The latest national and international news from BBC Radio 4, followed by weather.
Stephanie Calman reads from her book about the perils of reaching 40. She discovers that, despite being a parent, she has an inner age of 12.
Mark Tully talks to Will Hopper, one of the authors of The Puritan Gift. Where does the Puritan work ethic come from and why has it had such a major global impact, both culturally and economically?
The latest news headlines. Including a look at the papers.
An appeal on behalf of African Initiatives. Donations: Freepost BBC Radio 4 Appeal. Credit cards: Freephone 0800 404 8144.
The latest news headlines. Including a look at the papers.
In a special feature from China, Martin Palmer visits Beijing and the ancient imperial capital of Xi'an to explore the history of Christianity in China. After years of persecution and fear, Christianity is now the country's fastest growing religion.
News and conversation about the big stories of the week with Paddy O'Connell.
Kirsty Young's castaway this week is the philosopher Professor A C Grayling. He was a child growing up in Africa when he was first drawn to philosophy because it offered, he says, a licence to study 'the whole horizon of human knowledge and endeavour'. It's a study he has undertaken seriously and practically - he has tried his hand at composing music, writing plays and painting - not because he wanted to master those skills, but to acquire a greater understanding of the talents of musicians, writers and artists.
He lives in London with his wife and young daughter and teaches at Birkbeck College, but he remains evangelical about taking philosophy out of the ivory towers and into people's homes - so that it is a practical tool to help people live lives that are engaging and fulfilling. He is motivated, he says, by the knowledge that the human life-span is fewer than a thousand months - and with our time so limited, it is incumbent upon us all to use it thoughtfully and well.
[Taken from the original programme material for this archive edition of Desert Island Discs]
Favourite track: The adagio from the Violin Concerto in D Major by Johannes Brahms
Nicholas Parsons chairs the devious word game from the Hay Festival. Panellists are Clement Freud, Gyles Brandreth, Marcus Brigstocke and Dave Gorman.
He explores the role of the public purse, which funds food in schools, hospitals, prisons and beyond. Rising prices, biofuels, and global warming have pushed food up the political agenda, with long-term sustainability now as important as cost. What part can the public purse play in reshaping our food economy, and how well is it doing?
David Frost and guests look back at some of the most memorable interviews of his career. With Joanna Lumley, Joan Bakewell, Charles Kennedy and Tim Vine.
Pippa Greenwood, Anne Swithinbank and Chris Beardshaw answer questions from members of the Emsworth Horticultural Society in Hampshire.
The series on gardening fundamentals continues with Pippa and Anne looking at the solanaceae family.
The modernist social experiment came close to being realised with the blocks of flats built in the early 1930s. From March 2008.
Ayeesha Menon's dramatisation of Orhan Pamuk's murder mystery set in Istanbul in 1590.
The Sultan brings together the most acclaimed artists in his kingdom to create a secret book of miniatures celebrating the glories of his realm. But when two of the miniaturists are murdered, panic erupts.
With the city now in the grip of religious fundamentalists and the Sultan's court a warren of rumour and paranoia, Black finds himself a suspect in the murders.
Black ...... Baris Pirhasan
Enishte ...... Korhan Abay
Shekure ...... Ece Dizdar
Esther ...... Demet Tuncer
Butterfly ...... Murat Yatman
Olive ...... Yigit Ozsener
Stork ...... Konuralp Sunal
Hasan ...... Baris Cakmak
Osman ...... Eris Akman
Tresurer ...... Umut Demirdelen
Elegant ...... Aziz Mullaaziz
Narrators ...... Ozlem Turhal, Mehmet Ergen, Engin Cezar
Other parts played by Sinan Onukar, Ben Hopkins, Duygu Yeral, Engin Cezar and Ismail Hakki Eren.
Open Book in New York; including Meg Wolitzer and Treasures of the Morgan Library
Owen Sheers presents an edition of the books programme from New York. He talks to novelist Meg Wolitzer, author of The Wife, about her latest book, and visits the Morgan Library, one of the world's richest collections of rare manuscripts.
Poet Kenneth Steven journeys through the remote and beautiful Glen Lyon in Scotland's Central Highlands. Hearing its stories and seeing its sights, he creates a series of poems interwoven with the voices and the sounds of the place, the water, the wind and the wildlife. With fiddle player and composer Pete Clark.
John Tusa looks back at the events making the news 40 years ago. A stand collapses at the National Jazz and Blues Festival in Kempton Park, injuring dozens of teenagers.
Jonathan Charles presents a profile of Efraim Zuroff, chief Nazi hunter of the Simon Wiesenthal Centre, as he travels across Europe in dedicated pursuit of former war criminals. Although most senior Nazis are now dead, Zuroff believes that there are tens of thousands of lower-ranking officers who have never been investigated and is offering large rewards for information.
The latest national and international news from BBC Radio 4, followed by Weather.
Peter White presents a selection of highlights from the past week on BBC radio.
Clarrie's popped back from Casa Nueva to make Eddie some dinner. They're worried about Will - he's so quiet. They can't bear to think what would have happened if Ed hadn't persuaded him to go home.
Later, at Casa Nueva, Clarrie tries to get Will to eat something. Will tells her he thinks he reacted so violently towards Ed because he had hopes that he and Emma might get back together. He feels he's let everyone down, and says he must go straight to see Brian to explain. Eddie calls round to see Clarrie. He and Clarrie decide it's a good thing that Will wants to get back to work.
Brian and Jennifer arrive back from Sardinia. Jennifer's full of the joys of their holiday, though Brian feels like he needs another one - Ruairi's exhausting! He can't wait to hear what's been going on at Home Farm. Adam tells them about what's happened with Will - Brian can't believe he walked out and left the birds and his dogs.
When Will calls round to apologise and explain, Brian tells him how disappointed he is. But he knows Will's a good keeper and Will promises he'll never let him down again. He'll be back at work tomorrow.
He learns about saving lives and survival, meeting some rookie lifeguards who teach him about water safety. Author Lauren St John chats about her book Dolphin Song. Natalie Barrass finds out if explorer Bear Grylls can survive in the urban jungle.
In Lynne Truss's tale, life in Richmond Park is one long laugh for Justin the parakeet, until he encounters an exotic visitor with a much darker view of the world.
Paul Gambaccini presents the award-winning series that re-visits the occasion where a classic live album was recorded.
In August 1972, Neil Diamond returned to The Greek Theatre in Los Angeles for a series of sell-out concerts. For those in the audience who'd seen him there the previous year, the change was extraordinary. The once subdued star now burst onto the stage in a blaze of smoke and light, sporting his new mane of shaggy hair and dressed to kill by Bill Whitten.
This was going to be an event: the first time a concert by a singer-songwriter was 'staged' and the first time surround-sound was used to envelop the audience in the luscious sound of strings supplementing Neil's rhythm section. Those who were there, backstage, on stage and in the audience, remember the thrill.
Matthew Bannister presents the obituary series, analysing and celebrating the life stories of people who have recently died. The programme reflects on people of distinction and interest from many walks of life, some famous and some less well known.
The Criminal Records Bureau exists solely to help protect children or vulnerable adults from workers who may pose a risk to them. But John meets some job candidates who claim to have suffered discrimination when potential employers use criminal record checks to obtain information to which they have no right of access.
Could Osama bin Laden's erstwhile comrades be responsible for bringing about the collapse of Al Qaeda? As criticism of the terrorist leader from within the ranks of the Islamist movement itself grows, BBC Security Correspondent Frank Gardner talks to former allies of Osama bin Laden who are now engaged in countering the terrorist leader's agenda.
Reports from behind the scenes at Westminster. Including Bowing out Gracefully: The Brandreth Rules for Standing Down.
Another chance to look back at the events making the news 40 years ago with John Tusa.
Sirhan Sirhan appears in court to answer charges of murdering Senator Bobby Kennedy. As crisis talks between Czechoslovakia and the Soviet Union finish, Czech people are assured reforms will continue. Following the Ronan Point disaster, Canning Town Residents Association fight attempts to rehouse victims in tower blocks. Richard Nixon wins the Republican Party's nomination for the Presidential election.
MONDAY 11 AUGUST 2008
MON 00:00 Midnight News (b00cx69n)
The latest national and international news from BBC Radio 4, followed by weather.
MON 00:15 Thinking Allowed (b00cvdzn)
Women and Gambling - Cleanliness
WOMEN AND GAMBLING
Laurie Taylor talks to Emma Casey, Senior Lecturer in the School of Social Sciences at the University of Kingston about her research findings into women’s gambling experiences and the ways in which these experiences are integrated with their everyday lives.
CLEANLINESS
Virginia Smith is the author of a new book entitled Clean: A History of Personal Hygiene and Purity. She is joined by anthropologist, Adam Kuper, to discuss her contention that our striving throughout history for personal cleanliness has brought great social benefits as well as great tragedies.
MON 00:45 Bells on Sunday (b00cwyp0)
[Repeat of broadcast at
05:43 on Sunday]
MON 00:48 Shipping Forecast (b00cx69q)
The latest shipping forecast.
MON 01:00 Selection of BBC World Service Programmes (b00cx69s)
BBC Radio 4 joins the BBC World Service.
MON 05:20 Shipping Forecast (b00cx69v)
The latest shipping forecast.
MON 05:30 News Briefing (b00cx69x)
The latest news from BBC Radio 4.
MON 05:43 Prayer for the Day (b00cx5xb)
Daily prayer and reflection with Canon Noel Battye.
MON 05:45 Farming Today (b00cx69z)
News and issues in rural Britain, with Mark Holdstock.
MON 05:57 Weather (b00cx6b1)
The latest weather forecast for farmers.
MON 06:00 Today (b00cx6b3)
Presented by Evan Davis and Edward Stourton.
Including:
Penny Wilson-Webb, chief executive of the Rarer Cancers Forum, discusses cancer treatment.
Maia Kardava of the Red Cross discusses the humanitarian problems in Georgia.
CBI Director General Richard Lambert discusses how schools can promote science more effectively.
Elliot Morley of the All Party Parliamentary Water Group and Pamela Taylor, of Water UK discuss possible rises in water prices.
