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 BBC 4 Contact

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



SATURDAY 30 JULY 2022

SAT 19:00 The Fight for Saturday Night (b04v85k6)
Michael Grade tells a tale of television skullduggery and dirty dealings in the battle to win the Saturday night ratings crown.


SAT 20:30 Bruce Forsyth's Generation Game (m0019tn1)
Bruce Forsyth, assisted by Rosemarie Ford, sets more tasks for family couples from around Britain, with one winner going through to the conveyor belt and the chance to scoop up a host of prizes.


SAT 21:30 The Two Ronnies Sketchbook (b007cb55)
Episode 2

In a television career that has spanned 98 shows, 12 series and more than 30 years in the business, Ronnie Corbett and Ronnie Barker entertained millions with their inimitable brand of comedy - from gags, sketches and unique monologues to spectacular music numbers.

The Two Ronnies Sketchbook reunites the comedy legends in a rare opportunity to see them back together behind their famous desk giving us an invaluable insight into the backstage stories behind some of their classic moments as they reveal their own personal memories from one of the most impressive comedy catalogues in mainstream entertainment. They also make us, and each other, laugh with their observations whilst delighting the studio audience with their trademark news lines. Contemporary music guests help, as Ronnie Corbett says, 'break up our nonsense on either side'. They are joined by Alison Moyet. Great chemistry, great music and great fun.


SAT 22:30 Arena (b0074qw2)
Remember the Secret Policeman's Ball?

A celebration of the twenty-fifth anniversary of the Secret Policeman's Ball in aid of Amnesty International. Many of Britain's finest comedians, including John Cleese, Sir Bob Geldof, Alan Bennett, Jennifer Saunders, Stephen Fry, Terry Jones, Terry Gilliam, Ruby Wax, Lenny Henry, Sting, Phil Collins and Rowan Atkinson are reunited in a reflection of a period of great change in British comedy.

The film examines the event, with interviews and recollections of the original stars alongside classic comedy moments.


SAT 23:45 What We Were Watching (m000l9vc)
Summer TV Classics

Join Grace Dent on a televisual trip of a lifetime as she explores the sights, sounds and schedules of the great British summer. Grace’s epic journey covers everything that informs our attitudes to summertime, from the travel shows of the 60s and 70s, which first brought the world’s finest resorts into our living rooms, to Del and Rodney Trotter fooling about abroad and the high jinks of Hi-de-Hi!

She explores the influence that holiday camp staples like beauty contests and talent shows had on primetime programmes like Seaside Special, which attracted stars as iconic as Abba and Grace Jones. Away from the glitz and glamour, there’s a look at the notorious Notting Hill Carnival of 1976, where a celebration of colour ended in rioting that changed Britain’s race laws forever, and a trip to Ibiza in the 80s, where young Brits were discovering new ways of getting away from it all. Also abroad are the then-young cast of EastEnders, with a young Grant Mitchell showing how to hit the clubs of Spain in epic style – and of course, sun, sea and soap means a look at the show that really burned the BBC – Eldorado.


SAT 00:45 Ever Decreasing Circles (b036d6l1)
Series 2

A Married Man

Ann and Martin invite Paul and his girlfriend to dinner, but things don't go as smoothly as they'd planned.


SAT 01:15 Keeping Up Appearances (b007brs2)
Series 4

Let There Be Light

Sitcom. Hyacinth volunteers Richard to fix the church hall electrics. Richard gamely embarks on this feat, with interesting consequences...


SAT 01:45 The Cruise (m000xh71)
Break a Leg

Lead dancer Philip has had a fall, so Jack steps in from the chorus. Jane visits a medium, while Dale and Mary buy roller blades.


SAT 02:15 The Fight for Saturday Night (b04v85k6)
[Repeat of broadcast at 19:00 today]



SUNDAY 31 JULY 2022

SUN 19:00 Antiques Roadshow (m000hrfq)
Series 42

Castle Ward 2

Antiques Roadshow returns to Castle Ward in Northern Ireland, an unusual 18th-century mansion and backdrop to hit TV series Game of Thrones. Fiona Bruce delves into the story of Mary Ward, a gifted scientist, author and astronomer who lived here in the 19th century.

The team uncover some wonderful treasures, including two sculptures made out of ostrich eggs, a set of jewellery decorated with scarab beetles that survived being baked in an oven and a watch designed for astronauts to wear on the moon. Military expert Robert Tilney unearths some top secret D-Day plans, while Mark Smith comes across medals awarded to three generations of the same family, including a rare Special Boat Services medal.


SUN 20:00 BBC Proms (m0019tmd)
2022

Sir Mark Elder and the Hallé Play Puccini

Magic and mischief at the Proms as Sir Mark Elder and the Hallé Orchestra bring Dukas's much-loved The Sorcerer's Apprentice, to kick-start an evening of highly visual music.

Drama is the main event, with Puccini's opera Il Tabarro, a tale of lust, adultery and murder set on the Seine in Paris.

Amidst the mayhem, Respighi's stunning aural portrait Fountains of Rome provides a moment of calm.

Join presenter Petroc Trelawny and special guests for this feast for the senses.


SUN 21:45 BBC Proms (b07rkvp4)
2016

BBC Proms Encores: Schubert Rondo

From the 2016 BBC Proms, Martha Argerich performs Schubert's Rondo in A.


SUN 22:00 imagine... (b0366jd5)
Summer 2013

Vivian Maier: Who Took Nanny's Pictures?

