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 Home Now on 4Extra Contact

RADIO-LISTS: BBC RADIO 4 Extra
Unofficial Weekly Listings for BBC Radio 4 Extra — supported by bbc.co.uk/programmes/



SATURDAY 28 MARCH 2020

SAT 00:00 Wally K Daly (b007k406)
The Silent Scream

Episode 3

As the alien takeover deadline approaches, can humanity fend off enemies from without and within?

Wally K. Daly's sequel to 'Before the Screaming Begins'.

CAST:

Tom Harris …. James Laurenson
A.P. Smith …. Donald Hewlett
Prime Minister …. Colin Douglas
Silkin …. Peter Wickham
Sally Harris …. Hannah Gordon
Opposition MP/Colonel …. Peter Williams
Andy …. Elizabeth Lindsay
Gloria/Cabinet Minister …. Brenda Kaye
Second Pilot/PC …. Gregory de Polnay
Alien Controller/Cabinet Minister …. Manning Wilson
Second Boy …. Tim Bentinck
First Girl …. Alison Draper

Audio from Wally K. Daly's own collection and reversioned into three parts by BBC Radio 4 Extra

Producer: Martin Jenkins

First broadcast as a ninety-minute Saturday Night Drama on BBC Radio 4 in 1979.


SAT 00:30 Off the Page (b0076tj9)
The Book By Its Cover

Matthew Parris, Robert Elms, James Delingpole and Joolz Denby discuss whether ‘apparel oft proclaims the man’. From 2005.


SAT 01:00 Stand By For West (m000gn3w)
Inspector West at Home

Crisis for a Copper

Roger West is suspended from duty and hires Pep Morgan to help prove that he’s been framed.

Chief Inspector Roger West is the creation of John Creasey, who authored more than 40 Roger West novels between 1942 and 1973.

Much like Paul Temple, West - “Scotland Yard’s youngest, smartest chief inspector” - has a long-suffering wife who also gets involved with the action. A total of six novels were adapted for radio by Maurice Travers.

Chief Inspector Roger West… Patrick Allen
Janet West… Sarah Lawson
Mark Lessing… Edward de Souza
Pep Morgan... Harry Landis
Pickerell… Robert James
Detective Inspector Bob Cornish… Frederick Treves
Assistant Commissioner Sir Guy Chatsworth… Maurice Hedley
Mrs Fleming… Margaret Robertson

Producer: John Fawcett Wilson

First broadcast on BBC Radio 2 in 1968.


SAT 01:30 The Lunatic Line (b012qq7x)
Episode 2

The 600-mile railway line from the Kenyan port of Mombasa to Uganda, built by the British between 1895 and 1901 through hostile tribal lands and malarial swamps, became known as "The Lunatic Line". Spiralling costs and massive engineering challenges were just a few of the problems facing the railway. Hundreds of Kenyan and indentured Indian labourers died during the railway's construction, mostly from disease, although the man-eating lions of Tsavo also devoured many.

Yet the railway created modern Kenya, and Nairobi hardly existed until the railway workers set up camp there just over a century ago.

Today, the old British-built railway still runs - but only just - and more as a tourist curiosity than a functioning service. Semi-privatised 25 years ago, it has suffered woefully from lack of investment, and today is but a decrepit relic of its former self.

Now Kenya has announced hugely ambitious plans to shunt its rail network into the 21st century by commissioning a new high-speed line with double-decker passenger and freight trains cruising at up to 100mph, reducing the journey time from Mombasa to Nairobi from 13 hours to three.

Ayisha Yahya travels on the existing creaking line and asks whether plans to rebuild and expand the railway network are little more than another lunatic notion? Or will they have as great an economic and social impact on the region as the Lunatic Line's original construction?

Producer: Ruth Evans
A Ruth Evans production first broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 2011.


SAT 02:00 Tessa Hadley - The Past (b06b3pp5)
Episode 10

Today Finding the lost and living without love as Sian Thomas reads the final, tender part of Tessa Hadley's new novel, a beautifully observed portrait of a family and the change wrought by time across the generations.

Three middle-aged sisters and a brother meet up in their grandparents' old house for three long, hot summer weeks. Under the idyllic surface, there are immediate tensions. Secrets, misunderstandings and passion play out as the characters shift and reappraise and a way of life - bourgeois, literate, ritualised - winds down to its inevitable end.

While the siblings circle each other, and the adolescents approach each other, the children watch and come to their own conclusions.

Tessa Hadley is one of Britain's finest writers, an acute observer of character, time and place and the most published short story writer in the New Yorker in recent years.

The reader is Sian Thomas
The abridger is Sally Marmion
The producer is Di Speirs


SAT 02:15 The Robber Barons (b07z7bwf)
JP Morgan

In the 19th century, so-called 'Robber Barons' - men like Cornelius Vanderbilt, Jay Gould, Andrew Carnegie, John D. Rockefeller and J.P. Morgan - seized the great new opportunities thrown up by the United States' Industrial Revolution.

The Robber Barons built vast businesses, and helped forged a radically new country - the basis of the America we know today. But did they sow the seeds of amazing progress, or did they steal the American Dream? Historian Adam Smith tells their stories and confronts their legacy.

In this episode, Adam explores how New York banker J.P. Morgan used ruthless pressure not to win in the free market but to end 'ruinous' competition.

Morgan strong-armed rival railroad companies into agreeing not to compete.

He bought out Andrew Carnegie's steel empire, in the great such deal in history, to forge the huge corporation US Steel.

And he did the same in the fields of electricity, farming and telecommunications, creating General Electric, International Harvester and AT&T to close down competition through consolidated companies.

And then in 1907 he played a crucial role in stopping the American economy collapsing.

And in this final episode, Adam takes a walk down Fifth Avenue in Manhattan, to explore how the Robber Barons have shaped our world. They helped to create crucial aspects of our world, which we now take for granted - such as vast corporations and paid employment, cheap travel and technology and huge gaps between rich and poor.

But is their legacy really more about the ruthless dynamic innovation of the free market, or big companies cosily closing down competition?

With: TJ Stiles, Joanna Cohen, Steve Fraser

PRODUCER: PHIL TINLINE


SAT 02:30 AS Byatt - The Frederica Quartet (b007jsmm)
Still Life, Part 7/7

Daniel becomes disillusioned with home and the church, and there is some disturbing news for Stephanie.

CAST:

Older Frederica …. Rosemary Leach
Bill …. Geoffrey Whitehead
Alexander …. Adam Kotz
Stephanie …. Helen Longworth
Marcus …. Carl Prekopp
Clemency …. Sandra Clark
Gideon …. Stephen Critchlow
Daniel …. Sean Dooley
William …. Tom Glenister

Written by A.S. Byatt and dramatised by John Harvey.

Producer: Mary Peate.

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 2002.


SAT 02:45 Barry Cryer - You Won't Believe This But (b007jv0f)
Episode 5

Charting his path to fame, comedy legend Barry Cryer recalls his big writing break - thanks to a famous female impersonator.


SAT 03:00 Fyodor Dostoevsky - The Idiot (b00srvkn)
Episode 4

Nastasya and Aglaya meet to talk over their feelings for Prince Myshkin - as he begins to fear for his life. Stars Paul Rhys.


SAT 04:00 Funny You Should Ask (b0b6q46w)
From 10/03/1981

Peter Jones hosts the entertainment quiz about comedy as he tests a panel of experts: Arthur English, Roy Hudd and Sandy Powell.

Funny You Should Ask ran for 8 series from 1976 to 1982.

Questions compiled by Michael Pointon.

Producer: Paul Mayhew-Archer.

First broadcast on BBC Radio 2 in March 1981.


SAT 04:30 The Adventures of John and Tony (b007k11n)
A Tale of Two Tenting

The two friends head off on a surreal camping trip, with Herman Hessian - a dog made out of an old potato sack.

The first of four comic journeys written by John Hegley in which John and his best mate Tony search for happiness, love, the meaning of life ... and glasses.

Starring John Hegley, Simon Munnery, Terry Malloy, Sunny Ormonde and John Korne.

Original music by Nigel Piper.

Director: Anne Edyvean

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in September 1999.


SAT 05:00 Bad Salsa (b049y3mp)
Series 1

All Change

After treatment for Ovarian and breast cancer Chippy, is mad Jill is sad and Terri is definitely dangerous to know! The road back after cancer treatment can be tricky and full of obstacles. In Bad Salsa, two middle aged women and their younger friend seek to regain their zest for life and love by learning to dance at Bad Salsa, the club where everyone knows your name but no-one knows your prognosis!

Depictions of people with cancer on TV and radio too often follow a standard format; there is the diagnosis, the depression the chemo, then the false recovery followed by the tragic death.

Bad Salsa tries to paint a picture at once more hopeful and more in line with survival rates which have improved immensely over the past twenty years. For many, 'living with cancer' is now their day to day challenge. The characters in the series have finished their treatment and are in the process of finding their way back to normal life or at least finding a "new normal." As in the real world, the challenges of everyday life go on for our characters; like us they have boring marriages, distracting crushes, troublesome children, difficult workmates and infuriating parents, but unlike us their brush with mortality has given them a new perspective. The fun and excitement of the series is in watching them decide to preserve the pre-cancer status quo or in Terri's words, to say "sod it all" and "go for it!"

The series follows the women as they embrace the world of salsa whilst they adjust to life after cancer.

Writer ..... Kay Stonham
Producer ..... Alison Vernon-Smith.


SAT 05:30 Reluctant Persuaders (m0000xrp)
Series 3

The Appliance of Science

Hardacre’s ad agency are pitching to the University of Oxfordshire, an online-only institution dedicated to internet learning. Their efforts are complicated by the arrival at the agency of Elgin Hardacre (James Northcote), hired by his father (Nigel Havers) as a copywriter – despite having no relevant skills or experience.

While Hardacre shows no interest in his son and Amanda (Josie Lawrence) dismisses him as an idiot and resolves to fire him by the end of the week, Joe (Mathew Baynton) and Teddy (Rasmus Hardiker) take pity on Elgin and take him under their wing. In the process, they discover that however bad Hardacre might be as a boss, he’s infinitely worse as a father – and Elgin in turn reveals some peculiar beliefs.

Cast:
Hardacre....................................Nigel Havers
Joe...............................................Mathew Baynton
Amanda.....................................Josie Lawrence
Teddy.........................................Rasmus Hardiker
Laura..........................................Olivia Nixon
Elgin...........................................James Northcote

An Absolutely production for BBC Radio 4


SAT 06:00 Agatha Christie (b007jwwc)
The Pale Horse

Can death be brought about by remote control? Historian Mark Easterbrooke discovers that witchcraft and black magic can induce a terrifying series of events.

First published in 1961, Agatha Christie's classic thriller dramatised by Michael Bakewell.

Stars Jeremy Clyde as Mark Easterbrooke, Stephanie Cole as Ariadne Oliver, Terence Alexander as Mr Venables, Mary Wimbush as Thyrza Grey, Hilda Schroder as Bella, Stephen Hodson as Jim Corrigan, Jonathan Adams as Inspector Lejeune and Federay Holmes as Ginger.

Jill Graham as Sybil, Jillie Meers as Rhoda Despard and John Evitts as Colonel Despard, John Fleming as Zachariah Osborne, John Baddeley as Bradley, Geraldine Fitzgerald as Hermia, Philip Anthony as Rev. Calthrop and John Church as Soames-White.

Matthew Morgan as Ardingly, Teresa Gallagher as Poppy and Keith Drinkel as Father Gorman, David Thorpe as Mike, Mike Hudson as Eileen Brandon, Melinda Walker as Mrs Tuckerton, Diana Payan as Mrs Coppins, Sandra James Young as Mrs Davis and Kate Binchy as Mrs Gerahty.

Originally aired to celebrate the 50th anniversary of BBC Radio 4's Saturday Night Theatre.

Director: Enyd Williams

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 1993.


SAT 07:30 Recycled Radio (b05413rw)
Series 3

Recycled: Bohemia

Welcome to the chopped up, looped up, sped up world of Recycled Radio, introduced by cartoonist Gerald Scarfe. Follow him down down the rabbit hole as we delve into the archives in search of bohemia, with a small "b".

Way back when, in the darkest depths of November 2014, David Hockney said something on Radio 4's Today programme: "That's what's gone now, bohemia's gone..."
Expect profound reflections on the nature of Jeremy Paxman's beard, hear Jeffrey Bernard exploring the nature of the advertising executive, picture Ed Balls playing the piano, and is that Andrew Marr contemplating the size of Virginia Woolf's bed?

What has any of this got to do with bohemia? What has bohemia got to do with anything else?

Recycled Radio might explain.

Producer: Polly Weston

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 2015.


SAT 08:00 Archive on 4 (b0765dy0)
Optimism - Our Enemy

Journalist Bryan Appleyard presents a polemic that tilts at the current cult of optimism, of positive thinking and the relentlessly upbeat mantras of corporations.

Optimism is trumpeted in books, from the walls of yoga studios, the podiums of leadership conferences and in political life, especially in the United States. The optimistic cast of mind is key, apparently, to marital success, health and progress at work.

Pessimism is stigmatised. But if we could only dump our current and historical imperative to look on the bright side of life, Bryan argues, we'd all be a lot happier.

We weren't always so positive. Bryan points to post-war Britain, when we embraced a pessimism, a philosophy of endurance and amiably black humour. This was reflected in our cinema which, contrary to many Hollywood movies, embarked on a dark celebration of the fragilities exposed by the war, with films such as Brief Encounter.

We hear from the philosophers Roger Scruton and John Gray on the pleasures of pessimism. Writer Barbara Ehrenreich traces the origins of the American positive thinking industry from Norman Vincent Peale's sermons to multimillion-selling books such as Dale Carnegie's How To Win Friends and Influence People and Rhonda Byrne's The Secret. Psychologist Tali Sharot explains how optimism and pessimism drive our economy and Dragons' Den's Deborah Meaden reveals the dangers of blind optimism in business.

Bryan, a committed pessimist, also considers how learning to be more optimistic could enhance his life. He meets sales, marketing and personal growth strategist Bruce King for a class in positive thinking.

With archive including Noel Coward, Tony Blair, Peter Cook and Frank Muir.

Producer: Paul Smith
A Just Radio production first broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 2016.


SAT 09:00 Hoax! (b08l65dp)
In this April fool’s day special, comedian Jake Yapp delves into the archives to celebrate the history of hoaxing and presents a unique insight into the development and psychology of the art of this form of deception.

Featuring memorable and entertaining extracts along with full BBC radio programmes Jake unearths some lesser known treasures and interviews comedians Jocelyn Jee Esien and Alex Lowe about their experiences.

Chris Powell is on hand to explain the psychology behind the hoax and prankster Steve Penk reveals the joy he gets from making wind-up phone calls.

Programmes include:

* The April Fool Story
Anna Ford explores the history of All Fool's Day in this country and abroad.

* Radio Anarchists
Ned Sherrin tells the story of Coyle and Sharpe

* Mary Toft’s Rabbit Tale:
A radio drama based on a true story from 1726 about a woman who convinced her doctors she was giving birth to rabbits

* Down the Line
We join DJ Gary Bellamy for an uncompromising, live phone-in show

Producer: Stephen Garner

Made for BBC Radio 4 Extra and first broadcast in April 2017


SAT 12:00 Listomania (b0b1xqns)
Series 1

Episode 6

Susan Calman hosts the series exploring the world of the list - from the magnificent to the mundane - from the humble 'to do' list to the bucket list and many more...

With Sara Cox, Elis James, Isy Suttie and Gary Delaney.

Written by James Kettle and Juliet Meyers with Max Davis

Producer: Jane Berthoud and Adnan Ahmed.

First broadcast on BBC Radio 2 in 2015.


SAT 12:30 Frankie Howerd (m000gmk7)
Series 2

Episode 1

Frankie Howerd is commissioned by ‘steam radio’ to serialise his memoirs.

Ably assisted by June Whitfield, Bob Todd, Geoffrey Beevers and John Samson, Francis titters and teeters through his eventful life and illustrious career, from soup to nuts. Ooh! No! Missus…

Written by David McKellar and David Nobbs.

Producer: David Hatch.

First broadcast on BBC Radio 2 in June 1973.


SAT 13:00 Absent (Omnibus) (b05126qf)
Tony, a self-employed electrician from Liverpool, has no idea that his wife of eleven years has had enough of him and wants him out of her and their children's lives for good.

Tony ...... Craige Els
Clare ...... Gillian Kearney
Nick ...... Robert Hitchmough
Aggy ...... Annabelle Dowler
Josh ...... Alfie Davies
Sean ...... Carl Prekopp

By Mark Davies Markham.

Directed by Claire Grove.


SAT 14:10 Inheritance Tracks (m000gt1g)
Ainsley Harriott

Chef Ainsley Harriott chooses Be My Life's Companion by the Mills Brothers and I Want a Little Sugar in my Bowl by Nina Simone.


SAT 14:15 Pam Ayres' Open Road (b007kfmk)
Series 2

Wigan

Pam visits a Lancashire cotton mill, a mint ball factory and meets the residents of a greyhound rescue centre.

Poet and raconteuse Pam Ayres is back on the open road, visiting nine more places in Britain to hear tales from the people who live there.

