SATURDAY 16 APRIL 2022

SAT 00:00 Charles Chilton - Space Force (b007jn5r)
Series 2
5. Living With Death
Elevated to the priesthood of God-King Ra - the captive crew of Space Force seize a chance to escape.
Starring Barry Foster and Nigel Stock.
Charles Chilton's second intergalactic adventure series.
Captain Saxon Berry ...... Barry Foster
Chipper Barnett ...... Nicky Henson
Magnus Carter ...... Nigel Stock
Lodderick Sincere ...... Tony Osoba
With Wendy Murray, Willoughby Goddard and Bernard Brown.
Producer: Paul Mayhew-Archer
First broadcast on BBC Radio 2 in June 1985.
SAT 00:30 Sounds Natural (b01slst0)
Peter Cushing
Award-winning actor Peter Cushing takes a break from making horror films to discuss his enthusiasm for the British countryside and its wildlife.
Aided by recordings from the BBC Sound Archive.
Peter tells Derek Jones how he used to spend hours with his late wife Helen watching wild birds from their home on the estuary at Whitstable in Kent.
Peter Cushing, OBE: died aged 81 in 1994.
Producer: John Burton.
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in January 1972.
SAT 01:00 Boxer and Doberman (b00jdp91)
Series 1
4. The Seat of Evil
When a much-loved Scottish comic is killed in the street by a falling safe, it looks like an unlucky one-off accident.
But then there are more celebrity killings and a pattern starts to emerge.
Is it a brand new case for Boxer and Doberman - or a continuation of the one they're on already?
The plot thickens like fog on the Clyde.....
Starring Finlay Welsh and Anita Vettesse.
Alastair Jessiman's gritty police comedy drama series.
DI Bob Boxer …… Finlay Walsh
DC Shona Doberman …… Anita Vettesse
DCI Paton ...... James Bryce
'Biscuits' McVitie ...... Steven McNicol
Mrs Adamson ...... Monica Gibb
DCS Robotham Trench …… Crawford Logan
Wee Gordon Boyle …… Alastair Jessiman
Other parts played by the cast.
Producer: David Jackson Young.
Made for BBC Radio 7 by BBC Radio Scotland and first broadcast in March 2009.
SAT 01:30 Len Deighton - XPD (m000j35p)
6. A Safe House for Moscow
Two men have broken into a German computer and discovered something called 'Operation Siegfried'. Then they are murdered.
Boyd Stuart suspects his own people and tries to resign. But you don t resign from the Secret Service.
Len Deighton’s riveting thriller.
Dramatised by Michael Bakewell
Boyd Stuart ...... Trevor Nichols
Sydney Ryden ..... David Garth
Max Breslow ..... Bernard Hepton
Willi Kleiber ...... Clifford Rose
Prime Minister ...... Bernard Brown
Project chairman ...... Bruce Boa
Sevmour ...... William Roberts
Kalkhoven ...... Stuart Milligan
Wyn ...... Louh Hirsch
Parker ...... Colin Starkey
Kitty ...... Melinda Walker
Secretary ...... Garard Green
Producer: Peter King
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in July 1985.
SAT 02:00 Big Pig, Little Pig by Jacqueline Yallop (b08xd38g)
Episode 5
With Christmas round the corner and guests arriving soon, the time has come to slaughter Little Pig.
But the trauma of despatching Big Pig is still fresh...
Jacqueline Yallop has moved to south-west France with her husband and embraced rural village life.
Her memoir is a love story exploring her increasing attachment to her pigs as well as the ethics of meat eating in the modern age.
Should we know, respect and even love the animals we eat?
Concluded by Imogen Stubbs.
Abridged by Amanda Hargreaves.
Producer: Jill Waters
A Waters Company production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in July 2017.
SAT 02:15 HE Bates - Love for Lydia (b007q99p)
Episode 10
As he helps her recovery, Richardson must face up to what love for Lydia really means.
Conclusion of HE Bates's semi-autobiographical novel.
Dramatised by Vivienne Allen.
