SATURDAY 19 MARCH 2016

SAT 00:00 I Am Legend by Richard Matheson (b007k0tb)
2. Tomb
Earth's last living man, Robert Neville, discovers that his wife's tomb is a lair for vampires.
Richard Matheson's 1954 cult classic set in 1976 USA. One of the 20th century's most significant vampire novels, combining sci-fi and horror.
Read by Angus McInnes.
Abridged by Scott Stainton Miller.
Producer: Eilidh McCreadie
Made for BBC Radio 4 Extra by BBC Scotland and first broadcast in January 2006.
SAT 00:30 Soul Music (b008m82d)
Series 6
New York, New York
Andrew Collins and Mark Shenton present the story behind the classic song New York, New York.
Songwriting duo John Kander and Fred Ebb wrote the title song for the film. Unfortunately, the star Robert de Niro didn't like it, so they furiously wrote another one.
John Kander talks about the story behind the classic song.
Featuring:
Lorrena Turner
Michael Freedland
Huw Madoc-Jones
Terry Bennett
Alun Howells
Gareth Valentine
John Kander
Patrick Sasso
Rosemary Watts
Series about music that makes the hairs stand up on the back of our necks.
Producer: Sara Conkey
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in January 2008.
SAT 01:00 Paul Temple (b00rmxpm)
Paul Temple and the Gilbert Case
5. That Good Old Intuition
With Lynn Ferguson missing - the suave sleuth heads off to question the owner of the La Mortella club, Louis Fabian.
Francis Durbridge's thriller starring Peter Coke and Marjorie Westbury in another intriguing case for BBC radio's smoothest investigator and his glamorous wife.
Paul Temple …. Peter Coke
Steve …. Marjorie Westbury
Sir Graham Forbes …. Lester Mudditt
Charlie …. James Beattie
Lynn Ferguson …. Peggy Hassard
Wilfred Stirling …. Charles Leno
Louis Fabian …. Olaf Olsen
Peter Galino …. Robert Tietty
Detective Inspector Kingston …. Duncan McIntyre
Miss White …. Elizabeth London
Producer: Martyn C Webster
First broadcast on the BBC Light Programme in April 1954.
SAT 01:30 Let's Go To Misterland (b00qm467)
Created in 1971 by Roger Hargreaves, the Mr Men books have been an inherent part of so many childhoods.
Inspired by the author's son Adam, who one day inquired, "what does a tickle look like?". and the first character was born. The Little Miss books followed ten years later, worldwide sales have exceeded 100 million, and today the brand is flourishing under its new owners.
Stephanie Flanders takes a look at the Mr Men business and its growth over the years. She speaks to Adam Hargreaves who tells us the story behind the books and what inspired his father to create such a simplistic, yet hugely influential brand.
Created in the humble surroundings of a small home office, the characters have reached a global audience, and they appeal to today's children as much as their 1970s counterparts. Despite his death in 1988, Roger Hargreaves was the third best-selling author of the past decade, outstripping such feted writers as Jacqueline Wilson, Terry Pratchett and John Grisham.
Stephanie Flanders, daughter of the actor and singer Michael Flanders, examines the appeal of the Mr Men and how these bold, colourful drawings and simple stories continue to capture children's hearts.
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in February 2010.
SAT 02:00 Book at Bedtime (b01ngrxl)
Patricia Ferguson - The Midwife's Daughter
Episode 10
By Patricia Ferguson
Read by Joanna Tope
The new novel by Patricia Ferguson is the compassionate and moving story of two sisters and the young black orphan who changes their lives.
There is wonderful news for Grace but joy is short lived. And the final truth about the past is revealed.
Abridged by Robin Brooks
Produced by Gaynor Macfarlane.
SAT 02:15 Plants: From Roots to Riches (b04d4ppb)
A Useful Weed
At a glance, Arabidopsis thaliana (Mouse ear cress) looks little more than a tiny flowering weed. But this nondescript plant became a Rosetta stone for understanding the molecular processes underpinning many plant traits when in 2000 it became the first plant to have its genome fully sequenced.
