SATURDAY 21 DECEMBER 2019

SAT 00:00 Short Works (m000cbk4)
Patricia Highsmith Stories
The Baby Spoon
Claude is more than irritated by his wife’s attachment to an old silver keepsake.
Read by Greta Scacchi.
Five tales by the celebrated American crime and psychological novelist and short story writer, Patricia Highsmith.
Patricia Highsmith was born in Texas in 1921-1995. She wrote eight collections of short stories and 22 novels, among them the five ‘Ripley’ novels for which she is perhaps best known. Her first, Strangers On A Train, was the basis for the eponymous Hitchcock film of 1951. She died in Switzerland in 1995.
Producer/abridger: Jeremy Osborne
A Sweet Talk Production for BBC Radio 4 Extra
SAT 00:15 Roald Dahl (b0106vcp)
Kiss Kiss
The Landlady
Meet young Billy Weaver, who has just arrived in Bath to take up a new job. He books into a curiously deserted B&B. The landlady, who inhabits a sitting room filled with stuffed animals, is welcoming but odd. Wondering if he's her only guest, Billy checks the register and sees two strangely familiar names.
Taking tea with her later, Billy suddenly remembers reading in the papers that both her former guests disappeared in mysterious circumstances. The landlady tells Billy that, like him, each was a beautiful young man whom she didn't want to leave....
Five classic tales by Roald Dahl starring Charles Dance as the urbane Storyteller and Doreen Mantle as the Landlady.
Taken from the anthology, Kiss, Kiss. Bizarre and amusing by turns, these black comedies are justly famous for Dahl's surprise endings.
Storyteller........Charles Dance
Landlady.........Doreen Mantle
Billy Weaver.....James Joyce
Mr Greenslade...John Rowe
Director: David Blount
A Pier Production for BBC Radio 4 first broadcast in April 2011.
SAT 00:30 Off the Page (b0076qfw)
The King Is Dead
Matthew Parris discusses succession with Misha Glenny, Richard Gott and Daisy Sampson. From February 2005.
SAT 01:00 Charles Paris: So Much Blood (m000cbjt)
Up In The Castle
With one suspect cleared of murdering Willy Mariello, a bomb is planted in Charles Paris's bag - meaning suspicions shift elsewhere...
Francis Matthews stars as thespian sleuth, Charles Paris.
Conclusion of Simon Brett’s thriller serial adapted from his book.
Charles Paris ...... Francis Matthews
Anna Duncan ...... Kim Thomson
James Milne ...... Alan McNaughtan
Martin Warburton ...... Michael Maloney
Frances ...... Jennifer Hilary
Producer: Martin Fisher
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in September 1985.
SAT 01:30 Good Grief: The Story of Peanuts (b00vrvdm)
Pete Paphides, writer and music critic, talks to family, friends and fans of Charles Schulz, creator of the Peanuts cartoon. He asks why he related so strongly to long suffering Charlie Brown and why Peanuts was the most successful newspaper comic strip of all time.

Featuring interviews with Schulz's widow, Jean Schulz, two of his children- Craig and Jill, as well as contributions from graphic designer Chip Kidd, comic book artist Chris Ware and life-long fan Russell T. Davies.
He created Peanuts in 1950, and Charlie Brown, Snoopy, Lucy, Linus, Shroeder et al still hold a huge place in people's lives and memories. The Peanuts comic strip was the most popular cartoon strip of all time and crossed boundaries of young and old- some claim it did for comic strips what the Beatles did for music. Others called it 'a beat strip', perfectly reflecting American society. But its appeal was global.
Using the most minimum of lines, Schulz was able to convey emotions and humour. His characters were contemplative, philosophical, isolated, sometimes depressed. And surprisingly they made clever observations about classical music, theology psychiatry and sport. Classic story-lines included the Great Pumpkin, Lucy vying for attention at Shroeder's piano, Linus' blanket, Snoopy versus the Red Baron, and Charlie Brown never kicking the football.
Charlie Brown, the central character was isolated and lonely. A real person, with real problems was a new idea in comics and he spoke to people all over the world- including the presenter of this programme, Pete Paphides, growing up in Birmingham.
Schulz died in 2000.
Producer: Laura Parfitt
A White Pebble Media production for BBC Radio 4 first broadcast in November 2010.
