SATURDAY 29 MAY 2021

SAT 00:00 Paradise Lost in Space (b007jp0g)
5. Things Hot Up
When Norman introduces the Oblivions to the pleasures of the flesh, one thing leads to another...
Colin Swash's sci-fi comedy about two space-age humans stranded on a friendly alien planet.
Norman ...... Tony Robinson
Max ...... David Haig
Stella ...... Louise Lombard
Macari ...... Michael Troughton
Terayz ...... Carla Mendonca
Clive ...... Guy Witcher
Buzz ...... Peter Serafinowcz
Producer: Richard Wilson
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in April 1995.
SAT 00:30 Off the Page (b00sjt9x)
Shoulda Put A Ring On It
Dominic Arkwright introduces more new writing and provocative debate.
Bidisha, Stella Duffy and Harry Benson have their 400 word essays at the ready - entitled "Shoulda Put A Ring On It." The title comes from a Beyonce single, and provokes each guest in a different way.
"Marriage? I am not tempted, writes novelist Bidisha, "it is like all other things I am not tempted by, such as golf, crochet and pole jumping."
Harry Benson runs marriage courses for the Bristol Community Family Trust, and is author of Let's Stick Together. Stella Duffy is a playwright and novelist.
Producer: Sarah Langan
First broadcast on BBC Radio Four in June 2010
SAT 01:00 Wimsey (b007jvmz)
The Unpleasantness at the Bellona Club
4. Exhumation
Lord Peter Wimsey awaits Doctor Horner's verdict.
At a party thrown by pal Margery, the upper class sleuth does a little more digging.
Ian Carmichael stars as the aristocratic sleuth.
Dorothy L Sayers' detective mystery dramatised by Chris Miller.
Lord Peter Wimsey …. Ian Carmichael
Robert Fentiman ...... Allan Cuthbertson
Inspector Parker ...... Gabriel Woolf
Mr Murbles ...... John Gabriel
Dr Horner ...... Blain Fairman
Dr Penberthy ...... Christopher Emmett
Marjorie Phelps ...... Rosalind Adams
Mrs Rushworth ...... Olwen Griffiths
Producer: Simon Brett
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in June 1975.
SAT 01:30 Edward Boyd - The Candle of Darkness (b0b51vyy)
5. The Angry Mob
After Delia Dewar implicates him, an angry mob turns on Jimmy Morton.
Meanwhile Steve Gardiner discovers his friend's war actions.
Teddy Johnson stars in Edward Boyd's serial thriller.
Steve Gardiner ...... Teddy Johnson
PC McKenzie ...... John Young
PC Robertson ...... Kalman Glass
Lindy Marshall ...... Hannah Gordon
Jimmy Morton ...... Jimmy Logan
Wilfred Morton - Leonard Maguire
Detective Inspector Gordon ...... Moultrie R. Kelsall
Louisa Matthews ...... Nancy Mitchell
Romily Foster ...... Douglas Murchie
Bill Williams ...... Glenn Michael
Produced in Glasgow by Eddie Fraser.
First broadcast in April 1954 on the BBC Regional Home Service - Scotland
SAT 02:00 The Transition by Luke Kennard (b08drky3)
Episode 10
Although he's been banished to the basement and relegated to The Transition's 'B stream' programme, Karl's only concern is for Genevieve: her increasingly erratic behaviour, which he knows from long experience, is a precursor to a serious breakdown.
Janna and Stu refuse to listen to his concerns, however, and soon his fears are proved correct.
Bryan Dick reads the moving conclusion of Luke Kennard's novel
Abridged by Robin Brooks.
Producer: Kirsteen Cameron.
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in February 2017.
SAT 02:15 Gudrun (m0005f8t)
Series 6
Episode 10: Gudrun
Gudun's love of Jesus, and her desire to return to the Sacred Land, inform the greatest decision she will make.
Stars Kate Phillips.
