The Saturday Play: Joan of Arc and How She Became a Saint Radio 4, Saturday 2.30pm
By the title, you’d expect an intense piece. By the cast list — Dawn French as Joan, with Jim Broadbent, Anne Reid, Marc Wootton, Beautiful People’s Samuel Barnett — you may expect a comedy. In truth, it’s a bit of both, starting out broadly but as events unfold everything takes a much darker turn.
Elaine Paige on Sunday Radio 2, Sunday 1pm
This week, EP plays host to Kathryn Evans, where they will no doubt swap tales of playing Evita and Norma Desmond — Evans’ turn as the latter at the Playhouse theatre has recently been nominated for an Olivier. And Kathryn Evans’ husband, Peter Purves, is on The Stage Podcast this weekend.
Classic Serial: Scoop Radio 4, Sunday 3pm
Tim McInnerny, Rory Kinnear and David Warner lead an awesome cast in Jeremy Front’s adaptation of Evelyn Waugh’s classic newspaper satire.
Life with Lucy and Desi Radio 2, Tuesday 10.30pm
Carmen Miranda: The Lady in the Tutti Frutti Hat Radio 2, Wednesday 11pm
R2 celebrates two of of the twentieth century’s campest icons, Lucille Ball and Carmen Miranda.
Clare in the Community Radio 4, Wednesday 11.30am
A more than welcome fifth series for one of Radio 4’s funniest sitcoms — and we’re not just saying that because it is the creation of Harry Venning, The Stage’s TV critic and creator of porcine thespian Hamlet. Sally Phillips returns as the hapless social worker so self-obsessed she’s unable to see that she often needs more help than her clients. And God help us, she’s now a mother…
Blasted: The Life and Death of Sarah Kane Radio 4, Thursday 11.30am
Sarah Kane was only in her early twenties when her first play Blasted, caused a sensation in 1995 with its scenes of rape and cannibalism. Four years later, having become one of Britain’s most respected contemporary dramatists, she took her own life in the psychiatric hospital where she was a patient. Playwright Dan Rebellato looks at her life and work, with contributions from her family and professional colleagues.
Old Harry’s Game Radio 4, Thursday 6.30pm
I’ve never quite warmed to Andy Hamilton’s comedy about Satan and his minions, but there’s no doubt it’s phenomenanally popular — hence its return for another series.
Lenny Henry Plays Othello Radio 4, Friday 11am
We started the week’s previews with his wife playing Joan of Arc, and we end with Lenny Henry as he prepares to take on one of Shakespeare’s most demanding leading roles, in Northern Broadside’s Othello.
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