SATURDAY 19 APRIL 2014

SAT 00:00 Planet B (b00pgqf0)
Series 2

Dark Star

In Light City you are either with the police or against them. Whichever side you're on, there are points to be earned. But when an uncompromising vigilante arrives it looks like the rules are changing.

Lioba …. Tessa Nicholson
Kip …. Joseph Cohen-Cole
Blend …. Emerald O'Hanrahan
Fabian …. Ewan Hooper
Cerberus …. Chris Pavlo
Voice of Planet B …. Adjoa Andoh
Other Parts …. Melissa Advani, Kate Layden, Rhys Jennings and Piers Wehner

Written by Matthew Broughton.

Director: Jeremy Mortimer.

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 2009.


SAT 00:30 Charles Chilton - Journey into Space (b007jrxn)
The World in Peril

Episode 11

In Paddy's absence, Captain Jet Morgan and the crew of the Discovery set out to explore the asteroid.

It’s April 1972, and Jet and his crew return to Mars in an attempt to avert the impending Martian invasion.

Completing the sci-fi trilogy, the third series in the adventures of Jet Morgan, Mitch, Doc and Lemmy is a continuation of the preceding stories, ‘Operation Luna’ and ‘The Red Planet’.

Jet Morgan …. Andrew Faulds
Stephen ‘Mitch’ Mitchell …. Don Sharp
Doc Matthews …. Guy Kingsley-Poynter
Lemmy Barnet …. Alfie Bass
Flynn …. Pat Campbell
Various and Announcer …. David Jacobs

Music composed by Van Phillips

Written and produced by Charles Chilton.

First broadcast on the BBC Light Programme in December 1955.


SAT 01:00 Falco (b01by6mb)
Poseidon's Gold

Episode 10

The Roman detective has discovered a hidden room, but can he solve the lingering mystery? Stars Anton Lesser and Trevor Peacock.


SAT 01:15 HRF Keating - Inspector Ghote's First Case (b00mw69f)
Episode 10

What was the gunshot heard by the detective as the khansamah was being driven to jail? Sam Dastor reads HRF Keating's mystery.


SAT 01:30 Paul Temple (b007jqwh)
Paul Temple and the Geneva Mystery

See You in London

A stabbing in the snow, a fatal fire, blackmail and hush money.

Can the suave sleuth unravel the deadly mystery?

Francis Durbridge's thriller stars Peter Coke as Paul Temple and Marjorie Westbury as Steve in another intriguing case for BBC radio's smoothest investigator and his glamorous wife.

With John Baddeley as Charlie, Wilfrid Carter as Inspector Lloyd, Patrick Barr as Maurice Lonsdale, Isabel Dean as Margaret Milbourne, Frederick Treves as Stone, Nigel Graham as Danny Clayton, Simon Lack as Vince Graham, Polly Murch as Julia Carrington, Alan Haines as the Sergeant, Bryan Colvin as Luigi, Malcom Terris as the Doctor and LeRoy Longwood as the Waiter.

From 1938 to 1969 the fictional crime novelist and detective Paul Temple, together with his Fleet Street journalist Steve, solved case after case in one of BBC radio's most popular series. They inhabited a sophisticated world of chilled cocktails and fast cars, where the women were chic and the men wore cravats - a world where Scotland Yard usually needed Paul's help with tricky cases.

Producer: Martin C. Webster.

First broadcast on the BBC Light Programme in 1965.


SAT 02:00 Millport (b0076bk4)
Series 3

The Siege

Millport's under siege by the neighbouring islands, furious that this little insignificant town has its own independent public house.

Amidst the madness Irene and Moira find romance where they least expect it - and Alberto unveils an unusual secret defence system.

Bittersweet comedy written by and starring Lynn Ferguson as 30-something barmaid Irene Bruce, who hankers after a better life on the mainland.

Irene ...... Lynn Ferguson
Moira/Agnes ...... Janet Brown
Alberto/Dr Hume/Robert the Dog/Mr Shetland /Mr Sky ...... Lewis McLeod
Ena/Bunty ...... Gabriel Quigley
Minister/Bob/Mr Dunoon/Mr Orkney ...... Robert Patterson
Dougie/Mr Arran ...... Kenneth Bryans

Producer: Lucy Bacon

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in November 2002.


SAT 02:30 Act Your Age (b00q3gjg)
Series 2

Episode 2

Simon Mayo hosts the comedy show that pits the comic generations against each other to find out which is the funniest.

