SATURDAY 24 FEBRUARY 2024

SAT 00:00 Pilgrim by Sebastian Baczkiewicz (b00g0532)
Series 1
4. 'Gainst All Disaster
Pilgrim is forced to come to the aid of Joseph of Arimethea, held captive by a very malevolent angel, in his toughest adventure yet.
Paul Hilton stars as the reluctant and unthanked hero protecting mankind from an enemy they resist believing in.
Written by Sebastian Baczkiewicz.
Pilgrim ..... Paul Hilton
Haddonfield ..... Adrian Lukis
Freya ..... Alex Tregear
Doris ..... Susan Engel
Mirabella ..... Janice Acquah
Macadam ..... Malcolm Tierney
Trent ..... Gunnar Cauthery
Wilson ..... Donnla Hughes
Joseph …. David Calder
Sylvie …. Anna Wing
Guide / Guard ..... Inam Mirza
Director: Marc Beeby
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 2008.
SAT 00:45 The Strange and The Sinister by William Croft Dickinson (b0b53ptb)
4. The Work of Evil
Can a sceptical academic resist the challenge of reading a book that curses anyone that dares open it?
Read by Moultrie Kelsall.
William Croft Dickinson introduces his stories of the supernatural set in Scotland.
Producer: John Gray
First broadcast on the BBC Home Service in October 1961.
SAT 01:00 Peter Tinniswood (b00758gq)
A Very Rare Bird Indeed
At a small family-run hotel on the Welsh coast, lonely Avril observes the guests while waiting for her philandering husband.
Judi Dench stars in Peter Tinniswood's drama.
Avril ...... Judi Dench
Maynard ...... Peter Jeffrey
Morgan ...... John Moffatt
Clayton ...... Lou Hirsch
Marion ...... Carolyn Jones
Gilbert ...... Jeff Shankley
Major Rackham ...... Derek Waring
Music by Simon Morecroft.
Director: Gordon House
First broadcast on the BBC World Service in May 1997.
SAT 02:00 The Toff on the Farm (b007js1v)
5. A Step In The Dark
The Toff refuses to be fobbed off and receives some useful advice...
Rural intrigue stalks amateur sleuth - the Honorable Richard Rollison
John Creasey's thriller starring Terence Alexander.
Dramatised by Roy Lomax.
The Toff ...... Terence Alexander
Jolly ...... Robert Dorning
Gillian Selby ...... Heather Stoney
Monty Morne ...... Terrence Hardiman
Superintendent Grice ...... Duncan Lamont
Mr Smith ...... Reg Lye
Bert Ebbutt ...... Douglas Blackwell
Other parts played by the cast.
Producer: John Fawcett Wilson
First broadcast on the BBC World Service in April 1977.
SAT 02:30 Whodunnits (b0076tz9)
Hercule Poirot - The Mysterious Affair at Styles
Episode 5
Captain Hastings and Detective Inspector Japp are bewildered by the antics of the Belgian sleuth.
Hercule Poirot rushes back to Styles Court in a state of great excitement..
Conclusion of Agatha Christie's whodunnit.
Starring John Moffatt.
Dramatised by Michael Bakewell.
Hercule Poirot …. John Moffatt
Hastings …. Simon Williams
Japp …. Philip Jackson
Mary …. Susan Jameson
Evie …. Nichola McAuliffe
Cynthia …. Annabelle Dowler
Dorcas …. Hilda Schroder
Lawrence …. Nicholas Boulton
Alfred …. Hugh Dickson
Original music composed by Tom Smail.
Director: Enyd Williams
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in September 2005.
SAT 03:00 The Warlow Experiment by Alix Nathan (m00070zy)
5. Enraged
After three years, Powyss is losing heart with his experiment.
But a cataclism awaits when the listening tube that Powyss had manufactured to spy on his prisoner is discovered by the enraged Warlow, who creates chaos in the cellar.
Herbert Powyss lives on an estate in the Welsh Marches with enough time and income to pursue a gentleman’s fashionable investigation into botanical experimentation. But he longs to make his mark in the field of science – something consequential enough to present to The Royal Society in London.
Influenced by something he’s read, he decides to conduct a radical investigation into the Resilience of the Human Mind Without Society. He places an ad for a suitable guinea pig.
Only one man is desperate enough to apply for the job; a semi-literate, angry wife-basher.
What could possibly go wrong?
Written by Alix Nathan and abridged by Jeremy Osborne.
Read by Robert Glenister.
Producer: Karen Rose
A Sweet Talk Production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in July 2019.
SAT 03:15 Rachel's Cousins (b062n4n6)
5. Loyalties
When her boss offers her a promotion Rachel has to decide where her loyalties lie.
Glasgow lawyer Rachel is dealing with the wayward relatives she's been brought up to ignore after discovering they share the BRCA2 cancer gene.
Conclusion of Ann Marie Di Mambro's five-part drama.
Rachel ...... Tamara Kennedy
Marilyn ...... Gabriel Quigley
Josie ...... Karen Bartke
Shirley ...... Sarah McCardie
Bobby ...... Alan McHugh
Alex ...... Robin Laing
Kevin ...... Stevie Hannan
Becca ...... Nicola Jo Cully
Carol ...... Veronica Leer
Other parts are played by the cast.
Directed at BBC Scotland by Bruce Young.
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in July 2015.
SAT 03:30 Ed Reardon's Week (b080t886)
Series 11
Poetry? No Thanks
Ed becomes involved in the work of a committee when he agrees to get involved in the erection of a statue on university grounds to honour the plucky wartime songbird 'Beryl Bassett'.
This means not only ploughing through hundreds of entries for a poetry competition to find a suitable ode to be read at the unveiling, but liaising with Beryl's son who has his eye on Antonia, a small gauge railway and a dubious family past.
The comical world of an author, pipe smoker, consummate fare-dodger and master of the abusive e-mail.
Starring Christopher Douglas.
Written by Andrew Nickolds and Christopher Douglas.
Ed Reardon ...... Christopher Douglas
Olive ...... Stephanie Cole
Bobby ...... Nicholas Farrell
Pearl ...... Brigit Forsyth
Max ...... Divian Ladwa
Antonia ...... Sylvestra Le Touzel
Ping ...... Barunka O'Shaughnessy
Producer: Dawn Ellis.
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in November 2016.
SAT 04:00 Marriage Lines (b0647y7d)
Series 2
Episode 8
Baby Helen is annoying Kate and George's neighbours.
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
Kate's Mother …. Joan Sanderson
George's Mum …. Diana King
George's Dad …. Geoffrey Sumner
Miss Hudson …. Pearl Hackney
Mr Manderson …. Lockwood West
Producer: Charles Maxwell
First broadcast on the BBC Light Programme in May 1967.
SAT 04:30 Big Jim and the Figaro Club (b008g6v4)
Transport of Delight
Demobbed Old Ned heads south after the war and joins a special construction team.
Six anarchic tales from those demob days “when we was going to build the new Jerusalem - you know, before the world turned lax and sour”.
Written by Ted Walker.
Narrated by Bernard Cribbins.
Big Jim …. Norman Rossington
Harold Perkins …. Roland Curram
Old Ned …. Harold Goodwin
Nimrod …. David John
Turps … Sylvester McCoy
Chick …. David Beckett
The Farmer …. Douglas Blackwell
The Farmer’s Daughter …. Karen Ascoe
Producer: Martin Fisher
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in February 1987.
SAT 05:00 The 3rd Degree (m000wz2d)
Series 11
Brasenose College Oxford
Steve Punt hosts the battle of wits as three students from Brasenose College, Oxford take on their professors.
A funny and dynamic quiz show with specialist subjects including philosophy, law and chemistry.
Questions range from rocket fuel and robbing a bank to Plato and pole vault.
Producer: David Tyler
A Pozzitive production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in June 2021.
SAT 05:30 In and Out of the Kitchen (b016ljx7)
Series 1
January 1st to 5th
Mouth-watering entries from the kitchen diary of cookery writer, Damien Trench.
Written by and starring Miles Jupp.
In a mixture of narrative, dialogue and recipes, Damien unflinchingly captures every angle of his day-to-day life, "no matter how grisly or, indeed, how gristly".
Damien and his partner, Anthony, deciding on their New Year's Resolutions. They start by finally making up their minds to commit to each other...namely, by signing up a builder, Mr Mullaney to install a new kitchen which Damien hopes will eventually become the food and preparation space that he's always dreamed of.
On top of all this, Anthony decides to get fit and Damien decides to do a radio programme about the French bean. But not everything goes according to plan...
Also featuring Damien's easy-to-follow recipes: for a "Super Simple" Roast Beef, cooking your own pasta, and "Marvellously Moist Muffins".
Damien Trench ...... Miles Jupp
Anthony ...... Justin Edwards
Damien's Mother ...... Selina Cadell
Mr Mullaney ...... Brendan Dempsey
Ian Frobisher ...... Philip Fox
Researcher ...... Alex Tregear
Producer: Sam Michell.
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in November 2011.
SAT 06:00 Christopher and Columbus (m001wp9g)
The Twinkler twins are half-German and recently orphaned.
They set out for America with some trepidation and find that it's not only the Kaiser's torpedoes that they have to face.
On board their boat to New York, they meet Edward Twist who is charmed and fascinated by his new acquaintances.
Starring Jane Whittenshaw, Philippa Ritchie and William Hope
Elizabeth von Arnim's novel, first published in 1919.
Dramatised by Barbara Clegg and Olwen Wymark.
Anna Rose von Twinkler .... Jane Whittenshaw
Anna Felicitas von Twinkler .... Philippa Ritchie
Edward Twist .... William Hope
Mrs Wilson/Mrs Ridding .... Gwen Cherrell
Mrs Anderson/Mrs Bilton .... Jo Kendall
Mrs Twist .... Helen Horton
Edith Twist .... Jenny Howe
Mr Ridding .... Michael Graham Cox
Emmeline Heap .... Sheila Reid
John Elliott .... Mark Straker
With:
David Goudge
Stephen Garlick
David Bannerman
Michael Kilgarriff
Emma Gregory
Petra Markham
Auriol Smith
Director Jane Morgan
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in February 1991
SAT 07:15 Bong! The Condensed History of Big Ben (b00ksk4j)
Big Ben's Bongs were first heard on BBC Radio on 17th February 1924.
Adam Long, co-founder of the Reduced Shakespeare Company, and his two friends Simon Jermond and Giles Terera, celebrate the Great Clock of the Palace of Westminster and takes a whirlwind musical tour of all things Ben.
It is a story of arduous neo-Gothic design, bells that kept cracking and the invention of something called a double three-legged gravity escapement mechanism.
Originally broadcast to celebrate 150 years of almost continuous time telling by Big Ben.
Producers: Mandy Baker & Giles Terera
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in June 2009.
SAT 07:30 The Anarchy by William Dalrymple (Omnibus) (m000bfdz)
Humble beginnings lead to bold enterprise as circumstances conspire against India's emperors.
William Dalrymple's new book tells the story of how the East India Company transformed itself from a small trading company into a powerful colonial force that used its financial prowess and military might to subdue India. What emerges is a cautionary tale about global corporate power.
Omnibus of five parts adapted by William Dalrymple.
Read by Alistair McGowan.
William Dalrymple is an acclaimed historian and has won numerous awards including, the Hemingway Prize, the Duff Cooper Memorial Prize, the Asia House Award for Asian Literature. He lives on a farm near Delhi.
Alistair McGowan is a multi-talented performer and writer. He is an impressionist, stand-up comic, and actor, a pianist and a writer of sketches, stage and radio plays.
Producer: Elizabeth Allard.
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in November 2019.
SAT 08:45 Uncle Mort's Celtic Fringe (b007jrhg)
Series 2
Tricky Icky
Carter and his Uncle track down a sporting hero.
Peter Tinniswood’s continuing tales of long-suffering Carter Brandon on his travels in Wales with curmudgeonly Uncle Mort.
Uncle Mort …. Stephen Thorne
Carter Brandon …. Sam Kelly
The Landlady/Matron …. Liz Goulding
The Stenger/Icky Williams …. Richard Davies
Narrator …. Christian Rodska
Uncle Mort and his Yorkshire-based family first appeared in Tinniswood’s novel ‘A Touch Of Daniel’ which earned them a run of ‘I Didn't Know You Cared’ on BBC TV in four series from 1975 to 1979.
Producer: Pete Atkin
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in September 1996.
SAT 09:00 Take Me To Your Reader (m000ylpn)
5. Writer's Block
Colin helps an old author having problems, and Janet suspects a new one who’s just a little too good.
Starring Tim Brooke-Taylor.
The battles of erudite, naïve Colin with his bluff managing director, Rees John.
Andrew Palmer’s sitcom set in publishing house, Roache & Brewer.
Colin Luscombe …. Tim Brooke-Taylor
Rees John …. Glyn Houston
Janet Hunt …. Eve Karpf
Jake Rivers …. Kenneth Connor
Producer: Edward Taylor
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in April 1986.
SAT 09:30 Robbing Hood (m001wp9l)
Norman's Weekend
Norman Wisdom stars as a small time crook who’s just come out of prison.
Hoping to go straight, he is entrusted to widow Natalie Mathews, who offers him a job and accommodation.
Switching rooms at the Grand Hotel, Norman and Natalie nearly lay down the law whilst looking for a safe nut to crack.
Written by John Graham from an idea by Norman Wisdom.
Norman Hood …. Norman Wisdom
Natalie Matthews …. Moira Lister
Nosher Nelson …. Windsor Davis
The Judge …. James Grout
Fifi …. Sally Kinghorn
Miss Barlow …. Anne Windsor
Poppet …. Siriol Jenkins
Waiter …. Eric Allen
Director: Leslie Lawton
First broadcast on BBC Radio 2 in August 1992.
**** This series was suggested by Jonathan Aitken and Malcolm Hunter as part of BBC Radio 4 Extra’s All Request Weekend ****
**** To nominate a programme from the archives that you would like to hear again, please email radio4extra@bbc.co.uk and tell us details of why you'd like to hear it. ****
SAT 10:00 The Sondheim Archive (m000p8hc)
1. Finishing the Hat
Maria Friedman and a panel of guests share their love of the work of Stephen Sondheim.
Multi-award winning actor, singer and director Maria Friedman has had an association with Sondheim's musicals ever since she starred in the National Theatre’s production of “Sunday in the Park With George” in 1990.
In the first of three programmes from the BBC Radio Theatre, Maria explores Sondheim programmes in the BBC’s archive, whilst discussing the incredible impact of his work and performing some of the songs from his hit shows.
She's joined by actor Mark Umbers who starred in her recent production of "Merrily We Roll Along" - and pianist and composer Jason Carr who has done orchestrations for Sondheim musicals,
Plus critic David Benedict who is writing Sondheim's authorised biography and Catherine Jayes who has worked as Musical Director on Sondheim shows.
Producer: Emma Kingsley
Made for BBC Radio 4 Extra and first broadcast in March 2019.
