Shows
Between the EarsThe Virtual SymphonyThe joys and horrors of the internet, evoked by stories, sounds and an exciting new electronic and vocal work composed by Kieran Brunt. Opens with an introduction by the composer.30 years ago, Tim Berners-Lee created the very first website. This powerful edition of Between the Ears explores how the internet has dramatically reshaped our lives over the following three decades.In 1990s Glasgow, a young woman in a physics computer lab glimpses a different future for the world - and herself. In Luton, the web awakens a young man’s Sikh identity - a few ye...2021-07-1829 min
Don't Log OffOpportunityAlan Dein searches for the stories that connect us in a changing world. Today, Alan hears stories from people who’ve transformed their lives and are helping others to do the same against the backdrop of the pandemic.He speaks to Alhaji in Sierra Leone who’s building a house for his parents from the money he’s earned working in the United States.He hears from Tiffany in India who helps visually impaired people become more independent, after her own challenging childhood. Alan also connects with Al in the United States...2020-12-2927 minBetween the EarsBrief EncountersStories of real life chance encounters, inspired by the 75th anniversary of the much-loved film Brief Encounter. Introduced by Matthew Sweet. Using different recordings of Rachmaninov's Piano Concerto No. 2 - which famously underscores the 1945 film - Between the Ears reflects on how a chance meeting can change our lives forever.In the 1950s two people bump into each other changing trains at Harrow-on-the-Hill station. In 2001, two strangers meet on a train bound for Edinburgh. In 2014 two paths cross in a departure lounge at Toronto Airport. Meanwhile, a few Christmases ago in a pub in Margate...2020-12-2729 minDon't Log OffGroundedAlan Dein searches for the stories that connect us in a changed world. Inspiring and moving stories of how the pandemic has changed people's lives on every continent. Today, airline pilot Peter in Australia talks about deciding to become a bus driver after the pandemic forced him to stop flying.And wedding planner Vithika in India discusses the dramatic impact of the pandemic on her industry. Plus, Chun Wing, a ballet dancer at the Paris Opera shares the frustrations of not being able to perform. Alan also speaks to Shira who...2020-12-2227 minDon't Log OffSearching For HopeAlan Dein searches for the stories that connect us in a changed world. Inspiring and moving accounts of how the pandemic has changed people's lives on every continent. Today, Liana in Armenia celebrates her 30th birthday as her country finds itself at war with Azerbaijan - as well as covid-19.We also catch up with 25 year old entrepreneur Fahad in Bangladesh, who Alan first spoke to in March when it looked like he might lose his hard-earned fortune. Plus, Ugandan midwife Marion faces the toughest year of her career and Fish in China...2020-12-1527 minDon't Log OffResilienceAlan Dein searches for the stories that connect us in a changed world. Inspiring and moving accounts of how the pandemic has changed people's lives on every continent. New series. Today, Alan connects with Sakie in Myanmar, who tells of a heroic 24 hour journey from his remote village in order to save his mother’s life.
He also catches up with Maria Ester in Ecuador, who Alan first spoke to six months ago when it looked as if her family business was on the verge of collapse. Alan also connects with Mursalina in Afghanistan, Mohammed in...2020-12-1427 min
The UntoldFirst Flight to NewquayGrace Dent follows Cornwall Airport Newquay as it fights for survival during one of the most difficult periods in aviation history.The Untold first visited the airport earlier in the year when the regional airline Flybe collapsed. Then the national lockdown forced the temporary closure of the passenger terminal.Now the terminal has reopened for business, but the airport continues its struggle to remain viable. The Untold follows the airport’s director and staff over a tough summer, as well as speaking to one of the airport’s taxi drivers and the owners of the near...2020-11-0227 minThe UntoldGoodbye, Hong Kong?Grace Dent follows two young Hong Kongers over a crucial two weeks in their bid to make the UK home.Friends and housemates Chris and Louise have been living in the UK for the past two years. After the recent turmoil in Hong Kong, they now want to settle in the UK permanently. There's just one problem - Chris's visa is about to expire. The Untold follows them over a critical couple of weeks which will determine their future forever.Producer: Laurence Grissell2020-10-1927 minBetween the EarsThe Rising Sea SymphonyThe dramatic effects of climate change evoked in words, sounds and a powerful new musical work.Over four movements of rich and evocative music, the listener is transported to the front line of the climate crisis, with stories from coastal Ghana – where entire villages are being swept away by the rising sea – to Norway’s Svalbard archipelago in the high arctic where the ice is melting with alarming speed. The dramatic final movement ponders two contrasting possible outcomes to the crisis. In an ambitious new work originally commissioned by BBC Radio 3 for their Between the Ears s...2020-10-1829 min
The Long ViewPresidential Elections & Racial TurmoilJonathan Freedland takes the long view of presidential elections fought against a backdrop of racial turmoil, comparing 2020 with 1968, the year when Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated. In 1968, Richard Nixon adopted a 'law and order' strategy to win over the so-called 'silent majority' in the face of escalating unrest. Donald Trump has adopted the same language in 2020 following outrage provoked by the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis. The law and order approach worked for Nixon in 1968 - will it work for President Trump this November? Readings are performed by Clarke Peters who stars in...2020-07-2327 min
Listen to the Best Full Audiobooks in History, WorldThe Californian Century: Stanley Tucci tells the dramatic story of modern California by Laurence GrissellPlease visithttps://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/1/audiobook/434648to listen full audiobooks.
Title: The Californian Century: Stanley Tucci tells the dramatic story of modern California
Author: Laurence Grissell
Narrator: Stanley Tucci
Format: Unabridged Audiobook
Length: 2 hours 26 minutes
Release date: June 4, 2020
Genres: World
Publisher's Summary:
From Hollywood to Silicon Valley, California wants to dazzle you with its sunshine and its vision of the future - but that's just a mirage. I know the whole, sordid truth. Hello. I'm Stanley Tucci. I'll be playing a hard-boiled screenwriter - you know the type: he's met 'em all, he's gotten drunk with 'em all. My screenplays...2020-06-042h 26
Listen to the Best Full Audiobooks in History, WorldThe Californian Century: Stanley Tucci tells the dramatic story of modern California by Laurence GrissellPlease visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/1/audiobook/434648 to listen full audiobooks. Title: The Californian Century: Stanley Tucci tells the dramatic story of modern California Author: Laurence Grissell Narrator: Stanley Tucci Format: Unabridged Audiobook Length: 2 hours 26 minutes Release date: June 4, 2020 Genres: World Publisher's Summary: From Hollywood to Silicon Valley, California wants to dazzle you with its sunshine and its vision of the future - but that's just a mirage. I know the whole, sordid truth. Hello. I'm Stanley Tucci. I'll be playing a hard-boiled screenwriter - you know the type: he's met 'em all, he's gotten drunk with 'em all. My...2020-06-0405 minAccess Top-Rated Full Audiobooks in History, The AmericasThe Californian Century: Stanley Tucci tells the dramatic story of modern California by Laurence GrissellPlease visithttps://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/1/audiobook/434648to listen full audiobooks.
