

James Naughtie on the novelist who was a master of moral guilt and cold war intrigue.

Elizabeth David

James Naughtie on the food writer who brought European cuisine to British tables.

Edmund Hillary

James Naughtie assesses the mountaineer who conquered Mount Everest.