The latest national and international news from BBC Radio 4, followed by weather.
Colin Matthews, chief executive of BAA, explains why a third runway is needed to make Heathrow run more smoothly.
Chair of the LGA Margaret Eaton discusses how councils can be supported to strengthen child protection work.
President of the National Farmers Union Peter Kendall discusses the future of the UK farming industry.
Zawadi Mongane, a resident of the DR of Congo, explains how traumatic she found reliving her memories of suffering.
Kevin Connolly reports from Texas, where gun sales have risen amid fears of an imminent clampdown.
Evan Davis investigates the criticism that banks are still not lending to businesses.
Prof Jane Maher, of MacMillan Cancer Support, and Prof Steve Field, of the Royal College of GPs, discuss how palliative care can be improved.
Bishop of Reading Stephen Cottrell and philosopher AC Grayling discuss celebrating a sustainable Christmas.
Former White House advisor Pippa Malmgren and business editor Robert Peston discuss the $800bn US financial rescue plan.
Chief Constable of West Mercia Paul West says police need to be given more freedom to use their judgement.
Correspondent Jonathan Head and Harry Bedford, a passenger who was stuck at Bangkok airport for 24 hours while anti-government protesters took over, discuss the situation there.
On the 300th anniversary of the completion of St Paul's Cathedral, correspondent Mike Thomson reports on the £40m raised to fund its restoration.
Does British political comedy fuel an anti-politics culture? Communities Secretary Hazel Blears and political author Michael Dobbs discuss.
Henry Goodman reads from Christopher Bigsby's biography of the prominent American playwright.
Increasing success and meeting Marilyn Monroe contribute to the deterioration of Miller's first marriage.
Women in parliament; Mental health services for children; Bodyshaping underwear
What impact has gender equality had on issues debated by politicians? Plus, mental health services for children, Thomas Hardy landscapes, and do control pants really work?
Jolyon Jenkins investigates how, in the mid-1960s, Dutch Elm Disease started to sweep through England, leaving barely a single elm tree alive in the UK. Previously unpublished archives reveal that members of public were aware of the problem and were demanding action long before the government or Forestry Commission accepted that that they had a crisis on their hands.
Constable Twitten's idea of acquiring a police dog seems an excellent idea, especially when Bobby solves a notorious murder case. But why does Bobby keep attacking poor old Mrs Groynes, and why is Steine's life suddenly in great danger?
Inspector Steine ...... Michael Fenton Stevens
Sergeant Brunswick ...... John Ramm
Mrs Groynes ...... Sam Spiro
Constable Twitten ...... Matt Green
Mystery guest ...... Ewan Bailey
Bobby ...... David Holt.
Hundreds of people have been left without concert tickets that they bought online as Ebay removes a major ticket seller from its website.
What can be learnt from the Japanese experience of recession? Twenty years ago they went through a very similar credit-fuelled property boom and bust.
As the government hopes that the public will spend the way out of a recession, comedian Steve Punt considers the wisdom of an internet campaign to get shoppers to buy nothing for 24 hours.
Scotland aims to create Europe's first official 'dark sky park', introducing visitors to the wonders of astronomy. We speak to Steve Owens, Coordinator of the UK's Dark Sky Parks Project and UK Coordinator of International Year of Astronomy 2009.
The government-commissioned independent Cave Review recommends more businesses in England and Wales should be allowed to choose who supplies their water.
Hammersmith and Fulham plans to join the majority of other councils in England and Wales and introduce charges for home care. But a group of disabled people is challenging this at the High Court.
Woolworths and MFI are in crisis as the recession continues to affect the future of retailers.
Steve Hewlett presents a topical programme about the fast-changing media world.
Paul Hilton stars as the reluctant and unthanked hero protecting mankind from an enemy they resist believing in.
Pilgrim is summoned to help retrieve an egg stolen from the Lady Ursula - a huge, powerful dragon. The egg has been stolen by the outlaw Faerie, Puck, who has holed up in a house in a small town on the outskirts of Birmingham. Puck has recruited a bunch of feral 'estate lads' to his army. Indeed, he has bewitched the whole town. Pilgrim must retrieve the egg before Ursula can exact a terrible retribution.
Series of readings that reflect the experience of immigrants to the UK over the past 60 years.
Novelist Gillian Slovo reflects on leaving her native South Africa for England as she entered adolescence and the difficulties she had in adjusting to her new life.
Ian Marchant visits Ludlow, gourmet capital of England, to find out what happens to the food that gets thrown away. It gets swallowed up by the country's first anaerobic digestion plant - once the knives and forks have been removed.
According to Michael Thompson, former mountaineer, professional soldier, sociologist and advisor to governments around the world, there are five ways to organise everything, and the best organisations use all five methods.
Laurie Taylor is joined by Michael Thompson author of Organising and Disorganising, and philosopher John Gray to discuss the hierarchical, the individualistic, the egalitarian, the fatalistic and the autonomous – ways in which things can be organised, and forces that disorganise the other ways.
