SATURDAY 22 FEBRUARY 2020

SAT 00:00 Ray Bradbury - The Veldt (m000fh8j)
A futuristic cautionary tale about the perils of smart technology, where danger prowls in the nursery...
Ray Bradbury's gripping sci-fi story first published in 1950.
Lydia/Witch… Diana Olsson
George… John Cazabon
Peter… Jon Hewitt
Wendy/Grethel… Nina Ludlow
David… Bruce Wightman
Adapted by Jack Pulman.
Producer: Frederick Bradnum.
First broadcast on the BBC Light Programme in March 1959.
SAT 00:30 Off the Page (b0076sz2)
Nowt So Queer as Folk
Matthew Parris considers what is and what is not normal. With Amanda Mitchison, Jude Collins and actor Mat Fraser. From July 2005.
SAT 01:00 Colvil and Soames (b007jt9c)
Bad Apples
Episode 2
After an unexpected twist in his latest murder investigation, Inspector Guscott has asked his old friends from MI6, Colvil and Soames for their discreet assistance.
Christopher Lee's murder-mystery starring Christopher Benjamin and Amanda Redman as intelligence officers Henry Colvil and Alex Soames.
Henry Colvil …. Christopher Benjamin
Alex Soames …. Amanda Redman
DCI Guscott …. Dudley Sutton
DS Gwen Jenkins …. Sue Jones Davies
Miranda Peel …. Sheila Reid
Tom Margeson …. Tom Cotcher
Charlie Lofthouse …. Alistair McGowan
Producer: Pete Atkin
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in November 1998.
SAT 01:30 Beckett in Brooklyn (b04v30zx)
A disembodied mouth hovers 8 feet above the stage and appears to oscillate wildly around the pitch-black auditorium.
Blindfolded, her head strapped into a harness, Irish actor Lisa Dwan delivers the frenetic, roller-coaster stream of consciousness that is Samuel Beckett's 'Not I'. Alongside 'Footfalls' and 'Rockaby', the play forms one part of a trilogy of intensely demanding one-woman Beckett works which Lisa has been performing to packed houses across the UK & Ireland.
Now, as Lisa takes her Beckett trilogy across the Atlantic to the Brooklyn Academy of Music's Harvey Theatre, we find her immersed in a whirlwind of rave reviews, TV appearances and a US theatre-going public heavily preoccupied with Ebola, Isis and the uncertainty of our times.
As the curtain prepares to fall for the last time, we discover the true extent of Lisa's commitment to these dark and challenging roles, what the impact of performing them has been on her and if, 25 years after the Irish playwright's death, she may have shown us that Samuel Beckett's work matters more than ever.
Producer: Conor Garrett
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in December 2014.
SAT 02:00 Paul Murray - The Mark and the Void (b06445xm)
Episode 10
The bank fails, a heist is attempted and Claude the Everyman banker makes a choice that will change everyone's lives...
Paul Murray’s madcap novel of institutional folly - a stirring examination of the deceptions carried out in the names of art, love and commerce.
Concluded by Peter Serafinowicz.
Abridged by Sara Davies.
Producer: Jenny Thompson.
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in August 2015.
SAT 02:15 Friends & Foes - A Narrative History of Diplomacy (b08ctz6x)
Small Nation, Big Diplomacy
Professor David Rothkopf discusses the pivotal role of a small nation in negotiating a landmark Middle East peace agreement - the Oslo accords.
In 1973, a single handshake on the White House lawn between the Israeli and Palestinian leaders marked the end of decades of confrontation and conflict. But this breakthrough was brokered not through superpower intervention but with the help of Norway.
Crucially it was done through secret informal communications called 'back channel diplomacy'.
Professor Rothkopf hears from the negotiators about how they brought the two sides together under the cover of an academic conference and how, ultimately, their careful diplomacy resulted in the landmark Oslo accords.
But, as he discovers, back channel diplomacy does not always work.
A Kati Whitaker production first broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 2017.
SAT 02:30 MM Kaye - The Far Pavilions (b00yj265)
Episode 15
Safe and with the woman he loves, Ash cannot work out how to marry her.
MM Kaye's epic of love and war, dramatised by Lucy Catherine.
Narrator ..... Vineeta Rishi
Ash ..... Blake Ritson
Gulbaz ..... Kaleem Janjua
Bukta ..... Adeel Akhtar
Anjuli ..... Ayesha Dharker
Stiggins ..... Sean Baker
Zarin ..... Christopher Simpson
Mrs Viccary ..... Joanna Monro
Directors: Marc Beeby and Jessica Dromgoole
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in February 2011.
SAT 02:45 Philip Glass - Words without Music (b05t7kpz)
Episode 5
Asked to write the score for visionary 1982 documentary Koyaanisqatsi, Glass discovered a new avenue for his musical composition.
He later worked with Martin Scorsese, writing the soundtrack for Kundun (1997).
Conclusion of the memoir by Philip Glass, the world-renowned composer of symphonies, operas and film scores.
Read by Kerry Shale.
Abridger: Laurence Wareing
Producer: Kirsteen Cameron
Music details:
Track: "Evening Song" (from Satygraha)
CD: The Essential Philip Glass
Label: Sony
Track: "The Grid"
CD: Koyaanisqatsi
Label: Island
Track: "Closing"
CD: Glassworks
Label: CBS
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in May 2015.
SAT 03:00 Oscar Wilde (b007jnnk)
The Picture of Dorian Gray
Episode 2
Aristocrat Dorian Gray is living a life of selfish pleasure. But is retribution on the horizon?
Jamie Glover stars in the conclusion of Oscar Wilde's classic novel dramatised by Nick McCarty.
Dorian Gray ...... Jamie Glover
Lord Henry Wotton ...... Ian McDiarmid
Basil Hallward ...... Steven Pacey
Woman ...... Tilly Gaunt
Jim ...... Harry Myers
Duke Geoffrey ...... Edward de Souza
Thornton ...... Stephen Critchlow
Campbell ...... Geoffrey Beevers
Lord ...... Gavin Muir
Woman in Opium Den ...... Elizabeth Bell
Lady Narborough ...... Tessa Worsley
Francis ...... Tom George
Duke John ...... Brett Usher
Duchess ...... Alice Arnold
Director: Gordon House.
First broadcast on the BBC World Service in January 2000.
SAT 04:00 Funny You Should Ask (b0b3j9rq)
From 23/07/1979
Peter Jones hosts the entertainment quiz about comedy as he tests a panel of experts:
Sid Colin, Barry Cryer and John Junkin recall memories of careers and comic colleagues.
Funny You Should Ask ran for 8 series from 1976 to 1982.
Questions compiled by Michael Pointon.
Producer: Bob Oliver Rogers
First broadcast on BBC Radio 2 in July 1979.
SAT 04:30 Dry Slopes (b00ly7c2)
Series 1
Dry Wit
Friendless, jobless Angus writes a requiem to himself. He is really a genius, you know
Nick Ball’s sitcom about the unemployed son of a high-flying mother.
Angus Dry ...... Nick Ball
Mum ...... Louisa Rix
With Robert Harley, Toby Longworth and Julie Gibbs.
Producer: Gareth Edwards
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in May 1995.
SAT 05:00 The Lentil Sorters (b06pbw9x)
Multi-Parameter Database Search
A sitcom set in the Office of Local and National Statistics which, depending on who you ask, is either where the real power of government resides, or the place where fun goes to die.
In this episode, a database linking of Ribena and MI5 makes Graham reach for his Stress Cardigan. Also, Jane Austen and a brick.
Meet the team:
Graham Quicks, Head of the People and Places Department of the LNS. There are three things in the world that Graham will always have faith in – statistics, the supremacy of filofaxes over computers and the idea that cardigans will never go out of style.
Audrey Carr is the Survey Researcher. She believes passionately that statistics should be used as a tool to help the man on the street. Fortunately for her, she’s never actually met “the man in the street”. She’s also passionate about Jane Austen, Les Miserables and pretending that she doesn't work in an office with Daniel.
Daniel Porter is the Data Analyst. He used to work in the City, until the City realised he was a colossal waste of space. Daniel divides his time between manipulating statistics to further his vision of capitalism, necking energy drinks and telling people his thighs are really, really strong. He’s terrible.
Mrs. Wilkins has worked as tea lady, archivist and maintenance guru for 15 years. She knows where the bodies are buried. We must stress that that is a figure of speech.
Graham Quicks ...... Vincent Franklin
Audrey Carr ...... Rebekah Staton
Daniel Porter ...... Kieran Hodgson
Mrs Wilkins ...... Julia Deakin
Special guests:
Akif..............................Ray Panthaki
Black Firebird X............ Matt Green

With Jo Unwin as The Narrator
Written by Jack Bernhardt
Producer: David Tyler
A Pozzitive production first broadcast on BBC Radio 4 Extra in February 2020.
SAT 05:30 The Skewer (m000f783)
Series 1
Episode 6
From the mind of Jon Holmes comes topical satire like you've never heard it before.
SAT 06:00 Neville Watchurst - A Vital Flaw (b00mj27x)
Nazi SS leader Heinrich Himmler has a serious health problem and Dr Felix Kersten is summoned to treat him.
So successful is he that Himmler's dependency on him is established and when war breaks out Kersten is faced with an impossible dilemma.
John Duttine and Martin Jarivs star in Neville Watchurst's drama - a truthful account of a relationship which developed in Germany both before and during the Second World War.
Heinrich Himmler ...... John Duttine
Dr Felix Kersten ...... Martin Jarvis
Rudolf Brandt ...... Christopher Ravenscroft
Irmgard ...... Louise Jameson
Rostery ...... Norman Bird
Bernadotte ...... Peter Harding
Hewitt ...... David Monico
Poh ...... Dominic Letts
Koch ...... Michael Onslow
Jacobseb ...... Malcolm Ward
Kivimaeki ...... John Baddeley
Kaltenbrummer ...... Gareth Armstrong
Music composed by Anthea Gomez.
Directed by Sue Wilson.
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in February 1994
SAT 07:30 Reimagining the City (b03s645s)
Series 2
Birmingham
Musician Soweto Kinch offers a different vision of a city he's loved all his life - Birmingham.
Soweto often gets a surprised response when he tells people he's from Birmingham. For one, he doesn't have an accent. But also, as a successful jazz musician and hip hop star, the expectation is often that he should be living in London or New York - or almost anywhere except Birmingham.
But, for Soweto, Birmingham is a place of artistic endeavour and cultural significance on a par with any other major city. The city is where he served his cultural apprenticeship in jazz and hip hop. "The saxophone called me. I've never seen so many shiny keys. And the love affair continued from there."
He left to study history at Oxford but chose to make Birmingham his home. "The fact that I've stayed in Birmingham sets me apart from the other musicians in London - I can do everything from here. There's a camaraderie and respect that other musicians have for each other in Birmingham."
Soweto lives in a tower block in Hockley - it's been a place that's given him creative input for his albums and music. From his window he can see the Hockley Flyover, a space which was the scene of gang fights and crime. In 2009 Soweto decided to turn it into a festival venue.
"I've been proud of the fact we've redefined peoples' relationships to this space. It's a neglected area. I felt that more than any other area this expressed a lot of the innate contradictions we face in the black community in Britain. I wanted to reclaim the space and reclaim the stories."
Producer: Rachel Hooper
A Falling Tree production first broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 2014.
SAT 08:00 Archive on 4 (b0713m3h)
In The Bluff
There is, argues poet Paul Farley, something very particular about the bluff that sets it apart from other members of the deception family.
More theatrical than a straight-forward, two-dimentional lie, it can be called, it can be doubled, and often times remains mysterious - we never actually find out whether indeed a particular bluff was just that.
It permeates our everyday conversation, with nods of the head and affirmative grunts suggesting that yes indeed we have read Proust, and are of course conversant with Scandinavian philosophy; it proves a vital weapon on the sports field and the poker table; and in international relations and military strategy remains an invaluable resource.
Paul takes to the poker table himself, and speaks to experts from a variety of fields, including Jonathan Agnew and Bridget Kendal, to delve deeper into the psychology and application of the bluff.
Along the way he frequently has need to suggest a degree of knowledge in subjects that in fact remain largely a mystery to him.
Producer: Geoff Bird
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in February 2016.
SAT 09:00 Dr Hannah Fry: Codebreaker (m000fn1n)
As a mathematician Dr Hannah Fry specialises in understanding patterns of human behaviour. And nowhere does the human factor smash headlong into the reality of numbers than in the secretive world of code-breaking.
So she's delved into the BBC Radio Archive to present a fascinating selection of programmes all about codes, secrets and ciphers. And if you have a pen and paper handy she'll be presenting you with a code which you can try to crack, offering hints which will help throughout the programme.
On hand to help are two experts who between them have got numbers and words covered. Bobby Seagull is a maths teacher and author of The Life-changing Magic of Numbers and Richard Rogan is the editor of The Times Cryptic Crossword. They'll share their insights into codes, and give their takes on a fascinating selection from the archive. Featuring:
A creepy delve into the world of cold war number stations - Simon Fanshawe investigates in Tracking the Lincolnshire Poacher.
David Baddiel tries to understand Cryptic Crosswords.
A famous example of a literary code in Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes story The Adventure of the Dancing Men, adapted by Bert Coules.
In The Bletchley Girls, Tessa Dunlop tracks the stories of just a few of the often sidelined women who populated the codebreaking station Bletchley Park in the Second World War, and played their part in significantly shortening the length of the conflict.
And in a special episode of The Infinite Monkey Cage Katy Brand joins the team in the security agency GCHQ to talk ciphers.
So get your pen ready, join Dr Hannah Fry, listen out for the clues - and get cracking.
Producer: Kevin Core
Made for BBC Radio 4 Extra and first broadcast in February 2020.
Image credit: Paul Wilkinson
SAT 12:00 Hancock's Half Hour (b007k4m9)
Series 4
The Bolshoi Ballet
The lad's hopes for a night of dance at London's Covent Garden don't quite go to plan.
Starring Tony Hancock.
With Sidney James, Bill Kerr and Kenneth Williams.
Written by Ray Galton and Alan Simpson.
Theme and incidental music composed by Wally Stott. Recorded by the BBC Revue Orchestra conducted by Harry Rabinowitz.
Producer: Dennis Main Wilson
First broadcast on the BBC Light Programme in October 1956.
SAT 12:30 Such Rotten Luck (b01nvphb)
Series 1
Stories Before Bed
Woodhouse attempts to write children's fiction.
The ups and downs of a second class writer
Comedy drama series written by Ronald Hayman
Woodhouse …. Tim Piggott-Smith
Gila …. Zoe Wanamaker
Seamus …. Stephan Rea
Wilhelmina …. Susie Bran
Henrietta Masterson …. Miriam Karlin
Hamish McVomitory …. Bill Wallis
Mark Grimshaw …. Geoffrey Whitehead
Benjamin Witrow …. Gila's Father
Joan Matheson …. Gila's Mother
Charlotte aged 17 …. Susan Sheridan
With Eva Stuart and Shaun Prendergast as the other members of the Creative Writing Class
Music by Elizabeth Parker of the BBC Radiophonic Workshop
Director: Piers Plowright.
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in September 1989.
SAT 13:00 Girls of Riyadh (Omnibus) (m000fn1v)
The girls of Riyadh are young, attractive and living by Saudi Arabia’s strict cultural traditions.
Well, not quite... In between dating, shopping, drinking, dancing and having fun, they’re still trying to be good Muslims and please their families. But can you be a 21st century woman and a Saudi woman?
Dramatisation of Rajaa Alsanea's best-selling novel by Claudine Toutoungi.
Omnibus of five parts.
Gamrah.....Lara Sawalha
Sadeem.....Laila Alj
Michelle.....Jasmine Jones
Lamees.....Nyla Levy
Faisal.....Ikky Elyas
Rashid.....Elham Ehsas
Firas.....Moe Bar-El
Pilot/ Bookseller.....Ian Conningham
Tara.....Sinead MacInnes
Director: Emma Harding
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in February 2020.
SAT 14:10 Inheritance Tracks (m000fn21)
Frank Skinner
Comedian Frank Skinner chooses ‘Winter Wonderland’ by Dean Martin and ‘Why Women Don't Like Me?’ by George Formby.
SAT 14:15 With Great Pleasure (b00j0q57)
Les Dennis
The comedian and actor Les Dennis shares literary favourites, including Pygmalion, Wuthering Heights, Brideshead Revisited and Winnie the Pooh.
Les reads some of the passages, with actors Christopher Cazenove and Jodie McNee.
Producer: Christine Hall
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in March 2009.
SAT 14:45 Uncle Mort's North Country (b007jrc0)
Series 2
Young Chocolate
Carter's uncle fancies a good funeral, so they head off to the burial for a boxer.
Peter Tinniswood’s continuing tales of Carter Brandon and his curmudgeonly uncle.
