SATURDAY 11 OCTOBER 2014

SAT 00:00 Book at Bedtime (b00pwmzn)
Rebecca Stott - The Coral Thief
Episode 5
Dan Stevens reads from Rebecca Stott's love story, set in Paris in 1815 in the aftermath of the Napoleonic Wars.
Lucienne tells Daniel about her past in Paris' revolutionary underworld. Meanwhile, his career prospects brighten.
Abridged by Viv Beeby
Produced by Elizabeth Allard.
SAT 00:15 Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen's Men of Fashion (b00jcwg7)
Beau Brummell - The Dandy Style
Tastemaker to the Regency, Beau Brummell was British fashion's most influential man. The interior designer surveys his impact.
SAT 00:30 15 Minute Drama (b03kv6l3)
The Diary of Samuel Pepys
Episode 5
Elizabeth is furious with Sam over his affair with the maid and refuses to wash. She's still not sure what she saw but gets Debs to confess. Elizabeth wants Debs to be thrown out and a reluctant Sam agrees. Adapted by Hattie Naylor.
Theme music: Gather Ye Rosebuds While Ye May, words by Robert Herrick and music by William Lawes, sung by Bethany Hughes. Lute, baroque guitar and theorbo played by David Miller. Violin and viol by Annika Gray, and recorders by Alice Baxter.
Historical consultant: Liza Picard
Sound by Nigel Lewis
A BBC/Cymru Wales production, directed by Kate McAll.
SAT 00:45 Miles Kington - How Shall I Tell the Dog? (b00yc4vx)
Episode 5
Test your own will to live, and how to write a funny book about cancer. Miles Kington's last letters. With Michael Palin.
SAT 01:00 The 99p Challenge (b007jrl7)
Series 2
Episode 6
Crazy panel show capers as host Sue Perkins grills Simon Pegg, Armando Iannucci, Jack Docherty and Peter Baynham.
The game where someone stands to leave the studio 99p richer than when they came in.
Producer: David Tyler
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in July 2000.
SAT 01:30 Pioneers (b013xvbd)
Series 2
Michael Apted
Pioneer, Michael Apted tells Clare English about his 'Up' documentary series which proved to be the catalyst for reality television.
Involved in the popular strand since its conception in 1964, Michael has followed the lives of 14 children every seven years since.
Producer: Philip Sime
First broadcast on BBC Radio Scotland in 2011.
SAT 02:00 DI Cromwell - Jagged Prayer (b00c3rlj)
Virtual Saints
Despite moving the convent into cyber space, Mother Helen and her nuns are not safe from declining numbers. And DI Cromwell has the small matter of an old murder to solve.
Timothy Spall stars as DI Cromwell and Cheryl Campbell as Mother Helen.
Crime and convents, the police and perdition come together in comedy writer and former monk Robert Smith's series of mysteries.
DI Cromwell ...... Timothy Spall
Mother Helen ...... Cheryl Campbell
DC Kelp ...... Jeremy Finch
Mr Lord ...... Bryan Pringle
Carer/Sister ...... Elizabeth Conboy
Youth ...... Tom George
Producer: Ned Chaillet
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in April 2000.
SAT 02:30 A Letter for Daphne (b007lky9)
Novelist Julie Myerson pays a very personal tribute to Daphne du Maurier. Aged fourteen, Julie wrote to the famous novelist, beginning a correspondence that lasted over two years.
SAT 03:00 Classic Serial (b01lh971)
John Wyndham - The Chrysalids
Episode 2
John Wyndham's post-apocalyptic science fiction classic dramatised by Jane Rogers.
Genetic mutation has devastated the world. Any deviation is seen as the work of the devil, ruthlessly hunted out and destroyed. David Strorm is one of a group of young people who can communicate by transferring thought-shapes. In God fearing, law abiding Waknuk, David and his friends would be classed as Mutants. Will David be forced to flee to the Fringes, the lawless territory inhabited by mutants or risk discovery?
