The BBC has announced that it has a sustainable plan for the future of the BBC Singers, in association with The VOCES8 Foundation.
The threat to reduce the staff of the three English orchestras by 20% has not been lifted, but it is being reconsidered.
See the BBC press release here.
RADIO-LISTS: BBC RADIO 4 Extra
Unofficial Weekly Listings for BBC Radio 4 Extra — supported by bbc.co.uk/programmes/
A man looks back on the complex relationship between his parents and a female friend of his father's. It's one that will influence the rest of his life...
Read by Julian Wadham.
Walter de la Mare (1873-1956) was a popular award-wining poet, short story writer and novelist. He wrote for both children and adults.
Abridged by Doreen Estall.
Producer: Lawrence Jackson
Made for BBC Radio 7 and first broadcast in 2010.
How the choral work The Dream of Gerontius, by Elgar, has touched and changed people's lives.
We hear from Terry Waite for whom it was the first piece of music he heard as a hostage in the Lebanon, after four years in solitary confinement.
Music writer and broadcaster Stephen Johnson describes how Elgar's own fragile emotional state is written into the music, which describes the journey taken by a dying man.
Singer Catherine Wyn-Rogers explains how Elgar's music helped her come to terms with the loss of her parents.
Martin Firth recalls a life-enhancing performance of the piece in Bristol cathedral.
Jude Kelly, artistic director of the South Bank Centre, explains how she experienced the choir in this piece as a 'spiritual army' when she performed it at university.
Martyn Marsh describes how the music brought him to a realisation about how he would like to end his days.
And Robin Self recalls a life-changing performance of this piece, which enabled him to grieve for his son.
Producer: Melvin Rickarby.
Concluding Charles Parker's take on Shakespeare's tale, featuring songs and music by Ewan MacColl and Peggy Seeger. From May 1966.
Comedian Jack Dee presents the rags-to-riches story of Britain's most famous glove puppet. With Sara Parker. From July 1998.
Tracy Chevalier's novel, abridged in 10 parts by Jane Greenwood, is set in London in 1792.
5/10. After the funeral, the night closes in. Jem, Maggie and Maisie find themselves wet, lost and frightened in a maze of unfamiliar streets.
Read by Jenny Coverack.
What does the future hold for Blackpool's piers as visitors demand new forms of entertainment? From February 2001.
John Galsworthy's epic family saga of love, money and betrayal.
Dramatised for radio by Shaun McKenna
Feelings are running high at Ascot as the Forsytes gather to watch the family horse in its debut race
Original music composed by Neil Brand
Director ..... Gemma Jenkins.
"Humans are like animals and like all animals we leave tracks as we walk. Pilgrim paths, green roads, drove roads, corpse roads, trods, leys, dykes, drongs, sarns, snickets, holloways, bostles, shutes, driftways, lichways, ridings, halterpaths, cartways, carneys, causeways, herepaths."
Author Robert Macfarlane follows some ancient routes in the UK and overseas. As well as having adventures on the way - as you do on foot - he ponders the creation of old paths, the people who trod them, and how they resonate in today's landscapes.
After various journeys, it's back to the chalk paths for Robert Macfarlane and a ghostly encounter is in store..
Reader Dan Stevens.
Philip experiences more than one revelation when he finally faces his guardian's widow. Stars Damien Lewis and Lia Williams.
A funny and dynamic quiz show hosted by Steve Punt - this week from the University of Glasgow, with specialist subjects including Earth Science, Medicine and Astrophysics and Cosmology, and the questions ranging from Rudolf Hess to Vaslav Nijinsky via smallpox and syzygys.
The programme is recorded on location at a different University each week, and it pits three Undergraduates against three of their Professors in an original and fresh take on an academic quiz.
The rounds vary between Specialist Subjects and General Knowledge, quickfire bell-and-buzzer rounds and the Highbrow and Lowbrow round cunningly devised to test not only the students' knowledge of current affairs, history, languages and science, but also their Professors' awareness of television, sport, and quite possibly Justin Bieber. In addition, the Head-to-Head rounds see students take on their Professors in their own subjects, offering plenty of scope for mild embarrassment on both sides.
Other Universities featured in this series include Gloucestershire, Chester, Birmingham City, Bath and York.
Produced by David Tyler
A Pozzitive production for BBC Radio 4.
A humble Russian civil servant's career is stuck in a dismal rut, until he buys a new coat. With Stephen Moore. From April 2002.
Jennifer joins Mark and his mutt's Thames quest, but there is a surprise on their menu. Stars Timothy Spall. From January 1993.
Humphrey Ker with new sketch group talent from the circuit: The Three Englishmen, Max & Ivan and Frisky & Mannish. From July 2012.
based on the novels of John Galsworthy
dramatised by Lin Coghlan
It's 1928 and, after her father's death, Fleur is determined to make a steady life with Michael. But when his young cousin Dinny - lively, determined, and 'not the marrying sort of woman' - struggles to help first a brother accused of war crimes and then a best friend in trouble, can Fleur be of use, as echoes of her own life reverberate?
Original music composed by Neil Brand
Written by John Galsworthy
Dramatised by Lin Coghlan
Director/Producer ..... Marion Nancarrow
Over the last 2 years, BBC Radio 4 has dramatised all 9 of John Galsworthy's Forsyte novels and this series "The Forsytes Concludes" brings us to the last 3 novels, which he wrote at the end of his life. This first 90' drama is based on "Maid in Waiting" and moves to Oxfordshire to introduce the Cherrell family and, in particular, Dinny Cherrell, who, aged 24 in 1928, is full of excitement for the life ahead of her. She is Michael & Fleur's cousin and, unbeknown to either of them, their lives are to have parallels neither could have predicted.
With her father Soames dead, Fleur has resolved to put her love for Jon behind her and live a good life with husband Michael and son Kit. But Dinny's brother is in trouble and as things escalate, both Fleur and Michael are pushed to try to find ways they can help the besieged brother and sister.
Joining Jessica Raine, Ben Lambert and Brian Protheroe from the original cast are Nina Sosanya, Allan Corduner, Jonathan Aris and Sarah Ridgeway in this episode, with Max Bennett, Chloe Pirrie and John Heffernan arriving later.
This 90' Saturday Drama is followed by 5 x 15' episodes to tell the story of "Flowering Wilderness" (which sees an unexpected return) and a Saturday and Sunday Drama at the end of the week conclude the story and all 9 novels.
For this week's Sunday Lunch Hardeep Singh Kohli visits a beautiful valley in Lancashire to meet the volunteers who run Clarion House. With it's red flag waving and a sign outside saying 'Socialism Our Hope', Clarion House is the last Independent Labour Party socialist tea room in the country. Visited several times by Keir Hardie, the tea room was set up at the end of the 19th century to encourage mill workers into the countryside every Sunday. Over pint mugs of tea, visitors were encouraged to make friends, discuss the issues of the day and spread the message of socialism. And as Hardeep finds out, today Clarion House still attracts lots of cyclists and walkers every Sunday in search of a pint of tea and a chat even though the social message is diminished.
Producers: Dawn Bryan
Amanda Hancox.
Sara Parker presents four features crafted by students, to win Bronze, Silver and Gold prizes dedicated to her father's memory.
Charles Parker was a talented radio producer who worked with Ewan MacColl and Peggy Seeger over 50 years ago to create BBC Radio's famous series of 'Radio Ballads'.
Each year a team of radio professionals meet to decide the winners of an award dedicated to his memory. The Charles Parker Award is presented each year to the best feature made by students studying radio at universities and colleges throughout the UK.
Sara Parker, herself an award-winning radio producer, reviews this year's competition, meets the prize-winners and plays their winning features.
A Soundscape Production for BBC Radio 4 Extra.
What created suburbia, when and how?
In the 19th century the first suburban districts sprang up around city centres (at first London and Manchester) to accommodate those who wanted to escape the squalid conditions of the industrial town. From the mid-19th century the development of the railways (like the Metropolitan line to Middlesex and then Bucks), made it possible for the majority of the city's population to reside outside the city and to commute into the centre for work. The railway could take you from Middlesex to The City, from Bucks to Baker Street. It was the birth of Metroland, as celebrated by poet Sir John Betjeman.
But the suburbs were more than just about planning and building; they developed a culture set apart from the metropolitan influence of the sinful city. In the suburbs grew a whole lifestyle of refinement, respectability and aspiration. And along with their distance from the city came the disdain of the fashionable non-suburbanites: "How very suburban!" became synonymous with a sneering disdain for conventionality.
Simon Fanshawe explores Suburbia as a place of both continuity and change. Through poems, TV sitcom, history and commentary he traces the story of the suburbs - how they came to be - and also their cultural influence on British lifestyle from fashion, architecture, music, morals, gardening and social one-upmanship. From Betjeman to Reggie Perrin through, amongst other things, Mike Leigh's Abigail's Party, Sue Townsend's Adrian Mole, TV sitcom The Good Life, the sketches of Monty Python, and the birth of punk rock.