Uncle Mort and his Yorkshire based family first appeared in Tinniswood’s novel ‘A Touch Of Daniel’ which earned them a run of four series of ‘I Didn't Know You Cared’ on BBC TV from 1975 to 1979.
Uncle Mort …. Stephen Thorne
Carter Brandon …. Peter Skellern
The Undetraker …. Michael Graham Cox
Marcus Potts …. Stan Richards
Narrator …. Christian Rodska
Producer: Pete Atkin.
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in April 1989.
SAT 15:00 Archive on 4 (b0713m3h)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:00 today]
SAT 16:00 Neville Watchurst - A Vital Flaw (b00mj27x)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:00 today]
SAT 17:30 Reimagining the City (b03s645s)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:30 today]
SAT 18:00 John Wyndham - The Kraken Wakes (m000fn2b)
Episode 2
Lone alien attacks are replaced by global flooding. Mike and Phyllis fight to survive as much of the world is submerged and most of the global population dead or displaced.
John Wyndham's 1953 novel adapted by Val McDermid.
Floods have recently devastated parts of Britain. But what if the flood waters never subsided? What if an apparent meteor shower was actually the invasion fleet of an alien race?
Mike Watson ...... Paul Higgins
Phyllis Watson ...... Tamsin Greig
Becker ...... Richard Harrington
Denzel ...... Richard Harrington
Dr Emma Chisholm ...... Sally Carman
Aziz ...... Abdullah Afzal
Humza ...... Abdullah Afzal
Bill ...... Gareth Cassidy
Jonah ...... Gareth Cassidy
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon ...... Nicola Sturgeon
Performed 'as live' with the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra.
Conductor: Clark Rundell.
Composer: Alan E. Williams.
Director and Producer: Justine Potter.
A Savvy production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in June 2016.
SAT 19:00 Dr Hannah Fry: Codebreaker (m000fn1n)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:00 today]
SAT 22:00 Josh Howie's Losing It (b07v0hnp)
Series 1
The Route
Josh and his wife Monique attend their first NCT class where he typically manages to fall out with almost everyone.
Sitcom in which stand-up comic Josh comes to terms with the impending birth of his first child.
Starring Josh Howie and Pippa Evans.
Written by Josh Howie.
With Jenny Bede, Stephen Hagan, Caroline Mabey, Debra Tammer and Wendy Wason.
Producer: Ashley Blaker
A Black Hat production for BBC Radio 4 first broadcast in September 2016.
SAT 22:30 Chain Reaction (b071vkwl)
Series 11
Al Murray interviews Ian Hislop
Pub Landlord creator, Al Murray passes the baton to the comedian and satirist Ian Hislop.
Chain Reaction is the long running hostless chat show where this week's interviewee becomes next week's interviewer.
After an early foray into stand-up as a character called 'The Murderer', Al Murray created his famous Pub Landlord character in the mid nineties as part of a touring show with Harry Hill. The Pub Landlord went on to tour venues and festivals worldwide before making his own chat show and sitcom for Sky. Outside of the Pub Landlord, Al is well known as a presenter of history documentaries and more recently as a candidate for parliament when he stood against Nigel Farage in South Thanet during the UK General Election of 2015.
Al's guest Ian Hislop is much more used to the cut and thrust of British politics both as a long-standing team captain on 'Have I Got News for You' and as the editor of satirical magazine Private Eye. As a dedicated fan and student of history, he has made several acclaimed documentaries on wide-ranging subjects including conscientious objectors and The Beeching Report.
Al grills Ian on his early days writing for such comedians as Harry Enfield, asks how we should define the role of the satirist and poses the intriguing question, 'what's it like being sued?'
Producer: Richard Morris
A BBC Radio Comedy production for BBC Radio 4 first broadcast in March 2016.
SAT 22:55 The Comedy Club Interviews (m000fz9c)
Ruth Bratt 2/3
From 10.00pm until midnight, seven days a week, the Comedy Club has two hours of comedy. Jake Yapp chats to improv-musical-comedy star Ruth Bratt.
SAT 23:00 Colin Hoult's Carnival of Monsters (b04xrzdh)
Series 2
Episode 2
Enter the Carnival of Monsters, a bizarre and hilarious world of sketches, stories and characters, presented by the sinister Ringmaster.
A host of characters are the exhibits at the Carnival - all played by Colin himself.
Meet such monstrous yet strangely familiar oddities as: Wannabe Hollywood screenwriter Andy Parker; Anna Mann - outrageous star of such forgotten silver screen hits such as 'Rogue Baker', 'Who's For Turkish Delight' and 'A Bowl For My Bottom'; and a host of other characters from acid jazz obsessives, to mask workshop coordinators.
Writers Guild Award-winner Colin Hoult is best known for his highly acclaimed starring roles in Paul Whitehouse's 'Nurse', 'Being Human', Rickey Gervais' 'Life's Too Short' and 'Derek', and 'Russell Howard's Good News', as well as his many hit shows at the Edinburgh Festival. He has also appeared and written for a number of Radio 4 series including 'The Headset Set' and 'Colin and Fergus' Digi-Radio'.
Producer: Sam Bryant.
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in January 2015.
SAT 23:30 Elis James's Pantheon of Heroes (m000fn2f)
Series 4
Market Towns
Comedian Elis James determines which Welsh market towns are the nation’s best, pitting Carmarthen and Llangollen against Hay-on-Wye
With Benjamin Partridge and Nadia Kamil.
First broadcast on BBC Radio Wales in August 2016.


SUNDAY 23 FEBRUARY 2020

SUN 00:00 John Wyndham - The Kraken Wakes (m000fn2b)
[Repeat of broadcast at 18:00 on Saturday]
SUN 01:00 Girls of Riyadh (Omnibus) (m000fn1v)
[Repeat of broadcast at 13:00 on Saturday]
SUN 02:10 Inheritance Tracks (m000fn21)
[Repeat of broadcast at 14:10 on Saturday]
SUN 02:15 With Great Pleasure (b00j0q57)
[Repeat of broadcast at 14:15 on Saturday]
SUN 02:45 Uncle Mort's North Country (b007jrc0)
[Repeat of broadcast at 14:45 on Saturday]
SUN 03:00 Archive on 4 (b0713m3h)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:00 on Saturday]
SUN 04:00 Neville Watchurst - A Vital Flaw (b00mj27x)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:00 on Saturday]
SUN 05:30 Reimagining the City (b03s645s)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:30 on Saturday]
SUN 06:00 MM Kaye - The Far Pavilions (Omnibus) (b064506c)
Episode 3
MM Kaye's epic of love and war, dramatised by Lucy Catherine.
Leaving the Karidkote party, Ash rejoins the Guides in Rawalpindi.
Narrator ..... Vineeta Rishi
Ash ..... Blake Ritson
Jhoti ..... Joseph Samrai
Kaka-Ji Rao ..... Paul Bhattacharjee
Wally ..... Jonathan Forbes
Zarin ..... Christopher Simpson
Khoda-Daad ..... Sam Dastor
The third of four omnibuses of this epic drama which spans the years between the Indian Mutiny in 1857 and the Siege of the British Mission in Kabul in 1879.
Directors: Marc Beeby and Jessica Dromgoole
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in February 2011.
SUN 07:15 First for Radio (b07466lb)
Series 3
Re-enactment
An outsider called Marko lands a job at The Well Digger's Wallet Saloon, where mock shoot-outs are staged. Shoot-outs, that is, with enigmatic endings.
Patrick Kennedy reads Tea Obreht's short story.
Readings of acclaimed novelists' first stories for radio.
Producer Duncan Minshull
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in March 2016.
SUN 07:30 Welcome to Our Village, Please Invade Carefully (b01r4ycv)
Series 1
Minimum Volume
Katrina Lyons was only visiting Cresdon Green, the village where she grew up, to borrow some money from her parents. But when she tried to head back to London, it turned out alien beings known as the Geonin had lowered a force field around the village and were refusing to let anyone in or out.
Unfortunately almost everyone in the village is too cowardly, apathetic, polite or stupid to stand up to this alien menace, so Katrina has no choice but to start the resistance movement herself. In the cricket pavilion.
Hattie Morahan and Julian Rhind-Tutt star in Eddie Robson's sitcom about an alien invasion of a small English village.
Uljabaan is working on an education programme for after the invasion, creating a list of books suitable for children to read. His chosen advisor is Mrs Leeson from the charity shop. Katrina is confident she could do a better job, and hopes she could use it for subversive purposes - so she volunteers. But can she sneak anything past Uljabaan? And can she convince Lucy she's not really being a traitor?
Katrina Lyons ...... Hattie Morahan
Field Commander Uljabaan ...... Julian Rhind-Tutt
Margaret Lyons ...... Jan Francis
Richard Lyons ...... Peter Davison
Lucy Alexander ...... Hannah Murray
Computer ...... John-Luke Roberts
Producer: Ed Morrish
First broadcast on BBC Radio 2 in March 2013.
SUN 08:00 Whack-O! (m000fnv7)
Series 2
The Wager
Headmaster Jim needs to employ all of his guile if he is to win a bet.
Starring 'Professor' Jimmy Edwards.
Starting life on BBC TV before transferring to radio, Chiselbury School is run "for the sons of gentlefolk".
Headmaster, Professor James Edwards, M.A. never misses a trick when it comes to exploiting the students and their parents. Sports pitches are given over to growing vegetables, which the boys nurture for their head to sell. Classes never exceed 95 pupils - 50 if private tuition is paid for at five guineas extra. It's only thanks to the efforts of the devoted deputy head, Mr. Potter, that the school exists at all.
Staff and pupils played by June Whitfield, Roddy Maude-Roxby, Frederick Treves, Roy Dotrice, John Coxall, Roger Shepherd, David Lott and Philip Leavermore
Written by Frank Muir and Denis Norden and adapted for radio by David Climie.
Producer: Edward Taylor
First broadcast on the BBC Light Programme in March 1962.
SUN 08:30 Harry Worth in Things Could Be Worse (b09t27rb)
The Wedding
Harry is best man at his best friend Derek's wedding. What could possibly go wrong?
Written by David McKellar and David Renwick.
Starring Harry Worth.
With John Baddeley, John Graham and Miriam Margolyes.
Producer: Simon Brett.
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in November 1976.
SUN 09:00 To the Lake (Omnibus) (m000fnv9)
The term ‘Balkanise’ came into being a century ago to describe a region fragmented into smaller mutually hostile states.
Kapka Kassabova explores her own family’s ties to the south-west Balkans and their fractured history of exile, discord and harmony. A place which has at its heart two lakes of exceptional beauty and wilderness, and a gathering of many stories and voices.
Omnibus read by Clare Corbett
Abridged by Jill Waters and Isobel Creed
Producer: Jill Waters
A Waters Company production first broadcast in five parts on BBC Radio 4 in February 2020.
SUN 10:10 The Listening Project (b0499spy)
Naveed and Amjad – Scouts and Samosas
Fi Glover introduces brothers who run the first Muslim Scouts Group in Wales. Introduced to Beavers, aged 6, a whole new world opened up to them, and they are keen to share it.
The Listening Project is a Radio 4 initiative that offers a snapshot of contemporary Britain in which people across the UK volunteer to have a conversation with someone close to them about a subject they've never discussed intimately before. The conversations are being gathered across the UK by teams of producers from local and national radio stations who facilitate each encounter. Every conversation - they're not BBC interviews, and that's an important difference - lasts up to an hour, and is then edited to extract the key moment of connection between the participants. Most of the unedited conversations are being archived by the British Library and used to build up a collection of voices capturing a unique portrait of the UK in the second decade of the millennium. You can upload your own conversations or just learn more about The Listening Project by visiting bbc.co.uk/listeningproject
Producer: Marya Burgess
SUN 10:15 Desert Island Discs Revisited (b06kp9zv)
Fashion
George Davies
From The Beatles to Luciano Pavarotti.
Retail legend and fashion designer George Davies shares his castaway choices with Sue Lawley and talks about his life and work.
In the 1980s George changed the shape of high streets with his chain Next - moving on to successful projects with Asda and Marks and Spencer.
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in June 2006.
SUN 11:00 Radiolab (m000fnvc)
Series 6
Bit Flip
Radiolab explores how tiny changes can have cosmic effects on us unwitting humans. With Jad Abumrad and Robert Krulwich.
Back in 2003, Belgium was holding a national election. One of their first where the votes would be cast and counted on computers. Thousands of hours of preparation went into making it unhackable. And when the day of the vote came, everything seemed to have gone well. That was, until a cosmic chain of events caused a single bit to flip and called the outcome into question.
In this episode of Radiolab, we travel from a voting booth in Brussels to the driver's seat of a runaway car in the Carolinas, exploring the massive effects tiny bits of stardust can have on us unwitting humans.
Radiolab is a Peabody-award winning show about curiosity. Where sound illuminates ideas, and the boundaries blur between science, philosophy, and the human experience.
Hosts Jad Abumrad and Robert Krulwich investigate a strange world.
From WNYC. First broadcast on public radio in the USA in 2019.
SUN 12:00 Whack-O! (m000fnv7)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:00 today]
SUN 12:30 Harry Worth in Things Could Be Worse (b09t27rb)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:30 today]
SUN 13:00 MM Kaye - The Far Pavilions (Omnibus) (b064506c)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:00 today]
SUN 14:15 First for Radio (b07466lb)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:15 today]
SUN 14:30 The Secret Guests (Omnibus) (m000fnvf)
Episode 2
As the IRA close in on the true identities of the young guests, an accident befalls one of the princesses.
BW Black's imagined historical adventure and enthralling mystery concluded by Sorcha Cusack.
In 1940, at the height of Blitz, the two young princesses Elizabeth and Margaret are secretly evacuated from Buckingham Palace for their own safety and sent to an isolated rural estate in neutral Ireland. However Clonmillis Hall may prove to be even more dangerous than wartime London…
Irish police detective Strafford has been assigned to watch over the girls during their stay and so must form an uneasy alliance with their governess Miss Celia Nashe, an undercover MI5 officer charged with the princesses’ safety. However, with a contingent of soldiers patrolling the woods and rumours of IRA terrorists in the vicinity, they soon find their task even more treacherous than expected. But is the real threat from outside, or from within Clonmillis Hall itself?
Omnibus of the last five of ten episodes
BW Black is the pen name of acclaimed Irish author John Banville. He is the author of several novels, including The Sea, which won the 2005 Man Booker Prize. In 2013 he was awarded the Irish PEN Award for Outstanding Achievement in Irish Literature. He has published a number of crime novels, most featuring Quirke (an Irish pathologist based in Dublin) which were adapted into a TV series starring Gabriel Byrne.
Abridger, Neville Teller
Producer, Michael Shannon
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in February 2020.
SUN 15:45 Door Stepping (b08zdlrr)
We're Getting a Mortgage
Things are getting serious for Jude Rogers as she makes the decision to buy her first home in the London suburbs - its where she will get married from, have her first child, and she only moved out last year... its an emotional moment as she returns to the first home she bought.
"It's amazing how powerful smell is. Instantly, I see my son as a baby, scuttling across the wooden floor in his walker. I expect my husband to walk through from the kitchen. I hear a cat's footsteps upstairs, and stop calling out for our cat, Poppy. She lived here for three years, and died, at 15, last summer."
Producer: Sara Jane Hall
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in August 2017.
SUN 16:00 Drama (b071h2x6)
Trial by Laughter by Ian Hislop & Nick Newman
William Hone is the forgotten hero of free speech in Britain.
He was a bookseller, publisher and satirist. In 1817, he stood trial for 'impious blasphemy and seditious libel'.
His crime was to be funny. Worse than that he was funny by parodying religious texts. And worst of all, he was funny about the despotic government and the libidinous monarchy.
Ian Hislop and Nick Newman's comedy drama based on the real trial transcripts.
Hone ...... Robert Wilfort
Prince Regent ...... Arthur Bostrom
Cruikshank ...... Conrad Nelson
Ellenborough ...... Jonathan Keeble
Shepherd ...... David Benson
Abbott ...... Malcolm Raeburn
Lady Hertford ...... Melissa Sinden
Sarah ...... Fiona Clarke
Reporter ...... Graeme Hawley
Clerk ...... Graeme Hawley
Original music by Conrad Nelson.
Director: Gary Brown
Ian Hislop is the editor of Private Eye and a team captain on 'Have I got News for You'. Nick Newman is a satirical cartoonist for The Sunday Times and Private Eye. They have known each other since their schooldays and have written many successful TV programmes together including 'My Dad's the Prime Minister' and 'The Wipers Times'.
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in February 2016.
SUN 17:00 Poetry Extra (m000fnvh)
We Will Arise and Go Now
Poet Daljit Nagra revisits the BBC's radio poetry archive and chooses We Will Arise and Go Now marking the birth of WB Yeats.
