SATURDAY 17 DECEMBER 2022
SAT 00:00 Doctor Who (m001g1ny)
The War Doctor
1. The Innocent
As the Daleks mass their time fleet for a final assault on Gallifrey, something ancient is waiting for them at Omega One. And a sacrifice must be made. Arch-manipulator and Time Lord strategist, Cardinal Ollistra receives shock news of the Doctor’s death.
Meanwhile, on the planet Keska, a parochial war has returned to plague a peaceful civilisation after decades of tranquillity. But how can such a war have any connection with the great Time War which, at any one moment in the whole of eternity, could threaten to tear the universe apart?
If only the Doctor were still alive...
John Hurt reprises his role as The War Doctor, first seen on BBC TV in ‘The Name of the Doctor’ in 2013.
The War Doctor …. John Hurt
Cardinal Ollistra …. Jacqueline Pearce
Rejoice …. Lucy Briggs-Owen
Garv .... John Banks
Veklin …. Beth Chalmers
Arverton …. Barnaby Edwards
Bennus …. Kieran Hodgson
The Daleks …. Nicholas Briggs.
Original music written by Howard Carter.
Written and directed by Nicholas Briggs.
Artwork by Tom Webster
A Big Finish Production.
SAT 01:00 Julie and the Prince (b0076kd0)
The intriguing and romantic story of Queen Victoria's father, Prince Edward, and his long-term mistress, Julie, "Madame de St Laurent".
Edward, the fourth son of George III, lived in the colonies with Julie until he was put under pressure to marry a German Princess and produce an heir to throne.
He faced a choice between giving up his true love - or giving up his status as Prince...
Starring Julia Hills and Timothy Watson.
Written by Louis Robinson.
Julie .... Julia Hills
Edward .... Timothy Watson
Lord Sefton .... David Timson
Lady Sefton .... Janet Dale
Crawford .... Sam Graham
Mr Murchison/Philippe .... Paul Clarkson
Mrs Murchison .... Buffy Davis
Queen Victoria .... Jaimi Barbakoff
Director: Peter Leslie Wild
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in February 2004
SAT 02:00 Detective (b04fgwcj)
Series 2
5. Four Faces of Crime
DS Brook and DC Harrison meet the eccentric Mr Parsons.
Meanwhile a gruesome meat axe murder is investigated...
Stories of crime and detection in London by Robert Barr.
Starring Ray Brooks as shrewd veteran Detective Sergeant Dave Brook and Christopher Blake as Detective Constable Blair Maxton.
DS Dave Brook …. Ray Brooks
DC Blair Maxton …. Christopher Blake
DC Harrison …. Peter Cleall
Chief Inspector Roach …. Stephen Yardley
Judy …. Jacqueline Tong
Peter Parsons … Derek Francis
Tommy …. Johnny Wade
Producer: Martin Fisher
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in April 1982.
SAT 02:30 The Blackburn Files (b007w3zt)
Series 2
4. A Case of Whistle and Run
A routine case for private eye Stephen J Blackburn starts to look like his final investigation
Starring Fine Time Fontayne and Judy Flynn.
Another case for Yorkshire's ex-pitman turned private investigator, Stephen J Blackburn.
Written by Ian McMillan, Martyn Wiley and Dave Sheasby.
Stephen J. Blackburn …. Finetime Fontayne
Tracey Duggan …. Judy Flynn
Mam …. Rita May
Angela …. Daryl Fishwick
Rodney …. Christopher Kent
Producer: Dave Sheasby
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in July 1991.
SAT 03:00 The Crossway by Guy Stagg (b0b6phlj)
5. Jerusalem
Guy arrives in Jerusalem and reflects on what he has learnt.
An epic journey, but also an intimate one.
After several years of mental illness, Guy Stagg set off one morning, from London, to walk to Canterbury. Ill-prepared and not entirely clear why he was doing this, he nevertheless got there. Exhausted, he lay beneath the Cathedral walls and then decided to continue.
A few months later, on New Year's Day, 2013, he set out from Canterbury to follow the paths of the medieval pilgrims to Jerusalem.
Ten months and 5,500 kilometres later, he arrived.
This is the story of Guy's walk. Danger and physical hardship lay in his path but he was also haunted by the memories that he sought to flee and ambushed by echoes of his breakdown.
Five extracts follow some of his experiences through snow and storm across the Alps, among other pilgrims in Italy, despairing and alone in Greece, and finally to the incessant rounds of competing worship in Jerusalem.
It's a journey through the pathways of faith and recovery towards healing and understanding.
Abridged by Jill Waters and Isobel Creed
Read by Jonathan Bailey
Producer: Jill Waters
A Waters Company production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in June 2018.
SAT 03:15 EM Forster - A Passage to India (m0003d7j)
10. Victory
The trial over. A victory won.
Fielding now has to arrange a safe passage back to England.
The echo from the mysterious caves may have faded away and a ghost lost along the way but a legend is about to emerge.
Conclusion of Tanika Gupta's imaginative and bold adaptation of EM Forster's masterful novel.
Mrs Moore …... Penelope Wilton
Dr Aziz …... Shubham Saraf
Professor Godbole ..…. Thusitha Jayasundera
Fielding ..…. Jonathan Firth
Ralph ..…. Joseph Ayre
Director Tracey Neale
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in March 2019.
SAT 03:30 Josie Long: Romance and Adventure (b076p08g)
Series 1
Episode 3
Josie's 32nd birthday has her questioning whether her dream of one day having a family is now unrealistic.
Comedy drama about a young woman trying to build a more fulfilling life for herself in Glasgow.
Based on characters from the short films "Romance and Adventure" and "Let's Go Swimming" by Josie Long and Douglas King.
Josie ...... Josie Long
Darren ...... Darren Osborne
Roddy ...... Sanjeev Kohli
Kerry ...... Hatty Ashdown
Eleanor ...... Clare Grogan
Chris ...... Michael Bertenshaw
Mona ...... Rebecca Hamilton
Fraser ...... Chris Pavlo
Genevieve ...... Puja Panchkoty
Written by Josie Long.
Producer: Colin Anderson
A BBC Radio Comedy production for BBC Radio 4 first broadcast in April 2016.
SAT 04:00 Parsley Sidings (b01nw83v)
Series 1
The Beauty Queen Contest
Parsley Sidings' glamorous announcer Gloria Simpkins is pressured into promoting the sleepy station.
Starring Arthur Lowe and Ian Lavender.
Jim Eldridge's eponymous series is set in a sleepy railway station.
Horace Hepplewhite …. Arthur Lowe
Bert Hepplewhite …. Ian Lavender
Percy Valentine/Bradshaw/The Vicar …. Kenneth Connor
Gloria Simpkins …. Liz Fraser
Re-created announcements …. Keith Skues
Producer: Edward Taylor
First broadcast on BBC Radio 2 in December 1971.
SAT 04:30 Married (b00dvdlf)
Series 3
Episode 6
Cantankerous Robin Lightfoot makes a vital discovery about his parallel universes.
Starring Hugh Bonneville.
Confirmed bachelor Robin Lightfoot is dealing with life in a parallel universe where he has kids and an ex-wife who hates him.
Tony Bagley's comedy drama.
Robin .... Hugh Bonneville
Lesley .... Josie Lawrence
Dirk .... Stephen Frost
Maxine .... Ann Gosling
Ned .... Sam Bradley
Muriel .... Janet Ellis
Arthur Smith .... Himself
Producer: Claire Jones
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in October 2001.
SAT 05:00 Act Your Age (b00ftb87)
Series 1
Episode 3
Simon Mayo hosts a three-way play-off to establish which generation of comedians is the funniest.
Captains Jon Richardson, Lucy Porter and Roy Walker are joined by guests Josie Long, Justin Edwards and Mick Miller and Ed Byrne.
Producers: Ashley Blaker and Bill Matthews
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in December 2008.
SAT 05:30 Bleak Expectations (b00d7b5x)
Series 2
An Already Bad Life Made Worse but Sort of on Purpose
The comic Victorian epic sees Pip reach his lowest ebb in the worst place in the world, the East End of London in the first half of the 19th century.
Full of self-loathing Pip drinks some very strong gin, finds he is really quite keen on opium, and falls in with a gang of thieving boys. But is their leader, Mr Abraham Bagel, a Roman Catholic ne'er-do-well, all he seems?
Mark Evans's epic comedy in the style of Charles Dickens.
Volume Two, Chapter the Fifth: An Already Bad Life Made Worse But Sort Of On Purpose.
Sir Philip …. Richard Johnson
Mr Benevolent …. Anthony Head
Young Pip …. Tom Allen
Harry Biscuit …. James Bachman
Sternbeater …. Geoffrey Whitehead
Ripely Fecund …. Sarah Hadland
Mr Parsimonious …. Laurence Howarth
Pippa …. Susy Kane
Mr Scrunge …. Mark Evans
Producer: Gareth Edwards.
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in September 2008.
SAT 06:00 Miss Marple (b007jvgc)
4.50 From Paddington
Miss Marple's friend Mrs McGillicuddy arrives for a visit to St Mary Mead claiming she's just witnessed a murder during her steam railway journey from London.
On another train running alongside her carriage, she explains how a blind flew up revealing a man slowly strangling a woman – until she slumped down.
But next day, when there are no newspaper reports of a corpse, the spinster sleuth sets about her own murder investigation...
Starring June Whitfield.
Agatha Christie's whodunit, first published in 1957.
Dramatised by Michael Bakewell.
Miss Marple ...... June Whitfield
Mrs McGillicuddy ...... Joan Sims
Lucy Eyelesbarrow ...... Susannah Harker
Detective Inspector Craddock ...... Ian Lavender
Luther Crackenthorpe ...... John Woodnutt
Emma Crackenthorpe ...... Janet Maw
Inspector Bacon ...... Sean Baker
Dr Quimper ...... Stephen Thorne
Cedric ...... Christopher Scott
Harold ...... Keith Drinkel
Alfred ...... Mark Bonner
Bryan ...... Jim Wall
Alexander ...... Jonathan Kitchens
James ...... Rory Jennings
Mrs Kidder ...... Ann Beach
Madam Joilet ...... Joanna Monro
Martine ...... Alice Arnold
Miss Ellis ...... Amanda Gordon
Wimborne ...... Lewis Jones
Inspector Dessin ...... Steve Hodson
Sergeant Wetherall ...... Chris Pavlo
Sergeant Cornish ...... Alex Lowe
Director: Enyd Williams
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in March 1997
SAT 07:30 The Doll Factory by Elizabeth MacNeal (Omnibus) (m0005gyb)
Episode 2
Guinevere, the resident wombat at Louis Frost's studio, has damaged Iris's painting beyond repair.
Louis, wracked with guilt, finds the perfect way to apologise to his friend.
Set in London 1850 -1851 at the time of The Great Exhibition, The Doll Factory follows the story of a young woman called Iris who we first meet painting the faces of tiny porcelain dolls. When a chance encounter offers the glimpse of a new life, she is ready to embrace it.
Written by Elizabeth MacNeal.
Omnibus of the last five of ten parts abridged by Isobel Creed and Lizzie Davies
Read by Louise Brealey.
Producer: Lizzie Davies
A Waters Company production for BBC Radio 4 first broadcast in May 2019.
SAT 08:45 Voices from Behind the Canvas (m001g8z7)
Ennui by Shena Mackay
"The time of day when a man and a woman wonder why fate has cast them together in these lodgings". Camden Town, London, 1913.
Shena Mackay's short story based on Walter Sickert's Ennui.
Read by Tilly Vosburgh.
A collection of short stories in which a famous painting, or a character within the painting, tells their tale.
Producer Julia Butt
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 2001.
SAT 09:00 Life With The Lyons (m001g8zf)
Let The Kids Do It
Ben’s going away on business. Just what could go wrong at home?
Sitcom with a real-life American family - starring Bebe Daniels and Ben Lyon.
Joined by their children Barbara and Richard, the series ran for 260 episodes from 1950 to 1961.
With:
Barbara Lyon
Richard Lyon
Horace Percival
Doris Rogers
Molly Weir
Hugh Morton
Gwen Lewis
Written by Bebe Daniels, Bob Block and Ronnie Hanbury.
Incidental music by Arthur Wilkinson.
Music played by the BBC Variety Orchestra conducted by Paul Fenoulhet.
Producer: Tom Ronald.
First broadcast on the BBC Light Programme in January 1954.
SAT 09:30 Stiff Upper Lip, Jeeves (b007jqdd)
Upstairs, Downstairs and Bumps in the Night
Bertie Wooster tries to play peacemaker when he arrives at Totleigh Towers.
PG Wodehouse romp starring Michael Hordern and Richard Briers.
Adapted by Richard Usborne.
Jeeves …. Michael Hordern
Bertie Wooster …. Richard Briers
Aunt Dahlia …. Vivienne Pickles
Madeleine Bassett …. Amy MacDonald
Rev Harold Pinker …. Douglas Blackwell
Stiffy Bing …. Denise Coffey
Gussie Finknottle …. Jonathan Cecil
Roderick Spode …. Paul Eddington
Sir Watkin Bassett …. John Le Mesurier
Producer: David Hatch
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in December 1980.
SAT 10:00 Sue Perkins' Christmas Comedy Stocking (m000ckpy)
Series 1
2. Lines from My Grandfather Christmas's Forehead / Tony Hawks' 12 Days of Christmas
Sue Perkins pours the snowballs and opens her box of dates to accompany more vintage BBC Christmas comedy.
The second of three festive fun-packed stockings:
* LINES FROM MY GRANDFATHER CHRISTMAS'S FOREHEAD:
How even the best laid festive plans can go awry - and a message from your milkman.
A sequential entertainment for Christmas starring Ronnie Barker, Pauline Yates and Terence Brady.
From 1971.
* TONY HAWK'S 12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS:
To make his girlfriend happy, comedian Tony Hawks tries collecting every item featured in the famous carol.
From 2001.
Producer: Sarah Wade
Made for BBC Radio 7 and first broadcast in December 2010.
