SATURDAY 14 MAY 2022

SAT 00:00 Paradise Lost in Cyberspace (b007jpgs)
Episode 5
Now a fully-fledged OAP, George Smith is set for a special mission with Andrea Sunbeam and Mrs Cookson.
Starring Stephen Moore.
Colin Swash's dystopian comedy set in 22nd-century Britain.
George ...... Stephen Moore
Doris ...... Patsy Byrne
O'Connell ...... Geoffrey McGivern
Mrs Cookson ...... Edna Dore
Andrea Sunbeam ...... Lorelei King
Wilma P Random ...... Melanie Hudson
Other parts played by:
Christopher Douglas
Lewis MacLeod
Peter Serafinowicz
Producer: Richard Wilson.
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in March 1998.
SAT 00:30 Sounds Natural (b07lp1v3)
Derek Nimmo
From the Bar-Tailed Godwit to the Natterjack Toad.
Actor, producer, author and Just A Minute panellist, Derek Nimmo talks to Derek Jones about his love of wildlife photography and filming, plus his recent trip to Australia,
Aided by recordings from the BBC Sound Archive.
Derek Nimmo died aged 68 in 1999.
Producer: John Burton.
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in July 1973.
SAT 01:00 Wimsey (b007jvlr)
Unnatural Death
5. The Property Act
Unravelling property rules throws up some fresh clues for Lord Peter Wimsey as he continues his murder probe .
Ian Carmichael stars as the aristocratic sleuth.
Dorothy L Sayers' detective mystery.
Dramatised by Chris Miller.
Lord Peter Wimsey …. Ian Carmichael
Inspector Parker …. Gabriel Woolf
Mr Murbles …. Malcolm Hayes
Mr Towkington …. Garard Green
Mr Trigg …. Gordon Clyde
Mrs Mead …. Bridget McConnel
Producer: Simon Brett.
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in June 1975.
SAT 01:30 The House (m00175lz)
Series 2
5. A New Nomination
"Mr Speaker , will the Home Secretary explain why he is supporting the nomination of the twin brother of his closest friend? Has the Government rigged the election process? "
Is the Government involved in shady dealings for the election?
Starring Julian Glover and Peter Kelly.
Political thriller serial by Christopher Lee.
Charles Bannister .... Julian Glover
Dougal Baxter .... Peter Kelly
Mary Bannister ....Isla Blair
Henry Colville ....Christopher Benjamin
Juliet Cameron ....Siobhan Redmond
Rose ....Sheila Reid
Kay Bennett ....Jane Booker
Gerald Mossman ....David Neville
Speaker ....Terence Edmond
Producer: Neil Cargill
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in September 1991.
SAT 02:00 Fever Pitch by Nick Hornby (b007jwx3)
Episode 5
Musing on Arsenal winning the league - and searching for the right metaphor.
Nick Hornby concludes his football-obsessed memoir taking in the landmark year of 1989, when his beloved team were top of Division 1, in the days before the Premier League.
Producer: Matthew Walters
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in August 1993.
SAT 02:15 Vanity Fair by William Makepeace Thackeray (b007jvxl)
10. Waterloo
1815, the Battle of Waterloo. As George and Rawdon fight, Becky and Amelia wait for news.
Stephen Fry narrates one of the greatest comic novels of the Victorian period.
Written by William Makepeace Thackeray.
Dramatised by Stephen Wyatt.
Becky Sharp .... Emma Fielding
Amelia …. Katy Cavanagh
Jos Sedley .... Toby Jones
Rawdon Crawley …. Ray Coulthard
Ensign Stubble .... Stephen Hogan
Peggy O'Dowd …. Monica Dolan
Director Claire Grove
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 2004.
SAT 02:30 Mr Pollock's Theatres (b0076dzn)
"Penny plain and twopence coloured...."
A phrase familiar to generations of pre-TV children that describes the toy theatres of Benjamin Pollock, a printer from Hoxton in London.
Simon Callow explores the magic world of the cardboard actor, which tells us so much about the real theatre of the 19th century.
Producer: Merilyn Harris
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in May 2003.
SAT 03:00 Jack London - The Sea Wolf (b007jmcl)
4. Escape
Humphrey and Maud dash for freedom from cruel captain, Wolf Larsen, but Japan is 600 miles away...