The incredible story of a mysterious nanny who died in 2009 leaving behind a secret hoard - thousands of stunning photographs. Never seen in her lifetime, they were found by chance in a Chicago storage locker and auctioned off cheaply.

Now Vivian Maier has gone viral, and her magical pictures sell for thousands of dollars. Vivian was a tough street photographer, a secret poet of suburbia. In life, she was a recluse, a hoarder, spinning tall tales about her French roots. Presented by Alan Yentob, the film includes stories from those who knew her and those who revealed her astonishing work.


SUN 23:10 Great British Photography Challenge (m000x294)
Series 1

Episode 4

The photographers face three final assignments, including a wildcard challenge where they are given free rein to try and get one last extraordinary shot for their portfolios. They are also in Glencoe for a dramatic landscape challenge and, in a series finale, they must curate and mount what they hope will be a winning exhibition for the judges. Choosing a maximum of 15 images from the hundreds they’ve taken across the course of the series is a huge task in itself.

It’s all still to play for as any of the six photographers could nab the title if they impress Rankin and his fellow judges from the art and fashion world.


SUN 00:10 On Camera: Photographers at the BBC (b08jgr3w)
Drawing on the BBC's rich archive, this documentary reveals the working practices, lives and opinions of some of the greatest photographers since the 1950s. From Norman Parkinson to David Bailey, Eve Arnold to Jane Bown, Henri Cartier-Bresson to Martin Parr, for decades the BBC has drawn our attention to the creators of what has become the most ubiquitous, contemporary art form.

Pioneering BBC programmes like Arena, Monitor and Omnibus have given unique insights into the careers of photography's leading practitioners. Through a selection of fascinating clips, this programme brings into focus the key genres - fashion, portraiture, documentary and landscape - and the characters behind the camera who have helped define them.


SUN 01:10 The Cruise (m000xnyf)
Dancing with Dolphins

Classic docusoap with singer Jane McDonald. While Jack gets ready to take on injured Philip's demanding dance role, he and Michele still find time to commune with a school of dolphins in Mexico.


SUN 01:40 Handmade in the Pacific (b0bjj2r8)
Series 1

Yidaki

In Arnhem Land in the remote tropical north of Australia, the Gurruwiwi family of the Yolngu Aboriginal people, reveal the world of the 'yidaki', a sacred instrument better known to outsiders as the didgeridoo.

Believing the yidaki can heal people, control the weather, and summon ancestral spirits, the Yolngu place great importance on the making and playing of this instrument. The yidaki is a key feature of local ceremonial life and is used to play 'songlines', the stories of ancestors that the Yolngu communicate through music and dance.

Beginning with a 'hunt' for suitable stringybark trees, the tree is then hollowed out, shaped, and given sacred ceremonial paintings with ochres. The film culminates in a 'bunggul', a ceremonial dance where the yidaki is given its first outing.

Many of the beliefs expressed by the Gurruwiwi family have remained unchanged for tens of thousands of years. Yet, the modern world has definitely arrived.


SUN 02:10 Charles I: Killing a King (m000cf0z)
Series 1

Episode 3

On 23 January 1649, the third day of the king’s trial, Charles continues to publicly dispute the High Court’s legitimacy. There is no choice other than to move forward and enforce the charge against him. After two days of hearing witness testimonies concerning the king’s presence in battle, the evidence against him is overwhelming.

On 27 January, the king walks into the courtroom for the final time. He has come prepared to compromise, but it is too late for that now. John Bradshaw delivers an epic oration. He draws on constitutional history, including Magna Carta, and accuses the king of breaking his oath. Bradshaw states that the king was appointed by the people and it is the people who can remove him from power. ‘Farewell, sovereignty.'

Sentence is passed - Charles will be executed. Utterly beguiled, the king is removed from the courtroom, and over the next three days he prepares for death. Although the verdict has been delivered, Parliament’s cause is still fragile. Charles’s son, Prince Charles, is in The Hague mustering support for the crown. Invasion plans are already underway, and the clock is ticking, Parliament must get the king to the scaffold and put an end to the monarchy they believe has torn the country apart.

Despite the king’s strength, determination and vigour in the courtroom, he begins to accept his fate and spends most of his time in prayer. He says an emotional goodbye to his two children who remain in England, Elizabeth and Henry. Their likeness from this time is captured in an exquisite portrait miniature. Princess Elizabeth never recovered from the trauma of parting with her father. She records an account of their last, devastating moments together.

As the king gathers his affairs and his state of mind, the death warrant is hurriedly drawn up and signatories - some say under duress from Cromwell - are gathered. Cromwell’s determination comes from his belief that he is enacting God’s will and delivering justice for the people who suffered at the hands of the feckless King. His mind is set. The execution must be carried out.

On a freezing morning on Saturday 30 January 1649, Charles I wakes up at 5am and puts on two thick shirts to offer him some protection from the blistering cold. Determined not to appear afraid, he must not shiver. As the king prepares for death, Parliament are appalled to discover there is no act that prevents succession. In haste they pass the act as a legal emergency.

Finally, shortly before 2pm, the king is led through Banqueting House. He may have looked up at the Rubens ceiling that depicts his father ascending to the side of God as is his divine right. He makes his way through a window and onto the scaffold to deliver his final speech to the people, now inked into the pages of history. Lying down at the low block, he says ‘Wait for the sign’ before he stretches his arms aside and his head is struck off.