Conclusion of series 6 of Lucy Catherine's Viking epic of love, revenge and faith
Gudrun ..... Kate Philips
Leif ..... Chris Pavlo
Heidr ..... Helen Clapp
Panuk ..... Kenny Blyth
Jesus ..... Paul Hilton
Sigrid ..... Hollie Burgess
Freija ..... Samantha Dakin
Producer: Sasha Yevtushenko.
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in May 2019.
SAT 02:30 Malmesbury: the Philosophy Town (b017551k)
Britain's most famous political philosopher Thomas Hobbes was born there, and Malmesbury in Wiltshire wants to become for philosophy what Hay-on-Wye is for books, St. Ives for painting, or Aldeburgh for music.
It is setting out to become the country's special 'Philosophy Town'. The scheme is the brainchild of philosophy and small-town enthusiast Michael Cuthbert, and he has got the backing of Wiltshire Council and the involvement of the local and long-established Thomas Hobbes Society. He has also enthused the head teacher of Malmesbury School, whose students are being encouraged to take philosophy seriously.
Recently Malmesbury has hosted an annual philosophy festival. Initially this focused on Hobbes - and the country's leading experts came to speak - but now its scope is wider.
Mark Whitaker (who has himself published work on Hobbes) reports from the Malmesbury Festival. He interviews leading philosophers who are speaking. These include John Cottingham, Simon Glendinning and Angie Hobbs. Professor Hobbs has been designated a 'Town Philosopher', and she also holds an academic title in the Public Understanding of Philosophy.
The Festival raises questions as to what philosophy is once it escapes from the academy. Whitaker interviews members of the audience and local residents about how they see the link between their town and philosophy. He also explores plans to give philosophy a permanent place in Malmesbury. There is talk of a 'Philosopher's Footpath' from Oxford, of inscriptions of great philosophical sayings on the town's buildings, and of a philosophical bookshop-cum-cafe.
Producer: Mark Whitaker
A Square Dog Radio production
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 2011.
SAT 03:00 David Wade - Alexander (b00cfwr8)
The Hunt of the God King
Alexander pursues Darius, conquers Egypt and falls in love with Barsine.
Michael Maloney and Alex Jennings star in David Wade's serial on the life of Alexander the Great.
Alexander ...... Michael Maloney
Hephaistion ...... Alex Jennings
Achilles ...... Barry Foster
Patroclus ...... Simon Ward
Ptolemy ...... Julian Rhind-Tutt
Philotas ...... Michael Onslow
Perdikkas ...... Mark Straker
Simmias ...... John Evitts
Philip ...... Sean Barrett
Lysimachos ...... Keith Drinkel
Eumenes ...... James Telfer
Artzbazus ...... Philip Anthony
Barsine ...... Teresa Gallagher
Sisygambis ...... Diana Payan
Thais ...... Rachel Atkins
The Eunuch ...... Richard Pearce
Music: Wilfredo Acosta
Director: Glyn Dearman
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in August 1993.
SAT 04:00 Counterpoint (b00s97hj)
Series 24
2010 Heat 8
Paul Gambaccini chairs the penultimate heat of the 2010 general knowledge music quiz.
Three amateur music enthusiasts face Paul's questions on a wide variety of musical topics, from the baroque to rock.
The three contestants are from London, Worthing and Hale:
Sue Barnard
E Goh
Martin Hoskins
Producer Paul Bajoria
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in May 2010.
SAT 04:30 Bristow (b007v1dg)
Series 3
The Good, the Bad and the Temporary
There's a new girl in town, and Bristow knows his office isn't big enough for the two of them.
Michael Williams stars as Bristow.
Frank Dickens' sitcom is based on his famous long-running newspaper cartoon strip about the Chester-Perry buying clerk.
Bristow ...... Michael Williams
Jones ...... Rodney Bewes
Mrs Purdy ...... Dora Bryan
Perkins ...... Leslie Phillips
Hewitt ...... Owen Brenman
Miss Sunman ...... Katy Odey
Fudge ...... Jon Glover
Postboy ...... Simon Schatzberger
Stokes ...... David Battley
Sylvana ...... Jackie Neglia
Music: John Whitehall
Producer: Neil Cargill
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in July 2000.
