SATURDAY 24 MAY 2025

SAT 00:00 Soul Music (b06r50wk)
Series 21
Mack the Knife
The Brecht/Weill song Mack The Knife first appeared in The Threepenny Opera in Berlin in 1928.
Sung about the criminal MacHeath, the 'play with music' is based on John Gay's The Beggar's Opera, who was inspired by the real-life English highwayman, Jack Sheppard.
The song became a hit when performed in 1959 by Bobby Darin.
Ella Fitzgerald famously forgot the words when performing live in Berlin in 1960, and her improvised version won a Grammy.
Suzi Quatro talks about how she performed it with her father as a child, playing bongos to accompany him.
Lenny Kaye from the Patti Smith Group recalls how he and Patti did a version of 'Mack The Knife' at their first ever performance together at St Marks Church in New York on 10th February 1971, as it was Brecht's birthday.
Film-maker Malcolm Clark tells the story of the song's first public performer, Kurt Gerron, an actor and director, who took the song into the darkest places of the Third Reich.
Contributors:
Stephen Hinton
Stephen Parker
Jane Tipping
John Bird
Malcolm Clarke
Lenny Kaye
Suzi Quatro
Series about pieces of music with a powerful emotional impact.
Producer: Sarah Conkey
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in December 2015.
SAT 00:30 The Flower Fields (b01nb02j)
There's a gold rush in Cornwall.
It's been going on for over a century - producing the first flowers of spring, daffodils especially.
Like mining, it's marked the landscape, and there are networks of tiny fields west of Mousehole and in the Isles of Scilly. Smaller than tennis courts, they nestle, safe from the wind between high hedges, warm on south-facing terraced cliffs.
From these old flower fields, called quillets, came something even more valuable than the 'Golden Harvest' of early blooming daffodils - delicate Cornish violets, carnations and anemones. From Victorian times to the 1960s fragrant bunches of these sped overnight by rail to reach the morning London markets.
Michael Bird - who lives in St Ives - listens while Bill Harvey works the plots his father tended. They are too small to admit machines and depend on the long-handled Cornish shovel. At Churchtown Farm on St Martins in the Scillies, Keith Low explains how the fields were created.
Michael walks the cliff gardens with the archaeologist Graeme Kirkham, who interprets the landscape they pass through, including the industry's mysterious skills and traditions.
He also meets Bob Paterson at London’s Covent Garden market, who remembers selling the violets and anemones that came on the Penzance trains, and hopes he might again.
Producer: Julian May
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in October 2012.
SAT 01:00 Dead in the Water by Tony McHale (b03nt8n9)
In a bustling fairground best friends Holly and Nicole are recording sounds for a school science project.
Amongst the melee of people, rides and music Holly overhears snippets of a conversation between two men, the words:
"poison...shooting...dead in the water".
Could she have just stumbled on a murder plot?
With Nicole's help Holly sets out to investigate and when the girls identify the voices on the recording, they have their first clue.
But can they stop the murder in time?
As Holly and Nicole try and discover the intended victim before time runs out, they begin to realise they might just have stumbled on something even more sinister than they could ever have imagined.
Starring Yasmin Paige and Lily Lovelace.
A thriller written by Tony McHale.
Holly ..... Yasmin Paige
Nicole ..... Lily Loveless
Vickers ..... Gary Amers
Joel ..... Jody Latham
Kay ..... Jo Hartley
Maria ..... Kacey Ainsworth
Police Officer ..... Paul Stonehouse
Keely ..... Sinead Michael
Director: Heather Larmour
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in January 2014.
SAT 01:45 The Third Man by Graham Greene (b07hj93g)
5. Bloody Fool
Harry Lime is very much alive, but no longer the heroic figure from Rollo Martins’ school days.
In a snow-covered, war-torn Vienna, Rollo decides to confront his old friend over the terrible crimes he’s said to have committed.
But, first he has to track him down....
Samuel West concludes the classic Graham Greene novella that inspired one of the most acclaimed films of all time, starring Orson Welles.
Abridged by Richard Hamilton.
Music from the original soundtrack written and performed by Anton Karas.
Producer: Justine Willett
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in June 2016
SAT 02:00 A Very Private Man (b09g6hw1)
Episode 1
Young couple David and Helen swap the frenzy of Croydon for the serenity of the Yorkshire countryside.
But there are obstacles to overcome...
Starring Rodney Bewes and Ann Bell.
Terry Gregson's six-part north v south sitcom.
David Parkinson ...... Rodney Bewes
Helen Parkinson ...... Ann Bell
Mrs Henderson ...... Daphne Oxenford
Mrs Arthur ...... Paula Tildrook
Mr Sands ...... Peter Wheeler
Produced at BBC Manchester by Ron McDonnell.
First broadcast on BBC Radio 2 in January 1981.
SAT 02:30 Lines From My Grandfather's Forehead (b00hmb64)
Series 2
Episode 3
Mystery in a spoof of smooth sleuth Paul Temple - and wires get crossed on the telephone.
A sequential entertainment for radio starring Ronnie Barker.
With:
Terence Brady
Pauline Yates
Ann Beach
Pianist: Gordon Langford
Written by Arnold Brown, Donald Churchill, Peter Spence, Don Currell and Andy Kelvin, John Graham, Charles Griffin, JG Sacks, Myles Rudge and Ted Dicks, and Gerald Wiley.
Producer John Fawcett-Wilson
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in July 1972.
SAT 03:00 Relativity (m00025f9)
Series 2
Episode 4
Ken turns to his grandchildren for help with his technological challenges, while Chloe goes into early labour as Ian frets about his bag for life going to waste.
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 …… Fenella Woolgar
Ian …… Richard Herring
Chloe …… Emily Berrington
Pete …… Gordon Kennedy
Holly …… Tia Bannon
Mark …… Fred Haig
Nick …… Harrison Knights
Billy …… Danny Kirrane
Writer Richard Herring is a comedian, writer, blogger and podcaster and the world's premier semi-professional self-playing snooker player.
Sound Design by Eloise Whitmore
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.
SAT 03:30 Gielgud's Letters (b0082kbb)
5. Arthur
The remarkable life of the actor John Gielgud, told through his personal letters.
Now in his 70s, Gielgud appears in a film called 'Arthur', then continues acting well into his 90s.
Edited by Richard Mangan and abridged by Doreen Estall.
Concluded by Derek Jacobi.
Producer: Emma Harding
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in April 2004.
SAT 03:45 Rose Tremain (m002cfn0)
Music and Silence
5. Kirsten's Dilemma
Strategems for survival in 17th-century Denmark.
Life in the Danish court is revealed in all its tempestuousness, passion and frustration.
Novel by Rose Tremain
Adapted by Penny Leicester
Narrated by Nicholas Farrell and Sian Thomas
Kirsten Munk .... Frances Barber
Francesca .... Stella Gonet
Emilia .... Eleanor Tremain
King .... David Timson
Peter .... Robert Harper
Queen .... Elizabeth Bell
Producer Di Speirs
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in June 2000.
SAT 04:00 Whispers (b007k356)
Series 1
Episode 4
The great and the good are torn from their pedestals in glee in the panel show that proves there's no smoke without fire.
Gyles Brandreth is your host.
Regular team captains Anthony Holden and Stella Duffy are joined by:
Jenny Colgan
Rosie Millard
Producer: Elizabeth Freestone
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in November 2003.
SAT 04:30 More Mr Mulliner by PG Wodehouse (m002cfn4)
The Knightly Quest Of Mervyn
The pub raconteur's tale of a young man who demands a knightly quest to prove his love for the glamourous Clarice.
Storyteller Mr Mulliner enlists the regular tipplers of the Angler's Rest to tell his tales.
Starring Richard Griffiths.
From a collection of stories written by PG Wodehouse, first published in 1927.
Dramatised by Roger Davenport.
Mr Mulliner .... Richard Griffiths
Miss Postlethwaite/Clarice .... Matilda Ziegler
A Small Bitter/Mervyn Mulliner .... Tom George
A Pint of Stout/Magistrate/Delivery Man .... David Timson
The Light Ale/Guppy Frobisher .... Martin Hyder
A Port/Policeman .... Peter Acre
Shop assistant .... Gbemisola Ikemelo
Countess of Blotsam .... Joanna McCallum
Director: Ned Chaillet
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in February 2004.
SAT 05:00 Joseph Andrews by Henry Fielding (m000g53s)
4. Complications
'The final part, containing several new Matters, not expected.'
Joseph and Fanny are desperate to marry but explorations into her true identity raise complications.
Conclusion of Henry Fielding's 18th-century comic masterpiece about the morals and manners of high and low society.
Stars Cornelius Garrett
Dramatised by John Scotney.
Joseph ...... Cornelius Garrett
Fanny ...... Jane Leonard
Lady Booby ...... June Barrie
Parson Adams ...... John Franklyn-Robbins
Henry Fielding ...... John Rye
Mrs Slipslop ...... Anne Jameson
Pedlar ... Sean Barrett
Squire Booby ... Geoffrey Bateman
Gammar Andrews ... June Tobin
Lawyer Scout .... Trevor Nichols
Pamela .... Sarah Benfield
Beau Didapper .... Ronald Herdman
Director: Shaun MacLoughlin
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in April 1986.
SAT 06:00 A Madman of Convenience by Terry James (b007r4jx)
The true story of a young surgeon committed in 1823 to Bedlam, accused of the attempted assassination of George IV.
But he never had a trial and not only might he have been innocent, he might not have been mad.
Starring Jack Klaff and Samantha Bond.
Written by Terry James,
David Griffiths .... Jack Klaff
Richenda Clifford .... Samantha Bond
Sir David Scott .... John Shrapnel
John Jenkins MP .... Colin Jeavons
Lady Walton .... Maxine Audley
Mrs Musgrave .... Elizabeth Kelly
Barnaby Fairbanks .... Timothy Bateson
Colbatch .... Norman Jones
Committee Chairman .... Timothy Carlton
Priest .... James Greene
Keeper Samson .... Ronald Herdman
Trangmar .... Ian Lindsay
Newnham .... James Simmons
Dainbridge .... Andrew Wincott
Director Janet Whitaker
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in April 1991
SAT 07:30 Antwerp: the Glory Years by Michael Pye (Omnibus) (m002cn01)
Michael Pye's vivid and lively account of Antwerp's glory years takes us back to the 16th century.
This was when the city was transformed into a rich and cultured European powerhouse.
Told through character studies, novels, paintings, songs, inventories and city ordinances, an evocative portrait emerges.
Transformed into a trading powerhouse, nationals from all over Europe converged in Antwerp, making deals and enjoying the free and easy manners in a place where scandal and heresy was tolerated, and fortunes could be made almost over night. It's not long before religious divisions, and bellicose heads of state bring about an end to the city's tolerance, and its financial prowess.
Michael Pye is the author of twelve previous books which have been translated into fifteen languages. He has worked as a journalist, broadcaster and columnist in London and New York.
Abridged in five parts by Richard Hamilton.
Read by Michael Begley.
Producer Elizabeth Allard
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in April 2021.
** Image: Salve Felix Antverpia, anonymous woodcut. KU Leuven. Special Collectionsial Collections
SAT 08:45 Someone Like Me by Miles Kington (b00dp6f6)
2. Aunt Flo
Frog-like Aunt Flo and Uncle Walter's fascination with fig leaves.
Broadcaster, writer and musician, Miles Kington continues his account of an endearingly eccentric childhood.
Abridged by Richard Hamilton.
Producer: Emma Harding
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in September 2005.
SAT 09:00 Molesworth (m000gccq)
The Arts
In an attempt to win a posh radio prize, Nigel Molesworth presents his guide to Cinema, Theatre, Painting, Country Dancing.
Schoolboy terror Nigel Molesworth, formerly The Curse of St Custard’s, is now all grown-up and determined to share his experience of life.
Starring Willie Rushton.
Series written by Simon Brett based on characters created by Geoffrey Willans and by Ronald Searle.
Molesworth ...... William Rushton
Grimes ...... Clive Swift
Louise ...... Penelope Nice
Peason ...... Bob Sinfield
Fotherington-Thomas ...... Phil Nice
Lady Eiderdown ...... Chrissy Roberts
Gillibrand ...... Robert Harley
Music by Oonagh Bernon
Producer: Mark Robson
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in April 1987.
SAT 09:30 J Kingston Platt (b01rtzx7)
Ronnie Melcombe and His Surprising Wife
A startling tale of a wife addicted to shock.
Staying one jump ahead of the audience expectations is all-important in show business.
The doyen of British showbiz, the insider's insider, J Kingston Platt returns to the wireless with more unusually true stories.
Written and read by Peter Jones
Producer: Pete Atkin
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in September 1993.
SAT 10:00 Tony Law's Surreal Guide to Surreal Comedy (m000djpg)
3, Mortimer, Morris and 'mando
Absurdist Canadian comedian Tony Law takes us on a journey through the twists and turns of surrealism in comedy.
He is accompanied by Will Self and Will Franken.
‘Reeves & Mortimer’ on BBC Radio 1 (06/02/1994)
Chris Morris interviews Arthur Streeb-Greebling (Peter Cook) on ‘Why Bother?’ (1994)
‘The Museum of Lost Keyboards’ (13/12/2003)
Producer: Kerry McCarthy
Made for BBC Radio 4 Extra - and first broadcast in February 2014.
SAT 11:00 A Madman of Convenience by Terry James (b007r4jx)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:00 today]
SAT 12:30 Antwerp: the Glory Years by Michael Pye (Omnibus) (m002cn01)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:30 today]
SAT 13:45 Someone Like Me by Miles Kington (b00dp6f6)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:45 today]
SAT 14:00 Molesworth (m000gccq)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:00 today]
SAT 14:30 J Kingston Platt (b01rtzx7)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:30 today]
SAT 15:00 Tony Law's Surreal Guide to Surreal Comedy (m000djpg)
[Repeat of broadcast at 10:00 today]
SAT 16:00 Henry James (b0170cmv)
The Turn of the Screw
A new young governess arrives at a remote country house in Essex.
After meeting her two young charges, Flora and Miles - she fears they may be hiding a dark secret.
As the days go by, she witnesses some strange visions which lead her to conclude that the house - and children- are possessed by evil forces.
Starring Cathy Sara, Tina Gray, Joseph Tremain and Lulu Popplewell.
Classic Victorian ghost story written by Henry James.
Dramatised by Neville Teller.
Governess .... Cathy Sara
Mrs Grose .... Tina Gray
Miles .... Joseph Tremain
Flora .... Lulu Popplewell
Douglas .... Robert Lister
Griffin .... Ian Brooker
Sir George .... Jonathan Keeble
Director: Peter Leslie Wild
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 2004.
