BBC Radio 2 is a radio channel that started transmitting on the 30th September 1967. It replaced Light Programme.

BBC Radio 2

Good Morning Sunday

Reverend Kate Bottley and Jason Mohammad present uplifting stories about life.

Reverend Kate Bottley and Jason Mohammad present uplifting stories about life, love and modern spirituality.

Good Morning Sunday: 31/05/2009

31/05/2009

BBC Radio 2 - Good Morning Sunday, 31/05/2009

Aled says Good Morning Sunday to agony aunt Irma Kurtz.

Aled says Good Morning Sunday to agony aunt Irma Kurtz, who talks about life as a septuagenarian in the 21st Century. Plus Cara Dillon performs and talks about her Catholic faith.

Each week Aled Jones plays tracks from a broad musical spectrum that celebrates both our choral traditions and the vibrant world of modern music, as well as spiritually uplifting and reflective music. 

This week, Aled says Good Morning Sunday to Irma Kurtz, agony aunt for Cosmopolitan magazine for over 35 years. She talks about being a grandmother and life as a septuagenarian in the 21st Century, with her new book About Time: Growing Old Disgracefully.

Singer-songwriter Cara Dillon also performs live, and talks about her Roman Catholic faith.

Amazing music. Played by an amazing line up.

Radio 2: Amazing music. Played by an amazing line-up. The home of great music, entertainment and documentaries

Aled Jones

Guests include veteran agony aunt Irma Kurtz (37 years with Cosmopolitan) and, performing live and discussing herfaith, singer/songwriter Cara Dillon.

Steve Wright's Sunday Love Songs

A blend of classic love songs, dedications and real-life romance stories.

A blend of classic love songs, dedications and real-life romance stories, presented by Steve Wright.

Steve Wright's Sunday Love Songs: 31/05/2009

BBC Radio 2 - Steve Wright's Sunday Love Songs, 31/05/2009

Romantic dedications and the world's best love songs, presented by Steve Wright.

Romantic dedications, the search for Lost Loves and the world's best new and classic love songs, presented by Steve Wright.

Michael Ball's Sunday Brunch

BBC Radio 4 Extra

Sunday Brunch with Michael Ball and guests

Michael Ball's Sunday Brunch: 31/05/2009

BBC Radio 4 Extra - Michael Ball's Sunday Brunch, 31/05/2009

Michael is joined by special guest Eddi Reader.

Michael is joined by special guest Eddi Reader. Plus a review of the day's papers from Michael Prescott and a guide to the week's entertainment from Angie Errigo.

Michael Ball presents his Sunday Brunch with a review of the day's papers from Michael Prescott, a guide to the week's entertainment from Angie Errigo plus special guest Eddi Reader.

Michael Ball

Guests include singer Eddi Reader. Writer Michael Prescott reviews the papers and film journalist 
Angie Errigo offers an entertainment guide.

Elaine Paige on Sunday

Elaine Paige celebrates the best of Broadway, Hollywood and the West End.

Elaine Paige On Sunday

Elaine Paige on Sunday: 31/05/2009

BBC Radio 2 - Elaine Paige on Sunday, 31/05/2009

Featuring a new interview with Whoopi Goldberg.

Celebrating the best of Broadway, Hollywood and the West End. Featuring an interview with Whoopi Goldberg, who discusses her role as producer of the new stage musical Sister Act.

Elaine Paige plays the very best from Broadway, Hollywood and London's West End.

This week, the programme features an interview with Whoopi Goldberg who is the titular producer of the West End production of Sister Act.

Whoopi chats about her own career on Broadway, including A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum, and Thoroughly Modern Millie (which she produced).

Elaine also has some more Break-a-Leg messages and the competition. Plus, Malcolm's Big One comes from Stephen Sondheim's Sunday In The Park With George.

Today's special guest is Hollywood star Whoopi Goldberg , who has produced a stage-musical version of the 1992 comedy film Sister Act, in which she starred. Today she talks about her Broadway career. Plus a song from Stephen Sondheim 's 
Sunday in the Park with George, as chosen by Radio 2's Malcolm Prince.

