Recent posts in the Turn off the TV category

Radio 2 Live: Monkey - Journey to the West Radio 2, Saturday 7.00pm
Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlett’s creative partnership continues with this specially arranged version of their Chinese opera. Based on the 16th century novel by Wu Cheng’en, the show is billed as a ‘circus-opera’, but Albarn, Hewlett and director Chen Shi-zheng clearly think that it can still be compelling without the acrobatic visuals. This hour-long adaptation was recorded at the BBC’s Radio Theatre just four days before broadcast.

Between The Ears: Crossing The Same River Twice Radio 3, Saturday 8.30am
Not to be confused with the jazz pianist of the same name, the theatre director Lou Stein here uses random sound recordings he has made throughout his life to create an autobiography perfectly suited for radio.

That’s No Job for an Asian! Radio 4, Saturday 10.30am
As reported in The Stage earlier this month, Sanjeev Bhaskar is one of the starry contributors to this half-hour documentary taking a look at the health of the British Asian comedy scene, and how stand-up fits into Asian traditions and expectations. Intellectual comedian Paul Sinha and Rohan Acharya, producer of ITV’s rather wonderful Comedy Cuts, also air their views.

The Saturday Play: Boscobel Radio 4, Saturday 2.30pm
Anyone acquiring a taste for the decadent Jacobean period thanks to Channel 4’s The Devil’s Whore can tune in for this dramatisation of Charles II’s 40-day self-exile. After the execution of Charles Snr, Charles understandably felt it was best to lie low for a while, and so this is the story of a king learning to live rough.

Elaine Paige on Sunday Radio 2, Sunday 1.00pm
EP is joined by another uber-diva, Bette Midler, for this week’s 90 minutes of film scores, tracks from musicals, and that distinctive laugh.

Classic Serial: The Hunchback of Notre Dame Radio 2, Sunday 3.00pm
This new collaboration between BBC Radio Drama and the disabled-led theatre company Graeae brings to life Victor Hugo’s classic novel set in the heart of 15th century Paris. Those used to the Disney version should be forewarned that there probably won’t be any singing gargoyles.

The Phantom of the Opera Radio 7, Sunday 6.30pm
This is a repeat, but a well-deserved one. This re-telling of Gaston Leroux’s novel, from indie producers Big Finish, stars James D’Arcy and Anna Massey, who was last seen stealing the show in the BBC’s adaptation of Tess of the D’Urbervilles.

• The Saturday Play: Von Ribbentrop’s Watch Radio 4, Saturday 2.30pm

  Laurence Marks and Maurice Gran (Shine On Harvey Moon, The New Statesman) pen a new drama based on a true story. Impoverished Jewish wine merchant Gerald Roth discovers that a family heirloom is extremely valuable, because in once belonged to a senior Nazi. Should he sell it, thus capitalizing on Nazi memorabilia but saving his ailing business — or should he admit his failure as a businessman, a husband and a Jew? The presence of Miriam Margolyes in the cast guarantees that this play will rise above the obvious stereotypes.

• War Horse Radio 2, Saturday 7.00pm

  The drama highlight of the week, as the National Theatre’s stage adaptation of Michael Morpurgo’s novel is in turn adapted for radio by John Tams, who wrote some songs for the NT production, and Tams’ wife Sally. The play tells of 14-year-old Albert and his affection for farm horse Joey. As the First World War breaks out, Albert’s father sells Joey to the army. As Albert trains in the cavalry, he resolves to be reunited with his beloved horse… While the radio play can’t have the benefit of the life-size horse puppets used on stage, it does have the vocal talents of Timothy Spall, Brenda Blethyn and Bob Hoskins.

• Drama on 3: All Quiet on the Western Front Radio 3, Sunday 8.00pm

  Erich Maria Remarque’s anti-war novel, first published in 1929, has never before been adapted for radio. Dave Sheasby’s adaptation tells the story of a group of German soldiers enduring and coming to terms with the realities of the First World War.

