SATURDAY 22 JANUARY 2022

SAT 00:00 Midnight Tales by Bram Stoker (b01g9873)
5. The Squaw
An arrogant American earns himself a horrific retribution.
Tales from Bram Stoker - the mind behind Dracula.
Abridged by Donald Bancroft.
Read by Dyfed Thomas.
Producer: David Benedictus
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 1990.
SAT 00:15 The Truth About Hawaii by Oliver Emanuel (b09ppwdx)
10. Resistance
Sarah is 10 years old. She scratched her knee and developed an infection. When the infection threatened her life, her parents agreed to have her leg amputated. But the amputation didn't stop the infection.
Her family have been told she has days to live, but a scientist has offered them a glimmer of hope.
We join Sarah's imaginative world as she heads to the front line in the war between humanity and bacteria.
Oliver Emanuel's potent and playful drama set in a near-future in which doctors can no longer prescribe antibiotics.
Sarah ...... Jocelyn Brassington
Lizzie ...... Christine Bottomley
Paul ...... Roderick Gilkison
Minister for Health ...... Kevin Mains
Matron ...... Adura Onashile
Headmistress ...... Anita Vettesse
Developed through Wellcome Experimental Stories in consultation with Professor Joanna Coast and Dr Adam Roberts
Director: Kirsty Williams.
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in February 2018.
SAT 00:30 Shah Rukh Khan's Heroes (b06rd13t)
Dhyan Chand
Bollywood icon Shah Rukh Khan's continues a celebration of his personal heroes with a tribute to Indian hockey legend, Dhyan Chand.
Dhyan was an Indian field hockey player, considered as one of the greatest players of all time. He died aged 74 in 1979.
Shah Rukh talks about how the three times Olympian inspired him in life and what he's learnt from Dhyan's accomplishments.
"Success is not something that can be passed on. The greatest of people, the most successful of people perhaps will never be able to teach their children or their colleagues, to be as successful as they were."
Even though the Bollywood star didn't get to meet him in life, he fondly remembers sitting under a statue of his idol at the national stadium in New Delhi while he was growing up. Shah Rukh recalls that's where his interest in learning more about the great Dhyan Chand began.
He goes onto explain he decided to play the role of hockey coach Kabir Khan in the film Chak De! India because he wanted the world to share his passion for the game.
Finally, Shah Rukh discusses how Dhyan's inspiration stretches wider than sport, saying "just in case you can't achieve success in the field you want to, there are always going to be opportunities which will allow you do so later on. So don't give up."
Producer: Ranjit Doal
First broadcast on the BBC Asian Network in May 2012.
SAT 01:00 Falco (b00k89mm)
Venus in Copper
2. The Unexpected Offer
Falco is searching for the truth about the deaths of Severina's three husbands, when an unexpected offer forces him to question his instincts.
Maybe he should consult his new feathered friend?
Anton Lesser stars as Ancient Rome's favourite detective.
Lindsey Davis's gripping, historical mystery.
Dramatised by Mary Cutler.
Marcus Didius Falco …. Anton Lesser
Helena Justina …. Ann Madeley
Pollia …. Julia Hills
Doctor …. Jez Thomas
Thalia …. Chipo Chung
Severina Zotica …. Tracy Wiles
Cossus …. Jonathan Tafler
The Parrot …. Colin Rote
Hortensius Novus …. Ian Brooker
Directed at BBC Birmingham by Peter Leslie Wild.
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in May 2006.
SAT 01:30 The Blackburn Files (b007jptk)
Series 1
5. A Case of Haddock and Plaice
When an elderly couple face a time-share cash con, it sparks private investigator Stephen J Blackburn's first case abroad.
Starring Fine Time Fontayne and Judy Flynn.
Written by Ian McMillan, Martyn Wiley and Dave Sheasby.
