SATURDAY 14 MARCH 2020

SAT 00:00 Charles Chilton - Space Force (b007jn5r)
Series 2
Living With Death
Elevated to the priesthood of God-King Ra - the captive crew of Space Force seize a chance to escape.
Charles Chilton's second intergalactic adventure series starring Barry Foster.
Captain Saxon Berry ...... Barry Foster
Chipper Barnett ...... Nicky Henson
Magnus Carter ...... Nigel Stock
Lodderick Sincere ...... Tony Osoba
With Wendy Murray, Willoughby Goddard and Bernard Brown.
Charles Chilton wrote and produced many popular and successful radio programmes for the BBC - including the classic 1950s serial 'Journey into Space' - charting the adventures of Captain Jet Morgan. This fired the imagination of millions, years before the first moon landing. It was the last radio drama to record higher ratings than the new young upstart television!
Producer: Paul Mayhew-Archer
First broadcast on BBC Radio 2 in June 1985.
SAT 00:30 Off the Page (b0076t95)
A Nudge and a Wink
Matthew Parris pleas for more gravity in public life in the company of Arabella Weir, Martin Newell and Dave Cohen. From 2005.
SAT 01:00 Hercule Poirot (b01b3fdv)
Mrs McGinty's Dead
Episode 5
The chaos of Long Meadows provides Hercule Poirot with his final clue to unveiling the pitiless murderer.
But there's also another surprise in store for the Belgian detective...
Conclusion of Agatha Christie's whodunit starring John Moffatt.
Hercule Poirot ...... John Moffatt
Ariadne Oliver ...... Julia MacKenzie
Superintendent Spence ...... George Baker
Robin Upward ...... Nick Waring
Maud Williams ...... Beth Chalmers
Maureen Summerhayes ...... Molly Gaisford
Major Summerhayes ...... Ian Masters
Eve Carpenter ...... Angela Sims
Guy Carpenter ...... Dominic Colchester
Mrs Rendell ...... Susannah Corbett
Dramatised by Michael Bakewell.
Director: Enyd Williams.
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in March 2006.
SAT 01:30 Death of An Orchestra (b04v381r)
Alan Bennett recalls his regular boyhood visits to hear the Yorkshire Symphony Orchestra. With other keen supporters and former members, he tells the Orchestra's history from 1947 to its demise in 1955.
Amid the austerity of the post-war years, the YSO was founded in a spirit of great optimism to provide first class orchestral music for the citizens of Yorkshire. It was based in Leeds Town Hall, and funded entirely out of the Rates. The inaugural concert book expressed the hope that it would "find a permanent place in the musical life of Yorkshire and rank with the finest orchestras of this country".
The founder conductor was Maurice Miles, who appears in the only recording of the YSO to survive in the BBC Archive.
There were guest appearances by Sir Malcolm Sargent, Sir Thomas Beecham and Sir Adrian Boult, and visits from glittering soloists such as Joan Hammond and Tito Gobbi.
As a Leeds schoolboy, Alan Bennett found these figures from the outside world "tinged with great glamour". Violinist Rodney Friend, another supporter, was a winner of the YSO's competition for young soloists before becoming leader of the LPO, the New York Philharmonic and the BBC SO.
Eight former members of the orchestra, now scattered around the country, describe life in the YSO: cold rickety buses, romance, and the thrill of the great conductor Nikolai Malko arriving for the final season. They recall their shock on discovering that the Orchestra was to be disbanded and the sadness of the final concert.
Produced by Susan Kenyon
A Whistledown production first broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 2014.
SAT 02:00 DH Lawrence - The Rainbow (m000g4jx)
Episode 10
Ursula has broken off with Sebrensky and he has left for India without her.
After his departure Ursula finds that she is pregnant - she must decide whether to follow him to India to live as his wife, or stay in England as an outcast from society.
DH Lawrence's novel explores the passionate lives of three generations of the Brangwen family of Nottinghamshire.