Simon explores what the suburbs were originally, what they have become and how; despite changes in demographics and social mobility, they still typify a very British set of values. The programme also features exclusive interviews with the likes of Michael Palin, Terry Jones and Penelope Keith.
Producer Mike Greenwood
Made for BBC Radio 4 Extra by Pier Productions.
Just this side of nosey, Heather is western movie-mad. She's also the Sherlock Holmes of the rundown Sutter Estate.
With the aid of daughter Natalie and her boyfriend Ryan, she's determined to help her local community.
For starters, Heather tries to help a family with a sick child, but events take an unexpected turn...
Sue Teddern's six-part comedy series star Lindsey Coulson as Heather. ( Lindsey played Carol Jackson in BBC TV's EastEnders until 2015)
With Abigail Hart as Natalie, Ben Crowe as Ryan, Dearbhla Molloy as Maev, Tom George as Craig and Beth Chalmers as Lisa.
Director: David Hunter
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in February 2000.
Albert butts in on Harold's church magazine article.
Starring Wilfrid Brambell as Albert and Harry H Corbett as Harold. With Anthony Sharp as the Vicar.
Following the conclusion of their hugely successful association with Tony Hancock, writers Ray Galton and Alan Simpson wrote 10 pilots for the BBC TV's Comedy Playhouse in 1962. The Offer was set in a house with a yard full of junk, featuring the lives of rag and bone men Albert Steptoe and his son Harold and it was the spark for a run of 8 series for TV.
Written for TV and adapted for radio by Ray Galton and Alan Simpson.
Produced by Bobby Jaye
First broadcast on the BBC Radio 2 in June 1974.
Anna is an inner city vicar who logs her secrets on her phone. Tense murder mystery starring Rosie Cavaliero and Johann Myers.
American playwright Tennessee Williams faces a three-way interview with John Freeman, John Bowen and Peter Duval Smith.
Recorded during a visit to England in 1959, Tennessee had by then written all his major plays - but despite that was seriously questioning his future in the commercial theatre. He talks candidly of the misery of waiting for the reviews after opening night.
Launched in 1952 on the BBC Home Service, Frankly Speaking was a novel, ground breaking series. Unrehearsed and unscripted, the traditional interviewee/interviewer pairing was initially jettisoned for three interviewers firing direct questions - straight to the point.
Early critics described it as 'unkempt', 'an inquisition' and described the guest as prey being cornered, quarry being pursued - with calls to axe the unscripted interview. But the format won out and eventually won over its detractors.
Unknown or very inexperienced broadcasters were employed as interviewers, notably John Freeman, John Betjeman, Malcolm Muggeridge, Harold Hobson, Penelope Mortimer, Elizabeth Beresford and Katherine Whitehorn.
Only about 40 of the original 100 programmes survive.
First broadcast on the BBC Home Service in 1959.
Roy Castle proves that dedication is what you need, with Marriott Edgar's 'Goalkeeper Joe' and 'The Magna Charter'.
When the Sixth Doctor and his companion, Peri check in on an old friend, Professor Albrecht Thompson, they discover he's vanished - and last sighted taking a shuttle to the eerie holiday resort planet of Paradise 5...
An adventure originally written for the BBC's Doctor Who TV series but never made.
Colin Baker stars as the Sixth Doctor.
With Nicola Bryant as Peri, Alex Macqueen as Gabriel, James 'D'Arcy as Michael, Helen Goldwyn as Stella/ Bella, Andree Bernard as Lorelei, Teddy Kempner as Elohim, Claire Wyatt as Mrs Aht and Richard Earl as Mr Tapp.
Written by PJ Hammond and Andy Lane.
Director: Barnaby Edwards
Made by Big Finish and reversioned for broadcast by BBC Radio 4 Extra.
Chris Addison's spoof lectures exploring human evolution. With Geoffrey McGivern as Professor Austin Herring. From August 2005.
Exploring a fresh theme each week, the Irish comedian hosts stand-up and sketches. With guest Ivan Brackenbury. From July 2008.
Coming of age in post-apartheid South Africa, Trevor Noah shares his story with this exploration of race and place.
Following on from a ground breaking total sell-out season at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, South African comedian Trevor Noah brings his critically acclaimed show, The Racist, to the BBC Radio Theatre for a one off recording for BBC Radio 4.
Trevor's explosion onto the South African entertainment scene has been nothing short of meteoric. His sharp wit, intelligent commentary, unmistakable charm and clinical delivery have established him as an extremely popular performer with undoubted world class potential.
"Slick, intelligent, blissfully funny....This is insightful, warm, classy comedy." ***** Time Out
Written and Performed by Trevor Noah
Produced by Katie Tyrrell.
The comedian ponders the virtue of living more modestly. With poetry and songs by Tim Key and Tom Basden. From September 2008.
Childless Nick and Naomi adopt a baby from a Chinese orphanage. Inspired by author Tom Fry's own story. With Sophie Thompson.
A woodland glade, a perfect picnic... a girl grows up, a woman grows old. Perfectly observed short story. Read by June Barrie.
Jon Canter's "radiography" of Richard Wilson returns for a second series.
Celebrity autobiographies are everywhere. Richard Wilson has always said he'd never write one. Based on glimmers of truth, Believe It is the hilarious, bizarre, revealing (and, most importantly, untrue) celebrity autobiography of Richard Wilson.
He narrates the series with his characteristic dead-pan delivery, weaving in and out of dramatised scenes from his fictional life-story. He plays a heavily exaggerated version of himself: a Scots actor and national treasure, unmarried, private, passionate about politics, theatre and Manchester United (all true), who's a confidant of the powerful and has survived childhood poverty, a drunken father, years of fruitless grind, too much success, monstrosity, addiction, charity work and fierce rivalry with Sean Connery and Ian McKellan (not true).
The title - in case you hadn't spotted - is an unashamed reference his famous catchphrase.
Written by Jon Canter
Produced and Directed by Clive Brill
A Pacificus production for BBC Radio 4.
Archie tries to be helpful and gets a surprise after turning his hand to sculpting...
Radio ventriloquism from Peter Brough and schoolboy, Archie Andrews.
With Max Bygraves, Harry Secombe, Beryl Reid, Hattie Jacques and Peter Madden.
Running from 1950- 1958, Educating Archie introduced a number of soon-to-be household names to listeners, including Tony Hancock, Benny Hill, Harry Secombe, Dick Emery, Hattie Jacques, Bruce Forsyth and Max Bygraves - all taking a turn in tutoring Archie.
Script by Eric Sykes and Walter Ridley
With Ronald Chesney and the BBC Revue Orchestra conducted by Charles Shadwell.
Producer: Roy Speer
First broadcast on the BBC Light Programme in December 1952.
When faced with a financial shortfall, Professor Jimmy Edwards' plans are scuppered unless he can find a wife. With June Whitfield.
Starting life on BBC TV before transferring to radio, Chiselbury School is run "for the sons of gentlefolk".
Headmaster, Professor James Edwards, M.A. never misses a trick when it comes to exploiting the students and their parents. Sports pitches are given over to growing vegetables, which the boys nurture for their head to sell. Classes never exceed 95 pupils - 50 if private tuition is paid for at five guineas extra. It's only thanks to the efforts of the devoted deputy head, Mr Pettigrew, that the school exists at all.
Written by Frank Muir and Denis Norden and adapted for radio by David Climie.
Producer: Edward Taylor
First broadcast on the BBC Light Programme in June 1961.
Joanna Moorhead tells the remarkable story of her father's cousin, the Surrealist artist and writer. Read by Juliet Stevenson.
Fi Glover with a conversation between a 10 year old and his youth worker which ranges from haircuts, through making things and writing poetry, to angels - metaphorical or otherwise.
The Listening Project is a Radio 4 initiative that offers a snapshot of contemporary Britain in which people across the UK volunteer to have a conversation with someone close to them about a subject they've never discussed intimately before. The conversations are being gathered across the UK by teams of producers from local and national radio stations who facilitate each encounter. Every conversation - they're not BBC interviews, and that's an important difference - lasts up to an hour, and is then edited to extract the key moment of connection between the participants. Most of the unedited conversations are being archived by the British Library and used to build up a collection of voices capturing a unique portrait of the UK in the second decade of the millennium. You can learn more about The Listening Project by visiting bbc.co.uk/listeningproject
Producer: Marya Burgess.
4 Extra Debut. From The Kinks to Vaughan Williams. Naturalist Richard Mabey shares his castaway choices with Sue Lawley. From October 1997.
It's almost impossible to imagine a world without words. Jad Abumrad and Robert Krulwich explore the possibility.
Radiolab is a Peabody-award winning show about curiosity. Where sound illuminates ideas, and the boundaries blur between science, philosophy, and the human experience.
First broadcast on public radio in the USA.
Aftab finds a place to belong in the House of Dreams. A mesmerising journey from Old Delhi to Kashmir. Read by Indira Varma.