Stephen J Blackburn …… Finetime Fontayne
Tracey …… Judy Flynn
With:
Gerry Kersey
Lorraine Peters
Norman Mills
Lucia Laratonda
James Tomlinson
Directed for BBC North East by Dave Sheasby
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in August 1989.
SAT 02:00 Parcel Arrived Safely: Tied With String by Michael Crawford (b019fx7g)
5. Phantom
The tribulations and ultimate triumph of starring on the London stage in 'The Phantom of The Opera'.
One of Britain's best loved entertainers, Michael Crawford concludes reading his autobiography.
Abridged by Pat McLoughlin.
Producer: Penny Leicester
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in October 1999.
SAT 02:15 D for Dexter (m000ptb3)
Series 7
Episode 5
Skye might have made a big mistake.
But Dexter is ok and Ed wants to buy her breakfast.
Amanda Whittington's heart-breakingly brave, funny and beautiful story exploring the issue of neglect.
Skye ..... Sydney Wade
Jak ..... Una McNulty
Dexter ..... Alfie Johnson-McCann
Ed...Mark Addy
Scarlett ..... Scarlett Courtney
Aiden ..... Will Kirk
Guitar by Tom Constantine.
Director: Mary Ward-Lowery
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in November 2020.
SAT 02:30 There's More Here Than I Thought (b00jxc77)
Winifred Gill was an artist, craftswoman, puppeteer and social reformer.
She was also a friend and supporter of painters such as LS Lowry, Duncan Grant, Roger Fry, Vanessa Bell and poet Walter de la Mare.
Yet whereas their reputations are secure, Winifred Gill's name is barely known. But thanks to the hard work and persistence of her niece Margaret Bennett and Margaret's cousin Chrystine Bennett, all that's changed.
Writer Kate Mosse sets out to explore Winifred's fascinating life.
She visits London's East End where the artist spent the last 27 years of her life - before she died aged 90 in 1981.
Kate journeys to the Bodleian Library in Oxford, which now houses Winifred's papers - and also the Courtauld Gallery in London which included her in an art exhibition about the Omega Workshops.
Kate discovers a talented, hardworking woman. who was involved in many important social and artistic movements of the 20th century.
Producer: Lucinda Montefiore
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in April 2009.
SAT 03:00 Sherlock Holmes (b007jnsx)
The Sign of the Four
2. The Great Agra Treasure
"I wouldn't tell her too much. Women are never to be entirely trusted - not the best of them."
The great detective's latest case is proving difficult to crack- and for Watson, there are tricky matters of the heart to negotiate...
Starring Clive Merrison and Michael Williams.
Conclusion of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's story of his legendary sleuth, Sherlock Holmes.
Sherlock Holmes ... Clive Merrison
Dr John Watson... Michael Williams
Jonathan Small ... Brian Blessed
Mary Morstan ... Moir Leslie
Mrs Hudson ... Anna Cropper
Sherman ...John Moffatt
Wiggins ... Alan Dean
Mrs Forrester .... Elizabeth Mansfield
Jacobson ... Vincent Brimble
Insp Jones ... Sion Probert
Abdullah Khan ...Amerjit Deu
Mahomet Singh ... John Bull
Major Sholto ... Michael Kilgarriff
Violin: Alexander Balanescu
Dramatised by Bert Coules.
Director: Ian Cotterell
Producer: David Johnston
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in October 1989.
SAT 04:00 Funny You Should Ask (b0b8brq5)
From 24/03/1981
Peter Jones hosts the entertainment quiz about comedy as he tests a panel of experts:
Leslie Crowther
Barry Cryer
Dick Vosburgh
Funny You Should Ask ran for 8 series from 1976 to 1982.
Questions compiled by Michael Pointon.
Producer: Paul Mayhew-Archer.
First broadcast on BBC Radio 2 in March 1981.
SAT 04:30 Ballylenon (b007jx5y)
Series 5
Episode 2
Guard Gallagher gets new lodgings, as arguments rage over President Hoover's cottage.
