The BBC has announced that it has a sustainable plan for the future of the BBC Singers, in association with The VOCES8 Foundation.
The threat to reduce the staff of the three English orchestras by 20% has not been lifted, but it is being reconsidered.
See the BBC press release here.

Radio-Lists Home Now on BBC 4 Contact

RADIO-LISTS: BBC FOUR
Unofficial Weekly Listings for BBC 4 — supported by bbc.co.uk/programmes/



SATURDAY 20 JULY 2013

SAT 19:00 John Sergeant on Tracks of Empire (b00t3dbd)
Unite and Divide

John Sergeant embarks on a unique 3,000 mile journey through the history of the greatest legacy the British left to India - its rail network. The biggest in Asia, it runs on 40,000 miles of track and reaches every corner of the subcontinent. Proposed in 1853 by Governor General Lord Dalhousie, it would become the biggest engineering project of its time and instrumental in every chapter of India's history.

Starting in Kolkata, Sergeant traverses India from east to west, travels through turbulent Bihar state, visits the Victorian railway town of Jamalpur, and discovers why the construction of the Dufferin Bridge at Varanasi resulted in Victorian technology and ingenuity clashing with ancient religion, before ending his journey at the border with Pakistan.

Even though Mahatma Gandhi denounced the railways as evil, Sergeant reveals how it became a civil engineering triumph that united the country and played a crucial role when India became independent in 1947.


SAT 20:00 Oceans (b00fzbf7)
Indian Ocean - Coastal

The team explores the coastal waters of the Indian Ocean to discover what happens when the powerful Indian Ocean collides with the edge of a continent. Expedition leader Paul Rose, environmentalist Philippe Cousteau Jr, maritime archaeologist Dr Lucy Blue and marine biologist and oceanographer Tooni Mahto search for one of the ocean's most mysterious creatures, the seahorse, to see how the population is fairing amid increasing demand from the eastern medicine market.

They dive in search of the sunken remains of a medieval village, dragged into the sea by a cyclone, and the team works with scientists on a pioneering experiment to see how these coastal waters could help to predict natural disasters.

Finally, they take part in a global experiment to help protect the largest fish in the sea - the whale shark.


SAT 21:00 Wallander (b00ww5kf)
Firewall

Part 1

Two-part thriller based on Henning Mankell's novel. Detective Superintendent Kurt Wallander investigates two apparently unrelated deaths, which turn out to be linked to an international cyber-terrorism plot. During the investigation, Wallander discovers that he suffers from diabetes and a mysteriously alluring nurse offers to help him deal with his condition.


SAT 22:25 Southern Rock at the BBC (b01f1bwb)
Classic clips - from the Old Grey Whistle Test, In Concert and even Wogan - of Southern rock boogie in excelsis from the bands who poured out of the Deep South in the 70s. Includes performances from The Ozark Mountain Daredevils, Delaney & Bonnie with Eric Clapton, Dickey Betts from The Allman Brothers Band, The Marshall Tucker Band, Black Oak Arkansas, The Charlie Daniels Band, Gregg Allman with then-wife Cher, Edgar Winter and, of course, Lynyrd Skynyrd.


SAT 23:25 Sweet Home Alabama: The Southern Rock Saga (b01f1bt0)
An epic 1970s tale about a group of rebel rock bands who rose up from one of the most unpopular, marginalised parts of the USA - the Deep South - and conquered the world.

The Allman Brothers, Lynyrd Skynyrd and others that followed did this entirely on their own terms, blending the music of the region - blues, country, rock and roll - with a gung-ho attitude that set the South, and then America, on fire.

Their diverse styles, from juke joint boogie and country-rock honks to cosmic blues blasts, had a huge cultural and political impact, even helping to elect Jimmy Carter as president in 1976.

Their extraordinary adventure is brought to life through vivid period archive and contributions from the survivors of those crazy times, including Gregg Allman, REM's Mike Mills, Doug Gray, Al Kooper, Bonnie Bramlett, Charlie Daniels and other key figures in the movement.

Turn on, tune in, get jukin'...


