visits Bill Robson in Northern Ireland

With BISHOP TREVOR HUDDLESTON Stereo

Presented by John Timpson and Peter Hobday
6.30,7.30,8.30 News Summary
6.45* Business News with SIMON ROSE
7.0,8.0 Today's News Read by EUGENE FRASER
7.20* Your Letters
7.25*, 8.25* Sport with GARRY RICHARDSON
7.45* Thought for the Day

Part 2

Star-Gazing
The Three Wise Men who followed a star were not the first to seek knowledge from the skies and will by no means be the last. In 1986 the Space
Shuttle will launch an orbiting 'eye on the sky' telescope and Voyager II is due to send back the first photographs of the planet Uranus. But amateurs still make a real contribution to astronomy.
What observations can be made with relatively humble equipment? How much do we know about the far reaches of the universe? What was that. Christmas star?
Heather Couper, President of the British Astronomical Association, answers your questions, not least about
Halley's Comet, which may be at its most visible in January. In the Chair Jenni Mills
Produced by the Woman's Hour unit Lines open from 8.0 am

Reflections on life and politics abroad from the BBC's worldwide team of foreign correspondents. Producer ZAREER MASANI

There's Money in Cards written and read by Henry Livings
'I don't play so I don't know how come E100 can change hands after a rubber of bridge, but I've seen it happen. This is one of the reasons it's a floating game: landlords get nervous.' Producer GILLIAN HUSH BBC Manchester

NEM, p 122: All my hope on God is founded (Bp 3); Psalm 121; Hebrews 11, v 32 to 12, v 2;
For thy mercy and thy grace (BBC HB 429) Stereo

Blues in Thirds by DAVID LUCK with Nigel Anthony and Joanne Zorian
Barbara falls in love with Dennis, the boy next door, but then discovers that he has two brothers - Albert and Maurice - and that they are identical triplets. If only she could tell them apart she might be able to decide which one to marry.
Directed by ALFRED BRADLEY BBC Manchester. Stereo
(Re-broadcast tomorrow at 9. 0 pm) (Nigel Anthony is a member of the Royal Shakespeare Company)

Consumer Quiz
The second semi-final sees the IRISH playing the WELSH in a friendly joust of consumer wits. Celebrities from both teams test each others' abilities to stand up for their rights.
Questionmaster John Howard

Dilys Powell and Frank Muir challenge
Antonia Fraser and Denis Norden In the Chair Michael O'Donnell Questions compiled by PETER MOORE Devised by TONY SHRYANE and EDWARD J. MASON
Producer PETE ATKIN. Stereo
(Re-broadcast on Thursday at 6.30pm)

Presented by John Sergeant

BRIAN CANT reads Rita Rutter and the Acrobats by KATE WILKINSON

looks ahead to the New Year with ANDREW and his newly-adopted parents; MAGGIE and josie - two mothers planning a future without their daughters; and BEN WHITAKER and TESSA JOWELL, who anticipate the continuing expansion of charity appeals at home and abroad.
Sue MacGregor looks forward to the programme's 40th anniversary celebrations in 1986. Serial: Crampton Hodnet by BARBARA PYM abridged in 12 episodes by DOREEN ESTALL
Read by Patricia Routledge (1)
'Margaret Cleveland , who at one time helped and encouraged her husband with his work, had now left him to do it alone, because she feared that with her help it might quite easily be finished before one of them died, and then where would they be?'
The unmistakable Pym sense of humour is much in evidence in this novel, which was completed in 1940 but has only now been published posthumously. (Music: Schumann's
Marchenerzahlungen)

The Butterfly Bowl by CATHERINE L CZERKAWSKA
May's mother has died and now she is alone and lonely. She shares the secret of her treasured Chinese bowl with her new lover; but will sharing the secret break the magic?
Directed by MARILYN IMRIE BBC Scotland. Stereo

Hugh Scully , Bernard Price and Pamela Howe remember nearly 20 years of programme-making and friendship with Arthur Negus.
BBC Bristol (R) Revised

Presented by Robert Williams and Jon Silverman
continued on VHFIFM 5.50-5.55

with CLIVE ROSLIN including Financial Report

(Stereo)
(Broadcast yesterday at 12.27pm)

(Re-broadcast tomorrow at 1.40pm)

Boat Show Special
Cliff Michelmore previews the 32nd London International Boat Show which opens tomorrow at Earls Court Exhibition Centre in London. There is a large selection of craft, equipment and accessories on show, as well as a new display of artefacts from the Mary Rose and a full-size reconstruction of Wapping River Police Station. There is also a chance to speak to competitors in the Whitbread Round the World Race. Producer HELEN GILL

What's new in medical science? How well are the doctors looking after us? Is our money being spent to best effect? Geoff Watts reports on the health of medical care from the research laboratory and the operating theatre to the dentist's chair and the GP's surgery.
Producer JULIAN BROWN
(Re-broadcast on Thursday at 10.0am)

The second of two programmes Rodney Slatford reflects on the delights and difficulties of being a guest professor at the Peking Conservatoire. (R)

The Newcomers
For a few young artists and writers the past year has provided their first experience of public and critical recognition.
Natalie Wheen looks back at a year in the arts through the experience of some of those for whom 1985 was the year of living conspicuously.
Producer THOMAS SUTCUFFE

Vice Versa (2)

Presented by Charles Wheeler

A meditation for the New Year by members of the Religious Broadcasting staff of Radio Scotland, Edinburgh. BBC Scotland. Stereo

followed by an interlude