SAT 02:00 Book at Bedtime (b05vy8cc)
Sarah Hall - The Wolf Border
Episode 5
With the wolves bonding, the time is approaching for their release into the estate where they must mate to guarantee the success of the project.
And Rachel has a new surprise...
Sarah Hall's novel is a compelling story about personal and political borders, about power, land, family and love. At its heart is Rachel Caine, tough, untouchable, an expert on wolves, and long estranged from her home county of Cumbria and her fiery mother and lost brother. Like the wolves she protects and champions, she is wary of human connections, happy in the untamed wilderness.
Set against the dramatic and artfully drawn backdrops of the Lakeland fells, The Wolf Border explores issues of ownership and vested power, of re-wilding and of family bonds as Rachel discovers that she can choose, and change.
Reader: Hattie Morahan
Abridger: Sally Marmion
Producer: Di Speirs
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in May 2015.
SAT 02:15 Prime Ministers' Props (b07syyrk)
Series 1
Harold Wilson's Pipe and Mac
Professor Sir David Cannadine explores political fame and image by looking at how an object or prop, whether chosen deliberately or otherwise, can come to define a political leader - from Winston Churchill's cigar and siren suit to Margaret Thatcher's handbag.
Sir David looks at the significance of these props of power - what they mean and what they become, and what happens when, almost inevitably, Prime Ministers lose control of their image and their props take on a hostile meaning, very different from their original intentions.
Harold Wilson sought to enhance his political image, in part by wearing a Gannex mac which made him seem ordinary, and also by puffing at his pipe, as memorably expressed in Ruskin Spear's 1974 portrait of him.
Following Stanley Baldwin, who had also made much of his pipe, Harold Wilson hoped to convey an image that was homely, benevolent and avuncular, and to some extent he succeeded. But the unintended consequence was that the pipe also enhanced Wilson's reputation for evasiveness and deviousness. Whenever asked a difficult question by an interviewer, he would delay and distract attention by lighting up - and it was widely believed that, although he puffed his pipe in public, he preferred cigars in private. A rumour that his son, Robin Wilson, scotches.
The Gannex mac was also to become a hostage to fortune for Wilson. While he was the peak of his popularity, the Gannex made him look like a man of the people and the millionaire businessman who invented Gannex, Joseph Kagan, became a close friend of Wilson. But once Kagan fell from grace due to his crooked business dealings, Wilson's Kagan connection was further evidence to his enemies that he was not to be trusted.
Producer: Melissa FitzGerald
A Blakeway production first broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in September 2016.
SAT 02:30 15 Minute Drama (b04w0k8x)
Nigel Slater - Eating for England
Episode 5
Aunt Elvie, now in a home, continues to play a central part in Nigel's life.
Aunt Elvie......................Celia Imrie
Nigel Slater...................Julian Rhind-Tutt
Waiter...........................Nigel Slater
Nellie.............................Buffy Davies
Cynthia..........................Effie MacMillan
Eating for England, the successor to his highly acclaimed memoir Toast, is part food memoir, part collective memory bank of a nation's taste. Using the book as source material along with further conversations with Nigel, dramatist Sarah Daniels has written a playful reimagining. A grown up Nigel - played by Julian Rhind-Tutt, looks back on his childhood while caring for a now elderly, yet ever sparkling, Aunt Elvie, played by Celia Imrie.
Rich with sounds of the kitchen and recorded on location, with a cameo performance from Nigel himself.
What drives a cook to write about food? Why is there such a powerful link between memory and what we eat? And why is reading about food so irresistibly appetising?
Dramatised by Sarah Daniels.
Sound design by Eloise Whitmore.

Director: Polly Thomas
A Somethin' Else production for BBC Radio 4 first broadcast in December 2014.
SAT 02:45 Book of the Week (b059jjn6)
The Utopia Experiment
Episode 5
Dylan finds himself sectioned in a hospital's psychiatric unit. It's not quite dystopia, but it's certainly not the future he had imagined.
Written and concluded by Dylan Evans.
A true story that you couldn't make up - one man's attempt to survive a global catastrophe by setting up a commune in Scotland.
While lecturing in robotics, academic Dylan Evans became increasingly concerned by the visible impacts of global warming, population increase, terrorism - and by our inability to cope with a doomsday scenario in a world engineered to just-in-time living.
The concern became an obsession and Evans left his post to run an experiment. He set up a camp that would create the conditions for a post-apocalyptic world. It was established in the Scottish Highlands with a collection of people chosen for talents and skills necessary in a life without technology or comforts.