Conclusion of Jack London's 1904 tale of brutality and survival on the high seas.
Starring Jack Klaff, Kerry Shale and Shelley Thompson.
Dramatised by Ed Thomason.
Wolf Larsen …. Jack Klaff
Humphrey van Weyden …. Kerry Shale
Maud Brewster …. Shelley Thompson
Music: Elizabeth Parker of the BBC Radiophonic Workshop
Director: Adrian Bean
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in September 1991.
SAT 04:00 Guess What? (b066f71q)
Episode 8
Animal, vegetable or mineral?
Barry Took hosts a revised version of popular radio parlour game of 20 questions.
On the panel:
Geoffrey Durham
Chris Serle
Clare Francis
Written by Michael Dines.
Producer: Andy Aliffe
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in May 1998.
SAT 04:30 Millport (b0076258)
Series 2
Story
Everyone's telling tales and making up stories.
Moira's acting oddly, no-one's listening to Bob and Agnes has discovered the medicinal benefits of alcohol
For once, Irene doesn't know what to do...
Bittersweet comedy written by and starring Lynn Ferguson.
Barmaid Irene Bruce is 30-something and hankering after a better life on the mainland.
Irene ...... Lynn Ferguson
Moira/Agnes ...... Janet Brown
Alberto/Robert/Doctor ...... Lewis McLeod
Ena/Bunty ...... Gabriel Quigley
Bob/Minister ...... Robert Patterson
Dougie ...... Matt Costello
Music arranged by Olly Fox.
Producer: Lucy Bacon
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in May 2001.
SAT 05:00 Says on the Tin (b00gqzw0)
Chowder
Eliott, Esther and Hannah compete aggressively to promote American Chowder to the British consumer.
Starring Michael Brandon.
Christopher William Hill's sitcom about an American advertising man, forced to relocate to London.
Eliott Thurber ...... Michael Brandon
Esther Finn ...... Samantha Bond
Hannah Walker ...... Pippa Haywood
Zadie ...... Joannah Tincey
Baz ...... Inam Mirza
Sal ...... John Guerrasio
Other parts played by:
Stephen Critchlow
Jonathan Tafler
Dan Starkey
Gunnar Cauthery
Donnla Hughes
Producer: Liz Webb
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in January 2009.
SAT 05:30 Stand-Up Specials (m001743x)
Mike Bubbins: Retrosexual
Mike Bubbins is a good bloke, a good husband and a good Dad, but he never quite feels like he fits in. Not in an odd way, he's keen to point out. It's just he dresses like he lives in the 70s, his house looks like a 70s film set, and he drives a 70s Ford Cortina.
So yeah, in other words, in an odd way.
He's not done bad for a lad who failed his A-Levels, became a PE teacher (see 'failed his A-levels’), worked as an Elvis impersonator, and then signed up for a writing course but got the wrong day and turned up for a stand-up comedy course instead. Because it was raining, and his wife had already dropped him off, he decided he might as well stay.
Eleven years later, he presents his debut Radio 4 show.
We've all been through a lot, emotionally and psychologically, with the extraordinary events of the pandemic. In the middle of the biggest crisis the world has witnessed since the war, we all had to assess who we were, what our priorities were, what our core relationships are and how robust they really are.
 
Luckily, Bubbins isn't interested in any of that. He wasn't even involved in the pandemic. Because he lives in the 70s. In this show, he aims to take us back to a time before Covid and other complexities - a much simpler time .
An Impatient production for BBC Radio 4
SAT 06:00 William Boyd - A Good Man in Africa (m0017cwm)
Morgan Leafy, well-meaning, a bit of a buffoon, is perhaps rather more absorbed in women than watchful of his career as a minor British diplomat in Africa.
It's a circumstance which leads him from crisis to farcical disaster until a good man dies...
Starring Alan Rickman and Alison Steadman.
William Boyd's award-winning novel.
Dramatised by Stephen Davis.
Morgan Leafy …. Alan Rickman
Priscilla …. Alison Steadman
Arthur Fanshawe .... David Garth
Celia …. Elizabeth Rider
Dr Murray …. Bill Paterson
Adenkunle/Robinson …. John Matshikiza
Chloe Fanshawe .... Tessa Worsley
Dalmire .... Colin Starkey
Isaac/Moses .... Alex Tetteh-Lartey
Jones .... Brian Smith
Geraldine/Tina .... Mia Soteriou
Kojo/Shango/Inspector Gbeho .... Louis Mahoney
Muller/Bilbow .... Bernard Brown
Duchess of Ripon .... Mary Wimbush
Director: Richard Wortley
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in March 1985.