SAT 11:00 Christopher and Columbus (m001wp9g)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:00 today]
SAT 12:15 Bong! The Condensed History of Big Ben (b00ksk4j)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:15 today]
SAT 12:30 The Anarchy by William Dalrymple (Omnibus) (m000bfdz)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:30 today]
SAT 13:45 Uncle Mort's Celtic Fringe (b007jrhg)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:45 today]
SAT 14:00 Take Me To Your Reader (m000ylpn)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:00 today]
SAT 14:30 Robbing Hood (m001wp9l)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:30 today]
SAT 15:00 The Sondheim Archive (m000p8hc)
[Repeat of broadcast at 10:00 today]
SAT 16:00 Pilgrim by Sebastian Baczkiewicz (b00g0532)
[Repeat of broadcast at 00:00 today]
SAT 16:45 The Strange and The Sinister by William Croft Dickinson (b0b53ptb)
[Repeat of broadcast at 00:45 today]
SAT 17:00 Christopher and Columbus (m001wp9g)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:00 today]
SAT 18:15 Bong! The Condensed History of Big Ben (b00ksk4j)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:15 today]
SAT 18:30 The Anarchy by William Dalrymple (Omnibus) (m000bfdz)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:30 today]
SAT 19:45 Uncle Mort's Celtic Fringe (b007jrhg)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:45 today]
SAT 20:00 Take Me To Your Reader (m000ylpn)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:00 today]
SAT 20:30 Robbing Hood (m001wp9l)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:30 today]
SAT 21:00 The Sondheim Archive (m000p8hc)
[Repeat of broadcast at 10:00 today]
SAT 22:00 Saturday Night Fry (b0091t5j)
Episode 4
The team come over all nostalgic for their first episode - plus news of a startling new opera production.
Stephen Fry serves up more witty banter and sketches.
With:
Hugh Laurie
Jim Broadbent
Alison Steadman
Written by Stephen Fry.
Additional material by Ian Brown and James Hendrie.
Producer: Dan Patterson
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in May 1988.
SAT 22:30 I've Never Seen Star Wars (b00hkprc)
Series 2
Dame Joan Bakewell
Dame Joan Bakewell listens to the Arctic Monkeys, takes a lesson in beat boxing and places a bet on the horses.
Series in which Marcus Brigstocke invites celebrities to try new experiences.
Producer: Bill Dare
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in February 2009.
SAT 23:00 Please Use Other Door (m000p10m)
A comedy from writers new to radio.
Overheard conversations take place over the course of the day, sometimes forming short stories, such as the woman who doesn’t wash her legs, the man with an elephant in his garden and an accountant going for a job at the Schrodinger Institute.
Starring :
Madeline Appiah
Gabby Best
Will Hartley
Ray Sesay
Rebecca Shorrocks
Toby Williams.
Written by Jeffrey Aidoo, Simon Alcock, Dan Audritt, Ed Amsden, Tom Coles, Kat Butterfield, Bill Dare, Rob Darke, Anna Goodman, David McIver, Chazz Redhead, Jack Robertson and Edward Tew
Producer:: Bill Dare
A BBC Studios production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in November 2020.
SAT 23:30 28 Acts in 28 Minutes (b009ly1p)
Series 2
Episode 3
28 performers have just 60 seconds in which to entertain the audience in this traditional variety show, featuring established stand-ups, and some newer talent
The whole thing is presided over by John Humphrys, who sits at the side of the stage with a stopwatch, ready to cut the microphone when the time is up.
And hey - if there's an act you don't like, well, there's another one along in 55 seconds or so...
Phil Cornwell
Francesca Beard
The Bearded Ladies
Matt Morisroe
James Sherwood
John Richardson
Tom McRae
Geoffrey McGivern
Liam Mullone
Danielle Ward
John Finnemore
Greedy
Ian Stone
Gwyn Herbert
Kerry Godliman and David Lane
Lee Bannard
Simon Jones
Terry Saunders
Ginger & Black
Simon Evans
Nathan Penlington
Tim Fitzhigham
Carol Smith
Alex Lowe
Producers: Rohan Acharya and Ed Morrish
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in March 2008.

SUNDAY 25 FEBRUARY 2024

SUN 00:00 The Man in Black (b00h73hw)
Series 1
5. Bombers' Moon by Lucy Kirkwood
Soldiers Jarvis, Carr and Nisbet are stranded in a remote outpost in Afghanistan.
They've run out of supplies, trapped by a blizzard, and the man who was going to get help should have been back hours ago.
If that weren't bad enough, they're shut in with Corporal Rashid. They're sure he's a Jonah - pure bad luck. They're a sitting target for the enemy, but there's something worse coming for them through the snowy mountains.
Something much, much worse...
Dark tale written by Lucy Kirkwood.
Introduced by Mark Gatiss as sinister raconteur, The Man in Black.
Jarvis ...... Gunnar Cauthery
Carr ...... Mark Bonnar
Nisbet ...... Fingal McKiernan
Rashid ...... Inam Mirza
Keefe ...... Robert Lonsdale
Female Voice ...... Manjeet Mann
Horrifying series of tales from The Man in Black. You might meet him at a luggage carousel in an airport, or behind the desk at an employment agency or he might approach you in the corridor of a care home.
Wherever you encounter him, he's eager to pass on his stories. Stories to unsettle and horrify. Stories to haunt you.
The Man In Black first appeared in the 1940s as the chilling voice who introduced a series of terrifying radio dramas. He returned on Radio 4 in the 1970s and then again in the late 80s/early 90s.
Producer: Abigail le Fleming
Made for BBC Radio 7 and first broadcast in 2009.
SUN 00:30 Haunted (m001wp9q)
A Pair of Hands by Arthur Quiller-Couch
When Miss Poulton rents a house she does not know that it comes with an unseen helper.
A series of tales of the supernatural.
Starring Siân Phillips and Rosemary Leach.
Written by Sir Arthur Quiller-Couch.
Miss Poulton .... Siân Phillips
Mrs Cahill .... Rosemary Leach
Hosking .... Brian Hewitt
Adapted for radio by Patricia Mays.
Director: Derek Hoddinott
First broadcast on the BBC World Service in March 1982.
SUN 01:00 Christopher and Columbus (m001wp9g)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:00 on Saturday]
SUN 02:15 Bong! The Condensed History of Big Ben (b00ksk4j)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:15 on Saturday]
SUN 02:30 The Anarchy by William Dalrymple (Omnibus) (m000bfdz)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:30 on Saturday]
SUN 03:45 Uncle Mort's Celtic Fringe (b007jrhg)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:45 on Saturday]
SUN 04:00 Take Me To Your Reader (m000ylpn)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:00 on Saturday]
SUN 04:30 Robbing Hood (m001wp9l)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:30 on Saturday]
SUN 05:00 The Sondheim Archive (m000p8hc)
[Repeat of broadcast at 10:00 on Saturday]
SUN 06:00 Poetry Extra (m001wq5d)
Another Swansea Poet
Daljit Nagra revisits the BBC's poetry archive and chooses Another Swansea Poet featuring Jack Jones.
Daljit also selects his Poetry Extra Book of the Month: Out of Sri Lanka - an anthology of poems by contemporary poets with a Sri Lankan heritage.
Jack Jones is a spoken word poet and the lead singer of Welsh alternative rock band Trampolene, a band which has attracted the attention of The Libertines, Liam Gallagher, John Cooper Clarke and Caitlin Moran.
Jack’s spoken word poetry and lyrics are at the core of Trampolene’s sound. The music isn’t everything though. Sometimes Jack takes the mic, solo, and recites poetry: risky business in a room full of screaming, moshing fans, you might think.
But Jack’s spoken word poetry has become an integral part of Trampolene’s gigs. The crowd shouts for his poem ‘Pound Land’ in every venue and recites Jack’s words along with him.
He writes about everyday life, how to fight adversity, his upbringing, and at gigs around the UK offers his own social commentary on the world, all delivered with a gentle Swansea lilt synonymous with his idol Dylan Thomas.
From his home in the Mumbles, Swansea, Jack tells his life story candidly, with insight from around him. We hear from his fellow band members and from one of Jack’s biggest fans in the music industry, Peter Doherty, who recalls their adventures on tour together.
This programme reveals a young man in his 20s with a lot to say and a young man with multiple health problems - dyslexia and huge amounts of time spent out of school. It hasn’t let that stop him from making a career out of writing and performing poetry and music.
Producer: Eleri Llian Rees for BBC Cymru Wales
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 2019.
SUN 06:30 The Warlow Experiment by Alix Nathan (Omnibus) (m00074gv)
Episode 1
Herbert Powyss lives on an estate in the Welsh Marches - with enough time and income to pursue a gentleman’s fashionable investigation into botanical experimentation.
But he longs to make his mark in the field of science – something consequential enough to present to The Royal Society in London.
Influenced by something he’s read, he decides to conduct a radical investigation into the Resilience of the Human Mind Without Society. He places an ad for a suitable guinea pig.
Only one man is desperate enough to apply for the job - a semi-literate, angry wife-basher.
What could possibly go wrong?
Strange, sinister novel by Alix Nathan.
Omnibus of the first five of ten parts abridged by Jeremy Osborne.
Read by Robert Glenister.
Alix Nathan is the author of His Last Fire, a collection of short stories and the novel The Flight Of Sarah Battle.
Producer: Karen Rose
A Sweet Talk production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in July 2019.
SUN 07:40 Inheritance Tracks (m001wq5j)
Lucy Worsley
Historian Lucy Worsley chooses Mozart Piano Sonata No. 16 in C Major and Magnificat and Nunc dimittis: The Seventh Service.
SUN 07:50 Rachel's Cousins (Omnibus) (b063hy4b)
A Glasgow lawyer arrives at a police station to represent three drunken women – only to find they are her relatives.
When they discover they share the BRCA2 cancer gene, they become unexpectedly caught up in each other's lives.
Omnibus of five parts written by Ann Marie Di Mambro.
Rachel ...... Tamara Kennedy
Marilyn ...... Gabriel Quigley
Josie ...... Karen Bartke
Shirley ...... Sarah McCardie
Bobby ...... Alan McHugh
Alex ...... Robin Laing
Kevin ...... Stevie Hannan
Becca ...... Nicola Jo Cully
Carol ...... Veronica Leer
Other parts are played by the cast.
Directed at BBC Scotland by Bruce Young.
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in July 2015.
SUN 09:00 All Gas and Gaiters (m001wq5m)
Series 2
The Bishop Buys a Mug
The Bishop and Canon go head-to-head to acquire a rare Minton for their collections.
Ecclesiastical sitcom which started life on BBC TV.
Written and adapted by husband-and-wife team, Pauline Devaney and Edwin Apps.
This programme is an off-air recording, so it's not the best technical quality – but we hope you enjoy it anyway.
The Archdeacon …. Robertson Hare
The Bishop …. William Mervyn
The Bishop's Chaplain …. Jonathan Cecil
The Dean …. John Barron
Mrs Pugh-Critchley …. Joan Sanderson
Canon Hodges .... Erik Chitty
All Gas and Gaiters started life as a TV pilot in Comedy Playhouse, ahead of a run on BBC1 from 1966 to 1971.
Selected scripts were revised and re-recorded for radio.
Producer: John Dyas
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in October 1972.
SUN 09:30 The Navy Lark (m001wq5p)
Series 10
The Padre's Birthday
Can the crew of HMS Troutbridge rise to the occasion of a birthday celebration?
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
Mrs Povey ….. Heather Chasen
The Admiral … Tenniel Evans
The Padre …. Michael Bates
The Navy Lark ran for an impressive 13 series between 1959 and 1976.
Producer: Alastair Scott Johnston
First broadcast on the BBC Radio 2 in December 1968.
SUN 10:00 Desert Island Discs Revisited (b01ngw34)
BAFTA Winners
Imelda Staunton
One of the UK's most versatile and popular actresses, Imelda Staunton is castaway by Sue Lawley.
Throughout her career she has consistently refused to be typecast, moving effortlessly from playing brassy Miss Adelaide in Guys and Dolls, to the oppressed Sonya in Uncle Vanya, to a grieving mother in Peter's Friends.
She starred in Mike Leigh's production Vera Drake - playing the eponymous heroine, a 1950s housewife who unbeknownst to her family carried out illegal abortions. She won huge acclaim for her performance, including an Oscar nomination and a BAFTA award for Best Actress.
Imelda Staunton was born in Archway, London, in 1956. Her mother Bridie was a hairdresser, and the family lived over her shop, whilst Imelda's father worked on the roads.
It was an elocution and drama teacher at her school, Jacqueline Stoker, who encouraged her talent, adapting plays for her and putting her in for school drama competitions. She also encouraged Imelda to apply for drama school.
At the time, Imelda had never heard of RADA - but she was offered a place there and studied alongside Alan Rickman, Juliet Stevenson and Timothy Spall.
DISC ONE: Lonnie Donegan - Frankie & Johnny
DISC TWO: Elvis Presley - All Shook Up
DISC THREE: London Symphony Orchestra & Chorus, conducted by Sir Adrian Boult – Handel’s For unto us a Child is born (from Messiah)
DISC FOUR: Édith Piaf - Hymne À L'Amour
DISC FIVE: Julie Covington & Ian Charleson - I'll Know
DISC SIX: Bette Midler - Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy
DISC SEVEN: Bridie Staunton/Maria Sonia - Reels and Jigs
DISC EIGHT: Alison Krauss - Down to the River to Pray
BOOK CHOICE: A book on astronomy
LUXURY CHOICE: Modelling clay and tools
CASTAWAY'S FAVOURITE: Julie Covington & Ian Charleson - I'll Know
Producer: Leanne Buckle
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in May 2005.
SUN 10:45 One Man And His Bog by Barry Pilton (m001wq5s)
3. Only 215 Miles To Go...
"A week had gone by and with it 53 miles. Two weeks and 215 miles remained. I prepared a speech in the style of Captain Oates: 'I am not going outside and I may be some time'."
Barry Pilton's unheroic account of his encounter with Britain's most arduous walk, the Pennine Way.
Read by David Roper.
Producer: Thomas Sutcliffe
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in November 1984.
**** This series was suggested by Malcolm Oxborrow as part of BBC Radio 4 Extra’s All Request Weekend ****
**** To nominate a programme from the archives that you would like to hear again, please email radio4extra@bbc.co.uk and tell us details of why you'd like to hear it ****"
SUN 11:00 Poetry Extra (m001wq5d)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:00 today]
SUN 11:30 The Warlow Experiment by Alix Nathan (Omnibus) (m00074gv)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:30 today]
SUN 12:40 Inheritance Tracks (m001wq5j)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:40 today]
SUN 12:50 Rachel's Cousins (Omnibus) (b063hy4b)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:50 today]
SUN 14:00 All Gas and Gaiters (m001wq5m)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:00 today]
SUN 14:30 The Navy Lark (m001wq5p)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:30 today]
SUN 15:00 Desert Island Discs Revisited (b01ngw34)
[Repeat of broadcast at 10:00 today]
SUN 15:45 One Man And His Bog by Barry Pilton (m001wq5s)
[Repeat of broadcast at 10:45 today]
SUN 16:00 The Man in Black (b00h73hw)
[Repeat of broadcast at 00:00 today]
SUN 16:30 Haunted (m001wp9q)
[Repeat of broadcast at 00:30 today]
SUN 17:00 Poetry Extra (m001wq5d)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:00 today]
SUN 17:30 The Warlow Experiment by Alix Nathan (Omnibus) (m00074gv)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:30 today]
SUN 18:40 Inheritance Tracks (m001wq5j)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:40 today]
SUN 18:50 Rachel's Cousins (Omnibus) (b063hy4b)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:50 today]
SUN 20:00 All Gas and Gaiters (m001wq5m)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:00 today]
SUN 20:30 The Navy Lark (m001wq5p)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:30 today]
SUN 21:00 Desert Island Discs Revisited (b01ngw34)
[Repeat of broadcast at 10:00 today]
SUN 21:45 One Man And His Bog by Barry Pilton (m001wq5s)
[Repeat of broadcast at 10:45 today]
SUN 22:00 The Confessional (m000wsjf)
Series 1
The Confession of Lucy Porter
Actor, comedian and broadcaster Stephen Mangan presents a comedy chat show about shame and guilt.