Shadow Justice Secretary Nick Herbert and Sally O'Neill QC discuss proposals to tighten bail laws.
Georgi Bardidze, Georgian charge d'affaires in London, and Dmitri Peskov, a spokesman for Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, discuss the conflict in Georgia.
Rick Stein says that cookery should be classed as an art. He discusses the idea with food critic Tom Lubbock.
Tim Sampson of the Stax Museum of American Soul pays tribute to Oscar-winning American soul singer Isaac Hayes, who has died at the agde of 65.
Author Bill Bryson, current president of the Campaign for Rural England, is to present a Panorama programme about litter. He discusses his Notes on a Dirty Island.
Diplomatic correspondent Bridget Kendall and Minister for Europe Jim Murphy discuss President George Bush's reaction to the conflict between Russia and Georgia.
Matthew Syed and Simon Kuper discuss why a small number of countries dominate certain sports.
MON 09:00 Our Food, our Future (b00ct9bh)
Episode 3
Tom Heap examines the global food crisis and its impact on Britain.
For years British farmers have been encouraged and paid to look after the environment. But as grain prices soar, some farmers have decided to squeeze as much food out of their land as they can and leave the wildlife to fend for itself. In a time of food shortages, do we have a moral obligation to increase our contribution to global production, even to the detriment of British wildlife?
MON 09:30 Top of the Class (b00cx6b5)
Series 1
Lauren Child
Writer and illustrator Lauren Child is known to many parents and children for her Charlie and Lola books and Clarice Bean novels. She takes John Wilson on a tour of her own childhood in Wiltshire to meet the people and the places which have inspired her. "People never really know what they've done for you" says Lauren of her Latin teacher, Alan Clague. "When I was in Pompeii a year ago, I wanted to ring him up and thank him for his Latin classes and how much they meant to me." Twenty five years later in this programme John takes her back to her comprehensive school to meet her retired teacher.
Lauren also takes John to meet her craft teacher who taught her how to make dolls houses and shows John the first dolls house she played with when she was seven years old. The wallpaper looks slightly familiar as does much of the miniature furniture. It's these early memories and the comfortable feel of the furniture which can be seen as illustrations throughout all her books.
But she didn't succeed as a writer for many years. She drifted through art school, spent time working as an assistant for Damien Hurst during his spots period before finding her own voice as a successful children's writer.
She is accompanied in the programme by her best friend at school, now also a children's writer, Cressida Cowell, who remembers Lauren doodling on the school desks - little figures who were the beginnings of Charlie, Lola and Clarice Bean.
Producer - Sarah Taylor.
MON 09:45 Book of the Week (b00cx6fn)
Travels on the Dance Floor
Cuba Libre
Grevel Lindop reads from his account of how he took up salsa dancing, became hooked on it and embarked upon an odyssey to explore its roots.
Grevel tries salsa on a whim and is immediately entranced by its sexual charge. Without his wife, he travels to Havana. There he meets Geldys, whose influence will remain with him forever.
MON 10:00 Woman's Hour (b00cx8m9)
Beate Arnestad; The Pillow Book
Director Beate Arnestad on the devastating effects of civil war in Sri Lanka. Plus, violence against women in Australia; and Sei Shonagon's The Pillow Book discussed.
MON 11:00 It's My Story (b007x5s9)
Son of a Preacher Man
Broadcaster Darcus Howe, the son of an Anglican priest, talks to poets, comedians, actors and writers whose fathers were also in the clergy. They compare experiences about the influence of their fathers and their calling on their own lives.
MON 11:30 Baggage (b008kj7v)
Series 3
Human Doings
Comedy series by Hilary Lyon, set in Edinburgh.
Ruth jumps off the wagon when her boyfriend's past catches up with him. Caroline falls at the final adoption hurdle. Fiona tries to get everyone to just stand still.
Caroline ...... Hilary Lyon
Fiona ...... Phyllis Logan
Ruth ...... Adie Allen
Preston ...... Roger May
Miriam ...... Nicola Grier
Directed by Marilyn Imrie.
MON 12:00 You and Yours (b00cx90q)
Presented by Liz Barclay and Peter White.
Including:
Jon Douglas reports on record UK card fraud losses.
Tyneside is coming to terms with the imminent loss of its ferry link to Norway. The announcement has been met with dismay on both sides of the North Sea. Luke Walton reports.
Growth in the controversial 'sale and rent back' industry raises concerns regulation. A report by charity Shelter claims that people risk being homeless within a year of selling. With Caroline Davey from Shelter and Laura Sercombe of Shield For Life.
As water companies release their future plans to Ofwat, how will bills be affected? With Richard Aylard from Thames Water, Tony Smith from the Consumer Council for Water, and Barrie Clark from Water UK.
Ryanair chief Michael O'Leary explains how he plans to stay ahead during the economic downturn.
A Government report into the numbers of UK holidaymakers getting into trouble overseas is expected to show an increase of Brits behaving badly abroad. What role should travel reps play in improving our reputation? With Frances Tuke from ABTA.
MON 12:57 Weather (b00cx90s)
The latest weather forecast.
MON 13:00 World at One (b00cx90v)
National and international news with Shaun Ley.
MON 13:30 Round Britain Quiz (b00cx90x)
2008
Episode 7
Tom Sutcliffe chairs the latest heat of the cryptic general knowledge quiz. Wales take on the Midlands.
Questions from Programme 8
Question 1
Wales
An alien-hunter who was bright-eyed and bushy-tailed; an Updike hero with an infinitesimal name; and a woman who hires Marvin to get rid of Marvin. Could they safely be left in a room together?
Question 2
Midlands
Can you put your finger on a shakey Pacific path, a protective cordon for a City within a city, and Edward I's defence against the Welsh?
Question 3
Wales
The value of these is plain to see – as is an annual reminder of an attempted coup, and the substance that earned Maurice Wilkins his Nobel Prize. Why?
Question 4
Midlands
The linking of these three voices may as well have been pre-ordained. Why?
Question 5 – listener question from Ian Oxley in Audlem
Wales
How, in three similar words, can you follow a Welsh path from a Shropshire landmark, and end up – poetically speaking – in the clouds?
Question 6 – listener question from Alan Poulton via email
Midlands
How might Hannay’s first outing, followed by a period of temptation, lead you to one of the giant planets and finally to Broadway?
Question 7
Wales
1989’s could be found on antlers, while 2004’s was a hesperidium and 2000’s ran on caterpillars. Why were they revolting?
Question 8
Midlands
Who are the following. Helen Huntingdon, Thomas Farriner (twice), an Enterprising medic, and the designer of the White Wardrobe.
MON 14:00 The Archers (b00cx2d2)
[Repeat of broadcast at
19:00 on Sunday]
MON 14:15 Drama (b00cxbdh)
Two-Pipe Problems
A Streetcar Named Revenge
Plays by Michael Chaplin, set in The Old Beeches, a retirement home for elderly thespians. Inmates William and Sandy still nurse a certain affectionate animosity towards one another since they starred as Holmes and Watson in a 1960s television series.
William and Sandy are haunted by the return of two characters from the past. Sandy becomes amorously involved through the medium of a shared passion for crosswords.
Sandy Boyle ...... Stanley Baxter
William Parnes ...... Richard Briers
Hatty Doran ...... Edna Dore
Angel Hosmer ...... Linda Broughton
Mary Winter ...... Jillie Meers
Edgar ...... David Shaw-Parker
Karen ...... Tracy Wiles
Ronnie Adair ...... Nickolas Grace
Marie Devine ...... Susan Wooldridge
Hugo Oberstein ...... Rad Lazar
Directed by Marilyn Imrie
A Catherine Bailey production for BBC Radio 4.
MON 15:00 Alvin Hall's World of Money (b00cwxly)
[Repeat of broadcast at
12:00 on Saturday]
MON 15:30 Afternoon Reading (b00cy2k4)
Mothers and Sons
Famous Blue Raincoat
Stories by Colm Toibin. Uncomfortable memories are triggered when Lisa's son shows an interest in her earlier career as a singer in a folk band. Read by Frances Tomelty.
MON 15:45 A Dollar a Day (b008m7zj)
Kenya
Mike Wooldridge presents a series asking whether the global target of halving world poverty by 2015 can be achieved and what living on a dollar a day really means.
In Kaimosi in Western Kenya, Isaiah lives with his disabled wife and six grandchildren, making seven to ten dollars a month from growing tea. Their neighbours Francis and Christine are both able to work, growing and selling maize, mending bicycles and making bricks. Between them they make about two dollars a day.
MON 16:00 The Food Programme (b00cx1dv)
[Repeat of broadcast at
12:32 on Sunday]
MON 16:30 Beyond Belief (b00cxbfx)
Ernie Rea explores the place of faith in today's world, teasing out the hidden and often contradictory truths behind the experiences, values and traditions of our lives.
MON 16:56 1968 Day by Day (b00cxbk0)
11th August 1968
John Tusa looks back at the events making the news 40 years ago. Leonard Cohen appears on the BBC's Top Gear radio programme.
MON 17:00 PM (b00cxbsr)
Full coverage and analysis of the day's news with Eddie Mair. Plus Weather.
MON 18:00 Six O'Clock News (b00cxbst)
The latest national and international news from BBC Radio 4, followed by Weather.
MON 18:30 Just a Minute (b00cxbsw)
Series 53
Episode 3
Nicholas Parsons chairs the devious word game from the Opera House in Manchester. Panellists are Tony Hawks, Paul Merton, Shappi Khorsandi and Ian McMillan.
MON 19:00 The Archers (b00cxbwz)
David and Ruth are on their way to a meeting with Matt about the digester. They bump into Ed, congratulating him on persuading Will to come home. They tell him they've heard from Mike that Oliver's planning to get out of dairying. This is the first Ed's heard - he marches off to Grange Farm.
Ed finds Oliver, and isn't willing to accept his plans. He tries to convince Oliver that there's a future. He tells Oliver that he can take a back seat and let Ed and Mike run things for him. Oliver agrees, saying he'll give them a year to make a go of it.