Professor Kathy Willis hears how Arabidopsis bagged the role in plant genetics research similar to that played by mice and fruit flies in animal research, and how amidst arguments for and against the technique of modification, it became a key to introducing new characteristics in a quicker and more targeted way than traditional plant breeding.
The overall size of the Arabidopsis genome however, is not typical of many plants. We hear how a new understanding of the surprisingly diverse range of genome sizes within the plant kingdom is shedding light on the speed of a plant's ability to reproduce and adapt in changing conditions, which could play a fundamental role in decoding the patterns of plant distribution we see around the world.
With contributions from historian Jim Endersby, plant scientist Prof Liam Dolan and cytogeneticist Ilia Leitch.
Producer Adrian Washbourne.
SAT 02:30 15 Minute Drama (b011ld49)
Kieran Prendiville - Once More with Feeling
Episode 5
By Kieran Prendiville. A comedy drama set in the no-prisoners world of northern social clubs.
Its protagonist is Les Bone, a plumber who once came within sniffing distance of the big time when his band Nuclear Dump went mega.....without him.
And now, twenty five years down the line, still unlucky in love, single-parent Les has been tossed a second chance. His kids have a boyband (even if one of them is a girl) and they're a boy short for an upcoming tour of south Yorkshire, one of the hardest enclaves in clubland.
Against all odds, the family band makes the Blackpool showcase and comedian Denny gives the performance of his life.
Cast:
Les ..... Paul Copley
Sheila ...... Belinda Everett
Elaine ...... Blue Merrick
Denny ...... Christian Rodska
Chris ...... Harry Hepple
Alan/Scotch Billy ..... Rob Hudson
Kevin ..... Brogan West
Troy ..... James Baxter
Kimberly/Nurse ..... Joan Walker
Compere ..... Kieran Prendiville
Producer/Director: Clive Brill
A Pacificus Production for BBC Radio 4.
SAT 02:45 Book of the Week (b0100x2x)
Ken Campbell: The Great Caper
Episode 5
Michael Coveney's biography tells the story of Campbell, the great adventurer of British theatre.
In his later work, Campbell focuses on improvisation; taking the safety-net of the script away from his performers.
Ken Campbell, who died in September 2008, was one of the great mavericks of British theatre.
Ill-suited to a role in conventional theatre, he created a risk-taking confrontational style of performance, which often explored unlikely subject matter.
He became, in director Mike Leigh's words, "The outsider's outsider"
Bob Hoskins, Bill Nighy and Jim Broadbent are amongst the performers whose formative years were spent working with Campbell. What did the director and producer bring to performance that made him such a mesmeric figure?
Writer Michael Coveney is a long-standing theatre critic, who has worked for The Financial Times, The Observer and The Daily Mail. Actor Toby Jones played Truman Capote in 'Infamous' and Swifty Lazar in 'Frost/Nixon' and recently reprised the role of Dobby in the film 'Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows'. Toby has also appeared in a production of 'The Warp' by Neil Oram, the 22-hour epic created by Ken Campbell.
Read by Toby Jones
Abridged by Pete Nichols
Producer: Karen Rose
A Sweet Talk Production for BBC Radio 4.
SAT 03:00 CP Snow - Strangers and Brothers (b017sv17)
Corridors of Power - The Choice
As Roger Quaife's political destiny hangs on an extraordinary Commons debate, what future for Lewis Eliot? Stars David Haig. From June 2003.
SAT 04:00 Wildbrain (b073r48v)
1997 - Heat 6
Lionel Kelleway visits Edinburgh's Royal Botanic Garden, to test more wildlife knowledge in the BBC Natural History Unit's quiz.
SAT 04:30 No Commitments (b007jp2j)
Series 8
My Turn Now
Anna's sisters Charlotte and Victoria are even more self-absorbed than usual. Stars Rosemary Leach. From January 2002.
SAT 05:00 1835 (b0129v0m)
Haircut Sir?
Aristocrat Belport and his servant Ned join the police force, and are called upon to solve some murders in the city of London.
But first, to meet police regulations, they must both have hair cut:s - and as luck would have it, there's a barber's on Fleet Street, run by a Mr Sweeney Todd...
Comic saga of an aristocrat and his servant who struggle to find things to do in the mid- 1830s.
