Programme Information

BBC Radio 2 presenter Simon Mayo

Simon Mayo is tonight joined in conversation by American country singer Alison Krauss, who has a record-breaking 26 Grammy Awards to her name.

She speaks to Simon ahead of the release of her new studio album, Paper Airplane.

Presenter/Simon Mayo, Producer/Andy Warrell for the BBC

BBC Radio 2 Publicity

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Jamie Cullum's guest is British singer-songwriter Gwyneth Herbert, as he continues to showcase his love for all types of jazz, and music rooted in jazz, from its heritage to the future.

In an open interview, listeners hear about Gwyneth's introduction to jazz and performance and the musicians who have influenced her.

She describes her journey as a musician, from interpreting jazz and swing standards to establishing herself as a composer. She also talks about the making of her latest album, Clangers & Mash, and the story behind such singles as Perfect Fit.

Presenter/Jamie Cullum, Producer/Karen Pearson for Folded Wing

BBC Radio 2 Publicity

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Acclaimed pianist and composer Irving Berlin

Singer-songwriting legend Barry Manilow continues to look at the lives and works of 10 famous composers of the Great American Songbook in this 10-part series.

This week, he looks at Irving Berlin, a self-taught pianist and composer who published more than 1,500 songs. He began writing music for Tin Pan Alley and Broadway in the Twenties and also worked on musical films starring Fred Astaire, Bing Crosby and other Hollywood stars, penning classic hits including White Christmas.

Berlin was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom on 10 January 1977, in recognition of his long career and contribution to the popular culture of the United States.

Presenter/Barry Manilow, Producer/Anthony Cherry for the BBC

BBC Radio 2 Publicity

British pianist Christian Blackshaw brings his characteristically sensitive and intimate style to an all-Mozart programme at St Luke's in Old Street, London. The rest of the week sees more all-Mozart programmes from the Skampa Quartet, the Elias Quartet with Michael Collins (clarinet) and the Vienna Piano Trio.

Today's programme features a sparkling sonata written for a pupil, Sonata in C major K309; the dramatic and poignant Fantasie in D minor K397; and a powerful sonata, C minor K457, full of invention and emotional depth.

Presenter/Katie Derham, Producer/Elizabeth Funning

BBC Radio 3 Publicity

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Mark Elder conducts the Hallé Orchestra in music centred on England and Italy.

Two contrasting nautical works open the programme, with Britten's Four Sea Interludes evoking the wind-swept East Anglian coast and rapidly changing moods. In one of Delius's biggest achievements, Sea Drift, the words by Walt Whitman become a great paean to life, love and loss, rolling in waves of sound from choir, orchestra and baritone soloist, here featuring Roderick Williams.

The scene shifts abroad for Harold In Italy, Berlioz's symphonic interpretation of Byron's poem about a young man seeking solace and distraction abroad. Viola player Lawrence Power takes the title role in this gripping wordless drama.

The concert is followed by a performance by the Arcanto Quartet from a concert at Wigmore Hall, London, of Debussy's String Quartet.

Presenter/Petroc Trelawny, Producer/Janet Tuppen

BBC Radio 3 Publicity

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Max Reinhardt's mix includes Nino Rota's enchanting score for Fellini's La Strada; Yann Tiersen's anthemic Ashes; Andy Cutting's virtuosic accordion playing; and Jah Wobble's quixotic No Change Is Sexy.

Presenter/Max Reinhardt, Producer/Philip Tagney

BBC Radio 3 Publicity

An internet meme is something that spreads like wildfire on the web seemingly for no explicable reason.

A meme can be as sublime as one of the many intricate Downfall parodies – subtitled parodies of Adolf Hitler's last days in the Berlin bunker taken from the 2004 Second World War film Downfall – or as ridiculous as a rickroll, where someone provides a hyperlink pertaining to be relevant to the topic in question, but it actually takes the user to a Rick Astley video. Both of these memes reached millions of people.

Dr Susan Blackmore examines what drives people to create and share internet memes, questions their cultural significance and finds out why, if you want a successful meme, you should probably get yourself a cat.

Presenter/Dr Susan Blackmore, Producer/Jessica Treen for the BBC

BBC Radio 4 Publicity

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In The Magnificent Andrea, the first original radio play by Nigel Planer, two very different men are both in love with the same woman, who has just died.

One is her former husband, boozy columnist Barry, who is at the tail end of a career marked by low achievement in pugnacious, snide journalism. The other is Andrea's recent partner until her sudden death: alternative but ultra-orthodox, politically correct naturopath Nigel.

After Andrea's funeral, Nigel makes the mistake of inviting Barry back to the house – Barry's house – for the reception.

Barry is played by Roger Allam and Nigel by Nigel Planer. The comedy drama's cast also features Sally Orrock as Tania/Receptionist, Brian Bowles as Taxi Driver, Jane Whittenshaw as Preacher, Sam Dale as George, Joanna Monro as Sarah/Waitress and Stuart McLoughlin as Ambulance Driver.

Producer/Peter Kavanagh for the BBC

BBC Radio 4 Publicity

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Afternoon Readings – Census 2011 Ep 1/3

Tuesday 22 to Thursday 24 March

3.30-3.45pm BBC RADIO 4

In the first of three stories connected to the Census, The Suffragette's Party, by Beatrice Colin, tells a story about principles and protest as a woman risks the wrath of her family by gathering with fellow suffragettes on census night 1911. It is read by Melody Grove.

In Wednesday's story, Kathryn Simmonds's Everyone Who Lives Here, two isolated neighbours bond over the census form in a tale of urban loneliness. It is read by Meg Fraser.

Thursday's story, Realm Of The Census, by Louise Welsh, is read by Rebecca Elise. A low-paid job chasing census evaders leads to an unsettling encounter in a dark tenement.

Readers/Melody Grove, Meg Fraser and Rebecca Elise, Producer/Eilidh McCreadie for the BBC

BBC Radio 4 Publicity

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Word Of Mouth Ep 1/8

Tuesday 22 March

4.00-4.30pm BBC RADIO 4

Michael Rosen looks at languages in the UK today and finds out who speaks English and who doesn't, as the series exploring the world of words and the ways in which people use them returns.

Michael questions whether people living in the UK should speak English and, if so, what will be the effect of language classes around the country being closed down in light of budget cuts.

Presenter/Michael Rosen, Producer/Beth O'Dea for the BBC

BBC Radio 4 Publicity

Exactly 20 years to the day since Ryan Giggs made his debut for Manchester United, BBC Radio 5 Live celebrates the career of the Premier League's most decorated footballer. As well as Giggs himself, contributions come from David Beckham, Roy Keane and Denis Law.

Presenter/Mark Chapman, Producer/Mike Carr

BBC Radio 5 Live Publicity

Marc Riley favourites Erland And The Carnival return to the BBC 6 Music studio with some new material.

After 2010's self-titled debut they are back already with a new album, Nightingale, out this month. Currently touring the UK before heading off around Europe, Erland Cooper, Simon Tong and David Nock have made a change to their old folk ways; Nightingale is darkly poppy and slightly twisted, even taking inspiration from Seventies poltergeist photos.

Presenter/Marc Riley, Producer/Michelle Choudhry

BBC 6 Music Publicity

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Thomas Dolby and Kasabian are Gideon Coe's concert stars, and there's an AAA of session artists: Agnostic Mountain Gospel Choir, AC Acoustics and Altered Images, with last November's Marc Riley session from the Phantom Band breaking the sequence.

Presenter/Gideon Coe, Producer/Mark Sheldon

BBC 6 Music Publicity