Matt and Annabelle explain to David, Ruth and Adam that, as maize prices have risen since last year, they'll have to adapt their plans. They'll need to make the digester bigger, and accept food waste. None of them are happy - they promised the village this wouldn't happen. But they accept they have no choice, and agree they'll go to back to the village with the new plans. After they've gone, Matt grumbles to Annabelle. Why do they have to drag the others every step of the way - this scheme is supposed to be making them money!
Episode written by Mary Cutler.
MON 19:15 Front Row (b00cxbx1)
Presented by Kirsty Lang.
Including:
Critic Natalie Haynes reviews Adam Sandler's latest film You Don't Mess With The Zohan. Sandler plays the comedy lead in this unlikely tale of an Israeli Special Forces soldier who fakes his death in order to re-emerge in New York City as a hair stylist.
As an adaptation of On The Waterfront opens on stage at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, the writer of the original screenplay Budd Schulberg talks to Kirsty about his friendship with Bobby Kennedy, collecting evidence for the Nuremberg trials, and why Marlon Brando didn't want to say the line, 'I coulda been a contender'.
A new book argues that generations of academics have maintained the image of Franz Kafka as a tortured, angst-ridden writer of literature which defies interpretation. James Hawes aims to show the real Kafka as a well-groomed man-about-town with a penchant for upmarket pornography, claiming that we can better understand Kafka's work once certain myths about him have been debunked.
As advertisers find new and ingenious ways to use culture to get their message across, David Quantick considers the TV programmes, films and music which could constitute an advertiser's dream.
MON 19:45 15 Minute Drama (b00cxkrk)
The Pillow Book
Episode 1
Robert Forrest's thriller and love story set in the court of the Empress Sadako in 10th-century Japan.
Within the palace walls, a series of disturbing crimes throws the court into confusion and unrest. Sei Shonagon's brilliance and wit is called upon for more than her Empress's amusement.
Shonagon ...... Ruth Gemmell
Narimasa ...... John Rowe
Empress ...... Laura Rees
Tadanobu ...... Benedict Cumberbatch
Saisho ...... Caroline Martin
Emperor ...... Richard Madden
Yukinari ...... Mark Bazeley.
MON 20:00 1968 The Sixty-Eighters at Sixty (b00cxkrm)
Episode 2
David Aaronovitch assesses the legacy of 1968, talking to the self-styled revolutionaries of 40 years ago.
Visiting Berlin, he talks to former rebel Thomas Schmid, now a senior editor with Springer newspapers. Educationalist Katharina Rutschky explains how a movement which produced the brutality of the notorious Baader-Meinhof gang also paved the way for a revolution in childcare. Other contributors include novelist Peter Schneider and Green MP Marie-Luise Beck.
MON 20:30 Crossing Continents (b00cvsp6)
In the Shadow of the Cartel
Emilio San Pedro visits Tijuana to find a community under the influence of one of Mexico's most powerful drug cartels. Nearly fifteen hundred people have been killed so far this year in Mexico in drug-related violence, and the government has sent thousands of troops into the worst hit states in an effort to break up these criminal organisations and stem the flow of drugs into the United States. How does the cartel shape the lives of Tijuana's inhabitants?
MON 21:00 To Err is Human (b00cxkrp)
Phil Hammond explores human error in the medical profession. Thousands of patients die each year because doctors and nurses, although technically skilled, are not alert to the risk of a potentially life-threatening mistake. Airline pilot Martin Bromiley, whose wife was a victim of such an error, talks about his experience.
Contributors include health minister Lord Darzi, chief medical officer Liam Donaldson and American surgeon Atul Gawande.
A Ladbroke Radio production for BBC Radio 4.
MON 21:30 Our Food, our Future (b00ct9bh)
[Repeat of broadcast at
09:00 today]
MON 21:58 Weather (b00cxlqp)
The latest weather forecast.
MON 22:00 The World Tonight (b00cxlqr)
National and international news and analysis with Jane Hill.
MON 22:45 Book at Bedtime (b00cxlqt)
The Good Plain Cook
Episode 1
Sian Thomas reads from Bethan Roberts's novel set in the summer of 1936, abridged by Elizabeth Burke.
Kitty, a young woman with very little domestic experience, applies for her first job as cook at Willow Cottage. The bohemian household consists of Ellen, a wealthy patron of the arts, her 11-year-old daughter Geenie and Ellen's lover George Crane, a poet who is writing a great novel.
MON 23:00 Word of Mouth (b00cvbkk)
Michael Rosen takes another journey into the world of words, language and the way we speak. He looks at the language of apologies and insults. Guests are Quentin Letts and Janey Godley. American academic Nick Smith explains why he believes that many apologies are simply lies.
MON 23:30 Tomorrow, Today! (b012b3dy)
Series 1
To the Moon and Back
Comedy series by Christopher William Hill, set in 1961. A BBC producer struggles to make a radio soap set in the unimaginably futuristic world of 2006.
The actors callously use the show to secure advertising deals.
Nigel Lavery ...... Peter Bowles
Sylvia Hann ...... Cheryl Campbell
Godfrey Winnard ...... John Fortune
Sir Angus McNairn ...... Gary Waldhorn
Hugo Kellerman ...... Joseph Kloska
Douglas Bennings ...... Jon Glover
Colin Franks ...... Paul Richard Biggin
Waitress ...... Miranda Keeling.
TUESDAY 12 AUGUST 2008
TUE 00:00 Midnight News (b00cx5xd)
The latest national and international news from BBC Radio 4, followed by weather.
TUE 00:30 Book of the Week (b00cx6fn)
[Repeat of broadcast at
09:45 on Monday]
TUE 00:48 Shipping Forecast (b00cx5xg)
The latest shipping forecast.
TUE 01:00 Selection of BBC World Service Programmes (b00cx5xj)
BBC Radio 4 joins the BBC World Service.
TUE 05:20 Shipping Forecast (b00cx5xl)
The latest shipping forecast.
TUE 05:30 News Briefing (b00cx5xn)
The latest news from BBC Radio 4.
TUE 05:43 Prayer for the Day (b00cx5xq)
Daily prayer and reflection with Canon Noel Battye.
TUE 05:45 Farming Today (b00cx5xs)
News and issues in rural Britain, with Mark Holdstock.
TUE 06:00 Today (b00cx5xv)
Presented by James Naughtie and Evan Davis.
Including:
Justin Webb reports from Washington on US reaction to the conflict in Georgia.
Foreign Office Minister Meg Munn says Britons should plan ahead to avoid trouble on holiday.
Ray Buchanan reports on the fishermen challenging the restrictions on a form of sea fishing in Cumbria.
Simon Rubinsohn of the RICS discusses the current state of the housing market.
Lawyer Debaleena Dasgupta explains why alcohol should not be taken into account in rape cases. Justice Minister Bridget Prentice clarifies government policy.
Bob Walker reports on the start of the shooting season for Red Grouse.
George Buckley of Deutsche Bank discusses inflation and how it could rise.
Denis Keefe, Britain's ambassador in Georgia, discusses the chance of a ceasefire in South Ossetia.
Authors Christopher Brookmyre and Mark Borkowski discuss if the love of fame and fascination with stars will peter out.
Jane Peel reports on attempts to save a boatyard in Oxford from development into housing.
Professor Johnny Chan of the City University of Hong Kong discusses the rain rockets used for the opening ceremony at the Beijing Olympics.
A collection of Dylan Thomas's inscribed books, letters and manuscripts is for sale. Bookseller Rick Gekoski discusses the quality of the pieces.
Simon Sebag Montefiore, biographer of Josef Stalin, discusses the conflict in Georgia.
TUE 09:00 The Choice (b00cyd3q)
Michael Buerk interviews people who have made life-altering decisions and talks them through the whole process, from the original dilemma to living with the consequences.
Melanie Allen talks about her decision to hand back a child she had adopted.
TUE 09:30 A Sense of Liverpool (b008md9y)
Episode 5
Writers, artists and entertainers take a fresh look at Liverpool, to mark its year as European Capital of Culture.
Stand-up comedian Brendan Riley takes a taxi ride round the city to investigate its reputation for humour. Some of Britain's best-known comedians have come from Liverpool, including Ken Dodd, Jimmy Tarbuck and Paul O'Grady.
TUE 09:45 Book of the Week (b00cy5c2)
Travels on the Dance Floor
The Peanut's Like That
Grevel Lindop reads from his account of how he took up salsa dancing, became hooked on it and embarked upon an odyssey to explore its roots.
In Caracas and Bogota, Grevel's Manchester style of dancing fails to win over the locals. A Latin Marilyn Monroe sets him right.
TUE 10:00 Woman's Hour (b00cx8hp)
Kate Atkinson; Teaching feminism at school
Author Kate Atkinson on When Will There Be Good News? Plus, how to cook couscous; and should teenage girls be taught feminism at school?
TUE 11:00 The Simulated Patient (b009jcvk)
Documentary looking at an unusual aspect of medical training. Medical schools hire actors to play the roles of patients in order to allow trainee doctors to practise the art of breaking bad news. Some older doctors are sceptical about the value of such education.
TUE 11:30 From the Ban to the Booker (b00cxqq7)
Episode 1
Best-selling author Val McDermid examines the development of the lesbian novel and its transition from the margins to the mainstream.
In 1928 The Well of Loneliness was tried for obscenity and banned because of its lesbian content. Eighty years on and Sarah Waters and Ali Smith have, between them, been nominated five times for the Booker Prize.
With contributions from some of Britain's finest writers, including Jeanette Winterson, Sarah Waters and Ali Smith, this first programme looks at the furore surrounding The Well and the repercussions of the ban on subsequent novelists. Virginia Woolf's Orlando was published in the same year but escaped the censor.
The programme includes a rare BBC recording of Vita Sackville-West, the inspiration for Woolf's modernist masterpiece.
TUE 12:00 You and Yours (b00cx8vs)
Call You and Yours
Presented by Liz Barclay and Peter White.
Brits Abroad.
A government report shows that we are increasingly getting into trouble overseas. The Foreign Office wants us to be more informed about our destination and to make sure we take out adequate insurance to cover us if we get into trouble.
