SATURDAY 21 AUGUST 2021

SAT 00:00 William Gibson - Pattern Recognition (b007k21k)
5. Moscow
'Coolhunter' Cayce travels to Moscow for an emotional encounter with the maker of "the footage" - the mysteriously compelling online film haunting web-surfers around the world.
But why Cayce's boss at the ad agency so interested in it..?
William Gibson's fast-moving thriller
Concluded by Lorelei King.
Abridged by Ron Roberts.
Producer: David Jackson Young.
Made for BBC 7 and first broadcast in February 2007.
SAT 00:30 Off the Page (b00wlgjc)
I Don't Know
"I don't know" - three little words so hard to say nowadays.
Doubt and uncertainty are out, confident assertions are in. Opinions, even received ones, are the order of the day. The temptation is always to bluff our way with some kind of response, however little we know about the subject in hand.
Phil Hammond is a doctor and Kathy Sykes is a science professor. John Harris is a journalist whose job is to express opinions.
Are they able simply to admit: "I don't know"?
Dominic Arkwright presides over new writing and straight-to-the-point discussion.
Producer: Beth O'Dea.
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in December 2010.
SAT 01:00 The House (m000yv70)
Series 1
7. Tracking a Traitor
Rumours are rife in Westminster over a 'bent' MP spilling secrets to the Russians.
Meanwhile, the Chief Whip's daughter Polly Bannister has attracted the attention of two men...
Starring Julian Glover and Timothy West.
Political thriller serial by Christopher Lee.
Charles Bannister ....Julian Glover
Dougal Baxter ....Timothy West
Mary Bannister ....Sarah Badel
Henry Colville ....Christopher Benjamin
Rose ....Sheila Reid
Arthur ....James Garbutt
The Speaker ....David McAlister
George ....Danny Schiller
Polly Bannister ....Ruth Gemmell
Other parts played by:
Ken Cumberlidge
Ian Targett
David Goudge
John Bull
David King
Christopher Scott
Charles Simpson
Brian Miller
Michael Kilgarriff
Written by Christopher Lee
Producer Pete Atkin
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in September 1989.
SAT 01:30 Inspector Purbright - Charity Ends at Home (b007jsnz)
Episode 3
Kindly detective, Inspector Purbright probes the discovery of another body, found head down in a wishing well.
John Rowe stars in Colin Watson's Flaxborough Chronicle set in East Anglia.
Dramatised by Christopher Denys.
Inspector Purbright …… John Rowe
Booker …… Russell Dixon
Love …… Paul Downing
Lucilla Teatime …… Ann Rye
Mortimer Hive …… Geoffrey Banks
Helen …… Kathryn Hunt
Palgrove …… Robin Polley
Fry …… Chris Hargreaves
Pook …… Peter Rylands
Producer: Tony Cliff
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in February 1992.
SAT 02:00 Golden Hill by Francis Spufford (b08r34m1)
10. Resolution
The purpose behind Smith’s voyage to New York becomes clear.
But he has one final matter to resolve...
This is New York in its infancy, a place where a young man with a fast tongue can invent himself afresh, fall in love, and find a world of trouble.
Francis Spufford’s novel concluded by Jamie Parker
Abridged by Isobel Creed and Jill Waters
Producer: Jill Waters
A Waters Company production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in May 2017.
SAT 02:15 Jane Austen (b085b9t1)
Northanger Abbey
Episode 5
Catherine finds herself the recipient of a most pleasing invitation and a most displeasing engagement.
Jane Austen's satire pokes fun at the popular sensationalist fiction of the day.
Catherine ..... Georgia Groome
John ..... Stephen Wight
Isabella ..... Ainsley Howard
Mrs Allen ..... Tracey Wiles
Mr Allen ..... Kim Wall
Henry ..... Luke Thompson
Eleanor ..... Natasha Cowley
General Tilney ..... John Dougall
Frederick Tilney ..... Nick Murchie
Mrs Thorpe ..... Karen Bartke
The Book ..... Miriam Margolyes
Dramatised by Hattie Naylor.
Director: Sally Avens
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in December 2016.
SAT 02:30 Trollope (b03qf7r5)
This is the story of Anthony Trollope, an (apparently) utterly English and conservative writer, whose life cuts against what Barchester readers might expect of him.
He was a man raised by high born parents who had lost their money. Bullied in his teens, he joined the Post Office - taking work in Ireland to escape professional and financial difficulties.