The resulting story is a Lord of the Flies for the modern day, treating serious and normally sombre topics with dark humour. At its heart, however, is one man's well-intentioned dream and the price he paid for trying to do something good.
Abridged by Barry Johnston.
Producer: David Roper
A Heavy Entertainment production for BBC Radio 4 first broadcast in March 2015.
SAT 03:00 Drama (b06rwgd7)
The Arabian Nights
Episode 2
The Hunchback Cycle is told in this episode, including the story of The Barber (Alexei Sayle) and his brothers, as well as lesser known stories.
The immortal stories of The Arabian Nights brought to life in an inventive fresh adaptation by Glen Neath, as present and past merge into one.
Ata Madri (Indira Varma) is in Cairo attempting to retrieve a lost manuscript of The Arabian Nights that is said to contain the real ending of the book. As we follow her search we slip into this sea of stories.
These tales of wonder and imagination have beguiled both east and west over generations and remain as seminal and influential as ever. Here, the stories are told in a rich world of sound by an ensemble of actors from around the world.
Narrator.....................Nadim Sawalha
Madri..........................Indira Varma
Clive, Steward............Ewan Bailey
Ali Zum, Thief, Chief....Waleed Elgadi
Tailor...........................Bhasker Patel
Tailor’s Wife................Alyssa Kyria
Christian, Old Man.......Niall Ashdown
Lame Young Man,
Al-Haddar....................Muzz Khan
Mother,
Beautiful Woman..........Noa Bodner
Barber..........................Alexei Sayle
Jewish Physician’s maid,
Judge’s Daughter.........Sharlit Deyzac
Caliph...........................Renu Setna
Bakbook,
Jewish Physician...........Amir El-Masry
Young Woman..............Laura Hanna
Bakbak.........................Nabil Elouahabi
Blind Beggar.................Noof McEwan
Watchman, Al-Ashar.....Stewart Scudamore
Hasan, Taxi Driver........Nayef Rashed
Sound design by Alisdair McGregor
Music by Michael Ward with David Lewin and Peter Rophone
Director: Boz Temple-Morris
A Holy Mountain production for BBC Radio 4 first broadcast in December 2015.
SAT 04:00 The Food Quiz (b09k9g9q)
Christmas Special 2004
Journalist and food critic, Jay Rayner gives Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall, Clarissa Dickson-Wright, Pat Chapman and Jancis Robinson a festive grilling on their knowledge of food and drink.
Producer: Dixi Stewart
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in December 2004.
SAT 04:30 The Phenomenon Squad (b0855z15)
The Purge
Brabazon's intrepid team of cops undertake a purge on pornography. But WPI Nutkins wants a wimple.
Roy Kinnear and Simon Cadell star in Michael Snelgrove’s sitcom about the less-than-competent leader of a crack undercover police squad.
Supt Brabazon ...... Roy Kinnear
Endicott-Heap ...... Simon Cadell
Sigaloff ...... Royce Mills
WPI Nutkins ...... Susie Blake
MacTooley ...... Alex Norton
Humby ...... Stephen Frost
Astrid ...... Polly James
Lindquist ...... Neil McCaul
Producer: Jonathan James-Moore
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in October 1987.
SAT 05:00 1834 (b011klyr)
Strong Continental Lager
21st-century teacher Jason decides 19th-century Macclesfield needs a decent pub with decent beer.
In Jim Poyser's riotous comedy of transportation and delight, Jason is now Tarquin, third son of Lord Belport with a faithful valet, Ned.
Jason Slater ...... Michael Begley
Ned ...... Joe Caffrey
Hoskins ...... Kenneth Alan Taylor
Lord Belport ...... Mark Chatterton
Stubbs ...... Glenn Cunningham
Millicent ...... Julia Rounthwaite
Directed at BBC Manchester by Polly Thomas.
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in June 2003.
SAT 05:30 Fred at The Stand (m000cbjx)
Series 1
Cook, Sutherland, Vee and Waugh
Fred MacAulay introduces some of the funniest comedians in the UK doing what they do best - pure stand up comedy. Recorded at The Stand Comedy Club in Edinburgh.
This week, the unstoppable Jason Cook tells a story about performing on a cruise ship, JoJo Sutherland lets slip some of her supermum secrets, Sindu Vee tries to explain the leniency of her parenting compared to what can be found in India, and Scotsman Gareth Waugh has a plan to save the bees.