Title: The Californian Century: Stanley Tucci tells the dramatic story of modern California
Author: Laurence Grissell
Narrator: Stanley Tucci
Format: Unabridged Audiobook
Length: 2 hours 26 minutes
Release date: June 4, 2020
Genres: The Americas
Publisher's Summary:
From Hollywood to Silicon Valley, California wants to dazzle you with its sunshine and its vision of the future - but that's just a mirage. I know the whole, sordid truth. Hello. I'm Stanley Tucci. I'll be playing a hard-boiled screenwriter - you know the type: he's met 'em all, he's gotten drunk with 'em all. My...2020-06-042h 26
Access Top-Rated Full Audiobooks in History, The AmericasThe Californian Century: Stanley Tucci tells the dramatic story of modern California by Laurence GrissellPlease visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/1/audiobook/434648 to listen full audiobooks. Title: The Californian Century: Stanley Tucci tells the dramatic story of modern California Author: Laurence Grissell Narrator: Stanley Tucci Format: Unabridged Audiobook Length: 2 hours 26 minutes Release date: June 4, 2020 Genres: The Americas Publisher's Summary: From Hollywood to Silicon Valley, California wants to dazzle you with its sunshine and its vision of the future - but that's just a mirage. I know the whole, sordid truth. Hello. I'm Stanley Tucci. I'll be playing a hard-boiled screenwriter - you know the type: he's met 'em all, he's gotten drunk with 'em all...2020-06-0405 min
Wireless NightsLockdownFrom somewhere deep in lockdown, Jarvis trawls the Wireless Nights archive looking for relief from isolation.From the darkness of Lundy Island to a snowbound white out, from a man sending radio signals to the moon to a castaway in the North Sea, Jarvis tunes into stories of isolation and endurance with fellow travellers as they make it through the long night.Produced by Laurence Grissell and Neil McCarthy2020-05-2628 minDon't Log OffHomecomingAlan Dein talks to people around the world about the challenges of family life in lockdown.He connects with Margaret in Uganda who has adopted many children orphaned by HIV. And he reaches out to Alezz in Peru, a trans non-binary person who is confined to their bedroom as their parents struggle to accept them.He also speaks to Pawel who got trapped in Poland at the start of January and doesn't know when he'll be able to return home to his wife in China.Producers: Georgia Catt, Laurence Grissell & Sarah Shebbeare2020-05-1127 min
The Californian CenturyGovernor Jerry BrownStanley Tucci tells the story of Jerry Brown, California's longest serving governor. Brown is a singular figure in Californian politics, having presided over California from 1975 to 1983 and 2011 to 2019.In a wide-ranging interview, Brown shares his thoughts on California's past and future.A great source of inspiration is his great grandfather, who came over in the Gold Rush.But Jerry Brown believes after a century of growth, California must now learn to embrace limits.Academic consultant: Dr Ian Scott, University of ManchesterWritten and produced by Laurence Grissell2020-04-2124 min
The Californian CenturyGovernor Jerry BrownStanley Tucci tells the story of Jerry Brown, California's longest serving governor.
Brown is a singular figure in Californian politics, having presided over California from 1975 to 1983 and 2011 to 2019.
In a wide-ranging interview, Brown shares his thoughts on California's past and future.
A great source of inspiration is his great grandfather, who came over in the Gold Rush.
But Jerry Brown believes after a century of growth, California must now learn to embrace limits.
Academic consultant: Dr Ian Scott, University of Manchester
Written and produced by Laurence Grissell2020-04-2124 minThe Californian CenturyOn IceStanley Tucci tells the story of Ice-T, the original gangster rapper.
Ice T's controversial hit Cop Killer epitomised the turbulence of 1990s LA, consumed by the outrage of the Rodney King beating.
But Ice himself would go on to play a cop on TV - showing California's talent for absorbing dissidence into the mainstream.
Academic consultant: Dr Ian Scott, University of Manchester
Written and produced by Laurence Grissell2020-04-2014 minThe Californian CenturyOn IceStanley Tucci tells the story of Ice-T, the original gangster rapper.Ice T's controversial hit Cop Killer epitomised the turbulence of 1990s LA, consumed by the outrage of the Rodney King beating.But Ice himself would go on to play a cop on TV - showing California's talent for absorbing dissidence into the mainstream.Academic consultant: Dr Ian Scott, University of ManchesterWritten and produced by Laurence Grissell2020-04-2014 minDon't Log OffCalm WatersAlan Dein connects with people around the world trying to find moments of calm during the coronavirus pandemic.He speaks to Jens, the captain of a container ship in the middle of the Indian Ocean who is unsure when he may be able to get his crew back home, and Sujatha, an 85 year old in India who is philosophical about being confined to her home in Delhi.1000 miles south of Delhi, Alan reaches out to Chinu who is feeding Mumbai's urban poor as the Indian government imposes a lockdown. And he speak to Benedetta, who...2020-04-1527 minThe Californian CenturySan Francisco BurningStanley Tucci tells the story of Dianne Feinstein, trailblazing Californian politician who took over as mayor of San Francisco in 1978 after the murders of Harvey Milk and Mayor Moscone.
Feinstein was charged with the difficult task of healing San Francisco after the brutal slaying of two highly popular leaders - against the backdrop of the further horrors of the recent Jonestown Massacre.
Academic consultant: Dr Ian Scott, University of Manchester
Written and produced by Laurence Grissell2020-04-1314 minThe Californian CenturySan Francisco BurningStanley Tucci tells the story of Dianne Feinstein, trailblazing Californian politician who took over as mayor of San Francisco in 1978 after the murders of Harvey Milk and Mayor Moscone.Feinstein was charged with the difficult task of healing San Francisco after the brutal slaying of two highly popular leaders - against the backdrop of the further horrors of the recent Jonestown Massacre.Academic consultant: Dr Ian Scott, University of ManchesterWritten and produced by Laurence Grissell2020-04-1314 minThe Californian CenturyActs of ResistanceStanley Tucci tells the story of Kathleen Cleaver, a leading light in the short-lived but highly influential Black Panther Party which was founded in Oakland, California.Kathleen Cleaver and the Panthers were sick of the compromises of the mainstream civil rights movement. Their militant approach influenced many other activists - including San Francisco's increasingly vocal LGBT community.But for the US government, the Panthers became public enemy number one - and leading figures like Cleaver were forced to flee.Academic consultant: Dr Ian Scott, University of ManchesterWritten and produced by...2020-04-0614 minThe Californian CenturyActs of ResistanceStanley Tucci tells the story of Kathleen Cleaver, a leading light in the short-lived but highly influential Black Panther Party which was founded in Oakland, California.