People flock to the scaffold to dip their rags and kerchiefs in the blood of the king. Hair is cut from his severed head, to be preserved as relics, and the little pearl earring that delicately hung from his ear is carefully removed and remains preserved to this day.

On a freezing, bleak January day, King Charles I was killed and a republic was born. But did he die as a murderer or as a martyr?



MONDAY 01 AUGUST 2022

MON 19:00 Great American Railroad Journeys (b09rhw03)
Series 3

San Francisco

Michael Portillo resumes his exhilarating tour of San Francisco to find that diversity has been at the heart of the city since the days of the gold rush, though not always harmoniously so. Following his Appleton's guide, Michael heads to Chinatown to hear of the huge contribution Chinese immigrants made to the economy, working as miners and building the transcontinental railroad. He discovers an entrepreneurial community who overcame discrimination laid down by the law, and finds that fortune favours the brave with iconic Chinese treats created in America!

Intrigued by a reference in his guidebook, Michael goes in search of lavish public baths to unpack a landmark incident in 1897 whereby an African-American sued one of the richest white men in the state. At one of the oldest private athletics clubs in America, Michael gets to grips with the sport of handball, first brought to San Francisco by Irish immigrants in the 1850s. And joining the police's Marine Unit, he heads out into the bay with a force who has been keeping the waters safe since the 1860s.


MON 19:30 Timothy Spall: Back at Sea (b0135m57)
The Luck of the Irish Sea

Untrained mariner Timothy Spall has spent a fortune on technology for his new challenge - the unpredictable Irish Sea - as he and his wife continue their mini-odyssey around Britain. From Cardiff they head west to Milford Haven at the end of the River Severn and all seems well. However, Captain Spall bungles his departure to Fishguard and ends up going nowhere at full speed due to the turning tides.

Shattered and in the dark of night, they eventually find Fishguard. They also visit Aberystwyth, a return home for his wife Shane, and then the 'discovery' of the trip so far, Porthdinllaen. Here they find the most beautiful cove they have ever seen, a beach pub and a ride in a lifeboat to see the stunning Welsh coastline in its full glory.

'Mr and Mrs Vasco de Gama' are back on their travels in this seductive and heartwarming series.


MON 20:00 Treasures of the Indus (p02qvb6j)
Pakistan Unveiled

This is the story of the Indian subcontinent told through the treasures of three very different people, places and dynasties that have shaped the modern Indian world.

All too often, Pakistan is portrayed as a country of bombs, beards and burkhas. The view of it as a monolithic Muslim state is even embodied in the name of the country, 'the Islamic Republic of Pakistan'.

Yet, as Sona Datta shows, it used to be the meeting point for many different faiths from around the world and has an intriguing multicultural past - a past about which it is to some extent in denial. It also produced some extraordinary and little-known works of art which Sona, from her work as a curator at the British Museum, explores and explains.


MON 21:00 Atlantic: The Wildest Ocean on Earth (p02wnhp6)
From Heaven to Hell

In the balmy tropical Atlantic, everything from dolphins, manatees and whale sharks to sunbathing jellyfish thrive in the Caribbean's warm, sheltered waters, fringed with coral reefs and rich mangrove forests.

But extreme heat in Africa unleashes terrifying hurricanes, causing chaos across the region.


MON 22:00 Natural World (m0007snt)
2019-2020

The Octopus in My House

A professor develops an extraordinary relationship with an octopus when he invites it to live in his home. The octopus, called Heidi, unravels puzzles, recognises individual humans and even watches TV with the family.

The episode also shows remarkable behaviour from around the world - from the day octopus, which can change colour and texture in a split second, to the coconut octopus, which carries around its own coconut shell to hide in. But most fascinating of all is seeing how Professor David Scheel and his daughter Laurel bond with an animal that has nine brains, three hearts and blue blood running through its veins.


MON 23:00 The Secret Life of Waves (b00y5jhx)
Documentary maker David Malone delves into the secrets of ocean waves. In an elegant and original film, he finds that waves are not made of water, that some waves travel sideways, and that the sound of the ocean comes not from water but from bubbles. Waves are not only beautiful but also profoundly important, and there is a surprising connection between the life cycle of waves and the life of human beings.


MON 00:00 The Cruise (m000xnz5)
Lights, Camera, Action

Classic docusoap with singer Jane McDonald. Panic sets in as the singers and dancers are given just three days to stage a musical extravaganza.


MON 00:30 Great American Railroad Journeys (b09rhw03)
[Repeat of broadcast at 19:00 today]


MON 01:00 Timothy Spall: Back at Sea (b0135m57)
[Repeat of broadcast at 19:30 today]


MON 01:30 Treasures of the Indus (p02qvb6j)
[Repeat of broadcast at 20:00 today]


MON 02:30 Atlantic: The Wildest Ocean on Earth (p02wnhp6)
[Repeat of broadcast at 21:00 today]



TUESDAY 02 AUGUST 2022

TUE 19:00 Great American Railroad Journeys (b09rhwd2)
Series 3

Berkeley to Yosemite

Michael Portillo's rail voyage continues through northern California, moving east in search of the state's greatest national treasures. To unearth the region's dangers deep underground, Michael visits the seismology department at UC Berkeley and hears the story of the catastrophic 1906 San Francisco earthquake. Experiencing the country's largest multidirectional shaking table in action, he learns how engineers today strive to prepare for the high risk of an earthquake.

