SATURDAY 24 APRIL 2021

SAT 00:00 Terry Pratchett (b008pc0b)
Guards! Guards!
Episode 5
"That dragon isn't going to accept any mealy-mouthed, wishy-washy liberal nonsense.... Do you know what you're getting with a dragon? Unashamed strong leadership."
The dragon strikes. But will Captain Vimes triumph?
Stars John Wood and Martin Jarvis.
The 8th of Terry's Pratchett's comic fantasy stories set on Discworld.
Narrator …. Martin Jarvis
Captain Vimes …. John Wood
Nobby …. Melvyn Hayes
Sergeant Colon …. Stephen Thorne
Lady Ramkin …. Helen Atkinson-Wood
Carrot …. Robert Gwilym
Lord Vetinari …. Crawford Logan
Supreme Grand Master …. Brett Usher
Chief Merchant …. Jeff Nuttall
Librarian …. Michael Roberts
Little Girl …. Kate McEnery
Director: John Taylor
First broadcast on BBC Radio 5 in December 1992.
SAT 00:30 Off the Page (b00ny8gr)
I'm H.A.P.P.Y
From euphoria to contentment.
Miriam Akhtar, Dr Phil Hammond, Lucy Mangan and Dominic Arkwright focus on happiness.
Producer: Paul Dodgson
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in November 2009.
SAT 01:00 A Case for Dr Morelle (b007qsk3)
11. The Gambler
The psychiatrist-sleuth tackles a desperate gambling addict in a mysterious case of murder.
Ernest Dudley's Harley Street psychiatrist-turned-detective uses psychology as well as criminology to hunt down lawbreakers by deducing their felonious personalities.
Cecil Parker stars as Dr Morelle with Sheila Sim as his long-suffering assistant, Miss Frayle.
Dr Morelle …. Cecil Parker
Miss Frayle …. Sheila Sim
Mrs Ludlow …. Harriet Johns
Mr Ellis …. Desmond Carrington
Felix Grey …. Jimmy Lavall
Simmons …. Arthur Young
Man …. Simon Lack
Girl …. Beryl Calder
Director: Leslie Bridgmont
First broadcast on the BBC Light Programme in March 1957.
SAT 01:30 The Toff (b007jrmb)
The Toff and the Runaway Bride
6. Confrontation in Paris
Can the Honourable Richard Rollison finally unravel the mystery - and reveal the murderer's identity?
Terence Alexander stars as the Toff - upper-class amateur sleuth, the Honourable Richard Rollison.
The gripping conclusion of John Creasey's thriller.
Jolly ...... Robert Dorning
Carruthers ...... David Graham
Major Guy Lessing ...... Alan Cuthbertson
Robert Lawn ...... Kevin Brennan
Barbara Lessing ...... Rosalind Shanks
Inspector ...... Jean Dryant
Dramatised by Roy Lomax.
Producer: John Fawcett Wilson.
First broadcast on the BBC World Service in June 1975.
SAT 02:00 A Far Cry from Kensington by Muriel Spark (b09m7n7t)
Episode 5
As Mrs Hawkins makes good use of her contacts, she hopes to put her professional troubles at the Ullswater Press behind her.
Muriel Spark's playful and autobiographical novel set amid London's post-war publishing scene.
Read by Maggie Service.
Abridged by Rosemary Goring
Producer: Eilidh McCreadie.
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in January 2018.
SAT 02:15 Gudrun (b0b490sq)
Series 4
Episode 5
Delirious from his injury, Grim is gripped by religious fervour and threatens the safety of the ship.
Starring Kate Phillips.
Lucy Catherine's Viking epic of love, revenge and faith inspired by the 11th-century Icelandic sagas.
Gudrun ...... Kate Phillips
Freija ...... Samantha Dakin
Marlas ...... Amir El-Masry
Grim ...... Joseph Ayre
Producer: Gemma Jenkins
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in June 2018.
SAT 02:30 Composer Joseph Horovitz: No Ordinary Joe (b012qsdp)
This is the story of a composer of the kind of music that just fits so beautifully, that you hardly notice yourself humming along.
