 |
Press Releases
Sir Ian McKellen, Rhys Ifans, Phill Jupitus and Caroline Quentin spread yuletide cheer
on Radio 4
|
A host of stars, from the past and present, will be gracing the BBC Radio 4 airwaves this
Christmas - from Sir Ian McKellen as Sir Gawain and Phill Jupitus on Christmas TV and
radio over the last 70 years to a complete biography of children's favourite Beatrix
Potter.
Drama on Radio 4 this Christmas includes Sir Ian McKellen as the lead in Simon
Armitage's Afternoon Play of the anonymous poem Sir Gawain And The Green Knight (21 December) and Rhys Ifans reading an extract from Dylan Thomas's classic Christmas tale
A Child's Christmas In Wales (Christmas Eve).
King Lear On Boxing Day (Boxing Day) is a special
programme, presented by Francine Stock, to mark the 400th anniversary of the first
production of Shakespeare's King Lear whilst Trevor Nunn makes his radio debut directing
Tom Stoppard's award-winning masterpiece The Real Thing (30 December).
There is also an
adaptation of Simon Gray's play Little Nell (17 December) which tells the story of Charles
Dickens' love affair with the young actress Ellen Ternan.
The lives of favourite children's writers Beatrix Potter and Lewis Carroll are also
under the spotlight.
The people and places that inspired Beatrix Potter are discussed in
The Natural History Of Beatrix Potter (Christmas Eve) whilst her first complete biography is
the subject of Beatrix Potter - A Life In Nature (Christmas Day).
The Mystery Of Lewis
Carroll (19 December) blows apart some of the myths that surround Charles Dodgson, the man
behind the Lewis Carroll pseudonym.
Comedy also gets a good outing this season as Caroline Quentin and James Fleet star in
the comedy drama Late (1 January), especially written for New Year's Day.
Phill Jupitus gets
into the seasonal spirit in Christmas Crackers (Boxing Day) as he recalls the way TV and
radio have celebrated Christmas Day over the last 70 years.
And latter-day Shakespeare
convert Lenny Henry shows his appreciation for the Bard in Lenny and Will: Act Two (23 December).
Favourites are also back this Christmas as the award-winning Clare In The
Community starts its third series (18 December) and fans are treated to The Best Of The Now
Show (29 December) and News Quiz Of The Year (31 December).
To welcome in the New Year, Radio 4 has a musical special on New Year's Eve from 8 to
11pm.
The night begins with first night jitters discussed in First Night: West Side
Story (8.30-9pm) before the art form is explored in greater detail in The Anatomy Of The
Musical (9.30-10pm).
Then, as the New Year approaches, all things Sound Of Music are
enjoyed in The Hills Are Alive (10-11pm).
Notes to Editors
There is more information about Radio 4 programmes for Christmas and New Year in Network Radio Programme Information for Weeks 52/1.
Radio 4 Publicity
|
Printable version
