Programme Information

Jimmy Carr hosts another comedy master class, discussing his passion for all aspects of comedy and playing some of his favourite comedy clips.

In this fourth episode, Jimmy takes a look at how to tell jokes. He plays clips by Jack Dee on getting sunburnt; Bob Newhart on introducing tobacco to America; Sarah Millican on her weight issues; and Dara O'Briain on how he copes with pain. All these clips and more are supplemented by Jimmy's witty and anarchic take on the world of comedy.

Presenter/Jimmy Carr, Producer/Paul Russell for the BBC

BBC Radio 2 Publicity

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Rising alt-folk band Ahab were hailed as "2011's Mumford & Sons" after their performance at the legendary Cropredy Festival.

Bob Harris saw them play there and has now invited them to play in session on the show.

Presenter/Bob Harris, Producer/Mark Simpson for the BBC

BBC Radio 2 Publicity

Tom Service discusses a new biography of composer Lennox Berkeley and looks at the legacy of 19th-century Devon folk song collector Sabine Baring-Gould.

Listeners also hear from a contemporary music festival in Plymouth which investigates the links between science and the arts.

Presenter/Tom Service, Producer/Ruth Thomson

BBC Radio 3 Publicity

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Robert Hollingworth talks to musicologist Tess Knighton about the music of 16th-century Spanish composer Don Fernando de las Infantas, with performances by the BBC Singers.

Born to a notable family in Córdoba in 1534, Fernando enjoyed a privileged education and then spent 25 years living in Rome, voluntarily giving his services to a hospital for the poor.

He was constantly involved in theological debate and frequently came into conflict with the church. Indeed, his 1601 Treaty on Predestination brought the charge of being an illuminist, if not a Quietist, and the attention of the Spanish Inquisition.

At the end of his life, overwhelmed by his theological enemies, he was reduced to beggary and died in poverty.

Presenter/Robert Hollingworth, Producer/Les Pratt

BBC Radio 3 Publicity

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Killed in a car accident aged just 25, Scot LaFaro was widely regarded as the most technically gifted bassist of the 20th century.

His records with Bill Evans are among the finest jazz trio discs ever made. Bassist Dave Green joins Alyn Shipton to pick the highlights of these, and to trace the other significant records in LaFaro's brief but brilliant career.

Presenter and Producer/Alyn Shipton

BBC Radio 3 Publicity

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Opera On 3 – Live From The Met

Saturday 5 February

6.00-9.00pm BBC RADIO 3

Verdi's opera Simon Boccanegra

Dmitri Hvorostovsky stars in Verdi's Simon Boccanegra, live from the Met, conducted by James Levine.

In 14th-century Genoa, there is a conspiracy afoot to overthrow the aristocracy. Popular former pirate, Simon Boccanegra, is made doge (a high civil officer). But this public success is complicated by a private tragedy involving an illegitimate child he had by the daughter of a nobleman.

Simon Boccanegra is sung by baritone Dmitri Hvorostovsky, Maria Boccanegra by soprano Barbara Frittoli, Jacopo Fiesco by bass Ferruccio Furlanetto, Gabriele Adorno by tenor Ramón Vargas, Paolo Albiani by bass Nicola Alaimo, Pietro by baritone Richard Bernstein, Captain of the Crossbowmen by tenor Adam Laurence Herskowitz and Amelia's maid by mezzo-soprano Edyta Kulczak.

James Levine conducts the chorus and orchestra of the New York Metropolitan Opera.

Presenter/Margaret Juntwait, Producer/Tony Sellors

BBC Radio 3 Publicity

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This frank and uncompromising drama by Charlotte Thompson features a young woman in prison.

Twenty-three-year-old Ronia is facing the most important conversation of her life – her parole hearing. Ronia has been serving an Imprisonment for Public Protection sentence ever since she was 18.

With an IPP sentence, there is no automatic release date – once a prisoner has served their full tariff, they still have to convince a parole board that they've changed. And that's what Ronia must do.

After five years, Ronia has long served her tariff, and is ready to persuade the parole board that she's no longer a danger to the public. As the night passes, Ronia recalls her younger self: having fun with her friend, Tyson; hanging out on London streets; and trying to steer clear of violent girl gang the Sykes Crew.

Charlotte Thompson was inspired to write this play through her work running writing programmes in prisons. The play itself is fictional.

