SATURDAY 06 JULY 2013

SAT 00:00 Gaston Leroux - The Phantom of the Opera (b008p5cw)
Episode 4
Raoul and the Persian enter the Phantom's lair to search for Christine. Stars Peter Guinness, Helen Goldwyn and James D'Arcy.
SAT 00:30 HP Lovecraft - The Shadow Over Innsmouth (b015fv26)
Episode 5
Robert Olmstead flees Innsmouth, only to discover years later a shocking secret linking him to the town. Read by Richard Coyle.
SAT 01:00 Robert Harris - Fatherland (b007jmtf)
Closing In
Detective Xavier March uncovers the terrible secret of Adolf Hitler's totalitarian state.
Anton Lesser stars as Xavier March, homicide investigator with the Berlin Kriminalpolizei.
Conclusion of Robert Harris's thriller dramatised by John Dryde.
Xavier March ...... Anton Lesser
Charlotte Maguire ...... Angeline Ball
Globus ...... Michael Byrne
Krebs ...... William Scott Masson
Max Jaeger ...... Peter Ellis
Nebe ...... Stratford Johns
Border Guard ...... Dan Fineman
Commentator ...... Alan Dedicoat
Producer: John Dryden
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in December 1998.
SAT 01:30 Richard Matheson - A Stir of Echoes (b00p689c)
Episode 5
After his series of terrifying premonitions, Tom battles to discover what Helen wants. Concluded by Trevor White.
SAT 02:00 Alison and Maud (b007k3lg)
Series 2
Golf Is a Four-Letter Word
Maud seeks solace in Test Match Special while Alison gets in a flap over a bird fancier.
Second of two series of Sue Limb's Bed and Breakfast sitcom about sisters Alison and Maud and their guests at the Abbeyfield Guest House in Norwich.
Starring Denise Coffey as Alison, Miriam Margolyes as Maud, Chris Emmett as Mr Mullett and Geoffrey Whitehead as Bernard.
Producer: Jonathan James-Moore.
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in March 2004.
SAT 02:30 Spending My Inheritance (b00fkx90)
Voluntary Service
Sitcom by Clive Coleman, starring Kris Marshall as cash-strapped forty-something Harry, who has to watch from the sidelines as his newly retired parents start spending their hard-earned cash on themselves.
Harry ...... Kris Marshall
Jo ...... Raquel Cassidy
Brian ...... Kenneth Cranham
Liz ...... Judy Parfitt
Jess ...... Antonia Thomas
Mike ...... Robert Lonsdale
Jan ...... Jill Cardo
Directed by Sam Hoyle.
SAT 03:00 Classic Serial (b00sl3xz)
JB Priestley - Bright Day
Episode 2
By JB Priestley
Disillusioned scriptwriter Gregory Dawson is remembering his youth in 1912, before the slaughter of the First World War when he was an 18-year old in Bruddersford, Yorkshire: Now in 1946, encounters with the same characters from his past unlock secret events, buried yearnings and give potential for the future.
Gregory Dawson/Narrator.. Jack Shepherd
Elizabeth Earl... Liza Sadovy
Young Gregory... Dean Smith
Joan Alington.. Sarah Smart
Bridget Alington... Sarah Churm
Eva Alington.. Lowri Evans
Jock / Harfner.... Conrad Nelson
Malcolm Nixey... Fred Ridgeway
Eleanor Nixey... Janice Mckenzie
Mr Alington... David Fleeshman
Mr Ackworth..... Fine Time Fontayne