SAT 11:00 Miss Marple (b007jvgc)
[Repeat of broadcast at
06:00 today]
SAT 12:30 The Doll Factory by Elizabeth MacNeal (Omnibus) (m0005gyb)
[Repeat of broadcast at
07:30 today]
SAT 13:45 Voices from Behind the Canvas (m001g8z7)
[Repeat of broadcast at
08:45 today]
SAT 14:00 Life With The Lyons (m001g8zf)
[Repeat of broadcast at
09:00 today]
SAT 14:30 Stiff Upper Lip, Jeeves (b007jqdd)
[Repeat of broadcast at
09:30 today]
SAT 15:00 Sue Perkins' Christmas Comedy Stocking (m000ckpy)
[Repeat of broadcast at
10:00 today]
SAT 16:00 Doctor Who (m001g1ny)
[Repeat of broadcast at
00:00 today]
SAT 17:00 Miss Marple (b007jvgc)
[Repeat of broadcast at
06:00 today]
SAT 18:30 The Doll Factory by Elizabeth MacNeal (Omnibus) (m0005gyb)
[Repeat of broadcast at
07:30 today]
SAT 19:45 Voices from Behind the Canvas (m001g8z7)
[Repeat of broadcast at
08:45 today]
SAT 20:00 Life With The Lyons (m001g8zf)
[Repeat of broadcast at
09:00 today]
SAT 20:30 Stiff Upper Lip, Jeeves (b007jqdd)
[Repeat of broadcast at
09:30 today]
SAT 21:00 Sue Perkins' Christmas Comedy Stocking (m000ckpy)
[Repeat of broadcast at
10:00 today]
SAT 22:00 John Finnemore's Souvenir Programme (b01mqqb1)
Series 2
Episode 2
John Finnemore - writer and star of Cabin Pressure - with another sketch-packed show.
Including: another sketch about how BBC Radio 4's The Archers sounds to people who don't listen to the Archers, as well a song about a dog and a sketch about a mathematician's agent.
Written by and starring John Finnemore.
With:
Margaret Cabourn-Smith
Carrie Quinlan
Lawry Lewin
Simon Kane
Producer: Ed Morrish
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in September 2012.
SAT 22:30 Bussmann and Quantick Kingsize (b044w4v4)
Episode 4
Buy a compendium of fairy tales from Boney M.
A decadent ounce of sketches, monologues and evil chat.
Originally broadcast live from London's exclusive Imperial Rooms, Mayfair.
Written and performed by Jane Bussmann and David Quantick.
Featuring:
Peter Serafinowicz
Emma Clarke
Steve Brody
Producer: Phil Bowker.
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in May 1998.
SAT 23:00 Danny Robins Music Therapy (b00fq2t4)
Episode 3
Danny Robins harnesses the power of music to improve the world and solve listeners' problems.
Danny helps the worst five-a-side football team in the country and boosts the confidence of a listener who, at under five feet tall, feels that the world is heightist.
With Isy Suttie.
Special musical guest Connie Fisher.
Written by Danny Robins with Isy Suttie, James Sherwood and Danielle Ward.
Producer: Ben Walker
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in December 2008.
SAT 23:30 Radio Shuttleworth (b007wp4b)
Series 2
Tony Hart
TV artist Tony Hart pays a visit and his timing couldn't be better as John is in the middle of painting the living room wall.
Maybe Tony could help - but no fancy murals mind you, as Mary wouldn't like it.
The semi-detached world of aspiring singer-songwriter John Shuttleworth comes direct from his front room in Sheffield.
With:
Lorraine Bowen
Stephen Frost
Written and performed by Graham Fellows.
Additional material by Martin Willis.
Producer: Dawn Ellis.
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in March 2000
SUNDAY 18 DECEMBER 2022
SUN 00:00 Algernon Blackwood - The Camp of the Dog (m001cj25)
'It is never wise for an over-civilised man to isolate himself in a place where nature rules. For surely he will revert.'
What happens when the over-civilised are faced with the brutal challenges of nature?
Algernon Blackwood's short story.
Starring Malcolm Hayes and Timothy Bateson.
Dramatised by Shelia Hodgson
Dr John Silence .... Malcolm Hayes
Stephen Hubbard .... Timothy Bateson
Rev Timothy Maloney .... David March
Mrs Maloney .... Joan Matheson
Joan Maloney .... Jane Knowles
Peter Sangree .... Peter Whitman
Porter .... David Sinclair
Producer: Harry Catlin
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in August 1974.
SUN 00:45 AM Burrage - The Waxwork (m0007rp3)
In search of a story, a journalist spends the night in the Murderers’ Den at the waxwork museum.
Written by AM Burrage.
Dramatised by Michael and Mollie Hardwick.
Raymond Hewson ...... William Bedle
Dr Bourdette ...... Valentine Dyall
News Editor ...... Donald McKillop
Museum Manager ...... James Thomason
Wilkins ...... George Merritt
Inspector ...... Leslie Perrins
Producer: Charles Lefaux
First broadcast on the BBC Home Service in March 1963.
SUN 01:00 Miss Marple (b007jvgc)
[Repeat of broadcast at
06:00 on Saturday]
SUN 02:30 The Doll Factory by Elizabeth MacNeal (Omnibus) (m0005gyb)
[Repeat of broadcast at
07:30 on Saturday]
SUN 03:45 Voices from Behind the Canvas (m001g8z7)
[Repeat of broadcast at
08:45 on Saturday]
SUN 04:00 Life With The Lyons (m001g8zf)
[Repeat of broadcast at
09:00 on Saturday]
SUN 04:30 Stiff Upper Lip, Jeeves (b007jqdd)
[Repeat of broadcast at
09:30 on Saturday]
SUN 05:00 Sue Perkins' Christmas Comedy Stocking (m000ckpy)
[Repeat of broadcast at
10:00 on Saturday]
SUN 06:00 Poetry Extra (m001g8cx)
Four Seasons - Midwinter
Poet Daljit Nagra revisits the BBC's poetry archive and selects Four Seasons - Midwinter - poetry, music and meditations on the winter solstice and the shortest days of the year.
Poetry and music to see us through the shortest days of winter. With reflections on midwinter from writers Jay Griffiths (author of Wild: An Elemental Journey and Pip Pip: A Sideways Look at Time) and Lia Leendertz (the creator of the Almanac guides to the year in the British Isles), and astronomical insights into the winter solstice from cosmochemistry researcher Dr Tim Gregory.
With winter poems by Kathleen Jamie, Liz Lochhead, Ruth Fainlight, Gillian Clarke, Mark Doty, Kerry Hardie and Billy Collins.
Read by Sinead MacInnes and Richard Harrington.
Producer: Mair Bosworth
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 2019.
SUN 06:30 The Crossway by Guy Stagg (Omnibus) (b0b7dzw8)
An epic journey, but also an intimate one.
After several years of mental illness, Guy Stagg set off one morning, from London, to walk to Canterbury. Ill-prepared and not entirely clear why he was doing this, he nevertheless got there. Exhausted, he lay beneath the Cathedral walls and then decided to continue.
A few months later, on New Year’s Day, 2013, he set out from Canterbury to follow the paths of the medieval pilgrims to Jerusalem.
Ten months and 5,500 kilometres later, he arrived.
This is the story of his walk. Danger and physical hardship lay in his path but he was also haunted by the memories that he sought to flee and ambushed by echoes of his breakdown.
In this Omnibus of five extracts from Guy’s account, follow some of his experiences through snow and storm across the Alps, among other pilgrims in Italy, despairing and alone in Greece, and finally to the incessant rounds of competing worship in Jerusalem.
It's a journey through the pathways of faith and recovery towards healing and understanding.
Omnibus of five parts abridged by Jill Waters and Isobel Creed.
Read by Jonathan Bailey
Producer: Jill Waters
A Waters Company production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in June 2018.
SUN 07:40 Inheritance Tracks (b05pr3rj)
Cerys Matthews
Singer and DJ Cerys Matthews chooses Snooks Eaglin's 'I'm a Country Boy' and Hozier's 'Take Me to Church'.
SUN 07:50 EM Forster - A Passage to India (Omnibus) (m0003kcq)
Episode 2
As Aziz ponders over Fielding's reflections, that there is something in India that doesn't suit English ladies, Adela wonders why the doctor has not yet organised the promised expedition to the mysterious Marabar caves.
Conclusion of EM Forster's masterful novel.
Omnibus of the last five of ten parts of Tanika Gupta's imaginative and bold adaptation.
Mrs Moore ...... Penelope Wilton
Adela ...... Ellie Kendrick
Dr Aziz ...... Shubham Saraf
Fielding ...... Jonathan Firth
Ronny Heaslop ...... Christopher Harper
Ralph Moore ...... Joseph Ayre
Professor Godbole ...... Thusitha Jayasundera
Mr Das ...... Nicholas Khan
Mahmoud Ali ...... Ashley Kumar
Mr Turton ...... Tony Turner
Mrs Turton ...... Joanna Monro
Major Callendar ...... Michael Bertenshaw
Mrs Callendar ...... Susan Jameson
Mr McBryde ...... Sam Dale
Anthony/Amritrao ...... Ronny Jhutti
With:
Don Gilet
Franchi Webb
Sarah Ovens
Director: Tracey Neale
First broadcast in BBC Radio 4 in five parts in 2018.
SUN 09:00 Stilgoe's Around (b007k3kj)
Champneys Health Spa
Champney's Health Hydro put Richard Stilgoe into a steam cabinet, and cook him for two hours at Regulo 6.
The result is a medium rare, low calorie, non-alcoholic look at life 'down on the farm' in in Hertfordshire.
With:
Emma Thompson
The Cambridge Buskers
Producer: Mike Craig
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in April 1984.
SUN 09:30 Something to Shout About (m0001p35)
Series 2
Episode 5
Michael changes jobs after failing to get a pay rise - but quickly regrets his actions.
"A light-hearted exposé of the advertising world!".
Set in a London ad agency called Apsley, Addis, Cohen, Barbican, Blythe, Giddy & Partners.”
Michael …. Michael Medwin
Janet …. Fenella Fielding
Mavis …. Joan Sims
Maggie …. Eleanor Summerfield
Adrian …. Nicholas Phipps
Other parts played by Warren Mitchell
Producer: Eric Miller
First broadcast on the BBC Light Programme in January 1961.
SUN 10:00 Desert Island Discs Revisited (m001g8cz)
Lost Gems
Dame Margot Fonteyn
From Johann Sebastian Bach to Giuseppe Verdi.
Prima ballerina Dame Margot Fonteyn shares her castaway choices with Roy Plomley.
Born in Surrey, she studied at dancing schools in London – eventually joining the school attached to the Vic-Wells Ballet – later known as the Royal Ballet.
Her teenage debut was as a snowflake in ‘The Nutcracker’ in 1934, with her solo debut in 1935. Sir Frederick Ashton made her the star of numerous ballets.
Widely admired by both fans and critics, many of Britain’s leading male dancers were her partners. Latterly Rudolf Nureyev reinvigorated her career, as she continued to perform around the world.
She married Panamanian diplomat, Dr Roberto Arias in 1955, and cared for him after he was nearly paralyzed in an assassination attempt in 1964.
Awarded a CBE in 1950, she became a Dame in 1956.
Dame Margot Fonteyn died aged 71 in 1991.
Redefining the style of 20th century British ballet, the impact she made lives on.
This was the 750th episode of Desert Island Discs broadcast on the 12th April 1965.
DISC ONE: Ravel’s Daphnis and Chloe: Daybreak - Suisse Romande Orchestra with the Motet Choir of Geneva
DISC TWO: Mozart’s Sinfonia Concertante in E flat major - Bath Festival Orchestra (Soloists: Yehudi Menuhin and Rudolf Barshai)
DISC THREE: Bach’s Passacaglia in C Minor - Helmut Walcha
DISC FOUR: Mananita de San Juan - Teresa Berganza and Felix Lavilla
DISC FIVE: Verdi’s Requiem: Dies Irae - New England Conservatory Chorus with the Boston Symphony Orchestra
DISC SIX: Chopin’s Etude in E Major, Op. 10/3 - Sviatoslav Richter
DISC SEVEN: Honeysuckle Rose - Lena Horne
DISC EIGHT: Puccini’s Chorus: Invocation To The Moon (from Turandot) - Orchestra and Chorus of La Scala, Milan
CASTAWAY'S FAVOURITE - Bach’s Passacaglia in C Minor - Helmut Walcha
BOOK CHOICE - Hadrian's Memoirs by Marguerite Yourcenar
LUXURY CHOICE - Skin-diver's mask
Producer: Monica Chapman
Desert Island Discs was created by Roy Plomley.
First broadcast on the BBC Home Service in April 1965.
SUN 10:30 Close Up: Agatha Christie (b06850m3)
Profile of the prolific 'Queen of Crime' Agatha Christie featuring the writer herself.
Narrated by John Webster.
Friends and associates help to tell the story of the author and playwright:
Lord Richard Attenborough
Sir Allen Lane
Margaret Lockwood
Peter Saunders
Francis L Sullivan
Sir Mortimer Wheeler.
Written by Gale Pedrick
Producer: Thurstan Holland
First broadcast on the BBC Light Programme in February 1955
SUN 11:00 Poetry Extra (m001g8cx)
[Repeat of broadcast at
06:00 today]
SUN 11:30 The Crossway by Guy Stagg (Omnibus) (b0b7dzw8)
[Repeat of broadcast at
06:30 today]
SUN 12:40 Inheritance Tracks (b05pr3rj)
[Repeat of broadcast at
07:40 today]
SUN 12:50 EM Forster - A Passage to India (Omnibus) (m0003kcq)
[Repeat of broadcast at
07:50 today]
SUN 14:00 Stilgoe's Around (b007k3kj)
[Repeat of broadcast at
09:00 today]
SUN 14:30 Something to Shout About (m0001p35)
[Repeat of broadcast at
09:30 today]
SUN 15:00 Desert Island Discs Revisited (m001g8cz)
[Repeat of broadcast at
10:00 today]
SUN 15:30 Close Up: Agatha Christie (b06850m3)
[Repeat of broadcast at
10:30 today]
SUN 16:00 Algernon Blackwood - The Camp of the Dog (m001cj25)
[Repeat of broadcast at
00:00 today]
SUN 16:45 AM Burrage - The Waxwork (m0007rp3)
[Repeat of broadcast at
00:45 today]
SUN 17:00 Poetry Extra (m001g8cx)
[Repeat of broadcast at
06:00 today]
SUN 17:30 The Crossway by Guy Stagg (Omnibus) (b0b7dzw8)
[Repeat of broadcast at
06:30 today]
SUN 18:40 Inheritance Tracks (b05pr3rj)
[Repeat of broadcast at
07:40 today]
SUN 18:50 EM Forster - A Passage to India (Omnibus) (m0003kcq)
[Repeat of broadcast at
07:50 today]
SUN 20:00 Stilgoe's Around (b007k3kj)
[Repeat of broadcast at
09:00 today]
SUN 20:30 Something to Shout About (m0001p35)
[Repeat of broadcast at
09:30 today]
SUN 21:00 Desert Island Discs Revisited (m001g8cz)
[Repeat of broadcast at
10:00 today]
SUN 21:30 Close Up: Agatha Christie (b06850m3)
[Repeat of broadcast at
10:30 today]
SUN 22:00 Electric Ink (b01jrt6d)
Series 2
Episode 2
Maddox refuses to give up a source.
