SATURDAY 03 MAY 2014

SAT 00:00 Roald Dahl (b041ym4c)
The Man From the South

Win a car or lose a finger - what will be the result of an old man's bizarre bet? Read by Terry Molloy.


SAT 00:15 Aldous Huxley - Brave New World (b007q9yw)
Episode 10

Disenchanted with society, John decides to seek solitude. Nightmare vision of the future concluded by Anton Lesser. From April 2003.


SAT 00:30 Report On The Barnhouse Effect by Kurt Vonnegut (b0085hqx)
Professor Barnhouse discovers a way of channelling his mind to control the forces of nature.

The phenomenon becomes known as the "Barnhouse Effect". The academic sees his skill as a marvellous opportunity to secure world peace. However, the American government has other ideas...

Stuart Milligan reads Kurt Vonnegut's first short story published in 1950.

Abridged and produced by Gemma Jenkins.

Made for BBC Radio 7 and first broadcast in November 2007.


SAT 01:00 Raffles (b007jngf)
Series 3

The Knees of the Gods

Raffles and Bunny leave England to fight for queen and country in the South African war. For one of them there will be no return...

The stories of EW Hornung in the continuing adventures of cricketer and gentleman thief, Arthur J Raffles, and his chronicler, Harry "Bunny" Manders.

Starring Jeremy Clyde as AJ Raffles, Michael Cochrane as Bunny, Sean Barrett as Connell, Gudrun Ure as Mrs Fisher and Peter Penry-Jones as the General.

Dramatised by Olwen Wymark.

Signature tune composed by Jim Parker.

Director: Gordon House

A BBC Radio 4/ BBC World Service production first broadcast in 1992.


SAT 01:30 RD Wingfield (b0082k48)
Outbreak of Fear

5. The Killer

Sergeant Fowler must takes steps as his suspicions grow over his boss Chadwick's conclusions on the murders in the village of Polford.

Conclusion of RD Wingfield's thriller starring Leslie Sands as Sergeant Fowler.

Sergeant Fowler …. Leslie Sands
PC Beaumont …. Nick Orchard
Dave Clark …. Cornelius Garrett
The Doctor …. Paul Nicholson
Chadwick …. Nicholas Courtney
Mitchell …. Conrad Phillips
Rose …. Gillie Gratham
Operator …. Brian Gear
Radio DJ …. Jim Reid
Jackson …. Roger Leach

Director: Brian Miller

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in September 1982.


SAT 02:00 Millport (b0076br4)
Series 3

The End of the Beginning

The island makeover has turned horribly sour and with Irene gone, the only person to save the island from being bulldozed is Bunty Pierce.

But with her ailing health and hermit ways, will she leave her vegetables to rescue the island's integrity? And will Irene change her mind about mainland life and return to the island for good?

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/Ferryman/Robert the Dog/Morris ...... Lewis McLeod
Ena/Bunty ...... Gabriel Quigley
Minister/Bob ...... Robert Patterson
Dougie ...... Kenneth Bryans

Producer: Lucy Bacon

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in December 2002.


SAT 02:30 Act Your Age (b00g0nnv)
Series 1

Episode 4

Simon Mayo discovers which generation is the funniest. With Jon Richardson, Lucy Porter and Roy Walker. From December 2008.


SAT 03:00 Elizabeth Gaskell - Mr Harrison's Confession (b041yks9)
A young surgeon arriving at the village of Duncombe discovers that his female patients seem to require a singular remedy.

Elizabeth Gaskell's 1851 novella is notable for being a prequel to her novel Cranford.

Mr Harrison …. Marston Bloom
Jemima Bullock …. Colleen Prendergast
Mr Bullock …. David Timson
Miss Tomkinson …. Gillian Bevan
Caroline Tomkinson …. Rebecca Front
Miss Horsman …. Jane Booker
Mrs Bullock …. Christine Kavanagh
Sophy Hutton …. Alison Pettitt
Mr Morgan …. Geoffrey Whitehead
Jack Marshland/John Brouncker …. Stephen Critchlow
Mrs Rose …. Sophie Thompson

Dramatised by Jeremy Front.

Director: Sally Avens

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in June 1998.


SAT 04:00 Rose Tremain (b007md6s)
Tropical Fish

The reflections of dying farmer John Sparrow and his son Bob, who ponders life during a trip to London. Read by Maggie Steed.


