SATURDAY 02 DECEMBER 2017

SAT 00:00 Edgar Allan Poe (b007jsry)
The Fall of the House of Usher, Episode 2As his behaviour starts to change, Roderick Usher reveals his terrible secret. Edgar Allen Poe's classic gothic horror read by Sean Barrett. From September 2003.
SAT 00:30 Soul Music (b077gd5b)
Series 22, The Way You Look Tonight'The Way You Look Tonight' was written by Jerome Kern and Dorothy Fields for the 1936 film 'Swing Time'. Sung by Fred Astaire to Ginger Rodgers while she was washing her hair, the song won an Oscar. It's been recorded by Frank Sinatra and Billie Holiday. Sarah Woodward, daughter of actor Edward, recalls how age seven, she watched him sing it on The Morecambe and Wise Christmas Show with his 'angelic' voice; theatre director Michael Bawtree remembers the song being his father's favourite, and being distraught when he broke the gramophone record as a five year old; and Glaswegian singer Eddie Toal describes making an album of jazz songs, including 'The Way You Look Tonight' to remember his late wife, Irene.
SAT 01:00 Geoffrey Household - Rogue Male (b007jr9c)
Episode 15The anonymous would-be assassin is on his way out of the country - but what does his future hold?
Geoffrey Household's classic British thriller was first published shortly before the outbreak of war in 1939.
Concluded by Michael Jayston.
Producer: David Jackson Young.
Made for BBC 7 by BBC Scotland and first broadcast in 2004.
SAT 01:30 Changing My Voice (b01k9vh0)
Christopher Gabbitas asks why singers sometimes have to change the pitch of their voice. How do they learn to perform in another register and what effect does the change have?
Christopher Gabbitas is a member of the vocal group the King's Singers. He originally began his career as a bass, able to sing the lowest notes with ease. But when he auditioned for the group,the vacancy was for the higher baritone voice and he had to learn to sing in that new range.
Some classical singers have to change their voice because of the effects of ageing. If they've been a high soprano perhaps they now have problems hitting the top notes and may decide to pursue a career in the lower mezzo range. Men, as in the recent case of the celebrated tenor Plácido Domingo, may decide to move from being a tenor to singing baritone.
Other singers discover that, although they may have begun in one register, they are more suited to another. The opera singer Grace Bumbry began her career as a low soprano but discovered that she was able to sing higher and changed - to huge critical acclaim.
And there are cases of injury to the vocal chords, which can also cause a singer to have to change register.
But it's not easy to change your voice. Although it can prolong a singer's performing life, changing pitch can be an unnerving process. There are new techniques to learn. The ear has literally to be retuned and the brain rewired to adapt to a new vocal range. And the way performers often think of themselves in stereotypes- a romantic tenor for example, or a coloratura soprano- has to be revised.
In this feature, Christopher goes on a personal exploration of the art of voice changing. He examines his own experiences and talks to other singers who have switched ranges, to see how fundamental such shifts can be. Interviewees include the singers Grace Bumbry and Rosalind Plowright.
Producer: Emma Kingsley.
SAT 02:00 Kazuo Ishiguro - Never Let Me Go (b09jclw9)
Episode 5Kazuo Ishiguro's haunting dystopian novel read by Rachel Shelley. As the students enter their last months of school, the reality of donations creeps closer. From June 2016.
SAT 02:15 Cosmic Quest (b00c6wpj)
Design or Accident - Why Me?Heather Couper presents a narrative history of astronomy.
Given all that we now know about the formation of stars and planets and the evolution of life on Earth, it might seem as if the mystery is being taken out of the universe. However, every solution seems to throw up a deeper mystery. Within our understanding of physics, there are no known fundamental reasons for much of the astronomical phenomena that we observe. Of course, we can only observe a universe that supports life. This is known as the anthropic principle and has far-reaching implications. Some argue that it makes the universe very special, as if we were meant to be, while others suggest that we inhabit one of the few bio-friendly corners in an almost infinite multiverse of possibilities.
Readers are Timothy West, Robin Sebastian, Julian Rhind-Tutt and John Palmer.
SAT 02:30 15 Minute Drama (b00b102y)
Nicola Upson - An Expert in Murder, Episode 10Murder mystery by Nicola Upson set in 1934, blending fact with fiction. Josephine and Marta find themselves in mortal danger. Marta has made a ghastly discovery as the investigation closes in on the murderer.
SAT 02:45 Charles R Cross - Room Full of Mirrors: Jimi Hendrix (b0076t8r)
Episode 5The Woodstock Festival of 1969 sees Jimi at the peak of his career, but his hedonistic lifestyle leads to tragedy. Read by Rhashan Stone. From August 2005.
SAT 03:00 Plantagenet (b09gz3wn)
Series 3, Henry VI - A Simple ManThe once-great England of Henry V is bankrupt and losing territory in France. The times call for a strong man who can unite the kingdom. Not the weak, idealistic Henry VI, pleading for peace and incapacitated by bouts of insanity.
As the House of York grows in power, Queen Margaret is forced to take up arms to protect her royal line.
Mike Walker's trilogy - inspired by Holinshed's Chronicles.
Stars Al Weaver as Henry VI, Aimee Ffion Edwards as Margaret, Shaun Dooley as York, Paul Moriarty as Cardinal Beaufort, Gerard McDermott as Warwick, Carl Prekopp as Somerset and Simon Bubb as Edward of York.
With Rikki Lawton, James Lailey and Christopher Webster.
Directed by Jeremy Mortimer and Sasha Yevtushenko.
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 2012.
SAT 04:00 The Rest Is History (b04y9v20)
Series 1, Episode 6Frank Skinner loves history, but just doesn't know much of it.
The Rest Is History is a new comedy discussion show which promises to help him find out more about it.
Along with his historian in residence Dr Kate Williams, each episode sees Frank joined by a selection of celebrity guests, who will help him navigate his way through the annals of time, picking out and chewing over the funniest, oddest, and most interesting moments in history.
Frank's guests in this edition of the programme are Josh Widdicombe and Roisin Conaty.
Produced by Dan Schreiber and Justin Pollard
An Avalon production for BBC Radio 4.
SAT 04:30 After Henry (b007k280)
Series 2, Memory GamesDaughter Clare's trivia quiz helps Sarah with all the memories of late husband Henry.
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, Gerry Cowper as Clare, David Quilter as Miles and Graham Blockey as the Quizmaster.
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 August 1986.
SAT 05:00 Capital Gains (b007qgnq)
Series 1, Risk CapitalAmateur philosopher, Julius Hutch is looking forward to spending his retirement just "pottering".
But one morning, he wakes early to find that his life is changed forever...
Starring Peter Jones as Julius Hutch.
With Celestine Randall as Mrs Pauline Tone, Justine Midda as Kate, Jeffrey Wickham as Sexton Lewis and Collin Johnson as the News Reader.
Scripted by Collin Johnson.
Producer: Andy Jordan.
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in April 1995.
SAT 05:30 Dot (b072j327)
Series 1, The Mystery at St Horribly-Vulture's School for Boysby Ed Harris
Comedy in the Cabinet War Rooms. Dot's been sent to St Horribly Vulture's School for Boys to enlist a teacher for 'Shhhh Bletchley Park'. But is he the right sort of chap for the job?
Director/Producer Jessica Brown.
SAT 06:00 Peter Roberts - Holy Fool (b014gj3c)
Living a glorious, chivalrous dream - or just crazy?
A knight errant sails through a series of adventures involving the greatest figures in the medieval world. The story of William the Marshall - with a real-life Don Quixote and his cohort.
Peter Roberts's drama stars Michael Williams as Jean d'Erlee, William Chubb as William Marshal, Garard Green as Henry II, Christopher Scott as Henry FitzHenry, Martin Head as Richard Lionheart, Francis Thomson as the Poet, Susan Jeffrey as Isabella Chepstow,
Other parts played by Tom Roberts, Simon Carter, Graham Padden and Neal Foster.
Directed at BBC Pebble Mill by Nigel Bryant.
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 1993.
SAT 07:30 Yes Yes Yes (b007kvwh)
Series 2, A Shot in the DarkJohn Rawling recalls the final day of the third test in Pakistan in 2000 when Captain Hussain lifted English spirits from doom. From February 2001.
SAT 08:00 An Hour With Ned Sherrin (b00yk21p)
From Jeffrey Archer to Pia Zadora in Ned Sherrin's witty A-Z of theatrical anecdotes.
The writer, director, producer and broadcaster was a brilliant raconteur and this hilarious one-man show was recorded live at Brighton's New Venture Theatre in June 1994.
Among many other celebrities, Ned includes tales about Noel Coward, John Gielgud, Rex Harrison, Andrew Lloyd-Webber and Maggie Smith.
Ned Sherrin: 18 February 1931 - 1 October 2007.
First broadcast on BBC Radio 7 in 2011.
SAT 09:00 Ross Noble's Newcastle (b0755pvx)
From the bistro bar of Newcastle's Tyne Theatre, where he performed his very first hometown gig - Ross Noble explores Geordie comedy past and present.
Featuring a candid interview with Sarah Millican, an exploration of happiness with Jason Cook and a trip back in time to the humour of old with Percy Douglas and Bobby Thompson.
Self-deprecating, quick witted and warm, there's much to be said for Geordie humour that sets it apart from the comedy in the rest of the British Isles. Newcastle is a city of almost pathological friendliness - no-one takes themselves too seriously and everyone is as quick to poke fun at themselves as at others. Whether you put it down to the cheeriness of the accent or the egalitarian mentality of your average Novocastrian, there's no denying Geordies want people to enjoy themselves as much as they do, and that true homespun North Eastern humour has its tongue placed firmly in its cheek.
Multi-award winning Cramlington born stand up comic Ross Noble is one of British comedy's biggest household names - a TV and radio regular, with numerous sell-out stage shows.
The carefully selected archive includes:
* Ross Noble On....
* Jason Cook, Gavin Webster and Kai Humphries, MacAulay & Co at the Edinburgh Fringe
* The Geordie Game
* Knitted Trunks, Woman's Hour
* Sarah Millican, Funny Friends
* Ant and Dec, Desert Island Discs
* Jason Cook and Chris Ramsey, Jason Cook's Happiness HQ
* Fireside Tales
* Percy Douglas, Wot Cheor Geordie
* Bobby Thompson, Turns of the Century
* Jesting About
Producer: Anna Miles
Made for BBC Radio 4 Extra by BBC Radio Scotland.
SAT 12:00 Counterpoint (b007h3lc)
Series 21, Heat 9Edward Seckerson chairs another heat of the music quiz with contestants David Love, Edward Pearce and Geoff Smith. From May 2007.
SAT 12:30 Winston (b007np4w)
Winston Comes to Town, A Tweak of ThreadFather's poorly so the family must leave Winterleaf Gunner and return to London, but Nancy is distraught.
What's going to happen to Winston - village poacher, philosopher and Romeo? Will he come with them? Will London survive with Winston?
Peter Tinniswood's bawdy comedy serial stars Bill Wallis as Winston, Maurice Denham as Father, Shirley Dixon as Nancy, Liz Goulding as Rosie and Christian Rodska as William.
Director: Shaun MacLoughlin.
First broadcast on BBC Radio in January 1990.
SAT 13:00 The Latvian Locum (Omnibus) (b09h3ry9)
It's Dr Zake's first day in a deprived area of Blackpool but she's late, which does not go down well. Stars Dolya Gavanski.
SAT 14:10 Inheritance Tracks (b09h3ryc)
Randy NewmanRandy Newman chooses the score of 'How Green Was My Valley' by his Uncle Alfred and 'Come Rain or Come Shine' by Ray Charles.
SAT 14:15 In the Psychiatrist's Chair (b061vc1w)
Ken RussellFilm director Ken Russell tells Dr Anthony Clare about his childhood, his early life and his love for the power of the image.
Psychiatrist Dr Anthony Clare's in depth interviews with prominent people from different walks of life.
Born in Dublin, author Anthony held a doctorate in medicine, a master's degree in philosophy and was a fellow of the Royal College of Psychiatrists.
After becoming a regular on BBC Radio 4's Stop the Week in the 1980s, he became Britain's best-known psychiatrist and earned his own vehicle, In the Psychiatrist's Chair.
Starting in 1982, this series ran until 2001 and also transferred to TV.
Anthony Clare died suddenly in Paris aged 64 in 2007.
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in August 1988.
SAT 14:55 The Listening Project (b04b2485)
Allyson and Sarah - Animal RescueFi Glover introduces a conversation between the manager of an Animal Rescue centre and a volunteer about what animals can do for us, and what we must do for them.
The Listening Project is a Radio 4 initiative that offers a snapshot of contemporary Britain in which people across the UK volunteer to have a conversation with someone close to them about a subject they've never discussed intimately before. The conversations are being gathered across the UK by teams of producers from local and national radio stations who facilitate each encounter. Every conversation - they're not BBC interviews, and that's an important difference - lasts up to an hour, and is then edited to extract the key moment of connection between the participants. Most of the unedited conversations are being archived by the British Library and used to build up a collection of voices capturing a unique portrait of the UK in the second decade of the millennium. You can upload your own conversations or just learn more about The Listening Project by visiting bbc.co.uk/listeningproject
Producer: Marya Burgess.