British tourists have a bad reputation in some holiday resorts. Is this justified?
With guests:
John Gill, Author of first Rough Guide to Corfu and Ionian Islands
Meg Munn, Foreign Office Minister
Claire Young, Apprentice runner-up and former Club 18 - 30 rep
Dr Hazel Andrews, Liverpool's John Moores University
Oliver Miles, Former ambassador to Greece and Libya
Nick Kirwen, Association of British Insurers.
TUE 12:57 Weather (b00cx8vv)
The latest weather forecast.
TUE 13:00 World at One (b00cx8vx)
National and international news with Shaun Ley.
TUE 13:30 Music Feature (b00cxqq9)
Killer Bs
Journalist Anthony Barnes celebrates a virtually extinct aspect of the music industry, the B-side of a record. Contributors include Tim Rice, Paul Gambaccini and Gloria Gaynor.
TUE 14:00 The Archers (b00cxbwz)
[Repeat of broadcast at
19:00 on Monday]
TUE 14:15 Drama (b00cxqqd)
Two-Pipe Problems
The Trusty Valet and the Crusty Butler
By Michael Chaplin, set in The Old Beeches, a retirement home for elderly thespians. Inmates William and Sandy still nurse a certain affectionate animosity towards one another since they starred as Holmes and Watson in a 1960s television series.
William and Sandy venture outside the Old Beeches to a movie set, accompanied by the intrepid care assistant Karen, as they take on the world of celluloid.
Sandy Boyle ...... Stanley Baxter
William Parnes ...... Richard Briers
Inspector Bradstreet ...... David Shaw-Parker
Karen ...... Tracy Wiles
Laura Lyons ...... Ellie Beaven
Thaddeus Sholto ...... Lloyd Hutchinson
John Barrymore ...... Geoffrey Whitehead
Directed by Marilyn Imrie
A Catherine Bailey production for BBC Radio 4.
TUE 15:00 Home Planet (b00cyd3s)
Richard Daniel and the team discuss listeners' questions about the environment and the natural world.
TUE 15:30 Afternoon Reading (b00cy2k6)
Mothers and Sons
A Priest in the Family
Stories by Colm Toibin. Unexpected and disturbing news tests the bond between Molly and her son Frank. Read by Kate Binchy.
TUE 15:45 A Dollar a Day (b008nyy8)
Peru
Mike Wooldridge presents a series asking whether the global target of halving world poverty by 2015 can be achieved and what living on a dollar a day really means.
Ayacucho in the Peruvian Andes is one of the poorest areas of the country. A new government programme is attempting to help the poor by giving women the equivalent of a dollar a day in cash in return for sending their children to school and getting them vaccinated.
TUE 16:00 Word of Mouth (b00cyd3v)
Peggy Reynolds takes another journey into the world of words, language and the way we speak.
She investigates vocal pitch. Is it true that to get on the radio a woman has to sound like a man? Why is it that, according to scientists, attractive women have attractive voices? And why is there such a difference in intonation between women of different nationalities?
TUE 16:30 Great Lives (b00cyd3x)
Series 16
Richard Pryor
Series of biographical discussions with Matthew Parris. Skills minister David Lammy puts the case for the revolutionary comedian Richard Pryor.
TUE 16:56 1968 Day by Day (b00cxbk2)
12th August 1968
John Tusa looks back at the events making the news 40 years ago. Riots in Los Angeles leave three dead.
TUE 17:00 PM (b00cxbk4)
Full coverage and analysis of the day's news with Eddie Mair. Plus Weather.
TUE 18:00 Six O'Clock News (b00cxbk6)
The latest national and international news from BBC Radio 4, followed by Weather.
TUE 18:30 Hut 33 (b00lmdjr)
Series 1
Baghdad
Charles and Archie jump at the chance of going to Iraq, but the posting turns out not to be as cushy as it first seemed.
James Cary's sitcom 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.
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.
TUE 19:00 The Archers (b00cxbw8)
Clarrie tells Emma that Ed doesn't need any distractions, or anything sending him off the rails again, and blames Emma for nearly losing both her sons. Emma assures Clarrie that she won't let Ed down this time. She insists she had no idea how Will's mind was working, and she thought they were just focusing on George. The sooner Will can see George, the better - even if it means Clarrie taking George over. Clarrie thinks that's just what Will needs. Emma insists she'll do everything she can for to get on with Will as friends.
Oliver feels good. Mike already knows about the plans - Ed rushed round to tell him last night. Mike's happy for Oliver to stop worrying and take a break, but Mike could also do with the odd shift off so that he can get to the Millennium Wood for the dig.
Caroline's pleased Oliver's got his enthusiasm back, but is worried about Will. Will tells her he's no use to anyone and even George would be better off without him.
Caroline has to tell Clarrie that it isn't just George who Will doesn't want to see. He thinks it would be better if he left Ambridge altogether.
Episode written by Mary Cutler.
TUE 19:15 Front Row (b00cxbwb)
Presented by Mark Lawson.
Elaine Stritch has just finished a series of performances of her Tony Award-winning show Elaine Stritch At Liberty in London. In a rare interview, she takes time out of her busy schedule to reflect on a life treading the boards, her close association with Noel Coward and Stephen Sondheim, and the difficulties she faced in giving up alcohol.
TUE 19:45 15 Minute Drama (b00cxjqc)
The Pillow Book
Episode 2
Robert Forrest's thriller and love story set in the court of the Empress Sadako in 10th-century Japan.
In the snow-covered palace, the thefts are moving in a slow spiral towards the inner chambers of the Emperor, the Sun God himself.
Shonagon ...... Ruth Gemmell
Yukinari ...... Mark Bazeley
Empress ...... Laura Rees
Tadanobu ...... Benedict Cumberbatch
Saisho ...... Caroline Martin
Emperor ...... Richard Madden
Tozammi ...... Colette O'Neil.
TUE 20:00 Secrets in the Blood (b00cz3bf)
Matt McGrath looks at allegations that the level of abuse of the performance-enhancing drug EPO could be much higher among athletes than is commonly believed. Scientists claim that urrent tests to catch the cheats are almost useless, and that the criteria being applied to define users of EPO are far too narrow.
TUE 20:40 In Touch (b00cyd3z)
Peter White with news and information for the blind and partially sighted.
TUE 21:00 Case Notes (b00cyd41)
Bariatric Surgery
Dr Mark Porter explores health issues of the day.
He talks to a patient and her surgeon about the gastric bypass surgery which has led to her losing almost ten stone. He also talks to psychologists about the controversial operation.
TUE 21:30 The Choice (b00cyd3q)
[Repeat of broadcast at
09:00 today]
TUE 21:58 Weather (b00cxlfs)
The latest weather forecast.
TUE 22:00 The World Tonight (b00cxlfv)
National and international news and analysis with Jane Hill.
TUE 22:45 Book at Bedtime (b00cxlfx)
The Good Plain Cook
Episode 2
Sian Thomas reads from Bethan Roberts's novel set in the summer of 1936, abridged by Elizabeth Burke.
Ellen is convinced that George, despite his political convictions, wants her to be domesticated. She asks Kitty to help to turn her into the perfect wife and mother.
TUE 23:00 Quote... Unquote (b00cyd43)
Nigel Rees chairs the popular quiz involving the exchange of quotations and anecdotes.
TUE 23:30 The Spiritual Centre (b007llh4)
Series 1
All in a Good Cause
Sitcom by Suk Pannu.
Bharat, self-styled Guru of Westgate and wise man of the western suburbs, presides over the spiritual centre.
The Spiritual Centre is in financial trouble so Bharat sets his sights on a grant. All he needs to do is impress Westgate's wealthiest and most influential resident.
Bharat ...... Vincent Ebrahim
Henry ...... Tim Key
Mrs Sidhu ...... Shelley King
Ravi ...... Nitin Ganatra
Priya ...... Archie Panjabi
Mrs Prakesh ...... Jamilla Massey
Mr Rampal ...... Renu Setna
Mrs Kendall ...... Richenda Carey.
WEDNESDAY 13 AUGUST 2008
WED 00:00 Midnight News (b00cx5xx)
The latest national and international news from BBC Radio 4, followed by weather.
WED 00:30 Book of the Week (b00cy5c2)
[Repeat of broadcast at
09:45 on Tuesday]
WED 00:48 Shipping Forecast (b00cx5xz)
The latest shipping forecast.
WED 01:00 Selection of BBC World Service Programmes (b00cx5y1)
BBC Radio 4 joins the BBC World Service.
WED 05:20 Shipping Forecast (b00cx5y3)
The latest shipping forecast.
WED 05:30 News Briefing (b00cx5y5)
The latest news from BBC Radio 4.
WED 05:43 Prayer for the Day (b00cx5y7)
Daily prayer and reflection with Canon Noel Battye.
WED 05:45 Farming Today (b00cx5y9)
News and issues in rural Britain, with Charlotte Smith.
WED 06:00 Today (b00cx5yc)
Presented by James Naughtie and Evan Davis.
Including:
Daily Telegraph editor-at-large Jeff Randall reveals the depth of Prince Charles's fears about GM crops. Soil Association director Patrick Holden and former Northern Foods chairman Lord Haskins discuss the prince's views.
Former US ambassador to the United Nations Richard Holbrooke discusses the conflict in South Ossetia.
Former Olympic champion Matthew Pinsent talks about the drive needed to win a gold medal and repeat the performance.
Oliver Hartwich, author of the Policy Exchange report, and Peter Kilfoyle, MP for Liverpool Walton, discuss whether residents of Liverpool should move to Oxford and Cambridge.
Andy Swiss reports from the Beijing Olympics.
Prof Jonathan Waxman and former Health Secretary Frank Dobson discuss the effectiveness of NICE. Prof Peter Littlejohns responds.
Foreign Secretary David Miliband talks about the conflict between Russia and Georgia. Edward Stourton reports from the Georgian capital Tblisi.
llan Little reports from Johannesburg on the possibility of a power-sharing deal in Zimbabwe.
Former Olympic champion Duncan Goodhew and England bowler Monty Panesar discuss the science of sports psychology.