Each week, 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, comedian Lucy Porter apologises for a youthful indiscretion, discusses the disadvantages of PVC and reveals a secret as yet untold.
Written and presented by Stephen Mangan.
With extra material by Nick Doody.
Producers: Dave Anderson and Frank Stirling
A 7digital production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in June 2021.
SUN 22:30 Unnatural Acts (b00k2cfy)
Series 1
Ill Met By Moonlight
When Kit gets hurt and Caroline gets fit, the gang uncover an unhealthy conspiracy.
A sitcom about a happily-married pair of young people and their crazy friends.
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.
Producer: David Tyler
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in April 1987.
SUN 23:00 The Masterson Inheritance (b007jpvx)
Series 2
The Quest for the Other Rabbit's Foot
Myths and mucking out in the Masterson’s adventures at the court of King Arthur.
Award-winning improvised historical comedy series.
Based entirely on audience suggestions - this is the unfolding saga of the Mastersons - a family at war with itself.
Starring:
Paul Merton
Josie Lawrence
Lee Simpson
Jim Sweeney
Phelim McDermott
Caroline Quentin
Producer: Phil Clarke
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in June 1994.
SUN 23:30 Edge Falls (b00dghmv)
Series 2
Episode 3
Will a protest halt the retail park's Sales and stop Mick going 'Dirty Dancing' with Valerie?
Starring Frances Barber and Mark Benton.
Sitcom about the retail park where they stop at nothing to part you from your money.
Written by Paul Barnhill and Neil Warhurst.
Mick ...... Mark Benton
Sonya ...... Frances Barber
Rez ...... Emil Marwa
Valerie ...... Sarah Hadland
Darryl ...... Paul Barnhill
Glen ...... Andrew Crawford
Ralph ...... Neil Warhurst
Milosh ...... Stephen Critchlow
Tom ...... Ben Crowe
Director: Sally Avens
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in September 2008.

MONDAY 26 FEBRUARY 2024

MON 00:00 Poetry Extra (m001wq5d)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:00 on Sunday]
MON 00:30 The Warlow Experiment by Alix Nathan (Omnibus) (m00074gv)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:30 on Sunday]
MON 01:40 Inheritance Tracks (m001wq5j)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:40 on Sunday]
MON 01:50 Rachel's Cousins (Omnibus) (b063hy4b)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:50 on Sunday]
MON 03:00 All Gas and Gaiters (m001wq5m)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:00 on Sunday]
MON 03:30 The Navy Lark (m001wq5p)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:30 on Sunday]
MON 04:00 Desert Island Discs Revisited (b01ngw34)
[Repeat of broadcast at 10:00 on Sunday]
MON 04:45 One Man And His Bog by Barry Pilton (m001wq5s)
[Repeat of broadcast at 10:45 on Sunday]
MON 05:00 Tina Pepler - Sisters (m001wq5w)
1. Beginings
Madeleine's birthday prompts memories for her mother Elizabeth of a distant past - and a lost love...
Stars Haydn Gwynne and Sarah Jane Holm.
Three part drama written by Tina Pepler.
Elizabeth .... Haydn Gwynne
Madeleine .... Sarah Jane Holm
Nathalie .... Kate Fenwick
Louise .... Teresa Gallagher
Anna .... Anna Livia Ryan
Nick .... Jonathan Coy
Mirco .... Jack Ellis
Olga .... Janet Maw
Mary .... Tracy Ann Oberman
Ted .... Sean Baker
Bessie .... Shirley Dixon
Teddy .... Kim Wall
Ambassador/Horatio .... Gerard McDermott
Andrew .... Robert Harper
Richard .... Ioan Meredith
Lydia .... Carolyn Jones
Director: Marion Nancarrow
First broadcast on Radio 4 in February 1997.
MON 06:00 The Toff on the Farm (b007js4c)
6. The Mystery of Selby Farm
Finding an empty safe at the farmhouse - the Honourable Richard Rollison edges closer to solving the mystery.
Rural intrigue stalks amateur sleuth - the Honorable Richard Rollison
Conclusion of John Creasey's thriller starring Terence Alexander.
The Toff ...... Terence Alexander
Jolly ...... Robert Dorning
Gillian Selby ...... Heather Stoney
Monty Morne ...... Terrence Hardiman
Superintendent Grice ...... Duncan Lamont
Eddie Forbes (alias Red Brandt) ...... Ed Bishop
Bert Ebbutt ...... Douglas Blackwell
William T Brandt ...... Alan White
Other parts played by the cast.
Dramatised by Roy Lomax
Producer: John Fawcett Wilson
First broadcast on the BBC World Service in April 1977.
MON 06:30 Test Room Eight (m001wq9t)
1. Assault Course
Philip Odell and his assistant Heather McMara investigate suspected sabotage at a pharmaceutical plant.
Starring Robert Beatty.
Lester Powell’s cool Irish investigator Philip Odell features in ten BBC radio dramas broadcast between 1947 and 1961.
His feisty, long-suffering assistant, Heather McMara is always on hand with her "female intuition".
Philip Odell .... Robert Beatty
Heather McMara .... Sheila Manahan
Herbert Truscott .... Hamilton Dyce
Hugh Chalk .... David Spenser
David Karswood .... Frederick Treves
Ken Armstrong .... Duncan McIntyre
Barbara Eurich .... Stella Textor
Wynn Craxton .... Jeffrey Segal
Martin Dersen .... Rolf Lefebvre
Colonel Guestling .... Richard Williams
Producer: David H Godfrey
First broadcast on the BBC Light Programme in December 1958
MON 07:00 The Warlow Experiment by Alix Nathan (m00075j3)
6. Determination
Warlow's rages have calmed and the cellar is cleaned up.
However the effect on Powyss is a fierce determination to end the experiment, even though his friend Benjamin Fox advises otherwise.
Herbert Powyss lives on an estate in the Welsh Marches, with enough time and income to pursue a gentleman’s fashionable investigation into botanical experimentation. But he longs to make his mark in the field of science – something consequential enough to present to The Royal Society in London.
Influenced by something he’s read, he decides to conduct a radical investigation into the Resilience of the Human Mind Without Society. He places an ad for a suitable guinea pig.
Only one man is desperate enough to apply for the job - a semi-literate, angry wife-basher.
What could possibly go wrong?
Written by Alix Nathan and abridged by Jeremy Osborne.
Read by Robert Glenister.
Producer: Karen Rose
A Sweet Talk Production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in July 2019.
MON 07:15 Curious Under the Stars (m0007bjj)
Series 9: The Fruits of Gwyddno
1. Sunken Forest
Return of the magical drama set in Glan Don, a mysterious village perched on the wild Welsh coast.
A low tide reveals a sunken forest on the shores of Glan Don. And one of the trees bears forbidden fruit.
Starring Sion Pritchard , Emma Sidi and Ifan Huw Dafydd.
Written by Annamaria Murphy
Gareth ...... Sion Pritchard
Diane ...... Emma Sidi
Emlyn ....... Ifan Huw Dafydd
Megan ...... Aimee Ffion Edwards
Gwynn ...... Matthew Gravelle
Series created by Meic Povey
Directors: James Robinson & John Norton
A BBC Cymru Wales production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in August 2019.
MON 07:30 Welcome to Our Village, Please Invade Carefully (b04nv6m8)
Series 2
Testing Times
It's the day after Lucy's 18th birthday, and her parents aren't happy, and not only because she took that bottle of rum from their drinks cabinet.
They think she is wasting her life being part of the resistance, so unless she can pass her A Levels they're going to stop her coming to the meetings.
Does it really take a village to raise a child? Or will they make things worse?
Eddie Robson's sitcom about aliens invading the village of Cresdon Green.
Starring Hattie Morahan and Peter Davison.
Aliens have locked villagers behind an impenetrable force-field in order to study human behaviour and to decide if Earth is worth invading.
The only inhabitant who seems to be bothered by their new alien overlord is Katrina Lyons, who was only home for a weekend to borrow the deposit for a flat.
So along with Lucy Alexander (the only teenager in the village, willing to rebel against whatever you've got) she formed The Resistance - slightly to the annoyance of her parents Margaret and Richard.
This is also much to the annoyance of Field Commander Uljabaan who is trying to actually run the alien invasion.
Katrina Lyons ...... Hattie Morahan
Richard Lyons ...... Peter Davison
Margaret Lyons ...... Jan Francis
Lucy Alexander ...... Hannah Murray
Field Commander Uljabaan ...... Julian Rhind-Tutt
Computer ...... John-Luke Roberts
Carl ...... Don Gilet
Colin ...... Don Gilet
Script-edited by Arthur Mathews.
Original music written and performed by Grace Petrie.
Producer: Ed Morrish.
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in November 2014.
MON 08:00 Steptoe and Son (b007k1hd)
Series 4
The Colour Problem
Albert and Harold Steptoe argue over whether to buy a new TV or a car.
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:
Jo Manning Wilson
William Bedle
Producer: Bobby Jaye
First broadcast on the BBC Radio 2 in March 1972.
MON 08:30 The Wordsmiths at Gorsemere (b007jsq3)
Series 2
6th May 1800
An Everyday Story of Towering Genius.
Sue Limb's soap opera, set in and around the Lake District at the turn of the 18th century.
Cholericke gets a surprise visitor while Dorothy tries to manage as the household descends into chaos...
William Wordsmith …. Geoffrey Whitehead
Dorothy Wordsmith …. Denise Coffey
Samuel Tailor Cholericke …. Simon Callow
Stinking Iris …. Miriam Margolyes
Sara Cholericke …. Angela Pleasence
Thomas de Quinine …. Nickolas Grace
Music by Stephen Oliver and performed by Cantabile.
Producer: Jonathan James-Moore
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in June 1987.
MON 09:00 Wordaholics (b01dhhps)
Series 1
Episode 5
Wordaholics is the comedy panel game all about words.
Gyles Brandreth presides over toponyms, abbreviations, euphemisms, old words, new words, cockney rhyming slang, Greek gobbledegook, plus the panellists' picks of the ugliest and the most beautiful words.
Ready to vie for wordy supremacy in the ring:
Jack Whitehall
Milton Jones
Natalie Haynes
Susie Dent
Written by Jon Hunter and James Kettle
Producer: Claire Jones
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in March 2012.
MON 09:30 Sneakiepeeks (b00pckm1)
Trust
The bungling surveillance team undertakes a top-secret category G surveillance operation.
It's a job so secret even the boss doesn't know about it.
Comedy by Harry Venning and Neil Brand about a team of inept, backstabbing surveillance operatives.
Sharla ...... Nina Conti
Bill ...... Richard Lumsden
Mark ...... Daniel Kaluuya
Mrs A ...... Kate Layden
Mr A ...... Ewan Hooper
Justine ...... Tessa Nicholson
David ...... Ewan Bailey
Delphine ...... Kate Layden
Producer: Katie Tyrrell
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in December 2009.
MON 10:00 Tina Pepler - Sisters (m001wq5w)
[Repeat of broadcast at 05:00 today]
MON 11:00 The Toff on the Farm (b007js4c)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:00 today]
MON 11:30 Test Room Eight (m001wq9t)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:30 today]
MON 12:00 The Warlow Experiment by Alix Nathan (m00075j3)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:00 today]
MON 12:15 Curious Under the Stars (m0007bjj)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:15 today]
MON 12:30 Welcome to Our Village, Please Invade Carefully (b04nv6m8)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:30 today]
MON 13:00 Steptoe and Son (b007k1hd)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:00 today]
MON 13:30 The Wordsmiths at Gorsemere (b007jsq3)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:30 today]
MON 14:00 Wordaholics (b01dhhps)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:00 today]
MON 14:30 Sneakiepeeks (b00pckm1)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:30 today]
MON 15:00 Tina Pepler - Sisters (m001wq5w)
[Repeat of broadcast at 05:00 today]
MON 16:00 The Toff on the Farm (b007js4c)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:00 today]
MON 16:30 Test Room Eight (m001wq9t)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:30 today]
MON 17:00 The Warlow Experiment by Alix Nathan (m00075j3)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:00 today]
MON 17:15 Curious Under the Stars (m0007bjj)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:15 today]
MON 17:30 Welcome to Our Village, Please Invade Carefully (b04nv6m8)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:30 today]
MON 18:00 Steptoe and Son (b007k1hd)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:00 today]
MON 18:30 The Wordsmiths at Gorsemere (b007jsq3)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:30 today]
MON 19:00 Wordaholics (b01dhhps)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:00 today]
MON 19:30 Sneakiepeeks (b00pckm1)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:30 today]
MON 20:00 Radiolab (m001wqb6)
Series 11
Under the Sea
Radiolab travels under and across the oceans, to find vigilante whales and heroic octopi. First, humpbacks who refuse to back down when other creatures are being attacked. And then, a simple act of motherhood that becomes a heroic feat that has never been equalled by any known species on Earth.
Radiolab is a Peabody-award winning show about curiosity. Where sound illuminates ideas, and the boundaries blur between science, philosophy, and the human experience.
The Radiolab team investigate a strange world.
Presenters: Jad Abumrad, Lulu Miller and Latif Nasser.
From WNYC. First broadcast on public radio in the USA in 2022.
MON 20:55 Inheritance Tracks (m0006f8y)
Greg James
BBC Radio 1 DJ Greg James selects This is The Sea by The Waterboys and Apply Some Pressure by Maximo Park.
MON 21:00 A Good Read (b07jysdx)
Joann Fletcher and Damian Barr
Writer Damian Barr and Egyptologist Joann Fletcher join Harriett Gilbert to talk about their favourite books by Alice Walker, RE Witt and Leonora Carrington..
The Color Purple by Alice Walker
Publisher: Weidenfeld and Nicolson
Isis in the Ancient World by RE Witt
Publisher: Johns Hopkins University Press
The Hearing Trumpet by Leonora Carrington
Publisher: Penguin
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in July 2016.
MON 21:30 Jaws by Peter Benchley (b0bfxxml)
1. 'The great fish moved silently through the night water.'
Henry Goodman reads Peter Benchley's classic 1974 novel, which went on to become one of the greatest movies of all time.
