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BBC Radio 7 Newsletter - Friday 20th November
New to Radio 7
The Selection
Classic Comedy
Comedy Zone
Comedy Club
7 Drama
7th Dimension
Crime And Thrillers
Fact And Fiction
Children's
'The Defence rests'
================================================
Hello again
Radio 4's Open Book series recently ran an initiative to re-instate novels which have been ignored or are "out of fashion": the neglected classics. Ten well-known authors nominated works which they felt deserved re-reading, and listeners were asked to vote for their favourite. The work which came out top, nominated by Michael Morpurgo, was
The Snow Goose, by Paul Gallico. Radio 4 will be broadcasting a dramatisation of this poignant story about friendship, love and courage, next Spring.
When Mariella Frostrup discussed the nominations and winner on Open Book last Sunday, two listeners commented on children's authors whom they considered to be neglected. The authors referred to were Henry Treece, writer of many children's books set in Viking or Roman Britain, with
Legion of the Ninth cited as a favourite, and Geoffrey Trease, prolific author of over a hundred novels, including
Cue for T
reason and
The Crown of Violet.
I'd be very interested to find out who YOU would nominate as your favourite authors of children's classics, neglected or otherwise. Do send me titles you'd like to hear, perhaps best-loved books from your childhood, or some you've heard on radio, and I'll check whether any dramatisations or readings of the books are available in the archive. Head your e-mail "children's classics" and e-mail them to us at:
radio7@bbc.co.uk.
I wonder if any of you will suggest Enid Blyton? This week the BBC released eighteen archive letters and memos with regard to Ms Blyton's work and her tempestuous relationship with the BBC. The tone of the BBC's responses to Enid Blyton's programme pitches was very much of its time, and rather snooty to say the least. Her stories were regarded by the BBC as "
very much small beer" "
haven’t much literary value" "
rather a lot of the Pinky-winky-Doodle-doodle Dum Dumm type of name" One comment on her work simply stated "
Reject".
Whatever the custodians of children's literature in BBC Schools and Children's Departments in these bygone days felt about The Famous Five and Secret Seven, Enid Blyton's books were loved and voraciously read by many children. The letters and memos, which began in 1936 and continued until the 1950s, make fascinating reading. You can access them on line at
www.bbc.co.uk/archive .
I have had a quick trawl through the BBC archive to find out whether any of Blyton's work had actually made it through the 30 year ban. And a reading does indeed exist:
The Island of Adventure, read in 10 parts by Diana Reed and produced in 1993 by the late Peter Fozzard, a superb Schools Radio producer who also produced the sensitive and touching 10 part reading
Goodnight Mr Tom, which we have been broadcasting this week. I'll be interested to hear Peter's production of
The Island of Adventure, the first of Blyton's Adventure series, published in 1944.
Today ( Friday) all over the country there are lots of fund-raising happenings for Children in Need. One which drew my attention is focussed on story-telling. Broadcasting legend Sir Terry Wogan and actress Josie Lawrence have recorded CBeebies bedtime stories especially for Children in Need. The enchanting stories started last Saturday, and are continuing until 22nd November, every evening from 6.50p.m. on CBeebies television. Paying tribute to his side-kick Pudsey Bear, Terry reads four bear-related stories:
A Chair for Baby Bear, Bare Bear, Mr Bear's Picnic and
Who's Been Eating My Porridge?
But now on to the more grown-up programmes I recommend for the week ahead:
New to Radio 7
Saturday - The Man In Black - 6.30pm and 12.30am
Sunday -
The News Quiz - 10pm
Sunday -
Rudy's Rare Records - 10.30pm
Thursday - The Brothers - 9.30am and 5.30pm
The Selection
Men, Martians and Machines
Popular sci fi writer James Follett is a name that will be familiar to Radio 7 listeners. Here he chooses this selection from his vast array of radio work: ' The Devil to Pay',' The Man Who Invented Yesterday', 'Destruction Factor - ep1',' Earthsearch I - episode 2 and /episode 10,'Earthsearch II - episode 1' and 'The Bionic Blob'.
