With the Rev Stephen Shipley.

To mark more than five decades of the world's longest-running speech radio programme, a chance to hear one of Alistair Cooke 's vintage broadcasts. Repeated from yesterday Repeated Sunday 8.45am

6.05 Papers
6.08 Sports Desk

Richard Uridge explores rural life across the UK.
Producer Hugh O'Donnell Extended

With Miriam O'Reilly.

With James Naughtie and Edward Stourton.
7.25 and 8.25 Sports News
7.48 Thought for the Day With the Rev Rob Marshall.

John Peel takes a wry look at the foibles of family life. Producer Bella Bannerman Shortened PHONE: [number removed] email: home.truths@bbc.co.uk

Sandi Toksvig explores the adventures, frustrations and joys of travel.
Producers Kevin Dawson and Torquil MacLeod

1/2. Once the butt of every stand-up comic's routine, the Irish thrive in the contemporary comedy scene. Pauline McLynn reveals how the Irish went from being a punchline to having the last laugh. Planet Ireland. McLynn explores the parallel universe in which Irish comedy was forged, where religion, politics and the peculiarity of rural life provided all the material necessaryforthe budding COmiC. Producer Owen McFadden

With MPs on their Easter break, the programme s five regular presenters come togetherto survey the political scene. Editor Marie Jessel

Insight and colourfrom BBC correspondents around the world, With KateAdie. ProducerTonyGrant

Paul Lewis presents impartial advice and the latest news from the world of personal finance. Producer Jennifer Clarke Repeated tomorrow at 9pm

5/6. The sharp edge of satire from Steve Punt and Hugh Dennis , with Mitch Benn , Marcus Bngstocke , Jon Holmes and Laura Shavin. Repeated from Friday

Jonathan Dimbleby chairs the discussion as an audience at Winchcombe School, Cheltenham, puts questions on issues of the week. Panel lists are the author Frederick Forsyth ; general secretary of the TUC, Brendan Barber ; Steven Rose , professor of biology and director of the Brain and Behaviour research group at the Open University; and Lindsay Nicholson , editor of Good Housekeeping. Repeated from yesterday

Jonathan Dimbleby takes listeners' calls and emails in response to last night's Any Questions. PHONE: [number removed] email: any.answers@bbc.co.uk Producer Anne Peacock

In 1984 the miners went on strike. This is the story behind the scenes as the Thatcher government took on the National Union of Mineworkers in one of the longest and most bitter industrial disputes of the 20th century.
Danny Kelly on a bloody battle: page 31

The best of the week on Woman's Hour, presented by Martha Kearney.
Series editor Jill Burridge Producer Natasha Maw EMAIL: womanshour@bbc.co.uk

News and sports headlines, presented by Carolyn Quinn. Editor Peter Rippon

She was last seen as a glamorous accomplice in the remake of the British film classic The Italian Job, and now she's winning an Oscar for her latest role as a wild-eyed serial killer on death row in Monster.
Jim White talks to Charlize Theron, and to Linus Roache , who plays John McCarthy in Blind Flight, a new film based on Brian Keenan 's book An Evil Cradling. Producer Jerome Weatherald

Ned Sherrin presents another mix of music, comedy and conversation. Producer Main Russell

Tom Sutcliffe and his guests Alan Strachan ,
Denise Mina and Jude Kelly review the cultural highlights of the week, including the film Monster and The Sweetest Swing in Baseball, a new play StarringGillian Anderson. Producer Fiona McLean

5/6. "I thirst". In another talk for Lent considering the final words of Christ, Grace Davie , professor of sociology of religion at Exeter University, weighs up the evidence for spiritual thirst in our society. Repeated from Sunday

Colin Bell looks at the way that lives and communities have been shaped by the energy industries. From the moving to the funny, from the sad to the shocking, this programme illustrates the true cost of turning on an electric light. Producers Hazel Marshall and Sharon Mair

10/12. By Anthony Trollope , dramatised by Martyn Wade. As Plantagenet Palliser 's government comes increasingly under attack, so Ferdinand Lopez 's social and business standing become more and more difficult, with tragic results.
Music by Elizabeth Parker Director Marc Beeby Repeated from Sunday

Michael Buerk chairs a debate in which Melanie Phillips , Michael Gove , Claire Fox and Professor Steven Rose cross-examine witnesses who hold confticting views on the moral complexities behind one of the week's news stories.
Repeated from Wednesday

6/6. Handsworth-born poets Benjamin Zephaniah and Roy Fisher talk to Jackie Kay when she visits Birmingham. Repeated from Sunday

5/5. Poet Stevie Smith 's most memorable poem ends with the words "not waving but drowning". Five writers turn her bleak phrase on its head. Somebody Smith by Diana Hendry , read by Phyllida Nash. When a polite young man comes to the door announcing he's come to rescue her, there seems no reason why 72-year-old Molly shouldn't go with him-after all, she's always wanted to be rescued ... Producer Sara Davies