Concluded by David Bradley
Abridged by Linda Cracknell
Producer: Lu Kemp
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in June 2004
SAT 02:15 Nature's Great Invaders (b07qc3gf)
Ash dieback fungus
When trees infected with the ash-dieback fungus were first recorded in the UK in early 2012 there was widespread alarm.
By 2016, are we closer to knowing what the final toll will be on our ash trees and with an uncertain political future how do we limit the risks posed by other invisible invaders? Derek Mooney intends to find out.
Telling the stories of non-native invasive species and our complicated attitudes to them and with an uncertain political future, how do we police our ecological borders?
Producer: Ellie Sans
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in August 2016.
SAT 02:30 AS Byatt - The Frederica Quartet (b007jshd)
The Virgin in the Garden, Part 5/8
In the year of Queen Elizabeth's coronation, Bill Potter has difficulty in accepting his daughter Stephanie's desire to marry the local curate, Daniel Orton
The Virgin in the Garden is the first of four AS Byatt novel adaptations chronicling the lives of the Potter family, set against the social and political landscape of England of 1953-1970.
Older Frederica …. Rosemary Leach
Young Frederica …. Hannah Watkins
Bill …. Geoffrey Whitehead
Winifred …. Barbara Flynn
Stephanie …. Helen Longworth
Daniel …. Shaun Dooley
Mrs. Thone …. Sandra Clark
Alexander …. Adam Kotz
Mrs. Orton …. Bridget Turner
All four novels dramatised in 30 parts by John Harvey.
Producer: Mary Peate.
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in May 2002.
SAT 02:45 Tom Fort - Channel Shore (b05w84zh)
Episode 5
The Looes. Then Lizard Point. Then Lands' End, where a cream tea is enjoyed, but the place itself?
The end of Tom Fort's maritime journey taking us from the White Cliffs to Lands' End. About 675 miles in all.
Concluded by Jonathan Coy
Abridged by Katrin Williams.
Producer: Duncan Minshull
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in May 2015
SAT 03:00 Peter Tinniswood (b00758gq)
A Very Rare Bird Indeed
At a small family-run hotel on the Welsh coast, lonely Avril observes the guests while waiting for her philandering husband.
Judi Dench stars in Peter Tinniswood's drama.
Avril ...... Judi Dench
Maynard ...... Peter Jeffrey
Morgan ...... John Moffatt
Clayton ...... Lou Hirsch
Marion ...... Carolyn Jones
Gilbert ...... Jeff Shankley
Major Rackham ...... Derek Waring
Music by Simon Morecroft.
Director: Gordon House
First broadcast on the BBC World Service in May 1997.
SAT 04:00 Funny You Should Ask (b0b91jt2)
From 20/01/1981
Peter Jones hosts the entertainment quiz about comedy as he tests a panel of experts: Bob Monkhouse, Larry Adler and George Axelrod.
Funny You Should Ask ran for 8 series from 1976 to 1982.
Questions compiled by Michael Pointon.
Producer: Paul Mayhew-Archer.
First broadcast on BBC Radio 2 in January 1981.
SAT 04:30 Molesworth (m000g4js)
Leisure
Leisure means watching sport on TV with plenty of beer and cigs, not playing it.
Schoolboy terror Nigel Molesworth, formerly The Curse of St Custard’s, is now all grown-up and determined to share his experience of life.
Starring Willie Rushton.
Series written by Simon Brett based on characters created by Geoffrey Willans and by Ronald Searle.
Molesworth …. William Rushton
Grimes …. Clive Swift
Fotherington Thomas …. Phil Nice
Louise …. Penelope Nice
Darryl …. Robert Harley
Peason …. Bob Sinfield
Lucinda …. Chrissy Robert
Music by Oonagh Bernon
Producer: Mark Robson
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in April 1987.
SAT 05:00 Bad Salsa (b048jj9b)
Series 1
A New Perspective
After treatment for ovarian and breast cancer Chippy, is mad Jill is sad and Terri is definitely dangerous to know! The road back after cancer treatment can be tricky and full of obstacles.
