Programmes 2007

 

BBC Radio 4 - Attlee Confidential

Monday 1st January 2007 at 2.15pm

Historians have hailed the latest series of cabinet secretary Norman Brook’s notebooks, just released from the Cabinet Office archives, as "one of the most important document finds for many years". In this unique programme, the diaries are brought to life by an all-star cast including Hugh Dickson as Attlee and John Sessions as Bevan. Charles Wheeler helps to recreate the mood of those post war cabinet meetings in this gripping drama-documentary, which sheds new light on the decisions that would form much of our post-war political landscape. The dusty notebooks have laid unopened for over sixty years but recall in vivid detail the actual words of the ministers around the cabinet table.

 

BBC Radio 4 - Diz For Prez

Monday 8th January 2007 at 8pm

In 1963, President John F Kennedy was assassinated, leaving behind him a grieving country bereft of strong political leadership. The 1964 presidential election became the focus for America’s struggle with its identity. Who would lead them into a new decade? Lyndon Johnson, Barry Goldwater, or could it be someone else altogether? Why not hamster-cheeked trumpeter Dizzy Gillespie, the father of modern jazz? This is the true story of a protest campaign that captured the spirit of a turbulent time. This programme features interviews with those who helped Dizzy on his campaign trail, original archive material and of course the unique sound of Dizzy’s playing. Political journalist Michael Crick tells the story of a bid for the White House that started as a joke but grew into a genuine political phenomenon.

 

BBC Asian Network - Guide Friday

Monday 8th January 2007 at 8pm

Every year thousands of people travel to the Indian subcontinent for a holiday, embarking on exciting excursions lead by enthusiastic tour guides who, on some occasions, lead them on a very different kind of journey. Sandeep Garcha meets couples bought together in the most unlikely of ways. Like Sean Mayana, who worked as a tour guide based in Goa. He met his wife to be, Yvette whilst he was leading her on an escorted tour of his country. After an e-mail romance, and a second visit, they decided to get married. Juliet Coombe shares the story of how she met her husband Shiyam Careem. He was working as a guide and translator in Sri Lanka. She was taking extended leave from her job to help with the tsunami relief effort. Now the couple have set up a café and arts centre in Galle and are expecting their fist child.

 

BBC Radio 4 - Traveller's Tree

Thursday 18th January to 22nd February, 2007 at 3pm

On the outskirts of remote villages in Africa and South America, you’ll find a gnarled old tree where tips and advice are pinned for the passing traveller. Traveller’s Tree brings the concept to British radio, with BBC Radio 4’s first ever truly interactive radio travel programme. Fi Glover, Charlie Connelly, a regular team of experts and listeners share their experiences, let us in on great deals, where’s hot, where’s not and give down to earth travel advice. In this first series of programmes, Fi and the team share their top tips on wildlife holidays, holidays on a budget, trips with teenagers and Gap years.

 

BBC Radio 4 - Language of Laughter

Saturday 27th January at 10.30am

While British comedy lovers have been chuckling away, snug and warm in comedy clubs from Giggleswick to Pratt’s Bottom, whole swathes of innocent people have been living their entire lives without once experiencing a self-absorbed young man with a microphone telling them jokes about his underwear collection. In this programme, Julian Clary tells the story of the eager comedy performers who are boldly starting to perform to audiences in places like Zagreb, Moscow, Poland, Holland, Bahrain - and even Japan.

 

BBC Radio 4 - Don't Take Away My Music

Tuesday 6th March 2007 at 1.30pm

Oona King makes a passionate case for the importance of dance music and the way it has shaped the socio-political instincts of a generation. Charles Bailey speaks frankly about his views on the relationship between lyrics and violence, drugs and gun culture and we hear stories of dance and a deep ideological commitment from Danny Rampling, Judge Jules, Paul van Dyk, Norman Jay, Anne Savage and Mylo.

 

BBC Radio 2 - Motown on the Mersey

Tuesday 6th March 2007 at 8.30pm

Craig Charles takes us back to the sweet soul sounds of the 50s, 60s and 70s as he re-visits the history of Liverpool’s famous Mardi Gras Club. Bursting with soulful music we’re given a delicious taste of some all time greats from The Supremes, Smokey Robinson and The Real Thing. We hear from Willy Russell, Roger McGough, Chris Amoo, Al Green and Billy Butler about their experience of music at the time and their memories of one of Britain’s most celebrated soul venues.

