Programme Information

1Xtra Live 2009 – Highlights

Saturday 28 November

4.00pm-1.00am BBC RADIO 1 and BBC 1XTRA

• www.bbc.co.uk/1xtra

Dizzee Rascal headlines as DJs including Trevor Nelson and MistaJam host 1Xtra Live in Sheffield. This special nine-hour broadcast features highlights of the night simulcast on BBC Radio 1, culminating in a live set from Dizzee.

This year's event features a dazzling line up of some of the UK's hottest acts, including Chipmunk, Tinchy Stryder, JLS, Jay Sean and Chase & Status, performing across two stages in front of around 12,000 people. It is the biggest standalone event in BBC 1Xtra's history.

Between 8pm and 11pm, Trevor Nelson and MistaJam present highlights from the Sheffield Arena, live across Radio 1 and 1Xtra. 1Xtra DJs Ace and Vis will be in the crowd soaking up the atmosphere and speaking to the audience, while Max gets all the gossip from backstage.

Coverage of 1Xtra Live 2009 kicks off at 4pm with Westwood and Target. They will be there when the doors open and will capture all the excitement from the very start. At 7pm Radio 1's Dev will be counting down to the main show and bringing listeners a taste of what's to come when he drops in for rehearsal sessions with some of the acts. And from 11pm-1am listeners will be able to catch Target's after-party.

Presenters/Trevor Nelson and MistaJam, Producers/Rebecca Frank and Andy Worrell

BBC 1Xtra Publicity

Dermot O'Leary has live music from Scouting For Girls and Arctic Monkeys on this week's show and he talks to Rod Stewart about his favourite records.

Scouting For Girls are returning for their second Saturday Session with Dermot. The Harrow trio achieved double-platinum status with their eponymous debut album and they've been in the studio all summer working on a follow-up, which is set for release early next year.

Arctic Monkeys recently enjoyed their third consecutive No. 1 album with Humbug. After headlining the Reading And Leeds festival, the popular Sheffield quartet have now embarked on a tour of the UK and Ireland.

Presenter/Dermot O'Leary, Producer/Ben Walker

BBC Radio 2 Publicity

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Legendary band The Beatles

As part of BBC Radio 2's Great British Songbook, Bob Harris looks at the songs The Beatles gave away in this programme, which features interviews with Sir Paul McCartney and Sir George Martin.

The most popular group in the world for more than 45 years, a recent issue of re-mastered Beatles albums resulted in four Top 10 entries in the UK chart, while the compilation 1 looks set to be America's biggest selling album of this decade. The fevered excitement that accompanied every release in the Sixties is well documented, but less is known about the music written, though not necessarily recorded or released, by them.

While The Beatles were constantly in the charts, John Lennon, Paul McCartney and George Harrison were also supplying other artists with hits – and the occasional miss. Bob looks at recordings by Billy J Kramer And The Dakotas, Mary Hopkin, The Fourmost, Cilla Black, Jackie Lomax, Doris Troy and others. Bob uncovers some forgotten gems, such as the theme tune for a TV series starring Stanley Holloway; music for the Boulting Brothers' film The Family Way; and hears from Sir Paul McCartney about being contacted by Frank Sinatra for a song. Paul also talks at length about his approach to writing songs given to Tommy Quickly, Peter And Gordon, Chris Barber and PJ Proby, as well as those written exclusively for Cilla Black.

Other interviews recorded specially for the programme include Mary Hopkin talking about recording in the studio with McCartney; Johnny Gentle (who was backed by The Beatles on his 1960 tour) recalling Lennon's contribution to I've Just Fallen For Someone; Billy Hatton of The Fourmost remembering John and George's version of the group's debut hit Hello Little Girl; and Billy J Kramer admitting to the fatal error of turning down a song that would eventually become one of the most performed works in recorded history.

These interviews are accompanied by BBC archive material of George Harrison describing how Badge, the song he co-wrote for Cream, got its name. The programme also features new interviews with Sir George Martin, the producer of a number of these records, and Cilla Black, whose demo recording of Step Inside Love (featuring Paul on guitar) receives a rare outing. The programme also features George Harrison's early recorded performance of Sour Milk Sea, which he gave to Jackie Lomax.

The Great British Songbook is Radio 2's celebration of the work of British songwriters by creating a collection of their finest songs and holding exclusive masterclasses with some of Britain's top lyricists. Further information including videos of artists performing their versions of Great British songs and message board discussions can be found at bbc.co.uk/radio2.

