The news and the issues of the week in rural Britain.
Producers Hugh O'Donnell and Steve Peacock

With Trevor Barnes and his guest. Producer Norman Winter

With John Humphrys and Sue MacGregor.
7.25, 8.25 Sports News
7.45 Thought for the Day With Canon David Winter.

Sports news with Cliff Morgan. Producer Roy Calley

Holiday reports from around the world plus consumer investigations. Producer Eleanor Garland
Repeated tomorrow 7.30pm
For information on any of the items featured, call the Radio 4 helpline on [number removed]

Ned Sherrin and guest Michael Palin play the ever popular anecdote-or-dare game.
Producer Christopher Harold Wilson

The last of four programmes which question the existence of the arts. The Future. Jonathan Glancey discusses Britain's future arts policy with Sir Peter Hall , Lisa Jardine , Sir
David Puttnam and Chris Smith. Is the emphasis on a creative economy, where the arts are expected to earn their keep by creating wealth for the nation, really the best way forward? Producers Jane Beresford and Smita Patel

Analysis, insight and colour from correspondents worldwide. Producer Tony Grant

Alison Mitchell presents the latest news from the world of personal finance and impartial advice for all those trying to make the most of their money.
Producer Frances Macdonald
For information call [number removed]

Simon Hoggart quizzes regular guests Alan Coren and Jeremy Hardy on the week's events. Producer Aled Evans
Repeated Monday 6.30pm

Jez Nelson chairs four lively debates. 2: Vast, Expensive Scientific Projects Are a Colossal Waste of Money Repeated from yesterday

Peggy Reynolds looks back at six years in publishing history. 4: 1969 AL Kennedy and Steven Connor discuss The French Lieutenant's
Woman and Slaughterhouse Five. Producer Fiona McLean

Juliet Ace's dramatisation of Erich
Segal's romantic novel of the 1970s. with Patrick Allen , Sheila Allen , John Guerrasio , David Brooks , William Dufris , Gerard McDermott , Tracy Ann Oberman and Christopher Wright. Harpsichordist David Roblou. Director Ned Chaillet

On the eve of the announcement of who is to host the 2004 games, Gerry Northam compares the original Olympics to the modern games. Producer John Byrne
Repeated tomorrow 8.30pm

Roger Highfield presents a weekly review of developments in science.
Producer Jim Clarke. Repeated Tuesday 8pm E-MAIL: scirad@bbc.co.uk

Michael O'Donnell returns with four portraits of contemporary family life. 1: The Hutsons of Colchester
Repeated from Tuesday

A six-part series in which residents of the rocky shore reveal the truth about life between the tides. 2: Geoffrey Palmer plays the hermit crab. Written by Lynne Truss
Producer Sarah Blunt Repeat

Last in the four-part comedy drama series which gives business and the media a satirical spin. The executives hit back at the anti-smoking lobby. Repeated from yesterday

Sheena McDonald talks to six people about a childhood event which has affected their adult lives.
2: Beeban Kidron , Hollywood director, recalls how surgery on her vocal cords led to months of enforced silence.
Then, someone handed her a camera. Producer Beaty Rubens
Repeated Thursday 11.30pm

The Edinburgh Festival
As the Edinburgh Festival draws to a close with spectacular productions, Paul Allen talks about the 50th season and looks to the future. Producer Matthew Dodd Repeated Friday 9.30pm

The news of 50 years ago this week. Producer Graham Hoyland
Series editor Lindsay Leonard

Four classic mysteries by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. 3: The Creeping Man A scientist is behaving very oddly. with Robin Ellis , Deborah Berlin.
Oliver Senton and Annabel Mullion . Dramatised by Robert Forrest. Director Patrick Rayner Repeat

Brian Kay rings a few musical bells. Producer Brian Jackson

Power and Influence. Canon Eric
James selects a book and some music.
Producer Norman Winter

Graham Swift's story, dramatised in three parts by Steve Chambers.

History teacher Tom Crick concludes the strange watery stories of his family Fenland history.

(Repeat)

In the last of the series,
Leonard Barras reads two more of his unlikely stories: Such Love as Spirits Feel and Before and After the Flood.
Producer Gillian Hush Repeat

In the last of seven programmes, Simon Armitage talks to
Murray Lachlan Young , a performance poet who has just signed a million-pound record deal, and hears him perform at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Producer Paul Dodgson

By Patricia Hannah , read by Vivienne Dixon.
Repeated from Monday