Could he really be facing prison?
Starring John Sessions and Alex Jennings.
Old hacks meet new media in this satire set in the changing world of the struggling newspaper industry.
Written by Alistair Beaton and Tom Mitchelson.
Maddox .... John Sessions
Oliver .... Alex Jennings
Freddy .... Stephen Wight
Carol .... Polly Frame
Masha .... Debbie Chazen
Policeman .... Henry Devas
Warder .... Adeel Akhtar
Producer: Sally Avens
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in December 2010.
SUN 22:30 Son of Cliche (b00pbx1y)
Weird Magazines
Spoofing student life and a meaty mammal.
Sketch comedy starring:
Chris Barrie
Nick Maloney
Nick Wilton.
Written by Rob Grant and Doug Naylor.
Producer: Alan Nixon
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in December 1984.
SUN 23:00 Old Harry's Game (b007jzzh)
Christmas Special 2002
1/2. The Roll of the Dice
Satan embarks on an epic quest - and encounters Queen Victoria, Harpo Marx and a highly intelligent bluebottle.
Meanwhile, the saintly Hope Fraser's arrival in Hell sparks confusion...
Andy Hamilton's two-part devilishly funny, festive special set in Hell.
Satan ...... Andy Hamilton
The Professor ...... James Grout
Thomas ...... Jimmy Mulville
Scumspawn ...... Robert Duncan
Hope ...... Claire Skinner
With:
Philip Pope
Felicity Montagu
Michael Fenton Stevens
Producer: Paul Mayhew-Archer
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in December 2002.
SUN 23:30 The Clemmie Hart Years (m0005t3m)
Anneka Rice tells a hilarious true story from her own life in this brand new one-woman show.
In 2004, Anneka was fired by her agent and decided to go it alone and represent herself with a fictional agent called Clemmie Hart.
"Clemmie" looked after Anneka's career for many years, with incredible - and often disastrous - results.
Listen out as Anneka is finally confessing to the lie which had the entire British showbiz world fooled.
A Talkback production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in June 2019.
MONDAY 19 DECEMBER 2022
MON 00:00 Poetry Extra (m001g8cx)
[Repeat of broadcast at
06:00 on Sunday]
MON 00:30 The Crossway by Guy Stagg (Omnibus) (b0b7dzw8)
[Repeat of broadcast at
06:30 on Sunday]
MON 01:50 EM Forster - A Passage to India (Omnibus) (m0003kcq)
[Repeat of broadcast at
07:50 on Sunday]
MON 03:00 Stilgoe's Around (b007k3kj)
[Repeat of broadcast at
09:00 on Sunday]
MON 03:30 Something to Shout About (m0001p35)
[Repeat of broadcast at
09:30 on Sunday]
MON 04:00 Desert Island Discs Revisited (m001g8cz)
[Repeat of broadcast at
10:00 on Sunday]
MON 04:30 Close Up: Agatha Christie (b06850m3)
[Repeat of broadcast at
10:30 on Sunday]
MON 05:00 Hugh Walpole - Rogue Herries (b007k1mf)
1. Wilderness
In 1730 - drawn by a wild romantic impulse - Francis Herries moves his family to a tumbledown ancestral house called 'Herries', ringed by the Cumberland fells.
Starring Gavin Muir, Mark Bonnar and Janet Maw.
Hugh Walpole's historical novel, first published in 1930.
Dramatised in four parts by Eric Pringle.
Francis .... Gavin Muir
David ... Mark Bonnar
Margaret ... Janet Maw
Deborah ... Jane Whittenshaw
Alice Press ... Jane Slavin
Pomfret ... Stephen Thorne
Jannice .... Shirley Dixon
Father Roache ....Hugh Dickson
Statesman Peel ....Gerard McDermott
The Pedlar ....Ioan Meredith
Benjamin ....Chris Pavlo
Young Deborah ....Katie Clarke
Young David ....George Maguire
Others parts played by:
Joseph Head
Robert Harper
Alex Lowe
Alison Pettitt
Christopher Scott
Director David Blount
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in April 1997.
MON 06:00 Detective (b04g16ll)
Series 2
6. Missing From Home
DS Dave Brook investigates another missing person, but is he seeing connections where there are none?
Stories of crime and detection in London by Robert Barr.
Starring Ray Brooks as shrewd veteran Detective Sergeant Dave Brook and Christopher Blake as Detective Constable Blair Maxton.
DS Brook …. Ray Brooks
DC Blair Maxton …. Christopher Blake
DC Harrison …. Peter Cleall
Chief Inspector Roach …. Stephen Yardley
Michael Kemp …. William Booker
Mr Kemp …. Keith Drinkel
Charles …. David Lodge
Producer: Martin Fisher
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in April 1982.
MON 06:30 The Left-Handed Sleeper (m000pw5w)
1. Who Goes Home?
Lord Willis discovers that neighbours of his are in great trouble - involved in an extraordinary drama making headlines in the world's press.
MP Mark Ritchie is on the run - tailed by MI5, but who else is chasing him?
Stars Richard Pasco and Annette Crosbie.
Spy thriller serial adapted in five parts by Ted Willis from his novel.
Christine Ritchie …. Annette Crosbie
Radio Announcer / Doorkeeper …. Astley Jones
Mark Ritchie …. Christopher Scoular
Det Chief Superintendent …. David Daker
Coombes …. Hugh Dickson
Irvine …. James Kerry
Patrick Cadwall …. Richard Pasco
Telephone Operator / Stewardess …. Rosalind Adams
Detective Constable Green …. Simon Hewitt
Marian Brown …. Thelma Whiteley
Narrator …. Ted Willis
Producer: Christopher Venning
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in November 1982.
MON 07:00 Maigret (m0001qhm)
A Maigret Christmas
1. The Visitors
On Christmas Day, as the snow begins to fall in Paris, Inspector Maigret receives two unexpected visitors.
A young girl claims to have seen Father Christmas in her room, behaving strangely and cutting a hole in the floor. He agrees to investigate.
Sir Derek Jacobi reads a classic Inspector Maigret mystery by Georges Simenon.
Translated by David Coward.
Abridged in five parts by Lauris Morgan-Griffiths.
Producer: Mair Bosworth
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in December 2018.
MON 07:15 HighLites - Split Ends (b03jz1hv)
1. The Wedding
Bridgeford is blessed with the meanest hairdresser in Britain, and the stupidest.
An impending wedding looks like a great opportunity for Bev.
The fact that her rival, Anton, has already secured the business is not likely to put her off.
Five-part comedy drama set in and around Bev's hairdressing salon.
Written by Steve Chambers and Phil Nodding.
Bev ...... Lorraine Ashbourne
Shirley ...... Rosie Cavaliero
Nigel ...... John Norton
Enid ...... Nicola Sloane
Producer: Jessica Dromgoole
Director: Colin Guthrie.
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in December 2013.
MON 07:30 Dot (b072j327)
Series 1
The Mystery at St Horribly-Vulture's School for Boys
Dot's sent to St Horribly Vulture's School for Boys to enlist a teacher for 'Shhhh Bletchley Park'.
But is he the right sort of chap for the job?
Comic adventures with Dot and the gals from personnel in the rollicking wartime comedy by Ed Harris.
Dot ..... Fenella Woolgar
Myrtle ..... Kate O'Flynn
Millicent ..... Jane Slavin
Peabody ..... David Acton
Mr Belltower ..... Brian Protheroe
Apsley ..... Sam Rix
Director: Jessica Mitic
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 2016.
MON 08:00 Brothers in Law (b0524gr2)
Series 1
Breach of Contract
Rookie barrister Roger Thursby must defend a women being sued by a pop star over a pup.
Henry Cecil's comic legal novel Brothers in Law was first published in 1955.
Adapted for radio from Frank Muir & Denis Norden's BBC TV scripts by Richard Waring.
Roger Thursby ...... Richard Briers
Henry Blagrove ...... Richard Waring
Grimes .... John-Glyn Jones
Sally Mannering ...... Ann Davies
Mandy McCloud .... Aimi Macdonald
The Judge ...... Richard Wattis
Mrs Thursby .... Jean Anderson
Kitty Doyle .... Ann Wain
Other parts…. John Bentley
Produced by David Hatch.
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in June 1970.
MON 08:30 Counterpoint (b018g3n2)
Christmas Special 2011
Paul Gambaccini presents a special festive edition of the wide-ranging music quiz, with all of the musical clues played live in the studio.
Three special guests are facing Paul's questions:
* Journalist and BBC Proms presenter Suzy Klein.
* World-renowned cellist Julian Lloyd Webber
* Lyricist Sir Tim Rice
Music played live by the BBC Philharmonic orchestra, under conductor Clark Rundell.
Producers: Paul Bajoria and Angela Sherwin
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in December 2011.
MON 09:30 Romantic Friction (b00764mh)
An Ending..?
Brian has gone to the Shetland Isles to make giant fibreglass ducks and romance writer, Anna's head is throbbing because she's been hitting the cooking sherry.
Her book is on hold, her characters are unhappy and her publisher is nagging her for a finished copy. Is there any chance of a happy ending?
Starring Samantha Bond and Hugh Bonneville.
Conclusion of Michelle Read's four-part comedy-drama series.
Anna ...... Samantha Bond
Brian ...... Hugh Bonneville
Deirdre ...... Beth Chambers
Fertility Doll ...... Adjoa Andoh
Buddah ...... Kammy Darweish
Brenda ...... Michelle Read
Bob ...... Andrew Wincott
Minnie ...... Sue Elliott-Nicholls
Book ...... Michael Fenton Stevens
Dougie ...... Ewan Bailey
Producer: Dawn Ellis
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in October 2001.
MON 10:00 Hugh Walpole - Rogue Herries (b007k1mf)
[Repeat of broadcast at
05:00 today]
MON 11:00 Detective (b04g16ll)
[Repeat of broadcast at
06:00 today]
MON 11:30 The Left-Handed Sleeper (m000pw5w)
[Repeat of broadcast at
06:30 today]
MON 12:00 Maigret (m0001qhm)
[Repeat of broadcast at
07:00 today]
MON 12:15 HighLites - Split Ends (b03jz1hv)
[Repeat of broadcast at
07:15 today]
MON 12:30 Dot (b072j327)
[Repeat of broadcast at
07:30 today]
MON 13:00 Brothers in Law (b0524gr2)
[Repeat of broadcast at
08:00 today]
MON 13:30 Counterpoint (b018g3n2)
[Repeat of broadcast at
08:30 today]
MON 14:30 Romantic Friction (b00764mh)
[Repeat of broadcast at
09:30 today]
MON 15:00 Hugh Walpole - Rogue Herries (b007k1mf)
[Repeat of broadcast at
05:00 today]
MON 16:00 Detective (b04g16ll)
[Repeat of broadcast at
06:00 today]
MON 16:30 The Left-Handed Sleeper (m000pw5w)
[Repeat of broadcast at
06:30 today]
MON 17:00 Maigret (m0001qhm)
[Repeat of broadcast at
07:00 today]
MON 17:15 HighLites - Split Ends (b03jz1hv)
[Repeat of broadcast at
07:15 today]
MON 17:30 Dot (b072j327)
[Repeat of broadcast at
07:30 today]
MON 18:00 Brothers in Law (b0524gr2)
[Repeat of broadcast at
08:00 today]
MON 18:30 Counterpoint (b018g3n2)
[Repeat of broadcast at
08:30 today]
MON 19:30 Romantic Friction (b00764mh)
[Repeat of broadcast at
09:30 today]
MON 20:00 Radiolab (m000tvdr)
Series 7
Damn Bugs
Radiolab is a Peabody-award winning show about curiosity. Where sound illuminates ideas, and the boundaries blur between science, philosophy, and the human experience.
Radiolab explores what would be the cost of wiping out mosquitoes and other pesky insects from the world? With Jad Abumrad.
If you could wipe mosquitoes, ticks, and other pesky insects from the face of the Earth...would you? On this hour of Radiolab, we speak with the difficulties of sharing a planet with these pests and what they might actually be doing to help our world.
From WNYC. First broadcast on public radio in the USA in 2018.
MON 20:55 Inheritance Tracks (b06rdlhj)
Mary Berry
Bake Off star and food guru chooses Susan Boyle's 'How Great Thou Art' and 'Mamma Mia' by Abba.
MON 21:00 The Film We Can't See (m001g9fg)
1. Sixteen Names and a Box of Sounds
When a meandering phone call from a forgotten actor called Anton Blake Horowitz leads Adam Zmith into an old cinema, he rediscovers a box of old sound recordings. They’re labelled Eisenstein Project, possibly after Sergei Eisenstein, pioneer of cinema in the Soviet Union in the 1920s. It’s perfect for Adam, a writer and podcast producer who is looking for a story to work on — and pitching to the BBC for a new series.
Adam meets sound expert Aleks Kolkowski who helps to retrieve the sounds from the old records. He teams up with So Mayer, a writer and researcher who explains more about Eisenstein. He even meets the veteran film director Sally Potter, who visited Eisenstein’s apartment and has been inspired by his work in making her films such as Orlando from 1992.
