SATURDAY 11 APRIL 2020

SAT 00:00 Jenny Stephens - Jefferson 37 (b007k4s9)
Episode 4
Dr Abbotts finds his 'party trick' used against him, and Paul Smith takes full advantage of the chaos. Stars David Birrell.
SAT 00:30 Off the Page (b0076tr2)
Your Inner Child
Matthew Parris, Pat Kane, Matt Harvey and Hilary Mantel discuss the idea of being young at heart. From September 2005.
SAT 01:00 Robert Barr - Detective (b03h6xz3)
Series 1
The Bank Raid
An old-style bank raid keeps the boys busy. Will DS Brook make his date with Judie?
Stories of crime and detection in London by Robert Barr.
Starring Ray Brooks as long-serving, ducking-and-diving DS Dave Brook. His side-kick is 23 year-old ‘grammar school boy’ DC Blair Maxton, played by Christopher Blake.
DS Dave Brook …. Ray Brooks
DC Blair Maxton …. Christopher Blake
Chief Inspector Roach …. David Daker
DC Harrison …. Peter Cleall
Forensic Scientist …. Roger Hammond
Mr. Franklin …. John Ringham
Miss Rees …. Liza Flanagan
Collator …. James Sosmo
Matron …. Margot Boyd
Police Officer …. David Timson
Charles Owen …. John Sharp
Judie …. Jacqueline Tong
Mrs. Miller …. Julie May
Producer: Martin Fisher
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in January 1980.
SAT 01:30 Past Presence (b0076mgw)
Why has King John’s Magna Carta of 1215 endured through wars and even European Union arguments?
Presenter Tristram Hunt traces the background and interpretation of Magna Carta from its inception through to modern times.
Producer: Matthew Dodd.
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 2004.
SAT 02:00 Death in the Fifth Position by Gore Vidal (b06q7gwp)
Episode 5
With McCarthyism reaching fever pitch in 1950s America, Peter Sargeant - a dashing PR man - is hired by the Grand St Petersburg ballet to fend off rumours that their star choreographer is a communist. But New York's ballet world is shocked when, on the opening night, the lead ballerina plummets to her death from a wire, maintaining her classical pose in the 'fifth position' as she hits the floor.
Gore Vidal's earlier novel The City and the Pillar was published in 1948 when the author was 23 years old. Its central story of a homosexual relationship caused such a scandal that the New York Times book critic refused to review any book by Gore Vidal. Others followed his lead and the author found himself at a loss as to how to continue to earn a living through his pen until a publisher suggested that he turn his hand to writing under a different name. Death In the Fifth Position was published in 1952 - the first of a trio of entertainments featuring Peter Cutler Sargeant II as a publicist turned private eye.
Episode 5:
The story continues with the members of the Grand St Petersburg ballet anticipating the imminent arrest of the husband of the murdered ballerina. Not only had Miles Sutton been asking his wife for a divorce, he was also hiding a serious drug habit. Questions remain however over the murder weapon - the pair of shears found by our narrator, Peter, after the murder took place. The performances of the now sell-out ballet continue as does the investigation, and tonight a wealthy patron holds a party for the company.
Written by Edgar Box (Gore Vidal)
Read by Jamie Parker
Abridged and Produced by Jill Waters
A Waters Company production for BBC Radio 4
SAT 02:15 Cosmic Quest (b00bfpzw)
Three Wise Men
Heather Couper reviews ancient associations of stars and planets with deities and astrology's link to maths and the 24-hour day.
SAT 02:30 AS Byatt - The Frederica Quartet (b007jsrt)
A Whistling Woman, Part 2/7
Frederica has doubts about her television career and her brother, Marcus, makes a shocking discovery. Stars Karl Prekopp.
SAT 02:45 Paper Gardens (m000h2p5)
The Plant Hunters
Leslie Forbes pays a visit to London's Kew Gardens to investigate the enthusiasm of plant hunters and botanical artists.
SAT 03:00 Evelyn Waugh - A Handful of Dust (m000h6q1)
Episode 2
Tony's life is shattered by Brenda's revelation of adultery.
Conclusion of Evelyn Waugh's 1934 novel starring Tara Fitzgerald and Jonathan Cullen.
