BBC Studios is partnering with Pushkin Industries for the first time to co-produce a new podcast, Big Lives, which will use the BBC’s extensive archive to profile influential cultural figures.
The show will be hosted by journalists Kai Wright and Emmanuel Dzotsi, who will deep- dive into the lives and stories of one iconic figure each week. The series will feature figures ranging from musical trailblazers David Bowie and Tina Turner to cultural icons like Richard Pryor and Sir David Attenborough. The hosts will draw on archival interviews and recordings to let them speak in their own words.
"A funny thing happens when people become super famous. They get so well known that they seem like caricatures of themselves" said hosts Kai and Emmanuel. "We want to revive your curiosity in these larger than life characters, the people who have shaped our culture. And as we’ve dug through the BBC archives, we’ve found all kinds of surprises. We’re looking for the nuanced stories of how once relatable people became legends."
The series will debut on 23 March with an episode on Jane Fonda, reliving her rise to fame and exploring how she has left a mark on today’s culture.
