SATURDAY 15 NOVEMBER 2014

SAT 00:00 Sue Townsend - The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole, Aged 13 3/4 (b014tt0r)
Episode 5
Adrian is worried about his mum's new independence, and what about his worsening spots? Nicholas Barnes reads Sue Townsend's book.
SAT 00:15 Ben Macintyre - Agent Zigzag (b00jp108)
Episode 5
British wartime double agent and former convict Eddie Chapman arrives back home. Concluded by Damian Lewis.
SAT 00:30 Ladies of Letters (b01m850q)
Ladies of Letters Log On
Episode 5
Vera has a busy day with a new arrival at Sheepdippers. With Patricia Routledge and Prunella Scales. From May 2001.
SAT 00:45 Blake Morrison - And When Did You Last See Your Father? (b04nvbfk)
Episode 5
Blake Morrison reads more from his tribute to a cantankerous father. A family holiday does not bring out the best. From April 1994.
SAT 01:00 Jest a Minute (b0133g72)
Series 1
Episode 5
Justin Moorhouse, Sarah Millican, Chris Corcoran and Jeff Green star in Rhod Gilbert's comedy quiz. From September 2006.
SAT 01:30 My Life in Five Books (b00tky4n)
Series 1
Dame Jacqueline Wilson
1/1
Celebrated children's author Dame Jacqueline Wilson has sold over 25 million books and is the most borrowed author of the decade. In conversation with Stuart Cosgrove, Dame Jacqueline reveals the 5 most important books in her life. As well as revealing her literary secrets, she tells Stuart about a childhood with imaginary friends, the impact of a health scare and why her mother refused to call her a Dame! From 2010.
SAT 02:00 Eric Ambler - Topkapi (b0116778)
Episode 4
Unwilling Turkish secret agent Simpson watches a group of 'tourists' while he works as their driver. Read by David Westhead.
SAT 02:30 The Poet of Albion (b008cr07)
Jenny Uglow presents a profile of Wiliam Blake.
Widely misrepresented as a patriotic conformist, the great poet was a passionate dissident, a political artist deeply at odds with his country whose ideas were formed by the turbulent history of the time.
Contributors include Blake's biographer Peter Ackroyd and poet and critic Tom Paulin.
SAT 03:00 James Hilton - Lost Horizon (b00tp809)
Shangri-La
Hugh Conway and the others are stranded in the Tibetan wilderness, but a man named Chang comes to their aid. Stars Derek Jacobi.
SAT 04:00 Short Stories by John McGahern (b00p84px)
Sierra Leone, part 2
Thanks to his tangled lovelife, a young man assesses his capacity for commitment. Conclusion read by Sean McGinley.
SAT 04:15 John McGahern - Parachutes (b0075x70)
Dumped by his girlfriend, a man tries to drown his sorrows in the in the sharp and funny pub world of 1950s Dublin.
John McGahern's story dramatised by Patricia Cobey
Starring Brendan Gleeson as the Narrator, Pauline McLynn as Claire Mulvey, Mark Lambert as Paddy Mulvey, David Wilmot as Eamon Kelly and Karen Ardiff as the Woman,
Director: Pam Brighton
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 2000.
SAT 05:00 After Henry (b007jpt4)
Series 3
Wedding Bells
'Well, I think it's a mother's duty to keep a maternal eye on her daughter's emotional entanglements. That's what I always tried to do with you. You know, subtly. At a distance.'
Eleanor has plans for nuptials in the family, but the family has other ideas...
Simon Brett's comedy about three generations of women - struggling to cope after the death of Sarah's GP husband - who never quite manage to see eye to eye.
Sarah ...... Prunella Scales
Eleanor ...... Joan Sanderson
Russell ...... Benjamin Whitrow
Clare ...... Gerry Cowper
Four radio series were made, but instead of moving to BBC TV - Thames Television produced 'After Henry' for the ITV network.
Producer: Pete Atkin
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in September 1987.