Alighting at Stockton, Michael delves into California's pioneering agricultural technology and buckles up on a caterpillar tractor the likes of which revolutionised farming and construction equipment around the world. And following the advice of his Appleton's, Michael immerses himself in the sublime beauty of Yosemite National Park, learning about the committed 19th-century conservationists who campaigned for federal protection. He gets up close to the magnificent fauna and flora, attempts a rock climb and comes across a 'Buffalo Soldier' patrolling the wilderness.


TUE 19:30 Timothy Spall: Back at Sea (b013fj45)
Mad about the Buoys

Untrained mariner Timothy Spall has spent a fortune on technology for his new challenge - the unpredictable Irish Sea - as he and his wife continue their mini-odyssey around Britain.

Entering Liverpool means navigating their first big city since leaving London, but reaching dry land can be daunting in a small boat when dodging tankers and ferries. It's even more difficult when the coastguard sends him round in circles because he's on the wrong side of the marker buoys.

On his way to Glasson Dock in Lancashire, Tim is tricked again by another buoy. Misunderstanding his sea chart results in an unplanned dropped anchor in the middle of the Irish Sea, where they have to wait all night before he can enter the port.

Their next destination finds them in the company of royalty - Piel Island near Barrow-in-Furness has the unusual honour of having its own king and queen, a tradition which goes back centuries.


TUE 20:00 Keeping Up Appearances (b007bs5r)
Series 5

Episode 1

To the vicar's dismay, Hyacinth has volunteered to befriend a small group of senior citizens on a day at the seaside. When one of them gets too friendly, she realises she has taken on more than she can handle. Who will suffer most? The pensioners, or Hyacinth, condemned to the indignity of white-knuckle funfair rides?


TUE 20:30 Ever Decreasing Circles (b036d6lp)
Series 2

Housework

Martin is left to look after the house when Ann goes into hospital. He's adamant he can cope on his own, but as it turns out, Ann was right to fret about the state of their home.


TUE 21:00 Ardal O’Hanlon: Tomb Raider (m0017b0b)
The story of an epic 1930s quest to find the origins of the earliest Irish men and women on the island of Ireland using archaeology. Ardal goes back to world-famous archaeological sites to see how Ireland had some of the most important finds in Europe at the time.

Further beneath the surface, Ardal discovers how both in Northern Ireland and what was then called the Irish Free State, archaeology was being used as an important tool for nation-building, as both states forged new identities in the wake of Partition. He unravels a forgotten time period, when a team of Americans from Harvard University, a Nazi archaeologist from Austria and a Welsh geography professor based in Belfast dug up ancient sites across the country.

Their pioneering work laid the foundation for modern archaeology in Ireland, north and south, and yet is largely a forgotten story. Through Ardal’s journey, the film rediscovers this strange 1930s tale but also ends up answering some of Ardal’s deepest questions about the Celts, and ultimately, what it means to be Irish.


TUE 22:00 Royal History’s Biggest Fibs with Lucy Worsley (m000fzsh)
Series 1

Queen Anne and the Union

Lucy Worsley explores how Queen Anne’s reputation and legacy have been marred by a sustained campaign of historical fibs. When Queen Anne came to the throne in 1702, England looked set to be dominated by France and Spain. But Anne fought bravely to help England become a leading European power. She also helped unite England and Scotland to create Great Britain.

Anne was shy and reclusive. At first, she was supported as queen by her childhood friend and ‘favourite’, Sarah Churchill. However, they increasingly clashed over personal tensions and politics.

When Sarah’s cousin Abigail Masham became a lady-in-waiting, she began to replace Sarah in the queen’s affections. In revenge, Sarah helped pen a bawdy ballad claiming Anne and Abigail performed ‘dark deeds at night’. This led to endless rumours about Anne’s sexuality that persist to this day.

In the end, Sarah was dismissed. Thirty years after Anne’s death, Sarah took further revenge by publishing a tell-all story of her time as the queen’s favourite. Her portrait of Anne, as a foolish and stubborn woman, has been taken on board by most historians. But Lucy finds it is full of fibs.

Hollywood used Sarah’s version of history to create 2019’s The Favourite, destroying Queen Anne’s reputation for a whole new generation. Lucy reveals Anne to have been a smarter, more successful queen than history has ever acknowledged.


TUE 23:00 The Stolen Maharajah: Britain's Indian Royal (b0bfnldw)
Documentary about the last Maharajah of the Punjab, Duleep Singh, who was wrenched from his mother's arms as a child in the 1840s and put into the care of an official of the British Empire. Growing up in a colonial enclave in India, the boy king abandoned his Sikh religion and signed away his ancient kingdom to the British - decisions he would come to bitterly regret. He moved as a teenager to Britain, where Queen Victoria became his godmother. The Maharajah Duleep Singh lived most of his adult life here as a supremely wealthy English country gentleman, part of the British social elite. But, in time, his relationship with Britain turned sour.

This documentary retraces the journeys of Duleep Singh and his family: from the royal palaces of the Punjab to royal palaces in Britain, to his own English country estate, Elveden in Suffolk, to bohemian Paris. The programme uses recently rediscovered letters by Singh, letters and diaries written by those whose knew him, extraordinary photographs and surviving artefacts. We interview historians to get at the motives and inner life of the Maharajah Duleep Singh as he set out to recover his Sikh heritage and turn his back on his colonial past. This is a story from the age of Empire about someone whose life was defined by those historic forces.