It's high summer on Cape Cod's Amity Island, and the tourists are arriving in their hundreds.
But something is lurking just off the coast and one young holiday-maker is about to go skinny dipping...
Will it ever be safe to go back into the water?
The novel shot straight on to the bestseller lists, and has since sold some 20 million copies. It was adapted into the iconic film by Steven Spielberg a year later. The film won three Academy Awards.
Abridged in ten parts by Richard Hamilton
Producer: Justine Willett
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in August 2018.
MON 21:45 Electric Decade (m000l6nr)
Babelsberg Babylon
1. Missing
Babelsberg Film Studios, 1929.
A major new movie is in production when its star Krista Wolff suddenly disappears. The head of the studio and film's writer are desperate to find her.
Each has their own reasons.
Nick Perry's suspenseful five-part drama is set amid the creative ferment of 1920s Berlin, centred around the world's oldest large-scale film studio.
Out of the darkness of military defeat, political chaos, poverty and hyperinflation springs the phenomenon of Weimar culture, a defiant celebration of humanity and artistic expression in all its diverse forms.
People flock to Berlin to be a part of the cultural explosion. Writer Jonas Beck, actress Krista Wolff and war veteran Peter X are among them.
Jonas Beck ...... Paul Chahidi
Otto Lenz ...... Anton Lesser
Lottie ...... Clare Corbett
Peter X ...... Carl Prekopp
Krista ...... Cassie Layton
Director: Sasha Yevtushenko
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in July 2020.
MON 22:00 One Person Found This Helpful (m001wjgj)
Series 1
1. My Sphinx Has No Nose
Frank & guests Simon Evans, Jessica Fostekew, Amy Gledhill and Ahir Shah find out what you think about mead, Poirot and a stinky brontosaurus.
This is the panel game based on what we all sit down and do at least once a day – shop online and leave a review, as an all-star panel celebrate the good, the bad & the baffling.
Everyone has an online life, and when the great British public put pen to keyboard to leave a review, they almost always write something hilarious. And our all-star panel have to work out just what they were reviewing – and maybe contribute a few reviews of their own... and more... So if you’re the person who went on Trip Advisor to review Ben Nevis as “Very steep and too high”, this show salutes you!
Written by Frank Skinner, Catherine Brinkworth, Sarah Dempster, Jason Hazeley, Rajiv Karia, Karl Minns, Katie Sayer & Peter Tellouche
Devised by Jason Hazeley and Simons Evans with the producer David Tyler
A Pozzitive production for BBC Radio 4
MON 22:30 Flight of the Conchords (b007k0r4)
Pop Song
The Kiwi band want to pen a song for a teen idol without selling out.
Improvised comedy from the satirical pop pair, as they align with established comics to poke fun at all aspects of pop music.
Rob Brydon narrates the musical odyssey.
Starring New Zealand musical comedy duo, Bret McKenzie and Jemaine Clement.
With:
Rhys Darby
Neil Finn
Greg Proops
Emma Kennedy
Mark Goodier
Additional Material by Joel Morris.
Musicians: David Catlin-Birch and Mark Allis.
Producer: Will Saunders
First broadcast on BBC Radio 2 in September 2005.
MON 23:00 The News Quiz (m001wjsn)
Series 113
Episode 8
Andrew Doyle, Hugo Rifkind, Lucy Porter and Ria Lina join Andy Zaltzman to quiz the week's news.
This week the panel tackle how a parliamentary debate about peace descended into constitutional conflict, why Donald Trump is actively urging his supporters to put their foot in it, literally this time, and how Britannia nuked the waves.
Strap in.
Written by Andy Zaltzman
With additional material by: Cody Dahler, Cameron Loxdale and Viv May
Producer: James Robinson
Executive Producer: Richard Morris
Production Coordinator: Dan Marchini
Sound Editor: Marc Willcox
A BBC Studios Production for Radio 4
MON 23:30 Rhys James (b09m10bz)
Rhys James Is ...
Privileged
Comedian Rhys James explores different aspects of himself through live stand up, spoken word poetry and interview clips.
In this opening episode, he examines his privileged status and chats to his mum and dad.
Written and performed by Rhys James
Music by Steve Dunne.
Sound by David Thomas.
Producer: Carl Cooper
A BBC Studios production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in January 2018.
MON 23:45 Late (b0076dgy)
1. From Tangoing to Keeping Watch
Tango dancers, DJs and a neighbourhood watch.
Bleak, funny, sultry, bitter, poignant - the first of a four-part series of brief visits to a city, late at night.
Starring:
Paul Merton
Richard Wilson
Liz Smith
Julian Clary
Meera Syal
Tilly Vosburgh
Holly Johnson.
Writen by Mandy Wheeler, Joss Bennathan, Tilly Vosburgh, Rob Colley and Paul Merton.
Sound engineer Richard Brough provides a variety of tones and emissions reflecting late-night city life, from crying babies to midnight shoppers, cabbies to sex workers.
Music by Robert Katz
Producer: Sarah Parkinson
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in June 2001.

TUESDAY 27 FEBRUARY 2024

TUE 00:00 Tina Pepler - Sisters (m001wq5w)
[Repeat of broadcast at 05:00 on Monday]
TUE 01:00 The Toff on the Farm (b007js4c)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:00 on Monday]
TUE 01:30 Test Room Eight (m001wq9t)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:30 on Monday]
TUE 02:00 The Warlow Experiment by Alix Nathan (m00075j3)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:00 on Monday]
TUE 02:15 Curious Under the Stars (m0007bjj)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:15 on Monday]
TUE 02:30 Welcome to Our Village, Please Invade Carefully (b04nv6m8)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:30 on Monday]
TUE 03:00 Steptoe and Son (b007k1hd)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:00 on Monday]
TUE 03:30 The Wordsmiths at Gorsemere (b007jsq3)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:30 on Monday]
TUE 04:00 Wordaholics (b01dhhps)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:00 on Monday]
TUE 04:30 Sneakiepeeks (b00pckm1)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:30 on Monday]
TUE 05:00 Tina Pepler - Sisters (m001wqcf)
2. Iran
Twenty years on, Elizabeth is living in Iran, where her four daughters are growing up and discovering there may be more to their mother than meets the eye.
Stars Haydn Gwynne and Teresa Gallagher.
Written by Tina Pepler.
Elizabeth .... Haydn Gwynne
Nick .... Jonathan Coy
Louise .... Teresa Gallagher
Anna .... Ciara Janson
Madeleine .... Sarah Jane Holm
Nathalie .... Kate Fenwick
Mirco .... Jack Ellis
Olga .... Janet Maw
Abdul Khader .... Ioan Meredith
Robert .... Robert Harper
Graham .... Chris Pavlo
Mrs Bartlett .... Shirley Dixon
Mr Bartlett .... Christopher Scott
Other parts are played by the cast.
Director: Marion Nancarrow
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in February 1997.
TUE 06:00 Falco (b00qy0lr)
The Iron Hand of Mars
1. Rhineland Beckons
Ancient Rome's famous detective, Marcus Didius Falco is sent to the Barbarian forests of Free Germany - home to a giant bull, raging Celts and a pagan priestess.
Starring Anton Lesser.
Lindsey Davis's gripping, historical mystery.
Dramatised in six parts by Mary Cutler.
Falco …. Anton Lesser
Helena Justina …. Anna Madeley
Petronius …. Ben Crowe
Emperor Vespasian …. Michael Tudor Barnes
Titus …. Jonathan Keeble
Xanthus …. David Holt
Gracilis …. Mark Straker
Native Guide …. Sion Pritchard
Directed at BBC Birmingham by Peter Leslie Wild.
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in April 2007.
TUE 06:30 Test Room Eight (m001wqbp)
2. The Broken Ampoule
Philip Odell and his assistant Heather McMara now have a death to investigate at the troubled pharmaceutical plant.
Starring Robert Beatty.
Lester Powell’s cool Irish investigator Philip Odell features in ten BBC radio dramas broadcast between 1947 and 1961.
His feisty, long-suffering assistant, Heather McMara is always on hand with her "female intuition".
Philip Odell .... Robert Beatty
Hugh Chalk .... David Spenser
Wyn Craxton .... Jeffrey Segal
Heather McMara .... Sheila Manahan
Ken Armstrong .... Duncan McIntyre
Herbert Truscott .... Hamilton Dyce
Barbara Eurich .... Stella Textor
Colonel Guestling .... Richard Williams
Jill Guestling .... Hilda Schroder
Policeman .... Will Leighton
Producer: David H Godfrey
First broadcast on the BBC Light Programme in December 1958
TUE 07:00 The Warlow Experiment by Alix Nathan (m00074hq)
7. Plan
A handful of renegades, including Powyss' worker Abraham Price, intend to set Warlow, who cuts an ever more tragic figure, free.
One of the maids, Catherine, initially opens the door.
Herbert Powyss lives on an estate in the Welsh Marches with enough time and income to pursue a gentleman’s fashionable investigation into botanical experimentation. But he longs to make his mark in the field of science – something consequential enough to present to The Royal Society in London. Influenced by something he’s read, he decides to conduct a radical investigation into the Resilience of the Human Mind Without Society. He places an ad for a suitable guinea pig.
Only one man is desperate enough to apply for the job; a semi-literate, angry wife-basher.
What could possibly go wrong?
Written by Alix Nathan and abridged by Jeremy Osborne.
Read by Robert Glenister.
Producer: Karen Rose
A Sweet Talk Production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in July 2019.
TUE 07:15 Curious Under the Stars (m0007bcg)
Series 9: The Fruits of Gwyddno
2. Decision Time
Diane makes a decision that will impact everyone in Glan Don.
Magical drama set in a mysterious village perched on the wild Welsh coast.
Starring Sion Pritchard , Emma Sidi and Ifan Huw Dafydd.
Written by Annamaria Murphy
Gareth ...... Sion Pritchard
Diane ...... Emma Sidi
Emlyn ....... Ifan Huw Dafydd
Megan ...... Aimee Ffion Edwards
Gwynn ...... Matthew Gravelle
Series created by Meic Povey
Directors: James Robinson & John Norto
A BBC Cymru Wales Production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in August 2019.
TUE 07:30 Jack & Millie (m000m5jk)
Series 2
Service Economy
Jack & Millie are back and ready to deal with Harry’s bongos, Delphine’s chicken, Shirley’s bombshell and a cleaner with flashbacks.
Jeremy Front's comedy is about an older couple who are fully engaged with contemporary life while being at war with the absurdities of the modern world.
Starring Jeremy Front and Rebecca Front.
So Millie’s son Melvin has given her a new tablet with a voice recorder?
So suddenly Jack & Millie have decided to record everything that happens to them? And for this, we should be grateful?
Jack............Jeremy Front
Millie..........Rebecca Front
Shirley........Tracy-Ann Oberman
Harry...........Nigel Lindsay
Melvin........Harry Peacock
Delphine....Jenny Bede
With special guest - Debbie Chazen as Nadia
Producer: David Tyler
A Pozzitive production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in September 2020.
TUE 08:00 The Goon Show (b0080hxc)
The Last Goon Show of All
Spike Milligan, Harry Secombe and Peter Sellers reunite to celebrate the BBC's 50th anniversary.
Recorded on 30th April 1972, their farewell performance with a distinguished audience is broadcast complete with the pre-show warm-up at the Camden Theatre, London. It was simultaneously recorded for broadcast on BBC TV.
Written by Spike Milligan.
Starring:
Peter Sellers as Grytpype-Thynne, Bluebottle, Major Denis Bloodnok & Henry Crun.
Harry Secombe as Neddy Seagoon in floral cretonne.
Spike Milligan as Eccles, Minnie Bannister & Moriarty.
With the Ray Ellington Quartet, Max Geldray and the Wally Stott Orchestra conducted by Peter Knight.
Producer: John Browell
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 on 5th October 1972.
*This a a freshly restored audio version for BBC Radio 4 Extra.
TUE 09:00 The Personality Test (b00kmnfn)
Series 1
John Sergeant
Former BBC and ITN chief political correspondent John Sergeant quizzes a panel about himself.
Battling with queries based on John's life, whims and interests are:
Sue Perkins
Alan Carr
Lucy Porter
Series in which a fresh host every episode quizzes a comedy panel about themselves.
Script by Richard Turner.
Devised & produced by Aled Evans.
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in July 2006.
TUE 09:30 Artists (b00xglb7)
Series 1
Inspired
Grumpy Tamsin is uninspired and blames Dolores, who wants a loan to rent her own studio.
Comedy about a close-knit community of artists who usually hate each other's work and sometimes hate each other as well.
Stars Vicki Pepperdlne, Pauline McLynn and Ben Miller.
Written by Gareth Edwards.
Tamsin .... Vicki Pepperdlne
Dolores .... Pauline McLynn
Gerard .... Graham Crowden
Nisha .... Mina Anwar
Josef .... Ben Miller
Marcus .... Dave Lamb
Producer: Katie Tyrrell
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in April 2003.
TUE 10:00 Tina Pepler - Sisters (m001wqcf)
[Repeat of broadcast at 05:00 today]
TUE 11:00 Falco (b00qy0lr)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:00 today]
TUE 11:30 Test Room Eight (m001wqbp)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:30 today]
TUE 12:00 The Warlow Experiment by Alix Nathan (m00074hq)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:00 today]
TUE 12:15 Curious Under the Stars (m0007bcg)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:15 today]
TUE 12:30 Jack & Millie (m000m5jk)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:30 today]
TUE 13:00 The Goon Show (b0080hxc)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:00 today]
TUE 14:00 The Personality Test (b00kmnfn)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:00 today]
TUE 14:30 Artists (b00xglb7)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:30 today]
TUE 15:00 Tina Pepler - Sisters (m001wqcf)
[Repeat of broadcast at 05:00 today]
TUE 16:00 Falco (b00qy0lr)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:00 today]
TUE 16:30 Test Room Eight (m001wqbp)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:30 today]
TUE 17:00 The Warlow Experiment by Alix Nathan (m00074hq)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:00 today]
TUE 17:15 Curious Under the Stars (m0007bcg)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:15 today]
TUE 17:30 Jack & Millie (m000m5jk)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:30 today]
TUE 18:00 The Goon Show (b0080hxc)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:00 today]
TUE 19:00 The Personality Test (b00kmnfn)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:00 today]
TUE 19:30 Artists (b00xglb7)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:30 today]
TUE 20:00 TED Radio Hour (m00193w2)
Series 9
Work, Play, Rest: Part 1/3: Work
A journey through fascinating ideas based on talks by riveting speakers on the TED (Technology, Entertainment, Design) stage.
Manoush Zomorodi investigates how the last few years have changed the way we live: what is the future for how we work?
First broadcast in the USA on National Public Radio in 2022.
TUE 20:50 Inheritance Tracks (m000gcl5)
Corey Taylor
Singer-songwriter Corey Taylor chooses 'Burning Love' by Elvis Presley, and 'Safe European Home' by The Clash.
TUE 21:00 Making Tracks (b01l06z2)
1. Rockfield
Paul Morley explores a history of popular music through some of the iconic recording studios in which classic albums were created.