SAT 05:30 Spangles 'n' Tights (b04nv8v5)
The Ambassador
The Dublin Theatrical Costumiers are asked to dress a British Embassy pageant, only to become embroiled in an unfortunate scandal...
Christopher Fitz-Simon's five-part comedy.
Dessie Doyle ...... David Kelly
Violet Doyle ...... Pauline McLynn
Antony Gogan ...... Eugene O'Brien
Mr McNamara ...... Frank Kelly
Mr Bagshott ...... Bosco Hogan
Polly Hoskins ...... Ali White
Lady Bletchley ...... Sylvia Syms
Music played by John Trotter.
Directed at BBC Belfast by Roland Jaquarello.
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in October 1998.
SAT 06:00 Sherlock Holmes (b04nht15)
Chosen Companions
Richard Usborne - one-time assistant editor of The Strand Magazine - presents his choice of extracts from the Sherlock Holmes stories of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.
Read by Carleton Hobbs.
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 1970.
SAT 06:45 Sherlock Holmes (b007jph3)
His Last Bow
His Last Bow
"There's an east wind coming all the same, such a wind as never blew on England yet. It will be cold and bitter, Watson, and a good many of us may wither before its blast. But it's God's own wind none the less, and a cleaner, better, stronger land will lie in the sunshine when the storm has cleared."
Set in 1914, the great sleuth-cum-apiarist is asked to help England in her darkest hour.
Starring Clive Merrison as Sherlock Holmes, Michael Williams as Dr Watson and Norman Rodway as Stamford.
Violinist: Leonard Friedman
Dramatised by Bert Coules. Director: Enyd Williams
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 1994.
SAT 07:30 The House I Grew Up In (b00cxr1f)
Series 2
Mona Siddiqui
Wendy Robbins presents a series revisiting the childhood neighbourhoods of influential Britons.
Mona Siddiqui, Professor of Islamic Studies at Glasgow University, takes Wendy back to her childhood home in Huddersfield. She recalls growing up in a literary family and her mother's insistence on living separately from the wider Muslim community.
SAT 08:00 Archive on 4 (b011zkly)
The Light Music Festival
Although many Radio 4 listeners grew up tuning in to light orchestral music, it's now largely been forgotten. Most of us will be still be familiar with at least one very famous piece of light music: 'By The Sleepy Lagoon' - better known as the theme tune to 'Desert Island Discs' and composed by Eric Coates.
When BBC Radio was much slimmer than it is today - made up of just the Home Service, the Light Programme and the Third Programme - listeners tuned in to hear a live concert for the Festival of Light Music. it began in 1953 and was broadcast every June.
With the disappearance of the Light Programme in 1967 when it split into Radios 1 and 2, light music began to disappear from the airwaves. Eventually its only home was a single slot 'Friday Night is Music Night'. So why did such a popular style of music fade away?
The music journalist and broadcaster Paul Morley uses BBC archive to explore light music at its peak, including interviews with some of the major composers of British light music - Eric Coates, Ronald Binge and Ernest Tomlinson. He traces its decline, and looks at its possible resurgence in 2011, with events like the 'Light Fantastic Festival'.
Paul travels to Preston to meet Ernest Tomlinson and takes a tour around the Light Music Society's remarkable archive of thousands of pieces of light music - all rescued by Tomlinson and his daughter Hilary after the BBC and music publishers threw it away.
Paul also meets Christopher Austin at the Royal Academy of Music and the young conductor John Wilson, who is passionate about light music: for him, this music is not about nostalgia but beautifully written miniatures of orchestral music.
SAT 09:00 Deadpan (b04p522v)
What is deadpan? Comedian Gary Delaney puzzles it out with the help of actor and director Neil Maskell, writer and comedian Diane Morgan, comedy guru Colin Anderson and novelist Marius Brill.
