SATURDAY 15 FEBRUARY 2025
SAT 00:00 Midnight News (m0027v5f)
National and international news from BBC Radio 4
SAT 00:30 Sunil Patel: An Idiot's Guide To (m0027v3q)
Bagging an Heiress
5: How to Become a Lord
Sunil Patel becomes a nobleman (technically) and goes on a real life date with a real life heiress on his newly acquired country estate.
In the final episode of this comprehensive guide, Sunil will once and for all teach you everything you need to know to find happiness.
Written and Performed by Sunil Patel
With Additional Material from Charlie Dinkin, Em Humble and Benjamin Sutton
Featuring Helen Bauer and Alison Thea-Skot
Sound Design and Mix by Andy Goddard
Produced by Laura Shaw and Benjamin Sutton
A Daddy’s SuperYacht Production for BBC Radio 4
SAT 00:48 Shipping Forecast (m0027v5h)
The latest weather reports and forecasts for UK shipping
SAT 01:00 Selection of BBC World Service Programmes (m0027v5k)
BBC Radio 4 joins the BBC World Service.
SAT 05:20 Shipping Forecast (m0027v5m)
The latest weather reports and forecasts for UK shipping
SAT 05:30 News Briefing (m0027v5p)
The latest news from BBC Radio 4
SAT 05:43 Prayer for the Day (m0027v5r)
In love with love
Good Morning.
There is a saying by Swami Chinmayananda, a Hindu saint and teacher of the non-dual tradition: “to define God is to defile God”. When we try to define God, or Truth, we try to capture It within the confines of our thought, and therefore we unintentionally limit that which is pointed out as infinite. The Hindu scriptures declare, in Sanskrit, "Ekam Eva Advitiyam" – Truth is one alone, without a second.
This profound statement holds the key to understanding love. We often perceive love as a transaction between individuals, a give and take. But Advaita Vedanta a Hindu philosophy of non-duality, reveals a deeper truth. True love is not confined to the realm of duality. It transcends the "me" and "you," acknowledging the underlying oneness that connects us all. Just as waves arise from the ocean and appear separate, yet are fundamentally water, we too are all expressions of that one divine consciousness.
When we see beyond the surface distinctions, we begin to experience love in its purest form. It's not about seeking fulfilment from another but recognising the fullness of love within us and witnessing it reflected in every being.
The purest form of love is that which has no expectations, no demands, which seeks only to give. When we ask for love from the people around us, we become dependent on them; when we give love without asking for anything in return, we are independent.
May we be blessed with the wisdom of oneness which empowers us to live in this world as a beacon of love, showering warmth and compassion on all around us. Hari Om.
SAT 05:45 Why Do We Do That? (m0027v43)
Series 2
4. Why do we love dogs?
Ella Al-Shamahi asks why do we love dogs? Dogs evolved from wolves but why did they choose us humans to be their best friends?
They say dogs are a man’s best friend but all dogs, even chihuahuas are descended from wolves, the grey wolf, a majestic, fierce and incredibly dangerous species. How did this happen but more importantly, why did we start trusting wolves? And when did wolves turn into dogs?
Dogs have been a part of our story for a long time. They are depicted in cave and rock art and dogs are a part of our story because of how useful they are. From the mundane everyday hunting and guarding to the epic stories of life saving dogs . But how did we get here?
Oxford Professor Greger Lawson studies ancient dog DNA and thinks the evolution from wolves into dogs began when we both realised we could help each other.
SAT 06:00 News and Papers (m00282pd)
The latest news headlines. Including the weather and a look at the papers.
SAT 06:07 Ramblings (m0027tx4)
Rerouting the Shropshire Way
Clare meets a group of passionate walkers responsible for the redesign and relaunch of the Shropshire Way long distance footpath.
Back in 2016 they got together, in collaboration with the local Council, to reroute it and improve the waymarking. And now they have a 200 mile footpath in a figure of eight, centred on Shrewsbury.
For Ramblings they met Clare at the Benthall Hall National Trust carpark and set off on a 5.5 mile linear route crossing the world famous Iron Bridge, onto Loamhole Dingle, Braggers Hill and Little Wenlock.
Leading the way were Amanda Hartley-Newton and Audrey Menhinick (who with her late Ramblers colleague, set up the Shropshire Way Association). They, along with a handful of fellow volunteers, tell Clare what a satisfying – if challenging – project this has been.
OS MAP: OS Explorer 242 Telford, Ironbridge and the Wrekin Grid Ref: SJ 657 024 https://shropshireway.org.uk/
Presenter: Clare Balding
Producer: Karen Gregor
SAT 06:30 Farming Today (m00282pg)
15/02/25 - Farming Today This Week: Inheritance Tax Special
After a week that saw hundreds of tractors block Whitehall and a prime ministerial visit disrupted by protesting farmers, we take an in-depth look at the proposed changes around inheritance tax on farms.
From April 2026, inherited agricultural assets worth more than a million pounds will be liable to inheritance tax at 20% - half the usual rate. The Government says the tax is fair and will raise much-needed public funds. Farmers argue the move could see family farms put out of business.
Charlotte Smith is joined by a panel of guests:
Aled Jones - President of NFU Cymru
Emily Norton - farmer and founder of the rural business advisory service, Farm Foresight
Dan Neidle - tax expert who runs Tax Policy Associates
Produced by Heather Simons
SAT 06:57 Weather (m00282pk)
The latest weather reports and forecast
SAT 07:00 Today (m00282pp)
Including Sports Desk, Weather and Thought for the Day.
SAT 09:00 Saturday Live (m00282pv)
Kate Mosse, Maher Fattouh, Dola Posh, Olly Alexander
Internationally lauded, bestselling novelist, Kate Mosse is celebrating big this year, with both the 20th anniversary of her iconic novel Labyrinth, and the 30th edition of the Women’s Prize for Fiction announced later this year.
Maher Fattouh, a football loving student who was blinded by an explosion as he fled Syria in 2014 but discovered that true vision comes from resilience not sight.
Photographer Dola Posh has an eye for beauty, truth and the spaces in between, she explores themes of motherhood, identity and Black women's experiences.
All that plus the Inheritance Tracks of actor, musician and Eurovision contestant Olly Alexander.
Presenters: Nikki Bedi and Huw Stephens
Producer: Ben Mitchell
SAT 10:00 You're Dead to Me (m00282py)
Hernán Cortés and Malintzin: the Spanish conquest of Mexico
Greg Jenner is joined in 16th-Century Mexico by Dr Amy Fuller and comedian Jen Brister to learn about Spanish conquistador Hernán Cortés and his translator Malintzin.
In 1521, the powerful Aztec empire was brutally conquered by the Spanish, led by the ambitious and fanatical Hernán Cortés. After a falling-out with his boss in Cuba, Cortés disobeyed orders and led an expedition party into Mexico. He was helped in his conquest by local peoples who bore a grudge against the Aztecs, chief amongst them the woman who became his translator: Malintzin. A skilled linguist, Malintzin was given to Cortés upon his arrival in Mexico, but after gaining her freedom was central to Cortés’s success. The two even had a son together.
This episode tells the story of Cortés and Malintzin before, during and after the conquest, exploring how an Indigenous woman came to translate for a conquistador. From Malintzin’s murky childhood to Cortés’s desperate attempts to impress the king of Spain, via the rumours that he killed his first wife and the complicated politics of Mexico, we examine these two intertwined lives.
If you’re a fan of bloody conquests, Indigenous histories and women surviving at any cost, you’ll love our episode on Cortés and Malintzin.
If you want more from Jen Brister, check out our episode on Emma of Normandy. And for more Latin American history, listen to our episodes on the Aztecs and the Columbian Exchange.
You’re Dead To Me is the comedy podcast that takes history seriously. Every episode, Greg Jenner brings together the best names in history and comedy to learn and laugh about the past.
Hosted by: Greg Jenner
Research by: Aida Abbashar
Written by: Emmie Rose Price-Goodfellow, Emma Nagouse, and Greg Jenner
Produced by: Emmie Rose Price-Goodfellow and Greg Jenner
Audio Producer: Steve Hankey
Production Coordinator: Ben Hollands
Senior Producer: Emma Nagouse
Executive Editor: James Cook
SAT 10:30 What's Funny About... (m00282q2)
5. Comic Relief
On the eve of Comic Relief’s 40th birthday, Peter Fincham and Jon Plowman are joined by Richard Curtis and Sir Lenny Henry to hear the inside story of the charity they founded in 1985, which has gone on to raise more than a £1.6 billion for good causes.
They explain the origins of the idea, reveal some of their favourite moments, and talk about what they hope Comic Relief might achieve in its next 40 years.
Producer: Owen Braben
An Expectation Entertainment production for BBC Radio 4
SAT 11:00 The Week in Westminster (m00282q6)
Pippa Crerar, the Political Editor of The Guardian, assesses the latest developments at Westminster.
Following President Trump's announcement of his plans for peace in Ukraine, Pippa brings together Lord West, the former Head of the Navy and Labour peer and Lord Dannatt, the former head of the Army and a now crossbench peer to discuss what this means for Ukraine and Europe.
This week, the government made numerous announcements on its housing policy, including its plans for the next generation of new towns. To discuss the Prime Minister's promises to build more homes, Pippa was joined by the chair of the Housing, Communities and Local Government Select Committee, Labour MP Florence Eshalomi and Conservative peer Lord Gavin Barwell, who is a former Housing Minister and was Downing Street Chief of Staff to Theresa May.
To discuss the challenges that Reform UK poses for the government and the Conservative Party, Pippa is joined by Gawain Towler, Reform UK's former director of communications and Scarlett Maguire, director of the polling firm JL Partners.
And, are political slogans such as 'Take Back Control', 'Fix the NHS' and 'Smash the Gangs' effective in delivering their messages? Pippa asks to political commentator and former Conservative government adviser Salma Shah and Jonathan Ashworth, the former shadow cabinet minister, now chief executive of Labour Together for their take.
SAT 11:30 From Our Own Correspondent (m00282m1)
Germany's young voters and the far right
Kate Adie presents stories from Germany, the US, Afghanistan, Spain and Morocco.
Germany goes to the polls next weekend, with the conservative CDU party showing a strong lead. But the far-right AfD party is consistently polling in second place - with the biggest rise in support being among young voters. Jessica Parker travelled to Saxony to find out why.
Mahjooba Nowrouzi recently returned to Afghanistan for the first time in nearly 30 years, having fled the Taliban regime as a young student. She describes how, despite initial first impressions, not much has changed with the Taliban back in control of the country once more.
Jordan's King Abdullah visited Washington this week, where he made clear to President Trump that he and other regional leaders were unanimous in rejecting his proposal to take over Gaza and transfer Palestinian residents to Jordan and Egypt. Tom Bateman followed the encounter between King Abdullah and the President.
In Southern Spain, the olive yield has risen substantially after several years of punishing drought. But aside from the challenges of climate change, farmers have another challenge – rising crime. Last year in Andalusia alone, some 500 tonnes of olives were stolen. Linda Pressly reports on this latest headache for local law enforcement.
Morocco has long been the film location of choice for many a Hollywood director, with its array of studios and versatile backdrops. But as John Kampfner discovered, a combination of tight budgets and new technology means the good times might be coming to an end for the ‘Hollywood of Africa.’
Series Producer: Serena Tarling
Editor: Bridget Harney
Production coordinators: Katie Morrison & Sophie Hill
SAT 12:00 News Summary (m00282qb)
The latest national and international news from BBC Radio 4.
SAT 12:04 Money Box (m00282lz)
Banned Back Billing and Debt Help
The energy regulator Ofgem has been given less than two weeks to get answers for Parliament on the banned practice of back billing, which is when people are sent new bills for energy used longer than 12 months ago. In a letter written to the Chief Executive of Ofgem the chair of the Energy Security and Net Zero committee highlights Money Box's recent investigation into back billing, saying he considers there to be evidence of serious wrong doing on the part of energy suppliers and the need for intervention on the part of the regulator. Ofgem told Money Box it's reviewing supplier billing practices and "looking closely at supplier compliance with back billing rules to make sure customers get the service they are entitled to." For the first time since our investigation began Paul Lewis interviews Dhara Vyas, the chief executive of Energy UK, which represents energy suppliers.
State pensions paid to tens of millions of people will go up in April by 4.1%, but depending on how your pension is paid - weekly or monthly - some people may not get the extra money until May. How to make sure you get it as soon as possible.
And people who get into debt often find that it gets worse because of the high interest rates they are paying. Often they are only paying interest not reducing the amount owed at all. A new scheme by credit unions is trying to solve that by giving an affordable loan to people in debt at a low rates of interest so they can pay off their expensive debt and afford the repayments on their new debt. How will it work?
Presenter: Paul Lewis
Reporters: Dan Whitworth and Peter Ruddick
Researchers: Eimear Devlin and Jo Krasner.
Editor: Jess Quayle
(First broadcast
12pm Saturday 15th February 2025)
SAT 12:30 The News Quiz (m0027v4h)
Series 116
6. Corruption Leagues and Leaked Whatsapps
On The News Quiz this week, Andy Zaltzman is joined by Ria Lina, Lucy Porter, Daniel Finkelstein and Alice Fraser to discuss the many Whatsapp woes of Labour, Kemi Badenoch rallying the Gen-Z's, the UK's ongoing success in the corruption leagues, and the overdue return of the woolly mammoth.
Written by Andy Zaltzman.
With additional material by: Tasha Dhanraj, Cameron Loxdale, Ralph Jones and Christina Riggs.
Producer: Rajiv Karia
Executive Producer: Richard Morris
Production Coordinator: Jodie Charman
Sound Editor: Marc Willcox
A BBC Studios Audio Production for Radio 4
An Eco-Audio certified Production
SAT 12:57 Weather (m00282qg)
The latest weather forecast
SAT 13:00 News (m00282ql)
The latest national and international news and weather reports from BBC Radio 4
SAT 13:10 Any Questions? (m0027v4t)
Sir John Hayes MP, Christine Jardine MP, Chi Onwurah MP, Sebastian Payne
Alex Forsyth presents political debate from Hutton Rudby Village Hall in North Yorkshire with the Conservative MP Sir John Hayes, the Liberal Democrat spokesperson for Women & Equalities and Scotland Christine Jardine MP, the Labour MP Chi Onwurah who is Chair of the Science, Innovation and Technology Select Committee and the Times journalist Sebastian Payne
Producer: Robin Markwell
Lead broadcast engineer: Phil Booth
SAT 14:00 Any Answers? (m00282qq)
Call Any Answers? to have your say on the big issues in the news this week.
SAT 14:45 The Archers (m0027v4k)
As Harrison packs his bag to leave for Yorkshire, he and Fallon reassure one another that they are doing the right thing. Harrison calls in to see Alice, to ask her to look out for Fallon. Fallon surprises Harrison as he departs with a Valentine’s gift, even though they’d said they wouldn’t exchange them this year. They embrace as he leaves. Fallon is soon joined by Alice who has brought a beautiful basket of heart shaped goodies – from Harrison to Fallon.
Khalil compliments Lynda over breakfast ahead of her cricket magazine interview. They discuss first impressions, and how Khalil no longer sees Lynda’s scars. Khalil recalls a teacher who patronised his mum at parents’ evening because she was wearing Asian clothes. But they follow his dad’s advice, that there are people who see beauty in difference, and people who see a threat, and to steer clear of the latter. Lynda suggests to Zainab that she should approach other family members to help rebuild a collection of family photographs, and she decides to ring Adil, who is happy to help.
Later, Khalil and Zainab ask Lynda about the interview and she says that she decided not to go, as Lawrence did not see the beauty in difference. The experience has made her reflect on her own prejudices and she confides in Khalil that this possibly clouded her first impressions of him. Lynda reminds Khalil of his own grandmother, which is why he thinks they get on so well, and Lynda delights in his quote from Casablanca, confirming their firm new friendship.
SAT 15:00 Drama on 4 (m00282qv)
When Maggie Met Larry
"In real life, you only get one take..."
Before Margaret Thatcher became leader of the Conservative Party 50 years ago, she discreetly turned to Laurence Olivier, the greatest actor of his generation, to prepare her for the greatest role of her life.
In When Maggie Met Larry, Tim Walker's funny, but thought-provoking new play, he imagines how Olivier set about transforming Thatcher into the formidable character so many remember today.
The collaboration was kept secret as Thatcher coveted her reputation as a "housewife" who empathised with the problems of ordinary people. However, Lord Tim Bell, one of her image advisers, admitted in a newspaper interview shortly before his death that the two had met. Olivier subsequently put Margaret Thatcher in touch with Catherine Fleming, the National Theatre's respected voice coach who helped him to perfect the deep voice he needed to play Othello. Invoices Fleming submitted to the Conservative Party for work with Thatcher between 1972 and 1976 are still held in the National's archive.
Tim Walker says, "It fascinated me how Olivier, in the twilight years of his career, performed such an important service to Thatcher, at the dawn of hers. The two inhabited totally different worlds, but both came from modest backgrounds and were driven, even obsessive, individuals."
At a time when the use of artifice in politics - even truth itself - is in the news, When Maggie Met Larry may well be seen to have a relevance that goes beyond the clash of two larger-than-life personalities.
Cast:
Laurence Olivier ... Derek Jacobi
Margaret Thatcher ... Frances Barber
Writer ... Tim Walker
Director ... Richard Clifford
A Catherine Bailey production in association with the Michael Grandage Company, for BBC Radio 4.
The character Laurence Olivier (Derek Jacobi) quotes some lines from Archie Rice (one of his most feted roles) in John Osborne's play The Entertainer.
(Copyright The Arvon Foundation, published by Faber and Faber)
SAT 16:00 Woman's Hour (m00282r1)
Weekend Woman's Hour: EastEnders 40th anniversary, Grandparenting, Maternal mental health
Laura Kyrke-Smith MP wants more care and support for new mothers struggling with their mental health. Her own friend died by suicide just 10 weeks after giving birth and she recently led a debate in parliament on the subject. Laura joined Nuala McGovern to discuss the changes she wants to see. They were joined by perinatal psychologist Dr Alain Gregoire from the Maternal Mental Health Alliance.
As EastEnders celebrates its 40th anniversary, Woman’s Hour discusses the iconic soap’s track record of featuring strong female characters with actors Michelle Collins, Kellie Bright, Diane Parish and Heather Peace.
How easy is it to navigate the role of grandparent? The pyschologist Terri Apter, author of Grandparenting: On Love and Relationships Across Generations joined Anita Rani to discuss the topic.
This year marks the 30th anniversary of the Women’s Prize for Fiction which was established to recognise the literary achievements of female writers. There have been huge improvements in sales for fiction written by women since then, however only 34 per cent of the top 500 non-fiction books in 2022 were written by women. The Women's Prize awarded its inaugural non-fiction category last year and have just released their 2025 longlist. Will it have the same impact as the Fiction Prize? The Women’s Prize co-founder Kate Mosse and this year’s Chair of the Non-Fiction Prize, journalist and author Kavita Puri join Nuala.
Performance poet Caitlin O'Ryan's poem, At What Point, about walking home alone went viral. She performed an extract of the poem live in the studio.
Presenter: Anita Rani
Producer: Dianne McGregor
SAT 17:00 PM (m00282r7)
Full coverage of the day's news.
SAT 17:30 Political Thinking with Nick Robinson (m00282rf)
The Charlie Taylor One
The Chief Inspector of Prisons for England and Wales on how he went from being a teacher at a school for kids with beahvioural problems, to being the leading voice on prison conditions.
He tells stories of cheap suits, perspex windows, being the subject of offensive graffiti, and explains how he retains optimism.
Producers: Lauren Tavriger and Daniel Kraemer
SAT 17:54 Shipping Forecast (m00282rm)
The latest weather reports and forecasts for UK shipping
SAT 17:57 Weather (m00282rt)
The latest weather reports and forecast
SAT 18:00 Six O'Clock News (m00282s0)
President Zelensky calls for the creation of an "army of Europe" to guard against Russia
SAT 18:15 Loose Ends (m00282s6)
Hue and Cry, Larry Dean, Kirsty Logan, Jack Docherty, Su-a Lee
Jack Docherty has entertained audiences in eight series of BBC Scotland’s mockumentary police show Scot Squad, as Chief Commissioner Cameron Miekelson. He returns to our screens in new spin-off The Chief.
Writer Kirsty Logan has written on witches, mermaids, and motherhood. Her latest collection of dark tales of love and desire is No & Other Love Stories.
Comedian Larry Dean is bringing his acclaimed stand up show Dodger on tour. It explores identity, his grandmother's dementia diagnosis, and a love of Elvis Presley.
After big 40th anniversary celebrations last year, Pat and Greg Kane - AKA pop duo Hue and Cry - are set for a year of touring. They share a song fit for Valentine's Day weekend.
Cellist Su-a Lee performs a track from her solo album Dialogues which celebrates decades of folk music friendships. She's joined by composer and pianist James Ross.
SAT 19:00 Profile (m00282l4)
Peter Mandelson
Having helped mastermind Labour's renewal in the 1980s and 1990s, one of British politics best-known figures has just embarked on his latest role.
And, it's a long way from Hartlepool, in the post-industrial North-East of England, where he first became an MP.
Born in 1953, Peter Mandelson started on the road to party politics as a researcher at the Trades Union Congress. After a stint as a TV producer, he left to take up the role of Labour's director of communications, but his real ambition was a place in Parliament.
Even his sternest critics accept he is a slick political operator and a good networker, but he’s a controversial figure – with a big challenge ahead.
Stephen Smith takes a closer look at the UK’s new ambassador to the US, and the man once dubbed the "Prince of Darkness".
Production Team
Producers: Sally Abrahams, Mantej Deol, Marianna Brain, Chloe Scannapieco
Editor: Ben Mundy
Sound: James Beard
Production Co-ordinators: Maria Ogundele and Jack Young
Credits
London Weekend Television station ident 1970s
Jon Culshaw, Imposter Syndrome UK tour
SAT 19:15 This Cultural Life (m0027twk)
Theaster Gates
The internationally acclaimed and hugely influential artist Theaster Gates was born, raised and works in Chicago. He trained as a ceramicist, and still makes pottery, but it’s just one part of a diverse artistic output that also includes painting, sculpture and vast installations, in works which often explore the black experience in contemporary America. He is best known for redeveloping derelict buildings for community projects, using art to transform run-down neighbourhoods of his city. A recipient of the prestigious Artes Mundi Prize, Gates is a professor at the University of Chicago and received the French government’s prestigious Légion d’Honneur. Theaster Gates is part of the creative team behind the Barack Obama Presidential Centre currently under construction in Chicago.
In 2022 he created the annual Serpentine Pavilion in London, a piece called Black Chapel which was conceived as a monument to his father. His most recent exhibition is 1965: Malcolm in Winter: A Translation Exercise at White Cube gallery.
Theaster Gates tells John Wilson about the influence of his family upbringing. The youngest of nine siblings, and the only boy, he recalls assisting his father as he worked as a roofer. Later, when he was an established artist, and having inherited his father's tools and tar kettle, Theaster began to make paintings using hot bitumen in tribute to his father's labour. He also explains how, as a high achieving pupil, he was 'bussed' to a predominantly white school far from his home neighbourhood, and benefited from cultural opportunities that he may not have received otherwise. He also chooses the experience of spending a year in Japan learning ancient pottery techniques, and beginning his practise as a ceramicist.
Producer Edwina Pitman
SAT 20:00 Archive on 4 (b0713m3h)
In the Bluff
There is, argues poet Paul Farley, something very particular about the bluff that sets it apart from other members of the deception family.
