The latest national and international news from BBC Radio 4. Followed by Weather.
Anna Hill speaks to the scientist who has grown meat in the laboratory for the first time. He says it could eventually reach the supermarket shelves.
Rural poverty is increasing, with children being hit the hardest. The Commission for Rural Communities calls on the government to do more to help.
With James Naughtie and Sarah Montague. Including Sports Desk, Yesterday in Parliament, Weather, Thought for the Day.
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.
Michael talks to former social worker Nevres Kemal, who blew the whistle on Haringey Council before the death of Baby P.
Series in which director of the National Youth Theatre Paul Roseby examines the laborious process of creating successful pilot programmes.
Paul talks to writers whose ideas were eventually turned into pilots: Geoff Atkinson, Paul Dornan and the creators of Ed Reardon's Week, Andrew Nickolds and Christopher Douglas.
Karl Sabbagh book explores the surprising science behind seemingly trivial assumptions.
Why a hair of the dog works, how a 5,000-year-old pot could show early animation, and the question, 'is your brain is really necessary?'
Singer Annie Lennox on HIV and AIDS in South Africa. Plus, ninety years of women MPs, and the impact of cheap wool on the environment.
Ian Peacock finds out what is going on in our brain when we perceive time. He discovers why, when we're young, summer holidays seem to stretch forever. But as we age, those precious two weeks in the sun are over in a flash.
He looks at how we measure time and how it can be distorted in our minds, and asks what we can do to make the most of the precious time we have.
Jason Manford pays tribute to Jimmy Jewel, one of the most enduring showbusiness entertainers of the 20th century.
Born in December 1909, Jewel, probably best remembered today for his fractious double act with Hylda Baker in the 1960s and 70s comedy Nearest and Dearest, first took to the stage aged four. Later, as part of the variety double act Jewel and Warriss, he became a popular music hall star. Jewel continued a successful career on radio, stage and screen before cementing his position as one of the great survivors and adapters when he made the transformation to accomplished straight actor.
Jimmy Jewel's story reflects the changing face of British light entertainment over 60 years, and this programme is peppered with classic Jewel archive and includes contributions from actor Jean Boht and variety entertainer John Styles.
There are very few scores anywhere in the world of more value than Bach's famous Mass. So fragile is it that the Berlin library where it's kept (the Staatsbibliothek zu Berlin) allows only a very few people ever to see it, let alone touch it.
Choral conductor Simon Halsey and the Bach soprano Deborah York join Frances at the Library to get closer to the great German composer's extraordinary industry and to catch a glimpse of his humanity. It is often half-jokingly said that, to his fans, Bach is not so much a composer as a religion; but here, in his neat hand, are the crossings out and re-workings of a man still seeking to perfect music, much of which was written earlier in his life.
Simon Halsey has described the B-Minor Mass as 'Bach's greatest hits', since in many ways it is a compilation of pieces he had composed over a number of years. The Berlin score isn't simply a fair copy of this assembly, but shows Bach still hard at work, changing his mind, rewriting - a phrase shifted here, a key modulated there - introducing new instrumentation and striving for something better.
There is also an incredible technological story to tell. Bach's pages are literally thick with music - so thick that in many places the ink has actually burned through the paper, leaving it almost impossible to read. So the Library has had to split the single pages open and insert a protective sheet to stabilise the ink-burn.
Dark thriller by Don Webb. Alan Morgan is a salesman; he spends a lot of time away from home. A series of violent crimes is committed across the north. The only lead is a photo-fit reconstruction of the robber's face - it is the spitting image of Alan.
Alan ...... Shaun Dooley
Perkins ...... Greg Wood
Cheshire ...... James Quinn
Jill ...... Fiona Clarke
Berry ...... Roger Morlidge
Margaret ...... Ruth Alexander-Rubin.
Nuclear power is being offered as one solution to the problems of burning fossil fuels and its likely that new atomic power stations will be built in the coming decades. But how would you react if you were told that they would run out of fuel in a matter of decades? Home Planet asks how big stocks of uranium are and whether their really is enough to fuel a nuclear boom.
How, too, will rain forests and savannahs be treated at the Copenhagen summit? Could seeding clouds have diverted the recent devastating rain away from Cumbria? Can incinerators ever be a safe method of waste disposal, and what are the limits of scientific discovery?
On the panel are conservationist Dr Lynn Dicks of Cambridge University, science writer Ehsan Masood and Professor Philip Stott, an environmental scientist from the University of London.
As always we want to hear your comments on the topics discussed and any questions you might want to put to future programmes.
By Kate Clanchy. Penelope Wilton reads the second of five shortlisted stories for the annual prize, chosen from over 680 entries from published writers.
Written by an exciting mix of well known and newer writers, the stories range from the contemporary to the fantastical, and from the funny to the intensely moving. They reflect the very best in short story writing in Britain today, and are read by some of the nation's best-known actors.
Sue MacGregor is joined by two very different figures from the world of contemporary British music. Drummer with Blur, Dave Rowntree choses John Fowles' classic first novel, whilst Kanya King, founder of the prestigious MOBO Awards is the first person to select a new age self-help book on the series.
Mikhail Gorbachev becomes the first Soviet leader to visit the Vatican and there is fierce fighting in the Philippines as thousands of troops attempt to overthrow their president.
She came, she saw, she criticised: stand-up comedian Jo Caulfield holds forth with a glorious mixture of bitchy friendliness and foot-in-mouth populism.
In this episode, Jo fails to shut up about the complex relationship between the global banking system, the M3 money supply, quantitative easing and Kerry Katona.
Written by Jo Caulfield and Kevin Anderson, with additional material by Michael Beck, James Branch, Dan Evans, Jules Gregg, Brian Mitchell, Joseph Nixon and Matt Ross.
Lynda tries to hurry Leonie and Caz along to see the Christmas lights switch-on but when Robert arrives with a Christmas tree, divisive Leonie suggests they decorate their tree instead. Lynda leaves them to it. She'll catch up with Robert at Mike's party.
Leonie warns Caz not to let Lynda influence the way she brings up Oscar. Caz agrees that Lynda's a bit scary and Leonie questions what she knows about being a parent.
Vicky's really pleased with the banners and posters of Mike all around the village but Mike's customers have been ribbing him. She's assembled loads of photos at the Bull but Robert notes there's only one of Mike with Betty.
Susan thinks Jolene's done Vicky proud with the decorations. She wonders if she and Sid would consider having the post office in the pub if the community shop idea fell through. It's been done in other villages. Jolene says she'll think about it.
Robert notes how much joy Vicky's bought into Mike's life. Lynda thinks Oscar's bought just as much into theirs. Mike leads Vicky to the dance floor. Sensing Lynda's dread at the thought of saying goodbye to Oscar, Robert whisks her off to the dance floor too.
In a new exhibition, Earth: Art of a Changing World at the Royal Academy in London, 35 leading international artists have created artworks that respond to the theme of climate change. Among the artists featured are Mona Hatoum, Tracey Emin, Antony Gormley and Tacita Dean. Writer Iain Sinclair considers whether art has a place in the climate change debate.
It is ten years since the Royal Opera House re-opened after a major refurbishment, a period considered by many to have been a critical success. Conductor and pianist Antonio Pappano looks back on a decade as the ROH's Director of Music.
Mercury-nominated singer Florence and the Machine is in the charts with her cover of Candi Staton's song You've Got the Love. Florence Welch looks back on a year in which she's gathered a substantial number of awards and plaudits, including the Critics' Choice at the 2009 Brits.
Sara Maitland is the third of Front Row's five interviews with authors shortlisted for the 2009 BBC National Short Story Award. The stories can be heard every day this week on Radio 4, with Sara Maitland's story Moss Witch being broadcast tomorrow.
Charles Dickens ...... Alex Jennings
Bella Wilfer ...... Daisy Haggard
Lizzie Hexam ...... Lizzy Watts
John Rokesmith ...... Carl Prekopp
Eugene Wrayburn ...... Patrick Kennedy
Boffin ...... Jason Watkins
Mortimer Lightwood ...... Matt Addis
Sloppy ...... Benjamin Askew
Mrs Boffin ...... Pauline Quirke
Pa Wilfer ...... Philip Fox
Charlie Hexam ...... Adam Arnold
Bradley Headstone ...... Neil Stuke
Silas Wegg ...... Lee Ross
Venus ...... Stephen Hogan
Rogue Riderhood ...... Jamie Foreman
US troops have handed control for security in Iraq back to the Iraqi government, which was supposed to be the first sign that normality was returning to the streets. So why are thousands of Iraqi refugees still refusing to return home? Kate Clark invesigates.
