What Makes Us Human with Jeremy Vine: Recent Episodes
BBC Radio 2
Jeremy Vine explores what makes us human in this landmark BBC Radio 2 series.Guests deliver their thoughts on the essence of human existence, reflecting on their own lives.
The Editor of Jeremy Vine on BBC Radio 2 answers the question for the final time.
Producer: Ryan Wilson.
The financial journalist and broadcaster answers the question.
Producer: Patrick Thomas
The first female president of the Supreme Court answers the question.
Producer: Patrick Thomas
Peggy Seeger, one of folk music’s greatest musicians, answers the question.
Producer: Ryan Wilson.
The historian and former Supreme Court Judge answers the question.
Producer: Ryan Wilson
The politician and adventurer joins Victoria Derbyshire to answer the question.
Producer: Ryan Wilson.
The actor and performer tells Vanessa Feltz that laughter makes us human.
Producer: Ryan Wilson
The legendary Blue Peter presenter joins us to answer the question.
Producer: Ryan Wilson
Our resident GP joins us. She says caring for others makes us human.
Producer: Ryan Wilson.
The community leader who has been shot and stabbed joins us to answer the question.
Producer: Ryan Wilson
The disability activist and fashion blogger joins us to answer the question.
Producer: Ryan Wilson
The Italian astronaut, who was the first person to make an espresso in space, joins us.
Producer: Ryan Wilson.
The champion quizzer answers the question. She says it's our DNA that makes us human.
Producer: Ryan Wilson.
The Olympic champion and former politician tells us that it is jazz that makes us human.
Producer: Ryan Wilson
The Children's Commissioner for England joins Vanessa Feltz to answer the question.
Producer: Ryan Wilson.
The writer, former undercover cop and Radio 2 policeman answers the question.
Producer: Ryan Wilson
The leading geneticist joins us. He says the answer is in our genes.
Producer: Ryan Wilson
One of the country's greatest war correspondents joins us to answer the question.
Producer: Ryan Wilson
The scientist and television presenter joins us to answer the question.
Presenter: Jeremy Vine Producer: Ryan Wilson
The first female black bishop joins us to answer the question.
Presenter: Jeremy Vine Producer: Ryan Wilson
The author and 500 Words judge joins us to answer the question. BBC Radio 2’s ‘500 Words’ competition is now open, and will close on Friday 8th March at 7pm. If you’re looking to send us a story, or to sign-up as a public judge – head to bbc.co.uk/500Words!
The woman who won the prize for being the best teacher in the world answers the question.
A member of the controversial Russian punk band answers the question What Makes Us Human?
Former Editor of the Sunday Telegraph Charles Moore joins us for “What Makes us Human?”
Katie Piper who was severely injured by an acid attack tells us why beauty makes us human
The King of the Diddymen is 87, still performing and thinks we should all use our brains
Carers Week special: Radio 2 DJ and carer Johnnie Walker locates humanity in our souls.
Historian David Starkey reveals the man behind the media persona in a moving interview. For him, what makes us human is our unique facility as pattern-making animals.
Leading actress and writer Sheila Hancock talks to Vanessa Feltz live at the Hay Festival. She talks about growing old, life with John Thaw and that being human is breaking the rules.
Best-selling crime writer Val McDermid talks to Jeremy Vine about experimental education in Fife, Raityh Rovers, and how, even in the most appalling circumstances, what makes us human is that we are essentially humane.
The former Watford FC and England Manager, Graham Taylor talks to Jeremy about his undiminished love for football, his Scunthorpe beginnings and how kindness is key to what makes us human
Real-life call centre manager and star of BBC3’s reality show, Nev Wilshire, talks to Jeremy about being human
The theatre designer Tom Piper, who worked with artist Paul Cummins to create the Tower of London poppy memorial, talks to Jeremy Vine about the creative value of human collaboration
David Owen has had a full life: foreign minister aged just 38 and founder of the SDP. He talks to Jeremy Vine about his original profession - a doctor - politics and saving the NHS...
The irrepressible Andrew Marr talks to Jeremy Vine about slowing down after his stroke and being an eight-year old Maoist (of sorts)
The Apprentice's Nick Hewer talks to Jeremy Vine about the battle between human selfishness and altruism. Ever the optimist, Alan Sugar's right-hand man believes giving is its own reward.
From Tehran to Peckham: the founder of the pioneering charity for abused and neglected children, Kids Company, recounts her extraordinary life to Jeremy Vine
London taxi driver and star of A Cabbie Abroad, Mason McQueen, talks to Jeremy Vine about the compassion and empathy of the humans he met on his travels all over the world
Booker prize-winner Howard Jacobson talks to Jeremy Vine about laughter, Jewishness and joy in a special edition for Radio 2 Book Club Day
American political scientist Francis Fukuyama - the man who predicted the End of History - talks to Jeremy Vine about the triumph of democracy, his family and his imaginary pet mouse...
The new NHS chief Simon Stevens talks to Jeremy Vine about the importance of caring for others, even strangers, as key to our humanity.