Brent / Stanley Mervin... Seamus O'Neill
Ben Kerry... Steve Marsh
Laura Blackshaw..Megan Winnard
Mrs Childs.. Olwen May
Hinchcliff... Jake Norton
Dramatised by Diana Griffiths
Producer/Director - Pauline Harris.
SAT 04:00 Five Stories by Rose Tremain (b00cr1lq)
How It Stacks Up
A poignant portrait of John McCreedy's 46th birthday celebration. Read by Dermot Crowley.
SAT 04:15 Sherlock Holmes (b007k26n)
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes
The Speckled Band
After her twin sister dies screaming in terror, a woman seeks the detective's help. Star Clive Merrison and Michael Williams.
SAT 05:00 Beachcomber... By the Way (b0080jmp)
Series 1
Episode 1
Dr Strabismus sets a trap for a mouse, Colonel Wretch gets a visit from Hercules the Mighty, and Mr Justice Cocklecarrot encounters the notorious 12 red-bearded dwarfs for the first time.
Richard Ingrams, John Wells, John Sessions and Patricia Routledge recreate the world of the JB Morton.
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.
Adapted by Michael Barfield with Richard Ingrams.
Announcer: Brian Perkins
Producer: Harry Thompson
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 1989.
SAT 05:30 Nineteen Ninety-Four (b014hq46)
Power Is Happiness
Edward Wilson is drawn further into the mysterious machinations of the government.
Starring Robert Lindsay.
Futuristic sitcom by Richard Turner and William Osborne with a nod to George Orwell.
Edward ...... Robert Lindsay
Sophie ...... Siobhan Redmond
Charles ...... Paul Shearer
With Stephen Fry, Emma Thompson, Pam Ferris, Richard Turner and David Goodland.
Producer: Nick Symons
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in April 1985.
SAT 06:00 Eric Pringle - Gracie (b01ghgjj)
As You Wave Me Goodbye
Will Gracie Fields wed her 'Svengali'? And will her marriage be as successful as her career? With Tracy Wiles and Paul Nicholas. From April 1996.
SAT 07:30 The Negro Tragedian (b00n1l99)
Kwame Kwei-Armah traces the life and work of Ira Aldridge, a black actor who defied racial prejudice to become one of Britain's finest Shakespearean actors.
When Aldridge first appeared on the London stage in 1825, he was enthusiastically received by the public but the critics hated him, The Times going so far as to say that he could not pronounce English properly, 'owing to the shape of his lips'. Here was a black man daring to break into the heartland of the British 'classics', which had hitherto been the exclusive domain of white actors.
But, undeterred by the racial hostility of the press, Aldridge became a perpetually touring player, an exotic 'star', honing his skills in the provinces and across Europe. In a career spanning 30 years, he became one of Britain's finest Shakespearean players, and had more honours showered upon him than any other actor of his time.
SAT 08:00 The Arthur Askey Variety Show (b00br30g)
Hallo playmates! "Big-hearted" comedian Arthur Askey hosts a series of variety shows to celebrate his 80th birthday year.
