SATURDAY 02 JANUARY 2021

SAT 00:00 Mad Monkton by Wilkie Collins (m000qngx)
'I see the figure of a dark-complexioned man, standing up, with his head uncovered. One of his hands, still clutching a pistol, has fallen to his side; the other presses a bloody handkerchief to his mouth. And thus I have seen him ever since the moment of his death.'
Has the youngest son Alfred inherited the hereditary madness that’s said to blight the Monkton family?
Wilkie Collins's classic story adapted for radio by Michael Robson.
Alfred Monkton … John Castle
Piers Fortune … Gary Bond
Ada Elmslie … Sandra Freeman
Damian … Lewis Stringer
Captain Rounce … Geoffrey Matthews
Devised and directed by Derek Hoddinott.
First broadcast on the BBC World Service in March 1976.
SAT 00:30 Off the Page (b00cqhr5)
Winning Ugly
Dominic Arkwright chairs the lively discussion series.
He is joined by prospective MP Wilfred Emmanuel Jones, writer Susannah Jowitt and former rugby international Brian Moore, who played on the losing side in the World Cup Final in 1991 and remains haunted by the event.
SAT 01:00 Some Mother's Son (m000qngn)
1. Tip-Off
Andy is an ecology journalist who finds himself receiving a curious tip-off about a gold raid.
Starring Nick Chilvers.
John Fletcher's six-part thriller serial taking in global power struggles, smuggling and the dangers of uranium.
Andy ... Nick Chilvers
Sir Jack ... Conrad Phillips
Grey ... Rex Holdsworth
Kite ... Gregory de Polnay
Julian ... Clive Francis
Shirley ... Diane Fletcher
Mike Monk ... Christian Rodska
Lizzie ... Sheila Grant
Director: Brian Miller.
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in January 1987.
SAT 01:30 Hercule Poirot (b007jxgg)
One, Two Buckle My Shoe
Episode 5
With a killer still at large, the Belgian detective finds inspiration in the words of a psalm sung by the village church choir.
Conclusion of Agatha Christie's whodunit starring John Moffatt as Hercule Poirot.
Dramatised by Michael Bakewell.
Hercule Poirot ...... John Moffatt
Chief Inspector Japp ...... Philip Jackson
Frank Carter ...... Dominic Colchester
Alistair Blunt ...... Philip Franks
Jane Olivera ...... Amanda Waring
Mr Barnes ...... Patrick Godfrey
Howard Raikes ...... Robert Portal
Original music composed by Tom Smail.
Director: Enyd Williams
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in August 2004.
SAT 02:00 Believe Me by Eddie Izzard (b08x9813)
5. Marathons
The idea of taking on unusual sporting challenges appealed to Eddie Izzard – so she took on a gruelling regime of running back to back marathons throughout the length of the UK
In this memoir, Eddie has taken us on a journey through her life - one during which she's discovered much about herself along the way, and come to terms with not fitting into the box that most of us like to put people in.
With a nod to the surreal humour and disarming candour of her shows, and some occasional digressions, Believe Me tells the story of a child losing their mother yet who’s risen to become a star of comedy and drama, a leading advocate of total clothing rights, and an extreme runner of marathons.
Written and concluded by Eddie Izzard.
Director: Lizzie Davies
Abridged and produced by Jill Waters
A Waters Company production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in June 2017.
SAT 02:15 Little Women by Louisa May Alcott (b08bbg1j)
Harvest Time
Meg has her family and Amy is enjoying her life abroad but Jo's heart aches with a ceaseless longing for what she has lost.
The concluding episode of Louisa May Alcott's coming of age story dramatised by Rhiannon Tise.
Jo …. Julianna Jennings
Mrs March …. Tara Ward
Mr March …. John Bowler
Meg …. Natasha Barnes
Professor Bhaer …. Gunnar Cauthery
Amy …. Samantha Dakin
Laurie …. Alex Lanipekun
Produced and Directed by Tracey Neale.
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in January 2017.
SAT 02:30 Natural Histories (b08wp3gh)
Cow
Brett Westwood investigates the peaceful, hefty, cud-chewing beasts which have been by our side for thousands of years.
Discover what Shakespeare made of this special relationship, hear Dinka songs from the intense cattle-based cultures of South Sudan and travel to a Leicestershire dairy where robots do the milking.
