Programme Information

Salisbury Cathedral

Salisbury Cathedral is the setting for BBC Radio 2's meditation in words and music for Good Friday, hosted by Aled Jones and featuring the atmospheric music of acclaimed composer Karl Jenkins.

The BBC Concert Orchestra comes together with the voices of Salisbury Festival Chorus in front of a live audience to perform selected movements from Jenkins's Mass For Peace The Armed Man, Requiem and Stabat Mater. The programme also features complete performances of his smaller works Palladio and Adiemus.

Jenkins's music will be interspersed by the drama of the Bible's Passion story and selected reflections from award-winning writer Sara Maitland's new meditation Stations Of The Cross to create that essential moment of Good Friday meditation for the BBC Radio 2 audience who gather "At The Foot Of The Cross".

Presenter/Aled Jones, Producer/Philip Bilson

BBC Radio 2 Publicity

Performance On 3

Good Friday 2 April

7.00-9.15pm BBC RADIO 3

Baritone Mark Stone

The broadcast première of James MacMillan's St John Passion features in today's Good Friday edition of Performance On 3, live from King's College, Cambridge.

Baritone Mark Stone sings the role of Christ and is accompanied by the BBC Concert Orchestra and Choirs, conducted by Stephen Cleobury.

The Passion story, as told by St John, is given a very personal setting by composer James MacMillan. This version of the Easter story is the one with which MacMillan feels most intimately acquainted, hearing it recited or sung every Good Friday in the Catholic liturgy.

In this musical retelling, he infuses it with his love of both Gregorian chant and opera and creates music that is at turns sparse and yet dramatic. Set in English and Latin, the piece is scored for one principal soloist, Christ, sung tonight by baritone Mark Stone, with a chamber choir that narrates the story and a large chorus which takes the role of the other main characters of the Passion.

Presenter/Louise Fryer, Producer/Neil Varley

BBC Radio 3 Publicity

As a new generation of fans await the debut of the 11th incarnation of the Doctor, long-time fan Jon Culshaw travels back in time to look at the man who changed Doctor Who for ever – Douglas Adams.

After years toiling for success as a writer, in 1978 Douglas's world turned upside down. Just weeks after the radio series The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy was commissioned, so was his first script for Doctor Who.

The following year, just as Hitchhiker's was taking off, he was offered the job as script editor – one of the most demanding jobs in television.

The scripts he wrote for Doctor Who – The Pirate Planet, City Of Death and Shada – still stand as a benchmark for the series today. But his time on the series was beset by problems. Technician strikes would seriously affect production, inflation was squeezing the series budget and Douglas was exhausted by the simultaneous demands of Hitchhiker's and Doctor Who.

Nevertheless, Douglas left an indelible mark on Doctor Who, bringing in a sharp wit that hadn't been seen before in what was ostensibly a children's TV series.

Jon looks at Douglas's work on a television institution, talking to the writers, directors and actors who worked with him, and considers the legacy of his work on Doctor Who with new executive producer Steven Moffat.

Presenter/Jon Culshaw, Producers/Simon Barnard and Kieron Moyles

BBC Radio 4 Publicity

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Meet David Sedaris Ep 1/4

Good Friday 2 April

11.30am-12.00noon BBC RADIO 4

Humorist David Sedaris performs a series of recordings to an audience at the BBC Radio Theatre, especially for BBC Radio 4.

The hilarious and highly individual essays cover a wide variety of topics, from Christmas in the Netherlands to his father's eating habits, drawn largely from his own life experiences.

This series samples writing from across his seven-book canon and includes some previously unpublished material.

In this week's opener, David examines the different traditions surrounding Christmas around the world – inspired by the Dutch tradition of former Bishop of Turkey Saint Nicholas arriving by boat from Spain to administer gifts, or admonishment, to the children of Holland.

Presenter/David Sedaris, Producer/Steve Doherty

BBC Radio 4 Publicity

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Paul Gambaccini hosts an Easter edition of Counterpoint

Paul Gambaccini hosts a special Easter celebrity edition of the wide-ranging music quiz, featuring musical clues performed live by the BBC Philharmonic from Manchester.

Newscaster Katie Derham, comedian Kit Hesketh Harvey and musician and comedian Rainer Hersch join Paul for questions and games based on musical extracts.

The BBC Philharmonic Orchestra perform all the musical clues, live in the studio, and are conducted by Clark Rundell.

