SATURDAY 13 DECEMBER 2014

SAT 00:00 Sue Townsend - Adrian Mole: The Wilderness Years (b007jthp)
Episode 8
Adrian inherits some money and decides to take a creative writing holiday in Greece. Read by Nicholas Barnes.
SAT 00:15 Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen's History of Home (b009mc9d)
Ideal Home Show
Laurence talks to philosopher Alain de Botton about how our ideas of the home have changed and what the future holds. From April 2008.
SAT 00:30 George Eliot - Adam Bede (b007jnzn)
Episode 15
The time arrives for Dinah to decide where her heart really lies. Stars Katherine Igoe, Vicki Liddelle and Thomas Arnold.
SAT 00:45 Book of the Week (b01l3049)
Katherine Boo - Behind the Beautiful Forevers
Episode 5
"One of the most powerful indictments of economic inequality I've ever read. If Bollywood ever decides to do its own version of The Wire, this would be it." Barbara Ehrenreich
Sudha Bhuchar reads Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Katherine Boo's landmark work of life, death and hope in the slums of Mumbai. Based on years of uncompromising reporting, Behind the Beautiful Forevers tells the story of Annawadi, a makeshift slum sitting in the shadow of Mumbai's glittering luxury hotels and shiny new international airport. Through the stories of the characters she meets, Boo reveals what it takes to escape poverty in one of the 21st century's great, unequal cities.
Today: while some slum dwellers are forging their way up into the overcity, others are fighting for their lives back in the slum.
Author: Katherine Boo is a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist who is currently a staff writer at the New Yorker. This is her first book.
Reader: Sudha Bhuchar is joint founder and Artistic Director of the theatre company, Tamasha, and is both an actor and playwright.
Abridger: Richard Hamilton-Jones
Producer: Justine Willett.
SAT 01:00 The Museum of Curiosity (b00sfwmp)
Series 3
Episode 3
John Lloyd invites guests Kevin Eldon, John Ronson and Richard Wiseman to add to the imaginary collection. From May 2010.
SAT 01:30 My Life in Five Books (b00txh41)
Series 1
AL Kennedy
AL Kennedy is an award winning writer whose first published book 'Night Geometry and the Garscadden Trains' hit the bookshops in 1991.
Now established as a novelist and short story writer Alison Louise Kennedy is also a stand-up comedian.
In conversation with Stuart Cosgrove she reveals her favourite book from childhood and the book she has bought but has never finished. Stuart also enquires about her favourite bedside book, the novel she wishes she had bought as a teenager and the book she has returned to most often.
SAT 02:00 Patrick O'Brian - Master and Commander (b04t6q1h)
Episode 5
A difficult decision for Jack Aubrey, as the life of a member of the crew is weighed against prize money. Stars Michael Troughton and Nigel Anthony.
SAT 02:30 The Kiss at 100 (b007yvl9)
Rowan Pelling visits Vienna to explore the enduring appeal of Gustav Klimt's The Kiss, which has become one of the world's most reproduced paintings since it was first exhibited 100 years ago. Who are the couple depicted in the famous clinch?
SAT 03:00 Wilkie Collins - No Name (b007jrs9)
July 1847
In her attempt to regain her inheritance from her cousin Noel, Magdalen has disguised herself as Susan Bygrave and gone to stay near Noel in Aldeburgh.
But Mrs Lecount suspects her true identity...
Wilkie Collins’ novel dramatised by Ray Jenkins.
Magdalen Vanstone ...... Sophie Thompson
Captain Wragge ...... Jack May
Miss Garth ...... Kathleen Helme
Noel Vanstone ...... Nigel Anthony
Mrs Wragge ...... Vivian Pickles
Little Boy ...... Susan Sheridan
Mrs Lecount ...... Eleanor Bron
Chemist ...... Christopher Good
Postmaster ...... Simon Bullock
Servant ...... Jo Kendall
Narrator ...... Philip Sully
Music by Peter Brewis and played by Maurice Cambridge.
Director: Janet Whitaker
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in September 1989.
SAT 04:00 Patrick O'Brian - The Surgeon's Mate (b0076m6t)
Episode 3
Dr Stephen Maturin takes a trip to Paris to address the Institute on scientific matters. Read by Benedict Cumberbatch.