On the 150th anniversary of WB Yeats' birth, Irish Chair of Poetry Paula Meehan, selects three Irish poets who will arise and go with presenter Marie-Louise Muir to The Lake Isle of Innisfree in County Sligo, a location made famous by Yeats's iconic poem of the same name.
Elayne Harrington, aka 'Temper-Mental Miss-Elayneous' is a hip-hop poet and spoken word artist from Dublin; Stephen Sexton a PhD student at the Seamus Heaney Centre for Poetry in Belfast; Paula Cunningham was brought up in Omagh, County Tyrone, and works as a part-time dentist.
While Yeats's poem speaks of a desire to build 'a cabin of clay and wattles' on Innisfree, Marie-Louise and our three poets will be sleeping under canvas and cooking on a campfire. As they discover if the reality of this tiny uninhabited island on Lough Gill lives up to the bucolic idyll which Yeats so famously portrayed, they'll ask if 'peace comes dropping slow' in the 'bee loud glade' as they each reflect on how The Lake Isle of Innisfree resonates with them and come up with their own poetic responses to it.
Produced by Conor Garrett
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 2015.
SUN 17:30 Welcome to Our Village, Please Invade Carefully (b01r4ycv)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:30 today]
SUN 18:00 Nightfall (m000fnvk)
Series 3
Lazarus Rising by John Douglas
A reporter gets drawn into a web of revenge and darkness when he arrives in a small town to investigate reports of a man who rose from the dead.
Nightfall is a series of supernatural and horror dramas made by Canada’s CBC Radio that ran from 1980-83. It went on to become one of the most popular shows in the network’s history. During 100 episodes over three seasons, Nightfall featured a mix of original stories and adaptations of classic tales.
Cliff Martin… Neil Munro
Ella-May Puddister… Ruth Springford
George Sanex… Eric Peterson
Ezra Helbert… Murray Westgate
Leroy Grant… Ken James
Theta… Marian Waldman
Mort Brunner … John Stocker
Lucy Sanex… Elva Mai Hoover
Sarey… Melanie Brown
Written by John Douglas.
Directed by Bill Howell.
First broadcast on CBC Radio in 1980.
SUN 18:30 Brian Aldiss - Hothouse (b00mj3gd)
Episode 3
The manipulative Morel fungus guides Gren and Poyly's lives without their tribe.
Millions of years in the future, a colossal banyan tree covers much of the Earth. In its boughs, the last remnants of humanity are fighting for survival, terrorized by carnivorous plants and grotesque insect life.
The Earth has stopped rotating and the Sun's output has increased. Plants are engaged in a constant tropical forest-style frenzy of growth driving other life forms to extinction...
Brian Aldiss's 1962 sci-fi fantasy read by Gareth Thomas.
Abridged in five parts by Lu Kemp.
Producer: Eilidh McCreadie
Made for BBC Radio 7 and first broadcast in 2009.
SUN 19:00 Radiolab (m000fnvc)
[Repeat of broadcast at 11:00 today]
SUN 20:00 To the Lake (Omnibus) (m000fnv9)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:00 today]
SUN 21:10 The Listening Project (b0499spy)
[Repeat of broadcast at 10:10 today]
SUN 21:15 Desert Island Discs Revisited (b06kp9zv)
[Repeat of broadcast at 10:15 today]
SUN 22:00 Welcome to Our Village, Please Invade Carefully (b01r4ycv)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:30 today]
SUN 22:30 Small Scenes (b04n33th)
Series 2
Episode 4
A visit to the Golden Woofers, Grimsby's number one dog show and a farmer genetically engineers some living sausages.
Symphonious sketch show, starring Daniel Rigby, Sara Pascoe, Mike Wozniak, Cariad Lloyd and Henry Paker.
Written by Benjamin Partridge, Henry Paker and Mike Wozniak.
Producer: Simon Mayhew-Archer.
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in November 2014.
SUN 22:55 The Comedy Club Interviews (m000fzd3)
Ruth Bratt 3/3
From 10.00pm until midnight, seven days a week, the Comedy Club has two hours of comedy. Jake Yapp chats to improv-musical-comedy star Ruth Bratt.
SUN 23:00 Newsjack (m000ff90)
Series 22
Episode 2
Host Kiri Pritchard-McLean is joined this week by Joe Barnes, Ciaran Dowd and Emily Lloyd Sani
Script Editors: Ed Amsden and Tom Coles
Production Coordinator: Mabel Wright
Producers: Leila Navabi and Hayley Sterling
Newsjack is a BBC Studios Production.
SUN 23:30 Edge Falls (b007tc73)
Series 1
Healthy Week
Feel the burn! Edge Falls is going fit, fit, fit.
And while there's Pilates in the car park and a separate fat section in the restaurant one desperate man just wants to return a sales item.
Paul Barnhill and Neil Warhurst's sitcom following the lives of the staff of Edge Falls Retail Village starring Sarah Lancashire and Mark Benton.
Mick................................Mark Benton
Sonya.............................Sarah Lancashire
Rez............................... Emil Marwa
Valerie........................... Sarah Hadland
Rick Turino .........................Anthony Glennon
Miranda.............................Lindsay Allen
Victor/Jim............................Neil Warhurst
Karl.................................Paul Barnhill
Woman............................Rachel Bavidge
Director: Sally Avens
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in July 2007.


MONDAY 24 FEBRUARY 2020

MON 00:00 Nightfall (m000fnvk)
[Repeat of broadcast at 18:00 on Sunday]
MON 00:30 Brian Aldiss - Hothouse (b00mj3gd)
[Repeat of broadcast at 18:30 on Sunday]
MON 01:00 MM Kaye - The Far Pavilions (Omnibus) (b064506c)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:00 on Sunday]
MON 02:15 First for Radio (b07466lb)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:15 on Sunday]
MON 02:30 The Secret Guests (Omnibus) (m000fnvf)
[Repeat of broadcast at 14:30 on Sunday]
MON 03:45 Door Stepping (b08zdlrr)
[Repeat of broadcast at 15:45 on Sunday]
MON 04:00 Drama (b071h2x6)
[Repeat of broadcast at 16:00 on Sunday]
MON 05:00 Poetry Extra (m000fnvh)
[Repeat of broadcast at 17:00 on Sunday]
MON 05:30 Welcome to Our Village, Please Invade Carefully (b01r4ycv)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:30 on Sunday]
MON 06:00 Colvil and Soames (b007jt9p)
Bad Apples
Episode 3
In spite of her denials, Home Secretary Maggie Lindley appears to be closely linked with Brighton murder victim, Norman Tate.
Christopher Lee's murder-mystery starring Christopher Benjamin and Amanda Redman as intelligence officers Henry Colvil and Alex Soames.
Henry Colvil …. Christopher Benjamin
Alex Soames …. Amanda Redman
DCI Guscott …. Dudley Sutton
Miranda Peel …. Sheila Reid
Tom Margeson …. Tom Cotcher
Charlie Lofthouse …. Alistair McGowan
Maggie Lindley …. Alphonsia Emmanuel
Producer: Pete Atkin
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in November 1998.
MON 06:30 Rocking the Blitz Club (b00rz61w)
Midge Ure takes us back to the Blitz Club in London's Covent Garden where the 'New Romantics' came of age.
The club first opened its doors in 1979 at the height of another recession and Midge explores how the flamboyant Blitz scene offered an escape from the hard economic reality that he and his contemporaries were facing.
Midge remembers how "walking into the Blitz was like stepping out of time, you never knew what period it was set in. It was a total mish-mash of styles, full of blurred genders and make-up for girls and boys". The Blitz crowd were christened the 'New Romantics' because of what Midge calls their "nostalgia for the future".
The Blitz was a seedbed for creative talent, full of musicians, designers, photographers and stylists. John Galliano first flaunted his ideas there, Spandau Ballet played their early gigs and a young Boy George took the coats.
A new sound emerged from the club - the synthesizer-based electropop pioneered by Midge in his bands Visage and Ultravox. The success of the Blitz bands brought wealth and fame, but the "extreme hedonism" of the 'New Romantic' movement led many into very dark places.
Finally, Midge explores why the 1980s 'New Romantic' synth sound has seen a revival in the current recession.
Midge meets former Blitz Kids including: Gary Kemp (Spandau Ballet), Gary Numan, Robert Elms, Rusty Egan, Steve Strange (Visage), Stephen Jones (milliner) and Dylan Jones, to revisit what was undoubtedly a golden era of British pop music.
Producer: Melissa FitzGerald
A Blakeway production for BBC Radio 4 first broadcast in April 2010.
MON 07:00 Double Income, No Kids Yet (b00dkxjl)
Series 1
Episode 1
It's Daniel's birthday and to soften the blow of his impending middle age, Lucy tries to arrange a birthday party for him. However, it seems all their friends are too busy being parents to attend.
David Tennant and Liz Carling star in David Spicer's sitcom about modern life and parenthood, as seen through the eyes of a 30-something couple with no kids.
Daniel ...... David Tennant
Lucy ...... Liz Carling
Katie ...... Meera Syal
Charlotte ...... Polly Frame
Bob ...... Toby Longworth
Andy ...... Tony Gardner
Alison ...... Joanna Brookes
Producer: Liz Anstee
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in June 2001.
MON 07:30 Nature Table (m000ffzq)
Series 1
Episode 2
Nature Table is comedian, broadcaster and writer Sue Perkins’ new comedy ‘Show & Tell’ series celebrating the natural world and all its funny eccentricities.
Taking the simple format of a ‘Show & Tell’, each episode Sue is joined by celebrity guests from the worlds of comedy and natural history. Each of the natural history guests brings an item linked to the wild world to share with the audience, be it an amazing fact or funny personal anecdote. Each item is a springboard for an enlightening and funny discussion, alongside fun games and challenges revealing more astonishing facts. We also hear from some of the London Zoo audience, a mix of London Zoo staff and members of the public, as they bring us their own natural history ‘show and tells’ for Sue and the guests to discuss.
Nature Table has a simple clear brief: to positively celebrate and promote the importance of all our planet’s wonderfully wild flora and fauna in a fun and easily grasped way... whilst at the same time having a giggle.
Episode 2
Recorded at London Zoo, this week Sue Perkins is joined by special guests wildlife biologist Lizzie Daly, zoologist Billy Heaney and comedian Jessica Fostekew. This week’s ‘Show & Tells’ include: Angler fish and grey seals.
Written by: Catherine Brinkworth, Kat Sadler & Jon Hunter
Researcher: Catherine Beazley
Produced by: Simon Nicholls
Music by Ben Mirin. Additional sounds were provided by The Macaulay Library at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.
A BBC Studios Production
MON 08:00 Legal, Decent, Honest and Truthful (b007jvtb)
Series 2
Episode 1
All set for divorce and a new home, ad man Ken Handley gets a surprise at the agency.
Martin Jarvis stars in Guy Jenkin and Jon Canter’s satire set in the competitive world of advertising
Ken Handley ...... Martin Jarvis
Sandy ...... Christopher Godwin
Freddie ...... Lockwood West
Deborah ...... Rosalind Ayres
Ambrose ...... Paul Jesson
Angus ...... Michael Jenner
Receptionist ...... Janet Stacey Tendeter
Mr Cheater ...... James Griffiths
With Joss Ackland, Miriam Margolyes, John Shrapnel, Imelda Staunton and David Tate.
Producer: Pete Atkin
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in February 1984.
MON 08:30 Dad's Army (b007jqh1)
Series 3
The Big Parade
Captain Mainwaring wants a parade mascot, so he decides his Home Guard platoon must catch one.
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
The Verger …. Edward Sinclair
Private Walker …. Larry Martyn
Mrs Pike …. Pearl Hackney
Announcer/Newsreader …. John Snagge
Producer: John Dyas
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in June 1976.
MON 09:00 Whispers (b00c3nw7)
Series 2
Episode 4
Gyles Brandreth hosts the quiz show with scandal on its mind and slander at its heart.
Valerie Grove and Geoffrey Durham join team captains Lucy Moore and Anthony Holden to run the gauntlet of gossip.
Producer: Elizabeth Freestone
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in September 2004.
MON 09:30 Huddwinks (b00fsmzb)
Series 2
Tom Smollet's Schooldays
A young pupil faces up to boarding school life with a fearsome headmaster and a bullying head boy.
Roy Hudd stars in Laurie Rowley’s comic parodies.
With:
Denise Coffey
Chris Emmett
David Gooderson
Fred Harris
Producer: Jonathan James-Moore
First broadcast on BBC Radio 2 in July 1988.
MON 10:00 Lew Wallace - Ben Hur (b007jr51)
A Friendship Betrayed
Two men's lives run almost in parallel. One is a prince of Jerusalem, Judah Ben Hur. The other is known as "He that was born to be King of the Jews."
Lew Wallace's epic tale stars Jamie Glover as Judah Ben Hur.
Ben Hur ...... Jamie Glover
Messala ...... Samuel West
Angel ...... Deborah Berlin
Amrah ...... Phyllis Calvert
Mother ...... Margaret John
Arrius ...... Derek Waring
Tirzah ...... Natasha Pyne
Chief of Rowers ...... Don McCorkindale
Man 1 ...... Joshua Towb
Man 2 ...... Michael Tudor Barnes
Man in Boat ...... Gavin Muir
Michael Gambon reads from the Bible.
Dramatised in four parts by Catherine Czerkawska.
Music by Wilfredo Acosta.
Director: Glyn Dearman
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in March 1995.
MON 11:00 TED Radio Hour (m000fncl)
Series 6
Building Humane Cities
Guy Raz explores how we can build more humane cities, when the world faces overcrowding and risks to vulnerable people.
Cities are symbols of hope and opportunity. But today, overcrowding and gentrification are hurting their most vulnerable residents. This hour, TED speakers explore how we can build more humane cities.
A journey through fascinating ideas based on talks by riveting speakers on the TED (Technology, Entertainment, Design) stage.
First broadcast in the USA on National Public Radio in 2018.
MON 11:50 Inheritance Tracks (m000fqy8)
Emeli Sandé
Singer-songwriter Emeli Sandé chooses Bob Marley’s Three Little Birds and Elgar's Cello Concerto performed by Jacqueline Du Pre.
MON 12:00 Legal, Decent, Honest and Truthful (b007jvtb)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:00 today]
MON 12:30 Dad's Army (b007jqh1)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:30 today]
MON 13:00 Colvil and Soames (b007jt9p)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:00 today]
MON 13:30 Rocking the Blitz Club (b00rz61w)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:30 today]
MON 14:00 F Scott Fitzgerald: The Lost Stories (b08rq1p6)
Introduction & Thank You for the Light
A selection of stories taken from a collection of previously unpublished work by F Scott Fitzgerald, I'd Die For You: and Other Lost Stories.
The series opens with an extract from editor Anne Margaret Daniel's essay and the atmospheric vignette, 'Thank You For The Light'.
Read by Laurel Lefkow and Karen Bartke.
Romance, parties, cocktails and glamour - as a young writer in the 1920s F Scott Fitzgerald gave the magazines what they wanted. He had little choice; short stories were his bread and butter. But as the author matured he yearned to explore darker territory.
This desire wasn't cushioned by wealth; The Great Gatsby hadn't sold well and as the Depression crunched in the early 30s, Fitzgerald was hit by large medical bills for both himself and his wife Zelda. Despite the financial pressures he resisted the easy censorship requested by editors, who balked at Fitzgerald's portrayal of confusing generational freedoms, sex before marriage, divorce and working women.
Growing increasingly uncompromising about deletions and sanitisations, Fitzgerald preferred to let these stories lie in wait until their time came.
Producer: Eilidh McCreadie
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in May 2017.
MON 14:15 Friends & Foes - A Narrative History of Diplomacy (b08dnh1r)
Bosnia: Coercive Diplomacy
They grease the cogs of international relations, yet as agents of history they are all too often overlooked. Professor David Rothkopf explores the emergence of coercive diplomacy in the Balkans conflicts between 1991 and 1999, specifically in Bosnia and later Kosovo.
Professor Rothkopf explores what happens when diplomacy fails and the impact of the Srebrenica massacre in 1995. He asks what happens when diplomacy takes a decidedly undiplomatic turn into militarism.
With contributions from Tony Blair, Malcolm Rifkind, Rory Stewart and General Wesley Clark, the programme explores the new diplomatic doctrine that emerged from these conflicts, assessing how the mistakes and achievements that occurred here shaped the diplomatic world of today.
A Kati Whitaker production first broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 2017.
MON 14:30 MM Kaye - The Far Pavilions (b00yqhrf)
Episode 16
British attention turns to Afghanistan, and the Guides need the services of a man who could pass for a Shinwari.
MM Kaye's epic of love and war, dramatised by Lucy Catherine.
Narrator ..... Vineeta Rishi
Ash ..... Blake Ritson
Anjuli ..... Ayesha Dharker
Cavagnari ..... Sam Dale
Wally ..... Jonathan Forbes
Battye ..... Jude Akuwudike
Directors: Marc Beeby and Jessica Dromgoole
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in February 2011.
