SATURDAY 02 FEBRUARY 2019

SAT 00:00 Peter Elliott Hayes - Orbit One Zero (b08fy3gj)
The Frozen World

"If I had known, that night, the terrible risk Elizabeth had taken!" But Clifford knew...

Newspaper reporter, Tom Lambert has decided to reinvestigate the strange events of ten years before, concerning the "cosmic noise". Believing the inside story was never told, he's tracked down the only man who knows, Dr Hayward Petrie.

Told in flashbacks, the story unfolds from Dr Petrie's own recordings of the time when the detection of a strange pattern of signals sparks a mysterious discovery...

Starring Felix Felton as Dr Petrie, David Spenser as Tom Lambert, Graydon Gould as Clifford Brown, and Elaine MacNamara as Elizabeth Ryder.

Written by Peter Elliott Hayes

Producer: David Davis

First broadcast on the BBC Home Service in May 1961.


SAT 00:30 Off the Page (b00769vh)
Stand-Up

Poet Matthew Harvey, storyteller Joolz Denby and US comic Lewis Shaffer discuss solo performing. With Matthew Parris.

In each programme, Matthew Parris introduces a group of writers of fact and fiction: new talent and established names. In the context of a discussion of one of the ideas and pre-occupations of our times, each presents a piece on this week's topic.

The best new writing and the freshest conversation from 2002.


SAT 01:00 Henri Castang - Not as Far as Velma (b07x4qbm)
Tipping the Black Spot

Commissaire Henri Castang is a reluctant bystander as the police net closes in, but he still has a role to play.

Van der Valk creator, Nicolas Freeling's thriller stars Keith Barron as Castang, Edita Brychta as Vera, James Greene as The Bishop, Angus Wright as Morosini and Simon Treves as Robert.

First published in 1989, this is the 11th novel in Freeling's sixteen strong series featuring Henri Castang. The London-born author died 2003 aged 76.

Dramatised by Michael Bakewell.

Producer: Matthew Walters

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 1990.


SAT 01:30 Portraying the Poor (b00r33sl)
In Film and TV

The second of two programmes about the image of poverty and of the working class that's been created by writers.

From 'Saturday Night and Sunday Morning' to 'Coronation Street' and from 'On The Buses' to 'Big Brother', British film and TV has had plenty to say about the working class. But precious little of it has been written, less of it directed and virtually none of it commissioned by people who have themselves grown up among the poor.

Paul Mason asks how the picture has changed over the decades - and whether we're now any closer to seeing real lives on screen than we were in the days of the Ealing comedies or the 'kitchen sink' dramas.

Interviewees include film director Ken Loach, whose career spans more than half a century from 'Cathy Come Home' (1966) to 'Looking For Eric' (2009); Donna Franceschild, California-born playwright whose 2003 TV series 'The Key' was the story of three generations of working-class Glasgow women; Anthony Wonke, director of the BAFTA-winning documentary series 'The Tower: A Tale Of Two Cities' (BBC TV 2007); John Jewell of Cardiff University who has studied the representation of class in comedy, and TV reality-show presenter Trisha Goddard..

Producer: Peter Everett

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 2010.


SAT 02:00 EJ Howard - Odd Girl Out (b04xn4dz)
Episode 10

Events finally come to a head as Arabella talks to Anne and Edmund. Revelations and resolutions follow. Read by Claire Skinner.


SAT 02:15 The Invention of Childhood (b00sprf9)
Reinventing Childhood

Michael Morpurgo looks at the impact of adults on childhood down the centuries up to the present day.


SAT 02:30 Jacqueline Susann - Valley of the Dolls (b00mlxk3)
Episode 15

Betrayed by Neely, and with Lyon becoming more distant, Anne turns to the dolls. Stars Madeleine Potter and Barbara Barnes.


SAT 02:45 Book of the Week (b03vh0c2)
Barbara Taylor - The Last Asylum

Episode 5

The Last Asylum begins with Barbara Taylor's visit to the innocuously named Princess Park Manor in Friern Barnet, North London - a place of luxury flats and careful landscaping. But this is the former site of one of England's most infamous lunatic asylums, the Middlesex County Pauper Lunatic Aslyum at Colney Hatch. At its peak, this asylum housed nearly 3,000 patients - including, in the late 1980s, Barbara Taylor herself.

Writing about The Last Asylum, Booker prize winner and memoirist, Hilary Mantel said, ''We believe our response to mental illness is more enlightened, kinder and effective than that of the Victorians who built the asylums. Can we be sure? Barbara Taylor challenges complacency, exposes shallow thinking, and points out the flaws and dangers of treatment on the cheap. It is a wise, considered and timely book'.

