SATURDAY 09 OCTOBER 2021

SAT 00:00 The Spaceship II (b0091tns)
5. The End

The space crew is brought face-to-face with reality when they reach the end of the universe.

Starring James Fleet.

Conclusion of the comic sci-fi adventure by Paul Barnhill and Neil Warhurst.

Captain Gordon Taylor …. James Fleet
Stuart Jackson …. Paul Barnhill
Karen Trex …. Rosie Cavaliero
Melissa Patterson …. Emily Joyce
Clive 55 …. Neil Warhurst
Narrator …. Nicholas Boulton

Producer: Sally Avens

Made for BBC 7 and first broadcast in February 2008.


SAT 00:30 Off the Page (b012fs6p)
Neighbours

When Guy Browning decided to make a film, he roped in his entire village to help keep the costs down.

Which makes you wonder - is this the Big Society finally at work?

Also joining Dominic Arkwright to discuss the support network of neighbours, both nasty and nice, are:

Laurie Penny the writer of the Penny Red blog;

And Dr Edson Burton, who recalls when living in bedsits didn't just mean your neighbours were in the same street, but under the same roof.

Producer: Miles Warde

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in July 2011.


SAT 01:00 Sherlock Holmes (b09v66b5)
Sherlock Holmes with Carleton Hobbs - Series 2

5. The Disappearance of Lady Frances Carfax

Can the Baker Street sleuth locate a missing woman with valuable jewels?

Starring Carleton Hobbs and Norman Shelley.

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's detective tale first published in 1893.

Adapted by Michael Hardwick.

Sherlock Holmes …. Carleton Hobbs
Dr Watson …. Norman Shelley
Dr Horson …. Charles Simon
Jules Vibart …. John Hollis
Herr Dietrich …. George Morritt
Marle Devine …. Cecile Chevreau
The Hon. Philip Green …. John Humphry
Mrs Hudson …. Kathleen Helme
Peters …. Michael Turner
The Police Sergeant …. Tom Watson
The Workhouse warden …. Hugh Manning

Producer: Martyn C Webster

First broadcast on the BBC Light Programme in May 1960.


SAT 01:30 Imperial Palace (m0010935)
4. New Beginnings

From Paris to London – as changes beckon at the heart of the Imperial Palace. .

Starring Robin Ellis.

Conclusion of Arnold Bennett's novel about the 1930s goings on at the luxurious London hotel.

Dramatised by Peter Ling.

Evelyn Orcham: ....Robin Ellis
Violet Powler:....Charlotte Attenborough
Sir Henry Savott ....Derek Waring
Gracie Savott:....Colleen Prendergast
Miss Cass:....Ann Beach
M Perosi ....Michael Mears
Mr Plimsing ....Stephen Thorne
Gino Ceria ....Christopher Scott
Mrs Powler ....Di Botcher
Mr Rowbottom ....Kim Wall

Other parts played by the cast.

Director Enyd Williams

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in April 1997.


SAT 02:00 A Better Class of Person by John Osborne (b03ghjm4)
5. Don't Fence Me In

John Osborne reaches the end of his formal education, when girls and rebellion cost him dear.

Highly-acclaimed first volume of the playwright's autobiography - covering 1929 to 1956 when 'Look Back in Anger' was first performed.

Read by Peter Egan.

Abridger/ Producer: Glyn Dearman

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in December 1993.


SAT 02:15 John Reed - Ten Days That Shook the World (b097cjz9)
5. Chill Winds

Ex-Prime Minster Kerensky has joined forces with the Cossacks and is advancing on Petrograd

Meanwhile in Moscow, there is fighting in the streets with rumour is rife that the Revolution cannot survive.

John Reed's classic eye-witness account of the Russian Revolution in October 1917.

Stars Richard Laing and Kelly Burke.

Dramatised by Robin Brooks

John Reed .... Richard Laing
Louise Bryant .... Kelly Burke
Kerensky .... Ewan Bailey
Comberg .... Matthew Gravelle
Soldier .... Nicholas Murchie
Commissar .... Richard Elfyn
Saratov .... Sion Pritchard
Woman .... Sarah Ridgeway

Director: Alison Hindell

A BBC Cymru/Wales production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in October 2017.


SAT 02:30 Losing The Children (b0076qk1)
The story of the Pied Piper of Hamelin has been part of German folklore for centuries.

But who was the colourful figure who led first, the plague of rats - and then the children, away forever from the town of Hamelin?

Author and former Children's Laureate Michael Rosen visits the actual town of Hameln in Lower Saxony, exploring its medieval streets via rat-infested London, ancient German pagan ritual and the whispering silence of Eton College library.