Three hour showcase includes:
** The Sunday Format
Celebrity eaters choose 'Desert Island Biscs'. Radio's posh paper tells all. Featuring Alexander Armstrong and Emma Kennedy. From 2001.
** Stereonation 1/6: Greg, a Kate Bush fan.
Graham Duff fast-forwards through the world of music obsessives. From 1998.
** S-Laughter In the Dark ep 1/4 Blind Man's Buff
In just one night fantasizing blind detective Jack Dunroody becomes a sex starlet's lover and her husband's murderer. And that's without doing or seeing either. From 1996.
Punt and Dennis: It's Been a Bad Week Series 3 (8/8)
Steve Punt and Hugh Dennis welcome special guest Leslie Nielsen. Topical comedy from April 2000.
** The Riot That Never Was
In 1926, the fledgling BBC sparked a national panic with a spoof murderous riot in London. Manager, John Reith's reaction was unexpected. Stars Bob Sinfield and Ray Snoddy. From 2005
** What Went Wrong With The Olympics ep 3/4
Written by Ian Hislop & Nick Newman. Made in 2010 - hard-hitting, macho, spoof documentary set in 2014 - exploring the fiasco that WAS the London Olympics. Stars Kevin Eldon. From 2010.
Producer: Martin Dempsey
Made for BBC Radio 4 Extra and first broadcast in 2014.
SAT 12:00 Children in Need: D for Dexter (b04p522x)
Series 1 Omnibus
by Amanda Whittington.
Skye is eleven years old and she lives with her brother Dexter, who's two and a half. And Spider the cat, and their Mum. But they're both usually out.
Skye looks after Dexter and plays with him. He likes it best when she plays her guitar, an electric guitar she found under a heap of clothes in her mum's bedroom. The bailiffs didn't take it even when they came back for the telly.
A heart-breakingly brave, funny and beautiful story, one of the highlights of programming for this week's BBC Children in Need appeal.
The serial was inspired by collaboration with Home-Start UK, a national charity offering support to families struggling to cope, who receive funding for specific projects from BBC Children in Need.
Skye...Sydney Wade
Dexter...Elsa Rodgers
Jak...Una McNulty
Evan...Samuel Holland
Alice...Jane Thornton
Mags...Sarah Parks
Lin...Martha Godber
Guitar...Pip Moore
Director...Mary Ward-Lowery.
SAT 13:10 Inheritance Tracks (b04prn2x)
Rebecca Front
The Thick of It actress shares her love of 'They All Laughed at Christopher Columbus' and why she will pass on Bach's concerto.
SAT 13:15 John Mortimer - Rumpole of the Bailey (b007jz59)
Rumpole and the Primrose Path
Recuperating at a nursing home, the barrister exposes some criminal practices. John Mortimer's dramatisation with Timothy West.
SAT 14:00 King Street Junior (b00tt953)
Series 1
Language Units
A difficult day for headmaster Mr Beeston, when a proposed unit for immigrant children produces more heat than the school central heating system.
Created and written by Jim Eldridge.
Ten series of this comedy about King Street Junior School ran between 1985 and 1998. King Street Junior Revisited ran from 2002 to 2005.
Eric Brown …. Peter Davison
Mr Beeston …. James Grout
Mr Holliday …. Tom Watson
Mrs Stone …. Margaret John
Mr Long …. Paul Copley
Miss Lewis …. Marlene Sidaway
Mr Ross …. Nick Stringer
Engineer …. Johnny Wade
Miss Sope …. Valerie Murray
Janet …. Pru Oliver
Tommy …. Desmond Askew
Maria …. Samantha Cahill
Producer: John Fawcett Wilson
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in April 1985.
SAT 14:30 The Mary Whitehouse Experience (b044153k)
Series 4
Episode 2
The pernicious evil of shampoo and conditioner.
Starring the double double-acts of David Baddiel and Rob Newman and Steve Punt and Hugh Dennis.
With Mark Hurst.
BBC Radio 1's alternative comedy with sketches, stand-up and the odd spot of audience participation.