Rockfield, in the rural heart of Monmouthshire, Wales, is a studio that grew out of a farm and gave birth to some of rock music's finest recordings.
From Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody" to the Stone Roses' eponymous debut album, from Dr. Feelgood's "Down By The Jetty" to Oasis' "(What's The Story) Morning Glory", even from the Waterboys' "Fisherman's Blues" to Adam Ant's "Kings Of The Wild Frontier".
Those trying to explain what part the studio played in creating such musical magic include:
* Performers: Dave Edmunds and newcomers Iko
* Technicians: John Leckie and Sean Genockey
* People who (in some cases, quite literally) built the studio and the business: father and daughter, Kingley and Lisa Ward, and Terry Matthews
As the money flowing through the music industry continues to dry up - Paul also asks what future there may be or the historic recording studios that helped build the industry in the first place?
Producer: Paul Kobrak
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in July 2012.
TUE 21:30 Jaws by Peter Benchley (b0bfydgr)
2. 'A shark attack, clear and simple.'
It's high summer in Cape Cod's Amity Island, and a mutilated body has been washed up on the beach.
It looks like a shark attack, but Police Chief Brody is having trouble convincing the islanders that it's time to close the beaches...
Will it ever be safe to go back into the water?
Peter Benchley's classic 1974 novel became one of the most terrifying movies of all time.
Abridged by Richard Hamilton.
Read by Henry Goodman.
Producer: Justine Willett
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in August 2018.
TUE 21:45 Electric Decade (m001wqdg)
Babelsberg Babylon
2. Cabaret
The writer Jonas Beck returns to Babelsberg to learn more about Krista Wolff's disappearance.
His search takes him to the cabaret.
Babelsberg Film Studios, 1929. A major new movie is in production when its star Krista Wolff suddenly disappears.
The head of the studio and film's writer are desperate to find her. Each has their own reasons.
Nick Perry's suspenseful five-part drama is set amid the creative ferment of 1920s Berlin, centred around the world's oldest large-scale film studio.
Out of the darkness of military defeat, political chaos, poverty and hyperinflation springs the phenomenon of Weimar culture, a defiant celebration of humanity and artistic expression in all its diverse forms.
People flock to Berlin to be a part of the cultural explosion. Writer Jonas Beck, actress Krista Wolff and war veteran Peter X are among them.
Jonas Beck ...... Paul Chahidi
Otto Lenz ...... Anton Lesser
Odette ...... Clare Corbett
Willie ...... Carl Prekopp
Director: Sasha Yevtushenko
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in July 2020.
TUE 22:00 ReincarNathan (m000kx29)
Series 2
Eel
Nathan Blakely was a popstar. But he was useless, died, and was reincarnated. The comedy about Nathan’s adventures in the afterlife returns for a second series with Daniel Rigby and Diane Morgan, and guest-starring Romesh Ranganathan.
In the second episode, Nathan is brought back to life as an eel in a river in Norfolk. He’s desperate to join the cool adolescent eels as they migrate across the Atlantic to spawn in the Caribbean. But it’s too much too soon for Nathan. Will he ever learn to do the right thing and make it back to human again?
Cast:
Diane Morgan - Jenny
Daniel Rigby - Nathan
Tom Craine – Yellow Eel
Hugh Dennis – Nathan’s Dad
Henry Paker – Bouncer, Smuggler
Freya Parker – Vortex, Neil, Smuggler, Nathan’s Mum
Romesh Ranganathan - Jameel
Writers: Tom Craine and Henry Paker
Music composed by Phil Lepherd
Producer: Harriet Jaine
Studio Production: Jerry Peal
A Talkback production for BBC Radio 4
TUE 22:30 Daphne Sounds Expensive (b08y2b70)
Series 2
Time Travel
After Phil blows a fortune on a spanking new time machine, the Daphne boys must use it to embark on a treacherous adventure in a desperate attempt to recoup their losses.
Written by and starring:
Jason Forbes
Phil Wang
George Fouracres
With:
Lewis Mcleod
Elizabeth Tan
Sir Willard White
Original music composed by Jeff Carpenter
Orchestrator: Simon Nathan
The London Musical Theatre Orchestra:
Musical Director - Freddie Tapner
Violin - Debs White
Cello - Nick Squires
Trumpet - Michael Maddocks
Trombone - Elliot Pooley
Tenor Sax - Joe Atkin Reeves
Drum Kit - Ben Hartley
Percussion - Ben Burton
Piano - Jon Ranger
Bass - Jack Cherry
Producer: Matt Stronge.
A BBC Studios production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in July 2017.
TUE 22:55 The Comedy Club Interviews (m001ww33)
Catherine Bohart 1/2
From 10pm until midnight, seven days a week, the Comedy Club has two hours of comedy. Plus Stephen Bailey chats to Catherine Bohart.
TUE 23:00 Domestic Science (b09tf719)
Series 2
Bedroom
Science you can play along with at home in a look at the domestic phenomena we relate to on a day-to-day basis.
Hosted by Festival of The Spoken Nerd trio:
* Physicist Steve Mould
* Stand up Mathematician Matt Parker
* Physicist and musician Helen Arney.
A heady combination of maths, science and comedy.
In this episode, they're in the bedroom.
Producer: Lyndsay Fenner
A BBC Studios production for BBC Radio 4 , first broadcast in March 2018.
TUE 23:15 Josie Long: All of the Planet's Wonders (b00htxbs)
Obscure Animal Facts
Josie Long explores the fantastic world of obscure animal facts in a bid to become the ultimate quiz contestant.
It's all part of her continuing quest to better herself through learning and discovering things in reference books.
With:
Maeve Higgins
Chris Neil
Jesse Thorne
Geoff Long
Producer: Colin Anderson
First broadcast BBC Radio 4 in March 2009.
TUE 23:30 John Shuttleworth's Lounge Music (b083m575)
Series 2
Episode 2
John Shuttleworth invites Clare Grogan from Altered Images to his Sheffield home to perform one of her songs and also, more importantly, one of his.
The timing of her visit couldn't be better as it's Doreen Melody's birthday and John is hoping that Clare will go along and sing Happy Birthday to Doreen - after all it's one of her biggest hits.
But he's most disappointed when Clare starts singing the wrong tune!
Surprisingly, it's Ken Worthington who saves the day by offering to take Clare on a date, hoping that she'll become Ken's Girl rather than Gregory's!
John will have to console himself with top tips on the telephone from Nick Lowe, who he hopes will solve the problem of Dolby hiss.
Written by and starring Graham Fellows.
Special guests Clare Grogan and Nick Lowe.
Producer: Dawn Ellis
A Chic Ken production for BBC Radio 4,first broadcast in November 2016.

WEDNESDAY 28 FEBRUARY 2024

WED 00:00 Tina Pepler - Sisters (m001wqcf)
[Repeat of broadcast at 05:00 on Tuesday]
WED 01:00 Falco (b00qy0lr)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:00 on Tuesday]
WED 01:30 Test Room Eight (m001wqbp)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:30 on Tuesday]
WED 02:00 The Warlow Experiment by Alix Nathan (m00074hq)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:00 on Tuesday]
WED 02:15 Curious Under the Stars (m0007bcg)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:15 on Tuesday]
WED 02:30 Jack & Millie (m000m5jk)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:30 on Tuesday]
WED 03:00 The Goon Show (b0080hxc)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:00 on Tuesday]
WED 04:00 The Personality Test (b00kmnfn)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:00 on Tuesday]
WED 04:30 Artists (b00xglb7)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:30 on Tuesday]
WED 05:00 Tina Pepler - Sisters (m001wq8w)
3. France
1976: an argument with Maddy prompts Nathalie to flee to Belgrade, where she is determined to learn from her mother's mistakes.
But history has a habit of repeating itself...
Stars Haydn Gwynne and Sarah Jane Holm.
Concluding part written by Tina Pepler.
Elizabeth .... Haydn Gwynne
Nick .... Jonathan Coy
Madeleine .... Sarah Jane Holm
Nathalie .... Kate Fenwick
Louise .... Teresa Gallagher
Anna .... Anna Livia Ryan
Mirco .... Jack Ellis
Milan .... Frank Kovacs
Olga .... Janet Maw
George .... Paul Panting
Teddy .... Kim Wall
Sean .... Alex Lowe
Mr Butler .... Sean Baker
Mrs Butler .... Carolyn Jones
Peter .... Hugh Dickson
Sarah .... Cathy Sara
Director: Marion Nancarrow
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in March 1997.
WED 06:00 Falco (b00qyk7j)
The Iron Hand of Mars
2. Standard Delivery
Falco and Xanthus travel to Germany and witness the aftermath of a grisly crime on the way. As the Roman detective tries to deliver the new standard to the 14th legion, he receives a rather hostile welcome. At least he finds more hospitality at the house of Helena's Tribune brother, Justinus.
Lindsey Davis’s historic novel dramatised by Mary Cutler.
CAST:
Falco …. Anton Lesser
Xanthus …. David Holt
Justinus …. Oliver J Hembrough
Helveticus …. Gary Lewis
Dubnus …. Glyn Pritchard
Centurion …. Jez Thomas
Directed at BBC Birmingham by Peter Leslie Wild.
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 2007.
WED 06:30 Test Room Eight (m001wq8m)
3. The Man in the Grey Hat
Philip Odell investigates another suspicious death at the beleaguered pharmaceutical plant.
Writer Lester Powell’s cool Irish investigator Philip Odell – played by Canadian actor Robert Beatty – featured in ten BBC radio dramas between 1947 and 1961. His feisty, long-suffering assistant, Heather McMara – variously played by Brenda Bruce, Joy Shelton, Joyce Heron, Diana Olsson but in this instance Sheila Manahan – was always on hand with her female intuition.
Philip Odell .... Robert Beatty
Heather McMara .... Sheila Manahan
Coroner .... John Cazabon
Superintendent Manley .... Edward Jewesbury
Wynn Craxton .... Jeffrey Segal
Martin Dersen .... Rolf Lefebvre
Mr Twist .... Frank Windsor
Hugh Chalk .... David Spenser
Barbara Eurich .... Stella Textor
Herbert Truscott .... Hamilton Dyce
Producer: David H Godfrey
First broadcast on the BBC Light Programme in 1959.
WED 07:00 The Warlow Experiment by Alix Nathan (m0007615)
8. Animal
Catherine sets about caring for Warlow who, she perceives, has been living like an animal in the cellar.
Herbert Powyss lives on an estate in the Welsh Marches with enough time and income to pursue a gentleman’s fashionable investigation into botanical experimentation. But he longs to make his mark in the field of science – something consequential enough to present to The Royal Society in London. Influenced by something he’s read, he decides to conduct a radical investigation into the Resilience of the Human Mind Without Society. He places an ad for a suitable guinea pig.
Only one man is desperate enough to apply for the job; a semi-literate, angry wife-basher.
What could possibly go wrong?
Written by Alix Nathan, author of His Last Fire, a collection of short stories and the novel The Flight Of Sarah Battle.
Read by Robert Glenister.
Abridged by Jeremy Osborne.
Producer: Karen Rose
A Sweet Talk Production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in July 2019.
WED 07:15 Curious Under the Stars (m0007bw3)
Series 9: The Fruits of Gwyddno
3. Preparing to Leave
Magical drama set in Glan Don, a mysterious village perched on the wild Welsh coast.
Diane prepares to leave Glan Don.
Gareth ...... Sion Pritchard
Diane ...... Emma Sidi
Emlyn ...... Ifan Huw Dafydd
Matty …... Siw Hughes
Written by Annamaria Murphy
Series created by Meic Povey
Directed by James Robinson and John Norton
A BBC Cymru Wales Production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in August 2019.
WED 07:30 Boswell's Lives (b05415pv)
Series 1
Boswell's Life of Callas
When Boswell meets Maria Callas and her poodle, he finds himself in an opera of his own making.
Jon Canter’s sitcom sees Dr Johnson's celebrated biographer, James Boswell pursue other legends to immortalise.
James Boswell ...... Miles Jupp
Maria Calla ...... Arabella Weir.
Director: Sally Avens
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in February 2015.
WED 08:00 Hancock's Half Hour (b0090xjy)
Series 6
The Picnic
Bill, Sid and The Lad Himself eat al fresco to impress their dates from the local Palais.
Starring Tony Hancock.
With Sidney James, Bill Kerr, Patricia Hayes, Ann Lancaster, Elizabeth Fraser and Wilfred Babbage.
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 October 1959.
WED 08:30 One Foot in the Grave (b007jn08)
2. Timeless Time
Follwing his enforced retirement, grumpy Victor Meldrew's insomnia keeps Margaret awake.
Richard Wilson stars as Victor and Annette Crosbie as his long-suffering wife Margaret.
Adapted for radio by David Renwick from his BBC TV script.
Victor Meldrew ...... Richard Wilson
Margaret Meldrew ...... Annette Crosbie
Winning numerous awards, six series were made for TV plus numerous specials on BBC ONE from 1990 to 2000.
Producer: Diane Messias
First broadcast in January 1995 on BBC Radio 2.
WED 09:00 Dilemma (b01747kt)
Series 1
Episode 1
Would you provide an alibi to someone you hate?
Would you confront an elderly relative about casual racism at a family gathering?
And what are the relative merits of Silvio Berlusconi, Vlad the Impaler, L Ron Hubbard and Amanda Holden?
Sue Perkins sets moral and ethical posers for:
Dave Gorman
Richard Herring
Rebecca Front
Dominic Lawson
This is the panel show spotlighting the choices bombarding us in Britain today, as well as some more theoretical problems.
There are no "right" answers - but there are some deeply damning ones.
Devised by Danielle Ward.
Producer: Ed Morrish
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in November 2011.
WED 09:30 The Leopard in Autumn (b00bs464)
Series 1
The Caramba Campaign
Ludovico - the henpecked Prince of Monte Guano - hears two neighbouring states are set to go to war.
His wife Plethora badgers him into leading his ragbag of conscripts in search of booty, accompanied by his sons and mistress Rosalie...
Neal Anthony's comedy drama set in Renaissance Italy.
Ludovico …. David Swift
Plethora …. Sian Phillips
Francesco …. Graham Crowden
Alessandro …. Paul Bigley
Rosalie …. Saskia Wickham
Savatori …. Nick Romero
Guido …. Christopher Kelham
Brother Michael …. Kim Wall
Producer: Helen Williams
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in April 2001.
