SATURDAY 19 SEPTEMBER 2020

SAT 00:00 David Calcutt - The Daughter of the Sea (b07zfmwh)
A seal leaves the ocean and turns into a woman. Ishmael falls hopelessly in love. She agrees to marry him - on one condition.
Adapted from traditional sources by David Calcutt
Starring Mary Wimbush as the Old Woman, Susan Mann as the Girl, Stephen Tomlin as Ishmael and Moir Leslie as the Seal-woman
Seal-woman's song by Sue Harris
Directed at BBC Pebble Mill by Nigel Bryant
First broadcast in Thirty Minute Theatre on BBC Radio 4 in 1993.
SAT 00:30 Off the Page (b00771wy)
The Power of Positive Thinking
Does looking on the bright side bring you good luck? Is 'Seize the Day' the proper motto for a satisfying life? Or should we accept our limitations and embrace negativity?
Psychologist Richard Wiseman, philosopher Julian Baggini and journalist Lucy Cavendish explore whether the glass is half full or half empty. Dominic Arkwright chairs the discussion.
Producer Jolyon Jenkins
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in December 2006.
SAT 01:00 P Division (b007jx68)
Condition Purple
Episode 4
As the search for Dino and Jimmy 'The Rodent' Purdue continues, Donoghue receives a report of another murder. 'P Division' closes in.
Concluding Peter Turnbull's dramatic story about his Glaswegian cops.
DCI Donoghue …. Martin Cochrane
DS Ray Sussock …. Ralph Riach
Karen …. Gaylie Runciman
DC King …. John Buick
DC Montgomery …. Frank Gallagher
Tuesday Noon …. Alex McAvoy
Mr Keyes …. Robert Trotter
Mrs Olive Keyes …. Kay Gallie
WPC Elka Willems …. Ann Louise Ross
Dino …. Alexander Morton
Dramatised by Stephen Mulrine.
Produced at BBC Glasgow by Hamish Wilson.
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in September 1993.
SAT 01:30 Hercule Poirot (b0109byt)
Peril at End House
Episode 5
Hercule Poirot summons everyone to End House. Can the Belgian sleuth finally unmask the murderer?
Agatha Christie's whodunit stars John Moffatt as Hercule Poirot
Hercule Poirot …. John Moffatt
Captain Hastings …. Simon Williams
Frederica Rice …. Suzanna Hamilton
George Challenger …. Andrew Wincott
Nick Buckley …. Gemma Saunders
Mr Croft …. Terence Edmond
Mrs Croft …. Richenda Carey
Charles Vyse …. Stephen Critchlow
Chief Inspector Japp …. Bryan Pringle
Jimmy Lazarus …. Sean Arnold
Dramatist: Michael Bakewell
Director: Enyd Williams
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in December 2000.
SAT 02:00 Wordaholics (b01sdmd2)
Series 2
Episode 6
Gyles Brandreth presides over the comedy panel game where, this week, Susie Dent and Lloyd Langford compete against Dave Gorman and Natalie Haynes to find out which team is the most passionate and knowledgeable about words.
This week Susie Dent reveals two of her favourite now-defunct words from Samuel Johnson's Dictionary are 'pandiculation' (to stretch while yawning) and 'snirtle' (to laugh in a quiet and restrained manner); Dave Gorman comes up with a new cliche to replace 'Curiosity Killed the Cat'; Natalie Haynes tells us what the Cockney rhyming slang 'a Basil' refers to and Lloyd Langford is asked the meaning of 'dumpoke' from the 1903 dictionary, 'Hobson Jobson - A Glossary of Anglo Indian Colloquial Words and Phrases' (a book which Susie Dent claims is 'a very good read').
Writers: Jon Hunter and James Kettle
Producer: Claire Jones.
SAT 02:30 Minor Adjustment (b0b3jncg)
At the End of the Rainbow
Richard gets exciting news from Hollywood and his wildest dreams seem about to come true.
Six-part comedy series about the Stubbs family - cartoonist Richard, therapist Sarah and their daughters - Kate, aged 16 and three-year-old Amy who has Down's Syndrome.
Written by father and son team, Eric and Andy Merriman - inspired by Andy's own four-year-old daughter, Sarah. Eric famously wrote legendary BBC comedy series 'Beyond Our Ken'.