More theatrical than a straight-forward, two-dimentional lie, it can be called, it can be doubled, and often times remains mysterious - we never actually find out whether indeed a particular bluff was just that.
It permeates our everyday conversation, with nods of the head and affirmative grunts suggesting that yes indeed we have read Proust, and are of course conversant with Scandinavian philosophy; it proves a vital weapon on the sports field and the poker table; and in international relations and military strategy remains an invaluable resource.
Paul takes to the poker table himself, and speaks to experts from a variety of fields, including Jonathan Agnew and Bridget Kendal, to delve deeper into the psychology and application of the bluff.
Along the way he frequently has need to suggest a degree of knowledge in subjects that in fact remain largely a mystery to him.
Producer: Geoff Bird
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in February 2016.
SAT 21:00 Buried (m00282sf)
The Last Witness - Omnibus Part 2
Dan rushes to a site in South Wales, where PCBs are reportedly escaping from an old landfill site. He and Lucy take their strange team on the road, to test the earth in towns and villages countrywide. The results could reveal whether Douglas' prophecy has come true.
Buried is the award-winning true-crime series digging into some of the most disturbing environmental stories in history. In this new investigation, reporters Dan Ashby and Lucy Taylor team up with the film star Michael Sheen. Together, they dig into the unseen files of a man who said he was beaten up and put under police protection, after alleging that a chemical had contaminated the food chain.
Produced and presented by Dan Ashby and Lucy Taylor
Research by Georgie Styles
Sound design and mixing by Jarek Zaba
Original music and sounds by Phil Channell
Executive Producers: Philip Abrams and Anita Elash
Commissioning Editor: Dan Clarke
A Smoke Trail production for BBC Radio 4
SAT 22:00 News (m00282sl)
The latest national and international news from BBC Radio 4
SAT 22:15 The Food Programme (m0027v3n)
Second to Nan
Sheila Dillon revisits the idea of our grannies’ cooking and how it shapes us, hearing from listeners who sent in their own stories. Why does learning to cook from your granny seem to be such a powerful experience? What about those grannies who leapt at the chance technology offered to escape the endless cycle of cooking from scratch? And – for those of us who feel we’re relying too much on processed food - can we find a granny substitute to help us put down the takeaway menu and pick up a peeler?
Guests include:
Dr Polly Russell - food historian
Alicia Weston - founder of Bags of Taste
Sophie Beckett - Public Health Research Officer at Birmingham Museums Trust
Jonny Murphy "The Hungry Hooker"
We'd like to thank all of the listeners who wrote in to us following the broadcast of the programme "Nan the Wiser", but we'd like to say a special thanks to Matthew, Lynn, Mary, Tony, Marie, Peter, Rob and Giselle.
Presented by Sheila Dillon
Produced in Bristol for BBC Audio by Beth Sagar-Fenton. The Assistant Producer was Jo Peacey.
Archive from Birmingham's Food and Drink Oral Histories Project:
Interviewee: Doris Evans, 1984. From the City Sound Archive, courtesy of Birmingham Museums Trust
Interviewee: John Baker, 1984. From the City Sound Archive, courtesy of Birmingham Museums Trust
SAT 23:00 What? Seriously?? (m0028119)
7. When Yoghurt Met Strippers
In this episode, Dara and Isy are joined by the comedian and podcaster Richard Herring, to learn about the surprising connection between yoghurt and strippers - with some diverting conversations about bad reviews, bad TV shows and bad milkmen.
What? Seriously?? is a new podcast which combines comedy with quirky history, hosted by Dara and Isy who unravel an extraordinary real-life tale each week with the help of a celebrity guest.
The stories are definitely true, but also kind of unbelievable at the same time - the sort of stories that make you go ‘What? Seriously??’ when you hear them, but you resolve to tell them in the pub the first chance you get.
Across the series, Dara and Isy will be joined by I’m A Celeb winner Georgia Toffolo, the Aussie comedian Rhys Nicholson, the broadcaster Stuart Maconie, Master Chef star Louisa Ellis, Miles from The Traitors, the comedian Richard Herring, the astronaut Helen Sharman, and Slow Horses star Chris Chung.
‘What? Seriously??’ with Dara Ó Briain and Isy Suttie and special guest Richard Herring.
Format co-developed by Dan Page. Story compiled by Gareth Edwards and Dan Page.
Producer: Laura Grimshaw
Executive Producer: Jon Holmes
An unusual production for BBC Radio 4
SAT 23:30 Counterpoint (m0027tdg)
Series 38
Heat 7, 2025
(7/13)
Paul Gambaccini welcomes three more music lovers to Media City in Salford, for the latest contest in the long-running music quiz. Today's winner will go through to the semi-finals and increase their chances of becoming the 38th BBC Counterpoint champion. Paul's questions along the way cover the gamut of music, from the Carpenters to Richard Strauss, Ella Fitzgerald to Jasper Carrott - and that's just in the first round.
Today's competitors are
Robbie Carnegie from Buxton
Diane Hallagan from Leeds
Malcolm Holt from Wolverhampton.
Counterpoint is a BBC Studios Audio production.
Assistant Producer: Stephen Garner
Producer: Paul Bajoria
SUNDAY 16 FEBRUARY 2025
SUN 00:00 Midnight News (m00282ss)
The latest news and weather forecast from BBC Radio 4.
SUN 00:15 Take Four Books (m0027tdd)
Emma Healey
This week Take Four Books, presented by James Crawford, talks to best-selling author Emma Healey about her new book – Sweat – and the three books that inspired its creation. Emma’s choices were: Dare Me by Megan Abbott (2012); Ghost Wall by Sarah Moss (2018); and The Harpy by Megan Hunter (2020).
Producer: Rachael O’Neill
Editor: Annie McGuire
Take Four Books is a BBC Audio Scotland production.
SUN 00:48 Shipping Forecast (m00282sz)
The latest weather reports and forecasts for UK shipping
SUN 01:00 Selection of BBC World Service Programmes (m00282t5)
BBC Radio 4 joins the BBC World Service.
SUN 05:20 Shipping Forecast (m00282tc)
The latest weather reports and forecasts for UK shipping
SUN 05:30 News Briefing (m00282tk)
The latest news from BBC Radio 4
SUN 05:43 Bells on Sunday (m00282m8)
The parish church of Saints Peter and Paul in Pettistree, Suffolk
Bells on Sunday comes from the parish church of Saints Peter and Paul in Pettistree, Suffolk. Lying just off the old main road from London to Great Yarmouth this village church has its origins in the 13th century with some original glass still visible in the Chancel windows There are six bells, three of which date from the 15th century. The Tenor bell weighs seven and three quarter hundredweight. It was cast in 1490 by Richard Bayser of Norwich and is tuned to A flat. We hear them ringing Cambridge Surprise Minor
SUN 05:45 In Touch (m0027ts0)
Update on Touch Screen Card Machines
Back in November 2021, In Touch looked at accessibility problems with touch screen payment card machines. Fast forward to 2025 and the amount of contact we're still getting about this suggests very little progress has been made.
In this episode, we talk to representatives from RNIB and the hospitality and finance industries to ask why card machines are still so high on our list of accessibility gripes. We also hear what manufacturers of these machines have to say on the matter, and we report on the development of a card which is raising hopes of a solution.
Presenter: Peter White
Producer: Fern Lulham
Production Coordinator: Liz Poole
Website image description: Peter White sits smiling in the centre of the image, wearing a dark green jumper. Above Peter's head is the BBC logo (three individual white squares house each of the three letters). Bottom centre and overlaying the image are the words "In Touch"; and the Radio 4 logo (the word Radio in a bold white font, with the number 4 inside a white circle). The background is a bright mid-blue with two rectangles angled diagonally to
the right. Both are behind Peter, one of a darker blue and the other is a lighter blue.’
SUN 06:00 News Summary (m00282k9)
The latest national and international news from BBC Radio 4
SUN 06:05 Thinking Allowed (m0027trh)
Wealth
Wealth: Laurie Taylor talks to Brooke Harrington, Professor of Economic Sociology at Dartmouth College, New Hampshire, about the world of offshore finance, how it works and its impact, globally. As part of her research, she earned her own wealth management certificate and spent nearly eight years interviewing other professionals in the field, as well as visiting the 18 most popular tax havens in the world—from Mauritius, off the southeast coast of Africa, to the Cook Islands in the middle of the South Pacific - observing and interviewing the experts who keep the secrets and protect the fortunes of the global ultra-rich. Does offshore finance have costs for all of us at a time when democracies seem under threat and deepening inequalities are destabilising the world? Also, Guido Alfani, Professor of Economic History at Bocconi University, Milan, explores a 1000-year history of the super-rich in the West from the medieval period to today. He finds that their position within society has long been fragile and precarious. How have the uber rich been viewed by society, over time, and are they ripe for a re-appraisal?
Producer: Jayne Egerton
SUN 06:35 On Your Farm (m00282kc)
Defying Gravity - a story of growth in dairy
In the space of two generations, the Graham family business has gone from running a local milk round with a pony and trap, to selling a multitude of different dairy products across the UK and internationally.
Each member of the family brings something different to the table. Robert Senior loves his livestock - breeding award winning Limousin cattle and building up a blue-blooded Jersey herd after buying dairy cows from Queen Elizabeth II. His wife Jean brought an understanding of retail, buying several shops where their milk could be sold. When the next generation came back to work in the business, Robert Junior, who trained as an accountant, bought several other companies and grew the business further. And Carol masterminded a re-brand, so customers would recognise their products on supermarket shelves up and down the UK.
In this programme, Caz Graham visits their dairy processing plant in Bridge of Allen, before meeting the cows.
Presented by Caz Graham
Produced by Heather Simons
SUN 06:57 Weather (m00282kf)
The latest weather reports and forecast
SUN 07:00 News and Papers (m00282kh)
The latest news headlines. Including a look at the papers.
SUN 07:10 Sunday (m00282kk)
JD Vance Munich speech; Museum of the Bible scandal; historic interfaith peace accord
Jewish and Muslim leaders have signed an historic agreement which they hope will transform community relations in the UK. But does the Reconciliation Accord go far enough?
Ludovic Mohamed Zahed is an Islamic scholar and cleric who is challenging conventional understandings of his faith and has written a new book about his journey as a gay imam.
The acclaimed Manchester Rock Band Doves have reunited with their new album Constellations For The Lonely, which is due to be released in February 2025 - with the latest single taking some saintly inspiration. Saint Teresa draws on lead singer Jimi Goodwin's Irish catholic heritage and connection with Teresa's story.
The Church of England's General Synod opened last Monday to headlines reporting that the church would be banning gluten-free communion wafers and non-alcoholic wine. But another question remains: why is actual alcohol and wheat required by some churches in the bread and wine of communion while not being important for others?
PRESENTER: William Crawley
PRODUCERS: Katy Davis and Linda Walker
EDITOR: TIM PEMBERTON
STUDIO MANAGERS: Simon Highfield and Jonathan Esp
SUN 07:54 Radio 4 Appeal (m00282km)
Support Through Court
Broadcaster and family mediator Joanna Gosling presents the Radio 4 Appeal on behalf of Support Through Court. The charity has more than six hundred volunteers who help those representing themselves in the civil and family courts across England and Wales.
To Give:
- Freephone 0800 404 8144
- Freepost BBC Radio 4 Appeal. (That’s the whole address. Please do not write anything else on the front of the envelope). Mark the back of the envelope ‘Support Through Court’.
- Cheques should be made payable to ‘Support Through Court’.
- You can donate online at bbc.co.uk/appeal/radio4
Registered Charity Number: 1090781. If you’d like to find out more about the charity’s work visit *https://www.supportthroughcourt.org
*The BBC is not responsible for content on external websites
Producer: Katy Takatsuki
SUN 07:57 Weather (m00282kp)
The latest weather reports and forecast
SUN 08:00 News and Papers (m00282kr)
The latest news headlines. Including a look at the Sunday papers
SUN 08:10 Sunday Worship (m00282kt)
El Roi - the God who sees me
Swarzy Shire from BBC Radio 1Xtra leads a service with gospel group Warehouse Worship at one of their worship nights in Old Trafford, Manchester.
Joined by 2000 young people at the BEC Arena, the service features a mix of classic and new worship songs, like Here I am to worship and Praise.
Swarzy chats to members of Warehouse Worship to explore the meaning behind one of their songs, 'El Roi' - the name given to God by Hagar in Genesis 16 meaning 'the God who sees me'. In this passage, Hagar is feeling abandoned and mistreated, and encounters God in the wilderness. She names God 'El Roi' because, in her time of suffering and solitude, God shows His awareness and care by seeing her and providing comfort. Swarzy hears from the young people in attendance about times when God has seen them.
Producer: Miriam Williamson for BBC Audio North
Assistant Producer: Ciara Bryan
Sound engineer: Carwyn Griffiths
SUN 08:48 A Point of View (m0027v4y)
The Joy of Archives
From sacks of correspondence belonging to a well known author to archives from the Battle of Waterloo (and the odd wooden leg), Sara Wheeler reflects on the joys of Britain's personal archives.
'I have loved almost every day I have ever spent in an archive,' Sara writes, 'and not just because dead people are so easy to get along with.'
But she fears that idiosyncratic borough and country archives will suffer because of budget cuts.
Producer: Adele Armstrong
Sound: Peter Bosher
Production coordinator: Liam Morrey
Editor: Bridget Harney
SUN 08:58 Tweet of the Day (m00282kw)
Shirley Henderson on the Sandpiper
A new series of Tweet of the Day for Sunday morning revealing personal and fascinating stories from some fresh voices who have been inspired by birds, their calls and encounters.
For actress Shirley Henderson observing and photographing sandpipers in Spain brought her a sense they were enjoying themselves on the beach. However later discovering her handbag had been stolen, including her camera and a picture of her father, any thought of sandpipers brought about a different emotion. Until that is when walking on a local beach in Scotland, she once again was reminded of her father while seeing sandpipers once again.
Producer : Andrew Dawes, BBC Audio, Bristol
Studio Engineer : Ilse Lademann
SUN 09:00 Broadcasting House (m00282ky)
The Sunday morning news magazine programme. Presented by Paddy O'Connell
SUN 10:00 Desert Island Discs (m00282l0)
Mina Smallman, activist
Wilhelmina – Mina – Smallman is an activist who campaigns for the safety of women and girls and police reform. She is a former teacher and priest who was the first woman of colour to be an archdeacon in the Church of England.
In 2020 her daughters Bibaa and Nicole were murdered as they celebrated Bibaa’s 46th birthday in Fryent Country Park. It later came to light that two policemen, who were guarding the crime scene, had posed for and posted selfies with Bibaa and Nicole’s bodies in the background. They were later jailed for misconduct.
When friends first reported her daughters missing the police didn’t launch an official search for them and it was their loved ones who eventually found Bibaa and Nicole. Mina’s anger at the failings of the Metropolitan Police, led her to start her fight for justice. In 2021 an Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) report, highlighted the Met’s failings and advised the force to apologise to Mina and her family.
Mina was brought up in London. She was a drama teacher for over 20 years before training for the priesthood. She was ordained in 2006 and took up her first job as vicar at Christ Church on the Thames View estate in Barking. In 2013 she was appointed the first woman archdeacon of Southend in the Diocese of Chelmsford. She retired as an archdeacon in 2016.
DISC ONE: Silly Games – Janet Kay
DISC TWO: Handel: Messiah, HWV 56 / Pt. 3 - 43. Air: I know that my Redeemer liveth
Performed by Dame Joan Sutherland (Soprano), London Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Sir Adrian Boult
DISC THREE: Easy Terms - Barbara Dickson
DISC FOUR: Amazing Grace - The Pipes And Drums Of The Military Band Of The Royal Scots Dragoon
DISC FIVE: We Are The World - USA for Africa
DISC SIX: Miss Independent - Ne-Yo
DISC SEVEN: Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick - Ian Dury and the Blockheads
DISC EIGHT: I Look To You - Whitney Houston
BOOK CHOICE: Woman in White by Wilkie Collins
LUXURY ITEM: Hair moisturiser
CASTAWAY'S FAVOURITE: I Look To You - Whitney Houston
Presenter Lauren Laverne
Producer Paula McGinley
SUN 11:00 The Archers Omnibus (m00282l2)
Writer: Naylah Ahmed
Director: Julie Beckett
Editor: Jeremy Howe
Ben Archer…. Ben Norris
Helen Archer…. Louiza Patikas
Jolene Archer…. Buffy Davis
Pat Archer…. Patricia Gallimore
Tom Archer…. William Troughton
Tony Archer…. David Troughton
Harrison Burns…. James Cartwright
Alice Carter.... Hollie Chapman
Susan Carter…. Charlotte Martin
Mick Fadmoor…. Martin Barrass
Joy Horville…. Jackie Lye
Azra Malik…. Yasmin Wilde
Khalil Malik…. Krish Bassi
Zainab Malik…. Priyasasha Kumari
Fallon Rogers…. Joanna Van Kampen
Lynda Snell…. Carole Boyd
Lawrence…. Rupert Vansittart
SUN 12:15 Profile (m00282l4)
[Repeat of broadcast at
19:00 on Saturday]
SUN 12:30 Just a Minute (m0027t6x)
Series 94
4. Does the second turning of the tide amount to repetition?
Sue Perkins challenges Tony Hawks, Ian Smith, Zoe Lyons and Charlotte Ritchie to speak for 60 seconds without repetition, deviation or hesitation. Subjects include Preferred Socks, Hayfever, and Getting It Started On The Dancefloor.
Production Coordinator: Sarah Nicholls
Sound Editor: Marc Willcox
Producer: Rajiv Karia
An EcoAudio certified production.
A BBC Studios Audio Production for Radio 4
SUN 12:57 Weather (m00282l6)
The latest weather forecast
SUN 13:00 The World This Weekend (m00282l8)
Sir John Major: "We are moving into a more dangerous world"
The former prime minister tells this programme that 'democracy is threatened' by international events, and that the world is 're-shaping in a way that's congenial to the West'.
SUN 13:30 Bird Strike (m00282hs)
On the 30th December 2024, the news bulletins described a horrifying event - 179 passengers lost their lives in South Korea, when a Jeju airlines flight crash landed. For one Radio 4 producer the reports felt strangely close to home, as they pointed to a bird strike as the suspected cause of the disaster.
Just a couple of months earlier Polly Weston was on a flight from Bristol to Inverness, when the take-off was aborted following a bird strike. All the passengers had to wait for a different plane in the end, after the bird went in one of the engines just before they were airborne. It was a terrifying revelation. To think that these huge machines built of metal which we pile onto in our millions every day, could apparently be broken in an instant by a single bird?
So, in the wake of the event in South Korea, a horrific question came to mind - how dangerous was that incident on Polly's flight back in September?
It's a question which has a simple answer - not dangerous, for the passengers - but which opens a can of worms. Bird strikes can be a danger to planes, in very specific circumstances, and they cost the civil aviation industry an estimated $1.2 billion a year. So there is an entire community who have devoted their lives to managing this risk - with a long, sometimes highly controversial, history. The story leads Polly right back to Bristol Airport, to meet a man called Jim whose job it is to chase birds.
Featuring pilots Captain Terry Tozer and Captain Emma Henderson, "the Godfather" of the bird strike community in the USA, Richard Dolbeer, and Jim Callaway, chief bird officer and longest standing member of staff at Bristol airport.
Produced and presented by Polly Weston
Mixed by Ilse Lademann
Editor: Chris Ledgard
SUN 14:00 Gardeners' Question Time (m0027v45)
Shepton Mallet Snowdrop Festival: Anaerobic Digestion, Apple Maggots and Pyramid Orchids
Snowdrops - do you mulch, feed, or leave them alone? What's the difference between anaerobic digestion and aerobic digestion? How do I get rid of apple maggots?
Peter Gibbs and the GQT team of experts return to Shepton Mallet to solve various gardening conundrums. On the panel this week are house plant guru Anne Swithinbank, pest and disease expert Pippa Greenwood, and garden designer Matthew Wilson.
Later in the programme, Anne Swithinbank and Dominic Weston discuss all things snowdrops ahead of Shepton Mallet's upcoming snowdrop festival.
Producer: Daniel Cocker
Assistant Producer: Rahnee Prescod
Executive Producer: Carly Maile
A Somethin' Else production for BBC Radio 4
SUN 14:45 Opening Lines (m00282lb)
That Hideous Strength - Episode 2
John Yorke looks at C.S Lewis’s novel That Hideous Strength, the third in a trilogy of science fiction works. Published in the aftermath of World War Two it offers a bleak vision of a world where unchecked scientific research is masking much more sinister aims. A couple, Jane and Mark Studdock, are set on different paths, both threatened by external and internal forces on a dark journey into a dystopian nightmare.
In the second of two episodes, John looks at the context in which That Hideous Strength was written and asks how the terrible events of the Second World War coloured CS Lewis’s vision of the future.
John Yorke has worked in television and radio for 30 years, and he shares his experience with listeners as he unpacks the themes and impact of the books, plays and stories that are being dramatised in BBC Radio 4’s Sunday Drama series. As former Head of Channel Four Drama and Controller of BBC Drama Production, he has worked on some of the most popular shows in Britain - from EastEnders to The Archers, Life on Mars to Shameless. As creator of the BBC Writers Academy, he's trained a generation of screenwriters - now with over 70 green lights and thousands of hours of television to their names. He is the author of Into the Woods, the bestselling book on narrative, and he writes, teaches and consults on all forms of narrative - including many podcasts for R4.
Contributors:
Professor Robert Maslen, University of Glasgow
AN Wilson, author of CS Lewis A Biography
Readings: Matthew Gravelle
Sound: Sean Kerwin
Production Hub Coordinator: Nina Semple
Producer: Mark Rickards
Executive Producer: Caroline Raphael
A Pier production for BBC Radio 4
SUN 15:00 CS Lewis: That Hideous Strength (m00282ld)
The return of Merlin
We're not in Narnia anymore. It's the late 1940s and an exhausted Britain is trying to recover from the war. The establishment of NICE (National Institute for Coordinated Experiments) seems to offer a positive future. There are confident predictions of a cure for cancer and new treatments for antisocial behaviour that will made prisons redundant. A tech revolution is blooming without restraint and NICE are secretly experimenting with the creation of trans-human beings of superior intellect. C S Lewis's 'modern fairy tale for grown-ups' warns of a world where technocrats are kings.
Jane (Anneika Rose) is tormented by terrible nightmares about a severed head that talks. She tries to talk to her husband Mark (Joel MacCormack) about it, but he's preoccupied with his work as a new college fellow at the University. And when his Mark's college sell Bragdon Wood to NICE, he's surprised to find himself offered a job at the organisation. There's an old myth that Merlin is buried under Bragdon Wood. Could that be why NICE is so keen to own it?
CAST
Jane ..... Anneika Rose
Mark ..... Joel MacCormack
Hardcastle ..... Jane Slavin
Merlin ..... Ifan Huw Dafydd
Ransom ..... Oliver Hembrough
Mrs Dimble .... Siobhan Redmond
Grace ..... Jane Gurnett
Feverstone ..... Simon Armstrong
Wither .... Matthew Bulgo
Frost ..... David Menkin
Alcasan ..... Kiren Kebaili-Dwyer
Dramatised by Melissa Murray
Production co-ordinators: Lindsay Rees and Eleri Sydney McAuliffe
Sound design by Catherine Robinson and Nigel Lewis
Directed by John Norton and Emma Harding
A BBC Audio Wales production
SUN 16:00 Take Four Books (m00282lg)
Susan Barker
Presenter James Crawford speaks to the writer Susan Barker on Take Four Books this week about her new novel, Old Soul, and the three other works that have helped to shape its creation. Susan's new book, published by Penguin, is made up of seven testimonies that cross centuries and continents, but they have one thing in common - a beguiling woman, who is much older than she looks, and leaves a trail of death and disappearance in her wake. The books Susan chose for her episode were: Under The Skin by Michel Faber (2000); Ghostwritten by David Mitchell (1999); and Cat's Eye by Margaret Atwood (1988).
