1x1 - Lord Birkett

February 4, 1959

1x2 - Bertrand Russell

March 4, 1959

Philosopher Bertrand Russell is the second guest on the series, beginning the interview by reading from a fictitious obituary he'd written for himself. Among the topics discussed are guilt, sex, money, childhood, prison and loss of faith.

1x3 - Dame Edith Sitwell

May 6, 1959

John Freeman interviews the first of just two female guests in the series - poet Dame Edith Sitwell. The Dame discusses her unhappy childhood, her working relationship with Dylan Thomas, and her unexpected diversion into Hollywood.

1x4 - Lord Boothby

May 27, 1959

1x6 - Adlai E. Stevenson

July 22, 1959

Adlai Stevenson relives his early life in journalism and law, and discusses losing two Presidential elections to Dwight Eisenhower. Among his other reflections are how others see him, and how he sees himself.

1x7 - John Huston

September 1, 1959

A cigar-puffing John Huston discusses his directing career, his desire to make films under the United Nations, his relationship with his father and fighting with Errol Flynn.

1x8 - Professor Jung

October 22, 1959

John Freeman interviews Carl Jung at his Zürich home, asking the psychologist questions about consciousness, his friendship with Freud, his thoughts on death, and his own self-analysis.

1x9 - Lord Morrison of Lambeth

December 18, 1959

1x10 - His Majesty King Hussein of Jordan

January 1, 1960

1x11 - Lord Shawcross Q.C.

January 10, 1960

1x12 - Tony Hancock

February 7, 1960

Tony Hancock engages in self reflection, looking back at his childhood, his need to work, his health issues, and whether he could ever truly be happy.

1x13 - Henry Moore

February 21, 1960

1x14 - Dr. Hastings Banda

April 22, 1960

1x15 - Augustus John

May 15, 1960

1x16 - Sir Roy Welensky

May 29, 1960

1x17 - Stirling Moss

June 12, 1960

Racing driver Stirling Moss is called upon to ponder his career. Customary for the series, the questions go deeper than usual interviews: Does he think about mortality? Does he feel close to God? What about the breakdown of his marriage?

1x18 - Evelyn Waugh

June 26, 1960

Evelyn Waugh takes part in the series due to what he claims is "poverty", and that "everyone thinks ill of the BBC". Among the topics under discussion are religion, truth in fiction, and Waugh's own periods of mental illness.