CAST:
Richard …. Peter Davison
Sarah …. Samantha Bond
Kate …. Claire Russell
Amy …. Sarah Merriman
Joel Bennett …. Kerry Shale
Nick …. Kim Wall
Dr Thompson …. Rachel Preece
Charlotte’s Mother …. Patience Tomlinson
Producer: Gareth Edwards
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in August 1996.
SAT 03:00 Elena Ferrante - The Neapolitan Novels (m000mln3)
Those Who Leave and Those Who Stay Part 1/3
The third book in Elena Ferrante's Neapolitan novels, charting the lifelong relationship between two girls, Lila Cerullo and Elena Greco, who grew up together in the slums of post-War Naples.
Elena, having escaped to Milan after the publication of her first book, struggles to find the courage to live, parent and write again after her marriage to her increasingly dismissive husband Pietro.
Lila, meanwhile, also struggles to rise above her social conditions and desperately tries to find a way to better herself in whatever way she can. By day she suffers the daily abuse and exploitation at work in the local sausage factory and by night she works hard with her partner, Enzo, to make a difference with her life by studying hard the ever-changing face of technology.
Struggling with periods of mental darkness, she also wrestles with being a parent and finding the time to be true to herself. Eventually she is encouraged by a group of old friends and young students to admit her anger at the social adversity and abuses suffered by the women at work in the factory and to stand up and shout about it.
As always, amid the troubles, the two women turn to each other, gaining either strength or weakness from the other, not always to happy effect.
Lila Cerullo ...... Anastasia Hille
Elena Greco ...... Monica Dolan
Father ...... Richard Tate
Old Professor ...... Richard Tate
Nino Sarratore ...... Daniel Flynn
Adele ...... Sylvestra Le Touzel
Pietro ...... Ferdinand Kingsley
Mother ...... Jane Whittenshaw
Elisa ...... Nelly Harker
Ada ...... Nelly Harker
Gino ...... Tom Bevan
Michele ...... Daniel Ryan
Carmela ...... Louise Calf
Mariarosa ...... Claudia Jolly
Juan ...... James Joyce
Bruno ...... James Joyce
Franco ...... Simon Scardifield
Sylvia ...... Marisa Abela
Pasquale ...... Nicholas Gleaves
Enzo ...... Carl Prekopp
Teresa ...... Caroline Gruber
Filippo ...... Nicholas Boulton
Tarratano ...... Nicholas Boulton
Dario ...... Tom Glenister
Professor Galiani ...... Sara Markland
Nadia ...... Jayne McKenna
Armando ...... Josh Dylan
Edo ...... Fred Haig
Peppe ...... Joe Bolland
Student ...... Phoebe Marshall
Student ...... Joe Bolland
Student ...... Marisa Abela
Student ...... Declan Mason
Student ...... Nicholas Armfield
Dramatised for radio by Timberlake Wertenbaker
Directed by Celia de Wolff
A Pier production for BBC Radio 4. First broadcast in June 2017.
SAT 04:00 Podcast Radio Hour (m000mln5)
Pens, Pipe Organs and Portable Toilets - Niche Podcasts
Amanda Litherland and Becca Bryers explore niche podcasts from around the world.
From pipe organs to portable toilets, there's a podcast out there about almost everything, and in this week's Podcast Radio Hour Amanda and Becca explore a wealth of listens.
Myke Hurley from Relay FM joins to talk about "The Pen Addict", a stationery podcast with more than 400 epiodes.
Then Helen Wilkinson and Caroline Somos from "Love to Sew" discuss their craft podcast, which covers a range of topics from linen to social justice sewing.
Plus recommendations including:
The Ships Log
Get Flushed
People Movers
Unearthed: Mysteries from an unseen world
QueenPod
Desert Island Discworld
Come Ogre Here
Song By Song
E20 Podcast
The Thing About That: A Modern Woman's Guide to Getting Married
Purrcast
Lunchwatch with Johnny White Really Really
Hot Pipes
SAT 05:00 Alone (b0b1tblr)
Series 1
Just Say No
A sitcom, written by Moray Hunter and starring Angus Deayton, about five single, middle aged neighbours living in flats in a converted house in North London.
Mitch (Angus Deayton) is a widower and part-time therapist who is looking to put his life back together now that he is single and living - supposedly temporarily - with Will (Pearce Quigley), his younger, more volatile and unhappily divorced half-brother.
Elsewhere in the building are schoolteacher Ellie (Abigail Cruttenden) who is shy, nervous and desperately missing her ex-boyfriend, overly honest, frustrated actress Louisa (Kate Isitt), and socially inept IT nerd Morris (Bennett Arron).