Older Richardson …… Tim Pigott-Smith
Richardson …… Jordan Frieda
Lydia …… Juliet Aubrey
Blackie......Robert Purdy
Dr Baird......Tom Calder
Director: Tracey Neale
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in November 2004.
SAT 02:30 When Stockhausen Came to Huddersfield (b06pd3bt)
Controversial German composer Karlheinz Stockhausen’s visit to the Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival nearly ended in disaster in 1988.
Ian McMillan finds out what happened.
The superstar of the Avant Garde, who featured on the front cover of the Beatles Sergeant Pepper album, had been shocking audiences since the 1950's with his dazzling compositions.
Stockhausen was lured to the quiet West Riding mill town for its 10th anniversary festival, because London’s South Bank couldn't provide the rehearsal time and a suitable venue for his composition, Sternklang or 'Star Sound'. Festival Director Richard Steinitz had promised him the cavernous council owned sports hall for the performance, which was turned into an indoor park for the occasion, complete with Christmas trees and artificial turf.
While setting up for a concert in Huddersfield Town Hall, part of the ceiling fell onto Stockhausen's mixing desk and narrowly missed injuring the great man himself. During his visit Stockhausen developed a taste for the local curry house, bought earplugs to get to sleep in the railway hotel and invited local people to get ready for 'visitors from outer-space'. His reputation had gone before him, and he didn't disappoint those who were lucky enough to be there.
The visit put the festival on the map, and has become part of local folklore.
Ian talks to writer and broadcaster Robert Worby, the then Festival Director Richard Steinitz, Technical Manager Steve Taylor, musician Peter Britton who trained the student performers, and Jim Pywell who was a music student at the Polytechnic at the time.
Producer: Andrew Carter
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in November 2015.
SAT 03:00 Elizabeth Gaskell - Wives and Daughters (b007jswc)
4. Mr Osborne Hamley's Secret
'Molly, we are all wrong at home! Osborne has lost the fellowship at Trinity he went back for. Then he has gone and failed miserably in his degree, after all that he said and that his mother said. I can't understand it.
I never expected anything from Roger; but Osborne! And then it has thrown Madam into one of her bad fits of illness; and she seems to have a fancy for you, child!'
Molly overhears some shocking information regarding the Squire's son.
Final novel written by Elizabeth Gaskell.
Starring Tom Wilkinson, Kathryn Hurlbutt and Angela Pleasence.
Dramatised by Barry Campbell.
Molly .... Kathryn Hurlbutt
Clare .... Angela Pleasence
Mr Gibson .... Tom Wilkinson
Cynthia .... Anne Louise Lambert
Squire Hamley .... Robert Lang
Mrs Hamley .... Lillias Walker
Osborne Hamley .... Adam Bareham
Roger Hamley ....Michael Troughton
Miss Browning .... Diana Bishop
Mr Preston .... Brett Usher
Girl .... Molr Leslie
Gardener .... Peter Tuddenham
Robinson .... Nigel Graham
Mrs Gaskell .... Thelma Whiteley
Music composed by Rachel Portman
Director: Jane Morgan
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in September 1983
SAT 04:00 Guess What? (b063r9k0)
Episode 5
Animal, vegetable or mineral?
Barry Took hosts a revised version of popular radio parlour game of 20 questions.
On the panel:
Geoffrey Durham
Dick Vosburgh
Hattie Hayridge.
Written by Michael Dines.
Producer: Andy Aliffe
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in May 1998.
SAT 04:30 Bookcases (m0005gy3)
Series 2
Merger Most Foul
As Spavin and Spavin's fortunes decline, Edith's success as a writer increases.
But her refusal to let the firm publish her books leads to desperate plans for a merger...
Starring Michael Cochrane and Maggie Steed.
Martyn Wade’s sitcom set in a Victorian publishing house.