Story Of A Rude Gal is directed by Fiona Kelcher, Older Ronia is played by Sophie Cosson, Younger Ronia by Holli Dempsey, Tyson by Zaraah Abrahams, Parole Judge by Marian Kemmer, Stepdad by Ben Crowe and Prison Officer by Lloyd Thomas.

BBC Radio 3 Publicity

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Sara Mohr-Pietsch and Robert Worby present the fourth programme of highlights from Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival 2010.

There is a full concert given by Cologne-based ensemble musikFabrik, featuring the music of Karlheinz Stockhausen – alongside works by the festival's composer-in-residence Rebecca Saunders.

Presenters/Robert Worby and Sara Mohr-Pietsch, Producer/Sam Phillips

BBC Radio 3 Publicity

Ramblings Ep 1/6

Saturday 5 February

6.00-6.30am BBC RADIO 4

Journalist and passionate hiker Stuart Maconie hosts a new series of Ramblings.

He embarks on the first of six city skyline walks – perfect for first-time walkers or for those who don't want to venture too far on these short winter days, but still wish to enjoy the fresh air.

Presenter/Stuart Maconie, Producer/Maggie Ayre for the BBC

BBC Radio 4 Publicity

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Britain In A Box Ep 1/4

Saturday 5 February

10.30-11.00am BBC RADIO 4

Paul Jackson returns with the series that does much more than celebrate innovative television programmes – it uses them as a window on a particular period in cultural and social history.

The spotlight falls on: the "laddish" antics of Simon Nye's first ever comedy, Men Behaving Badly; Driving School, the observational documentary that gave birth to one of the first reality TV celebrities; and the dulcet tones of whispering Bob Harris and the Old Grey Whistle Test.

To kick off the series, Paul assesses the impact and legacy of the current affairs programme that launched the television career of John Pilger and helped free the Birmingham Six.

World In Action first appeared on TV screens in 1963 and finally bowed out in 1998, by which time it had become a watch-word for tough journalism, graphic visuals and public impact.

Paul is joined by journalists who worked on the programme, politicians who provided part of the focus of its attention, and television executives who had to keep it in line while defending its journalism – including John Pilger, Chris Mullin, Lord Douglas Hurd, Sir Jeremy Isaacs, Dorothy Byrne, Steve Anderson and Ray Fitzwalter.

Presenter/Paul Jackson, Producers/Paul Kobrak and Ed Morrish for the BBC

BBC Radio 4 Publicity

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Classic Chandler – The Big Sleep Ep 1/4

Saturday 5 February

2.30-4.00pm BBC RADIO 4

Toby Stephens stars as Raymond Chandler's detective Philip Marlowe

Starting this spring, BBC Radio 4 brings listeners another major series of dramatic adaptations as it broadcasts all of Raymond Chandler's ground-breaking Philip Marlowe novels, starring Toby Stephens as Marlowe.

In 1939, Chandler created a different kind of detective, the fast-talking, trouble-seeking Philip Marlowe, for his great novel, The Big Sleep. This story of Marlowe's entanglement with the Sternwood family kicks off the series.

Dramatised by Robin Brooks, the cast also stars: Kelly Burke as Vivien Sternwood; Barbara Barnes as Agnes Lozelle; Madeleine Potter as Mona Mars; Leah Brotherhead as Carmen Sternwood; Sam Dale as Joe Brody; Sean Baker as General Sternwood; Iain Batchelor as Lash Canino; Henry Devas as Eddie Mars; and Jude Akuwudike as Cronjager.

The other plays in this and the next series include: Farewell My Lovely (1940); The High Window (1942); The Lady In The Lake (1943); The Little Sister (1949); The Long Goodbye (1953); and two lesser-known novels, Playback (1958) and Poodle Springs, unfinished at the time of Chandler's death in 1959.

The second series completing the Classic Chandler collection will be broadcast in the autumn.

The Classic Chandler series follows Radio 4's Complete Smiley broadcast in 2009/10 with Simon Russell Beale as John le Carré's Smiley.

Producer/Claire Grove for the BBC

BBC Radio 4 Publicity

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Peter Day investigates the events surrounding Britain's currency going decimal in 1971 and assesses how this momentous act impacted on everyday life and the economy.

Forty years ago, Britain "went decimal". Two thousand years of everyday currency history was overthrown overnight as the country woke up to "new money" on 15 February 1971 and said goodbye to coins such as the crown, the florin and the shilling.

