01.06.2011 12:11
What's on?: Last Word

If you turn towards the back of most quality newspapers in the UK, you'll see the pages of 'hatches, matches and dispatches' (births, marriages and deaths). This is followed by two or three pages of obituaries, reporting the lives of people who have recently died: people who have shaped modern history to a greater or lesser degree. The radio version of these pages is called 'Last Word'.

Foto blauer Himmel mit Sonne Hosted by Matthew Banister, John Wilson or Jane Little, Last Word is an obituary show where the lives of famous people who have died recently are summarized. Included in each summary are tributes from people who knew the deceased well and who can add important personal insights. In the programme of 13th May this year, for example, Seve Ballesteros, the well-loved Spanish golfer, was featured, and an interview was included with his caddy.

The previous week's edition had included the obituary of Osama bin Laden, a name familiar to almost everyone on the planet. Three people who had met him gave insights into his character and were all impressed by his calm and cool manner and by his quality as a good listener.

However, although famous (and infamous) people are included, there are also obituaries of people who are not household names, but who achieved significant fame in their professions. People like forensic pathologist Prof David Bowen; Nobel prize winning scientist Baruch Blumberg and Welsh soprano Dame Margaret Price. Or people who were famous for one significant event in their lives: people like Penny Feiwel, a Spanish civil war volunteer; Barbara Harmer, the only woman to pilot Concorde and Edith Helm, the first kidney transplant recipient.

The thirty-minute programme is broadcast on Friday afternoons at 4pm (UK time) on BBC Radio 4 and repeated on Sundays at 8.30pm.

To tune in to this week's Last Word, just click here: