SATURDAY 01 NOVEMBER 2014

SAT 00:00 Book at Bedtime (b00rzw32)
Naomi Alderman - The Lessons
The Marks of Love
Rory Kinnear reads the final epsiode of the Orange New Writer's Award Winner, Naomi Alderman's, second novel, 'The Lessons', a story of ambition, friendship, betrayal and desire. Today: The marks of love. Jess tells James some home truths.
Reader Rory Kinnear
Abridger Sally Marmion
Producer Di Speirs
The Lessons is the second novel from Naomi Alderman, winner of the Orange New Writer's Award and Sunday Times Young Writer of the Year. Set among the dreaming spires of Oxford, it follows the progress of a gilded group of under-graduates drawn together by their dazzling and mercurial fellow student Mark Winters. Fuelled by his trust-fund and resident in his Georgian mansion, they live a charmed life of learning and parties and love-affairs. But university is no grounding for real life and none of the friends will be prepared, some years later, when tragedy strikes.
The Lessons is a novel about friendship, ambition, betrayal and desire, and the fact that only life can teach the lessons you really need to learn.
Naomi Alderman won the Orange New Writers Award for her first novel Disobedience and has subsequently been named as the Sunday Times Young Writer of the Year. She is a graduate of Lincoln College, Oxford.
Rory Kinnear, fresh from playing Angelo at the Almeida and about to play Hamlet at the National Theatre studied at Balliol College, Oxford and reads his first Book at Bedtime.
SAT 00:15 Chinese in Britain (b0079tf0)
Educated in Britain
Anna Chen sets out to uncover the early history of the Chinese who came to Britain before the takeaway boom of the 1960s.
5/10. Educated in Britain
A young man from Canton called Wong Fun became the first recorded Chinese student here when he received his MD at Edinburgh in 1855. Today there are over 50,000 Chinese students in Britain. Anna investigates why so many Chinese sought an education at British universities, particularly those in Scotland.
From 2007.
Producer: Mukti Jain Campion
A Culture Wise Production.
SAT 00:30 Alan Plater - Abandoned Projects (b009scn3)
Contrasting Phone Calls and the Beatles
Two late-night phone calls bring playwright Alan Plater very different news, as he concludes his own story. With Christian Rodska.
SAT 00:45 Book of the Week (b00hslb2)
Martin Gayford - Constable in Love
Episode 5
Anton Lesser reads Martin Gayford's account of the early career of John Constable and his long battle to win the hand of his future wife, Maria Bicknell, based on correspondence between the pair.
After seven years of courtship, Maria and John finally married in a quiet ceremony with no family members in attendance. Now the serious production of paintings and of children could begin in earnest.
SAT 01:00 Jest a Minute (b012rys1)
Series 1
Episode 3
Rhod Gilbert chairs the Radio Wales comedy quiz. With special guests Roger Monkhouse and Kirsten O'Brien. From September 2006.
SAT 01:30 Pioneers (b014qz46)
Series 2
The Samaritans
Father Roy Day and Mike Tunstall chat to Clare English about the history of the first 24-hour helpline in the UK, the Samaritans.
The duo recall how the charity's founder, Chad Varah, provided a lifeline to many vulnerable people.
Producer: Philip Sime
First broadcast on BBC Radio Scotland in 2011.
SAT 02:00 The Blackburn Files (b007jptk)
Series 1
A Case of Haddock and Plaice
An elderly couple's time-share cash con sparks private investigator Stephen J Blackburn's first case abroad.
The last of five cases for the ex-pitman turned investigator and his government scheme-funded assistant Tracey. Set in a South Yorkshire town that's seen better days.
Starring Fine Time Fontayne as Stephen J Blackburn, Judy Flynn as Tracey Duggan.
With Gerry Kersey, Lorraine Peters, Norman Mills, Lucia Laratonda and James Tomlinson.
Scripted by Ian McMillan, Martyn Wiley and Dave Sheasby
Directed for BBC North East by Dave Sheasby
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in August 1989.
SAT 02:30 Why Is the 1812 So Popular? (b0076ybk)
Tchaikovsky himself said his overture glorying Napoleon's retreat from Moscow had 'no artistic merit', so why is it so popular? Alasdair Malloy investigates. From May 2006.
SAT 03:00 Henry James - The Turn of the Screw (b007jvdv)
When a new young Governess arrives at Bly, a remote country house in Essex, she fears that her two young charges, Flora and Miles, may be hiding a dark secret. As the days go by, she witnesses some strange visions which lead her to the conclusion that the house - and the children- are possessed by evil forces.
Starring Cathy Sara at the Governess, Tina Gray as Mrs Grose, Joseph Tremain as Miles and Lulu Popplewell as Floral.
Dramatised by Neville Teller. Directed by Peter Leslie Wild.
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 2004.
SAT 04:00 Heidi Amsinck - Danish Noir (b01j2fd7)
The Wailing Girl
In these three specially-commissioned tales by Heidi Amsinck, Denmark is a mysterious place of twilight and shadows: a mysterious place where strange and sometimes dark things happen.
At the castle at Amalieholm, legend has it that you can hear a girl crying at night, supposedly the ghost of a young maid who was drowned in the moat by a nobleman after giving birth to his child. Magnus, the castle guide, doesn't believe in ghosts, but wonders what would happen if the castle owner, 95-year-old Baroness Feltenborg, could be made to believe in the wailing girl?
Written by Heidi Amsinck
Read by Tim McInnerny
Producer: Ros Ward
A Sweet Talk production for BBC Radio 4.
SAT 04:15 Julian MacLaren-Ross - I Had to Go Sick (b007f050)
Will a soldier ever get signed off sick? Nobel Prize-winner Harold Pinter reads a tale of service life in the Second World War.
SAT 04:40 Julian MacLaren-Ross - Second Lieutenant Lewis: A Memoir (b007f1qj)
World War Two - a soldier recalls an unlikely friendship with Welsh poet Alun Lewis. Read by the playwright Harold Pinter.
SAT 05:00 King Street Junior Revisited (b00k8x8x)
Series 3
Flaming June
A weekend away in the country - and under canvas. Memories will be made of this.
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 Marlene Sidaway as Miss Lewis, Michael Cochrane as Mr Maxwell, Teresa Gallagher as Miss Featherstone, Jacqueline Beatty as Miss Reid, Janice Acquah as Mrs Khan, Paul Copley as Mr Long, Stephen Critchlow as the Security Guard, Matthew Protheroe as Wayne, Leah Verity-White as Amy, Pax Baldwin as Iqbal, Corinne Douglas as Karim and Jafer Husseyin as Terry.
Producer: John Fawcett Wilson
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in August 2004.
SAT 05:30 Do Nothing 'Til You Hear From Me (b0076hn4)
Series 1
She's Funny That Way
Could the return of an old flame mark the end of Roy and George's musical marriage? Stars Ram Jam Holder. From November 2003.
SAT 06:00 Sherlock Holmes (b04n60mt)
The Hound of the Baskervilles
The Baker Street sleuth pursues a creature stalking a noble family at a Dartmoor mansion.
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's mystery in a combined version of an original two-part adaptation by Bert Coules.
Stars Roger Rees as Sherlock Holmes and Crawford Logan as Dr Watson.
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in May 1988.
SAT 07:50 Sherlock Holmes (b0080rwc)
In Search of Professor Moriarty
An excerpt from HRF Keating's 'Sherlock Holmes - The Man and His World' where we learn about the background of the great detective's nemesis - the 'Napoleon of Crime' - Professor James Moriarty.
Despite being a fictional character, Sherlock Holmes warranted this biography, first published in 1979. Keating confined himself to the authenticated facts that Doctor Watson alone reported.
Moriarty wrote a substantial scientific text, which gained him a university place. He is likened to the philosopher Nietzsche.
Read by Alan Moore.
SAT 08:00 Archive on 4 (b044b3lj)
The Benjamin Broadcasts
The German-Jewish philosopher Walter Benjamin is best known as the author of seminal texts such as "The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction" and for his influence on Theodor Adorno and the "Frankfurt School" of philosophy. But behind the much-mythologised figure of Benjamin the philosopher, there lies the little-known historical reality of Benjamin the broadcaster...
When the Gestapo stormed Walter Benjamin's last apartment in 1940, they stumbled upon a cache of papers which the fleeing philosopher had abandoned in his hurry to escape Paris. Amongst these papers were the scripts for an extraordinary series of radio broadcasts for children covering everything from toy collecting to the politics of tenement housing, from the psychology of witch hunts to human responses to natural catastrophes. Designed to encourage young listeners to think critically, to question sources and to challenge clichés, Benjamin's broadcasts stand in stark contrast to the fascist propaganda which would come to take their place.
Benjamin committed suicide in 1940, when his flight out of Europe was blocked at the Spanish border. He died believing that most - if not all - of his writings were lost.
