Programme Information

Jazz lover Moira Stuart celebrates two American singers, Carmen McRae and Sarah Vaughan – who was also nicknamed "Sassy" – as she concludes her series exploring the lives and music of some of the most influential women of jazz.

Moira is joined by no less than three jazz singers to discuss the careers of Carmen and Sarah. They are Irish singer Christine Tobin; Dianne Reeves, who recorded a tribute album to Sarah Vaughan; and, fresh from her appearance on the Hollywood Prom which was broadcast on BBC Radio 3 and BBC Two recently, BBC Radio 2 presenter and singer Clare Teal.

Presenter/Moira Stuart, Producer/Anna Harrison

BBC Radio 2 Publicity

Rob Cowan presents Essential Classics this week.

The Essential CD Of The Week is a collection of French music performed by Sir Thomas Beecham, in this, the 50th anniversary year of his death. Classic recordings include Saint-Saëns's Bacchanale (Samson et Delila), Fauré's Dolly Suite and Bizet's Royal Hunt and Storm (The Trojans).

The Artist Of The Week is versatile Russian violinist Viktoria Mullova performing concertos by Mendelssohn, Sibelius and Vivaldi; sonatas by Beethoven, Ravel and Brahms; and solo Bach.

Rob is also joined by his guest, restaurateur and chef Rick Stein, who introduces music that has a personal significance for British Food Fortnight.

Presenter/Rob Cowan, Producer/Richard Denison

BBC Radio 3 Publicity

To top

Fifty years after Percy Grainger's death, composer Julian Anderson considers his importance and what made him one of the most stylistically unpredictable composers in history.

Each evening this week, Monday to Friday, The Essay is devoted to the Australian-born composer and pianist, his music and his sometimes eccentric personal life.

British composer Julian Anderson has long been a devotee of Grainger's music and in this programme he considers Grainger's importance and originality. He also looks at his influences, including his fascination with many different types of music both old and new, and traditional music from around the world as well as folk and jazz.

Presenter/Julian Anderson, Producer/Jeremy Hayes

BBC Radio 3 Publicity

To top

Night Waves

Monday 26 September

10.00-10.45pm BBC RADIO 3

In a special edition of Night Waves, Rana Mitter is joined by BBC Radio 3's New Generation Thinkers to review the arts events and debate the cultural issues of the day.

In June, Radio 3 and the Arts and Humanities Research Council announced the 10 winners of the New Generation Thinkers Scheme – the culmination of a nationwide search for the brightest academic minds with the potential to turn their ideas into fascinating broadcasts.

More information can be found in the Radio 3 New Generation Thinkers press release.

Presenter/Rana Mitter

BBC Radio 3 Publicity

Woman's Hour Drama – Second Honeymoon Ep 1/5

Monday 26 to Friday 30 September

10.45-11.00am BBC RADIO 4

This week's Woman's Hour Drama presents Joanna Trollope's tale of a mother trying to come to terms with an empty nest and a husband looking forward to the second honeymoon that can now begin. Or so he thinks...

Second Honeymoon explores what happens when the empty nest is suddenly full again. The play stars Christine Kavanagh as Edie and Sam Dale as her husband Russell.

Trollope's most heartfelt and enthralling novel has been dramatised for radio by Rachel Joyce.

Producer/Tracey Neale for the BBC

BBC Radio 4 Publicity

To top

Jon Stewart examines how scientists are trying to bridge the gap between robots and humans.

In the first of a two-part series, Jon charts the advances in robotics that are increasingly leading to direct one-to-one contact between humans and robots. He visits robotocists and their collaborators in the USA and UK and asks how robots will be used in the future. He examines the way cinema has shaped ideas of robots and investigates the gulf between expectations of what robots can do and the reality.

One of the fundamental questions scientists are posing is how the robots who, in the near future, will live alongside people in their homes, should be considered – as slaves, pets or friends?

Jon also explores how the ideas of Isaac Asimov, that firstly robots should do no harm, have evolved over the decades.

Presenter/Jon Stewart, Producer/Colin Grant for the BBC

BBC Radio 4 Publicity

To top

Henry's Demons explores the impact of schizophrenia on a family.

Henry Cockburn's inside story on schizophrenia is intercut with war correspondent Patrick Cockburn and his wife Janet Montefiore's experience of their son's illness across seven years.