Team captains Jon Richardson, Lucy Porter and Adrian Walsh are joined by Jack Whitehall, Sarah Kendall and Ronnie Golden.

Producers: Ashley Blaker and Bill Matthews.

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in January 2010.


SAT 03:00 Louis Robinson - Julie and the Prince (b0076kd0)
Julie and the Prince

by Louis Robinson

The intriguing and romantic story of Queen Victoria's father, Prince Edward, and his long-term mistress, Julie, "Madame de St Laurent". Edward, the fourth son of George III, lived in the colonies with Julie until he was put under pressure to marry a German Princess and produce an heir to throne. He faced a choice between giving up his true love or giving up his status as Prince.

Julie Julia Hills
Edward Timothy Watson
Lord Sefton David Timson
Lady Sefton Janet Dale
Crawford Sam Graham
Mr Murchison/Philippe Paul Clarkson
Mrs Murchison Buffy Davis
Queen Victoria Jaimi Barbakoff

Directed by Peter Leslie Wild

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in February 2004.


SAT 04:00 Afternoon Reading (b00lyf67)
We Are Stardust, We Are Golden...

Arnold in a Purple Haze

Read by Conleth Hill

These three short stories were commissioned by Radio 4 to mark the 40th anniversary of the famous Woodstock Music Festival. With different themes, which reflect that momentous time, We Are Stardust We Are Golden continues with Arnold in a Purple Haze by Nick Walker.

Still damaged by his Vietnam experiences, Arnold is trying to arrange transport for a band due to perform at the Woodstock Festival. But the sounds of the city and the noise of the helicopters begin to unbalance him and blur things in his mind.

Producer: Cherry Cookson
A Sweet Talk Production for BBC Radio 4.


SAT 04:15 Sirens of Fleet Street (b01dvzm8)
Miss Thingummybob

Emille Peacocke (1882-1964) - daughter of a well-respected Northern newspaper family - takes Edwardian Fleet Street by storm, as she refuses to take no for an answer in her quest to become a real journalist.

Her subjects range from Suffragettes to Archbishops, trousseaux to the Telegraph, as she makes her mark as the first woman journalist on the Daily Express.

The final play in a trilogy examining the lives and writing of three pioneering women journalists.

Janys Chambers' dramatised account stars Kathryn Hunt as Emilie, Melissa Sinden as Mary McArthur, Sarah Parks as Lady Lytton, Morgan George as Herbert Peacocke, Russell Dixon as Ralph D Blumenfield, Alice French as Young Emilie, James Nickerson as Randal Charlton and Geoffrey Banks as Arnold Bennett.

Directed at BBC Manchester by Polly Thomas.

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 1999.


SAT 05:00 Second Holmes (b0151ycp)
1. The Case of the Grandfather's Client

The grandsons of Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson head to Baskerville Hall in a canine caper.

Six light-hearted adventures involving the grandsons of Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson written by Grant Eustace

Starring Peter Egan as Stamford Holmes, Jeremy Nicholas as Dr Watson, Anthony Newlands as Baskerville, Steve Hodson as Fred, Rosalind Hinds as Mrs Garcia, David Gooderson as Michael and Jean Trend as the Doctor.

Producer: Paul Mayhew-Archer

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in January 1983.


SAT 05:30 Chambers (b007jpd0)
Series 2

Conditional Fees

John Fuller-Carp wants victory in a 'no win, no fee' case of a broken thumb involving a can of figs

Clive Coleman’s sitcom set in perhaps the country's least spectacular law chambers.

John Fuller Carp ...... John Bird
Hilary Tripping ...... James Fleet
Vince ...... Jonathan Kydd
Ruth Quirke ...... Sarah Lancashire
Philip James ...... Chris Pavlo
Shearing ...... Peter Gunn
Masterson ...... Geoffrey Whitehead

Producer: Paul Schlesinger

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in June 1998.


SAT 06:00 CH Evans - Falling Heads (b04144rs)
4 Extra Debut. How MP Noel Pemberton Billing's treason accusations sparked a libel battle rocking PM David Lloyd George. Stars Leslie Phillips.


SAT 07:30 The Pickwick Poppers (b00tttwp)
Stuart Maconie talks to the musicians behind the Top of the Pops albums of the 1970s, whose impersonations of such artists as Donna Summer, David Essex, Paper Lace and Queen made these LPs one of the best-selling products in the charts.


SAT 08:00 Frankly Speaking (b041459l)
CS Forester

The author of the Hornblower stories, CS Forester is quizzed on his childhood, his "alter ego" and his writing methods.