• Woman’s Hour Drama: A Taste for Death Radio 4, Monday-Friday 10.45am (repeated 7.45pm)

  One of PD James’s most celebrated murder mysteries, adapted by Neville Teller in ten parts, continuing next week. Two bodies are found in the vestry of a London church — one a tramp, the other Government minister. Adam Dalgliesh (Richard Derrington) must investigate…

• Afternoon Play: Keep Your Pantheon Radio 4, Wednesday 2.15pm

  David Mamet’s comedy, set in Roman times, tells of an actor-manager and his troupe struggling to survive under an absurdly autocratic regime.

• Cowards Radio 4, Thursday 11.00pm

  Sketch shows are, by definition, hit and miss affairs, and it’s unlikely that this will be any exception. However, the heritage of this comedy troupe, back for a second radio series, bodes well.

• The Friday Play: The Johnny Cash Hijack Roadshow Radio 4, Friday 9.00pm

  Ray Fearon and Philip Jackson play two out-of-work Sheffield lorry drivers who steal a petrol tanker and set off for the Houses of Parliament in order to protest at increasing fuel prices. They start to question their lives and past events begin to set them against each other, all set to the music of the late Johnny Cash.

• You Only Live Twice Radio 7, 12.00pm

  The first of several programmes this week on the BBC networks tying in with the cinema release of the latest Bond film, Quantum of Solace and the centenary of Ian Fleming’s birth (see also last week’s reading of Casino Royale by Alex Jennings). Michael Jayston stars in this adaptation of Fleming’s 12th James Bond novel.

• Saturday Play: The Late Mr Shakespeare Saturday Radio 4, 2.30pm

  As a boy actor, Pickleherring played Viola, Juliet and Cleopatra for Shakespeare’s own theatre company. Now in his 80s, he finally discovers what it mean to fall in love… Jim Broadbent stars as Pickleherring in this adaptation of Robert Nye’s play.

• The Fourth, The Fifth, The Minor Fall Saturday Radio 2, 7.00pm

  Possibly singer-songwriter Leonard Cohen’s most well-known work, the song Hallelujah has been covered by over 120 artists including Jeff Buckley, Rufus Wainwright and John Cale. Elbow frontman Guy Garvey explores the history of the song, meeting artists and recording engineers involved in various versions of the song.

• Elaine Paige on Sunday Sunday Radio 2, 1.00pm

  The Ian Fleming/James Bond theme to the week continues, as Miss Paige presents a special edition featuring some of the most beloved Bond themes, musical scores and a few surprises.

• Classic Serial: On The Beach Sunday Radio 4, 3.00pm

  Mike Walker adapts Nevil Shute’s post-apocalyptic novel. As radioactive clouds roll across the globe, Commander Towers and his crew arrive in Australia, where they discover a radio signal coming from Seattle…

• The Choir Sunday Radio 3, 6.30pm
  BBC Radio 2 Young Choristers of the Year Sunday Radio 2, 8.00pm

  As the final rounds of Radio 3’s Choir of the Year approach, Aled Jones catches up with current champions, Chantage. Later on, Radio 2 hosts its finals to find the young Choristers of the Year, in an event due to be recorded in St Paul’s Cathedral today.

• Drama on 3: 24 Weeks Sunday Radio 3, 9.15pm

  Scriptwriter Tony Marchant, perhaps best known for his TV works including Holding On and The Mark of Cain, presents a provocative new play about abortion. Part of Radio 3’s Free Thinking festival weekend, the play is due to be recorded tomorrow, Saturday.

• 15-Minute Musical Wednesday Radio 4, 11.00pm

  The series of spoof musical satires returns with Washington High School Musical, in which school pupils Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton compete to be president of Washington High. Richie Webb, David Quantick and Dave Cohen are on writing duties with Webb, Dave Lamb and Vicki Pepperdine performing.

• Friday Night is Bond Night Friday Radio 2, 7.30pm

  Concluding the Bond-themed radio programmes for the week, Mike Dixon conducts the BBC Concert Orchestra and a host of singing stars in a concert celebrating the music of the Bond films. Performers include David McAlmont, Mica Paris, Tom Baxter and Jodie Prenger. Some of TV Today’s resident Loppies were in attendance, thanks to Lee Mead performing From Russia With Love — his performance hasn’t been mentioned in the programme notes, but hopefully will be included in the broadcast. (UPDATE: They were two different concerts. My error completely — many apologies!) During the interval, David Arnold talks about his composition of five Bond scores and his album of Bond covers, Shaken and Stirred.

