BBC Radio 4 joins the BBC World Service. BBC Radio 4 resumes at
Priscilla, Queen of iPM listeners. Doctor, lawyer and theologian, Priscilla Noble-Mathews talks about her life, death and the hereafter. A homesick wartime evacuee, she's faced down sexism and ageism to work her way from the Bar, through the civil service to medicine. In what many would regard as her retirement, Priscilla has found new challenges working with a helicopter rescue team, risking her own life for others. iPM@bbc.co.uk.
The latest news headlines. Including a look at the papers.
Owen Sheers is in Worcestershire to learn about the Druidic custom of gathering in the mistletoe. Each year it is harvested and blessed at the Mistletoe Festival in the town of Tenbury Wells.
Charlotte Smith raises a glass to the British drinks industry. More farmers are diversifying into brewing and distilling to make their businesses more profitable, despite declining alcohol consumption in the UK.
And UK farmers are now adding vodka and sparkling wine alongside the more traditional whiskeys and beer. A trip to the Chase distillery in Herefordshire shows how one farmer has turned the rejects from his potato crisp business into internationally acclaimed vodka. And at Camel Valley in Cornwall, Farming Today finds out how the fizz is put into its renowned sparkling rose.
For those producing traditional ales, there are other challenges. The disease Hop Wilt is attacking the famous hop varieties Goldings and Fuggles. Banks' brewery chief brewer explains that fewer and fewer farmers are planting these crops, and that the venerable Fuggles could eventually die out, meaning the taste of many brewer's beers will change.
Sheila Dillon presents a special programme, to announce the winners of this year's BBC Food & Farming Awards - along with food celebrities including Raymond Blanc, Angela Hartnett, Alex James and Mark Hix.
Peter Curran presents an Excess Baggage special quiz for Christmas from the Radio Theatre with John McCarthy and Sandi Toksvig and their special guests, explorer Benedict Allen and comedian Lucy Porter, answering questions on the world of travel and travelling the world.
Bing-bong merrily on high! It's Xmas morning on board MJN Air, but when Carolyn schedules an extra stop-off to the Hawaiian island of Molokai, Arthur has just seven minutes to celebrate Xmas. How can Douglas and Martin make this the best Xmas Arthur's ever had when all they have on board are some custard creams and a Russian oligarch...
Carolyn Knapp-Shappey ..... Stephanie Cole
1st Officer Douglas Richardson ..... Roger Allam
Capt. Martin Crieff ..... Benedict Cumberbatch
Arthur Shappey ..... John Finnemore
Mr. Alyakhin ..... Ben Willbond
For All the World - Worship for Christmas Morning from St Martin-in-the-Fields in the heart of London led by the Revd Nicholas Holtam with the Revd Simon Buckley and the Choir of St Martin's and St Martin's High School Elite Gospel Choir directed by Andrew Earis and Njabulo Madlala. The service will draw on the experiences of the diverse community which makes up this iconic Central London church, famed for its work with the homeless and its stunning musical tradition. Producer: Stephen Shipley.
Fi Glover with guests Gary Kemp and Dame Joan Bakewell. Murray Lachlan Young brings poems and the Rev Richard Coles delivers e-mails. There are interviews with Alan and Irene Brogan who met in a children's home in Newcastle and met again years later and got married; they appeared on Saturday Live and as a result of being on the programme a book was written about them. Also Kate Shipton and her son Matthew tell the story of how he donated a kidney to save her life, and Margaret Pellegrini describes how she came to be one of the original munchkins in the Wizard of Oz, and how that experience has shaped her life. There's an I Was There with Professor Colin Pillinger on his involvement in the Apollo 8 which was in space during Christmas 1968, a Crowdscape from Leeds Christmas Market, a Day Trip with John McCarthy and Sandi Toksvig at Denis Severs' House in Spitalfields and a Sound Sculpture from Santa Claus. Inheritance Tracks from entertainer Bette Midler and actor and Pantomime Dame par excellence Clive Rowe.
Charles Dickens wrote and performed songs all his life. As a little boy, his mother stood him on the table in the local pub to sing; as a successful writer he sang to his guests after dinner. He also wrote the libretto for an opera.
David Owen Norris re-imagines his favourite tunes, beginning with his party piece as a little boy ending with the carol in 'A Christmas Carol'. Recorded on location in Dickens's drawing room, with biographers Claire Tomalin and Michael Slater and actor and writer Simon Callow. With singers Gwyneth Herbert, Thomas Guthrie and Laura Crowther.
The Now Show team take a satirical look back at the year through the medium of pantomime.
Starring Steve Punt and Hugh Dennis, with Mitch Benn, Marcus Brigstocke, Jon Holmes and Laura Shavin.
Political journalist and Today programme presenter James Naughtie shares with an audience some of the pieces of prose and verse which have entertained and inspired him over the years. The readers are Alison Steadman, Bill Paterson and David Haig.
Presented by Jane Garvey. A celebration of some of the great musical talent and live performances from the programme. Cyndi Lauper explains why she's got the blues, Marina and the Diamonds sings about her favourite fizzy tipple, there's music from Macy Gray, the Dale Divas of Derbyshire, Venezuelan pianist Gabriela Montero, and mezzo soprano Karen Cargill, and Annie Lennox tops it all off with her version of a classic Christmas carol.
The Queen's Christmas message to the Commonwealth and the nation, followed by the national anthem.
Pat is the glamorous face of an American soap opera; Margaret, a waitress in a motorway cafe in Lancashire. Sisters who've not seen each other for 27 years. Brought together in the glare of a popular TV show, they have no choice but to seem thrilled. But a darker past lies behind their reunion.
Pat ..... Tracy-Ann Oberman
Margaret ..... Sarah Lancashire
Maeve ..... Imelda Staunton
Claire ..... Claire Skinner
Jim ..... Andrew Dunn
Jim's Mum ..... Thelma Barlow
Vera ..... Rachel Davies
Billy ..... Danny Webb
Nosey Neighbour ..... Lynda Baron
Stella ..... Joanna Monro
Bella ..... Sally Orrock
Martin ..... Philip Lowrie
Daisy ..... Deeivya Meir
Driver ..... Adeel Akhtar
Hotel Manager ..... Sam Dale
Floor Assistant ..... Iain Batchelor
"I'm glamorous, attractive, I have enough sexual charisma to open a factory. She's fat, Northern, working class - of course she wants to be my sister."
Victoria Wood's bitter-sweet comedy has its first radio airing on Christmas Day.
In the 50th anniversary year of "Coronation Street" the production sees a number of its former stars re-united - Sarah Lancashire (who played Racquel), Thelma Barlow (Mavis), Andrew Dunn (Roger Stiles) and Philip Lowrie (who played Elsie Tanner's son). Imelda Staunton (star of Vera Drake) is the Irish talk-show host and Claire Skinner (from Outnumbered) the earnest assistant, Claire. Lynda Baron (Open All Hours) plays a cameo role of the nosy neighbour, Rachel Davies (Boon) is Mum and Danny Webb (Alien 3) the reporter, Billy.
The numbers are staggering: more than 1 billion music video online hits, record sales of more than 50 million, number 7 on the Forbes List of the world's 100 most influential women. Not bad at all for 24 year old Stefani Germanotta, a girl from New York's Lower East Side whom the world now knows as Lady Gaga. In this week's Christmas day Profile, Stephen Smith follows Germanotta's story from rebellious, classically trained pianist to pop's newest and hottest icon.
Andy and Pod begin their quest to compile 'Pod's History of the Ashes in 100 Objects' at the British Museum where they meet Neil MacGregor and the lady who yodels at the beginning of the Radio 4 programme.
Pod only agrees to continue with Andy's show on the condition he gets to visit Oz and win his attractive wife Jaqcui back from the hairy arms of an Aussie cricketer. On the flight Down Under, Pod shows Andy the historically significant 69 tins of Fosters with which he's just set the all-time England-to-Australia-beer-drinking record.
They visit the Brisbane Museum of Cricket where they see the very phone directory Shane Warne used to call up nurses at the Brisbane School of Nursing. Pod and Andy then accidentally create a diplomatic incident by letting slip that both Heartbeat and The Bill have been cancelled in the UK, devastating Australian TV schedules for decades.
This upsets the Aussie cricket team who are trying to warm up at the first Ashes Test Match in Brisbane, with the encouragement of a team of cheerleaders led by none other than Pod's wife Jacqui. Pod notes that the pile of vomit he left on the outfield in 1989 is still there and suggests it to Andy as one of the 100 objects, although to be honest he's more interested in the odds that a local bookie is offering on the chances of him and Jacqui getting back together.
Pod persuades Jacqui to take him back as the winnings on the bet he's just placed will more than make up for his shortcomings as a lover, a man and a human being.
Andy reluctantly returns to England having failed almost completely in the task to collect 100 objects but with a £50 note as his cut of Pod's gambling winnings.
Christmas cheer from Loose Ends as Clive Anderson talks to some very seasonal and special guests. We have some of the best known celebrities who have ever existed, usually unavailable because they are dead or for some other convincing reason...
Charles Dickens joins Clive to discuss his extraordinary productivity, including recent blockbusters A Christmas Carol and Bleak House. He gives Clive the low down on his American lecture tours and his love of Eastenders.
Hollywood siren Marilyn Monroe exclusively reveals the details of her chequered love-life, her involvement with the Kennedys and her most prolific assets.
Author Jane Austen is in the studio to defend her literary credentials and discuss the Hampshire singles scene.
Alex Ferguson gives a rare interview in which he discusses his stormy relationship with David Beckham and his controversial new signing, magic mid-fielder Patricia Routledge.
And Emma Freud gets her stockings inspected by the man of the moment, Father Christmas, who bears a striking resemblance to a certain Italian head of state...
Plus Tim Minchin gives a magical rendering of his festive word-of-mouth hit, White Wine in the Sun.
Nicholas Parsons unwraps the best of the year's offerings from across BBC radio
Nicholas Parsons makes his pick from the best of the year's radio. Among the many offerings he was able to squeeze into his BBC Christmas stocking are the beautifully evocative soundscapes of wildlife recordist, Chris Watson; Kathy Burke's secret desires, memories of one of the most divisive industrial disputes in this country's history, advice from Phil Tufnell on how to get the best out of a watermelon, some great comedy moments, and a little Soul Music.
Sir Fitzroy Maclean was Churchill's man in the East, a member of the SAS and close friends with Field Marshall Tito of Yugoslavia. Brian Wilson presents the archive of his remarkable and colourful life.
Dramatisation by Robin Brooks of Robert Graves' entertaining histories of Imperial Rome.
When the Emperor Tiberius dies, the young and popular Caligula succeeds his Uncle. Claudius will be the first to learn his secret.
Claudius ..... Tom Goodman-Hill
Tiberius ..... Tim McInnerny
Caligula ..... Samuel Barnett
Herod Agrippa ..... Zubin Varla
Antonia ..... Christine Kavanagh
Calpurnia ..... Sally Orrock
Drusilla ..... Deeivya Meir
Macro ..... Tony Bell
Agrippinilla ..... Claire Harry
Thrasyllus ..... Sean Baker
Doctor ..... Adeel Akhtar
Gaoler ..... Iain Batchelor
Senator ..... Lloyd Thomas
Specially composed music by David Pickvance.
Humphrey Lyttelton's son Stephen introduces an evening in celebration of his father, the acclaimed jazz musician, band leader and much-loved host of Radio 4's perennial antidote to panel games 'I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue'.
An all-star cast of friends and admirers drawn from the worlds of music and comedy includes Wally Fawkes, Stacey Kent, Tim Brooke-Talyor, Graeme Garden, Barry Cryer, Tony Hawks, Andy Hamilton, Sandi Toksvig, Jeremy Hardy, Rob Brydon, Jack Dee, Elkie Brooks, Jools Holland, Charlie Watts the Humphrey Lyttelton Band.
(9/17) Four more contestants join questionmaster Russell Davies at London's BBC Radio Theatre, for the latest heat in the general knowledge quiz. This week's quartet hail from Pevensey in East Sussex, High Wycombe, Cheltenham and the Rhondda. One of them will win a place in the series semi-finals in the new year.
The Gate of the Year: Peggy Reynolds hears the story behind the poem King George VI quoted in his first Christmas broadcast on 25th December 1939, written by the unknown Minnie Louise Haskins. It takes her from an unassuming suburb of Bristol to Sandringham, via the correspondence pages of The Times and the hand of Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, and it has popped up at the opening of two world wars and on countless teatowels, Internet sites and books of inspirational verse.
SUNDAY 26 DECEMBER 2010
SUN 00:00 Midnight News (b00wqjl6)
The latest national and international news from BBC Radio 4. Followed by Weather.
SUN 00:15 Christmas Meditation (b00wqkrn)
Cambridge University's Professor of Evolutionary Palaeobiology Simon Conway Morris reflects on the mystery of the incarnation from perspectives of science and faith. Producer: Philip Billson.
SUN 00:30 Afternoon Reading (b0093bdf)
Love in the Afternoon
A Voice from the Past
By Penny Vincenzi.
When Anna befriends Rose - a grand and very stylish resident of her grandfather's nursing home - she finds herself enchanted by vivid tales from a racy past. Atmospheric short story by the bestselling romantic novelist Penny Vincenzi.
Read by Joanna Lumley.
Produced by Kirsteen Cameron.
SUN 00:48 Shipping Forecast (b00wqjl8)
The latest shipping forecast.
SUN 01:00 Selection of BBC World Service Programmes (b00wqjlb)
BBC Radio 4 joins the BBC World Service.
SUN 05:20 Shipping Forecast (b00wqjld)
The latest shipping forecast.
SUN 05:30 News Briefing (b00wqjlg)
The latest news from BBC Radio 4.
SUN 05:43 Bells on Sunday (b00wqkrq)
The bells of Worcester Cathedral.
SUN 05:45 Profile (b00wqjb4)
[Repeat of broadcast at
16:45 on Saturday]
SUN 06:00 News Headlines (b00wqjlj)
The latest national and international news.
SUN 06:05 Something Understood (b00wqkt5)
Childhood Innocence
Jonathan Charles considers the innocence of children and reflects on the charm of those adults who still retain something of the child within.
Producer: Ronni Davies
A Unique production for BBC Radio 4.
SUN 06:35 On Your Farm (b00wqkth)
Adam Henson visits a dairy farm in the USA that milks over three thousand cows three times a day. There are plans for similar sized farms in the UK and Adam asks whether such farms could be a viable option for farmers in this country.
Presented by Adam Henson and produced by Martin Poyntz-Roberts.
SUN 06:57 Weather (b00wqjll)
The latest weather forecast.
SUN 07:00 News and Papers (b00wqjln)
The latest news headlines. Including a look at the papers.
SUN 07:10 Sunday (b00wqkv8)
Edward Stourton with a special Boxing Day edition of this religious and ethical news programme
It is the day that Good King Wenceslas looked out on the feast of Stephen, named after the first Christian Martyr. It is also known as Boxing Day and Wren Day in different parts of the world. We shall explain all on this festive edition of Sunday.
First the story of that popular hymn about Good King Wenceslas. Edward talks to author Ian Bradley, an expert on Victorian hymns to find out why the public love this song even if music critics look down their nose at it.
In parts of Ireland and Wales today is also known as Wren Day - a festival with roots in pre-Christian pagan culture. And as William Crawley finds out the celebrations involve a lot of dressing up and dancing!
Six years ago today the Asian Tsunami killed over a quarter of a million people. It was one of the most devastating natural disasters of modern times. One of the aid workers who rushed to the scene was Anglican Priest Dr Emma Loveridge. Edward talks to her about how the Tsunami affected her and the team she worked with in Sri Lanka.
St Stephen was the first Christian martyr but is the concept of martyrdom still relevant today? Trevor Barnes reports on the Cult of the martyr, both ancient and modern.
Joining Edward to discuss the idea of martyrdom are Dr Paul Middleton from the University of Chester who has written extensively on the subject, Dr Salman Sayyid from the University of South Australia and AC Grayling, Professor of Philosophy at Birkbeck College, University of London.
Finally having covered the Christian and Pagan legacies of the day we come to that most crucial of questions - What do you eat on Boxing Day. Edward is joined in the studio by food historian Ivan Day.
E-mail: sunday@bbc.co.uk
Series producer: Amanda Hancox.
SUN 07:55 Radio 4 Appeal (b00wqkvb)
Street Child Africa
Martin Bell presents the Radio 4 Appeal on behalf of the charity Street Child Africa.
Donations to Street Child Africa should be sent to FREEPOST BBC Radio 4 Appeal, please mark the back of your envelope Street Child Africa. Credit cards: Freephone 0800 404 8144. You can also give online at www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/appeal. If you are a UK tax payer, please provide Street Child Africa with your full name and address so they can claim the Gift Aid on your donation. The online and phone donation facilities are not currently available to listeners without a UK postcode.
Registered Charity Number: 1074832.
SUN 07:58 Weather (b00wqjlq)
The latest weather forecast.
SUN 08:00 News and Papers (b00wqjls)
The latest news headlines. Including a look at the papers.
SUN 08:10 Sunday Worship (b00wqkvd)
The Revds. Ricky Yates and Petra Elsmore lead a service from St Clement's Church, close by Wenceslas Square in Prague, reflecting on the life and death of St Stephen and also of Wenceslas, tenth century Duke of Bohemia, who became known as St Vaclav, patron saint of the Czech Republic.
SUN 09:00 Broadcasting House (b00wqkvl)
News and conversation about the big stories of the week with Paddy O'Connell.
SUN 10:00 The Archers Omnibus (b00wr4hv)
For detailed synopsis, see daily episodes.
Written by: Carole Simpson Solazzo
Directed by: Rosemary Watts
Editor: Vanessa Whitburn
Jill Archer ..... Patricia Greene
Kenton Archer ..... Richard Attlee
Nigel Pargetter ..... Graham Seed
Elizabeth Pargetter ..... Alison Dowling
Freddie Pargetter ..... Jack Firth
Lily Pargetter ..... Georgie Feller
Tony Archer ..... Colin Skipp
Pat Archer ..... Patricia Gallimore
Helen Archer ..... Louiza Patikas
Tom Archer ..... Tom Graham
Jennifer Aldridge ..... Angela Piper
Ian Craig ..... Stephen Kennedy
Alice Carter ..... Hollie Chapman
Jolene Perks ..... Buffy Davis
Clarrie Grundy ..... Rosalind Adams
Nic Hanson ..... Becky Wright
Susan Carter ..... Charlotte Martin
Christopher Carter ..... Will Sanderson-Thwaite
Vicky Tucker ..... Rachel Atkins
Lynda Snell ..... Carole Boyd
Lewis Carmichael ..... Robert Lister.
