Last Word
Hosted by Matthew Bannister and Kirsty Lang · BBC Radio 4
4.6from 13 ratings
- 593
- Episodes
- 151
- Transcribed
- 13
- Ratings
- Weekly
- Cadence
- 2015
- First episode
About Last Word
Radio 4's weekly obituary programme, telling the life stories of those who have died recently
- Publisher
- BBC Radio 4
- Category
- society & culture · society & culture
- Language
- en
- Explicit
- No
- First episode
- 5 Jun 2015
- Latest episode
- 6 Nov 2026
Latest episodes
151 of 593 episodes have a transcript.
6 Nov 2026TRANSCRIPT
Rev Ron Lancaster: The Master Blaster Pastor
30 Oct 2026TRANSCRIPT
Margaret Papandreou: The American-born first lady and champion of gender equality in Greece
23 Oct 2026TRANSCRIPT
The rise and fall of Jim Bakker: From multi-millionaire televangelist to convicted fraudster
Inside a recent episode
Rev Ron Lancaster: The Master Blaster Pastor
Published 6 Nov 2026 · Transcript excerpt
[…] He was ordained as a priest in 1958, continuing to experiment with fireworks while carrying out his parish duties. When he was appointed chaplain at Kim Bolton School in Cambridgeshire, he approached the headmaster, Cyril Lewis, for permission to pursue his hobby. […]
Read the full transcript with a Pod Engine plan.
See plansWho has been a guest on Last Word
Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.
- Mark Lancaster
- Gustavo Arellano
- Tony Holland
- Andy Irvine
- John Wigger
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
- Apple Podcasts (US)
- 4.5 / 5
- 2 ratings
- Spotify
- 4.6 / 5
- 11 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 65 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
- Quality
- 92
- Social presence
- 0
- YouTube
- 0
- Engagement
- 96
Contact Last Word
- Guest appearances
- Books guests
Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.
Shows with a similar audience
Questions about Last Word
Who hosts Last Word?
Matthew Bannister and Kirsty Lang host the show. Published by BBC Radio 4.
How often do new episodes come out?
The show publishes weekly, based on its RSS feed.
Does Last Word take guests?
Yes. Guests have been identified in episode analyses.
Where can I read transcripts?
151 of 593 episodes have a transcript on Pod Engine. Full transcripts are available with a Pod Engine plan.
Host of Last Word?
Claim your podcast to manage its listing and keep your show details accurate.
Pod Engine is an independent podcast discovery and analytics service and is not affiliated with or endorsed by this podcast. Artwork and show content belong to their owners. Full legal notice.
Explore this show
Podcast research with Pod Engine