Two middle aged women and their younger friend seek to regain their zest for life and love by learning to dance at Bad Salsa, the club where everyone knows your name but no-one knows your prognosis!
Depictions of people with cancer on TV and radio too often follow a standard format; there is the diagnosis, the depression the chemo, then the false recovery followed by the tragic death.
Written by Kay Stonham, Bad Salsa tries to paint a picture at once more hopeful and more in line with survival rates which have improved immensely over the past 20 years.
For many, 'living with cancer' is now their day to day challenge. Our characters have finished their treatment and are in the process of finding their way back to normal life or at least finding a "new normal." Everyday challenges must go on like boring marriages, distracting crushes, troublesome children, difficult workmates and infuriating parents. But their brush with mortality gives them a new perspective.
So do they preserve their pre-cancer status quo or in Terri's words, to say "sod it all" and "go for it!"
Follow the women as they embrace the world of salsa whilst they adjust to life after cancer.
Terry ...... Camille Coduri
Chippy ...... Sharon Rooney
Jill ...... Natasha Little
Marco ...... Doc Brown
Gordon ...... Andrew Obeney
Colin ...... David Cann
Georgie ...... Emily Chase
Tim ...... Matt Houlihan
Sara ...... Antonia Reid
Chippy's Mum ...... Kay Stonham
Producer: Alison Vernon-Smith
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in July 2014.
SAT 05:30 Reluctant Persuaders (m0000qq8)
Series 3
Connecting People
Hardacre’s ad agency find themselves competing for an unusual account - Befriendr, a dating-style app designed to help lonely city-dwellers make friends.
Amanda (Josie Lawrence) recruits Joe (Mathew Baynton), as the most normal member of the agency, to accompany her to the Befriendr launch event – a chance to network, and maybe even make some new friends themselves.
Meanwhile Hardacre (Nigel Havers) and Teddy (Rasmus Hardiker) – both banned from attending the event for not being normal enough – seek solace in each other’s company. Hardacre resolves to remake Teddy in his own image, teaching him how to be A Real Man.
Cast:
Hardacre......................Nigel Havers
Joe..................................Mathew Baynton
Amanda........................Josie Lawrence
Teddy............................Rasmus Hardiker
Laura /
'Gram Woman...........Olivia Nixon
An Absolutely production for BBC Radio 4
SAT 06:00 Liz Lochhead - Blood And Ice (b00y8vw6)
In 1816, Mary Wollstonecraft eloped with her lover Percy Shelley to the shores of Lake Geneva.
They moved into a villa close to Lord Byron and turned their hands to writing ghostly tales.
A tale of the creation of Frankenstein by Liz Lochhead.
Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley …. Gerda Stevenson
Percy Bysshe Shelley …. Stephen Boxer
Lord Byron …. Jack Klaff
Claire Clairmont …. Stella Gonet
Elise …. Tilly Vosburgh
The Creature …. Peter Kelly
Music composed and played by Robert Pettigrew.
Director: Marilyn Imrie
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in June 1990.
SAT 07:30 Recycled Radio (b052j8v9)
Series 3
Recycled: Lawyers
Welcome to the chopped up, looped up, sped up world of Recycled Radio.
Gerald Scarfe introduces the subject of the law and lawyers.
Our journey to court includes contributions from Clive Anderson, Harry Potter, Tom Wrigglesworth, Moses and Douglas Hurd.
There's also a breakneck journey to the land where every other person is a lawyer, while retired judge Elizabeth Butler-Sloss reveals the advice her father gave her about succeeding in this most competitive of professions.
Fun, silly, thoughtful radio ... recycled.
Producer: Miles Warde.
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in February 2015.
SAT 08:00 Archive on 4 (b00b410m)
Sir Anthony Eden
Former Foreign Secretary Douglas Hurd uses the BBC Archives to explore the life of his predecessor Anthony Eden.