SAT 15:00 An Hour With Ned Sherrin (b00yk21p)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:00 today]
SAT 16:00 Peter Roberts - Holy Fool (b014gj3c)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:00 today]
SAT 17:30 Yes Yes Yes (b007kvwh)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:30 today]
SAT 18:00 Ray Bradbury - The Martian Chronicles (b0474xcb)
Derek Jacobi and Hayley Atwell lead an all-star cast in a thrilling new dramatisation, re-imagining Ray Bradbury's timeless fable of doomed Martian colonisation.
When the first expedition to Mars mysteriously disappears, Earth sends a second to find out what happened. But the real mission is classified. And only Captain Wilder knows the truth.
Dramatised for radio by Richard Kurti and Bev Doyle.
Original Music: Imran Ahmad
Sound Design: Alistair Lock
Executive Producer: Dirk Maggs
Producer/Director: Andrew Mark Sewell
A B7 Production for BBC Radio 4.
SAT 19:00 Ross Noble's Newcastle (b0755pvx)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:00 today]
SAT 22:00 Old Harry's Game (b007jtzz)
Series 1, AppearancesWith hooves, goat's legs, red eyes and horns, the Devil is worried about his looks. Satanic sitcom stars Andy Hamilton. From December 1995.
SAT 22:30 Isy Suttie's Love Letters (b01s8cp3)
Series 2, George and LouiseIsy Suttie returns to BBC Radio 4 with a brand new series of her Sony Award Winning show, recounting a series of love stories affecting people she's known throughout her life, told partly through song.
Sometimes Isy has merely observed other people's love lives; quite often she's intervened, changing the action dramatically - for better or worse. Intertwined within these stories are related real life anecdotes from Isy's own, often disastrous, love life.
In this final episode of the series, Isy recounts the tale of George and Louise, set against the backdrop of the Matlock Ceilidh over Christmas / New Year 2014.
With her multi-character and vocal skills, and accompanied by her guitar, Isy creates a hilarious and deeply moving world, sharing with us her lessons in life and love.
"A voice you want to swim in" The Independent
Produced by Lyndsay Fenner.
SAT 22:55 The Comedy Club Interviews (b09h3tpq)
Dane Baptiste 2/3The best in contemporary comedy. Plus Arthur Smith chats with Dane Baptiste.
SAT 23:00 Les Kelly's Britain (b016x3h7)
Episode 1Les Kelly (Kevin Bishop) hosts a magazine show from hell. Les is a cross between Jeremy Kyle and a slap in the face. He claims this is the only radio show for 'normal, decent people'. 'If you aren't decent, this is not the show for you,' says Les.
Les meets a father whose daughter needs a new kidney. Well, perhaps 'need' isn't quite the right word. She just wants one more kidney than all her friends. Les also meets an expert on sanglanding. It's the dangerous new craze amongst young people - trouble is, no on knows what it is.
Produced & Written by Bill Dare.
SAT 23:30 Mark Thomas: The Manifesto (b00qps81)
Series 2, Episode 3Mark Thomas: The Manifesto. Comedian-activist, Mark Thomas creates a People's Manifesto, taking suggestions from his studio audience and then getting them to vote for the best. The winner of each show will be enforceable by law, so pay attention.
The weeks' edition will include policies such as banning cars from city centres; monitoring investment bankers' testosterone levels; and abolishing all forms of self-regulation.
Produced by Ed Morrish.

SUNDAY 03 DECEMBER 2017

SUN 00:00 Ray Bradbury - The Martian Chronicles (b0474xcb)
[Repeat of broadcast at 18:00 on Saturday]
SUN 01:00 The Latvian Locum (Omnibus) (b09h3ry9)
[Repeat of broadcast at 13:00 on Saturday]
SUN 02:10 Inheritance Tracks (b09h3ryc)
[Repeat of broadcast at 14:10 on Saturday]
SUN 02:15 In the Psychiatrist's Chair (b061vc1w)
[Repeat of broadcast at 14:15 on Saturday]
SUN 02:55 The Listening Project (b04b2485)
[Repeat of broadcast at 14:55 on Saturday]
SUN 03:00 An Hour With Ned Sherrin (b00yk21p)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:00 on Saturday]
SUN 04:00 Peter Roberts - Holy Fool (b014gj3c)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:00 on Saturday]
SUN 05:30 Yes Yes Yes (b007kvwh)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:30 on Saturday]
SUN 06:00 Nicola Upson - An Expert in Murder (Omnibus) (b09h3w7f)
Episode 2Penrose thinks that the War is key to his investigations. Meanwhile, one of the chief suspects reappears.
Stars Meg Fraser as Josephine Tey, James Chisholm as Penrose, Irene MacDougall as Lydia, Wendy Seager as Maitland, Grant O'Rourke as Fallowfield, Joanna Tope as Marta, Simon Donaldson as Hedley, Richard Greenwood as Fleming, Mark McDonnell as Johnny and Paul Young as Frank.
First published in 2008, Nicola Upson's historical crime novel was dramatised by Robin Brooks.
Director: Gaynor MacFarlane.
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 2008.
SUN 07:05 David Attenborough's Life Stories (b00ptl4p)
Series 1, Large BlueSeries of talks by Sir David Attenborough on the natural histories of creatures and plants from around the world.
The Large Blue butterfly died out in Britain in 1979, but why? Investigations pointed to a complex life cycle linked to a single species of ant. With this knowledge the Large Blue was re-introduced into the British countryside, but there is a sinister twist in the tale, in the form of a parasitic wasp.
SUN 07:15 Elizabeth Taylor - Plenty Good Fiesta (b01pjzbz)
The Spanish Civil War brings refugees to England and one little boy to the attention of a young couple. Read by Anna Massey. From April 1991.
SUN 07:30 Micky Flanagan: What Chance Change? (b00sjcvd)
1980sCockney comedian Micky Flanagan's first radio series is about his progression from working-class Herbert to middle-class intellectual and being caught awkwardly between the two. His story is told through reflective interviews, but mainly, Micky's acclaimed stand up comedy. Micky's transition from the mean streets of the East End to the leafy lanes of Dulwich is a fascinating story, with each episode focusing on a different decade of Micky's life.
In this episode Micky takes us through his 1980's, spent running away to New York and being the international lover and player of the East End. He chats to his parents, his sister and his school friends in interviews that shed light on the stand up comedy.
The series is written and performed by Micky Flanagan.
The Producer is Tilusha Ghelani.
SUN 08:00 The Al Read Show (b008zdfh)
From 03/12/1998Hospitals, the Post Office and noisy neighbours.
A compilation of the legendary Northern comic's 1950s monologues.
Originally produced at BBC North by Ronnie Taylor
Compilation produced by Mike Craig.
First broadcast on BBC Radio 2 in October 1998.
SUN 08:30 A Date With Nurse Dugdale (b04v986f)
From 12/05/1944The ever-efficient Nurse Dugdale battles to arrange the hospital pageant.
Arthur Marshall's comic creation, Nurse Dugdale was a popular addition to the BBC Home Service schedule in the latter years of the Second World War.
With Marjorie Westbury, John Slater and Jack Jackson. Special guest: Emile Littler.
Music from the Mayfair Hotel Dance Orchestra, Josephine Driver, Dorothe Morrow's Aristocrats, and the singing sailor, Ivor Pye.
Musical arrangements by Peter Akister and Phil Cardew.
Script by Arthur Marshall.
Producer: David Yates Mason.
First broadcast on the BBC Home Service in May 1944.
SUN 09:00 Anthony DeCurtis - Lou Reed: A Life (Omnibus) (b09h3x49)
A revealing account of the troubled Long Island teenager who became the godfather of rock's underground. Read by Demetri Goritsas.
SUN 10:10 The Listening Project (b0650g2j)
Carol and Kate - Missed GenerationFi Glover introduces friends who share a history of failed relationships and now conclude that things may have been better had they been born later. A conversation recorded in the mobile Booth in the grounds of Birmingham Cathedral - another in the series that proves it's surprising what you hear when you listen.
Fi Glover presents another conversation in the series that proves it's surprising what you hear when you listen. The Listening Project is a Radio 4 initiative that offers a snapshot of contemporary Britain in which people across the UK volunteer to have a conversation with someone close to them about a subject they've never discussed intimately before. The conversations are being gathered across the UK by teams of producers from local and national radio stations who facilitate each encounter. Every conversation - they're not BBC interviews, and that's an important difference - lasts up to an hour, and is then edited to extract the key moment of connection between the participants. Most of the unedited conversations are being archived by the British Library and used to build up a collection of voices capturing a unique portrait of the UK in the second decade of the millennium. You can learn more about The Listening Project by visiting bbc.co.uk/listeningproject
Producer: Marya Burgess.
SUN 10:15 Desert Island Discs Revisited (b09h63gm)
Absent Friends, Brian Aldiss4 Extra Debut. From Holst to Joe Loss, pioneering sci-fi author Brian Aldiss shares his castaway choices with Kirsty Young. From January 2007.
SUN 11:00 The Moth Radio Hour (b09h64gg)
Series 6, Finding Your CallingTrue stories told live in the USA: Catherine Burns introduces tales of people discovering their true vocations in life.
The Moth is an acclaimed not-for-profit organisation dedicated to the art and craft of storytelling based in the USA. Since 1997, it has celebrated both the raconteur and the storytelling novice, who has lived through something extraordinary and yearns to share it. Originally formed by the writer George Dawes Green as an intimate gathering of friends on a porch in Georgia (where moths would flutter in through a hole in the screen), and then recreated in a New York City living room, The Moth quickly grew to produce immensely popular events at theatres and clubs around New York City and later around the USA, the UK and other parts of the world.
The Moth has presented more than 15,000 stories, told live and without notes, to standing-room-only crowds worldwide. The Moth podcast is downloaded over 27 million times a year.
Featuring true stories told live on stage without scripts, from the humorous to the heart-breaking.
The Moth Radio Hour is produced by Jay Allison and Atlantic Public Media in Woods Hole, Massachusetts and is distributed by the Public Radio Exchange.
SUN 11:50 Inheritance Tracks (b09h68sh)
Libby PurvesThe broadcaster picks Vaughan Williams's 'Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis' and Noel Coward's 'Bad Times Just Around the Corner'.
SUN 12:00 The Al Read Show (b008zdfh)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:00 today]
SUN 12:30 A Date With Nurse Dugdale (b04v986f)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:30 today]
SUN 13:00 Nicola Upson - An Expert in Murder (Omnibus) (b09h3w7f)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:00 today]
SUN 14:05 David Attenborough's Life Stories (b00ptl4p)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:05 today]
SUN 14:15 Elizabeth Taylor - Plenty Good Fiesta (b01pjzbz)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:15 today]
SUN 14:30 Owen Sheers - I Saw a Man (Omnibus) (b05xxj2y)
Episode 1After the sudden loss of his wife, Michael Turner develops a close friendship with the family next door. Read by Mark Bazeley. From June 2015.
SUN 15:45 Shoot from the Hip - The World's Coolest Camera (b0076xhf)
Lucy Ash finds out why, in the digital age, the world still loves a relic of the Soviet Union - the low-spec Lomo camera. From March 2006.
SUN 16:00 Saturday Drama (b00sqgdw)
Simon Bovey - Mountain of Lightby Simon Bovey
London, 1851. The world's largest diamond is on show at the Great Exhibition. And John Rayverne must find a way to steal it to save the people he loves.
John.......Carl Prekopp
Emily.......Lizzy Watts
Hawkesworth....Ben Crowe
Rilke.......Harry Myers
Hobbs....Sam Dale
Galloway......Michael Shelford
Cobbet.....David Seddon
Wyatt.....Nigel Hastings
Directed by Marc Beeby
STEREO
1851: London buzzes with the wonders at The Great Exhibition in Hyde Park. To John Rayverne, housebreaker par excellence, it's harvest time as fine houses stand empty while the occupants attend the spectacle. But his activities have come to the notice of a Governor of the Bank of England, George Galloway. Galloway has Rayverne abducted In return for not to hand him over to the police - and in order to protect the people he cares about - Rayverne is forced to agree to the impossible. He must steal one of the Exhibition's most famous exhibits: the world's largest diamond, the Koh-i-Noor. Galloway professes idealistic reasons for the theft: he fears cutting the diamond to fit the centrepiece in the Queen's crown (where it has its place today) will degrade the priceless original. But the theft appears impossible. By day the gem is sealed in an iron cage, at night it sinks into a vault. Rayverne, hounded by the police, spends much time among the mechanical wonders of the Exhibition looking for the necessary technical inspiration to carry out the theft. But has he bitten off more than even he can chew?
Simon Bovey's impeccably researched work for Radio 4 has been extremely successful. His plays include 'Red in Tooth and Claw', ' The Iceman' - 'a murkily atmospheric Victorian thriller that keeps the shivers coming' (Daily Mail) and the very well received Sargasso. Simon is also a film maker. His most recent production The Un-gone has been optioned by Miramax.
SUN 17:00 Poetry Extra (b09h69jq)
TS Eliot's India - Many Gods, Many VoicesPoet Daljit Nagra revisits the BBC's radio poetry archive with 'TS Eliot's India - Many Gods'
Daljit himself explores the often overlooked Indian element to TS Eliot's poetry.