What is the best way for things to run? Is John Gray’s contention just a theory too far and can there really be a way to describe everything from a tea party to the United Nations?
Full coverage and analysis of the day's news with Eddie Mair. Plus Weather.
The latest national and international news from BBC Radio 4, followed by Weather.
Clare finds it difficult to resist interfering when she discovers Helen's son in a squat around the corner rather than in Borneo...
Comedy by Harry Venning and David Ramsden. Clare Barker is a social worker with all the politically correct jargon but none of the practical solutions.
Clare ...... Sally Phillips
Brian ...... Alex Lowe
Ray ...... Richard Lumsden
Helen ...... Gemma Craven
Irene ...... Ellen Thomas
Megan ...... Nina Conti
Simon ...... Andrew Wincott
It's the day of the Christmas Decoration Swap in Ambridge, and Susan struggles in with the huge inflatable snowman which has graced her mum and dad's front lawn for the past few years. She's depressed to see that Sabrina isn't there with the coveted baubles from her tree last year. Then, right at the end when David takes over her table for a moment, in comes Sabrina with her old decorations and her children pleading for the snowman. Susan is in seventh heaven.
Meanwhile, Alistair is out doing a bit of Christmas shopping and comes across Ryan in a jewellers. He's buying an expensive necklace, and he tells Alistair he's had a win. Alistair tries to tell him that his wife would probably have much preferred him to pay off some of his debt. He congratulates Ryan for not putting all the money straight into another bet, but Ryan is angry and leaves.
Alistair tells Shula about it when he gets home. For all he knows, the necklace is in the pawnshop by now. Shula is concerned, telling Alistair not to get too involved.
Oscar-winning actress Angelina Jolie talks to Mark about her new film Changeling, in which she plays a lone mother fighting police corruption after her son goes missing and the wrong child is returned to her.
Mark Frith reviews a new documentary, The Jacksons are Coming, which gains access to one of the most famous families in show business. Filmmaker Jane Preston follows Tito, one-time guitarist of the Jackson 5, and assorted members of the family as they leave LA, to search for a home in a Devon fishing village.
Pulitzer prize winner Tracy Letts talks about how Oklahoma's history influenced the writing of his epic play about family relationships, August: Osage Country, which opens at London's National Theatre following a successful production on Broadway by the Steppenwolf Theatre company.
Victor Pasmore was an influential abstract artist, working in St Ives with Ben Nicholson and Barbara Hepworth and later creating the controversial pavilion at Peterlee new town. One hundred years after his birth, Tate Britain has a room devoted to his work. Critic Bill Feaver discusses Pasmore's painting style.
By Nick Warburton. Collection of anecdotes by genial eccentric John Aubrey about the great and good of the 16th and 17th centuries, set against the story of his friendship with Oxford antiquarian Anthony Wood.
John Aubrey ...... James Fleet
Anthony Wood ...... John Rowe
Michael Buerk chairs a debate on the moral questions behind the week's news. Clifford Longley, Kenan Malik, Michael Portillo and Melanie Phillips cross-examine witnesses.
MPs and peers from across the political spectrum share their stories and top tips for surviving life in Westminster with Guardian political sketchwriter Simon Hoggart.
Amanda Root reads from Gillian Slovo's love story, set in 1950s Ceylon and London.
As her family's return to England looms, Evelyn receives an unexpected proposal from the eminently suitable Tommy.
Series of brief musical comedies by Dave Cohen, David Quantick and Richie Webb.
Feeling unloved and unnoticed, Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg is granted three wishes.
Dave's family try therapy to halt his descent, but he can't see the point - what's wrong with living in a storage unit?
Dave ...... Reece Shearsmith.
Geoff ...... Mark Heap.
Ron ...... Tom Goodman-Hill
American ...... Phil Nicol
Judy ...... Rosie Cavaliero.
Sarah ...... Susan Earl.
Dad ...... Philip Jackson
THURSDAY 27 NOVEMBER 2008
THU 00:00 Midnight News (b00fkhrx)
The latest national and international news from BBC Radio 4, followed by weather.
THU 00:30 Book of the Week (b00fpyp9)
[Repeat of broadcast at
09:45 on Wednesday]
THU 00:48 Shipping Forecast (b00fkhv1)
The latest shipping forecast.
THU 01:00 Selection of BBC World Service Programmes (b00fkhwb)
BBC Radio 4 joins the BBC World Service.
THU 05:20 Shipping Forecast (b00fkhxr)
The latest shipping forecast.
THU 05:30 News Briefing (b00fkhzc)
The latest news from BBC Radio 4.
THU 05:43 Prayer for the Day (b00fkj1f)
Daily prayer and reflection with Rev Stephen Shipley.
THU 05:45 Farming Today (b00fkj4d)
News and issues in rural Britain, presented by Charlotte Smith.
