SATURDAY 06 MARCH 2021

SAT 00:00 The Heart of Hark'un (b007jqbs)
Episode 6
Is Shazir the real enemy? Can Arcos and his hero friends escape the Palace of Memory?
Conclusion of the fantasy-adventure by Peter Thomson and Jamie Thomson.
Arcos ..... Francis Thomson
Kaddah ..... Trevor Peacock
Vanna ..... Liz Whiting
Shazir ..... Crawford Logan
Bereneth ..... Edward Kelsey
Va ..... Melanie Hudson
Alviza ..... Emma Fielding
Rashiq ..... Theresa Streatfeild
Xander ...... Robert Portal
Producer: Peter Hutchings
First broadcast on BBC Radio 5 in October 1991.
SAT 00:30 Off the Page (b00ktprr)
Stripping Off
Dominic Arkwright, Zoe Simon, Catherine Blyth and Phil Hilton discuss whether being revealing is art or obscenity? From 2009.
SAT 01:00 Roy Clarke - The Events at Black Tor (b08919pf)
The Hounds of Hell
The police move in - and Pam, Jamie and Probert are trapped - as the terrifying chain of evil events continues on the Yorkshire Moor.
Roy Clarke's six-part serial directed by Alan Ayckbourn.
Stars Juliet Cooke as Pam, Brian Peck as Jamie, Bob Grant as Probert, James Beck as the Sergeant and Harry Markham as the Tramp.
First broadcast on BBC Radio 2 in April 1968.
SAT 01:30 Trueman and Riley (b00j272j)
Series 1
4. Speed
Detective Riley is feeling angry for being sent on a 'speed awareness' workshop.
But that puts him on the trail of ex-con from the old days in Hull - womanising rip-off merchant Frank Butters...
Brian B Thompson's detective series about the ill-matched duo is set in Leeds.
CAST:
D.I. Trueman …. Robert Daws
D.S. Riley …. Duncan Preston
Frank Butters …. Sam Dale
Melanie …. Christine Kavanagh
Eric Simonelli …. John Dougal
Inez …. Miranda Keeling
Svetlana …. Jasmine Callan
The duo began life on BBC Radio 4 in 2002, with Detective Inspector Trueman called back to work after a nervous breakdown in order to solve a high profile murder case, backed up by Detective Superintendent Riley. This was followed by three new plays in 2005.
Director: Toby Swift
Made for BBC 7 and first broadcast in 2007.
SAT 02:00 Dirt Road by James Kelman (b07lj6yr)
Episode 10
Murdo is on stage with Queen Monzee-ay and feels at home for the first time since the death of his mum.
Booker prize-winner James Kelman’s novel is a potent exploration of love, grief and the power of music.
Read by Finn den Hertog
Abridged by David Jackson Young
Producer Eilidh McCreadie
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 2016.
SAT 02:15 Henry James - Daisy Miller (b08zdnm6)
Episode 5
Henry James' classic novella dramatised by Amanda Dalton.
Winterbourne struggles to accept that Daisy's close friendship with the handsome Mr Giovanelli is innocent. When he discovers Daisy alone with Giovanelli one night at the Colosseum, consumed by jealousy, he confronts her.
CAST:
Henry James .... John Lynch
Frederick Winterbourne .... Jack Lowden
Daisy Miller ..... Julianna Jennings
Mrs Miller .... Laurel Lefkow
Mrs Costello .... Barbara Barnes
Randolph .... Haris Giannakopoulos
Giovanelli ..... Cesare Taurasi
Directed by Nadia Molinari
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in August 2017.
SAT 02:30 Piano Pilgrimage (b03q4mlx)
Episode 3
In the final part of his pilgrimage, Jamie finds out what the piano means to its biggest fans. Starting outside York Minster, he comes across two fellow jazz pianists whose passion keeps them coming out on to the streets to busk on a specially modified upright.
Next, Jamie heads to a retirement village in Sheffield where he performs with musicians from a charity, Lost Chord, that uses the piano to help people living with dementia.
Jamie hears from Guardian editor Alan Rusbridger about the piano playing challenge he set himself, before learning about left hand alone repertoire from one-handed pianist Nicholas McCarthy.
In Northern Ireland, Jamie meets the talented young piano players being mentored by Adele's piano player, Neil Cowley. Over a pint at Bennigan's Bar, Jamie finds out from the pub's legendary landlord Joe, how a piano turned the place into the heart of Derry's music scene. Jamie then tests the ivories for a moving final performance together with Joe and local musician Põl.
Produced by Andrea Rangecroft.
A Folded Wing production for BBC Radio 4.