SAT 17:00 A Madman of Convenience by Terry James (b007r4jx)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:00 today]
SAT 18:30 Antwerp: the Glory Years by Michael Pye (Omnibus) (m002cn01)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:30 today]
SAT 19:45 Someone Like Me by Miles Kington (b00dp6f6)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:45 today]
SAT 20:00 Molesworth (m000gccq)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:00 today]
SAT 20:30 J Kingston Platt (b01rtzx7)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:30 today]
SAT 21:00 Tony Law's Surreal Guide to Surreal Comedy (m000djpg)
[Repeat of broadcast at 10:00 today]
SAT 22:00 Andy Hamilton Sort of Remembers (b099ypqj)
Series 1
Politics
Writer and comedian Andy Hamilton shares his observations and reminiscences about his personal life and 40 years working in comedy.
Now it's Andy's political memoirs, from being escorted from the playground in 1963 for singing a rude song about the Profumo affair, through encounters with Jim Callaghan.
He won't be talking about Brexit because life is too short.
Using comic observation and personal anecdotes, he examines how much (or how little) things have changed over his 60ish years.
It’s Andy’s thoughtful social history, but packed with laughs.
Producer: Claire Jones
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in October 2017.
SAT 22:30 Start/Stop (b04prh93)
Series 2
3. Pregnancy
Jack Docherty’s sitcom about three marriages in various states of disrepair.
Cathy reveals to a shocked Barney that she is pregnant. Fiona suggests to a shocked Evan that he get a vasectomy. And David suggests to a shocked Alice that they adopt.
Starring:
Couple 1:
Barney ...... Jack Docherty
Cathy ...... Kerry Godliman
Couple 2:
Evan ...... John Thomson
Fiona ...... Fiona Allen
Couple 3:
David ...... Charlie Higson
Alice ...... Sally Bretton
Producer ..... Claire Jones
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in November 2014.
SAT 22:55 The Comedy Club Interviews (m002cz1m)
Joz Norris 1/3
From 10pm until midnight, seven days a week, The Comedy Club has two hours of comedy. And tonight, Andrew O'Neill talks to Joz Norris.
SAT 23:00 Radio 9 (b04g429s)
Series 2
Episode 3
Travels at sea, a magazine for NIMBYs and faking your way in abseiling.
In a world where presentation is at the wheel, and content is firmly bound and gagged in the back, Radio 9 finds itself with so much to say - but no idea how to say it.
Written and performed by Johnny Daukes and Hils Barker.
With:
Max Digby
Katherine Jakeways
Sarah Daukes
Matt Wilkinson
Mary Hennessey
Robert Johnston
Esther Phillips
Jon Stevenson
Carine Harris
Jonathan Kydd
Producers: Claire Jones and Johnny Daukes
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in July 2005.
SAT 23:30 Chain Reaction (b00gsb89)
Series 2
Bill Bailey Interviews Simon Pegg
Musician and comedian Bill Bailey interviews actor and comedian Simon Pegg.
This is the tag talk show series where the guest turns interviewer in the next show.
Recorded with an audience, the interviews focus on the life, career and the passions of the interviewee but often prove to be as revealing about the interviewer.
Producer: Tilusha Ghelani.
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in February 2005.

SUNDAY 25 MAY 2025

SUN 00:00 Henry James (b0170cmv)
[Repeat of broadcast at 16:00 on Saturday]
SUN 01:00 A Madman of Convenience by Terry James (b007r4jx)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:00 on Saturday]
SUN 02:30 Antwerp: the Glory Years by Michael Pye (Omnibus) (m002cn01)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:30 on Saturday]
SUN 03:45 Someone Like Me by Miles Kington (b00dp6f6)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:45 on Saturday]
SUN 04:00 Molesworth (m000gccq)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:00 on Saturday]
SUN 04:30 J Kingston Platt (b01rtzx7)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:30 on Saturday]
SUN 05:00 Tony Law's Surreal Guide to Surreal Comedy (m000djpg)
[Repeat of broadcast at 10:00 on Saturday]
SUN 06:00 Desert Island Discs Revisited (m002cn81)
Football
Peter Schmeichel
Footballer Peter Schmeichel is castaway by Lauren Laverne.
Peter is widely regarded as one of the greatest goalkeepers in the modern game.
In 1999, he captained Manchester United in one of the most astonishing comebacks in football, as United won the Champions League with two goals in added time, completing a much-coveted Treble, along with the Premiership and the FA Cup.
As well as winning numerous trophies during his years at Manchester United, he has played a record 129 times for Denmark, his national team. He was part of the Danish side who were surprise winners of the European Championships in 1992: Denmark were underdogs and only joined the tournament at the last minute, when Yugoslavia were forced to withdraw. During the 1990s, he was arguably the most recognised Dane in the world.
He began his football career in Denmark before fulfilling his childhood dream and signing for Manchester United in 1991. His father was a professional musician who insisted on piano and guitar lessons for the young Peter.
Goalkeeping was not his choice: as a young boy, he was told to play in goal by a teacher who was thought he might be too wild for the other youngsters on the pitch.
Since retiring from the competitive game, Peter lives in Denmark but spends time travelling to see Manchester United play and also follows his son, Kasper.
Disc One: We Are the Champions by Queen
Disc Two: Hymn to Freedom by Oscar Peterson
Disc Three: Rosanna by Toto
Disc Four: Sultans of Swing by Dire Straits
Disc Five: Sir Duke by Stevie Wonder
Disc Six: Angels by Robbie Williams
Disc Seven: In the Air Tonight by Phil Collins
Disc Eight: The Girl Is Mine by Michael Jackson With Paul McCartney
Book Choice: The Cuckoo's Calling by Robert Galbraith (JK Rowling)
Luxury Item: Peter’s guitar
Castaway's Favourite: The Girl Is Mine by Michael Jackson With Paul McCartney
Producer: Sarah Taylor
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in October 2021.
SUN 06:45 David Attenborough's Life Stories (b00lxhb3)
Series 1
Birds of Paradise
Sir David Attenborough talks about the Birds of Paradise.
This is a group of birds which evolved in the relative safety of New Guinea, allowing them to acquire adornments and feathered decorations so resplendent that they fooled the early explorers who discovered them.
Series of talks by Sir David on the natural histories of creatures and plants from around the world.
Producer: Julian Hector.
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 Extra in August 2009.
SUN 07:00 Poetry Extra (m002cn83)
The Cultural Frontline - Poetry: The power and the beauty of spoken word
Poet Daljit Nagra revisits the BBC's poetry archive and selects a programme from the BBC World Service.
The Cultural Frontline - Poetry: The Power and the Beauty of Spoken Word is presented by Anu Anand.
We hear from young poets expressing the hopes and fears of their generation, from LA, Zambia, the Lebanon and Coventry.
American film director Carlos López Estrada explains how a spoken word showcase affected him so deeply that he wanted to share his new love of poetry with the world. It inspired him to work with young poets in Los Angeles to create his film, Summertime.
Carlos Lopez Estrada and one of the poets in Summertime, Raul Herrera, discuss how they collaborated to make a film entirely in verse.
Young poets from Lebanon and the UK have come together to write new work, inspired by their home cities of Beirut and Coventry. The finished pieces went on to be performed as part of the BBC’s Contains Strong Language Festival 2021.
Two of the writers, Kelvin Ampong and Nour Annan explain what they learned from each other and how they found common ground.
Zambian writer Musenga L Katonga has been working with a British illustrator to create an animated online poem exploring the theme of beauty and chaos.
He explains how he wrote about escaping the noise of social media to find solace in the written word and discusses performing a TED Talk about Zambian identity, in spoken word.
Presented and produced by Ana Anund.
First broadcast on the BBC World Service in 2021.
SUN 07:30 Gielgud's Letters (Omnibus) (m002cn85)
The remarkable life of the actor John Gielgud, told through his personal letters.
It begins with Gielgud playing the lead in Guthrie McClintic's 1936 production of Hamlet in New York.
It then follows his work in Hollywood, facing the threat of blackmail over his homosexuality, challenging theatre productions in London and acting well into his 90s.
Edited by Richard Mangan.
Abridged in five parts by Doreen Estall.
Read by Derek Jacobi.
Producer: Emma Harding
Omnibus of five episodes.
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in April 2004.
SUN 08:40 Inheritance Tracks (m002cn87)
Christina Trevanion
Auctioneer and TV host Christina Trevanion, picks 'For the Beauty of the Earth' by John Rutter and 'Ashes' by Embrace.
SUN 08:50 Rose Tremain (m002cn89)
Music and Silence (Omnibus)
Episode 1
Denmark 1629. A young English lutenist - Peter Claire - who looks like an angel, arrives to play for King Christian at the Palace of Rosenborg.
Novel by Dame Rose Tremain.
Omnibus of the first five of fifteen parts adapted by Penny Leicester.
Narrated by Nicholas Farrell and Sian Thomas
Kirsten Munk .... Frances Barber
Francesca .... Stella Gonet
Emilia .... Eleanor Tremain
King .... David Timson
Peter .... Robert Harper
Queen .... Elizabeth Bell
Producer: Di Speirs
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in June 2000.
SUN 10:00 Life With The Lyons (m002cn8d)
A Ghost in the House
What will the Lyon family do when they discover their house might be haunted?
Comedy with a real-life American family.
Starring Bebe Daniels and Ben Lyon
Written by Bebe Daniels, Bob Block and Ronnie Hanbury.
Ben …. Ben Lyon
Bebe …. Bebe Daniels
Barbara …. Barbara Lyon
Richard …. Richard Lyon
Aggie MacDonald …. Molly Weir
Florrie Wainwright …. Doris Rogers
Mr Wimple …. Horace Percival
With:
Hugh Morton
Life With the Lyons was one of the BBC's most popular radio sitcoms between1950 and 1961. It was also adapted for BBC TV.
Incidental music by Arthur Wilkinson.
Paul Fenoulhet conducts the BBC Variety Orchestra.
Producer: Tom Ronald
First broadcast on the BBC Light Programme in April 1954.
SUN 10:30 Huddwinks (b00b52ch)
Series 2
The Dead Walk at Midnight!
A reporter arrives to investigate mysterious happenings at a haunted manor.
Starring Roy Hudd.
Series of comedic parodies written by Laurie Rowley.
With:
Denise Coffey
Chris Emmett
David Gooderson
Fred Harris
Producer: Jonathan James-Moore
First broadcast on BBC Radio 2 in June 1988.
SUN 11:00 Desert Island Discs Revisited (m002cn81)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:00 today]
SUN 11:45 David Attenborough's Life Stories (b00lxhb3)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:45 today]
SUN 12:00 Poetry Extra (m002cn83)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:00 today]
SUN 12:30 Gielgud's Letters (Omnibus) (m002cn85)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:30 today]
SUN 13:40 Inheritance Tracks (m002cn87)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:40 today]
SUN 13:50 Rose Tremain (m002cn89)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:50 today]
SUN 15:00 Life With The Lyons (m002cn8d)
[Repeat of broadcast at 10:00 today]
SUN 15:30 Huddwinks (b00b52ch)
[Repeat of broadcast at 10:30 today]
SUN 16:00 Playing With Dracula by Nick Fisher (b08pn328)
When Byron Musgrave joins an amateur acting group making horror movies, he seems just a little too anxious to get his teeth into things.
Anger gives way to fear when the body count starts mounting...
Starring Nickolas Grace.
Nick Fisher’s tale of horror.
Byron Redgrave …. Nickolas Grace
Mary Morris …. Tina Gray
Arthur Renfield …. Malcolm Ward
Jonathan Harker …. Nicholas Boulton
Shelley Holmwood …. Maureen O’Brien
Lucy Western …. Siriol Jenkins
Estate Agent …. Paul Panting
Director: Martin Jenkins
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in December 1994.
SUN 16:45 Get Carter: The Bloody Chamber (b0bkv4f1)
The Company of Wolves
It's Christmas Eve, and a young girl is on her way to visit her granny in the forest.
She’s been warned not to stray from the path, but on her way, she meets a charming huntsman who has other ideas.
The last of Angela Carter's iconic collection of fairy stories - dramatised by Olivia Hetreed.
Wise Woman …. Adjoa Andoh
Bawdy Woman …. Susan Wooldridge
Pushy Woman …. Tessa Wojtczak
Red …. Lily Lesser
Huntsman …. Alexander Vlahos
Granny …. Phyllida Law
Girl …. Grace Englert
Girl …. Jalleh Alizadeh
At the time of writing The Bloody Chamber in the late 1970s, Angela Carter was disaffected by both sides of the feminist debate. She re-worked traditional fairy tales from her own unique, literary outsider’s point of view, putting women at the centre of the stories.
With their feisty heroines and orgiastic mash-up of beasts, shape-shifters and ghouls, Carter’s extraordinary tales are the most perfect example of her style, not just for her incomparable prose, but also in the dizzying twists and turns of perception, fantasy and myth.
Controversially influenced by De Sade, she embraced the erotic, explored our deepest and darkest urges, and subverted the roles of hunter and prey, master and mistress so that, instead of male sexuality, it is the female that becomes transgressive and powerful.
Director: Fiona McAlpine
An Allegra production for BBC Radio 4 first broadcast in September 2018.
SUN 17:00 Desert Island Discs Revisited (m002cn81)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:00 today]
SUN 17:45 David Attenborough's Life Stories (b00lxhb3)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:45 today]
SUN 18:00 Poetry Extra (m002cn83)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:00 today]
SUN 18:30 Gielgud's Letters (Omnibus) (m002cn85)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:30 today]
SUN 19:40 Inheritance Tracks (m002cn87)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:40 today]
SUN 19:50 Rose Tremain (m002cn89)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:50 today]
SUN 21:00 Life With The Lyons (m002cn8d)
[Repeat of broadcast at 10:00 today]
SUN 21:30 Huddwinks (b00b52ch)
[Repeat of broadcast at 10:30 today]
SUN 22:00 Elvenquest (b016vn8f)
Series 3
Episode 4
As they continue their search for the Sword of Asnagar, the noble Questers find themselves coming to the rescue of King Baldwin the Jovial whose mead hall is being terrorised by a terrible creature called "The Grundle".
But when Amis, the Chosen One, starts to question whether he is actually all that special after all, the Questers hatch a plan to kill the beast and restore Amis' self-worth.
Meanwhile, time is running out for Lord Darkness. Kreech tells he must find a girlfriend to keep him young, or he'll find his incorporeal essence once more slowly shrivelling and turning to dust. So Darkness starts off on the dating game. Trouble is, it's been a bit of time since he last met a girl, let alone chatted one up...
