SATURDAY 27 DECEMBER 2014

SAT 00:00 Charles Dickens (b00pdkdp)
The Signalman
The famous spine-chilling tale about a railway worker haunted by a spectre, warning him of danger on the rails. Read by Emlyn Williams.
SAT 00:15 Amanda Vickery - A History of Private Life (b00mzw4q)
Mistress and Servants
Historian Amanda Vickery on the perils of running a house in Lancashire with unreliable servants. From Elizabeth Shackleton's diaries.
SAT 00:30 Ladies of Letters (b01pdy7x)
Ladies of Letters Go Crackers
Episode 5
Irene discovers her daughter-in-law's awful secret plan, while Vera's future looks bleak. Stars Anne Reid and Prunella Scales.
SAT 00:45 Jeremy Seal - Santa: A Life (b0076w3f)
Episode 5
Writer Jeremy Seal's quest to discover the real Santa Claus concludes at the northernmost point of the globe. Read by Alan Cox.
SAT 01:00 The Museum of Curiosity (b00slqw1)
Series 3
Episode 5
John receives offerings from polymath Daniel Tammet, explorer Robin Hanbury-Tenison and comedian Ronni Ancona. From June 2010.
SAT 01:30 My Life in Five Books (b00v6kfk)
Series 1
Tony Parsons
In this series Stuart Cosgrove meets guests from the literary world and beyond to hear about the five very special books in their lives.
Tony Parsons is a bestselling author, a newspaper columnist and an outspoken commentator.
He published his first novel, The Kids in 1976 while working in a Gin factory. Making a name for himself as a journalist on the New Musical Express he went on to publish several semi-autobiographical novels including Man and Boy in 1999.
His latest book, Tony Parsons on Life, Death and Breakfast has just been published.
Talking to Stuart Cosgrove, Tony picks five significant books from his book shelves including a memorable title from his childhood, a book he would describe as life changing and the tome he has bought but has never finished.
SAT 02:00 Doctor Who (b01875j2)
Hornets' Nest
Hive of Horror, part 1
Now fully up to speed, former UNIT ally, Mike Yates joins forces with the Time Lord to tackle the alien swarm.
Part of a five-story adventure written by Paul Magrs.
Starring Tom Baker as the Fourth Doctor, Richard Franklin as Mike Yates, Susan Jameson as Mrs Wibbsey and Daniel Hill as Percy Noggins.
Producer: Kate Thomas
Made by BBC Audio.
SAT 02:30 Ainsley's First Kitchen (b0076w78)
Ainsley Harriott takes us back to some of the culinary milestones of his South London youth - the market stalls still selling their global range of fruit and veg; the Greek matriarch and magnificent cook, now in her nineties, who treated Ainsley as an addition to her copious family; the kitchen in his childhood home, kindly lent for the occasion by the present occupants, now completely transformed but redolent with memories. In that kitchen, where his mother taught him how to cook, Ainsley prepares some Christmas favourites from forty years ago and invites along a few friends to share the moment, including another South London boy, comedian Arthur Smith.
Ainsley's parents emigrated from Jamaica in the late 1950's and made a new life for themselves in Balham, South London. By the time Ainsley and his siblings were born a few years later, the area was already home to a vibrant and diverse community. People newly arrived from the Caribbean, Greece or Hong Kong and their English-born children lived alongside Londoners who had been in the area for generations. Parents swapped neighbourly small talk, children were in and out of each other's houses sampling the national cuisine of their hosts. The local shops and markets began to reflect this culinary cornucopia, stocking mangoes and sweet potatoes as well as apples and sprouts, and some of Ainsley's earliest memories are of going shopping with his mother, her basket crammed with exotic produce.
SAT 03:00 The Inspector Alleyn Mysteries (b0084sb1)
When in Rome
1970s Rome. Chief Detective Inspector Alleyn is incognito and on the trail of a vast drugs syndicate - and some exceptionally unsavoury blackmail.
But he hasn't reckoned on murder...
Another tale of Dame Ngaio Marsh’s gentleman detective.