A Dabster production for BBC Radio 4.
SAT 06:00 James Bond (b01kxzr6)
From Russia with Love
It's 1955 and the Russians plan an act of terrorism. Choice of target? James Bond. To be 'killed with ignominy': a major sex scandal will leave his reputation, and that of MI6, in tatters.
Colonel Rosa Klebb of the KGB devises a plan to lure Bond into their trap, using beautiful Corporal Tatiana Romanova as bait - plus a Spektor, the latest Russian decoding device...
Toby Stephens stars as agent 007.
In Archie Scottney's brilliantly evocative 'radio screenplay', we see another side to 007. Unsure of his judgement, can he bring the lovely Tatiana safely to England, along with the precious Spektor? Will the Russians succeed in having Bond killed?
Martin Jarvis directs an all-star cast.
James Bond ...... Toby Stephens
Rosa Klebb ...... Eileen Atkins
General ...... John Sessions
Kerim ...... Tim Pigott-Smith
Kronsteen ...... Mark Gatiss
Major ...... Jon Glover
May ...... Aileen Mowat
'M' ...... John Standing
Moneypenny ...... Janie Dee
'Q' ...... Julian Sands
Manager ...... Matthew Wolf
Tatiana ...... Olga Fedori
Announcer ...... Micky Stratford
Nash ...... Nathaniel Parker
Ian Fleming ...... Martin Jarvis
Other parts played by members of the cast
Specially composed music by Mark Holden and Michael Lopez.
Director: Martin Jarvis
Producer: Rosalind Ayres
A Jarvis and Ayres production for BBC Radio 4 first broadcast in July 2012.
SAT 07:30 Recycled Radio (b04f9frk)
Series 2
Truth
Welcome to the chopped up, looped up, sped up world of Recycled Radio, introduced by cartoonist Gerald Scarfe, on the theme of Truth.
Expect contributions from those who can spot a lie from a mile off, including politicians Tony Blair, Bill Clinton and Michael Howard.
And explore the philosophical meaning of Truth with Nicholas Parsons, Melvyn Bragg and Sandi Toksvig.
Produced in Bristol by Melvin Rickarby.
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in August 2014.
SAT 08:00 Archive on 4 (b06z5pts)
David Bowie: Verbatim
With previously unheard interviews, studio out takes and a collection of musings from throughout the years, the story of David Bowie's extraordinary life and career told in his own words.
By his own count, David Bowie inhabited seven different personas throughout his career and, while each one of those creations channelled wildly different musical influences that were often difficult to identify, Bowie was always able to articulate with great conviction which musical universe he was inhabiting at each turn – even if he often contradicted himself.
“I usually don’t agree with what I say very much. I’m an awful liar”, he claimed in 2002, while summarizing his many changes in style.
Producer: Des Shaw
A Ten Alps production first broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in January 2016.
SAT 09:00 Peel Acres: John Peel Remembered (b04lstp5)
Jarvis Cocker remembers John Peel a decade after his death and talks to his wife Sheila Ravenscroft in their family home.
They look at his legacy in the form of the record collection which shaped the musical taste of the nation, now being put online.
Plus a visit to the John Peel Arts Centre in Stowmarket which, in the Peel tradition, is bringing fresh talent to the public.
Featuring:
* Desert Island Discs – John Peel:
Radio 1’s music guru John Peel looks back over his life and career sharing his castaway choices with Sue Lawley. From January 1990.
* Home Truths:
John Peel presents an edition of Radio 4’s series showcasing the extraordinary stories of ordinary people. From October 2004.
Broadcaster John Peel died on 25th October 2004 aged 65. He championed British music for nearly 40 years on his late-night Radio 1 show. His uncompromising encouragement of new talent transformed the face of music all the way from hippy to house. From 1998, he became the presenter of Radio 4's Home Truths until his death.
Producer: Harry Parker.
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 Extra in October 2014.
SAT 11:30 A Good Read (b00763tc)
John Peel & Arabella Weir
Matthew Parris and his guests - broadcaster John Peel and comic actress Arabella Weir - discuss favourite books by Tracy Chevalier, Joshua Slocum and Arthur Mathews.