Joseph Horovitz composes concertos and ballets, operas and chamber music, yet he’s best known for Rumpole of the Bailey, and Captain Noah and his Floating Zoo.
Joseph journeys through his remarkable life and career in conversation with composer, Debbie Wiseman.
Captain Noah has been translated into six languages, and is one of Horovitz’s best sellers. The Berkshire Maestros, and conductor David Hill with the Bach Choir, have all rehearsed and performed this work, and give their views on its lasting popularity. Dancer Wayne Sleep, conductor John Wilson, and TV executive producer Tony Wharmby, also discuss their musical collaborations with Horovitz.
Horovitz's story begins with his escape from the Nazis as they entered Vienna in 1938, to then include giving wartime musical appreciation lectures to the forces, being awarded two Ivor Novello awards for later compositions, and working with such comic legends as Gerard Hoffnung and Michael Flanders.
This life journey has been one of distinction in many ways, yet Horovitz has not been taken as seriously as he'd like. Debbie Wiseman grapples with this issue, to understand why Horovitz has not received the acclaim that his artistry deserves.
Producer: Luke Whitlock
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in July 2011.
SAT 03:00 David Pownall (b01sdty0)
I Want to Go Home
And on the eighth day God created language. Little did he expect the confusion that would ensue...
David Pownall's comedy about the evolution of the English language.
I .... David Bamber
Want .... Joanna Monro
To Go .... Ben Crowe
Home .... Georgie Alexander
Cark .... Struan Rodger
Angel of the Eighth Day .... Andrew Scott
With John Hartley as the voice of God
Director: Peter Kavanagh
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in April 2000.
SAT 04:00 Counterpoint (b00rrljw)
Series 24
2010 Heat 3
Paul Gambaccini chairs the general knowledge music quiz from Manchester.
The questions cover every aspect of music - from the classical repertoire to world music, show tunes, film scores, jazz, rock and pop.
The three contestants from Scotland and the North of England are:
Douglas Macleod
Alastair Gillies
Alan Shutt
Producer: Paul Bajoria
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in April 2010.
SAT 04:30 Two Doors Down (b008fdj0)
Series 2
The Feminine Thrust
Sally the cleaner smoothes the way for Clare's important lecture.
She also helps her realise that she might have more important things to worry about than her job...
Starring Stella McCusker.
The return of Annie McCartney's sitcom about the bohemian Belfast residents of Marlborough Road, saved from chaos by their cleaning lady, Sally.
Sally ...... Stella McCusker
Clare ...... Marcella Riordan
Evie ...... Katy Gleadhill
Trevor ...... Des McAleer
Tony ...... Robert Patterson
Fidelma ...... Aine McCartney
Anna ...... Hannah R Gordon
Simon ...... Patrick Gleadhill
Director: Tanya Nash
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in July 2002.
SAT 05:00 Clare in the Community (b08587nz)
Series 11
You Take the High Road
It's the social work event of the year and Clare Barker is giving the keynote speech It's the biggest moment of her career - provided she can actually get there for it.
Back at home Brian and Nali have been taken in by Ray after a barbecue got out of hand. His housekeeping leaves a bit to be desired as far as Nali's concerned.
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 continues her struggle 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
Ray ...... Richard Lumsden
Nali ...... Nina Conti
Libby ...... Sarah Kendall
Joan ...... Sarah Thom
Simon ...... Andrew Wincott
Brendan ...... Andrew Wincott
Mrs Singh ...... Nina Wadia
Cilla ...... Gbemisola Ikumelo
Colin ...... Sean Baker
Gary ...... Sean Baker
Burglar ...... Sean Baker
Producer: Alexandra Smith
A BBC Studios production for BBC Radio 4 first broadcast in December 2016.
SAT 05:30 The Confessional (m000v848)
Series 1
The Confession of Cariad Lloyd
Actor, comedian and broadcaster Stephen Mangan presents a new comedy chat show about shame and guilt.