His guests this week are old 'Band Waggon' chum Richard "Stinker" Murdoch, American singer Vic Damone, Midlands comic Lee Wilson and "recent" Eurovision UK winners Bucks Fizz.
Music by the Max Harris Orchestra.
Scripted by Tony Hare.
Producer: Richard Willcox
Arthur Askey CBE was born 6th June 1900 and died 16th November 1982. The BBC Light Programme's variety show Band Waggon propelled Arthur to stardom in 1938, leading to film roles like Charley's Aunt, as well as regular stage, panto and TV roles. The veteran performer was still working, before illness struck in the months before he died. He was famed for numerous catchphrases, including "Ay-Thang-Yew" and "Doesn't it make you want to spit?"
First broadcast on BBC Radio 2 in May 1981.
SAT 09:00 Comedy Greats (b007jtlc)
1970s
Episode 1
Decade by decade, Barry Cryer keeps on truckin’ with some of the funniest and finest shows ever broadcast by the BBC.
Six favourites plucked from the sensational 1970s schedules of BBC Radio 2 and 4:
* The News Huddlines
From 7th November 1979
Roy Hudd’s long-running topical comedy sketch series. Janet Brown and Chris Emmett help to poke fun at the week’s news events featuring Margaret Thatcher, James Callaghan and ABBA. .
* All Gas And Gaiters
Series 1 (6/13) Only Three Can Play
Will Noote's playing away ruin the clerics' game? Clerical comedy adapted from TV starring Derek Nimmo and William Mervyn. From February 1971.
* The Frankie Howerd Show
Series 4 - from November 1975
The king of titters reads some ditties and takes on some overgrown animals in a spoof sci-fi thriller! With Norma Ronald, Ray Fell and Timothy Davies.
* Parsley Sidings
Series 2 (6/10) A Bird In The Hand
A rare gull is spotted during a station spring-clean, causing chaos on the line. Railway station comedy starring Arthur Lowe, Kenneth Connor, Liz Fraser and Ian Lavender. From November 1973.
* Whatever Happened To The Likely Lads?
(11/13) Count Down
Terry helps stressed Bob prepare for his wedding. Adapted from TV’s classic sitcom about mismatched friends. Starring James Bolam, Rodney Bewes, Joan Hickson and Bill Owen. From October 1975.
* Hello Cheeky
From October 1979
Red Rum and sound effects galore! Sketches galore with rapid pun-tastic fun starring Tim Brooke-Taylor, John Junkin and Barry Cryer. Music by the Denis King Trio.
Produced and scripted by Peter Reed
Made for BBC 7 and first broadcast in June 2003.
SAT 12:00 The Cazalets - Omnibus (b036hyy4)
Casting Off
Episode 1
Made for 4 Extra. The war ended at last, peace is achieved and society recovering. Rupert, however, is still missing. Narrated by Penelope Wilton.
SAT 13:15 Baroness Orczy - The Teahouse Detective (b007jmlx)
The London Mystery
The canny man in the corner helps Polly when a gambler accused of murder seems to have the perfect alibi. Stars Bernard Hepton.
SAT 14:00 The Goon Show (b007jlfp)
Series 5
The Phantom Head Shaver
As baldness breaks out in Brighton, is there a connection to a glut of cheap tobacco

