Programme Information

On The Blog Ep 1/6

Thursday 14 January

10.00-10.30pm BBC RADIO 2

Caroline Quentin (Men Behaving Badly), Simon Greenall (I'm Alan Partridge) and Andy Taylor (My Family) return for a third series of the sitcom On The Blog.

A shocking new dawn has broken in the world of Andrew Glasgow (Taylor). Having finally severed ties with his terrifying Sudeten-Czech mother (Quentin), he has decided to leave home. At the tender age of "38 and three halves" the war-gaming blogger faces the biggest battle of his life so far – he needs to find a job.

Over the next six weeks listeners are invited to join Andrew as he struggles to hold down a different job each week in the face of his mother's hostile – and increasingly surreal – attempts to get him to move back in.

This new series covers online employment agencies, social networking in the workplace and the arch blogger's opinion of the vulgar practice of "twittering". The series features a fresh cast of weird and wonderful work colleagues (played by Simon Greenall, DeNica Fairman and Caroline Quentin) and some truly sinister new flat mates.

Producer/Adam Bromley

BBC Radio 2 Publicity

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Dee Dee from The Crystals is Suzi Quatro's special guest this week.

Dee Dee talks about coping with fame and chooses music by her favourite American influences. Suzi also plays the music she heard in her formative years, from doo-wop to motown and rock 'n' roll, taking listeners from the Fifties and Sixties to the present day.

Presenter/Suzi Quatro, Producer/Mark Simpson

BBC Radio 2 Publicity

In many of today's contentious and emotional public debates – for example around disability, antenatal screening, or even the heated discussion of the "right to die" – there are often no clear answers, says bioethicist and disability specialist Tom Shakespeare.

Neither science, nor social research, nor ethical reasoning can tell us what to do – much as we may wish for them to do so. Instead, he argues it's not science, but actually art that can help us think through these modern dilemmas by making space for the emotion and complexity they need.

In this talk, recorded as part of BBC Radio 3's Free Thinking festival at The Sage, Gateshead, Tom Shakespeare demands that we think of art as a "tool for thinking". He explains why, as a scientist, he believes we need to involve art in some of our most difficult social and ethical decisions – because it will help in unexpected ways.

Presenter/Matthew Sweet, Producer/Victoria Shepherd

BBC Radio 3 Publicity

Frances Barber stars as Maggie Fortune in Andrea Earl's Solace. Maggie is a respectable middle-class woman – a mother and grandmother with a dependency that's taking over her life.

This intriguing drama explores her growing dependency to prescribed tranquilisers over long-term use and the difficult process of withdrawing.

Fear of the phone, venturing outside, life and panic rising – and then help, comfort, some solace in the form of a pill; this is how Maggie's mid-life is forming. She's a widow, has a loving relationship with her young granddaughter, and a more fractious one with her daughter. They see each other regularly and are all excited that the granddaughter is representing the school in a piano recital. Maggie has also just been reacquainted with a childhood sweetheart who has recently returned to their home town. But none of this can help Maggie when she is forced into a situation where she has to face withdrawing from the drugs – a whole new challenging phase opens before her.

Solace is a drama developed through extensive research and interviews with women and men addicted to prescribed tranquilisers. The play concludes with three short, emotive testimonies from recovered tranquiliser users.

Please note: This play was originally billed in Week 1 BBC Radio Programme Information.

Producer/Pauline Harris

BBC Radio 4 Publicity

5 Live Sport presenter Eleanor Oldroyd

Eleanor Oldroyd is joined by some top sports correspondents to discuss the week's major sporting stories in The Headline Hour.

From 8pm, 5 Live Cricket reviews the first day's play of the fourth Test of England's tour of South Africa. That is followed at 9pm by London Calling, 5 Live Sport's regular look at those hoping to win gold at the London 2012 Olympics, followed by And Another Thing... at 10pm when two of 5 Live's top pundits offer their views on a topical sports issue in a head-to-head debate.

Presenter/Eleanor Oldroyd, Producer/Claire Burns

BBC Radio 5 Live Publicity

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BBC Radio 5 Live's Gavin Lee reports on a unique attempt at reconciliation, bringing together individuals who were pitted against each other by the "War on Terror".

Presenter/Gavin Lee, Producer/Ed Main

BBC Radio 5 Live Publicity

Test Match Special

Thursday 14 January

8.15am-4.00pm BBC RADIO 5 LIVE SPORTS EXTRA

Jonathan Agnew leads the commentary team presenting ball-by-ball commentary of the opening day's play of the fourth Test between South Africa and England, live from the Wanderers, Johannesburg. Ashes-winning former England captain Michael Vaughan, Geoffrey Boycott and Vic Marks provide expert summary.

Producer/Jen McAllister

BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra Publicity

Gideon Coe dips into the BBC's archive for live performances by Joy Division and Beastie Boys spin-off BS2000.

Tonight's session tracks come from the Dylan Thomas-inspired Starless And Bible Black, Electricity In Our Homes, Gaelic-African sounds from Mouth Music and Canterbury prog-rockers Caravan.

Presenter/Gideon Coe, Producer/Frank Wilson

BBC 6 Music Publicity

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Marc Riley revisits a BBC archive interview from July 1993 with rock star Ian Gillan.

In his typical entertaining style, Gillan, interviewed by Claire Sturgess for BBC Radio 1, talks about his year with Black Sabbath and how they inspired much of the film Spinal Tap. He also reveals how he took to the rock 'n' roll lifestyle and his legendary, long-running feud with Deep Purple band-mate Ritchie Blackmore.

Presenter/Marc Riley, Producer/Frank Wilson

BBC 6 Music Publicity

Chunky discovers Bibi is setting one of them up with a potential wife, but is surprised by Jungli's reaction, in today's visit to Silver Street. Chunky figures out what his brother is planning. Jungli then has a realisation of his own – Chunky already has his eye on someone, but who is she?

Elsewhere Jaggy asks Cyrus for a chance to win his villa back in a poker game. Will Cyrus agree?

Meanwhile Kenny begs Sandra to reconsider...

Chunky is played by Shahid Ahmed, Jungli by Adil Ray, Jaggy by Jay Kiyani, Cyrus by Nigel Hastings, Kenny by Brian Croucher and Sandra by Anita Dobson.

BBC Asian Network Publicity