History hero

Krystyna Skarbeck, also called Christine Granville

Second World War

My history hero: Michael Morpurgo chooses Krystyna Skarbek

American jazz singer Helen Forrest performing with trumpeter Harry James (1916-1983), c1945. (Photo by Metronome/Getty Images)

Second World War

My history hero Dame Vera Lynn chooses Helen Forrest (1917-1999)

Rosa Parks (right) riding on a bus following the Supremacial segregation on Montgomery's public transit system. (Photo by Don Cravens/The LIFE Images Collection via Getty Images/Getty Images)

My history hero Gabby Logan chooses Rosa Parks (1913–2005)

Sylvia Pankhurst is taken into custody

My history hero Emma Barnett chooses Sylvia Pankhurst (1882–1960)

Oskar Schindler, who prevented hundreds of Jews from being murdered in the Holocaust

Second World War

My history hero Simon Reeve chooses Oskar Schindler (1908–74)

A contemporary portrait of scientist Ada Lovelace

My history hero Konnie Huq chooses Ada Lovelace (1815–52)

Native American leader Sitting Bull

My history hero Sitting Bull (1831–90)

Margaret Hodge has been the MP for Barking since 1994. She held a number of ministerial positions during the 1997–2010 Labour administration, and was appointed DBE in 2015. (Photo by AP/REX/Shutterstock)

My history hero: Katharine Graham (1917–2001)

Arthur Ashe in action at Wimbledon, where he won the men's singles title in 1975. (Photo by Ed Lacey / Popperfoto / Getty Images)

My history hero Tracy Austin chooses Arthur Ashe

A portrait of Fridtjof Nansen, taken after his daring expedition across Greenland. (Image by Alamy)

My history hero Paul Rose chooses Fridtjof Nansen

Wilfred Thesiger in Oman, c1946.

My history hero: Frank Gardner chooses Wilfred Thesiger

A c1830 portrait of the scandalous but sublimely talented Lorenzo da Ponte. (Photo by Alamy)

My history hero: Katie Derham chooses Lorenzo Da Ponte

British Artist Ivon Hitchens. (Image by Bridgeman)

My history hero: Chris Packham chooses Ivon Hitchens

The Endurance, the ship of Ernest Shackleton

My history hero: Ernest Shackleton (d1922)

Herbert Hasler, one of the Cockelshell heroes, seen here at work on his sloop at the Don Fuller boatyard, Bosham, Sussex. 1st March 1966. (Image by Getty)

Second World War

My history hero: Paddy Ashdown chooses ‘Blondie’ Hasler