The supporting contributor was the writer and Strathclyde University Creative Writing lecturer, Rodge Glass.
During the episode, a short clip of the audiobook version of Under The Skin is played. The publisher is Canongate Books Ltd.
Producer: Dom Howell
Editor: Gillian Wheelan
This was a BBC Audio Scotland production
SUN 16:30 Counterpoint (m00282lj)
Series 38
Heat 8, 2025
(8/13)
Three more music-lovers take their place on the Counterpoint stage as Paul Gambaccini puts them through their paces on a wide variety of music, from the classical repertoire to show tunes, jazz, movie scores and sixty years of the pop charts. Today's winner will take another of the places in the 2025 semi-finals.
They'll not only have to demonstrate their musical general knowledge, but also pick a special musical topic on which to answer a round of individual questions. They have no warning of which subjects will come up, and no chance to prepare, so they'll have to choose carefully.
Today's competitors are:
Matt Isaacs, from Poynton in Cheshire
Mohan Mudigonda, from Wolverhampton
Joanna Munro, from Liverpool.
Counterpoint is a BBC Studios Audio production.
Assistant Producer: Stephen Garner
Producer: Paul Bajoria
SUN 17:00 Witness History (w3ct5yfd)
Siegfried and Roy tiger attack
For nearly 40 years, the magicians Roy Horn and Siegfried Fischbacher wowed audiences in Las Vegas with their death-defying tricks involving white lions and tigers.
But in 2003, their show at the Mirage casino came to a dramatic end when Roy was left partially paralysed after being attacked by a seven-year old tiger called Mantacore live on stage.
Animal trainer Chris Lawrence was backstage at the time and rushed to save Roy. He tells Vicky Farncombe about the terrifying moment.
Eye-witness accounts brought to life by archive. Witness History is for those fascinated by the past. We take you to the events that have shaped our world through the eyes of the people who were there. For nine minutes every day, we take you back in time and all over the world, to examine wars, coups, scientific discoveries, cultural moments and much more.
Recent episodes explore everything from football in Brazil, the history of the ‘Indian Titanic’ and the invention of air fryers, to Public Enemy’s Fight The Power, subway art and the political crisis in Georgia. We look at the lives of some of the most famous leaders, artists, scientists and personalities in history, including: visionary architect Antoni Gaudi and the design of the Sagrada Familia; Michael Jordan and his bespoke Nike trainers; Princess Diana at the Taj Mahal; and Görel Hanser, manager of legendary Swedish pop band Abba on the influence they’ve had on the music industry. You can learn all about fascinating and surprising stories, such as the time an Iraqi journalist hurled his shoes at the President of the United States in protest of America’s occupation of Iraq; the creation of the Hollywood commercial that changed advertising forever; and the ascent of the first Aboriginal MP.
(Photo: Magical duo Siegfried and Roy with one of their big cats. Credit: Getty Images)
SUN 17:10 The Verb (m00282ln)
George Szirtes, Cecilia Knapp, Lisa Knapp, Gerry Diver, Rishi Dastidar
Ian McMillan's guests are George Szirtes, Cecilia Knapp, Lisa Knapp, Gerry Diver and Rishi Dastidar.
The beauty of a swimming pool seen from the air, banks that fly up and out of small towns never to return, the poetry of single objects seen from a train window, and the miniature brilliance of poetry pamphlets - all in this week's edition of The Verb.
It can be a shock when banks leave our high streets - poet George Szirtes presents a brand new commission for The Verb inspired by that experience, and reads work from his 2004 collection 'Reel' which won the TS Eliot Prize. George has just been awarded the 'King's Gold Medal' for excellence in poetry.
Cecilia Knapp finds surprising images for memories of being a teenager in new poetry on this week's show. Cecilia's first collection is 'Peach Pig' - she has published a novel called 'Little Boxes', and is Poet-in-Residence for London’s City Bridge Foundation.
We look out of train windows, in a new song by Lisa Knapp and Gerry Diver ( from a new album called 'Hinterland'). Gerry has arranged music for films – and in his ground-breaking album 'The Speech Project' he created scores for the remarkable speakers including Christy Moore, the boxer Barry McGuigan and the singer Charlotte Church. Lisa Knapp has been nominated for the BBC folk awards multiple times - her recent performances on the 'Hack Poets Guild' album 'Blackletter Garland' were described as 'expert' and 'ethereal'. Gerry, Lisa and their daughter Bonnie Diver perform live in the studio.
Rishi Dastidar shares the joy of small collections - as he celebrates poetry pamphlets with Ian - exploring their appeal and their potential. Rishi is a poet, critic and copywriter. His latest collection is 'Neptune's Projects' described by one reviewer as 'add(ing) wit, postmodern panache and mythic irony to the tradition of the open sea'
SUN 17:54 Shipping Forecast (m00282lq)
The latest weather reports and forecasts for UK shipping
SUN 17:57 Weather (m00282ls)
The latest weather reports and forecast
SUN 18:00 Six O'Clock News (m00282lv)
Ukrainian officials haven't been invited to peace negotiations in Saudi Arabia. Israel's PM warns that "the gates of hell" will open unless Hamas releases all hostages.
SUN 18:15 Pick of the Week (m00282lx)
Owain Wyn Evans
In honour of Valentines Day, there's a theme of love this week, but maybe not quite the one you expect!
The love of the stage with Cynthia Erivo, love of pets (and dogs in particular), the love of caring for a sick parent on Desert Island Discs, and the love of cockney rhyming slang on Word of Mouth.
Plus there's excellent advice from rising star Myles Smith in Radio 2s Piano Room, and don't forget to "be kind and rewind" as Screenshot visit a Bristol video shop.
Presenter: Owain Wyn Evans
Producer: Emily Esson
Production Coordinator: Jack Ferrie
A BBC Audio Northern Ireland production for BBC Radio 4.
SUN 19:00 The Archers (m00282hd)
The clean-up at Bridge Farm continues. Helen expresses her gratitude to Joy for her help. She’s welcome to stay in the farmhouse as long as she needs. They speculate as to whether everywhere still seems to smell, or whether they’re imagining it. Helen reckons they’ll know tomorrow, when the Tearoom reopens. Joy worries that Rochelle might come back and find the house in a state. Helen’s surprised Joy hasn’t told Rochelle about the sewage leak. Joy brushes it off. She thinks Rochelle might be having trouble with her phone.
Tom’s concerned his dad’s taking on too much. He seems to have the weight of the world on his shoulders and isn’t even up for celebrating his birthday. Tom resolves to have a word with him. Helen tells Susan she can’t find anyone yet to take the waste milk for their calves. Susan senses the strain they’re under and offers to bake Tony a birthday cake, which proves a huge success.
Mick has great news for Joy – he’s found somewhere for them to stay. She can’t believe it when he takes her to Home Farm. The owners have gone away, and Mick’s secured a house-sitting gig.
Helen and Tom report that Tony was cheered by their birthday gift of an airbrush, and an interesting hat from Jack and Henry. Joy and Mick return with their news – they’ll be out of the Bridge Farmers’ hair by Tuesday. Susan feels a smidgen of envy, but the others are delighted things are looking up.
SUN 19:15 Tara and George (m0025vbs)
Last Rights
In 2018, Audrey Gillan sat down on a doorstep beside two rough sleepers and started documenting their lives. The Radio 4 series Tara and George took us on a sometimes chaotic, often poignant journey and asked what led the couple to the streets of East London.
Last autumn, Audrey was contacted out of the blue by Tara’s estranged brother. He had just been informed by ‘heir hunters’ that his big sister was dead. The family did not know how, when, or where Tara had died or even if she had had a funeral. And so began another journey, this time to discover what had happened to Tara and to ask how - in death as in life - she could fall between the cracks of society.
In Last Rights, Audrey seeks answers to both questions.
Music by Alice Boyd
Presented and produced by Audrey Gillan with Alan Hall
A Falling Tree production for BBC Radio 4
SUN 19:45 Just One Thing - with Michael Mosley (m001vztn)
Eat Whole Grains
Michael discovers incorporating wholegrains into our diet, is a tasty swap that could really benefit our health. Wholegrains such as wholegrain pasta, bread and brown rice contain more fibre, vitamins and minerals, than refined grains. This simple swap can help reduce blood pressure, improve heart health and boost the gut microbiome. Michael talks to Dr Caleigh Sawicki, from the Brigham and Women’s hospital and Harvard Medical School, whose research suggests that the fibre consumption of wholegrains can keep us fuller for longer and this slow digestion could result in a lower increase in blood sugar.
Series Producer: Nija Dalal-Small
Science Producer: Catherine Wyler
Researcher: Sophie Richardson
Researcher: Will Hornbrook
Production Manager: Maria Simons
Editor: Zoe Heron
A BBC Studios production for BBC Sounds / BBC Radio 4.
SUN 20:00 Word of Mouth (m0027tx6)
Talking Cockney
Michael Rosen's parents both grew up in the East End, and now he talks cockney with Andy Green and Saif Osmani from the Modern Cockney Festival. Including some mythbusting about rhyming slang, a discussion about how cockney has evolved, and of course a mention of Dick van Dyke.
The Modern Cockney Festival takes place from March 1st to 31st with a month-long programme of online and offline activities.
Produced for BBC Audio Bristol by Sally Heaven
Subscribe to the Word of Mouth podcast and never miss an episode: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/b006qtnz
SUN 20:30 Last Word (m0027v49)
Nigel McCrery, Andrée Dumon, Lord Dafydd Elis-Thomas, Diana Melly
Matthew Bannister on
Nigel McCrery, the former police officer who created the popular TV series “Silent Witness” and “New Tricks”.
Andrée Dumon, who rescued many allied service men during the Second World War by escorting them along “The Comet Line” from Brussels to Paris.
Lord Elis-Thomas, the former leader of Plaid Cymru and the first Presiding Officer of the National Assembly.
Diana Melly, the author known for her unconventional marriage to the jazz singer and art expert George Melly.
Interviewee: William Ivory
Interviewee: Dr Helen Fry
Interviewee: Professor Laura McAllister
Interviewee: Kezzie Moynihan
Producer: Gareth Nelson-Davies
Archive used:
Silent Witness, BBC Promo, 2005 & 2025; Nigel McCrery interview, Saturday Live, BBC Radio 4, 02/11/2024; Nigel McCrery interview, Midweek, BBC Radio 4, 04/11/2013; Nigel McCrery talks about the life of Professor Helen Whitwell, Last Word, BBC Radio 4, 09/08/2024; Silent Witness, Series 1 , Episode 1, BBC ONE, 22/02/1996, Directed by Harry Hook; New Tricks, Promo, BBC Studios, 08/08/2008; Andrée Dumon, a Comète escape line organiser and courier, interview, author: Martyn Cox; source: www.legasee.org.uk/veteran/andree-dumon/ ; Dafydd Ellis Thomas elected to the House of Commons, BBC News, 1974; Dafydd Elis Thomas Interview , Good Morning Wales, BBC Radio Wales, 20/06/1972; Dafydd Elis Thomas becomes President of Plaid Cymru and interview, Conference Report, BBC News, 28/10/1984; Presiding Officer address to the National Assembly for Wales, The Second Term, BBC News, 2003, Diana Melly interview, Last Word, BBC Radio 4. 06/07/2007; Diana Melly interview, Private Passions, BBC Radio 3, 15/01/2023;
SUN 21:00 Money Box (m00282lz)
[Repeat of broadcast at
12:04 on Saturday]
SUN 21:25 Radio 4 Appeal (m00282km)
[Repeat of broadcast at
07:54 today]
SUN 21:30 From Our Own Correspondent (m00282m1)
[Repeat of broadcast at
11:30 on Saturday]
SUN 22:00 Westminster Hour (m00282m3)
Ben Wright and guests discuss the latest developments over Ukraine; UK defence capability; and the assisted dying Bill
Ben Wright is joined by the foreign policy expert Bronwen Maddow, who reflects on events at the Munich security conference. The other panellists are Labour MP Joe Powell, Conservative Mims Davies and Liberal Democrat Jess Brown-Fuller. They discuss the US pressure for a settlement between Russia and Ukraine, and whether UK troops might be required to take part in a possible peace-keeping force. The Guardian's deputy political editor Jess Elgot brings additional insight and analysis. And the guests also consider the state of play with the Bill to legalise assisted dying.
SUN 23:00 In Our Time (m0027twc)
Catherine of Aragon
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss Catherine of Aragon (1485-1536), the youngest child of the newly dominant Spanish rulers Ferdinand and Isabella. When she was 3, her parents contracted her to marry Arthur, Prince of Wales, the heir to the Tudor king Henry VII in order to strengthen Spain's alliances, since Henry's kingdom was a longstanding trade partner and an enemy of Spain's greatest enemy, France. For the next decade Catherine had the best humanist education available, preparing her for her expected life as queen and drawing inspiration from her warrior mother. She arrived in London to be married when she was 15 but within a few months she was widowed, her situation uncertain and left relatively impoverished for someone of her status. Rather than return home, Catherine stayed and married her late husband's brother, Henry VIII. In her view and that of many around her, she was an exemplary queen and, even after Henry VIII had arranged the annulment of their marriage for the chance of a male heir with Anne Boleyn, Catherine continued to consider herself his only queen.
With
Lucy Wooding
Langford Fellow and Tutor in History at Lincoln College, University of Oxford and Professor of Early Modern History at Oxford
Maria Hayward
Professor of Early Modern History at the University of Southampton
And
Gonzalo Velasco Berenguer
Lecturer in Global Medieval and Early Modern History at the University of Bristol
Producer: Simon Tillotson
In Our Time is a BBC Studios Audio Production
Reading list:
Michelle Beer, Queenship at the Renaissance Courts of Britain: Catherine of Aragon and Margaret Tudor, 1503-1533 (Royal Historical Society, 2018)
G. R. Bernard, The King's Reformation: Henry VIII and the Remaking of the English Church (Yale University Press, 2007)
José Luis Colomer and Amalia Descalzo (eds.), Spanish Fashion at the Courts of Early Modern Europe (Centro de Estudios Europa Hispanica, 2014), especially vol 2, 'Spanish Princess or Queen of England? The Image, Identity and Influence of Catherine of Aragon at the Courts of Henry VII and Henry VIII' by Maria Hayward
Theresa Earenfight, Catherine of Aragon: Infanta of Spain, Queen of England (Penn State University Press, 2022)
John Edwards, Ferdinand and Isabella: Profiles In Power (Routledge, 2004)
Garrett Mattingley, Catherine of Aragon (first published 1941; Random House, 2000)
J. J. Scarisbrick, Henry VIII (first published 1968; Yale University Press, 1997)
David Starkey, Six Wives: The Queens of Henry VIII (Vintage, 2004)
Giles Tremlett, Catherine of Aragon: Henry's Spanish Queen (Faber & Faber, 2011)
Juan Luis Vives (trans. Charles Fantazzi), The Education of a Christian Woman: A Sixteenth-Century Manual (University of Chicago Press, 2000)
Patrick Williams, Catherine of Aragon: The Tragic Story of Henry VIII's First Unfortunate Wife (Amberley Publishing, 2013)
Lucy Wooding, Henry VIII (Routledge, 2009)
SUN 23:45 Short Works (m0027v47)
The Mercator Projection
In a short work for Valentine's Day by Heather Parry, a cartographer redraws the map for those she loves.
Read by Lesley Hart
Produced by Eilidh McCreadie
Heather Parry's debut novel ORPHEUS BUILDS A GIRL was shortlisted for the Saltire Society Fiction Book of the Year Award and longlisted for the Polari First Book Prize. From South Yorkshire, she's based in Glasgow. Her new novel, CARRION CROW, is published at the end of this month.
A BBC Audio Scotland Production for BBC Radio 4.
MONDAY 17 FEBRUARY 2025
MON 00:00 Midnight News (m00282m5)
The latest news and weather forecast from BBC Radio 4.
MON 00:15 The Battersea Poltergeist (p094c8g1)
Episode 2: Shirley
Danny meets the only surviving witness to the haunting – the real-life Shirley Hitchings.
What was it like living with a poltergeist?
Back in 1956, Harold Chibbett begins his investigation of 63 Wycliffe Road, learning more from the family about the shocking events, as objects appear to move of their own accord.
Written and presented by Danny Robins, starring Dafne Keen (His Dark Materials), Toby Jones (Detectorists), Burn Gorman (Torchwood) and Alice Lowe (Sightseers).
With original theme music by Mercury-nominated Nadine Shah and Ben Hillier, this gripping 8-part series interweaves a chilling supernatural thriller set in 1950s London with a fascinating modern-day investigation into Britain’s strangest ever haunting – a mystery unsolved… until now.
Shirley Hitchings……..Dafne Keen
Harold Chibbett………Toby Jones
Wally Hitchings……..Burn Gorman
Kitty Hitchings……….Alice Lowe
Ethel Hitchings……….Sorcha Cusack
John Hitchings……..Calvin Demba
Written and presented by Danny Robins
Experts: Ciaran O’Keeffe and Evelyn Hollow
Sound Designer: Richard Fox
Music: Evelyn Sykes
Theme Music by Nadine Shah and Ben Hillier
Produced by Danny Robins and Simon Barnard
Directed by Simon Barnard
Consultant: Alan Murdie
With thanks to James Clark, co-author of 'The Poltergeist Prince of London'
A Bafflegab production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in March 2021.
MON 00:45 Bells on Sunday (m00282m8)
[Repeat of broadcast at
05:43 on Sunday]
MON 00:48 Shipping Forecast (m00282mb)
The latest weather reports and forecasts for UK shipping
MON 01:00 Selection of BBC World Service Programmes (m00282md)
BBC Radio 4 joins the BBC World Service.
MON 05:20 Shipping Forecast (m00282mg)
The latest weather reports and forecasts for UK shipping
MON 05:30 News Briefing (m00282mj)
The latest news from BBC Radio 4
MON 05:43 Prayer for the Day (m00282ml)
Worst enemy – or best friend?
Good Morning.
There’s a beautiful statement made in the Bhagavad Gita, one of the most well-known Hindu scriptures: one is one’s own best friend, and one is one’s own worst enemy. When our daily routine involves early starts on cold winter mornings, it certainly seems that the mind can either be our biggest cheerleader, pushing us out of bed, or a force of nature akin to gravity in pulling us further into a warm duvet!
The mind, often turbulent and restless, can nevertheless be a powerful ally to us. Advaita Vedanta, the philosophy of non-duality, teaches us that the mind is not our natural enemy, but an instrument at our disposal. Just as a skilled craftsman uses his tools with precision, we can learn to harness the mind's energy for constructive purposes.
The question is, how? The key lies in understanding its nature. The mind is likened to a monkey, constantly jumping from thought to thought, driven by desires and attachments. Through practices like meditation and self-inquiry, and tools like discernment and dispassion, we can train the mind to become still. A quiet mind becomes adept at understanding and responding to situations with efficiency.
More significantly, when the mind is quiet, we can discern our own true nature as distinct from the endless succession of ego-driven thoughts. This clarity brings peace, joy, and liberation from the cycle of suffering.
By cultivating self-awareness and disciplining our thoughts, our mind can be transformed into an instrument primed for success in the outer world, and the profound wisdom of our own real nature. May our mind become a true friend, leading us towards the ultimate freedom. Hari Om.
MON 05:45 Farming Today (m00282mn)
170225: Agriculture Funding, Land Use, Punjabi Farm
Farmers in Wales say changes in the way UK grant funding is allocated to the devolved nations will impact their livelihoods. The UK goverment is altering how it calculates its funding for agriculture to reflect population density, rather than the number and size of farms. The Farmers' Union of Wales claims the change will lead to substantial losses.
All this week we're looking at land use in the UK. The government recently launched a consultation into its Land Use Framework, which will cover everything from farming and nature restoration to housing and infrastructure. We speak to the chief executive of the Food, Farming and Countryside Commission.
And we meet a fruit grower who has welcomed a film crew onto his farm to share his family's story, and spread a positive view of the industry. Bal Padda's family are from the Punjab region of North India, which is known for its farming heritage. They now run Vicarage Nurseries in Worcestershire, one of the largest strawberry producers in the UK. The documentary film by Nexus Creative is called 'Its A Punjabi Farm, Innit' and was premiered in Evesham this week.
Presented by Charlotte Smith and produced in Bristol by Sally Challoner
MON 05:57 Weather (m00282mq)
Weather reports and forecasts for farmers
MON 06:00 Today (m00282gp)
Analysis and interviews as European leaders prepare for emergency talks about Ukraine in Paris.
NB: This programme originally featured material from the BBC documentary Gaza: How to survive a war zone. The BBC has announced the programme will not be available while it is conducting further due diligence - you can read the full statement here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/helpandfeedback/corrections_clarifications/
We have therefore removed the item about the documentary from this edition of Today.
MON 09:00 Start the Week (m00282gr)
Writing and rewriting history
History was written down for the very first time in the ancient region of Mesopotamia. In Between Two Rivers, Moudhy Al-Rashid tells the story of the civilisations that rose and fell, through the details left on cuneiform tablets from 4000 years ago – from diplomatic letters to receipts for beer. And the drive that led ancient scribes to record the events and legends of the past.
Gaius Suetonius Tranquillus was probably born in AD69, and although little is known about his own life, his biography of the twelve Caesars vividly captured what it was like to be at the centre of power in the Roman Empire. The historian Tom Holland pays homage to his fellow history-writer, Suetonius, in a new translation of The Lives of the Caesars.
Archaeologists at the ancient Sumerian city-state of Ur believe they found evidence of a museum in the ruins, which suggests that the desire to display and preserve artefacts, and tell stories from the past, is nothing new. Gus Casely-Hayford is the curator of the V&A East which opens in the Spring, and is expected to offer a new way of viewing the past, and a chance to see behind the scenes of a museum.
Producer: Katy Hickman
MON 09:45 Shadow World (m0025vpv)
The Willpower Detectives
1. The Doorstep Stranger
Concerned neighbours ask Sue Mitchell for help in finding out how one man has taken control of the finances of scores of vulnerable people.
This is the hidden scandal of Power of Attorney.
In Hertfordshire towns, people who live alone are disappearing. Their neighbours are wondering why they’ve not seen them, or if they might have died.
Giving someone else control of your finances and decisions – through Lasting Power of Attorney – is meant to come with a guarantee that they always act in your best interest. In this series, BBC investigative reporter Sue Mitchell explores a widespread business practice where some people are moved out of their homes and left with no idea what is happening to their money.
It often involves people with little or no family to ask questions about where they are moved to, or to challenge the fees involved. It can be people who’ve accumulated wealth over a lifetime, whose assets are now helping to fund those who are taking decisions for them.
The series looks at the loopholes that allow it to happen and the relationship between care homes, social workers and a business taking on a huge number of powers of attorney. It begins with the concerned friends and relatives who want to know what has happened to their neighbour or loved one; Where have they gone? And why has their home been emptied and sold?
This is an original investigation, with recordings in real time, exploring how power of attorney orders can be used for better or worse.