Saturday at 10am and 8pm
Classic Comedy
The Men from the Ministry: The Whitehall Castaways
An old chestnut tree is just one of problems facing Lennox-Brown and Lamb in this week's look at life in the Civil Service. Starring Richard Murdoch, Deryck Guyler, Norma Ronald and Ronald Baddiley and first heard in 1976.
Sunday at 12midday and 7pm
Hancock's Half Hour: The Smugglers
A conniving Sid gets his pals into deep water on their return from a holiday in Europe. Starring Tony Hanocock, Sidney James, Bill Kerr and Kenneth Williams and first heard in 1959.
Wednesday at 12 midday and 7pm
Comedy Zone
All There With My Cough Drops -The Story of Jimmy Clitheroe
Brian Trueman takes an affectionate look at the life and career of the cheeky diminutive comedian with anecdotes from family, friends and colleagues including Mollie Sugden, James Casey and Tony Melody.
Sunday at 11am and 5pm
Groucho Was My Father
In the first of three programmes, Miriam Marx Allen, the eldest daughter of Groucho Marx, talks frankly to Tony Staveacre about her complicated relationship with her famous father.
Sunday at 11.30am and 5.30pm
The Brothers
Michael and Nigel are asked to design a website about geology, but what do they know about rocks? Written by David and Caroline Stafford, starring Adam Godley, Raymond Coulthard, Pauline McLynn and Alec Lowe. directed by Marc Beeby and first heard in 2005.
Thursday at 9.30am and 5.30pm
The Galton and Simpson Playhouse
Nought for Thy Comfort
The second of our comedy series of TV plays which have been adapted for radio by Ray Galton and Alan Simpson. An airline purser returns home with presents for his wife. But he doesn't receive the welcome he expects. Starring Robert Dawes, Nina Wadia, Nick Wilton and Jennifer Piercey, directed by Mark Robson and first heard in 1998.
Friday at 9am and 5pm
Comedy Club
The News Quiz
NEW TO RADIO 7
Sandi Toksvig is joined by Jeremy Hardy, Holly Walsh and Andy Parsons as they comment on what has made the headlines. Broadcast on Radio 4 on 13th November.
Sunday at 10pm
Rudy's Rare Records
Get up, Stand up
NEW TO RADIO 7
Rudy and Adam both have different reactions when they hear their local pub is being turned into a gastropub. Starring Lenny Henry (pictured), Larrington Walker, Joe Jacobs and Natasha Godfrey and first heard in 2008.
Sunday at 10.30
Dead Ringers
Join Gandolph, Ken Livingstone, John Motson and Charlotte Green - or rather Jon Culshaw, Mark Perry, Phil Cornwell, Kevin Connelly and Jan Ravens in another edition of the quirky impressionist show. First broadcast in 2003.
Monday at 8.30am and 10pm
The Mark Steel Solution - Sexual Politics
The outspoken stand-up gives his candid advice on the rather sensitive subject of sex and all things related. First heard in 1995.
Monday at 11pm
The Million Pound Radio Show
Quick fire gags and sketches written by and starring Andy Hamilton and Nick Revell. With Jasper Jacob and Lesley Sharp. First heard in 1989.
Tuesday at 10.30pm
The Masterson Inheritance
The improvisation group find themselves in a Victorian circus setting, and it's up to the audience to decide what happens next. Starring Lee Simpson, Paul Merton, Caroline Quentin, Josie Lawrence, Jim Sweeney and Phelim McDermott, directed by Phil Clarke and first heard in 1994.
Wednesday at 11.30pm
The Flight of the Conchords
Follow the antics of the band from New Zealand as they visit Britain in this 'fly-on-the-wall documentary'. Starring Bob Brydon, Andy Parsons, Jimmy Carr, Bret McKenzie, Jemaine Clement and Rhys Derby. First heard in 2006.