SUN 11:15 Desert Island Discs (b00wr4hx)
Sandie Shaw
Kirsty Young's castaway is the singer Sandie Shaw.
With her melodic, velvety voice, bare feet and Sassoon bob she was the epitome of everything that was swinging about the '60s.
She was just 17 when she first topped the charts with Always Something There to Remind Me and went on to become Britain's first Eurovision winner with Puppet on a String. She loathed the song at the time, but has recently come to terms with it after recording a new version which is, she says, rather forlorn.
Along with the highs have been terrible lows - years that she calls her dark ages, when, without money or creative freedom, she felt hopeless. It was Buddhism that turned her fortunes around and became central to her life. Now, she says, she cannot believe the journey life has taken her on and she is preparing for a final flourish as a performer.
Record: None of them!
Book: Lecture on The Heritage of the Ultimate Law of Life
by Daisaku Ikeda
Luxury: Omamori Gohonzon
Producer: Leanne Buckle.
SUN 12:00 Les Kelly's Heroes (b00wp7tq)
In this one-off special, host Les Kelly (Kevin Bishop) gives a little tinselly attention to the unsung heroes who make Britain great. Les is his usual opinionated, sincere, stupid self. The guests are mostly either mad, bad or tragic. This is the show that captures the 'we're in this together' culture, adds a bit of 'the big society' and some Seventies-style schmaltz. The 'real people' on the show include a campanologist who plays Away In A Manger with only one bell, a man campaigning for guide dogs for sighted people, and a lollipop lady with OCD.
also featuring:
Dave Lamb
Vicki Pepperdine
Julian Dutton
Laurence Howarth
Written by Bill Dare with Julian Dutton.
Produced by Bill Dare.
SUN 12:32 The Food Programme (b00wr4hz)
Lapland & the World's Greatest Chef
The Danish chef Rene Redzepi of Noma, the "World's Best Restaurant", forages for food in Lapland and London.
He's become one of the most influential chefs in the world because of his use of wild ingredients, foraged from the Nordic countries of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden.
With dishes that revive lost food traditions, that use unfamiliar ingredients like mosses, lichen, spruces as well as native fruits. fish and fungi he has succeeded in putting a part of Europe ignored for its cuisine on the gastronomic map.
The idea of chefs and restaurants sourcing ingredients from the wild is not new, some already employ foragers but according to Joe Warwick, food writer, restaurant expert and the programme's reporter, Rene Redzepi has taken that approach to sourcing to whole new level.
For anyone sceptical about the abundance of wild foods in Britain suited to the needs of a restaurant Redzepi goes on a foraging trip to north London's Hampstead Heath. There he finds a new ingredient, the service berry.
Producer: Dan Saladino.
SUN 12:57 Weather (b00wqjlv)
The latest weather forecast.
SUN 13:00 The World This Weekend (b00wr4j1)
Includes the Bishop of Winchester, Michael Scott-Joynt, in discussion with the former Lord Chief Justice, Lord Woolf, on the relationship between faith and the law.
SUN 13:30 Mandela in His Own Words (b00wr4j3)
Nelson Mandela wrote a letter every day of his life. He also wrote diaries, kept notebooks, scratched out ideas for speeches and doodled his thoughts and meditations on scraps of paper.
In this programme Fergal Keane takes a journey through this special archive, which was bequeathed to the Nelson Mandela Foundation in 2009 and published by Macmillan in the book 'Conversations With Myself' in October 2010.
The archive reveals surprises, painful reminders and unanswered questions and offers insight into the experiences which led to Mandela's daily disciplines, life lessons and to the moral and political vision which inspired and continues to inspire so many.
We hear the voice of someone who is communicating not necessarily to a particular audience but who is laying out his personal thoughts. We are also given snatches of audio archive - conversations between Mr Mandela and one of his closest friends and colleagues, Ahmed Kathrada speaking on a range of subjects from lessons on how to fire a rifle, to Tracy Chapman.
We hear Mandela's reflections as an activist with the ANC in the 1960s. We hear his voice at the moment he is told he will be sent to Robben Island, and in more personal moments, recalling dreams about his wife Winnie and his children, during his years apart from his family. We hear diary excerpts written on the night of his release from Pollsmoor in February 1990, and drafts of his very early speeches as leader of the ANC. And we hear extracts from letters and diaries written during his years in retirement, as he observes the ongoing political struggles of his country.
Producer: Sarah Cuddon
A Whistledown production for BBC Radio 4.
SUN 14:00 Gardeners' Question Time (b00wr4j5)
Boxing Day Postbag Edition
A mighty get-together of all the Gardeners' Question Time panellists. A look back at the GQT year and of course a selection of varied and entertaining gardening queries.
This programme features Bob Flowerdew, Christine Walkden, Matthew Wilson, Bunny Guinness, Pippa Greenwood, Matthew Biggs, Anne Swithinbank, Chris Beardshaw and Rosie Yeomans of Sparsholt College.
The programme is chaired by Eric Robson.
Produced by Howard Shannon and Lucy Dichmont
A Somethin' Else production for BBC Radio 4.
SUN 14:45 The Bus Pass Road Trips (b00wvbtl)
Episode 5
Dominic Arkwright meets people who've used their bus passes to take on adventurous road trips.
Today he meets the lifeboatman who took on a national tour of RNLI stations.
Bill Walton travelled around the UK on his free bus pass to raise money for the RNLI. Dressed as a lifeboat man the whole way, he took 23 days to complete the journey. With an average travelling time of 7 hours per day, he caught 124 buses and clocked up 2250 miles.
SUN 15:00 Classic Serial (b00wr4j7)
I, Claudius
Claudius
Robert Graves' wickedly enjoyable histories of Imperial Rome, dramatised by Robin Brooks.
How the Sibyl's prophecy came true, for the most unwilling Emperor of them all.
Claudius ..... Tom Goodman-Hill
Caligula ..... Samuel Barnett
Herod Agrippa ..... Zubin Varla
Messalina ..... Jessica Raine
Calpurnia ..... Sally Orrock
Cassius Chaerea ..... Jude Akuwudike
Gratus ..... Sam Dale
Cornelius ..... Iain Batchelor
Bassus ..... Lloyd Thomas
Asiaticus ..... Sean Baker
Lupus ..... Henry Devas
Sentius ..... Tony Bell
The Executioner ..... Adeel Akhtar
Specially composed music by David Pickvance.
Directed by Jonquil Panting.
SUN 16:00 Open Book (b00wr4j9)
In a special edition of the programme, Barry Humphries talks to Mariella Frostrup about five of his favourite books.
SUN 16:30 Adventures in Poetry (b00wr4jc)
Series 11
The Wreck of the Hesperus
Peggy Reynolds continues her Adventures in Poetry by asking why one of the most popular poems of the 19th century 'The Wreck of the Hesperus' by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, has since fallen out of favour. The ballad of a reckless sea captain who takes his young daughter on a voyage despite warnings of an approaching storm, the poem was recited in parlours across the English speaking world, and learnt by every schoolchild in America for decades. Peggy explores the poem with Jay Parini, who has made a study of Longfellow; talks to the former Children's Laureate Michael Morpurgo; and to Linda Greenlaw, a sea captain who sails the same sea as the captain in the poem. With them, she uncovers the events in Longfellow's life which inspired the poem and discovers that it still retains the power to terrify and move its readers.
Producer: Jane Greenwood.
SUN 17:00 Listen to the Word! (b00wqcnd)
It is as modern as Marconi, as global as Coca-Cola, as race-blind as Benetton and as troubling to authority as Marxism once was. Pentecostalism is a religion that is, very simply, beating modernity at its own game. The Richard Dawkins of this world may think of religion as some throwback to earlier times but Pentecostalism was invented at the beginning of the twentieth century and is the very model of a modern Christianity - disturbing not only to hard-line atheists but even to the Catholic Church and the Chinese Communist Party.
Nearly one quarter of the 2 billion Christians in the world are Pentecostals - and counting... This feature will explore just what it is that has made Pentecostalism the indispensable form of today's Christianity.
Presenter Philip Dodd explores its extraordinary global reach - from the backstreets of Yorkshire's Grimethorpe to Korea's Seoul, home of the largest Pentecostal church in the world, from Sao Paolo to Washington. He also explores its love affair with modernity - not for nothing was it founded in Los Angeles the same year Marconi experimented with a wireless voice; not for nothing is the mobile phone how it recruits and keeps its believers.
The programme also highlights its challenge to the rationalism of the Enlightenment through its loyalty to people's experience of God, unmediated by either the authority of the Word or the reason of secularism. Along with Disney, Pentecostalism is a central part of the contemporary 'experience economy'.
Above all, this programme will show that, no less than radio itself, Pentecostalism is committed to the absolute power of the voice.
Presenter: Philip Dodd
Producer: Simon Hollis
A Brook Lapping production for BBC Radio 4.
SUN 17:40 Profile (b00wqjb4)
[Repeat of broadcast at
16:45 on Saturday]
SUN 17:54 Shipping Forecast (b00wqjlx)
The latest shipping forecast.
SUN 17:57 Weather (b00wqjlz)
The latest weather forecast.
SUN 18:00 Six O'Clock News (b00wqjm1)
The latest national and international news from BBC Radio 4.
SUN 18:15 Pick of the Week (b00wr4jr)
Gerry Northam makes his selection from the past seven days of BBC Radio
Gerry Northam has had an instructive week on the air. He's learned that, the founder of Wikileaks sees himself as a gentleman in matters of the heart, one of our Eurovision champions couldn't stand their winning song, Samuel Beckett played a truly heroic part in the French Resistance, and the Virgin Mary is mentioned more times in the Koran than in the New Testament. Gerry has also had some good laughs from two ladies on a bus, Andy Hamilton and Kenny Everett.
Loose Ends - Radio 4
Finishing The Hat - Radio 4
Word of Mouth - Radio 4
Buss Pass Road Trip - Radio 4
John Wyndham - No Place Like Earth -Radio 4
Old Harry's Game - Radio 4
Crossing Continents - Radio 4
What Do You Know? - Radio 4
Words and Music - Radio 3
Great Lives - Radio 4
Today - Radio 4
Kenny Everett's Christmas Selection Box - Radio 2
Wireless Kenny Everett - Radio 2
Desert Island Discs - Radio 4
The Essay - Radio 3
PHONE: 0370 010 0400
Email: potw@bbc.co.uk or www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/potw
Producer: Cecile Wright.
SUN 19:00 The Archers (b00wr5hm)
Pat thinks Christmas Day went as well as they could have hoped. She and Tony are disappointed Helen didn't stay longer, but at least they didn't have a row. Tony suggests putting together the cot they gave Helen tomorrow. Tom reports that it appears Jennifer had a great time at Susan's party despite her misgivings.
Over coffee later Pat says Helen's refused Tony's offer about the cot; she's arranged to see Kirsty tomorrow. Tony thinks that's an excuse. He's hurt. Pat tells him they'll just have to be patient and see Helen at Adam and Ian's do.
Nigel's buoyant from his 'No-Mercy Nigel' highwayman role, but Lizzie tells him they've got to get on. It's a busy time. So Nigel and Kenton store the highwayman gear in the attic and hunt out the Happy New Year banner. Kenton suggests putting it on the roof; the ball guests will love it! But when Elizabeth sees them on the roof she just wants them to get down before the children get any ideas.
On their way back through the attic, Nigel stumbles upon an art deco brooch, which he recognises as his mother's. He decides to have it cleaned up as a New Year present for Elizabeth.
SUN 19:15 Americana (b00wr5hp)
America's top military award is the Medal of Honor and 25-year-old U.S. Army Staff Sergeant Salvatore Guinta recently became the first living recipient from the Afghanistan War to receive that award. He tells Americana what it means to receive the Medal and a bit about the harrowing actions that ultimately led to his national recognition.
In the land of make-believe C.S. Lewis was a master-crafter of fiction but some, including prominent leaders in the United States like Sarah Palin, understand the young adult novels to be full of complex religious metaphors and important truths. Americana talks with fans and scholars to discuss the land of Narnia.
Far, far away, in a land not of make-believe, deep in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado, two sisters are escaping into a world of books. The two explain what it takes to survive a cold, dark winter, in a town of scarcely 300 people.
SUN 19:45 Afternoon Reading (b00jzwnp)
Red Herrings
The Difference
Chilling short story by master crime writer, Reginald Hill.
A winter funeral prompts an elderly lawyer to reflect upon a troubling case from his past.
Read by David Ryall.
Producer Kirsteen Cameron.
SUN 20:00 More or Less (b00wqgmq)
Tim Harford narrates "A More or Less Christmas Carol" in which Ebenezer Scrooge is visited by the ghosts of banking past, present and future.
Featuring interviews with: Andrew Haldane from the Bank of England; Simon Johnson, the former chief economist of the IMF; the MIT economist Andrew Lo; Gillian Tett, the author of Fool's Gold; the economist John Kay; the philosopher and consultant Jamie Whyte; and Angela Knight from the British Bankers' Association. Starring the cast of the Giant Olive Theatre Company (and Robert Peston).
SUN 20:30 Midlife Relaunch (b00vcms2)
Is it possible to start a new career in your fifties? Is it feasible to escape the nine till five straight jacket and find greater fulfilment? Midlife Relaunch asks people who've tried.
When Denise and Paul from Portsmouth returned from a summer holiday they felt they couldn't face another winter commuting to their accounting and teaching jobs. They decided to move - to Cyprus.
"We realised we didn't want what we'd always had - to be living in the same old house doing the same old stuff. There came this point where I thought: I want to do this before my hips go- so it's now or never really."
Christine and Stuart from Nottingham gave up steady jobs and the prospect of generous pensions to set up a B&B and furniture making business, 500 miles north in the Scottish Highlands.
But, Christine acknowledges it's certainly not an idyllic dream: "This is the hardest we've ever worked in our lives and we'll never be money rich. But we have a wonderful quality of life here with a welcoming community with people who have time to care. We gave up our pensions to come up here, so we have to continue - our motto is 'adapt or die'."
Fiona from Derbyshire dreamed of working with cows but found herself stuck working in a housing association. Now in her 50's she's running a dairy farm in Ayrshire.
"I have no regrets about my midlife decision to leave a well-paid job for these long days with little money - but I just wish I'd made it earlier in life."
Producers: Kim Normanton and Elizabeth Burke
A Loftus production for BBC Radio 4.
SUN 21:00 Almanacs: The Oldest Guides To Everything (b00t2mhs)
Ben Schott charts the history of the most influential form of mass publication in the 16th and 17th centuries. At their height, apart from the Bible, almanacs were the bestselling books on the market, with over 400,000 sold annually.
Behind the scenes at The British Museum, Dr Irving Finkel outlines the almanac tradition from Babylonian clay tablet to Gutenberg's earliest printed material. The British Library's Moira Goff lets Ben loose in the archives to peruse The Kalender of Shepherdes and the oldest Old Moore's Almanack.
Combining the characteristics of calendar, self-help manual & pocket encyclopaedia, almanacs contained utilitarian information on just about everything: feast days, when to sow crops, let blood, how to write an IOU, even advice on amateur surgery and DIY abortion. They also included dramatic astrological prophesies about the likelihood of plague, famine and war. Passages were read to boost soldiers' morale in battle and by MPs in the House of Commons.
Almanac compilers were arrested & grilled by parliamentary committees. Did one actually predict the Great Fire of London? Professor Bernard Capp assesses their powerful role in revolutionary politics.
Almanacs played a central part in spreading knowledge, literacy, popular journalism and advertising. Ben digs up early adverts for pills, potions and all manner of quackery. But they were also mocked in all kinds of ways, as Dr Adam Smyth explains.
The blank pages inserted into almanacs were used for jottings of accounts and personal memos, so they also gave us the personal written diary.
The statistical has replaced the astrological but its influence lingers on.
Producer: Tamsin Hughes
A Testbed production for BBC Radio 4
SUN 21:30 In Business (b00wqfnj)
Asia Bling
New places are leaping to prominence in the pampered world of luxury.
Peter Day hears from some of the people behind the extraordinary hunger for luxury in Asia.
Producer : Sandra Kanthal.
SUN 21:58 Weather (b00wqjm3)
The latest weather forecast.
SUN 22:00 News Review of the Year (b00wr5ht)
2010
Carolyn Quinn looks back on a year when so much changed but a few things didn't. 2010 heralded a "new politics" and a coalition government for the first time in generations. The Labour Party was beset by brotherly conflict and austerity hit home. We learnt that we would wait longer for our pensions, maybe lose our jobs and definitely lose our benefits. There were riots in London but bigger ones abroad - protestors in Athens & Paris took to the streets. BP became reviled in the US where President Obama tried - and failed - to cool down the Tea Party. Travellers were delayed by an Icelandic ash cloud and 33 miners waited to be rescued in Chile. Floods caused widespread despair in Pakistan and - no surprise this perhaps - England returned defeated from the vuvuzela roar in South Africa.
Producer : Rosamund Jones.
SUN 23:00 The Film Programme (b00wqgmx)
Francine Stock talks to Brokeback Mountain star Jake Gyllenhaal about his new comedy Love And Other Drugs.
The star of The Social Network, Jesse Eisenberg, reveals why he's not on Facebook even though he played its creator Mark Zuckerberg
Tamara Drewe scribe Moira Buffini and independent cinema owner Kevin Markwick discuss the year in film
Colin Shindler reveals the most successful film of 1960, the year of La Dolce Vita, L'Avventura, Psycho, Peeping Tom and Saturday Night And Sunday Morning.
SUN 23:30 Something Understood (b00wqkt5)
[Repeat of broadcast at
06:05 today]
MONDAY 27 DECEMBER 2010
MON 00:00 Midnight News (b00wqjn4)
The latest national and international news from BBC Radio 4. Followed by Weather.
MON 00:15 Thinking Allowed (b00wr5mw)
Class at Christmas
Chestnuts roasting on an open fire, children gathered beneath a sparking tree, a table groaning with turkey.....the cliches of the season are as alive and well as they were in Dickens time. But does everybody have equal access to the bounty of Christmas and the good will of others? The geographer, Steve Millington, finds that the distaste some middle class people feel for 'excessive' displays of xmas lights in working class areas reveals a narrative of class hostility which echoes Victorian attitudes to the 'undeserving' poor. He joins Laurie Taylor, the sociologist Bev Skeggs and the historian Julie Marie Strange to explore Christmas, compassion and class, then and now.
Producer: Jayne Egerton.