Dramatised by Bill Matthews.
Brenda Last ...... Tara Fitzgerald
Tony Last ...... Jonathan Cullen
Beaver ..... Ronan Vibert
Jock .... James Simmons
Milly ..... Dariel Pertwee
Mrs Beaver .... Sally Grace
Dr Messinger .... Robert Glenister
Rosa .... Vivienne Rochester
Mr Todd .... Jack Klaff
Teddy Last .... Daniel Philpott
Reggie .... David Timson
Ambrose ... Kim Wall
Babs .... Jane Whittenshaw
Polly .... Colleen Prendergast
Tony's Solicitor .... Denys Hawthorne
Senior Detective .... Geoffrey Whttehead
Winnie .... Jade Williams
Jenny .... Alice Arnold
Director: Sally Avens
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in May 1996.
SAT 04:00 Funny You Should Ask (b0b8brq5)
From 24/03/1981
Peter Jones hosts the entertainment quiz about comedy as he tests a panel of experts: Leslie Crowther, Barry Cryer and Dick Vosburgh.
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 March 1981.
SAT 04:30 The Adventures of John and Tony (b009pn8p)
The Total Hotel Experience
John and his best friend Tony find themselves taking part in a seaside hotel's murder-mystery weekend.
John just wants to play dominoes, but amongst the guests is a woman from his past - with her potatoes.
Written by John Hegley
Starring John Hegley, Simon Munnery, Terry Malloy, Sunny Ormonde and Andy Hockley.
Original music by Nigel Piper.
Director: Anne Edyvean
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in September 1999.
SAT 05:00 Electric Ink (b01jjtn5)
Series 2
Episode 1
Maddox has lost the job of news editor and now faces being sued.
Alistair Beaton and Tom Mitchelson's comic satire set in the struggling world of newspapers. .
Maddox ..... John Sessions
Oliver ..... Alex Jennings
Freddy ..... Stephen Wight
Carol ..... Polly Frame
Masha ..... Debbie Chazen
Keith ..... Sam Dale
Producer ..... Sally Avens
A group of dysfunctional journalists attempt to cover major news stories at the same time as grappling with the demands of working in a multi-platform environment, watching circulation figures plummet and the recession causing half the workforce to be laid off.
At the heart of the comedy is the relationship between Maddox Bradley, a journalist who mourns the day of proper investigative journalism, and Freddy, the online editor who will regurgitate a press release quite happily and call it a story. But they have a grudging respect for the each other as Freddy helps Maddox stay afloat in the world of Twitter, Facebook and podcasting and Maddox shows Freddy how to sniff out the real story. Both are at the mercy of Oliver, the pragmatic editor more concerned with keeping his job, and Carol, the news editor who believes that circulation will increase if they run pieces on Big Mac eating orang-utans and 'intelligent' skunks rather than Maddox's moral crusading diatribes. And only Masha, the Russian head of online communities, who wants to give away all their content because that is true democracy, knows Freddy's secret; that he's a posh boy from Eton rather than a hyper-cool kid from the street; well that's what Freddy thinks anyway.
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in December 2010.
SAT 05:30 Just a Minute (m000h9y5)
The panel game hosted by Nicholas Parsons comes from The Mermaid Theatre in London where the panellists are Paul Merton, Sue Perkins, Graham Norton and Ross Noble.
SAT 06:00 Ben Travers - Rookery Nook (m000h81d)
The confetti hardly brushed from his tailcoat and his new wife nursing his new mother-in-law, Gerald Popkiss motors to Chumpton where his new sister-in-law can keep her eye on him.
The question is - can he explain the beautiful, barefoot, pyjama-clad girl sleeping in his bed...?
From the novel and stage farce by Ben Travers - adapted by Peter King.
Gerald Popkiss .... Ian Lavender
Clive Popkiss .... Brett Usher
Gertrude Twine .... Anne Jameson
Harold Twine ..... John Grillo
Mrs Leverett .... Elizabeth Bell
Putz .... Carl Duering
Conrad the dog ..... Percy Edwards
Clara Popkiss .... Helena Breck
Rhoda Marley .... Melinda Walker
Poppy Dickey ..... Jenny Funnell
Chumpton villager ..... David Garth
Rector .... Colin Starkey
Baby .... Thomas King
Music composed and played by Ed Welch (piano) with Ron Aspery
Director: Peter King
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in August 1985.