Perhaps these lost records are the sound tests for a film that Eisenstein was preparing to make in 1930? Adam returns to Anton, the actor who set him off on this journey — and Anton hears something in the old sounds that Adam didn’t...
Credits
Written, produced and edited by Adam Zmith
With story by So Mayer and Adam Zmith
Starring Anton Blake Horowitz
Music by Courtney Pine
Assistant Producers – Tash Walker and Shivani Dave
Researcher — So Mayer
Audio consultant – David Pye
Artwork by Danny Crossley
Production Mentors – Caroline Steel and Andy King
Executive Producers – Khaliq Meer and Leanne Alie
Commissioned for BBC Sounds Audio Lab by Khaliq Meer
MON 21:50 Witness History (m001g9fy)
The Monkees
Ashley Byrne explores the story of the first 'manufactured' boy band - created especially for a US TV show – The Monkees.
He talks to the man who directed the show, Bruce Kessler.
Producer: Ian Mackness
A Made In Manchester production for the BBC World Service, first broadcast in 2015.
MON 22:00 I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue (m001g2ym)
Series 78
Episode 5
The godfather of all panel shows pays a visit to the Theatre Royal Newcastle. On the panel are John Finnemore, Pippa Evans, Fred Macaulay and Rory Bremner with Jack Dee in the umpire’s chair. Colin Sell accompanies on the piano.
Producer - Jon Naismith
It is a BBC Studios production
MON 22:30 Dave Podmore (b007tm7h)
Dave Podmore's World of Cricket
Episode 4
The star player joins a host of Z-list celebrities on a charity walk for mauled dog, Shep.
Sitcom about the exploits of talentless, amateurish, smug, inept and self-deluding English cricketer Dave Podmore.
Christopher Douglas stars as Pod.
Written by Christopher Douglas, Nick Newman and Andrew Nickolds.
Dave ...... Chris Douglas
Andy ...... Andrew Nickolds
With:
Nicola Sanderson
Chris Pavlo
Producer: Richard Wilson
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in June 2002.
MON 22:55 The Comedy Club Interviews (m001gv10)
Pierre Novellie 1/3
From
10pm until midnight, seven days a week, The Comedy Club has two hours of comedy. And tonight, Rob Deering talks to Pierre Novellie.
MON 23:00 Dead Ringers (m001g39k)
Christmas Specials 2022
Episode 2
The content of Matt Hancock’s Covid diaries, the reason why Sir Keir Starmer may soon be out of a job, and a behind-the-scenes look at the King's preparations for his Christmas message.
Performed by Jon Culshaw, Lewis McLeod, Jan Ravens, Duncan Wisbey, Naomi McDonald and Anil Desai.
Written by Written by Tom Jamieson and Nev Fountain, Laurence Howarth, Sarah Campbell, Tom Coles and Ed Amsden, James Bugg, Cody Dahler, Toussaint Douglass, Robert Darke, Sophie Dickson, Katie Sayer, Peter Tellouche and Edward Tew.
Produced and created by Bill Dare.
Production Co-ordinator: Caroline Barlow
MON 23:30 As Told To Craig Brown (b00b4j53)
Episode 3
Craig investigates inventions, being common and the creep of CCTV.
Satirist Craig Brown presents a bundle of parody, satire, social observation and nonsense.
Narrated by Juliet Stevenson and Steve Wright.
With:
John Humphrys
Ronni Ancona
Jon Culshaw
Lewis MacLeod
Sally Grace
Ewan Bailey
Margaret Cabourn-Smith
Producer: Victoria Lloyd
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in May 2008.
TUESDAY 20 DECEMBER 2022
TUE 00:00 Hugh Walpole - Rogue Herries (b007k1mf)
[Repeat of broadcast at
05:00 on Monday]
TUE 01:00 Detective (b04g16ll)
[Repeat of broadcast at
06:00 on Monday]
TUE 01:30 The Left-Handed Sleeper (m000pw5w)
[Repeat of broadcast at
06:30 on Monday]
TUE 02:00 Maigret (m0001qhm)
[Repeat of broadcast at
07:00 on Monday]
TUE 02:15 HighLites - Split Ends (b03jz1hv)
[Repeat of broadcast at
07:15 on Monday]
TUE 02:30 Dot (b072j327)
[Repeat of broadcast at
07:30 on Monday]
TUE 03:00 Brothers in Law (b0524gr2)
[Repeat of broadcast at
08:00 on Monday]
TUE 03:30 Counterpoint (b018g3n2)
[Repeat of broadcast at
08:30 on Monday]
TUE 04:30 Romantic Friction (b00764mh)
[Repeat of broadcast at
09:30 on Monday]
TUE 05:00 Hugh Walpole - Rogue Herries (b007k1nq)
2. Forty-Five
Francis encounters Mirabell again and his fate is sealed.
Meanwhile, the rebels are at the gates of Carlisle.
Stars Gavin Muir, Mark Bonnar and Jane Whittenshaw.
Hugh Walpole's historical novel dramatised by Eric Pringle.
Francis ... Gavin Muir
David ... Mark Bonnar
Deborah ... Jane Whittenshaw
Margaret ... Janet Maw
Mirabell ... Deborah Berlin
Roche ... Hugh Dickson
Cumberlege ... Gordon Reid
Hetty ... Alison Pettitt
Other parts played by:
Shirley Dixon
Robert Harper
Carolyn Jones
Alex Lowe
Gerard McDermott
Ioan Meredith
Chris Pavlo
Stephen Thorne
Director David Blount
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in May 1997.
TUE 06:00 Detective (b04g1xxz)
Series 2
7. A Very Private Affair
Detective Sergeant Dave Brook gets a tip off from Tessa, and the mystery of Kemp's missing wife gets more and more complex...
Stories of crime and detection in London by Robert Barr.
CAST:
DS Brook …. Ray Brooks
DC Blair Maxton …. Christopher Blake
Judy …. Jacqueline Tong
Mr Kemp …. Keith Drinkel
Tessa Mitchell …. Deirdre Costello
Mary …. Jill Lidstone
Writer Robert Barr is well remembered for his work on BBC TV's 'Z-Cars' and 'Softly Softly'.
Producer: Martin Fisher
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 1982.
TUE 06:30 The Left-Handed Sleeper (m000pxmc)
2. Death in West Hampstead
British Intelligence inform Christine Ritchie that they have been following her husband, MP Mark Ritchie, because they suspect him of being a Soviet spy.
Ritchie's loyal secretary Marian Brown shares a flat in London and feels Mark has let her down.
Stars Richard Pasco and Annette Crosbie.
Spy thriller serial featuring its author Ted Willis.
Curly …. Alex Jennings
Bedayev …. Andrew Sachs
Christine Ritchie …. Annette Crosbie
Det Chief Supt Dell …. David Daker
Willie …. Jim Reid
Patrick Cadwall …. Richard Pasco
Marian Brown …. Thelma Whiteley
Nurse …. Theresa Streatfield
Letitis …. Wendy Murray
Narrator …. Ted Willis
Director: Christopher Venning
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in November 1982.
TUE 07:00 Maigret (m0001qvb)
A Maigret Christmas
2. Floorboards
On Christmas Day, as the snow begins to fall in Paris, Inspector Maigret receives two unexpected visitors.
A young girl claims to have seen Father Christmas in her room, behaving strangely and cutting a hole in the floor. He agrees to investigate.
Sir Derek Jacobi continues a classic Inspector Maigret mystery by Georges Simenon.
Translated by David Coward.
Abridged by Lauris Morgan-Griffiths.
Producer: Mair Bosworth
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in December 2018.
TUE 07:15 HighLites - Split Ends (b03jznq9)
Episode 2
Bev's plans to muscle in on the arrangements for Theresa and Nigel's wedding are moving forward. But whether Lois, the wedding planner, is delighted with this prospect is another matter.
Bev ...... Lorraine Ashbourne
Shirley ...... Rosie Cavaliero
Lois ...... Stephanie Racine
Ronnie ..... Michael Bertenshaw
by Steve Chambers and Phil Nodding
Produced by Jessica Dromgoole and directed by Colin Guthrie.
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in December 2013.
TUE 07:30 Ed Reardon's Week (b01g61vw)
Series 8
It's a Nude Nude Nude Nude World
Jaz Milvain asks Ed to curate a moving tribute to him and his work in film for the 'surprise' party that he's organising for his 60th birthday. Whilst Ed relishes the idea of a comedy 'roast' Jaz is looking for something more akin to a light sauté.
So it is that Ed tracks down Jaz's first masterwork, 'It's a Nude Nude Nude Nude World' to form the cornerstone of the tribute, not knowing that Fiona did a few day's work on it.
The comical world of an author, pipe smoker, consummate fare-dodger and master of the abusive e-mail.
Starring Christopher Douglas.
Written by Christopher Douglas and Andrew Nickolds.
Ed Reardon ...... Christopher Douglas
Jaz ...... Philip Jackson
Olive ...... Stephanie Cole
Pearl ...... Rita May
Ping ...... Barunka O'Shaughnessy
Frank ...... Simon Greenall
Stan ...... Geoffrey Whitehead
Walter ...... Martin Hyder
Posh Woman ...... Sally Grace
Cliff ...... Geoff McGivern
Fiona ...... Jenny Agutter
Producer: Dawn Ellis
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in April 2012.
TUE 08:00 The Goon Show (b007jl4y)
Operation Christmas Duff
In light of a festive pudding shortage for forces overseas, Neddie Seagoon takes action. Soon Richard Dimbleby is reporting on the giant Christmas pudding being mixed at dry dock in Chatham.
Groundbreaking, surreal BBC radio comedy written by Spike Milligan and Larry Stephens.
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 Wally Stott.
Announcer: Wallace Greenslade
Producer: Pat Dixon
Made for the BBC General Overseas Service and first broadcast to troops in 1956.
First UK broadcast was Christmas Day 1986 on BBC Radio 4.
TUE 08:30 In the Balance (b007k2gf)
Episode 6
Against the backdrop of an England-Germany World Cup final, the prime minister struggles to survive and lead his party into the imminent general election.
Can maverick BBC reporter George Cragge unmask the serial killer?
Mark Tavener's six-part sequel to his comedy thriller 'In the Red' set in the world of football, the BBC and party politics.
George Cragge …… Michael Williams
Superintendent Jefferson …… Barry Foster
Prime Minister …… Jeremy Clyde
John Matthews …… Jim Carter
Crispin Trent …… Robert Bathurst
With:
Tracy Ann Oberman
Peter Woodthorpe
Susie Brann
Christian Rodska
Ioan Meredith
Shirley Dixon
Dave Lamb
Joanna Monro
Alex Lowe
Christopher Scott
Alice Arnold
Music by Paul Mottram
Producer: Paul Schlesinger
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in March 1997.
TUE 09:00 Who Goes There? (b00kmtcf)
Series 2
Episode 3
Martin Young chairs the quiz looking at lives of the noteworthy and notorious from the history books.
Tackling the biographical teasers are team captains Francis Wheen and Fred Housego with guests Carmen Callil and Victoria Glendinning.
Producer: Aled Evans
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in July1998.
TUE 09:30 No Commitments (b007jnzl)
Series 7
Reflected Glory
With Charlotte's celebrity status rising, sister Victoria plans to deflate her ego.
Simon Brett’s sitcom about the lives and squabbles of three very different sisters.
Anna …. Rosemary Leach
Charlotte …. Celia Imrie
Victoria …. Angela Thorne
Roger …. Bill Nighy
Emily …. Lisa Coleman
Music by Elizabeth Parker of the BBC Radiophonic Workshop.
Producer: Maria Esposito
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in February 2001.
TUE 10:00 Hugh Walpole - Rogue Herries (b007k1nq)
[Repeat of broadcast at
05:00 today]
TUE 11:00 Detective (b04g1xxz)
[Repeat of broadcast at
06:00 today]
TUE 11:30 The Left-Handed Sleeper (m000pxmc)
[Repeat of broadcast at
06:30 today]
TUE 12:00 Maigret (m0001qvb)
[Repeat of broadcast at
07:00 today]
TUE 12:15 HighLites - Split Ends (b03jznq9)
[Repeat of broadcast at
07:15 today]
TUE 12:30 Ed Reardon's Week (b01g61vw)
[Repeat of broadcast at
07:30 today]
TUE 13:00 The Goon Show (b007jl4y)
[Repeat of broadcast at
08:00 today]
TUE 13:30 In the Balance (b007k2gf)
[Repeat of broadcast at
08:30 today]
TUE 14:00 Who Goes There? (b00kmtcf)
[Repeat of broadcast at
09:00 today]
TUE 14:30 No Commitments (b007jnzl)
[Repeat of broadcast at
09:30 today]
TUE 15:00 Hugh Walpole - Rogue Herries (b007k1nq)
[Repeat of broadcast at
05:00 today]
TUE 16:00 Detective (b04g1xxz)
[Repeat of broadcast at
06:00 today]
TUE 16:30 The Left-Handed Sleeper (m000pxmc)
[Repeat of broadcast at
06:30 today]
TUE 17:00 Maigret (m0001qvb)
[Repeat of broadcast at
07:00 today]
TUE 17:15 HighLites - Split Ends (b03jznq9)
[Repeat of broadcast at
07:15 today]
TUE 17:30 Ed Reardon's Week (b01g61vw)
[Repeat of broadcast at
07:30 today]
TUE 18:00 The Goon Show (b007jl4y)
[Repeat of broadcast at
08:00 today]
TUE 18:30 In the Balance (b007k2gf)
[Repeat of broadcast at
08:30 today]
TUE 19:00 Who Goes There? (b00kmtcf)
[Repeat of broadcast at
09:00 today]
TUE 19:30 No Commitments (b007jnzl)
[Repeat of broadcast at
09:30 today]
TUE 20:00 TED Radio Hour (m000x759)
Series 8
Pure Joy
A journey through fascinating ideas based on talks by riveting speakers on the TED (Technology, Entertainment, Design) stage.
Manoush Zomorodi explores why, now more than ever, we need to make time for joy – with talks that surprise, inspire and delight.
First broadcast in the USA on National Public Radio in 2020.