Starting in 1989, the foursome's popularity sparked a BBC TV-transfer of the same name.
Producer: Armando Iannucci
First broadcast on BBC Radio 1 in October 1990
SAT 15:00 Archive on 4 (b011zkly)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:00 today]
SAT 16:00 Sherlock Holmes (b04nht15)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:00 today]
SAT 16:45 Sherlock Holmes (b007jph3)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:45 today]
SAT 17:30 Chain Reaction (b01l8rbv)
Series 8
Rebecca Front interviews Chris Addison
Rebecca Front talks to her Thick Of It co-star and fellow Nude-a-phobe, comedian Chris Addison about working with Armando Iannucci and embracing his middle-classness through stand-up
Producer ..... Carl Cooper
"In an unclothed state I look like a child has done a collage with some Twiglets".
Chris Addison
Other episodes in the chain include:
Rebecca Front being interviewed by the man who knows her best, her big brother, Jeremy Front.
Chris Addison in a rare interview with the actually-really-nice-and-he-doesn't-do-any-of-that-weird-stuff-in-real-life, Derren Brown;
Derren Brown chatting hair, beliefs and Tim Minchin with comedy musical megastar and fellow sceptic Tim Minchin;
A poorly Tim Minchin being handed tissues whilst attempting to interview with no questions a not-at-all-poorly and hilarious Caitlin Moran.
Caitlin Moran getting to spend time and talk shoes, Bananarama and women with her comedy hero Jennifer Saunders.
And.
Jennifer Saunders turning up a week later to find the series has ended. Probably. We weren't there because the series had ended.
SAT 18:00 Charles Chilton - Space Force (b007jn4v)
Series 2
The Great Martian Pyramid
Landing on Mars, the Space Force crew start explorations - but find their welcome is far from warm.
Charles Chilton's second intergalactic adventure series 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 and Bernard Brown.
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 Planet B (b00y1whc)
Series 3
Haunted
As the rogues face their biggest threat yet, a familiar face returns. Virtual reality saga by Dawn King. Stars Lloyd Thomas.
SAT 19:00 Deadpan (b04p522v)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:00 today]
SAT 22:00 Mark Watson's Live Address to the Nation (b016x241)
Faith
Mark Watson continues his quest to improve the world, nimbly assisted by Tim Key and Tom Basden.
As broadcast live in November 2011 - Mark invites the audience join in via tweets and messages to work out how we can all make the world a better place.
Mark asks the big questions that are crucial to our understanding of ourselves and society - in a dynamic and thought-provoking new format he opens the floor to the live audience and asks them to jump into the conversation via tweets and messages to work out how we can all make the world a better place.
This time Mark asks - What is faith? One of the most used, and feared, words of modern times. Yet these days, it's often used derisively about religious beliefs and so on. We look at odd things done in the name of 'faith', versus the obvious merits of having faith (belief that England will eventually win World Cup, ability to ride out difficult marriages). Should we be more credulous and believe people like estate agents? Or LESS credulous and destroy our TV sets altogether in case we accidentally absorb lies?
Producer: Lianne Coop
First broadcast live on BBC Radio 4 in November 2011.
SAT 22:30 Armando Iannucci's Charm Offensive (b007wvmw)
Series 1
Episode 2
The funny man throws open his radio drop-in centre for sketches, chat and big, big fibs. With Mark Steel. From May 2005.
SAT 23:00 The Mark Steel Revolution (b00ft5lb)
The Russian Revolution
Radical comic Mark Steele re-assesses the historical forces and key players in the Russian Revolution.
A series of 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 July 1998.
SAT 23:30 Steven Appleby's Normal Life (b00st0z2)
Series 2
Normal Oceanography
Cartoonist Steven wades into the world under the sea and gets intimate with a haddock.
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 (b0080jxn)
Train Times
Time warnings from Paul Copley and Helen Moon. Sketch show mixing up language and sounds. From October 2007.