Radio Times
type: channel
link: https://www.radiotimes.com
date: 2025-07-17T14:14:18.000Z
update period: hourly
update frequency: 1
update base: 2000-01-01T12:00+00:00
items: Greg James on his Radio 1 future – and meeting childhood hero Michael Palin
items: Unforgotten's Nicola Walker and Blackadder star's paranormal drama is airing again on BBC Radio 4
items: Coronation Street star confirms The Archers role before leaving the cobbles
items: Café Hope host Rachel Burden: 'Bad news drives clicks – but people still want uplifting stories too'
items: The Archers announces VE Day prequel special in tribute to Peggy Woolley
items: The Archers icon: 'Wendy Richard and Angela Rippon thought I was the sexiest man in showbusiness'
items: BBC Radio presenter Janice Forsyth quits, announcing Alzheimer's diagnosis
items: June Spencer, long-time star of The Archers, dies aged 105
items: The Archers' Angus Stobie on George's fate: 'Prison might make him worse'
items: Jason Watkins, David Morrissey and more join BBC Radio 4's Dickensian season
items: Lost episodes of radio classic The Clitheroe Kid will return to the airwaves
items: BBC presenter Lauren Laverne shares cancer diagnosis – thanks colleagues for support
items: Julian Rhind-Tutt on his new detective drama role and Green Wing return
items: BBC Radio 4's Today programme drops daily feature after 40 years
items: Good Omens star Michael Sheen joins award-winning BBC Radio 4 podcast
items: The Archers spoilers following horrific crash for Alice and George
items: Christopher Eccleston: "I've never been a huge fan of sci-fi"
items: Doctor Who's Christopher Eccleston to star in iconic sci-fi adaptation
items: The Archers recasts Robert Snell after death of actor Graham Blockey
items: The Archers celebrates 20,000th episode: 'It's just the beginning!'
items: David Tennant to make debut as Macbeth in BBC Radio 4 adaptation
items: Our Friends in the North writer revives series for BBC Radio 4
items: BBC Radio 4 temporarily drops off air during Today Programme
items: Emma Barnett named new host of BBC Radio 4's Woman's Hour
items: Stuart Maconie: Your Desert Island Discs proves that music can offer the ultimate comfort in challenging times
items: BBC Radio 4 invites listeners to take part in Your Desert Island Discs
items: Bertie Carvel and Doctor Foster writer reunite for BBC lockdown arts project
items: Louis Theroux's first podcast to drop on BBC Radio 4 and BBC Sounds
items: The Archers outlines changes amid coronavirus pandemic
items: The Archers | Jim faces a tough decision as Lilian digs her heels in

Greg James on his Radio 1 future – and meeting childhood hero Michael Palin
type: item
date: 2025-07-14T23:01:57.000Z
creator: David Crawford
subject: Radio
subject: audio
subject: BBC
subject: BBC Radio 1
subject: BBC Radio 4
subject: Interview
subject: Magazine
description: From shows on Radio 1 and Radio 4 via podcasts, Greg James continues to add to his CV — but who inspired all that enthusiasm and curiosity?
encoded: This article first appeared in Radio Times magazine. Perched on a deckchair outside Sheffield City Hall, Greg James is enthusing about having just been on stage with his childhood hero and favourite son of the city, Michael Palin. “Michael massively inspired me. I must have been about eight or nine when I watched Around the World in 80 Days, and I just saw him as this wonderful travel presenter, but then I went on this voyage of discovery and realised this very funny man was also part of the greatest comedy group of all time, and a scriptwriter, an actor, a director and an author.” The pair were recording a live episode of James’s Radio 4 series, Rewinder, at the Crossed Wires podcast festival, which featured a trove of archive clips linked to the former Python’s life and career – from his first screen performance in a saucy Ken Dodd sketch to his old geography teacher reminiscing about Palin’s school days. The previous evening James hosted another show at the festival, Nobody Expects the Michael Palin Podcast, in which ostensibly he tried to persuade Palin – surely one of the few famous people not to have a podcast – that he needs one. “One thing I love about him is that he is endlessly curious – he loves meeting new people, experiencing new things and finding out about stuff, and I think finding out about podcasts is an extension of everything else that he does.” But the podcast wheeze was really a red herring: “It was an excuse to interview him about his life in Sheffield. That was the magic.” An endless curiosity is perhaps something that could also be attributed to the 39-year-old Radio 1 Breakfast presenter, Radio 4 archivist, Tailenders cricket podcast host, children’s author and, from this year, creative director of Crossed Wires. When asked where that drive comes from, he returns to the influence of Michael Palin, “He approaches everything he does with such enthusiasm and genuine passion – I try to do that as well. You need role models and I don’t think the…

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Unforgotten's Nicola Walker and Blackadder star's paranormal drama is airing again on BBC Radio 4
type: item
date: 2025-05-31T10:16:43.000Z
creator: Minnie Wright
subject: audio
subject: Radio
subject: TV
subject: BBC Radio 4
subject: News
description: The audio drama comes from Doctor Who director Julian Simpson.
encoded: Unforgotten favourite Nicola Walker stars alongside Blackadder and Notting Hill actor Tim McInnerny in three-part sardonically humorous paranormal audio drama Mythos. It's written and director by Julian Simpson, whose credits include episodes of Doctor Who as well as BBC Radio 4's The Lovecraft Investigations. Mythos is described as a series that looks at British folklore through a quasi-scientific prism. It centres on a secretive government agency which investigates supernatural and otherworldly threats. Walker stars as the ghost of a nun, while McInnerny plays her boss. In the first episode, her character searches for a spell book in a remote village. Mythos also stars Wicked and Bridgerton actor Jonathan Bailey, as well as Van der Valk's Emma Fielding and Underworld actor Steven Mackintosh. It was first broadcast on BBC Radio 4 back in 2017 but the 45-minute first episode, titled Mythos, will be airing again on the station tomorrow, Sunday 1st June, at 4pm. The second episode, Glamis, airs the following Sunday (8th June) at the same time and the third, Albion, is broadcast a week later at 4pm on Sunday 15th June. Mythos starts Sunday 1st June at 4pm on BBC Radio 4.

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Coronation Street star confirms The Archers role before leaving the cobbles
type: item
date: 2025-04-30T14:43:07.000Z
creator: Patrick Cremona
subject: Coronation Street
subject: Soaps
subject: TV
subject: BBC Radio 4
subject: ITV
subject: News
description: Charlotte Jordan is swapping one iconic soap for another.
encoded: Charlotte Jordan may be set to depart Coronation Street after five years on the cobbles – but the Daisy Midgeley star has already lined up a role in another iconic soap. Jordan is set to swap ITV for Radio 4 by joining the cast of legendary radio drama The Archers, news she confirmed during an appearance on This Morning on Wednesday 30th April. "I am joining The Archers, which is really fun," she said, before adding that she starts "very soon". She continued: "I can't say much about it, but the character will ruffle some feathers. That's what I can say." Jordan's departure from Coronation Street was first announced towards the start of this year, and since then her character Daisy has been through multiple dramatic and traumatic storylines. Her exit will air in May, and a few details regarding her exit storyline were revealed alongside a dramatic teaser earlier in April. According to ITV, Daisy will be seen planning to embark on a new chapter on the other side of the world – but will do so leaving a void in the heart of Weatherfield and devastation in her wake. Read more: Coronation Street villain set to return after being killed off Coronation Street legend Thelma Barlow explains how new film lured her out of retirement Meanwhile, Jenny will be seen desperately pleading with Daisy to reconsider her decision, while a heartfelt conversation with Daniel will play a crucial role in her final moments on the street. Recently, Jordan hinted that the door might remain open for a return to Weatherfield at some point later down the line, explaining: "Coronation Street is a very special building, and I have loved it. And it's just goodbye for now, not goodbye forever." She also described Daisy's departure as "bittersweet" and further explained: "Weatherfield has been her home for a while now and, early on, was giving her all the things she wanted – family, community, stability, people to love more than she perhaps loves herself – but it’s also been the source of so much traum…

