Programme Information

Iconic country artist emmylou Harris

Bob Harris's guest is one of the most influential Nashville artists of the last 40 years, Emmylou Harris. Emmylou performs tracks from her new album Hard Bargain, which includes 11 self-penned songs and the title track written by Ron Sexsmith.

A 12-time Grammy winner and inductee to the Country Music Hall of Fame, Emmylou has recorded more than 25 albums and lent her talents to countless fellow artists' recordings. A mainstream country hit-maker of the Seventies and Eighties and a pioneer of the bluegrass revival, she has now become a key figure in the Americana music movement.

Tonight she performs opening track, The Road, which pays tribute to her career-defining partnership with Gram Parsons, and Big Black Dog which reflects the huge importance of animals in her life – in 2004 she founded an animal rescue centre in Nashville.

Presenter/Bob Harris, Producer/Al Booth for the BBC

BBC Radio 2 Publicity

To top

This week's show features an exclusive performance from Canadian pop and country singer-songwriter, kd lang. Recorded at the Radio Theatre in Broadcasting House, the Grammy Award-winning vocalist sings classic hits and songs from her new album Sing It Loud.

Presenter/Jo Whiley, Producer/Sarah Gaston for the BBC

BBC Radio 2 Publicity

To top

Sounds Of The 20th Century is an audio journey through five decades of triumph, tragedy and trivia.

Jeremy Vine introduces part three which focuses on 1953, a year dominated by the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II. Edmund Hillary and Sherpa Tenzing were fêted as the conquerors of Everest and England won The Ashes.

At Wembley, Stanley Matthews starred in one of the best-ever FA Cup Finals, but England were taught a footballing lesson by Hungary. On the radiogram, in the corner of the lounge, American crooners such as Dean Martin and Perry Como were joined by a young British rival, Jimmy Young. Big comedy hits of the year were Take It From Here and The Glums.

Presenter/Jeremy Vine, Producer/Trevor Dann

BBC Radio 2 Publicity

Bach's St Matthew Passion, sung in English by The Bach Choir, is conducted by David Hill.

First performed on Good Friday, Bach's St Matthew Passion sits at the summit of his achievements in sacred music. The Bach Choir has a distinguished history, and its annual tradition of performing Bach's St Matthew Passion in English dates back to 1930. The choir and its music director David Hill are joined by an eminent group of soloists, a ripieno choir of children drawn from schools in and around London, and the period instrument ensemble, Florilegium.

Presenter/Catherine Bott, Producer/Janet Tuppen

BBC Radio 3 Publicity

The Ladies' Man Of Opera is the surprising and touching story of how composer Richard Strauss's marriage inspired his music.

Strauss lived a long life crowded with splendid women. But to the surprise of his friends he belonged to only one – his formidable wife, soprano Pauline de Ahna.

In 2009 actor Michael Pennington played Strauss in the West End play Collaboration. While acting out the composer's life on the stage, he became fascinated with Strauss's life and in particular his marriage.

In The Ladies' Man Of Opera, Michael goes on a journey through the music and letters of Strauss to discover the relationship that formed the bedrock of his musical achievements. Examining the works of the composer, he reveals the central role that Pauline played in his music and in doing so explores their enduring and eventful marriage.

Presenter/Michael Pennington, Producer/Jo Meek for All Out Productions

BBC Radio 4 Publicity

To top

The Simon Day Show Ep 1/6

Thursday 21 April

6.30-7.00pm BBC RADIO 4

Simon Day and his characters welcome listeners to The Mallard, a small provincial theatre somewhere in the UK, in this new comedy series.

Each week one of Simon's characters comes to perform at The Mallard and listeners hear the highlights of that night's show, along with the backstage and front-of-house goings on at the theatre itself.

In this first episode, the theatre is visited by acclaimed Yorkshire poet Geoffrey Allerton (Simon Day). Geoffrey reads poems and excerpts from his recent memoir Marking Time and struggles to get a hot meal from sound and lighting technician Goose (Felix Dexter). Meanwhile, in the bar two local mums are getting to know each other over several bottles of wine.

The cast also stars Catherine Shepherd, Arabella Weir and Simon Greenall.

Producer/Colin Anderson for the BBC

BBC Radio 4 Publicity

To top

Alice's Wunderland is a new comedy sketch show written and performed by Alice Lowe.

Listeners are invited to take a trip round Wunderland, the Poundland of magical realms. It's a kingdom much like our own, and also nothing like it in the slightest! It's full of waifs, strays, ghosts, murderous pensioners and squirrels who go about their bizarre business.

Producer/Sam Bryant for the BBC

BBC Radio 4 Publicity

5 Live Sport

Thursday 21 April

7.00-10.30pm BBC RADIO 5 LIVE

Eleanor Oldroyd presents the day's sports news and build-up to tonight's Championship football, Ipswich Town versus Norwich City, followed by commentary on the East Anglian derby match from 7.45pm.

In Final Whistle at 9.40pm there's post-match reaction and analysis.

Presenter/Eleanor Oldroyd, Producer/Mike Carr

BBC Radio 5 Live Publicity

Rugby League

Thursday 21 April

7.55-9.45pm BBC RADIO 5 LIVE SPORTS EXTRA

Listeners can enjoy live, uninterrupted commentary on Bradford versus Leeds in the Super League.

Producer/Jen McAllister

BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra Publicity

Mr B The Gentleman Rhymer joins Shaun Keaveny and performs his own style of hip hip – Chap Hop.

Mr B raps or rhymes about high society, pipe smoking and cricket while playing the banjolele. His debut album, Flattery Not Included, was released in 2008 for the Grot Music label, which includes the track Chap-Hop History, which is a received pronunciation reworking of some well-known hip hop classics.

Presenters/Shaun Keaveny, Producer/Lisa Kenlock

BBC 6 Music Publicity

Mark Radcliffe and Stuart Maconie are joined by actor, writer, comedian and musician Matt Berry.

Known for playing Dixon Bainbridge in The Mighty Boosh and Douglas Reynholm in The IT Crowd, Matt talks about his new psych-folk album, Witchazel. Inspired partly by Richard Adams's Watership Down, Witchazel was recorded almost entirely in Matt's front room.

Presenters/Mark Radcliffe and Stuart Maconie, Producer/Lizzie Hoskin

BBC 6 Music Publicity

To top

Mazes return to the show for another live session and to discuss their new single, Most Days, out now on Fat Cat.

The band – comprising of Jack Cooper on vocals and guitar, Neil Robinson on drums, Jarin Tabata on guitars and Conan Roberts on bass – formed in early 2009 in Manchester and began their life touring with Pens And Wavves before going on to play shows and tour with bands such as Deerhunter, Thee Oh Sees, Sic Alps, Box Elders, Dum Dum Girls and Crocodiles.

Presenter/Marc Riley, Producer/Michelle Choudhry

BBC 6 Music Publicity