Very much looking forward to attempting to keep up with the mammoth BBC drama broadcast this week of Vasily Grossman's Life and Fate on Radio 4. With all-star cast including Kenneth Branagh, Greta Scacchi, Janet Suzman, Harriet Walter and David Tennant!  Off to bed to listen to Episode 1...

OMG the cricket! (Are we all dreaming?...)

It's a bit weird watching it all 12 hours late when you already know the scores, admittedly, (for non-cricketers: the current Test series is being played in Australia, so UK-based fans can only watch it live if they a) have Sky and b) are prepared to stay up all night), but fabulous nonetheless.

And ( Read more... )

green_maia, greylin , dolamrothdame , I'm looking at you...

The BBC Radio 4 Wednesday arts discussion programme Midweek has just featured Patrick Stewart! (because the version of his Macbeth filmed by Illuminations, who also filmed the DT/PS RSC Hamlet, is airing on BBC4 this weekend)

- he talked to the interviewer about acting angry villains (with a very moving segment talking ( Read more... )

Gacked from communicator  via altariel and coming soon to every Brit on your flist...

The Mitch Benn I'm Proud of the BBC list:

( is under here. )

 Stephen Moffat, talking at the end of  The Doctor and Douglas  on Radio 4 about how sad he is that Douglas Adams didn't live to see the revival of  Who;

"...because obviously he would have been asked to write for it, and [laughs] we'd still be waiting for the script now, but, when it did come in - can you imagine, Douglas writing for the modern ( Read more... )

(those in UK, anyway):   BBC Radio 4 just trailed a documentary on at 11 this morning about Douglas Adams and his contribution to Who!  A little something to get you in the mood before Eastercon and The Eleventh Hour...

... DT has just apologised live on Radio 2 to the nation for his ubiquity.  Well, at least he's noticed.

(And actually, he and Catherine Tate are very good, so far. Not that I am stalking the guy through the ether or anything, honest...)

Just heard, while catching up with The Archers, the best ever definition of camping (from a reluctant about-to-be-first-time-camper):

"What's the point of PRETENDING TO BE HOMELESS IN A FIELD???"

ROTFL... Never a truer word (as one who does actually enjoy camping, in carefully measured doses...)

I don't always manage to listen to Melvyn Bragg's In Our Time on Radio 4 - one of those terribly worthy and Reithian, but usually very entertaining, Brains Trust-y programmes the Beeb does so well - but professional pride wouldn't let me skip this week's on the legendary ancient Library of Alexandria.  It was full of fascinating nuggets - some ( Read more... )