MON 14:45 Steve Boggan - Gold Fever (b05v7tbt)
Episode 1
Author Steve Boggan arrives at a town called Happy Camp and, having purchased everything he’ll need for camping and prospecting, heads for the hills in search of gold.
Read by Paul Ritter and Sara Markland.
Gold - for centuries people have been entranced by the riches it promises, thousands have gone wild in their search for it, and since the Financial Crisis the price of gold has reached peaks never seen in history.
All over the world, particularly in the US, people with no experience of prospecting began shopping for shovels, pickaxes, gold pans, tents, generators, and all manner of equipment they had no idea how to use. And off they went mining.
Steve Boggan decided to follow in their footsteps. In 2013 he packed his bags and flew to San Francisco to join the 21st century’s gold rush (the ‘New 49ers’) in a quest to understand the allure of the metal – and maybe find a bit for himself too.
He meets a selection of colourful characters - those who left desk jobs and family life behind to work by the river in scorching heat and fresh mountain air, in the hope of striking it rich. Most of them only make enough money to scrape a living, but Steve is surprised how happy they seem to be. From them, he gets a crash course in small-scale prospecting.
He also takes us back in time to the original gold rush, two centuries ago, tracing the path of the first intrepid 49ers (in particular, a woman called Sarah Royce and her family) who abandoned their roots and trekked thousands of miles across perilous terrain, risking death for the chance of riches.
Abridged by Libby Spurrier
Producer: Joanna Green
A Pier production for BBC Radio 4 first broadcast in May 2015.
MON 15:00 Lew Wallace - Ben Hur (b007jr51)
[Repeat of broadcast at 10:00 today]
MON 16:00 Whispers (b00c3nw7)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:00 today]
MON 16:30 Huddwinks (b00fsmzb)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:30 today]
MON 17:00 Double Income, No Kids Yet (b00dkxjl)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:00 today]
MON 17:30 Nature Table (m000ffzq)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:30 today]
MON 18:00 HG Wells - The Invisible Man (m000fncn)
1. The Strange Man's Arrival
Talented young physicist Griffin takes up residence in the village of Iping and the locals are intrigued by his experiments.
An unimaginable outcome awaits....
HG Wells’ gripping 1937 sci-fi novel about a deranged scientist abridged in ten parts by Janet Hitchman.
Read by Stephen Murray.
Producer: Gordon House
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in August 1976.
MON 18:15 Hilary Mantel - Beyond Black (b00qzjr4)
1. Voices From the Other Side
Alison Hart is a professional medium, an awkward, obese, disorganised woman, but with a gift for empathy and a good platform technique.
Her familiar spirits are figures from her chaotic childhood, principal among them a small, foul-mouthed circus performer with disgusting personal habits called Morris who is her unpleasant and bitter spirit guide.
To try and create some order in her messy existence she has taken on an assistant, the highly efficient but essentially heartless Colette, who, although she is a regular witness to Alison's gift, is nevertheless a profoundly sceptical companion. The two of them are bound together by a need that neither wants to recognise.
Hilary Mantel's blackly comic novel about a professional medium with a troubled past.
Dramatised in ten parts by Caroline Harrington.
Alison ...... Alison Steadman
Colette ...... Rosie Cavaliero
Morris ...... Bill Wallis
Director: Sara Davies
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in March 2010.
MON 18:30 A Good Read (b00n0z6f)
Tom Morris and Martin Rowson
Sue MacGregor talks to theatre director Tom Morris and cartoonist Martin Rowson about favourite books by Clare Clark, Evelyn Waugh and James Lever.
Tom's choice is a tense thriller set in the dank and murky world of London's sewers, Martin's selection is a caustic satire of British society, and Sue proposes a Booker Prize contender penned by a chimpanzee.
The Great Stink by Clare Clark
Publisher: Penguin
Work Suspended and Other Stories by Evelyn Waugh
Publisher: Penguin Classics
Me Cheeta by James Lever
Publisher: Fourth Estate
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in October 2009.
MON 19:00 Legal, Decent, Honest and Truthful (b007jvtb)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:00 today]
MON 19:30 Dad's Army (b007jqh1)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:30 today]
MON 20:00 Colvil and Soames (b007jt9p)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:00 today]
MON 20:30 Rocking the Blitz Club (b00rz61w)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:30 today]
MON 21:00 TED Radio Hour (m000fncl)
[Repeat of broadcast at 11:00 today]
MON 21:50 Inheritance Tracks (m000fqy8)
[Repeat of broadcast at 11:50 today]
MON 22:00 Nature Table (m000ffzq)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:30 today]
MON 22:30 Bleak Expectations (b00w2282)
Series 4
A Wretched Life Made Much, Much Sadder
After an embarrassing disaster involving a bridge and a train full of puppies and orphans Pip and Harry travel to America on the SS Massive Britain, where Pip begins a reading tour.
But all is not as it seems and Mister Benevolent lures our hero into a gunfight at the "All Right I Suppose Corral"
Mark Evans's epic Victorian comedy in the style of Charles Dickens.
Sir Philip ..... Richard Johnson
Young Pip Bin ..... Tom Allen
Gently Benevolent ..... Anthony Head
Harry Biscuit ..... James Bachman
Grimpunch ..... Geoffrey Whitehead
Ripely ..... Sarah Hadland
Pippa ..... Susy Kane
Producer: Gareth Edwards
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in November 2010.
MON 23:00 The News Quiz Extra (m000fms2)
Series 28
Episode 7
A satirical review of the week's news, chaired by Nish Kumar
MON 23:45 What to Do If You're Not Like Everybody Else (b00tt68z)
Series 1
Relationships and Family
Andrew Lawrence addresses the expectation upon us all that we should settle down, get married and have children and the general burdens of family life.
Last of a four part mini-series of short comedic monologues taking a light-hearted look at various aspects of conventional living and the pressure we feel to conform to social norms and ideals.
From the Edinburgh Comedy Festival.
Written by Andrew Lawrence.
Producer: Jane Berthoud
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in September 2010.


TUESDAY 25 FEBRUARY 2020

TUE 00:00 HG Wells - The Invisible Man (m000fncn)
[Repeat of broadcast at 18:00 on Monday]
TUE 00:15 Hilary Mantel - Beyond Black (b00qzjr4)
[Repeat of broadcast at 18:15 on Monday]
TUE 00:30 A Good Read (b00n0z6f)
[Repeat of broadcast at 18:30 on Monday]
TUE 01:00 Colvil and Soames (b007jt9p)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:00 on Monday]
TUE 01:30 Rocking the Blitz Club (b00rz61w)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:30 on Monday]
TUE 02:00 F Scott Fitzgerald: The Lost Stories (b08rq1p6)
[Repeat of broadcast at 14:00 on Monday]
TUE 02:15 Friends & Foes - A Narrative History of Diplomacy (b08dnh1r)
[Repeat of broadcast at 14:15 on Monday]
TUE 02:30 MM Kaye - The Far Pavilions (b00yqhrf)
[Repeat of broadcast at 14:30 on Monday]
TUE 02:45 Steve Boggan - Gold Fever (b05v7tbt)
[Repeat of broadcast at 14:45 on Monday]
TUE 03:00 Lew Wallace - Ben Hur (b007jr51)
[Repeat of broadcast at 10:00 on Monday]
TUE 04:00 Whispers (b00c3nw7)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:00 on Monday]
TUE 04:30 Huddwinks (b00fsmzb)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:30 on Monday]
TUE 05:00 Double Income, No Kids Yet (b00dkxjl)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:00 on Monday]
TUE 05:30 Nature Table (m000ffzq)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:30 on Monday]
TUE 06:00 Colvil and Soames (b007jt9z)
Bad Apples
Episode 4
With the Home Secretary still denying any nefarious connections with the murdered Norman Tate, Colvil and Soames get a breakthrough in their investigation.
Christopher Lee's murder-mystery starring Christopher Benjamin and Amanda Redman as intelligence officers Henry Colvil and Alex Soames.
Henry Colvil …. Christopher Benjamin
Alex Soames …. Amanda Redman
DCI Guscott …. Dudley Sutton
Miranda Peel …. Sheila Reid
Tom Margeson …. Tom Cotcher
Charlie Lofthouse …. Alistair McGowan
Maggie Lindley …. Alphonsia Emmanuel
Producer: Pete Atkin
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in November 1998.
TUE 06:30 Graffiti: Kings on a Mission (b04cfhm3)
In 1974, one of America's most celebrated cultural figures declared graffiti as "the great art of the 70s".
Back then, thousands of teenagers were vandalising New York, in particular the subway system. Yet Norman Mailer described their "passion", their "cool", their "masterpieces in letters six feet high".
Who were the teens behind the "tags" - now the veterans of the scene? Why did they create this movement? Were they even thinking about art, politics, protest - or simply writing their names on trains?
We meet some of those who defied the law (and their parents) and diced with death including pioneers such as Riff 170, Jester, Coco 144, Flint Gennari, and Tats Cru. Their efforts have been replicated far beyond New York – in art galleries and in the hands of Arab Spring protesters – and yet their aspirations were largely apolitical: they were chasing fame and the acceptance of their peers.
We explore the city's complicated relationship with graffiti, which it appears to condemn and celebrate in equal measure. Former artists – or "writers" as they prefer to be known – revisit their old haunts and discuss why they believe they had a right to "tag", "bomb" and "destroy" New York with markers and spray paint.
The programme paints a vivid picture of a city that became a canvas at a time when, according to Norman Mailer, "it looked as if graffiti would take over the world".
Producer: Steve Urquhart
A Falling Tree production for BBC Radio 4 first broadcast in August 2014.
TUE 07:00 HR (b00j5885)
Series 1
A Bus Pass
The work machine has finally excreted Peter and Sam. Now the two friends meet, of all places, in the queue for their senior bus passes.
Nigel Williams’ comedy drama series charting the misfortunes of a middle-aged HR officer and his trouble-making colleague.
Peter ...... Jonathan Pryce
Sam ...... Nicholas le Prevost
Man with no teeth ...... Malcolm Tierney
Mechanical voice ...... Stephen Critchlow
Director: Peter Cavanagh
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in March 2009.
TUE 07:30 Napoleon Moon (m000dynd)
Britain of the future is a confusing and silly place: the Britannia Archipelago is a flooded sprawl of walkways drenched in chemical-rain; homeless robots living abandoned in shop doorways; oligarchs partying in their zero-gravity masquerades as the workers sleep soundly in their cars, which circle the swirling maelstrom of bio-gak that was once our sky. In this dystopian cityscape, one man with a large and fragile ego, is about to fall from the very highest pedestal, only to land on someone else's feet. His name is Napoleon Moon.
Napoleon Moon...Paterson Joseph
Cash...Kemah Bob
All other roles played by Emma Dennis-Edwards and David Reed
Writer, David Reed
Producer, Julia McKenzie
A BBC Studios Production
TUE 08:00 The Goon Show (b00qpjpm)
The China Story
Neddie Seagoon is Britain's ambassador in China, and he's after cash.
Groundbreaking, surreal BBC radio comedy written by Spike Milligan and Eric Sykes.
Starring:
Peter Sellers
Harry Secombe
Spike Milligan
First billed as Crazy People, ten series of The Goon Show were recorded between 1951 and 1960, but sadly many of the earliest shows weren’t kept in the archive.
With the Ray Ellington Quartet and Max Geldray.
Orchestra conducted by Bruce Campbell.
Announcer: Wallace Greenslade
Producer: Peter Eton
First broadcast on the BBC Home Service in January 1955.
TUE 08:30 Round the Horne (b00mw69c)
Series 3
Episode 14
Trouble at sea for Kenneth Horne in 'The Maltese Brass Monkey', while Julian and Sandy go trolling on a bona fox hunt with a twist.
With Kenneth Williams, Hugh Paddick, Betty Marsden and Bill Pertwee.
Recorded at the BBC's Paris Studio in Lower Regent Street, London. Announcer: Douglas Smith
Round The Horne was born out of the demise of BBC radio comedy Beyond Our Ken, after the end of writer Eric Merriman's involvement. Using the same cast and producer, Barry Took and Marty Feldman were persuaded to write the scripts - which led to four series that ran between 1965 and 1968 - packed full of parodies, recurring characters, catchphrases and double-entendres.
Music by Edwin Braden and the Hornblowers and The Fraser Hayes Four.
Producer: John Simmonds
First broadcast on the BBC Light Programme in May 1967.
TUE 09:00 The News Quiz Extra (m000fms2)
[Repeat of broadcast at 23:00 on Monday]
TUE 09:45 What to Do If You're Not Like Everybody Else (b00tt68z)
[Repeat of broadcast at 23:45 on Monday]
TUE 10:00 Lew Wallace - Ben Hur (b007jr5g)
Son of Arrius
Judah Ben Hur has been falsely accused of attempted murder, sent to the galleys and rescued by Arrius of Rome. He now returns in search of his mother and sister.
Lew Wallace's epic tale stars Jamie Glover as Judah Ben Hur.
Ben Hur ...... Jamie Glover
Messala ...... Samuel West
Simonides ...... Bernard Hepton
Ilderim ...... Freddie Jones
Balthasar ...... Michael Hordern
Drusus ...... Ian Masters
Esther ...... Deborah Berlin
Iras ...... Natasha Pyne
Servant ...... Joshua Towb
Passenger ...... Michael Tudor Barnes
Malluch ...... Gavin Muir
Iras ...... Becky Hindley
Michael Gambon reads from the Bible.
Dramatised by Catherine Czerkawska.
Music by Wilfredo Acosta.
Director: Glyn Dearman
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in March 1995.
TUE 11:00 Second God by Teju Cole (b079rfx7)
Husain, a New York gas station attendant, worries about love. Concerned for his ageing parents back in Pakistan, he makes a rash decision which has serious consequences for his relationship.
Story specially commissioned from Teju Cole, one of the most interesting writers on multiculturalism working today and read by Riz Ahmed.
Teju Cole is a Nigerian-American writer, photographer and art historian. His 2011 novel Open City was described by the Guardian as, “an excellent novel about spatial relations, layers of urban history and immigrant experience”. Using Cole’s trademark insight and subtlety, Second God explores how definitions of love can differ around the world, and what this means for two people in modern New York.
Producer: Simon Richardson
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in May 2016.
TUE 11:15 Drama (b05pmrtk)
Neil Brand - A Year at the Races
Nearing the end of his career Groucho Marx meets a young star-struck fan, who also happens to be a wisecracking horse doctor. Determined to keep her idol’s star shining, she attempts to teach the old funny man some new comedy tricks.
Neil Brand's fast-talking comedy drama about fame and the lasting power of a witty-one-liner.
Groucho ….. Toby Jones
Selma ….. Jenna Augen
Loretta ….. Tracy-Ann Oberman
Eddie ….. Ewan Bailey
Director: Helen Perry
A BBC Cymru Wales production for BBC Radio 4 first broadcast in April 2015.
TUE 12:00 The Goon Show (b00qpjpm)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:00 today]
TUE 12:30 Round the Horne (b00mw69c)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:30 today]
TUE 13:00 Colvil and Soames (b007jt9z)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:00 today]
TUE 13:30 Graffiti: Kings on a Mission (b04cfhm3)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:30 today]
TUE 14:00 F Scott Fitzgerald: The Lost Stories (b08sqr3h)
The Couple, Part 1/3
Finn den Hertog begins a previously unpublished comic story about the disintegration of a young marriage.
Taken from F Scott Fitzgerald's collection, I'd Die For You: and Other Lost Stories.
Romance, parties, cocktails and glamour - as a young writer in the 1920s F. Scott Fitzgerald gave the magazines what they wanted. He had little choice; short stories were his bread and butter. But as the author matured he yearned to explore darker territory.
This desire wasn't cushioned by wealth; The Great Gatsby hadn't sold well and as the Depression crunched in the early 30s, Fitzgerald was hit by large medical bills for both himself and his wife Zelda. Despite the financial pressures he resisted the easy censorship requested by editors, who balked at Fitzgerald's portrayal of confusing generational freedoms, sex before marriage, divorce and working women.
Growing increasingly uncompromising about deletions and sanitisations, Fitzgerald preferred to let these stories lie in wait until their time came.
Producer: Eilidh McCreadie.
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in May 2017.
TUE 14:15 Friends & Foes - A Narrative History of Diplomacy (b08dnrq6)
Sanctions: Carrot or Stick?
How effective are sanctions in contemporary diplomacy? Professor David Rothkopf investigates.
The recent nuclear agreements in Iran and the democratic opening in Burma were both brought about, at least in part, by using sanctions. And although sanctions have been a diplomatic tool since the 5th century BC, when Athens imposed trade blockades on her neighbours, they were rarely used in the 20th century.
Before the fall of the Berlin wall, there were only two UN sanctions - one imposed against Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) in 1965, and another against South Africa in 1986. But after the end of the Cold War, the use of sanctions revived as a means of curbing human-rights violations, ousting belligerent leaders and limiting the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.