TUE 00:00 A Very British History (b0bty31k)
Series 1

The First Black Brummies

Poet Sue Brown looks at what life was like in the postwar years for Birmingham’s Caribbean community. Sue, whose parents came to Britain in the 50s from Jamaica, meets people who remember and experienced the hostile environment that faced many of the early migrants. She explores her home city to discover the cultural significance of local black churches, music and the rise of Rastafarianism. She also meets legendary singer Jimmy Cliff to discuss his hit song Many Rivers to Cross. Cliff and others have written about the challenges faced by many early ‘settlers’. Sue recalls how migration literally divided families, including her own, and meant people lived thousands of miles apart.


TUE 01:00 Handmade in the Pacific (b0bkyt27)
Series 1

Taupoo

Mama is one of the last traditional weavers from the South Seas island of Rurutu, French Polynesia and one of the last to make the 'taupoo', the traditional ceremonial hats woven from dried pandanus tree leaves.

Taking five weeks to make, these hats were originally introduced to the island by British missionaries in the early 1800s. Now, they're worn to church and given as wedding gifts. But the knowledge of how to make them is dying out. For each hat, 30 or more long pandanus leaves have to be cut down, spliced together, hung, dried, rolled, sorted, dyed and bleached. And that's all before the weaving actually begins. Without a template or stitches or any thread, Mama almost magically weaves the dried leaves into a hat.

Touching upon the island's Christian history, local myths and legends, and offering a unique sense of this island idyll in a moment of flux, this film is a rare visual treat and a chance to enjoy the last vestiges of an ancient tradition.


TUE 01:30 Great American Railroad Journeys (b09rhwd2)
[Repeat of broadcast at 19:00 today]


TUE 02:00 Timothy Spall: Back at Sea (b013fj45)
[Repeat of broadcast at 19:30 today]


TUE 02:30 Royal History’s Biggest Fibs with Lucy Worsley (m000fzsh)
[Repeat of broadcast at 22:00 today]



WEDNESDAY 03 AUGUST 2022

WED 19:00 Great American Railroad Journeys (b09s4dcx)
Series 3

Santa Clara to Santa Cruz

Michael Portillo's thousand-mile rail journey through California continues south toward Santa Clara in the heart of Silicon Valley and ends in the surf of Santa Cruz. In a high-tech bar, where robots wait on the customers, Michael traces the origins of modern-day search engines and social media to an institution founded by a railroad baron. At tech giant Intel, Michael glimpses the future on a test drive in an autonomous car.

At San Jose, the biggest city in the valley, Michael visits Japantown to meet members of a far eastern community who settled here peacefully during the 19th century but faced hostility during the mid-20th. He is then beaten over the head and body by youngsters a third of his age as he attempts to learn the martial art of kendo. A ride aboard the Roaring Camp and Big Trees Railroad takes Michael through groves of mammoth trees - the magnificent California Redwoods. Emerging from the forest on a second vintage railroad, Michael hits the beach and like a true beach boy, he takes to the waves - on a surfboard.


WED 19:30 Timothy Spall: Back at Sea (b013rknf)
The Bit in the Middle

Sea adventurers Timothy Spall and his wife Shane take their barge to three different countries and the Isle of Man. From Whitehaven, where Spall learns about the pirate John Paul Jones, they steam over to Douglas to visit his son, actor Rafe Spall, who is there to work on BBC Two's The Shadow Line. Next they visit a city Tim loves dearly, Belfast, and a special pub he says is 'the finest drinking establishment in the English-speaking world'. Finally, it's across to Portpatrick and Scotland, as they clock up some serious nautical mileage in their circumnavigation of the British Isles.


WED 20:00 Natural World (b05sz8q8)
2015-2016

Iceland: Land of Ice and Fire

In what turns out to be an explosive year, witness Iceland through the eyes of the animals and people that have made this wild island home.

An arctic fox family must eke out a cliff-top living, an eider farmer has his hands full playing duck dad to hundreds of new arrivals and Viking horsemen prepare to saddle up for the autumn round-up. But nature's clock is ticking, and the constant volcanic threat eventually boils over with one of Iceland's biggest eruptions in more than 200 years. This land of ice and fire will not be tamed.


WED 21:00 The Real Marigold on Tour (b09kcvrw)
Series 2

Iceland

Sheila Ferguson, Rustie Lee, Paul Nicholas and Dennis Taylor reunite and head on an adventure to the cold but beautiful country of Iceland, where they split their time between a small fishing village and the capital, Reykjavik. In Husavik, the ladies visit a senior citizens centre - much to Sheila's initial trepidation. Meanwhile, Paul and Dennis join an all-male choir and end up singing to a huge audience in a canyon. The team then reunite to head out whale watching and are moved to tears by what they see. After experiencing the peaceful, slow pace of life in Husavik, the foursome head six hours south to the capital, where the pensioners' pastimes include aqua aerobics and gymnastics. Paul tries his hand at a handstand for the first time in many, many years! Sheila goes on a date with an Icelandic man and realises that, despite usually living thousands of miles apart, they have a lot in common.


WED 22:00 The Roads to Freedom (m0019tpy)
Series 1

Episode 5

Ivich rejects Mathieu, and Boris leaves Lola. Daniel tells Marcelle that Mathieu still loves her, but Mathieu is still trying to borrow the money for an abortion.


WED 22:45 The Roads to Freedom (m0019tq0)
Series 1

Episode 6

Ivich has failed her exams, and Mathieu has failed to persuade her to stay in Paris. He has just stolen money for an abortion and given it to Marcelle.