Directed by Nadia Molinari
Written in 1955 Wyndham's novel explores the dangers inherent in discrimination and the threats posed by religious fundamentalism. The 'Old People' who caused the apocalypse are depressingly like us: ' They were shut off by different languages and different beliefs. They created vast problems then buried their heads in the sands of idle faith.' The children of the future (the Chrysalids) are able to 'think-together' and so can rise above the selfish violence and conflicting religions of the past. Wyndham's story of a group of persecuted teenagers is more timely than ever in our post-Fukushima, war-riven, genetically engineered and religiously divided world. Jane Rogers is a playwright and novelist, her latest novel The Testament of Jessie Lamb won the Arthur C Clarke Award this year.
SAT 04:00 Philip Pullman - Grimm Tales (b04kk06h)
Little Red Riding Hood
'Oh granny, what big ears you've got.' The errand of cake and a bottle of wine.
The two Grimm brothers published their first volume of stories, Children's and Household Tales, in 1812 although there were some who disputed their suitability for young minds. Wilhelm and Jacob Grimm devoted their lives to collecting these German folk tales. Inspired by the rise of Romanticism and interest in traditional national stories and lore, in the end they collected more than 200.
Philip Pullman reads the last of five of his re-workings of Grimm Tales, written to celebrate the 200th anniversary of their publication.
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 Extra in 2012.
SAT 04:10 Inheritance Tracks (b04kk06k)
Ophelia Dahl
Charity organiser Ophelia Dahl inherits Faure's Requiem, and passes on 'Ain't Got No, I Got Life' by Nina Simone.
SAT 04:15 Chris Thompson - Skeggy (b007jtlr)
Three couples have their own reasons for returning to the scene of their happiest holidays in the resort of Skegness.
Part of Radio 4 Extra's Great British Seaside Staycation.
Chris Thompson's seaside drama stars Sean Connolly as Dave, Susan Brooke as Marie, Laura Chambers as Lauren, Joyce Gibbs as Sheila, Norman Bird as Charlie, Veda Warwick as Mrs Adams, Alison Carney as Jane and Tom Knight as Martin.
Producer: Peter Wild
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 1999.
SAT 05:00 King Street Junior Revisited (b00jv8vr)
Series 3
Ice
Winter is inevitable, a disappearing lollipop-lady is not. But the two in combination spark real problems for the staff at King Street.
School comedy created and written by Jim Eldridge. Ten series of this King Street Junior ran between 1985 and 1998. King Street Junior Revisited ran from 2002 to 2005.
Stars Carolyn Pickles as Mrs Devon, Marlene Sidaway as Miss Lewis, Michael Cochrane as Mr Maxwell, Paul Copley as Mr Long, Teresa Gallagher as Miss Featherstone, Jacqueline Beatty as Miss Reid, Janice Acquah as Mrs Khan, Rebecca McElroy as Luch, Jodie Devlin as Amanda and Katie Walker as Jacinda.
Producer: John Fawcett Wilson
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in July 2004.
SAT 05:30 Do Nothing 'Til You Hear From Me (b0076hbd)
Series 1
The Folks Who Live on the Hill
Vi is sick, and Roy is no help. Then unexpected guests arrive for Victor's birthday party. Stars Ram Jam Holder. From October 2003.
SAT 06:00 Oscar Wilde (b007jr48)
A Woman of No Importance
At a country house party, Mrs Arbuthnot's long-concealed secret comes back to haunt her.
Oscar Wilde's audacious social comedy stars Diana Rigg as Mrs Arbuthnot, Martin Jarvis as Lord Illingworth, Annette Crosbie as Lady Hunstanton, Susan Sheridan as Mrs Allonby and Dominic Letts as Gerald Arbuthnot.
Geoffrey Chater as Sir John Pontefract, Irene Sutcliffe as Lady Caroline Pontefract, Teresa Gallagher as Hester Worsley, David King as Archdeacon Daubeny, Jack Klaff as Mr Kelvill, MP, Peter Penry-Jones as Lord Alfred Rufford, Auriol Smith as Lady Stotfield and Adjoa Andoh as Alice.