He finally uncovers the truth behind the legend that should never again be thought of as just a fairy tale.

Producer: Lizz Pearson

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in February 2005.


SAT 03:00 Rebus (b098bpyq)
Fleshmarket Close

2. Discovery

Rebus and Clarke close in on a people-trafficking gang,

The murder of a convicted rapist is investigated, and they unravel the mystery of two skeletons in an Edinburgh pub cellar.

Conclusion of Ian Rankin's crime thriller.

Starring Ron Donachie and Gayanne Potter.

Dramatised by Chris Dolan

DI Rebus …. Ron Donachie
DS Clarke …. Gayanne Potter
Cafferty …. Gary Lewis
Storey …. Damian Lynch
DI Young …. Chris Reilly
DS Reynolds …. Robbie Jack
Mangold …. Grant O’Rourke
Caro …. Karen Bartke
Bullen …. Simon Donaldson
Ishbel …. Hannah Jarrett-Scott
Hill …. Kenny Blyth
Kate …. Laura Lovemore
Min Tan …. Siu Hun Li

Other parts played by the cast

Producer: Bruce Young

A BBC Scotland production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in October 2017.


SAT 04:00 The Food Quiz (b083j269)
Series 3

28/09/2005

Journalist and food critic, Jay Rayner puts four gastronomes through their culinary paces.

On the menu: Stephen Fry, Clarissa Dickson Wright, Henry Harris and Kimiko Barber.

Issues for digestion include - where in the world do they hold a Saffron, a Mackerel and a Pawpaw festival?

Producer: Rebecca Wells

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in September 2004.


SAT 04:30 Clare in the Community (b008fxxz)
Series 1

Glad to be Ray

The social worker gets a shock when she drops in on her secretive colleague, Ray.

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 30s, white, middle class and heterosexual, all of which are occasional causes of discomfort to her.

Clare continually struggles to control both her professional and private life

In today's Big Society there are plenty of challenges out there for an involved, caring social worker. Or even Clare.

Written by Harry Venning and David Ramsden.

Starring Sally Phillips and Alex Lowe.

Clare ...... Sally Phillips
Brian ...... Alex Lowe
Megan ...... Nina Conti
Ray ...... Richard Lumsden
Irene ...... Ellen Thomas
Helen ...... Gemma Craven
Simon ...... Andrew Wincott

With Nicholas Boulton and Stephen Hogan.

Producer Katie Tyrrell.

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in December 2004.


SAT 05:00 On the Rocks (b05v7tcj)
Series 2

Adventure

1938: Ben tries to prove to Morwenna-May that he's a man of action.

Christopher William Hill's comedy set on a remote island of the Isles of Scilly.

Even on St Martin's war seems inevitable, but the islanders have their own battles to contend with, stuck on a rock flung 27 miles out into the Atlantic with only their natural grit and gallows humour to see them through.

Frank Gunwallow ..... Joseph Kloska
Tommy Trenear ..... Stuart Fox
Ben Trenear ..... Alex Palmer
Morwenna-May ..... Alex Tregear
Pender ..... Christopher William Hill

Director: Mary Peate

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in May 2015.


SAT 05:30 Comedy from the Wilderness (m00109vz)
The Wilderness Festival in Oxfordshire was one of the few UK summer festivals to go ahead this year. Join Molly, Jack, Will, Rob and James Peak as they report back on all the fun stuff you may have missed - including Letters Live with Jordan Stephens and Amanda Abbington; Gallic miserabilist Marcel Lucont; top festival hype-man Robin Clyfan; the fabulous Missy Fatale; Queen B and the Cabaret Fatale; Tom Hodgkinson and The Idler Magazine; Sanderson Jones and Sunday Assembly’s mass lockdown wedding; and not forgetting Henry Blofeld, who is coaxed from Test Match Special retirement to join Timmy Sampson in commentating on the annual WCC Goodies v Baddies Cricket Match.

Original Music by Tollon Adkins
Edited by Andre Jacquemin.
Produced and Presented by James Peak.
An Essential Radio production for BBC Radio 4


SAT 06:00 Douglas Livingstone (m0010j1g)
Road to Lisdoonvarna

Most people who go to the match-making fair in County Clare protest that they're just there for a good time.

But things happen when hopeless romantic Maggie meets nerdy Derek...

Starring Frances Barber and James Fleet.