Kathleen Cleaver and the Panthers were sick of the compromises of the mainstream civil rights movement. Their militant approach influenced many other activists - including San Francisco's increasingly vocal LGBT community.
But for the US government, the Panthers became public enemy number one - and leading figures like Cleaver were forced to flee.
Academic consultant: Dr Ian Scott, University of Manchester
Written and produced by Laurence Grissell2020-04-0614 minThe Californian CenturyA Twist of FateStanley Tucci continues his history of California with the story of Silicon Valley's troubled founder, William Shockley.Shockley was the man who first brought silicon to Silicon Valley in the 1950s. He was an undoubted genius. But he was also a hideous boss and an irredeemable racist.California wants to dazzle you with its endless sunshine and visions of the future – but that’s just a mirage. Stanley Tucci plays a hard-boiled screenwriter uncovering the full, sordid truth. He knows exactly where all the bodies are buried.Academic consultant: Dr Ian Scott, University of M...2020-03-3014 minThe Californian CenturyA Twist of FateStanley Tucci continues his history of California with the story of Silicon Valley's troubled founder, William Shockley.
Shockley was the man who first brought silicon to Silicon Valley in the 1950s. He was an undoubted genius. But he was also a hideous boss and an irredeemable racist.
California wants to dazzle you with its endless sunshine and visions of the future – but that’s just a mirage. Stanley Tucci plays a hard-boiled screenwriter uncovering the full, sordid truth. He knows exactly where all the bodies are buried.
Academic consultant: Dr Ian Scott, University of Manchester
Written and produced by Laurence Gris2020-03-3014 minThe Californian CenturyThe Good FightStanley Tucci tells the story of Leon Lewis who hunted down Nazis on the streets on LA in the 30s and 40s.
With its aircraft factories and shipyards, California consumed ten per cent of the US war budget. That made it a prime target for Nazis hoping to disrupt the war effort.
Leon Lewis swung into action, infiltrating LA's Nazi groups. Meanwhile, California drew in more people and money than ever before, sowing the seeds of its post-War economic success.
Academic consultant: Dr Ian Scott, University of Manchester
Written and produced by Laurence Grissell2020-03-2314 minThe Californian CenturyThe Good FightStanley Tucci tells the story of Leon Lewis who hunted down Nazis on the streets on LA in the 30s and 40s. With its aircraft factories and shipyards, California consumed ten per cent of the US war budget. That made it a prime target for Nazis hoping to disrupt the war effort. Leon Lewis swung into action, infiltrating LA's Nazi groups. Meanwhile, California drew in more people and money than ever before, sowing the seeds of its post-War economic success.Academic consultant: Dr Ian Scott, University of ManchesterWritten and produced...2020-03-2314 minThe Californian CenturyA Hard Won OscarStanley Tucci tells the story of Hattie McDaniel, the first African American to win an Oscar in 1940.
McDaniel won the Oscar for best supporting actress for her role as Mammy in Gone With The Wind. But the hotel where the awards were being held almost barred her from attending the ceremony.
Her victory wasn't universally celebrated by African Americans either. She was heavily criticised by civil rights groups for playing a role that perpetuated stereotypes and romanticised slavery.
But in those days, you played by Hollywood's rules, or you didn't play at all.
Producer: Laurence Grissell
Academic Consultant: Dr Ian...2020-03-1614 minThe Californian CenturyA Hard Won OscarStanley Tucci tells the story of Hattie McDaniel, the first African American to win an Oscar in 1940.McDaniel won the Oscar for best supporting actress for her role as Mammy in Gone With The Wind. But the hotel where the awards were being held almost barred her from attending the ceremony.Her victory wasn't universally celebrated by African Americans either. She was heavily criticised by civil rights groups for playing a role that perpetuated stereotypes and romanticised slavery.But in those days, you played by Hollywood's rules, or you didn't play at all.2020-03-1614 minThe Californian CenturyThe VanishingStanley Tucci tells the story of celebrity revivalist preacher Aimee Semple McPherson who disappeared one day in 1926.
They called her Sister Aimee and she was a powerful figure in the early days of California. Adored by thousands, she embodied the close connection between religion, Hollywood, politics and money.
Right up until she went for a swim one day - and vanished. When she re-appeared weeks later, scandal swirled around Sister Aimee - scandal she could never quite shake off.
California wants to dazzle you with its endless sunshine and visions of the future – but that’s just a mirage.
Stanley Tucc...2020-03-0914 minThe Californian CenturyThe VanishingStanley Tucci tells the story of celebrity revivalist preacher Aimee Semple McPherson who disappeared one day in 1926. They called her Sister Aimee and she was a powerful figure in the early days of California. Adored by thousands, she embodied the close connection between religion, Hollywood, politics and money.Right up until she went for a swim one day - and vanished. When she re-appeared weeks later, scandal swirled around Sister Aimee - scandal she could never quite shake off.California wants to dazzle you with its endless sunshine and visions of the future – bu...2020-03-0914 minThe Californian CenturyDark WaterStanley Tucci tells the story of William Mulholland and the lies that made Los Angeles possible., The founders of LA had a vision of a future megacity. But there was just one problem - it was a virtual desert, with very little rainfall. William Mulholland was the man charged with bringing water to the desert. But not without a great deal of double dealing and duplicity.California wants to dazzle you with its endless sunshine and visions of the future – but that’s just a mirage. Stanley Tucci imagines the modern hist...2020-03-0214 minThe Californian CenturyA Body on the BacklotStanley Tucci imagines the story of modern California as a movie screenplay, tracing the dramatic history of the state from Hollywood to Silicon Valley. In this episode, the first man to direct a full movie in California meets a dramatic end. In 1911, 41 year old Francis Boggs was on the up, a pioneering movie director. But his luck was just about to run out. California wants to dazzle you with its endless sunshine and visions of the future – but that’s just a mirage. Stanley Tucci plays a hard-boiled screenwriter uncovering the full, sordid truth. He know...2020-02-2414 minBetween the EarsThe M1 SymphonyThe dynamic, often dramatic, life of the M1 in words, sounds and a thrilling new work performed by the BBC Philharmonic, as Britain’s first major motorway marks its 60th anniversary.