Girl With A Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier
Publisher: Harper Collins
Sailing Alone Around the World by Joshua Slocum
Publisher: Adlard Coles Nautical
Well Remembered Days by Arthur Mathews.
Publisher: Macmillan
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in September 2001.
SAT 12:00 The Unbelievable Truth (b06d2g56)
Series 15
Episode 6
David Mitchell hosts the panel game in which four comedians are encouraged to tell lies and compete against one another to see how many items of truth they're able to smuggle past their opponents.
Sarah Millican, Victoria Coren Mitchell, Holly Walsh and Katherine Ryan are the panellists obliged to talk with deliberate inaccuracy on subjects as varied as IKEA, marriage, Switzerland and chewing gum.
The show is devised by Graeme Garden and Jon Naismith, the team behind Radio 4's I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue.
Produced by Jon Naismith
A Random Entertainment production for BBC Radio 4.
SAT 12:30 Electric Ink (b0116gvm)
Series 1
Episode 1
Maddox is an old school journalist struggling to keep up with new technology.
He feels the art of finding stories is being forgotten and he is not about to let that happen.
Old hacks meet new media in Alistair Beaton’s satire set in the changing world of the newspaper industry.
Maddox ...... Robert Lindsay
Oliver ...... Alex Jennings
Amelia ...... Elizabeth Berrington
Tasneem ...... Zita Sattar
Masha ...... Debbie Chazen
Freddy ...... Ben Willbond
Announcer ...... Matt Addis
With additional material by Tom Mitchelson.
Director: Sally Avens
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in June 2009.
SAT 13:00 AL Kennedy - Subterranean Homesick Blues (m000clkx)
Series 4 (Omnibus)
Bill Nighy and Anna Calder-Marshall star in the omnibus of AL Kennedy's comic drama about love in later life.
John and Maggie's wedding day arrives, but will John get there in time and has Maggie actually divorced all her previous husbands?
John ..... Bill Nighy
Maggie ..... Anna Calder-Marshall
Registrar ..... Neil McCaul
Barry ..... Rick Warden
Director: Sally Avens
First broadcast in five parts on BBC Radio 4 in December 2019.
SAT 14:10 Inheritance Tracks (m000clkz)
Norman Jay MBE
DJ and musical pioneer Norman Jay MBE, chooses 'Mona Lisa' by Nat King Cole and 'Optimistic' by Sounds of Blackness.
SAT 14:15 Frankly Speaking (b05ndh2t)
Evelyn Waugh
Brideshead Revisited author Evelyn Waugh is grilled about his life and career by Charles Wilmot, Jack Davies and Stephen Black
Regarded as one of the most brilliant novelists of his day, Waugh loathed the BBC. His grandson Alexander believes that this interview, along with a cocktail of sleeping draughts, helped to send him "rather mad". The author later turned his experience on Frankly Speaking into a scene in his novel 'The Ordeal of Gilbert Pinfold' with Stephen Black becoming the character Angel who haunts Pinfold in his hallucinations.
Launched in 1952 on the BBC Home Service, Frankly Speaking was a novel, ground breaking series. Unrehearsed and unscripted, the traditional interviewee/interviewer pairing was initially jettisoned for three interviewers firing direct questions - straight to the point.
Early critics described it as 'unkempt', 'an inquisition' and described the guest as prey being cornered, quarry being pursued - with calls to axe the unscripted interview. But the format won out and eventually won over its detractors.
Unknown or very inexperienced broadcasters were employed as interviewers, notably John Freeman, John Betjeman, Malcolm Muggeridge, Harold Hobson, Penelope Mortimer, Elizabeth Beresford and Katherine Whitehorn.
Only about 40 of the original 100 programmes survive.
First broadcast on the BBC Home Service in November 1953.
SAT 14:45 A Sacrifice at Christmas (m000cll1)
Two children go in search of a wren.
'That sort of thing is nothing short of paganism. You'd be better off leaving such things alone....'
Dilys Price reads Dafydd Ifans' short story.
Producer: Herbert Williams
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in December 1985.
SAT 15:00 Archive on 4 (b06z5pts)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:00 today]
SAT 16:00 James Bond (b01kxzr6)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:00 today]
SAT 17:30 Recycled Radio (b04f9frk)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:30 today]
SAT 18:00 Dan Dare (m000cll3)
21st Century Spaceman
Episode 1
Science journalist, Richard Hollingham explores whether the reality of space exploration is catching up with the futuristic Dan Dare universe of the distant past.
