SATURDAY 13 OCTOBER 2018

SAT 00:00 Ursula K Le Guin - Earthsea (b05t3dh9)
Series 1
The Other Earthsea
Ursula Le Guin's enduring fantasy saga set on the magical archipelago rich with wizards and dragons.
Based on the novel The Farthest Shore by Ursula Le Guin. Adapted by Judith Adams.
A strange plague is spreading over Earthsea and the springs of wizardry are drying up. Driven to seek out the source of the trouble, Archmage Ged has embarked on a perilous journey with young prince Arren. Their travels have taken them to a land cursed with a strange soul sickness, as they seek the man behind this darkness.
Ged ..... Shaun Dooley
Tenar ..... Vineeta Rishi
Arren ..... Will Featherstone
Cob ..... Toby Jones
Nilgu ..... Noma Dumezweni
Orm Ember ..... Ayesha Antoine
Original music by Jon Nicholls
Directed by Sasha Yevtushenko.
SAT 00:30 Off the Page (b00766h6)
Siblings
Misha Glennie, Martin Newell and Elizabeth Bond join Chris Bigsby to explore family ties and blood relation.
In each programme, Professor Bigsby introduces a duo of writers of fact and fiction: new talent and established names. In the context of a discussion of one of the ideas and pre-occupations of our times, each presents a piece on this week's topic.
The best new writing and the freshest conversation from 2002.
SAT 01:00 Agatha Christie - Ordeal by Innocence (b03yqn0n)
Episode 2
Dr. Calgary joins forces with Inspector Huish to try to find out the truth about Rachel Argyle's murder. But the family is still resisting his investigation.
SAT 01:30 Playing Ping Pong with Henry Miller (b037706h)
"Henry Miller, Norman Mailer and Charles Manson, the three pillars of misogyny," according to Gore Vidal - yet many women writers today cite Miller as an influence.
Using his time in California as a prism, acclaimed poet Kim Addonizio explores how, despite his reputation as a pornographic, unredeemed misogynist, Miller's time in Big Sur, California, transformed him into a family man and ping pong fanatic.
With an exclusive interview with his son Tony Miller, a visit to the Henry Miller Memorial Library, in Big Sur, Addonizio hears great stories of epic table tennis tournaments during the long winters, struggles to make ends meet, as she meets those who remember Miller's time in the woods during his 18 year stay.
She explores the roots of the personal growth movement that flourished on the Californian coast, at the time, of which Miller became an unexpected exponent of, at the world famous Esalen Institute, and tries to find out why he appeals to young women readers today.
Producer: Sara Jane Hall.
SAT 02:00 Karl Ove Knausgaard - A Death in the Family (b0bn13c6)
Episode 5
A Death in the Family is the first book in the six volume cycle of autobiographical novels, My Struggle. Karl Ove Knausgaard's memoir has been described, in many countries, as a masterpiece.
With searing honesty, and an unflinching gaze turned upon himself and those around him, he writes about his teenage years in Norway. Later, he looks back on the writing of this book, the changes in his life and his second marriage to Linda, and the arrival of their children. Becoming a father prompts further reflections on family life and his relationship with his own father.
Karl Ove Knausgaard was born in December 1968. He published two novels, in 1998 and 2004, which both won prizes in Norway. The six volume series of novels, titled Min Kamp in Norwegian, were published between 2009 and 2011, totalling over 3,500 pages. The sixth and final volume, translated by Don Bartlett, has recently been published in the UK. He lives in Sweden with his wife, the writer Linda Boström Knausgaard, and their four children.
Written by by Karl Ove Knausgaard
Translated by Don Bartlett
Read by David Threlfall
Abridged by Isobel Creed and Jill Waters
Produced by Jill Waters
A Waters Company production for BBC Radio 4.
SAT 02:15 The Making of Music (b007s42x)
Series 1
Albertopolis
James Naughtie presents a series chronicling the historical influences that affected the course of classical music.
30/30. Albertopolis
The Royal Albert Hall opened in 1871 and celebrated a Prince Consort who championed both music and culture.