Shadow World: Gripping stories from the shadows - BBC investigations from across the UK.
Presented by Sue Mitchell
Produced by Sue Mitchell, Joel Moors and Winifred Robinson
MON 10:00 Woman's Hour (m00282gt)
Nao, Women in Ukraine, Signs of teenage exploitation
Nao is a Grammy and Mercury nominated singer songwriter. She's described her unique brand of music as “wonky funk”. She joins Nuala McGovern to talk about fame, motherhood and her new album Jupiter. She performs live in the studio.
As European leaders are set to meet in Paris later today today for an emergency summit on the war in Ukraine, the Prime Minister has said he is 'ready and willing' to commit British troops to the conflict. And the US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is heading to Saudi Arabia for talks with Russia. Three years on since the war began, we get reaction from Ukrainian women to the possible outcomes of these talks. Nuala talks to Ukrainian journalist, Kateryna Khinkulova, Editor of the Europe Hub for the BBC World Service and the female Ukrainian MP Lesia Vasylenko.
Do you remember TV’s Alan Partridge’s long-time suffering personal assistant, Lynn? She is the inspiration for a new play, Lynn Faces. Nearly 40, and emerging from a toxic relationship, Leah starts a punk band and takes to the stage with no musical ability. Performed as a gig with lots of original songs, Lynn Faces explores hope after abuse, the power of friendship and how silliness can be healing. Nuala talks to the writer Laura Horton, who also plays drums in the production.
The Children’s Society are training staff at the fast food chain Chicken Cottage to spot signs of exploitation amongst their teenage customers. Nuala discusses the initiative and issues with the charity’s Head of National Programmes, Lisa Witherden, and Chicken Cottage franchise manager Georgian Balog.
Presented by Nuala McGovern
Producer: Louise Corley
MON 11:00 How Boarding Schools Shaped Britain (m00282gw)
3. Modern boarding
Boarding schools have long been cornerstones of British tradition and leadership, shaping the elite and influencing society. But how are they adapting to a changing society?
In the last of three programmes, Nicky Campbell explores the evolution of boarding schools as they balance their social history with the demands of the modern world, and examines whether boarding schools can reinvent themselves for a more inclusive future.
From state-of-the-art facilities to inclusive bursary programmes, today's boarding schools aim to create opportunities for a diverse range of students. With the challenges of rising costs, societal change and VAT implications, these schools must navigate uncertain times to remain relevant. Are they still breeding grounds for future leaders? What values and visions will they instil in the next generations?
MON 11:45 Under a Metal Sky by Philip Marsden (m00282gy)
Beginnings
Philip Marsden’s passion for rocks dates back to his boyhood, when he first discovered the excitement of searching for crystals and fossils. In Under a Metal Sky, he takes us on a captivating journey across Europe through the history of metals, revealing how they became an engine of culture, trade and technology that changed our relationship with the natural world.
In the first episode, Philip reveals the beginnings of his fascination with geology as he encountered the wonders of a hidden world as a young boy. It was the start of a quest that was spiritual as well as physical.
He also explores man’s discovery of ochre - the medium that gave birth to art in cave paintings and the earliest abstract thought. The creative possibilities of ochre marked the beginning of a search for other materials buried underground that would bring even greater rewards, and also dangers, for civilization.
Read by Adrian Lukis
Produced and Abridged by Jo Glanville
Editor: Jo Rowntree
Studio Engineer: Jon Calver
A Loftus Media production for BBC Radio 4
MON 12:00 News Summary (m00282h1)
The latest national and international news from BBC Radio 4.
MON 12:04 You and Yours (m00282h3)
Holiday Payments, Scottish Salmon, International Students
Are you committed to a holiday booking if you haven’t paid yet? We hear how an enquiry with online travel agent Sunweb can leave you accountable for the full cost of your holiday.
New parking rules come into force today preventing drivers being charged if they haven’t bought a ticket within 5 minutes of parking. Also, we discuss why some taxi drivers are being charged for dropping off patients at a GP surgery.
How much attention do you pay to the name of a product in the supermarket? Scottish Salmon no longer needs to have the word ‘farmed’ on the front of packaging due to new naming rules. Campaigners have unsuccessfully appealed this decision on the grounds that it is misleading consumers.
There has been a significant increase in the number of international students studying in the UK since 2017. High streets across the country have adapted to this market, featuring everything from Chinese supermarkets to Taiwanese bubble tea cafes. However, with the number of international students set to decrease, will this have an impact on local businesses?
Scam victims are often portrayed as older, vulnerable or less tech-savvy people. However, new data shows that an increasing amount of young people are being targeted by social media-based scams.
PRODUCER - CHARLIE FILMER-COURT
PRESENTER - WINIFRED ROBINSON
MON 12:57 Weather (m00282h5)
The latest weather forecast
MON 13:00 World at One (m00282h7)
As European leaders prepare for talks, Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov is heading to Saudi Arabia for discussions with the US. And, could your earphones be changing the way you process sound?
MON 13:45 You Do Not Have to Say Anything (m00282h9)
Episode 1: There's Been an Allegation
From high octane car chases (rare), to being arrested lying in your own bed (common), all arrests mean the same thing: the shift from person to suspect, from ordinary citizen to ‘the accused’.
Defence Barrister Joanna Hardy-Susskind lifts the curtain on the real criminal justice system and the real people working within it - beneath the wigs, under the uniforms and in the dock.
Presenter: Joanna Hardy-Susskind
Producer: Georgia Catt
Assistant Producer: Danita McIntyre
MON 14:00 The Archers (m00282hd)
[Repeat of broadcast at
19:00 on Sunday]
MON 14:15 A Charles Paris Mystery (m00282hg)
Charles Paris: Situation Tragedy
Episode 4
CHARLES PARIS ...... Bill Nighy
FRANCES ..... Suzanne Burden
MAURICE ..... Jon Glover
ASH AMOS ..... Phaldut Sharma
JUDY GILMORE..... Christine Kavanagh
STEVIE DEAN .....Tony Turner
BARMAID / VOICE Abbie Andrews
Written by Jeremy Front based on the novel by Simon Brett
Production Co-ordinator ..... Luke MacGregor
Technical Producers ..... Peter Ringrose & Alison Craig
Director ..... Sally Avens
The situation comedy that Charles has a part in has turned into a situation tragedy after a third death.
Certain that these are not simply a set of random accidents Charles is on the hunt for the murderer.
He finds inspiration in his search from a series of crime novels.
MON 14:45 The Island (m00282hj)
Series 1
Episode 1: Useless luxuries and a far from sleepy lagoon
Fresh from his appearance on Radio 4's Desert Island Discs, actor Stephen Mangan finds himself in the kind of trouble where the Bible, the Complete Works of Shakespeare, and his luxury item will be no help whatsoever.
From Bill Dare (Dead Ringers), Jon Holmes (The Skewer) and writers Tom Oxenham and Simon Alcock, actor Stephen Mangan washes up on the actual island from Desert Island Discs, only to discover that he is not alone.
Living among the palms and rocky outcrops and thousands of copies of the Bible lying in the sand are every former guest of the show - and it’s all gone a bit Lord of the Flies.
Through Stephen’s audio diary, we learn that all TV chef Nadiya Hussain wants to do is hunt, that Richard Madeley’s gone feral, and that Sandi Toksvig has the Conch. But there’s something lurking in the forest, and when Stephen suspects foul play in the power struggle to be chief, he soon finds himself making a dangerous enemy.
Can he win over his fellow islanders before it’s too late? What lengths will he go to to survive? And what the hell is he going to do with this useless coffee machine he chose as his luxury item?
Written by Tom Oxenham and Simon Alcock
Starring Stephen Mangan as himself
Sound Design: Tony Churnside
Executive Producer: Jon Holmes
Producer: Bill Dare
An unusual production for BBC Radio 4
MON 15:00 A Good Read (m00282hn)
Joe Dunthorne and Iszi Lawrence
Perfume: The Story of a Murderer by Patrick Süskind, translated by John E. Woods, chosen by Iszi Lawrence
Two Serious Ladies by Jane Bowles, chosen by Joe Dunthorne
Oh William! by Elizabeth Strout, chosen by presenter Harriett Gilbert
Historical fiction author and broadcaster Iszi Lawrence adores the sensational novel Perfume, and has done since she was a teenager. For her, it immerses her in another world and is wonderfully cynical about the futility of chasing ultimate fulfilment through creating art and performing to a crowd.
The poet and novelist, author of Submarine, Joe Dunthorne chooses the forgotten cult classic Two Serious Ladies. It makes him happy because every sentence is a surprise, and that makes him want to write. But he admits that it's not for everyone.
And Harriett's choice is Oh William! by the Pulitzer Prize-winning author Elizabeth Strout. Which prompts the discussion, can you love a book if you loathe the central character?
Produced by Beth O'Dea for BBC Audio Bristol
Follow us on instagram: agoodreadbbc
Photo copyright Tom Medwell
MON 15:30 History's Heroes (m00282hq)
History's Youngest Heroes
History's Youngest Heroes: 11. Hans and Sophie Scholl and the White Rose
With the power of the written word as their weapon, a brother and sister mount a daring campaign against the Nazis.
Nicola Coughlan shines a light on extraordinary young people from across history. Join her for 12 stories of rebellion, risk and the radical power of youth.
A BBC Studios Audio production for BBC Radio 4 and BBC Sounds.
Producer: Suniti Somaiya
Edit Producer: Melvin Rickarby
Assistant Producer: Lorna Reader
Executive Producer: Paul Smith
Written by Alex von Tunzelmann
Commissioning editor for Radio 4: Rhian Roberts
MON 16:00 Bird Strike (m00282hs)
[Repeat of broadcast at
13:30 on Sunday]
MON 16:30 Natalie Haynes Stands Up for the Classics (m001tgn8)
Series 9
Livia
Livia was the first Empress of Rome, a faithful wife, excellent friend and trusted advisor. So why is she still best known as a serial killer?
Natalie is joined by guests Dr Emma Southon and Professor Llewelyn Morgan to discuss the life of Livia. Her marriage to the Emperor Augustus (Octavian) was a love-match. They were both married to other people when they first met, but that didn't last long, despite the added complication of her pregnancy and existing child. Before he became Emperor, Octavian was a powerful war lord who got what he wanted. He wanted Livia. He adopted her two sons and numerous other children but had none of his own.
The family was unlucky in losing many members to untimely death, and Livia seems often to have got the blame, however unreasonably. But Augustus appears to have respected and loved his wife and not to have listened to the rumours. Their marriage lasted over fifty years, but still she was accused of poisoning him (in a mysterious fig-painting incident) when he died at the ripe old age of seventy six.
Rock star mythologist’ and reformed stand-up Natalie Haynes is obsessed with the ancient world. Here she explores key stories from ancient Rome and Greece that still have resonance today. They might be biographical, topographical, mythological or epic, but they are always hilarious, magical and tragic, mystifying and revelatory. And they tell us more about ourselves now than seems possible of stories from a couple of thousand years ago.
Producer...Mary Ward-Lowery
MON 17:00 PM (m00282hv)
Starmer meets European leaders for emergency Ukraine summit
We speak to US retired General David Petraeus about a possible peacekeeping force. We get an update from Germany ahead of this Sunday's election. And why are Tesla sales dropping in some countries?
MON 18:00 Six O'Clock News (m00282hx)
European leaders try to agree coordinated response to president Trump's push for a deal with Russia, to end the war. Senior US and Russian officials to meet in Riyadh tomorrow.
MON 18:30 Just a Minute (m00282hz)
Series 94
5. Does a Strawberry Have Dreams?
Sue Perkins challenges Paul Merton, Laura Smyth, Julian Clary and Desiree Burch to speak for 60 seconds without repetition, deviation or hesitation. Subjects include London To Brighton, Hand-me-downs, and The Life of a Strawberry.
Production Coordinator: Sarah Nicholls
Sound Editor: Marc Willcox
Producer: Rajiv Karia
An EcoAudio certified production.
A BBC Studios Audio Production for Radio 4.
MON 19:00 The Archers (m00282j1)
It’s half term and Khalil is bored at Ambridge Hall. Robert’s plan to get him to reorganise the library books isn’t going down well with Khalil, so Robert suggests he helps feed the llamas instead, (which cheers him up). Khalil notices a graze on Constanza’s leg, so Alistair is alerted and Khalil watches with interest as the injury is treated. Zainab joins them and is unimpressed as Constanza spits in indignation. Robert observes Khalil has an affinity with animals. He’s grateful to Khalil for spotting the cut leg, and suggests he might have something in mind as a thank you treat.
The Tearoom’s open again, and everyone’s exhausted and grateful not to have to do any more deep cleaning. Emma remarks to Clarrie that Chelsea in particular feels there are other things she’d rather be doing. Emma reports that Keira’s had a letter from George. She’s still had nothing though. Clarrie reassures her – it’s a start. Natasha suggests to Clarrie that with the no work in the dairy perhaps Clarrie could bake for the Tearoom, while Susan helps with some planting on the farm. Clarrie’s miffed at the inference that she’s too old for outdoor heavy work – Susan’s no spring chicken herself! Alistair remarks on the smell in the Tearoom, leading Clarrie to suggest putting jars of herbs out on tables to freshen things up. Natasha thinks it’s a nice touch. Their momentary optimism turns to despair when they discover Bridge Farm’s failed the lab tests. They’ll need to deep clean all over again. It’ll take days.
MON 19:15 Front Row (m00282j3)
Walter Salles on I'm Still Here, Matt Goss performs live, The Face magazine exhibition at National Portrait Gallery
Samira Ahmed talks to Brazilian director Walter Salles about his film I'm Still Here - which has already won multiple awards including the Golden Globe for Best Actress for its star Fernanda Torres. it's based on a true story about a family Salles knew when he was growing up in Rio de Janeiro - whose father was detained and disappeared during the military dictatorship which lasted for more than 20 years.
The Face magazine was launched in 1980, offering a stylish approach to music, fashion and culture. A new exhibition at London's National Portrait Gallery showcases some of the most iconic images created by photographers like Jurgen Teller and Ellen von Unwerth. The curator Sabina Jaskot-Gill and journalist and broacaster Miranda Sawyer discuss what made The Face such an important part of British culture.
80s hearthrob Matt Goss - one half of hit band Bros with his brother Luke - features in one of the images in The Face exhibition. He performs his new single and talks about his 11 year residency in Las Vegas - and why he's come back to the UK to tour.
Presenter: Samira Ahmed
Producer: Paula McGrath
MON 20:00 Rethink (m0027tx8)
Rethink...medical data
Sir Keir Starmer says that the NHS is well placed for an AI revolution in health care.
The Health Secretary Wes Streeting says it could lead to huge advances in health care, from patient passports, which enable doctors to easily access a patient's full medical history, to early intervention - being able to assess a child's risk of disease from birth.
The NHS has a vast pool of information about our health, and unlocking its power is a noble aim: but can everything really be thrown straight into an AI, which will then pump out answers?
Inputting it presents a mammoth task; NHS data is in many places, the bits of information are not always compatible, nor are they easily accessible.
Also, medical records are hugely sensitive and private, so what safeguards need to be put in place before data researchers and medical tech companies can be given access?
What will be the most likely, realistic and achievable benefits of using AI in our healthcare system, and - if the NHS gets this right - what are the potential rewards for patients?
Presenter: Ben Ansell
Producer: Ravi Naik
Editor: Clare Fordham
Contributors:
Dr Jess Morley, postdoctoral research associate at the Yale Digital Ethics Centre
Professor Andrew Morris, President of the Academy of Medical Sciences, and Director of HDR UK, the national institute for health data science
Michael Shenouda, Chief Commercial Officer and Chief Medical Officer at Open Medical, and board member for the ABHI, The Association of British HealthTech Industries
Matthew Taylor, Chief Executive of the NHS Confederation
MON 20:30 BBC Inside Science (m0027txb)
US science in chaos
The United States is the world’s science superpower. But right now, much of its research community is in a state of confusion.
In the past few weeks, the Trump administration has issued a huge number of orders – amongst them, large funding cuts for scientific institutions. We unpick what the implications are for the country’s role on the global scientific stage.
Also in the programme, we take another look at phone bans in schools. Why are the results of a recent study so different to the personal experience of teachers and students?
And Britain has a new snake – and it’s apparently thriving. Where has it come from and should we be worried?
To discover more fascinating science content, head to bbc.co.uk search for BBC Inside Science and follow the links to The Open University.
Presenter: Victoria Gill
Producers: Ilan Goodman & Sophie Ormiston
Editor: Martin Smith
Production Co-ordinator: Josie Hardy
MON 21:00 Start the Week (m00282gr)
[Repeat of broadcast at
09:00 today]
MON 21:45 The Bottom Line (m002648r)
The Decisions That Made Me
Decisions That Made Me: Rob Law (Trunki Suitcases, Inventor)
When your business is about making products, and the factory you use gets into trouble, that’s potentially a big problem. Do you try to find another one, or do you try to fix it? Rob Law, entrepreneur and inventor of the Trunki children’s suitcase, had exactly this dilemma, and tells Evan Davis about the risky decision it prompted.
He also discusses the illness and personal loss that have shaped his career, and recalls his infamous appearance on Dragon’s Den almost 20 years ago.
Production team:
Producers: Simon Tulett and Michaela Graichen
Researcher: Drew Hyndman
Editor: Matt Willis
Sound: Rod Farquhar
Production co-ordinator: Katie Morrison
MON 22:00 The World Tonight (m00282j5)
Starmer says US 'backstop' needed for Ukraine peace deal
Sir Keir Starmer has said any Ukraine peace deal would require a "US backstop" to deter Russia from attacking its neighbour again. Speaking after a hastily convened meeting with European leaders in Paris, the Prime Minister repeated that he would consider deploying UK troops to Ukraine in the event of a lasting peace agreement. We get the latest from Paris as well looking ahead to tomorrow's talks between US and Russia representatives in Saudi Arabia.
Also in the programme: Housing bodies are warning the Government's promise to build 1.5 million new homes over the next five years is under threat because of a lack of workers; and the new report that says reintroducing wolves to the Scottish highlands could help improve the environment.
MON 22:45 The Glassmaker by Tracy Chevalier (m00282j7)
Episode 1
As Renaissance Venice thrives, the daughter of a Muranese glassmaking family pushes the boundaries of convention, creativity and love.
The spellbinding new novel from the acclaimed author of ‘Girl with a Pearl Earring’ is read by Emily Bruni.
Written by Tracy Chevalier
Abridged by Siân Preece
Produced by Eilidh McCreadie
Tracy Chevalier is the author of eleven novels, including ’A Single Thread’, ‘Remarkable Creatures’ and ‘Girl with a Pearl Earring’, an international bestseller that has sold over five million copies and been made into a film, a play and an opera.
A BBC Audio Scotland production for BBC Radio 4
MON 23:00 Limelight (m001hx8l)
The Incident at Ong's Hat
The Incident at Ong’s Hat - Episode 3: The Doxxing
The truth about Ong’s Hat is finally revealed after Sarah and Charlie track down a new source.
The investigation into Sarah’s disappearance finds a suspect.
Cast:
Charlie - Corey Brill
Sarah - Avital Ash
Rodney Ascher - Himself
Det. Stecco - James Bacon
Casey - Hayley Taylor
Ringo - Benjamin Williams
Kit - Randall Keller
Denny Unger - Himself
Joseph Matheny - Himself
Newscasters: Elizabeth Saydah, Dean Wendt
Created and Produced by Jon Frechette and Todd Luoto
Inspired by Ong’s Hat: The Beginning by Joseph Matheny
Written and Directed by Jon Frechette
Music by Blue Dot Sessions, Jon Frechette, Chris Zabriskie, Anthéne, Macrogramma (under Creative Commons)
Editing and Sound Design - Jon Frechette
Additional Editing - Brandon Kotfila and Greg Myers
Special Thanks - Ben Fineman
Written and Directed by Jon Frechette
Executive Producer - John Scott Dryden
“Ong’s Hat Survivors Interview” courtesy of Joseph Matheny
Visit thegardenofforkedpaths.com & josephmatheny.com
A Goldhawk production for Radio 4 and BBC Sounds
MON 23:30 The Long View (m0027tqz)
Trade Tariffs
As Donald Trump raises a 25% levy on all imports of steel and aluminium into the USA, as well as other tariffs on trade with friends and competitors alike, Jonathan Freedland looks back to the Corn Laws, measures introduced to protect British farmers and land owners from competition following the end of the Napoleonic Wars in 1815. The Corn Laws and the campaign to repeal them transformed British politics and economics. How do events then compare to Donald Trump's policies and actions today?
With:
Professor Lawrence Goldman, Emeritus Fellow in History at St Peter's College, Oxford
Linda Yueh, Fellow in Economics at St Edmund Hall, Oxford
Producer: Luke Mulhall
TUESDAY 18 FEBRUARY 2025
TUE 00:00 Midnight News (m00282jb)
National and international news from BBC Radio 4
TUE 00:30 Under a Metal Sky by Philip Marsden (m00282gy)
[Repeat of broadcast at
11:45 on Monday]
TUE 00:48 Shipping Forecast (m00282jd)
The latest weather reports and forecasts for UK shipping
TUE 01:00 Selection of BBC World Service Programmes (m00282jg)
BBC Radio 4 joins the BBC World Service.
TUE 05:20 Shipping Forecast (m00282jj)
The latest weather reports and forecasts for UK shipping
TUE 05:30 News Briefing (m00282jl)
The latest news from BBC Radio 4
TUE 05:43 Prayer for the Day (m00282jn)
The attitude that keeps giving
Good Morning.
The world we live in, and the online reality that we interact with, often seem to remind us more of what we’re lacking than what we possess. I suppose that’s the mark of successful marketing: when it makes us feel as though we’re missing something which, really we aren’t lacking, and really speaking don’t need.
The philosophy of Advaita Vedanta, the Hindu tradition of non-duality, emphasises the importance of contentment in our lives, and as a corollary, the practice of gratitude. It’s so easy to spend our time thinking about what we don’t have, whether that's an object, an accolade, an experience, or a relationship. But focusing on what I don’t have never makes me feel better, unless it’s something no one wants!
Gratitude is a means of uplifting our mind that’s entirely in our hands. When we take the time to appreciate what we have, rather than lamenting what we lack, our mood is automatically elevated. Hindu teachings remind us that we are ultimately divine by nature, making us inherently complete.
As we move toward the close of winter and look forward to the abundance and freshness of spring, let us shift our focus from acquiring, to appreciating, from wishing and wanting, to contentment. Let us recognize the wealth of love, wisdom, and joy that already exists within us.
When we’re grateful not only for what we have, but also who we are, we are perfectly placed to utilise our talents and resources for the benefit of those around us. Not only are our own lives enriched, but we also contribute to the wellbeing of our environment. May we live always in gratitude. Hari Om.
TUE 05:45 Farming Today (m00282jq)
The majority of the UK's peatlands could be at risk of drying out in the next 40-50 years because of climate change - according to a new study from scientists at the Universities of Exeter, Manchester and Derby. Healthy, wet peatlands are seen as part of the solution to climate change because they soak up planet-heating carbon dioxide - UK peatlands currently store an estimated 3.2 billion tonnes of carbon. But where they dry out, they become a problem, because they can then release that stored carbon back into the atmosphere.
There are a lot of things we want from the land of course - food production, green energy, housing, space for nature - and often these things are seen as being in competition with one another. We visit a farm where many different types of land use have been integrated so they can work hand in hand.
