gen: Reportage ser: Letter from America tit: von 86-02-02 bis 86-11-02 aut: Alistair Cooke bnd: AC 1 len: 15' med: Band spd: 4.75 mon: Mono fre: ! src: BFBS lng: englisch cop: MP3 gen: Reportage ser: Letter from America tit: von 86-11-09 bis 87-10-04 aut: Alistair Cooke bnd: AC 2 len: 15' med: Band spd: 4.75 mon: Mono fre: ! src: BFBS lng: englisch cop: MP3 gen: Reportage ser: Letter from America tit: von 87-10-11 bis 88-07-03 aut: Alistair Cooke bnd: AC 3 len: 15' med: Band spd: 4.75 mon: Mono fre: ! src: BFBS lng: englisch cop: MP3 gen: Reportage ser: Letter from America tit: von 88-07-31 bis 92-11-13 aut: Alistair Cooke bnd: AC 4 len: 15' med: Band spd: 4.75 mon: Mono fre: ! src: BBC Radio 4 lng: englisch cop: MP3 gen: Reportage ser: Letter from America tit: von 92-11-20 bis 93-07-18 aut: Alistair Cooke bnd: AC 5 len: 15' med: Band spd: 9.5 mon: Mono fre: ! src: BBC Radio 4 lng: englisch cop: MP3 gen: Reportage ser: Letter from America tit: von 93-07-25 bis 94-03-06 aut: Alistair Cooke bnd: AC 6 len: 15' med: Band spd: 9.5 mon: Mono fre: ! src: BBC Radio 4 lng: englisch cop: MP3 gen: Reportage ser: Letter from America tit: von 94-03-13 bis 95-01-?? aut: Alistair Cooke bnd: AC 7 len: 15' med: Band spd: 9.5 mon: Mono fre: ! src: BBC Radio 4 lng: englisch cop: MP3 gen: Reportage ser: Letter from America tit: von 95-01-?? bis 97-09-14 aut: Alistair Cooke bnd: AC 8 len: 15' med: DAT spd: Long mon: Mono fre: ! src: BBC Radio 4 lng: englisch cop: MP3 gen: Reportage ser: Letter from America tit: von 97-09-21 bis 98-03-15 aut: Alistair Cooke bnd: AC 9 len: 15' med: DAT spd: Long mon: Mono fre: ! src: BBC Radio 4 lng: englisch cop: MP3 gen: Reportage ser: Letter from America tit: von 98-03-22 bis 98-10-09 aut: Alistair Cooke bnd: AC 10 len: 15' med: DAT spd: Long mon: Mono fre: ! src: BBC Radio 4 lng: englisch cop: MP3 gen: Reportage ser: Letter from America tit: von 98-10-16 bis 99-04-23 aut: Alistair Cooke bnd: AC 11 len: 15' med: DAT spd: Long mon: Mono fre: ! src: BBC Radio 4 lng: englisch cop: MP3 gen: Reportage ser: Letter from America tit: von 99-04-30 bis 99-11-05 aut: Alistair Cooke bnd: AC 12 len: 15' med: DAT spd: Long mon: Mono fre: ! src: BBC Radio 4 lng: englisch cop: MP3 gen: Reportage ser: Letter from America tit: von 99-11-12 bis 00-04-28 aut: Alistair Cooke bnd: AC 13 len: 15' med: DAT spd: Long mon: Mono fre: ! src: BBC Radio 4 lng: englisch cop: MP3 gen: Reportage ser: Letter from America tit: von 00-05-05 bis 00-09-15 aut: Alistair Cooke bnd: AC 14 len: 15' med: DAT spd: Long mon: Mono fre: ! src: BBC Radio 4 lng: englisch cop: MP3 gen: Reportage ser: Letter from America tit: von 00-10-06 bis 01-05-25 aut: Alistair Cooke bnd: AC 15 len: 15' med: DAT spd: Long mon: Mono fre: ! src: BBC Radio 4 lng: englisch cop: MP3 gen: Reportage ser: Letter from America tit: von 01-06-01 bis 01-12-14 aut: Alistair Cooke bnd: AC 16 len: 15' med: DAT spd: Long mon: Mono fre: ! src: BBC Radio 4 lng: englisch cop: MP3 gen: Reportage ser: Letter from America tit: vom 01-12-21 bis 02-07-12 aut: Alistair Cooke bnd: AC 17 len: 15' med: DAT spd: Long mon: Mono fre: ! src: BBC Radio 4 lng: englisch cop: MP3 gen: Reportage ser: Letter from America tit: vom 02-07-19 bis 03-01-10 aut: Alistair Cooke bnd: AC 18 len: 15' med: DAT spd: Long mon: Mono fre: ! src: BBC Radio 4 lng: englisch cop: MP3 gen: Reportage ser: Letter from America tit: vom 03-01-17 bis 04-08-02 aut: Alistair Cooke bnd: AC 19 len: 15' med: MP3 spd: 40 mon: Mono fre: ! src: BBC Radio 4 lng: englisch gen: Reportage tit: Ceremony of Remembrance aut: Fergal Keane cnt: 85 bnd: AC 19 len: 75'20" med: MP3 spd: 80 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 13.11.2005 lng: englisch stw: From the Cenotaph. Fergal Keane sets the scene in London's Whitehall for the solemn ceremony when the nation remembers the sacrifice made by so many in the two World Wars. The traditional music of Remembrance is played by the Massed Bands and, after the Last Post and Two Minutes' Silence, Her Majesty the Queen lays the first wreath on behalf of nation and Commonwealth. The Bishop of London leads a short Service of Remembrance, then, during the March Past, Fergal talks to veterans across the world about their memories of past conflicts and the dangers facing those who serve in the armed forces today. gen: Reportage tit: Kipling's Son sbt: Send My Love to Daddo aut: Julian Barnes and Hermione Lee cnt: 86 bnd: AC 19 len: 13'50" med: MP3 spd: 80 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 13.11.2005 lng: englisch stw: John, the 18-year-old soldier son of the poet and writer Rudyard Kipling, was killed in France in 1915. Writers Julian Barnes and Hermione Lee reflect on the poignant correspondence between father and son. The readers are David Haig and Jamie Parker. gen: Reportage ser: Queen's Speech tit: Her Majesty the Queen's speech of 2005 aut: HM Queen Elizabeth II cnt: 87 bnd: AC 19 len: 5'48" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 25.12.2005 lng: englisch stw: The Queen's Christmas message to the peoples of the Commonwealth gen: Reportage ser: Queen's Speech tit: Her Majesty the Queen's speech of 2006 aut: HM Queen Elizabeth II cnt: 88 bnd: AC 19 len: 6'01" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 25.12.2006 lng: englisch stw: The Queen's Christmas message to the peoples of the Commonwealth gen: Reportage ser: Queen's Speech tit: Her Majesty the Queen's speech of 2007 aut: HM Queen Elizabeth II cnt: 89 bnd: AC 19 len: 6'04" med: MP3 spd: 80 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 25.12.2007 lng: englisch stw: The Queen's Christmas message to the peoples of the Commonwealth gen: Reportage tit: Cooke's Elections epi: 1 sbt: Truman 1948 aut: Alistair Cooke cnt: 90 bnd: AC 19 len: 14'05" med: MP3 spd: 80 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 30.06.2008 lng: englisch stw: The contest between the Republican candidate Thomas Dewey and Democrat President Truman in 1948 appeared to be a foregone conclusion. To everyone's surprise, however, Truman won by two million votes. BBC North American editor Justin Webb introduces Alistair Cooke's famous Letters from America, broadcast during previous election campaigns over the past 60 years. gen: Reportage tit: Cooke's Elections epi: 2 sbt: Lyndon Johnson 1964 aut: Alistair Cooke cnt: 91 bnd: AC 19 len: 13'43" med: MP3 spd: 80 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 01.07.2008 lng: englisch stw: Lyndon Johnson won a landslide victory in 1964 but faced continuing questions in 1966 because of the war in Vietnam. Alastair Cooke reflects on the changes in American democracy from the days when everyone knew their place to an age when people were demanding to know what was being done in their name. BBC North American editor Justin Webb introduces Alistair Cooke's famous Letters from America, broadcast during previous election campaigns over the past 60 years. gen: Reportage tit: Cooke's Elections epi: 3 sbt: Gerald Ford 1976 aut: Alistair Cooke cnt: 92 bnd: AC 19 len: 13'51" med: MP3 spd: 80 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 02.07.2008 lng: englisch stw: Gerald Ford was keen to play down party differences when he announced his intention to stand for the American presidency in 1976. So what, wondered Alistair Cooke, did it mean to be a Republican or a Democrat? Justin Webb asks whether things are any different today. BBC North American editor Justin Webb introduces Alistair Cooke's famous Letters from America, broadcast during previous election campaigns over the past 60 years. gen: Reportage tit: Cooke's Elections epi: 4 sbt: Bill Clinton 1992 aut: Alistair Cooke cnt: 93 bnd: AC 19 len: 13'56" med: MP3 spd: 80 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 03.07.2008 lng: englisch stw: Bill Clinton defeated George Bush senior in 1992. Cooke focuses on the dress style of the Clinton camp and wonders what the rejection of the old blue blazer will mean for the American political system. BBC North American editor Justin Webb introduces Alistair Cooke's famous Letters from America, broadcast during previous election campaigns over the past 60 years. gen: Reportage tit: Cooke's Elections epi: 5 sbt: George W Bush 2000 aut: Alistair Cooke cnt: 94 bnd: AC 19 len: 13'53" med: MP3 spd: 80 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 04.07.2008 lng: englisch stw: Cooke saw many presidents come and go, but the election of George W Bush in November 2000 was to be the last. The veteran broadcaster announced his retirement four years later, by which time America had changed forever. BBC North American editor Justin Webb introduces Alistair Cooke's famous Letters from America, broadcast during previous election campaigns over the past 60 years. gen: Reportage tit: Alistair Cooke Memorial Lecture aut: David Mamet cnt: 95 bnd: AC 19 len: 27'39" med: MP3 spd: 80 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 18.11.2008 lng: englisch stw: As part of the BBC's celebrations of Alistair Cooke's centenary, David Mamet delivers this year's lecture before an invited audience at the newly opened Broad Stage in Santa Monica, California. The subject of the lecture is language, and it is introduced by the BBC's North America Editor Justin Webb. gen: Reportage ser: Queen's Speech tit: Her Majesty the Queen's speech of 2008 aut: HM Queen Elizabeth II cnt: 96 bnd: AC 19 len: 6'25" med: MP3 spd: 80 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 25.12.2008 lng: englisch stw: The Queen's Christmas message to the peoples of the Commonwealth gen: Reportage tit: Alistair Cooke's Seasonal Letters from America epi: 1 sbt: 2001 aut: Alistair Cooke cnt: 97 bnd: AC 19 len: 13'04" med: MP3 spd: 80 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 24.12.2008 fst: 2001 lng: englisch stw: The BBC's North America editor Justin Webb introduces eight of Alistair Cooke's seasonal Letters from America, broadcast in December and January over the five decades of his career and covering topics ranging from Christmas in Vermont to presidential inaugurations. The first letter is from Christmas 2001 which for Alistair and most Americans, still recovering from the shock of the September 11th attacks, was a sombre occasion. gen: Reportage tit: Alistair Cooke's Seasonal Letters from America epi: 2 sbt: 2003 aut: Alistair Cooke cnt: 98 bnd: AC 19 len: 13'29" med: MP3 spd: 80 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 25.12.2008 fst: 2003 lng: englisch stw: In a letter from Christmas 2003, Alistair talks about his love of Christmas and why he thinks Charles Dickens' Christmas Carol is a parable for our times. gen: Reportage tit: Alistair Cooke's Seasonal Letters from America epi: 3 sbt: 1977 aut: Alistair Cooke cnt: 99 bnd: AC 19 len: 13'26" med: MP3 spd: 80 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 26.12.2008 fst: 1977 lng: englisch stw: From 1977, Alistair talks about the deaths of two friends - who just happen to be Groucho Marx and Bing Crosby. gen: Reportage tit: Alistair Cooke's Seasonal Letters from America epi: 4 sbt: 1995 aut: Alistair Cooke cnt: 100 bnd: AC 19 len: 13'34" med: MP3 spd: 80 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 29.12.2008 fst: 1995 lng: englisch stw: Vermont at Christmas, Beauty and Maple Syrup gen: Reportage tit: Alistair Cooke's Seasonal Letters from America epi: 5 sbt: 1951 aut: Alistair Cooke cnt: 101 bnd: AC 19 len: 13'37" med: MP3 spd: 80 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 30.12.2008 fst: 1951 lng: englisch stw: Television gen: Reportage tit: Alistair Cooke's Seasonal Letters from America epi: 6 sbt: 1971 aut: Alistair Cooke cnt: 102 bnd: AC 19 len: 13'36" med: MP3 spd: 80 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 31.12.2008 fst: 1971 lng: englisch stw: Cigarette advertising ban, American football, and nonsense gen: Reportage tit: Alistair Cooke's Seasonal Letters from America epi: 7 sbt: 2000 aut: Alistair Cooke cnt: 103 bnd: AC 19 len: 13'18" med: MP3 spd: 80 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 01.01.2009 fst: 2000 lng: englisch stw: January 2000 - Y2k alarm, recorded beforehand. gen: Reportage tit: Alistair Cooke's Seasonal Letters from America epi: 8 sbt: 1969 aut: Alistair Cooke cnt: 104 bnd: AC 19 len: 13'14" med: MP3 spd: 80 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 02.01.2009 fst: 1969 lng: englisch stw: The coming and going of presidents, making a house a home. gen: Reportage ser: Queen's Speech tit: Her Majesty the Queen's speech of 2009 aut: HM Queen Elizabeth II cnt: 105 bnd: AC 19 len: 5'58" med: MP3 spd: 80 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 25.12.2009 lng: englisch stw: The Queen's Christmas message to the peoples of the Commonwealth gen: Reportage ser: Queen's Speech tit: Her Majesty the Queen's speech of 2010 aut: HM Queen Elizabeth II cnt: 106 bnd: AC 19 len: 6'17" med: MP3 spd: 80 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 25.12.2010 lng: englisch stw: The Queen's Christmas message to the peoples of the Commonwealth gen: Reportage ser: Queen's Speech tit: Her Majesty the Queen's speech of 2011 aut: HM Queen Elizabeth II cnt: 107 bnd: AC 19 len: 7'15" med: MP3 spd: 80 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 25.12.2011 lng: englisch stw: The Queen's Christmas message to the peoples of the Commonwealth gen: Reportage ser: Queen's Speech tit: Her Majesty the Queen's speech of 2011 aut: HM Queen Elizabeth II cnt: 107 bnd: AC 19 len: 7'15" med: MP3 spd: 80 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 25.12.2011 lng: englisch stw: The Queen's Christmas message to the peoples of the Commonwealth gen: Reportage ser: Queen's Speech tit: Her Majesty the Queen's speech of 2012 aut: HM Queen Elizabeth II cnt: 108 bnd: AC 19 len: 5'59" med: MP3 spd: 80 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 25.12.2012 lng: englisch stw: The Queen's Christmas message to the peoples of the Commonwealth gen: Reportage ser: Queen's Speech tit: Her Majesty the Queen's speech of 2013 aut: HM Queen Elizabeth II cnt: 109 bnd: AC 19 len: 7'01" med: MP3 spd: 80 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 25.12.2013 lng: englisch stw: The Queen's Christmas message to the peoples of the Commonwealth gen: Reportage ser: Queen's Speech tit: Her Majesty the Queen's speech of 2014 aut: HM Queen Elizabeth II cnt: 110 bnd: AC 19 len: 7'01" med: MP3 spd: 80 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 25.12.2014 lng: englisch stw: The Queen's Christmas message to the peoples of the Commonwealth gen: Reportage ser: Queen's Speech tit: Her Majesty the Queen's speech of 2016 aut: HM Queen Elizabeth II cnt: 111 bnd: AC 19 len: 6'44" med: MP3 spd: 80 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 25.12.2016 lng: englisch stw: The Queen's Christmas message to the peoples of the Commonwealth. The Olympic Games, Air Ambulance, Mother Teresa, and other Heroes. Her Majesty's ninetieth birthday celebrations. The teachings of Christ. gen: Lesung ser: Book At Bedtime tit: Pompeii epi: 1 aut: Robert Harris cnt: 1 bnd: BB 1 len: 15' med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 22.09.2003 lng: englisch stw: David Tennant reads from Robert Harris's novel set in Pompeii in the last days before the great eruption of 79AD. gen: Lesung ser: Book At Bedtime tit: Pompeii epi: 2 aut: Robert Harris cnt: 2 bnd: BB 1 len: 15' med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 23.09.2003 lng: englisch gen: Lesung ser: Book At Bedtime tit: Pompeii epi: 3 aut: Robert Harris cnt: 3 bnd: BB 1 len: 15' med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 24.09.2003 lng: englisch gen: Lesung ser: Book At Bedtime tit: Pompeii epi: 4 aut: Robert Harris cnt: 4 bnd: BB 1 len: 15' med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 25.09.2003 lng: englisch gen: Lesung ser: Book At Bedtime tit: Pompeii epi: 5 aut: Robert Harris cnt: 5 bnd: BB 1 len: 15' med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 26.09.2003 lng: englisch gen: Lesung ser: Book At Bedtime tit: Pompeii epi: 6 aut: Robert Harris cnt: 6 bnd: BB 1 len: 15' med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 29.09.2003 lng: englisch gen: Lesung ser: Book At Bedtime tit: Pompeii epi: 7 aut: Robert Harris cnt: 7 bnd: BB 1 len: 15' med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 30.09.2003 lng: englisch gen: Lesung ser: Book At Bedtime tit: Pompeii epi: 8 aut: Robert Harris cnt: 8 bnd: BB 1 len: 15' med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 01.10.2003 lng: englisch gen: Lesung ser: Book At Bedtime tit: Pompeii epi: 9 aut: Robert Harris cnt: 9 bnd: BB 1 len: 15' med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 02.10.2003 lng: englisch gen: Lesung ser: Book At Bedtime tit: Pompeii epi: 10 aut: Robert Harris cnt: 10 bnd: BB 1 len: 15' med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 03.10.2003 lng: englisch gen: Lesung ser: Book At Bedtime tit: Dracula epi: 1 sbt: Journey to Count Dracula aut: Bram Stoker cnt: 11 bnd: BB 1 len: 15' med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 24.11.2003 lng: englisch stw: Jonathan Harker makes the strange journey to Count Dracula's Castle in Transylvania. Michael Fassbender, Gillian Kearney, James D'Arcy and James Greene read the various diary accounts of the four main characters of Jonathan Harker, Mina Murray, Dr Seward and Dr Van Helsing to relate the epic legend of the Transylvanian Count. gen: Lesung ser: Book At Bedtime tit: Dracula epi: 2 sbt: Jonathan explores the Castle aut: Bram Stoker cnt: 12 bnd: BB 1 len: 15' med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 25.11.2003 lng: englisch stw: Jonathan explores the Castle and discovers more than he had dared contemplate. gen: Lesung ser: Book At Bedtime tit: Dracula epi: 3 sbt: Jonathan discovers the truth about his host aut: Bram Stoker cnt: 13 bnd: BB 1 len: 15' med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 26.11.2003 lng: englisch stw: Jonathan discovers the truth about his host and Mina fears for her safety. gen: Lesung ser: Book At Bedtime tit: Dracula epi: 4 sbt: An empty foreign schooner aut: Bram Stoker cnt: 14 bnd: BB 1 len: 15' med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 27.11.2003 lng: englisch stw: Bram Stoker's classic continues, as an empty foreign schooner arrives in England and Mina's fear grows for the strange illness affecting her dear friend Lucy. Readers: Mina Murray ...... Gillian Kearney Correspondent ...... James D'arcy Sea Captain ...... James Greene Abridged by Daragh Carville Produced by Gemma McMullan gen: Lesung ser: Book At Bedtime tit: Dracula epi: 5 sbt: Professor Van Helsing aut: Bram Stoker cnt: 15 bnd: BB 1 len: 15' med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 28.11.2003 lng: englisch stw: Dr Seward calls for Professor Van Helsing when Lucy's health deteriorates. gen: Lesung ser: Book At Bedtime tit: Dracula epi: 6 sbt: A familiar face in the crowd aut: Bram Stoker cnt: 16 bnd: BB 1 len: 15' med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 01.12.2003 lng: englisch stw: In London, Jonathan is terrorized by the sight of a familiar face in the crowd. Michael Fassbender, Gillian Kearney, James D' Arcy and James Greene read the various diary accounts of the epic legend of the Transylvanian Count, Dracula. Read by: Jonathan Harker ...... Michael Fassbender Mina Murray ...... Gillian Kearney Dr Seward ...... James D'Arcy Prof Van Helsing ...... James Greene Abridged by Daragh Carville. gen: Lesung ser: Book At Bedtime tit: Dracula epi: 7 sbt: Visit the graveyard aut: Bram Stoker cnt: 17 bnd: BB 1 len: 15' med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 02.12.2003 lng: englisch stw: Professor Van Helsing knows they must visit the graveyard. Read by: Jonathan Harker ...... Michael Fassbender Mina Murray ...... Gillian Kearney Dr Seward ...... James D'Arcy gen: Lesung ser: Book At Bedtime tit: Dracula epi: 8 sbt: A visit from Count Dracula aut: Bram Stoker cnt: 18 bnd: BB 1 len: 15' med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 03.12.2003 lng: englisch stw: Mina receives a visit from Count Dracula. Time is running out. gen: Lesung ser: Book At Bedtime tit: Dracula epi: 9 sbt: Van Helsing is determined aut: Bram Stoker cnt: 19 bnd: BB 1 len: 15' med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 04.12.2003 lng: englisch stw: Van Helsing is determined to hunt out the Vampire. Read by: Jonathan Harker ...... Michael Fassbender Mina Murray ...... Gillian Kearney Dr Seward ...... James D'Arcy Prof Van Helsing ...... James Greene Abridged by Daragh Carville gen: Lesung ser: Book At Bedtime tit: Dracula epi: 10 sbt: To Transylvania for the final battle aut: Bram Stoker cnt: 20 bnd: BB 1 len: 15' med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 05.12.2003 lng: englisch stw: Jonathan, Van Helsing, Dr Seward and Mina journey to Transylvania for the final battle. Book At Bedtime Read by: Mina Murray ...... Gillian Kearney Prof Van Helsing ...... James Greene Abridged by Daragh Carville. gen: Lesung ser: Book At Bedtime tit: Absolute Friends epi: 1 sbt: Reunion aut: John le Carré cnt: 21 bnd: BB 1 len: 13'59" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 19.01.2004 lng: englisch stw: John le Carré begins a reading of his latest novel which follows the fortunes of two friends from the political unrest of the Sixties, through to the end of the Cold War, and on to the post 9/11 world of contemporary terrorism. Abridged in ten parts by Katrin Williams. gen: Lesung ser: Book At Bedtime tit: Absolute Friends epi: 2 sbt: Background aut: John le Carré cnt: 22 bnd: BB 1 len: 13'37" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 20.01.2004 lng: englisch stw: John le Carré begins a reading of his latest novel which follows the fortunes of two friends from the political unrest of the Sixties, through to the end of the Cold War, and on to the post 9/11 world of contemporary terrorism. Abridged in ten parts by Katrin Williams. gen: Lesung ser: Book At Bedtime tit: Absolute Friends epi: 3 sbt: Berlin aut: John le Carré cnt: 23 bnd: BB 1 len: 13'54" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 21.01.2004 lng: englisch stw: Mundy takes part in a student demo in Berlin and is beaten up by the police. John le Carré begins a reading of his latest novel which follows the fortunes of two friends from the political unrest of the Sixties, through to the end of the Cold War, and on to the post 9/11 world of contemporary terrorism. Abridged in ten parts by Katrin Williams. gen: Lesung ser: Book At Bedtime tit: Absolute Friends epi: 4 sbt: East Germany aut: John le Carré cnt: 24 bnd: BB 1 len: 14'12" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 22.01.2004 lng: englisch stw: In the early eighties, Mundy's work for the British Council takes him to East Germany. gen: Lesung ser: Book At Bedtime tit: Absolute Friends epi: 5 sbt: Double agent aut: John le Carré cnt: 25 bnd: BB 1 len: 14'07" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 23.01.2004 lng: englisch stw: Mundy is recruited by British Intelligence to work as a double agent. gen: Lesung ser: Book At Bedtime tit: Absolute Friends epi: 6 sbt: End of Iron Curtain aut: John le Carré cnt: 26 bnd: BB 1 len: 13'30" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 26.01.2004 lng: englisch stw: The Berlin Wall comes down and Mundy's life as a double agent ends. gen: Lesung ser: Book At Bedtime tit: Absolute Friends epi: 7 sbt: New contact aut: John le Carré cnt: 27 bnd: BB 1 len: 13'53" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 27.01.2004 lng: englisch stw: It's 2003 and the Iraqi War is officially over. Mundy has been contacted by Sasha once more. gen: Lesung ser: Book At Bedtime tit: Absolute Friends epi: 8 sbt: Dimitri's hideaway aut: John le Carré cnt: 28 bnd: BB 1 len: 13'24" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 28.01.2004 lng: englisch stw: Mundy decides to investigate Dimitri's mountain hideaway. Absolute Friends: John le Carré reads his latest novel. gen: Lesung ser: Book At Bedtime tit: Absolute Friends epi: 9 sbt: Is Sasha a terrorist? aut: John le Carré cnt: 29 bnd: BB 1 len: 13'36" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 29.01.2004 lng: englisch stw: Mundy must learn for himself whether or not Sasha has terrorist sympathies. gen: Lesung ser: Book At Bedtime tit: Absolute Friends epi: 10 sbt: Fruition aut: John le Carré cnt: 30 bnd: BB 1 len: 14'10" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 30.01.2004 lng: englisch stw: Dimitri's plans for Mundy's language school come to terrifying fruition. gen: Lesung ser: Afternoon Reading tit: Canterbury Tales epi: 1 sbt: The Sermon On The Mount aut: Paula Rawsthorne cnt: 31 bnd: BB 1 len: 14'07" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 02.02.2004 lng: englisch stw: When Lenny Hopkins confesses that he can't give up gambling just yet because he's got a dead cert on the Grand National Father Francis agrees to keep his money safe for him. But can he resist the temptation? Read by Bill Nighy A Week of Original Short Stories. The first of 5 winning stories from the BBC's Get Writing competition inspired by Chaucer's Canterbury Tales. Producer Emma Ashby gen: Lesung ser: Afternoon Reading tit: Canterbury Tales epi: 2 sbt: The Heathen's Tale aut: Pia Khan cnt: 32 bnd: BB 1 len: 14'11" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 03.02.2004 lng: englisch stw: Ash has two weeks in which to achieve his aim of 'having everything he wanted by the age of forty'. The only piece of the jigsaw that has not yet fallen into place is one unmarried sister, Laila. Read by Indira Varma gen: Lesung ser: Afternoon Reading tit: Canterbury Tales epi: 3 sbt: The Oldest Tale aut: Felicity Yeoh cnt: 33 bnd: BB 1 len: 14'20" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 04.02.2004 lng: englisch stw: Amidst the chaos of revising for exams and applying to universities, Sam realises that something subtle but significant has changed in his feelings for Rachel. A beautifully observed story about love and friendship. Read by Nikki Amuka-Bir gen: Lesung ser: Afternoon Reading tit: Canterbury Tales epi: 4 sbt: The Journey aut: Martin Wright cnt: 34 bnd: BB 1 len: 14'31" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 05.02.2004 lng: englisch stw: On a wet, cold November evening a teenage girl sits alone on a commuter train as it heads for Canterbury. As she travels towards her destination she takes us on a journey through her summer, recalling her own voyage from schoolgirl to adulthood; the fun, the hurt and the ultimate disappointments that have led to this lonely route away from home. Read by Keeley Hawes gen: Lesung ser: Afternoon Reading tit: Canterbury Tales epi: 5 sbt: The Nun's Priest's Tale aut: Ivan Phillips cnt: 35 bnd: BB 1 len: 14'18" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 06.02.2004 lng: englisch stw: The tale of Chanticleer and the fox retold for today. A rural farmyard becomes an abandoned urban tower block where a hungry fox scavenges for scraps. The hens are exotic parrots tended by an elderly and lonely widow who gives them the freedom of her derelict home. A surreal and moving story which brings Chaucer right up to date. Read by Eileen Essel gen: Lesung ser: Book at Bedtime tit: A Fantasy of Dr Ox epi: 1 sbt: An unheard-of provocation in the village aut: Jules Verne cnt: 36 bnd: BB 1 len: 14'05" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 01.03.2004 lng: englisch stw: A delightful social satire set in the spectacularly dozy hamlet of Quiquendone in Flanders, where the plan to install a new street lighting system leads to a chain of extraordinary events. Read by Robert Gwilym gen: Lesung ser: Book at Bedtime tit: A Fantasy of Dr Ox epi: 2 sbt: Dr Ox and his assistant decide to reform the world aut: Jules Verne cnt: 37 bnd: BB 1 len: 14'02" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 02.03.2004 lng: englisch gen: Lesung ser: Book at Bedtime tit: A Fantasy of Dr Ox epi: 3 sbt: A Night at the Opera aut: Jules Verne cnt: 38 bnd: BB 1 len: 14'04" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 03.03.2004 lng: englisch stw: Robert Gwilym continues Verne's satire set in the spectacularly dozy Flemish hamlet of Quiquendone, where the plan to install a new street lighting system leads to a chain of extraordinary events. gen: Lesung ser: Book at Bedtime tit: A Fantasy of Dr Ox epi: 4 sbt: Preparations for War aut: Jules Verne cnt: 39 bnd: BB 1 len: 14'11" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 04.03.2004 lng: englisch gen: Lesung ser: Book at Bedtime tit: A Fantasy of Dr Ox epi: 5 sbt: In which the story ends with a bang - and an explanation aut: Jules Verne cnt: 40 bnd: BB 1 len: 13'54" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 05.03.2004 lng: englisch gen: Lesung ser: Book at Bedtime tit: Cat and Mouse epi: 1 aut: Günter Grass cnt: 41 bnd: BB 1 len: 14'01" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 08.03.2004 lng: englisch stw: 1940. A group of Danzig schoolboys spend the summer swimming out to the wreck in the harbour. While they lie around on the exposed hull, scraping off and chewing gull droppings, Malhke, with his huge Adam's apple and devotion to the Virgin, dives inside the ship to find and bring back whatever he can. Mahlke seems destined to be one of life's clowns, but soon he will do something that amazes everyone who knows him. Cat and Mouse is Nobel laureate Gunter Grass' second novel, published in 1961. Abridged by Anne Edyvean. Read by Stephen Moore. gen: Lesung ser: Book at Bedtime tit: Cat and Mouse epi: 2 aut: Günter Grass cnt: 42 bnd: BB 1 len: 13'58" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 09.03.2004 lng: englisch gen: Lesung ser: Book at Bedtime tit: Cat and Mouse epi: 3 aut: Günter Grass cnt: 43 bnd: BB 1 len: 13'52" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 10.03.2004 lng: englisch gen: Lesung ser: Book at Bedtime tit: Cat and Mouse epi: 4 aut: Günter Grass cnt: 44 bnd: BB 1 len: 13'49" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 11.03.2004 lng: englisch gen: Lesung ser: Book at Bedtime tit: Cat and Mouse epi: 5 aut: Günter Grass cnt: 45 bnd: BB 1 len: 13'48" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 12.03.2004 lng: englisch gen: Lesung ser: Book at Bedtime tit: Jane Eyre epi: 1 sbt: Lonely and ignored aut: Charlotte Brontë cnt: 46 bnd: BB 1 len: 13'57" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 05.04.2004 lng: englisch stw: Lonely and ignored, the orphaned Jane is growing up at Gateshead. Anne-Marie Duff reads Sally Marmion's 15-part adaptation of Charlotte Brontë's classic. gen: Lesung ser: Book at Bedtime tit: Jane Eyre epi: 2 sbt: Lowood Institution aut: Charlotte Brontë cnt: 47 bnd: BB 1 len: 14'14" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 06.04.2004 lng: englisch stw: Freed from the humiliations inflicted by her aunt, Jane hopes for a new beginning at Lowood Institution for Orphans. gen: Lesung ser: Book at Bedtime tit: Jane Eyre epi: 3 sbt: Friendship aut: Charlotte Brontë cnt: 48 bnd: BB 1 len: 14'12" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 07.04.2004 lng: englisch stw: 'Here I lay again crushed and trodden on.' Jane's dashed ambitions are restored by friendship. gen: Lesung ser: Book at Bedtime tit: Jane Eyre epi: 4 sbt: Thornfield Hall aut: Charlotte Brontë cnt: 49 bnd: BB 1 len: 14'13" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 08.04.2004 lng: englisch stw: A new home and a new master as Jane arrives at Thornfield Hall and encounters her employer for the first time. gen: Lesung ser: Book at Bedtime tit: Jane Eyre epi: 5 sbt: Mr Rochester's history aut: Charlotte Brontë cnt: 50 bnd: BB 1 len: 14'18" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 09.04.2004 lng: englisch stw: Jane learns a little of Mr Rochester's history and comes to his aid for a second time. gen: Lesung ser: Book at Bedtime tit: Jane Eyre epi: 6 sbt: Blanche Ingram's arrival aut: Charlotte Brontë cnt: 51 bnd: BB 1 len: 14'19" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 12.04.2004 lng: englisch stw: Blanche Ingram's arrival at Thornfield reminds Jane of the reality of her position. gen: Lesung ser: Book at Bedtime tit: Jane Eyre epi: 7 sbt: A fortune teller aut: Charlotte Brontë cnt: 52 bnd: BB 1 len: 14'33" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 13.04.2004 lng: englisch stw: A fortune teller in the library, and a cry in the night; the mysteries of Thornfield Hall deepen. gen: Lesung ser: Book at Bedtime tit: Jane Eyre epi: 8 sbt: News from Gateshead aut: Charlotte Brontë cnt: 53 bnd: BB 1 len: 14'00" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 14.04.2004 lng: englisch stw: As Jane tries to suppress her feelings, there is news from Gateshead. gen: Lesung ser: Book at Bedtime tit: Jane Eyre epi: 9 sbt: Encounter in an orchard aut: Charlotte Brontë cnt: 54 bnd: BB 1 len: 15'00" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 15.04.2004 lng: englisch stw: An encounter in an orchard on a midsummer evening. gen: Lesung ser: Book at Bedtime tit: Jane Eyre epi: 10 sbt: Legal impediment? aut: Charlotte Brontë cnt: 55 bnd: BB 1 len: 14'09" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 16.04.2004 lng: englisch stw: Is there any legal impediment to the marriage? gen: Lesung ser: Book at Bedtime tit: Jane Eyre epi: 11 sbt: The right course aut: Charlotte Brontë cnt: 56 bnd: BB 1 len: 14'14" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 19.04.2004 lng: englisch stw: Jane must examine her conscience and decide on the right course, even if at the cost of her happiness, and her lovers. gen: Lesung ser: Book at Bedtime tit: Jane Eyre epi: 12 sbt: A new life? aut: Charlotte Brontë cnt: 57 bnd: BB 1 len: 14'10" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 20.04.2004 lng: englisch stw: Alone and friendless, Jane has left Thornfield Hall. Can she make a new life for herself? gen: Lesung ser: Book at Bedtime tit: Jane Eyre epi: 13 sbt: A new home and new friends aut: Charlotte Brontë cnt: 58 bnd: BB 1 len: 14'25" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 21.04.2004 lng: englisch stw: Jane has a new home, a new school and new friends, but her heart is elsewhere. gen: Lesung ser: Book at Bedtime tit: Jane Eyre epi: 14 sbt: The fate of Thornfield aut: Charlotte Brontë cnt: 59 bnd: BB 1 len: 14'17" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 22.04.2004 lng: englisch stw: Jane learns the fate of Thornfield and her master. gen: Lesung ser: Book at Bedtime tit: Jane Eyre epi: 15 sbt: Happiness at last aut: Charlotte Brontë cnt: 60 bnd: BB 1 len: 14'20" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 23.04.2004 lng: englisch stw: Jane finds happiness at last. gen: Lesung ser: Science Fiction tit: 2001: A Space Odyssey epi: 1 sbt: Millions of years ago aut: Arthur C Clarke cnt: 61 bnd: BB 1 len: 28'03" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 10.05.2004 lng: englisch stw: Millions of years ago on Earth, a strange transparent slab appears. gen: Lesung ser: Science Fiction tit: 2001: A Space Odyssey epi: 2 sbt: To the moon aut: Arthur C Clarke cnt: 62 bnd: BB 1 len: 27'38" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 11.05.2004 lng: englisch stw: Dr Heywood Floyd anticipates blast off as he's headed to the moon amidst a flu epidemic. gen: Lesung ser: Science Fiction tit: 2001: A Space Odyssey epi: 3 sbt: Mission to Saturn aut: Arthur C Clarke cnt: 63 bnd: BB 1 len: 28'21" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 12.05.2004 lng: englisch stw: Dave Bowman and crewmate Frank Poole are on their mission to Saturn. gen: Lesung ser: Science Fiction tit: 2001: A Space Odyssey epi: 4 sbt: Total Breakdown aut: Arthur C Clarke cnt: 64 bnd: BB 1 len: 28'15" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 13.05.2004 lng: englisch stw: The best selling sci-fi from Arthur C Clarke continues. gen: Lesung ser: Science Fiction tit: 2001: A Space Odyssey epi: 5 sbt: The conclusion aut: Arthur C Clarke cnt: 65 bnd: BB 1 len: 28'10" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 14.05.2004 lng: englisch stw: The conclusion of the best selling sci-fi from Arthur C Clarke. gen: Lesung ser: Book at Bedtime tit: The Rainbow epi: 1 sbt: Left to run the farm aut: DH Lawrence cnt: 66 bnd: BB 1 len: 14'12" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 07.06.2004 lng: englisch stw: Following his father's death Tom Brangwen is left to run the family farm. Written in 1915, D.H. Lawrence's The Rainbow caused a public furore upon publication and the novel was subsequently banned for being sexually explicit. Abridged in ten parts for Radio 4, the novel explores the passionate lives of three generations of the Brangwen family of Nottinghamshire from the 1840s to the early years of the twentieth century. Read by David Bradley Abridged in ten parts by Linda Cracknell Produced by Lu Kemp gen: Lesung ser: Book at Bedtime tit: The Rainbow epi: 2 sbt: Husband and stepfather aut: DH Lawrence cnt: 67 bnd: BB 1 len: 13'57" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 08.06.2004 lng: englisch stw: Tom, now married to Lydia, struggles to come to terms with married life and his new position as stepfather to his wife's wilful child, Anna. Read by David Bradley Abridged in ten parts by Linda Cracknell Produced by Lu Kemp gen: Lesung ser: Book at Bedtime tit: The Rainbow epi: 3 sbt: Cousin Will aut: DH Lawrence cnt: 68 bnd: BB 1 len: 14'09" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 09.06.2004 lng: englisch stw: No longer a child, Anna longs to find an independence outside of her close knit family. The arrival of her cousin Will at the farm allows her to venture beyond her father's watchful eye. Meanwhile, Tom wonders at himself being already an old man as he sees his daughter move away from him towards another man. gen: Lesung ser: Book at Bedtime tit: The Rainbow epi: 4 sbt: Anna's marriage aut: DH Lawrence cnt: 69 bnd: BB 1 len: 14'06" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 10.06.2004 lng: englisch stw: After an idyllic courtship and marriage, the early days of Anna's marriage to Will are a shock to them both. The birth of their first child - a girl - is a disappointment to Anna and a revelation to Will. gen: Lesung ser: Book at Bedtime tit: The Rainbow epi: 5 sbt: Ursula grows up aut: DH Lawrence cnt: 70 bnd: BB 1 len: 13'59" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 11.06.2004 lng: englisch stw: Ursula grows up, ever closer to her young father Will. Will himself is changing from the naïve man he used to be, and his behaviour rather than repulsing his wife draws them together. gen: Lesung ser: Book at Bedtime tit: The Rainbow epi: 6 sbt: Tragedy aut: DH Lawrence cnt: 71 bnd: BB 1 len: 13'30" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 14.06.2004 lng: englisch stw: Tragedy shocks the family and brings the generations closer together. gen: Lesung ser: Book at Bedtime tit: The Rainbow epi: 7 sbt: Miss Inger aut: DH Lawrence cnt: 72 bnd: BB 1 len: 13'59" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 15.06.2004 lng: englisch stw: Ursula finds love with a family friend. But when he leaves to fight in the Boer War it is Miss Inger who intrigues her. gen: Lesung ser: Book at Bedtime tit: The Rainbow epi: 8 sbt: Teaching aut: DH Lawrence cnt: 73 bnd: BB 1 len: 13'55" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 16.06.2004 lng: englisch stw: Ursula's interest in her affair with Miss Inger is beginning to wane. She decides to take a career in teaching, but is horrified to see her romantic illusions about the profession shattered. She finally subdues her class in a violent interchange with one of her young pupils. gen: Lesung ser: Book at Bedtime tit: The Rainbow epi: 9 sbt: Sebrensky returns aut: DH Lawrence cnt: 74 bnd: BB 1 len: 13'54" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 17.06.2004 lng: englisch stw: Ursula leaves the school to attend teacher training college, but when Sebrensky returns she quickly loses interest in her studies. They become lovers but, while she enjoys their illicit affair, Ursula is loathe to enter into a contract of marriage. gen: Lesung ser: Book at Bedtime tit: The Rainbow epi: 10 sbt: Decision aut: DH Lawrence cnt: 75 bnd: BB 1 len: 13'40" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 18.06.2004 lng: englisch stw: Ursula has broken off with Sebrensky and he has left for India without her. After his departure Ursula finds that she is with child - she must decide whether to follow him to India to live as his wife, or stay in England as an outcast from society. gen: Lesung tit: Tarka the Otter epi: 1 aut: Henry Williamson cnt: 76 bnd: BB 1 len: 14'18" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 19.07.2004 lng: englisch stw: Henry Williamson's classic tale of an otter's eventful and sometimes dangerous life in the Devon countryside. gen: Lesung tit: Tarka the Otter epi: 2 aut: Henry Williamson cnt: 77 bnd: BB 1 len: 13'38" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 20.07.2004 lng: englisch gen: Lesung tit: Tarka the Otter epi: 3 aut: Henry Williamson cnt: 78 bnd: BB 1 len: 13'45" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 21.07.2004 lng: englisch gen: Lesung tit: Tarka the Otter epi: 4 aut: Henry Williamson cnt: 79 bnd: BB 1 len: 13'47" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 22.07.2004 lng: englisch gen: Lesung tit: Tarka the Otter epi: 5 aut: Henry Williamson cnt: 80 bnd: BB 1 len: 14'08" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 23.07.2004 lng: englisch gen: Lesung tit: Just William epi: 1 sbt: William Goes Shopping aut: Richmal Crompton cnt: 81 bnd: BB 1 len: 14'26" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 19.07.2004 lng: englisch stw: Nothing is simple where William is concerned, even when it's just a shopping errand for his mother. Read by Martin Jarvis. gen: Lesung tit: Just William epi: 2 sbt: Violet Elizabeth Runs Away aut: Richmal Crompton cnt: 82 bnd: BB 1 len: 14'57" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 20.07.2004 lng: englisch stw: A search for a new mother provides a big surprise for Violet Elizabeth when she runs away from school. gen: Lesung tit: Just William epi: 3 sbt: William and the Real Laurence aut: Richmal Crompton cnt: 83 bnd: BB 1 len: 14'45" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 21.07.2004 lng: englisch stw: A change of identity causes our intrepid, yet mischievous, schoolboy to be put in unexpected quarantine. gen: Lesung tit: Just William epi: 4 sbt: The Outlaws and the Hidden Treasure aut: Richmal Crompton cnt: 84 bnd: BB 1 len: 14'54" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 22.07.2004 lng: englisch stw: The search for hidden treasure in Miss Peach's garden reaps a more precious reward for her than the Outlaws. gen: Lesung tit: Just William epi: 5 sbt: William and the Fairy Daffodil aut: Richmal Crompton cnt: 85 bnd: BB 1 len: 15'16" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 23.07.2004 lng: englisch stw: William Brown wreaks havoc but is hindered by Violet Elizabeth. Martin Jarvis reads Just William. gen: Lesung tit: Just William epi: 6 sbt: April Fool's Day aut: Richmal Crompton cnt: 86 bnd: BB 1 len: 13'41" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 26.07.2004 lng: englisch stw: It's one of William's favourite days but his family are on their guard. gen: Lesung tit: Just William epi: 7 sbt: That Boy aut: Richmal Crompton cnt: 87 bnd: BB 1 len: 13'53" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 27.07.2004 lng: englisch stw: William is on holiday with his family. They're nowhere near the sea but William soon finds something to amuse himself with. gen: Lesung tit: Just William epi: 8 sbt: The Bishop's Handkerchief aut: Richmal Crompton cnt: 88 bnd: BB 1 len: 13'56" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 28.07.2004 lng: englisch stw: Ginger has received a gift of a silk multi-coloured handkerchief that impresses the rest of the out-law gang. gen: Lesung tit: Just William epi: 9 sbt: The Haunted House aut: Richmal Crompton cnt: 89 bnd: BB 1 len: 13'45" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 29.07.2004 lng: englisch stw: William suggests that the Out-laws have a midnight feast in an old empty house and lands his brother Robert in serious trouble. gen: Lesung tit: Just William epi: 10 sbt: The Cure aut: Richmal Crompton cnt: 90 bnd: BB 1 len: 13'24" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 30.07.2004 lng: englisch stw: Great Aunt Jane is very ill and wants to see William, of all people. So William and his mother make the trek to Ireland. gen: Lesung tit: Jennings Goes to School epi: 1 sbt: Jennings Gets a Reputation aut: Anthony Buckeridge cnt: 91 bnd: BB 1 len: 15'29" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 02.08.2004 lng: englisch stw: BBC 7's tribute to Anthony Buckeridge. It's the first day of term at Linbury Court, and Jennings meets Darbyshire. gen: Lesung tit: Jennings Goes to School epi: 2 sbt: Suspense and Suspension aut: Anthony Buckeridge cnt: 92 bnd: BB 1 len: 14'28" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 03.08.2004 lng: englisch stw: Stephen Fry reads the adventures of the mischievous Jennings and his sidekick Darbyshire. gen: Lesung tit: Jennings Goes to School epi: 3 sbt: The Literary Masterpiece aut: Anthony Buckeridge cnt: 93 bnd: BB 1 len: 14'27" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 04.08.2004 lng: englisch gen: Lesung tit: Jennings Goes to School epi: 4 sbt: Beware of the Thing aut: Anthony Buckeridge cnt: 94 bnd: BB 1 len: 0' med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 05.08.2004 lng: englisch stw: fehlt Bracebridge School cancels a football match against Linbury, so it's up to Jennings to save the day. gen: Lesung tit: Jennings Goes to School epi: 5 sbt: Jennings Uses His Head aut: Anthony Buckeridge cnt: 95 bnd: BB 1 len: 14'28" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 06.08.2004 lng: englisch stw: Stephen Fry reads the adventures of the mischievous Jennings. BBC 7's tribute to writer Anthony Buckeridge. gen: Lesung tit: Jennings Again epi: 1 sbt: The Aim of the Game aut: Anthony Buckeridge cnt: 96 bnd: BB 1 len: 14'07" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 09.08.2004 fst: 1991 lng: englisch stw: Anthony Buckeridge's books about the much-loved, accident-prone schoolboy, grew out of the serial Jennings at School, which featured on radio show Children's Hour. This week Stephen Fry reads Jennings Again, first heard on Radio 5 in 1991. gen: Lesung tit: Jennings Again epi: 2 sbt: Marina Gardens Gets the Message aut: Anthony Buckeridge cnt: 97 bnd: BB 1 len: 14'02" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 10.08.2004 lng: englisch stw: Miss Thorpe masterminds the cleaning up of village litter and Jennings and Darbyshire are enlisted to help. gen: Lesung tit: Jennings Again epi: 3 sbt: The Niggling Doubt aut: Anthony Buckeridge cnt: 98 bnd: BB 1 len: 14'18" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 11.08.2004 lng: englisch stw: Stephen Fry reads more adventures of the mischievous Jennings and his sidekick Darbyshire. gen: Lesung tit: Jennings Again epi: 4 sbt: Underground aut: Anthony Buckeridge cnt: 99 bnd: BB 1 len: 14'21" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 12.08.2004 lng: englisch stw: Stephen Fry reads another Jennings story. gen: Lesung tit: Jennings Again epi: 5 sbt: Photo Finish aut: Anthony Buckeridge cnt: 100 bnd: BB 1 len: 14'20" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 13.08.2004 lng: englisch stw: Jennings writes to Dr O'Connor about tree conservation, the ecologist whose wallet he'd rescued on the Underground. gen: Lesung ser: Afternoon Reading tit: The Pedestrian aut: Ray Bradbury cnt: 101 bnd: BB 1 len: 13'06" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 20.08.2004 lng: englisch stw: There will come a time when we won't be allowed to walk, by order of the authorities. Walking Stories: A week of stories celebrating some diehard pedestrians. Read by David Horovitch Producer Duncan Minshull gen: Lesung ser: Afternoon Reading tit: A Necklace of Raindrops epi: 1 sbt: A Necklace of Raindrops aut: Joan Aiken cnt: 102 bnd: BB 1 len: 14'11" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 23.08.2004 lng: englisch stw: The North Wind gives little Laura a necklace with special powers. Perhaps she is best known for her childrens books which include The Wolves of Willoughby Chase and Black Hearts in Battersea but she was also a prolific writer of short stories which range from the fairytale like title story A Necklace of Raindrops, to the almost Dali-esque The Lobster's Birthday via the strange and ethereal The Mysterious Barricades which conjures a land beyond the icy peaks of a mountain range where civil servants are said to go when they retire. Other stories in the series feature a mermaid, a phoenix and A Leg Full of Rubies. This selection of short stories was originally planned to celebrate Joan Aiken's 80th birthday which would have been this September. Sadly, her death earlier this year, means that this is an opportunity to look back on the extraordinary range of work that she produced in over fifty years of writing for children and adults. Read by Miriam Margolyes Producer Jill Waters gen: Lesung ser: Afternoon Reading tit: A Necklace of Raindrops epi: 2 sbt: The Lobster's Birthday aut: Joan Aiken cnt: 103 bnd: BB 1 len: 14'16" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 24.08.2004 lng: englisch stw: Two friends take a day trip to Brighton. Read by Miriam Margolyes Producer Jill Waters gen: Lesung ser: Afternoon Reading tit: A Necklace of Raindrops epi: 3 sbt: A Leg Full of Rubies aut: Joan Aiken cnt: 104 bnd: BB 1 len: 14'04" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 25.08.2004 lng: englisch stw: A phoenix comes between two sweethearts. Read by Miriam Margolyes Producer Jill Waters gen: Lesung ser: Afternoon Reading tit: A Necklace of Raindrops epi: 4 sbt: A Jar of Cobblestones aut: Joan Aiken cnt: 105 bnd: BB 1 len: 14'06" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 26.08.2004 lng: englisch stw: A young writer meets a mermaid. Series of five short stories by Joan Aiken, who died earlier this year. Read by Miriam Margolyes Producer Jill Waters gen: Lesung ser: Afternoon Reading tit: A Necklace of Raindrops epi: 5 sbt: The Mysterious Barricades aut: Joan Aiken cnt: 106 bnd: BB 1 len: 14'06" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 27.08.2004 lng: englisch stw: A civil servant goes in search of his destiny. Read by Miriam Margolyes Producer Jill Waters gen: Lesung tit: The Birds epi: 1 aut: Daphne du Maurier cnt: 107 bnd: BB 1 len: 30'14" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 01.12.2004 lng: englisch stw: Daphne Du Maurier's chilling tale of nature turning on humankind, The Birds, is read by Charlie Barnecut. This unabridged reading was specially produced for BBC 7 by Gemma Jenkins. gen: Lesung tit: The Birds epi: 2 aut: Daphne du Maurier cnt: 108 bnd: BB 1 len: 30'47" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 02.12.2004 lng: englisch stw: Daphne du Maurier's chilling tale continues. Nat Hocken and his family endure another night of terror from the attacking birds. gen: Lesung tit: The Birds epi: 3 aut: Daphne du Maurier cnt: 109 bnd: BB 1 len: 31'01" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 03.12.2004 lng: englisch stw: Daphne du Maurier's chilling tale reaches its climax. Nat and his family witness the horrific aftermath of the birds attack. gen: Lesung tit: Just William epi: 11 sbt: William Holds the Stage aut: Richmal Crompton cnt: 110 bnd: BB 1 len: 14'46" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 17.12.2004 lng: englisch stw: William Brown wreaks havoc but is hindered by Violet Elizabeth. Read by Martin Jarvis. gen: Lesung ser: Comedy tit: Without the Option epi: 1 aut: P. G. Wodehouse cnt: 111 bnd: BB 1 len: 28'33" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 06.02.2005 lng: englisch stw: Bertie Wooster falls headlong into another glorious adventure after one of his bright ideas goes horribly wrong. gen: Lesung ser: Comedy tit: Without the Option epi: 2 aut: P. G. Wodehouse cnt: 112 bnd: BB 1 len: 27'06" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 13.02.2005 lng: englisch stw: Will Bertie Wooster be able to avoid the amorous attentions of Heloise Pringle? Will Jeeves save the day? gen: Lesung ser: Science Fiction tit: The Day of the Triffids epi: 1 aut: John Wyndham cnt: 1 bnd: BB 2 len: 30'26" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 01.09.2004 lng: englisch stw: Bill Masen wakes up in hospital to find the world he knew will never be the same again. Roger May reads John Wyndham's most famous novel - an unsettlingly vivid and thrillingly realised tale of ecological apocalypse. unabridged - ungekürzt gen: Lesung ser: Science Fiction tit: The Day of the Triffids epi: 2 aut: John Wyndham cnt: 2 bnd: BB 2 len: 29'58" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 02.09.2004 lng: englisch stw: Bill remembers how the Triffids first came to England and why. By John Wyndham. gen: Lesung ser: Science Fiction tit: The Day of the Triffids epi: 3 aut: John Wyndham cnt: 3 bnd: BB 2 len: 29'04" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 03.09.2004 lng: englisch stw: Bill wonders if the Triffids are more intelligent than people think. gen: Lesung ser: Science Fiction tit: The Day of the Triffids epi: 4 aut: John Wyndham cnt: 4 bnd: BB 2 len: 27'41" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 06.09.2004 lng: englisch stw: Bill is shocked at what he finds in London but manages to rescue a girl from danger. gen: Lesung ser: Science Fiction tit: The Day of the Triffids epi: 5 aut: John Wyndham cnt: 5 bnd: BB 2 len: 28'14" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 07.09.2004 lng: englisch stw: Josella and Bill are horrified at what they find back at Josella's home. gen: Lesung ser: Science Fiction tit: The Day of the Triffids epi: 6 aut: John Wyndham cnt: 6 bnd: BB 2 len: 30'20" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 08.09.2004 lng: englisch stw: Bill gets to know Josella better and things begin to look better for them. gen: Lesung ser: Science Fiction tit: The Day of the Triffids epi: 7 aut: John Wyndham cnt: 7 bnd: BB 2 len: 29'09" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 09.09.2004 lng: englisch stw: Bill and Josella join the group at the University. gen: Lesung ser: Science Fiction tit: The Day of the Triffids epi: 8 aut: John Wyndham cnt: 8 bnd: BB 2 len: 30'50" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 10.09.2004 lng: englisch stw: Bill and Josella agree with the group's ideas for the future of their community. gen: Lesung ser: Science Fiction tit: The Day of the Triffids epi: 9 aut: John Wyndham cnt: 9 bnd: BB 2 len: 29'47" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 13.09.2004 lng: englisch stw: Bill does his best to help his blind group but conditions get progressively worse. gen: Lesung ser: Science Fiction tit: The Day of the Triffids epi: 10 aut: John Wyndham cnt: 10 bnd: BB 2 len: 29'44" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 14.09.2004 lng: englisch stw: Bill goes back to the University to find Josella but it isn't her that he finds there. gen: Lesung ser: Science Fiction tit: The Day of the Triffids epi: 11 aut: John Wyndham cnt: 11 bnd: BB 2 len: 30'25" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 15.09.2004 lng: englisch stw: Bill and Coker find part of the original group. However Josella isn't with them. gen: Lesung ser: Science Fiction tit: The Day of the Triffids epi: 12 aut: John Wyndham cnt: 12 bnd: BB 2 len: 28'38" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 16.09.2004 lng: englisch stw: Bill and Coker check out of Tynsham and start out to find the rest of the University group. gen: Lesung ser: Science Fiction tit: The Day of the Triffids epi: 13 aut: John Wyndham cnt: 13 bnd: BB 2 len: 30'09" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 17.09.2004 lng: englisch stw: Bill and Coker search high and low for the University group. gen: Lesung ser: Science Fiction tit: The Day of the Triffids epi: 14 aut: John Wyndham cnt: 14 bnd: BB 2 len: 30'11" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 20.09.2004 lng: englisch stw: After rescuing Susan, Bill brings her along on the hunt for Josella. gen: Lesung ser: Science Fiction tit: The Day of the Triffids epi: 15 aut: John Wyndham cnt: 15 bnd: BB 2 len: 26'04" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 21.09.2004 lng: englisch stw: Bill works hard to make a new home for his new family. gen: Lesung ser: Science Fiction tit: The Day of the Triffids epi: 16 aut: John Wyndham cnt: 16 bnd: BB 2 len: 28'39" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 22.09.2004 lng: englisch stw: Bill and Josella take a trip to the beach where they have a first glimpse of help. gen: Lesung ser: Science Fiction tit: The Day of the Triffids epi: 17 aut: John Wyndham cnt: 17 bnd: BB 2 len: 27'31" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 23.09.2004 lng: englisch stw: A visitor to Shirning threatens Bill's family and their future together. gen: Lesung ser: Science Fiction tit: The Kraken Wakes epi: 1 aut: John Wyndham cnt: 18 bnd: BB 2 len: 30'53" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 24.09.2004 lng: englisch stw: While on their honeymoon, Mike and Phyllis Watson witness huge fireballs racing across the sky and plunging into the sea. Stephen Moore reads John Wyndham's second novel. unabridged - ungekürzt Published in 1953, the apocalyptic sci-fi novel by John Wyndham is a brilliant alien invasion tale. Stephen Moore is the reader, creating a terrific atmosphere of impending global catastrophe as strange fireballs speed through the sky and ships sink with no apparent reason. This 16 part reading, recorded specially for BBC 7, was produced by Susan Carson, and first broadcast in March 2004. gen: Lesung ser: Science Fiction tit: The Kraken Wakes epi: 2 aut: John Wyndham cnt: 19 bnd: BB 2 len: 30'14" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 27.09.2004 lng: englisch stw: The authorities send down a probe to examine what might lie at the bottom of the sea. gen: Lesung ser: Science Fiction tit: The Kraken Wakes epi: 3 aut: John Wyndham cnt: 20 bnd: BB 2 len: 30'40" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 28.09.2004 lng: englisch stw: The authorities are baffled when ships from three different countries disappear without trace. gen: Lesung ser: Science Fiction tit: The Kraken Wakes epi: 4 aut: John Wyndham cnt: 21 bnd: BB 2 len: 29'45" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 29.09.2004 lng: englisch stw: Two more atomic bombs are sent down into the deep but the authorities are very worried when they fail to go off. gen: Lesung ser: Science Fiction tit: The Kraken Wakes epi: 5 aut: John Wyndham cnt: 22 bnd: BB 2 len: 30'05" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 30.09.2004 lng: englisch stw: Mike and Phyllis travel to their cottage in Cornwall and hear some disturbing news when they get there. gen: Lesung ser: Science Fiction tit: The Kraken Wakes epi: 6 aut: John Wyndham cnt: 23 bnd: BB 2 len: 30'06" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 01.10.2004 lng: englisch stw: Mike and Phyllis have friends to stay at the cottage and realise the extent of disbelief at the recent events. gen: Lesung ser: Science Fiction tit: The Kraken Wakes epi: 7 aut: John Wyndham cnt: 24 bnd: BB 2 len: 30'30" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 04.10.2004 lng: englisch stw: It is established beyond doubt that there is something highly dangerous lurking in the deeps. gen: Lesung ser: Science Fiction tit: The Kraken Wakes epi: 8 aut: John Wyndham cnt: 25 bnd: BB 2 len: 26'05" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 05.10.2004 lng: englisch stw: A bizarre occurrence on a Brazilian island sparks Mike and Phyllis's interest. gen: Lesung ser: Science Fiction tit: The Kraken Wakes epi: 9 aut: John Wyndham cnt: 26 bnd: BB 2 len: 29'45" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 06.10.2004 lng: englisch stw: Mike and Phyllis go on an expedition for EBC to a Caribbean Island to see if they can find out anything about the strange disappearances. gen: Lesung ser: Science Fiction tit: The Kraken Wakes epi: 10 aut: John Wyndham cnt: 27 bnd: BB 2 len: 27'39" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 07.10.2004 lng: englisch stw: Mike and Phyllis see at first hand the destruction that can be inflicted by the unknown being in the deep. gen: Lesung ser: Science Fiction tit: The Kraken Wakes epi: 11 aut: John Wyndham cnt: 28 bnd: BB 2 len: 30'11" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 08.10.2004 lng: englisch stw: More raids are reported around the world and Phyllis and Mike return to Cornwall. gen: Lesung ser: Science Fiction tit: The Kraken Wakes epi: 12 aut: John Wyndham cnt: 29 bnd: BB 2 len: 28'29" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 11.10.2004 lng: englisch stw: When raids start happening closer to home the authorities take action. gen: Lesung ser: Science Fiction tit: The Kraken Wakes epi: 13 aut: John Wyndham cnt: 30 bnd: BB 2 len: 26'41" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 12.10.2004 lng: englisch stw: The raids have stopped but is there anything sinister in the imperceptible change in weather conditions? gen: Lesung ser: Science Fiction tit: The Kraken Wakes epi: 14 aut: John Wyndham cnt: 31 bnd: BB 2 len: 29'36" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 13.10.2004 lng: englisch stw: Bocker is frustrated that the authorities won't take the climate change seriously. gen: Lesung ser: Science Fiction tit: The Kraken Wakes epi: 15 aut: John Wyndham cnt: 32 bnd: BB 2 len: 30'36" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 14.10.2004 lng: englisch stw: Mike and Phyllis volunteer to stay in London to report for the EBC. gen: Lesung ser: Science Fiction tit: The Kraken Wakes epi: 16 aut: John Wyndham cnt: 33 bnd: BB 2 len: 30'17" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 15.10.2004 lng: englisch stw: Mike and Phyllis admit defeat in London and decide to try to get back to their cottage in Cornwall. gen: Lesung tit: Horses epi: 1 aut: Keith Ridgeway cnt: 34 bnd: BB 2 len: 26'30" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 13.12.2004 lng: englisch stw: An arsonist is wreaking havoc in a village south of Dublin and Father Devoy takes a stranger in out of the rain. When a fire claims the lives of some beloved horses, it's a race against time for the local doctor, policeman and vet to prevent the bereaved from avenging their deaths. Owen Roe reads Keith Ridgeway's thriller. gen: Lesung tit: Horses epi: 2 aut: Keith Ridgeway cnt: 35 bnd: BB 2 len: 29'41" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 14.12.2004 lng: englisch stw: Father Devoy goes to the surgery to seek Dr Brooks' opinion on Mathew's story when a new visitor stumbles in with terrible news. gen: Lesung tit: Horses epi: 3 aut: Keith Ridgeway cnt: 36 bnd: BB 2 len: 29'53" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 15.12.2004 lng: englisch stw: As the storm rages the men struggle back to the surgery and the Doctor learns who the arsonist is. gen: Lesung tit: Horses epi: 4 aut: Keith Ridgeway cnt: 37 bnd: BB 2 len: 30'13" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 16.12.2004 lng: englisch stw: Father Devoy struggles with his faith and Garda Sweeny with his impatience, but what is going through Helen's mind? gen: Lesung tit: Horses epi: 5 aut: Keith Ridgeway cnt: 38 bnd: BB 2 len: 30'53" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 17.12.2004 lng: englisch stw: Dr Brooks, Father Devoy and Garda Sweeney race through the storm only to make a horrifying discovery. gen: Lesung ser: Book at Bedtime tit: Don Quixote epi: 1 aut: Miguel de Cervantes cnt: 39 bnd: BB 2 len: 13'58" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 03.01.2005 lng: englisch stw: An introduction to the gentleman with a passion for ancient tales of chivalry. Andrew Sachs reads the 400 year old tale. gen: Lesung ser: Book at Bedtime tit: Don Quixote epi: 2 aut: Miguel de Cervantes cnt: 40 bnd: BB 2 len: 13'02" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 04.01.2005 lng: englisch stw: Quixote is convinced that the roadside inn he is staying at is actually a castle. Andrew Sachs reads the 400 year old tale. gen: Lesung ser: Book at Bedtime tit: Don Quixote epi: 3 aut: Miguel de Cervantes cnt: 41 bnd: BB 2 len: 13'13" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 05.01.2005 lng: englisch stw: We join the newly dubbed knight as he takes to the road in search of other knights to challenge. Andrew Sachs reads the 400 year old tale. gen: Lesung ser: Book at Bedtime tit: Don Quixote epi: 4 aut: Miguel de Cervantes cnt: 42 bnd: BB 2 len: 13'33" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 06.01.2005 lng: englisch stw: Sancho Panza adjusts to his new role as a knight's squire, but his advice regarding windmills goes unheeded. Andrew Sachs reads the 400 year old tale. gen: Lesung ser: Book at Bedtime tit: Don Quixote epi: 5 aut: Miguel de Cervantes cnt: 43 bnd: BB 2 len: 13'48" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 07.01.2005 lng: englisch stw: Our knight explains the importance of manifesting his madness - preferably naked. Andrew Sachs reads the 400 year old tale. gen: Lesung ser: Book at Bedtime tit: Don Quixote epi: 6 aut: Miguel de Cervantes cnt: 44 bnd: BB 2 len: 13'25" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 10.01.2005 lng: englisch stw: Captured by his friends, Don Quixote is bought to La Mancha to recuperate and recover his wits. Andrew Sachs reads the 400 year old tale. gen: Lesung ser: Book at Bedtime tit: Don Quixote epi: 7 aut: Miguel de Cervantes cnt: 45 bnd: BB 2 len: 13'35" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 11.01.2005 lng: englisch stw: The knight's housekeeper is let down by Sanson Carrasco, and Sancho experiences a crisis. Andrew Sachs reads the 400 year old tale. gen: Lesung ser: Book at Bedtime tit: Don Quixote epi: 8 aut: Miguel de Cervantes cnt: 46 bnd: BB 2 len: 13'33" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 12.01.2005 lng: englisch stw: Don Quixote and Sancho Panza have a disconcerting adventure in a forest. Andrew Sachs reads the 400 year old tale. gen: Lesung ser: Book at Bedtime tit: Don Quixote epi: 9 aut: Miguel de Cervantes cnt: 47 bnd: BB 2 len: 13'37" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 13.01.2005 lng: englisch stw: Evil enchanters continue to distort Don Quixote's sense of reality, while Sancho isn't so sure. Andrew Sachs reads the 400 year old tale. gen: Lesung ser: Book at Bedtime tit: Don Quixote epi: 10 aut: Miguel de Cervantes cnt: 48 bnd: BB 2 len: 13'28" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 14.01.2005 lng: englisch stw: Some puppets tell a story - a tale of scepticism, fantasy and reality. Andrew Sachs reads the 400 year old tale. gen: Lesung ser: Book at Bedtime tit: Don Quixote epi: 11 aut: Miguel de Cervantes cnt: 49 bnd: BB 2 len: 13'36" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 17.01.2005 lng: englisch stw: Don Quixote and his faithful squire become the guests of a duke and duchess. Andrew Sachs reads the 400 year old tale. gen: Lesung ser: Book at Bedtime tit: Don Quixote epi: 12 aut: Miguel de Cervantes cnt: 50 bnd: BB 2 len: 13'33" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 18.01.2005 lng: englisch stw: The duchess is amused, whilst Sancho learns something to his disadvantage. Andrew Sachs reads the 400 year old tale. gen: Lesung ser: Book at Bedtime tit: Don Quixote epi: 13 aut: Miguel de Cervantes cnt: 51 bnd: BB 2 len: 13'39" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 19.01.2005 lng: englisch stw: Once more, Sancho is the target for noble deceptions and practical jokes. Andrew Sachs reads the 400 year old tale. gen: Lesung ser: Book at Bedtime tit: Don Quixote epi: 14 aut: Miguel de Cervantes cnt: 52 bnd: BB 2 len: 13'43" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 20.01.2005 lng: englisch stw: An enemy from the past seeks revenge on Don Quixote. Andrew Sachs reads the 400 year old tale. gen: Lesung ser: Book at Bedtime tit: Don Quixote epi: 15 aut: Miguel de Cervantes cnt: 53 bnd: BB 2 len: 13'47" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 21.01.2005 lng: englisch stw: Truth and fantasy find their resting place as the knight and his squire come home. Andrew Sachs reads the 400 year old tale. gen: Lesung tit: Jennings in Particular epi: 1 aut: Anthony Buckeridge cnt: 54 bnd: BB 2 len: 20'08" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 09.01.2005 fst: 85-03-18 lng: englisch stw: Anthony Buckeridge reads from his own novel about the exploits and escapades of schoolboy JCT Jennings at Linbury Court prep school. gen: Lesung tit: Jennings in Particular epi: 2 aut: Anthony Buckeridge cnt: 55 bnd: BB 2 len: 19'41" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 16.01.2005 lng: englisch stw: More chaos and mayhem for Jennings as he tries to survive another day at school, written by Anthony Buckeridge. gen: Lesung tit: Jennings in Particular epi: 3 aut: Anthony Buckeridge cnt: 56 bnd: BB 2 len: 19'30" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 23.01.2005 fst: 85-03-18 lng: englisch stw: Anthony Buckeridge reads from his novel of the exploits and escapades of schoolboy JCT Jennings at Linbury Court prep school. gen: Lesung tit: Jennings in Particular epi: 4 aut: Anthony Buckeridge cnt: 57 bnd: BB 2 len: 19'35" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 30.01.2005 fst: 85-03-18 lng: englisch stw: Anthony Buckeridge reads from his own novel about the exploits and escapades of schoolboy JCT Jennings at Linbury Court prep school. gen: Lesung tit: Jennings in Particular epi: 5 aut: Anthony Buckeridge cnt: 58 bnd: BB 2 len: 18'51" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 06.02.2005 fst: 85-03-18 lng: englisch stw: Anthony Buckeridge reads from his own novel about the exploits of schoolboy J.C.T. Jennings at Linbury Court prep school. gen: Lesung tit: Jennings in Particular epi: 6 aut: Anthony Buckeridge cnt: 59 bnd: BB 2 len: 19'12" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 13.02.2005 fst: 85-03-18 lng: englisch stw: The late Anthony Buckeridge reads his own story of jolly japes in the third form. gen: Lesung tit: Jennings in Particular epi: 7 aut: Anthony Buckeridge cnt: 60 bnd: BB 2 len: 19'33" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 20.02.2005 fst: 85-03-18 lng: englisch stw: More schoolboy capers from Jennings and his pals. Anthony Buckeridge reads. gen: Lesung tit: Jennings in Particular epi: 8 aut: Anthony Buckeridge cnt: 61 bnd: BB 2 len: 19'07" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 27.02.2005 fst: 85-03-18 lng: englisch stw: Anthony Buckeridge reads from his own novel about the exploits and escapades of schoolboy JCT Jennings. gen: Lesung tit: Jennings in Particular epi: 9 aut: Anthony Buckeridge cnt: 62 bnd: BB 2 len: 18'59" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 06.03.2005 fst: 85-03-18 lng: englisch stw: More schoolboy capers from Jennings and his pals. gen: Lesung ser: Book at Bedtime tit: Purple Hibiscus epi: 1 aut: Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie cnt: 63 bnd: BB 2 len: 14'17" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 31.01.2005 lng: englisch stw: Mama has at last become pregnant, but Papa's violence erupts, and Kambili's ordered world starts to fall apart. Against the background of a country in political turmoil, a teenage Nigerian girl, Kambili, finds her way from the religious repression and secret violence of her family to freedom and happiness. Read by Rakie Ayola. Abridged by Sarah LeFanu. gen: Lesung ser: Book at Bedtime tit: Purple Hibiscus epi: 2 aut: Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie cnt: 64 bnd: BB 2 len: 13'54" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 01.02.2005 lng: englisch stw: Kambili, distressed by her mother's miscarriage, is struggling to revise for exams, while a military coup threatens Papa's businesses. gen: Lesung ser: Book at Bedtime tit: Purple Hibiscus epi: 3 aut: Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie cnt: 65 bnd: BB 2 len: 13'45" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 02.02.2005 lng: englisch stw: Kambili and her brother are about to visit their grandfather and aunt at Christmas. gen: Lesung ser: Book at Bedtime tit: Purple Hibiscus epi: 4 aut: Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie cnt: 66 bnd: BB 2 len: 13'52" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 03.02.2005 lng: englisch stw: A visit to Aunty Ifeoma introduces Kambili and her brother Jaja to a life without fear - and to the rare purple hibiscus. gen: Lesung ser: Book at Bedtime tit: Purple Hibiscus epi: 5 aut: Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie cnt: 67 bnd: BB 2 len: 13'55" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 04.02.2005 lng: englisch stw: Kambili learns about her Grandfather's 'heathen' beliefs, and Father Amadi teaches her to smile. gen: Lesung ser: Book at Bedtime tit: Purple Hibiscus epi: 6 aut: Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie cnt: 68 bnd: BB 2 len: 13'53" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 07.02.2005 lng: englisch stw: Papa's 'heathen' father has died in Aunty Ifeoma's flat. Now Kambili and Jaja feel Papa's wrath. This acclaimed first novel, shortlisted for the 2004 Orange Prize, is set in the political turmoil of Nigeria, where Kambili is growing up in a family dominated by her father's repressive religion and domestic violence. By Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie Abridged by Sarah LeFanu Read by Rakie Ayola gen: Lesung ser: Book at Bedtime tit: Purple Hibiscus epi: 7 aut: Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie cnt: 69 bnd: BB 2 len: 13'56" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 08.02.2005 lng: englisch stw: Violence is spreading under Nigeria's new military rulers. At home, Papa loses all control, and nearly kills Kambili. Against the background of a country in political turmoil, a teenage Nigerian girl, Kambili, finds her way from the religious repression and secret violence of her family to freedom and happiness. By Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. Abridged by Sarah LeFanu. Read by Rakie Ayola. gen: Lesung ser: Book at Bedtime tit: Purple Hibiscus epi: 8 aut: Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie cnt: 70 bnd: BB 2 len: 13'59" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 09.02.2005 lng: englisch stw: Kambili is recovering with Aunty Ifeoma and her cousins. More violence is to come at home, but the purple hibiscuses are about to bloom. Against the background of a country in political turmoil, a teenage Nigerian girl, Kambili, finds her way from the religious repression and secret violence of her family to freedom and happiness. By Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. Abridged by Sarah LeFanu. Read by Rakie Ayola. gen: Lesung ser: Book at Bedtime tit: Purple Hibiscus epi: 9 aut: Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie cnt: 71 bnd: BB 2 len: 13'57" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 10.02.2005 lng: englisch stw: A shock for Kambili - both Aunty Ifeoma and Father Amadi are leaving Nigeria. A pilgrimage lifts her spirits, but then there's horrific news. This acclaimed first novel, shortlisted for the 2004 Orange Prize, is set in the political turmoil of Nigeria, where Kambili is growing up in a family dominated by her father's repressive religion and domestic violence. By Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie Abridged by Sarah LeFanu Read by Rakie Ayola gen: Lesung ser: Book at Bedtime tit: Purple Hibiscus epi: 10 aut: Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie cnt: 72 bnd: BB 2 len: 13'55" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 11.02.2005 lng: englisch stw: Jaja has been imprisoned for Papa's murder. But his release is near, and Kambili plans a future of love, laughter, and purple hibiscus. By Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie Abridged by Sarah LeFanu Read by Rakie Ayola gen: Lesung ser: Krimi tit: The Drowned Mens Inn epi: 1 aut: Georges Simenon cnt: 73 bnd: BB 2 len: 31'59" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 24.02.2005 lng: englisch stw: Inspector Maigret suspects an accident involving a car disappearing into a river may not be what it seems. This two part reading is another original BBC 7 commission. Taken from a short story by Georges Simeon, it is read by Nicholas Le Prevost. It is produced from Manchester by Carrie Rooney. gen: Lesung ser: Krimi tit: The Drowned Mens Inn epi: 2 aut: Georges Simenon cnt: 74 bnd: BB 2 len: 33'06" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 25.02.2005 lng: englisch stw: Inspector Maigret investigates a body found in the boot of a sunken car. An idyllic French beauty spot becomes a murder scene. gen: Lesung tit: Just William: Live epi: 1 sbt: The Sweet Little Girl in White aut: Richmal Crompton cnt: 75 bnd: BB 2 len: 27'43" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 25.03.2005 fst: 2001 lng: englisch stw: Martin Jarvis returns with another classic Richmal Crompton story, recorded live before a packed audience. Then on Good Friday there is a one-hour treat for Just William fans when Martin Jarvis reads two full length stories, in Just William - Live. The Sweet Little Girl in White and William and the Princess Goldilocks were recorded live on stage at the Cheltenham Festival in December 2001, and January 2002. gen: Lesung tit: Just William: Live epi: 2 sbt: William and the Princess Goldilocks aut: Richmal Crompton cnt: 76 bnd: BB 2 len: 26'54" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 25.03.2004 fst: 2002 lng: englisch stw: A pantomime visit leads William to a local hotel, and draws him into a scenario worthy of the Marx Brothers. gen: Lesung ser: Book at Bedtime tit: Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea epi: 1 aut: Jules Verne cnt: 1 bnd: BB 3 len: 9'07" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 04.04.2005 lng: englisch stw: In this classic of 19th century science fiction, Professor Aronnax goes in search of a giant sea-monster that has become a danger to shipping. He soon finds himself the guest of Captain Nemo, the master of the Nautilus. Abridged by Roy Apps. Read by Nigel Anthony. gen: Lesung ser: Book at Bedtime tit: Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea epi: 2 aut: Jules Verne cnt: 2 bnd: BB 3 len: 13'52" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 05.04.2005 lng: englisch stw: Captain Nemo takes Professor Aronnax on a tour of the Nautilus. Read by Nigel Anthony. gen: Lesung ser: Book at Bedtime tit: Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea epi: 3 aut: Jules Verne cnt: 3 bnd: BB 3 len: 13'54" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 06.04.2005 lng: englisch stw: A curious incident aboard the Nautilus results in a man's death. Read by Nigel Anthony. gen: Lesung ser: Book at Bedtime tit: Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea epi: 4 aut: Jules Verne cnt: 4 bnd: BB 3 len: 14'03" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 07.04.2005 lng: englisch stw: Nemo shows Aronnax the lost city of Atlantis, and the Nautilus visits the Antarctic. Read by Nigel Anthony. gen: Lesung ser: Book at Bedtime tit: Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea epi: 5 aut: Jules Verne cnt: 5 bnd: BB 3 len: 13'44" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 08.04.2005 lng: englisch stw: Captain Nemo's hatred of humanity has terrible consequences. Read by Nigel Anthony. gen: Lesung tit: The Happy Prince aut: Oscar Wilde cnt: 6 bnd: BB 3 len: 14'11" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 27.03.2005 lng: englisch stw: From their aerial view, a beautiful statue and a swallow can see the poor in their city. They team up to help them. gen: Lesung tit: The Remarkable Rocket aut: Oscar Wilde cnt: 7 bnd: BB 3 len: 14'24" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 03.04.2005 lng: englisch stw: A very arrogant firework gets his comeuppance in a most undignified fashion. Short Stories by Oscar Wilde gen: Lesung tit: The Nightingale and the Rose aut: Oscar Wilde cnt: 8 bnd: BB 3 len: 14'20" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 08.04.2005 lng: englisch stw: A nightingale makes the ultimate sacrifice to procure a red rose in order for a young man to woo his love. Short Stories by Oscar Wilde Read by John Moffatt. gen: Lesung tit: Lord Arthur Savile's Crime epi: 1 aut: Oscar Wilde cnt: 9 bnd: BB 3 len: 27'57" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 11.04.2005 lng: englisch stw: When a fortune teller predicts murder in the palm of Arthur Savile's hand, the young man decides he must fulfil his destiny. The dashing Lord Arthur Savile has been told he will commit a murder by the dastardly palmist Podgers, and he feels duty bound to get it over with before his marriage to the gorgeous Sybil. But attempts to despatch elderly relations prove futile. Podgers turns to blackmail and Lord Arthur is forced to postpone the marriage yet again, so can things get any worse? Yes it's wall to wall Wilde with Lord Arthur Saville's Crime, read by Michael Maloney in three parts and has been produced especially for BBC7. gen: Lesung tit: Lord Arthur Savile's Crime epi: 2 aut: Oscar Wilde cnt: 10 bnd: BB 3 len: 27'40" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 12.04.2005 lng: englisch stw: Is murder inevitable? Can Lord Arthur Savile defy what he thinks of as fate? Read by Michael Maloney. gen: Lesung tit: Lord Arthur Savile's Crime epi: 3 aut: Oscar Wilde cnt: 11 bnd: BB 3 len: 27'41" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 13.04.2005 lng: englisch stw: Arthur thinks that a bomb may be the answer. However, the actual precision of killing someone that way is a problem. gen: Lesung ser: Book at Bedtime tit: Animal Farm epi: 1 sbt: Major's Speech aut: George Orwell cnt: 12 bnd: BB 3 len: 13'43" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 01.08.2005 fst: 2003 lng: englisch stw: The old pig, Major, speaks to his fellow animals, and the animals take over the farm. By George Orwell, abridged by Richard Hamilton, read by Bill Nighy. The dark political satire, which George Orwell subtitled "A Fairy Story", portrays idealism betrayed by power and corruption. Producer Di Speirs. gen: Lesung ser: Book at Bedtime tit: Animal Farm epi: 2 sbt: Animalism aut: George Orwell cnt: 13 bnd: BB 3 len: 13'33" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 02.08.2005 fst: 2003 lng: englisch stw: The halcyon days of animalism and the Battle of the Cowshed. Read by Bill Nighy. gen: Lesung ser: Book at Bedtime tit: Animal Farm epi: 3 sbt: Napoleon aut: George Orwell cnt: 14 bnd: BB 3 len: 13'43" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 03.08.2005 fst: 2003 lng: englisch stw: With Snowball gone, Napoleon cements his position and re-writes history. Read by Bill Nighy. gen: Lesung ser: Book at Bedtime tit: Animal Farm epi: 4 sbt: Killing aut: George Orwell cnt: 15 bnd: BB 3 len: 13'42" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 04.08.2005 fst: 2003 lng: englisch stw: 'No animal shall kill any another animal'. Read by Bill Nighy. gen: Lesung ser: Book at Bedtime tit: Animal Farm epi: 5 sbt: More Equal aut: George Orwell cnt: 16 bnd: BB 3 len: 13'54" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 05.08.2005 fst: 2003 lng: englisch stw: 'All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others'. Read by Bill Nighy. gen: Lesung ser: Book at Bedtime tit: Le Pere Goriot epi: 1 aut: Honore de Balzac cnt: 17 bnd: BB 3 len: 13'48" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 12.09.2005 lng: englisch stw: Balzac's classic novel exposes the heights and depths of Parisian mores and morality and the bitter taste of filial disloyalty. Amongst the residents in a Parisian boarding house are an old corn merchant fallen on hard times, and a young student with bounding ambition, whose lives are destined to inter-twine. Translated by Marion Ayton Crawford Abridged by Sally Marmion Read by Benedict Cumberbatch gen: Lesung ser: Book at Bedtime tit: Le Pere Goriot epi: 2 aut: Honore de Balzac cnt: 18 bnd: BB 3 len: 13'40" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 13.09.2005 lng: englisch stw: Eugene de Rastignac sets out to conquer Parisian society and gets a glimpse into Old Goriot's heart. Read by Benedict Cumberbatch gen: Lesung ser: Book at Bedtime tit: Le Pere Goriot epi: 3 aut: Honore de Balzac cnt: 19 bnd: BB 3 len: 13'44" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 14.09.2005 lng: englisch stw: Eugene de Rastignac makes a faux-pas and a vital friendship; and learns the truth about Goriot's relationship to the young women who visit him. Read by Benedict Cumberbatch gen: Lesung ser: Book at Bedtime tit: Le Pere Goriot epi: 4 aut: Honore de Balzac cnt: 20 bnd: BB 3 len: 13'45" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 15.09.2005 lng: englisch stw: Temptation threatens to undermine Eugene's more virtuous plans to seduce a rich woman. Read by Benedict Cumberbatch gen: Lesung ser: Book at Bedtime tit: Le Pere Goriot epi: 5 aut: Honore de Balzac cnt: 21 bnd: BB 3 len: 13'41" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 16.09.2005 lng: englisch stw: The friendship between Old Goriot and the student Eugene de Rastigac deepens, and Eugene's romantic plans advance. Read by Benedict Cumberbatch gen: Lesung ser: Book at Bedtime tit: Le Pere Goriot epi: 6 aut: Honore de Balzac cnt: 22 bnd: BB 3 len: 13'40" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 19.09.2005 lng: englisch stw: As Eugene's relationship with Goriot's daughter, Madame de Nucingen, deepens, temptations are all around him. Read by Benedict Cumberbatch gen: Lesung ser: Book at Bedtime tit: Le Pere Goriot epi: 7 aut: Honore de Balzac cnt: 23 bnd: BB 3 len: 13'46" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 20.09.2005 lng: englisch stw: An extraordinary day at Madame Vauquer's as Vautrin's cover is blown. Read by Benedict Cumberbatch gen: Lesung ser: Book at Bedtime tit: Le Pere Goriot epi: 8 aut: Honore de Balzac cnt: 24 bnd: BB 3 len: 13'44" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 21.09.2005 lng: englisch stw: As Eugene's prospects brighten further, Goriot's unconditional love for his daughters is once more put to the test. Read by Benedict Cumberbatch gen: Lesung ser: Book at Bedtime tit: Le Pere Goriot epi: 9 aut: Honore de Balzac cnt: 25 bnd: BB 3 len: 13'38" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 22.09.2005 lng: englisch stw: Goriot's heart is strained to breaking point. Read by Benedict Cumberbatch gen: Lesung ser: Book at Bedtime tit: Le Pere Goriot epi: 10 aut: Honore de Balzac cnt: 26 bnd: BB 3 len: 13'58" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 23.09.2005 lng: englisch stw: Eugene understands the real nature of Paris and the society which he is determined to conquer. Read by Benedict Cumberbatch gen: Lesung tit: Brave New World epi: 1 aut: Aldous Huxley cnt: 27 bnd: BB 3 len: 14'04" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 18.09.2005 lng: englisch stw: Anton Lesser reads a ten part adaptation of Aldous Huxley's ominous 1932 novel, depicting a nightmare vision of the future. Meet the man who battery farms humans. gen: Lesung tit: Brave New World epi: 2 aut: Aldous Huxley cnt: 28 bnd: BB 3 len: 14'06" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 25.09.2005 lng: englisch stw: Bernard Marx is a misfit, so why is Lenina attracted to him? Aldous Huxley's nightmare vision of the future. gen: Lesung tit: Brave New World epi: 3 aut: Aldous Huxley cnt: 29 bnd: BB 3 len: 14'03" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 02.10.2005 lng: englisch stw: Bernard Marx confides about Lenina to his best friend. Anton Lesser reads Aldous Huxley's nightmare vision of the future. gen: Lesung tit: Brave New World epi: 4 aut: Aldous Huxley cnt: 30 bnd: BB 3 len: 13'50" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 09.10.2005 lng: englisch stw: Bernard and Lenina reach the Savage Reservation. Anton Lesser reads Aldous Huxley's nightmare vision of the future. gen: Lesung tit: Brave New World epi: 5 aut: Aldous Huxley cnt: 31 bnd: BB 3 len: 13'59" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 16.10.2005 lng: englisch stw: Lenina is appalled by the Savage Reservation - until she meets John. Anton Lesser continues reading Aldous Huxley's classic. gen: Lesung tit: Brave New World epi: 6 aut: Aldous Huxley cnt: 32 bnd: BB 3 len: 14'01" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 23.10.2005 lng: englisch stw: Bernard brings John to London, and gets revenge on the Director of Hatcheries. Anton Lesser reads Aldous Huxley's classic. gen: Lesung tit: Brave New World epi: 7 aut: Aldous Huxley cnt: 33 bnd: BB 3 len: 13'58" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 30.10.2005 lng: englisch stw: John 'the Savage' is a big hit and Bernard is jealous. Anton Lesser reads Aldous Huxley's nightmarish vision of the future. gen: Lesung tit: Brave New World epi: 8 aut: Aldous Huxley cnt: 34 bnd: BB 3 len: 13'59" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 06.11.2005 lng: englisch stw: Lenina makes a move on John Savage - but John is distracted by Linda's illness. Aldous Huxley's vision of the future. gen: Lesung tit: Brave New World epi: 9 aut: Aldous Huxley cnt: 35 bnd: BB 3 len: 14'02" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 13.11.2005 lng: englisch stw: John tries to liberate the Delta grades and gets arrested. Anton Lesser reads Aldous Huxley's nightmarish vision of the future. gen: Lesung tit: Brave New World epi: 10 aut: Aldous Huxley cnt: 36 bnd: BB 3 len: 14'07" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 20.11.2005 lng: englisch stw: Disenchanted with society, John Savage becomes a hermit. Anton Lesser concludes Aldous Huxley's nightmare future vision. gen: Lesung ser: Book at Bedtime tit: Paradise Lost epi: 1 sbt: Book 1 aut: John Milton cnt: 37 bnd: BB 3 len: 13'55" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 26.09.2005 lng: englisch stw: We meet Satan and the Rebel Angels as they are vanquished on the burning lake in Hell and hear of their determined resolution to fight back. Ian McDiarmid reads an extract from the First Book - with an introduction from Philip Pullman. gen: Lesung ser: Book at Bedtime tit: Paradise Lost epi: 2 sbt: Book 2 aut: John Milton cnt: 38 bnd: BB 3 len: 13'36" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 27.09.2005 lng: englisch stw: The Rebel Angels debate their course of action and decide to take their revenge on God by seducing the new race called Man to their party. A cunning Satan volunteers for the task. Ian McDiarmid reads an extract from the Second Book, with an introduction from Philip Pullman. gen: Lesung ser: Book at Bedtime tit: Paradise Lost epi: 3 sbt: Book 4 aut: John Milton cnt: 39 bnd: BB 3 len: 14'09" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 28.09.2005 lng: englisch stw: We have our first glimpse of the happy innocence of Adam and Eve, the newly created beings Satan has travelled all this way to tempt and seduce. Ian McDiarmid reads an extract from the Fourth Book, with an introduction from Philip Pullman. gen: Lesung ser: Book at Bedtime tit: Paradise Lost epi: 4 sbt: Book 7 aut: John Milton cnt: 40 bnd: BB 3 len: 14'02" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 29.09.2005 lng: englisch stw: The Angel Raphael describes to Adam and Eve the creation of the luscious earth and all its creatures. Ian McDiarmid reads an extract from the Seventh Book of John Milton's epic, with an introduction from Philip Pullman. gen: Lesung ser: Book at Bedtime tit: Paradise Lost epi: 5 sbt: Book 9 aut: John Milton cnt: 41 bnd: BB 3 len: 13'52" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 30.09.2005 lng: englisch stw: Perhaps the greatest literary seduction scene? Satan's temptation of Eve and her first taste of the forbidden fruit. Ian McDiarmid reads an extract from the Ninth Book, with an introduction from Philip Pullman. gen: Lesung tit: Teresa's Wedding aut: William Trevor cnt: 42 bnd: BB 3 len: 13'44" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 25.09.2005 lng: englisch stw: At a rather bleak wedding reception, a young, pregnant bride discovers the reason why her marriage might just work. gen: Lesung ser: Book at Bedtime tit: No Man's Land epi: 1 aut: Graham Greene cnt: 43 bnd: BB 3 len: 13'43" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 03.10.2005 lng: englisch stw: Brown sits in the restaurant every day, waiting for something to happen. Then something does. Intrigue and topicality in this re-discovered story featuring love and micro-film in Cold War Germany. Abridged by Andrew Simpson. Read by Anton Lesser. gen: Lesung ser: Book at Bedtime tit: No Man's Land epi: 2 aut: Graham Greene cnt: 44 bnd: BB 3 len: 13'53" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 04.10.2005 lng: englisch stw: Brown has made it to the other side. Here, someone in a Mercedes will change his life for ever. Read by Anton Lesser. gen: Lesung ser: Book at Bedtime tit: No Man's Land epi: 3 aut: Graham Greene cnt: 45 bnd: BB 3 len: 14'00" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 05.10.2005 lng: englisch stw: Starhov rescues Brown from further interrogation and they strike up an interesting friendship based on the novels of Turgenyev. Intrigue and topicality in this re-discovered story featuring love and micro-film in Cold War Germany. Abridged by Andrew Simpson. Read by Anton Lesser. gen: Lesung ser: Book at Bedtime tit: No Man's Land epi: 4 aut: Graham Greene cnt: 46 bnd: BB 3 len: 13'54" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 06.10.2005 lng: englisch stw: Clara comes to Brown in the night and plans are made for the future - which mean betraying Starhov. Read by Anton Lesser. gen: Lesung ser: Book at Bedtime tit: No Man's Land epi: 5 aut: Graham Greene cnt: 47 bnd: BB 3 len: 13'58" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 07.10.2005 lng: englisch stw: Clara and Brown evade the guards, then stumble across the man in the Homburg hat. Who shoots first? Intrigue and topicality in this re-discovered story featuring love and micro-film in Cold War Germany. Abridged by Andrew Simpson. Read by Anton Lesser. gen: Lesung tit: Express to Stamboul aut: Agatha Christie cnt: 48 bnd: BB 3 len: 31'23" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 28.10.2005 lng: englisch stw: A young wife travelling alone on the Simplon-Orient Express falls victim to a mysterious and sinister theft. gen: Lesung tit: Mark Twain Stories epi: 1 sbt: A Ghost Story aut: Mark Twain cnt: 49 bnd: BB 3 len: 13'26" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 01.11.2005 lng: englisch stw: Kelsey Grammer reads Mark Twain's classic short story. gen: Lesung tit: Mark Twain Stories epi: 2 sbt: Experiences of the MacWilliamses aut: Mark Twain cnt: 50 bnd: BB 3 len: 11'54" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 02.11.2005 lng: englisch stw: The moral is, watch what baby eats. gen: Lesung tit: Mark Twain Stories epi: 3 sbt: Cannibalism in the Cars aut: Mark Twain cnt: 51 bnd: BB 3 len: 14'02" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 03.11.2005 lng: englisch stw: The train is marooned and there isn't any food. Kelsey Grammer serves up Mark Twain's classic short story. gen: Lesung tit: Mark Twain Stories epi: 4 sbt: A Day at Niagara aut: Mark Twain cnt: 52 bnd: BB 3 len: 13'06" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 04.11.2005 lng: englisch stw: The narrator goes in search of genuine American Indians and gets a nasty surprise. Read by Kelsey Grammer. gen: Lesung tit: Out of the Silent Planet epi: 1 aut: C.S. Lewis cnt: 61 bnd: BB 3 len: 30'47" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 07.12.2005 lng: englisch stw: A Cambridge academic out walking calls at a mysterious house for shelter, but its sinister owners have other plans for him. On Wednesday we begin a 12 part reading of Out of the Silent Planet, the first novel in C.S. Lewis's classic sci-fi trilogy. Dr Ransom is a Cambridge academic who finds himself transported to another planet. This is an unabridged reading specially commissioned for BBC7 and produced by Lawrence Jackson. The reader is Alex Jennings. gen: Lesung tit: Out of the Silent Planet epi: 2 aut: C.S. Lewis cnt: 62 bnd: BB 3 len: 29'21" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 08.12.2005 lng: englisch stw: Ransom wakes up to find he is captive on some kind of ship, and is incredulous when Weston reveals their intended destination. gen: Lesung tit: Out of the Silent Planet epi: 3 aut: C.S. Lewis cnt: 63 bnd: BB 3 len: 30'43" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 09.12.2005 lng: englisch stw: Ransom overhears a conversation about his intended fate on Malacandra, where he will first encounter the aliens known as sorns. gen: Lesung tit: Out of the Silent Planet epi: 4 aut: C.S. Lewis cnt: 64 bnd: BB 3 len: 30'57" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 12.12.2005 lng: englisch stw: Ransom spends the night alone in the forest of Malacandra, before encountering another of the alien species, known as a hross. gen: Lesung tit: Out of the Silent Planet epi: 5 aut: C.S. Lewis cnt: 65 bnd: BB 3 len: 30'48" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 13.12.2005 lng: englisch stw: Ransom makes a journey to the hross's settlement, and discovers his hosts' name for the Earth is Thulcandra: the Silent Planet. gen: Lesung tit: Out of the Silent Planet epi: 6 aut: C.S. Lewis cnt: 66 bnd: BB 3 len: 30'48" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 14.12.2005 lng: englisch stw: Ransom learns in the hrossa village the differences between his and this new world's philosophies, and joins in a hnakra hunt. gen: Lesung tit: Out of the Silent Planet epi: 7 aut: C.S. Lewis cnt: 67 bnd: BB 3 len: 30'38" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 15.12.2005 lng: englisch stw: Ransom journeys into the mountains to find Augray's Tower. He views, through a Malacandrian telescope, his own planet the Earth. gen: Lesung tit: Out of the Silent Planet epi: 8 aut: C.S. Lewis cnt: 68 bnd: BB 3 len: 30'43" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 16.12.2005 lng: englisch stw: Augray escorts Ransom through Malacandra and onwards to the island of Meldilorn; here he encounters the spirits known as eldils. gen: Lesung tit: Out of the Silent Planet epi: 9 aut: C.S. Lewis cnt: 69 bnd: BB 3 len: 30'42" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 19.12.2005 lng: englisch stw: Ransom meets a member of alien race, the pfifltriggs; then he encounters the planet's leader, Oyarsa. gen: Lesung tit: Out of the Silent Planet epi: 10 aut: C.S. Lewis cnt: 70 bnd: BB 3 len: 27'53" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 20.12.2005 lng: englisch stw: Ransom tells Oyarsa about Earth, the hrossa bring Weston and Devine as captives and Weston prepares to be questioned by Oyarsa. gen: Lesung tit: Out of the Silent Planet epi: 11 aut: C.S. Lewis cnt: 71 bnd: BB 3 len: 30'46" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 21.12.2005 lng: englisch stw: Weston expounds his theory of man's domination of the universe as Oyarsa orders the men to undertake the perilous journey home. gen: Lesung tit: Out of the Silent Planet epi: 12 aut: C.S. Lewis cnt: 72 bnd: BB 3 len: 30'50" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 22.12.2005 lng: englisch stw: Ransom awakes to find that they have landed on Earth but Weston and Devine have deserted him. gen: Lesung tit: 'Twas the Night Before Christmas epi: 1 sbt: It Never Happened aut: Arthur Matthews cnt: 73 bnd: BB 3 len: 12'33" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 19.12.2005 lng: englisch stw: Working on Christmas Eve is no fun, especially when your eccentric boss acts even more oddly than usual! gen: Lesung tit: 'Twas the Night Before Christmas epi: 2 sbt: Gifts aut: Gary Kilworth cnt: 74 bnd: BB 3 len: 13'34" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 20.12.2005 lng: englisch stw: Cold, wet and hitching a lift on Christmas Eve, a student gets both a lift and a rare gift from some unusual travellers. gen: Lesung tit: 'Twas the Night Before Christmas epi: 3 sbt: Silver Hoof, the Goat aut: Carlo Geblér cnt: 75 bnd: BB 3 len: 14'02" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 21.12.2005 lng: englisch stw: Old Gregory adopts young orphan Maggie and her cat Edmund for company. By Carlo Geblér. gen: Lesung tit: 'Twas the Night Before Christmas epi: 4 sbt: The Emergency Visit aut: Dominik Holland cnt: 76 bnd: BB 3 len: 14'02" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 22.12.2005 lng: englisch stw: As Dr Robert Johnson begins his busy shift in A&E, he is about to encounter a patient he'll never forget. gen: Lesung tit: 'Twas the Night Before Christmas epi: 5 sbt: Not a word of a lie aut: Philipp Ardour cnt: 77 bnd: BB 3 len: 13'49" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 23.12.2005 lng: englisch stw: Christmas is magical to Philip; on Christmas Eve he has an encounter which confirms that it is a truly miraculous time. gen: Lesung tit: Perelandra epi: 1 aut: C.S. Lewis cnt: 78 bnd: BB 3 len: 30'48" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 27.12.2005 lng: englisch stw: On his way to Dr Ransom's, Lewis is beset by a sense of panic, which is not dispelled by the sight that greets him on arrival. gen: Lesung tit: Perelandra epi: 2 aut: C.S. Lewis cnt: 79 bnd: BB 3 len: 28'05" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 28.12.2005 lng: englisch stw: Ransom explains that he is going on a mission to defend the planet Perelandra. He enlists Lewis to ensure his safe departure. gen: Lesung tit: Perelandra epi: 3 aut: C.S. Lewis cnt: 80 bnd: BB 3 len: 30'31" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 29.12.2005 lng: englisch stw: Ransom voyages to Perelandra, and lands in what appears to be a giant ocean dotted with floating islands where he takes shelter. gen: Lesung tit: Perelandra epi: 4 aut: C.S. Lewis cnt: 81 bnd: BB 3 len: 28'54" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 30.12.2005 lng: englisch stw: Ransom wakes on his island to see a human form, a woman, facing him from a neighbouring island. gen: Lesung tit: Perelandra epi: 5 aut: C.S. Lewis cnt: 82 bnd: BB 3 len: 30'34" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 02.01.2006 lng: englisch stw: Ransom swims to the other shore and discovers that the Green Lady is none other than Perelandra herself. gen: Lesung tit: Perelandra epi: 6 aut: C.S. Lewis cnt: 83 bnd: BB 3 len: 30'28" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 03.01.2006 lng: englisch stw: The Green Lady tells Ransom of Maleldil's decree; she cannot stay the night on the mountainous island known as the fixed land. gen: Lesung tit: Perelandra epi: 7 aut: C.S. Lewis cnt: 84 bnd: BB 3 len: 30'10" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 04.01.2006 lng: englisch stw: Ransom sees Dr Weston approach from the crashed spaceship, and races to meet him before he can talk to the Green Lady. gen: Lesung tit: Perelandra epi: 8 aut: C.S. Lewis cnt: 85 bnd: BB 3 len: 30'38" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 05.01.2006 lng: englisch stw: During their conversation, Weston suffers from a kind of fit, but in the morning Ransom finds his body has disappeared. gen: Lesung tit: Perelandra epi: 9 aut: C.S. Lewis cnt: 86 bnd: BB 3 len: 30'58" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 06.01.2006 lng: englisch stw: Ransom finds Weston mutilating the island's creatures, and realises that he is a bridge for the 'Bent One' to enter Perelandra. gen: Lesung tit: Perelandra epi: 10 aut: C.S. Lewis cnt: 87 bnd: BB 3 len: 30'22" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 09.01.2006 lng: englisch stw: After Weston's taunts, Ransom watches Perelandra day and night to protect it. gen: Lesung tit: Perelandra epi: 11 aut: C.S. Lewis cnt: 88 bnd: BB 3 len: 30'32" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 10.01.2006 lng: englisch stw: Ransom realises the responsibility of saving the new world rests with him. gen: Lesung tit: Perelandra epi: 12 aut: C.S. Lewis cnt: 89 bnd: BB 3 len: 31'04" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 11.01.2006 lng: englisch stw: While the island lies under a charmed sleep, Ransom finds the Un-Man and attacks him. gen: Lesung tit: Perelandra epi: 13 aut: C.S. Lewis cnt: 90 bnd: BB 3 len: 28'46" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 12.01.2006 lng: englisch stw: Ransom and the Un-Man continue their fight. gen: Lesung tit: Perelandra epi: 14 aut: C.S. Lewis cnt: 91 bnd: BB 3 len: 30'54" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 13.01.2006 lng: englisch stw: Ransom finds himself in an underground world, from which he starts to clamber out ... until he hears something following him. gen: Lesung tit: Perelandra epi: 15 aut: C.S. Lewis cnt: 92 bnd: BB 3 len: 30'09" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 16.01.2006 lng: englisch stw: Ransom and the Un-Man have their final confrontation. gen: Lesung tit: Perelandra epi: 16 aut: C.S. Lewis cnt: 93 bnd: BB 3 len: 30'28" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 17.01.2006 lng: englisch stw: Ransom climbs up a mountain pass where he finds the eldila of Mars and Venus waiting for him. gen: Lesung tit: Perelandra epi: 17 aut: C.S. Lewis cnt: 94 bnd: BB 3 len: 28'43" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 18.01.2006 lng: englisch stw: The King and Queen of Perelandra appear to praise Ransom for defending their planet from evil. gen: Lesung tit: Perelandra epi: 18 aut: C.S. Lewis cnt: 95 bnd: BB 3 len: 28'49" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 19.01.2006 lng: englisch stw: Ransom says farewell to Perelandra and returns to Earth. gen: Lesung tit: Temple of the Winds epi: 1 aut: James Follett cnt: 1 bnd: BB 4 len: 18'44" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 27.11.2005 lng: englisch stw: This weekend we begin a 7th Dimension reading, Temple of the Winds, by James Follett, which is the first book in The Silent Vulcan trilogy. In Pentworth, West Sussex, a violent storm triggers a series of strange encounters, which lead to the town's population becoming cut off from the outside world by a dark and mysterious force. Nigel Anthony reads the first part of this gripping and unsettling story. gen: Lesung tit: Temple of the Winds epi: 2 aut: James Follett cnt: 2 bnd: BB 4 len: 18'42" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 04.12.2005 lng: englisch stw: Nigel Anthony reads the second part of James Follett's sci-fi novel. gen: Lesung tit: Temple of the Winds epi: 3 aut: James Follett cnt: 3 bnd: BB 4 len: 18'45" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 11.12.2005 lng: englisch stw: Nigel Anthony continues his reading of James Follett's sci-fi, the first book in The Silent Vulcan trilogy. gen: Lesung tit: Temple of the Winds epi: 4 aut: James Follett cnt: 4 bnd: BB 4 len: 18'25" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 18.12.2005 lng: englisch stw: Nigel Anthony reads from James Follett's sci-fi novel. gen: Lesung tit: Temple of the Winds epi: 5 aut: James Follett cnt: 5 bnd: BB 4 len: 18'28" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 25.12.2005 lng: englisch stw: Nigel Anthony continues to read from the first book in James Follett's 'Silent Vulcan' trilogy. gen: Lesung tit: Temple of the Winds epi: 6 aut: James Follett cnt: 6 bnd: BB 4 len: 18'30" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 01.01.2006 lng: englisch stw: Nigel Anthony reads the sixth part of James Follett's sci-fi novel. gen: Lesung tit: Temple of the Winds epi: 7 aut: James Follett cnt: 7 bnd: BB 4 len: 18'28" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 08.01.2006 lng: englisch stw: Nigel Anthony continues his reading of James Follett's sci-fi novel. gen: Lesung tit: Temple of the Winds epi: 8 aut: James Follett cnt: 8 bnd: BB 4 len: 18'36" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 15.01.2006 lng: englisch stw: Nigel Anthony reads the final part of James Follett's sci-fi. gen: Lesung tit: Wicca epi: 1 aut: James Follett cnt: 9 bnd: BB 4 len: 19'19" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 22.01.2006 lng: englisch stw: Nigel Anthony reads from the second book in James Follett's sci-fi trilogy, The Silent Vulcan. gen: Lesung tit: Wicca epi: 2 aut: James Follett cnt: 10 bnd: BB 4 len: 18'26" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 29.01.2006 lng: englisch stw: James Follett's tale of Pentworth, a village cut off from the world after a UFO crash, and the power struggle ensuing. gen: Lesung tit: Wicca epi: 3 aut: James Follett cnt: 11 bnd: BB 4 len: 18'33" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 05.02.2006 lng: englisch stw: James Follett's tale of Pentworth, a village cut off from the world after a UFO crash, and the power struggle ensuing. gen: Lesung tit: Wicca epi: 4 aut: James Follett cnt: 12 bnd: BB 4 len: 18'29" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 12.02.2006 lng: englisch stw: Troublemaker Brad Jackson is sentenced to death. Nigel Anthony reads from James Follett's sci-fi trilogy, The Silent Vulcan. gen: Lesung tit: Wicca epi: 5 aut: James Follett cnt: 13 bnd: BB 4 len: 18'27" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 19.02.2006 lng: englisch stw: Detective Sergeant Malone realises that action is necessary if ritual murder is to be prevented. gen: Lesung tit: Wicca epi: 6 aut: James Follett cnt: 14 bnd: BB 4 len: 18'31" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 26.02.2006 lng: englisch stw: Events have taken a serious and sinister turn in James Follett's sci-fi novel read by Nigel Anthony. gen: Lesung tit: Wicca epi: 7 aut: James Follett cnt: 15 bnd: BB 4 len: 18'27" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 05.03.2006 lng: englisch stw: Adrian Roscoe is about to burn the two 'witches', but Mike Malone's attack to free the women has put them into new danger. gen: Lesung tit: Wicca epi: 8 aut: James Follett cnt: 16 bnd: BB 4 len: 18'39" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 12.03.2006 lng: englisch stw: Last part of the sci-fi story by James Follett, the second book in The Silent Vulcan trilogy. gen: Lesung tit: The Silent Vulcan epi: 1 aut: James Follett cnt: 17 bnd: BB 4 len: 18'48" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 19.03.2006 lng: englisch stw: Nigel Anthony reads from James Follett's classic sci-fi novel. gen: Lesung tit: The Silent Vulcan epi: 2 aut: James Follett cnt: 18 bnd: BB 4 len: 18'39" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 26.03.2006 lng: englisch stw: Nigel Anthony continues reading James Follett's sci-fi classic. gen: Lesung tit: The Silent Vulcan epi: 3 aut: James Follett cnt: 19 bnd: BB 4 len: 18'40" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 02.04.2006 lng: englisch stw: Nigel Anthony continues reading James Follett's sci-fi classic. gen: Lesung tit: The Silent Vulcan epi: 4 aut: James Follett cnt: 20 bnd: BB 4 len: 18'50" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 09.04.2006 lng: englisch stw: Nigel Anthony continues reading James Follett's sci-fi classic. gen: Lesung tit: The Silent Vulcan epi: 5 aut: James Follett cnt: 21 bnd: BB 4 len: 18'47" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 16.04.2006 lng: englisch stw: Nigel Anthony continues reading James Follett's sci-fi classic. gen: Lesung tit: The Silent Vulcan epi: 6 aut: James Follett cnt: 22 bnd: BB 4 len: 18'48" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 23.04.2006 lng: englisch stw: Nigel Anthony continues reading James Follett's classic sci-fi adventure. gen: Lesung tit: The Silent Vulcan epi: 7 aut: James Follett cnt: 23 bnd: BB 4 len: 18'44" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 30.04.2006 lng: englisch stw: While Bob attempts to contact the craft, the visitors' mechanical spyder has guided Ellen and Claire to the world beyond Farside. gen: Lesung tit: The Silent Vulcan epi: 8 aut: James Follett cnt: 24 bnd: BB 4 len: 18'57" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 07.05.2006 lng: englisch stw: The concluding part of James Follett's sci-fi, read by Nigel Anthony. gen: Lesung tit: A Dream of Armageddon epi: 1 aut: HG Wells cnt: 25 bnd: BB 4 len: 26'32" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 28.01.2006 lng: englisch stw: HG Wells creates a disturbing vision of the future with a powerful anti-war message. A Dream Of Armageddon by H.G. Wells, tells of a violent and unhappy future, as seen through the dreams of a mild-mannered 19th Century clerk. Produced by Gemma Jenkins, it's read in two-parts by Robert Bathurst. gen: Lesung tit: A Dream of Armageddon epi: 2 aut: HG Wells cnt: 26 bnd: BB 4 len: 26'07" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 04.02.2006 lng: englisch stw: War is declared and the hero of HG Wells' anti-war story escapes with his wife in an attempt to shield her from the horrors. gen: Lesung ser: Book at Bedtime tit: Disobedience epi: 1 aut: Naomi Alderman cnt: 27 bnd: BB 4 len: 13'38" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 20.02.2006 lng: englisch stw: An eminent rabbi passes away in Hendon and his estranged daughter is compelled to return home. By Naomi Alderman, abridged by Sally Marmion. Read by Sara Kestelman and Tracey-Ann Oberman. Producer Elizabeth Allard. gen: Lesung ser: Book at Bedtime tit: Disobedience epi: 2 aut: Naomi Alderman cnt: 28 bnd: BB 4 len: 13'52" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 21.02.2006 lng: englisch stw: Ronit prepares for her father's orthodox funeral in Hendon. She also steels herself to confront the community she left behind years before. gen: Lesung ser: Book at Bedtime tit: Disobedience epi: 3 aut: Naomi Alderman cnt: 29 bnd: BB 4 len: 13'56" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 22.02.2006 lng: englisch stw: Ronit's return home leads to some shocking revelations. gen: Lesung ser: Book at Bedtime tit: Disobedience epi: 4 aut: Naomi Alderman cnt: 30 bnd: BB 4 len: 13'46" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 23.02.2006 lng: englisch stw: Tensions are running high at a dinner party, where Ronit reveals that she has lost none of her youthful rebelliousness. gen: Lesung ser: Book at Bedtime tit: Disobedience epi: 5 aut: Naomi Alderman cnt: 31 bnd: BB 4 len: 14'03" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 24.02.2006 lng: englisch stw: Old desires are rekindled when Esti and Ronit set out for an evening walk. gen: Lesung ser: Book at Bedtime tit: Disobedience epi: 6 aut: Naomi Alderman cnt: 32 bnd: BB 4 len: 13'32" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 27.02.2006 lng: englisch stw: Ronit and a shameful suspicion are at the heart of hushed and whispered conversations. gen: Lesung ser: Book at Bedtime tit: Disobedience epi: 7 aut: Naomi Alderman cnt: 33 bnd: BB 4 len: 14'12" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 28.02.2006 lng: englisch stw: Esti makes a discovery, and Hartog has a proposition for Ronit. gen: Lesung ser: Book at Bedtime tit: Disobedience epi: 8 aut: Naomi Alderman cnt: 34 bnd: BB 4 len: 14'17" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 01.03.2006 lng: englisch stw: Old memories lead Ronit to disobey her inner voice, and David is confronted by a startling revelation. gen: Lesung ser: Book at Bedtime tit: Disobedience epi: 9 aut: Naomi Alderman cnt: 35 bnd: BB 4 len: 14'05" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 02.03.2006 lng: englisch stw: The repercussions of Ronit's actions take shape in Esti and Dovid's household. gen: Lesung ser: Book at Bedtime tit: Disobedience epi: 10 aut: Naomi Alderman cnt: 36 bnd: BB 4 len: 13'40" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 03.03.2006 lng: englisch stw: At Rav Krushka's memorial service, Ronit takes refuge in silence while Esti prepares to speak out. By Naomi Alderman, abridged by Sally Marmion. Read by Sara Kestelman and Tracey-Ann Oberman. Producer Elizabeth Allard. gen: Lesung ser: Book at Bedtime tit: Suite Francaise, Storm in June epi: 1 aut: Irene Nemirovsky cnt: 37 bnd: BB 4 len: 14'22" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 06.03.2006 lng: englisch stw: A disparate group of Parisians are caught up in the events of June 1940, as they flee their city before the enemy advances. In 1941, a notable Ukrainian Jewish writer who had sought sanctuary in France in the 1920s, set out to pen a five-part opus about France under German occupation. She completed two novels before her arrest and subsequent death in Auschwitz. For 40 years the manuscripts lay undiscovered in a suitcase kept by her daughters, before finally becoming a French bestseller. Read by Sian Thomas, translated by Sandra Smith and abridged by Sally Marmion. gen: Lesung ser: Book at Bedtime tit: Suite Francaise, Storm in June epi: 2 aut: Irene Nemirovsky cnt: 38 bnd: BB 4 len: 13'41" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 07.03.2006 lng: englisch stw: June 1940. German forces are approaching the outskirts of Paris, and rich and poor alike have finally realised the inevitability of their city's fate. From the Boulevards to the banks, Parisians are preparing to flee. gen: Lesung ser: Book at Bedtime tit: Suite Francaise, Storm in June epi: 3 aut: Irene Nemirovsky cnt: 39 bnd: BB 4 len: 13'44" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 08.03.2006 lng: englisch stw: As the Germans reach Paris, the chaos and confusion mounts. With the train stations packed and no space in the cars, there is little choice left for those without means, but to walk. gen: Lesung ser: Book at Bedtime tit: Suite Francaise, Storm in June epi: 4 aut: Irene Nemirovsky cnt: 40 bnd: BB 4 len: 13'40" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 09.03.2006 lng: englisch stw: June 1940. Convoys are strafed by German aircraft, bombs are dropped on refugees. As Nemirovsky's disparate characters make their weary way out of Paris, are they any safer? Civilised behaviour begins to break down as chaos takes its toll. gen: Lesung ser: Book at Bedtime tit: Suite Francaise, Storm in June epi: 5 aut: Irene Nemirovsky cnt: 41 bnd: BB 4 len: 13'51" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 10.03.2006 lng: englisch stw: While Gabriel Corte tries to save his own skin, Hubert Pericand has a greater ideal in mind. gen: Lesung ser: Book at Bedtime tit: Suite Francaise, Storm in June epi: 6 aut: Irene Nemirovsky cnt: 42 bnd: BB 4 len: 13'42" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 13.03.2006 lng: englisch gen: Lesung ser: Book at Bedtime tit: Suite Francaise, Storm in June epi: 7 aut: Irene Nemirovsky cnt: 43 bnd: BB 4 len: 13'41" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 14.03.2006 lng: englisch gen: Lesung ser: Book at Bedtime tit: Suite Francaise, Storm in June epi: 8 aut: Irene Nemirovsky cnt: 44 bnd: BB 4 len: 13'49" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 15.03.2006 lng: englisch gen: Lesung ser: Book at Bedtime tit: Suite Francaise, Storm in June epi: 9 aut: Irene Nemirovsky cnt: 45 bnd: BB 4 len: 13'42" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 16.03.2006 lng: englisch gen: Lesung ser: Book at Bedtime tit: Suite Francaise, Storm in June epi: 10 aut: Irene Nemirovsky cnt: 46 bnd: BB 4 len: 13'55" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 17.03.2006 lng: englisch gen: Lesung tit: Evangeline aut: Henry Wadsworth Longfellow cnt: 47 bnd: BB 4 len: 98'55" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: Kopie dat: 24.04.2006 fst: 2003 lng: englisch stw: read by Bob Connon gen: Lesung ser: Book at Bedtime tit: Gorky Park epi: 1 aut: Martin Cruz Smith cnt: 48 bnd: BB 4 len: 14'06" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 01.05.2006 lng: englisch stw: Chief Investigator Arkady Renko is called to a murder in Gorky Park. Three bodies lie under a crust of ice, their identities erased with chilling precision. Read by Tim Pigott Smith. gen: Lesung ser: Book at Bedtime tit: Gorky Park epi: 2 aut: Martin Cruz Smith cnt: 49 bnd: BB 4 len: 13'52" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 02.05.2006 lng: englisch stw: Chief Investigator Arkady Renko is faced with three unidentified bodies and no apparent motive for the crime. Plus, his old adversary from the KGB, Major Pribluda, is showing a disquieting interest in the Gorky Park case. Read by Tim Pigott Smith. gen: Lesung ser: Book at Bedtime tit: Gorky Park epi: 3 aut: Martin Cruz Smith cnt: 50 bnd: BB 4 len: 13'56" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 03.05.2006 lng: englisch stw: Arkady Renko is beginning to make headway in his investigation into the triple murder in Gorky Park. Not only does he suspect that one of the victims is an American, but he has tracked down the owner of the ice skates worn by one of the others. Read by Tim Pigott Smith. gen: Lesung ser: Book at Bedtime tit: Gorky Park epi: 4 aut: Martin Cruz Smith cnt: 51 bnd: BB 4 len: 13'52" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 04.05.2006 lng: englisch stw: Chief Investigator Arkady Renko has acquired the KGB surveillance tapes for all foreigners visiting Moscow during the month preceding the murders in Gorky Park. Not only is he convinced that there is an American connection, but there appears to be a German tourist involved as well. Read by Tim Pigott Smith. gen: Lesung ser: Book at Bedtime tit: Gorky Park epi: 5 aut: Martin Cruz Smith cnt: 52 bnd: BB 4 len: 14'00" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 05.05.2006 lng: englisch stw: Chief Investigator Arkady Renko has finally begun to make a breakthrough in his investigation into the murders in Gorky Park. But when he sends his friend Detective Pavlovich to pick up a suspect religious chest from the apartment of a known ikon dealer, both the dealer and his colleague are shot dead. Read by Tim Pigott Smith. gen: Lesung ser: Book at Bedtime tit: Gorky Park epi: 6 aut: Martin Cruz Smith cnt: 53 bnd: BB 4 len: 13'52" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 08.05.2006 lng: englisch stw: Chief Investigator Arkady Renko believes he finally knows the identity of the murder victims discovered in Gorky Park. But he is convinced that the KGB are setting him up to fail in cracking the case, because it involves an American fur trader with whom they do business. All he has to do is prove it. gen: Lesung ser: Book at Bedtime tit: Gorky Park epi: 7 aut: Martin Cruz Smith cnt: 54 bnd: BB 4 len: 13'51" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 09.05.2006 lng: englisch stw: Chief Investigator Arkady Renko is harbouring Irina Asanova from both the KGB and the American furrier he suspects of the murders in Gorky Park. But while she still believes her friends escaped over the border, she won't tell him any of the things she knows about Osborne. gen: Lesung ser: Book at Bedtime tit: Gorky Park epi: 8 aut: Martin Cruz Smith cnt: 55 bnd: BB 4 len: 13'41" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 10.05.2006 lng: englisch stw: Chief Investigator Arkady Renko takes Irina Asanova to the cabin where her dead friends were hiding out, in order to shock her into admitting what business a rich American furrier had with three ordinary Siberians. gen: Lesung ser: Book at Bedtime tit: Gorky Park epi: 9 aut: Martin Cruz Smith cnt: 56 bnd: BB 4 len: 13'54" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 11.05.2006 lng: englisch stw: Arkady Renko has had to let Osborne catch his flight back to the safety of the United States in exchange for the information about where Irina has been taken, in order to save her life. gen: Lesung ser: Book at Bedtime tit: Gorky Park epi: 10 aut: Martin Cruz Smith cnt: 57 bnd: BB 4 len: 13'54" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 12.05.2006 lng: englisch stw: After months of questioning by the Russian authorities, Arkady Renko can't quite believe that he's still alive. But what he hasn't realised is that the KGB need him to help them by flying to the United States. gen: Lesung ser: Book at Bedtime tit: Candide epi: 1 aut: Voltaire cnt: 58 bnd: BB 4 len: 14'04" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 10.07.2006 lng: englisch stw: Michael Fenton Stevens reads the first episode in Voltaire's classic satire on naïve optimism. Abridged by Lauris Morgan-Griffiths. gen: Lesung ser: Book at Bedtime tit: Candide epi: 2 aut: Voltaire cnt: 59 bnd: BB 4 len: 13'37" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 11.07.2006 lng: englisch stw: Voltaire's naïve hero endures a series of darkly comic abuses in the belief that all is for the best. Abridged by Lauris Morgan-Griffiths. gen: Lesung ser: Book at Bedtime tit: Candide epi: 3 aut: Voltaire cnt: 60 bnd: BB 4 len: 13'48" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 12.07.2006 lng: englisch gen: Lesung ser: Book at Bedtime tit: Candide epi: 4 aut: Voltaire cnt: 61 bnd: BB 4 len: 13'46" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 13.07.2006 lng: englisch gen: Lesung ser: Book