Famous Last Words

In the first of four programmes, Dr Timothy Leary , former Harvard professor and psychedelic guru of the 1960s, views his filmed obituary at his home in Los Angeles. How damaging has the drug culture he helped to found turned out to be? Does he regret his involvement in it? Who suffers if you spend a lifetime 'doing your own thing'?

In the second programme, former Prime Minister Lord Home views his 'obituary' at his mansion, the Hirsel, on the Scottish borders and responds to it in conversation with Peter France. Does he now regret his support for Neville Chamberlain 's appeasement policy of the 1930s? Does he accept that, as a hereditary peer, he was ill-equipped for democratic politics in the second half of the 20th century?

In the third of this four-part series, writer and comedian Spike Milligan views his 'obituary' at his home in Hertfordshire and responds to it. How did he manage to make people laugh while himself suffering debilitating mental illness? And what price has he paid for his anarchic sense of humour?

In the last programme, recorded earlier this year, James Anderton , Chief Constable of Greater Manchester, views his 'obituary' at the Old Trafford police headquarters and defends his record in conversation with Peter France. He has criticised the moral decadence of society, but does he have criticisms to make of the police? He has said he sees evil in others: is it apparent in himself?