Darian Leader has described it as 'Superb, Riveting, insightful and relentlessly honest'.

Episode 5:
Gradually perspective returns, 'something inside me shifts'. The author recalls the return of hope but she also wonders if today's mental health system would offer the same space for recovery that she was able to find.

Reader: Maggie Steed

Abridged and produced by Jill Waters
A Jill Waters production for BBC Radio 4


SAT 03:00 Wallis - The Life and Legends of Wallis Simpson (b0855wfh)
The Melody Lingers On

Wallis realises marrying an ex-King means broken promises, plus doubtful acquaintances and scandal. Stars Stockard Channing.


SAT 04:00 Foul Play (b00z5bl2)
Series 4

Much Ado About Murder

Crime writers Jean McConnell and Keith Miles try to solve an Elizabethan court killing.

With the help of witnesses played by Maria McErlane and Lee Simpson.

Murder mystery panel game chaired by Simon Brett.

Producer: Liz Anstee

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in September 1998.


SAT 04:30 Anything Legal (b0088z2b)
Episode 5

Charles and George hire a secretary to boost their new business offering anything legal...

A Tale of Two City Gents by Wally K Daly

Starring Donald Hewlett as Charles, Michael Knowles as George, Sherrie Hewson as Belinda Bustrom and Helena Breck as the Job Applicant.

Theme music by Jim Parker

Producer: John Fawcett Wilson

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in December 1984.


SAT 05:00 Two Doors Down (b008j0lm)
Series 2

Out of Tune

Miss Black throws a dinner party in honour of Sean Rafferty who’s in Belfast to interview her lodger Fintan for BBC Radio 3.

Musical prodigy Simon’s asked to play for the guests, but he has other ideas...

Series two of Annie McCartney's four-part sitcom about the bohemian residents of Marlborough Road in Belfast saved from chaos by their cleaning lady, Sally.

Starring Stella McCusker as Sally, Marcella Riordan as Clare, Katy Gleadhill as Evie, Alan Mckee as Victor, Roma Tomelty as Miss Black, Gerard Murphy as Fintan, Emily Walmsley as Layla, Patrick Gleadhill as Simon, Robert Patterson as Tony, Des McAleer as Trevor, Aine McCartney as Fidelma, Hannah R Gordon as Anna and Sean Rafferty as Himself.

Director: Tanya Nash

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in August 2002.


SAT 05:30 Clare in the Community (b082hg9n)
Series 11

Fight Them on the Beaches

Clare is in charge of a day at the seaside for some elderly residents of the estate. They turn out to be a bit more feisty than the Sparrowhawk team were expecting, which makes it tricky for Clare to impress her new student, Cilla. Back at home, Brian is coaching Nali for a musical audition.

Sally Phillips is Clare Barker the social worker who has all the right jargon but never a practical solution.

A control freak, Clare likes nothing better than interfering in other people's lives on both a professional and personal basis. Clare is in her thirties, white, middle class and heterosexual, all of which are occasional causes of discomfort to her.

We join Clare in her continued struggle to control both her professional and private life. In today's Big Society there are plenty of challenges out there for an involved, caring social worker. Or even Clare.

Written by Harry Venning and David Ramsden
Producer Alexandra Smith

A BBC Studios production

First broadcast on Radio 4 in 2016.


SAT 06:00 Raymond Massey - Hanging Judge (m0002c9p)
A prominent judge unyieldingly believes the British judicial system is infallible regarding capital punishment.

But after sentencing a prisoner to death, Sir Francis Brittain is revealed to be leading a dark double-life and is set to be "hoist with his own petard"...

Set between the two world wars. (The last hangings were to take place in the United Kingdom in 1964).

Written by actor Raymond Massey on based Bruce Hamilton’s novel, adapted by John Richmond.

Boris Karloff stars as Sir Francis Brittain

Sir George Sidney MCMP .... Hugh Manning
Keith Nottingham KC .... Duncan McIntyre
Miles Lamprey KC .... Howieson Culff
Sir Ronald Pond .... Robert Webber
Colonel George Archer .... Richard Williams
Major the Rt. Hon. Gilbert West .... Norman Claridge
John Teal .... John T. St Barry
Mary Reddish .... Gabrielle Blunt
Roberts .... Richard Hutton

Other parts played by Geoffrey Bond, John Cazabon, Brian Hayes, Peter Hoar, Arthur Lawrence, Stanley Mackenzie and Tony Quinn

Boris Karloff (1887-1969) came to fame playing the monster in James Whale's 1931 version of ‘Frankenstein’ for Universal Pictures and went on to star in many horror films.

Producer: Cleland Finn.