at Bedtime tit: Candide epi: 5 aut: Voltaire cnt: 62 bnd: BB 4 len: 13'57" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 14.07.2006 lng: englisch stw: Michael Fenton Stevens reads the final episode of Voltaire's darkly comic satire. Abridged by Lauris Morgan-Griffiths. gen: Lesung ser: Science Fiction tit: Survival epi: 1 aut: John Wyndham cnt: 63 bnd: BB 4 len: 30'44" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 19.08.2006 lng: englisch stw: The instinct for survival is explored in all its complexities and horror when a group of space travellers are trapped on board a shuttle to Mars. The ship's Captain prepares the passengers for a wait of three months before there can be any hope of rescue. Water and food are put on strict rations. Months pass and then the only woman on board reveals a shocking secret. Food has all but run out and the Captain is now faced with an impossible dilemma. Written in the 1950s by John Wyndham, this story is very much a piece of retro-future, but the ending has lost none of its power to chill. This is a BBC 7 commission and is read by Nicholas Boulton. gen: Lesung ser: Science Fiction tit: Survival epi: 2 aut: John Wyndham cnt: 64 bnd: BB 4 len: 31'00" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 26.08.2006 lng: englisch stw: John Wyndham's sci-fi horror concludes. Trapped in space, food is running out and then one passenger reveals a shocking secret. gen: Lesung ser: Book of the Week tit: Iran Awakening epi: 1 aut: Shirin Ebadi cnt: 65 bnd: BB 4 len: 13'45" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 18.09.2006 lng: englisch stw: Ebadi's political awakening came as a student in Tehran in the 1960s. In a miniskirt and beehive hairdo, she studied law and protested against government corruption. In 2003, Shirin Ebadi, an Iranian lawyer, was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for her work for human rights, the first Iranian and the first Muslim to win the prize. In her memoirs, she describes growing up under the Shah, the initial euphoria and later horror of the Islamic Revolution, and her battles against injustices in Iran's Islamic penal code. Abridged by Lauris Morgan-Griffiths. Read by Souad Faress. gen: Lesung ser: Book of the Week tit: Iran Awakening epi: 2 aut: Shirin Ebadi cnt: 66 bnd: BB 4 len: 13'42" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 19.09.2006 lng: englisch stw: Now a highly regarded young judge, Shirin supports the overthrow of the Shah, but is swiftly disappointed by the Islamic Revolution. Read by Souad Faress. gen: Lesung ser: Book of the Week tit: Iran Awakening epi: 3 aut: Shirin Ebadi cnt: 67 bnd: BB 4 len: 13'50" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 20.09.2006 lng: englisch stw: No longer allowed to practise law, Shirin witnesses the horrors of the war with Iraq, and the cruelty of Iran's new rulers. Read by Souad Faress. gen: Lesung ser: Book of the Week tit: Iran Awakening epi: 4 aut: Shirin Ebadi cnt: 68 bnd: BB 4 len: 13'51" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 21.09.2006 lng: englisch stw: Following the death of Ayatollah Khomeini, Ebadi returns to the courtroom - this time to fight for women and children oppressed by the Islamic penal code. Read by Souad Faress. gen: Lesung ser: Book of the Week tit: Iran Awakening epi: 5 aut: Shirin Ebadi cnt: 69 bnd: BB 4 len: 13'47" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 22.09.2006 lng: englisch stw: Ebadi's quest for justice leads to her imprisonment, but there is growing international support for her human rights work. Read by Souad Faress. gen: Lesung ser: Book at Bedtime tit: The Mission Song epi: 1 aut: John le Carre cnt: 70 bnd: BB 4 len: 13'58" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 02.10.2006 lng: englisch stw: Salvo, a professional interpreter of minority African languages, becomes involved in the planning stages of a covert operation to take over the Eastern Congo. The tale is told, in the first person, by Bruno Salvador or 'Salvo' - a highly qualified interpreter of the languages of the Eastern Congo. His professionalism and his ethics are put to the test when he finds himself working for a British-backed consortium of anonymous financiers planning the political and military take-over of one of the most mineral-rich corners of the planet: the beloved Eastern Congo of Salvo's birth. Abridged by Katrin Williams. Read by Paterson Joseph. gen: Lesung ser: Book at Bedtime tit: The Mission Song epi: 2 aut: John le Carre cnt: 71 bnd: BB 4 len: 13'39" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 03.10.2006 lng: englisch stw: Salvo meets the love of his life, and his African conscience is re-awakened. Read by Paterson Joseph. gen: Lesung ser: Book at Bedtime tit: The Mission Song epi: 3 aut: John le Carre cnt: 72 bnd: BB 4 len: 13'52" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 04.10.2006 lng: englisch stw: Salvo is flown to a no-name island in the North Sea and briefed on the task ahead. Read by Paterson Joseph. gen: Lesung ser: Book at Bedtime tit: The Mission Song epi: 4 aut: John le Carre cnt: 73 bnd: BB 4 len: 13'40" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 05.10.2006 lng: englisch stw: The meeting begins between the Western financiers and East Congolese warlords. Read by Paterson Joseph. gen: Lesung ser: Book at Bedtime tit: The Mission Song epi: 5 aut: John le Carre cnt: 74 bnd: BB 4 len: 13'33" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 06.10.2006 lng: englisch stw: Salvo learns the truth behind the Syndicate's plans for the Eastern Congo. Read by Paterson Joseph. gen: Lesung ser: Book at Bedtime tit: The Mission Song epi: 6 aut: John le Carre cnt: 75 bnd: BB 4 len: 13'38" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 09.10.2006 lng: englisch stw: The contract is signed and Salvo is flown home. But his bag contains damning evidence of the terrible events on the island. Read by Paterson Joseph. gen: Lesung ser: Book at Bedtime tit: The Mission Song epi: 7 aut: John le Carre cnt: 76 bnd: BB 4 len: 13'47" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 10.10.2006 lng: englisch stw: Salvo plays the stolen tapes to Hannah, and visits the home of Lord Brinkley. Read by Paterson Joseph. gen: Lesung ser: Book at Bedtime tit: The Mission Song epi: 8 aut: John le Carre cnt: 77 bnd: BB 4 len: 13'25" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 11.10.2006 lng: englisch stw: Hannah and Salvo seek the help of trusted friends. Read by Paterson Joseph. gen: Lesung ser: Book at Bedtime tit: The Mission Song epi: 9 aut: John le Carre cnt: 78 bnd: BB 4 len: 13'35" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 12.10.2006 lng: englisch stw: Hannah goes missing and Salvo realises he must give himself up. Read by Paterson Joseph. gen: Lesung ser: Book at Bedtime tit: The Mission Song epi: 10 aut: John le Carre cnt: 79 bnd: BB 4 len: 13'40" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 13.10.2006 lng: englisch stw: Salvo writes to Hannah's son Noah, and receives unexpected letters from two old acquaintances. Read by Paterson Joseph. gen: Lesung tit: The Canterville Ghost epi: 1 aut: Oscar Wilde cnt: 80 bnd: BB 4 len: 24'18" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 24.10.2006 fst: 2004 lng: englisch stw: A radio adaptation of Oscar Wilde's classic ghost story about a tormented spirit who is finally laid to rest through a display of true love. Alistair McGowan reads a classic ghost story by Oscar Wilde. When American Minister, Hiram B. Otis signs the deeds for Canterville Chase he not only buys a piece of English heritage, he also inherits a most troublesome ghost. No sooner have Mr Otis and his family moved into their new home than they come up against this unruly spirit. A battle of wills ensues - the ghost devising ever more elaborate hauntings to oust the interlopers who just refuse to be frightened. It is the Minister's only daughter, Virginia, who tries to look beyond the ghost's evil ways and understand why he behaves as he does. Characteristic of Wilde's early fairy tales, where innocence and true love triumph over evil, this beautifully crafted story combine's wry amusement with poignancy. gen: Lesung tit: The Canterville Ghost epi: 2 aut: Oscar Wilde cnt: 81 bnd: BB 4 len: 27'41" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 25.10.2006 fst: 2004 lng: englisch stw: A radio adaptation of Oscar Wilde's classic ghost story. Sir Simon plots a spectacular haunting to get rid of the troublesome Otis family. gen: Lesung tit: The Canterville Ghost epi: 3 aut: Oscar Wilde cnt: 82 bnd: BB 4 len: 25'08" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 26.10.2006 fst: 2004 lng: englisch stw: Filled with pity for the ghost, Virginia agrees to help Sir Simon find peace. A radio adaptation of Oscar Wilde's classic ghost story. gen: Lesung tit: Freedom's Daughter epi: 1 aut: Sonia Gandhi cnt: 83 bnd: BB 4 len: 14'02" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 30.10.2006 fst: 2001 lng: englisch stw: The touching correspondence between the young Indira Gandhi and her father Nehru. Jawaharial Nehru has been imprisoned for his political activities in the Congress Party, but he never forgets that he is a father first and foremost. Thus begins the touching correspondence between Nehru and his daughter, the young Indira Gandhi. The editor of this fascinating volume of correspondence was Sonia Gandhi, Indira Gandhi's daughter-in-law and current leader of the Congress Party in India. Nina Wadia is the voice of Indira and Paul Bhatacharjee is the voice of Nehru in this five part reading produced by Nandita Ghose. gen: Lesung tit: Freedom's Daughter epi: 2 aut: Sonia Gandhi cnt: 84 bnd: BB 4 len: 13'52" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 31.10.2006 fst: 2001 lng: englisch stw: From prison, Nehru becomes increasingly reliant on Indira's letters. The touching correspondence between Indira Gandhi and her father Nehru. gen: Lesung tit: Freedom's Daughter epi: 3 aut: Sonia Gandhi cnt: 85 bnd: BB 4 len: 13'55" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 01.11.2006 fst: 2001 lng: englisch stw: Indira writes to her father from abroad. The touching correspondence between Indira Gandhi and her father Nehru. gen: Lesung tit: Freedom's Daughter epi: 4 aut: Sonia Gandhi cnt: 86 bnd: BB 4 len: 13'54" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 02.11.2006 fst: 2001 lng: englisch stw: Nehru feels increasingly cut off from his family. The touching correspondence between the young Indira Gandhi and her father Nehru. gen: Lesung tit: Freedom's Daughter epi: 5 aut: Sonia Gandhi cnt: 87 bnd: BB 4 len: 13'39" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 03.11.2006 fst: 2001 lng: englisch stw: Nehru is released from prison. Indira's own political views are developing. The touching correspondence between Indira Gandhi and her father Nehru. gen: Lesung tit: A Passage to India epi: 1 aut: EM Forster cnt: 88 bnd: BB 4 len: 13'55" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 30.10.2006 lng: englisch stw: EM Forster's classic novel of racial and religious divisions, friendship and love, read by Samuel West. A surprise encounter in a Mosque opens E M Forster's last completed novel, written in 1924; a story of racial and religious divisions, of friendships and of love, and of a search for a deeper truth, all set at the time of the colonial occupation of India by the British. It is abridged in 15 parts by Sally Marmion, read by Samuel West and produced by Di Speirs. gen: Lesung tit: A Passage to India epi: 2 aut: EM Forster cnt: 89 bnd: BB 4 len: 13'40" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 31.10.2006 lng: englisch stw: Adela and Mrs Moore begin their quest. EM Forster's classic novel of racial and religious divisions, friendship and love. gen: Lesung tit: A Passage to India epi: 3 aut: EM Forster cnt: 90 bnd: BB 4 len: 13'54" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 01.11.2006 lng: englisch stw: Fielding's invitation to tea brings East and West together. EM Forster's classic novel of racial and religious divisions, friendship and love. gen: Lesung tit: A Passage to India epi: 4 aut: EM Forster cnt: 91 bnd: BB 4 len: 13'52" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 02.11.2006 lng: englisch stw: Adela's talk with Ronny is thrown off course. EM Forster's classic novel of racial and religious divisions, friendship and love. gen: Lesung tit: A Passage to India epi: 5 aut: EM Forster cnt: 92 bnd: BB 4 len: 13'54" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 03.11.2006 lng: englisch stw: A gesture cements Dr Aziz and Mr Fielding's friendship. EM Forster's classic novel of racial and religious divisions, friendship and love. gen: Lesung tit: A Passage to India epi: 6 aut: EM Forster cnt: 93 bnd: BB 4 len: 13'43" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 06.11.2006 lng: englisch stw: In E M Forster's story, Dr Aziz transports his honoured English guests to a picnic at the Marabar Caves. Read by Samuel West. gen: Lesung tit: A Passage to India epi: 7 aut: EM Forster cnt: 94 bnd: BB 4 len: 13'53" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 07.11.2006 lng: englisch stw: Aziz's triumphant expedition to the Marabar caves ends in despair and disaster. The novel by E M Forster read by Samuel West. gen: Lesung tit: A Passage to India epi: 8 aut: EM Forster cnt: 95 bnd: BB 4 len: 13'51" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 08.11.2006 lng: englisch stw: Fielding must take sides as Anglo-India rallies behind Adela. E M Forster's novel is read by Samuel West. gen: Lesung tit: A Passage to India epi: 9 aut: EM Forster cnt: 96 bnd: BB 4 len: 13'37" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 09.11.2006 lng: englisch stw: Adela's talk with Ronny is thrown off course. EM Forster's classic novel of racial and religious divisions, friendship and love. gen: Lesung tit: A Passage to India epi: 10 aut: EM Forster cnt: 97 bnd: BB 4 len: 13'47" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 10.11.2006 lng: englisch stw: Mrs Moore will offer Adela no words of comfort as the trial approaches. Samuel West reads the novel by E M Forster. gen: Lesung tit: A Passage to India epi: 11 aut: EM Forster cnt: 98 bnd: BB 4 len: 13'47" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 13.11.2006 lng: englisch stw: Adela faces Aziz across a crowded court room. EM Forster's classic novel of racial and religious divisions, friendship and love. gen: Lesung tit: A Passage to India epi: 12 aut: EM Forster cnt: 99 bnd: BB 4 len: 13'24" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 14.11.2006 lng: englisch stw: New allegiances and sad tidings after Aziz's trial concludes. EM Forster's novel of racial and religious divisions, read by Samuel West. gen: Lesung tit: A Passage to India epi: 13 aut: EM Forster cnt: 100 bnd: BB 4 len: 13'59" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 15.11.2006 lng: englisch stw: Friendships mourned, made and tested by misunderstandings. EM Forster's novel of racial and religious divisions, read by Samuel West. gen: Lesung tit: A Passage to India epi: 14 aut: EM Forster cnt: 101 bnd: BB 4 len: 13'48" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 16.11.2006 lng: englisch stw: Two years after the incident in Chandrapore, Aziz comes face to face with his old English friend once more. gen: Lesung tit: A Passage to India epi: 15 aut: EM Forster cnt: 102 bnd: BB 4 len: 14'01" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 17.11.2006 lng: englisch stw: Reconciliation and acceptance mark the end of EM Forster's final novel. EM Forster's classic novel of racial and religious divisions. gen: Lesung ser: Afternoon Reading tit: The Horse epi: 1 sbt: The Hope and the Horror aut: Alick Rowe cnt: 1 bnd: BB 5 len: 13'50" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 27.11.2006 lng: englisch stw: Letters from Greek conscript Geoff and blinkered military commander Diomedes reveal 'inside' stories. A witty angle on the Trojan War by Alick Rowe. Readers are Martin Jarvis and Darren Richardson. gen: Lesung ser: Afternoon Reading tit: The Horse epi: 2 sbt: The Strife and the Sorrow aut: Alick Rowe cnt: 2 bnd: BB 5 len: 13'44" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 28.11.2006 lng: englisch stw: Operation Pegasus and the defeat of Troy seem like great ideas to Dingbat Diomedes. But Geoff assumes 'horse duty' means getting back in the saddle. gen: Lesung ser: Afternoon Reading tit: The Horse epi: 3 sbt: The Pity and the Pathos aut: Alick Rowe cnt: 3 bnd: BB 5 len: 13'48" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 29.11.2006 lng: englisch stw: Geoff has sardine nightmares and Dimwit Diomedes suffers a setback at the Pegasus training camp. gen: Lesung ser: Afternoon Reading tit: The Horse epi: 4 sbt: The Dread and the Desire aut: Alick Rowe cnt: 4 bnd: BB 5 len: 13'54" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 30.11.2006 lng: englisch stw: Dio and Geoff's letters show increasing panic, but Mighty Ag insists the Spartan security guards are only doing their job. gen: Lesung ser: Afternoon Reading tit: The Horse epi: 5 sbt: The Tragedy and The Triumph aut: Alick Rowe cnt: 5 bnd: BB 5 len: 13'48" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 01.12.2006 lng: englisch stw: Geoff sends a last letter and Diomedes reveals the Master Plan. A witty new angle on the Trojan War from multi award-winning writer Alick Rowe. Read by Darren Richardson and Martin Jarvis. gen: Lesung ser: Book of the Week tit: The Lemon Tree epi: 1 aut: Sandy Tolan cnt: 6 bnd: BB 5 len: 13'32" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 12.02.2007 lng: englisch stw: Bashir was six when his family were expelled from their house in Ramla. Almost 20 years later he gets the chance to visit it. Now Dalia, a Jewish woman born in Bulgaria lives there. Will she let him in? An unusual dialogue between a Palestinian man and the Israeli woman who now lives in his old home. Abridged by Libby Spurrier. gen: Lesung ser: Book of the Week tit: The Lemon Tree epi: 2 aut: Sandy Tolan cnt: 7 bnd: BB 5 len: 13'20" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 13.02.2007 lng: englisch stw: Dalia's parents choose to leave Bulgaria for the Promised Land. Then war with Egypt and the possibility of annihilation. gen: Lesung ser: Book of the Week tit: The Lemon Tree epi: 3 aut: Sandy Tolan cnt: 8 bnd: BB 5 len: 13'25" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 14.02.2007 lng: englisch stw: Bashir is now a lawyer and increasingly politicised. He has been exiled to Ramallah, now occupied by Israel. Dalia makes a risky visit to continue their conversation. gen: Lesung ser: Book of the Week tit: The Lemon Tree epi: 4 aut: Sandy Tolan cnt: 9 bnd: BB 5 len: 13'32" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 15.02.2007 lng: englisch stw: Bashir is on trial for bombing a supermarket. Dalia inherits the house but questions her future in it. The lemon tree in the garden dies. gen: Lesung ser: Book of the Week tit: The Lemon Tree epi: 5 aut: Sandy Tolan cnt: 10 bnd: BB 5 len: 12'56" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 16.02.2007 lng: englisch stw: The house is now a kindergarten for Arab children in Israel. But terrorist attacks escalate. Dalia makes one last trip to visit Bashir to seek some kind of understanding. An unusual dialogue between a Palestinian man and the Israeli woman who now lives in his old home. By Sandy Tolan, abridged by Libby Spurrier. gen: Lesung ser: Book at Bedtime tit: Salmon Fishing in the Yemen epi: 1 aut: Paul Torday cnt: 11 bnd: BB 5 len: 13'50" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 12.02.2007 lng: englisch stw: A delightful comic novel which gently mocks the machinations of government and spin whilst shedding a little light on the question of belief. Presented in the form of evidence to a Parliamentary inquiry, it charts the adventures of a humble fisheries scientist, Dr Alfred Jones, through a series of extracts from emails, memos and diaries. Read by Michael Sheen. gen: Lesung ser: Book at Bedtime tit: Salmon Fishing in the Yemen epi: 2 aut: Paul Torday cnt: 12 bnd: BB 5 len: 13'38" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 13.02.2007 lng: englisch stw: The Whitehall spin machine swings into action and Dr Alfred Jones is sent to meet the glamorous Ms Harriet Chetwode-Talbot. gen: Lesung ser: Book at Bedtime tit: Salmon Fishing in the Yemen epi: 3 aut: Paul Torday cnt: 13 bnd: BB 5 len: 13'33" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 14.02.2007 lng: englisch stw: Alfred is beginning to be seduced by the notion of salmon swimming their way up the wadis of the Yemen, but he has yet to meet the prime mover behind the project. gen: Lesung ser: Book at Bedtime tit: Salmon Fishing in the Yemen epi: 4 aut: Paul Torday cnt: 14 bnd: BB 5 len: 13'41" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 15.02.2007 lng: englisch stw: Following their trip to the Sheikh's residence in Scotland, Alfred and Harriet embark on 'the project'. gen: Lesung ser: Book at Bedtime tit: Salmon Fishing in the Yemen epi: 5 aut: Paul Torday cnt: 15 bnd: BB 5 len: 13'27" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 16.02.2007 lng: englisch stw: The novel in the form of a government report continues with evidence from No 10's communications director - describing how the PM became enthused by the 'Salmon/Yemen' project. gen: Lesung ser: Book at Bedtime tit: Salmon Fishing in the Yemen epi: 6 aut: Paul Torday cnt: 16 bnd: BB 5 len: 13'39" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 19.02.2007 lng: englisch stw: Dr Alfred Jones and Harriet Chetwode-Talbot have witnessed an attempt to assassinate the sheikh whilst he was fishing on his estate in Scotland. Now news of these events is filtering down to Westminster. gen: Lesung ser: Book at Bedtime tit: Salmon Fishing in the Yemen epi: 7 aut: Paul Torday cnt: 17 bnd: BB 5 len: 13'07" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 20.02.2007 lng: englisch stw: The sheikh's dream of sharing the peacable joys of salmon fishing with his fellow countrymen is under threat from those who believe it is dangerously un-Islamic. gen: Lesung ser: Book at Bedtime tit: Salmon Fishing in the Yemen epi: 8 aut: Paul Torday cnt: 18 bnd: BB 5 len: 13'38" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 21.02.2007 lng: englisch stw: Harriet and Arthur are now in the Yemen as preparations and building work proceed apace. But the activity is not enough to distract Harriet from worrying about her fiancé who is missing in Iraq. gen: Lesung ser: Book at Bedtime tit: Salmon Fishing in the Yemen epi: 9 aut: Paul Torday cnt: 19 bnd: BB 5 len: 13'26" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 22.02.2007 lng: englisch stw: Peter Maxwell has a bright idea to do with fishing and democracy. gen: Lesung ser: Book at Bedtime tit: Salmon Fishing in the Yemen epi: 10 aut: Paul Torday cnt: 20 bnd: BB 5 len: 13'48" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 23.02.2007 lng: englisch stw: The evidence for the official report into the Yemen Salmon project is concluded. By Paul Torday, read by Michael Sheen. gen: Lesung ser: Science Fiction tit: Trouble with Lichen epi: 1 aut: John Wyndham cnt: 21 bnd: BB 5 len: 27'41" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 25.03.2007 lng: englisch stw: In John Wyndham's 1960 classic, biochemist Diana Brackley stumbles on a discovery which could change the course of humanity. In another John Wyndham classic, Biochemist Diana Brackley and her boss Francis Saxover have discovered that a rare strain of lichen can slow the ageing process. Idealistic Diana embarks on a lifelong mission to ensure that their discovery will benefit man-, and more particularly, woman-kind. But the trouble with lichen is that there's not enough for everyone... Joanna Tope reads this new to BBC 7 commission in five parts, directed by Eilidh McCreadie. gen: Lesung ser: Science Fiction tit: Trouble with Lichen epi: 2 aut: John Wyndham cnt: 22 bnd: BB 5 len: 27'24" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 01.04.2007 lng: englisch stw: Perturbed by Francis' silence over the mysterious properties of the lichen, Diana secretly begins her own investigations. gen: Lesung ser: Science Fiction tit: Trouble with Lichen epi: 3 aut: John Wyndham cnt: 23 bnd: BB 5 len: 27'29" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 08.04.2007 lng: englisch stw: The salon's compensation payout catches the attention of Fleet Street. Meanwhile Paul has told his wife about the antigerone. gen: Lesung ser: Science Fiction tit: Trouble with Lichen epi: 4 aut: John Wyndham cnt: 24 bnd: BB 5 len: 27'37" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 15.04.2007 lng: englisch stw: Diana's attempts to conceal the true source of the antigerone come unstuck in the face of relentless investigation. gen: Lesung ser: Science Fiction tit: Trouble with Lichen epi: 5 aut: John Wyndham cnt: 25 bnd: BB 5 len: 28'05" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 22.04.2007 lng: englisch stw: The secret of long life has been uncovered but, due to Francis' reticence, Diana must face the intense media pressure alone. gen: Lesung tit: The Daughter of Time epi: 1 aut: Josephine Tey cnt: 26 bnd: BB 5 len: 28'13" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 23.04.2007 lng: englisch stw: In this classic mystery, Inspector Grant is confined to a hospital bed, and his friend suggests that he solve a historical case. Paul Young reads Josephine Tey's classic mystery. Inspector Alan Grant is confined to his hospital bed. To relieve his boredom, a friend suggests that he takes on an unsolved historical mystery. Grant becomes fascinated by a portrait of King Richard III and starts his investigation. The Daughter of Time was produced as a BBC7 commission by Gaynor Macfarlane. gen: Lesung tit: The Daughter of Time epi: 2 aut: Josephine Tey cnt: 27 bnd: BB 5 len: 29'15" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 24.04.2007 lng: englisch stw: Marta brings Grant a pile of pictures and he becomes fascinated by a portrait of Richard III. By Josephine Tey. gen: Lesung tit: The Daughter of Time epi: 3 aut: Josephine Tey cnt: 28 bnd: BB 5 len: 28'27" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 25.04.2007 lng: englisch stw: Inspector Grant pursues his new-found interest in Richard III. gen: Lesung tit: The Daughter of Time epi: 4 aut: Josephine Tey cnt: 29 bnd: BB 5 len: 28'30" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 26.04.2007 lng: englisch stw: Inspector Grant is determined to prove that King Richard III could not have murdered the Princes in the Tower. By Josephine Tey. gen: Lesung tit: The Daughter of Time epi: 5 aut: Josephine Tey cnt: 30 bnd: BB 5 len: 27'39" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 27.04.2007 lng: englisch stw: Grant consults Sir Thomas More in his quest for the real Richard III. By Josephine Tey. Read by Paul Young. gen: Lesung tit: The Daughter of Time epi: 6 aut: Josephine Tey cnt: 31 bnd: BB 5 len: 25'48" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 30.04.2007 lng: englisch stw: Inspector Grant is confined to a hospital bed. He is pursuing the truth about Richard III and finds help in an unlikely form. gen: Lesung tit: The Daughter of Time epi: 7 aut: Josephine Tey cnt: 32 bnd: BB 5 len: 29'15" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 01.05.2007 lng: englisch stw: Brent provides Grant with some useful information about Tyrrell, the murderer of the Princes in the Tower. By Josephine Tey. gen: Lesung tit: The Daughter of Time epi: 8 aut: Josephine Tey cnt: 33 bnd: BB 5 len: 28'25" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 02.05.2007 lng: englisch stw: Grant and Carradine look into the events surrounding the succession of Richard III. By Josephine Tey and read by Paul Young. gen: Lesung tit: The Daughter of Time epi: 9 aut: Josephine Tey cnt: 34 bnd: BB 5 len: 26'04" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 03.05.2007 lng: englisch stw: The Police Inspector and his research worker find out more about the real Richard III. By Josephine Tey and read by Paul Young. gen: Lesung tit: The Daughter of Time epi: 10 aut: Josephine Tey cnt: 35 bnd: BB 5 len: 27'29" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 04.05.2007 lng: englisch stw: Grant and Carradine turn their attention to Richard III's successor, Henry Tudor. By Josephine Tey and read by Paul Young. gen: Lesung tit: The Daughter of Time epi: 11 aut: Josephine Tey cnt: 36 bnd: BB 5 len: 28'25" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 07.05.2007 lng: englisch stw: Continuing Josephine Tey's novel. Inspector Grant investigates the case of the Princes in the Tower. Read by Paul Young. gen: Lesung tit: The Daughter of Time epi: 12 aut: Josephine Tey cnt: 37 bnd: BB 5 len: 27'06" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 08.05.2007 lng: englisch stw: Grant and Carradine investigate how Henry VII's rival heirs fared. Paul Young continues reading Josephine Tey's novel. gen: Lesung tit: The Daughter of Time epi: 13 aut: Josephine Tey cnt: 38 bnd: BB 5 len: 26'25" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 09.05.2007 lng: englisch stw: In Josephine Tey's novel, Grant compares the two suspects in his case: Richard III and Henry VII. Read by Paul Young. gen: Lesung tit: The Daughter of Time epi: 14 aut: Josephine Tey cnt: 39 bnd: BB 5 len: 26'33" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 10.05.2007 lng: englisch stw: Inspector Grant and Carradine tie up the case of the Princes in the Tower. By Josephine Tey. Read by Paul Young. gen: Lesung ser: Book of the Week tit: A Long Way Gone - Memoirs of a Boy Soldier epi: 1 aut: Ishmael Beah cnt: 40 bnd: BB 5 len: 13'31" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 21.05.2007 lng: englisch stw: Ishmael is just 12 years old when the rebel forces attack his village in Sierra Leone and he is separated from his family. Read by Chuk Iwuji. gen: Lesung ser: Book of the Week tit: A Long Way Gone - Memoirs of a Boy Soldier epi: 2 aut: Ishmael Beah cnt: 41 bnd: BB 5 len: 13'14" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 22.05.2007 lng: englisch stw: Ishmael, his brother and some friends start moving through the bush, trying to keep out of sight of the rebel soldiers. Read by Chuk Iwuji. gen: Lesung ser: Book of the Week tit: A Long Way Gone - Memoirs of a Boy Soldier epi: 3 aut: Ishmael Beah cnt: 42 bnd: BB 5 len: 13'37" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 23.05.2007 lng: englisch stw: Running away from a group of rebels, Ishmael has become separated from his brother. He wanders alone in the forest and through abandoned villages, searching for food and drink. Finally, he is captured by government forces. Read by Chuk Iwuji. gen: Lesung ser: Book of the Week tit: A Long Way Gone - Memoirs of a Boy Soldier epi: 4 aut: Ishmael Beah cnt: 43 bnd: BB 5 len: 13'15" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 24.05.2007 lng: englisch stw: The army has finally caught up with Ishmael. At the age of 13, he finds himself trained as a soldier and sent out into the forests to kill the enemy. Read by Chuk Iwuji. gen: Lesung ser: Book of the Week tit: A Long Way Gone - Memoirs of a Boy Soldier epi: 5 aut: Ishmael Beah cnt: 44 bnd: BB 5 len: 13'49" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 25.05.2007 lng: englisch stw: After 2 years in the army, Ishmael has been turned from an innocent hip-hop fan into a pitiless killing machine. But one day his lieutenant hands him over to UNICEF workers to be taken to Freetown and rehabilitated. Read by Chuk Iwuji. gen: Lesung ser: Book at Bedtime tit: Travels with My Aunt epi: 1 aut: Graham Greene cnt: 45 bnd: BB 5 len: 13'35" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 04.06.2007 lng: englisch stw: At his mother's funeral, retired bank manager Henry Pulling meets his septuagenarian Aunt Augusta for the first time in 50 years. Accompanying her back to her flat, he is introduced to her very unconventional menage. Graham Greene's classic comedy adventure. Read by Anna Massey and Robert Glenister. gen: Lesung ser: Book at Bedtime tit: Travels with My Aunt epi: 2 aut: Graham Greene cnt: 46 bnd: BB 5 len: 13'35" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 05.06.2007 lng: englisch stw: Henry's dull suburban life is rudely interrupted when detectives reveal that his dead mother's urn has been used to hide drugs. Henry's first feelings of anarchy stir within him as his aunt suggests they go abroad. Graham Greene's classic comedy adventure. Read by Anna Massey and Robert Glenister. gen: Lesung ser: Book at Bedtime tit: Travels with My Aunt epi: 3 aut: Graham Greene cnt: 47 bnd: BB 5 len: 13'42" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 06.06.2007 lng: englisch stw: Aunt Augusta and Henry fly to Paris with a mysterious and very heavy red suitcase, which Henry is obliged to to carry through customs for her. They catch the Orient Express and before long Henry finds himself trying out pot with a woman half his age. Graham Greene's classic comedy adventure. Read by Anna Massey and Robert Glenister. gen: Lesung ser: Book at Bedtime tit: Travels with My Aunt epi: 4 aut: Graham Greene cnt: 48 bnd: BB 5 len: 13'45" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 07.06.2007 lng: englisch stw: In Istanbul, Aunt Augusta is visited by a colonel of the local police, who is on the trail of a Mr Visconti. She successfully avoids his amorous attentions, but she and Henry are deported for their pains. Graham Greene's classic comedy adventure. Read by Anna Massey and Robert Glenister. gen: Lesung ser: Book at Bedtime tit: Travels with My Aunt epi: 5 aut: Graham Greene cnt: 49 bnd: BB 5 len: 14'04" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 08.06.2007 lng: englisch stw: Henry suggests that he and Aunt Augusta go to Boulogne to see his father's grave. They meet a Miss Paterson, who reveals an unexpected interest in the deceased. Graham Greene's classic comedy adventure. Read by Anna Massey and Robert Glenister. gen: Lesung ser: Book at Bedtime tit: Travels with My Aunt epi: 6 aut: Graham Greene cnt: 50 bnd: BB 5 len: 13'39" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 11.06.2007 lng: englisch stw: Aunt Augusta leaves England and entrusts Henry with the keys to her flat. Henry doesn't hear from her for several months. When he visits the flat, detectives follow him in. Graham Greene's classic comedy adventure. Read by Anna Massey and Robert Glenister. gen: Lesung ser: Book at Bedtime tit: Travels with My Aunt epi: 7 aut: Graham Greene cnt: 51 bnd: BB 5 len: 13'42" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 12.06.2007 lng: englisch stw: Out of the blue, Henry receives a summons to meet his aunt in Paraguay and bring with him a photograph. Henry duly complies. Graham Greene's classic comedy adventure. Read by Anna Massey and Robert Glenister. gen: Lesung ser: Book at Bedtime tit: Travels with My Aunt epi: 8 aut: Graham Greene cnt: 52 bnd: BB 5 len: 13'37" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 13.06.2007 lng: englisch stw: Wordsworth meets Henry to take delivery of the framed photograph requested by Aunt Augusta. Henry finds her in an empty villa, awaiting the imminent arrival of Mr Visconti. Graham Greene's classic comedy adventure. Read by Anna Massey and Robert Glenister. gen: Lesung ser: Book at Bedtime tit: Travels with My Aunt epi: 9 aut: Graham Greene cnt: 53 bnd: BB 5 len: 13'44" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 14.06.2007 lng: englisch stw: Henry ends up in jail for inadvertently blowing his nose on the Paraguayan national flag. He finally meets the notorious Mr Visconti and is fully inducted into his criminal enterprises. Graham Greene's classic comedy adventure. Read by Anna Massey and Robert Glenister. gen: Lesung ser: Book at Bedtime tit: Travels with My Aunt epi: 10 aut: Graham Greene cnt: 54 bnd: BB 5 len: 13'56" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 15.06.2007 lng: englisch stw: Henry must choose between returning to his quiet suburban existence or throwing in his lot with Augusta. But life in Paraguay brings potentially fatal dangers. Graham Greene's classic comedy adventure. Read by Anna Massey and Robert Glenister. gen: Lesung ser: Science Fiction tit: The Mortal Immortal aut: Mary Shelley cnt: 55 bnd: BB 5 len: 27'52" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 03.07.2007 lng: englisch stw: Immortality: a blessing or a curse? Mary Shelley explores man's fascination with eternal life in this thought-provoking story. Another made-for-BBC 7 programme and a fantastical tale by the author of Frankenstein which explores an intriguing philosophical question ... and the elixir of life. The reader is Shaun Dooley. gen: Lesung ser: Science Fiction tit: The Sea Raiders aut: HG Wells cnt: 56 bnd: BB 5 len: 23'18" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 04.07.2007 lng: englisch stw: Monsters from the deep terrorise the coast of Devon in this adventure by HG Wells. Guess what? This was made for us, too. And it's an H.G. Wells story that I wasn't familiar with before hearing it on this here radio station. It's a thrilling adventure story set off the coast of Devon, full of giant squid-like creatures and strange goings on. It's read by Cold Feet star, Robert Bathurst. gen: Lesung ser: Science Fiction tit: The New Accelerator aut: HG Wells cnt: 57 bnd: BB 5 len: 26'09" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 05.07.2007 lng: englisch stw: In the name of science, HG Wells agrees to sample a new drug designed to speed up both body and mind. Robert Bathurst reads this one, too, also from the pen of H.G. Wells and made for BBC 7. The acclaimed physiologist, Professor Gibberne, is on the verge of a making a discovery that will revolutionise human life by creating a stimulant to speed up both the body and mind. gen: Lesung ser: Science Fiction tit: Before Eden aut: Arthur C Clarke cnt: 58 bnd: BB 5 len: 29'47" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 06.07.2007 lng: englisch stw: Is there life on Venus? A space adventure with a strong environmental message by Arthur C Clarke. After some earth-bound sci-fi comes a space adventure set on Venus, written by the Sci-Fi master, Arthur C. Clarke. A group of scientist and engineers are coming to the end of their stay on Venus: the planet's incredibly high temperatures mean that they have almost given up hope of finding signs of life. When the temperature unexpectedly drops in a mountainous region of the planet, excitement mounts. Sure enough, it is not long before they discover a small lake ... and a a strange, seaweed-like creature... It's read by Tim Pigott-Smith, most recently seen being all-shouty in Holby Blue on BBC One (and, did you know, one of his earliest TV appearances was in a 1971 Doctor Who tale?) gen: Lesung ser: Science Fiction tit: Methuselah's Children epi: 1 aut: Robert A Heinlein cnt: 59 bnd: BB 5 len: 28'22" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 09.07.2007 lng: englisch stw: Paul Birchard reads Robert A Heinlein's sci-fi novel about a group of families who can live for several hundred years. HEINLEIN CENTENARY: Robert A. Heinlein is recognised by many as one of the great masters of Science Fiction. To mark the centenary of Heinlein's birth, we present three fantastic new commissions, two this week and one next. Set in the America of 2112, the Howard Families are the end products of a privately-funded, secret experiment in eugenics - selective breeding - started centuries earlier. For hundreds of years, members of the Families (whose average life expectation is now around 150) have kept the information about their extended lives hidden from the world as a whole, with false identities, artificial ageing and faked deaths. But when the novel begins, the truth is discovered and reactions range from envy through horror to hatred. Abridged by Bert Coules and directed by Bruce Young. gen: Lesung ser: Science Fiction tit: Methuselah's Children epi: 2 aut: Robert A Heinlein cnt: 60 bnd: BB 5 len: 27'59" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 10.07.2007 lng: englisch stw: The Government begins a programme of mass arrests. gen: Lesung ser: Science Fiction tit: Methuselah's Children epi: 3 aut: Robert A Heinlein cnt: 61 bnd: BB 5 len: 28'19" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 11.07.2007 lng: englisch stw: Lazarus Long leads the families into space. gen: Lesung ser: Science Fiction tit: Methuselah's Children epi: 4 aut: Robert A Heinlein cnt: 62 bnd: BB 5 len: 28'10" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 12.07.2007 lng: englisch stw: The 100,000 members of the families settle into life on the New Frontiers. gen: Lesung ser: Science Fiction tit: Methuselah's Children epi: 5 aut: Robert A Heinlein cnt: 63 bnd: BB 5 len: 28'27" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 13.07.2007 lng: englisch stw: A colonist enters the alien temple and returns a broken man. gen: Lesung ser: Science Fiction tit: Methuselah's Children epi: 6 aut: Robert A Heinlein cnt: 64 bnd: BB 5 len: 28'25" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 16.07.2007 lng: englisch stw: Lazarus Long's thoughts begin to turn to home. By Robert A Heinlein. gen: Lesung tit: Archaeology cnt: 65 bnd: BB 5 len: 13'58" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 09.09.2007 lng: englisch stw: An archaeologist becomes intrigued when she realises her nurse resembles a figure in a painting from an Egyptian tomb. gen: Lesung ser: Book at Bedtime tit: The Land of Spices epi: 1 aut: Kate O'Brien cnt: 66 bnd: BB 5 len: 13'46" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 10.12.2007 lng: englisch stw: Appointed Mother Superior in a remote Irish nunnery, Mere Helene realises she has to save her star student from the regime she herself has until now espoused. Kate O'Brien's novel, abridged in 10 parts, is set in an enclosed convent. Read by Barbara Flynn and abridged by Nevile Teller gen: Lesung ser: Book at Bedtime tit: The Land of Spices epi: 2 aut: Kate O'Brien cnt: 67 bnd: BB 5 len: 13'51" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 11.12.2007 lng: englisch stw: As three postulant nuns receive the veil at the school of Sainte Famille, the Reverend Mother recalls how at 18 she herself had turned her back on the world. gen: Lesung ser: Book at Bedtime tit: The Land of Spices epi: 3 aut: Kate O'Brien cnt: 68 bnd: BB 5 len: 13'44" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 12.12.2007 lng: englisch stw: As six-year-old Anna Murphy comes to terms with her first few weeks at the convent school, the Reverend Mother begins a letter of resignation to the Mere Generale. gen: Lesung ser: Book at Bedtime tit: The Land of Spices epi: 4 aut: Kate O'Brien cnt: 69 bnd: BB 5 len: 13'51" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 13.12.2007 lng: englisch stw: The Reverend Mother has found remarkable qualities in Anna Murphy, her newest and youngest pupil, that remind her of herself when young. gen: Lesung ser: Book at Bedtime tit: The Land of Spices epi: 5 aut: Kate O'Brien cnt: 70 bnd: BB 5 len: 13'49" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 14.12.2007 lng: englisch stw: Young Anna discovers that the school is rife with gossip, snobbery and vindictiveness. gen: Lesung ser: Book at Bedtime tit: The Land of Spices epi: 6 aut: Kate O'Brien cnt: 71 bnd: BB 5 len: 13'47" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 17.12.2007 lng: englisch stw: On the night that she learns that her father is dying, Reverend Mother recalls the event that drove her to turn her back on the world. gen: Lesung ser: Book at Bedtime tit: The Land of Spices epi: 7 aut: Kate O'Brien cnt: 72 bnd: BB 5 len: 13'45" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 18.12.2007 lng: englisch stw: Summer holidays have arrived at last, but financial imprudence has begun to take its toll on Anna's parents' marriage. gen: Lesung ser: Book at Bedtime tit: The Land of Spices epi: 8 aut: Kate O'Brien cnt: 73 bnd: BB 5 len: 13'44" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 19.12.2007 lng: englisch stw: On the annual family holiday in the summer of 1913, Anna's brother Charlie is drowned in the local harbour. gen: Lesung ser: Book at Bedtime tit: The Land of Spices epi: 9 aut: Kate O'Brien cnt: 74 bnd: BB 5 len: 13'40" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 20.12.2007 lng: englisch stw: Anna's formidable grandmother wants her to forego her hard-won scholarship and work in a bank. Mere Helene has other ideas. gen: Lesung ser: Book at Bedtime tit: The Land of Spices epi: 10 aut: Kate O'Brien cnt: 75 bnd: BB 5 len: 13'54" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 21.12.2007 lng: englisch stw: A telegram from the Mother House in Brussels presents Reverend Mother with the biggest challenge of her life. Producer Eoin O'Callaghan. Kate O'Brien's novel, abridged in 10 parts, is set in an enclosed convent. Read by Barbara Flynn and abridged by Nevile Teller gen: Lesung tit: Just William epi: 12 sbt: The Christmas Truce aut: Richmal Crompton cnt: 76 bnd: BB 5 len: 14'39" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 16.12.2007 fst: 1990 lng: englisch stw: A tit for tat war wages right under the adults' noses, beginning with a small prank involving a Christmas cracker novelty. Read by Martin Jarvis. gen: Lesung ser: Book of the Week tit: The Prince epi: 1 sbt: Men Must Either Be Flattered or Eliminated aut: Niccolo Machiavelli cnt: 77 bnd: BB 5 len: 13'27" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 07.01.2008 lng: englisch stw: How to conquer new territory. Peter Firth reads from Peter Constantine's new translation of Niccolo Machiavelli's guidebook on how to seize and maintain political power. With an introduction from BBC Political Editor Nick Robinson. gen: Lesung ser: Book of the Week tit: The Prince epi: 2 sbt: The Fox and the Lion aut: Niccolo Machiavelli cnt: 78 bnd: BB 5 len: 13'24" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 08.01.2008 lng: englisch stw: What are the qualities of a successful leader? Peter Firth reads from Peter Constantine's new translation of Niccolo Machiavelli's guidebook on how to seize and maintain political power. With an introduction from BBC Political Editor Nick Robinson. gen: Lesung ser: Book of the Week tit: The Prince epi: 3 sbt: The Uses of War aut: Niccolo Machiavelli cnt: 79 bnd: BB 5 len: 13'32" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 09.01.2008 lng: englisch stw: And the wisdom of choosing the lesser evil. Peter Firth reads from Peter Constantine's new translation of Niccolo Machiavelli's guidebook on how to seize and maintain political power. With an introduction from BBC Political Editor Nick Robinson. gen: Lesung ser: Book of the Week tit: The Prince epi: 4 sbt: On the Uses of Cruelty aut: Niccolo Machiavelli cnt: 80 bnd: BB 5 len: 13'32" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 10.01.2008 lng: englisch stw: How a successful leader can use cruelty to his advantage. Peter Firth reads from Peter Constantine's new translation of Niccolo Machiavelli's guidebook on how to seize and maintain political power. With an introduction from BBC Political Editor Nick Robinson. gen: Lesung ser: Book of the Week tit: The Prince epi: 5 sbt: On the relationship between the Prince and his advisers aut: Niccolo Machiavelli cnt: 81 bnd: BB 5 len: 13'37" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 11.01.2008 lng: englisch stw: and on how to deal with the power of fortune. Peter Firth reads from Peter Constantine's new translation of Niccolo Machiavelli's guidebook on how to seize and maintain political power. With an introduction from BBC Political Editor Nick Robinson. gen: Lesung tit: How to Beat Sir Humphrey epi: 1 sbt: How to cope with bureaucracy aut: Antony Jay cnt: 82 bnd: BB 5 len: 14'14" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 16.01.2008 lng: englisch stw: How to cope with bureaucracy and how to think like Sir Humphrey. Antony Jay's highly entertaining account of how to deal with officialdom, using the wonderful character from 'Yes Minister' as an example. Abridged by Jane Marshall, it is read in three parts by Derek Fowlds. gen: Lesung tit: How to Beat Sir Humphrey epi: 2 sbt: How to get funds aut: Antony Jay cnt: 83 bnd: BB 5 len: 14'03" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 17.01.2008 lng: englisch stw: How to get funds for your protest and acquire a good legal team. Read by Derek Fowlds. gen: Lesung tit: How to Beat Sir Humphrey epi: 3 sbt: How to win the paper war aut: Antony Jay cnt: 84 bnd: BB 5 len: 14'09" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 18.01.2008 lng: englisch stw: How to win the paper war and how to ask those questions that require an answer. Read by Derek Fowlds. gen: Lesung ser: Book of the Week tit: Three Cups of Tea epi: 1 sbt: Promise to Return aut: Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin cnt: 85 bnd: BB 5 len: 14'02" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 10.03.2008 lng: englisch stw: Following a failed bid to ascend K2, Mortenson stumbles into Korphe, an impoverished village in northern Pakistan. Although the children have no school, Mortenson is so moved by their hunger to learn that he promises to return. Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin's account of Greg's involvement in building schools in Pakistan. Read by William Hope. gen: Lesung ser: Book of the Week tit: Three Cups of Tea epi: 2 sbt: Greg returns to Pakistan aut: Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin cnt: 86 bnd: BB 5 len: 13'42" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 11.03.2008 lng: englisch stw: Greg returns to Pakistan's Karakoram mountain range, where he engages in a lengthy bargaining process to buy all he needs to construct the school he promised to build. When he finally arrives in Korphe atop a lorry load of lumber, the villagers make an astounding pronouncement. Read by William Hope. gen: Lesung ser: Book of the Week tit: Three Cups of Tea epi: 3 sbt: Constructing a Suspension Bridge aut: Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin cnt: 87 bnd: BB 5 len: 13'46" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 12.03.2008 lng: englisch stw: Before work on Korphe school can begin, Greg and the villagers get to grips with the intricacies of constructing a suspension bridge. Read by William Hope. gen: Lesung ser: Book of the Week tit: Three Cups of Tea epi: 4 sbt: Greg in Danger aut: Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin cnt: 88 bnd: BB 5 len: 13'47" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 13.03.2008 lng: englisch stw: Korphe school is almost built. Greg seeks new villages in Pakistan to build more schools, but soon finds himself in danger. Read by William Hope. gen: Lesung ser: Book of the Week tit: Three Cups of Tea epi: 5 sbt: New Ways of Help aut: Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin cnt: 89 bnd: BB 5 len: 14'00" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 14.03.2008 lng: englisch stw: Greg expands his school building project as conflict leads him to help Pakistan's poorest people in new ways. Read by William Hope. gen: Lesung tit: Jennings' Little Hut epi: 1 sbt: The Squatters aut: Anthony Buckeridge cnt: 90 bnd: BB 5 len: 13'37" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 12.05.2008 lng: englisch stw: It was only a little hut, but Jennings was very proud of it. And the other boys at Lindbury Court were proud of their huts too. Mark Williams reads one of Anthony Buckeridge's classic school stories, abridged in five parts by Roy Apps. gen: Lesung tit: Jennings' Little Hut epi: 2 sbt: The Kettle of Fish aut: Anthony Buckeridge cnt: 91 bnd: BB 5 len: 13'29" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 13.05.2008 lng: englisch stw: Mr Wilkins blows his top when he finds Jennings and Darbishire looking for a fish - up a tree. Mark Williams reads one of Anthony Buckeridge's classic school stories, abridged in five parts by Roy Apps. gen: Lesung tit: Jennings' Little Hut epi: 3 sbt: General Sir Melville Merridew aut: Anthony Buckeridge cnt: 92 bnd: BB 5 len: 13'16" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 14.05.2008 lng: englisch stw: A distinguished former pupil is to pay the school a visit. Mark Williams reads one of Anthony Buckeridge's classic school stories, abridged in five parts by Roy Apps. gen: Lesung tit: Jennings' Little Hut epi: 4 sbt: Shortage of Glass aut: Anthony Buckeridge cnt: 93 bnd: BB 5 len: 13'47" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 15.05.2008 lng: englisch stw: Jennings and Darbishire must think fast when the General wants to see an old school photograph. Mark Williams reads one of Anthony Buckeridge's classic school stories, abridged in five parts by Roy Apps. gen: Lesung tit: Jennings' Little Hut epi: 5 sbt: The Difficult Guest aut: Anthony Buckeridge cnt: 94 bnd: BB 5 len: 13'42" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 16.05.2008 lng: englisch stw: Jennings and Darbishire try to play the perfect hosts, but the General's grandson gives them the slip. Mark Williams reads one of Anthony Buckeridge's classic school stories, abridged in five parts by Roy Apps. gen: Lesung ser: Book of the Week tit: The Black Death aut: John Hatcher cnt: 1 bnd: BB 6 len: 68'40" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 13.06.2008 lng: englisch stw: John Hatcher's account of how the people of a typical English village lived and died in the worst epidemic in history. Read by Robert Glenister. 1. Rumours abound in the Suffolk village of Walsham that a terrible pestilence has devastated the lands at the edge of the known world. 2. As the people of Walsham realise the plague is fast approaching the shores of England, they embark on a pilgrimage to the holy shrine of Walsingham. They hope to entreat the Virgin Mary to stay the hand of God. 3. John Chapman is among the first to be struck down by the pestilence. His wife Agnes nurses him as death begins to stalk the village. 4. By the last week of April 1349, the bells of Walsham ring unceasingly for each new soul that falls foul of the ravaging plague. Normal life for all the villagers has fallen apart. 5. As the plague recedes, it becomes clear that life in rural England will never be the same again. gen: Lesung tit: Galileo's Daughter aut: Dava Sobel cnt: 2 bnd: BB 6 len: 69'16" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 15.08.2008 fst: 1999 lng: englisch stw: Read by Stella Goney and written by Dava Sobel, this is the fascinating story set in the 17th century Italian home of the inventor Galileo Galilei. Based on 124 surviving letters written between Galileo and his much loved daughter Virginia, this is the tale of their relationship and the inventor's scientific discoveries which challenged the Catholic Church. This reading was directed by Di Speirs, and was first heard in 1999. 1 The fascinating story of the relationship between the great Italian scientist and his devoted daughter. 2 Virginia discovers that her father is ill, but cannot visit him because she is in the convent. 3 Blessed by the Pope, the scientist can continue work on his book, but convent life is hard for Virginia. 4 As the Bubonic plague reaches Florence, the renowned scientist faces a backlash against his new theories. 5 On suspicion of heresy, Galileo is sentenced to imprisonment for his exposition of Copernicus. Read by Stella Gonet. gen: Lesung tit: Goodnight Mister Tom aut: Michelle Magorian cnt: 3 bnd: BB 6 len: 146'41" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 19.12.2008 fst: 1990 lng: englisch stw: Michelle Magorian's award winning novel is a powerful and heart-tugging wartime tale about a young evacuee who arrives in the countryside to stay with gruff but kindly Tom Oakley. Read in 10 parts by David Brierley, it is produced by Peter Fozzard and was first broadcast on Radio 5 in 1990. 1 A young evacuee arrives to stay with gruff but kindly Tom Oakley. 2 A disturbing letter from the young evacuee's mother causes concern. 3 Young evacuee Willie's taken shopping and there's news at the church. 4 Evacuee Willie starts school and the villagers see changes in Tom. 5 It's young evacuee Willie's birthday and he's in for a surprise. 6 Evacuee Willie's happiness is threatened by dark clouds on the horizon. 7 Young evacuee Willie must return to London and his bullying mother. 8 With no news of Willie - Tom heads to London and gets a shock. 9 Willie recovers from his trauma in London, but can he stay with Tom? 10 Willie gets news of his mother, as his future life is finally resolved. gen: Lesung tit: Just William epi: 13 sbt: William's Christmas Presents aut: Richmal Crompton cnt: 4 bnd: BB 6 len: 13'36" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 14.12.2008 fst: 1990 lng: englisch stw: Adrian Edmondson reads a festive tale by Richmal Crompton. The mischievous schoolboy has some novel gift ideas. First broadcast on Radio 5 in 1990. gen: Lesung tit: Not So Tiny Tim sbt: God Bless Us Everyone aut: John Mortimer cnt: 5 bnd: BB 6 len: 14'38" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 21.12.2008 lng: englisch stw: Sir Timothy Cratchit's selfish Christmas in Africa is rudely interrupted. John Mortimer's short story read by Richard Pasco. gen: Lesung ser: Afternoon Reading tit: Wrestling Angels epi: 1 sbt: Once I Was Dead. aut: Fraser Grace cnt: 6 bnd: BB 6 len: 14'07" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 20.01.2009 lng: englisch stw: The subject of one of Jesus's most famous miracles finds resurrection is not all it is cracked up to be. Biblical tales with a modern twist by Fraser Grace. gen: Lesung ser: Afternoon Reading tit: Wrestling Angels epi: 2 sbt: The Assassin's Mother-in-Law. aut: Fraser Grace cnt: 7 bnd: BB 6 len: 14'15" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 21.01.2009 lng: englisch stw: A woman recalls one of the Old Testament's more extraordinary acts of seduction. Biblical tales with a modern twist by Fraser Grace. gen: Lesung ser: Afternoon Reading tit: Wrestling Angels epi: 3 sbt: The Jeweller's Wife. aut: Fraser Grace cnt: 8 bnd: BB 6 len: 14'10" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 22.01.2009 lng: englisch stw: The pain of a woman's infertility is nothing compared to the trouble caused by her miraculous healing. Biblical tales with a modern twist by Fraser Grace. gen: Lesung tit: The Last Question aut: Isaac Asimov cnt: 9 bnd: BB 6 len: 28'21" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 06.02.2009 lng: englisch stw: When a computer which can provide the answer to any question it is given is ultimately in control of global affairs, will there be far reaching consequences? This Radio 7 commission, written by sci-fi master Isaac Asimov, is read by Henry Goodman and produced by Gemma Jenkins. gen: Lesung tit: Three Men On The Bummel aut: Jerome K. Jerome cnt: 10 bnd: BB 6 len: 66'56" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 08.05.2009 fst: 2001 lng: englisch stw: Hugh Laurie reads Jerome K. Jerome's sequel to Three Men In A Boat. Three Men On The Bummel was abridged by Peter Everett and first broadcast in 2001. 1 George, Harris and J set off for a cycling tour of Germany. 2 The friends arrive in Germany, where Harris wrestles with a hose pipe. 3 After a few drinks too many, George is convinced he is seeing the same statue everywhere he goes. 4 Two pigs, a dog and a mountain cause confusion. 5 On their last day, the friends reflect on Germany and the Germans. gen: Lesung tit: The Drowned World aut: JG Ballad cnt: 11 bnd: BB 6 len: 112'24" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 22.11.2009 lng: englisch stw: Written in 1962, by the late distinguished sci fi writer, JG Ballad, his vision of global warming with a future London under water is proving alarmingly accurate. Global warming has caused London to become a lush tropical jungle, where soaring temperatures trigger extreme psychological reactions in the survivors. The Drowned World is a Radio 7 commission, produced by Gemma Jenkins and first heard earlier this year. This extraordinary vision of ecological chaos is broadcast in tribute to JG Ballard, who died last April. Read in 4 parts by Robert Glenister and directed by Gemma Jenkins. gen: Lesung tit: An Incident aut: Anton Chekhov cnt: 12 bnd: BB 6 len: 13'22" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 25.01.2010 fst: 1998 lng: englisch stw: Stories By Anton Chekhov Two children. Two pets. One stranger. Then a small domestic disaster. Alistair McGowan reads five tales from the Russian master. The director is Duncan Minshull, and the series was first heard on Radio 4 in 1998. gen: Lesung tit: A Play aut: Anton Chekhov cnt: 13 bnd: BB 6 len: 14'30" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 26.01.2010 fst: 1998 lng: englisch stw: She insists on showing him her terrible work. He takes drastic action. gen: Lesung tit: The Old House aut: Anton Chekhov cnt: 14 bnd: BB 6 len: 14'19" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 27.01.2010 fst: 1998 lng: englisch stw: The landlord shows us one of his properties. The memories are traumatic. gen: Lesung tit: Ivan Matveyitch aut: Anton Chekhov cnt: 15 bnd: BB 6 len: 14'39" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 28.01.2010 fst: 1998 lng: englisch stw: An old academic and a young boy. A topsy-turvy friendship, but it endures. gen: Lesung tit: Bad Weather aut: Anton Chekhov cnt: 16 bnd: BB 6 len: 13'12" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 29.01.2010 fst: 1998 lng: englisch stw: Or to put it another way, what has the husband been up to in Moscow? gen: Lesung tit: Just William epi: 14 sbt: William and the School Report aut: Richmal Crompton cnt: 17 bnd: BB 6 len: 14'46" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 03.12.2010 lng: englisch stw: The mischievous schoolboy avoids his parents by getting lost on his way home. gen: Lesung tit: Rumpole and the Widow Twankey aut: John Mortimer cnt: 18 bnd: BB 6 len: 13'50" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 26.12.2010 fst: 1996 lng: englisch stw: A Boxing Day pantomime visit provides the barrister with the perfect case for the defence. gen: Lesung tit: Breakfast at Tiffany's aut: Truman Capote cnt: 19 bnd: BB 6 len: 137'09" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 26.08.2011 fst: 2001 lng: englisch stw: Truman Capote's vivid and witty novel of endearing girl-about-town, Holly Golightly and her relationship with a young writer. First broadcast in May 2001, it was abridged by James Robertson and read by Henry Goodman. 1 - The vivid tale of a New York writer and captivating 1940s girl-about-town Holly Golightly. 2 - Young writer Paul Varjak gets to know girl-about-town Holly Golightly in 1940s New York. 3 - Fred upsets girl-about-town Holly, while a man from her past arrives in New York. 4 - Holly Golightly throws a party in New York, where Fred meets the glamorous Mag Wildwood. 5 - Budding author Paul gets a job but is still captivated by girl-about-town Holly Golightly. 6 - Fred is approached by a stranger who's been watching Holly's apartment. 7 - Fred comes to a realisation, while Holly Golightly reacts badly over some sad news. 8 - After receiving tragic news, Holly tries to look to the future - but Paul has concerns. 9 - Girl-about-town Holly Golightly hits New York's headlines for all the wrong reasons. 10- With the police on her tail, Holly decides her future. Concluded by Henry Goodman. gen: Lesung tit: The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole Aged 13 3/4 aut: Sue Townsend cnt: 20 bnd: BB 6 len: 92'52" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 27.09.2011 fst: 1982 lng: englisch stw: Teenage angst, from the diary of Adrian Mole. Sue Townsend's famous tale of the teenager with spots and girlfriend worries is read by Nicholas Barnes. First broadcast in September 1982, it was produced by John Tydeman. gen: Lesung tit: Mrs Miniver aut: Jan Struther cnt: 21 bnd: BB 6 len: 68'18" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 02.11.2012 fst: 2001 lng: englisch stw: Originally published in The Times, beginning in 1937, Jan Struther's endearing everyday chronicles of an English Housewife are read in five parts by Penelope Wilton. Produced by Sara Davies and first broadcast in 2001. 1 Mrs Miniver Comes Home 2 On Hampstead Heath 3 The New Car 4 Guy Fawkes Day 5 Married Couples 6 At the Dentist's 7 Doing a Mole 8 Christmas Shopping 9 Back from Abroad 10 Three Stockings gen: Lesung tit: Sci-fi short stories by Arthur C Clarke epi: 1 sbt: The Nine Billion Names of God aut: Arthur C Clarke cnt: 22 bnd: BB 6 len: 13'21" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 31.03.2013 fst: 2011 lng: englisch stw: A Tibetan monastery's new computer sparks fears that the world will end. gen: Lesung tit: Sci-fi short stories by Arthur C Clarke epi: 2 sbt: The Star aut: Arthur C Clarke cnt: 23 bnd: BB 6 len: 13'48" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 06.04.2013 fst: 2011 lng: englisch stw: A priest's faith is severely tested during an expedition on a burnt planet. gen: Lesung tit: Sci-fi short stories by Arthur C Clarke epi: 3 sbt: Death and the Senator aut: Arthur C Clarke cnt: 24 bnd: BB 6 len: 14'25" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 13.04.2013 fst: 2011 lng: englisch stw: If a medical space station can cure cardiac conditions, who gets treatment? gen: Lesung tit: Sci-fi short stories by Arthur C Clarke epi: 4 sbt: Superiority aut: Arthur C Clarke cnt: 25 bnd: BB 6 len: 14'22" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 20.04.2013 fst: 2011 lng: englisch stw: In war, the more technologically advanced side can still be defeated. gen: Lesung tit: Sci-fi short stories by Arthur C Clarke epi: 5 sbt: The Sentinel aut: Arthur C Clarke cnt: 26 bnd: BB 6 len: 14'14" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 27.04.2013 fst: 2011 lng: englisch stw: The story from which Arthur C Clarke developed the film '2001: A Space Odyssey'. gen: Lesung tit: Herr Bambinger aut: Mordecai Richler cnt: 27 bnd: BB 6 len: 14'31" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 27.10.2013 lng: englisch stw: A refugee proves to be an aggravating and judgemental man of mystery. William Roberts reads Mordecai Richler's short tale. gen: Lesung tit: The Periodic Table epi: 1 sbt: An Introduction aut: Primo Levi cnt: 28 bnd: BB 6 len: 13'38" med: MP3 spd: 128 mon: Stereo src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 24.07.2016 lng: englisch stw: Major dramatisation of Primo Levi's element-themed stories about life, work and matter. Henry Goodman stars as Primo Levi in a major new dramatization of Levi's short stories about our human relationship with the chemical elements. Introduced by Janet Suzman and dramatised by Graham White from the translation by Raymond Rosenthal. Janet Suzman introduces a major new dramatization of Primo Levi's stories about our human relationship with the chemical elements that make up our universe - a book the Royal Institution of Great Britain named 'the best science book ever'. She begins with a short feature about Levi's life and writing, featuring archive interviews with Levi himself. gen: Lesung tit: The Periodic Table epi: 2 sbt: Vanadium, Part 1 aut: Primo Levi cnt: 29 bnd: BB 6 len: 13'59" med: MP3 spd: 128 mon: Stereo src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 24.07.2016 lng: englisch stw: In the course of his work as a chemist in a paint factory in the 1960s, Primo Levi receives a letter from one of the factory's German clients, signed by a Doktor Muller. Could this be the Doktor Muller who had overseen Levi's work as a prisoner in the lab at Auschwitz? gen: Lesung tit: The Periodic Table epi: 3 sbt: Argon aut: Primo Levi cnt: 30 bnd: BB 6 len: 14'24" med: MP3 spd: 128 mon: Stereo src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 24.07.2016 lng: englisch stw: Primo imagines a fantasy meeting with his Piedmontese ancestors, who share a number of characteristics with the noble, rare and inert gases, such as Argon. gen: Lesung tit: The Periodic Table epi: 4 sbt: Sulphur and Titanium aut: Primo Levi cnt: 31 bnd: BB 6 len: 14'28" med: MP3 spd: 128 mon: Stereo src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 24.07.2016 lng: englisch stw: 1) Sulphur - Ben Crowe plays a boilerman who saves Primo's factory from disaster. 2) Titanium - Evie Killip reads this short story about a little girl who is fascinated by a man painting with white paint gen: Lesung tit: The Periodic Table epi: 5 sbt: Lead aut: Primo Levi cnt: 32 bnd: BB 6 len: 13'54" med: MP3 spd: 128 mon: Stereo src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 24.07.2016 lng: englisch stw: In 'Lead', set in the ancient world, a prospector travels from northern to southern Europe in search of the valuable, but toxic, lead rock. Read by Paul Copley. gen: Lesung tit: The Periodic Table epi: 6 sbt: Mercury aut: Primo Levi cnt: 33 bnd: BB 6 len: 28'28" med: MP3 spd: 128 mon: Stereo src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 24.07.2016 lng: englisch stw: 1820s - an English captain and his wife live on a remote Atlantic island, with strange chemical properties. gen: Lesung tit: The Periodic Table epi: 7 sbt: Iron aut: Primo Levi cnt: 34 bnd: BB 6 len: 57'39" med: MP3 spd: 128 mon: Stereo src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 24.07.2016 lng: englisch stw: The story of Primo Levi's early life as a chemist in Mussolini's Italy, from his student days, his early crushes and his first experiences as a professional chemist, at a time when it was increasingly hard for Jewish Italians to find work. Akbar Kurtha and Henry Goodman star as the younger and older Primo Levi in a major new dramatization of Levi's short stories about our human relationship with the chemical elements. gen: Lesung tit: The Periodic Table epi: 8 sbt: Gold aut: Primo Levi cnt: 35 bnd: BB 6 len: 28'05" med: MP3 spd: 128 mon: Stereo src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 24.07.2016 lng: englisch stw: The Nazis invade Italy and Primo's friends are forced to scatter. Primo and Vanda head into the mountains in order to join the partisans. gen: Lesung tit: The Periodic Table epi: 9 sbt: Cerium aut: Primo Levi cnt: 36 bnd: BB 6 len: 19'47" med: MP3 spd: 128 mon: Stereo src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 24.07.2016 lng: englisch stw: Primo's training as a chemist helps him to survive the terrible conditions of Auschwitz. gen: Lesung tit: The Periodic Table epi: 10 sbt: Arsenic and Silver aut: Primo Levi cnt: 37 bnd: BB 6 len: 57'01" med: MP3 spd: 128 mon: Stereo src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 24.07.2016 lng: englisch stw: At his retirement party, Primo recounts amusing stories from a professional chemist's life. gen: Lesung tit: The Periodic Table epi: 11 sbt: Vanadium, Part 2 aut: Primo Levi cnt: 38 bnd: BB 6 len: 24'37" med: MP3 spd: 128 mon: Stereo src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 24.07.2016 lng: englisch stw: In the course of his work as a chemist in a paint factory in the 1960s, Primo Levi has received a letter from one of the factory's German clients, Doktor Muller. The same Doktor Muller who had overseen Levi's work as a prisoner in the lab at Auschwitz. And now Muller wants to meet. gen: Lesung tit: The Periodic Table epi: 12 sbt: Carbon aut: Primo Levi cnt: 39 bnd: BB 6 len: 13'56" med: MP3 spd: 128 mon: Stereo src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 24.07.2016 lng: englisch stw: Levi imagines the incredible, centuries-long journey of a single atom of carbon. gen: Lesung tit: Nation aut: Terry Pratchett cnt: 1 bnd: BB 7 len: 219'47" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 01.10.2011 lng: englisch stw: A devastating storm hits the South Sea island home of a young boy, who appears to be the only survivor. But then the boy makes a dramatic discovery. Terry Pratchett's adventure is read by Matt Addis and Charlie Norfolk and was produced by Chris Wallis. 1 On a storm-battered island, Mau believes he's the only survivor. 2 While survivor Daphne has regrets, death god Locaha takes a hand. 3 More survivors bring problems for Mau, who has to become Chief. 4 Mau learns how to build a nation. Daphne learns how to make beer. 5 Mau is in the grips of god of death, Locaha - can Daphne save him? 6 Mau, Daphne and Ataba have found a golden door. 7 The Nation awaits the arrival of Cox and the cannibal raiders. 8 It looks like decision time for Daphne - can she face leaving Mau? gen: Kinder tit: The Chronicles of Narnia epi: 1 sbt: The Magician's Nephew aut: C. S. Lewis cnt: 1 bnd: BC 1 len: 149'32" med: MP3 spd: 80 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 26.12.2005 lng: englisch stw: The first of CS Lewis' Narnia books. A lion sings a new world into existence, but a dark treachery threatens its future. With a star-studded cast featuring Paul Scofield as the Storyteller this is an excellent production for the whole family to enjoy. The cast also includes David Suchet as Aslan and Elizabeth Counsell as the White Witch. gen: Kinder tit: The Chronicles of Narnia epi: 2 sbt: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe aut: C. S. Lewis cnt: 2 bnd: BC 1 len: 147'36" med: MP3 spd: 80 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 26.12.2005 lng: englisch stw: A forgotten wardrobe becomes the pathway to adventure and intrigue, as four children step into another time and place. With a star-studded cast featuring Paul Scofield as the Storyteller this is an excellent production for the whole family to enjoy. The cast also includes David Suchet as Aslan and Elizabeth Counsell as the White Witch. gen: Kinder tit: The Chronicles of Narnia epi: 3 sbt: The Horse and His Boy aut: C. S. Lewis cnt: 3 bnd: BC 1 len: 181'55" med: MP3 spd: 80 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 26.12.2005 lng: englisch stw: When a slave makes his escape with a talking horse, a mysterious lion shadows their every move. A prince wages war on Narnia. With a star-studded cast featuring Paul Scofield as the Storyteller this is an excellent production for the whole family to enjoy. The cast also includes David Suchet as Aslan and Elizabeth Counsell as the White Witch. gen: Kinder tit: The Chronicles of Narnia epi: 4 sbt: Prince Caspian aut: C. S. Lewis cnt: 4 bnd: BC 1 len: 185'47" med: MP3 spd: 80 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 26.12.2005 lng: englisch stw: A young prince learns the truth about his father's murder and four strangers from another world are thrown into war. With a star-studded cast featuring Paul Scofield as the Storyteller this is an excellent production for the whole family to enjoy. The cast also includes David Suchet as Aslan and Elizabeth Counsell as the White Witch. gen: Kinder tit: The Chronicles of Narnia epi: 5 sbt: The Voyage of The Dawn Treader aut: C. S. Lewis cnt: 5 bnd: BC 1 len: 208'09" med: MP3 spd: 80 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 28.12.2006 lng: englisch stw: The Narnia season continues with the first UK broadcast of The Voyage of The Dawn Treader. Edmund, Lucy and their spoilt cousin Eustace return to Narnia to help Caspian. They set sail upon the Dawn Treader to the edge of the Eastern World, where they battle with sea serpents, dragons and invisible dark forces. With a rich musical score and big screen sound effects, this powerful and faithful dramatisation stars Paul Scofield, David Suchet, Bernard Cribbins, Freddie Jones and Martin Friend. gen: Kinder tit: The Chronicles of Narnia epi: 6 sbt: The Silver Chair aut: C. S. Lewis cnt: 6 bnd: BC 1 len: 203'53" med: MP3 spd: 80 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 03.01.2007 lng: englisch stw: The Chronicles of Narnia continues with the first airing on British radio of this production of The Silver Chair. On a pivotal mission assigned by the Great Lion Aslan, Eustace and Jill must face an evil power more potent than anyone imagined. Guest stars in this 5 part dramatisation of the C S Lewis classic include Ron Moody, Jamie Glover, Joanna Myers and Derek Nimmo. gen: Kinder tit: The Chronicles of Narnia epi: 7 sbt: The Last Battle aut: C. S. Lewis cnt: 7 bnd: BC 1 len: 212'51" med: MP3 spd: 80 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 10.01.2007 lng: englisch stw: We reach the final part of our new Narnia stories. Jill and Eustace find themselves called into Narnia once more, this time to aid King Tirian in the mightiest of all battles. This powerful and moving production stars David Suchet as Aslan, with Victor Spinetti, Andrew Sachs, Philip Sully, Milton Jones and Gwynn Beech. gen: Kinder ser: Big Toe tit: The Wee Free Men aut: Terry Pratchett cnt: 1 bnd: BC 2 len: 118'10" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 07.08.2005 lng: englisch gen: Kinder ser: Big Toe tit: Black Hearts In Battersea aut: Joan Aiken cnt: 2 bnd: BC 2 len: 117'49" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 11.09.2005 lng: englisch stw: Simon flees the cruel orphanage where he's lived since he was small and brings himself up in the forest. Out of the blue he receives a summons from Dr. Field to study art in London. Could his life now take a turn for the better? When he arrives with his beloved donkey in the strange city, Dr Field doesn't seem to exist... The reader is David Thorpe. gen: Kinder ser: Big Toe tit: Artemis Fowl epi: 3 sbt: The Eternity Code aut: Eoin Colfer cnt: 3 bnd: BC 2 len: 118'54" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 02.04.2006 lng: englisch stw: Reader: Stephen Critchlow gen: Kinder ser: Big Toe tit: Surprising Joy aut: Valerie Bloom cnt: 4 bnd: BC 2 len: 118'58" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 09.07.2006 lng: englisch stw: Joy has spent her life with her grandmother in Jamaica, steeped in Jamaican culture, sunshine and traditions. Until the day her dream comes true: Joy's mother, who moved to England when Joy was a baby, writes to say that she's ready for her daughter to come and join her. Joy can hardly contain her excitement. But London in December is a shock. It's cold and dark and unfriendly. Even so, it's nothing to the shock that awaits when she goes to live with her mother... gen: Kinder ser: Big Toe tit: The Boy Who Lost His Face aut: Louis Sachar cnt: 5 bnd: BC 2 len: 117'27" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 16.07.2006 lng: englisch stw: Ever since his best friend Scott dropped him to join a popular group, David feels certain he's been cursed. He follows along when the group harasses kind, old Mrs. Bayfield, but afterward he is overcome with guilt. And that's when the curse strikes: David insults his mother, cracks a window and embarrasses himself in class. It's bad enough that Scott's group excludes and taunts David, but the worst moment is when Tori, a girl he likes, sees his pants fall down. Two new friends help David to stand up to Scott's devious friends, rid himself of the curse and find the courage to ask Tori out. The story culminates with a hilarious rumble and a poignant realization. Sachar captures awkward junior high school experiences with humor and sensitivity. Readers will empathize with David's troubles and cheer his triumphs in this delightful, funny book. Ages 10-14. Reader: Robert G. Slade gen: Kinder ser: Big Toe tit: Black Beauty aut: Anna Sewell cnt: 6 bnd: BC 2 len: 117'16" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 24.09.2006 lng: englisch stw: A horse is a horse of course, unless of course the horse is Black Beauty. Animal-loving children have been devoted to Black Beauty throughout this century, and no doubt will continue through the next. Although Anna Sewell's classic paints a clear picture of turn-of-the-century London, its message is universal and timeless: animals will serve humans well if they are treated with consideration and kindness. Black Beauty tells the story of the horse's own long and varied life, from a well-born colt in a pleasant meadow to an elegant carriage horse for a gentleman to a painfully overworked cab horse. Throughout, Sewell rails--in a gentle, 19th-century manner--against animal maltreatment. Young readers will follow Black Beauty's fortunes, good and bad, with gentle masters as well as cruel. Children can easily make the leap from horse-human relationships to human-human relationships, and begin to understand how their own consideration of others may be a benefit to all. Reader: John Hasler gen: Kinder ser: Big Toe tit: The Pig Scrolls aut: Paul Shipton cnt: 7 bnd: BC 2 len: 118'46" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 12.11.2006 lng: englisch stw: Talk about mock-heroic. Transformed by Circe into a big, fat, talking pig, Gryllus, who once traveled with Odysseus, tells how he escaped rampaging monsters with the brave teen prophetess, Sybil, found himself, and saved the world. The cool teen talk about the heroic journey makes for a hilarious readaloud--for those who know the old myths and those who don't--and the mockery of the contemporary scene is crude and funny. Gryllus has no time for lectures on the food chain and our place in it. He orders young Homer to buzz off and "Learn a proper trade. Like plumbing." For the heroic pig, the glorious siren call is the smell of a delicious pie. And yet with all the puns and boorish jokes and fun, there is also an epic theme with contemporary meaning: the young heroes must stop an elderly scientist from detonating the Atomos Device that could destroy the entire Cosmos. Reader: Toby Jones gen: Kinder ser: Big Toe tit: The Silver Sword epi: 1 aut: Ian Serraillier cnt: 8 bnd: BC 2 len: 27'55" med: MP3 spd: 80 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 09.12.2006 lng: englisch stw: This is the story of a Polish family during the Second World War and immediately afterwards. Joseph Balicki is the headmaster of a primary school in Warsaw; his wife is Swiss, and their three children, Ruth, Edek and Bronia, are 13, 11 and 3 years old when Joseph is arrested by the Nazis in 1940. Soon afterwards his wife is taken to forced labour in Germany, and his house is blown up. The children escape over the roofs before the explosion and join the gangs of orphans living in the ruins of the bombed city, existing as best they can. The 'silver sword' is only a paper-knife, but it is the talisman that, after the Germans have been driven out of Warsaw, gives Ruth, Edek and Bronia the hope and courage to make an astonishing journey across Europe. Accompanied by their friend, the fierce and resourceful Jan, they reach a refugee camp on the shores of Lake Constance and are reunited with their parents. Rezensentin/Rezensent: I am about to buy this book for my children, my own copy given to a cousin many years ago. I read it aged 11 at least 6 times. Over and over again. It was so moving, exciting and so real to me, just amazing. The stark contrast to our very civilised lives and that which the children have to endure made it all the more fascinating to me. I got hooked because our teacher read it to us, a chapter at a time. Well, after two chapters I begged my mother to buy me a copy and was, by the time the others heard the fourth chapter, already nearly finished! Over the years both as a child and an adult I have read countless books, some I can recall others were not so memorable. This one however has never left my top Ten. I cannot wait until I can read it again - the children and I will just have to fight over it. Reader: Various gen: Kinder ser: Big Toe tit: The Silver Sword epi: 2 aut: Ian Serraillier cnt: 9 bnd: BC 2 len: 28'44" med: MP3 spd: 80 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 09.12.2006 lng: englisch stw: Reader: Various gen: Kinder ser: Big Toe tit: The More the Merrier aut: Anne Fine cnt: 10 bnd: BC 2 len: 116'44" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 25.12.2006 lng: englisch stw: The Christmas holiday is, traditionally, a time for families to gather together. But more definitely does not mean the merrier in Ralph's household - not with Uncle Tristram hurling spuds at the cat, cousin Titania in her frilly dresses, nutty Great-Aunt Ida and others. Mum's on the verge of a breakdown and Ralph's been banished to his bedroom.. Reader: Aidan Parsons gen: Kinder ser: Big Toe tit: Bootleg aut: Alex Shearer cnt: 11 bnd: BC 2 len: 118'50" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 11.02.2007 lng: englisch stw: The Good for You Party is improving the health of the nation. Fruit and vegetables are compulsory and chocolates are banned. When best friends Smudger and Huntly discover an overlooked stock of cocoa and sugar, their secret chocolate-making business takes off fast. Can they stay ahead of the law? Reader: Damien Lynch gen: Lesung ser: Big Toe tit: Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea aut: Jules Verne cnt: 12 bnd: BC 2 len: 116'42" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 04.03.2007 lng: englisch stw: In this classic of 19th century science fiction, Professor Aronnax goes in search of a giant sea-monster that has become a danger to shipping. He soon finds himself the guest of Captain Nemo, the master of the Nautilus. Reader: Ray Fearon gen: Kinder ser: Big Toe tit: Best Friends aut: Jacqueline Wilson cnt: 13 bnd: BC 2 len: 115'23" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 09.09.2007 lng: englisch stw: Gemma and Alice, born on the same day, have been devoted best friends ever since. Despite Gemma's larger-than-life personality and Alice's quieter, calmer character, the two are inseparable - until that is Alice has to move house, all the way to Scotland. Gemma is utterly distraught, particularly at the thought that Alice might find a new best friend. Is there anything Gem's brothers, or perhaps her grandad, can do to help? A funny and touching story from one of the most successful children's writers working today. Reader: Stacey Sampson gen: Kinder ser: Big Toe tit: The Thieves of Ostia aut: Caroline Lawrence cnt: 14 bnd: BC 2 len: 110'30" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 29.05.2008 lng: englisch stw: In this atmospheric debut novel, the first installment of a planned series, readers are whisked to the first century A.D. to help girl detective Flavia Gemina solve a brutal crime in the Roman port city of Ostia. When the guard dog belonging to Flavia's secretly Christian neighbors is slaughtered, Flavia sets out to find clues. She is accompanied by four trusty companions: Jonathan and Miriam, the Christian children; Nubia, a slave girl whom Flavia has recently acquired with her birthday money (with the purpose of emancipating her); and Lupus, a mute beggar boy. Many adventures later a pack of wild dogs chases them, they narrowly escape malicious slave traders and discover that their chief suspect has committed suicide by jumping from a lighthouse the children catch the culprit. Those looking for thrill-a-minute entertainment will find their fill of near-catastrophic events here, but the violence may be hard for some readers to stomach. Red herrings emerge too conspicuously and dialogue is sometimes stilted. Nonetheless, this historical mystery offers an intriguing glimpse into the customs, attitudes and class systems of the Roman empire. Reader: Emily Raymond gen: Kinder ser: Big Toe Reading tit: The Prince and the Pauper aut: Mark Twain cnt: 15 bnd: BC 2 len: 149'44" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 10.08.2008 lng: englisch stw: Young London beggar Tom Canty encounters Prince Edward VI, and curious about each other's lives, they switch clothes. They have barely noted their uncanny resemblance to each other when a palace guard seizes the prince in beggar's clothing and throws him into the street. Each follows the other's destiny for a time, unable to right matters until the prince appears at the coronation, and things are straightened out. Mayer boils down Mark Twain's The Prince and the Pauper to its essence, retelling the story in a picture-book edition with a sense of drama as well as the occasional, inevitable sense of summarized plot. A better choice for retelling than most classic novels, The Prince and the Pauper has an exciting plot, features children as protagonists, and is seldom read by young people today. Read in 16 episodes Reader: Jason Isaacs Publisher: Penguin Classics gen: Kinder ser: Big Toe Reading tit: The Seal Cove aut: Helen Dunmore cnt: 16 bnd: BC 2 len: 113'44" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 29.08.2008 lng: englisch stw: Katie and Zillah are in their last year at the local primary school, and looking forward to moving on. But then they discover that the school is threatened with closure, and they could be the last children ever to go there. Their class is determined - they have brothers and sisters in the school, their parents went there, the school is part of their community - they won't let it close, whatever it takes. Reader: Sam Stoyan Publisher: Scholastic gen: Kinder ser: Big Toe Reading tit: Tom's Midnight Garden aut: Philippa Pearce cnt: 1 bnd: BC 3 len: 128'54" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 05.09.2008 lng: englisch stw: 1 The Clock Strikes Thirteen Tom is sent to his Aunt and Uncle's for the summer holidays. 2 By Moonlight When the clock strikes 13, what will Tom find at the back of the house? And is it for real? 3 Through a Door Tom starts to visit the garden regularly. He can see the residents of the house, but can they see him? 4 Hatty! Cheryl Campbell reads Philippa Pearce's classic tale for children - Tom finally makes contact. 5 The Geese There's chaos in the garden and the truth about Hatty's situation is revealed. 6 The Tree House Is Hatty a ghost? Is the garden a ghost? Is Tom a ghost? 7 The Secret of the Clock Has Hatty recovered from her fall? What is the news from home? 8 Time No Longer Hatty reveals the secret of the clock and Tom conducts a daring experiment with Time. 9 Skating to Ely Hatty and Tom take to the ice, but there's a revelation waiting for our young time traveller. 10 The Last Change All is finally revealed about Hatty and the Garden. Cheryl Campbell reads Philippa Pearce's classic tale. gen: Kinder ser: Big Toe Reading tit: Robinson Crusoe aut: Daniel Defoe cnt: 2 bnd: BC 3 len: 105'36" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 06.10.2008 lng: englisch stw: Defoe's classic novel of shipwreck and survival, now nearly 300 years old, is abridged competently in this recording. The flavor of the 18th century language is retained, but the plot moves along at a pace more appealing to 21st century ears. Reader: Daniel Ryan gen: Kinder ser: Big Toe Reading tit: At the Firefly Gate aut: Linda Newbery cnt: 3 bnd: BC 3 len: 91'15" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 28.11.2008 lng: englisch stw: Henry misses his old home, school, and neighborhood in London and feels out of sorts in his family's new house, a cottage in a Suffolk village. Taking a liking to an elderly, dying woman who lives nearby, he becomes intrigued by her account of life in the area during World War II, when she fell in love with an RAF pilot at a nearby air station. Coincidentally, his name was Henry, too. Past and present blur as Henry has vivid dreams of himself as a wartime pilot and sees waking visions that he gradually realizes must come from another time or place. Newbery writes well, drawing readers into Henry's shifting reality slowly and letting his puzzlement work itself out. The subplot involving an inhospitable girl his parents urge him to befriend is acutely observed, incisively drawn, and sometimes painful in its realism. This contemporary British novel uses historical and magical elements sparingly, and to good effect. Carolyn Phelan Reader: Jez Thomas gen: Kinder ser: Big Toe Reading tit: Bad Girls aut: Jacqueline Wilson cnt: 4 bnd: BC 3 len: 75'56" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 14.12.2008 lng: englisch stw: Bad Girls deals lightly but sensitively with the terrible pain suffered by a 10 year-old girl when she becomes the victim of vicious bullying at school. When the over- protected, intelligent Mandy is cast out by her so called girl "friends" at school she takes up with trendy, cheerful, 14-year-old Tanya. Because Mandy reminds Tanya of her much-loved kid sister in care and because she too is lonely the two quickly become best friends. But Tanya's unhappy life has made her turn to petty crime and before long Mandy finds herself in deep waters. Bad Girls is a delightful and important book. Brightly written and amusingly illustrated by Nick Sharratt it deals very well indeed with difficult emotional and social issues. (Tamsin Palmer) Reader: Lucy Gaskell gen: Hörspiel tit: Old Peter's Russian Tales aut: Arthur Ransome cnt: 5 bnd: BC 3 len: 69'32" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 21.12.2008 lng: englisch stw: In a hut in the Russian forest, Old Peter the forester tells his grandchildren a new story every day. This 5 part series was written by Arthur Ransome and dramatised by David Britton. Starring Trevor Cooper, Jemma McKenzie-Brown, Harry Hughes, John Dougall and Joseph Kloska, it was directed by Jessica Dromgoole. 1 Sadko A forester tells his grandchildren about a legendary musical hero. 2 Fool of the World A forester tells his grandchildren about a not so clever man. 3 Baba Yaga A forester tells his grandchildren about a legendary witch. 4 The Silver Saucer and the Transparent Apple A forester tells his grandchildren about some remarkable fruit. 5 Little Master Misery Old Peter tells an Arthur Ransome Russian folktale about how misery is an unwelcome guest. gen: Kinder tit: Old Peter's Russian Tales epi: 6 sbt: Salt aut: Arthur Ransome cnt: 6 bnd: BC 3 len: 13'38" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 22.12.2008 lng: englisch stw: Ivan the Ninny, the youngest and least successful of three brothers, builds his fortune on a rare commodity, salt, winning the love of a princess and suffering the jealous rage of his brothers. By Arthur Ransome, dramatised by DJ Britton Old Peter/Sailor ...... Trevor Cooper Vanya/Sailor ...... Harry Hughes Maroosia/Sailor/Chef ...... Megan Williams Ivan ...... Nyasha Hatendi Tsar ...... Stephen Critchlow Princess ...... Helen Longworth Father ......John Rowe Old Salt/Brother ...... Dan Starkey Giant/Cook ...... Ben Crowe gen: Kinder tit: Old Peter's Russian Tales epi: 7 sbt: Fish Tales aut: Arthur Ransome cnt: 7 bnd: BC 3 len: 13'32" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 23.12.2008 lng: englisch stw: One old fisherman's kindness to a golden fish is repaid almost endlessly when his shrewish wife starts making bigger and bigger demands. By Arthur Ransome, dramatised by DJ Britton Old Peter/Golden Fish ......Trevor Cooper Vanya/Roach ...... Harry Hughes Maroosia/Ersh ...... Megan Williams Gudgeon ...... Ben Crowe Perch ...... Liz Sutherland Old Man ...... John Rowe Wife ...... Helen Longworth gen: Kinder tit: Old Peter's Russian Tales epi: 8 sbt: Prince Ivan aut: Arthur Ransome cnt: 8 bnd: BC 3 len: 13'44" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 24.12.2008 lng: englisch stw: A kingdom, and the fortunes of a young Prince, are thrown into disarray when a new baby is born in the palace with iron teeth and knock-knees, bearing an uncanny resemblance to the most terrifying witch in all Russian, the Baba-Yaga. By Arthur Ransome, dramatised by DJ Britton Old Peter/Groom ......Trevor Cooper Vanya/Ivan ...... Harry Hughes Maroosia/Sunsister ...... Megan Williams Tsar ...... John Rowe Babayaga ...... Helen Longworth Treepuller ...... Nyasha Hatendi Mountain Thrower ...... Stephen Critchlow Gran ...... Joan Walker gen: Kinder tit: Old Peter's Russian Tales epi: 9 sbt: The Stolen Turnips aut: Arthur Ransome cnt: 9 bnd: BC 3 len: 13'40" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 25.12.2008 lng: englisch stw: Broad and Long share a poor and meagre existence until their turnips are stolen over and over again by a magical troupe of forest-dwelling children. By Arthur Ransome, dramatised by DJ Britton Old Peter ......Trevor Cooper Vanya/Child ...... Harry Hughes Maroosia/Child ...... Megan Williams Broad ...... Dan Starkey Long ...... Chris Pavlo gen: Kinder tit: Old Peter's Russian Tales epi: 10 sbt: Frost aut: Arthur Ransome cnt: 10 bnd: BC 3 len: 13'27" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 26.12.2008 lng: englisch stw: Martha is the youngest of three sisters, the elder two of whom make her life a misery. When her stepmother decides to marry her to Frost himself, her father fears for her life, but her politeness and sweet nature bring her all she deserves. By Arthur Ransome, dramatised by DJ Britton Old Peter/Old ...... Man Trevor Cooper Vanya ...... Harry Hughes Maroosia/Martha ...... Megan Williams Old Woman ...... Joan Walker Frost ...... Stephen Critchlow Sour Sister 1 ...... Helen Longworth Sour Sister 2 ...... Liz Sutherland Producer Jessica Dromgoole. gen: Kinder ser: Big Toe tit: Firesong aut: William Nicholson cnt: 11 bnd: BC 3 len: 106'59" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 01.03.2009 lng: englisch stw: The story picks up with the flight of the Hath family, and their crew of other willing Manth families and friends, away from the ruined Mastery. After the defeat of the Master, alone and displaced, they seek a new homeland but have no real destination and very little food. Ira Hath leads the way, prophesising their eventual success but also her own, sad demise. Bowman and Kestrel Hath, brother and sister, carry burdens of their own. Bowman, in particular, is anxious. He awaits a summons from the Sirene, and must make a great sacrifice for his people. The journey is long, and his preparation is tough--especially in the unforgiving hands of an unexpected teacher. As with the previous two volumes, there are some wonderfully exciting moments of action, as well as vivid landscapes and colourful characters. Last time it was Mumpo in gladiatorial combat--this time it is the dramatic attempted rescue of the Manth women who fall into the grubby hands of a desert people. So after all of this, the ending is definitely worth waiting for--and very emotional. There are some surprising twists and turns, and a truly satisfying conclusion. Yet, despite all three books being so immensely well-written and popular, it remains to be seen whether or not this author will continue to write novels for children as well as screenplays for Hollywood (his other job). Write to your MP if he doesn't, but make sure you read his next book if he does. --John McLay-- Reader: Mark Cameron gen: Kinder ser: Big Toe Reading tit: The Boy In The Striped Pyjamas aut: John Boyle cnt: 12 bnd: BC 3 len: 95'11" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 03.05.2009 lng: englisch stw: Anne-Marie Duff reads the powerful and moving story of nine-year-old Bruno, who is unaware of the terrors of the Holocaust until he meets, across a wire fence, Shmuel - the Boy in the Striped Pyjamas. Shmuel is imprisoned in a concentration camp and the growing friendship between the boys sends Bruno on a journey from innocence to revelation. John Boyne's The Boy in Striped Pyjamas will no doubt acquire many readers as a result of the subsequent film of the novel, but viewers of the latter would do themselves a favour by going back to the spare and powerfully affecting original book. Bruno is nine years old, and the Nazis' horrific Final Solution to the "Jewish Problem" means nothing to him. He's completely unaware of the barbarity of Germany under Hitler, and is more concerned by his move from his well-appointed house in Berlin to a far less salubrious area where he finds himself with nothing to do. Then he meets a boy called Shmuel who lives a very different life from him -- a life on the opposite side of a wire fence. And Shmuel is the eponymous boy in the striped pyjamas, as are all the other people on the other side of the fence. The friendship between the two boys begins to grow, but for Bruno it is a journey from blissful ignorance to a painful knowledge. And he will find that this learning process carries, for him, a daunting price. A legion of books have attempted to evoke the horrors of the Second World War, but in this concise and perfectly honed novel, all of the effects that John Boyne creates are allowed to make a maximum impact in a relatively understated fashion (given the enormity of the situation here). The Boy in Striped Pyjamas is also that rare thing: a novel which can affect both children and adults equally; a worthy successor, in fact, to such masterpieces as To Kill a Mockingbird and The Catcher in the Rye -- both, of course, books, dealing (as does this one) with the loss of innocence. Reader: Anne-Marie Duff gen: Kinder ser: Big Toe Reading tit: Baba Yaga's Daughter aut: Joan Aiken cnt: 13 bnd: BC 3 len: 9'48" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 09.05.2009 lng: englisch stw: Reader: Yasmin Paige gen: Kinder ser: Big Toe Reading tit: Wolf Brother aut: Michelle Paver cnt: 14 bnd: BC 3 len: 91'50" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 15.05.2009 lng: englisch stw: From extensive research about how the people of Northern Europe may have lived more than six thousand years ago, Michelle Paver has fashioned a remarkable debut novel for children. Wolf Brother, the first instalment of her six-book Chronicles of Ancient Darkness sequence, takes its readers back in time to an atmospheric world of snow, hunter-gatherers, tribes, clans, mountains, forests, bears and unearthly superstitions. For humans then, life was hard and Paver's narrative taps wonderfully into all the sensations they must have experienced living amidst such an unforgiving landscape. The book begins dramatically with the death of Torak's father, the mage, Fa, from mortal wounds inflicted by a giant, possessed bear. Fa's dying words bind Torak to a quest to find the mythical Mountain of the World Spirit. Only there will Torak find the strength needed to defeat the demonic creature and killer of men. Having lived apart from other Clans, and burdened by such an impossible task, Torak is bereft by the death of his only companion in life and struggles to survive in the harsh conditions he now finds himself in. Then, instead of killing an orphaned wolf cub for food, Torak spares the tiny animal and together they travel north. Torak gains a further companion for his arduous journey in the form of Renn, a headstrong and feisty girl of his own age whose Clan Torak inadvertently has an altercation with. Renn believes Torak to be The Listener - a prophesised being who will save the world - and together they escape from danger into a different sort of peril. Paver's novel is strong on detail and the authenticity of her settings is breathtaking. She cleverly weaves a fantastical, but believable, layer onto her narrative that enriches her story and makes it all the more readable. gen: Kinder ser: Big Toe Reading tit: Awful End aut: Philip Ardagh cnt: 15 bnd: BC 3 len: 67'31" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 17.07.2009 lng: englisch stw: When Eddie's parents are struck down by a strange disease that turns them a rather peculiar shade of yellow, it is decided that he should go and stay with Mad Uncle Jack and Even-Madder Aunt Maud at Awful End. Philip Ardagh's supremely daft and extremely funny novel is set in a terribly smelly 19th century world that children will love. Ardagh captures the stench and stealth of the times, turning what could have been a straightforward adventure story into a delightfully pungent, utterly ridiculous but unbelievably gripping adventure story.--Susan Harrison Reader: Mark Williams gen: Kinder ser: Big Toe Reading tit: Terrible Times aut: Philip Ardagh cnt: 16 bnd: BC 3 len: 65'05" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 21.08.2009 lng: englisch stw: The third title in the Eddie Dickens trilogy finds the hapless young hero being sent to America on family business by Mad Uncle Jack. Eddie can't travel alone, however, and his sailing companion, Lady Constance, has a disconcerting history of "losing" employers and benefiting from their fortunes. Complicating matters are the discovery of Even Madder Aunt Maud (and her stuffed stoat) stowed away on board, a cargo of left shoes and a famous diamond, and a dastardly plot putting passengers at risk. Ultimately, things and thugs are well sorted out, leaving one to think that perhaps there's really no place like home, even if it happens to be Awful End. Like its predecessors, this quirky read, set in Victorian England, blends zany story lines and oddball characters with abundant, reader-directed digressions and commentary. At the opening of this final installment in the series, Eddie's parents tell him that they are sending him from England to America. Before his journey begins, however, numerous disasters are described, all of which seem to have happened to members of the boy's crazy family, but not to him. Unfortunately, the events do not proceed with enough character development or imminent danger to keep even avid readers hooked. Once young Dickens and his seemingly sweet but ultimately murderous chaperone board the ship for America, the action picks up, but many youngsters may not stick with this long-winded, confusing novel to find that out. gen: Kinder ser: Big Toe Reading tit: Charm School aut: Anne Fine cnt: 17 bnd: BC 3 len: 71'38" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 29.01.2010 lng: englisch stw: Bonny is certainly not keen to spend a day at Charm School, but her mother has to sit an exam and can't find a babysitter so she bites the bullet and heads off for a day of sheer agony. As the delightfully bitchy Charm School girls--prissy little Tinkerbells with fluffy hair and glittery dancing shoes--rev up for the competition to win the glistering tiara of Miss Supreme Queen, the confused and self-conscious Bonny finds herself in the middle of an out-and-out, no holds-barred, war. Anne Fine has never fought shy of digging for emotional truth in her work, and here the author of Madame Doubtfire and Goggle-Eyes, doesn't fail the reader for one second as she skilfully takes one day in the life of a group of little girls and gives an exquisite, achingly sad yet robustly comical insight into what makes us all tick. --Susan Harrison -- Read by Natalie Cassidy gen: Kinder ser: Big Toe Reading tit: Dustbin Baby aut: Jacqueline Wilson cnt: 18 bnd: BC 3 len: 84'14" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 19.02.2010 lng: englisch stw: April Showers (so called because of her birth date, April 1st, and her tendency to burst into tears at the drop of a hat) was unceremoniously dumped in a rubbish bin when she was only a few hours old. Her young life has so far passed by in a blur of ever-changing foster homes, but as she enters her teens she decides it is time to find out the truth about her real family. As ever, Wilson breaks through the barriers and brings one of her trademark feisty females to life in an original, unforgettable and often very funny story that is sure to make you weep. And as usual, Wilson tackles the big emotional issues with one foot firmly on the ground, allowing her characters to thrive against a backdrop of sadness without once lapsing into melodrama and schmaltz and ultimately showering the readers with an overwhelming feeling of hope. Everyone who appreciates fantastic writing should read this book. Age 9 and over --Susan Harrison -- Read by Kathryn Hodges gen: Kinder ser: Big Toe Play tit: The Railway Children aut: E. Nesbit cnt: 19 bnd: BC 3 len: 105'59" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 25.02.2010 fst: 1991 lng: englisch stw: When three young children are taken by their mother to live in the country, with their father's sudden absence unexplained, they find solace in the railway that runs along the bottom of the garden. E. Nesbit's perennial favourite stars Paul Copley, Timothy Bateson and Victoria Carling. It was adapted for radio by Marcy Kahan, produced by John Taylor and first heard in 1991. gen: Kinder ser: Big Toe Play tit: The Wizard Of Oz aut: L. Frank Baum cnt: 20 bnd: BC 3 len: 84'03" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 17.03.2010 fst: 1994 lng: englisch stw: L. Frank Baum's classic tale of Dorothy's trip down the Yellow Brick Road, where she befriends the Scarecrow, the Tinman and the Lion and encounters the Wicked Witch. Dramatised in 3 parts by Marcy Kahan, it stars Barbara Barnes, Maureen Lipman, Philip Frank, Patrick Barlow and Bradley Lavelle. First broadcast in 1994. gen: Kinder ser: Big Toe Play tit: The Secret Garden aut: Frances Hodgson Burnett cnt: 1 bnd: BC 4 len: 136'35" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 24.03.2010 fst: 1991 lng: englisch stw: Frances Hodgson Burnett's story finds young Mary sent to England after the tragic death of her parents. With Beryl Reid and Jessica Marshall-Gardner, it was first broadcast on Radio 5 in 1991. gen: Kinder ser: Young Classics tit: Anne of Green Gables aut: L M Montgomery cnt: 2 bnd: BC 4 len: 143'26" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 09.04.2010 fst: 1997 lng: englisch stw: When Marilla Cuthbert's brother, Matthew, returns home to Green Gables with a chatty redheaded orphan girl, Marilla exclaims, "But we asked for a boy. We have no use for a girl." It's not long, though, before the Cuthberts can't imagine how they could ever do without young Anne of Green Gables--but not for the original reasons they sought an orphan. Somewhere between the time Anne "confesses" to losing Marilla's amethyst pin (which she never took) in hopes of being allowed to go to a picnic, and when Anne accidentally dyes her hated carrot-red hair green, Marilla says to Matthew, "One thing's for certain, no house that Anne's in will ever be dull." And no book that she's in will be, either. 1 - A couple expect to adopt an orphan boy - not an impetuous red-headed girl. 2 - The Cuthberts send the feisty girl off to school, but trouble lies ahead. 3 - Anne meets a kindred spirit, gets cooking - and nearly kills herself. 4 - Anne has a very bad hair day - and resolves never to be romantic again. 5 - Anne goes away to college - but her heart is still in Avonlea. This LM Montgomery adaptation - dramatised by Marcy Kahan - stars Barbara Barnes. It was originally broadcast on Radio 4 in 1997. gen: Kinder ser: Young Classics tit: The Adventures of Tom Sawyer aut: Mark Twain cnt: 3 bnd: BC 4 len: 141'28" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 30.04.2010 fst: 1991 lng: englisch stw: Mark Twain's childhood classic from 1876 about young Tom, who lives with his Aunt Polly, growing up in the Mississippi river town of 'St Petersburg'. Abridged by Brian Miller, it is read in 10 parts by Ed Bishop and was first broadcast on Radio 5 in 1991. 1 - Aunt Polly tries to get Tom to whitewash a fence - but he has other ideas. 2 - Tom takes lessons in the pitfalls of love thanks to the yellow-haired Becky Thatcher. 3 - Tom and Huckleberry Finn try to cure warts - but they are in for a nasty shock. 4 - Tom decides he is an outcast and runs off with Joe and Huck to try the life of a pirate. 5 - Tom sneaks to the mainland to find out how much they are missed. 6 - The boys return home to tearful tributes - then they visit poor Muff Potter in jail. 7 - Tom's evidence makes Injun Joe a wanted man. The boys and the criminals dig for treasure. 8 - The boys try to track down his treasure, but Tom is distracted by a picnic - and Becky. 9 - Tom and Becky must survive in a cave - where Tom makes a terrifying discovery. 10- Safe at last - Huck is made respectable and Tom plans an elite robber gang. gen: Kinder ser: Young Classics tit: The Outside Child aut: Nina Bawden cnt: 4 bnd: BC 4 len: 61'41" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 30.04.2010 fst: 1992 lng: englisch stw: Jane happily lives with her two eccentric aunts - until she discovers a secret is being kept from her. Written by Nina Bawden and read by Zelah Clarke, the abridger was David Ian Neville. First broadcast on Radio 5 in 1992. 1 - Jane happily lives with her two aunts - until discovering a secret is being kept from her. 2 - Jane unearths clues to her past and makes up her mind to track down her secret family. 3 - Jane and Plato do some sleuthing in London in search of the children - and the truth. 4 - Jane sets off alone on the most important journey of her life and makes a shock discovery. 5 - Jane's journey of discovery and forgiveness draws to a close. gen: Kinder ser: Young Classics tit: The Three Musketeers aut: Alexandre Dumas cnt: 5 bnd: BC 4 len: 156'01" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 21.05.2010 fst: 1994 lng: englisch stw: Alexandre Dumas' swashbuckling epic in six episodes dramatised by James Saunders. The cast includes Jamie Glover, Robert Glenister,Timothy Spall and Anton Lesser. Directed by Martin Jenkins, it was first broadcast in April 1994. 1 - The Man from Meung D'Artagnan dices with death and encounters a mysterious foe. 2 - A Matter of Life and Death D'Artagnan falls in love and Cardinal Richelieu seeks to destroy the honour of the Queen. 3 - A Perilous Journey D'Artagnan loses Athos, Porthos and Aramis in a desperate bid to save the Queen's honour. 4 - The Mark of Satan D'Artagnan is seduced by a fiend, and Athos is tormented by a ghost. 5 - Treachery at La Rochelle D'Artagnan escapes death, and the inseparable friends outwit the enemy. 6 - Nemesis D'Artagnan suffers a broken heart, and Milady a broken neck. Stars Jamie Glover. gen: Kinder ser: Young Classics tit: Winnie The Pooh aut: AA Milne cnt: 6 bnd: BC 4 len: 66'29" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 21.05.2010 lng: englisch stw: AA Milne's timeless stories of the bear who lives in the forest, and the adventures he has with his friends; Christopher Robin, Piglet, Eeyore and Rabbit. Adapted by Colin Smith and delightfully read by Alan Bennett. 1 - In which the bear goes visiting and gets into a tight place. 2 - In which the bear and Piglet nearly catch a Wozzle, and Eeyore loses a tail. 3 - In which Piglet meets a Heffalump. 4 - In which Christopher Robin leads an 'expotition' to the North Pole. 5 - In which Eeyore has a Birthday and gets Two Presents. gen: Kinder ser: Young Classics tit: Mary Poppins aut: PL Travers cnt: 7 bnd: BC 4 len: 56'51" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 31.05.2010 fst: 2004 lng: englisch stw: Naughty children Jane and Michael Banks have seen off another nanny - but when the new one arrives, out of nowhere and refusing to give any references, they find her to be unlike any they've ever met before. Mary Poppins leads her charges on a series of extraordinary adventures, climbing ladders to the stars and meeting a man sitting on the ceiling. Juliet Stevenson stars as the magical nanny in Hazel Marshall's adaptation, based on the original PL Travers stories. David Ian Neville's 2004 production co-stars Phyllida Law and Andrew Sachs. gen: Kinder ser: Young Classics tit: Lorna Doone aut: RD Blackmore cnt: 8 bnd: BC 4 len: 169'25" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 09.06.2010 fst: 1997 lng: englisch stw: John Ridd falls in love with Lorna Doone - one of the notorious clan that murdered his father. Misers, murderers and highwaymen roam seventeenth century Exmoor in RD Blackmore's exciting romance. 1 Farmer John Ridd clashes with the Doones and meets daughter Lorna. 2 Murderer Carver Doone tries to starve Lorna into marrying him, but John has other ideas. 3 When Lorna is taken to London, John fears he's lost her forever. David Schofield and Alison Pettit star in Brian Lighthill's 1997 production, adapted by Barry Letts. gen: Kinder ser: Young Classics tit: Emil And The Detectives aut: Erich Kästner cnt: 9 bnd: BC 4 len: 56'28" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 11.06.2010 fst: 1991 lng: englisch stw: On his way to Berlin to stay with relations, young Emil finds that his money has been stolen on the train. Setting off in pursuit of the main suspect, the boy detective finds himself caught up in all sorts of adventures. 1 - An incident on the train prevents Emil's trip to Berlin going as his mother planned. 2 - Emil and his friends get closer to the thief, but can they retrieve the stolen money? James Holland, Timothy Bateson and Roy Marsden star in Eric Kastner's famous story, adapted for radio by Roy Apps, produced by Peter Fozzard and first broadcast on the original Radio 5 in 1991. gen: Kinder ser: Big Toe Reading tit: The Steadfast Tin Soldier aut: Hans Christian Andersen cnt: 1 bnd: BC 5 len: 12'16" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 29.06.2010 lng: englisch stw: read by David McFetridge gen: Kinder ser: Big Toe Reading tit: The Emperor's New Clothes aut: Hans Christian Andersen cnt: 2 bnd: BC 5 len: 12'51" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 01.07.2010 lng: englisch stw: read by Michael Angelis gen: Kinder ser: Young Classics tit: Pippi Goes Abroad aut: Astrid Lingren cnt: 3 bnd: BC 5 len: 65'53" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 02.07.2010 lng: englisch stw: Astrid Lindgren's classic children's book about the escapades of Sweden's strongest little girl, Pippi Longstocking. Read by Sandi Toksvig. 1 - Sweden's strongest little girl and her monkey go shopping and splash out on ocarinas. 2 - The funfair's in town and a tiger has escaped - can Sweden's strongest girl save the day? 3 - Tommy, Aneka and Pippi find a place to play pirates - but what if they get shipwrecked? 4 - Pippi's father, the cannibal king, returns to see if she is as strong as she used to be. 5 - Sweden's strongest girl prepares to join the crew of the Hop Tosser to Cannibal Island. gen: Kinder ser: Young Classics tit: Five Children and It aut: Edith Nesbit cnt: 4 bnd: BC 5 len: 87'19" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 29.08.2010 fst: 1998 lng: englisch stw: Edith Nesbit 's Psammead Season Paula Wilcox stars in The Borrowers Five Children and It In E. Nesbit's classic tale five children are granted a series of wishes by a strange creature they find in a gravel pit on a hot, Edwardian summer's day - but inevitably things don't go to plan in their enchanted world. Dramatised by Malcolm McKee and starring Julia McKenzie, Terry Molloy and Ian Brooker. The director was Sue Wilson. First broadcast on Radio 4 in 1998. gen: Kinder ser: Young Classics tit: The Phoenix and the Carpet aut: Edith Nesbit cnt: 5 bnd: BC 5 len: 70'29" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 03.09.2010 fst: 1994 lng: englisch stw: Edith Nesbit's Psammead Season "There was a soft cracking sound; the egg burst in two and out of it came a flame coloured bird." And so begins a series of magical adventures in E. Nesbit's 1901 fantasy novel featuring four children, a Phoenix and a magic carpet. First broadcast on Radio 4 in 1994, The Phoenix and The Carpet is read by Patricia Hodge and abridged by Penny Leicester. gen: Kinder ser: Young Classics tit: The Story Of The Amulet aut: E. Nesbit cnt: 6 bnd: BC 5 len: 89'00" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 04.09.2010 fst: 1999 lng: englisch stw: E. Nesbit's tales of the magical sand-fairy the Psammead reach their exciting conclusion in this full-cast dramatisation starring Clive Francis. When the children encounter the fairy again, they begin a search for the missing half of an enchanted amulet - a journey that sees them travel through time into both danger and delight. This sequel to Five Children And It and The Phoenix And The Carpet co-stars Simon Carter, James Richard, Fiona Christie, Justyn Towler and Lexi Rose. Malcolm McKee's adaptation was produced by Rosemary Watts and first broadcast in 1999. gen: Kinder ser: Big Toe Reading tit: Oven Chips for Tea aut: Alex Gutteridge cnt: 7 bnd: BC 5 len: 68'21" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 29.10.2010 lng: englisch stw: Katrina has always relied on her grandparents to provide stability in comparison with her rather volatile parents. Her grandad has coached her to be an excellent table tennis player and they have a close relationship. Following a serious stroke, Grandad seems to have changed a lot and family tension runs high. When Kat hears rumours about a split in the family, she assumes her argumentative parents are splitting up, but when it turns out to be her grandparents who are getting divorced, her world is turned on its head. Worse still, her beloved Grandad is moving to Spain. Despite her desperate and sometimes comical efforts Kat fails to keep Gramps in the country, and the divorce goes ahead. In the meantime, though, she discovers several other worthwhile and important relationships in her life. Though this book tackles a serious subject it is funny and upbeat with a twist that will catch readers by surprise. Reader: Tiggy Allen gen: Kinder ser: Big Toe Reading tit: The Suitcase Kid aut: Jacqueline Wilson cnt: 8 bnd: BC 5 len: 57'22" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 19.11.2010 lng: englisch stw: Although there are many children's books about divorce, few move beyond bland therapeutic preaching into the realm of well-told stories. This one does. A hard look at joint-custody life, The Suitcase Kid follows Andrea West and her tiny stuffed rabbit, Radish, through the painful adjustment of being a kid with divorced parents. She must leave the home she loves with the mulberry tree in the front yard, and deal with parents who still fight, step parents, step siblings, two different bedrooms (neither of which is really hers), loneliness, and an acute longing for the past. Her grades sink. Her friends drift away. And she's not quite sure how to fix any of it. Wisely, Jacqueline Wilson doesn't offer instant solutions; rather, she chronicles Andy's journey to the beginning of equilibrium in her new life. Things will never be the way they were, but, as the book suggests, they'll get better over time. And because it's well written and honest, The Suitcase Kid will appeal to any child who enjoys realistic fiction, not just those who "need" to read a book about divorce. (The publisher recommends the The Suitcase Kid for ages 8-12, but it could easily serve kids who are a couple of years younger or older.) Reader: Jessica Willcocks gen: Kinder ser: Big Toe Reading tit: When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit aut: Judith Kerr cnt: 9 bnd: BC 5 len: 123'16" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 14.02.2011 fst: 1991 lng: englisch stw: Judith Kerr's semi-autobiographical story of a young Jewish girl and her family who are forced to flee their home in Germany in 1933. Abridged in ten parts by Elizabeth Bradbury, it is read by Rosemary Leach and was first broadcast on Radio 5 in February 1991. gen: Kinder ser: Big Toe Reading tit: Truckers aut: Terry Pratchett cnt: 10 bnd: BC 5 len: 89'09" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 04.03.2011 lng: englisch stw: The nomes are tiny little people who, up until now, lived happily beneath the floorboards of Arnold Bros (est 1905) department store. But their tiny, comfortable little world is shattered when they discover that the store is to be demolished and they have to find away of getting to The Outside--a mystical place they never really believed in until a small tribe of Outsiders, led by the intrepid Masklin, infiltrated Arnold Bros (est 1905). The only escape route is via one of the huge trucks that Humans use to deliver goods--but first the nomes all have to be educated by the Stationari, and to do that the bickering between departments simply has to stop. The plot, the characters, and the sheer delicious irony of Pratchett's writing help to make this off- beat and absolutely hilarious fantasy adventure story into an absolute classic that has to be read to be believed. Reader: Philip Pickard gen: Kinder ser: Big Toe Reading tit: The Pig Scrolls aut: Paul Shipton cnt: 11 bnd: BC 5 len: 116'58" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 06.03.2011 lng: englisch stw: Talk about mock-heroic. Transformed by Circe into a big, fat, talking pig, Gryllus, who once traveled with Odysseus, tells how he escaped rampaging monsters with the brave teen prophetess, Sybil, found himself, and saved the world. The cool teen talk about the heroic journey makes for a hilarious readaloud--for those who know the old myths and those who don't--and the mockery of the contemporary scene is crude and funny. Gryllus has no time for lectures on the food chain and our place in it. He orders young Homer to buzz off and "Learn a proper trade. Like plumbing." For the heroic pig, the glorious siren call is the smell of a delicious pie. And yet with all the puns and boorish jokes and fun, there is also an epic theme with contemporary meaning: the young heroes must stop an elderly scientist from detonating the Atomos Device that could destroy the entire Cosmos. Reader: Toby Jones gen: Kinder ser: Big Toe Reading tit: Cookie aut: Jacqueline Wilson cnt: 12 bnd: BC 5 len: 57'33" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 02.04.2011 lng: englisch stw: Beauty Cookson is no beauty. She's a plain, timid girl surrounded by super-confident, snooty girls at school. Worse than the teasing in the playground, though, is the unpredictable criticism from her father. Frequently berated for breaking any of Dad's hyper-fussy house rules, as well as for her lack of looks, confidence and friends, Beauty lives in uneasy fear whenever Dad's at home. Her pretty, sweet mum is equally subject to Dad's tirades. Eventually, after an unbearable birthday party and a very real fear that Dad's temper is out of control, Mum and Beauty run away. Very soon Mum and Beauty find themselves in an idyllic seaside resort where their new-found freedom and a moment of culinary inspiration give them a hobby, an income and even a new nickname for Beauty. Soon all Beauty's dreams come true - and she deserves it! This is a charming, page-turning and heart-warming story from this beloved author. Read by Alice Connor gen: Kinder ser: Young Classics tit: Elidor aut: Alan Garner cnt: 13 bnd: BC 5 len: 95'42" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 30.04.2001 lng: englisch stw: A new dramatisation of Alan Garner's classic fantasy, commissioned by Radio 4 Extra. Unexpected adventure awaits a group of youngsters in a derelict church. Starring Mossie Cassidy, Raffey Cassidy, William Rush, Stephen Hoyle and Toby Hadoke, the director was Charlotte Riches from BBC Drama, Manchester. The original music was composed by Ian Williams. 