THU 06:00 Today (b00fklcy)
Presented by James Naughtie and Evan Davis.
Rahul Roy-Chaudhury and MEP Sajjad Karim discuss the terrorism attacks in Mumbai.
Mark Hutchings and David Miles, chief UK economist at Morgan Stanley, discuss how the housing market can recover.
Administrator for MFI Phil Duffy says the stores are remaining open and will be trading.
Security correspondents Jonathan Beale and Frank Gardner discuss the response of world leaders to the terrorism in Mumbai.
Thought for the day with Dr Elaine Storkey, president of Tearfund.
Chief executive of the RSC Dr Richard Pike and the director of the National Science Learning Centre, Professor John Holman, discuss the standard of science examinations.
British High Commissioner to India Sir Richard Stagg describes the extent of the devastation in Mumbai.
Britain is running out of mycologists (people who study fungi in all its diverse forms). Environment correspondent Sarah Mukherjee reports.
City economist David B Smith discusses the drying up of the mortgage market with George Magnus, a senior economic advisor at UBS Investment Bank.
Rahul Tandon gives a graphic account of the human loss in the terrorist attacks in Mumbai.
Lord Robertson discusses whether the diplomatic strategy in Afghanistan needs to be changed.
Britain should not engage with 24-hour news in the way the United States has, a new book suggests. Author Charles Feldman discusses whether rolling news leaves no time to think with the controller of the BBC News channel, Kevin Bakhurst.
Chris Morris gives the latest developments on the hostage crisis in the Taj Mahal Hotel in Mumbai.
THU 09:00 In Our Time (b00flwh9)
The Great Reform Act
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the Great Reform Act of 1832. The Act redrew the map of British politics in the wake of the Industrial Revolution and is a landmark in British political history.“We must get the suffrage, we must get votes, that we may send the men to Parliament who will do our work for us; …and we must have the country divided so that the little kings of the counties can't do as they like, but must be shaken up in one bag with us.” So declares a working class reformist in George Eliot’s novel Felix Holt: the Radical. It is set in 1832, the year of the so-called “Great Reform Act” which extended the vote and gave industrial cities such as Manchester and Birmingham political representation for the first time. But to what extent was Britain’s political system transformed by the Great Reform Act? What were the causes of reform in the first place and was the Act designed to encourage democracy in Britain or to head it off?
THU 09:45 Book of the Week (b00fpypc)
Arthur Miller
Episode 4
Henry Goodman reads from Christopher Bigsby's biography of the prominent American playwright.
Miller begins work on The Crucible and is summoned to appear before the House Un-American Activities Committee.
THU 10:00 Woman's Hour (b00fkp7g)
Vulnerable women in the criminal justice system; Kathryn Stott
What is being done to divert women offenders from custodial sentences? Plus reducing the rate of teenage pregnancy, and pianist Kathryn Stott on her CD of dances.
THU 11:00 Crossing Continents (b00fm02z)
Sri Lanka
Roland Buerk investigates the lengths to which the Sri Lankan army and its proxies have gone to ensure victory in their war against the Tamil Tigers. With victory now in sight, Roland uncovers a trail of civilian massacres and abductions.
THU 11:30 A Fine Defence of Enid Blyton (b00fm031)
Recently Anne Fine decided to re-read some of Enid Blyton's work, to try and discover just what it was about her that she had loved as a child. For years she had ignored Blyton's work, in part because of the constant drip, drip, drip of disapproval that has accompanied her books for many decades. But, on going back to her battered old Blytons, she realised exactly why she had found her books so captivating - they are remarkably good reads - real page turners.
Anne Fine does not deny that Blyton is the creator of creaking plots and cardboard characters ........ the author of jolly and exciting adventures, in which the most enormous amounts of food are consumed by children who are far from obese ..... and a writer dogged by accusations of racism and sexism. And yet her books have outsold all other children's authors. In August this year, she was voted the UK's best-loved writer. Her work has been translated into 40 different languages and she's sold over 500 million books worldwide.
A Fine Defence of Enid Blyton includes extracts from a rare interview with her only surviving daughter, Imogen Smallwood, and contributions her official biographer, Barbara Stoney, as well as the UK's leading Blyton scholar, Dr David Rudd [Professor of Children's literature at Bolton University]. There are also archive recordings of Enid herself, her elder daughter [Gillian Baverstock] and her brother Hanley. The reader is Miriam Margolyes.
Anne Fine has written over 40 books for children and adults. She has been Children's Laureate and has won many prizes for her writing [including the Guardian Children's Fiction Prize, the Smarties Prize and the Carnegie Medal].
Producer: Helen Lee
THU 12:00 You and Yours (b00fkp9d)
Presented by Winifred Robinson.
The administrators are in at MFI. Will everyone get a full refund or the goods they've paid for? John Field, of government funded advice service Consumer Direct, discusses.