Primus …… Michael Cochrane
Cordelia …… Maggie Steed
Gerald …… David Horovitch
Edith …… Elizabeth Spriggs
Mrs Quirk …… Joan Sims
Simeon …… Charles Simpson
Prince Albert/Smiles …… Ioan Meredith
John …… Stephen Critchlow
Mrs Beeton …… Rachel Atkins
Lizzie Siddal …… Becky Hindley
Forster …… Gerard McDermott
Director: Cherry Cookson
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in January 2001.
SAT 05:00 All Those Women (b088jj62)
Series 2
Episode 4
Layla and Stu are having their new baby Barclay christened and have asked Maggie to be the godmother. She's thrilled. Jen's 'completely fine' with that.
Add in a newly released prison penpal, some impulsive behaviour, and a free bar and inevitably it's not a party that runs very smoothly...
Comedy series by Katherine Jakeways about four generations of women living under one roof.
All Those Women explores familial relationships, ageing, marriages - it's about life and love and things not turning out quite the way that you'd expected them to.
Join Hetty, Maggie, Jen and Emily as they struggle to resolve their own problems, and support one another.
Hetty ...... Marcia Warren
Maggie ...... Lesley Manville
Jen ...... Sinead Matthews
Emily ...... Lucy Hutchinson
Stuart ...... Nick Underwood
Layla ...... Katie Redford
Kenneth ...... Sam Dale
Rosie ...... Catriona McFarlane
Producer: Alexandra Smith
A BBC Studios production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in January 2017.
SAT 05:30 Desolation Jests (b085wjb8)
Episode 3
David Jason stars with Jan Ravens, Rory Bremner and John Bird in David Renwick's dark and original comedy.
Interviewer JP Doom asks cultural icons of our times what sketches would bring a smile to their faces with oblivion just around the corner.
Lucian Bile, aka Rot Caries, Britain's first and only punk dentist chooses his favourite moments from a not-altogether-accurate history of comedy, including most of an announcement from the Ministry of Unfinished Business, a clock shop with a Rabbi in the window, and a sinister case from the files of Offcom Squad.
With:
David Jason
John Bird
Jan Ravens
Rory Bremner
Producer: Gareth Edwards
A BBC Studios production for BBC Radio 4 first broadcast in December 2016.
SAT 06:00 Kingsley Amis - All Free Now (b08n1vxy)
"As you get older, you'll find that absolutely straight-down-the-middle sex doesn't strike you in quite the way it did."
Sir Roy's pursuit of something more stimulating wreaks havoc in his own life - and everyone else's...
Comic observation of the late 1960s.
Written by Tony Bilbow - based on Kingsley Amis’s novel ‘Girl 20’.
Sir Roy Vandervane …. Robert Stephens
Douglas Yandell …. Christopher Timothy
Lady Kitty …. Eva Stuart
Meers …. Geoffrey Whitehead
Penny …. Kim Thomson
Sylvia …. Anna Mazzotti
Gilbert …. Okon Jones
Coates/Compere …. Michael Graham Cox
TV/Radio Broadcaster/Max …. Adrian Egan
Chris/Jimmy …. Richard Pearce
Vivienne …. Joan Walker
Himself …. Michael Dean
Producer: Matthew Walters
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in January 1989.
SAT 07:30 Great Lives (b0b2jg2w)
Series 45
Mica Paris on Josephine Baker
For soul singer Mica Paris, when she first dreamt of becoming a singer it was Josephine Baker who inspired her most.
Baker was a young black American dancer who became an overnight sensation in Paris in 1925 after performing wild, uninhibited routines in the skimpiest of costumes.
So can Mica Paris make the case for Baker who wore a string of bananas and little else while performing the 'banana dance?
Joining presenter Matthew Parris to help tell the story of Josephine Baker is author Andrea Stuart.
Producer: Perminder Khatkar
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 May 2018.
SAT 08:00 The Write Stuff (b009rjdh)
Series 11
Jonathan Swift
James Walton takes the chair for the game of literary correctness.
Team captains Sebastian Faulks and John Walsh are joined by Peter Kemp and Andrew Davies.
Author of the week is Jonathan Swift.
Reader: Beth Chalmers
Producer: Katie Marsden
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in April 2008.