And tree planting is something else that faces criticism for taking land out of food production. But in agroforestry systems, trees are planted alongside livestock or crops. We find out about a new tree species guide for UK Agroforestry Systems which has been produced by Forest Research and the University of Reading, to help farmers decide what to plant and where.
Presented by Steffan Messenger
Produced by Heather Simons
TUE 06:00 Today (m00282z8)
News and current affairs, including Sports Desk, Weather and Thought for the Day.
TUE 09:00 The Life Scientific (m00282zb)
Sir Magdi Yacoub on pioneering heart transplant surgery
What does it take to earn the nickname, ‘The Leonardo da Vinci of heart surgery’?
That's the moniker given to today's guest - a man who pioneered high-profile and often controversial procedures, but also helped drive huge medical progress; carrying out around 2,000 heart transplants and 400 dual heart-lung transplants during his 60-year career.
Sir Magdi Yacoub is Emeritus Professor of Cardiothoracic Surgery at Imperial College London, and Director of Research at Harefield Hospital’s Magdi Yacoub Institute.
Inspired by a surgeon father and impacted by the tragic early death of his aunt from a heart condition, his medical career includes various surgical firsts alongside numerous research projects, to further our understanding of and ability to treat heart disease. He headed up the teams that discovered it is possible to reverse heart failure, and that successfully grew part of a human heart valve from stem cells for the first time.
But it hasn't always been plain sailing. At times, his work – such as early, unsuccessful transplant attempts, or using a baboon as a life-support system for a baby – attracted serious public criticism.
Speaking to Professor Jim Al-Khalili, Sir Magdi reflects on the highs and lows of his cardio career, and offers his advice to the next generation of surgeons and researchers hoping to make their mark in heart medicine.
Presented by Jim Al-Khalili
Produced by Lucy Taylor
TUE 09:30 Inside Health (m00282zd)
How shoes affect our bodies and a focus on genital herpes
Has James been buying shoes that are bad his feet? He meets podiatrist Dao Tunprasert to find out how healthy his shoes are. Also, returning to our theme of health conditions you find embarrassing, we get the lowdown on genital herpes from Dr Vanessa Apea. She's consultant physician in Genito-urinary and HIV medicine at Barts Health NHS Trust and an Honorary Senior Lecturer at Queen Mary University of London and answers some of your questions.
Presenter: James Gallagher
Producer: Tom Bonnett
Assistant Producer: Siobhan Maguire
TUE 10:00 Woman's Hour (m00282zg)
Afghan government rebel over women's rights, Egg freezing, Indian Sportswoman of the Year
Why are members of the Afghan Cabinet speaking out against the de facto leader over his ban on girls' education and restrictions on women working? Nuala McGovern speaks to the BBC’s Chief International Correspondent, Lyse Doucet, and Fawzia Koofi, member of the Afghan Parliament and the first woman to be elected as Second Deputy Speaker.
Harvest, a new documentary, shows the realities of the egg freezing process. Director and writer Sophia Seymour decided to film her journey of elective egg freezing. With the number of women choosing this form of fertility planning rising, Sophia joins Nuala to discuss why she decided to do it, and film it. They are joined by Dr Ippokratis Sarris, Consultant in Reproductive Medicine and Director of King’s Fertility.
According to NHS figures more than 44,000 children in England and Wales were admitted to hospital with constipation last year - with a 60% rise overall in hospital diagnoses of constipation in primary schoolchildren in the past decade. Dr Ellie Cannon GP and author, and Sarah Timms from Education and Resources for Improving Childhood Continence (ERIC) a children’s bowel and bladder charity join Nuala.
22-year-old pistol shooter Manu Bhaker is this year’s BBC Indian Sportswoman of the year. Our correspondent Divya Arya was at the event, and joins Nuala McGovern to tell us more.
Presenter: Nuala McGovern
Producer: Laura Northedge
TUE 11:00 Screenshot (m0027v4p)
Weddings
Ellen E Jones and Mark Kermode celebrate weddings in film and TV, from Muriel's Wedding to Married at First Sight.
Mark speaks to Richard Curtis about the inspiration behind the classic British wedding film, Four Weddings and a Funeral, and about Curtis' own recent wedding to long-term partner Emma Freud. And he gets critic Manuela Lazic's rundown of some of the most memorable cinematic weddings, from The Godfather to The Graduate.
Meanwhile, Ellen talks to actor Susan Wokoma about her favourite wedding romcoms - including the Julia Roberts-starring My Best Friend's Wedding. And she attempts to get to grips with the world of wedding reality TV with comedian Ashley Ray.
Producer: Jane Long
A Prospect Street production for BBC Radio 4
TUE 11:45 Under a Metal Sky by Philip Marsden (m00282zj)
Bronze
Philip Marsden’s passion for rocks dates back to his boyhood, when he first discovered the excitement of searching for crystals and fossils. In Under a Metal Sky, he takes us on a captivating journey across Europe through the history of metals, revealing how they became an engine of culture, trade and technology that changed our relationship with the natural world.
In the second episode, Philip explores the revolutionary discovery of bronze. It was a leap forward in technology and the beginnings of a globalisation that joined up the world through trade and an exchange of knowledge.
He tells the story of the Nebra Sky Disc, one of Europe’s earliest bronze artefacts. It is the first ever representation of the sky, a tool for Bronze Age man to interpret the heavens that remained buried until it was discovered by a metal detector enthusiast more than 20 years ago. As a symbol of cosmic law, it is a clue to the earliest beliefs about the universe and the primary importance of metal in shaping those ideas.
Read by Adrian Lukis
Produced and Abridged by Jo Glanville
Editor: Jo Rowntree
Studio Engineer: Jon Calver
A Loftus Media production for BBC Radio 4
TUE 12:00 News Summary (m00282zl)
The latest national and international news from BBC Radio 4.
TUE 12:04 You and Yours (m00282zn)
Call You and Yours: Finding a Dentist
For our phone-in, we want to know how easy it is to see a dentist where you live.
The NHS has said a recovery plan for dentistry services in England has failed. Some towns are called 'dental deserts', because there are no NHS dentists there at all.
But the picture can be very different depending on where you live - so tell us about your area.
Have you chosen to pay for private treatment, or have you gone without treatment altogether? What's it like trying to get treatment for your children? How easy is it to see a dentist where you live?
Please get in touch now - email youandyours@bbc.co.uk and leave a number so we can call you back. From
11am on Tuesday you can call us on 03700 100 444.
PRESENTER: WINIFRED ROBINSON
PRODUCER: TOM MOSELEY
TUE 12:57 Weather (m00282zq)
The latest weather forecast
TUE 13:00 World at One (m00282zs)
US and Russian diplomats meet for first time in years.
Riyadh hosted the first talks between Russia and the USA for nearly three years. Plus we preview the MOBO awards.
TUE 13:45 You Do Not Have to Say Anything (m00282zv)
Episode 2: Fingerprints
Being processed at a police station is like the check-in desk at the world's worst hotel. And the clock is ticking. For solicitors. For the police. And for the accused.
Defence Barrister Joanna Hardy-Susskind lifts the curtain on the real criminal justice system and the real people working within it - beneath the wigs, under the uniforms and in the dock.
Presenter: Joanna Hardy-Susskind
Producer: Georgia Catt
Assistant Producer: Danita McIntyre
TUE 14:00 The Archers (m00282j1)
[Repeat of broadcast at
19:00 on Monday]
TUE 14:15 Drama on 4 (m00282zx)
Undercover - The Fury. Episode 1
Distant football chants, a heart pounding with adrenalin, a violent fight between rival gangs. A desperate young woman makes a call to emergency services, there has been a stabbing. Somewhere close by in another street, another man is landing blows on a lad in a rival football firm. Welcome to The Fury.
But this man is an undercover officer, and this won’t be the last time he has to put himself in danger to prove himself. He has been sent in to gain intelligence on the movements and plans of The Fury. An unlikely member of The Fury is Bethany, a tough nut, a survivor. She was the young woman on the call to emergency and it was her brother Callum that lay dying at her feet. As a result of this fresh murder, violence between the rival gangs is expected to escalate and the undercover operation is under threat. But how can our undercover officer leave now when he is at the heart of The Fury and then there is the question of saving Bethany….will he manage to get to the truth without risking his own safety and that of the people he loves?
JASON ..... Tachia Newall
BETHANY ..... Lauren-Nicole Mayes
MIKEY ..... Joe Gill
REECE ..... Hamish Rush
SADIE ..... Sacha Parkinson
LEO ..... Alfie Corbett
DI KANE ..... Krissi Bohn
DCI RICHARDS ..... Jason Done
EMERGENCY CALL HANDLER .... Dionne Hunter
BARWOMAN ..... Aimée Uwera
RIVAL FIRM MEMBER ..... Louis Brown
RIVAL FIRM MEMBER ..... Darren McColl
POLICE OFFICERS ..... Ethan Cale, Daniel Fitzpatrick
FOOTBALL FANS: Students from Burnley College: Andrew Jennings, Artur Karlovec, Chloe Conway, Daisy Whittam, Daniel Fisk, Gemma Henderson, Jack Dobbie, Jemima Olaiya, Joseph Butterworth, Kaja Stefaniak, Kenny Conroy-Hargreaves, Kye Jones, Lauren Haigh, Leah Rowley, Marianna Morante, Maxwell Hopkinson, Rebecca Timms, Tom Capstick, Vincent Harper
Written by Rachel Smith
Produced and Directed by Nadia Molinari
Sound Design and Technical Production by Sharon Hughes
Assistant Technical Producer Amy Brennan
Production co-ordinator, Lorna Newman
Script Consultant Russell Lane
A BBC STUDIOS AUDIO PRODUCTION FOR BBC RADIO 4
TUE 15:00 The Gift (m00255x3)
Series 2
6. Superdonor
The donor conceived people turning to at-home DNA tests for answers.
It’s the perfect gift for the person who already has everything. It promises to tell you who you really are, and how you’re connected to the world. A present that will reveal your genetic past – but could also disrupt your future.
In the first series of The Gift, Jenny Kleeman looked at the extraordinary truths that can unravel when people take at-home DNA tests like Ancestry and 23andMe.
For the second series, Jenny is going deeper into the unintended consequences - the aftershocks - set in motion when people link up to the enormous global DNA database.
Reconnecting and rupturing families, uprooting identities, unearthing long-buried secrets - what happens after technology, genealogy and identity collide?
Presenter: Jenny Kleeman
Producer: Conor Garrett
Production Coordinator: Gill Huggett
Editor: Philip Sellars
Commissioning Executive: Tracy Williams
Commissioning Editor: Dan Clarke
The Gift is a BBC Studios Audio production for BBC Radio 4
TUE 15:30 Thinking Allowed (m00282zz)
Underwear
Laurie Taylor talks to Nina Edwards, the author of a new study which unravels the intimate narratives woven into the fabric of our most personal garments. Is there a profound and surprising significance to the garments we wear beneath our outer clothing? Also, Shaun Cole, Associate Professor in Fashion at the University of Southampton, considers the enduring question aimed at men over the choice of boxers or briefs and explores the future direction of men’s undergarments.
Producer: Jayne Egerton
TUE 16:00 Robben Island’s Hallelujah (m0028301)
In his memoir of surviving the brutal apartheid prison Robben Island, South African activist Sedick Isaacs recalls an extraordinary event about which little has been recorded - "the creation and training of the eighty-member choir [of political prisoners] for the production of Handel’s ‘Hallelujah Chorus'.
The incongruous beauty of the choir’s performance – and the rich history of the Messiah in South Africa – is brought to life by former political prisoners, by musicians and academics who reveal the power of music as it was experienced on the Island – music as escape, protest, refuge and salvation.
Original compositions, mixing and production by Charl-Johan Lingenfelder
Hallelujah Chorus – reconstruction arranged and conducted by Leon Starker
with singers from Fezeka Secondary School in Gugulethu under the leadership of Monde Mdingi, with additional singers from across Cape Town
Also featuring: The South African Messiah, a translation of Handel’s Messiah by Michael Masote
Archival tape courtesy of UWC-Robben Island Museum Mayibuye Archives, Villon Films and the SABC
With special thanks to Marcus Solomon, Neo Lekgotla laga Ramoupi, Kutlwano Masote, Christopher Cockburn, Maraldea Isaacs and Lebohang Sekholomi
Produced by Catherine Boulle
A Falling Tree production for BBC Radio 4
TUE 16:30 When It Hits the Fan (m0028303)
BP’s PR battle, Jamie Dimon’s rant, and two men and a baby
David Yelland and Simon Lewis look at the £75billion PR battle currently waging between BP - one of the UK's biggest companies - and American activist investors who say it’s too weak and too woke.
Also, the world’s top banker is caught ranting about work-from-home GenZers. Is it good PR or bad PR?
And will the claim from conservative influencer Ashley St Clair that Elon Musk is the father of her baby derail his White House bromance with President Donald Trump? Do such 'scandals' matter in the US any more?
Producer: Eve Streeter
Editor: Sarah Teasdale
Executive Producer: William Miller
Music by Eclectic Sounds
A Raconteur Studios production for BBC Radio 4
TUE 17:00 PM (m0028305)
Afternoon news and current affairs programme, reporting on breaking stories and summing up the day's headlines.
TUE 18:00 Six O'Clock News (m0028307)
The US and Russia say they'll press ahead with discussions about ending the war in Ukraine -- after holding their first direct talks since Moscow launched its full-scale invasion.
TUE 18:30 Heresy (m0028309)
Series 13
Episode 1
Victoria Coren Mitchell is joined by Zoe Lyons, Phil Wang and Miles Jupp to discuss weight loss, procrastination and Keir Starmer's premiership.
Written and presented by Victoria Coren Mitchell with additional material from Dan Gaster and Charlie Skelton
Produced by Victoria Coren Mitchell and Daisy Knight
Series created by David Baddiel
Sound Design - David Thomas
Broadcast Assistant - Jenny Recaldin
An Avalon production for BBC Radio 4
TUE 19:00 The Archers (m002830d)
Joy and Mick are dazzled by the opulence and tech at Home Farm. As they look round, closely followed by the robot vacuum cleaner, Joy marvels at the white and shiny kitchen. A bearded dragon in a tank freaks her out, but Mick promises he’ll take responsibility for feeding duties. Joy needs a cuppa, but everything in the house is operated from a master controller, which they can’t find… With no heating or cooking facilities, they’re forced to snuggle under a duvet with takeaway pizza. This isn’t quite what Joy expected.
Kirsty confides to Fallon it wouldn’t surprise her if the sale of Beechwood fell through. Fallon tries to reassure her. Fallon admits she’s starting to miss Harrison. She’s hoping to take her mind off it by focusing on getting her dad’s job back for him.
Clarrie can’t work out why Bridge Farm has failed its cleanliness tests. As far as she’s concerned everywhere’s spotless. She hints that the blame might lie with Chelsea, but later apologises to Pat for her meanness. She shouldn’t have said it. Pat tries to rally her; it’s been an awful time for everyone. Later Helen points out some dirt on a freezer to Clarrie. Clarrie’s affronted and they bicker. Pat interrupts them with the news that Summer Orchard has had a cancellation from a longstanding customer. This situation is destroying everything. Finally Helen receives good news; they have a taker for the waste milk. But then she discovers the offer’s from Celia Sparrow.
TUE 19:15 Front Row (m002830g)
Muhammad Ali in South Shields, Sheila Fell exhibition in Cumbria, Dame Myra Hess
Playwright Ishy Din on his new play, Champion inspired by the 1977 visit of celebrated boxer, Muhammed Ali, to South Shields.
Art historian Frances Spalding and curator Eleanor Bradley on artist Sheila Fell - the subject of a major exhibition at Tullie Museum and Art Gallery.
As a new biography of concert pianist Dame Myra Hess is published, its author Jessica Duchen, and Adam Gatehouse, artistic director of the Leeds International Piano Competition, discuss Dame Myra's distinctive playing style and how it compares to playing styles of today.
Presenter: Nick Ahad
Producer: Ekene Akalawu
TUE 20:00 Putin’s Blood Feud (m002830j)
In 2019, a Georgian Chechen asylum seeker called Zhelimkhan Khangoshvili was gunned down on the streets of Berlin. The killing was an assassination by a member of Russia's secret services, for which a German court has found Vladimir Putin was responsible. But why was the victim - a relative unknown - a target worth risking a diplomatic incident to murder?
Investigative journalist Charles McPhedran reveals a true spy story, untangling the story of Zhelimkhan's life and the Russian regime's obsession with revenge.
Producer: Robert Nicholson
A Whistledown production for BBC Radio 4
TUE 20:40 In Touch (m002830l)
Myths and Assumptions about Blindness
Natalie Doig is fascinated by myths and legends. Indeed, such is her passion for that which is "weird, wonderful and a little off kilter" that she stepped back from her career working in the disability rights sector to make a podcast about it. Called "Weird in the Wade", a recent episode explored the tale of "Blind George of Anstey". Natalie joins us to discuss Blind George and the issues the story raises about how blindness is perceived.
Also joining the discussion are Dr Rod Michalko and Professor Tanya Titchkosky. Both have studied societal attitudes to blindness and have written extensively about it. They share their feelings about Blind George and their take on what blindness actually is versus common assumptions.
Presenter: Peter White
Producer: Fern Lulham
Production Coordinator: Liz Poole
Website image description: Peter White sits smiling in the centre of the image, wearing a dark green jumper. Above Peter's head is the BBC logo (three individual white squares house each of the three letters). Bottom centre and overlaying the image are the words "In Touch"; and the Radio 4 logo (the word Radio in a bold white font, with the number 4 inside a white circle). The background is a bright mid-blue with two rectangles angled diagonally to the right. Both are behind Peter, one of a darker blue and the other is a lighter blue
TUE 21:00 World Of Secrets (m0026jxr)
The Bad Guru
The Bad Guru: 4. The Guru
The guru Gregorian Bivolaru comes to the door in a dressing gown and welcomes Miranda in. He is her spiritual master, but she feels physically repulsed by him. “Don’t be superficial,” she tells herself as she steps into his Paris apartment.
This episode contains explicit sexual content and some strong language.
Host: Cat McShane
Producers: Emma Weatherill and Cat McShane
Sound design: Melvin Rickarby
Production Coordinator: Juliette Harvey
Unit Manager: Lucy Bannister
Executive Producer: Innes Bowen
Commissioning Editor: Dan Clarke
Commissioning Executive: Tracy Williams
TUE 21:30 The Bottom Line (m0027twr)
Repairs: How Can Businesses Make Money From Fixing Things?
With the success of the BBC programme The Repair Shop, Evan Davis examines the business opportunities of companies which offer to repair things from clothes through to electronics. Is it easier to try and fix something yourself or pay for it to be done professionally? Do we still have the skills that previous generations had to do even relatively simple things like sewing on buttons? With Kyle Wiens, CEO of Ifixit, Katharine Beacham, Head of Sustainability, Clothing & Home at Marks and Spencer and upholstery repair expert and Repair Shop presenter Sonnaz Nooranvary.
TUE 22:00 The World Tonight (m002830n)
Russia says NATO troops in Ukraine “unacceptable” at talks in Riyadh
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has said his country won't accept peacekeeping forces from Nato countries in Ukraine under any peace deal, following high-level talks with the US in Saudi Arabia.
"Any appearance by armed forces under some other flag does not change anything. It is of course completely unacceptable," he said. Russia and the US said they had agreed to appoint teams to start negotiating the end of the war.
A British couple who were travelling through Iran have been arrested and charged with espionage.
And as some The White Lotus fans complain about the third series’ opening music, what are the dos and don’ts of rewriting theme tune music?
TUE 22:45 The Glassmaker by Tracy Chevalier (m002830q)
Episode 2
With the Rosso family reeling from their recent loss, daughter Orsola takes the advice of a rival glassmaker and explores her creative side.
The spellbinding new novel from the acclaimed author of ‘Girl with a Pearl Earring’ is read by Emily Bruni.
Written by Tracy Chevalier
Abridged by Siân Preece
Produced by Eilidh McCreadie
Tracy Chevalier is the author of eleven novels, including ’A Single Thread’, ‘Remarkable Creatures’ and ‘Girl with a Pearl Earring’, an international bestseller that has sold over five million copies and been made into a film, a play and an opera.
A BBC Audio Scotland production for BBC Radio 4
TUE 23:00 X Man: The Elon Musk Origin Story (m0027ts6)
1. The Dark Knight
Elon Musk wants to shape the future. How did science fiction shape him?
The story of Elon Musk, the way it's usually told, makes him sound like a fictional character, a comic-book superhero – or supervillain. He's the world's richest man, and now an adviser to the US President. He uses X - his social media platform - to berate politicians he doesn't agree with around the world.
As the world's richest man, the US President’s right-hand man, and the owner of X, he’s possibly the world’s most powerful man. Musk wants to build robots and colonise Mars and appears to be dismantling sizable parts of the US government. His vision of the future seems to stem from the science fiction that has fired his imagination since he was a boy. But what's the real story, the true history, behind Musk’s sense of destiny? Back in 2021 Harvard history professor and New Yorker writer Jill Lepore became fascinated by this question. So she made a Radio 4 podcast that tried to explain Musk through the science fiction he grew up with. So much has happened since then that we decided to update that series - and add new episodes, too. Because Musk’s power keeps growing, and so does the influence of what Lepore calls 'Muskism' - his brand of extreme capitalism, libertarianism, and techno-futurism. But where does that future come from?
Musk’s origin stories also seem to keep changing. Not too long ago, he compared himself to Batman. Arguments started online over whether or not Musk is a real-life Bruce Wayne. This episode, Lepore looks at the original ‘Caped Crusader’, created back in 1939. Batman’s origin story is bound up with fascism. And every time Musk is compared to Batman it raises a very old question about the Dark Knight: is Batman fighting fascism, or is Batman - a brooding, fabulously wealthy vigilante - somehow, himself a fascist?
Jill Lepore is the Kemper Professor of American History at Harvard University and Professor of Law at Harvard Law School. She’s also a staff writer at The New Yorker and an acclaimed author.
Series Producer: Viv Jones
Researchers: Simon Leek, Thomas Farmer
Editors: Richard Vadon
Sound design and mix: James Beard
Commissioning Editor: Dan Clarke
Original music by Corntuth
Production Coordinators: Jack Young, Maria Ogundele
CREDITS
Coverage of Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg’s possible cage fight, CBS
Tesla Cybertruck Batmobile comments, @thesydneybelle on TikTok
Coverage of Colorado cinema shooting, ABC News
TUE 23:30 Illuminated (m0022khy)
Infinite Scroll
"And if you gaze long enough into an abyss, the abyss will gaze back into you..."
Late at night, the writer, audio artist and sleep-deprived parent of a newborn, Ross Sutherland, is staring into infinity...
"Usually, my phone becomes my window into a bigger world. Not just bigger- endless. Unmeasurably vast. You can scroll social media feeds forever and never hit the bottom of the chasm. I know it's objectively bad for me but I can’t stop myself. I'm craving endlessness- I need space! Vast, endless interior space... to compensate for the smallness of my waking days."
Sinking into the infinite scroll of his phone (a web design technique - created to encourage addiction as your webpage never ends...) he weaves a woozy, funny, adventurous audio essay through sonic experiments, illusions and mirror worlds that invite us to reckon with the infinite.
Including archive from ReThinking with Adam Grant 'Aza Raskin on why technology – and democracy– are in an imagination crisis' (courtesy of TED).