1- Premiere. Unexpected adventure awaits Roland, Helen, David and Nicholas Watson in a derelict church. 2- With his brothers and sister disappeared into The Mound, King Malebron says only Roland can save them. 3- Roland's strong imagination threatens to draw the Evil towards the Treasures. 4- Time's run out for the Watsons and Malebron, as the Evil have the Treasures - can Helen help to save Elidor? Interview with the author Alan Garner. gen: Kinder ser: Young Classics tit: Back Home aut: Michelle Magorian cnt: 14 bnd: BC 5 len: 109'53" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 fst: 1995 lng: englisch stw: Jessica Marshall-Gardiner and Emily Richard star in Michelle Magorian's classic story about the struggles of a wartime evacuee girl returing to England after five years in America. With Mary Wimbush, George Allonby and Jonathan Keeble. It first went out in July 1995, and was produced by David Hitchinson. 1 - Wartime evacuee Rusty returns to Britain and meets a mother she doesn't recognise. 2 - The war's over, but the battle begins for Rusty as she moves to Guildford to face her acid-tongued grandmother. 3 - After the loss of her friend, Rusty's desperate to return to her second family in America. 4 - In an emotional climax, both Rusty and her mother decide that their lives have to change. gen: Kinder ser: Young Classics tit: Tom Brown's Schooldays aut: Thomas Hughes cnt: 15 bnd: BC 5 len: 113'20" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 10.07.2011 fst: 2001 lng: englisch stw: 1 - It is the autumn of 1835 and twelve year-old Tom Brown arrives at Rugby school, eager to take part in school life. But Flashman and his cronies have other ideas. 2 - Tom's career at Rugby could be coming to a premature end, but Dr Arnold has a plan. The novel by Thomas Hughes is dramatised by Joe Dunlop and stars Robert Hardy, Tom Huntingford, Henry Peters and Jordan Copeland. It was directed by Chris Wallis and first broadcast in June 2001. gen: Kinder ser: Young Classics tit: The Water Babies epi: 1 aut: Charles Kingsley cnt: 1 bnd: BC 6 len: 56'36" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 24.07.2011 fst: 1998 lng: englisch stw: Young sweep Tom's cruel master forces him up Hartover Hall's chimneys. This Charles Kingsley classic children's story is dramatised in 3 parts by Berlie Doherty. Young sweep Tom is taken away from his miserable life with a cruel master but his new life means he must learn to behave himself. Starring Philip Jackson, Geoffrey Whitehead, Maggie McCarthy, Ciara Janson, Frances Jeater, Timothy West, Julia McKenzie and Oliver Peace, directed by Janet Whitaker and first broadcast in 1998. gen: Kinder ser: Young Classics tit: The Water Babies epi: 2 aut: Charles Kingsley cnt: 2 bnd: BC 6 len: 57'07" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 31.07.2011 fst: 1998 lng: englisch stw: The Fairies have turned Tom into a Water Baby, but warn him to behave. gen: Kinder ser: Young Classics tit: The Water Babies epi: 3 aut: Charles Kingsley cnt: 3 bnd: BC 6 len: 57'06" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 07.08.2011 fst: 1998 lng: englisch stw: Tom sets off for the Other-end-of-Nowhere to find Mother Carey's peace pool. gen: Kinder ser: Young Classics tit: The Groovy Greeks sbt: Horrible Histories aut: Terry Deary cnt: 4 bnd: BC 6 len: 56'44" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 08.07.2012 lng: englisch stw: A romp through ancient Greek history, with the nasty bits left in, adapted from Terry Deary's books and starring Terry Deary and Toby Longworth. gen: Kinder tit: The Rotten Romans sbt: Horrible Histories aut: Terry Deary cnt: 5 bnd: BC 6 len: 58'24" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 10.02.2013 fst: 2012 lng: englisch stw: Murky myths, blood-drenched battles, and meet the gruesomest of gladiators. She scared everyone. Stars author Terry Deary. gen: Kinder tit: Heidi aut: Johanna Spyri cnt: 6 bnd: BC 6 len: 87'20" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 15.12.2013 lng: englisch stw: A Swiss mountain girl must leave her grandfather to move to Frankfurt with her aunt. gen: Hörspiel ser: Krimi tit: Appointment With Death aut: Agatha Christie cnt: 1 bnd: BP 1 len: 87' med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 25.12.2002 fst: 2001 lng: englisch stw: auch BP-24-07 "You do see don't you that she's got to be killed. Its the only solution." Ominous words heard through an hotel window - and which prophesy murder in the Red Rose city of Petra. Hercule Poirot investigates another mystery, as the detestable Mrs. Boynton is found murdered amongst the towering cliffs of Petra. John Moffatt reprises his role as Poirot in this full cast dramatisation, where a series of gripping twists and turns keeps the listener guessing to the very end. Broadcast for the first time on BBC7 as part of our Agatha Christie season, Appointment With Death was produced by Enyd Williams and was first heard on Radio 4 in August 2001. Hercule Poirot ..... John Moffat Mrs Boynton ........ Miriam Karlin Lady Westholme ..... Jill Balcon Sarah King ......... Connie Walker Dr Gerard .......... Sean Baker Jefferson Cope ..... Jonathan Keeble Colonel Carbury .... John Woodnutt Miss Pierce ........ Jennie Stoller Lennox ............. Roger May Nadine ............. Helen Ayres Raymond ............ Kenny Blyth Carol .............. Jasmine Hyde Ginerva ............ Clare Corbett Dramatised by Michael Bakewell Directed by Enyd Williams gen: Hörspiel tit: Sequel to Dickens' A Christmas Carol epi: 1 sbt: Scrooge Blues aut: Nicholas McInerny cnt: 2 bnd: BP 1 len: 30' med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 25.12.2002 lng: englisch stw: The first of two sequels to Charles Dickens famous Christmas story, in which we visit Scrooge one year after his transformation. He has become the most generous man in London and hes preparing to host a party for his old friends the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future. But what has happened to his business? And what is the document Bob Cratchit is trying to persuade the old man to sign? Next week we revisit the scene of the story fifteen years on. Scrooge ..................... David Hargreaves Bob Cratchit ................ Richard Derrington Mary ........................ Gillian Goodman Tiny Tim .................... Ben Darlington Ghost of Christmas Past ..... Christopher Ashley Ghost of Christmas Present .. Sean Connolly Directed by Peter Leslie Wild gen: Hörspiel tit: Sequel to Dickens' A Christmas Carol epi: 2 sbt: Not So Tiny Tim aut: Nicholas McInerny cnt: 3 bnd: BP 1 len: 30' med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 1.1.2003 lng: englisch stw: In the second of two sequels to Dickens' A Christmas Carol, we return to the firm of Scrooge and Marley fifteen years after the events of the book. Tiny Tim has grown up and become the ruthless manager of the company and is poised to become the most powerful businessman in London. Until he receives the first of three disturbing visitors. Tim Cratchit ...... Ian Pepperell Bob Cratchit ...... Richard Derrington Mary .............. Gillian Goodman Ellen ............. Cathy Sara Director .......... Peter Leslie Wild gen: Hörspiel tit: Chinese Whispers epi: 1 sbt: Little Cinderellas aut: Hattie Naylor cnt: 4 bnd: BP 1 len: 45' med: MP3 spd: 80 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 13.01.2003 lng: englisch stw: The first of two dramas about the consequences of China's single child policy follows the adoption of a Chinese baby girl by an English mother. Yang Chun ....... Li-Leng Au Husband ......... Wai-Keat Lau Ilsa ............ Samantha Spiro Sarah ........... Parminder Sekhon Kevin ........... Kwong Loke Zhang Li ........ Imelda Hunter African Woman ... Abi Eniola British Woman ... Carla Simpson Music by Christiaan Charles Virant. Directed by Janet Whitaker. gen: Hörspiel tit: Chinese Whispers epi: 2 sbt: Little Emperors aut: Hattie Naylor cnt: 5 bnd: BP 1 len: 45' med: MP3 spd: 80 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 20.01.2003 lng: englisch stw: The second of two plays about the consequences of China's single child policy is an exploration of the pressures of being an only child. Grandfather .......... Burt Kwouk Mother ............... Sarah Lam Aunty ................ Pik-Sen Lim Father ............... David K S Tse Wang Lei (aged 16) ... Jonathan Chan-Pensley Wang Lei (aged 4) .... Jack Miller Boy .................. Wai-Keat Lau Music by Christiaan Charles Virant. Directed by Janet Whitaker. gen: Hörspiel tit: Digging aut: Simon Stephens cnt: 6 bnd: BP 1 len: 45' med: MP3 spd: 80 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 27.01.2003 lng: englisch stw: A surprising relationship develops between Roy, a retired English teacher, and Danny, a teenage boy with serious behavioural problems, as they struggle to get Danny through his English GCSE. Roy Gray .......... Ewan Hooper Danny Madden ...... Stuart Morris Anne Gray ......... Amelda Brown Lewis Anderson .... Robert East Gary Madden ....... Jake Wood Joey Willis ....... Sid Mitchell Directed by Mary Peate. gen: Hörspiel tit: Righteous Brothers aut: Neil Brand cnt: 7 bnd: BP 1 len: 45' med: MP3 spd: 80 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 24.02.2003 lng: englisch stw: Harmony is the joyful noise that Brother Caradoc wishes to offer to the Lord, and he dreams of taking his fellow monks to a higher musical plane with him. But if plainsong is the rule, is he inspired by God, or sent by the Tempter? Abbot ............. John Woodvine Methuselah ........ Clive Swift Brother Caradoc ... Tom George Brother Esmonde ... Ioan Meredith Precentor ......... David Timson Brother Alyn ...... Peter Luke Kenny Lady Emma ......... Carolyn Jones Music composed by Neil Brand and sung by members of the cast. Directed by Ned Chaillet. gen: Hörspiel ser: Krimi tit: Death In The Clouds aut: Agatha Christie cnt: 8 bnd: BP 1 len: 87' med: MP3 spd: 80 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 03.05.2003 lng: englisch stw: Hercule Poirot's horror of flying is compounded when a fellow passenger on a cross-channel aeroplane is found murdered. Hercule Poirot ................. John Moffatt Chief Inspector Japp ........... Philip Jackson Monsieur Fournier .............. Geoffrey Whitehead Daniel Clancy .................. Murray Melvin Jane Grey ...................... Teresa Gallagher Lady Horbury ................... Carolyn Jones Norman Gale .................... Ben Crowe Jean Dupont .................... Andrew Harrison Dr Bryant ...................... Bruce Purchase Elise Grandier ................. Liza Sadovy Anne Richards .................. Priyanga Elan Airline Steward/Agency Clerk ... Stephen Critchlow Dramatised by Michael Bakewell. Directed by Enyd Williams. gen: Hörspiel tit: A Fairy Lost In The 21st Century aut: Val Syms cnt: 9 bnd: BP 1 len: 45' med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 03.06.2003 lng: englisch stw: An 11-year-old boy accidentally wakes a fairy who has been asleep for 700 years. When he takes her home, the fun starts. gen: Hörspiel ser: Science Fiction tit: Fahrenheit 451 aut: David Calcutt ori: Ray Bradbury cnt: 10 bnd: BP 1 len: 57'20" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 05.07.2003 lng: englisch stw: Extremely heavily abridged - essentialy a complete and totally different rewrite, but not bad. Our future society is ruled by a vast multi-mediacorporation that attempts to rule all aspects of life through a constant output of TV, music and news. Books, which are seen as non-conformist, are banned and burned. One of the team of firemen whose job is to burn the books, gradually becomes uneasy with his role and steals one of the banned books. With Stephen Tomlin, Christian Rodska, Sunny Ormonde, Tracy Wiles, Peter Meakin, David Holt, Colin Rote and Owen Garmon. dramatised by David Calcutt. Director Rosemary Watts. gen: Hörspiel tit: Big Bed aut: Ali Smith cnt: 11 bnd: BP 1 len: 45' med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 14.07.2003 lng: englisch stw: Max has taken Jenny from the office out to dinner. Now he's asked her back to his place for coffee. Electricity is very definitely in the air. But why is Jenny so concerned to know the exact measurements of Max's modest flat - and the precise dimensions of his bed? Former Blue Peter presenter Valerie Singleton makes a cameo appearance as her younger self in this offbeat but fundamentally romantic comedy by the award-winning author of the novel Hotel World. Max ...... Simon Tait Jenny ...... Emma Currie Jenny's Father ...... Crawford Logan Ronnie ...... Mark McDonnell Professor Dennis/Max's Father ...... Michael Mackenzie Max's Mother ...... Monica Gibb Inga ...... Emma Larsson Hannah ...... Lucy Paterson With Valerie Singleton as herself circa 1967 gen: Hörspiel ser: Classic Serial tit: The Three Hostages epi: 1 sbt: I Make the Acquaintance of a Popular Man aut: John Buchan cnt: 12 bnd: BP 1 len: 57' med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 07.09.2003 lng: englisch stw: Some years after his adventures in The 39 Steps, Richard Hannay is approached by the British secret service to help track down the hostages taken by a gang of international criminals. He reluctantly agrees to a mission that will pit him against an adversary who can control men's minds. Bert Coules's dramatisation of another cracking adventure yarn featuring John Buchan's hero, Richard Hannay and his wife Mary, a former secret agent who helps to save her husband, not to mention the free world. His wartime service now at an end, the newly-knighted Sir Richard Hannay lives in quiet contentment on his country estate. But an unexpected and unsettling communication arrives from his old Secret Service boss Sir Walter Bullivant. What possible connection can there be between a carefree young society woman, an aristocratic Cambridge undergraduate and a ten-year-old boy? Why have all three suddenly vanished? And why have all three disappearances been followed by the same mocking, cryptic letter to the authorities? Bullivant knows. The war has swept away most of the old, civilised ways and the world of crime and criminals has changed forever. Unthinkable it may be, but evil now wears a cultivated - yes, even an English - face of respectability. For some time the Secret Service and Scotland Yard have suspected the existence of a vast, secret organisation of crooks and conspirators bent on some as-yet-unfathomed diabolical goal - and with an unknown genius at its head. With David Robb, Clive Merrison, Haydn Gwynne, Michael Maloney, Struan Rodger, Christian Rodska, Souad Faress, Gordon Reid, and Ben Crowe dramatised by Bert Coules Producer/director Bruce Young. gen: Hörspiel ser: Classic Serial tit: The Three Hostages epi: 2 sbt: I Visit The Fields Of Eden. aut: John Buchan cnt: 13 bnd: BP 1 len: 57' med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 14.09.2003 lng: englisch stw: In 1921 the British Secret Service is ready to swoop on a gang of international criminals. When the gang kidnaps three hostages, Richard Hannay is given the job of trying to save them. However, his mission seems doomed when he falls into the clutches of an adversary who has the power to control men's minds. Bert Coules's dramatisation of another cracking adventure yarn featuring John Buchan's hero, Richard Hannay and his wife Mary, a former secret agent who helps to save her husband, not to mention the free world. Sir Richard Hannay ...... David Robb Lady Mary Hannay ...... Haydn Gwynnw Sir Walter Bullivant ...... Clive Merrison Dominick Medina ...... Michael Maloney Mrs Medina ...... Souad Faress Colonel Sandy Arbuthnot ...... Christian Rodska Gaudian ...... Andrew Harrison Lord Mercor ...... Ben Crowe General Warcliff ...... Gordon Reid Davey ...... Emma Callander Other parts played by members of the cast. Producer/Director ...... Bruce Young. gen: Hörspiel ser: Krimi tit: The Anonymous Venetian aut: Donna Leon cnt: 14 bnd: BP 1 len: 90' med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 13.09.2003 lng: englisch stw: The unknown Venetian is found wearing a cheap red dress and satin shoes, lying on waste ground often used by prostitutes. Commissario Brunetti's investigations lead him into a dark world where not only the canals stink. Guido Brunetti ...... Danny Webb Paola Brunetti ...... Sylvestra Le Touzel Vianello ...... Dylan Charles Patta ...... Steve Hodson Elettra ...... Jenny Funnell Sgt. Gallo ...... Keith Drinkel Maria Nardi ...... Connie Walker Signora Mascari ...... Jennifer Hilary Santomauro ...... David Collings Ravanello ...... Jonathan Keeble Malfatti ...... Scott Brooksbank Crespo ...... Jonathan Broadbent Canale ...... Ben Turner Professor Ratti ...... Trevor Nichols The Voice of Venice ...... Valerie Sarruf dramatised by Nick McCarty Producer/director Jane Morgan gen: Lesung ser: Book At Bedtime tit: Pompeii epi: 1 aut: Robert Harris cnt: 15 bnd: BP 1 len: 15' med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 22.09.2003 lng: englisch stw: David Tennant reads from Robert Harris's novel set in Pompeii in the last days before the great eruption of 79AD. gen: Lesung ser: Book At Bedtime tit: Pompeii epi: 2 aut: Robert Harris cnt: 16 bnd: BP 1 len: 15' med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 23.09.2003 lng: englisch gen: Lesung ser: Book At Bedtime tit: Pompeii epi: 3 aut: Robert Harris cnt: 17 bnd: BP 1 len: 15' med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 24.09.2003 lng: englisch gen: Lesung ser: Book At Bedtime tit: Pompeii epi: 4 aut: Robert Harris cnt: 18 bnd: BP 1 len: 15' med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 25.09.2003 lng: englisch gen: Lesung ser: Book At Bedtime tit: Pompeii epi: 5 aut: Robert Harris cnt: 19 bnd: BP 1 len: 15' med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 26.09.2003 lng: englisch gen: Lesung ser: Book At Bedtime tit: Pompeii epi: 6 aut: Robert Harris cnt: 20 bnd: BP 1 len: 15' med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 29.09.2003 lng: englisch gen: Lesung ser: Book At Bedtime tit: Pompeii epi: 7 aut: Robert Harris cnt: 21 bnd: BP 1 len: 15' med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 30.09.2003 lng: englisch gen: Lesung ser: Book At Bedtime tit: Pompeii epi: 8 aut: Robert Harris cnt: 22 bnd: BP 1 len: 15' med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 01.10.2003 lng: englisch gen: Lesung ser: Book At Bedtime tit: Pompeii epi: 9 aut: Robert Harris cnt: 23 bnd: BP 1 len: 15' med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 02.10.2003 lng: englisch gen: Lesung ser: Book At Bedtime tit: Pompeii epi: 10 aut: Robert Harris cnt: 24 bnd: BP 1 len: 15' med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 03.10.2003 lng: englisch gen: Hörspiel ser: Science Fiction tit: Find Me aut: Matt Bloom cnt: 25 bnd: BP 1 med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 02.10.2003 lng: englisch stw: Set in 2020. Mary has to travel to Sydney for her son's wedding and reluctantly decides to use the new Matter Transportation machines that have overtaken aeroplanes as the main form of global transport. But an error occurs during the process - with terrifying consequences. With Julia Watson, James Nickerson, Emma Clarke, Ann Rye, Neil Bell, Mark Chatterton, Stuart Richman. Director Jim Poyser. gen: Hörspiel ser: Classic Serial tit: Hadji Murat epi: 1 sbt: Hadji Murat offers to fight for the Russians aut: Leo Tolstoy cnt: 26 bnd: BP 1 len: 57' med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 19.10.2003 lng: englisch stw: Chechen warrior Hadji Murat offers to fight for the Russians if they will help rescue his family, held captive by the Imam Shamil. Classic Serial A dramatisation of Tolstoy's last work of fiction set in Chechnya in the 1850s. Cast Tolstoy ...... Derek Jacobi Hadji Murat ...... Burt Caesar Count Vorontsov ..... David Calder Shamil ...... Jude Akuwudike Eldar ...... Maynard Eziashi Michael ..... Andrew Harrison Poltoratsky/Rozen ...... Jonathan Keeble Meller-Zakomelsky ...... Gerard Mcdermott Old Man/General ...... Ioan Meredith Sado/Umma Khan ...... Declan Wilson Bata/Murid ...... Damian Lynch Panov/Adjutant ...... Chris Moran Nikitin ...... Ben Crowe Aydeyev/Loris Melikoff ..... Stephen Critchlow Mary ...... Rachel Atkins Countess ...... Frances Jeater Lady ...... Lydia Leonard Directed by Marc Beeby. Dramatised for radio by Michael Butt. gen: Hörspiel ser: Classic Serial tit: Hadji Murat epi: 2 sbt: The Russians argue about what to do with Hadji Murat aut: Leo Tolstoy cnt: 27 bnd: BP 1 len: 57' med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 26.10.2003 lng: englisch stw: Chechen warrior Hadji Murat's anger grows as the Russians argue about what to do with him. Classic Serial The concluding episode of Michael Butt's two-part dramatisation of Leo Tolstoy's novel. Tolstoy ...... Derek Jacobi Hadji Murat ...... Burt Caesar Tsar Nicholas ...... Edward Petherbridge Count Vorontsov ...... David Calder Shamil ...... Jude Akuwudike Jemal ...... Ray Shell Eldar ...... Maynard Eziashi Chernyshov ...... John Rowe Mary Dmitrievna ...... Jasmine Hyde Butler ...... Stuart Bunce Ivan ...... Ben Crowe Yusuf ...... Damian Lynch gen: Hörspiel tit: The Lodger aut: Marie Belloc Lowndes cnt: 28 bnd: BP 1 len: 57' med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 25.10.2003 lng: englisch stw: When wealthy Mr Sleuth takes up residence in the Buntings' lodging-house they think their troubles are over. But they are only just beginning. The Saturday Play Stephen Sheridan's dramatisation of this classic piece of suspense fiction, inspired by the Jack the Ripper murders. Narrator ...... Nigel Anthony Mr Bunting ...... David Ryall Mrs Bunting ....... Maggie McCarthy Mr Sleuth ...... Jon Glover Joe Chandler ...... Harry Myers Daisy ...... Alison Pettitt Chief Insp.Hopkins ...... Paul Moriarty Policeman ....... Brett Fancy Directed by David Blount gen: Hörspiel tit: The Time Between Two Tides aut: Andy Macdonald cnt: 1 bnd: BP 2 len: 45' med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 28.10.2003 lng: englisch stw: A refugee boy is chased into the River Clyde. When a local lad leaps in to save him, both are trapped under a wharf building. In the time that it takes for the tide to change, and for a rescue to be mounted, truths are revealed about the boys, their families and the city in which they live. Afternoon Play A play about tradition, change and the clash of cultures in contemporary Glasgow. Inspired by the life and work of George Parsonage, the current custodian of the Glasgow Humane Society. Alan ...... William Barlow Ann ...... Kate Dickie Cass ...... Tony Kearney Bruce Chisholm ...... Gary Lewis Loan Shark/Operator ...... Steven McNicoll Saman ...... Nick Underwood Samira ...... Wendy Seager Producer/director ...... Gaynor Macfarlane gen: Hörspiel ser: Classic Serial tit: Hard Times epi: 1 aut: Charles Dickens cnt: 2 bnd: BP 2 len: 57' med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 02.11.2003 lng: englisch stw: Hard facts are all that Coketown businessmen, Mr Gradgrind and Mr Bounderby feel are necessary in life, but Sleary's circus arrives in town to show another way. Thomas Gradgrind ...... Kenneth Cranham Josiah Bounderby ...... Philip Jackson Mrs Sparsit ...... Eleanor Bron Mrs Gradgrind ...... Thelma Barlow Sleary ...... Derek Waring Louisa ...... Helen Longworth Rachael ...... Becky Hindley Stephen ...... Alan Williams Mrs Pegler ...... Marcia Warren Mrs Blackpool ...... Francis Jeater Mr M'Choakumchild ...... Stephen Critchlow Sissy (10) ...... Stephanie Rawson Bitzer (10) ...... Alex Slater Tom (14) ...... Nick Roud Childers ...... Chris Moran Josephine ...... Jaimi Barbakoff A Boy ...... Gregg Prentice Servant ...... Ioan Meredith Waiter ...... Declan Wilson Music by Nina Perry Dramatised in 4 Episodes by Doug Lucie gen: Hörspiel ser: Classic Serial tit: Hard Times epi: 2 aut: Charles Dickens cnt: 3 bnd: BP 2 len: 57' med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 09.11.2003 lng: englisch stw: Six years have passed. Tom is now working for Bounderby in his Bank and he claims Louisa in marriage. Stephen Blackpool runs into trouble with the union men. Thomas Gradgrind ...... Kenneth Cranham Josiah Bounderby ...... Philip Jackson Mrs Sparsit ...... Eleanor Bron Mrs Gradgrind ...... Thelma Barlow Louisa ...... Helen Longworth Tom ...... Richard Firth Sissy ...... Lydia Tuckey Rachael ...... Becky Hindley Stephen ...... Alan Williams Bitzer ...... Declan Wilson James Harthouse ...... Guy Henry Mrs Pegler ...... Marcia Warren Slackbridge ...... Ioan Meredith Chairman ...... Ben Crowe Waiter ...... Damien Lynch Dramatised in 4 Episodes by Doug Lucie gen: Hörspiel ser: Classic Serial tit: Hard Times epi: 3 aut: Charles Dickens cnt: 4 bnd: BP 2 len: 57' med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 16.11.2003 lng: englisch stw: Stephen has disappeared, blamed for the robbery at Bounderby's Bank. Harthouse sets his sights on Bounderby's wife, Louisa. Thomas Gradgrind ..... Kenneth Cranham Josiah Bounderby ...... Philip Jackson Mrs Sparsit ..... Eleanor Bron Louisa ...... Helen Longworth James Harthouse ...... Guy Henry Tom ...... Richard Firth Sissy ...... Lydia Tuckey Mrs Gradgrind ..... Thelma Barlow Bitzer ..... Declan Wilson Guard ...... Chris Moran Jane ...... Soumaya Keynes Music by Nina Perry Dramatised in four Episodes by Doug Lucie. Directed by Janet Whitaker gen: Hörspiel ser: Classic Serial tit: Hard Times epi: 4 aut: Charles Dickens cnt: 5 bnd: BP 2 len: 57' med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 23.11.2003 lng: englisch stw: Sissy and Rachael go looking for Stephen Blackpool - tragedy follows. Tom's crime is uncovered and Gradgrind tries to save his son with Sleary's help. Mrs Sparsit claims victory over 'The Noodle'. Charles Dickens' classic novel dramatised by Doug Lucie. Thomas Gradgrind ...... Kenneth Cranham Josiah Bounderby ...... Philip Jackson Mrs Sparsit ...... Eleanor Bron Stephen ...... Alan Williams Rachael ...... Becky Hindley Mrs Pegler ...... Marcia Warren Sleary ...... Derek Waring Louisa ...... Helen Longworth Tom ...... Richard Firth Bitzer ...... Declan Wilson Sissy ...... Lydia Tuckey Music by Nina Perry. Directed by Janet Whitaker. gen: Hörspiel tit: The Worcester Pilgrim aut: Alex Jones cnt: 6 bnd: BP 2 len: 45' med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 12.11.2003 lng: englisch stw: Afternoon Play In 1987 the grave of a humble pilgrim was discovered in a part of Worcester Cathedral normally reserved for Bishops and Princes. Alex Jones' play asks how such a man came to be buried there, and takes us back to the early 15th Century to find out. The monks are preparing a banquet for a visitor, when they are rudely interrupted by an uninvited guest. William Dunn ...... David Hargreaves The Prior ...... Robert Lister Geoffrey de Villier ...... Kim Durham Brother Thomas ...... Rob Swinton Brother Dennis ...... Paul Clarkson Brother Flint ...... John Flitcroft gen: Lesung ser: Book At Bedtime tit: Dracula epi: 1 sbt: Journey to Count Dracula aut: Bram Stoker cnt: 7 bnd: BP 2 len: 15' med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 24.11.2003 lng: englisch stw: Jonathan Harker makes the strange journey to Count Dracula's Castle in Transylvania. Michael Fassbender, Gillian Kearney, James D'Arcy and James Greene read the various diary accounts of the four main characters of Jonathan Harker, Mina Murray, Dr Seward and Dr Van Helsing to relate the epic legend of the Transylvanian Count. gen: Lesung ser: Book At Bedtime tit: Dracula epi: 2 sbt: Jonathan explores the Castle aut: Bram Stoker cnt: 8 bnd: BP 2 len: 15' med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 25.11.2003 lng: englisch stw: Jonathan explores the Castle and discovers more than he had dared contemplate. gen: Lesung ser: Book At Bedtime tit: Dracula epi: 3 sbt: Jonathan discovers the truth about his host aut: Bram Stoker cnt: 9 bnd: BP 2 len: 15' med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 26.11.2003 lng: englisch stw: Jonathan discovers the truth about his host and Mina fears for her safety. gen: Lesung ser: Book At Bedtime tit: Dracula epi: 4 sbt: An empty foreign schooner aut: Bram Stoker cnt: 10 bnd: BP 2 len: 15' med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 27.11.2003 lng: englisch stw: Bram Stoker's classic continues, as an empty foreign schooner arrives in England and Mina's fear grows for the strange illness affecting her dear friend Lucy. Readers: Mina Murray ...... Gillian Kearney Correspondent ...... James D'arcy Sea Captain ...... James Greene Abridged by Daragh Carville Produced by Gemma McMullan gen: Lesung ser: Book At Bedtime tit: Dracula epi: 5 sbt: Professor Van Helsing aut: Bram Stoker cnt: 11 bnd: BP 2 len: 15' med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 28.11.2003 lng: englisch stw: Dr Seward calls for Professor Van Helsing when Lucy's health deteriorates. gen: Lesung ser: Book At Bedtime tit: Dracula epi: 6 sbt: A familiar face in the crowd aut: Bram Stoker cnt: 12 bnd: BP 2 len: 15' med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 01.12.2003 lng: englisch stw: In London, Jonathan is terrorized by the sight of a familiar face in the crowd. Michael Fassbender, Gillian Kearney, James D' Arcy and James Greene read the various diary accounts of the epic legend of the Transylvanian Count, Dracula. Read by: Jonathan Harker ...... Michael Fassbender Mina Murray ...... Gillian Kearney Dr Seward ...... James D'Arcy Prof Van Helsing ...... James Greene Abridged by Daragh Carville. gen: Lesung ser: Book At Bedtime tit: Dracula epi: 7 sbt: Visit the graveyard aut: Bram Stoker cnt: 13 bnd: BP 2 len: 15' med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 02.12.2003 lng: englisch stw: Professor Van Helsing knows they must visit the graveyard. Read by: Jonathan Harker ...... Michael Fassbender Mina Murray ...... Gillian Kearney Dr Seward ...... James D'Arcy gen: Lesung ser: Book At Bedtime tit: Dracula epi: 8 sbt: A visit from Count Dracula aut: Bram Stoker cnt: 14 bnd: BP 2 len: 15' med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 03.12.2003 lng: englisch stw: Mina receives a visit from Count Dracula. Time is running out. gen: Lesung ser: Book At Bedtime tit: Dracula epi: 9 sbt: Van Helsing is determined aut: Bram Stoker cnt: 15 bnd: BP 2 len: 15' med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 04.12.2003 lng: englisch stw: Van Helsing is determined to hunt out the Vampire. Read by: Jonathan Harker ...... Michael Fassbender Mina Murray ...... Gillian Kearney Dr Seward ...... James D'Arcy Prof Van Helsing ...... James Greene Abridged by Daragh Carville gen: Lesung ser: Book At Bedtime tit: Dracula epi: 10 sbt: To Transylvania for the final battle aut: Bram Stoker cnt: 16 bnd: BP 2 len: 15' med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 05.12.2003 lng: englisch stw: Jonathan, Van Helsing, Dr Seward and Mina journey to Transylvania for the final battle. Book At Bedtime Read by: Mina Murray ...... Gillian Kearney Prof Van Helsing ...... James Greene Abridged by Daragh Carville. gen: Hörspiel ser: Classic Serial tit: The Midwich Cuckoos epi: 1 sbt: The Village aut: John Wyndham cnt: 17 bnd: BP 2 len: 57' med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 30.11.2003 lng: englisch stw: A dynamic modern dramatisation of John Wyndham's gripping sci fi classic about alien impregnation overturning the prim and proper world of a sleepy 1950s English village. Richard ...... Bill Nighy Janet ...... Sarah Parish Zellaby ...... Clive Merrison Alan ...... Nicholas R Bailey Ferelleyn ...... Katherine Tozer Dr. Willers ...... Mark Chatterton Mrs Willers ...... Barbara Marten Reverend Leebody ...... Malcolm Raeburn Miss Lamb ...... Christine Brennan Miss Ogle ...... Rebecca Bridle Dramatised by Dan Rebellato Origional Music was composed and performed by Chris Madin Directed by Polly Thomas gen: Hörspiel ser: Classic Serial tit: The Midwich Cuckoos epi: 2 sbt: The Children aut: John Wyndham cnt: 18 bnd: BP 2 len: 57' med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 07.12.2003 lng: englisch stw: Richard ...... Bill Nighy Janet ...... Sarah Parish Zellaby ...... Clive Merrison Alan ...... Nicholas R Bailey Ferelleyn ...... Katherine Tozer Chief Superintendent John Westcot ...... Seamus O'Neill David Pawle ...... Lloyd Peters Miss Lamb ...... Christine Brennan Reverend Leebody ...... Malcolm Raeburn Miss Ogle ...... Rebecca Bridle William ...... Casey O'Brien Angela ...... Mariella Brown Girl ...... Rosie Fleeshman Boy ...... Mat Belshaw Origional Music was composed and performed by Chris Madin. gen: Hörspiel tit: Missing Pieces aut: Elspeth Sandys cnt: 19 bnd: BP 2 len: 45' med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 02.12.2003 lng: englisch stw: Afternoon Play Two women with absolutely nothing in common except for the fact that their children attend the same pre-school group: they don't agree about politics, money or men so why on earth do they become so important to each other? Nella ...... Emilia Fox Morag ...... Monica Dolan gen: Hörspiel tit: Tarnished Wings aut: Carolyn Scott-Jeffs cnt: 20 bnd: BP 2 len: 44'24" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 16.12.2003 lng: englisch stw: Afternoon Play In the First World War a pilot hangs between life and death as his plane hurtles towards the ground. A strange vision, combined with echoes of the poems of Jeffrey Day help him to come to a decision about whether to live or die. Meanwhile, in 2003, a young heroin addict reads the poetry of Jeffrey Day and contemplates suicide. She is transported by a reluctant angel back to 1917 where they find the suicidal pilot - who thinks Day was writing about flying not dying. An ultimately uplifting and optimistic play. Jen ...... Natalia Keery-Fisher Alice ...... Emily Chennery Sam ...... James Howard Directed by Peter Leslie Wild. gen: Hörspiel tit: A Candle For Casey aut: Harry Towb cnt: 21 bnd: BP 2 len: 44'09" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 23.12.2003 lng: englisch stw: Afternoon Play A delicious comic ghost story, set in New York on Christmas Eve, about Casey, an Irish rogue who haunts his old Jewish friend, Israelovitch to help him get to Heaven. All Israelovitch has to do is light a candle for him on the first anniversary of Casey's death at St Michael's Church. Israelovitch isn't keen because Casey died owing him money and its cold and very snowy outside. So Casey enlists the help of Israelovitch's wife Bessie, who is already there and will get her wings if she helps Casey. Then the race is on to light the candle before 12 noon. With Henry Goodman, David Kelly, Suzanne Bertish, Joyce Springer, Harry Towb, John Guerrasio Producer/director Tanya Nash gen: Hörspiel tit: The Shepherd Who Couldn't See The Wood For The Trees aut: Alick Rowe cnt: 22 bnd: BP 2 len: 44'01" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 24.12.2003 lng: englisch stw: Afternoon Play It's zero year AD in the hills around Bethlehem where the grouchy workaholic shepherd Joel manages to miss the entire Nativity show through single-minded devotion to his flock. His attractive young wife Miriam and her beady mother Ruth have an altogether more interesting experience entertaining Three Wise Men. When Joel brings home his tiny flock, the morning after, his suspicions are aroused. Cast: Joel ...... James Fleet Miriam ...... Sarah Lancashire Ruth ...... Thelma Barlow Barbara ...... Judy Cornwell Betty ...... Polly James Bery ...... Julia McKenziel Directed by Celia de Wolff gen: Hörspiel tit: The Tailor Of Gloucester aut: Sarah Woods ori: Beatrix Potter cnt: 23 bnd: BP 2 len: 27'18" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 24.12.2003 lng: englisch stw: The poor Tailor of Gloucester must make a coat of cherry-coloured corded silk for the Mayor of Gloucester to be married in on Christmas morning. A magical radio dramatisation for all the family of this favourite tale by Beatrix Potter. Cast: The Narrator ...... Miriam Margolyes The Tailor ...... David Hargreaves Simpkin ...... David Holt The Mayor ...... David Timson The Mice ...... Helen Longworth; David Timson; Poppy Ellen Singers ...... Steve Bridgewater; Alex Kelly; Naomi Ludlam; Anders Sodergren Original Music By Anders Sodergren Director: Jonquil Panting gen: Hörspiel ser: Classic Serial tit: The Pilgrim's Progress epi: 1 aut: John Bunyan cnt: 24 bnd: BP 2 len: 57'08" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 04.01.2004 lng: englisch stw: A new dramatisation of John Bunyan's enduring 17th century classic about the adventures of Christian, a pilgrim who embarks on a perilous journey to the Celestial City. Dramatised by Brian Sibley. Bunyan ...... Anton Rodgers Christian ...... Neil Dudgeon Evangelist ...... Alec McCowen Beelzebub ...... Don Warrington Interpreter ...... Anna Massey Caged Man ...... Peter Bowles Elizabeth ...... Caroline Lee Johnson The Jailer ...... Ioan Meredith The Judge ...... Derek Waring Pliable ...... Philip Fox Obstinate ...... Chris Moran Help ...... Jamie Barbakoff Goodwill ...... Lydia Leonard The Angel ...... Cherie Taylor-Battiste The Children ...... Sophie and Nayla Levy Music by David Chilton. Directed by Pam Fraser-Solomon. gen: Hörspiel ser: Classic Serial tit: The Pilgrim's Progress epi: 2 aut: John Bunyan cnt: 25 bnd: BP 2 len: 57'14" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 11.01.2004 lng: englisch stw: Christian is determined to reach the Celestial City even though it means passing through the Valley of The Shadow Of Death. A new dramatisation of John Bunyan's enduring 17th century classic about the adventures of Christian, a pilgrim who embarks on a perilous journey to the Celestial City. Dramatised by Brian Sibley. Bunyan ...... Anton Rodgers Christian ...... Neil Dudgeon Evangelist ...... Alec McCowen Beelzebub ...... Don Warrington Faithful ...... Graham Crowden Elizabeth ...... Caroline Lee Johnson The Jailer ...... Ioan Meredith The Judge ...... Derek Waring Cobb ...... Stephen Thorne Discretion ...... Eve Karpf Prudence ...... Jaimi Barbakoff Piety ...... Cherie Taylor-Battiste Charity ...... Lydia Leonard Talkative ...... Rachel Atkins Watchful ...... Philip Fox Timorous ...... Damian Lynch Clerk ...... Chris Moran Music by David Chilton. Directed by Pam Fraser-Solomon. gen: Hörspiel ser: Classic Serial tit: The Pilgrim's Progress epi: 3 aut: John Bunyan cnt: 26 bnd: BP 2 len: 57'12" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 18.01.2004 lng: englisch stw: Christian is coming to the end of his eventful journey to the Celestial City but, as he gets closer to his destination, he strays from the right path and trespasses onto land belonging to Giant Despair. A new dramatisation of John Bunyan's enduring 17th century classic about the adventures of Christian, a pilgrim who embarks on a perilous journey to the Celestial City. Dramatised by Brian Sibley. Bunyan ...... Anton Rodgers Christian ...... Neil Dudgeon Evangelist ...... Alec McCowen Beelzebub ...... Don Warrington Faithful ...... Graham Crowden Elizabeth ...... Caroline Lee Johnson Jailer ...... Ioan Meredith The Judge ...... Derek Waring Hopeful ...... Paul J Metford Giant Despair ...... Stephen Thorne Mrs Despair ...... Frances Jeater Knowledge ...... Chris Moran Sincere ...... Philip Fox Experience ...... Damian Lynch Ignorance ...... Rachel Atkins False-Confidence ...... Declan Wilson Deceiver ...... Cherie Taylor-Battiste gen: Hörspiel tit: Face aut: Benjamin Zephaniah cnt: 1 bnd: BP 3 len: 44'07" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 02.01.2004 lng: englisch stw: Afternoon Play An adaptation of Benjamin Zephaniah's novel, Face which looks at discrimination through the lead character of Martin, who becomes disfigured in a car accident. Martin is on top of the world. He is popular - especially with the girls, confident and funny and a good gymnast. His girlfriend Natalie is proud of him. He's doing some modelling and is a wow at Dancemania a local RAP club. But life, as Martin is about to find out, has a habit of throwing the unexpected at you. One night he accepts a lift from Apache, a member of the Raider's Posse gang, known for their outlandish activities. The car crashes and Martin wakes up in the burns unit of the local hospital - his whole face swollen. In hospital he meets Anthony who has severe facial disfigurements and has had eight operations. Anthony is an inspiration to Martin. He helps him come to terms with the change in attitudes of his friends when he leaves hospital. Benjamin Zephaniah is an award winning poet, playwright and novelist who lives in London. Martin ...... Daniel Scott-Croxford Matthew ...... Lee Turnbull Natalie ...... Amy Scarth Marica /Margaret ...... Ayesha Antoine Anthony ...... Sheldon Yates Apache/Mr Hewitt ...... Daniel Poyser Dr Owens ...... Barbara Marten Mum ...... Ellen Thomas Tony ...... Rob Pickavance gen: Hörspiel tit: Mary Poppins aut: P. L. Travers cnt: 2 bnd: BP 3 len: 56'54" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 03.01.2004 lng: englisch stw: The Saturday Play Juliet Stevenson stars as Mary Poppins in a new one hour play specially commissioned for Radio 4. Poised, punctilious and always practically perfect in every way, Mary Poppins brings her own blend of magic to the role of nanny! The production is based on several Mary Poppins stories that have never before been dramatised. Mary Poppins ...... Juliet Stevenson Michael ...... Jonathan Bee Jane ...... Sophie Stuckey Mrs Banks/Amelia (The Dolphin) ...... Deborah Berlin Mr Banks/Macaw/Sun ...... David Timson Mr Turvy/Mr Drake/Dragon ...... Andrew Sachs Katie Nana/Mrs Corry/Miss Tartlet ...... Phyllida Law Mr Smart/Leo/Panda Bear/Greatbear ...... Chris Moran Polly/Little Bear/Star ...... Laura Doddington Dramatised by Hazel Marshall Original music composed by David Chilton. Produced and Directed by David Ian Neville gen: Hörspiel tit: The Mouse That Roared aut: Leonard Wibberley cnt: 3 bnd: BP 3 len: 57'21" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 10.01.2004 lng: englisch stw: The Saturday Play Mark McDonnell and Steven McNicoll's dramatisation of Leonard Wibberley's famous comic novel. Under the benign rule of Her Grace Gloriana the Twelfth, Grand Fenwick is a tiny European country almost untouched by the twentieth century and happy to remain so. But when its vital wine trade is threatened by an unscrupulous American rival, it's time to call up the twenty men-at-arms that make up the Grand Fenwick army, dust off the longbows, and declare war on the United States. Gloriana ...... Julie Austin Tully ...... Mark McDonnell Mountjoy ...... Crawford Logan Sec Of State ..... Lou Hirsch Kokintz ...... Simon Tait Will ...... Jamie Newall Benter ...... Steven McNicoll Directed by Patrick Rayner. gen: Hörspiel tit: Mapping The Heart aut: Beatrice Colin cnt: 4 bnd: BP 3 len: 43'59" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 30.01.2004 lng: englisch stw: Afternoon Play An adventure story set in 1950 in the rainforest of Brazil. Scots-born Kristina Morrison is thrown together with opinionated American, Ray Epstein, when their light aircraft crashes in the jungle. Kristina finds herself torn between two men, Ray and her explorer father, Felix, via the diary of his failed expedition twenty five years before. Kristina Morrison ...... Gayanne Potter Ray Epstein ...... Stuart Milligan Miss Spence/Brazilian Woman ...... Monica Gibb Fred/Mr Hugo ...... Paul Young Directed by Gaynor Macfarlane. gen: Hörspiel tit: Molière Imaginaire aut: D J Britton cnt: 5 bnd: BP 3 len: 44'07" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 05.03.2004 lng: englisch stw: Afternoon Play When Harriet and Gwyn buy their dream gite in the Languedoc, everything goes wrong. But this is Molière country, where modern solutions can be found in the spirit of the past. Poquelin ...... Bill Wallis Madeleine ....... Rachel Atkins Rupert ....... James Loye Sioned ...... Mared Swain Harriet ...... Melanie Walters Gwyn ....... Iestyn Jones Mayor ...... Richard Nichols Directed by Alison Hindell gen: Hörspiel tit: A Minus aut: Avie Luthra cnt: 6 bnd: BP 3 len: 56'49" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 05.03.2004 lng: englisch stw: The Friday Play From Dennis Potter Award winning writer, a startling new comedy. Former A star school boy, Sandeep, turns to drug dealing to rebel against his parents after getting A minus in his recent maths exams. But events spiral out of hand when Sandeep's parents are overjoyed at his success and become drug dealers too. Sandeep ....... Pushpinder Chani Ravi ...... Vincent Ebrahim Padma ...... Siddiqua Akhtar Neil ...... Charlie Ryan Manu Modi ...... Amer Nazir Hanu Modi/Uncle Anant ...... Ajay Chhabra Hussain ...... Sushil Chudasama Dr. Howard/Mr Young ...... Robert Pickavance Headmaster ...... Russell Dixon Sindy/Mrs Maple ...... Fiona Clarke Directed by Pauline Harris gen: Hörspiel ser: Afternoon Play tit: Geronimo aut: Louise Doughty cnt: 7 bnd: BP 3 len: 44'12" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 01.04.2004 lng: englisch stw: Iyola is a refugee from Sierra Leone, now working in the kitchens of an inner-London primary school. Eamonn is a young Belfast-born music teacher with such a love of Arnold, Byron and Donne that he steals their poems from tube-trains. Geronimo is the story of their delicate and tentative friendship, set against the terrible tale Iyola has to tell of how she came to leave her homeland. Iyola ...... Noma Dumezweni Eamonn ...... Andrew Scott With songs performed by the pupils of Yerbury School, North London Director David Hunter gen: Hörspiel ser: Saturday Play tit: The Duel aut: Michael Samuels cnt: 8 bnd: BP 3 len: 86'50" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 03.04.2004 lng: englisch stw: Marking the Twentieth Anniversary of the most tumultuous industrial dispute in Post War Britain, The Duel is dramatisation of the Miners' Strike of 1984, seen from the point of view of its two main protagonists - Margaret Thatcher and Arthur Scargill. The fight between the Prime Minister and the leader of the National Union of Mineworkers is one of the defining battles of Twentieth Century Britain. At stake were two totally different views of society. Prime Minister ...... Patricia Hodge Arthur Scargill ...... David Threlfall Nicholas Ridley, MP ...... Michael Cochrane Peter Walker, MP ...... Adam Godley Ian MacGregor ...... Ed Bishop Jimmy Cowan ...... David Ashton Neil Kinnock, MP ...... Owen Teale Stan Orme, MP ...... Ian Flintoff General Secretary of the TUC ...... Trevor Cooper Norman Tebbit, MP ...... Paul Mari Michael Foot, MP ...... Patrick Godfrey Leon Brittan ...... Jonathan Coy Mick McGahey ...... John McGlynn Peter Heathfield ...... Keith Drinkel Scargill's Secretary ...... Mia Soteriou Jack Collins ...... Chris MacDonnell Bill Etherington ...... Stewart Howson Gavin Laird ...... Murray Ewan Terry Thomas ...... Sion Probert Peter McNestry ...... Deka Walmsley Stephen Dorrell ...... David Holt Produced by Jeremy Howe and Isobel Eaton gen: Hörspiel ser: Afternoon Play tit: Answered Prayers aut: Stephen Wakelam cnt: 9 bnd: BP 3 len: 44'04" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 08.04.2004 lng: englisch stw: A play about faith and doubt, set during the aftermath of the First World War. A soldier who has been living rough in the woods stumbles across a priest who is trying to set up a small community for solitaries. The soldier decides to offer his help. Walter ...... Kenneth Cranham Francis ...... Stuart McQuarrie Rector ...... John Rowe Ordinand ...... Ioan Meredith Carter ...... Philip Fox Directed by Janet Whitaker gen: Hörspiel ser: Classic Serial tit: WE epi: 1 sbt: OneState aut: Yevgeny Zamyatin cnt: 10 bnd: BP 3 len: 57'22" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 18.04.2004 lng: englisch stw: In a post-revolutionary future, OneState is ruled according to the principles of rationality. The penalty for dissent is death. D-503, the chief engineer of the state, meets the beautiful I-330. Her initial intentions seem innocent, but soon D starts to question her identity, and indeed his own. adapted by Sean O'Brien The first great dystopian novel of the 20th century, written in secret in early Soviet Russia. Cast D-503 ...... Anton Lesser R-13 ...... Don Warrington U ...... Brigit Forsyth I-330 ...... Joanna Riding 0-90 ...... Julia Rounthwaite Benefactor ...... Russell Dixon Tannoy ...... Emma Clarke Babushka ...... Judith Davis S ...... Patrick Bridgman 2nd Engineer ...... Paul Viragh Directed in Manchester by Jim Poyser gen: Hörspiel ser: Classic Serial tit: WE epi: 2 sbt: Enemies of Happiness aut: Yevgeny Zamyatin cnt: 11 bnd: BP 3 len: 57'19" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 25.04.2004 lng: englisch stw: D-503 becomes increasingly infatuated by the beautiful I-330, although he suspects she is a revolutionary. The key to his fate seems to lie in the hands of the mysterious S - but who is S? An agent of the state? A revolutionary himself? D's ordered world unravels as the story hurtles towards its conclusion. The first great dystopian novel of the 20th century, written in secret in early Soviet Russia. D-503 ...... Anton Lesser R-13 ....... Don Warrington U ...... Brigit Forsyth I-330 ...... Joanna Riding 0-90 ...... Julia Rounthwaite Benefactor ...... Russell Dixon Tannoy ...... Emma Clarke Babushka ...... Judith Davis S ...... Patrick Bridgman 2nd Engineer ...... Paul Viragh Directed in Manchester by Jim Poyser. gen: Hörspiel ser: Classic Serial tit: The Master of Ballantrae epi: 1 sbt: Gone Pirating aut: Robert Louis Stevenson cnt: 12 bnd: BP 3 len: 57'19" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 02.05.2004 lng: englisch stw: After the Jacobite rebellion of 1745, James Durie, the rightful heir to the title, the Master of Ballantrae, flees Scotland for a life of piracy and murder. The Master Of Ballantrae is a swashbuckling adventure story, set in Scotland and America in the 18th century. It features piracy, buried treasure, and a feud between two brothers - one favoured, the other overlooked; one bad, one good - as they vie for money, power and love. Adapted by Chris Dolan. gen: Hörspiel ser: Classic Serial tit: The Master of Ballantrae epi: 2 sbt: Return aut: Robert Louis Stevenson cnt: 13 bnd: BP 3 len: 57'17" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 09.05.2004 lng: englisch stw: The house of Durrisdeer is shattered when the master returns from the dead for a second time. The Master Of Ballantrae is a swashbuckling adventure story, set in Scotland and America in the 18th century. It features piracy, buried treasure, and a feud between two brothers - one favoured, the other overlooked; one bad, one good - as they vie for money, power and love. James Durie ...... David Rintoul Henry Durie ...... Liam Brennan Lord Durrisdeer ...... Tom Fleming Ephraim McKellar ...... John Shedden Alison Graeme ...... Vicki Liddelle Secundra Dass ...... Ali de Souza Burke/Hastie ...... Patrick Moy Colonel Johnson ...... James Bryce Captain Harris ...... John Kazek Mr Mountain ...... Alec Heggie Carlyle/Clinton ...... Simon Tait Katherine Durie ...... Lesley Hart Alexander Durie ...... Haris Young Directed by Bruce Young. Adapted by Chris Dolan. gen: Hörspiel ser: Afternoon Play tit: Like An Angel aut: A L Kennedy cnt: 14 bnd: BP 3 len: 43'51" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 07.05.2004 lng: englisch stw: Nicky is a new mini-cab driver trying to study for the knowledge in his spare time. His relationship is on the rocks and his life seems out of control. Charlie is his passenger, a crazy old man who wears an ill-fitting sergeant's battledress jacket and wants to talk about the war. There's a tube strike, the traffic isn't moving and the two unlikely companions are forced to spend time together. But as Nicky finds out, Charlie isn't crazy - he's in love. Charlie Ainsley ...... Freddie Jones Nicky ...... Sean Hughes Young Charlie ...... David Birrell Young Millie ...... Clare Corbett Millie ...... June Barrie Directed by Kate McAll gen: Hörspiel ser: Afternoon Play tit: Visiting Time aut: Aileen Ritchie cnt: 15 bnd: BP 3 len: 44'03" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 02.06.2004 lng: englisch stw: Aileen Ritchie's darkly comic observational drama about the tentative friendship between two middle-aged carers who meet in hospital while visiting their elderly mothers. Doreen ...... Louise Goodall Edith ...... Eileen McCallum Sarah ...... Colette O'Neil Nurse ...... Wendy Seager Consultant ...... Simon Tait Calum ...... Jimmy Yuill Directed by Lu Kemp gen: Hörspiel ser: Friday Play tit: Pick-Up aut: Ken Blakeson cnt: 16 bnd: BP 3 len: 57'06" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 04.06.2004 lng: englisch stw: Charlie Wilson is desperate. At the age of forty-four he yearns for a complete change of lifestyle. And then - when he is mistakenly identified as the victim of a tragic traffic accident - he finds he can have it. Charlie Wilson ...... Philip Jackson Polly Wilson ...... Janice McKenzie Julie ...... Noreen Kershaw Mary ...... Ann Rye Tracy/Ros/WPC ...... Fiona Clarke Pete/Driver ...... Declan Wilson Jeff/MC/Chief Inspector ...... Jonathan Keeble Driver 2/ Vicar/Pat/Fisherman ...... Keith Ladd Directed by Gordon House. gen: Hörspiel tit: Ben Hur epi: 1 sbt: A Friendship Betrayed aut: Lew Wallace cnt: 1 bnd: BP 4 len: 52'07" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 25.05.2004 fst: 1995 lng: englisch stw: Lew Wallace's epic tale which begins with the nativity and ends with the crucifixion is dramatised in four parts. This epic tale charts the former friendship between Judah Ben Hur and Roman soldier Messala. Ben Hur meets his much changed childhood friend, who is now a mercenary soldier, and a dramatic tale of revenge and treachery unfolds. Starring Jamie Glover as Judah Ben Hur, Samuel West as Messala and with Michael Gambon reading the Bible. Lew Wallace's drama was dramatised by Catherine Czerkawska and produced by Glyn Dearman. It was first broadcast on Radio 4 in 1995. gen: Hörspiel tit: Ben Hur epi: 2 sbt: Son of Arrius aut: Lew Wallace cnt: 2 bnd: BP 4 len: 57'09" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 26.05.2004 fst: 1995 lng: englisch stw: Lew Wallace's epic tale which begins with the nativity and ends with the crucifixion is dramatised in four parts. gen: Hörspiel tit: Ben Hur epi: 3 sbt: The Chariot Race aut: Lew Wallace cnt: 3 bnd: BP 4 len: 52'11" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 27.05.2004 fst: 1995 lng: englisch stw: Lew Wallace's epic tale which begins with the nativity and ends with the crucifixion is dramatised in four parts. gen: Hörspiel tit: Ben Hur epi: 4 sbt: The King Comes Into His Kingdom aut: Lew Wallace cnt: 4 bnd: BP 4 len: 57'36" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 28.05.2004 fst: 1995 lng: englisch stw: Lew Wallace's epic tale which begins with the nativity and ends with the crucifixion is dramatised in four parts. gen: Hörspiel tit: The Woman in White epi: 1 aut: Wilkie Collins cnt: 5 bnd: BP 4 len: 56'54" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 08.06.2004 lng: englisch stw: A chance meeting one night leads to a story of intrigue and madness. Wilkie Collins' mystery/suspense novel, The Woman in White, was hugely popular in its time. It has been constantly in print since its publication in 1860 and has also been adapted into a successful stage play. The story begins with Walter Hartright's strange encounter with a woman in white. The woman starts to haunt the family for whom he is working, but what is the chilling secret she is burning to tell? Toby Stephens stars in this four part dramatisation recorded entirely on location and directed by Cherry Cookson. gen: Hörspiel tit: The Woman in White epi: 2 aut: Wilkie Collins cnt: 6 bnd: BP 4 len: 57'00" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 09.06.2004 lng: englisch stw: Wilkie Collins' story of intrigue and madness. With Juliet Aubrey and Toby Stephens. gen: Hörspiel tit: The Woman in White epi: 3 aut: Wilkie Collins cnt: 7 bnd: BP 4 len: 57'22" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 10.06.2004 lng: englisch stw: Wilkie Collins' story of intrigue and madness. With Juliet Aubrey and Toby Stephens. gen: Hörspiel tit: The Woman in White epi: 4 aut: Wilkie Collins cnt: 8 bnd: BP 4 len: 57'31" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 11.06.2004 lng: englisch stw: Wilkie Collins' story of intrigue and madness. With Juliet Aubrey and Toby Stephens. gen: Hörspiel ser: Classic Serial tit: The Song Of Hiawatha aut: Henry Wadsworth Longfellow cnt: 9 bnd: BP 4 len: 57'14" med: MP3 spd: 80 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 12.06.2004 lng: englisch stw: By the shores of the Gitche Gumee, By the shining Big-Sea-Water, Stood the wigwam of Nokomis. Timothy West tells the legendary story of native American hero, Hiawatha. Storyteller ...... Timothy West Hiawatha ...... Chris Garner Gitche Manito ...... Burt Caesar Little Hiawatha ...... Sam Fry Iagoo ...... Chris Harris Chibiabos ...... Peter Polycarpou Pau-Puk-Keewis ...... Gary Sharkey Mudjekeewis ...... Bill Wallis Nokomis ...... Mia Soteriou Minnehaha ...... Nicole Arumugam Chorus ...... Tom Espiner and Chris Grimes Music composed and performed by Mia Soteriou with William Lyons on pipes. Abridged by Tom Holland. Produced by Viv Beeby and Jeremy Howe. gen: Hörspiel ser: Afternoon Play tit: Letters to Miss Lucie aut: William Ingram cnt: 10 bnd: BP 4 len: 44'04" med: MP3 spd: 80 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 16.06.2004 lng: englisch stw: When Dai, a retired miner, writes to Miss Lucie to protest at her snooty behaviour, he doesn't expect a reply - let alone a blossoming friendship. Miss Lucie ...... Doreen Mantle David Thomas ...... Howell Evans Directed by Alison Hindell. gen: Hörspiel ser: Afternoon Play tit: Are You Sure? aut: Alexis Zegerman cnt: 11 bnd: BP 4 len: 43'44" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 14.07.2004 lng: englisch stw: In his declining years, Yiddish writer Isaac Bashevis Singer is approached by a young girl, Deborah, who wishes to drive him to his lectures at the university in exchange for attending his course free of charge. Her boldness pays off and the two embark on a robust and intimate relationship. To mark the 100th anniversary of Nobel Laureate Isaac Bashevis Singer's birth. Alma ...... Susan Engel Deborah ...... Teresa Gallagher Isaac Bashevis Singer ...... Karl Johnson Directed by Lu Kemp. gen: Hörspiel ser: Classic Serial tit: The Turn of The Screw aut: Henry James cnt: 12 bnd: BP 4 len: 57'05" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 25.07.2004 lng: englisch stw: A new version of the classic Victorian ghost story. When a new young Governess arrives at Bly, a remote country house in Essex, she fears that her two young charges, Flora and Miles, may be hiding a dark secret. As the days go by, she witnesses some strange visions which lead her to the conclusion that the house - and the children - are possessed by evil forces. Governess ...... Cathy Sara Mrs Grose ...... Tina Gray Miles .......... Joseph Tremain Flora .......... Lulu Popplewell Douglas ........ Robert Lister Griffin ........ Ian Brooker Sir George ..... Jonathan Keeble Dramatised by Neville Teller Directed by Peter Leslie Wild gen: Hörspiel ser: Afternoon Play tit: Mustard Seed aut: Nick Warburton cnt: 13 bnd: BP 4 len: 43'59" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 29.07.2004 lng: englisch stw: A traveller passing through a remote village finds himself at the centre of a desperate request. A deserted mother implores him to cure her only son. A beautiful touching story based on a Buddhist fable. The Traveller ...... Jim Norton Katherine ...... Emma Fielding Robert ...... Stephen Hogan Directed by Peter Kavanagh. gen: Hörspiel ser: Classic Serial tit: Bartleby the Scrivener aut: Martyn Wade ori: Herman Melville cnt: 14 bnd: BP 4 len: 55'03" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 01.08.2004 lng: englisch stw: The strange behaviour of a man employed as a copyist in a firm of lawyers begins with him announcing that there are aspects of his work that he would 'prefer' not to do, although he is excellent at the actual work. But then the list of things he would rather avoid doing becomes more sinister. Dramatised by Martyn Wade from the story by Herman Melville with Ian Holm as the Lawyer. Bartleby ...... Adrian Scarborough Turkey ...... David Collings Nippers ...... Jonathan Keeble Huff ...... Philip Fox Norton ...... John Rowe Prison Officer ...... Stephen Hogan Directed by Cherry Cookson gen: Hörspiel tit: Alice's Adventures in Wonderland epi: 1 sbt: White Rabbit aut: Lewis Carroll cnt: 15 bnd: BP 4 len: 57'47" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 20.08.2004 fst: 1996 lng: englisch stw: Alice follows a waist-coated white rabbit into a tunnel and finds herself amongst the weird and the wonderful. Hattie Naylor's dramatiastion of Lewis Carroll's much-loved story, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, is brought vividly to life, when Alice tumbles down the Rabbit Hole and finds herself in a Wonderland peopled by a cast of fantastical creatures. An all-star cast includes Roy Hudd, David Bamber, Toby Longworth, Ron Cook and Sarah-Jane Holm as Alice. gen: Hörspiel tit: Alice's Adventures in Wonderland epi: 2 sbt: Queen of Hearts aut: Lewis Carroll cnt: 16 bnd: BP 4 len: 57'12" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 23.08.2004 fst: 1996 lng: englisch stw: Alice experiences a game of croquet with the Queen of Hearts. gen: Hörspiel tit: Alexander the Great epi: 1 sbt: The King's Son cnt: 1 bnd: BP 5 len: 56'09" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 01.09.2004 lng: englisch stw: Alexander is born to Phillip II of Macedon, but the king worries that the gods have plans for his son. gen: Hörspiel tit: Alexander the Great epi: 2 sbt: I Am Also Alexander cnt: 2 bnd: BP 5 len: 56'49" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 02.09.2004 lng: englisch stw: Alexander is used as a pawn in the war between his parents, and is educated by Aristotle. gen: Hörspiel tit: Alexander the Great epi: 3 sbt: Preparation of the Sacrifice cnt: 3 bnd: BP 5 len: 56'40" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 03.09.2004 lng: englisch stw: Alexander proves his manhood and Philip prepares to remarry. gen: Hörspiel tit: Alexander the Great epi: 4 sbt: The Road to Gordium cnt: 4 bnd: BP 5 len: 56'41" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 06.09.2004 lng: englisch stw: Alexander becomes King of Macedon and sets out to conquer the world. gen: Hörspiel tit: Alexander the Great epi: 5 sbt: The Hunt of the God King cnt: 5 bnd: BP 5 len: 57'16" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 07.09.2004 lng: englisch stw: Alexander has travelled east conquering Asia and then on to Persia. He faces a battle with the King of Darius. gen: Hörspiel tit: Alexander the Great epi: 6 sbt: Great Son of Ammon cnt: 6 bnd: BP 5 len: 57'14" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 08.09.2004 lng: englisch stw: Alexander confronts treachery, conquers India and reaches the end of the span of years allotted by The Fates. gen: Hörspiel tit: Zorba the Greek epi: 1 aut: Nikos Kazantzakis cnt: 7 bnd: BP 5 len: 57'33" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 09.09.2004 lng: englisch stw: A sixty year old Greek man, Zorba, teaches a young writer about life. gen: Hörspiel tit: Zorba the Greek epi: 2 aut: Nikos Kazantzakis cnt: 8 bnd: BP 5 len: 57'13" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 10.09.2004 lng: englisch stw: Zorba returns to Crete to find that Nikos has told the widow Hortense that Zorba will marry her. gen: Hörspiel ser: Saturday Play tit: Hill of Rains aut: Colin MacDonald cnt: 9 bnd: BP 5 len: 57'00" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 11.09.2004 lng: englisch stw: Cathy travels from New York to Argyll to look for the truth in an old story. She leaves her heart there, but discovers that real love always follows you home. gen: Hörspiel ser: Classic Serial tit: The Tenth Man aut: Graham Greene cnt: 10 bnd: BP 5 len: 57'21" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 19.09.2004 lng: englisch stw: To mark the centenary of Graham Greene's birth, a dramatisation, by Neville Teller, of the novella Greene said he preferred to The Third Man. In a prison in occupied France, one man in every ten is to be shot. Chavel, a wealthy lawyer, trades his life for all he possesses. But the deal is to have repercussions he could never have imagined Jean Louis Chavel ...... Nathaniel Parker Therese Mangeot ...... Indira Varma Carosse ...... David Swift Michel Mangeot/Scharführer ...... Tom George Madame Mangeot ...... Elizabeth Bell Mayor/Roche ...... Jon Glover Trinchard/Jules/Priest ...... Philip Fox Lenôtre/Hauptmann ...... Marc Eliot Voisin ...... Gerard McDermott Pierre/SS Officer ...... Sean Baker Directed by Marion Nancarrow. Dramatised by Neville Teller gen: Hörspiel ser: Afternoon Play tit: Our Late Supper aut: Nick Warburton cnt: 11 bnd: BP 5 len: 44'02" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 23.09.2004 lng: englisch stw: A shy middle-aged woman is forced out of her shell by an unexpected friendship with a twelve year old girl. Marian ...... Marcia Warren Charlie ...... Holly Grainger Bernard ...... Gerard McDermott gen: Hörspiel ser: The Friday Play tit: The Good Father aut: Christian O'Reilly cnt: 12 bnd: BP 5 len: 56'46" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 24.09.2004 lng: englisch stw: It's New Year's Eve in Dublin, and two thirty-somethings get together for what seems to be just a one-night stand. Jane's pregnancy changes both of their lives, as they struggle to learn about parenthood and commitment, and how love steals into your heart while you're busy making other plans. Tim ...... Tom Jordan Murphy Jane ...... Michelle Fairley Directed by Roxana Silbert. gen: Hörspiel ser: Classic Serial tit: L'Assommoir epi: 1 sbt: An Accident aut: Emile Zola cnt: 13 bnd: BP 5 len: 56'51" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 24.10.2004 lng: englisch stw: Gervaise dreams of starting her own laundry, but Coupeau has an accident and their savings are all spent. Will Gervaise's dream ever be realised? Emile Zola's classic tale, dramatised in three parts by Diana Griffiths. A startling, moving and honest account of life in working class Paris in the mid 19th Century. Narrator ...... David Bradley Gervaise ...... Claire Goose Coupeau ...... John Thomson Lantier ...... Mark Bazeley Goujet ...... Paul Thomas Hickey Mme Lorilleaux ...... Brigit Forsyth M Lorilleaux ...... Russell Dixon Virginie ...... Deborah McAndrew Mme Boche ...... Siobhan Finneran Bazouge/Mes-Bottes ...... Seamus O'Neill Mme Coupeau ...... Ann Rye Mme Goujet ...... Janice Mckenzie Charles ...... Daniel Stansbury Nana ...... Poppy Rush Etienne ...... William Rush Directed by Pauline Harris gen: Hörspiel ser: Classic Serial tit: L'Assommoir epi: 2 sbt: Lantier aut: Emile Zola cnt: 14 bnd: BP 5 len: 57'05" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 31.10.2004 lng: englisch stw: Coupeau's drinking is becoming a problem and Gervaise gets into debt. But she tries to forget her worries with a feast for her birthday. It's a riot of success until her former lover, Lantier reappears. L'Assommoir: Emile Zola's classic tale, dramatised in three parts by Diana Griffiths. A startling, moving and honest account of life in working class Paris in the mid 19th Century. Narrator ...... David Bradley Gervaise ...... Claire Goose Coupeau ...... John Thomson Lantier ...... Mark Bazeley Goujet ...... Paul Thomas Hickey Mme Lorilleaux ...... Brigit Forsyth M Lorilleaux ...... Russell Dixon Virginie ...... Deborah McAndrew Mme Boche ...... Siobhan Finneran Bazouge/Mes-Bottes ...... Seamus O'Neill Mme Coupeau ...... Ann Rye Mme Goujet ...... Janice Mckenzie M Poisson ...... David Crellin Mme Poisson ...... Esther Wilson Clemence ...... Stephanie Laguna-Walker Nana ...... Poppy Rush Directed by Pauline Harris gen: Hörspiel ser: Classic Serial tit: L'Assommoir epi: 3 sbt: Conclusion aut: Emile Zola cnt: 15 bnd: BP 5 len: 57'13" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 07.11.2004 lng: englisch stw: A poignant and elegiac conclusion as Coupeau's drinking drives him into hospital, and Gervaise falls further into poverty and despair. By Emile Zola, dramatised by Diana Griffiths. Claire Goose makes her radio debut in this three part dramatistaion of one of Zola's most powerful novels. A startling, moving and honest account of life in working class Paris in the mid 19th century. Narrator ...... David Bradley Gervaise ...... Claire Goose Coupeau ...... John Thomson Lantier ...... Mark Bazeley Goujet ...... Paul Thomas Hickey Mme Lorilleaux ...... Brigit Forsyth M Lorilleaux ...... Russell Dixon Virginie ...... Deborah Mcandrew Mme Boche ...... Siobhan Finneran Bazouge/Mes-Bottes ...... Seamus O'Neill M Poisson ...... David Crellin Mme Lerat ...... Esther Wilson Nana ...... Rhea Bailey Leonie ...... Stephanie Laguna-Walker Pauline ...... Emily Fleeshman Directed by Pauline Harris gen: Hörspiel ser: Afternoon Play tit: The Cyhiraeth aut: Ruth Jones and Debbie Moon cnt: 1 bnd: BP 6 len: 43'01" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 08.11.2004 lng: englisch stw: In 1775, Elizabeth is seeing spirits and in 2004, Jess is hearing voices. As each girl's father tries to control their futures, an alliance is forged across the centuries. Elizabeth ...... Siriol Jenkins Jess ...... Sian McDowall Isaac ...... Matthew Morgan Steven ...... Mike Hayward Seth ...... James Thomas Will ...... Iwan Tudor Kirkhouse ...... Richard Mitchley Directed by Alison Hindell gen: Hörspiel ser: The Saturday Play tit: Dr Korczak's Example aut: David Greig cnt: 2 bnd: BP 6 len: 57'01" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 20.11.2004 lng: englisch stw: Based on the true story of Janusz Korczak, best-selling children's novelist, paediatrician and social experimenter, who set up a Jewish Orphanage in Warsaw and ran it as a children's democracy. When the Nazis close in on Warsaw, Korczak and his children are forced to move into the ghetto stretching Korczak's pacifist ideals to the limit. But the Dr's values are threatened not only by Nazi regime but by the arrival of a young Jewish boy who believes in fighting back. Dr Korczak ...... Alexander Morton Stephanie ...... Vicki Liddelle Adzio ...... Simon Donaldson Cerniakow ...... Sandy Neilson Stepan ...... Anthony Hutcheson Priest ...... Matthew Zajac Abraza ...... Ewan MacLeod Tadeusz ...... Fergus Hitchcock Bruno ...... Finn Hitchcock Miriam/Zelda ...... Katie Neville Coco ...... Sarah-Beth Neville The violinist was Daphne Godson. Directed by Lu Kemp. gen: Hörspiel ser: Afternoon Play tit: The Good Ship Esperanza aut: David Constantine cnt: 3 bnd: BP 6 len: 43'56" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 23.11.2004 lng: englisch stw: The Esperanza has been round the world with its cargo of toxic waste more times than the Captain and his skeleton crew can remember. But are their circumnavigations about to end. Greek Captain ...... Peter Polycarpou Singing Cook ...... Mia Soteriou Woman ...... Ann Mitchell Astronaut ...... Paul Birchard First Mate ...... Ryan McCluskey Wireless Operator ...... Carl Prekopp Canto of Alang Beach read by Helen Longworth Directed by Jeremy Mortimer gen: Hörspiel ser: Science Fiction tit: Journey to the Centre of the Earth aut: Jules Verne cnt: 4 bnd: BP 6 len: 85'27" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 28.11.2004 fst: 1994 lng: englisch stw: Professor Lidenbrook is determined to follow the ancient instructions bequeathed to him. Much to his chagrin, the journey is financed Mrs McNab, who insists on participating. Scooping up his nephew and a Swedish guide into the adventure below ground, will the intrepid four find the subterranean world, described in the text? Nathaniel Parker and Nicholas Le Prevost head up the cast in Steve Walker's dramatisation of Journey to the Centre of the Earth. This fabulously tongue-in-cheek version of Jules Verne's classic adventure, was produced by Eoin O'Callaghan for Radio 4 and was first broadcast on 28th December 1994. gen: Hörspiel ser: Classic Serial tit: Black Beauty aut: Anna Sewell cnt: 5 bnd: BP 6 len: 57'04" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 28.11.2004 lng: englisch stw: The 1877 classic which attempted to change careless attitudes towards horses in Nineteenth Century England. The story of a well-bred horse with a white star on his forehead who starts out in a good stable with friends Ginger and Merrylegs, but gradually comes down in the world, his health failing due to over-work and his spirit almost broken. Dramatised by Katie Hims Black Beauty ...... Adam Godley Beauty's Mother ...... Ndidi Del Fatti Ginger ...... Liza Sadovy Merrylegs ...... Jason Chan John Manley ...... Ewan Bailey Squire Gordon ...... Ioan Meredith Lady Gordon ...... Helen Longworth Joe Green ...... Stuart McLoughlin York ...... Stephen Hogan Reuben ...... Jon Glover Jerry ...... Robert Hastie Larry ...... Philip Fox Director: Liz Webb gen: Hörspiel ser: Afternoon Play tit: The Trick of Togetherness aut: Joseph Crilly cnt: 6 bnd: BP 6 len: 43'48" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 10.12.2004 lng: englisch stw: A black comedy about the difficulties of serial monogamy when a young couple with a child split up and get involved with new partners. Rab ...... Richard Dormer Dorothy ...... Laura Hughes Gloria ...... Maria Connolly Harry ...... Lloyd Hutchinson Bonny ...... Martha Gordon Directed by Tanya Nash. gen: Hörspiel tit: The Owl Service aut: Alan Garner cnt: 7 bnd: BP 6 len: 88'50" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 11.12.2004 lng: englisch stw: The Owl Service comes from the fourth branch of the Mabinogi, a series of Welsh tales passed on orally for centuries and then written in various forms. It's a new take on an old myth, the myth of Blod-eye-weth, a Celtic love goddess. Three children are swept away by magical forces when strange and unexplainable things happen in their valley... Alan Garner's fantasy novel for young people, written in 1967 was dramatised by Matthew Bailey and directed in Wales in 2000 by Alison Hindell, who is now the Head of BBC Radio Drama. Myth merges with reality, with frightening results in The Owl Service. When Alison finds an old dinner service in the Attic, she innocently traces it's design, unleashing the forces contained within. Soon it's a race against time to prevent myth being re-enacted by her, and those closest to her. With Siriol Jenkins and Steven Meo. gen: Hörspiel tit: Kings epi: 1 sbt: True Anointed cnt: 8 bnd: BP 6 len: 44'01" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 13.12.2004 lng: englisch stw: The story of the biblical King David's reign. Eleazar, King Saul's chief of staff, has been sent to find a shepherd boy. The Biblical book of Kings is dramatised on BBC 7 this week. It follows the reign of King David, from his humble origins as a shepherd boy to his final days as the renowned king of the Israelite people. David Timson is King David, Linda Bassett, as his wife Bathsheba, and John Bennett as Samuel. gen: Hörspiel tit: Kings epi: 2 sbt: Hazar's Chicken cnt: 9 bnd: BP 6 len: 43'49" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 14.12.2004 lng: englisch stw: A young shepherd boy is persuaded to act as David's spy. gen: Hörspiel tit: Kings epi: 3 sbt: The Loved One cnt: 10 bnd: BP 6 len: 43'45" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 15.12.2004 lng: englisch stw: King Saul is the brink of defeat at the hands of the Philistines. gen: Hörspiel tit: Kings epi: 4 sbt: Michal, Saul's Daughter cnt: 11 bnd: BP 6 len: 44'07" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 16.12.2004 lng: englisch stw: In David's harem, three of his wives fight over their relative status. gen: Hörspiel tit: Kings epi: 5 sbt: Abishag, the Virgin cnt: 12 bnd: BP 6 len: 44'15" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 17.12.2004 lng: englisch stw: David is dying in a fetid room, tended by his latest wife Abishag. gen: Hörspiel tit: Jennings at School epi: 0 sbt: Happy Christmas Jennings aut: Anthony Buckeridge cnt: 13 bnd: BP 6 len: 53'22" med: MP3 spd: 80 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 24.12.2004 fst: 1973 lng: englisch stw: The late Jennings author Anthony Buckeridge appears as Mr Wilkins in a seasonal dramatisation of life at Linbury Court School. gen: Hörspiel tit: Baboushka cnt: 14 bnd: BP 6 len: 29'15" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 24.12.2004 lng: englisch stw: In the Russian mid-winter Kayta and her father Michael are travelling to the house of Baboushka and have a surprise encounter. gen: Hörspiel ser: Schauspiel tit: The Importance of Being Earnest aut: Oscar Wilde cnt: 15 bnd: BP 6 len: 117'29" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 01.01.2005 lng: englisch stw: What is the secret allure of the name Ernest? Regie: Glyn Dearman Mit: Algernon: Martin Clunes Jack: Michael Sheen Lady Bracknell: Judi Dench Gwendolen: Samantha Bond Cecily: Amanda Root Michael Hordern, Miriam Margoyles, John Moffatt, Terence Alexander gen: Hörspiel ser: Afternoon Play tit: Ancient and Modern aut: Sue Gee cnt: 16 bnd: BP 6 len: 44'08" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 23.12.2004 lng: englisch stw: Alison is one of London's many hidden, lonely people, working, coping, being brave. A chance encounter at a Christmas church service brings her a new understanding of what love means. Alison ...... Juliet Stevenson Jez ...... Julian Rhind-Tutt Ed ...... Stephen Rashbrook Belinda ...... Amelia Williams Donald ...... Matthew Marsh Rev Alan Broadwall ...... David Shaw-Parker Dorothy ...... Vivienne Rochester Darren ...... Ajax Kentish Melanie ...... Harriet Cook Directed by Marilyn Imrie. gen: Hörspiel ser: Afternoon Play tit: The Sorcerer's Apprentice aut: Goethe cnt: 1 bnd: BP 7 len: 43'33" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 28.12.2004 lng: englisch stw: The magical story of the apprentice magician left alone in his master's workshop - and the disastrous results that follow. Hexenmeister ...... Paul Rhys Copernicus ...... Harry Towb Peter ...... Zac Fox Broom ...... Nicholas Boulton Freda ...... Jennifer Veal Clock ...... Emily Wachter By Goethe, adapted by Judith French Music composed by David Pickvance. Directed by Marc Beeby. gen: Hörspiel ser: Afternoon Play tit: All Fingers and Thumbs aut: Alan Stafford cnt: 2 bnd: BP 7 len: 43'42" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 29.12.2004 lng: englisch stw: A romantic comedy about communication. Sign language interpreter Marie wants more deaf people to enjoy the theatre. So does director Tom - but not if it involves a bothersome spot-lit woman waving her arms about on his stage. Clive/Jamie/Gordon ...... Brian Bowles Tom ..... Bill Nighy Helen ...... Felicity Montagu Marie ...... Susannah Doyle Sal ...... Jenny Eclair Michael ...... Steve Day Paula ...... Fifi Garfield Directed by Dirk Maggs. gen: Hörspiel tit: Pinocchio cnt: 3 bnd: BP 7 len: 88'18" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 02.01.2005 fst: 1994 lng: englisch stw: Pinocchio has no heart but he has a voice. He tells his story of how he attempts to become a little boy. There's another feature-length classic on Sunday, when Stephen "Marvin" Moore, Phil "Eastenders" Daniels and Charlotte Attenborough star in this retelling of the classic tale. Pinocchio has no memory of anything that had ever happened to him, he has no heart but he does have a voice. As children fall asleep Pinocchio takes the opportunity to tell his story because in the morning he will not be able to talk. I've had a few nights out like that. Strong lager tends to have that effect. gen: Hörspiel tit: Pygmalion aut: George Bernard Shaw cnt: 4 bnd: BP 7 len: 88'20" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 22.01.2005 fst: 1975 lng: englisch stw: The snobbish and intellectual Professor of languages, Henry Higgins makes a bet with his friend that he can take a London flower seller, Eliza Doolittle, from the gutters and pass her off as a society lady. However he discovers that this involves dealing with a human being with ideas of her own. Imelda Staunton and Simon Cadell head the cast of George Bernard Shaw's classic play potraying the rise of Eliza Doolittle from flower girl to refined lady. Also starring James Grout, Rachel Gurney and Edward Hardwicke it was directed by John Tydeman and originally broadcast on the World Service in 1975. gen: Hörspiel ser: Afternoon Play tit: Fighting for Words aut: Rebecca Lenkiewicz cnt: 5 bnd: BP 7 len: 44'13" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 28.01.2005 lng: englisch stw: Manchester 1953. A history teacher befriends a wayward pupil and the past and present unexpectedly collide. Liza Chambers ...... Ellie Haddington Thomas Moynihan ...... Samuel Barnett Helen Sanding ...... Holly Grainger Doris Price ...... Marlene Sidaway Dr Goldstein ...... Rod Arthur James Arkwright ...... Andrew Knott Directed by Claire Grove. gen: Hörspiel tit: Troy epi: 1 sbt: Birth of Paris cnt: 6 bnd: BP 7 len: 90'38" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 29.01.2005 lng: englisch stw: A second son, Paris, is about to be born to the Trojan King, Priam, and his wife Hekabe. But the Gods foretell only dissension and disaster if the child is permitted to live: if the child does not die then Priam, his city, and all the people of Troy will burn. A stellar cast including Michael Sheen, Geraldine Somerville (as Helen pictured here), Toby Stephens, Emma Fielding and Saeed Jaffrey star in this excellent adaptation of Troy. gen: Hörspiel tit: Troy epi: 2 sbt: The Death of Achilles cnt: 7 bnd: BP 7 len: 92'32" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 05.02.2005 lng: englisch stw: The Trojans should beware of Greeks bearing gifts in, Troy. The battle between Paris and Achilles and the legends of Troy and Greece are explored in this enticing drama. With the war now in its 10th year, the Greek forces vacate the camp, leaving only a gift for the citizens of Troy. But there is more to it than appears... Troy is directed by Jeremy Mortimer, and features a stellar cast of : Paul Scofield, Saeed Jaffrey, David Harewood, Emma Fielding, Toby Stephens, Eleanor Bron, Michael Maloney, Geraldine Somerville, Michael Sheen, Lindsey Duncan and Geoffrey Whitehead. gen: Hörspiel tit: Troy epi: 3 sbt: Helen at Ephesus cnt: 8 bnd: BP 7 len: 88'28" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 12.02.2005 lng: englisch stw: Homer's tales come to life in this adaptation. Having defeated the Trojans, the Greeks sail home. Will the Gods be kind to them? gen: Hörspiel tit: The Chrysalids aut: John Wyndham cnt: 9 bnd: BP 7 len: 88'18" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 19.03.2005 fst: 1981 lng: englisch stw: David isn't like the other boys. He hears voices in his head and when it's a crime to be different, that makes him a target. In a post-apocalyptic future, genetic perfection is revered, and any form of mutation is counted as blasphemy. When David meets the 'mutant' Sophie, it starts him on a journey of self-discovery, and leads him to the people of Zealand. John Wyndham's sci-fi classic, The Chrysalids, is our Saturday play. Michael Bartlett's production stars Susan Sheridan, Spencer Banks and Kathryn Hurlbutt. gen: Hörspiel ser: Classic Serial tit: The Diary of Adam and Eve aut: Mark Twain cnt: 10 bnd: BP 7 len: 56'53" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 20.03.2005 lng: englisch stw: A brilliant and affectionate satire about the battle of the sexes set in The Garden of Eden. In a lesser-known work, master American storyteller Mark Twain imagines what life must have been like for the first man and woman as they try to understand who they are, and why they have been put there. Eve ...... Inika Leigh Wright Adam ...... Tom Goodman-Hill God/Satan ...... Tyrone Huggins Directed by Peter Leslie Wild. Dramatised by Martin Glynn. gen: Kinder tit: Heidi aut: Johanna Spyri cnt: 11 bnd: BP 7 len: 87'20" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 26.03.2005 fst: 1995 lng: englisch stw: Heidi loves living with her grandfather but her aunt arrives to take her to Frankfurt. The children's classic by Johanna Spyri, dramatised by Berlie Doherty. Heidi loves living with her grandfather but her Aunt arrives to take her to Frankfurt to be a companion to an ill 12 yr old called Clara. Starring Ciara Janson, Richard Johnson, Patience Tomlinson and David Collings, the music is by David Chilton and Nick Russell-Pavier and it was produced by Janet Whitaker. Originally broadcast on Radio 4 in December 1995. gen: Hörspiel ser: Afternoon Play tit: Water Lens aut: Dominique Moloney cnt: 12 bnd: BP 7 len: 43'41" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 01.04.2005 lng: englisch stw: When Elaine, a young homeless girl, is befriended by the older and middle class Tara, she is at first suspicious - unsure of her motives. But a genuine trust develops when Elaine discovers that it's Tara and not she who is most in need of comfort and shelter from the world outside. Elaine ...... Katy Gleadhill Tara ...... Frances Tomelty Georgina ...... Julia Dearden Sinead ...... Eileen McCloskey Kenny ...... Robert Patterson Directed by Eoin O'Callaghan. gen: Hörspiel tit: A Woman of No Importance aut: Oscar Wilde cnt: 1 bnd: BP 8 len: 85'31" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 03.04.2005 fst: 1991 lng: englisch stw: Oscar Wilde's drama of social scandal centres around the revelation of Mrs Arbuthnot's long-concealed secret. This production, first heard in 1991, features an all-star cast including Diana Rigg, Martin Jarvis, Sir Michael Hordern and Annette Crosbie. Director Adrian Bean also adapted the play for radio. gen: Hörspiel tit: Wuthering Heights epi: 1 aut: Emily Brontë cnt: 2 bnd: BP 8 len: 56'14" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 25.04.2005 lng: englisch stw: A tale of passion and brutality on the Yorkshire moors. Off to the wilds of Yorkshire with drama from the Bronte Sisters, beginning with Wuthering Heights, Emily Bronte's passionate tale of Heathcliff and Cathy and the destruction they caused. Amanda Root stars as Cathy and John Duttine plays Heathcliff. This stirring radio production was directed by Janet Whitaker. gen: Hörspiel tit: Wuthering Heights epi: 2 aut: Emily Brontë cnt: 3 bnd: BP 8 len: 56'57" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 26.04.2005 lng: englisch stw: Nelly Dean continues the story of Heathcliff and Cathy. gen: Hörspiel tit: Wuthering Heights epi: 3 aut: Emily Brontë cnt: 4 bnd: BP 8 len: 57'06" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 27.04.2005 lng: englisch stw: Heathcliff runs off with Isabella, leaving Cathy seriously ill, after she has confessed she loves Heathcliff and not Edgar. gen: Hörspiel tit: Wuthering Heights epi: 4 aut: Emily Brontë cnt: 5 bnd: BP 8 len: 57'01" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 28.04.2005 lng: englisch stw: Catherine's friendship with Linton takes a dramatic turn for the worse. gen: Hörspiel tit: Wuthering Heights epi: 5 aut: Emily Brontë cnt: 6 bnd: BP 8 len: 56'56" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 29.04.2005 lng: englisch stw: Nelly Dean concludes her story to Mr Lockwood. gen: Hörspiel tit: Agnes Grey aut: Anne Brontë cnt: 7 bnd: BP 8 len: 57'08" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 02.05.2005 fst: 1997 lng: englisch stw: Agnes Grey dismays her family when she decides to earn her own living as a governess. Will her trials lead to true love? Anne Bronte's romantic novel is dramatised by Judith Allen. A young woman pursues a career as a governess in order to assert her independence. With Poppy Miller, Robert Whelan, Martin Reeve and Alison Darling the play was directed by Nandita Ghose and first broadcast in 1997. gen: Hörspiel tit: Villette epi: 1 sbt: Lucy Snowe aut: Charlotte Brontë cnt: 8 bnd: BP 8 len: 56'59" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 03.05.2005 fst: 1999 lng: englisch stw: Lucy Snowe flees from an unhappy past in England to begin a new life as a teacher at a French boarding school in the great cosmopolitan capital of Villette. Soon Lucy's struggle for independence is overshadowed by both her friendship with a worldly English doctor and her feelings for an autocratic schoolmaster. Charlotte Brontë's strikingly modern heroine must decide if there is any man in her society with whom she can live and still be free. Included in the cast are Joseph Fiennes and Keira Knightley. Directed by Catherine Bailey and first broadcast in April 1999. gen: Hörspiel tit: Villette epi: 2 sbt: Doctor John aut: Charlotte Brontë cnt: 9 bnd: BP 8 len: 56'55" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 04.05.2005 fst: 1999 lng: englisch stw: Having safely established herself at Madame Beck,s school, Lucy has yet to face madness, love and a haunting. gen: Hörspiel tit: Villette epi: 3 sbt: Monsieur Paul aut: Charlotte Brontë cnt: 10 bnd: BP 8 len: 57'07" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 05.05.2005 fst: 1999 lng: englisch stw: Lucy Snowe, Polly and Dr Breton are reunited in turn. Lucy's standing in society rapidly improves, much to Mme Breck's chagrin. gen: Hörspiel tit: Jane Eyre epi: 1 sbt: Jane, the Child aut: Charlotte Brontë cnt: 11 bnd: BP 8 len: 57'28" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 06.05.2005 lng: englisch stw: Charlotte Bronte's classic love story, with Sophie Thompson and Ciaran Hinds. Jane applies for a job as a governess. gen: Hörspiel tit: Jane Eyre epi: 2 sbt: Jane, the Governess aut: Charlotte Brontë cnt: 12 bnd: BP 8 len: 57'32" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 09.05.2005 lng: englisch stw: Jane Eyre has started working as a governess at Thornfield Hall, and her feelings for Mr Rochester have started growing. gen: Hörspiel tit: Jane Eyre epi: 3 sbt: Jane, the Fugitive aut: Charlotte Brontë cnt: 13 bnd: BP 8 len: 57'46" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 10.05.2005 lng: englisch stw: Mr Rochester is soon to be married and Jane will leave Thornfield Hall, but there's still a disturbance in the attic. gen: Hörspiel tit: Jane Eyre epi: 4 sbt: Jane, the Wife aut: Charlotte Brontë cnt: 14 bnd: BP 8 len: 57'29" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 11.05.2005 lng: englisch stw: Having left Thornfield Hall on foot, Jane is taken in, sick and hungry, by the parson but constantly she thinks of Mr Rochester. gen: Hörspiel tit: Shirley epi: 1 sbt: Hollow's Mill aut: Charlotte Brontë cnt: 1 bnd: BP 9 len: 54'06" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 12.05.2005 lng: englisch stw: It's the time of the Napoleonic Wars and the Levellers, and Caroline's love for Robert struggles to survive. gen: Hörspiel tit: Shirley epi: 2 sbt: Fieldhead aut: Charlotte Brontë cnt: 2 bnd: BP 9 len: 54'08" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 13.05.2005 lng: englisch stw: While Caroline is distressed to find Robert cold and distant, Shirley Keeldar is to take up residence at Fieldhead. gen: Hörspiel tit: Shirley epi: 3 sbt: A Summer Night aut: Charlotte Brontë cnt: 3 bnd: BP 9 len: 54'15" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 16.05.2005 lng: englisch stw: Convinced that Shirley loves Robert, Caroline hides her feelings, joining the celebration of the grand United Sunday School tea. gen: Hörspiel tit: Shirley epi: 4 sbt: The Valley of the Shadow aut: Charlotte Brontë cnt: 4 bnd: BP 9 len: 52'44" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 17.05.2005 lng: englisch stw: Robert Moore's mill is attacked by Levellers, and Shirley is delighted to be given the chance to prove her ability. gen: Hörspiel tit: Shirley epi: 5 sbt: Louis Moore aut: Charlotte Brontë cnt: 5 bnd: BP 9 len: 54'30" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 18.05.2005 lng: englisch stw: Caroline's discovery that Mrs Pryor is her mother gives her strength in her illness. Shirley appears about to accept a proposal. gen: Hörspiel tit: Shirley epi: 6 sbt: Accounts Settled aut: Charlotte Brontë cnt: 6 bnd: BP 9 len: 52'43" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 19.05.2005 lng: englisch stw: Caroline learns that Robert has been shot and that Shirley has been shocked to receive a proposal of marriage from him. gen: Hörspiel ser: The Saturday Play tit: Why the Whales Came aut: Michael Morpurgo cnt: 7 bnd: BP 9 len: 56'56" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 21.05.2005 lng: englisch stw: Everyone says the Birdman is mad and evil. But he warns Gracie and Daniel of the curse of Samson Island, a curse Gracie unwittingly seems to bring down on her own family. Can the Birdman, Gracie and Daniel lift the curse forever? Dramatised by Roy Apps Gracie ...... Sarah Badel The Birdman ...... David Bradley Young Gracie ...... Rosie Day Daniel ...... Rory Copus Big Tim ...... Benedict Smith Big Tim's Mate ...... Ashley Jones Clemmie Jenkins ...... Jenny Funnell Peter Jenkins ...... Sam Dale Mr Pender/Vicar/Mr Wellbeloved ...... Andrew Branch Directed by Celia De Wolff gen: Hörspiel ser: Science Fiction tit: Journey to the Centre of the Earth aut: Jules Verne cnt: 8 bnd: BP 9 len: 85'24" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 22.05.2005 lng: englisch stw: A mad Professor, his nephew and a lady explorer descend into an impossible realm at the heart of the world. Journey to the Centre of the Earth is an exciting 90-minute drama based on the book by Jules Verne. It stars Nathaniel Parker and Nicholas Le Prevost and was directed by Eoin O'Callaghan. gen: Hörspiel tit: I Am David epi: 1 sbt: aut: Anne Holm cnt: 9 bnd: BP 9 len: 42'13" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 02.06.2005 lng: englisch stw: I Am David is a 2-part dramatisation of Anne Holm's classic novel. A twelve year old boy escapes from the East European labour camp, where he has been raised. His quest leads him to countries he's never even imagined and to people who help him along his way. They teach him the meaning of trust, of laughter and of true courage. Rory Copus plays David. gen: Hörspiel tit: I Am David epi: 2 sbt: aut: Anne Holm cnt: 10 bnd: BP 9 len: 42'29" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 03.06.2005 lng: englisch stw: Anne Holm's classic novel of a refugee child and his courageous lone journey through Europe in search of freedom and love. gen: Hörspiel tit: Anna Karenina epi: 1 aut: Leo Tolstoy cnt: 11 bnd: BP 9 len: 51'19" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 07.07.2005 lng: englisch stw: Dramatisation of Leo Tolstoy's classic novel charting the course of a doomed love affair in late 19th century Russia. gen: Hörspiel tit: Anna Karenina epi: 2 aut: Leo Tolstoy cnt: 12 bnd: BP 9 len: 54'06" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 08.07.2005 lng: englisch stw: The affair between Anna and Vronsky has begun and Anna travels to the countryside to be close to her friend Betsy. gen: Hörspiel tit: Anna Karenina epi: 3 aut: Leo Tolstoy cnt: 13 bnd: BP 9 len: 57'17" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 11.07.2005 lng: englisch stw: Anna has returned to her husband who has forbidden her to see Vronsky again. Dramatisation of Leo Tolstoy's classic novel. gen: Hörspiel tit: Anna Karenina epi: 4 aut: Leo Tolstoy cnt: 14 bnd: BP 9 len: 55'04" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 12.07.2005 lng: englisch stw: Anna realises that for men there is a different life in the hypocritical society they are part of. Can she survive it? gen: Hörspiel tit: Skeggy aut: Chris Thompson cnt: 15 bnd: BP 9 len: 45'04" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 25.07.2005 lng: englisch stw: auch: P-31-07 A runaway teenager in Skegness brings three separate partnerships closer together in this seaside drama by Chris Thompson. gen: Hörspiel ser: The Friday Play tit: No Harm aut: Amanda Dalton cnt: 16 bnd: BP 9 len: 57'11" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 29.07.2005 lng: englisch stw: Becky and Jez are nearly 15. They've been robbing houses since they were nine. Lately they're sick of it. Really they're just looking for something nice in their lives. Jez doesn't know her mum, who is from the Caribbean. She decides to go and find her. Elizabeth Hardwick is a feisty woman in her eighties. She's lived a full life but now she sits at her window waiting for the teenagers to come to her house. The play follows Becky and Jez over two days. We see snatches of their chaotic, harmful lives punctuated by scenes of them breaking into three houses where, paradoxically, they find a kind of safety and calm that exists nowhere else in their world. In the first house they watch TV and make themselves a meal. In the second house they listen to unlikely music. In the third, they find an elderly woman, sitting in her armchair. She appears to be dead. The elderly woman becomes a symbol for much that is lost and damaged in the girls' lives and they perform a ceremony for her: their own, non-religious funeral service. Becky ...... Rachel Brogan Jez ...... Carla Henry Sid ...... Jody Latham Sue ...... Siobhan Finneran Dave ...... Dave Hill Elizabeth Hardwick ...... Olivia Jardith gen: Hörspiel ser: Classic Serial tit: Oblomov epi: 1 aut: Ivan Goncharov cnt: 1 bnd: BP 10 len: 56'51" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 07.08.2005 lng: englisch stw: Gentle, intelligent Oblomov completely fails to deal with life. He lives in a flat in St Petersburg. He is always about to go and sort out his estate but he rarely gets out of bed. Never doing today what he can put off until tomorrow, Oblomov is a tragic-comic hero for a couch potato generation. The book was published in 1859 and made its author instantly famous and was seen by Russians of the time as a satire on the failings of its gentry class. Oblomov ...... Toby Jones Zahar ...... Trevor Peacock Olga ...... Claire Skinner Doctor ...... Clive Swift Tarantyev ...... Gerard McDermott Stoltz ...... Nicholas Boulton Olgas Aunt ...... Richenda Carey Singer ...... Olivia Robinson Pianist ...... Helen Crayford Dramatised by Stephen Wyatt Directed by Claire Grove gen: Hörspiel ser: Classic Serial tit: Oblomov epi: 2 aut: Ivan Goncharov cnt: 2 bnd: BP 10 len: 56'57" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 14.08.2005 lng: englisch stw: Gentle and intelligent, Oblomov completely fails to deal with life. He lives in a flat in St Petersburg never doing today what he can put off till tomorrow. During a summer in the country he has fallen in love with pretty clever Olga. Back in St Petersburg, Olga's patience is put to the test. Oblomov ...... Toby Jones Zahar ...... Trevor Peacock Olga ...... Claire Skinner Tarantyev ...... Gerard McDermott Stoltz ...... Nicholas Boulton Agafya ...... Fiona Clarke Nicolai ...... Harry Myers Dramatised by Stephen Wyatt Director Claire Grove gen: Hörspiel tit: David Copperfield epi: 1 sbt: I Fall Into Disgrace aut: Charles Dickens cnt: 3 bnd: BP 10 len: 57'22" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 07.08.2005 lng: englisch stw: A dramatisation of the novel which Charles Dickens described as his favourite child. gen: Hörspiel tit: David Copperfield epi: 2 sbt: I Begin Life on My Own Account aut: Charles Dickens cnt: 4 bnd: BP 10 len: 57'06" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 14.08.2005 lng: englisch stw: Young David has reason to regret his mother's second marriage. gen: Hörspiel tit: David Copperfield epi: 3 sbt: Betsy Trotwood aut: Charles Dickens cnt: 5 bnd: BP 10 len: 56'22" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 21.08.2005 lng: englisch stw: David's mother has died and he is despatched to London to work for Murdstone and Grinby. He runs away to Dover to seek his aunt. gen: Hörspiel tit: David Copperfield epi: 4 sbt: The Question of My Future aut: Charles Dickens cnt: 6 bnd: BP 10 len: 56'53" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 28.08.2005 lng: englisch stw: David has found his Aunt Betsy and has been adopted by her and her protégé, Mr Dick. gen: Hörspiel tit: David Copperfield epi: 5 sbt: Good and Bad Angels aut: Charles Dickens cnt: 7 bnd: BP 10 len: 56'57" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 04.09.2005 lng: englisch stw: David has met Steerforth in London, and taken him to Yarmouth, where he introduces him to little Emily. gen: Hörspiel tit: David Copperfield epi: 6 sbt: The Beginning of a Long Journey aut: Charles Dickens cnt: 8 bnd: BP 10 len: 56'47" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 11.09.2005 lng: englisch stw: David has fallen in love with Dora Spenlow, and Uriah Heep confides in him that he hopes to marry Agnes Wickfield. gen: Hörspiel tit: David Copperfield epi: 7 sbt: Wickfield and Heep aut: Charles Dickens cnt: 9 bnd: BP 10 len: 57'07" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 18.09.2005 lng: englisch stw: Emily has run away with Steerforth, David has become secretly engaged to Dora and Aunt Betsy has lost her fortune. gen: Hörspiel tit: David Copperfield epi: 8 sbt: Mischief aut: Charles Dickens cnt: 10 bnd: BP 10 len: 57'35" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 25.09.2005 lng: englisch stw: Uriah is now a partner in Wickfield and Heep. Dora's father has died and she now lives with two spinster aunts. gen: Hörspiel tit: David Copperfield epi: 9 sbt: My Beloved Dora aut: Charles Dickens cnt: 11 bnd: BP 10 len: 56'25" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 02.10.2005 lng: englisch stw: David and Dora have married, Emily has parted from Steerforth, and Mr Peggotty is searching for her. gen: Hörspiel tit: David Copperfield epi: 10 sbt: I Have Loved You All My Life aut: Charles Dickens cnt: 12 bnd: BP 10 len: 55'22" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 09.10.2005 lng: englisch stw: Dora has died and Emily has been reunited with Mr Peggotty. Uriah's double dealing has been discovered. gen: Hörspiel ser: Classic Serial tit: Le Grand Meaulnes epi: 1 aut: Alain-Fournier cnt: 13 bnd: BP 10 len: 56'00" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 21.08.2005 lng: englisch stw: Set in rural France at the turn of the twentieth century, Augustin Meaulnes is a new arrival at the village school run by Francois Seurel's parents. The idealism of adolescence, the loss of innocence, and the transition to adulthood in a flawed and insecure world where dreams do not survive are the themes in this coming-of-age novel, first published in 1913. At the turn of the 20th century in rural France, Augustin Meaulnes arrives as a boarder at a small village school. His arrival has a profound effect on everyone around him, particularly on Francois, the son of the schoolteachers, who narrates the story as he looks back on the extraordinary events of the winter after Meaulnes' arrival. Dramatised by Jennifer Howarth Narrator (Francois Seurel) ...... Simon Russell Beale Young Francois ...... Oliver Hembrough Augustin Meaulnes ...... Stuart McLoughlin Yvonne De Galais ...... Sophie Ladds Frantz De Galais ...... Arran Glass Jasmin DeLouche ...... Fraser Burrows M. Seurel ...... Jonathan Nibbs Millie ...... Jenny Coverack With Peter Nolan, Caroline Hunt, Pameli Benham, Chris Donelly and David Collins. Directed by Sara Davies. gen: Hörspiel ser: Classic Serial tit: Le Grand Meaulnes epi: 2 aut: Alain-Fournier cnt: 14 bnd: BP 10 len: 56'56" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 28.08.2005 lng: englisch stw: Set in rural France at the turn of the twentieth century. Francois Seurel, whose best friend Augustin Meaulnes has despaired of finding again the magical lost domain and the beautiful girl he fell in love with there. Meaulnes has gone to Paris to search for her, leaving Francois to settle back into his studies. The idealism of adolescence, the loss of innocence, and the transition to adulthood in a flawed and insecure world where dreams do not survive are the themes in this coming-of-age novel, first published in 1913. Augustin Meaulnes despairs of finding again the magical lost domain and the beautiful girl he fell in love with and goes to Paris to search for her, leaving Francois to settle back into his studies. Narrator (Francois Seurel) ...... Simon Russell Beale Young Francois ...... Oliver Hembrough Augustin Meaulnes ...... Stuart McLoughlin Yvonne De Galais ...... Sophie Ladds Frantz De Galais ...... Arran Glass M. De Galais ...... Andrew Hilton Jasmin DeLouche ...... Fraser Burrows Uncle Florentin ...... Chris Donelly Marie-Louise ...... Sarah Counsell Lawyer ...... David Collins With Caroline Hunt, and Jenny Coverack Translated by Frank Davison Dramatised by Jennifer Howarth Directed by Sara Davies gen: Hörspiel ser: Saturday Play tit: The Pledge aut: Friedrich Dürrenmatt cnt: 15 bnd: BP 10 len: 56'54" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 24.09.2005 lng: englisch stw: Inspector Matthai discovers the horrific murder of an eight-year-old girl. When he tells the girl's mother, she makes him swear on his soul to find the killer - and so, Matthai's obsession with the case and the dark world beneath the polite veneer of 1950s Swiss society begins... Chief of Police ...... Roy Marsden Inspector Matthai ...... Kenneth Cranham Sergeant Henzi ...... Nicholas Boulton Von Gunten ...... Gerard McDermott Lotte ...... Teresa Gallagher Dr Locher ...... Clive Swift Landlord ...... David Timson Frau Moser ...... Colleen Prendergast Herr Moser ...... Harry Myers Fräulein K ...... Sophie Roberts Ursula/Annemarie ...... Jessica Crossley Farmer ...... John Cummins Directed by David Hitchinson Dramatised by Steve Chambers gen: Hörspiel tit: Fatherland aut: Robert Harris cnt: 1 bnd: BP 11 len: 126'44" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 09.09.2005 fst: 1997 lng: englisch stw: A chilling adaptation of Robert Harris' novel set in an imaginary Hitler-led post-war Germany. We have now obtained the rights to bring this brilliant, award winning dramatisation, of the best-selling novel by Robert Harris, to BBC7. Hitler has won the war, and the totalitarian Nazi regime in Germany has a terrible secret it needs to hide at all costs. Anton Lesser stars as Xavier March, the Berlin detective called to investigate the suspicious death of a retired civil servant, in John Dryden's marvellous production. Stitched together again from a version in five episodes. auch P-08-02 gen: Hörspiel ser: Afternoon Play tit: Stranger Faces aut: Charlotte Thompson cnt: 2 bnd: BP 11 len: 43'51" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 08.09.2005 lng: englisch stw: Rosie, a Leicester teenager, becomes convinced that Max, a Cameroonian ex-journalist is the father she has been searching for. Rosie's mother Debs has always been vague about the identity of her father but when Rosie discovers an old photograph, her longing to find him intensifies. Elsewhere in Leicester, Max, a Cameroonian ex-journalist is yearning for a daughter he was once forced to leave behind. When a fight erupts between Rosie and her school friend Mina in the market one day, Max intervenes and Rosie is convinced that his face fits. One thing is certain: her life will never be the same again. Rosie ...... Ebony Feare Max ...... Ben Onwukwe Debs ...... Sara Poyzer Mehmet ...... Nadim Sawalha Mina ...... Rakhee Thakrar Man ...... Delroy Brown Woman ...... Natasha Godfrey Girl ...... Sali Jones Directed by Kate Chapman. gen: Hörspiel ser: Afternoon Play tit: The Egyptian Collection aut: Kate Pullinger cnt: 3 bnd: BP 11 len: 43'17" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 14.09.2005 lng: englisch stw: London, 1916. A schoolgirl believes she is related to the Egyptian Pharoah Seti. So obsessed does she become that she bunks off school to spend time in the British Museum studying texts and artifacts of the era, quickly becoming an authority. But the war with Germany is at its height and the museum authorities try to ban her on safety grounds. But, ironically during an air attack it is she who saves a major manuscript and the career of a curator who acknowledges her insights. Dorothy ...... Ellie Beaven Mrs Brackett ...... Sylvia Syms Mr Budge ...... Jonathan Coy Museum Director ...... Ian Masters Pharaoh Sety/Dr Ross ...... Harry Myers Caroline Eady ...... Susan Jameson Directed by Peter Kavanagh. gen: Hörspiel tit: The Moonstone epi: 1 aut: Wilkie Collins cnt: 4 bnd: BP 11 len: 52'54" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 19.09.2005 fst: 1979 lng: englisch stw: The story of an ancient diamond presented to Rachel Verinder on her 18th birthday. But will it remain hers? You can hear a six part dramatisation of Wilkie Collins' The Moonstone this week. It's the tale of a mysterious diamond, stolen from the Hindus and turning up at the Verinder house on the wild Yorkshire coast in 1848. Brian Miller directs this production which stars John Sharp, Geoffrey Beevers and John Telfer. gen: Hörspiel tit: The Moonstone epi: 2 aut: Wilkie Collins cnt: 5 bnd: BP 11 len: 54'03" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 20.09.2005 fst: 1979 lng: englisch stw: The precious moonstone has disappeared overnight. The investigation begins. gen: Hörspiel tit: The Moonstone epi: 3 aut: Wilkie Collins cnt: 6 bnd: BP 11 len: 53'28" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 21.09.2005 fst: 1979 lng: englisch stw: The mystery of the precious moonstone continues and Rachel Verinder is under the scrutiny of Sergeant Cuff. gen: Hörspiel tit: The Moonstone epi: 4 aut: Wilkie Collins cnt: 7 bnd: BP 11 len: 53'51" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 22.09.2005 fst: 1979 lng: englisch stw: Rachel is still under suspicion for stealing the moonstone but finds consolation in accepting a marriage proposal. gen: Hörspiel tit: The Moonstone epi: 5 aut: Wilkie Collins cnt: 8 bnd: BP 11 len: 53'53" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 23.09.2005 fst: 1979 lng: englisch stw: Franklin Blake makes an appalling discovery, proof that he himself appears to be responsible for the theft of the moonstone. gen: Hörspiel tit: The Moonstone epi: 6 aut: Wilkie Collins cnt: 9 bnd: BP 11 len: 53'08" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 26.09.2005 fst: 1979 lng: englisch stw: Franklin Blake takes a dose of opium to see if it will induce him to steal the diamond a second time. gen: Hörspiel ser: Afternoon Play tit: The Torture Warrant aut: Jonathan Myerson cnt: 10 bnd: BP 11 len: 43'37" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 27.09.2005 lng: englisch stw: The man the police have in custody refuses to divulge the whereabouts of his kidnap victim, a boy probably now dying from starvation and exposure. But the clock is ticking. Under such circumstances, is torture warranted? Based on true events that occurred in 2002. Magnus Gaefgen ...... Ben Silverstone Superintendent Wolfgang Daschner ...... John Castle Katha ...... Antonia Bernath Policeman Ennigkeit ...... Tim Woodward Policeman Vogel ...... George Anton Voice ...... Jon Glover gen: Hörspiel ser: Classic Serial tit: And Quiet Flows the Don epi: 1 sbt: From Peace to War aut: Mikhail Shokolov cnt: 11 bnd: BP 11 len: 56'13" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 09.10.2005 lng: englisch stw: For Cossacks leading their traditional life by the shores of the Don, the call-up for military service is part of their duty to the Tsar. But for Gregor, the start of the First World War takes him away from the woman he loves. Gregor ...... Richard Harrington Pantaleimon ...... Dorien Thomas Aksinia ...... Mali Harries Listnitsky ...... John McAndrew Natasha ...... Sara McGaughey Darya ...... Manon Edwards Stephan ...... Jonathan Floyd Stockman ...... Simon Ludders Bridesman ...... Richard Elfyn Dramatised by DJ Britton gen: Hörspiel ser: Classic Serial tit: And Quiet Flows the Don epi: 2 sbt: Revolution and Civil War aut: Mikhail Sholokhov cnt: 12 bnd: BP 11 len: 56'55" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 16.10.2005 lng: englisch stw: It's 1916. In a Moscow hospital, Gregor encounters radical ideas. Will he join the Revolution or will he return home to the Don? A moving account of life, love and war among southern Russia's Cossacks, as farmers are drawn into a series of wars. Gregor ...... Richard Harrington Bunchuk ...... Richard Elfyn Pantaleimon ...... Dorien Thomas Aksinia ...... Mali Harries Listnitsky ...... John McAndrew Natasha ...... Sara McGaughey Darya ...... Manon Edwards Anna ...... Caryl Morgan Kalmikov ...... Jonathan Floyd Spiridonov ...... Simon Ludders Dramatised by DJ Britton gen: Hörspiel tit: Crime and Punishment epi: 1 aut: Fjodor Michajlowitsch Dostojewski cnt: 13 bnd: BP 11 len: 56'49" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 12.10.2005 lng: englisch stw: In Dostoevsky's romantic thriller of guilt and redemption, young Raskolnikov is determined to put to the test a horrific theory. Three part dramatisation of Dostoevsky's Crime and Punishment. Brilliantly dramatised by Mike Walker and directed by John Taylor, this production stars Oliver Milburn and Anton Lesser. gen: Hörspiel tit: Crime and Punishment epi: 2 aut: Fjodor Michajlowitsch Dostojewski cnt: 14 bnd: BP 11 len: 56'56" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 13.10.2005 lng: englisch stw: Raskolnikov, in a fever of guilt, finds himself pursued by the unnaturally cunning investigator, Porfiry Petrovich. gen: Hörspiel tit: Crime and Punishment epi: 3 aut: Fjodor Michajlowitsch Dostojewski cnt: 15 bnd: BP 11 len: 56'52" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 14.10.2005 lng: englisch stw: As the policeman Porfiry Petrovich closes in, a desperate Raskolnikov finds an unexpected source of hope. gen: Hörspiel tit: The Twisted Image aut: James Follett cnt: 1 bnd: BP 12 len: 42'46" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 07.10.2005 lng: englisch stw: James Follett's futuristic murder mystery. The police find a body in the boot of a Rolls-Royce, but the clues just don't add up. A fantasy fake murder mystery gen: Hörspiel tit: The Mayor of Casterbridge epi: 1 sbt: The Horse Fair aut: Thomas Hardy cnt: 2 bnd: BP 12 len: 55'52" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 16.10.2005 lng: englisch stw: David Calder stars as Michael Henchard in Sally Hedges dramatisation of Thomas Hardy's classic novel. Michael throws his life away in a drunken act at a fair in 19th century Dorset. Will he ever be happy again? Also starring Janet Dale, Andrea Wray, Jason Flemyng, Mary Wimbush and Richard Avery and directed by Nigel Bryant. gen: Hörspiel tit: The Mayor of Casterbridge epi: 2 sbt: Rivals aut: Thomas Hardy cnt: 3 bnd: BP 12 len: 57'17" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 23.10.2005 lng: englisch stw: What is the devastating secret that Susan felt unable to reveal to the Mayor of Casterbridge until her death? gen: Hörspiel tit: The Mayor of Casterbridge epi: 3 sbt: The Conjuror and the Choir aut: Thomas Hardy cnt: 4 bnd: BP 12 len: 57'17" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 30.10.2005 lng: englisch stw: With Susan dead, will the Mayor of Casterbridge remarry? gen: Hörspiel tit: The Mayor of Casterbridge epi: 4 sbt: The Skimmity Ride aut: Thomas Hardy cnt: 5 bnd: BP 12 len: 57'28" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 06.11.2005 lng: englisch stw: The Mayor of Casterbridge, Henchard is increasingly desperate and turns to drink, breaking a pledge of 21 years. gen: Hörspiel tit: A Tale Of Two Cities epi: 1 sbt: The Year 1775 aut: Charles Dickens cnt: 6 bnd: BP 12 len: 56'24" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 17.10.2005 fst: 1989 lng: englisch stw: A man recalled to life is the first link in a chain binding London and Paris during the French Revolution. A Tale of Two Cities Charles Dickens' classic tale is set between London and Paris during the French Revolution. It is in seven episodes, and stars Charles Dance, John Duttine, Richard Pascoe, Maurice Denham and Charlotte Attenborough. This exciting production was directed by Ian Cotterell and first broadcast in 1989. gen: Hörspiel tit: A Tale Of Two Cities epi: 2 sbt: Five Years Later aut: Charles Dickens cnt: 7 bnd: BP 12 len: 56'43" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 18.10.2005 fst: 1989 lng: englisch stw: Charles Darnay stands on trial at the Old Bailey, accused of treason. Jerry Cruncher does not believe Charles can be saved. gen: Hörspiel tit: A Tale Of Two Cities epi: 3 sbt: Promises aut: Charles Dickens cnt: 8 bnd: BP 12 len: 56'30" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 19.10.2005 fst: 1989 lng: englisch stw: An accident involving Monsieur Le Marquis inflames the growing anger of the residents of Paris. gen: Hörspiel tit: A Tale Of Two Cities epi: 4 sbt: Beginnings aut: Charles Dickens cnt: 9 bnd: BP 12 len: 56'37" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 20.10.2005 fst: 1989 lng: englisch stw: Carton's associate, the self important Mr Striver, intends to marry Lucy and cannot see why she won't accept him. gen: Hörspiel tit: A Tale Of Two Cities epi: 5 sbt: The Storm Gathers aut: Charles Dickens cnt: 10 bnd: BP 12 len: 56'26" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 21.10.2005 fst: 1989 lng: englisch stw: As the Bastille falls, the echoing footsteps of the mob are heard as far away as London. gen: Hörspiel tit: A Tale Of Two Cities epi: 6 sbt: The Track of a Storm aut: Charles Dickens cnt: 11 bnd: BP 12 len: 56'49" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 24.10.2005 fst: 1989 lng: englisch stw: Darnay is in Paris and in great danger. Lucie and the others set out to rescue him. Can the Defarges be trusted? gen: Hörspiel tit: A Tale Of Two Cities epi: 7 sbt: The Knitting Done aut: Charles Dickens cnt: 12 bnd: BP 12 len: 56'43" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 25.10.2005 fst: 1989 lng: englisch stw: Darnay has been re-arrested and is now back in prison. Mr Carton plans to help, but must make a huge sacrifice. gen: Hörspiel tit: Barnaby Rudge epi: 1 sbt: The 19th of March aut: Charles Dickens cnt: 13 bnd: BP 12 len: 57'14" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 26.10.2005 fst: 1985 lng: englisch stw: March 19 brings memories of murder for the Haredales. Then a stranger arrives. This classic Charles Dickens' tale is set in London in 1780, against the backdrop of the infamous 'No Popery' riots. It is in 3 episodes, and stars Ian Hogg, John Duttine, Richard Derrington, Michael Gilberry and Janet Dale. This production was directed by Sue Wilson and first broadcast in 1985. gen: Hörspiel tit: Barnaby Rudge epi: 2 sbt: The No Popery Men aut: Charles Dickens cnt: 14 bnd: BP 12 len: 57'16" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 27.10.2005 fst: 1985 lng: englisch stw: Lord George's campaign ensnares Barnaby and a bitter past feud catches up with Joe and Edward. gen: Hörspiel tit: Barnaby Rudge epi: 3 sbt: The Gordon Riots aut: Charles Dickens cnt: 15 bnd: BP 12 len: 57'10" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 28.10.2005 fst: 1985 lng: englisch stw: Riots and the burning of Newgate Prison, arson, looting and the shadow of murder put Barnaby's life in danger. gen: Hörspiel tit: Grigorii Efimovich Rasputin sbt: Almost the Truth aut: Wally K. Daly cnt: 1 bnd: BP 13 len: 87'11" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 22.10.2005 fst: 1996 lng: englisch stw: Has history been unjust to Rasputin? Was he anything more than 'a mad monk' and evil influence on the Russian Royal family? gen: Hörspiel ser: Afternoon Play tit: Twelve Means I Love You aut: Regina Kaiser and Uwe Karlstedt cnt: 2 bnd: BP 13 len: 44'01" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 28.10.2005 lng: englisch stw: The true story of a most unlikely love affair between an East German dissident and her Stasi interrogator. Regina Kaiser fears the worst when, in April 1981, she is arrested at her flat in Berlin and taken to Stasi headquarters for questioning. She has been secretly writing reports on East German life for a West German organisation. Now that she's been discovered, she'll probably go to jail for a long time. Uwe Karlstedt, a tall, blond, 26-year-old Stasi officer, is charged with interrogating her and compiling the report that will indeed send her to prison. As they face each other across the table for the first time, Regina and Uwe both feel an instant surge of emotion, an attraction that neither could have expected. Despite their unusual situation, they fall in love at first sight. Regina ..... Eiry Thomas Uwe ..... Steffan Rhodri Ludmilla ..... Sara McGaughey Adler ..... Paul Humpoletz Ellen ..... Clare Isaac Photographer ..... Simon Ludders Son of Uwe ..... Gareth Pierce Dramatised by Tracy Spottiswoode Director Kate McAll gen: Hörspiel tit: Weir of Hermiston aut: RL Stevenson cnt: 3 bnd: BP 13 len: 90'05" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 06.11.2005 fst: 1992 lng: englisch stw: RL Stevenson's tale of passion and revenge in the Scottish Lowlands. Robert Louis Stevenson's great unfinished novel has been completed and dramatised for radio by Robert Forrest. It is set in Edinburgh and the beautiful hills of the Scottish Borders (an area where I actually spent my childhood!) This tale of young Mr Archie Weir's love for Miss Christina Elliott stars Paul Young, Forbes Masson and Wendy Seager and was produced by Patrick Rayner. First broadcast in 1992. gen: Hörspiel ser: Krimi tit: The Skull Beneath the Skin epi: 1 aut: P D James cnt: 4 bnd: BP 13 len: 87'46" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 05.11.2005 lng: englisch stw: Greta Scacchi and John Moffatt star in the first part of this thrilling dramatisation of the P D James murder mystery. Young detective, Cordelia Gray has to accompany an actress to a private island, with dramatic consequences. It was directed by Matthew Walters and dramatised by Neville Teller. gen: Hörspiel ser: Krimi tit: The Skull Beneath the Skin epi: 2 aut: P D James cnt: 5 bnd: BP 13 len: 87'26" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 12.11.2005 lng: englisch stw: Private Investigator Cordelia Grey tries to solve the murder of Clarissa Lisle. Based on the P D James novel. gen: Hörspiel tit: Far From the Madding Crowd epi: 1 sbt: Fortunes aut: Thomas Hardy cnt: 6 bnd: BP 13 len: 56'39" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 13.11.2005 lng: englisch stw: In part one of Hardy's Wessex tragedy, Bathsheba Everdene rejects the proposal of Gabriel Oak, but their paths cross again. This weekend we begin a six part dramatisation of Thomas Hardy's tragedy Far From The Madding Crowd. Set in Wessex, it tells how one woman's actions can change the lives of three men. Adapted by Nick McCarty and starring Janet Maw, Tim McInnerny, David Burke, and Emily Morgan, it was directed by Marilyn Imrie. gen: Hörspiel tit: Far From the Madding Crowd epi: 2 sbt: Marry Me aut: Thomas Hardy cnt: 7 bnd: BP 13 len: 53'02" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 20.11.2005 lng: englisch stw: In part two of Hardy's Wessex tale Farmer Boldwood begins to play a major role in the drama of Bathsheba Everdene. gen: Hörspiel tit: Far From the Madding Crowd epi: 3 sbt: The Seeds of Love aut: Thomas Hardy cnt: 8 bnd: BP 13 len: 55'53" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 27.11.2005 lng: englisch stw: Bathsheba Everdene has been made an offer many women of her rank and station in the neighbourhood would love to have accepted. gen: Hörspiel tit: Far From the Madding Crowd epi: 4 sbt: Sergeant Troy aut: Thomas Hardy cnt: 9 bnd: BP 13 len: 56'46" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 04.12.2005 lng: englisch stw: A scarlet coat, fine words and a sword flourish breach Bathsheba's defences to devastating effect, upon meeting Sergeant Troy. gen: Hörspiel tit: Far From the Madding Crowd epi: 5 sbt: Autumn aut: Thomas Hardy cnt: 10 bnd: BP 13 len: 56'43" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 11.12.2005 lng: englisch stw: Sergeant Troy's cruel treatment of sweet Fanny comes back to haunt him. gen: Hörspiel tit: Far From the Madding