SAT 00:25 The Old Grey Whistle Test (b01g827h)
Lynyrd Skynyrd in Concert

Bob Harris presents a 1975 Lynyrd Skynyrd concert from BBC TV Theatre, Shepherd's Bush, featuring Double Trouble, I Ain't The One, Call Me the Breeze, Same Old Blues, Every Mother's Son, Sweet Home Alabama and Freebird.


SAT 01:10 Top of the Pops (b03727gw)
David 'Kid' Jensen introduces the weekly pop charts featuring performances from Sham 69, A Taste of Honey, Justin Hayward, the New Seekers, Raydio, Child and a dance routine by Legs & Co.


SAT 01:50 Oceans (b00fzbf7)
[Repeat of broadcast at 20:00 today]


SAT 02:50 John Sergeant on Tracks of Empire (b00t3dbd)
[Repeat of broadcast at 19:00 today]



SUNDAY 21 JULY 2013

SUN 19:00 A Poet's Guide to Britain (b00k99tf)
William Wordsworth

Poet and author Owen Sheers presents a series in which he explores six great works of poetry set in the British landscape. Each poem explores a sense of place and identity across Britain and opens the doors to captivating stories about the places and the lives of the poets themselves. This episode features Composed upon Westminster Bridge by William Wordsworth.

In 1802, Wordsworth, the great Romantic poet of nature and the man famous for writing about the Lake District, daffodils and clouds, penned a short but electrifying poem about the stinking, filthy, heaving city of London. In fact, the poem was a captivating, sublime portrait of the city at dawn which still has the power to catch one's breath.

Sheers investigates what Wordsworth was doing when he wrote the poem on a summer morning in 1802, and uncovers a story that involves three different women. Wordsworth lived in Grasmere in the Lake District, sharing a small cottage in an unusual domestic arrangement with his sister Dorothy. In the spring of that year he decided to marry an old schoolfriend, Mary Hutchinson. However, in order to do so he first needed to clear the air with his French ex-girlfriend and mother of his daughter Caroline, a nine-year-old girl he had yet to meet.

In July 1802, William and Dorothy set out from Grasmere to Calais via London on the intriguing journey that would lead them across the bridge. Sheers follows their journey, discovers how the poem came into existence and examines exactly what Wordsworth wrote. He talks to Wordsworth fans including that epitome of Northern cool, poet Simon Armitage, the writer-in-residence at the Wordsworth Trust, Adam O'Riordan, and some of the commuters who cross Westminster Bridge every morning on their way to work.


SUN 19:30 BBC Proms (b037j1nw)
2013

Proms on Four: 20th Century Classics - Les Siecles

From the Royal Albert Hall, Tom Service introduces Stravinsky's The Rite of Spring, probably the defining work of 20th century music. Conducted by François-Xavier Roth, French orchestra Les Siècles recreate the composer's original version with the period instruments of the ballet's notorious 1913 Paris debut. The rest of the programme traces the roots and shoots of the 20th century avant-garde, going back to the 17th century beginnings of ballet in the baroque of Lully, through Rameau's exotic 18th century Les Indes Galantes and into the late 19th century with Delibes' Coppélia and Massenet's Le Cid, 30 years before the explosion of the Rite.


SUN 21:10 Omnibus (b0074kgk)
Elizabeth Taylor - England's Other Elizabeth

Profile drawn from Elizabeth Taylor's visit to Britain in 2000, during which she received her damehood from the Queen. Hollywood's last great star talks for the first time in years about her career, her life and the challenges of the future.

From her early days as a child star in Lassie Come Home and National Velvet to becoming the century's biggest star of all - in Cleopatra - her life, her loves and her work have all been lived to an intensity no other star can match.

Joined by Shirley MacLaine, Rod Steiger and Angela Lansbury, Taylor remembers the glory days of working with Richard Burton, Montgomery Clift, Rock Hudson, James Dean and Paul Newman, how filming never stopped regardless of what life threw at her, the pain and pleasure of two Oscars - one for a film she can hardly bear to remember - and, not least, the feelings she has for Britain, where she was born and how it was her English accent that launched her on the way to stardom at the very beginning.


SUN 22:05 Clara Bow: Hollywood's Lost Screen Goddess (b01pjn8h)
Documentary about Clara Bow, a cinema sensation who broke box office records and became one of the greatest stars of the silent screen. Amid scandal and ill health, she retired for good at the age of just 28. Once the Queen of Hollywood, now largely forgotten - whatever happened to Clara Bow?


