SATURDAY 08 FEBRUARY 2014

SAT 00:00 Arthur C Clarke Stories (b007jvt0)
Before Eden

Scientists stationed on Venus battle to find signs of life, but what about the impact of their quest? Read by Tim Pigott-Smith.


SAT 00:30 Simon Bovey - The Voice of God (b007jwlh)
Can You Hear That

Can You Hear That: The colonel plans to fire the sonic weapon and risk a global catastrophe. Stars Clare Corbett and Matthew Dyktynski. From February 2006.


SAT 01:00 Miss Marple (b007jnl4)
A Murder Is Announced

Episode 5

A further murder has been committed, but just as Miss Marple is piecing her thoughts together - she disappears...

Conclusion of Agatha Christie's whodunit starring June Whitfield as the deceptively mild sleuth, Miss Jane Marple.

Dramatised by Michael Bakewell.

Miss Marple ...... June Whitfield
Inspector Craddock ...... Ian Lavender
Letty Blacklock ...... Sarah Lawson
Colonel Easterbrook ...... Jack Hedley
Laura Easterbrook ...... Joanna McCallum
Bunch Harmon ...... Molly Gaisford
Patrick Simmons ...... Jamie Glover
Mitzi ...... Jenny Funnell
Julia Simmons ...... Angela Sims
Phillipa Haymes ...... Sarah Rice

Director: Enyd Williams

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in August 1999


SAT 01:30 Dick Francis (b007n1gf)
Proof

6. Visitors

Wine merchant Tony Beach has to deal with some unwanted visitors to his store.

Nigel Havers stars as Tony Beach.

Dick Francis's thriller dramatised by Ernest Dudley.

Tony Beach …. Nigel Havers
Flora …. Jennifer Piercey
Gerard …. George Parsons
Paul Young …. Stuart Organ
Charter Jun/P.C. …. Kim Wall
Sgt. Ridger …. Stephen Hattersley
Mrs Palissey …. Sheila Grant

Producer: Matthew Walters

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in March 1987.


SAT 02:00 Millport (b00762cq)
Series 2

The Verdict

The islanders unite to try and save The Cumbrae Bar from closure.

Will Irene stay and fight with them or will she take the last ferry of the day to the mainland to the new life she's always dreamed of?

Bittersweet comedy written by and starring Lynn Ferguson as 30-something island barmaid Irene Bruce.

Irene ...... Lynn Ferguson
Moira/Agnes ...... Janet Brown
Alberto/Robert/Ferryman ...... Lewis McLeod
Ena/Bunty ...... Gabriel Quigley
Bob/Minister ...... Robert Patterson
Dougie ...... Matt Costello

Music arranged by Olly Fox.

Producer: Lucy Bacon

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in June 2001.


SAT 02:30 The Change (b0076cwf)
Series 2

Episode 3

George's desire to move back in with Carol is not reciprocated.

Lynda Bellingham and Chris Ellison star as troubled hormonal wife Carol who kicked out her mechanic husband George when he revealed he's a transvestite.

Sitcom by Gavin Petrie and Jan Etherington.

Carol …. Lynda Bellingham
George …. Chris Ellison
Violet …. Sylvia Syms
Maureen …. Maureen Beattie
Ken …. James Vaugnan
Sonia …. Emma Kennedy
Jerry …. Barnaby Kay
Dave …. Mark Powley
Di …. Di Aitcheson

Producer: Elizabeth Freestone.

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in February 2003.


SAT 03:00 Jill Paton Walsh - A Piece of Justice (b010vyt7)
When Fran gets the chance to take over the biography of the great mathematician Gideon Summerfield, she rapidly discovers there's a mystery over a few days he went missing in August 1978.

Her friend Imogen is the first to realise she may be in danger...

Dramatised by Neville Teller from the novel by Jill Paton Walsh.