Professor Rothkopf hears from Lady Cathy Ashton and former diplomat Robert Cooper, leading negotiators in Iran and Burma respectively, to discover what makes sanctions successful.
A Kati Whitaker production first broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 2017.
TUE 14:30 MM Kaye - The Far Pavilions (b00yqn6z)
Episode 17
Ash's reports from Afghanistan seem to fall on deaf ears, and he wonders whether the British have any desire to avoid conflict.
MM Kaye's epic of love and war, dramatised by Lucy Catherine.
Narrator ..... Vineeta Rishi
Ash ..... Blake Ritson
Gulbaz ..... Kaleem Janjua
Anjuli ..... Ayesha Dharker
Cavagnari ..... Sam Dale
Wally ..... Jonathan Forbes
Battye ..... Jude Akuwudike
Zarin ..... Chris Simpson
Directors: Marc Beeby and Jessica Dromgoole
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in February 2011.
TUE 14:45 Steve Boggan - Gold Fever (b05vhwp2)
Episode 2
Steve Boggan meets a legendary character called Dave Mack who agrees to let him tag along to see some ‘extreme’ prospecting.
Read by Paul Ritter and Sara Markland.
Gold - for centuries people have been entranced by the riches it promises, thousands have gone wild in their search for it, and since the Financial Crisis the price of gold has reached peaks never seen in history.
All over the world, particularly in the US, people with no experience of prospecting began shopping for shovels, pickaxes, gold pans, tents, generators, and all manner of equipment they had no idea how to use. And off they went mining.
Steve Boggan decided to follow in their footsteps. In 2013 he packed his bags and flew to San Francisco to join the 21st century's gold rush (the 'New 49ers') in a quest to understand the allure of the metal – and maybe find a bit for himself too.
He meets a selection of colourful characters - those who left desk jobs and family life behind to work by the river in scorching heat and fresh mountain air, in the hope of striking it rich. Most of them only make enough money to scrape a living, but Steve is surprised how happy they seem to be. From them, he gets a crash course in small-scale prospecting.
He also takes us back in time to the original gold rush, two centuries ago, tracing the path of the first intrepid 49ers (in particular, a woman called Sarah Royce and her family) who abandoned their roots and trekked thousands of miles across perilous terrain, risking death for the chance of riches.
Abridged by Libby Spurrier
Producer: Joanna Green
A Pier production for BBC Radio 4 first broadcast in May 2015.
TUE 15:00 Lew Wallace - Ben Hur (b007jr5g)
[Repeat of broadcast at 10:00 today]
TUE 16:00 The Museum of Curiosity (b06ybgxr)
Series 8
Ward, Sharman, Blofeld
Professor of Ignorance John Lloyd and his curator Sarah Millican welcome:
* An award-winning Australian comedian who is so much more than a mere joker, Felicity Ward
* The cricket commentator whose association with James Bond villainy is more than a mere coincidence, Henry Blofeld
* A former chemist from Mars who is more than a Mir astronaut, Dr Helen Sharman OBE
The Museum's guests discuss the cultural significance of Australians using watermelons as hats; how you can increase your stature in more ways than one by going into space; how it took an author as inventive as PG Wodehouse to coin the word 'gruntled' decades after the word 'disgruntled'; the vital importance of toilets; and the coolest possible way of telling mountain trekkers where you were when you first saw the Himalayas.
Researchers: Anne Miller and Molly Oldfield of QI.
Producers: Richard Turner and James Harkin.
A BBC Radio Comedy production for BBC Radio 4 first broadcast in January 2016.
TUE 16:30 Hopes and Desires (b0b1v7b4)
Series 1
The Anniversary Waltz
Max and Shirley bicker all day long in their north London deli. Max believes the customers love their bantering but Shirley's had enough.
There must be more to life than this?
Hopes and Desires is a series of comedies about unconscious yearnings.
Prunella Scales stars in Jeremy Front's comedy drama.
Shirley …. Prunella Scales
Max …. Roger Allam
Roszinka …. Rebecca Front
Girl …. Rosie Fellner
Marcy …. Liza Sadovy
Toastmaster/Old Man …. Bruce Purchase
Director: Peter Kavanagh
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in May 2003.
TUE 17:00 HR (b00j5885)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:00 today]
TUE 17:30 Napoleon Moon (m000dynd)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:30 today]
TUE 18:00 HG Wells - The Invisible Man (m000fms4)
2. Burglary at the Vicarage
Mr and Mrs Bunting investigate a strange disturbance in the study at the vicarage in Iping – but can see nothing...
HG Wells’ gripping 1937 sci-fi novel about a deranged scientist abridged by Janet Hitchman.
Read by Stephen Murray.
Producer: Gordon House
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in August 1976.
TUE 18:15 Hilary Mantel - Beyond Black (b00qzjr6)
2. Colette's Story
Colette is an event organiser whose marriage to dull, conventional Gavin ends after she has the strange experience of holding a phone conversation with Gavin's mother, whom she later discovers is dead.
Colette's interest in the paranormal leads her to a Psychic Extravanganza in Windsor where professional medium Alison is performing, and to a subsequent consultation where Alison drops a bombshell about her father and then makes her a surprising job offer.
Hilary Mantel's blackly comic novel about a professional medium with a troubled past.
Alison ...... Alison Steadman
Colette ...... Rosie Cavaliero
Gavin ...... Mark Meadows
Natasha/Renee ...... Adrienne O'Sullivan
Dramatised by Caroline Harrington.
Director: Sara Davies
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in March 2010.
TUE 18:30 Pioneers (b014qz46)
Series 2
The Samaritans
Father Roy Day and Mike Tunstall chat to Clare English about the history of the first 24-hour helpline in the UK, the Samaritans.
The duo recall how the charity's founder, Chad Varah, provided a lifeline to many vulnerable people.
Producer: Philip Sime
First broadcast on BBC Radio Scotland in 2011.
TUE 19:00 The Goon Show (b00qpjpm)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:00 today]
TUE 19:30 Round the Horne (b00mw69c)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:30 today]
TUE 20:00 Colvil and Soames (b007jt9z)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:00 today]
TUE 20:30 Graffiti: Kings on a Mission (b04cfhm3)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:30 today]
TUE 21:00 Second God by Teju Cole (b079rfx7)
[Repeat of broadcast at 11:00 today]
TUE 21:15 Drama (b05pmrtk)
[Repeat of broadcast at 11:15 today]
TUE 22:00 Napoleon Moon (m000dynd)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:30 today]
TUE 22:30 Irish Micks and Legends (b053bq5m)
Series 2
Cuchulain and the Hound
Aisling Bea and Yasmine Akram learn how the young Setanta became known as Cuchulain, the most famous of all the warriors in ancient Ireland because he played our national sport.
Series two of the duo's unique comedic, highly irreverent take on Irish folklore.
Still the very best pals, Aisling and Yasmine take their role explaining Irish legends to the British nation very seriously indeed. That said, it would appear that they haven't had the time to do much research, work out who is doing which parts, edit out the chat or learn how to work the sound desk.
With a vast vault of fantastical myths, mixed with 21st century references to help you along, prepare for some very silly lessons in life, love and the crazy shenanigans of old Ireland and modern Irish.
Producer: Raymond Lau
A Green Dragon Media production for BBC Radio 4 first broadcast in February 2015.
TUE 22:45 Terry Alderton: More Crazy Now (b0858v5w)
A Lot Of Thoughts
Terry Alderton flexes his comedy muscles with more craziness and nonsense. Street Kid, Victor, Ed and The Bear all return for the last in the current series.
It’s more Terry, more crazy and happening right now.
Written by and starring Terry Alderton.
Featuring Johnny Spurling
Additional material from Johnny Spurling and Richard Melvin.
Producers: Johnny Spurling and Sean Kerwin
Executive Producer: Richard Melvin
A Dabster production for BBC Radio 4 first broadcast in December 2016.
TUE 22:55 The Comedy Club Interviews (m000g2vw)
Matt Forde 1/2
From 10.00pm until midnight, seven days a week, the Comedy Club has two hours of comedy. And Jon Holmes chats to political comedian Matt Forde.
TUE 23:00 Rudy's Rare Records (b00p4mcp)
Series 1
The Heart of Saturday Night
Bad news for the trio when burglars ransack their record store in Brum.
The collisions of life for Grandad Rudy, father Adam and son Richie living crammed together over an old record store in Birmingham.
Generational comedy written by Danny Robins and Dan Tetsell from an original idea by Lenny Henry.
Adam Sharpe ...... Lenny Henry
Richie Sharp ...... Joe Jacobs
Rudy Sharpe ...... Larrington Walker
Tasha ...... Natasha Godfrey
Clifton ...... Jeffery Kissoon
Doctor ...... Tracy-Ann Oberman
DJ Karel ...... Andrew Brooke
Trev the Hoodie ...... Doc Brown
Producer: Lucy Armitage.
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in March 2008.
TUE 23:30 John Shuttleworth's Lounge Music (b0848sqq)
Series 2
Episode 3
John Shuttleworth invites Nick Heyward from Haircut 100 to his Sheffield home to perform one of his own songs and also, more importantly, one of his.
Ken is very excited as he's heard that Nick has had a spiritual awakening and he's keen to learn how he can have one of his own. John feels that Ken is being silly wearing a kaftan and beads, but Ken is convinced that Nick can help him and ignores John.
Also, Mary is not happy with the smell of the josticks that Ken has lit so he's ejected by John while Nick wins Mary over with his rendition of Can't Go Back To Savoury Now.
In Top Tips on the Telephone, John learns from Tony Christie about coping with Eurovision failure!
Written and Performed by Graham Fellows.
With special guests Nick Heyward and Tony Christie.
Producer: Dawn Ellis
A Chic Ken production for BBC Radio 4 first broadcast in December 2016.


WEDNESDAY 26 FEBRUARY 2020

WED 00:00 HG Wells - The Invisible Man (m000fms4)
[Repeat of broadcast at 18:00 on Tuesday]
WED 00:15 Hilary Mantel - Beyond Black (b00qzjr6)
[Repeat of broadcast at 18:15 on Tuesday]
WED 00:30 Pioneers (b014qz46)
[Repeat of broadcast at 18:30 on Tuesday]
WED 01:00 Colvil and Soames (b007jt9z)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:00 on Tuesday]
WED 01:30 Graffiti: Kings on a Mission (b04cfhm3)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:30 on Tuesday]
WED 02:00 F Scott Fitzgerald: The Lost Stories (b08sqr3h)
[Repeat of broadcast at 14:00 on Tuesday]
WED 02:15 Friends & Foes - A Narrative History of Diplomacy (b08dnrq6)
[Repeat of broadcast at 14:15 on Tuesday]
WED 02:30 MM Kaye - The Far Pavilions (b00yqn6z)
[Repeat of broadcast at 14:30 on Tuesday]
WED 02:45 Steve Boggan - Gold Fever (b05vhwp2)
[Repeat of broadcast at 14:45 on Tuesday]
WED 03:00 Lew Wallace - Ben Hur (b007jr5g)
[Repeat of broadcast at 10:00 on Tuesday]
WED 04:00 The Museum of Curiosity (b06ybgxr)
[Repeat of broadcast at 16:00 on Tuesday]
WED 04:30 Hopes and Desires (b0b1v7b4)
[Repeat of broadcast at 16:30 on Tuesday]
WED 05:00 HR (b00j5885)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:00 on Tuesday]
WED 05:30 Napoleon Moon (m000dynd)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:30 on Tuesday]
WED 06:00 Colvil and Soames (b007jtbm)
Bad Apples
Episode 5
While Colvil and Soames are searching the flat of murder victim Norman Tate, who should walk through the door but ... Norman Tate.
Christopher Lee's murder-mystery starring Christopher Benjamin and Amanda Redman as intelligence officers Henry Colvil and Alex Soames.
Henry Colvil …. Christopher Benjamin
Alex Soames …. Amanda Redman
DCI Guscott …. Dudley Sutton
Miranda Peel …. Sheila Reid
Tom Margeson …. Tom Cotcher
Charlie Lofthouse …. Alistair McGowan
Maggie Lindley …. Alphonsia Emmanuel
Norman Tate …. Brian Bowles
DS Gwen Jenkins …. Sue Jones Davies
Producer: Pete Atkin
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in November 1998.
WED 06:30 Thesiger At 100 (b00wlbvv)
An exploration of the life of photographer and traveller, Wilfred Thesiger, who travelled and documented - in thousands of photos - both Africa and the Arabian Peninsula.
BBC Security correspondent Frank Gardner, who was encouraged by Thesiger to learn Arabic, looks back on his fascinating life and reflects how it is through Thesiger's work that we currently have such an understanding of the North African and Arab world. Thesiger lived among the marsh Arabs of southern Iraq, and he also became famous for crossing the Rub' al Khali, the "Empty Quarter" of Saudi Arabia, surviving on less than a pint of water a day.
Gardner talks to Christopher Morton of the Pitt Rivers about Thesiger's work, and what it reveals of past ways of life, and he also speaks to the curator of the exhibition, Philip N Grover about ways of interpreting the graphic imagery of the photographs.
Thesiger's biographer Alexander Maitland tells the story of his wartime service with the SAS and SOE, and explorer Benedict Allen assesses the importance of Thesiger's travels and writing.
Despite Thesiger's keen appreciation of desert peoples and their way of life, he hated modern society. The only modern invention he valued was the camera. We hear his voice in historic broadcasts from the 1940s and 50s, his elegant prose recalling his travels in what is now a lost age.
Made to mark the centenary of Wilfred Thesiger's birth on 3rd June 1910.
Producer: Alyn Shipton
A Unique production first broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in December 2010.
WED 07:00 The Change (b0076d2r)
Series 2
Episode 5
Carol and George are set to go away for the weekend together. But who's going to wear the dress?
Lynda Bellingham and Chris Ellison star as troubled hormonal wife Carol who kicked out her mechanic husband George when he revealed he's a transvestite.
Sitcom by Gavin Petrie and Jan Etherington.
Carol …. Lynda Bellingham
George …. Chris Ellison
Violet …. Sylvia Syms
Maureen …. Maureen Beattie
Ken …. James Vaugnan
Sonia …. Emma Kennedy
Jerry …. Barnaby Kay
Dave …. Mark Powley
Linda …. Andrew Westfield
Cassandra …. Paul Chadhidi
Di …. Di Aitcheson
Producer: Elizabeth Freestone.
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in March 2003.
WED 07:30 Alex Edelman's Peer Group (m000fgsk)
Series 3
Mental Health
Award-winning comedian Alex Edelman uses personal experience to discuss mental health and why its relevance today. With help from his "peer group" at the University of West London, Alex examines current attitudes to mental health, and how people deal with it.
Alex Edelman's Peer Group is written and performed by Alex Edelman, with additional material from Alfie Brown, Rebecca Nicholson, David Burstein, Catherine Brinkworth and Kat Sadler.
It is produced by Sam Michell and is a BBC Studios Production.
WED 08:00 Hancock's Half Hour (b007k4v4)
Series 4
The Income Tax Demand
With a tax bill looming, the lad consults crooked chartered accountant Sid.
Starring Tony Hancock.
With Sidney James, Bill Kerr and Kenneth Williams.
Written by Ray Galton and Alan Simpson.
Theme and incidental music composed by Wally Stott. Recorded by the BBC Revue Orchestra conducted by Harry Rabinowitz.
Producer: Dennis Main Wilson
First broadcast on the BBC Light Programme in October 1956.
WED 08:30 One Foot in the Grave (b007jn39)
In Luton Airport No-One Can Hear You Scream
Victor and Margaret Meldrew return from their holiday in Greece. What could possibly go wrong..?
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
Mrs Warboys ...... Doreen Mantle
Nick Swainey ...... Owen Brenman
With Jon Glover, Ainslee Foster and Paul Rogan.
Winning numerous awards, six series were made for TV plus numerous specials on BBC ONE from 1990 to 2000.
Producer: Diane Messias
First broadcast on BBC Radio 2 in February 1995.
WED 09:00 Listomania (b09yhgks)
Series 1
Episode 2
Susan Calman hosts the series exploring the world of the list – from the magnificent to the mundane – from the humble 'to do' list to the bucket list and many more...
With Joe Lycett, Celia Pacquola, Holly Walsh and Lloyd Langford.
Written by James Kettle and Gráinne Maguire with Max Davis and Gabby Hutchinson Crouch.
Producers: Sam Bryant and Adnan Ahmed.
First broadcast on BBC Radio 2 in 2015.
WED 09:30 Such Rotten Luck (b01p0rq5)
Series 1
Red Whales in the Funhouse
Wordsmith Woodhouse tries an oratorio and some candid writing about a pregnancy.
The ups and downs of a second class writer
Comedy drama series written by Ronald Hayman.