SUN 23:05 Arena (b01pjlhv)
Screen Goddesses

Documentary about the early female movie stars: Greta Garbo, Marlene Dietrich, Rita Hayworth, Marilyn Monroe - immortal goddesses made by Hollywood to reign over the silver screen.

With the beginnings of Hollywood, the star system was born with an archetypal bad girl - the vampish Theda Bara - and the good girl - the blazingly sincere Lillian Gish. From the 1920s, vivacious Clara Bow and seductive siren Louise Brooks are most remembered, but none made the impact of Marlene Dietrich, an icon of mystery, or Greta Garbo, with her perfect features and gloomy introspection.

From the power of Joan Crawford and Bette Davis to the seductiveness of Rita Hayworth and Ava Gardner, Hollywood studios produced their own brand of beautiful, sassy and confident women. But it wasn't to last. The era drew to a close with the supreme fame of Elizabeth Taylor and the tragic death of Marilyn Monroe.

Narrated by Elizabeth McGovern.


SUN 00:05 How the Brits Rocked America: Go West (b01bgqlc)
Stairway to Heaven

The second part of a series celebrating the success of British rock in America looks at how Led Zeppelin spearheaded a British stadium rock assault on the States in the 70s. The Beatles gave the world a glimpse of the future of rock at Shea Stadium in 1965, but it would be Page, Plant and co who would take it to the bank.

With contributions from Paul McCartney and Jimmy Page.


SUN 01:05 Later... with Jools Holland (b00dwfyy)
Guitar Heroes

Guitar heroes from as far away as Mexico and as close to home as Chiswick have all come to rock the Later studio since 1995. This collection of performances brings together the best of them, from the legendary Buddy Guy to the homegrown guitar superstars he inspired, such as Eric Clapton, Jimmy Page, Jeff Beck and Pete Townshend. Joining them on the bill are Santana, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, The White Stripes, Radiohead and more.


SUN 02:05 Omnibus (b0074kgk)
[Repeat of broadcast at 21:10 today]


SUN 03:00 Clara Bow: Hollywood's Lost Screen Goddess (b01pjn8h)
[Repeat of broadcast at 22:05 today]



MONDAY 22 JULY 2013

MON 19:00 World News Today (b037bblf)
The latest national and international news, exploring the day's events from a global perspective.


MON 19:30 South Africa Walks (b00s8fxz)
The Drakensberg

Having tackled treks across the UK, Julia Bradbury embarks on a grand adventure in South Africa, setting out on four different walks that explore its claim to be 'a world in one country'.

Julia is a regular visitor to the Rainbow Nation, but this is her chance to go far beyond the normal tourist destinations to a series of increasingly remote locations. However, these are walks that any reasonably adventurous walker could embark on and they offer a fresh and personal perspective on a friendly and fascinating country that is often misunderstood.

Julia moves to the interior for her second walk and the grandest mountain range in southern Africa, the Drakensberg. The 3,000m Cathedral Peak is the ambition for Julia and her Zulu guide Zee. As she quickly discovers, even the fittest and most experienced walkers need luck on their side when it comes to the dramatic weather of these mountains. With Zulus, Brits and Boers to provide the history, this is an outing filled with drama and fascination, set against a backdrop sometimes described as the most beautiful on Earth.


MON 20:00 Britain on Film (b01nrmwp)
Series 1

A Woman's Place

In 1959 Britain's biggest cinema company, the Rank Organisation, decided to replace its newsreels with a series of short, quirky, topical documentaries that examined all aspects of life in Britain. For the next ten years, Look at Life chronicled - on high-grade 35mm colour film - the changing face of British society, industry and culture.

Britain on Film draws upon the 500 films in this unique archive to offer illuminating and often surprising insights into what became a pivotal decade in modern British history. The opening episode reveals how Look at Life reflected the radical shifts in the position of women in British society, and shows how the country adapted to the new demands and expectations of women at home and in the workplace and at play.


