SATURDAY 26 DECEMBER 2020

SAT 00:00 Robert Louis Stevenson - Markheim (m000qlnl)
"Murder is no special category. All sins are murder as all life is war. I have no interest in evil acts - only in evil men."
When Markheim makes a fateful decision, a stranger offers his support. But who is he and why is he helping?
Written by Tom Wright - based on the short story by Robert Louis Stevenson.
Markheim ...... Tom Watson
Stranger ...... Malcolm Hayes
Deader ...... Martin Heller
Producer: Gordon Emslie
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in September 1971.
SAT 00:30 Off the Page (b00chy5f)
Boasting
Dominic Arkwright chairs the lively discussion series.
He is joined by Toby Young, author of How to Lose Friends and Alienate People, and Camilla Wright, aka Popbitch, to consider whether it is possible to be successful in the modern era without a great deal of self-promotion.
SAT 01:00 A Charles Paris Mystery (b085bf8l)
The Cinderella Killer
4. They're Behind You
With the body count rising amongst the cast of the Panto, the line 'they're behind you' is beginning to take on a sinister meaning.
But Charles' skills amount to far more than shaking his booty as an Ugly Sister, he finds time to confront the killer too.
Concluding episode starring Bill Nighy as actor-cum-sleuth, Charles Paris.
By Jeremy Front - based on Simon Brett's novel
Charles ..... Bill Nighy
Frances ..... Suzanne Burden
Maurice ..... Jon Glover
Danny ..... Sean Baker
DCI Naylor ..... Lorelei King
Gloria ..... Elizabeth Bennett
Kitty ..... Kirsty Oswald
Larry ..... Nick Underwood
Terry ..... Jason Barnett
Director: Sally Avens
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in December 2016.
SAT 01:30 Agatha Christie (b007k0bk)
The Sittaford Mystery
5. The Second Seance
Mr Rycroft decides that only by re-enacting the séance which announced the murder of Captain Trevelyan, will the identity of his killer finally be revealed.
The conclusion of Agatha Christie's whodunit starring Geoffrey Whitehead as Inspector Narracott.
Inspector Narracott …. Geoffrey Whitehead
Emily Trefusis …. Melinda Walker
Charles Enderby …. Stephen Tompkinson
Major Burnaby …. Norman Bird
Ellwood …. Jack May
Martin Dering …. David Goudge
Mr. Rycroft …. John Moffat
Ronnie Garfield …. Nigel Greaves
Mrs. Willett …. Susan Westerby
Violet Willett …. Victoria Carling
Brian Pearson …. Charles Simpson
Caroline Percehouse …. Margaret Courtenay
Mrs. Curtis …. Barbara Atkinson
Sergeant Pollock …. Vincent Brimble
Mr. Dacres …. David King
Beatrice …. Alice Arnold
Jennifer Gardner …. Anna Cropper
Brian Pearson …. Charles Simpson
Dramatised and directed by Michael Bakewell.
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in December 1990.
SAT 02:00 Maigret (m0001rzn)
A Maigret Christmas
Episode 5
On Christmas Day, as the snow begins to fall in Paris, Inspector Maigret receives two unexpected visitors. A young girl claims to have seen Father Christmas in her room, behaving strangely and cutting a hole in the floor. He agrees to investigate.
What is Madame Martin hiding? And what will become of Colette? Can Maigret discover the truth?
Sir Derek Jacobi concludes a classic Inspector Maigret mystery by Georges Simenon.
Translated by David Coward.
Abridged by Lauris Morgan-Griffiths.
Producer: Mair Bosworth
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in December 2018.
SAT 02:15 Little Women by Louisa May Alcott (b088jj60)
Aunt March Settles the Question
Winter brings snow and the bitter cold to New England and deep and worrying times for the family. Jo turns to Laurie for support.
Louisa May Alcott's coming of age story about love, destiny and freedom.
