SATURDAY 06 JANUARY 2024

SAT 00:00 Hello Caller (m00025fr)
In the last two years BT has decommissioned and removed at least 20,000 phone boxes.
But what if these boxes have always been able to remember all of the conversations that have been routed through them?
What if the wires hold memories suspended in their copper strands?
What if, faced with extinction, these voices breach, at least for a short time, the barrier between temporal reality and the pulses coursing through the cables?
Built from a series of intercut ‘trapped’ phone calls, this is a ramshackle, effervescent collection of tales.
Via the receiver and from within the wires we hear secrets, confessions, fears and declarations of love from voices now lost.
This is a ghost story that relies on physics.
All roles played by:
Annette Badland
Luke MacGregor
Sean Murray
David Reakes
Alex Tregear
Written by Jonathan Holloway.
Based on an idea by Tim Dee.
Director: Alison Crawford
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in January 2019.
SAT 00:45 Gabriel-Ernest by Saki (b09qm7t0)
Van Cheele discovers a wild youth in his woods who tells him he is busiest at night.
Story by Saki read by John Moffatt.
Producer: Tim Gebbels
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in September 1992.
SAT 01:00 Stephen Wakelam - Death at the Bed End (m0005tlg)
Publication of a biography of Charlotte Bronte sparks the threat of libel suit.
So a detective heads to Yorkshire to discover more.
Starring Kenneth Cranham.
Steve Wakelam's drama is based on true events.
Sergeant Jack Down ..... Kenneth Cranham
Patrick Bronte ..... James Greene
Mr Nicholls ..... Stephen Hogan
Harry ..... Declan Wilson
Betty ..... Shirley Dixon
Dr Crosby ..... Geoffrey Whitehead
Martha ..... Helen Longworth
Sugden ..... Steve Hodson
Grundy ..... Philip Fox
Director: Janet Whitaker
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in December 2004.
SAT 02:00 Whodunnits (b007jzky)
Wimsey: The Nine Tailors
5. A Question of Identity
Following his trip to France, Lord Peter Wimsey takes a step closer to identifying the killer.
Ian Carmichael stars as the aristocratic sleuth.
Dorothy L Sayers' detective mystery dramatised by Alistair Beaton.
Lord Peter Wimsey …. Ian Carmichael
Bunter …. Peter Jones
Rev Theodore Venables …. Phillip Latham
Supt Blundell …. Timothy Bateson
Mrs Venables …. Noel Dyson
Nobby Cranton …. Stephen Greiff
Emily …. Jenny Twigg
Potty Peak …. Anthony Hyde
Donnington …. John Church
Narrator …. John Westbrook
Producer: Martin Fisher
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in November 1980.
SAT 02:30 The 17-Jewelled Shockproof Swiss-Made Bomb (m000czqc)
4. Saraband to a Burning Fuse
Johnny Shields and Julie are now on board the St Gothard Express bound for Lugano.
Somehow they have to warn the authorities that Karl is in danger...
Starring Peter Coke.
Roy Clarke’s thriller serial set in the world of highly-organised international smugglers
Shields ...... Peter Coke
The Major ...... Bob Grant
Greta ...... Veronica Doran
Muff ...... Robert Powell
Julie ...... Anne Stallybrass
Jean Hogg ...... Heather Stoney
Walter ...... Ben Kingsley
Theme music composed and played by Trevor Holroyd.
Producer: Alan Ayckbourn
First broadcast on BBC Radio 2 in January 1968.
SAT 03:00 Cornucopia by Paul Richardson (m001trtb)
5. Oysters on the East Coast
A taste of oysters on the East Coast.
No morsel remains uneaten in Paul Richardson's 18 month journey around Britain to discover the state of our national cuisine.
Abridged by Sara Lefanu
Concluded by Alex Jennings.
Producer: Paul Dodgson
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in February 2001.
SAT 03:15 Louisa May Alcott - Little Women (b088jj60)
5. Aunt March Settles the Question
Winter brings snow and the bitter cold to New England and deep and worrying times for the family. Jo turns to Laurie for support.
Louisa May Alcott's coming of age story about love, destiny and freedom.
Dramatised by Rhiannon Tise.
Meg ...... Natasha J Barnes
Jo ...... Julianna Jennings
Beth ...... Bryony Hannah
Amy ...... Samantha Dakin
Mrs March ......Tara Ward
Mr March ...... John Bowler
Laurie ...... Alex Lanipekun
Mr John Brooke ...... Finlay Robertson
Aunt March ...... Joanna Monro
Hannah ...... Alison Belbin
Mrs Hummel/Mrs Moffat ...... Karen Bartke
Sallie Gardiner ...... Natasha Cowley
Annie Moffat ...... Keziah Joseph
Ned Moffat ...... Luke MacGregor
Director: Tracey Neale
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in January 2017.
SAT 03:30 Ability (m0003z8c)
Series 2
Doing a Runner
Matt and his carer Bob do a runner from a restaurant. They knock a thief down in their haste, and are heralded as heroes.
This can’t turn out well…
Stars Lee Ridley and Allan Mustafa.
Matt is 25. He has cerebral palsy and can only speak via an app on his iPad.
Everyone who cares about Matt knows that this isn't the defining thing about him. He is funny and clever and "up for stuff" - partly because he is keen to show that there's nothing he can't do, but also because, if he's honest, he's aware that he's less likely than other people to get the blame.
This second series sees Matt still sharing a flat with his best mate, Jess. He is still in love with her but, much as she likes him, she is still not in love with him. She does however, fancy Matt’s rubbish carer, Bob. Well just a tiny bit anyway. Not that she would ever admit it. After all, Bob is even more lazy and useless at most things than she is.
But Bob is willing. And although domestic duties are not really his forte, he likes Matt and treats him like a real person. And over the last year or so the three of them have been through a lot together - well a lot of drinking and hangovers anyway.
The series is set in Newcastle and many of the cast last played together as children in Biker’s Grove.
Matt ...... Lee Ridley – aka Lost Voice Guy
Bob ...... Allan Mustafa
Jess ...... Sammy Dobson
Matt's Inner Voice ...... Andrew Hayden-Smith
Ability is the semi-autobiographical co-creation of Britain’s Got Talent 2018 winner, Lee Ridley, otherwise known as Lost Voice Guy. Like his sitcom creation, Lee has cerebral palsy and can only speak via an app. Lost Voice Guy is - probably - the first stand up comedian to use a communication aid.
Katherine Jakeways is the co-creator and co-writer of Ability.
A Funny Bones production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in April 2019.
SAT 04:00 Marriage Lines (b05yy74l)
Series 2
Episode 1
George Starling is being driven mad by his wife Kate's preparations for their first baby.
Starring Richard Briers and Prunella Scales.
Richard Waring’s sitcom based on the mutual love and mistrust of two newlyweds.
Originating on BBC TV, it ran between 1963-65 and was adapted in two series for BBC radio due to its popularity.
George ...... Richard Briers
Kate ...... Prunella Scales
Henry ...... Peter Hawkins
Sarah ...... Rosemary Miller
Ronnie ...... James Taylor
Midge ...... Jo Kendall
Mother ...... Diana King
Recorded at the BBC Paris Studio in London.
Producer: Charles Maxwell
First broadcast on the BBC Light Programme in March 1967.
SAT 04:30 Know Your Place (b01874kv)
Not to Be Used for Babies
Caretaker Ramsay awards cleaner Elsie her own storeroom, but he’s keen to ensure the perk isn't abused.
Ramsay Potts is the jobsworth caretaker at a crumbling Edwardian block of flats, pursued by the over-amorous cleaner Elsie.
Starring Roy Dotrice and Patricia Hayes.
Sitcom written by Andrew Palmer and Nell Brennan.
Ramsay Potts ...... Roy Dotrice
Elspeth Spurgeon ...... Patricia Hayes
With:
Pat Coombs
John Graham
Sue Holderness
Producer: Edward Taylor
First broadcast on BBC Radio 2 in January 1982.
SAT 05:00 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.
Joining team captains Lucy Moore and Anthony Holden to run the gauntlet of gossip:
Lynne Truss
Michele Brown
Producer: Elizabeth Freestone
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in September 2004.
SAT 05:30 The Right Time (b0076mj9)
Series 4
Episode 4
Getting mad at the milkman, a rocking DJ – and a very intuitive answerphone.
Sketch show about growing older disgracefully.
Starring:
Eleanor Bron
Dudley Sutton
Roger Blake
Paula Wilcox
Music by Ronnie & The Rex and Pierre Hollins.
Written by Nicholas Barber & Glenn Dakin, Jill Brodie & John Pidgeon, Dave Dixon, Mike Haskins, George Poles, Alan Stafford, Dudley Sutton and Chris Thompson & Pete Reynolds.
Script editor: George Poles
Producer: Katie Marsden
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in July 2004.
SAT 06:00 Rose Tremain (b0bk10sh)
Temporary Shelter
Salesman Larry is feeling burnt out.
So he and wife Marje try to relax on their first holiday in seven years at a camp site in the South of France.
Appearing to be full of jovial bonhomie, Larry reveals a very different side to his nature when Trist suddenly pitches his tent next door and starts to question him...
Starring Roy Kinnear.
Drama written by novelist Rose Tremain.
Larry ...... Roy Kinnear
Marje ...... Fiona Walker
Trist ...... Anthony Newlands
Jean-Louis ...... Yves Aubert
Annette ...... Grazyna Monvid
Temporary Shelter won a Giles Cooper Award for one of the best plays of 1984.
Directed at BBC Manchester by Kay Patrick.
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in March 1984.
SAT 07:15 Roald Dahl (b06wdqb5)
The Umbrella Man
It's raining.
A seemingly kind old gentleman offers a mother and her daughter an umbrella - for a price...
Roald Dahl's short story is read by Oona Beeson.
Producer: Matthew Walters
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in March 1990.
SAT 07:30 The Secret Commonwealth (Omnibus) (m000d01w)
Episode 2
Lyra Silvertongue finds herself caught up in a conspiracy when her dæmon witnesses a murder.
Whilst travelling in disguise, Lyra finds her quest to be even more treacherous than she imagined.
Philip Pullman’s second volume of his acclaimed The Book of Dust trilogy.
Omnibus of the last five of ten parts abridged by Doreen Estall.
Concluded by Simon Russell Beale.
Lyra Silvertongue is now 20 years old, and her dæmon Pantalaimon, forced to navigate their relationship in a way they could never have imagined, and drawn into the complex and dangerous factions of a world that they had no idea existed.
They must travel far beyond the edges of Oxford, across Europe and into Asia, in search for what is lost – a city haunted by dæmons, a secret at the heart of a desert, and the mystery of the elusive Dust.
Producer: Michael Shannon
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in December 2019.
SAT 08:45 Uncle Mort's Celtic Fringe (b007jnb2)
Series 1
1. Croeso to Whatsitsname
Carter and his Uncle head to Wales on their latest road trip.
Peter Tinniswood’s continuing tales of long-suffering Carter Brandon on his travels with his curmudgeonly Uncle.
Uncle Mort …. Stephen Thorne
Carter Brandon …. Sam Kelly
Pat/The Barmaid …. Liz Goulding
Mrs Partington …. June Barrie
Mr Roberts …. Howell Evans
Narrator …. Christian Rodska
Uncle Mort and his Yorkshire-based family first appeared in Tinniswood’s novel ‘A Touch Of Daniel’ which earned them a run of ‘I Didn't Know You Cared’ on BBC TV in four series from 1975 to 1979.
Producer: Pete Atkin
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in February 1996.
SAT 09:00 Not in Front of the Children (b08fsg00)
Series 2
Unemployment Problem
As the consequences of Henry's rash resignation sink in, Jennifer has a bright idea.
Starring Wendy Craig and Francis Matthews.
The comedy mishaps of the Corner family - Jennifer and Henry and their three kids Trudi, Amanda and Robin.
Four series were first shown on BBC TV from 1967 to 1970.
Richard Waring adapted his own TV scripts for this radio version, now fully restored from the original reel-to-reel tapes.
Jennifer Corner …. Wendy Craig
Henry Corner …. Francis Matthews
Mary …. Charlotte Mitchell
Trudi …. Roberta Tovey
Amanda …. Jill Riddick
Mr Wrigley …. Paul Whitsun-Jones
Pam …. Gwenda Wilson
Harrison …. Richard Waring
Music by Ronnie Hazlehurst
Producer: Trafford Whitelock
First broadcast on BBC Radio 2 in November 1970.
SAT 09:30 The 27-Year Itch (b0b2ndmd)
You're Never Too Old to Stay at Home
Dorothy and Edward visit Clacton to try and pep up their marriage.
Dorothy and Edward Atkinson are Sidcup's premier warring couple with a marriage to challenge even the most determined of counsellors.
Hugh Paddick and Betty Marsden star in Barry Pilton's marital mayhem sitcom.
Edward ...... Hugh Paddick
Dorothy ...... Betty Marsden
With:
Aubrey Woods
Nigel Lambert
After notching up multiple BBC radio series together of 'Beyond Our Ken' and 'Round the Horne' - most memorably as aging juvenile Binkie Huckaback and Dame Celia Molestrangler - Hugh and Betty were reunited on-air, almost a decade later in 'The 27 Year Itch'.
Producer: Geoffrey Perkins
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in December 1978.
SAT 10:00 The Inimitable PG Wodehouse (m000vx1t)
3. Much Obliged
“Everything in life that’s any fun, as somebody wisely observed, is either immoral, illegal or fattening.” PG Wodehouse, Girl in Blue [1970]
Alexander Armstrong concludes his three-part celebration of the work of the greatest comic author of the 20th century.
We’ll hear a collection of some his best loved work, including a celebration of his creations, such as the feckless Bertie Wooster and his phlegmatic manservant, Jeeves, and his many other characters. All brought to life on radio by stars including Simon Cadell, Michael Hordern and Richard Briers.
We’ll also hear rare interviews and archive along with contributions from fans, friends and family.
Celebrating the comic brilliance of PG Wodehouse is a personal passion for presenter Alexander Armstrong , especially as he’s president of the PG Wodehouse Society – which attracts followers from all over the world.
Producer: Stephen Garner
Made for BBC Radio 4 Extra and first broadcast in January 2020.
SAT 11:00 Rose Tremain (b0bk10sh)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:00 today]
SAT 12:15 Roald Dahl (b06wdqb5)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:15 today]
SAT 12:30 The Secret Commonwealth (Omnibus) (m000d01w)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:30 today]
SAT 13:45 Uncle Mort's Celtic Fringe (b007jnb2)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:45 today]
SAT 14:00 Not in Front of the Children (b08fsg00)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:00 today]
SAT 14:30 The 27-Year Itch (b0b2ndmd)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:30 today]
SAT 15:00 The Inimitable PG Wodehouse (m000vx1t)
[Repeat of broadcast at 10:00 today]
SAT 16:00 Hello Caller (m00025fr)
[Repeat of broadcast at 00:00 today]
SAT 16:45 Gabriel-Ernest by Saki (b09qm7t0)
[Repeat of broadcast at 00:45 today]
SAT 17:00 Rose Tremain (b0bk10sh)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:00 today]
SAT 18:15 Roald Dahl (b06wdqb5)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:15 today]
SAT 18:30 The Secret Commonwealth (Omnibus) (m000d01w)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:30 today]
SAT 19:45 Uncle Mort's Celtic Fringe (b007jnb2)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:45 today]
SAT 20:00 Not in Front of the Children (b08fsg00)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:00 today]
SAT 20:30 The 27-Year Itch (b0b2ndmd)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:30 today]
SAT 21:00 The Inimitable PG Wodehouse (m000vx1t)
[Repeat of broadcast at 10:00 today]
SAT 22:00 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 22:30 The Nick Revell Show (b007jp4p)
Series 1
Decoration
Struggling writer Nick paints his flat to try and impress Caroline, but his geraniums hate it.
A sitcom for the 1990s, written by and starring comedian Nick Revell.
With:
Alistair McGowan
Caroline Gruber
Brian Bowles
Doon Mackichan
Alison Sterling
Producer: Jon Magnusson
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in February 1992.
SAT 23:00 That Mitchell and Webb Sound (b00mwm67)
Series 4
Episode 6
Revealing the new yoghurt for women, and introducing Britain's top police tortoise.
Sketch show starring David Mitchell and Robert Webb.
With:
Olivia Colman
Sarah Hadland
James Bachman
Producer: Gareth Edwards
Firs broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in September 2009.
SAT 23:30 Hut 33 (b00lmdjr)
Series 1
Baghdad
Charles and Archie jump at the chance of going to Iraq, but the posting turns out not to be as cushy as it first seemed.
James Cary's sitcom set in Bletchley Park in 1941.
Three code-breakers are forced to share a draughty wooden hut, as they try to break German ciphers.
Unfortunately, they hate each other.
Charles …. Robert Bathurst
Archie …. Tom Goodman-Hill
Minka …. Olivia Colman
Gordon …. Fergus Craig
Mrs Best …. Lill Roughley
Joshua …. Alex MacQueen
Producer: Adam Bromley
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in July 2007.