SAT 02:30 15 Minute Drama (b06tvswh)
Toni Morrison - Beloved
Episode 5
By Toni Morrison
Adapted by Patricia Cumper
Toni Morrison's seminal 1987 novel about a haunted house in the era that followed the abolition of slavery in the United States is adapted for radio for the first time. Toni Morrison's masterpiece melds horror and poetry as it tells the story of Sethe, a woman who escaped slavery by crossing the Ohio river, but who, eighteen years later, is still not free.
A young woman calling herself Beloved has arrived and stayed at One Twenty-Four Bluestone Road, and her hold, on each of its residents, has strengthened day by day.
Original music by Jon Nicholls
Sound design by Caleb Knightley
Director: Sasha Yevtushenko.
SAT 02:45 Book of the Week (b03h7grj)
Martin Sandler - The Letters of John F Kennedy
Episode 5
Letters to and from President Kennedy are published in book form and edited by Martin W Sandler to mark fifty years since the assassination of 1963. And a selection, abridged in five episodes by Penny Leicester, reveal the drama and tensions to do with American foreign policy. Other letters reveal Kennedy's wit and warmth when contacting friends and family:
5. Kennedy receives a vivid communique from his advisor JK Galbraith about the practicalities of shelter during nuclear attack. Later he writes to the British Prime Minister Harold Macmillan - words of social nicety and trepidation about the Russians.
Readers Colin Stinton, Richard Laing, Peter Marinker and Trevor White
Producer Duncan Minshull.
SAT 03:00 Howard Spring - Fame Is the Spur (b0121xgr)
Deaths and Entrances
John's political pursuits lead him to Westminster and Welsh valley mines.
Ian McKellen stars in the story of John Hamer Shawcross - set against the wider current of events in England in the early 19th century.
Howard Spring's novel freely adapted for radio in 8 episodes by Ken Whitmore.
With Alan Meadows as Haslett, Geoffrey Wheeler as Tom Hannaway, Herbert Smith as Marsden, Jeffrey Wickham as Lord Lostwithiel of Hereward Castle, Helen Ryan as Lady Lettice Melland, June Barry as Anne Artingstall and Rosalie Crutchley as Lizzie Lightowler.
With Peter Guinness as Harry Liskeard, Andrew Jackson as Arnold, Rosalie Williams as Ellen, Vida Paterson as Pen Muff, Nina Holloway as Nell Richards, Helen Ryan as Lady Lettice Melland, Geoffrey Wheeler as Tom Hannaway, Jeffrey Wickham as Lord Lostwithiel of Hereward Castle, James Tomlinson as Carrickfergus, June Barry as Anne Artingstall, Richard Clay-Jones as Evan Vaughan, John Baldwin as Jimmy Newboult, Rosalie Crutchley as Lizzie Lightowler, Herbert Smith as Marsden and Rory Scase as the Gallery Assistant.
Director: Trevor Hill
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 1979.
SAT 04:00 The Personality Test (b007sq67)
Series 3
Andrew Neil
Broadcaster and former Sunday Times Editor Andrew Neil is in the hot seat posing questions all about him.
On the panel: comedians Sue Perkins, Caroline Quinlan, Robin Ince and Will Smith.
Comedy quiz presented by a new guest host every week. All the questions are about the host.
Script by Simon Littlefield and Kieron Quirke.
Devised and produced by Aled Evans.
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 2007.
SAT 04:30 Smelling of Roses (b007jzcd)
Series 1
Wise After the Event
The lives of Rosie and her granddaughter Jo are shaken by the return to Rosie's daughter Kate after a long spell working abroad.
Prunella Scales in the first of four series of Simon Brett's sitcom following the trials and tribulations of Rosie Burns and her event-management company based in Brighton.
With Arabella Weir as Kate, Rebecca Callard as Jo, Duncan Preston as Bob, Annette Badland as Tess, Michael Fenton Stevens as Mr Blantyre and Stephen Thorne as Mr Joost.
Producer: Maria Esposito
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in May 2000.
SAT 05:00 Two Doors Down (b0089m6j)
Series 1
The Height of the Iguana
Horrified residents of Marlborough Road discover Sally might be leaving them. They could never survive their own chaos without her.
Meanwhile, the free range children plan revenge on Victor...
Conclusion of series one of Annie McCartney's sitcom.