In a powerful composition specially commissioned by BBC Radio 3, The M1 Symphony depicts how the M1 has transformed the British landscape and millions of lives. A place of routine and drama, where a momentary lapse can change everything, with terrifying speed.
Documentary producer Laurence Grissell and composer Alex Woolf first collaborated last year on The NHS Symphony. Their new work explores a very different but no less transformative feature of...2019-10-2745 minDon't Log OffSeeking FulfilmentAlan Dein connects with people around the world united by their desire to find fulfilment.Alan speaks to a young gay man in China troubled by homophobia and an Egyptian woman determined to resist the religious extremism she witnesses in her small city. He also reaches out to an Iranian man struggling to pursue his passion for foreign languages against the odds and a jobless Nigerian distressed by his inability to provide for his family. Producer: Laurence Grissell2019-09-0427 minThe UntoldA Trip to Death RowLaura from London visits a death row inmate in Florida to seek answers about her late father's final years. Laura's dad John was an alcoholic. He spent the last ten years of his life writing to Michael, a man condemned to death for murder. John confided things in Michael which he didn't share with his own daughter. 29 year old Laura enters a maximum security prison in Florida to find out what Michael knows. Producer: Laurence Grissell2019-06-0327 minThe Long ViewWomen in Intelligence and CybersecurityJonathan Freedland compares the drive to attract more women into intelligence and cybersecurity today to the recruitment of women at Bletchley Park during World War Two.The government's National Cyber Security Centre - a branch of GCHQ - are keen to address the shortage of women in their workforce. Jonathan travels to Bletchley Park to look at what lessons can be learned from the wartime codebreaking operation where by the end of the war 75% of the workforce were female.Among Jonathan's guests is Charlotte Webb, who worked at Bletchley Park during the Second World War...2019-05-1427 minThe UntoldLeaving the PartyGrace Dent presents the story of two councillors who've quit their parties to run as independents in the local elections. Rowan has left Labour over antisemitism, while Brian has quit the Conservatives over Brexit. Will their gamble pay off? Producer: Laurence Grissell2019-05-0627 minThe Long ViewBrexit and European DiplomacyJonathan Freedland explores parallels between Brexit and a major dispute between King Offa of Mercia and Charlemagne, King of the Franks in the 790s.In the 790s, King Offa of the English kingdom of Mercia found himself at loggerheads with Charlemagne, King of the Franks on the other side of the Channel. Jonathan and guests examine how the dispute was resolved and explore how the difficulties compare to Britain's relations with the EU in the postwar era.Jonathan is joined by historian Dr Rory Naismith of King's College London and Sir Stephen Wall, former Private...2019-04-2327 minDon't Log OffA Sense of BelongingAlan Dein connects with strangers across the world, exploring the things that unite people across cultures and borders. Today, Alan reaches out to people in Afghanistan, the Philippines, Sierra Leone and beyond - exploring what it means to belong. He hears people yearning for a better life elsewhere - and those determined to make a go of it where they are. Producer: Laurence Grissell2019-03-0527 minThe Long ViewPrime Ministers and Divided PartiesJonathan Freedland compares Theresa May's woes now with those of Arthur Balfour in 1903-06, taking the long view of prime ministers confronted with deep divisions in their own party.In the early 1900s Prime Minister Arthur Balfour was faced with a seemingly irreconcilable split in his party. Back then, Balfour’s Conservatives were tearing themselves apart over Imperial Preference - a proposal for a free trade zone within the British Empire. Advocates of Imperial Preference saw it as vital to maintaining Britain's place in the world. Opponents saw it as a dangerous folly. Jonathan Freedland lo...2019-01-0827 minThe UntoldMe, Dad and DementiaGrace Dent presents the story of Amanda and her fight to get 24 hour care for her 96 year old dad who has dementia - before it's too late.Alan calls his daughter Amanda up to twenty times a day, confused and paranoid. But he's adamant he doesn't want to go into a care home. We follow Amanda's struggle to get him the care she feels he needs.Producer: Laurence Grissell2019-01-0727 minWireless NightsDestiny's ChildJarvis Cocker hosts a special festive edition, telling stories of a shepherdess and a miracle birth, whilst a wise man looks out for bright lights in the Christmas skies.On a cold and frosty Christmas night, a baby is set to enter the world in the most inauspicious circumstances, a pair of shepherds keep watch over their flocks and a star gazer scans the heavens for unusual signs. Producer: Laurence Grissell2018-12-2627 minThe UntoldFighting For My Niece38-year-old entrepreneur Simon fights to become his teenage niece's legal guardian after she was placed in care. Until last year, Simon was a highly successful businessman with a city lifestyle to match. Then his business went under - and with it his sense of purpose in life. At around the same time his 13-year-old niece was placed into local authority care because of her mother's drug use. Simon resolves to get his niece out of care and become her legal guardian - but it involves a fraught legal process and a massive life change.Presenter...2018-12-1727 minBetween the EarsThe NHS SymphonyThe patterns and flows of life in the NHS captured in immersive stereo, with specially commissioned music sung by NHS staff and The Bach Choir.In the maternity unit at Birmingham's Heartlands Hospital, the heart rate of an unborn child gives cause for concern. Across town at Queen Elizabeth Hospital, patients with critical heart conditions are closely monitored hour by hour. Downstairs in A&E, staff begin their shift not knowing what awaits them. Between the Ears marks the 70th anniversary of the NHS with a unique composition depicting two Birmingham hospitals as they care...2018-06-3029 minThe Long ViewDriverless Cars and the Railways of 1830Jonathan Freedland compares safety on the railways in the 1830s to the debate around driverless cars today.The Liverpool and Manchester Railway was opened to great fanfare on 15 September 1830. It was clear this new form of transport would radically transform society. Yet the day was overshadowed by the death of William Huskisson MP who stepped on the tracks and was struck by Stephenson's Rocket as it steamed down the line. With the the first death to result from driverless vehicles in Arizona a few weeks ago, Jonathan Freedland and guests tell the story of Huskisson's...2018-04-1927 minThe Long ViewWeakened Prime MinistersJonathan Freedland compares Theresa May's weakened premiership with that of Liberal prime minister Lord Rosebery in 1894-5. MPs Iain Duncan Smith and Grant Shapps join Jonathan to examine what lessons can be learned.Rosebery was appointed to the premiership as a unity candidate, chosen to heal rifts in the Liberal Party caused by the issue of Home Rule. But Rosebery had powerful rivals in his cabinet - most notably the chancellor Sir William Harcourt. As the months passed, Rosebery's leadership was increasingly called into question with the government accused of being in office but not in power.2017-11-2127 min
