SATURDAY 20 JANUARY 2024

SAT 00:00 Suspicious Minds (m00028c5)
Couple Fran and Mark are caught in trap.
They can't go on.
As a last throw of the dice, Mark forks out for a time-travelling holiday that sees them visit Ancient Rome, 19th century England and drink cocktails on the Titanic.
But will it be enough to save their relationship?
Written by Tom Fowler.
Fran …. Susannah Fielding
Mark …. Tom Mothersdale
Simon …. Christopher Harper
Duchess …. Lucy Doyle
Duke …. Tony Turner
Ada …. Carolyn Pickles
Greg …. Ronny Jhutti
Director: Sasha Yevtushenko
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in February 2019.
SAT 00:45 Playing With Fire by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (b0701mnh)
Regularly every Sunday, Markham and his friends hold a seance in Badderly Gardens.
But one week, a Frenchman joins them - and conducts a dangerous experiment.
First published in 1900, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s tale - abridged by Doreen Estall
Read by Edward De Souza
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (1859 – 1930) is best known for his many detective stories about Sherlock Holmes.
Producer: Pat McLoughlin
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in May 1989
SAT 01:00 Pepita's Daughter (m001vct6)
The extraordinary story of Victoria Sackville is more tempestuous and exotic than the better known story of her daughter, Vita Sackville-West.
Victoria was the illegitimate child of Lord Sackville of Knole and a Spanish dancer Pepita, who died when Victoria was still a young girl.
Their daughter grew up to be a beautiful and extrovert woman who, because of her origins, could never be quite respectable and who could never quite decide whether she wished to be so.
Starring Diana Quick and Alice Hart.
Extraordinary drama written by Martyn Wade.
Victoria ....... Diana Quick
Vita ....... Alice Hart
Lionel Sackville-West ....... Mark Straker
Lord Sackville ....... Geoffrey Whitehead
Sir John Murray Scott ....... Crawford Logan
Young Vita ....... Maisie Cowell
FE Smith ....... Kim Wall
Director: Tracey Neale
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in August 2006.
SAT 02:00 Stand By For West (m000twkn)
Inspector West at Bay
7. Bullets in Bell Street
Chief Inspector Roger West returns home from the hospital - to news of another murder...
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 Medley
Detective Inspector Bill Sloan .... Derek Newark
Mark Lessing .... James Kerry
Eve Wedlake .... Anna Gilcrist
Jacob Kennedy .... Peter Williams
Clara Kennedy .... Margaret Woolfit
Producer: John Browell
First broadcast on BBC Radio 2 in June 1969.
SAT 02:30 Kill The Pharaoh! (m0010q16)
8: The Call of the Muezzin
The tomb of Harshak in the Valley of the Kings has been robbed and all its treasure removed. Elizabeth Warwick is also missing.
Inspector Mahmoud and Wilder discover she's been taken by her brother and O'Hara to Cairo.
So they fly there to try and find them— in the City of the Dead.
Starring Sheila Grant.
Conclusion of Victor Pemberton's archaeological thriller serial set in Egypt.
Elizabeth Warwick:....Sheila Grant
Mahmoud:....James Thomason
Mr Wilder:....John Humphry
Fuad:....David Spenser
Bertie Pringle ....Barry Lowe
O'Hara:....Denis McCarthy
Colonel Riza:....Anthony Jackson
Michael Warwick:....Christopher Bidmead
Producer: John Tydeman
First broadcast on BBC Radio 2 in June 1968.
SAT 03:00 Coming Up for Air by George Orwell (m000df49)
10. SOS
After his trip to his old home at Lower Binfield, and after what he thinks is an SOS call, George Bowling goes home to face his wife.
George Orwell's book was first published before war broke out in 1939.
Abridged by Ellin Stein.
Concluded by Tim McInnerny.
Producer: Clive Brill
A Brill production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in January 2020.
SAT 03:15 Highlites (b07lhk6m)
Highlites - Natural Bounce
5. Floored!
The gym in the flat above the world's worst hairdressing salon, has breached all health and safety rules and could even be a death trap.
So why does Gordon want his poor mother to move up there?
Conclusion of the comedy drama series set in and around Bev's hairdressing salon.
Written by Steve Chambers and Phil Nodding
Bev ..... Lorraine Ashbourne
Shirl ..... Rosie Cavaliero
Beryl ..... Melanie Kilburn
Gordon ..... Ewan Bailey
Other parts:
Sam Rix
Adie Allen
Scarlett Brookes
Director: Liz Webb
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in July 2016.
SAT 03:30 Ability (m0004f3w)
Series 2
Weekend Away
Matt and his best mate Jess join his parents for a weekend away.
Matt contrives that he and Jess have to share a bed. Surely this will do the trick?
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 (b060fyhy)
Series 2
Episode 3
The new baby arrives, but George manages to mess up big time.
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
Miles Colvey …. Edward de Souza
Sister …. Charlotte Mitchell
Flower Seller …. David Graham
Recorded at the BBC Paris Studio in London.
Producer: Charles Maxwell
First broadcast on the BBC Light Programme in April 1967.
SAT 04:30 Know Your Place (b018ttwj)
Marriage of Convenience
Is it wedding bells for caretaker Ramsay in a quest to keep his job?
Ramsay Potts is the jobsworth caretaker at a crumbling Edwardian block of flats, pursued by the over-amorous cleaner Elsie.
Starring Roy Dotrlce and Patricia Hayes.
Sitcom written by Andrew Palmer and Nell Brennan.
Ramsay Potts ...... Roy Dotrlce
Elspeth Spurgeon ...... Patricia Hayes
With:
Pat Coombs
John Graham
Benny Lee.
Producer: Edward Taylor
First broadcast on BBC Radio 2 in March 1982.
SAT 05:00 Whispers (b00c3nw7)
Series 2
Episode 4
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:
Valerie Grove
Geoffrey Durham
Producer: Elizabeth Freestone
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in September 2004.
SAT 05:30 The Right Time (b0076mqw)
Series 4
Episode 6
The wine police are called - and a couple take up Satanism.
Sketch show about growing older disgracefully.
Starring:
Eleanor Bron
Dudley Sutton
Roger Blake
Paula Wilcox
Clive Swift
Barry Cryer
Written by Nicholas Barber & Glenn Dakin, Jill Brodie & John Pidgeon, Barry Cryer, Jan Etherington, Ronnie Golden, Mike Haskins, Simon Littlefield, George Poles 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.
SAT 06:00 Alan Drury - The Family Retainer (b007js9g)
Ailing patriarch Edward Winters is chairman of a trusted family firm which is set to undergo a tragic upheaval.
A writer's life is turned upside down when he agrees to write his biography...
Starring Timothy West.
Drama written by Alan Drury.
Edward Winters ... Timothy West
Robert Winters ... Stephen Boxer
David Wilson ... Sam Dale
Joan Winters ... Tessa Worsley
Sally Wade ... Becky Hindley
Tom Buxton ... Charles Simpson
Allardyce ... Peter Woodward
Nichol ... Mark Straker
Mark Winters ....David Antrobus
Dr Armitage ... John Hartley
Venetia ... Natasha Pyne
Marie ... Linda Regan
Simpson ... Ian Masters
Director: Michael Earley
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 1995.
SAT 07:30 The Great Flood (Omnibus) (m0009zz0)
Journalist Edward Platt travels round Britain, exploring how floods have shaped our landscape, our literature and our sense of self.
Omnibus of five parts abridged by Laurence Wareing.
Read by Peter Collins.
Producer: Eilidh McCreadie
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in October 2019.
SAT 08:45 Uncle Mort's Celtic Fringe (b007jnbx)
Series 1
3. A Good Day for Banning
The family duo stay at a very eccentric hotel.
Carter and his Uncle are still in Wales on their latest road trip.
Peter Tinniswood’s continuing tales of long-suffering Carter Brandon on his travels with his curmudgeonly Uncle Mort.
Uncle Mort …. Stephen Thorne
Carter Brandon …. Sam Kelly
Miss Priest-Williams …. Liz Goulding
Rear Admiral Bullions …. Stuart Organ
Rear Admiral’s Wife …. June Barrie
Major Busson …. Harrison Bastick
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 over four series from 1975 to 1979.
Producer: Pete Atkin
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in February 1996.
SAT 09:00 Take Me To Your Reader (m000xrmc)
1. The Trouble With Billy
Colin Luscombe must try to persuade a pretentious children’s author to renew his contract with a publisher.
Starring Tim Brooke-Taylor.
Andrew Palmer’s five-part sitcom set in publishing house, Roache & Brewer.
Erudite, naïve Colin battles with his bluff managing director, Rees John.
Colin wants to inform and educate the world, whilst Rees is only interested in the bottom line : "Forget literature, concentrate on books.”
Janet is stuck in the middle.
Colin Luscombe …. Tim Brooke-Taylor
Rees John …. Glyn Houston
Janet Hunt …. Eve Karpf
Thomas Lipton …. Edward Judd
Leonard Barrow …. Joe Dunlop
Producer: Edward Taylor
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in March 1986.
SAT 09:30 The 27-Year Itch (b0b3gk92)
Expanding the Mind
Edward seeks to expand his mind, with the help of a gentle arm-lock from Dorothy.
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:
David Burke
Lewis Fiander
John Gabriel
Geoffrey McGivern
After notching up multiple BBC radio series together of 'Beyond Our Ken' and 'Round the Horne' - most memorably as ageing 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 January 1979.
SAT 10:00 Conversation Extra (m001vk7q)
The Actor Talks - Peter O'Toole
Just ahead of filming the epic biographical drama 'Lawrence of Arabia', Peter O’Toole talks about his life and career with Elizabeth Frank.
The Yorkshire-Irish actor had recently starred at the Shakespeare Memorial Theatre at Stratford-upon-Avon.
He talks of his boyhood in the North, of his brief career as a provincial journalist, and of his views on producers, actors, and the theatre in general.
At the time of interview, Peter was preparing to star in the big screen life story of TE Lawrence.
First in a series of classic in depth, long-form interviews unearthed by 4 Extra from tapes deep in the BBC archives.
Producer: Laurence Gilliam
First broadcast on the BBC Home Service in March 1961.
SAT 10:30 In Defence of the Mid-Life Crisis (b07pd34f)
Stephen Smith, best known as Newsnight's culture correspondent, takes a wry look at the mid-life crisis.
Far from being something we might feel embarrassed or ashamed, isn't mid-life actually the perfect time to learn new skills, instruments or just an opportunity to re-invent yourself?
Isn't it time we defended the Mid-Life Crisis?
Stephen hears from scholars of Schopenhauer to Sting, well, his accompanist, Jason Rebello, as he takes a field trip into the un-chartered waters of the Mid-Life Crisis, once considered just a heart-beat away from old age.
He visits Brighton, considered by many to be the UK's capital of the mid-life crisis, to talk to those who've come out the other side. They say they now lead happier and more fulfilled lives. How did they do it? He checks into a top Harley Street clinic, where the faces of the stars are lifted and tummies tucked, but what treatment will they do to him?
And if you thought the old MLC was just the preserve of heterosexual middle aged men, think again, as psychotherapist Philippa Perry, journalist and author Miranda Sawyer and writer Simon Fanshawe, describe.
Perhaps, after all, life is one big crisis, as veteran socialite Nicky Haslam suggests.
Producer: Jim Frank
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 2016.
SAT 11:00 Alan Drury - The Family Retainer (b007js9g)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:00 today]
SAT 12:30 The Great Flood (Omnibus) (m0009zz0)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:30 today]
SAT 13:45 Uncle Mort's Celtic Fringe (b007jnbx)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:45 today]
SAT 14:00 Take Me To Your Reader (m000xrmc)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:00 today]
SAT 14:30 The 27-Year Itch (b0b3gk92)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:30 today]
SAT 15:00 Conversation Extra (m001vk7q)
[Repeat of broadcast at 10:00 today]
SAT 15:30 In Defence of the Mid-Life Crisis (b07pd34f)
[Repeat of broadcast at 10:30 today]
SAT 16:00 Suspicious Minds (m00028c5)
[Repeat of broadcast at 00:00 today]
SAT 16:45 Playing With Fire by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (b0701mnh)
[Repeat of broadcast at 00:45 today]
SAT 17:00 Alan Drury - The Family Retainer (b007js9g)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:00 today]
SAT 18:30 The Great Flood (Omnibus) (m0009zz0)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:30 today]
SAT 19:45 Uncle Mort's Celtic Fringe (b007jnbx)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:45 today]
SAT 20:00 Take Me To Your Reader (m000xrmc)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:00 today]
SAT 20:30 The 27-Year Itch (b0b3gk92)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:30 today]
SAT 21:00 Conversation Extra (m001vk7q)
[Repeat of broadcast at 10:00 today]
SAT 21:30 In Defence of the Mid-Life Crisis (b07pd34f)
[Repeat of broadcast at 10:30 today]
SAT 22:00 Tom Wrigglesworth's Open Letters (b01hl29y)
Series 2
Compensation Culture
Is compensation culture actually directly opposed to the theory of evolution?
Award-winning comedian Tom Wrigglesworth delivers an open letter to Ken Clarke MP.
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 (b007k24d)
Series 1
Holiday
Struggling writer Nick has quit smoking and is jetting off, but his geraniums don't want him to go
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 Vent (b01dw7cx)
Series 3
Loneliness Is a Crowded Head
Ben's life is full of well-meaning people trying to do everything for him. Everything, that is, except leave him alone.
He begins to wonder if Robinson Crusoe might have been on to a good thing.
Starring Neil Pearson.
Nigel Smith's dark sitcom about a man in a coma, travelling through the distinctly odd landscape of his own unconscious mind.