Few economic events have affected the entire country so immediately. Peter Day delves into the archives to examine how the country prepared for and responded to this day.

It was Harold Wilson's Labour government that began the process of decimalisation in the Sixties after many years of discussion. The then cabinet minister Tony Benn recalls how changing Britain's money fitted in with the modernising ideology of the time, while former chief secretary to the Treasury Dick Taverne remembers the passion of the "Save Our Sixpence" campaign.

Economists Peter Jay and Will Hutton discuss whether decimalisation contributed to the double-digit inflation of the Seventies, alongside archive stories of price rises and "rounding up", as earnest commentators worried about how "the housewife" would cope.

Oxford professor of mathematics Marcus du Sautoy considers whether "thinking in tens" is really the best way to go about things. And Peter visits The King's Head pub in North London – where the landlord's till was charged in pounds, shillings and pence for some three decades after the change.

Peter also talks to Sir Patrick Moore – patron of the Metric Martyrs campaign – about his love of imperial measures.

Presenter/Peter Day, Producers/Simon Jacobs and Phil Smith for Unique Broadcasting Company

BBC Radio 4 Publicity

5 Live Sport

Saturday 5 February

12.00noon-6.06pm BBC RADIO 5 LIVE

Mark Pougatch presents build-up to today's busy schedule of sport and Premier League action.

From 12.45pm, there's live Premier League commentary of Stoke City versus Sunderland from the Britannia Stadium (kick-off 12.45pm).

At 3pm, there is live Premier League coverage of all the 3pm kick-offs, including Manchester City versus West Bromwich Albion and Newcastle United versus Arsenal. Plus the Scottish Cup fifth-round and Six Nations updates from Italy versus Ireland from 2.30pm.

In Sports Report, from 5pm, there's post-match reaction and interviews, along with the classified football results. Plus Six Nations updates from France versus Scotland from 5pm and Premier League updates from Wolverhampton Wanderers versus Manchester United from 5.30pm.

Presenter/Mark Pougatch, Producer/Mike Carr

BBC Radio 5 Live Publicity

Rugby Union

Saturday 5 February

2.15-4.15pm BBC RADIO 5 LIVE SPORTS EXTRA

Listeners can enjoy uninterrupted commentary on Italy versus Ireland in the Six Nations Championship, live from the Stadio Flaminio in Rome.

Producer/Jen McAllister

BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra Publicity

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Rugby Union

Saturday 5 February

4.45pm-7.00pm BBC RADIO 5 LIVE SPORTS EXTRA

Listeners can enjoy uninterrupted commentary on France versus Scotland in the Six Nations Championship, live from the Stade de France in Paris.

Producer/Jen McAllister

BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra Publicity

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Cricket

Saturday 5 February

3.00-11.30am BBC RADIO 5 LIVE SPORTS EXTRA

Uninterrupted commentary comes from the seventh One Day International between Australia and England – the last in this series – live from Perth.

Producer/Jen McAllister

BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra Publicity

Liz Kershaw launches her newly extended, three-hour show with special guest Duran Duran's Simon Le Bon.

Simon plays It's My Party and tells Liz all about his fantasy party – his guests and his choice of music (Mae West and KC And The Sunshine Band feature in his choices). He also talks about his new album and working with Mark Ronson.

Liz also asks listeners for their memories of seeing Iggy Pop perform live, and talks to a listener about their favourite All Killer No Filler album.

Presenter/Liz Kershaw, Producer/Adam Hudson

BBC 6 Music Publicity

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Ahead of the release of his new acid jazz LP, Tony Christie is live on the show for an exclusive session and talks to Craig Charles about his approaching 50 years in show business.

Famous for classics Is This The Way (To Amarillo) and I Did What I Did For Maria, Tony explores his soul origins on new album Now's The Time. He tells Craig why he's gone back to his musical roots.

Presenter/Craig Charles

Landmark weekly discussion programme The Forum records the second of two programmes in front of a live audience at the DSC Jaipur Literary Festival in India.

BBC diplomatic correspondent Bridget Kendall meets celebrated Indian photographer Dayanita Singh, writer and science fan Abha Dawesar and best-selling Delhi-based writer Jaishree Misra.

Presenter/Bridget Kendall

BBC World Service Publicity