It's a pastoral scene and a violent one too: the fearsome virility of the bull in the poetry of Lorca, sacred cows prompting vigilante violence in India, and a Greek tyrant who would bake his victims alive in a giant metal bull, its resonance turning their cries to moos.
From all this bovine history it's clear that the domestication of the cow has fundamentally changed human society.
Producer: Melvin Rickarby
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in July 2017.
SAT 03:00 The Boy, The Mole, The Fox and The Horse (m000r630)
Experience the world of a curious boy, a greedy mole, a wary fox and a wise horse who find themselves together, in sometimes difficult terrain, sharing their greatest fears and biggest discoveries about vulnerability, kindness, hope, friendship and love.
The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse was written and read by Charlie Mackesy.
The music was by Max Richter and Isobel Waller-Bridge.
It was produced by Colm Roche and mixed by Eli Block, with sound design by Ivor Manley
This is a shortened version of the Penguin Audio Production of The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse audiobook.
SAT 03:50 Inheritance Tracks (b093m4gp)
John Cooper Clarke
The Bard of Salford chooses Bing Crosby and Al Jolson's The Spaniard Who Blighted My Life and Nick Lowe's Peace, Love and Understanding.
SAT 04:00 The Personality Test (b007sq67)
Series 3
Andrew Neil
Broadcaster and former Sunday Times Editor Andrew Neil is in the hot seat posing questions all about him.
On the panel: comedians Sue Perkins, Caroline Quinlan, 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 (b00g2djy)
Series 2
Episode 3
With clergy rumours buzzing - Vera McConkey's extra busy in the telephone exchange
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
Rev Samual Hawthorne …. Gerard Murphy
Mr. Mawhinney …. Harry Towb
Music arranged and performed by Stephanie Hughes.
Director: Eoin O'Callaghan
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 1995.
SAT 05:00 Dot (b055gcl6)
Pilot
Dot's had quite enough of making tea in the Cabinet War Rooms. When she finds a cryptic message in the newspaper she enlists the help of her gals Myrtle and Pearl.
Can they catch the spy? And will it prove to be the big break Dot's been waiting for?
Pilot by Ed Harris for the rollicking wartime comedy set in the Cabinet War Rooms.
Dot ..... Fenella Woolgar
Myrtle ..... Kate O'Flynn
Pearl ..... Roslyn Hill
Millicent ..... Jane Slavin
Peabody ..... David Acton
Ken ..... Stephen Critchlow
Director: Jessica Brown
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in March 2015.
SAT 05:30 Big Broadcast (m000qhh5)
Series 4
Politics
Neil Brand's musical caper set in a Chicago radio station in 1937. When a local property magnate uses the Hour of Charm to run for office, only a Hollywood star can stop him.
Cast
Katharine Hepburn ..... Susannah Fielding
Robert F. Winkler ..... Ian Conningham
Arthur Clarke ..... Neil McCaul
Barbara Meek ..... Bettrys Jones
Ramona Fairfax ..... Heather Craney
Jerry Soundguy ..... Hasan Dixon
Preston Lanister ..... Clive Hayward
Singer ..... Helen Neeves
Singer ..... Nancy Cole
Singer ..... Christopher Bowen
Singer ..... Jimmy Holliday
Foley ..... Alison Craig
Written and composed by Neil Brand
Directed by Jessica Dromgoole
SAT 06:00 DS Vogel - Body on the Heath (m000qxnw)
The young man found on London's Putney Heath had his throat cut from ear to ear.
It seems as if it could be suicide though it's not an easy way to kill yourself. But who is he, and if he did kill himself, what drove him to such a dreadful death?
Sergeant Vogel finds it difficult to find any satisfactory answers.
Douglas Livingstone, Nigel Hawthorne and Colette O'Neil star in Bill Lyons's police thriller.
Detective Sergeant Vogel …. Douglas Livingstone
Detective Superintendent Fraser …. Nigel Hawthorne
Sergeant Mann …. Walter Hall
PC Jackson …. Michael Harbour
Maureen Vogel …. Diana Bishop
Pathologist / Vogel …. Bruce Purchase
Hairdresser / Waiter / Carpark Attendant …. Alan Dudley
Laura Holland …. Colette O'Neill
Annie Viccars …. Valerie Murray
Eric Hills …. Christopher Bidmead
David Simon …. Steven Pacey
Mr Holland …. David Graham
David Simon .... Steven Pacey
Other parts by Irene Sutcliffe and Michael Tudor Barnes.
Director: Jane Morgan
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in October 1976.