SAT 05:00 The Break (b07h6fmm)
Series 1
Occupied
Andy has found a level of contentment with the world - reading books, watching films, and generally repairing his wounded psyche. Uncle Jeff is having none of this and reveals a hitherto unknown secret to Andy, that the dusty shop downstairs from his seaside flat belongs to Jeff. When necessary, it seems, he offers the community of Flamford a valuable service as an electrical repair person.
Jeff lures Andy into the shop and shows him how to use the till. Andy realises it's another of his uncle's ploys, and refuses this oblique yet unsubtle job offer. But Jeff, never the one to say "die", takes his nephew on a job search in which Andy is an unwilling participant.
Visits follow to Fish Shop Frank, the Tourist Information Office run by the uniformed and uninformed Steph and Pippa, and Flamford's as-yet-unlicensed zoo.
Jeff ...... Philip Jackson
Andy ...... Tom Palmer
Frank ...... Mark Benton
Corinne ...... Alison Steadman
Joyce ...... Alison Steadman
Mr Truepenny ...... Rasmus Hardiker
Writers: Ian Brown and James Hendrie
Director: Gordon Kennedy
An Absolutely production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in June 2016.
SAT 05:30 The Confessional (m000wc13)
Series 1
The Confession of Phil Wang
Actor, comedian and broadcaster Stephen Mangan presents a comedy chat show about shame and guilt.
Each week Stephen Mangan invites a different eminent guest into his virtual confessional box to make three 'confessions' to him. This is a cue for some remarkable storytelling, and surprising insights as their confessions are put under the microscope.
We’re used to hearing celebrity interviews, where stars are persuaded to show off about their achievements and talk about their proudest moments. Stephen is not interested in that. He doesn’t want to know what his guests are proud of, 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 things like: why we get embarrassed, where our shame thresholds should be, and the value of guilt.
Series guests include Marian Keyes, Cariad Lloyd, Joan Bakewell, Suzi Ruffell, Phil Hammond, Alastair Campbell and many more.
This week, award-winning stand-up and sketch comedian, Phil Wang confesses about potty training, supermarket gossip and getting the wrong end of the stick.
Written and presented by Stephen Mangan
With extra material by Nick Doody
Devised with Dave Anderson and produced by Frank Stirling
A 7digital production for BBC Radio 4
SAT 06:00 Kind Hearts and Coronets (b007jnpv)
Louis Mazzini should be heir to a dukedom but his family, the snobbish D'Ascoynes have cut Louis off because his mother married badly.
Vengeful and hate-filled, he sets out to regain his rightful place by wreaking revenge on the D'Ascoyne family, but is then arrested for a killing he didn't commit.
Ealing film comedy adaptation starring Harry Enfield as the D'Ascoyne family. With Michael Kitchen, Haydn Gwynne, Timothy Bateson and David Lodge.
Adapted by Gilbert Travers Thomas from Robert Hamer and John Dighton's screenplay.
Louis Mazzini ....... Michael Kitchen
The D'Ascoyne Family ....... Harry Enfield
Edith D'Ascoyne ....... Haydn Gwynne
Sibella ....... Lynsey Baxter
Elliott ....... Timothy Alcock
Crown Counsel ....... Michael Denison
Inspector Burgoyne ....... David Lodge
Governor ....... Geoffrey Whitehead
Mrs Mazzini ....... Zulema Dene
Lionel ....... David Timpson
Warder Smith ....... John Hartley
Perkins ....... Jonathan Keeble
Priscilla ....... Tracy Wiles
Duchess ....... Jane Whittenshaw
Young Louis ....... Roger May
Boatman ....... Ross Livingstone
Defence Counsel ....... David Collings
Warder ....... Stephen Critchlow
Other parts played by the cast.
Original music composed by Barrington Pheloung.
Music from the film composed by Ernest Irving and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.
Producer: Andy Jordan.
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in January 1996.