Russian Charge d'Affaires Andrei Chupin discusses whether Russia has received unfair press coverage over the conflict in Georgia.
WED 09:00 The House I Grew Up In (b00cxr1f)
Series 2
Mona Siddiqui
Wendy Robbins presents a series revisiting the childhood neighbourhoods of influential Britons.
Mona Siddiqui, Professor of Islamic Studies at Glasgow University, takes Wendy back to her childhood home in Huddersfield. She recalls growing up in a literary family and her mother's insistence on living separately from the wider Muslim community.
WED 09:30 A Wonderful Way to Make a Living (b00cxr1h)
Series 2
Episode 2
US satirist Joe Queenan presents a series on people with highly unusual occupations.
In Brighton, he meets a decluttering professional who claims to have sold feng shui books to Japanese. Joe accompanies him to the home of Attila the Stockbroker to see decluttering in action.
WED 09:45 Book of the Week (b00cy5c4)
Travels on the Dance Floor
Rumba City
Grevel Lindop reads from his account of how he took up salsa dancing, became hooked on it and embarked upon an odyssey to explore its roots.
Grevel learns rumba with Maria, who shows him what she does with Carlos. He moves on to Juanchito, a suburb of the salsa-dominsted city of Cali.
WED 10:00 Woman's Hour (b00cx8hr)
The letters of Penelope Fitzgerald; Infidelity
Julian Barnes on author Penelope Fitzgerald. Plus, the increase of women committing violent attacks discussed; and can an affair really save a marriage?
WED 11:00 Forbidden Families (b00cxr1k)
Anne Askew
Bettany Hughes tells the stories of remarkable women denied their families by the march of history.
Destined to live the life of a rural housewife in Tudor England, Anne Askew married and had two children. But a new religious faith, Protestantism, came between her and her staunchly Catholic husband.
Her new-found faith tore her family apart, causing her to leave her children to follow her God and to enter the deadly games of the Tudor court. Bettany follows her transformation from mother to martyr.
Image: The Protestant martyrs Anne Askew, John Lascelles and others about to be burnt at the stake at Smithfield, with a large crowd surrounding them; illustration to John Foxe's, 'Acts and Monuments' ('Book of Martyrs'). Woodcut with letterpress. British, 16th century. © The Trustees of the British Museum.
WED 11:30 Kicking the Habit (b00cxr1m)
Series 2
As I Was Braying
Comedy drama by Christopher Lee, set in a Carmelite monastery where the brown habit is no protection against the problems and temptations of the modern world.
Brother Luke has returned from his sojourn in Dublin and irritatingly can't stop talking about it. Someone has asked to have his ass blessed.
Father Bertie ...... Alfred Molina
Brother Martin ...... Roy Dotrice
Father Michael ...... Martin Jarvis
Brother Luke ...... Darren Richardson
Mave ...... Rosalind Ayres
Father Lawrence ...... Kenneth Danziger
Gwynneth ...... Moira Quirk
Friars and pilgrims played by Matthew Wolf and Alan Shearman.
Directed by Pete Atkin.
WED 12:00 You and Yours (b00cx8vz)
Presented by Liz Barclay and Sheila McClennon.
Including:
According to watchdog body Camerawatch, nine in ten CCTV systems are not being operated in line with the code of practice.
Patents protecting several of today's most popular drugs are about to expire. This is good news for the NHS because it could mean cheaper generic alternatives may become more widely available, but will the drop in revenue for drugs companies mean that less money is spent on research?
Prince Charles has highlighted one of the most important issues about GM crops, that of food security. This is a term now heard more frequently, but what exactly does it mean?
The Countryside and Rights of Way Act of 2000 opened up around 865,000 hectares of land to the public. However, a number of popular attractions, such as Vixen Tor in Dorset, were excluded from the original access plans. The maps are currently being reviewed and the Ramblers' Association is pressing for these to be included.
Twenty-five years ago the Olympic rings were described as the most unexploited trademark in existence. Today sponsorship programmes account for about 40 percent of the revenues raised by the Olympic movement, with only broadcasting contributing a larger sum. But why has the IOC decided to cash in on the Olympic brand?
WED 12:57 Weather (b00cx8w1)
The latest weather forecast.
WED 13:00 World at One (b00cx8w3)
National and international news with Shaun Ley.
WED 13:30 Off the Page (b00cyhhx)
Con-Fusion
Dominic Arkwright chairs the lively discussion series.
Is the real thing always the best, or could it be true that all we need is a big melting pot? Dominic talks to lovers and haters of the fashion for fusion, including record producer Joe Boyd, Telegraph cookery writer Xanthe Clay and Guardian writer Aditya Chakrabortty.
Featured music includes The Layla Riff to Todi by Amit Chaudhuri, Aurora by Arun Ghosh and Thiely and Hope by Youssou N'Dour.
WED 14:00 The Archers (b00cxbw8)
[Repeat of broadcast at
19:00 on Tuesday]
WED 14:15 Drama (b00771q1)
Mother Spy
Drama documentary by John Fletcher telling the story of Janet Chisholm, one of the most unlikely spies in the history of espionage.
Janet, a British Embassy wife and mother in Moscow, was persuaded to use her young children and their trips to the park as cover in handling Oleg Penkovsky, the Cold War's most influential informant, at the height of the Cuban Missile Crisis.
Janet Chisholm ...... Juliet Aubrey
Ruari Chisholm ...... Anthony Calf
Oleg Penkovsky ...... Stephen Critchlow
Janie Chisholm ...... Rosie Day
Tessa Chisholm ...... Skye Bennett
Harold Shergold ...... John Rowe
Directed by Charlie Taylor.
WED 15:00 Gardeners' Question Time (b00cx1f1)
[Repeat of broadcast at
14:00 on Sunday]
WED 15:30 Afternoon Reading (b00cy2k8)
Mothers and Sons
The Name of the Game, part 1
The legacy of debt left by Nancy's late husband seems insurmountable - until a business idea is presented to her. Read by Niamh Cusack.
WED 15:45 A Dollar a Day (b008x90z)
India
Mike Wooldridge presents a series asking whether the global target of halving world poverty by 2015 can be achieved and what living on a dollar a day really means.
The tradition in India, as in many Asian societies, of younger family members caring for the elderly can no longer be relied on. This is largely because of the impact of rapid urbanisation and increasing employment opportunities for women.
WED 16:00 Thinking Allowed (b00cyhhz)
Imagination and the Countryside
IMAGINATION AND THE COUNTRYSIDE
Laurie Taylor discusses how imagination and reality combine to create the environments in which we live.
What happens when our view of the countryside collides with the reality of rural life? In part one of a series exploring how imagination and reality combine to create the environments in which we live,Novelist Joanna Trollope, sociologist Howard Newby and rural ethnographer Martin Phillips discuss the rural idyll. The dream the British have of the countryside is not always borne out by the experience of living there, yet the ideas we hold about the countryside often prompt changes. Martin's research revealed long-term residents complaining of too many village fetes and incomers who are simply too keen to get involved in everything. Joanna Trollope explains what drove her out of the countryside five years ago.
WED 16:30 Case Notes (b00cyd41)
[Repeat of broadcast at
21:00 on Tuesday]
WED 16:56 1968 Day by Day (b00cxbk8)
13th August 1968
John Tusa looks back at the events making the news 40 years ago. Georgios Papadopoulos, leader of the ruling military junta in Greece, survives an assassination attempt.
WED 17:00 PM (b00cxbkb)
Full coverage and analysis of the day's news, presented by Eddie Mair.
WED 18:00 Six O'Clock News (b00cxbkd)
The latest national and international news from BBC Radio 4, followed by Weather.
WED 18:30 Mark Watson Makes the World Substantially Better (b00cxr1s)
Series 2
Courage
The comedian promotes the virtue of courage, with Tim Key and Tom Basden providing feats of cowardice. From August 2008.
WED 19:00 The Archers (b00cxbwd)
Tom's pleased that Borchester Land might sell the tenancy at an affordable price, but wishes Tony and Pat sounded more enthusiastic. They always hoped Helen and Tom would take over the farm but need to be confident that Tom's truly ready to commit. Tom can't understand why they're being so hard on him. Helen points out that they're worried he might not want to give up his Home Farm enterprise. Tom doesn't think he needs to; he just needs to scale things down.
David's pleased to learn that Pip came first in the stock-judging competition. He's also looking forward to getting the intensive grazing up and running. Ruth agrees; the sooner the better.
Ruth learns that Marjorie Antrobus passed away peacefully in her sleep. Even though she was old, she'd not been ill so it comes as a shock. Ruth reminisces and David agrees that Marjorie was one of a kind.
Clarrie tells Pat that the worst is far from over. William's talking about leaving Ambridge and is refusing to see George. Clarrie's worried about the state he's in and is terrified he won't even be there when she goes back. She begs Pat to tell her what to do.
Episode written by Mary Cutler.
WED 19:15 Front Row (b00cxbwg)
Kirsty Lang presents a special programme from the Edinburgh Festival.
Twenty-eight years on from his hit television quiz Bullseye, comedy veteran Jim Bowen returns to his stand-up roots with a new show.
At the age of just thirteen, Eros Vlahos is the youngest comedian at the festival. In his full-length stand up show,Problem Child, he delivers gags about teachers, parents, George Bush and other kids.
Eighteen-year-old singer/songwriter Laura Marling, nominated for this year's Mercury Prize for her first album, performs live.
Mohammed Hanif, head of the BBC's Urdu service, has turned playwright and novelist. His debut novel is a murder mystery set around the death of former military dictator General Zia and has made the Booker long list. His play The Dictator's Wife is a monologue from the point of view of an imaginary Pakistani first lady.
Lady Garden are one of many female only sketch shows at this year's festival. They include the daughter of comedians Jennifer Saunders and Ade Edmondson. Unintimidated by their comedy heritage, they perform a sketch from their show.
Last year comedian Danny Robins, after a run of eleven years, took a break from the Edinburgh Festival and spent August in the South of France. This year he couldn't resist a return to form. He explains why he is back.