Will Thoms and Hetal Bapodra are two blind guide dog owners who have been given conflicting and confusing information from an airline over the policy on charging blind people to carry their assistance dogs on flights. Peter investigates their complaints
Peter also talks to Bill Jolley about Australia's decision to adopt Unified English Braille, which makes alterations to what some peope refer to as 'correct' Braille. These changes include introducing a symbol for a capital letter, which is something the UK doesn't bother with. Bill told Peter that Australians haven't been in uproar about it and he feels that the UK should now conform and start using UEB.
Bill Poole, Chair of BAUK (the Braille Authority of the UK), says when members were asked to vote on using the new code, the majority were against it and BAUK would not revisit the decision until 2013. On capitalisation, Bill says the RNIB, the largest producer of Braille in the UK, produces both versions and people can request either for some educational books.
Claudia Hammond asks if changing the name of schizophrenia would help people understand what the condition is all about. Critics say the name is so inaccurate that it stigmatises mental illness and holds back research into treatment.
Plus mindfulness, an ancient technique now being used to treat everything from clinical depression to everyday stress. Claudia learns how to practise mindfulness on her way to work.
President Obama is going on American television to outline his new strategy for Afghanistan
Robert Powell reads from the 1923 novel by Arnold Bennett about the poignant struggles of everyday London life.
Henry Earlforward learns that his new neighbour, the widowed Mrs Arb, shares his passion for thrift. They also share the services of the good-natured charwoman, Elsie.
Ben's life is full of well-meaning people trying to do everything for him. Everything, that is, except leave him alone.
Dark sitcom about a man in a coma, travelling through the distinctly odd landscape of his own unconscious mind.
Ben ...... Neil Pearson
Mary ...... Fiona Allen
Mum ...... Josie Lawrence
Blitz ...... Leslie Ash
Nurse ...... Jo Martin
Derek ...... Stephen Frost
Marley ...... Spencer Brown
Bea ...... Scarlett Milburn-Smith
Castaway ...... John Kay-Steel
Waiter ...... Bruce Alexander
WEDNESDAY 02 DECEMBER 2009
WED 00:00 Midnight News (b00p1gxf)
The latest national and international news from BBC Radio 4. Followed by Weather.
WED 00:30 Book of the Week (b00p6yx5)
[Repeat of broadcast at
09:45 on Tuesday]
WED 00:48 Shipping Forecast (b00p1h10)
The latest shipping forecast.
WED 01:00 Selection of BBC World Service Programmes (b00p1h44)
BBC Radio 4 joins the BBC World Service.
WED 05:20 Shipping Forecast (b00p1h2q)
The latest shipping forecast.
WED 05:30 News Briefing (b00p1h5y)
The latest news from BBC Radio 4.
WED 05:43 Prayer for the Day (b00p1hcp)
Daily prayer and reflection with Alastair McIntosh.
WED 05:45 Farming Today (b00p1hhh)
News and issues in rural Britain with Anna Hill. Including a report on the rise in salmonella poisoning cases in the UK, and calls for the measures taken by British egg producers to reduce salmonella infections to be done elsewhere and for the testing of all imported eggs.
WED 06:00 Today (b00p1hkw)
Presented by Justin Webb and Sarah Montague.
President Obama has announced he will send a further 30,000 troops to Afghanistan, but that soldiers will begin to be withdraw in 18 months. Correspondent Rajesh Mirchandani reports from southern California.
Five British yachtsmen detained by Iran's Revolutionary Guard have been released, according to reports on local state radio. Tehran correspondent Jon Leyne outlines the latest developments.
30,000 US troops will be sent to Afghanistan over the next six months. London Evening Standard defence correspondent Robert Fox examines reaction to the new strategy in Kabul.
The Royal Society of Chemistry is hosting a debate on genetically modified crops. More than 13 million farms around the world use the controversial food technology. Peter Melchett, policy director at the Soil Association, and Dr Colin Merritt, sustainability communications manager at Monsanto UK Ltd, debate the future of GM.
President Barack Obama has delivered his long-awaited speech on the future of US Afghan policy. He announced a troop increase of 30,000, stressing the need for a better civilian strategy and made clear that corruption in Afghanistan would no longer be tolerated. North America editor Mark Mardell reports from the speech, and the US ambassador to the UK, Louis Susman, discusses the new strategy.
Thought for the Day with Professor Mona Siddiqui.
The government will publish its white paper on police reform today as forces in England and Wales are told to make annual savings of a quarter of a billion pounds over the next five years. It is expected to announce that officers should patrol the streets alone rather than in pairs, to make them more accessible to the public, and new help for victims of antisocial behaviour. Home secretary Alan Johnson discusses the reforms.
President Obama has announced that he will send another 30,000 troops to Afghanistan, taking the total number of US troops in the country to more than 100,000. The president warned that America's commitment was not open-ended and that the military would start withdrawing in 2011 and urged other NATO countries to do more. Britain confirmed this week that it would send another 500 troops, taking its total deployment to 10,000. Chief of the defence staff, Air Chief Marshall Sir Jock Stirrup, discusses the military's reaction to President Obama's exit strategy and political editor Nick Robinson comments on the UK's Afghan policy.
The renowned South African jazz trumpeter Hugh Masekela is in London for a concert with the London Symphony Orchestra to mark his 70th birthday. Hugh Masekela was a leading figure in the struggle to end apartheid and for many South Africans he embodies their country's spirit. Mr Masekela discusses his music and politics.
The government is today publishing its police white paper, widely seen as a response to calls to cut red tape. Sir Hugh Orde, president of the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) will deliver a speech calling for a fresh approach to the way the police deal with unsolved murders, taking in his experiences of dealing with similar cases in Northern Ireland. Sir Hugh discusses his proposals.
Key climate change talks begin in Copenhagen next week, seen as a successor to the Kyoto treaty. Professor Graciela Chichilnisky of Columbia University and architect of the carbon market created under the Kyoto protocol, outlines her hopes for Copenhagen.
Sayeeda Warsi, the Conservative peer and shadow minister for community cohesion, was pelted with eggs on a visit to Luton earlier this week. Lady Warsi was confronted by a group of men accusing her not being a proper Muslim and of supporting the deaths of Muslims in Afghanistan. Sayful Islam, spokesman for Islam4UK and one of the protestors explains the group's demonstration.
The Foreign Office has confirmed that five British sailors detained after their yacht strayed into Iranian waters have been released. Beverly Porter, mother of one of the sailors, Luke Porter, gives her reaction to the news.
A toll bridge is to go on sale in Oxfordshire tomorrow. Protected by a quirky Act of Parliament passed in the time of George III, the bridge is exempt from taxes and currently levies a toll of five pence for cars to cross it. Locals want the successful bidder to scrap the toll. Correspondent Bob Walker spoke to motorists at the bridge crossing.
Will President Obama's Afghan policy be successful? Dr Stefan Halper, senior fellow at the Cambridge Centre of International Studies, and former adviser to four presidents, examines the strategy.
WED 09:00 Midweek (b00p2hy2)
Lively and diverse conversation with Libby Purves and guests Seth Shostak, Fergus Anckorn, Guy Masterson and Vyvyen Brendon.
Seth Shostak is senior astronomer of SETI - Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence - based in California. He is currently in the UK taking part in Exchanges at the Frontier, a unique series of events created by the BBC World Service and the Wellcome Collection, in which the world's leading scientists are tested over the social impact of their discoveries by philosopher Anthony Grayling and members of the public.
Fergus Anckorn was held as a PoW by the Japanese for over three years during the Second World War, helping build the infamous 'Bridge over the River Kwai'. Now aged 91, he is the longest serving active member of the Magic Circle. Having performed as a magician since he was a small boy, little did he know that his performing skills would save his life. During his time as a PoW, he sometimes did magic tricks for the guards and soon found that if he used their food as part of the trick, they let him eat it afterwards. A book about his life, Surviving By Magic is written by Monty Parkin.