SAT 04:15 Drama (b0076wy0)
Jane Beeson - The Discourse of Two Once-Young Women
The Discourse of Two Once-Young Women
By Jane Beeson.
Three old friends from schooldays during the war plan to meet up. Why are the two women so nervous, and what can have changed so radically? Their male friend acts as a conduit but the circumstance of their meeting is something none of them could have anticipated.
Daisy ...... Lynn Farleigh
Gerald ...... Oliver Ford Davies
Ida ...... Eleanor Bron
Matt ...... Geoffrey Beevers
Mother ...... Ella Smith
Young Daisy ...... Anna Lanyon
Young Ida ...... Tessa Montague
Boy ...... John Cummins
Directed by Cherry Cookson.
SAT 05:00 After Henry (b007jq4g)
Series 3
Intellectual Aspirations
'... but he did look at you twice. So clearly you have something that appeals to him other than your ability to discuss Schopenhauer's Weltanschauung.'
Clare's seeing graduate Julian, but his brainy parents make her feel inadequate.
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
Julian ...... Jasper Jacob
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 October 1987.
SAT 05:30 Do Nothing 'Til You Hear From Me (b0076sdr)
Series 2
Lulu's Back in Town
Musician Roy panics when his wife's vivacious sister takes best pal George out for dinner. Stars Don Warrington. From June 2005.
SAT 06:00 Arthur Wing Pinero - Dandy Dick (b007jt15)
A dean, who is a paragon of dignity and decorum, is driven by an indiscreet act into a most undignified dilemma. A horse and racing folk are also involved.
Alec McCowen and Patricia Routledge star in Arthur Wing Pinero's farce.
The Dean ...... Alec McCowen
Georgiana Tidman ...... Patricia Routledge
Sir Tristram Mardon ...... Nigel Stock
Salome ...... Susan Kyd
Sheba ...... Melinda Walker
Blore ...... John Church
Mr Darbey ...... Richard Clifford
Major Tarver ...... John Rye
Hatcham ...... Shaun Prendergast
Hannah Topping ...... Anne Jameson
Noah Topping ...... Garard Green
Producer John Tydeman.
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in April 1986
SAT 07:30 The House I Grew Up In (b00d74s3)
Series 2
Shaun Bailey
Wendy Robbins presents a series revisiting the childhood neighbourhoods of influential Britons.
Shaun Bailey, prospective parliamentary candidate and founder of youth charity My Generation, was raised by his extended Jamaican family on a tough west London housing estate. He takes Wendy back to the place where he grew up, remembering how his mother's discipline and becoming an army cadet at 12 saved him from a life of crime and violence.
SAT 08:00 Archive on 4 (b01pf5sv)
What Big Teeth You Have...
Children's author Anthony McGowan examines the tangled story behind the beloved children's stories.
Once upon a time in Kassel, two brothers set out to record the traditional oral tales of their country. To their horror, they realised that the stories - full of sex and violence - were happily being devoured by children in nurseries all over Germany. The first people to police the stories of the Brothers Grimm were the brothers themselves, as they sanitised the stories over seven editions.
This bowdlerising trend continued throughout the 19th century, when children's literature was used as a didactic tool to encourage moral behaviour. Right into the 20th century the tales were used to reinforce the moral beliefs of the day. From the prim and proper 'Listen with Mother', to Walt Disney's first foray into big screen animated features - 'Snow White' complete with seven dwarves - the fairy tales reinforced the ideals of the day.
Then in the 1930s, films were released in Germany - stories where the huntsman in Little Red Riding Hood wears an army uniform and Snow White's father leads a heroic charge into Poland.
After the war there was a policing of the Grimms, this time by the Allied Commanders - complete removal. But, like Snow White in her glass coffin, they were only waiting to be revived. In the 1960s there was a resurgence of interest in the Grimms. Acclaimed analyst Bruno Bettelheim claimed that the stories were not vehicles for human evil - but that the tales were essential in the development of children's minds.
Coinciding with, or because of Bettelheim's work, there soon came a rush of new versions of the stories reclaiming them for a post-war world, from Angela Carter to acclaimed fantasy writer Jane Yolen who expressed the horrors of the Holocaust through Sleeping Beauty, Stephen Sondheim's Into the Woods and Philip Pullman's new tales.
