After a Christmas and New Year break, we resume our weekly look at drama, comedy and entertainment highlights on radio. As usual, all programme titles are linked to the relevant page on the BBC website, from where you’ll be able to listen via iPlayer if you miss the live transmission.
Think we’ve missed a programme? Drop a note in the comments box!
The Saturday Play: Walter Now Radio 4, Saturday 2.30pm
As we reported last month, Sir Ian McKellen reprises the role he played in Channel 4 film Walter, first aired on the channel’s first night of broadcasting 26 years ago. In David Cook’s screenplay, Walter, a man with learning difficulties, was taken into care following the death of his mother. A quarter of a century on, Walter is now a pensioner and must cope with life outside the institution. Cook’s new radio drama is neither as bleak nor as hard-hitting as the original film, but with McKellen’s sonorous voice it hardly matters.
Archive on 4: Bremner on Bush - a Final Farewell Radio 4, Saturday 8pm (shortened repeat Monday 3pm)
With just days to go until Barack Obama is inaugurated as the President of the United States, satirical impressionist Rory Bremner looks back at his predecessor’s eight years in office. While comedians concentrate on Dubya’s numerous gaffes, Bremner looks beyond those at the President’s use of language throughout the ‘war on terror’ and beyond, with help from Bush’s speech writers and political commentators.
Private Passions Radio 3, Sunday 12pm
Michael Berkeley interviews actress Kate O’Mara as she selects some of her favourite musical pieces, including works by Bach, Zelenka, Dvorak — and a performance by Edith Piaf.
Elaine Paige on Sunday Radio 2, Sunday 1pm
Speaking of Piaf, actress Elena Roger, who plays the title role in the West End’s Piaf, is EP’s guest this week.
The Man in Black Radio 7, Sunday 6pm (repeated 12am)
We missed the start of this series thanks to our extended break. Radio 7 has revived the classic Man in Black character, previously played by Valentine Dyall and Edward de Souza, who introduced horror short stories on Radio 4’s Appointment With Fear and Fear on Four. For this new run of original creepy tales, the role of fearmaster-in-chief is taken by actor and writer Mark Gatiss. This week’s tale, Project Purple, about a neuroscientist who revives the subject of a dubious experiment, stars Emily Woof.
Hot House Kids Radio 4, Monday 11am
Former Royal Ballet prima ballerina Deborah Bull looks at the effects on children who are trained to world-class levels in sport and the arts. In this first of a two-part series, she looks at children’s physiological developments, what key things are needed to nurture talent, and how much control the child has over its own future.
Great Lives Radio 4, Tuesday 4.30pm (repeated Friday 11pm)
Matthew Parris’ guest this week is poet Pam Ayres, who campaigns for her comedic hero, Tony Hancock, to be awarded ‘great life’ status.
Broken Arts Radio 4, Tuesday 6.30pm
One of my favourite comic writers, David Quantick, turns his comedic gaze to the arts and popular culture. With assistance from Daniel Maier, Richie Webb, Margaret Cabourn-Smith and Jane Lamacraft, expect humour on a par with The Now Show and Harry Hill’s TV Burp (two projects Quantick has also had a hand in).
Count Arthur Strong’s Radio Show! Radio 4, Wednesday 11.30am
As with The Man in Black, we missed last week’s first episode of a new series about the former Variety star who gets himself worked up at the slightest opportunity. One of the finest comic creations on radio at present, this week Arthur is trying to organise entertainment for a charity fundraiser, so holds auditions in his local pub…
Afternoon Play: Torch No 1 Radio 4, Thursday 2.15pm
Czech student Jan Palach died in 1969 after setting fire to himself in the centre of Prague in protest at the Soivet-led invasion of the country. David Pownwall’s thoughtful play considers what may have gone through Palach’s mind before committing such an act. Karl Davies (best known for his TV roles in Emmerdale and Kingdom) plays the young student.
Friday Night is Music Night Radio 2, Friday 7.30pm
A welcome repeat for this concert celebrating the work of Broadway compser Charles Strouse, best known for Annie and By Bye Birdie. Paul Nicholas and Bonnie Langford are amongst the guest artists singing with the BBC Concert Orchestra.
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