His three interviewers are critic Lionel Hale, journalist Margaret Lane and master mariner Adrian Seligman.

CS Forester (1899-1966) wrote 11 books about fictional Royal Navy officer, Horatio Hornblower.

Launched in 1952, Frankly Speaking was a completely novel and ground breaking BBC series. Initially there were three interviewers and the series was both unrehearsed and unscripted.

First broadcast on the BBC Home Service in 1957.


SAT 08:30 I Was... (b00fzblz)
Series 1

Douglas Adams' Flatmate

Andrew McGibbon presents a series of interviews analysing great artists from the perspective of someone who knew them.

Jon Canter shared a flat with his friend Douglas Adams while the latter struggled for success and then coped with the fame he found following the success of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. Jon reveals the business of sharing a flat with his fiercely loyal, manically obsessive, loveable giant of a friend, who is still greatly missed after his sudden death ten years ago. Featuring contributions from other flatmates and Douglas' friend Professor Richard Dawkins.

A Curtains for Radio production for BBC Radio 4.


SAT 09:00 The Navy Lark: Left Hand Down A Bit, with Leslie Phillips (b00sdrj2)
Cast member Leslie Phillips roams the high seas of comedy, with a three hour celebration of the long-running BBC radio favourite.

The Navy Lark is almost as much of a national institution as the Navy itself. With a worldwide following, it remains one of BBC radio's most fondly remembered comedies, and continues to entertain new generations of listeners. Sub-Lieutenant Leslie Phillips welcomes you aboard the infamous HMS Troutbridge for a voyage through six classic episodes in the life and times of a legendary comic flagship.

Find out how The Navy Lark got started; discover who might have been in starring roles; learn how the cast of the radio series were invited to take large bits of a real-life ship ! What other popular "Larks" appeared on radio? How did the Troutbridge crew come to be running their own TV company? How exactly did Sub-Lieutenant Phillips get through Dartmouth? All is revealed.

Featured Episodes:

Operation Fag End [January 1959]
The Hank of Heather [April 1959]
The Lighthouse Lark [January 1960]
A Deliberate Bashing [April 1963]
Mr. Phillips at Dartmouth [October 1967]
The Jubilee Navy Lark [July 1977]

Produced by Martin Dempsey

Made for BBC Radio 7 and first broadcast in 2006.


SAT 12:00 The Cazalets - Omnibus (b04148fn)
All Change

Episode 2

Made for 4 Extra. The family faces emotional and financial havoc as the old order is threatened. By Elizabeth Jane Howard. Narrated by Penelope Wilton.


SAT 13:15 DI Gwen Danbury - An Odd Body (b007jpjh)
Series 2

Dead Heads and Chutney

A respectable woman in her 70s is found dead, apparently from natural causes, but Detective Inspector Gwen Danbury is sure she was murdered so starts to delve into the woman's past...

Sue Rodwell's three-part detective mystery stars Annette Badland as DI Gwen Danbury, Stephanie Cole as Joan Danbury, John Duttine as Detective Sergeant Henry Jacobs, Lennox Greaves as the Vicar, Sunny Ormonde as Isabel Mackenzie and Tom George as John Parnell

Director: Rosemary Watts

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 2002.


SAT 14:00 Dad's Army (b007jqdz)
Series 3

Big Guns

Captain Mainwaring's platoon sparks havoc in Walmington-on-Sea when they try to fire a large naval gun.

The comic exploits of a Second World War Home Guard platoon in Walmington-on-Sea.

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 Walker …. Larry Martyn
Private Pike …. Ian Lavender
Private Frazer …. John Laurie
Private Godfrey …. Arnold Ridley
Town Councillor/Mr. Upton …. Julian Orchard
The Pickford's Man …. Michael Middleton
Announcer/Newsreader … John Snagge

Producer: John Dyas

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in May 1976.


SAT 14:30 Hancock's Half Hour (b008v13d)
Series 5

The Sleepless Night

The lad tries to get a good night's sleep, but everybody else keeps him awake.

Starring Tony Hancock.

With Sidney James, Bill Kerr, Hattie Jacques and Kenneth Williams.

Written by Ray Galton and Alan Simpson.

Theme and incidental music written by Wally Stott.

Producer: Tom Ronald

First broadcast on the BBC Light Programme in June 1958.


SAT 15:00 Frankly Speaking (b041459l)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:00 today]


SAT 15:30 I Was... (b00fzblz)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:30 today]


SAT 16:00 CH Evans - Falling Heads (b04144rs)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:00 today]


SAT 17:30 Tim FitzHigham: The Gambler (b040h6xq)
Series 1

Episode 2

Adventuring comedian Tim FitzHigham recreates a 'gamble Anglaise' from 1811. He's attempting to get a cheeseboard to travel a distance of four and a half miles in under 100 throws.