SAT 07:30 Great Lives (b084bmf7)
Series 41
Lucy Porter on Cary Grant
Comedian and writer Lucy Porter champions Cary Grant as her Great Life finding that, despite his troubled relationships with women off screen, his on screen charm and generosity towards his female co stars redeems him.
Lucy joins Matthew Parris along with Grant's biographer, Geoffrey Wansell, to discuss the troubled screen icon's humble beginnings in Bristol and following him to the glamour and wealth of Los Angeles.
Producer: Maggie Ayre
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in December 2016.
SAT 08:00 Whispers (b00b0hml)
Series 1
Episode 2
Discover the truth about how Bram Stoker broke Oscar Wilde's heart.
Gyles Brandreth hosts the scandals quiz show that puts naughty before nice, dishing the dirt on the bad boys and girls in history.
The regular team captains are writer and critic, Anthony Holden and actor and writer, Stella Duffy.
Joining them to test their wits are writer and broadcaster, Lynne Truss and former Erotic Review editor, Rowan Pelling.
Producer: Elizabeth Freestone
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in November 2003.
SAT 08:30 Smelling of Roses (b007jrrq)
Series 1
A Good Cause
Rosie’s company is tasked to put together a charity gala concert in aid of the Afghans.
But there’s confusion over whether it’s for the people or the dogs?
Prunella Scales in Simon Brett's sitcom.
The trials and tribulations of Rosie Burns and her event management company, based in Brighton.
Rosie ...... Prunella Scales
Kate ...... Arabella Weir
Jo ...... Rebecca Callard
Bob ...... Duncan Preston
Tess ...... Annette Badland
Ginnie ...... Joanna Munro
Lady Helen ...... Celia Imrie
Producer: Maria Esposito
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in May 2000.
SAT 09:00 Soul Music Mixtapes (b09m5mfr)
Cerys Matthews delves into the archives to present a specially curated mixtape of her favourite stories from across 25 series of the BBC Radio 4's Soul Music.
Each episode of Soul Music takes a different piece of music – it might be a pop song, or a hymn, or a piece of classical music or world music – and looks at why it moves us and what it means to different people.
Cerys's choices include:
* Leonard Cohen's Hallelujah, Mozart's Requiem in D Minor
* Bob Marley's Redemption Song, Puccini's La Boheme
* Sam Cooke's A Change is Gonna Come.
Producer: Mair Bosworth
Made for BBC Radio 4 Extra and first broadcast in January 2018.
* Listen out for archive series of Soul Music regularly broadcast on BBC Radio 4 Extra
SAT 12:00 Steptoe and Son (b007k094)
Series 4
Full House
Card sharks fleece Harold Steptoe, so his father Albert steps in.
Starring Wilfrid Brambell and Harry H Corbett.
Following the conclusion of their hugely successful association with Tony Hancock, writers Ray Galton and Alan Simpson wrote 10 pilots for the BBC TV's Comedy Playhouse in 1962.
The Offer featured the lives of rag and bone men Albert Steptoe and son Harold - and was the spark for a run of eight series on TV.
Albert ...... Wilfrid Brambell
Harold ...... Harry H Corbett
With Martin Friend, Douglas Blackwell and Michael Kilgarriff.
Adapted for radio from their TV scripts by Ray Galton and Alan Simpson.
Producer: Bobby Jaye
First broadcast on BBC Radio 2 in January 1972.
SAT 12:30 Cleaning Up (b052m59s)
1. New Recruit
Every night, as time is called and people are spat out onto the streets and squeezed into rides home to dream -tossed beds - others are hard at work. Teams of cleaners are in office spaces scrubbing, vacuuming and cleaning up.
And right at the bottom of the food chain we find our gang - Spit n' Polish tackling the floors of a plush tower block in Manchester city centre.
In the first of four episodes, a new cleaner reports for duty. Turns out he and his boss have met before.
Written by Ian Kershaw and with a top hole Northern cast, this is a funny, sometimes dark comedy about people who always get the fuzzy end of the lollipop.