In Just Say No, Mitch's inability to say no causes problems when he agrees to go for drinks with Ellie and a friend of hers, Marie (Hilary MacLean), who is keen to meet him, and then agrees also to help out Morris by making up a four for a dinner party on the same evening.
Louisa meanwhile has a big casting opportunity and, perhaps unwisely, enrols the services of Will to help her film a scene.
An Absolutely production for BBC Radio 4.
SAT 05:30 Dot (b08pdxl5)
Series 2
Teeth
by Ed Harris
Comic adventures with Dot and the gals from personnel. The fellas are going squiffy over Myrtle's new gnashers, and as Hollywood beckons, how will Dot take the news she is no longer the star of her own show? Ed Harris' rollicking war time comedy set in the personnel department of the Cabinet Rooms. Stars Fenella Woolgar.
SAT 06:00 JCW Brook - A Dream of Murder (b051wq0h)
Six years ago, Helen dreamt her first husband died - and now the dream has started again.
Paul.........................................................Nigel Anthony
Roger......................................................Sean Barrett
Helen.......................................................Sheila Grant
Andrew.................................................. Alan MacNaughton
Jean..........................................................Rosalind Shanks
Sue Harris............................................. Tammy Ustinov
Mr Bruce............................................ - Manning Wilson
Waitress................................................ Alison Draper
Barmaid................................................. Josie Kidd
Bus Driver............................................. Fred Bryant
Drama written by J C W Brook
Radiophonic Sound by Paddy Kingsland
Directed by Ian Cotterell
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in March 1979.
SAT 07:30 Great Lives (b064z4sw)
Series 37
Vicky Pryce on Melina Mercouri
Matthew Parris's guest is Vicky Pryce, the Greek born economist, who attracted media headlines on her conviction over speeding points incurred by her former husband, Chris Huhne.
Vicky has chosen the film star turned politician, Melina Mercouri who believed culture to be as important as money or power - if not more so. As Minister for Culture, she promoted Greece's cultural heritage and fought for the return of the Elgin Marbles. Some consider one her greatest achievements to be the founding of the European Capital of Culture.
Expert witness is Adrian Wootton OBE, Chief Executive of Film London and Victoria Solomonidis contributes
Producer Maggie Ayre
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 2015.
SAT 08:00 Quote... Unquote (m0001hk0)
Nigel Rees quizzes a host of celebrity guests on the origins of sayings and well-known quotes, and gets the famous panel to share their favourite anecdotes and quotes.
* Writer and novelist Monica Ali
* Broadcaster and journalist Henry Kelly
* Actress and impressionist Jan Ravens
This is the 54th series of the popular humorous celebrity quotations quiz,.
In almost forty years, Nigel Rees has been joined by writers, actors, musicians, scientists and various comedy types. Kenneth Williams, Judi Dench, PD James, Larry Adler, Ian KcKellen, Peter Cook, Kingsley Amis, Peter Ustinov… have all graced the Quote Unquote stage.
Presenter: Nigel Rees
Producer: Simon Nicholls
A BBC Studios production for BBC Radio 4 first broadcast in December 2018.
SAT 08:30 Kathmandu or Bust (b01pkmq0)
The Truck Stops Here
The travellers have reached... um, well, actually they're lost in the middle of Uzbekistan. Stars David Haig. From July 1996.
SAT 09:00 I Did It My Way (b009qh5q)
Andy Hamilton
The devil himself talks! The writer and star of 'Old Harry's Game' talks to Peter Reed about his radio life and times.
Featuring The Million Pound Radio Show (July 1991), Old Harry's Game (July 1995 and April 1998), Revolting People (February 2000) and Trevor's World of Sport (Mar 2007).
Andy Hamilton has been involved with some of the finest television comedies of the last four decades - Not the Nine O'Clock News, Drop the Dead Donkey and latterly Outnumbered. Television alone is not the only successful arena for Andy- Old Harry's Game, Revolting People and Trevor's World of Sport are just some of his radio triumphs. 2014 saw Andy's film What We Did On Our Holiday reach cinemas featuring David Tennant, Rosamund Pike and Billy Connolly.
Produced by Martin Dempsey.
SAT 12:00 Yes Minister (b007jltg)
Series 2
The Greasy Pole
Blending jobs with chemicals makes an explosive mixture for MP Jim Hacker.