1940: Louise goes to her first dance in wartime London and meets the famous painter, Michael Hadleigh.
Elizabeth Jane Howard's family saga of 'The Cazalets' vividly catalogues the lives and loves of three generations.
Starring Penelope Wilton as the narrator, Alix Wilton Regan as Louise, Harry Hadden-Paton as Michael, Hannah Taylor Gordon as Stella and Liza Sadovy as Zee.
Dramatised by Lin Coghlan
'The Cazalets' saga consists of The Light Years, Marking Time, Confusion and Casting Off published between 1990-1995 and the fifth, All Change, in 2013.
Produced and directed by Sally Avens and Marion Nancarrow
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 2013.
BBC Radio 4's Poet in Residence, Daljit Nagra revisits the BBC's radio poetry with 'Fine Lines' with Selima Hill and Matthew Sweeney.
Tales of surreal suitcases, flying wardrobes and a bizarre poker game with a corpse. Poetry and conversation with Christopher Cook and Whitbread poetry prize winner, Selima Hill, and Irish poet Matthew Sweeney.
Producer: Susan Roberts
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 2002.
"All I ask of a partner is that he shall hold me firmly, take me round steadily, and not get tired before I do."
When a group of young women complain about a lack of dance partners, a toymaker gets creative...
Jerome K Jerome eerie tale adapted by Michael and Mollie Hardwick.
Starring James Hayter as Papa Geibel, Rolf Lefebvre as Brendl, Sheila Grant as Trudi, Shirley Cooklin as Olga, Peter Pratt as Colonel Lens, Malcolm Hayes as Hans / Fritz, Patricia Clapton as Irma, Anthony Hall as Hoffmeier, Austin Trevor as Wensel and Allan McClelland as MacShaugnasay.
Special effects by the BBC Radiophonic Workshop.
Music arranged and conducted by Denya Barlow.
Signature tune by Ron Grainer.
Producer: Charles Lefeaux
First broadcast on the BBC Home Service in January 1963.
"Was I mad? Or was the top of the bed really moving down, sinking slowly, silently horribly right down upon me as I lay beneath?"
A young man is tricked into staying the night in a disreputable gambling house.
Read by Paul Danemen.
Adapted by Michael Bakewell
Producer: Rosemary Hart
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in November 1989.
Mary assumes she lives alone in a rambling old house. Her god-daughter Lucy knows she doesn't. Read by Gillian Bevan.
Uh-oh - Marcus Brigstocke has been put in charge of a thing! Each week, Marcus finds he's volunteered to be in charge of a big old thing and each week he starts out by thinking "Well, it can't be that difficult, surely?" and ends up with "Oh - turns out it's utterly difficult and complicated. Who knew...?"
This week, Marcus Brigstocke has got himself elected as a Member of the European Parliament. So it's off to Brussels to meet Europe's finest parliamentary minds and also UKIP.
Along the way he'll be examining the history of the EU, its legislative structure, the democratic burden that must be shouldered to promulgate a more humane society and why so many UKIP members wear yellow trousers.
Helping him to publish the answers in up to 31 languages will be Rufus Jones (W1A, Holy Flying Circus), William Andrews (Sorry I've Got No Head) and Margaret Cabourn-Smith (Miranda)
The show is produced by Marcus's long-standing accomplice, David Tyler who also produces Marcus appearances as the inimitable as Giles Wemmbley Hogg - as well as Jeremy Hardy Speaks To The Nation, Cabin Pressure, Thanks A Lot, Milton Jones!, Kevin Eldon Will See You Now, Armando Iannucci's Charm Offensive, The Castle, The 3rd Degree, The 99p Challenge, My First Planet, Radio Active and Bigipedia.
Written by Marcus Brigstocke, Jeremy Salsby, Toby Davies, Nick Doody, Steve Punt and Dan Tetsell.
Produced by David Tyler
A Pozzitive production for the BBC.
by Tony Bagley.
The third in a series of four scurrilous talks given by well-known, if unreliable, Downing Street cats, relating their trials and tribulations under four different Prime Ministers.
Sybil, Chief Mouser to the Cabinet Office 2007 to 2008, reflects on her troubled life with Gordon and Alistair.
Directed by Marc Beeby.
Ian Leslie presents a new Radio 4 comedy show which brings to light the often surprising first literary attempts of some of the world's best known writers. A project of literary archaeology, Leslie has found evidence in the most unlikely of places - within the archives of newspapers, periodicals, corporations and universities - showcasing the early examples of work by writers such as Jilly Cooper during her brief and unfortunately unsuccessful foray into the world of war reporting, and Hunter S Thompson in his sadly short-lived phase working in the customer relations department for a major American Airline.
These are the newspaper articles, advertising copy, company correspondence and gardening manuals that allow us a fascinating glimpse into the embryonic development of our best loved literary voices - people we know today for their novels or poems but who, at the time, were just people with a dream...and a rent bill looming at the end of the month.
Produced by Anna Silver and Claire Broughton
A Hat Trick production for BBC Radio 4.
An educational theatre troupe with an unusual agenda visit the school in the remote northern town.
The first incarnation of the award-winning black comedy, about the "local people" of Spent - before it hit TV.
Starring Mark Gatiss, Reece Shearsmith and Steve Pemberton.
Written by the cast and Jeremy Dyson.
The League of Gentlemen won a Perrier Edinburgh Fesvital award in 1997 and this radio series debuted in the same year. They also won a Sony Radio Award. The cult series switched to TV for three series on BBC 2 from 1999, plus stage shows and a feature film.
Producer: Sarah Smith
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in November 1997.
By Timothy! A world of car-bombs, poison cocktails, gentlemen and rogues - where the villains had better watch out!
Detective aficionado and expert, Professor Jeffrey Richards recalls the indomitable husband and wife team, Paul and Steve Temple, who battled criminals and scoundrels.
Affectionate five-part series about popular radio detectives. Featuring the definitive Paul Temple actor, Peter Coke, plus vintage recordings from the legendary series.
Producer: Jon Rolph
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 1998.
Rowan Pelling visits Vienna to explore the enduring appeal of Gustav Klimt's The Kiss, which has become one of the world's most reproduced paintings since it was first exhibited 100 years ago. Who are the couple depicted in the famous clinch?
Mrs Tibbs owns a most respectable establishment, until the arrival of a mysterious new lodger. Stars Imelda Staunton.
Just A Minute is 50 years old this year! Nicholas Parsons has been hosting since day one, and presides over the following all-star panel: Paul Merton, Josie Lawrence, Graham Norton and Stephen Fry.
The panel have to talk on a given subject for sixty seconds without repetition, hesitation or deviation. How much does Paul know about the Norfolk Broads? What happens when Josie's gloves come off? If Graham could change a law, which one would it be and we hear about Stephen's favourite dance.
PLUS one of our panellists talks for a full minute - which one? You'll have to tune in to find out...
Hayley Sterling blows the whistle and it was produced by Matt Stronge.
Just A Minute is a BBC Studios production.
The Grim Reaper arrives, keen to spread the Red Death.
Starring Fred Harris, Jo Kendall, Nigel Rees and Chris Emmett.
Cult sketch comedy series which originally ran from 1976 to 1980.
Scripted by David Renwick and Andrew Marshall.
Producer: David Hatch
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in May 1979.
A cinema trip and some illicit cheese sparks Captain Mainwaring's own Battle of Waterloo.
Starring Arthur Lowe as Captain Mainwaring, John Le Mesurier as Sergeant Wilson, Clive Dunn as Corporal Jones, John Laurie as Private Frazer, Ian Lavender as Private Pike, Arnold Ridley as Godfrey and Bill Pertwee as Hodges.
Adapted for radio from Jimmy Perry and David Croft's TV scripts by Harold Snoad and Michael Knowles.
Producer: John Dyas
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in April 1975.
Quote ... Unquote, the popular quotations quiz, returns for its 51st series.
In almost forty years, Nigel Rees has been joined by writers, actors, musicians, scientists and various comedy types. Kenneth Williams, Judi Dench, PD James, Larry Adler, Ian KcKellen, Peter Cook, Kingsley Amis, Peter Ustinov... have all graced the Quote Unquote stage.
Join Nigel as he quizzes a host of celebrity guests on the origins of sayings and well-known quotes, and gets the famous panel to share their favourite anecdotes.
Episode 5
Writer Jeremy Front
Comedian Sarah Kendal
Writer, critic and broadcaster Nicolette Jones
Comedian and Red Dwarf actor Norman Lovett
Presenter ... Nigel Rees
Producer ... Carl Cooper.
With George's big birthday looming, he gets two surprises - one from his wife and the other from his mother.
Starring Lynda Bellingham as Carol, Philip Jackson as George, Maureen Beattie as Maureen, Marcia Warren as Violet, Emma Kennedy as Sonia and James Vaughan as Ken.
