The New Elizabethans

The New Elizabethans was a 2012 series on BBC Radio 4 to mark the diamond Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II. 
A panel of 7 academics, journalists and historians, chaired by Chief Executive of the Royal Opera House Tony Hall took suggestions from the general public for people "whose actions during the reign of Elizabeth II have had a significant impact on lives in these islands and given the age its character, for better or worse".
A short piece was written about each of the 60 people selected. These were presented by James Naughtie. The first broadcast was about Edmund Hillary and was first aired at 12:45pm on Monday 11 June and the series concluded with Queen Elizabeth II on Friday 7 September 2012.