Crowd epi: 6 sbt: Gathering In aut: Thomas Hardy cnt: 11 bnd: BP 13 len: 54'52" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 18.12.2005 lng: englisch stw: Thomas Hardy's Wessex tragedy sees the emancipated Bathsheba Everdene inherit her father's farm and change the lives of three men. gen: Hörspiel tit: Jumbo aut: James Follett cnt: 12 bnd: BP 13 len: 86'43" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 19.11.2005 lng: englisch stw: A normal transatlantic flight is forced down in the water - but that's just the start of their troubles. gen: Hörspiel tit: The Devil to Pay aut: James Follett cnt: 13 bnd: BP 13 len: 15'18" med: MP3 spd: 80 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 26.12.2005 fst: 79-04-21 lng: englisch gen: Hörspiel tit: The Man Who Invented Yesterday aut: James Follett cnt: 14 bnd: BP 13 len: 15'17" med: MP3 spd: 80 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 26.12.2005 fst: 80-02-15 lng: englisch stw: Tyrannosaurus Rex gen: Hörspiel tit: The Bionic Blob aut: James Follett cnt: 15 bnd: BP 13 len: 16'18" med: MP3 spd: 80 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 26.12.2005 fst: 79-03-11 lng: englisch gen: Hörspiel tit: Bleak House epi: 1 aut: Charles Dickens cnt: 1 bnd: BP 14 len: 56'46" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 31.10.2005 fst: 1998 lng: englisch stw: A courtroom saga, a romance, a whodunnit, a dark, psychological thriller, Dickens' masterpiece has it all. A contested inheritance has been dragging through the Courts of Chancery for years, gradually grinding down its suitors. John Dryden's brilliant five part adaptation of Charles Dickens' Bleak House swept the boards with awards following on from its first broadcast in 1998, amongst which was the coveted Sony Gold Award for Drama. Dickens's satirical look at the Victorian legal system has a strong cast including Michael Kitchen, John Shrapnel, Anton Lesser, Jean Marsh and Honeysuckle Weeks. gen: Hörspiel tit: Bleak House epi: 2 aut: Charles Dickens cnt: 2 bnd: BP 14 len: 56'58" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 01.11.2005 fst: 1998 lng: englisch stw: Strange things start to happen after a law-writer is found dead in his seedy lodgings in Dickens' masterpiece. gen: Hörspiel tit: Bleak House epi: 3 aut: Charles Dickens cnt: 3 bnd: BP 14 len: 56'59" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 02.11.2005 fst: 1998 lng: englisch stw: Lovelorn legal clerk, William Guppy gets himself involved in something bigger than he can handle; a spontaneous combustion. gen: Hörspiel tit: Bleak House epi: 4 aut: Charles Dickens cnt: 4 bnd: BP 14 len: 56'55" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 03.11.2005 fst: 1998 lng: englisch stw: Richard, obsessed with his inheritance suit is on a dangerous path to self-destruction in Dickens' masterpiece. gen: Hörspiel tit: Bleak House epi: 5 aut: Charles Dickens cnt: 5 bnd: BP 14 len: 56'45" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 04.11.2005 fst: 1998 lng: englisch stw: The chase is on for the murderer of Tulkinghorn, but having made so many enemies the killer could be almost anyone. gen: Hörspiel tit: Martin Chuzzlewit epi: 1 sbt: The New Pupil aut: Charles Dickens cnt: 6 bnd: BP 14 len: 57'24" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 07.11.2005 fst: 1987 lng: englisch stw: Martin Chuzzlewit is a wealthy old man. But who will inherit his riches? He has disinherited his grandson, young Martin, suspecting the motives of the young man's love for Mary, Chuzzlewit's nurse and companion. With such a prize to play for, the rest of his family - including the snivelling hypocrite Pecksniff and the fabulously evil Jonas - bring forth all of their cunning, greed and selfishness. Starring Patrick Troughton, David Collings and Simon Cadell, this Dickens' classic was directed by the wonderful Jane Morgan and was first broadcast twenty years ago, 1987. gen: Hörspiel tit: Martin Chuzzlewit epi: 2 sbt: Town and Todgers aut: Charles Dickens cnt: 7 bnd: BP 14 len: 56'58" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 08.11.2005 fst: 1987 lng: englisch stw: The Pecksniffs depart for London leaving Martin and Tom to their own devices. gen: Hörspiel tit: Martin Chuzzlewit epi: 3 sbt: Banished aut: Charles Dickens cnt: 8 bnd: BP 14 len: 54'49" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 09.11.2005 fst: 1987 lng: englisch stw: America beckons for Martin Chuzzlewit - but what of Pinch and Mary? gen: Hörspiel tit: Martin Chuzzlewit epi: 4 sbt: Hail Columbia aut: Charles Dickens cnt: 9 bnd: BP 14 len: 57'20" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 10.11.2005 fst: 1987 lng: englisch stw: Jonas' father suffers a seizure, and his marriage proposal goes less than swimmingly. gen: Hörspiel tit: Martin Chuzzlewit epi: 5 sbt: The Valley of Eden aut: Charles Dickens cnt: 10 bnd: BP 14 len: 57'16" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 11.11.2005 fst: 1987 lng: englisch stw: Mr Pinch's surprise does not elicit quite the reaction he was after. An awful lot of wailing ensues. gen: Hörspiel tit: Martin Chuzzlewit epi: 6 sbt: The Anglo Bengalee aut: Charles Dickens cnt: 11 bnd: BP 14 len: 57'22" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 14.11.2005 fst: 1987 lng: englisch stw: Could Pecksniff sink any lower? Patrick Troughton and David Collings star. gen: Hörspiel tit: Martin Chuzzlewit epi: 7 sbt: Brother and Sister aut: Charles Dickens cnt: 12 bnd: BP 14 len: 56'11" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 15.11.2005 fst: 1987 lng: englisch stw: Will young Martin finally see the error of his ways? gen: Hörspiel tit: Martin Chuzzlewit epi: 8 sbt: Secret Service aut: Charles Dickens cnt: 13 bnd: BP 14 len: 57'20" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 16.11.2005 fst: 1987 lng: englisch stw: Mr Thomas Pinch seeks employment in London, beginning with a description of himself as 'a respectable young man aged 35'. gen: Hörspiel tit: Martin Chuzzlewit epi: 9 sbt: The Mark of Cain aut: Charles Dickens cnt: 14 bnd: BP 14 len: 57'22" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 17.11.2005 fst: 1987 lng: englisch stw: Martin and Tom Pinch are reunited, and Mark Tapley has a strange revelation. gen: Hörspiel tit: Martin Chuzzlewit epi: 10 sbt: Nemesis aut: Charles Dickens cnt: 15 bnd: BP 14 len: 57'25" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 18.11.2005 fst: 1987 lng: englisch stw: Martin Chuzzlewit senior (Patrick Troughton) reappears as events reach a head. gen: Hörspiel tit: Our Mutual Friend epi: 1 sbt: Cut Adrift aut: Charles Dickens cnt: 1 bnd: BP 15 len: 56'33" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 21.11.2005 lng: englisch stw: An evocative dramatisation of the Dickens classic. It begins on the River Thames where a dead body is retrieved from the water. gen: Hörspiel tit: Our Mutual Friend epi: 2 sbt: The Golden Dustman aut: Charles Dickens cnt: 2 bnd: BP 15 len: 55'19" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 22.11.2005 lng: englisch stw: The jury has found that Mr John Harman had met his death in suspicious circumstances. gen: Hörspiel tit: Our Mutual Friend epi: 3 sbt: The Doll's Dressmaker aut: Charles Dickens cnt: 3 bnd: BP 15 len: 55'30" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 23.11.2005 lng: englisch stw: Gaffer Hexman is found dead with silver in his hand. In John Harman's absence the money goes to his father's foreman, Mr Boffin. gen: Hörspiel tit: Our Mutual Friend epi: 4 sbt: A Riddle Without an Answer aut: Charles Dickens cnt: 4 bnd: BP 15 len: 55'02" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 24.11.2005 lng: englisch stw: While Silas Wegg tries to work out who really owns the inheritance, the Lammles try to make some money. gen: Hörspiel tit: Our Mutual Friend epi: 5 sbt: Some Affairs of the Heart aut: Charles Dickens cnt: 5 bnd: BP 15 len: 55'17" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 25.11.2005 lng: englisch stw: 'My life and fortunes are so contradictory. What can I expect myself to be?' weeps Bella. gen: Hörspiel tit: Our Mutual Friend epi: 6 sbt: A Flight and a Fall aut: Charles Dickens cnt: 6 bnd: BP 15 len: 55'00" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 28.11.2005 lng: englisch stw: Lizzie Hexam goes missing. She had received a retraction of claims against her father. gen: Hörspiel tit: Our Mutual Friend epi: 7 sbt: Meaning Mischief aut: Charles Dickens cnt: 7 bnd: BP 15 len: 55'24" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 29.11.2005 lng: englisch stw: A cash box is found and in it John Harman's Will leaving the money not to Boffin but the Crown. gen: Hörspiel tit: Our Mutual Friend epi: 8 sbt: Setting Traps aut: Charles Dickens cnt: 8 bnd: BP 15 len: 55'58" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 30.11.2005 lng: englisch stw: Distressed by Boffin's conduct, Bella returns to her parents' home and is finally reconciled with Harman. gen: Hörspiel tit: Our Mutual Friend epi: 9 sbt: A Cry for Help aut: Charles Dickens cnt: 9 bnd: BP 15 len: 55'23" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 01.12.2005 lng: englisch stw: Who delivers the cruel battering to Eugene Wrayburn? gen: Hörspiel tit: Our Mutual Friend epi: 10 sbt: The Trap Springs aut: Charles Dickens cnt: 10 bnd: BP 15 len: 55'38" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 02.12.2005 lng: englisch stw: Wrayburn is on his deathbed and Lizzie prepares to marry him. The wedding is held in the shadow of death. gen: Hörspiel tit: The Taming of the Shrew aut: William Shakespeare cnt: 11 bnd: BP 15 len: 118'12" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 26.11.2005 lng: englisch stw: Kate is wilful, loud, volatile and above all, shrewish. Petruchio is stern, jolly, and somewhat odd. A match made in heaven? Radio 3 and BBC7 are bringing you more traditional Shakespeare plays. On BBC7 we begin with The Taming of the Shrew. This hearty comedy as always been a favourite with audiences. Three suitors pursue Bianca Minola, but her father won't let her marry until her older sister, Katherine, is married. Kate is wilful, loud, volatile and above all, shrewish. Her suitor Petruchio is stern, jolly, and somewhat odd. Will it be a match made in heaven? Our production of the play has an all-star cast including Bob Peck, Cheryl Campbell, Robert Glenister, Stephen Tompkinson, Douglas Hodge and Paul Copley. gen: Hörspiel tit: A Midsummer Night's Dream aut: William Shakespeare cnt: 12 bnd: BP 15 len: 117'20" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 03.12.2005 lng: englisch stw: The forest is the setting for magical goings-on and romantic entanglements in this well-loved comedy. The cast includes Sylvestra Le Touzel, David Threlfall, Richard Griffiths, Amanda Root, Samuel West, Peter Sallis and Holly Grainger. This two hour dramatisation was directed for radio by Sue Roberts. gen: Hörspiel tit: The Governor's Consort aut: Peter Tinniswood cnt: 13 bnd: BP 15 len: 59'18" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 04.12.2005 lng: englisch stw: Peter Tinniswood's play, written specially for Mary Wimbush who died last month. Lady Edith sails to a South Atlantic island. The late and very popular actor Mary Wimbush stars in this play by Peter Tinniswood, written especially for her. As the Governor's Consort, Lady Edith, she is appalled when her husband is posted to a remote South Atlantic outcrop. Mary won a Sony Award for her performance. The play is introduced with an appreciation of Mary's work by Vanessa Whitburn, editor of The Archers, who directed Mary in much of her radio work. This production was directed by Enyd Williams. gen: Hörspiel tit: The Mystery of Edwin Drood epi: 1 aut: Charles Dickens cnt: 1 bnd: BP 16 len: 57'22" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 05.12.2005 lng: englisch stw: Neville and Helena's arrival in Cloisterham sets in motion a chain of events which leads, with tragic inevitability, to murder. Written in 1870, Dickens's last novel has at its heart an ill-fated engagement and a suspected murder, the victim of which has disappeared. Dickens died before completing the story, leaving the mystery unsolved and encouraging successive generations of readers to turn detective. Starring Ian Holm, Gareth Thomas, Susan Sheridan and the late Mary Wimbush, The Mystery of Edwin Drood was dramatised by David Buck and produced by Gordon House for the World Service in 1990. Continuing our tribute to Mary Wimbush, she also won an award for her part in this production of Dickens' unfinished novel, which was later concluded by Leon Garfield. gen: Hörspiel tit: The Mystery of Edwin Drood epi: 2 aut: Charles Dickens cnt: 2 bnd: BP 16 len: 57'02" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 06.12.2005 lng: englisch stw: Edwin and Neville attend a dinner hosted by Edwin's guardian Jasper, a meeting destined to be their last. gen: Hörspiel tit: The Mystery of Edwin Drood epi: 3 aut: Charles Dickens cnt: 3 bnd: BP 16 len: 56'42" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 07.12.2005 lng: englisch stw: A mysterious stranger arrives in Cloisterham one June afternoon with a different view of the recent events. gen: Hörspiel tit: The Mystery of Edwin Drood epi: 4 aut: Charles Dickens cnt: 4 bnd: BP 16 len: 56'58" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 08.12.2005 lng: englisch stw: John Jasper continues to search for proof that his nephew Edwin has been murdered by Neville Landless. gen: Hörspiel tit: The Mystery of Edwin Drood epi: 5 aut: Charles Dickens cnt: 5 bnd: BP 16 len: 56'54" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 09.12.2005 lng: englisch stw: Neville Landless has been stabbed to death. Imagine Jasper's horror when he sees Neville outside his front door. gen: Hörspiel tit: The Pickwick Papers epi: 1 sbt: The Pickwick Club aut: Charles Dickens cnt: 6 bnd: BP 16 len: 54'58" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 12.12.2005 lng: englisch stw: Join benevolent Mr Pickwick, sensitive Mr Tupman, literary Mr Snodgrass and sportive Mr Winkle in Dickens' comic novel. This week we follow the adventures of Mr Pickwick, Sam Weller, Mr Tupman and the rest of the Pickwick Club as we begin Charles Dickens' first novel. Barry Campbell's adaptation of Dickens' well loved satire stars Simon Cadell, Freddie Jones and June Whitfield. The Director is Jane Morgan. gen: Hörspiel tit: The Pickwick Papers epi: 2 sbt: Dingley Dell aut: Charles Dickens cnt: 7 bnd: BP 16 len: 54'14" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 13.12.2005 lng: englisch stw: The Theory of Tittlebats, the poetic Snodgrass and the sporting Winkle. It can only be a Dickens adaptation. With Simon Cadell. gen: Hörspiel tit: The Pickwick Papers epi: 3 sbt: Alarms and Excursions aut: Charles Dickens cnt: 8 bnd: BP 16 len: 56'03" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 14.12.2005 lng: englisch stw: The Theory of Tittlebats, the poetic Snodgrass and the sporting Winkle. It can only be a Dickens adaptation. With Simon Cadell. gen: Hörspiel tit: The Pickwick Papers epi: 4 sbt: Perambulations and Proposals aut: Charles Dickens cnt: 9 bnd: BP 16 len: 54'27" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 15.12.2005 lng: englisch stw: The Theory of Tittlebats, the poetic Snodgrass and the sporting Winkle. It can only be a Dickens adaptation. gen: Hörspiel tit: The Pickwick Papers epi: 5 sbt: Christmas and a Wedding aut: Charles Dickens cnt: 10 bnd: BP 16 len: 54'20" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 16.12.2005 lng: englisch stw: The Theory of Tittlebats, the poetic Snodgrass and the sporting Winkle. It can only be a Dickens adaptation. With Simon Cadell. gen: Hörspiel tit: The Pickwick Papers epi: 6 sbt: Trials and Tribulations aut: Charles Dickens cnt: 11 bnd: BP 16 len: 54'26" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 19.12.2005 lng: englisch stw: The Theory of Tittlebats, the poetic Snodgrass and the sporting Winkle. It can only be a Dickens adaptation. With Simon Cadell. gen: Hörspiel tit: The Pickwick Papers epi: 7 sbt: Walls and Bars aut: Charles Dickens cnt: 12 bnd: BP 16 len: 55'34" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 20.12.2005 lng: englisch stw: The Theory of Tittlebats, the poetic Snodgrass and the sporting Winkle. It can only be a Dickens adaptation. With Simon Cadell. gen: Hörspiel tit: The Pickwick Papers epi: 8 sbt: A Matter Of Principle aut: Charles Dickens cnt: 13 bnd: BP 16 len: 54'26" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 21.12.2005 lng: englisch stw: The Theory of Tittlebats, the poetic Snodgrass and the sporting Winkle. It can only be a Dickens adaptation. gen: Hörspiel ser: Classic Serial tit: Greenmantle epi: 1 aut: John Buchan cnt: 14 bnd: BP 16 len: 57'08" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 03.07.2005 lng: englisch stw: In 1915 Richard Hannay is summoned to the War Office where Sir Walter Hannay tells him of an impending Holy War in the East. Greenmantle, a mythical figure now become flesh is preparing to lead a great Islamic army against the infidel English. Hannay's mission is to identify Greenmantle and destroy him. His companions on this venture are the Honourable Sandy Arbuthnot, polyglot and master of disguise, and John Scantlebury Blenkiron, a dyspeptic Bostonian. With Hannay playing the part of a German sympathiser, all three go their separate and dangerous ways to penetrate the heart of the conspiracy. Richard Hannay ...... David Robb Sandy Arbuthnot .. James Fleet Sir Walter Bullivant ...... Clive Merrison John S Blenkiron ...... Stuart Milligan Peter Pienaar ...... Jon Glover Ulric von Stumm ...... Jack Klaff German Agent/Barge Captain/Kuprasso ...... David Timson German Mother ...... Rachel Atkins Herr Gaudian/British Corporal ...... Harry Myers Under-Secretary/Harry Bullivant ...... Matthew Pidgeon Dramatised by Patricia Hannah Directed by Bruce Young gen: Hörspiel ser: Classic Serial tit: Greenmantle epi: 2 aut: John Buchan cnt: 15 bnd: BP 16 len: 56'55" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 27.12.2005 lng: englisch stw: In 1915, Richard Hannay uncovers a German plot to start a Holy War in the East. The prophet Greenmantle is seriously ill and has fallen under the spell of beautiful Hilda Von Einem - who plans to use Greenmantle to further German imperial domination. Richard Hannay ...... David Robb Sandy Arbuthnot .. James Fleet Blenkiron ...... Stuart Milligan Hilda Von Einem ...... Juliet Aubrey Peter Pienaar ...... Jon Glover Ulric von Stumm ...... Jack Klaff Hussin ...... Hash Chamchoun Balloon Seller/Officer ...... Matthew Pidgeon Dramatised by Patricia Hannah Directed by Bruce Young gen: Hörspiel tit: The Obsolete Man cnt: 16 bnd: BP 16 len: 38'28" med: MP3 spd: 80 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 22.01.2006 lng: englisch stw: The Twilight Zone A librarian scheduled for 'obsolescence' finds a way to avenge himself on the Chancellor who sentenced him. gen: Hörspiel tit: A Christmas Carol aut: Charles Dickens cnt: 1 bnd: BP 17 len: 88'56" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 25.12.2005 lng: englisch stw: The Dickens season continues with this classic and well-loved tale for Christmas in a radio dramatisation by Christopher Denys. Michael Gough stars as the miserly Ebenezer Scrooge who finds himself forced to reflect on his life after visits from ghosts. The cast includes Freddie Jones as the narrator and Douglas Hodge as Scrooge's nephew. The director is Janet Whitaker. gen: Hörspiel tit: Don Quixote epi: 1 aut: Cervantes cnt: 2 bnd: BP 17 len: 89'14" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 01.01.2006 fst: 1980 lng: englisch stw: Written in 1605, this Spanish classic is about the adventures of an intrepid knight and his humble squire, Sancho Panza. gen: Hörspiel tit: Don Quixote epi: 2 aut: Cervantes cnt: 3 bnd: BP 17 len: 89'14" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 08.01.2006 fst: 1980 lng: englisch stw: Written in 1605, this Spanish classic is about the adventures of an intrepid knight and his humble squire Sancho Panza. We continue to chronicle the famous adventures of the noble knight-errant, Don Quixote de La Mancha and his faithful squire, Sancho Panza, as they travel through sixteenth-century Spain pursuing delusions and dreams. Bob Grant and Bernard Cribbins play the Knight and his Squire in part two of our adaptation, dramatised by John Arden. gen: Hörspiel ser: Classic Serial tit: The French Lieutenant's Woman epi: 1 aut: John Fowles cnt: 4 bnd: BP 17 len: 57'01" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 01.01.2006 lng: englisch stw: A new and faithful adaptation of Fowles' passionate epic of two lovers in conflict with starched Victorian society. Charles Smithson's complacent snobbery is about to be shattered as he encounters a young social outcast, Sarah Woodruff. Narrator ...... John Hurt Charles ...... Jonathan Firth Sarah ...... Emily Bruni Ernestina ...... Kelly Reilly Mrs Tranter ...... Elizabeth Spriggs Dr Grogan ...... T P Mckenna Sam ...... Nick Sayce Mary ...... Ella Smith Mrs Poulteney ...... Susan Jameson Dairyman ...... Gerard Mcdermott Ostler ...... Wayne Foskett Mrs Fairley ...... Colleen Prendergast Dramatised by Graham White Director Peter Kavanagh gen: Hörspiel ser: Classic Serial tit: The French Lieutenant's Woman epi: 2 aut: John Fowles cnt: 5 bnd: BP 17 len: 56'46" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 08.01.2006 lng: englisch stw: Charles' life as a complacent Victorian gent has been overturned by his secret meetings with the mysterious Sarah on the undercliff at Lyme. Having vowed to end the liaison, he finds himself lured one last time. He kisses Sarah passionately, but discovers they are being watched. Narrator ...... John Hurt Charles ...... Jonathan Firth Sarah ...... Emily Bruni Ernestina ...... Kelly Reilly Dr Grogan ...... TP McKenna Sam ...... Nick Sayce Mary ...... Ella Smith Mrs Endicott ...... Susan Jameson Mr Freeman ...... Gerard McDermott Montague ...... Wayne Foskett Mrs Rogers ...... Colleen Prendergast Curate ...... John Cummins Prostitute ...... Sophie Roberts Dramatised by Graham White Director Peter Kavanagh gen: Hörspiel ser: Krimi tit: Elephants Can Remember aut: Agatha Christie cnt: 6 bnd: BP 17 len: 87'14" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 07.01.2006 lng: englisch stw: The Saturday Play A provocative question posed by a formidable busybody sends Hercule Poirot and Ariadne Oliver on a series of journeys to unravel the mystery of a tragedy from the distant past - provoked in equal measure by love and hate. Poirot ...... John Moffatt Ariadne ...... Julia MacKenzie Chief Supt Garroway ...... Trevor Cuthbertson Celia ...... Rachel Bavidge Desmond ...... Ifan Meredith Mrs Burton Cox ...... Paula Jacobs Julia ...... Jane Wenham Nanny ...... Barbara Atkinson Mrs Buckle ...... Elizabeth Proud Mrs Rosentelle ...... Jill Balcon Zelie ...... Alexandra Bastedo Mr Goby ...... Stephen Thorne George ...... Patrick Garland Dramatised by Michael Bakewell Director Enyd Williams gen: Hörspiel tit: Charley's Aunt aut: Brandon Thomas cnt: 7 bnd: BP 17 len: 73'35" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 07.01.2006 lng: englisch stw: Classic farce with the millionairess from Brazil ('where the nuts come from'), young love and female impersonation. Brandon Thomas's delightful farce, adapted by Jonathan Hall, was recorded in front of an audience at Manchester Grammar School. When chums Jack and Charley hatch a plot to win the affections of two young ladies, chaos ensues. With John Griffin, Morgan George, Chris Langham, Rina Mahoney and Fenella Woolgar, it was directed by Polly Thomas and first broadcast in 2000. gen: Hörspiel tit: Little Dorrit epi: 1 aut: Charles Dickens cnt: 8 bnd: BP 17 len: 56'55" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 09.01.2006 lng: englisch stw: The first part of Dickens' masterpiece set in a debtors prison where Amy Dorrit cares for her imprisoned father. Charles Dickens' masterpiece, set in a debtor's prison, sees Arthur Clennam return from China to a chance meeting with Amy Dorrit, a young seamstress caring for her imprisoned father. Intrigued and concerned for her, he follows her to her unlikely home, The Marshalsea Debtor's Prison, and is introduced to her extraordinary family. This classic tale of debt, deceit and honour, based on Dickens' own childhood experiences is dramatised by Doug Lucie. The prestigious cast includes Sir Ian McKellen, Julian Wadham, Jasmine Hyde, John Wood, Margaret Tyzack and Sophie Thompson. The series was directed by Janet Whitaker. gen: Hörspiel tit: Little Dorrit epi: 2 aut: Charles Dickens cnt: 9 bnd: BP 17 len: 56'49" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 10.01.2006 lng: englisch stw: Gentleman Arthur Clennam continues to help Little Amy Dorrit and her family in this classic Dickens tale. With Ian McKellen. gen: Hörspiel tit: Little Dorrit epi: 3 aut: Charles Dickens cnt: 10 bnd: BP 17 len: 56'55" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 11.01.2006 lng: englisch stw: Charles Dickens' masterpiece about prison life sees new and surprising discoveries about the Dorrit family. gen: Hörspiel tit: Little Dorrit epi: 4 aut: Charles Dickens cnt: 11 bnd: BP 17 len: 56'42" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 12.01.2006 lng: englisch stw: Dickens' masterpiece about prison life finds the newly wealthy Dorrits on a tour of Europe. Little Dorrit is homesick, however. gen: Hörspiel tit: Little Dorrit epi: 5 aut: Charles Dickens cnt: 12 bnd: BP 17 len: 56'54" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 13.01.2006 lng: englisch stw: In Charles Dickens' masterpiece, Arthur is struck by disaster and Mrs Clennam is blackmailed into revealing the family secret. gen: Hörspiel ser: Afternoon Play tit: The Eve of St Agnes aut: John Keats cnt: 13 bnd: BP 17 len: 44'07" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 19.01.2006 lng: englisch stw: Keats' atmospheric poem telling the story of the lovers Porphyro and Madeline and their secret meeting on St Agnes Eve - introduced by the poet Laureate Andrew Motion. Madeline is desperate on that bitterly cold night for a vision of her dearly loved Porphyro who is neither of her place nor of her race. The relations between their families are so hostile that Porphyro's arrival at the castle of the wealthy sire of Madeline is considered taboo. Angela, the Beldame, takes pity and hides Porphyro in Madeline's bed chamber so the two can meet. The tense and tricky Angela quite literally holds the key to the couple's fulfillment of love. Narrator ...... Samuel West Porphyro ...... Daniel Evans Madeline ...... Zoe Henry Dame .......... Ann Rye With music composed by Gary Yershon. Lute ....... Jacob Heringman Flute ...... Catherine Greenwood Director Susan Roberts gen: Hörspiel tit: Glasnost aut: John Mortimer cnt: 1 bnd: BP 18 len: 58'06" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 16.01.2006 lng: englisch stw: Whilst visiting Moscow, a lady novelist becomes besotted with her young Russian guide. But has he other motives? John Mortimer week This week we devote the 7 Drama slot to dramatisations of some of John Mortimer's work. Glasnost - Starring Anna Massey,Clive Merrison and Philip Voss and directed by John Tydeman. gen: Hörspiel tit: Lie Down Comic aut: John Mortimer cnt: 2 bnd: BP 18 len: 56'27" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 17.01.2006 lng: englisch stw: A stand up comic finds himself befriending a still beautiful, defiant and feisty woman author who is dying. Lie Down Comic - Starring Sinead Cusack and directed by Marilyn Imrie. gen: Hörspiel tit: The Dock Brief aut: John Mortimer cnt: 3 bnd: BP 18 len: 57'08" med: MP3 spd: 80 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 18.01.2006 lng: englisch stw: The docile and inoffensive Fowl has killed his wife - can 'old crock' barrister Morgan defend him? The Dock Brief - Starring Michael Hordern and David Kossoff and directed by Nesta Pain. gen: Hörspiel tit: The Summer of a Dormouse aut: John Mortimer cnt: 4 bnd: BP 18 len: 57'11" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 19.01.2006 lng: englisch stw: John Mortimer's comedy of missed opportunities stars Paul Scofield, Alex Jennings, Imelda Staunton and Gemma Jones and is directed by Marilyn Imrie. gen: Hörspiel tit: Mr Luby's Fear of Heaven aut: John Mortimer cnt: 5 bnd: BP 18 len: 51'25" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 20.01.2006 lng: englisch stw: When Lewis Luby is confronted by visions of the Almighty, he wonders if he's in the wrong place. Starring Sir John Gielgud and directed by John Tydeman. gen: Hörspiel ser: The Saturday Play tit: Death of a Salesman aut: Arthur Miller cnt: 6 bnd: BP 18 len: 118'45" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 11.02.2006 lng: englisch stw: To commemorate the first anniversary of Arthur Miller's death, John Tyeman's adaptation of Miller's classic play. Willy Loman ...... Timothy West Linda Loman ...... Rosemary Leach Biff ...... John Guerrasio Happy ...... Adam Henderson Charley ...... Peter Banks Howard ...... Colin Stinton Uncle Ben ...... John Hartley Bernard ...... Roger May Music by John White. Adapted and directed by John Tydeman. gen: Hörspiel tit: Chimera aut: Stephen Gallagher cnt: 7 bnd: BP 18 len: 85'32" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 11.02.2006 fst: 85-04-20 lng: englisch stw: A massacre takes place at an isolated laboratory and within hours government officials hush up the investigation, but why? Chimera is the Radio Times Digital Choice of the week. An atmospheric thriller adapted from Stephen Gallagher's novel, it is dramatised by he author himself and directed by Martin Jenkins. This was first broadcast on Radio 4 on the 20th April 1985 and stars Sarah Badel and Brian Glover. gen: Hörspiel ser: Afternoon Play tit: The Powder aut: Adam Thorpe cnt: 8 bnd: BP 18 len: 43'51" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 16.02.2006 lng: englisch stw: In 1946, a young soldier returns from the war to the family farm in Derbyshire, only to find that things have changed and not, in his view, for the better. There is now a secretive tenant on part of the land. Jack ...... Jason Done Ted ...... David Fleeshman Liz ...... Angela Curran Mr Petlow ...... David Thorpe Richler ...... Nicholas Murchie Mavis ...... Imogen Rands Young Jack ...... Dominic Curran Director Chris Wallis. gen: Hörspiel ser: Afternoon Play tit: Cast in Stone aut: Rachel Bentham cnt: 9 bnd: BP 18 len: 43'33" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 20.02.2006 lng: englisch stw: A young woman is caught between old pagan ways and the new Christianity when she is taken from her forest home to model for the stonemasons, who are building a great cathedral at Wells. Rachel Bentham's atmospheric drama is set in Wells at the end of the 12th Century where a great cathedral is being built. Elfrede, 15, becomes a model for the carvings there - both for the overtly sexual and pagan gargoyles and a statue of the virgin to rival Our Lady of Walsingham. Taken from her woodland home to lodge in the town with a Christian family, Elfrede resorts to the old pagan spells in revenge for a shocking act of violence. Elfrede ...... Hannah Bates Adam ...... Chris Donnelly Guy ...... Mark Meadows Margaret ...... Lisa Coleman Anneys ...... Amy Clifton With Paul Dodgson, Chris Serle and Chris Yapp. gen: Hörspiel ser: Afternoon Play tit: A Bit of a Hole aut: Christine Marshall cnt: 10 bnd: BP 18 len: 44'02" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 24.02.2006 lng: englisch stw: Cissie Weaver doesn't feel very neighbourly towards her arch enemy next door, Nora Siddall. But when the two warring septuagenarians decide to argue things out they find themselves in a right pickle without a cheese sandwich. Cissie Weaver ...... Tina Gray Nora Siddall ..... Ann Rye Michael/Fireman ...... Robin Simpson Director Jenny Stephens. gen: Hörspiel ser: The Friday Play tit: Zero aut: Olivia Hetreed cnt: 11 bnd: BP 18 len: 57'10" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 24.02.2006 lng: englisch stw: Zero is a little boy who likes playing with his toy gun and loves his mummy. Julia is a young Croatian music student trying to rebuild her shattered life after being held in one of the rape camps. She struggles to live with both the horror of his conception and the love she feels for the boy. When her husband Mesud finally returns from the fighting, he is confronted with a five-year old boy that is not just a victim of war, but an act of war. Is there any future for the couple with Zero in their home? Julia ...... Indira Varma Mesud ...... Tom Goodman-Hill Anna ...... Linda Bassett Zero ...... Jago Edyvean gen: Hörspiel ser: Classic Serial tit: Lord Arthur Savile's Crime epi: 1 aut: Oscar Wilde cnt: 12 bnd: BP 18 len: 55'50" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 26.02.2006 lng: englisch stw: A shadow is cast on Lord Arthur Savile's engagement to the lovely Sybil Merton after a palm reading by Mr Podgers, who confides to Lord Arthur that he saw 'murder' written on the gentleman's palm. Oscar Wilde's short story is dramatised for radio by Mike Walker. Lord Arthur ...... Rupert Penry-Jones Sybil ...... Gillian Kearney Podgers ...... David Bamber Willet ...... David Bradley Lady Windermere ...... Phyllida Law The General ...... Patrick Ryecart Algy ...... Patrick Kennedy Lane ...... Michael Kilgarriff Policeman ...... David Holt Producer/director Gemma McMullan. gen: Hörspiel ser: Classic Serial tit: Lord Arthur Savile's Crime epi: 2 aut: Oscar Wilde cnt: 13 bnd: BP 18 len: 56'46" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 05.03.2006 lng: englisch stw: Lord Arthur sets about concocting the intricacies of a murder. But his fervent attempt at committing the crime is not as straightforward as he initially hoped. Will Lord Arthur ever be able to carry out his murderous destiny and fulfil his dream of marrying Sybil? Oscar Wilde's short story is dramatised for radio by Mike Walker. Lord Arthur ...... Rupert Penry-Jones Sybil ...... Gillian Kearney Podgers ...... David Bamber Willet ...... David Bradley Lady Clementina ...... Doreen Mantle The General ...... Patrick Ryecart Algy ...... Patrick Kennedy Lane ...... Michael Kilgarriff Policeman ...... David Holt Archdeacon ...... Clive Swift Rouveloff ...... Christopher Rozycki Producer/director Gemma McMullan. gen: Hörspiel ser: The Friday Play tit: Metropolis aut: Thea von Harbou cnt: 14 bnd: BP 18 len: 56'30" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 24.03.2006 lng: englisch stw: Thea von Harbou's novel became husband Fritz Lang's 1927 silent movie classic. Its terrifying vision of the future was born in an age of booming heavy industry. Peter Straughan's new version finds its hero, F T Fredersen, caught up in a nightmarish world all too recognisably drawn from the one we find ourselves in today. Freddy ...... Edward Hogg Maria ...... Tracy Wiles Josaphat ...... Damian Lynch Schmale ...... Peter Marinker Director Toby Swift. gen: Hörspiel tit: Daniel Deronda epi: 1 aut: George Eliot cnt: 1.00 bnd: BP 19 len: 56'39" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 20.03.2006 lng: englisch stw: Gwendolen is wooed by Grandcourt, but can never forget the 'measuring gaze' of the young man at the casino in Leubronn. The fiesty Gwendolene intends to marry for money and power rather than love, but then she meets the enigmatic Daniel. George Eliot's classic novel is dramatised in three parts by Robert Forrest. The cast includes Anna Chancellor and Michael Percevall-Maxwell and the director is Patrick Rayner. gen: Hörspiel tit: Daniel Deronda epi: 2 aut: George Eliot cnt: 2.00 bnd: BP 19 len: 56'41" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 21.03.2006 lng: englisch stw: Grandcourt and Gwendolen marry, and Daniel begins to feel an affinity with Myra. While tracing her family he meets Mordecai. gen: Hörspiel tit: Daniel Deronda epi: 3 aut: George Eliot cnt: 3.00 bnd: BP 19 len: 56'50" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 22.03.2006 lng: englisch stw: As Daniel and Gwendolen contemplate their respective fates, fate itself takes an active part in events. gen: Hörspiel ser: Krimi tit: Flight of a Witch aut: Ellis Peters cnt: 4 bnd: BP 19 len: 89'03" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 25.06.2006 lng: englisch stw: A strange disappearance on the Hallowmount and a horrific murder lead Tom Felse to make his own investigations into the mystery. Tom Felse is a mathematician and not at all superstitious. However, he feels compelled to investigate the horrific events that have occurred on the Hallowmount. Ellis Peters' murder mystery has been dramatised for radio by Sally Hedges. The cast include Ewan Thomas, Rob Spendlove and Deborah Berlin and the play is directed in Birmingham by Sue Wilson. gen: Hörspiel ser: The Friday Play tit: First Born aut: John Godber cnt: 5 bnd: BP 19 len: 56'48" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 31.03.2006 lng: englisch stw: Jenny lives in a bubble, safe from the real world. Her dad Jack is tough and knows what it's like to have nothing. He's made it good, and now his daughter's growing up soft. For the first time in his life, he's afraid. But Jenny has her own point of view. Jack ...... Mark Addy Jill ...... Jane Godber Jenny ...... Elizabeth Godber Bill ...... Andrew Dunn Caz ...... Joanne Froggatt Nurse ...... Kate Rutter Polli ...... Maria Garrigan Jodi ...... Andee Lewis Producer Mary Ward Lowery. gen: Hörspiel tit: Persuasion epi: 1 sbt: Old Friends and New Meetings aut: Jane Austen cnt: 6 bnd: BP 19 len: 52'36" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 03.04.2006 lng: englisch stw: Anne Elliott is afraid that Captain Wentworth will not find her desirable after many years apart. OK, I'll be honest with you: the mere mention of Jane Austen makes me want to run away screaming as flashbacks from school and University threaten to drown me in a wash of memories of late night studying and even later essays. But enough about that, this is an entertainment network - and this a very entertaining adaptation of what is essentially a comedy of manners. Basically, each of the characters must negotiate a complex code of conduct in order to survive - never mind actually achieve their ends. Austen's trademark veins of razor sharp irony and wit are there - and sadly, this is the last novel she completed before her death a year later. It stars Juliet Stevenson, Sorcha Cusack and Roger Hume. gen: Hörspiel tit: Persuasion epi: 2 sbt: Accidents and Encounters aut: Jane Austen cnt: 7 bnd: BP 19 len: 51'33" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 04.04.2006 lng: englisch stw: Anne Elliott is surprised by news of an impending marriage. Juliet Stevenson stars. gen: Hörspiel tit: Persuasion epi: 3 sbt: Friendly Persuasion aut: Jane Austen cnt: 8 bnd: BP 19 len: 54'22" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 05.04.2006 lng: englisch stw: Anne Elliott begins to suspect that she was wrong about Captain Wentworth. Juliet Stevenson stars. gen: Hörspiel tit: The Light of a Thousand Suns aut: James Follett cnt: 9 bnd: BP 19 len: 87'15" med: MP3 spd: 80 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 08.04.2006 fst: 1972 lng: englisch stw: A set of bizarre circumstances causes a British nuclear sub to go to launch status. Can conflagration be avoided? James Follett's play, first broadcast in 1972, explores the possible outcome when a secure defence system breaks down. The cast includes Michael Shannon, Manning Wilson, Sheila Mitchell and Sion Probert and the production is directed by Margaret Etall. gen: Hörspiel tit: Ice aut: James Follett cnt: 10 bnd: BP 19 len: 87'12" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 15.04.2006 fst: 1986 lng: englisch stw: Geologist Glyn Sherwood is involved in research in Antarctica when he makes a shocking discovery about the polar ice caps. Another thriller from the prolific pen of James Follett. A catastrophe seems inevitable when instability is detected on the polar ice caps. Anthony Hyde, Carol Drinkwater, Ed Bishop and Sean Barrett star in a production directed by Alec Reid. First broadcast in 1986. gen: Hörspiel ser: Krimi tit: Scarlet on Black aut: Roger Danes cnt: 11 bnd: BP 19 len: 85'17" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 22.04.2006 lng: englisch stw: In this fast-moving thriller set in Paris, Commissaire Marcel Grosset is on the trail of kidnappers and uncovers links to events in Algeria 30 years ago. David Calder, Peter Jeffrey, Alex Jennings, Jonathan Tafler and Melanie Hudson star in this production directed by Glyn Dearman. Scarlet on Black was written by Roger Danes. gen: Hörspiel ser: Classic Serial tit: Dead Souls epi: 1 aut: Nikolay Gogol cnt: 12 bnd: BP 19 len: 56'54" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 23.04.2006 lng: englisch stw: Charmer Chichikov arrives in town with his narrator in tow, and starts touting for dead souls. Why? What is he going to do with them? Suspicions come to a head at the Governor's Ball, the highlight of provincial Russian society. A comic tour de force about human folly and one of the jewels of Russian literature, starring Michael Palin and Mark Heap. Narrator ...... Michael Palin Chichikov ...... Mark Heap Manilov ...... David Fleeshman Korabochka ...... Judith Davis Sobakevich ...... Wyllie Longmore Nozdryov ...... Toby Hadoke Selifan ...... Graeme Hawley Dramatised by Dan Rebellato. Sound design by Steve Brooke. Director Polly Thomas. gen: Hörspiel ser: Classic Serial tit: Dead Souls epi: 2 aut: Nikolay Gogol cnt: 13 bnd: BP 19 len: 57'01" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 30.04.2006 lng: englisch stw: In disgrace, Chichikov is arrested but escapes with the narrator's help to another part of Russia. He at last seems determined to make a fresh start and become an honest man. However, his past is about to catch up with him. A comic tour de force about human folly, starring Michael Palin and Mark Heap. Narrator ...... Michael Palin Chichikov ...... Mark Heap Tenteknikov ...... Toby Hadoke Kostanzhoglo ...... David Fleeshman Korabochka ...... Judith Davis Koshkaryov ...... Wyllie Longmore Selifan ...... Graeme Hawley Ulinka ...... Rina Mahoney Dramatised by Dan Rebellato. Sound design by Steve Brooke. Director Polly Thomas. gen: Hörspiel ser: Afternoon Play tit: Marcia Sproule aut: Christopher Fitz-Simon cnt: 14 bnd: BP 19 len: 43'54" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 17.07.2006 lng: englisch stw: With the Luftwaffe bombing Belfast and evacuees fleeing westwards in her direction, Marcia's key concern is to ensure she is assigned 'a better of class of family'. But in war, things rarely turn out as planned. Marcia Sproule ...... Stella McCusker Albert Sproule ...... John Hewitt Rev Dalkeith ...... Miche Doherty Mr Turner ...... Mark Lambert Major Brunskill ...... Richard Howard Prudence ...... Aine McCartney Hilde Sundgaard ...... Helen Koch-Cooper Miss McNaughten ...... Julia Dearden gen: Hörspiel ser: Krimi tit: The Big Sleep aut: Raymond Chandler cnt: 1 bnd: BP 20 len: 88'52" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 26.03.2006 lng: englisch stw: Private eye Philip Marlowe is hired by a rich family. Before the case is over, he's seen murder, blackmail, and love, maybe. Another great American radio actor who sadly died last year was Ed Bishop. Ed stars as the world-weary and cynical Private Eye, Philip Marlowe, in the first of a season of dramatisations by Bill Morrison, of Raymond Chandler's classic thrillers. This particular case involves blackmail, murder and of course beautiful women. Robert Beatty, Liza Ross and Diana Olsson also star in this gripping roduction from 1977, which was directed by John Tydeman. gen: Hörspiel ser: Krimi tit: The High Window aut: Raymond Chandler cnt: 2 bnd: BP 20 len: 88'37" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 09.04.2006 lng: englisch stw: Raymond Chandler's tough PI Philip Marlowe becomes involved in the search for a stolen coin. Continuing our Raymond Chandler season, P.I. Philip Marlowe is asked by a rich widow to investigate the disappearance of a rare coin at the same time as her disliked daughter-in-law has also disappeared. Ed Bishop heads a cast that includes David Healey, Margaret Robertson, Toby Robins and Tuck McGuire. The Director is John Tydeman. gen: Hörspiel ser: Krimi tit: The Lady in the Lake aut: Raymond Chandler cnt: 3 bnd: BP 20 len: 86'21" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 16.04.2006 lng: englisch stw: A missing spouse, a corpse in a lake, a corrupt policeman and a power hungry sheriff. Somehow, all of these things are connected. This week Raymond Chandler's wise-cracking P.I. Philip Marlowe investigates the disappearance of a rich attractive blonde and meets several dubious characters along the way. Ed Bishop is Marlowe and the cast includes Harry Towb, Margaret Robinson and William Roberts. The play is directed by John Tydeman. gen: Hörspiel ser: Krimi tit: The Little Sister aut: Raymond Chandler cnt: 4 bnd: BP 20 len: 89'08" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 23.04.2006 lng: englisch stw: The Raymond Chandler season continues with another tale featuring private detective Philip Marlowe, played by Ed Bishop. Marlowe is hired to help a Kansas woman find her missing brother. The cast also includes Liza Ross, Margaret Robertson, Tony Ross and Malcolm Gerard and was directed by John Tydeman. gen: Hörspiel ser: Krimi tit: The Long Goodbye aut: Raymond Chandler cnt: 5 bnd: BP 20 len: 89'11" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 30.04.2006 lng: englisch stw: We end our Raymond Chandler season with this exciting and atmospheric dramatisation of one of Chandler's classic noir novels. As Marlowe tries to find the truth behind Sylvia Lennox's death, he becomes drawn into the high society/high corruption world of an eccentric author and his beautiful but cruel wife. Dramatised by Bill Morrison and produced by John Tydeman, Ed Bishop stars as Private Investigator Philip Marlow, and Anthony 'C3PO' Daniels also makes an appearance. gen: Hörspiel ser: Krimi tit: The Pale Horse aut: Agatha Christie cnt: 6 bnd: BP 20 len: 86'57" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 29.04.2006 lng: englisch stw: A series of strange deaths is blamed on the occult and Mark Easterbrooke discovers the dangerous power of witchcraft and black magic, in this Agatha Christie 90 minute dramatisation. Starring Jeremy Clyde, Stephanie Cole, Terence Alexander and Mary Wimbush, it was produced by Enyd Williams. gen: Hörspiel tit: On Mayday aut: Paul Copley cnt: 7 bnd: BP 20 len: 57'08" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 01.05.2006 fst: 1996 lng: englisch stw: Tom tries to reach his wife in the USSR as the radioactive cloud from Chernobyl spreads across Europe in Paul Copley's play. The accomplished actor and writer Paul Copley was in the Soviet Union when the Chernobyl nuclear disaster took place twenty years ago. His play about the disaster, which focuses on a worried husband in London desperately trying to track down his wife travelling through Russia, is a striking reminder of a vanished world. Starring Christopher Fairbank and Natasha Pyne, the play was produced by Ned Chaillet and first broadcast in April 1996. gen: Hörspiel tit: One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest aut: Dale Wasserman cnt: 8 bnd: BP 20 len: 87'38" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 07.05.2006 fst: 1995 lng: englisch stw: Set in 1950s America, this powerful drama sees psychopathic patient Randle McMurphy committed to a mental institution; on arrival he incites rebellion and takes on dictator Nurse Ratched, before realising his release is ultimately dependent on her. Bob Sherman, Margaret Robinson, William Roberts, Kerry Shale, Matt Zimmerman, William Hootkins and Stuart Milligan star in Dale Wasserman's play, which was produced for the World Service by David Hitchinson. gen: Hörspiel tit: Treasure Island aut: Robert Louis Stevenson cnt: 9 bnd: BP 20 len: 86'55" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 14.05.2006 fst: 1989 lng: englisch stw: Young Jim Hawkins finds himself aboard ship in Robert Louis Stevenson's classic story of adventure on the high seas. There are escapades on the high seas in John Scotney's dramatisation of Robert Louis Stevenson's classic novel. Young Jim Hawkins recalls his adventures which all began when a stranger visited his father's inn. Starring Ben Rodska, Peter Jeffrey, John Moffatt and 'Round The Horne's' very own Hugh Paddick, this is another terrific Martin Jenkins production. gen: Hörspiel tit: Friday's Child aut: Georgette Heyer cnt: 10 bnd: BP 20 len: 89'08" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 20.05.2006 lng: englisch stw: Rejected by Miss Milborne, the Incomparable, for his unsteadiness of character, wild Lord Sheringham is bent on avenging Fate and coming into his fortune. But the very first woman he should see is Hero Wantage, the young and charmingly unsophisticated chit, who has loved him since childhood ... Based on the novel by Georgette Heyer. With Elli Wantage, James Frain and Simon Russell Beale. gen: Hörspiel tit: War and Peace epi: 1 sbt: Plots and Stratagems aut: Leo Tolstoy cnt: 1 bnd: BP 21 len: 56'50" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 22.05.2006 fst: 1997 lng: englisch stw: 1805. Aristocrats in St. Petersburg and Moscow are blissfully unaware that their lives will soon be changed forever by Napoleon. We begin a 10 part dramatisation of Tolstoy's masterpiece following the fortunes of the Bolkonsky and Rostov families set against the backdrop of war. With a thirty-five strong cast, the production includes Leo McKern as Kutuzov, Simon Russell Beale as Pierre Bezuhov, Emily Mortimer as Natasha and Gerard Murphy as Andrei. This epic novel was dramatised for radio by Marcy Kahan. The director was Janet Whitaker. gen: Hörspiel tit: War and Peace epi: 2 sbt: Disillusion aut: Leo Tolstoy cnt: 2 bnd: BP 21 len: 56'50" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 23.05.2006 fst: 1997 lng: englisch stw: 1805. Russia's allies, the Austrians, have been overthrown by Napoleon. gen: Hörspiel tit: War and Peace epi: 3 sbt: Things Fall Apart aut: Leo Tolstoy cnt: 3 bnd: BP 21 len: 57'05" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 24.05.2006 fst: 1997 lng: englisch stw: 1806. Nikolai gets caught up in a duel between Pierre and Dolohov, but Andrei is still missing as Lise gives birth. gen: Hörspiel tit: War and Peace epi: 4 sbt: Spring aut: Leo Tolstoy cnt: 4 bnd: BP 21 len: 56'28" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 25.05.2006 fst: 1997 lng: englisch stw: Epic historical novel by Leo Tolstoy. A study of early 19th century Russian society. gen: Hörspiel tit: War and Peace epi: 5 sbt: Country Pleasures aut: Leo Tolstoy cnt: 5 bnd: BP 21 len: 56'08" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 26.05.2006 fst: 1997 lng: englisch stw: 1810. An uneasy peace reigns and as Christmas comes, all is not well in the Rostov family. gen: Hörspiel tit: War and Peace epi: 6 sbt: Natasha's Crucible aut: Leo Tolstoy cnt: 6 bnd: BP 21 len: 57'05" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 29.05.2006 fst: 1997 lng: englisch stw: Leo Tolstoy's epic drama set against the backdrop of war. Despite the peace, Napoleon's troops are massing in Poland. Continuing Tolstoy's epic novel, which covers fifteen years in the lives of four Russian aristocratic families during and after the Napoleonic War. Starring Emily Mortimer, Jonathan Firth, Gerard Murphy, Leo McKern and Nicola Pagett, it is dramatised by Mike Walker and Marcy Kahan. The directors are Janet Whitaker and Eoin O'Callaghan. gen: Hörspiel tit: War and Peace epi: 7 sbt: The Old World Lost aut: Leo Tolstoy cnt: 7 bnd: BP 21 len: 57'18" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 30.05.2006 fst: 1997 lng: englisch stw: Despite having sworn brotherly love to Tsar Alexander, Napoleon has struck in Russia and the Bolkonsky estate is in jeopardy. gen: Hörspiel tit: War and Peace epi: 8 sbt: Borodino aut: Leo Tolstoy cnt: 8 bnd: BP 21 len: 56'49" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 31.05.2006 fst: 1997 lng: englisch stw: 1812. The French army has surged through Smolensk and is converging on Borodino, before Moscow. Even the Rostovs are leaving. gen: Hörspiel tit: War and Peace epi: 9 sbt: At the Gates of Moscow aut: Leo Tolstoy cnt: 9 bnd: BP 21 len: 57'14" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 01.06.2006 fst: 1997 lng: englisch stw: 1812. Napoleon enters a deserted Moscow, and Pierre is imprisoned by the French. The dying Andrei is reunited with Natasha. gen: Hörspiel tit: War and Peace epi: 10 sbt: The World Transformed aut: Leo Tolstoy cnt: 10 bnd: BP 21 len: 55'29" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 02.06.2006 fst: 1997 lng: englisch stw: 1812. Napoleon's dream of conquest turns to nightmare and his army is forced to retreat. gen: Hörspiel ser: The Saturday Play tit: A Gathering of Old Men aut: Ernest Gaines cnt: 11 bnd: BP 21 len: 56'06" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 27.05.2006 lng: englisch stw: Set in 1972, in Louisiana. A sheriff is summoned to a sugarcane plantation, where he finds one white woman, one dead Cajun farmer and a gathering of old black men, each one toting a shotgun. He is sure he knows who killed the Cajun, but all the men claim guilt and threaten to provoke a riot at the courthouse should the sheriff try to make an arrest. In the meantime, they wait for the lynch mob that the dead man's father is sure to launch. Charlie/Gable ...... Paterson Joseph Rooster ...... Don Warrington Clatoo ...... Jeffery Kissoon Mathu/Rev Jameson ...... Oscar James Mapes ...... Stuart Milligan Gil/Griffin ...... Ryan McCluskey Sully/Fix ...... Kerry Shale Candy ...... Tracy Wiles Luke Will ...... Kim Wall Dramatised by Richard Cameron. Original music written and arranged by Tyndale Thomas. Producer/Director Pauline Harris. gen: Hörspiel tit: The Amazing Maurice and His Educated Rodents aut: Terry Pratchett cnt: 12 bnd: BP 21 len: 87'02" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 10.06.2006 lng: englisch stw: Terry Pratchett's take on the Pied Piper story. Maurice and Keith have the rat scam sorted, until they reach Bad Blintz. When Maurice the cat meets the stupid-looking kid with the pipe, the possibilities of his relationship with the educated rats suddenly make up for the fact that he can no longer think of them as lunch. After all, everyone knows the stories of rats and pipers ... And, faster than you can say, "Chap with the wings, five rounds rapid!", the scam falls apart as they confront something seriously evil in the town of Bad Blintz. It's a hilarious feature-length adventure from one of our master story-tellers, Terry Pratchett - and it's the first time on BBC7, too. It also stars Harry Myers, Tom George, Sean Prendergast, Michael Fenton Stevens and Fine Time Fontayne. gen: Hörspiel tit: Candida aut: George Bernard Shaw cnt: 13 bnd: BP 21 len: 83'36" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 24.06.2006 fst: 1977 lng: englisch stw: George Bernard Shaw's delightfully human and entertaining comedy presents Candida with a choice between her devoted but complacent husband and a young poet who passionately adores her. Since she is married to a vicar who regularly stuns his congregation with the eloquence of his sermons, and the poet is prepared to go any lengths to undermine him, Candida needs all her resources of wit and candour to resolve a potentially explosive situation. Starring Hannah Gordon as Candida this was first broadcast on 15 th August 1977 and was directed by Ronald Mason. gen: Hörspiel ser: Afternoon Play tit: An Island Between Heaven and Earth aut: Alistair Rutherford cnt: 14 bnd: BP 21 len: 43'57" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 20.07.2006 lng: englisch stw: The trials and tribulations of a group of unemployed shipyard workers and churchmen who arrive on the isle of Iona in 1938 to rebuild the ruined buildings surrounding the medieval abbey. George ...... Crawford Logan Milorad ...... Simon Tait Archie ...... Lewis Howden Alistair ...... John Kazek James ...... Richard Conlon Bobby ...... Nick Underwood Mrs Fallon ...... Rose McBain Narrator/Bill ...... James Bryce gen: Hörspiel tit: The Deceivers epi: 1 sbt: The Grave at Bhadora aut: John Masters cnt: 1 bnd: BP 22 len: 55'20" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 05.06.2006 fst: 1984 lng: englisch stw: 1825: District Collector William Savage witnesses a brutal double-murder. We begin a serialisation of John Masters' epic saga centering on William Savage, serving in the British Army in India from 1825-1946. He manages to infiltrate a murderous cult, the Thuggees, known as The Deceivers. This first book was dramatised in five parts by David Wade and stars David Collings, Karen Archer, Suman Khan, Terence Alexander and Saeed Jaffrey. The series was directed by Christopher Venning and first broadcast in 1984. gen: Hörspiel tit: The Deceivers epi: 2 sbt: The Man with the Twisted Neck aut: John Masters cnt: 2 bnd: BP 22 len: 54'56" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 06.06.2006 fst: 1984 lng: englisch stw: William Savage is uncovering some unpleasant aspects of his district. Dramatisation of the first 'Masters' India' novel. gen: Hörspiel tit: The Deceivers epi: 3 sbt: The Goddess Of Destruction aut: John Masters cnt: 3 bnd: BP 22 len: 54'57" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 07.06.2006 fst: 1984 lng: englisch stw: William Savage has uncovered some ritual murders, and now seeks justice. Dramatisation of the first 'Masters' India' novel. gen: Hörspiel tit: The Deceivers epi: 4 sbt: The Servant of Kali aut: John Masters cnt: 4 bnd: BP 22 len: 54'54" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 08.06.2006 fst: 1984 lng: englisch stw: William Savage finds himself increasingly drawn in to the Deceivers' band. Dramatisation of the first 'Masters' India' novel. gen: Hörspiel tit: The Deceivers epi: 5 sbt: The Sale at Parsola aut: John Masters cnt: 5 bnd: BP 22 len: 54'53" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 09.06.2006 fst: 1984 lng: englisch stw: William Savage has become a Deceiver - does he now belong to Kali? Dramatisation of the first 'Masters' India' novel. gen: Hörspiel tit: Nightrunners of Bengal epi: 1 sbt: Kishanpur 1856 aut: John Masters cnt: 6 bnd: BP 22 len: 55'21" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 12.06.2006 fst: 1984 lng: englisch stw: Rodney Savage meets the Silver Guru and learns disturbing news. But what has the Rani of Kishanpur to do with it? Continuining the serialisation of John Masters' saga of the Savage family serving in the British Army in India 1825-1946. In the aftermath of the Raja's murder, Rodney Savage (Michael Cochrane) is called to Kishanpur. However, there is political intrigue as the finger of suspicion falls on the Raja's wife, Sumitra (Souad Faress), who falls in love with Rodney. gen: Hörspiel tit: Nightrunners of Bengal epi: 2 sbt: The Upstairs Room aut: John Masters cnt: 7 bnd: BP 22 len: 55'07" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 13.06.2006 fst: 1984 lng: englisch stw: Rodney Savage encounters the Dewan in strange circumstances and finds himself involved in disturbing events in Masters' saga. gen: Hörspiel tit: Nightrunners of Bengal epi: 3 sbt: Remember Mangal Pande aut: John Masters cnt: 8 bnd: BP 22 len: 55'14" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 14.06.2006 fst: 1984 lng: englisch stw: In John Masters' saga Rodney discovers, to his horror, the significance of the chupatties and the raw flesh. gen: Hörspiel tit: Nightrunners of Bengal epi: 4 sbt: Running Together aut: John Masters cnt: 9 bnd: BP 22 len: 54'51" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 15.06.2006 fst: 1984 lng: englisch stw: Rodney Savage returns to his regiment and has an encounter with the Rani of Kishanpur in John Masters' saga. gen: Hörspiel tit: The Lotus and the Wind epi: 1 sbt: Death of a Tribesman aut: John Masters cnt: 10 bnd: BP 22 len: 55'06" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 16.06.2006 fst: 1984 lng: englisch stw: In the third book in the John Masters' saga. Lt Robin Savage marches to the relief of Kabul while Anne kneels by the dying man. gen: Hörspiel tit: The Lotus and the Wind epi: 2 sbt: Compromised aut: John Masters cnt: 11 bnd: BP 22 len: 54'44" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 19.06.2006 fst: 1984 lng: englisch stw: 1879, and Robin Savage approaches Kabul while Anne is in Peshawar. Dramatisation of the third 'Masters' India' novel. gen: Hörspiel tit: The Lotus and the Wind epi: 3 sbt: Levels of Deception aut: John Masters cnt: 12 bnd: BP 22 len: 54'38" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 20.06.2006 fst: 1984 lng: englisch stw: Robin and Jagbir are in disguise, seeking Russian intelligence. Continuation of the 'Masters' India' saga. gen: Hörspiel tit: The Lotus and the Wind epi: 4 sbt: Horses North aut: John Masters cnt: 13 bnd: BP 22 len: 54'55" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 21.06.2006 fst: 1984 lng: englisch stw: Robin Savage is due back from his spying trip, but further adventures lie ahead. Continuation of the 'Masters' India' saga. gen: Hörspiel ser: Classic Serial tit: The Name of the Rose epi: 1 aut: Umberto Eco cnt: 14 bnd: BP 22 len: 56'56" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 16.07.2006 lng: englisch stw: As monks from all over Europe gather to resolve the power struggle between the Pope and the Holy Roman Emperor, a young monk is found dead. The Abbot fears either murder or witchcraft, and asks William of Baskerville to investigate. Umberto Eco's enigmatic murder mystery charts seven fateful days in the life of a medieval abbey in Italy. William of Baskerville ...... David Hayman Old Adso ...... Andrew Sachs Young Adso ...... Nick Underwood Abbot ...... Crawford Logan Jorge ...... Jim Norton Bernard Gui ...... Christian Rodska Severinus ...... Brian Pettifer Nicholas ...... Sean Scanlan Malachi ...... Neil McKinven Salvatore ...... Mark McDonnell Berengar ...... Cara Kelly Benno ...... John Kielty Adelmo ...... John Paul Hurley Venantius ...... Simon Tait Producer/director Bruce Young. gen: Hörspiel ser: Classic Serial tit: The Name of the Rose epi: 2 aut: Umberto Eco cnt: 15 bnd: BP 22 len: 56'57" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 23.07.2006 lng: englisch stw: Three monks have died - and William of Baskerville has so far failed to find the killer. The feared Papal Inquisitor Bernard Gui takes over the investigation and declares the abbey has been infected by witchcraft. Umberto Eco's enigmatic murder mystery charts seven fateful days in the life of a medieval abbey in Italy. William of Baskerville ...... David Hayman Old Adso ...... Andrew Sachs Young Adso ...... Nick Underwood Abbot ...... Crawford Logan Jorge ...... Jim Norton Bernard Gui ...... Christian Rodska Remigio ...... Gerry Mulgrew Severinus ...... Brian Pettifer Nicholas ...... Sean Scanlan Malachi ...... Neil McKinven Salvatore ...... Mark McDonnell Girl ...... Cara Kelly Benno ...... John Kielty Hugh ...... Simon Tait Producer/director Bruce Young. gen: Hörspiel tit: Bhowani Junction epi: 1 sbt: Patrick Taylor aut: John Masters cnt: 1 bnd: BP 23 len: 55'07" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 22.06.2006 fst: 1984 lng: englisch stw: Continuing the story of the Savage family in India, 1946. Anglo-Indian Patrick pursues the daughter of a train driver. Bhowani Junction is the final and best known of John Masters' five historical novels tracing five successive generations of the Savage family in India. It is a wonderful display of great story-telling, set in 1947, shortly before India achieved independence. It vividly portrays the tensions and conflicts during the creation of modern India, the Partition of India and the Anglo-Indian community. Dramatised in five parts by Barry Campbell this marvellous production stars Sean Barrett, Brett Usher, Saeed Jaffrey, Bernard Brown and was directed by Christopher Venning. This is it's first airing on BBC 7. It was originally broadcast on Radio 4 in December 1984. Some more background info for you: Bhowani Junction's author, John Masters, was actually a general in the British Army and served on the North-West frontier. The story is a classic of Raj fiction and a wonderful display of great story-telling; a vivid portrayal of the tensions and conflicts during the creation of modern India. gen: Hörspiel tit: Bhowani Junction epi: 2 sbt: Victoria Jones aut: John Masters cnt: 2 bnd: BP 23 len: 55'03" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 23.06.2006 fst: 1984 lng: englisch stw: Anglo-Indian Victoria Jones is seeking her true identity amid the turbulence of the British withdrawal from India. gen: Hörspiel tit: Bhowani Junction epi: 3 sbt: Sirdani Amrita Kasel aut: John Masters cnt: 3 bnd: BP 23 len: 54'36" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 26.06.2006 fst: 1984 lng: englisch stw: After an encounter with Lt Macauley, Victoria Jones finds herself drawn to the Indian way of life. gen: Hörspiel tit: Bhowani Junction epi: 4 sbt: Ranjit Singh Kasel aut: John Masters cnt: 4 bnd: BP 23 len: 54'28" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 27.06.2006 fst: 1984 lng: englisch stw: Unrest is growing in Bhowani, and Victoria Jones is under suspicion from the police. Last book in the 'Masters' India' saga. gen: Hörspiel tit: Bhowani Junction epi: 5 sbt: Rodney Savage aut: John Masters cnt: 5 bnd: BP 23 len: 55'49" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 28.06.2006 fst: 1984 lng: englisch stw: Rodney and Victoria try to resolve their relationship against a background of unrest. Last part of the 'Masters' India' saga. gen: Hörspiel tit: Dandy Dick aut: Wing Pinero cnt: 6 bnd: BP 23 len: 87'10" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 01.07.2006 fst: 1986 lng: englisch stw: Alec McCowen, Patricia Routledge, Nigel Stock and Shaun Prendergast star in Arthur Wing Pinero's delightful farce. A dean, who is a paragon of dignity and decorum, is driven by an indiscreet act into a most undignified dilemma. Directed by John Tydeman it was first broadcast in April 1986. gen: Hörspiel ser: Classic Serial tit: She epi: 1 aut: H Rider Haggard cnt: 7 bnd: BP 23 len: 56'30" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 02.07.2006 lng: englisch stw: Ludwig Holly and his ward Leo's quest for the truth behind legend of Leo's ancestry takes them to Africa, where they find Ayesha, 2000 years old but beautiful beyond all description, despotically ruling her secret kingdom. The 19th century best-seller set in a mysterious African kingdom explores the complex themes of imperial arrogance, sexual obsession, power and isolation that lie behind the high adventure. Ludwig Holly ...... Tim McInnerny Leo ...... Oliver Chris Ayesha ...... Mia Soteriou Job ...... Howard Coggins Billali ...... Ben Onwukwe Amenartas/Ustane ...... Janice Acquah Vincey ...... Tom Sherman Agarah ...... Damian Lynch Young Leo ...... Oliver Baynham Adapted by Hattie Naylor. Composed music by Elizabeth Purnell. Director Sara Davies. gen: Hörspiel ser: Classic Serial tit: She epi: 2 aut: H Rider Haggard cnt: 8 bnd: BP 23 len: 56'27" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 09.07.2004 lng: englisch stw: Ayesha, the queen whose beauty enthrals and terrifies all who see her, believes Leo to be the lover for whom she has waited 2000 years. Ludwig Holly ...... Tim McInnerny Leo ...... Oliver Chris Ayesha ...... Mia Soteriou Job ...... Howard Coggins Billali ...... Ben Onwukwe Ustane ...... Janice Acquah Agarah ...... Damian Lynch Adapted by Hattie Naylor. Composed music by Elizabeth Purnell. Director Sara Davies. gen: Hörspiel ser: Afternoon Play tit: Parting aut: Tanika Gupta cnt: 9 bnd: BP 23 len: 44'01" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 01.08.2006 lng: englisch stw: When four men miss their train, they find themselves spending the evening in the station bar. Sam the bartender becomes a confidante as each man explains why he wanted to be on that particular train. Sam ...... Trevor Peacock Foster ...... Don McCorkindale Jimmy ...... Ewan Bailey Soldier ...... Danny Dyer Cranky ...... Calum Callaghan Director Tracey Neale gen: Hörspiel ser: Classic Serial tit: Great Expectations epi: 1 sbt: The Common Boy aut: Charles Dickens cnt: 10 bnd: BP 23 len: 56'42" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 30.07.2006 lng: englisch stw: Martyn Wade's adaptation of the novel by Charles Dickens. Young Pip is an orphan living with his shrewish sister and her kindly blacksmith husband. One Christmas Eve, he is surprised by a convict and forced to steal for him. This single good deed of Pip's leads him to the pursuit of expectations of wealth, a better position in life, and happiness; but he has many hard lessons to learn before he achieves that. Pip ...... Oliver Milburn Young Pip ...... Angus Imrie Joe ...... Jim Carter Mrs Joe ...... Pam Ferris Biddy ...... Robin Weaver Magwitch ...... Ken Campbell Miss Havisham ...... Janet Suzman Young Estella ...... Ellie Beaven Young Herbert ...... Milo Clare Jaggers ...... Roger Allam Pumblechook ...... Christopher Benjamin Orlick ...... Ben Crowe Compeyson ...... Harry Myers Director Marilyn Imrie. gen: Hörspiel ser: Classic Serial tit: Great Expectations epi: 2 sbt: The Gentleman aut: Charles Dickens cnt: 11 bnd: BP 23 len: 56'47" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 06.08.2006 lng: englisch stw: Pip arrives in London to meet with the lawyer Jaggers, who will play such a vital part in his life. He makes friends with Herbert Pocket, and learns how to be a gentleman, although true love and happiness still elude him. Martyn Wade's adaptation of the novel by Charles Dickens. Pip ...... Oliver Milburn Joe ...... Jim Carter Biddy ...... Robin Weaver Miss Havisham ...... Janet Suzman Estella ...... Anna Maxwell Martin Herbert ...... Adrian Scarborough Jaggers ...... Roger Allam Wemmick ...... Stephen Critchlow Pumblechook ...... Christopher Benjamin Mr Pocket ...... David Thorpe Aged Parent ..... Sam Beazley Molly ...... Maggie McCarthy Director Marilyn Imrie gen: Hörspiel ser: Classic Serial tit: Great Expectations epi: 3 sbt: The Truth aut: Charles Dickens cnt: 12 bnd: BP 23 len: 56'50" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 13.08.2006 lng: englisch stw: Pip discovers the truth about his own benefactor, the sorrows of Estella's life, and the value of loyalty, faithfulness and friendship. Martyn Wade's adaptation of the novel by Charles Dickens. Pip ...... Oliver Milburn Joe ...... Jim Carter Biddy ...... Robin Weaver Miss Havisham ...... Janet Suzman Estella ...... Anna Maxwell Martin Herbert ...... Adrian Scarborough Jaggers ...... Roger Allam Wemmick ...... Stephen Critchlow Magwitch ...... Ken Campbell Molly ...... Maggie McCarthy Compeyson ..... Harry Myers Watchman ...... Ben Crowe Director Marilyn Imrie gen: Hörspiel ser: Afternoon Play tit: Long Road to Iona aut: Janette Walkinshaw cnt: 13 bnd: BP 23 len: 44'01" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 30.08.2006 lng: englisch stw: Jean, a feisty, elderly widow, decides to escape the oppressive good intentions of her son and daughter-in-law by leaving home and hitting the road. Is she walking to Iona? Should a 62-year-old woman be walking the highways and byways of Scotland alone? And why isn't she answering her mobile? It's time for Jean to get her life back. Jean ...... Ann Scott-Jones Ian/minister ...... Finlay Welsh Karen/librarian ...... Susan Coyle Tom/solicitor ...... Jimmy Chisholm George/Clergyman ...... James Bryce Policeman/Smudge ...... Jim Webster-Stewart gen: Hörspiel ser: Classic Serial tit: The Ministry of Fear epi: 1 aut: Graham Greene cnt: 14 bnd: BP 23 len: 56'48" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 03.09.2006 lng: englisch stw: For Arthur Rowe the charity fete was a trip back to childhood, a welcome chance to escape the terror of the Blitz. Then he correctly guesses the weight of a cake and from that moment - he's a hunted man. Rowe ...... Michael Feast Willi ...... James Nickerson Anna ...... Fiona Clarke Mrs Bellairs ...... Anne Rye Rennit ...... David Fleeshman Mrs Willcox/Miss Pantil ...... Maggie Fox Mrs Dermody/Mother ...... Sue Ryding Poole/Fullove ...... Malcom Raeburn Reverend Sinclair ...... Stuart Richman Director/Producer Gary Brown. Dramatised for radio by Sean O'Brien. gen: Hörspiel ser: Classic Serial tit: The Ministry of Fear epi: 2 aut: Graham Greene cnt: 15 bnd: BP 23 len: 57'00" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 10.09.2006 lng: englisch stw: A man wakes up in a clinic. He's a civilian casualty and has lost his memory; apparently his name is Richard Digby. The doctors don't want him to leave. Why? Rowe ...... Michael Feast Willi ...... James Nickerson Anna ...... Fiona Clarke Mrs Bellairs ...... Anne Rye Major Stone/Cost ...... David Fleeshman Poole/Prentice ...... Malcom Raeburn Forrester ...... Stuart Richman Johns ...... Lloyd Peters Director/Producer Gary Brown. Dramatised for radio by Sean O'Brien. gen: Hörspiel tit: In a Bath Teashop aut: Paul Dodgson cnt: 16 bnd: BP 23 len: 14'03" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 28.08.2006 lng: englisch stw: Dolly looks as though she's destined for a life on the shelf, until a smooth talking stranger walks through the door of her corner shop. Betjeman's Women Five plays by Paul Dodgson, inspired by the women who feature in some of John Betjeman's most famous poems. Dolly ...... Clare Corbett Harry ...... Jamie Foreman Dad ...... John Telfer Reader ...... Clive Swift gen: Hörspiel ser: Afternoon Play tit: Teacher's Pet aut: Robert Shearman cnt: 1 bnd: BP 24 len: 43'55" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 06.09.2006 lng: englisch stw: Peter has just bumped into his old French mistress, Mrs Townsend. It seems that both teacher and pupil have had a remarkable influence on each other's lives - is this meeting really just a coincidence? Stephanie ...... Carolyn Seymour Peter ...... Simon Templeman Young Peter/Philip ...... Steven Geller gen: Hörspiel tit: Five Little Pigs aut: Agatha Christie cnt: 2 bnd: BP 24 len: 88'33" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 09.09.2006 fst: 1995 lng: englisch stw: Sixteen years after her mother was convicted of murdering her father, Carla Lemarchant seeks the help of Hercule Poirot. Getting its first broadcast on BBC 7 is Michael Bakewell's dramatisation of this intriguing Agatha Chrstie thriller. A woman is convicted of murdering her husband. Sixteen years later her daughter seeks Hercule Poirot's help when she becomes convinced that her mother is innocent. John Moffatt is the Belgian detective and the cast includes: Suzy Aitchison,,Charlotte Attenborough, Jemma Churchil, Graham Crowden, John Hartley, David Kossoff and John Woodnutt. first broadcast in 1995, the play is directed by Enyd Williams. gen: Hörspiel tit: The Murder of Roger Ackroyd aut: Agatha Christie cnt: 3 bnd: BP 24 len: 86'52" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 10.09.2006 fst: 1987 lng: englisch stw: Hercule Poirot has retired to the quiet village of King's Abbot. The tranquillity is shaken by a widow's suicide. It is 80 years since this record breaking Agatha Christie murder mystery was first published, and we are celebrating the occasion with this Michael Bakewell dramatisation, broadcast for the first time on BBC 7. Hercule Poirot has retired to the country. Needless to say before long he is called upon to find out if the rumours concerning a local murder are true. Starring John Moffatt, Peter Gilmore, Deryck Guyler and John Woodvine. Enyd Williams of course directed the play, which was first broadcast in 1987. gen: Hörspiel ser: Afternoon Play tit: Uncovering Iran: The Interview aut: Arash Aryan and Ava Mandan cnt: 4 bnd: BP 24 len: 43'54" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 20.09.2006 lng: englisch stw: Like all Iranian career women, Roxana's job depends on passing her annual interview - an assessment of how Islamic she is. This year, however, she has little idea how much is really at stake. Roxana ...... Badria Timimi Fatima ...... Roxana Pope Mahjid ...... Mozaffar Shafeie Kourosh ...... Bijan Daneshmand Maryam ...... Souad Farress Nasrin ...... Zolfa Zahedi Mullah ...... George Savvides Security guard ...... Betsabeh Emran Security clerk ...... Saikat Ahamed gen: Hörspiel ser: Classic Serial tit: Lady Chatterley's Lover epi: 1 sbt: Arrival aut: DH Lawrence cnt: 5 bnd: BP 24 len: 56'53" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 23.09.2006 lng: englisch stw: In Lawrence's classic exploration of the nature of sexual love, young beautiful Constance is married to Lord Clifford, wounded in the 1914-18 World War and now wheelchair-bound. Her life at Wragby Hall is bleak and lonely; until an encounter with Oliver Mellors changes everything. Constance Chatterley ...... Lia Williams Clifford Chatterley ...... Roger Allam Oliver Mellors ...... Robert Glenister Mrs Bolton ...... Lynn Farleigh Hilda ...... Jasmine Hyde Sir Malcolm ...... David Rintoul Duncan Forbes ...... Julian Rhind-Tutt Dramatised by Michelene Wandor. Director Marilyn Imrie. gen: Hörspiel ser: Classic Serial tit: Lady Chatterley's Lover epi: 2 sbt: Departure aut: DH Lawrence cnt: 6 bnd: BP 24 len: 56'45" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 30.09.2006 lng: englisch stw: Constance and Oliver have embarked on a secret, passionate affair - but already the housekeeper Mrs Bolton suspects something, and Constance has confided in her sister. As their lives begin to unravel, will Oliver and Lady Chatterley manage to preserve the tenderness which brought them together? Constance Chatterley ...... Lia Williams Clifford Chatterley ...... Roger Allam Oliver Mellors ...... Robert Glenister Mrs Bolton ...... Lynn Farleigh Hilda ...... Jasmine Hyde Sir Malcolm ...... David Rintoul Dramatised by Michelene Wandor. Director Marilyn Imrie. gen: Hörspiel ser: Krimi tit: Appointment With Death aut: Agatha Christie cnt: 7 bnd: BP 24 len: 87'02" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 23.09.2006 fst: 2001 lng: englisch stw: auch BP-01-01 "You do see don't you that she's got to be killed. Its the only solution." Ominous words heard through an hotel window - and which prophesy murder in the Red Rose city of Petra. Hercule Poirot investigates another mystery, as the detestable Mrs. Boynton is found murdered amongst the towering cliffs of Petra. John Moffatt reprises his role as Poirot in this full cast dramatisation, where a series of gripping twists and turns keeps the listener guessing to the very end. Broadcast for the first time on BBC7 as part of our Agatha Christie season, Appointment With Death was produced by Enyd Williams and was first heard on Radio 4 in August 2001. Hercule Poirot ..... John Moffat Mrs Boynton ........ Miriam Karlin Lady Westholme ..... Jill Balcon Sarah King ......... Connie Walker Dr Gerard .......... Sean Baker Jefferson Cope ..... Jonathan Keeble Colonel Carbury .... John Woodnutt Miss Pierce ........ Jennie Stoller Lennox ............. Roger May Nadine ............. Helen Ayres Raymond ............ Kenny Blyth Carol .............. Jasmine Hyde Ginerva ............ Clare Corbett Dramatised by Michael Bakewell Directed by Enyd Williams gen: Hörspiel ser: Krimi tit: Murder on the Links aut: Agatha Christie cnt: 8 bnd: BP 24 len: 84'38" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 30.09.2006 fst: 1990 lng: englisch stw: Hercule Poirot is summoned to France, but on arrival he discovers that his client is dead. We conclude the season with the dramatisation of a classic Christie thriller first published in 1933. Poirot investigates the murder of a Monsieur Renauld, found in an open grave on a golf course adjoining his Merlinville Estate in France. Dramatised for radio by Michael Bakewell and starring John Moffatt, Jeremy Clyde, Madeline Smith and Geoffrey Whitehead, it was of course directed by the one and only Enyd Williams and first broadcast on Radio 4 in 1990. gen: Hörspiel tit: The Legend of Robin Hood aut: John Fletcher cnt: 9 bnd: BP 24 len: 86'58" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 01.10.2006 fst: 1992 lng: englisch stw: Based on the original Robin Hood ballads, John Nettles stars as the English hero. To tie in with Radio 4' s Invention of Childhood season, we will be broadcasting radio dramatisations of well known children's literature with an adult appeal. We launch with The Legend of Robin Hood, starring John Nettles as the fearless outlaw and champion of the oppressed. Drawing on the original Robin Hood ballads, John Fletcher's 90 minute drama takes Robin from May Day revels in Sherwood to crusading battles in the Holy Land - and back again to a life and death struggle with the Sheriff of Nottingham and an even more sinister enemy. Written by John Fletcher and produced by Nigel Bryant it was first broadcast on Radio 4 in 1992. gen: Hörspiel ser: Classic Serial tit: The Secret Agent epi: 1 aut: Joseph Conrad cnt: 10 bnd: BP 24 len: 56'59" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 01.10.2006 lng: englisch stw: When a terrorist bomb explodes in London killing the bomber, all levels of the establishment, and every anarchist circle, feels threatened. Conrad's black comedy, written in 1907, takes a wry look at the shabby truth behind the news. Dramatised for radio by David Napthine. Chief Inspector Heat ...... Ron Cook Assistant Commissioner ...... Robert Glenister Adolf Verloc ...... David Calder Winnie Verloc ...... Wendy Nottingham Tom Ossipon ...... Paul Bazeley The Professor ...... Robin Soans Vladimir ...... Hugh Ross Sir Ethelred ...... Geoffrey Beevers Toodles ...... Joseph Kloska George ...... Paul Richard Biggin Waiter ...... Saikat Ahamed gen: Hörspiel ser: Classic Serial tit: The Secret Agent epi: 2 aut: Joseph Conrad cnt: 11 bnd: BP 24 len: 57'00" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 08.10.2006 lng: englisch stw: What began as an international bombing outrage quickly resolves into a domestic tragedy. Conrad's black comedy, written in 1907, takes a wry look at the shabby truth behind the news. Dramatised for radio by David Napthine. Chief Inspector Heat ...... Ron Cook Assistant Commissioner ...... Robert Glenister Adolf Verloc ...... David Calder Winnie Verloc ...... Wendy Nottingham Tom Ossipon ...... Paul Bazeley The Professor ...... Robin Soans Vladimir ...... Hugh Ross Sir Ethelred ...... Geoffrey Beevers Great Lady ...... Jillie Meers Toodles ...... Joseph Kloska Stevie ...... Paul Richard Biggin Porter ...... Saikat Ahamed gen: Hörspiel tit: Swallows and Amazons epi: 1 aut: Arthur Ransome cnt: 12 bnd: BP 24 len: 57'02" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 30.10.2006 lng: englisch stw: Four children experience the adventure of a life time in Arthur Ransome's classic tale. We complete our tie-in with the Invention of Childhood by bringing you an old favourite, Swallows and Amazons, by Arthur Ransome. Dramatised by David Wood, this classic children's adventure is set in the Lake District in 1929. Whilst on holiday with their mother, the four eldest Walker children form the crew of The Swallow and set sail for the island in the centre of the lake. When they encounter the crew of a rival ship, The Amazon, sparks begin to fly. This is a Catherine Bailey production starring Penny Downie, Joe Sowerbutts and Pheobe Phillips and was directed by Louise Armitage and Catherine Bailey. gen: Hörspiel tit: Swallows and Amazons epi: 2 aut: Arthur Ransome cnt: 13 bnd: BP 24 len: 56'59" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 31.10.2006 lng: englisch stw: Four children experience the adventure of a life time in Arthur Ransome's classic tale. gen: Hörspiel tit: Oliver Twist epi: 1 sbt: Asking for More aut: Charles Dickens cnt: 1 bnd: BP 25 len: 27'56" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 01.11.2006 fst: 1994 lng: englisch stw: Oliver Twist escapes from the workhouse only to find greater dangers outside. Over the past three years we have brought you many excellent Dickens radio dramatisations from the BBC Archive, and this, one of his most popular, is new to BBC 7. John Grillo stars as Fagin, Adjoa Andoh as Nancy, Tim McInnerny as Bill Sikes and Edward Long as Oliver. It was dramatised and directed by Nigel Bryant with music by John Kirkpatrick. gen: Hörspiel tit: Oliver Twist epi: 2 sbt: Pickpocket aut: Charles Dickens cnt: 2 bnd: BP 25 len: 27'58" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 01.11.2006 fst: 1994 lng: englisch stw: Fagin offers Oliver an unusual apprenticeship. gen: Hörspiel tit: Oliver Twist epi: 3 sbt: Masks and Pistols aut: Charles Dickens cnt: 3 bnd: BP 25 len: 28'02" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 02.11.2006 fst: 1994 lng: englisch stw: Sikes takes Oliver on his most dangerous mission yet - a burglary at midnight. gen: Hörspiel tit: Oliver Twist epi: 4 sbt: Dark Secrets aut: Charles Dickens cnt: 4 bnd: BP 25 len: 28'02" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 02.11.2006 fst: 1994 lng: englisch stw: Mrs Mann hears a secret from a dying woman's lips. gen: Hörspiel tit: Oliver Twist epi: 5 sbt: Betrayal aut: Charles Dickens cnt: 5 bnd: BP 25 len: 28'04" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 03.11.2006 fst: 1994 lng: englisch stw: A midnight meeting on London bridge has terrible consequences. gen: Hörspiel tit: Oliver Twist epi: 6 sbt: Hue and Cry aut: Charles Dickens cnt: 6 bnd: BP 25 len: 28'02" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 03.11.2006 fst: 1994 lng: englisch stw: A huge reward is on Sikes' head, but he hides where he's least expected. gen: Hörspiel ser: Classic Serial tit: The Brothers Karamazov epi: 1 aut: Fyodor Dostoyevsky cnt: 7 bnd: BP 25 len: 56'48" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 05.11.2006 lng: englisch stw: Russia 1880: The Karamazovs are reunited for a meeting with their father to discuss Dmitry's inheritance. But it seems that the unpredictable Fyodor Karamazov is not going to play the game. Melissa Murray's dramatisation of Fyodor Dostoyevsky's classic. Fyodor Karamazov ...... Roy Marsden Dmitry ...... Paul Hilton Ivan ...... Nicholas Boulton Alyosha ...... Carl Prekopp The Elder ...... Sam Dale Mrs Khoklakova ...... Rachel Atkins Lise ...... Emma Noakes Katerina ...... Juliet Aubrey Grushenka ...... Katy Cavanagh Smerdyakov ...... Joseph Kloska Grigory ...... Desmond McNamara Monk ...... Paul Richard Biggin Katerina's Servant ...... Miranda Keeling Music David Pickvance Producer Marc Beeby Directors Marc Beeby and Colin Guthrie gen: Hörspiel ser: Classic Serial tit: The Brothers Karamazov epi: 2 aut: Fyodor Dostoyevsky cnt: 8 bnd: BP 25 len: 56'53" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 12.11.2006 lng: englisch stw: While Alyosha attends the bedside of the dying Elder, relations between Dmitry and his father become ever more fraught. Fyodor Karamazov ...... Roy Marsden Dmitry ...... Paul Hilton Ivan ...... Nicholas Boulton Alyosha ...... Carl Prekopp Smerdyakov ...... Joseph Kloska Lise ...... Emma Noakes Mrs Khoklakova ...... Rachel Atkins Katerina ...... Juliet Aubrey Grushenka ...... Katy Cavanagh Grigory ...... Desmond McNamara Father Paisy ...... Philip Fox The Elder ...... Sam Dale Marya ...... Bethan Walker Monks ...... Paul Richard Biggin, Saikat Ahamed Dramatised by Melissa Murray Music David Pickvance Producer Marc Beeby Directors Marc Beeby and Colin Guthrie. gen: Hörspiel ser: Classic Serial tit: The Brothers Karamazov epi: 3 aut: Fyodor Dostoyevsky cnt: 9 bnd: BP 25 len: 56'47" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 19.11.2006 lng: englisch stw: Following the violent encounter at the Karamazov home, Dmitry flees the town in search of Grushenka. Dmitry ...... Paul Hilton Grushenka ...... Katy Cavanagh Alyosha ...... Carl Prekopp Lise ...... Emma Noakes Mrs Khoklakova ...... Rachel Atkins Grigory ...... Desmond McNamara Makarov ...... Mark Straker Andrey ...... Philip Fox Trifon ...... Paul Richard Biggin Musialowicz ...... Sam Dale Constable ...... Saikat Ahamed Revellers ...... Miranda Keeling, Bethan Walker Dramatised by Melissa Murray Music David Pickvance Producer Marc Beeby Directors Marc Beeby and Colin Guthrie. gen: Hörspiel ser: Classic Serial tit: The Brothers Karamazov epi: 4 aut: Fyodor Dostoyevsky cnt: 10 bnd: BP 25 len: 56'43" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 26.11.2006 lng: englisch stw: As Dmitry goes on trial for the murder of his father, Alyosha desperately seeks proof of his innocence. Dmitry ...... Paul Hilton Grushenka ...... Katy Cavanagh Alyosha ...... Carl Prekopp Lise ...... Emma Noakes Mrs Khoklakova ...... Rachel Atkins Grigory ...... Desmond McNamara Makarov ...... Mark Straker Andrey ...... Philip Fox Trifon ...... Paul Richard Biggin Musialowicz ...... Sam Dale Constable ...... Saikat Ahamed Revellers ...... Miranda Keeling, Bethan Walker Directed by Marc Beeby and Colin Guthrie. Dramatised by Melissa Murray. gen: Hörspiel ser: Classic Serial tit: The Brothers Karamazov epi: 5 aut: Fyodor Dostoyevsky cnt: 11 bnd: BP 25 len: 56'40" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 03.12.2006 lng: englisch stw: Following Ivan's dramatic appearance at his brother's trial, Katerina prepares to deal Dmitry a fatal blow. Dmitry ...... Paul Hilton Ivan ...... Nicholas Boulton Grushenka ...... Katy Cavanagh Alyosha ...... Carl Prekopp Katerina ...... Juliet Aubrey Lise ...... Emma Noakes Mrs Khoklakova ...... Rachel Atkins Grigory ...... Desmond McNamara Devil ...... Same Dale Judge ...... Ian Masters Prosecutor ...... Philip Fox Directed by Marc Beeby and Colin Guthrie. Dramatised by Melissa Murray. gen: Hörspiel tit: The Bandit Queen aut: Deepak Verma cnt: 12 bnd: BP 25 len: 73'56" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 12.11.2006 lng: englisch stw: After 11 years in prison without trial, the Indian Bandit Queen Phoolan Devi was released. How did she become a folk heroine? BBC 7's Indian Summer season draws to a close this week. It has been very popular with listeners, judging by your e-mails. The season is going out with a bang as we bring you Deepak Verma's dramatisation based upon the fascinating true-life figure of Phoolan Devi, the most feared outlaw in India. Through the recollection of Chief of Police Chatervedi, Phoolan's story unfolds and we learn how a victim of caste prejudice became bandit leader, a folk heroine, and an international figure. Starring Nisha K Nayar, Saeed Jaffrey, Paul Bhattacharjee and Kulvinder Ghir and directed by Claire Grove. gen: Hörspiel ser: Afternoon Play tit: Donna and the Debonair Diner aut: Cathy Feeny cnt: 13 bnd: BP 25 len: 43'36" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 16.11.2006 lng: englisch stw: A sparky 16-year-old waitress and a jaded restaurant critic unwittingly transform each other's eating habits, thus changing the course of both their lives. Donna ...... Jaimi Barbakoff Clement ...... Geoffrey Whitehead Wayne ...... Damian Lynch Florence ...... Sara Markland Miles ...... Ian Masters Giraldo ...... Ian Shaw Director Celia De Wolff gen: Hörspiel ser: Science Fiction tit: Vostok aut: Bill Murphy cnt: 14 bnd: BP 25 len: 27'02" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 09.12.2006 lng: englisch stw: Three intrepid heroes venture into the depths beneath the Antarctic ice to the only unexplored lake in the world: Lake Vostok. This thrilling sci-fi adventure, in the tradition of Jules Verne, follows an international submarine expedition and its three fearless heroes, as they venture into the depths beneath the Antarctic ice to the only unexplored lake in the world: Lake Vostok. Written by Bill Murphy and starring Stuart Milligan, Ingvar Sigurdsson, Brana Bajic, David Earl and Nick Danan, Vostok was produced by Lawrence Jackson and is a new commission for BBC7. gen: Hörspiel tit: Emma epi: 1 aut: Jane Austen cnt: 15 bnd: BP 25 len: 57'00" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 14.12.2006 lng: englisch stw: Emma gets it all wrong regarding Mr Elton. Jane Austen's witty and charming tale of incorrigible meddler Emma Woodhouse, who cannot resist matchmaking her friends and acquaintances in her small provincial world. Will her one voice of reason, Mr. Knightley, suceed in enlightening her that she is confusing her good intentions with self gratification? Two-part adaptation of Jane Austen's novel. Starring Eve Best, Robert Bathurst, David Bamber and Tom Hollander, Emma was dramatised by April De Angelis and produced by Jonquil Panting. gen: Hörspiel tit: Emma epi: 2 aut: Jane Austen cnt: 16 bnd: BP 25 len: 56'58" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 15.12.2006 lng: englisch stw: Emma gets it wrong again, before ending up with Mr. Right, in the concluding part of Jane Austen's comedy of love and marriage. gen: Hörspiel tit: A Miracle in No-Man's Land aut: Alex Jones cnt: 17 bnd: BP 25 len: 88'51" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 16.12.2006 fst: 1997 lng: englisch stw: World War 1: Joe Taylor is a deserter. But what made him turn and walk away from the bloody battle? It's December 1917 on The Western Front. At a Court Martial, Soldier Joseph Taylor maintains he was commanded to lay down his weapons and walk away from the the war by a vision of Jesus Christ in No-Man's land. This powerful and moving anti-war drama, broadcast for the first time here on BBC7, was written by and stars Alex Jones. Originally heard on Radio 4 in 1997, it was produced by Sue Wilson. gen: Hörspiel ser: Afternoon Play tit: Sir Gawain and the Green Knight cnt: 18 bnd: BP 25 len: 44'38" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 21.12.2006 lng: englisch stw: A new translation of the famous poem by Simon Armitage, narrated by Ian McKellen. Set in Arthurian Britain at Christmas time with the knights of the Round Table, whose festivities at Camelot are disrupted by the appearance of a green knight. The stranger has come to lay down a challenge - a test of courage and heart, which Sir Gawain, King Arthur's nephew, accepts. Sir Gawain ...... Samuel West The Green Knight/Sir Bertilak ...... David Fleeshman Bertilak's wife ...... Deborah McAndrew Arthur/Servant ...... Conrad Nelson With specially composed music by Gary Yershon. gen: Hörspiel tit: Paradise Lost epi: 1 aut: John Milton cnt: 1 bnd: BP 26 len: 66'42" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 26.11.2006 fst: 1992 lng: englisch stw: New to BBC 7 we present John Milton's epic poem of the Fall of Man, abridged in 41 episodes. The Fallen Angel, Satan, bitter and exasperated in Hell, tries to gather support among the devils for war against God in Heaven. First, he summons his forces to build the mighty palace of pandemonium. But should a war with God be carried out openly or in secret? With a great cast including Denis Quilley, Ian McDiarmid, Matthew Morgan, John Church, Steve Hodson and Jonathan Adams, this powerful production was directed by John Theocharis and first broadcast on Radio 4 in November 1992. The fallen angel, Satan, plots with his henchman Beelzebub. The fallen angel, Satan, awakens in Hell and summons up his legions. Satan summons his forces to build the mighty Palace of Pandemonium. Satan asks his lieutenants whether a war with God should be carried out openly or in secret. The fallen angels continue their debate about a war with heaven. The devil Belial urges caution. gen: Hörspiel tit: Paradise Lost epi: 2 aut: John Milton cnt: 2 bnd: BP 26 len: 65'45" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 03.12.2006 fst: 1992 lng: englisch stw: Satan journeys alone to the new world where God's new creation is purported to live. Satan flies to Hell's Gate, where he encounters his daughter Sin and his son Death. Satan passes through the gulf between hell and heaven and approaches the new world that god has made. The blind poet praises light and God reveals his purposes to his beloved son. The Son of God offers to redeem mankind, and Satan, entering the Garden of Eden, eavesdrops on Adam and Eve. gen: Hörspiel tit: Paradise Lost epi: 3 aut: John Milton cnt: 3 bnd: BP 26 len: 67'12" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 10.12.2006 fst: 1992 lng: englisch stw: Satan disguises himself as an angel and tricks his way into God's new world. Adopting yet another disguise, Satan secrets himself on The Tree of Life in The Garden of Eden. Satan spies Adam and Eve for the first time and listens in as they talk. The Angel Gabriel warns Uriel that an evil spirit has entered Paradise. The angels charged with guarding Adam and Eve apprehend Satan. gen: Hörspiel tit: Paradise Lost epi: 4 aut: John Milton cnt: 4 bnd: BP 26 len: 66'13" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 17.12.2006 fst: 1992 lng: englisch stw: In the Garden of Eden, Eve describes her disturbing dream to Adam. Adam and Eve entertain the archangel Raphael. The archangel Raphael describes to Adam and Eve how Satan fomented rebellion among the angels. The archangel Raphael describes how Michael and Gabriel were sent to battle against Satan. John Milton's epic poem. Episode 20 of 41. gen: Hörspiel tit: Paradise Lost epi: 5 aut: John Milton cnt: 5 bnd: BP 26 len: 64'27" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 24.12.2006 fst: 1992 lng: englisch stw: God sends his son to drive the rebellious angels out of heaven. Raphael describes how God announced his intention to create the world. God begins the creation of the world and its many creatures. Raphael concludes his description of God's creation of the world. Raphael answers Adam's questions about the Solar System. gen: Hörspiel tit: Paradise Lost epi: 6 aut: John Milton cnt: 6 bnd: BP 26 len: 65'57" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 31.12.2006 fst: 1992 lng: englisch stw: Raphael welcomes Adam's offer to tell his own story. Adam tells Raphael how Eve was created and discusses the nature of love. Satan returns to Eden and enters the body of the sleeping serpent. Eve persuades Adam to allow her to work alone in The Garden, and in the guise of The Serpent, Satan makes contact. The Serpent tempts Eve to taste the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. gen: Hörspiel tit: Paradise Lost epi: 7 aut: John Milton cnt: 7 bnd: BP 26 len: 67'46" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 07.01.2007 fst: 1992 lng: englisch stw: Eve persuades Adam to taste the forbidden fruit. God sends his son to judge Adam and Eve. Sin and Death create the path leading from Hell to Earth. Sin and Death begin their schemes for Earth, while the devils, turned into serpents, taste the fruits of disobedience. Adam urges Eve to seek peace with God through repentance. gen: Hörspiel tit: Paradise Lost epi: 8 aut: John Milton cnt: 8 bnd: BP 26 len: 79'41" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 15.01.2007 fst: 1992 lng: englisch stw: God decrees that Adam and Eve must leave the Garden of Paradise. Adam is taken to the top of a hill, to be shown the future for his descendants. The Archangel Michael describes to Adam the events that will lead to The Flood and God's covenant with Noah. The Archangel Michael relates to Adam the works of Abraham and how Moses will lead the Children of Israel out of Egypt. The Archangel Michael tells Adam about the reign of King David and the birth of Christ. The Archangel Michael comforts Adam and leads him, together with Eve, out of Paradise. gen: Hörspiel tit: Paradise Regained epi: 1 aut: John Milton cnt: 9 bnd: BP 26 len: 53'55" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 21.01.2007 lng: englisch stw: The sequel to John Milton's epic poem is abridged in nine episodes by Adrian Mitchell. Can Satan tempt Christ during His forty days in the wilderness? With Ian McDiarmid, Robert Glenister and Denis Quilley, this fine production was directed by John Theocharis. When God pronounces that Christ is his son, Satan plots against him. Satan approaches Christ in the desert. Satan discusses how he can bring about the downfall of Christ. Satan lays on an exquisite banquet to tempt Christ, who has not eaten for 40 days. gen: Hörspiel tit: Paradise Regained epi: 2 aut: John Milton cnt: 10 bnd: BP 26 len: 65'05" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 28.01.2007 lng: englisch stw: In the wilderness Satan and Christ discuss power and glory. Satan shows Jesus the great armies of the world in an effort to lure him into temptation. Satan takes Christ from the wilderness to the top of a mountain to show him Rome. Satan continues to try and tempt Jesus by showing him the wisdom, philosophy, music and art of ancient Greeks. In one last effort, Satan brings Jesus to the pinnacle of the temple in Jerusalem, tempting him to prove his divinity. gen: Hörspiel tit: Box of Delights epi: 1 sbt: When the Wolves Were Running aut: John Masefield cnt: 11 bnd: BP 26 len: 87'27" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 17.12.2006 fst: 1995 lng: englisch stw: Schoolboy Kay Harker is caught at the centre of a battle between good and evil. A thrilling two part adaptation of the children's fantasy novel by John Masefield. On the way to visit his guardian for Christmas, young Master Kay Harker gets caught at the centre of a battle between the evil sorcerer Abner Brown and the mysterious Cole Hawlings. Starring Donald Sinden, Lionel Jeffries and Celia Imrie, The Box of Delights was produced by David Blount and dramatised by John Peacock, and was first broadcast on Radio 4 in 1995. gen: Hörspiel tit: Box of Delights epi: 2 sbt: Under the Chester Hills aut: John Masefield cnt: 12 bnd: BP 26 len: 87'25" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 24.12.2006 fst: 1995 lng: englisch stw: Good battles evil in the final part of John Masefield's classic Christmas tale. The conclusion of John Masefield's children's fantasy novel, dramatised for radio by John Peacock. Kay tries to thwart the evil actions of Abner Brown and meets the owner of the box, Arnold of Todi, played by Spike Milligan. The cast also includes Donald Sinden, Lionel Jeffries and Celia Imrie. The Box of Delights was produced by David Blount and is a wonderful listen. gen: Hörspiel tit: Crisp and Even Brightly cnt: 1 bnd: BP 27 len: 72'13" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 24.12.2006 lng: englisch stw: A real Christmas favourite with our listeners, we've received many requests to hear this delightful drama again. Discover the true meaning behind the carol "Good King Wenceslas". Timothy West plays the role of the monarch. gen: Hörspiel ser: Afternoon Play tit: McLevy epi: 1 sbt: Pilot Episode aut: David Ashton cnt: 2 bnd: BP 27 len: 85'54" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 25.12.2006 fst: 99-07-26 lng: englisch stw: Brian Cox stars in a special seasonal case for Victorian Edinburgh's most idiosyncratic policeman. McLevy is hardly a natural Yuletide reveller. So as the good citizens prepare to make merry, it comes as a relief to the Inspector to find that a supernatural thief is haunting the city. Jean Brash ...... Siobhan Redmond Mulholland ...... Michael Perceval-Maxwell Roach ...... David Ashton Hannah ...... Colette O'Neil Marcus Crowe ...... Matthew Pidgeon Donald McIver ...... Andrew Neil Margaret Beaton ...... Helen McAlpine Percy Bierce ...... Stuart McQuarrie Simone ...... Tracy Wiles Finlay Hodge ...... Robert McIntosh Lafferty ...... Mark Bonnar Daniel ...... Dominic Di Rollo Child ...... Anna McPhail gen: Hörspiel tit: Don Quixote epi: 1 aut: Miguel de Cervantes cnt: 3 bnd: BP 27 len: 89'14" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 30.12.2006 fst: 1980 lng: englisch stw: Written in 1605, this Spanish classic is about the adventures of an intrepid knight and his humble squire, Sancho Panza. Widely regarded as the first modern novel, Miguel de Cervantes's classic tale chronicles the adventures of the knight-errant Don Quixote de la Mancha and his faithful squire Sancho Panza. Bob Grant dons the suit of armour as Don Quixote and Bernard Cribbins is Sanco in this enjoyable caper set in 17th century Spain. John Arden dramatised the novel for radio, it was directed by the late and brilliant Alfred Bradley and was first broadcast in 1980. gen: Hörspiel tit: Don Quixote epi: 2 aut: Miguel de Cervantes cnt: 4 bnd: BP 27 len: 89'14" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 06.01.2007 fst: 1980 lng: englisch stw: Written in 1605, this Spanish classic is about the adventures of an intrepid knight and his humble squire, Sancho Panza. gen: Hörspiel ser: Classic Serial tit: Resurrection epi: 1 aut: Leo Tolstoy cnt: 5 bnd: BP 27 len: 55'05" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 31.12.2006 lng: englisch stw: Robert Forrest's dramatisation of Leo Tolstoy's last major work. Katerina Maslova is a young prostitute on trial for the murder of one of her clients. Serving on the jury, Prince Dmitri recognises the young woman as the girl he seduced many years before. Believing himself partly responsible for her predicament, he embarks upon a complex legal attempt to reverse the sentence passed upon her. Katerina Maslova ...... Katherine Igoe Dmitri Nikhloydov ...... Richard Dillane Lydia Menshova ...... Vivienne Dixon Vera Bogovskaya ...... Joanna Tope Princess Marya ...... Lesley Hart Anatoly Krylstov/Rizin ...... Joe Arkley Gudz/Makar Dyerkin ...... John Buick Directed by Lu Kemp. gen: Hörspiel ser: Classic Serial tit: Resurrection epi: 2 aut: Leo Tolstoy cnt: 6 bnd: BP 27 len: 54'59" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 07.01.2007 lng: englisch stw: Robert Forrest's dramatisation of Leo Tolstoy's last major work. Prince Dmitri follows the young prostitute Katerina Maslova to Siberia. Having been unable to reverse the sentence for murder served in error upon her, he proposes marriage in the hope of redeeming the wrongs he did to her as a girl. But he finds his proposal contested by a fellow prisoner Simonson, a man who has already made all the sacrifices in life that Prince Dmitri only threatens to make. Katerina Maslova ...... Katherine Igoe Dmitri Nikhloydov ...... Richard Dillane Lydia Menshova ...... Vivienne Dixon Vera Bogovskaya ...... Joanna Tope Princess Marya ...... Lesley Hart Anatoly Krylstov ...... Joe Arkley Nabatov/Ivan ...... Phil McKee Simonson ...... Tom Brooke Old Man ...... Finlay Welsh Directed by Lu Kemp. gen: Hörspiel tit: Mrs Warren's Profession aut: George Bernard Shaw cnt: 7 bnd: BP 27 len: 87'48" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 20.01.2007 fst: 02-11-12 lng: englisch stw: The story of a young Cambridge graduate who discovers his mother's real occupation. This is a World Service production of Shaw's "shocking" play which explores themes of morality, love, sexual politics and capitalism. Starring Julian Rhind-Tutt, Maggie Steed, Justine Waddell and Robert Bathurst it was directed by Marion Nancarrow and first broadcast on 12th November 2002. gen: Hörspiel tit: The Turn of The Screw aut: Henry James cnt: 8 bnd: BP 27 len: 87'06" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 21.01.2007 fst: 1993 lng: englisch stw: Former head of BBC Radio Drama, John Tydeman dramatised Henry James's story of a young governess who takes charge of two little children - but are they at the mercy of ghosts? And what happened to the previous governess? Starring Charlotte Attenborough, Rosemary Leach and Jonathan Adams, this atmospheric production was directed by Glyn Dearman in 1993. gen: Hörspiel ser: Classic Serial tit: The Mahabharata epi: 1 sbt: Genesis cnt: 9 bnd: BP 27 len: 56'59" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 04.02.2007 lng: englisch stw: A divided family fight over their inheritance and the thing that is most sought after - a peaceful and harmonious land - is destroyed forever. One of the most important literary and oral texts of South Asia. It is said that all that is known about human passions can be found in The Mahabharata. Dramatised by Jatinder Verma and Claudia Mayer. Yudhishtra ...... Paul Battacharjee Krishna ...... Nitin Ganatra Bhishma ...... Raad Rawi Dhirtrashtra ...... Sam Dale Duryodhana ...... Zubin Varla Arjuna ...... Paul Bazely Bhima ...... Danny Sapani Draupadi ...... Sasha Behar Gandhari ...... Sudha Buchar Kunti ...... Indira Joshi Shakuni ...... Jude Akuwudike Director Claire Grove. Composer Niraj Chag. gen: Hörspiel ser: Classic Serial tit: The Mahabharata epi: 2 sbt: Exile cnt: 10 bnd: BP 27 len: 57'00" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 11.02.2007 lng: englisch stw: Yudhishtra and his brothers have been exiled for 13 years. If they are discovered, their exile will begin all over again. Yudhishtra knows that his cousin will never give up the throne, but he does everything he can to avoid war. One of the most important literary and oral texts of South Asia. It is said that all that is known about human passions can be found in The Mahabharata. Yudhishtra ...... Paul Battacharjee Krishna ...... Nitin Ganatra Bhishma ...... Raad Rawi Dhirtrashtra ...... Sam Dale Duryodhana ...... Zubin Varla Arjuna ...... Paul Bazely Bhima ...... Danny Sapani Draupadi ...... Sasha Behar Gandhari ...... Sudha Buchar Uttara ...... Saikat Ahamed Dramatised by Jatinder Verma and Claudia Mayer. Director Claire Grove. Composer Niraj Chag. gen: Hörspiel ser: Classic Serial tit: The Mahabharata epi: 3 sbt: War cnt: 11 bnd: BP 27 len: 57'01" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 18.02.2007 lng: englisch stw: Yudhishtra's 13 years of exile are over but his cousin refuses to give up the throne. Yudhishtra must fight for his inheritance and both sides wait to find out which side Krishna is on. One of the most important literary and oral texts of South Asia. It is said that all that is known about human passions can be found in The Mahabharata. Yudhishtra ...... Paul Battacharjee Krishna ...... Nitin Ganatra Bhishma ...... Raad Rawi Dhirtrashtra ...... Sam Dale Duryodhana ...... Zubin Varla Arjuna ...... Paul Bazely Bhima ...... Danny Sapani Draupadi ...... Sasha Behar Gandhari ...... Sudha Buchar Kunti ...... Indira Joshi Dramatised by Jatinder Verma and Claudia Mayer. Director Claire Grove. Composer Niraj Chag. gen: Hörspiel tit: Three Men in a Boat aut: Jerome K Jerome cnt: 12 bnd: BP 27 len: 89'43" med: MP3 spd: 80 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 24.02.2007 fst: 1962 lng: englisch stw: Kenneth Horne and Leslie Phillips star in the musical radio adaptation of Jerome K. Jerome's classic. First broadcast in 1962. This delightful musical adaptation of Jerome K Jerome's classic stars Kenneth Horne, Leslie Phillips and Hubert Gregg. Produced by Mark White and first broadcast in 1962, the music and lyrics were composed by Hubert Gregg and performed by the Augmented B.B.C. Revue Orchestra, conducted by Malcolm Lockyer. gen: Hörspiel ser: Krimi tit: The Investigation of a Murder aut: Eric Saward cnt: 1 bnd: BP 28 len: 86'42" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 28.01.2007 fst: 1979 lng: englisch stw: A murder mystery by Eric Saward is set in the fictitious West Midlands town of Wallingbridge. A young girl is murdered and the police believe they've caught their man. But have they? Starring Roger Hume, Terry Molloy, Sean Barrett and Peggy Ashby, it was directed by Roger Pine and first broadcast in January 1979. gen: Hörspiel ser: Krimi tit: The Secret Parts aut: Eve Brook ori: David Edgar cnt: 2 bnd: BP 28 len: 87'53" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 17.02.2007 lng: englisch stw: Romance and political skulduggery combine in David Edgar's witty murder mystery. We conclude our short David Edgar season with his dramatisation of a light hearted murder mystery by his late wife, Eve Brook. When a Councillor discovers the body of a colleague, she has her own ideas of the perpetrator, but can she prove it? With Celia Imrie, Nathaniel Parker and Frances Barber, the director was Jonquil Panting. gen: Hörspiel tit: Sword of Honour epi: 1 aut: Evelyn Waugh cnt: 3 bnd: BP 28 len: 54'33" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 16.02.2007 fst: 1974 lng: englisch stw: Returning to England from Italy, just before the outbreak of World War II, aristocrat Guy Crouchback takes up a commission in the army. With Hugh Dickson, Norman Rodway, Paul Gregory, Jeffrey Segal, Patrick Troughton, Carleton Hobbs and Nigel Anthony. This wonderful production was directed by Jane Morgan and first broadcast in 1974. Evelyn Waugh's powerful account of the misery of war is dramatised in eleven parts by Barry Campbell. gen: Hörspiel tit: Sword of Honour epi: 2 aut: Evelyn Waugh cnt: 4 bnd: BP 28 len: 54'40" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 19.02.2007 fst: 1974 lng: englisch stw: With Crouchback disgraced, the Brigadier makes a sudden and fearsome appearance. gen: Hörspiel tit: Sword of Honour epi: 3 aut: Evelyn Waugh cnt: 5 bnd: BP 28 len: 54'33" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 20.02.2007 fst: 1974 lng: englisch stw: The 'thunderbox' is a source of irritation for Uncle. gen: Hörspiel tit: Sword of Honour epi: 4 aut: Evelyn Waugh cnt: 6 bnd: BP 28 len: 54'03" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 21.02.2007 fst: 1974 lng: englisch stw: All leave is cancelled and Guy Crouchback finds himself leading the men. gen: Hörspiel tit: Sword of Honour epi: 5 aut: Evelyn Waugh cnt: 7 bnd: BP 28 len: 54'03" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 22.02.2007 fst: 1974 lng: englisch stw: Guy Crouchback is given a special task to complete. gen: Hörspiel tit: Sword of Honour epi: 6 aut: Evelyn Waugh cnt: 8 bnd: BP 28 len: 54'45" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 23.02.2007 fst: 1974 lng: englisch stw: Botched missions to France, the press perception of the army - Guy Crouchback has his work cut out sorting it all. gen: Hörspiel tit: Sword of Honour epi: 7 aut: Evelyn Waugh cnt: 9 bnd: BP 28 len: 53'42" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 26.02.2007 fst: 1974 lng: englisch stw: The feckless Major Hound finds himself at a total loss in the midst of rearguard action. gen: Hörspiel tit: Sword of Honour epi: 8 aut: Evelyn Waugh cnt: 10 bnd: BP 28 len: 54'19" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 27.02.2007 fst: 1974 lng: englisch stw: Amiable Guy Crouchback copes with the horror and banality of war. gen: Hörspiel tit: Sword of Honour epi: 9 aut: Evelyn Waugh cnt: 11 bnd: BP 28 len: 54'11" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 28.02.2007 fst: 1974 lng: englisch stw: Guy's father dies - but he finally meets the man who saved his own life. gen: Hörspiel tit: Sword of Honour epi: 10 aut: Evelyn Waugh cnt: 12 bnd: BP 28 len: 54'05" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 01.03.2007 fst: 1974 lng: englisch stw: A fresh influx of new recruits causes a great deal of irritation for the Commandant, Ludovic. gen: Hörspiel tit: Sword of Honour epi: 11 aut: Evelyn Waugh cnt: 13 bnd: BP 28 len: 54'09" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 02.03.2007 fst: 1974 lng: englisch stw: Guy Crouchback's story of war and its crushing terror and banality comes to an end. gen: Hörspiel tit: The Devil's Disciple aut: George Bernard Shaw cnt: 14 bnd: BP 28 len: 87'21" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 10.03.2007 fst: 1976 lng: englisch stw: George Bernard Shaw's play is set during the American War of Independence, in 1777. Richard is the self-confessed Devil's Disciple, the rebellious rascal of a highly religious family who want nothing to do with him. However, as the British take charge of Richard's town and events unfold, Richards shows that he has more integrity than he gives himself credit for. The cast includes Tony Church, James Laurenson, Lucy Fleming and Tenniel Evans and was directed by Brian Miller. This dramatisation was first heard in 1976 to mark the 200th anniversary of the American Declaration of Independence. gen: Hörspiel ser: The Saturday Play tit: Zubeda aut: Naylah Ahmed cnt: 1 bnd: BP 29 len: 56'42" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 10.03.2007 lng: englisch stw: Naylah Ahmed's play, set in rural India, is the parallel tale of two romances, one long-standing and unfulfilled and the other newly formed and full of hope. An elderly henna artist who has lived alone all her life has harboured a secret, which comes to light when she reluctantly takes on an apprentice for the first time. Zubeda ...... Jamila Massey Hassan ...... Ameet Chana Sultan/Chacha ...... Vincent Ebrahim Sureya ...... Maya Sondhi Maid/Woman ...... Harvey Virdi Man ...... Sam Dastor Director Kate Chapman. gen: Comedy ser: Krimi tit: The Bigger They Are aut: Wally K. Daly cnt: 2 bnd: BP 29 len: 84'22" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 18.03.2007 fst: 1985 lng: englisch stw: Newly released model prisoners Charles and George combine with their old inmate and warder friends to thwart a dastardly crime. Prison inmates Charles and George feature again in another crime caper from Wally K. Daly. A mafia plot to defraud the Bank of England is foiled by the amazing escapades of two city gents, a group of prisoners and a Prison Governor. The cast of this delightful 1985 production includes Peter Jones, Charles Hawtrey, Donald Hewlett and Lockwood West. The director was Martin Jenkins. gen: Hörspiel ser: Krimi tit: The Big Sleep aut: Raymond Chandler cnt: 3 bnd: BP 29 len: 88'51" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 24.03.2007 fst: 1977 lng: englisch stw: Private eye Philip Marlowe is hired by a rich family. Before the case is over, he's seen murder, blackmail, and love, maybe. Ed Bishop stars as Philip Marlowe in these atmospheric BBC Radio dramatisations of Raymond Chandler's novels about the cynical, world-weary, wise-cracking private eye whose honesty in a dishonest world sent him down the mean streets again and again in search of some kind of justice. First broadcast on Radio 4 in September 1977, it was directed by John Tydeman and also stars Robert Beatty. gen: Hörspiel ser: Krimi tit: Farewell My Lovely aut: Raymond Chandler cnt: 4 bnd: BP 29 len: 87'22" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 31.03.2007 lng: englisch stw: A femme fatale, a case of blackmail (to go with a case of bourbon) and a Moose on the Loose: murder, mayhem and Marlowe. gen: Hörspiel ser: Krimi tit: One Corpse Too Many aut: Ellis Peters cnt: 5 bnd: BP 29 len: 86'40" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 28.04.2007 fst: 1990 lng: englisch stw: England, 1138. Cadfael has a murder on his hands. New to BBC 7 is a 90 minute Brother Cadfael mystery by Ellis Peters, dramatised by Alan Downer. Set in 1138, Shrewsbury is under siege and amidst the dead bodies is a victim who has been strangled. Brother Cadfael, played by Glyn Houston, investigates. Also starring Jane Slavin, Richard Tate and John Moffatt, it was directed by the late and very much missed Gerry Jones, and first broadcast on 10th March 1990. gen: Hörspiel ser: Science Fiction tit: Chocky aut: John Wyndham cnt: 6 bnd: BP 29 len: 88'59" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 05.05.2007 fst: 1998 lng: englisch stw: Twelve year old Matthew starts talking to Chocky - is she a fantasy friend or an alien life force? Written by John Wyndham, dramatised by John Constable and starring Owen Teale, Kathy Tyson, Holly Grainger and Steven Perry, it was produced by Melanie Harris and first broadcast on 14 th March 1998. gen: Hörspiel ser: Science Fiction tit: The Veldt aut: Ray Bradbury cnt: 7 bnd: BP 29 len: 43'44" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 22.05.2007 lng: englisch stw: A playroom with special powers draws two children into secret deadly adventures. Afternoon Play Adapted from the stage play by Mike Walker, based on Ray Bradbury's classic story. TV Announcer ...... David Rapkin Peter ...... Michael Wachter Wendy ...... Reyna Shaskan Lydia ...... Jennifer Van Dyck George ...... David Slavin Ms Kim ...... Nancy Wu The Room ...... John Henry Cox David MacLean ...... Richmond Hoxie Directed by Judith Kampfner. gen: Hörspiel ser: Afternoon Play tit: The King of Pripyat aut: Peter Cann and Steve Johnstone cnt: 8 bnd: BP 29 len: 43'45" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 13.07.2007 lng: englisch stw: A young nuclear physicist from Sellafield is on an exchange trip to Chernobyl and makes an illicit trip to the evacuated city of Pripyat, which has been deserted for 20 years. Whilst there, he is gripped by the ghostly image of a man on top of a tower block aiming a crossbow. In spite of repeated warnings to stay away, he embarks on a dangerous mission to discover the identity of this mysterious figure. Alex ...... Paul Hilton Tanya ...... Natasha Radski Mykola ...... Boris Isarov Viktor ...... Michael Poole Svetlana ...... Svetlana Payne Directed by Kate Chapman. gen: Hörspiel ser: The Friday Play tit: A Second to Midnight epi: 1 sbt: News from Nigeria cnt: 9 bnd: BP 29 len: 56'51" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 13.07.2007 lng: englisch stw: The worst possible news comes from Nigeria. A contemporary thriller set in Nigeria in two parts. Western Governments and global oil companies have long predicted that the 'Peak', when oil reserves become finite and the markets begin to panic, is as far off as 2030. But oil company geologist Dr Rob Turner wrote a report trashing this timescale, saying that we had already reached the 'Peak'. But then he was forced to bury it. Rob ...... Ian Puleston-Davies Liz ...... Brigit Forsyth Lester/David ...... James Nickerson Joseph ...... Richard Pepple Henry ...... David Fleeshman Geraldine ...... Sue Jenkins Alice ...... Abi Eniola Kolo ...... Cyril Nri Helen ...... Charlotte Emmerson Directed by Susan Roberts. gen: Hörspiel ser: The Friday Play tit: A Second to Midnight epi: 2 sbt: Rob discovers Helen is alive cnt: 10 bnd: BP 29 len: 56'51" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 20.07.2007 lng: englisch stw: Kidnapped by gunmen in the Nigerian Delta, Rob is floored when he discovers Helen is alive. Can she persuade him to back her cause? Rob ...... Ian Puleston-Davies Helen ...... Charlotte Emmerson Kolo ...... Cyril Nri Liz ...... Brigit Forsyth Joseph ...... Richard Pepple Geraldine ...... Sue Jenkins Henry ...... David Fleeshman David ...... James Nickerson Alice ...... Abi Eniola Directed by Gary Brown. gen: Hörspiel tit: The Doppelganger aut: J.C.W. Brook cnt: 11 bnd: BP 29 len: 87'18" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 21.07.2007 fst: 1977 lng: englisch stw: On a second honeymoon with his wife, Jane, Adam sees his dead mother and is plunged into the dark world of the other self. A doppelganger is your other self - your dark brother of myth, who wishes to take your place in this world. Adam and Jane are on a second honeymoon to try and salvage their marriage, but at Oxford station Adam sees his possibly dead mother and is plunged into the dark world of the other self. A dark and brooding tale written by. Starring Elizabeth Lindsay, Penelope Lee, Nigel Anthony and Emily Richard. First heard in 1977. gen: Hörspiel tit: Theo aut: Moya O'Shea cnt: 12 bnd: BP 29 len: 87'09" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 29.07.2007 fst: 1995 lng: englisch stw: Theo, a rare cinnamon Steiff plush bear with boot button eyes from 1908, is Lot 107, and the auction is about to begin. One of the most requested dramas on BBC 7, this beautiful and emotional tale is narrated by a teddy bear called Theo; a rare cinnamon plush bear with boot button eyes, still with the Steiff button in his ear and made in Germany in 1908. Via the various owners of the bear the drama takes us through a journey of social and historical events - the Suffragette movement, two World Wars, rationing, King George's resignation, Queen Elizabeth's coronation, the drought of 1976, the 1979 election, and the rise in unemployment. Starring Martin Jarvis as Theo, with Ross Livingstone, David Collings, Jane Whittenshaw and Stephen Critchlow, it was written by Moya O'Shea, produced by Tracy Neale and first broadcast in 1995. If you haven't heard it before do tune in and if you have, I'm sure many of you will want to enjoy it yet again. I certainly will. gen: Hörspiel tit: The Tin Drum epi: 1 aut: Gunter Grass cnt: 1 bnd: BP 30 len: 56'01" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 16.07.2007 lng: englisch stw: Gunter Grass' classic novel of the rise and fall of Hitler as seen through the eyes of the dwarfish narrator, Oskar Matzerath. Starring Phil Daniels, Kenneth Cranham, Lesley Manville and David Collings. gen: Hörspiel tit: The Tin Drum epi: 2 aut: Gunter Grass cnt: 2 bnd: BP 30 len: 55'04" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 17.07.2007 lng: englisch stw: World War II is raging. Oskar, on the run, discovers sex, jazz and the black market. Soon his mad drumming will make him a star. gen: Hörspiel tit: The Skull beneath the Skin epi: 1 aut: P. D. James cnt: 3 bnd: BP 30 len: 87'46" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 11.08.2007 fst: 1989 lng: englisch stw: Greta Scacchi and John Moffat star in this thrilling adaptation of the PD James whodunit. It's a brilliant two part drama by P. D. James, skilfully