Series 3 of the sitcom about a married couple's attempts to smooth over their singularly troubled midlife funk - Carol is hormonal and 15-stone George is a transvestite. Onlookers can't quite agree on the nature of their dynamic.
Written by Jan Etherington and Gavin Petrie.
Producer: Elizabeth Freestone
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in November 2004.
Hard facts are all that provincial businessmen, Mr Gradgrind and Mr Bounderby feel are necessary in life. But the arrival of Sleary's circus in Coketown shows another way...
Charles Dickens's classic about struggles in the industrial north, dramatised in four parts by Doug Lucie.
Stars Kenneth Cranham as Thomas Gradgrind, Philip Jackson as Josiah Bounderby, Eleanor Bron as Mrs Sparsit, Thelma Barlow as Mrs Gradgrind, Derek Waring as Sleary, Helen Longworth as Louisa, Becky Hindley as Rachael, Alan Williams as Stephen, Marcia Warren as Mrs Pegler, Francis Jeater as Mrs Blackpool and Stephen Critchlow as Mr M'choakumchild.
Music by Nina Perry.
Director: Janet Whitaker
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 2003.
A raw and poignant short story about motherhood and the elusive work-life balance. Read by Tamsin Greig.
Judith Adams's play is based on the writings and letters of Charlotte Bronte describing her experiences when she travelled to Brussels to study at a girls' school, as humble and obscure as the heroines of her later novels.
Charlotte Bronte 1, or Reason ...... Laura Molyneux
Charlotte Bronte 2, or Passion ...... Rosie Cavaliero
Constantin Heger ...... Julian Rhind-Tutt
Priest ...... David Shaw-Parker
Chappelle ...... Mark Meadows
Mme Heger ...... Elaine Claxton
Mary Taylor ...... Anne-Marie Piazza
Directed by Jonquil Panting.
Tracy Chevalier's novel, abridged in 10 parts by Jane Greenwood, is set in London in 1792.
6/10. Maisie has taken a shine to John Astley, the local circus owner's son. A chance encounter leads the innocent girl into danger.
Read by Jenny Coverack.
Self-confessed map addict Mike Parker explores modern cartography. If a picture paints a thousand words, a map can paint a million. They help us navigate our way through unfamiliar landscapes and cities, entice us into new places and give us a bigger picture of the world we inhabit.
Mike considers the maps he first fell in love with as a teenager - Ordnance Survey maps.
John Galsworthy's epic family saga of love, money and betrayal.
Dramatised for radio by Lin Coghlan
It's 1930 and two years have passed since Dinny Cherrell saved the day, rescuing her brother's beleaguered reputation. Her best friend, Diana, is in love and travelling the world with her new husband leaving Dinny to wonder if she's ever going to experience true love herself.
Original music composed by Neil Brand
Directors ..... Marion Nancarrow and Gemma Jenkins
Today's play marks the start of the eighth novel in the series, Flowering Wilderness.
'Damn him!' he swore. 'There is no more harm in shooting him than a mad dog!'
The brutal murder of the Reverend George Parker in the rural village of Oddingley on Midsummer's Day in 1806 gripped the nation. It was a strange and stubborn case in an isolated Worcester village still bound by superstition and folklore. The investigation, in a time before Robert Peel's police force, lasted nearly a quarter of a century, and involved inquests, judges and coroners, each more determined than the last to solve Oddingley's most gruesome crime - or crimes, as it transpired.
Peter Moore's account of the infamous case is a also fascinating glimpse into the darker side of English rural life at the beginning of the nineteenth century, far away from the civilised drawing rooms of Jane Austen. The country was exhausted and nervous: dogged by Pitt's war taxes, mounting inflation and the lingering threat of a French invasion, violence was rife, particularly in rural communities where outsiders were regarded with deep suspicion. With a cast of characters straight out of Hardy, 'Damn His Blood' is also a gripping true story of brutality, greed and ruthlessness in a rural community gone wildly astray.
Peter Moore is a young literary historian and journalist, who is currently teaching Creative Writing at City University in London.
Abridger: Viv Beeby
Producer: Justine Willett
The Reader is Alex Jennings, who is currently appearing in The Collaborators as Mikhail Bulgakov at the National Theatre and is currently starring in Silk on BBC One.
The surreal quest of a young museum attendant named Oneira to learn the secrets of the Universe with the help of Nicholai, a 400-year-old Dutch alchemist.
Robert Easby's sci-fi comedy serial stars Lyndsey Marshal as Oneira, Peter Marinker as Nicholai, Joseph Kloska as Pete, Mark Straker as the Salesman and Bethan Walker as the Visitor.
Producer: Liz Webb.
Made for BBC Radio 7 and first broadcast in 2007.
Sue MacGregor and her guests - wine writer, Jancis Robinson and former Guardian editor, Peter Preston - discuss their favourite books by Max Hastings, Richard Yates and Elizabeth David. From 2004.
An Omelette and a Glass of Wine by Elizabeth David
Publisher: Penguin
The Easter Parade by Richard Yates
Publisher: Methuen
Editor- A Memoir by Max Hastings
Publisher: Pan.
The boys of St Battery's get their own back on the school bully. Sketches and songs with Justin Edwards. From January 2005.
The best in contemporary comedy. Andrew O'Neill chats to Bilal Zafar.
Mark Steel, Hugo Rifkind, Rich Hall and Katy Brand join Miles to find the funny in all things general election.
Recorded at lunchtime on Friday, the team tackle the small matter of a general election, an intriguing hearing in the USA and an unorthodox lifeguard recruitment drive.
Producer: Richard Morris
A BBC Studios Production.
Recorded in Manchester, John's guests are comedian Andrew Bailey, and presenters Mark Radcliffe and Marc Riley. From March 2000.
Armed with pipe, hansom cab and violin, Professor Jeffrey Richards probes the varied incarnations of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's most celebrated Baker Street creation, Sherlock Holmes.
Featuring interviews and classic recordings by Orson Welles, Basil Rathbone, Sir John Gielgud, Carleton Hobbes and Clive Merrison.
Affectionate five-part series about popular radio detectives hosted by the aficionado and expert.
Producer: Jon Rolph
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 1998.
Neuroscientist and intuition sceptic Dr Mark Lythgoe attempts to find out what constitutes intuition and when we should use it. His journey takes him to a Nottinghamshire farmers' market for a jam-tasting experiment and into a London wine bar for an evening of speed dating.
Heather helps a neighbour who is being harassed on the estate and also tries line dancing. From February 2000.
The Godfather of Alternative Comedy delivers a mixture of stand-up, memoir and philosophy from behind the counter of his Imaginary Sandwich Bar.
Episode 1 - Pretending & Sandwiches
Alexei explores his impulse to pretend and love of sandwiches. Along the way he reveals the little known origin of the prawn cocktail, debunks the myth that the Earl of Sandwich was the first person to put a bit of meat between two slices of bread and discusses the hidden depths of Taylor Swift.
Written and performed by Alexei Sayle
Original music and lyrics by Tim Sutton
Produced by Joe Nunnery
A BBC Studios Production.
Sleepwalking Harold gives dad Albert a fright.
Starring Wilfrid Brambell as Albert and Harry H Corbett as Harold. With Graham Stark, Margot Boyd and Jo Manning Wilson.
Following the conclusion of their hugely successful association with Tony Hancock, writers Ray Galton and Alan Simpson wrote 10 pilots for the BBC TV's Comedy Playhouse in 1962. The Offer was set in a house with a yard full of junk, featuring the lives of rag and bone men Albert Steptoe and his son Harold and it was the spark for a run of 8 series for TV.
Written for TV and adapted for radio by Ray Galton and Alan Simpson.
Produced by Bobby Jaye
First broadcast on the BBC Radio 2 in February 1976.
The bumbling bureaucrats are all at sea making headlines in a mix-up over dogs and boats.
A weekly tribute to all those who work in government departments.
Stars Richard Murdoch and Deryck Guyler.
With Norma Ronald and John Graham.
Written by Edward Taylor and John Graham.
'The Men from the Ministry' ran for 14 series between 1962 and 1977. Deryck Guyler replaced Wilfrid Hyde-White from 1966. Sadly many episodes didn't survive in the archive, however the BBC's Transcription Service re-recorded 14 shows in 1980 - never broadcast in the UK, until the arrival of BBC Radio 4 Extra.
Producer: Edward Taylor,
First broadcast on the BBC Light Programme in April 1969.
With Tom at his bank, Bounderby weds Louisa while Stephen angers the union. Dickens adaptation stars Kenneth Cranham and Eleanor Bron.
A short story in which a woman, who despairs of the Iraq war, forces her lover to a moment of truth. Read by Clare Corbett.
A music-loving retired lecturer rekindles a childhood sweetheart in his imagination. Stars David Hargreaves and Charlie Ryan.
Tracy Chevalier's novel, abridged in 10 parts by Jane Greenwood, is set in London in 1792.