SAT 07:30 Great Lives (b0bgfrvp)
Series 46
Helen Glover on Alison Hargreaves
Olympic rower Helen Glover champions the life of mountaineer Alison Hargreaves.
Alison's short life was defined by her love of the mountains. She became interested in climbing as a teenager and devoted her life to pursuing ever greater challenges.
She was the first woman to climb Mount Everest without oxygen and unsupported - before losing her life on the infamous K2 mountain in Pakistan in 1995.
Presented by Matthew Parris - with the help of Alison's biographer, Ed Douglas.
Producer: Maggie Ayre
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in August 2018.
SAT 08:00 The Write Stuff (b00b0z0c)
Series 11
George Eliot
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 George Eliot.
Reader: Beth Chalmers
Producer: Katie Marsden
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in April 2008.
SAT 08:30 1834 (b011klyr)
Strong Continental Lager
21st-century teacher Jason decides 19th-century Macclesfield needs a decent pub with decent beer.
Jason Slater is now Tarquin, the third son of Lord Belport with his faithful valet, Ned.
Jim Poyser's riotous comedy of transportation and delight.
Jason Slater ...... Michael Begley
Ned ...... Joe Caffrey
Hoskins ...... Kenneth Alan Taylor
Lord Belport ...... Mark Chatterton
Stubbs ...... Glenn Cunningham
Millicent ...... Julia Rounthwaite
Directed at BBC Manchester by Polly Thomas.
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in June 2003.
SAT 09:00 4 Extra Says I Do (b0b2jd1q)
Comedian Lucy Porter rummages through the bottom drawer of the archives for a beady celebration of marriage, for better and for worse.
She tracks the shift in nuptial trends since the 1950’s, hears from three couples tying the knot in 2018 and a wedding photographer who’s chronicled the changes.
Lucy is joined by real-life husband - writer, actor and comedian Justin Edwards - to flick through their own wedding album, reminisce about embarrassing best men’s speeches and reflect on married life. Who gets first dibs on domestic material when both partners are comedians?
Featuring:
* 1950 archive of a panel of men reeling off their requirements for the perfect wife from WOMAN’S HOUR on the BBC Home Service.
* Trevor, the hapless groom, features in a drama from BLOOD IN THE BRIDAL SHOP by Nancy Harris and Louise Ramsden, in which he wonders how his mother in law has turned what promised to be a small private event into the wedding of the year.
* Justin Edwards stars as Antony, alongside Miles Jupp as Damien Trench, in an episode of IN AND OUT OF THE KITCHEN in which Antony has to give a best man’s speech.
* SIMON EVANS GOES TO MARKET looking at the economics of weddings and marriage.
* Safraz Manzoor explores how British Asians were quick to latch on to matchmaking on the internet in LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT.
* A fly on the wall documentary from the series, LIVES IN A LANDSCAPE, tracking the wedding plans of Ryan and Mimi from Manchester.
* And Olivia Colman starts in an episode of FIVE WEDDING DRESSES by Katie Hims, as the bride who never wants to take off her wedding dress.
Producer: Lindsay Leonard
Made for 4 Extra and first broadcast in May 2018.
SAT 12:00 North by Northamptonshire (b00sp454)
Series 1
Episode 1
Clever, funny and touching series about a small town in the middle of Northamptonshire as it prepares for a talent night.
Sheila Hancock heads a stunning cast including Mackenzie Crook, Penelope Wilton, Felicity Montagu and Kevin Eldon.
Written by and also starring Katherine Jakeways.
Get to know the local supermarket manager who shares rather more than is usual about his private life over the store's tannoy system. Recently divorced Jan has been trying unsuccessfully to 'find herself' with a trip abroad to an elephant sanctuary. But it is at home in Wadenbrook that she starts to feel happier with herself as her friendship blossoms with ex-teacher Mary. And, joy of joys, could it be that Jan is going to experience a touch of romance at last?