Series set in the sleepy town of Ballylenon, Co Donegal in 1956.
Written by Christopher Fitz-Simon.
Phonsie Doherty …. TP McKenna
Muriel McConkey …. Margaret D'Arcy
Vera McConkey …. Stella McCusker
Vivienne Hawthorne …. Aine McCartney
Rev Hawthorne …. Gerard Murphy
Peg Sweeney …. Marcella Riordan
Father O'Flatley …. John Guiney
Packy McGoldrick …. Charlie Bonnar
Music arranged and performed by Stephanie Hughes.
Director: Eoin O'Callaghan
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in June 1998.
SAT 05:00 The Headset Set (b012fs7b)
Series 1
Episode 4
Appraisal day dawns in the offices of catalogue company Smile5, but only Sailesh has prepared for it.
Eavesdrop on both sides of the bizarre, horrific and ludicrous phone calls when customers call in as events unfold with company staff.
Aleesha ..... Chizzy Akudolu
Bernie ..... Margaret-Cabourn Smith
Big Tony ..... Colin Hoult
Sailesh ..... Paul Sharma
Various ..... Philip Fox
Other characters played by the cast.
Written by James Kettle, Stephen Carlin, Celia Pacquola, Andy Wolton, Benjamin Partridge, Colin Hoult, Kevin Core, Madeliene Brettingham, Rebecca Hobbs and Dan Tetsell.
Script editor: James Kettle
Producer: Tilusha Ghelani
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in July 2011.
SAT 05:30 Now You're Asking with Marian Keyes and Tara Flynn (m0013gyj)
The Badly-Dressed Boyfriend Problem
In this week’s instalment, Marian and Tara tackle a badly-dressed boyfriend, a weighted blanket, the problem with noisy eaters and much more.
Marian Keyes is a multi award-winning writer, with a total of over 30 million of her books sold to date in 33 languages. Her close friend Tara Flynn is an actress, comedian and writer. Together, these two friends have been through a lot, and now want to use their considerable life experience to help solve your biggest - and smallest - of their listeners' problems.
From dilemmas about life, love and grief, to the perils of laundry or knowing what to say at a boring dinner, we’ll find out what Marian and Tara would recommend…which might not solve the problem exactly, but will make us all feel a bit better.
Recorded in Dublin with emails received from listeners around the world, the hosts invite you to pull up a chair at their virtual kitchen table as they read and digest their inbox.
Got a problem you want Marian and Tara to solve? Email: marianandtara@bbc.co.uk.
Producer: Steve Doherty.
A Giddy Goat production for BBC Radio 4 and BBC Sounds
SAT 06:00 Young Coleridge (b00828lq)
Greta Hall, Keswick: 16th September 1803.
The events of one day in the life of poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge cause him to reflect on the professional and personal disappointments of recent years.
He tries to make sense of his world: his opiate addiction, failure in love, his poetry and dreams of a utopian community.
Starring Tom Wilkinson.
Drama written by Martyn Wade.
Coleridge …… Tom Wilkinson
Sara …… Jennie Stoller
Southey …… Gary Bond
Hazlitt …… Christopher Good
Edith Southey …… Narissa Knights
Mary Lovell …… Moir Leslie
Asra …… Amanda Murray
Hartley …… Elizabeth Lindsay
Mrs Fricker …… Ellen McIntosh
Prostitute …… Elizabeth Rider
Schoolmaster …… Brian Smith
Young Man …… Christopher Douglas
Director: Cherry Cookson
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in October 1984.
SAT 07:30 Great Lives (b09jvglt)
Series 44
Nazir Afzal on Gandhi
Former Chief Crown Prosecutor for North West England Nazir Afzal was responsible for convicting the men who sexually abused young girls in Rochdale.
Matthew Parris invites him to nominate a great life.