Meg ..... Natasha J Barnes
Jo ..... Julianna Jennings
Beth ..... Bryony Hannah
Amy ..... Samantha Dakin
Mrs March .....Tara Ward
Mr March ..... John Bowler
Laurie ..... Alex Lanipekun
Mr John Brooke ..... Finlay Robertson
Aunt March ..... Joanna Monro
Hannah ..... Alison Belbin
Mrs Hummel/Mrs Moffat ..... Karen Bartke
Sallie Gardiner ..... Natasha Cowley
Annie Moffat ..... Keziah Joseph
Ned Moffat ..... Luke MacGregor
Dramatised by Rhiannon Tise.
Director: Tracey Neale
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in January 2017.
SAT 02:30 Beatles Christmas (b018g6ws)
Let It Be – Christmas! When it came to celebrating the season, the chart-topping Fab Four pulled out all the stops to get festive for their fans.
The Beatles - John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr – made special fun-packed recordings for fan club members, panto appearances and their Boxing Day TV film 'Magical Mystery Tour'.
Alexei Sayle explores how the Liverpool legends’ fan club messages were recorded with comments from the man who wrote the scripts, their publicist Tony Barrow. The featured recordings reflect the changing stages of the Beatles career and creativity.
Back stage capers are also revealed from their two seasons in panto. Christmas 1963 saw them undertake 16 shows in full costumes – with 21 shows the following year.
Alexei also hears how their 'Magical Mystery Tour' film was made and came to debut on BBC 1 on Boxing Day.
Featuring singer Elkie Brooks, Barron Knights guitarist Peter Langford and film editor Roy Benson.
Producer: John Sugar
A Sugar production for BBC Radio 4 first broadcast in December 2011.
SAT 03:00 Lucy Gannon - Angels at Partridge Cottage (b086098z)
Zoe and Magnus want to spend Christmas away from it all, but the ghosts in their cottage have more traditional ideas...
Hedli Nicklaus and Ellie Haddington star in Lucy Gannon’s ghostly festive drama.
Zoe …. Hedli Niklaus
Polly …. Ellie Haddington
Charlie …. Roger Hume
Magnus …. John Dixon
Gary …. Ken Cumberlidge
Sophie …. Bernadette Windsor
Producer: Philip Martin.
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in December 1988.
SAT 04:00 The Personality Test (b007s27h)
Series 3
Lorraine Kelly
Breakfast TV queen Lorraine Kelly is in the hot seat posing questions all about her.
On the panel: comedians Sue Perkins, Lucy Porter, 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 Ballylenon (b007q9kc)
Series 2
Episode 2
Phonsie and his diminutive sidekick, columnist Stumpy Bonnar, battle to keep young Josie from the clutches of Packy McGoldrick, but have they met their match?
Series set in the sleepy town of Ballylenon, Co Donegal, in 1954, before the days of mass tourism and proper plumbing in every home.
Written by Christopher Fitz-Simon.
Phonsie Doherty …. T.P. McKenna
Muriel McConkey …. Margaret D'Arcy
Vera McConkey …. Stella McCusker
Vivienne Boal …. Aine McCartney
Guard Gallagher …. John Hewitt
Stumpy Bonnar …. Gerard McSorley
Packy McGoldrick …. Charlie Bonnar
Josie Doherty …. Ciara McKeown
Music arranged and performed by Stephanie Hughes.
Director: Eoin O'Callaghan
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in July 1995.
SAT 05:00 Clare in the Community (b0650619)
Series 10
Party On
The Sparrowhawk team hold a leaving do, and take the opportunity to reminisce.
Sally Phillips is Clare Barker the social worker who has all the right jargon but never a practical solution.
A control freak, Clare likes nothing better than interfering in other people's lives on both a professional and personal basis. Clare is in her thirties, white, middle class and heterosexual, all of which are occasional causes of discomfort to her.
Clare continually struggles to control both her professional and private life In today's Big Society there are plenty of challenges out there for an involved, caring social worker. Or even Clare.
Written by Harry Venning and David Ramsden.
