From St Mary's Church, Barnes, London.

News round-up and analysis.

Signs of the Times. Mark Tully talks to writer David Tacey about how best to read the spiritual signs of the times. Producer Eley McAinsh Repeated at 11.30pm

8/8. A look at country life. Producer Benjamin Chesterton

Religious news, with Roger Bolton. Producer Amanda Hancox

The Rev Nicholas Holtram , vicar of St Martin-in-the-Fields, London, presents the Christmas Appeal.
Donations: [address removed]: Online: www.[address removed]; Credit cards: [number removed]. Producer Sally Flatman Repeated at 9.26pm and on Thursday at 3.27pm

Good News to the Poor The second in an Advent series. Archbishop Desmond Tutu and the Rev Vivien Harber lead a service from St George 's Cathedral, Cape Town. Director of music Barry Smith. Producer Stephen Shipley

Repeated from Friday

News and analysis, with Fi Glover. Editor Peter Rippon

the Story behind the Radio 4 Christmas Appeal For details see repeat at 5.40pm

Omnibus edition.

3/7. Jack Dee joins regulars Tim Brooke-Taylor , Graeme Garden and Barry Cryer , with chairman
Humphrey Lyttelton. From the Brighton Dome. Repeated from Monday

A group of catering students prepare a dinner for some of the country's top celebrity chefs. Producer Margaret Collins Repeated tomorrow at 4pm

News and analysis, with Shaun Ley. Editor coiin Hancock

Anthony Powell 's 12-novel sequence A Dance to the Music of Time is one of the great works of the 20th century. To mark the centenary of Powell's birth in 1905, the geneticist Steve Jones revisits the novels and looks at the life of the man who wrote them. He talks to novelists Ian Rankin and AS Byatt. and the activist Tariq All. producer Thomas Morris

Pippa Greenwood , Bob Flowerdew and John Cushnie answer questions from members of the Wittersham Horticultural Society in Kent. Gill Pyrah is in the chair. Including at 2.25 Gardening Weather Forecast. Producer Trevor Taylor Shortened at 3pm
RT DIRECT: Gardeners' Question Time: Techniques and Tips for Gardeners is available for E22.50 (RRP E25.00). Send a cheque payable to RT Direct Book Offers to [address removed], call [number removed]042 (calls from land lines cost no more than 8p per minute) or visit www.rtdirect.sparkledirect.com. Prices include p&p. UK delivery only.

3/5. Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis. In September 1910, Ralph Vaughan Williams conducted the premiere of this piece in Gloucester Cathedral. Simon Halsey finds out how we can hear the cathedral (and the surrounding landscape) in the music. Producer Sara Conkey

3/4. Frederic Raphael adapts and narrates his own novel. By the late 1960s, Dan has committed himself to teaching. He married Joyce, and has brought up her son as his own, but a visit from the successful Alan changes everything.
Producer/Director Pete Atkin Repeated on Saturday at 9pm

3/6. The Thought-Fox. By Ted Hughes. Why does the "sharp hot stink of fox" stick to your clothes? Fellow
Yorkshireman and poet Simon Armitage needs a shower after reading this seminal poem about creativity. Along with others who've known Hughes, he considers its power. Producer Frances Byrnes Repeated on Saturday at 11.30pm

8/10. In the light of high-profile cases in which mothers accused of killing their children were proved innocent, the courts were expected to take a more cautious approach to charges of abuse. John Sweeney finds out how much has really changed.
Repeated from Tuesday

For more than 70 years, Radio 4 has broadcast an appeal at Christmas on behalf of St Martin-in-the-Fields, London. St Martin's helps thousands of homeless people of all ages through the Connection, as well as many others in need across the UK. John Waite meets some of those who benefited from last year's appeal.
(Rptd from 9.45am: Rptd Thu 3.45pm)

Arthur Smith presents his selection of excerpts from BBC radio over the past seven days. Producer Torquil MacLeod
PHONE: [number removed]0400 (calls from land lines cost no more than 8p per minute) Fax: [number removed]5693 email: potw<Sbbc.co.uk

Will takes family loyalty for granted.
For cast see page 40 Repeated tomorrow at 2pm Soap & Flannel: page 39

Featuring the final part of Adeline Yen Mah 's story
The Chinese Cinderella and the Secret Dragon Society.
Children's magazine programme, with Barney Harwood. producers Rebecca Armstrong and Abi Awojobi

5/5. Auspicious Occasion 2/2. Mehroo and Rustomji emerge from their respective ordeals and return to familiar home comforts. By Rohinton Mistry. Read by Nitin Ganatra and abridged by Lauris Morgan-Griffiths . producer Viv Beeby

Roger Bolton selects listeners' comments and redirects them towards the programme makers. Repeated from Friday

1/9. Michael Rosen takes a close look at words, where they come from, and how they can be manipulated. Repeated from Friday

Repeated from Saturday at 12.04pm

Repeated from 7.55am

3/7. Orb and Spectre? The monarchy's much-vaunted virtues of tradition and continuity will be celebrated next year on the Queen's 80th birthday. But what are the principles that will guide the monarchy's future? Richard Weight investigates. Repeated from Thursday

Andrew Rawnsley previews the week's political events.

3/3. Making waves as head of the Charity Commission is
Geraldine Peacock , who's determined to pull charities and the commission firmly into the 21st century. Kirsten Lass reports. Editor Terry Dignan The New Powers that Be is rptd Wed 8.45pm

Repeated from Tuesday

Repeated from 6.05am

In 1938 Thomas Mann , Nobel Prize-winning author of The Magic Mountain and Death in Venice, was forced to flee the Nazis and seek refuge in America. Fifty years after his death, John Jungclaussen retraces Mann's physical and mental Steps. Repeated from Thursday

Theories of Relativity (1/5) What Did Einstein Ever Do for Topher Quigley ? by Marianne Carey and read by Paul Young