The news and issues of the week in rural Britain.
With Fr Oliver McTernan.
With Anna Ford and Sue MacGregor.
7.25, 8.25 Sports News
7.45 Thought for the Day With Rosemary Hartill.
The first of five programmes this week by and with Armando lannucci. Producer Jonathan James-Moore
Melvyn Bragg and guests review another year of the programme. Producer Jeanette Thomas
Geoffrey Wheeler presents a review of some of the stories, events and issues which made the news in 1947. Producers Gavin Fuller and Paul Bajoria
Introduced by Jenni Murray.
Short story: Nicolette McKenzie reads Little Lewis Has Had a Lovely Sleep by Elizabeth Jolley , from The Woman's Hour Christmas Collection. Managing editor Nadine Grieve
E-MAIL: womanshour@bbc.co.uk
4: Christmas at Dingley Dell! In which Mr Pickwick spends a merry Christmas with old friends, and is summoned before the majesty of the Law!
For details and cast list see Christmas Eve Repeated at 9.30pm
With Mark Whittaker.
Robert Robinson chairs a challenge match featuring the winners and runners-up of the 1997 Brain of Britain and Mastermind competitions. Director Richard Edis
Repeated New Year's Eve 6.30pm
With James Cox.
Repeated from Boxing Day 7.05pm
By Paul Theroux, dramatised by Nick Warburton.
A snowbound family is given a Christmas card by a mysterious old man. The card is both a map and a talisman which illuminates the meaning of Christmas. Starring Michael Maloney as the storyteller and Timothy Bateson as Pop.
As the darkness gathers on a winter's afternoon, Daire Brehan settles down with a selection of games and pastimes from before the video age. Daily editor Keith Jones
PHONE: (0171) [number removed]
E-MAIL: Afternoon.Shift@bbc.co.uk
Tim Marlow recalls and plays the best of the music played live in the studio over the year, from Django Bates to Sally Burgess and Paul Weller to Roberto Alagna.
Producer Adrian Washbourne
lain Patterson's revised version of A
Christmas Carol has Ebenezer Scrooge struggling to spread Christmas cheer in Canary Wharf. Read by Stephen Thorne. Producer Pam Fraser Solomon Repeat
With Clare English and Chris Lowe.
The second half of the News Quizyear is filleted by Simon Hoggart and the team. Repeated from Saturday 27 December 12.25pm
John hopes for a change of heart. Repeated tomorrow 1.40pm
Cracking the Christmas nuts - Derek Cooper shares the pleasures of this seasonal tradition with Philippa Davenport and some of the hardy souls who try to grow nuts in Britain. Revised repeat of Boxing Day 12.25pm
British premiere of Israel Horovitz's internationally acclaimed play.
A Yorkshireman belatedly flies to America to reclaim the war bride taken from him by an American war hero 45 years earlier.
Steward Permutt 's bittersweet comedies present the views of the world of four very different women. 3: Stella. Miriam Margolyes plays Stella, proud manageress of an unchanging chocolate shop in a changing world.
Director Marion Nancarrow Repeat
Repeated from 11.30am
By Raymond Chandler. Part 6.
For details see Monday 22 December Repeat
Continuing the An Artist in Sound series, Piers Plowright introduces a documentary made in 1990 in which cinema-lover Stephen Wichhusen rides to the defence of the Rotherham Empire with a little help from British Rail, Gus the pianist and writer Carole Rosen.
Producer Piers Plowright
The concluding part of Agatha Christie 's novel, dramatised in five parts by Michael Bakewell. ! Hercule Poirot 's holiday has become a hideous nightmare. with Shirley Dixon. Teresa Gallagher , Robert Portal , Irene Sutcliffe , Roger May , Emma Woodvine and Keith Drinkel Repeat
The first of five classic tales by MR James (1862-1936). the master of beautifully paced understatement. Canon Alberic's Scrapbook
A collector of antiquities encounters a hideous demonic figure in his hotel room. But did he really see it? Read by Benjamin Whitrow.
Abridged and produced by Paul Kent