SAT 04:15 Robert Barr - Galbraith and the King of Diamonds (b041yksc)
4. The £7,000,000 Touch

The 'King' is taken and double-crossing ends in death.

Retirement continues to elude veteran detective Bill Gailbraith. Bundled into a car, he's face-to-face with Jacobus.

Starring Bernard Hepton as Galbraith, Tom Watson as Cater, Cyril Shaps as Lindemanns, Peter Dyneley as Gelder, Richard Davies as Paul, Eva Haddon as Anne-Marie,
Stephen Grief as Jacobus, Trader Faulkner as Dykers.

Producer: John Browell

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in September 1975.


SAT 05:00 Second Holmes (b015qy32)
The Case of the Reading Undertaker

The grandsons of Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson investigate the death of a man by crossbow.

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, Stuart Organ as Simon Durham, Madi Hedd as Janet Durham, James Kerry as Inspector Fowler, Ronald Baddiley as the General and Hugh Dickson as Lamson.

Producer: Paul Mayhew-Archer

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in January 1983.


SAT 05:30 Smelling of Roses (b00d8yxr)
Series 3

Promises, Promises

Tasked with organising an auction of promises for a posh school, Rosie finds that it’s not the parents who are upper-crust so much as the pupils...

More challenges for Rosie Burns running her family's event management company, where the clients are only part of the problem...

The third of four series of Simon Brett's sitcom.

Rosie ..... Prunella Scales
Jo ..... Rebecca Callard
Bob ..... Duncan Preston
Tess ..... Annette Badland
Greg ..... Leo Dolan
Trevor ..... Jim North

Producer: Maria Esposito

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in August 2002.


SAT 06:00 J Meade Falkner - Moonfleet (b007jqnz)
When he goes in search of Blackbeard's diamond, young John Trenchard is drawn into a dangerous world of the smugglers.

But the treasure brings a curse and soon John is fleeing for his life.

J Meade Faulkner's classic tale dramatised by Nick Warburton.

Starring Robert Glenister as the Narrator (Old John), Richard Pearce as Young John Trenchard, Ron Cook as Ratsey, James Laurenson as Elzevir Block, Frances Jeater as Aunt Jane, Sean Baker as Aldobrand, Ian Masters as Glennie, Tilly Gaunt as Grace, Stephen Critchlow as Turnkey and Stephen Boxer as Maskew.

Director: Sally Avens

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 1998.


SAT 07:30 Grasshead Racers (b00x58v4)
To honour the great motor racing commentator, Murray Walker, who died last month aged 97, Radio 4 is repeating the programme that, in 2004 , tempted him out of retirement - Grasshead Racers.

In his long career as a commentator Murray Walker covered all manner of motor sports, so when radio producer Julian May told him about lawn mower racing he was intrigued. He agreed to present a programme exploring it, on one condition - that he would not have to commentate.

At the Le Mans (if he’s not mistaken) of the lawn mower racing world - a field dotted with straw bales in Kingston Maurwood, Dorset, Murray spends a summer's day with members of the British Lawn Mower Racing Association and discovers this is a sport with wide appeal. Sir Stirling Moss reveals he was a keen lawn mower racer; Oliver Reed was as enthusiastic, but less controlled. Murray meets one competitor with more world championships than Michael Schumacher.

So impressed is Murray by these grasshead racers and their diligently fettled machines that he can't resist picking up the announcer's microphone and painting the scene in words, commentating one last time on this most spectacular and democratic motor sport.

Lawnmowers, Murray reveals, have a surprisingly sexy provenance: Mr Benz of Mercedes launched his career making lawn mowers; Royal Enfield, more famous for their guns and motorcycles, made mowers. So did Rolls Royce!

But the real enthusiasts, like Bugatti owners, like to mount their chariots and tank them. Murray Walker joins them, enjoying the heady aroma of 2 stroke and grass clippings as, lap after lap, the grasshead racers gun their classic mowers over Kingston Maurwood's greensward at speeds approaching a dizzying 35mph.

Presenter: Murray Walker
Producer: Julian May


SAT 08:00 Archive on 4 (b00wr6qy)
I'm in Charge

The London Palladium has always occupied a unique place in Bruce Forsyth's heart: "No theatre on this earth has ever superseded the Palladium in my affections; it's just so special . . . as intimate as a family's front room."

