With Amanda Russell-Jones .

EditorChris Burns

Richard Uridge travels on The Ridgeway, an ancient highway of southern England. Producer Martin Poyntz-Roberts
Shortened 1.30pm

With John Humphrys and James Naughtie.
7.25,8.25 Sports News
7.45 Thought for the Day With Canon Eric James.

John Peel takes anotherwry look at some of the foibles of family life.
Producer Paula McGinley. PHONE: [number removed] E-MAIL: home.truths@bbc.co.uk
WEBSITE: www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/hometruths Shortened llpm

Michael Palin continues his exploration of the Iron Curtain, this week visiting the town of Szczecin. After the Second World War the entire German population fled, followed by an influx of Poles, the latest in a legacy of shifting populations. He meets a cast of characters with extraordinary tales to tell of borders and the Cold-War era. Producer Sara Jane Hall. PHONE: [number removed]
WEBSITE: www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/excessbaggage E-MAIL: excessbaggage@bbc.co.uk

John Sessions traces the fascinating history and traditions behind the school song-those roaring, rousing anthems designed to inspire loyalty and pride in every trembling pupil. Vanessa Feltz ,
Shirley Conran , John Mortimer and others offer renditions of their school songs, and music masters discuss the joys of persuading children to Sing them. Producer Caroline Barbour

Dennis Sewell concludes two political discussion programmes, sharpening the focus on current ideas and events. Producer Dinah Lammiman

BBC foreign correspondents with the stories behind the world headlines. Introduced by Kate Adie. Producer Tony Grant

Paul Lewis with the latest news from the world of personal finance. Producer Jennifer Clarke

Simon Hoggart administers the perfect antidote to all yourgood intentions forthe New Year, with the satirical aid of Alan Coren , Jeremy Hardy , Linda Smith and guests. Repeated from yesterday

Jonathan Dimbleby is joined at Wessex Water
Operations Centre in Bath by panellists including, environmentalist George Monbiot and academic and broadcaster Dr David Starkey. Repeated from yesterday

Jonathan Dimbleby takes listeners' calls and e-mails in response to last night's Any Questions ? Producer Lisa Jenkinson. E-MAIL: any.answers@bbc.co.uk

by Ngaio Marsh, dramatised by Michael Bakewell
When a murder takes place at a country-house party, it poses another baffling case for the glamorous Chief Detective Inspector Alleyn.

For almost 500 years the monarch has had a permanent representative - a Lord Lieutenant - in every county. In a four-part series
Richard Stilgoe explores the role of Lord Lieutenants and asks if this institution of the aristocracy has a place in the 21st century. In this programme he travels to Kent where Lord Kingsdown, aka Robin Leigh-Pemberton , the former Governor of the Bank of England, is hosting a visit by the Duke of Edinburgh to unveii a statue at Dover Castle.
Prince Phillip is at the castle for less than an hour, but his visit is the culmination of many months of Careful planning. Producer Dixi Stewart
Programme of the week: page 105

The best of the week on Woman's Hour, presented by Sheila McClennon.
Editor Ruth Gardiner. E-MAIL: womanshour@bbc.co.uk

Full coverage and analysis of the day's news, plus the sports headlines. Presented by Dan Damon.

This week on the film programme Andrew Collins talks to Ang Lee , director of Sense and Sensibility and The Ice Storm. His new film, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, is martial arts meets fairytale filmed on high wires in the treetops of Hunan Province. Producer Nicki Paxman

Ned Sherrin and guests with the usual eclectic mix of conversation, comedy and music. Producers Ian Gardhouse and Chris Wilson

Tom Sutcliffe and guests with a look at the first cultural offerings of 2001, including Ang Lee 's latest film Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. Producer Jerome Weatherald

David Bean looks at the romantic image of the Lake District.
Producer Dave Sheasby (R)

Throughout the history of Hollywood there have been actresses who have dominated the silver screen with their deadly allure, possessing the charms to entrap men and make them do their bidding. These actresses have come to be known as femmes fatales. Veteran Hollywood actor
Angus MaCinnes looks at the film beauties who could kiss and kill in equal measure. Producer Ian Docherty

Peter Ackroyd 's acclaimed novel is dramatised in two parts by Nick Fisher. Nicholas Dyer , an 18th-century architect, builds churches to the glory of God, but underpins them with his secret obsession with the old religion. Hawksmoor, a detective in contemporary London, investigates murders that mirrorthe sacrifices from 300 years before. With Phillip Jackson and Norman Rodway. Part 1. Repeated from Sunday

Edward Stourton chairs three debates, this week focusing on the proposition that "Farming and food production should not be the primary activities in the countryside." Environmentalists and other rural experts argue over the decline of agriculture and the future of the countryside.
(Repeated from Wednesday)

Huw Edwards uncovers the real-life history behind the scenes of six favourite operas.
5: Peter Grimes. At its 1945 premiere Benjamin Britten 's most famous opera was a sensation. The re-opening of Sadler's Wells theatre was a crucial morale booster afterthe war, and Britten was feted. But the opera hides many messages, not all of them welcome to the British establishment.
Producer Martin Smith (R)

Frank Delaney presents a selection of requests for yourfavourite New Year poems. Readers Don Warrington, Barbara Flynn and Sally Cookson. Repeated from Sunday

by Jackie Kay. The concluding story by writers at the Cheltenham Festival of Literature follows the scandal surrounding a staff-room romance. (R)