SAT 07:30 Great Lives (b06ts10b)
Series 38
Martin Jennings on Charles Sargeant Jagger
In this episode, you might not know the name of the Great Life but you have probably walked past his work. At London's Hyde Park Corner - the 'Royal Artillery Memorial' stands – a huge stone monument.
Charles Sargeant Jagger was arguably the first British sculptor to try to capture the horror of war. A full-sized gun – a 9.2 howitzer protrudes from the top; four masculine soldiers surround the base – one a corpse.
Martin Jennings also a British sculptor, nominates Jagger as his Great Life. Along with the expert, art historian Ann Compton, they tell Matthew Parris how the First World War shaped and made Jagger. The producer is Perminder Khatkar.
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 2016.
SAT 08:00 All the Way from Memphis (b00mdyl9)
Series 2
Episode 4
James Walton and the music quiz for all the young, and not so young, dudes.
Team captains Tracey MacLeod and Andrew Collins are joined by Dave Gorman and Mary Anne Hobbs 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 2006.
SAT 08:30 Rent (b007522v)
Series 3
Episode 1
The new baby needs a name and Richard doesn’t want to reveal one of his.
Series 3 of Lucy Flannery's award-winning sitcom about Maria and Richard Reynolds and their lodgers.
Maria …. Barbara Flynn
Richard …. Patrick Barlow
Amy …. Linda Polan
Ruby …. Vivienne Rochester
Paul …. Dave Lamb
The Barrister …. Sally Grace
The Judge …. Brian Bowles
Producer: Liz Anstee.
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in January 1997.
SAT 09:00 The BBC Tour (b04d0kl7)
Savoy Hill, Broadcasting House, Lime Grove, TV Centre, Maida Vale and Bush House are just some of the iconic BBC buildings brought alive by Nick Baker in this fascinating tour of the archives from 1922 to the present.
After the Queen opened the new extension to London Broadcasting House in 2013, regular guided public tours took place. Sculptor Eric Gill's statue of Prospero and Ariel over the 1932 art deco front entrance sparked controversy over part of the latter's anatomy. BBC buildings have made news ever since.
The BBC's first home in Savoy Hill was described by DG Lord Reith as a miserable sort of place, but for ten years it broadcast a variety of talks and even some agonisingly slow Wimbledon commentaries.
Lime Grove in Shepherd's Bush was bought by the BBC in 1949 to temporarily house its fledgling TV service, but it remained in use for 42 years. Ludovic Kennedy shares its history.
BBC TV Centre is recalled by perhaps the most celebrity vox pop ever assembled.
Cerys Matthews visits the BBC music studio in Maida Vale.
Terry Waite returns to Bush House, former home to BBC World Service which sustained him during his Lebanon captivity.
Members of the public experience the BBC Broadcasting House tour (discontinued in 2016) and BBC Head of History Robert Seatter shares all the facts.
Producer: Merilyn Harris
Made for BBC Radio 4 Extra by Testbed and first broadcast in August 2014.
SAT 12:00 Up the Garden Path (b0089kjs)
Series 3
New Men
Izzy moves into a new flat and faces a new term, but will she find a new man?
Tumbling from one love entanglement to another, 30 something teacher Izzy Comyn has a predilection for inappropriate men.
Imelda Staunton stars as Izzy.
An 6-part radio sequel adapted from Sue Limb’s 1984 novel. The last of 3 series which ran from 1987 to 1993. Granada also adapted the series for ITV.
Izzy ...... Imelda Staunton
Dick ...... Mike Grady
Michael ...... Nicholas Le Prevost
Maria ...... Marty Cruickshank
Louise ...... Phyllida Nash
Razors ...... Rene Zagger
Marianne ...... Deborah Findlay
Gwyn ...... Sion Probert
Brown ...... Geoffrey McGivern
Producer: Jonathan James-Moore
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in November 1993.
SAT 12:30 Babblewick Hall (b04mhc03)
Series 2
Episode 1
Squire Fenton Babblewick is convinced that he is a composer of genius. His servants are less sure.
Starring Nicholas Le Prevost and Forbes Masson.
Series two of Scott Cherry’s sitcom set in the 18th-century. Fenton Babblewick is still the squire of his inherited estate.
Nicholas Le Provost ...... Squire Fenton Babblewick
Molly ...... Maggie McCarthy
Augustus Snipe ...... Forbes Masson
Jack ...... Dave Hill
Barney ...... Benedict Sandiford.