dramatised by Neville Teller. Young detective, Cordelia Gray, is hired to accompany actress Clarissa Lisle, who has received threats to her life. The sharp-witted sleuth, played by Greta Scaachi, finds herself in the enclosed setting of a chilling country house on an island with a blood-stained history. Also starring John Moffat and Richard Vernon, it was directed by Mathew Walters and first broadcast in 1989. For crime and thriller fans this is not to be missed. gen: Hörspiel tit: The Skull beneath the Skin epi: 2 aut: P. D. James cnt: 4 bnd: BP 30 len: 87'26" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 18.08.2007 fst: 1989 lng: englisch stw: Private Investigator, Cordelia Gray unravels the details behind the murder of actress Clarissa Lisle. The cast includes: Greta Scacchi, Richard Vernon, John Moffatt, Norman Rodway and Patricia Garwood. Directed by Matthew Walters, the play was first broadcast in 1989. gen: Hörspiel tit: Asha's World aut: Bettina Gracias cnt: 5 bnd: BP 30 len: 43'43" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 13.08.2007 lng: englisch stw: In this light comedy drama, Asha's controlling mother rings up from India to tell her she's arranged a date for her with an attractive Indian doctor. Asha refuses to go and her best friend Veronique goes in her place, pretending to be Asha, setting in train a twisty romantic tale of mistaken identities. Written by Bettina Gracias and starring Archie Panjabi, Leena Dingra, Leena Dingra, Jemma Elder, Anushka Dahssi and Ajay Chhabra, it was directed by David Hunter. gen: Hörspiel tit: From Bangalore with Love cnt: 6 bnd: BP 30 len: 44'01" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 14.08.2007 fst: 2003 lng: englisch stw: When Nisha returns, shiny-eyed, to Bangalore after a secret six weeks in London with Parv, a mathematician she has met through the internet, she finds things at home have changed. Starring Nina Wadia, Shireen Shah, Renu Setna, Ajay Chhabra, Seema Bowri and Anil Desai, it was produced by David Hunter and first broadcast in March 2003. gen: Hörspiel tit: Jallebies and Tea aut: Bettina Gracias cnt: 7 bnd: BP 30 len: 43'58" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 15.08.2003 lng: englisch stw: Asha has recently arrived in London from India with her husband. She is shy lonely and left in the flat all day long - that is until some extraordinary visitors materialise and change her life. Also produced by David Hunter, it was written by Bettina Gracias and stars Nina Wadia, Ajay Chhabra, Renu Setna, Sameena Zehra, Saeed Jaffrey and Sudha Buchar. gen: Hörspiel tit: The Whispering Tree aut: Tanika Gupta cnt: 8 bnd: BP 30 len: 43'44" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 16.08.2007 fst: 1998 lng: englisch stw: A year after her mother's death, fourteen year old Sharmila prefers to escape into a world of Hindu myths and legends rather than confront her guilt and pain. Tanika Gupta's drama features Souad Faress, Lyndam Gregory, Amanda Gordon, Akbar Kurtha and Parminder Nagra and was produced by Pam Fraser Solomon. First broadcast in 1998. gen: Hörspiel tit: A Suitable Boy epi: 1 aut: Vikram Seth cnt: 9 bnd: BP 30 len: 57'16" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 14.08.2007 fst: 2002 lng: englisch stw: Set in 1950s India, Vikram Seth's epic love story is the tale of Mrs Rupa Mehra's attempts to find to find a 'suitable' husband for her daughter. As potential suitors are lined up for appraisal, there is the ever constant danger that Lata, an English student at Brahmpur University, will fall in love with someone of her own choice. Starring Ayesha Dharker, Mahabanoo Mody-Kotwal, and Ila Arun, it is a splendid John Dryden production and first broadcast on Radio 4 in 2002. gen: Hörspiel tit: A Suitable Boy epi: 2 aut: Vikram Seth cnt: 10 bnd: BP 30 len: 57'10" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 15.08.2007 fst: 2002 lng: englisch stw: Vikram Seth's love story is the tale of Mrs Rupa Mehra's attempts to find a 'suitable' husband for her daughter in 1950s India. gen: Hörspiel tit: A Suitable Boy epi: 3 aut: Vikram Seth cnt: 11 bnd: BP 30 len: 57'15" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 16.08.2007 fst: 2002 lng: englisch stw: Vikram Seth's love story is the tale of Mrs Rupa Mehra's attempts to find a 'suitable' husband for her daughter in 1950s India. gen: Hörspiel tit: A Suitable Boy epi: 4 aut: Vikram Seth cnt: 12 bnd: BP 30 len: 57'10" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 17.08.2007 fst: 2002 lng: englisch stw: Vikram Seth's love story is the tale of Mrs Rupa Mehra's attempts to find a 'suitable' husband for her daughter in 1950s India. gen: Hörspiel tit: A Suitable Boy epi: 5 aut: Vikram Seth cnt: 13 bnd: BP 30 len: 57'10" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 20.08.2007 fst: 2002 lng: englisch stw: Vikram Seth's love story is the tale of Mrs Rupa Mehra's attempts to find a 'suitable' husband for her daughter in 1950s India. gen: Hörspiel ser: Afternoon Play tit: Rumpole and the Reign of Terror epi: 1 sbt: Truth Makes All Things Plain aut: John Mortimer cnt: 14 bnd: BP 30 len: 43'59" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 15.08.2007 lng: englisch stw: fehlt: Störung bei ca. 8' When beautiful Tiffany Khan learns that her husband has been arrested on suspicion of terrorism, she calls on Rumpole immediately. Horace Rumpole ...... Timothy West Hilda Rumpole ...... Prunella Scales Judge Bullingham ...... Christopher Benjamin Tiffany Khan ...... Lily Bevan Sam Ballard ...... Michael Cochrane Bonny Bernard ...... Bruce Alexander Dr Mahmood Khan ...... Shiv Grewal Barrington Whiteside ...... Geoffrey Whitehead Will Timson ...... Ben Crowe Peter Plaistow ...... Christopher Scott Mrs Justice Templett ...... Joanna David Fred Sugden ...... Kim Durham Ian Antrim ...... Nigel Anthony Director Marilyn Imrie. gen: Hörspiel ser: Afternoon Play tit: Rumpole and the Reign of Terror epi: 2 sbt: The Past Catches up with Us All aut: John Mortimer cnt: 15 bnd: BP 30 len: 43'59" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 22.08.2007 lng: englisch stw: A case for John Mortimer's foxy barrister. As he struggles to win justice for his client, Rumpole also becomes embroiled in the mysterious ways of She Who Must Be Obeyed. His marriage, rather like his waistcoat, suddenly appears to be straining at the seams. Horace Rumpole ...... Timothy West Hilda Rumpole ...... Prunella Scales Judge Bullingham ...... Christopher Benjamin Bonny Bernard ...... Bruce Alexander Claude Erskine-Brown ...... Nigel Anthony Dr Mahmood Khan ...... Shiv Grewal Barrington Whiteside ...... Geoffrey Whitehead Will Timson ...... Ben Crowe Peter Plaistow ...... Christopher Scott Fred Sugden ...... Kim Durham Directed by Marilyn Imrie. gen: Hörspiel tit: Asha aut: Tanika Gupta cnt: 1 bnd: BP 31 len: 44'20" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 17.08.2007 fst: 1991 lng: englisch stw: Since leaving India in the 1940s, at the time of independence, an elderly Anglo-Indian woman looks back on her life in England in this second play by Tanika Gupta. Produced by Frances Ann Solomon in 1991 it stars Sudha Bhuchar, Shaheen Khan and Madhay Sharma. gen: Hörspiel tit: Shirley epi: 1 sbt: Hollow's Mill aut: Charlotte Brontë cnt: 2 bnd: BP 31 len: 54'10" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 03.09.2007 fst: 1985 lng: englisch stw: It's the time of the Napoleonic Wars and the Levellers, and Caroline's love for Robert struggles to survive. This 6 part dramatisation of Charlotte Bronte's novel is set in the mill towns of the author's native Yorkshire and follows the fortunes of two contrasting heroines, Caroline Helstone and Shirley Felder. Starring Moir Leslie and Helena Breck, with Neil Caple and Peter Barton. Shirley was first broadcast on Radio 4 in 1985 and was directed by Kay Patrick. gen: Hörspiel tit: Shirley epi: 2 sbt: Fieldhead aut: Charlotte Brontë cnt: 3 bnd: BP 31 len: 54'09" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 04.09.2007 fst: 1985 lng: englisch stw: Caroline is distressed to find Robert cold and distant. Shirley Keeldar is to take up residence at Fieldhead. gen: Hörspiel tit: Shirley epi: 3 sbt: A Summer Night aut: Charlotte Brontë cnt: 4 bnd: BP 31 len: 54'14" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 05.09.2007 fst: 1985 lng: englisch stw: Convinced that Shirley loves Robert, Caroline hides her feelings, joining the celebration of the United Sunday School tea. gen: Hörspiel tit: Shirley epi: 4 sbt: The Valley of the Shadow aut: Charlotte Brontë cnt: 5 bnd: BP 31 len: 52'42" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 06.09.2007 fst: 1985 lng: englisch stw: Robert Moore's mill is attacked by the Levellers, and Shirley is delighted to be given the chance to prove her ability. gen: Hörspiel tit: Shirley epi: 5 sbt: Louis Moore aut: Charlotte Brontë cnt: 6 bnd: BP 31 len: 54'30" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 07.09.2007 fst: 1985 lng: englisch stw: Caroline discovers that Mrs Pryor is her mother, and gains strength from the knowledge. Shirley is ready to accept a proposal. gen: Hörspiel tit: Shirley epi: 6 sbt: Accounts Settled aut: Charlotte Brontë cnt: 7 bnd: BP 31 len: 52'43" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 10.09.2007 fst: 1985 lng: englisch stw: Will shy Caroline and well-connected Shirley ever find love in 19th century Yorkshire? gen: Hörspiel ser: Afternoon Play tit: The Conversation cnt: 8 bnd: BP 31 len: 43'42" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 04.10.2007 lng: englisch stw: Dramatic reconstruction of a conversation between Trevor Friedman and Roman Halter, whose fathers were Jewish slave labourers in Poland and then Germany. Trevor knew almost nothing of his father's extraordinary story until 24 years after his death. With Harry Towb, Jonathan Tafler. Directed by Toby Swift. gen: Hörspiel ser: Afternoon Play tit: Windscale epi: 1 sbt: Accident aut: Paul Dodgson cnt: 9 bnd: BP 31 len: 42'36" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 08.10.2007 lng: englisch stw: Paul Dodgson's play, based on Britain's worst nuclear accident in October 1957, uses government documents and interviews with surviving staff from the plant. Although the extent of the disaster was hushed up by the government, Richard, a young worker at the plant, knows what really happened. Camilla ...... Nicola Stephenson Young Camilla ...... Jessica Pearson Richard ...... Ben Crowe Fran ...... Susan Cookson Eddie ...... Gerard Kearns Director Sara Davies. gen: Hörspiel ser: Afternoon Play tit: Windscale epi: 2 sbt: After aut: Paul Dodgson cnt: 10 bnd: BP 31 len: 42'57" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 09.10.2007 lng: englisch stw: Thirty years after the fire at the Windscale nuclear plant, Camilla, who is now 42, reads about some of the official documents which have been released. She starts to make some significant and deeply disturbing connections. Camilla ...... Nicola Stephenson Richard ...... Ben Crowe Fran ...... Susan Cookson Stuart ...... Chris Garner Andrew ...... Jake Wilson-Wainwright Director Sara Davies. gen: Hörspiel tit: Flight of a Witch aut: Ellis Peters cnt: 11 bnd: BP 31 len: 88'51" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 13.10.2007 lng: englisch stw: A strange disappearance on the Hallowmount and a horrific murder lead Tom Felse to make his own investigations into the mystery. Ellis Peters' murder mystery has been dramatised for radio by Sally Hedges. Tom Felse is a mathematician and not at all superstitious. However, he feels compelled to investigate the horrific events that have occurred on the Hallowmount. The cast includes Ewan Thomas, Rob Spendlove and Deborah Berlin and the drama was directed in Birmingham by Sue Wilson. gen: Hörspiel tit: Grace Unshackled sbt: The Olaudah Equiano Story aut: Paul McCusker cnt: 12 bnd: BP 31 len: 82'39" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 14.10.2007 lng: englisch stw: To mark the 200th anniversary of the Abolition of Slavery, the story of prominent campaigner and former slave Olaudah Equiano. In this 90 minute drama, the powerful story of former slave Olaudah Equiano makes compelling listening. Dramatised from Equiano's his own writings, it is the true story of an African slave who bought his freedom and settled in England to become a prominent campaigner in the gruelling fight for the abolition of the slave trade. Already turned into a film, Olaudah Equiano's moving story is stunningly presented in lavish production, starring David Oyelowo as Olaudah, with Jessica Oyelowo, Donald Sinden, Martin Jarvis and Nicholas Le Prevost. It was dramatised and produced by Paul McCusker. gen: Hörspiel ser: Classic Serial tit: Mrs Lirriper epi: 1 sbt: How Mrs Lirriper 'Carried on the Business' aut: Charles Dickens cnt: 13 bnd: BP 31 len: 57'42" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 07.10.2007 lng: englisch stw: Mrs Lirriper has an eccentric collection of lodgers, one of whom leaves behind more than anyone could have expected. Mrs Lirriper ...... Julia McKenzie Major ...... John Fortune Jemmy ...... Jordan Clarke Miss Wozenham ...... Alison Skilbeck Mr Edson ...... Jonathan Dryden Taylor Mrs Edson ...... Helen Jenkinson Caroline ...... Victoria Woodward Postman ...... Anthony Glennon Ellen Dryden's dramatisation of Charles Dickens' neglected classic. gen: Hörspiel ser: Classic Serial tit: Mrs Lirriper epi: 2 sbt: How The Parlours Added A Few Words aut: Charles Dickens cnt: 14 bnd: BP 31 len: 57'40" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 14.10.2007 lng: englisch stw: How The Parlours Added A Few Words, with tales told by Edmund Yates, Amelia Edwards and Elizabeth Gaskell. With Jemmy away at school, the lodgers join forces to send him their favourite stories. Major ...... John Fortune Victorine ...... Alison Skilbeck Madam Hawtry/ Elizabeth Gaskell ...... Caroline John Morgan/Old Gentleman/Sir Mark ...... Michael N Harbour Yates/Duke/Lawford ...... Matthew Lloyd Davies Mortiboy/Jacob ...... Gus Brown Sandham/James Murray ...... Jonathan Dryden Taylor Calthorp/Doctor/Vicar ...... Anthony Glennon Kate/Bessy/Maid ...... Helen Jenkinson Ellen/Theresa ...... Victoria Woodward Directed by Ellen Dryden. Ellen Dryden's dramatisation of Charles Dickens' neglected classic. gen: Hörspiel ser: Classic Serial tit: Mrs Lirriper epi: 3 sbt: Mrs Lirriper's Legacy aut: Charles Dickens cnt: 15 bnd: BP 31 len: 57'40" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 21.10.2007 lng: englisch stw: Jemmy returns from school for the holidays just in time to join Mrs Lirriper and the Major on a trip to France in search of a mysterious benefactor. When they eventually track him down, he turns out to be the last person anyone could have expected. Mrs Lirriper ...... Julia McKenzie Major ...... John Fortune Jemmy ...... Jordan Clarke Miss Wozenham/Mrs Buffle ...... Alison Skilbeck Mr Buffle/Consul ...... Gus Brown Mr Edson ...... Jonathan Dryden Taylor Joshua Lirriper/Young Man/Waiter ...... Matthew Lloyd Davies Miss Buffle/Sally/Winifred ...... Helen Jenkinson Directed by Ellen Dryden. Ellen Dryden's three-part dramatisation of Charles Dickens' neglected classic. gen: Hörspiel ser: Classic Serial tit: Dr Zhivago epi: 1 sbt: 1905 aut: Boris Pasternak cnt: 1 bnd: BP 32 len: 56'06" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 11.11.2007 lng: englisch stw: Yuri and Lara are coming of age on different sides of Moscow. Their lives are parallel but on very different tracks. Jonathan Myerson's dramatisation of Boris Pasternak's epic tale spanning four decades of war, revolution, passion and terror. Voice ...... Ian McDiarmid Yuri ...... Tom Goodman-Hill Lara ...... Eve Best Komarovsky ...... Henry Goodman Tonya ...... Clare Corbett Pasha ...... Don Gilet Alexander ...... Alan David Amalia ...... Annette Badland Misha ...... Carl Prekopp Anna ...... Susan Jameson Tishkyevitch ...... Jeremy Swift Olya ...... Katy Cavanagh Lena ...... Joannah Tincey Other parts played by John Dougall, Carolyn Pickles, Ben Crowe, Peter Marinker, Sam Pamphilon, Ben Onwukwe, Simon Treves, Poppy Friar and Gagan Sharma. Cello played by Anna Edwards. Directed by Jonquil Panting. gen: Hörspiel ser: Classic Serial tit: Dr Zhivago epi: 2 sbt: 1911 aut: Boris Pasternak cnt: 2 bnd: BP 32 len: 56'30" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 18.11.2007 lng: englisch stw: An affluent childhood in Imperial Moscow has left Yuri Zhivago with a career as a doctor and an engagement to Tonya. But his life will change when he meets Lara. Jonathan Myerson's dramatisation of Boris Pasternak's epic tale spanning four decades of war, revolution, passion and terror. Voice ...... Ian McDiarmid Yuri ...... Tom Goodman-Hill Lara ...... Eve Best Komarovsky ...... Henry Goodman Tonya ...... Clare Corbett Misha ...... Carl Prekopp Pasha ...... Don Gilet Alexander ...... Alan David Olya ...... Katy Cavanagh Galliulin ...... Kulvinder Ghir Mlle Fleury ...... Helen Schlesinger Gintz ...... Paul Richard Biggin Other parts played by Alex Lanipekun, Peter Marinker, Simon Treves, Ben Crowe, Lloyd Thomas, Ben Onwukwe and Skye Bennett. Directed by Jonquil Panting. gen: Hörspiel ser: Classic Serial tit: Dr Zhivago epi: 3 sbt: 1917 aut: Boris Pasternak cnt: 3 bnd: BP 32 len: 56'53" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 25.11.2007 lng: englisch stw: Returning to Moscow, Yuri finds it hard to adjust to post-revolutionary family life. The city has become a dangerous place, and the only safety lies in leaving and going east. But Lara has also gone in that direction. Jonathan Myerson's dramatisation of Boris Pasternak's epic tale spanning four decades of war, revolution, passion and terror. Voice ...... Ian McDiarmid Yuri ...... Tom Goodman-Hill Lara ...... Eve Best Tonya ...... Clare Corbett Misha ...... Carl Prekopp Olya ...... Katy Cavanagh Galliulin ...... Kulvinder Ghir Yevgraf ...... Stuart Mcquarrie Pritulyev ...... Ben Crowe Pelageya ...... Rachel Atkins Vassya ...... Alex Lanipekun Voronyuk ...... Sean Baker Other parts played by Ben Onwukwe, Joannah Tincey, John Dougall, Laura Molyneux, Jordan Clarke. Directed by Alison Hindell. gen: Hörspiel ser: Classic Serial tit: Dr Zhivago epi: 4 sbt: 1917 aut: Boris Pasternak cnt: 4 bnd: BP 32 len: 56'48" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 02.12.2007 lng: englisch stw: Yuri and his family have fled Moscow. Arriving in the remote Ural mountains, they find civil war raging and the mysterious Bolshevik general Strelnikov in charge of the nearest town, which happens to be where Lara is. Jonathan Myerson's dramatisation of Boris Pasternak's epic tale spanning four decades of war, revolution, passion and terror. Voice ...... Ian McDiarmid Yuri ...... Tom Goodman-Hill Lara ...... Eve Best Tonya ...... Clare Corbett Alexander ...... Alan David Strelnikov ...... Don Gilet Yevgraf ...... Stuart McQuarrie Mikulitsin ...... Trevor Cooper Yelena ...... Anna Bengo Antipov ...... Peter Marinker Other parts played by Gerard McDermott, Joseph Alessi, Helen Schlesinger, Simon Treves, John Dougall, Skye Bennett, Darrell D'Silva, Lloyd Thomas and Gregg Sulkin. Poems translated by Jonathan Myerson, Jon Stallworthy and Peter France, and Frank Jude. Directed by Jonquil Panting. gen: Hörspiel ser: Classic Serial tit: Dr Zhivago epi: 5 sbt: 1921 aut: Boris Pasternak cnt: 5 bnd: BP 32 len: 56'55" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 09.12.2007 lng: englisch stw: Kidnapped by Red partisan troops to serve as their doctor, Yuri has been a prisoner in the forest for two years. The waste of life sickens him, and he has no news of Tonya or Lara. At last the chance comes to escape back to Yuryatin. Voice ...... Ian McDiarmid Yuri ...... Tom Goodman-Hill Lara ...... Eve Best Tonya ...... Clare Corbett Komarovsky ...... Henry Goodman Liberiy ...... Darrell D'Silva Pamphil ...... Malcolm Storry Kubarikha ...... Kathryn Hunter Lidochka ...... Sam Dale Sivobluy ...... John Lloyd Fillingham Angelar ...... Anthony Glennon Pelageya ...... Rachel Atkins Agatha ...... Katy Cavanagh Terenty ...... Lloyd Thomas Seryozha ...... Gregg Sulkin Other parts played by Peter Marinker, Shaun Prendergast, Anna Bengo, Jordan Clarke, John Dougall, Joanna Tincey, Simon Treves, Sam Pamphilon, Alex Lanipekun, Ben Onwukwe and May Rudin. Poems translated by Jonathan Myerson. Directed by Alison Hindell. gen: Hörspiel ser: Classic Serial tit: Dr Zhivago epi: 6 sbt: 1929 aut: Boris Pasternak cnt: 6 bnd: BP 32 len: 57'00" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 16.12.2007 lng: englisch stw: Even in the wilds of Siberia, Yuri, Lara and Pasha face death in Bolshevik purges. Komarovsky brings them an impossible choice. The revolutionary events which brought Yuri and Lara together are finally pulling them apart, but there is one more meeting to come. Jonathan Myerson's dramatisation of Boris Pasternak's epic tale spanning four decades of war, revolution, passion and terror. Voice ...... Ian McDiarmid Yuri ...... Tom Goodman-Hill Lara ...... Eve Best Komarovsky ...... Henry Goodman Pasha (Strelnikov) ...... Don Gilet Misha ...... Carl Prekopp Yevgraf ...... Stuart McQuarrie Vassya ...... Alex Lanipekun Markel ...... John Dougall Marina ...... Anna Bengo Lena ...... Joannah Tincey Katya ...... Skye Bennett Other parts played by Helen Schlesinger and Simon Treves. Poems translated by Lydia Pasternak Slater, Jonathan Myerson, Jon Stallworthy and Peter France. Directed and produced by Jonquil Panting. gen: Hörspiel tit: The Man Born to Be King epi: 1 sbt: Kings in Judaea aut: Dorothy L Sayers cnt: 7 bnd: BP 32 len: 41'23" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 06.12.2007 fst: 1976 lng: englisch stw: Herod. A name abhorred in history. But was he really a tyrant? Or a man on the edge, trying to keep the peace? I'm also pleased to let you know that we have cleared the rights to broadcast a memorable drama, commissioned specially for radio in the form of 12 plays based on the life of Jesus, The Man Born to be King by Dorothy L Sayers. It is fifty years since Dorothy L Sayers died suddenly of heart failure (17th December, 1957) and the repeat of her plays seem a fitting tribute to a great writer. Now, I do know that dramatisations of her Lord Peter Wimsey novels are always popular on BBC 7 and most of you will have heard them, but The Man Born to Be King, is being broadcast on BBC 7 for the first time. Unfortunately, the original 1942 version, produced by the legendary Val Gielgud, has not been retained in the archive, but we do have a wonderful dramatisation produced in 1976, and I am delighted to include this in our Christmas package. Written by Dorothy L Sayers and dramatised and directed by Raymond Raikes, this version from 1975 stars Gabriel Woolf, Denys Blakelock, Denise Bryer, Trevor Martin, Norman Shelley and Robert Eddison. gen: Hörspiel tit: The Man Born to Be King epi: 2 sbt: The King's Herald aut: Dorothy L Sayers cnt: 8 bnd: BP 32 len: 41'28" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 07.12.2007 fst: 1976 lng: englisch stw: John the Baptist. A man with no conscience about speaking his mind. But how will his friends be affected? gen: Hörspiel tit: The Man Born to Be King epi: 3 sbt: A Certain Nobleman aut: Dorothy L Sayers cnt: 9 bnd: BP 32 len: 41'16" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 10.12.2007 fst: 1976 lng: englisch stw: A nobleman approaches Jesus to save his son. Dorothy L Sayers' take on the story of Jesus. gen: Hörspiel tit: The Man Born to Be King epi: 4 sbt: The Heirs to the Kingdom aut: Dorothy L Sayers cnt: 10 bnd: BP 32 len: 41'59" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 11.12.2007 fst: 1976 lng: englisch stw: Judas becomes a target for manipulation. Tales from the Biblical age, as written by Dorothy L Sayers. gen: Hörspiel tit: The Man Born to Be King epi: 5 sbt: The Bread of Heaven aut: Dorothy L Sayers cnt: 11 bnd: BP 32 len: 41'32" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 12.12.2007 fst: 1976 lng: englisch stw: Jesus renames Simon, and stirs anger. Tales from the Biblical age, as written by Dorothy L Sayers. gen: Hörspiel tit: The Man Born to Be King epi: 6 sbt: The Feast of Tabernacles aut: Dorothy L Sayers cnt: 12 bnd: BP 32 len: 42'11" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 13.12.2007 fst: 1976 lng: englisch stw: Jesus draws some unwelcome attention. Tales from the Biblical age, as written by Dorothy L Sayers. gen: Hörspiel tit: The Man Born to Be King epi: 7 sbt: The Light and The Life aut: Dorothy L Sayers cnt: 13 bnd: BP 32 len: 42'20" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 14.12.2007 fst: 1976 lng: englisch stw: Lazarus lives. Has Jesus gone too far? Tales from the Biblical age, as written by Dorothy L Sayers. gen: Hörspiel tit: The Man Born to Be King epi: 8 sbt: Royal Progress aut: Dorothy L Sayers cnt: 14 bnd: BP 32 len: 42'03" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 17.12.2007 fst: 1976 lng: englisch stw: Baruch the Zealot has plans for Jesus. Tales from the Biblical age, as written by Dorothy L Sayers. gen: Hörspiel tit: The Man Born to Be King epi: 9 sbt: The King's Supper aut: Dorothy L Sayers cnt: 15 bnd: BP 32 len: 41'58" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 18.12.2007 fst: 1976 lng: englisch stw: Jesus issues a new law to live by. Tales from the Biblical age, as written by Dorothy L Sayers. gen: Hörspiel tit: The Man Born to Be King epi: 10 sbt: The Princes of this World aut: Dorothy L Sayers cnt: 16 bnd: BP 32 len: 41'38" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 19.12.2007 fst: 1976 lng: englisch stw: Jesus is a prisoner. Tales from the Biblical age, as written by Dorothy L Sayers. gen: Hörspiel tit: The Man Born to Be King epi: 11 sbt: King of Sorrows aut: Dorothy L Sayers cnt: 17 bnd: BP 32 len: 41'52" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 20.12.2007 fst: 1976 lng: englisch stw: Will Jesus' death satisfy the Sanhedrin? Tales from the Biblical age, as written by Dorothy L Sayers. gen: Hörspiel tit: The Man Born to Be King epi: 12 sbt: The King Comes to His Own aut: Dorothy L Sayers cnt: 18 bnd: BP 32 len: 41'27" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 21.12.2007 fst: 1976 lng: englisch stw: At last, the Son of Man returns. Tales from the Biblical age, as written by Dorothy L Sayers. gen: Hörspiel ser: Afternoon Play tit: Witness epi: 1 sbt: The Lake aut: Nick Warburton cnt: 1 bnd: BP 33 len: 43'30" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 17.12.2007 lng: englisch stw: The Lake means everything to Peter and Andrew. How could they leave it behind? Five Plays from the Gospel of Luke Series by Nick Warburton imagining the story of Jesus through the eyes of those who witnessed it. Jesus ...... Tom Goodman-Hill Peter ...... Peter Firth Andrew ...... Paul Copley Baptist ...... Stephen Greif Elder ...... Sam Dale Possessed man ...... John Lloyd Fillingham John ...... Simon Treves Woman ...... Laura Molyneux Tempter ...... Peter Marinker Directed by Jonquil Panting. gen: Hörspiel ser: Afternoon Play tit: Witness epi: 2 sbt: Outsiders aut: Nick Warburton cnt: 2 bnd: BP 33 len: 43'34" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 18.12.2007 lng: englisch stw: Jesus's revolutionary teaching is gathering more and more followers. But the more he embraces the outcasts, the more he challenges the authorities. Jesus ...... Tom Goodman-Hill Peter ...... Peter Firth Andrew ...... Paul Copley Judas ...... Paul Hilton Woman ...... Maxine Peake Magdalene ...... Lorraine Ashbourne Joanna ...... Rachel Atkins Simon ...... Peter Marinker Friend of the sick man ...... Ben Crowe Child ...... Poppy Friar Directed by Jonquil Panting. gen: Hörspiel ser: Afternoon Play tit: Witness epi: 3 sbt: Jerusalem aut: Nick Warburton cnt: 3 bnd: BP 33 len: 43'48" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 19.12.2007 lng: englisch stw: The Galileans make the long journey south to the heart of their nation. But their triumphant arrival is fraught with danger and betrayal. Jesus ...... Tom Goodman-Hill Peter ...... Peter Firth Judas ...... Paul Hilton Caiaphas ...... Robin Soans Rich man ...... Simon Treves Pharisee ...... Alex Lanipekun Martha ...... Joannah Tincey Zacchaeus ...... Sam Dale Tempter ...... Peter Marinker Woman ...... Anna Bengo Lawyer ...... Sam Pamphilon Child ...... Skye Bennett Directed by Jonquil Panting. gen: Hörspiel ser: Afternoon Play tit: Witness epi: 4 sbt: Tested aut: Nick Warburton cnt: 4 bnd: BP 33 len: 43'56" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 20.12.2007 lng: englisch stw: The arrest of Jesus will test the faith, heart and courage of everyone who plays a part in what will follow. Jesus ...... Tom Goodman-Hill Peter ...... Peter Firth Judas ...... Paul Hilton Caiaphas ...... Robin Soans Pilate ...... Colin Stinton Mary ...... Penelope Wilton Baker ...... Ben Crowe Centurion ...... Peter Marinker Girl ...... Anna Bengo Guard ...... Lloyd Thomas Directed by Jonquil Panting. gen: Hörspiel ser: Afternoon Play tit: Witness epi: 5 sbt: Beginnings aut: Nick Warburton cnt: 5 bnd: BP 33 len: 43'45" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 21.12.2007 lng: englisch stw: While the disciples are paralysed by Jesus's death, Mary ponders the mystery of his birth. Five Plays from the Gospel of Luke Series by Nick Warburton imagining the story of Jesus through the eyes of those who witnessed it. Jesus ...... Tom Goodman-Hill Peter ...... Peter Firth Mary ...... Penelope Wilton Magdalene ...... Lorraine Ashbourne Angel ...... Julian Bleach Simeon ...... David De Keyser Joanna ...... Rachel Atkins Joseph of Arimathea ...... Ben Onwukwe Young Mary ...... Laura Molyneux Cleopas ...... Sam Pamphilon Directed by Jonquil Panting. gen: Hörspiel ser: Classic Serial tit: Mr Standfast epi: 1 sbt: Pacifist aut: John Buchan cnt: 6 bnd: BP 33 len: 56'20" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 09.03.2008 lng: englisch stw: Richard Hannay is recalled to London from the trenches to hunt down the leader of a gang of German spies. Much to his disgust, Hannay is ordered to pose as a pacifist and is sent to Glasgow. Along the way, he encounters a teenage British Secret Service agent who will change the course of his life. Bert Coules's dramatisation of John Buchan's WWI spy thriller. Richard Hannay ...... David Robb Sir Walter Bullivant ...... Clive Merrison Moxon Ivery ...... Struan Rodger Mary Lamington ...... Jasmine Hyde Peter Pienaar ...... Jon Glover Launcelot Wake ...... Thomas Arnold Abel Gresson ...... John Guerrasio Miss Doria ...... Briony McRoberts Miss Claire ...... Liza Sadovy Andrew Amos ...... John Stahl George Broadbury ...... Peter Marinker Ted Broadbury ...... Ben Crowe Directed by Bruce Young. gen: Hörspiel ser: Classic Serial tit: Mr Standfast epi: 2 sbt: France aut: John Buchan cnt: 7 bnd: BP 33 len: 57'02" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 16.03.2008 lng: englisch stw: The action moves to France as Richard Hannay and Mary Lamington search for the German spy Moxon Ivery. When the trail goes cold, Mary hatches a plan to flush him out, using herself as the bait in a deadly trap. Bert Coules's dramatisation of John Buchan's WWI spy thriller. Richard Hannay ...... David Robb Sir Walter Bullivant ...... Clive Merrison Count von Schwabing ...... Struan Rodger Mary Lamington ...... Jasmine Hyde Peter Pienaar ...... Jon Glover Emilia Gore-Booth ...... Briony McRoberts Forbes ...... Chris Pavlo Prefect ...... Ben Onwukwe Directed by Bruce Young. gen: Hörspiel tit: Around the World in Eighty Days epi: 1 sbt: An Over-Hurried Departure aut: Julies Verne cnt: 8 bnd: BP 33 len: 27'56" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 25.02.2008 fst: 1991 lng: englisch stw: Passepartout believes that he has acquired the quiet life he wants working for Phileas Fogg, but it will last only eight hours. Julies Verne's classic adventure of Phinias Fogg, an English gentleman, who takes up the challenge of travelling around the world in just eighty days. He has every minute worked out, but things don't go according to plan. With a lovely cast of Leslie Phillips, Jim Broadbent, Yves Aubert, Ronald Fraser, Diana Quick and Mark Straker. Dramatised in four parts by Terry James, the director was Janet Whitaker. It was first broadcast in 1991. gen: Hörspiel tit: Around the World in Eighty Days epi: 2 sbt: Distractions in the Jungle aut: Julies Verne cnt: 9 bnd: BP 33 len: 27'57" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 25.02.2008 fst: 1991 lng: englisch stw: Passepartout and Fogg have to make a detour through the jungle. As they do so, they come to the rescue of a Princess. gen: Hörspiel tit: Around the World in Eighty Days epi: 3 sbt: The Missing Acrobat aut: Julies Verne cnt: 10 bnd: BP 33 len: 27'58" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 26.02.2008 fst: 1991 lng: englisch stw: Passepartout finds he is on the way to Japan without Fogg, who meanwhile must find an alternative route. gen: Hörspiel tit: Around the World in Eighty Days epi: 4 sbt: Burning to get Home aut: Julies Verne cnt: 11 bnd: BP 33 len: 27'58" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 26.02.2008 fst: 1991 lng: englisch stw: More obstacles are thrown in Fogg's way, leading to the purchase of a ship and the burning of notebooks. gen: Hörspiel tit: The Diary of Samuel Pepys epi: 1 sbt: Clerk of the Acts aut: Samuel Pepys cnt: 12 bnd: BP 33 len: 57'23" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 03.03.2008 lng: englisch stw: There's promotion in the offing as the new regime takes over. And a little nepotism oils the wheels. Pepys's journal provides an astonishingly frank and diverting account of life in Restoration London. Dramatised in six parts by Neville Smith it stars Oliver Parker, Charlotte Attenborough, Roger Allam and Michael Kitchen. The producer was Jane Morgan. gen: Hörspiel tit: The Diary of Samuel Pepys epi: 2 sbt: The Wooden World aut: Samuel Pepys cnt: 13 bnd: BP 33 len: 57'25" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 04.03.2008 lng: englisch stw: Life as Clerk of the Acts of the Navy Board is good for Samuel Pepys. He has a new house and is enjoying his newfound wealth. gen: Hörspiel tit: The Diary of Samuel Pepys epi: 3 sbt: The Shame of It aut: Samuel Pepys cnt: 14 bnd: BP 33 len: 57'25" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 05.03.2008 lng: englisch stw: Elizabeth is pregnant, and Pepys has been asked to reason with the Earl of Sandwich, who has taken up with a woman in Chelsea. gen: Hörspiel tit: The Diary of Samuel Pepys epi: 4 sbt: Living Merrily aut: Samuel Pepys cnt: 15 bnd: BP 33 len: 57'25" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 06.03.2008 lng: englisch stw: Tom Pepys has died and Samuel has embarked on an affair with Mrs Bagwell. gen: Hörspiel tit: The Diary of Samuel Pepys epi: 5 sbt: Omens of Ruin aut: Samuel Pepys cnt: 16 bnd: BP 33 len: 56'47" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 07.03.2008 lng: englisch stw: Elizabeth's parents have caught the plague and the navy board is threatened due to lack of money. gen: Hörspiel tit: The Diary of Samuel Pepys epi: 6 sbt: Friends aut: Samuel Pepys cnt: 17 bnd: BP 33 len: 57'35" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 10.03.2008 lng: englisch stw: Life as Clerk of the Acts of the Navy Board is rough for Samuel Pepys after the war. His love life is in turmoil, too. gen: Hörspiel ser: Afternoon Play tit: The Walrus and the Terrier aut: Christopher Ralling cnt: 18 bnd: BP 33 len: 43'23" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 07.04.2008 lng: englisch stw: Revered all over the world as a physician, theologian and philosopher, Albert Schweitzer was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his work in the medical mission he founded in West Africa. But when journalist James Cameron visited him in Gabon in 1953, he was shocked by what he found. James Cameron ...... Jamie Glover Albert Schweitzer ...... David Horovitch Mrs Armitage ...... Sarah Badel Wolfgang ...... Karl Davies Kirsten ...... Clare Corbett Jason ...... Sidney Sloane Henry ...... Keith Drinkel Directed by David Blount. gen: Hörspiel ser: Krimi tit: Cards on the Table aut: Agatha Christie cnt: 1 bnd: BP 34 len: 87'00" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 12.04.2008 fst: 2005 lng: englisch stw: When a murderer strikes during a game of bridge, it's fortunate that Hercule Poirot is among the guests. A 90 minute dramatisation of another Christie crime novel directed by Enyd Williams. A perverse eccentric's idea of amusement goes horribly wrong when a murderer strikes during a game of bridge. Fortunately, the man of the little grey cells, Hercule Poirot, is amongst the guests. John Moffatt again takes on the role of the Belgian detective and the cast also includes Stephanie Cole, Donald Sinden, Christopher Godwin and the late Mary Wimbush. It was first broadcast on Radio 4 in May 2005. gen: Hörspiel ser: Krimi tit: The Antisocial Behaviour of Horace Rumpole epi: 1 sbt: Rumpole on Trial aut: John Mortimer cnt: 2 bnd: BP 34 len: 44'00" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 28.05.2008 lng: englisch stw: Rumpole continues to weave his magic at the Old Bailey while remaining uneasy about exactly what Hilda is up to in her continuing friendship with a high court judge. Another adventure for John Mortimer's wily defender of our civil liberties. Horace Rumpole ...... Timothy West Hilda Rumpole ...... Prunella Scales Soapy Sam Ballard ...... Michael Cochrane Bonny Bernard ...... Nicholas Le Prevost Prosecutor Parkes ...... Roger May Madam Chair of Magistrates ...... Jillie Mears Graham Wetherby ...... David Holt Lars Bergman ...... Matthew Morgan Judge Bullingham ...... David Shaw-Parker Fig Newton ...... Geoffrey Whitehead Directed by Marilyn Imrie. gen: Hörspiel ser: Krimi tit: The Antisocial Behaviour of Horace Rumpole epi: 2 sbt: Going for Silk aut: John Mortimer cnt: 3 bnd: BP 34 len: 43'58" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 29.05.2008 lng: englisch stw: Having avoided an ASBO, Rumpole is hoping to become a QC at last as he prepares to defend a young man on a charge of murder. Another adventure for John Mortimer's wily defender of our civil liberties. Horace Rumpole ...... Timothy West Hilda Rumpole ...... Prunella Scales Bonny Bernard ...... Nicholas Le Prevost Anna McKinnon ...... Jillie Mears Police Doctor ...... Roger May Prosecutor Noakes ...... Matthew Morgan Judge Barnes ...... Geoffrey Whitehead Graham Wetherby ...... David Holt Detective Inspector Belfrage ...... David Shaw-Parker Directed by Marilyn Imrie. gen: Comedy ser: Krimi tit: Daylight Robbery aut: R. D. Wingfield cnt: 4 bnd: BP 34 len: 44'15" med: MP3 spd: 80 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 03.06.2007 fst: 1977 lng: englisch stw: A crusty old colonel turns up late in the night at a house, but is he what he seems? A tale of plot and counterplot by R D Wingfield. 'Elderly lady living alone in remote house, willing to take in paying guests.' When Miss Pickering puts this advertisement in the paper she has an ulterior motive. So have the four gentlemen who reply. An intriguing tale of plot and counterplot written by R. D. Wingfield, it stars Norman Shelley, Monica Grey, Peter Woodthorpe and Jonathan Scott. First broadcast in 1977, the director is John Cardy. gen: Hörspiel ser: Afternoon Play tit: Address Unknown aut: Kressmann Taylor cnt: 5 bnd: BP 34 len: 43'42" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 20.06.2008 lng: englisch stw: Tim Dee's adaptation of Kressmann Taylor's novel, published in 1938. Two old friends, former business associates in San Francisco, exchange letters. One is an American German Jew, the other an American German who, excited and energised by the new Germany of the 1930s, has gone home. Attitudes harden with the seemingly inexorable rise of Hitler, the Jew horrified by the change in his friend and his wholesale adoption of the rhetoric and ideology of Nazism. With Henry Goodman, Patrick Malahide. gen: Hörspiel tit: Omega aut: Mike Walker cnt: 6 bnd: BP 34 len: 56'55" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 22.06.2008 fst: 2002 lng: englisch stw: This is the follow-up play to Mike Walker's award-winning 'Alpha', broadcast last week. Strange things start happening to a man called John Stone when he starts building a tower for the sinister, powerful architect Brandt. Starring David Calder, Penelope Wilton, Sarah Jane Holm, Helen Longworth and Philip Voss, the director is Gordon House. The play was first broadcast on the World Service in 2002. gen: Hörspiel ser: Afternoon Play tit: Goldengrove aut: Frances Byrnes cnt: 7 bnd: BP 34 len: 43'59" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 28.07.2008 lng: englisch stw: Frances Byrnes's story of the relationship between a young working-class girl and the woman who transforms her. Margaret, a spinster, teaches Narn, a city child, how to shake hands firmly, polish silver and identify birds. Most of all, she teaches her how to speak. Margaret ...... Jill Balcon Narn ...... Jessica Jolleys Narn Now ...... Siriol Jenkins Josie ...... Beccy Alexander Fred ...... Brendan Charleson Directed by Kate McAll. gen: Hörspiel ser: Afternoon Play tit: From Lagos with Love aut: Janice Okoh cnt: 8 bnd: BP 34 len: 43'47" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 27.08.2008 lng: englisch stw: A junior lawyer in a London firm uncovers a major fraud in a Nigerian oil company. He also falls in love with his contact in Lagos. Then she disappears. Femi ...... Nadine Marshall Jeremy ...... Chris Pavlo Kenneth ...... Stephen Critchlow Jill ...... Helen Longworth Beatrice ...... Syan Blake Paul ...... Adetomiwa Edun Directed by Claire Grove. gen: Hörspiel ser: Saturday Play tit: One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich aut: Alexander Solzhenitsyn cnt: 9 bnd: BP 34 len: 57'02" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 06.09.2008 lng: englisch stw: Mike Walker's adaptation of Alexander Solzhenitsyn's classic portrayal of life in Stalin's prison camps. With Neil Dudgeon, Philip Jackson, Paul Chan, Jonathan Tafler. Directed by Ned Chaillet. gen: Hörspiel ser: Krimi tit: After the Funeral aut: Agatha Christie cnt: 10 bnd: BP 34 len: 86'54" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 13.09.2008 lng: englisch stw: Following the interment of Richard Abernethie, his sister Cora blurts out that he was surely murdered. The next day, she is found dead. Dramatised by Michael Bakewell. With John Moffat, Frank Thornton and John Baddeley. Director Enyd Williams, Cherry Cookson auch P-27-02 gen: Hörspiel ser: Krimi tit: Sleeping Murder aut: Agatha Christie cnt: 11 bnd: BP 34 len: 86'48" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 20.09.2008 lng: englisch stw: Before a murderer is provoked to strike again, Miss Marple must solve the mystery surrounding a young woman's terrifying childhood memory. With June Whitfield auch P-39-05 gen: Hörspiel ser: Afternoon Play tit: The Greater Good aut: Justin Hopper cnt: 12 bnd: BP 34 len: 43'55" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 23.10.2008 lng: englisch stw: It is 1915 and the celebrated German chemist Fritz Haber turns to developing poison gas as a weapon for the German military. His wife and former colleague Clara is appalled and sets about trying to stop him. gen: Hörspiel ser: Classic Serial tit: On the Beach epi: 1 aut: Nevil Shute cnt: 13 bnd: BP 34 len: 56'39" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 02.09.2008 lng: englisch stw: Dramatisation by Mike Walker of Nevil Shute's compelling account of the aftermath of a nuclear world war. A cloud of deadly radioactivity is moving slowly towards Australia, one of few places on Earth where life still exists. Peter Holmes ...... Richard Dillane Mary Holmes ...... Claudia Harrison Dwight Towers ...... William Hope Moira Davidson ...... Indira Varma Tim Osborne ...... James Gordon-Mitchell The Admiral ...... Jonathan Tafler Ryan ...... Inam Mirza Other parts played by Stephen Critchlow, Chris Pavlo, Dan Starkey, Jill Cardo, Robert Lonsdale, Gunnar Cauthery. Director Toby Swift gen: Hörspiel ser: Classic Serial tit: On the Beach epi: 2 aut: Nevil Shute cnt: 14 bnd: BP 34 len: 56'53" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 09.11.2008 lng: englisch stw: Dramatisation by Mike Walker of Nevil Shute's compelling account of the aftermath of a nuclear world war. A cloud of deadly radioactivity is moving slowly towards Australia, one of few places on Earth where life still exists. Dwight Towers ...... William Hope Moira Davidson ...... Indira Varma Peter Holmes ...... Richard Dillane Mary Holmes ...... Claudia Harrison Tim Osborne ...... James Gordon-Mitchell Ryan ...... Inam Mirza The Admiral ...... Jonathan Tafler Swain ...... Stephen Critchlow Other parts played by Stephen Critchlow, Chris Pavlo, Dan Starkey, Jill Cardo, Robert Lonsdale, Gunnar Cauthery. Directed by Toby Swift gen: Hörspiel ser: Saturday Play tit: Cry Hungary aut: Paul Viragh cnt: 15 bnd: BP 34 len: 56'48" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 15.11.2008 lng: englisch stw: The playwright draws on his own family's experiences in his drama Cry Hungary. In October 1956, thousands of Hungarians rise up against the oppressive Soviet-backed government. Peter, a chosen son of the working classes, arrives in Budapest to study at the university. He falls in love with Eva, a committed communist. When Peter becomes involved in the demonstrations, Eva finds her loyalties severely tested. Peter Kovacs ...... Lee Ingleby Eva Toth ...... Naomi Frederick Janos ...... Christopher Fox Imre Toth ...... Larry Lamb Szentendy ...... Mark Straker Istvan ...... Joseph Kloska AVO Officer ...... Sam Dale AVO Sergeant ...... Paul Richard Biggin Boy ...... Emma Noakes Director Toby Swift. gen: Hörspiel ser: Classic Serial tit: The Good Soldier Svejk epi: 1 sbt: Svejk is arrested aut: Jaroslav Hasek cnt: 1 bnd: BP 35 len: 56'55" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 16.11.2008 lng: englisch stw: Dramatisation by Christopher Reason of the satirical Czech novel by Jaroslav Hasek that charts the exploits of a WWI soldier. When he seems to celebrate the death of the Archduke Franz Ferdinand, Svejk is arrested and so starts his progress through the ranks of the Austro-Hungarian army. Svejk ...... Sam Kelly Lukas ...... Adrian Lukis Katz ...... James Quinn Katy ...... Fiona Clark Schoolteacher ...... Mark Chatterton Wendler ...... Arthur Bostrom Mrs Muller ...... Melissa Jane Sinden Dr Grunstein ...... Stuart Richman Blahnik ...... Malcolm Raeburn Orderly ...... Howard Chadwick Other parts played by members of the cast. Directed by Gary Brown. gen: Hörspiel ser: Classic Serial tit: The Good Soldier Svejk epi: 2 sbt: Svejk and Lukas are sent to the front aut: Jaroslav Hasek cnt: 2 bnd: BP 35 len: 56'56" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 23.11.2008 lng: englisch stw: Dramatisation by Christopher Reason of the satirical Czech novel by Jaroslav Hasek that charts the exploits of a WWI soldier. Svejk and Lukas are sent to the front in disgrace, but Svejk gets waylaid by a gallery of grotesques. Svejk ...... Sam Kelly Lukas ...... Adrian Lukis Dub ...... Nicholas Blane Choudounski ...... Malcolm Raeburn Marek ...... Howard Chadwick Police Sergeant ...... James Quinn Von Schwarzberg ...... Stuart Richman Baloun ...... Eric Potts Lance Corporal ...... Mark Chatterton The Maid ...... Szilvi Naray Davey Vodicka ...... Bernard Wrigley Other parts played by members of the cast. Directed by Gary Brown. gen: Hörspiel tit: The Wind in the Willows aut: Kenneth Grahame cnt: 3 bnd: BP 35 len: 117'24" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 13.12.2008 fst: 1994 lng: englisch stw: A family favourite, Kenneth Grahame's enchanting novel was adapted by Alan Bennett as a glorious stage production for the National Theatre in 1990. This acclaimed radio version features the original music by Jeremy Sams and stars Richard Briers, Nickolas Grace, Adrian Scarborough, Jeffrey Holland, Stephen Tompkinson and Leslie Phillips. Directed by David Blount, it was first broadcast in 1994. gen: Hörspiel ser: Afternoon Play tit: Apes and Angels aut: Jim Eldridge cnt: 4 bnd: BP 35 len: 43'37" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 06.01.2009 lng: englisch stw: A clash over the teaching of creationism at an academy school looks set to embarrass the schools minister and the industrialist behind the academy. gen: Hörspiel tit: The Government Inspector aut: Nikolai Gogol cnt: 5 bnd: BP 35 len: 53'06" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 26.01.2009 fst: 2002 lng: englisch stw: A two part adaptation by Rene Basilico of Nikolai Gogol's classic satire on municipal 'sleaze' and corruption in 19th century Russia. It stars Julian Rhind-Tutt, Trevor Peacock and Bill Wallis and was directed by John Fawcett-Wilson. It was first broadcast on Radio 4 in October 2002. gen: Hörspiel ser: Classic Serial tit: The Invasion: Arab Chronicles of the First Crusade epi: 1 aut: Jonathan Myerson cnt: 6 bnd: BP 35 len: 56'55" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 01.02.2009 lng: englisch stw: Firuz, a small-time merchant for whom the rules of survival suddenly change, finds his land invaded by a rag-tag army of incomprehensible, odorous, and ill-disciplined warriors from the West. The story of the First Crusade, re-imagined from the Arab point of view, using the chronicles of the period. Firuz .. Andrew Lincoln The Stitch .. Neil Dudgeon Rihab .. Helen Schlesinger Yaghi-Siyan .. Nicholas Woodeson Tatikios .. Peter Polycarpou Nadirah .. Rachel Atkins Suleima .. Jill Cardo Anna .. Janice Acquah Peter .. Chris Pavlo Qilij .. Gunnar Cauthery Shams Al-Dawla .. Dan Starkey Other parts played by Malcolm Tierney, Stephen Critchlow and Robert Lonsdale. Producer/director Jonquil Panting gen: Hörspiel ser: Classic Serial tit: The Invasion: Arab Chronicles of the First Crusade epi: 2 aut: Jonathan Myerson cnt: 7 bnd: BP 35 len: 56'35" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 08.02.2009 lng: englisch stw: Antioch is under siege from the Crusaders, the local Christian men expelled from the city for fear of betrayal. But - with a little collaboration - the Stitch has a plan to end the siege. The story of the First Crusade, re-imagined from the Arab point of view, using the chronicles of the period. Firuz .. Andrew Lincoln The Stitch .. Neil Dudgeon Rihab .. Helen Schlesinger Yaghi-Siyan .. Nicholas Woodeson Tatikios .. Peter Polycarpou Nadirah .. Rachel Atkins Suleima .. Jill Cardo Anna ..Janice Acquah Peter .. Chris Pavlo Bohemond ..Stephen Critchlow Shams Al-Dawla ..Dan Starkey Other parts played by Gunnar Cauthery, Inam Mirza and Malcolm Tierney. Producer/director Jonquil Panting gen: Hörspiel ser: Afternoon Play tit: The Lottery Ticket aut: Donna Franceschild cnt: 8 bnd: BP 35 len: 43'56" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 18.02.2009 lng: englisch stw: An unlikely friendship blossoms when an asylum seeker and a migrant worker find a stray lottery ticket and think it may be the answer to all their problems. Salih ...... Nitzan Sharron Jacek ...... John Kazek Woman ...... Meg Fraser Directed by Kirsty Williams. Producer/director Kirsty Williams. gen: Hörspiel ser: Classic Serial tit: Rendezvous with Rama epi: 1 aut: Arthur C Clarke cnt: 9 bnd: BP 35 len: 56'34" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 01.03.2009 lng: englisch stw: When the mysterious space object known as "Rama" appears in the solar system, the crew of the SV Endeavour is sent to investigate. William Norton ...... Richard Dillane Li Kwok ...... Paul Courtenay Hyu Pieter Rousseau ...... Jimmy Akingbola Jimmy Pak ...... Robert Lonsdale Aruna Calvert ...... Archie Panjabi Gerry ...... Inam Mirza Ruby Barnes ...... Janice Acquah Laura Ernst ...... Ania Sowinski Indira Gopal ...... Shelley King Erl King ...... Peter Marinker Tamara Ruiz ...... Jill Cardo Tan Sun ...... Jonathan Tafler Henning ...... Paul Rider dramatised by Mike Walker Producer Marc Beeby. gen: Hörspiel ser: Classic Serial tit: Rendezvous with Rama epi: 2 aut: Arthur C Clarke cnt: 10 bnd: BP 35 len: 56'52" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 08.03.2009 lng: englisch stw: What is the secret at the heart of the space object known as Rama and why, years after the event, has Commander William Norton never spoken about what he found there? William Norton ...... Richard Dillane Li Kwok ...... Paul Courtenay Hyu Pieter Rousseau ...... Jimmy Akingbola Jimmy Pak ...... Robert Lonsdale Aruna Calvert ...... Archie Panjabi Gerry ...... Inam Mirza Ruby Barnes ...... Janice Acquah Laura Ernst ...... Ania Sowinski Indira Gopal ...... Shelley King Erl King ...... Peter Marinker Tamara Ruiz ...... Jill Cardo Tan Sun ...... Jonathan Tafler Henning ...... Paul Rider. dramatised by Mike Walker Producer Marc Beeby. gen: Hörspiel tit: Alpha aut: Mike Walker cnt: 11 bnd: BP 35 len: 57'01" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 03.03.2009 lng: englisch stw: auch P-38-01 The first of two brilliant plays by Mike Walker, this 2001 Sony Radio Academy Award winning drama is set in a future where an 'all knowing' computer Alpha appears to have an independent life of its own. Father Marquez from the World Faith Commission has to decide whether the computer can be allowed to exist. Starring David Calder, Sarah Jane Holm, Ana Sofrenovia and John Moffatt, the director was Gordon House. The play was first broadcast on the World Service. gen: Hörspiel tit: The Death of Grass aut: John Christopher cnt: 12 bnd: BP 35 len: 68'59" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 06.03.2009 lng: englisch stw: bessere Fassung auf P-06-01 1956: South East Asia has been hit by a virus that has killed all its rice crops, leading to a famine. John Custance and his family visit his brother David's farm in Westmorland, certain of one thing - it couldn't happen here. Narrator ...... David Mitchell John ...... Darrell Brockis Ann ...... Rebecca Egan Roger ...... Gus Brown David ...... Jonathan Dryden Taylor adapted by Jonathan Dryden Taylor Producer Ellen Dryden. gen: Hörspiel ser: Classic Serial tit: Something Fresh epi: 1 aut: PG Wodehouse cnt: 13 bnd: BP 35 len: 57'01" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 29.03.2009 lng: englisch stw: Two imposters infiltrate Blandings Castle, intent on recovering a valuable scarab which the dotty Lord Emsworth has unknowingly acquired from a dyspeptic American millionaire. Ashe ...... Ioan Gruffudd Joan ...... Helen McCrory J Preston Peters ...... Hector Elizondo Earl of Emsworth ...... Martin Jarvis Aline Peters ...... Andrea Bowen George Emerson ...... James Frain Baxter ...... Jared Harris Beach ...... Morgan Sheppard Mrs Twemlow ...... Jill Gascoine Miss Willoughby ...... Joanne Whalley The Hon Freddie ...... Matthew Wolf Mr Judson ...... Darren Richardson Adams ...... Kenneth Danziger Jones/Ferris/Porter ...... Alan Shearman All the maids ...... Moira Quirk Wodehouse ...... Ian Ogilvy dramatised by Archie Scottney Director Martin Jarvis. gen: Hörspiel ser: Classic Serial tit: Something Fresh epi: 2 aut: PG Wodehouse cnt: 14 bnd: BP 35 len: 57'00" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 05.04.2009 lng: englisch stw: The rivalry between Ashe and Joan to secure the precious scarab is becoming intense. The obsessive Baxter is in hot pursuit and Lord Emsworth keeps a shotgun beside him in case of midnight marauders. Second of a two-part dramatisation of PG Wodehouse's 1915 comic novel. Ashe ...... Ioan Gruffudd Joan ...... Helen McCrory Baxter ...... Jared Harris Earl of Emsworth ...... Martin Jarvis J Preston Peters ...... Hector Elizondo The Hon Freddie ...... Matthew Wolf George Emerson ...... James Frain Aline Peters ...... Andrea Bowen Beach ...... Morgan Sheppard Mr Judson ...... Darren Richardson Colonel Mant ...... Kenneth Danziger Wodehouse ...... Ian Ogilvy Directed by Martin Jarvis. gen: Hörspiel ser: Afternoon Play tit: Tony's Little Sister and the Paradox of Monasticism aut: Caroline and David Stafford cnt: 1 bnd: BP 36 len: 44'00" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 03.04.2009 lng: englisch stw: A serious religious comedy about St Anthony - hermit, ascetic and founder of Christian monasticism - told from the point of view of his angry little sister. Anthony ...... Duncan Preston Satan ...... Tim McMullan Dious ...... Samantha Spiro Hilarion ...... Ben Crowe Sheba ...... Rachel Bavidge Producer Marc Beeby. gen: Hörspiel tit: Faust aut: Martin Jenkins cnt: 2 bnd: BP 36 len: 64'40" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 03.05.2009 fst: 2008 lng: englisch stw: Julian Rhind-Tutt (Faust) and Mark Gatiss (Mephistopheles) star in this tongue-in-cheek, modern slant on the legend, adapted by Martin Jenkins and dramatised by Jonathan Holloway. Fallen angel Mephistopheles persuades Faust to sell him his soul. In return, Mephistopheles promises to grant Faust his deepest wishes - a pact that quickly spells disaster. Produced by Tim Dee, this series was first broadcast in 2008. gen: Hörspiel tit: Operation Lightning Pegasus aut: Alick Rowe cnt: 3 bnd: BP 36 len: 88'08" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 07.06.2009 fst: 1981 lng: englisch stw: What really happened at the Fall of Troy? Was the episode of the Wooden Horse as heroic as Homer would have it? Or was his Iliad a cover-up, a PR job, for what was in fact a military fiasco? This comedy drama by Alick Rowe stars Timothy West, with Nicholas Courtney and Tim Bentinck. Directed by Shaun MacLoughlin, from 1981. gen: Hörspiel tit: Odysseus On An Iceberg aut: Alick Rowe cnt: 4 bnd: BP 36 len: 86'40" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 14.06.2009 fst: 1985 lng: englisch stw: The sequel to last week's Operation Lightning Pegasus. Alick Rowe's comedy drama recounts the tale of the mythical king as he tries to find his way home after the Trojan war. Starring Hugh Dickson, June Barrie, Alex Jennings, Patrick Malahide and Stephen Thorne, it was directed by Shaun MacLoughlin and first broadcast as a Saturday Night Theatre play in 1985. gen: Hörspiel tit: The Thirty Nine-Steps epi: 1 sbt: The Milkman Sets Out on His Travels aut: John Buchan cnt: 5 bnd: BP 36 len: 56'23" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 22.06.2009 fst: 2001 lng: englisch stw: Richard Hannay becomes a hunted man after a body is discovered in his flat. But it's not only the police who are after him. John Buchan's compelling novel, which has been adapted for stage, screen and radio is a wonderful adventure story, which takes the hero from London over the border to Scotland and wild moorland. gen: Hörspiel tit: The Thirty Nine-Steps epi: 2 sbt: The Coming of the Black Stone aut: John Buchan cnt: 6 bnd: BP 36 len: 55'12" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 23.06.2009 fst: 2001 lng: englisch stw: The secret of the 39 Steps is contained in a notebook. Can Hannay solve the mystery before a gang of German spies? This fast-paced thriller is brilliantly dramatised by Bert Coules, stars David Robb, Tom Baker, Struan Rodger, Tracy Wiles and Stuart McQuarrie. It was directed by Bruce Young and first heard in 2001. gen: Hörspiel tit: Huntingtower epi: 1 sbt: The Princess in the Tower aut: John Buchan cnt: 7 bnd: BP 36 len: 56'27" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 24.06.2009 fst: 1988 lng: englisch stw: A retired merchant embarks on an adventure leading him to a deserted Scottish house. John Buchan dramatisation with Roy Hanlon. Our second John Buchan adventure begins with a respectable newly retired grocer taking a walking holiday in south-west Scotland. When he meets a young English poet he becomes involved in the kidnapping of a Russian Princess. Dramatised by Trevor Royal and starring Roy Hanlon, David McKail, Stuart McQuarrie, Eileen McCallum, Ann Scott-Jones and Sharon Maharaj, it was directed by Patrick Rayner and first broadcast in 1988. gen: Hörspiel tit: Huntingtower epi: 2 sbt: The First Battle aut: John Buchan cnt: 8 bnd: BP 36 len: 54'40" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 25.06.2009 fst: 1988 lng: englisch stw: Retired merchant Dickson McCunn sets out to save an imprisoned Russian princess. John Buchan dramatisation, with Roy Hanlon. gen: Hörspiel tit: Huntingtower epi: 3 sbt: The Die-Hards Go into Action aut: John Buchan cnt: 9 bnd: BP 36 len: 55'45" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 26.06.2009 fst: 1988 lng: englisch stw: As retired merchant Dickson McCunn's mission concludes, he commits an assault. John Buchan dramatisation with Roy Hanlon. gen: Hörspiel tit: From The House At The Top of the World aut: Ray Jenkins cnt: 10 bnd: BP 36 len: 43'47" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 26.06.2009 fst: 1999 lng: englisch stw: When a major Buddhist artefact is discovered along the legendary Silk Road, a German archaeologist becomes involved in an attempt to steal it. Written by Ray Jenkins, starring Siobhan Redmond, Alex Jennings, Sean Baker and David Tse, directed by Janet Whitaker and first heard in 1999. gen: Hörspiel tit: Valley of the Dolls epi: 1 aut: Jacqueline Susann cnt: 11 bnd: BP 36 len: 68'25" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 30.08.2009 fst: 2005 lng: englisch stw: Jacqueline Susann's sixties best-seller is dramatised for radio in 15 parts by Yvonne Antrobus. Three young women become friends as they carve out showbusiness careers in sleazy New York. First heard as a Woman's Hour drama in 2005, the cast includes Madeleine Potter, Stuart Milligan, Jamie Glover, Liza Ross and Barbara Barnes. The director is Claire Grove. gen: Hörspiel tit: Valley of the Dolls epi: 2 aut: Jacqueline Susann cnt: 12 bnd: BP 36 len: 68'41" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 06.09.2009 fst: 2005 lng: englisch gen: Hörspiel tit: Valley of the Dolls epi: 3 aut: Jacqueline Susann cnt: 13 bnd: BP 36 len: 68'46" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 13.09.2009 fst: 2005 lng: englisch gen: Hörspiel tit: The Teahouse Detective epi: 1 sbt: The Metropolitan Line Murder aut: Baroness Emmuska Orczy cnt: 1 bnd: BP 37 len: 43'55" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 20.07.2009 fst: 1998 lng: englisch stw: Journalist Polly seeks the help of an enigmatic old customer at the ABC teahouse on The Strand. Set in the early 1900s, Bernard Hepton plays the mysterious man who solves murder mysteries from the comfort of his usual table in the ABC Teahouse on The Strand. He is the muse of journalist, Polly, played by Suzanne Burden. Dramatised by Michael Butt from the stories by Baroness Emmuska Orczy, the series was directed by John Taylor, and was first broadcast on Radio 4 in 1998. gen: Hörspiel tit: The Teahouse Detective epi: 2 sbt: The York Mystery aut: Baroness Emmuska Orczy cnt: 2 bnd: BP 37 len: 43'20" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 21.07.2009 fst: 1998 lng: englisch stw: Armed with tea and a doughnut, a ragged old man applies his uncanny deductive powers to a murder scandal. gen: Hörspiel tit: The Teahouse Detective epi: 3 sbt: The Body in the Barge aut: Baroness Emmuska Orczy cnt: 3 bnd: BP 37 len: 44'07" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 22.07.2009 fst: 1998 lng: englisch stw: A River Thames corpse sparks another mystery for the astute old man to solve, in the ABC Cornerhouse. gen: Hörspiel tit: The Teahouse Detective epi: 4 sbt: The de Genneville Peerage aut: Baroness Emmuska Orczy cnt: 4 bnd: BP 37 len: 44'00" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 23.07.2009 fst: 1998 lng: englisch stw: A fresh murder shatters Polly, but the man in the corner's crime solving efforts meet furious resistance. gen: Hörspiel tit: The Teahouse Detective epi: 5 sbt: The Dublin Mystery aut: Baroness Emmuska Orczy cnt: 5 bnd: BP 37 len: 43'56" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 24.07.2009 fst: 1998 lng: englisch stw: A dying businessman appears to have settled his will, but revenge wreaks havoc in his family. gen: Hörspiel tit: The Teahouse Detective epi: 6 sbt: The Edinburgh Mystery aut: Baroness Emmuska Orczy cnt: 6 bnd: BP 37 len: 43'31" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 27.07.2009 fst: 1998 lng: englisch stw: Betrayal and murder's afoot when a worried aunt tackles her nephew. It's a case for the man in the corner. Stars Bernard Hepton. gen: Hörspiel tit: The Teahouse Detective epi: 7 sbt: The Brighton Mystery aut: Baroness Emmuska Orczy cnt: 7 bnd: BP 37 len: 43'50" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 28.07.2009 fst: 1998 lng: englisch stw: When an American heiress is blackmailed by her 'dead' husband, it's a case for the astute crime solver. Stars Bernard Hepton. gen: Hörspiel tit: The Teahouse Detective epi: 8 sbt: The London Mystery aut: Baroness Emmuska Orczy cnt: 8 bnd: BP 37 len: 43'20" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 29.07.2009 fst: 1998 lng: englisch stw: The canny man in the corner helps Polly, when a gambler accused of murder seems to have the perfect alibi. Stars Bernard Hepton. gen: Hörspiel tit: Richard III aut: Shakespeare cnt: 9 bnd: BP 37 len: 149'06" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 31.10.2009 fst: 1985 lng: englisch stw: As part of the Maida Vale celebrations, Ian Holm takes the lead role in this stylish production of Shakespeare's historical drama of the authoritarian monarch. Also starring Tom Wilkinson, Philip Voss, Barbara Jefford, Sarah Badel, Stephen Thorne, Matthew Carroll, Michael Graham Cox, William Buckhurst and Pauline Letts, it was directed by Jane Morgan and first heard in 1985. gen: Hörspiel tit: Uncle Vanya aut: Anton Chekhov cnt: 10 bnd: BP 37 len: 108'04" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 24.01.2010 fst: 1985 lng: englisch stw: Radio 7 begins our season with one of his best-known plays, Uncle Vanya. The comic tragedy of lost hopes and stifled passion set in 1890s Russia is brought to radio courtesy of Christopher Hampton's adaptation. The star-studded cast includes Robert Stephens, Timothy Dalton, Brenda Blethyn and Michael Gough, and was directed by Jane Morgan. The programme was first broadcast on Radio 3 in 1985. gen: Hörspiel tit: The Sea Wolf epi: 1 aut: Jack London cnt: 11 bnd: BP 37 len: 56'49" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 15.02.2010 fst: 1991 lng: englisch stw: Rescued from drowning by the captain of the Ghost, shipwrecked literary critic Humphrey Van Weyden discovers that there are fates worse than death. Forced to work as a crew member, Van Weyden engages in an epic battle of wits with the brutal captain. Jack London's classic tale of heroism, survival and love on the high seas, has a great cast with splendid performances from Jack Klaff, Kerry Shale, Ian Dury and Nigel Anthony. First broadcast in 1991, it is dramatised by Ed Thomason and the director is Adrian Bean. gen: Hörspiel tit: The Sea Wolf epi: 2 aut: Jack London cnt: 12 bnd: BP 37 len: 56'34" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 16.02.2010 fst: 1991 lng: englisch gen: Hörspiel tit: The Sea Wolf epi: 3 aut: Jack London cnt: 13 bnd: BP 37 len: 54'54" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 17.02.2010 fst: 1991 lng: englisch gen: Hörspiel tit: The Sea Wolf epi: 4 aut: Jack London cnt: 14 bnd: BP 37 len: 56'47" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 18.02.2010 fst: 1991 lng: englisch gen: Hörspiel tit: Wild Honey aut: Anton Chekhov cnt: 1 bnd: BP 38 len: 124'35" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 30.01.2010 fst: 1989 lng: englisch stw: Platonov seems content with his life as a village schoolmaster, spending the long hot summers drinking at the Voynitzevs' country house. Then Sofya arrives and rekindles the spark of his youthful ambitions. Michael Frayn's adaptation of Chekhov's comedy stars Ian McKellen, Elizabeth Bell, Elizabeth Garvie and Anna Calder-Marshall, was directed by Peter King and first heard in 1989. gen: Hörspiel tit: Rebecca aut: Daphne du Maurier cnt: 2 bnd: BP 38 len: 87'04" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 15.05.2010 fst: 1989 lng: englisch stw: A young woman is haunted by the memories of her new husband's dead first wife. Christopher Cazenove, who died earlier this year, stars as Max De Winter in Daphne du Maurier's psychological thriller. Also starring Janet Maw, Rosalie Crutchley, Nickolas Grace and Frederick Treves, dramatised by Brian Miller, directed by Cherry Cookson and first heard in 1989. gen: Hörspiel tit: The L Shaped Room aut: Lynne Reid Banks cnt: 3 bnd: BP 38 len: 140'21" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 25.06.2010 fst: 2004 lng: englisch stw: First published in 1960, this was Lynne's first novel and was an instant success. It has been in print ever since its publication 50 years ago. It's the story of Jane, a single young pregnant woman experiencing the social and racial prejudices of the time. Dramatised in 10 parts by Juliet Ace, it stars Lynne Seymour, John McAndrew, Trevor Laird and Bill Wallis and was directed by Alison Hindell. First broadcast on Radio 4 in 2004. 1 - In a squalid 1950s bedsit, single Jane is pregnant and has to overcome personal and social prejudices. 2 - Jane tries to make the bedsit a little more homely and learns about Toby's writing. 3 - Pregnant Jane receives a letter from her father and visits a jazz club with Toby. 4 - Jane has spent the night with Toby, but she hasn't told him about her pregnancy. 5 - Jane books an appointment at an abortion clinic, but Mavis offers an illegal alternative. 6 - Single mother-to-be Jane is in hospital with a threatened miscarriage. 7 - Reconciled Jane and Toby are making Christmas plans, when an unexpected visitor arrives. 8 - Single mother-to-be Jane returns home to find her boarding house deserted. 9 - With Toby gone, mother-to-be Jane bumps into the baby's father and asks him for help. 10 - With the baby due, expectant single mother Jane receives unexpected financial help. Jane....Lynne Seymour Toby....John Mcandrew John....Trevor Laird Father....Bill Wallis Doris....Nickie Rainsford Mavis....Marie Gordon Price James....Simon Armstrong Dr Maxwell....John Rowe Jane 2....Rachel Atkins Boss....Dave Bond Dr Graham....Richard Mitchley Directed by Alison Hindell gen: Hörspiel tit: The Golden Age aut: Kenneth Grahame cnt: 4 bnd: BP 38 len: 87'36" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 15.08.2010 fst: 2001 lng: englisch stw: Living in the countryside with their aunts and uncles, five children spend an idyllic summer before their new school term begins. Kenneth Grahame's endearing novel is dramatised by Martyin Wade, stars James Fleet, Marcia Warren, Jesse Jeune, Harry Francis, Alexandra Stone, Teresa Gallagher and Oliver Cookson. Directed by Cherry Cookson it was first broadcast in 2001. gen: Hörspiel tit: The Vortex aut: Noel Coward cnt: 5 bnd: BP 38 len: 87'27" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 18.09.2010 fst: 1975 lng: englisch stw: First performed in 1924 and considered highly controversial at the time, Noel Coward's play paints a dark picture of the civilised upper classes with its depiction of sexual vanity and drug abuse. Starring Elizabeth Sellars, Timothy Dalton, Madi Hedd and Sarah Lawson, directed by Glyn Dearman and first heard in 1975. gen: Hörspiel tit: The Power Of Dawn aut: Emlyn Williams cnt: 6 bnd: BP 38 len: 44'14" med: MP3 spd: 80 mon: Mono src: BBC 7 dat: 22.11.2010 fst: 1978 lng: englisch cop: MP3 stw: auch P-05-08 An old lady recalls the night, aged only eighteen, when she sat at a railway-station with the elderly Tolstoy in his final hours. This remarkable play by acclaimed actor and writer Emlyn Williams vividly captures Tolstoy's emotional tumult as he looks back on his life and his final flight from his family. Continuing our commemorations of Tolstoy's death, we have the great pleasure of bringing you Sir Michael Redgrave in the role of the Russian writer. Felicity Hayes-McCoy and Gwen Ffrangcon-Davies co-star in this 1978 production, directed by John Tydeman. gen: Hörspiel tit: An Ideal Husband aut: Oscar Wilde cnt: 7 bnd: BP 38 len: 119'09" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 27.11.2010 fst: 2007 lng: englisch stw: Oscar Wilde's comedic play of political corruption and blackmail. When Sir Robert and Lady Gertrude Chiltern give a party, an unwelcome guest makes an equally unwelcome request to her host. If it is not met, she will reveal an unsavoury secret from his past. Starring Alex Jennings, Janet McTeer, Emma Field, Geoffrey Palmer and Sarah Kestelman, directed by David Timson and first heard in 2007. gen: Hörspiel tit: The French Lieutenant's Woman aut: John Fowles cnt: 8 bnd: BP 38 len: 112'03" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 15.02.2011 fst: 2009 lng: englisch stw: John Hurt narrates John Fowles's story of forbidden love on the Victorian Dorset coast. A young fossil-hunter in Lyme Regis is intrigued by a mysterious woman in black who stares out to sea. He learns about her disgrace after an affair with a French sailor, but this whets his appetite to find out more about her. Starring Jonathan Firth, Kelly Reilly, Elizabeth Spriggs and T P McKenna. Produced by Peter Kavanagh, first brodacast in February 2009. gen: Hörspiel ser: Young Classics tit: Greyfriars aut: Ronald Frame cnt: 9 bnd: BP 38 len: 56'32" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 01.04.2011 fst: 2002 lng: englisch stw: The legendary tale of the faithful dog Bobby and his owner. Written by Ronald Frame, starring Crawford Logan, Paul Young, Kenny Blythe and Gayanne Potter, directed by David Ian Neville and first broadcast in 2002. gen: Hörspiel tit: The Count Of Monte Cristo epi: 1 sbt: Betrayal aut: Alexandre Dumas cnt: 1 bnd: BP 39 len: 55'33" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 28.02.2011 fst: 1987 lng: englisch stw: Edmond Dantes returns from sea to the girl and job of his dreams - but his meddling 'friends' are jealous. In early nineteenth century Marseilles, Edmond Dantes is welcomed home after a long absence at sea. A conspiracy by his enemies brings disaster, however - and leads him to plot an elaborate revenge. Alexandre Dumas' classic tale of false accusation, imprisonment and the hunt for justice stars Andrew Sachs and Nigel Anthony. Barry Campbell's exciting dramatisation was directed by Graham Gauld and originally transmitted in 1987. gen: Hörspiel tit: The Count Of Monte Cristo epi: 2 sbt: The Abbe Faria aut: Alexandre Dumas cnt: 2 bnd: BP 39 len: 55'06" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 01.03.2011 fst: 1987 lng: englisch stw: The 'mad' mentor helps him escape prison, find treasure and discover the truth - now Dantes counts on revenge. gen: Hörspiel tit: The Count Of Monte Cristo epi: 3 sbt: The Return aut: Alexandre Dumas cnt: 3 bnd: BP 39 len: 52'43" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 02.03.2011 fst: 1987 lng: englisch stw: Now boundlessly rich, Dantes reinvents himself and puts his plans for revenge into action. gen: Hörspiel tit: The Count Of Monte Cristo epi: 4 sbt: The House at Auteuil aut: Alexandre Dumas cnt: 4 bnd: BP 39 len: 52'02" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 03.03.2011 fst: 1987 lng: englisch stw: All things seem possible for millionaire Dantes. Runaway horses charm his enemies. gen: Hörspiel tit: The Count Of Monte Cristo epi: 5 sbt: The Dinner Party aut: Alexandre Dumas cnt: 5 bnd: BP 39 len: 53'17" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 04.03.2011 fst: 1987 lng: englisch stw: Now established in society, Dantes exposes affairs and plots the downfall of his enemies. gen: Hörspiel tit: The Count Of Monte Cristo epi: 6 sbt: Poison aut: Alexandre Dumas cnt: 6 bnd: BP 39 len: 54'15" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 07.03.2011 fst: 1987 lng: englisch stw: Dantes' vengeance slowly destroys his enemies, but now it's the Crown Prosecutor's turn. gen: Hörspiel tit: The Count Of Monte Cristo epi: 7 sbt: The Enquiry aut: Alexandre Dumas cnt: 7 bnd: BP 39 len: 53'57" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 08.03.2011 fst: 1987 lng: englisch stw: Edmond Dantes has got a final score to settle. gen: Hörspiel tit: All Quiet On The Western Front aut: Erich Maria Remarque cnt: 8 bnd: BP 39 len: 89'06" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 06.03.2011 fst: 2008 lng: englisch stw: A young German soldier is sent to the Front and struggles not only with the ever-present fear of battle but also with the harsh conditions in the trenches. This lyrical, perceptive and occasionally shocking drama was adapted for radio by the late Dave Sheasby, stars Robert Lonsdale and was produced by David Hunter. It was originally transmitted on Radio 3 in 2008. gen: Hörspiel tit: Candida aut: George Bernard Shaw cnt: 9 bnd: BP 39 len: 83'33" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 09.04.2011 fst: 1977 lng: englisch stw: George Bernard Shaw's romantic comedy - the tale of a vicar's wife who's life is turned upside down by a young poet. It stars Hannah Gordon, Edward Petherbridge and Christopher Guard, was directed by Ronald Mason and first broadcast in August 1977. gen: Hörspiel tit: Q & A aut: Vikas Swarup cnt: 10 bnd: BP 39 len: 140'04" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 29.05.2011 fst: 2007 lng: englisch stw: Street kid Ram Mohammed Thomas is a contestant on the hit Indian TV game show "Who Will Win A Billion?" The questions he's asked set him thinking about incidents in his life, but will they lead all the way to the jackpot? Vikas Swarup's book - the inspiration for the Oscar-winning film Slumdog Millionaire - is adapted for radio by Ayeesha Menon. First broadcast on Radio 4 in 2007, the director was John Dryden. gen: Hörspiel tit: The Spy Who Came In From The Cold aut: John le Carré cnt: 11 bnd: BP 39 len: 166'15" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 30.05.2011 lng: englisch stw: Dramatisation by Robert Forrest of John le Carré's classic novel featuring intelligence officer George Smiley. 1 - Berlin, the early 1960s - the Wall is up between East and West and the Cold War is at freezing point. Alec Leamas is Circus Head of Station in Berlin, and his network of agents in East Germany is in great danger. 2 - The trap is set to catch the East German spymaster who has ruthlessly destroyed Alec Leamas's Berlin network - and the bait is Leamas himself. 3 - The deadly game of deceit and betrayal reaches its climax at the foot of the Berlin Wall. Smiley ............. Simon Russell Beale Alec Leamas ........ Brian Cox Fiedler ............ Henry Goodman Liz Gold ........... Ruth Gemmell Control ............ John Rowe Tribunal President . Siobhan Redmond Peter Guillam ...... Richard Dillane Commissar .......... Liza Sadovy Elsie/Elvira ....... Siobhan Redmond Mundt .............. Sam Dale Ashe ............... Jamie Newall Doorman ............ Stephen Hogan Agent .............. Stephen Hogan Miss Crail ......... Liza Sadovy Mr Pitt ............ Philip Fox Grocer ............. David Hargreaves CIA Man ............ Benjamin Askew. gen: Hörspiel tit: A Murder of Quality aut: John le Carré cnt: 1 bnd: BP 40 len: 86'59" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 21.05.2011 fst: 2009 lng: englisch stw: A Murder of Quality is set in a public school in the early 1960s. When the wife of one of the masters is found bludgeoned to death, Smiley, out of loyalty to an old friend, finds himself investigating her death - an investigation that lifts the lid on a world of hidden passions and murderous hatred. John le Carré's thriller, dramatised by Shaun Mc Kenna, stars Simon Russell Beale. First broadcast on Radio 4 in 2009, the producer was Marc Beeby and the director was Patrick Rayner. gen: Hörspiel tit: The Looking Glass War aut: John le Carré cnt: 2 bnd: BP 40 len: 113'09" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 01.06.2001 fst: 2009 lng: englisch stw: The fourth of John le Carré's novels to feature spymaster George Smiley. When word reaches The Department that Soviet missiles are being installed close to the West German border, they seize the opportunity to relive former glories. 1 - The Department relives former glories over Soviet missiles near West Germany. 2 - On Fred Leiser's secret mission to East Germany, it's soon clear nothing is what it seems. With Simon Russell Beale, Ian McDiarmid, Patrick Kennedy and Philip Jackson, the director was Marc Beeby and it was first broadcast on Radio 4 in September 2009. gen: Hörspiel tit: Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy aut: John le Carré cnt: 3 bnd: BP 40 len: 168'39" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 06.06.2001 lng: englisch stw: Ever since the capture and torture of their agent in Czechoslovakia, the British Secret Intelligence Service has been in trouble. Now, the government has been forced to call George Smiley back from retirement to investigate the whole incident and to seek out the mole they believe to be at the heart of the service. 1 - Retired George Smiley hunts a mole in Britain's Secret Intelligence Service. 2 - George looks to the past in his hunt for a mole threatening the British Secret Service. 3 - George Smiley, called back from retirement, is reaching the end of his hunt to find the mole he believes is tearing the British Secret Intelligence Service apart. George Smiley ..... Simon Russell Beale Ann Smiley ........ Anna Chancellor Control ........... John Rowe Peter Guillam ..... Ewan Bailey Jim Prideaux ...... Anthony Calf Mendel ............ Kenneth Cranham Magyar ............ Peter Majer Ricki Tarr ........ Jamie Foreman Toby Esterhase .... Sam Dale Bill Haydon ....... Michael Feast Karla ............. Philip Fox Polyakov .......... Stephen Greif Steve Mackelvore .. Piers Wehner Mrs McCraig ....... Kate Layden Bill Roach ........ Ryan Watson. Directed by Steven Canny. gen: Hörspiel tit: The Westward Journey aut: Ellen Dryden cnt: 4 bnd: BP 40 len: 89'12" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 06.08.2011 fst: 2006 lng: englisch stw: 'We are now beyond the Missouri River. We have left the States behind. Ahead of us lie the great uncivilised plains.' On the wagon trains of the perilous migration across America to Oregon and California, the strength of women was tested against the ambition and pride of their men. Ellen Dryden's epic tale stars Carolyn Jones and Marcia Warren; the director was Ned Chaillet. First broadcast on Radio 4 in 2006. gen: Hörspiel tit: The Grass Is Singing aut: Doris Lessing cnt: 5 bnd: BP 40 len: 110'30" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 23.09.2011 fst: 2000 lng: englisch stw: Mary Turner is found murdered on the verandah of her farmstead, her houseboy having confessed to the crime. But he seems to have no motive. Doris Lessing's first novel is a powerful exploration of racial politics in 1940's Rhodesia. This dramatisation by Tina Pepler stars Alison Pettit, Tracy Ann Oberman and Miles Anderson. The director was Marion Nancarrow and it was first broadcast in Septemember 2000. gen: Hörspiel tit: Educating Rita aut: Willy Russell cnt: 6 bnd: BP 40 len: 85'23" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 08.10.2011 lng: englisch stw: Working-class Rita enrols on an Open University course to expand her horizons - and soon becomes an education herself for boozy tutor, Frank. Laura Dos Santos and Bill Nighy star in Willy Russell's own adaptation of his comic and poignant stage and screen success. Directed by Kirsty Williams and originally broadcast in 2009. gen: Hörspiel tit: The Honourable Schoolboy aut: John le Carré cnt: 7 bnd: BP 40 len: 168'59" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 19.10.2011 fst: 2010 lng: englisch stw: Our "Complete Smiley" season continues with John le Carré's 1977 novel, dramatised by Shaun McKenna. George Smiley identifies a trail of money heading for Hong Kong during the Vietnam War. But who are the payments for - and why? Simon Russell Beale stars as the spymaster, picking up the trail of an old adversary. Hugh Bonneville, Anna Chancellor, Anthony Calf, Maggie Steed and James Laurenson co-star in Marc Beeby's production, first broadcast on Radio 4 last year. 1 - It's 1975, and spymaster George Smiley takes charge of dealing with a betrayal. 2 - The Americans make their presence felt - and tragedy strikes in Hong Kong. 3 - Can George Smiley keep the situation under control? Can Jerry Westerby be trusted? gen: Hörspiel tit: Smiley's People aut: John le Carré cnt: 1 bnd: BP 41 len: 167'02" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 24.10.2011 fst: 2010 lng: englisch stw: 1 - George finds himself back in harness to the Circus when an old colleague is found dead. 2 - On the trail of the killer, George is reunited with an old colleague. 3 - Smiley is ready to spring the trap on his life-long Russian adversary, Karla. With Toby Esterhase watching his back, he now moves the operation to Berne in Switzerland. But can he be certain he's the hunter, not the hunted? John Le Carré's thriller stars Simon Russell Beale as intelligence officer George Smiley. Part of our Spy Season. gen: Hörspiel tit: The Secret Pilgrim aut: John le Carré cnt: 2 bnd: BP 41 len: 167'24" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 27.10.2011 fst: 2010 lng: englisch stw: Simon Russell Beale stars as the intelligence officer George Smiley and Patrick Malahide as Ned in a three-part dramatisation, by Robert Forrest, of John le Carré's classic novel. The Berlin Wall is down, the Cold War is over, but the world's second oldest profession is very much alive. Smiley accepts an invitation to dine at the Sarratt training school with the eager young men and women of the Circus' latest intake, with intriguing consequences. Produced by Patrick Rayner and first broadcast on Radio 4 in 2010. 1 - Recollections of an eventful secret life when a British spy went missing. 2 - The spymaster addresses new recruits, triggering memories of an eventful life. 3 - About to take retirement, an experienced agent carries out one final job. gen: Hörspiel tit: War Horse aut: Michael Morpurgo cnt: 3 bnd: BP 41 len: 58'38" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 11.11.2011 lng: englisch stw: First World War tale of a boy's extraordinary bond with his horse. Stars Timothy Spall, Brenda Blethyn and Bob Hoskins. gen: Hörspiel tit: The Help aut: Kathryn Stockett cnt: 4 bnd: BP 41 len: 133'24" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 20.11.2011 fst: 2009 lng: englisch stw: In Mississippi during the 1960s black maids may look after white children, but they are deemed untrustworthy. Three brave women dare to cross the line. Starring Alibe Parsons, Laurel Leftkow, Lydia Parker, Deborah Western and Octavia Spencer, Kathryn Stockett's tense and powerful novel is dramatised by Penny Leicester, directed by Emma Harding and was first broadcast in 2009. gen: Hörspiel tit: The Old Curiosity Shop aut: Charles Dickens cnt: 5 bnd: BP 41 len: 340'28" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 lng: englisch stw: Dickens' classic tale about a lovable old shopkeeper whose gambling threatens to ruin both him and his adored granddaughter, Nell. Dramatised by Mike Walker 1 - Deep in debt, Little Nell and her grandfather must flee the evil money-lender Quilp. 2 - Evil money-lender Quilp discovers why Little Nell's grandfather is so badly in debt. 3 - With no more loans, Little Nell's grandfather is agitated. But who betrayed him? 4 - With Kit banished from the shop, he must set about finding other employment. 5 - Little Nell is faced with the most important decision of her young life. 6 - Avoiding Quilp, Little Nell and her Grandfather leave the shop and flee. 7 - Kit arrives back in London, wondering where Little Nell and Grandfather have gone. 8 - Desperate to find Little Nell, Quilp turns to a friend of her brother. 9 - A weary Little Nell and her Grandfather find some welcome help on their travels. 10 - Mrs Jarley keeps Little Nell and her Grandfather fully occupied. 11 - Driven to find shelter in a storm, Little Nell's grandfather returns to gambling. 12 - Lawyer Sampson Brass and his dragonish sister Sally are presented with a clerk. 13 - Dick Swiveller gets to know a mysterious gentleman and eavesdrops on a conversation. 14 - Little Nell becomes confused as she tries to stop her grandfather's gambling. 15 - The hunt continues to track down Little Nell and her grandfather. 16 - Mrs Nubbins and the mysterious gentleman try to find Nell and her grandfather. 17 - A kindly soul takes pity on the desperate Little Nell and her grandfather. 18 - The evil money-lender Quilp is furious and wants Mrs Nubbins out of the way. 19 - As Little Nell recuperates, the kindly schoolmaster teaches her a lesson for life. 20 - With the help of Samson Brass, Quilp plots to get Kit Nubbins out of the way. 21 - Is Kit Nubbins a thief or a victim of evil Quilp's plotting? 22 - It's the day of Kit Nubbins' trial and there's bad news for Dick. 23 - Dick suffers with his fever and Sally Brass is confronted. 24 - Kit gets a surprise visit in prison - and there's news for Little Nell. 25 - Kit and the single gentleman reach their destination. gen: Hörspiel ser: Krimi tit: Endless Night aut: Agatha Christie cnt: 1 bnd: BP 42 len: 57'00" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 29.01.2012 lng: englisch stw: Lonely drifter Mike Rogers finally settles down when he meets young heiress Ellie Guteman. They build the house of their dreams in a beautiful and remote area, ignoring rumours of a curse. With their arrival, however, the curse seems to come to life, and they find themselves in grave danger. Joy Wilkinson's adaptation of Agatha Christie's psychological thriller. Directed by Sam Hoyle. gen: Hörspiel ser: Science Fiction tit: Fahrenheit 451 aut: Ray Bradbury cnt: 2 bnd: BP 42 len: 86'22" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 12.02.2012 fst: 1982 lng: englisch stw: Ray Bradbury's dystopian novel describes an American future where reading is outlawed and a fire fighter's job is to start fires, by burning books. One, however, has misgivings. Dramatised by Gregory Evans, starring Michael Pennington, Jonathan Newth and Peter Miles, directed by Brian Miller and first broadcast in 1982. gen: Hörspiel tit: Falco epi: 5 sbt: Poseidon's Gold aut: Lindsey Davis cnt: 3 bnd: BP 42 len: 135'58" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 17.10.2012 lng: englisch stw: Lindsey Davis' Roman sleuth is dramatised for radio. With Anton Lesser 1 - The Roman detective is looking forward to a rest, but his brother's old military colleague has other ideas. 2 - The Roman detective is now a murder suspect himself. Plus his old love life haunts him. 3 - If he's to clear his name, the Roman detective must confront his difficult past. 4 - The Roman detective tries to get his father's help, but old wounds don't heal easily. 5 - The Roman detective hopes maritime matters can clear him, but Geminus brings bad news. 6 - Battling a murder charge, the Roman detective visits a drunken artist who knew his brother. 7 - The Roman detective visits his father's creditors, and starts to doubt Varga's veracity. 8 - The Roman detective hunts for an elusive sculptor; a chance encounter gives him the edge. 9 - The detective makes a discovery in Rome, but is he ready to reconcile with his father? 10- The Roman detective has discovered a hidden room, but can he solve the lingering mystery? gen: Hörspiel tit: Kidnapped aut: RL Stevenson cnt: 4 bnd: BP 42 len: 219'31" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 28.02.2012 fst: 1994 lng: englisch stw: The year is 1751 and Scotland is still in political turmoil after the Jacobite rebellions. Young David Balfour makes his way to Edinburgh, and The House of Shaws where he meets his Uncle Ebenezer and his adventures begin. First heard in 1994, with a terrific Scottish cast including David Rintoul, Rikki Fulton and Paul Young, the series was dramatised by Catherine Czerkawska and produced by Marilyn Imrie. 1 - 1751 - Scotland is in turmoil after the Jacobite rebellion, as young David sets off to Edinburgh. 2 - Shipwrecked off Scotland's coast, young David heads to Appin and a fateful encounter. 3 - David Balfour has witnessed the murder of the Red Fox and must flee from the redcoats. 4 - David Balfour is near Edinburgh and looks to the law to help him claim his inheritance. gen: Hörspiel ser: Young Classics tit: Brother Dusty Feet aut: Rosemary Sutcliff cnt: 5 bnd: BP 42 len: 82'06" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 04.03.2012 lng: englisch stw: Ten year old Hugh is an orphan, forced to live on a farm with his Aunt Alison, who treats him cruelly. When she threatens to get rid of his dog, Argos, for running after the ducks, Hugh feels there's only one thing they can do. It's a decision which leads him onto the roads of Elizabethan England, where many adventures are to befall him. Written by Rosemary Sutcliff, this is a new dramatisation by Shaun McKenna, specially commissioned for Radio 4 Extra. Hugh ................. Josef Lindsay Narrator ............. Adjoa Andoh Aunt Alison .......... Jane Whittenshaw Tobias Pennyfeather .. Allan Corduner Jonathan Whiteleaf ... Peter Hamilton Dyer Tom O'Bedlam ......... Carl Prekopp Zachary Hawkins ...... James Lailey Pilgrim .............. James Lailey Shepherd/Master Heritage ............. Gerard McDermott Janet/Aunt Alison/Ann ................ Jane Whittenshaw Thomas Trumpington/Benjamin Bunsell .. Carl Prekopp Nicky Bodkin/Walter Raleigh/Martin ... Gwilym Lee dramatised for radio by Shaun McKenna Producer/Director .... Marion Nancarrow. 1 - Hugh and his dog meet a band of strolling Players. 2 - More magical happenings await Hugh, as he journeys through England with the Strolling Players. But as Christmas approaches, Argos has an adventure of his own and cannot be found. 3 - The players get lost in the mists of Kent and find themselves in a very strange household indeed. Hugh is now acting regularly and one of the Dusty Feet. But would he give it all up, if he had a chance of his old dream? gen: Hörspiel tit: Arms And The Man aut: George Bernard Shaw cnt: 6 bnd: BP 42 len: 89'29" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 11.03.2012 fst: 1984 lng: englisch stw: In war-torn 1880s Bulgaria, an aristocratic young woman gives shelter to an enemy soldier - and as the battle rages outside, finds her values and beliefs under question. George Bernard Shaw's powerful and witty satire of idealism in both love and war stars Andrew Sachs, Jackie Smith-Wood and the late Mary Wimbush. John Tydeman's production was first heard on Radio 4 in 1984. gen: Hörspiel tit: Valley Of The Dolls aut: Jacqueline Susann cnt: 7 bnd: BP 42 len: 205'10" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 29.04.2012 fst: 2005 lng: englisch stw: In 1945, Anne Welles moves to New York City - with a desperate desire to make it big in showbiz. Madeleine Potter and Barbara Barnes star in Jacqueline Susann's scandalous tale of sex, drugs and Broadway. Dramatised by Yvonne Antrobus, directed by Claire Grove and first heard in 2005. 1 Anne heads off to the dazzling lights of post-war New York in search of a career. 2 One of New York's richest men has proposed marriage to Anne. 3 Anne meets famous torch singer Helen and Neely understudies the lead in a new musical. 4 Anne's relationship with Lyon grows passionate, and Neely gets her big break. 5 Anne's fallen for Lyon Burke, but her friendship with Helen is put to the test. 6 Set on showbiz careers in New York, Anne, Jennifer and Neely move in together. 7 Jennifer is keen to marry Tony, and Lyon visits Anne's family home in Lawrenceville. 8 New bride Jennifer visits Neely, who has become a big Hollywood star. 9 Jennifer is invited to star in French films and Anne gets work in the new medium - TV. 10 Neely has won an Academy Award, but her second marriage is already on the rocks. 11 With Anne's help, Neely agrees to perform on TV - but this creates big problems. 12 Just as Jennifer finds love and happiness, tragedy strikes. 13 After the tragedy, Neely gets agitated and Anne gets a visit from an old flame. 14 Lyon is back and Anne still has feelings for him, despite being engaged to Kevin. 15 Betrayed by Neely and with Lyon becoming more distant, Anne turns to the dolls. gen: Hörspiel tit: The Easter Diaries aut: Nick Warburton cnt: 1 bnd: BP 43 len: 17'10" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 08.04.2012 lng: englisch stw: These short dramatic monologues, written by Nick Warburton, are a Radio 4 Extra commission. Producer, Paul Arnold, explains: "I had the thought that we could re-tell the Passion story in real time across the week on 4 extra, and was thrilled when Nick agreed to write these diaries for us. With his 'People's Passion' happening at the same time on Radio 4 it's a neat way for us to be part for the Radio 4 family's Easter plans. And some compelling performances will make these worth seeking out." 1 A Disciple. Read by Iain McKee The mood in Jerusalem changes. One of the disciples looks for guidance in the Temple, and comes to a momentous decision. 2 John. Read by Don Gilet Perhaps the most famous meal of all time, as it seemed to one who was there. 3 Peter. Read by Sam Dale Peter describes a long night with the disciples in the Garden of Gethsemane. 4 Herod. Read by Tim McInnerny Herod gives Jesus the usual humiliating treatment, but is disturbed by his silence. 5 Mary. Read by Lesley Sharp Mary recalls an incident in her childhood, as her fears for her son are realised. 6 The Thief's Sister. Read by Amaka Okafor. The sister of a man who died with Jesus describes the terrible events of the previous day. 7 Mary Magdalene. Read by Tracy Wiles. Mary Magdalene asks a man why the tomb has been disturbed. gen: Hörspiel tit: I, Claudius epi: 1 sbt: Augustus aut: Robert Graves cnt: 2 bnd: BP 43 len: 56'57" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 11.06.2012 lng: englisch stw: A dramatisation by Robin Brooks of Robert Graves' scandalous histories of Roman political vice. The story begins on Monday with the young Claudius growing up in the house of Augustus, the first Roman Emperor, and Livia, the wife who matched his achievements with her ambition. The Imperial Couple disregard their young grandson as they inch towards absolute power. But that won't save Claudius from heartbreak. Tom Goodman-Hill stars as Claudius, with Derek Jacobi as Augustus, Harriet Walter as Livia and Tim McInnerny as Tiberius. Directed by Jonquil Panting. gen: Hörspiel tit: I, Claudius epi: 2 sbt: Tiberius aut: Robert Graves cnt: 3 bnd: BP 43 len: 58'25" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 12.06.2012 lng: englisch stw: Discovering his grandmother Livia's true ambition, Claudius and his brother face danger. gen: Hörspiel tit: I, Claudius epi: 3 sbt: Sejanus aut: Robert Graves cnt: 4 bnd: BP 43 len: 56'59" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 13.06.2012 lng: englisch stw: Tiberius finds his commander of the guard an invaluable aide against treason. gen: Hörspiel tit: I, Claudius epi: 4 sbt: Caligula aut: Robert Graves cnt: 5 bnd: BP 43 len: 56'58" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 14.06.2012 lng: englisch stw: The new and popular emperor Caligula has some surprises for his uncle Claudius. gen: Hörspiel tit: I, Claudius epi: 5 sbt: Claudius aut: Robert Graves cnt: 6 bnd: BP 43 len: 56'54" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 15.06.2012 lng: englisch stw: How the Sibyl's prophecy came true, for the most unwilling emperor of them all. gen: Hörspiel tit: I, Claudius epi: 6 sbt: Messalina aut: Robert Graves cnt: 7 bnd: BP 43 len: 56'58" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 18.06.2012 lng: englisch stw: Aging Emperor Claudius works to restore the republic. But his beautiful wife Messalina has other plans. gen: Hörspiel tit: Falco epi: 3 sbt: Venus in Copper aut: Lindsey Davis cnt: 8 bnd: BP 43 len: 159'38" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 02.03.2013 fst: 2009 lng: englisch stw: 1 - Falco faces temptation from a professional bride with a habit of outliving her husbands. 2 - With Severina's three husbands dead, the Roman detective gets an unexpected offer. 3 - After a spell in prison, the Roman detective discovers that his reputation is at stake. 4 - After two murders in one night, the Roman detective is offered a job by the prime suspect. 5 - The bruised Roman woos his girlfriend, but then his world crashes down around him. 6 - The Roman detective realises the lengths that a lover will go to for revenge. gen: Hörspiel tit: Falco epi: 4 sbt: Iron Hand of Mars aut: Lindsey Davis cnt: 9 bnd: BP 43 len: 161'57" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 04.09.2013 fst: 2007 lng: englisch stw: Falco is dispatched to one of the most hostile parts of the Empire to deliver a new standard to one of the legions. 1 - The Roman sleuth heads to Germany's Barbarian forests, home to a giant bull. 2 - The detective witnesses the aftermath of a crime, and gets a hostile welcome in Germany. 3 - In Germany, the Roman sleuth learns the legion's legate Gracilis is missing. 4 - The Roman sleuth sets off with raw recruits to cross the Rhine into Barbarian territory. 5 - The Roman detective is worried when the prisoners finally meet legendary priestess Veleda. 6 - The Roman sleuth has a fateful encounter with a missing legate and a giant Celtic bull. gen: Hörspiel tit: Falco epi: 1 sbt: The Silver Pigs aut: Lindsey Davis cnt: 10 bnd: BP 43 len: 108'35" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 21.12.2013 fst: 2004 lng: englisch stw: 1 - Roman sleuth Falco discovers an illegal trade in precious metal and foils a kidnap. 2 - Falco's murder trail takes him to a remote and dangerous outpost of the Empire - Britain. 3 - Probing illegal imports of, the Roman sleuth chances upon a plot to overthrow the Emperor. 4 - The detective exposes a murderer and learns about love in the strict Roman class structure. gen: Hörspiel tit: The Ramayana aut: Amber Lone cnt: 1 bnd: BP 44 len: 112'34" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 24.09.2013 fst: 2010 lng: englisch stw: Amber Lone's dramatisation of the ancient Indian love epic 1 Teenage Sita sees a beautiful stranger in the street. She must marry him or she'll die. 2 Sita has been abducted by a ruthless warlord. Rama enlists the help of an army of monkeys. First broadcast: 07 Nov 2010 gen: Hörspiel tit: On Cigarette Papers sbt: When her mother died, poet Pam Zinnemann-Hope found a cache of aut: Pam Zinnemann-Hope cnt: 2 bnd: BP 44 len: 43'57" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 08.01.2014 lng: englisch stw: When her mother died, poet Pam Zinnemann-Hope found a cache of letters and notes in the attic and an envelope marked 'Don't throw away'. Inside were fragile cigarette papers and pencilled on them, in poor Russian, recipes. Intrigued, Pam started researching her parents' love story that started in 1930's Germany. It's a poignant story of families nearly wrecked by betrayal, imprisonment, escape and dislocation and drawn from the tips of the icebergs that the letters and recipes hint at. The poems in 'On Cigarette Papers' are taken from the book of the same name. Pam is a prizewinning poet and performer and has had work published in various journals. This is her first radio drama. Pam Pam Zinnemann-Hope Lottie Emma Fielding Kurt Greg Wise Oma Leah Eleanor Bron Grossma Hertha Susan Engel Grossvater Erich Timothy Morand Officer Sean Baker Russian Translator Dolya Gavanski Little Pam Eliza Rayner Writer Pam Zinnemann-Hope Producer Janet Whitaker gen: Hörspiel ser: Classic Serial tit: The World According to Garp aut: John Irving cnt: 3 bnd: BP 44 len: 169'56" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 25.01.2014 fst: 2009 lng: englisch stw: John Irving's audacious, darkly comic and heartbreaking story about the life and times of T.S. Garp dramatised by Linda Marshall Griffiths. New England 1942. Garp is born to nurse Jenny Fields, who raises him alone. As Garp becomes a young man he falls in love with wrestling or more specifically, the wrestling coach's daughter Helen. Helen will only marry a writer and so begins Garp's journey into becoming a novelist. Unfortunately for him, his mother Jenny is writing something of her own. This compassionate coming-of-age story became a worldwide best seller and put Irving on the map as a leading novelist. This is a three part dramatisation of a novel that is both acclaimed for its originality, and controversial for its dark representation of gender politics and sexual violence. Published in 1978 it went on to win the US National Book Award and was made into a film in 1982. Dramatist Linda Marshall Griffiths adapted Irving's A Prayer for Owen Meany for Radio 4 in 2009. Directed by Nadia Molinari. Jenny Miranda Richardson Garp Lee Ingleby Fat Stew William Hope Ernie William Hope Cushie Lydia Wilson Roxy Lydia Wilson Midge Charlotte Emmerson Charlotte Charlotte Emmerson Little Garp Adam Thomas Wright Helen Lyndsey Marshal Pooh Amanda Hale Pock Amanda Hale Nurse Carys Eleri Director Nadia Molinari Adaptor Linda Marshall Griffiths Writer John Irving gen: Hörspiel ser: Classic Serial tit: Pride and Prejudice aut: Jane Austen cnt: 4 bnd: BP 44 len: 169'02" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 09.03.2014 lng: englisch stw: Mrs Bennet has five daughters and is desperate to marry them off to eligible men as the family will have no home once their father dies. Jane Bennet has been singled out for attention by a recent wealthy arrival to Hertfordshire, Mr Bingley. Her sister, Elizabeth, has been snubbed by his even wealthier friend, Mr Darcy. Elizabeth is determined to hate Darcy even more so since she has learnt from a member of the militia stationed at Netherfield, a Mr Wickham, that Darcy has cheated him out of his rightful inheritance. Elizabeth has rejected Darcy's offer of marriage but is beginning to reappraise her judgement of his character after she learns of how Wickham attempted to seduce Darcy's sister. Darcy may have put his proposal badly, pointing out their differences in birth and the behaviour of her family. He may also have attempted to separate her sister Jane from Mr Bingley. But it appears he believed that Jane did not love Bingley. And Elizabeth knows that her mother and younger sisters do not always behave with the decorum that might be expected of them and her father is too lazy to correct them. Perhaps the fault is not entirely on Darcy's side. Published just over 200 years ago Pride and Prejudice remains one of the Nation's favourite novels; with its intellect and wit it appeals to a broad range of readers. It stands the test of time by dealing with the timeless issues of love, social class, money and mistaken judgements and by having a witty and clever though flawed heroine at its heart. Elizabeth Bennet is a thorough radical for her time and perhaps the first heroine to ask is it possible to have it all? Pippa Nixon takes on the role of Elizabeth; she received rave reviews for her Rosalind in 'As You Like It' 'a rising young star'. Jamie Parker (Darcy) has played Henry V at the National and is shortly to portray Hamlet on Radio 4. Double Olivier Award winner Samantha Spiro takes on Mrs Bennet and Toby Jones Mr Collins. 1 - Mrs Bennet is determined to get her five daughters married off and secure a future for them all. And when Mr Bingley a wealthy man arrives in the neighbourhood she wastes no time in making his acquaintance. 2 - Elizabeth is determined to hate the Mr Darcy but finds the attentions of her ridiculous cousin, Mr Collins, even more vexing. 3 - Elizabeth has misjudged Wickham's character and he is about to bring further shame on her family. Can she hope to ever see Mr Darcy again after rejecting his offer of marriage? Narrator Amanda Root Elizabeth Bennet Pippa Nixon Mrs Bennet Samantha Spiro Mr Bennet David Troughton Jane Bennet Lydia Wilson Lydia Bennet Georgie Fuller Kitty Bennet Carys Eleri Mary Bennet Rosie Wyatt Charlotte Lucas Michelle Terry Mr Darcy Jamie Parker Mr Bingley Joshua Maguire Miss Bingley Fenella Woolgar Sir William Lucas Sean Murray Mr Denny Arthur Hughes Mr Wickham Joel MacCormack Mr Collins Toby Jones Mrs Gardiner Priyanga Burford Mr Gardiner Steve Toussaint Colonel Fitzwilliam David Seddon Lady Catherine de Bourgh Carolyn Pickles Georgiana Katherine Rose Morley Director Sally Avens Adaptor Charlotte Jones Author Jane Austen gen: Hörspiel ser: Krimi tit: Rumpole and the Old Boy Net aut: John Mortimer cnt: 5 bnd: BP 44 len: 43'57" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 4extra dat: 20.03.2014 lng: englisch stw: Rumpole and the Old Boy Net John Mortimer We rejoin Rumpole and Hilda in 1964. Hilda is worried about the choice of school for their son, Nicholas. Hilda wants Rumpole to become a Q.C. in order to afford a decent education for Nicholas. Claude Erskine-Brown is also trying to take silk but he's distracted by the arrival in chambers of Rumpole's new pupil, Miss Phillida Trant. Phillida assists Rumpole in the defence of Mr Napier Lee, who's charged with running a disorderly house near Victoria Station, and with the more serious accusation of blackmail. Mr Lee admits his customers all went to public school. And the alleged victim of the blackmail was at Lawnhurst College with Mr Lee, which is why Lee won't break the unwritten law and sneak on his old school chum. Erskine-Brown is prosecuting at the Old Bailey, where Phillida recognises a familiar face in the press box. Isobel Vincent was at Bennenden with Phillida, and now works for the Evening Standard. With help from Phillida, Isobel publishes the name of the alleged victim. This public identification leads to Rumpole's successful defence on the charge of blackmail, but also puts Phillida in danger of prosecution for contempt of court. Phillida works hard to get out of trouble with the law but, instead, finds herself drawn towards Rumpole - and into trouble of a more personal kind. Rumpole: Benedict Cumberbatch Hilda: Jasmine Hyde Erskine-Brown: Nigel Anthony Sir Cuthbert: Ewan Bailey Mr Lee: Ewan Bailey Phillida Trant: Cathy Sara Judge Bullingham: Stephen Critchlow Stephen Lucas: Stephen Critchlow Director: Marilyn Imrie Adaptor: Richard Stoneman gen: Hörspiel ser: Krimi tit: Rumpole and the Sleeping Partners aut: John Mortimer cnt: 6 bnd: BP 44 len: 44'00" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 4extra dat: 21.03.2014 lng: englisch stw: Rumpole and the Sleeping Partners John Mortimer After a legal ball in the Savoy Hotel, Rumpole and Hilda argue about Rumpole's drunken behaviour in front of Mr Justice Gwent-Evans. Rumpole can take no more of his wife and jumps out of their taxi. He intends to spend the night in chambers but finds Erskine-Brown in Equity Court, with Phillida Trant, "working late". Rumpole asks Phillida to help him with the defence of Hugo Lutterworth, who's accused of trying to kill the husband of his lover. Phillida goes home with Erskine-Brown, leaving Rumpole to sleep on his sofa - strictly against the rules of chambers. And this is pointed out to him by Erskine-Brown when he arrives early next morning with Phillida. Did they spend the night together? Rumpole's feelings for his pupil are confusing, so he concentrates on his client. Rumpole discusses the case again with Phillida, who seems out of sorts. She tells Rumpole to go home to Hilda but he ignores her advice and is caught having supper at his desk by Erskine-Brown, who accidentally invites Rumpole to stay at his flat - which does not go well. Rumpole: Benedict Cumberbatch Hilda: Jasmine Hyde Erskine-Brown: Nigel Anthony Judge Gwent-Evans: Nigel Anthony Phillida Trant: Cathy Sara Hugo Lutterworth: Stephen Critchlow Captain Gleason: Stephen Critchlow Director: Marilyn Imrie Producer: Catherine Bailey Adaptor: Richard Stoneman gen: Hörspiel tit: Falco epi: 2 sbt: Shadows in Bronze aut: Lindsey Davis cnt: 7 bnd: BP 44 len: 158'55" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 7 dat: 31.07.2014 fst: 2008 lng: englisch stw: 1 - After a plot to depose the Emperor, the Roman detective uncovers a nest of vipers. 2 - The Roman sleuth probes the murder of a conspirator against the Emperor. 3 - The Roman sleuth meets old friends of the senator's daughter. 4 - The Roman sleuth heads to a party thrown by the wealthy and influential Crispus. 5 - The Roman sleuth closes in on his man, but gets more than he bargained for. 6 - The Roman sleuth faces a final showdown, but his reunion with Helena is bittersweet. gen: Hörspiel tit: Gargantua and Pantagruel aut: François Rabelais cnt: 8 bnd: BP 44 len: 112'47" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 4extra dat: 16.09.2014 fst: 2011 lng: englisch stw: This tale is a dizzying blend of fantasy, comedy, philosophy and scatological humour. The world's a messy place. All the big mock- heroic novels that followed - Don Quixote, Tristram Shandy, Gulliver's Travels, Ulysses - are about mess, they're about slops and slime, encyclopedic in their efforts to encompass humanity in all its bawdy, chaotic, grungy, and painful reality. And like Gargantua and Pantagruel they're also very funny. The Rabelaisian world view is founded on the assumption that the humourless are not yet wise - and these tales insist you learn to laugh at humanity. 1 - Gargantua Gargantua (ep 1) depicts a young giant, reduced to laughable insanity by an education at the hands of paternal ignorance, old crones and syphilitic professors, who is rescued and turned into a cultured Christian knight. 2 - Pantagruel This episode concentrates on the story of Gargantua's son, Pantagruel and his morally dubious friend Panurge, as they go on a quest to discover whether marriage is for them. On the way they have many adventures before they come before the Seer of the Holy Bottle who gives them a definitive judgement. Rabelais David Troughton Gargantua Robert Wilfort Grangousier Eric Potts Gargamelle Melissa Jane Sinden Holofornes/Friar Jean Jonathan Keeble Panochrates Malcolm Raeburn Eudomon/Sun Kathryn Hunt Rabelais David Troughton Gargantua Robert Wilfort Pantagruel Justin Edwards Panurge Conrad Nelson Friar Jean Jonathan Keeble Jacqueline/Seer Fiona Clarke Librarian/Secretary Mark Chatterton Dramatised by Lavinia Murray Producer Gary Brown gen: Hörspiel tit: Far from the Madding Crowd aut: Thomas Hardy cnt: 1 bnd: BP 45 len: 169'06" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 4extra dat: 13.09.2014 fst: 2012 lng: englisch stw: Far from the Madding Crowd Thomas Hardy 1 - A Farmer Just Beginning Young farmer Gabriel Oak sees an ideal wife in Bathsheba, but she turns him down. 2 - Cuts and Points Bathsheba discovers that sending William Boldwood a Valentine's Day card was a bad mistake. 3 - A Successful Rival One man proves constant in his love for Bathsheba, while she gives up hope of happiness. Bathsheba Alex Tregear Gabriel Oak Shaun Dooley Boldwood Toby Jones Troy Patrick Kennedy Liddy Lizzy Watts Fanny Hannah John-Kamen Maltster Robert Blythe Jan Joe Sims Joseph Sam Alexander Henery Patrick Brennan Billy Don Gilet Cain Harry Livingstone Maryann Amaka Okafor Director Jessica Dromgoole Adapted by Graham White gen: Hörspiel tit: The Lost Honour of Katharina Blum aut: Heinrich Böll cnt: 2 bnd: BP 45 len: 67'46" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC 4extra dat: 07.11.2014 fst: 2012 lng: englisch stw: A brilliant exploration of the corrosive impact of tabloid journalism on one young woman. The Lost Honour of Katharina Blum is dissects the power of the press and it's impact on individual freedom. Told in the form of an unofficial report, this intelligent and pacy story from the 1970s tackles issues of press freedom, responsibility and police tactics. It's based on a real incident in the author's own life, when he was publicly accused of being a terrorist sympathiser and hounded by the German press. The subtitle of the book is "how violence develops and where it can lead." Recorded on location in Berlin, The Lost Honour of Katharina Blum also features a soundtrack of 1970s Krautrock from bands such as Can, Neu, La Dusseldorf and Ash Ra Tempel. Episode 1: The narrator sets the scene - Katharina Blum was taken in four days ago for questioning about her relationship with a young man she met at a party, who is in fact a suspected criminal on the run. A chain of chaotic and ever more pressurised events builds up, culminating in Katharina shooting Totges, a tabloid press journalist. We meet the police interrogation team and Katharina herself, whose resolute refusal to confess sends Inspector Beizmenne out of the interview room in a fury. Episode 2: Katharina's employers, Mr and Mrs. Blorna, become involved and are agitated by the lurid tabloid headlines about Katharina. She is taken back in for questioning and continues to deny knowledge of the whereabouts of Ludwig, the suspected criminal she met at a party. She also refuses to explain the origin of a valuable ring found in her flat, which is clearly far too expensive for Katharina to have bought herself. Episode 3: Katharina is the subject of ever more lurid tabloid headlines. Her family and friends are interrogated and we find out more about Katharina's upright moral character, at odds with the press portrayal. She is becoming more distressed by the press intrusion, and the deluge of abusive letters and phone calls she is receiving. Episode 4: The Blornas discover their high ranking politician friend Alois Straubleder is in love with their housekeeper Katharina, even though she has refused his advances. He is terrified as he has given Katharina a key for his country home, where he suspects the fugitive Ludwig is hiding. Meanwhile, tabloid journalist Totges sneaks into the hospital to interview Katharina's dying mother. Episode 5: The fugitive Ludwig is captured and Katharina is proved innocent of any involvement with his crime. However, this does not deter the press and their headlines grow ever more lurid, blaming her for her mother's death. At last, she cracks under the pressure and reveals exactly how and why she shot Totges, the journalist responsible for the tabloid campaign against her. Sound design: Eloise Whitmore Broadcast assistant: Kath Willgress Executive producer: Joby Waldman Abridged by Helen Meller Produced and directed by Polly Thomas A Somethin' Else production for BBC Radio 4. Credits Role Contributor Katharina Blum Nicola Schossler The Narrator Andre Kaczmarczyk Beizmenne Matthias Horn Herr Blorna Elias Arens Trude Blorna Leslie Malton Totges Daniel Hoevels Director Polly Thomas Writer Heinrich Böll Producer Polly Thomas Writer Helen Meller gen: Hörspiel tit: A Journal of the Plague Year aut: Daniel Defoe cnt: 3 bnd: BP 45 len: 57'07" med: MP3 spd: 128 mon: Stereo src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 22.07.2016 lng: englisch stw: As part of BBC Radio 4's Defoe season, Ben Miles stars as the chameleon writer, businessman, debtor and hack, Daniel Defoe. In 1722, hoping to keep his creditors at bay, Defoe begins his fictional 'journal' of the Great Plague of 1665. But he soon comes to be haunted by the people he is conjuring. gen: Hörspiel tit: Blood and Milk aut: Gregory Evans cnt: 4 bnd: BP 45 len: 69'02" med: MP3 spd: 128 mon: Stereo src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 02.09.2016 lng: englisch stw: Thrilling new series set in 1890s Whitechapel. In 1900 over half London's milk came from Welsh dairies. One of those dairies, on the Commercial Road, was owned and run by the writer's family. Welsh farm girl Megan Evans comes to London to visit her brother who is running the family's dairy business - but her brother is strangely unwelcoming. As young Welsh woman Megan Evans begins to learn about the family's dairy business and life in 1890s Whitechapel she also begins to suspect that her brother is hiding something. Meg makes some unpleasant discoveries about the family's dairy business and her brother reveals a devastating secret. When Meg learns the truth about her brother's involvement with gangster Moses Lipski, she realises that she will have to do something to save both him and the family business. To save both her brother and the family's dairy business Meg must risk everything and confront the dangerous Moses Lipski. Thriller set in 1890s Whitechapel. Meg believes that she has saved her dairy from the clutches of gangster Moses Lipski but now other troubles are brewing that threaten both Meg and her family. With her business in serious trouble Meg finds out who's been sleeping in the dairy's yard and recruits an unexpected ally. Thriller set in 1890s Whitechapel. Meg's problems multiply when her would-be brother-in-law, the creepy Madog Prys, comes to London - and gangster boss Moses Lipski makes an unwelcome return. Violence has come to the dairy. Meg nurses the badly beaten Samuel while Annie unearths some potentially useful information about the predatory Iolo Jones. Thriller set in 1890s Whitechapel. Things come to a head when Meg makes an offer to predatory dairyman Iolo Jones and Annie confronts the creepy Madog Prys. Last in the series. Megan Evans Bettrys Jones Luc Evans Trystan Gravelle Samuel Singer David Horovitch Moses Lipski Brian Protheroe Annie Riley Alice Haig Madog Prys James Lailey Iolo Jones Nick Underwood Sergeant Fred Wensley Jason Barnett Nance Barker Clare Perkins Director Marc Beeby gen: Hörspiel tit: Mr Trollope and the Labours of Hercules aut: Patricia Cumper cnt: 5 bnd: BP 45 len: 43'20" med: MP3 spd: 128 mon: Stereo src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 02.09.2016 lng: englisch stw: In 1858, Anthony Trollope arrived in Jamaica to re-organise the West Indian Postal service. Using the book he wrote about his experiences, Jamaican-born writer Patricia Cumper imagines what really happened during his eventful stay in the island... Hercules Paterson Joseph Anthony Trollope Justin Edwards Miss Grant Cecilia Noble Josephine Sapphire Joy Husband Philip Fox Wife Christine Kavanagh Planter Sam Dale Director and Producer Marion Nancarrow gen: Hörspiel tit: Gudrun's Saga aut: Lucy Catherine cnt: 6 bnd: BP 45 len: 70'12" med: MP3 spd: 128 mon: Stereo src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 02.12.2016 lng: englisch stw: Lucy Catherine's retelling of a classic Icelanders' saga. A young woman in 11th-century Iceland must forge her path through a world of unearthly beauty yet uncompromising harshness. 1 - Gudrun, a young woman in 11th century Iceland, must forge her path through a world of unearthly beauty yet uncompromising harshness. 2 - Married off to a much older man, Gudrun is now isolated in a remote part of the country. Will she fly or fight? 3 - Love is rekindled when Gudrun is visited by old friends. 