TS Eliot once wrote that the great philosophers of India 'make most of the great European philosophers look like schoolboys'. And although he's more often remembered as an establishment figure, somewhat conservative and deeply Christian, Eliot also wrote about and studied Indian philosophy, language and culture. He incorporated it into his most famous poems, and even considered becoming a Buddhist.
Daljit Nagra grew up in Britain among both Christian and Indian Sikh traditions, became intrigued at school by Eliot's poem The Waste Land, which ends with the Sanskrit mantra 'Shantih, shantih, shantih'. How did these Indian words find their way into what is, on the face of it, a very western poem? And how does this imagery square with the idea of Eliot the bank clerk in a bowler hat, who converted to High Anglicanism?
Daljit discovers a deep, overlooked vein of Indic ideas in Eliot's poetry, right up until his masterpiece Four Quartets, including references to The Bhagavad Gita, The Upanishads, the Yoga Sutras and Buddhism. But was he merely perpetuating a romantic, exotic image of India, or was Eliot a truly global poet, who found a language to transcend the traditional divisions between eastern and western thought?
Featuring interviews with Eliot's nephew, the poets Jeet Thayil and Maitreyabandhu, Daljit uncovers the overlooked Indian imagery in Eliot's work and considers how far, as a poet steeped in Christian and classical traditions, he really understood it.
Producer: Jo Wheeler
A Brook Lapping production for BBC Radio 4.
First broadcast in 2013.
SUN 17:30 Micky Flanagan: What Chance Change? (b00sjcvd)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:30 today]
SUN 18:00 Afternoon Drama (b04hv9xy)
Sebastian Baczkiewicz - Ghosts of HeathrowHeathrow is Europe's busiest airport with 190,000 visitors each day. It is also the setting of a conspicuously large number of ghost stories. On Runway 1 there have been recurring sightings of a wandering man wearing a pin-striped suit and bowler hat, dating back to the 1948 DCS Dakota plane crash, Heathrow's first major air incident.
Based on original research interviews, Ghosts of Heathrow draws on this and other pieces of local folklore to create a psychic adventure set in and around the airport.
Martin is a senior marketing consultant based in San Diego attending a conference in Heathrow. The night before his presentation he receives an unwelcome visitor in his hotel room. Forced out into the wilds of Hounslow Heath he finds himself chasing down some ghosts of his own.
Writer Sebastian Baczkiewicz is the creator of the returning Radio 4 series Pilgrim, and one of the UK's leading radio dramatists.
Written by Sebastian Baczkiewicz
Produced / directed by Joby Waldman
Sound design by Eloise Whitmore
A Somethin Else production for BBC Radio 4.
SUN 18:45 E Nesbit - Hurst of Hurstcote (b007jmyy)
John Hurst's murky past returns to haunt him when his wife dies unexpectedly of marsh fever. Gothic horror read by Linus Roach. From October 1996.
SUN 19:00 The Moth Radio Hour (b09h64gg)
[Repeat of broadcast at 11:00 today]
SUN 19:50 Inheritance Tracks (b09h68sh)
[Repeat of broadcast at 11:50 today]
SUN 20:00 Anthony DeCurtis - Lou Reed: A Life (Omnibus) (b09h3x49)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:00 today]
SUN 21:10 The Listening Project (b0650g2j)
[Repeat of broadcast at 10:10 today]
SUN 21:15 Desert Island Discs Revisited (b09h63gm)
[Repeat of broadcast at 10:15 today]
SUN 22:00 Micky Flanagan: What Chance Change? (b00sjcvd)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:30 today]
SUN 22:30 Cabin Pressure (b012ftrs)
Series 3, NewcastleWritten by John Finnemore.
In this show, love is in the air, but also unfortunately in a small airport in Birmingham - and Martin has to choose between career, romance and fixing a very small tail-light. Carolyn meets a rather dashing pilot whilst Arthur meets a rather boring board game.
With special guests Anthony Head and Mark Williams
Starring
Carolyn Knapp-Shappey ..... Stephanie Cole
1st Officer Douglas Richardson ..... Roger Allam
Capt. Martin Crieff ..... Tom Goodman-Hill
Arthur Shappey ..... John Finnemore
Capt. Herc Shipwright ..... Anthony Head
Eddie ..... Mark Williams
1st Officer Linda Fairburn ..... Anna Crilly
Produced & directed by David Tyler
A Pozzitive production for BBC Radio 4.
SUN 22:55 The Comedy Club Interviews (b09h70dt)
Dane Baptiste 3/3The best in contemporary comedy. Plus Arthur Smith chats with Dane Baptiste.
SUN 23:00 I Think I've Got a Problem (b00cl6vl)
Series 2, Episode 3At the zoo, Tom meets Pi who has a band in her head too. So what could go wrong? Stars Suggs and Bob Monkhouse. From April 2003.
SUN 23:30 Weak at the Top (b00tlwzg)
Series 2, OttersMarketeer John Weak has got an environmental crisis - trying to go green without the costs. Stars Alexander Armstrong. From July 2006.

MONDAY 04 DECEMBER 2017

MON 00:00 Afternoon Drama (b04hv9xy)
[Repeat of broadcast at 18:00 on Sunday]
MON 00:45 E Nesbit - Hurst of Hurstcote (b007jmyy)
[Repeat of broadcast at 18:45 on Sunday]
MON 01:00 Nicola Upson - An Expert in Murder (Omnibus) (b09h3w7f)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:00 on Sunday]
MON 02:05 David Attenborough's Life Stories (b00ptl4p)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:05 on Sunday]
MON 02:15 Elizabeth Taylor - Plenty Good Fiesta (b01pjzbz)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:15 on Sunday]
MON 02:30 Owen Sheers - I Saw a Man (Omnibus) (b05xxj2y)
[Repeat of broadcast at 14:30 on Sunday]
MON 03:45 Shoot from the Hip - The World's Coolest Camera (b0076xhf)
[Repeat of broadcast at 15:45 on Sunday]
MON 04:00 Saturday Drama (b00sqgdw)
[Repeat of broadcast at 16:00 on Sunday]
MON 05:00 Poetry Extra (b09h69jq)
[Repeat of broadcast at 17:00 on Sunday]
MON 05:30 Micky Flanagan: What Chance Change? (b00sjcvd)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:30 on Sunday]
MON 06:00 Unofficial Rosie (b007jlfq)
Down These Mean StreetsMerseyside mother of two Rosie Monaghan is 39 and redundant. Wondering what to do with the rest of her life - she decides to become a private detective...
First in Alan McDonald's six-part thriller serial starring Paula Wilcox as Rosie, Elizabeth Estensen as Margie, Christopher Bramwell as Jerry, Steve Hodson as Mike, Kim Wall as Andrew Stephenson, Dominic Grounsell as Bob and Helen Roberts as Carol.
Others parts played by Federay Holmes, Siriol Jenkins, Matthew Morgan and Nicholas Murchie.
Music composed by Peter Howell.
Director: Tracey Neale
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 1993.
MON 06:30 The Very Hungry Caterpillar (b0076nrr)
Eric Carle's memorable children's best-selling book has been adopted by nutritionists, preachers, ecologists, actors, satirists, teachers and psychotherapists - and is still a favourite among parents and children.
It was cited by George W Bush as the most influential book he had ever read and it has been described as a profound philosophical text to rival Kahlil Gibran's The Prophet.
Poet John Hegley investigates the phenomenon.
Producer: Kate Taylor
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 2004.
MON 07:00 Winston (b007qq36)
Winston Comes to Town, Line of CommunicationCunning rogue Winston has stowed away in a yellow removal van to follow the family to London.
Peter Tinniswood's bawdy comedy serial stars Bill Wallis as Winston, Maurice Denham as Father, Shirley Dixon as Nancy, Liz Goulding as Rosie and Christian Rodska as William.
Director: Shaun MacLoughlin.
First broadcast on BBC Radio in January 1990.
MON 07:30 I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue (b09gfch0)
Series 68, Episode 3The nation's favourite wireless entertainment pays a visit to the Winter Gardens in Margate. Old-timers Barry Cryer and Tim Brooke-Taylor are joined on the panel by Tony Hawks and Andy Hamilton with Jack Dee in the chair. Colin Sell provides piano accompaniment. Producer - Jon Naismith. It is a BBC Studios production.
MON 08:00 Hello Cheeky (b013dzn0)
From 16/05/1976Fast-moving pun-tastic fun as the trio welcome Grandstand's Frank Bough.
Written by and starring John Junkin, Barry Cryer and Tim Brooke-Taylor.
With musical accompaniment from the Denis King Trio.
Producer: David Hatch
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in May 1976.
MON 08:30 Dad's Army (b007jqlx)
Series 3, We Know Our OnionsJones's van is commandeered for the platoon's anti-tank gun exercise - but the trouble is that it's also full of Hodges' consignment of onions.
Starring Arthur Lowe as Captain Mainwaring, John Le Mesurier as Sergeant Wilson, Clive Dunn as Corporal Jones, John Laurie as Private Frazer, Arnold Ridley as Godfrey, Ian Lavender as Private Pike, Bill Pertwee as Hodges and Larry Martyn as Private Walker.
Adapted for radio from Jimmy Perry and David Croft's TV scripts by Harold Snoad and Michael Knowles.
Producer: John Dyas
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in June 1976.
MON 09:00 Just a Minute (b00tppv4)
Series 57, Episode 7Radio 4's long running and popular panel game hosted by Nicholas Parsons. Starring Graham Norton, Gyles Brandreth, Jenny Eclair and Paul Merton. The panellists attempt to speak on a subject given to them without repetition, hesitation or deviation. Subjects this week include 'My Inner Monologue' and 'The Person to My Left'. Tune in to hear what they make of that. Especially, Graham Norton, who hasn't got anyone sitting to his left.
Producer: Tilusha Ghelani.
MON 09:30 Living with Betty (b09h74f1)
Series 1, Episode 3Harold gets caught in the shed with Betty...
The East End meets Cheshire in Arline Whittaker's six-part sitcom.
Stars Barbara Windsor as Betty, Peter Sallis as Harold, Glynn Edwards as Bill, Rosalind Knight as Muriel, Simon Molloy as Trevor, Diana Mather as Katherine and Peter Wheeler as Sergeant Grimshaw.
Producer: Mike Craig
First broadcast on BBC Radio 2 in 1986.
MON 10:00 Plantagenet (b09h7m97)
Series 3, Richard III - The Three BrothersDespite his rebellious brother Clarence, and the formidable dowager Queen Margaret, Edward IV manages to bring a modicum of stability to the Kingdom of England. But discontent at the power of his wife and her family erupt into civil war after his death, and his brother Richard is forced to take increasingly drastic steps to uphold Plantagenet power.
Mike Walker's trilogy - inspired by Holinshed's Chronicles.
Stars Nancy Carroll as Queen Elizabeth, Simon Bubb as Edward 4th, Carl Prekopp as Richard 3rd, Christopher Webster as Clarence, Aimee Ffion Edwards as Margaret, Gerard McDermott as Warwick, Adam Billington as Stafford, James Lailey as Lewis and Paul Moriarty as the Bishop.
Directed by Jeremy Mortimer and Sasha Yevtushenko.
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 2012.
MON 11:00 Skylines (b046p07v)
African Beauty, by Samantha HarveyA series inviting writers to lift their gaze to the horizon - the point where our everyday worlds intersect with the sky.
Samantha Harvey's story is set in a remote African village and explores the terror of being trapped in a tiny space, cut off from the horizon.
Read by: Olivia Darnley
Commissioned for radio by Ellah Allfrey and directed by Jill Waters for The Waters Company
A Waters Company production for BBC Radio 4.
MON 11:15 Afternoon Drama (b00g6g7q)
Rony Robinson - 43 LettersBy Rony Robinson
Julia and David work together in the family archives. One day a mysterious envelope arrives for David, with letters from 43 women, all answering a lonely hearts advert he didn't place.
Cast List
David...............David Calder
Julia.................Barbara Marten
Miranda..........Helen Flanagan
Ruskin............Sacha Dhawan
Directed by Pauline Harris.
MON 12:00 Hello Cheeky (b013dzn0)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:00 today]
MON 12:30 Dad's Army (b007jqlx)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:30 today]
MON 13:00 Unofficial Rosie (b007jlfq)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:00 today]
MON 13:30 The Very Hungry Caterpillar (b0076nrr)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:30 today]
MON 14:00 Kazuo Ishiguro - Never Let Me Go (b09jcrvv)
Episode 6Kazuo Ishiguro's haunting dystopian novel. The students try to adjust to life after Hailsham and discover more about their origins. Read by Rachel Shelley. From June 2016.
MON 14:15 Cosmic Quest (b00c84pv)
A Star Is BornHeather Couper presents a narrative history of astronomy.
Infrared radiation was discovered by William Herschel two centuries ago, but only recently has infrared astronomy come of age. Infrared is able to peer inside dark clouds that mask regions of the galaxy such as the Orion Nebula from optical telescopes. Within these clouds we can now see the processes through which the gas clouds contract, heat up and ignite to give birth to a new generation of stars.