Eden's reputation is forever associated with the 1956 Suez crisis, but Hurd begins his journey much earlier with rare recordings of his radio talks and speeches from the 1930s before becoming Foreign Secretary at the age of 38.
He goes on to explore Eden's role in the front line of Churchill's government and his central role in settling the Indo-Chinese War in 1954.
Producer: Phil Tinline
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in May 2008.
SAT 09:00 A Date With Dyall (b06my9rb)
Writer and actor Jonathan Rigby unlocks the vaults of the BBC sound archives to explore the broadcasting career of Valentine Dyall.
He reveals the enduring appeal of Dyall's most memorable character the menacing and creepy raconteur 'The Man In Black' and along the way he lifts the lid on some classic radio horror moments.
* Radio Dyall
Jonathan Rigby profiles the radio work of Valentine Dyall with rare archive of Dyall in conversation.
* Here Come The Men In Black
Featuring new and exclusive interviews. Actor Edward de Souza, a reincarnation of The Man in Black in the 1980's radio series Fear On 4, talks for the first time about his interpretation of the character.
And the role's latest denizen Mark Gatiss reveals his joy and enthusiasm for portraying radio's most sinister personality. With rare archive of Valentine Dyall.
* Appointment With Fear
A classic episode from the ground breaking radio horror series
* Jonathan Rigby's Vault of Horror
Jonathan Rigby is joined by writer Kim Newman and Josephine Botting from the British Film Institute to chart the history of 'The Man in Black', reveal some memorable radio horror stories and get their teeth into why this genre continues to have us shivering under the sheets.
* Fear on 4: The Monkey's Paw
A man makes wishes on a very unusual gift that's been cast with a sinister spell. Stars Oliver Maguire and Trudy Kelly.
* Appointment With Fear
Another classic episode from the ground breaking radio horror series
* Fear on 4: The Snowman Killing
The Man in Black introduces the snowy mystery of a mother fearing evil in her own home. Stars Edward de Souza and Imelda Staunton.
Producer: Stephen Garner
Made for BBC Radio 4 Extra and first broadcast in October 2015.
SAT 12:00 Stockport, So Good They Named It Once (b0082f0w)
Series 1
Barbie
It's school reports time - and Eddie needs a loan to start up his own taxi business.
The lives of the Stockport-based, Conroy family in the first series of Jim Poyser and Damian Lanigan's comedy drama.
Jason ...... Dominic Monaghan
Michael ...... Jason Done
Dave ...... Stefan Escreet
Eddie ...... John McArdle
Collete ...... Emma Clarke
Maureen ...... Beverley Callard
Debbie ...... Jo-Anne Knowles
Music: Big George
Producer: Neil Mossey
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in August 1999.
SAT 12:30 Lenin of the Rovers (b007jvcl)
Series 2
Ghosts and Ghoolies
Ricky Lenin decides to write a column in a tabloid newspaper, but ends up learning a few painful lessons about life, love, truth, and Gloria Hunniford.
More adventures of communist football club, Felchester Rovers starring Alexei Sayle.
Ricky Lenin ...... Alexei Sayle
Jeff Frankly ...... John Sessions
Frank Lee Brian ...... Kenneth Wolstenholme
Colonel Brace Cartwright ...... Donald Hewlett
Stevie Stalin ...... Andrew McLean
Terry Trotsky ...... Phil Cornwell
Curvy Corinne ...... Jacqueline Ashman
Announcer ...... John Witty
Written by Marcus Berkmann.
Producer: Harry Thompson.
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in April 1989.
SAT 13:00 The Leopard (Omnibus) (m000gfqy)
Episode 2
Tancredi has fallen in love with the beautiful Angelica, the daughter of the nouveau-riche commoner Don Calogero.
Continuing Giuseppe Di Lampedusa's The Leopard - a masterpiece of European political fiction: beguiling, beautiful and subtle, evoking a centuries-old way of life on the cusp of change.