WED 10:00 Tina Pepler - Sisters (m001wq8w)
[Repeat of broadcast at 05:00 today]
WED 11:00 Falco (b00qyk7j)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:00 today]
WED 11:30 Test Room Eight (m001wq8m)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:30 today]
WED 12:00 The Warlow Experiment by Alix Nathan (m0007615)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:00 today]
WED 12:15 Curious Under the Stars (m0007bw3)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:15 today]
WED 12:30 Boswell's Lives (b05415pv)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:30 today]
WED 13:00 Hancock's Half Hour (b0090xjy)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:00 today]
WED 13:30 One Foot in the Grave (b007jn08)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:30 today]
WED 14:00 Dilemma (b01747kt)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:00 today]
WED 14:30 The Leopard in Autumn (b00bs464)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:30 today]
WED 15:00 Tina Pepler - Sisters (m001wq8w)
[Repeat of broadcast at 05:00 today]
WED 16:00 Falco (b00qyk7j)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:00 today]
WED 16:30 Test Room Eight (m001wq8m)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:30 today]
WED 17:00 The Warlow Experiment by Alix Nathan (m0007615)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:00 today]
WED 17:15 Curious Under the Stars (m0007bw3)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:15 today]
WED 17:30 Boswell's Lives (b05415pv)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:30 today]
WED 18:00 Hancock's Half Hour (b0090xjy)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:00 today]
WED 18:30 One Foot in the Grave (b007jn08)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:30 today]
WED 19:00 Dilemma (b01747kt)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:00 today]
WED 19:30 The Leopard in Autumn (b00bs464)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:30 today]
WED 20:00 Isy Suttie's Guide to Love and Romance (m000f7pr)
3. Everlasting Love and Breaking Up
Comedian Isy Suttie comes over all romantic using her unique brand of humour to share her lessons in life and love.
Suttie has often observed other people's love lives and regularly intervened, changing the action dramatically - for better or worse.
Discussing 'all things love' in the 21st century with friends, gathering fresh contributions and introducing extracts from The Listening Project she builds a hilarious and often moving account of amour and desire.
Tangled with the speakers and archive, Isy relates real life anecdotes from her own, often disastrous, love life and performs a few new songs on the subject. Featuring a collection of new material, archive clips and her own programmes:
The last of three programmes.
Featuring:
'Isy Suttie's Love Letters: Bob and Marie'
Producer: Stephen Garner
Made for BBC Radio 4 Extra and first broadcast in 2018.
WED 21:00 Short Cuts (m000gl93)
Series 22
Habitat
Growing up in a changing landscape, communicating disaster through a language barrier, a sonic illustration of the world’s dwindling animal populations and finding hope outside our windows. Josie Long presents short documentaries on the climate crisis.
Smoke Signals
Produced by Natalie Kestecher
Hearing Extinction
Produced by Mona Chalabi and Emmy the Great
Mother Earth
Produced by Alia Cassam
Terrace, Rome, Italy during the lockdown
Produced by Daria Corrias
Originally recorded for the Field Recordings podcast
Production Team: Eleanor McDowall and Alia Cassam
Produced by Andrea Rangecroft
A Falling Tree production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in March 2020.
WED 21:30 Jaws by Peter Benchley (b0bfz6qy)
3. 'Let's get the goddamn beached closed.'
It's high summer on Cape Cod's Amity Island, and now two people have been killed just off the coast.
Chief Brody is convinced the killer is a shark, and now all he has to do is work out how he's going to catch it...
Will it ever be safe to go back into the water?
Peter Benchley's classic 1974 novel became one of the most terrifying movies of all time.
Abridged by Richard Hamilton.
Read by Henry Goodman.
Producer: Justine Willett
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in August 2018.
WED 21:45 Electric Decade (m001wq95)
Babelsberg Babylon
3. Run-In
Babelsberg Film Studios, 1929. A major new movie is in production when its star Krista Wolff suddenly disappears. The head of the studio and film's writer are desperate to find her. Each has their own reasons.
The writer Jonas Beck has a run in with a detective investigating the case. But is he really a detective? And what does Jonas have to hide?
This suspenseful drama is set amid the creative ferment of 1920s Berlin, centred around Babelsberg Film Studio, the world's oldest large-scale film studio. Out of the darkness of military defeat, political chaos, poverty and hyperinflation springs the phenomenon of Weimar culture, a defiant celebration of humanity and artistic expression in all its diverse forms. People flock to Berlin to be a part of the cultural explosion. Writer Jonas Beck, actress Krista Wolff and war veteran Peter X are among them.
Jonas Beck ...... Paul Chahidi
Fischer ...... Michael Jibson
Ilse ...... Clare Corbett
Barman ...... Carl Prekopp
Written by Nick Perry.
Director: Sasha Yevtushenko
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in July 2020.
WED 22:00 Stand-Up Specials (m000xzjl)
Alun Cochrane: Centrist Dad?
“A Centrist Dad takes his children to feed the ducks, a Conservative Dad takes his children duck shooting, a Socialist Dad takes his children to a Solidarity With Ducks rally.”
Centrist Dads have a bad reputation. They’re “entirely responsible for Labour’s Election defeat”, “aggressively condescending” and they “like Top Gear too much”. And yet, Alun Cochrane is fine with being one (albeit one who hasn’t actually watched Top Gear).
Recorded in front of a virtual audience from Salford, this show is Alun’s quest for the centre ground, an area bizarrely underpopulated in the comedy world. Comedians should poke fun at all hypocrisy no matter whether it emerges from the right or the left, so why are so few stand-ups apparently adept at sniping from the middle?
Alun investigates whether his politics have changed or if it's the world that has changed around him and left a reasonable man feeling like an extremist. He is pretty sure he isn’t an actual baddie. He spends his days writing jokes in ‘Where’s Wally?’ pyjamas alongside his gluten-free dog. Does that sound like an extremist to you?
Written and performed by Alun Cochrane
Production co-ordinator: Mabel Wright
Sound engineer: Michael Smith
Producer: Richard Morris
Photo credit: Matt Stronge
A BBC Studios Production. First broadcast in 2021.
WED 22:30 Rob Newman (b08nq5x9)
Rob Newman's Neuropolis
Robot New Man (or Attack of the Killer Sci-Fi)
One of Britain's finest comedians, Rob Newman, is our guide on a unique audio odyssey of the brain, taking in everything from love and guilt to robot co-workers and the unlikely importance of prehistoric trousers.
It's a witty, fact-packed series mixing stand-up and sketches, challenging notions of neuroscience with a new theory that's equal parts enlightening and hilarious.
Rob offers an alternative to some of the more bizarre claims in modern popular science, as well as rejigging theories of our brains in light of what we know about nature, artificial intelligence and Belinda Carlisle.
Created by the award-winning team behind Robert Newman's Entirely Accurate Encyclopaedia of Evolution.
Written by and starring Rob Newman.
Co-starring:
Claire Price
Richard McCabe
Producer: Jon Harvey
Executive Producer: Richard Wilson
A Hat Trick production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in May 2017.
WED 23:00 Rubbish (b00770kq)
Series 1
Whistleblower
Martin Christmas is reporter Adam Monk's local government whistleblower, so he's horrified to learn of the existence of a rival mystery whistleblower
This one has told Adam that it was none other than Martin who ordered the notorious "Dalek of Death" compost bins!
Suddenly local government is a very threatening place.
Reece Dinsdale stars as local government officer, cynic and manic-depressive, Martin Christmas in Tony Bagley's sitcom.
Martin ...... Reece Dinsdale
Adam ...... Paul Reynolds
Roger ...... Paul Copley
Scott ...... Kevin Eldon
Sarah ...... Nicola Walker
Alan ...... Mike Walling
Barney ...... James Lance
Speaker 1 ...... Mark Maier
Producer: Claire Bartlett
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in October 2006.
WED 23:30 The Skewer (m001whcn)
Series 11
Episode 2
The week’s biggest stories like you’ve never heard them before. The news, remixed as a satirical comedy concept album.
Jon Holmes presents the multi-award winning The Skewer. Headphones on.
This week - Monty Putin’s Flying Russians, Another Policy Bites The Dust, and Drake vs Prince Harry.
Producer: Jon Holmes
An unusual production for BBC Radio 4
WED 23:45 Tina C (b01by7d5)
Tina C's Global Depression Tour
United Kingdom
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 set off on a six country tour to prove it - and her final stop sees her camping in London outside St Pauls.
Tina C ...... Christopher Green
With:
Paul Mason
Victoria Inez Hard
James Lailey
Director: Jeremy Mortimer.
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in February 2012.

THURSDAY 29 FEBRUARY 2024

THU 00:00 Tina Pepler - Sisters (m001wq8w)
[Repeat of broadcast at 05:00 on Wednesday]
THU 01:00 Falco (b00qyk7j)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:00 on Wednesday]
THU 01:30 Test Room Eight (m001wq8m)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:30 on Wednesday]
THU 02:00 The Warlow Experiment by Alix Nathan (m0007615)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:00 on Wednesday]
THU 02:15 Curious Under the Stars (m0007bw3)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:15 on Wednesday]
THU 02:30 Boswell's Lives (b05415pv)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:30 on Wednesday]
THU 03:00 Hancock's Half Hour (b0090xjy)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:00 on Wednesday]
THU 03:30 One Foot in the Grave (b007jn08)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:30 on Wednesday]
THU 04:00 Dilemma (b01747kt)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:00 on Wednesday]
THU 04:30 The Leopard in Autumn (b00bs464)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:30 on Wednesday]
THU 05:00 W Somerset Maugham - The Razor's Edge (m00021x9)
1. Spiritual Quest
Traumatised young veteran Larry Darrell returns to Chicago after the First World War, but finds it difficult to fit back into society.
To the dismay of his fiancée, Isabel, he heads for Paris, where he embarks on a spiritual quest to find the answers to his many questions.
W Somerset Maugham’s novel was first published in 1944.
Dramatised in two-parts by Ronald Frame.
W Somerset Mauqham ...... Nicholas Le Prevost
Larry ...... John Light
Isabel ...... Megan Dodds
Elliott ...... Edward Petherbridqe
Maturin/Brabazon ...... David Bannerman
Gray ...... Sam Dale
The Swami ...... Amerjit Deu
Sophie ...... Laurel Lefkow
Mrs Bradley ...... Carolyn Pickles
Director: Gaynor MacFarlane
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in December 2005.
THU 06:00 Falco (b00qyq1t)
The Iron Hand of Mars
3. The Ambush
Falco has arrived in Germany and discovered that Gracilis, the Fourteenth Legion's legate, has gone missing. It looks as though he might be involved in some corrupt business with the local potters.
Falco's inquiries get him into trouble with a centurion, and Xanthus the barber reveals an unexpected talent.
Lindsey Davis’s historic novel dramatised by Mary Cutler.
CAST:
Falco …. Anton Lesser
Helena Justina …. Anna Madeley
Justinus …. Oliver J Hembrough
Xanthus …. David Holt
Priscilla …. Rachel Atkins
Julia …. Carolyn Backhouse
Augustinilla …. Sophie Samuda
Centurion …. Jez Thomas
The Accountant/The Potter …. James Durham
Directed at BBC Birmingham by Peter Leslie Wild.
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 2007.
THU 06:30 Test Room Eight (m001wqdp)
4. Interlude in Manchester
Philip Odell goes in pursuit of the elusive Mrs Truscott and is shocked when he discovers her identity.
Writer Lester Powell’s cool Irish investigator Philip Odell – played by Canadian actor Robert Beatty – featured in ten BBC radio dramas between 1947 and 1961. His feisty, long-suffering assistant, Heather McMara – variously played by Brenda Bruce, Joy Shelton, Joyce Heron, Diana Olsson but in this instance Sheila Manahan – was always on hand with her female intuition.
Philip Odell .... Robert Beatty
Heather McMara .... Sheila Manahan
Fred Fazackerly .... David March
Wynn Craxton .... Jeffrey Segal
Barbara Eurich .... Stella Textor
Hugh Chalk .... David Spenser
Mr Russell .... James Thomason
Paula .... Beryl Calder
Producer: David H Godfrey
First broadcast on the BBC Light Programme in 1959.
THU 07:00 The Warlow Experiment by Alix Nathan (m000765y)
9. Freedom
Warlow, freed from the cellar by Abraham Price, sees his children but does not know them. His wife, though, he has recognised.
Herbert Powyss lives on an estate in the Welsh Marches with enough time and income to pursue a gentleman’s fashionable investigation into botanical experimentation. But he longs to make his mark in the field of science – something consequential enough to present to The Royal Society in London. Influenced by something he’s read, he decides to conduct a radical investigation into the Resilience of the Human Mind Without Society. He places an ad for a suitable guinea pig.
Only one man is desperate enough to apply for the job; a semi-literate, angry wife-basher.
What could possibly go wrong?
Written by Alix Nathan, author of His Last Fire, a collection of short stories and the novel The Flight Of Sarah Battle.
Read by Robert Glenister.
Abridged by Jeremy Osborne.
Producer: Karen Rose
A Sweet Talk Production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in August 2019.
THU 07:15 Curious Under the Stars (m0007cv9)
Series 9: The Fruits of Gwyddno
4. Dangerous Discovery
Magical drama set in Glan Don, a mysterious village perched on the wild Welsh coast.
Down in the sunken forests of Gwyddno, Gwynn makes a dangerous discovery.
Gareth ...... Sion Pritchard
Diane ...... Emma Sidi
Emlyn ....... Ifan Huw Dafydd
Megan ...... Aimee Ffion Edwards
Gwynn ...... Matthew Gravelle
Written by Annamaria Murphy
Series created by Meic Povey
Directed by James Robinson and John Norton
A BBC Cymru Wales Production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in August 2019.
THU 07:30 Cooking in a Bedsitter (b084wmzb)
Series 1
Coffee Chiffon
Beattie Edmondson and Nikesh Patel star in Sue Teddern's comedy, set in a 1960s bedsitter - inspired by Katharine Whitehorn's cookery classic.
Trisha is persuaded to cater for a double date.
Trisha ...... Beattie Edmondson
Deepak ...... Nikesh Patel
Jill ...... Natasha Cowley
Mike ...... Finlay Robertson
Stuart ...... Luke MacGregor
June ...... Alison Belbin
Len ...... John Bowler
Tony ...... John Dougall
Katharine Whitehorn ...... Karen Bartke
Director: Emma Harding.
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in December 2016.
THU 08:00 Dad's Army (b007jpcv)
Series 2
All Is Safely Gathered In
Captain Mainwaring's platoon battle to bring in a farmer's harvest - with help from ARP Warden Hodges.
The comic exploits of a Second World War Home Guard platoon in Walmington-on-Sea.
Adapted for radio from Jimmy Perry and David Croft's TV scripts by Harold Snoad and Michael Knowles.
Captain Mainwaring …. Arthur Lowe
Sergeant Wilson …. John Le Mesurier
Corporal Jones …. Clive Dunn
Private Frazer …. John Laurie
Private Godfrey …. Arnold Ridley
Private Pike …. Ian Lavender
Warden Hodges …. Bill Pertwee
Vicar …. Frank Williams
Announcer …. John Snagge
Producer: John Dyas
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in June 1975.
THU 08:30 Wrinkles (m001wqf5)
Series 2
5. Swept Away
The show supplying the answers to questions you never asked.
The mad-cap sitcom set in an old peoples' home.
Starring Tom Mennard and Anthea Askey.
Winston........Ballard Berkeley
Mr Pettigrew....David Ross
Arnold .....Gordon Salkilld
and the special guest appearance of Candice Barker (age 7 3/4).
Written by Rob Grant and Doug Naylor - the creators of Red Dwarf.
Produced at BBC Manchester by Mike Craig.
