Radio 4 Listings for 26 December 2020 – 1 January 2021 Page 1 of 19 SATURDAY 26 DECEMBER 2020 Lord God at Christmas despite the mire of our world, you came bestseller. Now 88, Lady Glenconner has written her first novel to us - that we might come to you. Open the doors of our hearts Murder on Mustique, set on the island formerly owned by her SAT 00:00 Midnight News (m000qjgj) to live simply and humbly – and like the shepherds to discover husband. She discusses her life, dealing with tragedy and why The latest news and weather forecast from BBC Radio 4. the wonder of the Word made Flesh. In Jesus Christ our Lord. she’s now at her happiest. Amen. As a Boxing Day treat, Jools Holland and Sheila Ferguson share SAT 00:15 Christmas Meditation (m000qjgp) their Inheritance Tracks. Jools Holland has chosen Up Above A reflection on the meaning of Christmas with novelist and My Head by Sister Rosetta Tharpe and Love Made Them Do screenwriter Frank Cottrell-Boyce. SAT 05:45 In Their Element (m000cngv) That by Jools Holland With Ruby Turner. Sheila Ferguson has Series 4 chosen What Are You Doing New Year's Eve by Nancy Wilson As Christmas Day draws to a close Frank Cottrell-Boyce and When Will I See You Again by The Three Degrees. reflects on the idiosyncrasies of the day and the uniqueness of Helium this year’s festivities. Amidst the new toys, ripped wrapping During lockdown Jay Flynn become known for his Virtual Pub paper, and leftover turkey, Frank contemplates stars of wonder, Who doesn’t smile at the sight of a floating Father Christmas or Quiz, which won him a place in the Guinness Book of Records. recurring traditions, and why, even in the darkest times, the a hovering happy birthday? Helium filled balloons are festive, He’s also been awarded an MBE as he has raised over £750, 000 spirit of Christmas is never far away. but as the gas reserves run low – should we reconsider the for charity. But in his 20s, after a relationship breakdown, he Producer: Ruth Thomson. balloons? spent time sleeping rough in London – calling a bench on Victoria Embankment his home. Helium is a finite resource here on Earth and many branches of SAT 00:30 A Promised Land by Barack Obama (m000qjcz) science need it. Doctors need it to run MRI machines to Adam Buxton's Ramble Book is out now. Ep 10 - The Raid diagnose tumours, engineers test rockets for leaks with it and Murder on Mustique by Anne Glenconner is out now. deep sea divers use it to avoid the bends. Jools Holland and his Rhythm & Blues Orchestra will welcome Barack Obama reads the final episode from his new presidential in 2021 with his annual Hootenanny on BBC 2. memoir offering a unique and very personal account of the The story of helium starts with a solar eclipse in 1868. The Sheila Ferguson is performing in We Need A Little Christmas highs and lows of life in high office and the landmarks of his event had many astronomers' eyes fixed on the sun. Two in support of Shelter & Crisis, which will be streamed from first term. astronomers, nearly simultaneous and independently, made the 20th December to 1st January. same observation; a strange light with an unusual wavelength Jay Flynn's Pub Quiz Book is out now. In today’s episode, Obama meets Donald Trump for the first coming from the sun. It turned out to be the first sighting of time, and is compelled to deal with birthirism - the movement extra-terrestrial helium. It would take decades for helium to be Producer: Claire Bartleet brought about by Trump's questioning of his American discovered on Earth and longer still for its worth to be Editor: Eleanor Garland citizenship. An early foreshadowing of a 'dark and alternative recognised. vision' he thinks, but there's no time to dwell, as his CIA advisors have a lead on Osama bin Laden’s hideout. So begins As its ability to make things float and inability to burn became SAT 10:30 The Kitchen Cabinet (m000qlxj) the defining military action of his presidency, with Obama apparent, the US military started hoarding it for their floating Series 30 giving a blow by blow account of Operation Neptune's Spear as blimps. But they soon realised that it is very hard to store an Navy SEALS raid the terrorist’s compound in Pakistan and element that is so light that it can escape the Earth's Home Economics: Episode 20 carry out their orders. gravitational pull. As we empty our last reserves of the periodic table's most notorious escape artist – is the future of floating Jay Rayner hosts the culinary panel show. Dr Barry Smith, Andi Elected in 2008, Obama became the 44th president of the balloons up in the