Yet, as Anthony discovers, the various interpretations of these classic tales belie the true origins of the tales that were not, as we have been led to believe, spoken stories told by the good German peasant folk to their children at bedtime.....
SAT 09:00 Radio Heads (b007jql4)
Jonathan James Moore
Jonathan James Moore rose from gifted producer to become Head of Light Entertainment for radio from 1991 to 1997. He was also probably one of the hairiest men ever seen at the BBC.
Back in 2003, Jonathan sat in the Radio Heads hot-seat and was grilled by Michaela Saunders about his time at the top. He also chose his selection from the many programmes he was involved with:
The Million Pound Radio Show
Knowing Me Knowing You
No Commitments
Goodness Gracious Me
On the Town with The League of Gentlemen
Choice Grenfell
Sadly Jonathan James Moore passed away in 2005.
Produced by Jayne Gibson.
First broadcast on BBC 7 in December 2003.
SAT 12:00 Writing the Century - Omnibus (b04ttps1)
My Greenham
Writing the Century - My Greenham
By Fiona Evans
The series which explores the 20th century through the diaries and correspondence of real people. Using the 1980's Greenham Common diaries of Ginette Leach this is a funny and moving coming of age story of a 50-year-old suburban housewife. Ginette discovers her husband John is having an affair, and she begins one herself, with a woman at Greenham Common. She also experiences cutting the perimeter fence at Greenham for the first time: An exilherating and terrifying experience.
Ginette ...... Pippa Haywood
Older Ginette ..... Pauline Jefferson
Millie ........ Judith Barker
Ginette's mum ...... Christine Cox
John ...... Jonathan Keeble
Norman ..... Roger Morlidge
Kath/Gina ...... Rosina Carbone
Hilary ...... Caroline Strong
Produced and directed by Pauline Harris.
SAT 13:15 The Lady Detectives (b00cq1d6)
The Redhill Sisterhood
Autumn,1897: Victorian undercover agent Loveday Brooke investigates a group of nuns who appear to have forsaken their vows - and taken to burglary.
From the Golden Age of the crime short story, 'The Lady Detectives' is a series of four female sleuths to rival the great Sherlock himself.
Catherine Louisa Pirkis' mystery stars Gayanne Potter as Loveday Brooke, Paul Young as Inspector Gunning, Neil McKinven as Sergeant Blaine, Noreen Leighton as Sister Monica and Lucy Paterson as Sister Anna.
Dramatised by Roger Danes.
Producer: Patrick Rayner
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 2005.
SAT 14:00 Listen to Les (b007wvm2)
From 25/09/1983
Les Dawson's life as a spy, a rare interview with boxer Sugar Albert Ackroyd and Cissie despairs of Ada.
With Roy Barraclough, Daphne Oxenford and Colin Edwynn.
Music by Brian Fitzgerald.
Scripted and produced by James Casey.
First broadcast on BBC Radio 2 in September 1983.
SAT 14:30 As Time Goes By (b04t6qm0)
Series 1
Episode 1
Former sweethearts Jean and Lionel meet up again after many years, but true love fails to rekindle.
Starring Judi Dench as Jean and Geoffrey Palmer as Lionel. With Jon Glover and Simon Greenall.
Adapted from his original television series by Bob Larbey. Produced by Martin Fisher.
First broadcast on BBC Radio 2 in March 1997.
SAT 15:00 Archive on 4 (b01pf5sv)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:00 today]
SAT 16:00 Arthur Wing Pinero - Dandy Dick (b007jt15)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:00 today]
SAT 17:30 Hal (b04tdqwq)
Series 1
Fidelity
Hal Cruttenden stars as a 40-something husband and father who, years ago, decided to give up his job and become a stay at home father. His wife, Sam, has a successful business career which makes her travel more and more. His children, Lilly and Molly, are growing up fast, and his role as their father and mentor is diminishing by the day.
So what can Hal do as he reaches a crossroads in his life? Help is (sort of) at hand in the form of his eager mates - Doug, Fergus and Barry - who regularly meet at their local curry house for mind expanding conversations that sadly never give Hal the core advice he so desperately needs.
Hal is confused even further as he regularly has visions of his long dead and highly macho father, who he's forced to engage in increasingly frustrating conversations.