SAT 03:00 Drama (b08ymx5q)
D H Lawrence's The Gypsy
Drama inspired by D H Lawrence's The Virgin and the Gypsy. Handsome gypsy Joe and his family arrive in the small countryside village of Papplewick one summer looking for work. It isn't long before Joe is drawn to the local Rector's daughter. A tale of desire and repression set during interwar England.
CAST:
Joe .... Samuel Edward-Cook
Vina .... Candis Nergaard
Yvette .... Verity Henry
Lucille .... Harriet Chandler Judd
Granny .... Christine Cox
Rector .... Paul Stonehouse
Sergeant Eastwood .... Toby Hadoke
Written by Dan Allum
Directed by Charlotte Riches
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in July 2017.
SAT 04:00 Say the Word (b007652k)
Episode 6
Frank Delaney’s language game with Hunter Davies, Sheila Steafel, Roger McGough and Helen Atkinson Wood. From 2001.
SAT 04:30 The Sit Crom (b00mbc2k)
Night Exercises
With the sovereign set for a visit, confusion reigns in Lady Anne's bedchamber.
Sue Limb's six-part comedy set during the English Civil War.
Sir John Firebasket ...... Joss Ackland
Lady Anne Firebasket ...... Denise Coffey
Tobias Thynne ...... Clive Merrison
Mercy, alias Melissa ...... Miriam Margoyles
Father Francis ...... Nickolas Grace
Slow Ned ...... Chris Emmett
Gazebo Fogg ...... Jack Klaff
Posthumous ...... Nicky Henson
Counter Tenor ...... Peter Hayward
Producer: Jonathan James-Moore
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 1990.
SAT 05:00 Rudy's Rare Records (b00yj2hq)
Series 3
Lights Out
Father and son comedy set in the finest old-school record shop in Birmingham.
Rudy is determined to prove to his girlfriend Doreen that she's finally met her match. He's even persuaded Adam to keep out of the way while he cooks Doreen a romantic meal for her birthday. The power supply across the West Midlands, however, has even more surprising treats in store.
Written by Danny Robins
Produced by Lucy Armitage.
SAT 05:30 Stand-Up Specials (m000sq6m)
Anna Morris: Kid-Life Crisis
Anna Morris hit forty, was single, childless and living back with her parents. Success! She hit a kid-life crisis – like a mid-life crisis but with the added pressure of diminishing fertility.
In this half-hour stand-up show, recorded in front of a remote audience, she looks at all the different ways in which women deal with ageing, dating and being childless – or child free. There's a difference in approach evident in just those two ways of describing women who don't have kids.
From an 'incompetent cervix' diagnosis to proud but patronising new mothers, Anna recounts her journey through the travails of a woman without children.
Written and performed by Anna Morris.
With Jess Robinson and Sam Underwood
Producer: Alison Vernon-Smith
A Pier production for BBC Radio 4
SAT 06:00 Frederick Bradnum - The Girl Who Didn't Want To Be... (b0736s54)
"Do you know about the crowns? Virgin crowns. Unique to this church, you know. If a person is born, baptised and dies in the parish, above the age of puberty, and is a virgin, then the next of kin ask for a virgin crown. There is a sort of calling of the banns, so that if anyone wants to object they can."
When Maggie Bell died, no one did actually object, though there were several who should have done. But Maggie herself objects quite strongly.
A serious comedy for radio by Frederick Bradnum.
Starring Simon Cadell as Timothy Turner, Joanna David as Pamela Turner, Christopher Benjamin as Harold Thorpe and Angela Pleasence as Maggie Bell.
Best remembered as Jeffrey Fairbrother from the BBC's Hi-de-Hi!, Simon Cadell was born: 19th July 1950 and died 6th March 1996.
Directed by Jane Morgan.
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 1978.
SAT 07:30 Great Lives (b07bbyjb)
Series 39
Charles Moore on Gordon Hamilton-Fairley
Gordon Hamilton-Fairley was a brilliant cancer specialist, the father of oncology in the UK.
Then in 1975 he was killed by an IRA bomb intended for a politician who lived in his street. Former editor of the Daily Telegraph Charles Moore chooses a man cut down in his prime. Joining him in the studio are three members of the Hamilton-Fairley family; plus the cancer specialist Ray Powles, who provides a compelling picture of how basic treatment for cancer sufferers used to be.
Presenter: Matthew Parris
Producer: Miles Warde
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 2016.
SAT 08:00 Heresy (b07bdfm2)
Series 10
Episode 1
The programme that dares to commit heresy. Victoria Coren Mitchell and her guests have fun challenging knee-jerk public opinions, and exposing the wrong-headedness of received wisdom.