Readers are Timothy West, Robin Sebastian, Julian Rhind-Tutt and John Palmer.
MON 14:30 Charles Dickens - Dombey and Son (b09h7w41)
Episode 1London, mid-19th-century. At last, a boy is born to Paul Dombey, but at what cost?
Originally published in monthly parts from 1846, Charles Dickens's novel appeared in one volume in 1848. Adapted in 20 parts by Mike Walker.
Charles Dickens.................Alex Jennings
Dombey..............................Robert Glenister
Florence..............................Abigail Hollick
Young Florence...................Eliza Darby
Paul.....................................Jacob Theato
Mr Carker.............................Adrian Lukis
Captain Cuttle.....................Trevor Peacock
Mrs Brown...........................Geraldine James
Dr Blimber...........................Robin Soans
Mrs Pipchin.........................Flaminia Cinque
Dr Peps................................Karl Johnson
Polly Toodles....................Pam Ferris
Susan...................................Nadine Marshall
Walter................................. Joseph Arkley
Young Walter.....................Jordan Clarke
Toots....................................Sam Pamphilon
Other parts played by Ben Crowe, Peter Marinker, Simon Treves, Alex Lanipekun and Lloyd Thomas.
Music by Nicolai Abrahamsen.
Directed by Jessica Dromgoole and Jeremy Mortimer.
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 2007.
MON 14:45 Book of the Week (b01p9k16)
Shakespeare's Local - Six Centuries of History Seen Through One Extraordinary Pub, Episode 1Pete Brown's history of pubs as seen through the story of one remarkable London inn, the George in Southwark, said to be the one-time local of Chaucer, Dickens and Shakespeare.
The George Inn is one of the few remaining galleried coaching inns, and lies a few minutes' walk from the Thames. 'Shakespeare's Local' takes us on a literary pub crawl through the history of this pub, from its regulars - the watermen, merchants, actors, craftsmen, writers and coachdrivers - as well as the many incarnations of the pub itself - from lawless Southwark tavern to coaching inn, theatre pub to Victorian drinking den, unfashionable boozer to tourist attraction.
This isn't only a history of half a century of pubs and drinking, but also a paean to the importance of the now declining pub to British society.
Today: the George's early days as a Southwark drinking den in the lawless neighbourhood south of the City.
Reader: Tony Robinson is best-known for his portrayal of Baldrick in the Blackadder series. He also presented Channel' 4's TV's Time Team, and is the author of numerous children's books.
Author: Pete Brown , the 'Beer drinkers' Bill Bryson' (TLS), was named Beer Writer of the Year by the British Guild of Beer Writers, and is the author of three other books on pubs and brewing.
Producer: Justine Willett.
MON 15:00 Plantagenet (b09h7m97)
[Repeat of broadcast at 10:00 today]
MON 16:00 Just a Minute (b00tppv4)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:00 today]
MON 16:30 Living with Betty (b09h74f1)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:30 today]
MON 17:00 Winston (b007qq36)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:00 today]
MON 17:30 I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue (b09gfch0)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:30 today]
MON 18:00 Jane Rogers - The Testament of Jessie Lamb (b09kp0l3)
Episode 1With the death toll from Maternal Death Syndrome rising daily and the world on the brink of disaster, teenager Jessie Lamb becomes convinced she must take action.
Her act of heroism could save the human race, but will those closest to her offer their support?
Jane Rogers dramatises her award-winning novel in five parts.
Stars Holliday Grainger as Jessie, Mark Jordon as Joe, Joanne Mitchell as Cath, Kate Coogan as Mandy, Oliver Lee as Baz and Nisa Cole as Lisa.
Director: Nadia Molinari
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 2013.
MON 18:15 Elspeth Davie - A Collection of Bones (b012ylq3)
AllergyCaledonian creepiness, as Scottish writer Elspeth Davie spins a strange yarn of ovulatory revenge. Read by Edith Macarthur.
MON 18:30 A Good Read (b09h7zsr)
Mel Giedroyc and Sue PerkinsPresenters and comedy duo Sue Perkins and Mel Giedroyc join Sue MacGregor to talk about their favourite books by Asne Seierstad, Jane Austen and Eric Carle. From 2005.
The Bookseller of Kabul by Asne Seierstad
Publisher: Virago
Persuasion by Jane Austen
Publisher: Oxford World's Classics
The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
Publisher: Puffin.
MON 19:00 Hello Cheeky (b013dzn0)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:00 today]
MON 19:30 Dad's Army (b007jqlx)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:30 today]
MON 20:00 Unofficial Rosie (b007jlfq)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:00 today]
MON 20:30 The Very Hungry Caterpillar (b0076nrr)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:30 today]
MON 21:00 Skylines (b046p07v)
[Repeat of broadcast at 11:00 today]
MON 21:15 Afternoon Drama (b00g6g7q)
[Repeat of broadcast at 11:15 today]
MON 22:00 I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue (b09gfch0)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:30 today]
MON 22:30 Dave Podmore (b007tm7h)
Dave Podmore's World of Cricket, Episode 4The player joins a host of Z-list celebrities on a charity walk for mauled dog Shep. Stars Chris Douglas. From June 2002.
MON 22:55 The Comedy Club Interviews (b09js2hc)
Adam Riches and John KearnsFrom 10pm to midnight, seven days a week, the Comedy Club has two hours of comedy. Plus Arthur Smith tests Adam Riches and John Kearns with a Christmas quiz.
MON 23:00 The Now Show (b09gklns)
Series 51, Episode 5Steve Punt and Hugh Dennis present the week via topical stand-up and sketches.
This week we break out the commemorative china with Lucy Porter, explore Twitter panic with Kae Kurd and peek through the advent window with Flo and Joan.
Plus an interview with Sunday Times Political Editor Tim Shipman.
Featuring George Fouracres.
Written by the Cast with additional material from Jon Hunter, Laura Major, Alice Gregg and Jenny Laville.
Producer... Adnan Ahmed
A BBC Studios Production.
MON 23:30 The Problem With Adam Bloom (b00h4cwy)
Series 2, FriendshipThe friendly comedian tells his chums exactly what he does not like about them. With Brendon Burns. From November 2004.
MON 23:45 Brian Appleton's History of Rock 'n' Roll (b00fw3yp)
My Turn to Be PoorlyThe Brummie musicologist reveals the impact of so many rock legends dying at the age of 27. Stars Graham Fellows. From October 2001.

TUESDAY 05 DECEMBER 2017

TUE 00:00 Jane Rogers - The Testament of Jessie Lamb (b09kp0l3)
[Repeat of broadcast at 18:00 on Monday]
TUE 00:15 Elspeth Davie - A Collection of Bones (b012ylq3)
[Repeat of broadcast at 18:15 on Monday]
TUE 00:30 A Good Read (b09h7zsr)
[Repeat of broadcast at 18:30 on Monday]
TUE 01:00 Unofficial Rosie (b007jlfq)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:00 on Monday]
TUE 01:30 The Very Hungry Caterpillar (b0076nrr)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:30 on Monday]
TUE 02:00 Kazuo Ishiguro - Never Let Me Go (b09jcrvv)
[Repeat of broadcast at 14:00 on Monday]
TUE 02:15 Cosmic Quest (b00c84pv)
[Repeat of broadcast at 14:15 on Monday]
TUE 02:30 Charles Dickens - Dombey and Son (b09h7w41)
[Repeat of broadcast at 14:30 on Monday]
TUE 02:45 Book of the Week (b01p9k16)
[Repeat of broadcast at 14:45 on Monday]
TUE 03:00 Plantagenet (b09h7m97)
[Repeat of broadcast at 10:00 on Monday]
TUE 04:00 Just a Minute (b00tppv4)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:00 on Monday]
TUE 04:30 Living with Betty (b09h74f1)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:30 on Monday]
TUE 05:00 Winston (b007qq36)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:00 on Monday]
TUE 05:30 I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue (b09gfch0)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:30 on Monday]
TUE 06:00 Unofficial Rosie (b007jlg3)
Following From In FrontWho is novice private-eye Rosie Monaghan's mystery client? And how do you trail somebody?
Alan McDonald's six-part thriller serial starring Paula Wilcox as Rosie, Elizabeth Estensen as Margie, Christopher Bramwell as Jerry, Kim Wall as Andrew Stephenson, David Thorpe as Graham, Dominic Letts as Bill Jones, Dominic Grounsell as Bob and Helen Roberts as Carol.
Music composed by Peter Howell.
Director: Tracey Neale
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 1993.
TUE 06:30 Frequently Asked Questions (b00lszh8)
Writer Ian Sansom examines the changing nature of the relationship, and contact, between authors and their readers. From July 2009.
TUE 07:00 1834 (b011vffj)
LondonTrapped in 19th-century Macclesfield, bored 21st-century Jason heads to London, but is waylaid by a mint-popping highwayman...
In Jim Poyser's riotous comedy of transportation and delight, Jason is now Tarquin, third son of Lord Belport with faithful valet, Ned.
Stars Michael Begley as Jason Slater, Joe Caffrey as Ned, Kenneth Alan Taylor as Hoskins, Mark Chatterton as Lord Belport, Julia Rounthwaite as Millicent, James Nickerson as Henry, Toby Hadoke as the Highwayman and John Craig as the Duke of Cranmere.
Directed at BBC Manchester by Polly Thomas.
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in July 2003.
TUE 07:30 Ed Reardon's Week (b09gg8tr)
Series 12, A Different DirectionEpisode 6: A Different Direction
All is going well for Ed. He has a regular income from his column in 'Your Motorhome' magazine which has the added bonus of also providing him with comfortable accommodation, and he is more than happy with his new agent, Maggie. Determined to make the best of this seismic shift in his circumstances Ed resolves to put his relationship with Maggie her on a more permanent footing by introducing her to his children.
Written by Andrew Nickolds and Christopher Douglas
Produced by Dawn Ellis
It was a BBC Studios Production.
TUE 08:00 The Ken Dodd Show (b05208kr)
From 31/05/1964Doddy visits the Diddy Shop, Digme-in-the-Ribs and introduces the world's worst tax evader.
Starring Ken Dodd.
With Judith Chalmers, Patricia Hayes, Duncan Macrae, Peter Hudson, Wallas Eaton and The Barry Sisters.
BBC Revue Orchestra, conducted by Malcolm Lockyer
Script by Ken Dodd and Eddie Braben.
Producer: Bill Worsley
First broadcast on the BBC Light Programme in May 1964.
TUE 08:30 The Men From the Ministry (b012ry04)
That's My PigeonA visiting dignitary gets the bird-brained bureaucrats get in a flap.
A weekly tribute to all those who work in government departments.
Stars Richard Murdoch and Deryck Guyler. With Norma Ronald, Ronald Baddiley, John Graham and John Cole.
Written by Edward Taylor and John Graham.
'The Men from the Ministry' ran for 14 series between 1962 and 1977. Deryck Guyler replaced Wilfrid Hyde-White from 1966. Sadly many episodes didn't survive in the archive, however the BBC's Transcription Service re-recorded 14 shows in 1980 - never broadcast in the UK, until the arrival of BBC Radio 4 Extra.
Producer: Edward Taylor
First broadcast on the BBC Radio 4 in March 1973.
TUE 09:00 The Now Show (b09gklns)
[Repeat of broadcast at 23:00 on Monday]
TUE 09:30 The Small World of Dominic Holland (b007jlrq)
Growing UpThe comedian points out the pitfalls of growing up, becoming an adult and having children.
The first of a six-part series illustrating the Domedic minutiae of life
Stand-up and sketches with Simon Greenall, Sally Grace and Dave Lamb.
Producer: Maria Esposito
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in August 2000.
TUE 10:00 Margaret Oliphant - Phoebe Junior (b03m7vj1)
The Young Lady in BlackMrs Oliphant wrote her last chapter of the Chronicles of Carlingford when Lucilla Marjoribanks married Tom.
It's now 1875 and Mrs Oliphant returns to the town to focus on Phoebe Beecham's family - with the jealousies and rivalries of Carlingford between the Church and the Dissenters and Society and its shopkeepers.
Stars Elizabeth Spriggs as Mrs Oliphant, Charlotte Attenborough as Phoebe, Junior, Michael Onslow as Clarence Copperhead, Timothy West as Copperhead, Elizabeth Proud as Mrs Copperhead, Norman Bird as Mr Beecham, Ann Windsor as Phoebe, Snr, John Hollis as Tozer, Cathy Sara as Ursula, Peter Jeffrey as Mr May, Fiona Christie as Janey May, Richard Derrington as Reginald May, David King as Sir Robert Dorset, Sunny Ormonde as Ann Dorset and Oona Beeson as Sophy Dorset.
Music composed and played by Malcolm McKee.
Directed at BBC Pebble Mill by Sue Wilson.
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 1994.
TUE 11:00 Rose Tremain Short Stories (b007mf65)
Ice DancingA retired architect recounts his life with his wife and how he almost lost her. Set in Maryland, read by Harry Towb.
TUE 11:15 Afternoon Drama (b01qj92r)
Annie Caulfield - Dusty Won't PlayCharlie Brooks stars as Dusty Springfield in Annie Caulfield's latest play. Dusty Won't Play is a reminder of the tangled paranoia of apartheid and the true story of Dusty Springfield's refusal to play segregated audiences in South Africa.