Each week, Stephen invites a different guest into his virtual confessional box to make three confessions - with remarkable storytelling and surprising insights.
We’re used to hearing celebrity interviews where stars are persuaded to show off about their achievements. Stephen's not interested in that. He doesn’t want to know about his guests' proudest moments, he wants to know what they’re ashamed of. That’s surely the way to find out what really makes a person tick.
Stephen and his guest reflect with empathy and humour on why we get embarrassed, where our shame thresholds should be, and the value of guilt.
Series guests include Joan Bakewell, Clarke Peters, Phil Wang, Dr Phil Hammond and more.
In this first episode, he takes the confession of the award winning improvisational comedian, actor and presenter of Griefcast, Cariad Lloyd.
Written and presented by Stephen Mangan
With extra material by Nick Doody
Produced by Dave Anderson and Frank Stirling
A 7digital production for BBC Radio 4
SAT 06:00 Miss Marple (b007jvjj)
The Moving Finger
The sleepy little market town of Lymstock harbours more than its share of shameful secrets. A town where even a sudden outbreak of anonymous hate-mail causes only a minor stir.
But all of that changes when one of the recipients tragically commits suicide.
Miss Marple's knowledge of wickedness and her nose for evil are desperately needed.
Can she manage to prevent another suicide - or even, murder...?
First published in 1943, Agatha Christie's whodunit stars June Whitfield as Miss Marple.
Miss Marple ...... June Whitfield
Jerry Burton ...... Nicholas Boulton
Joanna Burton ...... Clare Corbett
Mrs Calthrop ...... Patricia Scott
Megan Hunter ...... Annabelle Dowler
Mr Symmington ...... Hugh Dickson
Superintendent Nash ...... Sion Probert
Dr Owen Griffith ...... Roger May
Miss Partridge ...... Katherine Parr
Aimee Griffith ...... Elizabeth Bell
Elsie Holland ...... Jenny Funnell
Dramatist: Michael Bakewell
Director: Enyd Williams
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in May 2001.
SAT 07:30 Great Lives (b07syv25)
Series 40
Maureen Lipman on Dame Cicely Saunders
Actress and writer Maureen Lipman chooses the end-of-life care campaigner, Dame Cicely Saunders.
Dame Cicely Saunders was known as ‘the woman who changed the face of death’. At almost 6 foot tall, she could be intimidating, tiresome and relentless as she devoted her life to ensuring that terminally ill people could die with dignity and without pain.
Championing the life of Cicely Saunders as her great life is the actress and writer Maureen Lipman.
The expert witness is, Professor David Clark, from the University of Glasgow.
Presenter: Matthew Parris
Producer: Perminder Khatkar.
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in September 2016.
SAT 08:00 The Motion Show (b00768mm)
Series 3
Episode 3
Debates galore over staying home and getting fit.
Graeme Garden chairs the quirky battle of words and wit.
With Hugh Dennis, Gyles Brandreth, Arthur Smith and Emma Kennedy.
Producer: Helen Williams
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in July 2000
SAT 08:30 Smelling of Roses (b007jzcd)
Series 1
Wise after the Event
The lives of Rosie and her granddaughter Jo are shaken by the return of Rosie's daughter Kate after a long spell working abroad.
The trials and tribulations of Rosie Burns and her event management company, based in Brighton.
Prunella Scales in the first of four series of Simon Brett's sitcom
Rosie ...... Prunella Scales
Kate ...... Arabella Weir
Jo ...... Rebecca Callard
Bob ...... Duncan Preston
Tess ...... Annette Badland
Mr Blantyre ...... Michael Fenton Stevens
Mr Joost ...... Stephen Thorne
Producer: Maria Esposito
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in May 2000
SAT 09:00 Isy Suttie’s Guide to Love and Romance (b09r3zyp)
Comedian Isy Suttie uses her unique brand of humour to share lessons in life and love.
Suttie has often observed other people's love lives and regularly intervened, changing the action dramatically - for better or worse. Discussing 'all things love' in the 21st century with friends, gathering fresh contributions and introducing extracts from The Listening Project she builds a hilarious and often moving account of amour and desire.