Fantasy-based sitcom set in Lower Earth written by Anil Gupta and Richard Pinto.
Vidar ...... Darren Boyd
Dean/Kreech ...... Kevin Eldon
Amis, aka The Chosen One ...... Dave Lamb
Sam ...... Stephen Mangan
Lord Darkness ...... Alistair McGowan
King Baldwin The Jovial ...... Daniel Rigby
Penthiselea ...... Sophie Winkleman
Producer: Sam Michell
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in November 2011.
SUN 22:30 Pick Ups (b00nw3s1)
Series 2
Heroes and Villains
It's decision time.
Will Simon De Vere call time on Irwell Cars?
Will Dave choose Milan over Lower Broughton Working Men's Club?
Conclusion of the comedy set around a run-down Manchester taxi company.
Written by Ian Kershaw.
Mike ...... Paul Loughran
Lind ...... Lesley Sharp
Dave ...... Phil Rowson
Alan ...... Parvez Qadir
Simon De Vere ...... James Quinn
Stevie ...... Suranne Jones
Pat the Butcher ...... Andrew Grose
Producer: Paul Hardy
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in November 2009.
SUN 22:55 The Comedy Club Interviews (m002cz1p)
Joz Norris 2/3
From 10pm until midnight, seven days a week, The Comedy Club has two hours of comedy. And tonight, Andrew O'Neill talks to Joz Norris.
SUN 23:00 Daphne Sounds Expensive (b07lhj87)
Series 1
D.A.P.H.N.E.
Jason has an out-of-this-world plan to increase the show's listenership.
Join critically-acclaimed sketch trio, Daphne, as they pull out all the stops in a dazzling array of peculiar characters, whacky scenarios, dodgy remarks, curious observations, minor altercations and major peacemaking - served on a bed of catchy little numbers with a live nine-piece band.
Written by and starring: Jason Forbes, Phil Wang & George Fouracres
Featuring:
Sir Willard White
Emma Sidi
David Elms
Original music composed by Jeff Carpenter
Orchestrator: Simon Nathan
Musical Director: Freddie Tapner
Piano: Jeff Carpenter
Drums: Ben Hartley
Bass: Rob Grist
Percussion: Ben Burton
Trumpet: Michael Maddocks
Tenor Sax: Greg Sterland
Trombone: Elliot Pooley
Violin: Hannah Bell
Cello: Nick Squires
Production Coordinator, Hayley Sterling
Producer, Matt Stronge
A BBC Studios production for BBC Radio 4 first broadcast in July 2016.
SUN 23:30 The Sofa of Time (b00hxnfl)
Where the Brave Go Shopping
Parker discovers that drinking in gravy makes you shrink.
Milford gets rich quick as he changes his £1.40 for 7,000,000 Gravish francs at Papa Mbomba's bureau de change.
Marmite takes the boys to get tooled up at Bravemart for the battle against Raemen Bod.
Continuing the epic and timeless tale of two men and their quest to find 'The Sofa of Time', the most magical and powerful item of furniture in the entire universe.
It is said that those who sit on the sofa can be transported to anywhere and anytime.
Fantasy sitcom written by Nick Frost and Matt King.
Milford ...... Matt King.
Parker ...... Nick Frost
Marmite ...... Mark Heap
Raamen Bod ...... Peter Serafinowcz
With:
Kevin Eldon
Julia Deakin
Janei Anderson
Joseph Marcell
Daisy Jones
Andrew Maxwell
Producer: Mario Stylianides
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in October 2002.

MONDAY 26 MAY 2025

MON 00:00 Playing With Dracula by Nick Fisher (b08pn328)
[Repeat of broadcast at 16:00 on Sunday]
MON 00:45 Get Carter: The Bloody Chamber (b0bkv4f1)
[Repeat of broadcast at 16:45 on Sunday]
MON 01:00 Desert Island Discs Revisited (m002cn81)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:00 on Sunday]
MON 01:45 David Attenborough's Life Stories (b00lxhb3)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:45 on Sunday]
MON 02:00 Poetry Extra (m002cn83)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:00 on Sunday]
MON 02:30 Gielgud's Letters (Omnibus) (m002cn85)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:30 on Sunday]
MON 03:40 Inheritance Tracks (m002cn87)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:40 on Sunday]
MON 03:50 Rose Tremain (m002cn89)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:50 on Sunday]
MON 05:00 Life With The Lyons (m002cn8d)
[Repeat of broadcast at 10:00 on Sunday]
MON 05:30 Huddwinks (b00b52ch)
[Repeat of broadcast at 10:30 on Sunday]
MON 06:00 The Angel of Islington by Alex Mermikides (m002cnqy)
'We don't do that in Islington... and we don't go around flying around in our birthday suits'.
One morning, an art historian named Arthur wakes to find a lost angel sitting at the end of his bed in north London.
When he takes her out for breakfast, the chaos begins...
Written by Alex Mermikides
Arthur ....... Alec McCowen
Angel ....... Elaine Claxton
Barmaid/Customer: ....... Jane Whittenshaw
Jurassic ....... Ross Livingstone
TV Announcer ....... Sandra James Young
Mike ....... Andrew Branch
Music by Wilfredo Acosta
Director Janet Whittaker
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in November 1995.
MON 06:30 VI Warshawski (b007jl4z)
Bitter Medicine
1. Friendship
Chicago private eye VI Warshawski suspects all is not well at a hospital after the death of a young girl who was pregnant.
Starring Sharon Gless..
VI Warshawski is Sara Paretsky’s tough, smart and likeable female private investigator.
Thriller dramatised in six parts by Michelene Wandor.
VI Warshawski …. Sharon Gless
Fabiano …. Robert Harper
Bobby Mallory …. Bill Hootkins
Alan Humphries …. Chris Scott
Malcolm Tregiere …. Colin McFarlane
Lottie Herschel …. Eleanor Bron
Carol …. Joanna Monro
Mrs Alvarado …. Shirley Dixon
Consuela …. Teresa Gallagher
Peter Burgoyne …. William Dufris
Producer: Janet Whitaker
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in December 1996.
MON 07:00 North East of Eden (b01glrp1)
Plague
The annual festival of St Marcus brings a host of tourists to Paradise Island.
But a mysterious illness threatens the torchlight parade...
Starring Rebecca Front and Joan Sims.
Peter Kerry's sitcom about a GP living on Paradise Island off the coast of Northumbria.
Dr Marcia Hulme …. Rebecca Front
Auntie Annie …. Joan Sims
Hjorst …. Niall Ashdown
Joseph Gates …. James Garbutt
Mrs Peevis …. Jean Southern
William …. Sammy Johnson
Ralph …. Stephen Thirkeld
Producer: Kathy Smith
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in July 1997.
MON 07:30 Steptoe and Son (b007jl7y)
Series 1
The Lead Man Cometh
Just as Albert and Harold are needing to economise, the rag and bone men are made an irresistible offer.
Starring Wilfrid Brambell and Harry H Corbett.
Classic sitcom about the lives of rag and bone men Albert Steptoe and his son Harold.
Written by Ray Galton and Alan Simpson.
Albert …. Wilfrid Brambell
Harold …. Harry H Corbett
Welsh Hughie …. Leonard Rossiter
The 1962 BBC TV comedy pilot 'The Offer' sparked a run of 8 series.
Adapted for BBC radio from the TV script by Gale Pedrick.
Producer: Bobby Jaye
First broadcast on the BBC Light Programme in September 1966.
MON 08:00 Love in Recovery (m0002bnn)
Series 3
The Gun
It’s a big day for Simon (John Hannah). The most important, nerve wracking day of his life. But whether he gets everything he ever wanted or loses it all, his friends will be there to pick up the pieces. Won’t they?
Continuing the award-nominated comedy drama set in Alcoholics Anonymous, written by Pete Jackson and inspired by his own road to recovery.
It follows the lives of five very different recovering alcoholics. Taking place entirely at their weekly meetings, we hear them moan, argue, laugh, fall apart, fall in love and - most importantly - tell their stories.
Fiona….. Rebecca Front
Simon….. John Hannah
Julie….. Sue Johnston
Danno….. Paul Kaye
Andy..... Johnny Vegas
Toby…. Nicholas Boulton
Paul…. Charlie Condou
Father Lavery…. Pete Jackson
Writer Pete Jackson is a recovering alcoholic and has spent time in Alcoholics Anonymous. It was there he found, as most people do, support from the unlikeliest group of disparate souls, all banded together due to one common bond. As well as offering the support he needed throughout a difficult time, AA also offered a weekly, sometimes daily, dose of hilarity, upset, heartbreak and friendship.
Love in Recovery doesn’t seek to represent an AA meeting exactly as it might happen in real life, but to capture the funny stories, the sad stories, the stories of small victories and of huge milestones, stories of loss, stories of hope, and most importantly, the many highs and lows in the journey of recovery.
Written and created by Pete Jackson
Producer/Director: Ben Worsfield
A King Bert production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in February 2019.
MON 08:30 Poldark: The Miller's Dance by Winston Graham (m000ltl2)
1. Growing Up
Winston Graham’s series of novels set in Cornwall follows the lives of the Poldark family and their friends, neighbours, rivals and enemies.
This story (Book 9 in the famous series of novels) rejoins the characters in 1812 – about ten years after the point where BBC TV’s hugely popular series concluded.
Abridged in ten parts by Jill Waters and Isobel Creed.
Read by Richard Goulding.
Ross Poldark is now 52 and still happily married to Demelza, who is ten years younger than him. Their eldest son Jeremy is approaching 21 and their eldest daughter Clowance is 17, both of them navigating the changeable weather of first love.
The Poldark family is completed by young Isabella-Rose although neither Ross nor Demelza will ever forget the grief of losing their first born, Julia, before her third birthday.
A series of courtships begins their complicated dance, some fuelled by lust and others by love, money or ambition.
All this takes place against a backdrop of England’s continuing military campaign against Napoleon’s army in Spain and Portugal. The damage that war has done to the nation’s commerce and those who rely on it gives rise to political tensions which are played out in complex schemes of power and influence amongst the governing classes in London.
A world which seems so far away from the pressing concerns of Cornish life and which nevertheless beckons Ross to attend to his duties in parliament as an MP.
Take the chance to return to Cornwall and the passions of the Poldarks, reflecting on what marriage and courtship are really about and whether love can ever hope to conquer all.
Producer: Jill Waters
A Waters Company production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in August 2020.
MON 08:45 Rose Tremain (m002cnr0)
Music and Silence
6. Johnnie Learns the Truth
The angelic Peter Claire and the other musicians practise outside for the Ambassador's concert.
Sitting in a field of sheep, Peter falls in love at first sight...
Life around the Danish court in the 17th century, is revealed in all its tempestuousness, passion and frustration.
Novel by Rose Tremain
Adapted by Penny Leicester
Narrated by Nicholas Farrell and Sian Thomas
Kirsten Munk .... Frances Barber
Francesca .... Stella Gonet
Emilia .... Eleanor Tremain
King .... David Timson
Peter .... Robert Harper
Queen .... Elizabeth Bell
Producer Di Speirs
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in June 2000.
MON 09:00 The Unbelievable Truth (m002cdm1)
Series 31
Episode 6
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.
Angela Barnes, Mark Steel, Ria Lina and Alan Davies are the panellists obliged to talk with deliberate inaccuracy on subjects as varied as wheels, cows, condiments and toys.
The show is devised by Graeme Garden and Jon Naismith.
Producer: Jon Naismith
A Random Entertainment production for BBC Radio 4
MON 09:30 The Rise and Fall of the Antique (b0bd7zhp)
1. The Good Old Days
Travis Elborough charts the rise and fall of the antique.
He examines how, ultimately, the present always dictates which bits of yesteryear we deem worthy of collecting.
Travis looks back at the origins of the antiques trade and traces how it developed in Britain during the 19th and early 20th century.
He discovers the fashion for buying suits of armour and unearths the significance of "Wardour Street English".
Producer: Sheila Cook.
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in August 2018.
MON 09:45 Daily Service (m002cnr2)
Ascension Day - Commissioning - The Great Commission
A space for spiritual reflection with a Bible reading, prayer and a range of Christian music.
Theme: Ascension Day - Commissioning - The Great Commission
Presenter: Angel Morgan
Reading: Matthew 28:16-20
Music:
Kingdom - Geoffrey Golden
Build your kingdom here - Rend Collective
Trust me - Richard Smallwood
MON 10:00 How Tickled Am I? (b007jp11)
Series 1
Les Dawson
"Hardship? He knew all about it..."
Mark Radcliffe profiles the career of the Mancunian wordsmith who started out playing piano in a Parisian brothel.
He went on to become one of the United Kingdom's most popular comics.
Featuring:
Tracy Dawson
Roy Barraclough
Professor Jeffrey Richards
Mike Craig
Jim Casey
Series exploring the tradition of the northern comedian.
Producer: Bernadette McConnell
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in April 1999.
MON 10:30 Pistols At Dawn (b00s6svn)
Historian Justin Champion explores the world of real life duels in the UK from the 1600s to the end of the 19th century.
Between 1613 and 1614 it’s claimed that every distinguished family in the UK lost a member to duelling. James I even campaigned against it, but the aristocracy wanted to retain it as a legal way of settling disputes 'honourably'.
The practice continued until it was eventually outlawed at the end of the 19th century. Until it was, the duel has a fascinating place in British history as a means of 'solving' dispute and novelists and playwrights have been using it as a way of spicing up plots and intrigue along the way.
As a youngster, Justin Champion loved adventure novels which were jam-packed with sword play - The Three Musketeers, The Prisoner of Zenda and Scott's Waverley series. He’s always been intrigued as to why men felt the urgency to defend their honour in such a dangerous way.
Justin sets out to track the history of the duel, its influence and some particularly pivotal duels.
He’s shown how to sword fight and thinks he's found the reason why duelling eventually ceased as a practice in the UK.
Justin talks to experts of Shakespeare to discuss how frequently the Bard picked up on the duelling debate in many of his plays including Romeo and Juliet.
He visits the Royal Armouries Collection in Leeds to witness a sword fight. Justin is shown the techniques and is handed a sword for a tutorial. He charts the move from sword to pistol and gets a tour behind-the-scenes at the collection of some important swords and pistols involved in duelling.
Justin also talks to fellow historians about significant duels and their political and literary impact. The duel has even been used by Cabinet Ministers and Prime Ministers as a way of settling their differences.