Trollope fell in love with the Irish and the English literati even accused him of 'going native', yet he became one of England's best loved novelists. He wrote over 50 books, insisted that he only wrote for money, and penned many of them on trains en route to inspect rural post offices.
What kind of a man was he? And why does his work still resonate so strongly for readers across the English-speaking world. Is it, as WH Auden said, because he's one of the only English novelists to truly understand money and work?
Presented by the poet, Michael Symmons Roberts
The Voice of Trollope: Hamilton Berstock
Producer: Faith Lawrence
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in January 2014.
SAT 03:00 The Great Scott (b048jcg0)
Series 2
Ivanhoe
Set in 1194 after the failure of the third Crusade, King Richard I is said to be in captivity in Austria after having been taken on his way back to England. In his absence, his brother John is plotting to take over the throne.
Wilfred of Ivanhoe, son of Cedric and one of the few remaining Saxon Lords, joined Richard in the Crusade but has been disinherited by his father for showing allegiance to a Norman. Ivanhoe is rumoured to have come to the rescue of his King in his hour of need but has since disappeared.
Is he alive? Rowenna - the woman he loves - anxiously waits for news.
Starring David Tennant.
A tale by Sir Walter Scott dramatised by Scott Cherry.
Walter Scott ...... David Tennant
Ivanhoe ...... Mark Bonnar
Isaac ...... Henry Goodman
Gurth ...... Henry Goodman
Cedric ...... Christian Rodska
Rowena ...... Laura Molyneux
Guilbert ...... David Troughton
Rebecca ...... Sasha Behar
Elgitha ...... Sasha Behar
Fitzurse ...... Will Adamsdale
Wamba ...... Will Adamsdale
De Bracy ...... Nicholas Murchie
Prince John ...... Nigel Cooke
Prior Aymer ...... Edward Max
Produced and directed by Clive Brill.
A Brill production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in July 2014.
SAT 04:00 The Food Quiz (b0076gyp)
Series 1
Episode 1
Jay Rayner puts well-known gastronomes through their culinary paces.
On the menu:
Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall
Anissa Helou
Matthew Fort
Clarissa Dickson Wright
Producer: Rebecca Wells
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in September 2003.
SAT 04:30 To the Manor Born (b007jm7w)
Plenty More Fish
With their love-lives in a tangle, Audrey falls out with Marjory.
Starring Penelope Keith and Keith Barron.
Lady of the manor Audrey Fforbes-Hamilton, forced to sell her beloved Grantleigh Estate, has decamped to the tiny Old Lodge cottage with her butler in tow.
From this vantage point, Audrey keeps a close and disapproving eye on new owner, the nouveau-riche Richard DeVere.
Adapted for radio by Peter Spence from his BBC TV script
Audrey fforbes-Hamilton …. Penelope Keith
Richard DeVere …. Keith Barron
Marjory Frobisher …. Angela Thorne
Brabinger …. Nicholas McArdle
Mrs Polouvicka …. Margery Withers
Ned …. Frank Middlemass
First piloted on radio and then hijacked by TV before it ever appeared, and finally arriving home in 1997.
Producer: Jane Berthoud
First broadcast on BBC Radio 2 in March 1997.
SAT 05:00 The Wilsons Save the World (m000360d)
Series 2
Protest
The Wilsons family enjoy nothing more than a good protest march, joining with other like minds and sticking it to ‘the man’. Today is one they’re particularly looking forward to - and each of them has a different agenda.
Cat has a special provocative costume and issue to highlight; Lola has a complex banner but a simple hope that all voices will unify; Max wants the family to stick together and have a great day out and Mike, well he will persist wearing that excruciating jester hat with bells on.
Some tensions seemingly dealt with, they are then in the thick of a march in Central London and find unity more difficult than ever to achieve.
Sitcom about trying to live ethically and do the right thing.
Written by Marcus Brigstocke and Sarah Morgan.
Mike…Marcus Brigstocke
Max…Kerry Godliman
Cat..Mia Jenkins
Lola…India Brown
Jennifer...Vicki Pepperdine
Phillip…Rupert Vansittart
Various roles...Kiell Smith-Bynoe
Producer: Julia McKenzie
A BBC Studios production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in March 2019.
SAT 05:30 Michael Frayn's Magic Mobile (m000j2rl)
Episode 1
Michael Frayn’s comic universe at the touch of a button. Directed by long-time Frayn-collaborator Martin Jarvis. A glittering cast includes David Suchet, Susannah Fielding, Joanna Lumley, Alfred Molina, Adam Godley, Jared Harris, Martin Jarvis and Roger Allam.