WED 23:30 The Roads to Freedom (m0019tq2)
Series 1

Episode 7

Daniel tells Mathieu he has proposed to Marcelle. Mathieu fails to Marcelle from marrying Daniel. Meanwhile, events in Europe are moving towards a crisis.


WED 00:15 The Roads to Freedom (m0019tq4)
Series 1

Episode 8

Marcelle and Daniel are married, and Lola and Boris reconciled. Mathieu stays with Jacques and Odette, while Chamberlain and Daladier meet Hitler. Then, Mathieu is called up.


WED 01:00 The Roads to Freedom (m0019tq6)
Series 1

Episode 9

Hitler gives a provocative speech, aimed at Czechoslovakia, and mobilization continues. Ivich returns to Paris and gone to Mathieu's flat, only to find him leaving to report for duty.


WED 01:45 Natural World (b05sz8q8)
[Repeat of broadcast at 20:00 today]


WED 02:45 The Real Marigold on Tour (b09kcvrw)
[Repeat of broadcast at 21:00 today]



THURSDAY 04 AUGUST 2022

THU 19:00 Great American Railroad Journeys (b09s4gdz)
Series 3

Monterey to Santa Barbara

Steered by his late-19th-century Appleton's guidebook, Michael Portillo continues his railroad travels through southern California aboard the Coast Starlight service. In the historic port of Monterey, Michael raises the Bear Flag of the one-time Republic of California and above it, the Stars and Stripes. He discovers the city's Spanish and Mexican heritage and traces how the former fishing port described as 'stinking and decrepit' in John Steinbeck's novel Cannery Row has become a beacon for tourists. And how, in place of fish-processing canneries, there now stands a gleaming, state-of-the art aquarium, where Michael is invited to feed the fish.

Michael's next stop is Paso de Robles, where he tours the magnificent Hearst Castle, dream home of the newspaper baron William Randolph Hearst, to hear the tale of its creation. Onward to San Luis Obispo and the hills of Morro Bay and Michael joins avocado farmer Jim Shanley, amid his 4,000 avocado trees to harvest the pears and then learn how to make guacamole. Michael's last stop on this leg is outside Santa Barbara at Rancho Camulos, a former cattle ranch owned by a prominent Hispanic family and the setting for a best-selling romantic novel of the 19th century.


THU 19:30 Timothy Spall: Back at Sea (b0140vqb)
Scotch Mist

As summer comes to a close, Timothy Spall's trip around the coast of his beloved Britain reaches the halfway mark. He encounters several Scottish ports and islands, but mostly in the famous Scottish misty drizzle. Before the weather worsens he winds his way through the Scottish western islands and takes his barge Princess Matilda back to her roots by venturing up the Caledonian Canal, a short cut from the west of Scotland to the east which sets up next year's trip down the east coast and back home to London. This year Timothy and his wife Shane have travelled further than in any other of their previous six years at sea. All they need is somewhere to moor up for winter.


THU 20:00 Scene By Scene (m0019tn4)
Jane Russell

A rare interview with former Hollywood sex symbol Jane Russell. She talks about her difficult childhood as the eldest and only girl of six siblings, her film career and working with Marilyn Monroe.


THU 20:45 Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (m0019tn6)
Classic comedy musical. A transatlantic trip brings romantic problems for showgirls Lorelei and Dorothy, seeking different things from men.


THU 22:15 Some Like It Hot (m000cryx)
1929. Musicians Joe and Jerry accidentally witness the St Valentine's Day massacre. The boys decide to make a getaway by joining a jazz band heading for Florida. There's just one problem - it's an all-girl group.

A comic masterpiece from director Wilder, with memorable performances.


THU 00:10 imagine... (m001169g)
Winter 2004

Arthur Miller - Finishing the Picture

Renowned American playwright Arthur Miller discusses his life and work with Alan Yentob.


THU 01:10 Great American Railroad Journeys (b09s4gdz)
[Repeat of broadcast at 19:00 today]


THU 01:40 Timothy Spall: Back at Sea (b0140vqb)
[Repeat of broadcast at 19:30 today]


THU 02:10 Natural World (m0007snt)
[Repeat of broadcast at 22:00 on Monday]



FRIDAY 05 AUGUST 2022

FRI 19:00 Top of the Pops (m0019tp0)
Mark Franklin presents the pop chart programme, first broadcast on 29 April 1993 and featuring R.E.M., D:Ream, SWV, Dance 2 Trance, Inner Circle, Robert Plant, Sonia and George Michael.


FRI 19:30 Top of the Pops (m0019tp2)
Tony Dortie presents the pop chart programme, first broadcast on 6 May 1993 and featuring 2 Unlimited, Janet Jackson, Utah Saints, Ace of Base, Kingmaker, Elton John, and George Michael with Queen.


FRI 20:00 BBC Proms (m0019tp4)
2022

Gaming Music at the Proms

For the first time, the BBC Proms dedicates an entire concert to gaming music. Conductor Robert Ames leads the electronically enhanced Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in this specially curated programme that takes audiences on a sonic journey from 8-bit to infinity.

Nostalgia for millennials is guaranteed as the concert opens with two newly commissioned compositions that weave together 1980s and 1990s gaming music, from Chronos to Pokémon Red, as well as instantly recognisable digital sound effects.

The lush orchestral scoring of Final Fantasy VIII and Kingdom Hearts form the centre of the programme, which culminates in the European concert premiere of Hildur Guðnadóttir and Sam Slater’s experimental score for Battlefield 2042.