Starring Frances Tomelty as Sally, Ali White as Saffron, Marcella Riordan as Clare, Robert Patterson as Tony, Roma Tomelty as Miss Black, Katy Gleadhill as Evie, Gerard Murphy as Fintan, Alan Mckee as Victor, Bethan Lloyd as Anna, Patrick Gleadhill as Simon, Emily Walmsley as Layla, Joel McElnay as Ben, Alfie Lloyd as Sam and Gerard McSorley as Trevor.
Director: Tanya Nash
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in March 2001.
SAT 05:30 A Charles Paris Mystery (b0bngls6)
A Decent Interval
Episode 3
by Jeremy Front
based on Simon Brett's novel
Directed by Sally Avens
Charles has eventually got a job in Hamlet but within a week the reality star playing Hamlet has been hospitalized and the one playing Ophelia found dead.
Charles may not have been a fan of their acting abilities but he doesn't want the show to close and he suspects foul play, but who would want to kill them?
SAT 06:00 Anne Caulfield - Elsie, Doris, Gert and Daisy (b01kq0wh)
Celia Imrie and Susie Blake star in Anne Caulfield's imaginative celebration of the classic music hall duo, Elsie and Doris Waters, and their immortal gossipy characters Gert and Daisy.
Larking about in a recording studio, Elsie and Doris created the ebullient Cockneys, who were to take them away from the East End and into a world they'd only ever dreamed about...
Doris Walters ---- Celia Imrie
Elsie Walters ---- Susie Blake
Gert ---- Tilly Vosburgh
Daisy ---- Tessa Peake-Jones
Older Elsie ---- Ann Beach
Older Doris ---- Barbara Atkinson
Sam ---- David Bradley
Young Sam ---- Chris Wright
Mother ---- Patience Tomlinson
Father ---- Geoffrey Whitehead
Jack Warner ---- Stephen Critchlow
Young Jack ---- Guy Edwards
Lord Woolton ---- David Timson
Mary ---- Jill Graham
Kenneth ---- Roger May
Kenneth's Mother ---- Zulema Dene
Pianist: Colin Guthrie
Director: Marion Nancarrow
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 1996.
SAT 07:30 Our Language in Your Hands (b01p6zt6)
South Africa
Anthropologist and linguist Dr Mark Turin travels to South Africa to get to grips with the country's complex language politics and policies. Until the mid 1990s, there were just two official languages, English and Afrikaans, while other indigenous African languages were sidelined. Today the situation is different, with eleven official languages recognized by the Constitution of South Africa as having equal value and importance.
But what does that mean in reality? How can so many languages operate alongside each other in Parliament? And can they all have equal weight? Mark Turin visits a Soweto school to find out which languages children learn and what they speak in the playground, and talks to multilingual journalists and writers about the importance of their mother tongues.
He meets Afrikaans speakers to learn whether their language can shake off its associations with the racist apartheid regime, and visits Cape Town to see the South African Parliament in action and meet the interpreters that make it work.
Mark Turin is used to heated discussions when it comes to politics and language, and in South Africa he finds his greatest challenge.
SAT 08:00 Archive on 4 (b05rk6m8)
Who's Your Father, Referee?
Clive Anderson explores the reasons behind the apparent decline in the level of respect shown to the football referee and asks - amid all the abuse, death threats and endless scrutiny and criticism - who on earth would want to be a referee.
He searches through the archives for evidence of a golden age in which the referee's decision was final, and traces the various changes in the game which appear to have fuelled the problems for referees. When and why did things turn so ugly?
Top referees, commentators, sports journalists and former players discuss how television coverage, slow motion cameras and endless analysis by pundits have contributed to the growing pressures on the man in the middle. They argue about who is blame for undermining the authority of referees - over-paid players, aggressive managers or the media. Do the referees contribute to their own problem, by making too many mistakes or being overly officious?
Former professional referee Dermot Gallagher says that, despite high-profile incidents and worrying accounts of violence against referees in parks football, there has never been a better time to be a referee.
Rugby, cricket and other sports are not without their problems in this area, but why does the situation appear to be so acute in football? Sports sociologist, Dr Richard Elliot considers whether behaviour towards sports officials reflect changes in attitudes towards authority in wider society.
An Above the Title production for BBC Radio 4.
