SATURDAY 08 DECEMBER 2012

SAT 00:00 Blake's 7: The Early Years (b018sh0k)
Point of No Return
On the eve of a tense election, Major Travis is given an unexpected assignment. But can he trust the evidence? With Craig Kelly.
SAT 00:30 Red Dwarf (b00qs7qy)
Better Than Life
Episode 5
Lister awaits rescue. And waits. And waits. Back on the ship, however, time behaves oddly. Read by Rimmer himself, Chris Barrie.
SAT 01:00 The Christopher Marlowe Mysteries (b007k1x8)
2. The Turbulent Tale of the Troubl'd Tragedy
Why does an unknown patron fund the worst play ever written, and what has become of Mighty Meg?
Historical comedy mysteries by Ged Parsons. Amid the splendour and squalor of Elizabethan London - scholar, playwright and government spy, Christopher Marlowe is assigned to investigate a number of baffling mysteries and perplexing intrigues...
Starring Dominic Jephcott as Marlowe, Bill Wallis as Ratsbane, Paul Brooke as Sir Francis Walsingham, Roy Hudd as Peek, Simon Godley as Fortescue, Lionel Jeffries as Trump, Daniel Strauss as Squires and Victoria Carling as Gloriana Nonesuch.
Producer: Richard Wilson
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 1993.
SAT 01:30 Ben Macintyre - Agent Zigzag (b00jp108)
Episode 5
British wartime double agent and former convict Eddie Chapman arrives back home. Concluded by Damian Lewis.
SAT 01:45 Thrilling Stories of the Railway (b00fwcsp)
The Affair of the Birmingham Bank
Can daring Edwardian sleuth, Thorpe Hazell manage to foil a gold bullion train robbery?
Benedict Cumberbatch reads Victor Lorenzo Whitechurch's tales about the speciality detective who uses his locomotive expertise to solve the audacious and ingenious crimes plaguing the Edwardian railways.
Eccentric Thorpe Hazell is in many ways a man before his time: a vegetarian and health fanatic using his encyclopaedic railway knowledge to tackle Britain's most ingenious smugglings, thefts, kidnaps and murders. A man of independent means, he thrives on working to his own whims - and operating outside the law when it suits him.
English reverend, railway enthusiast and popular mystery writer (1868 - 1933) - Victor Lorenzo Whitechurch's immaculate plots were much admired by Dorothy L Sayers and Ellery Queen. He was one of the first authors to submit his stories to Scotland Yard so they could vet his police procedures.
Adapted and produced by Fiona Kelcher.
Made for BBC Radio 4 Extra and first broadcast in 2008.
SAT 02:00 Millport (b0076b7f)
Series 3
Reinstatement
As the first ferry of the holiday season arrives - why is Irene back on the island?
The third series of the bittersweet comedy written by and starring Lynn Ferguson as 30-something barmaid Irene Bruce, who hankers after a better life on the mainland.
Irene ...... Lynn Ferguson
Moira/Agnes ...... Janet Brown
Alberto/Dr Hume/Ferryman ...... Lewis McLeod
Ena/Bunty ...... Gabriel Quigley
Minister ...... Robert Patterson
Dougie ...... Kenneth Bryans
Music arranged by Olly Fox.
Producer: Lucy Bacon
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in March 2002.
SAT 02:30 The Brothers (b007mc8t)
Series 1
Episode 4
Arson and revolving bow ties - just another day for Nigel and Michael. Stars Adam Godley and Raymond Coulthard. From June 2004.
SAT 03:00 Nathaniel Hawthorne - Wakefield (b00rs19x)
A dull middle-aged man whose life has been monotonously ordinary for years, devises a plot to temporarily leave home and observe the effect on his wife from a flat opposite.
But he stays away much longer than expected - and it becomes more and more difficult for him to return...
David Haig stars in Nathaniel Hawthorne's short story dramatised by Martyn Wade.
Wakefield ...... David Haig
Hawthorne ...... John Rowe
Mrs Wakefield ...... Richenda Carey
Mr Lucas Ferris ...... Jonathan Keeble
Mrs Brand ...... Jennie Stoller
Doctor ...... Gordon Reid
Producer: Cherry Cookson
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in January 2001
SAT 04:00 The Interview (b00770g9)
The Good Shepherd
Is a new member of the congregation the answer to a cash-strapped pastor's prayers? Laura Marney short story read by James Fleet. From October 2006.