4 - Now twice a widow, Gudrun is under threat when her uncles begin to eye her large estate. A husband would ward them off. 5 - Gudrun's blissful life is interrupted when her childhood sweetheart returns from abroad, bringing with him a new wife. Gudrun's Saga is based on the famous Icelanders' saga known as The Laxdoela Saga. Written in the 13th century, it tells of people in the Breiðafjörður area of Iceland from the late 9th century to the early 11th century. The saga particularly focuses on a love triangle between Gudrun, Kjartan and Bolli. Kjartan and Bolli grow up together but the love they both have for Gudrun causes enmity between them and, in the end, their deaths. The Laxdæla saga remains popular and appreciated for its poetic beauty and pathetic sentiment. Since the saga has often been regarded as an unusually feminine saga, it has been speculated that it was composed by a woman. Kate Phillips makes her radio debut as Gudrun. Previous roles include Jane Seymour in Wolf Hall, Linda in Peaky Blinders and Lise in War & Peace, all on BBC1. Lucy Catherine has written extensively for BBC Radio Drama, including Friday Plays, Classic Serial adaptations and Woman's Hour series. Her 95' adaptation of THE MASTER AND MARGARITA by Mikhail Bulgakov was broadcast in early 2015 and won the BBC 'Best Audio Drama (Adapted); her 2 x 60' adaptation of Mary Shelley's FRANKENSTEIN was broadcast in December 2012 as well as her half hour 'Gothic Horror' original LOOTED. Original 10 x 14' Woman's Hour drama series HALFWAY HERE and 2 x 45' Afternoon Drama in the series 'Riot Girls', SUSAN AND EMMA were broadcast in 2016. Other recent commissions for Radio 4 include BOY and GOING SOLO, adapted from Roald Dahl's autobiography; LIGHTS, CAMERA, KIDNAP! based on a true story about Kim Jong Il. Credits Gudrun Kate Phillips Freija Samantha Dakin Bolli Gavi Singh Chera Kjartan Luke MacGregor Thordis Alison Belbin Osvif John Dougall Thorvald Nicholas Murchie Hallbjorn Finlay Robertson Volva Karen Bartke Sailor Nicholas Murchie Olaf John Bowler Hakkan David Sterne Sigrid Rosa Yevtushenko Vigdis Finlay Robertson Hrefna Natasha Cowley Director Sasha Yevtushenko gen: Hörspiel tit: Fairytale of New Malden aut: Katherine Jakeways cnt: 7 bnd: BP 45 len: 43'44" med: MP3 spd: 128 mon: Stereo src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 23.12.2016 lng: englisch stw: Festive comedy drama starring Geoffrey Palmer. Cathy's barely seen her dad George since her mum died. She suspects his grandkids may have forgotten who he is. But now she's persuaded him to dress up as Santa for the school's Christmas fair and finally they have an opportunity to talk. Katherine Jakeways also wrote the Radio 4 comedy North by Northamptonshire, while Geoffrey Palmer has starred in some of the best comedies of the last 30 years including The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin, Butterflies, Fawlty Towers, Blackadder, and As Time Goes By. Director: James Robinson for the BBC gen: Hörspiel tit: Rumpole and Memories of Christmas Past aut: John Mortimer cnt: 8 bnd: BP 45 len: 43'34" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 25.12.2016 lng: englisch stw: Rumpole shares some of his favourite yuletide poetry, carols, and pantomime stories as he recounts seasonal legal cases which reveal, as always, the true nature of men, women, children - and She Who Must Be Obeyed! Rumpole Julian Rhind-Tutt Hilda Jasmine Hyde Peggy Jasmine Hyde Donald Compton Stephen Critchlow Judge Bullingham Stephen Critchlow Basil Wrigglesworth Stephen Critchlow Erskine-Brown Nigel Anthony Gwent-Evans Nigel Anthony Rev Roger Longstaff Ewan Bailey DI Cartwright Ewan Bailey Campbell Forsyth Ewan Bailey Director Marilyn Imrie Producer Catherine Bailey gen: Hörspiel tit: Romance Is Dead aut: Ben Lewis cnt: 9 bnd: BP 45 len: 44'13" med: MP3 spd: 128 mon: Stereo src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 17.02.2017 lng: englisch stw: Lauren and Jamie would probably make a great couple. If only he wasn't dead... A charmingly quirky comedy drama about an unwilling young psychic. Lauren Alexandra Roach Jamie Kieran Hodgson Tim Joseph Arkley Jo Karen Bartke Celia Elizabeth Bennett Reginald Dennis Herdman Director Kirsty Williams gen: Hörspiel tit: Journey to the Centre of the Earth aut: Jules Verne cnt: 10 bnd: BP 45 len: 113'02" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 26.03.2017 lng: englisch stw: Adapted from the Jules Verne novel by Moya O'Shea Renowned professor, Otto Lidenbrock, discovers a mysterious, runic cryptogram in a rare manuscript he has bought. It is his nephew, Axel, who accidentally cracks the message which is by a sixteenth century alchemist who claims to have found a pathway to the centre of the earth! "Descend, bold traveller into the crater of the Jokul of Snæfell, which the shadow of Scartaris touches before the kalends of July and you will attain the centre of the earth." Lidenbrock decides he must see for himself if such a journey is possible and with the reluctant Axel in tow, and the help of their guide, Hans, the three venture into the heart of a dormant, Icelandic volcano on a dangerous expedition beneath the earth's layers. It's the ultimate adventure story in the best Victorian tradition with plenty of action, science, knowledge, discovery and surprise. The three attempting this tremendous feat are - the somewhat cowardly, dewy-eyed romantic, Axel; the highly strung and oh, so eccentric, Otto Lidenbrock and the calm, phlegmatic Danish speaking, Icelandic guide, Hans. Axel Joel MacCormack Professor Lidenbrock Stephen Critchlow Hans Gudmundur Thorvaldsson Grauben Nicola Ferguson Martha Elizabeth Bennett Actor Nick Underwood Actor Sam Rix Actor Tom Forrister Actor Scarlett Brookes Composer Neil Brand Director, Producer Tracey Neale gen: Hörspiel tit: The Gypsy aut: Dan Allum ori: D H Lawrence cnt: 11 bnd: BP 45 len: 57'02" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 22.07.2017 lng: englisch stw: Drama inspired by D H Lawrence's The Virgin and the Gypsy. Handsome gypsy Joe and his family arrive in the small countryside village of Papplewick one summer looking for work. It isn't long before Joe is drawn to the local Rector's daughter. A tale of desire and repression set during interwar England. Credits Joe Samuel Edward-Cook Vina Candis Nergaard Yvette Verity Henry Lucille Harriet Chandler Judd Granny Christine Cox Rector Paul Stonehouse Sergeant Eastwood Toby Hadoke Writer Dan Allum Director Charlotte Riches gen: Hörspiel tit: King Solomon's Mines aut: Rider Haggard cnt: 1 bnd: BP 46 len: 112'10" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 07.04.2017 lng: englisch stw: Tim McInnerny stars as intrepid explorer Allan Quatermain in this classic Victorian story - the impossible quest for the fabled King Solomon's diamond mines, set in a mythical African interior. This gripping story is a treasure hunt, a mystery, a psychological drama, and a kaleidoscope of sound. Hunter Allan Quatermain is asked by Sir Henry Curtis to join in the search for his brother George, who disappeared a year ago on a quest to find the legendary diamond mines of King Solomon, in an uncharted part of Africa. Quatermain regards this as a suicidal mission but, fatalistic and wishing to provide for his son Harry, he finally agrees to go and keeps a journal for his son of the trip from which he never expects to return. Quatermain, Sir Henry, his friend Captain John Good and their bearers set off into the unknown ... on a challenging and near fatal journey, eventually encountering the fierce Kukuana tribe led by Chief Infadoos who agrees to take them to the town of Loo near the fabled King Solomon's Mines. Dramatised by Chris Harrald Adapter Chris Harrald's previous adaptations for Radio 4 include M.R. James' ghost stories, four series of the Edwardian detective series The Rivals and several Classic Serials, including The Lost World and Three Men in a Boat. Allan Quatermain Tim McInnerny Sir Henry Curtis David Sturzaker Captain John Good Simon Ludders Umbopa Sope Dirisu Infadoos Maynard Eziashi Ventvogel Tonderai Munyevu Scragga Tonderai Munyevu Twala Femi Elufowoju Jr Gagool Adjoa Andoh Foulata Emmanuella Cole George Finlay Robertson Sylvestre Joe Ferrera Officer Finlay Robertson Director Liz Webb gen: Hörspiel tit: Tsar epi: 4 sbt: Catherine the Great: Husbands, Lovers and Sons aut: Mike Walker cnt: 2 bnd: BP 46 len: 56'35" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 30.04.2017 lng: englisch stw: Did the young Catherine foresee the consequences of staging a coup d'état against her husband the Tsar? Or did she want him dead from the start? Mike Walker's epic chronicle of the Russian Tsars continues with the story of Catherine The Great, who came to Russia as a young 15-year-old girl from Prussia and became one of Russia's most renowned monarchs, transforming the country into one of the great powers of Europe. Catherine II Samantha Spiro Paul I Kenneth Collard Peter III Anton Lesser Petya Joe Sims Panin Robert Blythe Grigory Orlov David Sturzaker Pugachev Simon Ludders Praskovya Sanchia MacCormack The Midwife Georgie Glen Alexander Joel MacCormack The Councillor Finlay Robertson Director Sasha Yevtushenko gen: Hörspiel tit: Tsar epi: 5 sbt: Alexander I: Into the Woods aut: Mike Walker cnt: 3 bnd: BP 46 len: 56'43" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 07.05.2017 lng: englisch stw: Alexander never wanted to be Tsar. Before his accession he told friends that he hoped to retire into private life abroad. Life, however, had other plans. Starting with his own father's ill-fated reign, and his subsequent murder. How complicit was Alexander in all of this? And then came the greatest threat Russia had ever seen: the new French Emperor. Mike Walker's epic chronicle of the Russian Tsars continues with the story of Alexander I, the Tsar who took on Napoleon Bonaparte and won. Credits Alexander I Joel MacCormack Pavel I Kenneth Collard Petya Joe Sims Napoleon Charlie Anson Arakcheyev Nathaniel Martello-White Elizabeth Maeve Bluebell Wells Katya Sarah Ridgeway Pahlen David Sturzaker Sperensky Simon Ludders Talleyrand Robert Blythe Bennigsen Finlay Robertson French Actor Tom Forrister Director Sasha Yevtushenko gen: Hörspiel tit: Tsar epi: 6 sbt: Alexander II: The People's Will aut: Mike Walker cnt: 4 bnd: BP 46 len: 56'42" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 14.05.2017 lng: englisch stw: In 1861, Alexander II liberated 23 million Russian serfs, four years earlier than the abolition of slavery in the USA. But twenty years later, the tide of revolutionary thinking is rising and dissatisfaction with the regime has led to terrorist cells making several assassination attempts on the Tsar's life. One cell in particular, The People's Will, is determined to succeed this time but in the struggle between autocracy and radical socialism there can be only one winner. Credits Alexander Joseph Millson Dvorzhitsky Kenneth Cranham Sofia Alexandra Roach Petya Joe Sims Nesselrode Michael Bertenshaw Grinevitsky Tom Forrister Kostya Philip Fox Rysakov John Norton Katya Joanna Van Kampen Perovsky Simon Ludders Sasha Samuel James Director Alison Hindell gen: Hörspiel tit: Pygmalion aut: George Bernard Shaw cnt: 5 bnd: BP 46 len: 113'49" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 04.06.2017 lng: englisch stw: Alistair McGowan, Morgana Robinson, Sian Phillips and Al Murray star in George Bernard Shaw's classic tale of Eliza Doolittle, the Cockney flower girl who is trained to talk 'like a lady' by irascible professor of phonetics, Henry Higgins. Eliza faces the day of reckoning: can she pass as a lady at the Ambassador's Ball? Credits Henry Higgins Alistair McGowan Eliza Doolittle Morgana Robinson Alfred Doolittle Al Murray Colonel Pickering Hugh Fraser Mrs Higgins Siân Phillips Mrs Pearce Charlotte Page Maid Charlotte Page Mrs Eynsford-Hill Georgie Glen Clara Eynsford-Hill Maeve Bluebell Wells Freddy Eynsford-Hill Tom Forrister Nepommuck David Sturzaker Ambassador John Dougall Ambassador's Wife Sarah Ridgeway Bystander David Sterne Director Emma Harding gen: Hörspiel tit: The Pick Up aut: Sarah Cartwright cnt: 6 bnd: BP 46 len: 69'41" med: MP3 spd: 128 mon: Stereo src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 16.06.2017 lng: englisch stw: Beth agrees to accompany her estranged father on a road trip to Moscow to pick up his mail order bride, but why does she arrive there under her own steam? Did her Dad really abandon her in a park when she was attempting to heal old wounds between them? Has she permanently mucked up her relationship with her boyfriend Christopher? Will she ever be able to say the word 'marriage' without getting a rash? These and other questions are answered in a comedy that crosses both emotional and physical borders. Credits Vinnie David Threlfall Beth Kimberley Nixon Chris Stephen Wight Alena Debbie Chazen Margaret Sanchia McCormack GPS Maeve Bluebell Wells Michel Samuel James Yuri Samuel James Staff Sanchia McCormack DJ Samuel James Director Sally Avens gen: Hörspiel tit: A Perfect Spy aut: John le Carré cnt: 7 bnd: BP 46 len: 168'01" med: MP3 spd: 112 mon: Stereo src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 16.07.2017 lng: englisch stw: 'Love is whatever you can still betray. Betrayal can only happen if you love.' So says Magnus Pym, the spy of the title; and he has betrayed a lot in his life - countries, friends and lovers. When Magnus Pym disappears after his father's funeral MI6 launches an urgent manhunt to prevent his defection. But Pym is on a search of his own to solve the central mystery of his life - what made him the perfect spy. As the MI6 manhunt closes in on Magnus Pym he attempts to solve the mystery of what - or who - created his talent for deception. Was it the betrayal and lies of his con man father, Rick? Or the man who recruited him to MI6 - Jack Brotherhood? Or was it Axel, the Czech agent he has known since his teens? All of them have marked his life in some way. Credits Magnus Pym Julian Rhind-Tutt Jack Brotherhood Bill Paterson Rick Pym Michael Maloney Mary Ruth Gemmell Lippsie Melody Grove Syd Lemon Ewan Bailey Sefton Boyd Tom Forrister Nigel Gerard McDermott Georgie Samara MacLaren Fergus Tom Stuart Peggy Wentworth Aoife McMahon Axel Anton Lesser Clerk Ewan Bailey Kate Tracy Wiles Tom Adam Thomas Wright Sabina Sanchia McCormack Nigel Gerard McDermott Kate Tracy Wiles Marjory Tracy Wiles Waitress Tracy Wiles Caroline Aoife McMahon Police Super Ewan Bailey Adaptor Robert Forrest Director Bruce Young gen: Reportage tit: The Dark Origins of Britain epi: 1 sbt: Aglo-Saxon invasion? aut: Tim Whewell cnt: 1 bnd: BR 1 len: 30' med: MP3 spd: 80 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 16.01.2003 lng: englisch stw: The Dark Origins of Britain is a landmark series dealing with the greatest unresolved mystery in our history - how the modern nations of England, Wales and Scotland were born out of the chaos of the Dark Ages. In 400 AD, when Roman power collapsed in Britain, we were a province inhabited by Celtic peoples speaking a mixture of early Welsh and Latin. But only two hundred years later, the foundations of a new, Anglo-Saxon, English-speaking nation were being laid. It was perhaps the biggest cultural transformation we've ever experienced. It set us on the road we were to follow to the present day. But even now, no-one knows how it happened, or why. The fifth and sixth centuries are truly the darkest period in our history - almost without written records or archaeological evidence. In recent years historians and archaeologists have begun telling the story of the Dark Ages as it's never been told before. They've overturned our most basic assumptions about the period. For centuries we've taken it for granted that England was an Anglo-Saxon nation, and that England - and by extension, Wales - was created by a large-scale Anglo-Saxon invasion. But most experts now believe that that invasion never happened. According to this new orthodoxy, there was no process of ethnic cleansing, as the contemporary chroniclers claimed and generations of children have been taught. Instead, the existing population of lowland Britain simply adopted Anglo-Saxon fashions, and learnt to speak English in a deliberate process of upward mobility. The Dark Origins of Britain investigates that extraordinary claim - with its profound implications for who we really are - with the help of Britain's leading specialists in the field. Programme 1 of the series goes to the heart of the debate over the origins of England and Wales. It uncovers amazing evidence drawn from the latest forensic techniques - such as analysis of tooth enamel - which has proved that the "Anglo-Saxon cemeteries" dotted across England actually contain very few Anglo-Saxons. But it also looks at new genetic research which appears to show the opposite; suggesting that hordes of marauding Anglo-Saxons did indeed come here after all. Finally, this programme considers whether contemporary notions of political correctness have influenced attempts to construct a non-violent version of our national origins. The Dark Origins of Britain is presented by BBC correspondent Tim Whewell who has a long-standing interest in the history of the period, and produced by Tanya Datta. The series is an important contribution to the current debate over British identity, and will help to answer the question, Who are we? gen: Reportage tit: The Dark Origins Of Britain epi: 2 sbt: The Picts aut: Tim Whewell cnt: 2 bnd: BR 1 len: 30' med: MP3 spd: 80 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 23.01.2003 lng: englisch stw: Today, Tim Whewell investigates the dark origins of Scotland through the enigma of the Picts. Who were these war-like people who dominated the north of Britain for a thousand years? Why did they vanish? And what legacy did they leave Scotland? The second in a series dealing with the greatest unresolved mystery in our history - how the modern nations of England, Wales and Scotland were born out of the chaos of the Dark Ages. Programme 2 investigates the Dark Origins of Scotland - and the mystery of the Picts, a people who dominated the north of Britain for a thousand years - and then apparently vanished. The Picts left no written documents but to this day they tantalise us with the hundreds of unique sculpted stones they scattered across the landscape, carved in a language of symbols that we're still struggling to interpret. Who were the Picts? Where did they go? And what legacy did they leave Scotland? gen: Reportage tit: The Dark Origins Of Britain epi: 3 sbt: Myth and fact aut: Tim Whewell cnt: 3 bnd: BR 1 len: 30' med: MP3 spd: 80 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 30.01.2003 lng: englisch stw: Tim Whewell looks at how throughout history, the British have returned again and again to the Dark Ages to explain, and re-interpret, our origins. Myth, he discovers, has been as important as fact in the formation of our national identities. The last in the series dealing with the greatest unresolved mystery in our history; how the modern nations of England, Wales and Scotland were born out of the chaos of the Dark Ages. Programme 3 brings the story up to date. It looks at how the English, Welsh and Scots have returned again and again to plunder the Dark Ages to explain - and re-interpret - their origins. Why did the Norman kings of England promote the cult of King Arthur? Why is Queen Victoria portrayed in the National Portrait Gallery as an Anglo-Saxon maiden? And what are the origins of the modern-day fascination with all things Celtic? This programme examines the role of myth in the formation of our national identities. gen: Reportage tit: A brief history of the end of everything epi: 1 sbt: It's OK, the universe is eternal aut: Brother Guy Consolmagno cnt: 4 bnd: BR 1 len: 15' med: MP3 spd: 80 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 27.01.2003 lng: englisch stw: In the fifties and early sixties, the popular consensus was that the universe was there and had always been there - this is very simple and also very appealing, as we avoid thinking about an end of everything. The "steady state" theory argues that, whilst galaxies come and go, everything remains constant on a larger scale. There is birth, life and death on a galactic scale, but the universe is immortal. This idea persevered in the face of the growing evidence for a big bang because a bang suggests creation - far too Biblical for serious science. A series exploring how our ideas about the end of the universe have been shaped by religion, belief, and the contemporary state of scientific thinking and observation. The series is presented by Vatican Astronomer, Brother Guy Consolmagno. He is a Jesuit astro-physicist who came to religion via science and his wonder at the universe. At the Vatican Observatory in Castel Gandolfo, Italy, he compares cutting edge cosmology with Chinese, Ancient Greek, Buddhist, Medieval and Victorian ideas about the end of everything. gen: Reportage tit: A brief history of the end of everything epi: 2 sbt: The universe will crash - we're all doomed aut: Brother Guy Consolmagno cnt: 5 bnd: BR 1 len: 15' med: MP3 spd: 80 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 28.01.2003 lng: englisch stw: It will die. Like a ball thrown into the air, no matter how fast the acceleration to begin with, gravity always wins. The universe will reach a critical mass, then start to fall back in on itself. This is the big crunch theory. The power of gravity wins out over the accelerating power throwing everything outwards. Microseconds from the end, black holes begin to merge with each other, little different from the collapsing state of the surrounding universe. The implosion becomes increasingly powerful, crushing all matter and every physical thing out of existence. Space and time end - there is eternal nothingness beyond this point, unless... gen: Reportage tit: A brief history of the end of everything epi: 3 sbt: Lets go round again aut: Brother Guy Consolmagno cnt: 6 bnd: BR 1 len: 15' med: MP3 spd: 80 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 29.01.2003 lng: englisch stw: Yes the universe will end, but at the crunch the process starts all over again, and could go on forever (cf. Hindu and Buddhist ideas of re-birth). Another possibility is "multiverses" - there are lots of different universes, all in different states of existence, some at moment of big bang, but will never become a universe as we know it, so grow to the size of a grape and shrink back, or expand outwards and never turn into frothy, lumpy matter - just a thin soup with no life in them. Our universe is perfect - not too fast to become a soup and not too slow so it falls back in on itself to destruct - just lumpy enough for galaxies to form and the whole thing hold together - a balancing act between gravity and acceleration, for the time being. gen: Reportage tit: A brief history of the end of everything epi: 4 sbt: The universe is expanding - we're all doomed aut: Brother Guy Consolmagno cnt: 7 bnd: BR 1 len: 15' med: MP3 spd: 80 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 30.01.2003 lng: englisch stw: The universe will die. The sun and other stars like it will throw out heat until they have no more energy to burn. The big bang threw everything outwards at a massive rate. As it gets bigger, so the gaps between matter get bigger and are filled with "dark energy". Instead of gravity pulling everything back down to a "big crunch" the dark energy accelerates the expansion process, pushing everything further apart faster and faster. In the end everything will be a cold, sad, blackness as the stars all go out, or are too far apart for us to see anything - but "us" will be long gone. This is currently the bookies favourite. gen: Reportage tit: A brief history of the end of everything epi: 5 sbt: Oops, I've dropped an exotic particle aut: Brother Guy Consolmagno cnt: 8 bnd: BR 1 len: 15' med: MP3 spd: 80 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 31.01.2003 lng: englisch stw: A strange subatomic particle produced in an atom-smashing experiment here on earth could, theoretically, tumble to the centre of the planet and start eating the planet from the inside out - death by industrial accident. Or a random quantum fluctuation in distant space could switch off the machinery that makes matter big, and this would send a bubble of destruction moving at the speed of light and shutting down all creation in its path. All of the ideas explored in this series suggest that the future is not rosy - that the universe is going to end and that we will end along with it...or can we escape? Humans have been around for about five million years - civilisation only a few thousand - but the earth could remain habitable for two or three billion years to come, by which time inter-galactic travel might be possible. gen: Reportage tit: The Roman Way epi: 1 sbt: Life at the edge aut: David Aaronovitch cnt: 9 bnd: BR 1 len: 30' med: MP3 spd: 80 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 19.01.2003 lng: englisch stw: For the Britons living in the area known today as Northumberland, the city of Rome was unimaginably distant. Our knowledge of the minutiae of everyday lives in the region has increased enormously in the past 30 years. Discoveries were made during archµological excavations at Vindolanda, slightly south of Hadrian's Wall. By chance, preservation conditions on-site are extremely good and a wealth of material has come to light which provides archµologists and historians with unparalleled information on troop-movements and activities, requisition of building materials, arrival of food supplies, dealings with the indigenous people, the families of the military personnel, parties and social gatherings, even the soldiers' love of Celtic beer. Using contemporary accounts from all levels of society, from the chattering classes to humble foot-soldiers, from senators to slaves, The Roman Way explores different aspects of everyday life, two millennia ago. David Aaronovitch, of The Independent, travels from a bleak and windy milecastle in Northumberland, at the farthest point of the Roman empire to the sticky heat of the Imperial Forum in Rome, at the centre of the empire. Further reading: Peter Jones An Intelligent Person's Guide to Classics Duckworth P Jones & K Sidwell The World of Rome Cambridge 1997 Jerome Carcopino Daily Life in Ancient Rome Penguin Fergus Millar The Roman Empire and Its Neighbours Duckworth Anthony Birley Garrison Life at Vindolanda - A Band of Brothers Tempus Pliny (tr) Betty Radice The Letters of the Younger Pliny Penguin Classics Marcus Aurelius (tr) Maxwell Staniforth Meditations Penguin Classics Seneca (tr) Robin Campbell Letters from a Stoic Penguin Classics Tim Cornell & John Matthews Atlas of the Roman World New York: Facts on File c1982 gen: Reportage tit: The Roman Way epi: 2 sbt: Life at the top aut: David Aaronovitch cnt: 10.00 bnd: BR 1 len: 30' med: MP3 spd: 80 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 26.01.2003 lng: englisch stw: The Roman Empire, at its peak, spread right around the Mediterranean and stretched from Northumbria to Armenia. From the reign of the emperor Augustus onwards, power of all that territory lay in the hands of one man: the Emperor himself. What did the emperor do all day? We have two stereotypical images of Roman emperors: the good ones led victorious armies in battle, the bad ones indulged in orgies and excess. How accurate is this picture? Though the emperor sat at the peak of the command chain, there were other powerful figures in the Roman world - the imperial advisors, for example. So who were these people? And how much power did they themselves have? Since the emperor's word was final, his whim was complete, and his tyranny absolute - how easy was it to keep friendly with the emperor? Friendship was a vital tool in the running of the empire. Letters of recommendation were commonplace, and occurred at all levels. How did this network of friends-of-friends operate? What were the benefits - and disadvantages? Those at the bottom of the social scale were not completely powerless. The emperor depended upon the good will and opinion of the people - and he knew it. How did they express their disapproval? And don't forget about the slave population of Rome, who vastly outnumbered the ranks of the free. They weren't without power, either. gen: Reportage tit: The Roman Way epi: 3 sbt: Filling the Day aut: David Aaronovitch cnt: 11.00 bnd: BR 1 len: 30' med: MP3 spd: 80 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 02.02.2003 lng: englisch stw: We have an image of Roman citizens living in spacious villas, the floors and walls decorated with mosaics, and with courtyards and fountains. In fact, the vast majority of urban people lived in cramped and dingy flats, paying rent on a daily basis to landlords who cared not a jot for their welfare, and paid scant attention to the structural integrity of their own properties. From the morning visit to one's patrons, to the afternoon baths, how did Romans, both rich and poor, spend their days? What were the working hours of the lower orders and, though there was no such thing as a weekend, what sort of free time did they have? And what did they do with it? The Romans had interior design fads and polite dinner-parties, but were feasts and orgies as commonplace an occurrence as legend insists, and what were the dining rooms like? And, though pretty well everyone went to the baths at some point in the day, the whole business involved a great deal more than just washing. gen: Reportage tit: The Roman Way epi: 4 sbt: Filling the Mind aut: David Aaronovitch cnt: 12.00 bnd: BR 1 len: 30' med: MP3 spd: 80 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 09.02.2003 lng: englisch stw: Education was very important to the Roman citizen: just as today, it was believed to be a ticket to a better life. What was on the curriculum and who were the pupils? One of the topics which was popular then, but which has slipped somewhat from school-lessons today, was rhetoric. Rhetoric was seen as a vital social and professional skill. How was it taught, who wanted to learn it, and why did Roman citizens place so much emphasis on it? We also explore the development of the novel and the passion for public readings. From romantic novels to science-fiction, what books were the Roman equivalent of best-sellers? Who attended the readings and what sort of person was considered a celebrity? The people of the Roman Empire cared deeply about posterity, and liked to think that their memory would live on after they'd died. What sort measures did rich and poor take to ensure that they wouldn't be forgotten? gen: Reportage tit: Life as a teenager epi: 1 sbt: Hormonal Change aut: Connie St Louis cnt: 13.00 bnd: BR 1 len: 30' med: MP3 spd: 80 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 25.06.2002 lng: englisch stw: Continuing the series about the seven ages of humanity Connie St Louis returns to Radio 4 with another four programmes in her series about the health and wellbeing of the seven ages of humanity. This summer she reaches the turbulent teenage years. New research says that teenagers' brains are different and this is thought to account for the rages that they get into. Then there's surging hormones, changing bodies, experiments in social and sexual relationships. And what are all those unsuitable clothes and experiments with makeup and body piercing about? Let alone drugsà and most parents hope teenagers do let them alone, which makes drugs all the more enticing to young people. This is also the time of huge exam pressures. From GCSEs, through A levels to degree, then hopefully the first job, it feels like there'll never be a summer without high anxiety. Physiology, psychology and pharmacology: can medical science help to make this rite of passage any easier? The first programme looks at the hormonal changes that are the hallmark of the teenage years. Reports have suggested that children are reaching puberty earlier - Connie finds out if this is true. She meets an agony aunt who tells her what concerns bring teenagers to her, and she talks to teenagers themselves about what it's like for them going through great hormonal changes. gen: Reportage tit: Life as a teenager epi: 2 sbt: Teenage Brain aut: Connie St Louis cnt: 14.00 bnd: BR 1 len: 30' med: MP3 spd: 80 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 02.07.2002 lng: englisch stw: Adolescence is a turbulent time. Teenagers' behaviour can seem bizarre to adults, with their need to sleep till the afternoon, their obsessions about music or sport, and of course their mood swings. One minute your teenager is being sensible and you're having an ordinary conversation; the next moment he or she is storming out of the room and saying how unfair their life is. Research is now suggesting that some of this erratic behaviour can be put down to the reorganisation that goes on in the brain at this age. This is the time of life when psychiatric conditions can emerge. The first signs of schizophrenia are often apparent during the teenage years, as are eating disorders. More and more girls are, it seems, harming themselves, and some teenagers go on to commit suicide. It's a time when we're particularly conscious of our appearance and easily lose self esteem and become depressed. In the second programme, Connie asks what teenage behaviour is normal and what should make parents and teachers worry. She discovers what's being done to help teenagers with mental health problems - from virtual reality therapy for those with anorexia, to groups which try to reduce the chances of girls cutting themselves. And she looks at the role of teenage magazines in the well-being of their target market. gen: Reportage tit: Life as a teenager epi: 3 sbt: Family conflict aut: Connie St Louis cnt: 15.00 bnd: BR 1 len: 30' med: MP3 spd: 80 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 09.07.2002 lng: englisch stw: In the third programme exploring teenage life, Connie St Louis looks at how adolescents relate to those around them. Many children hit puberty just as their parents are starting to ponder their own mid-life crises. It is a recipe for sulking and attrition on both sides. Can family conflicts really be avoided in such an explosive atmosphere? Or does a culture of healthy argument benefit all those involved? What should you do when your pliant co-operative child turns into a monosyllabic teenage grump? And as teenagers begin to discover their sexuality, Connie explores how teenage romance can lead to teenage motherhood. She visits a teenage mothering help centre in Cornwall to ask the young parents how they are coping and find out why they opted for motherhood. Teen mums are often portrayed as feckless and scheming. They are accused of ruining their lives and sponging off the state. How accurate are these stereotypes? And are we doing enough to support young mums? gen: Reportage tit: Life as a teenager epi: 4 sbt: The later Teenage aut: Connie St Louis cnt: 16.00 bnd: BR 1 len: 30' med: MP3 spd: 80 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 16.07.2002 lng: englisch stw: In the final programme of the series, Connie St Louis looks at the later stages of adolescence. This is a time when teenagers are searching hard for their own identity - and yet they spend time trying hard to fit in with their group of friends. There is evidence that teenagers who aren't part of a group can have problems in later life. But group membership can come at a price. The pressure to conform can put pressure of young people to dress alike, listen to the same music and even do things like drink or take drugs. Yet recent studies have shown that tolerance of different behaviours within the group is wider than many parents think, so blaming the group for your teenager's problems is not a good way of dealing with adolescent difficulties. And there are exams. Teenage girls, in particular, feel the pressure to succeed and can take any slip very hard indeed. Boys, on the other hand, are more likely to fail, and their problems are often compounded by the disdain of high achieving girls. Sexual stereotypes appear to have been reversed, girls compete, boys retreat - but both feel insecure. And then there's sex. Much of learning to be yourself can be learning how to cope with your burgeoning sexuality - and that can be the scariest thing of all. gen: Reportage tit: Electronic Brains epi: 1 sbt: LEO the Lyons Computer aut: Mark Whitaker cnt: 17.00 bnd: BR 1 len: 15' med: MP3 spd: 80 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 30.9.2002 lng: englisch stw: The first programme starts in the Piccadilly café which is still identifiable as the first Lyons Teashop ever opened, at the end of the 19th Century. It moves on to Hammersmith where a Lyons historian describes how the great Cadby Hall factory complex needed an army of clerks to run it. LEO veterans explain how the company that believed it could do anything decided to build a business computer, and did so with considerable success. A former Teashops manageress recalls what a difference it made to her work when all the daily orders were computerised. And one of the telephonists who typed her orders into LEO remembers the excitement of "feeding this marvellous machine". It was so successful that Lyons did jobs for other companies and the government, like working out the new tax tables on the night of the Chancellor's Budget. It also calculated the distance between every one of British Rail's 5000 stations and every other one. But the name died in the 60s, beaten by the perception that a catering company couldn't build computers, and the disorganisation of Britain's computer industry. A series of 4 programmes which tells the stories of some of the computer pioneers in Britain, America and the Ukraine. Each is a little cameo of social history of the early postwar years half a century ago, from a time when "everything you did was new, no-one had ever done it before". Fifty years ago the great catering company J Lyons, best known for its Teashops and Corner Houses, ran the world's first real business computer program, calculating the value of its bakery sales. Astonishingly Lyons had also developed and built the computer itself, and it gave it the playful name of "LEO" - short for Lyons Electronic Office. Across the Atlantic, two rival teams were developing their own business computers, shortly to become famous as the "Univacs", the name that came to mean "computer" in 50's America. One group worked in an old barn, overlooked by an ancient stuffed moose. Meanwhile in an abandoned monastery on the edge of war-torn Kiev, another group worked night and day to build the Soviet Union's first computer. And while all these electronic marvels were taking shape, a genius at the London School of Economics was turning his engineering skills to economics to create the world's first and only hydraulic computer. It used coloured water in plastic tubes to model the national economy, and it worked so well they even sold one to the Central Bank of Guatemala. gen: Reportage tit: Electronic Brains epi: 2 sbt: Saluting the Moose aut: Mark Whitaker cnt: 18.00 bnd: BR 1 len: 15' med: MP3 spd: 80 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 1.10.2002 lng: englisch stw: Second in a series of 4 programmes which tells the human stories of some of the computer pioneers in three countries, Britain, America and the Ukraine. This programme joins a group of retired engineers who meet every Fall in Connecticut to re-discover the forgotten history of the first American business computer. They worked for Remington Rand, in a converted barn that still "smelled of horses" and had a stuffed moose's head overlooking them as they worked. Best known for its mechanical calculators before the war, the move into computers was fiercely opposed by senior executives - few people in those days thought businesses would ever need computers. But by 1949 they had more orders for the first model, the Rand-409, than they could cope with. Meantime two brilliant engineers, but hopeless businessmen, were building their own machine over a clothes shop in Philadelphia. The widow of one of them, mathematician Kathleen Mauchly, had the job title of "computer" during World War II, when with dozens of other human computers she calculated ballistics tables for the armed forces. She recalls the trials and the successes of her husband's machine which was bought up by Rand when they ran out of money. Renamed the "Univac" it burst into public consciousness by correctly predicting a landslide victory for Eisenhower in the 1952 Presidential Election, beating all the human pundits - the computer operator on duty that night takes us behind the scenes. gen: Reportage tit: Electronic Brains epi: 3 sbt: Then We Took The Roof Off aut: Mark Whitaker cnt: 19.00 bnd: BR 1 len: 15' med: MP3 spd: 80 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 2.10.2002 lng: englisch stw: The Ukrainian city of Kyiv (Kiev) was over-run by the Nazis in World War 2, liberated by the Soviet Army a couple of years later, and by 1945 was in a terrible state. But while re-building started a small group of scientists and engineers found an abandoned monastery in an idyllic setting on the outskirts of the city, in a place called Feofania. There they built 'secret laboratory number 1' and started work on the Soviet Union's first electronic computer. This was no copycat, few details of western projects were in the public domain. Instead under the inspirational leadership of Sergei Lebedev they built a computer that generated so much heat they knocked walls down and took the roof off to try and keep it cool. You couldn't just buy a printer in those days, so they cannibalised cash registers and turned them into printers. It ran a sample program for the anniversary of the Revolution in 1950 and on Xmas Eve 1951 it started full-time operations. On location in Kyiv and Feofania, the surviving members of the original team and the leading historian of Soviet computers tell this remarkable story. And they talk about their despair at a political decision in 1967 to copy IBM computers instead of keep faith with their own designs. Third in a series of 4 programmes which tells the human stories of some of the computer pioneers in three countries, Britain, America and the Ukraine. Each is a little cameo of social history of the early postwar years half a century ago, from a time when in the words of one of them: "everything you did was new, no-one had ever done it before." No anorak needed to enjoy these programmes! gen: Reportage tit: Electronic Brains epi: 4 sbt: Water On The Brain aut: Mark Whitaker cnt: 20.00 bnd: BR 1 len: 15' med: MP3 spd: 80 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 3.10.2002 lng: englisch stw: Shortly after World War II, a New Zealand engineer started a sociology degree at the London School of Economics. Bill Phillips had already shown remarkable courage and ingenuity, winning an award for bravery in the Far East, then making electrical gadgets as a prisoner of war. He designed simple immersion heaters for his fellow POWs' nightly cups of tea; the guards never worked out why the camp lights dimmed around 10 o'clock. He made a simple radio (he'd have been executed if caught) and heard news of the bombing of Hiroshima. At the LSE he didn't take to sociology but economics fascinated him. He wrote an essay comparing the national economy to a machine pumping coloured water round clear plastic tubes. An older student persuaded him to build one, and it was an immediate success. More than a dozen were made eventually, with Ford buying one and another going to the Central Bank of Guatemala. Within a few years he was a professor and became one of the giants among post-war economists. He died young, but friends and colleagues recall this remarkable man. One "Phillips Machine" is still working at Cambridge University, where leading economist Brian Henry, who helped restore it, recalls seeing this "ingenious teaching device" for the first time. Although he had already studied economics for 3 years, that was the first time he actually understood what the "circular flow of money" was all about, because he could see it. Mark Whitaker's series on computer pioneers. Today, how engineer Bill Phillips came to build a machine to demonstrate the circular flow of money. gen: Reportage ser: Lent Talks tit: The Human Face of God epi: 1 sbt: Do We Have a Human Face? aut: Jane Williams cnt: 21 bnd: BR 1 len: 15' med: MP3 spd: 40 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 09.03.2003 lng: englisch stw: God cannot be seen. Or can he? It is a distinctive, provocative and audacious claim of Christian faith that Jesus of Nazareth was both human being and God. The Human Face of God, Radio 4's series of Lent Talks for 2003, presents six personal perspectives on this most controversial claim of Christianity, that God has a human face. It is a belief which invites challenge, reinterpretation and new expression today. Jane Williams, is a writer and theologian, and is married to Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury. "The question is not whether God has a human face, but whether we do" she begins, and drawing on myth as well as Christian tradition she finds in Jesus Christ the way to be truly human. The question is not whether God has a human face, but whether we do. Surely that's a silly thing to say, when faces are so important to us. We can fall in love with a face. Faces smile at us from posters and TVs, politicians and public figures are coached about how to make their faces more trustworthy. Babies learn all their earliest love and security from the faces around them, and scientists tell us that that process is vital to a child's development. They also tell us how much we are conditioned to respond to the human faces we see around us, how we learn to read them for love, or anger or fear, how we decide which faces are beautiful and which are not. Surely all of this suggests that faces are vital to our whole understanding of how to be human? And that must make it nonsense to ask whether or not we have human faces. Of course we do. But if we think of ourselves as expert 'face readers', our history suggests something different. Centuries of history, right up today suggest that we have been quite good at defining what is not fully human and treating it accordingly, but not so good at identifying what truly is human. We have been good at looking for and spotting differences, rather than likenesses. And we have assumed that faces that look very much like ours are human faces, while faces that have striking differences are not. So, white people have assumed that black people were not human, men have assumed that women were not human, able-bodied people have assumed that the disabled were not human - the list is endless. We have looked at faces different from our own and assumed that therefore they cannot be human. We are human, so any face too different from ours must belong to a different species. We value human faces, and accord them rights and privileges, but if we judge that someone's face is so different from ours that they are not really human, not like we are, that can become our pretext for denying them our rights and privileges. The Christian story of God has the opposite dynamic. God is good at seeing likenesses. He is looking for any excuse to share rights and privileges, not withhold them. God looks at something completely different from himself and sees its likeness. In the story at the beginning of the Jewish and Christian scriptures, we see God imagining a world. Outside God there is nothingness, but God looks and sees this emptiness, this non-being, as full of potential. So he makes the myriad of things that only the imagination of God could possibly come up with and then, as his crowning touch, he makes people. The point of people is that they are to be like God. 'Let's make them in our image, according to our likeness; and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the wild animals of the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps upon the earth', God says in Genesis. This lovely new world that God has made, he instantly wants to share. He wants the joy of seeing others love and care for the world, as he does. So the scene Genesis is suggesting is one where God puts his likeness, his face, into the human world because he wants to share with us the joy and responsibility of what it is to be God for the world. And the Jewish-Christian creation story doesn't end there. It turns out that the human beings God makes don't immediately see that they are already like God, and that God actually wants to share himself with them. Anxiously, they look for things that will make them more like God, when the irony is that God has already made them like himself. So Adam and Eve eat the apple, trying to snatch what is actually already theirs. Patiently, God doesn't give up, but goes on looking for ways of helping us to see what we are made for. God goes on nurturing and leading people who might be able to look at their own faces and the faces of the people around them and see their potential likeness to God. God looks at a nomad leader, Abraham, at the King of a small and not at all significant Kingdom, David. He looks at them with such concentration that they begin to feel his eyes on their face, and even begin to see their story through those eyes. They begin to see that, just as God made the world to share in his glory and joy, so God makes a people, a nation, which can be a kind of mirror for the rest of the world. The Bible holds up this mirror, where we can all look, and see our own faces, merging into the faces of Abraham, David, Peter, James, Mary, and then all these faces blurring and clearing to show us the face of God. None of this is accidental. It happens because God's 'face' is our pattern. The world is the way it is, and the human face is the way it is because of its creator. Although we have repeating patterns of human behaviour that mask our likeness to God and each other, God goes on and on, working patiently and inexorably to bring us back to that truthful mirror, in which we can see what we were made for. Left to ourselves, we go on seeing other people as different from ourselves, rather than seeing the family likeness. Left to ourselves, we worry that we are not actually enough like God, so we go around snatching the things we need - power, love, things that will help us to feel important and safe, not realising that all of these things are what God is trying to give us already. God's patient process comes to its fulfilment in Jesus. It is as though God says, 'All right, your eyesight has got very bad, and you keep looking in all the wrong places. Let me help you. If you can't see that I made you to look like myself, why don't I come looking like you, and then surely you won't be able to miss it.' So it's not so much that Jesus is the human face of God, since the only reason we have these human faces at all is because God made us like himself. No, it's more that Jesus's face is what ours is supposed to look like, if only we could be as human as God . Our faces are a series of masks that we try on and discard, always searching for the real 'me', always looking for the face that will make others love us or fear us, and all the time getting further and further away from the face we were made to mirror, the face of Jesus. CS Lewis is now best known as the author of the children's fiction stories set in Narnia, but in his own day, he was better-known as a writer and broadcaster, and a scholar of literature. He wrote a book called ôTil we Have Facesö, in which he explores the power of masks, and their costs. It is a re-telling of the myth of Psyche, but from the point of view of her older sister, Orual. Unlike, Psyche, who is wonderfully beautiful, Orual is ugly, so ugly that she chooses always to wear a mask in public. The mask gives her confidence, and with her confidence comes power until, eventually, she is Queen in succession to her hated father. She is a strong and successful Queen, and she has no doubt that she owes it to her mask. People begin to have all kinds of theories about what is behind her mask - that she has no face at all, only nothingness, or that she is so dazzlingly beautiful that no eye could look on her. 'No one believed it was anything so common as the face of an ugly woman', Orual sneers. 'The upshot of all of this nonsense was that I became something very mysterious and awful'. The book is written in the first person, in Orual's voice, and its purpose, she tells us, is to bring a complaint against the gods. The whole story of her life, she says, and above all the story of her relationship with her beloved and beautiful sister, Psyche, show that the gods are liars, cheats and deceivers. They make it impossible for us to believe in them, and they punish us for not believing. At last, Orual is given a chance to bring her case against the gods in the heavenly courts. She is stripped naked, even her mask is taken from her, so her face is exposed for the first time in years. She stands up, and prepares to read from the huge book that she has been compiling all her life, that will show the injustice of the gods. But what comes out, instead, is a mean, selfish, raging voice, whose chief complaint is that the gods have not made her wishes central to the universe, and have not made it their main business to give her everything she wants. 'The complaint was the answer', she tells us. She realises that, for the first time in her life, she has heard herself and seen herself, without masks, veils or delusions. She understands that the gods could not possibly have spoken truthfully to her, because their was no 'her' to speak to, only a myriad of poses and masks. 'How can they meet us face to face till we have faces?' she asks. The myth on which this story is based is not a Christian myth, and Lewis does not attempt to make it into one, but Orual's discovery that we seldom allow ourselves to see our own real faces lends itself to what, as a Christian, I want to say about Jesus's face and our faces. God is the only one who truly knows a human face. He made it and, incarnate in Jesus Christ, he wears it as his own. Jesus's human face is not a mask, but a genuine embodiment of the human face of God, the face ours were all created to be like, but which we have covered up, or misrecognized or despised in others all these years. Make up, cosmetic surgery, air-brushing photographic techniques all suggest that many of us would like to change our human faces. We would like someone else's face, a face which can make others believe we are 'very mysterious and awful', as Orual's mask did. We are not content to be just human, just who we are. Surely we are more important than that? Surely the universe should revolve around our needs and desires? Jesus, on the other hand, is content to be just human. He doesn't like people to focus on him, and he hands back all the masks they offer him to wear - masks that say 'Messiah', or 'miracle-worker' or 'revolutionary leader'. All the eager faces that turn towards him are pointed instead towards God. And Paul tells us that this is how we know that Jesus is God. He is content to be just a human being, dependent upon God and obedient to God. He wants the spotlight on God's face, not on his own. And then, of course, we find out what 'just human' means. Jesus, who is content to be only human, is the 'image of the invisible God', the one who shares God's love and responsibility for the world, just as God always intended, from creation onwards. Jesus, who wants no masks of power or beauty, but simply wants people to look at God, is the face that we see in our salvation, and that we shall see at our judgment. Nothing more, nothing less. If it is true to say that God made our human faces to reflect his own love, joy and care for the world, then learning to share that human face, learning to recognize it in ourselves and others, learning to see with God's eyes will make us human, as Jesus was human. To share that humanity, we have to learn to do without the masks, as Jesus did. How many different masks we seem to think we need - masks that make us powerful, invulnerable, beautiful, feared, acceptable, some that we have so deeply internalized that we don't even know that they are just masks. But the irony is that, without these masks, we are made in the image of God. We can't recreate that image in ourselves by sheer force and determination, because that would be to create for ourselves another kind of mask. Instead, we have to keep looking at the only really human face we know, the face of Jesus. We have to gaze at it with intensity, and learn it by heart. We have to keep looking from that face to the faces around us, tracing the likeness, seeing the family resemblances. And God the Holy Spirit will work with us, turning us constantly towards the Son, who reflects the Father. The whole creation is waiting with bated breath, Paul tell us in Romans, to see us learning to be human, learning to share God's love for the world. The whole creation is longing to see God's human face in us. gen: Reportage ser: Lent Talks tit: The Human Face of God epi: 2 sbt: The Face of Jesus Portrayed in Art aut: Neil McGregor cnt: 22 bnd: BR 1 len: 15' med: MP3 spd: 40 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 16.03.2003 lng: englisch stw: Neil McGregor, Director of the British Museum, surveys the face of Jesus portrayed in art, starting with what may well be the earliest image there is, a mosaic from a Roman villa in Dorset. Christianity picked up and developed a tradition of portrayingthe gods and their stories, and Christian art has become an integral part of the expression of faith in a God who can be seen. There's not much we can say with absolute confidence about the early church, but I think we can be fairly sure that the first Christians would not have dreamt of making a likeness of Jesus. Not just because there was no record of his appearance that they could have based a likeness on, but more because their Jewish inheritance of a god worshipped in spirit and in truth but emphatically not represented in art would have inhibited them from any such attempt. For the first two or three Christian centuries the idea of looking on the face of God, even of a god in human form, would have been inconceivable. Yet we now all live in a world where the likeness of Christ is common place, a cliché that can be effortlessly repeated in films and books or borrowed forvery different purposes by the image manipulators of advertising or politics. The decision to try to show the face of Christ was not just a major theological step, but one of the decisive turning points in European visual culture. We don't know where itfirst happened, where an artist first tried to capture the likeness of Jesus and it is probable that many of the early attempts have been lost. But the strongest candidate for the oldest surviving image of Christ was made not for a church in the Eastern Mediterranean or in Imperial Rome, but for the floor of a dining room in Dorset somewhere around the year 360. The face of Christ in Dorset is now in the British Museum in the Western Gallery of Roman Britain. As you walk through that gallery you get an extraordinary impression of what life must have been like in this northern most province of the Roman Empire. In that last century of Roman rule was in many ways a Golden Age, Roman Britain was prosperous and indeed rich. The ruling class built large villas with huge estates attached and this was a lavish world in which enormous sums of money were spent on decorating the great villas and putting your wealth on display in the form of spectacular silver tableware. The hoards of silver vessels, spoons, and even pepper pots found especially in East Anglia show us a society that seems to have accommodated itself comfortably to both Paganism and Christianity. The great silver dish found at Mildenhall in Suffolk shows Bacchus the Roman god of wine drunkenly cavorting with pliant nymphs in an elegant but very alcoholic dance while the spoons found in the same hoard carry Christian symbols. A Pagan dish with Christian spoons seems to sum up Britain at this period. In Britain of the third century Christ is one god indeed, but he is one among many others. The Dorset dining room floor was found in the village at Hinton St Mary, a small village nestling in the Blackmoor Vale about 8 miles from Shaftesbury. It is made mostly of local Dorset materials of black, red or yellowish stone with here and there pieces of ceramic all set in that greatest of Roman building inventions, cement. In the corners are representations of the four seasons and there is the usual arrangement of garlands and decorative strips. As you reclined on your couch with your feet towards the wall and your head towards the middle of the room you would look into the centre of the floor and there you would see two roundels. In one the mythical hero Bellerophon riding the winged horse Pegasus overcomes the monster Chimaera. It was a popular image in the Roman world, the hero zapping the forces of evil. In the other roundel, you would normally have expected to find either Orpheus charming the world with his music, or the universally popular wine god Bacchus. But in Hinton St Mary we have Christ. In a society which had for centuries been used to seeing its gods, the new god had to be able to make an appearance. But here the artist must have had a real problem. There was no prototype, no model, no description. He had to invent Christ in order to show him. How do you represent a god that you have never seen? It is a testing conundrum, both theologically and artistically and I think we can all sympathise with the Dorset artist who had to confront it. This artist must have seen and made images of Orpheus and Bacchus in similar mosaic floors. Orpheus would generally be wistful young and artistic looking, Bacchus would be energetic and sexy, clearly ready for a good time. But each of these gods would essentially be distinguished by their attributes. Orpheus would have his lyre, Bacchus a bunch of grapes or something similar. You would know who the god was not because of what he looked like but because of what he held. But this is difficult with Jesus. What is the physical attribute that Jesus would hold? He told his disciples that he was the way, the truth and life but it's very difficult to show any of these physically. He announced that he was the light of the world but it is really hard to show light in a mosaic. And although he did compare himself to a vine and his followers to the branches the vine was already the property of Bacchus and could only have led to confusion. Then there was the other question of what general tone, what air you wanted his face to carry. Clearly not specifically artistic or pleasure seeking like Orpheus or Bacchus, but equally clearly, for a Roman public used to seeing their gods as heroes, you would not want him to look like a poor suffering man brutally put to death on the gallows. The artist at Hinton St Mary found an ingenious and revealing solution. He looked at a coin. At least I think we can be fairly certain that that's what he did. He seems to have taken a coin of the Emperor or at least the man who is claiming to be Emperor and who had usurped Britain and Gaul in the middle of the Fourth Century, Magnentius. The Emperor is shown as you would expect, robed and severe in the circular field of the coin, and on the back that particular emperor has chosen the Christian symbol of the chi rho, those two letters of the Greek alphabet that begin Christ's name in Greek, written as though they were X and P in our alphabet. It was the symbol that the first Roman emperor to become a Christian, Constantine, had taken after his conversion and his victories over his rivals in 313. And it had become the logo of Christianity throughout the Western Empire. In a coin like this, and one has been found in a grave very near Hinton St. Mary, Magnentius is showing himself not just as Emperor but as a Christian Emperor and the heir to Constantine. Our mosaicist has simply combined the front and the back of the coin, so in themosaic an imperial bust looks out at us full face, robed but with authority. We know we are looking at a ruler. And in order to make clear that we are looking not at a secular ruler but at the King of Kings behind his head the mosacist has put the chi rho monogram. You would not recognise this was the face of Christ for you would never have seen a picture of Christ before. But you would know this was Christ, and Christ the Emperor. In this, perhaps the oldest surviving image of Jesus, and certainly the oldest known in Britain, we already have the fusion - or perhaps confusion - of the authority of God and the authority of Man. In this image it is no longer possible to distinguish what should be rendered unto Caesar and what should be rendered unto God because Caesar claims God's authority on a coin and God looks like Caesar in the mosaic. Yet the artist wanted to show more - that this man was not only Lord of Life but Lord over Death and so on either side of Christ's head he has put a pomegranate. Now for any Dorset diner this recalled the myth of Persephone carried off to the underworld, rescued by her mother, and brought back to the land of the living as a great allegory of the cycle of the seasons, of death and rebirth, of descent into hell and return to the light. By the inclusion of this simple fruit the artist links Jesus to the Pagan gods who had also been gods of dying and returning to Orpheus who went to the underworld in search of Eurydice and returned, and to Bacchus who was similarly associated with resurrections. This Christ is one that pulls together the hopes of the ancient world, the deepest of all human hopes that death is only part of a larger story that will culminate in greater fruitfulness and greater happiness. By astonishing good fortune the British Museum also possesses another first in the history of Christian art, the oldest known narrative representation of the crucifixion. It is on show a few dozen yards from the Hinton St Mary face of Christ but it come not from Britain but from Rome probably a generation or so later around the years 400 - 420. The world as it had been know for four nearly five centuries was collapsing, when an unknown craftsman carved four small ivory plaques about 2 inches by 4 inches each presumably designed to go on the outside of a tiny box. They show Christ on his way to Calvary carrying his cross, the crucifixion, the empty tomb and Christ appearing to Thomas. The Judaic prohibition on showing God has now been well and truly forgotten and the artist draws on the long Roman tradition of deep relief carving to tell the story of salvation. The second panel is the oldest illustration we have of Christ on the cross, the theme that was going to become one of the central elements of European art. Christians had been loath to show Christ subjected to the convict's death and in the years around 400-420 the cross would still, I think, have been as much a symbol of shame as of victory. And so the artist shows Christ standing in triumph on the instrument of his humiliation. The cross itself fills the whole height of the small panel and Christ wearing a loin cloth, head circled by a halo looks straight out at the viewer. His hands and feet are nailed but the body is muscular and heroic and the demeanour one of a triumphant ruler. It is very far from the Medieval suffering, tortured Christ. This is in every sense a conquering king and the words over his head with the words 'Rex Iudaeorum' 'King of the Jews', has lost in this plaque the irony that it must have carried on Calvary. But there is in this scene another body, a suffering body, a humiliated body. On the left hand side hanging from a tree is the figure of Judas. The artist has clearly looked at a hanged man, thetwist of the neck and the angle of the head have been carefully observed and beneath the traitor's feet that dangle half an inch above the bottom of the ivory we see the pieces of silver spilling out of Judas's purse. Treachery and despair on the lefthand side, triumph and hope on the right. Between the two trees stand a man and a woman, they must be Mary and John the Evangelist faithfully attending at the foot of the cross and shown standing under Christ's right hand nailed but still able to protectand to bless. Under Christ's left hand at the far right of the plaque stands a man holding up his hand to his saviour. It must be the centurion who has recognised that this was indeed the son of God. This is a moment not just of victory but of acclamation. These five figures capture an astonishing range of human experience. The despair of Judas at the left the patient love of John and Mary at the foot of the cross the triumphant saviour and the centurion who suddenly sees the significance of what is happening, all held within the four inches of the ivory frame. But there is one other set of participants. In the branches of the tree from which Judas hangs is a nest with a mother bird feeding her young. She is looking towards the saviour, a living emblem of a love that sustains and nourishes. The god who has just died on the cross is the god who will keep us safe under the shadow of his wings. And the bird and her young in this scene play the same role as the pomegranate in the Hinton St Marymosaic. They locate the sacrifice of Christ in the cycle of the natural world. The bird which has always been a symbol of the soul, reminds us that spiritual food is always at hand. It strengthens the likelihood that this small box was designed to hold the communion bread for early Christian Eucharists and there is something immeasurably poignant that this symbol of hope is nesting in the branches of the tree from which Judas in despair has so needlessly hanged himself. I think we are meant to infer that if he had known how to look on the face of Christ as the centurion does at the other side of the panel, then he too would have been saved. And that is what I think both of these objects are fundamentally about. To look on the face of God is to understand the promise of salvation and to have a chance of attaining it. The small ivory panel is a drama to be contemplated privately, it can beheld in the palm of your hand and it would have been studied alone. But it carries the same message as the more than life size mosaic from Dorset. The human face of God is the face of a love stronger than death. There is a persistent British national myth that Christianity came early to our country. Joseph of Arimathea, the legend runs, was an early visitor to Glastonbury and Blake's Jerusalem has left in all our minds the idea of the feet of Christ walking on England's pastures and mountains. But there is I think a very real possibility that in the Hinton St Mary mosaic we do have the oldest surviving representation of the face of Jesus. The Countenance Divine may in poetry have shone among the dark satanic mills but in mosaic it is present today in Bloomsbury. gen: Reportage ser: Lent Talks tit: The Human Face of God epi: 3 sbt: Religion Without God aut: Ray Billington cnt: 23 bnd: BR 1 len: 15' med: MP3 spd: 40 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 23.03.2003 lng: englisch stw: Ray Billington is the author of 'Religion Without God'. He recalls the radical theology of Bishop John Robinson, whose 'Honest To God" caused a furore on its publication 40 years ago this March, and whose later book 'The Human Face of God' gives its title to this series. But he goes further than Robinson did, proposing that religion is better off without God. Let me begin with a health warning. I am an official Christian heretic. Thirty years ago, my book 'The Christian Outsider', was declared by the Methodist Church, of which I was then a minister, to be guilty of false doctrine. Nowadays heretics are no longer burned at the stake, (though, judging from the letters I received, some regretted this change) and I was simply expelled. Maybe they were right. What I had tried to describe was a conversion in the opposite direction from usual: from a belief in a personal God to a rejection of it. I remember the moment well: I was actually and this is ironic - preparing a sermon for the following Sunday, and reading Julian Huxley's 'Essays of a Humanist'. As I read, I came to the realisation that I not only agreed with his ideas, but felt the same drive within me. I walked up and down my study saying over and over again, 'I am an atheist'. It was an experience of great joy which has motivated me ever since, though I now describe myself as a non-theist rather than an atheist. The reason for this I hope will become clear. I was working in Woolwich at the time, in the ecumenical team led by Nicolas Stacey, and Bishop John Robinson was our local mentor. His controversial book 'Honest to God' was published forty years ago this month, and put religion on the front pages of the national newspapers for weeks. He pointed me in the direction which I followed in my own book, along a path which I have since pursued for thirty years. This path has opened up vistas which I had never experienced during my twenty years within the fold of the Church. I'm inviting you to accompany me a little along the way. The thread which guides me is the realisation that there is all the difference in the world between thinking about something and thinking. We no doubt often read what others have to say on a particular subject, and reflect on whether their statements make sense. This will usually require some effort on our part but the thinking involved is our response to what someone else has initiated. It is a state of dependence: thinking about. But thinking is on a different level from this, and is much more difficult. When we think, we begin to explore ideas for ourselves. We leave behind the security of other people's ideas and cast ourselves adrift on an uncharted sea. We absorb ourselves in its apparent infinity. We lose awareness of our selves and become pure psyche, or mind, no longer supported by the crutches which are provided by ideas we've taken on board. When we are thinking, time and place cease to exist. Now, I want to suggest to you that religion is in the same category as thinking, rather than thinking about. Many descriptions of what it is to be religious, even when accompanied by deep sincerity and devotion, fall into the thinking about category: attending a place of worship, accepting the unique authority of the Bible or the Koran, reflecting on the papal view of this, the archbishop's view of that, the Chief Rabbi's view of the other; discussing the meaning of the sacraments, the virgin birth, the resurrection. But none of this is any more about actually being religious than is discussing the latest theory of evolution or the origin of the universe - or even the authorship of Shakespeare's plays. Now let's take this one stage further. If religion is like thinking, then to be religious is essentially to experience the transcendental: to enter into a dimension which, like the uncharted sea of pure thought, absorbs our conscious selves. Matthew Arnold called it the Sea of Faith, but I prefer to call it the Sea of Enlightenment. It is the experience of what has been called the numinous, (a difficult word, but worth pursuing).It was described by the Jewish philosopher, Martin Buber, as the Thou of one's life. It is certainly a state beyond the security of creeds and ritual; more surprisingly, perhaps, it is a state beyond the God of theology, dogma, and even the Bible, all of which are at the level of looking at religion rather than experiencing it. Now, you may well be questioning this approach. You might be telling me that you have moved beyond these outward expressions to the inner reality, and have committed your life to the belief in the existence of a perfect being who created and sustains the world, and whom you call God. I can't argue with that; in fact it would be impertinent of me to do so. But it's worth bearing in mind the cautionary words of the philosopher Boethius: we cannot possibly say what God is: all we can say is what God is not, since the moment we say what he, she or it is we diminish him, reducing him to the level of our inadequate thoughts and even more inadequate language. To realise this is to be in tune with the opening words of the great Chinese classic, the Tao Te Ching: 'The Tao that can be talked about is not the eternal Tao.' 'Tao' (spelt t-a-o) means 'way', the ultimate ground of being. Martin Buber, whom I've just mentioned, said of the thou of one's life: 'When you get to the Thou, God is no more'. Or, as the Tao Te Ching expresses it, 'The Tao is older than God.' Behind the God of the creeds is what the thirteenth-century Christian mystic Meister Eckhart called the mysterious and indescribable godhead who cannot be known directly but only by way of a variety of channels. The trouble is that this leap into the unknown seems to be asking rather a lot of anyone whose life is safely organised into segments, with ideas carefully pigeon-holed and classified. What's wrong, you may ask, with a wayside shrine, a biblical text, a rosary, a holy person to follow and obey, such as Moses, Jesus, or Mohammed? But these are aids, and need to be recognised as just that: aids along the path, but not the real thing. What we have to guard ourselves against is the error of the zen novice whose master had pointed at the moon and asked him what it was. He replied, 'That's your finger, ' thereby mistaking the pipeline for the source, the aid for the aim. As Bruce Lee said in 'Enter the Dragon': 'Don't concentrate on the finger or you'll miss the heavenly glory'. My conviction now is that to reach the highest peak of religion we need to embark on our own personal act of exploration into what is often termed 'the fifth dimension'. We may be approaching that dimension via a well-worn path, particularly, if we are Christians (as I was), the way of Jesus. But the ultimate experience of the transcendental cannot be gained by standing on anyone else's shoulders; it is a way which we each of us must find for ourselves. Others, especially spiritual leaders of great insight, may point us in a particular direction which looks promising, and we may follow that path for a while, perhaps for years. But ultimately we must follow our own path, blaze our own trail, if we are to discover what religion really means. Nobody becomes a tennis player by just watching Andre Agassi, and nobody discovers religion by simply reading about Jesus. And so we reach the crucial part. This path doesn't meander only through those terrains which have traditionally been designated as 'religious'. The transcendental experience has been found by many, for instance, through the imagination and the arts. Haven't you at one time or another been so absorbed in a piece of music, a poem, a painting or a play that you lose all sense of time and place, and of self-awareness? And haven't you found that it is impossible to articulate or communicate these transcendental experiences, because they are literally beyond words? Yet those who have entered that dimension know that it has happened, and that its effect has both enriched them personally and made them better people to live with: those who have entered. I think Wordsworth had entered, judging from his description in these 'Lines Written Over Tintern Abbey': And I have felt A presence that disturbs me with the joy Of elevated thoughts; a sense sublime Of something far more deeply interfused, Whose dwelling is the light of setting suns, And the round ocean, and the living air, And the blue sky, and in the mind of man; A motion and a spirit, that impels All thinking things, all objects of all thought And rolls through all things. I don't think that any sermon, scriptural passage, or saintly confession has expressed the reality of religion any more truly than this. It is not just looking at nature but seeing it with open eyes, entering a state of enlightenment. And this is what concerns me with our general interpretation of the word religion. The trouble is that it has been appropriated by the world's monotheistic religions -especially Judaism, Christianity, and Islam - and forced into a kind of spiritual, god-shaped straitjacket. The result is that those who do not or cannot bring themselves to wear this straitjacket are assumed not to be religious, and even describe themselves in this way. So I find this exclusive attitude sad, and it's not just because of the conflicts to which the often opposing claims of these religions seem to lead. More importantly, it causes people who may well be sensitive to the transcendental dimension but follow non-theistic, perhaps openly atheistic, paths, to conclude that religion is not for them. On the contrary: religion cannot be confined and delimited, because religion is for all. The human face of God, in John Robinson's striking phrase, is one which displays itself in the multitude of wonders which the world affords. It is seen in nature as well as in sacred writings, in the creativity of Beethoven and Shakespeare as well as in priestly sacrifices and prophetic messages. Whenever you try to empathise with other people, to feel as they feel and see things as they see them in a world which continually tries to force us into separate compartments, the human face of God emerges. Religion, so understood, is indivisible: it cannot be circumscribed, enclosed, or demarcated. It is not just for a chosen few, because it is a facet of all our human birthrights. There is not just one path towards it, but many - perhaps as many as there are people making the journey. What is needed, then, is not to offer religious proofs to people, but to prove to them that they are religious. This brings me to the most absorbing point of all, and the goal of my journey. You may still wish to settle for the path provided by Jesus, for John Robinson the supreme human face of God, and a composite of those virtues which we have traditionally valued beyond the rest. But I want to go further than this -further than John, as a bishop, was able or willing to go. A central feature of Jesus's message was that all can become as he is, and God, the ground of being, be reflected in our lives. We are close here to the Hindu affirmation, tat tvam asi - 'thou art that', where 'thou' is the individual self and 'that' the ground of being, the way, the otherwise unknowable godhead. But tat tvam asi can also be translated as I am that. 'I am God'? Can we make so bold as to affirm that? If so, then here's a thought into which to be absorbed: that I myself am one with the ground of being, so that all that exists is me interacting with myself and manifesting myself as spirit, mind and matter. That I am the thinker, the thought, the word and the flesh. That in the cosmic dance of the universe I am the dancer, the dancing and the dance. Follow that train of thought and you may come to the conclusion that the only face which you can describe as godly is a human face. A face that you see every time you look in a mirror. gen: Reportage ser: Lent Talks tit: The Human Face of God epi: 4 sbt: The Black Jesus aut: Joe Aldred cnt: 24 bnd: BR 1 len: 15' med: MP3 spd: 40 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 30.03.2003 lng: englisch stw: Fourth talk in the Radio 4 Lent Series, 2003 NB Sections in italics were omitted from the broadcast because of time constraints Joe Aldred is a bishop in the Church of God of Prophecy. He wonders why his fellow black Christians so readily accept an image of Jesus as white and European and are so reluctant to see Jesus as not only one with us but also one of us. Every Christian needs to embrace a mental image of Jesus, the Incarnate Son of God, as someone who looks like them. I am convinced that this is particularly true for Black people like myself, who have undergone centuries of mental conditioning of seeing Jesus portrayed as a White European, with only the devil and his imps as Black. During the early part of my life, the colour of Jesus was not a major issue for me. But, it became so after I read the Black American theologian James Cone's bold claim that 'Jesus is Black'. Cone's argument ran along the line that since God is to be found among the poor and oppressed, when God became a human being in the person of Jesus, he, of necessity had to be found among poor and oppressed people. And given that Black people are the poor and oppressed in America, Jesus must be Black. It is an interesting, if parochial, view, but it certainly got me thinking. Since that time during the 1970s, I have discovered biblical scholars like Cain Hope Felder who argue that the Middle East of Jesus' day was an extension of Africa, and that the people of that area were Afroasian, or people of colour. This kind of talk turned my little world upside down, since up to this time my mental image of Jesus was as a White European male. After all this is how he appeared in my bible, in the books I had read, and in the paintings I had seen. Quite recently, I came across a website with the face of Jesus depicted in the shape and complexion of different ethnic, national, historic and ideological identities. In a timely reminder to me that in my zeal to redress a historic distortion I need to remember that Jesus is God's incarnation for the entire world. These computer generated images include; Jesus as the light of the world, the Bar Code Jesus, Jesus in the Shroud of Turin, Jesus the Revolutionary, Jesus the Liberator, Jesus the Eastern Icon and a Forensic reconstruction of an image of Jesus, which was developed for the Son of Man television series. With millions of others I recall being glued to my television screen to see the face of Jesus. What we got was a rather unglamorous, rugged man of colour. The proponents of 'Jesus is Black' felt vindicated and pleased with ourselves at this depiction of a 1st Century Galilean as a Black man. It was a few years ago that I came across and acquired a version of the bible called 'the Original African Heritage Bible'. Obviously intent on challenging the White mythology of the bible, this was, in fact, the traditional King James Version with an African overlay. In its introduction and preface, the editors give credit to ancient Africa and her peoples for, what they call, their unquestionable contributions made toward the formation and development of Judaism and Christianity. The editors also highlight passages, references, people and places in the bible that refer to African-Asiatic people. In fact, I discovered that once you begin to look at the bible like this, the question is not 'where are the blacks in the bible', but 'where are the whites?' A feature of this bible is its depiction of Black iconography. In fact, everybody in this bible is Black. Fantastic! For the first time I had a bible with images of people that looked like me. I was quite enchanted by a picture of Jesus that looked more like the legendary West Indian batsman Viv Richards than the blonde haired blue-eyed European I had grown up seeing; the Charlton Heston-like figure, that has been much maligned by Black radicals such as the Black Civil Rights activist Malcolm X. I propose Viv Richards to star as Jesus in a movie, now there is an idea. Anyway, I carried this bible around with me everywhere I went and showed it off. I preached, taught, exhorted and studied from it. I encouraged others to buy their own copies. Then I realised that not everybody was as excited about Black imagery of biblical characters as I was. To my great surprise, many Black Christians were most upset, even hostile, to the idea of a Black Jesus,! Some said to me, 'Oh, it does not matter what colour Jesus was'. I replied, 'well if it doesn't matter, why are you upset if it is Black?' To me all of these developments were very refreshing, because they support the notion that all people of the earth are at liberty to embrace an imagery of Jesus that looks like them. It may be that this idea appeals to me particularly because I have a long-standing angst about the misleading Europeanization of the Christ image; and the damage I believe this has caused, and continues to cause for Black, or non-White, people. Not that I have anything against Jesus being portrayed in the likeness of whites, Chinese, Indians or any other racial or ethnic group. In fact, it is precisely the plurilisation of the human face of God in Jesus Christ that I am advocating. I now realise that although I had grown up with it, I had not taken sufficient stock of just how engrained White imagery of Jesus and other bible characters was, particularly in the Black Christian psyche. It seems that deep in the subconscious, Black Christians were reverencing a Jesus whose physical features are akin to their former White European slave masters, colonial rulers and modern day oppressors. So in spite of their oppressive history, blacks still believe White is superior and God, the most superior of all, has to be White too. Some how it seems that the dominant presence of whites had transmitted itself into the God-figure for Black Christians, and White icons epitomised this. I began to notice in Black churches in Britain, that if there were any icons at all, they were White. Only once did I visit a church in Handsworth, Birmingham, which displayed a picture of the Black Madonna and Child. This also happened to be the church of the emerging radical Black British theologian, Dr Robert Beckford, now famous for his depiction of Jesus with Rastafarian dreadlocks. This apart, it is clear that Black-British Christian worshippers are more at ease with White, than Black imagery of God in their places of worship. I notice too that in the homes of my church brethren and friends there is nearly always a picture of a White Jesus. There is the Sacred Heart picture of Jesus, the Good Shepherd Jesus and Jesus at the Last Supper with his twelve White disciples. With words like, 'Jesus is the unseen guest at every meal' and 'I am the Good Shepherd', these images allude to a sense of security, authority, care and salvation. In Black Christians' homes, these pictures tend to be strategically situated in the hall or the living room in ways that have Jesus 'looking' down on everyone; as if to say, 'don't worry, I'm here, I'm in charge'. To cap it all, on recent trips to Jamaica, to funerals of my mother, father and recently my brother, I noticed how White images of Jesus and angelic beings are utilised to bring peace and assurance to relatives of the deceased. This was particularly in evidence in funeral parlours. I protested to the owner of one of these funeral parlours, but he didn't seem to get the point. At my father's funeral I took possession of his cherished bible and sure enough, the book my father had lived by showed all heavenly beings as White Europeans. I remember thinking that my Dad will have a shock when in heaven he meets the real Jesus and find that Jesus looks more like him than those European images he saw in his bible. In the case of my brother's funeral, there was a picture of Jesus and his disciples in his coffin! This was strategically placed over the head of the corpse. I really felt like removing this picture, but reasoned that it was best left alone, as this was a funeral and not the right occasion on which to make this cultural, political point. I found it hard to get over the fact that there in Jamaica, where the White proportion of the population is a mere 1%, the 99% Black, Asian and mixed heritage people still seem to need White imagery of heavenly beings to keep them feeling assured that all is well over on the other side where their loved ones have gone. It seems to me that the Renaissance painters and their ideological associates of the Enlightenment have done a masterful job of brainwashing the world with the notion that the biblical story originated and was lived out in Europe and that all the key players on that stage were White. We have all imbibed the idea that only the devil and the fallen angels were Black. Of course, Britain and much of Western Europe had many years of imperialism and colonial rule during which to impose this ideology upon its mainly Black subjects. Most of us now accept that the biblical drama was played out on the African-Asiatic stage and that Europe, as we know it today, had only a peripheral part in the story. As Cain Hope Felder puts it, the Sweet Little Jesus Boy of the Negro Spiritual was in fact quite Black. How else, for example, could Jesus' parents have been convinced by the angel to seek refuge from Pharaoh in Egypt? Imagine a White European family attempting to hide in Black Africa! So, does it matter what colour Jesus was? Well, let me tell you why it does matter. Imagine that you are Black and you lived in a world where people of darker hue were widely disadvantaged in matters of world trade, indebtedness, poverty, water shortages, ill-health, unemployment, poor housing, underachievement in education, and the list goes on. Imagine that when you run for refuge to the church, you found that White Christians in that church exhibited the same colour prejudices and racist exclusion as were prevalent in the wider world. Imagine a world in which almost everything seems to be against you and you turn to God, only to discover that all the images of God you can find are the same as the White people who racialise and exclude you. I imagine you would conclude that there is no hope for you in a world like that. For hundreds of years of slavery, indentured labour and colonial rule, people of colour have been told and made to feel that Black is evil and White is good. This is confirmed by portraying the devil as Black and God as White. I believe that the time is ripe for portraying the incarnate Jesus in the image of the people portraying him. Seeing the image of God in the image of yourself is particularly important in a world in which the group that sets itself up as superior to all others has also imposed upon the world the image of God in them. Therefore, in my opinion, Black Christians should remove, forthwith, every White imagery of Christ in their homes and churches and replace them with images similar to those in the Original African Heritage Bible. Not to replace White imagery of Jesus and other heavenly beings with Black ones, is, I believe, to continue to live out a self-imposed Black inferiority that in a neo-colonial way subjugates Black identity to White supremacy. People who say 'colour doesn't matter' are just avoiding this important issue and they, unwittingly, contribute to keeping the Black and White, inferior and superior dichotomies alive. The bible says it is for freedom that Christ has set us free. This means for me that even though our parents may have been in bondage to a superior power, salvation in Christ sets us free so that we are in bondage to no one, we are inferior to no one, and we have the responsibility to set others free too. The great Bob Marley sang, 'emancipate yourself from mental slavery, none but ourselves can free our minds'. It is not up to White people, Christians or not, to free Black people from feelings of inferiority; it is up to Black people to free ourselves, and this freedom starts in our minds. By renewing our minds in Christ we come to know that in him all are one and equal. The only superior one is God. And the Christ who came amongst us, has come in the image of all of us, or he is in the image of none of us. A Black British identity for Jesus does not claim exclusivity rights, it merely asserts equal rights with other humans to see themselves reflected in the image and likeness of God in Jesus Christ. So, the face of God that we see in Jesus may not be only Black, but it is Black. gen: Reportage ser: Lent Talks tit: The Human Face of God epi: 5 sbt: Creation is more than chance aut: John Polkinghorne cnt: 25 bnd: BR 1 len: 15' med: MP3 spd: 40 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 06.04.2003 lng: englisch stw: John Polkinghorne was the winner of the 2002 Templeton prize for Progress in Religion. He was ordained following an early career as a scientist. He sees the hand of God in the design of the vast and complex universe and the face of God in the human beings who emerged "in God's image". What is the most astonishing thing we know about, that has happened in the long history of the universe? I think it occurred here on planet Earth, with the dawning of self-conscious life in our early ancestors. Suddenly, the world became aware of itself, after fourteen billion years of unconsciously unfolding process. You might say that the universe had acquired a human face. As a by-product of that amazing event, science became a possibility, eventually enabling us to discover and tell the story of how our kind of life had come to be. It's a pretty important question whether all this was just a happy accident, or whether it was an event revealing something of the real significance of why there is a universe at all. I feel I have to pursue this question, driven by my instinct as a scientist to try to understand things as deeply and as comprehensively as possible. It took a long time for life to appear. The universe as we know it originated in the fiery singularity of the big bang, some fourteen billion years ago. It all started extremely simple. The very early universe was just an expanding ball of energy - about the simplest physical system that you could imagine. Yet that ball of energy has turned into a world that is rich and complex, with saints and scientists among its inhabitants. That fact in itself is pretty striking, and it raises the question of whether there has not been more going on in what has been happening than can be expressed simply by a plain, matter-of-fact scientific account on its own. And there are more questions to ask. The plot thickened significantly when scientists began to study and understand many of the processes that had turned that initial ball of energy into a universe with a human face. Though it had taken all those billions of years for self-conscious life to come to birth, we came to realise that the potentiality for this happening was present in the physical fabric of the world, essentially from the start. By 'physical fabric', I mean the actual laws of nature - the fundamental forces of the physical world, that science has to take for granted as given starting point. Science doesn't pretend to explain where these laws come from. It simply gets on with using them as the unexplained basis for its explanation of the detail of what is happening. What we've learned is that these laws had to take a very specific form for life to be possible at all. You might say that they had to be finely-tuned for fruitfulness. In other words, a life-bearing universe is a very special kind of universe indeed, compared to all the possible worlds that we can imagine. This discovery came as a bit of a shock to many scientists. You see, our natural inclination is to prefer things to be general rather than special. It seemed natural, therefore, to expect that our universe is just a typical specimen of what a world might be like, with nothing all that remarkable about it. What I'm saying is that this has turned out not to be the case. That's a very surprising conclusion, and I'd like to give you some idea of why we've come to think in this unexpected way. If you're going to have a universe that can generate and support life, one of the most significant things to get right is the stars. They have two very important roles to play, One is simply to fuel the development of life on an encircling planet. Life has been able to develop here on Earth over a period of from three to four billion years, because our local star, the Sun, has been shining more or less steadily all that time, giving out the energy that life needs in order to be able to grow. We understand what makes stars shine in this long-term, reliable fashion, and it turns out to depend very sensitively on a delicate balance between two of the fundamental forces of nature: gravity and electromagnetism. If that balance had been a little bit different, the stars would have been put out of kilter, either burning too feebly to be much good, or burning so furiously that they would have exhausted their fuel supplies in just a few million years - far too short a time to get life going. So something very close to the actual balance that we have in this world is an indispensable requisite for the possibility of life. And the stars have another vital role to play. The chemistry of life is the chemistry of carbon. Yet, because the early universe is so simple, it only does simple things. It can't produce anything as complicated as carbon, or the other heavy elements necessary for life. All it can make are the two simplest elements, hydrogen and helium, which have a rather boring and unpromising chemistry. So where has the carbon come from? There is only one place in the whole universe where it can be made, in the interior nuclear furnaces of the stars. Every atom of carbon in our bodies was once inside a star - we are people of stardust. The man who studied and understood this process of carbon production was Fred Hoyle. He found that it had only been possible at all because of a very delicate fine-tuning of the laws of nuclear physics, producing a necessary effect at just the right energy. If those forces had been at all different, there would have been no carbon, no you and me. Fred was so struck by this that, despite the inclination that he had to atheism, he said that the universe must be a 'put-up job'. In other words, this couldn't just be a happy accident, but there must be some Intelligence behind such remarkable fine-tuning. Even the immense size of our universe has been necessary for us to be here living in it. Our Sun is just an ordinary star among the hundred thousand million stars of our galaxy, the Milky Way, and our galaxy is nothing much to speak about among the hundred thousand million galaxies of the observable universe. We live in a world that is staggeringly big. Sometimes we feel daunted by the thought of such immensity, wondering whether there really can be any significance to us, the inhabitants of a mere speck of cosmic dust? But it's no accident that we see a universe as big as it is. If all those stars weren't there, we wouldn't be here to be upset at the thought of them. Only a universe at least as large as ours could last as long as the fourteen billion years that it takes for self-conscious life to be able to appear. Moreover, size and significance are not at all the same thing. In the seventeenth century, the great French thinker, Blaise Pascal, said that human beings are greater than all the stars, for we know them and ourselves and they know nothing ! Certainly, we live in a remarkable universe. Was Fred Hoyle right to think that it is a put-up job, that there must be more to say about it than science on its own can utter, because an Intelligence of some kind must lie behind the universe's wonderful and fruitful order? Couldn't it all be just a happy accident? Frankly, I think that to suppose so stretches belief far beyond the breaking point, and that we should not be so intellectually lazy as not to seek a better understanding. Well, then, maybe there are just trillions and trillions of different universes, all separate from each other and all with different laws of nature, and this one is just the winning ticket in that vast cosmic lottery, the one world that is capable of producing anything as interesting as life. And, of course, its our world, because we are carbon-based life and couldn't appear in any other universe. I'd say to that, 'Well maybe - it's not an absolute impossibility - but to think that way really is an incredibly extravagant speculation'. I prefer another and much more economical explanation: that there is just one universe and its fine-tuned fruitfulness is a sign that it is indeed not 'any old world', but a creation that has been endowed by its Creator with just those laws and circumstances that have enabled it to have so remarkable and fruitful a history. I don't present that as a knockdown argument for God - I don't think there are any such absolute arguments either for or against divine existence - but for me to see the universe as creation is a coherent and intellectually satisfying insight, providing the best explanation of the astonishing appearance of human persons in the developing history of what was initially just a ball of energy. And, of course, as a Christian I not only believe that a person-generating universe is the expression of the Creator's purposes, but also that God took human personhood with such seriousness as to share its life in the particular person of Jesus Christ. If persons are as significant as I've been suggesting, perhaps that's not as surprising an idea as one might think. But wait a minute! Haven't I left something out? We must remember that the unfolding history I have been describing has been an evolving history, whether it is the familiar story of the evolution of life on Earth, that Charles Darwin gave us, or the story of how the stars and galaxies came into existence. All evolutionary processes depend upon a balanced interaction between two tendencies that you might call 'chance' and 'necessity'. There has to be enough openness for novelty to be possible and enough regularity for emergent novelties to be preserved. So, does this role for chance mean that it is all an accident after all? Now, 'chance' is a slippery word and we have to be careful about what it means. It doesn't signify a kind of meaningless randomness, but simply what one might call 'happenstance', the particularity of what happens. This particular genetic mutation occurs, turning the stream of life in this particular direction. If a different mutation had happened, things would have turned out somewhat differently. If one understands chance this way, its operation does not imply that it there is no purpose or meaning in what is happening, but simply that every detail is not determined in advance. I said that the early universe was pregnant with the possibility of life from the beginning, but I certainly don't believe that it was pregnant with the particularity of homo sapiens, our very specific, five-fingered form of self-conscious existence. There are certainly lots of details that might have turned out differently, so that there is quite a lot that is accidental about humanity. But, for the reasons I have already given, it does not seem to me that there is anything accidental about the fact that some form of self-conscious life, being of our complexity, has developed in the universe. Maybe, in fact, it has developed in lots of places and in different ways, so that the universe has a little green face as well as a human one. Scientifically, we don't know whether this is likely or not, but religiously I'm sure the Creator can cope with that possibility and care as much for the little green men as we know God cares for humanity. Religious people began to think about chance and necessity as soon as evolutionary ideas became known. It is just historically ignorant to suppose that they all opposed what Darwin had to say. Very soon, an English clergyman, called Charles Kingsley, grasped how to think theologically about an evolving world. He said that God could no doubt have snapped the divine fingers to bring into being a ready-made world but, in fact, the Creator had chosen to do something cleverer than that, in bringing into being a world in which creatures could explore and bring to birth the great potential fruitfulness with which their world had been endowed. Kingsley saw that the creation of the God of love would not be a kind of divine puppet theatre in which the Creator pulled every string, but a world in which creatures would be allowed 'to make themselves'. In that phrase about creatures 'making themselves' we find expressed the right way to think religiously about an evolving universe. If we take science and religion with equal seriousness, as I certainly want to do, we shall see the history of the world, not as the performance of a fixed score decreed by God from all eternity, but as the unfolding of a grand improvisation in which the Creator and creatures work together. We live in a universe which, on one of its planets, has achieved the distinctive fruitfulness of a human face, a world in which there are self-conscious beings capable both of understanding the scientific processes of their world and also of knowing and worshipping its Creator. With the psalmists we can truly say I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made (Ps. 139, 14); Great are the works of the Lord, studied by all who delight in them. (Ps. 111, 2) gen: Reportage ser: Lent Talks tit: The Human Face of God epi: 6 sbt: Gods Face in Human Suffering aut: Cardinal Cormac Murphy O'Connor cnt: 26 bnd: BR 1 len: 15' med: MP3 spd: 40 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 13.04.2003 lng: englisch stw: Cardinal Cormac Murphy O'Connor delivers his talk in Holy Week, when Christians remember the drama of Jesus' arrest, trial torture and crucifixion. How can the Church, so often seen as an authoritarian institution, carry the message of a human God who is vulnerable, and who can speak to today's secular society? For many years I was bishop of a rural diocese, which meant I lived in a house with a large garden. One of the social and liturgical highlights of the summer was a special celebration of an open air Mass with disabled people in the diocese and their families. Invariably our liturgy would be followed by tea and impromptu music and dancing. I will always remember one man whose wife had been very ill for many years. They had a disabled daughter. This man came to the Mass every year. One summer I caught sight of him and his daughter dancing together after the celebration. I had never before seen such intense love and suffering, radiating simultaneously, on the face of a human person. It was like a glimpse of transfiguration. It was as if the suffering he so clearly experienced only increased his love for his daughter, and his love for his daughter in turn deepened his inner suffering. The two things û suffering and love û were combined in the one face, and in the one life. This is the icon of redemption which artists throughout the Christian era have tried to create and recreate: the human face of love and suffering. Only, in their case, that human face is the human face of God. Some years ago, the National Gallery mounted an Exhibition called Seeing Salvation. It brought together some of the most arresting and moving paintings of the face of Christ, by great artists over many centuries. The Director, an earlier contributor to this Lenten series, spoke to me at the time of his delight at the extraordinary success of the exhibition, which drew huge crowds. He was convinced that people had been attracted by something more than the opportunity to see a marvellous collection of paintings. People came to catch a glimpse of the transcendent. But that glimpse of the transcendent was not mediated simply by the extraordinary vision and skill of great artists. It was mediated by the face of Jesus Christ. In other words here was a chance to gaze upon the human face of God. And when we gaze on that face what we discover is the face of suffering. Our God is a God who suffers with his people. He is a God of compassion. A God whose humanity is as real as his divinity. Who, I wonder, could gaze upon the face of God and be unmoved? Who, in Isaiah's words, could meet "the man of sorrows, familiar with suffering à pierced through for our faults, crushed for our sins" and not begin to appreciate the enormous, even shocking, significance that "on him lies a punishment that brings us peace, and through his wounds we are healed". In the human face of God is written the story of our salvation. You may be familiar with John Henry Newman's great hymn Praise to the Holiest in the Height and the verse: O generous love that He who smote In man for man the foe; The double agony in man For man should undergo. What, I wonder, did Newman mean when he spoke about the double agony in man? I believe he was referring to that mystery which is at the heart both of our human existence and one of the deepest questions to which it gives rise. That is - the consequence of sin, namely and suffering and death. We Christians believe that God sent his Son Jesus Christ to live as we live, and to die as we will die; and that he did this for a purpose. It was to confront, and to overcome, the destructive power of the sins which disfigure us, and which are a root cause not only of our suffering, but of our fear of death. Jesus came to witness to the truth that God does not abandon us to sin, to suffering or to death. Jesus is the incarnation of the compassionate God who suffers with us and for us, and whose promise is that neither our suffering, nor our sin, nor even our death is the end of the matter. There is, beyond all that we know existentially, anything that we can touch or feel, the promise of eternal life. And we are invited to respond to that promise by daring a personal encounter with the compassionate God who humbled himself to become one like us, in Jesus His Son. We are being invited not simply to gaze upon images of Christ, but to go a step further and allow that loving gaze to fix us, to penetrate us and to transfigure us. I suspect that most of us find it much, much easier to stay with a painting, than we do to stay with a look of love. Our reflex is to turn away. There is something in us that finds it hard to accept love. We long to look upon the human face of God. But do we look long enough to enter into relationship with the God whose face we feel so attracted to? Are we too afraid to face the consequences of that loving gaze û with all that it could entail in terms of self-discovery, of the need for forgiveness, and of a deepening recognition of our responsibility for our brothers and sisters? The call to compassion and honesty is compelling. It is also very demanding. Each of us is called, at some moment in our lives, to encounter very real and deep suffering. Many of us will encounter it again and again; in our own lives and in the lives of those we meet and love. Is our response to remain with the suffering that we are given, or do we avert our gaze, and cross emotionally and spiritually to the other side? The truth is that each of us is invited individually to live in total trust of all that God has promised. We are invited to learn to look upon ourselves, and those around us, with God's own loving and compassionate gaze. We are invited to be in love with Him, just as He is in love with us. That love is not a sentimental love which excludes, or tries to avoid suffering. Far from it. To be in love means to embrace the other, even in the midst of suffering, vulnerability and poverty. Think again of the suffering servant in Isaiah. He is the very icon of suffering. He takes upon himself our own double agony of suffering and death. And his response of love and compassion, without an ounce of self-pity, is the signpost which points towards our own redemption in the Passion of Jesus himself. So naturally we should expect to encounter in the humanity of God those very things that oppress us in our lives: human suffering, fear of death, the burden of sin and shame. This is exactly what we discover in the earthly ministry of Jesus Christ. It is what is written in the human face of God. Jesus confronted sin. To the woman caught in adultery, he said, I do not condemn you. Go now and sin no more. Jesus was explicit, almost shockingly forthright: I have come, not to call the virtuous but sinners. He confronted sin, and the sinner, with compassion, rather than judgement. But Jesus also came to confront suffering and, ultimately, His own death. His was a ministry of healing and of the restoration of wholeness in the human person. He healed the sick; he gave sight to the blind; he drove out unclean spirits. He forgave the contrite their sins. Jesus was the incarnation of the love and compassion of God. And his message for us was to be like Him. We also are called to be compassionate, rather than judgmental. We also are called to be healers of broken human spirits, and living signs of the God-given wholeness of the human person. This is certainly what the Church is called to, a calling which we struggle at times to live up to. Like all human institutions or communities, the church is prone to failure and in need of forgiveness and healing. It is called not just to reflect the loving and compassionate gaze of God. It is called, in and through its own vulnerability, to experience, and witness to, man's individual and collective desire to be renewed by the healing power of God's love and compassion. It seems as though we live in an increasingly insecure and dangerous world. The poor are insecure because they do not have the economic wherewithal to protect themselves and their children from the risk of hunger, disease and exploitation. The rich feel insecure because of their fear of those who envy their wealth, because of the dangers of terrorism, or because their hard-earned savings are vulnerable to the vagaries of the market. We feel increasingly impotent and fearful. People talk of compassion fatigue. Perhaps we need to scale down our expectations, and refocus on the small and important things in our lives. More often than not it is in the smallest of gestures that we can best understand, or convey something of the compassion of God. Jesus' description of what it means to live a life of love was beguilingly simple: I was hungry and you gave me to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me to drink, naked and you clothed me, sick or in prison and you visited me. Not quite getting the point his disciples questioned him: When did we find you hungry or thirsty or sick or in prison? And Jesus said, In as much as you did it to one of the least of my brothers or sisters, you did it to Me. Jesus is saying that it is by our own compassion, by reaching out to others and treating them as brothers and sisters, that we reflect the compassion and the love of God that became incarnate in Jesus Christ. In the past few months I have spent some time in prisons. To sit with young men, or women, and hear them talk about themselves and their predicament is profoundly challenging. Our society believes that wrongdoing must be punished. But punishment alone is not enough to change a person. Real conversion of heart and mind flows from an honest and healing encounter with the source of our pain, our alienation, and the sometimes acute suffering which can well up inside us and threaten to overpower our reason and our sense of hope. One young prisoner wrote to me recently: "It was my birthday yesterday and I was 20 years old and I know it's not a good age to be in prison. So I pray that things will get better for me and everyone will know that I am sorry for what I have done. Please pray for me and I will pray for you." The human face of God is all around us. But it is most powerfully etched in the faces of the forgotten of our world, the marginalized, the prisoner. To begin to understand and experience the liberating possibilities of a real encounter with the suffering and the love behind that face, those faces, we must first look up and allow their gaze to touch us. We must take time out from our hectic self-centred lives to seek out that human face of God around us. It is the key which will unlock our own suffering and vulnerability, and lead us to the deep wells within from which we draw the water of our own compassion and love. This is Holy Week, when we journey with Jesus from his palm strewn entry to Jerusalem to a stony and dusty hill outside the city, called Golgotha, where Jesus dies a painful and humiliating death. In these few days we relive in our liturgy the drama of the death and resurrection of the Son of God, our Saviour. The human face of God gazes at us this week from the Upper Room where he broke bread and told his disciples that he would soon die; from the Garden of Gethsemane where he suffered the terrible anguish of impending betrayal and death; from the Cross itself; and finally as transfigured in the miracle of the Resurrection. I invite you be alive this week to the suffering and the compassion of our God, and to allow the gaze of that face to penetrate you and lead you to your own experience of inner liberation and renewal. Jesus overcame sin and death, but not without suffering. We are the human face of God. His gaze is on us. He suffers with us. His compassion for us is unlimited. Read the scriptures. Discover there the very human face of God and gaze upon it. Allow the truth you find in that face to resonate with the reality of your own life. And do not be afraid to be moved deep inside by the tenderness of the God, who made you in His own image and likeness, and who loves you. gen: Reportage ser: Reith Lectures tit: 2003; The Emerging Mind epi: 1 sbt: Phantoms in the Brain aut: Vilayanur S. Ramachandran cnt: 27 bnd: BR 1 len: 45' med: MP3 spd: 40 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 02.04.2003 lng: englisch stw: The Reith Lectures were inaugurated in 1948 by the BBC to mark the historic contribution made to public service broadcasting by Sir John (later Lord) Reith, the corporation's first director-general. The subect of this year's lecture series is The Emerging Mind. This year's Reith lecturer is the noted neuroscientist Vilayanur S. Ramachandran, Director of the Centre for Brain and Cognition at the University of California (San Diego). Until recently, neuroscientists confined themselves to specialized research in well-defined areas. But now they have started to think more broadly and to develop conceptual links across disciplines. The science is filled with a fresh spirit of adventure and discovery. But this also poses a challenge, one spelt out in this Reith lecture series by Professor Ramachandran. Scientists need no longer be afraid to ask the big questions about what it means to be human. Current research on the brain should prepare us all for the unexpected and the surprising. Science can now offer empirical evidence for answering ancient philosophical questions about meaning and being. As examples, we consider three neurological syndromes: Phantom limbs, Capgras' delusion (after head injury a patient starts claiming their mother is an imposter) and pain asymbolia (a patient feels the pain but it doesn't hurt). In the past, such syndromes were considered to be no more than clinical curiosities, but Professor Ramachandran shows how they illuminate fundamental aspects of our minds such as bodyimage, emotions and the evolution of humor. This will be a recurring theme in this series of lectures, the notion that studying neurological oddities can help unravel the mysteries of consciousness and human nature. gen: Reportage ser: Reith Lectures tit: 2003; The Emerging Mind epi: 2 sbt: Synapses and the Self aut: Vilayanur S. Ramachandran cnt: 28 bnd: BR 1 len: 45' med: MP3 spd: 40 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 09.04.2003 lng: englisch stw: How does the activity of the 100 billion little wisps of protoplasm - the neurons in your brain - give rise to all the richness of our conscious experience, including the "redness" of red, the painfulness of pain or the exquisite flavour of Marmite or Vindaloo? The first Reith lecturer, Bertrand Russell, was one of a long line of philosophers who have grappled with this problem. Professor Ramachandran draws from clinical experience of patients with blindsight, neglect and blindspots in the visual field to show that the problem of awareness can be tackled empirically. Conscious awareness is not an emergent property of the entire brain. On the contrary, certain very specialized neural circuits need to be activated that fulfill four specific functional criteria (which he calls the "four laws of qualia") before you become aware of something. If these conjectures are correct, the study of consciousness can now move from vague philosophical speculations to an era empirical research. As a previous Reith lecturer, Peter Medawar, has said, science "is the art of the soluble". gen: Reportage ser: Reith Lectures tit: 2003; The Emerging Mind epi: 3 sbt: The Artful Brain aut: Vilayanur S. Ramachandran cnt: 29 bnd: BR 1 len: 45' med: MP3 spd: 40 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 16.04.2003 lng: englisch stw: Can we come up with a "Science of Art" and bridge author C.P Snow's "two cultures"? Despite the diversity of artistic styles, are there universal aesthetic principles that cut across cultural boundaries? Professor Ramachandran draws on neurological case studies and work from ethology (animal behavior) to present a new framework for understanding how the brain creates and responds to art. He will use examples mainly from Indian art and Cubism to illustrate these ideas. There are 30 visual areas in the human brain that use a variety of short cuts or heuristics to perceive the world. The artist can tap into this circuitry to more optimally excite these areas using certain contrived patterns, more than could be done by using "natural" looking pictures. Hence abstract art which looks neither natural nor realistic. gen: Reportage ser: Reith Lectures tit: 2003; The Emerging Mind epi: 4 sbt: Purple Numbers and Sharp Cheese aut: Vilayanur S. Ramachandran cnt: 30 bnd: BR 1 len: 45' med: MP3 spd: 40 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 23.04.2003 lng: englisch stw: Synesthaesia - the mingling of the senses was first studied by Francis Galton and has usually been regarded as an anomaly or even as bogus. Professor Ramachandran demonstrates experimentally that the phenomenon is a genuine sensory effect. For example, some subjects literally "see" red every time they see the number 5 or green when they see 2. Professor Ramachandran proposes a neural mechanism in the brain involving cross activation between brain maps. He suggests that such mechanisms may also explain the representation of metaphors and the evolution of language in humans. Venue: Nelson Mandela Lecture Theatre, Saïd Business School, University of Oxford, Oxford gen: Reportage ser: Reith Lectures tit: 2003; The Emerging Mind epi: 5 sbt: Neuroscience - the New Philosophy aut: Vilayanur S. Ramachandran cnt: 31 bnd: BR 1 len: 45' med: MP3 spd: 40 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 30.04.2003 lng: englisch stw: Following the lead of many other researchers, Professor Ramachandran proposes a neurological and evolutionary approach to phenomena that were traditionally labelled "mental illness". Capgras' delusion (which we discussed in lecture one) could result from a disconnection between vision and emotion. Such disturbances may also underlie Cotard's syndrome (a person thinking they are dead), derealization ("the world doesn't really exist"), autism and anosognosia (denial of one's own paralysis). Such rapid strides have been made in neuroscience in the last decade that there is talk of new disciplines such as neuroaesthetics, neuroethics, neuroeconomics, neurophilosophy, neuroepistemology, even neurotheology. Patients with TLE (temporal lobe epilepsy) sometimes have intense mystical and religious experiences. This doesn't prove there is a "God module" in the temporal lobes, but it does suggest that certain types of neural activity are conducive to religious belief. If such enterprises are successful - and it's a big "if"- neuroscience, more than any other discipline perhaps, will transform man's understanding of himself and his place in the cosmos. Venue: The Neuroscience Institute, La Jolla, California. gen: Reportage tit: Another 5 numbers epi: 1 sbt: Four aut: Simon Singh cnt: 32 bnd: BR 1 len: 15' med: MP3 spd: 40 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 22.04.2003 lng: englisch stw: Simon Singh investigates another five very important numbers. Simon Singh's journey begins with the number 4, which for over a century has fuelled one of the most elusive problems in mathematics: is it true that any map can be coloured with just 4 colours so that no two neighbouring countries have the same colour? This question has tested some of the most imaginative minds - including Lewis Carroll's - and the eventual solution has aided the design of some of the world's most complex air and road networks. Most people's memories of geography at school will include two things. Firstly, there was learning by rote the groundnut crop yield figures for Senegal in the mid '70s, and secondly, there was colouring-in maps. Many hours were spent shading-in maps of Birmingham, scrounging around for different colour pens to distinguish Smethick from Oldbury. Now, a puzzle which owes more to maths than geography posits the question, how many different colour pens did you really need to pilfer from your mate's pencil-case in order to do Brum, so that no two adjacent suburbs had the same colour. Memories of youthful exuberance would suggest every pen in your pal's possession, but mathematically, the answer is 4. The 4 colour map problem dates back to 1852 and Francis Guthrie, a student at University College London. He'd observed that every map drawn on paper could be filled in with just 4 colours so that no two neighbouring regions would be the same hue. Desperate for a proof, he sent word to the eminent mathematician Augustus De Morgan, who, unable to solve the problem himself, put out feelers to his peers. The crux of the matter was that it wasn't enough to prove that hundreds or even billions of maps were 4-colourable. There could be just one map out there that wasn't. A proof was needed that could be applied to all maps. This was seemingly supplied by Alfred Kempe in 1879. He argued that all maps came from a finite group, or "unavoidable set", of "simplified" maps that could be proved 4-colourable. Kempe's proof was warmly received by mathematicians who deemed the matter closed. Then in 1890, Percy Heawood, a lecturer at Durham, discovered a flaw in Kempe's theory. When revised, it suggested that every map could be happily 5-coloured but not 4. The 4-colour problem was back, and this time it was personal. For the best part of a century, it continued to tantalise the world of mathematics. Then in 1976, Americans Kenneth Appel and Wolfgang Haken postulated a ground-breaking theory, based on an elaboration of Kempe's work. They constructed an "unavoidable set" with around 1500 4-colourable configurations that could be applied to any map. Their "4 Colour Theorem" got a mixed reception. It was the first major work of its kind to be proved using a computer, something that the old school mathematicians of the time found controversial. Independent verification and the test of time have convinced most sceptics that Appel and Haken did crack it. But for some purists and mathematical romantics, the puzzle remains to come up with a non-computer solution to this very Victorian problem. gen: Reportage tit: Another 5 numbers epi: 2 sbt: Seven aut: Simon Singh cnt: 33 bnd: BR 1 len: 15' med: MP3 spd: 40 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 29.04.2003 lng: englisch stw: Simon Singh investigates another five very important numbers. Picture a gambler. Is it George Clooney, tuxedo ruffled after an all-nighter at a Vegas Black Jack table, or your old Aunt Doris putting down her yearly quid-on-the-nose for the Grand National? Recent research would suggest that it's neither. Your inveterate gambler is far more likely to be sporting leather patches at their elbows, an unhealthy appetite for corduroy, and a penchant for M-Series rather than Martinis, shaken or stirred. Some mathematicians are putting their mathematical theory where their mouth is and are betting the shirts, stuffed or otherwise, off their backs. Games of chance don't necessarily afford an equal chance of winning to all players. Certain gamblers savvy enough to do the maths have been exploiting the weaknesses of some games to their advantage for years. Lazy shuffling which doesn't completely randomise a deck of cards, for example, offers anyone with a head for probability theory the edge to trump their fellow gamblers. So how do you overcome this and create a level playing field? In 1990, American mathematicians Persi Diaconis and David Bayer suggested that 7 shuffles are sufficient to achieve an acceptable degree of randomness in a deck of 52 cards. With 5 or fewer shuffles, the original order of the cards is still strongly in evidence and beyond 7, nothing is gained in terms of increased randomness. They based their research on that stalwart of bridge and poker, the riffle shuffle, where a deck of cards is roughly cut in half and then interleaved unevenly from left hand to right. They created a mathematical model of the riffle shuffle and postulated how many such manoeuvres would result in a fair dispersal of the cards. The assumption was that more shuffles would increase the randomness but interestingly, Diaconis and Bayer's work highlighted something inherent in a variety of mixing processes. Abrupt transitions from order to randomness can occur when two parts are mixed. Diaconis uses the analogy of mixing a bowl of black and white beads. "For a while there are still big streaks of black and white but all of a sudden it gets grey and stays grey." This suggests that mathematically there is a critical point where order shifts into chaos and in the case of a pack of cards and the riffle shuffle that is lucky number 7. Diaconis and Bayer may have been showered in glory for their discovery, but they have also created a fair few enemies along the way. Tournament bridge players around the world begrudgingly shuffle 7 times. Is it the case that mathematics has created a level playing field or a generation of card players with RSI? gen: Reportage tit: Another 5 numbers epi: 3 sbt: The Largest Prime Number aut: Simon Singh cnt: 34 bnd: BR 1 len: 15' med: MP3 spd: 40 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 06.05.2003 lng: englisch stw: Think of a number. Any number. Chances are you haven't plumped for 213,466,917 -1. To get this, you would need to keep multiplying 2 by itself 13,466,917 times, and then subtract 1 from the result. When written down it's 4,053,900 digits long and fills 2 telephone directories. So, as you can imagine, it's not the kind of number you're likely to stumble over often. Unless you're Bill Gates checking your bank statement at the end of the month. So why is this rather cumbersome number so important? Discovered by 20 year-old Canadian, Michael Cameron in 2001, its significance stems mainly from the fact that it is prime. And at present, it stands as the "Titanic", or largest prime number known to mathematicians. Primes, as drummed into us at school, are any number whose only divisors are 1 and itself. Therefore, 2,3,5,7 are primes but 10 isn't, as it can also be divided by 2 and 5. Primes occupy a special place in mathematics because they are considered to be the building blocks of arithmetic. 