BBC Diplomatic Correspondent, James Landale tells the story of his ancestor's involvement in the last fatal duel in Scotland in 1826. He also explains Wellington's engagement in a duel in Battersea, London.
Plus a social historian of the 19th century on how the meaning of "honour" changed for men during this period and how a pension arrangement changed forever as the willingness of men to accept an invitation to "pistols at dawn".
Producer: Sarah Taylor
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in May 2010.
MON 11:00 The Angel of Islington by Alex Mermikides (m002cnqy)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:00 today]
MON 11:30 VI Warshawski (b007jl4z)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:30 today]
MON 12:00 North East of Eden (b01glrp1)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:00 today]
MON 12:30 Steptoe and Son (b007jl7y)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:30 today]
MON 13:00 Love in Recovery (m0002bnn)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:00 today]
MON 13:30 Poldark: The Miller's Dance by Winston Graham (m000ltl2)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:30 today]
MON 13:45 Rose Tremain (m002cnr0)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:45 today]
MON 14:00 Booked (b0075sxg)
Series 4
Episode 4
Guess the book titles - and the diaries of great figures of literature.
Barnsley poet Ian McMillan chairs the irreverent literary game.
Outrageous parody, biting wit and bizarre couplings from:
Mark Thomas
Dillie Keane
David Stafford
Arthur Smith
Producer: Marc Jobst
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in July 1998.
MON 14:30 Double Income, No Kids Yet (b00f3xt3)
Series 1
Episode 5
Lucy is up for a big promotion at work but is distracted by Katie's post-natal indecision about her new baby's name.
Unfortunately sister Charlotte is on hand with a plan to de-stress her
David Tennant and Liz Carling star in David Spicer's sitcom.
Modern life and parenthood, as seen through the eyes of a 30-something couple with no kids.
Daniel ...... David Tennant
Lucy ...... Liz Carling
Katie ...... Meera Syal
Charlotte ...... Polly Frame
Andy ...... Tony Gardner
Producer: Liz Anstee
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in June 2001.
MON 15:00 Casual Slaughters by Perry Pontac (m002cnr4)
1930s. Amateur sleuth Sir Nicholas Ovalmere and his adoring secretary, Nottage, rush into action on discovering that Lord Bavidge has been receiving death threats.
And they've been written in his own blood....
Starring Peter Jeffrey and Maureen Lipman,
Comedy drama written by Perry Pontac.
Sir Nicholas Ovalmere ....Peter Jeffrey
Nottage .... Maureen Lipman
Minskin/The Nabob of Kashlika/The Professor .... John Rowe
Lady Bavidge/Erga .... Jenny Lee
Roderick/Chief Inspector Wardle .... Christopher Wright
MIss Filcrum/Amanda .... Rachel Atkins
Director: Marion Nancarrow
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in April 1998.
MON 16:00 How Tickled Am I? (b007jp11)
[Repeat of broadcast at 10:00 today]
MON 16:30 Pistols At Dawn (b00s6svn)
[Repeat of broadcast at 10:30 today]
MON 17:00 The Angel of Islington by Alex Mermikides (m002cnqy)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:00 today]
MON 17:30 VI Warshawski (b007jl4z)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:30 today]
MON 18:00 North East of Eden (b01glrp1)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:00 today]
MON 18:30 Steptoe and Son (b007jl7y)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:30 today]
MON 19:00 Love in Recovery (m0002bnn)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:00 today]
MON 19:30 Poldark: The Miller's Dance by Winston Graham (m000ltl2)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:30 today]
MON 19:45 Rose Tremain (m002cnr0)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:45 today]
MON 20:00 Booked (b0075sxg)
[Repeat of broadcast at 14:00 today]
MON 20:30 Double Income, No Kids Yet (b00f3xt3)
[Repeat of broadcast at 14:30 today]
MON 21:00 Casual Slaughters by Perry Pontac (m002cnr4)
[Repeat of broadcast at 15:00 today]
MON 22:00 The Unbelievable Truth (m002cdm1)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:00 today]
MON 22:30 A Look Back at the Future (b01s259p)
2025
Foreseeing ego transplants and the USA invading Narnia...
Recorded in 1994, the futuristic show recalls the main events of 2025 - a year that was yet to happen.
Starring:
Brian Perkins
Kate Robbin
Nigel Planer
Everything you wanted to know then, about the 21st century.
Written by Mark Burton, John O'Farrell and Pete Sinclair.
Producer: Caroline Leddy
First broadcast (with the aid of a crystal ball) on Radio 4 in August 1994.
MON 23:00 The News Quiz (m002cf4d)
Series 117
6. Big Deals
Andy Zaltzman is joined by Andrew Maxwell, Ian Smith, Alex Kealy and Times columnist, Cindy Yu. They cover a triumph or a surrender (depending on who you ask) as well as reflecting on where you're most likely to spot a billionaire in the wild and the death of the semi-colon.
Written by Andy Zaltzman.
With additional material by: Christina Riggs, Laura Major and Christian Manley.
Producer: Gwyn Rhys Davies
Executive Producer: Richard Morris
Production Coordinator: Jodie Charman
Sound Editor: Marc Willcox
A BBC Studios Audio Production for Radio 4
MON 23:30 Ross Noble Goes Global (b007jvsn)
Series 1
South Africa
Ross Noble continues his comedy travelogues in South Africa.
He entertains the locals with his unique brand of stand-up.
Plus, he tries to climb Table Mountain and discovers that Cape Town has some very posh monkeys....
Producer: Danny Wallace
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in April 2002.

TUESDAY 27 MAY 2025

TUE 00:00 How Tickled Am I? (b007jp11)
[Repeat of broadcast at 10:00 on Monday]
TUE 00:30 Pistols At Dawn (b00s6svn)
[Repeat of broadcast at 10:30 on Monday]
TUE 01:00 The Angel of Islington by Alex Mermikides (m002cnqy)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:00 on Monday]
TUE 01:30 VI Warshawski (b007jl4z)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:30 on Monday]
TUE 02:00 North East of Eden (b01glrp1)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:00 on Monday]
TUE 02:30 Steptoe and Son (b007jl7y)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:30 on Monday]
TUE 03:00 Love in Recovery (m0002bnn)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:00 on Monday]
TUE 03:30 Poldark: The Miller's Dance by Winston Graham (m000ltl2)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:30 on Monday]
TUE 03:45 Rose Tremain (m002cnr0)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:45 on Monday]
TUE 04:00 Booked (b0075sxg)
[Repeat of broadcast at 14:00 on Monday]
TUE 04:30 Double Income, No Kids Yet (b00f3xt3)
[Repeat of broadcast at 14:30 on Monday]
TUE 05:00 Casual Slaughters by Perry Pontac (m002cnr4)
[Repeat of broadcast at 15:00 on Monday]
TUE 06:00 The Rivals (b04vkmhh)
Series 3
1. Max Carrados: The Knight's Cross Signal Problem
Inspector Lestrade was made to look a fool in the Sherlock Holmes stories.
Now he's writing his memoirs, he has a chance to get his own back, with more tales of Holmes' rivals.
This third series begins with him collaborating with blind detective Max Carrados, who tries to discover who caused a horrific train crash at Knight's Cross.
Starring James Fleet and Pip Torrens.
Written by Ernest Bramah.
Dramatised by Chris Harrald.
Lestrade …. James Fleet
Max Carrados …. Pip Torrens
Parkinson …. David Acton
Lucy …. Roslyn Hill
Carrick …. Ian Conningham
Hutchins …. Michael Bertenshaw
Miss Chubb …. Jane Slavin
Mead/Constable …. Shaun Mason
Drishna …. Saikat Ahamed
Producer: Liz Webb
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in December 2014.
TUE 06:30 VI Warshawski (b007jl5g)
Bitter Medicine
2. The Lion's Den
Probing the mysterious death of a girl, VI Warshawski must venture into gangland.
Starring Sharon Gless.
VI Warshawski is Sara Paretsky’s tough, smart and likeable female private investigator.
Dramatised by Michelene Wandor.
VI Warshawski …. Sharon Gless
Lottie Herschel …. Eleanor Bron
Bobby Mallory …. Bill Hootkins
Mr Contreras …. Kerry Shale
Mrs Rodriguez/Nurse …. Ann Beach
Sergio …. Chris Pavlo
Bartender …. Ioan Meredith
Carol …. Joanna Monro
Fabiano …. Robert Harper
Peter Burgoyne …. William Dufris
Producer: Janet Whitaker
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in n December 1996.
TUE 07:00 To the Manor Born (b007n1wj)
An Englishman's Home
When Devere installs new security cameras, Audrey declares war.
Starring Penelope Keith and Keith Barron.
Lady of the manor Audrey fforbes-Hamilton, forced to sell her beloved Grantleigh Estate, has decamped to the tiny Old Lodge cottage with her butler in tow.
From this vantage point, Audrey keeps a close and disapproving eye on new owner, the nouveau-riche Richard DeVere.
Adapted for radio by Peter Spence from his BBC TV script
Audrey fforbes-Hamilton …. Penelope Keith
Richard DeVere ..... Keith Barron
Marjory Frobisher. .... Angela Thorne
Brabinger .... Nicholas McArdle
Mrs Polouvicka ..... Margery Withers
Ned ..... Frank Middlemass
PC Dottle ...... Kevin Eldon
First piloted on radio and then whisked off to TV before it ever appeared, before finally arriving home in 1997
Producer: Jane Berthoud
First broadcast on BBC Radio 2 in March 1997.
TUE 07:30 The Goon Show (m002cnm8)
Series 7
The Africa Ship Canal
Can Neddie compete his task as the engineer for a new canal across Africa built for....aeroplanes?
Ground-breaking, surreal BBC radio comedy.
Written by Spike Milligan and Larry Stephens.
Starring:
Peter Sellers
Harry Secombe
Spike Milligan
With the Ray Ellington Quartet and Max Geldray.
Orchestra conducted by Wally Stott.
Announcer: Wallace Greenslade
Producer: Pat Dixon
First broadcast on the BBC Home Service in March 1957.
TUE 08:00 Bad Salsa (b04bn088)
Series 1
The Shorefest Redemption
After treatment for Ovarian and breast cancer Chippy, is mad, Jill is sad and Terri is definitely dangerous to know!
The road back after cancer treatment can be tricky and full of obstacles.
Two middle aged women and their younger friend seek to regain their zest for life and love by learning to dance at Bad Salsa, the club where everyone knows your name but no-one knows your prognosis!
Depictions of people with cancer on TV and radio too often follow a standard format; there is the diagnosis, the depression the chemo, then the false recovery followed by the tragic death.
Written by Kay Stonham, Bad Salsa tries to paint a picture at once more hopeful and more in line with survival rates which have improved immensely over the past 20 years.
For many, 'living with cancer' is now their day to day challenge. The characters in the series have finished their treatment and are in the process of finding their way back to normal life or at least finding a "new normal." As in the real world, the challenges of everyday life go on for our characters; like us they have boring marriages, distracting crushes, troublesome children, difficult workmates and infuriating parents, but unlike us their brush with mortality has given them a new perspective.
The fun and excitement of the series is in watching them decide to preserve the pre-cancer status quo or in Terri's words, to say "sod it all" and "go for it!"
Follow the women as they embrace the world of salsa whilst they adjust to life after cancer.
Terry ...... Camille Coduri
Chippy ...... Sharon Rooney
Jill ...... Natasha Little
Marco ...... Doc Brown
Gordon ...... Andrew Obeney
Colin ...... David Cann
Georgie ...... Emily Chase
Tim ...... Matt Houlihan
Sara ...... Antonia Reid
Corrine ...... Kay Stonham
Producer: Alison Vernon-Smith
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in July 2014.
TUE 08:30 Poldark: The Miller's Dance by Winston Graham (m000lv48)
2. The Subject of Marriage
Urged on by her suitor and her own desires, Clowance Poldark broaches the topic of marriage with her parents.
Winston Graham’s novel set in Cornwall continues the story of the passions of the Poldark family and their friends, neighbours, rivals and enemies.
All this takes place in 1812 against a backdrop of England’s continuing military campaign against Napoleon’s army in Spain and Portugal
A world which seems so far away from the pressing concerns of Cornish life and which nevertheless beckons Ross Poldark to attend to his duties in parliament as an MP.
Abridged by Jill Waters and Isobel Creed.
Read by Richard Goulding.
Producer: Jill Waters
A Waters Company production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in August 2020.
TUE 08:45 Rose Tremain (m002cnmb)
Music and Silence
7. The Due Date
Kirsten's position in the Danish court is becoming ever more precarious.
Can recondite ploys and schemes save her skin?
Life around the Danish court in the 17th century, is revealed in all its tempestuousness, passion and frustration.
Novel by Rose Tremain
Adapted by Penny Leicester
Narrated by Nicholas Farrell and Sian Thomas
Kirsten Munk .... Frances Barber
Francesca .... Stella Gonet
Emilia .... Eleanor Tremain
King .... David Timson
Peter .... Robert Harper
Queen .... Elizabeth Bell
Producer Di Speirs
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in June 2000.
TUE 09:00 Unspeakable (m002cdgw)
Series 2
2. Curiosity should have got a dog
This episode we hear Jessica Knappett's word for undeserved promotions, Rhys James's word for being jilted by his own cat, and Griff Rhys Jones's word for not finishing your...
Ever struggled to find the right word for a feeling or sensation? Unspeakable sees comedian Phil Wang and lexicographer Susie Dent invite celebrity guests to invent new linguistic creations, to solve those all too relatable moments when we're lost for words.
Hosts: Phil Wang and Susie Dent
Guests: Rhys James, Jessica Knappett and Griff Rhys Jones
Created by Joe Varley
Writers: Matt Crosby and Katie Storey
Recorded by Jerry Peal
Producer: Jon Harvey
Executive Producers: Joe Varley and Akash Lockmun
A Brown Bred production for BBC Radio 4
TUE 09:30 The Rise and Fall of the Antique (b0bdvhxt)
2. New for Olde
Travis Elborough is charting the rise and fall of the antique.
He examines how, ultimately, the present always dictates which bits of yesteryear we deem worthy of collecting.
Travis examines the brisk trade in artefacts between Britain and America in the 1920s and 1930s.
He singles out the newspaper magnate, William Randolph Hearst, as an extreme example of an avid collector of all things antique, including whole buildings.
Interviewees include:
* Antiques expert, John Bly
* Historian, Dr Eleanor Quince of the University of Southampton
* Author, Victoria Kastner (Hearst Castle: Biography of a Country House) & State Historian for San Luis Obispo Coast District, California State Parks.
Producer: Sheila Cook.
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in August 2018.