Original music composed by Jeremy Warmsley
Written and produced by Ross Sutherland
A Falling Tree production for BBC Radio 4
WEDNESDAY 19 FEBRUARY 2025
WED 00:00 Midnight News (m002830t)
National and international news from BBC Radio 4
WED 00:30 Under a Metal Sky by Philip Marsden (m00282zj)
[Repeat of broadcast at
11:45 on Tuesday]
WED 00:48 Shipping Forecast (m002830w)
The latest weather reports and forecasts for UK shipping
WED 01:00 Selection of BBC World Service Programmes (m002830y)
BBC Radio 4 joins the BBC World Service.
WED 05:20 Shipping Forecast (m0028310)
The latest weather reports and forecasts for UK shipping
WED 05:30 News Briefing (m0028312)
The latest news from BBC Radio 4
WED 05:43 Prayer for the Day (m0028314)
A connection of lifetimes
Good Morning.
Have you ever met someone for the first time and felt like you’ve known them for a lifetime? According to the Hindu theory of karma and reincarnation, there's an explanation for this. We are born and die not once, but many times, and it’s possible that we find connections from past lives once again. We pick up the threads that were woven in different births and continue to weave new ones.
The philosophy of Advaita Vedanta, the tradition of non-duality, points out an even deeper significance to such relationships. True friendship, like love, transcends the limitation of separate identities. In the light of Vedanta, we understand that every individual is a manifestation of the same divine reality. Friends are like mirrors, reflecting our own strengths and weaknesses, helping us to grow and evolve.
The bond of friendship is based on shared values, mutual respect, and unconditional acceptance. It's a relationship where we can be our authentic selves, without fear of judgement. True friends support us in our spiritual journey, reminding us of our inherent divinity and encouraging us to strive for excellence.
Let us cherish the gift of friendship. Let us express our gratitude for the friends who illuminate our lives with their love and support, giving us an opportunity to share in not only their joys, but also their sorrows. May we recognise the oneness that connects us all. May our friendships be nourishing, and our communities be a source of strength and support to us all. Hari Om.
WED 05:45 Farming Today (m0028316)
Farming leaders have said they left a much-anticipated meeting with the Treasury with their blood "boiling", claiming the Government has "shut the door" on any rethink of planned changes to inheritance tax on farms. It follows months of protests over plans for inherited agricultural assets worth more than a million pounds to be taxed at 20% from April next year.
MPs have been debating calls to ban bottom trawling in England's Marine Protected Areas. Bottom trawling is a method of fishing where weighted nets are dragged along the seabed to gather things like scallops, sole and plaice.
And a working group has been set up by the Food, Farming and Countryside Commission to discuss how a Land Use Framework for Northern Ireland might be developed and implemented. We meet one of the group members to discuss how much difference it could make.
Presented by Steffan Messenger
Produced by Heather Simons
WED 06:00 Today (m002839w)
News and current affairs, including Sports Desk, Weather and Thought for the Day.
WED 09:00 Sideways (m002837y)
72. Limitless Love
After the break up of the Soviet Union in the 90s, the problem of street children in Ukraine began to grow. Pastor Gennadiy Mokhnenko started taking them off the streets in the now devastated city of Mariupol and adopting them. The 56 year-old is now father to over 40 kids, serves as a military chaplain on the frontline and continues to adopt throughout the war.
Matthew Syed asks whether it’s possible to truly love so many children. He hears from a biologist about the scientific limits of love and an anthropologist about the unique ways in which humans can grow and flex their love, almost like a muscle. He also delves into his mother’s deeply personal experience of raising a non-biological child, relates expert analysis to her complex emotions and questions whether human beings really do have the capacity for limitless love.
With Ukrainian pastor and military chaplain Gennadiy Mokhnenko, anthropologist and author Dr Anna Machin, biologist Dr Liat Yakir and Matthew’s mum, Dilys Syed.
Presenter: Matthew Syed
Producer: Vishva Samani
Editor: Georgia Moodie
Sound Design and Mix: Daniel Kempson
Theme music by Ioana Selaru
A Novel production for BBC Radio 4
WED 09:30 Intrigue (m002839y)
Word of God
Word of God: 2. Roberta Investigates
A threatening message leads a papyrologist into the shadowy world of online antiquities trading.
On a September morning in 2017, Dr Roberta Mazza opens her WhatsApp to find menacing messages and warnings to "watch her back". How did a respected academic specialising in ancient texts find herself at the crossroads of biblical scholarship and antiquities looting?
Through exclusive interviews, investigative journalist Ben Lewis reveals how Dr Mazza's chance discovery at a Vatican exhibition three years earlier set her on a collision course with one of the world's most ambitious collecting projects. When she spots a rare biblical fragment she'd previously seen listed on eBay, Roberta begins pulling threads that lead from online auction sites to a prestigious museum collection.
Her investigation intensifies as she uncovers connections between anonymous online sellers and the Museum of the Bible's massive acquisition programme. Going undercover to expose the trade in potentially looted artefacts, Roberta finds herself drawn into an increasingly dangerous world where ancient treasures, scholarly research and outright illegality intersect.
Her digital sleuthing uncovers the true identity of a mysterious Turkish dealer - and his possible connections to the museum's inner circle. But her determination to expose the truth comes at a personal cost, as threats escalate and she realises she may have waded too deep into dangerous waters.
Presented by Ben Lewis
Produced by Clem Hitchcock
Executive producers: Philip Abrams and Jago Lee
Story editor: Andrew Dickson
Sound design by Richard Courtice
Original music composed by Max de Wardener
Commissioning Editor: Daniel Clarke
Commissioning Executive: Tracy Williams
Assistant Commissioner Podcasts/Digital: Chris Walsh-Heron
A TellTale production for BBC Radio 4.
Episodes of Intrigue: Word of God are released weekly on Wednesdays, wherever you get your podcasts, but if you’re in the UK, you can listen to the latest episode a week early, first on BBC Sounds.
WED 10:00 Woman's Hour (m00283b0)
Women's Tennis, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Formula 1, Lambrini Girls
During a tennis match in Dubai, Emma Raducanu was subject to what the Women's Tennis Association (WTA) are calling 'fixated behaviour' from a man in the public area. How safe is tennis for women players - and what is being done to protect them? Ahead of the Queen's Women's tournament's return this summer, Nuala McGovern speaks to sports journalist Molly McElwee to find out more.
Actor Gugu Mbatha-Raw joins Nuala in the studio to talk about her acting career, including her latest role in Apple TV+ drama Surface, and why she's such a strong supporter of female-led productions.
Formula 1 has just turned 75, but how much headway are women racing drivers making? Nuala is joined by Jamie Chadwick, one of the leading British women in this sport, and BBC reporter Charlotte Simpson, who has spent months talking to a wide range of people trying to support more young women to become involved in the sport.
Lambrini Girls are a punk duo making waves with their fearless sound and sharp social commentary. Known for their high-energy performances, they’ve become one of the most talked-about bands in the UK’s punk scene. They speak to Nuala about the power of punk and challenging the status quo.
Presenter: Nuala McGovern
Producer: Lottie Garton
WED 11:00 Putin’s Blood Feud (m002830j)
[Repeat of broadcast at
20:00 on Tuesday]
WED 11:45 Under a Metal Sky by Philip Marsden (m00283b3)
Radium
Philip Marsden’s passion for rocks dates back to his boyhood, when he first discovered the excitement of searching for crystals and fossils. In Under a Metal Sky, he takes us on a captivating journey across Europe through the story of metals, revealing how they became an engine of culture, trade and technology that changed our relationship with the natural world.
In the third episode, Philip reveals how radium shook the world. He explores the early mania for radium when it was first discovered - marketed in hair tonics and face creams - and the first signs that it was also a deadly material. Never before had a metal offered so much possibility and so much danger.
He travels to the mining town of Jáchymov in the Czech Republic, the first source of radium ore and still a spa destination for people seeking a cure from its waters. Just as the discovery of bronze changed the nature of warfare thousands of years before, radium introduced an unprecedented possibility for conflict.
In a series of evocative encounters, Philip Marsden meets one of the last miners in Jáchymov and visits the remains of a Soviet camp where prisoners mined uranium in Stalin’s race to create a nuclear arsenal. This was where the atomic age was born and this was where the early hopes for radium as some kind of miracle cure-all ended.
Read by Adrian Lukis
Produced and Abridged by Jo Glanville
Editor: Jo Rowntree
Studio Engineer: Jon Calver
A Loftus Media production for BBC Radio 4
WED 12:00 News Summary (m00283b5)
The latest national and international news from BBC Radio 4.
WED 12:04 You and Yours (m00283b7)
Charging for Compensation Claims, The Slowest Public Transport and Ground Rent
The Financial Ombudsman is to charge professional claims managers to refer cases, but they plan to keep the service free for individual consumers. Is this good news for consumers?
What's the longest regular public transport trip you take? The average speed for a car these days is 17 mph - slower in cities, quicker on motorways- but some bus journeys are averaging just 7mph. Can you beat that?
Some home owners have contacted You & Yours to say planned sales are falling through because of excessive ground rent charges. They say buyers can't get a mortgage on their properties because the ground rent is more than £350.
We catch up with the You and Yours listener who was days away from losing her home because of delays in probate. She received the necessary paperwork to secure her home with hours to spare.
Losses through fraud are estimated this year to be at £1.2 billion stolen from 3 million people. Our reporter Shari Vahl has been looking at a new idea from the police.... to try to break the spell criminals cast over their victims
The cap on prices that energy companies can charge will rise by 5% in April but will that be the last hike this year? After years of little point, maybe now is the time to shop around to fix your contract?
PRESENTER: WINIFRED ROBINSON
PRODUCER: KEVIN MOUSLEY
WED 12:57 Weather (m00283b9)
The latest weather forecast
WED 13:00 World at One (m00283bc)
Zelensky hits back at 'misinformation' from Trump
President Zelensky has rebuked the US president for living in a "disinformation space" fuelled by Russia. On a day of fast-moving diplomatic developments, we speak to a top analyst who wants a total restructure of European defence; as well as the UK's former national security adviser about whether the Prime Minister can shape President Trump's thinking when the pair meet next week.
Also: a surprise rise in inflation prompts fears over the cost of living, and Hamas says it is ready to free all remaining Israeli hostages in one swap in the second phase of the Gaza truce.
And as TV soap opera Eastenders reaches its 40th birthday, we speak to Albert Square's most notorious villain.
WED 13:45 You Do Not Have to Say Anything (m00283bf)
Episode 3: ‘Please can you tell my mum?’
There are two questions asked after every police interview:
Are they going to charge me?
And always, will they let me go home?
Defence Barrister Joanna Hardy-Susskind lifts the curtain on the real criminal justice system and the real people working within it - beneath the wigs, under the uniforms and in the dock.
Presenter: Joanna Hardy-Susskind
Producer: Georgia Catt
Assistant Producer: Danita McIntyre
WED 14:00 The Archers (m002830d)
[Repeat of broadcast at
19:00 on Tuesday]
WED 14:15 Drama on 4 (m00283bh)
Undercover - The Fury. Episode 2
Following Callum Matthews' murder, undercover police officer Jason has successfully infiltrated the inner sanctum of the notorious violent football firm The Fury. But will Jason manage to get to the truth of Callum's murder without risking his own safety and that of the people he loves?
JASON ..... Tachia Newall
BETHANY ..... Lauren-Nicole Mayes
MIKEY ..... Joe Gill
REECE ..... Hamish Rush
SADIE ..... Sacha Parkinson
LEO ..... Alfie Corbett
DI KANE ..... Krissi Bohn
ANGELA ..... Angela Lonsdale
PETE JEDSON ..... Reuben Johnson
ADDITIONAL VOICES ..... Ethan Cale, Daniel Fitzpatrick, Dionne Hunter.
Written by Rachel Smith
Produced and Directed by Nadia Molinari
Sound Design and Technical Production by Sharon Hughes
Assistant Technical Producer Amy Brennan
Production co-ordinator, Lorna Newman
Script Consultant Russell Lane
A BBC STUDIOS AUDIO PRODUCTION FOR BBC RADIO 4
WED 15:00 Money Box (m00283bk)
Money Box Live: Energy Debt Help
People owe more money for gas and electricity bills than ever before. New calculations from the energy consultancy firm Baringa reveal the average typical energy debt is £1,500 - that's up £300 in a year. The total owed to energy companies is 3.8 billion pounds, which is almost double what it was two years ago.
Energy prices are also forecast to rise by 5% from April, adding £85 a year to household bills meaning a household using a typical amount of gas and electricity would pay £1823 a year.
In this Money Box Live, we're finding out how to manage energy debts and how to avoid getting into the red in the first place.
Ruth Alexander is joined by Matthew Sheeran from the free debt advice provider, Money Wellness, and Eleanor Taylor from Baringa.
Presenter: Ruth Alexander
Producers: Sarah Rogers, Catherine Lund and Neil Morrow
Editor: Jess Quayle
(First broadcast
3pm on Wednesday 19th February 2025)
WED 15:30 Mouth Organ (m00283bm)
Other than brushing your teeth every day, how often do you really think about your mouth?
That hole in the front of your face is the ideal place to shovel food and drink, but it might be worth giving it a little more consideration.
Evidence is increasingly showing that the state of your mouth can have wide-ranging impacts on the rest of your body. An unhealthy mouth can increase your chances of developing dementia, diabetes and other diseases.
Why, then, is dentistry and medicine kept so separate, when the mouth and the body are so intrinsically linked?
Over the course of this programme, join Caroline Steel as she delves into the world inside our mouths, and unpicks the ways in which better oral healthcare could improve our wellbeing. Along the way, she speaks to Iain Chapple, a professor of periodontology at the University of Birmingham; Dr Zoe Brookes, a dentist and oral microbiome expert at the University of Plymouth; and Dr Graham Lloyd-Jones, a radiologist at Salisbury Hospital.
Presenter: Caroline Steel
Producer: Alice Lipscombe-Southwell
Executive producer: Jeremy Grange
WED 16:00 The Media Show (m00282th)
Media diplomacy, The New Yorker at 100, Sam Altman profile
As international talks continue about the war in Ukraine, former NATO spokesperson Oana Lungescu and Times defence editor Larisa Brown compare notes. David Remnick, editor of The New Yorker, joins us to discuss his editorial process and business strategy as the magazine turns 100. Also on the programme, Mike Isaac from The New York Times profiles the CEO of OpenAI. Plus, how can the media adapt to the needs of Gen Z? We discuss with the FT’s Stephanie Stacey and Hilary Xherimeja, CEO of the media recruitment company Sondr.
Guests: Oana Lungescu, former spokesperson, NATO; Larisa Brown, Defence Editor, The Times; David Remnick, Editor, The New Yorker; Mike Isaac, Tech Correspondent, The New York Times; Stephanie Stacey, Tech Reporter and graduate trainee, FT; Hilary Xherimeja, CEO, Sondr
Presenter: Ros Atkins
Producer: Simon Richardson
Assistant Producer: Lucy Wai
WED 17:00 PM (m00283bp)
Trump calls Zelensky a 'dictator'
The US President hit back after Ukraine's leader accused him of "living in a disinformation space" created by Russia. We hear from a former Trump adviser and Latvia's Foreign Minister. Also, a dispatch from South Korea and the latest on the Surrey sinkhole evacuations.
WED 18:00 Six O'Clock News (m00283br)
US President Trump and Ukraine's Zelensky attack each other over the war in Ukraine
WED 18:30 ReincarNathan (m00283bt)
Series 4
2. Toaster
In the penultimate episode of this final trilogy of ReincarNathan, Nathan is brought back to life as a Toaster on a worktop in a suburban kitchen. Let's face it, he hasn't exactly nailed it as any of the animals he's tried, so how will he do as an inanimate object? Will he manage to reunite Eve, the depressed unidentified vacuum attachment (Freya Parker), with her hoover? What will they do when a sinister robotic vacuum cleaner (Matt Lucas) turns on them? And more importantly, how do you move when you have no legs?
Nathan Blakely was a popstar. But he was useless, died, and was reincarnated. The comedy about Nathan’s adventures in the afterlife returns for an epic three-part finale, starring Daniel Rigby, Ashley McGuire and guest-starring Matt Lucas as Robo-Vac.
Cast:
Ashley McGuire - Carol
Daniel Rigby – Nathan
Freya Parker - Eve
Matt Lucas - Robo Vac
Tom Craine - Owner
Henry Paker - Kettle, Bin Man
Writers: Tom Craine and Henry Paker
Producer: Harriet Jaine
Sound: Jerry Peal
Music: Phil Lepherd
A Talkback Production for BBC Radio 4
WED 19:00 The Archers (m00282rc)
Helen visits Celia Sparrow about the milk deal with trepidation. Their last encounter was when Helen deliberately gave Celia’s cheese a low score at a food fair. Now Helen hopes for a fair price for their waste Montbeliardes milk. Celia makes Helen sample her cheeses, so that she can taste how the milk will be used. One of them is the Cordwell Cream that Helen marked down in the competition. Helen has to agree it’s excellent. Using this as leverage, Celia offers way below the recommended rate for the Bridge Farm milk. Helen pushes for more but has no luck and they agree on a disappointing price. Later, Helen and Tom reflect on the deal. Helen recognises that her previous behaviour has cost them dearly. Tom reassures her; it’s a short term deal and better than nothing. They both agree they need to come up with something big to get business back in the shop and Tearoom. Tom’s sure they’ll think of something.
At The Bull, Tracy and Fallon discuss Wayne’s valuable skills, and fear customers will go elsewhere when they discover he’s to be sacked. They ambush Jolene with a plan: a soufflé Pancake Day promotion. Wayne would be the perfect person to cook this difficult style. Jolene reluctantly agrees that he would – adding that she’d been hasty in her decision to fire him on his return. Still excited by the promotion, Jolene receives a text from Wayne. She’s furious as she reports to Fallon he’s not coming home – after all they’ve done for him!
WED 19:15 Front Row (m00283bw)
25 Years of 21st Century: how art and architecture have changed since the year 2000
Kirsty Wark and guests discuss how visual art and architecture have evolved over the last 25 years.
In the latest of our special series reflecting the changing cultural landscape since the start of the millennium, Kirsty Wark discusses the significant shifts in visual art and architecture in the 21st century with Director of Exhibitions and Programmes at Tate Modern Catherine Wood; Sunday Times art critic Waldemar Januszczak; Katrina Brown of The Common Guild in Glasgow; and founder of architectural practice Studio Gil, Pedro Gil.
What did the boom in museum and gallery building in the early 2000s say about the public appetite for art? How has programming of exhibitions changed to reflect greater diversity? Is the auction market for contemporary art out of control? And is AI making an impact on contemporary art?
Featuring an interview with Turner Prize winning artist Jeremy Deller.
Presenter: Kirsty Wark
Producer: Mark Crossan
WED 20:00 AntiSocial (m0027v3v)
Should signs be in English only?
This week a Member of Parliament for Reform UK posted a picture of Whitechapel train station in East London. At the entrance of the station, it has the name in English and then also in Bengali. Rupert Lowe MP said: 'The station name should be in English and English only.'
We'll find out how the station got its bilingual sign and examine the data on immigrants' language skills. How are non-English speakers accommodated in other walks of life?
Presenter: Adam Fleming
Producers: Charlotte McDonald, Arlene Gregorius and Beth Ashmead
Studio manager: Hal Haines.
Production coordinator: Janet Staples
Editor: Richard Vadon.
WED 20:45 Naturebang (m0021j2k)
Rainbowfish and the Mysteries of Memory
Becky Ripley and Emily Knight dive into the watery world of rainbowfish to confront the age-old myth that fish have bad memories. In actual fact, they are much more intelligent than we like to think, with an incredible capacity for learning and memory, as seen in almost all fish species. Their ability to remember complex things over a long period of time means they can build social relationships, navigate huge distances, and even form cultures, as knowledge is passed down over generations.
So, the science has spoken: fish have way better memories than we like to think. But what about us humans? Well, turns out our memories are way worse than we like to think. From the very first perceptual moment when you experience something, your brain is constantly filtering your memories so that it only keeps the information that it thinks you need. And the more you recount a memory, the more it deviates from "the truth". Which means, in reality, we forget most of our lives, and we misremember most of the rest! Begging the question: are we who we think we are?
Featuring Professor Culum Brown, head of The Fish Lab at Macquarie University, and Dr Julia Shaw, criminal psychologist at UCL and author of 'The Memory Illusion'. Produced and presented by Emily Knight and Becky Ripley.
WED 21:00 The Life Scientific (m00282zb)
[Repeat of broadcast at
09:00 on Tuesday]
WED 21:30 Inside Health (m00282zd)
[Repeat of broadcast at
09:30 on Tuesday]
WED 22:00 The World Tonight (m00283bz)
President Trump calls President Zelensky a "dictator"
Sir Keir Starmer spoke to President Zelensky on the phone on Wednesday evening and said it was "perfectly reasonable" for Ukraine to "suspend elections during war time as the UK did during World War II", Downing Street said. We hear from Conservative MP and former security minister Tom Tugendhat about where he believes President Trump's comments leave the UK's cooperation with Washington over Ukraine.
Scotland's health secretary has admitted that more needs to be done to reduce deaths from drugs in rural areas. We report from the west coast town of Oban.
Egyptologists have discovered the first tomb of a pharaoh since Tutankhamun's was uncovered more than 100 years ago.
WED 22:45 The Glassmaker by Tracy Chevalier (m00283c1)
Episode 3
With his rash promise forgotten, glassmaker Marco Rosso knuckles down to save the family’s business - and reputation.
The spellbinding new novel from the acclaimed author of ‘Girl with a Pearl Earring’ is read by Emily Bruni.
Written by Tracy Chevalier
Abridged by Siân Preece
Produced by Eilidh McCreadie
Tracy Chevalier is the author of eleven novels, including ’A Single Thread’, ‘Remarkable Creatures’ and ‘Girl with a Pearl Earring’, an international bestseller that has sold over five million copies and been made into a film, a play and an opera.
A BBC Audio Scotland production for BBC Radio 4
WED 23:00 Bunk Bed (m00283c3)
Clowns and Duos
They also consider the troubled hearts of people who are in professional duos, and teachers with food in their beards.
WED 23:15 Jamie MacDonald: Life on the Blink (m000w6n3)
Series 1
Stick It to Me
Jamie MacDonald is a Glaswegian stand-up comedian who found himself rapidly going blind in his teens. This series shows how Jamie used humour to turn denial into acceptance. He managed to find the spotlight as the darkness descended and has turned some pretty dark experiences into hilarious stories and anecdotes.
Produced by Julia Sutherland
A Dabster production for BBC Radio 4
WED 23:30 The Grand House - Boom or Blight? (m0022c3h)
Country houses have been the subject of hot debate since the National Trust and others decided to tell the stories of how colonialism and trade in enslaved people helped fund many great estates. But 50 years ago the country house, beleaguered by taxation and public hostility, faced ruin. 1500 houses were demolished in the years up to 1970s. Then in 1974, Sir Roy Strong and others mounted a dramatic exhibition at the V&A highlighting the loss. This prompted a change in the tax regime and in public opinion.
Tristram Hunt, current director of the Victoria and Albert museum, tells the story and looks at how great houses are making their money today. How appropriate are the events and entertainments they provide? Why is most of the money made in the grounds, not the houses themselves?
Many believe that the houses are in danger once again and that their stories need reframing to attract a new and more diverse audience - getting away from dull and static tours that feature undue reverence for the owners and their ancestral families. This is a moment of intense re-thinking about how country houses can contribute to the cultural life of the country - beyond just being 'leisure parks'.
Recorded around the country in several grand houses.