Antony Jay and Jonathan Lynn satirical sitcom ran on BBC TV between 1980 and 1984. Yes Minister is centred around the hapless Jim Hacker and a collection of civil service underlings headed by the Machiavellian Sir Humphrey Appleby and obsequious Bernard.
CAST:
Jim Hacker …. Paul Eddington
Sir Humphrey Appleby …. Nigel Hawthorne
Bernard Woolley …. Derek Fowldes
Joan Littler, MP …. Brenda Blethyn
Sir Wally Macfarlane …. Freddie Earlle
Professor Henderson …. Jerome Willis
Lord Crichton …. Geoffrey Toone
Lady Crichton …. Helena Breck
The Protestor …. Helen Atkinson Wood
Newsreader …. Moira Stuart
Adapted for radio by producer Pete Atkin.
First broadcast on Radio 4 in 1984.
SAT 12:30 Relativity (b092p790)
Series 1
Episode 1
Richard Herring's comedy about four generations of a family. Starring Alison Steadman, Phil Davies and Richard Herring.
Relativity is a witty and loving portrait of family life, with affectionate observation of inter generational misunderstanding, sibling sparring and the ties that bind, that will resonate with anyone who has ever argued with their dad about how to pronounce crisp brand names.
Episode 1:
Ian brings home new girlfriend Chloe. His mum Margaret desperately hopes she is the one, dad Ken can't wait to try out his shampoo joke - again, while sister Jane, brother in law Pete and their three teen children try to get to the bottom of just what the attractive, intelligent, witty 30-something Chloe sees in serial dater and under employed 40-plus actor, Ian.
Written by Richard Herring and produced by Polly Thomas.
Sound Design: Eloise Whitmore
Broadcast Assistants: Bella Lamplough Shields, Bryony Jarvis Taylor
Producer: Polly Thomas
Executive Producers: Jon Thoday and Richard Allen Turner
An Avalon Television production for BBC Radio 4.
SAT 13:00 Hercule Poirot (b01073s1)
Peril at End House
Episode 1
Belgian sleuth Hercule Poirot is on holiday in Cornwall when a bullet lands at his feet at the Majestic Hotel...
Agatha Christie's whodunit stars John Moffatt as Hercule Poirot
From the book first published in 1932 and dramatised in five parts by Michael Bakewell
Hercule Poirot …. John Moffatt
Captain Hastings …. Simon Williams
Nick Buckley …. Gemma Saunders
Frederica Rice …. Suzanna Hamilton
George Challenger …. Andrew Wincott
Director: Enyd Williams
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in November 2000.
SAT 13:30 Hercule Poirot (b0107wtp)
Peril at End House
Episode 2
The Belgian sleuth and Captain Hastings attend Maggie Buckley's dinner party and make a startling discovery.
Agatha Christie's whodunit stars John Moffatt as Hercule Poirot
Hercule Poirot …. John Moffatt
Captain Hastings …. Simon Williams
Nick Buckley …. Gemma Saunders
Frederica Rice …. Suzanna Hamilton
Mr Croft …. Terence Edmond
Mrs Croft …. Richenda Carey
Charles Vyse …. Stephen Critchlow
Maggie Buckley …. Elizabeth Conboy
Jimmy Lazarus …. Sean Arnold
Dramatist: Michael Bakewell
Director: Enyd Williams
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in November 2000.
SAT 14:00 Hercule Poirot (b01084hc)
Peril at End House
Episode 3
Belgian sleuth Hercule Poirot discovers the identity of the body - and then turns his attention to some old letters.
Agatha Christie's whodunit stars John Moffatt as Hercule Poirot.
Hercule Poirot …. John Moffatt
Captain Hasting …. Simon Williams
Nick Buckley …. Gemma Saunders
Frederica Rice …. Suzanna Hamilton
Ellen …. Hilda Schroder
George Challenger …. Andrew Wincott
Police Inspector …. David Thorpe
Dramatist: Michael Bakewell
Director: Enyd Williams
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in December 2000.
SAT 14:30 Hercule Poirot (b010928t)
Peril at End House
Episode 4
Belgian sleuth Hercule Poirot and Captain Hastings head to London to meet up with Chief Inspector Japp.
Agatha Christie's whodunit stars John Moffatt as Hercule Poirot.
Hercule Poirot …. John Moffatt
Captain Hastings …. Simon Williams
Frederica Rice …. Suzanna Hamilton
George Challenger …. Andrew Wincott
Nick Buckley …. Gemma Saunders
Mr Croft …. Terence Edmond
Mrs Croft …. Richenda Carey
Charles Vyse …. Stephen Critchlow
Doctor …. Mark Holloway
Chief Inspector Japp …. Bryan Pringle
Dramatist: Michael Bakewell
Director: Enyd Williams
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in December 2000.