 

BBC Radio 4 - The Reunion: The Last Debutantes

Sunday 8th April 2007 at 11.15am

On a blustery March afternoon almost fifty years ago, a long queue snaked along outside the gates of Buckingham Palace. Hundreds of family groups - mothers, fathers and seventeen-yr-old daughters - were waiting for permission to enter. The girls were to take part in a rather peculiar ceremony marking their entrance into society, and onto the marriage market. In March 1958 they queued outside the Palace with Mummy and Daddy for the last time. In this episode of The Reunion, Sue MacGregor brings together some of the 1958 debs who performed a final ritual curtsey to the Queen.

 

BBC Radio 4 - The Reunion: Eastenders

Sunday 15th April 2007 at 11.15am

This weeks Reunion goes back to 1985 and the start of one of Britain’s most popular and most enduring soap operas. Sue Macgregor brings together the key players from that first series of Eastenders. Taking part are 92 year old Anna Wing, who played the great East End matriarch, Lou Beale, Wendy Richard who played Pauline Fowler, and remained on-screen for almost 22 years, and Leslie Grantham who became the loveable rogue Dirty Den. Also featured are one of the first writers Bill Lyons, and Jonathan McLeish who was the casting director for that first series.

 

BBC Radio 4 - The Reunion: Milton Keynes

Sunday 22nd April 2007 at 11.15am

To mark the 40th anniversary of the founding of Britain’s last and largest new town - Milton Keynes, Sue MacGregor reunites some of the architects, planners, community workers and residents who created a town described by some as Los Angeles meets Middle England. Milton Keynes may be known for its concrete cows and endless roundabouts, but it’s also home to Britain’s first multi-screen cinema and one of Europe’s biggest shopping centres.

 

BBC Radio 4 - The Reunion: British Antarctic Survey

Sunday 29th April 2007 at 11.15am

In 1985, three scientists from the British Antarctic Survey made an earth-shattering revelation - they had discovered a hole in the ozone layer.

 

BBC Radio 4 - The Reunion: Brighton Bomb

Sunday 6th May 2007 at 11.15am

Twenty three years ago IRA explosives expert Patrick Magee planted a timed bomb in the Brighton Grand Hotel. The intention was to assassinate the Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and her Cabinet who were in residence for the 1984 Conservative Party conference. In an emotionally charged programme, MacGee comes face to face with those who suffered as a result of his bomb: Jo Berry, whose father Sir Anthony Berry was killed in the blast, Lord Hurd, then Northern Ireland Secretary, and Conference Producer Harvey Thomas who fell through three stories after the explosion, but survived.

 

BBC Radio 4 - Building the Fortress

Monday 9th April 2007at 8pm

A unique account of life in the post war Falkland Islands told by the late David Thorne through audio diaries, recorded on a Dictaphone, that he sent back to his wife and children during his period as a Major General in the British Army. He takes us from the euphoria following the invasion, to the concerns over the establishment of a huge military base. He talks openly about the obstacles the troops had to overcome on a daily basis and paints a painfully clear picture of the difficulties facing him and his troops amid ever-diminishing supplies. Peter Snow introduces this extraordinary record of the clear up after conflict.

 

BBC Radio 4 - Questions Questions (Series 11)

Thursday 12th April - 14th June 2007 at 3pm

Radio 4's listener-led problem solving programme is back for its 11th series, answering a plethora of intriguing and seemingly imponderable questions. Stewart Henderson and the QQ team dig deep this series to solve the dilemmas that dog your daily lives. From swimming cats, to blue hair, comic ducks to the test card girl, from London bees to the Liver bird and carnivorous plants to a long lost school hymn. A mountain of mind bogglers are put under the telescope and demystified.

 

BBC Radio 2 - Salford Lad

Saturday 21st & 28th April at 8pm

It is almost twenty years since Morrissey, Britain’s most thoughtful and enduring lyricist and singer, launched his solo career. Ever since his emergence as front man with the Smiths in the 1980s his songs have been poured over, analysed and quoted. In this two part series Stuart Maconie tells the story of the Manchester lad who became a national treasure. We hear from friends, fans, colleagues and fellow musicians including: Richard Boon, Mike Hinc, Jo Slee, Andrew Paresi, Badly Drawn Boy, Zoe Williams, John Hegley, Preston, Stephen Street, Tony Visconti, Andy Rourke and Suggs.

 

BBC Radio 2 - Mr. Simon's Big Trip

Tuesday 5th June 2007 at 10.30pm

For years fascination has surrounded the missing 13 months in the life and career of Paul Simon, immediately before the explosion on the scene of Simon and Garfunkel. He spent what is probably one of the most famous Gap years in music history bumming around England, playing tiny folk club venues, meeting people like Bert Jansch and Leon Redbone and Martin Carthy. Bob Harris tells the story and features a hitherto un-heard Paul Simon song "Northern Line ", recorded at a private party in Exeter in early 1965.