15, for example, can be deconstructed to its prime foundations of 3x5. All numbers can be similarly expressed as a series of primes multiplied together. Cameron's "Titanic" discovery has the further distinction of belonging to the subset of prime numbers known as Mersenne. A Mersenne prime takes the form 2^p-1, where p is the number of times the original figure must be multiplied by itself. From the result you must then subtract 1. Therefore 7 equals 23-1, and as such, forms one of the only 39 Mersenne primes known to date. At the time of the discovery, Cameron was taking part in the Great Internet Mersenne Prime Search (GIMPS). A global project, GIMPS utilises distributed computing power, where subscribers make available the idle time on their PCs for some serious prime number crunching. Formed in 1996 by George Woltman, GIMPS is geared exclusively towards the discovery of these super primes and has had an enviable track record, unearthing the last 5 out of the 39 known Mersennes. This quest for bigger and better primes isn't just frivolously obsessive. It is hoped that these numbers can be used to form the basis of more secure encryption codes that will stymie the Internet hackers and credit card fraudsters. To many, the challenge is intellectual but there can be financial incentives. A $100,000 award awaits the discoverer of the first ten million digit prime, and with each new Mersenne being approximately twice the size of the previous one, some lucky GIMP can't be far off the jackpot. gen: Reportage tit: Another 5 numbers epi: 4 sbt: Kepler's Conjecture aut: Simon Singh cnt: 35 bnd: BR 1 len: 15' med: MP3 spd: 40 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 13.05.2003 lng: englisch stw: Johannes Kepler experimented with different ways of stacking spheres. He concluded that the "face-centred cubic lattice" was best. Using this method, Kepler calculated that the packing efficiency rose to 74%, constituting the highest efficiency you could ever get. But, how to prove it? Sir Walter Raleigh was a poet, adventurer and all-round Elizabethan scallywag. In between searching for El Dorado and harrying the Spanish fleet, he is credited with introducing the humble potato to England. He was also the first Brit to seriously go over their Duty Free tobacco allowance on his return from the Americas. One of his more obscure contributions to posterity however, lies in mathematics. Raleigh wanted to know if there was a quick way of estimating the number of cannonballs in a pile. In 1606 this problem was presented to German astronomer, Johannes Kepler, who took it on but adapted it significantly. His concern wasn't with how many cannonballs, but with how to pack them in the most efficient way. Kepler experimented with different ways of stacking spheres. He concluded that the "face-centred cubic lattice" was the most efficient. If you arrange 100 oranges (cannonballs were replaced by oranges for convenience's sake) in a flat layer of 10x10 and then place a similar layer directly on top, you have created a "simple cubic lattice". Provided your oranges haven't rolled apart, your pile has a packing efficiency of only 52% - you're effectively stacking as much air as oranges. With Kepler's "face-centred cubic lattice" the first layer of oranges is formed in the same way you would spread penny coins on a desk to cover it leaving the least amount of gaps. Nature seems to dictate that a penny, surrounded by 6 others in a honeycomb arrangement, is best. Replicate this with your oranges. Then for the second layer, place your fruit in the "dimples" created by the honeycomb beneath. Each successive layer is then built in the same way so the pile forms a pyramid. Using this method, Kepler calculated that the packing efficiency rose to 74%, constituting the highest efficiency you could ever get. But, how to prove it? There are untold ways that oranges can be stacked and any of these might yield a higher percentage. The conjecture dogged mathematicians for centuries. The general feeling was that a proof might never appear. Then in 1998, American Professor Thomas Hales stunned the world of mathematics. Aided by his research student Samuel P. Ferguson, Hales devised a monster equation based on a cluster of 50 spheres. The equation and its 150 variables expressed every conceivable arrangement of these spheres. They then used computers to confirm that no combination of variables led to a packing efficiency higher than 74%. 250 pages of argument and 3 gigabytes of computer files proved them and Kepler right. So, 400 years after posing his question, Sir Walter can finally be given an answer of sorts. It might not have helped with estimating how many cannonballs he had left to face down the Spanish, but it would have allowed him to pack his spuds most efficiently. gen: Reportage tit: Another 5 numbers epi: 5 sbt: Game Theory aut: Simon Singh cnt: 36 bnd: BR 1 len: 15' med: MP3 spd: 40 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 20.05.2003 lng: englisch stw: Not long ago auctions seemed to be the preserve of either the mega-rich, bidding for Van Goghs at some plush auction house, or the shady car-dealer, paying cash-no-questions-asked for vehicles of dubious provenance. However, the advent of the Internet and David Dickinson has changed this. Auction web-sites allow the average punter to buy and sell pretty much anything, whilst an army of Bargain Hunt devotees can now happily tell their Delft from their Dresden. But this auctioneering is just the tip of the iceberg. In 2000, the UK government received a windfall of around £ 23 billion from its auction of third generation (3G) mobile phone licences. This astronomical sum wasn't the result of corporate bidders "losing their heads", but a careful strategy designed to maximise proceeds for the Treasury. Its architect was Professor Ken Binmore of University College London. He devised an auction, seeped in a branch of mathematics called game theory. Game theory deals with player's tactics. In any given game, a participant develops a strategy that incorporates their own strengths and goals, and those perceived in their opponent(s). Incomplete information and "bluff" can make things more complicated, and the balance shifts from a purely mathematical approach to one involving greater psychology. But game theory doesn't just apply to cards and Tiddlywinks. In the 1950s, mathematicians started to use these principles to study the economy. One such proponent was Princeton University's John Nash. Immortalised by an Oscar-winning Russell Crowe in the film 'A Beautiful Mind', Nash helped revolutionize game theory with the 'Nash equilibrium'. Nash focussed on 'non-zero sum' games. These occur when all sides can win or lose, unlike traditional 'zero-sum' games like poker, where one person's victory simultaneously heralds the opponent's defeat. 'Nash equilibrium' occurs when competing strategies achieve a win-win compromise. All participants realise that the end result might not be in their best individual interest, but collectively it suits all. Applied to the real world, many economic transactions fall into the 'non-zero sum' category. The practical application of these principles came into their own for the UK 3G licence auction. Binmore's remit was to devise a mechanism that would leverage the government's goals of maximising income and encouraging new blood into the industry. Traditionally, such licences had been tendered arbitrarily, based on intuitive rather than mathematical considerations. This meant low revenues, and licences going to the wrong companies. Binmore's application of game theory ensured this didn't happen. He devised an auction with game rules engineered to achieve the government's objectives, but which would also generate a 'Nash equilibrium' or win-win for all. Critics have argued that the phone companies paid over the odds but Binmore is more circumspect, arguing that they paid what they knew they could recoup from future profits. In the case of mobile phones, game theory has proved a big win for the government. But for the rest of us, it just means more annoying ring tones on the bus journey home. gen: Reportage tit: In The Footsteps Of Moses epi: 1 sbt: Mount Sinai aut: Edward Stourton cnt: 37 bnd: BR 1 len: 28' med: MP3 spd: 40 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 07.04.2003 lng: englisch stw: Around 4000 years ago, in what is today Iraq, the seeds were sown for a religion that would spread around the world. Judaism has not only spanned three-quarters of the entire history of civilisation, surviving the most appalling persecution, but it has also spawned two other great world faiths; Christianity and Islam. In this new series In The Footsteps Of Moses Edward Stourton traces the history of the Jewish people and their impact on world history. He starts his journey on the way to a momentous mountain-top meeting. Edward re-visits the moment when God appeared to Moses on Mount Sinai and traces how the ramifications of this meeting still effect events today. Contributors to the series include the Chief Rabbi Professor Jonathan Sacks and former Soviet dissident Nathan Sharansky. Around 4000 years ago, in what is today Iraq, the seeds were sown for a religion that would spread around the world. Judaism has not only spanned three-quarters of the entire history of civilisation, surviving the most appalling persecution, but it has given us the idea that there is one God and it has also spawned two other great world faiths; Christianity and Islam. In a new series In the footsteps of Moses Edward Stourton traces the history of the Jewish people and their impact on world history. He starts his journey on the way to a momentous mountain-top meeting, when Moses gets the 10 Commandments. Moses was disabled by Paul Green It is difficult to find suitable role models from the pages of history with whom disabled people can identify. We seem to be almost invisible as agents and agitators of change, except as ciphers where our plight has urged others to do good and charitable deeds: returning crusaders building cripple's hospitals out of guilt and the phenomena of the Leonard Cheshire Homes are two examples that spring to mind. The Bible, which is history to many, mentions disabled people in passing - but beyond epileptic pig-herder, blind-beggar or man with withered arm, we don't get to learn a lot about them and they don't exactly inspire us. There are, however, some interesting references to disability attached to prominent figures in the Bible, though it would be a judgement call as to whether these references are simply obscure or just not detected by able-bodied historians. I believe that Moses, one of the most prominent of all Biblical figures, was disabled. Moses, of course, was one of the most influential prophets in Christianity, Judaism and Islam. He introduced the Ten Commandments that have been the basis of morality for the last three thousand years for two-thirds of the planet. To my mind, there is a lot of evidence to support this revisionist theory and it is to be found from more than one source: Moses, according to tradition, liberated his people from slavery, and on the way invented the slogan 'let my people go'. This slogan happens to be the current cry of today's Disabled Peoples' Movement and DAN's Free Our People Campaign. Moses was also known for having an awesome one-to-one relationship with his god, a pretty impressive faith for someone who was put in a reed basket and set adrift on the Nile as a three-month-old baby. This is a familiar sounding fate for many disabled children, you may be thinking. Can we possibly imagine that he was the first or last baby to be left 'in god's hands' and at the mercy of the river's currents? Moses was found by the daughter of the Egyptian Pharaoh. She took him to be raised in the royal household. Egyptian society of the day did not tend to discriminate against disabled people, perhaps most obviously because several members of its own royal family were themselves disabled. In fact, more than one Pharaoh had been disabled, and at least one 'king' was a woman - but that's another success story buried away and forgotten. In such a society a favoured disabled person might well have prospered, as indeed Moses did until he began to feel the call of his people and became more aware of their plight. Falling foul of the Egyptian ruling class, and actually having killed a man, Moses fled Egypt and became a shepherd somewhere in the hills. He settled down to his new life, fell in love (and so on) until one day his god appeared to him as a burning bush. An amazing and poignant vision, a bush that burns but doesn't wither, proving god's pre-eminence over nature - I'd have been on my knees straight away, and I'm not a believer. God spoke to Moses from the bush, telling him he had been chosen to lead his people to freedom. That's a very big responsibility. The next bit of the conversation goes like this (from Exudus, Chapter 4): "And Moses said unto the LORD, O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither heretofore, nor since thou hast spoken unto thy servant: but I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue. And the LORD said unto him, Who hath made man's mouth? or who maketh the dumb, or deaf, or the seeing, or the blind? have not I the LORD? Now therefore go, and I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt say. And he said, O my Lord, send, I pray thee, by the hand of him whom thou wilt send. And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Moses, and he said, Is not Aaron the Levite thy brother? I know that he can speak well. And also, behold, he cometh forth to meet thee: and when he seeth thee, he will be glad in his heart. And thou shalt speak unto him, and put words in his mouth: and I will be with thy mouth, and with his mouth, and will teach you what ye shall do. And he shall be thy spokesman unto the people: and he shall be, even he shall be to thee instead of a mouth, and thou shalt be to him instead of God. And thou shalt take this rod in thine hand, wherewith thou shalt do signs." So what do you make of that ...? I make much of it, for two reasons. Firstly, Moses describes himself as someone who is speech impaired and his brother is clearly identified as his translator. "Thou shalt do signs" makes me think that maybe Moses was deaf. There is another reference to this to be found in the Koran, which has the child Moses undergo a test of some kind where he puts a hot coal in his mouth. This story would certainly seem to explain and therefore confirm that he was not by nature an oralist. As an aside ... whilst looking at these Bible texts again I had an even bigger 'get it' moment. Within the passage are the following words: "And the LORD said ... who maketh the dumb, or deaf, or the seeing, or the blind? have not I the LORD?" Doesn't this statement say quite explicitly that god made everybody the way he intended to, and disabled people are not just faulty or broken able-bodied people after all? Hello, religious leaders of the western world and all fundamentalists, genetic scientists, and the world press! Please take note - it's time to have a rethink and accept the fact that we are a varied species, and that your god told you this a long time ago. I'm almost ready to convert from Odin, who with his one eye and his one hand and his eight-legged horse is, of course, the god of all discerning disabled people. So, my view is that Moses had a sensory impairment or possibly Cerebral Palsy. I've thrown out other evidence such as the fact that he used a staff, which could indicate he had a limp - it's a nice line, but it's contestable. There are other stated claims for why he was placed in a reed basket and sent down the Nile, but it is perhaps in the attitude of his own people that we see something we can recognise and identify with as disabled people. They seemed to have a great deal of trouble accepting him as their 'chosen' leader right from the start, despite several miracles he was said to have performed. At that time, the Hebrews - like other tribes in the region - did not believe in one god but in many. It was Moses' vision of a single-god faith that has grown into the world-wide religion it is today ... and he did it all through an interpreter. It cannot have been easy. But I'll finish by saying that I'm not left with a good feeling when I read that upon finding the Promised Land after forty years of searching, Moses was forbidden from entering it. Typical? gen: Reportage tit: In The Footsteps Of Moses epi: 2 sbt: Mount Sinai Monastery aut: Edward Stourton cnt: 38 bnd: BR 1 len: 9'30" med: MP3 spd: 40 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 07.04.2003 lng: englisch stw: Edward Stourton talks to Father Nilus, a Deacon of the Holy Monastery of St Catherine on Mount Sinai, about the history of the monastery. gen: Reportage tit: In The Footsteps Of Moses epi: 3 sbt: Torah, Talmud and Mishnah aut: Edward Stourton cnt: 39 bnd: BR 1 len: 13' med: MP3 spd: 40 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 07.04.2003 lng: englisch stw: Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz from the Institute for Jewish Studies in Jerusalem discusses the relationship between the Torah, the Talmund and the Mishnah. gen: Reportage tit: In The Footsteps Of Moses epi: 4 sbt: Jerusalem aut: Edward Stourton cnt: 40 bnd: BR 1 len: 28' med: MP3 spd: 40 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 14.04.2003 lng: englisch stw: Jerusalem has been a city of faith and conflict for thousands of years. In the second part of his journey "In the Footsteps of Moses" Edward Stourton finds out why this small settlement in the hills become a focus for such powerful emotions. The answer lies in the life of one man; that famous slayer of Goliath, King David: who stands alongside Moses as a great Jewish hero. Jerusalem is sacred to Jews, Christians and Moslems, but its only holiest to the Jews. When David captured the city and made it his capital, around 3000 years ago, it set the seal on its future and even when the Romans captured the city, expelling the Jews and scattering them around the world for 2 millennia, it was always for a return to Jerusalem that they prayed everyday. The Jews have now returned to their capital, but the issue of land is far from resolved. gen: Reportage tit: In The Footsteps Of Moses epi: 5 sbt: Incense aut: Edward Stourton cnt: 41 bnd: BR 1 len: 12' med: MP3 spd: 40 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 14.04.2003 lng: englisch stw: Edward Stourton talk to Avraham Sand, the owner of Twofera Aromatheraphy, in Oregon, USA, about the history of incense. gen: Reportage tit: In The Footsteps Of Moses epi: 6 sbt: Exile aut: Edward Stourton cnt: 42 bnd: BR 1 len: 28' med: MP3 spd: 40 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 21.04.2003 lng: englisch stw: The Jewish people have had a unique journey through 4000 years of history and for the vast majority of that time they have been exiles; strangers in a strange land. But despite being scattered around the world and persecuted in countless pogroms they still kept their sense of religious and cultural identity. In the latest of his series "In the Footsteps of Moses" Edward Stourton explores how faith and law were the keys to survival. And he listens to voices from the dark days of the Jewish Diaspora. gen: Reportage tit: In The Footsteps Of Moses epi: 7 sbt: Massada aut: Edward Stourton cnt: 43 bnd: BR 1 len: 10' med: MP3 spd: 40 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 21.04.2003 lng: englisch stw: Edward Stourton talks to Guy Stiebel of the Hebrew University Jerusalem - archaeologist of the site Massada. gen: Reportage tit: In The Footsteps Of Moses epi: 8 sbt: Return to Zion aut: Edward Stourton cnt: 44 bnd: BR 1 len: 28' med: MP3 spd: 40 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 28.04.2003 lng: englisch stw: Tonight (Mon 28 Apr 2003) in ceremonies all over Israel people will remember the 6 million Jews killed in the holocaust. In the last of his series, Edward Stourton, looks at how the disaster of the Nazi persecution marked the beginning of the end of Exile for the Jewish people, but also opened a new chapter in the troubled history of the Middle East. gen: Reportage tit: In The Footsteps Of Moses epi: 9 sbt: Yad Vashem aut: Edward Stourton cnt: 45 bnd: BR 1 len: 8' med: MP3 spd: 40 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 28.04.2003 lng: englisch stw: Edward Stourton spoke to David Soberwein a historian at the Jewish Institute of Yad Vashem and the editor of Yad Vashem's annual journal - Yad Vashem Studies. gen: Reportage tit: In The Footsteps Of Moses epi: 10 sbt: Kibbutz aut: Edward Stourton cnt: 46 bnd: BR 1 len: 10' med: MP3 spd: 40 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 28.04.2003 lng: englisch stw: Mokit Tzur is a historian and a collector of stories. He was also the secretary of his Kibbutz 3 times and the secretary of the Kibbutz Movement from 1989 to 1996. gen: Reportage tit: What If...? epi: 1 sbt: Mary Tudor and the Counter-Reformation aut: Professor Chris Andrew cnt: 47 bnd: BR 1 len: 30' med: MP3 spd: 40 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 28.03.2002 lng: englisch stw: In 1554, the kingdoms of England and Spain were united by a dynastic wedding ceremony. Mary Tudor, daughter of Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon, married Philip of Spain with incredible pomp and ceremony at Winchester Cathedral. Not only did the wedding reaffirm her own Spanish blood, but her determination to bring England back into the fold of Catholicism. Her intention was to undo the work of her father who'd made the break with Rome and the Vatican in 1538 when he created the Church of England, and dissolved the monastries. In fact, Mary died in 1558, having been on the throne for only four years, and was succeeded by her younger step-sister, Elizabeth I, who restored the Church of England. Mary Tudor experienced what is said to have been a phantom pregnancy. But what if she'd had a child, a son who would have come to the throne, and continued his mother's work? It's very likely that he would have consolidated the Counter-Reformation, continuing her oppression of Protestants, an act that won her the name of Bloody Mary. Relations with Spain would have been entirely different, and therefore the balance of power across Europe as a whole would have been changed utterly. There would almost certainly have been no Spanish Armada. Speaking to renowned historians of the Tudor period, such as Professor John Morrill, Chris Andrew imagines English history taking a completely different course. gen: Reportage tit: What If...? epi: 2 sbt: The First Crusade aut: Professor Chris Andrew cnt: 48 bnd: BR 1 len: 30' med: MP3 spd: 40 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 04.04.2002 lng: englisch stw: It was at a speech made outside Clermont Ferrand that Pope Urban II called for a Crusade to claim the holy city of Jerusalem for Christianity, and wrest it from Islamic control. This was the start of a movement that continued, some historians argue, for over 500 years. The Crusades of course, have a topical relevance since the events of September 11 2001. In their own ways and for their own ends, both President George W Bush and Osama Bin Laden have invoked the image of the Crusades. In fact, the First Crusade was something of a shambling fiasco. A motley collection of knights and venturers from the countries of Western Europe made their way to Turkey, on the frontier between Christendom and the Islamic world. After a year all of the Crusaders' horses had died, as had most of their pack animals. It seemed the operation was doomed to failure. The taking of Jerusalem appeared inconceivable, and yet in 1097 - on foot - that's what the Crusaders achieved. Professor Chris Andrew poses the quite plausible hypothesis that the First Crusade did indeed fail. What would have been the consequences of such an outcome? Renowned expert on the Crusades, Professor Jonathan Riley-Smith, editor of The Oxford Illustrated Guide to the Crusades explains that, had they failed to take Jerusalem, there would have been no Crusading movement. He goes further: a victory for Islam might well have encouraged the Seljuk Turks to invade Europe with greater success than they achieved in later centuries. We're faced with the scenario of a Muslim Europe, and, allowing still for the discovery of the New World, a Muslim United States of America. gen: Reportage tit: What If...? epi: 3 sbt: World War I aut: Professor Chris Andrew cnt: 49 bnd: BR 1 len: 30' med: MP3 spd: 40 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 11.04.2002 lng: englisch stw: Germany defeated France in six weeks during the Franco-Prussian war of 1870, and did so again in 1940. Professor Chris Andrew poses a similar outcome at the outset of World War I in 1914. The hardship of life in the trenches, and the enormous loss of life that accompanied the war of attrition in Flanders became an iconic image that has haunted us ever since. It's almost inconceivable to imagine that the generation of young men who died during the 1914-18 war might have been spared had Germany enjoyed a lightning victory. Speaking to historians who specialise in World War I Professor Chris Andrew imagines a very different world. Dr Chris Clarke, author of a recent biography of Kaiser Wilhelm, imagines a triumphant German army marching down the Champs Elysees. The postwar conditions that led to the rise of Adolf Hitler would have been utterly transformed. Far from paying reparations to France, as it did after 1918, a victorious Germany would have exacted penalties from France and even Russia. Indeed, it's quite conceivable that the Russian Revolution could have taken a different course entirely. Neither would there have been the hyperinflation in Germany that led to the devaluation of the Deutschmark. Dr Bob Tombs, a specialist in 20th century French history imagines the creation of a collaborationist French government, rather like that of Marshal Petain in Vichy, only 25 years earlier. He imagines the Modernist art movement fleeing to New York, and even Pablo Picasso becoming a safe, traditionalist portrait painter. Further reading Christopher Clarke Kaiser Wilhelm Longman ISBN: 0582245591 Robert Tombs (ed) Nationhood and Nationalism in France Routledge ISBN: 0044457421 gen: Reportage tit: What If...? epi: 6 sbt: Alexander the Great aut: Professor Chris Andrew cnt: 50 bnd: BR 1 len: 30' med: MP3 spd: 40 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 10.04.2003 lng: englisch stw: What If... Alexander the Great had gone West not East? In this scenario Western civilisation takes a completely different turn of events. Rather than conquering all of Asia across to India, Alexander the Great instead chooses to conquer Europe. Imagine if, one hundred and fifty years before Hannibal, Alexander moves his army around the North African coast of the Mediterranean, conquers Carthage, and crossing at Gibraltar takes Spain, crosses the Alps, and easily subdues what in the 3rd century BC was the relatively ineffectual army of the Republic of Rome, then still a mere city-state. What kind of world would that have given rise to, a Europe with a Greek rather than a Roman legacy? What would its legacy have been? So indebted are we to the Romans that it's very difficult to imagine a world in which they are little more than a footnote, a city state easily subjugated by Alexander and his Macedonian forces. gen: Reportage tit: What If...? epi: 8 sbt: Enigma/Ultra aut: Professor Chris Andrew cnt: 51 bnd: BR 1 len: 30' med: MP3 spd: 40 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 24.04.2003 lng: englisch stw: What If the Germans had discovered that the Allies had cracked Enigma during The Second World War? They're known, in Churchill's memorable phrase, as 'the geese that laid the golden eggs, and never cackled' - the thousands of codebreakers at Bletchley Park who kept Churchill and Roosevelt one step ahead of Hitler's game. What's surprising is that the German High Command never twigged that its highly confidential Enigma communications were being monitored. Professor Chris Andrew imagines a very different outcome to the Second World War, one in which the Allies failed to break the code. Arguably the first atomic bomb would have been dropped not on Hiroshima, but in Europe, on Berlin. It's widely accepted that the intelligence the Allies gained from Enigma shortened the war by several years, and saved the lives of thousands of troops and civilians. With hindsight it's surprising that the German High Command never realised that their master code had been cracked and was daily being monitored by the Bletchley Park codebreakers - an act that was daily contributing to their demise. Had they appreciated this, how would Hitler have reacted, what evasive action would he have taken, and how might this have affected the outcome of World War Two? Chris Andrew visits Bletchley Park near Milton Keynes and speaks to several veteran codebreakers, imagining a very different outcome to the Second World War. Signals intelligence (sigint) from Enigma proved invaluable for Allied victories in a numer of theatres: indeed, without this intelligence it's quite likely that things would have got progressively worse for the Allies. In 1943 it's quite conceivable that the Allies would have lost the battle of the North Atlantic against the U-boats - the most protracted in naval history. This crucial lifeline across the North Atlantic which enabled the US to shift vast quantities of men and material to Europe (Eastern as well as Western Fronts) would thus have been broken, an enormous loss for the Allies. Consequently the D Day landings wouldn't have been able to go ahead on 6 June 1944 - so, following this argument, Germany couldn't have been defeated by 6 Aug 1945. Arguably, therefore, the first A bomb would have been used not against Japan at Hiroshima but on mainland Europe, against Germany, and in all probability it would have been used to obliterate Berlin. The USA, after all, was heavily committed to a war policy of 'Germany First', ie: concluding the war in Europe before that in the Pacific and South-East Asia. Speakers include: Michael Smith, Defence Correspondent, Daily Telegraph Christine Large, Director, Bletchley Park Trust Morag Beattie, former WREN and bombe-operator at Bletchley Park Mac Hobley, former Telecoms engineer and guide at Bletchley Park John Harper, electrical engineer reconstructing a bombe at Bletchley Park Suggested Reading: Station X: The Codebreakers of Bletchley Park, Michael Smith, Channel 4 Books, 1998 Codebreakers: The Inside Story of Bletchley Park, eds: FH Hinsley and Alan Stripp, OUP, 1993 Enigma: The Battle for the Code, Hugh Sebag-Montefiore, Wedenfeld and Nicholson, 2000 gen: Reportage tit: Unearthing Mysteries epi: 13 sbt: Taming the Horse aut: Aubrey Manning cnt: 52 bnd: BR 1 len: 28' med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 05.11.2002 lng: englisch stw: In the first of a new series of Unearthing Mysteries Aubrey Manning examines evidence from excavations in Kazakhstan of what could be the earliest domestication of the horse. 5,500 years ago, on the steppes of Northern Kazakhstan, groups of nomadic hunters began to settle down and build permanent houses in large villages. Now, an international team of archaeologists is excavating some of those houses to try and unearth a mystery: what gave them the stability to settle down? The answer seems to be the horse. There are hundreds of thousands of horse bones on the sites. But were the animals hunted or domesticated? Archaelogist Sandi Olsen and her team have found post holes that suggest fenced enclosures next to the houses, stone and bone tools probably used for leather working, ceremonial horse burials and the use of horse skull masks and evidence that horse dung was used in roofing materials. Aubrey Manning hears from the archaeologists excavating in Kazakhstan - and studying the herdsmen who still drive their horses across the steppes today - and pieces together the evidence that this could be the place where our four-legged friends were first tamed. Historians argue that it was the domestication of horses that opened the way to trade and warfare, conquest and the building of cities. What we call civilisation in fact. gen: Reportage tit: Unearthing Mysteries epi: 13 sbt: Extra: Sandi Olsen excavating aut: Aubrey Manning cnt: 53 bnd: BR 1 len: 3' med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 05.11.2002 lng: englisch stw: Sandi Olsen excavates bones from the floor of a 5,500 year old pit house at Vasilkovka in Kazakhstan. Listen to Sandi Olsen as she excavates the bones. gen: Reportage tit: Unearthing Mysteries epi: 13 sbt: Extra: Sandi Olsen on Koumiss aut: Aubrey Manning cnt: 54 bnd: BR 1 len: 1'30" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 05.11.2002 lng: englisch stw: And Sandi describes the taste of Koumiss, the traditional Kazak drink of fermented mares' milk. gen: Reportage tit: Unearthing Mysteries epi: 13 sbt: Extra: Dr Bruce Bradley flint knapping aut: Aubrey Manning cnt: 55 bnd: BR 1 len: 12'30" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 05.11.2002 lng: englisch stw: Dr Bruce Bradley demonstrates flint knapping technology to Kazakhstan archaeology students. Listen to Dr Bruce Bradley describing the making of a bi-face spear point similar to the sort used at the site 5,500 years ago. gen: Reportage tit: Unearthing Mysteries epi: 14 sbt: Çatal Hüyük - The First City? aut: Aubrey Manning cnt: 56 bnd: BR 1 len: 28' med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 12.11.2002 lng: englisch stw: On the wide, flat South Anatolian Plain, near the Turkish city of Konya, there is a broad mound, about 80 metres high. Excavations in the 1960s revealed its importance as one of the first cities the world had known. Nine thousand years ago, Çatal Hüyük was home to up to ten thousand people. The whole mound is made up of the remains of mud brick houses, one on top of another. Many are adorned with painted plaster and the horned skulls of cattle. The settlement occupied a key stage in history, when people were first settling down, domesticating cattle and driving the agricultural revolution. But it doesn't quite add up. There seem to be no signs of hierarchy; no high-status homes, public buildings or even public open spaces. The small houses were so tightly packed together that entry was through the roof! Above all, Çatal Hüyük was in the middle of a swamp and dry pasture and wheat fields must have been 12 kilometres away or more. Aubrey Manning visits the site to try to solve these mysteries. gen: Reportage tit: Unearthing Mysteries epi: 14 sbt: Extra: Shahina Farid - On top of the mound aut: Aubrey Manning cnt: 57 bnd: BR 1 len: 19' med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 12.11.2002 lng: englisch gen: Reportage tit: Unearthing Mysteries epi: 14 sbt: Extra: Shahina Farid - Neolithic house 1 aut: Aubrey Manning cnt: 58 bnd: BR 1 len: 8'30" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 12.11.2002 lng: englisch gen: Reportage tit: Unearthing Mysteries epi: 14 sbt: Extra: Shahina Farid - Neolithic house 2 aut: Aubrey Manning cnt: 59 bnd: BR 1 len: 8' med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 12.11.2002 lng: englisch gen: Reportage tit: Unearthing Mysteries epi: 14 sbt: Extra: David Small - Bricks and the reconstructed house aut: Aubrey Manning cnt: 60 bnd: BR 1 len: 9' med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 12.11.2002 lng: englisch gen: Reportage tit: Unearthing Mysteries epi: 14 sbt: Extra: Ian Hodder - Discussion aut: Aubrey Manning cnt: 61 bnd: BR 1 len: 25'30" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 12.11.2002 lng: englisch gen: Reportage tit: Unearthing Mysteries epi: 14 sbt: Extra: Neil Roberts - Environment aut: Aubrey Manning cnt: 62 bnd: BR 1 len: 3' med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 12.11.2002 lng: englisch gen: Reportage tit: Unearthing Mysteries epi: 15 sbt: The Amesbury Archer aut: Aubrey Manning cnt: 63 bnd: BR 1 len: 28' med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 19.11.2002 lng: englisch stw: Aubrey Manning investigates the richest early Bronze Age burial ever found in Britain. The so-called Amesbury Archer was buried with gold earrings, copper knives, flint arrow heads and the stone wrist guards of an Archer. But who was he and what was his connection with Stonehenge which was being constructed only a few miles away at the time? Could he be 'The King of Stonehenge'? On May 3rd of this year, excavators from Wessex Archaeology were working near Amesbury on Salisbury plain, just next to the RAF Boscombe Down airfield. The site was being cleared to build new houses and a school and the archaeologists already knew that there was a Roman cemetery there. What they did not expect was the richest early Bronze Age burial ever found in Britain. They first discovered the stone arrow heads laid on his body, then, in front of the skeleton, which seemed to be lying comfortably on its side, they caught the glint of gold from what were probably earrings. By the early hours of the following morning, excavating under car headlights, they had unearthed a rich hoard including five pottery beakers, three copper knives, flint tools and slate wrist guards that suggested that the man buried there had been an archer. Aubrey Manning visits the site with archaeologist Andrew Fitzpatrick and examines the bones and artefacts from the The First City? Amesbury Archer's grave. At the time he was buried, 4,300 years ago, Salisbury Plain was a centre of activity and the Taming the Horse ring of bluestones from the Precelly Hills in Wales was being erected at Stonehenge, just four kilometres from the Latest Programme grave. Clearly the Amesbury Archer was a man of high status. But who was he and what was his connection with Stonehenge? He has been called the King of Stonehenge with another burial - less rich but with a similar pair of earrings - found just five metres away, being named as the Prince. But were they related? And do the stone wrist guards suggest a link with South Wales? Plenty of mysteries still to unearth. gen: Reportage tit: Unearthing Mysteries epi: 15 sbt: Extra: Dr Andrew Fizpatrick at the site aut: Aubrey Manning cnt: 64 bnd: BR 1 len: 14'30" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 19.11.2002 lng: englisch gen: Reportage tit: Unearthing Mysteries epi: 15 sbt: Extra: Dr Andrew Fizpatrick - nearby aut: Aubrey Manning cnt: 65 bnd: BR 1 len: 2' med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 19.11.2002 lng: englisch gen: Reportage tit: Unearthing Mysteries epi: 15 sbt: Extra: Dr Rachael Seager-Smith looking at the finds aut: Aubrey Manning cnt: 66 bnd: BR 1 len: 29' med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 19.11.2002 lng: englisch gen: Reportage tit: Unearthing Mysteries epi: 16 sbt: The Meadowcroft Rock Shelter aut: Aubrey Manning cnt: 67 bnd: BR 1 len: 28' med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 26.11.2002 lng: englisch stw: Aubrey Manning visits the Meadowcroft Rock Shelter near Pittsburgh to examine evidence that there were humans in North America 14,000 years ago, earlier than anyone thought possible. But how did they get there? Over the ice from the North-West or even across the Atlantic Ocean from the East? Until a few years ago archaeologists thought they understood the story of the first Americans. Prehistoric hunters had followed their prey from Siberia across what was then land into Alaska. 12,500 years ago, a corridor had melted through the ice sheet allowing the people to move south into what is now the USA. Soon after that date their carefully made stone tools such as arrow heads and spear points become common. The tools and the people who made them take their name from the site of Clovis in New Mexico where they were first found. But a few excavations have now started a major controversy. Aubrey Manning visits one of them, the Meadowcroft rock shelter near Pittsburgh where Jim Adovasio started to dig down beneath the Clovis layers. He began to find evidence of human habitation and an earlier generation of stone tools. Similar finds have now been reported from Cactus Hill in West Virginia and even from a site in Chile in South America. But just how good is the evidence for dates of up to 14,000 years ago? And if people were in the Americas that long ago, how did they get there? They surely could not have crossed the great ice sheet that capped the north of the continent in the last Ice Age. Could they have hopped from inlet to inlet around the edges of the glaciers using small boats? Or could they even have made the Atlantic crossing from Europe? Similarities with stone tools from Europe suggest that perhaps they could have, but the arguments - and the mystery - continue. gen: Reportage tit: Unearthing Mysteries epi: 16 sbt: Extra: Dr Jim Adovasio - Outside the shelter aut: Aubrey Manning cnt: 68 bnd: BR 1 len: 4' med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 26.11.2002 lng: englisch gen: Reportage tit: Unearthing Mysteries epi: 16 sbt: Extra: Dr Jim Adovasio - Inside the shelter aut: Aubrey Manning cnt: 69 bnd: BR 1 len: 21' med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 26.11.2002 lng: englisch gen: Reportage tit: Unearthing Mysteries epi: 16 sbt: Extra: Dr Jim Adovasio - Stone Tools aut: Aubrey Manning cnt: 70 bnd: BR 1 len: 25'30" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 26.11.2002 lng: englisch gen: Reportage tit: Unearthing Mysteries epi: 16 sbt: Extra: Dr Jim Adovasio - First Americans aut: Aubrey Manning cnt: 71 bnd: BR 1 len: 7'30" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 26.11.2002 lng: englisch gen: Reportage tit: Unearthing Mysteries epi: 17 sbt: Were the Neanderthals of Norfolk scavengers or hunters? aut: Aubrey Manning cnt: 72 bnd: BR 1 len: 28' med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 05.08.2003 lng: englisch stw: Aubrey Manning returns with more archaeological mysteries and this week visits a site in Norfolk that is littered with the bones of great mammoths and the flint tools of our Neanderthal cousins. But were they lucky scavengers or were they hunting down the great beasts? Last Summer, a worker at Lynford quarry near Thetford, Norfolk noticed a large, pale object in the gravel he was excavating. It turned out to be a mammoth bone 60 000 years old. Soon, archaeologists were finding a vast number of bones, including the 3-metre tusks of great mammoths and the remains of wooly rhinoceros. Amongst them were beautifully shaped tools of black flint. But these remains were not just swept up in river gravel and re-deposited like most remains of this age. They lay where they had fallen, trapped in the black mud in a quiet bend of a meandering river. This was one of those rare occasions where early pre-history could be excavated in its detailed context. There are the remains of hundreds of beetles that reveal the ice age climate. Analysis of the bones themselves may reveal the temperature and how it was changing and could even show what the creatures were eating. And every stone tool has a story to tell. They suggest that most of their makers were right-handed. Microscopic wear on the sharp edges can reveal if they were used for sharpening sticks, slicing flesh or scraping hides. Broken points on the hand axes suggest they were used to try to dismember joints of the great carcasses. Small flakes suggest the tools were re-sharpened on-site. There is even a hint of what the archaeologists have termed 'flint rage' - where sharpening went wrong, wrecking the tool which was flung angrily into deep water. But were the Neanderthal people 60 000 years ago simply scavengers or were they able to hunt down and kill mighty mammoths? Evidence of the high proportion of meat in the Neanderthal diet and damage to the points of what may have been flint spear tips suggests that these people may indeed have been brave - or foolhardy - hunters. gen: Reportage tit: Unearthing Mysteries epi: 18 sbt: Diagnosing the diseases of the Ancient Egyptians aut: Aubrey Manning cnt: 73 bnd: BR 1 len: 28' med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 12.08.2003 lng: englisch stw: Aubrey Manning returns to Egypt to find out about an ambitious project that hopes to unearth the diseases suffered by the Ancient Egyptians. We know that Tutankamun possibly died from a severe blow to the head from x-rays that were done in the 1960s, but what can new scientific techniques tell us? Is it possible that diseases such as atherosclerosis (furred-up arteries) are not as modern as we think? The knowledge of disease in Ancient Egypt comes from papyri and tomb paintings. There are pictures of men with withered legs which could possibly represent polio, and dwarfism is an incredibly important condition to have, if you go by the poems written about certain members of the Pharoah's court. Before now, there have only been a few major studies on the mummies found in Egypt. In 1912, Edwin Smith drew pictures and photographed of all the mummies he could find and made assumptions about their sex, age, and possible diseases or cause of death. In the 1960s, a big project was undertaken to x-ray each mummy in order to find out more. Now, Dr Zahi Hawass, the Head of Egyptian Antiquities in Egypt wants to CT scan every mummy in the country in order to get a better and more conclusive picture of the diseases these people lived and died with. The CT Scan (Computed Tomography Imaging) gives a 3d picture of the mummy and is able to show the body slice by slice. The scans can be rotated on an axis to show a different view. This scanning also means that the mummy does not have to be unwrapped in order to examine it so intimately. Diseases can be hereditary and the project could shed light on familial relations. Could we find out if Akhenaten - the "heretic king" really suffered from Marfan's Syndrome? We don't actually know where his mummy is at present, but information from the scans could shed light on this hereditary disease and point to other members of his family. Or it could confirm that his odd characteristics of enlarged hips and full breasts were actually artistic portrayal of a deity representing both the male and female physical attributes. It might be a while before we can find out if various unnamed mummies are actually pieces in the jigsaw of the royal lineage but it could certainly give some clues towards a more concrete answer. To scan all the mummies in Egypt might sound like quite an easy undertaking, but some of these mummies are in a very poor condition and the location of others is simply unknown. Aubrey Manning went to Cairo to see for himself, just how they intend to test these mummies, what they think they'll find and whether this project can give a definitive picture of diseases in everyday life - not just in the royal palace. gen: Reportage tit: Unearthing Mysteries epi: 19 sbt: Tri Radial Cairns in Northumberland aut: Aubrey Manning cnt: 74 bnd: BR 1 len: 28' med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 19.08.2003 lng: englisch stw: The moors of Northumberland are an ancient landscape. They are littered with trackways, medieval field systems, Iron Age hill forts and Bronze Age burial cairns. But among them, members of the Boarders Archaeological Society began to notice rough piles of rocks in certain alignments, with arms pointing North and to the sunrise at special times. Were they just old sheep shelters with chance alignments, or could they be an important relic of ancient ceremonies in this ritual landscape? There's no shortage of rocks in the Northumberland hills. Boulders rounded by ice and water are littered across the moors. In some parts they are piled up into groups of many cairns, often marking ancient burials, dating from the Bronze Age more than 4000 years ago. Some of the larger stone slabs are carved with strange, concentric 'cup marks', pounded out with stone hammers in prehistoric times. There are other structures too: dry-stone walls and the remains of structures piled up to give sheep shelter from the biting wind. A few years ago, members of the Border Archaeological Society were surveying prehistoric remains in the hills above Wooler in Northumberland. Retired aircraft engineer Jim Nesbitt noticed a pile of stones that seemed to be laid out as three radial arms several metres long. He remembered seeing something similar further south near Rothbury. Once the archaeologists new what they were looking for they began finding them all over the place - more than 20 to date. Eventually, they got permission to excavate one. When they began, the stones were barely visible above the peaty soil, but excavation showed that this was indeed a so-called tri-radial cairn with its three arms each about five metres long. It did not seem to be associated with a burial but was close to a field of Bronze Age burial cairns. So what was it and who put it there? The archaeologists quickly ruled out the possibility that it was a recent sheep shelter. You wouldn't shelter many sheep behind a low structure like that. In that case, as with the others surveyed so far, the three arms of the cairn are aligned in roughly similar directions, one pointing north and the others at 140 and 240 degrees. That alignment means that they could be pointers to the mid-summer and midwinter sunrise and sunset. We know from famous monuments such as Stonehenge that Bronze Age Britons attached great importance to these solstices. Although the precise alignment of the arms varies, they could have supported marker posts to give accurate sightings of the astronomical events. But how old are they? It is this difficult to get the precise date on the cairns, though some do incorporate cup-marked stones and even a prehistoric grinding stone or quern. Charcoal from just beneath the cairn excavated gave a radio-carbon date of more than 4600 years ago, in the early Bronze Age. That doesn't prove that the cairn was built that long ago, but Philip Deakin of the Border Archaeological Society thinks it's reasonable to suppose that the Bronze Age people burnt off the heather in order to clear the site for the construction of the cairn. So far, the evidence is still compelling that these tri-radial cairns were indeed constructed for Bronze Age astronomy, perhaps for seasonal ceremonies to honour the dead who are buried under nearby cairns. All around are signs of prehistoric and later activity. At the site of Lordenshaw near Rothbury, the tri-radial cairns are overlooked by an Iron Age hill fort and nearby there are traces of a medieval field system. Bit by bit the moors are giving up their secrets. gen: Reportage tit: Unearthing Mysteries epi: 20 sbt: Great Orme Head - Britain's biggest prehistoric mine aut: Aubrey Manning cnt: 75 bnd: BR 1 len: 28' med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 26.08.2003 lng: englisch stw: Great Orme Head, above Llandudno in North Wales, is riddled with mines, mostly dating back a couple of centuries. But a few years ago, archaeologists began to uncover a much earlier series of tunnels beneath the mine waste. They date back more than 4 000 years to the Bronze age, and several miles of passageways and caverns have been found so far. But how was the hard rock mined? How and where were the hundreds of tons of copper ore smelted? And what sort of social structure and trade supported it all? Aubrey Manning descends into the miles of underground passages that burrow into Great Orme head above Llandudno in North Wales. This is the biggest prehistoric mine in Britain but how did the Bronze Age miners dig out the ore and turn it into shining bronze? Great Orme, overlooking the North Wales holiday resort of Llandudno has long been known for its copper ore. In the 18th and 19th centuries, huge shafts were cut into the headland, producing vast piles of waste rock. But now, archaeologists are picking through the debris and revealing mines that are much more ancient, dating back to the Bronze Age. The miners then had no steel tools or artificial lights. They had to pound at the rock with great stone hammers and soften it by setting fires against it. Then they could scrape up the copper ore with scrapers and shovels made of bone. It must have been exhausting, unpleasant work so it is not surprising that only veins of copper ore were mined, not the hard limestone around them. Sometimes that resulted in vast caverns like the one discovered in the latest excavations. In other places the tunnels are so thin and - less than 8 inches - that only a young child could have dug them and even then there would have been no room even for a tallow candle and scarcely any air to breathe. But the mystery doesn't end there. There is little Bronze Age slag at the site, so where was the copper smelted? Perhaps it was in the wooded Conwy Valley below where fuel was plentiful. But the prize was not copper but bronze a precise mixture of copper and tin. And the tin mines were hundreds of miles away in Cornwall. All the evidence points to a well established social structure and organised trade routes within Britain and across Europe. All this at a time when Tutankhamen was Pharaoh in Egypt. gen: Reportage tit: Straw Poll epi: 3 sbt: Dangers to children are damagingly exaggerated aut: Nick Clarke cnt: 76 bnd: BR 1 len: 45' med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 29.08.2003 lng: englisch stw: The dangers faced by children in Britain today are damagingly exaggerated. The last of six debates on issues of perennial interest, chaired by Nick Clarke in front of a specially invited audience from Ashby-de-la-Zouch, Leicestershire. Listeners can also vote on the motion. gen: Reportage tit: Straw Poll Talkback epi: 4 sbt: Dangers to children are damagingly exaggerated aut: Nick Clarke cnt: 77 bnd: BR 1 len: 30' med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 30.08.2003 lng: englisch stw: The dangers faced by children in Britain today are damagingly exaggerated. Phone Nick Clarke with your views on the issues raised in this week's edition of Straw Poll. gen: Reportage tit: Journey Of A Lifetime epi: 1 sbt: Norilsk aut: Andy Home and Grigori Gerenstein cnt: 78 bnd: BR 1 len: 30' med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 12.09.2003 lng: englisch stw: Journalists Andy Home and Grigori Gerenstein visit Russia's most polluted town, where the snow is black and where life expectancy is 10 years below the national average. Journey of a Lifetime is an annual initiative whereby BBC Radio 4 join with the Royal Geographic Society to sponsor a particular journey, that a person or persons have been itching to go on for years. The first traveller looked for tigers in Bangladesh, the second visited a threatened atoll in the Southern Pacific. Our journeymen this year opted for a trip closer to hell-on-earth than paradise lost. As metal and mineral journalists, Andy and Grigori have frequently written about the city of Norilsk, which is the world's largest producer of nickel. Everyday the smokestacks that ring the city belch 5,000 tonnes of sulphur dioxide into the air every day. With a further 2,000,000 tonnes of waste gas, and 85,000,000 cubic metres of dirty water produced every year by the city's mines and smelters, the ecological impact is felt as far away as Norway and Canada. This Spring, Andy and Grigori went to see the city for themselves. Not only were they keen to see the mines and smelters that had formed the basis of so many of their articles for the specialist periodicals they write for, they also wanted to see what life was really like for the 230,000 residents that live and work in and around the City. gen: Reportage tit: Frontiers epi: 1 sbt: Music aut: Peter Evans cnt: 79 bnd: BR 1 len: 30' med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 22.10.2003 lng: englisch stw: When archaeologists unearthed a bone flute in a cave in southern Germany, it provided evidence that man had been making music for at least 40,000 years. But how much further back in time do mankind's musical abilities stretch? In the first of a new series of Frontiers, Peter Evans reviews the archaeological, physiological and psychological evidence for man's innate musicality. Some archaeologists argue that hunter gatherers were using music more than a quarter of a million years ago, to foster a sense of emotional empathy within the group. Others suggest that musicality has been a part of our repertoire for more than two million years - ever since our species learned to walk on two feet. gen: Reportage tit: Why did we do that? epi: 19 sbt: Bad Bread cnt: 80 bnd: BR 1 len: 30' med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 02.06.2003 lng: englisch stw: The British white sliced loaf is consumed by the multi million, but is condemned in expert food circles as appallingly bland and far less nutritional than almost any other country's bread. So why did the British develop such an obsession with bread so deliberately dull and so industrially white? The answers take us into such strange and compelling areas as the medieval food wars waged by the "upper crust", the Victorian disdain for peasant life, and the twentieth century fascination with rectangular convenience, making any brilliant new thought "the best thing since sliced bread". And then there is the curious British belief that bread had many practical uses apart from being eaten. Described by The Times as a series that "ought to be compulsory listening for politicians, scientists, doctors and sundry other professionals who think they know best". Why Did We Do That? uses a distinctive mix of materials to uncover the roots of present day problems. Secret government documents are set against public statements made at the time, the common voice explaining what happened is heard next to the expert voice describing the theory. All is driven by a narrative which takes unexpected turns, sets the scene from around the country, and revels in the black humour with which our greatest blunders are laced. Suggested Reading: Book: Maggie Black (ed.) A Taste of History (English Heritage 1993) Website: Worshipful Company of Bakers gen: Reportage tit: Why did we do that? epi: 20 sbt: Deadly Streets cnt: 81 bnd: BR 1 len: 30' med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 09.06.2003 lng: englisch stw: The twentieth century saw the growth of an increasingly deadly confrontation: mass motoring and pedestrian life. Roads that had once been centres of social life became traffic thoroughfares. Free movement of those on foot had to compete with an increasingly powerful idea that the free movement of the motorist and ever higher speeds was a fundamental liberty. This programme asks why this conflict left some of the most vulnerable groups, such as children, less protected by improvements in road safety. It discovers the story of the "play streets", a 1930s attempt to halt the damage, which withered away as "the great car society" took over. And it asks why road safety was taken much less seriously by society than the safety of our other transport networks. Suggested Reading: Book: Mayer Hillman, One False Move (Policy Studies Institute) Website: Pedestrians' Association Website: Automobile Assoication gen: Reportage tit: Why did we do that? epi: 7 sbt: The Eugenic Temptation cnt: 82 bnd: BR 1 len: 30' med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 16.06.2003 lng: englisch stw: In the early decades of the twentieth century the elites of British society were swept by a belief which, by the later twentieth century, would cause widespread revulsion. Eugenics - the control of human reproduction - was this intellectual and political craze. The programme explores how thinkers from the political left and right, famous individuals ranging from Winston Churchill to birth control pioneer Marie Stopes, saw state involvement in reproduction as essential to reshape the population, preventing poorer social groups from having so many children and "weakening the race", while encouraging the more affluent and educated to breed more. The mentally ill were singled out for special treatment, with their sterilisation advocated by many influential voices. Only when Nazism showed where such ideas could lead did eugenics fall from favour, and yet there were continuities with some postwar thinking about social change. Suggested Reading: Book: Desmond King In the Name of Liberalism (Oxford University Press 1999) Book: June Rose Marie Stopes and the Sexual Revolution (Faber 1993) Book: David Bradshaw (ed.) The Hidden Huxley (Faber 1995) gen: Reportage tit: Out of Tune epi: 1 sbt: Varieties of music aut: Robert Sandall cnt: 1 bnd: BR 2 len: 27'45" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 16.11.2003 lng: englisch stw: An investigation into the development of musical tuning systems. Robert Sandall presents a two-part series about musical tuning. Why have musical traditions in different parts of the world developed different tuning systems? In Western Europe, we've become used to a musical system based on what's known as 'equal temperament' that divides an octave into twelve equal parts. But other musical traditions in other parts of the world have developed different tuning systems, with larger or smaller divisions between the notes. Robert talks to shakuhachi player Kiku Day and singer Natacha Atlas about their tuning systems and the importance of the quarter-tone, a division that rarely occurs in western classical music. Robert also talks to one of the pioneers of electronic music, Brian Eno, about his early days with Roxy Music, when synthesisers routinely went out of tune. Brian's latest musical project is a study of church bells. The beauty of the bell sound lies in the complex harmonics and dissonances that resonate when it's rung. When, Brian wonders, does dissonance cease being pleasurable? It's argued that the more varieties of music we listen to, the more accustomed our ears become to different musical relationships. Robert discusses our cultural and psychological response to dissonance with Dr Ian Cross, Director of the Centre for Music and Science at Cambridge University, and with musician David Toop. Both agree that what strikes us today as harmonious might well have struck earlier generations as unpleasantly dissonant. It really does seem to be a case of musical harmony being in the ear of the listener. gen: Reportage tit: Out of Tune epi: 2 sbt: Equal temperament aut: Robert Sandall cnt: 2 bnd: BR 2 len: 27'31" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 23.11.2003 lng: englisch stw: In the second programme, Robert Sandall looks at the origins of the 'equal temperament' tuning system, and weighs up the arguments for and against it. Ian Cross, Director of Centre for Music and Science at Cambridge University, and Roderick Swanston from the Royal College of Music, explain how the system came into being and the kinds of musical problems it helped composers solve. Musician David Toop argues that the combination of the piano and 'equal temperament' is having a stifling effect on music. Geoff Smith agrees - that's why he's invented a 'microtonal fluid tuning mechanism', which would make it possible to retune an acoustic piano quickly and easily. Charles Lucy takes a different approach. He's developed a tuning system, "Lucy Tuning", that's flexible enough to encompass all musical intervals, even those of the gamelan, one of the world's strangest instruments, demonstrated in the programme by Maria Mendonca. Robert also talks to two modern composers: Michael Berkeley describes the challenge of writing music for eastern and western instruments; American minimalist Phill Niblock's work with microtonal patterns have lead some to describe his music as clouds of sound. It's argued that the more varieties of music we listen to, the more accustomed our ears become to different musical relationships. Robert discusses our cultural and psychological response to dissonance with Dr Ian Cross, Director of the Centre for Music and Science at Cambridge University, and with musician David Toop. Both agree that what strikes us today as harmonious might well have struck earlier generations as unpleasantly dissonant. It really does seem to be a case of musical harmony being in the ear of the listener. gen: Reportage tit: The lab and the mosque sbt: Can science and religion work together? aut: Ziauddin Sardar cnt: 3 bnd: BR 2 len: 28'00" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 02.12.2003 lng: englisch stw: In the Western world, science and religion occupy different spheres. Religion might sometimes be called on to provide an ethical dimension to a scientific issue, but by and large, it is believed that science and religion are best kept apart. In Islam, there is no such antipathy. From its beginnings, the Prophet Muhammad emphasised that the material world could only be understood through scientific inquiry. Islamic culture, he said, should be a knowledge based culture. He valued science over extensive worship and declared: 'An hour's study of nature is better than a year's prayer'. But despite the Prophet's teaching, by the middle of the sixteenth century, Islamic science had gone into a steep decline. Why? Ziauddin Sardar investigates the philosophical and practical links between science and Islam. He visits Al-Azhar University in Cairo, where technical subjects such as Medicine, Engineering and Agriculture are taught within a religious framework. Given the revival of Islam and the emergence of a modern Islamic culture, how can the spirit of scientific enquiry be brought back to Islam? gen: Reportage tit: Mind Changers epi: 1 sbt: Solomon Asch - Conformity aut: Claudia Hammond cnt: 4 bnd: BR 2 len: 28'18" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 09.12.2003 lng: englisch stw: In the first of this new series, Claudia Hammond revisits the classic conformity experiment conducted by American social psychologist Solomon Asch in 1959, in which he appeared to show that people disregarded the evidence of their own eyes rather than stand apart from their peers. It's been cited ever since as evidence of how people conform in order to belong to a group, yet more recent experiments have failed to replicate the 'Asch effect'. Are we really less likely to conform today than we were in the 1950s? As the science of psychology developed during the 20th century, our understanding of human behaviour improved. Certain landmark experiments dramatically increased our knowledge, changing forever our perception of the human mind. Every day we try to fit in. We may like to think we're individual but most of the time we don't actually want to stand out too much. It's this idea of conformity that the American social psychologist Solomon Asch studied in the 1950s, using nothing more complex than straight black lines drawn on pieces of card - it's one of the classic experiments in psychology. Asch believed people wouldn't go along with the crowd; he set up his experiment to prove that people would stand up against group pressure. Unknown to his subjects, the rest of the group were stooges or plants, who'd been instructed to say A was longer than B, even though it patently wasn't. Contrary to his expectations, Asch discovered that a third of people went along with the group, even when it contradicted the evidence of their own eyes. Claudia Hammond investigates the reasons for this and asks whether we're more or less likely to conform today. Those taking part:- Roy Eidelson - Executive Director of the Solomon Asch Center Mark Glanville The Goldberg Variations by Mark Glanville, Flamingo 2003 ISBN 0-00-711841-4 (Paperback to be published 5 Jan 04, 0-00-711842-2) Henry Gleitman - Professor of Psychology at University of Pennsylvania Clark McAuley - Professor of Psychology at Bryn Mawr College Dean Peabody - Professor of Psychology (retired), Swarthmore College Paul Rozin - Professor of Psychology at University of Pennsylvania Peter Smith - Professor Emeritus of Social Psychology, University of Sussex R.A. Bond & P.B. Smith (1996). Culture and conformity: A meta-analysis of the Asch (1951,1956) line judgment task. Psychological Bulletin, 119, 111-137. Dr Clifford Stott - Department of Psychology, Liverpool University Stott, C.J. & Reicher, S.D. (1998). How conflict escalates: The inter-group dynamics of collective football crowd 'violence'. Sociology, 32, 353-377. Stott, C.J. & Reicher, S.D. (1998). Crowd action as inter-group process: Introducing the police perspective. European Journal of Social Psychology, 28, 509-529. Stott, C.J. & Drury, J. (2000). Crowds, context and identity: dynamic categorization processes in the 'poll tax riot'. Human Relations. 53(2), 247-273. Stott, C.J., Hutchison, P. & Drury, J. (2001) 'Hooligans' abroad? Inter-group dynamics, social identity and participation in collective 'disorder' at the 1998 World Cup Finals. British Journal of Social Psychology. 40, 359-384 gen: Reportage tit: Mind Changers epi: 2 sbt: Jean Piaget - The Three Mountains aut: Claudia Hammond cnt: 5 bnd: BR 2 len: 28'07" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 16.12.2003 lng: englisch stw: In the second programme Claudia Hammond revisits one of the most famous of the experiments of this hugely influential developmental psychologist and asks whether the conclusions to which it led him concerning young children's essential egocentrism are in fact accurate. Had Piaget used a social rather than a spatial situation, would his results in fact have proved that even very small children have the ability to empathise? As the science of psychology developed during the 20th century, our understanding of human behaviour improved. Certain landmark experiments dramatically increased our knowledge, changing forever our perception of the human mind. We have to thank the Swiss developmental psychologist, Jean Piaget for 'learning by play' applied to the classroom - a personal discovery which he believed to be far more effective than sitting in rows learning by rote. His idea was that children don't just store facts, they process them. As they interact with things around them every day they build a model of the world in their minds, so in the classroom they need the chance to experiment. There's no disputing the importance of Piaget's educational legacy, but critics have questioned the methodology of much of his experimental work and have concluded that some of his experiments were basically flawed. One such is the Three Mountains - from this experiment Piaget concluded that, because young children could not imagine what someone on the other side of the mountain model from the side they were standing could see, they were incapable of empathy. Subsequent experiments allowing children to imagine different social, rather than spatial, situations have had very different results. Claudia Hammond asks how far we should rely on Piaget's findings today. Those taking part:- Margaret Donaldson Children's Minds by Margaret Donaldson. Fontana Press 1978 ISBN 0-00-686122-9 Sue Eagle, Head Teacher of Tuckswood Community First School John Flavell - Emeritus Professor of Psychology at Stanford University The Developmental Psychology of Jean Piaget by John H Flavell. D Van Nostrand Company Ltd, 1963 Cognitive Development by John H Flavell. Pearson Education Inc., 1977 ISBN 0-13-791575 Martin Hughes, Professor of Education at University of Bristol Annette Karmiloff-Smith - Professor of Neurocognitive Development at Institute of Child Health Karin Murris, Educational Consultant John Oates - Senior Lecturer in Psychology at Open University Peter Sutherland - Lecturer at Institute of Education, University of Stirling Cognitive Development Today by Peter Sutherland. Paul Chapman Publishing, 1992 ISBN 1-85396-133 7 Jacques Voneche - Professor of Child and Adolescent Psychology at The University of Geneva. Director of Jean Piaget Archives gen: Reportage tit: Mind Changers epi: 3 sbt: Sir Frederic Bartlett - The War of the Ghosts aut: Claudia Hammond cnt: 6 bnd: BR 2 len: 28'05" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 23.12.2003 lng: englisch stw: When the British psychologist Sir Frederic Bartlett was working at Cambridge University during the First World War, memory had only just started to be considered a psychological rather than a philosophical subject. A German psychologist called Herman Ebbinghaus dominated the field. He had spent days at a time learning lists of nonsense words, testing himself to see precisely how many he could remember. But a game of Chinese Whispers gave Bartlett an idea which he developed into a radically different approach to the study of memory. He discovered that when he asked people to repeat an unfamiliar story they had read, they changed it to fit their existing knowledge, and it was this revised story which then became incorporated into their memory. Bartlett's findings led him to propose 'schema' - the cultural and historical contextualisation of memory, which has important implications for eyewitness testimony and false memory syndrome, and even for artificial intelligence! To test your own memory of the native American story which Bartlett used - The War of the Ghosts - read it here Claudia Hammond investigates the impact of Bartlett's findings. Those taking part:- Alan Baddeley - Consulting Professor of Psychology at University of York YOUR MEMORY: A User's Guide, Prion Books, ISBN 1-85375-213-4 (New illustrated and revised edition to be published in May 2004 by Carlton Books, ISBN 1-84442-780) Bill Brewer - Professor of Psychology at University of Illinois Richard Gregory - Emeritus Professor of Neuropsychology at University of Bristol Elizabeth F. Loftus - Distinguished Professor of Psychology at University of California Irvine Professor Norman Mackworth (retired) James Ost - Lecturer in Psychology at University of Portsmouth Remembering: A Study in Experimental and Social Psychology by F. C. Bartlett, Introduction by Walter Kintsch September 1995, Paperback (Hardback) ISBN: 0521483565 gen: Reportage tit: Climate wars epi: 1 sbt: The science aut: Gerry Northam cnt: 7 bnd: BR 2 len: 36'52" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 13.01.2004 lng: englisch stw: Two Harvard astronomers became the toast of Washington as they attacked the consensus view that global warming is a problem, and argued that humanity has survived similar episodes as recently as the Middle Ages. Gerry Northam charts the genesis and fate of this research, how it has been taken up by Washington conservatives, and the highly enflamed debate that followed. Two part investigation into the politics behind environmental science. As the planet emerges from another near record-breaking hot year, Gerry Northam delves into the politics that often underlies the science of climate change. Could the Kyoto protocol be on a highway to nowhere? Here in the UK, the government's chief science adviser calls global warming a greater threat than international terrorism; but in the US a leading politician calls it "possibly the greatest hoax ever perpetrated on the American people". When the solutions to global warming could involve a major shift in the world economies and industrial infrastructure - to reduce our dependence on the fossil fuels causing the shift in temperatures - the science of climate change cannot be, and is not, left in peace. And international actions become as dependent on diplomatic twists of fortune as on what the experts have to advise. gen: Reportage tit: Climate wars epi: 2 sbt: The action aut: Gerry Northam cnt: 8 bnd: BR 2 len: 37'10" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 20.01.2004 lng: englisch stw: The Kyoto protocol was meant to be the first step towards stopping and reversing global warming, but when the US declared it would have nothing to do with it in 2001, the treaty looked dead. That's what the US administration argued at the time. But with Russia perhaps on the brink of signing the protocol, despite a fog of words suggesting the opposite, and with the rest of the industrialised world and even individual states in the USA moving ahead with climate measures, it may be that Washington gets left behind. gen: Reportage ser: Reith Lectures tit: 2004, Climate of Fear epi: 1 sbt: The Changing Mask of Fear aut: Wole Soyinka cnt: 9 bnd: BR 2 len: 42'42" med: MP3 spd: 64 mon: Stereo src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 07.04.2004 lng: englisch stw: In his first lecture Wole Soyinka considers from his viewpoint as a poet and drawing on his personal experience as a political activist the changes since the Cold War in the nature of fear and its impact on individuals and society. Fear can be bearable, even a force for good, for example bringing a community together to fight a common threat from the natural world like a forest fire, "a kind of fear one can live with, shrug off, one that may actually be absorbed as a therapeutic incidence". Other kinds of fear, though, are "downright degrading". Crucially, they involve a loss of human dignity and freedom to act. First we had the fear of nuclear war between the superpowers, now "the fear is one of furtive, invisible power, the power of the quasi state, one that is not open to any negotiating structure." "It is the unstructured, the totally unpredictable, those that have repudiated the norm, refuse to to be bound by the code of formalised states that instil the greatest fear." Wole Soyinka does not date this new climate of fear from the events of September 11. He detects its origin in an event over a decade earlier which the world and in particular the continent of Africa chose to ignore - the downing of a passenger plane over the Republic of Niger some months before the similar disaster at Lockerbie. "Even in death, where all victims are surely considered equal, some continue to die more equally than others. Dying over Scotland, no matter your pedigree, enhances your value over dying over African soil". For Wole Soyinka 1989 was therefore the moment when the world first appeared to have stood still. "September 11 2001 has proved to be only a culmination of the posted signs that had been boldly scrawled over decades in letters of blood." Venue: The Royal Institution, London. Recording date Tuesday, 9 March, 7.00pm. Date of first broadcast: Wednesday, 7 April, 8.00pm. Repeated: Saturday 10 April, 10.15pm. gen: Reportage ser: Reith Lectures tit: 2004, Climate of Fear epi: 2 sbt: Power and Freedom aut: Wole Soyinka cnt: 10 bnd: BR 2 len: 43'05" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 14.04.2004 lng: englisch stw: This lecture examines how difficult it can be to tell friend from foe in a climate of fear. Organisations that are set up to overthrow dictatorships can themselves turn into tyrannical regimes. Liberation movements may be forced to seek help from dangerous quarters. And these days it is not just countries that control and direct the lives of their citizens. When the rule of law breaks down, shadowy forces set themselves up as "quasi-states" - and these, more than anything else, have produced today's climate of fear. Soyinka looks at the recent history of two countries - Algeria and Nigeria - both plagued by political turmoil. He considers what has become one of the most difficult tests for democracy - what happens when the ballot box produces "the wrong result", when the people vote for a party that is fundamentally opposed to democracy? The lecture also examines some of the ways in which the world has become a more dangerous place. Soyinka uses the Vietnam War to draw a contrast between nationalist struggles then and now. He points out that: "The North Vietnamese, victims of two world powers in rapid succession, never considered designating the entire world a war arena where innocents and guilty alike would be legitimately targeted. Not one incident of hijacking took place during those wars, neither did the taking of hostages or the random detonation of bombs in places of tourist attraction, or of religious worship. United Nations agencies, as well as humanitarian organizations appear to have enjoyed the respect due to neutrals in conflict." Soyinka also begins to develop his thesis about the nature of power - and its links to the climate of fear. He says: "History concedes to exceptional figures, past and present - Alexander, Suleyman, King Darius, Chaka the Zulu, Ataturk, Indira Ghandi etc - the temperaments of nation builders as well as nurturers of power. What differs in our contemporary situation is that the relishing of power is no longer an attribute of the outstanding, exceptional individual, but is increasingly accessible to even the nondescript individual whose membership of a clique, or activities on behalf of The Chosen more than fulfils this hunger for a share in the diet of power... "Any fool, any moron, any psychopath can aspire to the exercise of power - As long as you are sufficiently ruthless, amoral and manipulative - power is within the grasp of even the mentally deficient." Power-mad dictators are a fact of life - can we achieve a clearer understanding of the nature of the beast? Venue: School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London. Recording date: Thursday 11 March, 7.00pm. Date of first broadcast: Wednesday 14 April, 8.00pm. Repeated: Saturday 17 April, 10.15pm. gen: Reportage ser: Reith Lectures tit: 2004, Climate of Fear epi: 3 sbt: Rhetoric that Binds and Blinds aut: Wole Soyinka cnt: 11 bnd: BR 2 len: 42'34" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 21.04.2004 lng: englisch stw: Between God and Nation, and Sieg Heil, a complex set of social impulses and goals are reduced to mere sound, but a potent tool that moves to vibrate a collective chord and displace reason. A willed hypnosis substitutes for individual volition and, the ecstasy of losing oneself in a sound-cloned crowd drives the most ordinary being to jettison all moral code and undertake hitherto unthinkable acts. Its religious versions prove even more deadly. Is the language of Political Correctness aiding and abetting its proliferation? Venue: IMAX Theatre at Bristol. Recording date: Tuesday 23 March, 7.00pm. Date of first broadcast: Wednesday 21 April, 8.00pm. Repeated: Saturday 24 April, 10.15pm. gen: Reportage ser: Reith Lectures tit: 2004, Climate of Fear epi: 4 sbt: A Quest for Dignity aut: Wole Soyinka cnt: 12 bnd: BR 2 len: 43'06" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 28.04.2004 lng: englisch stw: Even in defeat, negotiating terms of surrender, a defeated nation pleads - 'Leave us something of our dignity'. Denied this little consideration, a doomed struggle is promptly resumed. So what exactly is this 'dignity' that even nations enshrine in their constitutions and Bills of Human Rights? A basic core of volition? A sense of freedom? Obviously human dignity involves both, and encompasses more. No matter the mask that is worn to hide the reality of fear, dignity remains incompatible with the entry of fear into the human psyche. Venue: University of Leeds Recording date: Thursday 25 March, 7.00pm. Date of first broadcast: Wednesday 28 April, 8.00pm. Repeated: Saturday 1 May, 10.15pm. gen: Reportage ser: Reith Lectures tit: 2004, Climate of Fear epi: 5 sbt: I am Right; You are Dead aut: Wole Soyinka cnt: 13 bnd: BR 2 len: 42'46" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 05.05.2004 lng: englisch stw: When Osama bin Laden declares that the world is divided between believers and non-believers, it is easy to identify the menace of the fanatic mind but, in what other company can we place George Bush when we hear him declare that 'you are either with us or you are on the side of the terrorists'? We fail at our peril to recognize a twin strain of the same fanatic spore that threatens to consume the world in its messianic fires. What could be the role of the 'invisible' religions and world views in tempering the forces that seek to dichotomise the world? Venue: Emory University, Atlanta, USA. Recording date: Monday 29 March, 7.00pm. Date of first broadcast: Wednesday 5 May, 8.00pm. Repeated: Saturday 8 May, 10.15pm. gen: Reportage tit: What If...? epi: 9 sbt: What If the Nazis had Occupied Britain in 1940? aut: Professor Christopher Andrew cnt: 14 bnd: BR 2 len: 0' med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 05.04.2004 lng: englisch stw: fehlt: im Archiv nicht verfügbar What If? The Radio 4 discussion programme which re-writes history returns with Professor Christopher Andrew and guests considering what might have happened if Hitler had successfully implemented his plan for the occupation of Britain in 1940. Would we really have fought them on the beaches? Would there have been an English resistance movement? What would have happened to Britain's Jewish population and how would the Nazis have dealt with the Royal Family and the BBC? gen: Reportage tit: What If...? epi: 10 sbt: What If Elizabeth I had married? aut: Professor Christopher Andrew cnt: 15 bnd: BR 2 len: 28'08" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 12.04.2004 lng: englisch stw: Professor Andrew and his guests, Lady Antonia Fraser, John Guy and Derek Wilson, discuss what might have happened if the Virgin Queen had taken a husband. Would a Catholic bridegroom have plunged England into a religious civil war? Would a foreign match have robbed England of Gloriana and the Golden Age over which she reigned? gen: Reportage tit: What If...? epi: 11 sbt: Tiananmen Square aut: Professor Christopher Andrew cnt: 16 bnd: BR 2 len: 28'07" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 19.04.2004 lng: englisch stw: What If the Chinese Authorities had not sent tanks into Tiananmen Square in June 1989? In this week's edition of the programme that rewrites history, Professor Christopher Andrew and his guests consider how China might look today if the democracy had been allowed to flourish, 14 years ago. With Steve Tsang, Jonathan Mirsky and Humphrey Hawksley. gen: Reportage tit: What If...? epi: 12 sbt: What If the Zulus had defeated the British in 1879? aut: Professor Christopher Andrew cnt: 17 bnd: BR 2 len: 27'59" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 26.04.2004 lng: englisch stw: In this week's edition of the programme which rewrites history, Professor Christopher Andrew and his guests imagine the consequences for the British Empire and for Southern Africa of a Zulu victory. With Saul David, Ian Knight and Joanna Lewis. gen: Reportage tit: What If...? epi: 13 sbt: What if D-day had failed? aut: Professor Christopher Andrew cnt: 18 bnd: BR 2 len: 59'00" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 05.06.2004 lng: englisch stw: A special edition of Radio 4's long-running counterfactual history series, What If..? imagines the consequences had the D Day landings failed on 6 June 1944, taking over from where From Dunkirk To D Day left off. As General Dwight Eisenhower knew only too well, the Normandy landings were an enormous gamble. On the eve of D Day he even wrote a communiqué that he would have released had the landings failed. It's far from beyond the bounds of possibility that the Allies might have met considerably greater German opposition than they did. The historian and broadcaster Professor Christopher Andrew speaks to a group of distinguished historians representing Britain, the USA and Germany. They are D Day veteran John Gritten, 85, the only Official Naval Reporter to land on D Day; Professor David Stafford, Dept of World War Studies, University of Edinburgh; Dr Soenke Neitzel, University of Mainz; Professor Dennis Showalter, Colorado Liberal Arts College in the United States and Dr Gary Sheffield, who teaches both at Kings College London and the Joint Services Staff College in Shrivenham. Together they imagine the consequences of Allied failure to open a Western Front against Germany. Among the scenarios they consider are: The weather - D Day had already been postponed for 24 hours by 6 June - it's quite conceivable that it might have had to be delayed again. However the next occasion when the tides were favourable wasn't until a fortnight later, by which time the Germans may well have discovered the true objectives of the greatest seaborne invasion in military history, and been much better prepared to repel the Allies. Intelligence - A huge Allied deception operation contributed to the success of D Day, attributable in large part to the misinformation supplied by a double-agent codenamed Garbo. Hitler's conviction that the true destination for the landings was the Pas de Calais rather than Normandy is directly due to Garbo's misinformation. Had Garbo been discredited, Field Marshal Rommel might well have won his argument to have greater numbers of men and munitions at his disposal to defend the Normandy coast. Having established these grounds on which D Day might well have failed Chris Andrew pursues the military and political fall-out of such a pivotal event. It makes for sober listening. The Allies were unlikely to have been able to launch a similar venture for at least a further year or 18 months. During that time the Red Army is likely to have continued its westward advance unopposed. Would it have stopped at Berlin? Chris Andrew imagines a Communist continent of Europe, dominated by Stalin. The programme takes place in the Map Room of Southwick House, just inland from Portsmouth, the very room where General Eisenhower, Supreme Commander of Allied Forces, took the decision to launch the landings. Presenter/Christopher Andrew, Producer/Mark Smalley Professor Christopher Andrew of Cambridge University asks what if major turning points in history had taken a different turn. By altering a single plausible fact, he re-examines the events of the day. The result is always thought-provoking, and refreshes our memories of what did actually happen. In suggesting an alternative history, we can reflect on how extraordinary it is that things did indeed happen in the way they did. gen: Reportage tit: In the Footsteps of Muhammad epi: 1 sbt: Mecca aut: Edward Stourton cnt: 19 bnd: BR 2 len: 27'54" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 21.06.2004 lng: englisch stw: In the year 610 a 40 year old illiterate trader in the deserts of Arabia received a revelation that would change the world. Islam is now the second most popular religion on the planet with more than a billion followers. "In the Footsteps of Muhammad", Edward Stourton traces the roots of Islam; the history of the prophet, and the impact this mystic and warrior has on international affairs today. The Prophet Muhammad was born in 570 in the small trading town of Mecca in the desert of the Hejazz, the western region of what is now Saudi Arabia. From this bleak and isolated landscape grew a religion that spread from China to the Atlantic within 100 years of his death. This religion nurtured a period of world-changing intellectual exploration and remains an insistently powerful influence on the spiritual and political life of the world today. In a major new series In the Footsteps of Muhammad Edward Stourton traces the roots of Islam and its prophet Muhammad, the mystic and warrior at the heart of this vast faith movement. Ed starts his journey as Muhammad did in the desert, learning the business of trading that linked Mecca to the rest of the world and that brought in the influences of Judaism and Christianity. We ask whether Muhammad, who was born into a pagan and polytheistic community, studied Jewish and Christian scriptures and whether they shaped his understanding of faith. gen: Reportage tit: In the Footsteps of Muhammad epi: 2 sbt: Jerusalem aut: Edward Stourton cnt: 20 bnd: BR 2 len: 27'50" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 28.06.2004 lng: englisch stw: Jerusalem is the third holiest site in Islam: the first Muslims didn't pray towards Mecca, but to Jerusalem. This programmes explores the theory that Islam may have grown out of a cult of Judaism. It also explores the meaning of jihad and how the life of the prophet and the battles against the pagan Meccans have been used to justify suicide bombings. gen: Reportage tit: In the Footsteps of Muhammad epi: 3 sbt: Granada aut: Edward Stourton cnt: 21 bnd: BR 2 len: 27'50" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 05.07.2004 lng: englisch stw: The Alhambra Palace is perhaps the finest surviving Muslim palace in the world and its symbolic of an episode that many Muslims believe has been all but written out of the history books by Europe's Christians; the flowering of Islam culture, philosophy and science, which meant that once the intellectual heart of Europe beat not in Paris, Rome or Athens, but in the great Muslim cities of Granada and Cordoba. gen: Reportage tit: In the Footsteps of Muhammad epi: 4 sbt: Indonesia aut: Edward Stourton cnt: 22 bnd: BR 2 len: 27'50" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 12.07.2004 lng: englisch stw: Indonesia is the world's largest Muslim nation and since independance in 1949 it has often been plagued by religiously motivated violence. But Islamic reformers in the country are advocating a radical re-interpretation of the life of Muhammad as a way of leading the country to democracy. Could this be the start of an Islamic enlightenment that will lead the way for the rest of the Muslim world? gen: Reportage tit: What If...? epi: 4 sbt: The 1975 EEC Referendum aut: Professor Christopher Andrew cnt: 23 bnd: BR 2 len: 27'48" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 18.04.2002 lng: englisch stw: Six months before the EEC Referendum of June 1975, all the opinion polls suggested that the No campaign would be home and dry. In fact, they lost by a 2:1 majority, and Britain's entry into the European Union was resoundingly confirmed. Britain had joined the EEC in 1972, one of Prime Minister Ted Heath's proudest moments. Professor Chris Andrew imagines a different outcome: that Britain remained outside the EU, and that the continent remained cut-off by fog. He recreates this alternative recent past with the help of Hugo Young, columnist on The Guardian, Professor Tony King of Essex University, both of whom have written acclaimed books on the topic of Europe, and arch Euro-sceptic John Redwood MP. Such was the assurance of the No campaigners, among them Tony Benn, that it was they who'd been pushing for a referendum all along. This is how confident they were that the British public would reject continued European membership. But what if the No campaigners had been right? What if the plebiscite had occurred six months earlier and the result had indeed gone against European membership? Professor Chris Andrew posits a Britain standing alone and outside Europe after 1975, and asks what the effect on our politics, economy and our relations with Europe and America would have been. Further reading Hugo Young This Blessed Plot: Britain and Europe from Churchill to Blair Macmillan ISBN: 0333754115 John Redwood Just Say No! Politico's Publishing ISBN: 1902301994 gen: Reportage tit: What If...? epi: 5 sbt: The Space Race aut: Professor Christopher Andrew cnt: 24 bnd: BR 2 len: 28'07" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 03.04.2003 lng: englisch stw: What If... the Russians got to the Moon first? In 1961 President Kennedy famously committed the United States to landing a manned spacecraft on the Moon "before this decade is out". Eight years later, Neil Armstrong was the first human to stand on another world, acknowledging: "That's one small step for (a) man, one giant leap for mankind". Imagine if those words had been spoken in Russian. At the time of Kennedy's announcement to Congress the idea of a man landing on the moon was a dream. Neither the Americans nor the Soviets then had the technology nor the delivery systems to achieve the desired result. It was a gamble which considerably upped the ante, committing both superpowers to inordinate expense: arguably a big bang that ended in a whimper. But what if the Soviets had got to the moon first? We hear how the Soviets arguably had a much more serious attitude to space than the Americans. It's plausible that they would have created a lunar station, and considered manned missions to Mars. Sergei Korolev, the impressive head of the Russian space effort died in 1966 whilst having his haemorroids operated on. Had he lived, he might well have given the States a run for their money. gen: Reportage tit: What If...? epi: 7 sbt: The US War of Independence aut: Professor Christopher Andrew cnt: 25 bnd: BR 2 len: 28'18" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 17.04.2003 lng: englisch stw: What If... The USA had lost its War of Independence? During the opening years of the American War of Independence the British Army undoubtedly had the upper hand over the George Washington's forces. Here, we imagine George Washington's defeat in the early stages of the war, e.g.: 1776. In fact George III and his Cabinet had every reason to believe they were going to win, until their surprise defeats at the Battles of Saratoga and Yorktown. It's only the British Commander, Admiral Howe's characteristic lack of boldness that prevented him from crushing the American forces on at least three occasions. A number of historians have confirmed this is a strong story which leads to some quite unforseen developments: most astonishingly - there is no French Revolution. How, why? A large part of Louis XVI's problems were fiscal - bankrupted by his support of the American uprising. In this programme we have George Washington losing the fight even before France involves itself in the American War of Independence, three thousand miles away across the Atlantic. Bang goes one of the major causes of the French Revolution - the state's financial crisis in the 1780s, directly attributable to its role in North America. Our speakers for the programme include: Paul Shirley, winner of the History Today prize for best undergraduate thesis, on slavery and the War of Independence. Professor Hamish Scott, University of St Andrews Dr Sarah Pearsall, University of St Andrews, who's an expert on the family correspondence of the time, and the enormous social consequences, the dislocation that followed the war. Dr Brendan Simms, University of Cambridge Professor Tim Blanning, University of Cambridge, on the European consequences had George III defeated Washington's forces. Suggested reading: A Struggle for Power Theodore Draper Little, Brown and Co, 1996 The American Revolution Ray Raphael Profile Books, 2002 Redcoats and Rebels Christopher Hibbert Grafton Books, 1990 The Glorious Cause Robert Middlekauff OUP, 1982 gen: Reportage tit: Prehistoric Manual epi: 1 sbt: Changing Huts - round house style. aut: Mike Pitts cnt: 26 bnd: BR 2 len: 13'48" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 28.06.2004 lng: englisch stw: What can reconstructing an iron age chariot tell you about how our ancestors travelled? Were they into home decoration - lime-washing the walls of their round houses and decorating them with the latest patterns? Were wild boar sausages on the menu? At Butser Ancient Farm in Wiltshire the reconstructed round house is painted dark red - another near Glastonbury in Somerset has whitewashed and patterned walls and is equipped with bed frames much like anything you might buy today. But what evidence do we have for iron age interiors and what was on the menu? Mike Pitts talks to David Freeman and Ann Phipps who spend up to 40 nights a year living in round houses and to archaeologists John Coles and Stephen Minnit who have found evidence that our ancestors dined on beaver and pelican. Mike Pitts - the editor of British Archaeology - sheds light on the lifestyles of our forebears by recording on location around Britain and in America. He brings together professional archaeologists with present day crafts people to compare ancient and modern techniques for survival. gen: Reportage tit: Prehistoric Manual epi: 2 sbt: The first cross channel ferry? aut: Mike Pitts cnt: 27 bnd: BR 2 len: 13'34" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 29.06.2004 lng: englisch stw: How did we trade and travel in the past? Mike Pitts tells the story of the chance discovery of the best preserved prehistoric boat in Britain under a road in Dover and visits the Hampshire boatyard of Giff and Joyce Gifford who have built and sailed a bronze age style oak ship.. gen: Reportage tit: Prehistoric Manual epi: 3 sbt: Chariots of Leather aut: Mike Pitts cnt: 28 bnd: BR 2 len: 13'51" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 30.06.2004 lng: englisch stw: At the International Museum of the Horse in Kentucky, America last summer a 2 wheeled wooden chariot with a suspension system made from woven leather was put through its paces. One of the passengers was Mike Pitts - who reports on this vehicle modelled from an image on a coin. gen: Reportage tit: Prehistoric Manual epi: 4 sbt: Chopping and Changing aut: Mike Pitts cnt: 29 bnd: BR 2 len: 13'53" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 01.07.2004 lng: englisch stw: At Yarnton in Oxfordshire Gill Hey and her colleagues have found what's thought to be the earliest loaf of bread in Britain. What do her excavations tell us about the first farmers 6,000 years ago and how they changed the landscape from forest to fields. Mike Pitts compares notes with the anthropologist Paul Sillitoe from Durham University who's studied the use of stone axes on farming and forestry in Papua New Guinea. gen: Reportage tit: Prehistoric Manual epi: 5 sbt: The Killing Machine aut: Mike Pitts cnt: 30 bnd: BR 2 len: 13'56" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 02.07.2004 lng: englisch stw: What can a big game hunter today tell us about how the woolly mammoth might have been killed? An excavation in Norfolk has revealed the best site for mammoth remains in Britain. The archaeologist Bill Boismier and the geologist Nigel Larkin discuss their findings and Mike Pitts also canvasses the views of the owner of a South London gun company Paul Roberts. gen: Reportage tit: Test-tubes and tantrums epi: 1 sbt: Isaac Newton and Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz aut: William Hartston cnt: 31 bnd: BR 2 len: 14'00" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 06.11.2004 fst: 04-07-01 lng: englisch stw: It is probably impossible to overestimate the importance to science of differential and integral calculus. It is now generally accepted that Newton and Leibniz discovered it independently of each other, Newton first formulating his methods around 1665. But when Leibniz, a German civil servant, published his work in 1684 and didn't even mention the name of the Lucasian Professor of Mathematics, who had helped him in letters on more than one occasion, blood boiled in the lounges of learned societies and on podiums of lecture halls across Europe, and a schism in science opened up that would hold back British science and thinking, and would not heal for some 140 years. Newton was buried in Westminster Abbey, a national hero. Leibniz, who has since been described as the last universal genius, died a poor failure, with only his former secretary attending his funeral. Great Arguments in the History of Science When great science minds collide, the insults traded and the bile spilt has been both personal and scandalous. But all too often, the victor's reputation is scrubbed clean by the passage of history. William Hartston rakes up some of the muck that has always been part and parcel of the nature of scientific practice, but that few of us know about. gen: Reportage tit: Test-tubes and tantrums epi: 2 sbt: Joseph Priestley and Antoine Laurent Lavoisier aut: William Hartston cnt: 32 bnd: BR 2 len: 14'00" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 06.11.2004 fst: 04-07-08 lng: englisch stw: There are two pugilists in our second squabble. The English contender was Joseph Priestley - a minister of the church, a librarian and literary companion to the political aristocracy. On the French side, Antoine Lavoisier - wealthy son of a lawyer, social climber, tax collector and widely held to be the founder of modern chemistry. In or around 1774 both men were working on a gas closely associated with combustion. Priestley called it "dephlogisticated air". Lavoisier named it oxygen. Their research techniques were very different - while Priestley heated and sniffed, Lavoisier heated, weighed, measured and made calculations. It could be said that though Priestley almost certainly isolated the gas first, Lavoisier understood it first. But the ruck didn't seem so simple during the late 1700's, when revolutions were overturning more than just chemical theories. Lavoisier lost his head to Mme La Guillotine. Priestley lost his house to a rioting mob in the Midlands, and fled to America. gen: Reportage tit: Test-tubes and tantrums epi: 3 sbt: Henry Thomas De La Beche and Roderick Impey Murchison aut: William Hartston cnt: 33 bnd: BR 2 len: 13'49" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 06.11.2004 fst: 04-07-15 lng: englisch stw: In the third set of tantrums we move on to the unseemly row which developed among leading earth scientists in the 1830s. The new science of geology was just beginning to make progress with working out the sequence in which different rocks were laid down. At the same time it was also becoming successful at predicting where coal could be found. So all was well and there was a rush to map the country and establish names for different periods in geological history. Then one man, Henry De La Beche, in Devon, found some fossils that according to another man, Roderick Murchison, could not be there. They threatened Murchisons' theory and furious debate followed over the next decade. Sir Roderick Impey Murchison was a wealthy Scot, military hero and reputedly one of the finest fox hunters in the land. He was typical of the gentlemen amateurs who were making the running in the new science of geology. Tipped for the presidency of the geological society, he did not take kindly to the findings. Henry De La Beche was one of a new breed of geologists who actually had to work for a living. When his contentious findings were presented to the society, he was too poor to afford the fare up to London, and his letter was read in his absence. In the end, the science of geology was helped by the fight - furious though it was - and De La Beche could be said to have pioneered the career of the professional geologist, transforming what had been a pastime for the priveleged few into a serious career option for many. gen: Reportage tit: Test-tubes and tantrums epi: 4 sbt: Trofim Denisovitch Lysenko and Nikolai Ivanovitch Vavilov aut: William Hartston cnt: 34 bnd: BR 2 len: 13'56" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 06.11.2004 fst: 04-07-22 lng: englisch stw: Science and politics have never felt comfortable with each other, but the relationship sank to a brutal low in Russia in the 1920s. The Communist Revolution had delivered power to the masses, but the masses weren't delivering the goods. Agriculture, and in particular cereal production, was high on Stalin's list for attention - the drive to increase productivity was immense and the new science of genetics had a vital role to play. Nikolai Ivanovitch Vavilov, an extraordinarily gifted agriculturalist and academic, realised this. He started to look scientifically for ways to feed the people. Another up and coming scientist, Trofim Denisovic Lysenko, understood far better the minds of politicians. Blending his style of botany with Stalin's version of Marxism, he gained the state's full support and was put in charge of the whole future programme of cereal production. As Vavilov continued his own research, support for Lysenko began to diminish as his claims began to sound increasingly far-fetched. Eventually Lysenko began to make Vavilov and his followers the scapegoat for the short-comings of his own programme. Lysenko's skill was to paint his critics in a politically damaging light. Ultimately this led to the arrest of Vavilov in 1940, charged with wrecking Soviet agriculture. Shortly after his arrest, Vavilov's health deteriorated rapidly and he died in prison. He was only one of thousands of Soviet geneticists wiped out in the Stalinist purges, and every such death only strengthened Lysenko's position. It was not only a tragedy for Soviet scientists: it was also a tragedy for Soviet science. Vavilov had lost his life for allegedly holding back the development of Soviet agriculture - Lysenko stayed in power even after Stalin's death despite doing just that, and aroused more negative passions than few scientists have ever managed. gen: Reportage tit: Test-tubes and tantrums epi: 5 sbt: Arthur Stanley Eddington and Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar aut: William Hartston cnt: 35 bnd: BR 2 len: 13'53" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 06.11.2004 fst: 04-07-29 lng: englisch stw: Sir Arthur Eddington was the most distinguished British astrophysicist in the 1930s. He had found experimental proof of Einstein's theory of relativity during a solar eclipse and he had worked out what goes on inside stars. Subramanyan Chandrasekhar was a young brilliant Indian physicist who had a theory explaining what happens to stars when their nuclear fuel runs out. His calculations showed that if a star was large enough it literally collapsed into nothing, but paradoxically a nothing of huge mass and gravitational pull. In other words, this is what we now call a black hole. In this edition of Test Tubes and Tantrums, William Hartston tells the story of the row that exploded on a cold January day in 1935 between Eddington and Chandrasekhar. It was over the death of stars. Eddington vehemently disagreed with his young Cambridge colleague and ridiculed him at a meeting at the Royal Astronomical Society. He said Chandrasekhar's ideas were "stellar buffoonery". Eddington thought stars ended their lives as lumps of metal called white dwarves. The result of the dispute was that the science of astronomy was put on hold for thirty years. Chandrasekhar was hurt and left Cambridge University for the United States . He also changed his topic of research and it was three decades before his theory was proved right. Eddington died in 1944 and never retracted his attack on Chandrasekhar. William Hartston discusses this dispute with Arthur Miller, Professor of the History of Science at University College, London, and author of a forthcoming book on the row, Dr Simon Mitton of St Edmund's College, Cambridge University, and Peter Coles, Professor of Astrophysics at Nottingham University. gen: Reportage tit: Mind Reading epi: 1 aut: John Carey cnt: 36 bnd: BR 2 len: 13'59" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 29.11.2004 lng: englisch stw: John Carey, chairman of last year's Man Booker Prize judges, explores the process of reading and the science of how words on a page create pictures in the mind. gen: Reportage tit: Mind Reading epi: 2 aut: John Carey cnt: 37 bnd: BR 2 len: 13'56" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 30.11.2004 lng: englisch stw: Does reading in a different language or page layout affect our understanding of a text? John Carey, chairman of last year's Man Booker Prize judges, explores the process of reading. gen: Reportage tit: Mind Reading epi: 3 aut: John Carey cnt: 38 bnd: BR 2 len: 13'52" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 01.12.2004 lng: englisch stw: In the third programme in the series, John Carey investigates the importance of the personal imagination each reader brings to a text. He talks to neuroscientists about the reading process, and asks authors Sue Townsend and Francis Spufford to explain their experience of reading. gen: Reportage tit: Mind Reading epi: 4 aut: John Carey cnt: 39 bnd: BR 2 len: 14'00" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 02.12.2004 lng: englisch stw: John spends a day working as a barrister, grappling with complex legal papers, and talks to neuropsychologist Matthew Lambon Ralph about the relationship between what we read, how we read it, and how much we remember when the page is turned. John Carey continues his investigation into the science of reading. gen: Reportage tit: Mind Reading epi: 5 aut: John Carey cnt: 40 bnd: BR 2 len: 14'07" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 03.12.2004 lng: englisch stw: John talks to people who buy and sell books about the choices they make as readers. John Carey explores the process of reading. gen: Reportage ser: Lent Talks tit: Jesus epi: 1 sbt: Jesus Through Jewish Eyes aut: Clive Lawton cnt: 41 bnd: BR 2 len: 13'35" med: MP3 spd: 40 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 10.02.2005 fst: 02-02-17 lng: englisch stw: Clive Lawton, Executive Director of Limmud, considers Jesus the Jew. The first of six programmes in which adherents of different faiths reflect on who Jesus was, and is for them. My first encounter with Jesus was in primary school Nativity plays. Teachers desperately - kindly - tried to find me theologically uncontroversial roles - a sheep or a donkey perhaps - but, in the end, they all had to face up to the limits of Jewish Christian togetherness, I helped with make-up or costume, and the line was drawn. A few years later, my second encounter was furtive, clandestine. Officially withdrawn from my school assemblies, which all 'of a mainly Christian character', I was fascinated by the only thing that seemed to enliven my peers as they poured out of the school hall. 'We had a parallel today'. Years later, I found out that the word was 'parable', but they might have been right in the first place, even so. So I snuk in in the hope of 'having a parallel' too. And sure enough, I struck lucky. I don't remember which it was, but I do remember huge disappointment. It was just another of the commonplace midrashim or hasidic tales I'd been brought up on - 'There was once a king.' or 'A rich man had two sons.' The only difference was the tedious, pedestrian insistence with which the headmistress explained us all to death after telling it. Then a slightly more organised encounter - the back page of the Eagle comic. For a long time, the back page serialised great lives - Gordon of Khartoum, Nelson, Henry the Fifth, Jesus. Jesus in this comic strip story glowed amongst the glowering Semitic throng. Though I didn't recognise myself or any of my family in the crowd, I knew enough to recognise that anyone who didn't follow this blond, hunky but gentle, apotheosis was obtuse, stupid or, like the Mekon from Mars, on the front page of the Eagle, simply committed to evil. However, having been nurtured in the business of living in two worlds, none of this impacted on the warm, coherent, joyous, Pharisaic inheritance than I was living in mid-20th century Britain. Years later, I was at secondary school. My dearest friends were a Baptist and a Christadelphian. Somehow I felt I owed them the respect of reading the New Testament so that I'd know what moved them. So one weekend, going at the same pace as an orthodox Jew says his prayers or anyone might read a light novel on holiday, I whizzed through the Book. It was so Jewish! The arguments, the examples, the proofs, the preoccupations - I recognised them all as belonging more to my world than anything I had yet identified as Christian. While reporting back to my friends about my impressions, I speculated on what might have happened to Jesus's children. 'He didn't have any. He was unmarried,' they chorused. 'Of course he was,' I said. 'I've just read it.' But they were convinced - and so I had to re read and, sure enough, nothing. It took me some years to realise that I was so convinced Jesus was married because it didn't explicitly say he wasn't. From my point of view, from the Jewish point of view, to get to 30 and not be married requires comment and explanation! And the reason I made such unexamined assumptions was because I recognised Jesus's life described in the Gospels. I even felt immediately comfortable with the, oh so Jewish, unself-conscious telling of the same story in four different gospels, from four different contradictory angles - as a tiny fraction, a glimpse into the world of the Talmud, snatched out and wondered over, a brief second in the span of time. I easily recognised the Last Supper as most probably a Passover Seder - especially since Easter coincides with Pesakh, but had to wonder how come Jesus was welcomed into Jerusalem, according to the Gospels, about six days earlier, but with all the crowd behaviour of six months earlier, the festival of Sukkot - Tabernacles - when we wave palm branches and sing Hoshana - Save us? I was even more puzzled by why everyone seemed to get so heated about whether or not Jesus thought he was the Son of God - aren't we all? - or even the Messiah - might not anyone be? And each gospel had its own angle - its own story. I could see, even at 17, what Matthew was doing. He was proving that all the prophecies relating to the Messiah were manifest in Jesus. Virgin birth? Tick. White donkey? Tick. Hanged on a tree? Tick. But I'd never been taught as a Jew to pay much attention to these details of messianic credential. How will we know the Messiah? Easy. The world will be at peace. Cross. I could see Luke floundering in Jewish preoccupations he couldn't fathom. What were they all squabbling about? But with Mark and John, I felt more home. The world Mark describes sounds not dissimilar from the world I know from the Talmud and the Midrash, those compendia of rabbinic debate, quoting about 1000 rabbis, spanning nearly a 1000 years. I recognised the pleasure in argument and verbal honing, the clever use of prooftexts, the camaraderie and generosity underlying disagreements, as the rabbis call them, for the sake of Heaven. I couldn't detect anything much Jesus says in the Gospel of Mark which couldn't also be found in the mouth of some rabbi - I want to say, some other Rabbi - in these great treasure stores of the Jewish relationship with revelation. John's worldview is different. But I recognised it too. It carries all the cheerful anachronism of Midrash to prove its point. Just like John's contemporaries, the Rabbis of the Midrash, could have the twins, Jacob and Esau, struggle in Rebecca's womb as they respectively passed Houses of Study and gambling houses, despite the fact that they didn't - couldn't - have existed back then, mere historical precision is not the point. It's not so much the story of Jesus but a commentary, a didactic, a polemic on the story of Jesus. By the time John writes, decades later, nuances are resolved into simple clarities. Them and us. 