Farming, food, countryside news, market trends and weather

Presented by John Timpson and Brian Redhead
6.30, 7.30, 8.30 News Summary
7.0, 8.0 Today's News
Read by PAUUNE BUSHNELL
7.20* Your Letters
7.25*, 8.25* Sport
7.45* Thought for the Day
8.35* Yesterday in Parliament

Writing
Whether you are aiming for publication or marshalling your thoughts for the delight of your descendants, how do you begin? Should it be a book, a memorandum, or simply a letter? Perhaps you, too just want to improve your use of words. Or are you eager for publication? How do you set about that? Should you work through an agent? What are your chances of success? What is success -a living?
Put your questions to writer
Lord Willis (or you may know him better as Ted), and publisher Carmen Callill.
Sue MacGregor is in the Chair. Produced by the Woman s Hour unit Lines open from 8.0 am

BBC correspondents throughout the world talk about the countries they work in - the politics and the people. Producer ZAREER MASANI

It Came Out of a Cracker Read and written by Charlie Chester
'I've got a marvellous idea for the Panto. We have to have a catchphrase-I think I've got if "It came out of a cracker".' producer GWYN RICHARDS BBC Birmingham

Advent Calendar:
Daniel in the Lions' Den
NEM, p 89; Come, dearest Lord, descend and dwell (BP 11);
God is our hope and strength
(Anthems for Choirs 1); Daniel 6, vv 16-28; The race that long in darkness pined (BBC HB 496) Stereo

Teddy Bear's Picnic by PAUL KING with Young James is given two computerised robots as a present. They despise old-fashioned toys, such as teddy bears, and try to establish the New Order in the playroom, but.... Directed by JOHN TYDEMAN Stereo

'How does an electric eel withstand its own shock?' The team answers your current wildlife questions. Presented by Derek Jones Producer JOHN HARRISON BBC Bristol. Stereo

Pattie Coldwell with the latest news and advice for consumers. Phone comments on [number removed]after 11.0 am

A panel game devised by TONY SHRYANE and EDWARD J. MASON Dilys Powell and Frank Muir challenge Antonia Fraser and Denis Norden
In the Chair Michael O'Donnell Questions compiled by PETER MOORE Producer PETE ATKIN
Stereo

Presenter Sir Robin Day

Today's story: Grandma and Bopper Help the Christmas Postman

Introduced by Sue MacGregor Cromwell tried to cancel
Christmas, and the Victorians tried to patent it:
PENNY SEARLEY explores some of the real folk customs of the Christmas season that still survive.
Sketches from Diplomatic Life by LAWRENCE DURRELL abridged by ELIZABETH BRADBURY in four episodes
Read by Martin Muncaster 1:The Ghost Train
In his time, Antrobus has served in many foreign capitals, 'lying abroad' for his country; but probably nothing illustrated the peculiar hazards of diplomatic life more than the 'Ghost Train' episode! (Music: Danielsson's Concertante Suite)

A Few Kind Words by RIB DAVIS with and Tommy has spent all his working life down a Derbyshire mine. Now he's retired and looking to his daughter and her family for some help with the future. But Jenny has grown away from her Hkeston roots and when her father pays a rare visit, it seems that, once again, he is going to ask for the impossible....
Directed by VANESSA WHITBURN BBC Birmingham. Stereo
(Emrys James is a member of the RSC)

talks to Martin Jenkins about her early days in the theatre and her friendship with Bernard Shaw , especially in connection with St Joan,
Pygmalion and Major Barbara. Producer IAN COTTERELL. Stereo
• HEAR THIS! page 10

The Woman in Black (7)

Presenters Valerie Singleton and Robert Williams continued on VHF/FM 5.50-5.55

With BRYAN MARTIN including Financial Report

Stereo

(Repeated: Wednesday 1.40 pm)

Last of the series looking at major issues, changing attitudes, and important events at home and abroad. Reporter Roisin McAuley Producer PAUL CAMPBELL Editor BRIAN WALKER

Geoff Watts reports on the health of medical care - from the research laboratory to the GP's surgery.
Producer GEOFF DEEHAN

adapted from
A Heart Unsatisfied by MICHAEL JUSTIN DAVIS
Dr Johnson's close friend Mrs Thrale was the wife of Henry Thrale , brewer and mp for
Southwark, and the mother of his five children. At Dr
Johnson's suggestion, she kept a diary called Thraliana in which she recorded the ups and downs of family life in the latter part of the 18th century and the comings and goings of a brilliant circle of friends. In these extracts Anna Massey plays Mrs Thrale and Garard Green is the Narrator
Producer SUSAN SNAILUM

News, views and information for people with a visual handicap.
Presenter Peter White Producer THENA HESHEL
Book, £2.95, from [address removed]
Free quarterly bulletin from [address removed]
Send four large saes for a year's supply

5: Letter from Tokyo
In the last of this series, the BBC Correspondent in Japan, William Horsley , scales the world's strongest bastion of male chauvinism and finds that women are excluded from decision-making jobs, confined to the role of help-mates and made the object of rampant sexploitation. He wonders why Japanese women none the less appear happy with their lot, and thinks he's discovered the secret of this harmonious inequality between the sexes. Series producer ZAREER MASAM

Presenter Natalie Wheen Producer CARROLL MOORE

Just Resting (2)

Presenter Richard Kershaw
11.0 Headlines on VHF/FM until 11.0

The Chip Shop Presented by Barry Norman What is happening in the world of computers and does it matter? The last of the current series looking at the new technology and its impact. Producer TREVOR TAYLOR Chipline: London [number removed]Liverpool [number removed]Bristol [number removed] Birmingham [number removed] Stereo

followed by an interlude