SAT 08:30 Spangles 'n' Tights (b04phhxy)
Medieval Banquet
The Dublin theatrical costumiers dress a medieval banquet in a ghostly castle.
Christopher Fitz-Simon's five-part comedy.
Dessie Doyle ...... David Kelly
Violet Doyle ...... Pauline McLynn
Antony Gogan ...... Eugene O'Brien
Mr McNamara ...... Frank Kelly
Fidelma Fitzpatrick ...... Roma Tomelty
High King ...... Birdy Sweeney
Cliona O'Sloothrahaun ...... Anna Byrne
Cardinal Poggibonsi ...... John Keyes
Court Jester ...... Paddy Scully
Music played by John Trotter.
Directed at BBC Belfast by Roland Jaquarello.
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in October 1998.
SAT 09:00 Miriam Margolyes' Adventures in Radio (b07qcf7j)
Much-loved actress Miriam Margolyes looks back over her radio lives, choosing some of her favourite performances from the BBC Radio Archive.
Despite winning awards (BAFTA), Miriam’s on the record as saying she has many regrets in her stage career, but when it comes to her radio back catalogue, she’s immensely proud. Since she joined the BBC Radio Drama Repertory Company in 1965 – radio has been a true love.
Miriam's choices include:
* Sentimental Journey (Radio 4 1999) where she made an emotional trip to Belarus, with Arthur Smith to find out more about her family history;
* After Albert (Radio 4 1996) where she plays a feisty Queen Victoria, with surprising desires, after the death of Prince Albert;
* The Queen and I (Radio 4, 1992) in a Sony Radio Academy Best Actress winning performance, Miriam brings to life Sue Townsend’s (Adrian Mole) comic tale about the House of Windsor, whose members are rather down on their luck;
* The Child (1979, Radio 4) where she stars in Olwen Wymark’s sensitive story about a mother caring for her daughter who has profound mental health issues;
* Dickens’ Women (Radio 4, 1991) Miriam chooses a favourite character, Miss Havisham, from her celebrated one-woman show stage show, recorded for Radio 4;
* The Picnic (Radio 3, 1985) Miriam stars with Timothy West in Anthony Horowitz’s powerful story based on a real event in the Soviet Union in 1981;
* Singular Women, (Radio 4, 1997) Miriam becomes Stella, the manageress of a chocolate shop, demonstrating the power of the radio monologue to create a magical link of imaginations between an actor, a character and the listener.
Producer: Peter McHugh
Made for BBC Radio 4 Extra and first broadcast in August 2016.
SAT 12:00 My Favorite Husband (m000nlnp)
Piano and Violin Lessons
Liz takes piano lessons again from her old teacher. George takes up the violin once again.
Who will win the radio talent contest?.
Starring Lucille Ball as Liz and Richard Denning as George.
The story of Liz and George Cooper, a happily married couple living in Sheridan Falls. Based on the novels by Isabel Scott Rorick. Originally called the Cugats, their name by now was changed to Cooper.
Liz Cooper …. Lucille Ball
George Cooper …. Richard Denning
Katy …. Ruth Perrot
Written by Jess Oppenheimer, Bob Carroll Junior and Madelyn Pugh.
Producer: Jess Oppenheimer
The popularity of this radio series led to Lucille’s ground breaking TV sitcom role, I Love Lucy. This was to cement her long-running position as one of America’s favourite entertainers over several decades.
First broadcast in the USA on CBS Radio in November 1948.
SAT 12:30 One Foot in the Grave (b007jmxg)
Alive and Buried
Grumpy Victor Meldrew arrives at work to learn that he's no longer employed and is set to be replaced by a box.
With time passing very slowly in his enforced retirement, Victor gripes about newsreaders and worries about becoming a lavatory junkie.
Richard Wilson stars as Victor and Annette Crosbie as his long-suffering wife Margaret.
Adapted for radio by David Renwick from his BBC TV script.
