Great Lives - Series 22 - John Lennon

Journalist John Harris, author of influential books on music, politics and popular culture, was born just as the Beatles were splitting up, and was only 11 when John Lennon died. Yet Lennon's mischievous anti-establishment position - and the richness of his lyrics and music - makes him Harris's nomination for a Great Life. Matthew Parris tries to define what it is that makes this enigmatic, often difficult figure an inspiring subject for reflection. The expert witness is Barry Miles, in whose London gallery John first met Yoko in the mid 1960s. This is the first of new series of Great Lives - future programmes include Bettany Hughes on the Greek poet Sappho and Dominic Sandbrook on Richard Nixon. Producer: Christine Hall.