SUNDAY 07 JANUARY 2024

SUN 00:00 Frankenstein by Mary Shelley (b01npb18)
2. Fearful
In attempting to find some peace from his troubles, Frankenstein has gone walking in the mountains, where he is about to come face to face with what he most hates and fears.
Conclusion of Mary Shelley's heart-breaking modern myth of obsession, pride and the need for love.
Starring Jamie Parker and Shaun Dooley.
Dramatised by Lucy Catherine.
Frankenstein ..... Jamie Parker
The Monster ..... Shaun Dooley
Elizabeth ..... Susie Riddell
Walton ..... Alun Raglan
Father ..... Robert Blythe
Clerval ..... Sam Alexander
Old Man ..... Bruce Alexander
Agatha ..... Emma Hook
Felix ..... Joe Sims
Lieutenant ..... Don Gilet
Director: Marc Beeby
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in November 2012.
SUN 01:00 Rose Tremain (b0bk10sh)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:00 on Saturday]
SUN 02:15 Roald Dahl (b06wdqb5)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:15 on Saturday]
SUN 02:30 The Secret Commonwealth (Omnibus) (m000d01w)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:30 on Saturday]
SUN 03:45 Uncle Mort's Celtic Fringe (b007jnb2)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:45 on Saturday]
SUN 04:00 Not in Front of the Children (b08fsg00)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:00 on Saturday]
SUN 04:30 The 27-Year Itch (b0b2ndmd)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:30 on Saturday]
SUN 05:00 The Inimitable PG Wodehouse (m000vx1t)
[Repeat of broadcast at 10:00 on Saturday]
SUN 06:00 Poetry Extra (m001v2zc)
Poems for Idle Workers
Daljit Nagra revisits the BBC's poetry archive and chooses Poems for Idle Workers.
Featuring a series of small poems by Holly Pester, set in the brief pauses of work-breaks. Inspired by Virgil, absurdism, and sound poetry.
Performed by Maggie Nicols and Keeley Forsyth.
In the year 42 BC, the Latin poet Virgil began to write his famous Eclogues (the term comes from a word meaning sketch or draft), reflecting tensions in the countryside caused by civil-war in Italy and the assassination of Caesar. In these pieces, dispossessed herdsmen gossip, sing and fight alongside those who have been granted land by the new regime.
Since Virgil, poets including Percy B Shelley and WH Auden have used the eclogue form to explore more modern ideas of labour and land, touching on the real and the mythic at once.
Here, Holly Pester presents a set of experimental eclogues that take place in a contemporary work-space, where two lowly office workers find themselves united yet divided, trying to find a connection in the stolen moments of not-working.
But is there ever really such a moment?
Magatha is read and sung by Maggie Nicols.
Terry is read and sung by Keeley Forsyth.
Written and introduced by Holly Pester.
Produced by Jack Howson
A Reduced Listening production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in 2019.
SUN 06:30 Cornucopia by Paul Richardson (Omnibus) (m001v301)
Paul Richardson journeys around Britain exploring our cuisine.
He begins with apples and hops in Kent, then lamb and lava bread in Wales, followed by Lancashire tripe traditions, on to haggis in the Highlands and ending up with East Coast oysters.
No morsel remains uneaten in this 18-month journey.
Omnibus of five parts abridged by Sara Lefanu.
Read by Alex Jennings.
Producer: Paul Dodgson
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in February 2001.
SUN 07:40 Inheritance Tracks (m001v30m)
Simon Farnaby
Actor, writer and comedian Simon Farnaby chooses Little Town by Cliff Richard and Rattlesnakes by Lloyd Cole and the Commotions.
SUN 07:50 Louisa May Alcott - Little Women (Omnibus) (b008cghp)
Episode 1
It’s the time of The American Civil War and in New England the March family are facing a frugal Christmas without their father.
Four young women forging their path into the adult world, tell of the challenges of a woman's life in a male dominated society.
Each of them is very different but in all four of the March sisters the 'All-American girl' emerges for the first time.
Louisa May Alcott's coming of age story about love, destiny and freedom.
Omnibus of the first five of ten parts dramatised by Rhiannon Tise.
Meg ...... Natasha J Barnes
Jo ...... Julianna Jennings
Beth ...... Bryony Hannah
Amy ...... Samantha Dakin
Mrs March ......Tara Ward
Mr March ...... John Bowler
Laurie ...... Alex Lanipekun
Mr John Brooke ...... Finlay Robertson
Aunt March ...... Joanna Monro
Hannah ...... Alison Belbin
Mrs Hummel/Mrs Moffat ...... Karen Bartke
Sallie Gardiner ...... Natasha Cowley
Annie Moffat ...... Keziah Joseph
Ned Moffat ...... Luke MacGregor
Director: Tracey Neale
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in January 2017.
SUN 09:00 Frankie Howerd (m001v314)
Series 4
Episode 1
The King of Titters visits the doctor, and recalls his time on a desert island.
Frankie takes a comic look back through his eventful life and illustrious career.
Written by David McKellar and David Nobbs.
With:
Ray Fell
Barbara Mitchell
Christopher Scoular
April Walker
Producer: John Browell
First broadcast on BBC Radio 2 in September 1975.
SUN 09:30 The Navy Lark (m001v31y)
Series 10
Commander Trotter Takes Charge
Chief Petty Officer Pertwee flies into a panic when Commander Bell is replaced.
Starring Leslie Phillips, Jon Pertwee and Stephen Murray.
Laughs afloat aboard British Royal Navy frigate HMS Troutbridge.
Written by Lawrie Wyman.
The Sub-Lieutenant ...... Leslie Phillips
The Chief Petty Officer ...... Jon Pertwee
The Number One ...... Stephen Murray
Captain Povey .... Richard Caldicot
WREN Chasen …. Heather Chasen
Leading Seaman Goldstein/Uncle Ebenezer …. Tenniel Evans
The Padre …. Michael Bates
Commander Trotter …. Alan Reeve-Jones
The Navy Lark ran for an impressive 13 series between 1959 and 1976.
Producer: Alastair Scott Johnston
First broadcast on the BBC Light Programme in November 1968.
SUN 10:00 Desert Island Discs Revisited (m001v32g)
Illustrators 2
Helen Oxenbury
Children’s books illustrator, Helen Oxenbury is castaway by Lauren Laverne.
Helen's work has featured in many very popular titles for younger readers including the award-winning We’re Going on a Bear Hunt, by Michael Rosen.
Helen has won the Kate Greenaway Medal twice and was awarded a lifetime achievement award by the Book Trust in 2018. She attended the Ipswich School of Art and later the Central School of Art in London where she met fellow illustrator and her future husband, John Burningham.
After the birth of her children she began illustrating children’s books, working at the kitchen table long after they’d gone to bed. Her work for Ivor Cutler’s Meal One, published in 1971, was praised by Spare Rib magazine for its portrayal of a single mother and her relationship with her young son.
Helen came up with the idea of her baby board books in the late 1970s after the birth of her third child who suffered with eczema. Discovering that her daughter could be distracted from scratching by looking at baby catalogues, Helen created a series of board books placing babies and toddlers at their heart. Such a concept was unheard of at the time.
From the late 1980s, Helen ensured that the babies and children featured in her books came from different ethnic backgrounds and her work in So Much by Trish Cooke has become a children’s classic. In We’re Going on a Bear Hunt, published in 1989, Helen’s pictures celebrated the joy of adventure and the bond between siblings.
DISC ONE: America by Marilyn Cooper, Chita Rivera and Shark Girls
DISC TWO: Mir Ist So Wunderbar by Ludwig van Beethoven, conducted by Mark Elder, performed by London Philharmonic Orchestra. Tenor: Andrew Kennedy, Soprano: Lisa Milne, Soprano: Anja Kampe, Bass: Brindley Sherratt
DISC THREE: Tubby The Tuba by Danny Kaye
DISC FOUR: Lullaby of Birdland by Erroll Garner
DISC FIVE: Episode 1of Life In A Scotch Sitting Room Vol. II by Ivor Cutler ‎
DISC SIX: Schubert ’s Impromptu No. 3 in G flat D899 by Alfred Brendel, (piano)
conducted by Sir Charles Mackerras
DISC SEVEN: Singin’ in the Rain by Gene Kelly
DISC EIGHT: Les Pecheurs de Perles, Act 1: Romance: Mi par d'udir ancora (Je crois entendre encore) by Beniamino Gigli, conducted by Eugene Goossens

BOOK CHOICE: The Empire Trilogy by JG Farrell
LUXURY ITEM: A bed with an unlimited supply of white linen sheets
CASTAWAY'S FAVOURITE: Les Pecheurs de Perles, Act 1: Romance: Mi par d'udir ancora (Je crois entendre encore) by Beniamino Gigli, conducted by Eugene Goossens
Producer: Paula McGinley
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in November 2020.
SUN 10:45 David Attenborough's Life Stories (b00zm4j4)
Series 2
Earthworms
Although Charles Darwin is especially well known for his work on the Theory of Evolution through his seminal work "On the Origin of Species", he also published a lot of his research on earthworms.
Earthworms fascinated Darwin, so much so that his observations led him to believe that they showed marked intelligence. And earthworms fascinate Sir David Attenborough too.
He recalls a visit to Australia to film the giant earthworm and intriguingly used his ears more than any other sense to find them.
What did they sound like and what did they look like?
Sir David reveals all.
Producer: Julian Hector
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in March 2011.
SUN 11:00 Poetry Extra (m001v2zc)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:00 today]
SUN 11:30 Cornucopia by Paul Richardson (Omnibus) (m001v301)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:30 today]
SUN 12:40 Inheritance Tracks (m001v30m)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:40 today]
SUN 12:50 Louisa May Alcott - Little Women (Omnibus) (b008cghp)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:50 today]
SUN 14:00 Frankie Howerd (m001v314)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:00 today]
SUN 14:30 The Navy Lark (m001v31y)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:30 today]
SUN 15:00 Desert Island Discs Revisited (m001v32g)
[Repeat of broadcast at 10:00 today]
SUN 15:45 David Attenborough's Life Stories (b00zm4j4)
[Repeat of broadcast at 10:45 today]
SUN 16:00 Frankenstein by Mary Shelley (b01npb18)
[Repeat of broadcast at 00:00 today]
SUN 17:00 Poetry Extra (m001v2zc)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:00 today]
SUN 17:30 Cornucopia by Paul Richardson (Omnibus) (m001v301)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:30 today]
SUN 18:40 Inheritance Tracks (m001v30m)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:40 today]
SUN 18:50 Louisa May Alcott - Little Women (Omnibus) (b008cghp)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:50 today]
SUN 20:00 Frankie Howerd (m001v314)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:00 today]
SUN 20:30 The Navy Lark (m001v31y)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:30 today]
SUN 21:00 Desert Island Discs Revisited (m001v32g)
[Repeat of broadcast at 10:00 today]
SUN 21:45 David Attenborough's Life Stories (b00zm4j4)
[Repeat of broadcast at 10:45 today]
SUN 22:00 The Confessional (m000v848)
Series 1
The Confession of Cariad Lloyd
Actor, comedian and broadcaster Stephen Mangan presents a comedy chat show about shame and guilt.
In each episode, Stephen invites a different guest into his virtual confessional box to make three confessions - with remarkable storytelling and surprising insights.
In this unconventional chat show, he wants to see what really makes them tick by finding out what they are ashamed of!
Stephen and his guest reflect with empathy and humour on why we get embarrassed, where our shame thresholds should be, and the value of guilt.
In this opening episode, he takes the confession of the award winning improvisational comedian, actor and presenter of Griefcast, Cariad Lloyd.
Written and presented by Stephen Mangan
With extra material by Nick Doody
Later guests include Joan Bakewell, Clarke Peters, Phil Wang, Dr Phil Hammond and more.
Producers: Dave Anderson & Frank Stirling
A 7digital production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in April 2021.
SUN 22:30 Stand-Up Specials (b09z3dkg)
Episode 1
Ruby Wax talks about mental health in her inimitable style.
She's focusing on how we are all frazzled, how we got to be that way and what we can do about it - using comedy, mindfulness and chat with the audience.
Ruby has the knowledge - a Master's degree in mindfulness-based Cognitive Behavioural Therapy.
She also has the experience after years of struggles with mental health. And of course she has the comic gifts to say it in an articulate, funny and entertaining way.
In this show, she wants to make us laugh at her and at ourselves, make our lives feel more manageable, and share tools for how to cope.
Written and performed by Ruby Wax
Producer: Liz Anstee
A CPL production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in April 2018.
SUN 23:00 Thanks a Lot, Milton Jones! (b06z2pmy)
Series 2
The Bodyguard
Milton offers his services as a bodyguard and discovers that a South American diva and a tent full of home-made jam don't mix quite as well as he'd imagined.
Mention Milton Jones to most people and the first thing they think is 'Help!' Because each episode, Milton, and his trusty assistant Anton set out to help people and soon find they're embroiled in a new adventure.
If you're close to the edge, then Milton can give you a push.
Written by Milton with James Cary and Dan Evans
With:
Tom Goodman-Hill
Josie Lawrence
Dan Tetsell
Music by Guy Jackson.
Director: David Tyler
A Pozzitive production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in February 2016.
SUN 23:30 The In Crowd (b00sbrl6)
Series 3
Episode 1
Meet the travel agent who won't let anyone go further than Lowestoft and the army officer who can't wait to offer himself up as the first to be eaten in a crisis.
Plus the cultural hooligans who smash up beautiful things, and Wendy Clapper who thinks a trip to see the Northern Lights means a weekend in Blackpool.
Return of the sketch show from Manchester's Comedy Store.
With:
Robin Ince
Helen Moon
Smug Roberts
Kate Ward
Producer: Graham Frost
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in July 2002.