Imogen Quy ..... Barbara Flynn
Janet Somerfield ..... Rosemary Leach
Francis Bullion ..... Tracy Wiles
Josh ..... Robert Harper
Dr Mistral ..... James Greene
Lady Buckmote ..... Marlene Sidaway
Sir William Buckmote ..... Geoffrey Whitehead
Professor Maverack ..... Colin Starkey
Meredith Bagadeuce ..... Peter Howell(
Pamela Zephyr ..... Di Botcher
David Swann ..... Iwan Thomas

Director: Janet Whitaker

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 1998.


SAT 04:00 Pavilion Pieces (b00m175f)
The Prince's Favourite

Written by Emma Barnes. Not long after the death of George IV, a group of visitors are given a tour of the Brighton Pavilion by a servant of the Royal Household. Mr Hodges takes no particular interest in the group until the oldest of the party, a dowdy spinster, drops some remarks which suggest she is less respectable than she seems. Her sister, she reveals, had a connection with the Prince Regent. As the Prince was a notorious womaniser, Mr Hodges immediately scents the whiff of scandal.

As they proceed through the marvels of the Pavilion, the old lady seems to be searching for something, beyond the many artefacts on display. Mr Hodges is so curious that he allows her access to the private Royal Apartments, in the hope of discovering more about her and her mysterious sister. The revelation, when it comes, takes Mr Hodges completely by surprise.

Read by Claire Skinner

Producer/Director: Celia de Wolff
A Pier Production for BBC Radio 4.


SAT 04:15 Paul Mendelson - Fireworks at the Villa Lucia (b0140v3v)
When Pete - a struggling TV writer - and his wife Julie find themselves staying in the same Italian villa as cult movie director David Joe Jakes, he tries to sell his dog-eared screenplay as the true story of how he met his wife.

The fireworks begin when he pressgangs his wife into pretending to be a fiery, psychotic, Venezuelan ex-soap star - while he masquerades as her psychoanalyst.

Paul Mendelson's comedy drama stars Philip Whitchurch as Pete, Samantha Bond as Julie/Julia, Kerry Shale as David, Megg Nicol as Cassie, Flamina Cinque as Lucia/Mrs Booth and Dan Starkey as Elio/Eric.

Director: David Ian Neville

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 2009.


SAT 05:00 Huddwinks (b00fsmzd)
Series 2

The Fall of the House of Slaithwaite

A northern black pudding maker must deal with the consequences of some unexpected ingredients

Roy Hudd stars in Laurie Rowley’s comic parodies.

With:

Denise Coffey
Chris Emmett
David Gooderson
Fred Harris

Producer: Jonathan James-Moore

First broadcast on BBC Radio 2 in July 1988.


SAT 05:30 Smelling of Roses (b007k0v3)
Series 2

Romance Is Dead

Rosie's event management company arranges activities for the partners of conference. delegates for a major finance company.

Meanwhile Kate thinks this is her ticket back to a high-flying job....

Prunella Scales stars in the second of four series of Simon Brett's sitcom following the trials and tribulations of Rosie Burns and her event-management company based in Brighton.

With Arabella Weir as Kate, Rebecca Callard as Jo, Duncan Preston as Bob, Annette Badland as Tess, Debbie Norman as Sheila Wilkinson and Alan Cowan as Philip Wilkinson.

Producer: Maria Esposito

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in June 2001.


SAT 06:00 Molly Keane - Good Behaviour (b03tqzsh)
The St Charles family hit hard times in this 1920s drama set in Ireland. Short of cash and initiative, their estate is in genteel decline. An overweight daughter, philandering father and a cold mother struggle to maintain an aristocratic façade of Good Behaviour. Stars Frances Tomelty, Annette Crosbie and Ronald Pickup.

Molly Keane's novel was dramatised by Shelagh Stephenson. Produced by Eoin O'Callaghan.

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 1996.


SAT 07:30 A Shared Vision (b00xj0hp)
Poet John Hegley visits Zanzibar in East Africa with an old pair of his glasses in the hope that someone might be able to use them. From April 2003.