CDI Alleyn …. Jeremy Clyde
Nigel Bathgate …. Nick Waring
Sonia, Lady Bracely …. Pauline Jameson
Kenneth Dorne …. Tom George
Baron Van der Veghel …. David Swift
Baroness Van der Veghel …. Paula Jacobs
Sophy Jason …. Annabelle Dowler
Barnaby Grant …. Sean Arnold
Major Sweet …. Derek Waring
Sebastian Mailer …. Matthew Devereaux
Father Denys …. James Greene
Valdarno …. Stephen Critchlow
Violetta/Receptionist …. Carolyn Jones
Dramatised by Michael Bakewell.
Director: Enyd Williams
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in April 2003.
SAT 04:00 James Hopkin - A Georgian Trilogy (b01ng1hz)
The Soul Is Missing Fairy Tales!
The third of three specially commissioned stories by James Hopkin, inspired by his travels in Georgia in Autumn 2008.
A tour bus of journalists, writers and artists breaks down on the infamous military highway from Vladikavkaz to Tbilisi. It is only nine days since the Russian army withdrew from parts of Georgia, but there are rumours of a return.
Read by Ben Miles.
Producer: Rosalynd Ward
A Sweet Talk production for BBC Radio 4.
SAT 04:15 The Sorcerer's Apprentice (b008j0gn)
A young magician is left alone in his master's workshop. Judith French updates Goethe's tale. Starring Paul Rhys and Harry Towb.
SAT 05:00 After Henry (b007k01q)
The Season of Relative Goodwill
"Even doing what you always do at Christmas presupposes agreement about exactly what it is that you always do".
Sarah's mother makes everyone follow her strict timetable for Christmas Day.
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.
Starring Prunella Scales as Sarah, Joan Sanderson as Eleanor, Benjamin Whitrow as Russell and Gerry Cowper as Clare.
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 December 1987.
SAT 05:30 Do Nothing 'Til You Hear From Me (b0076sm2)
Series 2
Swingin' Down the Lane
No Nothing 'Til You Hear From Me
Series 2
Episode 3 of 4 - Swingin' Down the Lane
Roy and George hear that an old bandleader, Gillie Truman, is on his deathbed and George is keen to visit. But Roy fell out with Gillie fifty years earlier and sees no reason to bury the hatchet.
Don Warrington..... Roy
Yvonne Brewster..... Vi
Sam Kelly..... George
George Layton..... Barry
Caroline Lee Johnson..... Bernadette
Marcus Powell..... Victor
Michael Bertenshaw..... Gillie
Angie Wallis..... Laura
Mike Kearsey..... Trombonist
Written by Marcus Powell
Producer Carol Smith.
SAT 05:55 Kenny Everett - Captain Kremmen (b01n4f9y)
The Pain of Strain Falls Mainly on the Brain
Held hostage for their brains, can Kremmen and his crew evade their evil captors? Kenny Everett's 1970s sci-fi serial starring the world's most fabulous starship captain.
SAT 06:00 JCW Brook - The Tale of the Knight, the Witch and the Dragon (b04vdykh)
A story set in the past, the past of the imagination, where all things are possible. Written by JCW Brook.
Starring Patrick Stewart as The Knight, Peggy Paige as The Witch and Scrull the Dragon created by Peter Howell of the Radiophonic Workshop, who also composed the sound score.
Directed by Ian Cotterell.
Originally a BBC Quadrophonic recording for Saturday Night Theatre. First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in April 1978.
SAT 07:30 The Nose School (b00tr3ps)
Fuelling a multi-million pound industry. Rosie Goldsmith discovers the ancient and secretive art of perfume-making. From March 2005.
SAT 08:00 Archive on 4 (b00pj0y2)
Doctor Who - The Lost Episodes
What happened to the 108 missing episodes of Doctor Who from the 1960s?
Shaun Ley investigates why the tapes were wiped and how dedicated fans hunted down copies of other episodes in film collections from Cyrpus to New Zealand.
While we may have lost those early programmes, Shaun hears how some home recordings ensured all audio survived.
Producer: Chris Ledgard.
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 2009.
