Radio 4 Extra Newsletter - Friday 9th September

New Programmes Coming Up
The Selection
Classic Comedy
Comedy Zone
Comedy Club
Drama
7th Dimension
Crime and Thrillers
Fact and Fiction
The 4 O'Clock Show
Young Classics
...and finally

Hello again

As befits an archive network, the Radio 4 Extra schedule often includes tributes and celebrations to mark significant dates in the lives of performers, writers, producers and directors who have made lasting contributions to BBC Radio.

This week, we've been marking the 90th anniversary of the birth of the Welsh entertainer, Sir Harry Donald Secombe, CBE, who was born in Swansea on 8th September 1921.

Harry Secombe was a central character in The Goon Show throughout its long run, and he can of course be heard playing Neddie Seagoon every Tuesday. But this week you can also hear him reading from his memoirs, Goon Abroad. The final part is broadcast today, and if you haven’t heard it yet, there's still time to catch up on the BBC iPlayer:

[www.bbc.co.uk]

Sir Harry was a castaway twice on Desert Island Discs; the first occasion was in September 1956, when he was interviewed by Roy Plomley. Then 41 years later, in December 1997, he was cast away for a second time, by Sue Lawley. You can hear his 1997 choice of records, book and luxury item, in Radio 4 Extra's Desert Island Discs Revisited on Sunday.

In 1955, Harry Secombe famously stood in for Tony Hancock in the first three programmes of the second series of Hancock's Half Hour. (Tony was suffering from nervous exhaustion at that time) These programmes were broadcast on 19th and 25th April, and 25th May, followed by one other programmes in which Harry made a guest appearance.

I've never heard any of Harry's half hours - as he performed Tony's scripts - as, sadly, they were not retained in the archive.

But if you happen to have any off-air copies of these rare Hancock's Half Hour programmes tucked away in a cupboard or an attic, please let us know. We'd be thrilled to be able to schedule them.

Martin Dempsey, a Radio 4 Extra producer, has written a fascinating blog about Sir Harry Secombe for this week's Radio4/4Extra blog. You can read it here:

[www.bbc.co.uk]

Sir Harry died on 11th April 2001, aged 79. On his tombstone is the inscription: " to know him was to love him"

We are proud that on Radio 4 Extra we are able to pay tribute to such a great and much-loved entertainer.

And now on to other programmes in the week ahead:





New Programmes Coming Up

Holy Fool - Saturday
The Core Omnibus - Saturday
Sarah At The Stand - Saturday
The Long Firm - Saturday
Desert Island Discs Revisited: Sir Harry Secombe - Sunday
Take It From Here - Sunday
Life With The Lyons - Sunday
Front Row Interview: Lang Lang - Sunday
The 4 O'Clock Show - Monday to Friday
Just A Minute - Monday
Haroun And The Sea Of Stories - Monday
I've Never Seen Star Wars - Monday
The Party Line - Monday
Rudy's Rare Records - Monday
Caesar (Series 3) - Tuesday to Thursday
Fags, Mags And Bags - Tuesday
The Castle - Wednesday
Nineteen Ninety-Four - Wednesday
Lucy Montgomery's Variety Pack - Wednesday
My Teenage Diary - Thursday
Newsjack - Thursday
The Men From The Ministry - Thursday
The News Quiz and The News Quiz Extra - Friday
Loose Ends - Friday

You can find a link to this week's schedule here:

[www.bbc.co.uk]



The Selection

Comedy Controller
Arthur Smith
The comic, writer and 4 Extra favourite chooses some top comedies. Julian and Sandy are in charge of the BBC wardrobe department in Round The Horne (Series 3, Episode 19); Andy Hamilton and Nick Revell write and star in their topical satire The Million Pound Radio Show (Series 5, Episode 1); the spoof documentary looks at hotels in People Like Us (Series 2, Episode 6); the host wants to know “how to be a man” in Jeremy Hardy Speaks To The Nation (Series 3, Episode 1); golf, hitmen and the facts of life preoccupy Meera Syall and company in Goodness Gracious Me (Series 2, Episode 1); and Angus Deayton leads a fund-raising day in Radio Active (Series 2, Episode 2).
Saturday at 9am and 7pm