MONDAY 08 JANUARY 2024

MON 00:00 Poetry Extra (m001v2zc)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:00 on Sunday]
MON 00:30 Cornucopia by Paul Richardson (Omnibus) (m001v301)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:30 on Sunday]
MON 01:40 Inheritance Tracks (m001v30m)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:40 on Sunday]
MON 01:50 Louisa May Alcott - Little Women (Omnibus) (b008cghp)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:50 on Sunday]
MON 03:00 Frankie Howerd (m001v314)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:00 on Sunday]
MON 03:30 The Navy Lark (m001v31y)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:30 on Sunday]
MON 04:00 Desert Island Discs Revisited (m001v32g)
[Repeat of broadcast at 10:00 on Sunday]
MON 04:45 David Attenborough's Life Stories (b00zm4j4)
[Repeat of broadcast at 10:45 on Sunday]
MON 05:00 Wilkie Collins - The Woman in White (b007jlgx)
1. Encounter
Walter Hartright meets a strange woman dressed in white as he returns home across London's Hampstead Heath late one night.
He's about to travel north to take up a post as drawing master to two young ladies.
Little does he realise how this chance encounter and his new position are inextricably linked.
Wilkie Collins's Victorian thriller was one of the best-selling novels of the 19th century.
Starring Toby Stephens and Juliet Aubrey.
Dramatised in four episodes by Martyn Wade.
Walter Hartright ...... Toby Stephens
Marian Halcombe ...... Juliet Aubrey
Laura Fairlie ...... Emily Bruni
Sir Percival Glyde ...... Jeremy Clyde
Anne Catherick ...... Alice Hart
Mr Gilmore ...... Sean Baker
Pesca ...... Ioan Meredith
Frederick Fairlie ...... Edward Petherbridge
Mr Dempster ...... Jonathan Keeble
Jacob ...... Oliver Cookson
Music: Elizabeth Parker
Director: Cherry Cookson
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in November 2001.
MON 06:00 Whodunnits (b007jznj)
Wimsey: The Nine Tailors
6. A Damnable Business
Lord Peter Wimsey identifies the mystery body, but he's yet to name the killer.
Ian Carmichael stars as the aristocratic sleuth.
Dorothy L Sayers' detective mystery dramatised by Alistair Beaton.
Lord Peter Wimsey …. Ian Carmichael
Rev Theodore Venables …. Phillip Latham
Supt Blundell …. Timothy Bateson
Nobby Cranton …. Stephen Greiff
Will Thoday …. Keith Drinkell
Mary Thoday …. Claire Clifford
Narrator …. John Westbrook
Producer: Martin Fisher
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in November 1980.
MON 06:30 The 17-Jewelled Shockproof Swiss-Made Bomb (m000d07j)
5. Smaller Shrinks the Standing Corn
Shields meets Marco and collects the plates.
But before he and Julie can get clear of the island, the alarm is raised by one of Bruno's men...
Starring Peter Coke.
Roy Clarke’s thriller serial set in the world of highly-organised international smugglers
Shields ...... Peter Coke
The Major ...... Bob Grant
Greta ...... Veronica Doran
Julie ...... Anne Stallybrass
Slip ...... Colin Edwynn
Sergeant ...... Ben Kingsley
Theme music composed and played by Trevor Holroyd.
Producer: Alan Ayckbourn
First broadcast on BBC Radio 2 in January 1968.
MON 07:00 Coming Up for Air by George Orwell (m000d7nl)
1. Reflection
An overweight, married, middle-aged insurance salesman surveys his life while reflecting on the country he finds himself living in.
George Orwell's novel - written in 1939 - was published just before the outbreak of the Second World War.
It offers premonitions of the impending conflict with images of an idyllic Thames-side Edwardian-era childhood at the same time as taking a rather dim view of capitalism and its effects on the best of rural England.
The reviews were among the best that Orwell had received for a novel. It sold 3,000 copies - a considerable improvement on the response to his previous works.
Abridged in five parts by Ellin Stein.
Read by Tim McInnerny.
Producer: Clive Brill
A Brill production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in January 2020.
MON 07:15 Louisa May Alcott - Little Women (b08b7rv4)
6. The First Wedding
Three years have passed since we were last with the March girls. War is now over and John Brooke is safely home.
Everyone is eagerly looking forward to Meg and John's wedding.
Continuing Louisa May Alcott's coming of age story about love, destiny and freedom.
Dramatised in ten parts by Rhiannon Tise.
Laurie …... Alex Lanipekun
Mrs March …... Tara Ward
Meg …... Natasha Barnes
Jo …... Julianna Jennings
Amy …... Samantha Dakin
Aunt March ..…. Joanna Monro
Mr Brooke ..…. Finlay Robertson
Mr March …... John Bowler
Director: Tracey Neale
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in January 2017.
MON 07:30 Cracking Up (m0001yfy)
Series 2
The Broken Legacy
Psychotherapist divorcee Spencer Pandy attempts to reassert his presence in the family home by gifting son Dylan with his legacy, an ancient piece of stinking musical furniture made from the foul-smelling timber of the Gingki Biloba tree.
Against her better judgement (and the advice of boyfriend Owen), ex-wife Tina agrees to a weekend break in Iceland with Spencer, Dylan and daughter Tilly.
A volcanic eruption and fractured tibia ensue.
Written, composed and narrated by Johnny Daukes.
Comedy about a psychotherapist who thinks he has the answers, if only his ex-wife and kids would listen.
Spencer Pandy ...... Michael Hobbs
Tina Pandy ...... Katherine Jakeways
Narrator ...... Johnny Daukes
Mrs Roberts ...... Pepper Daukes
Tilly Pandy ...... Betty Daukes
Dylan Pandy ...... Jack Burke
Owen ...... Jay Simpson
Other parts played by:
Paul Shearer
Rebecca Clay
Producer: Johnny Daukes
A Big Talk production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in January 2019.
MON 08:00 Steptoe and Son (b007jzsd)
Series 3
Steptoe and Son and Son
A visitor brings Harold Steptoe some unexpected news.
Starring Wilfrid Brambell and Harry H Corbett.
Classic sitcom about the lives of rag and bone men Albert Steptoe and his son Harold.
Written for BBC TV and adapted for BBC Radio by Ray Galton and Alan Simpson.
Albert ...... Wilfrid Brambell
Harold ...... Harry H Corbett
Girl ...... Gwendolyn Watts
Sailor ...... Richard Griffiths
Producer: Bobby Jaye
First broadcast on BBC Radio 2 in May 1971.
MON 08:30 After Henry (b007s8gm)
Series 4
Family Album
"Look at this old dear - roses round her cottage door, a cosy smell of making cake wafting from her kitchen. I can imagine a lot of people buying that, putting it in a frame and claiming it as their own grandmother. Probably easier to cope with than the real thing".
Eleanor's family snaps spark arguments with daughter Sarah over the past...
Simon Brett's comedy about three generations of women.
Each is struggling to cope after the death of Sarah's GP husband, yet they never quite manage to see eye-to-eye.
Sarah …. Prunella Scales
Eleanor …. Joan Sanderson
Russell …. Benjamin Whitrow
Clare …. Gerry Cowper
Auntie Lilian …. Jean Anderson
Producer: Pete Atkin
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in February 1989.
MON 09:00 Elephant in the Room (m00070k9)
Series 1
Episode 5
Sarah Millican hosts a panel show using surveys to discover who is the most Average Jolene, and who is the most Maverick Matilda.
On the sparkling panel:
Sara Pascoe
Jen Brister
Sally-Anne Hayward
Gearoid Farrelly
Surveys on subjects including childhood, daily rituals and favourite cheese are the basis for Sarah's questions to the panellists, discovering who is the closest to, and furthest from, the average. Surprising quirks, hilarious insights and unexpected anecdotes are revealed along the way.
The winner will be the most average. But joint winner will be the most different, the furthest from the norm.
A little bit like a dinner party, but one where you know all of the spoons.
A Chopsy production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in July 2019.
MON 09:30 Acropolis Now (b007m9zv)
Series 1
Games
Philosophy takes a back seat when ex-Olympic champions demand a free restaurant meal.
Ancient Greek comedy by Lynne Truss.
Heraclitus …….. Stephen Moore
Aristophanes …….. Alan Cox
Socrates …….. Robert Hardy
The Oracle …….. Rosemary Leach
Plato …….. Tom George
Xanthippe …….. Rachel Atkins
The Chorus …….. Gavin Muir
Directed at BBC Pebble Mill by Brian King.
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in December 2000.
MON 10:00 Wilkie Collins - The Woman in White (b007jlgx)
[Repeat of broadcast at 05:00 today]
MON 11:00 Whodunnits (b007jznj)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:00 today]
MON 11:30 The 17-Jewelled Shockproof Swiss-Made Bomb (m000d07j)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:30 today]
MON 12:00 Coming Up for Air by George Orwell (m000d7nl)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:00 today]
MON 12:15 Louisa May Alcott - Little Women (b08b7rv4)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:15 today]
MON 12:30 Cracking Up (m0001yfy)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:30 today]
MON 13:00 Steptoe and Son (b007jzsd)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:00 today]
MON 13:30 After Henry (b007s8gm)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:30 today]
MON 14:00 Elephant in the Room (m00070k9)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:00 today]
MON 14:30 Acropolis Now (b007m9zv)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:30 today]
MON 15:00 Wilkie Collins - The Woman in White (b007jlgx)
[Repeat of broadcast at 05:00 today]
MON 16:00 Whodunnits (b007jznj)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:00 today]
MON 16:30 The 17-Jewelled Shockproof Swiss-Made Bomb (m000d07j)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:30 today]
MON 17:00 Coming Up for Air by George Orwell (m000d7nl)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:00 today]
MON 17:15 Louisa May Alcott - Little Women (b08b7rv4)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:15 today]
MON 17:30 Cracking Up (m0001yfy)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:30 today]
MON 18:00 Steptoe and Son (b007jzsd)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:00 today]
MON 18:30 After Henry (b007s8gm)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:30 today]
MON 19:00 Elephant in the Room (m00070k9)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:00 today]
MON 19:30 Acropolis Now (b007m9zv)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:30 today]
MON 20:00 The Moth Radio Hour (m001544w)
Series 12
Out of the Blue
True stories told live in the USA: Jay Allison introduces tales where surprises, unanticipated lessons and plot twists abound.
The Moth is an acclaimed not-for-profit organisation dedicated to the art and craft of storytelling based in the USA.
Since 1997, it has celebrated both the raconteur and the storytelling novice, who has lived through something extraordinary and yearns to share it.
Originally formed by the writer George Dawes Green as an intimate gathering of friends on a porch in Georgia (where moths would flutter in through a hole in the screen), and then recreated in a New York City living room, The Moth quickly grew to produce immensely popular events at theatres and clubs around New York City and later around the USA, the UK and other parts of the world.
The Moth has presented more than 15,000 stories, told live and without notes, to standing-room-only crowds worldwide. The Moth podcast is downloaded over 27 million times a year.
Featuring true stories told live on stage without scripts, from the humorous to the heart-breaking.
The Moth Radio Hour is produced by Jay Allison and Atlantic Public Media in Woods Hole, Massachusetts and is distributed by the Public Radio Exchange.
First heard on PRX in the USA in 2020.
MON 20:55 Inheritance Tracks (b076zjbv)
Patti Smith
Singer-songwriter Patti Smith chooses Artie Shaw's 'Nightmare' and 'After the Gold Rush' by Neil Young.
MON 21:00 A Good Read (b06grjn2)
David Morrissey & Julia Blackburn
Actor David Morrissey and writer Julia Blackburn join Harriett Gilbert to discuss favourite books by John O'Hara, JD Salinger and Alexandra Fuller.
Appointment in Samarra by John O'Hara,
Publisher: Vintage
For Esme with Love and Squalor by JD Salinger
Publisher: Penguin
Don't Lets Go To The Dogs Tonight by Alexandra Fuller
Publisher: Picador
Producer Mary Ward-Lowery.
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in October 2015.
MON 21:30 Rabbit, Run by John Updike (b08mb39f)
1. Chain
The post-war novel that summed up middle-class white America and established John Updike as the major American author of his generation.
Rabbit, Run is the first in a virtuoso Pullitzer Prize-wining quintet featuring hapless Harry Angstrom.
We meet him as a 26-year-old former high school basketball star and suburban paragon in the midst of a personal crisis.
When Harry "Rabbit" Angstrom joins an impromptu basketball game, he sets in motion a chain of decisions that will free him from the responsibilities of adult life - or so he hopes.
Abridged in ten parts by Eileen Horne
Read by Toby Jones.
Producer: Clive Brill
A Brill production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in April 2017.
MON 21:45 Blackwater by Claire McGowan (m0001x8c)
1. Zoe
A multi-voiced dark story about secrets and lies in a small town.
Written in ten parts by Claire McGowan.
Golden girl Zoe’s been dead for 10 years, her body dragged from the river Black after a night out to celebrate the end of school.
But now a woman who says she’s Zoe has turned up in her hometown of Blackwater, on the Irish border, with no memory of the last decade. She claims she woke up in a forest nearby, bruised and bleeding, and doesn’t know where she’s been all this time.
What happened to her? Is she really Zoe? If so, who’s in her grave?
Paul, a local boy whose band were playing in the venue where Zoe was last seen, went to prison for her murder.
Now he’s out, but he’s lost everything and is shunned in the town. The people of Blackwater were easily convinced that a black boy murdered Zoe, and the evidence did stack up – but if she’s not even dead, then how did he get convicted? Did someone deliberately frame him? He’s determined to find out the truth and clear his name.
But does he really know nothing about what happened?
Could it be that everyone involved with the case is hiding something?
There’s Zoe’s uncle Phil, a former detective superintendent with an explosive secret. There’s Steve, the police officer who found ‘Zoe’s’ body in the river Black, and sent Paul to prison for her murder. And there’s Zoe’s friend Danny, who wasn’t where she said she was on that night ten years ago.
When Paul and Zoe collide, they realise they’re the only ones who can help each other. As they sift through their conflicting memories of that day ten years ago, they start to discover that not everyone is happy Zoe’s back from the dead.
Zoe .... Clare Dunne
Steve .... Richard Clements
Producer: Celia De Wolff
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in January 2019.
MON 22:00 The Unbelievable Truth (m001ts8t)
Seasonal Trimmings
It's a star-studded seasonal special featuring choice cuts from a cast that includes Graeme Garden, Armando Iannucci, Sean Lock, Richard Osman, Holly Walsh, Susan Calman, David O’Doherty, Rob Brydon, Alan Davies, Stephen Fry, Fern Brady, Geoff Norcott, Simon Evans, Jack Dee, John Lloyd, Lee Mack and Rufus Hound.

