As the Government prepares to publish its Rural White Paper, Anna Hill looks at the future of the countryside. Producer Steve Peacock

With James Whitbourn and guest. Producer Janet McLarty

With Sue MacGregorand Peter Hobday.
7.25, 8.25 Sports News
7.45 Thought for the Day With Mary McAleese.

Presented by Cliff Morgan . Producer Audrey Adams

Holiday news with Sandy Gall. Producer Jill Thomas
WRITE TO: [address removed] forfactsheet No 39. enclosing sae

Presented by Ned Sherrin. Producer Torquil Macleod

David Dimbleby presents a five-part series on the United Kingdom. Should it be defended at all costs or is it a creation that has served its purpose and should now be allowed to wither?
He begins by asking whether the forces which brought Britain together still hold good today.
Producers Sallie Davies and Anthony Dworkin * See Polly Toynbee : page 14

The BBC's Foreign Affairs Editor, John Simpson , celebrates the programme's 40th anniversary in the first of two special editions. Producer Tony Grant
Part 2: Thursday 11.30am
* See This Week: page 12

With Alison Mitchell.
Producer Frances Macdonald

Martin Young chairs guests Alan Coren , Andy Hamilton , Germaine Greer and Tony Banks MP.
Producer Aled Evans. Rptd Mon 6.30pm

Jonathan Dimbleby is in the chair at
Government House, Hong Kong, with guests Emily Lau , Jonathan Mirsky , the Rt Hon Chris Patten , and David Tang. Repeated from yesterday

Producers Nick Utechin and Anne Peacock LINES OPEN from 12.30pm

By Margaret Forster. With
Jane Whittenshaw as Lily Wilson and Kate Buffery as Elizabeth Barrett Browning. This much acclaimed novel, dramatised by Ed Thomason , tells the story of Elizabeth Barrett Browning 's maid, Lily Wilson , who worked for the Brownings for many years. with Geoffrey Whitehead , Zulema Dene and Sandra James Young. Director Cherry Cookson

Peter Snow and his team bring alive a newspaper from a day in history.
3: 22 February 1696. A copy of the London Post Boy for that date provides the stories, including reports on the foiling of an assassination attempt on King William and a royal lottery. An Andrew Green production
Repeated tomorrow at 8.30pm

Peter Evans presents a weekly review of discoveries and developments from the world of science.
Producer Sandy Raffan
Repeated Tuesday at 8.00pm

Major issues, changing attitudes and important events at home and abroad.
Reporter Julian O'Halloran. Producer Kim Barrington Repeated from Tuesday

Six programmes in which David Owen Norris, sitting at his piano, asks the really hard questions about music. 3: Thanks for the Memory? Producer Elizabeth Burke

Sally Grace , Jeffrey Holland and Toby Longworth take a look at the week's news, with special guest Mike Hayley. Repeated from yesterday

Online from New York, Joe Queenan and three guests investigate the latest etiquette in software one-upmanship and find out whether hip New Yorkers now think the Internet is yesterday's fad. Producer Hamish Mykura. Rptd Thur 11.30pm

The Cut above the Rest
What is the connection between nature, music, architecture and painting?
Stephen Johnson goes in search of the Golden Section - the mystical proportion found where there is beauty. Producer Erika Wright

Cheryl Martin 's musical portrait of Oldham's famous Tommyfield Market. with Kay Purcell. Romy Baskerville , Ian Mercer , Kathy Jamieson and David Crellin. Music by Tim Browne , performed by Tim Browne. Paul Dallinson and John Aggrey. Director Michael Fox Rpt

Presented by Brian Kay. Producer Patrick Lambert

Led by Canon Eddie Neale.

For over 100 years, American cowboys have used narrative poems to ease the monotony of life in the saddle. In the last of the series, Simon Armitage goes on the trail of cowboy poetry. Producer Viv Beeby

Jenni Mills meets six people who achieved instant fame - and reveals what happened to them after it.
This week: Joan Quigley , astrologer to the White House in the Reagan years. Producer Sarah Rowlands
* See John Peel: page 13

Actress and musical star Ruthie Henshall talks to Jeremy Nicholas. Repeated from Tuesday

In the final climactic episode, Ben and the vampire-killers pitch themselves against the might of Barlow. with Don Fellows , Peter Whrtman , Frances Jeater and Ronald Fernee. Music by Elizabeth Parker. Dramatised by Gregory Evans Director Adrian Bean Rpt