Photograph by Laurence Watts.

Producer: Jill Marshall

First broadcast on BBC Radio 2 in October 2001.


SAT 14:45 Uncle Mort's South Country (b007rj8j)
Series 1

A Night on the Town

It's Carter's first look at Soho exotic dancers, but not Uncle Mort's.

Uncle Mort …. Stephen Thorne
Carter Brandon …. Sam Kelly
The Nice Woman …. Liz Goulding
Door Keeper …. Christopher Good
Narrator …. Christian Rodska

Written by Peter Tinniswood.

Producer: Pete Atkin

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 1990.


SAT 15:00 Archive on 4 (b0765dy0)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:00 today]


SAT 16:00 Agatha Christie (b007jwwc)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:00 today]


SAT 17:30 Recycled Radio (b05413rw)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:30 today]


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

Fit The Ninth

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

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

The original scripts by Douglas Adams (1952-2001) went on to spawn a series of novels, a feature film, at least three stage shows, a TV series, a computer game, a collection of comic books - and various towels.

Radiophonic sound and music by Paddy Kingsland.

Producer: Geoffrey Perkins

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in December 1978.


SAT 18:30 The Price of Fear (b007jn3p)
The Family Album

Horror legend Vincent Price introduces a tale of faceless commuter Arthur, who proves to be a formidable adversary as danger strikes.

Stars Maurice Denham as Arthur Goodby, Liz Fraser as Rose Goodby, James Kerry as Harry, Aubrey Morris as Mr Martin and Anthony Newlands as The Coroner.

Scripted by William Ingram.

Producer: John Dyas

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 1983.


SAT 19:00 Hoax! (b08l65dp)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:00 today]


SAT 22:00 The Lee Mack Show (b00bbnvy)
Series 1

Tony Hadley

Tony Hadley joins the quick-fire comic for stand-up, sketches and music. With Angela McHale and Trevor Crook. From March 2005.


SAT 22:30 Paul Sinha's Citizenship Test (b037vlck)
Episode 1

Paul Sinha is proudly British. He also loves a quiz. So you would have thought that the UK Citizenship Test, which newcomers to this country must pass to become citizens, would have been right up his street. But the questions in the 2012 and 2013 Home Office guides seem either bizarrely easy - "Where is Welsh most widely spoken?" - or infuriatingly vague - "What happened in the First World War?".

So Paul has created his own test, to better reflect the things that aspiring migrants should understand before they can call themselves British. In episode one he deals with the history syllabus, looking at what we know about the most important legal document in our history; the Patron Saints of the Home Nations; provides a guide to our twenty most important cities; and points out a historical error in the official guide. He also tests the studio audience on their knowledge, with those that answer incorrectly being deported.

The series intertwines the sort of comedy Paul has become known for on The Now Show, The News Quiz, and Fighting Talk, as well as his own Radio 4 shows The Sinha Test and The Sinha Games, and the command of facts and figures he demonstrates on the ITV quiz show The Chase.

Written and performed by Paul Sinha.
Producer: Ed Morrish.


SAT 23:00 Buy Me Up TV (b0094k0g)
Episode 1

Another chance to hear Buy Me Up TV.

Every shopping channel you've ever seen and every product you've never wanted.

Featuring Justin Edwards, Colin Hoult, Katherine Jakeways, Ewen Macintosh, Alex MacQueen and Greg Proops. With special guest Eamonn Holmes.


SAT 23:30 4 at the Store (b007jqg1)
Series 1

Episode 3

Stand-up at London's Comedy Store with host Simon Bligh, Rhona Cameron, Omid Djalili and Steve Gribbin. From December 1998.



SUNDAY 29 MARCH 2020

SUN 00:00 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (b007jm46)
[Repeat of broadcast at 18:00 on Saturday]


SUN 00:30 The Price of Fear (b007jn3p)
[Repeat of broadcast at 18:30 on Saturday]


SUN 02:00 Absent (Omnibus) (b05126qf)
[Repeat of broadcast at 13:00 on Saturday]


SUN 03:10 Inheritance Tracks (m000gt1g)
[Repeat of broadcast at 14:10 on Saturday]


SUN 03:15 Pam Ayres' Open Road (b007kfmk)
[Repeat of broadcast at 14:15 on Saturday]


SUN 03:45 Uncle Mort's South Country (b007rj8j)
[Repeat of broadcast at 14:45 on Saturday]


SUN 04:00 Agatha Christie (b007jwwc)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:00 on Saturday]


SUN 05:30 Recycled Radio (b05413rw)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:30 on Saturday]


SUN 06:00 AS Byatt - The Frederica Quartet (Omnibus) (b07gry2w)
Still Life

The arrivals of a new baby and a singular new vicar have big impacts on the lives of the Potter family.

The conclusion of ‘Still Life’ and first half of ‘Babel Tower’.

CAST:

Older Frederica …. Rosemary Leach
Middle Frederica …. Indira Varma
Hugh Pink …. Mark Umbers
Pippy Mammott …. Deborah Findlay
Nigel …. Mark Bazeley
Leo …. Jack Langan
Ginnie …. Hannah Dee
Ruth …. Jasmine Hyde
Mary …. Ruby Williams
Will …. Alex Etchart
Bill/First Caller …. Geoffrey Whitehead
Daniel …. Shaun Dooley
Steelwire/Jude Mason …. Mark Heap
Winifred …. Barbara Flynn
Male Voice …. Ian Masters
Alexander …. Adam Kotz
Alan …. Kenny Blyth
Begbie …. Ben Onwukwe

Written by A.S. Byatt and dramatised by John Harvey.

Producer: Mary Peate

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 2002.


SUN 07:15 Winifred Holtby - The Celebrity Who Failed (b01bn5wr)
Can Amelia deal with the public attention after she learns to walk on water? Read by Alice Arnold.


SUN 07:30 Natalie Haynes Stands Up for the Classics (b0785rmr)
Series 2

Plato

Join Natalie Haynes and guests for half an hour of comedy and the Classics from the BBC Radio Theatre in London.

Natalie is a reformed comedian who is a little bit obsessive about Ancient Greece and Rome.

Today she stands up in the name of one of the world's greatest thinkers, Plato, with the help of psychotherapist Philippa Perry and classicist Professor Edith Hall.

Plato wasn't perfect, even though he talks about perfection all the time. Turns out he was on the chunky side and had bad eyesight. On the other hand, he was very good at wrestling.

Producer...Mary Ward-Lowery


SUN 08:00 Home to Roost (m000gtj7)
Series 2

Wedding Bells

William and Olive receive a surprise invitation to a posh wedding.

Molly Sugden and Deryck Guyler play Olive and William Wheeler. After forty years working for the same company, William has retired and is trying hard to adapt to his new life of leisure. Olive, on the other hand, is trying to adapt to having her husband under her feet all day, for the first time in their marriage.

This second series ran from 1st July to 23rd September 1975.

CAST:

William Wheeler …. Deryck Guyler
Olive Wheeler …. Mollie Sugden
Jack Bailey …. Norman Rossington
Kath …. Patricia Greene
Ange …. Ysanne Churchman
Nev …. John Baddeley

Writer: Anne Jones

Theme music composed and played by Alex Walsh and his Band.

Producer: Trafford Whitelock.

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in July 1975 .


SUN 08:30 Jerome K Jerome - Three Men in a Boat (b01c6h6v)
Episode 1

"We arranged to start on the following Saturday. Harris and I would take the boat up to Chertsey, and George, who would not be able to get away from the city till the afternoon, would meet us there. (George goes to sleep at the bank from ten to four each day, except Saturdays, when they wake him up and put him outside at two)."

George, Harris and J holiday on the River Thames from Kingston to Oxford - with Montmorency the dog. Adapted and performed in three episodes by Jeremy Nicholas.

Music by Jeremy Nicholas. Performed by The Grimethorpe Colliery Band

Producer: Paul Mayhew-Archer

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 1984.


SUN 09:00 Dark, Salt, Clear: Life in a Cornish Fishing Village (Omnibus) (m000gtj9)
For 22-year old Lamorna Ash, Cornwall has always been an idyll, the place where her mother grew up, and where she spent her summer holidays.

Now, Larmorna is travelling to the town of Newlyn, close to Land's End, with a view to finding out about its fishing community and its heritage.

Lamorna Ash is a writer and playwright. Dark, Salt, Clear is her first book.

Omnibus of five parts read by Ell Potter.

Abridged by Julian Wilkinson

Producer: Elizabeth Allard

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in March 2020.


SUN 10:10 The Listening Project (b06shzhh)
Sophie and Jan – Love Without Borders

Fi Glover introduces a conversation between a couple for whom the chemistry was instant, fuelled by foreign attraction -
another in the series that proves it's surprising what you hear when you listen.

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


SUN 10:15 Desert Island Discs Revisited (b0b0552n)
Artists

Jack Vettriano

Bob Dylan to Leonard Cohen. Artist Jack Vettriano of erotic poster fame, shares musical choices with Sue Lawley. From 2004.


SUN 11:00 The Moth Radio Hour (b0b90m84)
Series 7

Global Stories of Women and Girls

True stories told live in in the USA: Fatou Wurie introduces stories that explores what it is to be a woman in the world today.

The Moth is an acclaimed not-for-profit organisation dedicated to the art and craft of storytelling based in the USA. Since 1997, it has celebrated both the raconteur and the storytelling novice, who has lived through something extraordinary and yearns to share it. Originally formed by the writer George Dawes Green as an intimate gathering of friends on a porch in Georgia (where moths would flutter in through a hole in the screen), and then recreated in a New York City living room, The Moth quickly grew to produce immensely popular events at theatres and clubs around New York City and later around the USA, the UK and other parts of the world.

The Moth has presented more than 15,000 stories, told live and without notes, to standing-room-only crowds worldwide. The Moth podcast is downloaded over 27 million times a year.

Featuring true stories told live on stage without scripts, from the humorous to the heart-breaking.

The Moth Radio Hour is produced by Jay Allison and Atlantic Public Media in Woods Hole, Massachusetts and is distributed by the Public Radio Exchange.


SUN 12:00 Home to Roost (m000gtj7)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:00 today]


SUN 12:30 Jerome K Jerome - Three Men in a Boat (b01c6h6v)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:30 today]


SUN 13:00 AS Byatt - The Frederica Quartet (Omnibus) (b07gry2w)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:00 today]


SUN 14:15 Winifred Holtby - The Celebrity Who Failed (b01bn5wr)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:15 today]


SUN 14:30 Hilary Mantel - The Mirror and the Light (Omnibus) (m000gtjc)
Episode 2

Anton Lesser reads the long-awaited finale to Hilary Mantel's Booker-winning Thomas Cromwell series.

Summer 1536: Cromwell is fighting fires on all fronts – having just seen off the potentially disastrous betrothal of Henry’s niece, Margaret Douglas, rumours are now circulating about his intentions towards Mary, the king’s eldest daughter.

Writer: Hilary Mantel
Reader: Anton Lesser
Abridger: Katrin Williams
Producer: Justine Willett


SUN 15:45 A Guide to Woodland Birds (b00c0fb6)
Conifer Specialists

Brett Westwood , Stephen Moss and wildlife sound recordist Chris Watson identify birds that live on conifers, such as the siskin, goldcrest, coal tit and crossbill.

Produced by Sarah Blunt.

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in June 2008.


SUN 16:00 Anna Sewell - Black Beauty (b00mdyl3)
A well-bred horse hits hard times and poor health due to overwork.

CAST:

Black Beauty …. Adam Godley
Ginger/Dolly/Servant …. Liza Sadovy
Master/John Manley/Skinner …. Ewan Bailey
Langley/Reuben Smith/Mr Bond/Bob …. Jon Glover
Doctor/Larry/Hard Face/Father …. Philip Fox
Squire Gordon/Mr Clay/Ostler/Seller …. Ioan Meredith
Lady Gordon/Polly/Grace …. Helen Longworth
Beauty's Mother/Lady Two …. Ndidi Del Fatti
Carter/Driver/York …. Stephen Hogan
Joe Green/Robert/Gentleman …. Stuart McLoughlin
Jerry/Ned/Farrier …. Robert Hastie
Merrylegs/Man …. Jason Chan

Written by Anna Sewell and dramatised by Katie Hims.

Producer: Liz Webb.

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in November 2004


SUN 17:00 Poetry Extra (m000gtjh)
Blithe Spirits: Beasts and Time For Verse: Poets Laureate - Wordsworth

Poet Daljit Nagra revisits the BBC's radio poetry archive and chooses Blithe Spirits: Beasts on attitudes to mammals and Time For Verse: Poets Laureate - William Wordsworth.

Radio 4
Joanna Pinnock explores attitudes to mammals in the 17th, 18th, and early 19th centuries. Through popular verse she reveals the biblical significance of beasts and traces the gradual emergence of animal welfare.

Contributors:
Christine Hall
Erica Fudge
Christine Kenyan-Jones
Ashton Nichol
Cameron Milne

Christine Hall reads To A Young Ass – Coleridge
Christine Hall reads Providence - George Herbert
Christine Hall reads The Hunted Hare – Cavendish
Cameron Milne reads To A Mouse – Burns

Producer - Brett Westwood

First broadcast on Radio 4 in 2001.

Time for Verse
Poets Laureate – William Wordsworth
Radio 4
From the series about some famous and some forgotten holders of the office, compiled and presented by Sean Street

Readers Martin Jarvis, Adrian Cairns And David Goodland

Producer Margaret Bradley

First broadcast on Radio 4 in 1987.


SUN 17:30 Natalie Haynes Stands Up for the Classics (b0785rmr)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:30 today]


SUN 18:00 Sheridan Le Fanu - Carmilla (b016q2l5)
Laura is a lonely girl living in a solitary castle in the south east of Austria.

Into her life comes the beautiful and mysterious Carmilla, with whom Laura strikes up, what will prove to be, a dangerous friendship...

Starring Anne-Marie Duff as Laura, Brana Bajic as Carmilla, David Warner as Father and Celia Imrie as Madame.

Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu’s gothic novella was first published in 1871.

Dramatised by Don McCamphill.

Producer: Lawrence Jackson

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 2003


SUN 18:45 Fay Weldon - Web Central (b09hwr3b)
Josie is aged 132. She’s a privileged Heaven on Earther, existing way above the underclass on Earth. Read by Oliver Ford Davis.


SUN 19:00 The Moth Radio Hour (b0b90m84)
[Repeat of broadcast at 11:00 today]


SUN 20:00 Dark, Salt, Clear: Life in a Cornish Fishing Village (Omnibus) (m000gtj9)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:00 today]


SUN 21:10 The Listening Project (b06shzhh)
[Repeat of broadcast at 10:10 today]


SUN 21:15 Desert Island Discs Revisited (b0b0552n)
[Repeat of broadcast at 10:15 today]


SUN 22:00 Natalie Haynes Stands Up for the Classics (b0785rmr)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:30 today]


SUN 22:30 Twenty Players (b06h97ts)
Series 1

Archie McGillivray

Forgotten sporting heroes. Tony Gubba tells the story of the world's greatest golfing balloonist. From May 1995.


SUN 22:45 The Music Teacher (m000gtjk)
Series 1

Episode 3

Another week shut away in a tiny windowless practice room for music teacher Nigel Penny in this aural feast of a musical comedy written by and starring 2009 Writers' Guild Award winner Richie Webb. Featuring Vicki Pepperdine as Arts Centre Manager Belinda.

Episode 3 sees Nigel suffering his usual succession of bizarre pupils - an asthmatic flautist and a thrash metal guitarist proving particularly trying. And though Belinda is demanding to use his tiny room to hide booze from the Peruvian Pan Pipe band booked into the Arts Centre that evening, it's having to share his tiny room with an unwanted boorish guest that threatens to take the gloss off Nigel's already rubbish day.

Cast:
Nigel Penny ...... Richie Webb
Belinda ...... Vicki Pepperdine
Other roles by Dave Lamb, Jim North and Jess Robinson

Written by Richie Webb

Produced by Richie Webb
Directed by Nick Walker
A Top Dog production for BBC Radio 4


SUN 22:55 The Comedy Club Interviews (m000gwxy)
Arthur Smith meets Tim Vine (1/1)

From 10.00pm until midnight, seven days a week, the Comedy Club has two hours of comedy. Plus Arthur Smith chats to Tim Vine.


SUN 23:00 The Secret World (b0125n5t)
Series 2

Episode 1

From Al Pacino to Keith Harris and Orville, Jon Culshaw and friends probe the private lives of the famous. From July 2010.


SUN 23:30 Fabulous (m000gtjm)
Series 2

Episode 2

Faye is anxious. She knows that today's women are Fabulous; they have it all, the job, the house, the colour co-ordinated capsule wardrobe and they cope with the pressures modern life brings effortlessly, with nothing more than a copy of Prima and a poem by Pam Ayres to guide them. So why can't she pull it off? Life should be entertaining with a speed dating event at the office...

Starring Daisy Haggard with Katy Brand, Stephen Critchlow, Justin Edwards, Mel Hudson, Joanna Neary, John Rowe, Jo Scanlan, Laura Solon, Dan Starkey and Ann Reid. The children were Bradley Ford, Renee Clark and Chelsea Jabbau.