SAT 09:00 4 Extra Celebrates Dora Bryan (b03szf7d)
A celebration of the life of Dora Bryan, hailed as one of Britain's great all-round performers.
Journalist and writer Lynne Truss looks back on Dora's remarkable career with handpicked highlights from the BBC radio archive. Lynne is joined by Dora's friend and co-star Bernard Cribbins, BBC radio drama producer Martin Jenkins, theatre critic Benedict Nightingale and film writer Matthew Sweet.
With her unmistakable voice and scene-stealing comic timing, Dora was a regular pleasure of 1950s and 60s British cinema, playing a series of 'tarts with hearts'. But she was just at home on stage performing Pinter, belting out show tunes in Hello, Dolly! or captivating listeners from behind a microphone. And well into her 70s she was still in the West End singing, dancing and doing the splits.
The archive selection includes:
* Desert Islands Discs from 1987, when Dora was Michael Parkinson's castaway
* Jimmy Chinn's drama Perfect Timing about a struggling music hall duo all at sea on a cruise ship booking starring Dora, Bernard Cribbins and Roy Barraclough
* That Reminds Me from 2000, in which Dora recalls her stage, film and TV career
* With Great Pleasure from 2003, featuring readings from Dora's favourite books
* The Child Within, Wally K Daly's moving monologue written especially for and performed by Dora Bryan.
Dora Bryan died on 23rd July 2014 aged 91.
Made for BBC Radio 4 Extra by Pier Productions and first broadcast in March 2014.
SAT 12:00 The Skool Days of Nigel Molesworth (Omnibus) (b04vdzxb)
Everyone's favourite anarchic skoolboy, Nigel Molesworth gives a guided tour of the complete and utter shambles that is St Custards, the finest educational establishment this side of Dotheboys Hall.
Imelda Staunton stars as Nigel Molesworth, the Curse of St Custards, in this fresh adaptation of the notorious Goriller of 3B's guide to skool life for tiny pupils and their parents.
Aided by best friend Peason and thwarted by everyone from Grabber the skool bully to Wandsworth the skool dog, Nigel Molesworth teaches us the ins and outs of skool life - including how to avoid lessens and how to build your own H-bomb.
Molesworth ...... Imelda Staunton
Peason ...... Sophie Thompson
Grabber ...... Jack Farthing
Prudence ...... Jessica Brown Findlay
Headmaster ...... Patrick Barlow
Radio Announcer ...... Lewis Macleod
Omnibus adapted by Patrick Barlow and George Poles from the books by Geoffrey Willans and Ronald Searle, with additional material by Abigail Wilson.
Director: Patrick Barlow
Producer: Liz Anstee
A CPL production for BBC Radio 4 first broadcast in five parts in December 2014.
SAT 13:15 The Lady Detectives (b00cqf3n)
The Golden Slipper
The vivacious Miss Violet Strange shines in the best New York society. But, unknown to her friends, she's also a professional agency detective. Here, in a case from 1910, she investigates 'The Inseparables', four rich young women suspected of a series of thefts.
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.
Anna Green's mystery stars Teresa Gallagher as Violet Strange, Crawford Logan as Driscoll, Lesley Hart as Alicia and Gayanne Potter as Theresa.
Dramatised by Roger Danes.
Producer: Patrick Rayner
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 2005.
SAT 14:00 Sid and Dora (b04vd29z)
Celebrating Christmas doesn't quite go to plan for Sid and Dora Edge.
Starring Sid James and Dora Bryan.
With Pat Coombs and Derek Lanyon.
Incidental music by Jack Emblow
Script by Eddie Maguire
Producer: John Browell
First broadcast on the BBC Light Programme in December 1965.
SAT 14:30 Spike Milligan (b04vd21s)
The Naughty Navy Show
Spike Milligan's one-off festive show
Co-starring:
John Bird
Bernard Miles
Bob Todd
Phillipe Le Bars
Roddy Maude-Roxby
Music from Alan Clare's Naughty Navy Quartet.