Shot through with the ozone charge of Dusty's music, leavened with her earthy humour and straight talking, this play looks at the harrowing days of her short South African tour. Drawing on eye witness accounts, this drama recreates the 1964 South Africa that Dusty challenged - Nelson Mandela had just been jailed for life, liberals were spied on, detained and destroyed.
At the height of her fame, young, stylish Dusty Springfield was popular worldwide, having hit records and presenting the television show Ready Steady Go. Glamorous and outspoken, she took a sharp interest in politics but underestimated the trouble her personal stand in South Africa would cause. She had the support of her band and the promoter Dennis Wainer, but much of the press and some of her own profession were against her.
Back in England, Dusty was jeered at for being naïve or publicity seeking, but she was stubbornly determined that Apartheid couldn't be supported.
We follow Dusty through long, lonely nights in South Africa and glimpse a little deeper into the world of a secretive, principled woman.
With Charlie Brooks as Dusty and starring Jack Klaff, Vincent Ebrahim, Jonny Freeman, Danny Lee Wynter and Rasmus Hardiker.
Written by Annie Caulfield
Directed by Marilyn Imrie
Produced by Gordon Kennedy
An Absolutely production for BBC Radio 4.
TUE 12:00 The Ken Dodd Show (b05208kr)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:00 today]
TUE 12:30 The Men From the Ministry (b012ry04)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:30 today]
TUE 13:00 Unofficial Rosie (b007jlg3)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:00 today]
TUE 13:30 Frequently Asked Questions (b00lszh8)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:30 today]
TUE 14:00 Kazuo Ishiguro - Never Let Me Go (b09jcspr)
Episode 7The students make a trip to Norfolk in search of answers. Rachel Shelley reads Kazuo Ishiguro's dystopian novel of love, friendship and loss. From June 2016.
TUE 14:15 Cosmic Quest (b00c84k8)
The Life and Death of StarsHeather Couper presents a narrative history of astronomy.
Until the modern era of astrophysics, nobody knew what made stars shine. The answer arose from the nuclear age. The sun and stars are like giant hydrogen bombs, controlled nuclear explosions.
In the 1950s, Fred Hoyle and his colleagues showed how new elements are created in stars as they burn hydrogen and helium. In the case of relatively small stars such as our sun, the fuel eventually runs out, the bloated outer layers are lost into space and a slowly cooling white dwarf remains. But massive stars begin to collapse in on themselves when fuel runs out at the core, creating a huge explosion known as a supernova.
Readers are Timothy West, Robin Sebastian, Julian Rhind-Tutt and John Palmer.
TUE 14:30 Charles Dickens - Dombey and Son (b09hbwfb)
Episode 2London, mid-19th century. Young Florence Dombey falls into the clutches of good Mrs Brown. Stars Geraldine James and Pam Ferris. From November 2007.
TUE 14:45 Book of the Week (b01p9ksd)
Shakespeare's Local - Six Centuries of History Seen Through One Extraordinary Pub, Episode 2Tony Robinson reads Pete Brown's history of pubs as seen through the story of one remarkable London inn, the George in Southwark, said to be the one-time local of Chaucer, Dickens and Shakespeare.
The George Inn is one of the few remaining galleried coaching inns in Britain, and lies a few minutes' walk from the Thames. 'Shakespeare's Local' takes us on a literary pub crawl through the history of this pub, from its regulars - the watermen, merchants, actors, craftsmen, writers and coachdrivers - as well as the many incarnations of the pub itself - from lawless Southwark tavern to coaching inn, theatre pub to Victorian drinking den, unfashionable boozer to tourist attraction.
Today: along with neighbouring Southwark Inn, the Tabard, the George enters literary history with the publication of Chaucer's 'Canterbury Tales'.
Reader: Tony Robinson is best known for his role as Baldrick in the Blackadder series. He's also presented Channel 4's 'Time Team' and written numerous books for children.
Author: Pete Brown , the 'Beer drinkers' Bill Bryson' (TLS), was named Beer Writer of the Year by the British Guild of Beer Writers, and is the author of three other books on pubs and brewing.
Producer: Justine Willett.
TUE 15:00 Margaret Oliphant - Phoebe Junior (b03m7vj1)
[Repeat of broadcast at 10:00 today]
TUE 16:00 Wordaholics (b04jlpn3)
Series 3, Episode 5Stand up comedians Lloyd Langford, Holly Walsh and Paul Sinha and novelist and classicist Natalie Haynes join chair Gyles Brandreth for the panel game for word fans.
Today's Letter of the week is the sinuous letter 'S'. Lloyd Langford has to work out what the Victorian term 'Smothering a parrot' meant. Natalie Haynes works out what a 'Saint Giles Carpet' was. Holly Walsh works out what she'd be doing in the 1700s if she were to ride on 'Shank's mare'. And Paul Sinha works out what a 'spermologer' is.
In a round about portmanteau words Natalie is asked what a 'chork' is; Holly a 'geep'; Paul 'smirting' and Lloyd a 'flexitarian'.
Next the panellists are asked to guess the meaning of some foreign words which have no direct equivalent in English. Lloyd tries to guess the meaning of the Central American word 'chaquetero' and Holly works out what the Chilean phrase 'pagar el piso' means.
The panel then try and ban the words which drive them most mad including 'foodie' and 'chillax'.
Finally they try and decipher what the long-forgotten words from the early 1600s are: 'mulct','matrixe', 'pistated' and 'obnubilate'.
Writers: Jon Hunter and James Kettle.
Producer: Claire Jones.
TUE 16:30 Semi Circles (b007jts2)
Series 2, A Complete BreakUpwardly mobile Ben and Helen plan a holiday. Simon Brett sitcom starring Paula Wilcox and David Wood. From November 1982.
TUE 17:00 1834 (b011vffj)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:00 today]
TUE 17:30 Ed Reardon's Week (b09gg8tr)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:30 today]
TUE 18:00 Jane Rogers - The Testament of Jessie Lamb (b09kp11k)
Episode 2As society splinters, panic and fear reign. As her own world falls apart, Jessie realises she must act.
Jane Rogers dramatises her award winning novel set in a future where an act of biological terrorism has spread a deadly virus across the world.
Stars Holliday Grainger as Jessie, Mark Jordon as Joe, Joanne Mitchell as Cath, Kate Coogan as Mandy, Rebecca Ryan as Sal, Oliver Lee as Baz, Nisa Cole as Lisa and Will Finlason as Iain.
Director: Nadia Molinari
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 2013.
TUE 18:15 Elspeth Davie - A Collection of Bones (b012ylrg)
The SwansStaff in a paint shop start seeing mortality in a row of houses. It has a melancholic effect on sales. Read by Edith MacArthur. From January 2002.
TUE 18:30 Dad Made Me Laugh (b007k14d)
Nick WisdomNorman Wisdom's son chats to Sally Magnusson about life growing up with a famous funny father. From October 2005.
TUE 19:00 The Ken Dodd Show (b05208kr)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:00 today]
TUE 19:30 The Men From the Ministry (b012ry04)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:30 today]
TUE 20:00 Unofficial Rosie (b007jlg3)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:00 today]
TUE 20:30 Frequently Asked Questions (b00lszh8)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:30 today]
TUE 21:00 Rose Tremain Short Stories (b007mf65)
[Repeat of broadcast at 11:00 today]
TUE 21:15 Afternoon Drama (b01qj92r)
[Repeat of broadcast at 11:15 today]
TUE 22:00 Ed Reardon's Week (b09gg8tr)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:30 today]
TUE 22:30 Richard Herring's Objective (b016wzrz)
Series 2, The GolliwogThe Golliwog: Should it be reclaimed or consigned to the dustbin of history? Richard Herring examines objects of controversy. From November 2011. Episode 1 of 4.
TUE 23:00 Elvenquest (b010j3zz)
Series 1, Episode 1Intrepid heroes battle evil forces for the Sword of Asnagar. Fantasy comedy starring Darren Boyd and Dave Lamb. From April 2009.
TUE 23:30 Lucy Montgomery's Variety Pack (b00w20zg)
Series 1, Episode 1The 'one-woman Fast Show' performs an array of comic characters, including a fame-hungry celebrity mother. From November 2010.

WEDNESDAY 06 DECEMBER 2017

WED 00:00 Jane Rogers - The Testament of Jessie Lamb (b09kp11k)
[Repeat of broadcast at 18:00 on Tuesday]
WED 00:15 Elspeth Davie - A Collection of Bones (b012ylrg)
[Repeat of broadcast at 18:15 on Tuesday]
WED 00:30 Dad Made Me Laugh (b007k14d)
[Repeat of broadcast at 18:30 on Tuesday]
WED 01:00 Unofficial Rosie (b007jlg3)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:00 on Tuesday]
WED 01:30 Frequently Asked Questions (b00lszh8)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:30 on Tuesday]
WED 02:00 Kazuo Ishiguro - Never Let Me Go (b09jcspr)
[Repeat of broadcast at 14:00 on Tuesday]
WED 02:15 Cosmic Quest (b00c84k8)
[Repeat of broadcast at 14:15 on Tuesday]
WED 02:30 Charles Dickens - Dombey and Son (b09hbwfb)
[Repeat of broadcast at 14:30 on Tuesday]
WED 02:45 Book of the Week (b01p9ksd)
[Repeat of broadcast at 14:45 on Tuesday]
WED 03:00 Margaret Oliphant - Phoebe Junior (b03m7vj1)
[Repeat of broadcast at 10:00 on Tuesday]
WED 04:00 Wordaholics (b04jlpn3)
[Repeat of broadcast at 16:00 on Tuesday]
WED 04:30 Semi Circles (b007jts2)
[Repeat of broadcast at 16:30 on Tuesday]
WED 05:00 1834 (b011vffj)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:00 on Tuesday]
WED 05:30 Ed Reardon's Week (b09gg8tr)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:30 on Tuesday]
WED 06:00 Unofficial Rosie (b007jlgf)
Back Against the WallA row over privatisation breaks out - and private eye Rosie has doubts over the apparently innocent death...
Alan McDonald's six-part thriller serial starring Paula Wilcox as Rosie, Elizabeth Estensen as Margie, Christopher Bramwell as Jerry, Dominic Grounsell as Bob, Helen Roberts as Carol, Steve Hodson as Mike, Paul Barber as Martin Bullivant, Kim Wall as Andrew Stephenson, Dominic Letts as Bill Jones, Pauline Yates as Elsie, Gareth Armstrong as Detective Sergeant Murdoch and Michael Onslow as Hickey.
Other parts played by Teresa Gallagher, Vivienne Rochester, James Taylor and James Telfer.
Music composed by Peter Howell.
Director: Tracey Neale
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 1993.
WED 06:30 A Dewey Decimal (b00xmljr)
Shaun Wallace investigates Melvil Dewey's book organisation system at his local library and the likely impact of the internet. From October 2007.
WED 07:00 Like They've Never Been Gone (b00936z4)
Series 1, Episode 1Sweethearts Tommy Franklin and Sheila Parr won the 1962 Eurovision Song Contest, but find themselves suddenly thrust back into the limelight when their song's used on TV.
The only snag is they can no longer stand the sight of one another...
Series 1 of Mike Coleman's six-part sitcom stars June Whitfield and Roy Hudd.
With Pat Coombs, Julian Eardley, Joshua Henderson, Chris Pavlo and Terry Wogan.
Music by Frido Ruth.
Producer: Steve Doherty
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in July 1998.
WED 07:30 All Those Women (b06d2fxv)
Series 1, Episode 3Comedy series by Katherine Jakeways about four generations of women living under one roof.
Hetty's old diaries turn up some uncomfortable home truths for Maggie, who sets out to challenge herself and prove things have changed.
All Those Women explores familial relationships, ageing, marriages - it's about life and love and things not turning out quite the way that you'd expected them to. Every week we join Hetty, Maggie, Jen and Emily as they struggle to resolve their own problems, and support one another.
Written by KATHERINE JAKEWAYS
Script editor Richard Turner
Producer Alexandra Smith
A BBC Radio Comedy Production.
WED 08:00 The Navy Lark (b00yzgq5)
Cementing RelationsCommander Povey's aghast at news of an Island Draft inspection - sparking trouble for Pertwee.
Starring Leslie Phillips as the Sub-Lieutenant, Jon Pertwee as the Chief Petty Officer, Stephen Murray as Number One, Richard Caldicot as Commander Povey, Ronnie Barker as AS Johnson, Heather Chasen as Heather, Michael Bates as Ginger and Tenniel Evans as Uncle Ebenzer.
The Navy Lark ran for an impressive 13 series on BBC Radio between 1959 and 1976.
Scripted by Lawrie Wyman.
Producer: Alastair Scott Johnston.
First broadcast on the BBC Light Programme in December 1959.
WED 08:30 A Very Private Man (b09hd8xy)
Episode 3A romantic reconciliation meal does not go as planned for David and Helen Parkinson.
Terry Gregson's sitcom stars Rodney Bewes as David Parkinson, Ann Bell as Helen Parkinson, Daphne Oxenford as Mrs Henderson, Paula Tildrook as Mrs Arthur and Peter Wheeler as Mr Sands.