Game on!


FRI 21:30 Studio 17: The Lost Reggae Tapes (m00095ky)
The compelling story of the Chins - the Chinese-Jamaican family behind Studio 17 established above Randy’s Records at 17 North Parade in downtown Kingston.

Randy’s Records was founded in the late 1950s by Vincent Chin and his wife Pat, who began by selling used records in a tiny shop. As Jamaican independence approached in 1962, Vincent Chin had the inspired idea of producing a record to capitalise on the excitement of the time. He approached the popular Trinidadian singer Lord Creator and produced Independent Jamaica. Jamaica was in the mood for celebrating its independence, and the song was an instant hit. Creator then went on to record Kingston Town, which became a huge hit for UB40 in the 1980s. The success of Independent Jamaica enabled the Randy’s shop to expand and add a studio of its own, known as Studio 17.

Studio 17 was where Vincent Chin and later his son Clive Chin as well as many other legendary Jamaican producers would create new tracks. Throughout the 60s and 70s many of the world’s most famous reggae artists recorded there, including Bob Marley and the Wailers, Peter Tosh, Gregory Isaacs, Dennis Brown, John Holt, Lee 'Scratch' Perry, Horace Andy, Alton Ellis, Carl Malcolm, Jimmy London, Augustus Pablo, Ken Boothe, Delroy Wilson and many more.

Pat, who became known as Miss Pat, played the test pressings in the shop downstairs to gauge customers’ reactions, which helped her decide which tracks to release. Her instinctive decisions helped Randy’s become the major outlet for homegrown music in Jamaica.

In the late 70s, political turmoil in Jamaica prompted the Chins to leave for New York, abandoning the studio and record shop. They successfully founded VP Records, (V for Vincent, P for Pat), the world’s largest independent reggae label. Now in her 80s, Pat still lives and works in New York: an extraordinary woman who today mentors the latest risqué dancehall acts on the VP label.

When the Chin family left for New York, some 2,000 original session tapes were left behind at Studio 17. It was believed they were all lost in the flooding and looting that followed Hurricane Gilbert in 1988 that left the studio unusable.

However, as part of a major exhibition on Jamaican music at Paul Allen’s Experience Music Project in Seattle, now renamed the Museum of Pop Culture, the tapes were rediscovered and shipped to New York, where they languished for some time in a basement. Tragedy struck in 2011, when Joel Chin, son of Clive Chin and A&R for VP records, was murdered in Kingston, Jamaica. Having encouraged his father to do something with the archive for many years, Clive has finally taken on the task of carefully restoring and digitising the tapes in New York, in memory of his son.

A treasure trove of original studio tapes reveals unique and stunning recordings from the golden age of reggae, many of which were unreleased and have never been heard before. As the tapes are played, they give rise to a myriad of wonderful stories and in a highly poignant conclusion, the teenage voice of the late Dennis Brown is beautifully remixed with the vocals of rising teenage star Hollie Stephenson, who duets with the 'crown prince of reggae' to complete an unfinished Studio 17 session. Back in Jamaica, Clive Chin works with one-time Eurythmics star Dave Stewart and Hollie to create a magical blend of old and new in a contemporary production that sounds as fresh today as it did when the original was first recorded 40 years ago.

Reggae has spread to the four corners of the earth, including the UK, where it blossomed in the 1960s and went on to shape the ska movement as well as punk rockers like The Clash, all the way to pop acts like The Police and the uniquely British Lover’s Rock sound. In more recent times, experimental crews like Massive Attack have reworked the island beat in new and exciting ways, and that process continues with current UK underground sounds like drum and bass, dubstep and grime. All these musical offshoots trace their roots to the pioneering work done at Randy’s Studio 17, where Lee 'Scratch' Perry recorded his earliest albums with Bob Marley and The Wailers, and Clive Chin produced one of the world’s first dub albums with Augustus Pablo.

Shot in Jamaica, New York and London, the film includes interviews with Jimmy Cliff, Lee 'Scratch' Perry, Carl Malcolm, Dave Stewart, Sly Dunbar, Ali Campbell, Ernest Ranglin, Lord Creator, Bunny Lee, King Jammy, Jimmy London, Lester Sterling, Rico Rodriguez, Clive Chin, Pat Chin and Maxi Priest.


FRI 22:55 Toots and the Maytals: Reggae Got Soul (b00ymljb)
The untold story of one of the most influential artists ever to come out of Jamaica, Toots Hibbert, featuring intimate new performances and interviews with Toots, rare archive from throughout his career and interviews with contemporaries and admirers including Eric Clapton, Keith Richards, Jimmy Cliff, Bonnie Raitt, Willie Nelson, Marcia Griffiths and Paolo Nutini.

From his beginnings as a singer in a Jamaican church to the universally-praised, Grammy award-winning artist of today, the film tells the story of one of the true greats of music.

Toots was the first to use the word reggae on tape in his 1968 song Do the Reggay and his music has defined, popularised and refined it across six decades, with hit after hit including Pressure Drop, Sweet and Dandy, Monkey Man, Funky Kingston, Bam Bam, True Love Is Hard To Find and Reggae Got Soul.

As Island records founder Chris Blackwell says, 'The Maytals were unlike anything else... sensational, raw and dynamic'. Always instantly recognisable is Toots's powerful, soulful voice which seems to speak viscerally to the listener - 'one of the great musical gifts of our time'. His songs are at the same time stories of everyday life in Jamaica and postcards from another world.