Recovered audio of a series lost from the BBC archive.
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in December 1981.
THU 09:00 The Unbelievable Truth (m000rd1m)
Series 25
Episode 2
David Mitchell hosts the panel game in which four comedians are encouraged to tell lies.
They compete against one another to see how many items of truth they're able to smuggle past their opponents.
The panellists are obliged to talk with deliberate inaccuracy on subjects as varied as vegetarians, bananas, squid and Eurovision.
Sindhu Vee
Lloyd Langford
Zoe Lyons
Henning Wehn
Producer: Jon Naismith
A Random Entertainment production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in January 2021.
THU 09:30 A Whole 'Nother Story (b0076b6f)
Series 2
Episode 2
Cassie and Simon and Pete and Jenny are now acting like a happy foursome. Or so Pete hopes.
There's a surprise visitor on the way; and a romantic meal, which doesn't end up quite as Cassie hoped...
Amanda Murphy’s comedy-drama series about Cassie and Pete, who'd make a great couple - if they weren't so busy being friends.
Starring Debra Stephenson as Cassie and David Lamb as Pete.
Dad ...... Mike Grady
Mum ...... Brigit Forsyth
Simon ...... Shaun Dooley
Jenny ...... Mika Simmons
PJ ...... Brendan Burns
Producer: Graham Frost
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in October 2002.
THU 10:00 W Somerset Maugham - The Razor's Edge (m00021x9)
[Repeat of broadcast at 05:00 today]
THU 11:00 Falco (b00qyq1t)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:00 today]
THU 11:30 Test Room Eight (m001wqdp)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:30 today]
THU 12:00 The Warlow Experiment by Alix Nathan (m000765y)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:00 today]
THU 12:15 Curious Under the Stars (m0007cv9)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:15 today]
THU 12:30 Cooking in a Bedsitter (b084wmzb)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:30 today]
THU 13:00 Dad's Army (b007jpcv)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:00 today]
THU 13:30 Wrinkles (m001wqf5)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:30 today]
THU 14:00 The Unbelievable Truth (m000rd1m)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:00 today]
THU 14:30 A Whole 'Nother Story (b0076b6f)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:30 today]
THU 15:00 W Somerset Maugham - The Razor's Edge (m00021x9)
[Repeat of broadcast at 05:00 today]
THU 16:00 Falco (b00qyq1t)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:00 today]
THU 16:30 Test Room Eight (m001wqdp)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:30 today]
THU 17:00 The Warlow Experiment by Alix Nathan (m000765y)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:00 today]
THU 17:15 Curious Under the Stars (m0007cv9)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:15 today]
THU 17:30 Cooking in a Bedsitter (b084wmzb)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:30 today]
THU 18:00 Dad's Army (b007jpcv)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:00 today]
THU 18:30 Wrinkles (m001wqf5)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:30 today]
THU 19:00 The Unbelievable Truth (m000rd1m)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:00 today]
THU 19:30 A Whole 'Nother Story (b0076b6f)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:30 today]
THU 20:00 The Sondheim Archive (m000p8hc)
[Repeat of broadcast at 10:00 on Saturday]
THU 21:00 Great Lives (b0076h63)
Noel Coward
TV producer Peter Bazalgette chooses the actor, lyricist and playwright, Noel Coward.
Peter Bazalgaette, the man behind TVs 'Big Brother' and 'Restoration', tells Humphrey Carpenter why Noel Coward should achive great life status.
Joining them is biographer Philip Hoare, and Noel Coward's former literary agent, Michael Imison.
Producer: Miles Warde
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in October 2003.
THU 21:30 Jaws by Peter Benchley (b0bg1l2t)
4. 'It's a shark's tooth.'
As the victims mount, Amity Island's beaches are finally closed.
Chief Brody decides to call in an expert who might help him catch the shark...
Will it ever be safe to go back into the water?
Peter Benchley's classic 1974 novel became one of the most terrifying movies of all time.
Abridged by Richard Hamilton.
Read by Henry Goodman.
Producer: Justine Willett
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in August 2018.
THU 21:45 Electric Decade (m001wqfp)
Babelsberg Babylon
4. Peter X
Babelsberg Film Studios, 1929. A major new movie is in production when its star Krista Wolff suddenly disappears. The head of the studio and film's writer are desperate to find her. Each has their own reasons.
Jonas Beck comes face to face with Peter X, an obsessive movie fan with horrific injuries from the First World War. What does he have to do with Krista Wolff's disappearance?
This suspenseful drama is set amid the creative ferment of 1920s Berlin, centred around Babelsberg Film Studio, the world's oldest large-scale film studio. Out of the darkness of military defeat, political chaos, poverty and hyperinflation springs the phenomenon of Weimar culture, a defiant celebration of humanity and artistic expression in all its diverse forms. People flock to Berlin to be a part of the cultural explosion. Writer Jonas Beck, actress Krista Wolff and war veteran Peter X are among them.
Jonas Beck ...... Paul Chahidi
Krista ...... Cassie Layton
Peter X ...... Carl Prekopp
Fischer ...... Michael Jibson
Written by Nick Perry.
Director: Sasha Yevtushenko
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in July 2020.
THU 22:00 Conversations from a Long Marriage (m001whk3)
Series 5
1. On the Road Again
Episode 1, Series 5: 'On the Road Again'
Joanna Lumley and Roger Allam return with the fifth series of Jan Etherington’s award-winning comedy about a long-married couple in love with life and each other.
This week, Roger and Joanna are left exhausted by bickering dinner guests and Joanna observes ‘Sometimes I think we’re the only happy couple in the world’. Roger responds ‘And then I forget to put the bins out – and you think again’. Roger makes plans to surprise Joanna with a nostalgic birthday trip – in a hippy love bus. Her response is not quite what he had hoped, as she declares ‘I am a five star woman, living a two star life!’ Peace and love are in short supply - until she has a magical birthday encounter.
Conversations from a Long Marriage is Written by Jan Etherington. It is produced and directed by Claire Jones. And it is a BBC Studios Production for Radio 4.
Wilfredo Acosta - sound engineer
Charlotte Sewter - studio assistant
Jon Calver - sound designer
Katie Baum - production coordinator
Conversations from a Long Marriage won the Voice of the Listener & Viewer Award for Best Radio Comedy in 2020, was nominated for a Writers’ Guild Award in 2022 and a British Comedy Guide award in 2024.
‘Joanna Lumley and Roger Allam have had illustrious acting careers but can they ever have done anything better than Jan Etherington’s two hander? This is a work of supreme craftsmanship.’ RADIO TIMES
‘Peppered with nostalgic 60s hits and especially written for the pair, it’s an endearing portrait of exasperation, laced with hard won tolerance – and something like love.’ THE GUARDIAN
‘You’ve been listening at my window, Jan’. JOANNA LUMLEY
‘Sitcom is what marriage is really like – repetitive and ridiculous – and Jan’s words are some of the best ever written on the subject’. RICHARD CURTIS
THU 22:30 Clare in the Community (b014qxbj)
Series 7
The Prisoner
Clare in the Community returns with 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.
Each week we join Clare in her continued struggle to control both her professional and private life. In her private life Clare is struggling to come to terms with Brian's infidelity. Will their relationship survive?
In today's Big Society there are plenty of challenges out there for an involved, caring social worker. Or even Clare.
Clare........Sally Phillips
Brian........Alex Lowe
Megan/Nali........Nina Conti
Ray.........Richard Lumsden
Helen........Liza Tarbuck
Simon.......Andrew Wincott
Libby.........Sarah Kendell
WPC Petherington.......Sophie Thompson
Mr. Chisholm.....Gerard McDermott
Mr Barton............Simon Bubb
Shuliman Olibaju/Annabel......Victoria Inez Hardy
School Girl......Georgia Lowe
Written by Harry Venning and David Ramsden
Produced by Katie Tyrrell.
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 2011.
THU 22:55 The Comedy Club Interviews (m001ww48)
Catherine Bohart 2/2
From 10pm until midnight, seven days a week, the Comedy Club has two hours of comedy. Plus Stephen Bailey chats to Catherine Bohart.
THU 23:00 Foley and McColl: The Interview (b0076cvt)
Rockall
The comedy duo behind the Morecambe and Wise tribute ‘The Play What I Wrote’ finally give their big interview and spill the beans to Michael Parkinson.
Written by and starring Sean Foley and Hamish McColl.
Director: Sally Avens
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in February 2003.
THU 23:15 Jigsaw (b01qwgm6)
Series 1
Episode 2
Trying not to annoy your accountant – and getting really local on chat lines.
A rapid-fire and surreal sketch show.
Pieced together by stand-up comedians Dan Antopolski, Tom Craine and Nat Luurtsema.
Produced by Colin Anderson.
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in February 2013.
THU 23:30 Everyone Quite Likes Justin (b012l4ng)
Series 1
Episode 4
House-hunting sparks all sorts of difficulties for Manchester DJ Justin.
Starring Justin Moorhouse, Anne Reid and Paul Copley.
Sitcom written by Justin Moorhouse and Jim Poyser.
Despite his messy life, Justin always remains positive. Every new day is a new opportunity, "When life throws you lemons, make lemonade".
Recorded in front of an audience in Manchester.
Anne Reid ..... Gran
Christine Bottomley ..... Lisa
Jim Poyser ..... Lisa's boyfriend
Justin Moorhouse ..... Justin
Lloyd Langford ..... Bryn
Paul Copley ..... Ray
Susan Cookson ..... Tanya
Producer: Steven Canny
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in July 2011.

FRIDAY 01 MARCH 2024

FRI 00:00 W Somerset Maugham - The Razor's Edge (m00021x9)
[Repeat of broadcast at 05:00 on Thursday]
FRI 01:00 Falco (b00qyq1t)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:00 on Thursday]
FRI 01:30 Test Room Eight (m001wqdp)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:30 on Thursday]
FRI 02:00 The Warlow Experiment by Alix Nathan (m000765y)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:00 on Thursday]
FRI 02:15 Curious Under the Stars (m0007cv9)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:15 on Thursday]
FRI 02:30 Cooking in a Bedsitter (b084wmzb)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:30 on Thursday]
FRI 03:00 Dad's Army (b007jpcv)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:00 on Thursday]
FRI 03:30 Wrinkles (m001wqf5)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:30 on Thursday]
FRI 04:00 The Unbelievable Truth (m000rd1m)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:00 on Thursday]
FRI 04:30 A Whole 'Nother Story (b0076b6f)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:30 on Thursday]
FRI 05:00 W Somerset Maugham - The Razor's Edge (m0002245)
2. Return to Paris
It's now the 1930s. After travelling in the East, Larry returns to Paris where he meets up with Sophie again - to the horror of his ex-fiancée, Isabel.
Conclusion of W Somerset Maugham’s novel.
Dramatised by Ronald Frame.
W Somerset Mauqham ...... Nicholas Le Prevost
Larry ...... John Light
Isabel ...... Megan Dodds
Elliott ...... Edward Petherbridqe
Gray/Chief Inspector ..... Sam Dale
The Swami ...... Amerjit Deu
Patsy ...... Paul Dinnen
Joseph ...... Philip Fox
Sophie ...... Laurel Lefkow
Miss Keith ...... Carolyn Pickles
Director: Gaynor MacFarlane
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in December 2005.
FRI 06:00 Falco (b00qyr9t)
The Iron Hand of Mars
4. The Pedlar
After making enquiries with Claudia, the missing legate's mistress, Falco decides he has to cross the Rhine into Barbarian territory. Accompanied by Justinus, Helveticus and a motley crew of raw recruits, he sets off on his most dangerous journey yet.
Things begin to look ominous when they find a deserted Roman camp in the heart of the forest.
Lindsey Davis’s historic novel dramatised by Mary Cutler.
CAST:
Falco …. Anton Lesser
Helena Justina …. Anna Madeley
Justinus …. Oliver J Hembrough
Xanthus …. David Holt
Helveticus …. Gary Lewis
Dubnus …. Glyn Pritchard
Lentullus …. Dan Crow
Claudia …. Christine Kavanagh
Directed at BBC Birmingham by Peter Leslie Wild.
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 2007.
FRI 06:30 Test Room Eight (m001wpfc)
5. A State of Tension
Barbara is arrested and charged. Then another body is discovered.
Writer Lester Powell’s cool Irish investigator Philip Odell – played by Canadian actor Robert Beatty – featured in ten BBC radio dramas between 1947 and 1961. His feisty, long-suffering assistant, Heather McMara – variously played by Brenda Bruce, Joy Shelton, Joyce Heron, Diana Olsson but in this instance Sheila Manahan – was always on hand with her female intuition.
Philip Odell .... Robert Beatty
Heather McMara .... Sheila Manahan
Herbert Truscott .... Hamilton Dyce
Wynn Craxton .... Jeffrey Segal
Barbara Eurich .... Stella Textor
Superintendent Manley .... Edward Jewesbury
Colonel Guestling .... Richard Williams
Jill Guestling .... Hilda Schroder
Hugh Chalk .... David Spenser
Producer: David H Godfrey
First broadcast on the BBC Light Programme in 1959.
FRI 07:00 The Warlow Experiment by Alix Nathan (m00076p2)
10. Guilt
With the death of Hannah, at Warlow's hands, Powyss is subsumed by guilt.
Hannah had been expecting his child.
Catherine will care for the family. One day, a beggar knocks on her door.
Herbert Powyss lives on an estate in the Welsh Marches with enough time and income to pursue a gentleman’s fashionable investigation into botanical experimentation. But he longs to make his mark in the field of science – something consequential enough to present to The Royal Society in London. Influenced by something he’s read, he decides to conduct a radical investigation into the Resilience of the Human Mind Without Society. He places an ad for a suitable guinea pig.
Only one man is desperate enough to apply for the job; a semi-literate, angry wife-basher.
What could possibly go wrong?
Written by Alix Nathan, author of His Last Fire, a collection of short stories and the novel The Flight Of Sarah Battle.
Read by Robert Glenister.
Abridged by Jeremy Osborne.
Producer: Karen Rose
A Sweet Talk Production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in August 2019.
FRI 07:15 Curious Under the Stars (m0007dj8)
Series 9: The Fruits of Gwyddno
5. Sale Complete
Magical drama set in Glan Don, a mysterious village perched on the wild Welsh coast.
As the tide returns to reclaim the sunken forest, Diane and Gareth prepare to complete the sale of the Druids Rest.
Gareth ...... Sion Pritchard
Diane ...... Emma Sidi
Emlyn ...... Ifan Huw Dafydd
Megan ...... Aimee Ffion Edwards
Matty ...... Siw Hughes
Written by Annamaria Murphy
Series created by Meic Povey
Directed by James Robinson and John Norton
A BBC Cymru Wales Production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in August 2019.
FRI 07:30 Ed Reardon's Week (b081lkn2)
Series 11
The Fourth Sausage
All is well in Ed's World. He has drafted his son, Jake, to do some cold calling to raise funds for the university coffers whilst he visits his agent to clear out some old boxes from her office.