Violin: Alexander Balanescu.
Adapted and directed by Adrian Bean.
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 1991.
SAT 07:30 Yes Yes Yes (b007kvvs)
Series 2
Twelve Yards From The Premiership
John Rawling recalls the high drama of the Division One play-off at Wembley between Charlton Athletic and Sunderland in 1998. From January 2001.
SAT 07:55 Inheritance Tracks (b010gbwd)
Laurie Anderson
The artist and musician inherits 'Music in Twelve Parts' by Philip Glass and passes on 'Strange Fruit' by Billie Holiday.
SAT 08:00 Archive on 4 (b01rqc5z)
Riding Into Town
The excitement and romance of the wild west was a powerful force on the imaginations of the British from the 1930s until the '70s. Samira Ahmed reflects on the love of the Western.
The American Film Institute defines western films as those "set in the American West that embody the spirit, the struggle and the demise of the new frontier". The term Western, used to describe a narrative film genre, appears to have originated with a July 1912 article in Motion Picture World Magazine.
In this personal exploration, Samira Ahmed will see how Westerns nourished post-war British children and how they explored the politics and fears of their day. Samira says, "I remember sitting at an uncle's house in Hillingdon, possibly celebrating Eid, with lots of Hyderabadi relatives, and we were all - kids and adults alike - gathered round the TV watching the end of the original True Grit."
The programme considers the central cast of characters in the western form. Samira explores her interest in the weird and wonderful women and their ranches full of outlaws, such as Marlene Dietrich in Rancho Notorious: "I especially loved the strong Indian and Mexican women - Katy Jurado in High Noon, as opposed to anaemic Grace Kelly. And there were always strong women in Westerns, holding their own in a deeply macho world. Then there were those secretly gay, camp, polysexual or just plain wacko Westerns - Johnny Guitar, the French critics' favourite, and The Singer Not the Song featuring Dirk Bogarde's highly unlikely Mexican bandido in black leather jeans and gloves."
Producer: Kevin Dawson
A Whistledown production for BBC Radio 4.
SAT 09:00 Comedy Controller (b017gcqm)
Rebecca Front
The star of The Thick of It and the Day Today chooses her favourites - including Radio Active (July 1984), Fist of Fun (November 1993), Ed Reardon (February 2010) and Down the Line (January 2007).
Rebecca Front is known to comedy fans in a number of guises - Barbara Wintergreen in The Day Today, numerous and sundry guests of Alan Partridge in Knowing Me Knowing You, Nicola Murray MP in The Thick of It, Mrs. Bennett in Death Comes to Pemberly, and co-writer of Radio 4's Incredible Women. She's also read her book Curious on BBC Radio 4.
Rebecca has also graced the world of drama, appearing in Poirot, Jonathan Creek and Lewis amongst others.
With brother Jeremy she has also co-written Incredible Women for BBC Radio and appeared alongside Julia Davis, Sharon Horgan and a host of others in Psychobitches on Sky.
Produced by Martin Dempsey.
SAT 12:00 The Book of Strange New Things (b04knn2p)
Episode 1
Michel Faber's powerful novel, set in the near future, in which devoted husband Peter faces the mission of a lifetime. Narrated by Dougray Scott.
SAT 13:15 Dickens Confidential (b01mtk66)
Series 2
Dickens and Dizzy
Charles Dickens meets Benjamin Disraeli sparking instant rivalry, but what is the young politician's secret? Stars Dan Stevens.
SAT 14:00 Jim the Great (b0116h49)
Series 1
A Patron of the Arts
Perpetually hard-up monarch Jim manages to slip off to the pub - and appear in public.
Historical regal romp starring Jimmy Edwards.
With Joan Sanderson, Julian Orchard, John Baddeley, Andrew Palmer, Ronald Baddiley and David Ryall.
Jim The Great ran for 2 series on BBC Radio 2 between 1976 - 1979.
Producer: Edward Taylor
First broadcast on BBC Radio 2 in March 1977.