Classic Comedy

How Tickled Am I?
Will Hay
Broadcaster and writer Mark Radcliffe profiles the comic Will Hay – who alongside his highly successful film career was a noted amateur astronomer. Contributors include Roy Hudd and Tommy Trinder. Produced by Libby Cross and first broadcast in 2000.
Sunday at 11.30am, 7.30pm and 2.30am

The Goon Show
The Man Who Won The War (Seagoon MCC)
Sir Harry Secombe would have been ninety on September 8th - and here he is again, leading the laughter in another splendid episode of the great comedy show. Neddie Seagoon thinks his daft plans to win the war will all fail and he'll get thrown out of the army. The trouble is - his schemes succeed every time. Military madness with co-stars Peter Sellers and Spike Milligan. Spike also wrote the script, with Eric Sykes. Produced by Peter Eton and originally transmitted in 1955. (You can also hear Sir Harry in Desert Island Discs Revisited on Sunday.)
Tuesday at 8am, 12pm and 7pm




Comedy Zone

Hamish And Dougal: You’ll Have Had Your Tea
The Vampire Of The Glen
When Mrs Naughtie is bitten by a vampire, there can be only one solution – so the eccentric friends reach for the wooden stakes. More pun-laden nonsense from writers and stars Graeme Garden and Barry Cryer. Produced by Jon Naismith and broadcast originally in 2004.
Friday at 10.45am, 3.45pm and 3.45am

I’ve Never Seen Star Wars
Ser 4. 2/6
Marcus Brigstocke invites his guests to try something they’ve never done before. This week, Frank Skinner finds there’s something new on his plate - in more ways than one. Produced by Bill Dare and first heard here.
Monday at 9am, 11pm and 2am





Comedy Club

The Maltby Collection
Ser 1. 1/6
The newly-appointed assistant curator of the Maltby Collection decides it’s time for action when he discovers the museum is about to be closed. Julian Rhind-Tutt and Geoffrey Palmer star in Reginald Perrin creator David Nobbs’s sitcom – produced by Colin Anderson and heard first in 2007.
Sunday at 10.30pm

Rudy's Rare Records
Ser 2. 1/4. Ill Communication
Will tidying the record shop bring an opportunity for revenge? Family squabbles with Lenny Henry in this 2009 Danny Robbins comedy. Produced by Lucy Armitage.
Monday at 11.30pm

Newsjack
Ser 5. 1/6
A new series of our topical satire show opens with a new host - comic, writer and musician Justin Edwards. Margaret Cabourn-Smith, Pippa Evans and Lewis Macleod co-star.
There's more from me on the new series in my And Finally column at the end of this newsletter.
Thursday at 10.30pm

Bleak Expectations
Ser 1. 1/6 A Childhood Cruelly Kippered
Young Pip’s life descends into misery when his father is torn to pieces by monkeys. Mark Evans’s Dickens spoof stars Richard Johnson, Celia Imrie and Anthony Head. It was produced by Gareth Edwards and first heard in 2007.
Thursday at 11pm

The News Quiz Extra
An extended edition of September 9 th’s broadcast, hosted by Sandi Toksvig and produced by John Pocock.
Friday at 10pm

The Tape Recorded Highlights of a Humble Bee
1/6 “Introducing Me” and “The Dinner Date”
Fast Show regular Mark Williams stars in this offbeat comedy as a jazz-loving insect, recording the details of his improbable life. Written by Brendan O'Casey, produced by Roxana Silbert and first transmitted in 2003.
Friday at 10.45pm

Saturday Stand Up
Sean Hughes – Live
Frank and unflinching stand up from the Irish comedian, whose subjects include death, drugs and paper plates. Recorded before an audience in Glasgow in 1995.
Saturday at 10pm




Drama

The Core Omnibus
This thought-provoking drama considers the impact of education policy on a bright pupil and her new head teacher. Juliet Stevenson and Alex Tregear star in this play by Mike Bartlett, winner of both the Imison and Tinniswood radio awards. The production was directed by Claire Grove and heard first on Radio 4 this week.
Saturday at 12pm and 2am

Holy Fool
A young poet tries to find the truth behind the stories about William the Marshal. Was his extraordinary life of chivalry and adventure driven by madness? William Chubb and Michael Williams star. Written by Peter Roberts, directed by Nigel Bryant and originally transmitted in 1993.
Saturday at 6am, 4pm and 4am

Flight of a Witch
A teacher decides to undertake his own investigation after a baffling disappearance is followed by a brutal murder. Is there any connection with the unsettling series of events that occurred locally three centuries before? Iwan Thomas and Rob Spendlove star in this compelling mystery from Brother Cadfael creator Ellis Peters. Her novel was adapted by Sally Hedges, directed by Sue Wilson and first broadcast in 1997.
Sunday at 1.30pm and 3.30am

Rumpole Of The Bailey
1-4/4
Timothy West stars as Sir John Mortimer’s irascible individualist, following his own unpredictable path through the legal maze. Produced by Marilyn Imrie in 2003.

