Big Lives

Heard in 5 episodes across 3 shows since Sep 2026

<p>Every legend has a twist. From pop culture icons to music and comedy greats, award-winning journalists Kai Wright and Emmanuel Dzotsi dig into the BBC archive to unpick the story behind the icons who shape our culture.</p> <p>Each week on Big Lives, Kai and Emmanuel take an iconic figure &mdash; from musical trailblazers like David Bowie, Amy Winehouse and Tina Turner to stars of the screen like Richard Pryor, Meg Ryan and Jane Fonda &mdash; and dissect their lives. Join them as they see these icons in a new light, uncover deep cuts from the BBC's archive, and learn how each legend set the stage for our contemporary cultural landscape.&nbsp;<br><br>After all, you can't understand today's culture until you understand the icons who built it. Smart, curious, and full of heart.</p> <p>The Guardian: "A smart and chatty show"</p> <p>The Telegraph: "Presenters sift wittily through the BBC archive"</p> <p>Listen ad-free with a Pushkin+ subscription. Sign up on the Big Lives show page on Apple Podcasts or at pushkin.fm/plus. Subscribe to BBC on Apple Podcasts and on BBC.com.</p>