What he wasn't expecting this week is that one of his old projects 'Sir Jasper's Breakfast' could earn him a small fortune due to its popularity at Hen and Stag 'do's' or that Jake's success at fundraising, and subsequent 10% cut of those funds, would leave his university career in jeopardy.
Written by Andrew Nickolds and Christopher Douglas.
Ed Reardon ...... Christopher Douglas
Olive ...... Stephanie Cole
Pearl ...... Brigit Forsyth
Antonia ...... Sylvestra Le Touzel
Ping ...... Barunka O'Shaughnessy
Jake ...... Sam Pamphillon
Stan ...... Geoffrey Whitehead
Producer: Dawn Ellis.
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in November 2016.
FRI 08:00 Marriage Lines (b0654tx1)
Series 2
Episode 9
Can Kate and George agree on a place to live together with 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
George's Mum …. Diana King
Leslie …. Tim Barrett
Miss Walters …. Charlotte Mitchell
Mrs Harris …. Doris Rogers
Producer: Charles Maxwell
First broadcast on the BBC Light Programme in May 1967.
FRI 08:30 Big Jim and the Figaro Club (b008hpzv)
The French Connection
Arch-rivals - Town Hall clerk, Potts, and sanitary inspector, Perkins - hurl insults and then onions...
Six anarchic tales from those demob days 'when we was going to build the new Jerusalem - you know, before the world turned lax and sour'.
Written by Ted Walker.
Narrated by Bernard Cribbins.
Big Jim …. Norman Rossington
Harold Perkins …. Roland Curram
Old Ned …. Harold Goodwin
Nimrod …. David John
Turps … Sylvester McCoy
Chick …. David Beckett
Potts …. Christopher Godwin
Miss Farquhar …. Hilary Mason
French Onion Johnnie …. Andre Maranne
PC Speedworth. …. Norman Mitchell
Producer: Martin Fisher
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in February 1987.
FRI 09:00 The 3rd Degree (m000x6pm)
Series 11
Anglia Ruskin University
Steve Punt hosts the battle of wits as three students from Anglia Ruskin University take on their professors.
A funny and dynamic quiz show with specialist subjects including sociology, optometry and psychology.
Questions range from the Pole Of Ignorance to the Tumbling E and a CGI lion.
Producer: David Tyler
A Pozzitive production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in June 2021.
FRI 09:30 In and Out of the Kitchen (b016x4sv)
Series 1
April 21st to 25th
Damien is reluctantly drawn into accepting a job for a supermarket's online magazine, whilst Anthony resolves to start the "courgette diet" and lose a few pounds.
More entries from the kitchen diary of cookery writer, Damien Trench - written by and starring Miles Jupp.
In a mixture of narrative, dialogue and recipes, Damien unflinchingly captures every angle of his day-to-day life, "no matter how grizzly or, indeed, how gristly".
The programme also features Damien's easy-to-follow recipes for a simple Lobster Bisque, a comforting Lardy Cake, relaxing Nettle Tea and easy Wiener Schnitzel.
Damien Trench ...... Miles Jupp
Anthony ...... Justin Edwards
Geraldine McBeef ...... Margaret Cabourn-Smith
Mr Mullaney ...... Brendan Dempsey
Ian Frobisher ...... Philip Fox
Producer: Sam Michell
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in November 2011.
FRI 10:00 W Somerset Maugham - The Razor's Edge (m0002245)
[Repeat of broadcast at 05:00 today]
FRI 11:00 Falco (b00qyr9t)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:00 today]
FRI 11:30 Test Room Eight (m001wpfc)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:30 today]
FRI 12:00 The Warlow Experiment by Alix Nathan (m00076p2)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:00 today]
FRI 12:15 Curious Under the Stars (m0007dj8)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:15 today]
FRI 12:30 Ed Reardon's Week (b081lkn2)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:30 today]
FRI 13:00 Marriage Lines (b0654tx1)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:00 today]
FRI 13:30 Big Jim and the Figaro Club (b008hpzv)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:30 today]
FRI 14:00 The 3rd Degree (m000x6pm)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:00 today]
FRI 14:30 In and Out of the Kitchen (b016x4sv)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:30 today]
FRI 15:00 W Somerset Maugham - The Razor's Edge (m0002245)
[Repeat of broadcast at 05:00 today]
FRI 16:00 Falco (b00qyr9t)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:00 today]
FRI 16:30 Test Room Eight (m001wpfc)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:30 today]
FRI 17:00 The Warlow Experiment by Alix Nathan (m00076p2)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:00 today]
FRI 17:15 Curious Under the Stars (m0007dj8)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:15 today]
FRI 17:30 Ed Reardon's Week (b081lkn2)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:30 today]
FRI 18:00 Marriage Lines (b0654tx1)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:00 today]
FRI 18:30 Big Jim and the Figaro Club (b008hpzv)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:30 today]
FRI 19:00 The 3rd Degree (m000x6pm)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:00 today]
FRI 19:30 In and Out of the Kitchen (b016x4sv)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:30 today]
FRI 20:00 Goodnight John Boy (b018g3nq)
Frank Cottrell Boyce celebrates one of the great TV families - 'The Waltons'.
'Goodnight, John Boy,' became one of the most common catchphrases of the 1970s, born as it was from one of that decade's most popular TV programmes, 'The Waltons'. Set in rural Virginia during the Depression, the show offered something very different from the typical television of the time, which was chiefly made up of urban shows like 'Kojak', 'The Mod Squad' and 'Starsky and Hutch'. Not only was the setting different but so was the set of characters - poor, blue collar people who were broadly speaking happy with their lives - anathema to many commissioning editors.
In 'Goodnight, John Boy', Frank Cottrell Boyce - himself father of seven children and a successful TV writer - tries to find out precisely why it was such an unlikely TV recipe which proved quite so irresistable to many millions of viewers, and challenges the commonly held view that it was simple nostalgia that played to a Conservative moral agenda.
When George Bush Sr. argued that America needed a lot more families like the Waltons and fewer like the Simpsons, he failed to recognise that the show and the family were deeply rooted in the values of FDR's New Deal. Indeed members of the cast such as Will Geer (Grandpa) and Ralph Waite (Pa Walton) were themselves very active on the political left, with Geer blacklisted as a gay communist and Waite refusing to take part in a photo shoot with President Nixon.
Boyce speaks to a number of the cast members (including those who played Pa Walton, John Boy, and Elizabeth) as well as Earl Hamner, who wrote the books upon which the series was based.
Produced by Geoff Bird.
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in December 2011.
FRI 20:30 Soul Music (b00mg3yv)
Series 8
The Look of Love
Series exploring famous pieces of music and their emotional appeal.
Hal David discusses writing The Look of Love with Burt Bacharach, for the soundtrack of the spoof 1967 James Bond film Casino Royale. This classic track, sung by Dusty Springfield, provided the musical backdrop for a love scene between Peter Sellers and Ursula Andress.
Dusty Springfield's former backing singer, Simon Bell, remembers being on stage at the Albert Hall when Dusty laughed her way through a performance of the song, and musician Jonathan Cohen describes how the samba rhythm underscoring Dusty's smooth vocals combine to make this an enduringly popular love song.
It has been covered many times by artists including Isaac Hayes, Gladys Knight and the French singer Mirielle Mathieu. This programme hears from people whose personal memories of love and loss are forever linked with The Look of Love.
Contributors:
Sue Clarke
Wally Welling
Simon Bell
Trevor Foster
Jonathan Cohen
Hal David
Producer: Karen Gregor
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 2010.
FRI 21:00 And the Academy Award Goes To... (b01qgr43)
Series 4
In The Heat Of The Night
It makes for uncomfortable viewing. A Southern policeman insolently challenges Sidney Poitier, a detective from 'up North'.
"So, boy, what do they call you in Philadelphia?"
"They call me Mister Tibbs!"
It's one of the great movie lines in history, from Sidney Poitier's favourite of all his films. But was "In The Heat of the Night" a worthy winner of the Best Picture?
Up against tough competition, including "The Graduate" and "Bonnie and Clyde", it's been suggested that this might have been an Oscar vote carried on a tidal wave of outrage during the peak years of the Civil Rights movement.
In 1967, "In The Heat of the Night" seemed to speak out against an America riven with racial tensions. The Watts Riots had just devastated Los Angeles, close to Hollywood. The film was set in Mississippi, but the crew were forced to choose Illinois in the North as a safer location. The murder of Martin Luther King, and his subsequent funeral, delayed the Oscar ceremony in 1968 by several days - enabling the cast and crew of "In The Heat of the Night" to attend his funeral.
All these stories and more are told to Paul Gambaccini by veteran director - Norman Jewison, and he also hears from his legendary producer - Walter Mirisch - who at the age of 91, still makes his way to his film studios in Hollywood, and takes lunch at Spagos.
Plus the thoughts of one of the world's great cinematographer's Haskell Wexler - who was the first to devise lighting especially for darker skin tones - and sets the scene for Norman Jewison's dramatic reconstruction of a country divided along racial lines that has echoes today.
Producer: Sara Jane Hall
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in February 2013.
FRI 21:30 Jaws by Peter Benchley (b0bg1vhf)
5. 'Suppose someone gets killed.'
As Brody becomes more and more obsessed with the shark, he's oblivious to the threats to his own marriage...
Will the beaches open for the 4th of July?
And will it ever be safe to go back into the water?
Peter Benchley's classic 1974 novel became one of the most terrifying movies of all time.
Abridged by Richard Hamilton.
Read by Henry Goodman.
Producer: Justine Willett
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in August 2018.
FRI 21:45 Electric Decade (m001wpfk)
Babelsberg Babylon
5. Gunpoint
Babelsberg Film Studios, 1929. A major new movie is in production when its star Krista Wolff suddenly disappears. The head of the studio and film's writer are desperate to find her. Each has their own reasons.
Ending up back where it started, Jonas Beck is holding the Babelsberg Studio boss Otto Lenz at gunpoint.
What's tipped him over the edge? Is it the fate of Krista Wolff or the rewrites to his script?
This suspenseful drama is set amid the creative ferment of 1920s Berlin, centred around Babelsberg Film Studio, the world's oldest large-scale film studio. Out of the darkness of military defeat, political chaos, poverty and hyperinflation springs the phenomenon of Weimar culture, a defiant celebration of humanity and artistic expression in all its diverse forms. People flock to Berlin to be a part of the cultural explosion. Writer Jonas Beck, actress Krista Wolff and war veteran Peter X are among them.
Jonas Beck ...... Paul Chahidi
Otto Lenz ...... Anton Lesser
Lottie ...... Clare Corbett
Barman ...... Carl Prekopp
Written by Nick Perry.
Director: Sasha Yevtushenko
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in July 2020.
FRI 22:00 Jokes (p0hc1sjt)
Stuart Mitchell's Cost of Living
1. Stuart Eats a Pigeon
Comedian Stuart Mitchell examines his own cost of living crisis. His journey of self discovery is prompted by a visit to one of Gordon Ramsay's restaurants - a meal that makes him question his entire existence.
Each episode, Stuart looks at a chapter of his own unbelievable, but absolutely true, life story.
A working class boy, with huge aspirations, Stuart achieved everything he dreamed of and more. However, he soon came to realise that the cost of having everything was more than he was willing to pay. A morality tale featuring his time working in Westminster, moving to a highly paid job in banking and willingly losing it all to find happiness; Stuart will make us all question the true cost of living.
Written and performed by Stuart Mitchell
Produced by Lauren Mackay
FRI 22:15 Jokes (m001wpg2)
Jazz Emu: The Sound of Us
1. The Sound of Love
Jazz Emu sets out to write his friends the most romantic song ever created, in order to save their crumbling relationship and make everything in his friendship group nice again. Digging back into his alternative musical archives, Jazz takes inspiration from Barry White, George Michael and ACDC in order to learn about what makes a song romantic. Armed with misguided understanding and unerring confidence, Jazz is ready to blow some minds. If music be the food of love, it’s lunchtime. Or something like that?
Jazz Emu: musician, 70s lothario-type, ex-Hollywood foley artist and internationally renowned idiot. After a long career in (and often out) of the spotlight, he has decided to present a radio show in order to connect with the average Joes (and Janes, and other boring names) and bestow his expert knowledge of Sound upon the universe.
Written by Archie Henderson and Adrian Gray
Starring: Archie Henderson, Adrian Gray, Emmanuel Sonubi, Lorna Rose Treen, Cody Dahler
Produced by Sasha Bobak
A BBC Studios Production for Radio 4
FRI 22:30 Rum Bunch (b08r1wy8)
Grissock
Justin Edwards, Mel Giedroyc and Dave Mounfield are in the mining town of Grissock to tell the story of talc through the ages, using songs, sketches and powerful verbatim theatre.
Justin has actually done some research for this week's play, interviewing some miners in the social club and writing down what they said to him. Sadly ,not all of it was relevant. The band go on strike and special guest Vicki Pepperdine launches a coup.
Is this the end for Rum Bunch?
The Rum Bunch is Justin Edwards (The Consultants, The Odd Half Hour, Newsjack, Sorry I've Got No Head, The Thick of It), Mel Giedroyc (Mel and Sue, Bake Off, Let It Shine) and Dave Mounfield (Count Arthur Strong, This Is Jinsy).
The house band is Jason Hazeley and David Reed - The Penny Dreadfuls.
Produced by Jim North.
A Top Dog production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in May 2017.
FRI 23:00 Absolute Power (b007nf8w)
Series 1
Episode 2
Prentis McCabe - the machiavellian doctors of spin - attempt the impossible.
Can they relaunch The Sun newspaper as the beacon of the pro Euro movement while retaining the newspaper's traditional readership nurtured on a healthy diet of extreme xenophobia?
Mark Tavener's comedy about the two specialists in government and media relations.
Starring Stephen Fry as Charles Prentiss and John Bird as Martin McCabe.
With:
Tony Gardner
Siobhan Hayes
Roger Blake
Neil McCaul
Producer: Paul Schlesinger
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in January 2000.
FRI 23:30 All the World's a Globe (b007jwt1)
5. The Male Nude and Charlton Heston
From St Francis to Buddhism
The history of mankind from the first amoeba to the Second World War.
Presented by the entire cast of the National Theatre of Brent - Desmond Olivier Dingle and Wallace, aided by Mr Barker.
Written by Patrick Barlow, with additional material by Jim Broadbent and Martin Duncan.
With guest star Peter Barker.
With thanks to
Patrick Barlow
Jim Broadbent
Martin Duncan
Producer: Lissa Evans
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in May 1990.
FRI 23:45 Before They Were Famous (b05y0qlc)
Series 3
Episode 5
Ian Leslie presents the show which brings to light the often surprising first literary attempts of the world's best known writers.
The episode begins with Jane Austen's first employ as a bailiff's clerk penning exceptionally sweet letters to unfortunately late paying debtors.
To follow, we hear Edward Lear's indecipherable missives on behalf of the British Intelligence services and a Radio 4 stalwart, the Shipping Forecast, is re-imagined in a submission found in the archives from a young Martin Amis suggesting how to update the format.
To end, there's another of Henrik Ibsen's unexpected offerings of jokes for a Christmas cracker company.
Producer: Claire Broughton
A Hat Trick production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in June 2015.