Programme Information

Frank Renton hears from Warrant Officer Class 1 Esther Freeborn on her new assignment in the army as the first female bandmaster of the Household Cavalry. He also plays listeners' requests and reviews the best of the new CDs.

Presenter/Frank Renton, Producer/Terry Carter for the BBC

BBC Radio 2 Publicity

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Split Enz and Q Tips were two of the bands that appeared on Whistle Test during the series that ran from October 1980 through to July 1981, appearing on the same show on 22 November.

Paul Young joins Bob Harris to talk about the Q Tips' performance and his transition to a solo artist, and Neil Finn plays a new acoustic version of one of the songs Split Enz performed that night. There's also live music from Hazel O'Connor.

From the archive is the debut Whistle Test appearance from U2. Wilko Johnson and his band are on hand playing a new session and talking to Bob, and there's also an archive concert performance from Ian Dury and his band, originally broadcast live on the show on Christmas Eve, 1980.

Presenter/Bob Harris, Producer/Mark Simpson for Whispering Bob Broadcasting Company

BBC Radio 2 Publicity

In the second programme this week of recent studio and concert performances by members of the Radio 3 New Generation Artists scheme, German violinist Veronika Eberle plays a sonata by Mozart, the ATOS Trio from Germany perform Turina's Second Piano Trio, British pianist Benjamin Grosvenor plays the Caprice Espagnol by Moszkowksi, and UK-based Elias String Quartet are joined by jazz trumpeter Tom Arthurs for a taster from his new BBC commission, Four Pieces For String Quartet, Trumpet And Drums.

BBC Radio 3 Publicity

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Award-winning British violinist Daniel Hope visits the Tower of London with his violin, and tells the little-known story of German/Brazilian Fernando Buschman (1890-1915), the virtuoso violinist and engineer held and executed there when charged with espionage in the First World War.

Buschman's wartime existence comprised of a string of still-born entrepreneurial adventures from aircraft design to cheese and vegetable export, with, allegedly, spying on the Royal Navy also thrown in.

His big love was his violin and when, in 1915, he was arrested and condemned to face a firing squad at the Tower, he asked for his instrument to be brought to his cell. The night before his execution Buschman played, the sound echoing and keening round the Tower.

In the Chapel of the Tower at night-time, beside the tombs of famed Tower victims Anne Boleyn, Catherine Howard and Sir Thomas More, Daniel performs the music Buschman played, tries to fathom what motivated this man and imagines himself facing those final fated hours.

Presenter/Daniel Hope, Producer/Benedict Warren

BBC Radio 3 Publicity

As the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency returns to BBC Radio 4, Jon Silverman uncovers the real story of crime investigation in Botswana and finds that truth is stranger than fiction.

The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency stories are set in Botswana. But it is not common knowledge that this tiny nation with less than two million people is probably the most advanced in Africa in terms of crime scene investigation, with police from all over the continent sent there for training. In addition, the United States has based one of only four international police academies in the country.

Former BBC home affairs correspondent Professor Jon Silverman travels to Botswana and finds that truth is at least as strange as fiction.

The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency by Alexander McCall Smith returns to BBC Radio 4 on Thursday 3 November at 2.15-3.00pm.

Presenter/Jon Silverman, Producer/Vera Frankl for IGA Productions

BBC Radio 4 Publicity

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Frank Skinner tries four new experiences under the watchful eye of Marcus Brigstocke.

This programme was first broadcast in BBC Radio 4 Extra's Comedy First slot.

Presenter/Marcus Brigstocke, Producer/Bill Dare for the BBC

BBC Radio 4 Publicity

5 Live Sport

Wednesday 26 October

7.00-10.30pm BBC RADIO 5 LIVE

Mark Pougatch has the day's sports news and a looks ahead to the evening's League Cup fourth-round football.

From 7.45pm there's live football commentary from the fourth-round of the League Cup, with a place in the quarter finals at stake.

Presenter/Mark Pougatch, Producer/Mike Carr

BBC Radio 5 Live Publicity

Shaun Keaveny chats with Irish comedian Ed Byrne about his new, critically acclaimed show Crowd Pleaser. Ed tells Shaun about the main themes of the show that include being a nerd, owning a cat, meeting your heroes and becoming a dad.

Presenter/Shaun Keaveny, Producer/Lisa Kenlock

BBC Radio 6 Music Publicity

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The Nightingales are in session tonight.

Born out of the ashes of The Perfects, Birmingham's original punk posse, who split in 1979, The Nightingales became the darlings of the Eighties credible music scene, as well as being firm Peel session favourites. In fact there is only one other band that have done more Peel sessions – The Fall.

After slowing down in the late Eighties they decided to regroup in 2004 with the current line-up being Lloyd, Apperley, Andreas Schmid, Fliss Kiston and Matt Wood, and the group are touring and releasing more than ever.

Presenter/Marc Riley, Producer/Michelle Choudhry

BBC Radio 6 Music Publicity