Don't Log OffGreat ExpectationsAlan Dein travels the world via the internet talking to parents and children about navigating the tricky expectations they have of each other.Among those Alan strikes up conversation with today: a Filipino mother estranged from her gay son, a Ugandan woman whose education was cut short and a young Korean man hiding his tattoos from his parents. Producer: Laurence Grissell.2017-11-1827 minDon't Log OffSurvivalAlan Dein travels the world via the internet, talking to people trying to survive against the odds.Locking himself away in a studio in Broadcasting House, Alan crosses time zones and continents speaking to random strangers using Facebook, Skype and WhatsApp.Among those Alan gets chatting to today is BJ who spends half his life working on the confines of an oil rig in the East Timor Sea so that he can spend the rest of his time throwing himself off high rise buildings as he pursues his super dangerous pastime, base jumping. Then there's...2017-11-1127 minThe UntoldUnfair Dismissal?Grace Dent returns with a new series of untold stories from modern Britain. The new series opens with the story of former care home manager Rachel Burns who was sacked after posting a photo of one of her residents on Facebook.Though Rachel Burns admitted she'd made a number of mistakes in her use of social media, she felt that dismissal was too draconian after 21 years working for her employer, the local council. The Untold follows Rachel over a twelve month period as she pursues an unfair dismissal claim. The odds seem stacked...2017-11-0627 min
Punt PILost NukesSteve Punt returns as Radio 4's very own private detective.In this tenth anniversary edition, Steve's called in to investigate the unlikely disappearance of American and Russian nuclear weapons - with assistance from best-selling thriller writer Frederick Forsyth. At first, Steve's sceptical - surely no nuclear power could actually lose possession of weapons capable of causing Armageddon. But as his investigation gathers pace, the story starts to becomes rather disturbing.From an H-bomb lost over Savannah, Georgia to a cache of so-called 'suitcase nukes' which rumours suggest could still be stashed in modern...2017-09-0227 minThe Long ViewCyber-attacks and the Great Siege of Dover CastleJonathan Freedland compares cyber-attacks today with the Great Siege of Dover Castle in 1216 during which the French used new offensive techniques to try to seize the English throne. In 1216, Prince Louis of France's near-successful bid for the English throne climaxed in Dover, where his forces used a multitude of techniques in a major assault on the castle - including digging beneath the castle gate and use of the trebuchet to attempt to breach the walls. Jonathan draws on this medieval example to discuss cyber security in the 21st century context.Joining Jonathan at Dover Castle...2017-07-2727 minThe UntoldEddie Todd for MayorGrace Dent follows Doncaster businessman Eddie Todd in his colourful campaign to be the town's Mayor. Rejecting traditional politics, Eddie's standing as an independent - but without a party machine behind him can he convince enough voters to put a cross next to his name?Eddie starts his campaign with high hopes but as 4 May approaches he realises he's got a mountain to climb. We're with Eddie from the moment he unpacks his megaphones right through to the nail biting tension of election night and those all important results.Producer: Laurence Grissell.2017-05-0827 minWireless NightsNight TubeJarvis Cocker rides in the driver's cab of a late night Tube train, hearing tales of nocturnal travellers across London.With Beyoncé-loving Night Tube driver Kylie at the controls, Jarvis is whisked along the Victoria line late into the night. En route he hears from a cast of characters embroiled in their own dramas as they make their way around the capital in the small hours - including a late night reveller who fell sleep on the train and got more than she'd bargained for. Producer: Laurence Grissell.2017-03-2129 minThe Long ViewDonald Trump's border wall and the 1840s Great Hedge of IndiaJonathan Freedland compares Donald Trump's proposed border wall with the impenetrable 2500 mile Great Hedge of India constructed in the 1840s to control trade between British India and the Princely States.
Producer: Laurence Grissell.2017-03-1427 minThe UntoldFeeding an ArmyA mobile food van takes on a catering giant at a Wiltshire army base.Linda and Jacqui Clark have been serving bacon baps to the soldiers of Larkhill Barracks in Wiltshire for 27 years. Now they've been given their marching orders as the army's official caterers launch their own van.8000 soldiers have signed a petition in support of Katie's Kitchen - but will top brass take notice and grant Katie's Kitchen a last minute reprieve?Producer: Laurence Grissell.2017-01-0227 minThe UntoldLife After BHSGrace Dent follows BHS worker Anthony as he hunts for a new job - one of 11,000 BHS staff made redundant in 2016.The story starts in August as BHS Cardiff Bay closes its doors for the last time. Furniture sales consultant Anthony resolves to leave retail and find a job with more sociable hours.But the 50 year old finds changing direction is more difficult than he'd hoped.Producer: Laurence Grissell.2016-12-2627 minDon't Log OffDon't Log Off, Mr PresidentAlan Dein talks to his Facebook friends across America about the election of Donald Trump. Just hours after the result, Trump and Clinton supporters alike talk passionately about why they voted the way they did - and share their hopes and fears about the future of the United States. Working through the night, Alan tries to understand what the election has revealed about modern America - from California to Tennessee. Producer: Laurence Grissell.2016-11-1327 minPunt PIThe Suspicious Death of Emile ZolaSteve Punt returns as Radio 4's very own private detective.Punt travels to Paris to investigate the suspicious death of celebrated writer Émile Zola. Zola died in 1902 from carbon monoxide poisoning caused by a blocked chimney. At the time, the authorities reached a verdict of accidental death. Subsequently, evidence has emerged that Zola's death may have been murder. Certainly Zola's role in France's notorious Dreyfus Affair made him many enemies. But as Punt discovers, the case is far from clear cut. For one thing, carbon monoxide is a very unusual way of murdering someone. Punt s...2016-07-3027 minThe UntoldThe School InspectionA headteacher's fate hangs in the balance as she awaits a visit from a school inspector.When Sue Vermes became headteacher of struggling Rose Hill Primary School less than two years ago, she hoped to reverse its fortunes. Instead, an Ofsted inspector labelled the Oxford school 'inadequate' and placed it into so-called 'Special Measures'. Now Sue's future is in question as she awaits the verdict of a follow-up visit by Ofsted. Have Sue and her team done enough to arrest the school's decline?Producer: Laurence Grissell.2016-07-1827 minDon't Log OffA Message from Hank and NormaAlan Dein presents the moving story of three years in the life of Hank & Norma, a couple in their 60s from Arkansas, USA - told entirely by the messages left by Hank for Alan on Skype.Alan first spoke to harp-playing Hank three years ago for Don't Log Off. Shortly afterwards, Hank started to leave Alan occasional messages and audio recordings. As the months went by, the recordings became more intimate and revealing, charting Hank's major heart surgery and Norma's experiences with cancer. Entirely on his own initiative, Hank started to record every detail of the couple's...2016-07-1227 minDon't Log OffTaking FlightAlan Dein embarks on a new series of nocturnal excursions via Facebook and Skype, hearing the real life dramas of random strangers. Alan holes himself up in a studio through the night and invites the online world to talk to him. Knowing nothing about the people he is about to talk to, he settles down for an evening of intriguing encounters. Tonight he connects with a Nigerian trapped in Abu Dhabi, a Hungarian woman who found salvation in the birth of her son, a Dutch man who believes he's a reincarnated slave and a grounded...2016-06-2827 min