7/10. Maisie has been seduced by John Astley but Maggie enlists the help of the Blakes to save her from utter ruin.
Read by Jenny Coverack.
Self-confessed map addict Mike Parker explores modern cartography.
How do you make sense of a strange city and turn a bewildering maze of streets into a map that's instantly informative to a confused visitor? Mike Parker hits the city streets to find out what makes the ideal map for steering us through the urban jungle. He meets the man who has made it his mission to single-handedly create a new map of Manchester, and discovers how digesting the entire London A to Z makes cabbies' brains bigger.
John Galsworthy's epic family saga of love, money and betrayal.
Dramatised for radio by Lin Coghlan
The return of poet Wilfrid Desert from the Middle East is the talk of London high society and his declaration of love for Dinny Cherrell ruffles a few feathers closer to home too.
Original music composed by Neil Brand
Directors ..... Marion Nancarrow and Gemma Jenkins.
'Damn him!' he swore. 'There is no more harm in shooting him than a mad dog!'
The brutal murder of the Reverend George Parker in the rural village of Oddingley on Midsummer's Day in 1806 gripped the nation. It was a strange and stubborn case in an isolated Worcester village still bound by superstition and folklore, involving an investigation, in a time before Robert Peel's police force, that lasted nearly a quarter of a century. It turned out to be a gripping true story of brutality, greed and ruthlessness in a rural community gone wildly astray.
Damn His Blood is also fascinating glimpse into the darker side of English rural life at the beginning of the nineteenth century, far away from the civilised drawing rooms of Jane Austen, with a cast of characters straight out of Hardy.
Today: two months before the murder, Oddingley village is a hotbed of feuds, oaths and superstition.
Peter Moore is a young literary historian and journalist, who is currently teaching Creative Writing at City University in London.
Abridger: Viv Beeby
Producer: Justine Willett
The Reader is Alex Jennings, who is currently appearing in The Collaborators as Mikhail Bulgakov at the National Theatre and is currently starring in Silk on BBC One.
John Lloyd and Sean Lock host a panel show in which three distinguished guests donate fascinating exhibits to a vast imaginary museum.
Chris Addison, Rupert Sheldrake and Bettany Hughes donate objects of extreme interest to the world's most eclectic museum.
The mother of Anne Boleyn has a gentleman admirer. Why should that threaten danger for the Queen?
An unreliable history, created and written in six parts by Barry Grossman.
Starring Jonathan Coy as Henry VIII, Diane Fletcher as Lady Boleyn, Lydia Leonard as Anne Boleyn, Milton Jones as Thomas Cromwell, David Holt as Maurice Crumb and Alfred Burke as the Chronicler.
Music by Jim Parker.
Producer: John Fawcett Wilson
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 2003.
An electricity company official interrogates the museum attendant. But is he actually helping Oneira - or is he an alien?
Robert Easby's sci-fi comedy serial stars Lyndsey Marshal as Oneira, Peter Marinker as Nicholai, Sam Dale as Resistor, Gerard McDermott as Fulcanelli and Mark Straker as the Floor Manager.
Producer: Liz Webb.
Made for BBC Radio 7 and first broadcast in 2007.
Football legend Bobby Charlton tells Derek Jones about his little-known interest in ornithology. From Preston's Deepdale stadium.
Grey Lag Greese, Roe Deer and Lesser-Spotted Woodpecker are among is choices of recordings from the BBC Sound Archives.
In 1973, the England World Cup and Manchester United star had just taken over as the manager of Preston North End FC.
Produced in Bristol by John Burton.
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 1973.
Samuel's aunt leaves him a fortune, subject to her final wish. 1770 America sitcom stars Andy Hamilton. From February 2001.
How do you make economics funny? How do you put the comedy in commodity? Simon Evans has the answer in this new series which asks us to get involved in investment.
Rather than being cowed by an apparently complicated and overwhelming system, Simon jumps right in. He takes as his focus four commodities which are so intrinsic to our lives they have an almost elemental significance - land, gold, oil and grain. Yet, despite the fact we encounter them everywhere we look, very few people have been able to build a fortune on them.
All that's about to change as, Simon enlists help from the experts. Each week he will be joined by Tim Harford, Merryn Somerset Webb and a guest specialist as they examine the chequered social and economic histories of these commodities. By looking at four such fundamental products, Simon brings us to a closer understanding of how global economic forces have a far-reaching and often surprising impact on our lives.
In this episode, Simon looks at commodities markets in oil or petrolium. How is it produced? Why is this trade different to others? Is our over-reliance on it dangerous?
Performed by ..... Simon Evans, with regular guests Tim Harford and Merryn Somerset-Webb, and to talk about Oil markets, Paul Horsnell.
Written by ..... Simon Evans with Benjamin Partridge and Andy Wolton
Researcher ..... Matthew Oldham
Producer ..... Tilusha Ghelani.
Forgotten sporting heroes. Barry Davies tells the story of a most precociously talentless footballer. From June 1995.
As the cartoonist faces surgery, his feminine side explores his brain's inner workings. Stars Paul McCrink. From August 2001.
Sexton Blake was born and made resident of Baker Street in the very month Sherlock Holmes was "killed off" - and he proved to be an instant hit.
Aficionado and expert, Professor Jeffrey Richards probes the careers of "the poor man's Sherlock Holmes" and his faithful assistant Tinker - that spanned 100 years.
Affectionate five-part series about popular radio detectives.
Producer: Jon Rolph
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 1998.
Phill Jupitus explores the world of the small press poetry magazine, which allows anyone with a verse and the price of a stamp the chance to rub shoulders and stanzas with the greatest poets. He visits Liverpool to find out what drives the people who produce them and why they have been so important to the development of poetry.
After his disastrous children's TV appearance, Robert battles to avoid the press. Stars John Gordon Sinclair. From March 1990.
Malcolm needs some help. Sue has a spot of time on her hands. Winchester beckons...
Julia McKenzie and Gus Brown star in the second of six two-handers written by Cabin Pressure's John Finnemore.
Written by John Finnemore
Produced by David Tyler
A Pozzitive production for BBC Radio 4.
A lost toothbrush sparks chaos amongst the crew aboard HMS Troutbridge.
Starring Leslie Phillips as the Sub-Lieutenant, Jon Pertwee as the Chief Petty Officer, Stephen Murray as the Commanding Officer, Richard Caldicot as Captain Povey, Heather Chasen as Heather, Tenniel Evans as the Admiral, Michael Bates as the Commander and Lawrie Wyman as AS Tiddy.
Laughs afloat aboard British Royal Navy frigate HMS Troutbridge. The Navy Lark ran for an impressive thirteen series between 1959 and 1976.
Scripted by Lawrie Wyman.
Producer: Alastair Scott Johnston.
First broadcast on BBC Radio 2 in February 1969.
The electioneering lad battles to represent East Cheam in the Houses of Parliament.
Stars 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 March 1958.
Dave Gorman and Armando Iannucci chew over ridiculous, brilliant but unworkable ideas, and choose the best. From October 2006.
"'Course I can eat, Eric. It's only a spot of toothache. Of course, I can eat, providing I mash everything up and put it through the blender! I can manage quite a few spoonfuls through a straw, as long as I don't swallow, and just sort of let it slide down..."
Wally's stalling on seeing the dentist. He couldn't be scared, surely?
Starring Tony Brandon as Wally. With Chris Ellison, John Jardine, Nick Maloney and Rosalind Knight.
Tony Brandon's BBC career was mainly as a disc-jockey for Radio 1 and 2 from 1967-1982, but as an actor, he also recorded the comedy series 'The Family Brandon' and 'Wally Who?'.
Written by Rob Grant and Doug Naylor.
Theme and incidental music by Debbie Katz.
Produced in Manchester by Mike Craig.
First broadcast on BBC Radio in December 1982.
Blamed for the robbery, Stephen disappears. Harthouse sets his sights on Louisa. Dickens adaptation stars Kenneth Cranham and Philip Jackson.
A couple and their three young children struggle to enjoy a summer holiday in a hotel in Cornwall. Read by Tamsin Greig.
The sad, contradictory tale of Edward Lear, famed Victorian artist and scribe of gleefully silly verse. Stars Andrew Sachs.
Tracy Chevalier's novel, abridged in 10 parts by Jane Greenwood, is set in London in 1792.
8/10. When Lambeth holds a public meeting to demonstrate loyalty to King and Country, Maggie and Jem join forces to warn Mr Blake that he is to be targeted as a revolutionary.
Read by Jenny Coverack.
Self-confessed map addict Mike Parker explores modern cartography.
The ultimate in cheap and ubiquitous mapping, there's scarcely a vehicle in the land that doesn't contain a dog-eared road atlas. Road maps and their digital descendent, the sat nav, may guide us efficiently around our nation's highways but they don't tell us much else about the landscape we're speeding through. Mike recalls a bygone age of elegant motoring maps and considers how modern road mapping and its unrelenting emphasis on our motorways and trunk roads has changed our picture of Britain.