• Private Peaceful Friday Radio 2, 9.15pm

  As Remembrance Sunday approaches, Radio 2 takes the opportunity to repeat this four-part adaptation, read by Robson Green, of Michael Morpurgo’s 2004 novel about brotherly love set during the First World War. The same author’s War Horse will be airing on Saturday 8th.

A very quick musing today, but of course the biggest story of the broadcasting world at the moment are the antics of Russell Brand and Jonathan Ross and their offensive messages left on actor Andrew Sachs’s answer phone. This does stray into the territory of our Turn off the TV section, but has wider implications for television broadcasting and Ross’s wider work within the BBC.

Not to come over all prudish and Daily Mail, but I’m finding myself rather incensed by the whole thing. Perhaps this is a sign that I’ve finally become old and reactionary (finally?), but is this kind of insulting, sub-playground behaviour from two personalities who are paid rather a lot of money (our money) to do what they do, what we expect from the BBC? I mean, it was Radio 2, usually such a bastion of genteel, witty banter. Not this rubbish.

After last week’s mammoth round-up, there’s a shorter list of new stuff to watch out for on radio this week. Of course, ongoing series like Alan Carr’s Comedy Outings are still worth tuning in to, and for many of last week’s items they will still be available on iPlayer for a while.

BBC Electric Proms: Saturday Night Fever Radio 2, Saturday 7.30pm
To celebrate the 30th anniversary of one of the greatest movie soundtrack albums of all time, this concert (part of the BBC Electric Proms season) brings together Bee Gee Robin Gibb with Sam Sparro, Sharleen Spiteri and the BBC Concert Orchestra. It’s likely that this performance will also be available in video at the EP dedicated iPlayer page, where you can also find a fantastic concert by Burth Bacharach featuring Adele and Jamie Cullum.

The Wire: Nowt to Look At Radio 3, Saturday 9.00pm
Valerie Laws writes of Annie (played by Pat Dunn), a disfigured recluse “whose head now floats in a pathology museum jar” in a play about deformity and self-image.

Doctor Who: Max Warp Radio 7, Sunday 6.00pm (repeated midnight)
The second self-contained play in this Paul McGann/Sheridan Smith series is notable mainly for its thinly veiled satire on a certain well-known TV motoring show for petrolheads. Instead of Jeremy, James and the Hamster, we get Graeme Garden, James Fleet and Duncan James. The satire is gentle, but is the best thing about this otherwise slight episode.

Drama on 3: Caligari Radio 3, Sunday 8.00pm
Poet Amanda Dalton adapts the classic German expressionist film Das Cabinet des Dr Caligari for radio. Given that the original film is one of the all-time great silent movies, an audio-only adaptation is intriguing, to say the least.

Stage to Screen: Gypsy Radio 4, Tuesday 1.30pm
Based on the memoirs of stripper Gypsy Rose Lee, the role of Gypsy’s mother was created for Ethel Merman — but played on screen by Rosalind Russell. Paul Gambaccini explores the history of the musical, with contributions from Patti LuPone, Stephen Sondheim and Arthur Laurents.

Bruce and Sammy Radio 2, Tuesday 10.30pm
Bruce Forsyth presents a personal tribute to Sammy Davis, Jr., the consummate all-rounder whose life was marked by political controversy, racial prejudice and more than his fair share of tragedy. Archive material of Davis’s performances is combined with new interviews with Englebert Humperdinck, Paul Anka, Lionel Blair and Laurie Holloway.

Afternoon Play: Memorials to the Missing Radio 4, Thursday 2.15pm
This rerun of Stephen Graves’ play was scheduled before it was revealed that it has won the Tinniswood Award, for the best original drama broadcast on radio in 2007. According to the judges:

This is a play about burying the dead — primarily the dead soldiers of the First World War, which had an impact on the disposal of corpses of those killed in all subsequent wars. Interestingly it is based on fact, on the efforts of one man, Major General Fabian Ware, to persuade the authorities, against strong opposition from Church and State, to establish cemeteries of identifiable graves for those killed in battle. This led to the establishment of The Imperial War Graves Commission of which Ware was put in charge and for which, again against strong opposition, ecclesiastical and architectural, Sir Edwin Lutyens provided the design plans.