Guy Masterson is an actor, theatre director and writer. He was inspired to go into the theatre by his uncle, the late Richard Burton. Guy himself is probably best known for his stage adaptation of Dylan Thomas' Under Milk Wood, a work with which his uncle will be forever associated. His latest project, Morecambe, is the first biographical play about comic genius Eric Morecambe - which comes to London's Duchess Theatre in the 25th anniversary of the comic's death.
Vyvyen Brendon is a former teacher. Her latest book Prep School Children - A Class Apart over Two Centuries looks at the history of prep school children, featuring boys' and girls' experiences from 1800 to the present day. Prep School Children - A Class Apart over Two Centuries is published by Continuum.
WED 09:45 Book of the Week (b00p6ywn)
The Hair of the Dog and Other Scientific Surprises
Episode 3
Karl Sabbagh's book explores the surprising science behind seemingly trivial assumptions.
How two physicists linked the problem of interference on their TV screen to the Big Bang, how a total solar eclipse is down to cosmic coincidence, and why NASA launched a record player into space.
Read by Toby Longworth.
Abridged by Libby Spurrier.
A Pier Production for BBC Radio 4.
WED 10:00 Woman's Hour (b00p1hsj)
Equality Bill; Post-partum psychosis
Is it time to call a halt to the battle for equal rights? Plus, post-partum psychosis; and the history of mixed-race relationship.
WED 11:00 In Living Memory (b00p2hy4)
Series 11
The 1975 Moorgate tube disaster
In February 1975 a London Underground driver drove his train at full speed into a brick wall at Moorgate station in central London. 43 people died, in what remains the worst ever accident on the Underground. There was nothing wrong with the train, so why did he do it? Could it have been suicide? Or did he just get confused about where he was?
WED 11:30 Ballylenon (b00p2jch)
Series 7
Episode 2
Customers to Miss Maconchy's shop have increased significantly since her 'vision' at Lourdes.
But Mrs Vivienne Hawthorne, wonders if the census that disclosed a fall in her congregation was tampered with..?
Series set in the sleepy town of Ballylenon, Co Donegal in 1959.
Written by Christopher Fitz-Simon.
Muriel Maconchy ...... Margaret D'Arcy
Vera Maconchy ...... Stella McCusker
Phonsie Doherty ...... Gerard Murphy
Vivienne Hawthorne ...... Annie McCartney
Rev Samuel Hawthorne ...... Miche Doherty
Stumpy Bonner ...... Gerard McSorley
Terry Black ...... Mark Lambert
Consuela Dooley ...... Cathy Belton
Pianist: Michael Harrison
Director: Eoin O'Callaghan
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 2009.
WED 12:00 You and Yours (b00p1jxt)
Consumer news and issues with Winifred Robinson.
WED 12:57 Weather (b00p1k9t)
The latest weather forecast.
WED 13:00 World at One (b00p1kzj)
National and international news with Martha Kearney.
WED 13:30 The Media Show (b00p2jck)
Victoria Derbyshire on BBC Five Live is broadcasting from Harare, the first radio programme to be broadcast from Zimbabwe to the UK since the BBC was banned from the country in 2001. Is this a fresh insight into the troubled country or a PR coup for Robert Mugabe? And, from more than 50 countries in Africa, why does Zimbabwe dominate media coverage in the UK?
Jeremy Hunt, the shadow secretary of state for culture, media and sport, on the Conservative Party's plans to cap the pay of BBC executives.
Managing Tiger Woods' reputation: how the UK's libel laws could be used to help him - and his wife - stop the spread of allegations about their private life.
WED 14:00 The Archers (b00p1l1x)
[Repeat of broadcast at
19:00 on Tuesday]
WED 14:15 Drama (b00p2jcm)
A Dangerous Thing
By John Sessions.
May 1744: Alexander Pope is on his deathbed in Twickenham; Jonathan Swift is losing his wits in Dublin. The two friends have not seen each other in 17 years, although each is very much on the other's mind.
In his final hours, Pope talks to his emotional and intellectual soulmate, Martha 'Pattie' Blount, about his relationship with Swift and the events that have conspired to keep the two friends apart for most of their lives. He also recalls Swift's last visit to London, when an unexpected encounter with a young burglar put the divergent philosophies of the two friends to the test.
Jonathan Swift ...... Timothy Spall
Alexander Pope ...... John Sessions
Martha 'Pattie' Blount ...... Amanda Root
Boy (Tom)/John Gay ...... Joe Thomas
Amica ...... Tessa Nicholson
Dr Cheselden/Lord Bolingbroke/Waterman ...... Nigel Hastings
Swift's Servant/Dr Arbuthnot/Matthew/ Gentleman ...... John Biggins
Written by John Sessions
Produced by Emma Harding.
WED 15:00 Money Box Live (b00p2z8d)
Paul Lewis and a panel of answer calls on support for carers.
Paul is joined by:
Jean French, advice and information manager, Carers UK
Lucy McLynn, partner, Bates Wells and Braithwaite
Derek Sinclair, senior parent adviser, Contact a Family.
WED 15:30 BBC National Short Story Award (b00p5xk2)
BBC National Short Story Award 2009
Moss Witch
By Sarah Maitland. Hannah Gordon reads the third of five shortlisted stories for the annual prize, chosen from over 680 entries from published writers.
Written by an exciting mix of well known and newer writers, the stories range from the contemporary to the fantastical, and from the funny to the intensely moving. They reflect the very best in short story writing in Britain today, and are read by some of the nation's best-known actors.
WED 16:00 Thinking Allowed (b00p2z8g)
Anthropology of Wall Street - Rural Idyll
Anthropology in an unusual setting: Wall Street. Laurie Taylor talks to the anthropologist who gave up her academic life for over a year to become an investment banker in order to study life on Wall Street. She explains why she immersed herself in the culture of high finance, high risk and high reward and why she thinks it was the culture of Wall Streeters which brought the world's financial system to the edge of catastrophe.
Also in the programme, Laurie asks if there is such a thing as an idyllic English village life. While some media reports suggest that life in rural communities is seriously under threat and even dying, Laurie talks to the geographer who thinks that, far from it, village life is thriving and in many places a new kind of idyllic life is being created. Did the rural idyll ever exist and what form might it take in the 21st century?
WED 16:30 All in the Mind (b00p2hny)
[Repeat of broadcast at
21:00 on Tuesday]
WED 16:56 1989: Day by Day (b00p1lcy)
2nd December 1989
Sir John Tusa looks back at the events making the news 20 years ago.
Bush and Gorbachev begin their summit in Malta as a poll shows that Margaret Thatcher is losing favour with the public ahead of a leadership challenge from Sir Anthony Meyer.
A Somethin' Else production for BBC Radio 4.
WED 17:00 PM (b00p1lgn)
Full coverage and analysis of the day's news with Eddie Mair. Plus Weather.
WED 18:00 Six O'Clock News (b00p1lrv)
The latest national and international news from BBC Radio 4.
WED 18:30 Laura Solon - Talking and Not Talking (b00p2z8j)
Series 3
Episode 3
Laura Solon presents her third series of sketches, monologues and one-liners.
This week we meet a woman who is so completely useless that she's just been snapped up for a job in the government; Britain's most affable secret agent and someone with a pretend hedgehog sanctuary.
Also featuring Rosie Cavaliero, Ben Moor and Ben Willbond.
Producer: Colin Anderson.
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in September 2009.
WED 19:00 The Archers (b00p1l1z)
Pip got some free time from college, so joins Ruth at the livestock market. Ruth's concerned she should spend more time in the college making friends. Pip says they're already in groups, she doesn't have anything in common with them, and she wishes she could get straight down to hands-on farming.
It's time for Peggy to leave Jack at The Laurels. Jennifer reminds her to try to keep the farewell low key. Peggy gently tells Jack that he's at a nice hotel and he needs to stay and look after it. When Peggy hugs Jack to say goodbye he becomes distressed. Jennifer assures Peggy she's doing the right thing, Jack will settle down in time.
Will tells Brian that Ed's been poaching Estate birds, only to discover that Brian offered them to Ed as a goodwill gesture. Will's angry Brian didn't inform him. Brian tells Will to focus on finding the fox he keeps going on about instead of bellyaching about Ed all the time.
Peggy's relieved when Mrs Dawson rings to say that Jack's settled down now. She advises them to wait a few days before visiting. Brian remarks to Jennifer how amazing Peggy is, coping with Jack at home for so long.