MON 00:45 Bells on Sunday (b00wqkrq)
[Repeat of broadcast at
05:43 on Sunday]
MON 00:48 Shipping Forecast (b00wqjn6)
The latest shipping forecast.
MON 01:00 Selection of BBC World Service Programmes (b00wqjn8)
BBC Radio 4 joins the BBC World Service.
MON 05:20 Shipping Forecast (b00wqjnb)
The latest shipping forecast.
MON 05:30 News Briefing (b00wqjnd)
The latest news from BBC Radio 4.
MON 05:43 Prayer for the Day (b00wr5n0)
With Steve Clifford, General Director of the Evangelical Alliance.
MON 05:45 Farming Today (b00wr5py)
Winter on the Farm 1/5. Sarah Swadling meets David and Julie Hewitt as they cope with an unstoppable flow of eggs. They have to feed, water, and pick up after five thousand free range hens on their farm near Wadebridge in Cornwall.
Presenter and Producer: Sarah Swadling.
MON 05:57 Weather (b00wqjng)
The latest weather forecast for farmers.
MON 06:00 Today (b00wr5q0)
Morning news and current affairs with James Naughtie and Justin Webb: Guest editor Diana Athill and the Archbishop of Canterbury reflect on the meaning of faith.
MON 09:00 Start the Week (b00wr5rr)
Andrew Marr celebrates 40 years of Start the Week. When Richard Baker first presented the show in 1970 it was a lively and often chaotic, mix of chat and celebrity knitted together by a weekly theme. Cookery demonstrations, and dancing with Wayne Sleep, rubbed shoulders with Roald Dahl and Sophia Loren discussing what frightens them, and Idi Amin playing the accordion. It was Melvyn Bragg who reinvented the programme 18 years later to make it a forum for ideas. He challenged his guests to explain their views and when guests like Maya Angelou, Francis Crick, Tom Stoppard and Salman Rushdie sat round his table together the debate sparkled. Andrew Marr who has been at the helm for the last 8 years is joined by Richard Baker and Melvyn Bragg to discuss four decades of Start the Week.
Producer: Katy Hickman.
MON 09:45 Book of the Week (b00wr5sq)
Proust's Overcoat
Episode 1
By Lorenza Foschini. In this fascinating story of literary detection a cast of late 19th and early 20th century Parisians is led by Jacques Guerin the handsome heir to a successful perfume business.
Supporting roles in the story are played by Dr Robert Proust - brother to the famous author, his disappointed and homophobic wife, Marthe, the shady bric-a-brac dealer Werner and of course Marcel Proust himself. Jean Genet (who was offerred a home by Guerin when he was released from prison) Jacques Cousteau and Picasso all have walk-on parts.
Guerin's passion for the work of Marcel Proust was perhaps fuelled by the fact that they were both homosexual, but he was also a passionate collector and bibliophile even as a young man. And it was as a young man that he first encountered the Proust family when he was treated by Dr Robert Proust. Visiting the doctor in his study he was told that the desk and bookshelves had belonged to the late author. The doctor opened the bookshelf to show the young man the handwritten notebooks in which his brother had drafted and re-drafted his great work.
A chance visit to a second-hand book dealer some years later reconnected Guerin with the Proust family and led to his meeting with the man who was clearing out the apartment of the late Robert Proust. His wife, Marthe Proust, had apparently instructed that all trace of the abominable Marcel should be removed and burnt. She had even gone through published volumes, tearing out Marcel's dedicatory signature. And so began Guerin's pursuit of the manuscripts and belongings of his hero which were eventually to lead him to the fur lined overcoat which had accompanied Proust throughout most of his life including as a bedspread on the brass bed where he wrote 'In Search Of Lost Time'.
Producer: Jill Waters
A Waters Company production for BBC Radio 4.
MON 10:00 Woman's Hour (b00wr5ss)
Presented by Jane Garvey. Jane looks back on and updates some of the stories the programme has covered from around the world this year with the help of Inma Gil of the BBC's Spanish American Service and Dr Jieyu Liu of the White Rose East Asia Centre at Leeds University. Ingrid Betancourt and Natascha Kampusch describe their experiences of captivity. What is the new Brazilian president, Dilma Rousseff likely to do when she takes up office in the New Year? There's news from the Maldives about an initiative to encourage more women to take part in rowing. Jane discusses whether China's one child policy will be relaxed and hears the experience of the artist, Aowen Jin who grew up in China as an only child. And there's music from the Venezuelan pianist, Clara Rodriguez and the classical guitarist, Xuefei Yang.
MON 10:45 15 Minute Drama (b00wr5sv)
Ladies of Letters Go Crackers
Episode 1
Prunella Scales and Anne Reid star in this fractious festive 11th series of the Radio 4 comedy favourite Ladies of Letters. By Carole Hayman & Lou Wakefield.
It's Christmas and the Ladies of Letters are busy stu-ffing home made turkey sausages, adding hot pepper to their mulled wine and giving each other totally unsuitable Christmas presents. As family descend on them both, pressure mounts dangerously and the inevitable Christmas chaos ensues.
As Vera returns from a festive trip to the Holy Land, she faces homelessness when a heartless bank buys up her home. Irene meanwhile is inundated with guests and annoyed that Vera seems too caught up in her own concerns to give her any attention.
Vera ... Anne Reid
Irene ... Prunella Scales
Directed by Liz Webb.
MON 11:00 Plumbers and Penguins (b00wr6qk)
Stories of some of the tradesmen who live and work on Antarctica.
In the summer of 2009, British Antarctic Survey very publicly recruited 43 plumbers, carpenters, mechanics, electricians and doctors to spend 18 months working on their most southerly research stations - promising "the most exhilarating experience of a lifetime". Chris Eldon Lee discovers what actually happened to the new recruits. Almost 2000 tradesman applied to be parted from their white vans and sent into whiteout conditions. Doctors were also hired to care for their welfare in such extreme conditions.
Mark Green, a 48-year-old Bristol plumber, was sent to Halley Research Station on the eastern side of the Antarctic Peninsula. His job is to keep water supplies flowing at temperatures of minus 50 Celsius. 30-year-old Claire Lehman, a recently qualified Wiltshire GP, was posted to Rothera, on the western shore of the Peninsula.
Like everybody else in Antarctica, both have had to learn brand new skills to help keep their Bases going. Mark finds himself abseiling down precipitous crevasses and learning to be a sea-ice driver's mate. Claire is refuelling planes and supplying all the field scientists with freshly baked Christmas Cakes.
Producer: Chris Eldon Lee
A Culture Wise production for BBC Radio 4 first broadcast in December 2020.
MON 11:30 Jeeves in Manhattan (b00wx6rn)
Jeeves and the Unbidden Guest
Martin Jarvis performs 'Jeeves and the Unbidden Guest', the second of two of P.G. Wodehouse's celebrated 'New York' stories, starring blithe Bertie Wooster and his urbane valet Jeeves. It was recorded in front of a live audience - a packed house at the Everyman Theatre - as a highlight of the 2010 Cheltenham Festival of Literature.
In this one-man tour de force, as well as the characters of Jeeves and Wooster, Jarvis also portrays chinless wonder Lord Pershore and his lordship's formidable mother Lady Malvern. As her ladyship and her son arrive in New York expecting hospitality from Bertie (and therefore Jeeves) the situation becomes electric.
After Lord Pershore sets about to misbehave his way around the night clubs of Manhattan it is left to Jeeves to seek a solution. Wodehouse wrote these sparkling stories in 1925 during the period when he was living in Manhattan and enjoying great success as a lyric writer for American musicals. The tales provide a brilliantly humorous perspective for Jeeves and Bertie Wooster on how to deal with eccentric Americans, plus how to cope with the Brits abroad.
Producer/Director: Pete Atkin
A Jarvis & Ayres Production for BBC Radio 4.
MON 12:00 You and Yours (b00wr6qp)
The i-Pad, the "Boris" bike and 3D TV all arrived in the UK for the first time this year. Julian Worricker asks which of the new arrivals will live up to their hype. Will Britain ever warm to the flat white coffee? And what will become of the 2010 FIFA World Cup Jabulani match ball, which many stars blamed for their off target shooting in the tournament?
MON 12:57 Weather (b00wqjnj)
The latest weather forecast.
MON 13:00 World at One (b00wr6qr)
National and international news with Edward Stourton. The Mikhail Khodorkovsky trial, end of year interview with Labour's Douglas Alexander and Pakistani novelist Kamila Shamsie.
MON 13:30 Brain of Britain (b00wr6qt)
(10/17) Russell Davies is in the questionmaster's chair for the tenth heat in the current series. At stake is another automatic place in the semi-finals, which begin in the new year. This week's competitors are from Widnes, Coventry, Chesterfield and Greater Manchester.
MON 14:00 The Archers (b00wr5hm)
[Repeat of broadcast at
19:00 on Sunday]
MON 14:15 Drama (b00wr6qw)
Series 3
The Dancing Stone
By Nick Warburton. Comedy drama starring Trevor Peacock as inspirational chef Warwick Hedges .
Warwick discovers a large, flat stone with strange marking half buried in a clump of trees on the edge of Mardle Fen. He wants to display it in the restaurant but odd-job man Samuel says he moves the stone at his peril.
Warwick Hedges...Trevor Peacock
Jack...Sam Dale
Marcia...Kate Buffery
Samuel...John Rowe
Zofia...Helen Longworth
Fay...Christine Kavanagh
Bernard...Tony Bell
Directed by Claire Grove.
MON 15:00 Archive on 4 (b00wv96h)
[Repeat of broadcast at
20:00 on Saturday]
MON 15:45 A Woman's World (b00wr6r0)
The Primary School
"I felt awkward going to school - it was only women who did - it just wasn't a man thing. It didn't seem right." Colin, a parent at Sanquhar Primary School in Dumfries and Galloway, reflects on how he used to feel about going into school.
The series on men with jobs in female workplaces begins with the story of Alex Douglas, the only man in the staff room. Alex talks about his battle to get men like Colin to engage with the school. Five years ago - after only one man turned up for a parents' evening - he set up a Dads' club. Alex explains how he persuaded Sanquhar Dads to join the club (he drew on his background as a professional photographer) and then managed to keep it going.
"In most primary schools, because it's a female environment, the female view takes precedence", he argues. "When my children were at primary school, I was available to help out during the day, and not once was I asked. But my wife was."
Chris Ledgard meets Sanquhar staff, parents and children who talk about how Mr Douglas' good idea changed a school culture.
MON 16:00 The Food Programme (b00wr4hz)
[Repeat of broadcast at
12:32 on Sunday]
MON 16:30 Beyond Belief (b00wr6r2)
The three wise-men
Ernie Rea chairs Radio 4's theological discussion programme in which guests from different faith and non-faith perspectives debate the challenges of today's world.
Each week a panel is assembled to represent a diversity of views and opinions, which often reveal hidden, complex and sometimes contradictory understandings of the world around us.
In this programme, Ernie Rea and guests discuss the story of the visit of the Magi, or Wise-men to the infant Jesus told in St Matthew's account of the Nativity.
Who could the Magi have been? From where did they travel, having seen a star in the east and why would they have recognised it as a significant sign? Is there more to this story than a colourful image on a Christmas card and the inspiration for a well known carol?
Producer: Karen Maurice.
MON 17:00 PM (b00wr6r4)
Full coverage and analysis of the day's news. Plus Weather.
MON 18:00 Six O'Clock News (b00wqjnl)
The latest national and international news from BBC Radio 4.
MON 18:15 15 Minute Musical (b00wr6r6)
Series 6
The Lying King
15 Minute Musical gets its musical teeth back into easily identifiable public figures and gives them a West End Musical make-over.
Tonight the spotlight is on the Coalition in 'Lying King' a magical musical that follows the journey of young lion cub Cleggba as he meets the wily Scarmeron and follows him to the elephant's graveyard.
Starring: Richie Webb, Dave Lamb and Jess Robinson
Written by: Richie Webb, Dave Cohen and David Quantick
Music by: Richie Webb
Music Production: Matt Katz
Producer: Katie Tyrrell
Radio 4's 15 Minute Musicals are lovingly crafted treats for the ear. The bitesize yet satisfying musicals take an easily identifiable public figure and give them a West End Musical make-over. The fabricated, sugar-coated story is told in an original, never-heard-before musical that will have your toes tapping to the rhythm and shoulders shaking to the laughs.
MON 18:30 I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue (b00wr6r8)
Series 54
Episode 1
The 54th series of Radio 4's multi award-winning antidote to panel games promises more quality, desk-based entertainment for all the family, as the series starts its run from the Town Hall in Leeds. Regulars Barry Cryer, Graeme Garden and Tim Brooke-Taylor are joined on the panel by Phill Jupitus, with Jack Dee as the programme's reluctant chairman. Regular listeners will know to expect inspired nonsense, pointless revelry and Colin Sell at the piano.
Producer ..... Jon Naismith.
MON 19:00 The Archers (b00wr6rb)
In the lambing shed Adam and Brian chat about Susan's party. Adam hopes he won't be late for his own party. The student, Clare, is due mid morning, but there's a ewe looking like she might be about to lamb.
Adam reports later that luckily the twin lambs arrived just after Clare. They were tangled, so he had to enlist Clare's help in getting them out. Brian goes off to help Jennifer load the picnic for the shoot, wishing Adam a less eventful afternoon.
Helen's keen to get out for a walk. Kirsty tries without much success to dissuade Helen from walking too far, and though she denies it Helen arrives tired for Adam and Ian's party. Pat's concerned.
As the guests gather and admire Ian's stylish decorations there's palpable tension between Helen and Tony. When Tony tries to catch up with Helen for a chat, he finds her about to leave. He tells Pat it's obvious Helen can hardly bear to be in the same room as him. Pat assures him Helen's genuinely tired out, but Tony thinks it will be like this for the rest of Helen's pregnancy.
MON 19:15 Front Row (b00wr6rd)
Hitchcock's Women, with Tippi Hedren and Jean Marsh
Mark Lawson focuses on how director Alfred Hitchcock worked with women, including interviews with Tippi Hedren, star of The Birds and Marnie; Marli Renfro, the body-double in the notorious shower scene in Psycho; Jean Marsh, who appeared in Frenzy; and Terry Johnson, author of the play Hitchcock Blonde.
Producer Ella-mai Robey.
MON 19:45 15 Minute Drama (b00wr5sv)
[Repeat of broadcast at
10:45 today]
MON 20:00 Pakistan After the Deluge (b00wr6sp)
The floods of the summer of 2010 were the worst natural disaster ever to hit Pakistan. The media may have moved on, but the country cannot. Now Lyse Doucet travels across Pakistan to assess the long-term consequences for this pivotal state.
These floods devastated every level of society, washing away the foodstores of ordinary citizens and destroying the offices of local administrators. Without phones or computers, one local officer says he needs a magic wand to put everything back in order. People are waiting for the most basic food and shelter, but as one official told Lyse, there are not enough tents in the world to house all the people who have lost their homes. And now winter is coming. Lyse travels north and discovers a situation near chaos as people struggle to get the money designated by the Pakistani government to help them rebuild their lives. Islamabad says its cash card scheme is successful, but the majority of flood victims have not been able to process their claims.
Lyse then goes south to Sindh, where much of the land is still covered in water, and meets local politician Imran Leghari from the governing Pakistan People's Party. Will he lose the vote in the next election as he cannot meet his constituents' needs? Lyse sees local people mobbing aid lorries, a sign of their increasing desperation.
In the east, in Punjab, Lyse meets people who say they would rather be governed by Saudi Arabia or China. And contrary to expectations from the west that extremists might take advantage of the chaos to radicalise flood victims, she meets former jihadi Latif Ansari, who is now advocating gentle social revolution against the control of feudal landlords.
Producers: Kirsten Lass and Mark Lobel.
MON 20:30 Crossing Continents (b00wqdcc)
Senegal
It is called "Laamb" or "La Lutte Sénégalaise". Originating in the countryside as a test of strength for farmers and fishermen, Senegalese wresting moved to the city with the migrants. It took on punching to become "La Lutte avec frappe". It involves special charms, singers, drummers and excited crowds, with the champions now earning huge amounts of money. In Crossing Continents David Goldblatt examines how wrestling has become Senegal's most popular sport, deposing even football.
Producer: John Murphy.
MON 21:00 Material World (b00xjbc1)
Our latest hominid cousin - new DNA evidence from a Siberian cave reveals our complex genetic past; lessons from Einstein- reminiscences of an aspiring scientist who got advice from the best qualified of family friends; cooking the perfect Christmas turkey - advice from a molecular gastronomist.
Producer: Roland Pease.
MON 21:26 Radio 4 Appeal (b00wqkvb)
[Repeat of broadcast at
07:55 on Sunday]
MON 21:30 Start the Week (b00wr5rr)
[Repeat of broadcast at
09:00 today]
MON 21:58 Weather (b00wqjnn)
The latest weather forecast.
MON 22:00 The World Tonight (b00wr6tl)
Mikhail Khodorkovsky: a profile of Russia's most famous prisoner.
Scotland's boast of 25 per cent of electricity from renewables looks empty as the cold weather cuts off wind power.
What history teaches the West about exiting from Afghanistan.
The World Tonight, with Ritula Shah.
MON 22:45 Book at Bedtime (b00wr6tn)
Daphne du Maurier - Jamaica Inn
Episode 6
Book at Bedtime: Jamaica Inn by Daphne Du Maurier.
Abridged by Lauris Morgan-Griffiths
Tamsin Greig reads episode six of Daphne Du Maurier's dark and intriguing gothic tale.
After the death of her mother, Mary Yellan has gone to live with her Aunt Patience and Uncle Joss at Jamaica Inn, situated amidst the bleak Cornish landscape. Mary has learnt the true nature of her vicious Uncle's business and has found a confidant in the vicar Francis Davey. She discovers that she's attracted to her Uncle's younger brother Jem but is unsure if he's involved with his brother's violent smuggling activities or not and as a result has mixed feelings about him. In this episode Mary takes a trip to Launceston with Jem but it ends unexpectedly.
Producer: Alison Crawford.
MON 23:00 Word of Mouth (b00wqbdv)
Michael Rosen begins a new series by exploring the British Library's first ever exhibition on the history of English. The exhibition is called "Evolving English", and Michael's guests include David Crystal, the author of the book of the same name. Comics, adverts, text messages and trading records have all been used by the British Library to chart the development of English from a language spoken on a small island to the global language we know today. The curators explain how they chose the exhibits, including the earliest surviving copy of Beowulf, the King James Bible, and the poem "Essay to Miss Catharine Jay", which contains the phrase "I wrote 2 U B 4", printed well over a hundred years before the advent of text messaging.