So much for fact. The fiction imagines the voices of dead soldiers, reading their diaries or thinking their thoughts aloud, who seek the recognition of their buried remains by mourning relatives. We hear too the relatives searching for an identifiable place to mourn over their lost loved ones.

This intermingling of fact and fiction makes for a poignant play which is perfect for radio and a play, not without humour, of great emotional power. All the judges privately confessed that it reduced them to tears - and they are no “softies” either!

There’s an embarrassment of riches this week, as we continue our preview of what to listen out for this week on radio.

Alan Carr’s Comedy Outings Radio 2, Saturday 1.00pm
Archive comedy clips have never sounded so odd. Alan Carr interweaves segments from the BBC archives with his own fictional escapades. In this first show, he goes on a hen night that somehow ends up involving Les Dawson, Ross Noble, Michael McIntyre, a lamppost and plenty of cling film.

From Fact to Fiction Radio 4, Saturday 7.00pm (repeated Sunday 5.40pm)
The series in which writers create a fictional 15-minute story based on factual events returns for a fifth series, starting with a programme written by Mark Burton.

The Archive Hour: How Radio Comedy Changed a Nation Radio 4, Saturday 8.00pm
Nicholas Parsons presents an exploration of how comedy on the wireless has not only changed in accordance with changing tastes, but has itself influenced the way British culture has changed. Contributors include Paul Merton, Barry Cryer, Sanjeev Bhaskar and Hancock’s Half Hour writers Ray Galton and Alan Simpson.

Elaine Paige on Sunday Radio 2, Sunday 1pm
Special guest this week is Tony-winning singer and actress Barbara Cook.

The Archers Radio 4, Sunday-Friday 7.00pm
A regular staple of the Radio 4 schedule, it’s sometimes easy to overlook this everyday tale of country folk. However, recently its depiction of Jack and Peggy’s health problems — he has Alzheimer’s, she recently suffered a stroke — has been sensitively, and oftimes heartbreakingly, portrayed both in writing and acting.

Classic Serial: Robinson Crusoe and his Farther Adventures Radio 4, Sunday 3.00pm (repeated Saturday 9.00pm)
Andy Barrett dramatises Daniel Defoe’s little-known sequel, which sent the eponymous islander off to deepest Siberia. As the adventurer recounts tales of his earlier travels, we end up with an interesting mix of both books.

Doctor Who: Dead London Radio 7, Sunday, 6.00pm
The BBC’s newly-renamed radio station starts a second series of original sci-fi dramas starring Paul McGann (briefly seen on screen in the 1996 TV Movie) as the time-travelling Doctor and Sheridan Smith as his companion, Lucie. Nowhere near as satisfying as the current TV run of the show, it’s still unmistakably Doctor Who. This week’s episode, Dead London is scripted by legendary 2000AD comic writer Pat Mills, and is followed at 6.50pm by the making-of documentary, Into the Vortex.

Drama on 3: Black Watch Radio 3, Sunday, 8.45pm
A long-awaited radio adaptation of the National Theatre of Scotland’s remarkable work, which retains the same cast who won the coveted Stage Award for Best Ensemble upon the play’s debut at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 2006. Writer Gregory Burke shows us a group of soldiers, both in a Fife bar and when stationed in Iraq. As reviewer Thom Dibdin said of the original production:

Led by Brian Ferguson as Cammy, with whom Burke first made contact, and going right through the ten-strong cast, this is superbly acted. Starting from their creation of lads down the pub, to their actions under fire, in the boredom of desert life and right on to their drill and the odd, perfectly choreographed surreal moment of unison movement, this is a company which does not step one millimetre out of line.

Woman’s Hour Drama: How Shall I Tell The Dog? Radio 4, Monday-Friday 10.45am (repeated 7.45pm)
Michael Palin plays the late humorist Miles Kington, who died of cancer in January. Given just months to live by his doctors, Miles decides to make his illness pay its way, by coming up with ideas for a book based on his ailment. In conversation with his agent (Anna Massey), his ideas get more and more bizarre — and some of which include digs at a comedy actor by the name of Michael Palin…

Stage to Screen: Oh! What a Lovely War Radio 4, Tuesday 1.30pm
A new series of the show looking at how theatre productions have transferred to other media, starting with this look at Oh! What a Lovely War, which started life at Joan Littlewood’s Theatre Workshop before being brought to cinemas with Richard Attenborough’s 1969 directorial debut. As The Stage reported earlier this year, future episodes will look at musicals Gypsy and On The Town.