Clare ...... Sally Phillips
Brian ...... Alex Lowe
Megan ...... Nina Conti
Ray ...... Richard Lumsden
Helen ...... Pippa Haywood
Libby ...... Sarah Kendall
Joan ...... Sarah Thom
Producer: Alexandra Smith.
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in August 2015.
SAT 05:30 Knowing Knowing Me, Knowing You: Alan Partridge Documentary (b00800kh)
Multiple award-winning chat show host Alan Partridge opens his private keyhole and allows you to kneel at it.
This behind-the-scenes documentary charts one hectic week in the life of Alan Partridge and his production team as they make an edition of his hit chat show ‘Knowing Me, Knowing You’.
And meet the man running the show, Glaswegian-Italian series producer, Mario Santini.
With thanks to Alan's chief researcher Steve Coogan.
Alan's assistants are Armando Iannucci, Patrick Marber, Doon MacKichan, Rebecca Front and David Schneider.
Producer: Sioned Wiliam.
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in July 1993.
SAT 06:00 Joan Aiken - The Wolves of Willoughby Chase (m000qlmj)
At the grand house of Willoughby Chase, Sylvia and Bonnie have been left in the care of the evil Miss Letitia Slighcarp.
The two cousins struggle to escape the clutches of their devious governess, who has designs on stealing Sir Willoughby’s fortune...
Jane Lapotaire stars in Joan Aiken’s wolf-infested, acclaimed historical - set in the 19th century during the reign of King James III.
Miss Slighcarp …. Jane Lapotaire
Bonnie …. Emily Watson
Sylvia …. Abigail Docherty
Narrator …. John Rowe
Grimshaw …. John Turner
Sir Willoughby …. Gavin Muir
Lady Green …. Kristen Milward
Simon …. Tom Bevan
Pattern …. Jilly Bond
Aunt Jane …. Eva Stuart
James …. David Antrobus
Dr Field …. Ian Masters
Gripe …. Derek Waring
Dr Horne …. George Parsons
Diana …. Elaine Claxton
Emma …. Natasha Pyne
Lucy/Cook …. Becky Hindley
Dramatised by Eric Pringle
Director: Cherry Cookson
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in December 1994.
SAT 07:30 The Turtle Dove Pilgrimage (m00035zf)
Folk singer Sam Lee and William Parsons of the British Pilgrimage Trust, lead 11 pilgrims on a journey across Sussex tracing the origins of the iconic folk song ‘The Turtle Dove’.
Over a 100 years ago, composer Ralph Vaughan Williams travelled through Rusper, Sussex, collecting the stories and songs of the locals he encountered. He stopped at the Plough Inn, where he set up his Edwardian recording equipment to capture the songs of the pub’s landlord, whose crackled voice and haunting melodies can still be heard today.
Vaughan Williams transformed one of the humble folk songs, The Turtle Dove, into a choral hit – extracting the song from Sussex and exporting it to the concert halls of London.
This Pilgrimage seeks to return the song to the land from which it was taken.
Moving through woods, churchyards and village halls, the pilgrims sing as they progress toward the Knepp rewilding estate, where they hope to sing The Turtle Dove to the last remaining colony of turtle doves in Sussex.
Along the way, the pilgrims muse on the meaning of pilgrimage in a secular age and the contemporary relevance of this ancient song.
Producer: Claire Crofton
A TBI production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in March 2019.
SAT 08:00 All the Way from Memphis (b00mb1r1)
Series 2
Episode 3
James Walton tests and tickles the knowledge of industry pundits and people passionate about pop music.
Team captains Tracey MacLeod and Andrew Collins are joined by Danny Kelly and Clare Grogan to be put through their musical paces.
Reader: Beth Chalmers
Written and researched by James Walton
Producer: Dawn Ellis
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in May 2006.
SAT 08:30 Life in London (b0121lz3)
An End to Life in London
With Bob "on the Fleet" for debts, Tom betrayed by Kate, and Jerry so fatigued that rustication is recommended, is this an end to the trio's adventures?
Some years on, an older, more reflective Egan ruminates on the heyday of Life in London.