Monday: Rumpole And The Primrose Path – Recuperating in a rest home, it isn’t long before the barrister finds himself involved in another case. With Prunella Scales.
Tuesday: Rumpole And TheScales Of Justice – Shakespeare proves vital in the defence of a policeman. With Michael Cochrane.
Wednesday: Rumpole And The Vanishing Juror – One member of a murder trial jury has a hidden agenda. With Bruce Alexander.
Thursday: Rumpole Redeemed – Can old offenders ever change their ways? With Karl Howman.
Monday to Friday at 10am, 3pm and 3am

Caesar
Ser 3. 1-3/3
Mike Walker’s dramatic history of the Roman Empire continues with a series new to our network. Directed by Steven Canny.

Tuesday: Empress In The West – A woman’s rise to the top in a man’s world. With David Troughton and Barbara Flynn.
Wednesday: The Maker Of All Things – Can Constantine live up to the image of his father? With Sam Dale and Joseph Kloska.
Thursday: An Empire Without End – The Empire is in decline, but a new emperor must be chosen. With Tom Hiddleston and George Baker.
Tuesday to Thursday at 11am, 9pm and 4am

The House Swap
When a hard-drinking, cynical American cartoonist arrives to cast a satirical eye over an English village, he finds life with the locals very different from what he’d expected. Peter Tinniswood’s comic, earthy and poignant drama stars William Hootkins and Penelope Wilton. The play was directed by Gordon House in 1999.
Friday at 11am, 9pm and 4am




7th Dimension

The House On The Borderland
1/4.
In the ruins of an old house, two travellers find a manuscript written by a reclusive former resident. As the friends read the document, they uncover a horrifying world of distorted time, nightmare visions and demonic attack. William Hope Hodgson’s supernatural classic is read by Jim Norton. It was adapted by Doreen Estall, produced by Lawrence Jackson and specially commissioned by our network in 2007.
Saturday at 6.30pm and 00.30am

The Darker Side Of The Border
1-3/3
Chilling tales from 19 th century Scotland, by three of the country’s greatest writers. Produced by Bruce Young, dramatised by Marty Ross and first transmitted in 2003.

Monday: The Captain Of The Polestar by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle – Eerie apparitions trouble the crew of a ship trapped in Arctic ice. With Alec Heggie.
Tuesday: Olalla by Robert Louis Stevenson – A wounded soldier discovers the family caring for him is concealing a secret. With Paul Blair.
Wednesday: The Brownie of the Black Haggs by James Hogg – An aristocrat becomes obsessed with one of her servants. With Irene Macdougall.
Monday to Wednesday at 6.30pm and 00.30am





Crime and Thrillers

Death On The Nile
1-5/5
Hercule Poirot anticipates a leisurely holiday, on a luxury cruise down the Nile – but feuding among his fellow passengers soon leads to a terrible crime. John Moffat stars as the dapper detective in this 1997 production, also featuring Rosemary Leach, Stratford Johns, Timothy Bateson and Robert Daws. Michael Bakewell’s adaptation of the vintage Agatha Christie thriller was directed by Enyd Williams.
Monday to Friday at 6am, 1pm, 8pm and 1am

Rogue Justice
1-5/5
Michael Jayston reads Geoffrey Household’s sequel to his adventure Rogue Male. Incarcerated in a wartime German prison, the unnamed hero finds an opportunity to escape after an air raid. David Jackson Young produced Patricia Hannah’s 2009 production, commissioned by our network.
Monday to Friday at 6.30am, 1.30pm, 8.30pm and 1.30am




Fact and Fiction

The Parrot Sketch
Comic Tony Hawks finds out why parrots make such fascinating company – hearing from several of the birds themselves along the way. Produced by Caroline Barbour and first heard in 2003.
Saturday at 7.30am, 5.30pm and 5.30am

