Programme Information

Mark Radcliffe and Stuart Maconie are live from Manchester. In tonight's show, Noddy Holder is back to review the latest television programmes.

Presenters/Mark Radcliffe and Stuart Maconie, Producer/Lizzie Hoskin for Smooth Operations

BBC Radio 2 Publicity

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James Moir, BBC Head of Light Entertainment from 1987-1993 and former Controller of BBC Radio 2, concludes this tribute to David Jacobs, who this year celebrates 67 years at the microphone.

This candid profile is put on the record mostly by David himself, with new interviews and tributes from a host of friends and colleagues.

Presenter/James Moir, Producer/Graham Pass for Ping Productions Limited

BBC Radio 2 Publicity

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Trevor Nelson's Album Of The Week is The Brothers Johnson - Light Up The Night.

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

BBC Radio 2 Publicity

Choral Evensong

Wednesday 9 March

4.00-5.00pm BBC RADIO 3

For Ash Wednesday, Choral Evensong comes live from the Chapel of St John's College, Cambridge. Andrew Nethsingha is the Director of Music and the organ is played by junior organ student Freddie James.

The service includes Psalm 51 (Allegri); Southwell's hymn Lord Jesus, Think On Me; Bachs' Organ Voluntary Aus tiefer Not BWV 686; and the first performance of James MacMillan's anthem Domine non secundum peccata nostra.

Producer/Stephen Shipley

BBC Radio 3 Publicity

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From the Wigmore Hall in London, celebrated Swedish soprano Miah Persson offers a recital with music by Schubert, Grieg and Sibelius.

After some of Schubert's best-loved songs, including Gretchen am Spinnrade, the repertoire shifts to Scandinavian territory with Grieg's Six Songs – stormy pieces inspired by the poetry of Heine and Goethe, among others – followed by Sibelius's local settings addressing the eternal themes of nature and love.

Miah Persson is accompanied by Roger Vignoles on the piano and also by clarinettist Richard Hosford in Schubert's Shepherd On The Rock.

Presenter/Martin Handley, Producer/Edward Blakeman

BBC Radio 3 Publicity

Turf Wars – Losing The Plot Ep 1/4

Wednesday 9 March

11.30am-12.00noon BBC RADIO 4

In the first of four comedies, James Fleet stars as a timid man who confronts mindless bureaucracy in Nick Warburton's Losing The Plot.

As he is passing a local allotment, Edward, a bashful man, speaks to an attractive plot owner, Amanda. He decides there and then that he too must apply for a plot. But doing so involves an interview with ferocious site manager Bernie, who runs the allotments with military rigour.

It's all looking unlikely until Edward reveals that his father was a local landscape horticulturalist, one Bernie has admired all his life. Edward joins the site, but it is only then that he springs a surprise on Bernie – one that leads to explosive confrontation.

The cast features James Fleet as Edward, Joanna Monro as Amanda and Jonathan Coy as Bernie.

Producer/Peter Kavanagh for the BBC

BBC Radio 4 Publicity

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It Is Rocket Science Ep 1/4

Wednesday 9 March

11.00-11.15pm BBC RADIO 4

Helen Keen, Peter Serafinowicz and Susy Kane star in this funny, off-beat but factually accurate account of the science of rockets and the brilliant, but occasionally warped, brains behind it all.

This week looks at the three fathers of modern rocket science: 19th-century self-taught Russian visionary Eduardovich Tsiolovsky and his dreams of orbiting space stations and Martian colonies; American Robert H Goddard, derided in The New York Times in the Twenties for his prediction of a lunar landing – the paper printed a retraction the day after the Apollo 11 launch; and, finally, Transylvanian-German Hermann Oberth with his brilliant theories about space travel and his horrifying theories about racial supremacy.

Plus Helen reveals the surprising connection between space travel and a coach tour of the Jewels of the Rhineland.

Written by Helen Keen and Miriam Underhill, It Is Rocket Science is performed by Helen and also stars Peter Serafinowicz as The Voice Of Space, with other parts played by Susy Kane.

Producer/Gareth Edwards for the BBC

BBC Radio 4 Publicity

5 Live Sport

Wednesday 9 March

7.00-10.30pm BBC RADIO 5 LIVE

Mark Pougatch presents the day's sports news and a preview of the evening's big match, Tottenham Hotspur versus AC Milan in the Champions League round of 16 second-leg game.

From 7.45pm there's live commentary on the game at White Hart Lane as Spurs look to consolidate on their notable 1-0 first-leg victory at the San Siro against the Serie A leaders, courtesy of Peter Crouch's late goal, and progress to the quarter finals.

There are also regular updates from the Premier League clash between Everton and Birmingham at Goodison Park, which kicks off at 8pm.

The Final Whistle at 10pm provides post-match reaction to the night's football.

Presenter/Mark Pougatch, Producer/Mike Carr

BBC Radio 5 Live Publicity

Swimming

Wednesday 9 March

5.45-7.40pm BBC RADIO 5 LIVE SPORTS EXTRA

Uninterrupted commentary on the latest swimming action from the World Championship Trials comes live from the Manchester Aquatics Centre.

Producer/Jen McAllister

BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra Publicity

Lauren Laverne is joined by Cloud Control for a live session in the BBC 6 Music studios.

The Sydney band caught the attention of Lauren, Steve Lamacq and others at the beginning of last year with their single Gold Canary. They finally release their excellent debut album, Bliss Release, in the UK this month.

Presenter/Lauren Laverne, Producer/Gary Bales

BBC 6 Music Publicity

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Gideon Coe unearths concert archive from Meddle-era Pink Floyd and rugged violinist Seth Lakeman. Session highlights include The Beat, Geno Washington, Madchester-tinged King Of The Slums and an early session from Courtney Love's band, Hole.

Presenter/Gideon Coe, Producer/Mark Sheldon

BBC 6 Music Publicity