TUE 09:45 Daily Service (m002cnmd)
Ascension Day - Commissioning - Power and Authority
A space for spiritual reflection with a Bible reading, prayer and a range of Christian music.
Theme: Ascension Day - Commissioning - Power and Authority
Presenter: Steve Williams
Reading: Philippians 2:9-13
Music:
At the Name of Jesus- Daily Service Singers
Faith, hope and love - St Martin's Voices
Thine be the Glory - Westminster Cathedral
TUE 10:00 A Good Read (m00027n8)
Scarlett Curtis and Catherine Bohart
Writer and activist Scarlett Curtis and comedian Catherine Bohart join Harriett Gilbert to discuss their favourite books by Maggie Nelson, Anna Burns and Sayaka Murata.
The Argonauts by Maggie Nelson
Publisher: Melville House
Milkman by Anna Burns
Publisher: Faber
Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka Murata
Publisher: Portobello Books
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in January 2019.
TUE 10:30 Wired Love (b099xpwg)
Wired Love: A Romance of Dots and Dashes, published in 1879, was a groundbreaking book.
It’s all about a long-distance romance conducted over the telegraph wire - aptly termed The Victorian Internet.
Written by the previously unknown Ella Cheever Thayer, Wired Love's Manhattan publisher trumpeted it as "a bright little telegraphic novel" that told "the old, old story - in a new, new way".
But Thayer's story was grounded in Victorian reality. Men and women alike worked as telegraph operators, with predictable results. At least one wedding was conducted over the wires and Electrical World magazine even warned of "the dangers of wired love".
Lucy Hawking looks at how the invention of the telegraph led to social changes in the role of women - as well as providing the inspiration for this first on-line romance novel, published over 100 years before the internet.
Finding parallels in today's e-mail world she profiles the life of Ella Cheever Thayer and discusses the appeal of the novel.
She talks to Laura Otis, Britt Peterson and Thomas C Jepson, about the revolutionary technology and the social changes it encouraged.
Drama adapted by Danny Westgate.
Performers:
Samantha Dakin
Tom Bevan
Anna Farnworth
Producer: Julian Mayers
A Sweet Talk production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in October 2017.
TUE 11:00 The Rivals (b04vkmhh)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:00 today]
TUE 11:30 VI Warshawski (b007jl5g)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:30 today]
TUE 12:00 To the Manor Born (b007n1wj)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:00 today]
TUE 12:30 The Goon Show (m002cnm8)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:30 today]
TUE 13:00 Bad Salsa (b04bn088)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:00 today]
TUE 13:30 Poldark: The Miller's Dance by Winston Graham (m000lv48)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:30 today]
TUE 13:45 Rose Tremain (m002cnmb)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:45 today]
TUE 14:00 It's Your Round (b01946wq)
Series 2
Episode 3
Another panel of comedians endeavour to beat each other at their own games, watched over by Angus Deayton.
Trying to beat each other at their own games:
Will Self
Gyles Brandreth
Sara Pascoe
Arthur Smith
Featured rounds:
Will's "What's In My Hand?"...further explanation unnecessary.
Gyles's "It's My Party", in which panellists must all pitch their own, new political party.
Sara's "Tax Loss Entertainment", in which panellists must improvise the worst play in history.
Arthur's "How Much Would It Cost For You To?", a refinement of a game he's played before in which panellists must guess the money they'd require in order to complete various unpleasant tasks.
Producer: Sam Michell.
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in January 2012.
TUE 14:30 Tomorrow, Today! (b017gzj8)
Series 2
Countess Natasha and the Red Menace
A BBC producer struggles to make a radio soap set in the unimaginably futuristic world of 2008.
Prime Minister Harold Macmillan guest stars in the same week that the programme is infiltrated by a spy.
Starring Peter Bowles, John Fortune and Cheryl Campbell
Christopher William Hill's futuristic sitcom set in 1962.
Nigel Lavery ...... Peter Bowles
Sylvia Hann ...... Cheryl Campbell
Godfrey Winnard ..... John Fortune
Sir Angus McNairn ...... Gary Waldhorn
Hugo Kellerman ...... Joseph Kloska
Douglas Bennings/Harold Macmillan ...... Jon Glover
Keith Wood ...... Sam Pamphilon
Roger Aspinall ...... Simon Treves
Secretary ...... Laura Molyneux
Miss Thurwell ...... Anna Bengo
Producer: Liz Webb
First broadcast on Radio 4 in February 2008.
TUE 15:00 Drama on 4 (b0076qv6)
The Wedding Vortex by Elizabeth Lewis
When Esther starts to plan her wedding, she doesn't realise how many choices are involved.
Nor how many other people want to make those choices for her!
Starring Lisa Coleman.
Written by Elizabeth Lewis.
Esther .... Lisa Coleman
Evelina .... Penny Downie
Miss Lovelace .... Eiry Thomas
Beatrice .... Manon Edwards
Kiki .... Lesley Rooney
Katie .... Sara McGaughey
Jack .... Richard Mitchley
Paul .... Richard Nichols
Director: Alison Hindell
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in May 2005.
TUE 15:45 The Mason's Coin by Patrick Carroll (m0003trz)
A tradesman unearths an exquisite silver box filled with valuable trinkets.
He wonders what to do with them...
Patrick Carroll’s short story read by Trevor Cooper.
Producer: Andy Jordan
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in May 1995.
TUE 16:00 A Good Read (m00027n8)
[Repeat of broadcast at 10:00 today]
TUE 16:30 Wired Love (b099xpwg)
[Repeat of broadcast at 10:30 today]
TUE 17:00 The Rivals (b04vkmhh)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:00 today]
TUE 17:30 VI Warshawski (b007jl5g)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:30 today]
TUE 18:00 To the Manor Born (b007n1wj)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:00 today]
TUE 18:30 The Goon Show (m002cnm8)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:30 today]
TUE 19:00 Bad Salsa (b04bn088)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:00 today]
TUE 19:30 Poldark: The Miller's Dance by Winston Graham (m000lv48)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:30 today]
TUE 19:45 Rose Tremain (m002cnmb)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:45 today]
TUE 20:00 It's Your Round (b01946wq)
[Repeat of broadcast at 14:00 today]
TUE 20:30 Tomorrow, Today! (b017gzj8)
[Repeat of broadcast at 14:30 today]
TUE 21:00 Drama on 4 (b0076qv6)
[Repeat of broadcast at 15:00 today]
TUE 21:45 The Mason's Coin by Patrick Carroll (m0003trz)
[Repeat of broadcast at 15:45 today]
TUE 22:00 Unspeakable (m002cdgw)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:00 today]
TUE 22:30 Tim Key's Poetry Programme (b05419jk)
Series 3
Cookery
Comic poet Tim Key has departed the studio for the kitchen, as he peers into 'Tim's shopping bag' and attempts to cook up a feast.
Written and presented by Tim Key.
He is assisted by his guitarist and commis chef, Tom Basden.
With:
Yasmine Akram
Producer: James Robinson
A BBC Cymru Wales production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in March 2015.
TUE 22:45 Sir Ralph Stanza's Letter from Salford (b0076f1p)
Series 2
Security Bard
Romance is in the air with the Salford-based bard at a superstore - and the volunteer trainee poet is the security guard, Rod.
Sir Ralph sets out to use poetry to pep up Rod's love life...
Written by and starring James Quinn
With:
Alison Darling
Tony Melody
Neil Bell
Jemma Thompson
Produced in Manchester by Graham Frost
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in May 2003.
TUE 23:00 Arthur Smith's Balham Bash (b010hcwk)
Series 3
Episode 3
Arthur Smith presents music and comedy from his home in Balham, South London.
With stand-up comedy from Sean Lock in the living room.
More comedy from Annette Fagon on the landing.
And there's music from Squeeze in the kitchen.
Producer: Alison Vernon-Smith
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in April 2011.
TUE 23:30 And Now in Colour (b007jmn1)
Series 1
Intercity
The sketch show team takes the audience to Margate and asks 'Whose Pencil Line is it Anyway?'
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 March 1990.

WEDNESDAY 28 MAY 2025

WED 00:00 A Good Read (m00027n8)
[Repeat of broadcast at 10:00 on Tuesday]
WED 00:30 Wired Love (b099xpwg)
[Repeat of broadcast at 10:30 on Tuesday]
WED 01:00 The Rivals (b04vkmhh)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:00 on Tuesday]
WED 01:30 VI Warshawski (b007jl5g)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:30 on Tuesday]
WED 02:00 To the Manor Born (b007n1wj)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:00 on Tuesday]
WED 02:30 The Goon Show (m002cnm8)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:30 on Tuesday]
WED 03:00 Bad Salsa (b04bn088)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:00 on Tuesday]
WED 03:30 Poldark: The Miller's Dance by Winston Graham (m000lv48)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:30 on Tuesday]
WED 03:45 Rose Tremain (m002cnmb)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:45 on Tuesday]
WED 04:00 It's Your Round (b01946wq)
[Repeat of broadcast at 14:00 on Tuesday]
WED 04:30 Tomorrow, Today! (b017gzj8)
[Repeat of broadcast at 14:30 on Tuesday]
WED 05:00 Drama on 4 (b0076qv6)
[Repeat of broadcast at 15:00 on Tuesday]
WED 05:45 The Mason's Coin by Patrick Carroll (m0003trz)
[Repeat of broadcast at 15:45 on Tuesday]
WED 06:00 The Rivals (b04wwcp0)
Series 3
2. Paul Beck: A Snapshot
Inspector Lestrade was made to look a fool in the Sherlock Holmes stories.
Now he is writing his memoirs, he has a chance to get his own back, with more tales of Holmes' rivals.
This time, Lestrade collaborates with private detective and keen gardener, Paul Beck, as they question the apparently watertight evidence against Squire Clement Gore in a fatal shooting.
Starring James Fleet and Adrian Scarborough.
Written by M McDonnell Bodkin.
Dramatised by Chris Harrald.
Lestrade …. James Fleet
Paul Beck …. Adrian Scarborough
Squire Clement Gore …. Paul Heath
Hardy Holford …. Michael Bertenshaw
Margaret …. Hannah Genesius
Maisie …. Bettrys Jones
Driver …. Ian Conningham
Producer: Liz Webb
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in January 2015.
WED 06:30 VI Warshawski (b007jl5y)
Bitter Medicine
3. The Monkfish Files
An anti-abortion riot breaks out as the private eye's murder probe continues.
Starring Sharon Gless.
VI Warshawski is Sara Paretsky’s tough, smart and likeable female private investigator.
Dramatised by Michelene Wandor.
VI Warshawski …. Sharon Gless
Lottie Herschel …. Eleanor Bron
Bobby Mallory …. Bill Hootkins
Peter Burgoyne …. William Dufris
Rioter …. Alice Arnold
Diaz …. Chris Pavlo
Pedro/Judge …. Ioan Meredith
Carol/Rioter …. Joanna Monro
Dick …. John Sharian
Rioter …. Jonathan Adams
Mr Contreras …. Kerry Shale
Fabiano …. Robert Harper
Dieter Monkfish …. Sean Baker
Producer: Janet Whitaker
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in January 1997.
WED 07:00 If You're So Clever, Why Aren't You Rich? (b00s09s3)
Series 1
Dog Eat Dog
Giles gets a job writing some rousing speeches for a DIY sales conference.
Then he hits on the inspired idea of getting other people to do the work for him while he pockets the dosh - setting in motion a form of job sub-contracting as potentially profitable as the food chain itself.
Meanwhile Judith appears to stop at nothing to keep on the right side of the DSS.
Stars Richard E Grant, Amanda Root and Peter Capaldi.
Comedy drama series about three promising graduates still underachieving in their 30s.
Written by Paul Shearer and Richard Turner.
Giles …… Richard E Grant
Judith …… Amanda Root
David …… Peter Capaldi
Robert …… Alex Lowe
Nigel …… Phil Nice
Sarah …… Siriol Jenkins
Dispatch Rider …… Richard Turner
Producer: Paul Schlesinger
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in January 1995.
WED 07:30 Hancock's Half Hour (b007synp)
Series 4
The Old School Reunion
Surprises are in store as the Lad heads back for prize-giving day at his old school.
Ray Galton and Alan Simpson's classic comedy about the life and times of Anthony Aloysius St John Hancock.
Starring Tony Hancock.
With:
Sidney James
Bill Kerr
Kenneth Williams
Hattie Jacques
Theme and incidental music written by Wally Stott.
Music recorded by the BBC Augmented Revue Orchestra conducted by Harry Rabinowitz.
Producer: Dennis Main Wilson
First broadcast on the BBC Light Programme in January 1957.
WED 08:00 Ankle Tag (m000k8fw)
Series 3
Doppelganger
Bob can't believe his eyes as he meets his spitting image - whilst Alice treads the boards...
The Evans family return.
Former convict Bob is forced to live with his uptight son Gruff, sympathetic daughter-in-law Alice and granddaughter Carys whilst on parole.
Written by Gareth Gwynn and Benjamin Partridge.
Bob ...... Steve Speirs
Gruff ...... Elis James
Alice ...... Katy Wix
Quentin ...... Robert Bathurst
Roz ...... Julia Deakin
Shirley ...... Gbemisola Ikumelo
Producer: Adnan Ahmed
A BBC Studios production for BBC Radio 4 , first broadcast in June 2020.
WED 08:30 Poldark: The Miller's Dance by Winston Graham (m000ls93)
3. A Visit to the Theatre
After a group visit to the theatre, George Warleggan entertains at home and begins to set a trap.
Winston Graham’s novel set in Cornwall continues the story of the passions of the Poldark family and their friends, neighbours, rivals and enemies.
All this takes place in 1812 against a backdrop of England’s continuing military campaign against Napoleon’s army in Spain and Portugal
A world which seems so far away from the pressing concerns of Cornish life and which nevertheless beckons Ross Poldark to attend to his duties in parliament as an MP.
Abridged by Jill Waters and Isobel Creed.
Read by Richard Goulding.
Producer: Jill Waters
A Waters Company production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in August 2020.
WED 08:45 Rose Tremain (m002cpz2)
Music and Silence
8. Banishment
Can King Christian forgive Kirsten's amour with Count Otto Ludwig of Salm?
And will Peter convince Emilia of his love?
Life around the Danish court in the 17th century, is revealed in all its tempestuousness, passion and frustration.
Novel by Rose Tremain
Adapted by Penny Leicester
Narrated by Nicholas Farrell and Sian Thomas
Kirsten Munk .... Frances Barber
Francesca .... Stella Gonet
Emilia .... Eleanor Tremain
King .... David Timson
Peter .... Robert Harper
Queen .... Elizabeth Bell
Producer Di Speirs
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in June 2000.