John Galsworthy's epic family saga of love, money and betrayal.
Dramatised for radio by Lin Coghlan
Dinny's loyalty is put to the test when the truth about Wilfrid's experiences in the Middle East threatens to come out.
Original music composed by Neil Brand
Directors ..... Marion Nancarrow and Gemma Jenkins.
'Damn him!' he swore. 'There is no more harm in shooting him than a mad dog!'
The brutal murder of the Reverend George Parker in the rural village of Oddingley on Midsummer's Day in 1806 gripped the nation. It was a strange and stubborn case in an isolated Worcester village still bound by superstition and folklore, involving an investigation that lasted nearly a quarter of a century. It turned out to be a gripping true story of brutality, greed and ruthlessness in a rural community gone wildly astray.
Damn His Blood is also fascinating glimpse into the darker side of English rural life at the beginning of the nineteenth century, far away from the civilised drawing rooms of Jane Austen, with a cast of characters straight out of Hardy.
Today: the investigation into the parson's murder begins with a manhunt in nearby Worcester. Meanwhile, local farmers seem strangely untroubled by the brutal killing.
Peter Moore is a young literary historian and journalist, who is currently teaching Creative Writing at City University in London.
Abridger: Viv Beeby
Producer: Justine Willett
The Reader is Alex Jennings, who is currently appearing in The Collaborators as Mikhail Bulgakov at the National Theatre and is currently starring in Silk on BBC One.
As her quest to learn the secrets of the Universe continues, museum attendant Oneira ends up in the Texan Desert with a dead American comic - and a 13th century Friar.
Robert Easby's sci-fi comedy serial stars Lyndsey Marshal as Oneira, Peter Marinker as Nicholai, Chas Early as Bill Hicks, Jon Glover as Roger Bacon and Christine Kavanagh as Clock/Alien.
Producer: Liz Webb.
Made for BBC Radio 7 and first broadcast in 2007.
When Guy Browning decided to make a film, he roped in his entire village to help keep the costs down. Which makes you wonder - is this the Big Society finally at work ? Also joining presenter Dominic Arkwright to discuss the support network of neighbours, both nasty and nice, are Laurie Penny the writer of the Penny Red blog; and Dr Edson Burton, who recalls when living in bedsits didn't just mean your neighbours were in the same street, but under the same roof. The producer is Miles Warde.
The first in a new series of Stephen K Amos' sitcom about his own teenage years, growing up black, gay and funny in 1980s South London.
Written by Jonathan Harvey with Stephen K Amos.
Produced by Colin Anderson.
The best in contemporary comedy. Andrew O'Neill chats to Bilal Zafar.
The sci-fi star and his crew set sail on a romantic cruise. With Tom Baker, Richard Herring and Stewart Lee. From November 1992.
Tasty monologues and sketches starring Boothby Graffoe. With Kevin Eldon and guitarist Antonio Forcione. From January 2000.
Professor Jeffery Richards dons his halo to track down the history and various portrayals of the Robin Hood of Crime, Simon Templar, aka The Saint.
With Dick Fiddy and Neville Teller.
Affectionate five-part series about popular radio detectives.
Producer: Jon Rolph
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 1998.
The remarkable story of German children who were fostered by Dutch families after the Second World War. With Martha Kearney. From June 2001.
Slimey Kenwood-Gore makes Dick's hackles rise. What kind of pressure is he putting on Amanda Cadwallader with Old Archie only just buried? Richard finds out that Kenwood-Gore has designs on the village, Cadwallader Hall included. But for what? Dick realises there's a connection with a shady character in his past. Could Kenwood-Gore's intentions be as dastardly? Dick intends to find out.
Starring Robert Bathurst as Richard Barton, Moray Watson as Old Dick Barton, Iain Cuthbertson as Jock, Julian Dutton as Young Dick Barton and Matilda Ziegler as Sally Barton.
In 1946, Edward J Mason wrote the first episode of Dick Barton - Special Agent. The BBC Light Programme's hugely popular serial followed the adventures of the ex-Commando and his mates Jock Anderson and Snowy White. Despite facing a series of never-ending cliff-hangers at the hands of dastardly villains, our hero always triumphed. "With one bound Dick was free!".
Half a century later, Edward J's son Lol created Richard Barton, son of Dick, in an affectionate homage to one of BBC Radio's most enduring heroes.
Producer: Jo Clegg
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in April 1998.
Ed is facing a milestone in his life as he's about to turn 60. As he reflects on his life he decides that things aren't half bad. He finally has a bed to lay his head on, his cat is in rude health and he is leading a busy and fulfilling literary life. However, as with all things Ed, this state of equanimity can't last and after a curious encounter with Jeremy Paxman Ed decides to make some changes.
Written by Andrew Nickolds and Christopher Douglas
Produced by Dawn Ellis
Ed Reardon's Week is a BBC Radio Comedy production.
Pastures new for Kate and George, but what about their new neighbours?
A series based on the mutual love and mistrust of two newly-weds. Starring Richard Briers as George Starling and Prunella Scales as Kate Starling.
With Charlotte Mitchell, Elizabeth Morgan and Peter Hawkins.
This 1960's newlyweds sitcom brought Richard Briers and Prunella Scales to prominence. Originating on BBC TV, it was adapted for radio due to its popularity. A decade later, Richard Briers went on to play Tom Good in The Good Life and Prunella Scales went on to star as Sybil in Fawlty Towers.
Written by Richard Waring.
Producer: Charles Maxwell
First broadcast on the BBC Light Programme in July 1965.
Women's magazines and ballroom dancing inspire comedy characters galore in fast-moving sketches.
Starring Ian Carmichael, Joan Sims and Hugh Paddick.
Films like Private's Progress and I'm All Right Jack helped make Ian Carmichael a major star of both British stage and screen. Play it Cool was his first radio comedy series promising a variety of potty and pompous situations.
Written by Eric Merriman - best known for his work on numerous series of Beyond Our Ken.
With music from Rosemary Squires, The Mike Sammes Singers and The Ken Thorne Orchestra
Produced by John Simmonds
First broadcast on the BBC Light Programme in August 1964.
James Walton's pop music history quiz with Andrew Collins, Tracey MacLeod, Danny Kelly and Clare Grogan. From May 2006.
On the run, Edward meets the Leopard - will he survive? Orwellian sitcom with David Threlfall and Hugh Laurie. From April 1987.
Stephen is missing, Tom goes on the run and Gradgrind gets Sleary's help. Dickens adaptation stars Kenneth Cranham and Eleanor Bron.
Funny, sensuous and poignant short story about married love and how children change the rhythm of life. Read by Tamsin Greig.
With a tea party going on in his stomach, Lionel has fallen in love with a guest. How can Uncle Ginger help? Stars Graham Crowden.
Tracy Chevalier's novel, abridged in 10 parts by Jane Greenwood, is set in London in 1792.
9/10. Maggie confesses her guilty secret to Jem. Despite their growing closeness, when the Kellaways decide to return to Dorset he goes with them.
Read by Jenny Coverack.
Self-confessed map addict Mike Parker explores modern cartography.
There's no more effective way of representing our lives than a map: social and political conditions, health trends and the movements of goods and ideas have far greater impact when they're plotted in multicoloured cartography. Mike asks how society is now being analysed online in cartographic mash-ups and crowd-sourced data. He also discovers how mapping the human condition, its needs and habits, its highs and its lows, goes back to way before the digital age.
John Galsworthy's epic family saga of love, money and betrayal.
Dramatised for radio by Lin Coghlan
Against Michael's advice, Wilfrid publishes his poem and waits for society's reaction. Dinny fights to remain loyal to Wilfrid without unduly hurting her family.
Original music composed by Neil Brand
Directors ..... Marion Nancarrow and Gemma Jenkins.
'Damn him!' he swore. 'There is no more harm in shooting him than a mad dog!'
The brutal murder of the Reverend George Parker in the rural village of Oddingley on Midsummer's Day in 1806 gripped the nation. It was a strange and stubborn case in an isolated Worcester village still bound by superstition and folklore, involving an investigation that lasted nearly a quarter of a century. It turned out to be a gripping true story of brutality, greed and ruthlessness in a rural community gone wildly astray.
Damn His Blood is also fascinating glimpse into the darker side of English rural life at the beginning of the nineteenth century, far away from the civilised drawing rooms of Jane Austen, with a cast of characters straight out of Hardy.
Today: with the prime suspect still on the loose, suspicion falls on the local farmers, whose stories don't seem to add up...
Peter Moore is a young literary historian and journalist, who is currently teaching Creative Writing at City University in London.
Abridger: Viv Beeby
Producer: Justine Willett
The Reader is Alex Jennings, who is currently appearing in The Collaborators as Mikhail Bulgakov at the National Theatre and is currently starring in Silk on BBC One.
When museum attendant Oneira forgets to pay for her coffee, she's chased by a multiplying hoard of waitresses...