TUE 20:50 Inheritance Tracks (m001g93s)
Dan Walker
Broadcaster Dan Walker chooses the 'Grandstand' theme tune by Keith Mansfield, and 'Heartache Tonight' by the Eagles.
TUE 21:00 The Film We Can't See (m001gc6w)
2. Three Bent Bodies in a Bar One Night
Adam goes deeper into the Rio Cinema archives with researcher So Mayer. They find more work by the pioneering filmmaker Sergei Eisenstein, the sexologist Magnus Hirschfeld and the extraordinary actor Louise Brooks. Perhaps they were trying to make a radical film together, in 1930?
With help from the historian Jana Funke, Adam learns more about Hirschfeld’s exciting ideas on sex, sexuality and gender. Visiting Aleks Kolkowski in his music room again, he begins to try to date the sound discs. And actor Anton Blake Horowitz helps to reanimate Eisenstein and even his own performing spirit.
As Adam immerses himself more and more into the world of cinema in 1930, he begins to fear that the imagined film never got made due to the rise in fascism. Many films showing queer bodies and expansive ways of living were made in the 1920s and 30s but so many of them were burnt and lost...
Credits
Written, produced and edited by Adam Zmith
With story by So Mayer and Adam Zmith
Starring Anton Blake Horowitz
Music by Courtney Pine
Solo fiddle by Eduardo Lees
Assistant Producers - Tash Walker and Shivani Dave
Researcher - So Mayer
Audio consultant - David Pye
Artwork by Danny Crossley
Production Mentors - Caroline Steel and Andy King
Executive Producers - Khaliq Meer and Leanne Alie
Commissioned for BBC Sounds Audio Lab by Khaliq Meer
Thanks to
Aleks Kolkowski
Jana Funke at the University of Exeter
Andrew Woodyatt and everyone at the Rio Cinema
Peninsula Press
The BFI and the BFI National Archive
Axel Kacoutié
Nikki Meadows
This episode contains the following audio:
Clip of Nazis burning books in 1933 courtesy of British Pathé
TUE 21:50 Witness History (m000z6k3)
Cirque du Soleil
The global circus phenomenon Cirque du Soleil was born in 1984
It began when a group of street performers in Quebec bought a big top tent and went on tour.
Lucy Burns speaks to Cirque du Soleil co-founder Gilles Ste-Croix, who walked 56 miles on stilts to raise money for the show.
First broadcast on the BBC World Service in 2019.
TUE 22:00 Hennikay (m001g35x)
Series 1
Going Home
Bill Bailey stars as Guy Starling, a middle-aged man who, after 45 years, and for reasons quite unknown to him, is suddenly revisited by his imaginary childhood friend, Hennikay.
Things have come to a head for Guy. He has lost his job, he’s running out of money and, most worrying of all, his 11-year-old imaginary friend, Hennikay, is still a very permanent – and annoying – fixture in his life. No matter how hard he tries to persuade him that he doesn’t exist, he just can’t get him to leave.
And so in a last-ditch attempt to understand why his old friend has returned from his childhood and just what he wants, Guy decides to go back home to where it all started and see his Mum – who unfortunately for him, is not imaginary.
Over the years Guy has found that trips back to his boyhood home never go smoothly, but this one becomes spectacularly rocky. As mother and son share some uncomfortable home truths, family skeletons are dragged out of cupboards and Guy gets stuck in a bush.
As always, Hennikay is there to save the day and this time in the most unexpected way. Because, as he tells Guy, just because he’s imaginary, doesn’t mean he’s not real.
Cast:
Guy – Bill Bailey
Tony – Dave Lamb
Marika – Elizabeth Carling
Sheila - Miranda Richardson
Hennikay – Max Pattison
Written by David Spicer
Producer: Liz Anstee
A CPL production for BBC Radio 4
TUE 22:30 Start/Stop (b04vdlp8)
Series 2
Christmas
Hit comedy about three marriages in various states of disrepair.
This week the three couples are inevitably preparing for Christmas, with all the bitterness and twistedness this time of year brings. Offensive presents. Boastful Christmas cards. And sledging accidents. What more could you possibly ask for?
Barney.... Jack Docherty
Cathy ..... Kerry Godliman
Fiona ..... Fiona Allen
Evan ..... John Thomson
David ..... Charlie Higson
Alice ..... Sally Bretton
Producer: Claire Jones
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in December 2014.
TUE 23:00 My Teenage Diary (m000j812)
Series 9
Olly Mann
Rufus Hound with another series of honest, intimate and hilarious interviews, with famous guests reading from their genuine teenage diaries.
In this episode, Rufus talks to the comedian Shazia Mirza about podcaster Olly Mann about his teenage diaries, and finds out about boarding school life, Olly's Bar Mitzvah, and his love of the Australian soap Neighbours.
Producer: Harriet Jaine
A Talkback production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in May 2020.
TUE 23:30 Children's Hour with Armstrong and Miller (b00933zr)
Episode 4
Martin Bain-Jones is left in the studio, while Craig Children's got a dubious new job.
Ben Miller and Alexander Armstrong star as the pompous critics.
With:
Charlie Condou
Melissa Lloyd
Tony Gardner
Written by Ben Miller and Alexander Armstrong.
Producer: Jon Rolph
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in December 1998.
WEDNESDAY 21 DECEMBER 2022
WED 00:00 Hugh Walpole - Rogue Herries (b007k1nq)
[Repeat of broadcast at
05:00 on Tuesday]
WED 01:00 Detective (b04g1xxz)
[Repeat of broadcast at
06:00 on Tuesday]
WED 01:30 The Left-Handed Sleeper (m000pxmc)
[Repeat of broadcast at
06:30 on Tuesday]
WED 02:00 Maigret (m0001qvb)
[Repeat of broadcast at
07:00 on Tuesday]
WED 02:15 HighLites - Split Ends (b03jznq9)
[Repeat of broadcast at
07:15 on Tuesday]
WED 02:30 Ed Reardon's Week (b01g61vw)
[Repeat of broadcast at
07:30 on Tuesday]
WED 03:00 The Goon Show (b007jl4y)
[Repeat of broadcast at
08:00 on Tuesday]
WED 03:30 In the Balance (b007k2gf)
[Repeat of broadcast at
08:30 on Tuesday]
WED 04:00 Who Goes There? (b00kmtcf)
[Repeat of broadcast at
09:00 on Tuesday]
WED 04:30 No Commitments (b007jnzl)
[Repeat of broadcast at
09:30 on Tuesday]
WED 05:00 Hugh Walpole - Rogue Herries (b007k1pw)
3. The Wild Marriage
It is now 1756 and David is prospering. But Francis roams the fells searching for something he can never find.
Stars Gavin Muir, Mark Bonnar and Jane Whittenshaw.
Hugh Walpole's historical novel dramatised by Eric Pringle.
Francis ... Gavin Muir
David ... Mark Bonnar
Deborah ... Jane Whittenshaw
Mirabell ... Deborah Berlin
Pomfret ... Stephen Thorne
Sunwood/Bann ... Christopher Scott
Denburn ... Keith Drinkel
Sarah .... Becky Hindley
Other parts played by Hugh Dickson, Carolyn Jones, Ioan Meredith, Chris Pavlo and Alison Pettitt
Director: David Blount
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in May 1997.
WED 06:00 Detective (b04g3npg)
Series 2
8. The Placer
Warehouses and stolen goods pre-occupy Detective Sergeant Dave Brook and DC Maxton. Just as the Kemp trail has gone cold, there's a fresh lead.
Stories of crime and detection in London by Robert Barr.
CAST:
DS Dave Brook …. Ray Brooks
DC Blair Maxton …. Christopher Blake
Chief Inspector Roach …. Stephen Yardley
DC Harrison …. Peter Cleall
Fred Rees …. Philip Talbot
Roy Howard …. Tony Steedman
George …. Spencer Banks
Writer Robert Barr is well remembered for his work on BBC TV's 'Z-Cars' and 'Softly Softly'.
Producer: Martin Fisher
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 1982.
WED 06:30 The Left-Handed Sleeper (m000py8h)
3. The Executioner
MP Mark Ritchie has fled to Tangier with both MI5 and the KGB on his tail. His secretary has been killed by his exploding suitcase.
His wife, Christine, is in a 'safe house'. But there's mystery over the whereabouts of his secretary's flatmate.
Stars Richard Pasco and Annette Crosbie.
Spy thriller serial featuring its author Ted Willis.
Joseph Gaul …. Allan Cuthbertson
Badayev …. Andrew Sachs
Christine Ritchie …. Annette Crosbie
Newscaster / Driver …. Astley Jones
Set Chief Supt Dell …. David Daker
Coombes …. Hugh Dickson
Irvine …. James Kerry
Operator / Secretary …. Madi Hedd
Willie …. Jim Reid
Patrick Cadwall …. Richard Pasco
Ray Markham / Det Sergeant Gunn …. Simon Hewitt
Marian Brown …. Thelma Whiteley
Letitia …. Wendy Murray
Narrator …. Ted Willis
Director: Christopher Venning
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in November 1982.
WED 07:00 Maigret (m0001r80)
A Maigret Christmas
3. Paris
On Christmas Day, as the snow begins to fall in Paris, Inspector Maigret receives two unexpected visitors.
A young girl claims to have seen Father Christmas in her room, behaving strangely and cutting a hole in the floor. He agrees to investigate.
Maigret and his colleagues trace his chief suspect's movements across Paris on Christmas morning.
Sir Derek Jacobi continues a classic Inspector Maigret mystery by Georges Simenon.
Translated by David Coward.
Abridged by Lauris Morgan-Griffiths.
Producer: Mair Bosworth
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in December 2018.
WED 07:15 HighLites - Split Ends (b03k0xj6)
3. Obstacle
Highlites hairdressing salon looks to be expanding its business. But Bev's plans to muscle in on the arrangements for Theresa and Nigel's wedding hit a considerable obstacle.
Bev ...... Lorraine Ashbourne
Shirley ...... Rosie Cavaliero
Liz ...... Christine Absalom
Ronnie ...... Michael Bertenshaw
by Steve Chambers and Phil Nodding.
Produced by Jessica Dromgoole and directed by Colin Guthrie.
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in December 2013.
WED 07:30 Relativity (m000222b)
Series 2
Episode 3
Ian and Chloe’s wedding day is a typically chaotic, argumentative, loving affair. Ken eats the lip balm and Chloe’s estranged parents test Ken and Margaret’s patience.
Drawing on his own family, Richard Herring’s comedy drama, builds on the warm, lively characters and family dynamics of the first series.
His affectionate observation of inter-generational misunderstanding, sibling sparring and the ties that bind will resonate with anyone who has ever argued with their dad about who the current Pope is.
Amid the comedy, Richard broaches some more serious highs and lows of family life.
Margaret …… Alison Steadman
Ken …… Phil Davis
Jane/Lorelei …… Fenella Woolgar
Clive …… Tony Gardner
Ian …… Richard Herring
Chloe …… Emily Berrington
Pete …… Gordon Kennedy
Holly …… Tia Bannon
Mark …… Fred Haig
Nick …… Harrison Knights
Registrar …… Danny Kirrane
Writer Richard Herring is a comedian, writer, blogger and podcaster and the world's premier semi-professional self-playing snooker player.
Produced by Polly Thomas
Executive Producers: Jon Thoday and Richard Allen Turner
An Avalon Television production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in January 2019.
WED 08:00 Hancock's Half Hour (b007jqps)
Series 4
Hancock's Happy Christmas
The festive spirit is in short supply at 23 Railway Cuttings. Then the vicar arrives...
Starring Tony Hancock.
With Bill Kerr, Sidney James, Hattie Jacques and Kenneth Williams.
Children: Michael Anderson and Dorothy Marks.
Written by Ray Galton and Alan Simpson.
Theme and incidental music composed and conducted by Wally Stott.
Producer: Dennis Main Wilson
First broadcast on the BBC Light Programme in December 1956.
WED 08:30 Life, Death and Sex with Mike and Sue (b007jpzv)
Series 1
Teenagers
Radio's sofa-bound daytime presenter duo look at dealing with teenagers and rising crime.
Bill Dare's sitcom starring Robert Duncan as Mike and Julia Hills as Sue.
With Debbie Isitt, Roger Blake, Mark Kilmurry and Dan Strauss.
Music by Mark Burton.
Producer: Pete Sinclair
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in May 1996.
WED 09:00 The Write Stuff (b00v72ft)
Series 14
Tennessee Williams
James Walton takes the chair for the game of literary correctness.
Team captains John Walsh and Sebastian Faulks, are joined byMark Billingham and Francesca Simon.
Author of the week and subject for pastiche is Tennessee Williams - the panel have to imagine what Williams' plays might be like if he had set them, not in the American Deep South, but in the British Home Counties.
Reader: Beth Chalmers
Producer: Sam Michell
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in October 2010.
WED 09:30 Trevor's World of Sport (b00mv1sv)
Series 2
Episode 5
The sports agent tries persuading a veteran rugby player with cauliflower ears to quit.
Stars Neil Pearson.
Andy Hamilton's comedy about an honourable sports agent in a dishonourable world.
Trevor …. Neil Pearson
Meryl.........Claire Skinner
Sammy …. Paul Reynolds
Ralph …. Michael Fenton Stevens
Theresa …. Rosalind Ayres
Heidrun …. Cosima Shaw
Barry …. Abdul Salis
With Trevor Cooper
Written and produced by Andy Hamilton
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in December 2005.