It was one night at the Palladium back in 1958 when Bruce Forsyth's career changed forever - a celebrated appearance with the late comedian Dickie Henderson led to Bruce being offered the highly sought after job of compère of the weekly TV variety show, 'Sunday Night at the London Palladium'. Together, the show and its new presenter, turned out to be a sensation - the highlight of the week for Britain's viewing millions and the topic of conversation in factories, offices, schools and shop floors on Monday mornings.

On the eve of the Theatre's 100th birthday - the Palladium first opened its doors to the public on Boxing Day 1919 - Bruce takes Paul Jackson on a tour of the theatre that every star of their day aspired to performing in. If you made the Palladium, you had it made. From Ella Sheilds and Dan Leno to the golden era of American stars like Frank Sinatra and Danny Kaye who had the crowds queuing round the block; from George V & George VI, to Pinky & Perky and Mocombe & Wise, the London Palladium has played host to them all.

Producer: Paul Kobrak.


SAT 09:00 Comedy Controller (b01m6hqn)
Adam Hills

The Antipodean funny man opens up his own personal comedy preferences. Including The Goon Show, Kenny Everett - The Local Radio Years, League of Gentlemen, Flight of the Conchords and Little Britain.

What do Adelaide, Melbourne and Edinburgh all have in common? Their Fringe and comedy festivals have all been host to popular and critically-lauded shows from this sunny Australian comic. A purveyor of self-confessed "positive uplifting comedy", Adam has been a Perrier nominee on no less than three separate occasions, and a winner of the Best of the Fest. Not only a veteran of the British panel game circuit - via Mock the Week and Never Mind the Buzzcocks - he has presented Four at the Store for Radio 4.

A consistently popular comedian, in this programme, Adam shares his love of radio comedy and it's formative role in his comedy career. Go you big red fire engine!

Produced by Martin Dempsey.


SAT 12:00 Chris Fallon - Le Donne (b042brd3)
Series 2 Omnibus

Caterina finds her morality, courage and resourcefulness tested to the limit as she joins the Camorra. Stars Indira Varma.


SAT 13:05 Inheritance Tracks (b0106vf7)
Colm Toibin

The writer inherits 'I Dreamt I Dwelt in Marbled Halls' sung by Joan Sutherland, and passes on Bob Dylan's 'I Threw It All Away'.


SAT 13:15 In the Psychiatrist's Chair (b007510p)
Ann Widdecombe

The former MP opens up to Dr Anthony Clare about religion, being single and her clash with Michael Howard. From July 1997.

Psychiatrist Dr Anthony Clare's in depth interviews with prominent people from different walks of life.

Born in Dublin, author Anthony held a doctorate in medicine, a master's degree in philosophy and was a fellow of the Royal College of Psychiatrists. After becoming a regular on BBC Radio 4's Stop the Week in the 1980s, he became Britain's best-known psychiatrist and earned his own vehicle, In the Psychiatrist's Chair. Starting in 1982, this series ran until 2001 and also transferred to TV. Series highlights include conversations with Bob Monkhouse, Cecil Parkinson and Gerry Adams.

Anthony Clare died suddenly in Paris aged 64 in 2007.


SAT 14:00 The Goon Show (b007jnm5)
Series 7

The Great Bank Robbery

All set for the Long Distance Bass Drum Race, Neddie Seagoon is duped into villainy.

Groundbreaking, surreal BBC radio comedy written by Spike Milligan and Larry Stephens.

Starring:
Peter Sellers
Harry Secombe
Spike Milligan

First billed as Crazy People, ten series of The Goon Show were recorded between 1951 and 1960, but sadly many of the earliest shows weren’t kept in the archive.

With the Ray Ellington Quartet and Max Geldray.

Orchestra conducted by Wally Stott.

Announcer: Wallace Greenslade

Producer: Pat Dixon

First broadcast on the BBC Home Service in November 1956.


SAT 14:30 The Marx Brothers' Flywheel, Shyster and Flywheel (b00f9y6d)
Series 3

Episode 1

Shady lawyer Waldorf T Flywheel stays in a haunted mansion. With guest star Spike Milligan as The Mayor of Witchfield.

Recreation of the Marx Brothers' lost shows charting the adventures of shady lawyer Waldorf T Flywheel and his assistant, Emmanuel Ravelli. Originally broadcast with sponsors on America's NBC radio network in the 1930s. The scripts were rediscovered in 1988.