MON 20:30 Only Connect (b037c4r5)
Series 7

Celts v Festival Fans

In the first of the semi-finals, a team from Wales take on a trio of festival fans, competing to draw together the connections between things which, at first glance, seem utterly random. So join Victoria Coren Mitchell if you want to know what connects US green cards, Vietnam conscription, £161,653,000 and drafting picks in the NBA.


MON 21:00 Burton and Taylor (p01c8jm8)
Drama telling the story of Hollywood's most glamorous couple, Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor, who acted together for the last time in Noel Coward's Private Lives in 1983.

When Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton met on the set of Cleopatra, the attraction was immediate. The public were enthralled by their illicit romance, two tempestuous marriages, frequent break-ups and extravagant reunions. They were the original fabulous stars, conspicuous in their consumption of clothes, houses, yachts, diamonds, and, more damagingly, alcohol.

In 1976 Richard and Elizabeth divorced for the second time. They both married other people and it seemed that the romance of the century might truly be over. Then, in 1982, they both separated and were free again. In 1983, Richard and Elizabeth had one final reunion on the stage when they spent seven months touring with Noel Coward's Private Lives. During the tour public speculation grew about the possibility of another marriage, but in private old frictions played out once again. Speculation about another reunion ended when Richard Burton married his fiancée Sally Hay halfway through the run.

This is the story of the first celebrity 'it' couple. Beyond alcohol, pills and the trappings of fame, was love the ultimate crutch that allowed them to escape the realities of their extraordinary lives? Funny, glamorous, tempestuous and dripping with diamonds, this is the last battle of the Burtons.


MON 22:25 The Richard Burton Diaries (b01nw4wn)
Richard Burton's talent, presence and unforgettable voice made him a superstar of stage and screen. The Welsh actor was equally famous for his hellraising, womanising private life and his two marriages to Elizabeth Taylor. Private diaries he wrote at the height of his fame have been published in their entirety for the first time and present a unique opportunity to reassess the man behind the myth.

Narrated by Mali Harries, with extract readings by Josh Richards.


MON 22:55 Omnibus (b0074kgk)
[Repeat of broadcast at 21:10 on Sunday]


MON 23:50 Some People with Jokes (p00w080m)
Series 1

Some Vicars with Jokes Part 2

More laughs from the pulpit, as vicars from around the UK crack their favourite jokes. Old, new, clean and blue, it's a side-splitting sermon for saints and sinners alike. Hallelujah!


MON 00:20 Only Connect (b037c4r5)
[Repeat of broadcast at 20:30 today]


MON 00:50 Bought with Love: The Secret History of British Art Collections (b0376y1l)
The Pioneers

Britain's country houses are home to astonishing world-class art collections full of priceless old masters and more. In this three-part series art historian Helen Rosslyn opens the doors of some of our most impressive country houses to tell the story of how so many great paintings came to Britain and of the adventurous men and women who brought them here.

In the first episode she reveals the immense influence of the 17th-century pioneer collectors such as Thomas Howard, the 'Collector' Earl of Arundel, King Charles I and his entourage known as the Whitehall Group. Rosslyn explores how this group also brought a taste for the Baroque to Britain, commissioning continental artists such as Rubens, Van Dyck and later Antonio Verrio.

Featuring Verrio's extraordinary Hell Staircase at Burghley House in Cambridgeshire, as well as highlights from the collections at Arundel Castle in Sussex and Wilton House in Wiltshire, the series offers not only a visual treat but a surprising narrative to our national treasures.


MON 01:50 The Richard Burton Diaries (b01nw4wn)
[Repeat of broadcast at 22:25 today]


MON 02:20 Burton and Taylor (p01c8jm8)
[Repeat of broadcast at 21:00 today]



TUESDAY 23 JULY 2013

TUE 19:00 World News Today (b037bbll)
The latest national and international news, exploring the day's events from a global perspective.


TUE 19:30 South Africa Walks (b00s8fy1)
The Kruger

Having tackled treks across the UK, Julia Bradbury embarks on a grand adventure in South Africa, setting out on four very different walks that explore its claim to be 'a world in one country'.

Julia is a regular visitor to the Rainbow Nation, but this is her chance to go far beyond the normal tourist destinations to a series of increasingly remote locations. However, these are all walks that any reasonably adventurous walker could embark on, and they offer a fresh and personal perspective on a friendly and fascinating country that is so often misunderstood.