Episode written by Nawal Gadalla.
WED 19:15 Front Row (b00p1m0f)
The Japanese film Departures won this year's Oscar for best foreign film. Inspired by the memoir of a Japanese mortician, it reveals the world of a sacked orchestral cellist who gets a job performing encoffinments. Sarah Dunant reviews.
Poet Laureate Carol Ann Duffy and cartoonist Posy Simmonds talk about their collaboration on the book, Mrs Scrooge, a spin-off from the Dickens classic with a twist on modern politics.
Welsh singer Rhydian Roberts was the X Factor runner-up two years ago and since then has released, under the guidance of Simon Cowell, two classical crossover albums. The most recent, O Fortuna, is out now.
Lionel Shriver gives the fourth of Front Row's five interviews with authors shortlisted for this year's BBC National Short Story Award. The stories are broadcast at
3.30pm every day this week on Radio 4, with Lionel Shriver's Exchange Rates going out tomorrow.
WED 19:45 15 Minute Drama (b00p1md5)
Our Mutual Friend
Episode 18
Adaptation by Mike Walker of Charles Dickens's classic novel.
Two declarations of love that couldn't be more different, as John, Bella, Eugene and Lizzie's streams cross.
Charles Dickens ...... Alex Jennings
Bella Wilfer ...... Daisy Haggard
Lizzie Hexam ...... Lizzy Watts
John Rokesmith ...... Carl Prekopp
Eugene Wrayburn ...... Patrick Kennedy
Boffin ...... Jason Watkins
Mortimer Lightwood ...... Matt Addis
Sloppy ...... Benjamin Askew
Mrs Boffin ...... Pauline Quirke
Pa Wilfer ...... Philip Fox
Charlie Hexam ...... Adam Arnold
Bradley Headstone ...... Neil Stuke
Silas Wegg ...... Lee Ross
Venus ...... Stephen Hogan
Rogue Riderhood ...... Jamie Foreman
Music by Roger Goula
Directed by Jessica Dromgoole and Jeremy Mortimer
This episode is available until
7.45pm on 11th December as part of the Series Catch-up Trial.
WED 20:00 Moral Maze (b00p2z8m)
Michael Buerk chairs a debate on the moral questions behind the week's news. Michael Portillo, Matthew Taylor, Claire Fox and Clifford Longley cross-examine witnesses.
Can science ever be truly morally neutral? The leaking of e-mails from the University of East Anglia Climate Research Unit has raised the issue of where should we draw the line between science and campaigning? In a complex world of competing interests, it's vital that we have an independent and rational method to judge and inform policies. But is it naive to expect scientists to put their personal views aside when dealing with such an important issue? Do we rely too much on scientific evidence to shape policy and is it driving out political and moral debate in society?
Witnesses:
Dr Doug Parr, chief scientist Green Peace
Professor John Milbank, Professor of Religion, Politics and Ethics at Nottingham University
Dr Ben Goldacre, full-time medic, science journalist and author of Bad Science
Professor Lewis Wolpert, Emeritus Professor in Cell and Developmental Biology at University College, London.
WED 20:45 Political Roots (b00p6qpf)
Liberals
Richard Reeves examines the intellectual and philosophical roots of the Liberal Democrat leader, Nick Clegg.
WED 21:00 The Infinite Monkey Cage (b00p29kc)
[Repeat of broadcast at
16:30 on Monday]
WED 21:30 Midweek (b00p2hy2)
[Repeat of broadcast at
09:00 today]
WED 21:58 Weather (b00p1mjr)
The latest weather forecast.
WED 22:00 The World Tonight (b00p1mvf)
National and international news and analysis with Robin Lustig.
The Taliban respond to Obama's Afghanistan plan.
The row intensifies over leaked emails on climate change.
The released British yachtsmen say the Iranians treated them well.
WED 22:45 Book at Bedtime (b00p3tgw)
Riceyman Steps
Episode 3
Robert Powell reads from the 1923 novel by Arnold Bennett about the poignant struggles of everyday London life.
Elsie's sweetheart Joe has returned from the war, shell-shocked and volatile. Thwarted by her new employer's insistence that Elsie work on into the evening, Joe is unable to control the strength of his feelings and a violent outburst ensues.
A Waters Partnership production for BBC Radio 4.
WED 23:00 The Ladies (b00glqw4)
Series 1
Episode 3
Series of comedy sketches by Emily Watson Howes set in a ladies' public toilet, featuring various female characters as they come and go.
Four girls make their first foray into the world of illegal drug taking, with horrendous consequences for one of them.
With Emily Watson Howes, Kate Donmall, Suzanne Hislop, Fran Moulds.
WED 23:15 All Bar Luke (b00db0x5)
Series 3
The Engagement
Poignant comedy drama series by Tim Key.
A harrowing cab journey of the soul - Luke heads home to collect his mum after his brother proposes to Hayley at Newmarket races.
An Angel Eye Media production for BBC Radio 4.
WED 23:30 Today in Parliament (b00p1n8b)
News, views and features on today's stories in Parliament with Sean Curran.
THURSDAY 03 DECEMBER 2009
THU 00:00 Midnight News (b00p1gxh)
The latest national and international news from BBC Radio 4. Followed by Weather.
THU 00:30 Book of the Week (b00p6ywn)
[Repeat of broadcast at
09:45 on Wednesday]
THU 00:48 Shipping Forecast (b00p1h12)
The latest shipping forecast.
THU 01:00 Selection of BBC World Service Programmes (b00p1h46)
BBC Radio 4 joins the BBC World Service.
THU 05:20 Shipping Forecast (b00p1h2s)
The latest shipping forecast.
THU 05:30 News Briefing (b00p1h60)
The latest news from BBC Radio 4.
THU 05:43 Prayer for the Day (b00p1hcr)
Daily prayer and reflection with Alastair McIntosh.
THU 05:45 Farming Today (b00p1hhk)
British farmers have called for stricter checks on imported eggs and higher standards on farms exporting to the UK. But Charlotte Smith hears from the World Health Organisation who say Britain could still do more to reduce salmonella rates in its own eggs - by following techniques used in Scandinavian countries.
THU 06:00 Today (b00p1hky)
Presented by James Naughtie and Evan Davis.
Nurses and pharmacists are helping to prevent the serious consequences of mis-prescribing by doctors. According to research published today, nearly one in ten prescriptions written by hospital doctors contained errors, and two per cent were potentially lethal. Professor Peter Rubin, chair of the General Medical Council (GMC) and professor of therapeutics at the University of Nottingham, discusses the findings.
City bankers are nervously watching events in Brussels in the wake of comments made by France's President Sarkozy. The president warned that the appointment of the Frenchman Michel Barnier as the EU's new internal markets commissioner would rein in the 'free-wheeling Anglo-Saxon model' of banking. Europe business correspondent Nigel Cassidy reports on the financial disputes between France and the UK.
Eight local authorities in England have been deemed inadequate in their provision of adult care services by the Care Quality Commission (CQC). Southwark Council in London, which has dropped from 'excellent', has dismissed the results of an inspection as both 'flawed' and 'inaccurate'. Home affairs editor Mark Easton outlines the inspection results, and Annie Shepherd, chief executive of Southwark Council, comments on her service's downgrading.
An exhibition tackling climate change is on display at the Royal Academy in London. Artists including Tracey Emin, Antony Gormley and Keith Tyson have contributed to the event, which shows how artists are tackling the topic of global warming. Arts correspondent David Sillito visited the exhibition.
The government is set to announce a new centrally-funded nuclear research facility, designed to help British firms get contracts for work on the new generation of nuclear power stations. Business secretary Lord Mandelson discusses the plans.
Goldman Sachs bankers have been buying handguns to defend themselves against any populist uprising. Journalist Alice Schroeder of Bloomberg News broke the story.
Thought for the Day with Lord Harries of Pentregarth, Gresham Professor of Divinity.
As many as 300,000 children could be living as slaves in Haiti. Under the restavek system, parents who sell their children are told that they will be educated and looked after well in return for doing chores. But for many children the reality is very different. Correspondent Mike Thomson reports from Haiti.
A comprehensive account of adult care services by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) is published today. The CQC identified eight councils where services are in urgent need of improvement - Poole, Cornwall, Solihull, Surrey, South Tyneside, Southwark, Peterborough and Bromley. With an increase in the number of elderly people in care homes, or receiving care at home, the quality of social care is urgent. 'Pamela', who is campaigning for better standards in care reflects on her experiences, and Baroness Young, chair of the CQC, discusses the report.
