Humph Special
Radio 7 Newsletter 13th June 2008
Hello again
I don't usually begin my newsletter by recommending that you switch over
to another radio station, but in this instance, I suggest that on Sunday
some of you might like to join our sister station, Radio 4, to catch "
Humph Sunday"
Humphrey Lyttelton, widely regarded as a National Treasure, was once
described (apparently to his great delight) as " trumpeter and
broadcaster, and purveyor of blue-chip filth to the nation"
Alongside his music, and his 36 years in the driver's seat of I'm Sorry
I Haven't A Clue", Humph unquestionably brought fun, joy and laughter to
millions of listeners.
When the news of his death was announced in April this year, the BBC was
inundated by his many fans who wanted to pay tribute to him.
Radio 4 will be broadcasting its own special tribute and appreciation on
15th June, on what has been affectionately named Humph Sunday.
There will be almost three hours celebrating all sorts of things that
are Humph, beginning with his Desert Island Discs, (from November 2007)
followed by Chairman Humph, a one-hour homage warmly presented by
Stephen Fry, with contributions from many friends and colleagues.
To finish off, you can catch Humph's profile of jazz musician Louis
Prima (well-known in jazz circles, but most probably remembered as the
voice King Louis, King of the Swingers in the film of The Jungle Book.
And King of the Swingers is the name of that programme.
I'll certainly be listening in.
But now back to BBC 7 and what you can look forward to in the week
ahead:
The Selection
Comedy Controller: Jo Caulfield
Jo Caulfield is well-known on the comedy circuit for her one woman
shows, and is also recognised for her clever comedy writing.
As Comedy Controller, we were pleased when she asked if she could
include one of her own radio shows in her selection.
Of course she can!
Jo's choices are:
It's That Jo Caulfield Again (07/02/2006),
Listen to Les (04/03/1995),
Hancock's Half Hour - Fred's Pie Stall (10/11/1959), The News Quiz
(09/06/2000), The Bona History of Julian and Sandy (16/12/1998)
Lee and Herring's Fist of Fun (12/10/1993).
Saturday at 9am, 8pm and 3am
http://www.bbc.co.uk/bbc7/comedy/index.shtml?Today
Comedy Zone
Tonyâs
Victor Spinetti stars as the Italian hairdresser in this gentle sitcom
created by popular comedy writer Jim Eldridge. First broadcast in 1979,
it also stars John Laurie, Bill Pertwee and Deborah Watling. Saturday at
1.30pm and 2.30am
A Whole New Ball Game
New to BBC 7
In a comedy by Martin Davies about a football mad, music crazy priest,
Paul Parris, Desmond Barritt and Brenda Blethyn (pictured) star. It was
first broadcast on Radio 4 in 1992 and produced by Lissa Evans. Sunday
at 11.30am and 9.30pm
Stiff Upper Lip, Jeeves
Michael Hordern takes on the role of Jeeves, and Richard Briers is
Bertie Wooster in the radio versions of the PG Wodehouse comedies. In
this, the first programme of six, "The Menace of Totleigh Towers",
Bertie is obliged to sort out an amorous misunderstanding between his
friends. Produced by David Hatch it was first broadcast on Radio 4 in
1980. Friday at 5pm and 6.30am
It Sticks Out Half a Mile
John Le Mesurier, Ian Lavender, Bill Pertwee and Vivienne Martin all
star in a delightful spin-off from Dadâs Army. Arthur Lowe was in the
original pilot, which was never broadcast. Unfortunately, Arthur had
been very ill, and he died in 1982. The series was re-cast and a second
pilot made in 1983. In this, the "second" pilot, the war is now over and
Arthur Wilson (played by John le Mesurier) is manager of Swallows Bank.
However, peace is shattered when Bert Hodges reappears with a surprising
proposition for Frank Pike. Written by Harold Snoad and Michael Knowles,
the team who created the radio versions of Dad's Army, the 13 part
series was first broadcast on Radio 4 in November 1983. Tuesday at
5.30pm and 6am http://www.bbc.co.uk/bbc7/comedy/comedyzone.shtml
Comedy Club
Stand-Up on 7: Steven K Amos
Top British comedian Steven K Amos (pictured) charms audiences in the UK
and abroad with his natural wit. Hereâs a chance to hear him do what
he does best. His sharp stand-up show is a Laughing Stock production
recorded at London's Monday Club. Sunday at 11pm and 4am
Crème De la Crime
Hugh Dennis stars as Michael Feydeau, TVâs Inspector Niblett and Steve
Punt is David Pershore, crime expert. Together they bring you
reconstructions of terrible crimes in this comedy written by Punt and
Dennis, produced by Adam Bromley and first broadcast on Radio 4 in 2001.