Don Fabrizio Corbera is the Prince of Salina in Sicily, during the Risorgimento; the unification of Italy. An irresistible giant of a man whose hands are like paws and who makes the ground tremble when he rises to his feet, the Prince is clear-eyed, intelligent and languid, aptly represented by the leopard on his coat of arms.
The Prince knows he must attempt to preserve what remains of his family’s feudal power in a period of political turmoil. He realises their best hope lies in his charming and resourceful nephew, Tancredi, who knows that "everything must change so that everything can stay the same".
Omnibus of the last five of ten parts read by Alex Jennings
Translated by Archibald Colquhoun
Abridged by Sara Davies
Producer...Mary Ward-Lowery
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in March 2020
SAT 14:10 Inheritance Tracks (m000gfr0)
Kwame Kwei-Armah
Kwame Kwei-Armah, the Young Vic’s Artistic Director, chooses Sugar Bum Bum by Lord Kitchener and What's Going On by Marvin Gaye.
SAT 14:15 Pam Ayres' Open Road (b007kfkl)
Series 2
Lowestoft
Pam heads to Britain's most easterly point to learn about witches, monks and fishing in the Suffolk town of Lowestoft.
Poet and raconteuse, Pam Ayres is back on the open road, visiting nine more places in Britain to hear tales from the people who live there.
Photograph by Laurence Watts.
Producer: Jill Marshall
First broadcast on BBC Radio 2 in September 2001.
SAT 14:45 Uncle Mort's South Country (b007jqzh)
Series 1
We've Only Just Started
Carter Brandon drives his Uncle Mort down south, but trouble looms at a pub stop.
Peter Tinniswood’s continuing tales of long-suffering Carter Brandon and his curmudgeonly uncle.
Uncle Mort and his Yorkshire based family first appeared in Tinniswood’s novel ‘A Touch Of Daniel’ which earned them a run of four series of ‘I Didn't Know You Cared’ on BBC TV from 1975 to 1979.
Uncle Mort …. Stephen Thorne
Carter Brandon …. Sam Kelly
Elderly Man …. Christopher Good
Narrator …. Christian Rodska
Producer: Pete Atkin
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in July 1990.
SAT 15:00 Archive on 4 (b00b410m)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:00 today]
SAT 16:00 Liz Lochhead - Blood And Ice (b00y8vw6)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:00 today]
SAT 17:30 Recycled Radio (b052j8v9)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:30 today]
SAT 18:00 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (b007jm34)
The Secondary Phase
Fit The Seventh
Who hasn't been confronted with a temporal anomaly while drunk? Arthur Dent and Ford Prefect struggle to work it out.
The show that began with the end of the world continues with Arthur and Ford stranded on prehistoric earth, and Zaphod Beeblebrox and Marvin thoroughly devoured by a carbon-copy of the Ravenous Bugblatter Beast of Traal.
The Book ...... Peter Jones
Arthur Dent ...... Simon Jones
Ford Prefect/ Frogstar Robot ...... Geoffrey McGivern
Marvin ...... Stephen Moore
Zaphod Beeblebrox ...... Mark Wing-Davey
Assistant Arcturan Pilot ...... Bill Paterson
Captain/ Receptionist/Lift ...... David Tate
Roosta ...... Alan Ford
The global multi-media success story that is 'Hitchhiker's' started life on Radio 4 in March 1978. The original scripts by Douglas Adams (1952-2001) went on to spawn a series of novels, a feature film, at least three stage shows, a TV series, a computer game, a collection of comic books - and various towels.
The answer to the meaning of life, the universe and everything is 42. If you work out what the Ultimate Question is, please let us know.
Radiophonic sound and music by Paddy Kingsland.
Producer: Geoffrey Perkins
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in December 1978.
SAT 18:30 The Price of Fear (b007jmn9)
Goody Two Shoes
Horror legend Vincent Price's sobering tale of Anne and David and their unwelcome lodger.