Julie ..... Julie Hesmondhalgh
Nobby ..... Paul Barber
Dave ..... John Thompson
Shiv ..... Lauren Socha
Nita ..... Bhavna Limbachia
Our Bri ..... Jack Deam

Produced at BBC Salford by Alison Vernon-Smith
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in February 2015.
SAT 13:00 Archive on 4 (b09tbl2s)
Don't Panic! It's The Douglas Adams Papers
John Lloyd unearths the private papers of his friend and colleague Douglas Adams, and discovers more about the agonies he went through to write The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.
The papers, donated to St John's College, Cambridge University, include note books, ramblings, rants about how hard it is to write, unfinished scenes and passages never included in Douglas Adams' books.
John Lloyd co-wrote the first series of Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy, which started on BBC Radio 4 in 1978. He reveals that he and Douglas Adams had been commissioned to write the first novel together, following the success of the radio series, but Douglas decided to "give me the boot" and went on to write the books on his own. The novels have sold something in the region of 14 million copies.
Other contributors include the original producer and now novelist Simon Brett; original cast members Simon Jones, Geoffrey McGivern and Mark Wing-Davey; and Paddy Kingsland of the BBC Radiophonic Workshop.
John also discusses how unpublished writings by Douglas Adams were used in a further series of The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy.
A Bite Media production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in March 2018.
SAT 14:00 The In Crowd (b007jp55)
Series 4
Episode 1
Compulsive Liars Anonymous and a birthday shock.
Comedy sketch show from Manchester.
Starring Robin Ince, Helen Moon, Smug Roberts and Kate Ward.
Producer: Graham Frost
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in June 2004.
SAT 14:30 I've Never Seen Star Wars (b05108h0)
Series 6
Dame Kelly Holmes
Dame Kelly Holmes, a self-confessed chocoholic, tries her first deep fried Mars bar, but will she try the chocolate covered scorpion?
And to conquer her fear of drowning, she tries hypnotherapy.
Marcus Brigstocke persuades his guests to try new experiences: things they really ought to have done by now.
Some experiences are loved, some are loathed, in this show all about embracing the new.
Producer: Bill Dare
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in February 2015.
SAT 15:00 Josie Long: Romance and Adventure (b076p08g)
Series 1
Episode 3
Josie's 32nd birthday has her questioning whether her dream of one day having a family is now unrealistic.
Comedy drama about a young woman trying to build a more fulfilling life for herself in Glasgow.
Based on characters from the short films "Romance and Adventure" and "Let's Go Swimming" by Josie Long and Douglas King.
Josie ...... Josie Long
Darren ...... Darren Osborne
Roddy ...... Sanjeev Kohli
Kerry ...... Hatty Ashdown
Eleanor ...... Clare Grogan
Chris ...... Michael Bertenshaw
Mona ...... Rebecca Hamilton
Fraser ...... Chris Pavlo
Genevieve ...... Puja Panchkoty
Written by Josie Long.
Producer: Colin Anderson
A BBC Radio Comedy production for BBC Radio 4 first broadcast in April 2016.
SAT 15:30 The Jason Byrne Show (b01p2s1y)
Series 3
I Looked Like Gollum at School
Award-winning comedian Jason Byrne lists the liabilities of looking good.
Stand up and sketches with Laurence Howarth and Daisy Haggard.
Producer: Julia McKenzie
First broadcast on BBC Radio 2 in November 2010.
SAT 16:00 Kind Hearts and Coronets (b007jnpv)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:00 today]
SAT 17:30 Great Lives (b084bmf7)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:30 today]
SAT 18:00 Dan Dare (b0bgpgk3)
Series 1
4. The Red Moon Mystery 2/2
Dare and the crew of the Anastasia skip dimensions - and uncover a peril that could wipe out all life on Earth.
Adventures based on the Eagle comic strip 'Dan Dare' created in 1950 by the Reverend Marcus Morris and Frank Hampson.
Conclusion of a two-part adventure starring Ed Stoppard.