WED 19:45 15 Minute Drama (b00cxjqf)
The Pillow Book
Episode 3
Robert Forrest's thriller and love story set in the court of the Empress Sadako in 10th-century Japan.
Shonagon has been appointed guide and assistant to Lieutenant Yukinari as he investigates a series of thefts within the palace walls. Her lover Tadanobu is uncomfortable about the nature of the contract between the pair.
Shonagon ...... Ruth Gemmell
Narimasa ...... John Rowe
Tadanobu ...... Benedict Cumberbatch
Tozammi ...... Colette O'Neil
Yukinari ...... Mark Bazeley.
WED 20:00 Inside the Ethics Committee (b00cxr1v)
Series 4
Episode 2
Series in which Vivienne Parry is joined by a panel of experts to tackle the ethics involved in a real hospital case examines who makes decisions about care for the elderly and those with dementia.
An 86-year-old man with dementia who has had a bad fall wants to go home but his son is concerned that he cannot look after himself and needs to be in residential care. The programme looks at how medical staff and families work out what is in his best interests and whether he has the capacity to make decisions about his care, and how his previous preferences should be included in the decision.
WED 20:45 Bowing out Gracefully: The Brandreth Rules on Standing Down (b00cxr1x)
Down and Out - and In Again
Gyles Brandreth examines how political careers end and how to step down while maintaining one's dignity.
As soon as they are defeated, some MPs start planning their comeback. But is it possible to return in triumph? Gyles considers some politicians who managed to return to office and others who refused to contemplate the idea.
WED 21:00 Dead Sea Scrolls Revisited (b007tc6w)
Episode 2
Roger Bolton reassesses one of the world's great archaeological discoveries, beginning at the caves where a remarkable collection of Jewish texts hidden in the first century was discovered 60 years ago. Roger explores the possible impact of these extraordinary documents upon the Jewish and Christian faiths.
WED 21:30 The House I Grew Up In (b00cxr1f)
[Repeat of broadcast at
09:00 today]
WED 21:58 Weather (b00cxlfz)
The latest weather forecast.
WED 22:00 The World Tonight (b00cxlg1)
National and international news and analysis with Robin Lustig.
Including reports on George Bush's warning to Russia over Georgia, rising unemployment and the current scarcity of bees.
WED 22:45 Book at Bedtime (b00cxlg3)
The Good Plain Cook
Episode 3
Sian Thomas reads from Bethan Roberts's novel set in the summer of 1936, abridged by Elizabeth Burke.
Kitty is asked out dancing, but tensions are growing at Willow Cottage. Despite the help of Silvester's Sensible Cookery, Ellen's first foray into the kitchen doesn't go well.
WED 23:00 Bespoken Word (b00cxr1z)
Mister Gee presents the performance poetry series, recorded at London's Troubadour Coffee House. Featured performers include Murray Lachlan Young.
WED 23:15 Fabulous (b007nm1p)
Sitcom by Lucy Clarke about a woman who wants to be Fabulous but can't cope.
With Daisy Haggard, Adam Buxton, Joanna Scanlan, Joanna Neary, Matthew Holness, Eve Dallas, Katy Brand, Olivia Colman.
Music by Osymyso.
WED 23:30 The Music Group (b009q6tc)
Series 2
Episode 1
Comedian, broadcaster and GP Dr Phil Hammond asks each of three guests to play the track of their choice for the delight or disdain of the others.
Poet Benjamin Zephaniah, writer Lynn Barber and comedian Arthur Smith discuss such diverse subjects as a musical desire to sleep with common people and a joyful Parisian explosion.
THURSDAY 14 AUGUST 2008
THU 00:00 Midnight News (b00cx5yf)
The latest national and international news from BBC Radio 4, followed by weather.
THU 00:30 Book of the Week (b00cy5c4)
[Repeat of broadcast at
09:45 on Wednesday]
THU 00:48 Shipping Forecast (b00cx5yh)
The latest shipping forecast.
THU 01:00 Selection of BBC World Service Programmes (b00cx5yk)
BBC Radio 4 joins the BBC World Service.
THU 05:20 Shipping Forecast (b00cx5ym)
The latest shipping forecast.
THU 05:30 News Briefing (b00cx5yp)
The latest news from BBC Radio 4.
THU 05:43 Prayer for the Day (b00cx5yr)
Daily prayer and reflection with Canon Noel Battye.
THU 05:45 Farming Today (b00cx5yt)
News and issues in rural Britain, with Mark Holdstock.
THU 06:00 Today (b00cz3p9)
Presented by James Naughtie and Edward Stourton.
Including:
Former Georgian President Eduard Shevardnadze and Michael Davey of the European Bank discuss the threat to Georgia's prosperity posed by the conflict with Russia.
Former chief inspector of schools Mike Tomlinson discusses the introduction of a new system of vocational diplomas.
John Curtice, Professor of Politics at Strathclyde University, discusses why the by-election in Glenrothes could be another electoral disaster for Gordon Brown.
Colin Blane reports on efforts to re-establish sea eagle chicks in the east of Scotland.
Andrew Hosken reports on police officers who are allegedly arresting minor offenders to meet targets.
Georgians regard their Russian neighbours with suspicion, but do Russians feel the same way about the Georgians? Caroline Wyatt reports from Moscow.
Reuters bureau chief Alistair Macdonald and Israeli Government spokesman Mark Regev discuss the investigation into the killing of a cameraman on the Gaza Strip.
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is on her way to Georgia. US special envoy Matthew Bryza and Georgian minister Temur Iakobashvili discuss the decisions to be made.
Author and collector Maurice Collins discusses an exhibition of labour-saving devices.
Schools minister Jim Knight and Conservative spokesman Michael Gove discuss whether diplomas will enhance education.
The violence which sparked the Georgian conflict broke out initially in the South Ossetian capital of Tskhinvali. Sarah Rainsford reports from the town, having been allowed access by the Russian military.
Author Rob Eastaway is on a mission to change the UK's aversion to maths.
THU 09:00 Between Ourselves (b00d1zny)
Series 2
Episode 5
Olivia O'Leary presents the series which brings together two people who have had profound and similar experiences, to hear their individual stories and compare the long-term effects on each of their lives.
Circus owners Martin Burton and John Hayes discuss the romance, danger, excitement and difficulties of their profession.
THU 09:30 The Last Post (b00cxr9j)
Episode 5
Mark Stephen explores the effects of changes in the Post Office network for communities around the UK. 5/5: He visits the Outer Hebrides.
THU 09:45 Book of the Week (b00cy5c6)
Travels on the Dance Floor
Rabia
Grevel Lindop reads from his account of how he took up salsa dancing, became hooked on it and embarked upon an odyssey to explore its roots.
In Puerto Rico, Grevel learns that dedicated salsa dancers need a little madness.
THU 10:00 Woman's Hour (b00cx8ht)
Taste in a partner; Trauma in Northern Ireland
Does someone always end up dominating aesthetically in a relationship? Plus, the emotional legacy of the Northern Ireland Troubles; and Esther Woolfson on her passion for birds.
THU 11:00 Crossing Continents (b00cyl87)
India - The Real Slumdog Story
Mukul Devichand reports from Mumbai on a controversial scheme that may be able to provide the answer to the developing world's slum problem.
Asia's largest slum, Dharavi, has gained greater exposure thanks to the film Slumdog Millionaire. The scheme to raze it to the ground is said by its backers to be the template for slum re-development across the developing world. Private companies are being asked to re-house the poor in tower blocks in return for prime real estate.
But is this audacious scheme an innovative solution or simply masking a land-grab from the poor?
THU 11:30 With Great Pleasure (b00cxr9l)
Will Hutton
Will Hutton, chief executive of the Work Foundation, shares his admiration for not just JM Keynes but also writers such as Dickens and Umberto Eco.
Readers: Michelle Terry and William Hope
Producer: Mark Smalley
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in August 2008.
THU 12:00 You and Yours (b00cx8w5)
Presented by Carolyn Atkinson and Liz Barclay.
Including:
Residents in Booze, a tiny hillside hamlet in Yorkshire, have been told that Royal Mail can no longer provide a delivery service because the steep, narrow lane to their village is too dangerous. Royal Mail exemptions to providing a universal service for health and safety reasons are rising.
Psychologist Oliver James and Penny Garner respond to emails from listeners on last week's programme, which outlined a new method of caring for people with dementia.
New statistics show that the average estate agent has completed only fourteen sales over the last three months, a figure worse than at the lowest point of the slump in the 1990s. With Peter Bolton-King, Chief Executive of the National Association of Estate Agents, LGA Housing Spokesperson Cllr Tony Newman, and Adrian Coles, Director General of the Building Societies Association.
The Swedish government has launched a drive to promote Swedish food overseas, including the UK. With Swedish Agriculture Minister Eskil Erlandsson and cook and food writer Anna Mosesson.
Jon Douglas reports on what petrol retailers are doing to reduce card fraud.
THU 12:57 Weather (b00cx8w7)
The latest weather forecast.
THU 13:00 World at One (b00cx8w9)
National and international news with Shaun Ley.
THU 13:30 Open Country (b00cwn97)
[Repeat of broadcast at
06:07 on Saturday]
THU 14:00 The Archers (b00cxbwd)
[Repeat of broadcast at
19:00 on Wednesday]
THU 14:15 Drama (b0076yx0)
Steinbeck in Avalon
Dramatised by Ray Brown from the writings of John Steinbeck. In 1959, the great novelist went to live in Somerset for a while to write what he hoped would be the crowning glory of his distinguished career, a 20th-century restatement of the Arthurian legend.
Steinbeck/Lancelot ...... Kerry Shale
Elaine/Guinevere ...... Barbara Barnes
Merlin ...... Philip Madoc
Arthur ...... Joseph Millson
Damsel ...... Jasmine Hyde
Directed by Gary Brown.
THU 15:00 Lives in a Landscape (b007708m)
Series 2
Tempers in Bloom
Documentary series telling original stories about real lives in Britain today.
The villagers of Luddenden, Yorkshire, are turning detective to track down those who sabotaged their chances of victory in the Britain in Bloom competition and ensure that there will be no repeat.