First broadcast on the BBC Light Programme in 1953.


SAT 07:30 Last Chance to See (m0002c9r)
Ralph, The Fragrant Parrot of Codfish Island

Douglas Adams and conservationist Mark Carwardine head to New Zealand in search of the endangered Kakapo - a noisy, unique parrot with an owl like face that has lost its ability to fly. With Peter Jones.

Series in which Douglas Adams and Mark Carwardine go in search of weird, exotic endangered animals.

Producer: Gaynor Shutte

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 1989.


SAT 08:00 Ed Doolan Interviews... (m0002c9v)
David Croft

Dad's Army co-creator David Croft looks back over his career with Ed Doolan - and reveals his musical past, with songs from John Le Mesurier and Arthur Lowe.

Ed Doolan was one of Britain’s best-known BBC local radio presenters, broadcasting to the West Midlands for over 40 years. Ed died aged 76 in 2018.

First broadcast on BBC WM in 2006.


SAT 09:00 Clowning Around on 4 Extra (b03xcl02)
Tony Lidington traces the role of the clown in British humour, from the Great Grimaldi through stars of circus, pantomime and pierrots, to modern entertainers and even activists.

Drawing on his own performances, BBC archive and contemporary experts, Tony traces the clown's evolution from Shakespeare's plays, whose rustic clowns and court fools could speak uncomfortable truths to those in power. He recreates the role of "the Great Grimaldi", whose panto clown became the most popular entertainment of Regency London and defined the clown's image for generations to come. Light is also cast on the popular 19th century travelling circuses, the enormous appeal of pantos and harlequinades and the successful careers - and often tragically short lives - of entertainers like Dan Leno, once hailed as "the funniest man in the world".

The days of organized leisure time for working people and the growth of the middle class produced new diversions and the era of mass entertainment. White-clad Pierrot troupes entertained visitors at seaside resorts and troops abroad as Britain descended into two World Wars. The tradition of physical theatre and anarchic comedy clowning continued in the latter half of the 20th century, with The Goon Show and characters like Professor Wallofski, created by Max Wall.

Tony also explores the role of the clown today, still active in circus and panto and even in political demonstrations.

Made for Radio 4 Extra by Pier Productions.


SAT 12:00 Just a Minute (m0002c9x)
Series 62

Episode 3

Nicholas Parsons challenges Julian Clary, Sue Perkins, Paul Merton and Charles Collingwood to talk for 60 seconds without hesitation, repetition or deviation. From February 2012.


SAT 12:30 Hancock's Half Hour (b007jsys)
Series 5

Sunday Afternoon at Home

Bored and miserable, the lad tries to decide what to do.

Classic episode starring Tony Hancock. With Sidney James, Bill Kerr, Hattie Jacques and Kenneth Williams.

Written by Ray Galton and Alan Simpson.

Theme and incidental music written by Wally Stott.

Producer: Tom Ronald

First broadcast on the BBC Light Programme in April 1958.


SAT 13:00 How to Survive the Roman Empire, by Pliny and Me (Omnibus) (b06mybd6)
Series 2

The Emperor Domitian rules Rome with a rod of iron, and is dangerously unstable and paranoid. There are spies everywhere. Venta, Pliny, his mother Marcella, and Doris the Greek cook will have to have all their wits about them if they are to prevail.

As a teenager Pliny witnessed the eruption of Vesuvius from his home across the bay. Many years later, following a request from his uncle Tacitus who is an historian, he takes time off from being a lawyer to travel to Pompeii and Herculaneum where he hopes to find out what happened to his uncle, Pliny the Elder, who died in the eruption. But upon returning to his villa outside Rome, he finds a letter from the Emperor which throws the whole household into panic.

Omnibus of the second series of adventures written by Hattie Taylor. Based on real events in 1st century Rome.

Kieran Hodgson returns as Pliny the Younger, with Nigel Barrett as his trusty slave, Venta, captured during the Roman conquest of Britain.

With Joanna Scanlan as Marcella and Mia Soteriou as Doris, the Cook.

Director: Kate McAll

A BBC Cymru/ Wales production first broadcast in five parts on BBC Radio 4 in 2017.


SAT 14:10 Inheritance Tracks (m0002c9z)
Sir Tim Rice

Lyricist Sir Tim Rice selects 'You Did It', from Lerner and Loewe’s My Fair Lady and Bob Dylan’s 'On Our Side' sung by Manfred Mann.


SAT 14:15 Frankly Speaking (b07bkwq3)
Edith Sitwell

The British avant garde poet and critic Dame Edith Sitwell answers questions posed by writer Margaret Lane, critic Lionel Hale, and Oscar-winning screenplay writer Paul Dehn.