SAT 07:30 The Voices of... (b08rq6dn)
Series 2
Christopher Robson
Countertenor Christopher Robson reflects on his life in music - from playing in a Salvation Army band, via the stage of the Coliseum singing Handel, to working with Damon Albarn.
Christopher Robson found his voice by chance during a singing lesson as a teenager. Up to that point he had proved himself a musical child, playing cornet in a Salvation Army band and singing during services, sometimes reluctantly and often with his brother Nigel. But from the moment he discovered falsetto - the ability to soar above the usual range of the male voice - his ambitions led in a different direction. What followed resembles, at times, the life of a rock star rather than an opera singer.
In this intimate portrait, recorded at the London Coliseum, Christopher looks back on his rocky route into the music business, roles in iconic productions, such as Nicholas Hytner's Xerxes, his life in Germany and collaborating with Damon Albarn on his opera Dr Dee.
Produced by Alan Hall
A Falling Tree production first broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 2017.
SAT 08:00 Somebody Did It Better (m000h81g)
The story of the many songs that just missed out on a place in the 007 hall of fame.
Samantha Bond (Miss Moneypenny) explains how some of the biggest names in pop music have been rejected in the pursuit of the perfect Bond song.
Producers: Richard Latto & Pete Doherty
Made by BBC Radio Solent and first broadcast in 2015.
SAT 09:00 Comedy Greats (b007k0ly)
The 1950s
Episode 1
Decade by decade, Barry Cryer showcases some of the funniest and finest shows ever broadcast by the BBC.
With his hair in a quiff, our King of Skiffle rock 'n'rolls his way back to the 1950s. Barry's first comedy six-pack is plucked from the schedules of the BBC Light Programme and BBC Home Service:
* Life With The Lyons:
Series 5 (7/25) - A Crooner In the House
Daughter Barbara is in love with singer Ronnie Harris and father Ben's not happy. Stars Bebe Daniels and Ben Lyon. From January 1955.
* In All Directions:
06/01/56
American President Eisenhower fields questions and life in the BBC's Public Relations Office. Sketches galore scripted by and starring Peter Ustinov and Peter Jones. From January 1956
* The Al Read Show:
Northern Variety Parade
The wonders of modern cafeterias and the cheesy chat-up lines of men with motor cars.
Starring the Salford sausage maker turned monarch of the monologue. From November 1955.
* A Life of Bliss:
Finding a Girlfriend
Matchmakers galore target shy bachelor David Bliss. Stars George Cole, Petula Clark and Percy Edwards as Pysche the dog. From October1954.
* Take It From Here:
Series 10 (8/20)
Jimmy Edwards and Dick Bentley worry over BBC cuts in sound radio - and how Ron and Eth first met in 'The Glums'. With June Whitfield. From February 1957.
* The Goon Show:
Series 8 (10/26) - King Solomon's Mines
Neddie Seagoon loses at roulette, so heads off in search of legendary African riches. Stars Spike Milligan, Harry Secombe and Peter Sellers. With Wallace Greenslade. From December 1957.
Produced and scripted by Peter Reed
Made for BBC 7 and first broadcast in May 2003.
SAT 12:00 Says on the Tin (b00g4fv7)
Toothpaste
Disgraced American ad man Eliott Thurber is forced to transfer to the new London branch of Parabola Media.
CAST:
Eliott Thurber .... Michael Brandon
Esther Finn .... Samantha Bond
Hannah Walker .... Pippa Haywood
Zadie .... Joannah Tincey
Ted Bruckner .... Malcolm Tierney
Toothrot …. Chris Pavlo
Customs Officer …. Stephen Critchlow
Woman ….Janice Acquah
Child …. Manjeet Mann
Stewardess …. Donnla Hughes
Plaque Inam Mirza
Written by Christopher Hill.
Producer: Liz Webb.
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in December 2008.