'The Jews' are now clearly the villains of the piece. Pilate - vicious, nasty, oppressive Pilate - nearly qualifies as a proto-Saint. In Mark, 'the Jews' includes Jesus and the disciples and just about everybody else. In John, they become the enemy. But that's clearly not how Jesus saw them. 'The Scribes and the Pharisees' are his natural peers and he is clearly at home amongst them. The Pharisees were worker-teachers, proletarian democratisers of the tradition, cultivating the synagogue, prayer and good deeds as the means by which any Jew could secure salvation and by which the messianic age would be hastened. And not just any Jew. 'The righteous of all nations will inherit the World to Come,' they taught. They claimed that God silenced his angels in heaven when they try to praise him at the downfall of the Egyptians at the Red Sea. 'There will be no rejoicing in my heavens at even the necessary destruction of my creatures', I learnt as a Jewish child, as those Pharisaic teachings rolled through the millennia to me. These Pharisees taught the people in the marketplaces. The best of them had huge followings. They were ambivalent about eschatological talk. Would it distract ordinary folk from living the good life in the here and now? Would it stir up unnecessary conflict with the Roman rulers and occupiers? If all Jews could be helped to make the best of the world they lived in, wouldn't the coming of the Messiah look after itself? Inheriting the prophetic tradition, they condemned hypocrisy and the excesses of the Temple industry. They loved the Temple and felt it to be the pinnacle of what was possible in God kissing the lips of the Jewish people and, through them, the world. But they certainly did not always condone the behaviour of the priests and their priestly party, the Sadducees. Indeed, the Talmud records an occasion one Sukkot, the festival of Tabernacles, when the obviously Pharisaically-educated and inspired crowd pelted the high priest as he mis-performed part of the ritual which had popular significance. Passions ran high in those days. Religious details mattered. And they still do. When I read the account of Jesus being expelled from the synagogue for preaching something the crowd didn't like, I didn't even realise this was supposed to be controversial. I bet the Jewish Jesus - the one I recognise - would have been back the following week arguing the toss all over again. So, who then, do I, a practising Jew, think Jesus was? Even that question, of course, is Jewish. A Christian would be as interested, even more interested perhaps, in who Jesus is, not who he was. But before I answer, I have to say that this is not the kind of question that Jews would ever bother to ask ourselves. After all, how often do Christians challenge themselves with questions as to where they would place Muhammad in their pantheon. Most Christians, quite reasonably, would say, 'He doesn't come into our frame of reference.' For the sake of peace and goodwill between communities, they might concede or agree that Muhammad was a good man or a great prophet or whatever, but it wouldn't be a Christian statement. So it is with Jews and Jesus. So, from my very Jewish take on the world, who - what - was he? Over the years, my view of Jesus has become a little more subtle than it was thirty and more years ago, when hardly anyone would listen to my insistence that Jesus was really very Jewish. Nowadays, the comment hardly raises an eyebrow - well in Britain anyway. Since then, I've read a Hebrew translation of the Lord's Prayer and it sounds exactly like all those prayers that my prayer book is full of - selected quotations from the Psalms, knitted together to build to a crescendo of equilibrium between God's responsibilities to us and ours to Him, as best expressed through our dual duty to God and humanity. I've looked more closely at Jesus's reported challenges to the religious teachers and authorities of his day and I can find nothing much shocking. Argument and polemical exaggeration are the stuff of Jewish debate. If a teacher condemns something and says it doesn't matter in comparison to something else, you shouldn't take their comments out of the context of how they actually behaved or what they said elsewhere. They may have just been making a point. Those who enshrined the prophecies of Isaiah in the canon of the Bible - the Rabbis - didn't think he was urging the end of sacrifices just because he attacked those who offered sacrifice without also amending their moral behaviour. His statements are polemical and are making the strong - and who could disagree? - point that the ritual is a bit pointless if it doesn't lead to a concomitant improvement in behaviour. I read Jesus and get his point exactly. Ritual is pointless without it having an impact on behaviour. When Mark, for example, says that Jesus's comments that eating the right foods doesn't make you righteous inside indicates that he thus declared all foods 'clean', he doesn't explain that those listening to him - even his own closest disciples - didn't understand it that way.Later, in the Acts of the Apostles, they still debated whether or not converts to Christianity should observe the dietary and other laws. Similarly, Jesus's comments on Shabbat observance are the very stuff of Pharisaic dispute. We know so much about Pharisaic dispute because the rabbinic tradition did not suppress opinions which didn't chime with the consensus. All the variant opinions are recorded in the Talmud. Disagreeing wasn't a crime. Nor was claiming to be the Messiah - as several failed claimants have done before and since. So it's fairly easy to see Jesus as a Pharisee from the Liberal wing, probably heavily influenced by the Messianic fervour that was current and, apparently deeply impressed by John the Baptist who may have been associated with the Essenes or some other such separatist sect. He was deeply bothered by the Temple excesses of the time, didn't want to get involved in the politics, and wanted the people to be take themselves seriously as being able to bring about God's kingdom on Earth by right living. But I can't see Jesus as the Messiah we Jews are waiting for. And nor, as the Gospel accounts themselves make clear, could the disciples who knew him once he was executed. After the crucifixion, the disciples did not sit around calmly and reassure each other that all was going according to plan. They were instead understandably devastated. This was not the messianic plan. Nothing in Jewish teaching had suggested the execution of the Messiah. Not one of them was able to come up with the idea that this was all as it should be. It wasn't. They had invested their faith in this man and he was now dead. And this is the fresh mystery at the heart of the Christian story - and one which raises no echoes or meaning for Jews. Something happened back then that first Easter that persuaded those disheartened followers that what they'd been expecting and waiting for, what they believed Jesus was about despite - or because of? - their years of living in his company and hearing his teachings - wasn't the point after all. It was all entirely different to the way Jews had understood the idea of the messiah for centuries... and still do. And fair enough. But you'll have to understand when we Jews look at the claims made about Jesus with incomprehension and remain true to our own tradition. After all, Jesus did. Clive A Lawton gen: Reportage ser: Lent Talks tit: Jesus epi: 2 sbt: Jesus Through Hindu Eyes aut: Shaunaka Rishi Das cnt: 42 bnd: BR 2 len: 13'20" med: MP3 spd: 40 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 10.02.2005 fst: 02-03-02 lng: englisch stw: Shaunaka Rishi Das, director of the Oxford Centre for Vaishnava and Hindu Studies, responds to the challenges laid down by Jesus. I've an Indian friend who when he was seven moved with his family from India to England. Where he was enrolled at a new school. On his first day he was asked to speak to the class about a saint from his Hindu tradition. Enthusiastically he began to tell the story of the saint called Ishu, who was born in a cowshed, was visited by three holy men, performed many amazing miracles, walked on water and spoke a wonderful sermon on a mountain. Of course, he was telling the story of Christ. But he was bewildered to hear that the teacher laid claim to Ishu for herself and her friends and she let him know that this was her Lord and her story, not his. He was very upset about this, because Ishu's tale was his favourite story. You see, in a sense, Hindus don't really see Jesus as a Christian at all. (Of course Jesus didn't either because the term had not been used during His lifetime). In Hindu thought church or temple membership, or belief is not as significant as spiritual practice (which is called sadhana in sanskrit). As there is no Church of Hinduism everyone holds their own spiritual and philosophical opinions. It is difficult then to understand someone's spirituality simply by looking at their religious trappings. So, in India it is more common to hear someone ask, "What is your practice (or sadhana)?" than, "What do you believe?" Then when we ask how we can see spirituality in Hindus, the answer comes, by behaviour and practice. We can ask are we humble, are we tolerant and are we non-violent, and can we control our senses and our mind? Are we aware of others suffering and are we willing to give up our comfort to help them? Looking at these criteria Jesus measures up as a Sadhu, a holy man. He preached a universal message, love of God and love of brother, which was beyond any sectarianism or selfishness. Jesus was one of those people who appealed from heart to heart, and that's what makes him such a good Hindu Saint. In my particular tradition, and among other Hindus, He is seen as much more, as an Avatar, specifically a Shaktavesha Avatar or an empowered incarnation. This means that God has sent Him to us for a specific mission to fulfil God's will on earth. When I was 14 I began a personal and serious study of the New Testament. I wanted to understand what Christ had to say about things so I paid particular attention to the words of Jesus Himself. I can see now that the whole direction of my life was determined by this formative study and by the thoughtfulness invoked by it. I read such passages as Luke 5: forsake all and follow me. I remember distinctly, as a 14 year old developing my own understanding of what that meant. I had formed a sense of mission and vocation by reading the Bible, seeing that the love of God should be shared with others. The greatest commandment, to love the Lord our God with all our heart, all our words and all our deeds, and love our neighbour as ourselves struck me as an instruction, as a plea and actually, as a necessity. Considering how to do to that, how to forsake all and follow God out of love, has provided me my greatest challenge in life. As a young boy, that meant giving up sitting in front of the TV with my cup of coffee, 2 sugars and a biscuit (these were the comforts of my life at that time). It meant to go down to the town centre of Wexford, my hometown, stand in the Bullring, and preach the glory of love of God to all who wanted to hear it. From my reading of Christ's words and the example of his life, I knew that is what I was called to do, but did I do it? No, I couldn't. That surrender to God I had to postpone. The instructions and teachings of Christ were crystal clear to me but I wasn't having an easy time trying to follow them. (Isn't it funny how it sometimes seems easier to fight for our principles than to actually follow them). Thus my script was written, the challenge laid down, a challenge that Christ had posed to the whole world. "He who has ears let him hear", he would say. I seemed to have those unfortunate ears. Christ was different. He was radically different. He preached for three years and got killed for it. He gave everything. A friend betrayed him. We have all had some experience where someone we trust turns on us but imagine how we would feel if a friend betrayed us to death? Does the word forgiveness spring to mind? Not in my case, but it comes a close second. In Hindu scripture it says that forgiveness is the principal quality of a civilised man, and civilisation is measured in terms of spiritual qualities rather than economic or scientific advancement. Its quite clear to me where Jesus hung his hat on that issue. For instance in our civilised world who would get away with going to a funeral, approaching the chief mourner and asking him to surrender everything to God NOW, as Jesus did. When the chief mourner replied, "But I've got to bury my father", Christ said, "let the dead bury the dead". (I wonder what the tabloids in those days had to say about that?). Of course, Jesus didn't get away with this either but he had the courage of His convictions, He spoke the truth, the absolute truth to a materialistic society and risked life and limb for His mission. I wonder how He might fare today with His uncompromising stand on Hypocrites and whited sepulchres? For instance if he was to visit Belfast he might have problems being heard unless He declared first if he were a Catholic or a Protestant Christian. And how did an Irish chap like me become a Hindu priest? Why not a Catholic priest or at least a Christian of some sort. There is certainly a great range of Christian sects to choose from these days. Maybe they are becoming as diverse as the Hindus? Anyway, I first encountered Hindu spirituality through the Vaishnava tradition of the great medieval saint Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, that's a lot of words that boil down to mean I met the Hare Krishnas. At the age of 18, in Dublin I bumped into a shaven headed, saffron robed fellow and visited his temple ashram, his monastery, so to speak. I had been visiting all kinds of religious groups - Christian and otherwise but these were surprisingly serious chaps. They rose at four in the morning for prayer, study and chanting. By the time breakfast came at 8.30am I felt like I had done a full days work only to find that the full days work was just about to begin! The captivating thing for me though was the fact that every act was to be offered to God with love, every word spoken in His favour, every song sung for His pleasure, every dance for His eyes and all food prepared and offered first for His taste. Along with this went an ancient philosophy that answered more questions than I had ever asked. But what got me about these devotees of Krishna was what I saw as their practice of Christianity, even though they didn't actually call themselves Christians. They banded together in small groups, sung the praise of God with drums and loud clashing cymbals, wore flowing robes, abandoned the material world and preached in the public market places. That's actually a description of the early Christians but the Krishna's did this as well. I loved the chanting of Hare Krishna. I'm sure you have seen the devotees chanting in public somewhere. They chant Sanskrit names of God Hare, Krishna and Rama, meaning 'spirititual happiness', 'all attractive person' and 'reservoir of pleasure'. Lovely names and they form a prayer to be engaged in the service of God. The idea of chanting Gods name, any name we choose to chant, is that we come into direct contact with God Himself, as his name and His Person are not different, the Hindu story goes. (But don't take my word for it. The proof of the pudding is in the eating). I think it was the spontaneous happiness produced by the music, the chant and the dancing that touched my heart so much and it continues to do so to this day. For me it was "Hallowed by thy name" in practice. The practice may look strange to some but that is not the point. I suppose it depends on our cultural view but nuns may look just as strange as naked Sadhus. Is that a reflection of their spiritual qualities or just their dress sense? To me this spiritual practice was being performed in the essential spirit of Christianity. If we look in the Hindu scripture, Bhagavad-gita , we hear Lord Krishna asking us to abandon all our sectarianism and just surrender to Him, in love. He vows to protect us from evil and from fear. I hear the same "forsake all and follow me" message, the same call to surrender and the same reassurance. Jesus shows this struggle of surrender during his evening in the garden of Gethsemane. His sincere appeal to the Lord to let the cup pass from him, although He was willing to go through with His Father's command. I have always found myself in this kind of dilemma, although without the same willingness to do the needful that Christ had. All of us who struggle with spirituality wonder if we are capable of making the effort, or if we are doomed to failure and hypocrisy? Can we meet the challenge? Christ's example is so relevant for all of us who want to practise a spiritual life, and even for those who just want to be good. But how many of us are willing to sacrifice our desires in favour of the will of God, even in small ways . When we look at his experience during his traumatic arrest, trial and crucifixion we see a man at peace within Himself and with the world. He was condemned for his zeal and for his perceived threat to society, because he was misunderstood. I have experienced that to a lesser degree in my life - being condemned for being a Hare Krishna, for being different and incomprehensible. I have been spat at and derided, but not crucified. I have no idea what Jesus had to give up, in His early thirties, so that I, in my early forties, could be inspired to follow the Godly path. The fact is I can see myself in Jesus. I recognise and empathise with His life, His temptations and His suffering. But I can see a lot more in Him than my faltering attempts at spirituality. I can see someone transcending the materialism of this world. Hindus as much as anyone talk much about this noble ideal but it is a true celebration when someone, anyone of any tradition begins to make sense, spiritually. And so many of us don't seem to make sense spiritually. We can acquire a religious reputation, be addressed by religious titles. We can easily learn to say the right thing and wear the appropriate clothes and chant the right passwords for all religious occasions, and look passably good. But the example of Jesus and other saints challenge any insincerity in our heart, any duplicity and hypocrisy. They display another level of faith, a level called love and their love is beyond our need to be right about everything, to dominate others and to demand them to conform to our perception. They are humble. Its about a deep change of heart. Its about knowing God as a friend and as a lover. Its about being happy to love God with the full trust that He will take care of us in all circumstances, just as a small child will trust their father or mother. It's about accepting absence of god in our lives as enthusiastically as His embrace. Its difficult for us to neatly categorise Jesus, this lover of God, as a Christian or a Jew. He talked only of His Father and he was not enamoured of politics, religion or wealth as He experienced them. God's service was His life, His love and his religion. Remember my Indian friend who loved Ishu so much? What about him? Was he a follower of Christ? Could he have a personal relationship with God? Would he have to "bath in the blood of the Lamb" first? (a terrible option for vegetarians). These are important questions though, "Can a Hindu follow Jesus?"; "Can a Hindu love god with all his heart and soul?"; "Do you have to be a Christian to follow Christ?" ; even "Who owns Christ?." The Sanskrit word acharya means 'one who teaches by example'. For Hindus, Christ is an acharya. His example is a light to any of us in this world who want to take up the serious practise of spiritual life. His message is no different from the message preached in another time and place by Lord Krishna and Lord Chaitanya. It would be a great shame if we allowed our Hinduism, our Islam, our Judaism or indeed our Christianity to stand in the way of being able to follow the teachings and example of such a great soul as Lord Jesus Christ. gen: Reportage ser: Lent Talks tit: Jesus epi: 3 sbt: Jesus Through Buddhist Eyes aut: Sister Candasiri cnt: 43 bnd: BR 2 len: 13'38" med: MP3 spd: 40 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 10.02.2005 fst: 02-03-03 lng: englisch stw: Third of six programmes leading up to Easter, each taking the perspective of a different faith. With Sister Candasiri, senior nun at Amaravati Buddhist Monastery in Hertfordshire. His Holiness, the Dalai Lama, speaking to a capacity audience in the Albert Hall in 1984 united his listeners instantly with one simple statement: "All beings want to be happy; they want to avoid pain and suffering." I was impressed at how he was able to touch what we share as human beings. He affirmed our common humanity, without in any way dismissing the obvious differences. When invited to look at 'Jesus through Buddhist eyes', I had imagined that I would use a 'compare and contrast' approach, rather like a school essay. I was brought us as a Christian and turned to Buddhism in my early thirties, so of course I have ideas about both traditions: the one I grew up in and turned aside from, and the one I adopted and continue to practise within. But after re-reading some of the gospel stories, I would like to meet Jesus again with fresh eyes, and to examine the extent to which he and the Buddha were in fact offering the same guidance, even though the traditions of Christianity and Buddhism can appear in the surface to be rather different. To start with - a little about how I came to be a Buddhist nun. Having tried with sincerity to approach my Christian journey in a way that was meaningful within the context of everyday life, I had reached a point of deep weariness and despair. I was weary with the apparent complexity of it all; despair had arisen because I was not able to find any way of working with the less helpful states that would creep, unbidden, into the mind: the worry, jealousy, grumpiness, and so on.and even positive states could turn around and transform themselves into pride or conceit, which were of course equally unwanted. Eventually, I met Ajahn Sumedho, an American-born Buddhist monk, who had just arrived in England after training for ten years in Thailand. His teacher was Ajahn Chah, a Thai monk of the Forest Tradition who, in spite of little formal education, won the hearts of a many thousands of people, including a significant number of Westerners. I attended a ten day retreat at Oakenholt Buddhist Centre, near Oxford, and sat in agony on a mat on the floor of the draughty meditation hall, along with about 40 other retreatants of different shapes and sizes. In front of us was Ajahn Sumedho, who presented the teachings and guided us in meditation, with three other monks. This was a turning point for me. Although the whole experience was extremely tough - both physically and emotionally - I felt hugely encouraged. The teachings were presented in a wonderfully accessible style, and just seemed like ordinary common sense. It didn't occur to me that it was 'Buddhism'. Also, they were immensely practical and as if to prove it, we had, directly in front of us, the professionals - people who had made a commitment to living them out, twenty-four hours a day. I was totally fascinated by those monks: by their robes and shaven heads, and by what I heard of their renunciant lifestyle, with its 227 rules of training. I also saw that they were relaxed and happy - perhaps that was the most remarkable, and indeed slightly puzzling, thing about them. I felt deeply drawn by the teachings, and by Truth they were pointing to: The acknowledgement that, yes, this life is inherently unsatisfactory, we experience suffering or dis-ease - but there is a Way that can lead us to the ending of this suffering. Also, although the idea was quite shocking to me, I saw within the awakening of interest in being part of a monastic community. So now, after more than twenty years as a Buddhist nun, what do I find as I encounter Jesus in the gospel stories? Well, I have to say that he comes across as being much more human than I remember. Although there is much said about him being the son of God, somehow that doesn't seem nearly as significant to me as the fact that he is a person - a man of great presence, enormous energy and compassion, and significant psychic abilities. He also has a great gift for conveying spiritual truth in the form of images, using the most everyday things to illustrate points he wishes to make: bread, fields, corn, salt, children, trees. People don't always understand at once, but are left with an image to ponder. Also he has a mission - to re-open the Way to eternal life; and he's quite uncompromising in his commitment to, as he puts it, 'carrying out his Father's will.' His ministry is short but eventful. Reading through Mark's account, I feel tired as I imagine the relentless demands on his time and energy. It's a relief to find the occasional reference to him having time alone or with his immediate disciples, and to read how, like us, he at times needs to rest. A story I like very much is of how, after a strenuous day of giving teachings to a vast crowd, he is sound asleep in the boat that is taking them across the sea. His calm in response to the violent storm that arises as he is sleeping I find most helpful when things are turbulent in my own life. I feel very caught up in the drama of it all; there is one thing after another. People listen to him, love what he has to say (or in some cases are disturbed or angered by it) and are healed. They can't have enough of what he has to share with them. I'm touched by his response to the 4000 people who, having spent three days with him in the desert listening to his teaching, are tired and hungry. Realising this, he uses his gifts to manifest bread and fish for them all to eat. Jesus dies as a young man. His ministry begins when he is thirty (I would be interested to know more of the spiritual training he undoubtedly received before then), and ends abruptly when he is only thirty-three. Fortunately, before the crucifixion he is able to instruct his immediate disciples in a simple ritual whereby they can re-affirm their link with him and each other (I refer, of course, to the last supper) - thereby providing a central focus of devotion and renewal for his followers, right up to the present time. I have the impression that he is not particularly interested in converting people to his way of thinking. Rather it's a case of teaching those who are ready; interestingly, often the people who seek him out come from quite depraved or lowly backgrounds. It is quite clear to Jesus that purity is a quality of the heart, not something that comes from unquestioning adherence to a set of rules. His response to the Pharisees when they criticise his disciples for failing to observe the rules of purity around eating expresses this perfectly: 'There is nothing from outside that can defile a man' - and to his disciples he is quite explicit in what happens to food once it has been consumed. 'rather, it is from within the heart that defilements arise.' Unfortunately, he doesn't at this point go on to explain what to do about these. What we hear of his last hours: the trial, the taunting, the agony and humiliation of being stripped naked and nailed to a cross to die - is an extraordinary account of patient endurance - willingness to bear the unbearable.without any sense of blame or ill will. It reminds me of a simile used by the Buddha to demonstrate the quality of metta, or kindliness, he expected of his disciples: 'Even if robbers were to attack you and saw off your limbs one by one, should you give way to anger, you would not be following my advice. ' A tall order, but one that clearly Jesus fulfills to perfection: 'Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.' So why did I need to look elsewhere for guidance? Was it simply that Jesus himself was in some way lacking as a spiritual template? Was it dissatisfaction with the church and its institutional forms - what Christianity has done to Jesus? Or was it simply that another way presented itself that more adequately fulfilled my need at that time? Well in Buddhism I found what was lacking in my Christian experience. It could be summed up in one word: confidence. I don't think I had fully realised how hopeless it all seemed, until the means and the encouragement were there. There is a story of a Brahmin student called Dhotaka, who implored the Buddha: "Please, Master, free me from confusion!" The Buddha's perhaps somewhat surprising response was, "It is not in my practice to free anyone from confusion. When you yourself have understood the Dhamma, the Truth, then you will find freedom." What an empowerment! In the gospels we hear that Jesus speaks with authority; he speaks too of the need to have the attitude of a little child. Now, although this could be interpreted as fostering a child-like dependence on the teacher, Buddhist teachings have enabled me to see this differently. The word, 'Buddha', means awake - awake to the Dhamma, or Truth, which the Buddha likened to an ancient overgrown path that he had simply rediscovered. His teaching points to that Path: It's here, now, right beneath our feet - but sometimes our minds are so full of ideas about life that we are prevented from actually tasting life itself! On one occasion a young mother, Kisagotami, goes to the Buddha, crazy with grief over the death of her baby son. The Buddha's response to her distress, as she asks him to heal the child, is to ask her to bring him a mustard seed - from a house where no one has ever died. Eventually, after days of searching, Kisagotami's anguish is calmed; she understands that she is not alone in her suffering -death and bereavement are inevitable facts of human existence. Jesus too sometimes teaches in this way. When a crowd had gathered, ready to stone to death a woman accused of adultery, he invites anyone who is without sin to hurl the first boulder. One by one they turn away; having looked into their own hearts, they are shamed by this simple statement. In practice, I have found the process to be one of attuning, of attending carefully to what is happening within - sensing when there is ease, harmony; knowing also whenone's view is at odds with What Is. I find that the images that Jesus uses to describe the Kingdom of Heaven explain this well. It is like a seed that under favourable conditions germinates and grows into a tree. We ourselves create the conditions that either promote well-being and the growth of understanding, or cause harm to ourselves or others. We don't need a God to consign us to the nether regions of some hell realm if we are foolish or selfish - it happens naturally. Similarly, when we fill our lives with goodness, we feel happy - that's a heavenly state. On that first Buddhist retreat it was pointed out that there is a way between either following or struggling to repress harmful thoughts that arise. I learned that, through meditation, I can simply bear witness to them, and allow them to pass on according to their nature - I don't need to identify with them in any way at all. The teaching of Jesus that even to have a lustful thought is the same as committing adultery had seemed too hard, while the idea of cutting off a hand or foot, or plucking out an eye should they offend is sensible enough - but how on earth do we do that in practice?.I can see that it would require far more faith than I, at that time, had at my disposal! So I was overjoyed to learn of an alternative response to the states of greed, hatred or delusion that arise in consciousness, obscure our vision and lead to all kinds of trouble. So, as the Dalai Lama said: 'Everyone wants to be happy; no one wants to suffer.' Jesus and the Buddha are extraordinary friends and teachers. They can show us the Way, but we can't rely on them to make us happy, or to take away our suffering. That is up to us. gen: Reportage ser: Lent Talks tit: Jesus epi: 4 sbt: Jesus Through Muslim Eyes aut: Professor Tarif Khalidi cnt: 44 bnd: BR 2 len: 13'42" med: MP3 spd: 40 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 10.02.2005 fst: 02-03-10 lng: englisch stw: In this series leading up to Easter, author of 'The Muslim Jesus', Professor Tarif Khalidi, reflects on who Jesus was from the perspective of his own religion. In the year 630 A.D, the Prophet Muhammad achieved one of his most cherished goals: the occupation of Mecca and the subsequent cleansing of the city from idol worship: it was at once a political and a religious victory of immense symbolic importance. Mecca had been declared the center of the new faith; its conquest was therefore the fulfillment of a divine promise. Entering the Ka'ba, the square structure which housed the city's idols, Muhammad ordered all its icons cleansed or destroyed. One of the icons in what must have been a very mixed gallery of divinities was a Virgin and child. Approaching the Christian icon, Muhammad covered it with his cloak and ordered all the others washed away except that one. Fact or fiction? The question is immaterial. The report I cited is at least 1200 years old and therefore belongs to some of the earliest strata of Muslim historical writing. What this episode illustrates is the fact that between Islam and the figure of Jesus Christ there exists a literary tradition spanning a millennium and a half of a continuous historical relationship --- a preoccupation with Jesus that may well be unique among the world's great non-Christian religions. To do full justice to this record, I would need a far larger canvas than the one available to me today. Instead I can only hope to draw a sketch of the contours of that relationship; to point to only a few of its highest peaks, its defining moments. The Qur'an is the axial text of Islamic civilization, and it is of course where we must begin for Islam's earliest images of Jesus. Approximately one third of the Quranic text is made up of narratives of earlier prophets, most of them Biblical. Among these prophetic figures, Jesus stands out as the most puzzling. The Qur'an rewrites the story of Jesus more radically than that of any other prophet, and in doing so it reinvents him. The intention is clearly to distance him from the opinions about him current among Christians. The result is surprising to a Christian reader or listener. The Jesus of the Qur'an, more than any equivalent prophetic figure , is placed inside a theological argument rather than inside a narrative. He is very unlike his Gospel image. There is no Incarnation, no Ministry and no Passion. His divinity is strenuously denied either by him or by God directly. Equally denied is his crucifixion. A Christian may well ask, what can possibly be left of his significance if all these essential attributes of his image are gone? Jesus reinterpreted by the Qur'an is singled out, again and again, as a prophet of very special significance. Uniquely among prophets he is described as a miracle of God, an aya ; he is the word and spirit of God; he is the prophet of peace par excellence; and , finally it is he who predicts the coming of Muhammad and thus, one might say, is the harbinger of Islam. How did these earliest images of Jesus grow and develop inside Islamic culture ? The Hadith or Prophetic Tradition of Muhammad, depicts him as a figure who will come at the end of days to help bring the world to its end. He can now be said to bracket the era of Islam, standing right at its beginning and right at its end. But it is the rapidly growing literary tradition of Islam which now began to embrace the various images of Jesus current in the lands that Islam had conquered. There came together a corpus of sayings and stories attributed to Jesus which in their totality one could call the Muslim Gospel (a collection of these I have just published under the title The Muslim Jesus). Let me quote a few of these sayings and stories: "Jesus said, Blessed is he who sees with his heart but whose heart is not in what he sees". Here's another: " Jesus said, The world is a bridge; cross this bridge but do not build upon it" And here's a short exchange: " Jesus met a man and asked him, What are you doing? "I am devoting myself to God," the man replied. Jesus asked," Who is caring for you?" "My brother," said the man. Jesus said, "Your brother is more devoted to God than you are". And so it goes on, some three hundred such sayings and stories, which Muslim culture was to ascribe to Jesus across a millennium of continuous fascination with his images and manifestations. At times he is a fierce ascetic, at other times he is the gentle teacher of manners, at yet others the patron of Muslim mystics, the prophet of the secrets of creation, the healer of the wounds of nature and of man. But back now to my sketch, to just a few other illuminations inside this lengthy historical record. In the tenth century A.D. we have the great Baghdad mystic al-Hallaj, whose life and crucifixion was called "The Passion of al-Hallaj" by the celebrated French Orientalist Massignon. If you want to take my word for it, you would regard him as one of the most Christ-like figures in human history, up there with Socrates, Gandhi and one or two of the greatest saints of mankind. What made al Hallaj a Christ-like figure was total absorption in the life of the spirit, a realm lying beyond law, and an exploration of a reality that led him ultimately to claim identity with the divine. But at the same time, there is in him the unshakable willingness to submit to the law, even unto death. So he dies under the law, as it were, in order to rise above it, in order to triumph over the law. Thus, at one time he used to advise his disciples: "Why go on pilgrimage to Mecca? Build a small shrine inside your own house and circumambulate it in true faith, and it is as if you have performed the pilgrimage." The tension between the letter of the law and the spirit of the law endows the life of Hallaj with a Gospel-like aura, culminating in his trial, his tragic last days and his heart-rending crucifixion. The model of sanctity prefigured by al-Hallaj was to survive most notably inside Muslim mysticism where Jesus was to become a patron saint of Muslim sufism. But let me move now to later times. The era of the Crusades, a two-hundred year war, pitted European Christian against Western Asian Muslim armies. And here was a chance for Muslim scholars to point to the glaring disparity between Jesus, the prophet of peace, and the barbaric conduct of his so-called followers. In the twelfth century, Jesus was once again reclaimed by Muslim polemics, once again reinvented, if you prefer, in order to stand shoulder to shoulder with the Muslims against his alleged followers. In the battle for the legacy of Jesus, there was no doubt whatsoever in Muslim eyes that the true Jesus belonged to Islam. It was in a sense a replay of the Qur'anic scenario, this time more urgent and dangerous. As we approach our own days, we observe that many of his earlier manifestations continue to dominate the spiritual horizons of contemporary Islam. Let me speak of only two major images: Jesus the healer of nature and man, and Jesus the Crucified. To encounter Jesus the healer, I invite my listeners to take a trip to to the Monastery of Sidnaya north of Damascus or to the Iranian city of Shiraz . The Monastery of Sidnaya was founded by the Byzantine Emperor Justinian in the 6th century AD. It sits on an outcrop of rock high above a valley. To this Monastery travels an endless stream of men and women seeking the blessings and healing of our Lady and her infant son. The vast majority of visitors are Muslim, who come to this Christian shrine as did their ancestors for a thousand years. A visit to Shiraz might come next. Here, the celebrated city, a treasure house of Muslim art and architecture and a garden-city of poets and mystics, is home also to a living Muslim medical tradition of healing, the tradition of the Masiha-Dam, the healing breath of Christ. This theme is already reflected in the poetry of the great Persian poet Hafiz, some seven hundred years ago. Thus, in both the literary as well as medical tradition of contemporary Iran, there runs a continuous preoccupation with the healing Christ figure. For Shii Islam, which dominates Iran, the martyrdom of Husayn, the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad, in 682 A.D. is a central spiritual event. And for Shii Islam in particular, the life and death of Christ is a parallel spiritual event. The Christ/Husayn analogy is ever present in the religious sensibility of Shi'i Islam. I should now make mention of another poet, widely considered the greatest Arab poet of the twentieth century: the Iraqi Badr Shakir al-Sayyab. His life was one of exile, imprisonment, ill health and of total commitment to the cause of the oppressed; his was a poetry utterly Modernist in form but utterly classical in diction. In his verse one will find what is probably the most memorable impact of Christ on modern Arabic/Islamic literature. One poem in particular, entitled "Christ after the Crucifixion" is a Passion, a vision of Christ as lord of nature and redeemer of the wretched of the earth. At the risk of doing violence to its tight structure, I will read only its first and its final stanzas: After they brought me down, I heard the winds In a lengthy wail, rustling the palm trees, And steps fading away. So then, my wounds, And the Cross upon which they nailed me all afternoon and evening Did not kill me. I listened. The wail Was crossing the plain between me and the city Like a rope pulling at a ship As it sinks to the sea-bed. The dirge Was like a thread of light between dawn and midnight, Upon a grieving winter sky. And the city, nursing its feelings, fell asleep I was in the beginning, and in the beginning was Poverty. I died that bread may be eaten in my name; that they plant me in season. How many lives will I live! For in every furrow of earth I have become a future, I have become a seed. I have become a race of men, in every human heart A drop of my blood, or a little drop After they nailed me and I cast my eyes towards the city I hardly recognised the plain, the wall, the cemetry; As far as the eye could see, it was something Like a forest in bloom. Wherever the vision could reach, there was a cross, a grieving mother The Lord be sanctified ! This is the city about to give birth. This is a poem of salvation, political and theological, a poem that interweaves, in a apocalyptic voice, the Jesus of the Gospels and the risen Christ triumphant, a Jesus who is lord of the wretched of the earth and a Christ who is lord and healer of nature. It is a poetic gospel in miniature, a vision of Christ in suffering and ultimately in victory. So: I think it can safely be shown that Islamic culture presents us with what in quantity and quality are the richest images of Jesus in any non-Christian culture. No other world religion known to me has devoted so much loving attention to both the Jesus of history and to the Christ of eternity. This tradition is one that we need to highlight in these dangerous, narrow-minded days. The moral of the story seems quite clear: that one religion will often act as the hinterland of another, will lean upon another to complement its own witness. There can be no more salient example of this interdependence than the case of Islam and Jesus Christ. And for the Christian in particular, a love of Jesus may also mean, I think, an interest in how and why he was loved and cherished by another religion. gen: Reportage ser: Lent Talks tit: Jesus epi: 5 sbt: Jesus Through Sikh Eyes aut: Nikky Singh cnt: 45 bnd: BR 2 len: 13'41" med: MP3 spd: 40 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 10.02.2005 fst: 02-03-17 lng: englisch stw: Nikky Singh is Professor of Religious Studies, Colby College, Waterville, Maine in the USA. My earliest memories are etched with the physical beauty of Jesus Christ. His blond hair and blue eyes were so different from all the people that I knew in India. I attended a convent school where we recited "Our Father" during the morning assembly, and we took courses on Moral Science. Most of all I loved going into the Convent where we sang psalms and collected beautiful images of Christ, and of Our Lady of Fatima, after whom my school was named. At home of course it was a different matter. It was a Sikh household in which the centre of life was the Guru Granth. The holy book is regarded as the divine revelation and utmost respect is paid to it. As children we'd help our parents dress the Book in silks and brocades. It was put on a pedestal while we sat on the floor in front. We recited its passionate poetry patterned on the raga system of ancient India. At home we heard bout the life of the Ten Sikh Gurus who did not look like Jesus Christ. And yet life was not schizophrenic, for the two worlds with their different languages, different histories, different images and different styles of worship co-existed colourfully. Together they became an essential part of my psyche. The "question" of identity never came up: just as I knew my name, I knew I was a Sikh. But that did not stop me from participating excitedly in the religious space created by my Catholic teachers: it was mysterious and enchanting in its own way. I can still feel the fervour with which I would sing "The Lord is my shepherd nothing shall I fear" - in spite of my desperately poor musical talents! But when I came to finish High school in America, I saw Christ pervading the fabric of western society and my own tradition extremely distant. As the only "brown" student in an all "white" girls' school, I became more conscious about my identity. I recall reading Walt Whitman's "Passage to India," and beginning my journey home. This American poet, who viewed himself in the role of Christ, impelled me to explore my Sikh heritage. Ironically then, the more I grew up in a Christian environment, the more consciously Sikh I became with the result that Jesus of my childhood imagination got blurry and lost. Growing up in postcolonial Punjab, I did not think very deeply about the Sikh Gurus, and now that I am living in this part of the world, I must admit that I didn't think very seriously about Christ. So to look at Christ from a Sikh perspective today is indeed an interesting and challenging assignment. As I try to do so the figure of Jesus from the multidimensional world of my childhood resurfaces - giving me much joy and enrichment. Who is Jesus Christ? I see him as a wonderful parallel with the person of Nanak, the first Sikh Guru. There is no direct connection between Christ and the Sikh Gurus. They do not intersect each other. The two form separate and distinct temporal and spatial points in our history, but when we look closely at them, they illuminate each other. By looking at them as parallel phenomena, we not only learn more about the founders of Christianity and Sikhism, but we also get a better sense of ourselves, of our neighbours, and of the world we live in. Both Christ and Nanak are remembered in almost identical ways. Churches resound with hymns like "Christ is the light of the world," and Sikh Gurdwaras with "satgur nanak pragatia miti dhundh jag chanan hoia -- as Nanak appeared, mist and darkness disappeared into light." The powerful and substanceless light used across cultures and across centuries reveals the common patterns of our human imagination. Jesus and Nanak ushered a way of life that was illuminating and liberating. It is interesting that both claimed they had no control over their speech. Spontaneously, effortlessly, they revealed what they were endowed with. According to the gospel of John: "I do not speak of my own accord... what the Father has told me is what I speak" And Guru Nanak, "haun bol na janda mai kahia sabhu hukmao jio - I don't know how to speak, I utter what you command me." In each case, then, the Divine is the Voice. Their message too bears a striking resemblance. Against ceremonial rituals and orthodox formalities, both Jesus and Nanak directed their followers to the human condition. For them cleanliness did not reside in external codes and behavior; it was an inner attitude towards life and living. Just as Christ denounced the superiority of all those who walked about in long robes, Nanak denounced those who wore loincloths and smeared themselves with ashes. Most importantly, both Jesus and Nanak showed us the path of love. In the Gospels Jesus says, "The greatest commandment of all is this - love your God with all your soul, mind and strength, and love your neighbour as yourself." In the same vein, the Sikh Gurus applauded love as the supreme virtue, "sunia mania, manu kita bhau." Bhau or love is passionate and takes lovers to those depths of richness and fullness where there is freedom from all kinds of prejudices and limitations. But we need to put their words in practice. Love for the Divine would open and expand us towards our families and neighbours; it would enable us to cast aside racism, sexism, and classism so prevalent in our contemporary society. We need to remember their message of love for all our "neighbours" - high and low, black and white, men and women too. In fact Christ revealed himself first to Mary. Throughout his ministry, he healed and helped women, and reminds us of "mother's joy" that a human being has been born into the world. The Mother is an important figure in Sikh scripture, for the transcendent One is both father and mother, and Guru Nanak repeatedly points to the womb in which we are first lodged. Mother's body and joy, and the earth, our common matrix to which we all equally belong, are celebrated throughout the sacred scripture of the Sikhs. But of course, memory is selective and the patriarchs with their access to the words of Christ and Nanak have remembered, interpreted, and kept them for themselves. It is important that each of us begins to see the Christian and Sikh scriptures from our own eyes and experience their rich legacy. So, who is Jesus Christ for me, a Sikh? In my mind he is an enlightener, and though I may not see him as one of the Ten Sikh Gurus, he is a distinct and vital parallel who continues to play a very significant role in my life as a Sikh. In a way, I trace my happiness and at-homeness in contemporary America because he opened me up to another mode of spirituality at a very young age. He did not take anything away from my being a Sikh. In fact, Jesus Christ concretised the message of Guru Nanak: "Countless are the ways of meditation, and countless are the avenues of love." (Japji, 17). Jesus has been a wonderful mirror who in his unique form and vocabulary promoted my self-understanding. The image of Christ imbedded in my childhood has made the verses of the Gurus alive for me. I can see and feel what Guru Nanak meant: "Accept all humans as your equals, and let them be your only sect" (Japji 28), or Guru Gobind Singh: " manas ki jat sabhe eke paihcanbo - recognise the single caste of humanity." However, it also complicates the situation. Coming from the pluralist tradition of Sikhism where the holy book contains not only the verses of the Sikh Gurus but also of Hindu and Muslim saints, and where the Ultimate is received in a variety of perceptions and relationships, I do have problems with the exclusivism of Jesus. The Sikh Gurus reiterate that Allah and Ram are the same, so is the Muslim Mosque and the Hindu Temple. Emerging historically and geographically between the eastern tradition of Hinduism and the western faith of Islam, Sikhism whole-heartedly accepts both eastern and western perceptions of the Divine, and their various modes of worship. But when Christ alone is declared the Omega Point, or Baptism the exclusive way to the Kingdom of God, then where do I stand? As a Sikh I have no place. Personally, I find it hard to understand how the God of Genesis becomes the biological father of Christ in the Gospels. According to Genesis, God creates the earth, animals, Adam and Eve - but he remains distant and far away. How can this totally transcendent God become the Father of Christ? How can he beget Jesus? Now Guru Nanak is not viewed as an incarnation of the Divine; rather, he is an enlightener whose inspired poetry becomes the embodiment of the Transcendent One. I guess the issue of incarnation really troubles me as a Sikh. Creation in Christianity is modelled on a distant artist, more in the sense of a commander-in-chief, rather than on the biological mother who actually bodies forth her offspring. The Virgin Birth of Christ sends negative messages about our bodies, our world, and of our selves. Now that I think of it, saying "Our Father" in a language that was not my mother tongue did not make me any less committed to Sikhism. But it has left an indelible paternal figure in my imagination, which - in spite of all my Sikh and feminist mental footnotes - still dominates. I sometimes wonder how my world would have been shaped had I attended a Hindu school and visited goddess' Kali's temple which was close to my home! In postcolonial Sikh society it was safe and secure to go to Convent schools and even attend Catholic services because it was all very "distant." But the Hindu tradition so close geographically, historically, anthropologically, and psychologically, was all too dangerous and threatening. I find similar fears and phobias now circulating in our contemporary western society. As our world is getting to be a smaller and smaller place we are getting more and more afraid of losing our self, of losing our "identity." So instead of opening ourselves up and appreciating others, we are becoming more narrow and insular. Our tunnel vision makes us grope in darkness. How can we remain afraid and threatened by each other's religions? It is not a matter of simple tolerance, and it is not simply mastering facts and figures about other religious traditions, and it is certainly not about converting and conversions from one faith to another. As Jesus resurfaces in my mind, I realise the beauty and power of his personality for me, and I realise the urgency of breaking our narrow mental walls. Just as he entered the imagination of us Sikhs in far away India, Sikhs and others have to enter into the imagination of people here in the West. We have to see the "light" that Jesus and Nanak ushered in for us. So many Indians, Chinese, Japanese, Africans, Middle-easterners have made their homes here, but how little we know about each other's spiritual worldviews! We may sit in the same classroom, work in the same office, and fly in the same planes, but we remain segregated at a fundamental level. During the first waves of migrations, the racial policies pretty much forced into homogenising matters, and in recent waves, sacred spaces and sacred times are confined to ethnic ghettos and left to their individual communities. The result? We are impoverished. We have lost out on the extremely rich arabesques of images, languages, metaphysics, rituals, music, and poetry and many other wonderful resources of our global society. Sadly, even after century and a half, we are far from fulfilling Walt Whitman's exhortation: Lo, soul, seest thou not God's purpose from the first? The earth to be spann'd, connected by network The races, neighbours, to marry and be given in marriage, The oceans to be cross'd, the distant brought near, The lands to be welded together. [Passage to India!] We may have triumphed in producing physical and technological networks, but we have failed in creating mental and spiritual links. We need to "weld together." We need to experience the fullness of humanity and the transcendence of the Divine. Together, Christians, Sikhs, Hindus, Muslims, Jews, Buddhists, Jains, men and women, we should relish the plurality and diversity of our human culture. It is more than a coincidence that Christians and Sikhs celebrate the birth of their communities on the first day of spring - called Easter in northern Europe and Baisakhi in India. Our joint celebration of the annual renewal of life carries on the legacy of Jesus Christ and Guru Nanak. gen: Reportage ser: Lent Talks tit: Jesus epi: 6 sbt: Jesus Through Christian Eyes aut: Markus Bockmuehl cnt: 46 bnd: BR 2 len: 13'38" med: MP3 spd: 40 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 10.02.2005 fst: 02-03-24 lng: englisch stw: Markus Bockmuehl concludes from a Christian standpoint a series in which members of various faiths have reflected on who Jesus was in the view of their own religion. It's not often that we meet a person who is so transparent, so secure that his words and actions speak to the very core of our being. A person of such wisdom and simplicity that he seems to bring the presence of God into every encounter. Jesus of Nazareth clearly struck people in that way. Picture in your mind's eye a man in his early 30s, who has lived all his life in an Eastern backwater of the Roman Empire. He has abandoned his professional life as a builder and now wanders mainly around a few square miles of the countryside near Lake Tiberias. He visits towns and farms and villages, attracting thousands wherever he goes. Although deeply devout, he has no time for religious pomp, and ruffles establishment feathers at every turn. He amazes people by his unique ability to heal and provide for those who come to him, but he seems to have no ambition for social or political reform. He clearly disappoints some followers by talking instead about a kingdom of God that is already breaking into our world - but also still in the future. He comforts and offends in equal measure. He is authentic in a way that exposes any trace of hypocrisy or self-importance. And yet, in every place people crowd around - to hear him and touch him, to meet an electrifying man and a message that buzzes with life. In these encounters with the crowds and the critics, Jesus has a habit of cutting through the nonsense and putting his finger on what really matters. He is a Jew speaking to fellow Jews. He tells stories from daily life, and his teaching connects with people where they really are - sweating it out as farmers in the steamy heat of lower Galilee, growing meagre crops on stony ground. Or struggling under the burden of mental illness, imprisoned in the loneliness of their own obsessions. But Jesus also takes faith to be a matter of robust disputes about truth and tradition, and about what's important to God: 'Listen!' he says to his critics. 'What really matters is not dotting the religious I's and crossing the T's, but what comes out of the human heart. Whether it's addiction to sex, or money, or power; whether it's deceit or gossip or self-indulgence - that's what really pollutes a person.' Over the last few weeks of this series, we have heard some fascinating profiles of Jesus from the perspective of five different religions. The speakers have made no attempt to hide their reservations about the Christian view of Jesus. But more than these real differences, what has grabbed my attention as a Christian above all is the genuine sense of appreciation for Jesus himself among people of good will. For people of different faiths, the gospels paint a picture of Jesus that leaps off the page. He has emerged in these broadcasts as a man of wisdom and guts and generosity, welcoming people regardless of whether they were morally or religiously up to the mark. Jesus believed and practiced the message that God ladles out his love for his people by the bucketful. Jesus brought the fullness of God's love into lives that were crushed with disease and discouragement. And he called people to live a life of courage and adventure, choosing for themselves the path of truth rather than deceit, of forgiveness rather than hatred, of generosity rather than greed, of expectancy and faith rather than despair and cynicism. This element of unexpected agreement about Jesus points to another important insight, which is the global significance of Jesus. Jesus cannot be contained in Western Christianity; and the story of Jesus in history and faith must never again be mistaken for a history of the west. Jesus himself was an Asian, who became an infant refugee in Africa. And after a millennium of western Christendom, today his followers are once again most numerous in those continents. What's more, Jesus cannot and must not be made accessible only to Christians. As the Hindu and Muslim contributors to this series rightly insisted, Christians do not 'own' Jesus as their private preserve. The global attractiveness of the man Jesus and his message is something to which we would do well to pay much more attention. More than two thousand years have come and gone, but the world still doesn't seem to be finished with Jesus of Nazareth. That first-century Jew from Galilee is without doubt the most famous and influential person who ever walked the face of the earth. His influence may at present be declining in some parts of Europe and North America; it is not the first time this has happened, and may not be the last. But the fact is that the followers of Jesus are today more widespread and more numerous, and make up a greater part of the world's population, than at any time in history. Two billion people identify themselves as Christians. Then there are well over a billion Muslims who revere Jesus as a prophet of God. Unnumbered others also know and respect his memory as a wise and holy man. At the same time, Christian faith in Jesus has always seen him as more than a saint or sage of universal appeal. Some biblical scholars have tried to reduce him to a wise philosopher with a message of inclusion for those who are marginalised by the social and religious elites. If that's all he was, Jesus of Nazareth could indeed become an inoffensive, timeless sage. No doubt that would make our Christian dialogue with other faiths a lot easier. But we have to ask ourselves why none of the disciples who personally knew Jesus were content to construe him simply as either a 'sage on a stage' or a 'guide on the side'. The first reason was made pretty clear by Clive Lawton, the Jewish contributor to this series. Jesus came to a very sticky end. He was arrested and executed on a Roman cross, as ancient and modern historians agree. Israel and the world remained unredeemed. But this wasn't supposed to happen to the Messiah! Thomas and other disciples understood that only too well. Ever since the first century, the crucifixion of Jesus has been a major obstacle for Christian claims that he was somehow uniquely favoured by God, whether as a prophet, Messiah, or Son of God. Some ancient Christian sects, in fact, eventually found the scandal of the crucifixion so great that they claimed it never happened; and a similar belief later found its way into mainstream Islamic views of Jesus. But come to think of it, even that rather unlikely denial suggests agreement about the man's importance. After all, wouldn't it be easier just to disown him altogether? At the end of the day, of course, it is not possible to take the New Testament seriously and come away thinking that the first disciples regarded Jesus as someone rather like Gandhi - a holy man or prophet. Christians have always affirmed that the meaning of Jesus depends crucially on certain events that happened after his death. Some of his followers personally saw him executed on a Roman cross and buried in a Jewish tomb. What is more, to their surprise and ours, they found that same tomb empty when they came to pay their respects two days later. And then, in some sense that was both inexplicable and yet unmistakable, they claimed that many of them - several hundred, in fact - encountered Jesus alive in the days and weeks that followed. The conviction that God raised Jesus from the dead is already a long-established consensus position even in the earliest surviving sources - so much so that it was never questioned by any first-century Christian known to us. And it is the cross and resurrection of Jesus on which the Christian view of him depends to this day. For all the excited confusion of the gospel narratives, even sceptics agree that whatever happened on that first Easter Sunday must form an integral part of any properly historical account of Jesus of Nazareth. And it is precisely the excitement and narrative mayhem of these reports, even a generation after the events, which testifies eloquently to their vigorous consensus that 'God raised Jesus from the dead'. In fact, the disciples' witness to the resurrection became the decisive reason why we know anything about Jesus at all. That conviction turns out to be deeply rooted in the biblical hope for the redemption and resurrection of God's people, while affirming a wonderful down payment of that hope here and now. Reading the biblical psalms and prophets, Christians discovered that the Messiah's innocent suffering and divine vindication was part of the biblical story from start to finish - and there is reason to think that Jesus himself had thought so too. The gospels don't attempt to mount some sort of watertight 'proof' of the resurrection. But the early Christians evidently did find themselves confronted with a series of diversely experienced encounters that could only be made sense of in theological terms, as something hugely important, something totally unprecedented. They didn't come to this conclusion because the case was rationally unassailable or psychologically comfortable. To apostles like Paul and James it clearly wasn't! Nor was Jesus simply encountered in visions or some other familiar religious experience. No, the accounts show the risen Jesus appearing in almost every case to demoralised betrayers and defiant sceptics. It's people like these that he turned into empowered witnesses. Here was something that surpassed their existing categories, and invited them to deepen and renew their faith in the God of Israel. It's only on this level that we can begin to come to grips with the apostles' talk of 'resurrection'. If God had really raised Jesus from the dead, then maybe he was after all the promised Messiah, the descendant of David who in the Hebrew Psalms was called God's Son whom he would exalt to his right hand. And it is on the integrity of those first Jewish witnesses to the resurrection that Christians of all races and cultures base their faith in Jesus. Christians believe that he really was God's Messiah, who first came to the land of Israel those many years ago and humbly gave his life for God's people. At the same time we believe that he is now present through God's Spirit; and that he will come again in God's power to fill the earth with justice and peace, and to wipe every tear from human eyes. Jesus of Nazareth bound his own fate specifically to that of the people of Israel - and, reluctantly but deliberately, to the troubled city of Jerusalem in particular. Twenty centuries later, that same city is once again full of life - but also bleeding with ancient hates and fears. Sacred to Judaism, to Christianity and to Islam, it is sadly symbolic of our world - a global village and a tribal killing field, a place in which the rhetoric of a partisan justice is forever threatening to suffocate the truth of mercy. Whether for Christians or for Jews, for Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus or Sikhs, the global meaning of Jesus will remain incomprehensible apart from his first-century particularity. That migrant Jew from Nazareth who walked the troubled Palestinian hills two thousand years ago, who wept for Jerusalem, and who bound his fate to that city and the people of God. The Jewishness of Jesus is the clear witness of the gospels, as Clive Lawton so eloquently showed at the beginning of our series. In our era of globalisation, Christians too must face once again the very Jewish particularity of the one in whom we believe, while also seeing him open his arms wide on the cross to embrace people of all creeds and countries. As the events of September 11th demonstrated so tragically, we certainly have a lot of lost ground to make up in this department. Less than two months ago, Pope John Paul II invited leading representatives of the world's religions to the Italian city of Assisi for an international day of prayer for peace in the world. "We must show the world", he said, "that the genuine impulse to prayer does not lead to opposition and still less to disdain of others, but rather to constructive dialogue, a dialogue in which each one, without relativism or syncretism of any kind, becomes more deeply aware of the duty to bear witness and to proclaim." At this time of Lent and Easter, Christians remember the innocent death of Jesus and his resurrection and vindication as God's messiah and Son. Easter marks the place in which God's world has gained a foothold in this world of violence and corruption. He has planted here in our midst the flag of redemption. God's heaven is no longer just a metaphor of earthly bliss, a kind of pleasant postscript to mortality. Instead, Easter morning turns things upside down, claiming creation renewed as a metaphor of heaven. Here mortal life can become the threshold of paradise. This all-welcoming significance of the New Testament's Easter message is made powerfully visible in Orthodox Easter icons: the risen Jesus, ascending to heaven, reaches his hand to raise up the awaking dead. This is Jesus in whom we Christians put our hope: the healer and teacher who bore in his flesh the wounds of God's love for humanity; the risen and coming Messiah of God. gen: Reportage ser: Lent Talks tit: Words from the Cross epi: 1 sbt: Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. aut: Peter Malone cnt: 47 bnd: BR 2 len: 13'26" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 10.02.2005 fst: 04-02-29 lng: englisch stw: Radio 4 annually broadcasts a set of six talks though the weeks of Lent, between Ash Wednesday and Good Friday, marked in the Christian calendar as a 40-day period of preparation for the solemn marking of Jesus' crucifixion and the joyful celebration of Easter. One tradition in the Church in this season is to reflect on the seven recorded sayings of Jesus from the cross, as recorded by the different Gospel writers. A different speaker each week reflects on a sometimes surprising dimension of these sayings. Peter Malone is the President of the World Catholic Association for Communications. "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do." This Lent sees the release of the film "The Passion of Jesus Christ", directed by Mel Gibson. Peter Malone considers the portrayal of Jesus in the cinema, and how the cinema-goer and the church-goer enter similar, intense worlds of vision and emotion. In Steven Spielberg's 1997 film, Amistad, the story of an American slave trial in 1839, Jeremy Northam, playing Judge Coglin, goes into a church and kneels before the crucifix. He is under pressure from President Van Buren to find against the slaves. He prays', looking at the image of Jesus dying on the cross. The next day, as the slaves walk to the court from their prison, Spielberg has the three masts of the ship Amistad, almost standing over a roof like the three crosses on Calvary. The Jewish Spielberg is offering us Christian iconography to make his points about slavery, freedom and justice. Jesus' death on the cross is his complete self-giving in a redemptive act for freedom for every man and woman who has sinned. The Gospels have Jesus voice this self-giving in the first of the traditional last sayings of Jesus from the cross: 'Father, forgive them. They do not know what they are doing'. In this Lent, these words will be spoken on cinema screens, in Aramaic, by the American actor Jim Caviezel who is portraying Jesus in Mel Gibson's film, The Passion of the Christ. They will be heard by millions of people in audiences around the world. The film opened on Ash Wednesday in the United States on over 2000 screens. Worldwide release is anticipated to follow very quickly. It will be here before Easter. There is a long tradition of representing the crucifixion in Christian art. At first, there were simple symbols in catacomb frescoes or on Christian sarcophagi. As the need was felt to see Jesus himself, early crucifixes portrayed a priestly Jesus on sculptured crosses in the 4th century or in mosaic apses and decorative art in basilicas. One thinks of the illuminated manuscripts from the so-called Dark Ages, the icons that developed in the eastern churches. During the Middle Ages, fresco art adorned Churches in Italy. The suffering Jesus on the cross was brought into prominence under the influence of St Francis of Assisi, the cross at San Damiano which spoke to him and his imaging the crucified Jesus with the stigmata in his own body. The art of the Renaissance and the Baroque eras saw crucifixion scenes grow larger, more majestic, more dramatic, even melodramatic. These Catholic movements were in stark contrast to the austere images allowed by some of the reformers with their iconoclastic tendencies. When the more colourful visual art was combined with mystical writings in the 18th and 19th centuries, there was a return to the importance of the word, writings describing scenes of Jesus' life and passion in great detail. They were described as 'visions'. Perhaps they are more akin to what spiritual directors and journalling counsellors would describe today as 'imaging'. During the pre-production of The Passion of the Christ, Mel Gibson was quoted as saying that he had read the works of one of these more recent mystics, Anne Catherine Emmerich, and was using her descriptions for his film. In contrast, the churches' liturgical ceremonies tend to be quieter and more subdued at this time of the year. They urge what is called a penitential attitude of mind and heart. The sagas and prophecies of the Jewish scriptures are drawn on so that their fulfilment is seen in Jesus. On Good Friday afternoon, many congregations will listen to the powerful fourth servant song of Isaiah 53 and then join in reading the passion according to John. These ceremonies are particularly stylised. The rituals are formal. The churchgoer celebrates the redemptive act of Jesus in his death on the cross. The mystery of Christ's passion will later culminate in the Resurrection, forgiveness of sins and salvation and new life. Holy Saturday become a day of waiting, of less formal prayer. The Stations of the Cross, which many people pray especially during Lent and on Good Friday, have two stations after the actual death of Jesus: his being taken down from the cross, his mother holding him, The Pieta. So, Christians have the opportunity to pray in stylised forms as well as with their own personal devotion. They can pause and contemplate a painting, staying in its presence as long as they wish, surrendering to the vision of the artist. With statuary, they can stand and they can also move around, symbolic of being on a contemplative journey of prayer. The cinemagoer, too, has to stay with the pace as the film unrolls in the darkened theatre, has to move with its narrative and the length of time the director wants the audience to see any of his images. As with painting and statuary, the immediate response is a sense response, followed closely by an emotional response. However, there is a continually cumulative impact which gives the audience the time to reflect on what they are experiencing, a total experience. In this way, the cinema experience is akin to liturgical experience: an immersion in the sense detail of the liturgy, a prayerful emotional response of piety or devotion, of meditation or mystical contemplation, which can be expressed in vocal prayer and hymns, and time to listen to the words of scripture, of the formulae of prayer, a total prayer experience. How has cinema developed the representation of Jesus? At its beginning, it took its cue for images and its religious imagination from the popular devotional representations of the late 1800s, the proliferating holy cards and plaster statues, not the most powerful of religious art. However, they did foster piety and, in the era of the silent films, short reels of Gospel stories, performed like holy cards, were readily available. Unfortunately, very little remains except a few feature films like the Italian Christus of 1916 and the culmination of this kind of imagining of Jesus and the crucifixion, Cecil B. De Mille's 1927 The King of Kings, with a rather older and austere actor going to his death at the end of a biblical pageant. The phenomenon of cinema representations of Jesus in moving images, colour, with the spoken words and accompanying musical score is barely forty years old. Although American Protestant film-makers did produce Gospel films in the 1940s and 1950s with an actor playing Jesus, face-on, so to speak, mainstream cinema merely suggested the presence of Jesus - seen at a distance, or only his legs visible during the crucifixion in Quo Vadis, The Robe or Ben Hur, When the cinemagoing public saw Jeffrey Hunter in King of Kings in 1961, it was the first time that they heard an actor portraying Jesus actually speak his words from the screen. Despite the claims of Renaissance painters that their works were 'realistic', in fact, they were not. They were particularly Italian, from the features of Jesus or the Madonna to the Umbrian countryside in which the gospel personages found themselves. They were in some ways, 'naturalistic'. They were easily recognised as real human beings. Despite this, they were stylised representations of Jesus. This is true of crucifixes even though many artists and artisans found ways of showing how cruel were the torture and sufferings of Jesus. Most of the representations of the crucifixion on screen are also stylised even though most of the directors want audiences to appreciate the terrible pain of Jesus scourged, bearing his cross, nailed to it and dying. In the 1960s as directors like George Stevens (The Greatest Story Ever Told) and Pier Paolo Pasolini (The Gospel according to Matthew) experimented with how much or how little to show on screen, their films offer the essentials but are also reticent - except for the famous one liner where in Steven's film, John Wayne as The Centurion drawls, 'Truly this man was the Son of Gard'. It was during the second part of the 1960s, a turbulent time of challenge for religion and the Churches, that Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber in England and Stephen Schwarz in America were emboldened to write 'Rock Operas'. Godspell played with vaudevillian conventions and burlesque to re-imagine communicating the Gospe beyond the Churches. Jesus Christ Superstar drew on music theatre conventions to portray the last week of Jesus' life. In the English-speaking world, millions went to see both plays which were released as films in 1973. For me, Ted Neely's climbing a cliff face, a dynamic rendering of Jesus' agony in Gethsemane in the film version of Jesus Christ Superstar is still one of the most powerful of screen images of Jesus. Around the world in the 1970s in Spanish-speaking countries, especially in Latin America, the face of Jesus, the crucified Jesus, was Robert Powell. Director Franco Zeffirelli wanted his Jesus of Nazareth to be as realistic as possible and, for a generation at least, Jesus looked and sounded like Robert Powell. Slides and film clips were frequently used in the 1980s for meditations and liturgical prayer on the passion. Which brings us back to Mel Gibson and his intentions. Pope John Paul II is alleged to have said on seeing part or all of The Passion of the Christ, 'It is as it was'. Whether he said that or not, that was Gibson's intention. He wants his audience to go into a darkened cinema and surrender themselves for two hours to a depiction of the last 12 hours of Jesus' life. He wants his film to be as realistic as possible. He uses stylised conventions, of course, with editing techniques, with camera angles, moments of slow motion, the artistic framing of his shots. But he wants us to be absorbed by the person of Jesus agonising, tried, scourged (and this graphic part of the film may be difficult for many to watch), falling under the weight of the cross, nailed, dying. For anyone who saw Gibson's Braveheart with William Wallace's torture and execution, they know that he can do it. Jesus movies usually culminate in the passion. Gibson's film is, totally, the passion - there are some momentary flashbacks of key episodes which Jesus might have remembered, especially the Last Supper and his giving bread and wine, visualised as his body is nailed and his blood pours out. Gibson has used subtle moments amid the graphic suffering to ensure that we contemplate his Jesus: glimpses of eye contact between Jesus and Mary, Jesus left alone chained for the night after his trials with the high priests, the 'ecce homo'... Cinema is not always a fine art. It is a popular art. In recent decades, it has taken its place among the artistic influences on the Christian imagination. It has contributed to devotional prayer. It can contribute to possibilities for more contemplative prayer. It can influence our pre-disposition to more ritual and liturgical prayer. Watching a film is also a public experience. Mel Gibson has made the passion of Jesus available to a wider public than Christians - after all, Calvary itself was a public place and most of the witnesses of the crucifixion were not believers in Jesus. We have powerful images ready when we hear the first word of Jesus from the cross, 'Father, forgive them. They do not know what they are doing'. gen: Reportage ser: Lent Talks tit: Words from the Cross epi: 2 sbt: Woman, behold, your son! Behold, your mother! aut: Sarah Jane Boss cnt: 48 bnd: BR 2 len: 13'25" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 10.02.2005 fst: 04-03-07 lng: englisch stw: Sarah Jane Boss is the Director of the Centre for Marian Studies at the University of Wales, Lampeter. "Woman, behold, your son!". "Behold, your mother!" Sarah Jane Boss considers Mary as witness of the death of her own son. In the crucifixion, birth and death meet. During the events in Northern Ireland that are euphemistically called 'the troubles', the songwriter Eric Bogle wrote a song that begins with these words: My youngest son came home today, His friends marched with him all the way. The pipes and drums beat out the time As, in his box of polished pine, Like dead meat on a butcher's tray, My youngest son came home today. To see your son or daughter deliberately killed is a horror familiar to all too many parents across the world. It's an event that makes the parent want to cry out words that Jesus also cried out: 'My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?' Whether it's a judicial execution, as happened to Mary's son, or terrorism exercised by the state or by some other armed group - as in Palestine and Israel, or at the World Trade Centre on 9/11 - or whether it's a murder in Manchester or Birmingham: all these turn the blessing of parenthood into a waking nightmare. They make it clear that the point at which we love most deeply is the point at which we are most vulnerable - capable of being most deeply wounded. For it's the depth and intensity of a parent's love that makes this violent loss so terrible. Jesus evidently understood this. In Luke's gospel, we read of how Christ is making his way to Calvary, getting ready to face capital punishment, when the women of Jerusalem come after him, weeping for him. But Jesus turns to them and says, 'Don't weep for me. Weep rather for yourselves.' And he goes on to say that a time is coming which will be so terrible that people will feel that it would be better if they were dead. These will be days in which people will say, 'Blessed is the womb that never gave birth, and the breasts that never suckled.' Jesus may be speaking here of the last days before the end of the world - of the catastrophe that will come before God's final judgement. But the reason why we can understand what he's saying is that days of this kind already form a part of human experience. And for Jesus' mother, Mary, this day is beoming real even as her son is speaking. When Mary first knew that she was pregnant, her cousin Elizabeth said to her, 'Blessed are you among women!' and, 'Blessed is the fruit of your womb!' More than thirty years later, on an occasion when Jesus was preaching, a woman in the crowd cried out, 'Blessed is the womb that bore you, and the breasts that suckled you!' But now, at the foot of the Cross, it must feel to Mary as though her motherhood is not a blessing, but a curse. The spiritual writer Megan McKenna tells a true story about an ordinary woman whose life had fallen under a similar curse: Megan was staying with a family in a Guatamalan refugee camp in Mexico. The weather was extremely hot, and it was a long walk to the nearest water tap, but everyday somebody had to make the journey to fetch water for the household. Women would stand in a queue at the spigot, holding their buckets, waiting for their own turn to collect water, and talking as they stood. Megan didn't speak the Indian languages of the other women, so, when she went to the well, she couldn't join in much of the conversation. One of the other women who went to the well was a tiny figure dressed in black. She had suffered terrible bereavement: all her children, her husband, her sisters and her brothers had been murdered, disappeared, or tortured to death. This woman would go and stand for hours at a time in front of the local church, leaning up against the cross that stood outside it. The other women felt sorry for her. They thought the little old woman had become a bit 'touched' - disturbed - as a result of her terrible experiences. They would say about her, 'She thinks she's the Virgin Mary, la Madre.' Yet the woman was held in respect, and when she arrived to fetch water, the people in the queue would fall silent and let her go to fill her bucket ahead of the rest. Well, one day when it was Sister Megan's turn to go and fetch water from the well, the only shoes she had were a cast-off pair which didn't fit her properly. So she walked through the heat in uncomfortable shoes, and her feet became increasingly sore and painful. When she arrived at the queue for the well, Megan took off her shoes, and her feet were blistered and bleeding. The old woman who thought she was the Virgin Mary arrived and went to fill her bucket with water. But instead of walking away, she went back down the line, and stopped when she reached Megan. She bent down, poured water over Megan's injured feet, and washed and dried them. Then she stood up and said in Spanish, 'Go with God, my daughter.' Then she returned to the tap and refilled her bucket. After this, the other women's attitude to Megan changed: they would talk to her, and bring her small gifts. We might suppose that if you had suffered what that old woman had suffered, then you wouldn't even notice the sufferings of another person, your misery would be so deep. Yet the heart of the Christian mystery is the inexplicable paradox of the Cross: that an instrument of death is the means of rebirth to eternal life. Death himself, the Grim Reaper, seems to be victorious. Yet life springs out of the grave, more fresh and vigorous than ever. And this is true also of the human soul. The tree that has been cut back so severely that it appears to have been killed, may miraculously put forth a new shoot; and that shoot in turn may grow into a tree that is even greater and nobler than that from which it was sprung. Likewise, the Holy Spirit can work in the soul to transform the deepest suffering into the stock from which new life and hope can spring forth. When Jesus from the Cross says to his mother, 'Mother, behold your son,' and to the beloved disciple, 'Son, behold your mother,' he speaks precisely of this mystery. At the moment of suffering to the point of death, the one who is dying presents us all with a mother: for the mother is the one who gives birth to new life. She is an emblem of hope, standing at the scaffold to assure us that there is life beyond even this violent death. The four gospel writers tell the story of Jesus' life in different ways, interpreting the events, as it were, through different lenses, so that the reader can see not only the actions, but also their meaning. And so it is that in John's gospel, Jesus compares his Crucifixion to the pangs of childbirth. 'When a woman is in labour,' he says, 'she has pain. But when her child is born, she no longer remembers the anguish because of her joy of having brought a child into the world.' In Catholic tradition, Mary too has often been seen as enduring the pangs of childbirth as she beholds the death of her son. So Mary's pain is the pain of fruitfulness. Like the gospels, popular traditions are also concerned to express not just the events, but also the meanings that those events carry. And one of these traditions concerns the date of the Crucifixion. Christians commemorate the Crucifixion in the liturgies of Good Friday, and Good Friday is a holy day which doesn't fall on the same date each year. But an old Christian tradition maintains that the historical date of the Crucifixion was the 25th March. Now, the 25th March is also the feast of the Annunciation - that is, the celebration of the Angel Gabriel's visit to Mary and her conceiving Christ in her womb. Jesus' conception and death are thus brought together in time. In part, this is because, when Christ is conceived, this is the beginning of the mortal life that will lead to his redeeming death. But the reverse is also the case: when we contemplate the Crucifixion, we should recall that a new life was once conceived in a woman's body, and by this means we remember that this death is not an end so much as a beginning. It's a beginning of something that is still not completed: it's a beginning of God's work of restoring all things so that they can be brought to fulfilment, so that they can be united with their Creator. The world is still undertaking the painful labour that Christians believe will culminate in that final joy. St. Anselm tells us something of Mary's part in this process. Anselm was Archbishop of Canterbury during the eleventh century, and is one of Western Christianity's greatest theologians. He writes, 'God is the Father of all created things, and Mary is the mother of all re-created things.' Anselm says this as though Mary's being the mother of Christ is an event which touches the world's very foundations. And indeed, for many centuries, Christians believed not only that the Annunciation and Crucifixion occurred on the 25th March, but that this date was also the anniversary of the world's creation. At first sight, this attempt to synchronise momentous events in the Christian story may appear as unnecessary and artificial. 'What's in a date?', we might ask. But if we reflect more deeply, this coincidence of date directs our attention to the truth that every part of the cosmos is holy, and that God intends to redeem it from its suffering. As the light of the world burgeons in Mary's belly, while she's pregnant God is renewing the very depths of the universe. At the Crucifixion, this work of re-creation continues: the early Christian writers speak of the Church being born from the wounded side of Christ. In the agony of the Crucifixion, we see the suffering of humanity. The child who sees its mother killed before its eyes - the old man dying of a cancer that eats up his whole body: Christ bears these and all the evils of the world in his body on the Cross. And these include the destruction that human wickedness inflicts on our fellow creatures - the caged animal, the polluted river, or the forest destroyed. So the sorrow we feel at Mary's suffering with Christ should move us to repent of our own violence and destructiveness. Yet the figure of Mary the mother is one not only of sorrow, but also of new birth, and therefore of joy: it reminds us that this destruction will not go on for ever. We shouldn't think that this hope of new life will lessen the pain of the moment. We cannot doubt the depth of Mary's grief. We might even wonder whether she wasn't tempted to curse God and despair of her own life, when she saw the son she had borne and nursed being subjected to a cruel and unjust death. Or we might imagine that Mary would have been filled with rage and bitterness, and that she'd have sought vengeance upon those who had slain her son. In Christian tradition, Mary has certainly been seen as a figure who can be terrifying. In the Middle Ages, she was given the title 'Empress of Hell', and was often represented as a figure who instilled fear in the Devil himself. Yet the mother of Christ was surely filled with the Wisdom of God. So as she witnessed her son's death, Mary would have held on to the faith that God would eventually deliver her. If Mary terrifies the Devil, it is because of her unwavering faithfulness to God's word. Mary would surely have remained steadfast, being convinced that God would restore all things to right; and her own presence at the Crucifixion is a sign to the rest of us that her hope was well founded. A friend of mine who visited an Orthodox monastery on the holy mountain of Athos told me that they have there an icon which shows an image of the cosmos inside the womb of the Virgin Mary. She is the Mother of God, and of all things that God has made. And Mary's maternal presence at the Cross tells us that all things will, in the end, be reborn in the Resurrection of Easter Day. gen: Reportage ser: Lent Talks tit: Words from the Cross epi: 3 sbt: Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise. aut: Anne Atkins cnt: 49 bnd: BR 2 len: 12'30" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 10.02.2005 fst: 04-03-14 lng: englisch stw: Anne Atkins is a novelist. "Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise." Anne Atkins considers Jesus' promise of instant redemption to a dying thief. "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in Paradise." I loved these words as a child. There is such a now-ness about them. It was like when my mother said, Today there'll be crumpets for tea. Today, this afternoon, perhaps even in time for tea. If you could have one question answered today, what would it be? Will you get that job? Will my child live? Will she marry me? Will I pass my exams? If someone could promise us one fact about our future, we'd probably ask something like this, something immediate and pressing. In the same way, no doubt, if we were travelling on the Titanic we'd be worrying about the outcome of some current business deal or love affair or even what frock to wear to dinner, rather than whether or not we'd reach America. Of course, once we know the ship's hit the iceberg we focus pretty quickly: hanging concentrates the mind. But it's frighteningly easy to wait until the last moment to ask the most important question of all. Will I survive? What will happen when I die? That is the question. To sleep, perchance to dream. If only Hamlet could have found the answer, he would have known what to do. His father the king had been there and come back: couldn't he have enlightened him? Suppose someone could tell us what awaits us in the long term - not seeing a few seconds of misty white light in the darkness of a deep coma; but going there, properly aware and conscious, for several days - wouldn't we listen? Especially if he said there's a choice to be made. Suppose someone was able to say, I tell you. We find our ignorance about it deeply frustrating: The hand of the Dark hath hold thereof, And mist is under and mist above, said Euripides, describing whatever seems to gleam from the shadows beyond the grave. For other life is a fountain sealed And the deeps below us are unrevealed, And we drift on legends forever. Bede described life on earth as the flight of a sparrow on a winter's night, darting through one door into the warm, bright dining hall where a good fire burns while the snow and rain storms without, and instantly flying out though another back into the dark outside; we know nothing of what follows or what went before. Dylan Thomas urged us not to go gentle into that goodnight, but to rage, rage against the dying of the light. If one man could go out in the cold and come back in, if his teaching can throw certain light on the uncertain darkness, Bede said, we should surely give him the time of day. Picture the scene. It was called the Place of the Skull, with good reason. Also a place of blood and screams, nakedness and broken bones, faeces, sweat, thirst and the smell of deep fear. Some people are wondering, will I be on duty all evening; and will I win that coat if I toss for it? Others, have we done everything before the Sabbath? Even, does my son know I'm here? But two or three have more pressing concerns: can I bear the next wave of pain? How long have I got? And what then? The questions Bede and Euripides couldn't answer. But one of the dying men says, I tell you the truth. On the face of it there isn't much reason to believe him. They're nasty pieces of work, these criminals. There was a fourth who was a terrorist and a murderer, and he was the one they pardoned, so you could be forgiven for assuming these three are worse. This one is notorious. He claimed the world and more, but doesn't seem invincible now. If he was so powerful, and so innocent, what was he doing on death row? To put it bluntly, if he's the man with the answer, you'd have to be desperate to be asking the question. You'd have to be facing certain death. Which the three of them were. (Yes we all are, but you know what I mean.) There wasn't much to choose between the two on either side. Neither was perfect; none of us is. They were dying: all of us are. They'd both led similar lives, faced simultaneous deaths, and were now far beyond being able to help themselves. One of them accused him. Well you would, wouldn't you? If you were dying and you knew you were dying, and could turn to someone who was called the Christ, God's anointed, what would you say? Can't you get us out of this mess? Save yourself and us? Actually no, it was one or the other. So he received his answer, he died his death; the rest is silence. The other had even less hope. He'd had his innings, reaped what he sowed, and faced the end that awaits us all. He deserved to be there and he knew it. He'd got what was coming to him. For some it comes early, for some it comes late, for all it comes eventually. But something was out of joint. Death is the great equaliser, but the man next to him wasn't his equal. Of all the people in the world, here was one who shouldn't be dying. He'd never done anything wrong. It put the fear of God into his companion, because he knew he shouldn't have been weighed in the same scales as an innocent man. And he knew he shouldn't have been executed next to a man being killed as a king. So he didn't demand, Can't you save yourself and us? He simply said, remember me. He turned to a man who was naked, condemned and dying like himself, and said, When you become king, remember me. I tell you the truth, came the reply. Today you will be with me in Paradise. Since having children of my own I've often been struck by the similarity between birth and death. Most recently, one morning last May I woke early and alone, facing the pain and fear I'd been dreading for months, knowing it could only get worse and there was nothing I could do to avoid it. I had to go through it to get to the other side. And yet it was over so quickly. In the months since, whenever I've caught sight of the bathroom clock and remembered the same hands seemingly stuck in the hours of darkness that dreadful morning, I've reminded myself that, before breakfast, I was sitting in bed in the streaming sunshine, with a cup of tea and a new life, everyone awake and laughing and all the terror and agony - and the sweating and yelling and mess - gone forever. There was no more pain; just a new person in the family. How is it possible for a few hours to make such a difference? Today you'll be with me in Paradise. He was dead by three o'clock. So if he was telling the truth, within a few hours he and his new friend had stepped into another world, like stepping through the wardrobe into Narnia, and the two of them were strolling in the sunshine in the garden of a new life. All the terror and agony, the sweating and yelling and mess, gone forever. No more pain; just a new person in the family. If he was telling the truth. It's an easy thing to say to a dying man, isn't it? Don't worry you'll soon be in heaven. It's such a commonplace platitude it begs the question, Why did anyone record it, the words of a crucified criminal? Why have we kept them for two thousand years? If the story had ended there, we wouldn't have done. He never wrote a book, never ruled a country, never travelled far, didn't even have children. By the time he died he'd done nothing to commit him to posterity. For a few years he displayed extraordinary powers and preached even more extraordinary ideas, but then he was tried and executed as a threat to civilised government, and dismissed by people of his faith as a blasphemer and a failure. When he said, It is finished, it would have been, and we would never have heard of him. We certainly wouldn't believe in him. To begin with they didn't; even those who loved him and lost him no longer followed him. If he was dead and defeated then he'd made no lasting difference, and life and death would simply go on as before. The loser who'd acknowledged him as a king and accepted comfort from him as they died had apparently been as mistaken as it's possible to be. The other crook had been more critical: if this man was the Christ he should have been able to save them, so his case was presumably proved. Now all three were all dead and cold, nothing mattered any more, and Paul of Tarsus was never more right than when he said that if that's all there is to it, his followers should be pitied more than anyone on earth. That was on Friday. The evening came, and with it the Sabbath, the day of rest. He'd said, I tell you the truth, and the truth of his words would certainly be tried and tested by subsequent events. It would seem that he'd been wrong. He wasn't in the garden of Paradise, but in hell, the land of the dead. His body was sealed and buried in a cave, his soul was dead and cut off from God; his friends were broken hearted, and those responsible were relieved. They put a guard on the grave to keep the body there, and took measures to make sure the disturbances died out with him. It didn't, and they didn't, and that was only the beginning. Lots of people have been brought back from the brink of death. Some even have memories of what it seems to be like. They enter the tunnel and are pulled out again, having glimpsed what they imagine is there. This was different. He went into the tunnel and kept on going, like a mother giving birth, till he came out the other side. And the one who died with him, who called him a king, was right in one respect. This man, of all men, shouldn't have died. We die because we do wrong; if we went on for ever life would become a living hell. But he never did wrong and shouldn't have died, so when he did, something new happened. Death, be not proud, John Donne said; though some have called thee Mighty and dreadful. For thou art not so. When an innocent man died, death itself was defeated, and he rose to live forever. His bones are nowhere in Jerusalem. They were never found, because they aren't there. He returned alive and was seen by hundreds. So his words were remembered and recorded, and have been believed by billions. Each one saying in one way or another, with that wretched hanged man, Lord remember me, when you come into your kingdom. And to everyone who does he says, I tell you the truth, one day you'll be with me in Paradise. Though perhaps not in time for tea. But there's a dark side to the story. Two of them hung with him, but only one went with him. Both were desperate and dying, but only one went to Paradise. They'd both led dreadful lives, neither had time to make amends, to do any good, to help an old lady across the road or send aid to Africa or even be baptised to show good faith, but one went with him and one didn't. One turned and asked for help and still lives with him today. The other didn't believe, he didn't want to, he was too clever, he was too proud, he was too sceptical, he's come of age. He preferred to stand on his own crippled feet. He died. As we all do. So what happens when we die? Who can tell? If someone has gone ahead and found out what lies in wait for us; if someone has overcome death and can offer us life beyond; if there is anyone who can hold my hand and see me through to the other side, I believe it's worth trusting him. Both died, but only one lived. I tell you the truth, today you'll be with me in Paradise. If he did indeed tell the truth, I want to be there with him. One short sleep past, we wake eternally, And death shalt be no more. Death, thou shalt die. The kettle is on. And one or two of us, if we're very nearby, might even get there in time for tea. gen: Reportage ser: Lent Talks tit: Words from the Cross epi: 4 sbt: My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? aut: Dan Cohn-Sherbok cnt: 50 bnd: BR 2 len: 13'29" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 10.02.2005 fst: 04-03-21 lng: englisch stw: Rabbi Dan Cohn-Sherbok is a Professor of Judaism at the University of Wales, Lampeter. "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" Dan Cohn-Sherbok reflects on this cry of abandonment in the light of the Holocaust. When I was a little boy growing up in Denver, Colorado, I took part in a Nativity Play. I was an angel. I remember the scene: there was a manger with the baby Jesus, Joseph and Mary and donkeys. We also had a Christmas tree in my primary school. Together with my classmates, I helped hang the Christmas lights. At a very early age I was dimly aware of the story of Jesus birth, but I had no idea about the religious significance of what took place in Bethlehem. I remember, too, decorating eggs at Easter and going on an Easter egg hunt. But no mention was made of Jesus' passion and death. For me, the Easter bunny was of much more importance. Every week I went to religion school at our local synagogue. There I learned about the Hebrew Bible, Jewish history, as well as the major festivals. At the age of l3 I had a Bar Mitzvah, and two years later I was confirmed in the synagogue. But at no point did I read the New Testament. The only time I ever saw a New Testament was when I went on holiday with my parents and we stayed in a hotel. In one of the drawers there was a Gideon Bible with the New Testament at the back. I never read it. Indeed, if my parents had ever discovered me looking at it, it would have been worse that being caught with Playboy. Nice Jewish boys do not read the New Testament. They are not supposed to know about Jesus' teaching or his ministry. Even in the most assimilated environment, it is not permitted to cross the boundary between Christian and Jew and enter into the life of the Church. I once did this by accident. I went to a party with a group of students from High School which was sponsored by the local church. Afterwards there was a brief service. My Jewish friends stood at the back, but I joined in the prayers. Afterwards, I was mobbed. 'How could you say those words?' my Jewish friends asked. They were horrified. Sheepishly I said that I thought it would be impolite not to participate. So, it was not until I went to rabbinical seminary that I read the Gospels. It was a requirement for all seminarians to take a course on the New Testament. We were training to be Reform rabbis, and the seminary insisted that we have some knowledge of the Christian faith since we were to become ambassadors to the gentile world. I was fascinated. There was no way that I could believe that Jesus was the Messiah, but I was struck by the power of his message. As a first century Jew he exemplified the highest ethical ideals of the faith. I was intrigued by his confrontations with the Sadducees and the Pharisees, and moved by the story of his passion. But, most of all, I was struck by his final words from the cross. In the dark hour of his death, he cried out in agony: 'My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?' These words were the same as those uttered by the Psalmist at the beginning of his lament in Psalm 22. They were followed by further despair: Why art thou so far from helping me, from the words of my groaning? O my God, I cry by day, but thou dost not answer; and by night, but find no rest. How strange, I thought, when I first read Jesus' cry from the cross that at the end of his life he would have expressed such dejection. Yet, in these words of abandonment there is, I believe, a link between Judaism and Christianity. As a Jew, I cannot accept the theology of the cross. For me, Jesus did not die to save humankind. Nonetheless, the image of divine suffering symbolized by the cross--which is at the heart of the Christian tradition--is paralleled by the Jewish insistence that God suffers as we suffer. This notion is illustrated by a story recounted by the Holocaust survivor and novelist Elie Wiesel in his autobiographical novel, Night. One day in Auschwitz, he relates, the SS guards hanged two Jewish men and a young boy in front of the whole camp. The men died quickly, but the child did not: Where is God? Where is He? someone behind me asked... But the third rope was still moving; being so light, the child was still alive. For more than half an hour he stayed there, struggling between life and death, dying in slow agony under our eyes. And we had to look him full in the face... Behind me, I heard the same man asking: 'Where is God now? And I heard a voice within me answer him: 'Where is He? Here He is--Hanging here on this gallows... For Wiesel, God was present in the suffering of this child. In His seeming absence, He was there, sharing the pain. Later Wiesel composed a cantata, Ani Maamin ( meaning "I Believe") in which he depicts God's anguish as He witnesses the events of the Holocaust. The setting of this work is a dialogue between Abraham, Isaac and Jacob who have the responsibility of directing God's attention to Israel's suffering. The patriarchs leave Heaven to visit earth. As Abraham sees mothers and children being slaughtered, a little girl facing death proclaims: 'I believe in You God.' Unknown to Abraham a tear clouds God's eyes. Isaac also witnesses the slaughter of the community, yet one of its religious leaders proclaims his belief in God and the Messiah. Again God is moved by this display of faith, and a second time a tear streaks down His countenance. Jacob observes a Passover celebration in a concentration camp. And unknown to Jacob, God surprised by his people, weeps for the third time--and this time without restraint. This notion of divine suffering is a central feature of the rabbinic tradition. In particular, it is in the midrash that this idea is most fully developed. We read, for example, that Rabbi Jose an early rabbinic sage entered the ruins of the Temple in Jerusalem. He wept there for the glory that was lost. In the midst of his anguish, he heard a voice from heaven lamenting: 'Woe is me, for I have destroyed my house, burned my Temple, and exiled my children!' Out of such statements, the idea that God hides his face became a central theme of rabbinic theology. In his study of the Holocaust, the Orthodox theologian Eliezer Berkovits explains that in his hiding, God is manifest. Though human beings are unaware of Him, he is present in His hiddenness. Why, Berkovits asks, is God hidden? Because human beings have been granted freedom to act. Hence when humans perpetrate evil, it is they who are to be blamed, not God. God, in giving human beings the freedom to choose to be good, at the same time necessarily gave them the freedom to be evil. God teaches us what goodness is, but He does not intervene in the course of human affairs, compelling us to be good or preventing us from being evil. This does not mean, however, that God is no longer concerned with creation. On the contrary, God is continually present, despite his apparent absence. He is with us in our joy, and our suffering. And, as we suffer, so does He. In the camps He was there. He shares our pain. He weeps for us as we weep. He shares our distress, our agony, and our torment. Kalonymus Kalman Shapira was the rebbe of the Warsaw ghetto. Convinced that God shares the sufferings of his people, he insisted that God witnesses the afflictions of Israel and participates in their distress, suffering even more than they do. Quoting Isaiah 63:9 ('In all their troubles He was troubled'), he wrote: Our sacred literature tells us that when a Jew is afflicted, God, blessed be He, suffers as it were much more than the person does. It may be that since He, blessed be He, is not subject to any limitation - for which reason no conception of Him is possible in the world - therefore His suffering from Israel's troubles is also boundless. It is a tragedy that the Cross has become a symbol of division between Jews and Christians since the reality to which it points is a Jewish reality as well. In the past the Cross was brandished in the pogroms by murderers, and was perceived as a sign of intolerance, oppression and hatred. Yet, if Jesus crucifixion is understood preeminently as a symbol of divine vulnerability, then in Jesus' final words we can uncover an image of God's presence in His seeming absence. This is a point made by the theologian Marcel Jacques Dubois. In his view, Jews and Christians can be united in the recognition that the tragedy of the Holocaust can be understood in the light of the Cross. According to Dubois, Jesus fulfils Israel it its destiny of being God's Suffering Servant, whereas Israel, in its experience of anguish, announces and represents, even without knowing it, the mystery of the Passion and of the Cross. It is a mistake, therefore, to conceive of God as an unchanging, eternal Deity who is unaffected by human events. God is not self- sufficient and beyond vulnerability. Rather, He is pained when his children suffer. This is the point made by the feminist theologian Dorothee Sölle who stresses God's merciful and compassionate nature. 'When we speak of the pain of God,' she writes, then we no longer see God in a purely masculine presentation. God is then our mother who cries about what we do to each other and about what we brothers and sisters do to animals and plants. God consoles us as a mother does, she cannot wave away pain magically, but she holds us on her lap, sometimes until we stand up again, our strength renewed, sometimes in a darkness without light.' Here at this intersection of Christian and Jewish thought is the notion of a suffering Godhead who shares in the experiences of humanity. On the Cross, Jesus cried out to God in the words of the ancient Psalmist. 'My God, my God, why have you forsaken me.' For the Christian this expression of anguish and suffering is infused with hope, for here in this dying moment God was present, sharing the pain of his son. The reality of the Cross is the reality of a suffering God, who bears the pain of the world. For the Jew, the Holocaust symbolizes the Crucifixion of the Jewish people. Yet, in this tragedy there is the same sense of God's presence despite His seeming absence. In the death camps, God was present in his hiddenness. God hides in human responsibility and human freedom. But he is there, visible in the lives of those who remained faithful to Him. Such an awareness of God's presence in suffering is central to the Psalm that Jesus began to quote in his final moments. Though the Psalm begins with a cry of despair, the Psalmist turns to God with confidence: Yet you are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel. In thee our fathers trusted; they trusted, and thou didst deliver them. To thee they cried, and were saved; in thee they trusted, and were not disappointed. I will tell of thy name to my brethern; in the midst of the congregation I will praise thee: You who fear the Lord, praise him! all you sons of Jacob, glorify him, and stand in awe of him, all you sons of Israel! For he has not despised or abhorred the affliction of the afflicted; and he has not hid his face from him, but has heard, when he cried to him. This message of hope in the face of tragedy is fundamental to the Jewish and Christian faith. God does not stand aloof from human suffering and pain. He is with us. Sharing our grief, comforting us, sustaining us. He has not abandoned us, but with mercy and compassion shares our pain. In the final moments of his life, Jesus called out: 'My God, my God, why have you forsaken me.' But he was not forsaken, as we are not forsaken. God is with us in our misery--His suffering love sustains us in the valley of the shadows. gen: Reportage ser: Lent Talks tit: Words from the Cross epi: 5 sbt: I thirst aut: Grace Davie cnt: 51 bnd: BR 2 len: 13'28" med: MP3 spd: 56 mon: Mono src: BBC Radio 4 dat: 10.02.2005 fst: 04-03-28 lng: englisch stw: Grace Davie is the Professor of the Sociology of Religion in Exeter. "I thirst" Grace Davie reassesses the supposed decline in belief in the light of cries of spiritual thirst in today's society. To thirst is part of being human - in everyday life as well as in extremis (the cry of Christ on the Cross). We are all aware of the our body's need for water in order to sustain life. Water is life giving; a lack of water induces thirst. But is it possible to speak of spiritual thirst in the same way? Is this, in other words, part of being human in the sense that it responds to a basic need - something that we must satisfy in order to live complete and satisfactory lives? I am not competent to engage what is primarily a philosophical or theological debate. What I am able to do is look at the sociological evidence for spiritual thirst - both in our own society and in others - and the ways in which this need might or might not be satisfied. Let me explain this approach. At its most basic, sociology is about pattern. More specifically it is concerned both with the ways that individuals, communities and societies go about their lives and with finding explanations for these ways of behaving. It follows that the sociology of religion aims to discover the many and diverse ways of being religious that exist in the modern world, and to find explanations for what is happening. It is not, in contrast, concerned with the competing truth claims of the great variety of belief systems that are and always have been present in human societies. Not everyone will agree with this statement. Truth for the believer is absolute rather than relative, and any attempt to explain that some individuals or groups are - or appear to be - closer to truth because of their social class, age or gender causes trouble. The point is well taken, but this is not what I mean. Let me give you an example. To observe that in large parts of the Christian west women are more religious (have a greater spiritual thirst) than men implies neither that all women are necessarily religious, nor that no men are. Women, just like men, are free to choose their religious options. It is immediately clear, however, that the choices of women with respect to religion in the western world are markedly different from those of men, simply by observing the congregations in almost all of our churches, or looking at the opinion polls that include questions about religious belief. This is an obvious and pervasive example of pattern in Western societies. Why this should be so leads us to the level of explanation: it isn't an easy question to answer. Is there a similar difference between old and young? Here the situation is not only complex but changing. In many respects, the common sense expectation is correct - that older people are more religious than the young. The absence of young people from our churches has become a constant refrain - usually accompanied by dire warnings about the future. It is true that most young people have little interest in the institutional churches - just as they have little interest in their secular equivalents (they don't go to church, but nor do they vote). They are also suspicious about doctrinal statements of belief. It is not true however that they are uninterested in spiritual matters. A new situation is beginning to emerge - to which we need to pay careful attention. In many parts of Europe (including Britain), the churches have lost their capacity to discipline both the beliefs and the behaviour of most people in the population. No-one argues about this. This does not mean, however, that younger generations are turning into secular rationalists. Far from it. Many young people begin instead to experiment with belief - to look for new outlets from which to derive satisfaction. Two dimensions of belief are growing particularly fast in this generation: the idea of a God in me (an immanent rather than transcendent God) and a conviction that there is some sort of life after death. These are not Christian beliefs in any orthodox sense, but they are evidence of spiritual thirst. In my view it is often easier to open a spiritual conversation with this generation than it is with either their parents or their grandparents - remembering of course that it will be easier still with the girls than the boys. Now the situation is a little bit different in those parts of Europe where the institutional churches remain relatively strong - in Ireland, in Poland or in Italy - young people are still inclined to reject the imposition of religious beliefs and behavioural codes. Here the traditional patterns persist - older people appear more religious than the young, but for how long? It is questions such as these that intrigue the sociologist of religion. The point to grasp is that spiritual thirst takes different forms in different places and in different groups of people. This in true within our own society. We recognise that there might be a distinctive Scottish or Welsh spirituality; we notice the attraction of celtic ideas for a growing number of people. It is even more true if we look further afield. Here the contrast with the United States is particularly sharp. Those of us who have been lucky enough to visit America and have had a moment to coast the television channels (dozens of them) in an American hotel will have come across the televangelist - there is always one of them, night or day. We watch - half-fascinated and half-appalled - knowing that this solution to spiritual thirst is not for us. Why not is an interesting question. At the same time our own church leaders caste covetous eyes across the Atlantic wondering what they need to do to generate the levels of religious activity found in the US, not to mention the finance that goes with these. Why can't we do it here? They should be cautious, however. We are not Americans and never will be. Different patterns exist in our society and this applies to spirituality as it does to everything else. What, then, are the options available to British people in the early years of the twenty-first century and how do we respond to these? First it is important to realise that a significant proportion of the British population are not interested in the question - the 25-30% who place themselves outside the religious or spiritual sphere, whether this is defined in terms of practice or in terms of belief. All too often they are defined negatively: those who not believe or belong to a religion. But they are a very varied group, ranging from the cautious agnostic to the articulate atheist. One point is worth noting in passing: the organisations to which these people affiliate are tiny. Nor do they grow as the churches diminish. Both sets of institutions go up and down together - reflecting primarily our willingness to join or not to join an organised group, be this secular or religious. At the other extreme are the actively religious - difficult to measure in percentage terms as it all depends of what you mean by active. In between, however is the great majority in our population who say that they believe in God, or declare (in the census for example) that they belong to a religion, but who do not participate in any active sense. In my own work I have used the phrase 'believing without belonging' to describe this section of the population - a phrase that has caught the attention of very different groups of people both in the churches and outside them. Clearly it describes something that resonates. I find it everywhere: in academic papers all over the world, in more popular writing about