Starring Greg Wise and Mark Gatiss.
Conclusion of Pierce Egan’s 19th-century comic novel adapted by Dan Tetsell.
Pierce Egan ... Geoffrey McGivern
Theodore Holt ... Giles Taylor
Corinthian Tom ... Greg Wise
George Sala ... Ben Graves
Jerry Hawthorn Mark Gatiss
Fanny Margaret ... Cabourn Smith
Bob Logic ... James Bachman
Corinthian Kate ... Amanda Abbington
Original music by Ben Walker
Producer: Tilusha Ghelani
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in June 2006.
SAT 09:00 Nasty Women (b09ptz3w)
Ever since Donald Trump dubbed Hillary Clinton a 'nasty woman' during a presidential debate, women the world over embraced the term as a battle-cry.
They responded not only with a viral campaign on social media but with Nasty Woman T-shirts, perfumes and cocktails. This spirited response chimes with a long tradition of feisty female comedians on the radio.
In this three-hour showcase from the BBC Radio Theatre in London, Jan Ravens charts the story of female comedy.
In a sometimes frank discussion, Jan and her guests - Kiri Pritchard-McLean, Lauren Pattison and BBC radio commissioning editor, Sioned William- introduce five classic episodes to illustrate the journey from character comedy to satire:
Featuring:
* Sarah Millican’s Support Group
* Goodness Gracious Me
* Bridget Christie Minds The Gap
* Dead Ringers
* Mae Martin’s Guide to 21st Century Addiction.
Producer: Mohini Patel
Made for BBC Radio 4 Extra and first broadcast in January 2018.
SAT 12:00 The Goon Show (m0001p37)
Series 10
A Christmas Carol
Charles Dickens's classic tale for Christmas but with several twists.
Groundbreaking, surreal BBC radio comedy written by Spike Milligan.
Starring:
Peter Sellers
Harry Secombe
Spike Milligan
Jack Train
First billed as Crazy People, ten series of The Goon Show were recorded between 1951 and 1960, but sadly many of the earliest shows weren’t kept in the archive.
With the Ray Ellington Quartet and Max Geldray.
Orchestra conducted by Wally Stott.
Announcer: Wallace Greenslade
Producer: John Browell
First broadcast on the BBC Home Service in December 1959.
SAT 12:30 The Missing Hancocks (b06s87ls)
Series 2
The Trial of Father Christmas
The Anthony Hancock Strolling Players present a cautionary tale of Christmas as it might be.
Between 1954 and 1959, BBC Radio recorded 102 episodes of Galton and Simpson's classic sitcom Hancock's Half Hour. But 20 went missing from the BBC archives, and had not been heard since their original transmission… until these faithful re-imaginings.
After a highly acclaimed first series, another five were lovingly re-recorded in front of a live audience at London's BBC Radio Theatre.
Tony Hancock …. Kevin McNally
Bill Kerr …. Kevin Eldon
Sid James …. Simon Greenall
Kenneth Williams …. Robin Sebastian
Andre Melly …. Susy Kane
With Simon Greenall and John Finnemore
Newly recorded score by the BBC Concert Orchestra
Written by Ray Galton and Alan Simpson
Produced by Ed Morrish and Neil Pearson
Originally broadcast on the BBC Light Programme on 21 December 1955.
Recreated for broadcast by BBC Radio Comedy for BBC Radio 4 and first broadcast in December 2015.
SAT 13:00 Agatha Christie (b0081rx2)
The Sittaford Mystery
1. The Message
A blizzard has hit England.
In the tiny village of Sittaford, on the fringes of Dartmoor, a party of six is gathered in Sittaford House, home of Captain Trevelyan. He's rented the house out for the winter and is staying in a nearby village. As evening draws in, a séance is proposed.
But it reveals something far more sinister than they'd all anticipated...
Starring Geoffrey Whitehead and Barbara Atkinson.
First published in 1931, Agatha Christie's whodunit dramatised in five parts.