US economist Robert Shiller outlines his ideas for solving the global financial crisis that was triggered by the explosion in subprime housing loans.
The organisers of the 2012 Olympics face the toughest economic circumstances in which to stage the games apart from wartime. That was the view of one member of the international Olympic committee which has been in London this week. Melanie Abbott has been catching up with what they have been up to.
Britain is a nation of gardeners but nothing, it seems, is immune from the economic downturn. Horticulture Week, the magazine for the gardening industry, is full of stories about a fall-off in trade and how to get customers back.
The idea of a wild garden might strike some people as a lazy option but many gardens are now too tidy for local wildlife to inhabit. So what can you do to make your garden wild again?
A report out today by the Commission for Integrated Transport says the future of rural public transport lies in schemes that allow people to travel when they want and where they want, and that that can often be better provided by subsidised taxis than buses. Mark Holdstock looks at how some of these personalised schemes work.
Credit card lenders have been called in for a meeting with ministers and sent away to look at the interest rates they are charging customers, particularly those under pressure. Pula Houghton attended the meeting.
THU 12:57 Weather (b00fkpby)
The latest weather forecast.
THU 13:00 World at One (b00fkpd5)
National and international news with Martha Kearney.
THU 13:30 Open Country (b00fjc6h)
[Repeat of broadcast at
06:07 on Saturday]
THU 14:00 The Archers (b00fkpfv)
[Repeat of broadcast at
19:00 on Wednesday]
THU 14:15 Drama (b00fm033)
Development
Doug Lucie's dark comedy about the credit crunch, set in Britain in 2008. Mike is a property developer who appears to have it all, but the foundations are shaky.
When the debts are called in, his au pair's brother offers a solution, but is it what it seems?
Cast:
Mike ..... Mark Bazeley
Zoe ..... Samantha Spiro
Marie ..... Amy Shindler
Joe ..... Ashley Cook
Tatyana ..... Larissa Kouznetsova
Leo ..... Basher Savage
Location Recordist: David Chilton
Sound Designer: Lucinda Mason Brown
Producer: Janet Whitaker
A Goldhawk Essential Production for BBC Radio 4.
THU 15:00 Journey of a Lifetime (b007703f)
2006: Living with Rubbish
Philosophy graduate Jessica Boyd and environmentalist Bill Finnegan were the 2006 winners of the BBC/Royal Geographical Society's annual competition for travellers who want to fulfil their dream journey.
This programme follows them as they visit the outskirts of Cairo, home to a community of 23,000 people whose livelihoods depend on the city's waste. The Zabbaleen came as pig-farmers from Upper Egypt 60 years ago to form a thriving and complex economy based on what others throw away.
THU 15:27 Radio 4 Appeal (b00fk9rx)
[Repeat of broadcast at
07:55 on Sunday]
THU 15:30 Afternoon Reading (b00fnrpr)
Points of Entry
A Rigor Mortis of the Tongue and Other Earthly Things
Series of readings that reflect the experience of immigrants to the UK over the past 60 years.
Story about a young Zimbabwean, newly arrived in London, as he struggles to make connections in his new homeland.
THU 15:45 A Load of Rubbish (b00fq4fw)
Episode 4
It's not the romance of rail, but every night ghostly rubbish trains travel from Bristol and London to a landfill site deep in the Buckinghamshire countryside. Just a few hours closure would cause a crisis in our cities. Ian Marchant meets the people saving us from drowning in our own waste.
THU 16:00 Open Book (b00fkgnl)
[Repeat of broadcast at
16:00 on Sunday]
THU 16:30 Material World (b00fm3lb)
Titan
Quentin Cooper joins scientists from the Open University as they drop space instruments onto Chesil Beach in Dorset in search of clues about one of Saturn's moons, Titan.
They have been working on a tiny amount of data obtained by the US/European Cassini mission's Huygens probe, which landed on Titan in January 2005. To get the most out of this data, they have since performed controlled drops of similar instruments on a wide variety of different surfaces on Earth, the latest of which is this experiment on Chesil Beach.
THU 17:00 PM (b00fkqtv)
Full coverage and analysis of the day's news with Eddie Mair. Plus Weather.
THU 18:00 Six O'Clock News (b00fkqwf)
The latest national and international news from BBC Radio 4, followed by Weather.
THU 18:30 Act Your Age (b00fn0vg)
Series 1
Episode 1
Simon Mayo discovers which generation is the funniest. With Jon Richardson, Lucy Porter and Roy Walker. From November 2008.
THU 19:00 The Archers (b00fkpfx)
Alan and Usha have come to an agreement about the furniture - they load it into a van and take it to an auction house. Alan is happy for it to be used by someone else. However, when they get to the auctioneers, the furniture is rejected. Alan is astonished - as far as he's concerned, it's all good stuff - but they are forced to take it to a charity.