Tangled with the speakers and archive, Suttie relates real life anecdotes from her own, often disastrous, love life and performs a few new songs on the subject.
Featuring a collection of new material, archive clips and Isy's own programmes:
* Valentine's Day
A young man discovers a box of letters, cards and gig tickets he's saved from over the years. And through these we come to understand the recent events in his life.
* Isy Suttie's Love Letters: Bob and Marie
Isy returns to Matlock to take driving lessons from instructor Bob, who she learns has a crush on another pupil, the mysterious Marie. While Isy tries to master an impeccable 3 point turn, she attempts to unite Bob with the girl of his dreams and discovers some important lessons in love of her own.
* The Listening Project
A selection of highlights from the BBC Radio audio collection exploring the theme of love and romance
* Isy Suttie's Love Letters: Mr Mississippi
Isy tries to save her failing relationship with a papier-mâché penguin, while at the same time helping Matlock's resident busker, Mr Mississippi, capture the heart of his unrequited love Lorna, a shelf stacker at the local supermarket.
Producer: Stephen Garner
Made for BBC Radio 4 Extra and first broadcast in February 2018.
SAT 12:00 Beauty of Britain (b0100gqp)
Series 2
Citroen UXB
No professional care-worker can afford to miss Beauty Olonga's survival guide to Britain – with overheated houses, disappointing church services and world-class charity shops.
Series 2 sees Beauty sent by the Featherdown Agency to provide care for those who need it - and some who don't, but all of whom have relatives with guilty consciences.
Beauty sees herself as an inspiration to other African girls hoping to live the dream in Britain – a land of opportunities. The professional classes are off sick through binge drinking and the rest too lazy to get off the couch to answer the pizza delivery man.
The series breaks the embarrassed silence about what happens to us when we get old and start to lose our faculties. It’s a chaotic, tragi-comedy, from Beauty’s point of view, whose Zimbabwean Shona background has taught her to respect age.
Beauty is sent to look after Sarah, who lives with both her mother and daughter. A perfect, happy modern family, like the kind Beauty has seen in feel-good British movies. With her own family being very demanding, it is understandable when Beauty begins to get too close.
Written by Christopher Douglas and Nicola Sanderson
Beauty... Jocelyn Jee Esien
Joyce ... Julia McKenzie
Sarah ... Jenny Agutter
Lucy ... Catherine Shepherd
Sally ... Felicity Montagu
Karen ... Nicola Sanderson
Music by The West End Gospel Choir.
Producer : Tilusha Ghelani
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in April 2011.
SAT 12:30 The Goon Show (b00fgzr6)
Tiddlywinks
After defeat at the hands of Cambridge, Neddie Seagoon seeks his gameful revenge.
Groundbreaking, surreal BBC radio comedy written by Spike Milligan.
Starring:
Peter Sellers
Harry Secombe
Spike Milligan
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: Charles Chilton
First broadcast on the BBC Home Service in March 1958.
SAT 13:00 Archive on 4 (b09zn0ln)
The Long Shadow of Canary Wharf
In April 1988, work began on a tower destined to transform London into a global financial capital.
Completed in 1991, One Canada Square at Canary Wharf heralded a new world order in which new jobs and new buildings were meant to improve the lives of all Londoners, not least the mainly white, working class local residents.
Back then, the Isle of Dogs was an area of high unemployment and had the highest concentration of council homes in England. Whilst there have been winners and losers from the changes of the past three decades, the voices of these residents, particularly white working class women, have all too rarely been heard.
Jane Martinson, lived in a council house, attended the local comprehensive and worked on a local market stall on Saturdays before going on to become a journalist. Join her on a journey home to a changed Britain, in a programme mixing archive of the time - rich in promise of future prosperity - with a series of intimate and revealing conversations with the East London denizens of the Isle of Dogs.
A documentary originally made to mark the 30th anniversary of Margaret Thatcher ceremonially driving the first pile of the building.