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Café Hope host Rachel Burden: 'Bad news drives clicks – but people still want uplifting stories too'
type: item
date: 2025-04-22T10:11:27.000Z
creator: Bill Borrows
subject: audio
subject: Radio
subject: BBC Radio 4
subject: Interview
subject: Magazine
description: The BBC Radio 4 show is a virtual coffee shop, where guests pop in for a brew and a chat to tell us what they're doing to make the world a better place.
encoded: This article first appeared in Radio Times magazine. "April Fools' Day is cancelled this year because no made-up prank could match [what's] going on in the world right now." You probably saw the meme last month and, rather than laugh, just silently acknowledged the sad truth at the heart of it. Conflict in Ukraine and the Middle East, the re-election of a man to the top job in the White House that comedian John Mulaney famously compared to a horse being allowed into a hospital, followed shortly by $1 trillion wiped off the stock market amid a seemingly random tariff war certainly make the world look like an unfunny joke. And these are just some of the events Rachel Burden could be talking about when she says, "Anyone who works in news media these days, whether that’s radio, digital or TV, is aware that there's only so much that an audience can take." In a fine case of nominative determinism, the Radio 5 Live weekday breakfast show presenter has frequently found herself breaking bad news to the nation as it has woken up over the last 14 years. She feels the despair. "People are turning off the news because it's overwhelming. They feel they’ve no agency and are curating their own universe in terms of the media they consume." For all the reasons above, that may well now include Café Hope, a Radio 4 show she has also been hosting since last year. In keeping with a slew of recent books such as Utopia for Realists and Factfulness: Ten Reasons We're Wrong about the World – and Why Things Are Better than You Think and other initiatives like The Uplift on the CBS News app, Radio 4 "wanted to do something around finding a bit of hope and optimism in a very dark world", explains Burden. "I jumped at the chance to be involved because it’s just so different to what I do every day." Although she is careful to stress that, alongside the rolling news, her 5 Live show also tries to make “the audience smile or give them opportunities to feel hopeful”, the format for Café Hope revolve…

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The Archers announces VE Day prequel special in tribute to Peggy Woolley
type: item
date: 2025-04-10T14:59:53.000Z
creator: David Craig
subject: audio
subject: Radio
subject: BBC Radio 4
subject: News
description: The "heartfelt" two-parter is available from next month.
encoded: A special two-part prequel to The Archers will premiere on BBC Radio 4 next month, to commemorate the 80th anniversary of VE Day – and pay tribute to one of the show's late stars. Victory at Ambridge takes place six years before the long-running radio drama began, giving us a glimpse into life in rural England during the final year of World War II, leading up to VE Day. The Archers writer Tim Stimpson has adapted the story from Catherine Miller's novel of the same name, which gives particular attention to the character of Peggy Woolley (née Archer), who was a major part of the show for seven decades. The character was portrayed by late actor June Spencer, who passed away last year aged 105, making this a celebration of her contribution as well as a commemoration of the landmark VE Day anniversary. Producer Kim Greengrass said: "Victory at Ambridge is a heartfelt tribute to resilience, community, and the triumphs and tribulations of everyday life during World War II. "This special prequel takes listeners on a thrilling, wartime adventure, and gives Archers fans a unique glimpse into the hidden history which shaped modern-day Ambridge." Victory at Ambridge will be broadcast on BBC Radio 4, with episode 1 premiering at 3pm on Sunday 4th May and episode 2 airing at the same time the following week. Alternatively, both parts will be available to stream on BBC Sounds from 4th May. The synopsis, courtesy of the BBC, reads: "At Brookfield Farm, Dan and Doris Archer (Timothy Bentinck and Felicity Finch) worry about their eldest son Jack’s pregnant wife, Peggy (Emerald O’Hanrahan), stuck in bomb-stricken London, whilst Jack is away at war. "Is inviting her to live with them in Ambridge the right thing to do? And how will a city girl like Peggy cope with life in the sticks? "The Brookfield land girl, Wanda Lafromboise (Madeleine Leslay), is embracing rural life, especially when dashing RAF officer and war hero Max Gilpin (Angus Stobie) arrives in the village. "Bob Little (Ryan…

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The Archers icon: 'Wendy Richard and Angela Rippon thought I was the sexiest man in showbusiness'
type: item
date: 2025-03-18T13:21:01.000Z
creator: Libby Purves
subject: audio
subject: Radio
subject: BBC Radio 4
subject: BBC Sounds
subject: Interview
subject: Magazine
description: Libby Purves celebrates Charles Collingwood's half-century not out as Ambridge's rogue with a heart, Brian Aldridge.
encoded: This article first appeared in Radio Times magazine. The summons to Ambridge – actually a studio up a concrete tower in Birmingham – set me happily gossiping with Charles Collingwood. He's celebrating 50 years since his first broadcast as Brian Aldridge, farmer and charmer, straying husband and tolerant patriarch, on 25 March 1975. He actually goes back a year earlier: "I was a crooked decorator, Dave Escott, who had a flirtation with Peggy. Producer Tony Shryane said, 'We'll get you back!' and three weeks later my wife [Judy Bennett, who played Shula] came home and said, 'You're in!' "I was overjoyed. Got the first episode, went for lunch, ran into Jack Holloway who played Ralph Bellamy. He was in a bad mood, saying, 'I've just been written out of the bloody programme!' Then back in the studio the others said, 'Oh yes. You’ve bought his farm.' No wonder he wasn’t pleased to see my ugly face!" In 1976, Brian married Jennifer, and took on her children by two fathers (she was the serial's first scandal, a gesture to the free-love 1960s). "It was interesting, because in real life, I had proudly taken on Judy’s two little boys, Toby and Barney. Her real first husband was a Brian, and my first wife a Jennifer. How about that?" Collingwood is the jolliest company, and relishes his character's adventures, which go beyond the tweed-capped practicality of farming. After a couple of years, the new editor, William Smethurst, told him he’d decided to turn Brian into a womaniser. "I suppose because it was me, he spotted a little bit of – er – Leslie Phillips naughtiness" (cue a stagey twinkle). "He wanted a bit of daring humour. Well, it kept me in the show for 50 years." Hence Brian’s fling with posh Caroline Bone and flirtation with the flame-haired Pony Club temptress Mandy Beesborough. Another new editor, Vanessa Whitburn, told him, "Women of a certain age always ask me, 'When will Brian have an affair?'" That became his explosive love affair with Siobhan Donovan, who died y…

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BBC Radio presenter Janice Forsyth quits, announcing Alzheimer's diagnosis
type: item
date: 2025-02-17T11:59:20.000Z
creator: Katelyn Mensah
subject: audio
subject: Radio
subject: BBC Radio 3
subject: BBC Radio 4
subject: News
description: The presenter said the diagnosis came as a "huge blow".
encoded: BBC Radio Scotland presenter Janice Forsyth has stepped down from her role after being diagnosed with Alzheimer's. The radio presenter has worked across the likes of BBC Radio Scotland, BBC Radio Four and BBC Radio Three for over 30 years, and in her career she has presented the Culture Show on BBC Radio Scotland, which was later named the Janice Forsyth Show, and the Afternoon Show from 2013 until 2024. Announcing the news in a statement today (17th February), Forsyth said (via BBC News): "I'd hoped that I was simply worn out by my many years as a freelance broadcaster and perhaps exhausted following the loss of our dear mother, Patricia, the previous Christmas, but sadly, I now have a firm diagnosis of early onset Alzheimer's disease. "It's been a huge blow, but I'm also feeling some relief that I finally have an explanation for lapses I'd been experiencing, and I'm managing to remain buoyant most of the time." Beyond her work on the radio, Forsyth co-founded a podcast production company and also worked as a columnist and is the chair of the Rothesay Pavilion charity. Her statement continued: "Much as I have loved seeking out and sharing the best of music/literature/theatre/cinema with you, I'm happy now to have the time and freedom to enjoy all of these simply for my own pleasure. "Call it living in the moment, and you won't be far off! I never took my role lightly and hope I always gave my best, both for your sake and that of my interviewees. "It's been a blast, and I send a high five to everyone who tuned in on Saturday mornings or on more recent weekday afternoons and heard something interesting." Read more: Sir Stephen Hough: 'Radio 3 remains an incredibly important platform for music' Roy Williams on revamping The Great Gatsby with Ncuti Gatwa: 'I didn't want to repeat the same story' Louise Thornton, head of commissioning at BBC Scotland, said: "Janice has been a hugely popular personality on our airwaves for many years. "The many production teams she has c…