Inspector Narracott …. Geoffrey Whitehead
Mrs. Curtis …. Barbara Atkinson
Major Burnaby …. Norman Bird
Mrs. Willett …. Susan Westerby
Violet Willett …. Victoria Carling
Mr. Rycroft …. John Moffat
Mr. Duke …. Michael Graham Cox
Ronnie Garfield …. Nigel Greaves
Sergeant Pollock …. Vincent Brimble
Doctor Warren …. Michael Kilgarriff
Evans …. Donald Gee
Jim Pearson …. Stephen Garlick
Dramatised and directed by Michael Bakewell.
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in January 1990.
SAT 13:30 Agatha Christie (b007jlqg)
The Sittaford Mystery
2. An Arrest for Murder
A seance at the remote Sittaford House has revealed the murder of Captain Trevelyan.
But who could have killed a man who didn't have an enemy in the world...?
Geoffrey Whitehead stars in Agatha Christie's whodunit.
Inspector Narracott …. Geoffrey Whitehead
Evans …. Donald Gee
Mrs. Belling …. Jo Kendall
Major Burnaby …. Norman Bird
Williamson …. David Goudge
Kirkwood …. John Gabriel
Charles Enderby …. Stephen Tompkinson
Beatrice …. Alice Arnold
Mrs. Gardner …. Anna Cropper
Sylvia Dering …. Susan Sheridan
Jim Pearson …. Stephen Garlick
Emily Trefusis …. Melinda Walker
Dramatised and directed by Michael Bakewell.
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in January 1990.
SAT 14:00 Agatha Christie (b007k07y)
The Sittaford Mystery
3. Emily Goes to Work
James Pearson has been arrested for the murder of his uncle.
But his fiancee Emily is determined to prove his innocence.
Geoffrey Whitehead stars in Agatha Christie's whodunnit.
Inspector Narracott …. Geoffrey Whitehead
Emily Trefusis …. Melinda Walker
Charles Enderby …. Stephen Tompkinson
Mrs. Belling …. Jo Kendall
Mrs. Willett …. Susan Westerby
Violet Willett …. Victoria Carling
Mrs. Curtis …. Barbara Atkinson
Major Burnaby …. Norman Bird
Maid …. Jane Slavin
Cab Driver …. Vincent Brimble
Dramatised and directed by Michael Bakewell.
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in January 1990.
SAT 14:30 Agatha Christie (b007k097)
The Sittaford Mystery
4. A Recipe for Ginger Cake
Emily suspects that the Willetts, - who've rented Sittaford House, - are somehow involved in the murder of Captain Trevelyan.
But how can she get into the house?
Geoffrey Whitehead stars in Agatha Christie's whodunnit.
Inspector Narracott …. Geoffrey Whitehead
Emily Trefusis …. Melinda Walker
Charles Enderby …. Stephen Tompkinson
Mrs. Curtis …. Barbara Atkinson
Mr. Rycroft …. John Moffat
Ronnie Garfield …. Nigel Greaves
Caroline Percehouse …. Margaret Courtenay
Dora …. Jane
Violet Willett …. Victoria Carling
Mr. Dacres …. David King
Beatrice …. Alice Arnold
Jennifer Gardner …. Anna Cropper
Brian Pearson …. Charles Simpson
Dramatised and directed by Michael Bakewell.
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in January 1990.
SAT 15:00 Agatha Christie (b007k0bk)
[Repeat of broadcast at 01:30 today]
SAT 15:30 A Good Read (b011p60h)
Chris Smith and Mavis Cheek
Harriett Gilbert and her guests - politician, Lord Chris Smith and novelist, Mavis Cheek - discuss their favourite books by Robert Macfarlane, Frances Kay and Jackie Kay.
Trumpet by Jackie Kay
Publisher: Picador
The Wild Places by Robert Macfarlane
Publisher: Granta Books
Micka by Frances Kay
Publisher: Picador
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in June 2011.