Ben ...... Neil Pearson
Mary ...... Fiona Allen
Mum ...... Josie Lawrence
Blitz ...... Leslie Ash
Nurse ...... Jo Martin
Derek ...... Stephen Frost
Marley ...... Spencer Brown
Bea ...... Scarlett Milburn-Smith
Castaway ...... John Kay-Steel
Waiter ...... Bruce Alexander
Director: Nigel Smith.
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in December 2009.
SAT 23:30 Hut 33 (b00lv795)
Series 1
Don't Bet on It
The Bletchley Park codebreakers must play football against Italian prisoners of war.
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 21 JANUARY 2024

SUN 00:00 Yevgeny Zamyatin - We (b0076l5v)
2. Infatuation
OneState engineer D-503 gets increasingly infatuated by the beautiful 1-330, though he harbours suspicions.
The key to his fate seems to lie in the hands of the mysterious S - but who is S?
Will his fascination lead him to love or revolution?
Starring Anton Lesser, Don Warrington and Brigit Forsyth.
The conclusion of the first great dystopian novel of the 20th century, written in secret in early Soviet Russia by Yevgeni Zamyatin.
D-503 ...... Anton Lesser
R-13 ...... Don Warrington
U ...... Brigit Forsyth
1-330 ...... Joanna Riding
0-90 ...... Julia Rounthwaite
Benefactor ...... Russell Dixon
Tannoy ...... Emma Clarke
Babushka ...... Judith Davis
S ...... Patrick Bridgman
2nd Engineer ...... Paul Viragh
Dramatised by Sean O'Brien.
Director: Jim Poyser
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in April 2004.
SUN 01:00 Alan Drury - The Family Retainer (b007js9g)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:00 on Saturday]
SUN 02:30 The Great Flood (Omnibus) (m0009zz0)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:30 on Saturday]
SUN 03:45 Uncle Mort's Celtic Fringe (b007jnbx)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:45 on Saturday]
SUN 04:00 Take Me To Your Reader (m000xrmc)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:00 on Saturday]
SUN 04:30 The 27-Year Itch (b0b3gk92)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:30 on Saturday]
SUN 05:00 Conversation Extra (m001vk7q)
[Repeat of broadcast at 10:00 on Saturday]
SUN 05:30 In Defence of the Mid-Life Crisis (b07pd34f)
[Repeat of broadcast at 10:30 on Saturday]
SUN 06:00 Poetry Extra (m001vk56)
Robert Burns and John Cooper Clarke
Poet Daljit Nagra revisits the BBC's poetry archive and shares his two discoveries for this week:
The Essay: The Elephant in the Poetry Reading
Chosen to mark Burns Night [Jan 25th 2024],
Kathleen Jamie is intrigued by Burns' ability to transform himself into whatever his audience required of him - even, in order to twist the tail of a lord, a river. She visits the Falls of Bruar to observe the trick.
Producer: Dave Batchelor
First broadcast on BBC Radio 3 in 2009.
And to celebrate the punk poet's 75th birthday [Born: Jan 25th 1949].
Life Drawing: John Cooper Clarke meets Martin Rowson
Dr John Cooper Clarke recites punk poetry whilst posing for cartoonist Martin Rowson.
Producer : Rebecca Ripley
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 2017.
Plus:
Daljit reads from Poetry Extra's Book of the Month - Burning Season by Yvonne Reddick.
SUN 06:30 Coming Up For Air by George Orwell (Omnibus) (m000drg3)
Episode 2
George Bowling tells us how he got a job after the First World War after a chance meeting with an old army commander.
It seems he's headed for insurance.
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.
Omnibus of the last five of ten episodes abridged by Ellin Stein.
Read by Tim McInnerny
Producer: Clive Brill
A Brill production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in January 2019
SUN 07:40 Inheritance Tracks (m001vk58)
Tim Peake
Astronaut Tim Peake selects It Must be Love by Labi Siffre and Sweet Child O' Mine by Guns N' Roses.
SUN 07:50 Highlites - Natural Bounce (Omnibus) (b07mcvpd)
Bev and Shirl, the world's worst hairdressers, are providing the locals with hairodynamic cuts in time for the local fun run - the annual 'Bridgford Trot'.
Bev then decides there's money to be made from the fitness biz - and considers expanding her salon...
Comedy drama written by Steve Chambers and Phil Nodding
Omnibus of five parts.
Bev ..... Lorraine Ashbourne
Shirl ..... Rosie Cavaliero
Mr Butt ..... James Lailey
Nigel ..... Chris Pavlo
Harriet ..... Carolyn Pickles
Enid .... Susan Jameson
Tony .... Sam Rix
Wendy ..... Nicola Ferguson
Beryl ..... Melanie Kilburn
Gordon ..... Ewan Bailey
Director: Liz Webb
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in July 2016.
SUN 09:00 Frankie Howerd (m001vk5b)
Series 4
Episode 3
Frankie goes hippy and recalls tracing an heiress in the Yukon.
Frankie takes a comic look back through his eventful life and illustrious career.
Written by David McKellar and David Nobbs.
With:
Ray Fell
Dilys Laye
Timothy Davies
April Walker.
Music from The Boston Barbers.
Producer: John Browell
First broadcast on BBC Radio 2 in October 1975.
SUN 09:30 The Navy Lark (b048nyk2)
Series 10
Accredited
Phillips has money worries and a worn-out uniform. Can his HMS Troutbridge crew-mate Pertwee help him out?
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
Heather ...... Heather Chasen
Nunky ...... Tenniel Evans
The Padre ....... Michael Bates
Clarence ...... Nigel Graham
Able Seaman Tiddy ...... Lawrie Wyman
The Navy Lark ran for an impressive 13 series between 1959 and 1976.
Producer: Alastair Scott Johnston.
First broadcast on BBC Radio 2 in November 1968.
SUN 10:00 Desert Island Discs Revisited (b039bb9t)
Illustrators 2
Raymond Briggs
Writer and illustrator Raymond Briggs is castaway for a second time by Sue Lawley.
For millions of children, Christmas would be incomplete without Briggs's story The Snowman, which has been shown on TV every year since its first release, in 1982, and his enduringly popular Father Christmas.
Raymond was born in 1934 in Wimbledon. His mother, Ethel, was a lady's maid and his father, Ernest, a milkman. He wanted to draw cartoon strips from an early age but, at art school, found his tutors looked down on his aspirations.
After leaving, he quickly secured work as a commercial artist, doing illustrations for advertisements, journals and books. He said he was so appalled at the standard of the children's books he was asked to illustrate he thought he could do better himself. And he did - his first attempt was immediately accepted for publication and he went on to twice win the Kate Greenaway Medal - the principal award for illustration.
Raymond Briggs was originally castaway by Roy Plomley in 1983.
DISC ONE: The Intro and The Outro - The Bonzo Dog Band
DISC TWO: Saga - Jan Garbarek
DISC THREE: La Rotta - The Dufay Collective
DISC FOUR: Unsquare Dance - The Dave Brubeck Quartet
DISC FIVE: Big in Japan - Tom Waits
DISC SIX: Spiegel im Spiegel - Tasmin Little
DISC SEVEN: River Pulse Rain Mix - Nitin Sawhney
DISC EIGHT: Cristóbal de Morales's Parce Mihi Domine (from Officium Defunctorum) - Jan Garbarek (soloist) with The Hilliard Ensemble
BOOK CHOICE: Complete Works of Beachcomber - J B Morton
LUXURY CHOICE: A full-size billiard table with Radio 4 built into each of the legs
CASTAWAY'S FAVOURITE: Cristóbal de Morales's Parce Mihi Domine (from Officium Defunctorum) - Jan Garbarek (soloist) with The Hilliard Ensemble
Producer: Leanne Buckle
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in March 2005.
SUN 10:45 David Attenborough's Life Stories (b0100j9q)
Series 2
Hummers
Hummingbirds are given spectacular names motivated by their striking colours, patterns and shimmering metallic iridescence; their names are beautiful as are the birds.
David Attenborough has filmed them on several occasions and is fascinated by their agility and flying skills to drink nectar from flowers inaccessible to any other animal.
Propelled by this rocket fuel of nature, they are capable of flying great distances and living life in the fast lane.
Enchanting in this story is how moved David Attenborough is when recalling a story of their conservation; a rare piece of good news he comments.
Written and presented by Sir David Attenborough
Producer: Julian Hector
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in April 2011.
SUN 11:00 Poetry Extra (m001vk56)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:00 today]
SUN 11:30 Coming Up For Air by George Orwell (Omnibus) (m000drg3)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:30 today]
SUN 12:40 Inheritance Tracks (m001vk58)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:40 today]
SUN 12:50 Highlites - Natural Bounce (Omnibus) (b07mcvpd)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:50 today]
SUN 14:00 Frankie Howerd (m001vk5b)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:00 today]
SUN 14:30 The Navy Lark (b048nyk2)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:30 today]
SUN 15:00 Desert Island Discs Revisited (b039bb9t)
[Repeat of broadcast at 10:00 today]
SUN 15:45 David Attenborough's Life Stories (b0100j9q)
[Repeat of broadcast at 10:45 today]
SUN 16:00 Yevgeny Zamyatin - We (b0076l5v)
[Repeat of broadcast at 00:00 today]
SUN 17:00 Poetry Extra (m001vk56)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:00 today]
SUN 17:30 Coming Up For Air by George Orwell (Omnibus) (m000drg3)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:30 today]
SUN 18:40 Inheritance Tracks (m001vk58)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:40 today]
SUN 18:50 Highlites - Natural Bounce (Omnibus) (b07mcvpd)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:50 today]
SUN 20:00 Frankie Howerd (m001vk5b)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:00 today]
SUN 20:30 The Navy Lark (b048nyk2)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:30 today]
SUN 21:00 Desert Island Discs Revisited (b039bb9t)
[Repeat of broadcast at 10:00 today]
SUN 21:45 David Attenborough's Life Stories (b0100j9q)
[Repeat of broadcast at 10:45 today]
SUN 22:00 The Confessional (m000vp1b)
Series 1
The Confession of Clarke Peters
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 episode, actor Clarke Peters - famous for his roles as Lester Freamon in The Wire and Albert Lambreaux in Treme - surprises with his stories of youthful indiscretions, hidden loot and embarrassing his brother on the Borscht Belt.
Written and presented by Stephen Mangan.
With extra material by Nick Doody
Producers: Dave Anderson & Frank Stirling
A 7digital production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in April 2021.
SUN 22:30 Unnatural Acts (m001vk5f)
Series 1
Clubland
An eccentric cabaret and raging cabbies await the Hardys on a night out.
Paul decides it's time for everyone to spend an evening in Guppies - the club where the Nouveau Fiche come to sea and be seen.
But soon, things start to go crazily wrong!
Jeremy.....Jeremy Hardy
Kit.............. Kit Hollerbach
Paul............Paul B Davies
Caroline.... Caroline Leddy
Written by Jeremy Hardy, Kit Hollerbach, Paul B Davies, Caroline Leddy, Peter Sinclair, Steve Punt, Alison Renshaw and John Morrish.
Producer: David Tyler
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in March 1987.
SUN 23:00 The Hudson and Pepperdine Show (m0018x7h)
Series 4
Jon Plowman Show
Do the bright lights of television beckon for Mel and Vicki?
Written by and starring Mel Hudson and Vicki Pepperdine.
With:
Martin Hyder
Jim North
Additional material by Paul Kerensa, Rhodri Crooks, Jim North, Danny Robins and Dan Tetsell
Music by Richie Webb
Producer: Chris Neill
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in July 2005.
SUN 23:30 The In Crowd (b00shkc5)
Series 3
Episode 3
Olive:
"Ooh, I'm shattered. You've really got to punch those old ladies hard if you want any bargains at the church jumble sale nowadays. I saw Vicar Simms headbutt that Mrs Knowles to get a blazer. Arthur, what are you doing in my tights?"
The ever eventful sketch show from Manchester's Comedy Store.
With:
Helen Moon
Robin Ince
Smug Roberts
Kate Ward
Producer: Graham Frost
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in August 2002.

MONDAY 22 JANUARY 2024

MON 00:00 Poetry Extra (m001vk56)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:00 on Sunday]
MON 00:30 Coming Up For Air by George Orwell (Omnibus) (m000drg3)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:30 on Sunday]
MON 01:40 Inheritance Tracks (m001vk58)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:40 on Sunday]
MON 01:50 Highlites - Natural Bounce (Omnibus) (b07mcvpd)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:50 on Sunday]
MON 03:00 Frankie Howerd (m001vk5b)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:00 on Sunday]
MON 03:30 The Navy Lark (b048nyk2)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:30 on Sunday]
MON 04:00 Desert Island Discs Revisited (b039bb9t)
[Repeat of broadcast at 10:00 on Sunday]
MON 04:45 David Attenborough's Life Stories (b0100j9q)
[Repeat of broadcast at 10:45 on Sunday]
MON 05:00 McLevy (b0082hxv)
Series 1
1. For Unto Us
It is Christmas, but McLevy doubts that peace on earth and goodwill to all men will apply among the criminal fraternity of Leith.
Sure enough, as snow falls on the cobbled streets, the Inspector and Constable Mulholland find themselves on the icy trail of an ingenious cat burglar.
A four-part detective story by David Ashton, set in Victorian Edinburgh.
Inspector McLevy ....... Brian Cox
Jean ....... Siobhan Redmond
Mulholland ....... Michael Perceval-Maxwell
Maguire ....... Stuart McQuarrie
Bell ....... Kenny Blyth
Lieutenant Roach ....... David Ashton
Jessie ....... Tracy Wiles
Sarah ....... Colette O'Neill
Duval ....... David Bannerman
Director Patrick Rayner
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in December 2000.
MON 05:45 How Are You? by Deborah Moggach (b092gh2f)
Diana had liked summer arriving, swallows arriving, her neighbours arriving with their swimming costumes already on under their clothes.