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June Spencer, long-time star of The Archers, dies aged 105
type: item
date: 2024-11-08T14:15:36.000Z
creator: James Hibbs
subject: audio
subject: Radio
subject: BBC Radio 4
subject: News
description: Spencer retired from playing her fan-favourite character Peggy in 2022, at the age of 103.
encoded: June Spencer, the actress best known for playing Peggy Woolley on Radio 4's audio drama The Archers, has died at the age of 105. Spencer's death was announced by her family in a statement, which said that she died peacefully in her sleep in the early hours of Friday 8th November 2024. The statement said: "Her family would like to pay particular tribute and thanks to the staff team at Liberham Lodge, who so lovingly cared for her in the last two years." Spencer was born in Nottingham in 1919, and first started playing Peggy in the very first episode of The Archers, which was recorded in 1950 and aired in 1951. She left the show briefly in 1953 to look after her family, at which point Thelma Rogers took over the role of Peggy. Spencer later returned to play another character called Rita Flynn between 1956 and 1958, and again in 1961, before Rogers left The Archers, and Spencer returned to playing Peggy. She then remained with the drama until 2022, when she retired at the age of 103. She said at the time: "In 1950, I helped to plant an acorn. It took root, and in January 1951 it was planted out and called The Archers. "Over the years it has thrived and become a splendid great tree with many branches. But now this old branch, known as Peggy, has become weak and unsafe, so I decided it was high time she 'boughed' out, so I have duly lopped her." In 2021, Spencer attended a celebration of The Archers' 70th anniversary at Clarence House, which was hosted by Queen Camilla, then Duchess of Cornwall. Camilla called Peggy "a true national treasure who has been part of my life, and millions of others, for as long as I can remember". As well as her role in The Archers, Spencer appeared on shows including daytime drama Doctors and Songs of Praise. She was appointed OBE in 1991 and CBE in 2017, for services to drama and charity. In June 2010 she also received the Freedom of the City of London. Among those paying tribute to Spencer following news of her death was comedian Angela Ba…

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The Archers' Angus Stobie on George's fate: 'Prison might make him worse'
type: item
date: 2024-10-15T10:02:45.000Z
subject: audio
subject: Radio
subject: TV
subject: BBC Radio 4
description: George Grundy made a terrible mistake and is now paying the price. Actor Angus Stobie reflects on being Ambridge's bad boy.
encoded: This article first appeared in Radio Times magazine. Sign up for a soap and you never know what to expect. Two years ago, Angus Stobie, a quiet, thoughtful 24-year-old from Edinburgh, took a modest radio part as young George Grundy in The Archers and found himself in a melodrama of heroism, panic, lies, betrayals and a court appearance with five million listeners glued to the radio and social media aflame with anxious tweets. When he auditioned for the mud-stained jewel in Radio 4’s crown, he was fresh out of Manchester drama school – a year of that spent over Zoom during Covid, "doing animal impressions alone in my living room". The Archers editor needed to introduce two rarely heard figures into the Ambridge landscape. "I had a commendation from the Carleton Hobbs radio bursary," remembers Stobie. "I suppose that’s how I got an audition. Lots of boys my age were there, and it was actually for the part of Brad Horrobin. I only read one short bit of George at the end but then Taylor [Uttley] got Brad, and I got George! I was surprised, but excited." Not a lifelong listener, he was briefed: "The editor Jeremy Howe filled me in on all the different storylines George was involved in, and how they might have shaped him. You have a duty to get it right in a show with such a rich history. You have to be grounded and truthful because it’s belonged to a lot of people, for years. After a sedate urban upbringing – "I’m a city boy" – how did he set about evoking earthy rural life? "You don’t have to know a great detail, but you do ask questions whenever you’re vocalising your actions. For instance, this particular sheep, how heavy is it? How fast will it move?" Was there ever any ferret-training for the traditional Grundy hobby? "No. Never handled one at all, they’re all imaginary." But, he adds wistfully, "I’d love to have some ferrets in the studio." He worked carefully on the accent, far from his elegant Scottish tones. "I suppose it’s a sort of West Country/Midlands blend,…

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Jason Watkins, David Morrissey and more join BBC Radio 4's Dickensian season
type: item
date: 2024-09-18T14:04:33.000Z
creator: Morgan Cormack
subject: audio
subject: Radio
subject: BBC
subject: BBC Radio 4
subject: News
description: The new season of audio dramas kicks off later this month.
encoded: A cast of familiar faces are assembling to bring us brand new audio drama versions of some beloved Dickensian classics for the BBC, it has now been announced. For BBC Radio 4's upcoming season of Dickensian dramas, three versions of some of Charles Dickens's tales will be released in order to celebrate one of history's most recognised writers. Launching later this month, the audio dramas will include Hard Times, Little Dorrit and Our Mutual Friend, and all three boast some very recognisable names. Hard Times is described as a "satire of a target-driven society that stifles art, wonder and imagination" and will star Sherwood's David Morrissey and Changing Ends's Shaun Dooley, as well as Rachel Harper, Jan Ravens, Ike Bennett and more. Based on Dickens's 11th novel, Little Dorrit, the new audio drama "satirises the institutions of government and society, in particular the Circumlocution Office, a department run purely for the benefit of its incompetent officials, and the prisons where debtors were incarcerated, unable to work, until they had repaid their debts," according to its synopsis. Jason Watkins (McDonald & Dodds) will be leading the cast of Little Dorrit as Charles Dickens/Rigaud, also being joined by Samuel Barnett, Kitty Archer and Paul Bradley. Read more: All Creatures Great and Small introduces Ted Lasso star's Mr Bosworth in teaser Mr Bates vs The Post Office honoured with Sky Arts Award for Television The final audio drama, Our Mutual Friend, is also based on the final novel of Dickens, which has been described as "a brilliantly funny, sharp depiction of Londoners aspiring to and managing without money, featuring multiple deaths, economic ruins, money and filth, fraud and deception, honesty and survival, and a happy ending". This new production of the tale marks the 160th year since it was written and it features the likes of Bukky Bakray (The Strays), Sule Rimi (Andor) and Gordon Kennedy (Robin Hood), to name a few. On the announcement of the new dramas…