Written by Lucy Clarke
Music by Osymyso
Producer Simon Nicholls

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in October 2008.



MONDAY 30 MARCH 2020

MON 00:00 Sheridan Le Fanu - Carmilla (b016q2l5)
[Repeat of broadcast at 18:00 on Sunday]


MON 00:45 Fay Weldon - Web Central (b09hwr3b)
[Repeat of broadcast at 18:45 on Sunday]


MON 01:00 AS Byatt - The Frederica Quartet (Omnibus) (b07gry2w)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:00 on Sunday]


MON 02:15 Winifred Holtby - The Celebrity Who Failed (b01bn5wr)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:15 on Sunday]


MON 02:30 Hilary Mantel - The Mirror and the Light (Omnibus) (m000gtjc)
[Repeat of broadcast at 14:30 on Sunday]


MON 03:45 A Guide to Woodland Birds (b00c0fb6)
[Repeat of broadcast at 15:45 on Sunday]


MON 04:00 Anna Sewell - Black Beauty (b00mdyl3)
[Repeat of broadcast at 16:00 on Sunday]


MON 05:00 Poetry Extra (m000gtjh)
[Repeat of broadcast at 17:00 on Sunday]


MON 05:30 Natalie Haynes Stands Up for the Classics (b0785rmr)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:30 on Sunday]


MON 06:00 Stand By For West (m000gtkj)
Inspector West at Home

Fear in Flat Nine

Roger West's continued efforts to restore his reputation put those around him in danger.

Chief Inspector Roger West is the creation of John Creasey, who authored more than 40 Roger West novels between 1942 and 1973.

Much like Paul Temple, West - “Scotland Yard’s youngest, smartest chief inspector” - has a long-suffering wife who also gets involved with the action. A total of six novels were adapted for radio by Maurice Travers.

Chief Inspector Roger West… Patrick Allen
Janet West… Sarah Lawson
Mark Lessing… Edward de Souza
Pep Morgan… Harry Landis
Lois Randall… Carol Marsh
Pickerell… Robert James
Bill Tennant… Anthony Jackson

Producer: John Fawcett Wilson

First broadcast on BBC Radio 2 in 1968.


MON 06:30 Bombay Jazz (b0415hbd)
Sarfraz Manzoor explores a fascinating period of music history in India when American violinist Leon Abbey brought his jazz band to Bombay in the 1930's, leaving behind an incredible legacy.

The early years of jazz calls to mind places such as New Orleans, Chicago and Paris. What is often overlooked is that the Indian city of Bombay, now Mumbai, had its very own thriving jazz scene in the 1930's that lasted three decades.

Manzoor charts this extraordinary story of jazz in India when some of the world's most accomplished musicians including Dave Brubeck, Duke Ellington and Louis Armstrong brought their talents to the East and mixed with performers such as Chic Chocolate, Micky Correa, Teddy Weatherford and Frank Fernand -all regarded in India today as jazz legends. This cultural exchange produced music that wove threads into Bombay's story. These threads would later become inextricably a part of the city's own definitive creation: Bollywood, and its music in particular.

Discovering India's jazz heritage and the areas the music has been preserved Manzoor travels to Mumbai to visit Naresh Fernandes author of the critically acclaimed book The Taj Mahal Foxtrot. He meets with musicians and singers along with the widow of Micky Correa and the daughters of Chic Chocolate and explores the development of jazz with saxophonist Braz Gonsalves, the first man to play Be-Bop in India.

Examining the music and legacy of the Indian Jazz legends he searches for their impact today and his journey ends in Goa, now regarded as the new 'Jazz Capitol of India' by music promoter Colin D'Cruz .

Producer: Stephen Garner

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 2014.


MON 07:00 Double Income, No Kids Yet (b00cd4qp)
Series 1

Episode 6

Lucy is thrilled to be a godparent but the same can’t be said for Dan. With David Tennant and Elizabeth Carling. From July 2001.


MON 07:30 Thanks a Lot, Milton Jones! (m000gkw2)
Series 4

Police, Camera, Milton!

High drama in the line of duty when Milton is asked to form a Police Corruption Unit and takes it a little too literally.

Mention Milton Jones to most people and the first thing they think is "Help!". Each week, Milton and his trusty assistant Anton set out to help people and soon find they're embroiled in a new adventure. Because when you're close to the edge, then Milton can give you a push.

"Milton Jones is one of Britain's best gagsmiths with a flair for creating daft yet perfect one-liners" - The Guardian.

"King of the surreal one-liners" - The Times

"If you haven't caught up with Jones yet - do so!" - The Daily Mail

Written by Milton with James Cary (Bluestone 42, Miranda), and Dan Evans (who co-wrote Milton's Channel 4 show House Of Rooms), the man they call "Britain's funniest Milton," returns to the radio with a fully-working cast and a shipload of new jokes.

The cast includes regulars Tom Goodman-Hill (Spamalot, Mr. Selfridge) as the ever-faithful Anton, Josie Lawrence and Dan Tetsell (Peep Show, Upstart Crow).

With music by Guy Jackson

Produced and directed by David Tyler
A Pozzitive production for BBC Radio 4


MON 08:00 Legal, Decent, Honest and Truthful (b007jv5j)
Series 2

Episode 6

Ad man Ken Handley faces his own emergency when he's coerced into a Samaritans campaign. Stars Martin Jarvis. From March 1984.


MON 08:30 Dad's Army (b007jqxp)
Series 3

High Finance

Captain Mainwaring realises Corporal Jones's money troubles involve the whole platoon.

Starring Arthur Lowe as Captain Mainwaring, John Le Mesurier as Sergeant Wilson, Clive Dunn as Corporal Jones, John Laurie as Private Frazer, Arnold Ridley as Private Godfrey, Ian Lavender as Private Pike, Bill Pertwee as Hodges, Frank Williams as the Vicar and Pearl Hackney as Mrs Pike.

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 July 1976.


MON 09:00 The Unbelievable Truth (b07756bj)
Series 16

Episode 3

David Mitchell hosts the panel game in which four comedians are encouraged to tell lies and compete against one another to see how many items of truth they're able to smuggle past their opponents.

Elis James, Reginald D Hunter, Maeve Higgins and David O'Doherty are the panellists obliged to talk with deliberate inaccuracy on subjects as varied as the 1970s, toys, the moon and electricity.

The show is devised by Graeme Garden and Jon Naismith, the team behind Radio 4's I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue.

Produced by Jon Naismith
A Random Entertainment production for BBC Radio 4.


MON 09:30 Control Group Six (b00752tl)
Series 1

Episode 4

Can an unusual source help Dr Heaven complete his mission, before things explode in his face?

A bizarre four-part comedy - half sketch show and half psychological thriller. Written and performed by Richard Bean, Andrew Clifford and Clive Coleman. With Geraldine Fitzgerald and Mandy Knight.

Control Group Six is a company town, like any other with a high murder-rate. But only one man possesses the experience, the post-Jungian insight and the gullibility to enter such a dangerous environment - Dr Heaven, company psychologist.

Producer: Colin Swash

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 1995.


MON 10:00 Sir Arthur Conan Doyle - Rodney Stone (m000gtkn)
Episode 1

Rodney Stone and his friend Jim, two young lads from the country, find themselves drawn into the racy. colourful but dangerous world of boxing and gambling, and become involved in a series of exciting adventures set in an England where the Prince Regent is all but King and Lord Nelson all but God.

Written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, and first published in 1896, it is dramatised for radio in 4 parts by Constance Cox.

Rodney Stone ... Sean Arnold
Jim Harrison .... Stuart Organ
Champ Harrison ... Henry Stamper
Mrs Harrison .... Charlotte Mitchell
Sir Charles Tregellis ... John Rye
Miss Hinton ... Jill Balcon
Anson Stone ...Peter Woodthorpe
Mrs Stone .... Jean Trend
Ambrose ..... Michael Bilton
Lord Frederick ..... James Kerry
Gypsy Lee .... James Bryce
Ellen .... Hilda Schroder

Directed by David Johnston

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 1983


MON 11:00 TED Radio Hour (m000gtkr)
Series 5

Disruptive Leadership

Guy Raz explores what it takes to become a leader and shake up the status quo.

Guy Raz examined disruptive leadership—what it takes to become a leader that can make lasting changes. The speakers included Stanley McChrystal, on how leaders deal with failure; Sheryl Sandberg on cultivating women leaders; and Seth Godin, on whether ordinary people can become leaders.

First broadcast on NPR in the USA in 2014.


MON 12:00 Legal, Decent, Honest and Truthful (b007jv5j)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:00 today]


MON 12:30 Dad's Army (b007jqxp)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:30 today]


MON 13:00 Stand By For West (m000gtkj)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:00 today]


MON 13:30 Bombay Jazz (b0415hbd)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:30 today]


MON 14:00 Short Works (m000gtkt)
CG Menon - Subjunctive Moods

Subjunctive Moods

Five tales of loss, love and betrayal from the collection by C.G. Menon.

1. Subjunctive Moods
1994. Sara learns about maths, how to avoid eating and much else from her brother’s Russian exchange partner, Katya.
CG Menon has won the Bare Fiction Prize, the Leicester Writes Prize, The Short Story Award, the Asian Writer Prize, The TBL Short Story Award and the Winchester Writers Festival award. Subjunctive Moods, her debut collection of short stories, was published in 2018. Her first novel, Fragile Monsters, will be published in 2021.

Read by Jessica Gunning.
Producer: Jeremy Osborne
A Sweet Talk Production


MON 14:15 All in a Chord (b087ps60)
Beethoven: The Eroica Symphony

Ivan Hewett examines a chord from Beethoven's Eroica Symphony to test the idea that harmony is a reflection of history. He's joined by Beethoven expert John Suchet and writer and historian Professor Andrew Roberts who has special interest in Napoleon.

Music is never created in isolation - it's conceived in relation to what's going on around a composer in terms of personal and historical events, new technologies, new ideas and artistic endeavours in other fields. In this series, Ivan Hewett is looking at five very different chords which amply demonstrate the concept that harmony is a reflection of history.

Each programme is a bite size portion of rich musical and historical investigation - and each chord has had far reaching influence on other music and is emblematic of its era.

Beethoven's Eroica Chord of 1804 is the climax of the composer's attempt to capture the fervour of revolution. Strident trumpets scream out above the orchestra, forming a clash of harmony that no-one could mistake as anything but a great musical rallying cry for freedom.

Ivan Hewett is a writer on music for the Daily Telegraph, broadcaster on BBC Radio 3, and teacher at the Royal College of Music.

Producer: Rosie Boulton
A Monty Funk production for BBC Radio 4.


MON 14:30 AS Byatt - The Frederica Quartet (b007jsnk)
Babel Tower, Part 1/8

Frederica has given up her care-free, independent Cambridge lifestyle.

CAST:

Older Frederica …. Rosemary Leach
Middle Frederica …. Indira Varma
Hugh Pink …. Mark Umbers
Pippy Mammott …. Deborah Findlay
Nigel …. Mark Bazeley
Leo …. Jack Langan

Written by A.S. Byatt and dramatised by John Harvey.

Producer: Mary Peate.

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 2002.


MON 14:45 Leo McKern - Just Resting (m000gtkx)
Episode 1

Actor Leo McKern - 'Rumpole of the Bailey' – reads from his memoirs: childhood days in Australia.

Abridged by Derek Parker
Producer: Ian Cotterell

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in December 1984.


MON 15:00 Sir Arthur Conan Doyle - Rodney Stone (m000gtkn)
[Repeat of broadcast at 10:00 today]


MON 16:00 The Unbelievable Truth (b07756bj)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:00 today]


MON 16:30 Control Group Six (b00752tl)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:30 today]


MON 17:00 Double Income, No Kids Yet (b00cd4qp)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:00 today]


MON 17:30 Thanks a Lot, Milton Jones! (m000gkw2)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:30 today]


MON 18:00 Host Planet Earth (m000gtl0)
The Beginning

On the eve of Britain’s first manned space shot, the death toll among those involved causes alarm.

‘Host Planet Earth’ is a sci-fi serial in six parts originally broadcast between July and September 1967. At that time, concerns were being raised about microbes being brought back to Earth by the American and Russian space programmes. Set in England, the British space programme is eager to compete and has gained an advantage with the invention of a propulsion system that enables exploration of distant regions of the universe within weeks instead of years

The danger of invading – or invasive - alien species is only being realised very slowly, following some bizarre and seemingly unconnected events. Has that realisation come too late?

CAST:

Harold Benson .… Ian Thompson
Claire Stuart .… Brenda Bruce
Professor Tate .… Rolf Lefebvre
Professor Ormskirk .… Clive Morton
David Holland .… Alexander John
Rathbone .… Timothy Bateson
Dr Edwards .… Heron Carvic
Sister .… Beth Boyd
Nat Blakey .… Nigel Anthony
Editor .… Antony Viccars
Policeman .… Preston Lockwood

Written by Colin Cooper and Anne Howell.

Music and FX by the Radiophonic Workshop.

Producer: Nesta Pain.

First broadcast on the BBC Light Programme in 1967.


MON 18:30 A Good Read (b00nqbtk)
Michael Mansfield and Molly Flatt

Sue MacGregor talks to Michael Mansfield QC and blogger Molly Flatt about their favourite books.

Michael's choice: Suite Francaise by Irene Nemirovsky, trans. Sandra Smith, Vintage

Molly's choice: The Vintner's Luck by Elizabeth Knox, Vintage

Sue's choice: The Member of the Wedding by Carson McCullers, Penguin.

Produced by Toby Field.

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 2009.


MON 19:00 Legal, Decent, Honest and Truthful (b007jv5j)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:00 today]


MON 19:30 Dad's Army (b007jqxp)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:30 today]


MON 20:00 Stand By For West (m000gtkj)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:00 today]


MON 20:30 Bombay Jazz (b0415hbd)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:30 today]


MON 21:00 TED Radio Hour (m000gtkr)
[Repeat of broadcast at 11:00 today]


MON 22:00 Thanks a Lot, Milton Jones! (m000gkw2)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:30 today]


MON 22:30 Chain Reaction (b00gsb81)
Series 2

Barry Cryer Interviews Mark Thomas

Veteran gagsmith Barry Cryer and political comedian Mark Thomas in the tag talk show, where the guest is next week's interviewer.

Based on the original BBC Radio 5 programme of the same name, Chain Reaction is a simple idea of big name stars from the world of entertainment interviewing others whose work they appreciate and admire.

Recorded with an audience, the interviews focus on the life, career and the passions of the interviewee but often prove to be as revealing about the interviewer.

Producer: Tilusha Ghelani

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 2004.


MON 22:55 The Comedy Club Interviews (m000gyn1)
Arthur Smith meets Plastic Elvis aka Tim Vine (1/1)

From 10.00pm until midnight, seven days a week, the Comedy Club has two hours of comedy. Plus Arthur Smith chats to Tim Vine in the guise of Plastic Elvis.


MON 23:00 The Now Show (m000gn6z)
Series 56

Episode 4

Steve Punt and Hugh Dennis get to grips with the continuing COVID-19 disruption with sketches and guests

With comedians Ellie Taylor, Kai Samra, and Dominic Frisby.

Written by the cast, with additional material from Jenny Laville, Robin Morgan, Hannah Fairweather and Simon Alcock

Producer Julia McKenzie

A BBC Studios Production


MON 23:30 Hut 33 (b00lv795)
Series 1

Don't Bet on It

The Bletchley Park codebreakers must play football against Italian prisoners of war.

Set in Bletchley Park in 1941, three code-breakers are forced to share a draughty wooden hut, as they try to break German ciphers. Unfortunately, they hate each other.

CAST:

Charles …. Robert Bathurst
Archie …. Tom Goodman-Hill
Minka …. Olivia Colman
Gordon …. Fergus Craig
Mrs Best …. Lill Roughley
Joshua …. Alex MacQueen

Written by James Cary.

Producer: Adam Bromley

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in July 2007.



TUESDAY 31 MARCH 2020

TUE 00:00 Host Planet Earth (m000gtl0)
[Repeat of broadcast at 18:00 on Monday]


TUE 00:30 A Good Read (b00nqbtk)
[Repeat of broadcast at 18:30 on Monday]


TUE 01:00 Stand By For West (m000gtkj)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:00 on Monday]


TUE 01:30 Bombay Jazz (b0415hbd)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:30 on Monday]


TUE 02:00 Short Works (m000gtkt)
[Repeat of broadcast at 14:00 on Monday]


TUE 02:15 All in a Chord (b087ps60)
[Repeat of broadcast at 14:15 on Monday]


TUE 02:30 AS Byatt - The Frederica Quartet (b007jsnk)
[Repeat of broadcast at 14:30 on Monday]


TUE 02:45 Leo McKern - Just Resting (m000gtkx)
[Repeat of broadcast at 14:45 on Monday]


TUE 03:00 Sir Arthur Conan Doyle - Rodney Stone (m000gtkn)
[Repeat of broadcast at 10:00 on Monday]


TUE 04:00 The Unbelievable Truth (b07756bj)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:00 on Monday]


TUE 04:30 Control Group Six (b00752tl)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:30 on Monday]


TUE 05:00 Double Income, No Kids Yet (b00cd4qp)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:00 on Monday]


TUE 05:30 Thanks a Lot, Milton Jones! (m000gkw2)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:30 on Monday]


TUE 06:00 Stand By For West (m000gtx3)
Inspector West at Home

A Call from The Whistler

Roger West comes face-to-face with 'Whistler' Malone and some very useful evidence.