Belport ...... Paul Rider
Ned ...... Jason Done
Peel ...... Roy Barraclough
Trollope ...... Simon Greenall
Sweeney Todd ...... Jonathan Keeble
Written and directed at BBC Manchester by Jim Poyser.
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in June 2004.
SAT 05:30 Wordaholics (b01s6c9z)
Series 2
Episode 4
Gyles Brandreth chairs the word-obsessed comedy panel show.
Katy Brand and Alex Horne compete with Richard Herring and Natalie Haynes for wordy supremacy.
Richard Herring decides to reclaim the word 'middle class' and tries to decipher the 16th century phrase 'a mare's nest'. Team-mate Natalie Haynes tries to get rid of the word 'decimate' and despite being a vegetarian works out what the very meaty cookery term 'barding' means.
Alex Horne comes up with the correct definition for the Victorian phrase 'a scraping castle' and asks to take the word 'a' out of the dictionary. Meanwhile, Katy Brand takes a guess at what the unit of measurement 'the Warhol' is and reveals that her favourite word is 'plop'.
Writers: Jon Hunter and James Kettle.
Producer: Claire Jones
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in May 2013.
SAT 06:00 Dario Fo - Accidental Death of an Anarchist (b01s63cx)
While in police custody a suspected terrorist 'fell' to his death from the fourth floor of Police HQ.
But someone, disguised as a maniac, has got into the building and is determined to find out what really happened and who is to blame...
Dario Fo's world famous comic masterpiece is a biting satire on police corruption.
Adapted by award-winning comedian Jeremy Hardy.
Adrian Edmondson ..... Maniac
Jennifer Saunders ..... Maria Feletti
Jill Gascoine ..... Superintendent
Stephen Frost ..... Inspector Bertozzo
John Forgeham ..... Inspector Pissani
Mark Steel ..... Constables
From Gillian Hanna's translation and Gavin Richards' stage adaptation.
Producer: Turan Ali.
First broadcast on BBC Radio 5 in 1992.
SAT 07:15 Gillian Tindall - The Real Novel (b07470y5)
4 Extra Debut. A novelist, wise beyond her years, is nominated for a prize. Nothing could have prepared her for the result. Read by Nina Wadia.
SAT 07:30 Touchline Tales (b00svs5x)
Series 1
An Uproar of Butterflies
Old friends Des Lynam and Christopher Matthew head for some famous sporting venues - to enjoy, observe, reminisce and trade tales about some of the greatest pleasures in their lives. They start in south London at a Pro-Am competition at the Royal Blackheath Golf Club, claimed by some to be the oldest in the world.
As a commentator and friend of sporting stars, Des has a fund of stories to tell, and insights to reveal, about the men and women in professional sport - their lives, their characters, their training regimes, their triumphs and their disasters. But Christopher more than matches him with his own experiences as a lifelong spectator at the highest levels of sport (and, like Des, an occasional participant at the lowest), as well as with his observations on sporting events he finds himself attending for the first time.
Indeed, amusing, informative and entertaining talk between old friends is what these programmes are all about.
Recorded entirely on location, their extended discourses have been edited down to a seamless half hour - with each programme capturing the atmosphere, the passion, the frustration, the humour and, at times, the sheer quaintness, of entertainments regularly enjoyed by millions of people up and down the land.
Programme first broadcast in 2010
Producer: Paul Kobrak.
SAT 08:00 Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em - A Celebration of A Comedy Classic (b074bg38)
"Ooh Betty!" it's a celebration of the BBC's hit TV comedy about the disaster-prone lives of hapless Frank Spencer and his long-suffering wife Betty.
Created by Ray Allen, it ran for 22 episodes over three series from 1973-78, starring Michael Crawford and Michele Dotrice - spawning a host of catchphrases and impersonators.
In this behind-the-scenes documentary, scriptwriter Ray reveals his difficulty in getting the show commissioned - and how Michael Crawford wasn't first choice to play Frank.
The show's legendary daring stunts were co-ordinated by Stuart Fell who admits it was "ambitious for the BBC" at the time. Michele Dotrice recalls how filming on the edge of a cliff was "a bit hairy" and reveals her mother's reaction when the stunt hit TV screens.