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Lost episodes of radio classic The Clitheroe Kid will return to the airwaves
type: item
date: 2024-09-05T15:27:16.000Z
creator: Ralph Montagu
subject: audio
subject: Radio
subject: BBC Radio 4
description: Radio 4 Extra are set to broadcast episodes which haven’t been heard on our airwaves for over 60 years.
encoded: A version of this article first appeared in Radio Times magazine. "Monday at Eight, on the Light". These might have been the words spoken by the Light Programme’s duty announcer to promote The Clitheroe Kid, the popular radio comedy which occupied this slot for most of its 290 episodes. Its place in the schedules may owe something to the idea that listeners, up to 10 million of them at the show’s peak, needed a few laughs after the first day of the working week. The show starred comedian Jimmy Clitheroe, who was actually 35 when he started playing the part of the cheeky schoolboy, but because he had not physically grown beyond the age of 11, he could pass for a child of that age, complete with a convincing high-pitched voice. Clitheroe’s first billing in Radio Times was in January 1952 as Wishee-Washee in Aladdin. Listeners heard a 30-minute excerpt from the pantomime production at the London Casino starring Julie Andrews as the Princess. From 1955, Clitheroe started making regular appearances in radio variety shows, notably the Northern Variety Parade series in which he was soon given his own show, Jimmy Clitheroe as the Call Boy. In it, he took listeners backstage to meet the stars of radio music hall but, in one edition, he was given a sketch in which his Clitheroe Kid character was introduced to listeners. The audience reaction was very positive and in 1957 The Clitheroe Kid was commissioned as series in its own right, albeit limited to the Home Service in the north. Only in May 1958 did The Clitheroe Kid move to the Light Programme for transmission across the country. The show became immensely popular and would run for a total of 14 years, finishing in 1972, only 7 months before Jimmy Clitheroe died. Most of the early episodes of The Clitheroe Kid were missing from the BBC archives, but many have been recovered in recent years thanks to our friends at the Radio Circle. Radio 4 Extra is now scheduling another six which haven’t been heard on our airwaves for over…

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BBC presenter Lauren Laverne shares cancer diagnosis – thanks colleagues for support
type: item
date: 2024-08-21T09:01:39.000Z
creator: Katelyn Mensah
subject: Entertainment
subject: TV
subject: BBC
subject: BBC Radio 4
subject: BBC Radio 6 Music
subject: News
description: She revealed the news on social media this morning.
encoded: BBC presenter Lauren Laverne, who currently presents Radio 4's Desert Island Discs, has revealed she is undergoing treatment for cancer. In an Instagram post shared today (21st August), Laverne announced the news, letting her followers know the cancer was "caught early and unexpectedly during a screening test" and that she is "expected to make a full recovery". "I'm in hospital at the moment and wanted to take this moment to say thank you," she wrote. "Firstly to the medical teams who have got me this far with incredible skill and kindness. To my family and friends who have been absolutely extraordinary every step of the way - I am so very grateful and love you so much. "And of course thank you to my colleagues - including those at @itg_ltd, @bbc6music, @bbctheoneshow and #DesertIslandDiscs for their support - and for giving me the time off that I need to get better." She also used the moment to urge people to get themselves "checked out" if they find themselves "avoiding a test or putting off an appointment". "Please do it today," she wrote. "Half of us will get cancer at some point, and if you do, finding out asap is everything. It's usually my job to bring the good vibes on air but any you have to spare are very much welcome here. Sending loads of love to anyone in a similar boat, or who has made it back to shore." Colleagues and friends alike have been sharing their well wishes in the comments of her post, with football pundit Ian Wright commenting a number of heart emojis in the comment section. Journalist Bryony Gordon commented she was "sending all the healing vibes", along with Myleene Klass, who wrote: "You are incredible and have been every step of the way. Love you Lala." Fellow presenter Gabby Logan wrote, "Sending you all the love and positive healing Lauren," with BBC Radio 2 broadcaster Dermot O'Leary sharing a heart emoji beneath the post. Laverne is best known for her TV and radio presenting work, and has hosted the likes of The One Show, Late Night…

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Julian Rhind-Tutt on his new detective drama role and Green Wing return
type: item
date: 2024-07-29T23:01:06.000Z
creator: Ed Grenby
subject: audio
subject: Radio
subject: BBC Radio 4
description: The Green Wing actor chatted to Radio Times magazine about leading the cast of BBC Radio 4's Death at La Fenice.
encoded: This interview was originally published in Radio Times magazine. What drew Julian Rhind-Tutt to his role in Radio 4’s new detective drama? "Well, I’m desperate," he says. That seems unlikely – recent appearances in Ridley Scott’s Napoleon, Sexy Beast on Paramount+, and a reprise of his breakout role as surgeon 'Mac' Macartney in Green Wing (more of which later) have kept the 57-year-old actor as busy as ever. But, grudgingly, and with frequent stops for self-effacing asides ("I’m playing a detective whose name I’ve forgotten"), Rhind-Tutt concedes there were other attractions to starring in Death at La Fenice. "It’s an adaptation of the first in a set of excellent novels and I’m playing this gentle, inquisitive commissario [Guido Brunetti], based in Venice, whose principal characteristic is that he doesn’t have any of the hang-ups that detectives tend to have, like marital issues or functional alcoholism. He’s just a rather nice man who’s curious and feels that the truth matters." So is Rhind-Tutt bothered that he doesn’t get to punch any walls? "It’s true that plumbing the darker depths of a character can be interesting, but it’s also been a wonderful challenge to mine what drives this intelligent man with his nice marriage. He’s self-educated and he gets his passion for truth and justice from his reading. He’s got this quiet, niggling persistence – it reminds me in a bonkers way of Columbo – and that’s the quality I find most attractive in him." Perhaps another draw is the setting. The bestselling novels, by American-expat-in-Venice Donna Leon, all take place in her watery new home town (Death at La Fenice concerns a conductor found dead in his dressing room between acts at the eponymous opera house). "That might be part of the appeal if we were making this thing for telly," sighs Rhind-Tutt, "but when you’re making radio, it doesn’t matter if the story’s set in Venice, you’re still in a studio in Acton. There were light-hearted comments along the lines of a team-…

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BBC Radio 4's Today programme drops daily feature after 40 years
type: item
date: 2024-06-24T10:12:58.000Z
creator: Katelyn Mensah
subject: audio
subject: Radio
subject: BBC Radio 4
subject: News
description: Presenter Amol Rajan announced the news today.
encoded: BBC Radio 4's Today programme has confirmed it will no longer air its daily racing tips, a big part of the show that has been airing for the last 40 years. Presenter Amol Rajan announced the news on air this morning (24th June), telling listeners that the programme has decided to "break tradition of having racing tips every day of the year", and will instead "reserve the tips for the biggest days in the racing calendar". He continued: "We will very much continue to cover horse racing, as we do so many other sports, not least through interviews with leading lights in the racing world. "And we will sometimes continue to broadcast from the big-ticket events like the Grand National festival or Cheltenham Gold Cup week." Read more: Martha Kearney on leaving Today: 'There's no radio programme quite like it' Rosamund Pike on winning a BBC Audio Drama Award, her love for the medium – and why you won't hear her in The Archers Former BBC correspondent Cornelius Lysaght said the the removal of the daily tips was a "pity", with others sharing similar opinions, claiming it was "a real shame". In a post on X (formerly known as Twitter), Lysaght wrote: "A pity @BBCRadio4 @BBCr4today dropping (without real explanation) the tips that have been enjoyable part of prog since 1977; say that just as much (maybe more) as a fan of #Today than #horseracing; the tips (that continue on big days) provided smiles & priceless moments of levity." View oEmbed on the source website Following the BBC's decision, a spokesperson for the British Horseracing Authority said (via Racing Post): "Racing is the second-best attended sport in Britain and enjoys considerable media coverage as a result. "Through ITV Racing, the sport is live on free-to-air television on almost 120 days, as well as enjoying further coverage from two dedicated racing channels in Sky Sports Racing and Racing TV. "From Royal Ascot to the Derby, Cheltenham to the Grand National, British racing is internationally unrivalled in its pre…