SAT 09:00 The Changing Sound of Radio (b0bn22mh)
Since he was first given a tape recorder in 1967, Wildlife sound recordist Chris Watson has been fascinated by the possibilities of sound. In this programme he revisits that first tape recorder, demonstrates cutting edge recording & editing equipment, and tells the story of the technological advances in radio from the first outside broadcast, through the Radiophonic Workshop and to the current explosion in podcasting.
We hear from some of Chris' favourite broadcasters, dip into his collection of sound recordings, and hear programmes from the world of podcasting & Sound Art Radio as well as classics from the BBC Archive.
Programmes include:
* Orchestra Under The Waves
A unique musical compilation made of sounds recorded under water, presented by Evelyn Glennie
* The Ditch
Afternoon drama by Paul Evans about a Wildlife sound recordist who goes missing, leaving some intriguing recordings behind...
* Fifteen Inches Per Second
Documentary about the use of quarter inch tape
* Six House Parties
An episode of the podcast 'Imaginary Advice', created by the poet and performer Ross Sutherland.
* The Iron Speaks - When The Far Becomes Near
Creative documentary about radio broadcasting in the United Arab Emirates, produced by Christopher John Weaver and Fari Bradley. Contributors include Dr Zaki Nussaibeh, Salim Obaid Al Alelee, Dr Yousef Aydabi and Dr. Arif Al Sheikh. Voiceovers were by Frank Key, William English & Bijan Daneshmand
The programme originally aired as part of Six Pillars, on Resonance FM https://www.resonancefm.com/
Presenter: Chris Watson
Producer: Jessica Treen
Made for BBC Radio 4 Extra and first broadcast in 2018.
SAT 12:00 Just a Minute (b00zsd0w)
Series 59
Episode 8
Nicholas Parsons is joined by Julian Clary, Paul Merton, Graham Norton and Terry Wogan as they try to speak without hesitation, repetition or deviation. Subjects include, My Disastrous Trip to the Zoo and for Julian Clary especially... Innuendo.
Producer: Tilusha Ghelani.
SAT 12:30 Like They've Never Been Gone (b00bt51z)
Series 3
Episode 1
Singers Tommy and Sheila have a supermarket to open - and go silver surfing.
Sweethearts Tommy Franklin and Sheila Parr won the 1962 Eurovision Song Contest, but now they're back in the big time.
Series 3 of Mike Coleman's six-part sitcom stars June Whitfield and Roy Hudd.
With Pat Coombs, Julian Eardley and Edward Halstead.
Music by Frido Ruth.
Producer: Steve Doherty
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in May 2001.
SAT 13:00 Love Henry James: What Maisie Knew (Omnibus) (b0bn2411)
Following her parents' divorce, six-year-old Maisie finds herself at the centre of their bitter struggle.
Written by Henry James and dramatised by Amanda Dalton.
MAISIE.....Talia Barnett
BEALE FARANGE......Andonis Anthony
IDA FARANGE....Joanne Mitchell
MISS OVERMORE / MRS BEALE......Emma Naomi
MRS WIX....Julie Hesmondhalgh
HENRY JAMES.....John Lynch
Directed by Nadia Molinari
First broadcast in five parts on BBC Radio 4 in October 2018.
SAT 14:10 Inheritance Tracks (b0bn24z2)
Loyd Grossman
The food-loving broadcaster Loyd Grossman picks 'Ragtime Cowboy Joe' and 'You Really Got Me' by The Kinks.
SAT 14:15 With Great Pleasure (b00773y8)
Adrian Mitchell
Poet and playwright, Adrian Mitchell, shares some of his favourite poetry and prose, including Mark Twain and William Blake.
The readers are Helen Atkinson Wood, Peter Marinker and Philip Franks.
Producer: Viv Beeby
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 2007.
SAT 14:45 Stewart Permutt - Singular Women (b00755cm)
Dora
Lesley Joseph recreates her stage role as Dora, a 'person of restricted growth' whose performances are under threat. From 1997.