Topics covered include Christmas trees, nuts, snow, donkeys, Santa Claus, champagne, reindeer, boxes and turkey.

The show is devised by Graeme Garden and Jon Naismith.

Producer: Jon Naismith

A Random Entertainment production for BBC Radio 4
MON 22:30 Hal (b08lgdpn)
Series 2
Teenagers
Hal Cruttenden returns as a hapless house husband trying to cope with his mid-life crisis and doubting his every move.
His wife Sam is still a highly successful business woman, while daughters Lily and Molly continue to grow into teenagers and find their dad just a little annoying.
Racist neighbour Penny is a major thorn in Hal's side and his best mates Fergus and Barry hinder rather than help Hal's goal of finding himself.
In this opening episode, Lily is set to introduce the family to her new hip boyfriend, but Hal's need to re-kindle his own romantic past leads to unforeseen challenges.
Hal’s bitter and embittered sister Pippa has come to stay unexpectedly, after her husband decided to experiment with his sexuality...
Written by Hal Cruttenden and Dominic Holland.
Hal ...... Hal Cruttenden
Sam ...... Kerry Godliman
Penny ...... Ronni Ancona
Pippa ...... Abigail Cruttenden
Fergus ...... Ed Byrne
Barry ...... Gavin Webster
Oberon ...... Arthur Hughes
Therapist ...... Jonathan Kydd
Ian ...... Jonathan Kydd
Policeman ...... Simon Greenall
Bazman ...... Joe Attewell
Producer: Paul Russell
An Open Mike production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in April 2017.
MON 23:00 The News Quiz (m001tsf0)
Series 113
Best of 2023
A look back on some of the best bits of News Quizzing from 2023.

In this compilation episode Andy Zaltzman casts his satirical eye over the highs and lows of the year, in which the UK managed to keep hold of a Prime Minister for more than a year (well done us), the economy moved about as erratically as a paper plane in a snowstorm, and there were some events in the Middle East that made doing a light-hearted topical news show a bit of a challenge at times...

Hosted and written by Andy Zaltzman.

Producer: Sam Holmes
Executive Producer: James Robinson
Production Coordinator: Dan Marchini

A BBC Studios Production
MON 23:30 The Masterson Inheritance (b007jsy1)
Series 1
The Mastersons Lose Everything
London 1890. Auberon Masterson is the epitome of decadence, but will his unsavoury habits ruin the family?
Based entirely on audience suggestions - this is an improvised historical saga of the Mastersons - a family at war with itself.
Starring:
Paul Merton
Josie Lawrence
Caroline Quentin
Jim Sweeney
Phelim McDermott
Producer: Phil Clarke
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in May 1993.

TUESDAY 09 JANUARY 2024

TUE 00:00 Wilkie Collins - The Woman in White (b007jlgx)
[Repeat of broadcast at 05:00 on Monday]
TUE 01:00 Whodunnits (b007jznj)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:00 on Monday]
TUE 01:30 The 17-Jewelled Shockproof Swiss-Made Bomb (m000d07j)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:30 on Monday]
TUE 02:00 Coming Up for Air by George Orwell (m000d7nl)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:00 on Monday]
TUE 02:15 Louisa May Alcott - Little Women (b08b7rv4)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:15 on Monday]
TUE 02:30 Cracking Up (m0001yfy)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:30 on Monday]
TUE 03:00 Steptoe and Son (b007jzsd)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:00 on Monday]
TUE 03:30 After Henry (b007s8gm)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:30 on Monday]
TUE 04:00 Elephant in the Room (m00070k9)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:00 on Monday]
TUE 04:30 Acropolis Now (b007m9zv)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:30 on Monday]
TUE 05:00 Wilkie Collins - The Woman in White (b007jlhn)
2. Suspicions
Walter has left Limmeridge House as Laura prepares to marry Sir Percival.
Laura's half-sister Marian knows of Laura's feelings for Walter, has great doubts about the marriage, yet is powerless to stop it...
Wilkie Collins's best-selling Victorian thriller.
Starring Toby Stephens and Juliet Aubrey.
Dramatised by Martyn Wade.
Walter Hartright ...... Toby Stephens
Marian Halcombe ...... Juliet Aubrey
Laura Fairlie ...... Emily Bruni
Sir Percival Glyde ...... Jeremy Clyde
Anne Catherick ...... Alice Hart
Mr Gilmore ...... Sean Baker
Pesca ...... Ioan Meredith
Messenger ...... Jonathan Keeble
Count Fosco ...... Philip Voss
Madame Fosco ...... Geraldine Fitzgerald
Music: Elizabeth Parker
Director: Cherry Cookson
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in November 2001.
TUE 06:00 Whodunnits (b007jzpw)
Wimsey: The Nine Tailors
7. All Is Not Explained
Lord Peter Wimsey goes snooping to try and establish who killed Geoffrey Deacon - and how.
Ian Carmichael stars as the aristocratic sleuth.
Dorothy L Sayers' detective mystery dramatised by Alistair Beaton.
Lord Peter Wimsey …. Ian Carmichael
Supt Blundell …. Timothy Bateson
Rev Theodore Venables …. Phillip Latham
Will Thoday …. Keith Drinkell
Jim Thoday …. Malcolm Terris
Engineer …. Leonard Fenton
Hezekiah Lavender …. Michael Spice
Sluice Keeper …. Peter Tudenham
Narrator …. John Westbrook
Producer: Martin Fisher
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in December 1980.
TUE 06:30 The 17-Jewelled Shockproof Swiss-Made Bomb (m000d7q4)
6. Don't Go Near The Water
High up on the mountain road, Johnny Shields has apparently crashed to his death - leaving Julie in the hands of Marco's henchmen...
Starring Peter Coke.
Gripping conclusion of Roy Clarke’s thriller serial set in the world of highly-organised international smugglers.
Shields ...... Peter Coke
The Major ...... Bob Grant
Greta ...... Veronica Doran
Julie ...... Anne Stallybrass
Slip ...... Colin Edwynn
Alfie ...... Peter Stephens
Jean Hogg ...... Heather Stoney
Tadpole ...... Derrick Gilbert
Foster ...... Michael Stirrup
Daniels ...... Robert Powell
Doreen ...... Sylvia Brayshay
Pete ...... Ben Kingsley
Theme music composed and played by Trevor Holroyd.
Producer: Alan Ayckbourn
First broadcast on BBC Radio 2 in January 1968.
TUE 07:00 Coming Up for Air by George Orwell (m000d70p)
2. Early Years
George Bowling is a married insurance salesman.
Now middle-aged and, overweight, he looks back to his early years - from the end of the Boer War to the beginning of the First World War.
George Orwell's book was first published before war broke out in 1939.
Abridged by Ellin Stein.
Read by Tim McInnerny.
Producer: Clive Brill
A Brill production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in January 2020.
TUE 07:15 Louisa May Alcott - Little Women (b08b7vyl)
7. Amy's Adventures
Meg is busy with family life. Beth is as lovely and caring as always and Jo is making a small but independent living writing stories.
Amy is now Aunt March's companion and becoming an accomplished young lady but things are about to change for her in a way she would never have imagined.
Louisa May Alcott's coming of age story about love, destiny and freedom.
Dramatised by Rhiannon Tise.
Amy …... Samantha Dakin
Jo ..…. Julianna Jennings
Aunt March ..…. Joanna Monro
Mrs March …... Tara Ward
Laurie ..…. Alex Lanipekun
Beth …... Bryony Hannah
Aunt Carol …... Catriona McFarlane
Fred …... Luke Macgregor
Mr March ..…. John Bowler
Director: Tracey Neale
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in January 2017.
TUE 07:30 Teatime (m000fq41)
Episode 2
Sensing he might be in with a chance to win her back, Joe decides to ambush his ex-wife Donna with an impromptu date night.
Donna isn’t sure what to think, and neither are Vicky and Rav – Joe’s decided to stage this ambush in their kitchen.
Meanwhile, Vicky’s sister Lisa is #livingherbestlife as a single lady about town. Now that she’s got nothing to look forward to except a lifetime of married routine, is Vicky just a little jealous?
And Uncle Bob has some excellent advice for Rav.
Comedy by Katherine Jakeways about a chaotic but loving family.
Joe …… Philip Glenister
Donna …… Samantha Spiro,
Vicky …… Aimee-Ffion Edwards
Rav …… Prasanna Puwanarajah
Lisa …… Katie Redford
Uncle Bob …… Steven Brandon
Producer: Sam Ward
A BBC Studios production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in February 2020.
TUE 08:00 The Goon Show (b007jpxw)
Vintage Goons
The Vanishing Room
Inspector Ned Seagoon investigates the murder of Lord Cretinby and the mysterious library and corpse which reappear on the other side of the English Channel.
Starring:
Peter Sellers
Harry Secombe
Spike Milligan
Vintage Goons is a series of re-recorded episodes made by the original cast for sale abroad. Scripts in the Vintage Goons are based on scripts from their 4th series, often with a certain amount of re-writing.
With The Ray Ellington Quartet and Max Geldray.
Orchestra conducted by Wally Stott.
Announcer: Wallace Greenslade
Producer: Roy Speer
First broadcast as The Case of the Vanishing Room on the BBC Home Service in February 1954
Re-recording from December 1957 by the BBC Transcription Service made for broadcast overseas.
First broadcast in the UK on BBC 7 in October 2003.
TUE 08:30 Like They've Never Been Gone (b00954vf)
Series 1
Episode 2
It's time for singing duo Tommy and Sheila's comeback appearance - they're on after the stripper!
Winners of the 1962 Eurovision Song Contest, sweethearts Tommy Franklin and Sheila Parr are back in the limelight. The only snag is they can't stand the sight of each another...
Mike Coleman's sitcom stars June Whitfield and Roy Hudd.
Tommy Franklin ...... Roy Hudd
Sheila Parr ...... June Whitfield
With:
Pat Coombs
Julian Eardley
Joshua Henderson
