A SAMBA FOR SARO-WIWA BBC Radio 4, 2 x 15 minutes
Part 1: First broadcast on Sunday 26 November 2000 at 5.40 p.m.
REPEATED Saturday 2 December 2000, 7.45 p.m.
Part 2: First broadcast on Sunday 3 December 2000 at 5.40 p.m.
REPEATED on Saturday 9 December 2000, 7.45 p.m.
Zina Saro-Wiwa, 24-year-old daughter of the executed Nigerian activist, revisits in her mind the place where she found solace and a sense of belonging: not in her native Nigeria, nor in Britain, where she has lived for most of her life - but in Salvador da Bahia, the old Brazilian capital and port of arrival for millions of slaves over nearly four centuries. West African culture is everywhere apparent.
'I was captivated by this two part feature... Maybe it was her spare, elegant prose style. Or producer Nigel Acheson's of Loftus Productions's sensitive direction of her voice.. There was a compelling sense of mystery in Zina's confession.' Ken Garner, Sunday Express
Presenter: Zina Saro-Wiwa
Producer: Nigel Acheson
THE COVENTRY BLITZ BBC Radio 4, 60 minutes
First broadcast on Saturday 11 November 2000 at 8 p.m.
A programme marking the 60th anniversary of the destruction of Coventry Cathedral by the Luftwaffe on 14 November 1940. Using first-hand interviews and sound archive, it recalls the raid and its aftermath, explores the symbolism and controversy surrounding the rebuilding of the cathedral and examines the legacy left to the city by architects and town planners.
"Riveting... As ever, the voices of ordinary people were more powerful than any actor could be" - Martin Hoyle, Financial Times
'A marvellous programme... Charles Wheeler on top form as a narrator, Alan Hall's production and use of material quite outstanding' - Gillian Reynolds, Daily Telegraph
Presenter: Charles Wheeler
Producer: Alan Hall
THE LANGUAGE DOCTOR series III BBC World Service, 12 x 15 minutes
First broadcast on Mondays from 2 October to 18 December 2000
A third series of the popular English language 'clinic' for students of English, with a comic twist: caring but firm, Nurse Evans (Lizzie Lewendon) marshals and soothes 'patients' from all over the world and ushers them into the doctor's surgery for linguistic treatment.
Producer: Doug Campbell
THE MOST BEAUTIFUL SOUND IN THE WORLD BBC Radio 4, 30 minutes
First broadcast on Friday 22 September 2000 at 11 a.m.
Piers Plowright goes in search of the most beautiful sound in the world. He finds out early that it is in the ear of the beholder - and that leads him into further insights and transgressions.
Radio Times 'Programme of the Week'
'Less a programme than a primer for life - quality of life for which you must have time, ears and attention... Radio at its best.' - Sue Arnold, Observer
'A gentle, mysterious quest, via sound, for the hidden, spiritual dimension to life.' - Ken Garner, Daily Express
'A diamond dropped into the broadcasting world.. Why is it that Radio 4 alone seems to be able to carry this kind of quality?' - listener, Devon
Presenter: Piers Plowright
Producer: Matt Thompson
ITS MY STORY:
LOVING MEN LIVING LIES BBC Radio 4, 30 minutes
First broadcast on Friday 22 September 2000 at 11 a.m.
Repeated on BBC World Service Repeated on Radio 4 on Sunday 9 September 2001
Sheila Keegan Rosie gets engaged to a man who, she discovers later, is seriously - and simultaneously - involved with at least 10 other women. What's more, she discovers he has completely invented his persona. Jessica is bowled over by John, 'a high-flying lawyer' with a taste for luxury cars. Why do clever women fall for con-men who are also conning themselves?
'Compulsive listening' - Liz Kershaw, Independent
'Another gripping story - or two, to be precise, told in tandem' - Daily Mail
'The best It's My Story so far... a classic, sure to win prizes' - David Sexton, Sunday Telegraph
Presenter: Sheila Keegan
Producer: Nigel Acheson
CALYPSO BBC Radio 4, 30 minutes
First broadcast on Tuesday 25 July 2000 at 13.30 p.m.
In Caribbean society there has long been a tradition of turning the news of the day into elegant and amusing calypsos. Extracts from newspapers and contemporary accounts are used to set up the context of the calypsos and the programme asks the question: in those days did people understand and relate to the news in different ways?
Presenter: Philip Nanton
Producer: Matt Thompson
WHATEVER HAPPENED TO MISS PANKHURST? BBC Radio 4, 30 minutes
First broadcast on Saturday 17 June 2000 at 2.30 p.m.
Carole Rosen tells the remarkable story of Sylvia Pankhurst's post-suffragette life, following a trail of political activism that leads from Woodford Green, North London, to Addis Ababa. Recorded on location with contributions from her only son, Richard, and her granddaughter.