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Good Omens star Michael Sheen joins award-winning BBC Radio 4 podcast
type: item
date: 2024-05-08T10:15:49.000Z
creator: Molly Moss
subject: audio
subject: Podcasts
subject: BBC Radio 4
subject: News
description: Buried: The Last Witness uncovers some of the UK’s darkest environmental secrets.
encoded: BBC Radio 4’s award-winning environmental podcast Buried is set to return next month with a shocking new story – and Good Omens star Michael Sheen is set to feature. Hosted once again by filmmakers and investigative journalists Dan Ashby and Lucy Taylor, Buried: The Last Witness will explore the enduring impact of ‘forever chemicals’. When Ashby and Taylor discover a box of unseen evidence from a deceased witness, they soon find themselves uncovering the terrifying legacy that PCB chemicals are having on the environment, our food chain and our communities. And, in an unexpected twist, the podcast hosts discover that actor Michael Sheen recorded the witness’s final testimony. Buried: The Last Witness will "reveal the results of a one-year investigation involving dossiers of evidence, unseen documents and exclusive testing of British soil, supermarket food and even human blood," according to the BBC. Ashby said: "Most true-crime series have a victim, who we all feel empathy for. But in this one, we know the poison, we know the culprits, but the scary question is this: are we all the victims? I've never recorded an investigation that is at once so universal, and so deeply personal." Taylor added: "Every day, sometimes every hour, we have obsessed over the life of one man. He was brilliant, polymathic and eccentric. He is the most unlikely environmental hero. "But who really was he, and what did he see? Could that one field, in 1967, change all of our lives? Once you see what he saw, Buried: The Last Witness becomes necessary listening." Sheen said: "It's hard to get your head around. This story is about the first of the forever chemicals. And there are so many of them since then. We want people to understand what they are doing right now." View Green Video on the source website Buried: The Last Witness will be broadcast weekly on BBC Radio 4 from 24 June. It will also be available as a box set on BBC Sounds. Visit our TV Guide, Radio Guide and Streaming Guide to find o…

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The Archers spoilers following horrific crash for Alice and George
type: item
date: 2024-05-07T13:50:10.000Z
creator: James Hibbs
subject: Soaps
subject: TV
subject: BBC
subject: BBC Radio 4
subject: News
description: Monday night's episode saw George making a shock decision.
encoded: *Warning: Contains spoilers Monday 6th May's episode of The Archers* Monday's (6th May 2024) episode of The Archers ended on a dramatic note, after Alice and George found themselves involved in a horrific car crash at the end of Sunday's instalment. It wasn't just them – Mick, Joy and Fallon were also involved in the crash, which happened as George was driving a drunk Alice home. When she tried to open the door to be sick, the car swerved and hit the trio, who were in a car together, which fell into the river. In Monday's episode, Alastair and Denise found them, and while Mick pulled Joy from the river, Fallon was rescued by George and Denise. However, there was a sting in the tail for hero George, as at the last minute he pulled Alice into the driver’s seat of the car, implicating her as a drunk driver who caused the accident, and clearing himself of responsibility. It was a shocking twist which is sure to set the stage for episodes to come, as George tries to hide his deception and Alice likely ends up in legal hot water. View oEmbed on the source website Looking ahead to the rest of the week, fans can expect the drama to continue, as it has already been revealed that future episodes will see "life-changing news" being revealed at the hospital, and "heartbreak in store for Chris". Read more: The Archers recasts Robert Snell after death of actor Graham Blockey Emmerdale special to reveal 'dark and terrifying' reality of Belle and Tom's relationship Meanwhile, Thursday 9th May's episode is said to see "suspicions" being raised "about recent events" – could this be related to the crash and George's deception? Fans have been reacting to the shocking developments on Twitter, which has been re-branded as X, with one noting that a voice message George left could prove "vital to the plot". This is referencing a message George left for his dad Will telling him that he was driving Alice home. Will this indeed come back to bite him? Another fan posted: "A great episode. It’s…

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Christopher Eccleston: "I've never been a huge fan of sci-fi"
type: item
date: 2024-05-06T20:00:49.000Z
creator: Morgan Cormack
subject: audio
subject: Radio
subject: Sci-fi
subject: TV
subject: BBC Radio 4
subject: News
description: The former Doctor is fronting Radio 4's adaptation of The Man Who Fell to Earth.
encoded: Sure, it may not be the type of confession you'd expect from a former Doctor Who lead, but Christopher Eccleston admits that he's "never been a huge fan" of sci-fi. The candid admission comes in the latest issue of Radio Times magazine in which the actor sat down to chat about starring in BBC Radio 4's latest adaptation of iconic sci-fi tale, The Man Who Fell to Earth. In the interview, Eccleston said: “I’ve never been a huge fan of sci-fi, with the exception of The Leftovers [the US sci-fi drama series in which he appeared] and Blade Runner. As a 17-year-old, I enjoyed the stories of HG Wells.” Even so, Eccleston is complimentary about the genre, saying: “It offers the opportunity for parallels, satires, to examine what it is to be human. It gives us an opportunity to look at ourselves through a different lens, which is always welcome.” The adaptation is based on the classic sci-fi novel by Walter Tevis and was first published in 1963 but has been the basis of plenty of adaptations since. The novel inspired the acclaimed 1976 movie which featured David Bowie, as well as Prime Video's 2022 series of the same name which starred Chiwetel Ejiofor and Naomie Harris. The premise follows an alien in a human disguise, Thomas Newton (voiced by Harry Treadaway) who arrives in Kentucky with a very specific mission to save the handful of survivors of his own dying planet and also, "save humanity from itself". While the novel has been the subject of previous adaptations, Eccleston admits that this brand new one is an especially timely one. He said: “He’s coming from a planet exhausted by a series of nuclear wars, and no doubt by exploitation of the planet’s natural resources, which we’re dealing with now with the climate crisis and global warming. There are huge painful parallels there.” Speaking about the original novel also, Eccleston said: “It’s dealing with man’s inhumanity to an alien, and man’s inhumanity to a man,” he reflects. “He’s assumed all our trappings, and he’s d…

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Doctor Who's Christopher Eccleston to star in iconic sci-fi adaptation
type: item
date: 2024-04-09T12:36:18.000Z
creator: Morgan Cormack
subject: audio
subject: Radio
subject: Sci-fi
subject: TV
subject: BBC Radio 4
subject: News
description: It's coming to BBC Radio 4 next month.
encoded: Christopher Eccleston is set to star alongside Harry Treadaway (Penny Dreadful) in a new Radio 4 adaptation of The Man Who Fell to Earth. The 1963 Walter Tevis novel went on to inspire the acclaimed 1976 movie which starred David Bowie. More recently, it was also the basis of Prime Video's 2022 series of the same name which starred Chiwetel Ejiofor, Bill Nighy and Naomie Harris. Well now it's getting the audio treatment and will be released this May. Treadaway will voice the role of the alien (known as Thomas Newton) who arrives in Kentucky with a very specific mission. He has "five years to save the handful of survivors of his dying planet, and to save humanity from itself", according to the official synopsis. It continues: "His plan is to use his race's advanced technology to make millions, and then build a spaceship to bring the last of his people to live on Earth. "But Newton begins to doubt his purpose, and finds himself unable to cope with the emotional weight of being human. He finds solace with two fellow outsiders – cheery functioning alcoholic Betty-Jo, who falls quietly in love with him, and widowed scientist Nathan Bryce, who tracks him down after recognising his tech as impossible. Little do they realise that the Government are watching." Eccleston will star as Nathan Bryce, while Laura Aikman – who has more recently starred in ITV's Archie – will star as Betty-Jo. The rest of the cast includes Stuart Milligan, Glen McCready, Ako Mitchell, André Refig, Fiona Sheehan and Alix Dunmore. The new audio drama has been written by Stephen Keyworth, who is known for his work on Doctors, as well as EastEnders and Casualty. The 1976 film retains its cult status today so it'll undoubtedly be an interesting listen for any fans of the movie or the original novel. The science fantasy drama was lauded for its surreal imagery, as well as being Bowie's first starring film role. Bowie starred as Thomas Newton in the film, which was directed by Nicolas Roeg and adapted by …