Ed Doolan Interviews
Gyles Brandreth and Danny La Rue
The popular Radio WM presenter meets writer, politician and raconteur Gyles Brandreth, who talks about his early influences and the ancestor who went to America to seek his fortune. Ed then chats to the legendary Danny La Rue and hears about his showbiz debut and success in Australia.
Saturday at 8am and 3pm and Sunday at 1am, 8am and 3pm

Desert Island Discs – Revisited
Sir Harry Secombe
Singer, writer, stage star and, of course, founder member of the Goons, the great entertainer Sir Harry Secombe chats to Sue Lawley in this 1997 edition of the show. Kirsty Young introduces our special “Revisited” edition, broadcast to commemorate what would have been Sir Harry’s ninetieth birthday, on September 8 th. (You can also hear Sir Harry in The Goon Show on Tuesday.)
Sunday at 10am, 9pm and 1am

Route 66
1-5/5
Paddy Maguire follows some British equivalents of Route 66, taking the bus through Wisbech, Birmingham, Denbigh, Glasgow and Ipswich, chatting to passengers and having a surprise encounter with a Motown band. Produced by Neil George and heard originally in 2004.
Monday to Friday at 2.15pm

Haroun And The Sea Of Stories
1-5/6
Salman Rushdie’s brilliantly imagined fable of a young boy’s efforts to help his storyteller father, who seems to have run out of tales. Zia Mohyeddin reads Neville Teller’s abridgement, produced by Duncan Minshull and transmitted first in 1990.
Monday to Friday at 2.30pm

Alec Guinness: My Name Escapes Me
1-5/5
The distinguished actor reads his memoir, musing on fame and family life and remembering some of the great names he worked with. Neville Teller’s abridgment was produced by Martin Jenkins and first broadcast in 1996.
Monday to Friday at 2.45pm




The 4 O'Clock Show

The 4 O’Clock Show
Next week, we're continuing our Roald Dahl Month as we enjoy the remaining five episodes of Adrian Edmondson’s reading of Charlie And The Chocolate Factory. We'll be back at the Roald Dahl Museum in Buckinghamshire to hear from their composer in residence Joe Cutler about his Creepy Crawly Music - that's on Monday's programme.

On Tuesday, we'll celebrate the brilliant work of the Roald Dahl nurses who care for terminally ill children the length and breadth of the country. Dahl's daughter Ophelia shares her Inheritance Tracks on Wednesday's show and on Friday, we're back in Buckinghamshire visiting Roald Dahl's writing hut and gypsy caravan.

Elsewhere, presenter Mel Giedroyc gets the salivary glands going with ice cream, chocolate, marhsmallows, toffee and squirrel pie!




Young Classics

Alice's Adventures In Wonderland
1/2.
When young Alice follows the White Rabbit down a hole in the riverbank, she enters a magical dream world. She watches the Mock Turtle dance, attends a Mad Tea Party and finds herself called to give evidence in a very strange court room. Sarah-Jane Holm is Alice and she co-stars with Mary Wimbush, Roy Hudd, Stephen Thorne and David Bamber. Lewis Carroll’s timeless favourite was dramatised by Hattie Naylor and directed by Sally Avens. It was originally broadcast in 1996.
Sunday at 9am, 4pm and 5am




...and finally

Our home-grown topical sketch show Newsjack returns to Radio 4 Extra on Thursday 15th September, complete with new host, comedian Justin Edwards.

The usual team of Margaret Cabourn-Smith, Pippa Evans and Lewis Macleod will be joining Justin in what promises to be a fun series.

Newsjack is our show for which any budding (and indeed not-so-budding) writer can submit topical sketches and jokes.

If you are interested, here are the submission guidelines:

[www.bbc.co.uk]

The show is is recorded in the BBC's Radio Theatre, Broadcasting House, London on Wednesday evenings, and if you'd like to come along, you can apply for free tickets at:

[www.bbc.co.uk]

And on Friday 16th September at 1.00, there's an opportunity for you to ask the team of Newsjack writers anything you'd like to know about the series. Further details here:

[www.bbc.co.uk]

I leave you now with the schedule for the week ahead:

[www.bbc.co.uk]

Happy listening!

Mary Kalemkerian
Head of Programmes
BBC Radio 4 Extra


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