That was what the pool was for - that and Malcolm's heart.
Lesley Joseph reads Deborah Moggach’s summer tale.
Producer: Pam Fraser Solomon
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in August 1995.
MON 06:00 Stand By For West (m000twjm)
Inspector West at Bay
8. Finale for a Vendetta
Chief Inspector Roger West and his wife, Janet, rush to their local school...
Starring Patrick Allen and Sarah Lawson.
Conclusion of John Creasey's detective thriller.
Dramatised by Maurice Travers.
Chief Inspector Roger West .....Patrick Allen
Janet ..... Sarah Lawson
Sir Guy Chatworth ..... Maurice Hedley
Mark Lessing ..... James Kerry
Sir Guy Chatworth .... Maurice Hedley
Det -Insp Bill Sloan .... Derek Newmark
Mark Lessinu .... James Kerry
Eve Wedlake ....Anna Gilchist
Jacob Kennedy ..... Peter Williams
Clara Kennedy .... Margaret Woolfit
Charles Kennedy .... Ian Frost
Benson .... Peter Thompson
Producer: John Browell
First broadcast on BBC Radio 2 in June 1969.
MON 06:30 Tales From the Arabian Nights (m001vltm)
1. Ghanim, the Thrall of Love
Seven stories of love, magic and mysteries.
To save herself from the executioner's sword, Shahrazad beguiles the King with a tale of love and betrayal.
Starring Derek Jacobi and Carolyn Backhouse.
Adapted from traditional sources by Colin Haydn Evans.
The King .... Derek Jacobi
Shahrazad .... Carolyn Backhouse
Wazir .... Simon Carter
Ghanim .... Michael Lumsden
Leila .... Moir Leslie
Caliph .... Duncan Law
Rahil .... Mary Wimbush
Slave .... Richard O'Ryan
Old Man .... Geoffrey Banks
Music: Sue Harris and Steafan Hannigan
Director: Nigel Bryant
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in July 1993.
MON 07:00 The Great Romantic by Duncan Hamilton (m0006zy8)
1. Revolutionary
Neville Cardus described how one majestic stroke-maker 'made music' and 'spread beauty' with his bat.
Between two world wars, he became the laureate of cricket by doing the same with words.
Award-winning author Duncan Hamilton demonstrates how Cardus changed sports journalism for ever.
While popularising cricket - while appealing, in Cardus' words to people who 'didn't know a leg-break from the pavilion cat at Lord's'- he became a star in his own right with exquisite phrase-making, disdain for statistics and a penchant for literary and musical allusions.
Among those who venerated Cardus were PG Wodehouse, John Arlott, Harold Pinter, JB Priestley and Don Bradman.
However, behind the rhapsody in blue skies, green grass and colourful characters, this richly evocative biography finds that Cardus' mother was a prostitute, he never knew his father and he received negligible education. Infatuations with younger women ran parallel to a decidedly unromantic marriage. And, astonishingly, the supreme stylist's aversion to factual accuracy led to his reporting on matches he never attended.
Yet Cardus also belied his impoverished origins to prosper in a second class-conscious profession, becoming a music critic of international renown. The Great Romantic uncovers the dark enigma within a golden age.
In this opening episode, how Neville Cardus became cricket correspondent at the Manchester Guardian, revolutionising cricket writing with his quirky observation of the game.
Read by Toby Jones
Abridged in five parts by Polly Coles
Producer: Clive Brill
A Brill Production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in July 2019.
MON 07:15 Charles Dickens (b09h7w41)
Dombey and Son
1. It's a Boy!
Mid-19th-century London.
At last, a boy is born to Paul Dombey, but at what cost?
The fortunes of shipping firm owner, Paul Dombey.
Starring Alex Jennings and Robert Glenister.
Charles Dickens's novel first published in one volume in 1848.
Originally published in monthly parts from 1846,
Dramatised in twenty parts by Mike Walker.
Charles Dickens ...... Alex Jennings
Dombey ...... Robert Glenister
Florence ...... Abigail Hollick
Young Florence ...... Eliza Darby
Paul ...... Jacob Theato
Mr Carker ...... Adrian Lukis
Captain Cuttle ...... Trevor Peacock
Mrs Brown ...... Geraldine James
Dr Blimber ...... Robin Soans
Mrs Pipchin ...... Flaminia Cinque
Dr Peps ...... Karl Johnson
Polly Toodles ...... Pam Ferris
Susan ...... Nadine Marshall
Walter ...... Joseph Arkley
Young Walter ...... Jordan Clarke
Toots ...... Sam Pamphilon
Other parts played by:
Ben Crowe
Peter Marinker
Simon Treves
Alex Lanipekun
Lloyd Thomas
Music by Nicolai Abrahamsen.
Directors: Jessica Dromgoole and Jeremy Mortimer.
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in November 2007.
MON 07:30 Cracking Up (m000253s)
Series 2
Dylan Dares to Dream
Divorcee father Spencer Pandy has maintained his authority over his teenage son Dylan with a mixture of demanding respect and hoping for the best.
But after a series of elaborate dreams in which a small and rodent-like man called Master Gojo awakens Young Dylan to his impending confrontation with his father, The Dark Lord, a reckoning is fast approaching.
It takes place at the local shopping mall where Dylan and Spencer have become stuck in a coin-operated Noddy Car. 11-year-old Tilly has gone to school that day with a colander gaffa-taped to her face but Mrs Ademola has removed it (along with most of her hair) - and so Tilly has arrived at the shopping mall for the showdown, in the character of The Bald Ninja-baby.
Spencer has been warned of the confrontation by a mysterious client called Ken, who sounds suspiciously like Alec Guinness, and it’s only when Dylan finally commands his father to fight - in the bread and cakes aisle, armed with a buzzing baguette - that Spencer understands Ken’s directive that "the spirit must pass".
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.
Narrator ...... Johnny Daukes
Spencer Pandy ...... Michael Hobbs
Tina Pandy ...... Katherine Jakeways
Dylan Pandy ...... Jack Burke
Tilly Pandy ...... Betty Daukes
Owen ...... Jay Simpson
Jamal ...... Connor Whitmore
With::
Rebecca Clay
Paul Shearer
Producer: Johnny Daukes
A Big Talk production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in January 2019.
MON 08:00 Steptoe and Son (b007k094)
Series 4
Full House
Card sharks fleece Harold Steptoe, so his father Albert steps in.
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
With:
Martin Friend
Douglas Blackwell
Michael Kilgarriff
Producer: Bobby Jaye
First broadcast on BBC Radio 2 in January 1972.
MON 08:30 After Henry (b007tcmk)
Series 4
Positive Thinking
"I've never seen Clare so sure of herself. Or so sure of anything."
With Julian back on the scene, Clare is ecstatic.
But her mother Sarah has concerns.
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
Julian …. Jasper Jacob
Producer: Pete Atkin
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in March 1989.
MON 09:00 Elephant in the Room (m0007cwj)
Series 1
Episode 7
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:
Jo Caulfield
Emma Kennedy
Jessica Fostekew
Mark Watson
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 August 2019.
MON 09:30 Acropolis Now (b007jwm0)
Series 1
Heroes
Frenzying is all the rage in Ancient Athens - but can Aristophanes cash in on the craze?
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 January 2001.
MON 10:00 McLevy (b0082hxv)
[Repeat of broadcast at 05:00 today]
MON 10:45 How Are You? by Deborah Moggach (b092gh2f)
[Repeat of broadcast at 05:45 today]
MON 11:00 Stand By For West (m000twjm)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:00 today]
MON 11:30 Tales From the Arabian Nights (m001vltm)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:30 today]
MON 12:00 The Great Romantic by Duncan Hamilton (m0006zy8)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:00 today]
MON 12:15 Charles Dickens (b09h7w41)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:15 today]
MON 12:30 Cracking Up (m000253s)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:30 today]
MON 13:00 Steptoe and Son (b007k094)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:00 today]
MON 13:30 After Henry (b007tcmk)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:30 today]
MON 14:00 Elephant in the Room (m0007cwj)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:00 today]
MON 14:30 Acropolis Now (b007jwm0)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:30 today]
MON 15:00 McLevy (b0082hxv)
[Repeat of broadcast at 05:00 today]
MON 15:45 How Are You? by Deborah Moggach (b092gh2f)
[Repeat of broadcast at 05:45 today]
MON 16:00 Stand By For West (m000twjm)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:00 today]
MON 16:30 Tales From the Arabian Nights (m001vltm)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:30 today]
MON 17:00 The Great Romantic by Duncan Hamilton (m0006zy8)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:00 today]
MON 17:15 Charles Dickens (b09h7w41)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:15 today]
MON 17:30 Cracking Up (m000253s)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:30 today]
MON 18:00 Steptoe and Son (b007k094)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:00 today]
MON 18:30 After Henry (b007tcmk)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:30 today]
MON 19:00 Elephant in the Room (m0007cwj)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:00 today]
MON 19:30 Acropolis Now (b007jwm0)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:30 today]
MON 20:00 The Moth Radio Hour (m0015kwb)
Series 12
When We Were Young
True stories told live in the USA: Meg Bowles with stories of childhood, growing up, and growing pains.
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 2020.
MON 20:55 Inheritance Tracks (m000vxpp)
Nicky Campbell
TV and radio presenter Nicky Campbell, chooses ‘Smile’ by Nat King Cole and ‘Alone Again (Naturally)' by Gilbert O'Sullivan.
MON 21:00 A Good Read (b07dlxml)
Trevor McDonald and Jon Snow
Former TV newscasters, Sir Trevor McDonald and Jon Snow join Harriett Gilbert to discuss favourite books by Robert A Caro, Graham Swift and Bill Bryson.
Master of The Senate by Robert A Caro
Publisher: Pimlico
Mothering Sunday by Graham Swift
Publisher: Scribner
Notes From A Small Island by Bill Bryson
Publisher: Black Swan
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in June 2016.
MON 21:30 Murder Most Foul (m001vltr)
Series 3
1. The Fingerless Strangler
True tales of murder from the days when police cars had bells and the men from the Yard wore trilby hats.
Six more murder cases featuring Dr Keith Simpson, the celebrated pathologist.
During the Second World War and the Portsmouth blitz, a pub landlady Rose Robinson is found strangled.
Suspicion falls on a petty crook, Harold Loughans, but he'd lost the fingers of one hand in an accident.
Would it have been possible for him to strangle the dead woman? And why did he face three trials?
BBC TV's Crimewatch presenter Nick Ross reviews the case and the forensic evidence.
Written by Rib Davis.
Dr Keith Simpson ..... Keith Drinkel
Harold Loughans ..... Eric Allan
Maude KC ..... Brett Usher
With:
Jonathan Adams
John Evitts
Geraldine Fitzgerald
John Fleming
Barry J Gordon
Dominic Letts
Jillie Meers
David Thorpe
James Telfer
John Webb
Producer: Fiona McLean
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in March 1993.
MON 22:00 Just a Minute (m001vcfp)
Series 92
2. A Hundred Boy Scouts from Liechtenstein
Sue Perkins challenges Paul Merton, Lucy Porter, Angela Barnes and Eshaan Akbar to speak for 60 seconds without repetition, deviation or hesitation.
The long-running Radio 4 panel game is back for a new series with subjects including Skimming Stones, The Great Fire of London, and Why I Didn't Make It As A Professional Sprinter.
Production Co-ordinator: Sarah Nicholls
Sound Editor: Marc Willcox
Producer: Rajiv Karia
An EcoAudio certified production.
A BBC Studios Production for Radio 4.
MON 22:30 Hal (b08n22ry)
Series 2
Exes
Hal's vision of himself as a romantic partner are confounded as Sam reveals she's catching up with a 'blast from the past'. And refugee housemate Mahmoud causes a stir.
Hapless house husband Hal Cruttenden is still trying to cope with his mid-life crisis and doubting his every move.
Written by Hal Cruttenden and Dominic Holland.
Hal ...... Hal Cruttenden
Sam ...... Kerry Godliman
Penny ...... Ronni Ancona
Instructor ...... Ronni Ancona
Pippa ...... Abigail Cruttenden
Fergus ...... Ed Byrne
Barry ...... Gavin Webster
Oberon ...... Arthur Hughes
Therapist ...... Jonathan Kydd
Ian ...... Jonathan Kydd
Assistant ...... Jonathan Kydd
Josh ...... Simon Greenall
Mahmoud ...... Arian Nik
Producer: Paul Russell
An Open Mike production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in April 2017.
MON 23:00 The News Quiz (m001vbyl)
Series 113
Episode 3
Andy Zaltzman quizzes news from Swansea this week. Providing all the answers are Lucy Porter, Robin Morgan, Tadiwa Mahlunge, and Ayesha Hazarika
In this episode Andy and the panel have a look at some broken geo-political New Year's Resolutions and how life seeming both began and is now struggling in Wales.
Written by Andy Zaltzman
With additional material by: Cody Dahler, Cameron Loxdale, and Callum Jones
Producer: Sam Holmes
Executive Producer: James Robinson
Production Co-ordinator: Sarah Nicholls
Sound Editor: Marc Willcox
A BBC Studios Production for Radio 4
MON 23:30 Concrete Cow (b04sttfx)
Series 2
Biodiversity
Aliens visit Earth to take its biodiversity- but it's too expensive; mums compete over exclusive holidays and a soup advert takes gritty realism too far.
Sketch show in which anything is possible.
Written by James Cary.
Starring:
Robert Webb
Beth Chalmers
Catherine Shepherd
Steven Kynman
Abigail Burdess
Chris Pavlo
Producer: Adam Bromley
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in January 2004.