The Judy Garland Trail Radio 2, Friday 7.00pm
Michael Freedland presents this new biography of the legendary singer and actress. While there may not be too much new information to unearth, this promises to be memorable thanks to much of the rare archive material included, such as recordings of Garland singing with her sisters, as well as many of the classics for which she is renowned.

Our radio sister to Square Eyes continues. Most BBC radio programmes are available online for 7 days after their first broadcast — click on the programme names below for more information.

Saturday Play: Conclave Radio 4, Saturday 2.30pm

After last week’s adaptation of The Last Confession, Hugh Costello’s play continues Radio 4’s examination of the event surrounding the short papacy of John Paul I. Nicholas Le Provost plays Cardinal Benelli (the role played by David Suchet in last week’s play), joined by David Calder, Alison Reid and Andrew Hilton as Karol Wojtyla, who would later become known as John Paul II.

The Wire Radio 3, Saturday 8.45pm

Radio 3’s slot for new writing this week features a radio adaptation of Debbie Tucker Green’s Random, originally staged earlier this year at the Royal Court Theatre. Nadine Marshall reprises her multiple roles as four members of a family whose lives are shaken up during the course of one day. Unlike the stage play, Marshall is joined by other actors, including Petra Letang and Richie Campbell.

Classic Serial: The Experiences of an Irish RM Radio 4, Saturday 9pm (Part 1), Sunday 3pm (Part 2)

Human error was all that prevented me listing this last week. Sorry about that. Christopher Fitz-Simon adapts the stories by Somerville and Ross about an English major who is appointed a Resident Magistrate in 1890s Ireland, and soon finds himself amongst an array of interesting characters. Alex Jennings plays Major Yeates, a character popularised 25 years ago on television by Peter Bowles.

Desert Island Discs

This week’s castaway is comedian and actor Sanjeev Bhaskar, currently starring as King Arthur in Spamalot. NB: This programme won’t be available on Listen Again/iPlayer, althrough it will be repeated on Friday at 9am.

Elaine Paige on Sunday Radio 2, Sunday 1pm

Special guest this week is the legendary Burt Bacharach, who drops in to talk about his varied film, musical theatre and pop songwriting career.

The Duchess of Malfi Radio 3, Sunday 8pm

Webster’s classic Jacobean drama receives a new production, with Sophie Okonedo as the Duchess who chooses to marry her steward, Antonio (Rory Kinnear).

Fabulous Radio 4, Tuesday 11pm

Lucy Clarke’s sitcom about a woman strugglig to cope with the pressures of modern life returns for a second series. Daisy Haggard stars, with Katy Brand, Justin Edwards and Joanna Neary.

Afternoon Play: The Letter Radio 4, Wednesday 2.15pm

I have a love-hate relationship wit The Afternoon Play, which often come across as twee and stuffy. Perfect for Radio 4, less so for my own tastes. Here, however, the lead role is taken up by the inestimable Anne Reid, so things should perk up considerably.

Afternoon Play: Owls Radio 4, Friday 2.15pm

And the second AP recommendation this week. Co-created by the Natural History Unit, this promises a labyrinthine, multi-layered plot about a visit to a Scottish island, an old man reflecting on his life, and a tale of two children trying to escape an abusive situation. Sounds like fun…

We’re going to experiment a little for a few weeks, with a weekly companion to our twice-a-week Square Eyes TV previews as part of TV Today’s ongoing commitment to also covering the radio. Do let us know what you think, either in the comments or via tvtoday@thestage.co.uk.

We’ll be concentrating, as we do in our TV coverage, on drama and comedy, with occasional forays into documentary and music. A quick proviso: I haven’t yet heard any of these productions, so I’m going to have to go on equal parts of the reputation of those involved, and my own gut instincts…

The Saturday Play: The Last Confession Radio 4, Saturday, 2.30pm

David Suchet reprises his portrayal of Cardinal Giovani Benelli, in this adaptation of Roger Crane’s Vatican-set thriller. Benelli is a good man who, upon looking into the circumstances surrounding the 33-day reign and death of Pope John Paul I, which played at the Theatre Royal, Haymarket last year.