WED 09:00 Stand-Up Specials (m002cf0j)
Live from the UK
Lindsey Santoro, Jay Lafferty, Barry Dodds and Brennan Reece
Live from the UK brings you the best comedy talent from around the country, all from the comfort of your own headphones.
Host with the most Angela Barnes talks to Birmingham about being the youngest city in the UK, Glasgow about their charity shops, and Newcastle about the the perils of the Great North Run.
She brings you acts from all of these places and more, with stories about breastfeeding, children's parties, dieting with your partner and being 100% British.
This week you can hear;
Lindsey Santoro at The Glee Club, Birmingham
Jay Lafferty at The Stand, Glasgow
Barry Dodds at The Stand, Newcastle
and headliner Brennan Reece at the Frog and Bucket, Manchester
Additional Material by Eve Delaney
Recorded by Sean Kerwin and David Thomas
Sound design by David Thomas
Production Coordinator: Sarah Nicholls
Executive Producer: Pete Strauss
Produced by Gwyn Rhys Davies. A BBC Studios Audio Production for Radio 4.
An EcoAudio Certified Production.
WED 09:30 The Rise and Fall of the Antique (b0bdvj0j)
3. Postwar Portobello
Travis Elborough is charting the rise and fall of the antique.
He examines how, ultimately, the present always dictates which bits of yesteryear we deem worthy of collecting.
The chronological survey of the antiques trade reaches the post-war era of the swinging 60s when antiques became fashionable with pop stars.
And how nostalgia for Victoriana co-existed with the modernising trends epitomised by the 1951 Festival of Britain.
Producer: Sheila Cook.
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in August 2018.
WED 09:45 Daily Service (m002cpz4)
Ascension Day - Commissioning - Preparing a place
A space for spiritual reflection with a Bible reading, prayer and a range of Christian music.
Theme: Ascension Day - Commissioning - Preparing a place
Presenter: Haydon Spenceley
Reading: John 14:1-6
Music:
When i'm home - Jonathan Ogden
Come my way my truth my life - Newcastle Chamber Choir
There's no one like the Lord - Emma Mould & friends
WED 10:00 Archive on 4 (m002cpz6)
Dispatches from the Food Front
To mark the 20th anniversary of BBC Radio 4's The Food Programme, Derek Cooper recalls some memorable moments from the BBC archive.
Bashing out scripts on a typewriter, Derek recalls chronicling the pitched battles of food wars – and celebrating the joys of real food.
Working with six different producers over the years - he looks back to how it all began and the way the show’s investigative approach was developed.
Derek sets out to revisit some of the places he’s been to and some of the people he’s met in pursuit of the story behind the global world of food.
It includes an unusual encounter with influential food-writer Elizabeth David, a trip down the London sewers and a gruelling visit to a slaughterhouse.
Producer: Min Raisman
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in September 1999.
WED 11:00 The Rivals (b04wwcp0)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:00 today]
WED 11:30 VI Warshawski (b007jl5y)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:30 today]
WED 12:00 If You're So Clever, Why Aren't You Rich? (b00s09s3)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:00 today]
WED 12:30 Hancock's Half Hour (b007synp)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:30 today]
WED 13:00 Ankle Tag (m000k8fw)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:00 today]
WED 13:30 Poldark: The Miller's Dance by Winston Graham (m000ls93)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:30 today]
WED 13:45 Rose Tremain (m002cpz2)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:45 today]
WED 14:00 Who Goes There? (b0075z3c)
Series 4
Episode 4
Martin Young chairs the quiz which looks at the noteworthy and the notorious from history.
Tackling the biographical teasers are team captains Francis Wheen and Fred Housego.
With guests:
Claire Rayner
David Aaronovitch
Producer: Liz Anstee
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in November 2000.
WED 14:30 Like They've Never Been Gone (b00cr32p)
Series 4
Episode 4
Tommy and Sheila try to sort out the career and love-life of their son Murray.
And Sheila seems to have a new hobby...
Ageing showbiz couple Tommy Franklin and Sheila Parr battle on with their second stab at fame.
Even though they can’t stand each other…
June Whitfield and Roy Hudd star in Mike Coleman's sitcom.
Tommy Franklin …. Roy Hudd
Sheila Parr …. June Whitfield
Hetty Stark …. Pat Coombes
Murray …. Julian Eardley
Louis Elstein …. Edward Halsted
Hilaire …. Paul Rogan.
Music by Frido Ruth.
Producer: Steve Doherty
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in July 2002.
WED 15:00 Orley Farm by Anthony Trollope (b01102gl)
1. Suspicions
Mr Dockwrath is an attorney by profession and a tenant of Orley Farm.
He's convinced of suspicious circumstances over the inheritance of the estate, and he's determined to prove it...
Starring Tim Pigott-Smith, Samantha Bond and Ronald Pickup.
First published in 1861, Anthony Trollope’s compelling, emotional tale is a treasure trove of splendidly disreputable lawyers, young lovers, the beautiful Lady Mason and the honourable Sir Peregrine Orme.
Dramatised in three parts by Martyn Wade
Anthony Trollope ...... Tim Pigott-Smith
Lady Mason ...... Samantha Bond
Sir Peregrine ...... Ronald Pickup
Peregrine Orme ...... Dan Stevens
Mrs Edith Orme ...... Amanda Root
Lucius Mason ...... Jonathan Christie
Sophia Furnival ...... Lydia Leonard
Mr Furnival ...... Robert Maskell
Mrs Furnival ...... Joanna Monro
Mr Dockwrath ...... Sam Dale
Miriam Dockwrath ...... Janice Acquah
Joseph Mason ...... Jonathan Tafler
Mr Moulder ...... Stephen Critchlow
Mr Kantwise ...... Pual Rider
Felix Graham ...... Gunnar Cauthery
Augustus Staveley ...... Robert Lonsdale
Matthew Round ...... Dan Starkey
Richard Round ...... Malcolm Tierney
Miss Biggs ...... Jill Cardo
Director: Tracey Neale.
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in December 2008.
WED 16:00 Archive on 4 (m002cpz6)
[Repeat of broadcast at 10:00 today]
WED 17:00 The Rivals (b04wwcp0)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:00 today]
WED 17:30 VI Warshawski (b007jl5y)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:30 today]
WED 18:00 If You're So Clever, Why Aren't You Rich? (b00s09s3)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:00 today]
WED 18:30 Hancock's Half Hour (b007synp)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:30 today]
WED 19:00 Ankle Tag (m000k8fw)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:00 today]
WED 19:30 Poldark: The Miller's Dance by Winston Graham (m000ls93)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:30 today]
WED 19:45 Rose Tremain (m002cpz2)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:45 today]
WED 20:00 Who Goes There? (b0075z3c)
[Repeat of broadcast at 14:00 today]
WED 20:30 Like They've Never Been Gone (b00cr32p)
[Repeat of broadcast at 14:30 today]
WED 21:00 Orley Farm by Anthony Trollope (b01102gl)
[Repeat of broadcast at 15:00 today]
WED 22:00 Stand-Up Specials (m002cf0j)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:00 today]
WED 22:30 Alice's Wunderland (b06d2m05)
Series 3
Episode 3
The Machiavellian Madame Cauchemar is put in charge of the school pantomime.
Will Caroline, daughter of cricket billionaire Clive Spoon, be allowed to take the leading role?
A sketch show written and performed by Alice Lowe.
With Marcia Warren as the narrator.
Also starring:
Richard Glover
Simon Greenall
Rachel Stubbing
Clare Thompson
Producer: Lyndsay Fenner
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in September 2015.
WED 22:55 The Comedy Club Interviews (m002cz2j)
Joz Norris 3/3
From 10pm until midnight, seven days a week, The Comedy Club has two hours of comedy. And tonight, Andrew O'Neill talks to Joz Norris.
WED 23:00 The Million Pound Radio Show (b00bb9rr)
Series 4
Episode 3
European onion threat and a whale of a time with Moby Dick.
Andy Hamilton and Nick Revell's sharp-edged banter and sketches with a topical flavour.
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 April 1989.
WED 23:30 The Skewer (m002cf0w)
Series 13
Liability Lineker and The Eurovision Fishing Rights Contest.
Fresh from winning a Best Comedy Award at the Radio Academy Awards for the sixth time, Jon Holmes remixes the news into a satirical current affairs comedy concept album. News meets popular culture in a satirical mash up.
This week - Liability Lineker and The Eurovision Fishing Rights Contest.
Producer: Jon Holmes
An unusual production for BBC Radio 4
WED 23:45 The News at Bedtime (b00pftgj)
Series 1
Episode 3
Twin presenters John Tweedledum and Jim Tweedledee present in-depth news analysis covering the latest stories happening this 'once upon a time'.
Food campaigner Jack Spratt and the Tooth Fairy debate the nation's nutrition.
Written by Ian Hislop and Nick Newman
Starring Jack Dee and Peter Capaldi.
With:
Jack Dee
Peter Capaldi
Charlotte Green
Lewis MacLeod
Lucy Montgomery
Vicki Pepperdine
Dan Tetsell
Producer: Simon Nicholls
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in December 2009.

THURSDAY 29 MAY 2025

THU 00:00 Archive on 4 (m002cpz6)
[Repeat of broadcast at 10:00 on Wednesday]
THU 01:00 The Rivals (b04wwcp0)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:00 on Wednesday]
THU 01:30 VI Warshawski (b007jl5y)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:30 on Wednesday]
THU 02:00 If You're So Clever, Why Aren't You Rich? (b00s09s3)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:00 on Wednesday]
THU 02:30 Hancock's Half Hour (b007synp)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:30 on Wednesday]
THU 03:00 Ankle Tag (m000k8fw)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:00 on Wednesday]
THU 03:30 Poldark: The Miller's Dance by Winston Graham (m000ls93)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:30 on Wednesday]
THU 03:45 Rose Tremain (m002cpz2)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:45 on Wednesday]
THU 04:00 Who Goes There? (b0075z3c)
[Repeat of broadcast at 14:00 on Wednesday]
THU 04:30 Like They've Never Been Gone (b00cr32p)
[Repeat of broadcast at 14:30 on Wednesday]
THU 05:00 Orley Farm by Anthony Trollope (b01102gl)
[Repeat of broadcast at 15:00 on Wednesday]
THU 06:00 The Rivals (b04xrj8n)
Series 3
3. Mrs Edith Marchmont: Seven, Seven, Seven - City
Inspector Lestrade was made to look a fool in the Sherlock Holmes stories.
Now he is writing his memoirs, he has a chance to get his own back, with more tales of Holmes' rivals.
This time, Lestrade collaborates with amateur sleuth Mrs Edith Marchmont, who tries to stop a murder plot overheard on a crossed telephone line.
Starring James Fleet and Marcia Warren.
Written by Julius Chambers.
Dramatised by Chris Harrald.
Lestrade …. James Fleet
Edith Marchmont …. Marcia Warren
Helena …. Lisa Sadovy
James …. Ian Conningham
Ambrose …. David Acton
Reilly …. Stephen Hogan
Producer: Liz Webb
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in January 2015.
THU 06:30 VI Warshawski (b007jl6c)
Bitter Medicine
4. Family Ties
Stepping up her murder hunt, private eye V.I. Warshawski 'borrows' some files from the Monkfish charity.
Starring Sharon Gless.
V.I. Warshawski is Sara Paretsky’s tough, smart and likeable female private investigator.
Dramatised by Michelene Wandor.
V.I. Warshawski …. Sharon Gless
Lottie Herschel …. Eleanor Bron
Mr Contreras/Murray Ryerson …. Kerry Shale
Peter Burgoyne …. William Dufris
Woman 1 and 2 …. Alice Arnold
Ann Beach …. Ann Beach
Bobby Mallory …. Bill Hootkins
Wino 1 …. Chris Pavlo
Wino 2 …. Ioan Meredith
Dick …. John Sharian
Producer: Janet Whitaker
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in January 1997.
THU 07:00 Never Too Late (m002cnvh)
Series 2
Fete Takes a Hand
Hilda and her friends want to save the day care centre – the question is how to raise the funds?
The second series of adventures concerning a group of Lancashire senior citizens. In the first series they were planning trip to the seaside but this time Hilda, Emily, Mildred and Tommy divert their energies into saving the Carson Street Day Centre, which the council has threatened with closure. And, yes, ‘Never Too Late’ does share a theme tune with TV's 'Terry and June'.
Starring Dame Thora Hird as Hilda.
Terry Gregson's sitcom about a group of highly-active pensioners.
Hilda Spriggett …. Thora Hird
Mildred Emmett …. Avis Bunnage
Emily Holroyd …. Megs Jenkins
Tommy Preston …. Joe Gladwin
With David Ryall and Kenneth Connor.
Producer: Edward Taylor
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in January 1982.
**** This programme is an off-air recording, and so does have a few issues with its technical quality – but we hope you enjoy it anyway.
THU 07:30 Parsley Sidings (b007k0t7)
Series 2
The Film Makers
Station master Horace Hepplewhite decides to offer Parsley Sidings station as a location for shooting movies.
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/Whitney, …. Kenneth Connor
Gloria Simpkins …. Liz Fraser
Joe Sims …. Graham Stark
Dolly Bing …. Elizabeth Morgan
Recorded off-air and returned to the BBC archive.
Producer: Edward Taylor.
First broadcast on BBC Radio 2 in November 1973.
THU 08:00 Sisters (b08yn9np)
Series 2
Oh Brother
Susan and Fiona are grown up sisters who live together. But that's all they have in common. Sisters tackles the painfully funny world of the love/hate relationship you can never escape.
When their brother Cliff, who they very rarely speak to, announces he's coming to stay, the sisters start to speculate about the reason for his visit. The favourite theory on their shortlist is that he's finally come out. But what he reveals is altogether more surprising and they enlist Blake's help in getting to the truth of the matter.
Susan ...... Susan Calman
Fiona ...... Ashley Jensen
Blake ...... Nick Helm
Cliff ...... Derek Riddell
Joy ...... Gabby Best
Written by Susan Calman
Producer Paul Schlesinger
A Hat Trick production for BBC Radio 4 first broadcast in July 2017.
THU 08:30 Poldark: The Miller's Dance by Winston Graham (m000lvcd)
4. An Unusual Scheme
Stephen pays an extremely unwell Violet Kellow a visit, while Paul is tempted by an unusual scheme proposed by Stephen.
Winston Graham’s series of novels set in Cornwall follows the lives of the Poldark family and their friends, neighbours, rivals and enemies.
