BBC Radio 4 LW

Shipping Forecast

The latest weather reports and forecasts for UK shipping

Shipping Forecast: 06/03/2009

06/03/2009

BBC Radio 4 - Shipping Forecast, 06/03/2009Close menu

BBC Radio 4

Intelligent speech, the most insightful journalism, the wittiest comedy, the most fascinating features and the most compelling drama and readings anywhere in UK radio.

News Briefing

News Briefing: 06/03/2009

BBC Radio 4 - News Briefing, 06/03/2009Close menu

Prayer for the Day

Prayer for the Day: 06/03/2009

BBC Radio 4 - Prayer for the Day, 06/03/2009

Daily prayer and reflection with Rev Jenny Wigley.

Farming Today

The latest news about food, farming and the countryside

Farming Today: 06/03/2009

BBC Radio 4 - Farming Today, 06/03/2009

News and issues in rural Britain with Anna Hill.

Today

Radio 4's flagship news and current affairs programme; including Thought for the Day

Radio 4's flagship news and current affairs programme; including religious reflections from Thought for the Day at 0748

Today: 06/03/2009

BBC Radio 4 - Today, 06/03/2009

Including Sports Desk; Weather; Thought for the Day; Yesterday in Parliament.

With James Naughtie and Sarah Montague. Including Sports Desk; Weather; Thought for the Day; Yesterday in Parliament.

Presented by Sarah Montague and James Naughtie.

The information watchdog has shut down a company which it says sold workers' confidential data. The deputy information commissioner David Smith discusses what action will be taken.

Reporter Nicola Stanbridge visits one independent school in south-west London to discover the problems with teaching science at GCSE.

John Howson of the Magistrates' Association discusses if the overcrowding problem could be alleviated by giving magistrates' courts more power.

Young Scientist Peter Hadfield explains what motivated him to get involved in science. 

Science correspondent Tom Feilden reports on the request for more compensation for people born with deformities due to the drug thalidomide.

Chief Constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland Sir Hugh Orde discusses why members of an army special forces unit are being deployed to help gather intelligence on dissident Republicans.

Dr Alan Outram of Exeter University discusses if horses were domesticated rather earlier than once thought.

Thought for the day with Lord Harries of Pentregarth, the Gresham Professor of Divinity.

John Dunford of the Association of School and College Leavers and headmaster John Welsh discuss if GCSEs still challenge pupils.

Foreign Secretary David Miliband says the situation in Pakistan is very grave.

The explorer Pen Hadow has now embarked on his journey to the Arctic. He discusses his progress with the writer and explorer Benedict Allen.

Alan Ritchie of Ucatt says workers who raise issues of health and safety have been placed on blacklists.

Director of the Centre for European Reform Charles Grant and Conservative MEP Daniel Hannan discuss the stability of the euro.

Liu Weimin, spokesman for the Chinese embassy in London, discusses how China intends to continue its modernisation.

Broadcaster Andrew Neil and journalist Nick Davies discuss the current quality of investigative journalism in the UK.

Desert Island Discs

Castaway guests share the soundtrack of their lives.

Eight tracks, a book and a luxury: what would you take to a desert island? Guests share the soundtrack of their lives.

Desert Island Discs: Lord Rix

01/03/2009

Lord Rix

BBC Radio 4 - Desert Island Discs, Lord Rix

Kirsty Young's castaway is actor and campaigner Lord Rix.

Kirsty Young's castaway on Desert Island Discs this week is Brian Rix. For many years he brought farce to a large and appreciative audience - dropping his trousers thousands of times for the benefit of television viewers and theatre-goers. He was one of the most successful actor-managers that Britain has produced. But, more than 30 years ago, he called a halt to his first career to devote himself to altering legislation and attitudes towards disability. His eldest child, Shelley, was born with Down's syndrome and her birth prompted him towards his extraordinary second career. As a campaigner and fundraiser he has been described as having done more for people with learning disabilities than possibly anyone else in the country.

