Programme Information

Comedian Sean Lock looks at the life of a man who is as popular today as he ever was, and who is still finding new fans via the wonders of the internet – Tommy Cooper.

In a magical mix of Tommy from the archives, as well as new interviews, BBC Radio 2 celebrates the career of a unique force in British comedy.

From his early days and the first magic set, to his health problems and fateful last television appearance, Tommy Cooper – Just Like This! looks back at his rollercoaster life. Sean considers how much of the comic's outward persona was a deliberate barricade (some friends have said they never really got to know the real Tommy) and how he found it difficult to be taken seriously because people started to laugh the moment he spoke.

Tommy broke every rule in the comedy book, he told jokes no other comedian would get away with, and he based his act around getting things wrong. In doing so, he secured his place in our hearts forever. Eric Morecambe said he wouldn't go on stage after Cooper; Spike Milligan said his face was a call for help; and Bob Monkhouse called him an aggravated assault on the funny bone.

The programme features a host of new interviews with people who knew and loved him, including Michael Parkinson, Ronnie Corbett, Barry Cryer, Sheila Steafel, Jimmy Cricket, John Miles (the man who looks after Tommy's estate), Royston Mayoh – producer and director, who worked on The Tommy Cooper Hour – and David Ball, from the Magic Circle and Tommy's bank manager!

Presenter/Sean Lock, Producer/Phil Collinge for Made in Manchester

BBC Radio 2 Publicity

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Trevor Nelson invites listeners to explore the depths of his record collection, presenting an hour of the best in timeless soul, rare funky treats and modern classics.

His Album Of The Week is a 1971 debut from The Undisputed Truth, the brainchild of Motown producer Norman Whitfield.

Presenter/Trevor Nelson, Producer/Dan Cocker for Somethin' Else

BBC Radio 2 Publicity

BBC PROMS 2010
Performance On 3 – Prom 6

Wednesday 21 July

7.00-9.15pm BBC RADIO 3

• www.bbc.co.uk/proms
• Press pack

Katie Derham introduces a Beethoven night at the BBC Proms. Distinguished pianist, Paul Lewis, launches his complete cycle of piano concertos with the exuberant First and the more introspective but still tensely dramatic Fourth.

He is partnered by Jiří Bělohlávek and the BBC Symphony Orchestra, with whom he recently recorded all five concertos. There is more characteristic Beethovenian drama with two heroic overtures – one battling against oppression in the Egmont Overture; and the other recounting the legend of the Creatures Of Prometheus who were created with fire from the gods.

This Prom will be repeated on Friday 23 July at 2pm on BBC Radio 3 and will also be broadcast on BBC Four on Friday 23 July at 7.30pm.

Presenter/Katie Derham, Producer/Ann McKay

BBC Radio 3 Publicity

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Petroc Trelawny talks to author and broadcaster John Suchet, a passionate devotee of Beethoven.

Over the last 10 years John has written five books about the life and works of, in his view, the greatest composer of them all. His talks about Beethoven, focusing on the man behind the music, how his books have caught the imagination of audiences all over the country and introduced many new fans to Beethoven's music.

John's most recent book, Treasures Of Beethoven, examined letters and documents to and from the composer. Actor Paul Rhys illustrates the talk with readings from these letters.

Presenter/Petroc Trelawny

BBC Radio 3 Publicity

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BBC PROMS 2010
Prom 7

Wednesday 21 July

10.00-11.30pm BBC RADIO 3

• www.bbc.co.uk/proms
• Press pack

Portuguese pianist Maria João Pires celebrates the 200th birthday this year of Frédéric Chopin with a selection of the composer's Nocturnes for solo piano in this late-night Prom, broadcast live from London's Royal Albert Hall, and introduced by Tom Service.

For such a huge venue (it holds almost 6,000 people) the Royal Albert Hall can be amazingly intimate when the focus is on a single performer. What better way for the Proms to celebrate Chopin than with a late-night performance of the works for which he is best known today.