When Roger West finds the dead body of a former small-time crook, he runs into opposition from the formidable Superintendent Abbott, his superior at the Yard, and starts on a trail which involves conspiracy, corruption and murder.

Chief Inspector Roger West is the creation of John Creasey, who authored more than 40 Roger West novels between 1942 and 1973.

Much like Paul Temple, West - “Scotland Yard’s youngest, smartest chief inspector” - has a long-suffering wife who also gets involved with the action. A total of six novels were adapted for radio by Maurice Travers.

Chief Inspector Roger West… Patrick Allen
Janet West… Sarah Lawson
Mark Lessing… Edward de Souza
Lois Randall… Carol Marsh
Pickerell… Robert James
Bill Tennant… Anthony Jackson
‘Whistler’ Malone… Rio Fanning
Mrs Fleming…Margaret Robertson
Raymond Fleming… Frederick Jaeger

Producer: John Fawcett Wilson

First broadcast on BBC Radio 2 in 1968.


TUE 06:30 Fighting The Power of Pink (b010y39d)
Any parents of a little girl will tell you that they are strangely drawn to the colour pink. But is it in their genes or is it all down to culture? Kat Arney investigates, talking to parents, scientists, and the toy industry. She discovers that while women are more drawn than men to reddish shades of blue, boys and girls don't seem to develop different preferences until they are over the age of two. But long before then, they have very different preferences for toys. So maybe we all just like different colours because we like the things that come in those colours.

Or maybe women really do prefer pink because in the distant past they needed to be able to see red berries against green leaves, while men needed to see brown bison against a blue sky?

Producer Jolyon Jenkins

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 2011.


TUE 07:00 HR (b00tg1c3)
Series 2

Gassing

Sam is battling retirement blues with a part-time job working for the Saviours, manning telephone lines to help those in distress. And today's first client is of course Peter, in distress about their faulty boiler.

Peter ..... Jonathan Pryce
Sam ..... Nicholas Le Prevost
George ..... Sam Dale
Voice ..... Alison Pettitt

Director: Peter Kavanagh.

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 2010.


TUE 07:30 Time Spanner (m0001p68)
The Dan in the High Castle

A new episode of the time-travelling adventure-cum-love story narrated by the first dog in space (played by John Finnemore) and starring Simon Kane as Martin Gaye, a man with the most powerful object in the universe stuck up his nose; David Mitchell as power-hungry reality TV star Daniel Kraken; Sally Phillips as an angel with very poor judgement; John Finnemore as Laika, the Russian space dog; London Hughes as Gabbie Hayes, the world's most optimistic charity worker; and Jeremy Limb as Mister Mergatroid, a love-sick talking robot.

Following on from last year's episode that went out as part of Radio 4's Day of Misrule, Martin Gaye is torn between using the Time Spanner to travel into the future to save humanity from certain destruction, and using it as a way to spend more time with the woman he met this morning. And the more the angel who gave him the Spanner tries to persuade him off the importance of his mission, the more he gets pre-occupied by Gabbie, who he is already sure she is the light-bulb in his lampshade.

Meanwhile Daniel Kraken will stop at nothing to get his hands on the Spanner, if only his private army of Yellowcoats were able to open a door without detailed step by step instructions, and there are sinister forces in Heaven getting ready to take back the Spanner for themselves...

Written by Simon Kane

Martin Gaye - Simone Kane
Daniel Kraken - David Mitchell
The Angel - Sally Phillips
Gabbie - London Hughes
Laika - John Finnemore
Mr Mergatroid - Jeremy Limb

Produced by Gareth Edwards


TUE 08:00 The Goon Show (b0b2r0jv)
The Six Ingots of Leadenhall Street

On the trial of Moriarty and Grytpype-Thynne, Detective Neddie Seagoon joins an unusual brass band.

Starring Spike Milligan, Peter Sellers and Harry Secombe.

To celebrate 100 years since the birth of Spike Milligan, another rare edition of the series not heard since original broadcast.

Beginning in May 1951 as 'Crazy People', The Goon Show ran for 10 series stretching the boundaries of radio comedy in new and influential directions concluding in January 1960.

Scripted by Spike Milligan and Eric Sykes.
With the Ray Ellington Quartet and Max Geldray
Orchestra conducted by Wally Stott.
Announcer: Wallace Greenslade
Producer: Peter Eaton

First broadcast on the BBC Home Service in February 1955.


TUE 08:30 Round the Horne (b007tm45)
Series 3

Episode 19

Kenneth Horne welcomes 'The Palone Ranger', Fiona and Charles with sound effects, plus Julian and Sandy take charge of the BBC wardrobe department.

With Kenneth Williams, Hugh Paddick, Betty Marsden and Bill Pertwee.

Recorded at the BBC's Paris Studio in Lower Regent Street, London. Announcer: Douglas Smith

Round The Horne was born out of the demise of BBC radio comedy Beyond Our Ken, after the end of writer Eric Merriman's involvement. Using the same cast and producer, Barry Took and Marty Feldman were persuaded to write the scripts - which led to four series that ran between 1965 and 1968 - packed full of parodies, recurring characters, catchphrases and double-entendres.

Music by Edwin Braden and the Hornblowers and The Fraser Hayes Four.

Producer: John Simmonds

First broadcast on the BBC Light Programme in June 1967.


TUE 09:00 The Now Show (m000gn6z)
[Repeat of broadcast at 23:00 on Monday]


TUE 09:30 Lenin of the Rovers (b007jwg9)
Series 2

The Final Solution

Will Ricky's million-pound sponsorship deal wreck Felchester's hopes of a Wembley victory? Stars Alexei Sayle. From April 1989.


TUE 10:00 Sir Arthur Conan Doyle - Rodney Stone (m000gtx5)
Episode 2

Rodney Stone and his friend Jem, two young lads from the country, find themselves drawn into the racy, colourful but dangerous world of boxing and gambling, and become involved in a series of exciting adventures set in an England where the Prince Regent is all but King and Lord Nelson all but God.

Rodney Stone travels with his uncle from Brighton to London, into a world of boxing and excitement

Written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, and first published in 1896, it is dramatised for radio in 4 parts by Constance Cox.

CAST:
Rodney Stone ... Sean Arnold
Jim Harrison .... Stuart Organ
Champ Harrison ... Henry Stamper
Mrs Harrison .... Charlotte Mitchell
Sir Charles Tregellis ... John Rye
Mrs Stone ... Jean Trend
Anson Stone ...Peter Woodthorpe
Sir John Lade .... Adrian Egan
Sir Lothian Hume .....Nigel Graham
Jem Belcher .... David Sinclair
Gentleman Jackson .... Steve Hodson
Prince of Wales ...Roger Hammond
Charles Fox/Crab Wilson .... Ronald Baddiley
Lady Lade .... Frances Jeater
Young Dutch Sam/Servant .... Colin Starkey
Joe Berks ... James Bryce
Landlord..... James Kerry
Lord Nelson .... Hugh Dickson
Lady Nelson ... Carole Boyd

Directed by David Johnston

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 1983.


TUE 11:00 Balm of Hurt Minds (b07z3jl6)
Even in Good Men by MJ Hyland

The last of our commissioned short stories on the theme of rest and sleep for the series Balm of Hurt Minds. The writer M J Hyland, who is herself an ex lawyer, tells the story of a young policeman who is himself awaiting trial in prison. Can his defence of sleepwalking convince a court that he was in fact not in charge of his faculties? M J Hyland has been shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize and twice for the National Short Story Award.

Even In Good Men is read by Trystan Gravelle - a Welsh actor who has recently appeared in the ITV drama Mr Selfridge as Victor Colleano.

The producer is Julian Wilkinson.


TUE 11:15 Drama (b062jy8y)
Paul Sellar - The Gold Killing

Episode 1

Boxer turned businessman Joe Stein wouldn't normally get involved with Mafia money but he's on his uppers; when he hears of a Ghanaian gold mine with incredible deposits he wants a piece of the action. But the returns from the mine begin to pay dividends that Joe would rather be without.

by Paul Sellar

Directed by Sally Avens

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in July 2015.


TUE 12:00 The Goon Show (b0b2r0jv)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:00 today]


TUE 12:30 Round the Horne (b007tm45)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:30 today]


TUE 13:00 Stand By For West (m000gtx3)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:00 today]


TUE 13:30 Fighting The Power of Pink (b010y39d)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:30 today]


TUE 14:00 Short Works (m000gtx7)
CG Menon - Subjunctive Moods

For You Are Julia

Five tales of loss, love and betrayal from the collection by C.G. Menon.

2. For You Are Julia
Julia’s tidy life is unsettled when she gets a call from Tom, the man she didn’t marry 40 years ago.

CG Menon has won the Bare Fiction Prize, the Leicester Writes Prize, The Short Story Award, the Asian Writer Prize, The TBL Short Story Award and the Winchester Writers Festival award. Subjunctive Moods, her debut collection of short stories, was published in 2018. Her first novel, Fragile Monsters, will be published in 2021.

Read by Gabrielle Glaister.

PRODUCER: Jeremy Osborne
A Sweet Talk Production


TUE 14:15 All in a Chord (b088972d)
Wagner: Tristan und Isolde

Ivan Hewett examines Wagner's Tristan Chord to test the idea that harmony is a reflection of history. He's joined by Professor John Deathridge and Professor Tim Blanning.

Music is never created in isolation - it's conceived in relation to what's going on around a composer in terms of personal and historical events, new technologies, new ideas and artistic endeavours in other fields. In this series, Ivan Hewett is looking at five very different chords which amply demonstrate the concept that harmony is a reflection of history.

Each programme is a bite size portion of rich musical and historical investigation - and each chord has had far reaching influence on other music and is emblematic of its era.

Wagner's Tristan Chord is called the most significant chord in Western music as it is said to mark the beginning of the breakdown of tonality. Within itself, it contains not one but two dissonances, so creating a double desire, agonising in its intensity for resolution. The chord to which it then moves resolves one of these dissonances but not the other, so providing resolution - but not resolution. Written in 1859, the same year as Origin of the Species and around the same time as Madame Bovary, Wagner's Tristan Chord reflects a time when the anchor was being pulled up many old certainties.

Ivan Hewett is a writer on music for the Daily Telegraph, broadcaster on BBC Radio 3, and teacher at the Royal College of Music.

Producer: Rosie Boulton
A Monty Funk production for BBC Radio 4.


TUE 14:30 AS Byatt - The Frederica Quartet (b007jsnw)
Babel Tower, Part 2/8

Daniel gets an urgent phone call about his daughter.

CAST:

Older Frederica …. Rosemary Leach
Ginnie …. Hannah Dee
Ruth …. Jasmine Hyde
Mary …. Ruby Williams
Will …. Alex Etchart
Bill/First Caller …. Geoffrey Whitehead
Daniel …. Shaun Dooley
Steelwire …. Mark Heap
Winifred …. Barbara Flynn
Male Voice …. Ian Masters

Written by A.S. Byatt and dramatised by John Harvey.

Producer: Mary Peate.

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 2002.


TUE 14:45 Leo McKern - Just Resting (m000gtx9)
Episode 2

Actor Leo McKern - 'Rumpole of the Bailey' – reads from his memoirs: early days of work in Australia.

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in December 1984.


TUE 15:00 Sir Arthur Conan Doyle - Rodney Stone (m000gtx5)
[Repeat of broadcast at 10:00 today]


TUE 16:00 Jest a Minute (b0170c50)
Series 2

Episode 2

Rhod Gilbert's comedy quiz from the Glee Club in Cardiff.

With Markus Birdman, Lloyd Langford, Chris Corcoran and Steve Williams.

Producers: Paul Forde and Gareth Gwynn.

First broadcast on BBC Radio Wales in 2006.


TUE 16:30 Are You From the Bugle? (b01jt2sc)
A Bit of Bad News

Butterthwaite's frustrated cub reporter Graham faces a steep learning curve. Stars Jeffrey Holland. From June 1996.


TUE 17:00 HR (b00tg1c3)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:00 today]


TUE 17:30 Time Spanner (m0001p68)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:30 today]


TUE 18:00 Host Planet Earth (m000gtxc)
The Empty Minds

Britain’s first manned space mission under way. There is still confusion as to whether the team is in danger.

‘Host Planet Earth’ is a sci-fi serial in six parts originally broadcast between July and September 1967. At that time, concerns were being raised about microbes being brought back to Earth by the American and Russian space programmes. Set in England, the British space programme is eager to compete and has gained an advantage with the invention of a propulsion system that enables exploration of distant regions of the universe within weeks instead of years

The danger of invading – or invasive - alien species is only being realised very slowly, following some bizarre and seemingly unconnected events. Has that realisation come too late?

CAST:

David Holland …. Alexander John
Claire Stuart …. Brenda Bruce
Mrs. Tate …. Marjorie Westbury
Professor Ormskirk …. Clive Morton
Doctor Edwards …. Heron Carvic
Doctor Harries …. Carleton Hobbs
Doctor Kellaway …. Douglas Hankin
Guard …. Preston Lockwood
Receptionist …. Rosalind Shanks
Harold Benson …. Ian Thompson

Written by Colin Cooper and Anne Howell.

Music and FX by the Radiophonic Workshop.

Producer: Nesta Pain.

First broadcast on the BBC Light Programme in 1967.


TUE 18:30 The Tingle Factor (b07gbsn8)
David Puttnam

Film producer and educator David Puttnam talks to Robin Ray about the sounds which stirs his emotions.

Recalling his upbringing and looking back over his career, David's selection includes speeches by Robert de Niro and Teddy Kennedy.

Producer: Andrew Mussett
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 1990.


TUE 19:00 The Goon Show (b0b2r0jv)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:00 today]


TUE 19:30 Round the Horne (b007tm45)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:30 today]


TUE 20:00 Stand By For West (m000gtx3)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:00 today]


TUE 20:30 Fighting The Power of Pink (b010y39d)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:30 today]


TUE 21:00 Balm of Hurt Minds (b07z3jl6)
[Repeat of broadcast at 11:00 today]


TUE 21:15 Drama (b062jy8y)
[Repeat of broadcast at 11:15 today]


TUE 22:00 Time Spanner (m0001p68)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:30 today]


TUE 22:30 The Mark Steel Solution (b007jmtg)
Series 1

Anyone Born in England Should Be Deported

Radical proposals to improve our lives, with the comedian's emigration shake-up. From November 1992.


TUE 23:00 Beauty of Britain (b00njwd9)
Series 1

Colour Me Wow

Comedy by Christopher Douglas and Nicola Sanderson. Beauty Olonga works as a carer for the Featherdown Agency and sees herself as an inspiration to other African girls hoping to achieve their goals in the land of semi-skimmed milk.

Beauty has a particularly difficult client, but is distracted by her latest business venture. Lynette assures Beauty that 'Colour Me Wow' is no pyramid scheme, while Anil shows a surprising new side to himself.

Beauty ...... Jocelyn Jee Esien
Lynette ...... Doon Mackichan
Sandra ...... Nicola Sanderson
Sally ...... Felicity Montagu
Karen ...... Nicola Sanderson
Mrs Gupte ...... Indira Joshi
Anil ...... Paul Sharma
Dr Kavanagh ...... Phyllida Law
Hilary ...... Rachel Atkins
Clare ...... Doon Mackichan

Music by The West End Gospel Choir.


TUE 23:30 The Guns of Adam Riches (b01qnrn0)
Series 1

The Ballad of Big Rich

Brand new character comedy from 2011 Edinburgh Award winner, Adam Riches. With fast-paced, offbeat sketches, songs (there are no songs) and a generous dollop of audience interaction. Also starring Cariad Lloyd and Jim Johnson.

This week, Adam Riches takes the listener back to the Wild West to tell the story of Big Rich, a sass-talkin', gun-totin' cowboy who just so happened to have sat on the front row.

Written by Adam Riches
Produced by Simon Mayhew-Archer and Rupert Majendie.



WEDNESDAY 01 APRIL 2020

WED 00:00 Host Planet Earth (m000gtxc)
[Repeat of broadcast at 18:00 on Tuesday]


WED 00:30 The Tingle Factor (b07gbsn8)
[Repeat of broadcast at 18:30 on Tuesday]


WED 01:00 Stand By For West (m000gtx3)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:00 on Tuesday]


WED 01:30 Fighting The Power of Pink (b010y39d)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:30 on Tuesday]


WED 02:00 Short Works (m000gtx7)
[Repeat of broadcast at 14:00 on Tuesday]


WED 02:15 All in a Chord (b088972d)
[Repeat of broadcast at 14:15 on Tuesday]


WED 02:30 AS Byatt - The Frederica Quartet (b007jsnw)
[Repeat of broadcast at 14:30 on Tuesday]


WED 02:45 Leo McKern - Just Resting (m000gtx9)
[Repeat of broadcast at 14:45 on Tuesday]


WED 03:00 Sir Arthur Conan Doyle - Rodney Stone (m000gtx5)
[Repeat of broadcast at 10:00 on Tuesday]


WED 04:00 Jest a Minute (b0170c50)
[Repeat of broadcast at 16:00 on Tuesday]


WED 04:30 Are You From the Bugle? (b01jt2sc)
[Repeat of broadcast at 16:30 on Tuesday]


WED 05:00 HR (b00tg1c3)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:00 on Tuesday]


WED 05:30 Time Spanner (m0001p68)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:30 on Tuesday]


WED 06:00 Stand By For West (m000gvkk)
Inspector West at Home

A Girl for a Hostage

The stakes are high, as Roger West draws closer to the truth and the mystery of what he missed.