MON 23:30 Mandela in His Own Words (b00wr4j3)
[Repeat of broadcast at
13:30 on Sunday]
TUESDAY 28 DECEMBER 2010
TUE 00:00 Midnight News (b00wr5hw)
The latest national and international news from BBC Radio 4. Followed by Weather.
TUE 00:15 Josie Long: All of the Planet's Wonders (b00hkrbb)
Astronomy for Dummies
Comedian Josie Long tries to better herself through learning and discovering things in reference books.
She presents her essay on a given subject, with fellow comedian Maeve Higgins helping out with questions, illustrations and interruptions.
For starters, Josie uses the book "Astronomy for Dummies" to unravel the greater mysteries of the cosmos.
Producer: Colin Anderson
First broadcast BBC Radio 4 in February 2009.
TUE 00:30 Book of the Week (b00wr5sq)
[Repeat of broadcast at
09:45 on Monday]
TUE 00:48 Shipping Forecast (b00wr5hy)
The latest shipping forecast.
TUE 01:00 Selection of BBC World Service Programmes (b00wr5j0)
BBC Radio 4 joins the BBC World Service.
TUE 05:20 Shipping Forecast (b00wr5j2)
The latest shipping forecast.
TUE 05:30 News Briefing (b00wr5j4)
The latest news from BBC Radio 4.
TUE 05:43 Prayer for the Day (b00wr7p1)
With Steve Clifford, General Director of the Evangelical Alliance.
TUE 05:45 Farming Today (b00wr7p3)
Winter on the Farm 2/5
Winter vegetables should be in abundance at this time of year for warming stews and roast dinners but in extremes the weather can ruin the crop. Caz Graham visits Stockley Farm in Warrington as they battle sub zero temperatures to supply and deliver their organic vegetable boxes. The vegetables lie frozen into the ground under a layer of snow and ice which can threaten the harvest and makes it a tough job for those involved.
Presented by Caz Graham and produced by Anne-Marie Bullock.
TUE 06:00 Today (b00wr7rc)
With James Naughtie and Sarah Montague. Including Sports Desk; Weather; Thought for the Day with Satish Kumar; Yesterday in Parliament.
TUE 09:00 Fry's English Delight (b00wr7rf)
Winter Special: Word Games
Is English an innately playful language? Are word games good for you? Do we divide into number and word players? Sudoku and Sudon't ku? In this special winter programme, Stephen examines word games in diverse formats, and challenges his audience to play some unusual ones. We'll hear some familiar voices playing unfamiliar games - Sheila Dillon from the Food Programme plays Font or Cheese against miscellanist Ben Schott, who typesets his own books. Phill Juptitus talks about his personal word game habits. And we'll remember the late Humphrey Lyttleton's scurrilous account of Una Stubbs on Give Us A Clue, the TV version of Charades.
At the heart of the programme a question about English - the original language of the best word games like Scrabble and crosswords. But is English by its nature a language that encourages word play, and therefore shapes English-speaking culture? Does its size and diversity make it somehow playful?
We'll travel deep inside the mind of puzzlemaster Chris Maslanka, who helps put diverse word games into categories. And we'll examine an extraordinary claim - that the fashion for increasingly cryptic crosswords helped save the free world from Nazi domination.
The psychology of word games is also considered. Pondering over words requires a special kind of relaxation. Word association games used to bring to mind an old cliche. Supposedly they revealed your innermost thoughts, usually to psychiatrists sat alongside chaises longues. Now they're more the preserve of improvised comedy, so we visit the Comedy Store in London to experience the lightning reflexes of some top word-athletes.
Producer: Nick Baker
A Testbed production for BBC Radio 4.
TUE 09:30 Top of the Class (b00wr7rh)
Series 2
Marcus du Sautoy
John Wilson meets Professor Marcus du Sautoy in the first of a new series of Top of the Class. Marcus went to Gillots Comprehensive School in Henley and whilst he was there, he excelled academically, particularly in maths and playing the trumpet.
When he was 13, his maths teacher, Mr. Bailson, asked him to step outside for a chat whilst he smoked his mid-morning break cigar. Marcus thought he was in trouble and was mightily relieved when instead, Mr. Bailson chose the break time to talk about the beauty of maths and of the text books Marcus should look at outside of the normal secondary school curriculum.
The chat has stayed with Marcus and he describes it now as a formative moment when he was enthralled by the possibilities of mathematics. Professor Du Sautoy is currently the Simonyi Professor for the Public Understanding of Science and he takes the morning off from his calculations to go back to his old school with John Wilson who reunites him with Mr. Bailson and his best friend from school and fellow trumpeter, Helen Brind.
Helen has brought along her photo album from the time which shows Marcus in all his thespian glory and Marcus has found his old school report.
Join John Wilson as Marcus and Mr. Bailson walk to the spot where the "cigar" moment took place and Marcus' best friend Helen flicks through her photo album. And more importanly, don't miss Helen and Marcus playing their trumpets together again - thirty years later.
Producer: Sarah Taylor.
TUE 09:45 Book of the Week (b00wr5s4)
Proust's Overcoat
Episode 2
By Lorenza Foschini. The family history of Marcel Proust was not a particularly happy one. Following the death of Robert Proust his widow, Marthe, seizes her chance to get rid of everything relating to her celebrated brother in law.
Producer: Jill Waters
A Waters Company production for BBC Radio 4.
TUE 10:00 Woman's Hour (b00wr7rk)
Presented by Jane Garvey. A programme to celebrate age, wisdom and experience featuring Vanessa Regrave. Joining Jane, the actress Sylvia Syms and the writer Jane Miller who share their own experiences of getting older, love, laughter, work and death. And they reflect on contributions from this year's inspiring guests including Joan Rivers, oceanographer Sylvia Earle, writer Diana Athill and the Taylor Maids.
Producer: Dianne McGregor.
TUE 10:45 15 Minute Drama (b00wr5v6)
Ladies of Letters Go Crackers
Episode 2
Prunella Scales and Anne Reid star in this fractious festive 11th series of the Radio 4 comedy favourite Ladies of Letters. By Carole Hayman & Lou Wakefield.
Irene has to hold back on her grievances with Vera's selfishness when Vera's daughter Karen has a serious health scare.
Vera ..... Anne Reid
Irene ..... Prunella Scales
Directed by Liz Webb.
TUE 11:00 Saving Species (b00wr7rm)
Series 1
Episode 35
35/40 Saving Species sent Matthew Hill to India to investigate a story about tiger conservation. The story has a direct link to Bristol, the home city of the BBC Natural History Unit, in Mr Ash Pawade - a retired heart surgeon. Ash Pawade has set up a charity "Hands for Life" which takes volunteer NHS surgeons to Anandwan Hospital in his home state of Chandrapur to provide operations for the poor. It was when operating on people after alleged tiger attacks that Ash, and Saving Species, learnt about the struggle conservationists are having in the area to conserve tigers, where tigers clearly have the potential to be the neighbours from hell. Matthew Hill discovers a remarkable story of education and forest conservation driven by the very same people that Ash Pawade treats through his charity. These are the rural poor. This is a story of passion for Tigers, compassion for Tigers and People and corruption.
Presented by Matthew Hill
Produced by Mary Colwell
Series Editor Julian Hector.
TUE 11:30 A House for the End of Life (b00wr7rp)
Once upon a time architects made magnificent buildings in the name of health and wellbeing. The Greeks built spas around the great theatres, the medievals made cathedrals of their hospitals and opened them to pilgrims.
Susan Marling looks at work architects are doing now to dramatically enhance small healthcare buildings - especially Maggie centres which are for cancer sufferers and hospices for people with life-shortening diseases. Many of these buildings are inspirational. They show the power of good design and beautiful gardens in lifting the human spirit and restoring to the patient a sense of dignity and individuality.
Susan speaks to leading architects Rem Koolhaus, Richard Murphy and Ian Clark. She visits the award winning St Oswald's hospice in Newcastle, and the Maggie centre by Frank Gehry in Dundee. Julia Neuberger talks about our contemporary attitude to death and ways in which architects are confronting it.
Producer: Susan Marling
A Just Radio production for BBC Radio 4 first broadcast in December 2010.
TUE 12:00 You and Yours (b00wr7rr)
Is the Traditional family still alive ? Tell us how the breakdown of a relationship or a divorce has changed the way you spend the holidays. How difficult do you find it to please everyone from kids to in-laws to former partners and members of the step family. How has the modern family influenced the way you view this time of year and how you choose to celebrate it.
Call You and Yours with Julian Worricker. on 03700 100 444 (lines open at
10am on the day) or email youandyours@bbc.co.uk.
TUE 12:57 Weather (b00wr5j6)
The latest weather forecast.
TUE 13:00 World at One (b00wr7rt)
National and international news.
TUE 13:30 The British Reggae Revolution (b00wr7rw)
In the late 1970s there was an explosion of bands that completely connected with disenchanted youth all over Britain. They sang about isolation and rejection from a society that didn't understand them. But it wasn't punk music, it was reggae. Groups like Aswad, Steel Pulse, Matumbi and Misty in Roots were formed by first generation, British-born blacks who eloquently voiced the fear and anguish of growing up in a predominantly white society. Brought up on British pop and their parents' records, they combined a punk attitude with a Jamaican reggae sound. Their efforts to become successful mirrored thousands of young black kids across the UK who were coping with a right-wing backlash to the influx of Caribbean immigrants. The National Front were stirring up racial hatred and the government's SUS law resulted in hundreds of black people stopped and searched on the mere suspicion of committing a crime. It wasn't long before there was rioting in the streets. The British reggae bands provided the soundtrack to that struggle.
Back then Don Letts - now a Grammy Award winning film maker - was the resident DJ at the infamous Roxy Club, credited with turning the punks on to reggae. A first generation, British-born black himself, he had a front row seat watching this burgeoning scene produce hit making artists. From the politicised heavy roots of bands like Steel Pulse to the smooth pop hits of Lovers' Rock, Don examines how Britain produced its very own reggae revolution.
TUE 14:00 The Archers (b00wr6rb)
[Repeat of broadcast at
19:00 on Monday]
TUE 14:15 Drama (b00wwbzj)
Rose Tremain - The Darkness of Wallis Simpson
A play imagining the last days of Wallis Simpson, Duchess of Windsor, the woman for whom King Edward VIII gave up the throne of England in 1936. Wallis is now 79 years old. Edward has been dead for fourteen years.
The play pivots upon a single dramatic conceit: that Wallis, now entering the darkness of approaching death, has forgotten every single thing about Edward. Her entire part in what an American journalist once called "the greatest story since the Resurrection" has completely gone from her mind. Other moments in her life she can vividly recall, but the world-shaking events at the heart of it are lost to her - apparently forever.
She lies bedridden in her house in Paris. A lawyer friend, Maitre Suzanne Blum has taken charge of her care. But, believing that Wallis has deliberately chosen to forget her "role in history", Blum is determined to force her to remember this vital bit of the past, before she dies.
Original Music by David Chilton
Producer: Gordon House
A Goldhawk Essential production for BBC Radio 4.
TUE 15:00 Home Planet (b00wr8pg)
Animals that live in the depths of the ocean have to tolerate near total darkness, enormous pressures and temperatures hovering around freezing. The darkness is because light can't penetrate deep water; the pressure because of the enormous mass of water pressing down from above. But what about the cold? This week one listener asks, if squeezing gases makes them hot, why are the ocean depths so chilly?
Is the high density of modern agricultural crops taking on the role played by rainforests and how do fossil hunters know when they have a new species or just an odd example of a well known organism.
And out of the archives comes an extraordinary recording, the sound of a living leaf struggling to suck in water.
Answering the questions in this week's programme are marine biologist Dr Helen Scales; Dr Nick Brown, a forest ecologist from Oxford University and Professor Philip Stott, an environmental scientist from the University of London.
Contact:
Home Planet
BBC Radio 4
PO Box 3096
Brighton
BN1 1PL
Or email home.planet@bbc.co.uk
Or telephone: 08700 100 400
Presenter: Richard Daniel
Producer: Toby Murcott
A Pier Production for BBC Radio 4.
TUE 15:30 Afternoon Reading (b00wr8pj)
The Victorian Clown: The Circus Memories of James Frowde
Beginnings
James Frowde's memoirs - taken from the book 'The Victorian Clown' by Jacky Bratton and Ann Featherstone and adapted for radio and performed by Tony Lidington - represent the closest we have to a first-hand, vernacular description of the daily life of a British circus clown in the mid Nineteenth Century.
At that time, circus people and pantomime artists were on the lowest rung of the cultural ladder, just a step above vagrants and beggars; indeed they were viewed with suspicion and fear by those who aspired or achieved more stable, residential lives. Few people travelled very far in those days, so this was an era when the circus and fairground were glimpses into an exotic, thrilling world, which lay beyond the parish or county boundaries. Strange people performing strange feats, crazy antics which defied convention and expectation, wild animals tamed, colour and glitter, music and movement - all for a day and then gone, overnight, like a dream.
Here is the life of an ordinary, workaday, Victorian clown, whose tricks and antics prepared the ground for the comedians and wits we love today. Basil Fawlty, Tony Hancock, Stan & Olly, Paul Whitehouse & Harry Enfield all have their roots in the itinerant lives and familiar material of the comedians who plied their trade in circus rings and wooden fit-ups in the early years of Queen Victoria's reign - before even the music halls came of age.
Frowde remembers starting work doing menial jobs at Hengler's Circus - owned by his grandfather.
Adapted and read by Tony Lidington.
Producer: David Blount
A Pier production for BBC Radio 4.
TUE 15:45 A Woman's World (b00wr8pl)
The Nail Bar
The series on men with jobs in female workplaces continues with the story of Gareth Apajee, a nail bar worker from Swansea. Gareth tells Chris Ledgard why he decided to train in the beauty industry and discusses the reaction of his family, colleagues and customers. Chris visits Gower College in Swansea and hears that men are starting to take up places on beauty therapy courses, but are still in a very small minority.
TUE 16:00 Word of Mouth (b00wr8pn)
Christmas is over and now the TV ads are all about holidays. Michael Rosen considers the language of travel and tourism.
At the World Travel Market he collects the adjectives that are used to sell holidays, then discusses them with a professor of linguistics who specialises in the subject. Travel journalist Simon Calder adds some travel trade jargon.
Producer: Peter Everett.
TUE 16:30 Great Lives (b00wr8pq)
Series 23
Sammy Davis Jr
Lionel Blair chooses his friend and dancing partner Sammy Davis Jr. Sammy described himself as a 'one-eyed black Jew' - and he was described by others as one of the greatest all-round entertainers of all time.
Lionel danced and sang with Sammy in a dazzling performance on the stage at the Royal Variety Performance in 1961, and he revisits that memory through an evocative archive recording. Paul Gambaccini is on hand to help presenter Matthew Parris draw out the contradictions and triumphs of Sammy Davis Jr's great American life.
Producer Beth O'Dea.
TUE 17:00 PM (b00wr8ps)
Full coverage and analysis of the day's news. Plus Weather.
TUE 18:00 Six O'Clock News (b00wr5j8)
The latest national and international news from BBC Radio 4.
TUE 18:15 15 Minute Musical (b00wr8pv)
Series 6
Mary Poppin-up-at-the-last-minute-to-score-the-winner
The fun-size yet satisfying musicals take an easily identifiable public figure and give them a West End Musical make-over.
Mary Poppin-thebackofthenet is a 15 Minute Musical about a man struggling with his errant boys. So, Fabio Capello engages a new coaching assistant to sort them out - Mary Poppin-thebackofthenet
Starring: Richie Webb, Dave Lamb and Jess Robinson
Written by: Richie Webb, Dave Cohen and David Quantick
Music by: Richie Webb
Music Production: Matt Katz
Producer: Katie Tyrrell
Radio 4's 15 Minute Musicals are infinitely superior to West End Musicals as they provide the music, the singing, the dancing and the high production values without the hassle, discomfort and expense of actually going to the West End.
TUE 18:30 Cabin Pressure (b00wqj4v)
[Repeat of broadcast at
08:30 on Saturday]
TUE 19:00 The Archers (b00wr6rq)
It's the panto and Coriander observes to Joe what a great job Lynda does every year. Joe remarks that she can be a hard taskmistress. He was a mainstay for years, but now he's concentrating on his Christmas business. Perhaps she'd be interested in some holly or mistletoe? Oscar's perturbed when the cat goes offstage, but delighted when it reappears. Coriander thinks Dick and Alice are awfully good and wonders if they're boyfriend and girlfriend, but Joe assures her they're just the best of mates.
Jazzer tells nervous Fallon he's the reason it's practically a full house. Harry's not keen on all the make up, but Nigel likes his; he thinks the make-up ladies have excelled themselves.
Lynda's hyper, and Robert explains it's because Tristram Hawkshaw, the new Felpersham Light Opera Society director, is there. Lynda's anxious when she spots Tristram apparently making production notes. He could be her nemesis. Harry assures her she's got nothing to worry about. But she's even more concerned when she learns that Tristram's writing a review for the Echo. She must have been mad to do the panto. But when Nigel reminds her she did it for Oscar, who's had a wonderful time, she agrees that that's what really matters.
TUE 19:15 Front Row (b00wr6s7)
Films 'based on a true story'
2010 saw a large number of films that were based on real events, individuals or true stories, including Eat Pray Love, Made in Dagenham, The Social Network and Mr Nice. Early 2011 sees the release of Danny Boyle's 127 Hours about the mountaineer Aron Ralston who cut off his own arm after being trapped in a canyon by a boulder, and Conviction, starring Hilary Swank, about a woman who dedicated her life to overturning her brother's real-life conviction for murder.
Kirsty Lang talks to film-makers Peter Weir and Danny Boyle; actress Hilary Swank; screenwriter Aaron Sorkin, who wrote The Social Network, about the origins of Facebook; Peter Morgan, whose writing credits include The Queen; Ronan Bennett, co-writer of The Hamburg Cell; and producers Alison Owen and Jeff Pope about the boom in films based on true stories.
Producer Jerome Weatherald.
TUE 19:45 15 Minute Drama (b00wr5v6)
[Repeat of broadcast at
10:45 today]
TUE 20:00 Amnesty at 50 (b00wr8px)
As it reaches its 50th year, John Tusa reflects on the distinguished past of an organization awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1977 but which has recently attracted criticism, sometimes from those who have been its most committed activists. Has Amnesty lost its way? And what will be its future role?