Groundbreaking, surreal BBC radio comedy written by Spike Milligan.

Starring:

Peter Sellers
Harry Secombe
Spike Milligan

First billed as Crazy People, ten series of The Goon Show were recorded between 1951 and 1960, but sadly many of the earliest shows weren’t kept in the archive.

With the Ray Ellington Quartet and Max Geldray.

Orchestra conducted by Wally Stott.

Announcer: Wallace Greenslade

Producer: Peter Eton

First broadcast on the BBC Home Service in October 1954.
SAT 14:30 John Antrobus - How I Met Franz (b036hzw0)
An uninvited guest brings complications in this "bizarre modem fairy story, set on a housing estate somewhere in London.
Starring Patricia Hayes as the Woman, Robert Glenister as Jack and John Baddeley as George.
The second of two plays especially written for her by John Antrobus.
Director: Martin Jenkins
First broadcast in Thirty Minute Theatre on BBC Radio 4 in 1993.
SAT 15:00 The Arthur Askey Variety Show (b00br30g)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:00 today]
SAT 16:00 Eric Pringle - Gracie (b01ghgjj)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:00 today]
SAT 17:30 The Sinha Test (b012fs6y)
In April 1990, Norman Tebbit suggested that immigrants who supported their country of origin over the England at cricket were unpatriotic. The "Tebbit Test", as it became known, was always an over-simplification; there are lots of reasons why the immigrant community in Britain may not support England: apparently racist selection policies; leading players taking part in sanctions-busting tours of Apartheid-era South Africa; Britain's complicated and not always flattering colonial history; the fact that for fifteen years, England were simply rubbish. But is any of this still relevant?
In July 2011, the Indian cricket team will arrive in England as the number one ranked team in the world. Over the course of five weeks an ageing but brilliant team containing the likes of Zaheer Khan, Virender Sehwag, Harbhajan Singh and possibly the greatest batsman to have ever played, Sachin Tendulkar, will compete against the young, improving team that includes Alistair Cook, Jimmy Anderson, Stuart Broad and Kevin Pietersen.
In The Sinha Test stand-up comedian and cricket obsessive Paul Sinha - born in London to Indian parents - examines why he has been a lifelong India fan, despite considering himself "as British as a pub fight". Between the jokes he speaks to experts - a sociologist and a former Test cricketer - to see if he's alone in not always cheering on the country of his birth when it comes to cricket.
Paul Sinha was nominated for the if.Comedy Award at the 2006 Edinburgh Festival, and more "Best Headliner" at the 2009 Chortle awards. His 2010 Edinburgh show, Extreme Anti-White Vitriol won five five-star and six four-star reviews. He is a regular guest on Radio 4's The Now Show and 5Live's Fighting Talk.
Written and performed by Paul Sinha.
Producer: Ed Morrish.
SAT 18:00 Fear on 4 (b0080hnc)
The Blood of Eva Bergen
Claire is a talented young pianist who falls under the spell of Mr Iliev, a musician haunted by a woman called Eva Bergen - and the power she once had over him...
Tales of horror and suspense.
Written by Paul Sirett.
Claire …. Tilly Gaunt
Anatoli Iliev …. John Castle
Tom …. Giles Fagan
Pianist: Mary Nash
Producer: Marilyn Imrie
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in February 1999.
SAT 18:30 Robert Holmes - Aliens in the Mind (b007jlv8)
4. Official Intercessions
Having brought the apparently simple-minded Flora Keiry to London, Professor Lark and John Cornelius uncover the sinister nature of her true identity - and realise the authorities must be alerted...
Starring Peter Cushing and Vincent Price.
John Cornelius .... Peter Cushing
Curtis Lark .... Vincent Price
Flora Kiery .... Sandra Clarke
Kalman Baromek .... Steve Playtus
Ian Sanderson .... Frazer Carr
Gulliver .... William Eadle
Brigadier Sherman .... Clifford Norgates
Gwynt .... Michael Harbour
Written by Rene Basilico from an idea by Robert Holmes.
Producer: John Dyas
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in January 1977.
SAT 19:00 Comedy Greats (b007jtlc)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:00 today]
SAT 22:00 Eddie Izzard (b007jvz0)
Sexie
Episode 1
Pondering sharks and the link between transvestites and superheroes, the outspoken comedian in action in Brighton. From 2003.
SAT 23:00 William Golding - Lord of the Flies (b036j238)
Gift For Darkness
Since their plane crashed into a deserted island, the group of surviving schoolboys have awaited rescue by mainting a signal fire.
But as tensions rose amongst the group factions have emerged causing a split. Jack and his hunters have set up camp at a rocky outcrop they call Castle Rock while Ralph, Piggy, Simon and a few stragglers have remained at the shelters with the signal fire. And it's the fire that the hunters so desperately crave.
Conclusion of William Golding's classic fable.
Ralph . . . . . Finn Bennett
Jack . . . . . Richard Linnell
Piggy . . . . . Kasper Hilton Hille
Simon . . . . . Jack Kane
Maurice . . . . . Barney Herrin
Sam . . . . . Bradley Shedden
Eric . . . . . Tomi Fry
Roger . . . . . Edward Bracey
Bill . . . . . Gabriel Brody
Littleun . . . . . Isaac Andrews
Mother . . . . . Stephanie Racine
Officer . . . . . Adam Nagaitis
Narrator . . . . . Ruth Wilson
Dramatised by Judith Adams.
Director: Sasha Yevtushenko
Conch player: Eilon Morris
Sound design and choral arrangement: Colin Guthrie
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in July 2013.
SAT 23:30 WC Morrow - Over an Absinthe Bottle (b007jqq4)
A grim tale of two strangers drinking and gambling their lives away in a San Francisco bar. Read by Doug Cockle.