Chief Inspector Roger West is the creation of John Creasey, who authored more than 40 Roger West novels between 1942 and 1973.

Much like Paul Temple, West - “Scotland Yard’s youngest, smartest chief inspector” - has a long-suffering wife who also gets involved with the action. A total of six novels were adapted for radio by Maurice Travers.

Chief Inspector Roger West… Patrick Allen
Janet West… Sarah Lawson
Mark Lessing… Edward de Souza
Superintendent Abbott… Grant Taylor
Inspector Bob Cornish… Frederick Treves
Lois Randall… Carol Marsh
Bill Tennant… Anthony Jackson
‘Whistler’ Malone… Rio Fanning

Producer: John Fawcett Wilson

First broadcast on BBC Radio 2 in 1968.


WED 06:30 Warsaw Variations (b018cg7v)
Panufnik and Lutoslawski were the great hopes of Polish music at the outbreak of World War Two.

During the Occupation, opportunities for musical development were severely limited, but an artistic life sprang up in the cafes and bars of Warsaw. For four years, Lutoslawski and Panufnik made a living playing arrangements of popular and classical tunes (most famously the Paganini variations) to mixed audiences of music lovers, nationalist resisters and cultured Wehrmacht officers.

Warsaw Variations traces the experiences of these two young musicians through the Occupation, the Warsaw Uprising (in which virtually all their manuscripts were destroyed) and into the era of Socialist Realism.

Immediately following the war Panufnik was designated 'Composer Number One'. But by 1954, he'd had enough of pleasing the authorities and defected to Britain. Lutoslawski stayed in Poland and emerged as one of the most prominent composers of the late 20th Century.

With contributions from two men with memories of Warsaw's war-time cafe culture - actor and former waiter Witold Sadowy and musicologist Wladyslaw Malinowski, as well as Panufnik's widow, Lady Camilla Panufnik; the music scholar and Lutoslawski expert Adrian Thomas; Panufnik's biographer Beata Boleslawska, and a historian of Polish musical life under the Nazis Katarzyna Naliwajek.

This programme received the Prix Europa in October 2012 for the 'Best European Music Programme of the Year'. It was originally broadcast on BBC Radio 4.

Produced by Alan Hall
A Falling Tree production


WED 07:00 Stockport, So Good They Named It Once (b007jrc7)
Series 1

Lights

Eddie scores tickets to Stockport County's biggest match ever. An even greater challenge faces his son-in-law Dave

The lives of the Stockport-based, Conroy family in series 1 of Jim Poyser and Damian Lanigan's comedy drama.

Starring Dominic Monaghan as Jason, John McArdle as Eddie, Jason Done as Michael, Stefan Escreet as Dave, Emma Clarke as Collete, Beverley Callard as Maureen and Jo-Anne Knowles as Debbie.

With Alan Green as himself.

Music: Big George

Producer: Neil Mossey

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in September 1999.


WED 07:30 Mark Watson Talks a Bit About Life (m000gmgh)
Series 3

Episode Four: Winter

Multi-award winning comedian and author Mark Watson continues his probably doomed quest to make sense of the human experience. He's aided by the sardonic musical brilliance of Flo and Joan, and by a different comedy friend in each programme. This time, it's Jess Fostekew.

This new series examines the four seasons of the year and the seasons of a human life, as Mark - at the halfway point of his expected lifespan - considers what might come next. In this final programme in the series, Mark and his guests look at the pros and cons of Winter.

Pros - Christmas.
Cons - the end of the year reminds us that all things must die.

As always, there's a huge number of jokes, some songs, and an awful lot of other stuff crammed into each show as the much-loved comic and his guests make their way through life at dizzying speed.

Produced by Lianne Coop.
An Impatient production for BBC Radio 4


WED 08:00 Hancock's Half Hour (b007jrry)
Series 4

The Stolen Petrol

Sid sees the return of petrol rationing as a money spinner, with some help from the lad.

Starring Tony Hancock, Sidney James, Bill Kerr, Kenneth Williams and Hattie Jacques.

Written by Ray Galton and Alan Simpson.

Theme and incidental music composed by Wally Stott. Recorded by the BBC Revue Orchestra conducted by Harry Rabinowitz.

Producer: Dennis Main Wilson

First broadcast on the BBC Light Programme in December 1956.


WED 08:30 Tales From the Mausoleum Club (b007jnlh)
The Turn of the Knob

Miss Primrose's gruesome story of her time as governess at a country mansion. Stars Miranda Richardson. From January 1987.


WED 09:00 Counterpoint (b00hzf58)
Series 23

2009 Heat 1

Paul Gambaccini chairs the general knowledge music quiz.

The questions cover every aspect of music - from the classical repertoire to world music, show tunes, film scores, jazz, rock and pop.

Three contestants battle it out:

Brenda Mortimer from Camberley
David Roy from Bushey
Paul Tobin from Taunton

Producer: Paul Bajoria

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 2009.


WED 09:30 Bangers and Mash (b0075h0f)
Episode 4

A strange man is lurking - and Father Harry is hired to entertain the OAPs, but what will he be singing?

Six-part comedy series by Katie Hims.

Stars Catherine Harvey as Martina, Gerard McDermott as Jimmy, Roger May as Juan, and Jane Whittenshaw as Carol.

Director: Catherine Horn

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in February 1999.


WED 10:00 Sir Arthur Conan Doyle - Rodney Stone (m000gvkr)
Episode 3

Rodney Stone and his friend Jim, two young lads from the country, find themselves drawn into the racy. colourful but dangerous world of boxing and gambling, and become involved in a series of exciting adventures set in an England where the Prince Regent is all but King and Lord Nelson all but God.

Written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, and first published in 1896, it is dramatised for radio in 4 parts by Constance Cox.

The day of the big fight draws near, but will Rodney Stone's friend Jim Harrison be able to take part? Stars Sean Arnold.

Rodney Stone ... Sean Arnold
Champ Harrison ... Henry Stamper
Mrs Harrison .... Charlotte Mitchell
Sir Charles Tregellis ... John Rye
Sir Lothian Hume .....Nigel Graham
Sir John Lade .... Adrian Egan
Jem Belcher .... David Sinclair
Gentleman Jackson .... Steve Hodson
John Cummings/Bill Warr .... Peter Wickham
Mendoza .... Timothy Bateson
Berkeley Craven ... David Peart
Landlord..... James Kerry
Ostler ... Alex Jennings
Gentleman/Lorimer .... Peter Tuddenham

Directed by David Johnston

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 1983.


WED 11:00 Jim Morrison's Will to be Weird (m000gvkt)
1: Break On Through

Had Jim Morrison of The Doors not died in mysterious circumstances at the tender age of 27 in 1971, he would have celebrated his 75th birthday in 2018. Over three sixty-minute episodes, Paul Gambaccini mixes the music and poetry of the man with the influences that moulded the self-proclaimed ‘The Lizard King’. Paul first encountered Morrison in 1967 when, as a young music director on a New Hampshire radio station, he eagerly opened The Doors’ first single ‘Break On Through’. He followed his career from beginning to end and, to this day, visits Morrison’s grave in Paris.

In addition to Paul’s memories and observations, we delve into the Radio Archive and feature:

‘Cult Heroes: Jim Morrison’ [Radio 5 Live 18/12/1990] Tony Slattery looks back at Morrison’s volatile career

‘Like A Rolling Stone’ [Radio 4 26/03/2006] The life, work and lasting influence on Jim Morrison of French poet Arthur Rimbaud.

Producer: Mik Wilkojc.

Made for BBC Radio 4 Extra and first heard in 2018.


WED 12:00 Hancock's Half Hour (b007jrry)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:00 today]


WED 12:30 Tales From the Mausoleum Club (b007jnlh)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:30 today]


WED 13:00 Stand By For West (m000gvkk)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:00 today]


WED 13:30 Warsaw Variations (b018cg7v)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:30 today]


WED 14:00 Short Works (m000gvkx)
CG Menon - Subjunctive Moods

Dust And Spices

Subjunctive Moods

Five tales of loss, love and betrayal from the collection by C.G. Menon.

3. Dust And Spices
An old family photograph sends Mohan into a rich world of memories of Kuala Lumpur and Lipis.

CG Menon has won the Bare Fiction Prize, the Leicester Writes Prize, The Short Story Award, the Asian Writer Prize, The TBL Short Story Award and the Winchester Writers Festival award. Subjunctive Moods, her debut collection of short stories, was published in 2018. Her first novel, Fragile Monsters, will be published in 2021.
Read by Paul Bazely.

PRODUCER: Jeremy Osborne
A Sweet Talk Production


WED 14:15 All in a Chord (b0889734)
Mahler: Symphony No. 10

Ivan Hewett examines a chord from Mahler's 10th Symphony to test the idea that harmony is a reflection of history. He's joined by composer David Matthews and psychoanalyst Anthony Cantle.

Music is never created in isolation - it's conceived in relation to what's going on around a composer in terms of personal and historical events, new technologies, new ideas and artistic endeavours in other fields. In this series, Ivan Hewett is looking at five very different chords which amply demonstrate the concept that harmony is a reflection of history.

Each programme is a bite size portion of rich musical and historical investigation - and each chord has had far reaching influence on other music and is emblematic of its era.

In 1910, the first movement of Mahler's 10th Symphony finally lands on a chord of terrifying dissonance, as he surveyed the wreckage of his personal life. Mahler had discovered his wife was having an affair with the architect Walter Gropius - a discovery which left him distraught. He was in the middle of composing his 10th Symphony and suddenly this cry of anguish appears seemingly out of nowhere in the music. Mahler made a famous visit to see Freud which resulted in a 6 hour walk during which they discussed all of these matters in the context of the newly "discovered" unconscious.

The chord in question can't be found anywhere in else music. Perhaps it's just too much to bear. However, what follows this chord is music which suggests resolution, acceptance and great peace.

Ivan Hewett is a writer on music for the Daily Telegraph, broadcaster on BBC Radio 3, and teacher at the Royal College of Music.

Producer: Rosie Boulton
A Monty Funk production for BBC Radio 4.


WED 14:30 AS Byatt - The Frederica Quartet (b007jsp4)
Babel Tower, Part 3/8

Frederica's fraught marriage is put under even greater strain when she makes a discovery.

CAST:

Older Frederica …. Rosemary Leach
Middle Frederica …. Indira Varma
Nigel …. Mark Bazeley
Alexander …. Adam Kotz
Hugh Pink …. Mark Umbers
Bill …. Geoffrey Whitehead
Daniel …. Shaun Dooley

Written by A.S. Byatt and dramatised by John Harvey.

Producer: Mary Peate.

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 2002.


WED 14:45 Leo McKern - Just Resting (m000gwrw)
Episode 3

Actor Leo McKern - 'Rumpole of the Bailey' – reads from his memoirs: wartime service in Australia.

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in December 1984.


WED 15:00 Sir Arthur Conan Doyle - Rodney Stone (m000gvkr)
[Repeat of broadcast at 10:00 today]


WED 16:00 Counterpoint (b00hzf58)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:00 today]


WED 16:30 Bangers and Mash (b0075h0f)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:30 today]


WED 17:00 Stockport, So Good They Named It Once (b007jrc7)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:00 today]


WED 17:30 Mark Watson Talks a Bit About Life (m000gmgh)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:30 today]


WED 18:00 Host Planet Earth (m000gvkz)
The Pattern Emerges

Deaths now occur among space project detractors. In Earth orbit, the Starfarer prepares for deep space.

‘Host Planet Earth’ is a sci-fi serial in six parts originally broadcast between July and September 1967. At that time, concerns were being raised about microbes being brought back to Earth by the American and Russian space programmes. Set in England, the British space programme is eager to compete and has gained an advantage with the invention of a propulsion system that enables exploration of distant regions of the universe within weeks instead of years

The danger of invading – or invasive - alien species is only being realised very slowly, following some bizarre and seemingly unconnected events. Has that realisation come too late?

CAST:

Nat Blakey …. Nigel Anthony
Bill Cape …. Ian Thompson
Professor Ormskirk …. Clive Morton
Rathbone …. Timothy Bateson
Claire Stuart …. Brenda Bruce
David Holland …. Alexander John
Joseph Banks …. Peter Tuddenham
Mrs Heming …. Betty Hardy
Rosemary Manning …. Barbara Mitchell
Technician …. Preston Lockwood
Schoolboys …. Spencer Shires
Schoolboys …. David Auker

Written by Colin Cooper and Anne Howell.

Music and FX by the Radiophonic Workshop.

Producer: Nesta Pain.

First broadcast on the BBC Light Programme in 1967.


WED 18:30 How Tickled Am I? (b007jnxs)
Series 1

Jimmy Clitheroe

"Nearly a quarter of the population settle down to listen to a radio classic..."

Mark Radcliffe profiles the diminutive radio star who played a schoolboy. But was he ever allowed to grow up?

A six-part series exploring the tradition of the northern comedian.

Producer: Bernadette McConnell

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 1999.


WED 19:00 Hancock's Half Hour (b007jrry)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:00 today]


WED 19:30 Tales From the Mausoleum Club (b007jnlh)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:30 today]


WED 20:00 Stand By For West (m000gvkk)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:00 today]


WED 20:30 Warsaw Variations (b018cg7v)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:30 today]


WED 21:00 Jim Morrison's Will to be Weird (m000gvkt)
[Repeat of broadcast at 11:00 today]


WED 22:00 Mark Watson Talks a Bit About Life (m000gmgh)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:30 today]


WED 22:30 Alice's Wunderland (b03mj3hp)
Series 2

Unclear War

A trip to Wunderland, the Poundland of magical realms. In this last episode of the series, Wunderland is under threat frpm an Unclear War.

Sketch show by Alice Lowe.

Also starring Richard Glover, Simon Greenall, Rachel Stubbings, Clare Thompson and Marcia Warren.

Produced by Lyndsay Fenner.


WED 23:00 Clare in the Community (b0151xsf)
Series 7

To Kill a Mocking Bird

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.

Each week 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.

In episode two 'To Kill A Mocking Bird' Clare ends her relationship with Brian and is surprised by her colleagues' reaction to the news.

Episode Two 'To Kill A Mocking Bird'

Clare ..... SALLY PHILLIPS
Brian ..... ALEX LOWE
Megan/Nali ..... NINA CONTI
Ray ..... RICHARD LUMSDEN
Helen ..... LIZA TARBUCK
Simon ..... ANDREW WINCOTT
Libby ..... SARAH KENDALL
Pru Granville ..... SOPHIE THOMPSON
Mr Collier ..... GERARD MCDERMOTT
Thomas ..... GEORGIA LOWE

Written by Harry Venning and David Ramsden

Producer by Katie Tyrrell.


WED 23:30 The Sofa of Time (b00hy949)
Night of the Sexicle

Sexy assassin Morpheena is called in, while Milford and Parker grab a cab. Stars Mark Heap and Nick Frost. From November 2002.



THURSDAY 02 APRIL 2020

THU 00:00 Host Planet Earth (m000gvkz)
[Repeat of broadcast at 18:00 on Wednesday]


THU 00:30 How Tickled Am I? (b007jnxs)
[Repeat of broadcast at 18:30 on Wednesday]


THU 01:00 Stand By For West (m000gvkk)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:00 on Wednesday]


THU 01:30 Warsaw Variations (b018cg7v)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:30 on Wednesday]


THU 02:00 Short Works (m000gvkx)
[Repeat of broadcast at 14:00 on Wednesday]


THU 02:15 All in a Chord (b0889734)
[Repeat of broadcast at 14:15 on Wednesday]


THU 02:30 AS Byatt - The Frederica Quartet (b007jsp4)
[Repeat of broadcast at 14:30 on Wednesday]


THU 02:45 Leo McKern - Just Resting (m000gwrw)
[Repeat of broadcast at 14:45 on Wednesday]


THU 03:00 Sir Arthur Conan Doyle - Rodney Stone (m000gvkr)
[Repeat of broadcast at 10:00 on Wednesday]


THU 04:00 Counterpoint (b00hzf58)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:00 on Wednesday]


THU 04:30 Bangers and Mash (b0075h0f)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:30 on Wednesday]


THU 05:00 Stockport, So Good They Named It Once (b007jrc7)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:00 on Wednesday]


THU 05:30 Mark Watson Talks a Bit About Life (m000gmgh)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:30 on Wednesday]


THU 06:00 Stand By For West (m000gvjw)
Inspector West at Home

Clue from a Captive

'Whistler’ Malone may be in a police cell but this case is far from sewn up. As Roger West says, it's got more twists than a corkscrew.