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The Archers recasts Robert Snell after death of actor Graham Blockey
type: item
date: 2024-02-26T14:47:27.000Z
creator: Katelyn Mensah
subject: Soaps
subject: TV
subject: BBC Radio 4
subject: News
description: Michael Bertenshaw will join the soap later next month.
encoded: BBC Radio 4 has announced the recasting of Robert Snell in its soap, The Archers. The character, who was previously played by the late Graham Blockey, will now be portrayed by Michael Bertenshaw. Bertenshaw will make his debut on Sunday 17th March, and some viewers will recognise him from his roles in The Da Vinci Code, Doctor Who and, more recently, The Crown and We Hunt Together. "I'm so excited to be joining this iconic national treasure of a programme," Bertenshaw said of his casting. "The Archers family has been wonderfully welcoming, and I'm looking forward to getting embroiled in the Ambridge goings-on, and to striving to be a worthy foil to dear Lyndy. "She's not always the easiest of people to get along with, but fortunately Carole Boyd, who plays Lynda, is unmanaged joy. "It's going to be such fun." Fans of the show will know that Robert Snell moved to Ambridge with his wife Lynda in 1986 when they bought Ambridge Hall. Despite a series of ups and downs between the pair, Robert and Lynda remain devoted to each other, and opened their B&B at Ambridge Hall in 2006. Nowadays, Robert does odds jobs or tackles the occasional IT project for a client - but is never happier when out birdwatching. Archers editor Jeremy Howe said: "We are delighted that Michael Bertenshaw, a truly fine stage, screen and radio actor, and one of the best panto dames in the land, has joined the cast of The Archers to play Robert Snell, Ernie Wise to wife Lynda Snell's Eric Morecambe. "In November 2022, everyone at The Archers was heartbroken when Graham Blockey, who had played Robert Snell for over 20 years, died. "There is no one better to prepare breakfast once more under Lynda's watchful and ever-critical gaze at Ambridge’s most celebrated B&B than Michael. Welcome to The Archers, Michael." View Green Video on the source website Visit our dedicated Soaps page for all the latest news, interviews and spoilers. If you're looking for more to watch, check out our TV Guide and Streaming G…

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The Archers celebrates 20,000th episode: 'It's just the beginning!'
type: item
date: 2023-06-09T11:28:31.000Z
creator: Morgan Cormack
subject: audio
subject: Radio
subject: Soaps
subject: TV
subject: BBC Radio 4
subject: News
description: "Here’s to the next 20,000 episodes.”
encoded: The Archers is the world’s longest running daily radio drama serial, having been on the air since the '50s and today, is set to hit a major milestone. This evening's (Friday 9th June 2023) episode, which will be broadcast at 7pm on BBC Radio 4, will be the programme's 20,000th episode, and it seems as though it's only the beginning for the long-running drama. Speaking about the milestone, The Archers editor Jeremy Howe said: “When we despatched the scripts for the 20,000th episode of The Archers I wrote a note to the cast saying this milestone is both exhilarating and humbling. "In that time, we have lived whole lifespans with our characters, seen births and deaths, marriages and break-ups, farms prosper and farms go to the wall. "It is like life with its sorrows and happiness, but unlike life, the 20,000th episode of the Archers is just the beginning. Here’s to the next 20,000 episodes.” The show was created by Godfrey Baseley and is set in the fictional county of Borsetshire, where the titular Archer family work on their farm and the drama giving us a window into the daily life of Britain’s favourite village. It's safe to say that The Archers continues to enthral audiences as much today as it did when it was first heard back in 1951. Read more: Coronation Street casts The Archers and Hollyoaks favourites as fiery new duo The Archers welcomes Rylan Clark to Ambridge for Eurovision special Over the years, the drama has tackled multiple thought-provoking storylines, so there's no guessing what could be in store for listeners in the future. It's become known for its authenticity and knack for delving into the gritty side of things, with some of The Archers' most talked-about moments including Helen Archer and Rob Titchener's domestic abuse storyline. The plot ran between 2013 and 2016 and culminated in Helen stabbing Rob and giving birth to their son Jack while on remand in prison. The story led to the ‘Solidari-tea’ campaign and made national news headlines but of co…

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David Tennant to make debut as Macbeth in BBC Radio 4 adaptation
type: item
date: 2022-04-07T09:00:08.000Z
creator: David Craig
subject: audio
subject: Radio
subject: BBC Radio 4
subject: News
description: The latest take on the dark play will premiere later this month.
encoded: David Tennant will portray Macbeth in an audio adaptation of the famous Shakespeare play, which will be broadcast on BBC Radio 4 later this month. The actor, best known for his television projects including the likes of Doctor Who, Broadchurch and Good Omens, has also worked extensively on the stage. He has previously played the title roles in Royal Shakespeare Company productions of Hamlet and Richard II, while he has also starred in radio versions of romantic comedy Twelfth Night and legendary tragedy Romeo and Juliet. All this to say Tennant is very well-acquainted with the past work of the Bard, meaning there will be much anticipation to see what he does with the role of tyrannical King Macbeth. Alison Hindell, Radio 4 Commissioning Editor for Drama and Fiction, said: “Macbeth is a part of great significance for any actor, but particularly so for Scottish players. "As David Tennant makes a welcome return to Radio 4 audio drama we look forward to this performance with great anticipation." Other Scottish actors who have played Macbeth before him include His Dark Materials star James McAvoy, as well as Alan Cumming and the late Nicol Williamson. The cast of this latest adaptation includes BAFTA winner Daniela Nardini as Lady Macbeth, Stuart McQuarrie as Banquo, Alec Newman as Macduff and Naana Agyei-Ampadu as Lady Macduff. The first half of the adaptation will be broadcast on 23rd April, the date that William Shakespeare's birthday is traditionally celebrated, with the second half set to hit the airwaves the following day. Macbeth airs on Saturday 23rd and Sunday 24th April, between 3pm and 4pm, on BBC Radio 4 and BBC Sounds. Check out more of our Radio coverage or visit our TV Guide to see what's on tonight. The latest issue of Radio Times is on sale now – subscribe now to get each issue delivered to your door. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to the Radio Times podcast with Jane Garvey.

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Our Friends in the North writer revives series for BBC Radio 4
type: item
date: 2022-02-24T11:10:15.000Z
creator: James Hibbs
subject: audio
subject: Drama
subject: Radio
subject: TV
subject: BBC Radio 4
subject: News
description: The classic 1996 drama will return as a 10-part audio production.
encoded: The BBC has announced the return of acclaimed 1996 series Our Friends in the North - but not as you know it. The hit series' creator Peter Flannery has rewritten the nine-episode series as an audio drama for BBC Radio 4, with a new 10th episode to be written by Adam Usden, which will bring the story to modern times. It is set to begin on 17th March at 2:15pm. Our Friends in the North originally covered three decades, four friends and the world that shaped their lives, beginning in 1964 and ending in 1995. Broadcast on BBC Two in 1996, it gave breakout roles to Bond actor Daniel Craig, Doctor Who's Christopher Eccleston, Line of Duty's Gina McKee and Temple actor Mark Strong, all of whom were up-and-coming actors at the time. The roles have been recast for the new audio drama, with the hope of finding the A-listers of tomorrow once again. Stepping into the roles of Nicky, Mary, Tosker and Geordie are James Baxter (Alma’s Not Normal), Norah Lopez Holden, Philip Correia and Luke MacGregor (The Archers) respectively. Meanwhile original cast members Tracey Wilkinson and Trevor Fox will be back for Radio 4’s version, but they will be in new roles, and Tom Goodman-Hill, Eve Shotton, James Gaddas, Tony Hirst, Des Yankson and Maanuv Thiara also join for this new series. Of the audio revival, Peter Flannery said: “You can tell any story you want to if the characters are interesting. The personal and the political are connected. It’s all one world.” The drama will once again chart the decades as it explores corporate, political and police corruption in the 1960s, the rise and fall of the Soho porn empires in the 1970s, the nouveau riche and the Miners’ Strike of the 1980s and the rise of New Labour in the 1990s. However, the new 10th episode will see the drama shifted forward to 2020, as Manchester-born writer Adam Usden picks up with the characters to tackle topics such as housing conditions, young people’s engagement with politics and father/son relationships. Usden explaine…