In this last episode of the series, Hal faces a new challenge - unwanted romantic attention. Happily married to Sam and with two adoring daughters, life is a picture of roses at home. But how will Hal cope with the romantic attention of a new, attractive neighbour Angie?
The cast includes co-writer Dominic Holland, Ed Byrne, Ronni Ancona, Anna Crilly, Gavin Webster, Dominic Frisby, Samuel Caseley and Emily and Lucy Robbins.
Produced by Paul Russell
An Open Mike production for BBC Radio 4 first broadcast in December 2014.
SAT 18:00 Kingsley Amis - To See the Sun (b04ttwmp)
Vampires, a mad Scots librarian, a handsome Englishman and a Countess of uncertain age - all in Dacia in the 1920s.
Christopher Cazenove and Gayle Hunnicutt star in this vampire drama by Kingsley Amis.
Dramatised by John Scotney.
Stephen Hillier ...... Christopher Cazenove
Countess Valvazour ...... Gayle Hunnicutt
Robert McNeil ...... Graham Crowden
Innkeeper ...... Alan Dudley
Magda ...... Jennifer Piercey
Connie ...... Zelah Clarke
From 'Kingsley Amis Sextet' – a season of radio plays adapted from his short stories.
Director: Jane Morgan
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in October 1987.
SAT 18:30 Planet B (b00yy62r)
Series 3
The End of the Rogue
Episode 5 by Matthew Broughton
The virtual world has been switched off by Mark Schwartz. As the power slowly drains from the circuits, Kip and Medley must race through the ruins of reality in a desperate bid to reset the universe. Is this the end for Planet B? Last in the series.
Kip .. Lloyd Thomas
Medley .. Claire Harry
Cerberus .. Chris Pavlo
Slab .. Tony Bell
Deano .. Adeel Akhtar
Mary .. Sally Orrock
Mark Schwartz .. Sam Dale
With Gunner Cauthery, Iain Batchelor, Henry Devas and Adjoa Andoh.
Directed by James Robinson.
SAT 19:00 Writing the Century - Omnibus (b04ttps1)
[Repeat of broadcast at 12:00 today]
SAT 20:15 The Lady Detectives (b00cq1d6)
[Repeat of broadcast at 13:15 today]
SAT 21:00 Serial (b04wztxk)
The Opposite of the Prosecution
Sarah learns about a case strikingly similar to Adnan's - a key witness, cell records, young people, drugs. Contacting the defense attorney, she gets more than she bargained for.
SAT 21:30 The House I Grew Up In (b00d74s3)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:30 today]
SAT 22:00 Mark Watson's Live Address to the Nation (b017x0wb)
Goodwill
Mark Watson continues his quest to improve the world, nimbly assisted by Tim Key and Tom Basden.
As broadcast live with an audience in December 2011 - Mark will be asking 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.
Quite a few years ago Matt Damon and Robin Williams went Good Will Hunting. Now Mark and co finish the job by finding it, as the final edition of the series takes on a festive aspect. What is goodwill? How we can incorporate it into our lives? Is it better than ill-will? (SPOILER: it is).
Producer: Lianne Coop.
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in December 2011.
SAT 22:30 Armando Iannucci's Charm Offensive (b00djnq1)
Series 1
Episode 6
The funny man's radio drop-in centre tackles the Blairs, Paula Radcliffe and Anne Robinson. With Alexei Sayle.
SAT 23:00 BBC New Comedy Awards (b04ttxys)
2014
Semi-final, part 2 - Extended
Made for 4 Extra. The second of two semi-finals in the 2014 BBC Radio New Comedy Award. Recorded at the Glee Club in Birmingham and hosted by Patrick Kielty. Extended edition.
SAT 23:45 Fabulous (b00hhrhm)
Series 1
Episode 1
Faye is anxious.
She knows today's women are fabulous: they have the job, the house, the colour co-ordinated capsule wardrobe.
They cope with singledom, marriage and having kids with nothing more than a copy of Prima and a poem by Pam Ayres to guide them.
So why can't she pull it off?
Daisy Haggard stars as Faye in Lucy Clarke’s sitcom about a woman who wants to be fabulous but can't cope.
With:
Olivia Colman
Adam Buxton
Katy Brand
Matthew Holness
Laura Solon
Joanna Scanlan
Music by Osymyso.
Producer: Simon Nicholls
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in May 2007.