Woodhouse ...... Tim Pigott-Smith
Gila ...... Zoe Wanamaker
Seamus ...... Stephen Rea
Wilhelmina ...... Susie Bran
Henrietta Masterson ...... Miriam Karlin
Hamish McVomitory ...... Bill Wallis
With Eva Stuart, Susan Sheridan and Shaun Prendergast as the other members of the Creative Writing Class.
Fifth Hump: Red Whales in the Funhouse
Music by Elizabeth Parker of the BBC Radiophonic Workshop
Director: Piers Plowright
First broadcast on BBC Radio 3 in September 1989.
WED 10:00 Lew Wallace - Ben Hur (b007jr5x)
The Chariot Race
The biggest day of Ben Hur 's life dawns -the chariot race with Messala.
Each has staked his fortune on the outcome. Each has everything to lose.
Lew Wallace's epic tale stars Jamie Glover as Judah Ben Hur.
Ben Hur ...... Jamie Glover
Messala ...... Samuel West
Simonides ...... Bernard Hepton
Ilderim ...... Freddie Jones
Drusus ...... Ian Masters
Amrah ...... Phyllis Calvert
Mother ...... Margaret John
Esther ...... Deborah Berlin
Tirzah ...... Natasha Pyne
Malluch ...... Gavin Muir
Iras ...... Becky Hindley
Gesius ...... Peter Yapp
Pilate ...... Neville Jason
Assassin ...... Oliver Senton
Roman 1 ...... Joshua Towb
Servant ...... Michael Tudor Barnes
Michael Gambon reads from the Bible.
Dramatised by Catherine Czerkawska.
Music by Wilfredo Acosta.
Director: Glyn Dearman
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in March 1995.
WED 11:00 Writing Yorkshire (m000fnsp)
2: From Haworth to Leeds
Poet, radio presenter, and Yorkshireman Ian McMillan continues his literary tour around God's Own Country to visit the streets, towns, cities and moors that have inspired so much classic writing.
From Ian's own home town of Barnsley and his own literary hero Barry Hines, to the Moors of Haworth that will forever belong to The Brontës, we're exploring a county bursting at the seams with writers and writing.
* Ian visits the Bronte Parsonage Cottage in Howarth, Keighley to learn more about the sisters.
* Wuthering Heights - Episode 4 from BBC Radio 4's 2018 adaptation by Rachel Joyce of Emily Bronte's novel.
* Writers on Themselves: Ted Hughes - Ted's essay 'The Rock', first broadcast on the BBC Third Programme in 1963.
* At the offices of Peepal Tree Press in Leeds, Ian meets African-Caribbean poet Khadijh Ibrahim.
* Desert Island Discs: Barbara Taylor Bradford - from BBC Radio 4 July 2003 [Extract]
The conclusion to Ian’s conversation with Blake Morrison.
Producer: Jessica Treen
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 Extra in September 2018.
WED 12:00 Hancock's Half Hour (b007k4v4)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:00 today]
WED 12:30 One Foot in the Grave (b007jn39)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:30 today]
WED 13:00 Colvil and Soames (b007jtbm)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:00 today]
WED 13:30 Thesiger At 100 (b00wlbvv)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:30 today]
WED 14:00 F Scott Fitzgerald: The Lost Stories (b08sqvlr)
The Couple, Part 2/3
Finn den Hertog continues a previously unpublished comic story about the disintegration of a young marriage.
Taken from F Scott Fitzgerald's collection, I'd Die For You: and Other Lost Stories.
Romance, parties, cocktails and glamour - as a young writer in the 1920s F. Scott Fitzgerald gave the magazines what they wanted. He had little choice; short stories were his bread and butter. But as the author matured he yearned to explore darker territory.
This desire wasn't cushioned by wealth; The Great Gatsby hadn't sold well and as the Depression crunched in the early 30s, Fitzgerald was hit by large medical bills for both himself and his wife Zelda. Despite the financial pressures he resisted the easy censorship requested by editors, who balked at Fitzgerald's portrayal of confusing generational freedoms, sex before marriage, divorce and working women.
Growing increasingly uncompromising about deletions and sanitisations, Fitzgerald preferred to let these stories lie in wait until their time came.
Producer: Eilidh McCreadie.
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in May 2017.
WED 14:15 Friends & Foes - A Narrative History of Diplomacy (b08dnwrh)
Public Diplomacy: Talking to the World
Professor David Rothkopf explores how public diplomacy changed in aftermath of the September 11th attacks in 2001.
When the Twin Towers collapsed, so too did many of our assumptions about America herself. All that the West held as self-evident about the States - her position as the world's supreme power, her national security, her place as the seat of freedom and democracy - was thrown in doubt.
Professor Rothkopf looks at the resulting sea-change in diplomatic relations and methods. He hears from Tony Blair, soldier-turned-MP Rory Stewart and former US Under Secretary of State Charlotte Beers, among others, to gain a better understanding of where the practice of diplomacy went wrong in the run up to 9/11.
He asks what lessons we need to learn from the methods of the past 30 years of diplomatic endeavour - and what new lessons we need to take on board for the future.
A Kati Whitaker production first broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 2017.
WED 14:30 MM Kaye - The Far Pavilions (b00yqn79)
Episode 18
Ash's increasing sense of his own difference from his friends and fellow soldiers drives him to make a move.
MM Kaye's epic of love and war, dramatised by Lucy Catherine
Narrator ..... Vineeta Rishi
Ash ..... Blake Ritson
Anjuli ..... Ayesha Dharker
Zarin ..... Christopher Simpson
Colonel Jenkins ..... Sean Baker
Wally ..... Jonathan Forbes
Directors: Marc Beeby and Jessica Dromgoole
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in February 2011.
WED 14:45 Steve Boggan - Gold Fever (b05vhxqp)
Episode 3
Steve meets a character called Duane who freely admits to having ‘gold fever’. And on a prospecting trip with Tom, the author finds himself in very deep water.
Read by Paul Ritter and Sara Markland.
Gold - for centuries people have been entranced by the riches it promises, thousands have gone wild in their search for it, and since the Financial Crisis the price of gold has reached peaks never seen in history.
All over the world, particularly in the US, people with no experience of prospecting began shopping for shovels, pickaxes, gold pans, tents, generators, and all manner of equipment they had no idea how to use. And off they went mining.
Steve Boggan decided to follow in their footsteps. In 2013 he packed his bags and flew to San Francisco to join the 21st century's gold rush (the 'New 49ers') in a quest to understand the allure of the metal – and maybe find a bit for himself too.
He meets a selection of colourful characters - those who left desk jobs and family life behind to work by the river in scorching heat and fresh mountain air, in the hope of striking it rich. Most of them only make enough money to scrape a living, but Steve is surprised how happy they seem to be. From them, he gets a crash course in small-scale prospecting.
He also takes us back in time to the original gold rush, two centuries ago, tracing the path of the first intrepid 49ers (in particular, a woman called Sarah Royce and her family) who abandoned their roots and trekked thousands of miles across perilous terrain, risking death for the chance of riches.
Abridged by Libby Spurrier
Producer: Joanna Green
A Pier production for BBC Radio 4 first broadcast in May 2015.
WED 15:00 Lew Wallace - Ben Hur (b007jr5x)
[Repeat of broadcast at 10:00 today]
WED 16:00 Listomania (b09yhgks)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:00 today]
WED 16:30 Such Rotten Luck (b01p0rq5)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:30 today]
WED 17:00 The Change (b0076d2r)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:00 today]
WED 17:30 Alex Edelman's Peer Group (m000fgsk)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:30 today]
WED 18:00 HG Wells - The Invisible Man (m000fnsr)
3. Unveiling of the Stranger
A confrontation with Mrs Hall results in the stranger revealing his unimaginable predicament.
HG Wells’ gripping 1937 sci-fi novel about a deranged scientist abridged by Janet Hitchman.
Read by Stephen Murray.
Producer: Gordon House
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in August 1976.
WED 18:15 Hilary Mantel - Beyond Black (b00qzjr8)
3. An Evil Thing
Colette decides Alison should publish a book, and starts to interview her on tape. She soon realises she's taken on more than she might want to know.
Alison's memories of her childhood in Aldershot turn out to be profoundly disturbing. Her mother arranged abortions for other women, but couldn't get rid of her own child, and may well have offered her to a succession of detestable petty thieves and abusers. They lived in squalor, Alison was neglected, and her school life and subsequent jobs were messed up by interfering spirits. She was rescued by a neighbour, Mrs Etchells, who claimed to be her grandmother, and who introduced her to the psychic world.
Hilary Mantel's blackly comic novel about a professional medium with a troubled past.
Alison ...... Alison Steadman
Colette ...... Rosie Cavaliero
Morris ...... Bill Wallis
Emmie ...... Katharine Rogers
Keith ...... Simon Armstrong
Mrs McGibbet ...... Sheila Hannon
Mrs Etchells ...... June Barrie
Dramatised in ten parts by Caroline Harrington.
Director: Sara Davies.
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in March 2010.
WED 18:30 The Palace of Laughter (b0076xb9)
Stateside
Episode 1
Geoffrey Wheeler explores the history of American vaudeville.
Like Music Hall in Britain, vaudeville was a product of its time; increasing urbanisation, and a desire to present entertainment which would appeal to the whole family, led to the development of vast vaudeville circuits, spanning thousands of miles of barely settled American territory, on which tens of thousands of performers travelled from town to town earning their living.
Among those who learned their trade in vaudeville were future international stars such as Fred and Adele Astaire, Bob Hope, Jack Benny and jazz singer Ma Rainey.
Producer Libby Cross.
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 2006.
WED 19:00 Hancock's Half Hour (b007k4v4)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:00 today]
WED 19:30 One Foot in the Grave (b007jn39)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:30 today]
WED 20:00 Colvil and Soames (b007jtbm)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:00 today]
WED 20:30 Thesiger At 100 (b00wlbvv)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:30 today]
WED 21:00 Writing Yorkshire (m000fnsp)
[Repeat of broadcast at 11:00 today]
WED 22:00 Alex Edelman's Peer Group (m000fgsk)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:30 today]
WED 22:30 Mark Watson Makes the World Substantially Better (b00kn8k7)
Series 1
Sloth
Mark Watson investigates sloth as he continues his quest to free us from the seven deadly sins via stand-up comedy.
Tim Key and Tim Minchin provide sketches, songs and jealous glances.
Producer: Katie Marsden
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in March 2007.
WED 22:55 The Comedy Club Interviews (m000g2vy)
Matt Forde 2/2
From 10.00pm until midnight, seven days a week, the Comedy Club has two hours of comedy. And Jon Holmes chats to political comedian Matt Forde.
WED 23:00 Will Smith Presents the Tao of Bergerac (b007tz8w)
Episode 1
Jersey-born comedian Will Smith is obsessed with 1980s BBC TV detective series Bergerac.
So when he found an audio book of John Nettles reading the ancient Chinese text of the Tao, it's become a guiding force to navigate the minefield of his life.
For starters, Will is seeking justice.
With Adam Buxton, Matt Holness, Simon Greenall, Dan Tetsell and John Nettles.
Written by Will Smith and Roger Drew.
Producer: Tilusha Ghelani
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in August 2007.
WED 23:30 Daphne Sounds Expensive (b07m7vzj)
Series 1
Murder
The gang must solve a mysterious murder on the Yorkshire Moors, for the conclusion of series 1.
Join critically-acclaimed sketch trio, Daphne, as they pull out all the stops in a dazzling array of peculiar characters, wacky scenarios, dodgy remarks, curious observations, minor altercations and major peacemaking - served on a bed of catchy little numbers with a live nine-piece band.
Written by and starring: Jason Forbes, Phil Wang & George Fouracres
Featuring Sir Willard White & David Elms
Original music composed by Jeff Carpenter
Orchestrator: Simon Nathan
Musical Director: Freddie Tapner
Piano: Jeff Carpenter
Drums: Ben Hartley
Bass: Rob Grist
Percussion: Ben Burton
Trumpet: Michael Maddocks
Tenor Sax: Greg Sterland
Trombone: Elliot Pooley
Violin: Hannah Bell
Cello: Nick Squires
Production Coordinator: Hayley Sterling
Producer: Matt Stronge
A BBC Studios production for BBC Radio 4 first broadcast in August 2016.


THURSDAY 27 FEBRUARY 2020

THU 00:00 HG Wells - The Invisible Man (m000fnsr)
[Repeat of broadcast at 18:00 on Wednesday]
THU 00:15 Hilary Mantel - Beyond Black (b00qzjr8)
[Repeat of broadcast at 18:15 on Wednesday]
THU 00:30 The Palace of Laughter (b0076xb9)
[Repeat of broadcast at 18:30 on Wednesday]
THU 01:00 Colvil and Soames (b007jtbm)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:00 on Wednesday]
THU 01:30 Thesiger At 100 (b00wlbvv)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:30 on Wednesday]
THU 02:00 F Scott Fitzgerald: The Lost Stories (b08sqvlr)
[Repeat of broadcast at 14:00 on Wednesday]
THU 02:15 Friends & Foes - A Narrative History of Diplomacy (b08dnwrh)
[Repeat of broadcast at 14:15 on Wednesday]
THU 02:30 MM Kaye - The Far Pavilions (b00yqn79)
[Repeat of broadcast at 14:30 on Wednesday]
THU 02:45 Steve Boggan - Gold Fever (b05vhxqp)
[Repeat of broadcast at 14:45 on Wednesday]
THU 03:00 Lew Wallace - Ben Hur (b007jr5x)
[Repeat of broadcast at 10:00 on Wednesday]
THU 04:00 Listomania (b09yhgks)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:00 on Wednesday]
THU 04:30 Such Rotten Luck (b01p0rq5)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:30 on Wednesday]
THU 05:00 The Change (b0076d2r)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:00 on Wednesday]
THU 05:30 Alex Edelman's Peer Group (m000fgsk)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:30 on Wednesday]
THU 06:00 Colvil and Soames (b007jtbv)
Bad Apples
Episode 6
The precise relationship between the Home Secretary, the Prime Minister's Press Secretary, and the man murdered on Brighton beach is made uncomfortably clear.
Conclusion of Christopher Lee's murder-mystery starring Christopher Benjamin and Amanda Redman as intelligence officers Henry Colvil and Alex Soames.
Henry Colvil …. Christopher Benjamin
Alex Soames …. Amanda Redman
DCI Guscott …. Dudley Sutton
Miranda Peel …. Sheila Reid
Tom Margeson …. Tom Cotcher
Charlie Lofthouse …. Alistair McGowan
Maggie Lindley …. Alphonsia Emmanuel
Norman Tate …. Brian Bowles
DS Gwen Jenkins …. Sue Jones Davies
Producer: Pete Atkin
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in December 1998.
THU 06:30 The Singing Fish of Batticaloa (b04bn086)
"It is said to be heard the clearest on a full moon night... One has to go by boat, plunge an oar into the water, put the other end of the oar to one's ear, and listen..."
Since the 18th century, Tamil fishermen have claimed to navigate by the mysterious music of the singing fish of the Batticaloa lagoon in eastern Sri Lanka. The fishermen's ancient name for the creature is oorie coolooroo cradoo (crying shells); scientists believe that the underwater choristers are some kind of fish. But, after thirty years of civil war and the ravages of the tsunami, does any evidence of this strange nocturnal chorus remain?
Restrictions and curfews made it impossible to visit the lagoon at night and locals, suffering the deprivation of a bitter conflict, had other priorities. The people of Batticaloa became disconnected from this ancient cultural symbol. Very few have heard the aquatic music, and many believe it's a myth.
But for Father Lorio, a Jesuit priest present at one of the earliest recordings of the phenomenon made using a homemade hydrophone in the 1950s, the singing fish are the soundtrack to sixty years of profound turmoil and change he's witnessed in the region. And for Prince Casinader, a Tamil journalist in his eighties, there's the belief that they could bring a sense of community and hope to his hometown.
Now a group of young Tamil scientists have joined the effort to rediscover this lost symbol. Guided by local fishermen, they embark on an unusual odyssey into the muddy lagoon to capture a new recording and establish if this elusive watery wonder has survived to enchant another generation with its song.
With music composed by Adam Nicholas.
Producers: Cicely Fell & Kannan Arunasalam
A Falling Tree production first broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in July 2014.
THU 07:00 Millport (b0075tn0)
Series 1
Culture
Irene fears the worst when a famous restaurant critic books a table at the Ritz Cafe. The reputation of Millport will be printed for the whole world to see!
But is he really coming to sample Alberto's food or does he have a secret agenda?
Bittersweet comedy written by and starring Lynn Ferguson as 30-something island barmaid Irene Bruce, who hankers after a better life on the mainland.