 

BBC Radio 4 - Dominoes Goes Home

Friday, 8th June 2007 at 11.00am

Polly Roger Brown follows the British contenders in their first ever bid to take part in the Dominoes World Championships in Jamaica. For many years, the game has spiritually taken them back to their childhood growing up on the Islands, but how will they fare as they return to their home country (many for the first time in 30 years) to play against the professionals of Caribbean dominoes? As they battle it out, we meet characters like Tony Williams and Hector Bailey from Tooting, Dominoes legend Barrington Smith, Montego Bay champ Horace Brown and the young internet pretender Raphael Cortez.

 

BBC Radio 4 - Traveller's Tree

Thursday 21st June to 26 July 2007 at 3pm

Radio 4’s interactive travel show is back and it’s better than ever, with hints and tips on the do’s and don’ts of holidaying. Fi Glover, Charlie Connelly, a regular team of experts talk to listeners about their experiences and help to answer questions on various topics such as where to go for the latest in extreme water sports, the top ten places to tie the knot, once in a life time holidays, plane-free travel and New York, New York.

 

BBC Radio 4 - A Philosophy to Live By

Saturday 14th July 2007 at 20.00

A challenging and moving archive hour, based on essays recorded by some of the great minds of the 20th century for the CBS programme ‘This I Believe’, which was hosted by Ed Murrow. We hear from the likes of Albert Einstein, choreographer Martha Graham, writer and activist Helen Keller and President Harry Truman as well as New York cab-drivers, automobile workers and civil rights campaigners. Presented by Peabody Award winning Jay Allison, this archive hour celebrates a legendary programme, which for half a century has encouraged Americans, from all walks of life, to share personal philosophies and core values that guide their daily lives.

 

BBC Radio 4 - Not Now Arthur

Tuesday 14th August at 11.30am

In the late 70's, "Not now Arthur…" became a national catchphrase. Over 21 million viewers tuned into the Morecambe and Wise show each week waiting for the end of programme humiliation of a vague-looking harmonica player. Stewart Henderson looks back at Arthur Tolcher's show-biz contribution and discovers an extraordinary lost talent. Described by his former agent as "marvelous but weird', Arthur was a record-breaking speed king, and one of the hardest working harmonica players on the circuit. However, in a forty year musical career he was best remembered as the hapless stooge who raced on at the end of the show, attempted to play 'Spanish Gypsy', only to be bounced with the dismissive command 'not now, Arthur'.

 

BBC Radio 4 - The Reunion - The Royal Opera House

Sunday 26th August 2007 at 11.15am

 

BBC Radio 4 - The Reunion - Race Relations

Sunday 2nd September 2007 at 11.15am

Sue MacGregor brings together five of the key campaigners who fought to bring about the 1976 Race Relations Act: Anthony Lester (now Lord Lester) and Dipak Nandy were key advisors on race legislation, Dame Jocelyn Barrow was founder of the Campaign Against Racial Discrimination (CARD), Baroness Usha Prashar was one of the first conciliation officers on the former Race Relations Board and Herman Ouseley (now Lord Ouseley) was the first race relations adviser in local government following the 1976 Act.

 

BBC Radio 4 - The Reunion - Korean War

Sunday 9th September 2007 at 11.15am

The Korean War was the first of the nuclear age, and remains the only conflict in which the armies of two superpowers have met on the battlefield. British troops, many of them National Servicemen and Reservists, played a major role. So why is one of the 20th century’s biggest battles between east and west known as “The Forgotten War”? Sue MacGregor meets British veterans of the conflict and finds out just how close we all came to World War III between 1950 and 1953.

 

BBC Radio 4 - The Reunion - NME

Sunday 16th September 2007 at 11.15am

Today’s programme gathers together some of the key players in the development and success of The New Musical Express, consistently at the forefront of music journalism in the UK for over fifty years. Joining Sue, will be Charles Shaar Murray, Kate Phillips, Neil Spencer who joined in 1975 and went on to become editor of the paper in the early 80s, Paul Morley, Barney Hoskyns.

 

BBC Radio 4 - The Reunion

Sunday 23rd September 2007 at 11.15am

Of all the Eastern spiritual teachers introduced to the West throughout the 1970s and 80s there are none who could claim the kind of controversy and mayhem caused by Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh. Reunited for today’s programme are a group of former sannyasins - followers of Bhagwan Rajneesh - who saw at first hand the way the community grew from its beginnings in India in the late 70's, who took its message and helped set up a British community and who then saw the whole organisations collapse amid criminal accusations in Oregon in 1985.

