A second series of Giovanni Guareschi's delightful stories about the Roman Catholic priest and the communist mayor fighting for the hearts and minds of the people of a little village in the Po valley.

Don Camillo and Peppone find themselves strangely united when a gunman takes over the church.

[Photo caption] Don Camillo, a Catholic priest, lives in a magical place where he must fight for the hearts and minds of the people

The Little World of Don Camillo 11.30am R4

The first series of these comic dramas crept modestly into the schedules last year, much like morning sunlight illuminating ripples on the River Po in Italy, where the stories are set. It soon became apparent that the adaptations of Giovanni Guareschi's fables would be a smash hit on radio so I am happy to welcome a second series. New listeners will only need to know that the setting is an ongoing village feud between the communist mayor and the Catholic priest, a feud hilariously played out via such vital civic matters as the right of the ungodly to swim in the river and the welfare of cows who have fallen victim to a strike by herdsmen. Joss Ackland plays God, Ian Hogg plays Don Camillo and the whole thing is an absolute delight.