Producer: Merilyn Harris
A Ladbroke production for BBC Radio 4.
TUE 20:40 In Touch (b00wr8pz)
Peter White with news and information for blind and partially sighted people.
TUE 21:00 Case Notes (b00wr8q1)
A Night in ER
Dr Mark Porter discovers the difference between the old-style Casualty and a modern hospital Emergency Department like Southampton's - where the latest technology is used to rapidly assess and treat everything from suspected strokes and heart attacks to febrile convulsions and broken limbs.
As well as running the busy Southampton ED - which treats 90,000 patients every year - Dr John Heyworth is also President of the College of Emergency Medicine. He says the discipline has managed to evolve - from one which provided a surgical "fixing" service 25 years ago - to today's, providing rapid support for an increasing number of critically ill patients. The complex needs of our ageing population puts extra demands on the staff - and Southampton has a consultant in the ED until midnight, every day of the week to provide the best possible care.
Specialist staff including Emergency Nurse Practitioners are on hand as a guide through how children are assessed and treated in a separate areas, the triage system and the infamous 4 hour waits. As well as a resuscitation area, the ED is close to the Cath Lab - where a balloon is used to widen blocked arteries. If a heart attack is suspected, a troponin blood test will be carried out quickly by the ED to give a definitive answer, giving a safe and timesaving outcome for patients.
Mark Porter asks how the ED in Britain compares with the rest of the world - and how emergency care will fare in these straitened times.
Producer: Paula McGrath.
TUE 21:30 Fry's English Delight (b00wr7rf)
[Repeat of broadcast at
09:00 today]
TUE 21:58 Weather (b00wr5jb)
The latest weather forecast.
TUE 22:00 The World Tonight (b00wr8q3)
Radio 4's daily evening news and current affairs programme bringing you global news and analysis.
Three West African leaders are trying to tell the man who lost the Ivory Coast election to stand down, or else. We'll hear the latest from there.
The second of our 'objects of the future' series.
And what is the future for climate change?
All that and more on The World Tonight, with Ritula Shah.
TUE 22:45 Book at Bedtime (b00wr8q5)
Daphne du Maurier - Jamaica Inn
Episode 7
Book at Bedtime: Jamaica Inn by Daphne Du Maurier.
Abridged by Lauris Morgan-Griffiths
Reader: Tamsin Greig
Episode 7 of Daphne Du Maurier's dark and intriguing gothic tale.
Mary is unwillingly drawn into the dark deeds of Joss and his accomplices. And, as she struggles with events beyond her control, Mary is further thrown by her feelings for a man she dare not trust.
Producer: Alison Crawford.
TUE 23:00 The Phone (b00wr8q7)
Tourist Trap, by Jon Sen
By Jon Sen.
A series of late night thrillers, each connected by a mysterious mobile phone. When Charlotte picks up the wrong suitcase at the airport, a mini-break on a Greek island soon becomes a holiday from hell.
Sophie . . . . . Kellie Shirley
Charlotte . . . . . Lydia Wilson
Andreas . . . . . Harry Katsari
Doctor . . . . . Chris Pavlo
Voice . . . . . Sean Baker
Directed by Sasha Yevtushenko.
TUE 23:30 All Bar Luke (b00pg5dh)
Christmas Special
Luke ferries Lee and Hayley between Christmas dinners with their parents nursing family conflict, marital breakdown and his own broken heart in typically fumbling style.
WEDNESDAY 29 DECEMBER 2010
WED 00:00 Midnight News (b00wr5jd)
The latest national and international news from BBC Radio 4. Followed by Weather.
WED 00:15 Josie Long: All of the Planet's Wonders (b00hqhzh)
The Enlightenment
Josie explores the history of collecting things and discovers the Enlightenment.
She tries to defy her student past, by becoming more scientific and takes controversial anatomist Professor Gunther von Hagens to task for being a "demon with ready access to plasticine".
With Maeve Higgins, Henning Wehn and Daniel Harkin.
Producer Colin Anderson
First broadcast BBC Radio 4 in February 2009.
WED 00:30 Book of the Week (b00wr5s4)
[Repeat of broadcast at
09:45 on Tuesday]
WED 00:48 Shipping Forecast (b00wr5jg)
The latest shipping forecast.
WED 01:00 Selection of BBC World Service Programmes (b00wr5jj)
BBC Radio 4 joins the BBC World Service.
WED 05:20 Shipping Forecast (b00wr5jl)
The latest shipping forecast.
WED 05:30 News Briefing (b00wr5jn)
The latest news from BBC Radio 4.
WED 05:43 Prayer for the Day (b00wr9pc)
With Steve Clifford, General Director of the Evangelical Alliance.
WED 05:45 Farming Today (b00wr7pc)
The Norfolk farmer who will spend Christmas looking after 4,000 sheep. Jim Fletcher's sheep are spread over a 20 mile radius in The Fens. While many people will spend the festivities in the warmth inside, Jim will be braving the relentless wind feeding and tending his sheep. But he still believes he has the best job in the world.
Presenter: Anna Hill
Producer: Fran Barnes.
WED 06:00 Today (b00wr7pw)
Morning news and current affairs with James Naughtie and Justin Webb, including:
08:10 Guest editor Sam Taylor-Wood investigates the decline in home births
07:53 Former England cricketer, Ed Smith discusses if Australia is becoming a nation of sporting losers
08:43 Actress Helena Bonham-Carter talks about vanity in the film industry.
WED 09:00 Midweek (b00wr9pf)
This week Libby Purves is joined by John Sergeant, Rufus Sewell, Wasfi Kani and Tom Pey.
John Sergeant is the former political editor of ITN. Since appearing on Midweek in 2002 ahead of the publication of his autobiography 'Give Me Ten Seconds' he has left political journalism behind in favour of writing, acting, presenting and making documentaries about everything from Grimefighters to Indian railways to tourism. He also won a place in the nation's heart when he took part in the BBC's 'Strictly Come Dancing'.
Rufus Sewell is probably best known for period roles such as Will Ladislaw in 'Middlemarch' and Charles in 'Charles II: the Power and the Passion' and Channel 4's 'Pillars of the Earth'. He is about to star in three films for BBC One as the fictional Italian detective Aurelio Zen. Set in and around Rome, and based on the best-selling novels by the late Michael Dibdin.
Wasfi Kani OBE is the founder and director of Grange Park and Pimlico Opera which is one of the leading small scale touring companies. There are two strands to its work: an autumn tour and an annual prison project. In addition to the annual tour Pimlico Opera spends six weeks a year working inside Her Majesty's Prisons culminating in public performances in which inmates share the stage with professionals.
Ten years ago Tom Pey was Policy Director of Guide Dogs for the Blind. He is author of 'Bang, You're Dead' which tells of how a childhood accident caused him to lose his sight many years later. By then, a highly successful businessman, Tom was plunged into a nightmare world in which he lost his job, his money and self-esteem. In October this year he became Chief Executive of the Royal London Society for the Blind.
WED 09:45 Book of the Week (b00wr5s6)
Proust's Overcoat
Episode 3
By Lorenza Foschini. Guerin is determined to salvage all he can from the house clearance, but Werner is not as forthcoming as he might be.
Producer: Jill Waters
A Waters Company production for BBC Radio 4.
WED 10:00 Woman's Hour (b00wr9ph)
Presented by Jenni Murray. We're told that meditation is good for us but why is it meant to be so beneficial? Jenni explores these questions with a meditation teacher and a seasoned practitioner. Dr Geetha Venkat is setting up a support group for British Asian couples coping with infertility. She'll be discussing differing cultural attitudes towards the problem with Premila Shaw, from the Polycystic Ovary Syndrome charity, Verity. We take a walk around the women's history of Liverpool and the jazz and classical singer Wendy Nieper performs live.
WED 10:45 15 Minute Drama (b00wr5v8)
Ladies of Letters Go Crackers
Episode 3
Prunella Scales and Anne Reid star in this fractious festive 11th series of the Radio 4 comedy favourite Ladies of Letters. By Carole Hayman & Lou Wakefield.
Vera and Irene have a major falling out after Vera's theories about Irene's relations cause family uproar.
Vera ..... Anne Reid
Irene ..... Prunella Scales
Directed by Liz Webb.
WED 11:00 Where England Meets Wales (b00wr9pk)
Episode 1
The Border between England and Wales wiggles its way from the Dee just south of Liverpool to the Severn at Chepstow. It's 160 miles long and Hardeep Singh Kohli journeys down it in two programmes, exploring its turbulent past, and its changing present. Since devolution, it has a new significance, with the Welsh Assembly implementing policies which add interest, and sometimes, confusion, to those living around the Border. But Hardeep also has time to explore its rich heritage, from the massive castles left by the invading Normans and English, to the areas of outstanding beauty from the Brecon Beacons to the Forest of Dean.
In the first programme Hardeep arrives at Flint Castle, the hefty stone marker put down by Edward I when he decided that the Welsh needed to be brought to heel. The Labour peer Lord Barry Jones has lived in the Flint and Deeside area all his life, and talks to Hardeep about the industrial crash in the 80's and the new developments.
A Welsh Assembly priority was to put the Welsh language literally on the map. Its bilingual policy is evident in the road signs, as Hardeep meets a group of Welsh speakers. The Borders have fewer Welsh speakers, but with Welsh a compulsory language up to GCSE, 'Hello' is becoming 'Bored'.
Hardeep also encounters two massive artefacts- first the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct, built in the early 19th century, and the much earlier earthwork, the dyke masterminded by King Offa 1200 years ago. The dyke only survives in chunks these days, but, says expert Ian Bapty, 'We all have Offa's Dyke within us!'
In the second programme Hardeep continues southwards meeting Border people, who may relish their history, but find themselves entangled in policies now separating the place 'Where England meets Wales'.
Producer: Richard Bannerman
A Ladbroke Production for BBC Radio 4.
WED 11:30 Count Arthur Strong's Radio Show! (b00wv6cd)
Series 6
Tour Guide
After meeting a Tour Operator in the street whilst doing his daily chores, Arthur joins a Tour Bus giving guided journeys around the city - and is, as only Arthur can be, hugely disappointed with his experience.
Misunderstandings and misinformation abound, and after a stop to buy some pies from the market Arthur heads to the Shoulder of Mutton to talk through his annoyance at the day-so-far with Jack.
He comes up with a plan to develop his very own and much improved tours of the city and, not having a bus at his disposal, decides to conduct walking tours.
Whilst starting this new venture in earnest, Arthur's best-laid plans, as usual, don't quite go as he'd hoped...
Cast:
Count Arthur Strong ..... Steve Delaney
Woman/Market Trader/
Shop Assistant/Old Woman ..... Melanie Giedroyc
Tour Operator/Official/
Jack/Old Man ..... Dave Mounfield
Announcer/Tour Guide/
Man/Aussie ...... Alastair Kerr
Producers: Richard Daws, Mark Radcliffe & John Leonard
A Komedia Entertainment & Smooth Operations production for BBC Radio 4.
WED 12:00 You and Yours (b00wr9pm)
Consumer affairs.
WED 12:57 Weather (b00wr5jq)
The latest weather forecast.
WED 13:00 World at One (b00wr9pp)
National and international news.
WED 13:30 The Media Show (b00wr9pr)
2010 was the year when the media became the story. From coverage of politics under the coalition government to the drive to make journalism pay its way and the impact of the WikiLeaks revelations, stories about the media look set to continue to make headlines in 2011. Steve Hewlett is joined by Times columnist and former BBC executive David Aaronovitch, Anne McElvoy who is former executive editor of the London Evening Standard and soon to write for The Economist and Peter Bazalgette, formerly of Big Brother's Endemol and now a self-styled digital investor. Together they discuss some of the big media stories of 2010 and how they may continue to develop in 2011.
The producer is Olivia Skinner.
WED 14:00 The Archers (b00wr6rq)
[Repeat of broadcast at
19:00 on Tuesday]
WED 14:15 Drama (b00g50lh)
Hong Kong by Night
by In-Sook Chappell.
Locked out of her apartment, Poppy can either wait for dawn in the lobby, or accept Arthur's invitation to explore Hong Kong by night... A love story about loneliness and belonging from an award-winning young writer.
Arthur ..... Oliver Williams
Poppy ..... Liz Sutherland
Alice/Waitress ..... Nina Kwok
Director: Abigail le Fleming.
WED 15:00 Money Box Live (b00wr9pt)
Now - are your Christmas travel plans running smoothly?
For thousands of air and rail passengers, the holiday began with cancellations and delays, many spending hours stranded in terminals.
So this afternoon's Money Box Live answers your questions about travel rights or making a claim on your travel insurance.
What are your rights if your travel arrangements were cancelled? Or perhaps the bad weather meant you couldn't get to the airport or your hotel?
Whatever your question, Paul Lewis and guests will be waiting for your call.
Phone lines open at
1.30 this afternoon and the number to call is 03700 100 444. Standard geographic charges apply. Calls from mobiles may be higher. The programme starts after the three o'clock news. That number again 03700 100 444.
WED 15:30 Afternoon Reading (b00wr9pw)
The Victorian Clown: The Circus Memories of James Frowde
Tenting & Travelling
James Frowde's memoirs - taken from the book 'The Victorian Clown' by Jacky Bratton and Ann Featherstone and adapted for radio and performed by Tony Lidington - represent the closest we have to a first-hand, vernacular description of the daily life of a British circus clown in the mid Nineteenth Century.
At that time, circus people and pantomime artists were on the lowest rung of the cultural ladder, just a step above vagrants and beggars; indeed they were viewed with suspicion and fear by those who aspired or achieved more stable, residential lives.
Frowde remembers performing as a contortionist known as the 'Duke of Limbs'.
Adapted and read by Tony Lidington.
Producer: David Blount
A Pier production for BBC Radio 4.
WED 15:45 A Woman's World (b00wr9py)
The Midwife
The series on men with jobs in mainly female workplaces continues with the story of Andy Yelland, a male midwife. Andy and his wife Mandy - who is also a midwife - discuss attitudes towards men in their profession. "It is an odd job for a man to do" says Andy, "there's no doubt about it". His route into the job was unusual - he had previously been a geologist. Chris Ledgard talks to Andy's colleagues at St Michael's Hospital in Bristol to find out what they think of his work, and hears about occasions when patients have asked to be looked after by a woman.
WED 16:00 Thinking Allowed (b00wr9q0)
Utopia
Laurie Taylor talks to Professor Russell Jacoby, Professor Ash Amin, Professor Barbara Graziosi and The Bishop of Whitby, Martin Warner, about whether we can imagine 'utopia' in the 21st century. In an age that some describe as filled with anxiety and uncertainty, are we breeding a kind of fatalism towards the future that excludes any notion of utopia? How indeed might we define and describe utopia? Can utopian ideas be not only practical and pragmatic but also democratic? When considering utopia where does religious faith and thinking intertwine with the secular world? Can we even talk about commonly held utopian ideals or are we condemned to imagine utopia only as fantasy, as an intellectual or artistic excerise that is, ultimately, futile.
producer. Chris Wilson.
WED 16:30 Case Notes (b00wr8q1)
[Repeat of broadcast at
21:00 on Tuesday]
WED 17:00 PM (b00wr9q2)
Full coverage and analysis of the day's news. Plus Weather.
WED 18:00 Six O'Clock News (b00wr5js)
The latest national and international news from BBC Radio 4.
WED 18:15 15 Minute Musical (b00wr9q4)
Series 6
Thoroughly Modern Miliband
Beautifully crafted with astronomically high production values 15 Minute Musical does for your ears what chocolate does for your taste buds. All in fifteen minutes!
Thoroughly Modern Miliband is a 15 Minute Musical about Ed Miliband and the Labour leadership battle.
Starring: Richie Webb, Dave Lamb and Jess Robinson
Written by: Richie Webb, Dave Cohen and David Quantick
Music by: Richie Webb
Music Production: Matt Katz
Producer: Katie Tyrrell
The fun-size yet satisfying musicals take an easily identifiable public figure or institution and gives them a West End Musical make-over. The fabricated, sugar-coated story is told in an original, never-heard-before musical.
WED 18:30 Shappi Talk (b00x23w5)
Series 2
Addiction
Shappi Khorsandi looks at a variety of subjects close to her Iranian heart - including History, Politics and, in this programme, Addiction.
Having struggled with food disorders, Shappi reveals what it's like to have an addictive personality, but being able to have a laugh along the way. With this insight, she has relaxed chat with TV host Trisha Goddard, someone who has herself experienced addictions throughout her adult life. Comedian Mike Gunn uses his drug experience to wittily debunk a few myths and Duncan Oakley provides a comic song.
Producer: Paul Russell
An Open Mike production for BBC Radio 4.
WED 19:00 The Archers (b00wr6rs)
Tony's workload's getting him down. The yard tractor's broken, and he's still fretting about Helen's attitude to him. Pat and Tom are worried, but Tom hasn't time to help him.
Fed up with her family fussing over her, Helen tells Tom she's staying home and having an early night on New Year's Eve. Can he tell her parents? Tom agrees with reluctance, and manages to persuade Helen to go for a quick drink at The Bull with him and Brenda instead.
Pat's very disappointed and wants to talk to Helen about it. But Tony tells her to leave things be. Helen knows where they are if she wants them.
David and Nigel discuss Pip's upcoming driving test. The talk of deadlines reminds Nigel about the cleaning of Julia's brooch for Elizabeth in time for Friday. David recommends a retired jeweller in Felpersham. Nigel's trip is successful, but on his way home Lynda calls him with a wig disaster. Could he turn round and collect a replacement?
Nigel reports later that Lizzie was hopping mad. if he's not careful he may not have a wife to give the brooch to! But Lynda's delighted with the wig. Nigel's saved the day.
WED 19:15 Front Row (b00wr6s9)
Plan B and Tinie Tempah
John Wilson interviews two of the year's most high-profile musical successes, Tinie Tempah and Plan B. Both come from less than prosperous London backgrounds, and both have drawn on their upbringings in their songwriting.
Tinie Tempah reflects on his attitudes towards his success and his aspirations, analyses his lyric-writing and remembers an encounter with royalty. Plan B discusses his chart-topping concept album, The Defamation of Strickland Banks, and reveals his ambitions as a film-maker and writer.
Producer John Goudie.
WED 19:45 15 Minute Drama (b00wr5v8)
[Repeat of broadcast at
10:45 today]
WED 20:00 Unreliable Evidence (b00wr9q8)
Legal Aid
In this week's edition of Unreliable Evidence, Clive Anderson and a panel of top lawyers discuss concerns that proposed Government cuts to the legal aid budget will deny access to justice for the poor and weak in society.