On a cold February day Henry waded into the freezing water of Newhaven Estuary and tried to swim across. Voices, he said, had told him to do it.

Nearly halfway round the world in Afghanistan, journalist Patrick learned from his wife that Henry, their son, had been admitted to a hospital mental health ward. Thus begins Henry, Patrick and Janet's extraordinary account of Henry's rapid descent into mental illness.

The cast stars Tim McInnerny as Patrick and Joanna David as Janet Montefiore, with raps and song by Henry Cockburn.

Producer/Karen Rose for Sweet Talk Productions

BBC Radio 4 Publicity

To top

Book At Bedtime – Catch 22 Ep 1/10

Monday 26 to Friday 30 September

10.45-11.00pm BBC RADIO 4

To mark its 50th anniversary, Joseph Heller's iconoclastic novel Catch 22 is this week's Book At Bedtime.

US Army Air Force bombardier Yossarian is in hospital with a pain in his liver and is given the task of censoring letters. Keen to be grounded after a disastrous mission to Avignon, Yossarian has the unassailable circular logic of Catch 22 explained to him.

The novel is abridged by Robin Brooks and read by Stuart Milligan.

Reader/Stuart Milligan, Producer/Gaynor Macfarlane for the BBC

BBC Radio 4 Publicity

Giles Coren is the guest dipping his toe into unfamiliar waters and trying out something new in this week's episode of I've Never Seen Star Wars, presented by Marcus Brigstocke.

Giles, a die-hard carnivore, tries being a vegan for a whole week. He also reads his first ever Harry Potter and is asked to dance in public for the very first time.

This series is a Comedy First première – where new comedy series are broadcast first on BBC Radio 4 Extra before transferring to BBC Radio 4.

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

BBC Radio 4 Extra Publicity

To top

Mel Giedroyc introduces the sixth part of the Roald Dahl story James And The Giant Peach, read by Miriam Margoyles, and hears about the dangerous business of swimming with sharks and uses for silk thread.

On Tuesday Mel goes digging for facts on soil, hears about sportsmen's superstitions and learns about people's passions for swimming in the sea.

On Wednesday Mel looks into the pastime of cloud-spotting, explores a passion for paint and has a close shave with a beard-wearer.

On Thursday Mel hears about the power of water, takes a bite of the Big Apple and reveals what makes thunder rumble.

The week rounds up with Mel hearing tales of famous tightrope walkers, exploring vinegar made from fruit and revealing the history of the world's most famous building brick.

Presenter/Mel Giedroyc, Producers/Monise Durrani and Rich Preston for the BBC

BBC Radio 4 Extra Publicity

5 Live Sport

Monday 26 September

7.00-10.30pm BBC RADIO 5 LIVE

Mark Chapman presents the day's sports news, football debate and discussion in The Monday Night Club.

From 8pm there's live Premier League football commentary on Norwich City versus Sunderland, with post-match reaction and calls from 10pm in The Final Whistle.

Presenter/Mark Chapman, Producer/Mike Carr

BBC Radio 5 Live Publicity

Joining Marc Riley tonight is ex-Ipso Facto member Rosie's new band, Purson.

Presenter/Marc Riley, Producer/Michelle Choudhry

BBC Radio 6 Music Publicity

To top

Gideon Coe unearths more classics from the archives including The Smiths live in concert at London's Kilburn National in 1986.

Presenter/Gideon Coe, Producer/Henry Lopez Real

BBC Radio 6 Music Publicity

Asian Network Reports investigates the growing phenomenon of polygamy within the UK, which, according to the Sharia Council UK and some grassroots groups, is a growing occurrence among second and third generation British Muslims.

Sharia Council figures show polygamy to be among the top 10 reasons why an increasing number of marriages result in divorce.

In this Asian Network Reports special, Harris, a young British Muslim, explores polygamy as the norm. Speaking to many young British Muslims, Harris hears how both males and females of the new generation are living polygamous lives.

The programme explores the legality of polygamy, with marriages performed via the Islamic religious ceremony, the Nikka, meaning many British Muslims can marry more than once, in the eyes of Allah, without breaking the law.

Harris investigates the benefits of polygamy alongside the heartache it can cause and asks whether he too will follow in his family's footsteps and explore his right to polygamy.

Presenter/Harris, Producer/Perminder Khatkar

BBC Asian Network Publicity