SAT 04:15 Martyn Wade - The Other Constance Chatterley (b007k0l7)
Mrs Chatterley of Gravesend reveals similar interests to her famous namesake.
Martyn Wade's comedy set in the 1930s starring Felicity Montagu and Rachel Atkins.
A failing firm of solicitors is saved from ruin by the prospect of a literary libel case. But it may involve the rather buttoned up partner of the firm going way beyond the call of duty.
Constance Chatterley ...... Rachel Atkins
Miss Priestley ...... Felicity Montagu
David Horovitch ...... Mr Greene
Mr Chatterley ...... Jon Glover
Director: Cherry Cookson
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in June 2004.
SAT 05:00 Beachcomber... By the Way (b008tx2z)
Series 3
Episode 4
A tale from Tibet - and the wonders of a newly developed matchstick.
Richard Ingrams, John Wells, John Sessions, Joan Sims amd Patricia Routledge recreate the world of JB Morton.
With Brian Bowles, Simon Greenall, Henrietta Gooden and featuring June Whitfield.
Running in the Daily Express from 1924 to 1975 – JB Morton’s surreally comic ‘Beachcomber’ column paved the way for a great deal of modern humour – thanks to characters he created between the wars.
Adapted by Michael Barfield with Richard Ingrams.
Announcer: Brian Perkins.
Producer: Harry Thompson
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in November 1994.
SAT 05:30 Up the Garden Path (b0085k01)
Series 2
The More the Merrier
Charles learns of Izzy's torrid past, when her friends join them for a holiday.
Tumbling from one love entanglement to another, 30 something teacher Izzy Comyn has a predilection for inappropriate men.
Imelda Staunton stars as Izzy.
An 8-part radio sequel adapted from Sue Limb’s 1984 novel. The second of 3 series which ran from 1987 to 1993. Granada also adapted the series for ITV.
Izzy ...... Imelda Staunton
Charles ...... David Robb
Dick ...... Mike Grady
Bill ...... Neil McCaul
Maria ...... Marty Cruickshank
Gwyn ...... Dafydd Hywel
Michael ...... Nicholas Le Prevost
Louise ...... Phyllida Nash
Producer: Jonathan James-Moore
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in November 1988.
SAT 06:00 Ellen Dryden - The Westward Journey (b007jzmq)
"We are now beyond the Missouri River. We have left the States behind. Ahead of us lie the great uncivilised plains."
On the wagon trains of the perilous migration across America to Oregon and California, the strength of women was tested against the ambition and pride of their men.
Ellen Dryden's period drama stars Carolyn Jones as Martha, Tracy-Ann Oberman as Lucy, Marcia Warren as Hannah, , Bradley Lavelle as Thomas, Nathan Osgood as George, David Bannerman as Robert McKail, Mia Soteriou as Elizabeth Swain, Alison Pettitt as Rebecca, David Brooks as Francis, Mac McDonald as Jonah, Liz Ross as Woman and Alan Marriott as Charles Putnam.
Music by Mia Soteriou.
Director: Ned Chaillet
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 1997.
SAT 07:30 Blueberries in Manndalen (b00y26mt)
In the Arctic Circle's midsummer silvery light - poet and writer, John Burnside visits the Sami Music Festival of Riddu Riddu in northern Norway.
Here the air is filled with the music and song of the indigenous peoples of the north.
Producer: Caroline Barbour
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 2003.
SAT 08:00 Garrison Keillor's Radio Show (b00whw5f)
Series 6
Episode 3
The American funny man is back at New York's Town Hall with the Punch Brothers, Heather Masse and The Klezmatics. From 2009.
SAT 09:00 Comedy Controller (b007js2c)
John Hegley
The poet picks The Mark Steel Solution, John Peel sessions, Arthur Smith sings Leonard Cohen, Linda Smith's A Brief History of Timewasting and The Adventures of John and Tony.
SAT 12:00 China Girl: Omnibus (b01p6nb1)
Childless Nick and Naomi adopt a baby from a Chinese orphanage. Inspired by author Tom Fry's own story. With Sophie Thompson.
SAT 13:15 Petrella (b007jpkn)
Series 1
Good Fences Make Good Neighbours
The Oxbridge detective probes the murder of a young woman who led 'a double life'. Michael Gilbert's thriller stars Philip Jackson.