WED 10:00 Hugh Walpole - Rogue Herries (b007k1pw)
[Repeat of broadcast at
05:00 today]
WED 11:00 Detective (b04g3npg)
[Repeat of broadcast at
06:00 today]
WED 11:30 The Left-Handed Sleeper (m000py8h)
[Repeat of broadcast at
06:30 today]
WED 12:00 Maigret (m0001r80)
[Repeat of broadcast at
07:00 today]
WED 12:15 HighLites - Split Ends (b03k0xj6)
[Repeat of broadcast at
07:15 today]
WED 12:30 Relativity (m000222b)
[Repeat of broadcast at
07:30 today]
WED 13:00 Hancock's Half Hour (b007jqps)
[Repeat of broadcast at
08:00 today]
WED 13:30 Life, Death and Sex with Mike and Sue (b007jpzv)
[Repeat of broadcast at
08:30 today]
WED 14:00 The Write Stuff (b00v72ft)
[Repeat of broadcast at
09:00 today]
WED 14:30 Trevor's World of Sport (b00mv1sv)
[Repeat of broadcast at
09:30 today]
WED 15:00 Hugh Walpole - Rogue Herries (b007k1pw)
[Repeat of broadcast at
05:00 today]
WED 16:00 Detective (b04g3npg)
[Repeat of broadcast at
06:00 today]
WED 16:30 The Left-Handed Sleeper (m000py8h)
[Repeat of broadcast at
06:30 today]
WED 17:00 Maigret (m0001r80)
[Repeat of broadcast at
07:00 today]
WED 17:15 HighLites - Split Ends (b03k0xj6)
[Repeat of broadcast at
07:15 today]
WED 17:30 Relativity (m000222b)
[Repeat of broadcast at
07:30 today]
WED 18:00 Hancock's Half Hour (b007jqps)
[Repeat of broadcast at
08:00 today]
WED 18:30 Life, Death and Sex with Mike and Sue (b007jpzv)
[Repeat of broadcast at
08:30 today]
WED 19:00 The Write Stuff (b00v72ft)
[Repeat of broadcast at
09:00 today]
WED 19:30 Trevor's World of Sport (b00mv1sv)
[Repeat of broadcast at
09:30 today]
WED 20:00 Archive on 4 (m0001pk3)
How Santa Claus Stole Christmas
Cultural historian and writer Christopher Frayling explores how Hollywood movies helped to create the modern global Christmas.
If Dickens' A Christmas Carol invented the Victorian Christmas of family, good works and good cheer, Hollywood has created its modern counterpoint - Santa Claus, elaborate presents, hummable tunes, consumer satisfaction and family tensions and reconciliations.
From Holiday Inn and Miracle On 34th Street to It's A Wonderful Life and White Christmas, Christmas movies are designed to create a warm glow in the audience. They have helped turn Christmas into a global event, spread across cultures and religions, and rebranded for the age of mass consumption.
In the process, the meaning of Christmas has become comprehensively Americanised - complete with the ubiquitous iconography of Santa Claus, red-nosed reindeer, red costumes trimmed with white and shopping to the sound of piped seasonal muzak. A cultural critic said recently that Santa Claus is to American material faith what Jesus Christ is to the spiritual.
Christopher Frayling dives into the BBC archive to discover how this happened and why - with the help of filmmakers, advertisers and historians, as well as comedians, commentators and religious figures.
Interviewees:
Joe Dante, film director
Judith Flanders, historian and author
Sir John Hegarty, advertising executive
Karen Krizanovich, broadcaster and writer
Kim Newman, critic and horror writer
Producer: Jane Long
A Hidden Flack production for BBC Radio 4
WED 21:00 The Film We Can't See (m001gc8f)
3. Sexual Hate And Other Mysteries
Adam travels back in time to Weimar era Berlin, when the American actor Louise Brooks danced through the experimental cinema scene with her sexual chaos in films like Pandora’s Box. Film writer Pamela Hutchinson explains why Brooks was so unique, and why her power endures even though her films were censored and lost. As Louise blew through Berlin, Magnus Hirschfeld was giving controversial lectures about sex and sexuality.
With the help of historian Jana Funke and sound expert Aleks Kolkowski, Adam learns more about what this setting might mean for the film conjured up by the rediscovered sound recordings. How are our decisions driven by the sex we want? Could a film in 1930 have been ready to explore that?
Credits
Written, produced and edited by Adam Zmith
With story by So Mayer and Adam Zmith
Starring Anton Blake Horowitz
Featuring voice work by Michael Golab
Music by Courtney Pine
Assistant Producers - Tash Walker and Shivani Dave
Researcher - So Mayer
Audio consultant - David Pye
Artwork by Danny Crossley
Production Mentors - Caroline Steel and Andy King
Executive Producers - Khaliq Meer and Leanne Alie
Commissioned for BBC Sounds Audio Lab by Khaliq Meer
This episode contains audio from:
Clip from Pandora’s Box courtesy of Praesens Film
Sound effects from BBC
And quotes from
Lulu in Hollywood by Louise Brooks, University of Minnesota Press, 1982
Thanks to
Aleks Kolkowski
Pamela Hutchinson
Andrew Woodyatt and everyone at the Rio Cinema
Peninsula Press
The BFI and the BFI National Archive
Axel Kacoutié
Nikki Meadows
Freya Anderton
WED 21:50 Witness History (m001g9tq)
Apollo 13
The 1970 Moon mission that almost ended in tragedy after an explosion on board the spaceship. Fred Haise was one of the Apollo 13 astronauts.
In 2010 he spoke to Richard Howells about how they managed to get back to Earth despite the odds.
First broadcast on the BBC World Service in 2019.
WED 22:00 Gossip and Goddesses with Granny Kumar (m001g32n)
Series 2
Episode 4
Granny Kumar is back. After a very successful first series Meera Syal’s glorious comedy creation returns, with her great granddaughter Maya (Ambreen Razia) and arch nemesis “frenemy” Geeta (Harvey Virdi), to chat with the sisters.
"This entertaining anecdote-packed show... creating a party vibe that brings out the best in her female guests." The Observer
"It treads a fine line between the earnest and the rip-roaringly funny... It's the intimacy that makes it" Radio Times
Ummi Kumar gathers together her favourite extraordinary women at Wembley Community Centre, aided by her millennial great granddaughter Maya and her arch nemesis “frenemy” Geeta, leader of the local Asian Ladies Silver Bats community group.
The show is a women-only party, where they share stories, laugh loads and chew the fat/dish the dirt/eat the laddoos… A blend of sitcom, silliness and improvised chat, led by the best kind of interviewers who know how to make anyone talk - two really nosey old Indian women.
This series, we’ll be inspired and entertained by:
Episode 1: Casualty and Ackley Bridge star Sunetra Sarker, and BBC Breakfast presenter and journalist Naga Munchetty
Episode 2: Multi-Olivier-Award winning actress Sharon D Clark, and stand-up comedian Shazia Mirza
Episode 3: Playwright and novelist Bonnie Greer, and We Are Lady Parts breakout star Anjana Vasan
Episode 4: Vigil and Sarah Jane Adventures star Anjli Mohindra, and musician and presenter Myleene Klass
Cast:
Ummi Kumar – Meera Syal
Geeta Bhandari – Harvey Virdi
Maya Kumar – Ambreen Razia
Written by Meera Syal
Music by Sanjeev Bhaskar
Producer: Liz Anstee
A CPL production, licensed by Hat Trick Productions, for BBC Radio 4
WED 22:30 And Now in Colour (b007jqrx)
Christmas Special
It's party time for the sketch show team - with dried fish, advocaat and the local constabulary. Stars Tim Firth and Tim de Jongh. From December 1990.
Precision comedy written and performed by:
Tim Firth
Tim de Jongh
Michael Rutger
William Vandyck
Producer: Lissa Evans
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in December 1990.
WED 22:55 The Comedy Club Interviews (m001gv14)
Pierre Novellie 2/3
From
10pm until midnight, seven days a week, The Comedy Club has two hours of comedy. And tonight, Rob Deering talks to Pierre Novellie.
WED 23:00 The Million Pound Radio Show (m001g9v0)
Series 5
Episode 3
Logical problems on Desert Island Discs and movie scene niggles.
Sharp-edged topical humour in the most expensive show on radio.
Written by and starring Andy Hamilton and Nick Revell
With:
Jasper Jacob
Felicity Montagu
Producer: Paul Mayhew-Archer
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in August 1991.
WED 23:30 Radio 9 (b0419ml6)
Series 1
Episode 3
"The 'accidentalist' movement in art explained plus sponsored surgery.
Delve into the recesses of a twisted comedy brain.
Written and performed by Johnny Daukes and Hils Barker.
With Sarah Walton, John Stevenson, Stefan Frank, Janice Vee, Matt Wilkinson and Michelle Gomez.
Producers: Johnny Daukes and Katie Marsden
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in November 2003.
THURSDAY 22 DECEMBER 2022
THU 00:00 Hugh Walpole - Rogue Herries (b007k1pw)
[Repeat of broadcast at
05:00 on Wednesday]
THU 01:00 Detective (b04g3npg)
[Repeat of broadcast at
06:00 on Wednesday]
THU 01:30 The Left-Handed Sleeper (m000py8h)
[Repeat of broadcast at
06:30 on Wednesday]
THU 02:00 Maigret (m0001r80)
[Repeat of broadcast at
07:00 on Wednesday]
THU 02:15 HighLites - Split Ends (b03k0xj6)
[Repeat of broadcast at
07:15 on Wednesday]
THU 02:30 Relativity (m000222b)
[Repeat of broadcast at
07:30 on Wednesday]
THU 03:00 Hancock's Half Hour (b007jqps)
[Repeat of broadcast at
08:00 on Wednesday]
THU 03:30 Life, Death and Sex with Mike and Sue (b007jpzv)
[Repeat of broadcast at
08:30 on Wednesday]
THU 04:00 The Write Stuff (b00v72ft)
[Repeat of broadcast at
09:00 on Wednesday]
THU 04:30 Trevor's World of Sport (b00mv1sv)
[Repeat of broadcast at
09:30 on Wednesday]
THU 05:00 Hugh Walpole - Rogue Herries (b007k1r3)
4. A Great Age to Be Beginning
Trapped at Herries with a man she cannot love, Mirabell yearns to be free...
Stars Gavin Muir, Mark Bonnar and Deborah Berlin.
Conclusion of Hugh Walpole's historical novel dramatised by Eric Pringle.
Francis .... Gavin Muir
David ... Mark Bonnar
Mirabell ... Deborah Berlin
Deborah ... Jane Whittenshaw
Sarah ... Becky Hindley
Benjamin ... Chris Pavlo
Reverend ... Christopher Scott
Harness ... Gerard McDermott
Other parts played by Stephen Thorne, Linda Polan, Katie Clarke, Joseph Head, Carolyn Jones and George Maguire
Director David Blount
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in May 1997.
THU 06:00 Detective (b04g3vpn)
Series 2
9. Death in a Lonely Place
In the wake of their discovery, DS Brook and DC Maxton collect together everything they've learned, and talk to Kemp.
Stories of crime and detection in London by Robert Barr.
CAST:
DS Brook …. Ray Brooks
DC Blair Maxton …. Christopher Blake
Chief Inspector Roach …. Stephen Yardley
Mott …. Garard Green
Sergeant Lindsey …. Haydn Wood
Mr Kemp …. Keith Drinkel
Writer Robert Barr is well remembered for his work on BBC TV's 'Z-Cars' and 'Softly Softly'.
Producer: Martin Fisher
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 1982.
THU 06:30 The Left-Handed Sleeper (m000q13v)
4. Reunion in Tangier
The disgraced MP Mark Ritchie has fled to a hotel in Tangier. Back in England, friends and foes are making plans to follow him there.
Stars Christopher Scoular, Richard Pasco and Annette Crosbie.
Spy thriller serial featuring its author Ted Willis.
Hotel Clerk / Sweeney …. Alex Jennings
Badayev …. Andrew Sachs
Christine Ritchie …. Annette Crosbie
David Hume …. Barry Dennen
Mark Ritchie …. Christopher Scoular
David Hume …. Eric Lander
Shirley Graham …. Frances Jeater
Coombes …. Hugh Dickson
Patrick Cadwall …. Richard Pasco
Jules …. Simon Hewitt
Narrator …. Ted Willis
Director: Christopher Venning
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in December 1982.
THU 07:00 Maigret (m0001rmh)
A Maigret Christmas
4. Key Sightings
On Christmas Day, as the snow begins to fall in Paris, Inspector Maigret receives two unexpected visitors. A young girl claims to have seen Father Christmas in her room, behaving strangely and cutting a hole in the floor. He agrees to investigate.
Some key witnesses are tracked down to help unravel the mystery of the Christmas Eve intruder.
Sir Derek Jacobi continues a classic Inspector Maigret mystery by Georges Simenon.
Translated by David Coward.
Abridged by Lauris Morgan-Griffiths.
Producer: Mair Bosworth
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in December 2018.
THU 07:15 HighLites - Split Ends (m001g9t7)
4. Clash
With the wedding just two days awa,y Harriet, the vicar, pops in for a trim. It looks as if she and Bev have very different ideas about the service.
Bev ...... Lorraine Ashbourne
Shirley ...... Rosie Cavaliero
Harriet ...... Carolyn Pickles
Butt ...... Sean Murray
by Steve Chambers and Phil Nodding
Produced by Jessica Dromgoole and directed by Colin Guthrie.
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in December 2013.
THU 07:30 The Tim Vine Chat Show (m0001qw7)
Christmas Special 2018
Tim Vine hears the Christmas stories of the British public.
And he offers up a sack full of seasonal one-liners, definitely not traditional songs and fiendishly silly seasonal games.
Featuring a seasonal lawn-mowing song and a man who lost his Christmas dinner.
Producer: Richard Morris
A BBC Studios production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in December 2018.
THU 08:00 The Small, Intricate Life of Gerald C Potter (b00wt7n3)
Christmas Special
The Cousin
Gerald and Diana must prepare for a last-minute festive visitor.
A Christmas Chapter in the convoluted chronicle of an optimistic author,
Starring Ian Carmichael as Gerald C Potter and Charlotte Mitchell as his wife, Diana.
With Michael McClain.
Written by Basil Boothroyd.
Producer: Bobby Jaye
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in December 1977.
THU 08:30 The Older Woman (b03bsg2p)
Series 2
Episode 6
After his TV documentary, Roy Hitchcock has, at last, achieved recognition, but at what price?
Reputations and relationships are put on the line and some extreme weather conditions seem to be contributing towards an ending of apocalyptic proportions.
The final episode of Tony Bagley’s romantic comedy drama serial mixing fantasy with reality.
CAST:
Roy Hitchcock …. Martin Clunes
Jane Gallaghan …. Geraldine James
Chad Mann …. Nicky Henson
Colin …. David Troughton
Mrs Churchill …. Rebecca Front
Marina …. Tilly Vosburgh
Other parts played by Alistair McGowan, Melanie Hudson, Peter Serafinowicz and Paul Panting
Producer: Paul Schlesinger
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in September 1994.