The first of a two-part exploration.
Featuring extracts from the audio dramas as well as interviews with British spacecraft engineer Alan Bond, plus actors Ed Stoppard [Dan Dare], Geoff McGivern [Digby], Robert G. Slade [Major Stranks], co-lead writer Richard Kurti and producer/director Andrew Mark Sewell.
A B7 Media Production in association with Boffin Media.
SAT 18:25 Dan Dare (m000cll5)
Series 2
Reign of the Robots 1/2
Dashing test pilot, Dan Dare, Lieutenant Digby and the Eagle Corporation’s Professor Jocelyn Peabody finally return to Earth after battling The Mekon on Venus. Landing in a seemingly deserted central London, they establish that, with the date being 24th June 2045, they have lost ten years.
With limited resources, Dare, Digby and Peabody set about liberating the Earth from an army of ruthless robots. The task becomes more desperate than ever when they discover the alien force behind the invasion.
More adventures based on the Eagle comic strip 'Dan Dare' created in 1950 by the Reverend Marcus Morris and Frank Hampson.
Dan Dare …. Ed Stoppard
Digby …. Geoff McGivern
Professor Peabody …. Heida Reed
The Mekon …. Raad Rawi
George Bryan …. Dean Harris
On-board Computer …. Dianne Weller
Original music: Imran Ahmad
Dramatised by Simon Guerrier from an original story by Frank Hampson.
Director: Andrew Mark Sewell.
Made by B7 Media
SAT 19:00 Peel Acres: John Peel Remembered (b04lstp5)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:00 today]
SAT 21:30 A Good Read (b00763tc)
[Repeat of broadcast at 11:30 today]
SAT 22:00 It's Jocelyn (b08hpf79)
Series 2
Family
It's Jocelyn returns for a second series of sketches and stand-up from the wonderful mind of Jocelyn Jee Esien.
In episode four, Jocelyn talks about family, a spiritual medium goes over to the other side and the doctors receptionist shows her true feelings for 'big bad Don'.
This series Jocelyn is joined by Paul Whitehouse as a cockney funeral director, as well as the vocal talents of Ninia Benjamin, Curtis Walker, Dee Kaate, Gavi Chera and Karen Bartke.
The producer is Suzy Grant and It's Jocelyn is a BBC Studios production.
SAT 22:30 Bridget Christie's Christmas List (b06s9s00)
Father Christmas helps Bridget bring about a feminist Christmas for 2015, whether he wants to or not.
Featuring (much to their surprise) Miles Jupp, Robin Ince, Jon Culshaw and Leo Wan.
A Christmas show for everyone. Even men.
Written by and starring Bridget Christie.
Producer: Alexandra Smith
A BBC Radio Comedy production for BBC Radio 4 first broadcast in December 2015.
SAT 22:45 Adam and Joe's Famous Guy (b010m7g6)
"I'm the best at pretending..."
Adam Buxton and Joe Cornish star in the tale of Manthea Shringleton, a journalist sent to interview a reclusive Hollywood star.
Written by Adam Buxton.
Producer: Claudine Toutoungi.
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in April 2006.
SAT 22:55 Comedy Club Extra (m000d3wv)
12 Days of Christmas
Episode 1
Jake Yapp and Jon Holmes interview the characters from the carol the 12 Days of Christmas. Tonight, a drumming drummer, a piper piping, and a lord a-leaping.
SAT 23:00 Alexei Sayle's Imaginary Sandwich Bar (b080tynb)
Series 1
Pretending & Sandwiches
The Godfather of Alternative Comedy delivers a mixture of stand-up, memoir and philosophy from behind the counter of his Imaginary Sandwich Bar.
Alexei Sayle explores his impulse to pretend and love of sandwiches.
Along the way he reveals the little known origin of the prawn cocktail, debunks the myth that the Earl of Sandwich was the first person to put a bit of meat between two slices of bread and discusses the hidden depths of Taylor Swift.
Written and performed by Alexei Sayle
Original music and lyrics by Tim Sutton
Producer: Joe Nunnery
A BBC Studios Production for BBC Radio 4 first broadcast in November 2016.
SAT 23:30 Ross Noble Goes Global (b01dbgvs)
Series 2
Milan
The comedian discovers graffiti, beggars and lycra-clad couriers in the Italian style capital of Europe. From June 2003.