Gluck ...... Michael Troughton.
Mrs Maddison ...... Sara Coward
Mr Maddison ...... John Baddeley.
Music by Paul Mottra.
Producer: Jon Rolph
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in September 1998.
SAT 13:00 Hercule Poirot (b007jxfw)
One, Two Buckle My Shoe
Episode 1
The terrified Belgian detective pays a visit to his dentist. But he can hardly anticipate the gruesome events to follow ...
Agatha Christie's whodunit stars John Moffatt as Hercule Poirot.
First published in 1940 and dramatised in five parts by Michael Bakewell.
Hercule Poirot ...... John Moffatt
Alfred ...... Tom George
Morley ...... Matthew Devereaux
Miss Sainsbury Seale ...... Joanna McCallum
Chief Inspector Japp ...... Philip Jackson
Georgina Morley ...... Caroline Wildi
Gladys Nevill ...... Sophie Arnold
Reilly ...... Stephen Tomkinson
Alistair Blunt ...... Philip Franks
Jane Olivera ...... Amanda Waring
Original music composed by Tom Smail.
Director: Enyd Williams
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in August 2004.
SAT 13:30 Hercule Poirot (b007jxg0)
One, Two Buckle My Shoe
Episode 2
The Belgian sleuth's dentist has been found shot dead in his surgery.
Chief Inspector Japp reckons there are several very plausible suspects...
Agatha Christie's whodunit stars John Moffatt as Hercule Poirot.
Dramatised by Michael Bakewell
Hercule Poirot ...... John Moffatt
Chief Inspector Japp ...... Philip Jackson
Gladys Nevill ...... Sophie Arnold
Alistair Blunt ...... Philip Franks
Jane Olivera ...... Amanda Waring
Mr Barnes ...... Patrick Godfrey
Howard Raikes ...... Robert Portal
Frank Carter ...... Dominic Colchester
Original music composed by Tom Smail.
Director: Enyd Williams
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in August 2004.
SAT 14:00 Hercule Poirot (b007jxg5)
One, Two Buckle My Shoe
Episode 3
Mystery still surrounds the death of the Belgian detective's dentist.
Was it suicide - or murder..?
Agatha Christie's whodunit stars John Moffatt as Hercule Poirot.
Dramatised by Michael Bakewell
Hercule Poirot ...... John Moffatt
Chief Inspector Japp ...... Philip Jackson
Alistair Blunt ...... Philip Franks
Jane Olivera ...... Amanda Waring
Mr Barnes ...... Patrick Godfrey
Georgina Morley ...... Caroline Wildi
Mrs Olivera ...... Joanna McCallum
Selby ...... Trevor Rawlins
Original music composed by Tom Smail.
Director: Enyd Williams
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in August 2004.
SAT 14:30 Hercule Poirot (b007jxg9)
One, Two Buckle My Shoe
Episode 4
A month after the death of Poirot's dentist, a corpse has been found with its face horribly mutilated - yet another of his patients...
Agatha Christie's whodunit stars John Moffatt as Hercule Poirot.
Dramatised by Michael Bakewell
Hercule Poirot ...... John Moffatt
Chief Inspector Japp ...... Philip Jackson
Alistair Blunt ...... Philip Franks
Jane Olivera ...... Amanda Waring
Helen Montresor ...... Joanna McCallum
Agnes ...... Teresa Gallagher
Howard Raikes ...... Robert Portal
Reilly ...... Stephen Tomkinson
Mrs Adams ...... Amanda Walker
Gladys Nevil ...... Sophie Arnold
Frank Carter ...... Dominic Colchester
Original music composed by Tom Smail.
Director: Enyd Williams
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in August 2004.
SAT 15:00 Hercule Poirot (b007jxgg)
[Repeat of broadcast at 01:30 today]
SAT 15:30 A Good Read (b011vdwl)
Bill Paterson and Dea Birkett
Harriett Gilbert and her guests - actor Bill Paterson and travel writer Dea Birkett - discuss favourite paperback books by Bernhard Schlink, John Steinbeck and Richard Holme.
The Reader by Bernhard Schlink
Publisher: Phoenix
Cannery Row by John Steinbeck
Publisher: Penguin Modern Classics
Footsteps by Richard Holmes
Publisher Harper Press
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in June 2011.