The Archive Hour: King of Comedy Radio 4, Saturday 8.00pm

Angus Deayton presents a tribute to the late Geoffrey Perkins, who tragically died in a road accident at the end of August. From Hitch-Hikers’ Guide to the Galaxy to Radio Active, I’m Sorry I Haven’t a Clue and The Fast Show, Perkins was at the heart of British comedy. In many ways, it’s a tragedy that there’s an only an hour to devote to such a remarkable career.

Elaine Paige on Sunday Radio 2, Sunday 1.00pm

La Paige’s guest star this week is Broadway and West End star Brent Barrett.

Drama on 3: Tulips in Winter Radio 3, Sunday 8.00pm

Timothy Spall, Ben Meyjes and Angela Pleasance star in Michelene Wandor’s play, which imagines a fantasy world where philosopher Baruch Spinoza (Meyjes) appears within Rembrandt’s famous painting, Night Watch and meets various other faces from history including Oliver Cromwell and the spy who gave his name to Downing Street. With Spall appearing as a larger-than-life Rembrandt, this could be an intriguing work.

The Penny Dreadfuls Present: More Brothers Faversham BBC7, Sunday 11.00pm

BBC7’s original commission, a spoof of Victorian melodramas, returns for a second series.

The Color Purple Radio 4, Monday-Friday 10.45am (repeated 7.45pm)

Apparently this is the first UK adaptation of Alice Walker’s novel, serialized in ten parts this week and next by Pat Cumper. Nadine Marshall plays Celie, who as a teenager is raped by the man she believes to be her father, but in time grows up to be a strong, contented woman. Nikki Amuka-Bird, Nina Sosanya and Eamonn Walker also star.

Ed Reardon’s Week Radio 4, Monday 11.30am

The misanthropic writer returns for a new series of the award-winning sitcom by Christopher Douglas (who also plays Reardon) and Andrew Nickolds. Unmissable.

Tina C Goes Down Under: the Aborogynal Monologues Radio 4, Wednesday 11.00pm

Chris Green’s outrageous comic Country and Western creation tours Australia, exploring the country’s obsession with country music. This Englishman’s impersonation of a Tennessee woman trying to do an Australian accent promises to make for unique listening.

Today, Radio 4 is giving over much of its programming to Big Bang Day, to celebrate the switching on of the Large Hadron Collider at CERN in Geneva - one of the biggest and most complicated experiments into the nature of the universe ever conducted. What does this have to do with TV Today, you may ask…

As part of the day’s programmes, Radio 4 has brought the popular BBC Television sci-fi drama Torchwood to its Afternoon Play slot, in an adventure called Lost Souls, starring John Barrowman as Captain Jack Harkness, with Eve Myles and Gareth David- Lloyd as Gwen Cooper and Ianto Jones.

Lost Souls is scripted by TV writer Joseph Lidster, whose credits include Torchwood and upcoming episodes of The Sarah Jane Adventures. Joseph took time out of his schedule to talk to TV Today about the challenges of bringing Torchwood to radio…

As an addendum to my previous post, it would seem appropriate to point you all in the direction of this page from the ISIHAC website, featuring some gems from the late Humphrey Lytellton.

Enjoy!

A very quick note to express how sad we here at TV Today were at the news that the legendary broadcaster Humphrey Lyttelton has passed away at the age of 86.

There aren’t really the words to express just how blessed we were as an audience to have been given so much by this unique talent, whether as a jazz musician, writer, broadcaster and, of course, his most famous role as the chairman of the long running I’m Sorry I Haven’t a Clue on Radio 4.

I will be spending much of the day listening to some classic episodes of ISIHAC and remember with laughter the many years of entertainment Humph has provided to millions of listeners. We thought he was indestructible - his memory and legacy surely will be.

The lovely Samantha has been robbed of her ultimate gentleman friend and the world robbed of a giant talent, the like of which I can guarantee we will never see again.

Humphrey Lyttelton, TV Today salutes you.

A very quick piece today, but I wanted to bring this lovely story to your attention as it has tickled me no end, harking back to a simpler time of broadcasting, more innocent… when BBC executives fought dirty to fend off the oncoming blight of that bally commercial television thingy.