Irene ...... Lynn Ferguson
Moira ...... Janet Brown
Alberto/Robert/Ferryman/Bob ...... Lewis McLeod
Ena/Bunty/Betty ...... Gabriel Quigley
Doogie ...... Matt Costello
Lucian Hyber-Connor ...... Robert Paterson
Producers: Lucy Bacon and Kathy Smith
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in April 2000.
THU 07:30 The Break (b0b2j4mg)
Series 2
The Longest Day
Welcome back to Flamford. In episode one of the new series. City burn-out Andy returns to his uncle's seaside home. Oddly, the town has been taken over by Brad Pitt and some Hollywood Nazis. Starring Philip Jackson, Tom Palmer and Alison Steadman.
An Absolutely Production for BBC Radio 4.
THU 08:00 The Ken Dodd Show (b05x8q7d)
From 31/08/1975
Doddy and chums turn their attention to cowboys and heroes of the past.
Starring Ken Dodd.
With Jo Manning Wilson, Gretchen Franklin, Talfryn Thomas, Chris Emmett and Michael McClain.
Devised and written by Ken Dodd with Dave Dutton, David McKellar, Norman Beadle and Philip & Alan Bessell.
Doddy's Diddy Orchestra conducted by Geoff Alderson.
Producer: Bobby Jaye
First broadcast on the BBC Radio 2 in August 1975.
THU 08:30 I'm Sorry, I'll Read That Again (b00srqfn)
Series 4
Episode 1
The explosive Flying Wombat - and insulted Italians. Series 4 kick off with more sketches and songs.
Restored from BBC Transcription Service tapes - originally edited for sale abroad.
Starring John Cleese, Bill Oddie, Tim Brooke-Taylor, David Hatch and Jo Kendall.
Scripted by John Cleese, Bill Oddie, Clive James, David Hatch, Eric Idle and Graeme Garden.
With music from Dave Lee and his band.
Produced by Humphrey Barclay
First broadcast on the BBC Light Programme in October 1966.
THU 09:00 The Write Stuff (m000fmvz)
Series 4
John Betjeman
James Walton’s literary quiz with Sebastian Faulks, John Walsh, Victoria Coren and Sue Limb.
Author of the week: John Betjeman
Reader: Becky Hindley
Producer: Dawn Ellis
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in May 2001
THU 09:30 Married (b007vkjd)
Series 1
Episode 4
Robin is starting to like his life trapped in a parallel universe as a married man. But then comedian Arthur Smith turns up from his old universe.
Hugh Bonneville stars in Tony Bagley's comedy.
Robin ...... Hugh Bonneville
Lesley ...... Josie Lawrence
Dirk ...... Steve Frost
Ned ...... Sam Bradley
Maxine ...... Ann Gosling
Adrian Turnball ...... Anthony Ofoegbu
Arthur Smith ...... Arthur Smith
Producer Claire Jones
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in April 1999.
THU 10:00 Lew Wallace - Ben Hur (b007jr6d)
The King Comes into His Kingdom
After the prince's victory in the chariot race, news arrives of his mother and sister.
Conclusion of Lew Wallace's epic tale starring Jamie Glover as Judah Ben Hur.
Ben Hur ...... Jamie Glover
Simonides ...... Bernard Hepton
Balthasar ...... Michael Hordern
Amrah ...... Phyllis Calvert
Mother ...... Margaret John
Esther ...... Deborah Berlin
Tirzah ...... Natasha Pyne
Malluch ...... Gavin Muir
Iras ...... Becky Hindley
Guide ...... Neville Jason
Man at Inn ...... Joshua Towb
Man 1 ...... Don McCorkindale
Man 2 ...... Derek Waring
Man 3 ...... Peter Yapp
Man 4 ...... Peter Whitman
Michael Gambon reads from the Bible.
Dramatised by Catherine Czerkawska.
Music by Wilfredo Acosta.
Director: Glyn Dearman
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in March 1995.
THU 11:00 Here's the Thing (m000fmw1)
Amy Schumer/Carol Burnett
More in depth interviews from WNYC Radio in New York hosted by Alec Baldwin.
Alec Baldwin gives the listener a unique insight into the lives of artists, policy makers and performers, sidestepping the predictable by taking listeners inside the dressing rooms, apartments, and offices.
Specially curated for BBC Radio 4 Extra, the series continues with Alec talking with two female stars with comedy at the heart of what they do so well.
In 2015 Alec talked to Amy Schumer, as her meteoric rise in comedy gathered pace, with hits that year including the hilarious and transgressive Comedy Central television show "Inside Amy Schumer;" and the feature film "Trainwreck" (written by Schumer); Amy talks to Alec about growing up on Long Island, playing the worst person ever, and the Pilates class they shared a decade ago.
In the same year Alec met another trailblazing comedy star. Carol Burnett's stage and screen career is one of the great showbiz success stories. From her early days on Broadway, to the 11-season run of The Carol Burnett Show, to her luminous big-screen turn as Miss Hannigan in Annie, Burnett's numerous Emmy and Golden Globe awards and nominations speak to her plasticity, her genius - and her hilarity. Carol talks to Alec about her life in the limelight.
Produced by WNYC in the USA.
Acquired for BBC Radio 4 Extra. First heard on the Here’s The Thing podcast in 2016.
THU 11:55 Leonard Rossiter - In a Nutshell (b00sj8sx)
Power Struggles
"He first came to public attention as defender of the earth's ozone layer, which was threatened by intensive American aerosol deodorant usage."
A breakthrough in 'ecological physics' is scandalously ignored as revealed by Leonard Rossiter.
Written by Barry Pilton.
Producer: Louise Purslow
First broadcast on BBC Radio 3 in February 1981.
THU 12:00 The Ken Dodd Show (b05x8q7d)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:00 today]
THU 12:30 I'm Sorry, I'll Read That Again (b00srqfn)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:30 today]
THU 13:00 Colvil and Soames (b007jtbv)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:00 today]
THU 13:30 The Singing Fish of Batticaloa (b04bn086)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:30 today]
THU 14:00 F Scott Fitzgerald: The Lost Stories (b08swyvp)
The Couple, Part 3/3
Finn den Hertog concludes a previously unpublished comic story about the disintegration of a young marriage.
Taken from F Scott Fitzgerald's collection, I'd Die For You: and Other Lost Stories.
Romance, parties, cocktails and glamour - as a young writer in the 1920s F. Scott Fitzgerald gave the magazines what they wanted. He had little choice; short stories were his bread and butter. But as the author matured he yearned to explore darker territory.
This desire wasn't cushioned by wealth; The Great Gatsby hadn't sold well and as the Depression crunched in the early 30s, Fitzgerald was hit by large medical bills for both himself and his wife Zelda. Despite the financial pressures he resisted the easy censorship requested by editors, who balked at Fitzgerald's portrayal of confusing generational freedoms, sex before marriage, divorce and working women.
Growing increasingly uncompromising about deletions and sanitisations, Fitzgerald preferred to let these stories lie in wait until their time came.
Producer: Eilidh McCreadie.
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in June 2017.
THU 14:15 Friends & Foes - A Narrative History of Diplomacy (b08dr5rg)
Talking to Terrorists
Can or should you negotiate with insurgent groups? Professor David Rothkopf investigates.
Terrorism is a growing problem for diplomacy. Since it emerged as a political means in the 1970s, there have been constant debates about whether it is appropriate or desirable to engage in negotiations with groups who use violence to further their political causes.
Professor Rothkopf hears from Tony Blair and his chief of staff, Jonathan Powell, about why they decided to open up the peace process in Northern Ireland, leading to the Good Friday agreements.
Beyond the case of Northern Ireland, Jonathan Powell believes that one should always engage with one's political opponents. For Tony Blair, groups with religious and otherwordly aims can be more difficult to engage with successfully.
Professor Rothkopf also talks to psychologist and terrorism expert Anne Speckhard on the psychological profiles of terrorists, revealing that many suffer from PTSD and other traumas which are often overlooked. Could thinking of the perpetrators of violence through this lens make us more willing to negotiate with them?
A Kati Whitaker production first broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 2017.
THU 14:30 MM Kaye - The Far Pavilions (b00yqn7c)
Episode 19
The British Mission is welcomed to Kabul, but - it transpires - on a false premise.
MM Kaye's epic of love and war, dramatised by Lucy Catherine.
Narrator ..... Vineeta Rishi
Ash ..... Blake Ritson
Anjuli ..... Ayesha Dharker
Official ..... Kaleem Janjua
Cavagnari ..... Sam Dale
Jenkyns ..... Sean Baker
Wally ..... Jonathan Forbes
Ambrose ..... Iain Batchelor
Nakshband Khan ..... Mozaffar Shafeie
Directors: Marc Beeby and Jessica Dromgoole
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in February 2011.
THU 14:45 Steve Boggan - Gold Fever (b05vj09h)
Episode 4
Having learnt the basics from a host of helpful characters, Steve heads off along the North Yuba River to try his hand at gold prospecting alone.
Read by Paul Ritter and Sara Markland.
Gold - for centuries people have been entranced by the riches it promises, thousands have gone wild in their search for it, and since the Financial Crisis the price of gold has reached peaks never seen in history. All over the world, particularly in the US, people with no experience of prospecting began shopping for shovels, pickaxes, gold pans, tents, generators, and all manner of equipment they had no idea how to use. And off they went mining.
Steve Boggan decided to follow in their footsteps. In 2013 he packed his bags and flew to San Francisco to join the 21st century's gold rush (the 'New 49ers') in a quest to understand the allure of the metal – and maybe find a bit for himself too.
He meets a selection of colourful characters - those who left desk jobs and family life behind to work by the river in scorching heat and fresh mountain air, in the hope of striking it rich. Most of them only make enough money to scrape a living, but Steve is surprised how happy they seem to be. From them, he gets a crash course in small-scale prospecting.
He also takes us back in time to the original gold rush, two centuries ago, tracing the path of the first intrepid 49ers (in particular, a woman called Sarah Royce and her family) who abandoned their roots and trekked thousands of miles across perilous terrain, risking death for the chance of riches.
Abridged by Libby Spurrier
Producer: Joanna Green
A Pier production for BBC Radio 4 first broadcast in May 2015.
THU 15:00 Lew Wallace - Ben Hur (b007jr6d)
[Repeat of broadcast at 10:00 today]
THU 16:00 The Write Stuff (m000fmvz)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:00 today]
THU 16:30 Married (b007vkjd)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:30 today]
THU 17:00 Millport (b0075tn0)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:00 today]
THU 17:30 The Break (b0b2j4mg)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:30 today]
THU 18:00 HG Wells - The Invisible Man (m000fmw3)
4. Mr Thomas Marvel
The stranger cunningly forces a tramp to help him to try and escape the village of Iping.
HG Wells’ gripping 1937 sci-fi novel about a deranged scientist abridged by Janet Hitchman.
Read by Stephen Murray.
Producer: Gordon House
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in August 1976.
THU 18:15 Hilary Mantel - Beyond Black (b00qzjrb)
4. Death of a Princess
Colette is woken one night by Alison getting news from beyond of Princess Diana's fatal car crash.
The tragic accident means business will be heavy for all the psychics at the Psychic Fair in Nottingham, and they're not helped by Alison's disgusting spirit guide, Morris, who is more than usually irritating, patrolling the motorway services, desperate to find his mates, and interfering with Alison's friend Mandy.
As Alison becomes more disturbed by the darker side of her job, Morris finds his old mate Aitkenside, a development that throws Alison into despair.
Hilary Mantel's blackly comic novel about a professional medium with a troubled past.
Alison ...... Alison Steadman
Colette ...... Rosie Cavaliero
Morris ...... Bill Wallis
Mandy ...... Adrienne O'Sullivan
Silvana ...... Jacqueline Tong
Dramatised by Caroline Harrington.
Director: Sara Davies
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in March 2010.
THU 18:30 Great Lives (b043x48v)
Series 33
Emma Kirkby on Henry Purcell
Soprano Emma Kirkby discusses the life of English composer Henry Purcell with Matthew Parris.
Despite dying at the age of 36, Purcell was arguably the first composer to become a national figure, as shown by his funeral at Westminster Abbey. Living through turbulent times, and through the reign of three monarchs, Purcell had to cope with shifting Catholic and Protestant regimes while producing a steady output of religious music. But he also did some of his most memorable and enduring work for the commercial theatre. Few composers have set the English language to music so felicitously.
After his death, Britain produced few world class composers for 200 years. To discuss his legacy, Emma and Matthew are joined by Purcell scholar Michael Burden
Producer: Jolyon Jenkins
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 2014.
THU 19:00 The Ken Dodd Show (b05x8q7d)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:00 today]
THU 19:30 I'm Sorry, I'll Read That Again (b00srqfn)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:30 today]
THU 20:00 Colvil and Soames (b007jtbv)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:00 today]
THU 20:30 The Singing Fish of Batticaloa (b04bn086)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:30 today]
THU 21:00 Here's the Thing (m000fmw1)
[Repeat of broadcast at 11:00 today]
THU 21:55 Leonard Rossiter - In a Nutshell (b00sj8sx)
[Repeat of broadcast at 11:55 today]
THU 22:00 The Break (b0b2j4mg)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:30 today]
THU 22:30 Newsjack (m000fmw5)
Series 22
Episode 3
Newsjack is a scrapbook sketch show written entirely by the Great British public. Hosted by Kiri Pritchard Mclean
THU 23:00 The Skivers (b007jq44)
Series 1
Britt Ekland
New age DIY, the wonders of Sweden and Sinatra sings punk.
Nick Golson and Tim de Jongh's skilful sketch show with special guest Britt Ekland who's not in the mood for romance.
Written and performed by Nick Golson and Tim de Jongh.
With Peter Bradshaw and Mel Giedroyc
Producer: Jon Naismith
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in April 1994.
THU 23:30 Sam Simmons is Not a People Person (b087rm0d)
Whistling
Comedian. Writer. Ex-Zoo Keeper. Bird Watcher. Definitely NOT a people person.
Sam and Henry are making a documentary series about birds, each week - armed with Sam's 'Big Book of Birds' they seek out different species. Despite Henry's best efforts, Sam is continually aggravated by the people they run into. Each encounter sparks an investigation into Sam's past, because once they've sorted out his issues, they'll really be able to focus on the bird-watching.
Now they're in the Netherlands observing a chicken...
The unique talents of the multi-award winning comedian Sam Simmons have landed.
Written by and starring Sam Simmons
With:
Henry Paker
Sarah Kendall
Mike Wilmot
Freya Parker
Sound design by Craig Schuftan
Music by Craig Schuftan with Lani Bagley
Producers: Joseph Nunnery and Alexandra Smith
A BBC Studios production for BBC Radio 4 first broadcast in January 2017.
THU 23:45 The Future of Radio (b06ztw0r)
Series 2
Bad Continuity
These programmes reveal the secret work of the Institute of Radiophonic Evolution in South Mimms - drawing on conference calls, voice notes and life-logs, to tell a compelling and strange story of the technological lengths to which the researchers will go to push forward the boundaries of the emerging digital technologies.
Each week a jiffy bag of sound files arrives at BBC Radio 4. We listen to the contents to discover what backroom boffins Luke Mourne and Professor Trish Baldock (ably assisted by Shelley – on work experience) have been up to.
In this episode, they develop an algorithm to replace continuity announcers – resulting in industrial unrest and ‘easy listening’ on every BBC radio network – which is fine if you’re a James Last fan.
Luke..................William Beck
Trish..................Emma Kilbey
Shelley...............Lizzy Watts
Felix....................David Brett
Colin..................Chris Stanton
with Jessica Carroll
Written by Jerome Vincent and Stephen Dinsdale
Producer David Blount
A Pier production for BBC Radio 4 first broadcast in February 2016.


FRIDAY 28 FEBRUARY 2020

FRI 00:00 HG Wells - The Invisible Man (m000fmw3)
[Repeat of broadcast at 18:00 on Thursday]
FRI 00:15 Hilary Mantel - Beyond Black (b00qzjrb)
[Repeat of broadcast at 18:15 on Thursday]
FRI 00:30 Great Lives (b043x48v)
[Repeat of broadcast at 18:30 on Thursday]
FRI 01:00 Colvil and Soames (b007jtbv)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:00 on Thursday]
FRI 01:30 The Singing Fish of Batticaloa (b04bn086)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:30 on Thursday]
FRI 02:00 F Scott Fitzgerald: The Lost Stories (b08swyvp)
[Repeat of broadcast at 14:00 on Thursday]
FRI 02:15 Friends & Foes - A Narrative History of Diplomacy (b08dr5rg)
[Repeat of broadcast at 14:15 on Thursday]
FRI 02:30 MM Kaye - The Far Pavilions (b00yqn7c)
[Repeat of broadcast at 14:30 on Thursday]
FRI 02:45 Steve Boggan - Gold Fever (b05vj09h)
[Repeat of broadcast at 14:45 on Thursday]
FRI 03:00 Lew Wallace - Ben Hur (b007jr6d)
[Repeat of broadcast at 10:00 on Thursday]
FRI 04:00 The Write Stuff (m000fmvz)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:00 on Thursday]
FRI 04:30 Married (b007vkjd)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:30 on Thursday]
FRI 05:00 Millport (b0075tn0)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:00 on Thursday]
FRI 05:30 The Break (b0b2j4mg)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:30 on Thursday]
FRI 06:00 Deep Six (m000fqk2)
1. Target
4 Extra Debut. Ex-SAS agent Terry is still hired for special 'jobs'. But his latest assignment sparks alarm... Stars Freddie Lees. From 1984.
