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Episode details

Radio 4,23 Oct 2026,28 mins

The rise and fall of Jim Bakker: From multi-millionaire televangelist to convicted fraudster

Last Word

Available for over a year

American evangelist Jim Bakker built up the multi-million dollar Praise the Lord TV network, but ended up in prison after being convicted of fraud. Often working alongside his wife Tammy Faye, Jim became one of the best-known evangelical preachers in the United States. At its height, his PTL – or Praise the Lord – Network was pulling in 14 million viewers. But Jim’s career would eventually end in ignominy and imprisonment. Matthew spoke to John Wigger who is the author of “PTL: The Rise and Fall of Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker’s Evangelical Empire”. Douglas Dunn, the Scottish poet and academic, wrote movingly about the death of his wife. Douglas has often been described as one of Scotland’s greatest modern poets. His subject matter ranged widely from working class life to personal grief. He won both the Whitbread Prize and the Queen’s Medal for Poetry. His fellow poet, and friend, Sean O'Brien reflects on Douglas's life and works. Chloe Fisher was an internationally respected authority on breastfeeding and devoted herself for over fifty years to improving the care of mothers and babies. Chloe qualified as a midwife in 1956 and worked in Oxford, often helping women to give birth at home. She would go on to write some of the most influential texts on breastfeeding and to chair the Royal College of Midwives’ working group on the subject. Matthew spoke to her friend and colleague Sally Inch. The Scottish singer and TV presenter Lena Martell had a massive hit single in 1979 with 'One Day At A Time'. It sold millions of copies and beat off challenges from Michael Jackson and Abba to stay at number one for three weeks. In her long musical career Lena toured widely around the world, released thirty albums and also had her own TV show which entertained audiences of 12 million. Dougie Stevenson was Lena’s recording manager for many years and also played pedal steel guitar in her band. Presenter: Matthew Bannister Producer: Ed Prendeville Assistant Producer: Catherine Powell Researcher: Jesse Edwards Editor: Andrea Kennedy Archive: My Kind of Music (Lena Martell), ITV; Lena Martell, BBC Television; Lena Martell in Studio Concert (with Mike Newman and The Pattersons), BBC Television; Lena Martell in Concert, BBC Television; Top of the Pops (Big Hits 1979), BBC One; 1979; File on Four: The Electronic Church, BBC Radio 4; Today, BBC Radio 4, 26/03/1987; News, BBC Radio, 28/05/1987; News, BBC Radio, 05/10/1989;

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