Friday at 10.30pm
7 Drama
Ethan Frome
When a stooped and lame man arrives in Starkfied, Massachusetts, curiosity is aroused. Edith Wharton's piognant love story stars John Sharian, Barbara Barnes, Lorelei King, Stuart Milligan, Ann Beach and Stephen Thorne. Dramatised by Michelene Wandor, directed by Cherry Cookson and first heard in 1996.
Saturday at 1pm and 1am
The Doppelganger
J C W Brook's sinister drama of a man's experience of his 'other-self' stars Nigel Anthony, Elizabeth Lindsay, Emily Richard and Penelope Lee. Directed by Ian Cotterell it was first heard in 1977.
Sunday at 1pm and 1am
Jamaica Inn
Dreadful and dark secrets await young Mary as she travels to Bodmin Moor to meet her aunt and uncle for the first time. Daphne Du Maurier's gothic novel stars Susannah Corbett (pictured), John Woodvine, Auriol Smith, John Hartley and Mark Straker, is dramatised in 4 parts by Michael Bakewell and directed by Enyd Williams. It was first heard in 1991.
Monday to Thursday at 10am, 3pm and 3am
The Thirty Nine Steps
John Buchan's classic spy novel is dramatised in 2 parts by Bert Coules. Richard Hannay returns from the music hall to find confusion over a dead body in his flat. Starring David Robb, Tom Baker, Struan Rodger, William Hope and Tracy Wiles. Directed by Bruce Young and first heard in 2001.
Friday at 10am, 3pm and 3am
Where Angels Fear to Tread
E M Forster's comic novel contrasting the narrow minded prejudices of an upper-middle class group of English people with a passionate Italian. Dramatised by Penny Leicester, starring Sian Thomas, Teresa Gallagher, Jamie Bamber (pictured) and Tom George, directed by Di Speirs and first heard in 2003.
Monday to Friday at 11am, 9pm and 2am
The No 1 Ladies' Detective Agency
Precious Ramotswe sets up a detective agency in Botswana and her first client, Happy, needs help with her recently returned father. Written and dramatised by Alexander McCall Smith, starring Clare Benedict, Nadine Marshall and Joseph Marcell, directed by Gaynor Macfarlane and first heard in 2004.
Tuesday at 11.15am, 9.15pm and 2.15am
7th Dimension
The Man in Black
NEW TO RADIO 7
Mark Gatiss presents us with another tale. This time a man and his wife move into his elderly mother's home, where they may, or may not, get to meet the mysterious Nathaniel. Starring Auriol Smith, Steven Hogan, Rachel Atkins and Piers Wehner, written by Nicola Jones and directed by Peter Leslie Wild.
Saturday at 6.30pm and 12.30am
Earthsearch I
Continuing James Follett's epic space saga. The malevolent, disembodied 'Angels' continue to manipule the crew of the Challenger. Starring Sean Arnold, Amanda Murray, Haydn Wood and Sonia Fraser, directed by Glyn Dearman and first heard in 1981.
Monday to Friday at 6pm and midnight
Understand
A coma patient undergoes a new medical procedure and regains consciousness to find he has an unexpected gift. However, there is a dangerous side-effect. Written by Ted Chiang, read by Rashan Stone and produced by Gemma Jenkins.
Wednesday to Friday at 6.30pm a nd 12.30am
Crime And Thrillers
Wilkie Collins' Who Killed Zebedee?
Ronald Pickup reads this 2 part story of a dying policeman, who recounts the murder, many years ago, that was to have a dramatic affect on his life. Produced by Joanne Reardon.
Monday and Tuesday at 1.30pm, 8.30pm and 1.30am
Richard Marsh's An Illustration of Modern Science
A barrister is shocked when a young actress reveals she wishes to make a will as she expects to be dead the next day. Read by Joanna Riding and produced by Katherine Beacon.