SAT 08:00 Garrison Keillor's Radio Show (b01bw4wv)
Series 7

Episode 17

From Bemidji, Minnesota, the American funny man welcomes Rhonda Vincent & the Rage, plus jazz guitarist Sam Miltich. From 2011.


SAT 09:00 Jay Rayner Gets Stuffed (b03tr1fv)
Food writer and restaurant critic, Jay Rayner's known for banging on about the awful - and sometimes lovely - things that cooks do to blameless ingredients. Here, he offers up a few of his own.

From a personal selection of deliciously fat-drenched, gut-busting grub-related radio, get your teeth into the decades of us mucking around with our food.

On Jay's mouth-watering menu:

* A generous helping of loudmouth chef Anthony Bourdain

* A rare appearance from Elizabeth David on BBC Radio 4's 'The Food Programme'

* Keith Floyd starring as a Roman chef in a late night BBC Radio 4 comedy

* Nina Myskow talking to essayist David Sedaris, children's author Judith Kerr and dancer Carlos Acosta about what they really eat.

* A dash of Miles Jupp as Damien Trench, 'In and Out of The Kitchen'

* A pinch of sarcasm with 'The Sunday Format' on Gastronimity.

* A taste of a Philadelpia deli in award-winning documentary, 'One Big Kitchen Table'

* A mouthful from a BBC Radio 2 phone-in about the chicken shop with Vanessa Feltz

* And to wash it all down: "Hog lard, of course that's what killed my grandfather...at 94" says a pork-loving chef from the American South. Get fired up for the world of competitive American barbecuing with Russell Davies in 'You Is What You Eat'.

Made for BBC Radio 4 Extra by Testbed Productions.


SAT 12:00 Writing the Century - Omnibus (b03tr32y)
Based on the true story of Russian journalist Anna Politkovskaya, who was murdered in 2006. The drama looks at five key events from 1999 leading up to her murder.


SAT 13:15 Petrella (b007jmdg)
Series 2

Heroes and Villains

Confronted with robbery and murder, the detective learns even respected police officers can be suspects. Stars Philip Jackson.


SAT 14:00 Dad's Army (b007jpkw)
Series 3

A Man of Action

When a landmine sparks martial law, a reporter catches Captain Mainwaring in charge.

Adapted for radio from Jimmy Perry and David Croft's TV scripts by Harold Snoad and Michael Knowles.

Captain Mainwaring …. Arthur Lowe
Sergeant Wilson …. John Le Mesurier
Corporal Jones …. Clive Dunn
Private Frazer …. John Laurie
Private Pike …. Ian Lavender
Private Godfrey …. Arnold Ridley
Warden Hodges …. Bill Pertwee
Private Walker ...... Larry Martyn
Town Clerk ...... Julian Orchard
Mr Norris ...... Jonathan Cecil
Inspector Baker ...... Fraser Kerr

Producer: John Dyas

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in March 1976.


SAT 14:30 The Eric Morecambe and Ernie Wise Show (b01j9t01)
Series 1

Episode 1

Starting their new series, much loved-comedy Eric and Ernie try to work out when they were last on the radio. But in surprise news, their bachelor flat-share is looking under threat.

Special singing guests: Peters and Lee.
Written by Eddie Braben
With Anne Hamilton, Michael Segal and Arthur Tolcher.
Music by Dennis Wilson & His Orchestra.
Producer: John Browell

First broadcast on BBC Radio 2 in February 1975.


SAT 15:00 Garrison Keillor's Radio Show (b01bw4wv)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:00 today]


SAT 16:00 Molly Keane - Good Behaviour (b03tqzsh)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:00 today]


SAT 17:30 Warhorses of Letters (b03srddp)
Series 3

Episode 4

The last in the series of the epistolary equine love story starring Stephen Fry as Napoleon's horse Marengo and Daniel Rigby as the Duke of Wellington's mount Copenhagen, with an introduction by Tamsin Greig.

Old age has come to our horses, and Marengo is sick. Copenhagen is determined that he and his true love will be truly together just once before Marengo quits this earthly life for a new paddock in the sky.