Directors of the Royal Bank of Scotland have threatened to resign en masse if they are stopped from paying out 1.5 billion pounds in bonuses. They say the bonuses are essential to maintain the bank's competitiveness. Business editor Robert Peston outlines the bankers' position and Vince Cable, Treasury spokesman for the Liberal Democrats, examines the bonus culture.
Tiger Woods has released an enigmatic statement in reaction to his car crash, arousing further suspicion and confusion. Mr Woods announced that he was not perfect, and has not been true to his values, without explaining what exactly he was referring to. Ed Smith, former captain of Middlesex County Cricket Club and sports columnist for The Times, comments on a sportsman's ability to stay calm under pressure.
'I want the world to see the victory of the European model, which has nothing to do with the excesses of financial capitalism.' President Sarkozy's comment on the appointment of Frenchman Michel Barnier to the role of EU internal market commissioner has worried many people in the City. David Buik of BGC Partners and Charles Grant, director of the Centre for European Reform, debate how much financial supervision the EU has over the City.
Twenty-five years ago today the central Indian city of Bhopal awoke to the horror of the world's worst industrial disaster. Forty tonnes of a deadly gas had leaked from the Union Carbide pesticide plant, killing more than 8,000 people living in the poor and densely-populated neighbourhoods nearby. Correspondent Allan Little reports from Bhopal and investigates how people are still trying to cope with the damage.
How have British troops in Afghanistan reacted to the announcement of a US troop surge? Security correspondent Frank Gardner spoke to General Nick Carter, the British commander in charge of the south of the country.
Should drug companies carry out their own clinical trials? The writer and doctor Ben Goldcacre argues that the practice is scandalous and that doctors are re
THU 09:00 In Our Time (b00p315t)
The Silk Road
Melvyn Bragg and guests Tim Barrett, Naomi Standen and Frances Wood discuss the Silk Road, the trade routes which spanned Asia for over a thousand years, carrying Buddhism to China and paper-making and gunpowder westwards.In 1900, a Taoist monk came upon a cave near the Chinese town of Dunhuang. Inside, he found thousands of ancient manuscripts. They revealed a vast amount of evidence about the so-called Silk Road: the great trade routes which had stretched from Central Asia, through desert oases, to China, throughout the first millennium.Besides silk, the Silk Road helped the dispersion of writing and paper-making, coinage and gunpowder, and it was along these trade routes that Buddhism reached China from India. The history of these transcontinental links reveals a dazzlingly complex meeting and mingling of civilisations, which lasted for well over a thousand years.With:Tim Barrett is Professor of East Asian History at the School of Oriental and African Studies; Naomi Standen is Senior Lecturer in Chinese Studies at Newcastle University; Frances Wood is Head of the Chinese Section at the British Library.
THU 09:45 Book of the Week (b00p6ywq)
The Hair of the Dog and Other Scientific Surprises
Episode 4
Karl Sabbagh book explores the surprising science behind seemingly trivial assumptions.
Who really invented the wheel; why one particular flower exudes the smell of nicotine; what makes the sound of a whip crack; and why a man's best friend will sense unfairness.
Read by Toby Longworth.
Abridged by Libby Spurrier.
A Pier Production for BBC Radio 4.
THU 10:00 Woman's Hour (b00p1hsl)
Phone In: Delia Smith on Christmas cooking
Delia Smith answers listeners' questions about Christmas catering. Including: alternative festive goodies, advice for planning ahead, short cuts and last minute emergencies.
THU 11:00 Crossing Continents (b00p315w)
Pakistan Drugs
Julia Rooke accompanies former heroin dealer, Urfan Azad, on a journey back to the remote mountain madrassa in north west Pakistan where he received drugs rehabilitation and spiritual healing. But during their journey Urfan reveals how young recovering addicts and criminals were given military training and that some went on to fight in Afghanistan.
THU 11:30 The House That Jazz Built (b00p315y)
Celebrating 50 years of Ronnie Scott's, Paul Merton looks back at the origins of Ronnie Scott's, Britain's most famous jazz venue, and examines its impact in the world of music.
Ever since his trips in the late-1940s to the jazz clubs of New York's 52nd Street, Ronnie Scott dreamt of opening his own London venue. His vision came true when the first Ronnie Scott's club opened on Gerrard Street, Soho, in 1959.
The initial plan was purely to provide a base for British jazz musicians to jam. However, the club quickly developed a reputation for featuring the best in modern jazz and soon provided a platform for the world's greatest jazz musicians. It became a Mecca for jazz music fans and a popular hang-out for politicians, comedians and actors.
In 1965 it relocated a short distance to Frith Street, where it remains one of the world's most celebrated jazz rooms, complete with its own studio and record label.
Recorded on location at Ronnie Scott's, the programme features interviews with leading jazz artists Salena Jones, Ian Shaw, Jay Phelps and James Pearson, and features music and archive from personalities associated with the venue during its 50-year history.
THU 12:00 You and Yours (b00p1jxw)
Consumer news and issues with Winifred Robinson.
THU 12:57 Weather (b00p1k9w)
The latest weather forecast.
THU 13:00 World at One (b00p1kzm)
National and international news with Martha Kearney.
THU 13:30 Off the Page (b00p31l0)
Everyone's A Critic
Are you worried about the future of criticism?
You should be. When newspaper editors are forced to make cutbacks, it is critics who are the first in the firing line. But do we really need critics and criticism?
Critic and journalist Toby Young is joined by blogger Lynne Hatwell and occupational psychologist Clive Fletcher to write about and discuss criticism and the critics.
Presented by Dominic Arkwright.
Producer: Beatrice Fenton.
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in December 2009.
THU 14:00 The Archers (b00p1l1z)
[Repeat of broadcast at
19:00 on Wednesday]
THU 14:15 Drama (b00p32zk)
Headliner
By Neil Brand. Important elections are on the horizon in the eastern European state of Khovakhia when up-and-coming stand-up comedienne Katya Kalugin is befriended by US comedy legend Doug Stokowski.
Katya Kalugin ...... Laura Solon
Doug Stokowski ...... Ewan Bailey
Pavel ...... John Biggins
Mikael ...... Piers Wehner
MC ...... Nigel Hastings
Reporter ...... Kate Layden.
THU 15:00 Open Country (b00p7g7y)
[Repeat of broadcast at
06:07 on Saturday]
THU 15:27 Radio 4 Appeal (b00p068k)
[Repeat of broadcast at
07:55 on Sunday]
THU 15:30 BBC National Short Story Award (b00p5xk4)
BBC National Short Story Award 2009
Exchange Rates
The fourth of five shortlisted stories for the annual prize, chosen from over 680 entries from published writers. Read by Jason Isaacs
Written by an exciting mix of well known and newer writers, the stories range from the contemporary to the fantastical, and from the funny to the intensely moving. They reflect the very best in short story writing in Britain today, and are read by some of the nation's best-known actors.
THU 16:00 Open Book (b00p1fth)
[Repeat of broadcast at
16:00 on Sunday]
THU 16:30 Material World (b00p940r)
Quentin Cooper looks into the science underlying extending healthy life and asks if you can live longer without dietary restriction and with parents of different sexes.
He also hears about the latest from the Large Hadron Collider experiment at CERN.
What's the toughest bacterium in the world? One of those battling it out for the title is Deinococcus radiodurans. It was discovered in the 1950s after surviving in cans of food after they had been bombarded with radiation. Its ability to repair its own DNA means it could be used in the future to reclaim land contaminated by nuclear or chemical events. Quentin finds out how scientists are uncovering the secrets behind its ability to survive extreme temperatures, severe dehydration and lethal doses of radiation. Understanding how bacteria like Deinococcus coordinate their arsenal of defence mechanisms could help scientists overcome the defences of dangerous, disease causing bacteria.
THU 16:56 1989: Day by Day (b00p1ld0)
3rd December 1989
Sir John Tusa looks back at the events making the news 20 years ago.
George Bush and Mikhail Gorbachev declare that the Cold War is over, as hundreds of thousands of people form a human chain to demand reforms in East Germany.
A Somethin' Else production for BBC Radio 4.