Robert Easby's sci-fi comedy serial stars Lyndsey Marshal as Oneira, Peter Marinker as Nicholai, Bethan Walker as Tannoy, Sam Dale as Phil and Anna Wing as the Barista.
Producer: Liz Webb.
Made for BBC Radio 7 and first broadcast in 2007.
Matthew Parris presents the biographical series in which his guests choose someone who has inspired their lives.
Physician, journalist and broadcaster Dr Michael O'Donnell discusses celebrated singer, actor and choreographer Fred Astaire. Joining him are Astaire's daugher, Ava Astaire McKenzie, and lifelong Astaire enthusiast and Oxford don Dr Kathleen Riley.
Last in the series of Helen Keen's quirky comic but true look at the past and future of space exploration. This week looks at what we could do if a giant asteroid was heading straight for us and looks at where else we might be able to go in the solar system if Earth was destroyed, and how we might get there. And we ask the most searching of all questions, why didn't the dinosaurs avoid extinction by developing a space programme of their own? And if they had, how could a T Rex have flown a spaceship with those tiny arms?
With Helen Keen
Peter Serafinowicz
Susy Kane
Written by Helen Keen and Miriam Underhill
Produced by Gareth Edwards.
A member of a ruthless gang tells how religion and films gave them an identity. Stars Simon Munnery and Kevin Eldon. From March 2005.
A ripping, bumper summer edition of the nostalgic spoof of boys' adventure story papers. With Alistair McGowan. From July 1992.
Satirical sitcom by Tom Basden about a group of young idealists trying to set up a new political party.
Simon ...... Tom Basden
Mel ...... Anna Crilly
Duncan ...... Tim Key
Jared ...... Johnny Sweet
Phoebe ...... Katy Wix.
Professor Jeffery Richards unravels the history and portrayals of Walter Gibson's pulp fiction force against evil, The Shadow.
Featuring the classic Orson Welles portrayal and an interview with Simon Callow.
Affectionate five-part series about popular radio detectives.
Producer: Jon Rolph
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 1998.
Some of the most lavish and expensive musicals ever staged were in praise of photocopiers, kitchen appliances, insurance salesmen and even tractors...They were made in the 50s, 60s and later by companies to motivate their staff. The people who wrote them were huge Broadway names including Sheldon Harnick and Jerry Bock the men who gave us Fiddler on the Roof. They were private performances staged at sales conventions and the music was never made available to the public. They were a hidden part of the business world and the only reason we now know about them is that some shows were recorded as souvenirs for the employees - and these have been discovered by a couple of enthusiastic record collectors, Steve Young and Jonathan Ward. They tell Will Young about their favourite shows - Detroit Diesel's "Diesel Dazzle" and "A Musical Introduction to 1958 - The Shape of Tomorrow" from Westinghouse Appliances.
There were also industrial shows in the UK. We speak to choreographer and director Gillian Lynne who produced the Lyon's Maid musical "With Lyon's Maid, You're Laughing!" in 1973. And Herb Kanzell who, following his triumph with The Westinghouse Appliances show of 1958 wrote musical shows for British Rail, Oxo and British Airways.
Music played in the programme:
Somewhere over the Rainbow - Judy Garland from "The Wizard of Oz" soundtrack
"Tractor Drivin' Man" by Hank Beebe and performed by Bill Shirley - who also sang "On the Street Where You Live" on the "My Fair Lady" soundtrack and provided the voice for Prince Phillip in Disney's "Sleeping Beauty". Tractor Drivin' Man was used in several Ford Tractor Shows in the 1960s.
"My Insurance Man" from the Continental Assurance Company 1968 show. Written by Arnold Midlash and Robert WeDyck. Performed by Beverly Lacek.
"Golden Harvest" from the Ford Tractor Show 1959 "Ford-i-f-y Your Future" written by Sheldon Harnick and Jerry Bock.
"Big and Beautiful" from the 1966 American Motors show "Music from AM Route 66" written by Hank Beebe and Bill Heyer, performed by Chuck Green.
"Tomorrow, Today" from "the shape of tomorrow, a musical introduction to 1958" from Westinghouse Appliances, written by Herb Kanzell and John Wyman, performed by Marilyn Ross.
"Nightmare", also from "the shape of tomorrow", written by Herb Kanzell and John Wyman performed by Martin Green.
"Oh What a Beautiful Morning" from Oklahoma! written by Rodgers and Hammerstein.
"Monroe Man" from the Monroe Calculator Show 1969, music written by Sonny Kippe, lyrics by Joe Lapidos & Glenn Moore, performed by Diane Findlay.
"Tele op blues" from the Lyon's Maid 1973 show, "With Lyon's Maid You're Laughing" written by Denis Norden and Malcolm Mitchell and performed by Julia Sutton.
"The Latest" from Cole National Annual Sales Meeting Show "A Fairy Tale" 1965, performed by Liz Seneff
"I Never Enjoyed my Operation More" from the Converters Inc show "The Spirit of '78". No composition credits. Cast: Carol Steffen, Renee Kalen, Alice Dodd, Lee Pelty, and Mike Arquette
"We Were There" from the Detroit Diesel 1966 show "Diesel Dazzle" written by Hank Beebe and Bill Heyer.
"The Answer" from General Electric's Silicon Division's 1973 show "Got to Investigate Silicones" written by Hank Beebe and Bill Heyer, performed by Ron Young, Paul Eichel, & Joy Garrett. Special cameo vocal appearance by lyricist Bill Heyer.
Producer: Rachel Ross.
Mark is celebrating, but with dog hair in the champers. Can a living legend save the day? Stars Timothy Spall. From January 1993.
Award-winning character comedian and doyen of sketch comedy Humphrey Ker presents the pick of the best live sketch groups currently performing on the UK comedy circuit in this brand new showcase - with character, improv, broken and musical sketch comedy.
Humphrey Ker is himself an established sketch performer, writer, actor and comedian who won the Fosters Edinburgh Comedy Award for Best Newcomer at the Edinburgh festival in 2011. For five years he was part of the much-loved sketch trio The Penny Dreadfuls, with whom he wrote and performed in a string of Edinburgh festival smashes, two series on BBC7 and two plays for Radio 4.
The sketch groups featured in episode four of Sketchorama are:
How Do I Get Up There? Scotland's fastest rising sketch group heralding a new era for Scottish comedy. In 2010, the boys made the final of the "Take The Mic" competition at the Edinburgh Festival, and in 2011 enjoyed their Fringe debut show. They also progressed to the finals of the prestigious New Act of The Year competition at the Barbican in London.
The Ginge, The Geordie and The Geek. Since making their debut in 2009, this group featuring Graeme Rooney, Paul Charlton and Kevin O'Loughlin have established themselves as Fringe favourites and sold 10,000 tickets for their 2011 show.
Pappy's. A multi award winning sketch team consisting of comedians Ben Clark, Matthew Crosby and Tom Parry. Established in 2004, Pappy's are firm favourites on the UK live comedy circuit with their hyper-energetic, gag filled monster of a stage presence.
Producer: Gus Beattie
A Comedy Unit production for BBC Radio 4.
Scary wannabes in 'Opportunity Flops' - and an Agatha Christie flavoured whodunit?
More quick-fire sketches, terrible puns, humorous songs and parodies.
Stars Tim Brooke-Taylor, John Cleese, Graeme Garden, David Hatch, Jo Kendall and Bill Oddie.
Written by Tim Brooke-Taylor, Brian Cooke & Johnnie Mortimer, Graeme Garden, David Hatch, Alan Hutchinson, Bernard King, and Peter and David Lund.
Originating from the Cambridge University Footlights revue 'Cambridge Circus', ISIRTA ran for 8 years on BBC Radio and quickly developed a cult following.
Music and songs by Dave Lee and Bill Oddie.
Producer: Humphrey Barclay
First broadcast on the BBC Home Service in April 1966.
Ship's doctor Simon Sparrow diagnoses trouble ahead with Captain Spratt!
The misadventures of newly qualified doctor, Simon Sparrow - adapted for radio by Ray Cooney from Richard Gordon's 'Doctor at Large' published in 1955.
Starring Richard Briers as Simon Sparrow, Geoffrey Sumner as Captain Spratt, Ray Cooney as First Mate Jock Hornbeam, Edward Cast as Colonel Smith and Peter Jones as Easter.
Producer: David Hatch
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in July 1969.
A funny and dynamic quiz show hosted by Steve Punt - this week from the Birmingham City University, with specialist subjects including Visual Communication, English Literature and Sociology, and questions ranging from Squash and Stretch to Roger McGough via Clement Attlee and the Duckworth-Lewis Method.
The programme is recorded on location at a different University each week, and it pits three Undergraduates against three of their Professors in an original and fresh take on an academic quiz.
