CHRISTMAS HIGHLIGHTS Contents 2 Drama and Readings Factual A Chile Christmas 6 Correspondents Look Ahead 19 A Long Time Dead 4 Crib City 10 All Fingers And Thumbs 17 Crypt Music Kings 18 Ancient And Modern 8 Falling Up 7 Angelic Hosts 5 Food Quiz Special 13 Augustus Carp Esq. By Himself 6 Fractured 5 Boxing Clever 14 Hallelujah! 11 In The Bosom Of The Family 19 If The Slipper Fits 15 Just William – Doin’ Good 14 JM Barrie – Man And Boy 14 Lorna Doone 4 Magic Carpets 3 Peter And Wendy (rpt) 15 Opening Nights: Peter Pan Takes Flight 8 The Adventure Of The Christmas Pudding 9 People’s D-Day 13 The Dittisham Nativity 8 Remember Alistair Cooke 12 The Little White Bird 12 Robert Burns 20 The Nutcracker 3 Santarchy 11 The Sorcerer’s Apprentice 16 Sing Christmas 12 Soul Music 11 Comedy and Entertainment Start The Week 14 The Long Winter 9 Best Of I’m Sorry I Haven’t A Clue 15 The Reunion 13 Fanshawe Gets To The Bottom Of…Christmas 11 Veg Talk 19 Fanshawe Gets To The Bottom Of…The Party Season 19 Wall Of Death 4 Hamish And Dougal Hogmanay Special 19 Who Was Wenceslas And Who Decided He Was Good? 7 Lets Hear It For The King Of Judea 3 The Now Show Christmas Special 10 Religion Roy Hudd’s Tales From The Lodge Room 15 Steven Appleby’s Normal Christmas 8 Christmas In Bethlehem 11 The Write Stuff 17 Christmas Service 11 With Great Pleasure At Christmas 11 Daily Service 9 Festival Of Nine Lessons And Carols 9 Midnight Mass 9 Sunday Worship 13 The Choice 6 3 Saturday 18 December 2004 BBC RADIO 4 Saturday 18 December Magic Carpets 1/1 3.30-4.00pm Let’s Hear It For The King Of Judea 1/1 Seaside entertainer Tony Lidington (who has flown on a magic 10.30-11.00am carpet himself) explores the symbolism and language of carpets. He finds that in the past, weavers often travelled from one country Terry Jones asks: "What has the King of Judea ever done for us?" to another in response to market demands and produced Let’s face it, King Herod has had a bad press. Ask most people masterpieces of patterned, knotted yarn that still arouse wonder today what he is known for and they will only mention the today. Nomadic tribes built makeshift looms and used wandering Massacre of the Innocents referred to in the Gospel of St Matthew. flocks of sheep, spun yarn and designed carpets, depicting nature as But this is the only reference to the event.Terry thinks there’s more they saw it – illustrating their culture and religious beliefs with to be said about a ruler who was known as ‘Herod the Great’. symbols and motifs.As long ago as the 5th century, carpets were better currency than money - Queen Cleopatra even presented Terry, having on one occasion appeared in a stable in Bethlehem herself to Caesar, rolled up inside one. cunningly disguised as the mother of Brian, wants to know more. He talks to historians such as Peter Richardson, who says he finds Tony visits a rare carpet auction where thousands of pounds are much to admire in Herod’s grand architectural projects; to a exchanged on symbols, designs, knots and yarn. He talks to those group who are excavating Herod’s great temple site in Caesarea, who make them by hand using specially made natural dyes and he Israel; and to the Herod Appreciation Society who are based in visits some of the towns here in the UK, that were built on Ilford, Essex. carpet manufacture. Oh, and he takes a very special ride on a magic carpet. Presenter/Terry Jones, Producer/Mark Rickards Presenter/Tony Lidington, Producer/Angela Hind BBC Radio 4 Publicity BBC Radio 4 Publicity The Nutcracker 1/1 2.30-3.30pm Hattie Naylor’s dramatisation of The Nutcracker is based on the original E T A Hoffman story, rather than the ballet. It’s a thrilling and nasty tale in the true tradition of Hoffman and his fabulous gothic tales. A King and Queen are pursued by a vindictive witch-mouse, called Mauselink who casts a spell that turns their beautiful baby daughter, Princess Pirlipat, into a misshapen infant with a deformed wooden head, large teeth and a ghastly smile. Dr Drosselmeier, the court doctor and clockmaker is sent on a hunt to find the Crackatook nut - the only thing that can break the spell.After years of searching Dr Drosselmeier returns with the Nut and presents his nephew, who has very strong teeth, to break it.The spell on the Princess is broken but in the process Dr Drosselmeier’s nephew steps on Mauselink and kills her.As she dies she curses him turning him into The Nutcracker and swearing the