TUESDAY 23 JANUARY 2024

TUE 00:00 McLevy (b0082hxv)
[Repeat of broadcast at 05:00 on Monday]
TUE 00:45 How Are You? by Deborah Moggach (b092gh2f)
[Repeat of broadcast at 05:45 on Monday]
TUE 01:00 Stand By For West (m000twjm)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:00 on Monday]
TUE 01:30 Tales From the Arabian Nights (m001vltm)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:30 on Monday]
TUE 02:00 The Great Romantic by Duncan Hamilton (m0006zy8)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:00 on Monday]
TUE 02:15 Charles Dickens (b09h7w41)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:15 on Monday]
TUE 02:30 Cracking Up (m000253s)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:30 on Monday]
TUE 03:00 Steptoe and Son (b007k094)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:00 on Monday]
TUE 03:30 After Henry (b007tcmk)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:30 on Monday]
TUE 04:00 Elephant in the Room (m0007cwj)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:00 on Monday]
TUE 04:30 Acropolis Now (b007jwm0)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:30 on Monday]
TUE 05:00 McLevy (b0082k6q)
Series 1
2. The Trophy Club
A four-part series of detective stories set in Victorian Edinburgh, and starring Brian Cox and Siobhan Redmond.
Blocked at every turn in his efforts to solve the cruel murder of a young prostitute, and convinced that the killer is from the highest level of Edinburgh society, McLevy unwisely decides to bend the rules - with bitter consequences.
Insp McLevy............... Brian Cox
Jean.................................Siobhan Redmond
Mulholland...................Michael Perceval-Maxwell
Hallard........................... Steven Atholl
Lt Roach........................David Ashton
Dingwall........................ Tom Smith
Dr Jarvis..........................David McKail
Biddy............................... Eliza Langland
Sheriff............................. David Bannerman
Written by David Ashton.
Director Patrick Rayner
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 2000.
TUE 05:45 The Scent of Oranges by Ann Swinfen (m0002zxg)
"The audience is hushed. The violinist lifts her bow. Then a breath of fragrance floods her music with memories and the story of her past."
Read by Linda Bassett
Written by By Ann Swinfen
Produced by Jonquil Panting
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 1996.
TUE 06:00 Whodunnits (b008ycyr)
Adam Dalgliesh - Cover Her Face
1. Murder
A murder in an East Anglian village reveals hidden passions beneath the calm surface.
Robin Ellis stars as detective Adam Dalgliesh in the debut crime novel of PD James.
Co-starring Sian Phillips and Hugh Grant.
Cover Her Face was first published in 1962, where the author created her famous poetry-writing detective who went on to feature in many more of her stories.
Dramatised in four-parts by Neville Teller.
Inspector Adam Dalgliesh .... Robin Ellis
Mrs Maxie …. Sian Phillips
Felix Hearne …. Hugh Grant
Deborah …. Beatie Edney
Stephen Maxie …. David Thorpe
Catherine Bowers …. Oona Beeson
Miss Liddell …. Kate Binchy
Dr Epps …. Philip Anthony
Martha …. Jill Graham
Sally Jupp …. Melanie Hudson
Mrs Webster …. Linda Polan
Producer: Matthew Walters
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in March 1993.
TUE 06:30 Tales From the Arabian Nights (m001vm05)
2. The Ebony Horse
Seven stories of love, magic and mysteries.
To save herself from the executioner's sword, Shahrazad beguiles the king with a tale of a magical horse.
Starring Derek Jacobi as the King and Carolyn Backhouse as Shahrazad.
The King .... Derek Jacobi
Shahrazad .... Carolyn Backhouse
Kamar .... James Telfer
The Sage .... Roger Hume
Shams .... Teresa Gallagher
Kamar's Father .... John Baddeley
Adapted from traditional sources by Colin Haydn Evans.
Music: Sue Harris and Steafan Hannigan
Director: Nigel Bryant
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in July 1993.
TUE 07:00 The Great Romantic by Duncan Hamilton (m0006ztb)
2. Scoop
Neville Cardus described how one majestic stroke-maker 'made music' and 'spread beauty' with his bat. Between two world wars, he became the laureate of cricket by doing the same with words.
In The Great Romantic, award-winning author Duncan Hamilton demonstrates how Cardus changed sports journalism for ever. While popularising cricket - while appealing, in Cardus' words to people who 'didn't know a leg-break from the pavilion cat at Lord's'- he became a star in his own right with exquisite phrase-making, disdain for statistics and a penchant for literary and musical allusions.
Among those who venerated Cardus were PG Wodehouse, John Arlott, Harold Pinter, JB Priestley and Don Bradman. However, behind the rhapsody in blue skies, green grass and colourful characters, this richly evocative biography finds that Cardus' mother was a prostitute, he never knew his father and he received negligible education. Infatuations with younger women ran parallel to a decidedly unromantic marriage. And, astonishingly, the supreme stylist's aversion to factual accuracy led to his reporting on matches he never attended.
Yet Cardus also belied his impoverished origins to prosper in a second class-conscious profession, becoming a music critic of international renown. The Great Romantic uncovers the dark enigma within a golden age.
Read by Toby Jones
Abridged by Polly Coles
Produced by Clive Brill
A Brill production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in July 2019.
TUE 07:15 Charles Dickens (b09hbwfb)
Dombey and Son
2. Florence Wants Her Mother
Young Florence Dombey falls into the clutches of good Mrs Brown.
Starring Alex Jennings and Robert Glenister.
The fortunes of shipping firm owner, Paul Dombey in mid-19th-century London.
Charles Dickens's novel dramatised by Mike Walker.
Charles Dickens ...... Alex Jennings
Dombey ...... Robert Glenister
Florence ...... Abigail Hollick
Young Florence ...... Eliza Darby
Paul ...... Jacob Theato
Mr Carker ...... Adrian Lukis
Captain Cuttle ...... Trevor Peacock
Mrs Brown ...... Geraldine James
Dr Blimber ...... Robin Soans
Mrs Pipchin ...... Flaminia Cinque
Dr Peps ...... Karl Johnson
Polly Toodles ...... Pam Ferris
Susan ...... Nadine Marshall
Walter ...... Joseph Arkley
Young Walter ...... Jordan Clarke
Toots ...... Sam Pamphilon
Other parts played by:
Ben Crowe
Peter Marinker
Simon Treves
Alex Lanipekun
Lloyd Thomas
Music by Nicolai Abrahamsen.
Directors: Jessica Dromgoole and Jeremy Mortimer.
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in November 2007.
TUE 07:30 Teatime (m000g4fy)
Episode 4
There’s an awkward atmosphere in Vicky and Rav’s house, as Joe and Donna sort through the boxes in the garage and divide up the last of their belongings, remnants left over from their failed marriage.
As they talk about old times, Vicky and Rav are upstairs redecorating their spare room, and talking about the future.
Meanwhile, Lisa and Uncle Bob are on tea-cooking duties. Bob can handle it, but for Lisa, it’s genuinely the challenge of a lifetime.
So: Joe and Donna have a chat in a garage, Vicky and Rav paint a bedroom wall, and Lisa and Uncle Bob cook some baked beans.
Needless to say, events quickly spiral out of control.
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 March 2020.
TUE 08:00 The Goon Show (m001vm0c)
Vintage Goons
The Mustard and Cress Shortage
Neddie Seagoon investigates the disappearance of mustard and cress across the British Railways network.
Ground-breaking, surreal BBC radio comedy written by Spike Milligan.
Starring:
Peter Sellers
Harry Secombe
Spike Milligan
Vintage Goons is a series of re-recorded episodes made by the original cast for sale abroad.
With The Ray Ellington Quartet and Max Geldray.
Orchestra conducted by Wally Stott.
Announcer: Wallace Greenslade
Producer: Tom Ronald
First broadcast on the BBC Home Service in February 1954.
Re-recording from January 1958 by the BBC Transcription Service made for broadcast overseas.
First broadcast in the UK on BBC Radio 2 in 1994.
TUE 08:30 Like They've Never Been Gone (b009mbjl)
Series 1
Episode 4
Despite their successful comeback tour, Tommy and Sheila aren't in the money.
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, Edward Halsted, Rachel Smith, Chris Pavlo, Paul Rogan and Steven Rhodes.
Singers: John Barr and Lisa Peace.
Music by Frido Ruth.
Producer: Steve Doherty
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in August 1998.
TUE 09:00 Quote... Unquote (m000p1v0)
Victoria Hislop, Nikesh Shukla, Benjamin Partridge
Nigel Rees quizzes his celebrity guests on the origins of sayings and well-known quotes, and gets the famous panel to share their favourite anecdotes and quotes.
With:
Author Victoria Hislop, known for The Island, The Return, The Thread and Those Who Are Loved
Novelist and screenwriter Nikesh Shukla, known for Coconut Unlimited, Meatspace, and as editor of The Good Immigrant
Comedy writer and podcaster Benjamin Partridge, known for The Beef and Dairy Network podcast, Horrible Histories and others
Producer: Ella Watts
A BBC Studios production for BBC Radio 4 first broadcast in 2020.
TUE 09:30 The Casebook of Max and Ivan (b0978868)
Series 2
Case #47 - Crime Writing Doesn't Pay
Incompetent private detectives Max and Ivan are contacted by the very dull white goods instruction manual writer Robert R. Roberts, who wants them to investigate a series of copycat crimes based on the erotic crime fiction novels he writes under the pseudonym Scarlett Melange.
Their investigation takes them to the Peckam Flower and Vegetable show, where they fear the life of head judge Joaquin Zamorano is in considerable danger.
Along the way, they meet the one person on earth who might be more boring than Robert R. Roberts - his wife Roberta.
Written by and Max Olesker and Ivan Gonzalez
Max ...... Max Olesker
Ivan ...... Ivan Gonzalez
Robert R. Roberts aka Scarlett Melange ...... Jason Watkins
Roberta Roberts/Voice of the Audiobook ...... Lolly Adefope
Narrator/Malcolm McMichaelmas ...... Lewis MacLeod
Joaquin Zamarano/Impish Nutter ...... David Reed
Producer: Ben Walker
Developed by John Stanley Productions.
A Retort production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in October 2017.
TUE 10:00 McLevy (b0082k6q)
[Repeat of broadcast at 05:00 today]
TUE 10:45 The Scent of Oranges by Ann Swinfen (m0002zxg)
[Repeat of broadcast at 05:45 today]
TUE 11:00 Whodunnits (b008ycyr)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:00 today]
TUE 11:30 Tales From the Arabian Nights (m001vm05)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:30 today]
TUE 12:00 The Great Romantic by Duncan Hamilton (m0006ztb)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:00 today]
TUE 12:15 Charles Dickens (b09hbwfb)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:15 today]
TUE 12:30 Teatime (m000g4fy)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:30 today]
TUE 13:00 The Goon Show (m001vm0c)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:00 today]
TUE 13:30 Like They've Never Been Gone (b009mbjl)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:30 today]
TUE 14:00 Quote... Unquote (m000p1v0)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:00 today]
TUE 14:30 The Casebook of Max and Ivan (b0978868)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:30 today]
TUE 15:00 McLevy (b0082k6q)
[Repeat of broadcast at 05:00 today]
TUE 15:45 The Scent of Oranges by Ann Swinfen (m0002zxg)
[Repeat of broadcast at 05:45 today]
TUE 16:00 Whodunnits (b008ycyr)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:00 today]
TUE 16:30 Tales From the Arabian Nights (m001vm05)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:30 today]
TUE 17:00 The Great Romantic by Duncan Hamilton (m0006ztb)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:00 today]
TUE 17:15 Charles Dickens (b09hbwfb)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:15 today]
TUE 17:30 Teatime (m000g4fy)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:30 today]
TUE 18:00 The Goon Show (m001vm0c)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:00 today]
TUE 18:30 Like They've Never Been Gone (b009mbjl)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:30 today]
TUE 19:00 Quote... Unquote (m000p1v0)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:00 today]
TUE 19:30 The Casebook of Max and Ivan (b0978868)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:30 today]
TUE 20:00 TED Radio Hour (m001vm0j)
Shock Value
A journey through fascinating ideas based on talks by riveting speakers on the TED (Technology, Entertainment, Design) stage.
Manoush Zomorodi explores the productive side of the provocative - how being jolted out of the everyday, from an elaborate farce, to benign naughtiness, to a life-altering event, can be a good thing.
First broadcast in the USA on National Public Radio in 2023.
TUE 20:50 Inheritance Tracks (m000wkvd)
Mica Paris
Singer Mica Paris chooses Come Live with Me Angel by Marvin Gaye and Tom Browne - Funkin' for Jamaica.
TUE 21:00 Sideways (m000sr4s)
4. Looping the Loop
Matthew Syed asks what the world's greatest fighter pilot can tell us about decision making. He discovers a theory that transformed warfare and might have played a key role in Brexit.
John Boyd was a rebel. The quintessential cigar-chomping fighter pilot. A legend within the US Air Force, he was known to be able to shoot down any opponent in a dogfight in under 40 seconds.
He developed a decision making tool that would take the military by storm – OODA - observe, orient, decide, act. Boyd explained that this process looped, with each action leading to a new opportunity to observe. To defeat an enemy all you had to do was disrupt their OODA loop.
Matthew reveals how Boyd devotee Dominic Cummings, deployed OODA during the Brexit campaign with great effect.
While the OODA loop is highly effecting in confrontational settings, Matthew asks whether this form of thinking works when co-operation, rather than domination, is the name of the game.
Producer: Robbie MacInnes
A Novel production for BBC Radio 4 first broadcast in 2021.
TUE 21:30 Murder Most Foul (m001vm0p)
Series 3
2. The Body in the Chalkpit
True tales of murder from the days when police cars had bells and the men from the Yard wore trilby hats.
Six murder cases featuring Dr Keith Simpson, the celebrated pathologist.
Nick Ross reviews a case of a body with a noose around the neck.