THU 17:00 PM (b00p1lgq)
Full coverage and analysis of the day's news with Eddie Mair. Plus Weather.
THU 18:00 Six O'Clock News (b00p1lrx)
The latest national and international news from BBC Radio 4.
THU 18:30 Bleak Expectations (b00p3380)
Series 3
Lives Lost, Ruined, Wrecked and Redeemed
Pip and Ripely find themselves facing a vast and evil undead army. England has only one hope - that Miss Sweetly Delightful can melt Mr Benevolent's cruel, undead heart.
Comedy Victorian adventure by Mark Evans
Sir Philip ...... Richard Johnson
Young Pip Bin ...... Tom Allen
Gently Benevolent ...... Anthony Head
Harry Biscuit ...... James Bachman
Bishop Wackwallop ...... Geoffrey Whitehead
Ripely Bin ...... Sarah Hadland
Miss Sweetly Delightful ...... Raquel Cassidy
The Duke of Chelsea ...... Mark Evans
Producer: Gareth Edwards
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in December 2009
THU 19:00 The Archers (b00p1l21)
Vicky's eager to start practising making kissing bough decorations but Joe still needs to secure the job. When Elizabeth learns that Nigel's agreed, Elizabeth's tells them the decorations have to live up to Lower Loxley's professional reputation. Vicky suggests they come up with a prototype to show her, like on Dragon's Den. Joe tells Vicky they'd better keep their plans to sell punch under their hats for the time being. No need to worry Nigel with it!
Peggy thanks Christine for going to The Laurels with her. Everyone's been so fantastic. After staying at Home Farm, she's not sure she how she'll cope with her first night at the Lodge without Jack. Christine empathises with her. She's still not used to it four years after George died. Peggy gratefully declines Christine's offer to stay with her. She's got to face it sometime.
Lilian was also keen to have Peggy stay with her at the Dower House. Christine says they're a sad lot. They should all move in together! Peggy knows that Jack's going was inevitable, but she still hoped it wouldn't happen. She feels she's failed Jack somehow. Christine assures Peggy that she's done the right thing for Jack, and for herself in the long run.
Episode written by Nawal Gadalla.
THU 19:15 Front Row (b00p1m0h)
Tamzin Outhwaite, best known for playing Mel in EastEnders, stars as the sweet-natured dance hall hostess in the Menier Chocolate Factory's new production of the hit 60s musical Sweet Charity.
JM Coetzee's Booker Prize-winning novel Disgrace has just been made into a feature film starring John Malkovich. The film, which is faithful to the book, focuses on a university professor in post-Apartheid South Africa who loses everything as a result of his inappropriate behaviour with a young student. The BBC's former South Africa correspondent Allan Little reviews.
Front Row talks to George Crumb, the 80-year-old American classical composer who won Grammys and Pulitzers in the 1960s and 70s, for his pioneering and unorthodox music. Following a Prom concert in September dedicated to his work, the BBC Symphony is launching its 2009/2010 Total Immersion series, with a day of concerts, films, and talks at the Barbican in London, devoted to Crumb's life and work.
If last year's buzz-word in the arts was 'interactive', this year's has been 'immersive'. Writer Andrew Dickson prefers not to be immersed.
Jane Rogers gives the fifth and last of Front Row's interviews with authors shortlisted for this year's BBC National Short Story Award. The stories are broadcast at
3.30pm every day this week on Radio 4, with Jane Rogers's story, Hitting Trees With Sticks, going out tomorrow.
THU 19:45 15 Minute Drama (b00p1md7)
Our Mutual Friend
Episode 19
Adaptation by Mike Walker of Charles Dickens' classic novel.
Charlie visits Bradley for the last time, and Mortimer Lightwood meets John Rokesmith for what should be the first.
Charles Dickens ...... Alex Jennings
Bella Wilfer ...... Daisy Haggard
Lizzie Hexam ...... Lizzy Watts
John Rokesmith ...... Carl Prekopp
Eugene Wrayburn ...... Patrick Kennedy
Boffin ...... Jason Watkins
Mortimer Lightwood ...... Matt Addis
Sloppy ...... Benjamin Askew
Mrs Boffin ...... Pauline Quirke
Pa Wilfer ...... Philip Fox
Charlie Hexam ...... Adam Arnold
Bradley Headstone ...... Neil Stuke
Silas Wegg ...... Lee Ross
Venus ...... Stephen Hogan
Rogue Riderhood ...... Jamie Foreman
Music by Roger Goula
Directed by Jessica Dromgoole and Jeremy Mortimer
This episode is available until
7.45pm on 11th December as part of the Series Catch-up Trial.
THU 20:00 The Report (b00p33wx)
Military Families Losing Faith
A number of military families are breaking with tradition and speaking out against the war in Afghanistan. They are angered that the Ministry of Defence sent soldiers into battle with inadequate equipment, and are concerned about the pace at which their loved ones are redeployed back to the conflict. Phil Kemp assesses whether defence chiefs are losing the battle for the hearts and minds of Britain's military families, and asks what impact that is having on the frontline.
THU 20:30 In Business (b00p33wz)
Small Wonder
Microloans have brought credit to millions of poor people shunned by the conventional banking system, but now commercial financial institutions are jumping on the microlending bandwagon. Peter Day wonders whether a microloan bubble is about to burst.
THU 21:00 Jumbo to Jockey (b00g36l2)
Following an overweight middle-aged man, Dominic Prince, as he spends a year pursuing his lifetime ambition to become a jockey.
At the beginning of 2008, Dominic Prince was 47 years old, weighed sixteen and half stones and felt his life was churning in neutral. A very pleasant neutral, but neutral nonetheless. As a child he had a dream, to become a jockey and ride competitively. But the dream didn't even come close to being realised - until now, when he decided to give it one last shot.
Dominic confronts his mid-life crisis, tries to lose a quarter of his body weight, learns to ride like a professional and seeks to fulfil his dream, 30 years behind schedule.
He is put through his paces on a horse simulator at the British Racing School, receives advice from top jockeys and trainers and hears the misgivings of the other stable lads when he turns up for work.
THU 21:30 In Our Time (b00p315t)
[Repeat of broadcast at
09:00 today]
THU 21:58 Weather (b00p1mjt)
The latest weather forecast.
THU 22:00 The World Tonight (b00p1mvh)
National and international news and analysis with Robin Lustig.
A Scottish banking spokesman defends RBS bonuses.
An eyewitness on the bomb outrage in Somalia which killed three government ministers.
How cyclists are three times more likely to die in England.
THU 22:45 Book at Bedtime (b00p3tgy)
Riceyman Steps
Episode 4
Robert Powell reads from the 1923 novel by Arnold Bennett about the poignant struggles of everyday London life.
Romance, of a sort, is in the air in Clerkenwell, but Henry Earlforward believes practicalities must take precedence.
A Waters Partnership production for BBC Radio 4.
THU 23:00 Chain Reaction (b008z74b)
Series 4
Catherine Tate interviews David Tennant
Two Doctor Who stalwarts meet. Catherine Tate takes the host's chair as she talks to - or mercilessly teases - David Tennant.
Chain Reaction is the tag talk show with a twist where the guest becomes the interviewer in the next show.
Based on the original 1991 BBC Radio 5 programme of the same name, Chain Reaction is a simple idea of big name stars from the world of entertainment interviewing others whose work they appreciate and admire.
Recorded with an audience, the interviews focus on the life, career and the passions of the interviewee but often prove to be as revealing about the interviewer.
Producer: Tilusha Ghelani.
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in February 2008.
THU 23:30 Today in Parliament (b00p1n8d)
News, views and features on today's stories in Parliament with Robert Orchard.
FRIDAY 04 DECEMBER 2009
FRI 00:00 Midnight News (b00p1gxk)
The latest national and international news from BBC Radio 4. Followed by Weather.
FRI 00:30 Book of the Week (b00p6ywq)
[Repeat of broadcast at
09:45 on Thursday]
FRI 00:48 Shipping Forecast (b00p1h14)
The latest shipping forecast.
FRI 01:00 Selection of BBC World Service Programmes (b00p1h48)
BBC Radio 4 joins the BBC World Service.
FRI 05:20 Shipping Forecast (b00p1h2w)
The latest shipping forecast.
FRI 05:30 News Briefing (b00p1h62)
The latest news from BBC Radio 4.