Hayley and Roy sample Tom's bacon, and it's a success even though Roy smothers his in ketchup. The builders are still crashing around outside. They go and see Peggy, and are amazed at the amount of wood in the garden from one branch. Hayley volunteers Roy to build a bench from it with Mike. Roy is not keen, but Peggy is. Lilian tells Jennifer to go and enjoy meeting Marshall. Jennifer says she owes Lilian one.
Peggy expresses her worry to Alan about the strain on her family. He encourages her, telling her how well she's doing. Just for a while, she'll have to lean on other people. It's payback time.
Episode written by Joanna Toye.
THU 19:15 Front Row (b00fkqy8)
Presented by Mark Lawson.
Actor David Morrissey discusses his TV, film and theatre career and his current role in a new play by Neil Labute, In a Dark Dark House, about a pair of brothers with dark secrets.
As Mamma Mia! becomes the fastest selling DVD of all time in the UK (according to Official UK Charts Company figures) creators Phyllida Lloyd and Catherine Johnson discuss the making of the film version and what reward the film company has given them.
After fifteen years of rumours, Guns N' Roses finally release their fourth full-length studio album of original material, Chinese Democracy, despite the fact that lead singer Axl Rose is the only remaining member of the original band. In the same week, stadium fillers The Killers also release their new album, Day And Age, a mere two years after their last hit the shelves. To review both albums Mark is joined by music critic Laura Lee Davies.
The strapline for the film comedy Four Christmases says: His father, her mother, his mother and her father all in one day, and stars Reese Witherspoon and Vince Vaughn as a couple whose parents are all divorced. Nev Pierce from Empire magazine looks at other examples of films which depict key changes in the family from Guess Who's Coming to Dinner to Brokeback Mountain.
THU 19:45 15 Minute Drama (b00fkr48)
Aubrey's Brief Lives
Hardened by Degrees
By Nick Warburton. Collection of anecdotes by genial eccentric John Aubrey about the great and good of the 16th and 17th centuries, set against the story of his friendship with Oxford antiquarian Anthony Wood.
The book is published, but disaster strikes.
John Aubrey ...... James Fleet
Anthony Wood ...... John Rowe
Directed by Abigail le Fleming.
THU 20:00 It's My Story (b00fm5s2)
Earfull - From Silence into Sound
Tim has made his living as an actor for more than 40 years. All this time he has been deaf. This programme follows him over more than a year as he has tests, consultations and finally a cochlea implant operation, and can hear again.
Tim tells his story of emerging from silence into sound, and interwoven with this is a performance of Earfull, his one-man play which chronicles his move from soldier to actor, and, as he loses his hearing, from sound to silence.
Tim, who is in his 70s, grew up in Blackpool, joined the army and just before he was posted overseas his girlfriend called to say she loved him. He could not make out what she said because his new rifle had damaged his hearing.
Later he did marry, had two children and with only six years to go to qualify for a pension, came back to London on leave. He went to a matinee of The Mousetrap. There cannot be many whose lives were changed by this pot-boiler, but Barlow's was. He realised that what he really wanted to be was not an army officer but an actor.
Despite his deafness (Olivier wrote that he too had hearing problems and Barlow should go for it anyway) he trained at the Old Vic in Bristol. It cost him - his wife left, taking the children, and he didn't get the army pension. But for 40 years now he has been an actor: working with Complicité, the RSC, Manchester Royal Exchange; he has made a living, so has been fairly successful.
But Tim's life is changing again. Over the past year or so he has been advised, assessed, tested and finally has had a cochlea implant, the insertion of an electro-magnet that directly stimulates his nerves to produce sound images.
Throughout the process, from the initial tests at St Thomas's Hospital to the final tuning up, recordings were made. As the drill goes through his skull to place the device the microphone is only inches away. And the moment when it was switched on is captured too, and for the first time after four decades Tim hears someone speaking to him.
At every stage Tim reflects on what is happening to him. He has been deaf for so long the prospect of hearing is daunting. Will it work? How will it affect his acting, and his life? Woven into this narrative is that of his play Earfull, a recorded live performance. The story is of falling into silence, but at the same time into acting, and the emergence from silence back into sound.
But the programme does not simply tell Tim Barlow's story. At first a cochlea implant gives the aural equivalent of a pixilated visual image. Voices sound, Tim says, like Darth Vader's, and this is worked on to make it clearer and more subtle. Radio recreates this process so, rather than having it described, the listener experiences what Tim hears.
THU 20:30 Analysis (b00fm5s4)
Paying The Piper
Frances Cairncross examines what lessons must be learned from the events of the credit crunch and the effects it has had on the capitalist system.
THU 21:00 Leading Edge (b00fm5s6)
The Secret of Ageing
The Secret of Ageing
David Sinclair of Harvard Medical School has made an unlikely discovery, published this week's journal Cell. Genes which control ageing in yeast also control life span in mice. Mice were able to live 20% longer by manipulation of a protein. But what does this mean for humans? Geoff finds out.