I’d long known about the notion that on the night ITV launched in 1955, it was decided to give a popular character in The Archers a nasty send-off to scupper the chances of the new enterprise attracting an audience. And so Grace Archer, as played by Ysanne Churchman, perished in the Grey Gables fire on 22 September 1955.

But with the opening of the BBC Archive, it’s quite enlightening that there is some quite plain speaking documentation relating to this guerrilla action against ITV doing the rounds, startling when you consider the BBC’s cosy, Auntie Beeb persona at the time.

“The more I think about it, the more I believe that a death of a violent kind in The Archers, timed, if possible, to diminish interest in the opening of commercial television in London, is a good idea.”

said H. Rooney Pelletier, controller of the BBC Light Programme where The Archers resided, in a memo at the time.

I love the almost clinical brutality of this statement, and it’s a fascinating insight into a Corporation that was perhaps petrified for its continued future at the time. The moral of this story being, considering the climate the BBC operates in today, that the more things change, the more they stay the same.

• Turn off the TV is an occasional series of posts exploring TV-related programmes on radio.

Complementing the latest series of Doctor Who, a new programme appeared in the schedules of digital radio station BBC7 yesterday. Broadcast in the ‘Seventh Dimension’ sci-fi strand on Sunday at 6.30pm (repeated at 12.30am), Doctor Who: The Commentaries promised:

David Tennant and Catherine Tate discuss Partners in Crime, Episode 1 of the new TV series

Eagle-eyed readers of my review of Partners in Crime have noticed that I didn’t use a single letter ‘b’ in the whole review (a nod to a line in the episode about ‘all the bees disappearing’).

I’m not about to repeat that for a review of the BBC7 show. But if I were, I’d have to say that it’s total ollocks.

If you went anywhere news BBC RAdio at the weekend, you can’t have failed to notice that the Corporation’s first four national networks were celebrating their fortieth anniversaries on Sunday. Thankfully, due to the technological advances made in the four decades since, anybody who missed some of the celebratory programmes will be able to for the rest of the week.

For me, the highlight was Radio 4, This Is Your Life. As is traditional with TIYL, the presenter (in this case, the wonderful Stephen Fry) surprises the recipient of the big red book. In this case, the radio network was to be found doing his weekly shop as a branch of Waitrose in the little village of Middle England, and sounded remarkably like Matt Lucas.

Initially, of course, Radio 4 didn’t realise it was a set-up:

(Oh dear) Look, I don’t know the rules to Mornington Crescent, and we’re not bringing back the UK Theme

Delightfully, the spoof history of the network claimed that the very first programme broadcast was Feedback, with listeners complaining that over the course of the last twelve seconds the BBC was already dumbing down…

With such knowing digs liberally scattered throughout (my personal favourite being Money Box’s Paul Lewis doing the olbigatory TIYL “Sorry I can’t be with you” clip, from his Hollywood bolt hole), this was a fantastic 45-minute down a memory lane that you know never really existed, but you can’t helping should have done.

If you missed it, go catch it on Listen Again while you still can.

Well, the BBC is going all out with its support for Heroes, isn’t it? In addition to Heroes Unmasked ( the behind-the-scenes programme which debuted after episodes 1 and 2 of the main series on Wednesday, and continues on BBC3 in future weeks) we now have Heroes: The Official Radio Show.

Airing on digital station BBC7 today, Saturday, at 6.30pm (repeated at half past midnight), the 15-minute weekly programme promises to “pick apart the latest episode of Heroes and look at the latest happenings [and] listen to your theories”. Which could be fun, even though the internet is bursting with spoilerific information about the whole of Series 1, which has been and gone both in the US and, thanks to the Sci-Fi Channel, portions of the UK too.

Still, anything which helps people get involved with their drama is a good thing. If you miss the show on BBC7, it will be available as an MP3 download via the BBC2 website — and I’ll guess that it’ll be scheduled as a podcast as well.

UPDATE: I was right about the podcast — links to subscribe can be found at http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio/podcasts/heroes/.

‘Turn off the TV’ is a semi-regular feature highlighting TV-related activity on radio and elsewhere. If you spot something for us to look at, email us at tvtoday@thestage.co.uk.