FRI 05:43 Prayer for the Day (b00p1hct)
Daily prayer and reflection with Alastair McIntosh.
FRI 05:45 Farming Today (b00p1hhm)
A third of Welsh dairy farmers have left the industry over the last five years. A Welsh Assembly member tells Charlotte Smith that, like the banks, the Welsh dairy industry is too important to fail.
And The Royal Society explain that, without an extra two billion pounds for agricultural research, the UK will not be able to play its part in feeding a growing world population.
FRI 06:00 Today (b00p1hl0)
Presented by John Humphrys and Justin Webb.
Claims that researchers manipulated climate change data are to be investigated by the UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). Emails leaked from the Climate Research Unit at the University of East Anglia suggest that data was enhanced to challenge climate change sceptics. Reporter Simon Cox outlines the investigation.
The government's chief immigration adviser has called for a review of 'lower tier' colleges over fears that too many foreign students are being given visas at the end of their degree courses. Professor David Metcalf said he was 'stunned' to discover hundreds of colleges which were not 'proper' universities could grant two-year work and residence visas to non-EU students. Professor Metcalf discusses visa system.
The King of Thailand celebrates his 82nd birthday tomorrow. The world's longest-serving monarch, King Bhumibol Adulyadej, has been in hospital for more than two months and his ill health is threatening to future of the country. Asia correspondent Alistair Leithead reports from Thailand.
A National Audit Office report reveals that a clean bill of health was awarded to the Royal Bank of Scotland just days before it required emergency support. Business editor Robert Peston examines the report's findings.
Hospitals found to have poor levels of patient safety have complained that they were misrepresented. The company Dr Foster, which compiled the results, has come under criticism by some leading academics. Correspondent Sanchia Berg reports on hospital's reaction to the report, and Roger Taylor, director and co-founder of Dr Foster Intelligence, discusses the reliability of the results.
Thought for the Day with the Chief Rabbi, Sir Jonathan Sacks.
Class is back on the political agenda. With a general election looming, both parties have attacked the other's social ethics. Gordon Brown has accused Tory policies of being dreamed up on the playing fields of Eton, and David Cameron believes the Labour approach to class is hypocritical. Former deputy prime minister John Prescott and Conservative party chairman Eric Pickles debate whether or not the election should be fought on class.
Emails stolen from the University of East Anglia's Climate Research Unit reveal that figures on global warming were changed to exacerbate the threat. The UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has told the BBC it is taking the matter very seriously and will investigate the emails. Saudi Arabia has said that the emails will have a 'huge impact' on the talks and that countries will now be unwilling to cut emissions. Environment correspondent Richard Black outlines the accusations. Philip Stott, Emeritus Professor of Biogeography at the University of London, and environmentalist and writer Jonathon Porritt discuss whether the row could have the potential to derail the Copenhagen climate talks.
Does an all-star cast make or break a movie? The film Nine had its UK premiere in London last night. The musical is notable for its long list of big-name stars including Daniel Day-Lewis, Nicole Kidman, Judi Dench, Penelope Cruz, Sophia Loren and Marion Cotillard. Oscar-wining director Ken Russell and The Times' film critic James Christopher debate how far a cast list contributes to a film's success.
Northern Ireland's deputy first minister has warned that the government could become unsustainable if a deal on policing is not achieved before Christmas. Ireland correspondent Mark Simpson reports from Belfast, and Northern Ireland secretary Shaun Woodward outlines the policing devolution negotiations.
The hurricanes that devastated Haiti last year have left thousands of children abandoned. Disabled children are particularly vulnerable due to the higher cost of caring for them and the belief that they are unlikely to earn much money for their families. The UN children's charity, UNICEF, says an acute shortage of legal orphanages and the difficult of finding other homes is worsening the situation. In the second of three reports from Haiti, correspondent Mike Thomson met a teenage girl who was born without arms and abandoned by her parents when she was three years old.
Police are being accused of misusing powers granted under anti-terror legislation. Amateur and professional photographers have complained at being stopped for taking pictures of tourist destinations, well-known landmarks and a fish and chip shop. Jerome Taylor, a journalist with the Independent who was stopped by police for taking photos of the Houses of Parliament, and Chief Constable Andy Trotter of British Transport Police and chairman of the Association of Chief Police Officers media advisory group, debate whether police are too ready to use their anti-terror powers.
There are growing concerns that an email scandal could prevent a deal at Copenhagen climate summit. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is to investigate emails exchanged by researchers at the Clim
FRI 09:00 Desert Island Discs (b00p068y)
[Repeat of broadcast at
11:15 on Sunday]
FRI 09:45 Book of the Week (b00p6yws)
The Hair of the Dog and Other Scientific Surprises
Episode 5
Karl Sabbagh book explores the surprising science behind seemingly trivial assumptions.
A ship that repaired itself; how the earliest telephones worked without bells; why it's a good thing for skyscrapers to sway; and how Europe to America in an hour, by train, may one day become a reality.
Read by Toby Longworth.
Abridged by Libby Spurrier.
A Pier Production for BBC Radio 4.
FRI 10:00 Woman's Hour (b00p1hsn)
Female Viagra; Learning disabilities and parenthood
The merits of Flibanserin, the female Viagra, discussed. Plus, novelist Evie Wyld interviewed; and should people with learning disabilities have children?
FRI 11:00 Lives in a Landscape (b00p346r)
Series 5
BMX Brothers
Documentary series telling original stories about real lives in Britain today.
Trey and Daniel Whyte's talent on the BMX track has resulted in progress to an Olympic qualifying event in the south of France. Within the space of six months they have seen their lives transformed, moving from a makeshift BMX track on their Peckham estate to preparations for the event in Nice. The ruthlessness learnt on their run-down estate undoubtedly helps them on the race track, but will it also make it harder for them to adjust to their new lives?
In preparation for the event, Daniel has moved to the UK's cycling academy in Manchester and 15-year-old Trey has been combining time there with his studies back in London at the Peckham Academy. Their cycle coach believes the edge needed to live in places like Peckham has given the boys a real advantage on the track. Daniel in particular is considered fearless by his rivals, and he gives an insight into his life before he took up cycling, and exactly how much trouble he was in.
It was a chance encounter with CK Flash, a part-time DJ and local BMX enthusiast, which led to the brothers taking up BMX riding and later resulted in parents forming a Peckham club which is now one of the best in the country. The Whyte brothers have their sights set on the London Olympics, but how much will they be able to adapt to the changes they face as 2012 approaches?
FRI 11:30 The Richest Man in Britain (b00p346t)
The Cultural Attache
Sitcom by Nick Hornby and Giles Smith about an ageing rock star and his search for fulfilment.
Trillionnaire rocker Dave Mabbutt and his personal assistant Dom come to blows over the one thing money can't buy.
Dave Mabbutt ...... Mark Williams
Dom ...... Russell Tovey.
FRI 12:00 You and Yours (b00p1jxy)
Consumer news and issues with Peter White.
FRI 12:57 Weather (b00p1k9y)
The latest weather forecast.
FRI 13:00 World at One (b00p1kzp)
National and international news with Shaun Ley.
FRI 13:30 Feedback (b00p346w)
Roger Bolton airs listeners' views on BBC radio programmes and policy.
FRI 14:00 The Archers (b00p1l21)
[Repeat of broadcast at
19:00 on Thursday]
FRI 14:15 Drama (b00p346y)
Number 10 - Series 3
A Failed State
Series of plays by Jonathan Myerson depicting life inside Downing Street.
The coalition is unravelling and, as his team scramble for votes to keep the government in place, the PM goes to his constituency and becomes embroiled in a housing issue involving a Somalian single mother. Is it deliberate politics or the last act of a collapsing prime minister?
Adam ...... Antony Sher
Monica ...... Sasha Behar
Polly ...... Penny Downie
Bill ...... Bill Paterson
Steve ...... Stephen Mangan
Gwen Donoghue ...... Denise Black
Biyot Abdulle, constituent ...... Nicola Gardner
Hannah Armstrong ...... Kelly Hunter
Terry Gruber, union leader ...... Nicholas Murchie
Copple, housing manager ...... Michael Eaves
Trevithick ...... Karl Theobald
Simon Laity ...... Damian Lewis
Directed by Clive Brill
A Pacificus production for BBC Radio 4.
FRI 15:00 Gardeners' Question Time (b00p34yh)
Eric Robson chairs the popular horticultural forum.