The UntoldA Storm in Babbacombe BayGrace Dent tells the story of a clash between a bestselling author and a millionaire hotel developer in the idyllic setting of Babbacombe Bay.Millionaire businessman Peter de Savary has applied to build a car park on the hill overlooking Torquay's picturesque Babbacombe Bay. The car park would service the expansion of the Cary Arms, a luxury hotel on the bay. The car park is opposed by million selling author Lesley Pearse along with a number of other local residents, who mount a vocal campaign against the plan. The decision will be made...2016-05-0927 minThe UntoldTainted LoveGrace Dent tells the story of Jean, 73, who's being harassed by her 80 year old estranged husband, George. After over 40 arrests, a judge must decide whether George's actions are the result of dementia.Jean and George finally split up in early 2015 after nine years of unhappy marriage. But for George, that wasn't the end of their relationship. For months, George has been harassing Jean: writing her love letters, verbally abusing her and coming to her flat trying to gain entry. Jean now feels like a prisoner in her own home, scared to go out alone. Despite...2016-02-0827 minThe UntoldHigh StakesGrace Dent presents a new series documenting the untold dramas of 21st century Britain.The stakes couldn't be higher for 26 year old Steve: he needs to prove he's quit gambling by Christmas in order to move back in with his partner and two kids. Steve and Stacey met as teenagers ten years ago but Stacey kicked him out when she discovered he was gambling away thousands of pounds on smartphone apps. Things came to a head when Steve blew his entire wage packet in just one hour - on payday - leading Stacey and their...2016-01-1127 minWireless NightsKeep on Truckin'Jarvis Cocker continues his nocturnal exploration of the human condition.Tonight: an unlucky trucker, a hopeful hitch-hiker and a host of Scottish ghostbusters.As Jarvis climbs up into the Wireless Nights monster truck, he hears from a long distance lorry driver who received a nasty surprise, a hitcher trying to make it to Liverpool and he travels along the most haunted stretch of road in Scotland.Producer: Laurence Grissell.2015-12-0127 minWireless NightsUnderwater at the PromsJarvis Cocker's nocturnal exploration of the human condition takes him beneath the waves in this special edition of Wireless Nights. Accompanied by the BBC Philharmonic at this year's Proms, as Jarvis drifts off to sleep he soon finds himself on an underwater voyage down to the endless night of the ocean bed. En route, he meets psychoanalyst Carl Jung, two submariners called Roger trapped in a tiny submersible and a free-diver experiencing "the rapture of the deep". The BBC Philharmonic creates a sonic seascape as Jarvis goes deeper and deeper - but will he make...2015-11-2427 minPunt PIThe murder of Hollywood director William Desmond TaylorSteve Punt returns with a brand new series of investigations - starting with the unsolved murder of major Hollywood director William Desmond Taylor in 1922.Taylor was one of Tinseltown's biggest names - until he was shot dead in his bungalow in February 1922. Despite a multitude of suspects, Taylor's killer was never caught.
It's a bizarre case with a multitude of suspects. Was the murderer former child star Mary Miles Minter or her controlling mother Charlotte Shelby? Or was it Taylor's rather shady private secretary Edwards Sands?
Steve casts a fresh eye over the evidence and returns to...2015-08-0827 minWireless NightsReaching for the MoonJarvis Cocker attempts to fly to the moon, with the aid of astronaut Chris Hadfield - famous for his rendition of David Bowie's Space Oddity on the International Space Station.En route he hears stories of those touched by the moon in its many manifestations.Producer: Laurence Grissell2014-10-2127 minWireless NightsBBC Philharmonic Presents...To mark the winter solstice, a chance to hear a programme first broadcast on BBC Radio 4 on 1st October in which Jarvis Cocker brought his award winning series Wireless Nights to Salford, forming part of this year's BBC Philharmonic Presents... series, a celebration of orchestral music in its many different forms.In front of a studio audience, Jarvis Cocker and the BBC Philharmonic weave tales of insomnia, nocturnal inspirations and dark imaginings from the world of classical music - against the backdrop of a President embroiled in the Vietnam War. There's also a special performance from Jarvis...2014-10-1428 min
Feedback10/10/2014Good news. You now have 30 day to catch up on radio programmes using iPlayer. Andrew Scott, the General Manager of radio and music for BBC Future Media joins Roger Bolton to discuss the changes.Musician, writer, broadcaster - Jarvis Cocker can seemingly turn his hand to anything. But can he combine his intimate late-night delivery of Radio 4 programme Wireless Nights with the full force of the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra? Kate Taylor takes us behind the scenes at the rehearsal to meet Jarvis along with the Wireless Nights producer Laurence Grissell and the General Manager of the BBC...2014-10-1027 minDon't Log OffIdentityAlan Dein crosses the world via Facebook and Skype, hearing the real life dramas of random strangers.Today, people tell stories about grappling with issues of identity. A disabled woman from the Ukraine talks about ethnic tensions as crisis grips the country, keeping an audio diary of her reflections as the situation develops.Alan also hears from a young woman in Moscow who discusses the difficulties of being gay and mixed race in Russia.Meanwhile, a young Bolton man whose family originate from Pakistan recounts his horror after being shot at during his...2014-09-2427 minPunt PIThe Baker Street Bank RobberySteve Punt turns gumshoe, investigating curious rumours surrounding the Baker Street bank robbery of 1971.Quite possibly the most audacious heist in British history, the robbers tunnelled into the bank's vault from the basement of a shop two doors down. They escaped with a haul worth an estimated £30 million today. Though four robbers were convicted, intriguing claims persist - most notably that the security services mounted the heist to secure compromising photographs of a senior public figure. Punt sifts the evidence, calls in the experts and attempts to establish fact from fiction. P...2014-07-1927 minPunt PIThe Mysterious Death of Flying Millionaire Alfred LoewensteinSteve Punt returns as Radio 4's very own gumshoe, examining the mysterious case of millionaire financier Alfred Loewenstein who fell out of his own aeroplane in 1928.The suspicious death of this fabulously wealthy Belgian tycoon - then reportedly the world's third richest man - may well be Punt's most baffling investigation yet.During that fateful flight across the English Channel, Loewenstein got up to go the loo - but somehow ended up falling out of the plane. What exactly happened to him remains a mystery to this day.Was it just an accident...2014-07-1427 min
Lives in a LandscapeThe Show Must Go OnAlan Dein follows Pat & Hayley Mallon - a husband and wife singing duo - around the pubs of Bath. The show must go on - even as 69 year old Pat prepares for major surgery on an aneurysm.