Having progressed from South African coast to mountains, Julia ups the ante as she prepares to head out on foot in one of the world's most famous game reserves. Call it exhilarating or foolhardy, this is a walking adventure amongst the biggest and most dangerous beasts in Africa. But Julia is well looked after by Jaco, an expert game ranger who proves that the Kruger is far more than just big cats and elephants. This is a unique opportunity to roam freely in one of the world's true wildernesses.


TUE 20:00 Horizon (b013pnv4)
2011-2012

Seeing Stars

Around the world, a new generation of astronomers are hunting for the most mysterious objects in the universe. Young stars, black holes, even other forms of life.

They have created a dazzling new set of supertelescopes that promise to rewrite the story of the heavens.

This film follows the men and women who are pushing the limits of science and engineering in some of the most extreme environments on earth. But most strikingly of all, no-one really knows what they will find out there.


TUE 21:00 Cleopatra: The Film That Changed Hollywood (b037k3nl)
Feature-length documentary recounting the making of Cleopatra, which starred Liz Taylor and Richard Burton. Twentieth Century Fox's 1963 epic film has been called the most expensive film of all time, the biggest-ever flop and the film that nearly bankrupted a Hollywood studio, while the scandal of the on-set romance between its two stars caused a media storm. Featuring rare footage, the film's original uncut trailer and interviews with those involved.


TUE 23:00 Clara Bow: Hollywood's Lost Screen Goddess (b01pjn8h)
[Repeat of broadcast at 22:05 on Sunday]


TUE 00:00 Timeshift (b01rjr2y)
Series 12

How To Be A Lady: An Elegant History

Journalist Rachel Johnson goes in search of what seems an almost vanished social type - the lady. With a handful of vintage etiquette books to guide her and a generous helping of film archive, she wants to find out how the idea of the lady changed over time - and what it might mean to be one now. Along the way she tries out etiquette classes and side-saddle lessons, as well as discovering that debutante balls have been revived for export.


TUE 01:00 Horizon (b013pnv4)
[Repeat of broadcast at 20:00 today]


TUE 02:00 Cleopatra: The Film That Changed Hollywood (b037k3nl)
[Repeat of broadcast at 21:00 today]



WEDNESDAY 24 JULY 2013

WED 19:00 World News Today (b037bblr)
The latest national and international news, exploring the day's events from a global perspective.


WED 19:30 Top of the Pops (b037kmgr)
Peter Powell introduces the weekly pop charts featuring performances from the Rezillos, Foreigner, Hi-Tension, Raydio, Renaissance, Jilted John and a dance routine by Legs & Co.


WED 20:00 Chivalry and Betrayal: The Hundred Years War (b01qsqd2)
Breaking the Bonds 1360-1415

England, wracked by plague and revolt, loses the upper hand until Henry V, determined to prove his right to be king, turns the tide at the battle of Agincourt.


WED 21:00 Bought with Love: The Secret History of British Art Collections (b037c5gt)
The Golden Age

With Britain's country houses being home to world-class art collections full of priceless old masters and more, this three-part series sees art historian Helen Rosslyn tell the story of how great art has been brought to Britain by passionate collectors and how these same collectors have also turned patron and commissioned work from the cream of their contemporary crop of painters.

In this episode she focuses on the 18th century, the Grand Tour era when aristocrats filled their Palladian villas with masterpieces by 17th-century classical painters. Throwing open the doors of some of our most magnificent stately homes, Rosslyn visits Holkham Hall in Norfolk to view the Grand Tour collection there, before going on to explore the legacy of the Dukes of Richmond at Goodwood House. She also visits Petworth House in Sussex, where the one-time Lord Egremont patronised JMW Turner.


WED 22:00 Some People with Jokes (b037c5yn)
Series 1

Some Boffins with Jokes

Some of the nation's sharpest scientific minds and keenest brains tell their favourite jokes. Do boffins find the same things funny as us regular citizens? Let the nation decide.


WED 22:30 The Crow Road (b00mwqvs)
Original

Fergus

The McHoan family is devasted at Kenneth's death and Uncle Hamish blames himself. Prentice is unhappy as well, more so when a pregnant Verity arrives at the funeral with Lewis and they announce they are to be married. At the funeral Janice tells Prentice that Rory was on his way to Gallach to speak to Kenneth after discovering a family secret. Ashley helps Prentice discover the information on Rory's computer discs concerning Aunt Fiona.