In 1946, a man's body was discovered lying in a shallow trench, a noose around his neck. Was it suicide by hanging? If so, how did the body come to be found in a Surrey chalkpit?
Dr Keith Simpson .... Keith Drinkel
Dr Eric Gardner .... Stephen Thorne
Thomas Ley .... Barry J Gordon
With:
Jonathan Adams
Philip Anthony
Geraldine Fitzgerald
John Fleming
Matthew Morgan
Katherine Parr
John Webb
Written by Rib Davis.
Producer: Fiona McLean
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in March 1993.
TUE 22:00 The Ultimate Choice (m001vcg7)
Series 2
Episode 3: Dad's Army v Spice Girls
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 Darren Harriott and Zoe Lyons.
Host: Steph McGovern
Guests: Darren Harriott and Zoe Lyons
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 (b07sz52p)
Series 1
The Travel System
Josh attempts to buy a pram on the cheap while also trying to convince his mechanic to give him a good deal.
Sitcom in which stand-up comic Josh comes to terms with the impending birth of his first child.
Starring Josh Howie and Pippa Evans.
Written by Josh Howie.
With:
Nej Adamson
Gavin Forward
Jo Romero
Producer: Ashley Blaker
A Black Hat production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in September 2016.
TUE 22:55 The Comedy Club Interviews (m001vttd)
Daliso Chaponda 1/2
From 10pm until midnight, seven days a week, the Comedy Club has two hours of comedy. Plus Sarah Campbell chats to Daliso Chaponda.
TUE 23:00 Chain Reaction (b054qfjd)
Series 10
Vic Reeves talks to Olivia Colman
One half of comedy double-act Vic & Bob, Vic Reeves talks to Oscar and BAFTA award-winning actress Olivia Colman.
Chain Reaction is the long running hostless chat show where last week's interviewee becomes this week's interviewer.
Producer: Charlie Perkins
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in March 2015.
TUE 23:30 Old Harry's Game (b00hv1f4)
Series 7
Episode 3
The presence of a baby is turning the residents of Hell all soft.
Scumspawn becomes the first demon to wear a papoose, and Satan tries to locate "Satan Junior's" real family.
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 March 2009.

WEDNESDAY 24 JANUARY 2024

WED 00:00 McLevy (b0082k6q)
[Repeat of broadcast at 05:00 on Tuesday]
WED 00:45 The Scent of Oranges by Ann Swinfen (m0002zxg)
[Repeat of broadcast at 05:45 on Tuesday]
WED 01:00 Whodunnits (b008ycyr)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:00 on Tuesday]
WED 01:30 Tales From the Arabian Nights (m001vm05)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:30 on Tuesday]
WED 02:00 The Great Romantic by Duncan Hamilton (m0006ztb)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:00 on Tuesday]
WED 02:15 Charles Dickens (b09hbwfb)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:15 on Tuesday]
WED 02:30 Teatime (m000g4fy)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:30 on Tuesday]
WED 03:00 The Goon Show (m001vm0c)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:00 on Tuesday]
WED 03:30 Like They've Never Been Gone (b009mbjl)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:30 on Tuesday]
WED 04:00 Quote... Unquote (m000p1v0)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:00 on Tuesday]
WED 04:30 The Casebook of Max and Ivan (b0978868)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:30 on Tuesday]
WED 05:00 McLevy (b007jlj2)
Series 1
3. The Second Shadow
Counterfeiters are at work in the city, and McLevy is under pressure to secure rapid convictions. But his mind is more on the deliciously immoral Jean Brash - surely McLevy isn't becoming jealous of the male company she keeps?
Insp McLevy............... Brian Cox
Jean.................................Siobhan Redmond
Mulholland...................Michael Perceval-Maxwell
Jem.................................John McGlynn
Lt Roach........................David Ashton
Granny Campbell.......Colette O'Neil
Jessie.............................. Tracy Wiles
Dewar.............................Kenny Blyth
Barbara...........................Carolyn Bonnyman
Written by David Ashton
Director Patrick Rayner
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 2000.
WED 05:45 The Balloon of Babel by Jonathan Treitel (m0003ckj)
"The original plan was to build a ziggurat - a jagged, winding monument of baked clay spiralling up to the heavens."
Jonathan Treitel’s short-story has something to do with Babel, lots of hot air and a reluctant adventurer called Bes.
Read by Peter Jeffrey.
Producer: Duncan Minshull
First broadcast on BBC Radio 3 in December 1991.
WED 06:00 Whodunnits (b008ypyg)
Adam Dalgliesh - Cover Her Face
2. Investigation
Inspector Adam Dalgliesh arrives on the scene to investigate the murder of Sally Jupp in a peaceful Essex village.
Starring Robin Ellis.
With Sian Phillips and Hugh Grant.
PD James's debut crime novel about her gentleman detective.
Dramatised by Neville Teller.
Inspector Adam Dalgliesh .... Robin Ellis
Mrs Maxie …. Sian Phillips
Felix …. Hugh Grant
Deborah …. Beatie Edney
Catherine …. Oona Beeson
Miss Liddell …. Kate Binchy
Stephen …. David Thorpe
Dr Epps …. Philip Anthony
Martha ... Jill Graham
Thornton/Hicks …. John Church
Sgt Martin …. Steve Hodson
Inspector Manning …. John Fleming
Police Doctor …. John Baddeley
Producer: Matthew Walters
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in March 1993.
WED 06:30 Tales From the Arabian Nights (m001vkd5)
3. The Three Suitors
Seven stories of love, magic and mysteries.
To save herself from the executioner's sword, Shahrazad beguiles the king with a tale of a lover’s rescue.
Starring Derek Jacobi as the King and Carolyn Backhouse as Shahrazad.
The King .... Derek Jacobi
Shahrazad .... Carolyn Backhouse
Jamilla .... Rachel Atkins
Hassan .... William Chubb
Faris .... Geoffrey Banks
Gaoler .... Michael Mears
Magistrate .... Philip Anthony
Carpenter .... John Baddeley
Shahrazad's Father .... Simon Carter
Adapted from traditional sources by Colin Haydn Evans.
Music: Sue Harris and Steafan Hannigan
Director: Nigel Bryant
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in July 1993.
WED 07:00 The Great Romantic by Duncan Hamilton (m00070c3)
3. Snobbery
Neville Cardus described how one majestic stroke-maker 'made music' and 'spread beauty' with his bat. Between two world wars, he became the laureate of cricket by doing the same with words.
In The Great Romantic, award-winning author Duncan Hamilton demonstrates how Cardus changed sports journalism for ever. While popularising cricket - while appealing, in Cardus' words to people who 'didn't know a leg-break from the pavilion cat at Lord's'- he became a star in his own right with exquisite phrase-making, disdain for statistics and a penchant for literary and musical allusions.
Among those who venerated Cardus were PG Wodehouse, John Arlott, Harold Pinter, JB Priestley and Don Bradman. However, behind the rhapsody in blue skies, green grass and colourful characters, this richly evocative biography finds that Cardus' mother was a prostitute, he never knew his father and he received negligible education. Infatuations with younger women ran parallel to a decidedly unromantic marriage. And, astonishingly, the supreme stylist's aversion to factual accuracy led to his reporting on matches he never attended.
Yet Cardus also belied his impoverished origins to prosper in a second class-conscious profession, becoming a music critic of international renown. The Great Romantic uncovers the dark enigma within a golden age.
Read by Toby Jones
Abridged by Polly Coles
Produced by Clive Brill
A Brill Production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in July 2019.
WED 07:15 Charles Dickens (b09hllmr)
Dombey and Son
3. Dombey Junior is Sent to Brighton
Paul Dombey is sent to Brighton for his health.
Starring Alex Jennings and Robert Glenister.
The fortunes of shipping firm owner, Paul Dombey in mid-19th-century London.
Charles Dickens's novel dramatised by Mike Walker.
Charles Dickens ...... Alex Jennings
Dombey ...... Robert Glenister
Florence ...... Abigail Hollick
Young Florence ...... Eliza Darby
Paul ...... Jacob Theato
Mr Carker ...... Adrian Lukis
Captain Cuttle ...... Trevor Peacock
Mrs Brown ...... Geraldine James
Dr Blimber ...... Robin Soans
Mrs Pipchin ...... Flaminia Cinque
Dr Peps ...... Karl Johnson
Polly Toodles ...... Pam Ferris
Susan ...... Nadine Marshall
Walter ...... Joseph Arkley
Young Walter ...... Jordan Clarke
Toots ...... Sam Pamphilon
Other parts played by:
Ben Crowe
Peter Marinker
Simon Treves
Alex Lanipekun
Lloyd Thomas
Music by Nicolai Abrahamsen.
Directors: Jessica Dromgoole and Jeremy Mortimer
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in November 2007.
WED 07:30 Rumblings from the Rafters (b07jwt65)
Edible Dormouse and Peacock Butterfly
Hugh Dennis and Amanda Abbington star as an edible dormouse and a peacock butterfly as they reveal the truth about life in a draughty old attic in a house in Amersham.
Written and introduced by Lynne Truss.
Edible Dormouse ...... Hugh Dennis
Peacock Butterfly ...... Amanda Abbington
The Edible Dormouse is no Common Dormouse. He is Russian and extremely serious-minded. He is obsessed with answering the question, "Why are we here?" both the philosophical question and the literal one. No answer satisfies him. So he has reached his own conclusion, which involves secret agents and a submarine. "I may be rare, cute-looking, and of indisputable foreign origin, but I am not stupid."
He is planning a meeting with his fellow Edible Dormice to discuss their next move. He knows this won't be easy. The others think he is mad. Top of the agenda is what they should call themselves. "Imagine how it feels to be one of the only zoological species in existence whose very name says, "Have you ever thought of eating me?"
The Peacock Butterfly is youthful, intelligent, and ever so concerned with being brave and sensible about mortality. Having been born the previous year, she is re-visiting the attic before dying. "I remember when I first came in, I thought hello, this wouldn't be a bad place to pop off, when the time comes."
But trying to be brave about her inevitable end is much harder than she expects, "Well, I'm sorry to say that for some completely inexplicable reason I totally lost it at the sycamore! I mean what's wrong with me? " But as she settles down to die, a sudden thought changes everything ...
Wildlife sound recordings Chris Watson.
Producer: Sarah Blunt
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in July 2016.
WED 08:00 Hancock's Half Hour (b007jp42)
Series 5
The Threatening Letters
The Lad is full of the joys of Spring - until the postman arrives.
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 Ballylenon (b00fz0g7)
Series 2
Episode 1
Already divided over the proposed demolition of an 18th-century court house to make way for the Swilly Arms' car park, the town's Development Association seems set for open confrontation.
Series set in the sleepy town of Ballylenon, Co Donegal, in 1954, before the days of mass tourism and proper plumbing in every home.
Written by Christopher Fitz-Simon.
Phonsie Doherty …. TP McKenna
Muriel McConkey …. Margaret D'Arcy
Vera McConkey …. Stella McCusker
Vivienne Boal …. Aine McCartney
Guard Gallagher …. John Hewitt
Stumpy Bonnar …. Gerard McSorley
Packy McGoldrick …. Charlie Bonnar
Josie Doherty …. Ciara McKeown
Music arranged and performed by Stephanie Hughes.
Director: Eoin O'Callaghan
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in July 1995.
WED 09:00 Whose Line Is It Anyway? (b008kty5)
Episode 2
Wrong theme tunes – and the worst companions to join you on a life raft.
Clive Anderson hosts the famed improvisation game.
Regular team captains:
Stephen Fry
John Sessions
With:
Hugh Laurie
Enn Reitel
It ran for 10 series on Channel 4 and found success in America, but the hit TV improvisation game actually started life on BBC radio.
With Colin Sell at the piano.
Devised and compiled by Mark Leveson.
Additional material by Martin Booth.
Producer: Dan Patterson
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in January 1988.
WED 09:30 The Elephant Man (b007k2cj)
While the Cat's Away
Leonard and Adam head off to Frankfurt for the sake of the polar bear's future - and the zoo's!
Peter Serafinowicz stars in Debbie Barham's sitcom about the life of an elephant zoo keeper.
Terry Lyon …. Peter Serafinowicz
Leonard …. Chris Emmet
George …. Geoff McGivern
Maureen …. Geraldine Fitzgerald
Adam …. Richard Pearce
Stephanie …. Joanna Monro
Morse …. Wayne Forester
Producer: Richard Wilson.
First broadcast on BBC Radio 2 in September 1996.
WED 10:00 McLevy (b007jlj2)
[Repeat of broadcast at 05:00 today]
WED 10:45 The Balloon of Babel by Jonathan Treitel (m0003ckj)
[Repeat of broadcast at 05:45 today]
WED 11:00 Whodunnits (b008ypyg)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:00 today]
WED 11:30 Tales From the Arabian Nights (m001vkd5)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:30 today]
WED 12:00 The Great Romantic by Duncan Hamilton (m00070c3)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:00 today]
WED 12:15 Charles Dickens (b09hllmr)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:15 today]
WED 12:30 Rumblings from the Rafters (b07jwt65)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:30 today]
WED 13:00 Hancock's Half Hour (b007jp42)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:00 today]
WED 13:30 Ballylenon (b00fz0g7)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:30 today]
WED 14:00 Whose Line Is It Anyway? (b008kty5)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:00 today]
WED 14:30 The Elephant Man (b007k2cj)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:30 today]
WED 15:00 McLevy (b007jlj2)
[Repeat of broadcast at 05:00 today]
WED 15:45 The Balloon of Babel by Jonathan Treitel (m0003ckj)
[Repeat of broadcast at 05:45 today]
WED 16:00 Whodunnits (b008ypyg)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:00 today]
WED 16:30 Tales From the Arabian Nights (m001vkd5)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:30 today]
WED 17:00 The Great Romantic by Duncan Hamilton (m00070c3)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:00 today]
WED 17:15 Charles Dickens (b09hllmr)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:15 today]
WED 17:30 Rumblings from the Rafters (b07jwt65)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:30 today]
WED 18:00 Hancock's Half Hour (b007jp42)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:00 today]
WED 18:30 Ballylenon (b00fz0g7)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:30 today]
WED 19:00 Whose Line Is It Anyway? (b008kty5)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:00 today]
WED 19:30 The Elephant Man (b007k2cj)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:30 today]
WED 20:00 Archive on 4 (m000qbgj)
Da da da DAAAAA!