"The electronic device so simple even an adult can use it." Half-an-hour of brand new monologues and dialogues, brought to you by the makers of Matchbox Theatre and Pocket Playhouse.
Ever imagined God being interviewed on Desert Island Discs? Or worrying about his image? How does the pharmaceutical industry name its newest drugs? Could shopping for teabags become a political decision? Might Shakespeare be considered an adequate co-writer?
It's all here, and more, in Michael Frayn’s magical entertainment system. No passwords needed to enter.
CAST:
David Suchet, Susannah Fielding, Joanna Lumley, Alfred Molina, Jared Harris, Adam Godley, Martin Jarvis, Roger Allam, Nigel Anthony, Anna-Louise Plowman, Moira Quirk, Matthew Wolf
Writer: Michael Frayn
Producer: Rosalind Ayres
Director: Martin Jarvis
A Jarvis & Ayres production for BBC Radio 4
SAT 06:00 Hercule Poirot (b007qmt9)
The ABC Murders
The arrival of an anonymous note warns Hercule Poirot to look out for Andover on the 21st of the month.
Signed "Yours A.B.C.", it sparks one of the Belgian sleuth's most disturbing cases.
As the body count starts stacking up - who is ABC?
Agatha Christie's whodunit stars John Moffatt as Poirot.
From the novel published in 1936 and dramatised by Michael Bakewell.
Hercule Poirot …. John Moffatt
Captain Hastings …. Simon Williams
Chief Inspector Japp …. Philip Jackson
Inspector Crome …. Tom George
Franklin Clarke …. John Rye
Lady Clarke …. Jane Wenham
A.B. Cust …. Ioan Meredith
Mary Drower …. Gemma Saunders
Megan Barnard …. Beth Chalmers
Donald Fraser …. Christopher Kelham
Thora Grey …. Lucy Paterson
Marjorie Stroud …. Zeina Harding-Roots
Police Sergeant …. Tim Treloar
Director: Enyd Williams
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in April 2000.
SAT 07:30 Great Lives (b08mb1g4)
Series 42
Ermonela Jaho on Mother Teresa
Since her death in 1997, it's been fashionable in some quarters to decry the work of Mother Teresa among India's poor.
Fellow Albanian - opera singer, Ermonela Jaho, offers an alternative view of the nun who dedicated her life to running homes in Calcutta and later around the world, providing food, shelter and care for the poor and dispossessed.
Despite her hard-line views on abortion and despite criticism over her dealings with some of the most brutal regimes, Mother Teresa was purely a force for good, argues Ermonela Jaho.
Presented by Matthew Parris - with biographer, Anne Sebba.
Producer: Maggie Ayre
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in April 2017.
SAT 08:00 Whispers (b00bzrmj)
Series 2
Episode 2
What is the real truth about Alexander Graham Bell, Walt Disney and Lord Lucan?
Gyles Brandreth hosts the quiz show with scandal on its mind and slander at its heart.
Lynne Truss and Michele Brown join team captains Lucy Moore and Anthony Holden to run the gauntlet of gossip.
Producer: Elizabeth Freestone
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in September 2004.
SAT 08:30 Smelling of Roses (b00qh0ls)
Series 2
Party Party
Rosie and the team are asked to launch a new political party for people over 60.
Sadly its leader doesn't quite get to launch his manifesto...
Prunella Scales stars 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
Sir Geoffrrey ...... Ben Aris
Anthea ...... Felicity Goodson
Robert ...... Simon Trinder
Producer: Maria Esposito
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in August 2001.
SAT 09:00 Mark Billingham's Rule Book of Crime (b01r19jd)
Best-selling crime writer Mark Billingham has always been obsessed with the creative criminal minds of the past.
Over three hours, Mark sets out to detect the clues dropped in the BBC archives, as he brings a flavour of the magic of his favourite crime writers:
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
Dame Agatha Christie
Raymond Chandler
PD James
Henning Mankell
Clues that reveal why their sleuthing creations - Sherlock Holmes, Miss Marple, Philip Marlowe, Adam Dalgliesh and Kurt Wallander - are so enduring.
Having created his own flawed crime fighter, Detective Inspector Tom Thorne, Mark’s wrestled with the thorny issue of inventing a distinctive new voice amongst a myriad of detecting greats. What’s more important, devious plotting or debauched heroes, a killer in plain sight or rug-pulling twists?