Victor Meldrew ...... Richard Wilson
Margaret Meldrew ...... Annette Crosbie
Mrs Warboys ...... Doreen Mantle
Nick Swainey ...... Owen Brenman
With Sally Grace and Jeffrey Holland.
Winning numerous awards, six series were made for TV plus numerous specials on BBC ONE from 1990 to 2000.
Producer: Diane Messias
First broadcast on BBC Radio 2 in January 1995.
SAT 13:00 One Foot In The Grave - A Celebration Of A Comedy Classic (b068hyw4)
Would you believe it?
In January 1990, BBC TV broadcast the very first episode of One Foot In The Grave, much of it filmed along England's South Coast.
Doreen Mantle - who played Mrs Warboys – looks back at the history of the classic TV sitcom about the ever grumpy Victor Meldrew (Richard Wilson) and his long-suffering wife Margaret (Annette Crosbie).
It ran for 6 series, plus festive specials and selected episodes were adapted for BBC radio.
Featuring:
Richard Wilson
Annette Crosbie
Angus Deayton
Series writer, David Renwick
Producer, Susan Belbin
Producer: Richard Latto
First broadcast on BBC Radio Solent in December 2014.
SAT 14:00 Tom Wrigglesworth's Open Letters (b01gvtj8)
Series 2
Insurance
Why is the insurance industry so confusing?
Award-winning comic, Tom Wrigglesworth returns for another series of his open letters.
Written by Tom Wrigglesworth, James Kettle and Miles Jupp.
Producer: Simon Mayhew-Archer.
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in May 2012.
SAT 14:30 Agendum (b0bfydqz)
Series 1
Fruit
A current affairs parody and stupidly feasible visit to the 24-hour Hall Of Opinion Mirrors. Because there are two stories to every story.
A scientific breakthrough, a human rights scandal and Britain's favourite fruit come under the idiot microscope of a team of talking heads.
Hosted by hostioneer Alexandra Palisades.
Parody created and written by Jason Hazeley and Joel Morris.
Starring Carrie Quinlan as Alexandra Palisades
And the voices of:
Justin Edwards
Melanie Hudson
Samson Kayo
Jess Robinson
Luke Sumner
Tony Way
Featuring Josh Berry
Producer: David Tyler
A Pozzitive production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in August 2018. .
SAT 15:00 The Nick Revell Show (b007jp45)
Series 1
Holy Water
The life of a struggling writer with his dysfunctional friends and a talking geranium.
A sitcom for the 1990s, written by and starring comedian Nick Revell.
Special guest star: Brian Johnston and Vince the geranium.
With:
Alistair McGowan
Caroline Gruber
Kate McKenzie
Brian Bowles
Producer: Jon Magnusson
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in January 1992.
SAT 15:30 Sarah Millican's Support Group (b010twf6)
Series 2
1. 'My partner is too controlling - a fight for the TV remote'
"My partner is too controlling - a fight for the television remote"
"I'm a non drinker with no friends - should I just buy a cat?"
Sarah Millican returns as a life counsellor and modern-day agony aunt tackling the nation's problems head on, dishing out real advice for real people.
Assisted by her very own team of experts of the heart - man of the people local cabbie Terry, and self qualified counsellor Marion,
Sarah tackles the nation's problems head on and has a solution for everything.
Sarah ...... Sarah Millican
Marion ...... Ruth Bratt
Terry ...... Simon Daye
Linda ...... Diane Morgan
Matthew ...... Will Smith
Written by Sarah Millican.
Producer: Lianne Coop
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in May 2011.
SAT 16:00 Kingsley Amis - All Free Now (b08n1vxy)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:00 today]
SAT 17:30 Great Lives (b0b2jg2w)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:30 today]
SAT 18:00 Nigel Kneale - The Stone Tape (m0003cdx)
In 1979, a team of scientists moves into a new laboratory in a Victorian mansion. When Jill Greely hears a strange disembodied scream, the team decides to analyse the phenomenon, which appears to be a psychic impression trapped in the wall. The scientists begin to realise that their work has disturbed something hidden beneath the stone, something ancient and malevolent.