Chris Pavlo
Edward Halsted
Rachel Smith
Singers: John Barr and Lisa Peace.
Music by Frido Ruth.
Producer: Steve Doherty
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in July 1998.
TUE 09:00 The Motion Show (m000833t)
Series 5
Episode 6
From banning political spin to believing in DIY.
Graeme Garden hosts the comedy debating show.
With:
Sir Bernard Ingham
Hattie Hayridge
Steve Punt
Arthur Smith
Producer: Jane Berthoud
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in August 2002.
TUE 09:30 Winston (b007mwhn)
Series 1
The Village Fete
Father's enjoyed a remarkable recovery and seems poised to live forever - and Rosie and William plan to stay at home.
But Nancy makes a big decision...
Peter Tinniswood's bawdy comedy serial.
Winston …. Bill Wallis
Father …. Maurice Denham
Nancy …. Shirley Dixon
Rosie …. Liz Goulding
William …. Christian Rodska
Directed at BBC Bristol by Shaun MacLoughlin.
First broadcast on BBC Radio in May 1989.
TUE 10:00 Wilkie Collins - The Woman in White (b007jlhn)
[Repeat of broadcast at 05:00 today]
TUE 11:00 Whodunnits (b007jzpw)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:00 today]
TUE 11:30 The 17-Jewelled Shockproof Swiss-Made Bomb (m000d7q4)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:30 today]
TUE 12:00 Coming Up for Air by George Orwell (m000d70p)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:00 today]
TUE 12:15 Louisa May Alcott - Little Women (b08b7vyl)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:15 today]
TUE 12:30 Teatime (m000fq41)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:30 today]
TUE 13:00 The Goon Show (b007jpxw)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:00 today]
TUE 13:30 Like They've Never Been Gone (b00954vf)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:30 today]
TUE 14:00 The Motion Show (m000833t)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:00 today]
TUE 14:30 Winston (b007mwhn)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:30 today]
TUE 15:00 Wilkie Collins - The Woman in White (b007jlhn)
[Repeat of broadcast at 05:00 today]
TUE 16:00 Whodunnits (b007jzpw)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:00 today]
TUE 16:30 The 17-Jewelled Shockproof Swiss-Made Bomb (m000d7q4)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:30 today]
TUE 17:00 Coming Up for Air by George Orwell (m000d70p)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:00 today]
TUE 17:15 Louisa May Alcott - Little Women (b08b7vyl)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:15 today]
TUE 17:30 Teatime (m000fq41)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:30 today]
TUE 18:00 The Goon Show (b007jpxw)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:00 today]
TUE 18:30 Like They've Never Been Gone (b00954vf)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:30 today]
TUE 19:00 The Motion Show (m000833t)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:00 today]
TUE 19:30 Winston (b007mwhn)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:30 today]
TUE 20:00 TED Radio Hour (m001v3hd)
What Topples Democracies
A journey through fascinating ideas based on talks by riveting speakers on the TED (Technology, Entertainment, Design) stage.
Manoush Zomorodi explores how democratic ideals are being tested worldwide.
What keeps people united and what drives them apart?
First broadcast in the USA on National Public Radio in 2023.
TUE 20:50 Inheritance Tracks (b08n1vy2)
Toyah Willcox
Singer Toyah Wilcox with Simon & *Garfunkel's 'Bridge Over Troubled Water' and 'Human Behaviour' by Bjork.
TUE 21:00 Sideways (m000s2ks)
2. 1 in 73 Million
Best-selling author Matthew Syed explores the ideas that shape our lives with stories of seeing the world differently.
In this episode, Matthew tells two stories, both of which raise profound questions about how we think.
A group of terrified teenagers discover a disturbing app on social media. A world renowned doctor sets out to uncover hidden crimes.
The tragic events Matthew examines lead to a mother getting jailed for killing her two children. The key piece of testimony in her trial hinges on a question of statistical probability.
But, as Matthew reveals, human beings are extremely poor at understanding the improbable.
Producer: Gemma Newby
A Novel production for BBC Radio 4 first broadcast in 2021.
TUE 21:30 Rabbit, Run by John Updike (b08n1kgp)
2. Advice
The post-war novel that summed up middle-class white America and established John Updike as the major American author of his generation.
Rabbit, Run is the first in a virtuoso Pulitzer Prize-wining quintet featuring hapless Harry Angstrom, whom we meet as a 26 year old former high school basketball star and suburban paragon in the midst of a personal crisis.
Rabbit returns to Mt Judge and turns to his old high school basketball coach for advice about his marriage - but instead, finds himself introduced to an alternative partner.
Read by Toby Jones
Abridged by Eileen Horne
Produced by Clive Brill
A Brill production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in April 2017.
TUE 21:45 Blackwater by Claire McGowan (m000204g)
2. Mystery
A multi-voiced dark story about secrets and lies in a small town, written by Claire McGowan.
Golden girl Zoe’s been dead for 10 years, her body dragged from the river Black after a night out to celebrate the end of school. But now a woman who says she’s Zoe has turned up in her hometown of Blackwater, on the Irish border, with no memory of the last decade. She claims she woke up in a forest nearby, bruised and bleeding, and doesn’t know where she’s been all this time. What happened to her? Is she really Zoe? If so, who’s in her grave?
Paul, a local boy whose band were playing in the venue where Zoe was last seen, went to prison for her murder. Now he’s out, but he’s lost everything and is shunned in the town. The people of Blackwater were easily convinced that a black boy murdered Zoe, and the evidence did stack up – but if she’s not even dead, then how did he get convicted? Did someone deliberately frame him? He’s determined to find out the truth and clear his name. But does he really know nothing about what happened?
Could it be that everyone involved with the case is hiding something? There’s Zoe’s uncle Phil, a former detective superintendent with an explosive secret. There’s Steve, the police officer who found ‘Zoe’s’ body in the river Black, and sent Paul to prison for her murder. And there’s Zoe’s friend Danny, who wasn’t were she said she was on that night ten years ago. When Paul and Zoe collide, they realise they’re the only ones who can help each other. As they sift through their conflicting memories of that day ten years ago, they start to discover not everyone is happy Zoe’s back from the dead.
Paul .... Aston Kelly
Phil .... Sean Kearns
Producer: Celia De Wolff
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 2019.
TUE 22:00 The Ultimate Choice (m001trr5)
Series 2
1: Jane Austen v Where's Wally
Steph McGovern asks some seriously funny minds to offer definitive answers to the great questions of our age. Or not.
Welcome to the world's most devious game of Would You Rather? With guests Jason Cook and Lauren Pattison.
Host: Steph McGovern
Guests: Jason Cook and Lauren Pattison
Devised and written by Jon Harvey & Joseph Morpurgo
With additional material from Laura Major
Researcher: Leah Marks
Recorded and mixed by David Thomas
Producer: Jon Harvey
Executive Producers: Ed Morrish and Polly Thomas
Photo: Carolyn Mendelsohn
A Naked production for BBC Radio 4
TUE 22:30 Josh Howie's Losing It (b07pgwp0)
Series 1
The Announcement
Stand-up comic Josh comes to terms with the impending birth of his first child.
Josh and his wife Monique attend a family funeral where Josh manages to fall out with everyone and spectacularly fails to keep the news of the pregnancy under wraps.
Sitcom starring Josh Howie and Pippa Evans.
Written by Josh Howie.
With:
Spencer Brown
Carol Dance
Stella Duffy
Kerry Godliman
Steve Jameson
Peter Walsingham
Producer: Ashley Blaker
A Black Hat production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in August 2016. .
TUE 22:55 The Comedy Club Interviews (m001vdbj)
Andy Hamilton & Guy Jenkin 1/3
From 10pm until midnight, seven days a week, the Comedy Club has two hours of comedy. Plus Jake Yapp chats to Drop the Dead Donkey creators Andy Hamilton and Guy Jenkin.
TUE 23:00 Chain Reaction (b053bq55)
Series 10
Reece Shearsmith talks to Bob Mortimer
Co-creator and star of The League of Gentlemen, Psychoville and Inside No.9, Reece Shearsmith
talks to
One half of comedy double-act Vic & Bob, creators of Shooting Stars and House of Fools, Bob Mortimer.
Chain Reaction is the long running hostless chat show series where the previous interviewee becomes the next interviewer.
Producer: Charlie Perkins
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in February 2015.
TUE 23:30 Old Harry's Game (b00hlcr4)
Series 7
Episode 1
Jean-Paul Sartre said "Hell is other people", but, as Satan will tell you, Hell is actually a fiery, unendingly cruel domain where Oliver Reed can never catch the barman's eye and Yves St Laurent is forced to wear a donkey jacket.
Hell is thrown into confusion when a dog turns up. Animals aren't meant to be in Satan's care because they aren't inherently evil - except for dolphins!
Andy Hamilton’s devilishly funny sitcom set in Hell.
Satan…. Andy Hamilton
Edith …. Annette Crosbie
Scumspawn …. Robert Duncan
Thomas …. Jimmy Mulville
With Michael Fenton Stevens and Philip Pope.
Producer: Paul Mayhew-Archer
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in February 2009.