Particle Accelerators prevent Wine Fraud
Imagine you’d paid £100,000 for a bottle of wine – only to discover that your prized ‘antique’ was a forgery. Now French scientists are using a particle accelerator to date wines. Rami Tzabar investigates.
House of Lords Science and Technology Committee
Where might you go to hear about some of the current and more controversial developments in genetics? In recent weeks Westminster, as the House of Lords Science and Technology committee investigate the future of genomics and medicine.
Minimising Pain
Oxford psychologist Professor Charles Spence has a unlikely new treatment for patients who suffer pain. While it may seem bizarre, viewing the affected area through a minimising lens lessens the pain.
THU 21:30 In Our Time (b00flwh9)
[Repeat of broadcast at
09:00 today]
THU 21:58 Weather (b00fkr6b)
The latest weather forecast.
THU 22:00 The World Tonight (b00fkr8j)
National and international news and analysis with Robin Lustig. Including the latest from Mumbai and the stories of some of those caught up in the attacks, reflections from the Indian novelist Arundhati Roy, whether the Danes are ready to change their minds about the euro and a jungle is revealed in Cornwall.
THU 22:45 Book at Bedtime (b00fks9d)
Black Orchids
Episode 4
Amanda Root reads from Gillian Slovo's love story, set in 1950s Ceylon and London.
Evelyn cannot wait to start her new life as she and her young son, Milton, sail into London.
THU 23:00 Cowards (b00fm5s8)
Series 2
Episode 3
Step inside the strange and happy world of the Cowards.
Series 2 of sketch comedy with a comic slant on human frailties
Starring Tom Basden, Stefan Golaszewski, Tim Key and Lloyd Woolf.
Producer: Victoria Lloyd
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in November 2008.
THU 23:30 Today in Parliament (b00fkrf9)
News, views and features on today's stories in Parliament with Robert Orchard.
FRIDAY 28 NOVEMBER 2008
FRI 00:00 Midnight News (b00fkhrz)
The latest national and international news from BBC Radio 4, followed by weather.
FRI 00:30 Book of the Week (b00fpypc)
[Repeat of broadcast at
09:45 on Thursday]
FRI 00:48 Shipping Forecast (b00fkhv3)
The latest shipping forecast.
FRI 01:00 Selection of BBC World Service Programmes (b00fkhwd)
BBC Radio 4 joins the BBC World Service.
FRI 05:20 Shipping Forecast (b00fkhxt)
The latest shipping forecast.
FRI 05:30 News Briefing (b00fkhzf)
The latest news from BBC Radio 4.
FRI 05:43 Prayer for the Day (b00fkj1h)
Daily prayer and reflection with Rev Stephen Shipley.
FRI 05:45 Farming Today (b00fkj4g)
News and issues in rural Britain, presented by Charlotte Smith.
FRI 06:00 Today (b00fkld0)
Presented by James Naughtie and Edward Stourton.
Former head of India's Intelligence Bureau Arun Bhagat discusses relations between India and Pakistan with security correspondent Gordon Corera.
Technology reporter Rory Cellan-Jones and Nicholas Landsman, of the Internet Services Providers' Association, discuss whether 100 million Facebook accounts can be screened for illegal material.
Prof David Salisbury, head of immunisation at the NHS, discusses why figures for measles cases in England and Wales are so high.
MP David Davis says the arrest of MP Damian Green is designed to intimidate whistleblowers in Whitehall.
Robert Peston discusses the government's decision to take a 57.9 per cent stake in RBS.
Norman Smith explains why Lord Mandelson is one of the busiest members of the cabinet.
Thought for the Day with Vishvapani, of the Western Buddhist Order.
Chris Huhne MP discusses the relationship between Sir Ian Blair and Boris Johnson.
Mark Abell describes his rescue from the Oberoi Trident hotel in Mumbai.
Treeva Fenwick reports on the auction of an artefact that is said to have inspired Paul McCartney.
Immigration Minister Phil Woolas says that being tough on immigration is not immoral or unmerciful.
Prof Duncan McCargo discusses the diplomatic situation in Thailand.
Prof Malcolm Lyons and Robert Irwin discuss a new translation of The Arabian Nights.
Beth Trachtenberg and Norman Lebrecht discuss whether there are some subjects that should be out of bounds in theatres.
Former president of the Association of Chief Police Officers Sir Chris Fox discusses why immigration minister Damian Green was arrested.
Writer Edna Fernandes discusses if an angry, alienated Muslim minority could be responsible for the attacks in Mumbai.
FRI 09:00 Desert Island Discs (b00fkbrf)
[Repeat of broadcast at
11:15 on Sunday]
FRI 09:45 Book of the Week (b00fpypf)
Arthur Miller
Episode 5
Henry Goodman reads from Christopher Bigsby's biography of the prominent American playwright.