The Ministry of Justice proposals target the civil and family law budget and will severely restrict legal aid available for divorce, welfare, employment, immigration, clinical negligence and personal injury cases.
Chair of the Bar Council, Nicholas Green QC warns that the cuts, which include a 10 per cent reduction in lawyers' fees, will create 'justice desserts' as barristers and solicitors increasingly opt out of legal aid work.
Producer: Brian King
An Above The Title production for BBC Radio 4.
WED 20:45 The Good Conductor (b00ww59f)
In this special talk, the author and former social worker Bernard Hare tells of the train conductor he met on a journey home when he was twenty three. He was desperate to get home to see his mother in hospital but was due to miss the connecting train home. The conductor broke the rules and ensured that Bernard made his connection - and on the way passed on a valuable motto which Bernard has adopted in his own life.
Bernard Hae was born in Leeds in 1958 to a mining family. He became a social worker, but was disillusioned by the system after the miners' strike. He is now an author and describes himself as an 'unofficial freelance social worker' in his spare time, when he regularly passes on the conductor's message.
Producer: Charlotte Pritchard.
WED 21:00 Schrodinger's Quantum Kittens (b00wr9qb)
Robin Ince examines Schrodinger's Cat, the paradox at the heart of quantum physics, and discovers its influence on science and popular culture. Fifty years after the death of Nobel laureate Erwin Schrodinger, the quantum mysteries of his cat-in-a-box paradox still continue to drive physicists in research today. Can a living thing be both alive and dead at the same time?
Schrodinger's experiment was an almost playful creation, but one that stabbed at the heart of the 1930s physics establishment. By the 1950s, US physicist Hugh Everett concluded that, indeed, both a dead cat and an alive cat can exist, but in separate universes. His 'Many Worlds' theory inspired authors, from Philip K Dick to Philip Pullman.
Robin follows in the Austrian physicist's footsteps to Oxford University, where Schrodinger was once a fellow, and unearths some original archive at Magdalen College. Physicist Sir Roger Penrose speaks about its impact on quantum theory to this day. Why has Schrodinger's Cat gained such currency not just in science but popular culture? Writer Alan Moore tells how it created a new wave of 1960s sci-fi literature.
So why has Schrodinger's Cat caught the imagination of non-scientists? How is it misinterpreted and used to explain mankind's many unknowns? What is its place at the cutting edge of quantum physics? Robin meets today's physicists and thinkers who still tangle with the idea. And we find, no doubt, that Schrodinger's Cat (in all probability) is very much alive today.
Producer: Dominic Byrne
A Loftus production for BBC Radio 4.
WED 21:30 Midweek (b00wr9pf)
[Repeat of broadcast at
09:00 today]
WED 21:58 Weather (b00wr5jv)
The latest weather forecast.
WED 22:00 The World Tonight (b00wr9qs)
Radio 4's daily evening news and current affairs programme bringing you global news and analysis with David Eades
Thirty six thousand people in Northern Ireland are still without mains water while the province's water company says poor infrastructure is to blame.
Tensions in Ivory Coast rise as a group of West African leaders promise to return to the country to try to end the impasse over last month's disputed presidential election - we talk to an adviser to Laurent Gbagbo.
We report from Iowa on whether the shock of the financial crisis had any impact on way the United States sees itself and its place in the global pecking order and discuss America's influence in the world.
And as part of our series on future developments in science we hear from a leading expert in stem cell technology.
WED 22:45 Book at Bedtime (b00wr9qv)
Daphne du Maurier - Jamaica Inn
Episode 8
Book at Bedtime: Jamaica Inn by Daphne Du Maurier.
Abridged by Lauris Morgan-Griffiths
Reader: Tamsin Greig
Episode 8 of Daphne Du Maurier's dark and intriguing gothic tale. Mary recovers from her ordeal and escapes to seek help.
Producer: Alison Crawford.
WED 23:00 iGod (b00wwc1r)
Robot
iGOD is a highly original and funny new late-night comedy series for Radio 4. It stars Simon Day (The Fast Show) and David Soul (Starsky & Hutch) and is written by one of the head writers of the BAFTA award-winning The Thick Of It, Sean Gray and produced by Simon Nicholls (Ed Reardon's Week / News At Bedtime).
We all worry about the end of the world, as economists and environmentalists speak in apocalyptic terms everyday. iGOD says that trying to predict the end of the world is as pointless as moisturising an elephant's elbow.
In each episode, an unnamed, all-seeing narrator (David Soul - Starsky and Hutch) shows us that it is stupid to be worrying, as he looks back at some of the most entertaining apocalypses on parallel Earths. Each week our case study is a normal bloke called Ian (Simon Day) who manages to accidentally initiate the apocalypse of a different parallel world through a seemingly harmless single act (telling a lie, being lazy, cooking some lambshanks). A succession of comic vignettes ensue that escalate to the end of a parallel world.
With a full-range of sound effects and wonderfully funny and surreal twists, iGOD will be a true aural extravaganza.
Writer: Sean Gray
Producer: Simon Nicholls
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 2010.
WED 23:15 Comic Fringes (b00m8qbt)
Comic Fringes: Series 5
Gone Phishing
Series of short stories written and performed by leading new comedians at The Pleasance Theatre in Edinburgh as part of the Festival Fringe.
By Jon Richardson. A tale of love and betrayal set in a remote village in the Yorkshire Dales.
WED 23:30 The League of Gentlemen's Ghost Chase (b00vhfjn)
For the first time in over five years The League of Gentlemen comedy team reunite for a real life paranormal adventure spending the night in one of Britain's most haunted houses.
Although this quartet of comedy writers and performers has been influenced by horror in book, stage and screen, they all remain skeptical concerning the existence of ghosts.
By carrying out their own investigation they will either challenge or confirm their beliefs.
Reece Shearsmith hosts the evening as he takes the team to Gloucestershire to visit The Ancient Ram Inn, a favourite location among ghost hunting groups.
The League of Gentlemen explore the reputedly haunted rooms of the house and take part in their very first ouija board session. Meeting a spirit medium, a psychic investigator and working with scientific equipment they examine the House's reputation and invite the spirits to appear - but would the spooks show up?
The producer is Stephen Garner
THURSDAY 30 DECEMBER 2010
THU 00:00 Midnight News (b00wr5jx)
The latest national and international news from BBC Radio 4. Followed by Weather.
THU 00:15 Josie Long: All of the Planet's Wonders (b00htxbs)
Obscure Animal Facts
In her continuing quest to better herself through learning and discovering things in reference books, comedian Josie Long, explores the fantastic world of obscure animal facts in a bid to become the ultimate quiz contestant.
With her comedic cohorts, Maeve Higgins, Chris Neil, Jesse Thorne and Geoff Long.
Producer Colin Anderson
First broadcast BBC Radio 4 in March 2009.
THU 00:30 Book of the Week (b00wr5s6)
[Repeat of broadcast at
09:45 on Wednesday]
THU 00:48 Shipping Forecast (b00wr5jz)
The latest shipping forecast.
THU 01:00 Selection of BBC World Service Programmes (b00wr5k1)
BBC Radio 4 joins the BBC World Service.
THU 05:20 Shipping Forecast (b00wr5k3)
The latest shipping forecast.
THU 05:30 News Briefing (b00wr5k5)
The latest news from BBC Radio 4.
THU 05:43 Prayer for the Day (b00wr9r5)
With Steve Clifford, General Director of the Evangelical Alliance.
THU 05:45 Farming Today (b00wr7pf)
Winter in the farm: Willow harvesting on the Somerset Levels. Sarah Swadling visits farmer Richard Roberts, and basket maker, Darrell Hill, as they gather this year's crop at Bussex Farm near Westonzoyland. The Somerset Levels are the last remaining area in England where willow is grown commercially for basket making.
Presenter: Sarah Swadling. Producer: Sarah Swadling.
THU 06:00 Today (b00wr7py)
Morning news and current affairs, guest edited by Richard Ingrams, including:
07:09 What makes a good voice for radio?
07:45 What happened to the good old-fashioned newsroom?
08:10 Should the case against James Hanratty be reopened?
08:30 In Conversation with Peter O'Toole.
THU 09:00 In Our Time (b00wr9r7)
Consequences of the Industrial Revolution
Melvyn Bragg and his guests discuss the far-reaching consequences of the Industrial Revolution. After more than a century of rapid technological change, and the massive growth of its urban centres, Britain was changed forever. Lifestyles changed as workers moved from agricultural settlements to factory towns: health, housing and labour relations were all affected. But the effects were both social and intellectual, as thinkers originated theories to deal with the new realities of urban living, mass production and a consumer society. With:Jane HumphriesProfessor of Economic History and Fellow of All Souls College, University of OxfordEmma GriffinSenior Lecturer in History at the University of East AngliaLawrence GoldmanFellow and Tutor in History at St Peter's College, University of OxfordProducer: Thomas Morris.
THU 09:45 Book of the Week (b00wr5s8)
Proust's Overcoat
Episode 4
By Lorenza Foschini. The overcoat which Marcel Proust wore for most of the last decade of his life and which he used as a bedspread has a powerful hold over Guerin.
Producer: Jill Waters
A Waters Company production for BBC Radio 4.
THU 10:00 Woman's Hour (b00wr9v6)
Presented by Jenni Murray. The sailors Dee Caffari and Anna Corbella talk to Jenni about the Barcelona World Race and how they'll cope alone at sea for 3 months in a 60 foot boat. Should there be a dress code at work? We discuss the rights and wrongs of being compelled to wear a particular style of clothes. We hear the harrowing stories of women who found themselves interned at the Frontstalag 142 camp on the French-German border during the Second World War. And 90 years of ballet teaching by the Royal Academy of Dance.
THU 10:45 15 Minute Drama (b00wr5vb)
Ladies of Letters Go Crackers
Episode 4
Prunella Scales and Anne Reid star in this fractious festive 11th series of the Radio 4 comedy favourite Ladies of Letters. By Carole Hayman and Lou Wakefield.
Vera's daughter Karen tries to get Vera and Irene back on speaking terms after their vitriolic falling out.
Vera ... Anne Reid
Irene ... Prunella Scales
Karen ... Mia Soteriou
Directed by Liz Webb.
THU 11:00 Crossing Continents (b00x44dx)
Syrian corruption
Corruption in Syria is commonplace. You can see it almost everywhere you go: from a small tip for a government worker to process paperwork, to customs officials requiring payments to allow goods into the country. The single-party government says it's stamping out corruption and that it's determined not to let it stand in the way of the country's economic development. But with economic reforms opening Syria up to foreign investment, it's claimed corruption is getting worse. And those who raise the issue in public can find themselves thrown in jail.
The BBC's Damascus correspondent Lina Sinjab investigates the impact of corruption and bribery in the country, and looks at whether Syria's drive to modernise is being hampered by the millions of dollars lost in graft.
Producer: Duncan Crawford.
THU 11:30 The Israeli Madonna (b00wr9vb)
The writer and music critic Pete Paphides tells the story of Ofra Haza, dubbed 'The Israeli Madonna' who rose from her poor roots in the Yemenite community to global recognition.
Pete Paphides first heard the voice of Ofra Haza on the Eurovision Song Contest in 1983. It was an extraordinary voice and belonged to a woman with extraordinary talent and presence. Her life and career were tragically cut short when she died of an AIDS-related disease. Here, Pete talks to her life-long manager and father figure Bezalel Aloni and musicians who worked with her - Ben Mandelson, Yair Nitzani, Ishar Ashdoth, Roger Armstrong, and producer Wally Brill.
It's ten years since the death of Israel's most well-loved pop star Ofra Haza (Feb 2000). Until succumbing to AIDS-related complications, Haza enjoyed an iconic status in her own country. Though described as 'the Israeli Madonna', her importance exceeded even those comparisons. Having grown up the youngest of nine children in the deprived Hatikva Quarter of Tel Aviv, she became a teen pop sensation in her own country. Haza's international break came in 1983 when she represented Israel in the Eurovision Song Contest with Hi - a song whose chorus, 'Israel is alive' took it within a whisker of overall victory.
Her breakthrough album, recorded in 1985, was Yemenite Songs - a piercingly beautiful collection of traditional songs from her own upbringing, gently updated, whilst at the same time retaining key aspects of the old instrumentation (tea trays, petrol cans). As well as cementing her status in her own country, Yemenite Songs was a word-of-mouth sensation across Europe. The a cappella intro of Im Nin Alu was sampled by Coldcut, which in turn prompted the song to become a British hit.
Producer: Laura Parfitt
A White Pebble Media production for BBC Radio 4.
THU 12:00 UK Confidential (b00wv9lp)
1980
On the day that previously secret government files from 1980 are released to the public, Martha Kearney and guests discuss what they reveal about government thinking at the time.
It was a year of government cutbacks, high unemployment and economic gloom. The newly-released papers highlight the astonishing resonance with today.
Martha and guests will examine the Prime Minister's personal papers, complete with handwritten notes in the margins, and memos from trusted aides; transcripts of conversations between Margaret Thatcher and other world leaders; and vivid accounts of arguments in cabinet that show what individual Ministers were really thinking.
As well as shedding light on what we know happened, the papers also reveal what didn't happen, as we hear accounts of policies or actions that were considered but later abandoned.
It was the year that Polish workers won trade union rights, while in the UK steel workers went on strike. The government failed to secure a boycott of the Olympic games in Moscow, and Zimbabwe elected a new leader: Robert Mugabe.
War broke out between Iran and Iraq and a group of American hostages in Tehran remained in captivity. President Jimmy Carter lost out to Ronald Reagan in the American elections and Michael Foot became leader of the Labour Party.
These are just some of the stories that dominated 1980. This programme will reveal the issues that dominated the minds of Ministers at the time.
Producer: Deborah Dudgeon
A Whistledown Production for BBC Radio 4.
THU 12:57 Weather (b00wr5k7)
The latest weather forecast.
THU 13:00 World at One (b00wr9vd)
National and international news.
THU 13:30 Questions, Questions (b00wr9vg)
Stewart Henderson continues his sparkling series of Questions Questions - the programme which offers answers to those intriguing questions of everyday life, inspired by current events and popular culture.
Each programme is compiled directly from the well-informed and inquisitive Radio 4 audience, who bring their unrivalled collective brain to bear on these puzzlers every week.
How do woodpeckers keep their beaks sharp? How do you know if a volcano is extinct? This is the programme which answers listener questions on just about everything.
Email: questions.questions@bbc.co.uk
Tel: 03700 100400
Or you can reach us online via our Radio 4 message board.
Producer: Kevin Dawson
A Whistledown production for BBC Radio 4.
THU 14:00 The Archers (b00wr6rs)
[Repeat of broadcast at
19:00 on Wednesday]
THU 14:15 Drama (b00kdttk)
Rumpole and the Penge Bungalow Murders
Old Unhappy Far-Off Things
By John Mortimer.
A Christmas treat for all Rumpole fans and all Radio 4 listeners who love a good whodunit with a cracking court case thrown in for good measure.
Benedict Cumberbatch, plays the young, feisty, devastatingly acute legal eagle Horace Rumpole in his first big murder case, where he defends for the first time "alone and without a leader" in the case which was to make his name; and of course the story also marks the beginning of his life-long liason with "She who must be obeyed"; as we hear, recalled through the memoirs of the older Rumpole, how young Rumpole found himself engaged and married without being absolutely sure that he had in fact proposed in the first place!
It is the fifties, a short decade after the end of the war, and two war heroes have been shot dead. The only suspect is Simon Jerrold, the son of one of the victims, and he faces the death penalty. Defending him is deemed hopeless, so the case is handed to a novice. But the novice's superiors didn't count on the tenacity and wit of the young and hungry Horace Rumpole
Adapted by Richard Stoneman
Producer/Director ..... Marilyn Imrie
A Catherine Bailey production for BBC Radio 4.
THU 15:00 Open Country (b00wqj4n)
[Repeat of broadcast at
06:07 on Saturday]
THU 15:27 Radio 4 Appeal (b00wqkvb)
[Repeat of broadcast at
07:55 on Sunday]
THU 15:30 Afternoon Reading (b00wr9vj)
The Victorian Clown: The Circus Memories of James Frowde
Beasts & Clowning
James Frowde's memoirs - taken from the book 'The Victorian Clown' by Jacky Bratton and Ann Featherstone and adapted for radio and performed by Tony Lidington - represent the closest we have to a first-hand, vernacular description of the daily life of a British circus clown in the mid-nineteenth century.
At that time, circus people and pantomime artists were on the lowest rung of the cultural ladder, just a step above vagrants and beggars; indeed they were viewed with suspicion and fear by those who aspired or achieved more stable, residential lives.
Frowde recalls working with a particularly wilful monkey; and injuring himself during a difficult horseback trick.
Adapted and read by Tony Lidington.
Producer: David Blount
A Pier production for BBC Radio 4.
THU 15:45 A Woman's World (b00wr9vl)
The WRVS
Graham Clarke tells Chris Ledgard about running a WRVS lunch club. The charity no longer uses its full title - the Women's Royal Voluntary Service - and has been taking on male volunteers for many years. The chief executive Lynne Berry discusses the balance between respecting the WRVS's history as a women's organisation, and establishing its new image in the modern world of big charity.
THU 16:00 Open Book (b00wr4j9)
[Repeat of broadcast at
16:00 on Sunday]
THU 16:30 Material World (b00wr9vn)
Quentin Cooper catches up with the four finalists of the So You Want to Be a Scientist talent search that was featured in Material World across the summer. Have they continued to do research and think about science? 2010 has also been a year when the Royal Society aimed to engage the public more with science, through the events that were part of its Year of Science. What impact have these activities had?
Producer: Pamela Rutherford.
THU 17:00 PM (b00wr9vq)
Full coverage and analysis of the day's news. Including at
5.57pm Weather.
THU 18:00 Six O'Clock News (b00wr5k9)
The latest national and international news from BBC Radio 4.
THU 18:15 15 Minute Musical (b00wr9vs)
Series 6
Just the Two Tone of Us
Enjoy a West End Musical experience for a fraction of the cost - well, actually for no cost at all.
Tonight in "Just the Two Tone of Us" artistic licence is well and truly taken and stretched as Ant and Dec's story is moulded and squeezed into a West End musical.
Starring: Richie Webb, Dave Lamb and Jess Robinson
Written by: Richie Webb, Dave Cohen and David Quantick
Music by: Richie Webb
Music Production: Matt Katz
Producer: Katie Tyrrell
The bitesize yet satisfying musicals take easily identifiable public figures and give them a West End Musical make-over with original, never-heard-before musicals that will have both your goose-bumps and the hairs on the back of your neck dancing.