In plundering the archive for answers, Mark has uncovered a hidden BBC radio detecting gem. Debuting in the late 1970s and running for a few seasons into the 1980s, it starred an actor who could be a lead in TV classic Cathy Come Home and voice an iconic children’s cartoon. It was penned by a writer that worked on TV police dramas Z Cars and Softly Softly.
All is revealed in Mark Billingham’s Rule Book of Crime.
Producer: Peter McHugh
Made for BBC Radio 4 Extra and first broadcast in March 2013.
SAT 12:00 We've Been Here Before (b007r3dd)
Series 1
Episode 1
Clive Anderson hosts the panel show that pokes fun at events of the past.
Gyles Brandreth and Jimmy Carr battle it out against John O'Farrell and David Quantick.
Producer: Adam Bromley
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in August 2003.
SAT 12:30 Rum Bunch (b08nqkrp)
World's End on Sea
Justin Edwards, Mel Giedroyc and Dave Mounfield have been invited by the Mayor of seaside town World's End on Sea to perform a hair raising tribute to Houdini.
Justin has invited the "nicest woman in showbiz", Rebecca Front, to join them. Little does he know of the history between Mel and Rebecca, dating back to an appearance they both made on Celebrity Supermarket Sweep.
It turns out that Justin also doesn't know much about Houdini - believing him to be an Italian woman. Luckily Dave, fearing the show may be a disaster causing him to miss out on the free lighter promised by the Mayor, is on hand to rewrite the play.
Mel persuades Rebecca to perform a radio first, a recreation of one of Houdini's most daring stunts. But will the truth of what really happened on Supermarket Sweep ever be revealed? Will the show restore the fortunes of the once fashionable seaside town? Will Dave get his free lighter?
The Rum Bunch is Justin Edwards (The Consultants, The Odd Half Hour, Newsjack, Sorry I've Got No Head, The Thick of It), Mel Giedroyc (Mel and Sue, Bake Off, Let It Shine) and Dave Mounfield (Count Arthur Strong, This Is Jinsy).
The house band is Jason Hazeley and David Reed - The Penny Dreadfuls.
Produced by Jim North
A Top Dog production for BBC Radio 4.
SAT 13:00 Archive on 4 (b09drhhm)
The Pound in Your Pocket
Fifty years after it happened, Frances Cairncross looks back at the story of the Devaluation crisis of 1967.
It was one of the iconic phrases that will always be associated with Harold Wilson's premiership: in a TV broadcast, a day after his government had decided to reduce the value of the pound sterling by just over 14 percent against the dollar, Wilson assured the nation that, nevertheless, "the pound in your pocket" was still worth the same.
As a young journalist, Frances Cairncross covered the story - her father, Sir Alec Cairncross, was a senior Treasury official closely involved in the discussions before and the consequences following the November 18th move. He wrote in his diary "at 10.35, I saw the TV screen show a £1 note with DEVALUED printed across it..."
With:
Peter Jay
William Davis
William Keegan
David Walker
Robin Butler
Professors Robert Neild
Kathleen Burk
Featuring readings from Alec Cairncross's diary of the period.
Producer: Simon Elmes
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in November 2017.
SAT 14:00 Innes Own World (b0170r0p)
Episode 1
Famed for The Rutles and The Bonzo Dog Band, Neil Innes ruminates wryly on the nature of civilisation.
An opportunity to climb inside Neil Innes's head to find songs, atmospheric musings and some very irritating commercial breaks.
Script Editor: John Dowie
Producer: Claire Jones
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in January 2003.
SAT 14:30 Sara Pascoe: The Modern Monkey (b09v3fdy)
Series 1
Charity
How does our monkey past influence our modern lives and how come we can still get emotionally hijacked by our primitive emotions?
In a lecture combined with her stand up, Sara Pascoe investigates - Charity
After some of the less pleasant aspects of humans in previous episodes, this show is all about the positive.
There are lots of examples of altruistic behaviour and feats of generosity - the social traits of our species are at the root of why we're so successful. But it's complicated.
Can we find compassion for each other when we're doing the wrong things for the right reasons?
Recorded on location at The Foundling Museum in London.
Written by and starring Sara Pascoe
Producer: Alexandra Smith
A BBC Studios production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in March 2018.
SAT 15:00 Will Smith's Midlife Crisis Management (b00g0536)
Episode 1
Even though he’s always felt middle-aged, Will is going through a mid-life crisis at the age of 35.