Produced at BBC Manchester by Ron McDonnell.
First broadcast on BBC Radio 2 in February 1981.
WED 09:00 Act Your Age (b0100gr6)
Series 3, Episode 3Simon Mayo hosts the three-way battle between the comedy generations to find out which is the funniest. Will it be the Up-and-Comers, the Current Crop or the Old Guard who will be crowned, for one week at least, as the Golden Age of Comedy. This week Holly Walsh is joined by Sean Walsh, Lucy Porter teams up with Hal Cruttenden and Tom O'Connor is paired with Dave Spikey.
Devised and Produced by Ashley Blaker and Bill Matthews.
WED 09:30 Life, Death and Sex with Mike and Sue (b01n6yj7)
Series 2, Episode 1Sofa-bound TV presenters Mike and Sue ponder the future and grapple with relationships.
Series 2 of Bill Dare's sitcom stars Robert Duncan and Jan Ravens.
With Roger Blake, Bill Dare, Alistair McGowan and Sally Philips.
Music by Mark Burton.
Producer: Jo Clegg
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in July 1997.
WED 10:00 Margaret Oliphant - Phoebe Junior (b03m7vj3)
A New GentlemanPhoebe Beecham has met Clarence Copperhead at a Ball in London. His wealthy father disapproves of her, and she fortuitously leaves London to visit her sick Grandmother in Carlingford but gets a shock on arrival...
Stars Elizabeth Spriggs as Mrs Oliphant, Charlotte Attenborough as Phoebe, Junior and Peter Jeffrey as Mr May.
Dramatised from Margaret Oliphant's 1876 novel by Elizabeth Proud.
Producer: Sue Wilson
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 1994.
WED 11:00 Rose Tremain Short Stories (b0081t48)
John-JinA woman's tale of Spanish dancing, a young boy with stunted growth, and a girder in a pier pavilion. Read by Siriol Jenkins.
WED 11:15 Afternoon Drama (b01rgld4)
Gary Mitchell - Love's Worst DaySomewhere along the way, Geordie and Jane have lost each other. Life has swallowed them up in the daily grind of screaming kids, unpaid bills and a teenage son who hates the world. Whatever happened to them? They were so happy, full of plans for the future and looking forward to having a family together. Now it is an endless cycle of bad luck and struggling to make ends meet. Jane is trying to cope, Geordie can't cope, but maybe just somewhere - in a little moment in this day - Geordie and Jane are about to find each other again.
Gary Mitchell is a writer and director for television, film, radio and theatre. In 1995, he won the Stewart Parker Award for radio. In a Little World of our Own won the 1998 Irish Times Theatre Award for 'best new play'. In the same year, Gary won the Belfast Drama Award for In a Little World of our Own and Sinking and was made writer-in-residence at the Royal National Theatre, London.
Suffering, a film written and directed by Gary, was chosen as the best short film at the Belfast Festival in 2003. His script, As the Beast Sleep won a Belfast Arts Award for TV and was placed 3rd at the 2002 Prix Europa European TV Awards in Berlin. In 2006, Remnants of Fear won the Aisling Award for Art and Culture. He has written numerous radio plays for RTE and BBC and his most recent stage play will premiere this year in Derry to mark the UK City of Culture 2013.
Loves Worst Day was written by Gary Mitchell and directed in Belfast by Gemma McMullan.
WED 12:00 The Navy Lark (b00yzgq5)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:00 today]
WED 12:30 A Very Private Man (b09hd8xy)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:30 today]
WED 13:00 Unofficial Rosie (b007jlgf)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:00 today]
WED 13:30 A Dewey Decimal (b00xmljr)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:30 today]
WED 14:00 Kazuo Ishiguro - Never Let Me Go (b09jctdr)
Episode 8The students hear a rumour about how their fate might be postponed. An unsettling tale of love, friendship and loss. Read by Rachel Shelley. From June 2016.
WED 14:15 Cosmic Quest (b00c84kb)
A Plethora of PlanetsHeather Couper presents a narrative history of astronomy.
For centuries, people have been speculating on the origin of the Earth and other planets. As long ago as 1755 the philosopher Imanuel Kant suggested that our solar system may have been born from a rotating cloud or nebula of gas and dust. But it was not until an infrared telescope was sent into space in 1983 that astronomers began to gather images of such dusty discs around other young stars.
In 1955 Eugene Shoemaker showed that a crater in Arizona was blasted out by the impact of a large rock from space. He went on to show that most of the craters on the moon resulted from similar impacts, early in the history of the solar system. The dawn of the space age is enabling us to begin to explore the rocks in our cosmic backyard and speculate about worlds beyond.
Readers are Timothy West, Robin Sebastian, Julian Rhind-Tutt and John Palmer.
WED 14:30 Charles Dickens - Dombey and Son (b09hllmr)
Episode 3London, mid-19th century. Paul is sent to Brighton for his health. Stars Alex Jennings and Trevor Peacock. From November 2007.
WED 14:45 Book of the Week (b01pbvxy)
Shakespeare's Local - Six Centuries of History Seen Through One Extraordinary Pub, Episode 3Tony Robinson reads Pete Brown's history of British pubs as seen through the story of one remarkable London inn, the George in Southwark, said to be the one-time local of Chaucer, Dickens and Shakespeare.
The George Inn is one of the few remaining galleried coaching inns, and lies a few minutes' walk from the Thames. 'Shakespeare's Local' takes us on a literary pub crawl through the history of this pub, from its regulars - the watermen, merchants, actors, craftsmen, writers and coachdrivers - as well as the many incarnations of the pub itself - from lawless Southwark tavern to coaching inn, theatre pub to Victorian drinking den, unfashionable boozer to tourist attraction.
Today: Shakespeare's inn-yard theatres take off in Southwark's taverns, against stiff competition from the far less lofty pursuits of bear-baiting and cockfighting.
Reader: Tony Robinson is best known for his role as Baldrick in the Blackadder series. He's also presented Channel 4's 'Time Team' and written numerous books for children.
Author: Pete Brown , the 'Beer drinkers' Bill Bryson' (TLS), was named Beer Writer of the Year by the British Guild of Beer Writers, and is the author of three other books on pubs and brewing.
Producer: Justine Willett.
WED 15:00 Margaret Oliphant - Phoebe Junior (b03m7vj3)
[Repeat of broadcast at 10:00 today]
WED 16:00 Act Your Age (b0100gr6)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:00 today]
WED 16:30 Life, Death and Sex with Mike and Sue (b01n6yj7)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:30 today]
WED 17:00 Like They've Never Been Gone (b00936z4)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:00 today]
WED 17:30 All Those Women (b06d2fxv)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:30 today]
WED 18:00 Jane Rogers - The Testament of Jessie Lamb (b09kp1h4)
Episode 3Maternal Death Syndrome is spreading rapidly and Jessie's world is still in crisis. Her aunt Mandy is desperately ill, boyfriend Baz is planning drastic action and her father is adamant that Jessie should not volunteer to be a Sleeping Beauty. Can Jessie be swayed from her path?
Jane Rogers dramatises her dystopian novel: winner of the Arthur C Clarke Award 2012.
Stars Holliday Grainger as Jessie, Mark Jordon as Joe, Oliver Lee as Baz, Nisa Cole as Lisa and Will Finlason as Iain.
Director: Nadia Molinari
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 2013.
WED 18:15 Elspeth Davie - A Collection of Bones (b012ymgs)
A Field in SpaceAn affecting story of 'the fields of the sky', and one expert whose speciality stuns a whole meeting. Read by Crawford Logan. From January 2002.
WED 18:30 Musical Legends (b015p7l5)
Janis Ian1/1
Janis Ian has written songs for some of the best known artists in the business. Glen Campbell, Nanci Griffith, Bette Middler, Dusty Springfield and Nina Simone have all recorded her material.
As a singer her song 'Society's child' written when she was only 14 and dealing with the issue of interracial relationships was banned by some radio stations as being subversive.
Janis's best known and most successful song 'At Seventeen', dealing with teenage angst, won her two Grammy's and led to appearances on some of the top rated TV shows at the time.
Tom Morton talks to Janis about her writing and recording career from the 1960's to the present and she gives him an insight into her extraordinary life.
WED 19:00 The Navy Lark (b00yzgq5)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:00 today]
WED 19:30 A Very Private Man (b09hd8xy)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:30 today]
WED 20:00 Unofficial Rosie (b007jlgf)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:00 today]
WED 20:30 A Dewey Decimal (b00xmljr)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:30 today]
WED 21:00 Rose Tremain Short Stories (b0081t48)
[Repeat of broadcast at 11:00 today]
WED 21:15 Afternoon Drama (b01rgld4)
[Repeat of broadcast at 11:15 today]
WED 22:00 All Those Women (b06d2fxv)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:30 today]
WED 22:30 Before They Were Famous (b03h429n)
Series 2, Episode 5Even the most successful of writers have, at some point, had to take day jobs to pay the bills.
Ian Leslie presents the second series of this Radio 4 spoof documentary, which sheds light on the often surprising jobs done by the world's best known writers in the days before they were able to make a living from their art.
In a project of literary archaeology, Leslie unearths archive examples of early work by great writers, including Fortune Cookie messages written by Germaine Greer, a political manifesto by the young JK Rowling, and a car manual written by Dan Brown. In newspaper articles, advertising copy, and company correspondence, we get a fascinating glimpse into the embryonic development of our best-loved literary voices.
We may know them today for their novels, plays or poems but, once upon a time, they were just people with a dream - and a rent bill looming at the end of the month.
Producers: Anna Silver and Claire Broughton
A Hat Trick production for BBC Radio 4.
WED 22:45 No Tomatoes (b0081snn)
Doctor DoomA moody fridge speaks out to Paul Copley and Helen Moon. Sketch show mixing up language and sounds. From October 2007.
WED 23:00 Hard to Tell (b03k21n8)
Series 2, Episode 4Second series of the relationship comedy written by Jonny Sweet.
It tells its central love story through the couple's individual conversations with their family and friends. In the process, we are introduced to all manner of relationships from a father and his cherished tour van to two women rivalling for the position of Best Friend, from a brother and sister comparing notes on Brazilians to a vicar and his new parish, and from a lodger's historic fling with a local waitress to a mum's lack of control over her desire to monitor her son's life.
Recorded on location, Hard To Tell's naturalistic, contemporary and conversational style brings new meaning to restaurants, funerals, French dressers and monkey puzzle trees.
Jonny Sweet is also the writer of Radio 4's Party and co-writer/co-star of Chickens on Sky 1.
Episode 4:
The Bicycle Thief. It's Ellen's birthday and, despite money troubles, Tom wants to make an unforgettable impression, while all of Ellen's friends are determined to keep her away from him.
Producer: Lucy Armitage
A Tiger Aspect production for BBC Radio 4.
WED 23:30 Clayton Grange (b01mw5jb)
Series 1, Episode 1by Neil Warhurst with additional material by Paul Barnhill
Episode 1
Anthony Head leads a team of brilliantly stupid scientists. This is Clayton Grange, top secret Scientific Institute with a government brief to solve the global fuel crisis, cheer people up and make war just a bit more gentle. Meet the scientists who are a bit rubbish at life. And not much better at science.
Saunders ..... Anthony Head
Geoff ..... Neil Warhurst
Roger ..... Paul Barnhill
Jameson ..... Stephanie Racine
Helen/Bunty ..... Don Gilet
Alan Dobson ..... Paul Stonehouse
Producer/Director ..... Marion Nancarrow
Actor and musician Anthony Head, probably best known for his roles in "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" and as the Prime Minister in "Little Britain", plays Professor Linden Saunders, the keen but hopeless Director of Scientific Institute, Clayton Grange.
Writer/performers Neil Warhurst and Paul Barnhill first appeared on BBC radio in "Beyond the Pole", a comedy about two incompetent explorers, who returned in "Beyond the Back of Beyond", to trek to the Amazon. Neil turned the first series into the film, "Beyond the Pole", released in 2010, starring Stephen Mangan, Rhys Thomas and Alexander Skarsgard, which won Best Comedy at the International Film Festival. Together, Neil and Paul also wrote and performed in two series of "The Spaceship" (BBC7), starring James Fleet and two series of "Edge Falls" (Radio 4) starring Mark Benton and Sarah Lancashire ("If you boiled down modern Britain, the sticky, foul-smelling residue would be a lot like the Edge Falls" The Guardian). Neil (the only member of his immediate family who isn't a scientist) has also written two afternoon plays for Radio 4. Paul and Neil have recently set up Goofus, a company currently working on plays for theatre, one of which is an adaptation of Neil's radio play "Taking Charlie" and is under commission from Soho Theatre.
Neil and Paul play the parts of Geoff and Roger in Clayton Grange.