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BBC Radio 4 temporarily drops off air during Today Programme
type: item
date: 2021-11-29T10:36:30.000Z
creator: Molly Moss
subject: audio
subject: Radio
subject: BBC Radio 4
subject: News
description: The show was off air for around 20 minutes due to an alarm.
encoded: The BBC’s Today programme on Radio 4 temporarily dropped off air on Monday morning after an alarm interrupted the broadcast. The news bulletin was interrupted by an alarm just after 7:30am, which could be heard announcing: "Please leave the building immediately by the nearest exit." “You may be able to hear we have a little alarm going on here,” broadcaster Nick Robinson told listeners as the sound continued in the background. His fellow presenter, Martha Kearney, said that they would try to “carry on for a little bit” before a loud alarm started whirring. “Well, maybe it’s going to be quite hard to carry on with this alarm going on in the background,” she said, adding that she once had to leave the building during a show due to a fire. Robinson introduced a pre-recorded report as the alarm continued whirring in the background and then the broadcast dropped off air until 7:55am. Robinson tweeted a picture of himself and Martha Kearney to confirm staff were back inside the studio, alongside the caption: "Well that was interesting. Emergency over. If there was one… we’re now back in the studio.” View oEmbed on the source website Kearney then returned on air and announced: “As the world news fades down, Nick and I are back in the studio.” Robinson went on: "Despite that noise you may have heard saying there was an emergency, as far as we can tell there wasn't actually an emergency. We have to follow procedures and we did, and we were outside in the cold for a little while but we are relieved to be back on the Today programme. "Normal service is being resumed." Kearney then moved on to the regular segment, Thought for the Day, and the normal broadcast resumed. The alarm also disrupted output on the BBC’s World Service, as well as BBC Sounds, with the mobile app having difficulties playing live shows this morning. Looking for something to watch? Check out our TV Guide to see what’s on tonight.

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Emma Barnett named new host of BBC Radio 4's Woman's Hour
type: item
date: 2020-09-07T08:31:29.000Z
creator: David Craig
subject: audio
subject: News
subject: Radio
subject: BBC Radio 4
description: Jane Garvey and Dame Jenni Murray are both stepping down.
encoded: Emma Barnett will be one of the new presenters of BBC Radio 4's Woman's Hour, it has been announced today. The broadcaster is known for her roles on current affairs show Newsnight and BBC Radio 5 Live weekdays, as well as hosting a late night Woman's Hour spin-off. Radio 4 have been on the lookout for a new presenter since the current hosts Jane Garvey and Woman's Hour's Dame Jenni Murray announced that they were both planning to leave the show. For Dame Jenni, it's the end of a historic run that saw her become the station's longest-serving presenter, fronting Woman's Hour for 33 years in total. "I’ve spent nearly half my life with Woman’s Hour and it’s been a privilege ‎and delight to inform, educate and entertain a loyal and growing audience of women and men," she said in a statement. "Saying goodbye will be very hard to do, but it’s time to move on." BBC media editor Amol Rajan first reported the news and claims that "no decision" has been made just yet on a second presenter. Launched in 1946, Woman's Hour tackles a wide range of topics and has featured prolific special guests, ranging from Fleabag's Phoebe Waller-Bridge to Auschwitz survivor Dr Edith Eger. In a recent Twitter post, Barnett described Woman's Hour as her "new radio home" and revealed she would be there from January of next year. View oEmbed on the source website Jane announced that she would be leaving Woman's Hour last week, saying: "It's been a real privilege to play a small part in the history of this very special radio programme. "On one unforgettable day, I interviewed David Cameron in the morning, and Mary J Blige in the afternoon. There's no other job like it. But famous people are not the reason people engage with Woman's Hour. "It's because the programme still talks about the subjects and challenges no one else goes near. I'm very proud of our relationship with the audience and the trust they place in us." BBC Radio 4's Woman's Hour is broadcast Monday-Thursday at 10am. If you're looking …

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Stuart Maconie: Your Desert Island Discs proves that music can offer the ultimate comfort in challenging times
type: item
date: 2020-06-04T13:50:43.000Z
creator: Stuart Maconie
subject: audio
subject: News
subject: Radio
subject: BBC Radio 4
description: As Desert Island Discs breaks from its usual format this week, Stuart Maconie considers how music has filled the gaps in everyday life and provided some solace during lockdown.
encoded: Late one night in 1941, as he padded in his pyjamas around his cottage in Bushey, Hertfordshire, stirring his cocoa and desperately thinking of new work avenues, jobbing actor and recently out of work commercial radio presenter Roy Plomley had an idea for a radio programme. In those gentler times – before "commissioning rounds", "pilots" or "focus groups" – all it took was a couple of letters to Broadcasting House and Desert Island Discs, one of the UK’s longest-running radio programmes, was born. (Interestingly, the longest-running radio show in the US is country and western stalwart Grand Ole Opry, which also has music at its heart, but rather more Stetsons.) We’ve all been castaways of late, marooned on our own desert islands – albeit ones where it’s rather easier to get the essentials of life as well as the luxuries. Plomley’s island has always assumed "a gramophone and an inexhaustible supply of needles" and, in 1951, when the show introduced the idea of allowing guests to take a luxury with them, the first chosen (by actress Sally Ann Howes) was, surprisingly, garlic. We can have both gramophone needles and garlic delivered to our desert islands within hours of course, as well as all the music we could ever wish to hear, not just on eight gramophone records but plucked from the air at will, like magic. Thanks to Spotify, Amazon, YouTube and DAB, as Caliban in The Tempest said, our "isle is full of noises, sounds and sweet airs, that give delight and hurt not… sometimes a thousand twangling instruments… and sometimes voices". This week — Friday 5 June — Desert Island Discs breaks from its usual format of celebrity castaways to ask Radio 4 listeners which one piece of music they have turned to for solace or uplift during lockdown. We have all been realising that, to borrow from poet William Congreve, "music has charms to soothe the savage breast". From the singing balconies of Rome to the Hacienda club’s 12-hour online raves, it’s been music – more, it seems, th…

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BBC Radio 4 invites listeners to take part in Your Desert Island Discs
type: item
date: 2020-05-11T15:21:31.000Z
creator: Patrick Cremona
subject: audio
subject: News
subject: Radio
subject: BBC Radio 4
description: Listeners are being asked to send in the songs that have been getting them through lockdown to be featured in a special programme.
encoded: Radio 4 listeners are being asked to share the pieces of music they have turned to during the lockdown for a new special programme titled Your Desert Island Discs. Launched by Desert Island Discs host Lauren Laverne, the campaign will see some of the songs - and the stories behind their selection - feature on the programme which will air on Friday June 5th. A BBC statement outlining the initiative says the song could be one that has helped key workers through a tough shift, provided company to someone delivering food to vulnerable neighbours, or brought about a moment of escape in an otherwise stressful lockdown day. As well as appearing on the special Your Desert Island Discs programme, some of the stories will be staggered throughout the rest of Radio 4's schedule - including Woman’s Hour, Today, World At One, and PM. Mohit Bakaya, Controller of Radio 4, said of the special programme, “One of the reasons Desert Island Discs is so loved is that it invites us all to think about the role music plays in our lives. "It can be a powerful friend during stressful periods and I want Radio 4 to capture the tunes that have helped the nation get through this crisis so far, whether they’ve provided joy, reflection or comfort, and the stories that accompany them. “We hope many people enjoy thinking about and sharing their music of choice and that Your Desert Island Discs day is a moment for the nation to come together and hear each other’s stories, as well as experience some musical escape as listeners find themselves ‘castaway’ during this strange time.” Meanwhile Lauren Laverne added, “At the moment we all feel a little more cast away than we might like to. "It seems the perfect time to pass the microphone to our wonderful listeners and invite them to tell us about one special track and why it matters." Listeners who would like to take part can do so by sharing their stories and songs by email to desertislanddiscs@bbc.co.uk before 16 May, or posting on social media using the …