The rounds vary between Specialist Subjects and General Knowledge, quickfire bell-and-buzzer rounds and the Highbrow and Lowbrow round cunningly devised to test not only the students' knowledge of current affairs, history, languages and science, but also their Professors' awareness of television, sport, and quite possibly Justin Bieber. In addition, the Head-to-Head rounds see students take on their Professors in their own subjects, offering plenty of scope for mild embarrassment on both sides.
Other Universities featured in this series include Gloucestershire, Chester, York, Bath and Glasgow.
Produced by David Tyler
A Pozzitive production for BBC Radio 4.
Home from military service, Ivan finds his aunt's efforts to marry him off intolerable. With Griff Rhys Jones. From April 2002.
Young Claudius grows up in the turbulent household of Augustus, the first Roman Emperor, and Livia, the wife who matched his achievements with her ambition. The Imperial Couple disregard their young grandson as they inch towards absolute power. But that won't save Claudius from heartbreak.
Robert Graves' scandalous histories of Roman political vice dramatised in six-parts by Robin Brooks.
Claudius ..... Tom Goodman-Hill
Augustus ..... Derek Jacobi
Livia ..... Harriet Walter
Tiberius ..... Tim McInnerny
Julia ..... Alison Pettitt
Athenodorus ..... Sam Dale
Cato ..... Jude Akuwudike
Thrasyllus ..... Sean Baker
Young Claudius ..... Harvey Allpress
Young Herod ..... Felix Zadek-Ewing
Young Germanicus ..... Harry Child
Camilla ..... Lauren Mote
Young Postumus ..... Ryan Watson
Young Livilla ..... Holly Gibbs
Other parts played by Adeel Akhtar, Tony Bell, Christine Kavanagh, and Sally Orrock.
Specially composed music by David Pickvance.
Director: Jonquil Panting.
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 2010.
Intimate and moving story about a young woman on the brink of romance, who goes alone for a brain scan. Read by Clare Corbett.
When Ray's low-budget film is picked up by a major studio his dreams of Hollywood start to become a reality. Then, holed up in a hotel room doing endless publicity interviews, he finds the past coming back to bite him. By Brett Goldstein.
Ray ..... Geoffrey Streatfeild
Tara ..... Caroline Catz
Emily ..... Sasha Pick
Kristen ..... Laurel Lefkow
Directed by Toby Swift.
Tracy Chevalier's novel, abridged in 10 parts by Jane Greenwood, is set in London in 1792.
10/10. Maggie discovers that the pregnant Maisie has stayed behind and is being cared for by the Blakes. She takes charge of the situation and soon both girls are on the road to Dorset.
Read by Jenny Coverack.
Self-confessed map addict Mike Parker explores modern cartography.
There are lies, damned lies, statistics - and then there are maps. Borders can be moved and countries expanded, shrunk or even left off the map altogether. We'd like to believe that maps are a purely factual representation of the world with no bias or agenda, but in fact every cartographer decides what to include on their map and what to exclude. Mike Parker discovers how maps can be used as tools of power, politics and propaganda.
John Galsworthy's epic family saga of love, money and betrayal.
Dramatised for radio by Lin Coghlan
Convinced he's a coward, Wilfrid hurtles towards self-destruction and Dinny tries to save him
Original music composed by Neil Brand
Directors ..... Marion Nancarrow and Gemma Jenkins
Tomorrow's Saturday drama sees the conclusion of Flowering Wilderness where Michael hopes to persuade Wilfrid to stand by Dinny. It also marks the start of the final book in the series, Over The River, when Dinny's sister Clare (Chloe Pirrie) makes an unexpected return to England declaring her marriage is over.
'Damn him!' he swore. 'There is no more harm in shooting him than a mad dog!'
The brutal murder of the Reverend George Parker in the rural village of Oddingley on Midsummer's Day in 1806 gripped the nation. It was a strange case in an isolated Worcester village still bound by superstition and folklore, involving an investigation that lasted nearly a quarter of a century. It turned out to be a gripping true story of brutality, greed and ruthlessness in a rural community gone wildly astray.
In today's final episode, nearly a quarter of a century has passed, and the case has still not been solved. But a gruesome discovery leads to a new inquest, and Oddingley village finally learns the truth.
Peter Moore is a young literary historian and journalist, who is currently teaching Creative Writing at City University in London.
Abridger: Viv Beeby
Producer: Justine Willett
The Reader is Alex Jennings, who is currently appearing in The Collaborators as Mikhail Bulgakov at the National Theatre and is currently starring in Silk on BBC One.
Battling to complete her epic surreal quest, Oneira literally ends up talking to herself - and finds her other self very rude.
Robert Easby's sci-fi comedy serial stars Lyndsey Marshal as Oneira, Peter Marinker as Nicholai, Joseph Kloska as Pete, Gerard McDermott as Elias and Saikat Ahamed as the Courier.
Producer: Liz Webb.
Made for BBC Radio 7 and first broadcast in 2007.
The song from 1982 was written by Elvis Costello and Clive Langer for Robert Wyatt and has been recorded in several versions by Elvis Costello himself, Suede, June Tabor, Hue and Cry, Tamsin Archer and The Unthanks.
The blend of subtle lyrics and extraordinary music makes this a political song like no other. It transcends the particular circumstances of its writing: the Falklands War and the decline of British heavy industry, especially ship-building.
Clive Langer and Elvis Costello describe how the song came to be written and how the legendary jazz trumpeter and flugelhorn player, Chet Baker, came to perform on Costello's version.
Richard Ashcroft is a philosopher who wants the song, which he describes as a kind of secular hymn, played at his funeral because it gives a perfect expression of how he believes we should think about life. Not being able to feel the emotion of the song would, he feels, be like being morally tone-deaf. If you don't like this song, he'd find it hard to be your friend.
The song's achingly beautiful final couplet about "diving for pearls" makes the MP Alan Johnson cry and has also inspired an oral history and migrant integration project in Glasgow. Chris Gourley describes how the participants found a way to overcome their lack of English and communicate through a shared understanding of ship-building practice.
Other contributors include Hopi Sen, a political blogger who was an unusually political child, and the Mercury Prize winning folk group The Unthanks. They toured their version to towns with ship-building connections as part of a live performance of a film tracing the history of British ship-building using archive footage.
Producer: Natalie Steed.
John Galsworthy's epic family saga of love, money and betrayal
Dramatised for radio by Lin Coghlan & Shaun McKenna
Wilfrid has tried to do the right thing by leaving Dinny, but as Fleur & Michael try to help each of them, unexpected echoes of their own past return.
Then an unexpected arrival changes Dinny's world.
Original music composed by Neil Brand
Director ..... Marion Nancarrow
from the novels of John Galsworthy
dramatised by Lin Coghlan & Shaun McKenna
Tomorrow you can hear the very final part of the story. As repercussions of Clare's unhappy past begin to hit home, is there a chance of happiness for Dinny herself?
Over the last 2 years, BBC Radio 4 has dramatised all 9 of John Galsworthy's Forsyte novels and this series "The Forsytes Concludes" brings us to the last 3 novels, which he wrote at the end of his life. Across this week, we've had the 90' drama based on "Maid in Waiting" which introduced the Cherrell family and Dinny Cherrell in particular who, aged 24 in 1928, was full of excitement for the life ahead of her. She is Fleur & Michael's cousin and, unbeknown to either of them, their lives are to have parallels neither could have predicted.
Through the week, 5 x 15' episodes tell the story of "Flowering Wilderness" (which sees an unexpected return and a new love for Dinny) and now two 60 minute Dramas - today and tomorrow - end the story.
Joining Jessica Raine, Max Bennett, Ben Lambert and Brian Protheroe from the original cast are Sarah Ridgeway, Nina Sosanya, Allan Corduner, Jonathan Aris, Chloe Pirrie and John Heffernan.
'China Lion', pepping up your sex life and why it is not a good idea to tell lies on your CV. With Ben Willbond. From June 2008.
The best in contemporary comedy. Arthur Smith chats to Naz Osmanoglu.
Comedian Mark Steel returns with a new series, looking under the surface of some of the UK's more distinctive towns to shed some light on the people, history, rivalries, slang, traditions, and eccentricities that makes them unique.
Creating a bespoke stand-up set for each town, Mark performs the show in front of a local audience.
As well as examining the less visited areas of Britain, Mark uncovers stories and experiences that resonate with us all as we recognise the quirkiness of the British way of life and the rich tapestry of remarkable events and people who have shaped where we live.
During this 4th series of 'Mark Steel's In Town', Mark will visit Tobermory, Whitehaven, Handsworth, Ottery St Mary, Corby, and Chipping Norton.
This week, Mark takes a trip to Handsworth in Birmingham to explore reggae and riots, white supremacist gardening, and how takeaway food affects the time space continuum.
Additional material by Pete Sinclair.
Produced by Sam Bryant.
Up front comic, Johnny Vegas and prickly comedian, Stewart Lee in the tag talk show, where this week's guest is next week's interviewer.
Producer: Tilusha Ghelani
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in January 2005.