THU 15:27 Radio 4 Appeal (b00cx1dd)
[Repeat of broadcast at
07:55 on Sunday]
THU 15:30 Afternoon Reading (b00cy2kb)
Mothers and Sons
The Name of the Game, part 2
Stories by Colm Toibin. Nancy is unsettled by her son's reaction to her new business venture and takes a difficult decision. Read by Niamh Cusack.
THU 15:45 A Dollar a Day (b008z2wp)
Ghana
Mike Wooldridge presents a series asking whether the global target of halving world poverty by 2015 can be achieved and what living on a dollar a day really means.
Ghana is one of the few African countries on track to meet the target of getting more girls into school, but the challenges are still enormous. Mike meets Dzifa Adjanu, a young Ghanaian woman who has achieved her ambition to become an accountant, and her mother Margaret, who made huge sacrifices to get her through.
THU 16:00 Open Book (b00cx1f5)
[Repeat of broadcast at
16:00 on Sunday]
THU 16:30 Material World (b00cyl89)
The Cannabinoid System - Oil From Sand
The Cannabinoid System
The legal status of Cannabis is regularly debated but scientists are becoming ever more interested in the hidden nerve receptor system that it works on in the body. The Cannabinoid System is a series of chemical receptors built in to respond to the presence of cannabinoid chemicals, of which cannabis is just one. But why do we have this system?
It was only in the early 1990s that scientists discovered it was not an accident - that the body itself creates its own form of cannabis for short periods during times of injury – it acts as a pain reliever.
Quentin Cooper is joined by Professor Roger Pertwee (Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Aberdeen and the Director of Pharmacology, GW Pharmaceuticals) and by Dr Steve Alexander (Molecular Neuroscience & Neuropharmacology at Nottingham University). Can the system can be manipulated to treat chronic pain conditions like multiple sclerosis and conditions like Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and Huntington’s disease. Can it be done without the hazardous side effects associated with cannabis use? Could the body’s own cannabinoids be the key?
Oil From Sand
A region of Canada in Northern Alberta contains oil reserves to rival Saudi Arabia! But these are not underground reservoirs of sweet, light, crude oil that just need to be pumped out. These are the Athabasca oil sands – an unpleasant mixture of sand, water, oil and sulphurous tar. They cover more than a thousand square miles of remote terrain and are difficult, expensive and environmentally damaging to extract and process.
With the rise in oil prices, extracting oil from the tar sands has become big business. Oil companies have invested billions and expect production to rise to 5 million barrels of heavy crude a day over the next couple of decades, making Canada a major oil exporter.
To talk him through some of the slick ways to get thick oil out of the sand Quentin is joined by Dr Joe Wood, Lecturer in Chemical Engineering at Birmingham University – who is working on CAPRI, a method for refining the oil while it’s still in the ground - and by Professor Malcolm Greaves of the Improved Oil Recovery Research Group at Bath University, who has developed something called THAI - Toe to Heel Air Injection.
THU 16:56 1968 Day by Day (b00cxbkg)
14th August 1968
John Tusa looks back at the events making the news 40 years ago. Two deputy editors of the Czech Communist party newspaper are suspended.
THU 17:00 PM (b00cxbkj)
Full coverage and analysis of the day's news, presented by Eddie Mair.
THU 18:00 Six O'Clock News (b00cxbkl)
The latest national and international news from BBC Radio 4, followed by Weather.
THU 18:30 Bleak Expectations (b00cxvxj)
Series 2
A Re-Kippered Life Smashed Some More
You're invited to marvel at the engineering genius of the early railways, including a tunnel made of beef and pastry and a man who sends loud telegrams to say "He's on the train. Stop."
But as Pip travels the length and breadth of the land in search of his beloved school could it be that there is another even more sinister plan underway? And will the evil Mister Benevolent be involved somehow? Yes! And yes again!
Mark Evans's epic comedy in the style of Charles Dickens.
Volume Two, Chapter the Second: A Re-Kippered Life Smashed Some More
Sir Philip...........................Richard Johnson
Mr Benevolent.......................Anthony Head
Sternbeater...................Geoffrey Whitehead
Harry Biscuit......................James Bachman
Young Pip..................................Tom Allen
Lily.....................................Sarah Hadland
Mr Parsimonious...............Laurence Howarth
Pippa........................................Susy Kane
Sundry railwaymen.....................Mark Evans
Producer: Gareth Edwards
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in August 2008.
THU 19:00 The Archers (b00cxbwj)
Pat warns Brian that William's talking of resigning. Brian's annoyed but Pat pleads with him to think about Will's circumstances and not to close the door on Will completely. Jennifer has a great day at the dig but Brian's not really interested. His mind's on Pat's news, which has struck a nerve. He puts in a call to see if he can get Will a job elsewhere.
News that Marjorie has passed away is spreading fast. Susan's letting people know that the funeral's next Thursday. She also proudly tells Jennifer about Christopher's diploma ceremony.
Alice is getting ready for a big night out at a new club. Chris is going out to celebrate his diploma - he's also going to the new club. They are both let down by their friends and end up in each other's company. Alice gets more and more drunk, and more and more flirtatious. She starts to feel ill, so Chris phones for a taxi. While they wait, Alice kisses him and says she fancies him. Chris frees himself reluctantly and tells her she's wrecked. Kissing him again, Alice replies that he's fit.
Episode written by Mary Cutler.
THU 19:15 Front Row (b00cxbwl)
Presented by Kirsty Lang.
Kirsty talks to the renowned conductor Daniel Barenboim, a former Radio 4 Reith Lecturer, as he plays two concerts at the BBC Proms, coinciding with the publication of his new book Everything Is Connected.
Film critic Nigel Floyd reviews Hellboy II: The Golden Army. Written and directed by Guillermo del Toro and starring Ron Perlman as Hellboy and John Hurt as Professor Bruttenholm, the supernatural action thriller based on the Dark Horse Comics is back.
Superdoctors and Blood and Guts: A History of Surgery are two new TV documentary series concerned with medical surgery. Prof Robert Winston and Mark Lythgoe discuss both shows and consider how surgery is portrayed on TV in general.
THU 19:45 15 Minute Drama (b00cxjqh)
The Pillow Book
Episode 4
Robert Forrest's thriller and love story set in the court of the Empress Sadako in 10th-century Japan.
The Demon Shiki is discovered sitting on the throne itself, suggesting that the supernatural is at work within the palace walls. Meanwhile, Shonagon and Yukinari continue to search for some human motive behind the escalating crimes.
Shonagon ...... Ruth Gemmell
Yukinari ...... Mark Bazeley
Tadanobu ...... Benedict Cumberbatch
Emperor ...... Richard Madden
Narimasa ...... John Rowe.
THU 20:00 Investigation (b00cxvxn)
Series 5
Episode 1
Simon Cox investigates the truth behind rising oil prices. Why has the price doubled in a year and who has been cashing in?
THU 20:30 Analysis (b00cyl8c)
Fair Play?
Historian Richard Weight asks why many nations with far fewer resources than Britain frequently perform much better at sports. Does the country that invented so many sports take them too seriously or not seriously enough, and does it really matter?
THU 21:00 Game Academy (b008h5jg)
Episode 2
Anthony Baxter follows teams of young developers over ten weeks as they compete to produce a working computer game that will dazzle the public.
The teams put the final touches onto their games and present them to the public at a special interactive event at the Edinburgh Festival. The candidates, who will go on to the computer games BAFTAs in London, are reduced to three.
THU 21:30 Between Ourselves (b00d1zny)
[Repeat of broadcast at
09:00 today]
THU 21:58 Weather (b00cxlg5)
The latest weather forecast.
THU 22:00 The World Tonight (b00cxlg7)
National and international news and analysis with Robin Lustig.
Including features on Russian activity in Georgia, a threat of diplomatic action from the Ukraine and Nepal's search for a new goddess.
THU 22:45 Book at Bedtime (b00cxlg9)
The Good Plain Cook
Episode 4
Sian Thomas reads from Bethan Roberts's novel set in the summer of 1936, abridged by Elizabeth Burke.
In the heat of the summer, the family is falling apart. Much to everyone's amazement, Ellen announces that there will be an addition to the family. Then George makes an announcement of his own.
THU 23:00 Robbie Williams and Jon Ronson Journey to the Other Side (b00b4wv0)
Journalist Jon Ronson accompanies singer Robbie Williams to a UFO conference in Laughlin, Nevada. Williams has a genuine interest in the paranormal and has been researching UFO sightings and abductee stories.
Among the people whom they meet are Ann Andrews, who believes her son is an indigo child placed on Earth by aliens to save the world, and Dr Roger Leir, who claims to have metallic objects that are not from this planet.
THU 23:30 Fordham and Lipson (b00899dx)
Episode 2
Comedy sketches from Philippa Fordham and Simon Lipson. With Alex Lowe and Laura Shavin.
FRIDAY 15 AUGUST 2008
FRI 00:00 Midnight News (b00cx5yw)
The latest national and international news from BBC Radio 4, followed by weather.
FRI 00:30 Book of the Week (b00cy5c6)
[Repeat of broadcast at
09:45 on Thursday]
FRI 00:48 Shipping Forecast (b00cx5yy)
The latest shipping forecast.
FRI 01:00 Selection of BBC World Service Programmes (b00cx5z0)
BBC Radio 4 joins the BBC World Service.
FRI 05:20 Shipping Forecast (b00cx5z2)
The latest shipping forecast.
FRI 05:30 News Briefing (b00cx5z4)
The latest news from BBC Radio 4.
FRI 05:43 Prayer for the Day (b00cx5z6)
Daily prayer and reflection with Canon Noel Battye.
FRI 05:45 Farming Today (b00cx5z8)
News and issues in rural Britain, with Charlotte Smith.
FRI 06:00 Today (b00cx5zb)
With John Humphrys and James Naughtie. Including Sports Desk; Weather; Thought for the Day.
FRI 09:00 Desert Island Discs (b00cx1ds)
[Repeat of broadcast at
11:15 on Sunday]
FRI 09:45 Book of the Week (b00cy5c8)
Travels on the Dance Floor
Candy Car Wash
Grevel Lindop reads from his account of how he took up salsa dancing, became hooked on it and embarked upon an odyssey to explore its roots.