SAT 12:30 Gossip from the Garden Pond (b04g7d6q)
The Tadpole and the Dragonfly
The Tadpole played by Julian Rhind Tutt and the Dragonfly played by Alison Steadman, reveal the truth about life in a garden pond, in the first of three very funny tales, written and introduced by Lynne Truss, with sound recordings by Chris Watson.
The jaunty Tadpole revels in his youth as he darts about the pond, generally avoiding his neighbours because most of them want to eat him! "When are you going to grow up?" asks the Dragonfly. This is far from easy as the tadpole is quick to point out, as he has to go through a whole traumatic body-changing metamorphosis. The only disadvantage, he reckons, of being young and immature of course, is that you have no hands, which makes things tricky when you want to wave at anyone or take a selfie, but it's a small price to pay for the freedom of youth reckons our happy-go-lucky fellow, until a strange dream signals a life-changing event. "One minute you're wiggling, wiggling. and the next you look absolutely daft waving your bottom around, coz there's nothing on the end of it"
The Dragonfly is lighter than air, quick, beautiful; all dazzling wings and observant eyes . She is also quite highly sexed and living life at a great rate knowing that she doesn't have much time. Having spent months and months living in the murk and mud of the garden pond as an ugly, aggressive nymph, her life was transformed when she felt impelled to climb up a stem and was transformed into an adult. She is dazzling; with her aerial acrobatics, fine wings and long slender limbs. But she knows she hasn't long to live and before she dies, she must feed and find a mate "I'm gorgeous, I'm ready ... and I'm hot, hot, hot".
Producer Sarah Blunt.
SAT 13:00 The Mill on the Floss by George Eliot (Omnibus) (m000h81j)
Episode 1
George Eliot’s novel of grand passions and tormented lives to mark the 140th Anniversary of George Eliot’s death this year.
Omnibus of the first of five of ten episodes by Rhiannon Tise.
A brother and sister, pitted against one another in love and life. An absorbing tragedy of family discord and financial ruin, of sibling love and bitterness. And a powerful tale of desire, betrayal and moral conflict.
George Eliot, the Narrator ….. Anna Maxwell Martin
Young Maggie ….. Amy-Jayne Leigh
Young Tom ….. Oliver Zetterstrom
Young Lucy ….. Grace Doherty
Mr Tulliver ….. Roger Ringrose
Mrs Tulliver ….. Alison Belbin
Maggie ….. Joanna Vanderham
Tom ….. Will Kirk
Lucy ….. Ell Potter
Philip ….. Chris Lew Kum Hoi
Stephen ….. Jack Farthing
Mrs Moss ….. Heather Craney
Mr Wakem ….. John Dougall
Mrs Glegg ….. Elizabeth Counsell,
Mr Stelling ….. John Lightbody,
Dr Kenn ….. Hasan Dixon
Luke/Bob ….. Kurtis Lowe
Keiza/Sally ….. Bettrys Jones
Produced and Directed by Tracey Neale
George Eliot's most autobiographical novel draws on her personal pain at the loss of the close bond with her brother who had cut off all contact with her. It resulted in one of the great novels of childhood, and one of literature's most unforgettable heroines. Like Anne of Green Gables and Jane Eyre, Maggie captures the dilemma of being the clever girl in the family, the ugly duckling, the misplaced foundling who longs to be recognised for the genius she secretly knows herself to be.
As the rebellious Maggie’s fiery spirit and imaginative nature bring her into conflict with her narrow
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in April 2020.
SAT 14:10 Inheritance Tracks (m000h81m)
Dame Kristin Scott Thomas
Actress Kristin Scott Thomas inherits ‘These Boots are Made for Walking’ by Nancy Sinatra and wants to pass on ‘Mars’ by Holst.
SAT 14:15 Pam Ayres' Open Road (b007kfq8)
Series 2
Jersey
Pam's on the largest Channel island to learn about black butter, visit an underground hospital and try unusual cake.
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 November 2001.
SAT 14:45 Uncle Mort's South Country (b007rr6s)
Series 1
In a Jam
Carter's uncle gets time to reflect, stuck on a busy motorway to the coast.
Uncle Mort …. Stephen Thorne
Carter Brandon …. Sam Kelly
Pat/The Belgian Lady …. Liz Goulding
Narrator …. Christian Rodska
Written by Peter Tinniswood.