SAT 15:00 Hercule Poirot (b0109byt)
[Repeat of broadcast at 01:30 today]
SAT 15:30 A Good Read (b00vhgjr)
Judith Kerr and Matthew Kneale
Judith Kerr was known to generations of young readers for her celebrated series of Mogg books and her semi-autobiographical novel, When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit, a child's view of the rise of Nazism in pre-war Germany. Judith chose a powerful graphic novel, Maus by Art Spiegelman, which describes his father's wartime experiences as a Holocaust survivor.
Alongside Judith is her son Matthew Kneale, whose novel English Passengers won the Whitbread Book of the Year Prize in 2000. Matthew chooses Ryszard Kapuscinski's account of the fall of the Ethiopian dictator, Haile Selassie. They also discuss Sue MacGregor's choice, Jane Austen's Sense and Sensibility.
The Complete MAUS by Art Spiegelman
Publ. Penguin
The Emperor: Downfall of an Autocrat by Ryszard Kapuscinski
Publ. Penguin Classics
Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen
Publ. Penguin Modern Classics
Producer Mark Smalley
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in October 2010.
SAT 16:00 Mike Walker - Spoiling Egypt (m000msr6)
Tom Lee has been promoted to Special Branch where he can command as much surveillance equipment as he wants, but then he becomes fixated on a particular case. He is convinced that a drugs and arms ring are linked. Colleagues move on - but Tom keeps listening in.
A drama by Mike Walker
Tom Lee:.................................................Brian Cox
Bryant......................................................Norman Jones
Bonnie Lee.............................................Maggie McCarthy
Det Sgt.....................................................David Sinclair
Det Inspector Pike...............................David Garth
Det Chief Supt Roche....................... Arnold Diamond
Mrs Bryant.............................................Alex Marshall
Sandy Bryant........................................Helena Breck
Ami Pealsart.........................................Jack Klaff
Sue Bradley..........................................Tessa Worsley
Vernon...................................................Guy Holden
Det Con Richards..............................Robin Summers
Det Con Thomdike..........................Mark Straker
Phil.........................................................Christopher Douglas
Director Peter King
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in March 1985.
SAT 17:30 Great Lives (b064z4sw)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:30 today]
SAT 18:00 Marcy Kahan - The Uncertainty Principle (m000msr9)
It’s New York in 2099, at a time when people know exactly how long they’ll live… or do they?
Confusion reigns for four people whose expiry dates have been thrown into question.
Adam …. Kerry Shale
Chloe …. Mia Soteriou
Igor …. Clive Swift
Sanjay …. Paul Battacharjee
Nicki …. Barbara Barnes
Frederick …. Nigel Anthony
Written by Marcy Kahan
Music composed and played by Mia Soteriou.
Director: Gordon House
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 1999.
SAT 19:00 I Did It My Way (b009qh5q)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:00 today]
SAT 22:00 Linda Smith's A Brief History of Timewasting (b00ftk3l)
Series 1
Opera, Gas and Gardening
When Linda's neighbour Betty invites the Ground Force team round, some unlikely gardeners arrive.
Comedy series written by and starring Linda Smith.
With Jeremy Hardy, Hattie Hayridge, Martin Hyder, Margaret John and Chris Neill.
Producer: Lucy Armitage
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in July 2001.
SAT 22:30 Rhod Gilbert's Bulging Barrel of Laughs (b00trxr0)
Episode 3
Welsh comic Rhod Gilbert introduces regulars Lloyd Langford and Greg Davies, plus Sarah Millican who takes a weekly look at The Six Stages of Woman.
With live music from Kid British, including Lost in London, Winner and Two Out of Seven.
Guest comedian is Edinburgh Comedy Award winner Mark Watson.
Join Rhod for his Rant on irritating products, delve into Rhod’s Confessions where Lloyd Langford impresses the girls with his French - and see if Greg Davies can tempt you with his Indecent Proposal.
Producers: Julia Mckenzie and Lianne Coop.
First broadcast on BBC Radio 2 in September 2010
SAT 23:30 The Mary Whitehouse Experience (b044w48c)
Series 4
Episode 4
Hugh Dennis, Steve Punt, Robert Newman and David Baddiel tackle swearing and enmity for famous Nigels. From November 1990.