Dramatised by James Swallow.
Dan Dare .... Ed Stoppard
Digby .... Geoff McGivern
Professor Peabody .... Heida Reed
Sir Hubert .... Michael Cochrane
The Creator .... Marcus Morris
On-board Computer .... Dianne Weller
Ivor Dare .... Hugh Fraser
Sgt Scott .... Jake Maskall
Corp Dajani .... Jalleh Alizadehi
Dr Harlan Stoll .... Greg Keith
The Teacher .... Diane Spencer
Flamer Spry .... Ryan Sewell
Director: Andrew Mark Sewell.
Made by B7 Media
SAT 18:30 The Mortal Immortal by Mary Shelley (b007jw60)
A young man works for a powerful alchemist. Feeling jilted in love and consumed with jealousy towards a rival, he secretly drinks one of his Master's potions hoping to cure himself of these emotions.
Instead, he’s soon facing a living hell…
Frankenstein author, Mary Shelley's fantastical tale explores man's fascination with eternal life and elixirs.
Read by Shaun Dooley.
Producer: Gemma Jenkins
Made for BBC Radio 7 and first broadcast in December 2005.
SAT 19:00 Soul Music Mixtapes (b09m5mfr)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:00 today]
SAT 22:00 Welcome to Wherever You Are (b07gh57z)
Pilot
Andrew Maxwell hosts a truly global stand-up show, in which comedians perform from wherever on the planet they happen to be, via high quality phone lines and internet video, to a live audience in the BBC Radio Theatre, London.
This pilot features award-winning comedians in Jakarta, St Petersburg, and Los Angeles, giving the range of observations a little wider than in a typical stand-up show, Subjects covered include being the freedoms afforded to women; how powerful Vladimir Putin really is; and why Canada probably doesn't exist.
With:
Sakdiyah Ma'ruf
Igor Meerson
Guy Branum
Andrew Maxwell is a multiple Edinburgh Comedy Award nominee and a regular on BBC Radio 4.
Producer: Ed Morrish
A BBC Studios production for BBC Radio 4 first broadcast in June 2016.
SAT 22:30 Josie Long: Romance and Adventure (b077jp15)
Series 1
Episode 4
Josie and Darren go camping but find themselves disastrously ill equipped for the great outdoors.
Comedy drama about a young woman trying to build a more fulfilling life for herself in Glasgow.
Based on characters from the short films "Romance and Adventure" and "Let's Go Swimming" by Josie Long and Douglas King.
Josie ...... Josie Long
Darren ...... Darren Osborne
Margaret ...... Clare Grogan
PCSO Officer ...... Chris Pavlo
The Podcaster ...... Jesse Thorn
Shondra ...... Claudia O'Doherty
Unfeasably Handsome Man ...... John Early
Written by Josie Long.
Producer: Colin Anderson
A BBC Radio Comedy production for BBC Radio 4 first broadcast in April 2016.
SAT 23:00 Jason Cook's School of Hard Knocks (b03xgl4g)
Job Interviews and Office Politics
Jason Cook uses the lessons learnt from his bitter experiences to help sweeten the lives of listeners.
This time, he holds forth on the best ways to pass a job interview and how to wend one's way through the perilous pastures of office politics.
Zoe Harrison and Neil Grainger, help to police the prairie of the public's problems.
Producer: Sam Michell
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in March 2014.
SAT 23:30 Two Episodes of Mash (b01mdl9r)
Series 2
Episode 1
Diane Morgan and Joe Wilkinson discover they don't actually have a radio series at all.
A mix of silly, surreal sketches and banter.
The series features an absurd narrative, making fun of its new home at BBC Radio 4, after starting life on BBC Radio 2.
With:
David O'Doherty
Paul Harry Allen
Peter Donaldson
Ken Bruce
Bobbie Pryor
Gary Newman
You can also see an animation of one sketch via the BBC Radio 4 Extra website - it's a fishy tale.
Animation: Tom Rourke.
Producer: Clair Wordsworth
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in September 2012.