THU 18:30 Old Harry's Game (b00wr9vv)
Christmas Special
Ring in the New
Satan decides he needs a holiday away from hell.
Written by and starring Andy Hamilton.
With Annette Crosbie as Edith, Robert Duncan as Scumspawn, Jimmy Mulville as Thomas.
And Felicity Montagu, Nick Revell, Philip Pope and Michael Fentons Stevens.
Producer: Paul Mayhew-Archer
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in December 2010.
THU 19:00 The Archers (b00wr6rv)
Tristram's panto review is out and reactions are mixed. Eddie and Jazzer aren't too pleased, but Nigel and Lynda are very happy. Lynda can't believe Coriander's visit is at an end, but realises Justin's parents must be keen to see Oscar. Coriander promises to come back soon.
Joe's unhappy that Susan won't allow his mistletoe on the TEAs table for health and safety reasons. He tells Coriander he's setting up his own table outside, and she immediately decides to buy some. She has no TEAs but hopes real money will do. Her observation that there's not much mistletoe in Ealing gives Joe an idea.
Elizabeth's still sore at Nigel for his absence yesterday while on the wig errand. The ice rink people churned up the lawn and Titcombe's big spanner went missing. She suggests Nigel makes up for it now. There's still loads to do for the ball. Nigel assures her it will all be worth it when she sees the panto.
It's a full house again, and Joe, Emma, Ed, George and Elizabeth all have front row seats. Nigel's having great fun. He's looking forward to giving Lizzie her brooch tomorrow as he delivers his triumphant closing lines.
THU 19:15 Front Row (b00wr6sc)
Prequels and Sequels, with Bret Easton Ellis and Scott Turow
Mark Lawson reports on the temptations of the prequel and the sequel. Writers Bret Easton Ellis, Armistead Maupin, John Sullivan, Scott Turow and David Almond explain why they have decided to return to popular characters years after they first created them. They also discuss the expectations and reactions of readers and viewers, and reflect on how their approaches to writing have changed over time.
Producer Claire Bartleet.
THU 19:45 15 Minute Drama (b00wr5vb)
[Repeat of broadcast at
10:45 today]
THU 20:00 The Report (b00wr9vx)
UK Uncut
Linda Pressly reports on the protests against tax avoidance which caused disruption at stores across Britain in the run-up to Christmas. She finds out how the group behind the protests, UK Uncut, was formed and how it has used social media to connect protestors and to organise more than 50 demonstrations all over the UK. She also investigates UK Uncut's claims that the Government could avoid making deep public spending cuts by targeting rich individuals and big businesses that legally avoid paying billions of pounds a year in tax. Who are the people behind UK Uncut? What is the basis for their claims? And do they really have the answer to the UK's fiscal woes? The programme includes interviews with the founding members of UK Uncut, with Richard Murphy of the Tax Justice Network, John Whiting from the Office of Tax Simplification and Treasury Minister David Gauke.
THU 20:30 In Business (b00wr9vz)
Back on the Road
BACK ON THE ROAD
The United States auto industry has just limped through the biggest industrial car crash in history. The Ford Motor Company has an industry outsider, Alan Mulally, at the helm as its new chief executive. He tells Peter Day how he changed the way Ford works and it is now back in the business of selling cars.
Producer: Caroline Bayley.
THU 21:00 Saving Species (b00wr7rm)
[Repeat of broadcast at
11:00 on Tuesday]
THU 21:30 In Our Time (b00wr9r7)
[Repeat of broadcast at
09:00 today]
THU 21:58 Weather (b00wr5kc)
The latest weather forecast.
THU 22:00 The World Tonight (b00wr9w1)
Radio 4's daily evening news and current affairs programme bringing you global news and analysis.
THU 22:45 Book at Bedtime (b00wr9w3)
Daphne du Maurier - Jamaica Inn
Episode 9
Book at Bedtime: Jamaica Inn by Daphne Du Maurier.
Abridged by Lauris Morgan-Griffiths
Tamsin Greig reads episode 9 of Daphne Du Maurier's dark and intriguing gothic tale.
After being forced to experience the horror of a wrecking trip, Mary has escaped from Jamaica Inn determined to seek help and finally bring her uncle and his associates to justice. When she discovers the vicar of Altarnun away from home, Mary decides to turn to Squire Bassat for assistance. On her return to the inn, Mary makes a shocking discovery.
Producer: Alison Crawford.
THU 23:00 UK Confidential (b00wv9lp)
[Repeat of broadcast at
12:00 today]
FRIDAY 31 DECEMBER 2010
FRI 00:00 Midnight News (b00wr5kf)
The latest national and international news from BBC Radio 4. Followed by Weather.
FRI 00:15 Josie Long: All of the Planet's Wonders (b00j0pp8)
Propriety, Plants, Grandparents and Growing Your Own
In her continuing quest to better herself through learning and discovering things in reference books, comedian Josie Long presents a show about propriety, plants, grandparents, being connected to the world around you and growing your own.
With Josie's comedic cohort Maeve Higgins
And guest Isy Suttie.
Producer Colin Anderson
First broadcast BBC Radio 4 in March 2009.
FRI 00:30 Book of the Week (b00wr5s8)
[Repeat of broadcast at
09:45 on Thursday]
FRI 00:48 Shipping Forecast (b00wr5kh)
The latest shipping forecast.
FRI 01:00 Selection of BBC World Service Programmes (b00wr5kk)
BBC Radio 4 joins the BBC World Service.
FRI 05:20 Shipping Forecast (b00wr5km)
The latest shipping forecast.
FRI 05:30 News Briefing (b00wr5kp)
The latest news from BBC Radio 4.
FRI 05:43 Prayer for the Day (b00wrbrj)
With Steve Clifford, General Director of the Evangelical Alliance.
FRI 05:45 Farming Today (b00wr7ph)
Looking after wildlife on a winter farm. Charlotte Smith revisits farmer Richard Haynes who has gone the extra mile to encourage birds and bugs onto his Buckinghamshire farm. As they take a tour of the farm, Richard shows the importance of looking after Britain's native species during the cold winter months and how he is using money through the Higher Level Stewardship scheme to fund the creation of natural habitats.
Presenter: Charlotte Smith
Producer: Fran Barnes.
FRI 06:00 Today (b00wr7q0)
Morning news and current affairs with Sarah Montague and Evan Davis, guest edited by Dame Clara Furse, including:
08:10 Are we in danger of going too far with bank-bashing?
08:30 London Mayor Boris Johnson on the importance of the City of London.
08:40 The history of global trade in a fruitcake.
FRI 09:00 Desert Island Discs (b00wr4hx)
[Repeat of broadcast at
11:15 on Sunday]
FRI 09:45 Book of the Week (b00wr5sb)
Proust's Overcoat
Episode 5
By Lorenza Foschini. Jacques Guerin offers up his collection to the world and the author opens a cardboard box.
Producer: Jill Waters
A Waters Company production for BBC Radio 4.
FRI 10:00 Woman's Hour (b00wrbrl)
Presented by Jenni Murray. High heeled shoes for the party season - how high, and why? Poet Anneliese Emmans Dean performs a specially commissioned poem for Woman's Hour. Labyrinth creator, the Rev'd Di Williams, explains the difference between a labyrinth and a maze. Andrew Mitchell, Secretary of State for International Development, discusses the UN's new agency for women with women's rights campaigner Lesley Abdela.
FRI 10:45 15 Minute Drama (b00wr5vd)
Ladies of Letters Go Crackers
Episode 5
Prunella Scales and Anne Reid star in this fractious festive 11th series of the Radio 4 comedy favourite Ladies of Letters. By Carole Hayman & Lou Wakefield.
Irene discovers her daughter-in-law's awful secret plan. Meanwhile Vera and her family face leaving their home without sufficient finances to ensure their future.
Vera ... Anne Reid
Irene ... Prunella Scales
Directed by Liz Webb.
FRI 11:00 Widowers' Tales (b00wrbrn)
For many men the transformation after losing a partner and being left alone is dramatic. We hear moving inspiring stories about finding a new direction late in life.
Guy de Mowbray, 85, started to cook after his wife died, to entertain new friends. He loved the cooking so much he went on to write a couple of cookery books and to speak at food festivals.
Barry, who lost his wife at 58, decided that since that since the worst had already happened he would do other things he'd been afraid of - among them, learning to swim and learning to drive. "You get this chance. It's tragic in one way but you can't stand still. And you can change your life. She'd be amazed to see me now..."
Widowers are vulnerable, but some men are determined not to succumb and to build a new independent life.
"I discovered predatory women, yes I did. I had different relationships, not very well advised. I wasn't seeking sex. I wanted comfort. So I think I succeeded in making one or two women quite unhappy."
We hear the stories of four men who are in the process of having to rebuild their lives alone. On New Year's Eve they look forward to a future they could never have anticipated.
Producers: Elizabeth Burke and Kim Normanton
A Loftus production for BBC Radio 4.
FRI 11:30 Electric Ink (b01k9wdn)
Series 2
Episode 5
Freddy punctures Maddox's literary pretensions and uncovers a scandal.
Alistair Beaton and Tom Mitchelson's comic satire set in the struggling world of newspapers.
A group of dysfunctional journalists attempt to cover major news stories whilst grappling with the demands of a multi-platform environment, as circulation figures plummet as the recession means half the workforce is laid off.
Maddox ..... John Sessions
Oliver ..... Alex Jennings
Freddy ..... Stephen Wight
Carol ..... Polly Frame
Masha ..... Debbie Chazen
Miles Deanbrook ..... Sean Baker
Waiter ..... Adeel Akhtar
Producer: Sally Avens
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in December 2010.
FRI 12:00 You and Yours (b00wrbrs)
Bob Servant, the self appointed people's champion taking on internet spammers, gets a job offer from India and organises a huge party for his new employers. The last in our series adapted from "Delete This At Your Peril - the Bob Servant E-mails" by Neil Forsyth.
We have the latest on the water crisis in Northern Ireland.
Poet Ian Macmillan shares his New Year's resolutions with us.
And, why bell ringing is not a dying art-form - there are some ten thousand more bell ringers in the UK than there were in 2000 and the Central Council of Church Bell Ringers has just been awarded a grant to ring bells during the 2012 Olympics.
The producer is Joe Kent
The producer is Joe Kent.
FRI 12:57 Weather (b00wr5kr)
The latest weather forecast.
FRI 13:00 World at One (b00wrbrv)
National and international news.
FRI 13:30 More or Less (b00wrbrx)
Tim Harford and the More or Less team explore 2010 in numbers. Contributors include Ben Goldcare, Robert Peston, the National Statistician and the Swedish statistical guru Hans Rosling.
FRI 14:00 The Archers (b00wr6rv)
[Repeat of broadcast at
19:00 on Thursday]
FRI 14:15 Drama (b00kjhgj)
Rumpole and the Penge Bungalow Murders
Alone and Without a Leader
By John Mortimer
Young Horace Rumpole defends a young man, accused of murder, maintaining that he is innocent until proved guilty. He faces opposition from the establishment and support from unexpected quarters.
Adapted by Richard Stoneman
Producer/Director ..... Marilyn Imrie
A Catherine Bailey production for BBC Radio 4.
FRI 15:00 Gardeners' Question Time (b00wrbrz)
Essex
Peter Gibbs chairs a lively New Year's Eve edition from Essex with Pippa Greenwood, Matthew Wilson and Anne Swithinbank.
In addition, Anne joins the experts at a cactus convention. Part two in our houseplants series.
Produced by Lucy Dichmont
A Somethin Else production for BBC Radio 4.
FRI 15:45 A Woman's World (b00wrbs1)
Women's Studies
Professor Jeff Hearn talks to Chris Ledgard about his relationship with the academic world of Women's Studies. After a group of female staff at Bradford University set up the UK's second Women's Studies postgraduate course in the early 1980s, Jeff Hearn was asked to teach on it. Professor Hearn - who describes himself as a profeminist - found himself, he says, "on an ambiguous margin of Women's Studies." Now a professor of Gender Studies in Sweden, he and his colleagues discuss his work as a man on the fringe of academic feminism.
FRI 16:00 Last Word (b00wrbsr)
On Last Word this week:
Elisabeth Beresford, the prolific children's author who created the Wombles. We have tributes from Bernard Cribbins and Mike Batt.
The influential political commentator Anthony Howard - we hear from his friend Lord Hattersley.
The BBC news reporter Brian Hanrahan, who covered the Falklands War and the fall of the Berlin Wall.
Judge James Pickles, who often made the headlines for his outspoken comments and, after retirement, wrote a column for the Daily Sport.
And a personal homage to cult musician Captain Beefheart from the poet Ian Macmillan.
FRI 16:30 The Film Programme (b00wrbst)
Francine Stock talks to Oscar winning scribe Simon Beaufoy, writer of The Full Monty and Slumdog Millionaire, about 127 Hours, his second collaboration with film director Danny Boyle. Based on the real life story of Aron Ralston, the mountaineer who cut off his own arm in order to save his life in a mountaineering accident, Simon Beaufoy talks about the challenge of dramatising a narrative in which the ending is already widely known.
Critic Jonathan Romney profiles Joann Sfar's bio pic Gainsbourg which explores the life of French singer song writer Serge Gainsbourg and is released on dvd this week. He is joined by critic Maria Delgado to discuss what to watch out for in World Cinema in 2011.
FRI 17:00 PM (b00wrbsw)
Full coverage and analysis of the day's news. Including at
5.57pm Weather.
FRI 18:00 Six O'Clock News (b00wr5kt)
The latest national and international news from BBC Radio 4.
FRI 18:15 15 Minute Musical (b00wrbsy)
Series 6
QuadraQueenia
With over thirty musicals selling out in the West End night after night - the British public (and the Radio 4 audience) cannot get enough of them, therefore.
Her Majesty the Queen has had an enormous year - here it is squeezed into 15 Minutes with music.
Starring: Richie Webb, Dave Lamb, Jess Robinson and Alex Tregear
Written by: Richie Webb, Dave Cohen and David Quantick
Music by: Richie Webb
Music Production: Matt Katz
Producer: Katie Tyrrell
In true West End style, artistic licence is well and truly taken and stretched ridiculously as easily identifiable public figures are dressed up, gilded, fabricated and placed against an original never-heard-before musical backdrop. All in 15 Minutes.
FRI 18:30 The News Quiz (b00wrbt0)
The News Quiz team take a look back at 2010.
Sue Perkins, Jeremy Hardy, Andy Hamilton, and Francis Wheen make up the panel dissecting the events, people and stories that made this year's headlines. Presented by Sandi Toksvig.
Produced by Sam Bryant.
FRI 19:00 The Archers (b00wr6rx)
Nigel's working hard in the office. Elizabeth's sorry she sulked about the panto. It was brilliant. Nigel mentions he has to pop out later. When Lizzie makes a joke about an assignation he assures her he's a one-woman man. When he finally presents her with the brooch she's delighted. They share a tender moment.
Over lunch with Brenda, Fallon admits she really likes Harry. But when she invited him over to run through their lines he just wanted to stay downstairs in the bar. So it seems she got it all wrong and he just wants to be mates. She's going to forget all about it now. Anything else is just too embarrassing.
Tom's still hoping Helen will make it to Bridge Farm, but Brenda's certain Helen won't budge. Brenda is touched that Tom's so worried about his family. Tom suggests to Tony that he and Pat meet up with Helen in The Bull, but Tony's having none of it.
When Tom discovers Tony out in the cold, desperately trying to mend the tractor, he decides to have one more try. Why doesn't he come to the pub, just for half an hour? Tony's sad, but adamant. If he went it would only ruin it for all of them.
FRI 19:15 Front Row (b00wr6sf)
Front Row Quiz
Mark Lawson turns question-master for the night, as he hosts the Front Row Quiz, with two teams facing a test of their arts knowledge of 2010 and beyond.
Comedian Natalie Haynes leads saxophonist Soweto Kinch and actor Henry Goodman against crime writer Mark Billingham and his team members historian Antonia Fraser and writer John Harris.
Producer Jack Soper.
FRI 19:45 15 Minute Drama (b00wr5vd)
[Repeat of broadcast at
10:45 today]
FRI 20:00 Correspondents' Look Ahead (b00wrbt2)
For many 2011 will be a year of austerity but will the tough economic medicine work or are we set for further financial turmoil and public disorder? The Euro will probably survive but don't put your mortgage on it.
After ten years of war in Afghanistan, British and American troops will begin to withdraw: is it the beginning of the end?
Twitter is five years old but where is our social media taking us and in sport, who will triumph in the Cricket and Rugby World cups?
Stephen Sackur is joined by some of the BBC's top correspondents as they predict the events and people who'll shape our world in 2011.
Radio 4 listeners can have their say on next year's big stories by joining the 'Listeners Look Ahead' with Stephen in the chair at two o'clock after the programme is repeated on Saturday, 1 January.
Producer: Jim Frank.
FRI 20:50 A Point of View (b00wrbt4)
Dear Diary
Joan Bakewell celebrates the art of diary writing by public figures and private individuals whose accounts of everyday life help shape our view of the past.
Producer: Sheila Cook.
FRI 21:00 Pick of the Year (b00wqjk5)
[Repeat of broadcast at
19:00 on Saturday]
FRI 21:58 Weather (b00wr5kw)
The latest weather forecast.
FRI 22:00 The World Tonight (b00wrbt6)
Radio 4's daily evening news and current affairs programme bringing you global news and analysis.
In this programme, we ask if there is going to be a revolution in farming in Africa? Can the continent feed itself, and perhaps one day, feed the world? We hear from small-holder farmers in Malawi, large agri-businesses in Ghana and a panel of experts in London share their hopes for Africa.
That's the World Tonight, with Robin Lustig.
FRI 22:45 Book at Bedtime (b00x57pb)
Daphne du Maurier - Jamaica Inn
Episode 10
Book at Bedtime: Jamaica Inn by Daphne Du Maurier.
Abridged by Lauris Morgan-Griffiths
Tamsin Greig reads the final episode of Daphne Du Maurier's dark and intriguing gothic tale. Mary has returned to Jamaica Inn after seeking help to bring her violent Uncle and his associates to justice. After discovering both her Uncle Joss and Aunt Patience murdered, she has been offered refuge in the vicarage while the assailant is tracked down. But Mary soon finds herself on the run and has to make a life-changing decision.
Producer: Alison Crawford.