Presenter/Bob Harris, Producer/Neil Myners

BBC Radio 2 Publicity

When he died in 1998 Sir Michael Tippett left a body of work that led him to be hailed as the greatest English composer since Elgar and a giant of opera. But Tippett's ballad opera of Robin Hood has remained hidden for three quarters of a century with strict instructions that it never be performed again.

Right at the start of his career, during the depression years of the Thirties, Tippett spent some time in a forgotten corner of North East England. In this inter-war period a series of pick and shovel camps were set up in remote spots throughout Britain to provide work for the unemployed. One of these was at Boosbeck, where unemployment among Cleveland's Ironstone miners had reached 91 per cent. In 1933, Tippett, then a young music student, was appointed to organise musical activities at the camp – an experience that was to produce an opera that predates all of his acknowledged work.

The Robin Hood story enabled him to reinterpret the legend of the famous outlaw in terms of the class war dividing English Society in the Thirties. In this documentary, which contains musical material never before broadcast, pianist Kathryn Stott tells the story of how the Robin Hood opera came to be written, and how people in the Cleveland area are learning about their past by rediscovering this early Tippett opera.

Presenter/Kathryn Stott, Producer/Celia Quartermain

BBC Radio 3 Publicity

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BBC Radio 3 presenter Lucie Skeaping

Despite a tragic accident leaving him blind at the age of two, composer John Stanley became hugely successful in the 18th century, partly thanks to his incredible memory.

Stanley wrote numerous concertos, sonatas, cantatas and anthems and, as a player of both the violin and the organ, he attracted listeners from far and wide. He also directed several Handel cantatas and the Messiah from memory. Lucie Skeaping explores his life and music.

Presenter/Lucie Skeaping, Producer/Sam Phillips

BBC Radio 3 Publicity

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Lucy Duran introduces the first of two programmes of highlights from the 2009 Timitar Festival, held in the Moroccan coastal town of Agadir.

This celebration of Berber culture attracts audiences of more than 100,000 in the city's vast central square, drawn by the chance to see Berber artists whose music is rarely heard outside Morocco.

Featured performances include Rays Aarab Atigui from the Tiznit region and local stars Iguidar.

Presenter/Lucy Duran, Producer/Roger Short

BBC Radio 3 Publicity

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The climax of Glasgow's mini-festival celebrating Peter Maxwell Davies's 75th birthday is a concert performance of his iconic morality opera, Taverner, recorded earlier this month at City Halls. This production brings together the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra and a cast of British vocal talent and combined choirs.

Begun in 1956 and premièred in 1972, it is considered by many to be one of the composer's greatest creations. Based on episodes from the life and times of the English Tudor composer, it recounts John Taverner's religious and personal journey from believer to persecutor.

The concert is presented by Tom Service with contributions from the composer and performers. The role of John Taverner is sung by tenor Daniel Norman and Martyn Brabbins conducts.

Presenter/Tom Service, Producer/Simon Lord

BBC Radio 3 Publicity

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Award-winning British-Indian poet Daljit Nagra has written a poetic narrative inspired by his uncle's two shops in west London – where Muslim, Sikh and Hindu workers have created a small working community in a tiny shared space – Bal Bazaar.

Bal Bazaar is a journey through the shop and through Indian cultures in Britain, both real and imagined. Shop owners tell their stories: a hairdresser snips her way through the day, while a Muslim butcher explains how he is really an IT worker covering for his brother who has cancer. Bal Bazaar hints at the religious and political – a story of faked Halal meat – and a world of religious festival and song. It also tells the common human stories of food, hair cutting and the every day, domestic life within the shopkeepers' community.

Readers/Daljit Nagra and Sudhar Buchar, Producer/Jo Wheeler

BBC Radio 3 Publicity

Supermodel Erin O'Connor explores the nature of beauty.

When Erin was growing up she was convinced she was ugly. She would dart across the road diagonally to avoid drawing attention to her nose by crossing in front of stationary cars. She was so self-conscious about her flat chest that she regularly wore two padded bras.

Then one day she was told she was beautiful, scooped up by the modelling industry and presented as the uber-elegant catwalk queen, sought after and richly rewarded.

With the help of renowned facial-reconstructive surgeon Professor Iain Hutchison, who has treated people with severe facial disfigurement, and Professor of Children's Literature, Kim Reynolds, who has studied the way beauty is regarded in traditional stories, Erin explores various opinions and experiences of beauty.

Erin also goes behind the scenes at London Fashion Week, to an event called All Walks Beyond The Catwalk, which used models of different size and age as a way to broaden the range of catwalk models used at such influential events.