Sounds of the 70s with Johnnie Walker 

Johnnie Walker plays classic tracks from the Seventies

Johnnie Walker's Sounds of the 70s

Sounds of the 70s with Johnnie Walker : 31/05/2009

Sounds of the 70s with Johnnie Walker

BBC Radio 2 - Sounds of the 70s with Johnnie Walker, 31/05/2009

Johnnie chats to Graham Gouldman from 10cc.

Johnnie Walker celebrates the '70s by playing classic tracks from both sides of the Atlantic and chats to Graham Gouldman from 10cc.

Johnnie Walker celebrates the 70s by playing classic tracks from both sides of the Atlantic. 

This week, he's speaking to Graham Gouldman from 10cc about the creation of their 1975 Number One hit, I'm Not In Love. 

The programme also features archive sessions and revisits Johnnie's popular quiz, Pop The Question.

Sounds of the 70s

Pop nostalgia with Johnnie Walker. Songwriter Graham Gouldman (For Your Love, Bus Stop, No Milk Today) discusses his work as part of 1970s hits machine 10cc, with attention to the band's 1975 smash I'm Not in Love.

Paul O'Grady

There's not another radio programme like it... the incomparable Paul O'Grady.

Paul O'Grady: 31/05/2009

BBC Radio 2 - Paul O'Grady, 31/05/2009

Paul moans about cinema drinks and plays Lady Ga Ga, Joyce Grenfell and The Seekers

Paul encourages listeners to say thank you to those who have made a positive difference to their lives. Plus great music, including Motown classics and the Northern Soul triple.

He's on the wireless with music you've probably forgotten, and a competition with a prize like no other...Paul O'Grady's programme is bursting with character, just like its host!

Take part: email paulogrady@bbc.co.uk and tell him about the people who have made a real difference to your life.

If you have a suggestion for three great Motown tracks, then let Paul know. And if you're a fan of Northern Soul music, then send us your favourites for the weekly triple.

Paul O'Grady on Radio 2, he's what the wireless was made for.

With letters from listeners wanting to thank a certain someone who has made a difference to their lives.

Alan Titchmarsh with Melodies for You

Alan Titchmarsh plays a mixture of popular and classical music

Alan Titchmarsh with Melodies for You: 31/05/2009

BBC Radio 2 - Alan Titchmarsh with Melodies for You, 31/05/2009

With Melodies for You. A mix of classical music, operetta, musicals, brass bands and jazz.

With Melodies for You. Including excerpts from Casablanca, Oklahoma, Genevieve and The Magic Bow. Classical choices include the Andante from Mozart's Piano Concerto No 21.

Plenty of movie memories in this evening's selection with excerpts from Casablanca; Oklahoma; and Genevieve and The Magic Bow - Hollywood's biopic of the life of Nicolo Paganini, as portrayed by Stewart Granger.

Alan's classical choices include the Overture to The Gondoliers by Sir Arthur Sullivan; E Lucevan Le Stelle from Puccini's Tosca and the beautiful Andante from Mozart's Piano Concerto No 21.

Alan Titchmarsh

With light classical and pop works, from Mozart and Puccini to music from Casablanca and Oklahoma!

The Sunday Hour

Rev Kate Bottley presents your favourite hymns and spiritual sounds

Rev Kate Bottley presents your favourite hymns and spiritual sounds with reflections, dedications and a wide range of inspirational music

Sunday Half Hour

The Sunday Hour: 31/05/2009

BBC Radio 2 - The Sunday Hour, 31/05/2009

Brian D'Arcy celebrates Pentecost with prayers, reflections and hymns.

Brian D'Arcy marks Pentecost with prayers, reflections and hymns sung by the Cantemus Chamber Choir from Wales, directed by Robert Court. The organist is Huw Tregelles Williams.

The Christian Church celebrates the day of Pentecost when God's Holy Spirit fell upon Jesus' disciples. 

Brian D'Arcy marks the occasion with hymns, prayers and reflections. Hymns are sung by this week's featured choir, Cantemus Chamber Choir from Wales, directed by Robert Court.

The organist is Huw Tregelles Williams and music includes Breathe On Me Breath Of God and Spirit Of God, Unseen As The Wind.

Sunday Half-Hour

Brian D'Arcy marks Pentecost with hymns, prayers and reflections. 
Featuring Cantemus Chamber Choir of Wales, directed by Robert Court .