Presenter/Tom Service, Producer/David Gallagher

BBC Radio 3 Publicity

Former pirate DJ Trevor Nelson

Britain has been listening to pirate radio since the Sixties and today it is reported that there are more illegal broadcasters than ever. Former pirate DJ Trevor Nelson investigates the current scene.

According to official Ofcom figures, there are around 150 illegal radio stations in the UK today and 16 per cent of Londoners regularly tune in. The pirates argue they are an integral part of the British music industry and provide a community service that legal stations can't. But Ofcom says the FM dial is full. They claim the pirates are a big problem, interfering with legal stations and emergency service frequencies. More worryingly, Ofcom says there is evidence of links to serious crime such as money laundering, guns and drugs.

Trevor revisits the world of illegal broadcasting to find out the truth behind today's pirate scene. Now a presenter on BBC Radio 1, BBC Radio 2 and BBC Radio 1Xtra, Trevor began his career in the Eighties on the, then illegal, Kiss FM. He explores how much the scene has changed since he was involved or whether the musical passion and spirit of pirates past are still present today.

Contributors include broadcasters, legal and illegal, a community radio station, fans, musicians, DJs and Ofcom, whose officers are shadowed by the programme on a raid of a pirate station suspected of interfering with BBC Radio 4.

Presenter/Trevor Nelson, Producer/James Hale for the BBC

BBC Radio 4 Publicity

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Case Notes Ep 1/10

Wednesday 21 July

4.30-5.00pm BBC RADIO 4

In the first of a new series of Case Notes, Dr Mark Porter reveals the daily business of a GP's surgery and offers tips on how to get the best from a doctor.

He travels to Birmingham to spend the day with Steve Field, GP and chairman of the Royal College of General Practitioners.

Presenter/Dr Mark Porter, Producer/Erika Wright for the BBC

BBC Radio 4 Publicity

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The Ladies Ep 1/4

Wednesday 21 July

11.00-11.15pm BBC RADIO 4

The Ladies, written by and starring Emily Watson Howes, returns for a new series.

The cast also stars Kate Donmall, Susanna Hislop and Fran Moulds in stories about a girl who gets wedged in a dress and a desperate wannabe mum, among others.

Producer/Mark Talbot for Hat Trick Television Limited

BBC Radio 4 Publicity

Russell Fuller presents all the day's sports news, and is joined at 8.30pm by Phil Tufnell for 5 Live Cricket.

Then at 9.30pm, Mike Costello and Steve Bunce present the latest news from the ring in 5 Live Boxing.

Presenter/Russell Fuller, Producer/Tim Peach

BBC Radio 5 Live Publicity

Cricket

Wednesday 21 July

10.00am-6.00pm BBC RADIO 5 LIVE SPORTS EXTRA

The Test Match Special commentary team are at Headingley to present uninterrupted commentary on the first day of the second Test between Pakistan and Australia.

Producer/Jen McAllister

BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra Publicity

The Handsome Family, Brett and Rennie Sparks, visit Marc Riley to play a long-awaited live session. Their eight album, Honey Moon, was released on the couple's 20th wedding anniversary.

Presenter/Marc Riley, Producer/Michelle Choudhry

BBC 6 Music Publicity

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Gideon Coe introduces archive sessions from Canterbury progressive band Hatfield And The North and gritty Scots indie crew Frightened Rabbit.

More live music comes courtesy of Good Shoes and there's Nineties swirly psychedelia from Dr Phibes and the House Of Wax Equations.

Presenter/Gideon Coe, Producer/Mark Sheldon

BBC 6 Music Publicity

Asian Network Reports begins its coverage from Headingley, reporting live on the second Test match between Pakistan and Australia.

The team provides live updates into programmes and news every 15 minutes from 11am through to 6pm. During weekend shows listeners are updated with live scores every 20 minutes and every hour during Saturday's chart show.

BBC Asian Network Publicity