'Radio excels at illuminating the small corners of history... an absorbing story' - Martin Hoyle, Financial Times
Extract played on Radio 4's Pick of the Week
Presenter: Carole Rosen
Producer: Nigel Acheson
HIGH CONTRAST BBC Radio 4, 30 minutes
First broadcast on Thursday 27 April 2000 at 11 a.m.
Two separate groups of people in similar yet contrasting dramatic situations tell their stories. Strong narratives tellingly intercut to form a very satisfying listen.
Producer: Matt Thompson
BOLD ENDEAVOUR BBC Radio 4, 30 minutes
First broadcast on Wednesday 12 April 2000 at 9 p.m.
Repeat broadcast Sunday 11 June 2000 at 9 p.m.
Antarctic heroes are role models for modern Astronauts. What was it that Nansen and Shackleton did so right that can be used for long-duration missions to places like Mars? Interviews with astronauts, cosmonauts and scientists.
'A fascinating programme about the nature of adventure' Peter Barnard, The Times
'The most deftly crafted feature of the week... Bold Endeavour employed stylistic techniques familiar to fans of Matt Thompson's work - abrupt juxtapositions, pregnant pauses, plummets into unexpected, felicitous ironies. ..The most imaginative producer of his generation' - Martin Buckley, Independent on Sunday
Producer: Matt Thompson
THE LANGUAGE DOCTOR series II BBC World Service, 12 x 15 mins
First broadcast 3 April to 19 June 2000
An English language 'clinic' for students of English, with a comic twist: Caring, but firm, Nurse Evans (Lizzie Lewendon) marshals and soothes 'patients' from all over the world and ushers them into the doctor's surgery for linguistic treatment.
'When I first heard Language Doctor I thought the concept of nurse and doctor would soon become irritating, but not a bit of it! You, Nurse Evans, make the show a real treat! Listener, Hong Kong
Extract played on Pick of the World, BBC World Service
Producer: Doug Campbell
CURIOUSER AND CURIOUSER BBC Radio 4, 5 x 15 mins
First broadcast on Monday to Friday 27 - 31 March 2000
Repeat broadcast: Wednesday to Saturday 27 - 30 December 2000, 12.15 a.m.
Five imaginary worlds from Alice in Wonderland made real - from a fly-on-the-hoop observation of a croquet match to a child's-eye view of her own tea party, and a search for Britain's most elusive and cuddly rodent - the dormouse.
'Another quirky and original pleasure...' Martin Hoyle, Financial Times
'The mad hatter's tea party became the starting point for a glorious investigation into tots and tea. Alice's prim statement that she never makes personal remarks was spliced with allegations by a real-life child that her brother eats his bogies..' Anne Karpf, Guardian
'Simply terrific, creative radio.. ' Ken Garner, Sunday Express
ON EITHER SIDE OF THE MOUNTAIN BBC Radio 4, 1 x 30 minutes
First broadcast on Friday 18 February 2000 at 11 a.m.
British teacher Sue Lukhele and her husband Bilal revel the places where they live and work: the small, rural town of White River and its neighbouring township on the other side of Legogote mountain. The story of two people, two schools and a divided community.
Presenters: Sue and Bilal Lukhele
Producer: Nigel Acheson
THE FUTURE OF ENGLISH BBC World Service, 6 x 30 minutes
First broadcast on Monday 11 February 2000 at 6.30 p.m.
GMT: As the new millennium begins new global forces are at work: the internet, global broadcasting, supranational organisations and tourism increasingly cross - and ignore - national and linguistic barriers. Second only to Mandarin in the league of native-speaker languages, English has a clear lead over its nearest rival as a lingua franca. But how will English be affected by these new forces? And how will the other major world languages - Hindi/Urdu, Spanish, Mandarin - face the competition?
A Chinese-language version of this programme (adapted by the BBC Chinese Service) was the winner of the 2000 Asian Broadcasting Union's external prize.
'Beautifully done.. The program flows very smoothly from the beginning, with various political leaders speaking in English, to the blend of several languages at the conclusion... Well executed and relevant to the topic of globalisation.' - ABU Judges
Presenter: Chris Faram
Research: Christopher Newberry
Producers: Chris Faram & Nigel Acheson
STEPHANIE HUGHES TAKES NOTES BBC Radio 4, 6 x 30 minutes
First broadcast on Sundays from 30 January to 5 March 2000 at 1.30 p.m.
Pairs of composers share their approach to different aspects of writing music.
'Engaging, unpretentious and genuinely informative...' Martin Hoyle, Financial Times
Presented by Stephanie Hughes
Producer: Alan Hall
SELLING THE SONG BBC Radio 4, 1 x 30 minutes
First broadcast on 27 January 2000
REPEAT BROADCAST: Thursday 2 January 2001, 11.30 p.m.
Most of the great songwriters of the classic era made rough demo versions of their songs in order to sell them to Hollywood or Broadway. Along with letters and other documentary material, this programme dusts down the recordings of these half-formed masterpieces, many which survive in Los Angeles archives.
Producer: Matt Thompson
2000 radio programmes
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