The newly-married Miller and Marilyn Monroe are tested by a miscarriage and Monroe's emotional vulnerability. Miller attempts to halt the disintegration of their marriage by writing a screenplay for Monroe, The Misfits, but the filming of the movie has unintended consequences.
FRI 10:00 Woman's Hour (b00fkp7j)
Working mothers; Helen Newlove; Mince
Does having a mother who works make daughters keen to follow her influence? Plus, Helen Newlove on the death of her husband Gary, and chef Andrew Nutter on ways to cook mince.
FRI 11:00 The Goulash Archipelago (b00fm6m6)
Episode 2
British jazz bass player Arnie Somogyi and his friend the Hungarian guitarist Zsolt Bende travel through the Carpathian mountains, only eating what they are given in exchange for playing their music.
The odd couple head for their final destination, the unpromisingly named village of Kommando.
Conclusion of a two-part adventure.
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in November 2008.
FRI 11:30 Fags, Mags and Bags (b00fm6m8)
Series 2
Rameshtonite
Trouble looms for Ramesh as his banter nemesis Tom Skilliter re-appears after 20 years.
Award-winning comedy set in a Scottish corner shop, written by and starring Sanjeev Kohli and Donald McLeary.
Ramesh ... Sanjeev Kohli
Dave ... Donald McLeary
Alok ... Susheel Kumar
Sanjay ... Omar Raza
Father Henderson ... Gerard Kelly
Ted ... Gavin Mitchell
Tom Skilliter ... Tom Urie
Joan Begg ... Marjory Hogarth
Director: Iain Davidson
Producer: Gus Beattie
A Comedy Unit production for BBC Radio 4.
FRI 12:00 Food and Farming Awards (b00fvfsw)
Food and Farming Awards 2008
Sheila Dillon hosts the ninth Food and Farming Awards, held at the NEC, Birmingham. Angela Hartnett and Jamie Oliver are among the guests announcing the winners of categories such as Best Food Producer and Best Dinner Lady.
FRI 12:57 Weather (b00fkpc0)
The latest weather forecast.
FRI 13:00 World at One (b00fkpd7)
National and international news with Shaun Ley.
FRI 13:30 Feedback (b00fm9j3)
Roger Bolton airs listeners' views on BBC radio programmes and policy.
FRI 14:00 The Archers (b00fkpfx)
[Repeat of broadcast at
19:00 on Thursday]
FRI 14:15 Drama (b00fm9j5)
Whitechapel Dreams
By Bernard Kops.
Widower Leo Silver is about to reluctantly retire as a librarian at Whitechapel Library when he encounters Aleya, a young Muslim girl seeking refuge in the library after a furious argument with her father. He is touched by her plight and, with the help of the literary 'ghosts' of the library, tries to help her through her dilemma.
Leo Silver ...... Edward Halsted
Aleya ...... Ruth D'Silva
Isaac ...... Gunnar Cauthery
Aleya's father ...... Paul Bhattacharjee
Bernard Kops ...... Himself.
FRI 15:00 Ramblings (b00fm9th)
Series 11
Cornish Coast
Clare Balding walks along the Cornish coast in the company of novelist Patrick Gale, who explains how the area has been the inspiration and setting for many of his books and why walking forms a vital part of his creative process.
FRI 15:30 Afternoon Reading (b00fnrpt)
Points of Entry
Bread Heap and a Dreamer
Series of readings that reflect the experience of immigrants to the UK over the past 60 years.
By Hassan Bahri. Story about a prisoner who refuses to give in to his torturers and finds strength in the words scratched on the walls of his cell.
FRI 15:45 A Load of Rubbish (b00fq4j6)
Episode 5
Ian Marchant visits Newport, home of the country's biggest fridge graveyard, and sees them reduced to piles of shrapnel - along with televisions, cars and scrap metal.
FRI 16:00 Last Word (b00fm9tk)
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.
FRI 16:30 The Film Programme (b00fm9tm)
Robert Carlyle, the star of Trainspotting and The Full Monty discusses his movie, Summer, with its director Kenny Glenaan.
The creator of the stage musical Mamma Mia! and producer of the film adaptation, Judy Craymer, discusses its record-breaking success at the British box-office
Deewaar, one of the films that made Amitabh Bachchan a legend is reviewed by our Bollywood expert, Anil Sinanan.
Michael Radford, the director of Il Postino, 1984 and new release Flawless recommends Pasolini's neo-realist epic, The Gospel According to St Matthew, as a DVD to rent or buy.
FRI 17:00 PM (b00fkqty)
Full coverage and analysis of the day's news with Eddie Mair. Plus Weather.
FRI 18:00 Six O'Clock News (b00fkqwj)
The latest national and international news from BBC Radio 4, followed by Weather.
FRI 18:30 The Now Show (b00fm9tp)
Series 25
Episode 1
Comedy sketches and satirical comments from Steve Punt, Hugh Dennis and the team including Mitch Benn, Marcus Brigstocke, Laura Shavin and Jon Holmes.