To mark Beethoven’s 250th anniversary, Rachel Parris leads us on an irreverent tour of his 5th Symphony starting with four notes almost anybody in the world will recognise: da da da daaa!
Rachel’s journey takes her through the highs and lows of the composer’s life, as well as on detours via cover versions, rip-offs and spoofs.
But what’s the secret of Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony, and why has it triumphed where so much other music has fallen flat? Does the answer lie in those first four notes?
Producer: Glyn Tansley
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in December 2020.
WED 21:00 Short Cuts (m000fgdk)
Series 22
Endurance
Josie Long presents short documentaries and adventures in sound about feats of endurance. A marathon runner needs to outrun a race official who wants her off the track, a woman exhausts herself while running through the personal ads and a writer living in the shadow of a nuclear reactor finds unlikely companionship with cockroaches.
Endurance
Featuring Laura Barton
Mr Right
Produced by Inge Hoonte
Originally made for Deep Wireless 4
Runner 261
Featuring Kathrine Switzer
Produced by Andrea Rangecroft
Isn't it lovely?
Produced by Phoebe Wang
First commissioned as a part of the Constellations podcast's exhibition Resonant Bodies and then released in Constellations
This piece was supported in part by the Wassaic Artist Residency Program.
Kathrine Switzer photo credit - Boston Herald
Production Team: Andrea Rangecroft and Alia Cassam
Series Producer: Eleanor McDowall
A Falling Tree production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in February 2020.
WED 21:30 Murder Most Foul (m001vkd8)
Series 3
3. Hitch-Hike to Murder
True tales of murder from the days when police cars had bells and the men from the Yard wore trilby hats.
Six murder cases featuring Dr Keith Simpson, the celebrated pathologist.
Nick Ross reviews the case of a murdered hitchhiker.
In 1946, the strangled body of a hitchhiker, Dagmar Petrzywalski, is found by the roadside, her belongings strewn around. But one thing is missing - a yellow string bag.
Later it's found in a lake miles away. But how did it get there, and is this a crucial clue?
Dr Keith Simpson ..... Keith Drinkel
Fabian ..... Barry J Gordon
Rowlings ..... Julian Rhind-Tutt
With:
Sandra James-Young
Dominic Letts
Jillie Meers
Diana Payan
John Evitts
Jonathan Adams
Jill Lidstone
Written by Rib Davis.
Producer: Hilary McLennan
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in March 1993.
WED 22:00 Clare in the Community (m0008y51)
Series 12
I Predict A Riot
Clare's found herself in the middle of a riot at the women's prison. It's categorically not her fault, and she is not their leader, OK? Back in the Sparrowhawk office, Joan is convinced there's something strange going on.
Starring Sally Phillips as Clare Barker, the social worker who has all the right jargon but never a practical solution.
A control freak, Clare likes nothing better than interfering in other people's lives on both a professional and personal basis. Clare is in her thirties, white, middle class and heterosexual, all of which are occasional causes of discomfort to her.
We join Clare in her continued struggle to control both her professional and private life. In today's Big Society there are plenty of challenges out there for an involved, caring social worker. Or even Clare.
Written by Harry Venning and David Ramsden
Producer Alexandra Smith
A BBC Studios production
Clare.....SALLY PHILLIPS
Brian.....ALEX LOWE
Queen Pin.....NINA CONTI
Simon....ANDREW WINCOTT
Libby.....SARAH KENDALL
Joan ..... SARAH THOM
Cilla.....GBEMISOLA IKUMELO
Ginger.....EMMA SIDI
WED 22:30 Delve Special (b007jmj8)
Series 3
Cowboys
When a builder burnt down their house, Ronald and Yvonne Worthington went to their solicitor.
That's when their troubles really started.
Reporter David Lander investigates Britain's cowboy builders.
Presented by David Lander with assistance from Stephen Fry.
Studio production by:
Stephen Frost
Dawn French
Phli Nice
Dramatic reconstructions by:
Jack Klaff
Julia Hills
Mark Arden
Robert Bathurst
Researched and compiled by Tony Sarchet.
Editor: Paul Mayhew-Archer
Delve Special ran for four series from 1984 to 1987 and later transferred to TV as: This is David Lander.
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in September 1986.
WED 22:55 The Comedy Club Interviews (m001vttb)
Daliso Chaponda 2/2
From 10pm until midnight, seven days a week, the Comedy Club has two hours of comedy. Plus Sarah Campbell chats again to Daliso Chaponda.
WED 23:00 Mark Thomas: The Manifesto (b01c7rqd)
Series 4
3. London
Comedian-activist Mark Thomas and his studio audience consider proposals for a People's Manifesto.
The Agenda includes:
1) Cancel out everyone's debt.
2) Sue Goldman Sachs for their part in the Greek economic collapse.
3) Increase the indicated speed on car speedometers.
Plus throughout the show there are "any other business" policy suggestions from the studio audience.
Produced by Colin Anderson.
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in February 2012.
WED 23:30 Helen Keen's It Is Rocket Science (b01hkz33)
Series 2
Episode 1
The return of the factually-correct but funny exploration of the science and history of space travel, examining the Fermi paradox.
If the universe is really infinite, it should contain infinite life, and yet we have had no contact from alien civilisations.
There are different ideas looked at through history of what life might be like on other planets, and some of the more surprising suggestions scientists have had on how to get in touch with it, from giant burning parallelograms in the Sahara to sending nude pictures into space.
Written by Helen Keen and Miriam Underhill.
Starring:
Helen Keen
Peter Serafinowicz
Susy Kane
Producer: Garth Edwards.
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in May 2012.
WED 23:45 Tina C (b0196rq2)
Tina C's Global Depression Tour
The United States
Country legend Tina C challenges the Secretary for the US Treasury, the Chairman of the Federal Reserve and the former CEO of Goldman Sachs.
Where they have failed, she can come up with a solution to the Global Recession.
So Tina sets off on a six country tour to prove it - and her first stop is the United States of America.
Tina C ...... Christopher Green
"Christopher Green's Tina C is one of the great comic creations of the age. A genuinely fine country singer, but with a twist of satire and insight which is rare and highly to be prized." STEPHEN FRY.
With:
Financial journalist, Gillian Tett
Victoria Inez Hardy
James Lailey
Musical arrangements by Duncan Walsh Atkins and Christopher Green
Director: Jeremy Mortimer
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 2012.

THURSDAY 25 JANUARY 2024

THU 00:00 McLevy (b007jlj2)
[Repeat of broadcast at 05:00 on Wednesday]
THU 00:45 The Balloon of Babel by Jonathan Treitel (m0003ckj)
[Repeat of broadcast at 05:45 on Wednesday]
THU 01:00 Whodunnits (b008ypyg)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:00 on Wednesday]
THU 01:30 Tales From the Arabian Nights (m001vkd5)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:30 on Wednesday]
THU 02:00 The Great Romantic by Duncan Hamilton (m00070c3)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:00 on Wednesday]
THU 02:15 Charles Dickens (b09hllmr)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:15 on Wednesday]
THU 02:30 Rumblings from the Rafters (b07jwt65)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:30 on Wednesday]
THU 03:00 Hancock's Half Hour (b007jp42)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:00 on Wednesday]
THU 03:30 Ballylenon (b00fz0g7)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:30 on Wednesday]
THU 04:00 Whose Line Is It Anyway? (b008kty5)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:00 on Wednesday]
THU 04:30 The Elephant Man (b007k2cj)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:30 on Wednesday]
THU 05:00 McLevy (b007jljg)
Series 1
4. The Burning Question
The conclusion of David Ashton 's four-part detective story, set in Victorian Edinburgh.
An unsolved murder brings vigilantes on to the streets, and Jean's house of ill repute is a particular target for the Citizen Volunteer Force.
Time is running out for McLevy - unless he finds the killer, mob rule will triumph and the law will be mocked.
Insp McLevy............... Brian Cox
Jean.................................Siobhan Redmond
Mulholland...................Michael Perceval-Maxwell
Rev Caskie.................... Forbes Masson
Tommy............................. Uam Brennan
Lt Roach..........................David Ashton
Jessie................................ Tracy Wiles
Miss Carlisle...................Kananu Kirlml
Written by David Ashton
Director Patrick Rayner
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 2000.
THU 05:45 The Astronomical Scarf by Ruth Rendell (b077s7n9)
From birthday gift to murder weapon: a beautiful silk scarf passes through a number of lives, changing the course of some forever.
Ruth Rendell's mystery story.
Read by Janet Maw.
Producer: Jill Waters
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in February 1997.
THU 06:00 Whodunnits (b008yszy)
Adam Dalgliesh - Cover Her Face
3. Fresh Leads
As Inspector Dalgliesh continues his investigation, the evidence points to one of the family.
But which one?
Starring Robin Ellis.
With Sian Phillips and Hugh Grant.
PD James's debut crime novel about her gentleman detective.
Dramatised by Neville Teller.
Inspector Adam Dalgliesh …. Robin Ellis
Mrs Maxie …. Sian Phillips
Felix Hearne …. Hugh Grant
Deborah Riscoe …. Beatie Edney
Stephen Maxie …. David Thorpe
Catherine Bowers …. Oona Beeson
Derek Pullen …. David Holt
Mrs Proctor …. Jillie Meers
Johnny Wilcox/Lilly Burwood …. Susan Sheridan
Sgt Martin …. Steve Hodson
Mr Wilson …. John Fleming
Sir Reynold Price …. Jonathan Adams
Miss Malpass …. Linda Polan
The Rev Hinks …. John Church
James Ritchie …. James Telfer
Producer: Matthew Walters
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in March 1993.
THU 06:30 Tales From the Arabian Nights (m001vkdc)
4. The Ninth Pedestal
Seven stories of love, magic and mysteries.
To save herself from the executioner's sword, Shahrazad beguiles the king with a tale of a magical statue.
Starring Derek Jacobi as the King and Carolyn Backhouse as Shahrazad.
The King .... Derek Jacobi
Shahrazad .... Carolyn Backhouse
Prince Zain .... James Telfer
Moubarak .... John Baddeley
Genie .... Steve Hodson
Maysun .... Teresa Gallagher
Adapted from traditional sources by Colin Haydn Evans.
Music: Sue Harris and Steafan Hannigan
Director: Nigel Bryant
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in July 1993.
THU 07:00 The Great Romantic by Duncan Hamilton (m00070kh)
4. Love
Neville Cardus described how one majestic stroke-maker 'made music' and 'spread beauty' with his bat. Between two world wars, he became the laureate of cricket by doing the same with words.
In The Great Romantic, award-winning author Duncan Hamilton demonstrates how Cardus changed sports journalism for ever. While popularising cricket - while appealing, in Cardus' words to people who 'didn't know a leg-break from the pavilion cat at Lord's'- he became a star in his own right with exquisite phrase-making, disdain for statistics and a penchant for literary and musical allusions.
Among those who venerated Cardus were PG Wodehouse, John Arlott, Harold Pinter, JB Priestley and Don Bradman. However, behind the rhapsody in blue skies, green grass and colourful characters, this richly evocative biography finds that Cardus' mother was a prostitute, he never knew his father and he received negligible education. Infatuations with younger women ran parallel to a decidedly unromantic marriage. And, astonishingly, the supreme stylist's aversion to factual accuracy led to his reporting on matches he never attended.
Yet Cardus also belied his impoverished origins to prosper in a second class-conscious profession, becoming a music critic of international renown. The Great Romantic uncovers the dark enigma within a golden age.
Read by Toby Jones
Abridged by Polly Coles
Produced by Clive Brill
A Brill Production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in July 2019.
THU 07:15 Charles Dickens (b09hmf1g)
Dombey and Son
4.Learning! Learning! Learning!
The heavy duty of learning at Doctor Blimber's Academy.
Starring Alex Jennings and Robert Glenister.
The fortunes of shipping firm owner, Paul Dombey in mid-19th-century London.
Charles Dickens's novel dramatised by Mike Walker.
Charles Dickens ...... Alex Jennings
Dombey ...... Robert Glenister
Florence ...... Abigail Hollick
Young Florence ...... Eliza Darby
Paul ...... Jacob Theato
Mr Carker ...... Adrian Lukis
Captain Cuttle ...... Trevor Peacock
Mrs Brown ...... Geraldine James
Dr Blimber ...... Robin Soans
Mrs Pipchin ...... Flaminia Cinque
Dr Peps ...... Karl Johnson
Polly Toodles ...... Pam Ferris
Susan ...... Nadine Marshall
Walter ...... Joseph Arkley
Young Walter ...... Jordan Clarke
Toots ...... Sam Pamphilon
Other parts played by:
Ben Crowe
Peter Marinker
Simon Treves
Alex Lanipekun
Lloyd Thomas
Music by Nicolai Abrahamsen.
Directors: Jessica Dromgoole and Jeremy Mortimer
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in November 2007.
THU 07:30 What Does the K Stand For? (b0510ftl)
Series 2
Sister Dearest
Guests not welcome.
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
Jocelyn Jee Esien ...… Princess
Producer: Colin Anderson
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in February 2015.
THU 08:00 Dad's Army (b007jnxm)
Series 2
Don't Fence Me In
Captain Mainwaring is horrified when some prisoners of war escape from a camp.