Sunday at 11.45pm and 4.45am
Count Arthur Strongâs Radio Show
New to BBC 7
We've had quite a few requests for this, so Iâm very pleased that we
can bring you a confused and muddled 'day in the life' of one time
Variety Star, Count Arthur Strong. Steve Delany wrote the script and
stars as Arthur, who is the supreme master of self delusion and
mispronunciation, badly covered up by his bravado and self-assurance.
Produced by Mark Radcliffe and first broadcast on Radio 4 in 2006, it is
a Komedia Entertainment production. Thursday at 11.30pm and 4.30am
http://www.bbc.co.uk/bbc7/comedy/comedyclub.shtml
7 drama
Flight of a Witch
Tom Felse is a mathematician and not at all superstitious. However, he
feels compelled to investigate the horrific events which occurred on the
Hallowmount. Ellis Peters' murder mystery was dramatised for radio by
Sally Hedges. The cast includes Ewan Thomas, Rob Spendlove and Deborah
Berlin and the 90-minute drama was directed in Birmingham by Sue Wilson.
Saturday at 12pm and 1am
Decline and Fall
This is the 80th anniversary of the publication of Evelyn Waugh's first
novel and I recommended this radio dramatisation in last week's letter.
I am recommending it again, having read in the Guardian Arts and
Entertainment Blog this week an interesting piece bemoaning the fact
that this brilliant novel appears to be ignored. It is referred to as "
One of the greatest comic novels, Decline and Fall is nowadays oddly
unpopular and untelevised" I have news for the Guardian bloggers, who
needs a televised version when we have such an excellent dramatisation
on radio? Andrew Sachs, Jim Broadbent and Alistair McGowan star in this
tale of a young man whose life takes an unexpected turn when he is
expelled from Oxford University and forced to rethink his life. It is
dramatised in six parts. You can still catch part 1 on Listen Again and
part 2 on Saturday.
Saturday at 8.30am and 7.30pm
http://www.bbc.co.uk/bbc7/drama/7drama.shtml
7th Dimension
Alpha
The first of two brilliant plays by Mike Walker, Alpha won a Sony Radio
Academy Award in 2001 for Best Drama. The focus is a computer which is
'all knowing' and appears to have an independent life of its own. Father
Marquez has to decide whether or not the computer can be allowed to
exist. Starring David Calder, Sarah Jane Holm, Ana Sofrenovia and John
Moffatt, the director was Gordon House. The play was first broadcast on
the World Service in 2001. Sunday at 6pm
The Voice of God
In a remote region of Australia, Seismologist, Sam Rideout and her
outback guide Joshua Patamerri are tracking the epicentre of an abnormal
amount of Earthquakes and find themselves drawn into a top secret
facility researching the use of infrasound as a weapon run by the
Bristish Army. This original BBC 7 commission was first broadcast on the
network in February 2006. It was written by Simon Bovey, directed by
Mark Beeby and stars Mather Dyktynski, Clare Corbett and David Thorpe.