Producer: Sue Mitchell
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in April 2018.
SAT 14:00 I've Never Seen Star Wars (b04vkl9j)
Series 6
Ann Widdecombe
Marcus Brigstocke persuades his guests to try new experiences - starting with politician Ann Widdecombe.
Ann tries camping in a tent for the first time and watches as much of The Thick Of It as she can stand on TV.
Marcus also offers Ann the chance to drink a Jagerbomb - but will she accept?
Director: Bill Dare
First broadcast on BBC Radio in December 2014.
SAT 14:30 Lionel Nimrod's Inexplicable World (b007tm8f)
Series 2
Magic
Did witches really fly with broomsticks between their legs or did they just get a bit overexcited?
Series two of the cult comedy that answers the questions which leave other shows scratching their beards.
Starring Stewart Lee and Richard Herring.
With:
Rebecca Front
Armando Iannucci
And the voice of Tom Baker.
Producer: Sarah Smith
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in July 1993.
SAT 15:00 John Kearns (b05vhf6x)
Episode 1 - The Ticket
A glimpse into the oddball mind of John Kearns as he returns home from work...
The first of four 14 minute vignettes from the Winner of the Main Prize at 2014's Edinburgh Comedy Festival, as well as 2013 Best Newcomer.
Producer: Arnab Chanda
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in May 2015
SAT 15:15 Warhorses of Letters (b01681l4)
Series 1
Episode 1
Deep in the British Library tucked into the slipcover of a book on the history of Blenheim Palace a packet of extraordinary letters has been discovered.
"Dear Marengo brackets Napoleon's horse close brackets, I've never written a letter like this before...."
Thus begins the first passionate letter from Copenhagen, the Duke of Wellington's horse, to his hero Marengo in this epistolary equine love story. A story of two horses united by an uncommon passion, cruelly divided by a brutal conflict.
Stephen Fry stars as Marengo, the seasoned, famous and just-a-little-bit-short mount of Emperor Napoleon. Daniel Rigby stars as Copenhagen, the frisky young racehorse who as our story begins is about to be the new mount for the Duke of Wellington.
Introduced by Tamsin Greig.
In this opening episode, the early days of their romance and the early days of the Peninsular Campaign, and as their love blossoms the shadow of impending combat looms over our two heroes.
Marengo ..... Stephen Fry
Copenhagen ..... Daniel Rigby
Narrator ..... Tamsin Greig
Written by Robbie Hudson and Marie Phillips.
Director: Steven Canny
Producer: Gareth Edwards.
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in October 2011.
SAT 15:30 Polyoaks (b07cx09k)
Series 4
Ladies Strike
Patients are complaining about the lack of female doctors at the surgery.
The Polyoaks team want to recruit a woman doctor, but that is easier said than done in the current climate. And when they do find a candidate, she may be about to strike.
Nigel Planer and Simon Greenall star in the Health Service satire by Dr Phil Hammond and David Spicer.
The Polyoaks surgery is plagued by strikes, endless new management initiatives, staff shortages, militant patients, eight day weeks, privatisation – and all these things are entirely their fault, apparently.
Roy ...... Nigel Planer
Hugh ...... Simon Greenall
Monica ...... Polly Frame
Jeremy ...... David Westhead
Justice Spicer-Hammond/Ruth ...... Zalie Burrow
Stephanie Simons/Mrs Vinyl ...... Margaret Cabourn-Smith
Mr Justice/Mr Stickler/Mr Toshack ...... Julian Dutton
Director: Frank Stirling
A Unique production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in June 2016.
SAT 16:00 Miss Marple (b007jvjj)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:00 today]
SAT 17:30 Great Lives (b07syv25)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:30 today]
SAT 18:00 Fear on 4 (b0080hnc)
The Blood of Eva Bergen
Claire is a talented young pianist who falls under the spell of Mr Iliev, a musician haunted by a woman called Eva Bergen - and the power she once had over him...
Tales of horror and suspense.
Written by Paul Sirett.