FRI 06:30 'Down With Skool': The Art of Molesworth (b074x71x)
Philip Hensher explores the art of the gloriously eccentric Molesworth books. Nigel Molesworth is one of the immortal characters of British literature - a 1950s prep-school boy, the 'goriller of 3B' and the 'curse of St Custard's'.
Molesworth's diaries, written by Geoffrey Willans, first appeared in Punch and were later developed into four books, Down with Skool! (1953), How to be Topp (1954), Whizz for Atomms (1956) and Back in the Jug Agane (1959). Illustrated by Ronald Searle as a boy's school sequel to Searle's St Trinian's drawings, they are still in print today.
The books are a kind of satire of 1950s Britain as, after the war, the upper middle classes faced the onslaught of irreverence, the Welfare State and a new generation that didn’t see why authority should be respected. Molesworth’s cynical yet naive outlook on life made him popular with young and old readers in the post-war world. He was a very long way from the clean-cut school fantasies which had entertained the British before the advent of the atomic bomb.
The author Geoffrey Willans had worked as a schoolmaster and understood the cheerful cynicism of boys, while Ronald Searle's illustrative style was dark, Gothic and seething with half-hidden obsessions. Searle had spent much of the war in a Japanese concentration camp where he documented the horrors he encountered, and elaborate psychological points come through with concise and economic observation in his drawings.
With contributions from Steve Bell, Wendy Cope, Max Hastings, Mike Leigh, Chris Riddell, Martin Rowson, Gerald Scarfe and Posy Simmonds.
Produced by Melissa FitzGerald
A Blakeway production first broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in March 2016.
FRI 07:00 The Lentil Sorters (b06pv0gx)
Researcher Bias
A sitcom set in the Office of Local and National Statistics which, depending on who you ask, is either where the real power of government resides, or the place where fun goes to die.
In this episode, Daniel and Audrey fight over the Welfare State with the aid of a can of strong lager, a fake police uniform and a beloved British character actor.
Meet the team:
Graham Quicks (Vincent Franklin), Head of the People and Places Department of the LNS. There are three things in the world that Graham will always have faith in – statistics, the supremacy of filofaxes over computers and the idea that cardigans will never go out of style.
Audrey Carr (Rebekah Staton) is the Survey Researcher for the department. She believes passionately that statistics should be used as a tool to help the man on the street. Fortunately for her, she's never actually met "the man in the street". She's also passionate about Jane Austen, Les Miserables and pretending that she doesn't work in an office with Daniel.
Daniel Porter (Kieran Hodgson) is the department's Data Analyst. He used to work in the City, until the City realised he was a colossal waste of space. Daniel divides his time between manipulating statistics to further his vision of capitalism, necking energy drinks and telling people his thighs are really, really strong. He's terrible.
Mrs. Wilkins (Julia Deakin) has worked as tea lady, archivist and maintenance guru for fifteen years. She knows where the bodies are buried. We must stress that that is a figure of speech.
Special guests:
Jonty............................Tom Crowley
Stephanie....................Catriona Knox
Pete Postlefake............Paul Shearer
The Policeman..............Paul Putner
The Passer-By..............Tessa Coates
With Jo Unwin as The Narrator
Written by Jack Bernhardt
Produced by David Tyler
A Pozzitive production for the BBC
FRI 07:30 Reluctant Persuaders (m0000mmf)
Series 3
Ideas for Life
Welcome back to Hardacre's, the worst advertising agency in London, as Edward Rowett's award-winning sitcom returns for a third series.
The second series ended in euphoria, as Hardacre's secured their biggest ever account - the Cosmos X10 smartphone. Now there's a reality check, as the team realise how woefully ill-equipped they are to handle a client of this magnitude.
Accounts manager Amanda Barnes (Josie Lawrence) immediately sets to work hiring new staff, while agency chief and creative director Rupert Hardacre (Nigel Havers) heads into Soho to secure new and grander premises.
Meanwhile on the creative side, copywriter Joe Starling (Mathew Baynton) begins to doubt his ability to deliver work for an account this size, despite reassurance from his art director and best friend Teddy Beech (Rasmus Hardiker), leading Joe to take drastic action.
Cast:
Nigel Havers- Hardacre
Mathew Baynton- Joe
Josie Lawrence- Amanda
Rasmus Hardiker- Teddy
Holly Morgan- Singer/Waitress
Andrew Nolan- Irish Barrista
An Absolutely production for BBC Radio 4.
FRI 08:00 The Burkiss Way (b007jsl5)
Series 5
Write Extremely Long Programme Titles the Burkiss Way
It's time to meet the Muppets with President Nixon.
Starring Fred Harris, Jo Kendall, Nigel Rees and Chris Emmett.
Cult sketch comedy series which originally ran from 1976 to 1980.
Scripted by David Renwick and Andrew Marshall.
Producer: David Hatch
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in November 1980.
FRI 08:30 The Marx Brothers' Flywheel, Shyster and Flywheel (b0081b4j)
Series 2
Episode 2
Shady lawyer, Waldorf T Flywheel turns farmer for a wealthy Uncle.
Recreation of the Marx Brothers' lost shows charting the adventures of shady lawyer Waldorf T Flywheel and his assistant, Emmanuel Ravelli. Originally broadcast with sponsors on America's NBC radio network in the 1930s. The scripts were rediscovered in 1988.
Starring Michael Roberts as Groucho Marx as Waldorf T Flywheel and Frank Lazarus as Chico Marx as Emmanuel Ravelli
With Lorelei King, Graham Hoadly and Vincent Marzello.
Written by Nat Perrin and Athur Sheekman. Adapted by Mark Brisenden.
Music arranged and conducted by David Firman.
Producer: Dirk Maggs
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in May 1991.
FRI 09:00 Funny You Should Ask (b0b4fbgc)
From 13/08/1979
Peter Jones hosts the entertainment quiz about comedy as he tests a panel of experts:
Roy Hudd, Doris Hare and Dick Vosburgh recall memories of careers and comic colleagues.
Funny You Should Ask ran for 8 series from 1976 to 1982.
Questions compiled by Michael Pointon.
Producer: Bob Oliver Rogers
First broadcast on BBC Radio 2 in August 1979.
FRI 09:30 Molesworth (m000fqk5)
Home Life
As a schoolboy Nigel Molesworth was a terror, but now grown up, has he left flicking ink pellets behind? Stars William Rushton.
Many trillions of eons ago, Nigel Molesworth was The Curse of St Custards. He's come a long way since those days, and now returns with his guide to modern life.
Writer: Simon Brett
Based on characters created by: Geoffrey Willans
Based on characters created by: Ronald Searle
Music: Oonagh Bernon
Producer: Mark Robson
Molesworth: William Rushton
Grimes: Clive Swift
Louise: Penelope Nice
Gillibrand: Robert Harley
Peason: Bob Sinfield
Fotherington-Thomas: Phil Nice
Arabella: Chrissy Roberts
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 1987.
FRI 10:00 Michael Punter - Come to Me (b0075685)
Theo Popplewell knows he must solve the riddle of his birth for the sake of his survival in America, where he lives in Kansas. But can the answers really lie in a crumbling house on the south coast of England?
Michael Punter’s dark comedy stars John Guerrasio as Theo, Avril Elgar as May, Jane Lapotaire as Greta, Michael Troughton as Raymond and Patti Love as Winnie.
Director: Jane Morgan
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 1998.
FRI 11:00 Podcast Radio Hour (m000fqk8)
Presenters recommend their favourite podcasts and speak to the people who make them.
FRI 12:00 The Burkiss Way (b007jsl5)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:00 today]
FRI 12:30 The Marx Brothers' Flywheel, Shyster and Flywheel (b0081b4j)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:30 today]
FRI 13:00 Deep Six (m000fqk2)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:00 today]
FRI 13:30 'Down With Skool': The Art of Molesworth (b074x71x)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:30 today]
FRI 14:00 F Scott Fitzgerald: The Lost Stories (b08sqwjc)
Salute to Lucy and Elsie
Stuart Milligan reads 'Salute to Lucy and Elsie', a previously unpublished story about honour, morals and the gulf between generations taken from a new collection of work by F. Scott Fitzgerald.
Romance, parties, cocktails and glamour - as a young writer in the 1920s F. Scott Fitzgerald gave the magazines what they wanted. He had little choice; short stories were his bread and butter. But as the author matured he yearned to explore darker territory. This desire wasn't cushioned by wealth; The Great Gatsby hadn't sold well and as the Depression crunched in the early 30s, Fitzgerald was hit by large medical bills for both himself and his wife Zelda. Despite the financial pressures he resisted the easy censorship requested by editors, who balked at Fitzgerald's portrayal of confusing generational freedoms, sex before marriage, divorce and working women.
Growing increasingly uncompromising about deletions and sanitisations, Fitzgerald preferred to let these stories lie in wait until their time came. They are published now in the collection I'D DIE FOR YOU: AND OTHER LOST STORIES.
Producer: Eilidh McCreadie.
FRI 14:15 Friends & Foes - A Narrative History of Diplomacy (b08drjdx)
The Revolution Will Be Tweeted
Professor David Rothkopf explores how cyber diplomacy is leading to the emergence of a new diplomatic doctrine.
Digital diplomacy has become an indispensable communication tool for governments. Twitter is now used by heads of state and governments in 173 countries. More than half of the world's foreign ministries are now active on social media. Its use is now part and parcel of any diplomatic training for ambassadors and diplomats.
Professor Rothkopf examines the birth of this new cultural ecosystem, where every individual in planet is connected for the first time in a new frontier which is transforming the way our politics, economics, security and diplomacy are conducted. He speaks with Alec Ross, Hillary Clinton's Senior Advisor for Innovation when she was Secretary of State, and Jane Holl-Lute, Deputy Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security from 2009 to 2013.
A Kati Whitaker production first broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 2017.
FRI 14:30 MM Kaye - The Far Pavilions (b00yqn7f)
Episode 20
M M Kaye's epic of love and war, dramatised by Lucy Catherine. The Guides' heroic last stand at the British Mission in Kabul is watched helplessly by an imprisoned Ash.
Narrator ..... Vineeta Rishi
Ash ..... Blake Ritson
Cavagnari ..... Sam Dale
Anjuli ..... Ayesha Dharker
Jenkyns ..... Sean Baker
Wally ..... Jonathan Forbes
Ambrose ..... Iain Batchelor
Nakshband Khan ..... Mozaffar Shafeie
Hassan Gul ..... Sagar Arya
Directed by Marc Beeby and Jessica Dromgoole.
FRI 14:45 Steve Boggan - Gold Fever (b05vj0r4)
Episode 5
Gold - for centuries people have been entranced by the riches it promises, thousands have gone wild in their search for it, and since the Financial Crisis the price of gold has reached peaks never seen in history. All over the world, particularly in the US, people with no experience of prospecting began shopping for shovels, pickaxes, gold pans, tents, generators, and all manner of equipment they had no idea how to use. And off they went mining.
Steve Boggan decided to follow in their footsteps. In 2013 he packed his bags and flew to San Francisco to join the 21st century's gold rush (the 'New 49ers') in a quest to understand the allure of the metal – and maybe find a bit for himself too.
He meets a selection of colourful characters - those who left desk jobs and family life behind to work by the river in scorching heat and fresh mountain air, in the hope of striking it rich. Most of them only make enough money to scrape a living, but Steve is surprised how happy they seem to be. From them, he gets a crash course in small-scale prospecting.
He also takes us back in time to the original gold rush, two centuries ago, tracing the path of the first intrepid 49ers (in particular, a woman called Sarah Royce and her family) who abandoned their roots and trekked thousands of miles across perilous terrain, risking death for the chance of riches.
Readers: Paul Ritter and Sara Markland
Abridged by Libby Spurrier
Producer: Joanna Green
A Pier production for BBC Radio 4
FRI 15:00 Michael Punter - Come to Me (b0075685)
[Repeat of broadcast at 10:00 today]
FRI 16:00 Funny You Should Ask (b0b4fbgc)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:00 today]
FRI 16:30 Molesworth (m000fqk5)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:30 today]
FRI 17:00 The Lentil Sorters (b06pv0gx)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:00 today]
FRI 17:30 Reluctant Persuaders (m0000mmf)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:30 today]
FRI 18:00 HG Wells - The Invisible Man (m000fqkb)
5. Dr Kemp's Visitor
The invisible man reveals his identity to a shocked fellow student.
Unimaginable power and wealth seem to be at his command when Griffin, a talented young physicist, discovers a potion that makes him invisible to other men. But the drug has deadly side-effects and Griffin is unable to prepare an antidote.
Read by Stephen Murray.
Producer Gordon House.
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 1976.
FRI 18:15 Hilary Mantel - Beyond Black (b00qzjrd)
Escape
Dramatisation by Caroline Harrington of Hilary Mantel's blackly comic novel about a professional medium with a troubled past.
Alison's disgusting spirit guide Morris has been joined by Donny Aitkenside, one of the violent group of petty criminals who were in and out of the house all through Alison's abusive childhood. Alison knows the other members of the spirit gang can't be far behind, and decides the only way to escape them is to move to a new house where they won't want to follow her. Her assistant Colette locates a suitable new development, and the move has the desired effect: Morris hates it, and announces he's leaving. At long last, Alison thinks, she's free.
Alison ...... Alison Steadman
Colette ...... Rosie Cavaliero
Morris ...... Bill Wallis
Emmie ...... Katharine Rogers
Aitkenside ...... Simon Armstrong
Directed by Sara Davies.
FRI 18:30 Off the Page (b0076t2d)
The Power of the Voice
Matthew Parris and his guests Peggy Reynolds, Pauline Black and Stewart Pearce discuss how your voice can shape your everyday life. From August 2005.
FRI 19:00 The Burkiss Way (b007jsl5)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:00 today]
FRI 19:30 The Marx Brothers' Flywheel, Shyster and Flywheel (b0081b4j)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:30 today]
FRI 20:00 Deep Six (m000fqk2)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:00 today]
FRI 20:30 'Down With Skool': The Art of Molesworth (b074x71x)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:30 today]
FRI 21:00 Podcast Radio Hour (m000fqk8)
[Repeat of broadcast at 11:00 today]
FRI 22:00 Reluctant Persuaders (m0000mmf)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:30 today]
FRI 22:30 The Harpoon (b007lnx3)
Series 1
Episode 4
A veritable fascinating feast from the nostalgic spoof of boys' adventure story papers. With Peter Baynham. From September 1991.
FRI 22:55 Comedy Club Extra (m000fvhg)
Ones to Watch...
Kemah Bob
The UK-based American comedian Kemah Bob chats to BBC Radio 4 Extra’s Comedy Club about The Guilty Feminist podcast and reads the Shipping Forecast in a British accent.
FRI 23:00 Love in Recovery (b0742hlk)
Series 2
Gillian
Second series of the award-nominated comedy drama set in Alcoholics Anonymous, written by Pete Jackson and inspired by his own road to recovery. Stars Sue Johnston, John Hannah, Eddie Marsan, Rebecca Front, Paul Kaye and Julia Deakin - with Samantha Bond.
Love in Recovery follows the lives of five very different recovering alcoholics. Taking place entirely at their weekly meetings, we hear them moan, argue, laugh, fall apart, fall in love and - most importantly - tell their stories.
In this second episode of the series, the group have a visitor with a story to tell. Gillian (Samantha Bond) doesn't want to join their group, she doesn't want to wait her turn, she doesn't even want a biscuit - she just wants to be listened to.
Writer Pete Jackson is a recovering alcoholic and has spent time in Alcoholics Anonymous. It was there he found support from the unlikeliest group of disparate souls - with one common bond. As well as offering the support he needed throughout a difficult time, AA also offered a weekly, sometimes daily, dose of hilarity, upset, heartbreak and friendship.
There are lots of different kinds of AA meetings. Love in Recovery is about meetings where people tell their stories. There are funny stories, sad stories, stories of small victories and milestones, stories of loss, stories of hope, and those stories that you really shouldn't laugh at - but still do, along with the storyteller.
Written and created by Pete Jackson
Producer/Director: Ben Worsfield
A Lucky Giant production for BBC Radio 4.
FRI 23:30 Dave Podmore (b007jyjh)
Dave Podmore's Cricket Night
Episode 1
The player's ambitions to make money on the after-dinner speaker circuit are scuppered. Stars Chris Douglas. From April 2004.