Ross Poldark is now 52 years old and still happily married to Demelza, who is ten years younger than him. Their eldest son Jeremy is approaching 21 and their eldest daughter Clowance is 17, both of them navigating the changeable weather of first love. The Poldark family is completed by young Isabella-Rose although the grief of losing their first born is ever-present.
A series of courtships begins their complicated dance, some fuelled by lust and others by love, money or ambition. All this takes place against a backdrop of England’s continuing military campaign against Napoleon’s army in Spain and Portugal. The damage that war has done to the nation’s commerce and those who rely on it gives rise to political tensions which are played out in complex schemes of power and influence amongst the governing classes in London. A world which seems so far away from the pressing concerns of Cornish life and which nevertheless beckons Ross to attend to his duties in parliament as an MP.
The story told here (Book 9 in the famous series of novels) rejoins the characters in 1812 – about ten years after the point where BBC television’s hugely popular series concluded.
This is a chance to return to Cornwall and the passions of the Poldarks, reflecting on what marriage and courtship are really about and whether love can ever hope to conquer all.
Read by Richard Goulding
Abridged by Jill Waters and Isobel Creed
Produced by Jill Waters
A Waters Company production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in August 2020.
THU 08:45 Rose Tremain (m002cnvk)
Music and Silence
9. Paying a Visit
After her banishment from the Danish Court in Copenhagen, Kirsten must live in her mother's house in Boller, Jutland. Emilia Tilsen has to accompany Kirsten wherever she goes and she wonders how long it will be before she sees her sweetheart, the lutenist Peter Claire. Kirsten and Emilia are also interested to know what has befallen Emilia's young brother Marcus Tilsen - so they go and see his family to investigate. Meanwhile, Dowager Queen Sofie, tries to keep her gold safe from the clutches of her son, King Christian IV...
Life around the Danish court in the 17th century, is revealed in all its tempestuousness, passion and frustration.
Novel by Rose Tremain
Adapted by Penny Leicester
Narrated by Nicholas Farrell and Sian Thomas
Kirsten Munk .... Frances Barber
Francesca .... Stella Gonet
Emilia .... Eleanor Tremain
King .... David Timson
Peter .... Robert Harper
Queen .... Elizabeth Bell
Producer Di Speirs
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in June 2000.
THU 09:00 The Matt Forde Focus Group (m002cfl2)
1. Political Pandering
Can political discussion be funny? Er - yes!
Top political comedian Matt Forde convenes his focus group in front of a live theatre audience with guests comedian Pierre Novellie, Baroness Ayesha Hazarika and former Director of Communications at Number 10, Guto Harri - to see if a few sparks fly as they examine different ways people are pandered to and whether they have ever done any pandering themselves.
Written and performed by Matt Forde
Additional writing from Karl Minns, Katie Storey and Richard Garvin
Producer: Richard Garvin
Co Producers: Daisy Knight and Jules Lom
Broadcast Assistant: Jenny Recaldin
Sound Design and Editing: David Thomas
An Avalon production for BBC Radio 4
THU 09:30 The Rise and Fall of the Antique (b0bdvj52)
4. The Heritage Industry
Travis Elborough charts the rise and fall of the antique, examining how, ultimately, the present always dictates which bits of yesteryear we deem worthy of collecting.
He traces the rise of the heritage industry which saw a decline in country house sales and a corresponding fall in the flow of antique goods for the trade.
Meanwhile, the 1980s saw a rise in public interest in antiques, fuelled by television programmes and the publication of Miller's Antiques Price Guide, empowering the collector and amateur dealer.
Producer: Sheila Cook.
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in August 2018.
THU 09:45 Daily Service (m002cnvm)
Ascension Day - Commissioning - The Ascension of Jesus
A space for spiritual reflection with a Bible reading, prayer and a range of Christian music.
Theme: Ascension Day - Commissioning - The Ascension of Jesus
Presenter: Reverend Canon Liz Hassall Rector of the York City Centre Churches with the Ebor Singers.
Reading: Luke 24:44-end
Music:
Hail the day that sees him rise - Ebor Singers
Psalm 110 (Anglican chant)
Lord Jesus Christ, thou prince of love (J.S. Bach) - Ebor Singers
Crown him with many crowns - Ebor Singers
THU 10:00 Great Lives (m000fwym)
Ernest Hemingway
Monty Python star and broadcaster Michael Palin chooses the American writer, Ernest Hemingway.
Michael first came across his Great Life when he was studying for school exams.
His love of Ernest Hemingway has never gone away.
Expert Naomi Wood joins Michael and presenter Matthew Parris to explain why this 20th century legend is a Great Life.
Producer: Perminder Khatkar.
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in May 2014.
THU 10:30 A Woman Half in Shadow (b08m9kvj)
Zora Neale Hurston was an African American novelist and folklorist, a queen of the Harlem Renaissance and a contemporary of Langston Hughes and Richard Wright.
But when she died in 1960 she was living on welfare and was buried in an unmarked grave. Her name was even misspelt on her death certificate.
Scotland's National poet Jackie Kay tells the story of how Zora became part of America’s literary canon.
Alice Walker wrote in her collection of essays ‘In Search of Our Mother’s Gardens’: “We are a people. A people do not throw their geniuses away. And if they are thrown away, it is our duty as artists and as witnesses for the future to collect them again for the sake of our children, and, if necessary, bone by bone.”
And that's what Alice did: travelling to Florida in 1973, in search of Zora's grave where she laid down a gravestone declaring Zora "A Genius of the South".
Zora is now claimed by many of America's leading novelists including Maya Angelou, Zadie Smith and Toni Morrison, as their literary foremother.
Eighty years since the publication of her greatest work 'Their Eyes Were Watching God', Jackie Kay tells Zora's story.
Interviews include author Alice Walker, the poet Sonia Sanchez, The Guardian's Editor at Large Gary Younge and Zora's biographer Valerie Boyd.
Readings by Solange Knowles.
Photo: Carl Van Vechten
Producer: Caitlin Smith
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in April 2017.
THU 11:00 The Rivals (b04xrj8n)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:00 today]
THU 11:30 VI Warshawski (b007jl6c)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:30 today]
THU 12:00 Never Too Late (m002cnvh)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:00 today]
THU 12:30 Parsley Sidings (b007k0t7)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:30 today]
THU 13:00 Sisters (b08yn9np)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:00 today]
THU 13:30 Poldark: The Miller's Dance by Winston Graham (m000lvcd)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:30 today]
THU 13:45 Rose Tremain (m002cnvk)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:45 today]
THU 14:00 The Ultimate Choice (m001jkhs)
Series 1
2: Barry White v Hannibal Lecter
Steph McGovern asks some seriously funny minds to offer definitive answers to the great questions of our age. Or not.
Welcome to the world's most devious game of Would You Rather?
With guests Amy Gledhill and Andrew Maxwell.
Devised and written by Jon Harvey & Joseph Morpurgo
With additional material from Laura Major
Producer: Jon Harvey
A Naked production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in February 2023.
THU 14:30 King Street Junior Revisited (b007jx9r)
Series 1
The System
The end justifies the means. Maybe - but there' s sometimes a price to pay - as Mr Maxwell discovers...
School comedy created and written by Jim Eldridge.
Ten series of this King Street Junior ran between 1985 and 1998. King Street Junior Revisited ran from 2002 to 2005.
Mrs Devon .... Carolyn Pickles
Miss Lewis .... Marlene Sidaway
Mr Maxwell .... Michael Cochrane
Miss Featherstone .... Teresa Gallagher
Mr Long .... Paul Copley
Miss Reid .... Jacqueline Beatty
Mrs Bradbury .... Sandy Walsh
Chief Supt Donaldson ..... Campbell Morrison
DS Richards .... Peter Landl
Matt Bradbury .... Sonny Muslim
Sanjay/lan .... Sam Morris
Zenal .... Layla Gillespie
Producer: John Fawcett Wilson
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in April 2002.
THU 15:00 Orley Farm by Anthony Trollope (b00g9f9q)
2. Romance
Romance is in the air for the young folk staying at Noningsby, the country home of Judge and Lady Staveley.
Lady Mason accepts Sir Peregrine's invitation to spend Christmas at The Cleeve, and, in the Moulder household, there is business to consider.
Starring Tim Pigott-Smith, Samantha Bond and Ronald Pickup.
Anthony Trollope’s compelling, emotional novel.
Dramatised by Martyn Wade.
Anthony Trollope ...... Tim Pigott-Smith
Lady Mason ...... Samantha Bond
Sir Peregrine ...... Ronald Pickup
Peregrine Orme ...... Dan Stevens
Mrs Edith Orme ...... Amanda Root
Lucius Mason ...... Jonathan Christie
Sophia Furnival ...... Lydia Leonard
Mr Furnival ...... Robert Maskell
Lady Staveley ...... Pamela Miles
Madeline Staveley ...... Manjeet Mann
Augustus Staveley ...... Robert Lonsdale
Felix Graham ...... Gunnar Cauthery
Mr Dockwrath ...... Sam Dale
Miriam Dockwrath ...... Janice Acquah
Joseph Mason ...... Jonathan Tafler
Mr Moulder ...... Stephen Critchlow
Mrs Moulder ...... Jane Whittenshaw
John Kenneby ...... Inam Mirza
Mr Kantwise ...... Paul Rider
Matthew Round ...... Dan Starkey
Director: Tracey Neale.
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in January 2009.
THU 16:00 Great Lives (m000fwym)
[Repeat of broadcast at 10:00 today]
THU 16:30 A Woman Half in Shadow (b08m9kvj)
[Repeat of broadcast at 10:30 today]
THU 17:00 The Rivals (b04xrj8n)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:00 today]
THU 17:30 VI Warshawski (b007jl6c)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:30 today]
THU 18:00 Never Too Late (m002cnvh)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:00 today]
THU 18:30 Parsley Sidings (b007k0t7)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:30 today]
THU 19:00 Sisters (b08yn9np)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:00 today]
THU 19:30 Poldark: The Miller's Dance by Winston Graham (m000lvcd)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:30 today]
THU 19:45 Rose Tremain (m002cnvk)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:45 today]
THU 20:00 The Ultimate Choice (m001jkhs)
[Repeat of broadcast at 14:00 today]
THU 20:30 King Street Junior Revisited (b007jx9r)
[Repeat of broadcast at 14:30 today]
THU 21:00 Orley Farm by Anthony Trollope (b00g9f9q)
[Repeat of broadcast at 15:00 today]
THU 22:00 The Matt Forde Focus Group (m002cfl2)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:00 today]
THU 22:30 Paul Sinha's History Revision (b04tlfsr)
Series 1
Music
Paul Sinha looks through all of human history and examines how we came to be where we are.
In this edition, he takes as his starting point Dolly Parton's standout performance at the 2014 Glastonbury Festival.
How did 120,000 people in a Somerset field, plus many millions more at home, come to be watching a 68-year-old woman from Tennessee on a Sunday afternoon?
The story inevitably takes in a Haitian rebellion, Slovenian hunting, Scottish whisky, Italian electronics and the American son of a Russian farmer who didn't like music.
Because nothing and no-one exists in a vacuum.
Written and performed by Paul Sinha.
Producer: Ed Morrish
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in December 2014.
THU 23:00 The Problem With Adam Bloom (b00gl4t1)
Series 2
Insecurity
You should talk about your problems - after all, a problem shared is a problem halved.
Unless you've got a trust phobia, in which case it opens a whole other can of worms.
Written by and starring Adam Bloom.
With Stefano Paolini.
Producer: Adam Bromley
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in November 2004.
THU 23:15 Fabulous (b00hs90r)
Series 1
Episode 3
Faye's cooker is beeping, work deadlines are looming and flat-hunting sucks...
Lucy Clarke’s sitcom about a woman who wants to be fabulous but can't cope.
Starring Daisy Haggard as Faye.
With:
Olivia Colman
Adam Buxton
Katy Brand
Eve Dallas
Jot Davies
Music by Osymyso.
Producer: Simon Nicholls
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in May 2007.
THU 23:30 Mark Watson Makes the World Substantially Better (b00k3n96)
Series 1
Greed/Gluttony
Welsh comedian Mark Watson sets out on his quest to free us from the seven deadly sins via stand-up comedy.
It's greed and gluttony for starters.
Sketches, songs and distractions from:
Tim Key
Tim Minchin
Producer: Katie Marsden
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in February 2007.

FRIDAY 30 MAY 2025

FRI 00:00 Great Lives (m000fwym)
[Repeat of broadcast at 10:00 on Thursday]
FRI 00:30 A Woman Half in Shadow (b08m9kvj)
[Repeat of broadcast at 10:30 on Thursday]
FRI 01:00 The Rivals (b04xrj8n)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:00 on Thursday]
FRI 01:30 VI Warshawski (b007jl6c)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:30 on Thursday]
FRI 02:00 Never Too Late (m002cnvh)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:00 on Thursday]
FRI 02:30 Parsley Sidings (b007k0t7)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:30 on Thursday]
FRI 03:00 Sisters (b08yn9np)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:00 on Thursday]
FRI 03:30 Poldark: The Miller's Dance by Winston Graham (m000lvcd)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:30 on Thursday]
FRI 03:45 Rose Tremain (m002cnvk)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:45 on Thursday]
FRI 04:00 The Ultimate Choice (m001jkhs)
[Repeat of broadcast at 14:00 on Thursday]
FRI 04:30 King Street Junior Revisited (b007jx9r)
[Repeat of broadcast at 14:30 on Thursday]
FRI 05:00 Orley Farm by Anthony Trollope (b00g9f9q)
[Repeat of broadcast at 15:00 on Thursday]
FRI 06:00 The Rivals (b04ykbjw)
Series 3
4. Dr James Thorndike: The Moabite Cipher
Inspector Lestrade was made to look a fool in the Sherlock Holmes stories.
Now he is writing his memoirs, he has a chance to get his own back, with more tales of Holmes' rivals.
This time, Lestrade collaborates with Dr James Thorndike, as they try to protect Pastor Wayne Kaplan after he receives death threats.
Starring James Fleet and Tim McInnerny.
Written by R Austin Freeman.
Dramatised by Chris Harrald.
Lestrade …. James Fleet
Thorndike …. Tim McInnerny
Kaplan …. Ian Conningham
Professor Waggoner …. Michael Bertenshaw
Miss Dunbar …. Roslyn Hill
The Flunky …. Monty d’Inverno
The Duchess …. Jane Slavin
Producer: Liz Webb
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in January 2015.