air? Oliver, Tim Anderson and Sue Lawrence join Jay at his virtual United States and the first African American to sit in the Oval kitchen table answering questions from a virtual audience. Office. A Promised Land documents the unrelenting demands on the President of the USA and presents intriguing glimpses of SAT 06:00 News and Papers (m000qm3n) This week is all about leftovers. The panellists give a chicken family life with Michelle, Malia and Sasha at one of the world’s The latest news headlines. Including the weather and a look at korma 101, discuss the food they make extra of just so they can most famous addresses. the papers. have leftovers, and suggest what to do with that jar of frankfurters at the back of the cupboard. Abridged by Katrin Williams. Produced by Julian Wilkinson; the editor is Di Speirs. SAT 06:07 Open Country (m000qm3q) Producer: Laurence Bassett Frank Turner and the Meon Valley Assistant Producer: Jemima Rathbone SAT 00:48 Shipping Forecast (m000qjgt) In 2012 punk and folk singer-songwriter Frank Turner was on A Somethin' Else production for BBC Radio 4 The latest weather reports and forecasts for UK shipping. top of the world. He had his first gold record, headlined his first arena show, and to top it all off he performed at the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympics. But as the press SAT 11:00 You're Dead To Me (p0874r22) SAT 01:00 Selection of BBC World Service Programmes requests and celebrity party invited poured, Frank chose to step The History of Chocolate (m000qjgy) out of the limelight and head home, back to Winchester and the BBC Radio 4 joins the BBC World Service. Meon Valley where he spent the first part of his life, to walk the Greg Jenner is joined by chocolate historian Alex Hutchinson South Downs Way. and British TV legend Richard Osman to explore the culinary and cultural history of chocolate - Britain's favourite SAT 05:20 Shipping Forecast (m000qjh2) For this programme Frank returns to the area to find out more confectionery. The latest weather reports and forecasts for UK shipping. about its rich Saxon history and its unique wildlife habitats, and to explore how this area shaped him as a person and as a Just what did the Maya use to flavour their cacao? How did musician, with songs like 'Take Me Home' and 'Wessex Boy' cacao become chocolate and find its way into our shops and SAT 05:30 News Briefing (m000qjh6) drawing so strongly from the landscape. There's even time for hearts? And why did a family feud change the entire branding The latest news from BBC Radio 4 him to speak to his Mum! of a much loved chocolate bar? Producer: Toby Field A Muddy Knees Media production for BBC Radio 4 SAT 05:43 Prayer for the Day (m000qjhb) A spiritual comment and prayer to begin the day with The Rt Revd Dr Jo Bailey Wells, Bishop of Dorking SAT 06:30 Farming Today (m000qm3s) SAT 11:30 BBC Inside Science (m000qjnc) Boxing Day Farming Today This Week - Looking Back at 2020 Space Rocks, Aquatic Dinosaurs and Global Temperatures; Good morning. 2020 science reviewed 2020 has been a year like no other, but as the pandemic raged I hope you had an enjoyable day yesterday – even if it wasn’t around the world, farmers kept on farming! Nobody could have failed to notice the one story dominating quite a normal Christmas. In my household it was simpler, the science news this year - but what about the discoveries that humbler and more outdoors. The house got tracked with mud In this programme, Charlotte Smith looks back at the highlights have been overshadowed in 2020? This week, Dr Adam from our boots… How very apt, I suddenly realised - a little bit of farming year - from fights over food standards and tussles Rutherford eschews all mentions of the pandemic as he invites more like the original Christmas. Shouldn’t that be the one we over trade... to the farm businesses forced to adapt to our "new dinosaur researcher Dr Susie Maidment, climate scientist Dr call normal? normal". Tamsin Edwards and astrophysicist Dr Emma Chapman to share their science highlights of the year. The first people ever to celebrate Christmas were a bubble of Presented by Charlotte Smith shepherds tracking mud from their boots, into a stable that was Produced for BBC Audio in Bristol by Heather Simons We journey to the moon and beyond to discuss the many full of mud. As to simpler, humbler, more outdoors: that missions that have been blasting and grabbing bits of space rock describes it pretty well. The shepherds were humble folk who to bring back to earth and tackle the ongoing debate about lived simply.