SAT 16:00 DS Vogel - Body on the Heath (m000qxnw)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:00 today]
SAT 17:30 Great Lives (b06ts10b)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:30 today]
SAT 18:00 Jerome K Jerome - The Dancing Partner (b08tj7rs)
“All I ask of a partner is that he shall hold me firmly, take me round steadily, and not get tired before I do.”
When a group of young women complain about a lack of dance partners, a toymaker gets creative...
Jerome K Jerome's eerie tale adapted by Michael and Mollie Hardwick.
Papa Geibel …. James Hayter
Brendl …. Rolf Lefebvre
Trudi …. Sheila Grant
Olga …. Shirley Cooklin
Colonel Lens …. Peter Pratt
Hans/Fritz …. Malcolm Hayes
Irma …. Patricia Clapton
Hoffmeier …. Anthony Hall
Wensel …. Austin Trevor
MacShaugnassy …. Allan McClelland
Special effects by the BBC Radiophonic Workshop.
Music arranged and conducted by Denya Barlow.
Signature tune by Ron Grainer.
Producer: Charles Lefeaux
First broadcast on the BBC Home Service in January 1963.
SAT 18:30 Edgar Allan Poe (b03bv04c)
The Oblong Box
A passenger on a summer voyage to New York is curious about an artist, his new wife and his strange luggage.
An Edgar Allan Poe mystery, first published in 1844.
Read by James Aubrey
Producer: James Runcie
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in August 1984.
SAT 18:45 Absent Friends - The 7th Dimension (m000r3gd)
Toby Hadoke remembers the performers, producers and writers from the world of sci fi, horror & fantasy whom we’ve lost in 2020.
Including David Prowse, Dame Diana Rigg, Honor Blackman, David Collings, Earl Cameron, Sean Arnold & Vincent Marzello.
Produced by Moy McGowan
Made for BBC Radio 4 Extra.
SAT 19:00 The BBC Tour (b04d0kl7)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:00 today]
SAT 22:00 I Think I've Got a Problem (b007wp39)
Series 1
Episode 1
Tom Caine awakes one morning to discover he can't stop singing at inappropriate moments. As a result, he loses his job and his girlfriend Sadie.
Who are the strange bunch of musicians following him around? Why can't anyone else see them? Will Tom reach the high notes?
Andrew McGibbon and Nick Romero's everyday story about a man who can't stop himself from breaking into song.
Suggs ..... Tom Caine
Bob Monkhouse ..... Dr Boone
Mika Simmons ..... Sadie
Phil Cornwell ..... Bouche
Michael Roberts ..... Clammy Clemence
Andrew McGibbon ..... Jake
Nick Romero ..... Monty DeVere
Emma Clarke ..... Miss Lie
Songs: Andrew McGibbon. Nick Romero and Suggs
Director: Chris Neill
Producers: Torquil MacLeod. Julian Mayers and Andrew McGibbon.
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in July 2001.
SAT 22:30 What Does the K Stand For? (b04vr5j8)
Series 2
Turning Cheeks
Family arguments in the first in a series of Stephen K Amos' sitcom about his own teenage years, growing up black, gay and funny in 1980s South London.
Written by Jonathan Harvey with Stephen K Amos.
Producer: Colin Anderson.
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 2014.
SAT 23:00 Mark Steel's in Town (b07tbfmw)
Series 7
Stockport
"Welcome to Stockport - Home of Stockport College"
Mark Steel returns for a seventh series of the award winning show that travels around the country, researching the history, heritage and culture of six towns that have nothing in common but their uniqueness, and performs a bespoke evening of comedy for the local residents.
In the first programme, Mark visits the Greater Manchester town of Stockport, once the centre of the hatting industry.
He takes a trip on the infamous 192 bus, visits the world famous hat museum and tries to get to the bottom of how one of its suburbs ended up with an infestation of marauding peacocks.
In this series Mark visits Stockport in Greater Manchester, Colchester in Essex, Hebden Bridge in Yorkshire, The Royal Borough of Kingston Upon Thames, Lynton in North Devon and the British overseas territory of Gibraltar.
Written and performed by ... Mark Steel
Additional material by ... Pete Sinclair
Production co-ordinator ... Hayley Sterling
Producer ... Carl Cooper
A BBC Studios production for BBC Radio 4 first broadcast in 2016.
SAT 23:30 4 at the Store (b00d7jpz)
Series 2
Episode 2
Simon Bligh hosts more stand-up from London's Comedy Store.
With:
Alan Carr
Richard Morton
Gina Yashere
Producer: Helen Williams
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in January 2002.