Presenter : Tristram Hunt
Producer : Susan Marling
A Just Radio production for BBC Radio 4
THURSDAY 20 FEBRUARY 2025
THU 00:00 Midnight News (m00283c5)
National and international news from BBC Radio 4
THU 00:30 Under a Metal Sky by Philip Marsden (m00283b3)
[Repeat of broadcast at
11:45 on Wednesday]
THU 00:48 Shipping Forecast (m00283c7)
The latest weather reports and forecasts for UK shipping
THU 01:00 Selection of BBC World Service Programmes (m00283c9)
BBC Radio 4 joins the BBC World Service.
THU 05:20 Shipping Forecast (m00283cc)
The latest weather reports and forecasts for UK shipping
THU 05:30 News Briefing (m00283cf)
The latest news from BBC Radio 4
THU 05:43 Prayer for the Day (m00283ch)
Lonely – or alone?
Good Morning.
There is a quote by Swami Chinmayananda that says, “if you don’t enjoy your own company, why inflict it on others?”. While we might question the use of the word ‘inflict’, there’s a beautiful message he intended to convey with this question.
I find that nowadays we are increasingly rarely alone. We may not have others around us physically, but we're constantly consuming content online, and are permanently connected to others through technology. This leaves us with little opportunity to spend time with ourselves, which for some, is the benefit of such a lifestyle. We don’t have to spend time in our own company or examine too closely what sort of thoughts we’re entertaining in our minds.
But, Advaita Vedanta, the Hindu philosophy of non-duality, shows us that being alone is not the same as being lonely. Loneliness stems from a sense of separation, from the mistaken belief that we are isolated as individuals, disconnected from the world around us. Being alone, on the other hand, can be a powerful opportunity for self-discovery.
When we withdraw from the external world and turn our attention inward, we connect with the divine Self that resides within. That Self being unlimited in nature, this is the state of true aloneness, a state of profound peace and contentment.
Just as the ocean appears calm on the surface but holds immense depth, we too possess a reservoir of peace and joy within. By embracing solitude, we can dive deep within ourselves and discover the infinite potential that lies dormant within.
May we learn to be alone, but never lonely, may we learn to enjoy our own company and be ever-content in our own divine nature. Hari Om.
THU 05:45 Farming Today (m00283ck)
20/02/25 Land Use and solar development, food prices
England's Land Use Framework is out to consultation. We speak to the academic who brought groups of farmers together to speak to Defra officials as they developed the policy.
We also consider what impact the framework might have on big renewable projects in future - like one in East Anglia. The proposed solar development in East Pye in South Norfolk covers 2,700 acres in ten different locations, Local residents who object to the scheme have set up their own group called Block East Pye. They say they are not Nimbys but that the current plans will directly impinge on residents and wildlife.
Food prices are up and driving inflation. The Consumer Price Index or CPI is up 3% in the year to January. However some basics have gone up by more: butter up by 18%, eggs by 4% and beef up 5%. What does this mean for farmers, who often tell us that they’re not being paid enough for the food they produce? We ask an expert from the Royal Agricultural University whether price rises mean more money for farmers.
Presenter = Charlotte Smith
Producer = Rebecca Rooney
THU 06:00 Today (m00282pl)
News and current affairs, including Sports Desk, Weather and Thought for the Day.
THU 09:00 In Our Time (m00282pq)
Oliver Goldsmith
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the renowned and versatile Irish writer Oliver Goldsmith (1728 - 1774). There is a memorial to him in Westminster Abbey’s Poet’s Corner written by Dr Johnson, celebrating Goldsmith's life as a poet, natural philosopher and historian. To this could be added ‘playwright’ and ‘novelist’ and ‘science writer’ and ‘pamphleteer’ and much besides, as Goldsmith explored so many different outlets for his talents. While he began on Grub Street in London, the centre for jobbing writers scrambling for paid work, he became a great populariser and compiler of new ideas and knowledge and achieved notable successes with poems such as The Deserted Village, his play She Stoops to Conquer and his short novel The Vicar of Wakefield.
With
David O’Shaughnessy
Professor of Eighteenth-Century Studies at the University of Galway
Judith Hawley
Professor of Eighteenth-Century Literature at Royal Holloway, University of London
And
Michael Griffin
Professor of English at the University of Limerick
Producer: Simon Tillotson
Reading list:
Norma Clarke, Brothers of the Quill: Oliver Goldsmith in Grub Street (Harvard University Press, 2016)
Leo Damrosch, The Club: Johnson, Boswell, and the Friends Who Shaped an Age (Yale University Press, 2019)
Oliver Goldsmith (ed. Aileen Douglas and Ian Campbell Ross), The Vicar of Wakefield: A Tale, Supposed to Be Written by Himself (first published 1766; Cambridge University Press, 2024)
Oliver Goldsmith (ed. Arthur Friedman), The Vicar of Wakefield (first published 1766; Oxford University Press, 2008)
Oliver Goldsmith (ed. Arthur Friedman), The Collected Works of Oliver Goldsmith, 5 vols (Clarendon Press, 1966)
Oliver Goldsmith (ed. Robert L. Mack), Oliver Goldsmith: Everyman’s Poetry, No. 30 (Phoenix, 1997)
Oliver Goldsmith (ed. James Ogden), She Stoops to Conquer (first performed 1773; Methuen Drama, 2003)
Oliver Goldsmith (ed. James Watt), The Citizen of the World (first published 1762; Cambridge University Press, 2024)
Oliver Goldsmith (ed. Nigel Wood), She Stoops to Conquer and Other Comedies (first performed 1773; Oxford University Press, 2007)
Michael Griffin and David O’Shaughnessy (eds.), Oliver Goldsmith in Context (Cambridge University Press, 2024)
Michael Griffin and David O’Shaughnessy (eds.), The Letters of Oliver Goldsmith (Cambridge University Press, 2018)
Roger Lonsdale (ed.), The Poems of Gray, Collins and Goldsmith (Longmans, 1969)
In Our Time is a BBC Studios Audio production
THU 09:45 Strong Message Here (m00282pt)
The Threat from Within
Comedy writer Armando Iannucci and journalist Helen Lewis decode the utterly baffling world of political language.
This week, JD Vance sent European leaders into a tailspin with an inflammatory speech at the Munich Security Conference, and Kemi Badenoch made an attention-grabbing speech at the Alliance for Responsible Citizenship. Looking at them side-by-side, what does it tell us about the language of the right on both sides of the Atlantic?
Listen to Strong Message Here every Thursday at
9.45am on Radio 4 and then head straight to BBC Sounds for an extended episode.
Have you stumbled upon any perplexing political phrases you need Helen and Armando to decode? Email them to us at strongmessagehere@bbc.co.uk
Sound Editing by Charlie Brandon-King
Production Coordinator - Katie Baum
Executive Producer - Pete Strauss
Produced by Gwyn Rhys Davies. A BBC Studios Audio production for Radio 4.
An EcoAudio Certified Production.
THU 10:00 Woman's Hour (m00282pz)
Sexism in British kitchens, Clueless the musical, Non-harassment orders in Scotland, Raising the 'Sen-betweeners'
A group of 70 female chefs and hospitality professionals have signed an open letter calling out what they call the ‘pervasive’ sexism in British kitchens. It’s in response to chef Jason Atherton saying he had never seen sexism in the kitchen - he has since clarified his comments, saying that he wasn't denying the existence of sexism, just that he hadn't 'witnessed it personally. Anita is joined by chef and founder of the all-female kitchen Darjeeling Express, Asma Khan, and chef and founder of Tiella, Dara Klein, who helped write the open letter.
The beloved 1995 film Clueless, inspired by Jane Austen’s Emma, starred Alicia Silverstone, Paul Rudd, and the late Brittany Murphy. Cher Horowitz is the most popular student at Beverly Hills High, renowned for her unique talent at finding love for others. Clueless the Musical has just opened at the Trafalgar Theatre in London. Anita discusses the adaptation and the story’s enduring appeal with the original writer/director Amy Heckerling and multi-platinum singer-songwriter KT Tunstall who has written the score.
Montage of clips from the 1995 movie, Clueless, written and directed by Amy Heckerling, produced by Scott Rudin and Robert Lawrence, production companies Robert Lawrence Productions, Scott Rudin Productions and distributed by Paramount Pictures.
Amelia Price, a survivor of rape and assault by her ex-partner, has launched her own investigation into the Scottish justice system. Despite her attacker being convicted and sentenced to over four years in prison, the court refused to impose a non-harassment order (NHO) against him. With his release imminent, Price fears he could legally contact her. She has waived her anonymity to raise awareness about the issue and advocate for mandatory NHOs in domestic abuse cases. Anita speaks to her about her campaign alongside Fiona McMullen from ASSIST, a domestic abuse advocacy service.
'Sen-betweeners' is the term Lisa Lloyd, a mum of two autistic children, uses to describe her children. She says their neurodivergence is too severe to fit easily into mainstream school, but not severe enough for a special school, so they fall between the gaps. Lisa has written a guide for other parents on ‘Raising the Sen-betweeners,’ in which she, whilst recognising that all children are different and there can be no rules, offers tips and advice for how to handle behaviours. Lisa joins Anita to share what she has learnt.
Presenter: Anita Rani
Producer: Claire Fox
THU 11:00 The Infinite Monkey Cage (m00282q3)
Series 32
Journey to the Centre of the Earth - Phil Wang, Ana Ferreira and Chris Jackson
Brian Cox and Robin Ince slice deep into the lesser-explored world beneath us. To join them on the journey from the crust to the core they are joined by seismologist Ana Ferreira, geologist Chris Jackson and comedian Phil Wang.
School children learn about the make-up of the Earth with an image depicting the Earth's core, mantle and crust layered neatly on top of each other, but is this an oversimplification? Our experts reveal that the Earth's innards are less uniform than we might think and mysteries still abound, including the make-up of some continental-sized blobs deep inside the Earth. We learn about the incredible heat and pressure as we descend and why that has limited how far humans have been able to explore these deep realms first-hand. We explore the chemistry of the interactions between the Earth layers and how they influence the formation of continental plates and volcanoes. Phil has an existential crisis about falling inside gaps between the plates but is reassured his worries are unfounded as Ana explains the latest techniques being used to understand the world deep beneath us.
Producer: Melanie Brown
Executive Producer: Alexandra Feachem
Researcher: Olivia Jani
THU 11:45 Under a Metal Sky by Philip Marsden (m00282q9)
Aerolite
Philip Marsden’s passion for rocks dates back to his boyhood, when he first discovered the excitement of searching for crystals and fossils. In Under a Metal Sky, he takes us on a captivating journey across Europe through the story of metals, revealing how they became an engine of culture, trade and technology that changed our relationship with the natural world.
In the fourth episode, Philip visits Prague and investigates the history of alchemy. In Prague Castle, he explores the mineral collection of the 16th-century Habsburg ruler Rudolf II, who lived at a time when the line between magic and science was still blurred. The precious stones in his collection were thought to be a source of power and a source of life.
Those beliefs in alchemy were discredited in the scientific revolution that followed. But did we lose a useful way of interpreting the world at the same time?
Read by Adrian Lukis
Produced and Abridged by Jo Glanville
Editor: Jo Rowntree
Studio Engineer: Jon Calver
A Loftus Media production for BBC Radio 4
THU 12:00 News Summary (m00282qf)
The latest national and international news from BBC Radio 4.
THU 12:04 The Bottom Line (m00282qk)
London's Stock Exchange: why aren't companies listing in Britain anymore?
After a year in which a number of big companies decided to list in New York rather than the UK, Evan Davis asks what can be done to attract firms to the London Stock Exchange. With Julia Hoggett, CEO at the London Stock Exchange, Charles Hall, Head of Research at the investment bank Peel Hunt and Conor Lawlor, Managing Director, Global Banking Markets and International Affairs at UK finance.
THU 12:32 Sliced Bread (m00282qp)
Hearing Aids
Listener Angela is a musician, and long-time wearer of Hearing Aids – but as her parents and friends have started reaching an age where they might need them, she’s wondering what advice to give them - and whether paying more for a hearing aid, and potentially going private – would really help?
There’s no question – Hearing Aids are Sliced Bread – but can the top end products really deliver on claims they can improve sound, reduce background noise, stream directly from phones or tables, and change what they listen to automatically? And are hearing aids available on the NHS capable of the same?
The NHS wait times described in this episode were accurate at the time of recording, and may have changed.
A transcript of this episode is available here: https://downloads.bbc.co.uk/radio4/misc/sliced_bread_hearing_aids_transcript.pdf
As always, all of our investigations start with YOUR suggestions. If you’ve seen an ad, trend or wonder product promising to make you happier, healthier or greener, email us at sliced.bread@bbc.co.uk OR send a voice note to our WhatsApp number, 07543 306807.
PRESENTER: GREG FOOT
PRODUCER: KATE HOLDSWORTH
THU 12:57 Weather (m00282qt)
The latest weather forecast
THU 13:00 World at One (m00282qz)
Bodies of four Israeli hostages are returned
The bodies of Shiri Bibas and her two sons and Oded Lifschitz are handed back to Israel.
THU 13:45 You Do Not Have to Say Anything (m00282r5)
Episode 4: How do you wish to plead?
Defence Barrister Joanna Hardy-Susskind lifts the curtain on the real criminal justice system and the real people working within it - beneath the wigs, under the uniforms and in the dock.
Presenter: Joanna Hardy-Susskind
Producer: Georgia Catt
Assistant Producer: Danita McIntyre
THU 14:00 The Archers (m00282rc)
[Repeat of broadcast at
19:00 on Wednesday]
THU 14:15 Drama on 4 (m00282rk)
Undercover - The Fury. Episode 3
As undercover officer Jason gets closer to the truth about Callum's death, The Fury top boy Mikey has his own investigation underway. Will Mikey's suspicions pose a threat?
JASON ..... Tachia Newall
BETHANY ..... Lauren-Nicole Mayes
MIKEY ..... Joe Gill
REECE ..... Hamish Rush
SADIE ..... Sacha Parkinson
LEO ..... Alfie Corbett
DI KANE .....Krissi Bohn
DCI RICHARDS ..... Jason Done
POLICE OFFICERS .... Ethan Cale, Daniel Fitzpatrick
FOOTBALL FANS: Students from Burnley College: Andrew Jennings, Artur Karlovec, Chloe Conway, Daisy Whittam, Daniel Fisk, Gemma Henderson, Jack Dobbie, Jemima Olaiya, Joseph Butterworth, Kaja Stefaniak, Kenny Conroy-Hargreaves, Kye Jones, Lauren Haigh, Leah Rowley, Marianna Morante, Maxwell Hopkinson, Rebecca Timms, Tom Capstick, Vincent Harper.
Written by Rachel Smith
Produced and Directed by Nadia Molinari
Sound Design and Technical Production by Sharon Hughes
Assistant Technical Producer Amy Brennan
Production co-ordinator, Lorna Newman
Script Consultant Russell Lane
A BBC STUDIOS AUDIO PRODUCTION FOR BBC RADIO 4
THU 15:00 This Natural Life (m00282rr)
Adjoa Andoh
Adjoa Andoh has played lead roles with the Royal Shakespeare Company and the National Theatre, and is a familiar face to fans of Casualty and Doctor Who. She is probably best known as Lady Danbury in Bridgerton, the hit Netflix series. Her roots, though, are firmly in the countryside. She grew up in the village of Wickwar, just north of Bristol, where she and her brother were the only black children in the area. In this programme she tells Martha Kearney about her rural childhood and the lasting love of the natural world it instilled in her. She takes Martha on one of her favourite walks on the South Downs. Together they spot birds, stop to admire sweeping views of the sea, where Adjoa swims year-round, and talk about landscape, religion and the restorative power of nature.
Producer: Emma Campbell
THU 15:27 Radio 4 Appeal (m00282km)
[Repeat of broadcast at
07:54 on Sunday]
THU 15:30 Word of Mouth (m00282ry)
Old English, New English
Michael Rosen explores the evocative Old English words used in daily life a thousand years ago, many of which are still in use now. He's joined by the linguist author of The Wordhord, Hana Videen. Hana has been hoarding words from Old English (450 AD to 1150 AD) for a decade, when she began tweeting one a day. Now she has lots of people following her to find out more about the language, and a new book out called The Deorhord: An Old English Bestiary.
https://oldenglishwordhord.com
Produced for BBC Audio Bristol by Beth O'Dea.
Subscribe to the Word of Mouth podcast and never miss an episode: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/b006qtnz
THU 16:00 Rethink (m00282s4)
Rethink... the global economy
You would be forgiven for thinking that inflation, interest rates, GDP and tariffs drive the global economy.
But there are a whole set of interconnected underlying systems that work quietly in the background to keep economies running smoothly. It's not just countries that rely on them, but individuals as well. These systems allow workers to get paid, banks to make transfers, and the free-flow of information on the internet.
These immaterial systems have a presence in the physical world, from fibre optic cables to the servers that host our data. Building and maintaining this infrastructure, and everything else that makes up modern civilisation requires a constant and reliable supply of raw materials.
But in this globalised world, both the underlying systems online and the supply chains in the material world have pinch points - places where if just one thing gets squeezed, then there are immediate and dramatic effects on the economy.
And whoever controls those pinch points wields a vast amount of power.
In this episode of Rethink, Ben Ansell explores those pinch points, how the USA and China are realising their power, and what this means for the UK.
Presenter: Ben Ansell
Producer: Ravi Naik
Editor: Clare Fordham
Contributors:
Henry Farrell, SNF Agora Professor of International Affairs at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, and co-author of Underground Empire.
Abe Newman, professor in the School of Foreign Service and Government Departments at Georgetown University, and co-author of Underground Empire.
Ed Conway, economics and data editor of Sky News and author of Material World.
THU 16:30 BBC Inside Science (m00282sb)
Biotech Risks and Asteroid Anxiety
Scientists gather this week to tackle emerging risks from cutting-edge biotech, echoing the landmark Asilomar conference that shaped genetic engineering safety 50 years ago. What new threats face us, and how can the scientific community stay ahead of them?
Also in the programme: are you feeling asteroid anxiety? We take a closer look at the chances that ‘2024 YR4’ will hit us... We get the latest calculations on this space rock's potential collision course with Earth in 2032.
And, as members of the Royal Society debate whether to expel Elon Musk from their ranks, we explore past fellows who rattled the establishment. Fellows meet next month to decide his fate.
If you want to find out more about the history of genetic engineering - from the Asilomar conference to the present day - search for Matthew Cobb's series 'Genetic Dreams, Genetic Nightmares' on BBC Sounds.
To discover more fascinating science content, head to bbc.co.uk search for BBC Inside Science and follow the links to The Open University.
Presenter: Victoria Gill
Producers: Ilan Goodman, Sophie Ormiston & Ella Hubber
Editor: Martin Smith
Production Co-ordinator: Jana Bennett-Holesworth
THU 17:00 PM (m00282sh)
Afternoon news and current affairs programme, reporting on breaking stories and summing up the day's headlines.
THU 18:00 Six O'Clock News (m00282sq)
Army failures contributed to the suicide of a soldier who'd been sexually assaulted
THU 18:30 P.O.V. (m00282sx)
Series 1
4. It's all over for Earth
The internet's best comedy creators bring you a sketch show that features the best stag do ever, drinks you can't order at a wake, a trip around a money-sterry, and why it's all over for Earth.
Written and performed by Davina Bentley, Jake Bhardwaj, Rachel Fairburn, Daniel Foxx, Larry & Paul, Tom Lawrinson, Kathy Maniura, Jimmy Rees, Will Sebag-Montefiore, and The Squid.
Recorded in London, Manchester and Sydney.
Edited by Rich Evans at Syncbox Post
Produced by Ed Morrish
A Lead Mojo production for BBC Radio 4
THU 19:00 The Archers (m00282t3)
Robert is taking Khalil out to reward him for spotting Constanza the llama’s injury, and he has high hopes for a great day out. Zainab tags along to the annoyance of her younger brother. They arrive at Arkwright Lake and both are disappointed to find that the treat is birdwatching at the hide. Khalil particularly is unimpressed, and cold. He loves animals close up, but not birds at a distance. Zainab, however, gets more drawn in and enjoys herself. Robert says they’re welcome to visit any time. Zainab admits that this won’t be often, but doesn’t rule out another visit.
Jolene reports to Kenton that Wayne has been offered a regular guitar gig at a bar in Panama, which he visited when docked on the cruise. The two of them offer Fallon her dad’s job on a permanent basis, but Fallon feels she needs to think it over. Kenton realises that Fallon’s been hit with the news that her dad is moving to the other side of the world, and also that working in the kitchen of The Bull might well not be her dream. He talks to her again and offers more incentives; she’d be part of the management team and one day could possibly buy into the business. This is food for thought, and Fallon agrees to call Harrison to discuss it. Later, she has great news for her mum and Kenton – she’d love to accept. They celebrate their new partnership.
THU 19:15 Front Row (m00282t9)
Review: A Thousand Blows, Richard II, Perspectives by Laurent Binet
John Mullan and Caroline Frost join Tom to review Steven Knight's new historical drama A Thousand Blows, Nicolas Hytner's production of Richard II staring Jonathan Bailey and novel Perspectives by Laurent Binet
Presenter: Tom Sutcliffe
Producer: Ciaran Bermingham
THU 20:00 The Media Show (m00282th)
[Repeat of broadcast at
16:00 on Wednesday]
THU 21:00 Loose Ends (m00282s6)
[Repeat of broadcast at
18:15 on Saturday]
THU 21:45 Strong Message Here (m00282pt)
[Repeat of broadcast at
09:45 today]
THU 22:00 The World Tonight (m00282ts)
Rift between Washington and Kyiv deepens
The US National Security Advisor, Mike Waltz, has again urged President Zelensky to sign a deal for US access to Ukraine's minerals, to pay for support in its war against the Russian invasion. Mr Waltz also said that Ukraine needs to tone down its criticism of the United States. Mr Zelensky angered President Trump after he accused him of living in a bubble of Russian disinformation. Meanwhile, Mr Zelensky has been meeting the US envoy, Keith Kellogg, in Kyiv.
Also in the programme: On a day when Israel mourns four hostages, including two children, who've been returned dead, we speak to a woman in London who's awaiting the release of a family friend from captivity in Gaza,
And the university that is offering a film course that aims to rehabilitate the reputation of the donkey.
THU 22:45 The Glassmaker by Tracy Chevalier (m00282tx)
Episode 4
Apprentice glassmaker Antonio has settled in to life on Murano with the Rosso family. His life change comes not a moment too soon, as disease creeps along the canals of Venice.
The spellbinding new novel from the acclaimed author of ‘Girl with a Pearl Earring’ is read by Emily Bruni.
Written by Tracy Chevalier
Abridged by Siân Preece
Produced by Eilidh McCreadie
Tracy Chevalier is the author of eleven novels, including ’A Single Thread’, ‘Remarkable Creatures’ and ‘Girl with a Pearl Earring’, an international bestseller that has sold over five million copies and been made into a film, a play and an opera.
A BBC Audio Scotland production for BBC Radio 4
THU 23:00 The Today Podcast (m00282v1)
Ukraine or Russia: Whose Side Is Trump On?
Donald Trump has accused Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky of being a “dictator” and doing a “terrible job”.
After a week in which the US President brought Russia's Vladimir Putin in from the cold, Nick is joined by the BBC’s former diplomatic correspondent Bridget Kendall and the former UK foreign secretary Jeremy Hunt.
What do they make of Trump appearing to blame Kyiv for the war? And how should Keir Starmer respond?