In the first programme of the series Victoria is joined by comedians Lloyd Langford and Katy Brand, and the artist Grayson Perry. They talk about French Style, God and Hitler.
An Avalon Production
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 2016.
SAT 08:30 Beachcomber... By the Way (b0082ckc)
Series 1
Episode 4
Lord Shortcake takes up amateur dramatics, Captain Foulenough takes us back to his unsavoury childhood, Cricket is taken too seriously, and Prodnose is escorted to the graveyard in the hope he’ll take the hint...
Richard Ingrams, John Wells, John Sessions and Patricia Routledge recreate the world of the JB Morton.
Running in the Daily Express from 1924 to 1975 – JB Morton’s surreally comic ‘Beachcomber’ column paved the way for a great deal of modern humour.
Adapted by Michael Barfield with Richard Ingrams.
Announcer: Brian Perkins
Producer: Harry Thompson
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 1989
SAT 09:00 Comedy Controller (m000sy0r)
Galton and Simpson
Writing duo Ray Galton and Alan Simpson's choose their favourite radio comedy, including some of their own: Take it from Here [1958], Ray's a Laugh [1949], Round the Horne [1967], Hancock's Half Hour [1958] and Steptoe and Son [1974].
Ray Galton & Alan Simpson, the comedy writing duo famous for such classic comedies as Hancock's Half Hour and Steptoe and Son, started writing together in 1948. They met in a Milford Sanatorium where they were being treated for TB when they were just seventeen and at the start of their career they earned just five shillings a joke. They went on to write over 600 scripts. They recall their early influences such as Frank Muir and Dennis Norden, as they introduce the comedy show "Take It From Here". They also talk fondly of post-war comic actor Ted Ray, as they introduce "Ray's a Laugh".
They remember the magic created by Kenneth Horne and his gang of comedians in the classic show "Round The Horne". Then it's time for a bit of self- indulgence as they look back at some of their best work, writing Hancock's Half Hour. They reminisce about how they met Tony, and what it was like to tap out those first scripts on an old typewriter in their little office in Shepherd's Bush. The episode they've chosen is from 1958, called Sunday Afternoon at Home, and provides a fine example of the Galton and Simpson humour as Tony Hancock's dry delivery captures just what it's like to be truly bored.
They recall the inspirations behind "Steptoe and Son". They admit that the idea came out of sheer desperation as they tried to write a show for the comedy playhouse. This first episode, The Desperate Hours (Galton and Simpson's personal favourite) was born in 1962 and over the next twelve years we were treated to five series on radio and a further eight television series.
Alan Simpson died in 2017 aged 87.
Ray Galton died in 2018 aged 88.
First broadcast on BBC Radio 7 in 2003.
SAT 11:30 A Good Read (b016817f)
Christopher Frayling and Nikki Bedi
Christopher Frayling, Professor Emeritus at the Royal College of Art, and broadcaster Nikki Bedi talk to Harriett Gilbert about the books they love.
Christopher's recommendation is a passionate political polemic: Ill Fares The Land: A Treatise On Our Present Discontents, by Tony Judt.
Nikki picks The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri, the story of a boy growing up in an Indian family in America.
Harriett's choice is the first in the celebrated Tales of the City series by Armistead Maupin.
Producer: Beth O'Dea
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 2011.
SAT 12:00 Rent (b062r9w7)
Series 4
Episode 1
Paul and Ruby have moved out of the Reynolds' house, but they're not far away.
Maria and Richard, meanwhile, are getting to grips with a new arrival.
Lucy Flannery's award-winning sitcom about Maria and Richard Reynolds and their lodgers.
Stars Barbara Flynn as Maria, Patrick Barlow as Richard, Vivienne Rochester as Ruby, Dave Lamb as Paul and Sally Grace as the Barrister. With Sarah Parkinson.
Producer: Liz Anstee.
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in May 1998.
SAT 12:30 The Missing Hancocks (b08k2ctk)
Series 3
The Racehorse
The Missing Hancocks recreates those episodes of the classic Hancock's Half Hour that have been wiped or lost from the archive. Something else has gone missing in this episode from the second series - the lad 'imself, who had absconded to Rome. In 1955, he was replaced for the first three episodes by the Goon Show's Harry Secombe. In this recreation, he has been replaced by Andy Secombe - Harry's son. Not heard since then, this is a real piece of comedy history.