Luckily his godfather Peter is on hand to help him through this period of doubt. Peter invites George, a Tory MP, to help Will speak his mind.
Starring Will Smith
Comedy by Will Smith and Roger Drew.
Peter …… Roger Allam
George …… Geoffrey Whitehead
With:
Jill Cardo
Gunnar Cauthery
Roger Drew
Donnla Hughes
Dan Starkey
Malcolm Tierney
Robert Lonsdale
Producer: Tilusha Ghelani
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in December 2008.
SAT 15:30 Ross Noble Goes Global (b007jvrg)
Series 1
Budapest and Warsaw
Kicking off his comedy travelogues in the capital of Hungary, the stand-up comic then takes the train to Poland.
Ross entertains the locals with his unique brand of stand-up
He also chats to the Mayor of Warsaw about furry hats, uncovers the truth about suicidal Hungarian monks and even shares a curry with Poland's only comedian...
Producer: Danny Wallace
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in June 2001.
SAT 16:00 Hercule Poirot (b007qmt9)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:00 today]
SAT 17:30 Great Lives (b08mb1g4)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:30 today]
SAT 18:00 Yevgeny Zamyatin - We (b0076l5v)
2. Infatuation
OneState engineer D-503 gets increasingly infatuated by the beautiful 1-330, though he harbours suspicions.
The key to his fate seems to lie in the hands of the mysterious S - but who is S?
Will his fascination lead him to love or revolution?
Starring Anton Lesser, Don Warrington and Brigit Forsyth.
The conclusion of the first great dystopian novel of the 20th century, written in secret in early Soviet Russia by Yevgeni Zamyatin.
D-503 ...... Anton Lesser
R-13 ...... Don Warrington
U ...... Brigit Forsyth
1-330 ...... Joanna Riding
0-90 ...... Julia Rounthwaite
Benefactor ...... Russell Dixon
Tannoy ...... Emma Clarke
Babushka ...... Judith Davis
S ...... Patrick Bridgman
2nd Engineer ...... Paul Viragh
Dramatised by Sean O'Brien.
Director: Jim Poyser
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in April 2004.
SAT 19:00 Mark Billingham's Rule Book of Crime (b01r19jd)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:00 today]
SAT 22:00 Ross Noble Goes Global (b007jvs3)
Series 1
China
Ross Noble continues his comedy travelogues on the east coast of China, in the bustling city of Shanghai
He entertains the locals with his unique brand of stand-up
Plus, he marvels at the wonders of a thousand pensioners in a park.
Producer: Danny Wallace
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in June 2001.
SAT 22:30 Chain Reaction (b05mtcjp)
Series 10
Sharon Horgan talks to Dennis Kelly
Creator, writer and star of BBC's BAFTA nominated sitcom Pulling, and winner of the British Comedy award for best actress, Sharon Horgan.
talks to
BAFTA nominated and Tony Award-winning writer Dennis Kelly- creator of shows as varied as "Pulling," "Utopia," and "Matilda the Musical."
Chain Reaction is the long running hostless chat show where last week's interviewee becomes this week's interviewer.
Producer: Charlie Perkins
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in March 2015.
SAT 23:00 The Lawrence Sweeney Mix (b008vbbw)
Series 1
Episode 1
No script and making it up as they go along!
Faced with a live studio audience and a couple of microphones - masters of improv, Josie Lawrence and Jim Sweeney create sketches from shouted out suggestions.
Producer: Dawn Ellis
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in February 2007.
SAT 23:30 Armstrong and Miller (b00t5x2s)
Episode 3
Australian lifestyle, and a Euro rock band.
Sketches and songs with Ben Miller and Alexander Armstrong in their first series for radio.
With:
Samuel West
Tony Gardine
Written by Ben Miller and Alexander Armstrong.
Producer: Gareth Edwards
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in March 1998.
SAT 23:45 The Pin (b07vs3n6)
Series 2
Record
The Pin are out to achieve a very rare record... a radio first.
Strap in for a 15-minute delve into a world of oddness performed in front of a live studio audience.
The Pin are an award-winning comedy duo, and legends of Edinburgh festival. They deconstruct the sketch form, in a show that exists somewhere between razor-sharp smartness and utterly joyous silliness.
Written by Ben Ashenden and Alex Owen
Performed by:
Ben Ashenden
Alex Owen
Freya Parker
Brian Protheroe
Producer: Sam Bryant
A BBC Studios production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in September 2016.