[Taken from the original programme material for this archive edition of Desert Island Discs]

Favourite track: Love by Nat King Cole
Book: Encyclopædia Britannica
Luxury: A proper orthopaedic cushion.

Act of Worship

Act of Worship: 06/03/2009

BBC Radio 4 - Act of Worship, 06/03/2009

An act of worship and music with Rev Angela Tilby.

Woman's Hour

Women's voices and women's lives - topical conversations to inform, challenge and inspire.

Woman's Hour: Marie McCourt; The arrest of Roxana Saberi

Marie McCourt; The arrest of Roxana Saberi

BBC Radio 4 - Woman's Hour, Marie McCourt; The arrest of Roxana Saberi

Marie McCourt on coming to terms with her daughter's disappearance and death.

Marie McCourt on coming to terms with her daughter's disappearance and death. Plus microfinancing in the developing world discussed, and Roxana Saberi's father on her arrest.

Hairspray and Harmonies

Hairspray and Harmonies: Episode 2

Episode 2

BBC Radio 4 Extra - Hairspray and Harmonies, Episode 2

Kit Hesketh-Harvey follows the Birmingham-based ladies barbershop chorus Second City Sound

Kit Hesketh-Harvey follows the Birmingham ladies' barbershop chorus Second City Sound before an important competition. From March 2009.

Kit Hesketh-Harvey follows the Birmingham-based ladies barbershop chorus Second City Sound. 

Kit meets up with the group in Harrogate as it prepares to compete in the Ladies Association of British Barbershop Singers.

BBC Radio 4 Extra

Your digital radio entertainment station showcasing the best in comedy and drama

Your digital radio entertainment station showcasing the best in comedy and drama. With recent favourites from BBC Radio 4.

Kit Hesketh-Harvey follows a Birmingham-based ladies barbershop chorus, Second City Sound

Kit Hesketh-Harvey follows the Birmingham-based ladies barbershop chorus, Second City Sound, as they prepare to compete in the Ladies Association of British Barbershop Singers in Harrogate

Comedy drama series by Nigel Williams that charts the misfortunes of an HR officer

Comedy drama series by Nigel Williams that charts the misfortunes of a middle-aged HR officer and his trouble-making colleague

HR: Series 1: A Role-Play

A Role-Play

Series 1

BBC Radio 4 - HR, Series 1, A Role-Play

Sam tries to help a disgruntled Peter when he discovers he has to apply for his own job.

Sam tries to help a disgruntled Peter when he discovers he has to apply for his own job. Stars Jonathan Pryce. From March 2009.

Peter discovers that he has to reapply for his own job. But he's not the only one...

Nigel Williams’ comedy drama series charting the misfortunes of a middle-aged HR officer and his trouble-making colleague.

Peter ...... Jonathan Pryce 
Sam ...... Nicholas Le Prevost

Director: Peter Cavanagh

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in March 2009.

HR: Series 1

News Headlines; Shipping Forecast

News, weather and Shipping Forecast updates. 

News Headlines; Shipping Forecast: 06/03/2009

BBC Radio 4 - News Headlines; Shipping Forecast, 06/03/2009

National and international news and the shipping forecast.

The latest national and international news headlines, followed by the shipping forecast.

You and Yours

You and Yours: 06/03/2009

BBC Radio 4 - You and Yours, 06/03/2009

With Peter White. Ian Macmillan ponders the significance of the necktie.

Consumer news and issues with Peter White. Ian Macmillan ponders the significance of the necktie. Why does the wearing, or not wearing, of this tiny piece of material mean so much?

Presented by Peter White.

Reports include:

A South Wales-based TV and home furnishings seller which has been criticised for charging high rates of interest.

Ian Macmillan ponders the significance of the necktie. Why does the wearing, or not wearing, of this tiny piece of material mean so much?

Tickets for Michael Jackson's O2 concerts don't go on general sale until Friday 13 March 2009 - but tickets are already on sale via the internet at five to six times their face value.

Is the fall in sterling good news for UK tourism? Sandie Dawe is the acting chief executive of Visit Britain and in charge of marketing Britain overseas as a tourist destination.