revenge of her son, the Mouse King. Dr Drosselmeier returns to Nuremberg and presents The Nutcracker as a Christmas gift to a young girl, Clara, and her family. But The Nutcracker is pursued by the Mouse King, and Clara is awoken in the middle of the night by a murderous battle between the two deadly foes... Producer/Paul Dodgson BBC Radio 4 Publicity Monday 20 December 2004 4 Death. Life-long bike enthusiast Andy Kershaw sets out to explore BBC RADIO 4 Monday 20 December the history of this most spectacular of all fairground shows and meets the men and women who are brave – or mad – enough to Woman’s Hour Drama – carry on the tradition. Lorna Doone 1/10 Andy meets the Wall of Death’s very own historian, Neil Calladine. 10.45-11.00am The first Wall arrived in Britain in 1929 at the Kursaal in Southend A new adaptation by award winning writer Jane Rogers, of R D where it remained for nearly 50 years. Its most celebrated owner Blackmore's high romance of love and vengeance on Exmoor with was George ‘Tornado’ Smith who, during an eventful career, had Timothy West as the older John Ridd and Alex Avery as the young John. several assistants who rode pillion as part of the performance. These included his wife and Briton, a lioness who, as a cub, rode on Lorna Doone is a story of star-crossed lovers, feuding families, the handlebars, but when she grew bigger graduated to a sidecar. royal plots and noble destinies set against a backdrop of uncertainty in 17th Century England. King Charles II lies on his The 30s were a golden age for the Wall of Death and no self- deathbed and the future of the country is left in the hands of respecting funfair was without one.The best riders were even divided politicians and warring rebels. treated like modern-day rock- or film-stars. Peaceful Exmoor farmers, John Ridd and family endure the wrath The tradition has been continued to the present day by Roy’s of the nearby colony of notorious outlanders and lawbreakers the grandson Graham who takes his Wall to shows and fairs up and Doones. Lead by Sir Ensor, the clan has been ejected from their down the country. Surprisingly, in an age where the extraordinary Scottish homelands and forced to plunder the villages on the moor is regularly seen on TV and films, the Cripsey Wall of Fear is still a to survive.When his father is murdered one day by Carver Doone, hugely popular attraction. 12 year-old John Ridd swears vengeance on his father's killers. As Graham approaches the age of 50, however, he’s decided to Without a father John must leave school and provide for his family. retire and Andy joins him on the day the Wall comes up for Out fishing one day he accidentally finds himself in Doone valley, auction. It’s an emotional moment as Graham gives his last-ever where he makes the acquaintance of a mysterious maiden, Lorna performance (or so he thinks) and Andy reflects on a remarkable (Jemma Powell). Bidding him to never again appear on their land if he spectacle that has entertained British audiences for nearly eighty wants to live, she leaves him, and it is seven years before his return. years and still draws ‘em in today. Despite the fact that Lorna is a Doone, and therefore a sworn Presenter/Andy Kershaw, Producer/Jeremy Grange (Wales) enemy, love blossoms as the pair meet again and John finds he simply BBC Radio 4 Publicity cannot stay away.As their friendship grows, so does the hatred between their families.Turbulent times lay ahead for the young lovers, as they chance fate, and defy all that they know. What emerges from the nest of passions and desires, unbridled corruption Afternoon Play - A Long Time Dead and pure fate, is a story of faith, courage, and determination. 2.15-3.00pm Jane Rogers is an award winning original writer and dramatist. Her Careful Kath and bossy Beatrice (both in their late 50s) are all set credits include Mr Wroe's Virgins, Dawn and The Candidate (TV), for their girlie weekend in Paris, but an hour before leaving to Diary Of A Provincial Lady (E. M. Delafield), Letters To An Icon, and catch the Eurostar, Kath quietly dies in her armchair. But neither of Hardy’s A Tragedy Of Two Ambitions (radio). them see why this should get in the way of their European jaunt. Producer/Katherine Beacon Beatrice and dead Kath take on Paris with enthusiasm.They watch the sunset over the Seine and Beatrice even treats Kath to a BBC Radio 4 Publicity designer frock and a pair of gold shoes for her funeral.