Producer/Karen Gregor

BBC Radio 4 Publicity

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In the news from this week in 1989, as BBC Radio 4 continues its day-by-day account of the momentous year of 1989, Czech Prime Minister Ladislav Adamec formally announces the end of the Communist party's monopoly on power and British PM Margaret Thatcher and her challenger Sir Anthony Meyer begin their battle for the leadership of the Conservative party.

Every day for three months, BBC Radio 4 is recreating 1989 in sound, drawing on the BBC and other vivid news archive and the music of the time. Presented by Sir John Tusa, these daily programmes re-trace the year's major political, cultural and social events as they happened.

Also this week, record libel damages are awarded to Conservative peer Lord Aldington after being accused of war crimes. President Gorbachev becomes the first Soviet leader to visit the Vatican and there is fierce fighting in the Philippines as thousands of troops attempt to overthrow their president.

President Bush and President Gorbachev declare the Cold War is over as hundreds of thousands of people form a human chain to demand reforms in East Germany.

For the first time the Soviet government joins other Warsaw Pact countries in condemning its own invasion of Czechoslovakia in 1968 and thousands take to the streets in Prague demanding a new government.

Presenter/Sir John Tusa, Producers/Barney Rowntree and Russell Finch

BBC Radio 4 Publicity

5 Live Sport

Saturday 28 November

12.00noon-7.20pm BBC RADIO 5 LIVE

Mark Pougatch presents an afternoon of live sport kicking off with commentary of the Scottish Premier League match between Aberdeen and Rangers at 12.45pm. From 2.30pm there are regular updates from rugby union's Autumn Tests, Scotland versus Argentina at Murrayfield and Ireland versus South Africa at Croke Park, Dublin.

There's live coverage of all the day's 3pm kick-offs, including Portsmouth versus Manchester United in the Premier League and Celtic versus St Mirren in the SPL, plus tennis reports from the semi-finals of the ATP World Tour Finals at the O2 Arena.

From 5.30pm there's full commentary on Aston Villa versus Tottenham live from Villa Park, plus updates from rugby union's Autumn Test, Wales versus Australia live from the Millennium Stadium.

Presenter/Mark Pougatch, Producer/Mark Williams

BBC Radio 5 Live Publicity

Rugby Union

Saturday 28 November

2.15-4.15pm BBC RADIO 5 LIVE SPORTS EXTRA
5.00-7.00pm BBC RADIO 5 LIVE SPORTS EXTRA

From 2.15pm listeners can enjoy uninterrupted commentary on the autumn international between Ireland and South Africa, live from Croke Park, Dublin.

Then at 5pm the action switches the Millennium Stadium, Cardiff for live commentary on Wales versus Australia.

Producer/Jen McAllister

BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra Publicity

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Tennis

Saturday 28 November

8.45pm-12.30am BBC RADIO 5 LIVE SPORTS EXTRA

Listeners can enjoy uninterrupted commentary of the second semi-final of the ATP World Tour Finals, live from the 02 Arena, London.

The commentary team is led by Jonathan Overend alongside David Law, Alastair Eykyn, Vassos Alexander and Russell Fuller with expert analysis from David Felgate, Annabel Croft and special guests.

Producer/Jen McAllister

BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra Publicity

Spiritualized front-man Jason Pierce presents a special 6 Mix, telling the story of the making of his classic album Ladies And Gentleman We Are Floating In Space.

Presenter/Jason Pierce, Producer/Rowan Collinson

BBC 6 Music Publicity

The Prison Graduates is the second of two prize-winning plays from the BBC World Service and British Council International Radio Playwriting Competition 2009, it won the English as a second language category.

Efo Kodjo Mawugbe's play was described by the judges as "imaginative", "muscular" and "hysterically funny". Four men try to make their way in the world after their release from prison in Ghana. They explore their many options – only to choose the one that might have surprised them all. This is a surreal, post-colonial fable – where Woza! Albert meets Samuel Beckett.

Nearly 1,200 scripts were received in the 2009 competition, which awards two first prizes for the best play with English as a first language and the best play with English as a second language. Over half the scripts were in the English as a second language category. The distinguished panel of judges included writer Kwame Kwei-Armah and actor Vincent Ebrahim.

The Prison Graduates stars Daniel Francis (EastEnders; The Hounding Of David Oluwale), Richard Pepple (The Estate), David Gyasi (Shooting Dogs), Mo Sesay (Coriolanus at Shakespeare's Globe) and Wale Ojo (Widower's Houses at the National Theatre). It is directed by Marion Nancarrow.

BBC World Service Publicity