Music selected by Michael Ford BBC Birmingham. Stereo

Producers ALLAN WRIGHT , TIM FINNEY

7.10 Today's Papers

The agricultural world sometimes sneers at part-time farmers, labelling them as 'amateurs' or 'good lifers'.
But On Your Farm discovers that not all part-timers choose their way of life. Some are trying desperately to break into full-time farming while others have been forced to take jobs off the farm to supplement their income.
Producer UZRIGBEY

with Rosemary Hartill

Once again Radio 4 is providing an opportunity for you to test your knowledge of programmes broadcast throughout the year. Entries, on a postcard only please by Friday 3 January 1986. to:
Radio 4 Christmas Competition, BBC Broadcasting House, London WL4 4WW

8.10 Today's Papers (Broadcastat 7.10am)

Written by RICHARD STILGOE with songs by PETER SKELLERN Christmas - time for all songwriters to forget their little differences, hang some holly on the synthesizer and write another monster Christmas hit.
Producer MIKE CRAIG
BBC Manchester. Stereo
(Revised broadcast on Boxing Day at 12.30pm)

For six Christmases, Britain was dark, families were apart and good cheer was in short supply. Dr Christopher Andrew looks back at those bittersweet times and the radio programmes that kept Britain smiling through: morale boosters from
Churchill's speeches to Workers' Playtime and the sentiment of Issy Bonn and Vera Lynn. Producer JULIE SIMMONS BBC Manchester (R)

Angela Gordon presents a personal review of the weekly magazines.
Producer JOHN EDWARDS

Robert Carvel of The London Standard chairs a special
Christmas edition including highlights from the year's programmes.
Producer SHEILA COOK

with Margaret Howard Stereo

Celebrating Christmas is a year-round occupation for Maria and Andrew Von Staufer. They run The Christmas Archives, a collection of over 100,000 items connected with the festival, from days gone by and from many different countries. In this profile of the Von Staufers ' work, Robert Foxcroft discusses the enthusiasm which so many people bring to their Christmas celebrations. What is it that makes them 'nuts for Christmas'?
Producer JOHN FORREST. Stereo
(Re-broadcast Boxing Day at 1.10pm)

Jeanine McMullen with a breath of wintry air from the depths of rural Britain. Goat sweaters, animal horoscopes and a horse with thermal underwear are just some of the secrets of life on A Small Country Living at Christmas.
Producer MARY PRICE BBC Bristol
(Re-broadcast on Friday at 12.30pm)

The final battle commences.
Chairman Barry Took cowers as Private Eye editor
Richard Ingrams , his deputy Ian Hislop , and Angela Gordon clash with Punch editor Alan Coren , his deputy David Taylor and Janet Street-Porter , in the first part of a titanic struggle to decide which team knows more about the news of the year. Stereo
(Re-broadcast at 11.0pm)
(The conflict is resolved next Saturday at 12.27pm)

Lord Soper, The Rt Hon
Roy Hattersley , mp, Jeffrey Archer , and Rosemary Brown

Lord Glenaldy
The last in a three-part serial byA.R R RAWLINSON
Caught up in the romantic world of war-time cloak-and-dagger operations,
Angus Fraser (now Lord Glenaldy) is in his element. However, all good things must come to an end, and what then?
Script editor BARRY CAMPBELL
Directed by GRAHAM GAULD. Stereo

by JOE MAHON
'Molly's mind raced round the house. The back door was shut and bolted, as was the front door. All the windows were closed and tightly locked, even the fanlight. She looked at the fireplace. The fire was nearly out. Well, if he could get down the chimney then he really was supernatural....'
Producer MAUREEN GALLAGHER
(First broadcast on BBC Radio Foyle)

Radio News Special Report This year for many South
Africans from all communities the Christmas spirit will be troubled by the effects of civil disorder and the search for change. As they prepare for the season of goodwill, how much do the people feel the strain of recent strife, and what do they look forward to in the new year? Reporter Graham Leach Producer ADAM RAPHAEL
(Re-broadcast on Monday at 9.45 am)

Fred Basnett has his own reasons for being fond of canals: the pubs of course, and the dawdling, and the odd buildings ... and the people: 'You jus' travellin' thru?' (R)

V. S. Pritchett
I began to write short stories because they were short
- I didn't think I had the breath to go on month after month in one long narrative.
For more than 50 years Sir
Victor Pritchett has found the breath to produce enough short stories, essays, travel writing and criticism to ensure a permanent place in the history of English Literature. This month he is 85 and, in conversation with Richard Mayne , he talks about his life and work.
Producer CARROLL MOORE (R)

Downtown Fisher, West
Virginia, consists of a few houses, a post office, an agricultural store - and a radio station. The programming this offers is high on audience appeal but low, it has to be said, on polish. In fact, as Jean Snedegar discovered when she visited them, the five presenters are notorious for the number of mistakes they can cram into a day.
Producer SALLY THOMPSON
(Re-broadcast on Christmas Day at 9.50 pm)

An irreverently critical look back at last week's news Stereo

With BRYAN MARTIN including Sports Round-up

The Christmas message goes out to all nations and this miscellany of carols and readings gives a flavour of the celebrations in other lands, and other times.
The carols are sung by boy soprano Aled Jones and the BBC Welsh Chorus conducted by JOHN HUGH THOMAS With HUW TREGELLES WILLIAMS at the organ.
The readers are
Ray Smith and Annest Wiliam Compiled and produced by ROBERT COLES and HERBERT WILLIAMS BBC Wales. Stereo
(Re-broadcast Boxing Day at 9.30pm)
0 FEATURE: page 3

Saturday evening table talk Music by FASCINATING AIDA
Producer MICHAEL EMBER. Stereo

Richard Baker presents a selection of words and music on record.
Producer JANE BEVAN. Stereo

by ANTHONY POWELL dramatised for radio by FREDERICK BRADNUM as the BBC's tribute to the celebrated author who is 80 today. With
The year is 1932. Blore-Smith is eager for adventure and a full life. Chipchase and Maltravers come to his rescue, and show him life of an adventurous nature in London, Paris and Berlin.
Directed by GRAHAM GAULD. Stereo

The Night is Far Spent
Wake, 0 wake! for night is flying (BBC HB 40); Nunc dimittis
(Howells); Romans 13, w 7-14; Hark! a herald voice is calling (EH 5). Stereo

Written and compiled by ALISON MCLEAY
It is now the Winter Solstice, the night when the sun dies and is reborn: a night of magic, which has more to do with our traditional Christmas celebrations than people might like to admit. Just for tonight, the Shaman lives ...
With the voices of Michael Elder , Diana Olsson and Paul Young Producer PATRICK RAYNER BBC Scotland. Stereo
(Re-broadcast next Sunday at 5.5 pm)

Stereo

Three traditional fairy tales by PAUL SHEARER and NICK SYMONS 1: Cinderella with Helen Atkinson Wood as Cinderella Nick Wilton as Buttons Nicholas Parsons as Prince Charming
Tim Brooke-Taylor and Graeme Garden as the Ugly Sisters Libby Purves as Fairy
Godmother Nick Maloney as Beamish Rory Bremner as Absolutely Everyone Else Musical interludes
COUN SELL AND HIS LITTLE HELPERS Wizardry TWINKLETOES NIXON Stereo
(Re-broadcast on Monday at 3.30pm) ('Jack and the Beanstalk' tomorrow at
10.15pm)

followed by an interlude