Meet driving instructor and forthright self-defence teacher Esther and her gentle and put-upon Jonathan as they struggle to start a family and we meet possibly the only happy couple in town, Ken and Keith, as they attempt to teach their pet whippets to dance for the town talent night.
In this opening episode, Mary starts rehearsals for the town talent night and is shocked by 12 year old Gregory's slide show of Victorian ladies.
Meanwhile Esther sends her husband Jonathan out to collect money for the Leicestershire Infertile Males Project but he ends up at The Bricklayer's Arms looking at pictures of elephants with Jan.
Narrator ...... Sheila Hancock
Rod ...... Mackenzie Crook
Mary ...... Penelope Wilton
Jan ...... Felicity Montagu
Jonathan ...... Kevin Eldon
Esther ...... Katherine Jakeways
Keith ...... John Biggins
Landlord ...... Rufus Wright
Gregory ...... Sam Cotton
Producer: Claire Jones
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in June 2010.
SAT 12:30 Tomorrow, Today! (b016r51y)
Series 2
Dr Chaotica and the Rise of the Atomic Man-Bees
A BBC producer struggles to make a radio soap set in the unimaginably futuristic world of 2008.
Suspicious deaths provoke mixed reactions.
Starring Peter Bowles, John Fortune and Cheryl Campbell
The return of Christopher William Hill's futuristic sitcom set in 1962.
Nigel Lavery ...... Peter Bowles
Sylvia Hann ...... Cheryl Campbell
Godfrey Winnard ..... John Fortune
Sir Angus McNairn ...... Gary Waldhorn
Hugo Kellerman ...... Joseph Kloska
Douglas Bennings ...... Jon Glover
Keith Wood ...... Sam Pamphilon
Mrs Tinkler ...... Rachel Atkins
Graham Tinkler ...... Lloyd Thomas
Delivery Boy ...... Alex Lamipekun
Producer: Liz Webb
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in January 2008.
SAT 13:00 Archive on 4 (m00026m2)
Powers of Persuasion: How Britain Learned to Sell
Designer Wayne Hemingway examines 100 years of British advertising on film and TV, with special behind-the-scenes access to the one of the world’s largest advertising collection at the British Film Institute.
Wayne follows advertisers’ first hesitant steps into both the big and small screen. It was a time when America was the global player. Beginning with films as early as 1900, he discovers how Britain carefully set itself apart from global advertising trends, crafting a model perfectly fine-tuned for our nation – the subtle, soft sell.
But it is this unique subtlety that took Britain to its most controversial moments in advertising – when entire series were banned for being duplicitous. Wayne draws parallels to modern day Britain, comparing how advertisers always try to break the rules in new mediums.
The BFI collection also contains many of the cinematic, directorial debuts from the mad men who went to Hollywood. Wayne investigates their timeless ads that created the Golden Era of advertising, and how each of them drew on tropes of British identity and archetypes of British society to sell to us.
Most theories on advertising suggest that it doesn’t actually input ideas into society – rather that it reflects them back. Yet this archive points to the moments when advertisers fuelled certain movements and fortified idealistic notions, re-defining and re-directing our sense of self and what it means to be British.
Producer: Anishka Sharma and Kate Holland
A Whistledown production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in January 2019.
SAT 14:00 On the Hour (b008pcbq)
Series 1
Episode 2
Tackling dangerous dogs, TV evangelism probe - and a surprising new role for Margaret Thatcher.
All the news as it happens, if it happens – plus sport from Alan Partridge.
Savagely satirical award-winning comedy starring Chris Morris.
With:
Steve Coogan
David Schneider
Rebecca Front
Patrick Marber
Doon Mackichan
Written by Chris Morris, Richard Herring, Steven Wells, Andrew Glover, David Quantick and Stewart Lee.
Editor: Armando lannucci
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in August 1991.
SAT 14:30 The Mary Whitehouse Experience (b044153k)
Series 4
Episode 2
The pernicious evil of shampoo and conditioner.
Starring double double-acts:
David Baddiel & Rob Newman
Steve Punt & Hugh Dennis
With:
Mark Hurst
BBC Radio 1's alternative comedy with sketches, stand-up and the odd spot of audience participation.
Starting in 1989, the foursome's popularity sparked a BBC TV-transfer of the same name.