FRI 23:00 Great Lives (b00wr8pq)
[Repeat of broadcast at
16:30 on Tuesday]
FRI 23:30 The News at Bedtime (b00wrbt8)
Review of the Year
Join legendary nurseryland broadcasters John Tweedledum (Jack Dee) and Jim Tweedledee (Peter Capaldi) as they return to Radio Fourtywinks for a one-off special, presenting their review of the year in Nurseryl Land, with the help of roving reporter Mary Mary Quite Contrary (Vicki Pepperdine) and a very special Thought for the Year with Peter Rabbi and a whole load of other festive treats.
Starring
Jack Dee - John Tweedledum
Peter Capaldi - Jim Tweedledee
with
Vicki Pepperdine, Lucy Montgomery, Alex MacQueen, Dan Tetsell and Lewis MacLeod
Written by Ian Hislop and Nick Newman
Produced by Simon Nicholls.
LIST OF THIS WEEK'S PROGRAMMES
(Note: the times link back to the details; the pids link to the BBC page, including iPlayer)
15 Minute Drama
10:45 MON (b00wr5sv)
15 Minute Drama
19:45 MON (b00wr5sv)
15 Minute Drama
10:45 TUE (b00wr5v6)
15 Minute Drama
19:45 TUE (b00wr5v6)
15 Minute Drama
10:45 WED (b00wr5v8)
15 Minute Drama
19:45 WED (b00wr5v8)
15 Minute Drama
10:45 THU (b00wr5vb)
15 Minute Drama
19:45 THU (b00wr5vb)
15 Minute Drama
10:45 FRI (b00wr5vd)
15 Minute Drama
19:45 FRI (b00wr5vd)
15 Minute Musical
18:15 MON (b00wr6r6)
15 Minute Musical
18:15 TUE (b00wr8pv)
15 Minute Musical
18:15 WED (b00wr9q4)
15 Minute Musical
18:15 THU (b00wr9vs)
15 Minute Musical
18:15 FRI (b00wrbsy)
A House for the End of Life
11:30 TUE (b00wr7rp)
A Point of View
20:50 FRI (b00wrbt4)
A Woman's World
15:45 MON (b00wr6r0)
A Woman's World
15:45 TUE (b00wr8pl)
A Woman's World
15:45 WED (b00wr9py)
A Woman's World
15:45 THU (b00wr9vl)
A Woman's World
15:45 FRI (b00wrbs1)
Adventures in Poetry
23:30 SAT (b00wnygy)
Adventures in Poetry
16:30 SUN (b00wr4jc)
Afternoon Reading
00:30 SUN (b0093bdf)
Afternoon Reading
19:45 SUN (b00jzwnp)
Afternoon Reading
15:30 TUE (b00wr8pj)
Afternoon Reading
15:30 WED (b00wr9pw)
Afternoon Reading
15:30 THU (b00wr9vj)
All Bar Luke
23:30 TUE (b00pg5dh)
Almanacs: The Oldest Guides To Everything
21:00 SUN (b00t2mhs)
Americana
19:15 SUN (b00wr5hp)
Amnesty at 50
20:00 TUE (b00wr8px)
Archive on 4
20:00 SAT (b00wv96h)
Archive on 4
15:00 MON (b00wv96h)
Bells on Sunday
05:43 SUN (b00wqkrq)
Bells on Sunday
00:45 MON (b00wqkrq)
Beyond Belief
16:30 MON (b00wr6r2)
Book at Bedtime
22:45 MON (b00wr6tn)
Book at Bedtime
22:45 TUE (b00wr8q5)
Book at Bedtime
22:45 WED (b00wr9qv)
Book at Bedtime
22:45 THU (b00wr9w3)
Book at Bedtime
22:45 FRI (b00x57pb)
Book of the Week
09:45 MON (b00wr5sq)
Book of the Week
00:30 TUE (b00wr5sq)
Book of the Week
09:45 TUE (b00wr5s4)
Book of the Week
00:30 WED (b00wr5s4)
Book of the Week
09:45 WED (b00wr5s6)
Book of the Week
00:30 THU (b00wr5s6)
Book of the Week
09:45 THU (b00wr5s8)
Book of the Week
00:30 FRI (b00wr5s8)
Book of the Week
09:45 FRI (b00wr5sb)
Brain of Britain
23:00 SAT (b00wp5h6)
Brain of Britain
13:30 MON (b00wr6qt)
Broadcasting House
09:00 SUN (b00wqkvl)
Cabin Pressure
08:30 SAT (b00wqj4v)
Cabin Pressure
18:30 TUE (b00wqj4v)
Case Notes
21:00 TUE (b00wr8q1)
Case Notes
16:30 WED (b00wr8q1)
Christmas Meditation
00:15 SUN (b00wqkrn)
Christmas Service
09:00 SAT (b00wqj4x)
Classic Serial
21:00 SAT (b00wnyd1)
Classic Serial
15:00 SUN (b00wr4j7)
Comic Fringes
23:15 WED (b00m8qbt)
Correspondents' Look Ahead
20:00 FRI (b00wrbt2)
Count Arthur Strong's Radio Show!
11:30 WED (b00wv6cd)
Crossing Continents
20:30 MON (b00wqdcc)
Crossing Continents
11:00 THU (b00x44dx)
Dave Podmore
17:00 SAT (b00vw79q)
Desert Island Discs
11:15 SUN (b00wr4hx)
Desert Island Discs
09:00 FRI (b00wr4hx)
Drama
14:15 MON (b00wr6qw)
Drama
14:15 TUE (b00wwbzj)
Drama
14:15 WED (b00g50lh)
Drama
14:15 THU (b00kdttk)
Drama
14:15 FRI (b00kjhgj)
Electric Ink
11:30 FRI (b01k9wdn)
Excess Baggage
08:00 SAT (b00wqj4s)
Farming Today
06:30 SAT (b00wqj4q)
Farming Today
05:45 MON (b00wr5py)
Farming Today
05:45 TUE (b00wr7p3)
Farming Today
05:45 WED (b00wr7pc)
Farming Today
05:45 THU (b00wr7pf)
Farming Today
05:45 FRI (b00wr7ph)
Food and Farming Awards
07:00 SAT (b00w22nz)
Front Row
19:15 MON (b00wr6rd)
Front Row
19:15 TUE (b00wr6s7)
Front Row
19:15 WED (b00wr6s9)
Front Row
19:15 THU (b00wr6sc)
Front Row
19:15 FRI (b00wr6sf)
Fry's English Delight
09:00 TUE (b00wr7rf)
Fry's English Delight
21:30 TUE (b00wr7rf)
Gardeners' Question Time
14:00 SUN (b00wr4j5)
Gardeners' Question Time
15:00 FRI (b00wrbrz)
Great Lives
16:30 TUE (b00wr8pq)
Great Lives
23:00 FRI (b00wr8pq)
HM The Queen
15:00 SAT (b00wqjb0)
Home Planet
15:00 TUE (b00wr8pg)
Humph Celebration Concert
22:00 SAT (b00tj5qp)
I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue
18:30 MON (b00wr6r8)
In Business
21:30 SUN (b00wqfnj)
In Business
20:30 THU (b00wr9vz)
In Our Time
09:00 THU (b00wr9r7)
In Our Time
21:30 THU (b00wr9r7)
In Touch
20:40 TUE (b00wr8pz)
Jeeves in Manhattan
11:30 MON (b00wx6rn)
Josie Long: All of the Planet's Wonders
00:15 TUE (b00hkrbb)
Josie Long: All of the Planet's Wonders
00:15 WED (b00hqhzh)
Josie Long: All of the Planet's Wonders
00:15 THU (b00htxbs)
Josie Long: All of the Planet's Wonders
00:15 FRI (b00j0pp8)
Last Word
16:00 FRI (b00wrbsr)
Les Kelly's Heroes
12:00 SUN (b00wp7tq)
Listen to the Word!
17:00 SUN (b00wqcnd)
Loose Ends
18:15 SAT (b00wqjdm)
Mandela in His Own Words
13:30 SUN (b00wr4j3)
Mandela in His Own Words
23:30 MON (b00wr4j3)
Material World
21:00 MON (b00xjbc1)
Material World
16:30 THU (b00wr9vn)
Midlife Relaunch
20:30 SUN (b00vcms2)
Midnight News
00:00 SUN (b00wqjl6)
Midnight News
00:00 MON (b00wqjn4)
Midnight News
00:00 TUE (b00wr5hw)
Midnight News
00:00 WED (b00wr5jd)
Midnight News
00:00 THU (b00wr5jx)
Midnight News
00:00 FRI (b00wr5kf)
Midweek
09:00 WED (b00wr9pf)
Midweek
21:30 WED (b00wr9pf)
Money Box Live
15:00 WED (b00wr9pt)
More or Less
20:00 SUN (b00wqgmq)
More or Less
13:30 FRI (b00wrbrx)
News Briefing
05:30 SAT (b00wqhwn)
News Briefing
05:30 SUN (b00wqjlg)
News Briefing
05:30 MON (b00wqjnd)
News Briefing
05:30 TUE (b00wr5j4)
News Briefing
05:30 WED (b00wr5jn)
News Briefing
05:30 THU (b00wr5k5)
News Briefing
05:30 FRI (b00wr5kp)
News Headlines
06:00 SUN (b00wqjlj)
News Review of the Year
22:00 SUN (b00wr5ht)
News and Papers
06:00 SAT (b00wqhwq)
News and Papers
07:00 SUN (b00wqjln)
News and Papers
08:00 SUN (b00wqjls)
News
15:05 SAT (b00x9ckm)
Old Harry's Game
18:30 THU (b00wr9vv)
On Your Farm
06:35 SUN (b00wqkth)
Open Book
16:00 SUN (b00wr4j9)
Open Book
16:00 THU (b00wr4j9)
Open Country
06:07 SAT (b00wqj4n)
Open Country
15:00 THU (b00wqj4n)
PM
17:00 MON (b00wr6r4)
PM
17:00 TUE (b00wr8ps)
PM
17:00 WED (b00wr9q2)
PM
17:00 THU (b00wr9vq)
PM
17:00 FRI (b00wrbsw)
Pakistan After the Deluge
20:00 MON (b00wr6sp)
Pat and Margaret
15:15 SAT (b00wqjb2)
Pick of the Week
18:15 SUN (b00wr4jr)
Pick of the Year
19:00 SAT (b00wqjk5)
Pick of the Year
21:00 FRI (b00wqjk5)
Plumbers and Penguins
11:00 MON (b00wr6qk)
Prayer for the Day
05:43 SAT (b00wqhy4)
Prayer for the Day
05:43 MON (b00wr5n0)
Prayer for the Day
05:43 TUE (b00wr7p1)
Prayer for the Day
05:43 WED (b00wr9pc)
Prayer for the Day
05:43 THU (b00wr9r5)
Prayer for the Day
05:43 FRI (b00wrbrj)
Profile
16:45 SAT (b00wqjb4)
Profile
05:45 SUN (b00wqjb4)
Profile
17:40 SUN (b00wqjb4)
Questions, Questions
13:30 THU (b00wr9vg)
Radio 4 Appeal
07:55 SUN (b00wqkvb)
Radio 4 Appeal
21:26 MON (b00wqkvb)
Radio 4 Appeal
15:27 THU (b00wqkvb)
Saturday Live
10:00 SAT (b00wqj4z)
Saving Species
11:00 TUE (b00wr7rm)
Saving Species
21:00 THU (b00wr7rm)
Schrodinger's Quantum Kittens
21:00 WED (b00wr9qb)
Selection of BBC World Service Programmes
01:00 SAT (b00wqhwj)
Selection of BBC World Service Programmes
01:00 SUN (b00wqjlb)
Selection of BBC World Service Programmes
01:00 MON (b00wqjn8)
Selection of BBC World Service Programmes
01:00 TUE (b00wr5j0)
Selection of BBC World Service Programmes
01:00 WED (b00wr5jj)
Selection of BBC World Service Programmes
01:00 THU (b00wr5k1)
Selection of BBC World Service Programmes
01:00 FRI (b00wr5kk)
Shappi Talk
18:30 WED (b00x23w5)
Shipping Forecast
00:48 SAT (b00wqhwg)
Shipping Forecast
05:20 SAT (b00wqhwl)
Shipping Forecast
17:54 SAT (b00wqhx1)
Shipping Forecast
00:48 SUN (b00wqjl8)
Shipping Forecast
05:20 SUN (b00wqjld)
Shipping Forecast
17:54 SUN (b00wqjlx)
Shipping Forecast
00:48 MON (b00wqjn6)
Shipping Forecast
05:20 MON (b00wqjnb)
Shipping Forecast
00:48 TUE (b00wr5hy)
Shipping Forecast
05:20 TUE (b00wr5j2)
Shipping Forecast
00:48 WED (b00wr5jg)
Shipping Forecast
05:20 WED (b00wr5jl)
Shipping Forecast
00:48 THU (b00wr5jz)
Shipping Forecast
05:20 THU (b00wr5k3)
Shipping Forecast
00:48 FRI (b00wr5kh)
Shipping Forecast
05:20 FRI (b00wr5km)
Six O'Clock News
18:00 SAT (b00wqhx5)
Six O'Clock News
18:00 SUN (b00wqjm1)
Six O'Clock News
18:00 MON (b00wqjnl)
Six O'Clock News
18:00 TUE (b00wr5j8)
Six O'Clock News
18:00 WED (b00wr5js)
Six O'Clock News
18:00 THU (b00wr5k9)
Six O'Clock News
18:00 FRI (b00wr5kt)
Something Understood
06:05 SUN (b00wqkt5)
Something Understood
23:30 SUN (b00wqkt5)
Start the Week
09:00 MON (b00wr5rr)
Start the Week
21:30 MON (b00wr5rr)
Sunday Worship
08:10 SUN (b00wqkvd)
Sunday
07:10 SUN (b00wqkv8)
The Archers Omnibus
10:00 SUN (b00wr4hv)
The Archers
19:00 SUN (b00wr5hm)
The Archers
14:00 MON (b00wr5hm)
The Archers
19:00 MON (b00wr6rb)
The Archers
14:00 TUE (b00wr6rb)
The Archers
19:00 TUE (b00wr6rq)
The Archers
14:00 WED (b00wr6rq)
The Archers
19:00 WED (b00wr6rs)
The Archers
14:00 THU (b00wr6rs)
The Archers
19:00 THU (b00wr6rv)
The Archers
14:00 FRI (b00wr6rv)
The Archers
19:00 FRI (b00wr6rx)
The British Reggae Revolution
13:30 TUE (b00wr7rw)
The Bus Pass Road Trips
14:45 SUN (b00wvbtl)
The Film Programme
23:00 SUN (b00wqgmx)
The Film Programme
16:30 FRI (b00wrbst)
The Food Programme
12:32 SUN (b00wr4hz)
The Food Programme
16:00 MON (b00wr4hz)
The Good Conductor
20:45 WED (b00ww59f)
The Israeli Madonna
11:30 THU (b00wr9vb)
The League of Gentlemen's Ghost Chase
23:30 WED (b00vhfjn)
The Media Show
13:30 WED (b00wr9pr)
The News Quiz
18:30 FRI (b00wrbt0)
The News at Bedtime
23:30 FRI (b00wrbt8)
The Now Show
12:30 SAT (b00wqgn3)
The Phone
23:00 TUE (b00wr8q7)
The Report
20:00 THU (b00wr9vx)
The World This Weekend
13:00 SUN (b00wr4j1)
The World Tonight
22:00 MON (b00wr6tl)
The World Tonight
22:00 TUE (b00wr8q3)
The World Tonight
22:00 WED (b00wr9qs)
The World Tonight
22:00 THU (b00wr9w1)
The World Tonight
22:00 FRI (b00wrbt6)
The iPod Series
12:00 SAT (b00wqj51)
Thinking Allowed
00:15 MON (b00wr5mw)
Thinking Allowed
16:00 WED (b00wr9q0)
Today
06:00 MON (b00wr5q0)
Today
06:00 TUE (b00wr7rc)
Today
06:00 WED (b00wr7pw)
Today
06:00 THU (b00wr7py)
Today
06:00 FRI (b00wr7q0)
Top of the Class
09:30 TUE (b00wr7rh)
UK Confidential
12:00 THU (b00wv9lp)
UK Confidential
23:00 THU (b00wv9lp)
Unreliable Evidence
20:00 WED (b00wr9q8)
Weather
06:04 SAT (b00wqhws)
Weather
06:57 SAT (b00wqhwv)
Weather
12:57 SAT (b00wqhwx)
Weather
17:57 SAT (b00wqhx3)
Weather
06:57 SUN (b00wqjll)
Weather
07:58 SUN (b00wqjlq)
Weather
12:57 SUN (b00wqjlv)
Weather
17:57 SUN (b00wqjlz)
Weather
21:58 SUN (b00wqjm3)
Weather
05:57 MON (b00wqjng)
Weather
12:57 MON (b00wqjnj)
Weather
21:58 MON (b00wqjnn)
Weather
12:57 TUE (b00wr5j6)
Weather
21:58 TUE (b00wr5jb)
Weather
12:57 WED (b00wr5jq)
Weather
21:58 WED (b00wr5jv)
Weather
12:57 THU (b00wr5k7)
Weather
21:58 THU (b00wr5kc)
Weather
12:57 FRI (b00wr5kr)
Weather
21:58 FRI (b00wr5kw)
Where England Meets Wales
11:00 WED (b00wr9pk)
Widowers' Tales
11:00 FRI (b00wrbrn)
With Great Pleasure
13:00 SAT (b00wqhm5)
Woman's Hour
14:00 SAT (b00wqj75)
Woman's Hour
10:00 MON (b00wr5ss)
Woman's Hour
10:00 TUE (b00wr7rk)
Woman's Hour
10:00 WED (b00wr9ph)
Woman's Hour
10:00 THU (b00wr9v6)
Woman's Hour
10:00 FRI (b00wrbrl)
Word of Mouth
23:00 MON (b00wqbdv)
Word of Mouth
16:00 TUE (b00wr8pn)
World at One
13:00 MON (b00wr6qr)
World at One
13:00 TUE (b00wr7rt)
World at One
13:00 WED (b00wr9pp)
World at One
13:00 THU (b00wr9vd)
World at One
13:00 FRI (b00wrbrv)
You and Yours
12:00 MON (b00wr6qp)
You and Yours
12:00 TUE (b00wr7rr)
You and Yours
12:00 WED (b00wr9pm)
You and Yours
12:00 FRI (b00wrbrs)
iGod
23:00 WED (b00wwc1r)
iPM
05:45 SAT (b00wqhy6)
iPM
17:30 SAT (b00wqhy6)