THU 09:00 The Unbelievable Truth (m00047tp)
Series 22
Episode 3
David Mitchell hosts the panel game in which four comedians are encouraged to tell lies and compete against one another to see how many items of truth they're able to smuggle past their opponents.
Lou Sanders, Frankie Boyle, Henning Wehn and Lucy Porter are the panellists obliged to talk with deliberate inaccuracy on subjects as varied as Germany, babies, trousers and beards.
Produced by Jon Naismith
A Random Entertainment production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in April 2019.
THU 09:30 Clare in the Community (b008xg02)
Series 4
My Funny Valentine
Brian is amazed that Clare’s remembered Valentine's Day and booked a restaurant.
The only trouble is... she hasn't.
Comedy by Harry Venning and David Ramsden. Clare Barker is a social worker with all the politically correct jargon but none of the practical solutions.
CAST:
Clare .... Sally Phillips
Brian .... Alex Lowe
Ray .... Richard Lumsden
Helen .... Gemma Craven
Irene .... Ellen Thomas
Megan .... Nina Conti
Simon .... Andrew Wincott
with Ben Onwukwe and Sam Pamphilon.
Producer: Katie Tyrrell
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in February 2008.
THU 10:00 Hugh Walpole - Rogue Herries (b007k1r3)
[Repeat of broadcast at
05:00 today]
THU 11:00 Detective (b04g3vpn)
[Repeat of broadcast at
06:00 today]
THU 11:30 The Left-Handed Sleeper (m000q13v)
[Repeat of broadcast at
06:30 today]
THU 12:00 Maigret (m0001rmh)
[Repeat of broadcast at
07:00 today]
THU 12:15 HighLites - Split Ends (m001g9t7)
[Repeat of broadcast at
07:15 today]
THU 12:30 The Tim Vine Chat Show (m0001qw7)
[Repeat of broadcast at
07:30 today]
THU 13:00 The Small, Intricate Life of Gerald C Potter (b00wt7n3)
[Repeat of broadcast at
08:00 today]
THU 13:30 The Older Woman (b03bsg2p)
[Repeat of broadcast at
08:30 today]
THU 14:00 The Unbelievable Truth (m00047tp)
[Repeat of broadcast at
09:00 today]
THU 14:30 Clare in the Community (b008xg02)
[Repeat of broadcast at
09:30 today]
THU 15:00 Hugh Walpole - Rogue Herries (b007k1r3)
[Repeat of broadcast at
05:00 today]
THU 16:00 Detective (b04g3vpn)
[Repeat of broadcast at
06:00 today]
THU 16:30 The Left-Handed Sleeper (m000q13v)
[Repeat of broadcast at
06:30 today]
THU 17:00 Maigret (m0001rmh)
[Repeat of broadcast at
07:00 today]
THU 17:15 HighLites - Split Ends (m001g9t7)
[Repeat of broadcast at
07:15 today]
THU 17:30 The Tim Vine Chat Show (m0001qw7)
[Repeat of broadcast at
07:30 today]
THU 18:00 The Small, Intricate Life of Gerald C Potter (b00wt7n3)
[Repeat of broadcast at
08:00 today]
THU 18:30 The Older Woman (b03bsg2p)
[Repeat of broadcast at
08:30 today]
THU 19:00 The Unbelievable Truth (m00047tp)
[Repeat of broadcast at
09:00 today]
THU 19:30 Clare in the Community (b008xg02)
[Repeat of broadcast at
09:30 today]
THU 20:00 Sue Perkins' Christmas Comedy Stocking (m000ckpy)
[Repeat of broadcast at
10:00 on Saturday]
THU 21:00 The Film We Can't See (m001gcbs)
4. Gossip, Revolution and a Censored Kiss
Adam’s investigation into the lost sound archive prompts him to watch Mädchen in Uniform, a lesbian high school dramedy from 1931. He learns all about how the film was nearly lost forever, and its significance today is explained to him by Camilla Baier and Rachel Pronger from Invisible Women, a feminist film collective.
Adam also listens to the fourth sound disc - a weird multi-voice dadaist poem - and tries to imagine where that might fit into the story of the film that was never made. Perhaps it’s one of the many unrealised projects of Paul Robeson, the actor and singer who fought racism and fascism while performing for audiences around the world. Paul’s own stories of censorship and racism inspire So Mayer, the writer and researcher, to take Adam on a visit to a historical location, the Savoy Hotel. Here they meet actors Ashleigh Wilder and Emeric Bernard-Jones. Over cocktails they pick up Paul’s story, linking past and present in a story of how our genders and sexualities influence how people perceive us all.
Credits:
Written, produced and edited by Adam Zmith
With story by So Mayer and Adam Zmith
Starring Anton Blake Horowitz
Ashleigh Wilder as Paul Robeson and themself, thanks to Queer House
Emeric Bernard-Jones as Paul Robeson and himself, thanks to Trans+ on Screen, an organisation representing trans, non-binary and gender non-conforming professionals in film and TV on a business model which challenges industry norms
Music by Courtney Pine
Assistant Producers - Tash Walker and Shivani Dave
Researcher - So Mayer
Audio consultant - David Pye
Artwork by Danny Crossley
Production Mentors - Caroline Steel and Andy King
Executive Producers - Khaliq Meer and Leanne Alie
Commissioned for BBC Sounds Audio Lab by Khaliq Meer
THU 21:50 Witness History (m000ztts)
Six Degrees: The First Online Social Network
Six Degrees was the first online social network, allowing users to connect with their real-world contacts by creating a profile within a database.
It was created by entrepreneur Andrew Weinreich.
But Six Degrees never achieved the scale of later social networks like Facebook or MySpace, and Weinreich sold the site in 1999.
Andrew speaks to Lucy Burns.
First broadcast on the BBC World Service in April 2020.
THU 22:00 ReincarNathan (m001g39w)
Series 3
Cleaning Wrasse
Nathan Blakely was a popstar. But he was useless, died, and was reincarnated. The comedy about Nathan’s adventures in the afterlife returns for a third series, starring Daniel Rigby, Ashley McGuire and guest-starring Hammed Animashaun and Hugh Dennis.
In episode 5, Nathan is brought back to life as a Cleaning Wrasse fish on a coral reef. He’s shocked to find out his dad (Hugh Dennis) has also been reincarnated on the same reef and is desperate to win his approval. So he and his friend Anwar (Hammed Animashaun) set about trying to impress his father. Will Nathan get his respect? And will he ever learn to do the right thing and make it back to human again?
Cast:
Ashley McGuire - Carol
Daniel Rigby - Nathan
Hammed Animashaun - Anwar
Hugh Dennis - Robert Blakely, Nathan's Dad
Tom Craine - Colin the Crab
Henry Paker - Shark
Writers: Tom Craine and Henry Paker
Producer: Harriet Jaine
Sound: Jerry Peal
Music Composed by: Phil Lepherd
A Talkback production for BBC Radio 4
THU 22:30 Tim Key's Christmas Poetry Programme (b06sddm9)
Tim Key has pulled out all the stops for his Christmas special – he's hired a stable, a cow and a set of sleigh bells for his long-suffering musician, Tom Basden. He also has a fistful of festive poems ready for recital. But no amount of yuletide joy can hide Tom's despair at having to work on Christmas day.
Written by Tim Key
Tim ...... Tim Key
Lord ...... Tom Basden
Megan ...... Katy Wix
Finnegan ...... Liam Williams
Janet ...... Felictiy Montagu
Produced by James Robinson
A BBC Cymru Wales production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in December 2015.
THU 23:00 Steven Appleby's Normal Life (b007jn0b)
Series 1
Normal Science
Cartoonist Steven sets out to prove that science will eventually make the natural world, humans included, entirely redundant.
Starring Mark Perry as cartoonist Steven Appleby who takes an abnormal look at everyday life.
Steven ...... Paul McCrink
Mum ...... Rosalind Paul
Lauren Maroon ...... Rachel Atkins
Mr Two ...... Ewan Bailey
Dad ...... Nigel Betts
Written by Steven Appleby
Producer: Toby Swift
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in August 2001.
THU 23:15 Sir Henry at Rawlinson End (b00s3j26)
Cabbage Looking in Mufti
The surreal saga of a dynasty delicately balanced on the edge of sanity.
Written by and starring Viv Stanshall.
Contains edits of an original John Peel session as first heard on BBC Radio 1.
Music composed and performed by Viv Stanshall using additional musicians.
Producer: John Walters
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in December 1996.
THU 23:30 Tom Wrigglesworth's Hang-Ups (b04tjft4)
Series 2
Earning Your Corn
Tom's mum is not best pleased with Tom's dad.
He pressgangs her into helping out at a celebration he's planning to mark 168 years since the repeal of the Corn Laws ("Well, it'd be tempting fate to hold on for the bicentennary") and they've chosen the Toby Carvery as a suitable dining venue.
Meanwhile, Tom has decided to buy a flat in London, much to his gran's chagrin.
With Kate Anthony, Paul Copley and Judy Parfitt.
Written by Tom Wrigglesworth and James Kettle. With Miles Jupp.
Producer: Katie Tyrrell
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in December 2014.
FRIDAY 23 DECEMBER 2022
FRI 00:00 Hugh Walpole - Rogue Herries (b007k1r3)
[Repeat of broadcast at
05:00 on Thursday]
FRI 01:00 Detective (b04g3vpn)
[Repeat of broadcast at
06:00 on Thursday]
FRI 01:30 The Left-Handed Sleeper (m000q13v)
[Repeat of broadcast at
06:30 on Thursday]
FRI 02:00 Maigret (m0001rmh)
[Repeat of broadcast at
07:00 on Thursday]
FRI 02:15 HighLites - Split Ends (m001g9t7)
[Repeat of broadcast at
07:15 on Thursday]
FRI 02:30 The Tim Vine Chat Show (m0001qw7)
[Repeat of broadcast at
07:30 on Thursday]
FRI 03:00 The Small, Intricate Life of Gerald C Potter (b00wt7n3)
[Repeat of broadcast at
08:00 on Thursday]
FRI 03:30 The Older Woman (b03bsg2p)
[Repeat of broadcast at
08:30 on Thursday]
FRI 04:00 The Unbelievable Truth (m00047tp)
[Repeat of broadcast at
09:00 on Thursday]
FRI 04:30 Clare in the Community (b008xg02)
[Repeat of broadcast at
09:30 on Thursday]
FRI 05:00 Lena Marsh, Live and Shticking! (m0001r8b)
She's Big, She's Brash, She's Still Breathing and She's Here!
Lena Marsh (Rebecca Front) is the self-proclaimed, 'Broad of Broadway'. Now in her 90th decade she's in London to record a new Christmas album at the BBC, with the help of her showbiz chums including the legend that is Michael Ball, Olivier Award-winning musical sensation Sharon D Clarke and Kevin Whately ('Lewis' in Inspector Morse and its spin-off series 'Lewis').
With a son and daughter who both want their mother dead, what could possibly go wrong in this festive action comedy - full of surprises and twists - from the team behind hit Radio 4 comedy, Incredible Women.
Expect candid conversation, surprise revelations and hilarious action as Incredible Women's Jeremy Front raises the red velvet curtain on Lena Marsh - Live and Shticking!
Cast:
Lena Marsh.........Rebecca Front
With:
Jeremy Front
Samantha Spiro
Jenny Bede
Lewis Macleod
Jason Forbes
Guest cameos by:
Michael Ball
Sharon D Clarke
Kevin Whately
Written by Jeremy Front
Producer Simon Nicholls
A BBC Studios Production.
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 2018.
FRI 05:45 The Mousehole Cat by Antonia Barber (b018j6s3)
When the Cornish Village of Mousehole is starving one Christmas, Tom sails out into the storm to fish, helped only by his old cat.
Jon Angove reads Antonia Barber's short story.
Producer: Peter Fozzard
First broadcast on BBC Radio 5 in December 2005.
FRI 06:00 Detective (b04g457y)
Series 2
10. The Point of No Return
DS Dave Brook and DC Blair Maxton get moving on the Kemp case, but are they too late?
Stories of crime and detection in London by Robert Barr.
CAST:
DS Dave Brook …. Ray Brooks
DC Blair Maxton …. Christopher Blake
Chief Inspector Roach …. Stephen Yardley
DC Harrison …. Peter Cleall
Judy …. Jacqueline Tong
DS Kelly …. John Judd
Carson …. Tony Caunter
James Clark …. Gary Cady
Writer Robert Barr is well remembered for his work on BBC TV's 'Z-Cars' and 'Softly Softly'.
Producer: Martin Fisher
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 1982.
FRI 06:30 The Left-Handed Sleeper (m000q2bl)
5. Domino
The action hots up in Tangier with deals to be done - but Patrick Cadwall is running out of time...
Stars Christopher Scoular, Richard Pasco and Annette Crosbie.
Gripping conclusion of the spy thriller serial featuring its author Ted Willis.
Patrick Cadwall …. Richard Pasco
Mark Ritchie …. Christopher Scoular
Christine Ritchie …. Annette Crosbie
Sweeney …. Alex Jennings
Bedayev …. Andrew Sachs
Svanidze …. Barry Dennen
Det Chief Supt Dell …. David Daker
David Hume …. Eric Lander
Shirley Graham …. Frances Jeater
Ronald Mills …. Nigel Graham
Mrs Dunning …. Teresa Collard
Marian Brown …. Thelma Whiteley
Narrator …. Ted Willis
Director: Christopher Venning
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in December 1982.
FRI 07:00 Maigret (m0001rzn)
A Maigret Christmas
5. Secrets
On Christmas Day, as the snow begins to fall in Paris, Inspector Maigret receives two unexpected visitors. A young girl claims to have seen Father Christmas in her room, behaving strangely and cutting a hole in the floor. He agrees to investigate.
What is Madame Martin hiding? And what will become of Colette? Can Maigret discover the truth?
Sir Derek Jacobi concludes a classic Inspector Maigret mystery by Georges Simenon.
Translated by David Coward.
Abridged by Lauris Morgan-Griffiths.
Producer: Mair Bosworth
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in December 2018.