Andrew Lee has learning difficulties and has gone through many of the experiences associated with that impairment - being bullied, dead-end jobs and deterred from having children. He is now director of People First, the national campaigning organisation run by people with learning difficulties.

The voluntary Mountain Rescue Service is struggling financially and has asked the government for a VAT exemption. The issue was raised in the House of Lords this week. We report on the result.

Four people involved in a boiler room fraud that conned 500 investors out of more than 2.4 million pounds have been found guilty at the end of an eight-week trial at Southwark Crown Court.

Weather

Weather: 06/03/2009

BBC Radio 4 - Weather, 06/03/2009Close menu

World at One

Forty-five minutes of news, analysis and comment, with Sarah Montague.

World at One: 06/03/2009

BBC Radio 4 - World at One, 06/03/2009

National and international news with James Robbins.

Test Match Special

Test Match Special: 06/03/2009

BBC Radio 4 - Test Match Special, 06/03/2009

Coverage of the first day of the Fifth Test between West Indies and England in Trinidad.

Coverage of the first day of the Fifth Test between West Indies and England from Queen's Park Oval, Port of Spain in Trinidad. Including Shipping Forecast.

Coverage of the first day of the Fifth Test between West Indies and England from Queen's Park Oval, Port of Spain in Trinidad. Commentary by Jonathan Agnew, Christopher Martin Jenkins and Tony Cozier and summaries from Sir Viv Richards, Geoffrey Boycott and Vic Marks.

Including Shipping Forecast.

Stone

Detective series created by Danny Brocklehurst

Friday Drama: Stone

Stone: Series 1: Episode 1: Mary Shane

Episode 1

Episode 1: Mary Shane

Mary Shane

BBC Radio 4 - Stone, Series 1, Mary Shane

Stone investigates the high profile case of a missing teenage girl, Louise Sands.

DCI John Stone is investigating the case of a missing girl. Mary Shane, 80, turns up and confesses to murdering three people 60 years earlier.

By Danny Brocklehurst. 

DCI John Stone is investigating the high profile case of a missing teenage girl, Louise Sands. Then Mary Shane, 80, turns up insisting that she must speak to Stone and confesses to murdering three people 60 years earlier.

Mary Shane ...... Anne Reid
DCI Stone ...... Hugo Speer
Kate ...... Suranne Jones
Catriona ...... Zoe Henry
Tanner ...... Craig Cheetham
Sally ...... Danielle Henry
Jack Leary ...... James Nickerson
Ken ...... Terence Mann
Ryan ...... Aidan Parsons

Directed by Nadia Molinari.

Stone: Series 1

BBC Radio 4 is a radio channel that started transmitting on the 30th September 1967. It replaced BBC Home Service.

Detective series created by Danny Brocklehurst, featuring the investigations of DCI John Stone

The World Tonight

In depth reporting, intelligent analysis and major breaking news from a global perspective

The World Tonight: 06/03/2009

BBC Radio 4 - The World Tonight, 06/03/2009

National and international news and analysis with Robin Lustig.

News and analysis with Robin Lustig. Including reports on the prospects of a new relationship between Washington and Moscow and US unemployment rises to a 25-year high.

National and international news and analysis with Robin Lustig. Including reports on the prospects of a new relationship between Washington and Moscow, US unemployment rises to a 25-year high, a French whingeing website proves a surprising hit in America and what will be the future shape of the economy in a post-recession Britain.

Book at Bedtime

Readings from modern classics, new works by leading writers and world literature

Readings from modern classics, new works by leading writers and literature from around the world

Book at Bedtime: The White Tiger

Book at Bedtime: The White Tiger: Episode 10

Episode 10

The White Tiger

BBC Radio 4 - Book at Bedtime, The White Tiger, Episode 10

Balram has made it out of the darkness and into the dazzle of entrepreneurial success.

Balram has made it out of the darkness and into the dazzle of entrepreneurial success. The cost has been high, and could be even higher in future, but the price has been worth it.