To get Amol and Nick's take on the biggest stories and insights from behind the scenes at the UK's most influential radio news programme make sure you hit subscribe on BBC Sounds. That way you’ll get an alert every time we release a new episode, and you won’t miss our extra bonus episodes either.
GET IN TOUCH:
* Send us a message or a voice note via WhatsApp to +44 330 123 4346
* Email today@bbc.co.uk
The Today Podcast is hosted by Amol Rajan and Nick Robinson who are both presenters of BBC Radio 4’s Today programme. Amol was the BBC’s media editor for six years and is the former editor of the Independent, he’s also the current presenter of University Challenge. Nick has presented the Today programme since 2015, he was the BBC’s political editor for ten years before that and also previously worked as ITV’s political editor.
This episode was made by Lewis Vickers with Nadia Gyane and Grace Reeve. Digital production was by Grace Reeve. The technical producer was Hannah Montgomery. The editor is Louisa Lewis. The executive producer is Owenna Griffiths.
THU 23:30 A Year in the Life of the Swinging Sixties (m00224h7)
James Peak and Joan Bakewell find some incredible hidden BBC archive from 1963. Wait! Is that The Beatles? And Mary Quant? And Morecambe & Wise?
The Public Ear was a bold new arts show, broadcast on The Light Programme in 1963, which tried to make sense of all the amazing things that were happening in London and the UK in music, art, theatre, comedy, football, politics and feminism. Travel back in time for a Year in the Life of the Swinging Sixties, for archive unheard for these last 60 years - the precise moment that Beatlemania started and the National Theatre was founded, a time when broadcasters could ask people on the street who they'd drop a bomb on.
Joan Bakewell was there the first time around and puts these amazing archive finds into context.
With special thanks to Dame Joan Bakewell, Keith Wickham of The Radio Circle, Helen Toland and Amy McGarrigle
Assistant Producer: Ruby Churchill
BBC Archive Curator: Liz Storey
BBC Archive Senior Curator: Carl Davies
Sound Design & Mixing: Neil Churchill
Written, produced & presented by James Peak
An Essential Radio production for BBC Radio 4
FRIDAY 21 FEBRUARY 2025
FRI 00:00 Midnight News (m00282v5)
National and international news from BBC Radio 4
FRI 00:30 Under a Metal Sky by Philip Marsden (m00282q9)
[Repeat of broadcast at
11:45 on Thursday]
FRI 00:48 Shipping Forecast (m00282vb)
The latest weather reports and forecasts for UK shipping
FRI 01:00 Selection of BBC World Service Programmes (m00282vg)
BBC Radio 4 joins the BBC World Service.
FRI 05:20 Shipping Forecast (m00282vl)
The latest weather reports and forecasts for UK shipping
FRI 05:30 News Briefing (m00282vq)
The latest news from BBC Radio 4
FRI 05:43 Prayer for the Day (m00282vw)
Change: it never changes!
Good Morning.
For everyone in this world, change is an inevitable part of life. Time is constantly passing us by, and the world around us never stands still. Like a river that is in constant motion, flowing toward the sea, life is in a perpetual state of flux. This doesn’t have to be a problem - if we can develop an immunity to this constant change.
Advaita Vedanta, the Hindu tradition of non-duality, teaches us that our attachment to this impermanent, changing world, is the root cause of suffering. Everything in this world is subject to change – our relationships, our possessions and positions, even our own bodies. Changes that we implement ourselves are relatively easy to accept. It’s when the change isn’t in our control that we feel unsettled.
Wisdom, then, is to understand that true happiness lies, not in resisting change, but in embracing it as an opportunity for growth. Just as a tree sheds its old leaves to make way for new ones, we can also learn to let go of the past and welcome the future with open arms.
What makes it easier, is finding something permanent and stable, and making that our foundation in life. Vedanta teaches us that this is our own true Self, which remains unaffected in the face of the constantly changing body, emotions and thoughts. If we take the time to discover it, there is a deep well of stillness, peace and joy within us.
Let us remember that change is the only constant. May we remain rooted in our own true, divine nature, and learn to embrace change with courage and understanding. May we free ourselves from fear and anxiety, and experience the true joy of living in the present moment. Hari Om.
FRI 05:45 Farming Today (m00282w0)
21/02/25 Solar wildlife, Scottish land use strategy, regenerative agriculture.
Solar farms managed for nature can benefit birds more than intensively farmed arable land. Research by the RSPB and the University of Cambridge looked at two types of solar farms in the East Anglian Fens. Those with mixed habitats - with hedgerows, no grass cutting or grazing sheep had a greater number and diversity of flowering plants and birds than intensively farmed arable land, or solar farms which were intensively managed.
As England consults on its new land use framework we find out how Scotland's land use strategy's been working. It was first published in 2011 and is updated every five years. We speak to a policy manager at NFU Scotland to find out how it's affected farmers and crofters on the ground.
Regenerative agriculture or regen ag, is something that's discussed a lot, and it's a term creeping into the marketing jargon of food businesses - so what exactly is meant by it?
Presenter = Charlotte Smith
Producer = Rebecca Rooney
FRI 06:00 Today (m0028373)
News and current affairs, including Sports Desk, Weather and Thought for the Day.
FRI 09:00 Desert Island Discs (m00282l0)
[Repeat of broadcast at
10:00 on Sunday]
FRI 10:00 Woman's Hour (m0028375)
Jess Phillips MP, Luis Rubiales case, author Nussaibah Younis
We discuss the case of former Spanish football boss Luis Rubiales, who was found guilty of sexual assault for kissing player Jenni Hermoso without her consent at the 2023 World Cup final. Anita is joined by Semra Hunter, a sports broadcast journalist and Virginia Alvarez from Amnesty International Spain.
Nussaibah Younis’s debut novel Fundamentally is based on her own experiences working as a peacekeeping consultant in Baghdad. The book follows Nadia, a British Asian woman working for the UN, and her relationship with fellow Brit Sara, a nineteen-year-old three-times widowed member of the Islamic State Group. Nussaibah joins Anita to discuss finding the comedy in a desperate situation.
Anita speaks to Minister for Safeguarding and Violence Against Women and Girls, Jess Phillips on the day that Raneem’s Law is launched. Domestic abuse specialists will be embedded in 999 control rooms in five forces to ensure that victims of domestic abuse receive more specialist support.
Ukraine is dominating the headlines, but away from the political talks, Ukrainian Fashion Week took place over the weekend in Kyiv. It’s the second time it’s happened in the country since the conflict started three years ago, and the theme was hope. We speak to designer Ksenia Schnaider and organiser Lisa Ushcheka.
In the latest Bridget Jones film: Mad About the Boy, Bridget has been widowed and is now a single mother. When the opportunity arises, she slips back into the lifestyle of casual sex, and enjoys a relationship with a man 20 years younger. How difficult is it as a single mother to enjoy a healthy sex life without fear of shame or stigma? Anita discusses with journalist Rebecca Reid.
Presenter: Anita Rani
Producer: Emma Pearce
FRI 11:00 The Food Programme (m0028377)
Regenerative farming and food. What does it mean?
It's a term used by the smallest farmers and the world's biggest food businesses. But what does 'regenerative agriculture' mean?
Produced and presented by Dan Saladino.
FRI 11:45 Under a Metal Sky by Philip Marsden (m0028379)
Gold
Philip Marsden’s passion for rocks dates back to his boyhood, when he first discovered the excitement of searching for crystals and fossils. In Under a Metal Sky, he takes us on a captivating journey across Europe through the story of metals, revealing how they became an engine of culture, trade and technology that changed our relationship with the natural world.
In the final episode, Philip travels to Georgia, home of the legend of the Golden Fleece. The quest for the fleece is the origin story of countless heroic tales, down to Star Wars and Harry Potter. The search for gold itself represents the ultimate reward - a symbol of status and value.
In Svaneti, a region known for its gold, he finds two locals who take him panning for gold in the river. As he catches a few grains, the excitement of his childhood explorations searching for rocks returns, a fascination that has shaped his journey across Europe to follow the story of metals.
Read by Adrian Lukis
Produced and Abridged by Jo Glanville
Editor: Jo Rowntree
Studio Engineer: Jon Calver
A Loftus Media production for BBC Radio 4
FRI 12:00 News Summary (m002837c)
The latest national and international news from BBC Radio 4.
FRI 12:04 AntiSocial (m002837f)
Nudity - the great cover up?
How comfortable are we with nudity and why does the naked body still have the power to shock?
This month we’ve seen Bianca Censori break the internet after her red carpet appearance in a transparent dress and artists in north London upset about their life drawing class being moved. What actually happened and why were people so censorious about Bianca? Also, what is the history of nudism in the UK?
To discuss the power of the naked body Adam is joined by Dr Victoria Bateman – an economist and author of Naked Feminism: Breaking the cult of female modesty and Stephanie Murray , a freelance journalist and contributing writer for The Atlantic.
Presented by Adam Fleming
Produced by Emma Close, Beth Ashmead and Clare Williamson
Studio manager: Annie Gardiner
Production coordinator: Janet Staples
Editor: Penny Murphy
FRI 12:57 Weather (m002837h)
The latest weather forecast
FRI 13:00 World at One (m002837k)
Forty-five minutes of news, analysis and comment.
FRI 13:45 You Do Not Have to Say Anything (m002837m)
Episode 5: My Learned Friends
Defence Barrister Joanna Hardy-Susskind opens the door to the barristers’ robing room. It’s a mix of a theatre backstage, a locker room, social club, and therapy clinic. What goes on before court is about to begin?
Defence Barrister Joanna Hardy-Susskind lifts the curtain on the real criminal justice system and the real people working within it - beneath the wigs, under the uniforms and in the dock.
Presenter: Joanna Hardy-Susskind
Producer: Georgia Catt
Assistant Producer: Danita McIntyre
FRI 14:00 The Archers (m00282t3)
[Repeat of broadcast at
19:00 on Thursday]
FRI 14:15 Limelight (m0027vmx)
Exemplar - Series 2
Exemplar - Episode 4
Jess is observing as her old adversary, gang leader Danny Fenchurch, is questioned by the police. Will he crack? Meanwhile, back at Veritas, Maya is trying to crack a bizarre code on a video of a man being held captive by the gang. When DS Gray takes charge, the interrogation gets more heated.
Exemplar: “an audio recording made by a forensic analyst to recreate the precise audio conditions of a piece of evidence in a criminal or civil case.”
The return of a modern day thriller set in the world of audio forensics. In Exemplar, Gina McKee plays Jess, a forensic analyst born and bred in the North East. Together with her colleague Maya, she undertakes a different sound challenge in every episode. When DS Serena Gray comes into their world, things become a little bit more complicated.
Created by leading sound designers, Ben and Max Ringham, and rooted in factual research. The first series of Exemplar won Best Series at the 2022 BBC Audio Drama Awards.
Jess ….. Gina McKee
Maya ….. Shvorne Marks
D S Gray ….. Clare Perkins
Danny Fenchurch ….. Mark Stobbart
Jemma ….. Amy McAllister
Kirsty ….. Molly Roberts
Writers: Ben and Max Ringham, with Dan Rebellato
Audio forensic consultants: James Zjalić, plus Dr Katherine Earnshaw and Bryony Nuttall, forensic specialists in speech and audio at the Forensic Voice Centre
Police consultant: Alex Ashton
Sound recordist: Alisdair McGregor
Production coordinator: Annie Keates Thorpe
Sound design: Ben and Max Ringham with Lucinda Mason Brown
Original music: Ben and Max Ringham
Directors: Polly Thomas and Jade Lewis
Executive producer: Joby Waldman
A Reduced Listening production for BBC Radio 4
FRI 14:45 Why Do We Do That? (m002837p)
Series 2
5. Why do we laugh?
Ella Al-Shamahi asks why do we laugh?
Some people might not have a sense of humour, you might even know someone who never laughs… but there isn’t a culture out there, say a tribe, where people just never laugh. It does appear to be universal but how universal and how primal?
Many mammals and the great apes ( chimpanzees, gorillas and bononbos) laugh. Orangutans diverged from the other great apes including us about 12 million years ago and because we all laugh that suggests our shared common ancestor laughed. So what is the purpose of laughing? Ella talks to Professor Sophie Scott from University College London and stand-up comic Ria Lina.
FRI 15:00 Gardeners' Question Time (m002837r)
Walsall: Rainwater v Tap Water, Caffeinated Ants and Daffodil Diaries
How do we get rid of red ants? Rainwater or tap water? How can I stay motivated in the garden when it's wet and windy?
Kathy Clugston and her team of gardening gurus visit Walsall to solve some horticultural problems. Joining Kathy to answer the questions are garden designers Bunny Guinness, Marcus Chilton Jones and Matthew Wilson.
Later in the programme, Peter Gibbs visits RHS Wisley where principal scientist Kálmán Könyves educates him on their Daffodil Diaries initiative. A strategy which logs where, what and when rare and endangered narcissi bloom.
Producer: Bethany Hocken
Assistant Producer: Rahnee Prescod
Executive Producer: Carly Maile
A Somethin' Else production for BBC Radio 4
FRI 15:45 Short Works (m002837t)
Nothing Happened by David Szalay
Indira Varma reads an original short story for Radio 4 by the award-winning writer David Szalay.
In Abu Dhabi airport, in the middle of the night, two people are thrown together again for the first time in decades. Now both middle-aged, they ponder missed chances...
Writer: David Szalay is an acclaimed writer of novels and short stories. He was shortlisted for the Booker Prize, and has won the Betty Trask Award and the Edge Hill Short Story Prize. He lives in Budapest.
Reader Indira Varma
Producer: Justine Willett
FRI 16:00 Last Word (m002837w)
Rick Buckler, Margaret Miles-Bramwell, Harry Stewart Jr, Maureen Halton
John Wilson on
Rick Buckley, the drummer in The Jam, one of the most popular and influential British bands of the 70s and 80s.
Margaret Miles-Bramwell who founded Slimming World in response to what she saw as humiliation tactics by weight loss groups.
World War Two fighter pilot Harry Stewart Jr, part of the all-African American Tuskegee Airmen who despite huge successes in aerial combat, faced discrimination and segregation on the ground.
Maureen Halton, the biology lecturer who introduced and popularised the Frisbee in the UK.
Producer: Ed Prendeville
Archive:
Interview with WW2 Veteran Harry Stewart Jr” From: Friends of the National World War II Memorial, uploaded
21.02.2024; Red Tails (2012) HD Movie Trailer - Lucasfilm Official Trailer, Uploaded to Youtube by Rotten Tomatoes,
29.07.2011; Remembering the Tuskegee Airmen From: U.S. Department of the Interior; Slimming World podcast, Permission granted by Rebecca Robinson – Director of Comms at Slimming World; Rock On!, BBC Radio 1,
21.05.1977; THE JANICE FORSYTH SHOW: THE JANICE FORSYTH SHOW, BBC,
11.12.2017; Sounds of the 70s with Johnnie Walker : Rick Buckler, BBC Radio 2,
06.02.2018
FRI 16:30 Sideways (m002837y)
[Repeat of broadcast at
09:00 on Wednesday]
FRI 17:00 PM (m0028380)
Apple removes advanced data protection for UK users
Apple pulls its encryption tool after the government demands access to customers' data. Plus, Mustafa Barghouti on Israel's decision to step up operations in the West Bank, and Oliver Berkman and Libby Purves share tips on how to survive the news-nami.
FRI 18:00 Six O'Clock News (m0028382)
There's anger in Israel after Hamas returns the wrong hostage body, blaming an error.
FRI 18:30 The News Quiz (m0028384)
Series 116
7. Lying and Reassurance
Andy Zaltzman is joined by Zoe Lyons, Ian Smith, Laura Lexx and Hugo Rifkind as they unpack Trump and Putin in talks in Saudi Arabia, the solutions to prison overcrowding, and the Welsh solution for parliamentary empty promises.
Written by Andy Zaltzman.
With additional material by: Simon Alcock, David Duncan, Laura Major, Christina Riggs and Peter Tellouche.
Producer: Rajiv Karia
Executive Producer: James Robinson
Production Coordinator: Jodie Charman
Sound Editor: Marc Willcox
A BBC Studios Audio Production for Radio 4
An Eco-Audio certified Production
FRI 19:00 The Archers (m0028386)
WRITER: Keri Davies
DIRECTORS: Jessica Bunch & Dave Payne
EDITOR: Jeremy Howe
Helen Archer…. Louiza Patikas
Jolene Archer…. Buffy Davis
Kenton Archer…. Richard Attlee
Natasha Archer…. Mali Harries
Pat Archer…. Patricia Gallimore
Tom Archer…. William Troughton
Tony Archer…. David Troughton
Mick Fadmoor…. Martin Barrass
Clarrie Grundy…. Heather Bell
Emma Grundy…. Emerald O‘Hanrahan
Tracy Horrobin…. Susie Riddell
Joy Horville…. Jackie Lye
Alistair Lloyd…. Michael Lumsden
Khalil Malik…. Krish Bassi
Zainab Malik…. Priyasasha Kumari
Kirsty Miller…. Annabelle Dowler
Fallon Rogers…. Joanna Van Kampen
Robert Snell…. Michael Bertenshaw
Celia Sparrow…. Toni Midlane
FRI 19:15 Add to Playlist (m0028388)
Julian Joseph and Aoife Ní Bhriain open the new series
Irish violinist Aoife Ní Bhriain and jazz pianist and composer Julian Joseph are the first guests in the new series with Jeffrey Boakye and Anna Phoebe. Together they add the first five tracks, taking us from the Mercury Prize-winning jazz group Ezra Collective to a celebrated pair of sisters at the piano, via a 1975 pop classic heavily influenced by Frédéric Chopin.
Producer: Jerome Weatherald
Presented with musical direction by Jeffrey Boakye and Anna Phoebe
The five tracks in this week's playlist:
God Gave Me Feet For Dancing by Ezra Collective
Nocturne No. 20 in C-Sharp Minor by Frédéric Chopin
Could it be Magic by Barry Manilow
Kabir by John McLaughlin, Shankar Mahadevan & Zakir Hussain
Double Concerto for Two Pianos and Orchestra: Mvt 1 by Philip Glass, performed by Katia & Marielle Labèque
Other music in this episode:
Everywhere by Fleetwood Mac
Dollar Wine by Colin Lucas
Feeling Good by Nina Simone
Prelude in C Minor, Op 28, No 20 by Frédéric Chopin
Could it be Magic by Donna Summer
Could it be Magic by Take That
FRI 20:00 Any Questions? (m002838b)
Gerard Baker, James Cartlidge MP, Carla Denyer MP, Luke Pollard MP
Alex Forsyth presents political debate from Sutton Scotney in Hampshire with the Wall Street Journal's editor-at-large Gerard Baker; shadow defence secretary James Cartlidge MP; Carla Denyer MP, the co-leader of the Green Party; and defence minister Luke Pollard MP.
Producer: Paul Martin
Lead broadcast engineer: Tim Allen
FRI 20:50 A Point of View (m002838d)
Print the Legend
Tom Shakespeare explores the pitfalls of dramatised history and its influence on real life - but confesses to his own minor role in rewriting the past.
"We turn to stories when the reality we desire fails us," he writes, "but if the legend is not based in fact, then history is in deep trouble, and so are we all."
Producer: Sheila Cook
Sound: Peter Bosher
Production Co-ordinator: Gemma Ashman
Editor: Richard Fenton-Smith
FRI 21:00 Free Thinking (m002838g)
Malcolm X, life changes and flexible thinking
Matthew Sweet and guests discuss changing course in life, flexible thinking and keeping an open mind with writer and curator Ekow Eshun, philosopher Sophie Grace Chappell, journalist Stephen Bush, author Timandra Harkness and philosopher Richard Bett.
Producer: Lisa Jenkinson
FRI 22:00 The World Tonight (m002838j)
In depth reporting, intelligent analysis and breaking news from a global perspective.
FRI 22:45 The Glassmaker by Tracy Chevalier (m002838l)
Episode 5
The plague has left Venice and her islands devastated but on Murano, the furnaces are firing and Orsola’s beads take shape once more.
The spellbinding new novel from the acclaimed author of ‘Girl with a Pearl Earring’ is read by Emily Bruni.
Written by Tracy Chevalier
Abridged by Siân Preece
Produced by Eilidh McCreadie
Tracy Chevalier is the author of eleven novels, including ’A Single Thread’, ‘Remarkable Creatures’ and ‘Girl with a Pearl Earring’, an international bestseller that has sold over five million copies and been made into a film, a play and an opera.
A BBC Audio Scotland production for BBC Radio 4
FRI 23:00 Americast (m002838n)
How far away is a Ukraine peace deal?
The past week has seen international diplomacy turned upside down as the US began talks with Russia to end the war in Ukraine. The decision to exclude Ukraine - and Europe - from these talks led to an emergency summit in which European countries sought to establish some influence over the process.
But with the US and Ukrainian presidents embroiled in a dispute that led to Trump calling Zelensky a “dictator”, is their relationship beyond repair? And will Ukraine have any say over the terms of a peace deal?
Newscast, Americast and Ukrainecast gathered in the studio for a special collaboration to unpack the enormous shift in international politics that’s unfolding.
HOSTS:
Adam Fleming, Newscast Presenter
Alex Forsyth, Political Correspondent
Justin Webb, Radio 4 Presenter
Marianna Spring, Social Media Investigations Correspondent
Vitaly Shevchenko, Russia Editor at BBC Monitoring
GET IN TOUCH:
• Join our online community: https://discord.gg/qSrxqNcmRB
• Send us a message or voice note via WhatsApp to +44 330 123 9480
• Email Americast@bbc.co.uk
• Or use #Americast
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Americast is part of the BBC News Podcasts family of podcasts. The team that makes Americast also makes lots of other podcasts, including The Global Story, The Today Podcast, and of course Newscast and Ukrainecast. If you enjoy Americast (and if you're reading this then you hopefully do), then we think that you will enjoy some of our other pods too. See links below.
The Global Story: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/w13xtvsd
The Today Podcast: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/p0gg4k6r
Newscast: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/series/p05299nl
Ukrainecast: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/p0bqztzm
FRI 23:30 Artworks (m0026v5r)
50 Years of the Koln Concert
Fifty years after Keith Jarrett performed the Koln Concert to a sellout crowd, Kevin le Gendre explores the enduring appeal of the biggest selling solo piano record of all time, and unpicks a new musical language born out of adversity.
That night in January 1975 is full of stories - of Keith Jarrett's long journey, no food, poor sleep and arriving at the Cologne Opera House to find a broken piano. The concert was almost cancelled and the legendary recording beloved by millions nearly never happened. Yet could these problems be at the heart of the album's bewitching new sound world?
Multi Grammy award winner, Jacob Collier, sits at the piano to unpick Jarrett's evocative harmonies that have captured millions of hearts far beyond the jazz world. Writer Geoff Dyer applauds Jarrett's gorgeous lyricism and discusses the momentous achievement of improvising live for over an hour, not knowing what the first note would be. British jazz pianists Nikki Yeoh and Django Bates reflect on Jarrett's influence and tell stories of gigs where limitations lead to magic. And pianist Maki Namekawa, who now performs a transcription of The Koln Concert, shares peoples' stories of why they love to listen in some unique circumstances.
And in testament to the album's blockbuster success, we hear from a few of the many guests who have picked the Koln Concert on Radio 4's Desert Island Discs.
Presenter: Kevin le Gendre
Producer: Erika Wright
Sound Mixing: Richard Courtice
Production Coordinator: Elisabeth Tuohy
Executive Producer: Rami Tzabar
A TellTale Industries production for BBC Radio 4