FRI 07:15 HighLites - Split Ends (b03k2gqj)
5. Tess
It's already been quite a week for bride to be, Tess. Maybe a visit to HighLites is the last thing she needs.
Bev ...... Lorraine Ashbourne
Shirley ...... Rosie Cavaliero
Tess ...... Priyanga Burford
Nigel ...... John Norton
Ronnie ...... Michael Bertenshaw
by Steve Chambers and Phil Nodding.
Produced by Jessica Dromgoole and directed by Colin Guthrie.
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in December 2013.
FRI 07:30 Josie Long: Romance and Adventure (b077jp15)
Series 1
Episode 4
Josie and Darren go camping but find themselves disastrously ill equipped for the great outdoors.
Comedy drama about a young woman trying to build a more fulfilling life for herself in Glasgow.
Based on characters from the short films "Romance and Adventure" and "Let's Go Swimming" by Josie Long and Douglas King.
Josie ...... Josie Long
Darren ...... Darren Osborne
Margaret ...... Clare Grogan
PCSO Officer ...... Chris Pavlo
The Podcaster ...... Jesse Thorn
Shondra ...... Claudia O'Doherty
Unfeasably Handsome Man ...... John Early
Written by Josie Long.
Producer: Colin Anderson
A BBC Radio Comedy production for BBC Radio 4 first broadcast in April 2016.
FRI 08:00 Parsley Sidings (b01p0x1b)
Series 1
The Inspector Calls
The threat of closure from an official inspection calls for desperate measures at the sleepy station.
Jim Eldridge's eponymous series is set in a sleepy railway station. The Hepplewhites have run 'Parsley Sidings' station for generations and the current Station Master, Horace, hopes that his son Bert will continue the line. Mild-mannered Ticket Clerk Bert wants to work anywhere but on the railways. His colleague, Station Announcer Gloria Simpkins, secretly loves him. Porter Percy Valentine is an archetypal wheeler-dealer and the ancient Signalman, Bradshaw, causes havoc and dispenses home-made remedies in equal measure. The 'Parsley Sidings' nemesis is Phineas Perkins, the station master of Potwhistle Halt, one stop down the line.
CAST:
Horace …. Arthur Lowe
Bert …. Ian Lavender
Percy …. Kenneth Connor
Gloria …. Liz Fraser
Phineas Perkins …. John Graham
Re-created announcements by Keith Skues.
Producer: Edward Taylor
First broadcast on BBC Radio 2 in December 1971.
FRI 08:30 Winston (b00g1hb2)
Winston at Christmas
Nancy has always had lovely family Christmases. So happy. So loving. So.... But then she discovers Winston filling his pillowcases with all the food from the fridge.
Festive episode of Peter Tinniswood's bawdy comedy series.
Starring Shirley Dixon as Nancy, Bill Wallis as Winston, Maurice Denham as Father, Liz Goulding as Rosie and Christian Rodska as William.
Director: Shaun MacLoughlin
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 on Christmas Day, 1991.
FRI 09:00 Act Your Age (b00g0nnv)
Series 1
Episode 4
Simon Mayo hosts a three-way play-off to establish which generation of comedians is the funniest.
Captains Jon Richardson, Lucy Porter and Roy Walker are joined by guests Holly Walsh, Justin Moorhouse and Barry Cryer.
Producers: Ashley Blaker and Bill Matthews
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in December 2008.
FRI 09:30 Bleak Expectations (b00db5bt)
Series 2
A Happy Life Broken and Then Mended a Bit
You're cordially invited to cower before the terrifying spectacle of the Martian invasion, where only Pip and some geese stand between Mr Benevolent's army of long-eared purple space villains and all that is good and true....
The final chapter of the Victorian comic epic, and the whole planet is in terrible danger when Pip's evil ex-guardian Mr Gently Benevolent summons a massive Martian invasion. Is this the end for Pip, Harry and the rest of the human race? And will Pippa's goose sanctuary be all right? Listeners are cordially invited to cower before the terrifying spectacle of the army of long-eared purple space villains...
Mark Evans's epic comedy in the style of Charles Dickens.
Chapter the Last: A Happy Life Broken and then Mended a Bit
Sir Philip...........................Richard Johnson
Mr Benevolent........................Anthony Head
Harry Biscuit......................James Bachman
Young Pip..................................Tom Allen
Sternbeater...................Geoffrey Whitehead
Ripely Fecund......................Sarah Hadland
Mr Parsimonious...............Laurence Howarth
Pippa........................................Susy Kane
Sundry learned gentlemen...........Mark Evans
Producer: Gareth Edwards
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in September 2008.
FRI 10:00 Lena Marsh, Live and Shticking! (m0001r8b)
[Repeat of broadcast at
05:00 today]
FRI 10:45 The Mousehole Cat by Antonia Barber (b018j6s3)
[Repeat of broadcast at
05:45 today]
FRI 11:00 Detective (b04g457y)
[Repeat of broadcast at
06:00 today]
FRI 11:30 The Left-Handed Sleeper (m000q2bl)
[Repeat of broadcast at
06:30 today]
FRI 12:00 Maigret (m0001rzn)
[Repeat of broadcast at
07:00 today]
FRI 12:15 HighLites - Split Ends (b03k2gqj)
[Repeat of broadcast at
07:15 today]
FRI 12:30 Josie Long: Romance and Adventure (b077jp15)
[Repeat of broadcast at
07:30 today]
FRI 13:00 Parsley Sidings (b01p0x1b)
[Repeat of broadcast at
08:00 today]
FRI 13:30 Winston (b00g1hb2)
[Repeat of broadcast at
08:30 today]
FRI 14:00 Act Your Age (b00g0nnv)
[Repeat of broadcast at
09:00 today]
FRI 14:30 Bleak Expectations (b00db5bt)
[Repeat of broadcast at
09:30 today]
FRI 15:00 Lena Marsh, Live and Shticking! (m0001r8b)
[Repeat of broadcast at
05:00 today]
FRI 15:45 The Mousehole Cat by Antonia Barber (b018j6s3)
[Repeat of broadcast at
05:45 today]
FRI 16:00 Detective (b04g457y)
[Repeat of broadcast at
06:00 today]
FRI 16:30 The Left-Handed Sleeper (m000q2bl)
[Repeat of broadcast at
06:30 today]
FRI 17:00 Maigret (m0001rzn)
[Repeat of broadcast at
07:00 today]
FRI 17:15 HighLites - Split Ends (b03k2gqj)
[Repeat of broadcast at
07:15 today]
FRI 17:30 Josie Long: Romance and Adventure (b077jp15)
[Repeat of broadcast at
07:30 today]
FRI 18:00 Parsley Sidings (b01p0x1b)
[Repeat of broadcast at
08:00 today]
FRI 18:30 Winston (b00g1hb2)
[Repeat of broadcast at
08:30 today]
FRI 19:00 Act Your Age (b00g0nnv)
[Repeat of broadcast at
09:00 today]
FRI 19:30 Bleak Expectations (b00db5bt)
[Repeat of broadcast at
09:30 today]
FRI 20:00 One Day in Winter: Driving Home for Christmas (b04wgsmt)
Each year nearly 15 and a half million people travel home for the festive period. Just a few of them share their stories as they head home.
Long journeys, short journeys, each trip is for a reason and each trip will trigger a multitude of emotions.
This programme captures those feelings: from the excitement of Christmas that never seems to leave us, the feeling of relief of making it to a safe haven after a difficult year, the feeling of uncertainty and fear of how Christmas will play out, the feeling of stress from the actual journey. Tension levels increase depending on the weather and traffic conditions and the kids in the back of the car gradually getting more and more bored, chiming 'Are we nearly there yet?' every five minutes.
The great Christmas getaway is always wildly anticipated but often fraught and highly stressful: are all the kids in the car, is the snow going to come, will we get caught in a jam?
Feelings and emotions galore as travellers make their journeys home.
Producer: Martin Poyntz-Roberts
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in December 2014.
FRI 20:30 Soul Music (m0001l70)
Series 27
River
Soul Music with stories of the lasting impact of Joni Mitchell's song 'River', from her iconic 1971 album Blue.
A song about the breakdown of a relationship and of a longing to be elsewhere that has become a melancholy Christmas anthem.
It's coming on Christmas / They're cutting down trees / They're putting up reindeer / And singing songs of joy and peace / Oh I wish I had a river / I could skate away on....
Emotional true stories of what the song means to different people, including comedian Chris Forbes, who lost his father on Christmas Day; Isobel, who fell sick far from home and understands the longing to be elsewhere captured in the song; Laura, who heard the song while pregnant at Christmastime; writer Rob Crossan, who will forever associate the song with his first love; Canadian poet Lorna Crozier who describes the frozen rivers of her and Joni's Saskatchewan childhood; and from Joni Mitchell's biographer David Yaffe.
Includes a rare live recording of 'River' from a BBC Concert in 1970, hosted by John Peel. The other versions of the song are by (in order of appearance) Joni Mitchell (Blue, 1971), Scott Matthews (Live Session for BBC 6 Music, 2011), Béla Fleck and the Flecktones (Jingle All the Way, 2008) and the Belgian indie choir Scala & Kolacny Brothers (Live Session for BBC 6 Music, 2011).
Producer: Mair Bosworth
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 2018.
FRI 21:00 The Film We Can't See (m001gcbk)
5. For Sale: Intimacy and Infamy
The creative but awkward dynamic between writer Adam Zmith and actor Anton Blake Horowitz blows up. They are trying to collaborate, but the boundary between creativity and personal experiences breaks. Wounded, Adam hears more about the history of censorship from film archivist So Mayer, who also reveals their own personal motivations for researching film and queer history.
Just as there is an exciting revelation about the classified fifth disc in the sound archive, the entire project looks threatened. The Rio Cinema, which wants to keep the sounds in community ownership, may have to give them up. The sounds may fall back into obscurity once again, so Adam begins to mobilise support for the Rio.
Credits
Written, produced and edited by Adam Zmith
With story by So Mayer and Adam Zmith
Starring Anton Blake Horowitz
Music by Courtney Pine
Assistant Producers – Tash Walker and Shivani Dave
Researcher — So Mayer
Audio consultant – David Pye
Artwork by Danny Crossley
Production Mentors – Caroline Steel and Andy King
Executive Producers – Khaliq Meer and Leanne Alie
Commissioned for BBC Sounds Audio Lab by Khaliq Meer
Thanks to
Aleks Kolkowski
Andrew Woodyatt and everyone at the Rio Cinema
Peninsula Press
The BFI and the BFI National Archive
Axel Kacoutié
Nikki Meadows
Ben Lalague
Jose Castejoon
Natasha Walker
India Latham
FRI 21:45 Time (b03z3lkn)
Father Time
These three new tales by Olga Grushin - commissioned specially for BBC Radio 4 - touch upon the lives of five generations and explore the effects of time on one Russian family.
" ... I found a small alarm clock with square black numbers and a picture of a tiny butterfly in the middle of its round face, I took it.
"The hands didn't move at first, but my mother said you just had to wind it; only when she did, I saw that it was broken, because the second hand ran backward, and if you stared at the clock long enough to notice, so did the minute hand."
Programme 2. Father Time
Strange things happen to Professor Lebedev in the middle of the concert hall. Is he dreaming or is there a greater force at work?
Olga Grushin was born in Moscow in 1971 and spent her childhood in Moscow and Prague. In 1989 she became the first Soviet citizen to enrol for a full-time degree in the United States while retaining Soviet citizenship. In 2006 she was shortlisted for the Orange Prize for New Writers and named one of Granta's Best Young American Novelists in 2007. She has published two novels: The Dream Life of Sukhanov (2006) and The Concert Ticket (2010). Her story 'The Homecoming' featured in the series 'Platform Three' on Radio 4 (2010) and The Dream Life of Sukhanov was a Book At Bedtime in 2012. Olga lives in Washington D.C.
Reader: David Warner
Producer: Jeremy Osborne
A Sweet Talk production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in March 2014.
FRI 22:00 The Confessional (m001g9sm)
Series 3
The Confession of Neil Dudgeon
Another edition of Stephen Mangan’s series of soul-searching, self-abasement and moral pratfalls. Each week, Stephen invites a different eminent guest into his virtual confessional booth to make three confessions. This is a cue for some rich and varied story-telling and surprising insights as the confessions are put under the microscope. It’s certainly a way to find out what really make a person tick and have a good laugh while we’re at it.
The series continues with the Midsomer Murders star, Neil Dudgeon, a consummate raconteur.
Presenter: Stephen Mangan
Additional material by Nick Doody
Producer: Frank Stirling
A 7digital production for BBC Radio 4
FRI 22:30 The Harpoon (b09kcwcy)
Winter Special
Stoke up the fire and decant the brandy for a bumper 'winter' issue of the Empire's favourite magazine.
Performed by Alistair McGowan, Peter Baynham, Susie Brann, Mary Elliot-Nelson and Julian Dutton.
Written by Julian Dutton and Peter Baynham.
Producer: Sarah Smith
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in December 1991.
FRI 22:55 The Comedy Club Interviews (m001gv12)
Pierre Novellie 3/3
From
10pm until midnight, seven days a week, The Comedy Club has two hours of comedy. And tonight, Rob Deering talks to Pierre Novellie.
FRI 23:00 The Penny Dreadfuls (b00gpbcn)
The Brothers Faversham
Leonidas Faversham
The story of Victorian Britain's most reckless living explorer - Leonidas Faversham.
The comedy sketch trio present swashbuckling tales of four brothers born into the same privileged aristocratic family - Horatius, Theseus, Leonidas and Augustus.
Written by and starring Humphrey Ker, David Reed and Thom Tuck.
Alexandra Faversham ... Ingrid Oliver
Narrator... Miles Jupp.
Producer: Julia McKenzie
Made for BBC Radio 7 and first broadcast in January 2008.
FRI 23:30 James Acaster's Perfect Sounds (p0bzzl3h)
Series 2
Sara Barron & Emily's D+Evolution
Emily's D+Evolution, a brilliant Jazz-Rock-Funk fusion album by Grammy Award winning Esperanza Spalding, is usually the last thing Sara Barron would listen to. However, some finely crafted lyrics start to reel her in.