He's chosen Mahatma Gandhi, also a lawyer, whom he says inspired him to speak out on behalf of those who were marginalised and ignored by the rest of society.
Producer: Maggie Ayre
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in December 2017.
SAT 08:00 The Write Stuff (b00775wp)
Series 10
Tom Stoppard
James Walton takes the chair for the game of literary correctness.
Team captains Sebastian Faulks and John Walsh are joined by Peter Kemp and Sue Limb.
From the Oxford Literary Festival.
Author of the week is Tom Stoppard.
Reader: Beth Chalmers
Producer: Katie Marsden
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in March 2007.
SAT 08:30 Smelling of Roses (b00f86x3)
Series 4
Episode 4
Rosie Burns and company find themselves involved in the relaunch of a radio station...and of an old disc jockey's career.
Prunella Scales stars in Simon Brett's sitcom.
The trials and tribulations of Rosie Burns and her event management company, where the clients are only part of the problem...
Rosie ..... Prunella Scales
Jo ..... Rebecca Callard
Bob ..... Duncan Preston
Tess ..... Annette Badland
Brad Marshall ..... Colin Stinton
Kenny Truman ..... Chris Emmett
Valerie Pilkington ..... Sheila Mitchell
Written and produced by Simon Brett.
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in August 2003.
SAT 09:00 Comedy Club Extravaganza (m0002zlf)
The Comedy Club is BBC Radio 4 Extra's' nightly two hour showcase of the best in contemporary radio comedy, hosted by the best contemporary comedy voices.
This three hour extravaganza celebrates our highlights, looking back at the regular and guest hosts, the sketches and songs broadcast only in the Comedy Club, and the best interviews with guests from the world of comedy.
Comedy Club presenters Jake Yapp, Jessica Fostekew, Jon Holmes, Sarah Campbell, Rob Deering, Laura Lexx, Iain Lee, Angela Barnes, Paul Garner and Arthur Smith look through the rich, varied and hilarious Comedy Club archive to present their favourite guests, sketches, and songs.
Over the years the Comedy Club has been hosted by Aisling Bea, Cariad Lloyd, Sara Pascoe, Bridget Christie, Diane Morgan, Isy Suttie, Tim Key, Tom Wrigglesworth, Ed Gamble, Simon Munnery, Kevin Eldon, Alex Riley, Andi Osho, Richard Herring, Thom Tuck, John Shuttleworth, Neil Innes - even Trevor and Simon.
Plus archive interviews with:
Sharon Horgan
Charlie Brooker
People Just Do Nothing
Rosie Jones
James Acaster
John Finnemore
Mackenzie Crook
Greg Davies
Rachel Parris
Nish Kumar
Katherine Ryan
Johnny Vegas
Josie Long
Alexei Sayle
Plus highlights from the Comedy Club at the Machynlleth Comedy Festival.
We also mark the occasion with a specially commissioned short-form documentary series: Comedy Club - 100 Glorious Years which charts the history of the Comedy Club with archive of landmark performances and presentation from the 1920s right through to the present day. (This is of questionable historical merit as it is entirely fictional and really very silly).
Made for BBC Radio 4 Extra and first broadcast in March 2019.
SAT 12:00 Dot (b0bd7rw0)
Series 3
Saucepans for Spitfires!
A national initiative to boost morale causes havoc in the personnel team, as Dot and the gals turn on each other.
Retro comic adventures with Dot and the gals from personnel in the rollicking Cabinet War Rooms comedy by Ed Harris.
Dot ...... Fenella Woolgar
Myrtle ...... Kate O'Flynn
Peg ...... Freya Parker
Peabody ...... David Acton
Mrs Background ...... Emma Handy
Ding Dong ...... Ryan Whittle
Director: Sasha Yevtushenko
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in August 2018.
.
SAT 12:30 Alexei Sayle's Imaginary Sandwich Bar (b09d431q)
Series 2
Britain's Place in the World
The Godfather of Alternative Comedy delivers a mixture of stand-up, memoir and philosophy from behind the counter of his Imaginary Sandwich Bar.