Claire …. Tilly Gaunt
Anatoli Iliev …. John Castle
Tom …. Giles Fagan
Pianist: Mary Nash
Producer: Marilyn Imrie
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in February 1999.
SAT 18:30 Robert Holmes - Aliens in the Mind (b007jlw9)
5. Genetic Revelation
Professor Curtis Lark and John Cornelius have established the existence of another colony of mutants in the heart of London, but the only person who could fight them is dead...
Starring Peter Cushing and Vincent Price.
John Cornelius .... Peter Cushing
Curtis Lark .... Vincent Price
Flora Kiery .... Sandra Clarke
Ian Sanderson .... Frazer Carr
Gulliver .... William Eadle
Brigadier Sherman .... Clifford Norgates
Gwynt .... Michael Harbour
Manson .... Andrew Sear
Home Office Official .... James Thomason
Written by Rene Basilico from an idea by Robert Holmes.
Producer: John Dyas
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in January 1977.
SAT 19:00 Isy Suttie’s Guide to Love and Romance (b09r3zyp)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:00 today]
SAT 22:00 Rigor Mortis (b007k4h5)
Series 1
Episode 3
When a new coroner arrives, Ruth wants him to send her the most interesting autopsy cases.
Laurence Howarth’s sitcom set in the fascinating, but misunderstood world of the pathology lab.
Dr Anthony Webster ...... Peter Davison
Dr Ruth Anderson ...... Tracy-Ann Oberman
Professor Donaldson ...... Geoffrey Whitehead
Gordon ...... Tom Price
Chloe ...... Marianne Levy
Simon ...... Gus Brown
Daniel Kasper ...... Laurence Howarth
With Stephen Critchlow and Beth Chalmers
Music by Paul Mottram and Stephanie Benavente.
Producer: Dawn Ellis
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in June 2003.
SAT 22:30 Josie Long: Romance and Adventure (b0460v1z)
Pilot
A woman called Josie leaves London for better life in Glasgow – at the indie band theme park, where she will finally be happy and accepted.
Her flatmate Darren is just happy having his meals cooked by someone other than his mum.
Together they drink tea and wander the streets searching for romance and adventure, making fun of squares and making up games. It's them against the world, or so Josie hopes. How much can you rely on a friend who doesn't want to grow up?
Based on characters from the short films "Romance and Adventure" and "Let's Go Swimming" by Josie Long and Douglas King.
Written by and starring Josie Long
Successful pilot which sparked the following series.
Josie ...... Josie Long
Darren ...... Darren Osborne
Roddy ...... Roddy MacNeill
Kerry ...... Hatty Ashdown
Eleanor ...... Clare Grogan
Geoff ...... Geoff McGivern
Heidi...... Jaimi Barbakoff
Helen ...... Elaine Claxton
Chris ...... Michael Bertenshaw
Mark ...... Douglas King
Other parts played by the cast.
Photograph of Josie in the Cafe by Stephanie Gibson
Producer: Colin Anderson
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in June 2014.
SAT 23:00 What Does the K Stand For? (b08csqyb)
Series 3
Breaking Up Is Hard To Do
Relationships in the Amos household are strained by a new arrival.
Stephen K Amos's sitcom about growing up black, gay and funny in 1980s south London.
Written by Jonathan Harvey with Stephen K Amos.
Starring Ellen Thomas, Laurie Kynaston, Stephen K Amos, Frances Barber, Bola Okun, Emerald Crankson, Karen Bartke and David Sterne.
Producer: Paul Sheehan.
A BBC Studios production for BBC Radio 4 first broadcast in February 2017.
SAT 23:30 I've Never Seen Star Wars (b04wv049)
Series 6
Roy Walker
Marcus Brigstocke persuades Roy Walker to see his first ever Shakespeare play and banter with the audience for the first time.
Roy is best known as the host of ITVs Catchphrase.
Series persuading guests to try new experiences: things they really ought to have done by now. Some are loved, some are loathed, in this show all about embracing the new.
Director: Bill Dare
First broadcast on BBC Radio in January 2015.