WED 23:30 John Sergeant on Tracks of Empire (b00t3dbd)
[Repeat of broadcast at 19:00 on Saturday]


WED 00:30 Top of the Pops (b037kmgr)
[Repeat of broadcast at 19:30 today]


WED 01:00 Some People with Jokes (b037c5yn)
[Repeat of broadcast at 22:00 today]


WED 01:30 Chivalry and Betrayal: The Hundred Years War (b01qsqd2)
[Repeat of broadcast at 20:00 today]


WED 02:30 Bought with Love: The Secret History of British Art Collections (b037c5gt)
[Repeat of broadcast at 21:00 today]



THURSDAY 25 JULY 2013

THU 19:00 World News Today (b037bblx)
The latest national and international news, exploring the day's events from a global perspective.


THU 19:30 BBC Proms (b037gsz9)
2013

Proms on Four: Orchestras of the World - Santa Cecilia Orchestra

A rare opportunity to hear the Orchestra of the Academy of Santa Cecilia, Rome conducted by Sir Antonio Pappano at the Royal Albert Hall. The Prom begins with a classical gem, Mozart's Haffner Symphony, and ends with the melancholy and high drama of Rachmaninov's Second Symphony. 18-year-old Canadian piano phenomenon Jan Lisiecki makes his Proms debut as the soloist in Schumann's Piano Concerto.


THU 21:40 Timeshift (b00nf0nl)
Series 9

The Golden Age of Liners

Paul Atterbury embarks on an alluring journey into the golden age of ocean liners, finding out how these great ships made such a mark on the popular imagination and why they continue to enchant to this day.

Paul's voyage takes him around Britain and reveals a story of design, politics, propaganda, Hollywood glamour and tragedy. Along the way, he uncovers some amazing survivals from the liners of the past - a cinema in Scotland built from the interiors of the SS Homeric, a house in Poole in which cabins from the Mauretania are lovingly preserved - as well as the design inspiration behind the first great liners.


THU 22:40 Burton and Taylor (p01c8jm8)
[Repeat of broadcast at 21:00 on Monday]


THU 00:05 The Richard Burton Diaries (b01nw4wn)
[Repeat of broadcast at 22:25 on Monday]


THU 00:35 Cleopatra: The Film That Changed Hollywood (b037k3nl)
[Repeat of broadcast at 21:00 on Tuesday]


THU 02:35 Timeshift (b00nf0nl)
[Repeat of broadcast at 21:40 today]



FRIDAY 26 JULY 2013

FRI 19:00 World News Today (b037bbm2)
The latest national and international news, exploring the day's events from a global perspective.


FRI 19:30 BBC Proms (b037j33v)
2013

Proms on Four: Friday Night at the Proms - National Youth Orchestra USA

The newly-formed National Youth Orchestra of the USA comes to the Proms under the conductor Valery Gergiev, performing Tchaikovsky's Violin Concerto with Proms favourite Joshua Bell as soloist and Shostakovich's 10th Symphony, a stirring and powerful musical protest against oppression.


FRI 21:10 It's Slade (b01pf7kr)
They definitely know "IT'S CHRISTMAAAASSSS!"

Top pop documentary, narrated by Radio One's Mark Radcliffe, about one of Britain's greatest and best-loved bands. Slade scored six number ones in the 70s, a feat rivalled only by Abba. Formed in Wolverhampton and led by Noddy Holder, Slade sold over 50 million records worldwide during a 20-year career which saw them re-invent themselves as skinhead yobs, then mirror-hatted platform-shoe-pioneering glam gods, before finally re-emerging as hard rock heroes.

Their poorly-spelled, self-written selection of terrace anthems included Cum on Feel the Noize, Coz I Luv You, Take Me Bak Ome, Mama Weer All Crazee Now and, unforgettably, Merry Xmas Everybody. Apart from Noddy and his bandmates - Dave Hill, Jim Lea and Don Powell - the cast here also includes Noel Gallagher of Oasis (who covered Cum On Feel the Noize), Status Quo, Toyah Wilcox, Suzi Quatro and Ozzy Osbourne.