WEDNESDAY 10 JANUARY 2024

WED 00:00 Wilkie Collins - The Woman in White (b007jlhn)
[Repeat of broadcast at 05:00 on Tuesday]
WED 01:00 Whodunnits (b007jzpw)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:00 on Tuesday]
WED 01:30 The 17-Jewelled Shockproof Swiss-Made Bomb (m000d7q4)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:30 on Tuesday]
WED 02:00 Coming Up for Air by George Orwell (m000d70p)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:00 on Tuesday]
WED 02:15 Louisa May Alcott - Little Women (b08b7vyl)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:15 on Tuesday]
WED 02:30 Teatime (m000fq41)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:30 on Tuesday]
WED 03:00 The Goon Show (b007jpxw)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:00 on Tuesday]
WED 03:30 Like They've Never Been Gone (b00954vf)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:30 on Tuesday]
WED 04:00 The Motion Show (m000833t)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:00 on Tuesday]
WED 04:30 Winston (b007mwhn)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:30 on Tuesday]
WED 05:00 Wilkie Collins - The Woman in White (b007jlj1)
3. Fears
Laura has finally come face to face with the woman in white who so resembles her. She had hoped to discover more about Sir Percival's secret, but their meeting was interrupted.
Marian begins to fear for her sister's safety and is determined to learn what Sir Percival and Count Fosco are secretly planning.
Wilkie Collins's best-selling Victorian thriller.
Starring Toby Stephens and Juliet Aubrey.
Dramatised by Martyn Wade.
Walter Hartright ...... Toby Stephens
Marian Halcombe ...... Juliet Aubrey
Laura Fairlie ...... Emily Bruni
Sir Percival Glyde ...... Jeremy Clyde
Anne Catherick ...... Alice Hart
Mr Gilmore ...... Sean Baker
Mr Dawson ...... Jonathan Keeble
Mrs Michelson ...... Carolyn Pickles
Count Fosco ...... Philip Voss
Frederick Fairlie ...... Edward Petherbridge
Madame Fosco ...... Geraldine Fitzgerald
Mrs Rubelle ...... Richenda Carey
Music: Elizabeth Parker
Director: Cherry Cookson
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in November 2001.
WED 06:00 Whodunnits (b007jzr6)
Wimsey: The Nine Tailors
8. Nine Tailors Make a Man
Can upper class sleuth, Lord Peter Wimsey finally solve the baffling mystery of the murder of Geoffrey Deacon?
Ian Carmichael stars as the aristocratic sleuth.
The conclusion of Dorothy L Sayers' detective mystery.
Lord Peter Wimsey …. Ian Carmichael
Bunter …. Peter Jones
Supt Blundell …. Timothy Bateson
Rev Theodore Venables …. Phillip Latham
Mrs Venables …. Noel Dyson
Will Thoday …. Keith Drinkell
Harry Gotobed …. Alexander John
First Sluice Keeper …. Michael Spice
Second Sluice Keeper …. Peter Tudenham
Narrator …. John Westbrook
Dramatised by Alistair Beaton.
Producer: Martin Fisher
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in December 1980.
WED 06:30 Kill The Pharaoh! (m0010j1c)
1. Village of the White Scorpion
Elizabeth Warwick decides to travel through Egypt, following in the footsteps of her famous archaeologist father.
But what will she discover?
Sheila Grant stars in Victor Pemberton's eight part thriller serial.
Elizabeth Warwick...Sheila Grant
Mahmoud... James Thomason
Mr Wilder...John Humphry
Fuad... David Spenser
Charles Villiers...Rolf Lefebvre
Margaret Villiers... Marion Mathie
Achmed Araby ... Haydn Jones
Abdullah ... Antony Viccars
Other parts played by Nigel Anthony, Anthony Jackson, Ian Thompson, Barbara Mitchell, Margaret Robertson
Producer: John Tydeman
First broadcast on BBC Radio 2 in May 1968.
WED 07:00 Coming Up for Air by George Orwell (m000d85b)
3. School Days
George Bowling tells us about his school days and how he tried to join his first gang with its strange initiation ceremonies. His brother Joe is extremely reluctant to have him.
Written by George Orwell in 1939, Coming Up For Air was published just before the outbreak of the Second World War and offers premonitions of the impending conflict with images of an idyllic Thames-side Edwardian-era childhood at the same time as taking a rather dim view of capitalism and its effects on the best of rural England.
The reviews were among the best that Orwell had received for a novel. It sold 3,000 copies - a considerable improvement on the response to his previous works.
Abridged by Ellin Stein
Read by Tim McInnerny
Produced by Clive Brill
A Brill production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in January 2020.
WED 07:15 Louisa May Alcott - Little Women (b08bb0q1)
8. Jo and Laurie
As the family gather to celebrate Laurie's graduation from college, Jo is aware that Laurie has something he is desperate to say to her.
Louisa May Alcott's coming of age story about love, destiny and freedom.
Jo …. Julianna Jennings
Laurie …. Alex Lanipekun
Mr March …. John Bowler
Mrs March …. Tara Ward
Professor Bhaer …. Gunnar Cauthery
Mrs Kirke …. Karen Bartke
Kitty …. Natasha Cowley
Minnie …. Keziah Joseph
Dramatised by Rhiannon Tise.
Director: Tracey Neale
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in January 2017.
WED 07:30 Rumblings from the Rafters (b07h65c6)
Death Watch Beetle and Queen Wasp
Alison Steadman and Bill Paterson star as a bossy queen wasp and a death watch beetle as they reveal the truth about life in a draughty old attic in a house in Amersham.
The first of three tales, written and introduced by Lynne Truss.
Death Watch Beetle ...... Bill Paterson
Queen Wasp ...... Alison Steadman
The Death Watch Beetle is a wood-boring beetle. Having spent twelve years as a larva boring through a single rafter in the house with no one to talk to, our beetle is now an adult with about 5 weeks left to live. He has just three aims in life:
Firstly, to find a mate, which he does by banging his head on the timber "Oh Come on girls, .. I know you're out there ... Don't tell me this attic has ever seen such a specimen before. This lovely compact dark brown capsule of hard cuticle covered with yellowish scale-like hair and just under a centimetre long - it could all be yours!
Secondly, to make as much noise as he can.
And finally, to live long enough to see the roof cave in.
The Queen Wasp is very, very bossy, and very, very stressed. She carries the entire responsibility for the wasp colony and its thousands of inhabitants, all of whom are her own progeny. There is an enormous amount of work to be done.
"They call themselves workers, these girls, but quite frankly, none of them knows what real work actually is." It is lonely at the top too," I did consider leaving all this, at one point. None of them knows this; they'd be heartbroken to think I might have left them" and she is just beginning to lose her grip. "Bring me my list" she constantly yells.
Life doesn't get much more stressful than this.
Wildlife sound recordings by Chris Watson
Producer: Sarah Blunt.
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in June 2016.
WED 08:00 Hancock's Half Hour (b007jp18)
Series 5
Hancock's War
The Lad impresses the vicar with tales of his heroic exploits in Military Intelligence.
Starring Tony Hancock.
With Sidney James, Bill Kerr, Hattie Jacques and Kenneth Williams.
Written by Ray Galton and Alan Simpson.
Theme and incidental music written by Wally Stott.
Producer: Tom Ronald
First broadcast on the BBC Light Programme in May 1958.
WED 08:30 Lip Service (m000ztsy)
Episode 5
Maggie and Sue present War and Peace and Robinson Crusoe as you've never heard before.
There's also financial advice and even a message from Her Majesty The Queen.
Sketches and songs written and performed by Maggie Fox and Sue Ryding.
With:
Malcolm Raeburn
Denise Coffey
Andrew Dodge
Producer: Lissa Evans
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in March 1992.
WED 09:00 Counterpoint (b01ks2z0)
Series 26
2012 Final
Paul Gambaccini chairs the final of the general knowledge music quiz.
The questions cover every aspect of music - from the classical repertoire to world music, show tunes, film scores, jazz, rock and pop.
Recorded at the Radio Theatre in London, taking part are:
Jill Goodwin from Swindon
Michael Pitwood from London
David Sherman from Chelmsford
Producer: Paul Bajoria
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in July 2012.
WED 09:30 The Elephant Man (b04phhxw)
It Could Be the Zoo
Tax problems and incompetent staff are just two of Southwood Zoo's problems.
But the National Lottery is designed to come to the aid of such hopeless causes.
Peter Serafinowicz stars in Debbie Barham's sitcom about the life of an elephant zoo keeper.
Terry ...... Peter Serafinowicz
Leonard ...... Chris Emmett
Maureen ...... Geraldine Fitzgerald
Morse ...... Wayne Forester
George ...... Geoff Fitzgerald
Stephanie ...... Joanna Munro
Adam ...... Richard Pearce
Producer: Richard Wilson.
First broadcast on BBC Radio 2 in September 1996.
WED 10:00 Wilkie Collins - The Woman in White (b007jlj1)
[Repeat of broadcast at 05:00 today]
WED 11:00 Whodunnits (b007jzr6)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:00 today]
WED 11:30 Kill The Pharaoh! (m0010j1c)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:30 today]
WED 12:00 Coming Up for Air by George Orwell (m000d85b)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:00 today]
WED 12:15 Louisa May Alcott - Little Women (b08bb0q1)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:15 today]
WED 12:30 Rumblings from the Rafters (b07h65c6)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:30 today]
WED 13:00 Hancock's Half Hour (b007jp18)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:00 today]
WED 13:30 Lip Service (m000ztsy)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:30 today]
WED 14:00 Counterpoint (b01ks2z0)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:00 today]
WED 14:30 The Elephant Man (b04phhxw)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:30 today]
WED 15:00 Wilkie Collins - The Woman in White (b007jlj1)
[Repeat of broadcast at 05:00 today]
WED 16:00 Whodunnits (b007jzr6)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:00 today]
WED 16:30 Kill The Pharaoh! (m0010j1c)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:30 today]
WED 17:00 Coming Up for Air by George Orwell (m000d85b)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:00 today]
WED 17:15 Louisa May Alcott - Little Women (b08bb0q1)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:15 today]
WED 17:30 Rumblings from the Rafters (b07h65c6)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:30 today]
WED 18:00 Hancock's Half Hour (b007jp18)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:00 today]
WED 18:30 Lip Service (m000ztsy)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:30 today]
WED 19:00 Counterpoint (b01ks2z0)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:00 today]
WED 19:30 The Elephant Man (b04phhxw)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:30 today]
WED 20:00 Archive on 4 (m0002g6z)
PE - A History of Violence
When Matthew Sweet was taking his daughter to secondary school open days, he noticed a pattern emerging.
PE teachers were intelligent and thoughtful people with clear and sophisticated ideas about the social and psychological benefits of their subject.
What had happened to the PE teachers of old, who were represented in popular culture by bullies and drill sergeant types like Mr Sugden in Kes and Bullet Baxter in Grange Hill?
He sent out a tweet - “Why was PE the only subject in which humiliation was considered part of the learning process?” Hours later, he had collected literally hundreds of traumatic anecdotes – a culture of bullying and sadism, described by students put off sport for life.
In this programme, Matthew haunts gyms, playing fields and communal changing rooms of PE’s past, to interrogate former PE teachers.
What’s the point of PE? Did it once do more harm than good?
“Team spirit?” says a young teacher from a Dagenham comprehensive school in a Panorama from the 1980s, “You mean the team spirit that managed to get so many thousands and millions of people killed in World War I?" A decade earlier, in a series about physical education, Ron Pickering suggested that dance was “the most controversial element of physical education".
Matthew finds followers of Rudolf Laban and PE pioneer Madame Österberg. He also meets a torturous bully in Andrew Davies’ 1970 play, Is That Your Body, Boy? Nearing retirement and struggling to come terms with the changing curriculum, Cracker Carstairs mourns the loss of the old PE lessons. “I am not afraid of pain. That is what life is all about.”
With Dr Anne Elliott, sports scientist and senior lecturer at the London Sports Institute, Middlesex University and Margaret Whitehead, former physical education teacher, PE consultant and editor of Physical Literacy: Throughout the Lifecourse.
A Testbed production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in February 2019.
WED 21:00 Short Cuts (b083n15b)
Series 10
The Dreamers
Josie Long hears stories of dreamers - from the search for utopia to striving to transform into the writer Barbara Cartland.
Becoming Barbara
Produced by Natalie Kestecher
Utopia
Featuring Michaela Vieser
Produced by Tim Hinman and Michaela Vieser
Dear Face at Deer Lake with Deer People
Originally made for Third Coast International Audio Festival
Produced by Dear Deer Face Collective
Series Producer: Eleanor McDowall
A Falling Tree production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in November 2016.
WED 21:30 Rabbit, Run by John Updike (b08n1kjg)
3. Romance
The post-war novel that summed up middle-class white America and established John Updike as the major American author of his generation.
Rabbit, Run is the first in a virtuoso Pulitzer Prize-wining quintet featuring hapless Harry Angstrom, whom we meet as a 26 year old former high school basketball star and suburban paragon in the midst of a personal crisis.
Rabbit and Ruth begin a romance of sorts after a one night stand - despite, or because of his recent escape from Janice, it is the start of a far more significant encounter.
Read by Toby Jones
Abridged by Eileen Horne
Produced by Clive Brill
A Brill production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in April 2017.
WED 21:45 Blackwater by Claire McGowan (m00024s0)
3. Who Is She?
A multi-voiced dark story about secrets and lies in a small town, written by Claire McGowan.
Golden girl Zoe’s been dead for 10 years, her body dragged from the river Black after a night out to celebrate the end of school. But now a woman who says she’s Zoe has turned up in her hometown of Blackwater, on the Irish border, with no memory of the last decade. She claims she woke up in a forest nearby, bruised and bleeding, and doesn’t know where she’s been all this time. What happened to her? Is she really Zoe? If so, who’s in her grave?
Paul, a local boy whose band were playing in the venue where Zoe was last seen, went to prison for her murder. Now he’s out, but he’s lost everything and is shunned in the town. The people of Blackwater were easily convinced that a black boy murdered Zoe, and the evidence did stack up – but if she’s not even dead, then how did he get convicted? Did someone deliberately frame him? He’s determined to find out the truth and clear his name. But does he really know nothing about what happened?
Could it be that everyone involved with the case is hiding something? There’s Zoe’s uncle Phil, a former detective superintendent with an explosive secret. There’s Steve, the police officer who found ‘Zoe’s’ body in the river Black, and sent Paul to prison for her murder. And there’s Zoe’s friend Danny, who wasn’t were she said she was on that night ten years ago. When Paul and Zoe collide, they realise they’re the only ones who can help each other. As they sift through their conflicting memories of that day ten years ago, they start to discover that not everyone is happy Zoe’s back from the dead.
Danny .... Roisin Gallagher
Zoe .... Clare Dunne
Producer: Celia De Wolff
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 2019.
WED 22:00 Whatever Happened to Baby Jane Austen? (m001trd8)
Series 2
Episode 4 – They Shoot Film Stars Don’t They?
Florence is asked to go on Strictly Come Dancing. Selina is offered a movie but it’s not what it seems. And the truth about Lucy’s real mother is revealed.
The first series of Whatever Happened To Baby Jane Austen? won the Writers’ Guild Award for Best Radio Comedy and the Comedy.co.uk award for Best Radio Sitcom.
“Thank you, Mr Quantick – this is nigh on perfect” Radio Times
Written by David Quantick
Florence - Dawn French
Selina - Jennifer Saunders
Mrs Ragnarrok – Meera Syal
Lucy – Georgia Tennant
All the men - Alistair McGowan
Producer: Liz Anstee
A CPL production for BBC Radio 4
WED 22:30 The Museum of Everything (b007k1qj)
Series 1
The History of the Future
Badgerland goes international and experience the History of the Future.
Written and performed by Marcus Brigstocke, Danny Robins and Dan Tetsell.
With Lucy Montgomery.
Music by Dominic Haslam and Ben Walker.
Producer: Alex Walsh-Taylor
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in April 2004.
WED 23:00 Mark Thomas: The Manifesto (b01bm0pr)
Series 4
Episode 1
Comedian-activist Mark Thomas and his studio audience consider policy proposals for a People's Manifesto.
The agenda includes:
1) Excluding Non-Doms from free access to the NHS
2) Every citizen to be given £10,000 in quantitative easing vouchers, to be spent in the next 6 months
3) Proportional voting rights for MPs based on the size of their majorities
"Any Other Business" policies are also taken from the studio audience throughout the show.
Produced by Colin Anderson.
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in February 2012.
WED 23:25 The Comedy Club Interviews (m001vdbl)
Andy Hamilton & Guy Jenkin 2/3
From 10pm until midnight, seven days a week, the Comedy Club has two hours of comedy. Plus Jake Yapp chats again to Drop the Dead Donkey creators Andy Hamilton and Guy Jenkin.
WED 23:30 Friends Like These (b0076xrp)
You'll Always Be A Part of Me
Part of a collection of comic plays about friendship, each featuring a different comedy partnership.
Two men have been best friends for years when one suddenly needs a new kidney. His mate has always said he'd do anything for him. Now it's time to find out if that includes organ donation.
Written by Jim Sweeney.
Jim.........................Jim Sweeney
Steve......................Steve Steen
Directed by Claudine Toutoungi.
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 2006.
WED 23:45 The Goldfish Bowl (b007k155)
Series 1
Episode 7
Will their owners reconcile?
Liam and Anton get a fish's eye view..
Written by and starring Shaun Prendergast.
Martin …. Shaun Prendergast
Susan …. Sarah Parish
Anton …. Hamish McColl
Liam …. Sean Foley
Other parts played by the cast.
Producer: Sally Avens.
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in October 1998.