Bath's pub circuit is a far cry from the packed houses that Pat was playing with his 5 piece Country & Western band back in the 1980s. His has been a life well-lived. During those heady days, he was on two bottles of whiskey and 100 cigarettes a day.
But now Pat's facing the prospect of major surgery. Fearing he may not be able to return...2014-04-0927 minLives in a LandscapeChristmas at SandringhamAs the Royal Family sit down to their festive dinner on the Queen's Norfolk estate, Alan Dein invites Radio 4 listeners to spend Christmas at a rather different Sandringham - the Sandringham Hotel in Weston super Mare.
Alan joins the seafront hotel's 'Turkey & Tinsel' celebrations as three coachloads of revellers - mostly retired people - head south to celebrate Christmas in November.
"We're not the bees' knees, we're not the finest hotel in Weston super Mare..." says Ken Perrett, the hotel's owner. And it's true - the hotel is a little rough around the edges. Yet Ken must be getting something...2013-12-2531 minDon't Log OffFound in TranslationAlan Dein hears the story of Bryan from the US and Anna from Russia who met online - using Google Translate.Bryan doesn't speak Russian and Anna doesn't speak English - they conduct their communication entirely via the online translation tool.Alan has been following the story for Don't Log Off for over a year, speaking to Bryan on Skype on numerous occasions. Since they first spoke, Anna decided to move to the US with her two children. She sells her house in Russia and takes just three suitcases to set up home with Bryan...2013-10-2627 minDon't Log OffEscapeAlan Dein crosses the world via Facebook and Skype, hearing the real life dramas of random strangers as Don't Log Off comes to Saturday mornings for the first time.And in this first programme, Alan speaks to a range of people looking for escape - in a range of honest and moving encounters which take him right around the globe. He hears from a female human rights activist in Saudi Arabia trying to flee the country after hearing her life is in danger - and a Marilyn Manson fan yearning to escape Russia.There are...2013-10-1927 minLives in a LandscapeNew School: The First YearIn the second of two programmes, Alan Dein follows the mixed fortunes of a new primary school on a housing estate just outside Peterborough over the course of a year.
As the school opens its doors, the school is still struggling to attract the number of children headteacher Jackie Ashley hopes for. She leaflets the entire estate in the hope of boosting numbers.
Alan speaks to parents and joins the school at key moments in its first year from the Christmas play to the end of year disco.
Producer: Laurence Grissell.2013-06-2827 minLives in a LandscapeNew School: Under ConstructionTo kick off the new series of Lives in a Landscape, Alan Dein presents a two part special following a year in the life of a new primary school just outside Peterborough - from initial construction to the end of the third term.
For headteacher Jackie Ashley, the opening of St Michael's Church School will be the culmination of her life in teaching and probably her last role before retirement. She's keen to see the school grow to its full capacity of 210 pupils under her leadership.
But as building work continues, there are concerns it may not open its doors...2013-06-2127 minWireless NightsThe Darkest HourJarvis Cocker stars in his own horror movie as he continues his nocturnal examination of the human condition, exploring the battle between the forces of darkness and light.He hears from horror movie goers at the Electric Cinema in Birmingham, keen to turn the lights off and let the scares begin; the National Grid control room which is charged from keeping the lights on; and Lundy Island in the Bristol Channel - where the electricity switches off at midnight.What is lurking in the basement as Jarvis approaches the darkest hour?Producer: Laurence...2013-05-3127 minDon't Log OffThe Power of BeliefAlan Dein crosses the world via Facebook and Skype, hearing the real life dramas of random strangers.Tonight, stories about the power of belief. Alan hears the epic story of a Peruvian man who believes that a Canadian visa will persuade his Belarusian ex-wife to come back to him, an American woman tells of her relationship with a Muslim which raised eyebrows in the Midwest and a Canadian man talks about speaking to the spirit of his late father.Producer: Laurence Grissell.2013-05-2927 minDon't Log OffA Tale from the BushAlan Dein crosses the world via Facebook & Skype, hearing the real life dramas of random strangers.
He never knows who he will be speaking to next or what secrets they will reveal.Tonight, he hears a moving story of widowhood from 60 year old Jennie in the Australian Bush. The line is so bad that Alan decides to send her a digital recorder so that she can record herself in quality. What emerges is a bittersweet and intensely personal story but one which also touches on key events in Australia in the post-1945 era, including the Vietnam War...2013-05-2227 minWireless NightsNightwatchJarvis Cocker becomes a nightwatchman in a high rise office block as he continues his nocturnal exploration of the human condition.Decked out in regulation uniform and armed with a powerful torch, Jarvis starts his rounds protecting London's 36 storey Euston Tower. Along the way, he hears tales from others keeping watch during the dark hours.Among those who share their stories of late night vigilance are the parents of a young girl with a rare condition which causes her to stop breathing when she falls asleep; a man at a control centre in Portsmouth who...2013-05-1727 minWireless NightsNight of the HunterJarvis Cocker returns to Radio 4 with his award-winning feature series exploring the human condition after dark. Tonight is the 'Night of the Hunter' and Jarvis turns his eye to the starlit sky with his mind on hunters and their quarry.Taking his bearings from Orion, he follows a lamper across farmland hunting foxes by torchlight. A soldier takes him on a top secret mission behind enemy lines when the hunter became the hunted. He accompanies a young man nervously preparing for his first date, in pursuit of love. And a party of friends go out on the...2013-05-1028 minDon't Log OffConnection & SeparationAlan Dein crosses the world via Facebook and Skype, hearing the real life dramas of random strangers.Hooked up to a computer well into the early hours of the morning, Alan circumnavigates the globe online inviting anyone and everyone to talk to him. He never knows who he will be speaking to next or what secrets they will reveal.In the first programme, Alan hears stories of connection and separation. He connects with a man in Cairo as a gunfight rages outside, a French woman nervously awaiting a meeting with her estranged father and a...2013-05-0827 minLives in a LandscapeGone AstrayAlan Dein goes in search of stories from Britain today.