Classic clips and rare archive appearances are interwoven amongst fresh and in-depth interviews in this celebration of the BBC's comedy classic.
Presented and produced by Richard Latto.
First heard on BBC Radio Solent in 2015.
SAT 09:00 Mark Billingham's Rule Book of Crime (b01r19jd)
Best-selling crime writer Mark Billingham has always been obsessed with the creative criminal minds of the past.
Over three hours, Mark sets out to detect the clues dropped in the BBC archives, by his favourite crime writers:
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
Dame Agatha Christie
Raymond Chandler
PD James
Henning Mankell
Clues that reveal why their sleuthing creations - Sherlock Holmes, Miss Marple, Philip Marlowe, Adam Dalgliesh and Kurt Wallander - are so enduring.
Having created his own flawed crime fighter, Detective Inspector Tom Thorne, Mark’s wrestled with the thorny issue of inventing a distinctive new voice amongst a myriad of detecting greats. What’s more important, devious plotting or debauched heroes, a killer in plain sight or rug-pulling twists?
In plundering the archive for answers, Mark has uncovered a hidden BBC radio detecting gem. Debuting in the late 1970s and running for a few seasons into the 1980s, it starred an actor who could be a lead in TV classic Cathy Come Home and voice an iconic children’s cartoon. It was penned by a writer that worked on TV police dramas Z Cars and Softly Softly.
All is revealed in Mark Billingham’s Rule Book of Crime.
Producer: Peter McHugh
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 Extra in March 2013.
SAT 12:00 Beachcomber... By the Way (b008m24j)
Series 3
Episode 1
The further adventures of Mr Justice Cocklecarrot. Captain Foulenough, Dr Strabismus (whom God preserve) of Utrecht, Big White Carstairs and more...
Richard Ingrams John Wells, John Sessions , Joan Sims amd Patricia Routledge recreate the world of JB Morton.
With Brian Bowles , Simon Greenall , Henrietta Gooden and featuring June Whitfield.
Running in the Daily Express from 1924 to 1975 – JB Morton’s surreally comic ‘Beachcomber’ column paved the way for a great deal of modern humour – thanks to characters he created between the wars.
Adapted by Michael Barfield with Richard Ingrams.
Announcer: the silken tones of Brian Perkins.
Producer: Harry Thompson
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in November 1994.
SAT 12:30 Mr and Mrs Smith (b019rpw8)
The Dinner Party
A year into married life and already things are a little creaky. So, following Will's unimaginative anniversary present (a draining rack), Annabelle's signed them up for a course of marriage counselling.
Counsellor Guy mediates a recent dispute between Will and Annabelle, with flashbacks to the events that spawned the argument...
Will Smith's sitcom about a couple in marriage counselling
Will Smith ..... Will Smith
Annabelle Smith ..... Sarah Hadland
Guy ..... Paterson Joseph
Katrina ..... Tracy Wiles
Doug ..... Simon Bubb
Heather ..... Morwenna Banks
Producer: Tilusha Ghelani
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in January 2012.
SAT 13:00 Charlotte Bronte in Babylon: Omnibus (b074bnfv)
Accused of deceit by the publisher of Jane Eyre, Charlotte and Anne Bronte head straight to London. Stars Samantha Power.
SAT 14:10 Inheritance Tracks (b074bnjp)
Bradley Walsh
Actor and presenter Bradley Walsh chooses 'Stranger in Paradise' by Tony Bennett and 'The Hungry Years' by Neil Sedaka.
SAT 14:15 Drama (b010t6x7)
Charlotte Jones - The Diva in Me
Phillipa spends Saturday night eating toast and fantasizing about a boy-man from Southern Electric. She can sing anything from Bjork to Bassey with a touch of Judy Garland thrown in but the world has turned its back her. Why? A comedy with music by award-winning writer Charlotte Jones.