Producer: Pete Atkin
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 1990.
SAT 15:00 Somebody Did It Better (m000h81g)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:00 today]
SAT 16:00 Ben Travers - Rookery Nook (m000h81d)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:00 today]
SAT 17:30 The Voices of... (b08rq6dn)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:30 today]
SAT 18:00 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (b007jm5y)
The Secondary Phase
Fit The Eleventh
On Brontitall, Arthur meets an archaeologist, gets captured and learns all about the Shoe Event Horizon.
Starring Peter Jones as The Book, Simon Jones as Arthur Dent, Geoffrey McGivern as Ford Prefect, Mark Wing-Davey as Zaphod Beeblebrox, David Tate as Eddie, Stephen Moore as Marvin, John Baddeley as Bird Two Rula Lenska as Lintilla and Mark Smith as Hig Hurtenflurst.
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.
Radiophonic sound and music by Paddy Kingsland.
Producer: Geoffrey Perkins
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in January 1980.
SAT 18:30 The Price of Fear (b007jmty)
Not Wanted on the Voyage
Horror legend Vincent Price introduces a tale of the despotic Henrietta Forsythe's sway over her secretary and new husband.
Stars Margaret Courtenay as Henriette Forsythe, Sandor Eles as Carlos Mendoza, Henry Stamper as The Captain and Sheila Grant as Evelyn.
Scripted by William Ingram.
Producer: John Dyas
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 1983.
SAT 19:00 Comedy Greats (b007k0ly)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:00 today]
SAT 22:00 The Lee Mack Show (b00bt53m)
Suggs
Singer Suggs joins the quick-fire comic for stand-up, sketches and music. With Angela McHale and Steve Brown. From March 2005.
SAT 22:30 Paul Sinha's Citizenship Test (b038n3dh)
Episode 3
Paul Sinha is proudly British. He also loves a quiz. So you would have thought that the UK Citizenship Test, which newcomers to this country must pass to become citizens, would have been right up his street. But the questions in the 2012 and 2013 Home Office guides seem either bizarrely easy - "Where is Welsh most widely spoken?" - or infuriatingly vague - "What happened in the First World War?".
So Paul has created his own test, to better reflect the things that aspiring migrants should understand before they can call themselves British. In this third episode he looks at British culture - newspapers, TV, art and film. He tests the studio audience on their knowledge, with those that answer incorrectly being deported; he also offers up ten pounds of his own money to anyone in the audience who can correctly identify an artist that the Home Office think all new immigrants should be aware of.
The series intertwines the sort of comedy Paul has become known for on The Now Show, The News Quiz, and Fighting Talk, as well as his own Radio 4 shows The Sinha Test and The Sinha Games, and the command of facts and figures he demonstrates on the ITV quiz show The Chase, with a dash of the patriotism that has seen him banned from the bar at the United Nations.
Written and performed by Paul Sinha.
Producer: Ed Morrish.
SAT 23:00 Buy Me Up TV (b009jcxh)
Episode 3
It's the comedy series inspired by every shopping channel you've ever seen and every product you've never wanted to buy.
Starring Justin Edwards, Colin Hoult, Katherine Jakeways, Ewen MacIntosh, Alex MacQueen and Greg Proops.
Special guest: Rich Hall
Producer: Lucy Armitaqe
First broadcast on BBC Radio 2 in March 2008.
SAT 23:30 Earls of the Court (b00qvpk2)
Earls Reunited
Comedy drama series by Will Adamsdale and Stewart Wright about two Australians down on their luck in London.
Lloydie returns after years of travel to find best mate Johnno still living in their old flat. But their former gang has disbanded and times have changed. Worse still, the sins of the past are about to catch up with them.
Lloydie ...... Stewart Wright
Johnno ...... Will Adamsdale
Bonzo ...... Rufus Wright
Kirsty ...... Keely Beresford
Shalk ...... Michael Shelford
Brett ...... David Seddon
Directed by Sasha Yevtushenko.
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 2010.
SAT 23:45 Foley and McColl: The Interview (b0076cvt)
Rockall
The duo are set to tell all on Parky's TV chat show. Stars Sean Foley, Hamish McColl and Michael Parkinson. From February 2003.