Here Radio4 listeners have an exclusive chance to discover them in this Archive on Four documentary presented by Michael Rosen, and with Henry Goodman as the voice of Walter Benjamin. It's the first ever English recreation of his pre-war broadcasts to children.
Producer: Kate Schneider
A Made in Manchester Production for BBC Radio 4.
SAT 09:00 Steve Punt's Hancock Cuttings (b04n61gw)
Tony Hancock fan Steve Punt presents oddities and rarities featuring the lad himself:
* BBC TV's Face To Face interview (1960)
Episode from the TV series in which John Freeman cross-examined leading personalities of the day. Here he interviews the radio and TV comedian, Tony Hancock.
* 'Ancock's Anthology – the BBC Light Programme’s Christmas Day miscellany of the comic’s favourite music, readings and an interview with Stirling Moss (25/12/1964)
* The Missing Page – the Pye Records re-recording of the TV episode (1965) On a visit to Cheam Library, the lad is appalled to be told he has some outstanding fines to pay. With Graham Stark, Clive Dunn and Frank Thornton. Written by Ray Galton & Alan Simpson.
* Educating Archie (19/10/1951)
Tony Hancock, Julie Andrews and Hattie Jacques join wisecracking schoolboy Archie Andrews. Cinema high-jinks and Dr Hancock lets Archie use his 'Wishing Chair'. Radio ventriloquism from Peter Brough. Written by Eric Sykes.
* The first ever episode of Hancock's Half Hour – 'The First Night Party' (BBC Light Programme 02/11/1954) The lad throws a launch party for his new series, but things don't quite go to plan. With Moira Lister, Bill Kerr, Sidney James, Kenneth Williams and Gerald Campion. Written by Ray Galton & Alan Simpson.
Producer: Mik Wilkojc.
Made for BBC Radio 4 Extra and first broadcast in 2014
SAT 12:00 Sarah Woods - My Life With Flu (Omnibus) (b04n61gy)
A love story, about flu.
It's October 2014 and Jill is now 71. When she runs into an old familiar face at the chemists, she has one last shot at happiness. But the flu has other ideas.
Written by Sarah Woods, My Life With Flu has been produced in collaboration with the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute.
In this omnibus of five episodes, it follows the story of Jill across five decades as she struggles with the highs and lows of life, love and viruses. At the same time the story tracks the life of Hong Kong Flu – how, over 45 years, it has traversed the globe, evolved and is ultimately being superseded by new, more virulent strains, such as Swine Flu.
The series uses cutting edge science – of transmission, viral evolution and genetic predisposition – to tell the story of flu, and investigate the unique qualities of Jill's genome which make her a 'severe responder'.
Paul Kellam, Virus Genomics team leader at the Sanger Institute worked closely with writer Sarah Woods to weave the science seamlessly into the story. The drama underlines the deep connection human beings have to the viruses that survive through us, and how illness can shape the course of our lives.
Jill.... Sharon Morgan
David.... William Hope
John.... Simon Armstrong
Polly.... Hannah Daniel
Doctor.... John Norton
Narrator.... Eiry Thomas
Directed by James Robinson
A BBC Cymru/Wales Production first broadcast in 2014.
SAT 13:15 Steiner's Benjamin (b007dxj6)
French-born American literary critic George Steiner unravels the life and work of the prophetic German-Jewish critic Walter Benjamin, who left behind some of the most influential thoughts on modern life, giving him an extraordinary posthumous influence.
Features extracts from his works read by Anthony Hyde.
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 1997.
SAT 14:00 The Burkiss Way (b007js9k)
Series 4
Avoid Like the Plague the Burkiss Way
The Grim Reaper arrives, keen to spread the Red Death.
Starring Fred Harris, Jo Kendall, Nigel Rees and Chris Emmett.
Cult sketch comedy series which originally ran from 1976 to 1980.
Written by Andrew Marshall and David Renwick.
Producer: David Hatch
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in May 1979.
SAT 14:30 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (b007jm1h)
The Primary Phase
Fit The Fifth
Arthur and company are blown up, but still find time for a bite at a very exclusive eatery. By Douglas Adams. From April 1978.
Arthur Dent is one of only two survivors from Earth, demolished to make way for a by-pass. He survived thanks to his friend, Ford Prefect (who hails not from Guildford, but somewhere near Betelgeuse), a writer for the Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy, "the most successful book ever to have come out of the great publishing corporations of Ursa Minor". Now paired with fellow Earth survivor Trillian and duplicitous two-headed hustler Zaphod Beeblebrox, Arthur and Ford were on the legendary planet Magrathea when the Galactic Police attacked them and an explosion occurred - they find themselves in a restaurant with a rather sensational selling point.