Aged 68 when interviewed, she recalls her childhood influences and shares her belief in the popularity of poetry.

Dame Edith was born in 1887 and died in 1964.

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. 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 Betjeman, Malcolm Muggeridge and Penelope Mortimer. Only 40 or so of the original 100 programmes survive.

First broadcast on the BBC Home Service in 1955.


SAT 14:45 Peter Tinniswood - Tales From a Long Room (m0002cb1)
Series 1

Polar Games

Explorers Captain Scott and Roald Amundsen captain teams for an eventful cricket match in Antarctica.

Robin Bailey reads the second of five stories from Peter Tinniswood's cricket tales.

Abridged for radio by the author.

Producer: Tony Cliff

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 1981.


SAT 15:00 Ed Doolan Interviews... (m0002c9v)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:00 today]


SAT 16:00 Raymond Massey - Hanging Judge (m0002c9p)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:00 today]


SAT 17:30 Last Chance to See (m0002c9r)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:30 today]


SAT 18:00 Doctor Who (b07d3137)
The Crimes of Thomas Brewster

Episode 1

2010: The Doctor teams up with an old associate to track down an imposter in a battle to save the Earth from rogue androids.

Starring Colin Baker as the Sixth Doctor, Maggie Stables as Evelyn Smythe, John Pickard as Thomas Brewster and Anna Hope as DI Menzies.

Writer: Jonathan Morris

Producer: David Richardson

A Big Finish production.


SAT 19:00 Clowning Around on 4 Extra (b03xcl02)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:00 today]


SAT 22:00 My Teenage Diary (b04vj1xg)
Series 6

Lucy Worsley

Rufus Hound is joined by the historian Lucy Worsley, whose diaries reveal that she was swottier than the average teenager. While her friends were out at parties, Lucy was curating her collection of rocks, and gardening.

Produced by Harriet Jaine
A Talkback production for BBC Radio 4.


SAT 22:30 Chain Reaction (b013r2hm)
Series 7

Mark Steel interviews Barry Davies

Chain Reaction is Radio 4's tag-team interview show. Each week, a figure from the world of entertainment chooses another to interview; the next week, the interviewee turns interviewer, and they in turn pass the baton on to someone else - creating a 'chain' throughout the series.

Mark Steel has presented a range of his own programmes on Radio 4, from The Mark Steel Solution, The Mark Steel Revolution, The Mark Steel Lectures to, most recently, the Sony Silver Award and Writers Guild Award-winning Mark Steel's In Town. He also occasionally appears in programmes that don't have his name in the title, such as The News Quiz.

Barry Davies is a commentator perhaps best-known for his football coverage, covering ten World Cups, seven European Championships, and two FA Cup finals. He's also commentated on the Olympics, the Commonwealth games and Wimbledon, as well as the World Stare-Out Championships in 1998.

In this interview, obsessive sports fan Mark asks Barry about being present at some of the most important sporting moments of the last forty years; about remaining impartial ("Where were the Germans? Frankly, who cares?"); and about the changing face of sports and sports broadcasting.


SAT 23:00 The Absolutely Radio Show (b068sp4g)
Series 1

Episode 1

Members of the cast of Channel 4's hugely popular sketch show Absolutely reunite for a brand new radio series.

Pete Baikie, Morwenna Banks, Moray Hunter, Gordon Kennedy and John Sparkes are back together with all new material. They are revisiting some of their much loved sketch characters, while also introducing some newcomers to the show.

In 2013, the group got back together for Radio 4's Sketchorama: Absolutely Special, which won a BBC Audio Drama Award in the Best Live Scripted Comedy category.

The opening episode of this new series features The Stoneybridge Town Council attempting to adapt to today's technology, Denzil and Gwynedd discussing Gwynedd's plan to enter the Miss Swansea competition, The Little Girl's very personal take on Divorce and Calum Gilhooley getting some customer feedback of his own. There are sketches about the downside of Facebook, the dangers of watching television in middle age, vague War memories from people who were almost there and the perils of having to look after your own, ageing parents.

Produced by Gus Beattie and Gordon Kennedy
A Comedy Unit production for BBC Radio 4.


SAT 23:30 Saturday Night Fry (b00kvq7w)
Episode 1

Stephen Fry's surreal, erudite sketch show with humorous banter and sketches.

With Hugh Laurie and Emma Thompson.

Special guest: Barry Cryer.

The pilot programme that spawned Stephen Fry's cult series. A show identical in spirit to the great Mary Queen of Scots tapestry that hangs in Osterley House.

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

Producer: Dan Patterson

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in December 1987.