Challenge number one? Getting permission to have the A151 closed down for the purposes of cheeseboard tossing.

Comedian-author-adventurer Tim FitzHigham recreates a series of bizarre bets from the 18th and 19th centuries.

Written by and starring Tim FitzHigham.

Additional material by Jon Hunter and Paul Byrne and sums and support from Joe Oldak.

Produced by Colin Anderson.

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in April 2014.


SAT 18:00 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (b007jm34)
The Secondary Phase

Fit The Seventh

Who hasn't been confronted with a temporal anomaly while drunk? Arthur Dent and Ford Prefect struggle to work it out.

The show that began with the end of the world continues with Arthur and Ford stranded on prehistoric earth, and Zaphod Beeblebrox and Marvin thoroughly devoured by a carbon-copy of the Ravenous Bugblatter Beast of Traal.

The Book ...... Peter Jones
Arthur Dent ...... Simon Jones
Ford Prefect/ Frogstar Robot ...... Geoffrey McGivern
Marvin ...... Stephen Moore
Zaphod Beeblebrox ...... Mark Wing-Davey
Assistant Arcturan Pilot ...... Bill Paterson
Captain/ Receptionist/Lift ...... David Tate
Roosta ...... Alan Ford

The global multi-media success story that is 'Hitchhiker's' started life on Radio 4 in March 1978. The original scripts by Douglas Adams (1952-2001) went on to spawn a series of novels, a feature film, at least three stage shows, a TV series, a computer game, a collection of comic books - and various towels.

The answer to the meaning of life, the universe and everything is 42. If you work out what the Ultimate Question is, please let us know.

Radiophonic sound and music by Paddy Kingsland.

Producer: Geoffrey Perkins

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in December 1978.


SAT 18:30 Fear on 4 (b007jndg)
Series 2

The Journey Home

Felicity and George are driving home, when suddenly something unaccountable happens that leads them down a nightmare road to inescapable horror.

The Man in Black sets the scene...

Fear on 4 brings you more in a series of nerve-tinglers.

Written by Bert Coules

The Man in Black …. Edward de Souza
Doctor …. Richard Pasco
Felicity …. Helena Breck
George …. Crawford Logan
Voice …. Simon Cuff

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in February 1989.


SAT 19:00 The Navy Lark: Left Hand Down A Bit, with Leslie Phillips (b00sdrj2)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:00 today]


SAT 22:00 Saturday Night Fry (b007jt12)
Episode 6

Stephen Fry serves up a final portion of witty banter and sketches.

With Hugh Laurie, Jim Broadbent, Emma Thompson and Phyllida Law.

Written by Stephen Fry with additional material by Ian Brown and James Hendrie.

Producer: Dan Patterson

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in May 1988.


SAT 22:30 Sir Henry at Rawlinson End (b00scw61)
Diplodocus v Concreton

The surreal saga of a dynasty delicately balanced on the edge of sanity.

Written by and starring Viv Stanshall.

Contains an edit of an original John Peel session as first heard on BBC Radio 1.

Music composed and performed by Viv Stanshall using additional musicians.

Producer: John Walters

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in December 1996.


SAT 22:45 Tina C (b00771gs)
State of the Union Tour

Ireland

Can the country singing sensation and global activist gain a better understanding of Ireland? Stars Christopher Green. From November 2006.


SAT 22:55 The Comedy Club Interviews (b042rccf)
The best in contemporary comedy. Tonight, Arthur Smith chats to Angela Barnes.


SAT 23:00 The Mark Steel Solution (b007jmrl)
Series 2

The Royal Family Should Be Chosen By a Weekly Lottery

Mark Steel crowns his series by proposing that the royal family be chosen by a lottery.

Alternative solutions written and performed by Mark Steel and Pete Sinclair.

With Kim Wall and Maria McErlane.

Producer Phil Clarke

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in August 1994.


SAT 23:30 The Masterson Inheritance (b007jsrx)
Series 1

Scurvy

The Mastersons set sail across the Atlantic, but there are dangerous sheep lurking in them there waters.

An improvised historical saga of a family at war with itself - based entirely on audience suggestions.

Starring Paul Merton, Josie Lawrence, Caroline Quentin, Jim Sweeney and Phelim McDermott.

Producer: Phil Clarke

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in May 1993.