Chris Beardshaw, Bunny Guinness and Bob Flowerdew are guests of the Royal Caledonian Horticultural Society in Edinburgh.
The programme takes a guided tour of the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh.
Includes gardening weather forecast.
FRI 15:30 BBC National Short Story Award (b00p5xk6)
BBC National Short Story Award 2009
Hitting Trees With Sticks
The last of five shortlisted stories for the annual prize, chosen from over 680 entries from published writers. Read by Julia McKenzie
Written by an exciting mix of well known and newer writers, the stories range from the contemporary to the fantastical, and from the funny to the intensely moving. They reflect the very best in short story writing in Britain today, and are read by some of the nation's best-known actors.
FRI 16:00 Last Word (b00p34ym)
Matthew Bannister presents the obituary series.
Marking the lives of the actor Richard Todd, Professor Humphrey Kay, Cecilia Vajda and William Miller.
FRI 16:30 The Film Programme (b00p34yp)
Steven Soderbergh reveals the reasons why he employed an adult film star, Sasha Grey, in his latest drama The Girlfriend Experience, and why he might retire from cinema.
Composer Neil Brand tells us the score about Mary Poppins' music.
Adrian Wootton waxes lyrical about screenwriter and novelist Eric Ambler.
FRI 16:56 1989: Day by Day (b00p1ld2)
4th December 1989
Sir John Tusa looks back at the events making the news 20 years ago.
For the first time, the Soviet government joins other Warsaw Pact countries in condemning its own invasion of Czechoslovakia in 1968, and thousands take to the streets in Prague demanding a new government.
A Somethin' Else production for BBC Radio 4.
FRI 17:00 PM (b00p1lgs)
Full coverage and analysis of the day's news with Carolyn Quinn. Plus Weather.
FRI 18:00 Six O'Clock News (b00p1lrz)
The latest national and international news from BBC Radio 4.
FRI 18:30 The Now Show (b00p34yr)
Series 29
Episode 2
Tonight Steve Punt & Hugh Dennis assess the threat of the nuclear family; Marcus Brigstocke meets his nemesis; Mitch Benn seeks independence for Alex Salmond and Jon Holmes explains why Dubai is worse than Margate.
FRI 19:00 The Archers (b00p1l23)
Lilian wonders how she's going to get through the months without Matt. Jennifer tells her to think about doing more for Peggy. One day Matt will come home whereas for Peggy it's a lifelong sentence being without Jack. Lilian knows she should count her blessings. Ian suggests that Lilian send Matt funny postcards to cheer him up!
Coriander loses her temper with Lynda for asking too many questions about her mum and Justin. Lynda didn't mean to offend her. Lynda goes out to do her Christmas shopping leaving Caz feeling guilty. Lynda bumps into Kirsty and Helen. Helen's worrying about what to get Leon. Lynda's looking for aromatherapy oils, as things are getting a bit tense at home. Helen decides a man's aromatherapy kit is just the thing for Leon. Kirsty thinks Helen's lucky, Leon's a great guy. Helen's just a bit worried that maybe he's a little too popular.
Ian tells Helen he's sorry if he spoke out of turn. She's his best friend and he doesn't want to let Leon drive a wedge between them. But Helen says it's difficult to know where they go from here. Ian thinks Leon's no good for her and she thinks he's wrong.
Episode written by Nawal Gadalla.
FRI 19:15 Front Row (b00p1m0k)
Andrea Levy's 2004 award-wining novel Small Island has been adapted for TV in a three-hour dramatisation. Her book, which deals with issues faced by immigrants leaving their 'small island' of Jamaica and coming to Britain, won the Orange Prize and the Whitbread Book of the Year. Novelist Dreda Say Mitchell reviews the BBC One adaptation.
Julian Rhind-Tutt is best known for his role in the hospital sitcom Green Wing, which led to a series of credit card adverts with his co-star Stephen Mangan. He's also a seasoned stage actor and discusses The Hampstead Theatre's Darkened Shores, which opens next week despite Mark Gatiss - who played the other lead role - having to pull out at the eleventh hour due to a family illness.
The Rolex Mentor and Protege programme teams six established figures, in six different art forms, with young up-and-coming artists. Nobel Prize-winning poet, novelist and playwright Wole Soyinka is mentoring Tara June Wynch, a young indigenous Australian writer. They discuss the impact of the mentoring process.
As the internet buzzes with the news that The Climb by Miley Cyrus has been chosen by Simon Cowell to be this year's X Factor winner's song and scheduled for performance tomorrow night by the four remaining finalists, Danny Robbins analyses the formula that all the winning songs so far have fitted.
FRI 19:45 15 Minute Drama (b00p1md9)
Our Mutual Friend
Episode 20
Adaptation by Mike Walker of Charles Dickens' classic novel.
Truths that seemed drowned finally come to the surface.
Charles Dickens ...... Alex Jennings
Bella Wilfer ...... Daisy Haggard
Lizzie Hexam ...... Lizzy Watts
John Rokesmith ...... Carl Prekopp
Eugene Wrayburn ...... Patrick Kennedy
Boffin ...... Jason Watkins
Mortimer Lightwood ...... Matt Addis
Sloppy ...... Benjamin Askew
Mrs Boffin ...... Pauline Quirke
Pa Wilfer ...... Philip Fox
Charlie Hexam ...... Adam Arnold
Bradley Headstone ...... Neil Stuke
Silas Wegg ...... Lee Ross
Venus ...... Stephen Hogan
Rogue Riderhood ...... Jamie Foreman
Music by Roger Goula
Directed by Jessica Dromgoole and Jeremy Mortimer
This episode is available until
7.45pm on 11th December as part of the Series Catch-up Trial.
FRI 20:00 Any Questions? (b00p34yt)
Eddie Mair chairs the topical debate from Stratford-upon-Avon. Panellists include director of Liberty Shami Chakrabarti, broadcaster John Sergeant, associate editor of The Times Daniel Finkelstein and columnist AA Gill.
FRI 20:50 A Point of View (b00p34yw)
Impact
Clive James reflects that in a democracy we must never be complacent about any government initiative and warns of the dangers that a new plan for calculating funding for universities may pose to academic freedom.
FRI 21:00 Friday Drama (b009yfcp)
How Now TV
By Paul Watson.
Television presenter Daniela Cross, a legend in her own lunchtime, must have started her career somewhere. Pearly teeth and a saccharine nature are not enough to climb the industry's greasy pole. A helping hand from friends in high places will help, as will a seductive smile. But it's acceptable gimmicks that are most needed in delivering an audience, and it is the acceptable that is fast running out in today's TV.
So acceptable must give way to the difficult, the new, the so-called radical and more often the once unacceptable. A programme idea that can be justified by bums sat on seats and by revenue produced. And that was Daniela's gift to telly, an idea so awful but so justifiable that she was bound to succeed.
Daniela ...... Victoria Shalet
Daddy (John Cross) ...... Nicholas Farrell
Deborah ...... Frances Barber
Averill ...... Lizzy McInnerny
Gary ...... Leo Bill
Hassan ...... Joseph Marcell
Samuel ...... Jonathan Firth
Crispin ...... Mathew Baynton
Permindah ...... Manjinder Virk
Picture Editor ...... Keith Drinkel
Young Director ...... Tom Watson
Directed by Paul Watson.
FRI 21:58 Weather (b00p1mjw)
The latest weather forecast.
FRI 22:00 The World Tonight (b00p1mvk)
National and international news and analysis with Ritula Shah.
The omens for the Copenhagen Climate conference: how much damage could allegations of data massaging at the University of East Anglia cause?
England's World Cup football group competitors announced.
The Ministry of Defence has closed down its UFO helpline.
FRI 22:45 Book at Bedtime (b00p3th0)
Riceyman Steps
Episode 5
Robert Powell reads from the 1923 novel by Arnold Bennett about the poignant struggles of everyday London life.
Mr Earlforward's drive for economy is revealed as a corrosive desire, in stark contrast with the spontaneous greed for life embodied by the hard-working but ever-hungry Elsie.
A Waters Partnership production for BBC Radio 4.
FRI 23:00 A Good Read (b00p2hfy)
[Repeat of broadcast at
16:30 on Tuesday]
FRI 23:30 Today in Parliament (b00p1n8g)
News, views and features on today's stories in Parliament with Mark D'Arcy.