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 BBC TV scripts by Harold Snoad and Michael Knowles.
Captain Mainwaring …. Arthur Lowe
Sergeant Wilson …. John Le Mesurier
Corporal Jones …. Clive Dunn
Private Fraser …. John Laurie
Private Godfrey …. Arnold Ridley
Private Pike …. Ian Lavender
Private Walker …. Larry Martyn
General Monteverdi …. Cyril Shaps
Captain Turner …. John Ringham
Prisoner of War …. Sion Probert
Announcer …. John Snagge
Producer: John Dyas
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in May 1975.
THU 08:30 The Random Jottings Of Hinge And Bracket (b007jrxm)
6. Harping On It
Hilda fears losing her precious instrument to a musician in need.
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: Richard Davies
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 May 1983.
THU 09:00 Guess What? (b065jht1)
Episode 7
Animal, vegetable or mineral?
Barry Took hosts a revised version of popular radio parlour game of 20 questions.
On the panel:
Geoffrey Durham
Nigel Dempster
Frances Edmonds
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 (b01nd47b)
Series 2
Roddy
Eddie and Maureen join a book club, and why is Michael so keen to get into work?
The lives of the Stockport-based, Conroy family - in Damian Lanigan and Jim Poyser's comedy drama.
Jason ...... Andrew Knott
Maureen ...... Beverley Callard
Eddie ...... John Henshaw
Michael ...... Jason Done
Yvonne ...... Romy Baskerville
Roddy ...... John Jardine
Helena ...... Marsha Thomason
Music: Big George
Producer: Neil Mossey
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in October 2000.
THU 10:00 McLevy (b007jljg)
[Repeat of broadcast at 05:00 today]
THU 10:45 The Astronomical Scarf by Ruth Rendell (b077s7n9)
[Repeat of broadcast at 05:45 today]
THU 11:00 Whodunnits (b008yszy)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:00 today]
THU 11:30 Tales From the Arabian Nights (m001vkdc)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:30 today]
THU 12:00 The Great Romantic by Duncan Hamilton (m00070kh)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:00 today]
THU 12:15 Charles Dickens (b09hmf1g)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:15 today]
THU 12:30 What Does the K Stand For? (b0510ftl)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:30 today]
THU 13:00 Dad's Army (b007jnxm)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:00 today]
THU 13:30 The Random Jottings Of Hinge And Bracket (b007jrxm)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:30 today]
THU 14:00 Guess What? (b065jht1)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:00 today]
THU 14:30 Stockport, So Good They Named It Once (b01nd47b)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:30 today]
THU 15:00 McLevy (b007jljg)
[Repeat of broadcast at 05:00 today]
THU 15:45 The Astronomical Scarf by Ruth Rendell (b077s7n9)
[Repeat of broadcast at 05:45 today]
THU 16:00 Whodunnits (b008yszy)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:00 today]
THU 16:30 Tales From the Arabian Nights (m001vkdc)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:30 today]
THU 17:00 The Great Romantic by Duncan Hamilton (m00070kh)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:00 today]
THU 17:15 Charles Dickens (b09hmf1g)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:15 today]
THU 17:30 What Does the K Stand For? (b0510ftl)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:30 today]
THU 18:00 Dad's Army (b007jnxm)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:00 today]
THU 18:30 The Random Jottings Of Hinge And Bracket (b007jrxm)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:30 today]
THU 19:00 Guess What? (b065jht1)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:00 today]
THU 19:30 Stockport, So Good They Named It Once (b01nd47b)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:30 today]
THU 20:00 The Changing Sound of Radio (m000gcm3)
2: Fifteen Inches Per Second
Since he was first given a tape recorder in 1967, musician and wildlife sound recordist, Chris Watson, has been fascinated by the possibilities of sound.
In the second of three programmes, he tells the story of the technological advances in radio from the first Outside Broadcast, through the Radiophonic Workshop and to advent of podcasting.
More of Chris's favourite radio moments include:
* When Iron Speaks
- part of ‘Six Pillars’ on Resonance FM
* Fifteen Inches Per Second’ documentary about ¼” tape
- BBC Radio 4, 2004
Producer: Jessica Treen
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 Extra in October 2018.
THU 21:00 Great Lives (b0079n8m)
Billie Holiday
Singer and actress Pauline Black chooses a jazz legend, the singer Billie Holiday.
Pauline Black, lead singer with The Selecter, nominates Billie Holiday, one of the greatest jazz singers of all time. Pauline played Billie in an award-winning stage role in 1990.
Matthew Parris and Pauline Black are joined by Julia Blackburn, whose book 'With Billie' was based on the observations of people who knew her.
Producer: Miles Warde
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in May 2007.
THU 21:30 Murder Most Foul (m001vkdj)
Series 3
4. The Wigwam Murder
True tales of murder from the days when police cars had bells and the men from the Yard wore trilby hats.
Six murder cases featuring Dr Keith Simpson, the celebrated pathologist.
Nick Ross reviews a case from the summer of 1942, when Southern England was teeming with soldiers preparing for D-Day.
A young woman, Joan Wolfe, is living rough in a wigwam built by her soldier boyfriend, August Sangret.
When her dead body is found, can Dr Keith Simpson prove that her boyfriend's knife was the murder weapon?
Dr. Keith Simpson .... Keith Drinkel
August Sangret .... John Guerrasio
With:
Jonathan Adams
John Evits
Barry J. Gordon
Sandra James-Young
Dominic Letts
Jillie Meers
Julian Rhind-Tutt
Stephen Thorne
David Thorpe
Written by Rib Davis.
Producer: Fiona McLean
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in March 1993.
THU 22:00 Ellie Taylor's Safe Space (m000hfyw)
Series 1
3: The Environment
Stand-up Ellie Taylor has some opinions she'd like to get off her chest. In this episode she looks at the environment and wonders whether the planet really is worth saving. She discusses her views with help from the studio audience and her side-kick Robin Morgan. She also welcomes on a special expert guest to talk about how to survive the end of the world...the first man to walk the length of the Amazon, explorer Ed Stafford.
Ellie Taylor's Safe Space is produced by Sam Michell and is a BBC Studios Production.
This programme was first broadcast in 2020
THU 22:30 My Teenage Diary (m000z0kc)
Series 10
Ken Cheng
Rufus Hound with more honest, intimate and hilarious interviews, with famous guests reading from their genuine teenage diaries.
In this episode, comedian Ken Cheng reads from the diary he kept in 2004. Ken talks about his school days, growing up on the internet and what it was like to be a nerd before the days when nerds were cool.
Producer: Harriet Jaine
A Talkback production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in August 2021.
THU 23:00 Susan Calman Stands Up For Burns (b00v3ff1)
Susan Calman looks for laughs in the poems of Robert Burns and his relevance to contemporary Scottish comedy.
Burns was passionate and patriotic about Scotland, its people and its culture but many of his funniest poems poke fun at Scotland and the Scottish psyche. The Scots’ ability to laugh at themselves and their misfortunes is a trait which resurfaces in the material of Scottish to this day. Let's face it, Scottish comedians carve careers out of self-deprecating humour.
Comedian and former Lawyer Susan Calman takes a look at the range of vivid comedy in some of Rabbie's most iconic poems and investigates how much the themes he was writing about over 200 years ago have stood the test of time and still make us laugh today.
From ‘Tam O' Shanter’ and ‘Holy Willie's Prayer’ to ‘Address to a Haggis’ and ‘To a Louse’, the programme features Burns’ poems recorded by some of Scotland's best-known actors: Maureen Beattie, Tam Dean Burn, Gerry Mulgrew, Paul Young, Alison Peebles, Richard Wilson, Roberts Carlyle, Alan Cumming, Crawford Logan and Brian Cox.
Those readings and many more are available on the Robert Burns pages on the BBC website.
Contributions from Janie Godley, Craig Hill and Kirsteen McCue, Assistant Director of the Robert Burns Centre at Glasgow University.
Producer: Esme Kennedy
A Scaredy Cat production first broadcast on BBC Radio Scotland in 2010.
THU 23:30 Thom Tuck - Goes Straight to DVD (b01rvppv)
4. The Olsens
Comedian Thom Tuck draws more parallels between underrated straight-to-DVD movies with captivating tales from his own life experience.
This time its the offerings from "The Olsen Twins", self made millionaires from their empire of teenage market films.
Thom looks at the journey of their success, and draws parallels with the wise (and not so wise) choices he's made in his life.
Producer: Lianne Coop.
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in April 2013.

FRIDAY 26 JANUARY 2024

FRI 00:00 McLevy (b007jljg)
[Repeat of broadcast at 05:00 on Thursday]
FRI 00:45 The Astronomical Scarf by Ruth Rendell (b077s7n9)
[Repeat of broadcast at 05:45 on Thursday]
FRI 01:00 Whodunnits (b008yszy)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:00 on Thursday]
FRI 01:30 Tales From the Arabian Nights (m001vkdc)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:30 on Thursday]
FRI 02:00 The Great Romantic by Duncan Hamilton (m00070kh)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:00 on Thursday]
FRI 02:15 Charles Dickens (b09hmf1g)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:15 on Thursday]
FRI 02:30 What Does the K Stand For? (b0510ftl)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:30 on Thursday]
FRI 03:00 Dad's Army (b007jnxm)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:00 on Thursday]
FRI 03:30 The Random Jottings Of Hinge And Bracket (b007jrxm)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:30 on Thursday]
FRI 04:00 Guess What? (b065jht1)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:00 on Thursday]
FRI 04:30 Stockport, So Good They Named It Once (b01nd47b)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:30 on Thursday]
FRI 05:00 McLevy (b007jq95)
Series 2
1. A Good Walk Spoilt
A body is found on Leith Links on the eve of a major golf championship.
But Inspector McLevy is no fan of the Royal and Ancient Game, and soon finds himself deep in the rough.
Starring Brian Cox and Siobhan Redmond.
A four-part detective story by David Ashton, set in Victorian Edinburgh.
McLevy ...... Brian Cox
Mistress Jean Brash ...... Slobhan Redmond
Mulholland ...... Michael Perceval-Maxwell
Lieutenant Roach ...... David Ashton
Jessie ...... Tracy Wiles
Rab ...... John Bett
Pastor Nesbit ...... David McKall
Sarah ...... Carolyn Bonnyman
Tarn ...... David Bannerman
Director Patrick Rayner
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in June 2002.
FRI 05:45 Tourists by John Burnside (b0075746)
You can't take a moment and give it back, no matter how much you want to, but the past isn't a closed book altogether.
A woman goes on holiday with her ex husband, whose keen to revisit the past to correct a mistake.
Tracy-Ann Oberman reads John Burnside's short story.
Producer: Pauline Stone
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in March 1997.
FRI 06:00 Whodunnits (b008yv5r)
Adam Dalgliesh - Cover Her Face
4. The Gathering
Inspector Adam Dalgliesh summons the entire household to hear his conclusions about the killer of Sally Jupp.
Starring Robin Ellis.
With Sian Phillips and Hugh Grant.
The climax of PD James's debut crime novel about her gentleman detective.
Dramatised by Neville Teller.
Inspector Adam Dalgliesh …. Robin Ellis
Mrs Maxie …. Sian Phillips
Felix Hearne …. Hugh Grant
Deborah Riscoe …. Beatie Edney
Stephen Maxie …. David Thorpe
Catherine Bowers …. Oona Beeson
Mrs Proctor …. Jillie Meers
Victor Proctor …. John Baddeley
Sgt Martin …. Steve Hodson
James Ritchie …. James Telfer
Johnny Wilcox …. Susan Sheridan
Martha …. Jill Graham
Sally Jupp …. Melanie Hudson
Producer: Matthew Walters
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in April 1993.
FRI 06:30 Tales From the Arabian Nights (m001vkcp)
5. Hamza's Dance
Seven stories of love, magic and mysteries.
To save herself from the executioner's sword, Shahrazad beguiles the king with a tale of Ahmed’s quest.
Starring Derek Jacobi as the King and Carolyn Backhouse as Shahrazad.
The King .... Derek Jacobi
Shahrazad .... Carolyn Backhouse
Ahmed .... James Telfer
PeriBanou .... Rachel Atkins
Sultan .... Philip Anthony
Sorceress .... Mary Wimbush
Hussein .... Steve Hodson
Adapted from traditional sources by Colin Haydn Evans.
Music: Sue Harris and Steafan Hannigan
Director: Nigel Bryant
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in August 1993.
FRI 07:00 The Great Romantic by Duncan Hamilton (m0007106)
5. 1960s
Neville Cardus described how one majestic stroke-maker 'made music' and 'spread beauty' with his bat. Between two world wars, he became the laureate of cricket by doing the same with words.
In The Great Romantic, award-winning author Duncan Hamilton demonstrates how Cardus changed sports journalism for ever. While popularising cricket - while appealing, in Cardus' words to people who 'didn't know a leg-break from the pavilion cat at Lord's'- he became a star in his own right with exquisite phrase-making, disdain for statistics and a penchant for literary and musical allusions.
Among those who venerated Cardus were PG Wodehouse, John Arlott, Harold Pinter, JB Priestley and Don Bradman. However, behind the rhapsody in blue skies, green grass and colourful characters, this richly evocative biography finds that Cardus' mother was a prostitute, he never knew his father and he received negligible education. Infatuations with younger women ran parallel to a decidedly unromantic marriage. And, astonishingly, the supreme stylist's aversion to factual accuracy led to his reporting on matches he never attended.
Yet Cardus also belied his impoverished origins to prosper in a second class-conscious profession, becoming a music critic of international renown. The Great Romantic uncovers the dark enigma within a golden age.
Read by Toby Jones
Abridged by Polly Coles
Produced by Clive Brill
A Brill Production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in July 2019.