1. Gone Astray. Maureen's black and white cat Rosie has gone missing and the pensioner is scouring the neighbourhood to find her. Little does she know that further down the same Portsmouth street, the Fletcher family have had a visitor. Last Sunday night a black and white cat wandered into their house, sprawled herself out and showed every indication she wanted to stay. The cat has brought the family back together after a nightmare summer holiday with their teenage children. But does their feline peacemaker actually belong to Maureen?
Alan Dein...2012-10-0327 minDon't Log OffEpisode 3Alan Dein sets out on nocturnal excursions via Facebook and Skype, discovering the real life dramas behind the online profiles, talking to people in every corner of the globe.Holed up in the studio late into the night, Alan makes conversation with people all over the world, talking to them about their stories. He never knows what he'll be hearing next.This time, the theme is War and Peace as Alan connects with a Beirut man shot by a sniper during the Lebanese civil war, a woman whose father was imprisoned during the Cuban revolution...2012-06-2727 minDon't Log OffEpisode 1Alan Dein sets out on a series of nocturnal excursions via Facebook and Skype, discovering the real life dramas behind the online profiles, talking to people in every corner of the globe.Holed up in the studio late into the night, Alan makes conversation with people all over the world, talking to them about their stories and whatever else is on their mind. He never knows what he'll be hearing next.Among those he connects with this time are a 66 year old widow in rural Texas and an 18 year old with Aspergers who makes a...2012-06-1327 minLives in a LandscapeThe New EstateIn the first of a new series of documentary stories from contemporary Britain, Alan Dein captures the dramas of young families just moving into Cardea: a brand new housing estate on the outskirts of Peterborough. Just two years ago, Cardea was just open fields - now it's a burgeoning community.
Two families in particular attract Alan's attention. Sara Jane and Stacey are both expectant mums in their early twenties. Together with their partners, they're about to embark on a new life on a new-build estate.
Cardea represents a fresh start for both women after an often difficult past. Sara Jane...2012-05-0227 minWireless NightsNight ManoeuvresJarvis Cocker continues his prowl through the dark in the last of his new series Wireless Nights. This evening he invites you on a curb crawl around the seamy side of town as he explores the theme 'night manoeuvres'. Driving through London he weaves his way in and out of the lives of other night riders who are always on the move. He joins a private invstigator in Nottingham on a car chase and stake out on the trail of a man suspected to be having an affair; he finds a minicab driver lost in the Mersey...2012-04-2728 minWireless NightsOvernight DeliveryJarvis Cocker prowls the dark, finding stories of the night people in a Prix Italia winning series.Tonight, in an edition which won the Prix Italia for Extraordinary Originality and Innovation - a top European radio prize - the theme is Overnight Delivery. Jarvis boards the red-eye, taking a transatlantic flight of the imagination - peering down at the human dramas beneath as the world slowly rotates - accompanied by Jarvis' own musical selections.As Jarvis reaches cruising altitude, he finds himself gripped by the compelling life and death stories of a shepherdess in the...2012-04-1927 minLives in a LandscapeThe ShootAlan Dein follows the fortunes of Iraq veteran turned wedding photographer Stefan Edwards as he contends with the difficulties of life on civvy street and tries to cut himself a slice of the increasingly competitive wedding market.
It's a March wedding for Lorraine and Richard from Newport and photographer Stefan Edwards exudes an air of military authority as he helps to chronicle the pair's big day. On the inside, though, Stefan's every bit as nervous as the couple anxiously awaiting the exchanging of vows. For Stefan's a newcomer to the wedding photography business - six months previously, he'd been out...2012-01-3027 minDon't Log OffEpisode 2Alan Dein attempts to cross the world on a series of late night excursions via Facebook and Skype - discovering the real life dramas behind the online profiles. It's a hesitant start as Alan starts from a "Friend" count of zero, struggling to lure users away from the anonymity of the keyboard to the glare of the webcam - and engage in real verbal communication. Yet over five long late nights, he gradually builds up a circle of friends, crossing the time zones and discovering some startling stories.In this second programme, he's among those...2012-01-0927 minDon't Log OffEpisode 1Alan Dein attempts to cross the world on a series of late night excursions via Facebook and Skype - discovering the real life dramas behind the online profiles across two programmes. It's a hesitant start as Alan starts from a "Friend" count of zero, struggling to lure users away from the anonymity of the keyboard to the glare of the webcam - and engage in real verbal communication. Yet over five long late nights, he gradually builds up a circle of friends, crossing the time zones and discovering some startling stories.In programme one, Alan's...2012-01-0327 min
The BBC Academy PodcastMaking radio featuresHazel Marshall and guests discuss how to craft good radio documentaries. Joining Hazel are Russell Finch, head of features at Somethin’ Else, Laurence Grissell, award winning producer at Radio 4 and Jon Ronson, a bestselling author and producer of television and radio documentaries.2011-11-2420 minLives in a LandscapeA Good Fondness for RatsIn the first ever Lives in a Landscape, the Ancient and Honourable Society of Ratters leave London clubland behind and head for Yorkshire to experience the excitement of a real rat-hunt, masterminded by ex-miner Brian Oliver. But when he invites them back to his council semi, it's not quite what they're expecting. Alan Dein has presented the programme since 2008 - before then, most editions were audio montages without a presenter. Producer: Laurence Grissell2011-11-1427 minLives in a LandscapeBoston's Migrant WorkersAlan Dein goes to Boston, Lincolnshire to explore the simmering tensions caused by a large influx of migrant workers from Eastern Europe.
On arriving in this traditional market town dominated by its vast church known locally as the Stump, Alan hears rumours of escalating crime, homelessness and enforced repatriations. Migration is without doubt the number one issue here - the population of this market town has swollen dramatically since the expansion of the EU, with workers drawn by the ready supply of agricultural work.
Alan talks to Bostonians and migrant workers alike. He witnesses for himself the troubles in the...2011-11-0427 min