Monday to Friday at 6pm and Midnight
Methuselahâs Children
Paul Birchard reads Robert A. Heinlein's sci-fi novel about a group of
families who can live for several hundred years. This 6 part sci-fi was
an original BBC 7 commission and was first broadcast in 2007. This is
another production from Bruce Young, Radio Scotland. Weekdays from
Monday at 6.30pm and 12.30am
http://www.bbc.co.uk/bbc7/drama/7thdimension.shtml
Crime and Thrillers
The Virgin in the Ice
In the winter of 1139 and amid the civil war, Brother Cadfael sets out
to find a missing boy and his sister. Narrated by Sir Michael Horden and
starring Philip Madoc as the shrewd medieval sleuth Brother Cadfael,
this five part dramatisation of Elllis Petersâ crime novel was
dramatised by Bert Coules and produced by Phil Clarke. It also stars
Douglas Hodge, Dean Magri, Moira Buffini and Leonard Fenton. Monday to
Friday at 9am, 8pm and 1am
Jagged Prayer
Staying with monks and monasteries, this comedy drama was written by a
former monk, Robert Smith. Crime and convents, the police and perdition
come together when a suspicious death in a pond introduces an unlikely
partnership of Mother Helen, played by Cheryl Campbell and DI Cromwell,
played by Timothy Spall. Directed by Ned Chaillet, it was first
broadcast on Radio 4 in 2000. Monday to Thursday at 9.30am, 8.30pm and
1.30am
Hallows End
This BBC 7 commission produced by Lawrence Jackson, BBC Drama, Northern
Ireland, is a whodunnit with supernatural overtones. A Dublin
entrepreneur Dermot McPhail, misguidedly buys a Gothic mansion on the
wild coast of west Cork, only to discover that an ancient curse is
attached to it. Hallows End is written by Bill Murphy and stars Gerry
O'Brien as Dermot, with Ann Marie Horan, Darragh Kelly, Helen Norton and
Simon Delaney. First broadcast on BBC 7 in 2007. Friday at 9.30am,
8.30pm and 1.30am http://www.bbc.co.uk/bbc7/drama/crimethrillers.shtml
Bestsellers
Big Toe Books
On Saturday and Sunday there's Fergus Crane by Paul Stewart and Chris
Riddell, read by Steven Kynman. On Monday to Friday you can hear: The
Daydreamer by Ian McEwan, read by Hamish Clark
Stravanganza: City of Masks by Mary Hoffman, read by Stephen Moyer
Saffy's Angel by Hilary McKay,read by Natalie Casey Henry's Cat: The
Record by Stan Heyward, read by Mike Harding Daily between 7am and 8am
Breakfast at Tiffanyâs
Henry Goodman reads Truman Capote's colourful and witty novel set in New
York in the 1940s, centring on the relationship between a young writer
and captivating girl-about-town, Holly Golightly .Abridged in 10 parts
by James Robertston, it was produced by Bruce Young and first broadcast
on Radio 4 in 2001. Weekdays from Monday at 1pm
Ronald Frame Stories
The End of the Season:
Rhona has run away from her relationship problems. At her hotel, she
comes to an understanding. Jilly Bond reads Ronald Frameâs short
story. First broadcast on Radio 4 in 1995. Thursday at 1.15pm
The Trinket Box:
A prank Valentine card cannot possibly cause a marriage to break down -
can it? Read by John Gordon Sinclair. Friday at 1.15pm
http://www.bbc.co.uk/bbc7/drama/bestsellers.shtml
Fact and Fiction
Groucho Was My Father
Miriam Marx Allen is the daughter of the most famous cigar-smoker in
film history. She talks to Tony Staveacre about her father, Groucho
Marx, and introduces fascinating letters from the correspondence which
kept them together. In 3 thirty minute parts, it was first broadcast on
Radio 4 in 1993. Sunday at 12.30pm, 7.30pm and 5.30am
This Sceptred Isle
Anna Massey continues to bring us the history of the British Isles. This
week you can hear about:
The Emd of the Monasteries
The Auld Alliance and the Death of Henry Vlll
A Decade of Rebellion, Execuations and Common Prayer.
Bloody Mary and the Burning of Cranmer
The Elizabethans
Monday to Friday at 1.30pm
http://www.bbc.co.uk/bbc7/features/
and finally
Our competition set by Graeme Garden to win an autographed boxed set of
"Iâm Sorry Iâll Read That Again" CDs closed a week ago.
The question was:
"On what date was the first programme in the first series of "I'm Sorry
I'll Read That Again" broadcast, and what were the names of the entire
cast?"
The answer is:
3rd April 1964 and Tim Brooke-Taylor, John Cleese, Anthony Buffery,
David Hatch, Jo Kendall and Bill Oddie.
The lucky winners are:
Charlotte Clark from Southwold
David Burnige from Bordon
Roger Peniall from Loughton
Your prizes will be winging their way to you very soon.
I'll leave you now with What's On and Listen Again .
http://www.bbc.co.uk/bbc7/listings/index.shtml?Today
http://www.bbc.co.uk/bbc7/listenagain/thursday/
Happy Listening
Mary Kalemkerian
Head of Programmes, BBC 7
--
James Follett
date: Fri, 13 Jun 2008 18:12:15 +0100
author: JF
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