FRI 06:30 VI Warshawski (b007jl6q)
Bitter Medicine
5. A Matter of Records
Private eye V.I. Warshawski suspects a case of hospital malpractice, as she probes a suspicious death.
Starring Sharon Gless.
V.I. Warshawski is Sara Paretsky’s tough, smart and likeable female private investigator.
Dramatised by Michelene Wandor.
V.I. Warshawski …. Sharon Gless
Lottie Herschel …. Eleanor Bron
Bobby Mallory …. Bill Hootkins
Peter Burgoyne …. William Dufris
Sal/Nurse …. Alice Arnold
Woman …. Ann Beach
Dick …. John Sharian
Max …. Jonathan Adams
Mr Contreras/Murray Ryerson …. Kerry Shale
Producer: Janet Whitaker
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in January 1997.
FRI 07:00 A Very Private Man (b09gxsml)
Episode 2
David and Helen Parkinson arrive in their new secluded home in the Yorkshire countryside.
But David's dream of isolation is even more remote...
Rodney Bewes stars in Terry Gregson's north v south sitcom.
David Parkinson …. Rodney Bewes
Helen Parkinson …. Ann Bell
Mrs Henderson …. Daphne Oxenford
Mrs Arthur …. Paula Tildrook
Mr Sands …. Peter Wheeler
Produced at BBC Manchester by Ron McDonnell.
First broadcast on BBC Radio 2 in January 1981.
FRI 07:30 Lines From My Grandfather's Forehead (b00yhx5s)
Series 2
Episode 5
Angry antique dealers, a word from the Minister for population - and it's not the end of the world
A sequential entertainment for radio starring Ronnie Barker.
With:
Terence Brady
Pauline Yates
Pianist: Gordon Langford.
Banjo: Dick Abell
Written by Terence Brady, Peter N Christie, Donald Churchill, Bert Fisher, John Graham, Christopher Langham, Roy Lomax, Chris Miller, Katie Moss, Myles Rudge and Gordon Langford, Allan Scott and Chris Bryant, and Gerald Wiley.
Producer John Fawcett-Wilson
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in August 1972.
FRI 08:00 Showstopper (b00yb41f)
1. Organised Crime
The Showstopper team are here to create a hilarious improvised comic musical on the spot!
Featuring songs, plot and characters based entirely on suggestions from the live studio audience.
So it's curtain up on the musical world of organised crime!
The cast includes:
Pippa Evans
Ruth Bratt
Dylan Emery
Lucy Trodd
Sean McCann
Oliver Senton
Producer: Sam Bryant
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in January 2011.
FRI 08:30 Poldark: The Miller's Dance by Winston Graham (m000ltfk)
5. The War With Napoleon
The English Navy is preventing ships from landing in France in order to cut off supplies to Napoleon. The war with Napoleon’s Europe has reached a crucial phase.
Winston Graham’s series of novels set in Cornwall follows the lives of the Poldark family and their friends, neighbours, rivals and enemies.
Ross Poldark is now 52 years old and still happily married to Demelza, who is ten years younger than him. Their eldest son Jeremy is approaching 21 and their eldest daughter Clowance is 17, both of them navigating the changeable weather of first love. The Poldark family is completed by young Isabella-Rose although the grief of losing their first born is ever-present.
A series of courtships begins their complicated dance. All this takes place against a backdrop of England’s continuing military campaign against Napoleon’s army in Spain and Portugal. The damage that war has done to the nation’s commerce and those who rely on it gives rise to political tensions which are played out in complex schemes of power and influence amongst the governing classes in London. A world which seems so far away from the pressing concerns of Cornish life and which nevertheless beckons Ross to attend to his duties in parliament as an MP.
The story told here (Book 9 in the famous series of novels) rejoins the characters in 1812 – about ten years after the point where BBC television’s hugely popular series concluded.
This is a chance to return to Cornwall and the passions of the Poldarks, reflecting on what marriage and courtship are really about and whether love can ever hope to conquer all.
Read by Richard Goulding
Abridged by Jill Waters and Isobel Creed
Produced by Jill Waters
A Waters Company production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in August 2020.
FRI 08:45 Rose Tremain (m002cr16)
Music and Silence
10. Awaiting a Reply
Kirsten schemes to get her Count back by giving secret information to the King of Sweden - but she needs Peter Claire's assistance and writes to his address in Frederiksborg. Emilia wonders why there is silence from him and Kirsten grows nervous when she doesn't get any reply...
Narrated by Nicholas Farrell and Sian Thomas
Kirsten Munk .... Frances Barber
Francesca .... Stella Gonet
Emilia .... Eleanor Tremain
King .... David Timson
Peter .... Robert Harper
Queen .... Elizabeth Bell
Producer Di Speirs
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in June 2000.
FRI 09:00 Conversations from a Long Marriage (m002cdlr)
Series 6
1. Here You Come Again
This week Joanna comes home to Roger. But will she stay?
Joanna Lumley and Roger Allam return as the loving, long-married couple, in the 6th series of Jan Etherington’s award-winning comedy.
This week, Joanna returns home, after three months away, still trying to come to terms with the fact that Roger has an adult son, from a brief fling in the 70s. She’s cat-sitting for a friend, so can’t stay but suggests Roger takes her out to dinner in town. The evening goes well but as they head back to the flat, Roger’s phone rings. It’s his son…
Conversations from a Long Marriage is written by Jan Etherington and produced by Claire Jones.
Wilfredo Acosta - Sound Engineer
Jon Calver - Sound Designer
Sarah Nicholls - Production Coordinator
An EcoAudio certified production.
A BBC Studios Audio production for Radio 4
FRI 09:30 The Rise and Fall of the Antique (b0bdvl93)
5. Retromania
Travis Elborough charts the rise and fall of the antique, examining how, ultimately, the present always dictates which bits of yesteryear we deem worthy of collecting.
He concludes his series on the changing fortunes of the antiques trade, discovering the impact of the internet, and the rise of "vintage" wares alongside traditional antiques.
Producer: Sheila Cook.
Frist broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in August 2018.
FRI 09:45 Daily Service (m002cr18)
Ascension: The peace of the Spirit
Christian words and music with Rev Roz Lawson, Assistant Chaplain at the Multi-faith Chaplaincy of the University of Glasgow.
Reading: Romans 14: 15-20.
FRI 10:00 Soul Music (b09ydkd5)
Series 26
A Whiter Shade of Pale by Procol Harum
Why has Procol Harum's surreal track ‘A Whiter Shade of Pale’ remained enduringly popular for over 50 years?
Soul Music hears the stories and memories of those who love it.
Released in May 1967, it was the group's first single. It went to No. 1 in the UK, and stayed there for six weeks.
Musicologist, Allan Moore, deconstructs the track and dismisses the almost universally accepted idea that it mimics Bach's ‘Air on a G String’.
Film-maker, Chris Rodley, remembers the impact it had on him when he heard it for the first time, in the dead of the night, on pirate Radio Caroline.
Musician, James Pollard, explains how he created a wedding march for a friend using this track as inspiration.
Thriller writer, Nelson DeMille, describes his year in Vietnam as 'the year without music', but ‘A Whiter Shade of Pale’ is the one song that reminds him of his time there.
Singer, Sarah Collins, suffered a brain tumour shortly after the birth of her second child. Making the decision to sing again was fundamental to her healing process. As her Dad, Phil, explains 'Whiter Shade' is his favourite song. He was very moved when she decided to record it for her YouTube channel.
Produced at BBC Bristol by Karen Gregor.
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in April 2018.
FRI 10:30 Doonesburyland (b008md8z)
An insight into the world of Garry Trudeau and his cartoon creations, BD, Zonker and Duke.
The Guardian's Steve Bell and Martin Rowson give their interpretations of the Doonesbury world and US satirist Joe Queenan, takes a stroll around the venue where the characters were drawn - Garry's studio....
Producer: Miles Warde
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in January 2008.
FRI 11:00 The Rivals (b04ykbjw)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:00 today]
FRI 11:30 VI Warshawski (b007jl6q)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:30 today]
FRI 12:00 A Very Private Man (b09gxsml)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:00 today]
FRI 12:30 Lines From My Grandfather's Forehead (b00yhx5s)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:30 today]
FRI 13:00 Showstopper (b00yb41f)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:00 today]
FRI 13:30 Poldark: The Miller's Dance by Winston Graham (m000ltfk)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:30 today]
FRI 13:45 Rose Tremain (m002cr16)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:45 today]
FRI 14:00 Whispers (b007k3br)
Series 1
Episode 5
The ins and outs of the abdication crisis in the quiz show that loves scandals.
Hosted by the least discreet man in Britain, Gyles Brandreth.
Regular team captains Anthony Holden and Stella Duffy are joined by:
Lynne Truss
Rowan Pelling
Producer: Elizabeth Freestone
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in November 2003.
FRI 14:30 More Mr Mulliner by PG Wodehouse (m002cr1d)
The Truth About George
Pub raconteur Mr Mulliner’s tale of a man in love who must overcome a speech impediment.
Storyteller Mr Mulliner enlists the regular tipplers of the Angler's Rest to tell his tales.
Starring Richard Griffiths.
From a collection of stories written by PG Wodehouse, first published in 1927.
Dramatised in four parts by Roger Davenport.
Mr Mulliner .... Richard Griffiths
Miss Postlethwaite / Susan / Wilfred .... Matilda Ziegler
A Dry Sherry / George …. Peter Darney
A Pint of Stout / The Specialist / The Guard .... David Timson
A Light Ale / The Lunatic .... Martin Hyder
A Port / Traveller / Farmer Appleby .... Peter Acre
Stranger / Reporter .... Damian Lynch
Mother on the Train …. Lydia Leonard
Director: Ned Chaillet
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in February 2004.
FRI 15:00 Orley Farm by Anthony Trollope (b00ghrhb)
3. Secrets
Lady Mason has confessed to her terrible secret and her chance of marriage with Sir Peregrine has been shattered.
Will her secret be exposed at the trial and will her beloved son lose Orley Farm?
Starring Tim Pigott-Smith, Samantha Bond and Ronald Pickup.
Conclusion of Anthony Trollope’s compelling, emotional novel from 1861.
Dramatised by Martyn Wade.
Anthony Trollope ...... Tim Pigott-Smith
Lady Mason ...... Samantha Bond
Sir Peregrine ...... Ronald Pickup
Peregrine Orme ...... Dan Stevens
Mrs Edith Orme ...... Amanda Root
Lucius Mason ...... Jonathan Christie
Sophia Furnival ...... Lydia Leonard
Mr Furnival ...... Robert Maskell
Mrs Furnival ...... Joanna Monro
Lady Staveley ...... Pamela Miles
Judge Staveley ...... Chris Pavlo
Madeline Staveley ...... Manjeet Mann
Augustus Staveley ...... Robert Lonsdale
Felix Graham ...... Gunnar Cauthery
Mr Dockwrath ...... Sam Dale
Joseph Mason ...... Jonathan Tafler
Mr Moulder ...... Stephen Critchlow
Mrs Moulder ...... Jane Whittenshaw
John Kenneby ...... Inam Mirza
Chaffanbrass ...... Malcolm Tierney
Miss Biggs ...... Jill Cardo
Judge ...... Dan Starkey
Director: Tracey Neale
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in January 2009.
FRI 16:00 Soul Music (b09ydkd5)
[Repeat of broadcast at 10:00 today]
FRI 16:30 Doonesburyland (b008md8z)
[Repeat of broadcast at 10:30 today]
FRI 17:00 The Rivals (b04ykbjw)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:00 today]
FRI 17:30 VI Warshawski (b007jl6q)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:30 today]
FRI 18:00 A Very Private Man (b09gxsml)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:00 today]
FRI 18:30 Lines From My Grandfather's Forehead (b00yhx5s)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:30 today]
FRI 19:00 Showstopper (b00yb41f)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:00 today]
FRI 19:30 Poldark: The Miller's Dance by Winston Graham (m000ltfk)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:30 today]
FRI 19:45 Rose Tremain (m002cr16)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:45 today]
FRI 20:00 Whispers (b007k3br)
[Repeat of broadcast at 14:00 today]
FRI 20:30 More Mr Mulliner by PG Wodehouse (m002cr1d)
[Repeat of broadcast at 14:30 today]
FRI 21:00 Orley Farm by Anthony Trollope (b00ghrhb)
[Repeat of broadcast at 15:00 today]
FRI 22:00 Conversations from a Long Marriage (m002cdlr)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:00 today]
FRI 22:30 Jeremy Hardy Feels It (b09jvn0m)
Series 1
Jeremy Hardy Feels... Fear
Jeremy Hardy's series that not only seconds that emotion, but explains it too. In this show, Jeremy discusses ..fear.
In 2017, Radio 4's most passionate polemicist returned to the airwaves with a new format which proved both personal and profound, and promised to present other sides of Jeremy we hadn't heard before. There was even the prospect that he may sing. (He won't sing.)
Before his death [1st Feb 2019] Jeremy appeared regularly on The News Quiz and I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue in addition to writing ten series of Jeremy Hardy Speaks To The Nation, and winning numerous awards and almost certainly the Nobel Prize for Chemistry.
The show's producer is Jeremy's long-standing accomplice, David Tyler, whose radio credits include Cabin Pressure, Thanks A Lot, Milton Jones!, Marcus Brigstocke's The Brig Society and Armando Iannucci's Charm Offensive.
Written by Jeremy Hardy
Produced by David Tyler
A Pozzitive production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in December 2017.
FRI 23:00 The Hudson and Pepperdine Show (b0076fhj)
Series 3
Reality TV
Mel Hudson and Vicki Pepperdine are swept up in the craze for celebrities on reality TV
Starring Mel Hudson and Vicki Pepperdine
With:
Martin Hyder
Jim North
Written by Danny Robins, Richie Devlin and Dan Tetsell with the cast
Script edited by Graeme Garden
Music by Richie Webb
Producer: Chris Neill
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in June 2003.
FRI 23:30 Will Smith's Midlife Crisis Management (b00g0536)
Episode 1
Even though he’s always felt middle-aged, Will is going through a mid-life crisis at the age of 35.
Luckily his godfather Peter is on hand to help him through this period of doubt. Peter invites George, a Tory MP, to help Will speak his mind.
Starring Will Smith
Will seeks help and advice on coping with middle age.
Comedy series written by Will Smith and Roger Drew.
Peter …… Roger Allam
George …… Geoffrey Whitehead
With:
Jill Cardo
Gunnar Cauthery
Roger Drew
Donnla Hughes
Dan Starkey
Malcolm Tierney
Robert Lonsdale
Producer: Tilusha Ghelani
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in December 2008.