Chief Inspector Roger West is the creation of John Creasey, who authored more than 40 Roger West novels between 1942 and 1973.

Much like Paul Temple, West - “Scotland Yard’s youngest, smartest chief inspector” - has a long-suffering wife who also gets involved with the action. A total of six novels were adapted for radio by Maurice Travers.

Chief Inspector Roger West… Patrick Allen
Janet West… Sarah Lawson
Superintendent Abbott… Grant Taylor
Inspector Bob Cornish… Frederick Treves
‘Whistler’ Malone… Rio Fanning
Assistant Commissioner Sir Guy Chatsworth… Maurice Hedley

Producer: John Fawcett Wilson

First broadcast on BBC Radio 2 in 1968.


THU 06:30 What's Funny about Money? (b04vxv1c)
The Kilkenomics Festival of economics and comedy was launched in the depths of Ireland's financial crisis in 2010. Five years on it has earned a reputation for being 'Davos with laughs'. Economists and comedians share platforms over a weekend in the Irish city of Kilkenny, demystifying the language and theories of economics. Comedian Colm O'Regan has been performing at Kilkenomics since it was launched and explores how the festival works.

Speaking to the co-founders of the festival, economist David McWilliams and festival organiser Richard Cook, Colm discovers what motivated them to start a comedy festival at such a difficult time for the Irish economy, and how the mood is different today.

He meets John Lanchester, author of How to Speak Money, who explains how those appearing at Kilkenomics are able to find ways to explain difficult economic concepts. He finds out what comedians appearing for the first time, like Ardal O'Hanlan, make of the event. He also hears from Irish economists and asks whether there is a 'Kilkenomics' school of economic thought. Finally, Colm meets a group of protestors against Ireland's debt who are marching at Kilkenomics to make their point.

Colm considers whether it is the Irish experience that makes Kilkenomics so appealing, or if the festival could also work in other countries.

Produced by Philip Reevell
A City Broadcasting production first broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 2014.


THU 07:00 Two Doors Down (b0089m6j)
Series 1

The Height of the Iguana

Horrified residents of Marlborough Road discover Sally might be leaving them. They could never survive their own chaos without her.

Meanwhile, the free range children plan revenge on Victor...

Conclusion of series one of Annie McCartney's sitcom.

Starring Frances Tomelty as Sally, Ali White as Saffron, Marcella Riordan as Clare, Robert Patterson as Tony, Roma Tomelty as Miss Black, Katy Gleadhill as Evie, Gerard Murphy as Fintan, Alan Mckee as Victor, Bethan Lloyd as Anna, Patrick Gleadhill as Simon, Emily Walmsley as Layla, Joel McElnay as Ben, Alfie Lloyd as Sam and Gerard McSorley as Trevor.

Director: Tanya Nash

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in March 2001.


THU 07:30 The Break (b0b6htgg)
Series 2

The Last Farewell

The death of Frank's rival, Frank, causes Frank mixed emotions - glee and joy. Starring Philip Jackson, Tom Palmer, Alison Steadman, Mark Benton, Shobna Gulati and Rasmus Hardiker.

An Absolutely production for BBC Radio 4.


THU 08:00 Frankie Howerd (b007jmtr)
Series 2

Episode 2

Stand-up and sketches from the legendary boss of big titters, with June Whitfield and Ray Fell. From June 1973.


THU 08:30 I'm Sorry, I'll Read That Again (b0092s7l)
Series 4

Episode 6

Uncle John brings you Music for Schools - and The Curse of the Flying Wombat.

More quick-fire sketches, terrible puns, humorous songs and parodies.

Stars Tim Brooke-Taylor, John Cleese, David Hatch, Jo Kendall and Bill Oddie.

Written by Graeme Garden, Eric Idle, Bill Oddie, Peter Hutchins, Peter & 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 November 1966.


THU 09:00 Booked (b0075t3c)
Series 4

Episode 5

Ian McMillan chairs the literary quiz with Mark Thomas, Dillie Keane, Mark Radcliffe and Miles Kington. From July 1998.


THU 09:30 Capital Gains (b00snlx2)
Series 2

Development Capital

There must be a way to stop the Haiku Jack Consortium from covering the land in concrete. Accidental billionaire Julius Hutch turns to the law - and goes beyond it.

Starring Peter Jones as Julius Hutch.

With Celestine Randall as Pauline Hutch, Justine Midda as Kate, Jeffrey Wickham as Sexton Lewis, Stephen Thorne as Sir Gainford Blounty, Jillie Meers as Dahlia Sprout, David Holt as Ted Smoothie and Brian Perkins as Himself.

Scripted by Collin Johnson.
Producers: Andy Jordan and David Blount
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in July 1997.


THU 10:00 Sir Arthur Conan Doyle - Rodney Stone (m000gvjz)
Episode 4

Rodney Stone and his friend Jim, two young lads from the country, find themselves drawn into the racy. colourful but dangerous world of boxing and gambling, and become involved in a series of exciting adventures set in an England where the Prince Regent is all but King and Lord Nelson all but God.

Sir Charles and Rodney rush to meet Jim Harrison to find out what prevented him from fighting Wilson. Stars Sean Arnold.

Written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, and first published in 1896, it is dramatised for radio in 4 parts by Constance Cox.

Rodney Stone ... Sean Arnold
Jim Harrison .... Stuart Organ
Champ Harrison ... Henry Stamper
Mrs Harrison .... Charlotte Mitchell
Sir Charles Tregellis ... John Rye
Lord Avon ....Terence Morgan
Miss Hinton ... Jill Balcon
Anson Stone ...Peter Woodthorpe
Mrs Stone .... Jean Trend
Sir Lothian Hume ....Nigel Graham
Ambrose .... Michael Bilton
Sir James Ovington/1st Officer.... Peter Tuddenham
2nd Officer .... David Gooderson

Directed by David Johnston

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 1983.


THU 11:00 Shorts (b06z1zfg)
Scottish Shorts

The Mary Tree by Linda Cracknell

By Linda Cracknell
A boy visiting his mother in hospital meets a strange character with intriguing tales of a lost landmark.
Read by Robert Jack
Producer Eilidh McCreadie

Author Linda Cracknell has been inspired by her work as writer-in-residence at The Royal Hospital for Sick Children in Edinburgh. The hospital moves to a new location in 2017.


THU 11:15 Drama (b062kfmg)
Paul Sellar - The Gold Killing

Episode 2

Boxer turned businessman Joe Stein wouldn't normally get involved with mafia money but he's on his uppers; when he invests the money in a Ghanaian gold mine he sets off a macabre series of murders and Joe finds himself in the biggest fight of his life - a fight to stay alive.

by Paul Sellar

Directed by Sally Avens

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in July 2015.


THU 12:00 Frankie Howerd (b007jmtr)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:00 today]


THU 12:30 I'm Sorry, I'll Read That Again (b0092s7l)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:30 today]


THU 13:00 Stand By For West (m000gvjw)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:00 today]


THU 13:30 What's Funny about Money? (b04vxv1c)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:30 today]


THU 14:00 Short Works (m000gvk1)
CG Menon - Subjunctive Moods

Daylight Savings

Subjunctive Moods
Five tales of loss, love and betrayal from the collection by C.G. Menon.

4. Daylight Savings
Every year the clocks go back, Sarah observes an unusual ritual.

CG Menon has won the Bare Fiction Prize, the Leicester Writes Prize, The Short Story Award, the Asian Writer Prize, The TBL Short Story Award and the Winchester Writers Festival award. Subjunctive Moods, her debut collection of short stories, was published in 2018. Her first novel, Fragile Monsters, will be published in 2021.

Read by Jessica Gunning.

PRODUCER: Jeremy Osborne
A Sweet Talk Production


THU 14:15 All in a Chord (b088973x)
Stravinsky: The Rite of Spring

Ivan Hewett examines a chord from Stravinsky's Rite of Spring to test the idea that harmony is a reflection of history. He's joined by musicologist Gerard McBurney and Professor Valentine Cunningham.

Music is never created in isolation - it's conceived in relation to what's going on around a composer in terms of personal and historical events, new technologies, new ideas and artistic endeavours in other fields. In this series, Ivan Hewett is looking at five very different chords which amply demonstrate the concept that harmony is a reflection of history.

Each programme is a bite size portion of rich musical and historical investigation - and each chord has had far reaching influence on other music and is emblematic of its era.

Stravinsky wrote his ballet The Rite of Spring for the 1913 Paris season of Diaghilev's Ballets Russes company with choreography by Nijinsky. The ballet famously caused a riot at its premiere, largely because of the dance and the music - but partly also because the sense of clash that we hear in this famous chord was, in some senses, a reflection of tensions in the air.

Ivan Hewett is a writer on music for the Daily Telegraph, broadcaster on BBC Radio 3, and teacher at the Royal College of Music.

Producer: Rosie Boulton
A Monty Funk production for BBC Radio 4.


THU 14:30 AS Byatt - The Frederica Quartet (b007jspg)
Babel Tower, Part 4/8

Nigel goes in search of Frederica, who has left, taking Leo with her.

CAST:

Middle Frederica …. Indira Varma
Alan …. Kenny Blyth
Thomas …. Gerard McDermott
Rupert Parrott …. Robert Portal
Jude Mason …. Mark Heap
Nigel …. Mark Bazeley
Hugh Pink …. Mark Umbers
Bill …. Geoffrey Whitehead
Alexander …. Adam Kotz
Leo …. Jack Langan

Written by A.S. Byatt and dramatised by John Harvey.

Producer: Mary Peate.

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 2002.


THU 14:45 Leo McKern - Just Resting (m000gwrt)
Episode 4

Actor Leo McKern - 'Rumpole of the Bailey' – reads from his memoirs: to be an Aussie in England in 1946.

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in December 1984.


THU 15:00 Sir Arthur Conan Doyle - Rodney Stone (m000gvjz)
[Repeat of broadcast at 10:00 today]


THU 16:00 Booked (b0075t3c)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:00 today]


THU 16:30 Capital Gains (b00snlx2)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:30 today]


THU 17:00 Two Doors Down (b0089m6j)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:00 today]


THU 17:30 The Break (b0b6htgg)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:30 today]


THU 18:00 Host Planet Earth (m000gvk3)
The Gemini Factor

David Holland deduces that twins may be immune to the alien influence. The Starfarer returns to Earth orbit.

‘Host Planet Earth’ is a sci-fi serial in six parts originally broadcast between July and September 1967. At that time, concerns were being raised about microbes being brought back to Earth by the American and Russian space programmes. Set in England, the British space programme is eager to compete and has gained an advantage with the invention of a propulsion system that enables exploration of distant regions of the universe within weeks instead of years

The danger of invading – or invasive - alien species is only being realised very slowly, following some bizarre and seemingly unconnected events. Has that realisation come too late?

CAST:

Nat Blakey …. Nigel Anthony
Professor Ormskirk …. Clive Morton
Rathbone …. Timothy Bateson
Police Sergeant …. Antony Viccars
Claire Stuart …. Brenda Bruce
David Holland …. Alexander John
Police Superintendent …. Duncan Carse
Doctor Harries …. Carleton Hobbs
Chris Johnson …. Tommy Eytle
Peter Johnson …. Bari Jonson
Technician …. Preston Lockwood

Written by Colin Cooper and Anne Howell.

Music and FX by the Radiophonic Workshop.

Producer: Nesta Pain.

First broadcast on the BBC Light Programme in 1967.


THU 18:30 Great Lives (b019rpw0)
Series 26

Vera Brittain

The writer and pacifist Vera Brittain is discussed by her daughter Baroness Shirley Williams and Dr Clare Gerada, Chair of the Royal College of GPs.

Vera Brittain's life was shaped by the grief that followed the loss of her fiance, her brother and two good friends. She candidly conveyed the toll of the First World War on her generation in the best-selling 1933 book, Testament of Youth.

Matthew Parris chairs an insightful exploration of what it was like to be brought up by Vera a mother who was, for many reasons, simply unavailable to the young Shirley Williams.

Vera was a teenage feminist desperate for an education. But she turned her back on her studies at Oxford in 1914 because she felt compelled to serve as a nurse, wanting to join her brother and his friends in the trenches.

Shirley Williams explains that as a result of her experiences, Vera became a committed pacifist, at a time when it was deeply unpopular to do so.

Dr Clare Gerada nominates a fascinating life while paying tribute to two women - mother and daughter - who she believes have made the 21st century a better place for women to live.

Produced by Mark Smalley.

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 2012.


THU 19:00 Frankie Howerd (b007jmtr)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:00 today]


THU 19:30 I'm Sorry, I'll Read That Again (b0092s7l)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:30 today]


THU 20:00 Stand By For West (m000gvjw)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:00 today]


THU 20:30 What's Funny about Money? (b04vxv1c)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:30 today]


THU 21:00 Shorts (b06z1zfg)
[Repeat of broadcast at 11:00 today]


THU 21:15 Drama (b062kfmg)
[Repeat of broadcast at 11:15 today]


THU 22:00 The Break (b0b6htgg)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:30 today]


THU 22:30 Newsjack (m000gvk5)
Newsjack Unplugged, Series 5

Episode 2

Newsjack's plucky younger sibling where each week, Eshaan Akbar transforms the news into sketches and one-liners with the help of the Great British public.

Produced by Gwyn Rhys Davies. A BBC Studios Production


THU 22:45 Quando, Quando, Quando (b007ym3m)
The Nits

The Quando brothers' hair salon is inundated with children wanting their haircut before the start of the school-term.

But one of them is accompanied by nits and the result is itchy mayhem...

Brothers Rene, Carlo and Charlie Quando chop, snip and crimp their lucky clients into shape at London's finest hair salon.

Six-part comedy written and performed by Rainer Hersch and Mark Maie. With Stephen Greif and Catherine Tate.

Producer: Claire Jones

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in November 1999.


THU 23:00 Elvenquest (b00k9d80)
Series 1

Episode 5

The Oracle enlightens in the quest for the Sword of Asnagar. Fantasy comedy starring Darren Boyd and Dave Lamb. From May 2009.


THU 23:30 The Young Postmen (b00xjv0s)
Everest (The Mountain)

Fearing the sack, Derek goes mountaineering to prove he's employable. Stars Ben Miller and John Thompson. From December 1992.



FRIDAY 03 APRIL 2020

FRI 00:00 Host Planet Earth (m000gvk3)
[Repeat of broadcast at 18:00 on Thursday]


FRI 00:30 Great Lives (b019rpw0)
[Repeat of broadcast at 18:30 on Thursday]


FRI 01:00 Stand By For West (m000gvjw)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:00 on Thursday]


FRI 01:30 What's Funny about Money? (b04vxv1c)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:30 on Thursday]


FRI 02:00 Short Works (m000gvk1)
[Repeat of broadcast at 14:00 on Thursday]


FRI 02:15 All in a Chord (b088973x)
[Repeat of broadcast at 14:15 on Thursday]


FRI 02:30 AS Byatt - The Frederica Quartet (b007jspg)
[Repeat of broadcast at 14:30 on Thursday]


FRI 02:45 Leo McKern - Just Resting (m000gwrt)
[Repeat of broadcast at 14:45 on Thursday]


FRI 03:00 Sir Arthur Conan Doyle - Rodney Stone (m000gvjz)
[Repeat of broadcast at 10:00 on Thursday]


FRI 04:00 Booked (b0075t3c)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:00 on Thursday]


FRI 04:30 Capital Gains (b00snlx2)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:30 on Thursday]


FRI 05:00 Two Doors Down (b0089m6j)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:00 on Thursday]


FRI 05:30 The Break (b0b6htgg)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:30 on Thursday]


FRI 06:00 Stand By For West (m000gw78)
Inspector West at Home

A Date with Justice

Roger West follows several lines of enquiry to find the crooked copper and close this case.

Chief Inspector Roger West is the creation of John Creasey, who authored more than 40 Roger West novels between 1942 and 1973.

Much like Paul Temple, West - “Scotland Yard’s youngest, smartest chief inspector” - has a long-suffering wife who also gets involved with the action. A total of six novels were adapted for radio by Maurice Travers.

Chief Inspector Roger West… Patrick Allen
Janet West… Sarah Lawson
Mark Lessing…Edward De Souza
Assistant Commissioner Sir Guy Chatsworth… Maurice Hedley
Superintendent Abbott… Grant Taylor
Inspector Bob Cornish… Frederick Treves
Mrs Fleming…Margaret Robertson
Raymond Fleming… Frederick Jaeger

Producer: John Fawcett Wilson

First broadcast on BBC Radio 2 in 1968.


FRI 06:30 Paddling With Peter Duck (b012wzfl)
Arthur Ransome is best known for writing the 'Swallows and Amazons' series of children's books. These tell of school-holiday adventures of children, mostly in the Lake District and the Norfolk Broads. Nearly all of Ransome's books involve sailing, a reflection of his own passion for boats, which he spent his lifetime owning and enjoying.

Ransome owned many boats during his lifetime, and in this programme John McCarthy, a keen sailor himself, goes to see many of them, gradually piecing together a picture of the writer, through the boats he owned.
Nancy Blackett is featured in 'We Didn't Mean to Go to Sea', as the Goblin, the boat in which four children sail across the North Sea to Holland. Ransome sailed the course himself in Nancy, and worked on the book aboard her, while living near Pin Mill on the River Orwell in Suffolk.