FRI 07:15 Charles Dickens (b09hn49h)
Dombey and Son
5. Paul Collapses!
The dark and unknown sea that rolls round all the world.
Starring Alex Jennings and Robert Glenister.
The fortunes of shipping firm owner, Paul Dombey in mid-19th-century London.
Charles Dickens's novel dramatised by Mike Walker.
Charles Dickens ...... Alex Jennings
Dombey ...... Robert Glenister
Florence ...... Abigail Hollick
Young Florence ...... Eliza Darby
Paul ...... Jacob Theato
Mr Carker ...... Adrian Lukis
Captain Cuttle ...... Trevor Peacock
Mrs Brown ...... Geraldine James
Dr Blimber ...... Robin Soans
Mrs Pipchin ...... Flaminia Cinque
Dr Peps ...... Karl Johnson
Polly Toodles ...... Pam Ferris
Susan ...... Nadine Marshall
Walter ...... Joseph Arkley
Young Walter ...... Jordan Clarke
Toots ...... Sam Pamphilon
Other parts played by:
Ben Crowe
Peter Marinker
Simon Treves
Alex Lanipekun
Lloyd Thomas
Music by Nicolai Abrahamsen.
Directors: Jessica Dromgoole and Jeremy Mortimer
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in November 2007.
FRI 07:30 Ed Reardon's Week (b07wt5tq)
Series 11
The Reboot
Ed Reardon is back, and this time in slightly unfamiliar territory as he has entered the groves of academe and returned to full-time education at 'Uni'.
He's doing a three-year course in, well he's not entirely sure, but at the end he'll get a BA with the chance of a two-year MA add-on.
The fact that he'll have warm, comfortable accommodation for the foreseeable future, a student loan to pay the rent and that he'll reach 65 by the time he's finished the course and therefore passed the age of paying back the fees has nothing to do with his decision to study. No, this is all to do with making up for lost time when his studies were cut short in his youth following expulsion from school.
Of course, as with all students nowadays Ed will need to boost his loan by earning extra cash so he'll still be pestering his agent, Ping for writing opportunities and so it is as we renew our acquaintance with Ed, and trusty companion Elgar, that we find him reimagining a series of children's books and giving them a savvy post-modern twist for a "cool hundred each" whilst trying to keep up with the other students and their love of coffee shop loyalty cards, seminar satisfaction surveys and certain daytime TV programmes.
Written by Andrew Nickolds and Christopher Douglas
Ed Reardon ...... Christopher Douglas
Olive ...... Stephanie Cole
Pearl ...... Brigit Forsyth
Max ...... Divian Ladwa
Antonia ...... Sylvestra Le Touzel
Jaz Milvain ...... Philip Jackson
Ping ...... Barunka O'Shaughnessy
Stan ...... Geoffrey Whitehead
Producer: Dawn Ellis
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in October 2016.
FRI 08:00 Marriage Lines (b0617187)
Series 2
Episode 4
George worries about what the future holds for baby Helen.
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
Helen …. Carol Marsh
Dave/Michael …. Philip Guard
George’s Mum …. Diana King
George’s Dad …. Geoffrey Sumner
Mr Dixon/Mr Fielding …. Wilfred Babbage
Mrs Fielding …. Pearl Hackney
Producer: Charles Maxwell
First broadcast on the BBC Light Programme in April 1967.
FRI 08:30 Know Your Place (b0195ds4)
Jumpers
Will caretaker Ramsay have the head for heights for a dangerous job?
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.
Sitcom written by Andrew Palmer and Nell Brennan.
With Pat Coombs, John Graham, Joe Dunlop, James Taylor and Frances Jeater.
Producer: Edward Taylor
First broadcast on BBC Radio 2 in June 1983.
FRI 09:00 Whispers (b00c6rnk)
Series 2
Episode 5
Gyles Brandreth hosts the quiz show with scandal on its mind and slander at its heart.
Lynne Truss and Michelle Brown join team captains Lucy Moore and Anthony Holden to run the gauntlet of gossip.
Producer: Elizabeth Freestone
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in October 2004.
FRI 09:30 Relativity (b092p790)
Series 1
Episode 1
Richard Herring's comedy about four generations of a family.
Starring Alison Steadman, Phil Davies and Richard Herring.
Relativity is a witty and loving portrait of family life, with affectionate observation of inter generational misunderstanding, sibling sparring and the ties that bind, that will resonate with anyone who has ever argued with their dad about how to pronounce crisp brand names.
In this opening episode, Ian brings home new girlfriend Chloe.
His mum Margaret desperately hopes she is the one, dad Ken can't wait to try out his shampoo joke - again, while sister Jane, brother in law Pete and their three teen children try to get to the bottom of just what the attractive, intelligent, witty 30-something Chloe sees in serial dater and under employed 40-plus actor, Ian.
Margaret ...... Alison Steadman
Ken ...... Phil Davis
Jane ...... Fenella Woolgar
Ian ...... Richard Herring
Chloe ...... Emily Berrington
Pete ...... Gordon Kennedy
Holly ...... Effie Woods
Mark ...... Fred Haig
Nick ...... Harrison Knights
Sound Design: Eloise Whitmore
Producer: Polly Thomas
Executive Producers: Jon Thoday and Richard Allen Turner
An Avalon Television production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in September 2017.
FRI 10:00 McLevy (b007jq95)
[Repeat of broadcast at 05:00 today]
FRI 10:45 Tourists by John Burnside (b0075746)
[Repeat of broadcast at 05:45 today]
FRI 11:00 Whodunnits (b008yv5r)
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FRI 11:30 Tales From the Arabian Nights (m001vkcp)
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FRI 12:00 The Great Romantic by Duncan Hamilton (m0007106)
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FRI 12:15 Charles Dickens (b09hn49h)
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FRI 12:30 Ed Reardon's Week (b07wt5tq)
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FRI 13:00 Marriage Lines (b0617187)
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FRI 13:30 Know Your Place (b0195ds4)
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FRI 14:00 Whispers (b00c6rnk)
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FRI 14:30 Relativity (b092p790)
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FRI 15:00 McLevy (b007jq95)
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FRI 15:45 Tourists by John Burnside (b0075746)
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FRI 16:00 Whodunnits (b008yv5r)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:00 today]
FRI 16:30 Tales From the Arabian Nights (m001vkcp)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:30 today]
FRI 17:00 The Great Romantic by Duncan Hamilton (m0007106)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:00 today]
FRI 17:15 Charles Dickens (b09hn49h)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:15 today]
FRI 17:30 Ed Reardon's Week (b07wt5tq)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:30 today]
FRI 18:00 Marriage Lines (b0617187)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:00 today]
FRI 18:30 Know Your Place (b0195ds4)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:30 today]
FRI 19:00 Whispers (b00c6rnk)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:00 today]
FRI 19:30 Relativity (b092p790)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:30 today]
FRI 20:00 The Drop Out Boogie (p03rqfyd)
There can surely have never been so much pressure on young people to go to university and get a degree.
But while for many it remains the best option for securing a decent future, many thousands of others choose to leave higher education and make their own way instead.
Nearly 25,000 students dropped out in the last year figures are available.
Laura Snapes is a journalist who dropped out of two different universities herself, deciding she'd be better off trying to forge her path in her chosen career by doing rather than learning.
In this programme she meets other drop-outs to find out what their motives were for leaving higher education behind, and whether they regret their decision. She'll hear how some feel university was never really for them, while for others the pressure of having to succeed, combined with the shadow of their mounting debts, led to mental health problems that forced them to quit.
Laura also finds out from her own parents what they really felt when she broke the news that their daughter was dropping out not once but twice.
Producer: Geoff Bird
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in April 2016.
FRI 20:30 Soul Music (b03jb1w1)
Series 17
Strange Fruit
"Southern trees bear a strange fruit, blood on the leaves and blood at the root..."
Billie Holiday's famous song expresses the horror and anguish of those communities subjected to a campaign of lynching in the American South.
Soul Music hears the stories of people whose relatives were lynched by white racists and of the various forms of grief, anger and reconciliation that have followed. These include the cousin of teenager Emmett Till, whose killing in 1955 for whistling at a white woman, added powerful impetus to the civil rights movement.
Despite its association with the deep south, the song was actually composed in 1930's New York by a Jewish schoolteacher, Abel Meeropol.
Meeropol adopted the children of Julius and Ethel Rosenberg after they were executed in 1953 as Soviet spies. One of those children, Robert, talks of his adopted father's humanity and his belief that the Rosenberg's were killed in a 'state sanctioned lynching by the American government'. For him, Strange Fruit is a comforting reminder of his adopted father's passionate belief in justice and compassion.
Series about pieces of music with a powerful emotional impact.
Producer: Maggie Ayre
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in November 2013.
FRI 21:00 The Curious Cases of Rutherford & Fry (m0015lx9)
Series 19
The Colour Conundrum
The world is full of colour! But, wonders listener Maya Crocombe, ‘how do we see colour and why are some people colour blind?’
Dr Rutherford and Professor Fry set out to understand how special light-sensitive cells in our eyes start the process of colour perception, why people sometimes have very different experiences of colour and whether, in the end, colour is really just ‘in our heads’.
Dr Gabriele Jordan from Newcastle University explains why lots of men struggle to discriminate between certain colours and why there were lots of complaints from colour-blind viewers when Wales played Ireland at rugby.
Professor Anya Hurlbert, also from Newcastle University, tackles the most divisive of internet images: The Dress! Did you see it as blue-black or yellow-gold? Anya explains why people see it so differently, and why our ability to compensate for available light is so useful.
Finally, Dr Mazviita Chirimuuta, a philosopher at the University of Edinburgh, gives us her take on what all this means: are colours real, or just in our minds?
If you want to see some of the images and activities referenced in the episode read on...
To take the colour perception test which Hannah and Adam do in the epsiode, search for the 'Farnsworth Munsell Hue test' - you can do it online for free.
To see the Dunstanborough Castle illusion as described in the episode, check out the Gallery section on the Curious Cases BBC website.
To learn more about colour blindness, and for support and resources go to colourblindawareness.org
Producer: Ilan Goodman
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in March 2022.
FRI 21:30 Murder Most Foul (m001vkct)
Series 3
5. Death of the Lord of Life
True tales of murder from the days when police cars had bells and the men from the Yard wore trilby hats.
Six murder cases featuring Dr Keith Simpson, the celebrated pathologist.
Nick Ross reviews a 1946 case, when the 20-year-old King of Siam is found dead in his bedchamber.
Dr Keith Simpson's expertise is called upon as an attempt is made to establish if the King has been murdered.
Dr Keith Simpson .... Keith Drinkel
Dr Nit .... Philip Sully
Chief Judge .... Christopher Good
With:
John Evitts
David Thorpe
Diana Payan
David Holt
Steve Hodson
James Telfer
Philip Anthony
Julian Rhind-Tutt
Written by Rib Davis.
Producer: Fiona McLean
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in April 1993.
FRI 22:00 Can You Hear Me Now? (m001vkd0)
Can You Hear Me Now? Is a character comedian showcase for some of the best up and coming character comedians currently performing online and live on the UK comedy circuit.
This episode is hosted by Jim Smith and was recorded at the historic Oran Mor venue in Glasgow - featuring posh boy rapper MC Hammersmith, Edinburgh award-winner Lorna Rose Treen, and viral character comedians Michael Fry and Eleanor Morton.
Producer: Gus Beattie
A Gusman production for BBC Radio 4
FRI 22:30 John Finnemore's Souvenir Programme (b06z5240)
Series 5
Episode 5
John Finnemore's fifth series of his multi-award-winning sketch show, joined as ever by Margaret Cabourn-Smith, Simon Kane, Lawry Lewin and Carrie Quinlan.
This week finds John making a heartfelt serving suggestion and Lawry trying to keep himself busy. And, well, since you ask him for a curious tale of murder...
John is the writer and star of Cabin Pressure and John Finnemore's Double Acts, regular guest on The Now Show and The Unbelievable Truth.
"One of the most consistently funny sketch shows for quite some time" - The Guardian
"The best sketch show in years, on television or radio" - The Radio Times
"The inventive sketch show ... continues to deliver the goods" - The Daily Mail
"Superior comedy" - The Observer
Written by and starring ... John Finnemore
Original music composed by ... Susannah Pearse
Original music performed by ... Jason Hazeley
Producer: Ed Morrish
A BBC Radio Comedy production first broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in February 2016.
FRI 23:00 The Show What You Wrote (b01r52xj)
Series 1
Sci-Fi and Fantasy
This is the show made up entirely from sketches sent in by the public.
We've picked the best sketches from thousands of submissions to make each show, based on different themes, from kitchen sink drama, to suspense heavy thrillers.
This episode is all about science-fiction and fantasy!
Recorded in Manchester in front of a live audience.
Starring:
John Thomson
Helen Moon
Fiona Clarke
Gavin Webster
With a special appearance by Gyles Brandreth.
Script Editor: Jon Hunter
Written by Jack Bernhardt, Elise Bramich, Peter Brush, Alex Buchanan, Simon Carter, Andy Flood, Robert Frimston & Edward Rowett, Gabby Hutchinson-Crouch, Peter Jump, Adam Perrott, Melissa Phillips, Eddie Robson, Paul Solomons, Jimmy Weeks & Jess Bunch, and Ash Williamson.
Producers: Carl Cooper & Alexandra Smith
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in June 2013.
FRI 23:30 A World of Dowie (m0017tgg)
Episode 4
Enter a brave new world created and presented by John Dowie.
John Dowie is absolutely sick and tired of the meddlesome nature of the telephone.
With:
Jim Sweeney
Steve Steen
Tony Haase
Cathryn Harrison
Music from the Ronnie Golden Small Band.
Producer: Paul Mayhew-Archer
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in April 1991.