THURSDAY 07 DECEMBER 2017

THU 00:00 Jane Rogers - The Testament of Jessie Lamb (b09kp1h4)
[Repeat of broadcast at 18:00 on Wednesday]
THU 00:30 Musical Legends (b015p7l5)
[Repeat of broadcast at 18:30 on Wednesday]
THU 01:00 Unofficial Rosie (b007jlgf)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:00 on Wednesday]
THU 01:30 A Dewey Decimal (b00xmljr)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:30 on Wednesday]
THU 02:00 Kazuo Ishiguro - Never Let Me Go (b09jctdr)
[Repeat of broadcast at 14:00 on Wednesday]
THU 02:15 Cosmic Quest (b00c84kb)
[Repeat of broadcast at 14:15 on Wednesday]
THU 02:30 Charles Dickens - Dombey and Son (b09hllmr)
[Repeat of broadcast at 14:30 on Wednesday]
THU 02:45 Book of the Week (b01pbvxy)
[Repeat of broadcast at 14:45 on Wednesday]
THU 03:00 Margaret Oliphant - Phoebe Junior (b03m7vj3)
[Repeat of broadcast at 10:00 on Wednesday]
THU 04:00 Act Your Age (b0100gr6)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:00 on Wednesday]
THU 04:30 Life, Death and Sex with Mike and Sue (b01n6yj7)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:30 on Wednesday]
THU 05:00 Like They've Never Been Gone (b00936z4)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:00 on Wednesday]
THU 05:30 All Those Women (b06d2fxv)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:30 on Wednesday]
THU 06:00 Unofficial Rosie (b007jlgr)
If Looks Could KillPrivate-eye Rosie Monaghan continues to investigate a murder. But no-one else thinks there's been one...
Alan McDonald's six-part thriller serial starring Paula Wilcox as Rosie, Elizabeth Estensen as Margie, Christopher Bramwell as Jerry, Dominic Grounsell as Bob, Helen Roberts as Carol, Steve Hodson as Mike, Paul Barber as Martin Bullivant, Kim Wall as Andrew Stephenson, Dominic Letts as Bill Jones, Rachel Atkins as Helen Thackray, James Telfer as James MacLeish and Gareth Armstrong as Detective Sergeant Murdoch
Music composed by Peter Howell.
Director: Tracey Neale
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 1993.
THU 06:30 Femme Fatale: The Story of Nico (b00gd1t0)
Marc Riley tells the story of Christa Paffgen, the German model and actress who would become better known as Nico, the singer with influential 1960s rock band The Velvet Underground. Featuring interviews with her son Ari; her manager during her time in Manchester, Alan Wise; her biographer Richard Witts and John Cale, one of her colleagues in The Velvet Underground.
THU 07:00 Double Income, No Kids Yet (b007yrh0)
Series 2, Episode 3When Daniel's brother suggests a night in the pub and Lucy's best friend meets a new man, their plans for a week away from other people's problems come seriously unstuck.
The second series of David Spicer's comedy drama about modern life and parenthood, as seen through the eyes of two 30-something non-parents.
Starring David Tennant as Daniel, Liz Carling as Lucy, Nasreen Hussain as Amanda, Joanna Brookes as Alison, Robert Harley as Peter and Polly Frame as Caroline.
Producer: Liz Anstee
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 2002.
THU 07:30 Alexei Sayle's Imaginary Sandwich Bar (b09gkcst)
Series 2, La Vie MoralEpisode 4 - La Vie Moral
Alexei considers how one might live an ethical life, recounts the difficulties he faced when tracking down his lost cat and pays penance for a feud with another performer.
Written by Alexei Sayle
Performed by Alexei Sayle
Original music and lyrics by Tim Sutton
Produced by Joe Nunnery
A BBC Studios Production.
THU 08:00 Not in Front of the Children (b05nhvwk)
Series 1, Sweet MemoriesWhen Henry boasts of his Casanova exploits to his children, Jennifer feels she has to invent an old beau for herself - with disastrous results.
Starring Wendy Craig as Jennifer Corner, Francis Matthews as Henry Corner and Charlotte Mitchell as Mary.
The comedy mishaps of the Corner family: Jennifer and Henry and their three children Trudi, Amanda and Robin. Family sitcom, Not in Front of the Children originally ran for four series from 1967 to 1970 on BBC TV. Richard Waring adapted his own scripts for this radio version, now fully restored from the original reel-to-reel tapes.
Wendy Craig won a Best Actress BAFTA award for the TV version of Not in Front of the Children in 1969. This was the first of several housewife roles that Wendy Craig was to play on television. Later series included And Mother Makes Three and Butterflies.
Music by Ronnie Hazlehurst
Producer: Trafford Whitelock.
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in November 1969.
THU 08:30 The Goon Show (b007jv0x)
The Reason WhyHarry Secombe, Peter Sellers and Spike Milligan explain how Cleopatra's Needle came to be next to the Thames.
THU 09:00 Counterpoint (b007j7p9)
Series 21, Semi-final 1Edward Seckerson chairs the first semi-final of the quiz on music of all kinds with contestants Sarah Boot-Handford, Edward MacDermott and Geoff Smith. From May 2007.
THU 09:30 HR (b00txgsc)
Series 2, ConsultingComedy drama series by Nigel Williams that charts the misfortunes of a middle-aged HR officer and his trouble-making colleague.
Having nursed Peter through retirement blues, Sam himself succumbs to the dreaded sense of purposelessness. Then Peter gets an ad looking for experienced consultants. They're made!
Peter ..... Jonathan Pryce
Sam ..... Nicholas Le Prevost
Waiter ..... Sam Dale
Director: Peter Kavanagh.
THU 10:00 Margaret Oliphant - Phoebe Junior (b03m7vk2)
An Unmitigated CubPhoebe has made the acquaintance of the Mays in Carlingford. Although of opposing religious persuasions, Reginald is strongly attracted to her - and the arrival of Mr Northcote, the new non-conformist minister, causes friction which is not based on purely ecclesiastical differences.
Stars Elizabeth Spriggs as Mrs Oliphant, Charlotte Attenborough as Phoebe, Junior and Peter Jeffrey as Mr May.
Dramatised from Margaret Oliphant's 1876 novel by Elizabeth Proud.
Producer: Sue Wilson
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 1994.
THU 11:00 Rose Tremain Short Stories (b0081vlk)
The StackJohn's birthday is coming up, so why isn't he excited about the big meal at Spiros' place? Short story read by Jim Norton.
THU 11:15 Afternoon Drama (b007ycm8)
Rachel Joyce - FeatherBy Rachel Joyce.
Fern believes in magic, Father Christmas and the Tooth Fairy. She is collecting feathers because they can make wishes come true, and Fern has a very big and important wish.
Fern ...... Maisie Cowell
Lucy ...... Claire Price
Flyn ...... Shaun Dooley
Lloyd ...... Jot Davies
Grandma ...... Richenda Carey
Sam ...... Rachel Bavidge
Cayleigh ...... Morgan Gayle
Directed by Tracey Neale.
THU 12:00 Not in Front of the Children (b05nhvwk)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:00 today]
THU 12:30 The Goon Show (b007jv0x)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:30 today]
THU 13:00 Unofficial Rosie (b007jlgr)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:00 today]
THU 13:30 Femme Fatale: The Story of Nico (b00gd1t0)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:30 today]
THU 14:00 Kazuo Ishiguro - Never Let Me Go (b09jcvzv)
Episode 9Ruth gives Kathy and Tommy hope of a way out. Kazuo Ishiguro's unsettling dystopian novel of love, friendship and loss, Read by Rachel Shelley. From June 2016.
THU 14:15 Cosmic Quest (b00c84kd)
Worlds BeyondHeather Couper presents a narrative history of astronomy.
In the 16th century, Giordano Bruno speculated that there must be other planets similar to our own in the universe. He was burned at the stake for this and other heresies.
Even today, with the best telescopes in the world, it remains impossible to see planets around distant stars. But in the last decade, astronomers have gathered indirect evidence for many other planetary systems. The easiest to detect and hence the first to be found were the most amazing - planets bigger than Jupiter orbiting so close to their star that they are almost touching. But evidence is now emerging that solar systems more like our own exist, some with multiple planets and some with planets that may be like Earth.
Readers are Timothy West, Robin Sebastian, Julian Rhind-Tutt and John Palmer.
THU 14:30 Charles Dickens - Dombey and Son (b09hmf1g)
Episode 4London, mid-19th century. The heavy duty of learning at Doctor Blimber's Academy. Stars Robert Glenister and Eliza Darby. From November 2007.
THU 14:45 Book of the Week (b01pcs5j)
Shakespeare's Local - Six Centuries of History Seen Through One Extraordinary Pub, Episode 4Tony Robinson reads Pete Brown's history of pubs as seen through the story of one remarkable London inn, the George in Southwark, said to be the one-time local of Chaucer, Dickens and Shakespeare.
The George Inn is one of the few remaining galleried coaching inns, and lies a few minutes' walk from the Thames. 'Shakespeare's Local' takes us on a literary pub crawl through the history of this pub, from its regulars - the watermen, merchants, actors, craftsmen, writers and coachdrivers - as well as the many incarnations of the pub itself - from lawless Southwark tavern to coaching inn, theatre pub to Victorian drinking den, unfashionable boozer to tourist attraction.
Today: while the age of the stagecoach changes the face of British pubs, the George faces its darkest hour.
Reader: Tony Robinson is best known for his role as Baldrick in the Blackadder series. He's also presented Channel 4's 'Time Team' and written numerous books for children.
Author: Pete Brown , the 'Beer drinkers' Bill Bryson' (TLS), was named Beer Writer of the Year by the British Guild of Beer Writers, and is the author of three other books on pubs and brewing.
Producer: Justine Willett.
THU 15:00 Margaret Oliphant - Phoebe Junior (b03m7vk2)
[Repeat of broadcast at 10:00 today]
THU 16:00 Counterpoint (b007j7p9)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:00 today]
THU 16:30 HR (b00txgsc)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:30 today]
THU 17:00 Double Income, No Kids Yet (b007yrh0)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:00 today]
THU 17:30 Alexei Sayle's Imaginary Sandwich Bar (b09gkcst)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:30 today]
THU 18:00 Jane Rogers - The Testament of Jessie Lamb (b09kp1wv)
Episode 4Jessie becomes increasingly certain that sacrificing her own life for a healthy baby is the most important thing she can do. But her plan to become a Sleeping Beauty hits an obstacle.
Jane Rogers dramatises her dystopian novel: winner of the Arthur C Clarke Award 2012.
Stars Holliday Grainger as Jessie, Mark Jordon as Joe, Joanne Mitchell as Cath and Rebecca Ryan as Cath.
Director: Nadia Molinari
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 2013.
THU 18:30 Great Lives (b00s93v3)
Series 21, Charlotte GuestBusinesswoman Baroness Sarah Hogg discusses the life of Lady Charlotte Guest, a Victorian polymath whose many achievements included running the largest ironworks in the world. Assistance is provided by Lady Charlotte's great grand-daughter, Revel Guest.
Producer: Paul Dodgson.
THU 19:00 Not in Front of the Children (b05nhvwk)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:00 today]
THU 19:30 The Goon Show (b007jv0x)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:30 today]
THU 20:00 Unofficial Rosie (b007jlgr)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:00 today]
THU 20:30 Femme Fatale: The Story of Nico (b00gd1t0)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:30 today]
THU 21:00 Rose Tremain Short Stories (b0081vlk)
[Repeat of broadcast at 11:00 today]
THU 21:15 Afternoon Drama (b007ycm8)
[Repeat of broadcast at 11:15 today]
THU 22:00 Alexei Sayle's Imaginary Sandwich Bar (b09gkcst)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:30 today]
THU 22:30 Sean Lock - 15 Storeys High (b09hmjts)
Series 1, Episode 1A resident at flat 76, Sean shares the comic lives of fellow urban residents of Elderberry House. With Jenny Eclair. From November 1999.
THU 23:00 Sarah Millican's Support Group (b010y7bp)
Series 2, Episode 2Award winning comedian Sarah Millican is back for a second series playing Sarah, modern day agony aunt dishing out real advice for real people.
Solving the nations problems with her Support Group, she wants you to live life to the upmost, and she's got tons of ideas of how to help. Together with her team of experts of the heart - man of the people local cabbie Terry, and self qualified counsellor Marion - Sarah tackles the nation's problems head on and has a solution for everything, (which normally encompasses cake, tea and hugs).
This week the team tackle two problems - "I think I'm addicted to plastic surgery" and "My retired Dad has more of a social life than me - how can I get him to swap stripping for slippers?"
Sarah Millican Sarah
Ruth Bratt Marion
Simon Day Terry
Rachel Isy Suttie
Ian William Andrews
Jeff Kevin Eldon
Clive Malcolm Tierney.
THU 23:30 The Masterson Inheritance (b007jsy1)
Series 1, The Mastersons Lose EverythingDecadent Auderon's unsavoury habits threaten family ruin. Improvised comedy with Paul Merton and Josie Lawrence. From May 1993.

FRIDAY 08 DECEMBER 2017

FRI 00:00 Jane Rogers - The Testament of Jessie Lamb (b09kp1wv)
[Repeat of broadcast at 18:00 on Thursday]
FRI 00:15 Elspeth Davie - A Collection of Bones (b012ysn7)
A Collection of BonesA troubling tale of a man with an obsessive hobby, and what happens when it suddenly comes to an end. Read by Crawford Logan.