The global multi-media success story that is "Hitchhiker's" started life as a Radio 4 series in March 1978. The original scripts by the late Douglas Adams then went on to spawn a series of novels, a feature film, at least three stage shows, a TV series, a computer game, a collection of comic books - and various towels.
Douglas Adams was born in Cambridge and died in 2001 at the age of 49. He suffered a fatal heart attack after working out at his gym in California.
With Peter Jones, Simon Jones, Geoffrey McGivern, Mark Wing-Davey and Stephen Moore. Produced by the late Geoffrey Perkins.
SAT 15:00 Archive on 4 (b044b3lj)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:00 today]
SAT 16:00 Sherlock Holmes (b04n60mt)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:00 today]
SAT 17:50 Sherlock Holmes (b0080rwc)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:50 today]
SAT 18:00 Charles Chilton - Space Force (b007jn3c)
Series 2
The Return of the Sun God
On patrol in Egypt - scanning the sky for asteroids - the crew of Space Force witness a massive ball of light coming towards Earth...
Charles Chilton's second intergalactic adventure series in six parts starring Barry Foster.
Captain Saxon Berry ...... Barry Foster
Chipper Barnett ...... Nicky Henson
Magnus Carter ...... Nigel Stock
Lodderick Sincere ...... Tony Osoba
With Wendy Murray, Willoughby Goddard, Bernard Brown and Mia Soteriou.
Charles Chilton wrote and produced many popular and successful radio programmes for the BBC - including the classic 1950s serial 'Journey into Space' - charting the adventures of Captain Jet Morgan. This fired the imagination of millions, years before the first moon landing. It was the last radio drama to record higher ratings than the new young upstart television!
Producer: Paul Mayhew-Archer
First broadcast on BBC Radio 2 in May 1985.
SAT 18:30 William Golding - Lord of the Flies (b0331rqn)
Beast From The Air
After their plane crashed onto a deserted island, the surviving schoolboys have strived to build shelters, maintain a signal fire and hunt for food.
Until now, they believed the island was uninhabited. But when the twins spy a mysterious shape on the mountaintop, rumours of a beast spread amongst the group. With nowhere to hide, the boys have no other option than to hunt it.
William Golding's classic fable dramatised by Judith Adams.
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
Narrator . . . . . Ruth Wilson
Director: Sasha Yevtushenko
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in June 2013.
SAT 19:00 Steve Punt's Hancock Cuttings (b04n61gw)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:00 today]
SAT 22:00 Ross Noble Goes Global (b01dbgvs)
Series 2
Milan
The comedian discovers graffiti, beggars and lycra-clad couriers in the Italian style capital of Europe. From June 2003.
SAT 22:30 Lucy Montgomery's Variety Pack (b0137yqf)
Series 2
Episode 4
The human chameleon's host of comic characters from a deluded teenager to a nonagenarian Diva.
Multi-paced, one woman Fast Show starring Lucy Montgomery.
With:
Philip Pope
Sally Grace
Waen Shepherd
Natalie Walter
Written by Lucy Montgomery with additional material by Steve Burge, Jon Hunter, Fay Rusling, Abigail Burdess, Suk Pannu, Andy Wolton and Joseph Morpurgo.
Script Editor: Dan Tetsell
Producer: Katie Tyrrell
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in August 2011.
SAT 23:00 The Mark Steel Revolution (b007jswj)
The French Revolution
Radical comic Mark Steele turns his analytical mind to the guillotine and all things French.
In the first of six lectures on the theme of revolution, Mark examines some of the major historical forces at work during revolutions as well as holding up a mirror to our own age.
With Martin Hyder and Carla Mendonca.
Producer: Phil Clarke
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in June 1998.
SAT 23:30 Steven Appleby's Normal Life (b00snqqs)
Series 2
Normal Sleep
The cartoonist searches for the secret meaning of life, said to be written on a sausage.
Paul McCrink stars as Steven Appleby with what he laughably describes as "insights into normal, everyday life".
With:
Rosalind Paul
Ewan Bailey
Nigel Betts
Rachel Atkins
Written by Steven Appleby
Producer: Toby Swift
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in March 2003
SAT 23:45 No Tomatoes (b007zh4d)
Dog Days
Sketch show mixing up language and sounds. Dogs tell all to Paul Copley and Helen Moon. From September 2007.