Recently rescued and restored, Nancy Blackett is now preserved and maintained and sailed regularly by its owners. Nancy Blackett was Arthur Ransome's favourite amongst the cruising yachts he owned during his lifetime. He named her after his favourite character, the adventurous, irrepressible leader of the Amazon Pirates who first appears in 'Swallows and Amazons'.

Ransome's dinghy Coch-y-Bonddhu was his favourite for sailing around the Walton Backwaters, just a few miles fom his home on the Orwell. He used to anchor up to work and it was here in Coch-y-Bonddhu that he wrote 'Secret Water'. The boat appears as 'Scarab' in the books. John also visits Ragged Robin, formerly named Lottie Blossom, and Peter Duck.

As John McCarthy travels around the UK visiting and sailing in Ransome's boats, he also encounters Mavis, which was the model for the Amazon and Esperance, a steam launch and a likely model for 'Captain Flint's Houseboat'.

Producer: Kevin Dawson
A Whistledown Production for BBC Radio 4


FRI 07:00 Bad Salsa (b04bn088)
Series 1

The Shorefest Redemption

After treatment for Ovarian and breast cancer Chippy, is mad, Jill is sad and Terri is definitely dangerous to know! The road back after cancer treatment can be tricky and full of obstacles.

In 'Bad Salsa', two middle aged women and their younger friend seek to regain their zest for life and love by learning to dance at Bad Salsa, the club where everyone knows your name but no-one knows your prognosis!

Depictions of people with cancer on TV and radio too often follow a standard format; there is the diagnosis, the depression the chemo, then the false recovery followed by the tragic death.

Bad Salsa tries to paint a picture at once more hopeful and more in line with survival rates which have improved immensely over the past 20 years.

For many, 'living with cancer' is now their day to day challenge. The characters in the series have finished their treatment and are in the process of finding their way back to normal life or at least finding a "new normal." As in the real world, the challenges of everyday life go on for our characters; like us they have boring marriages, distracting crushes, troublesome children, difficult workmates and infuriating parents, but unlike us their brush with mortality has given them a new perspective.

The fun and excitement of the series is in watching them decide to preserve the pre-cancer status quo or in Terri's words, to say "sod it all" and "go for it!"

Follow the women as they embrace the world of salsa whilst they adjust to life after cancer.


FRI 07:30 Reluctant Persuaders (m000118z)
Series 3

Holidays Are Coming

It’s Christmas Eve, and Joe Starling (Mathew Baynton) sits alone in his favourite bar telling the barman (Mark Evans) his troubles. He’s quit his job at Hardacre’s advertising agency.

A few hours earlier on Christmas Eve and Hardacre’s are having a party. Rupert Hardacre (Nigel Havers) has pulled out all the stops to celebrate the agency’s most successful year ever. By creating a wildly popular TV ad for Walton’s department store, Hardacre’s have reached the Promised Land - the reputation of the agency is restored and their future is secured. And it’s all thanks to Joe.

Joe, Hardacre, Amanda (Josie Lawrence), and Teddy (Rasmus Hardiker) gather to celebrate their achievement, get drunk, sing some karaoke and ring in Christmas. For once, everything at Hardacre’s has gone right and everyone is happy.

So how has Joe ended up in that bar?

Cast:
Hardacre.............................................Nigel Havers
Joe.........................................................Mathew Baynton
Amanda...............................................Josie Lawrence
Teddy...................................................Rasmus Hardiker
Narrator..............................................Victoria Rigby
Bartender...........................................Mark Evans
Christmas Ad Voice Over.............Gordon Kennedy

An Absolutely production for BBC Radio 4


FRI 08:00 The Men from the Ministry (b00xn6sw)
Strictly for the Birds

The feather-brained civil servants get in a flap.

A weekly tribute to all those who work in government offices and to all the others who spend their days there as well.
Stars Wilfrid Hyde White and Richard Murdoch.

With Norma Ronald, Roy Dotrice, Diana Olsson, Percy Edwards and John Graham.

Written and produced by Edward Taylor.

'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.

First broadcast on the BBC Light Programme in November 1962.


FRI 08:30 The Marx Brothers' Flywheel, Shyster and Flywheel (b00f9y6d)
Series 3

Episode 1

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

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

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

With Lorelei King, Graham Hoadly and Dick Vosburgh.

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

Music arranged and conducted by David Firman.

Producer: Dirk Maggs

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in July 1992.


FRI 09:00 Funny You Should Ask (b0b7hfpc)
From 17/03/1981

Peter Jones hosts the entertainment quiz about comedy as he tests a panel of experts: : Leslie Phillips, Ben Travers and Ray Cooney.

Funny You Should Ask ran for 8 series from 1976 to 1982.

Questions compiled by Michael Pointon.

Producer: Paul Mayhew-Archer.

First broadcast on BBC Radio 2 in March 1981.


FRI 09:30 The Adventures of John and Tony (b009m38r)
The Quest for the Holy Spectacles

John discovers that Jesus wore glasses, but whatever happened to them? And John and Tony travel to Glastonbury and Loch Ness.

Another comic journey in which John and his best friend Tony search for happiness, love, the meaning of life ... and glasses.

Written by John Hegley

Starring John Hegley, Simon Munnery, Terry Malloy, Sunny Ormonde and John Korne.

Original music by Nigel Piper.

Director: Anne Edyvean

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in September 1999.


FRI 10:00 David Stafford - The Funny Side of Love (b093p3th)
Back from Oz, June reunites for a soggy summer season comeback with 1960s song partners, Gary and Charlie. Will it be hell or harmonies?

David Stafford 's wry comedy about showbiz, eternal triangles and the Eurovision Song Contest.

Starring Deborah Findlay and Neil McCaul as June and Gary Knight, Stephen Ley as Charlie, Geoffrey Durham as Jelly, Jill Graham as Donna, John Webb as Damien, Oona Beeson as Kayla, Trevor Allan Davies as Janusc and Steve Hodson as Comic/Attendant.

The boys in the band: Trevor Allan Davies (piano). Bobby Worth (drums) and David Stafford (bass guitar)

Producer: Marilyn Imrie

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 1993


FRI 11:00 Podcast Radio Hour (m000gw7b)
Presenters recommend their favourite podcasts and speak to the people who make them.


FRI 12:00 The Men from the Ministry (b00xn6sw)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:00 today]


FRI 12:30 The Marx Brothers' Flywheel, Shyster and Flywheel (b00f9y6d)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:30 today]


FRI 13:00 Stand By For West (m000gw78)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:00 today]


FRI 13:30 Paddling With Peter Duck (b012wzfl)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:30 today]


FRI 14:00 Short Works (m000gw7d)
CG Menon - Subjunctive Moods

Clay For Bones

Subjunctive Moods
Five tales of loss, love and betrayal from the collection by C.G. Menon.

5. Clay For Bones
A woman waits outside a hospital for the second scan on her unborn child, ac-companied by her long-dead grandmother, whom she never met.

CG Menon has won the Bare Fiction Prize, the Leicester Writes Prize, The Short Story Award, the Asian Writer Prize, The TBL Short Story Award and the Winchester Writers Festival award. Subjunctive Moods, her debut collection of short stories, was published in 2018. Her first novel, Fragile Monsters, will be published in 2021.

Read by Chetna Pandya.

PRODUCER: Jeremy Osborne
A Sweet Talk Production


FRI 14:15 All in a Chord (b088974y)
Terry Riley: In C

Ivan Hewett examines the chord of C major as found in Terry Riley's In C to test the idea that harmony is a reflection of history. He's joined by musicologist Pwyll ap Sion and pianist Joanna MacGregor.

Music is never created in isolation - it's conceived in relation to what's going on around a composer in terms of personal and historical events, new technologies, new ideas and artistic endeavours in other fields. In this series, Ivan Hewett is looking at five very different chords which amply demonstrate the concept that harmony is a reflection of history.

Each programme is a bite size portion of rich musical and historical investigation - and each chord has had far reaching influence on other music and is emblematic of its era.

In 1964, the Californian composer Terry Riley wrote a piece which changed the face of classical music - and it was entirely based on the chord of C major. The piece is called In C and its composition is said to mark the beginning of the Minimalist movement in music. After the complexity of the other chords in this series, this final episode explores how In C reflects the era in which it was written and, in particular, how employing the seemingly simple chord of C major was so appropriate for its time.

Ivan Hewett is a writer on music for the Daily Telegraph, broadcaster on BBC Radio 3, and teacher at the Royal College of Music.

Producer: Rosie Boulton
A Monty Funk production for BBC Radio 4.


FRI 14:30 AS Byatt - The Frederica Quartet (b007jsps)
Babel Tower, Part 5/8

Frederica visits the doctor and makes a major decision. Daniel learns the identity of his mystery caller.

CAST:

Frederica …. Indira Varma
Thomas Poole …. Gerard McDermott
Winifred …. Barbara Flynn
Daniel …. Shaun Dooley
Nigel …. Mark Bazeley
Bill …. Geoffrey Whitehead
Mary …. Ruby Williams
Leo …. Jack Langan
Jude Mason …. Mark Heap
Begbie …. Ben Onwukwe

Written by A.S. Byatt and dramatised by John Harvey.

Producer: Mary Peate.

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 2002.


FRI 14:45 Leo McKern - Just Resting (m000gwrz)
Episode 5

Actor Leo McKern - 'Rumpole of the Bailey' – reads from his memoirs: early acting life as an Aussie in England.

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in December 1984.


FRI 15:00 David Stafford - The Funny Side of Love (b093p3th)
[Repeat of broadcast at 10:00 today]


FRI 16:00 Funny You Should Ask (b0b7hfpc)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:00 today]


FRI 16:30 The Adventures of John and Tony (b009m38r)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:30 today]


FRI 17:00 Bad Salsa (b04bn088)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:00 today]


FRI 17:30 Reluctant Persuaders (m000118z)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:30 today]


FRI 18:00 Host Planet Earth (m000gw7g)
The Arrival

David Holland urges the Minister of Defence to destroy the Starfarer before it can return to Earth.

‘Host Planet Earth’ is a sci-fi serial in six parts originally broadcast between July and September 1967. At that time, concerns were being raised about microbes being brought back to Earth by the American and Russian space programmes. Set in England, the British space programme is eager to compete and has gained an advantage with the invention of a propulsion system that enables exploration of distant regions of the universe within weeks instead of years

The danger of invading – or invasive - alien species is only being realised very slowly, following some bizarre and seemingly unconnected events. Has that realisation come too late?

CAST:

Claire Stuart …. Brenda Bruce
Minister of Defence …. Rolf Lefebvre
Professor Ormskirk …. Clive Morton
David Holland …. Alexander John
Rathbone …. Timothy Bateson
First Woman …. Beth Boyd
Nat Blakey …. Nigel Anthony
Police Inspector …. Preston Lockwood
Commentator …. Audrey Russell
Doctor/Commissionaire …. Ronald Herdman
Second Woman …. Betty Hardy

Written by Colin Cooper and Anne Howell.

Music and FX by the Radiophonic Workshop.

Producer: Nesta Pain.

First broadcast on the BBC Light Programme in 1967.


FRI 18:30 Off the Page (b0076tmn)
Common as Muck

Matthew Parris talks class, brass and manure with commoners Geoff Dyer, Michael Collins and Ian Duhig. From 2005.


FRI 19:00 The Men from the Ministry (b00xn6sw)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:00 today]


FRI 19:30 The Marx Brothers' Flywheel, Shyster and Flywheel (b00f9y6d)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:30 today]


FRI 20:00 Stand By For West (m000gw78)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:00 today]


FRI 20:30 Paddling With Peter Duck (b012wzfl)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:30 today]


FRI 21:00 Podcast Radio Hour (m000gw7b)
[Repeat of broadcast at 11:00 today]


FRI 22:00 Reluctant Persuaders (m000118z)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:30 today]


FRI 22:30 Bird Island (b01jrknt)
Series 1

Episode 1

On the one hand, Ben is on the trip of a lifetime to Sub-Antarctica. On the other, he's trapped in an icy hell with one other person, a dodgy internet connection and a dictaphone. Loneliness is something of a problem. His fellow travelling scientist Graham should alleviate this, but the tragi-comic fact is, they are nerdy blokes, so they can only stumble through yet another awkward exchange. Ben experiences all the highs and lows that this beautiful, but lonely place has to offer but fails miserably to communicate this to Graham. So, Ben shares his thoughts with us in the form of an audio 'log'.

Apart from his research studying the Albatross on the Island, Ben attempts to continue normal life with an earnestness and enthusiasm which is ultimately very endearing. We're with him as chats awkwardly with Graham, telephones his mother and as he tries to form a long distance relationship with a woman through Chemistry.com. In fact, we follow Ben as everything occurs to him. We also hear the pings and whirrs of machinery, the Squawks and screeches of the birds and the vast expanse outside. Oh, and ice. Lots of ice.

Bird Island is written by Katy Wix, one half of the sketch Duo 'Anna and Katy'. Katy is a writer performer who has made appearances in 'Miranda', 'Outnumbered' and stars regularly as Daisy in 'Not Going Out'.

EPISODE ONE:

Bird Island is the story of Ben, a young scientist working in Antarctica, trying to socially adapt to the loneliness by keeping a cheery audio diary on his Dictaphone. An atmospheric 15 minute non-audience comedy. In episode 1, Ben loses his watch and logs on to a dating website.

Written by ..... Katy Wix

Produced by ..... Tilusha Ghelani.


FRI 22:45 Paperback Hell (b0076cd4)
Series 1

Disco Shoes

The first of four chapters by four authors from the bestseller charts and none of them very good. With Rebecca Front. From January 2003.


FRI 23:00 Little Britain (b007jsvm)
Series 1

Episode 1

The sketch show which takes a look at life in Britain in the new millennium - by following the lives of some less than ordinary folk.

Meet Emily Howard - who's a lady, Marjory Dawes and her fat-fighters - and is Daffyd really the only gay in the village?

It became a TV smash hit, but Matt Lucas and David Walliams' oddball comedy premiered first - on BBC radio.

Written and performed by Matt Lucas and David Walliams. With Jean Ainslie, Tom Baker, Samantha Power and Paul Putner.

Music: David Arnold.

Producer: Ashley Blaker

First broadcast as a pilot on BBC Radio 4 in August 2000.


FRI 23:30 The Maltby Collection (b00x7glw)
Series 2

Episode 2

Deputy curator Rod holds a museum press conference, and Walter hits on Susie Maltby. Stars Geoffrey Palmer. From June 2008.




LIST OF THIS WEEK'S PROGRAMMES
(Note: the times link back to the details; the pids link to the BBC page, including iPlayer)

4 at the Store 23:30 SAT (b007jqg1)

A Good Read 18:30 MON (b00nqbtk)

A Good Read 00:30 TUE (b00nqbtk)

A Guide to Woodland Birds 15:45 SUN (b00c0fb6)

A Guide to Woodland Birds 03:45 MON (b00c0fb6)

AS Byatt - The Frederica Quartet (Omnibus) 06:00 SUN (b07gry2w)

AS Byatt - The Frederica Quartet (Omnibus) 13:00 SUN (b07gry2w)

AS Byatt - The Frederica Quartet (Omnibus) 01:00 MON (b07gry2w)

AS Byatt - The Frederica Quartet 02:30 SAT (b007jsmm)

AS Byatt - The Frederica Quartet 14:30 MON (b007jsnk)

AS Byatt - The Frederica Quartet 02:30 TUE (b007jsnk)

AS Byatt - The Frederica Quartet 14:30 TUE (b007jsnw)

AS Byatt - The Frederica Quartet 02:30 WED (b007jsnw)

AS Byatt - The Frederica Quartet 14:30 WED (b007jsp4)

AS Byatt - The Frederica Quartet 02:30 THU (b007jsp4)

AS Byatt - The Frederica Quartet 14:30 THU (b007jspg)

AS Byatt - The Frederica Quartet 02:30 FRI (b007jspg)

AS Byatt - The Frederica Quartet 14:30 FRI (b007jsps)

Absent (Omnibus) 13:00 SAT (b05126qf)

Absent (Omnibus) 02:00 SUN (b05126qf)

Agatha Christie 06:00 SAT (b007jwwc)

Agatha Christie 16:00 SAT (b007jwwc)

Agatha Christie 04:00 SUN (b007jwwc)

Alice's Wunderland 22:30 WED (b03mj3hp)

All in a Chord 14:15 MON (b087ps60)

All in a Chord 02:15 TUE (b087ps60)

All in a Chord 14:15 TUE (b088972d)

All in a Chord 02:15 WED (b088972d)

All in a Chord 14:15 WED (b0889734)

All in a Chord 02:15 THU (b0889734)

All in a Chord 14:15 THU (b088973x)

All in a Chord 02:15 FRI (b088973x)

All in a Chord 14:15 FRI (b088974y)

Anna Sewell - Black Beauty 16:00 SUN (b00mdyl3)

Anna Sewell - Black Beauty 04:00 MON (b00mdyl3)

Archive on 4 08:00 SAT (b0765dy0)

Archive on 4 15:00 SAT (b0765dy0)