SAT 14:30 The Navy Lark (b00vhyy9)
Series 1
The Hank of Heather
HMS Troutbridge launches an anti-invasion exercise for the visit of Heather's old flame.
Starring Leslie Phillips as the Sub-Lieutenant, Jon Pertwee as the Chief Petty Officer, Dennis Price as Number One, Richard Caldicot as Captain Povey, Heather Chasen as Heather, Michael Bates as Hank, Ronnie Barker as AS Johnson and Tenniel Evans as Uncle Sebastian Pertwee.
The Navy Lark ran for an impressive thirteen series on BBC Radio between 1959 and 1976.
Scripted by Lawrie Wyman.
Producer: Alastair Scott Johnston.
First broadcast on the BBC Light Programme in May 1959.
SAT 15:00 Archive on 4 (b01rqc5z)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:00 today]
SAT 16:00 Oscar Wilde (b007jr48)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:00 today]
SAT 17:30 Count Arthur Strong's Radio Show! (b00wsqvc)
Series 6
Calendar Boys
Arthur is informed by Malcolm that there is an emergency meeting to be held in order to discuss raising funds for the local Church Hall, which is in dire straits and requires important improvements to remain open.
In true Arthur style he comes up with an idea or two to help the fund-raising process, hoping to involve as many of his friends in the process.
With an idea finally put to the committee and inevitably agreed to, after Arthur's persuasive words, the 'stage is set' for a fund-raising project that will surely turn heads and raise Arthur's personal profile as well as the much needed funding for the Church...
Cast:
Count Arthur Strong ..... Steve Delaney
Man, Wilf, Policeman ...... Alastair Kerr
Ref, Geoffrey, Child ..... Dave Mounfield
Mother, Sally,Woman ..... Mel Giedroyc
Malcolm ..... Terry Kilkelly
Prodcuers: Richard Daws, Mark Radcliffe & John Leonard
A Komedia Entertainment Production for BBC Radio 4.
SAT 18:00 Franz Kafka - Metamorphosis (b007k3r4)
Episode 2
Gregor is adapting to his new insect form, but his shocked family find it harder to accept. Read by Benedict Cumberbatch.
SAT 18:30 William Gibson - Burning Chrome (b007jqv3)
Episode 2
Bobby Quine and Automatic Jack set up the cyberspace burn on the House of Blue Lights - their last big score. Read by Adam Sims.
When not jacking into the matrix to hack corporate mainframes for shady clients, Bobby Quine and Automatic Jack are hanging out in the Gentleman Loser trying to figure out a way of pulling off that one big score to make them rich. But industrial espionage is a dangerous business, especially after deciding to rip off Chrome, the most ruthless figure in the local mob subsidiary.
Described as the father of cyberpunk fiction, William Gibson's 1982 story still influences modern sci-fi.
Producer: Eugene Murphy
Made for BBC 7 and first broadcast in 2003.
SAT 19:00 Goethe - Faust (b04ksptj)
Episode 1
A man, with an insatiable thirst for knowledge, makes a pact with Devil. Can it end well?
Simon Callow stars as Faust, with Ronald Pickup as Mephistopheles and Angharad Rees as Gretchen.
The medieval folk legend of Simon Magus, who makes a pact with the devil, forms the basis of Goethe's famous work. Disenchanted with the limitations of his academic knowledge, Dr Faust decides to study the arts of magic and to master the supernatural. Mephistopheles appears and offers Faust renewed youth and the power to experience the reality and the mystery of life and all the human suffering it will involve. Faust signs an agreement with the devil, but his soul will only be forfeited if ever his restless spirit is satisfied and content.
Louis Macneice with EL Stail translated this version and it was adapted for radio in by Anthony Vivis. Goethe originally wrote this story in two parts, the first in 1808 and the second in 1831, with various revisions in between.
First broadcast on BBC Radio 3 in 1982.