Comedian and writer Ruby Wax talks to Jeremy Vine about her tough Chicago childhood, clinical depression and the neuroplasticity of the brain
Comedian and naturalist Bill Oddie talks to Jeremy Vine about being bi-polar and his extraordinary life story
Computer pioneer and expert in Welsh hill-walking, Peter Hermon in his first ever radio interview. He talks to Paddy O'Connell about his extraordinary life
One of the world’s cutting edge thinkers – Professor Noreena Hertz – answers the question ‘what makes us human?’
Life is not a dress rehearsal: the acclaimed writer of Restless, Any Human Heart and a Good Man in Africa talks to Jeremy Vine about the peculiarly human will to live
John Lloyd, responsible for some of the funniest, most intelligent comedy on British TV, believes laughter is what make us human. He tells Jeremy Vine his story
Former hostage Terry Waite talks to Jeremy Vine about captivity, altruism and rural Cheshire
The new Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby reveals the man under the mitre, his childhood, his faith and his father.
Business secretary and Liberal Democrat MP Vince Cable says dancing is what makes him human. He talks to Jeremy Vine about love, life overseas and rebelling against his dad.
Actor Brian Blessed tells Jeremy what he thinks makes us human, and discusses his remarkable upbringing and career.
Former Conservative Minister and sometime ballroom dancer Ann Widdecombe ponders moral conscience, family and Westminster with Jeremy Vine
Our mastery of fire is what really makes us human, says Bushcraft expert Ray Mears in conversation with Jeremy Vine
Falklands veteran Simon Weston talks to Jeremy Vine about survival, laughter and being human.
Jeremy Vine mulls artistic creativity with one of Britain’s best-known performers, Maureen Lipman
Human beings are nosey parkers. Planetary scientist Prof Colin Pillinger ponders human curiosity, martian life and living with MS.
The irrepressible children's writer Michael Rosen says history - the sum total of our individual and shared experiences - are what make us human. A moving interview with Jeremy Vine.
Chairman of the BBC Trust and former cabinet minister, Chris Patten discusses his own life, politics and how art is something animals simply cannot do.
Esther Rantzen talks to Jeremy Vine about her own life and how compassion and altruism are what essentially make us human
Britain's leading soldier, General Lord Richard Dannatt locates our humanity in our ability to serve others. The former Army chief talks to Jeremy Vine about faith, sacrifice and whether christian soldiers should be allowed to kill.
Leading economist Lord Robert Skidelsky says it's the opposite of economics that makes us human: following our hearts and intuitions, rather than our heads.
Professor Richard Dawkins, evolutionary biologist, reflects on the qualities that he believes makes us human.
The Labour MP and former Home Secretary Alan Johnson discusses how sometimes the best things that make us human emerge from the worst things that humans have to endure.
Chef, writer and presenter Yotam Ottolenghi gives us his take on the question 'what makes us human?'.
Former Paralympian Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson talks to Jeremy about her remarkable career, and why she thinks ‘self-awareness’ is part of our humanity.
Journalist Matthew Parris reflects on why playfulness helps to define our humanity, on his time in politics, the difficulties of coming out and the adventures he's had travelling.
Artist Alison Lapper talks to Jeremy Vine about phocomelia, growing up without arms, motherhood and predjudice against disabled people.
Libertarian commentator Brendan O'Neill tells Jeremy Vine how our ability to create change is what really makes us human.
Robert Peston - the BBC's Business Editor - talks to Jeremy Vine about his late wife Sian Busby and how his love for her is what makes him human.
Eminent philosopher, writer and huntsman, Roger Scruton talks to Jeremy Vine about Paris '68, Thatcher and how asking questions are what make us human.
World renowned solo percussionist, Evelyn Glennie, discusses music, her hearing loss and listening with her whole body. Features an impromptu performance on her mbira thumb piano.
Celebrated crime writer PD James talks to Jeremy Vine about her own extraordinary story. Having chronicled Britain's changing society in her murder mysteries since the 1960s, she says our ability to rein in our aggressive impulses is what make us human.
Philosopher Alain de Botton believes it is wisdom that is key to emotional health and to what makes us human.
Alexei Sayle, the godfather of alternative comedy, talks to Paddy O'Connell about serenity, consumerism and the 1000 year human experiment. And being named after Maxim Gorky.
Neuroscientist Susan Greenfield suggests individuality - and the Seven Deadly Sins - holds the clue to what makes us human.
Caitlin Moran - columnist, feminist icon and best-selling author – talks to Jeremy Vine about her extraordinary life, the gospel according to Sgt Pepper and how humans have a unique ability to create joy.
The Bishop of Liverpool, the Rt Rev James Jones, talks to Jeremy Vine about justice, Hillsborough, and what makes him - and us - human
Mary Robinson, Ireland's first female president, tells Jeremy Vine how it is empathy that binds humans from all walks of life together. A former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, she is currently president of the Mary Robinson Foundation – Climate Justice.
David Puttnam - Oscar-winning filmmaker, UNICEF ambassador and Labour peer - sees the Olympic spirit as the embodiment of humanity. In conversation with Jeremy Vine
Brian May - rock star, astrophysicist and animal rights campaigner - tells Jeremy Vine how kindness and cruelty is the key to what makes us human
Philosopher AC Grayling discusses growing up in Africa, how culture raises us above animals and the art of humanity
Chief Rabbi Jonathan Sacks talks to Jeremy Vine on loneliness, spirituality and how family, when it works, is the matrix of humanity.