SAT 15:00 Archive on 4 (b05rk6m8)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:00 today]
SAT 16:00 Anne Caulfield - Elsie, Doris, Gert and Daisy (b01kq0wh)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:00 today]
SAT 17:30 Our Language in Your Hands (b01p6zt6)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:30 today]
SAT 18:00 Doctor Who (b06knp8c)
Doing Time
The Doctor does time on the prison planet Folly. Can he endure a year in solitary?
Peter Davison is the Fifth Doctor with his companion Nyssa played by Sarah Sutton.
This episode is one of four generated by Big Finish Productions' 2010 'Opportunity for New Writers' contest, which attracted around 1200 entries,
Peter Davison played the Fifth Doctor on BBC TV from 1981 to 1984.
Sarah Sutton played Nyssa between 1981 and 1983. She was first seen on 'The Keeper of Traken' - Traken being Nyssa's home planet, when she starred with the Fourth Doctor (Tom Baker)
Written by Rick Briggs.
Original music composed by Richard Fox and Lauren Yason.
Directed by Ken Bentley
Producer: David Richardson
A Big Finish production.
SAT 18:30 Fear On 4 (b007jqjm)
The Chimes of Midnight
The consuming passion of a theoretical physicist leads him into a great deal of gruesome trouble.
Fear on 4 brings you more in a series of nerve-tinglers.
Stars David Suchet as Professor Richard Hargreaves, John Rowe as Jonathan Tempray, Jenny Lee as Mary, Alison Pettit as Moira, Jillie Meers as Woman at lecture and Christopher Wright as Toby.
Written by Nick Fisher.
Director: Marion Nancarrow
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 1997.
SAT 19:00 The Changing Sound of Radio (b0bn22mh)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:00 today]
SAT 22:00 Old Harry's Game (b00cgsrw)
Series 5
Power Politics
Hell's got workforce problems, and Satan learns who truly wields power. Devilish sitcom stars Andy Hamilton. From October 2005.
SAT 22:30 Chain Reaction (b00tbhhg)
Series 6
Ronni Ancona interviews Lee Mack
A brand new series of Chain Reaction, the talk show with a twist where this week's guest becomes next week's interviewer. This series kicks off with Scottish actress, comedian and impressionist Ronni Ancona interviewing one of the UK's most celebrated comics, writer and star of "Not Going Out" Lee Mack.
Ronni asks Lee about being a Red Rum stable boy, his worst ever gig and his amazing juggling talents.
SAT 22:55 The Comedy Club Interviews (b0bp2nr6)
Hal Cruttenden 2/2
From 10pm to midnight, seven days a week, the Comedy Club has two hours of comedy. Plus Arthur Smith chats to Hal Cruttenden.
SAT 23:00 The Lawrence Sweeney Mix (b008z5ld)
Series 2
Episode 4
Invention as it happens as Josie Lawrence and Jim Sweeney perform improvised sketches driven by the audience. From February 2008.
SAT 23:30 Mark Watson's Live Address to the Nation (b0174hvv)
Intelligence
Mark Watson continues his quest to improve the world, nimbly assisted by Tim Key and Tom Basden.
As broadcast live in November 2011 - Mark invites the audience join in via tweets and messages to work out how we can all make the world a better place.
Mark asks the big questions that are crucial to our understanding of ourselves and society - in a dynamic and thought provoking new format he opens the floor to the live audience and asks them to jump into the conversation via tweets and messages to work out how we can all make the world a better place.
This week Mark looks at "Intelligence" - A certain amount of intelligence is pretty useful. Without the ability to reflect and calculate, we would all be setting fire to our shoes and buying those novels about women who shop and have relationship issues. Yet intelligence has been something of a curse to many. Galileo was tortured for knowing more about science than the church leaders, and Paxman sighs an awful lot when he's hosting University Challenge.
We all know the phrase 'a little learning is a dangerous thing, but then so is a lot of learning, but then again you wouldn't want none at all. So... oh dear, we're basically ruined. We'd better knock down all our schools and universities.' Are we sometimes too smart for our own good?
Mark Watson is a multi-award winning comedian, including the inaugural If.Comedy Panel Prize 2006. He is assisted by Tim Key, winner of Edinburgh Comedy Awards 2009 and Tom Basden who won the the If.Comedy Award for Best Newcomer 2007.
Produced by Lianne Coop.
First broadcast live on BBC Radio 4 in November 2011.