Written by Douglas Livingstone

Maggie .... Frances Barber
Derek .... James Fleet
Danny ..... Conleth Hill
Dad .... John Hollis
O'Brien .... Mark Lambert
Susan .... Dervla Kirwan
Fergus .... Dominic Letts
Pearce .... John Rogan
Bookie .... James Hayes
Bookie .... Stephen Tompkinson

With Sam Dale, Shay Gorman, James Greene, Deborah Berlin and Marcella Riordan

Director: Jane Morgan

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in September 1994


SAT 07:30 Great Lives (b08rq6mg)
Series 42

Iain Lee on Andy Kaufman

There were so many hoaxes in Andy Kaufman's brief career that for years his fans believed that he wasn't really dead.

Kaufman's best known as Latka Gravas in the American TV sitcom Taxi, and his life was undoubtedly weird. Performance artist, Elvis impersonator, wrestler - he's difficult to pin down.

Nominator Iain Lee believes he was a genius, while Olly Double of the University of Kent school of arts reckons Kaufman didn't really care if his audience laughed or not.

Presenter Matthew Parris draws his own conclusions about Kaufman's extraordinary life, later turned into a film starring Jim Carrey called Man on the Moon.

Produced at BBC Bristol by Miles Warde.

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in May 2017.


SAT 08:00 The Motion Show (m0007kr4)
Series 5

Episode 3

From life beginning at 50 to banning windows.

Graeme Garden hosts the comedy debating show.

With:

Bernard Ingham
Hugh Dennis
Victoria Coren
Arthur Smith

Producer: Jane Berthoud

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in July 2002.


SAT 08:30 Smelling of Roses (b00d4qky)
Series 3

Private Views

Events organiser Rosie plans a private view for an odious art dealer.

Prunella Scales stars in the return of Simon Brett's sitcom.

The trials and tribulations of Rosie Burns and her event management company, based in Brighton, where the clients are only part of the problem...

Rosie ..... Prunella Scales
Jo ..... Rebecca Callard
Bob ..... Duncan Preston
Tess ..... Annette Badland
Lindley Gore ..... Jeremy Clyde
Charlie McGunn ..... Kenny Blyth

Producer: Maria Esposito

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in July 2002.


SAT 09:00 I Did It My Way (b0092lb4)
Roy Hudd

Much-loved comedian and actor Roy Hudd talks to Peter Reed about his radio life and times.

With behind-the-scenes stories of making and starring in his hit BBC shows:

* THE NEWS HUDDLINES (06/06/79) BBC Radio 2

Poking fun at topical events and personalities, this series ran for 25 years. Roy was joined by Chris Emmett and his leading ladies Janet Brown, Alison Steadman and June Whitfield.

* THE NEWLY DISCOVERED CASEBOOK OF SHERLOCK HOLMES (16/01/1999) BBC Radio 2

Roy dons his deerstalker to investigate 'The Case of the Clockwork Fiend' with June Whitfield.

* HUDDWINKS (14/08/86) BBC Radio 2

Chris Emmett and Denise Coffey join Roy for 'Railway '86 - The Movie!': British Rail's new 'Silver Bullet' train ends up as a runaway express to Aberdeen. Sony Radio Academy Gold award-winning comedy.

* THE SCAN (29/09/1999) BBC Radio 4

Roy reveals his more dramatic side in Peter Tinniswood's drama. Compulsive talker Ernest seeks reassurance from a protective nurse. Co-starring Judy Cornwell.

Sadly Roy died aged 83 in 2020.

Producer: Mik Wilkojc

Made for BBC Radio 4 Extra - and first broadcast in March 2008.


SAT 12:00 Jest a Minute (b012h804)
Series 1

Episode 1

Rhod Gilbert hosts the panel game about the serious business of comedy.

From the Comedy Store.

With:

Justin Moorhouse
Jarred Christmas
Chris Corcoran
Jeremy Hardy

Producer: Paul Forde

First broadcast on BBC Radio Wales in August 2006.


SAT 12:30 Hancock's Half Hour (b00rzl84)
The Blood Donor: Pye's Re-recording

The Lad creates havoc in hospital.

Starring Tony Hancock

The classic TV episode of 'Hancock', 60 years after it was re-recorded for release as a vinyl LP.

Re-created before an invited audience in Pye Records London studio in October 1961.

Written by Ray Galton and Alan Simpson.

Hancock …. Tony Hancock
Nurse …. June Whitfield
Mr Johnson …. Frank Thornton
Mrs Forsythe/Second Nurse …. Annie Leake
Dr McTaggart …. Patrick Cargill
Mr Thomas …. Hugh Lloyd
Doctor in Casualty …. John Bluthal

Originally broadcast on BBC TV in June 1961

Re-recording first released on Pye Records in 1961

First broadcast on BBC 7 in June 2008.