Sagar Arya reads Aravind Adiga's Man Booker Prize-winning satire on contemporary India. The story of Balram Halwai, the son of a rickshaw puller, who escapes the rural poverty of his village into the bright lights and corruption of the city. 

Balram has made it out of the darkness and into the dazzle of entrepreneurial success. The cost has been high, and could be even higher in the future, but for the White Tiger the price has been worth it.

Sagar Arya reads Aravind Adiga's Man Booker Prize-winning novel, set in Delhi

Sagar Arya reads Aravind Adiga's Man Booker Prize-winning novel that explores contemporary India through the eyes of streetwise Delhi chauffeur Balram

A Good Read

A Good Read: Robyn Karney and Huw Stephens

Robyn Karney and Huw Stephens

BBC Radio 4 - A Good Read, Robyn Karney and Huw Stephens

Robyn Karney, Huw Stephens and Sue MacGregor discuss their favourite books.

4 Extra Debut. Robyn Karney and Huw Stephens join Sue MacGregor to discuss books by Colum McCann, Iain Banks and David Lodge.  From 2009.

Sue MacGregor is joined by belated author and critic Robyn Karen, and Radio 1 presenter Huw Stephens to discuss favourite books by Colum McCann, Iain Banks and David Lodge. 

Dancer by Colum McCann
Publisher: Phoenix 
 
The Wasp Factory by Iain Banks
Publisher: Abacus 
 
The Art of Fiction by David Lodge
Publisher: Penguin

Produced by Toby Field

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in March 2009.

Today in Parliament

News, views and features on today's stories in Parliament

Today in Parliament: 06/03/2009

BBC Radio 4 - Today in Parliament, 06/03/2009

News, views and features on today's stories in Parliament with Mark D'Arcy.

Midnight News

The latest news and weather forecast from BBC Radio 4.

Midnight News: 07/03/2009

07/03/2009

BBC Radio 4 - Midnight News, 07/03/2009

The latest national and international news from BBC Radio 4.

The latest national and international news from BBC Radio 4. Followed by weather.

Book of the Week

Serialised book readings, featuring works from various genres

Serialised book readings, featuring works of non-fiction, biography, autobiography, travel, diaries, essays, humour and history

Book of the Week: The Decisive Moment

Book of the Week: The Decisive Moment: Episode 5

Episode 5

The Decisive Moment

BBC Radio 4 - Book of the Week, The Decisive Moment, Episode 5

Exploring the certainty trap - a potential hazard for pundits and politicians alike.

Exploring the certainty trap - a potential hazard for pundits and politicians alike which can lead us to pretend that our mind is in full agreement with itself, even when it is not.

Hari Dhillon and Amanda Burton read Jonah Lehrer's exploration of neuroscience and how the human brain makes up its mind. 

Exploring the certainty trap - a potential hazard for pundits and politicians alike. It feels good to be certain, but this can lead each of us to pretend that our mind is in full agreement with itself, even when it is not. In other words, we trick ourselves into being sure. But is it possible to use our knowledge of the brain to avoid such pitfalls?

Jonah Lehrer's exploration of neuroscience and how the human brain makes up its mind

Hari Dhillon and Amanda Burton read Jonah Lehrer's exploration of neuroscience and how the human brain makes up its mind

Shipping Forecast: 07/03/2009

BBC Radio 4 - Shipping Forecast, 07/03/2009Close menu

Selection of BBC World Service Programmes

A selection of BBC World Service news and current affairs, arts and science programmes

BBC Radio 4 presents a selection of news and current affairs, arts and science programmes from the BBC World Service

Accessibility links

Programme Index

Shipping Forecast

06/03/2009

Genres

Formats

Brand

Weather

06/03/2009

Genres

Formats

Brand

Stone

Series 1

Episode 1: Mary Shane

Genres

Brand

Series

Weather

06/03/2009

Genres

Formats

Brand

Shipping Forecast

07/03/2009

Genres

Formats

Brand

BBC Radio 4 LW

About BBC Radio 4

About this data