Are You From the Bugle? 16:30 TUE (b01jt2sc)

Are You From the Bugle? 04:30 WED (b01jt2sc)

Bad Salsa 05:00 SAT (b049y3mp)

Bad Salsa 07:00 FRI (b04bn088)

Bad Salsa 17:00 FRI (b04bn088)

Balm of Hurt Minds 11:00 TUE (b07z3jl6)

Balm of Hurt Minds 21:00 TUE (b07z3jl6)

Bangers and Mash 09:30 WED (b0075h0f)

Bangers and Mash 16:30 WED (b0075h0f)

Bangers and Mash 04:30 THU (b0075h0f)

Barry Cryer - You Won't Believe This But 02:45 SAT (b007jv0f)

Beauty of Britain 23:00 TUE (b00njwd9)

Bird Island 22:30 FRI (b01jrknt)

Bombay Jazz 06:30 MON (b0415hbd)

Bombay Jazz 13:30 MON (b0415hbd)

Bombay Jazz 20:30 MON (b0415hbd)

Bombay Jazz 01:30 TUE (b0415hbd)

Booked 09:00 THU (b0075t3c)

Booked 16:00 THU (b0075t3c)

Booked 04:00 FRI (b0075t3c)

Buy Me Up TV 23:00 SAT (b0094k0g)

Capital Gains 09:30 THU (b00snlx2)

Capital Gains 16:30 THU (b00snlx2)

Capital Gains 04:30 FRI (b00snlx2)

Chain Reaction 22:30 MON (b00gsb81)

Clare in the Community 23:00 WED (b0151xsf)

Control Group Six 09:30 MON (b00752tl)

Control Group Six 16:30 MON (b00752tl)

Control Group Six 04:30 TUE (b00752tl)

Counterpoint 09:00 WED (b00hzf58)

Counterpoint 16:00 WED (b00hzf58)

Counterpoint 04:00 THU (b00hzf58)

Dad's Army 08:30 MON (b007jqxp)

Dad's Army 12:30 MON (b007jqxp)

Dad's Army 19:30 MON (b007jqxp)

Dark, Salt, Clear: Life in a Cornish Fishing Village (Omnibus) 09:00 SUN (m000gtj9)

Dark, Salt, Clear: Life in a Cornish Fishing Village (Omnibus) 20:00 SUN (m000gtj9)

David Stafford - The Funny Side of Love 10:00 FRI (b093p3th)

David Stafford - The Funny Side of Love 15:00 FRI (b093p3th)

Desert Island Discs Revisited 10:15 SUN (b0b0552n)

Desert Island Discs Revisited 21:15 SUN (b0b0552n)

Double Income, No Kids Yet 07:00 MON (b00cd4qp)

Double Income, No Kids Yet 17:00 MON (b00cd4qp)

Double Income, No Kids Yet 05:00 TUE (b00cd4qp)

Drama 11:15 TUE (b062jy8y)

Drama 21:15 TUE (b062jy8y)

Drama 11:15 THU (b062kfmg)

Drama 21:15 THU (b062kfmg)

Elvenquest 23:00 THU (b00k9d80)

Fabulous 23:30 SUN (m000gtjm)

Fay Weldon - Web Central 18:45 SUN (b09hwr3b)

Fay Weldon - Web Central 00:45 MON (b09hwr3b)

Fighting The Power of Pink 06:30 TUE (b010y39d)

Fighting The Power of Pink 13:30 TUE (b010y39d)

Fighting The Power of Pink 20:30 TUE (b010y39d)

Fighting The Power of Pink 01:30 WED (b010y39d)

Frankie Howerd 12:30 SAT (m000gmk7)

Frankie Howerd 08:00 THU (b007jmtr)

Frankie Howerd 12:00 THU (b007jmtr)

Frankie Howerd 19:00 THU (b007jmtr)

Funny You Should Ask 04:00 SAT (b0b6q46w)

Funny You Should Ask 09:00 FRI (b0b7hfpc)

Funny You Should Ask 16:00 FRI (b0b7hfpc)

Fyodor Dostoevsky - The Idiot 03:00 SAT (b00srvkn)

Great Lives 18:30 THU (b019rpw0)

Great Lives 00:30 FRI (b019rpw0)

HR 07:00 TUE (b00tg1c3)

HR 17:00 TUE (b00tg1c3)

HR 05:00 WED (b00tg1c3)

Hancock's Half Hour 08:00 WED (b007jrry)

Hancock's Half Hour 12:00 WED (b007jrry)

Hancock's Half Hour 19:00 WED (b007jrry)

Hilary Mantel - The Mirror and the Light (Omnibus) 14:30 SUN (m000gtjc)

Hilary Mantel - The Mirror and the Light (Omnibus) 02:30 MON (m000gtjc)

Hoax! 09:00 SAT (b08l65dp)

Hoax! 19:00 SAT (b08l65dp)

Home to Roost 08:00 SUN (m000gtj7)

Home to Roost 12:00 SUN (m000gtj7)

Host Planet Earth 18:00 MON (m000gtl0)

Host Planet Earth 00:00 TUE (m000gtl0)

Host Planet Earth 18:00 TUE (m000gtxc)

Host Planet Earth 00:00 WED (m000gtxc)

Host Planet Earth 18:00 WED (m000gvkz)

Host Planet Earth 00:00 THU (m000gvkz)

Host Planet Earth 18:00 THU (m000gvk3)

Host Planet Earth 00:00 FRI (m000gvk3)

Host Planet Earth 18:00 FRI (m000gw7g)

How Tickled Am I? 18:30 WED (b007jnxs)

How Tickled Am I? 00:30 THU (b007jnxs)

Hut 33 23:30 MON (b00lv795)

I'm Sorry, I'll Read That Again 08:30 THU (b0092s7l)

I'm Sorry, I'll Read That Again 12:30 THU (b0092s7l)

I'm Sorry, I'll Read That Again 19:30 THU (b0092s7l)

Inheritance Tracks 14:10 SAT (m000gt1g)

Inheritance Tracks 03:10 SUN (m000gt1g)

Jerome K Jerome - Three Men in a Boat 08:30 SUN (b01c6h6v)

Jerome K Jerome - Three Men in a Boat 12:30 SUN (b01c6h6v)

Jest a Minute 16:00 TUE (b0170c50)

Jest a Minute 04:00 WED (b0170c50)

Jim Morrison's Will to be Weird 11:00 WED (m000gvkt)

Jim Morrison's Will to be Weird 21:00 WED (m000gvkt)

Legal, Decent, Honest and Truthful 08:00 MON (b007jv5j)

Legal, Decent, Honest and Truthful 12:00 MON (b007jv5j)

Legal, Decent, Honest and Truthful 19:00 MON (b007jv5j)

Lenin of the Rovers 09:30 TUE (b007jwg9)

Leo McKern - Just Resting 14:45 MON (m000gtkx)

Leo McKern - Just Resting 02:45 TUE (m000gtkx)

Leo McKern - Just Resting 14:45 TUE (m000gtx9)

Leo McKern - Just Resting 02:45 WED (m000gtx9)

Leo McKern - Just Resting 14:45 WED (m000gwrw)

Leo McKern - Just Resting 02:45 THU (m000gwrw)

Leo McKern - Just Resting 14:45 THU (m000gwrt)

Leo McKern - Just Resting 02:45 FRI (m000gwrt)

Leo McKern - Just Resting 14:45 FRI (m000gwrz)

Listomania 12:00 SAT (b0b1xqns)

Little Britain 23:00 FRI (b007jsvm)

Mark Watson Talks a Bit About Life 07:30 WED (m000gmgh)

Mark Watson Talks a Bit About Life 17:30 WED (m000gmgh)

Mark Watson Talks a Bit About Life 22:00 WED (m000gmgh)

Mark Watson Talks a Bit About Life 05:30 THU (m000gmgh)

Natalie Haynes Stands Up for the Classics 07:30 SUN (b0785rmr)

Natalie Haynes Stands Up for the Classics 17:30 SUN (b0785rmr)

Natalie Haynes Stands Up for the Classics 22:00 SUN (b0785rmr)

Natalie Haynes Stands Up for the Classics 05:30 MON (b0785rmr)

Newsjack 22:30 THU (m000gvk5)

Off the Page 00:30 SAT (b0076tj9)

Off the Page 18:30 FRI (b0076tmn)

Paddling With Peter Duck 06:30 FRI (b012wzfl)

Paddling With Peter Duck 13:30 FRI (b012wzfl)

Paddling With Peter Duck 20:30 FRI (b012wzfl)

Pam Ayres' Open Road 14:15 SAT (b007kfmk)

Pam Ayres' Open Road 03:15 SUN (b007kfmk)

Paperback Hell 22:45 FRI (b0076cd4)

Paul Sinha's Citizenship Test 22:30 SAT (b037vlck)

Podcast Radio Hour 11:00 FRI (m000gw7b)

Podcast Radio Hour 21:00 FRI (m000gw7b)

Poetry Extra 17:00 SUN (m000gtjh)

Poetry Extra 05:00 MON (m000gtjh)

Quando, Quando, Quando 22:45 THU (b007ym3m)

Recycled Radio 07:30 SAT (b05413rw)

Recycled Radio 17:30 SAT (b05413rw)

Recycled Radio 05:30 SUN (b05413rw)

Reluctant Persuaders 05:30 SAT (m0000xrp)

Reluctant Persuaders 07:30 FRI (m000118z)

Reluctant Persuaders 17:30 FRI (m000118z)

Reluctant Persuaders 22:00 FRI (m000118z)

Round the Horne 08:30 TUE (b007tm45)

Round the Horne 12:30 TUE (b007tm45)

Round the Horne 19:30 TUE (b007tm45)

Sheridan Le Fanu - Carmilla 18:00 SUN (b016q2l5)

Sheridan Le Fanu - Carmilla 00:00 MON (b016q2l5)

Short Works 14:00 MON (m000gtkt)

Short Works 02:00 TUE (m000gtkt)

Short Works 14:00 TUE (m000gtx7)

Short Works 02:00 WED (m000gtx7)

Short Works 14:00 WED (m000gvkx)

Short Works 02:00 THU (m000gvkx)

Short Works 14:00 THU (m000gvk1)

Short Works 02:00 FRI (m000gvk1)

Short Works 14:00 FRI (m000gw7d)

Shorts 11:00 THU (b06z1zfg)

Shorts 21:00 THU (b06z1zfg)

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle - Rodney Stone 10:00 MON (m000gtkn)

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle - Rodney Stone 15:00 MON (m000gtkn)

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle - Rodney Stone 03:00 TUE (m000gtkn)

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle - Rodney Stone 10:00 TUE (m000gtx5)

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle - Rodney Stone 15:00 TUE (m000gtx5)

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle - Rodney Stone 03:00 WED (m000gtx5)

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle - Rodney Stone 10:00 WED (m000gvkr)

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle - Rodney Stone 15:00 WED (m000gvkr)

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle - Rodney Stone 03:00 THU (m000gvkr)

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle - Rodney Stone 10:00 THU (m000gvjz)

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle - Rodney Stone 15:00 THU (m000gvjz)

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle - Rodney Stone 03:00 FRI (m000gvjz)

Stand By For West 01:00 SAT (m000gn3w)

Stand By For West 06:00 MON (m000gtkj)

Stand By For West 13:00 MON (m000gtkj)

Stand By For West 20:00 MON (m000gtkj)

Stand By For West 01:00 TUE (m000gtkj)

Stand By For West 06:00 TUE (m000gtx3)

Stand By For West 13:00 TUE (m000gtx3)

Stand By For West 20:00 TUE (m000gtx3)

Stand By For West 01:00 WED (m000gtx3)

Stand By For West 06:00 WED (m000gvkk)

Stand By For West 13:00 WED (m000gvkk)

Stand By For West 20:00 WED (m000gvkk)

Stand By For West 01:00 THU (m000gvkk)

Stand By For West 06:00 THU (m000gvjw)

Stand By For West 13:00 THU (m000gvjw)

Stand By For West 20:00 THU (m000gvjw)

Stand By For West 01:00 FRI (m000gvjw)

Stand By For West 06:00 FRI (m000gw78)

Stand By For West 13:00 FRI (m000gw78)

Stand By For West 20:00 FRI (m000gw78)

Stockport, So Good They Named It Once 07:00 WED (b007jrc7)

Stockport, So Good They Named It Once 17:00 WED (b007jrc7)

Stockport, So Good They Named It Once 05:00 THU (b007jrc7)

TED Radio Hour 11:00 MON (m000gtkr)

TED Radio Hour 21:00 MON (m000gtkr)

Tales From the Mausoleum Club 08:30 WED (b007jnlh)

Tales From the Mausoleum Club 12:30 WED (b007jnlh)

Tales From the Mausoleum Club 19:30 WED (b007jnlh)

Tessa Hadley - The Past 02:00 SAT (b06b3pp5)

Thanks a Lot, Milton Jones! 07:30 MON (m000gkw2)

Thanks a Lot, Milton Jones! 17:30 MON (m000gkw2)

Thanks a Lot, Milton Jones! 22:00 MON (m000gkw2)

Thanks a Lot, Milton Jones! 05:30 TUE (m000gkw2)

The Adventures of John and Tony 04:30 SAT (b007k11n)

The Adventures of John and Tony 09:30 FRI (b009m38r)

The Adventures of John and Tony 16:30 FRI (b009m38r)

The Break 07:30 THU (b0b6htgg)

The Break 17:30 THU (b0b6htgg)

The Break 22:00 THU (b0b6htgg)

The Break 05:30 FRI (b0b6htgg)

The Comedy Club Interviews 22:55 SUN (m000gwxy)

The Comedy Club Interviews 22:55 MON (m000gyn1)

The Goon Show 08:00 TUE (b0b2r0jv)

The Goon Show 12:00 TUE (b0b2r0jv)

The Goon Show 19:00 TUE (b0b2r0jv)

The Guns of Adam Riches 23:30 TUE (b01qnrn0)

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

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy 00:00 SUN (b007jm46)

The Lee Mack Show 22:00 SAT (b00bbnvy)

The Listening Project 10:10 SUN (b06shzhh)

The Listening Project 21:10 SUN (b06shzhh)

The Lunatic Line 01:30 SAT (b012qq7x)

The Maltby Collection 23:30 FRI (b00x7glw)

The Mark Steel Solution 22:30 TUE (b007jmtg)

The Marx Brothers' Flywheel, Shyster and Flywheel 08:30 FRI (b00f9y6d)

The Marx Brothers' Flywheel, Shyster and Flywheel 12:30 FRI (b00f9y6d)

The Marx Brothers' Flywheel, Shyster and Flywheel 19:30 FRI (b00f9y6d)

The Men from the Ministry 08:00 FRI (b00xn6sw)

The Men from the Ministry 12:00 FRI (b00xn6sw)

The Men from the Ministry 19:00 FRI (b00xn6sw)

The Moth Radio Hour 11:00 SUN (b0b90m84)

The Moth Radio Hour 19:00 SUN (b0b90m84)

The Music Teacher 22:45 SUN (m000gtjk)

The Now Show 23:00 MON (m000gn6z)

The Now Show 09:00 TUE (m000gn6z)

The Price of Fear 18:30 SAT (b007jn3p)

The Price of Fear 00:30 SUN (b007jn3p)

The Robber Barons 02:15 SAT (b07z7bwf)

The Secret World 23:00 SUN (b0125n5t)

The Sofa of Time 23:30 WED (b00hy949)

The Tingle Factor 18:30 TUE (b07gbsn8)

The Tingle Factor 00:30 WED (b07gbsn8)

The Unbelievable Truth 09:00 MON (b07756bj)

The Unbelievable Truth 16:00 MON (b07756bj)

The Unbelievable Truth 04:00 TUE (b07756bj)

The Young Postmen 23:30 THU (b00xjv0s)

Time Spanner 07:30 TUE (m0001p68)

Time Spanner 17:30 TUE (m0001p68)

Time Spanner 22:00 TUE (m0001p68)

Time Spanner 05:30 WED (m0001p68)

Twenty Players 22:30 SUN (b06h97ts)

Two Doors Down 07:00 THU (b0089m6j)

Two Doors Down 17:00 THU (b0089m6j)

Two Doors Down 05:00 FRI (b0089m6j)

Uncle Mort's South Country 14:45 SAT (b007rj8j)

Uncle Mort's South Country 03:45 SUN (b007rj8j)

Wally K Daly 00:00 SAT (b007k406)

Warsaw Variations 06:30 WED (b018cg7v)

Warsaw Variations 13:30 WED (b018cg7v)

Warsaw Variations 20:30 WED (b018cg7v)

Warsaw Variations 01:30 THU (b018cg7v)

What's Funny about Money? 06:30 THU (b04vxv1c)

What's Funny about Money? 13:30 THU (b04vxv1c)

What's Funny about Money? 20:30 THU (b04vxv1c)

What's Funny about Money? 01:30 FRI (b04vxv1c)

Winifred Holtby - The Celebrity Who Failed 07:15 SUN (b01bn5wr)

Winifred Holtby - The Celebrity Who Failed 14:15 SUN (b01bn5wr)

Winifred Holtby - The Celebrity Who Failed 02:15 MON (b01bn5wr)