Married for five years, David and Anne Fordyce escape the London rat race by buying a deserted cottage in Devon. But their idyllic life is shattered by the intrusion of a previous tenant - from another century...
David Fordyce ...... Michael Jayston
Anne Fordyce ...... Sandra Clark
Mrs Perkins ...... Daphne Heard
Victoria ...... Frances Jeater
Charles ...... Nigel Graham
Written by William Ingram.
Producer: John Dyas
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in May 1983.
SAT 19:00 A Date With Dyall (b06my9rb)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:00 today]
SAT 22:00 28 Acts in 28 Minutes (b01nq3p1)
Series 1
Episode 1
John Humphrys gives 28 performers 60 seconds to entertain an audience:
Richie Webb & Vicki Pepperdine
Jason Manford
Steve Punt & Hugh Dennis
Josie Long
Ed Byrne
Matt Holt
Nick Mohammed
Phil Nichol
Matt Kirshen
Lemn Sissay
The Cowards
Jason John Whitehead
Howard Read
Janey Godley
Count Arthur Strong
Al Pitcher
Martin White
Edward Aczel
Marcus Birdman
Tom Price
John Bishop
The Consultants
Sue Vale
Miles Jupp
Stefano Paolini
Rhod Gilbert
Seymour Mace
Nicholas Parsons
Producers: Rohan Acharya and Ed Morrish
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in June 2006
SAT 22:30 Chain Reaction (b0742mqd)
Series 11
Sandi Toksvig interviews Roy Hudd
Series 11 of the show where one week's interviewee becomes the next week's interviewer. The first episode of Chain Reaction was broadcast on BBC Radio Five in 1991 when John Cleese was the first comedian in the hot seat. Now, 25 years on, a new series sees another raft of the world's best-loved comedians talking to each other about their lives and work. This week, the writer, broadcaster and erstwhile News Quiz host Sandi Toksvig turns interviewer as she chats to comedy icon, Roy Hudd.
Sandi Toksvig is a prolific writer and broadcaster who chaired the News Quiz on BBC Radio 4 for nine years and over 220 episodes. In 2015 she was a founder member of the Women's Equality Party and, later that year was announced as the new host of the long-running BBC television series, QI.
Roy Hudd has clocked up more than 50 years in showbusiness, starting out as a Butlins redcoat in the 1950s and then developing a stellar career through numerous successes on stage, radio and screen. BBC Radio listeners know him best as the host of the much loved News Huddlines on Radio 2 for 26 years. More recently, Roy gained plaudits for his moving portrayal of Bud Flanagan in the BBC drama 'We're Doomed! The Dad's Army Story'.
In this the year of his 80th birthday, Roy tells Sandi about his beginnings in showbusiness, reveals how Arthur Askey gave him a leg up in the early days and shares his favourite pantomime story courtesy of Tom O'Connor.
Producer: Richard Morris
A BBC Radio Comedy Production.
SAT 23:00 Colin Hoult's Carnival of Monsters (b050bjhl)
Series 2
Episode 4
Enter the Carnival of Monsters, a bizarre and hilarious world of sketches, stories and characters, presented by the sinister Ringmaster.
A host of characters are the exhibits at the Carnival - all played by Colin himself.
Meet such monstrous yet strangely familiar oddities as: Wannabe Hollywood screenwriter Andy Parker; Anna Mann - outrageous star of such forgotten silver screen hits such as 'Rogue Baker', 'Who's For Turkish Delight' and 'A Bowl For My Bottom'; and a host of other characters from acid jazz obsessives, to mask workshop coordinators.
Producer: Sam Bryant
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in January 2015.
SAT 23:30 4 at the Store (b00cpvsk)
Series 1
Episode 1
Simon Bligh hosts an evening of stand-up comedy without having to leave your armchair.
Featuring Dominic Holland, Sue Beard and Felix Dexter.
From London's Comedy Store
Producer: Helen Williams
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in December 1998.