SAT 13:00 Pieces of Britney (p09mw66w)
6. Shattered

Pandora Sykes explores of the heavy cost of having private troubles as a public figure.

In this eight-part series for BBC Radio 4, Pandora traces Britney’s incredible life: from her hardscrabble childhood in rural Louisiana, to her coronation as the inaugural pop princess of the internet, navigating an insatiable celebrity gossip complex; through to a young mother on trial by the paparazzi.

Britney is a pop culture phenomenon. Pandora looks behind that mask - and beyond Britney herself - to explore how Britney became the most Googled person in the world, for almost 7 years, and what it says, both then and now, about the entertainment industry, politics, sex and how we see women in the public eye.

Britney’s public struggles saw her placed in a conservatorship, in which she lost the right to control her finances and day to day life. Thirteen years later, and she is in court, pleading for this controversial legal arrangement to end. We will look at how Britney has been transformed from girl-next-door teen sensation to pop music’s Rapunzel, trapped in a supposedly rotten system.

Pieces of Britney mixes documentary, archive and interviews to tell Britney’s remarkable story. It also features drama, written by playwright Katie Hims, to bring Britney and her extraordinary world to life.

Pieces of Britney is a sympathetic portrayal of Britney, during a time of cultural reappraisal about how we treat women - famous, or otherwise.

Episode 6 Cast:

Britney . . . . . Samantha Dakin
Kalie . . . . . Julianna Jennings
Sam . . . . . Paul Chahidi
Jamie . . . . . Elliot Cowan
Lynne . . . . . Laurel Lefkow
Other parts were played by Joseph Ayre, Adam El Hagar and Elinor Coleman

Sound design by Peter Ringrose
Produced by Anne Isger and Sasha Yevtushenko.


SAT 13:50 The Chippendales (m0010905)
The Chippendales nightclub in downtown Los Angeles was looking for ways to attract customers on a weeknight - when they hit upon the idea of male strippers.

The male "exotic dance" night for ladies only became wildly successful and inspired imitators all over the world.

But there was a dark side to the Chippendales' story.

Lucy Burns speaks to Chippendales co-founder Bruce Nahin.

First broadcast on the BBC World Service in December 2019.


SAT 14:00 A Look Back at the Nineties (b007jqk5)
1995

Sponsoring the British Army, the impact of total European integration - and the House of Commons votes for the Honesty Act...

Recorded in 1993 - 'the comedy team look back' at the rest of 1990s yet to happen - starting with 1995.

Starring:

Brian Perkins
Kate Robbins

Special guest: Chris Barrie

A satirical review set on New Year's Eve 1999 - the Sony Gold award-winning comedy recalls the events from 1995 to 1999.

Predicted by 'Spitting Image' writers Mark Burton, John O'Farrell and Pete Sinclair.

Producer: Caroline Leddy

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in July 1993.


SAT 14:30 The Harri-Parris' Radio Show (b0662trn)
Series 1

The Visitor

Ani tries to stop cultures clashing when her boyfriend Ben meets her farming family.

Sitcom with songs by Llinos Mai about the latest goings on from West Wales' most dysfunctional farming family.

Starring:

Llinos Mai
Daniel Rochford
Rhys ap Trefor
Oli Wood
Rhian Morgan

Producer: Mark Harrison

First broadcast on BBC Radio Wales in August 2015.


SAT 15:00 Micky Flanagan: What Chance Change? (b00smngp)
1990s

Cockney comedian Micky Flanagan charts his life story during the 1990s.

This was the decade when he returned to education and became a teacher.

He chats to his parents, his sister and his school friends in interviews that shed light on the stand up comedy.

In his first radio series, Micky charts his progression from working-class Herbert to middle-class intellectual and being caught awkwardly between the two.

Told through reflective interviews, but mainly, Micky's acclaimed stand up comedy. Micky's transition from the mean streets of the East End to the leafy lanes of Dulwich is a fascinating story, with each episode focusing on a different decade of Micky's life.

Written and performed by Micky Flanagan.

Producer: Tilusha Ghelani

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in June 2010.


SAT 15:30 Brian Appleton's Unofficial Multi-Media Lecture (m001093c)
From Cliff to Dale

Disgraced Rock Musicologist and Media Studies lecturer Brian Appleton delivers a series of unique and bizarre lectures to an invited audience.

Drawing on his own bitter memories of thwarted pop stardom - he begins by charting five decades of British pop.

Written by and starring Graham Fellows.

Additional Research by Rex Brough

Producer: Dawn Ellis

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in June 2005.


