Main content

Nancy Roman, Ralph Koltai CBE, Julia Grant, Jin Yong, Norman Gimbel

Matthew Bannister on astronomer Nancy Roman, set designer Ralph Koltai, transgender activist Julia Grant, writer Jin Yong and lyricist Norman Gimbel.

Pictured: Nancy Roman

Matthew Bannister on

Nancy Roman, the American space agency NASA's first Chief Astronomer. She was known as the mother of the Hubble Telescope.

Ralph Koltai, the influential theatre set designer who worked on more than 250 productions.

Julia Grant, the transgender activist who allowed her transition from male to female to be filmed by the 麻豆社.

Jin Yong, the Chinese writer whose martial arts adventures sold 100 million copies.

And Norman Gimbel, the prolific lyricist who wrote the words for "The Girl From Ipanema" and "Killing Me Softly With His Song".

Interviewed guest: Kimberly Kowal Arcand
Interviewed guest: Dr Stuart Clark
Interviewed guest: Michael Quinn
Interviewed guest: Professor Pamela Howard OBE
Interviewed guest: Gary Roberts
Interviewed guest: David Pearson
Interviewed guest: Anna Holmwood
Producer: Neil George

Archive clips from: Nancy Roman the Mother of Hubble, NASA 12/06/2017; Horizon: The Sharpest Show of the Universe, 麻豆社 Two 09/04/1990; Desert Island Discs, Radio 4 23/08/1998; Inside Story: George, 麻豆社 Two 25/06/1979; A Change of Sex: Julia Gets Her Man, 麻豆社 Two 10/08/1999; Books Abroad, Radio 3 31/08/1996; The Legend of the Condor Heroes episode 11, iQIYI Motion Pictures 2017.

Available now

28 minutes

Nancy Roman

Born 16 May 1925; died 25 December 2018, aged 93.

Last Word spoke to Kimberly Kowal Arcand, the Visualization Lead for NASA鈥檚 Chandra X-ray Observatory, and astronomy journalist Dr Stuart Clark.

Ralph Koltai CBE

Born 31 July 1924; died 15 December 2018, aged 94.

Last Word spoke to The Stage critic Michael Quinn and director Professor Pamela Howard OBE.

Julia Grant

Born 21 September 1954; died 2 January 2019, aged 64.

Last Word spoke to her brother Gary Roberts, and former 麻豆社 television executive and commissioner David Pearson.

Jin Yong

Born 1924; died 30 October 2018, aged 94.

Last Word spoke to translator Anna Holmwood.

Norman Gimbel

Born 16 November 1927; died 19 December 2018, aged 91.

Broadcasts

  • Fri 11 Jan 2019 16:00
  • Sun 13 Jan 2019 20:30

Podcast