Starring Michael Roberts as Groucho Marx as Waldorf T Flywheel and Frank Lazarus as Chico Marx as Emmanuel Ravelli.

With Lorelei King, Graham Hoadly and Dick Vosburgh.

Written by Nat Perrin and Arthur Sheekman. Adapted by Mark Brisenden.

Music arranged and conducted by David Firman.

Producer: Dirk Maggs

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in July 1992.


SAT 15:00 Archive on 4 (b00wr6qy)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:00 today]


SAT 16:00 J Meade Falkner - Moonfleet (b007jqnz)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:00 today]


SAT 17:30 Tim FitzHigham: The Gambler (b041vcqw)
Series 1

Episode 4

Comedian and adventurer Tim FitzHigham recreates an 18th Century bet, attempting to travel 25mph on water using only the means available to a gentleman in 1765. History books record of the original attempt, "Something snapped, there was a fatality and the wager was abandoned." Last in series.


SAT 18:00 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (b007jm46)
The Secondary Phase

Fit The Ninth

The Vogons make an unwelcome return, Zaphod holds a séance, and Arthur's quest for tea paralyses the ship.

Starring Peter Jones as The Book, Simon Jones as Arthur Dent, Geoffrey McGivern as Ford Prefect, Mark Wing-Davey as Zaphod Beeblebrox, David Tate as Eddie, Stephen Moore as Marvin, Leueen Willoughby as the Nutrimat Machine, Bill Wallis as the Vogon Captain and Richard Goolden as Zaphod Beeblebrox IV.

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.

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 (b007jnlv)
His Last Card

The Man in Black reveals Laura's feelings over a card signed 'One day to death'. Stars Edward de Souza and Maureen O'Brien.


SAT 19:00 Comedy Controller (b01m6hqn)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:00 today]


SAT 22:00 Innes Own World (b0178mxy)
Episode 2

A radio programme that takes you inside Neil Innes's head and doesn't let you out for half an hour.

Featuring "The Breakfast Things", Neil's own version of The Today Programme, broadcast from his kitchen table.

Script Editor: John Dowie

Producer: Claire Jones

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in January 2003.


SAT 22:30 Comedy Club at Machynlleth (b042cjdw)
2014

Episode 4

Made for 4 Extra. Isy Suttie and Arthur Smith are joined by Joe Lycett on stage at the Machynlleth Comedy Festival.


SAT 22:35 Creme de la Crime (b007yvm3)
Series 1

The Bells and St Clement

Michael Feydeau and David Pershore review the curious case of a fallen monk. Stars Steve Punt and Hugh Dennis. From October 2001.


SAT 22:50 Tina C (b00771rs)
State of the Union Tour

Madrid

The country singing sensation and global activist investigates the Spanish concept of 'duende', the mysterious spirit of performance. From December 2006.


SAT 23:05 Comedy Club at Machynlleth (b042ck2f)
2014

Episode 5

Made for 4 Extra. Isy Suttie and Arthur Smith are joined by Nish Kumar on stage at the Machynlleth Comedy Festival.


SAT 23:10 28 Acts in 28 Minutes (b008kmqx)
Series 2

Episode 2

John Humphrys gives 28 performers 60 seconds to entertain an audience:

Arthur Smith
Catherine Williams
Natalie Haynes
Murray Lachlan Young
Dave Fulton
Harald Dubois [Kevin Eldon]
Paul Sinha
Fat Tongue
Mick Miller
I Am Kloot
Dr. Phil Hammond
Pappy's Fun Club
Five Live Drive
Dan Evans
Faultless & Torrance
Joe Wilkinson
Joolz Denby
Paul Carenza
Philip Pope
Carrie Quinlan
Lady Agatha [Lizzie Roper]
Mark Maier
Hils Barker
The Pros from Dover
Andy Zaltzman
Billy Bennett [Andrew Sachs]
Jimmy Cricket
Marcus Brigstocke

Producers: Rohan Acharya and Ed Morrish

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in January 2008.


SAT 23:40 Comedy Club at Machynlleth (b042ck2h)
2014

Episode 6

Made for 4 Extra. Isy Suttie and Arthur Smith present Machynlleth: The Musical.


SAT 23:45 Julian Fox: On a Lonely Planet (b042ck2k)
Canary Wharf

What will Julian Fox find when he takes his home-based travel show to the towers of London's Canary Wharf? From February 2005.