Presenter/Paul Gambaccini, Producer/Paul Bajoria

BBC Radio 4 Publicity

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Cries of the Passion, with Professor of Christianity and the Arts, the Reverend Professor Ben Quash, traces the way of the cross through the sounds and cries he hears on his daily walk to work across London.

The cries of the Passion tell the story as Ben's pilgrimage moves from the roaring crowds of the Arsenal stadium, past the joyful shouting of children in Coram's Fields playground, the cries of the market place in Covent Garden, into the box of darkness in Tate Modern. The journey starts in the chant of the crowd and ends in a solitary cry.

Presenter/Reverend Professor Ben Quash, Producer/Clair Jaquiss

BBC Radio 4 Publicity

5 Live Sport

Good Friday 2 April

2.00-5.00pm BBC RADIO 5 LIVE

George Riley presents a special Good Friday edition of 5 Live Sport and brings listeners live Premier League commentary of Fulham versus Wigan, from Craven Cottage.

Presenter/George Riley

BBC Radio 5 Live Publicity

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Colin Murray is joined by regular guests Pat Nevin and Perry Groves for Kicking Off With Colin Murray, taking a look ahead to the weekend's sporting action, which includes the top-of-the-table clash between Manchester United and Chelsea, Arsenal versus Wolverhampton Wanderers and Burnley versus Manchester City.

At 8.30pm, Colin is joined by David Croft and guests from 5 Live Formula 1 as they look ahead to this weekend's Malaysian Grand Prix.

Presenter/Colin Murray, Producer/Ed King

BBC Radio 5 Live Publicity

Formula 1

Good Friday 2 April

6.55-8.35am BBC RADIO 5 LIVE SPORTS EXTRA

Listeners can hear uninterrupted commentary on the second practice session of the Malaysian Grand Prix, live from Sepang.

Producer/Jen McAllister

BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra Publicity

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Rugby League

Good Friday 2 April

12.40-2.30pm BBC RADIO 5 LIVE SPORTS EXTRA

BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra has uninterrupted commentary this afternoon of the match between Hull KR and Hull in the Super League.

Producer/Jen McAllister

BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra Publicity

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Rugby League

Good Friday 2 April

2.55-4.45pm BBC RADIO 5 LIVE SPORTS EXTRA

Uninterrupted commentary on St Helens versus Wigan, in the Super League, can be heard this afternoon.

Producer/Jen McAllister

BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra Publicity

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Football

Good Friday 2 April

5.00-7.15pm BBC RADIO 5 LIVE SPORTS EXTRA

Listeners can enjoy uninterrupted commentary on West Bromwich Albion versus Leicester City in the Championship.

Producer/Jen McAllister

BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra Publicity

Don Lett brings a reggae flavour to the Bank Holiday

Don Letts continues his tradition of bringing a reggae flavour to bank holidays as he eases listeners through Good Friday with a menu of reggae, ska, rocksteady, dub and dancehall.

Presenter/Don Letts, Producer/Frank Wilson

BBC 6 Music Publicity

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BBC Radio 1's original Evening Session presenters Steve Lamacq and Jo Whiley

It's been 13 years since the demise of BBC Radio 1's legendary Evening Session, the programme that sound-tracked the Nineties for a generation of indie kids.

In this special one-off programme, BBC 6 Music reunites Steve Lamacq and Jo Whiley as they choose their favourite live tracks from their time on the Evening Session and are quizzed on events from the past. The programme also features the welcome return of New Band/Old Band and Steve and Joe bring listeners a selection of new and archive music in session.

Presenters/Steve Lamacq and Jo Whiley, Producer/Paul Sheehan

BBC 6 Music Publicity

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American heavy metal band White Wizzard join Bruce Dickinson on his Rock Show this evening. Influenced by older British heavy rock greats, White Wizzard rebel led against modern screamo metal to bring back Eighties-inspired melody and song writing. The group discusses the recent change of line-up, their debut album, Over The Top, and their experience of working with Iron Maiden artist Derek Riggs.

Presenter/Bruce Dickinson, Producer/Ian Callaghan

BBC 6 Music Publicity

The BBC Asian Network devotes a whole day to the Nineties this Good Friday and this definitive Desi decade.

The station re-lives Bollywood classics, including Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge and Bombay, and brings listeners a special day of music, celebrity interviews and performances from the BBC archives.

BBC Asian Network Publicity