Altogether now "Are you hanging up your stocking on the wall..........?".


FRI 22:00 The Old Grey Whistle Test (b014vzy3)
70s Gold

The Old Grey Whistle Test was launched on 21 September 1971 from a tiny studio tucked behind a lift shaft on the fourth floor of BBC Television Centre. From humble beginnings, it has gone on to provide some of the best and most treasured music archive that the BBC has to offer.

This programme takes us on a journey and celebrates the musically mixed-up decade that was the 1970s, and which is reflected in the OGWT archive. There are classic performances from the glam era by Elton John and David Bowie, an early UK TV appearance from Curtis Mayfield, the beginnings of heavy metal with Steppenwolf's iconic Born to Be Wild anthem and the early punk machinations of the 'mock rock' New York Dolls. Archive from the pinnacle year, 1973, features Roxy Music, The Wailers and Vinegar Joe. The programme's finale celebrates the advent of punk and new wave with unforgettable performances from Patti Smith, Blondie, Iggy Pop and The Jam.

Artists featured are Elton John, Lindisfarne, David Bowie, Curtis Mayfield, Gladys Knight & The Pips, Steppenwolf, Vinegar Joe, Brinsley Schwarz, New York Dolls, Argent, Bob Marley & The Wailers, Captain Beefheart, Johnny Winter, Dr Feelgood, Gil Scott Heron, Patti Smith, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Cher & Gregg Allman, Talking Heads, The Jam, Blondie, Iggy Pop and The Specials.


FRI 23:30 David Bowie and the Story of Ziggy Stardust (b01k0y0n)
The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars is arguably the most important album in the mind-blowing career of David Bowie. Released in 1972, it's the record that set the mercurial musician on course to becoming one of the best-known pop stars on the planet. In just over a year, Bowie's messianic Martian invaded the minds of the nation's youth with a killer combination of extraterrestrial rock 'n' roll and outrageous sexuality, all delivered in high-heeled boots, multicoloured dresses and extravagant make-up. In Bowie's own words, Ziggy was 'a cross between Nijinsky and Woolworths', but this unlikely culture clash worked - Ziggy turned Bowie into stardust.

This documentary tells the story of how Bowie arrived at one of the most iconic creations in the history of pop music. The songs, the hairstyles, the fashion and the theatrical stage presentation merged together to turn David Bowie into the biggest craze since the Beatles. Ziggy's instant success gave the impression that he was the perfectly planned pop star. But, as the film reveals, it had been a momentous struggle for David Bowie to hit on just the right formula that would take him to the top.

Narrated by fan Jarvis Cocker, it reveals Bowie's mission to the stars through the musicians and colleagues who helped him in his unwavering quest for fame - a musical voyage that led Bowie to doubt his true identity, eventually forcing the sudden demise of his alien alter ego, Ziggy.

Contributors include Trevor Bolder (bass player, Spiders from Mars), Woody Woodmansey (drummer, Spider from Mars), Mike Garson (Spiders' keyboardist), Suzi Ronson (Mick Ronson's widow, who gave Bowie that haircut), Ken Scott (producer), Elton John (contemporary and fan), Lindsay Kemp (Bowie's mime teacher), Leee Black Childers (worked for Mainman, Bowie's production company), Cherry Vanilla (Bowie's PA/press officer), George Underwood (Bowie's friend), Mick Rock (Ziggy's official photographer), Steve Harley, Marc Almond, Holly Johnson, Peter Hook, Jon Savage, Peter Doggett and Dylan Jones.


FRI 00:30 It's Slade (b01pf7kr)
[Repeat of broadcast at 21:10 today]


FRI 01:20 The Old Grey Whistle Test (b014vzy3)
[Repeat of broadcast at 22:00 today]


FRI 02:50 David Bowie and the Story of Ziggy Stardust (b01k0y0n)
[Repeat of broadcast at 23:30 today]




LIST OF THIS WEEK'S PROGRAMMES
(Note: the times link back to the details; the pids link to the BBC page, including iPlayer)

A Poet's Guide to Britain 19:00 SUN (b00k99tf)

Arena 23:05 SUN (b01pjlhv)