SAT 14:00 Just a Minute (b01p497k)
Email and the plug hole. Nicholas Parsons welcomes Linda Smith, Clement Freud, Paul Merton and Stephen Fry. From August 2000.
SAT 14:30 One Foot in the Grave (b007jmxg)
Alive and Buried
Grumpy Victor Meldrew arrives at work to learn that he's no longer employed and is set to be replaced by a box.
With time passing very slowly in his enforced retirement, Victor gripes about newsreaders and worries about becoming a lavatory junkie.
Richard Wilson stars as Victor and Annette Crosbie as his long-suffering wife Margaret.
Adapted for radio by David Renwick from his BBC TV script.
Victor Meldrew ...... Richard Wilson
Margaret Meldrew ...... Annette Crosbie
Mrs Warboys ...... Doreen Mantle
Nick Swainey ...... Owen Brenman
With Sally Grace and Jeffrey Holland.
Winning numerous awards, six series were made for TV plus numerous specials on BBC ONE from 1990 to 2000.
Producer: Diane Messias
First broadcast on BBC Radio 2 in January 1995.
SAT 15:00 Garrison Keillor's Radio Show (b00whw5f)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:00 today]
SAT 16:00 Ellen Dryden - The Westward Journey (b007jzmq)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:00 today]
SAT 17:30 Nick Mohammed in Bits (b00tjdnz)
Witness Statement
There's been a robbery, and character comedian Nick Mohammed (Reggie Perrin, Sorry I've Got No Head) dons a police helmet and takes statements. Colin Hoult and Anna Crilly (Lead Balloon) co-star as the unhappy couple called on to testify.
Bits is a series of character pieces showcasing the best of Nick Mohammed's idiosyncratic characters in a series of one off comic plays.
Produced by Victoria Lloyd.
SAT 18:00 Bradbury 13 (b0124qyz)
The Veldt
Wealthy parents worry when their holographic nursery will only show an African plain filled with savage lions. Ray Bradbury's thriller stars Ivan Croswell.
SAT 18:30 Ghost Stories of Walter De La Mare (b00wvd6t)
Crewe
In the chilly waiting-room of a railway station, an old man relates a disturbing history of a haunting in a job he formerly held...
Read by Kenneth Cranham.
Walter de la Mare (1873-1956) was a popular award-wining poet, short story writer and novelist. He wrote for both children and adults.
Abridged by Doreen Estall.
Producer: Lawrence Jackson
Made for BBC Radio 7 and first broadcast in December 2010.
SAT 19:00 Comedy Controller (b007js2c)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:00 today]
SAT 22:00 Act Your Age (b00g3hr8)
Series 1
Episode 5
Simon Mayo discovers which generation is the funniest. With Jon Richardson, Lucy Porter and Roy Walker. From December 2008.
SAT 22:30 The Jason Byrne Show (b01p6pxc)
Series 3
I Won't Eat Bread From a Puddle
Jason Byrne looks at the subject of fears with members of the audience revealing an eccentric range of phobias include feet; boats in dry docks and being forced to eat white bread out of puddles.
Themed audience comedy show with high-energy stand-up and sketches with Laurence Howarth and Daisy Haggard.
Producer: Julia McKenzie
First broadcast on BBC Radio 2 in November 2010.
SAT 23:00 Patricia Highsmith - The Cry of the Owl (b012qqvq)
Episode 1
Robert Forester is now living in Langley, Pennsylvania, after a messy divorce.
He's escaped his oppressive wife and has no need to see a psychiatrist again.So why is he outside Jenny Theirolf's house, watching her every move?
Patricia Highsmith's intriguing tale of obsession stars John Sharian as Robert Forester, Adrian Lester as Greg Wyncoop, Joanne McQuinn as Jenny Theirolf and Matt Rippy as Jack Neilsen.
Adapted by Shaun McKenna.
Music composed and performed by David Chilton
Director: Marion Nancarrow
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 2002.
SAT 23:30 Kenneth Noye - A Killer on the Run (b01p6pxf)
Episode 5
Fleeing the ongoing police investigation, Noye hunkers down in his Spanish hideaway and makes plans. Read by Philip Jackson.
SAT 23:45 Ira Levin - The Boys From Brazil (b014tmfl)
Episode 5
As the chilling truth dawns on Yakov Liebermann, can he reach the next victim before the killer does? Read by Alex Jennings.