Producer: Armando Iannucci
First broadcast on BBC Radio 1 in October 1990
SAT 15:00 Goodness Gracious Me (b008x8fx)
Series 1
Episode 1
The teenage Bhangramuffins are DJing, the Maharisha Yogi is lecturing - and the hungry comedy team go for an 'English'.
Starring:
Sanjeev Bhaskar
Kulvinder Ghir
Nitin Sawhney
Meera Syal
Nina Wadia
Gold Winner of the Sony Radio Academy Awards. The sketch comedy show originally ran on BBC Radio 4 from 1996 to 1998, later transferring to TV on BBC Two from 1998 to 2001.
Written by Sharat Sardana, Richard Pinto and the cast.
Producer: Gareth Edwards & Anil Gupta
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in July 1996.
SAT 15:30 Knowing Me, Knowing You (b007jvc2)
Episode 6
A-ha! Chat show host Alan Partridge welcomes more guests to his sofa:
BBC TV's Commissioning Director, Tony Hayers
TV presenter, Trudy Sky
Fashion Designer, Yvonne Boyd
The maverick, Lord Morgan
With thanks to Alan's chief researcher Steve Coogan.
Assistant researchers:
Patrick Marber
Rebecca Front
Doon Mackichan
David Schneider
Producer: Armando lannucci
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in December 1992.
SAT 16:00 William Boyd - A Good Man in Africa (m0017cwm)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:00 today]
SAT 17:30 Great Lives (b0bgfrvp)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:30 today]
SAT 18:00 Vanessa Rosenthal - The Drover's Path (b0076q43)
A chilling ghost story set in 1890 on a remote sheep farm in Yorkshire.
Stars Jeff Hordley.
Vanessa Rosenthal’s dark drama is based on real-life family history.
John Whitam …. Jeff Hordley
Percy Metcalf …. Malcolm Hebden
Robert Whittam/Thomas Omerod …. Kenneth Alan Taylor
Ellen Whittam/Edith Whittam …. Elianne Byrne
Arthur Cunliffe/Edward Ormerod …. Matthew Lewney
Young Ellen/Young Edith …. Catherine Jenkins
Young John …. Oliver Hudson
Signature tune: Wench All
Directed at BBC Manchester by Polly Thomas.
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in January 2005.
SAT 19:00 4 Extra Says I Do (b0b2jd1q)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:00 today]
SAT 22:00 4 at the Store (b00ct1wm)
Series 1
Episode 2
Stand-up at London's Comedy Store, with host Simon Bligh, John Mann, Marian Unfaithful and Paul Tonkinson. From December 1998.
SAT 22:30 Thom Tuck - Goes Straight to DVD (b01rl8nd)
Steven Seagal
Comedian Thom Tuck draws more parallels between underrated straight-to-DVD movies with captivating tales from his own life experience.
This time it’s action films!
Steven Seagal has made 27 sub-masterpieces which went straight-to-DVD. Thom has managed to extricate himself from the same number of scrapes during his life. He grabbed a man's face! Seagal punched a man's face!
It’s all backed by cinematic music, so we can rest easy.
Producer: Lianne Coop
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in April 2013.
SAT 23:00 The Shuttleworths (b007jpr5)
Europigeon Special
Sheffield singer/songwriter John Shuttleworth makes a bid for the Eurovision Song Contest prize
Will he triumph with his romantic ballad with an upbeat lyric, 'Pigeons in Flight'?
This documentary mixes actuality and behind-the-scenes preparation to reveal an insider's view of the competition.
Written and performed by Graham Fellows.
Producer: Paul Schlesinger
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in April 1994.
SAT 23:30 The Odd Half Hour (b00w1zxc)
Series 2
Episode 2
Comedy sketch show which answers the questions you probably never asked:
* Why is Bagpuss a bad influence for children?
* How can a seance go badly wrong?
* Why did the Vikings never use consumer focus groups?
Starring:
Kevin Bishop
Stephen K Amos
Doon Mackichan
Justin Edwards
Jessica Ransom
Written by Madeleine Brettingham, Jason Hazeley, Joel Morris, Steve Dawson, Andrew Dawson, Timothy Inman, Jane Lamacraft, Mike Ryan, Stephen Carlin, James Kettle and Dale Shaw.
Producer: Simon Mayhew-Archer
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in November 2010.