FRI 23:55 The Old Grey Whistle Test (b00yl487)
Reggae Concert at the Edinburgh Festival

A concert specially recorded for Whistle Test from the Reggae Concert at the Edinburgh Festival, featuring the Cimarons, Winston Groovy, Dennis Alcapone, The Marvels, Nicky Thomas, and The Pioneers.


FRI 00:40 Top of the Pops (m0019tp0)
[Repeat of broadcast at 19:00 today]


FRI 01:10 Top of the Pops (m0019tp2)
[Repeat of broadcast at 19:30 today]


FRI 01:40 Studio 17: The Lost Reggae Tapes (m00095ky)
[Repeat of broadcast at 21:30 today]




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

A Very British History 00:00 TUE (b0bty31k)

Antiques Roadshow 19:00 SUN (m000hrfq)

Ardal O’Hanlon: Tomb Raider 21:00 TUE (m0017b0b)

Arena 22:30 SAT (b0074qw2)

Atlantic: The Wildest Ocean on Earth 21:00 MON (p02wnhp6)

Atlantic: The Wildest Ocean on Earth 02:30 MON (p02wnhp6)

BBC Proms 20:00 SUN (m0019tmd)

BBC Proms 21:45 SUN (b07rkvp4)

BBC Proms 20:00 FRI (m0019tp4)

Bruce Forsyth's Generation Game 20:30 SAT (m0019tn1)

Charles I: Killing a King 02:10 SUN (m000cf0z)

Ever Decreasing Circles 00:45 SAT (b036d6l1)

Ever Decreasing Circles 20:30 TUE (b036d6lp)

Gentlemen Prefer Blondes 20:45 THU (m0019tn6)

Great American Railroad Journeys 19:00 MON (b09rhw03)

Great American Railroad Journeys 00:30 MON (b09rhw03)

Great American Railroad Journeys 19:00 TUE (b09rhwd2)

Great American Railroad Journeys 01:30 TUE (b09rhwd2)

Great American Railroad Journeys 19:00 WED (b09s4dcx)

Great American Railroad Journeys 19:00 THU (b09s4gdz)

Great American Railroad Journeys 01:10 THU (b09s4gdz)

Great British Photography Challenge 23:10 SUN (m000x294)

Handmade in the Pacific 01:40 SUN (b0bjj2r8)

Handmade in the Pacific 01:00 TUE (b0bkyt27)

Keeping Up Appearances 01:15 SAT (b007brs2)

Keeping Up Appearances 20:00 TUE (b007bs5r)

Natural World 22:00 MON (m0007snt)

Natural World 20:00 WED (b05sz8q8)

Natural World 01:45 WED (b05sz8q8)

Natural World 02:10 THU (m0007snt)

On Camera: Photographers at the BBC 00:10 SUN (b08jgr3w)

Royal History’s Biggest Fibs with Lucy Worsley 22:00 TUE (m000fzsh)

Royal History’s Biggest Fibs with Lucy Worsley 02:30 TUE (m000fzsh)

Scene By Scene 20:00 THU (m0019tn4)

Some Like It Hot 22:15 THU (m000cryx)

Studio 17: The Lost Reggae Tapes 21:30 FRI (m00095ky)

Studio 17: The Lost Reggae Tapes 01:40 FRI (m00095ky)

The Cruise 01:45 SAT (m000xh71)

The Cruise 01:10 SUN (m000xnyf)

The Cruise 00:00 MON (m000xnz5)

The Fight for Saturday Night 19:00 SAT (b04v85k6)

The Fight for Saturday Night 02:15 SAT (b04v85k6)

The Old Grey Whistle Test 23:55 FRI (b00yl487)

The Real Marigold on Tour 21:00 WED (b09kcvrw)

The Real Marigold on Tour 02:45 WED (b09kcvrw)

The Roads to Freedom 22:00 WED (m0019tpy)

The Roads to Freedom 22:45 WED (m0019tq0)

The Roads to Freedom 23:30 WED (m0019tq2)

The Roads to Freedom 00:15 WED (m0019tq4)

The Roads to Freedom 01:00 WED (m0019tq6)

The Secret Life of Waves 23:00 MON (b00y5jhx)

The Stolen Maharajah: Britain's Indian Royal 23:00 TUE (b0bfnldw)

The Two Ronnies Sketchbook 21:30 SAT (b007cb55)

Timothy Spall: Back at Sea 19:30 MON (b0135m57)

Timothy Spall: Back at Sea 01:00 MON (b0135m57)

Timothy Spall: Back at Sea 19:30 TUE (b013fj45)

Timothy Spall: Back at Sea 02:00 TUE (b013fj45)

Timothy Spall: Back at Sea 19:30 WED (b013rknf)

Timothy Spall: Back at Sea 19:30 THU (b0140vqb)

Timothy Spall: Back at Sea 01:40 THU (b0140vqb)

Toots and the Maytals: Reggae Got Soul 22:55 FRI (b00ymljb)

Top of the Pops 19:00 FRI (m0019tp0)

Top of the Pops 19:30 FRI (m0019tp2)

Top of the Pops 00:40 FRI (m0019tp0)

Top of the Pops 01:10 FRI (m0019tp2)

Treasures of the Indus 20:00 MON (p02qvb6j)

Treasures of the Indus 01:30 MON (p02qvb6j)

What We Were Watching 23:45 SAT (m000l9vc)

imagine... 22:00 SUN (b0366jd5)

imagine... 00:10 THU (m001169g)