Russell Davies

Russell Davies celebrates the art, craft and inspiration of the popular song

Russell Davies: 31/05/2009

BBC Radio 4 Extra - Russell Davies, 31/05/2009

Spotlighting Lucy Reed, Audrey Morris and Paula Castle, who all surfaced in the fifties.

Spotlighting three female balladeers who surfaced in the fifties - Lucy Reed, Audrey Morris and Paula Castle.

It was a surprise to find how many songs with bona fide vocal choruses (as opposed to instrumentals) there were with Benny Goodman's name attached, even if the attachment may have been more economic than artistic. But we don't begrudge Benny's name on Don't Be That Way and Stompin' At The Savoy for it was he, more than any other performing artist, who gave these and other songs their permanence.

We've mentioned before the erroneous crediting of songs and in the case of Benny's signature tune, a grave injustice is done - by Gregory Stone and Joseph Bonime to the originator of that familiar melody Let's Dance  -  for it is merely a disguised translation into four-four time of the main waltz theme in Carl Maria Von Weber's 1811 composition, Invitation To The Dance Op. 65.

 

Our appeal for further "grudging love-songs" (of which we ourselves came up with another this week - "Until The Real Thing Comes Along") has elicited quite a flurry of suggestions though none that we consider properly reluctant yet loving: Plenty of cheerful "hate" songs were offered but that's another category. Nearest, perhaps, is one put forward by Blair Miller - You're Awful (from On The Town) but this, with its deceptive starts to sentences ("You're nothin'" "You're frightening" and so on), simply goes on to laud the subject in the usual way ("..Awful good to look at.." "nothin' if not dazzling..") so hardly a reluctant, half-hearted admirer!

Malcolm Laycock

The best of the big bands. 
The last edition of this show was broadcast on 26 July 2009.

Malcolm Laycock: 31/05/2009

BBC Radio 2 - Malcolm Laycock, 31/05/2009

Malcolm Laycock with the best of the swing and big bands.

A late night/early morning concert from Count Basie and boogie woogie from Harry James are celebrated by Malcolm Laycock tonight, with more music from Glenn Miller, Nelson Riddle and Duke Ellington.

Malcolm Laycock has a rather large dose the of boogie woogie's from the Harry James, Lionel Hampton and Will Bradley-Johnny Guarnieri Orchestras in the show. Other favourites of the big band era featured are Glenn Miller, Nelson Riddle, Duke Ellington and the Count Basie Orchestra live at 5 (in the morning) some fifty years ago this week.

The David Jacobs Collection

David Jacobs presents a relaxed programme of easy-listening music and anecdotes

David Jacobs presents a relaxed programme of easy-listening music, anecdotes and the ever-popular Common Denominator

The David Jacobs Collection: 31/05/2009

BBC Radio 2 - The David Jacobs Collection, 31/05/2009

The greatest songs and performances from Hollywood, Broadway and Tin Pan Alley.

The greatest songs and performances from Hollywood, Broadway and Tin Pan Alley. Plus the Weekly Common Denominator.

The David Jacobs

Janice Long

Great music and chat, with a weekly interview and Spoken Word Session every Wednesday

Music you love, plus great guests and a weekly Spoken Word Session that you won't hear anywhere else

Janice Long: 31/05/2009

BBC Radio 2 - Janice Long, 31/05/2009

With live sessions, irreverent chat and great music.

With live sessions, irreverent chat and great music, including obscure, lesser-heard records in Tunes of the Unexpected. Plus a Pause for Thought from Richard Littledale at 1.30am.

Janice

Alex Lester

Weekday morning music and entertainment with Alex Lester

Alex Lester: 01/06/2009

01/06/2009

BBC Radio 2 - Alex Lester, 01/06/2009

With the Best Time Of The Day Show. Eclectic music and chat, plus Pause for Thought.

With music and conversation in the Best Time of the Day Show. Includes Alex's personal choice of tracks in Lester's Library and Pause for Thought.

Alex, aka The Dark Lord, presents a blend of music and conversation.

Includes Alex's personal choice of tracks in Lester's Library, your chance to get a tune played in the Listeners' Library feature, and Pause for Thought.

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Steve Wright's Sunday Love Songs

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Steve Wright's Sunday Love Songs

31/05/2009

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01/06/2009

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