Alexei considers Britain's place in the world and discusses his return to stand-up comedy after a 17 year hiatus.
Along the way he reveals where all of the Millets shops have gone, discloses the key to reworking old material for a modern audience and offers a compelling argument for Britain losing a war - and soon.
Written and performed by Alexei Sayle.
Original music and lyrics by Tim Sutton.
Producer: Joe Nunnery
A BBC Studios production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in November 2017.
SAT 13:00 Archive on 4 (b0b6bw77)
Joe v Max
Bonnie Greer tells the story of one of the most famous sporting contests of all time - a boxing match in June 1938 between the American Joe Louis and the German Max Schmeling.
The fight took on massive international, social and cultural significance and millions of people around the globe listened to the contest on their radios, making it the largest radio event in history.
Schmeling had shocked the world two years earlier when he defeated Louis and became the toast of Germany, with Hitler and Goebbels among his fans. A rematch was inevitable. For the first time, most of white America was behind a black fighter and Jews in the US and Europe, all too aware of the Nazi threat, were also cheering Louis.
With the world on the brink of war, it was projected as a contest between different social and racial ideals, a showdown between democracy and totalitarianism.
President Roosevelt told Louis, "Joe we need muscles like yours to defeat Germany."
Producer: Jonathan Mayo
A TBI production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in June 2015.
SAT 14:00 The Problem With Adam Bloom (b018zvmk)
Series 3
Reading
Just what is the point of books?
Adam Bloom investigates his fear of reading aloud.
After very negative but funny experiences at school, the comedian managed to avoid reading a book for much of his adult life. But he does find one novel that inspires him to start reading again.
Comedian Adam Bloom sets the world to rights.
Written by and starring Adam Bloom.
With:
Rob Rouse
Hattie Hayridge
Stefano Polini
Producer: Adam Bromley
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in October 2005.
SAT 14:30 Bleak Expectations (b01nxt2d)
Series 5
A Pleasant Yet Dull Life Re-Evilled
Pip Bin is beginning to miss the conflict with his absent evil nemesis Mr Gently Benevolent.
Then he receives an intriguing invitation to a house party with Britain's poshest man, the Baron-Viscount-Marqu-earl-et the Lord-Dukey Clampvulture of Too-Many Titles.
But one of the other guests may not be all he seems....
Mark Evans's epic Victorian comedy in the style of Charles Dickens.
Sir Philip ...... Richard Johnson
Young Pip Bin ...... Tom Allen
Gently Benevolent ...... Anthony Head
Harry Biscuit ...... James Bachman
Clampvulture ...... Geoffrey Whitehead
Ripely ...... Sarah Hadland
Pippa ...... Susy Kane
General Kartoffel-Kopf ...... Mark Evans
Producer: Gareth Edwards.
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in November 2012.
SAT 15:00 Simon Evans Goes to Market (b0610182)
Series 2
Alcohol
Comedian Simon Evans returns with a series about the economics of some of the goods - or bads - we are addicted to.
If you crave your daily coffee, can't get by without a cigarette, feel that mid-afternoon slump without your sugar-fix, or can't face an evening without a glass of wine, you are definitely not alone.
But have you ever thought about the economics that has made your addiction possible? Who does it profit? And would you want to make some canny investments that take advantage of our human weaknesses?
Simon walks us around the economics, history and health issues behind these oh-so-addictive commodities - and pokes fun at our relationship with them.
With economics guru, More Or Less host Tim Harford and Queen of investment know-how, Merryn Somerset-Webb.
Written by Simon Evans, Benjamin Partridge and Andy Wolton.
Producer: Claire Jones
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in July 2015.
SAT 15:30 Concrete Cow (b0076k1x)
Series 1
Episode 6
Meet Thomas Hardy's agent, the theft of Hitler's family jewels, the world's first man and email problems in ancient Rome.