The first modern sitcom, Hancock's Half Hour made stars of Tony Hancock, Sid James and Kenneth Williams, and launched Ray Galton and Alan Simpson on one of the most successful comedy-writing partnerships in history. But 20 episodes of the show are missing from the BBC archives. Now, after two highly successful series, another five of those episodes have been lovingly re-recorded in front of a live audience at the BBC Radio Theatre.
Tonight's episode: The Racehorse. With Tony Hancock indisposed, Harry Secombe has 10 bob left so Bill decides to spend it on a racehorse. The fact that it only has three legs doesn't deter Sid from entering it in the Britannia Steeplechase.
Written by Ray Galton and Alan Simpson, and with the classic score newly recorded by the BBC Concert Orchestra, the show stars Andy Secombe, Kevin Eldon, Simon Greenall, Robin Sebastian and Susy Kane. The Racehorse was first broadcast on the 3rd May, 1955.
Produced by Ed Morrish & Neil Pearson.
Written by Ray Galton & Simpson
Music recorded by the BBC Concert Orchestra, conducted by Levon Parikian.
A BBC Radio Comedy Production.
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 2017.
SAT 13:00 Archive on 4 (b09lvy6l)
Frankenstein Lives!
Mary Shelley's extraordinary, ground-breaking novel about the creation of a living being who becomes a monster. Cultural historian and writer Christopher Frayling considers how the story of Victor Frankenstein and his creature has become a creation myth for our age.
Frankenstein is one of a handful of works whose title has passed into the language of everyday life and has been adapted countless times for cinema, radio, television and theatre - with each new generation discovering the unique power of the original.
In the overwhelmingly Christian society of 1818, the notion of man creating life was both unthinkable and blasphemous. Two centuries later, the moral dilemmas of the original story continue to challenge and perplex us. After Dr Christiaan Barnard performed the first heart transplant in 1967, he proclaimed "I am the new Frankenstein'. Since then we have truly entered an age of genetically and surgically modified nature - from cloned sheep to disease-resistant crop strains. Inevitably these developments are met with newspaper headlines that scream Frankenstein!
Christopher Frayling uses his expert knowledge to lead us through the rich and unsettling history of the Frankenstein myth, amidst a host of chilling archive recordings and insightful contributions from filmmakers, writers and scientists. He explores how and why, 200 years after it was born, Mary Shelley's nightmare creation is still very much alive and kicking.
Interviewees:
Kim Newman, critic and horror writer
John Landis, film director
Sara Karloff, daughter of Boris Karloff who played The Creature in the 1931 film
Madeline Smith, Hammer Studios actress
Miranda Seymour, biographer of Mary Shelley
Professor Sharon Ruston, science and literature expert
Stephen Hebron, Curator of Special Projects, Bodleian Library
Producer: Jane Long
A Hidden Flack production for BBC Radio 4.
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 2018.
SAT 14:00 Dave Podmore (b007rkg1)
Dave Podmore's World of Cricket
Episode 1
Eat the Dream. Pod makes a bid to run the opening ceremony of the 2003 Cricket World Cup - on the cheap, of course.
Sitcom about the exploits of talentless, amateurish, smug, inept and self-deluding English cricketer Dave Podmore.
Starring Chris Douglas and Andrew Nickolds with Chris Pavlo and Nicola Sanderson.
Written by Chris Douglas, Andrew Nickolds and Nick Newman.
Producer: Richard Wilson
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in June 2002.
SAT 14:30 Laura Solon - Talking and Not Talking (b00p67ts)
Series 3
Episode 4
Laura Solon presents her third series of sketches, monologues and one-liners.
This week unwelcoming neighbour Annabelle quizzes an unsuspecting soul over his windchimes; useless entrepreneur, Carole Price, takes another swing at selling her bad ideas to the world and someone travels back from the very near future to warn a man about his blind date.
Starring Laura Solon, with Rosie Cavaliero, Ben Moor and Ben Willbond.
Producer: Colin Anderson.
SAT 15:00 I Think I've Got a Problem (b00cc4qg)
Series 2
Episode 1
In an attempt to rid him of the band that lives in his head, Tom’s been sent to a special centre for the entertainingly afflicted. The treatment's going well - until the band can't take any more and make Tom burst into song.
Reunited once more, Tom and the band decide they've missed each other and hatch an escape plan...
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
Phil Cornwell ..... Bouche
Andrew McGibbon ..... Jake
Nick Romero ..... Monty DeVere
Bill Nighy ..... Malc
Julia Deakin ..... Phelia
Toby Longworth ..... Clammy
Tracy-Ann Oberman
Songs: Andrew McGibbon. Nick Romero and Suggs
Producers: Andrew McGibbon and Dawn Ellis.
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in March 2003.