Recorded before an audience of students at the Royal Naval College, Greenwich. By permission of the Admiral President, Rear-Admiral P U. Bayley C.B.D.S.C.
Written by Spike Milligan.
Producer: Charles Chilton
Audio courtesy of The Goon Show Preservation Society.
First broadcast on the BBC Home Service in December 1965.
SAT 15:00 Archive on 4 (b00pj0y2)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:00 today]
SAT 16:00 JCW Brook - The Tale of the Knight, the Witch and the Dragon (b04vdykh)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:00 today]
SAT 17:30 The Rest is History (b04vd88y)
Series 1
Episode 2
Frank Skinner loves history, but just doesn't know much of it.
This comedy discussion show with celebrity guests promises to help him find out more about it.
With Victoria Coren Mitchell, Andy Zaltzman and historian in residence Dr Kate Williams
Frank and company navigate their way through the annals of time, picking out and chewing over the funniest, oddest, and most interesting moments in history.
Producers: Dan Schreiber and Justin Pollard
An Avalon production for BBC Radio 4 first broadcast in December 2014.
SAT 18:00 Bram Stoker - Dracula (b04y9dlb)
1. No One
Bram Stoker's disturbing vampire tale of horror, re-imagined by Rebecca Lenkiewicz.
Nicky Henson stars as Count Dracula.
An all action adventure story, with ghosts, ghouls, lunatics, and seriously gripping chase sequences.
Narrated by various characters with different 'takes' on the progress of the story
A thrilling ride through the dark psyche of Victorian England dramatised in two parts.
Count Dracula ..... Nicky Henson
Dr Seward ..... Charles Edwards
Renfield ..... Don Gilet
Jonathan Harker ..... Michael Shelford
Mina Murray ..... Ellie Kendrick
Lucy Westenra ..... Scarlett Brookes
Dr Van Helsing ..... John Dougall
Arthur ..... Joe Sims
Landlord's Wife ..... Christine Absalom
Driver ..... Robert Blythe
Simmons ..... Patrick Brennan
Vampiresses ..... Sarah Thom, Ellie Crook & Stephanie Racine
Child ..... Harper Bone
Singer ..... Adriana Festeu
Director: Jessica Dromgoole.
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in October 2012.
SAT 19:00 4 Extra Celebrates Dora Bryan (b03szf7d)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:00 today]
SAT 22:00 Sketchorama Extra (b04vf070)
In the Summer of 2014, Thom Tuck presented the pick of the best live sketch groups performing on the UK comedy circuit in the third series of BBC Radio 4's award winning sketch act showcase.
Twelve acts featured over four shows recorded in front of audiences in London and at the Edinburgh Festival. So much material was performed, that we've put together this hour of unheard sketch gems for this BBC Radio 4 Extra Special.
With so many incredibly talented and inventive sketch groups on the British Comedy scene, Sketchorama aims to showcase these hidden gems and established performers.
Acts featured in series 3 included Croft & Pearce, Beasts, Mixed Doubles, Bob & Jim, The Real MacGuffins, Lead Pencil, The Colour Ham, and The Birthday Girls.
Producer Gus Beattie.
Sketchorama Extra is a Comedy Unit Production for BBC Radio 4 Extra.
SAT 23:00 The Mark Steel Lecture (b007r5lk)
Series 3
Hannibal
The radical comedian offers his humorous assessment of the talented military commander. From September 2002.
SAT 23:30 Josie Long: All of the Planet's Wonders (b00hqhzh)
The Enlightenment
Josie explores the history of collecting things and discovers the Enlightenment.
She tries to defy her student past, by becoming more scientific and takes controversial anatomist Professor Gunther von Hagens to task for being a "demon with ready access to plasticine".
With Maeve Higgins, Henning Wehn and Daniel Harkin.
Producer Colin Anderson
First broadcast BBC Radio 4 in February 2009.
SAT 23:45 Fabulous (b00hs90r)
Series 1
Episode 3
Faye's cooker is beeping, work deadlines are looming and flat-hunting sucks...
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
Eve Dallas
Jot Davies
Music by Osymyso.
Producer: Simon Nicholls
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in May 2007.