Programme Information

Elaine Paige celebrates the best of Broadway, Hollywood and the West End and is joined by actor Matt Rawle in today's programme.

Matt is currently starring in the West End hit, Zorro The Musical, which features music by The Gypsy Kings. Matt's recent credits include Aspects Of Love, Evita and Stephen Sondheim's Assassins.

Matt's Essential Musicals include: My Fair Lady, Broadway 1956; Annie, New York 1976; Into The Woods, Broadway 1987; Tell Me On A Sunday, London 1980; and Underneath The Arches, London 1982.

Malcolm's Big One comes from the film Divine Madness (1980).

Presenter/Elaine Paige, Producer/Malcolm Prince

BBC Radio 2 Publicity

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Brian D'Arcy introduces a selection of hymns to celebrate the week of prayer for Christian Unity. This week's featured choir is the Cardiff Polyphonic, directed by Neil Ferris with organist Robert Court.

Hymns include Thy Hand O God Has Guided, We Have A Gospel To Proclaim and The Churches' One Foundation.

Presenter/Brian D'Arcy, Producer/Janet McLarty

BBC Radio 2 Publicity

Michael Berkeley talks to actress and author Carol Drinkwater, best known as Helen Herriott in the TV series All Creatures Great And Small. Carol now runs an olive farm in Provence and has written a series of books about olive farming in the Mediterranean basin. Some of her musical choices are inspired by her travels on the olive trail, including Pablo Casals playing Bach and Spanish gypsy music. Jazz by Miles Davis, Nina Simone and Oscar Peterson is another great passion.

Presenter/Michael Berkeley

BBC Radio 3 Publicity

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Aled Jones presents a tribute to
Richard Hickox (pictured)

Aled Jones presents a tribute to conductor Richard Hickox, whose sudden death in November left the choral world without one of its most-loved and respected champions.

Richard Hickox had few equals when it came to commanding the respect of a chorus. He had a boyish enthusiasm, an ability to catch the eye of every single chorister during a performance and the sense that no matter how much effort each member put into a concert, he was able to match it, if not better it.

He was suddenly taken ill in November doing what he loved most, making a recording of large-scale choral music with one of the many leading ensembles with which he was associated, the BBC National Chorus and Orchestra of Wales. Hickox had barely missed a rehearsal through illness throughout his intense career. But his incredible list of 282 discs with the Chandos recording label was destined not to be increased.

Aled is joined by three of the conductor's close collaborators and friends to look back on his rich career working with choral groups. Adrian Partington played keyboard on numerous Hickox recordings and most recently was Chorus Master for the BBC National Orchestra of Wales during Hickox's time as Principal Conductor. Andrew Stewart has fond memories of singing under Hickox in the London Symphony Chorus, including on legendary recordings such as Britten's War Requiem. The conductor's deep devotion to his choristers is something he remembers vividly, as well as his sensitive side. Finally, Frances Cooke recalls 35 years as Hickox's right-hand lady, helping to manage his choirs, often rehearsing them, and also running the St Endellion Festival which became the big passion of Hickox's life.

Music is performed by the BBC National Chorus of Wales, London Symphony Chorus, Richard Hickox Singers and Collegium Musicum 90, and the programme features archive interviews Hickox gave to the BBC during his career.

Presenter/Aled Jones, Producer/Michael Surcombe

BBC Radio 3 Publicity

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This new drama is by one of Ulster's most successful playwrights and a forthright dramatic chronicler of Protestant life, Gary Mitchell. It features a strong cast led by a stalwart of Ulster theatre, BJ Hogg, and Stuart Graham, recently highly praised for his performance in Steve McQueen's film Hunger.

Teacher Hugh is currently in hospital after a car crash. He is visited by Charlie and his wife. As the play moves between present and past, a kaleidoscopic drama emerges exploring personal tragedy and betrayal.

At the centre of the story is the legacy of the Orange Parade and their bands and how, over the years, the band culture has had to adapt to the prevailing political climate. The play explores how this has affected relationships, both male and female, within the Protestant community. It also puts the band music in the context of other more popular music of the day. A mosaic of time and memory, laced with humour and music, the play explores the roots of discontent within the Protestant working-class community at a time when Northern Ireland no longer makes headlines.

BJ Hogg plays Hugh with Stuart Graham as Charlie. They are supported by Alexandra Ford, Patrick Jenkins and James Doran.

Producer/Roland Jaquarello

BBC Radio 3 Publicity

The Grand Babylon Hotel

Sunday 18 January

3.00-4.00pm BBC RADIO 4

In Arnold Bennett's story, adapted by Chris Harrald in a two-part drama, Theodore Racksole buys Europe's most exclusive hotel, The Grand Babylon, on a whim. Theodore ignores the signs that he may regret the purchase, even though the warnings come from Monsieur Felix Babylon, the man selling the hotel.

Soon Racksole and his feisty daughter, Nella, find themselves embroiled in a threatening new world involving a mysterious death, a missing Prince, a sinister assistant and an aggressive maitre d'. Racksole finds himself in jeopardy in his own hotel and discovers that what he thought was a beautiful toy, is actually a deadly trap, with hidden rooms and secret passages.

Meanwhile, Nella is following Baroness Zerlinski to Ostend. An all-American young woman, she thinks her skill with a revolver will see her through a dangerous encounter. But she is outwitted, knocked out and wakes to finds herself on a luxurious yacht, facing a villain who is torn between the need to silence her – and the fact that he has fallen in love with her.

Producer/Steven Canny

BBC Radio 4 Publicity

5 Live Sport

Sunday 18 January

12.00noon-6.00pm BBC RADIO 5 LIVE

Eleanor Oldroyd presents an afternoon of live sport, with commentary of the Barclays Premier League clash between West Ham and Fulham live from Upton Park at 1.30pm, plus reports from the final day of the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship in the United Arab Emirates. There are also updates from rugby union's Heineken and European Challenge Cup fifth-round matches.

From 4pm live commentary comes from White Hart Lane where Tottenham Hotspur face Portsmouth.

Presenter/Eleanor Oldroyd, Producer/TBC

BBC Radio 5 Live Publicity

Basketball

Sunday 19 January

3.15-6.00pm BBC 5 LIVE SPORTS EXTRA

Uninterrupted commentary comes from the Plymouth Raiders v Everton Tigers in the British Basketball League Cup Final, live from the National Indoor Arena in Birmingham.

Producer/Jen McAllister

BBC 5 Live Sports Extra Publicity

Heart And Soul – The Morality Of Money

Sunday 18 January

10.30-11.00am BBC WORLD SERVICE

Bankers talk of good and bad investments, but how far do they chime with decisions that are morally right or wrong? Richard Coles explores whether money – or the market it dominates – has its own value system. He talks to people whose lives are ruled by money – the hedge fund managers and city boys – and a nun who plays the stock market for the good of mankind.

According to the Bible, the love of money is the root of all evil, but commercial companies aim to maximise profits. The American Dream might equate wealth and virtue, but is there something morally hazardous in devoting a working life to the pursuit of money?

Presenter/Richard Coles, Producer/Katy Hickman

BBC World Service Publicity