Sketch show made by actors reading out scripts in front of an audience, who laughed, and then keeping the good bits.
Starring:
Olivia Colman
Robert Webb
Sally Hawkins
Steven Kynman
Chris Pavlo
Written by James Cary, Sally Hawkins, Catherine Shepherd, Jon Holmes and Adam Bromley.
Producer: Adam Bromley
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in September 2002.
SAT 16:00 Young Coleridge (b00828lq)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:00 today]
SAT 17:30 Great Lives (b09jvglt)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:30 today]
SAT 18:00 Robert Forrest - The Voyage of the Demeter (b00vk23h)
1897: Terror strikes as the schooner 'Demeter' sails from Bulgaria to the east coast of England.
Something very nasty is lurking aboard in the dark corners of the ship...
Starring Finlay Welsh.
A chilling tale of the supernatural by Robert Forrest.
Ripelski ................. Finlay Welsh
Robash ........... ....... Gary Lewis
Kaneski .............. Steven McNicoll
Bretov ............... Grant O'Rourke
Gentleman ............. Alexander Morton
Producer Patrick Rayner
First broadcast on Radio 4 in February 2008.
SAT 19:00 Comedy Club Extravaganza (m0002zlf)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:00 today]
SAT 22:00 Chain Reaction (b00l5p7l)
Series 1
Johnny Vegas Interviews Stewart Lee
Up front comic, Johnny Vegas interviews prickly comedian, Stewart Lee.
This is the tag talk show series where the guest turns interviewer in the next show.
Producer: Tilusha Ghelani
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in January 2005.
SAT 22:30 The Problem With Adam Bloom (b019chmt)
Series 3
Parents
Despite being close to his mum and dad, why does Adam Bloom argue with them all the time?
Adam examines our attitudes to children and parents, as well as picking up a flute for the first time in years.
Heart-warming, funny and quixotic comedy.
Written by and starring Adam Bloom.
With:
Rob Rouse
Hattie Hayridge
Stefano Polini
Bernie Bloom
Producer: Adam Bromley
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in November 2005.
SAT 23:00 Mr and Mrs Smith (b01blzkq)
Series 1
The Music Festival
Will reluctantly accompanies wife Annabelle to a music festival. She brings her annoying friend Heather along.
Will Smith's sitcom about a couple in marriage counselling,
Counsellor Guy must mediate another dispute between Will and Annabelle, with flashbacks to the events that spawned the argument, and by the end, the couple find marital equilibrium once more. Sort of.
Will Smith ..... Will Smith
Annabelle Smith ..... Sarah Hadland
Guy ..... Paterson Joseph
Heather ..... Morwenna Banks
Various ..... Simon Bubb
Producer: Tilusha Ghelani
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in February 2012.
SAT 23:30 The Absolutely Radio Show (b08vxl9m)
Series 2
Episode 1
Stoneybridge Town Council prepare to receive the town's first ever tourist, the Little Girl gives her explanation of Brexit and Calum Gilhooley launches his own YouTube series.
Plus sketches about the downside of voice technology on smartphones, while Melania Trump presents a brand new podcast offering an insight into her life as First Lady.
The cast of TV's hugely popular sketch show return for series two.
Revisiting some of their much-loved sketch characters, while also introducing some newcomers.
Starring:
Pete Baikie
Morwenna Banks
Moray Hunter
Gordon Kennedy
John Sparkes
In 2013, the group that made their name on Channel Four in the 1980s and 90s got back together for Radio 4's Sketchorama: Absolutely Special - which won the BBC Audio Drama Award for Best Live Scripted Comedy. The first series of The Absolutely Radio Show picked up a Celtic Media Award nomination for Best Radio Comedy.
Producers: Gordon Kennedy & Gus Beattie
An Absolutely/Gusman production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in June 2017.