SAT 16:00 Joan Aiken - The Wolves of Willoughby Chase (m000qlmj)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:00 today]
SAT 17:30 The Turtle Dove Pilgrimage (m00035zf)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:30 today]
SAT 18:00 Charles Dickens (b09k8r00)
The Story of the Goblins who Stole a Sexton
A less than merry grave-digger is persuaded to change his ways.
Sir Ralph Richardson and Wilfred Brown star in this tale from 'The Pickwick Papers' by Charles Dickens.
Storyteller ...... Ralph Richardson
King of the Goblins ...... Wilfred Brown
Music composed and conducted by Christopher Whelen.
Goblins: The Ambrosian Singers.
Adapted and produced by Charles Lefeaux.
First broadcast on the BBC Home Service in December 1962.
SAT 18:30 Michael Robson - The Spirit of the House (b09k8q2f)
Dick and Alison retire after 30 years in the Far East, to realize their dream of an English home.
On Christmas Eve, however, this dream becomes a nightmare without end...
Ghostly drama written by Michael Robson.
Dick Lennox …. Bernard Brown
Alison Lennox …. Sheila Grant
Wedderburn …. Norman Bird
George Evans …. David Goodland
Daphne Evans …. Carole Boyd
The Revered Colet …. lan Dudley
Director: Gerry Jones
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in May 1988.
SAT 19:00 Nasty Women (b09ptz3w)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:00 today]
SAT 22:00 The Museum of Curiosity (b06vk8xv)
Series 8
Walsh, Dubner, Bramwell
Professor of Ignorance John Lloyd and his curator Sarah Millican welcome:
* Holly Walsh, comedian and would-be medieval scholar
* Stephen J. Dubner, co-author of Freakonomics, a best-selling book that turned our understanding of economics on its head
* Dr David Bramwell, author, comic, and adventurer whose book The No 9 Bus To Utopia recounts his year-long pilgrimage in search of a Better Life.
The Museum's Guest Committee speculate on what drove medieval monks to draw obscene doodles on sacred manuscripts; why a mind-reading microchip could see the end of civilisation as we know it; and an interesting theory about who all those streakers were at 1970s sports events.
Researchers: Anne Miller and Molly Oldfield of QI.
Producers: Richard Turner and James Harkin.
A BBC Radio Comedy production for BBC Radio 4 first broadcast in January 2016.
SAT 22:30 The Maltby Collection (b00mvr2w)
Series 3
Episode 6
Walter continues to be suspicious of his wife's attempts at reconciliation, and the Crumb-Looselys' long-distance relationship steers towards the rocks.
Geoffrey Palmer and Julian Rhind-Tutt star in series 3 of David Nobbs’s sitcom about a small museum of paintings and sculpture.
Rod Millet ...... Julian Rhind-Tutt
Walter Brindle ...... Geoffrey Palmer
Prunella Edgecumbe ...... Rachel Atkins
Susie Maltby ...... Margaret Cabourn-Smith
Julian Crumb-Loosely ...... Ben Willbond
Wilf Arbuthnot ...... Geoff McGivern
Eva Tattle ...... Juklia Deakin
Des Wainwright ...... Michael Smiley
Stelios Constantinopoulis ...... Chris Pavlo
Gloria Brindle ...... Helen Atkinson-Wood
Vicar ...... Stephen K Amos
Producer: Colin Anderson
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in September 2009.
SAT 23:00 Elis James's Pantheon of Heroes (b01pp6xb)
Series 2
Showbiz
Sarah Siddons, Richard Burton and Caradog (Cor Mawr).
Comedian Elis James compares key figures in Welsh history to determine the ultimate heroes of Wales.
With Ben Partridge and Nadia Kamil.
Written by Elis James, Gareth Gwyn and Benjamin Partridge.
Producer: Sharif Shahwan
First broadcast on BBC Radio Wales in January 2013.
SAT 23:30 4 at the Store (b007jw7y)
Series 2
Episode 1
Simon Bligh hosts a Christmas flavoured stand-up comedy show, with Luke Ponte, Mitch Benn and Ian Moore. From December 2001.