FRI 19:00 The Archers (b00fkpfz)
It's time for the next TB test at Grange Farm, and the tension is high. Oliver steers clear of the testing, but a delighted Ed searches for him to tell him the news face to face - no reactors! Oliver can hardly believe it, and cracks open the sloe gin.
Shula tells Kenton about Ryan - she's very worried that he'll draw Alistair back into gambling again. Kenton is sympathetic, but isn't feeling too well.
Fallon agrees to talk through the music cues and record Oliver's 'Giant's' voice with Lynda. Lynda tells Fallon her pantomime woes. It's all very difficult. Kenton and David are devising names for their slapstick double act, settling on Tripe and Onions.
Alistair tries to negotiate some changes to the very complicated special effects that are required - but Lynda is only willing to concede the waterfall. A talking harp she must have. And a pretty spectacular beanstalk too. Oliver arrives to do his Giant's lines but he's very merry indeed. All in all, Lynda is reaching total despair, until Fallon gives in and agrees that she'll play Jack.
Episode written by Joanna Toye.
FRI 19:15 Front Row (b00fkqyb)
Presented by Kirsty Lang.
Writer and critic Adam Mars-Jones joins Kirsty to discuss Wig Out!, the new play by American dramatist Tarell Alvin McCraney
Biographer Andrew Lycett tells Kirsty about The Art Of Conversation, a newly-discovered play by Dylan Thomas.
Kirsty and design expert Caroline Roux visit the Japan Car: Designs For The Crowded Globe exhibition at London's Science Museum. They consider its aims with designer Kenya Hara and architect Shigeru Ban.
Every disc in the current classical Top Twenty album chart is by a singer, a singing group or a choir. Many of the discs feature the same songs. Music writer Helen Wallace considers the choice of repertoire, and discusses why the composers get little credit.
FRI 19:45 15 Minute Drama (b00fkr42)
Aubrey's Brief Lives
Sudden Ease
By Nick Warburton. Collection of anecdotes by genial eccentric John Aubrey about the great and good of the 16th and 17th centuries, set against the story of his friendship with Oxford antiquarian Anthony Wood.
A dying Wood receives an unexpected visitor.
John Aubrey ...... James Fleet
Anthony Wood ...... John Rowe
Directed by Abigail le Fleming.
FRI 20:00 Any Questions? (b00fm9wh)
Jonathan Dimbleby chairs the topical debate in Nottingham. The panel includes transport secretary Geoff Hoon MP, shadow Cabinet member David Willetts MP, deputy leader of the Liberal Democrats Vince Cable MP and leader of the Green Party Caroline Lucas MEP.
FRI 20:50 A Point of View (b00fm9wk)
Glamourising Terror
Clive James discusses the glamorisation of terror in the movie industry. As a new film on the notorious Baader Meinhof gang is released, Clive argues that the movie version of history is often now in danger of replacing the real historical event.
FRI 21:00 Friday Drama (b00fmb1v)
The Last Time I Saw Richard
Drama documentary about the life and death of the Sri Lankan journalist and TV newsreader Richard de Zoysa, who was abducted and killed in February 1990.
Set in the preceding years, when the Sri Lankan government was undertaking a bloody crackdown of the ultra-Marxist JVP organisation with which de Zoysa was suspected to be allied. Inspired by interviews with those who knew and worked with him, with some fictional scenes.
Richard de Zoysa ...... Jehan Aloysius
Ravi ...... Wassam Ismael
Manorani ...... Tracy Holsinger
Rajiva Wijesinha ...... Sean Amarasekera
And Kandy ...... Nigel da Silva
Ranjan Wijeratne ...... Rohan Ponniah
Madura ...... Ruvin da Silva
Police Chief ...... Delon Weerasinghe
Ranjani ...... Subha Wijesikiwardena
Kusim ...... Mahomed Adamally
Young Richard ...... Hiran Abeysekera
Directed by Willi Richards.
FRI 21:58 Weather (b00fkr6d)
The latest weather forecast.
FRI 22:00 The World Tonight (b00fkr8l)
With Robin Lustig. Including the latest from Mumbai on the terror attacks, president Medvedev of Russia's visit to Cuba and whether it is our duty to shop our way out of recession.
FRI 22:45 Book at Bedtime (b00fks9g)
Black Orchids
Episode 5
Amanda Root reads from Gillian Slovo's love story, set in 1950s Ceylon and London.
Despite her life of luxury with Emil, Evelyn is bruised by the snobbery and prejudice of 1950s England.
FRI 23:00 A Good Read (b00fl0cn)
[Repeat of broadcast at
16:30 on Tuesday]
FRI 23:30 Caught on Film (b00d44xj)
At Bologna's festival Il Cinema Ritrovato, Matthew Sweet discovers how our cinematic heritage is disintegrating. From August 2008.