Wednesday at 1.30pm, 8.30pm and 1.30am
Lord Peter Wimsey - Unnatural Death
The titled investigator is suspicious of Agatha Dawson's death, despite the case being closed. When another death occurs it appears his fears were justified. Dorothy L Sayers' mystery is dramatised by Chris Miller and stars Ian Carmichael, Ambrosine Phillpotts, Gabriel Woolf and Peter Baldwin, directed by Simon Brett and first heard in 1975,
Thursday and Friday at 1pm, 8pm and 1pm
Fact And Fiction
Daughters of Britannia
Greatly Influenced by her own mother's experiences, Katie Hickman's explores the lives of the wives of diplomats, through their diaries and letters, read by Stephanie Cole, Kate O'Mara, Amanda Redman and Emma Fielding. Directed by John Dryden and first heard in 2000.
Tuesday to Friday at 2pm, 4am
The End of the Line
In 2002, and beginning at London's Baker Street station, poet Roger McGough embarks on a tour of England's suburbs. Thus recreating the journey made 30 years before by John Betjeman and captured in the film 'Metroland'.
Monday to Friday at 2.15pm and 4.15am
Breakfast at Tiffany's
Truman Capote's humorous novel of endearing girl-about-town, Holly Golightly and her relationship with a young writer. Abridged in 10 parts by James Robertson and read by Henry Goodman.
Monday to Friday at 2.45pm and 4.45am
You can hear our own Joanna Pinnock discussing the current London revival of
Breakfast at Tiffany's with its director Sean Mathias before each instalment this week.
Children's
CBeebies
Join all your CBeebies friends for an early breakfast of songs, rhymes and stories on Radio 7.
Daily at 5am
Big Toe Books
Kirsten O'Brien (pictured) presents an hour of children's stories every day.
Saturday and Sunday at 8am and Monday to Friday at 4pm:
Saturday and Sunday
Little Darlings by Sam Llewelyn and read by Lesley Joseph.
Monday to Friday
Mind Reader by Pete Johnson. Read by Stephen K Amos
Spaghetti Pig Out by Paul Jennings. Read by John Sessions
The Scent of Magic by Cliff McNish. Read by Saskia Wickham.
Ex-Poser by Paul Jennings. Read by John Sessions
Snookle by Paul Jennings and read by Nigel Planer
Mind Reader Blackmail by Pete Johnson. Read by Stephen K Amos,
www.bbc.co.uk/bigtoe
'The Defence rests'
And finally,
On Tuesday this week, there were several hundred friends, family and admirers of Sir John Mortimer's work gathered together in the splendour of Southwark Cathedral at a memorial service to celebrate the life of the great playwright, novelist and barrister. I felt very privileged to attend such an occasion.
The readings and music selected for the service were perfect, reflecting so many elements of Sir John's life and work. The first reading was an extract from
The Summer of Dormouse, read by Edward Fox, followed by Edward's son, Freddie Fox, reading extracts from "
In Other Words and
Where There's a Will" Other readers included Sir Derek Jacobi, also reading from
The Summer of a Dormouse Joss Ackland read the lesson, from
Ecclesiastes, 12. Patricia Hodge read from
Where There's Will , and Jeremy Irons read
Afterwards, by Thomas Hardy.
The sun beamed through the cathedral windows, and the beautiful music from flute, piano and strings, combined with the power, richness and clarity of the actors' voices reading the words of Sir John Mortimer, was moving, heart-warming and uplifting. The main address was given by Neil Kinnock, who said, amongst many other lovely things he revealed about the man he called 'the magnificent Mortimer' "
He illuminated our lives..
he lit up our times. ... the defence rests,
but his soul goes strolling on". The bells of Southwark Cathedral rang out clearly and loudly at the end of the service, as applause from the hundreds of attendees swelled in appreciation of a remarkable man.
Readings and dramatisations of John Mortimer's' work feature regularly on Radio 7, and I'm delighted to let you know that, starting on 21st December, you can hear the first of 13 radio dramatisations starring one of his best-loved characters, "that crumpled champion of the comman man - the immortal Rumpole of the Bailey,"
What a treat.
I leave you now with the
Schedule and the
iPlayer.
Happy listening!
Mary Kalemkerian
Head of Programmes, BBC Radio 7
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