In perhaps the most moving exchange of letters ever sent by one horse to another the final act of this tragic love story unfolds.

Written by Robbie Hudson and Marie Phillips
Produced by Gareth Edwards.

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 2014.


SAT 17:45 Political Animals (b03ktz1b)
Series 2

Barney and George

Barney reveals how President George W Bush broke his heart by being unfaithful with a man called Tony.

Another unreliable dog's eye view of the trials and tribulations of living in the White House.

Written by Tony Bagley.

Director: Marc Beeby.

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in December 2013.


SAT 18:00 Atomic Tales (b007jx7x)
Night of the Cicadas

Small and usually friendly, chirruping insects suddenly grow huge - turning nasty and developing a taste for human flesh...

1950s American sci-fi spoof.

Starring the talents of:

John Guerrasio
Jeff Harding
Allison Warnyca
Lewis McLeod
Colin Stinton
Liza Ross

Written by Adam Tandy and Nat Sones.

Producer: Adam Bromley.

Made for BBC 7 and first broadcast in August 2006.


SAT 18:30 The Man in Black (b00yng5w)
Series 3

The Printed Name by Nicholas Pierpan

Having your heart's desire offered to you on a plate can be a difficult temptation to resist.

Jack is a failing writer who stumbles into a devilish pact with a mysterious businessman.

Mark Gatiss stars as the sinister raconteur, The Man in Black, to introduce Nicholas Pierpan's sinister tale.

Jack …. Ewan Bailey
Rob …. Ryan Watson
Thomas …. Nicholas Boulton
Hermione …. Christine Kavanagh
The Grandfather …. Sean Baker
The TV Announcer …. Claire Harry

More horrifying tales from The Man in Black. You might meet him at a luggage carousel in an airport, or behind the desk at an employment agency or he might approach you in the corridor of a care home. Wherever you encounter him, he's eager to pass on his stories. Stories to unsettle and horrify. Stories to haunt you.

Director: Gemma Jenkins

Made for BBC Radio 7 and first broadcast in February 2011.


SAT 19:00 Jay Rayner Gets Stuffed (b03tr1fv)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:00 today]


SAT 22:00 4 Stands Up (b00jzww8)
Series 3

Episode 5

Chris Addison welcomes three more purveyors of fine comedy - John Gordillo, Francesca Martinez and Andrew Lawrence. From April 2009.


SAT 22:30 The Lee Mack Show (b00bwzv3)
Sophie Ellis-Bextor

Sophie Ellis-Bextor joins the quick-fire comic for stand-up, sketches and music. With Angela McHale. From March 2005.


SAT 23:00 Justin Moorhouse - The Big Am I (b00h34d9)
About to become a dad for a second time, Manchester's Justin Moorhouse has a nagging doubt he may not have got it right the first time round.

Mixing stand-up and sketches and aided by a great comedy cast, Justin asks himself a big question - am I a good dad?

Written and performed by Justin Moorhouse with additional material by Jim Poyser.

Also featuring John Thomson, Steve Edge and Janice Connolly.

Producer: Ben Walker

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in January 2009.


SAT 23:30 Isy Suttie: Pearl and Dave (b0196rpc)
Isy Suttie ('Dobby' from Channel 4's 'Peep Show' & double British Comedy Award nominee.) recounts a moving love story involving a socially awkward childhood neighbour (her first pen pal) and a 'well-bred' girl from Surrey - the titular Pearl and Dave. She interweaves the narrative with her own tales of failed relationships, internet dating and eventual happiness, much of which is told through song. Adapted from her sell out Edinburgh 2011 Edinburgh show of the same name. From BBC Radio Comedy.

"I'm overjoyed to be doing my Edinburgh show on Radio 4. Having spent a month playing to audiences who'd been rained on all day, some of them dashing in late, I advise listeners to wrap up warm, eat a hearty meal and leave enough time for the journey from the sofa to the radio." Isy Suttie Nov 2011.

The Producer is John Pocock.