FRI 00:30 Great Lives (b00s93v3)
[Repeat of broadcast at 18:30 on Thursday]
FRI 01:00 Unofficial Rosie (b007jlgr)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:00 on Thursday]
FRI 01:30 Femme Fatale: The Story of Nico (b00gd1t0)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:30 on Thursday]
FRI 02:00 Kazuo Ishiguro - Never Let Me Go (b09jcvzv)
[Repeat of broadcast at 14:00 on Thursday]
FRI 02:15 Cosmic Quest (b00c84kd)
[Repeat of broadcast at 14:15 on Thursday]
FRI 02:30 Charles Dickens - Dombey and Son (b09hmf1g)
[Repeat of broadcast at 14:30 on Thursday]
FRI 02:45 Book of the Week (b01pcs5j)
[Repeat of broadcast at 14:45 on Thursday]
FRI 03:00 Margaret Oliphant - Phoebe Junior (b03m7vk2)
[Repeat of broadcast at 10:00 on Thursday]
FRI 04:00 Counterpoint (b007j7p9)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:00 on Thursday]
FRI 04:30 HR (b00txgsc)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:30 on Thursday]
FRI 05:00 Double Income, No Kids Yet (b007yrh0)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:00 on Thursday]
FRI 05:30 Alexei Sayle's Imaginary Sandwich Bar (b09gkcst)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:30 on Thursday]
FRI 06:00 Unofficial Rosie (b007jlh0)
Count Your BlessingsPrivate-eye Monaghan is trying to solve her first case, but the demands of love, children and her bank manager are pressing in...
Alan McDonald's six-part thriller serial starring Paula Wilcox as Rosie, Elizabeth Estensen as Margie, Christopher Bramwell as Jerry, Dominic Grounsell as Bob, Helen Roberts as Carol, Steve Hodson as Mike, Paul Barber as Martin Bullivant, Kim Wall as Andrew Stephenson, Dominic Letts as Bill Jones, Rachel Atkins as Helen Thackray, Diana Payan as the Old Woman and David Thorpe as Graham.
Music composed by Peter Howell
Director: Tracey Neale
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 1993.
FRI 06:30 Folk Song, Art Song (b01gg7dm)
Christopher Maltman is an award-winning opera singer and recitalist. Alongside the lieders, chansons and art songs of his recital repertoire, he loves nothing more than performing folk song settings.
Audiences often respond well, but not all among the folk-singing fraternity are enthusiastic about this genre borrowing. Some contend that folk songs lose much of their impact when refined and beautified for the recital stage.
Christopher talks to folk singer Eliza Carthy and scholars Georgina Boyes and Tim Healey about the uneasy relationship between the two musical worlds.
Is the antagonism musical or to do with very English attitudes to class and accent? And why is it that so many of his opera-singing colleagues from Scotland, Ireland, Wales and further afield, have no such animosity from their respective folk cultures?
Christopher also talks to his regular recital accompanist Julius Drake and senior colleague Sir Thomas Allen about the best way of approaching this music, searching for a performance that is genuine to singer and song alike.
Producer: Tom Alban.
FRI 07:00 Capital Gains (b007qw7j)
Series 1, Stake CapitalHard-up Julius Hutch's world of retirement is turned upside down by a blundering bank. Stars Peter Jones. From April 1994.
FRI 07:30 Dot (b0736pkk)
Series 1, Eenie Meenie Miney... Spy!by Ed Harris
War time comedy series by Ed Harris. Dot and the gals are tasked with an important mission, to monitor the Russian Ambassador, Comrade Pavlenti Lavovich. But Lavovich seems more interested in singing sensation, Harriet Pertly.
Director/Producer Jessica Mitic.
FRI 08:00 I'm Sorry, I'll Read That Again (b00vhx36)
Series 5, Episode 5Britain through the wars and singing in the bath. Songs and sketches with John Cleese and Graeme Garden. From May 1967.
FRI 08:30 Albert and Me (b007jsdl)
Series 1, HolidayWhen Bryan and son arrive in Frimlington, their fellow holidaymakers aren't too welcoming.
Stars Richard Beckinsale as Bryan Archer, Pat Coombs as Mum/Albert and John Comer as Dad. With Helen Worth (Gail from ITV's Coronation Street) as Deirdre, Peter Vaughan as Mr Wiggins and Cheryl Hall as Mavis.
Written by Jim Eldridge.
Producer: John Fawcett Wilson
First broadcast on BBC Radio 2 in November 1977.
FRI 09:00 The Motion Show (b0075wj0)
Series 2, Episode 1Dr Phil Hammond chairs the debating game with Gyles Brandreth, Tony Hawks, Jo Caulfield and Arthur Smith. From January 2000.
FRI 09:30 After Henry (b007jn96)
Series 2, The Romantic ApproachClare has been dumped, Eleanor finds a friend and Sarah is listening. Stars Prunella Scales and Joan Sanderson. From August 1986.
FRI 10:00 Margaret Oliphant - Phoebe Junior (b03m7vkc)
A Guilty Bit of PaperMr May is swept towards the conclusion of his deceitful action. For others, there is upset and surprise. From May 1994.
FRI 11:00 Rose Tremain Short Stories (b007md6s)
Tropical FishThe reflections of dying farmer John Sparrow and his son Bob, who ponders life during a trip to London. Read by Maggie Steed.
FRI 11:15 Peter Tinniswood (b007rpry)
On the Train to ChemnitzVivid storytellers Aubrey and Dorinda inhabit a claustrophobic world fuelled by guilt. Stars Paul Scofield and Fiona Shaw. From January 2001.
FRI 12:00 I'm Sorry, I'll Read That Again (b00vhx36)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:00 today]
FRI 12:30 Albert and Me (b007jsdl)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:30 today]
FRI 13:00 Unofficial Rosie (b007jlh0)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:00 today]
FRI 13:30 Folk Song, Art Song (b01gg7dm)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:30 today]
FRI 14:00 Kazuo Ishiguro - Never Let Me Go (b09jcwjd)
Episode 10Kathy and Tommy make a last attempt to find answers and escape their fate. Kazuo Ishiguro's unsettling, dystopian novel of love, friendship and loss. From June 2016.
FRI 14:15 Cosmic Quest (b00c84kg)
Are We Alone?Heather Couper presents a narrative history of astronomy.
She looks at the prospects for life elsewhere in our own solar system. Could evidence of life have even been discovered already on Mars? She tells the story of the search for extra-terrestrial intelligence as scientists scan the skies for messages from the stars.
Readers are Timothy West, Robin Sebastian, Julian Rhind-Tutt and John Palmer.
FRI 14:30 Charles Dickens - Dombey and Son (b09hn49h)
Episode 5London, mid-19th century. The dark and unknown sea that rolls round all the world. Stars Alex Jennings and Robert Glenister. From November 2007.
FRI 14:45 Book of the Week (b01pcvkw)
Shakespeare's Local - Six Centuries of History Seen Through One Extraordinary Pub, Episode 5Tony Robinson reads Pete Brown's history of British pubs as seen through the story of one remarkable London inn, the George in Southwark, said to be the one-time local of Chaucer, Dickens and Shakespeare.
The George Inn is one of the few remaining galleried coaching inns in Britain, and lies a few minutes' walk from the Thames. 'Shakespeare's Local' takes us on a literary pub crawl through the history of this pub, from its regulars - the watermen, merchants, actors, craftsmen, writers and coachdrivers - as well as the many incarnations of the pub itself - from lawless Southwark tavern to coaching inn, theatre pub to Victorian drinking den, unfashionable boozer to tourist attraction.
Today: the myths and the ghosts of landlords and ladies past.
Reader: Tony Robinson is best known for his role as Baldrick in the Blackadder series. He's also presented Channel 4's 'Time Team' and written numerous books for children.
Author: Pete Brown , the 'Beer drinkers' Bill Bryson' (TLS), was named Beer Writer of the Year by the British Guild of Beer Writers, and is the author of three other books on pubs and brewing.
Producer: Justine Willett.
FRI 15:00 Margaret Oliphant - Phoebe Junior (b03m7vkc)
[Repeat of broadcast at 10:00 today]
FRI 16:00 The Motion Show (b0075wj0)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:00 today]
FRI 16:30 After Henry (b007jn96)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:30 today]
FRI 17:00 Capital Gains (b007qw7j)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:00 today]
FRI 17:30 Dot (b0736pkk)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:30 today]
FRI 18:00 Jane Rogers - The Testament of Jessie Lamb (b02x9f4n)
Episode 5Jane Rogers won the Arthur C. Clarke Award 2012 with her novel set in a future where a deadly virus causing pregnant women to die in their millions. Jessie becomes increasingly certain that sacrificing her own life for a healthy baby is the most important thing she can do. But her plan to become a Sleeping Beauty hits an obstacle.
Directed by Nadia Molinari
Dangerous Visions Season:
The adjective Ballardian refers to the writer 'JG Ballard's fearful imaginings of what the near future might be like. Even though the master creator of dystopian futures died four years ago, his vision of
what our future might become feels as relevant, satirical and as scary as ever. Radio 4's Dangerous Visions is a season of dramas that explore contemporary takes on future dystopias. Dramatisations of Ballard's seminal works, Drowned World and Concrete Island, straddle the season, and we have asked five leading radio writers - Nick Perry, Ed Harris, Michael Symmonds Roberts, Michael Butt and Philip Palmer - to imagine what life might be like in the near future if everything goes wrong -
and their Dangerous Visions form the bedrock of the series: clever, imaginative and disturbing takes on just what might happen. What happens if sleep is outlawed? If cloning becomes a matter of course, and your loved ones are capable of being cloned? If North London declares UDI on South London, which has become a wasteland? If human sacrifice becomes a part of society? We are also running a 5 part dramatisation of Jane Roger's award winning terrifying novel The Testament of Jessie Lamb, dramatised by the author.
Dangerous Visions - you will be disturbed as you see the present reflected in the glass of an uneasy future.
FRI 18:15 Elspeth Davie - A Collection of Bones (b012yym2)
The EyelashA humorous diversion into an evening meal, ruined by a small matter which prompts a big discussion. Read by Edith MacArthur. From January 2002.
FRI 18:30 Soul Music (b07865h5)
Series 22, Mozart's RequiemHow Mozart's Requiem, written when he was dying, has touched and changed people's lives.
Crime writer Val McDermid recalls how this music helped her after the loss of her father. Hypnotist Athanasios Komianos recounts how the piece took him to the darker side of the spirit world. And a friend of ballet dancer Edward Stierle, Lissette Salgado-Lucas, explains how Eddie turned his struggle with HIV into a ballet inspired by Mozart's music.
Basement Jaxx used the Requiem in their live shows and on their album Scars - Felix Buxton reveals his love for Mozart and the divine nature of the Requiem.
And Mozart expert Cliff Eisen takes us inside the composer's world: how the orchestra and choir conjure visions of funerals, beauty, hellfire and the confusion of death. He recounts how Mozart was commissioned to write the piece by a nobleman who may have intended to pass off the work as his own. The stern challenge faced by people trying to complete the piece are described by composer Michael Finnissy, who himself wrote a completion of the work.
The Requiem was performed at the funerals of many heroic figures - Beethoven, Napoleon and J F Kennedy, among others. Gordana Blazinovic remembers one extraordinary performance during the horrors of the Bosnian war - a show of defiance and grief from the ruins of Sarajevo City Hall.
Producer: Melvin Rickarby.
FRI 19:00 I'm Sorry, I'll Read That Again (b00vhx36)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:00 today]
FRI 19:30 Albert and Me (b007jsdl)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:30 today]
FRI 20:00 Unofficial Rosie (b007jlh0)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:00 today]
FRI 20:30 Folk Song, Art Song (b01gg7dm)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:30 today]
FRI 21:00 Rose Tremain Short Stories (b007md6s)
[Repeat of broadcast at 11:00 today]
FRI 21:15 Peter Tinniswood (b007rpry)
[Repeat of broadcast at 11:15 today]
FRI 22:00 Dot (b0736pkk)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:30 today]
FRI 22:30 Radio Shuttleworth (b007jw00)
Series 1, Episode 3Sheffield's aspiring singer-songwriter John Shuttleworth takes over the BBC airwaves. With Patrick Moore. From November 1998.
FRI 22:55 The Comedy Club Interviews (b09kv9cg)
Mark Steel 1/2The best in contemporary comedy. Arthur Smith chats to Mark Steel.
FRI 23:00 Listen Against (b008crj0)
Series 1, Episode 3The show that prises the back off your radio, fiddles around with the programmes inside and then puts it all back together the wrong way round.
Alice Arnold and Jon Holmes take liberties with Laurie Taylor, BBC Radio 1Xtra and Melvyn Bragg
The brain-child of writer, comic and broadcaster Jon Holmes.
Producer: Bill Dare and Jon Holmes
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in November 2007.
FRI 23:30 Life: An Idiot's Guide (b01pw39f)
Series 2, Role ModelsSeries two of Life: An Idiot's guide again sees Stephen K Amos investigate a series of themes using guest stand-ups and the hilarious audience interaction that he's become famous for.
In episode 1, Stephen tackles "Role Models": Who are our role models? What does it mean to be a role model? And why did Stephen's parents made him impersonate Trevor McDonald around the house?
Guests Sarah Kendall, Gráinne Maguire and James Acaster all offer their own perspectives.
Additional material by Christine Rose and Hugh Sington. Produced by Colin Anderson.