 

BBC Radio 4 - Questions Questions (Series 12)

Thursday 13th September - 15th November 2007 at 3pm

Stewart Henderson returns with a new series offering answers to those intriguing questions of every day life. Is it possible to hypnotise animals? Who put mint with lamb, and apple with pork and what contemporary combinations will still be around in a hundred years time? Where are Britain’s secret underground bunkers and what is it about gospel music that uplifts the listener. Send your questions to Stuart and the team to questions.questions@bbc.co.uk

 

BBC Radio 4 - King Size Papas & Mighty Tight Women

Saturday 15th September 2007 10.30am

With access to the 25,000 rare recordings belonging to Maryland DJ and former Fonotone record label owner Joe Bussard, this programme is a fascinating exploration of the social history behind the highly censored vintage sex, "race records" of the 1920's and 1930's. Julian Clary takes a hilarious journey profiling the legendary men and women who brought us some of the raunchiest songs ever recorded such as ’King Size Papa’s’ ‘I Need A Little Sugar In My Bowl’ and Lucille Bogan’s ‘Shave ‘em Dry’.

 

BBC Radio 4 - Encounters with the Pink Dame

Saturday 29th December 2007 at 10.30am

Liz Kershaw meets those who encountered Barbara Cartland and survived. She discovers a woman of huge contradictions, unsurpassed eccentricity and an eclectic taste. We hear from the presenters and journalists who had the nerve-wracking honour of interviewing the woman who was famed for her pink wardrobe, her Pekinese and her prolific prose.

 

BBC Radio 4 - Astronauts Wives Club

Friday 9th November 2007 at 11.00am

At the height of the Apollo Space programme of the 1960s, many air force and navy pilots considered that their selection as astronauts was largely based upon the success of their marriage. This programme unveils the untold story of the extraordinary women behind the American Space programme who had to endure the stresses and strains of having an astronaut for a husband.

 

BBC Radio 4 - Rockumentary Rollercoaster

Tuesday 13th November 2007 at 11.30am

From Don't Look Back to Stop Making Sense, and Woodstock to Dig, the "rock documentary" (aka "rockumentary") has chronicled most corners of the rock music world. With their limitless supply of hyperbolic characters, bizarre situations and in-concert set pieces, the rock world is a gift to the filmmaker.

 

BBC Radio 4 - The Sound of Flanders

Saturday 24th November 2007

Frank Gardiner presents a chilling investigation into the World War I propaganda machine under Lord Kitchener that demonised the Germans, boosted morale at home, but conveniently glossed over the horrific casualty levels. With access to a newly discovered archive of propaganda recordings, we are privy to some of the most intimate and harrowing experiences of the ordinary solider at the Battle of the Somme and are given a real sense of what it was like living in the mud of Flanders.

 

BBC Radio 4 - Maids and Mistresses

Saturday 1st December 2007 at 8pm

A poignant re-evaluation of the last years of life below stairs in inter-War Britain focusing on the particular relationship between middle class female employers and their servants. We hear unpublished oral history interviews, letters, diaries and on location recordings to offer a rare insight into the changing lives of domestic British maids. This programme explores the daily experiences, responsibilities and aspirations of the thousands of women who worked below stairs throughout the 1930's. We hear, in their own words, the private stories of the working class women who often felt at sea in a world of political change from which they were excluded. We gain insight into the lives of those most vulnerable to economic change as it carried on around them and those last to benefit from the social advancement of women.

 

BBC Radio 4 - The Nun Who Nurtured Reggae

Saturday 24th November 2007 at 10:30am

Reggae music might never have happened without the influence of a Catholic nun in Jamaica. This is the story of Sister Mary Ignatius Davies who ran the music programme at the Alpha school for wayward boys in Kingston, Jamaica for 64 years from 1939 until her death in 2003. She's credited with nurturing the talents of many of the key players in Jamaican Reggae when the industry took off in the 1960's and 70's. Jonathan Charles travels around Jamaica on a musical journey, visiting the school and meeting the famous reggae musicians who emerged from it.

 

BBC World Service – The Climate Train

Thursday 6th December 2007

Ten years ago a group of scientists and campaigners from fourteen countries travelled by train, boat and bicycle to the Kyoto conference on climate change. They battled bureaucracy, argued about science, drank vodka, fell in love. In "The Climate Train" they remember the highs and the lows, and ask how much closer we are now to an ecologically sustainable lifestyle.