THURSDAY 11 JANUARY 2024

THU 00:00 Wilkie Collins - The Woman in White (b007jlj1)
[Repeat of broadcast at 05:00 on Wednesday]
THU 01:00 Whodunnits (b007jzr6)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:00 on Wednesday]
THU 01:30 Kill The Pharaoh! (m0010j1c)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:30 on Wednesday]
THU 02:00 Coming Up for Air by George Orwell (m000d85b)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:00 on Wednesday]
THU 02:15 Louisa May Alcott - Little Women (b08bb0q1)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:15 on Wednesday]
THU 02:30 Rumblings from the Rafters (b07h65c6)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:30 on Wednesday]
THU 03:00 Hancock's Half Hour (b007jp18)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:00 on Wednesday]
THU 03:30 Lip Service (m000ztsy)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:30 on Wednesday]
THU 04:00 Counterpoint (b01ks2z0)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:00 on Wednesday]
THU 04:30 The Elephant Man (b04phhxw)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:30 on Wednesday]
THU 05:00 Wilkie Collins - The Woman in White (b007jljf)
4. Truth
Laura Fairlee and Walter Hartright have been reunited, but their happiness is marred by the fact that both their lives are in danger.
Conclusion of Wilkie Collins's best-selling Victorian thriller.
Starring Toby Stephens and Juliet Aubrey.
Dramatised by Martyn Wade.
Walter Hartright ...... Toby Stephens
Marian Halcombe ...... Juliet Aubrey
Laura Fairlie ...... Emily Bruni
Sir Percival Glyde ...... Jeremy Clyde
Anne Catherick ...... Alice Hart
Mrs Catherick ...... Carolyn Pickles
Count Fosco ...... Philip Voss
Frederick Fairlie ...... Edward Petherbridge
Madame Fosco ...... Geraldine Fitzgerald
Mrs Clements ...... Richenda Carey
Pesca ...... Ioan Meredith
Music: Elizabeth Parker
Director: Cherry Cookson
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in December 2001.
THU 06:00 Stand By For West (m000tn3g)
Inspector West at Bay
1. Flashpoint
Chief Inspector Roger West and his wife, Janet, are involved in a sinister incident.
Starring real-life husband and wife, Patrick Allen and Sarah Lawson.
Published in 1952, the third of John Creasey's novels about the detective - dramatised in eight parts by Maurice Travers.
John Creasey wrote over 40 Roger West novels. Much like Paul Temple,“Scotland Yard’s youngest, smartest chief inspector” has a long-suffering wife who also gets involved with the action.
Chief Inspector Roger West .... Patrick Allen
Janet: .... Sarah Lawson
Sir Guy Chatworth .... Maurice Hedley
Det -Insp Bill Sloan .... Derek Newark
Mark Lessing .... James Kerry
Marino .... Leonard Fenton
Bertie Downs .... John Baddeley
Producer: John Browell
First broadcast on Radio 2 in May 1969.
THU 06:30 Kill The Pharaoh! (m0010j1k)
2. Into the Darkness
Will Elizabeth be able to discover more about the tomb her father discovered before his death?
Starring Sheila Grant.
Victor Pemberton's archaeological thriller serial set in Egypt.
Elizabeth Warwick: ....Sheila Grant
Mahmoud:....James Thomason
Mr Wilder:....John Humphry
Fuad:....David Spenser
Charles Villiers:....Rolf Lefebvre
Margaret Villiers:....Marion Mathie
Achmed Araby:....Haydn Jones
Bertie Pringle:....Barry Lowe
O'Hara:....Denis McCarthy
Captain Aziz ....John Justin
Producer: John Tydeman
First broadcast on BBC Radio 2 in June 1968.
THU 07:00 Coming Up for Air by George Orwell (m000d8s9)
4. Fishing
George Bowling tells us about his first love, fishing and how he almost caught a huge carp in the First World War.
Written by George Orwell in 1939, Coming Up For Air was published just before the outbreak of the Second World War and offers premonitions of the impending conflict with images of an idyllic Thames-side Edwardian-era childhood at the same time as taking a rather dim view of capitalism and its effects on the best of rural England.
The reviews were among the best that Orwell had received for a novel. It sold 3,000 copies - a considerable improvement on the response to his previous works.
Abridged by Ellin Stein.
Read by Tim McInnerny.
Produced by Clive Brill.
A Brill production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in January 2020.
THU 07:15 Louisa May Alcott - Little Women (b08bb9d4)
9. Devoted Sister
Jo has enjoyed her adventure in New York but now she is home she is struck by the change in Beth.
Louisa May Alcott's coming of age story dramatised by Rhiannon Tise.
Jo …... Julianna Jennings
Laurie ..…. Alex Lanipekun
Beth ........ Bryony Hannah
Amy ...... Samantha Dakin
Dramatised by Rhiannon Tise.
Director: Tracey Neale
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in January 2017.
THU 07:30 What Does the K Stand For? (b04ykd7f)
Series 2
The BFF
Best Friends Forever.
Stephen K Amos's sitcom about growing up black, gay and funny in 1980s south London.
Written by Jonathan Harvey with Stephen K Amos.
Stephen K Amos … Stephen K Amos
Young Stephen … Shaquille Ali-Yebuah
Stephanie Amos … Fatou Sohna
Virginia Amos … Ellen Thomas
Vincent Amos … Don Gilet
Miss Bliss … Michelle Butterly
Jayson Jackson … Frankie Wilson
Roy ... Ryan Watson
Producer: Colin Anderson
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in January 2015.
THU 08:00 Dad's Army (b007jnqc)
Series 2
Mum's Army
When Captain Mainwaring decides to open up his Home Guard unit to women, Mrs Gray catches his eye.
The comic exploits of a Second World War Home Guard platoon in Walmington-on-Sea.
Adapted for radio from Jimmy Perry and David Croft's TV scripts by Harold Snoad and Michael Knowles.
Captain Mainwaring …. Arthur Lowe
Sergeant Wilson …. John Le Mesurier
Corporal Jones …. Clive Dunn
Private Frazer …. John Laurie
Private Pike …. Ian Lavender
Private Godfrey …. Arnold Ridley
Private Walker Larry Martyn
Mrs Fox …. Mollie Sugden
Mrs Gray …. Carmen Silvera
Edith Parish ....... Wendy Richard
Announcer …. John Snagge
Producer: John Dyas
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in April 1975.
THU 08:30 The Random Jottings Of Hinge And Bracket (b007jrr4)
4. Getting It Together
The dear ladies struggle to build a flat-pack settee.
Starring Dame Hilda Bracket and her lifelong companion Dr Evadne Hinge.
Another extract of life from the genteel setting of the Stackton Tressel - the Suffolk village where the musical duo reside.
Written by Gerald Frow.
Dame Hilda Bracket ...... George Logan
Dr Evadne Hinge ...... Patrick Fyffe
Maud ...... Daphne Heard
Special guest: Graham Stark.
Music played by Frank Williams.
The ladies made three series for BBC Radio 4 between 1977 and 1979, with further spin-off seasons on BBC Radio 2 until 1990.
In the early 1980s, they expanded over to BBC TV with the series Dear Ladies.
Producer: John Dyas :
First broadcast on BBC Radio 2 in April 1983.
THU 09:00 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.
THU 09:30 Stockport, So Good They Named It Once (b01n2p30)
Series 2
Mint
Jason and Michael stake their claim in cyberspace. Meanwhile, the Conroys become the subject of an academic study.
The lives of the Stockport-based, Conroy family - in series 2 of Damian Lanigan and Jim Poyser's comedy drama.
Jason ...... Andrew Knott
Maureen ...... Beverley Callard
Eddie ...... John Henshaw
Michael ...... Jason Done
Larry ...... Rolf Saxon
Music: Big George
Producer: Neil Mossey
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in October 2000.
THU 10:00 Wilkie Collins - The Woman in White (b007jljf)
[Repeat of broadcast at 05:00 today]
THU 11:00 Stand By For West (m000tn3g)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:00 today]
THU 11:30 Kill The Pharaoh! (m0010j1k)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:30 today]
THU 12:00 Coming Up for Air by George Orwell (m000d8s9)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:00 today]
THU 12:15 Louisa May Alcott - Little Women (b08bb9d4)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:15 today]
THU 12:30 What Does the K Stand For? (b04ykd7f)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:30 today]
THU 13:00 Dad's Army (b007jnqc)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:00 today]
THU 13:30 The Random Jottings Of Hinge And Bracket (b007jrr4)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:30 today]
THU 14:00 Guess What? (b063r9k0)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:00 today]
THU 14:30 Stockport, So Good They Named It Once (b01n2p30)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:30 today]
THU 15:00 Wilkie Collins - The Woman in White (b007jljf)
[Repeat of broadcast at 05:00 today]
THU 16:00 Stand By For West (m000tn3g)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:00 today]
THU 16:30 Kill The Pharaoh! (m0010j1k)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:30 today]
THU 17:00 Coming Up for Air by George Orwell (m000d8s9)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:00 today]
THU 17:15 Louisa May Alcott - Little Women (b08bb9d4)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:15 today]
THU 17:30 What Does the K Stand For? (b04ykd7f)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:30 today]
THU 18:00 Dad's Army (b007jnqc)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:00 today]
THU 18:30 The Random Jottings Of Hinge And Bracket (b007jrr4)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:30 today]
THU 19:00 Guess What? (b063r9k0)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:00 today]
THU 19:30 Stockport, So Good They Named It Once (b01n2p30)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:30 today]
THU 20:00 The Inimitable PG Wodehouse (m000vx1t)
[Repeat of broadcast at 10:00 on Saturday]
THU 21:00 Great Lives (b0901fqr)
Stephen Fry on PG Wodehouse
Stephen Fry nominates his hero PG Wodehouse, a writer who he says simply cheers him up like no one else.
Fry wrote to his hero when he was a schoolboy and his most treasured possession is a signed photograph which reads: "To Stephen Fry, All the best, PG Wodehouse."
PG Wodehouse was a self-made man, he began as a bank clerk, married a chorus girl and was interned by the Nazis. He wrote some of the most entertaining novels, stories, plays and lyrics of the 20th century and created enduring characters; the most popular being Reginald Jeeves and Bertie Wooster.
Stephen makes the case for why PG Wodehouse is a great life.
To help him he is joined by Dr Sophie Ratcliffe Associate Professor in English, University of Oxford and author of 'PG Wodehouse - A life in Letters'.
Presented by Matthew Parris.
Producer: Perminder Khatkar
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in August 2017.
THU 21:30 Rabbit, Run by John Updike (b08n1kqg)
4. Reform
The post-war novel that summed up middle-class white America and established John Updike as the major American author of his generation.
Rabbit, Run is the first in a virtuoso Pulitzer Prize-wining quintet featuring hapless Harry Angstrom, whom we meet as a 26 year old former high school basketball star and suburban paragon in the midst of a personal crisis.
Rabbit returns home to get his things and is waylaid by Jack Eccles, a young Episcopalian minister on a mission to understand and reform him - or at least get a game of golf.
Read by Toby Jones
Abridged by Eileen Horne
Produced by Clive Brill
A Brill production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in April 2017.
THU 21:45 Blackwater by Claire McGowan (m00026j1)
4. Re-examination
A multi-voiced dark story about secrets and lies in a small town, written by Claire McGowan.
Golden girl Zoe’s been dead for 10 years, her body dragged from the river Black after a night out to celebrate the end of school. But now a woman who says she’s Zoe has turned up in her hometown of Blackwater, on the Irish border, with no memory of the last decade. She claims she woke up in a forest nearby, bruised and bleeding, and doesn’t know where she’s been all this time. What happened to her? Is she really Zoe? If so, who’s in her grave?
Paul, a local boy whose band were playing in the venue where Zoe was last seen, went to prison for her murder. Now he’s out, but he’s lost everything and is shunned in the town. The people of Blackwater were easily convinced that a black boy murdered Zoe, and the evidence did stack up – but if she’s not even dead, then how did he get convicted? Did someone deliberately frame him? He’s determined to find out the truth and clear his name. But does he really know nothing about what happened?
Could it be that everyone involved with the case is hiding something? There’s Zoe’s uncle Phil, a former detective superintendent with an explosive secret. There’s Steve, the police officer who found ‘Zoe’s’ body in the river Black, and sent Paul to prison for her murder. And there’s Zoe’s friend Danny, who wasn’t were she said she was on that night ten years ago. When Paul and Zoe collide, they realise they’re the only ones who can help each other. As they sift through their conflicting memories of that day ten years ago, they start to discover that not everyone is happy Zoe’s back from the dead.
Paul .... Aston Kelly
Phil .... Sean Kearns
Producer: Celia De Wolff
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 2019.
THU 22:00 Ellie Taylor's Safe Space (m000h0gj)
Series 1
1: Motherhood
Comedian Ellie Taylor has some opinions she'd like to get off her chest. In this episode she looks at being a parent and whether having kids might have ruined her life. She discusses her views with stand-up, sketches and help from the studio audience and side-kick Robin Morgan. She also welcomes a special expert guest...her Mum.
It is produced by Sam Michell and is a BBC Studios Production.
This programme was first broadcast in 2020
THU 22:30 Dan and Nick: The Wildebeest Years (b0089lxf)
Turning 40
Dan and Nick's pun-fest with a distraught Robin Wood turning 40 and The Archers goes sci-fi.
Comedy extravaganza written by and featuring Dan Freedman and Nick Romero.
With Richard Coles.
Music by the Gents.
Producer: Julian Mayers
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in September 1998.
THU 22:55 The Comedy Club Interviews (m001vdbq)
Andy Hamilton & Guy Jenkin 3/3
From 10pm until midnight, seven days a week, the Comedy Club has two hours of comedy. Plus Jake Yapp chats again to Drop the Dead Donkey creators Andy Hamilton and Guy Jenkin.
THU 23:00 Alex Edelman's Peer Group (b08r1vvg)
Series 1
Episode 1
The so-called Millennial generation - those born between 1982 and 1994 - has been much maligned in the press for being lazy, entitled, vain, venal, self-involved, easily offended little emperors.
But Alex Edelman thinks these criticisms are baseless - so he's seeking to redress the balance.
In this opening episode, he's discussing Millennials' attitude to work and institutions.
Written and presented by Alex Edelman.
Producer: Sam Michell
A BBC Studios production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in May 2017.
THU 23:30 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.