SAT 15:45 The Jail Diaries of Sir Ralph Stanza (m001093g)
Prison Bard

Albie Sachs, Nelson Mandela, Jeffrey Archer... the literary penal tradition is an honourable one.

It now reaches its pinnacle with Sir Ralph Stanza, the poet dedicated to bringing culture to the masses, and gently explain it to them.

This is the first of Sir Ralph's audio diaries from his recent stint as poet-in-residence at a maximum security prison.

Written by and starring James Quinn.

One lucky inmate receives poetic tips, covering street culture, spelling and jokes about poets' names...

Sir Ralph Stanza ...James Quinn
Robo ...Jack Deam
Dean ...Neil Bell
Josh ...Theo Ant Smith
Officer ...Joan Kempson

Produced at BBC Manchester by Graham Frost

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in September 2004.


SAT 16:00 Douglas Livingstone (m0010j1g)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:00 today]


SAT 17:30 Great Lives (b08rq6mg)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:30 today]


SAT 18:00 Jenny McDade - Something of the Night (b0075bgz)
A bad dream, ley lines, the marsh mist - or simply an overactive imagination?

A schoolboy witnesses strange goings-on. But will any of the grown-ups believe his fantastic tale?

Written by Jenny McDade.

Dean Batty ...... Leonard Kirby
Inspector Andrews ...... John Challis
Adrian Knight MP ...... Geoffrey Whitehead
Hatty Fielding ...... Jane Whittenshaw

Director: Celia de Wolff

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in August 1998.


SAT 18:45 The Man and the Snake by Ambrose Bierce (m0010g5n)
Harker Brayton is relaxing on a sofa but is startled when he spots a snake staring at him.

Should he confront it..?

Robert Lang reads Ambrose Bierce's short story, first published in 1890.

Ambrose Bierce was an American Civil War soldier, wit and writer.

Producer: Maurice Leitch.

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in January 1978.


SAT 19:00 I Did It My Way (b0092lb4)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:00 today]


SAT 22:00 Alex Horne Presents The Horne Section (b01dsy7d)
Series 1

Isy Suttie

Comedian Alex Horne is joined by his own 5 piece jazz band for music and comedy.

This time they make music on the subject of 'hard water'; shine a spotlight on the troubled life of the double bassist and reveal the haunting sound of the 'ocarina'.

With guest comedian Isy Suttie who persuades Alex to sing in a duet.

Host .... Alex Horne
Trumpet/banjo .... Joe Auckland
Saxophone/clarinet ....Mark Brown
Double Bass/Bass .... Will Collier
Drums and Percussion .... Ben Reynolds
Piano/keyboard .... Joe Stilgoe
Guest performer ....Isy Suttie.

Producer: Julia McKenzie

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in March 2012.


SAT 22:30 Chain Reaction (b0717cpt)
Series 11

1. Ed Byrne interviews Al Murray

Two heavyweights of stand-up are in conversation as Ed Byrne interviews Al Murray.

Ed tackles Al on a vast array of topics from Thackeray's attitude to the Irish to the thorny issue of offence in comedy via how best to talk to McFly.

Ed Byrne is an Irish comedian and actor. His celebrated observational routines made him a leading light of the UK stand-up circuit in the mid-90s and he went on to tour internationally, playing festivals and theatres across the world.

After an early stand-up foray as a character called 'The Murderer', Al Murray created his famous Pub Landlord character in the mid-90s as part of a touring show with Harry Hill. The Pub Landlord went on to tour venues and festivals worldwide before making his own TV chat shows and sitcom. Al also presents history documentaries and stood against Nigel Farage in the 2015 UK General Election.

Chain Reaction is the long running host-less chat show where this week's interviewee becomes next week's interviewer.

Producer: Richard Morris

A BBC Radio Comedy production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in February 2016.


SAT 23:00 The Curried Goat Show (b009l70w)
Episode 4

It's Fabric Night! Plus all you never knew about flying.

Sketch-bonanza written by and starring Dan Gaster, Will Ing and Ben Silburn.

With special guest: James Fleet

Music from The Big Buzzard Boogie Band.

Producer: Maria Esposito.

First broadcast on BBC Radio 2 in January 1998.


SAT 23:30 Cowards (b00fhtm0)
Series 2

Episode 2

Meet a greedy darts player and an irritating rower. Plus a visit to a video rental shop....

More from inside the strange and happy world of the Cowards.

Sketch comedy with a comic slant on human frailties

Written by and starring:

Tom Basden
Stefan Golaszewski
Tim Key
Lloyd Woolf

Producer: Victoria Lloyd

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in November 2008.