SAT 15:30 Elastic Planet (b0089jhr)
The Shape
Drugged electricity and artificial icebergs.
Oliver Postgate narrates a stream of bizarre coincidences in Ben Moor’s cosmic comedy of connections.
With Johnny Ball, Henry Cooper, Kerry Shale, Dan Strauss, Michael Troughton, Neil Mullarkey, Siriol Jenkins, Jamie Owen and Alan Dedicoat.
Producer: Jon Naismith
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 1995
SAT 15:45 Ivor Cutler - A Stuggy Pren (b00ctktw)
Episode 4
Poet and composer Ivor Cutler on bargain hunting, water flowers and 'Beelyploomkins'. From June 1994.
SAT 16:00 Frederick Bradnum - The Girl Who Didn't Want To Be... (b0736s54)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:00 today]
SAT 17:30 Great Lives (b07bbyjb)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:30 today]
SAT 18:00 Red Moon (m000sy0t)
Phase 5: Transit
As the body count mounts, Eddie and Susan head for the RAF base in Cumbria.
An alternative-history, Cold War thriller, where American and Soviet Moon bases aim their nuclear missiles at targets across the planet.
Winner of Best Online Audio Drama at the BBC Audio Drama Awards, 2019.
CAST:
Eddie Sloper …. Philip Bulcock
Dr Susan Madison …. Yasmine Holness-Dove
Mrs Jones/Felicity …. Georgina Periam
Wendy …. Sarah Whitehouse
Murray …. Greg Page
CIA Hitman …. Richard Reed
Lt. Gen. Atherton …. William Hope
Music composed and performed by Francesco Quadraruopolo.
Story by Jack Bowman and Robert Valentine.
Written, directed and produced by Robert Valentine.
A Wireless Theatre Production recorded at the RNIB Talking Book Studios.
SAT 18:20 The Fanthorpe Investigations (b038f1zl)
The Monk and the Coin
The case of the ghostly monk who once haunted ancient Norwich Cathedral.
Priest and paranormal investigator Lionel Fanthorpe relates a story from the world of the strange and unexplained.
Producer: Paul Arnold
Made for BBC Radio 4 Extra and first broadcast in 2013.
SAT 18:30 John Wyndham - Trouble with Lichen (b007k3xm)
Episode 5
The secret of long life is out, but with a reticent boss, Diana must face intense media pressure alone.
The scientific world, government, media and the beauty salon collide in John Wyndham's 1960 sci-fi novel.
Concluded by Joanna Tope.
Abridged by Scott Stainton Miller.
Producer: Eilidh McCreadie
Made for BBC Radio 7 by BBC Scotland and first broadcast in 2007.
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SAT 19:00 Comedy Controller (m000sy0r)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:00 today]
SAT 21:30 A Good Read (b016817f)
[Repeat of broadcast at 11:30 today]
SAT 22:00 The Party Party (b007jx5p)
Episode 6
Microcosm is host to revenge, greed and attempted murder. Starring Hugh Laurie, Robert Glenister and Clive Mantle. From June 1987.
SAT 22:30 Elastic Planet (b007k33s)
The Zoo
Revealing the links between hurdling cattle, the Elephant's Lumberyard, gong beetles, alternative horticulture and the Llama movies of the early 60s.
Oliver Postgate narrates a stream of bizarre coincidences in Ben Moor’s cosmic comedy of connections.
With Julian Pettifer, Brian Hayes, Dan Strauss, Kerry Shale, Geoff McGivern, Fiona Allen.
Producer: Jon Naismith
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 1995
SAT 22:45 We Know Everything (b084p1sk)
Episode 4
When Parmesan goes rotten, what does it smell of? Dan Gaster and Paul Powell tackle audience quirky questions. From July 1995.
SAT 23:00 Tina C (b06s9s02)
Tina C: Herstory
Episode 4
Country music legend Tina C brings us right up to date with a (slightly) festive look at where she is today.
Bob Harris quizzes her about her ambitions for the future, and a live country band take us through some of her biggest hits.
Written and performed by Christopher Green.
Additional voices: Susan Jameson & Leo Wan.
The Band: Duncan Walsh-Atkins, Phil Hardisty, Mark Wraith.
Produced by Victoria Lloyd.
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 2015.
SAT 23:30 Chain Reaction (b01m19nz)
Series 8
Tim Minchin talks to Caitlin Moran
Comedian and musician Tim Minchin is not well but still has a great time putting the world to rights in his attempt to interview journalist and author, Caitlin Moran, despite having no questions and no voice.
The talk tag show where the guest is the next interviewer.
Producer: Carl Cooper
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in August 2012.