Phillipa...Philippa Stanton
Shadwell...Stuart McLoughlin
Vicki...Sally Orrock
Gene Kelly...Daniel Rabin
Mona...Joanna Monro
Trevor...Brian Bowles
Directed by Claire Grove
This comedy with music has been specially written by award-winning playwright Charlotte Jones for actress and extraordinary mimic Philippa Stanton. Philippa sings Garland, Kitt, Boyle, Winehouse, Bjork, Gaga and Bassey. The music is woven into the narrative and is an essential part of the story because this is a woman with an extraordinary facility to recreate the voices of the famous. And although the world has turned its back on her talent she finally discovers the ingredient that makes a diva truly great.
Charlotte Jones is an outstanding dramatist whose play 'Humble Boy' for the National Theatre won Best New Play 2001, and transferred to the West End to enormous box office and critical success. Her screenplay Bessie and the Bell won won the New York Film and TV Festival Award 2006. Her comedy MARTHA JOSIE AND THE CHINESE ELVIS for the Octagon Theatre, Bolton and Liverpool Playhouse, won the 1999 TMA Best Play Award. Charlotte Jones dramatised A WOMAN IN WHITE for Andrew Lloyd Webber and Matilda for Radio 4. She is currently writing for televison.
Philippa Stanton's credits include Paula Vogel's award winning play 'How I Learned to Drive' at the Donmar Warehouse, two seasons at Shakespeare's Globe, appearing opposite Mark Rylance in 'The Golden Ass'. Her television credits include 'Jill' in both series of 'How Do You Want Me' with Dylan Moran, and 'Clara' in the BBC's Great Expectations with Ioan Gruffudd. Her film credits include: The Clandestine Marriage with Joan Collins, Nigel Hawthorne and Timothy Spall. Unconditional Love with Cathy Bates, Rupert Everett and Richard Briers and Swinging with the Finkels with Martin Freeman.
SAT 15:00 Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em - A Celebration of A Comedy Classic (b074bg38)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:00 today]
SAT 16:00 Dario Fo - Accidental Death of an Anarchist (b01s63cx)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:00 today]
SAT 17:15 Gillian Tindall - The Real Novel (b07470y5)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:15 today]
SAT 17:30 Touchline Tales (b00svs5x)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:30 today]
SAT 18:00 The Twilight Zone (b074bs88)
Series 3
Static
Ed Lindsay hates the television. He prefers to escape into the past with the help of his beloved radio set.
Stars Stan Freberg. With Ann Whitney, David Darlowe, Ellie Weingardt and Bernie Landis.
Narrator: Stacy Keach.
Adapted by Dennis Etchison and written by Charles Beaumont from a story by Oceo Ritch.

Originally a cult sci-fi and horror TV series created by Rod Serling and broadcast in the USA on CBS from 1959 to 1964, The Twilight Zone was first adapted by American producer Carl Amari in 2002 as a 40-minute radio drama series.
Rod Serling had managed to electrify the new medium of television - so armed with a licence from CBS and the Serling estate, Amari's slick adaptions are based on the original TV scripts.
Actor Stacy Keach (best known here as TV detective Mike Hammer) takes Serling's original role as narrator - with a full cast, music and sound effects.
Directed and produced by Carl Amari for Falcon Picture Group.
SAT 18:40 James Follett - The Pentworth Trilogy (b007jrd7)
Temple of the Winds
Episode 3
In Pentworth, strange events continue to plague Sergeant Malone, Ellen Duncan and teenager Vikki Taylor. Read by Nigel Anthony.
SAT 19:00 Mark Billingham's Rule Book of Crime (b01r19jd)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:00 today]
SAT 22:00 Vivian Stanshall's Radio Flashes (b04d0ksp)
Episode 2
Music, comedy and Keith Moon, courtesy of Britain's greatest eccentric. Including more from Colonel Knutt.
Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band singer Vivian Stanshall took to the airwaves of BBC Radio 1 on Saturday 21 August 1971.
Over two hours, relive Vivian's mix of zany comedy and music - including his take on Dick Barton's radio serial "Breath from the Pit". Featuring drummer Keith Moon from The Who.
Vivian has previously featured on 4 Extra - thanks to his solo comedy 'Sir Henry at Rawlinson End', which originated as sessions for the John Peel Show on BBC Radio 1 in the mid-1970s.
With Chris Bowler. Produced by John Walters.