FRIDAY 12 JANUARY 2024

FRI 00:00 Wilkie Collins - The Woman in White (b007jljf)
[Repeat of broadcast at 05:00 on Thursday]
FRI 01:00 Stand By For West (m000tn3g)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:00 on Thursday]
FRI 01:30 Kill The Pharaoh! (m0010j1k)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:30 on Thursday]
FRI 02:00 Coming Up for Air by George Orwell (m000d8s9)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:00 on Thursday]
FRI 02:15 Louisa May Alcott - Little Women (b08bb9d4)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:15 on Thursday]
FRI 02:30 What Does the K Stand For? (b04ykd7f)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:30 on Thursday]
FRI 03:00 Dad's Army (b007jnqc)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:00 on Thursday]
FRI 03:30 The Random Jottings Of Hinge And Bracket (b007jrr4)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:30 on Thursday]
FRI 04:00 Guess What? (b063r9k0)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:00 on Thursday]
FRI 04:30 Stockport, So Good They Named It Once (b01n2p30)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:30 on Thursday]
FRI 05:00 Wilkie Collins - Mr Percy and the Prophet (m001v3ng)
It's 1817. A meeting with a clairvoyant has extraordinary consequences for a sceptical Percy Linwood - but even prophecies do not always go according to plan.
Starring Ronald Pickup and Jonathan Firth.
Written by Wilkie Collins.
Wilkie Collins .... Ronald Pickup
Percy Linwood .... Jonathan Firth
Captain Bervie .... Mark Payton
Charlotte Bowmore .... Tilly Gaunt
Mr Bowmore .... Michael Cochrane
Mrs Bowmore .... Frances Jeater
Major .... Norman Rodway
Dr Lagarde .... Gareth Armstrong
Manservant .... Harry Myers
Adapted for radio by John Arden.
Director: Rosalynd Ward
A BBC Radio 4/World Service co-production first broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 1998.
FRI 06:00 Stand By For West (m000tnp4)
Inspector West at Bay
2. Bombshell in Bournemouth
Following the acid attack, Chief Inspector Roger West and his family travel to Bournemouth for a few days holiday.
But there's no respite from ongoing case at Scotland Yard and Roger remains under threat.
Starring Patrick Allen and Sarah Lawson.
John Creasey's detective thriller dramatised by Maurice Travers.
Chief Inspector Roger West .... Patrick Allen
Janet .... Sarah Lawson
Sir Guy Chatworth .... Maurice Hedley
Det -Insp Bill Sloan .... Derek Newark
Mark Lessing .... James Kerry
Producer: John Browell
First broadcast on Radio 2 in May 1969.
FRI 06:30 Kill The Pharaoh! (m0010j1m)
3. Strangers in a Cafe
Elizabeth visits the site of the tomb excavated by her late father in the Valley of the Kings.
Accompanying her is a young Egyptian who she suspects is Fuad Yassif - a former friend of her father's.
Suddenly she's plunged into darkness...
Starring Sheila Grant.
Victor Pemberton's archaeological thriller serial set in Egypt.
Elizabeth Warwick ... Sheila Grant
Mahmoud ... James Thomason
Mr, Wilder ... John Humphry
Fuad ... David Spenser
Charles Villiers ... Rolf Lefebvre
Margaret Villiers ... Marion Mathie
Achmed Araby ... Haydn Jones
Abdullah ... Antony Viccars
Bertie Pringle ... Barry Lowe
O'Hara ... Denis McCarthy
Captain Aziz ... John Justin
The stranger ... Christopher Bidmead
Producer: John Tydeman
First broadcast on BBC Radio 2 in June 1968.
FRI 07:00 Coming Up for Air by George Orwell (m000d7jm)
5. First Love
George Bowling tells us about his first love, Elsie and his first fumbling attempts to get beyond a kiss.
Written by George Orwell in 1939, Coming Up For Air was published just before the outbreak of the Second World War and offers premonitions of the impending conflict with images of an idyllic Thames-side Edwardian-era childhood at the same time as taking a rather dim view of capitalism and its effects on the best of rural England.
The reviews were among the best that Orwell had received for a novel. It sold 3,000 copies - a considerable improvement on the response to his previous works.
Abridged by Ellin Stein.
Read by Tim McInnerny.
Produced by Clive Brill.
A Brill production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in January 2020.
FRI 07:15 Louisa May Alcott - Little Women (b08bbg1j)
10. Harvest Time
Meg has her family and Amy is enjoying her life abroad but Jo's heart aches with a ceaseless longing for what she has lost.
The concluding episode of Louisa May Alcott's coming of age story dramatised by Rhiannon Tise.
Jo ..…. Julianna Jennings
Mrs March …... Tara Ward
Mr March …... John Bowler
Meg ..…. Natasha Barnes
Professor Bhaer ..…. Gunnar Cauthery
Amy …... Samantha Dakin
Laurie ..…. Alex Lanipekun
Produced and Directed by Tracey Neale.
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in January 2017.
FRI 07:30 Ability (m0004593)
Series 2
A Job for Matt
Matt decides to turn over a new leaf and earn some money legally.
He advertises the flat on AirBnB but then has to resort to looking for a real job.
Stars Lee Ridley and Allan Mustafa.
Matt is 25. He has cerebral palsy and can only speak via an app on his iPad.
Everyone who cares about Matt knows that this isn't the defining thing about him. He is funny and clever and "up for stuff" - partly because he is keen to show that there's nothing he can't do, but also because, if he's honest, he's aware that he's less likely than other people to get the blame.
This second series sees Matt still sharing a flat with his best mate, Jess. He is still in love with her but, much as she likes him, she is still not in love with him. She does however, fancy Matt’s rubbish carer, Bob. Well just a tiny bit anyway. Not that she would ever admit it. After all, Bob is even more lazy and useless at most things than she is.
But Bob is willing. And although domestic duties are not really his forte, he likes Matt and treats him like a real person. And over the last year or so the three of them have been through a lot together - well a lot of drinking and hangovers anyway.
The series is set in Newcastle and many of the cast last played together as children in Biker’s Grove.
Matt ...... Lee Ridley – aka Lost Voice Guy
Bob ...... Allan Mustafa
Jess ...... Sammy Dobson
Matt's Inner Voice ...... Andrew Hayden-Smith
Ability is the semi-autobiographical co-creation of Britain’s Got Talent 2018 winner, Lee Ridley, otherwise known as Lost Voice Guy. Like his sitcom creation, Lee has cerebral palsy and can only speak via an app. Lost Voice Guy is - probably - the first stand up comedian to use a communication aid.
Katherine Jakeways is the co-creator and co-writer of Ability.
A Funny Bones production for BBC Radio 4 first broadcast in April 2019.
FRI 08:00 Marriage Lines (b05ztl5x)
Series 2
Episode 2
With baby a week overdue, there's frustration for George and Kate.
Starring Richard Briers and Prunella Scales.
Richard Waring’s sitcom based on the mutual love and mistrust of two newlyweds.
Originating on BBC TV, it ran between 1963-65 and was adapted in two series for BBC radio due to its popularity.
George Starling …. Richard Briers
Kate Starling …. Prunella Scales
Mr Hopkins …. Clive Morton
Mrs Hopkins …. Noel Hood
Miles Colvey …. Edward de Souza
Dr Bennett …. Frederick Treves
Receptionist …. Beth Boyd
Recorded at the BBC Paris Studio in London.
Producer: Charles Maxwell
First broadcast on the BBC Light Programme in March 1967.
FRI 08:30 Know Your Place (b018jpjy)
Room to Manoeuvre
Cleaner Elsie borrows a flat for a night, but must keep caretaker Ramsay out of the way.
Ramsay Potts is the jobsworth caretaker at a crumbling Edwardian block of flats, pursued by the over-amorous cleaner Elsie.
Starring Roy Dotrice as Ramsay and Patricia Hayes as Elspeth Spurgeon.
Eight-part sitcom written by Andrew Palmer and Nell Brennan.
With John Graham, Jon Glover, Norma Ronald, Nell Brennan and Yvonne Manners.
Producer: Edward Taylor
First broadcast on BBC Radio 2 in February 1982.
FRI 09:00 Whispers (b007k2zk)
Series 2
Episode 3
Which scandal would the panelist like to be involved with..?
Gyles Brandreth hosts the quiz show with scandal on its mind and slander at its heart.
Simon Fanshawe and Charles Collingwood 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.
FRI 09:30 The Right Time (b0076mmf)
Series 4
Episode 5
Musing on middle-age and a near-death experience turns out mundane.
Sketch show about growing older disgracefully.
Stars Eleanor Bron, Dudley Sutton, Roger Blake, Paula Wilcox. Clive Swift and Barry Cryer.
Written by Colin Bostock-Smith, Jill Brodie & John Pidgeon, Barry Cryer, Dave Dixon, Jan Etherington, Alan Stafford and Chris Thompson & Pete Reynolds.
Script editor: George Poles.
Music by Ronnie & The Rex.
Producer: Katie Marsden
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in August 2004.
FRI 10:00 Wilkie Collins - Mr Percy and the Prophet (m001v3ng)
[Repeat of broadcast at 05:00 today]
FRI 11:00 Stand By For West (m000tnp4)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:00 today]
FRI 11:30 Kill The Pharaoh! (m0010j1m)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:30 today]
FRI 12:00 Coming Up for Air by George Orwell (m000d7jm)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:00 today]
FRI 12:15 Louisa May Alcott - Little Women (b08bbg1j)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:15 today]
FRI 12:30 Ability (m0004593)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:30 today]
FRI 13:00 Marriage Lines (b05ztl5x)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:00 today]
FRI 13:30 Know Your Place (b018jpjy)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:30 today]
FRI 14:00 Whispers (b007k2zk)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:00 today]
FRI 14:30 The Right Time (b0076mmf)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:30 today]
FRI 15:00 Wilkie Collins - Mr Percy and the Prophet (m001v3ng)
[Repeat of broadcast at 05:00 today]
FRI 16:00 Stand By For West (m000tnp4)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:00 today]
FRI 16:30 Kill The Pharaoh! (m0010j1m)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:30 today]
FRI 17:00 Coming Up for Air by George Orwell (m000d7jm)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:00 today]
FRI 17:15 Louisa May Alcott - Little Women (b08bbg1j)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:15 today]
FRI 17:30 Ability (m0004593)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:30 today]
FRI 18:00 Marriage Lines (b05ztl5x)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:00 today]
FRI 18:30 Know Your Place (b018jpjy)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:30 today]
FRI 19:00 Whispers (b007k2zk)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:00 today]
FRI 19:30 The Right Time (b0076mmf)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:30 today]
FRI 20:00 The Sigh (b08578tw)
Award-winning poet Imtiaz Dharker explores the history, cultural significance, physiology and psychology of sighing. She considers its role in literature, music, religion and life.
The sigh of a lover in ecstasy or despair. The ghostly sigh of an invisible being in a ghost story. The sigh of relief, or in the face of extreme beauty. "The sigh of midnight trains in empty stations". Of wind blowing softly through trees or rushes. Charlie Brown's cartoon sigh. Christ healing a deaf man - "He looked up to heaven, sighed, and said unto him, Ephphatha. That is, be opened."
From John Clare, Keats and Imtiaz's own work, via Shakespeare to Elgar, Dido's Lament and As Time Goes By, the sigh appears across the world in poetry, fiction, art and music.
"You must remember this, a kiss is still a kiss, a sigh is just a sigh..."
In earlier centuries, sighing was seen as a way of maintaining bodily and mental health. According to the science of the humours, it expelled melancholy from the body. Too much sighing, however, could leave the person "lean and pale and with a withered heart".
It was also an accepted method of prayer, in some ways a better way of communicating with the divine. On the other hand, of course, Karl Marx defined religion as "the sigh of the oppressed creature".
 
Psychologists in Oslo discovered that there is a big difference between a person's emotion when sighing - often through frustration, irritation, boredom or disappointment - and other people's perceptions of that emotion as, often, generated by sadness. What, then, are the positive perceptions of a sigh? Does it help us mentally, emotionally, or just physiologically?
When does our presenter, Imtiaz Dharker, normally sigh? And what about the contributors - social and cultural historian Hannah Newton of the University of Reading, English Literature scholar Naya Tsentourou (who's an expert on sighing and groaning in religious texts), classical pianist Peter Hill, and cognitive neuro-scientist Lynne Barker from Sheffield Hallam University?
Rivers may sigh, but do animals? Do birds? What is the difference between a sigh and a yawn? At what age do we start to sigh - and why?
A Pennine Production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in December 2016.
FRI 20:30 Soul Music (b014fdbp)
Series 12
Let's Face the Music and Dance
Irving Berlin’s enduring classic, Let's Face the Music and Dance is celebrated by those for whom it has a special significance.
Written in 1932 as a dance number for the film ‘Follow the Fleet’ starring Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, it's since taken on a life of its own, being recorded by hundreds of artists including Diane Krall, Shirley Bassey, Frank Sinatra, Vera Lynn, Ella Fitzgerald and Matt Munroe.
For Sir John Mortimer's widow, Penny, it conjures up the very essence of her husband, who loved life, romance and dancing - even though he was no Fred Astaire, a fact he always deeply regretted.
Lawrence Bergreen, Berlin's biographer and academic Morris Dickstein explain why this song has such a unique place in popular culture.
Cabaret singer and composer, Kit Hesketh Harvey explains why the melody continues to haunt us.
We hear from the bride and groom who decided to dance down the aisle to it after their wedding and the redundant welder for whom the song will be forever associated with the demise of our ship building industry.
An insurance executive recalls how the song became central to their advertising campaign, bringing success to the firm and also placing Nat King Cole's version back in the charts nearly 60 years after it was written.
Series exploring famous pieces of music and their emotional appeal.
Producer: Lucy Lunt
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in September 2011.
FRI 21:00 The Curious Cases of Rutherford & Fry (m00154h8)
Series 19
The Shocking White Hair
Why does human hair go grey and is it ever possible for it to go white overnight from shock?
Hannah and Adam explore why hair goes grey, how much stressful life events and a lack of sleep can speed up the process.
They hear from the pilot whose hair turned white after a flight where all 4 of his engines failed after flying through a volcanic ash cloud - was the shock responsible?
They also uncover new research which has shown it's possible for greying hair to return to its natural colour and ask if this finding could be exploited to uncover a cosmetic way to reverse hair greying?
Presenters: Hannah Fry and Adam Rutherford
Producer: Pamela Rutherford
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in March 2022.
FRI 21:30 Rabbit, Run by John Updike (b08n1ksg)
5. Proof
The post-war novel that summed up middle-class white America and established John Updike as the major American author of his generation.
Rabbit, Run is the first in a virtuoso Pullitzer Prize-wining quintet featuring hapless Harry Angstrom, whom we meet as a 26 year old former high school basketball star and suburban paragon in the midst of a personal crisis.
Ruth's been losing weight to please Harry, but somehow she's gaining again. Rabbit revels in a lack of consequences for his behaviour, and insists that Ruth prove her love to him.
Read by Toby Jones
Abridged by Eileen Horne
Produced by Clive Brill
A Brill production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in April 2017.
FRI 21:45 Blackwater by Claire McGowan (m00029gw)
5. Confusion
A multi-voiced dark story about secrets and lies in a small town, written by Claire McGowan.
Golden girl Zoe’s been dead for 10 years, her body dragged from the river Black after a night out to celebrate the end of school. But now a woman who says she’s Zoe has turned up in her hometown of Blackwater, on the Irish border, with no memory of the last decade. She claims she woke up in a forest nearby, bruised and bleeding, and doesn’t know where she’s been all this time. What happened to her? Is she really Zoe? If so, who’s in her grave?
Paul, a local boy whose band were playing in the venue where Zoe was last seen, went to prison for her murder. Now he’s out, but he’s lost everything and is shunned in the town. The people of Blackwater were easily convinced that a black boy murdered Zoe, and the evidence did stack up – but if she’s not even dead, then how did he get convicted? Did someone deliberately frame him? He’s determined to find out the truth and clear his name. But does he really know nothing about what happened?
Could it be that everyone involved with the case is hiding something? There’s Zoe’s uncle Phil, a former detective superintendent with an explosive secret. There’s Steve, the police officer who found ‘Zoe’s’ body in the river Black, and sent Paul to prison for her murder. And there’s Zoe’s friend Danny, who wasn’t were she said she was on that night ten years ago. When Paul and Zoe collide, they realise they’re the only ones who can help each other. As they sift through their conflicting memories of that day ten years ago, they start to discover that not everyone is happy Zoe’s back from the dead.
Steve .... Richard Clements
Danny .... Roisin Gallagher
Producer: Celia De Wolff
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 2019.
FRI 22:00 Crybabies Present… Bagbeard (m001v2wx)
When recently fired science teacher, Chris Mystery, discovers an alien being in Slugwich Woods, he’s thrust into an epic adventure as he attempts to evade a psychopathic government agent and present his discovery to the Institute of Brilliant Scientists (IBS) - in this feel-good, uplifting mix of parody, songs, and storytelling, adapted for radio from Crybabies' Edinburgh Award Nominated show.
Written and performed by Michael Clarke, James Gault and Ed Jones.
Featuring Nimisha Odedra and Kevin Eldon
Production Co-ordinator - Anjana Antony
Producer - Benjamin Sutton
Executive Producer - Joe Nunnery
A Boffola Pictures production for BBC Radio 4
FRI 22:30 John Finnemore's Souvenir Programme (b06whsx1)
Series 5
Episode 3
John Finnemore - writer and star of Cabin Pressure and John Finnemore's Double Acts - in the a fifth series of his multi-award-winning sketch show.
In this episode, we look back at a career in accounting, hear of an over-rated experience and, we're sorry to say, Patsy Straightwoman returns with an interview sketch.
Written by and starring John Finnemore.
With:
Margaret Cabourn-Smith
Simon Kane
Lawry Lewin
Carrie Quinlan
Producer: Ed Morrish
A BBC Radio Comedy production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in January 2016. .
FRI 23:00 Small Scenes (m0002r4w)
Series 4
Episode 3
A visit to the World Small Talk Championships and uncover a nationwide drug network that operates along the rambling paths of Great Britain.
Symphonious sketch show.
Starring:
Daniel Rigby
Mike Wozniak
Cariad Lloyd
Henry Paker
Freya Parker
Producer: Simon Mayhew-Archer.
A BBC Studios Production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in February 2019.
FRI 23:30 A World of Dowie (m0017d8t)
2. Lust
The unreconstructed John Dowie escapes from his wife and new baby when the band go on the road - to Edinburgh.
Here, he falls madly in lust...
Enter a brave new world created and presented by John Dowie.
With
Jim Sweeney
Steve Steen
Cathryn Harrison
Music from the Ronnie Golden Small Band
Producer Paul Mayhew-Archer
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in March 1991.