Acclaimed British filmmaker Peter Strickland (Berberian Sound Studio, The Duke of Burgundy) re-imagines a classic 70s horror.
The original 1972 TV movie is now a cult favourite. Written by Quatermass creator, Nigel Kneale, it's known for its cutting edge sound effects from the BBC Radiophonic Workshop.
This remake has been conceived by Peter Strickland in collaboration with writer Matthew Graham (Life On Mars). It features new music from James Cargill (of the band Broadcast) and sound design from Andrew Liles. A stellar cast includes Romola Garai, Julian Rhind-Tutt, and Julian Barratt with a special cameo by the star of the original version, Jane Asher.
Available for this broadcast in BINAURAL SOUND – please listen on headphones to get the true experience. Also available online and on demand.
Jill Greely.............Romola Garai
Dr Leo Cripps......Julian Rhind-Tutt
Marvy Wade........Dean Andrews
Terry Briscoe.......Julian Barratt
Cleft....................Tom Bennett
Jill's mother.........Jane Asher
The scream.........Eugenia Caruso
Music and electronics: James Cargill
Vocal effects: Andrew Liles
Analogue effects: Steve Haywood and Raoul Brand
Sound mix: Eloise Whitmore
Written by Matthew Graham and Peter Strickland
Based on the original TV play by Nigel Kneale
Director: Peter Strickland
Producer: Russell Finch
Executive Producer: Polly Thomas
A Somethin' Else production for BBC Radio 4 first broadcast in 2015.
SAT 19:00 Miriam Margolyes' Adventures in Radio (b07qcf7j)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:00 today]
SAT 22:00 Alex Horne Presents The Horne Section (b01r961y)
Series 2
With Nick Mohammed
Comedy show hosted by Alex Horne and his five piece band and specially written, original music.
This episode explores the theme of destiny including songs on allergies and chance meetings - as well as showcasing Alex Horne's skills as a dream interpreter.
Guest starring comedian Nick Mohammed who plays with the band and has a trick up his sleeve.
Plus The Middle School Choir from Hall School, Hampstead in London.
Alex's Horne Section are:
Trumpet/banjo .... Joe Auckland
Saxophone/clarinet ....Mark Brown
Double Bass/Bass .... Will Collier
Drums and Percussion .... Ben Reynolds
Piano/keyboard .... Ed Sheldrake
Producer: Julia McKenzie.
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in March 2013.
SAT 22:30 Agendum (b0bgfx69)
Series 1
Crisis
A current affairs parody and stupidly feasible visit to the 24-hour Hall Of Opinion Mirrors. Taking both sides of serious issues seriously
A cotton-based crisis, a row about dimensionality and the ethics of the whoopee cushion are analysed with forensic skill by a team of paid voices.
Chaired by chairperson-in-chief Alexandra Palisades.
Parody created and written by Jason Hazeley and Joel Morris.
Starring Carrie Quinlan as Alexandra Palisades
And the voices of:
Justin Edwards
Melanie Hudson
Kath Hughes
Simon Kane
Tayla Kovacevic-Ebong
Jess Robinson
Luke Sumner
Tony Way
Producer: David Tyler
A Pozzitive production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in August 2018.
SAT 23:00 Mark Thomas: My Life in Serious Organised Crime (b007760g)
Stories from comedian Mark Thomas's campaign against the Serious Organised Crime and Policing Act.
This requires anyone wishing to protest around the Houses of Parliament to obtain a police permit.
Thomas has done exactly that; hundreds and hundreds of times.
Producer: Colin Anderson
First broadcast on Radio 4 in March 2007.
SAT 23:30 The Skivers (b00j5l87)
Series 3
Peter Stringfellow
Nightclubbing in London, courtesy of special guest, Peter Stringfellow.
Another generous hatful of skillful sketch comedy written and performed by Nick Golson and Tim de Jongh.
With:
Peter Bradshaw
Sally Phillips
Announcer: Patrick Allen.
Producer: Jon Naismith
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in January 1997.