In the Dominican Republic, Grevel finds an unlikely venue. On his return to Manchester, he no longer dances like an Englishman, but what will his wife make of the new Grevel?
FRI 10:00 Woman's Hour (b00cx8hw)
Asthma; Pakistani art
Are women more likely to suffer from asthma? Plus, the rising global popularity of Pakistani art; and the film version of Miss Pettigrew Lives for A Day reviewed.
FRI 11:00 Romany Roads (b007vz26)
Series 1
Episode 1
Series charting the history of gypsies and their culture.
Professor Yoran Matras of Manchester University considers the Romany language and its influence on other tongues. Ian Hancock, Professor of Romany Studies at the University of Texas, explores the gypsy diaspora across Europe and how the travellers were received.
FRI 11:30 Mark Tavener - High Table, Lower Orders (b00hg9n4)
Series 2
Episode 6
Can Simon gather the evidence to prove who the killer is and stop more murders? Mark Tavener's comedy-thriller with Geoffrey Palmer and Samuel West.
FRI 12:00 You and Yours (b00cx8wc)
Presented by Carolyn Atkinson and John Waite.
Including:
With rising fuel prices, several American states are offering public em[ployees a four-day week to help cut the cost of commuting. What are other countries doing to reduce their consumption? With Mike Shelton, Oklahoma State Representative.
How one woman aims to set up Britain's first 'scam-free village'.
Problems associated with taking the fingerprints of people over 75 might jeopardise the national ID Card system. With Mike Fairhurst, Professor of Computer Vision at the University of Kent.
The BBC's Chris Jeavens is half-way through a month-long experiment of living without buying plastic. What are the biggest problems she has faced and how does she respond to those who think the whole exercise is a waste of time?
Face The Facts: John Waite investigates the Dore programme, advertised as a cure for dyslexia. Is the programme's marketing misleading and is it really a cure?
FRI 12:57 Weather (b00cx8wf)
The latest weather forecast.
FRI 13:00 World at One (b00cx8wh)
National and international news with Shaun Ley.
FRI 13:30 For One Night Only (b007xgjy)
Series 5
The Prom of Peace
Series in which Paul Gambaccini recalls classic concerts.
On August 21, 1968, Russian tanks entered Czechoslovakia to put an end to Alexander Dubcek's Prague Spring. An extraordinary irony saw the Soviet State Symphony Orchestra making its debut at the Proms on the same day in a programme featuring Czech composer Antonin Dvorak's Cello Concerto. The performance by soloist Mstislav Rostropovich remains one of the greatest ever live recordings of the piece.
FRI 14:00 The Archers (b00cxbwj)
[Repeat of broadcast at
19:00 on Thursday]
FRI 14:15 Drama (b00cxy4m)
Whispering
Psychological thriller about adultery and murder by Campbell Armstrong.
Ted and Lucy are in love but are forced by circumstance into secret trysts, furtive meetings and the occasional overnight in hotels when Ted can get away. Ted's sick wife is contemptuous of him, but how could he leave her at a time like this? The lovers will have to be patient. Then Cassie dies, leaving a diary.
Ted ...... John McAndrew
Lucy ...... Amy Clifton
Directed by Nigel Lewis.
FRI 15:00 Ramblings (b00cxy4p)
Series 10
Ireland - Lough Allen
Clare Balding explores holiday walking routes.
Walking from St Hugh's to St Bridget's wells on the shores of Lough Allen in the Republic of Ireland, Clare is joined by a group of local women who have fallen in love with the area. Aedin McCloughlin, the originator of the walk, hopes that the healing properties of these sacred places might give some relief to Clare's bad back.
FRI 15:30 Afternoon Reading (b00cy2kd)
Mothers and Sons
A Song
Stories by Colm Toibin. Poignant memories are triggered by a song about treacherous love. Read by Cillian Murphy.
FRI 15:45 A Dollar a Day (b0090qmb)
China
Mike Wooldridge presents a series asking whether the global target of halving world poverty by 2015 can be achieved and what living on a dollar a day really means.
The Chinese economic boom has succeeded in lifting millions out of poverty, but many in rural areas continue to face an insecure existence.
FRI 16:00 Last Word (b00cylw1)
Jane Little presents the obituary series, analysing and celebrating the life stories of people who have recently died. The programme reflects on people of distinction and interest from many walks of life, some famous and some less well known.
FRI 16:30 The Film Programme (b00cylw3)
Matthew Sweet unites the star and director of What a Carve Up with Jonathan Coe, who borrowed the title and the plot of the 1961 farce as inspiration for his best-selling novel. Pat Jackson and former Bond girl Shirley Eaton describe their emotions when they first read the novel and what they think of the film on its DVD release.
FRI 16:56 1968 Day by Day (b00cxbkn)
15th August 1968
John Tusa looks back at the events making the news 40 years ago. Record producer Mickie Most explains the secret of his success.
FRI 17:00 PM (b00cxbkq)
Full coverage and analysis of the day's news, presented by Eddie Mair.
FRI 18:00 Six O'Clock News (b00cxbks)
The latest national and international news from BBC Radio 4, followed by Weather.
FRI 18:30 Armando Iannucci's Charm Offensive (b00cymp0)
Series 4
Episode 1
The comedy zookeeper unleashes his menagerie of laugh-beasts. With Robin Ince, Lucy Porter and Matt Kirshen. From August 2008.
FRI 19:00 The Archers (b00cxbwn)
Brian tells Will that he can understand why Will's planning to leave. Will can't believe that Brian's friend is offering him a six month attachment at a shoot in Gloucestershire. Will can't guarantee he'd ever come back but Brian's prepared to cross that bridge when they get to it.
Jennifer's furious at the state Alice came home in. Alice is hung-over but Jennifer insists she texts Chris to tell him she'll pay for the taxi. Chris turns up. Alice says she's sorry about everything but Chris assures her he had a great night -and wants to do it again! Alice didn't mean to lead Chris on but doesn't want to hurt his feelings either.
Adam finds Alice lost for words. After everything that happened, she thinks Chris has just asked her out.
Clarrie's shocked to learn about Will's new job, especially when he says it might be better if he doesn't see George. Will's still convinced he's not fit to be a father. He doesn't know what he's capable of any more, so the only way he can protect George is by getting away.
Episode written by Mary Cutler.
FRI 19:15 Front Row (b00cxbwq)
Presented by Kirsty Lang.
Including:
Dirk Bogarde was known principally as a star of more than sixty films and a critically acclaimed author. To a privileged few, however, he was also a prolific correspondent. A selection of his letters, beginning as Dirk and his companion Anthony Forwood start a new life in France, is published at the end of the month. Whitbread-winning author Tim Lott reviews the selection.
Scottish playwright David Harrower's new work 365, in collaboration with the National Theatre of Scotland, explores what happens when children in care have to move into the adult world.
In 1967, then a young art student in San Francisco, Emory Douglas joined the newly formed Black Panthers Party and was appointed the organisation's Minister of Culture. The first UK exhibition of his work opens at Urbis in Manchester in October. Douglas talks to Kirsty about his art.
Kirsty reports on the Threadneedle Figurative Prize, a new award whose winner will be chosen by public vote. Kirsty explores the candidates with the help of the Mall gallery's director Lewis McNaught and art critic Anna Moszynska.
FRI 19:45 15 Minute Drama (b00cxjqk)
The Pillow Book
Episode 5
Robert Forrest's thriller and love story set in the court of the Empress Sadako in 10th-century Japan.
The palace criminal is discovered, but exposing him may cost Shonagon and Yukinari their lives.
Shonagon ...... Ruth Gemmell
Yukinari ...... Mark Bazeley
Empress ...... Laura Rees
Tadanobu ...... Benedict Cumberbatch
Narimasa ...... John Rowe
Emperor ...... Richard Madden.
FRI 20:00 Any Questions? (b00cymp2)
Jonathan Dimbleby chairs the topical debate from Ottery St Mary, Devon.
Panellists include Eden Project chief Tim Smit, political commentator Iain Dale, Cambridge University Professor of Classics Mary Beard and Reader's Digest editor-in-chief Sarah Sands.
FRI 20:50 A Point of View (b00cymp4)
A weekly reflection on a topical issue from Katharine Whitehorn.
FRI 21:00 Friday Drama (b00cxy4r)
This Is a True Story
The story of Howard Neal, based on his own handwritten accounts and adapted for radio by Pia Di Mattina from a stage version by Nick Harrington and Tom Wright.
Howard, who has a low IQ, has been in prison for 25 years. Proceedings will soon be completed in the US courts to have him finally removed from death row on account of his mental impairment.
Howard ...... Tom Wright
Directed by Susan Roberts.
FRI 21:58 Weather (b00cxlgc)
The latest weather forecast.
FRI 22:00 The World Tonight (b00cxlgf)
National and international news and analysis with Robin Lustig.
Including features on Russia's military options in Georgia, attacks on oil pipelines in Nigeria and an alleged smear campaign against Barack Obama.
FRI 22:45 Book at Bedtime (b00cxlgh)
The Good Plain Cook
Episode 5
Sian Thomas reads from Bethan Roberts's novel set in the summer of 1936, abridged by Elizabeth Burke.
Geenie and Diana put on a play in an attempt to frame Kitty, but Geenie has a change of heart at the critical moment. Ellen's lie is exposed, but this is not the only thing she is ready to confess.
FRI 23:00 Great Lives (b00cyd3x)
[Repeat of broadcast at
16:30 on Tuesday]
FRI 23:30 Potting On (b00ksx62)
Taking a Break
Pam decides she wants to go on an exciting adventure holiday, but Gordon would much prefer the usual caravanning.
Pam and Gordon Grant are a couple at odds running a garden centre and growing older...
Sitcom by Chris Thompson and Peter Reynolds.
Starring Pam Ayres and Geoffrey Whitehead as Pam and Gordon Grant.
With Trevor Bannister, Karl Theobald and Alex Tregear.
Sitcom by Chris Thompson and Peter Reynolds.
Producer Claire Jones
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in March 2008.