SAT 21:30 Yes Yes Yes (b007kvvs)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:30 today]
SAT 21:55 Inheritance Tracks (b010gbwd)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:55 today]
SAT 22:00 Ross Noble Goes Global (b01c6txd)
Series 2
Belgium
Comedian Ross Noble Ross sets about proving Belgium is not dull, with chocolate, odd statues and the legacy of Jean-Claude Van Damme
Producer: Danny Wallace
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in May 2003.
SAT 22:30 Lucy Montgomery's Variety Pack (b012qtv1)
Series 2
Episode 1
The human chameleon's host of characters from a chatty school girl to a decrepit charwoman.
Multi-paced, one woman Fast Show showcasing the exceptional talent of Lucy Montgomery.
With:
Philip Pope
Sally Grace
Waen Shepherd
Natalie Walter
Written by Lucy Montgomery with additional material by Steven Burge, Jon Hunter, Fay Rusling and Barunka O'Shaughnessy.
Script Editor: Dan Tetsell
Music by Philip Pope
Producer: Katie Tyrrell.
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in July 2011.
SAT 22:55 The Comedy Club Interviews (b04mpg0g)
For two hours, six nights a week, the Comedy Club offers the best comedy around. Arthur Smith chats to EastEnd Cabaret.
SAT 23:00 Tina C Goes Down Under: The Aborogynal Monologues (b00dw881)
The Gold Coast
Country singer and US presidential hopeful Tina C, the comic creation of Christopher Green, looks at the Australian obsession with country music.
Tina explores Brisbane, where developers have built so many skyscraper hotels that the beach is in shade for most of the day. She sings her version of Waltzing Matilda on a local breakfast TV show and parties at a redneck bar.
SAT 23:15 What to Do If You're Not Like Everybody Else (b014gcmy)
Series 2
Leisure Pursuits
Andrew Lawrence explores the strange things we do for fun.
More short comedic monologues taking a light-hearted look at various aspects of conventional living and the pressure we feel to conform to social norms and ideals.
Written by Andrew Lawrence.
Producer: Jane Berthoud
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in September 2011
SAT 23:30 Ida Barr: Artificial Hip Hop (b00vcq95)
Transparency
Ida Barr is a music hall singer who has embraced hip hop and rap, reflecting the cultural diversity of London's East End, where she has been living in retirement for several decades.
With her genuine love of talking to people, Ida sets out investigate a new topic in each episode, creating a unique brand of music hall, hip-hop fusion with beat boxer Shlomo.
Ida’s subject this time is "Transparency".
Written by and starring Christopher Green as Ida Barr.
Producer: Claire Grove
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in October 2010.
SAT 23:45 iGod (b00x41ns)
Fame
iGOD is a highly original and funny late-night comedy series. It stars Simon Day (The Fast Show) and David Soul (Starsky & Hutch) and is written by one of the head writers of the BAFTA award-winning The Thick Of It, Sean Gray and produced by Simon Nicholls (Ed Reardon's Week / News At Bedtime).
We all worry about the end of the world, as economists and environmentalists speak in apocalyptic terms everyday. iGOD says that trying to predict the end of the world is as pointless as moisturising an elephant's elbow.
In each episode, an unnamed, all-seeing narrator (David Soul - Starsky and Hutch) shows us that it is stupid to be worrying, as he looks back at some of the most entertaining apocalypses on parallel Earths. Each week our case study is a normal bloke called Ian (Simon Day) who manages to accidentally initiate the apocalypse of a different parallel world through a seemingly harmless single act (telling a lie, being lazy, cooking some lambshanks). A succession of comic vignettes ensue that escalate to the end of a parallel world.
With a full-range of sound effects and wonderfully funny and surreal twists, iGOD will be a true aural extravaganza.
In this episode - how Parallel Earth 888 was wiped out by Ian's desire for fame, which occurs when a meteor crashes into his nose.
Ian ...... Simon Day
The Narrator ...... David Soul
Also starring
Rosie Cavaliero
Alex MacQueen
Dan Tetsell
Written by Sean Gray.
Produced by Simon Nicholls.
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in January 2011.