BBC Proms 19:30 SUN (b037j1nw)

BBC Proms 19:30 THU (b037gsz9)

BBC Proms 19:30 FRI (b037j33v)

Bought with Love: The Secret History of British Art Collections 00:50 MON (b0376y1l)

Bought with Love: The Secret History of British Art Collections 21:00 WED (b037c5gt)

Bought with Love: The Secret History of British Art Collections 02:30 WED (b037c5gt)

Britain on Film 20:00 MON (b01nrmwp)

Burton and Taylor 21:00 MON (p01c8jm8)

Burton and Taylor 02:20 MON (p01c8jm8)

Burton and Taylor 22:40 THU (p01c8jm8)

Chivalry and Betrayal: The Hundred Years War 20:00 WED (b01qsqd2)

Chivalry and Betrayal: The Hundred Years War 01:30 WED (b01qsqd2)

Clara Bow: Hollywood's Lost Screen Goddess 22:05 SUN (b01pjn8h)

Clara Bow: Hollywood's Lost Screen Goddess 03:00 SUN (b01pjn8h)

Clara Bow: Hollywood's Lost Screen Goddess 23:00 TUE (b01pjn8h)

Cleopatra: The Film That Changed Hollywood 21:00 TUE (b037k3nl)

Cleopatra: The Film That Changed Hollywood 02:00 TUE (b037k3nl)

Cleopatra: The Film That Changed Hollywood 00:35 THU (b037k3nl)

David Bowie and the Story of Ziggy Stardust 23:30 FRI (b01k0y0n)

David Bowie and the Story of Ziggy Stardust 02:50 FRI (b01k0y0n)

Horizon 20:00 TUE (b013pnv4)

Horizon 01:00 TUE (b013pnv4)

How the Brits Rocked America: Go West 00:05 SUN (b01bgqlc)

It's Slade 21:10 FRI (b01pf7kr)

It's Slade 00:30 FRI (b01pf7kr)

John Sergeant on Tracks of Empire 19:00 SAT (b00t3dbd)

John Sergeant on Tracks of Empire 02:50 SAT (b00t3dbd)

John Sergeant on Tracks of Empire 23:30 WED (b00t3dbd)

Later... with Jools Holland 01:05 SUN (b00dwfyy)

Oceans 20:00 SAT (b00fzbf7)

Oceans 01:50 SAT (b00fzbf7)

Omnibus 21:10 SUN (b0074kgk)

Omnibus 02:05 SUN (b0074kgk)

Omnibus 22:55 MON (b0074kgk)

Only Connect 20:30 MON (b037c4r5)

Only Connect 00:20 MON (b037c4r5)

Some People with Jokes 23:50 MON (p00w080m)

Some People with Jokes 22:00 WED (b037c5yn)

Some People with Jokes 01:00 WED (b037c5yn)

South Africa Walks 19:30 MON (b00s8fxz)

South Africa Walks 19:30 TUE (b00s8fy1)

Southern Rock at the BBC 22:25 SAT (b01f1bwb)

Sweet Home Alabama: The Southern Rock Saga 23:25 SAT (b01f1bt0)

The Crow Road 22:30 WED (b00mwqvs)

The Old Grey Whistle Test 00:25 SAT (b01g827h)

The Old Grey Whistle Test 22:00 FRI (b014vzy3)

The Old Grey Whistle Test 01:20 FRI (b014vzy3)

The Richard Burton Diaries 22:25 MON (b01nw4wn)

The Richard Burton Diaries 01:50 MON (b01nw4wn)

The Richard Burton Diaries 00:05 THU (b01nw4wn)

Timeshift 00:00 TUE (b01rjr2y)

Timeshift 21:40 THU (b00nf0nl)

Timeshift 02:35 THU (b00nf0nl)

Top of the Pops 01:10 SAT (b03727gw)

Top of the Pops 19:30 WED (b037kmgr)

Top of the Pops 00:30 WED (b037kmgr)

Wallander 21:00 SAT (b00ww5kf)

World News Today 19:00 MON (b037bblf)

World News Today 19:00 TUE (b037bbll)

World News Today 19:00 WED (b037bblr)

World News Today 19:00 THU (b037bblx)

World News Today 19:00 FRI (b037bbm2)