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Bertie Carvel and Doctor Foster writer reunite for BBC lockdown arts project
type: item
date: 2020-04-30T15:20:02.000Z
creator: Lauren Morris
subject: audio
subject: News
subject: Radio
subject: BBC Radio 3
subject: BBC Radio 4
description: Carvel's Lockdown Theatre Festival ensures that plays cancelled by the coronavirus crisis are broadcast on BBC Radio 3 and 4
encoded: Doctor Foster's Bertie Carvel and writer Mike Bartlett are joining forces once again for the Lockdown Theatre Festival, which will see contemporary plays broadcast on BBC Radio 3 and 4 during quarantine. The theatre project, created by Carvel, will see Bartlett's play Love Love Love and three other plays broadcast on the BBC stations on Saturday 13 and Sunday 14 June. The revival of Bartlett's play, starring Nathan Barley's Nicholas Burns and The Bletchley Circle's Rachael Stirling, opened at the Lyric Hammersmith Theatre in March but its run was cut short due to the coronavirus crisis. Other plays affected by the pandemic include Josh Azouz's The Mikvah Project, Winsome Pinnock's Rockets and Blue Lights, and E.V. Crowe's Shoe Lady – all of which will also air as part of BBC Arts' Culture in Quarantine season. The recordings will feature the casts of these cancelled plays, such as Katherine Parkinson (Shoe Lady), Karl Collins (Rockets and Blue Lights) and Josh Zare (The Mikvah Project). On the project, Carvel said: "All this work was going to waste! I wanted to create a cultural snapshot for posterity, because who knows what the future holds?" "Theatres up and down the country are facing an existential crisis. I hope Lockdown Theatre Festival will demonstrate our community's positivity and resilience – but also shine a light on the challenges we face," he added. Carvel portrayed cheating husband Simon in Doctor Foster, which was written by Mike Bartlett. The second series, also starring Suranne Jones and Jodie Comer, ended in 2017. Lockdown Theatre Festival will air Saturday 13th and Sunday 14th June on BBC Radio 3 and 4. Check out what else is on with our TV Guide

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Louis Theroux's first podcast to drop on BBC Radio 4 and BBC Sounds
type: item
date: 2020-04-20T13:06:11.000Z
creator: Patrick Cremona
subject: audio
subject: News
subject: Radio
subject: BBC Radio 4
description: Grounded with Louis Theroux will see the documentarian interview a range of stars from his home
encoded: Louis Theroux is the nation's best loved documentarian – and now the Bafta award-winning filmmaker is set to host his first podcast for the BBC. Grounded with Louis Theroux arrives on BBC Sounds today (Monday 20th April), although the first full episode won't be available until next week. Each hour-long instalment of the podcast will see Theroux interview a range of guests from his own home, including some "high-profile people he’s been longing to talk to." The first episode will see Theroux have a conversation with fellow writer and documentary-maker Jon Ronson, to whom his work has often been compared, touching on subjects including how they are each coping with the lockdown. Lenny Henry, Boy George and Miriam Margolyes have all been lined up for future episodes, while further guests are set to be announced in due course. Speaking about the podcast, Theroux said, "I've really loved doing these interviews. It's been a chance to speak to people I admire and have in depth conversations with them, about their lives, their careers, and their most intimate feelings. "Making a podcast and radio series is very different to my usual way of working. And for that reason, I've found it very fun and refreshing." Rhian Roberts, Radio 4 commissioning editor for digital and podcasts, added, "Surprisingly, given his famous voice and interview style, Louis’ never had a podcast or radio series so we couldn’t be happier to welcome him to Radio 4. "It feels like such a treat in these times to settle down with a podcast full of warmth and mischief – and a lot of insight. Louis is such great company, as always." As well as appearing on BBC Sounds, each episode will later be broadcast on BBC Radio 4 – with the first episode airing on the station on Wednesday 6th May at 8pm.

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The Archers outlines changes amid coronavirus pandemic
type: item
date: 2020-03-30T11:18:13.000Z
creator: Patrick Cremona
subject: audio
subject: News
subject: Radio
subject: BBC Radio 4
description: The long-running BBC Radio 4 drama will be airing less episodes per week and will feature fewer characters per episode
encoded: The BBC has announced that The Archers is set to undergo some changes in the coming months, as the coronavirus pandemic hits production on the long-running drama. The BBC Radio 4 series — which is the world's longest-running continuous drama — currently has enough episodes recorded to keep listeners entertained until the end of April, but from then on some changes will come into effect. While these future episodes will still focus on events in Ambridge, each episode will feature fewer characters, who "will be sharing more of their private thoughts with the listener." There will also be fewer broadcasts per week, with new episodes airing from Monday to Thursday at the usual time of 7pm and a shorter omnibus edition on Sundays. The episodes will be recorded using ‘home studios’, with the cast recording ‘down the line’, connected to directors and crew, according to the BBC. Meanwhile, from May onwards the coronavirus pandemic will be referenced within the scripts, "in a way that the programme’s many loyal listeners might expect." Jeremy Howe, editor of The Archers, said, "for nearly 70 years Ambridge has been a haven for our audience, and so it continues to be. "Whilst Coronavirus might be coming to Borsetshire, listeners can still expect The Archers to be an escape, and the residents to be bickering and as playful and witty as ever. "We want this new approach to The Archers to still be a picture of the way we live now in rural England that it has always been. "However, these are unprecedented times and the team has worked tirelessly to make sure we can continue to visit Ambridge. "I am enormously grateful to the production team, the cast and the crew for all their magnificent efforts and creativity. "The Archers will sound different and will be simpler, but I think keeping the show running and giving us all an opportunity to hear from beloved characters will be a treat loyal listeners will want and need.”

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The Archers | Jim faces a tough decision as Lilian digs her heels in
type: item
date: 2020-01-17T19:15:55.000Z
creator: Helen Daly
subject: News
subject: Soaps
subject: TV
subject: BBC Radio 4
description: It’s all going on in Ambridge...
encoded: This week on The Archers, it’s finally time for Jim (John Rowe), Alistair (Michael Lumsden) and Jazzer’s (Ryan Kelly) road trip and Alistair decides to make himself the butt of jokes in a desperate big to distract Jim from what he’s heading to. However, as the big moment gets closer and closer, can Jim find the courage to put his past behind him or will his demons continue to get in the way? Many will be keen to see what it’s going on at the Bull in Ambridge, considering the changes are sure to cause problems. Last week, Lilian (Sunny Ormonde) had to deliver some news to Peggy (June Spencer) but was taken back by her mother’s attitude. It doesn’t seem like the situation has resolved itself too much, as next week sees Lilian digs her heels in, only to find some serious competition. What’s more, Jolene Archer (Buffy Davis) finds herself torn in two and with the opposition fierce, who will come out triumphant? Meanwhile, Kirsty (Annabelle Dowler), who is still reeling from the arrival of her mother, Megan, continues to struggle so a concerned Philip (Andy Hockley) takes the bold move to fall on his sword and makes a controversial suggestion in order to make her happier than she has been of late. However, Helen (Louiza Patikas) finds out what the pair are planning and she has no other choice to offer some tough love. Will Kirsty go ahead and follow Helen’s advice or do The Archers fans have more drama in store? As if that wasn’t enough turmoil for one village Ian enlists some Grey Gables spies to report back to him about how Hugh is progressing with his kitchen – we’ll all be surprised at the lengths he will take to get some truth about his rival. Ian’s week gets even more drastic as his first meeting with Lee doesn’t go quite as planned. And meanwhile, poor Rex has to say goodbye to his beloved pigs, but a surprise later on in the day takes him completely unaware. Also in Ambridge, Tracy takes advantage of a situation, Eddie thinks drastic action is called for and an u…

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height: 413