Taking his cue from 2021's Turner Prize shortlist of five artists' collectives, James Fox tells the untold story of community and socially-engaged art in post-war Britain.
Concrete cows. First World War soldiers waiting at twenty-first century train stations. A concrete cast of a house. These are just some of the manifestations of public and community art that have captured the attention of the British public over the last 50 years. These are three well-known examples among thousands, of the efforts of artists to change the fabric of the environments in which we live, work and play. This year, the Turner prize shortlist consists of five artists' collectives from around the UK: groups whose work does not principally belong in galleries; work that does not seek, as its principal focus, to present an admiring public with artifacts of beauty in hallowed halls of culture.
This 'movement', for want of a better term, continues to intrigue, puzzle, delight, and exasperate the public to whom it is offered. But what is it? Does it change society? Is it good? How do we assess it? Or are we hampered by an outdated and hard-to-shake-off idea of what an artist is, and how and where they present their work to us?
Looking back over the last 50 years and more, art historian Dr James Fox investigates the historical antecedents of this year's Turner Prize shortlist. Drawing on the BBC archive and contemporary interviews, he disentangles some of the many threads of art practice that have been visible in the public domain; and talks to curators, practitioners, participants and arts professionals about the work they have presented. What makes it good? How do we compare it with a great master painting? Do we have the necessary critical and analytical vocabulary to make sense of this work?
James's journey, both historical and geographical, takes him from Fife in Scotland to the south coast of England. On the way he visits Milton Keynes, the largest and most ambitious of Britain's post-war new towns, where public and community art were seen as critically important elements of the nascent identity of a brave new settlement. James considers the work of important organisations, such as the Artist's Placement Group in the 1960s and 70s, and the activity of Project Artworks, whose nomination for this year's Turner Prize is a tribute to 20 years of work that identifies a crossing point between art, care, and social activism.
This story, which might seem peripheral to the mainstream, is in fact one that looks deep into the qualities of the society that we might seek to live in. James Fox is our guide through a complex creative maze.
Producers: Lyndon Jones & Bella Kerr
Made by BBC Wales for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in November 2021.
ALEXEI SAYLE'S STRANGERS ON A TRAIN: SERIES 3 (320kbs-m4a/318mb/2hrs18mins) BBC Radio 4 broadcast: 20th July to 17th August 2024
Comedy icon Alexei Sayle begins a new series of rail journeys.
Alexei's mission is to break the golden rule of travelling by train and actually talk to his fellow passengers, in a quest for conversations with strangers that will reveal their lives, thoughts, dreams and destinations.
Along the way, Alexei holds a finger into the wind of the interests of the great British travelling public. There's hilarity, humour, sadness and surprise as people talk about what is going on in their lives and, as Alexei passes through familiar towns and cities, he also delves into his own personal stories of a childhood in Liverpool and a long career as a comedian, actor and author.
Alexei has a life-long ticket to ride in his DNA, as his father was a railway guard. As a child, Alexei travelled on trains with his mum and dad, not only in the UK but also abroad. While other children in Liverpool at the time thought a trip to Blackpool was a big adventure, Alexei travelled to Paris, experienced the Orient Express, had summer holidays in Czechoslovakia and visited mysterious cities with unpronounceable names in the farthest corners of Europe.
Comedy icon Alexei Sayle begins a new series of rail journeys with a trip from Nottingham to the seaside town of Skegness.
In this programme, Alexei meets Leyla and Cecelia who are off to Skegness to spend an 80s weekend packed with bands from the golden era of their youth; Ashton, who has bought a caravan to live in and is working at a seaside bar; Karen and Donna, who are seaside bound too, with Karen having her hen party after deciding to finally get married following 20 years of being engaged; Rick and Dawn who are part of the army of volunteers who adopt railway stations and care for them; Fabian, who is now at Nottingham university, and reflecting on how his life is different after leaving his small Lincolnshire home town and his childhood friends - and as a keen film buff is astonished when Alexei reveals that he has acted in a Steven Spielberg film; and James, who tells Alexei that working on the railway changed his life.
Comedy icon Alexei Sayle continues his rail journeys across the country with a trip from London to the ancient cathedral city of Hereford.
In this programme, Alexei by chance bumps into his old friend, comedian and author David Baddiel who is off to the Hay Festival. He also meets: Deborah and David who are psychologists from San Antonio in Texas on a walking holiday; Stewart, who teaches computer science in a London school and is on his way to a tech festival; Kashmini and Lara, who met on the internet and decided to meet up in real life; ‘Collie' from Australia who travels the world under the alias Collie – short for ‘Cauliflower' – the name he is known by on Twitter; author James who has become something of an expert on fermented food and is travelling with a very large and slightly smelly container of Kimchi; and Angela and her mother Kathleen who surprises Alexei with her stories of life on the road with her Harley Davidson motorcycle.
Comedy icon Alexei Sayle continues his rail journeys across the country with a trip from Scotland’s capital, Edinburgh, northwards on the coastal route to Aberdeen.
In this programme, Alexei meets Irene and Marie, two old friends who share a love of owning horses. Irene has severe eyesight problems and they are on their way for her treatment appointment. Despite this, Irene still rides as she says her horse always knows the way. Marie tells Alexei of the unexpected pregnancy of the horse she recently bought and how all her colleagues at the hospital where she works were avidly following the new foal's birth.
Alexei also meets: David, who is on his way to chair an adoption panel and, remarkably, remembers dancing with Alexei at a party in the 1980s; Lottie and Miriren, two girls on a shopping trip to Aberdeen with their parents, who surprise Alexei by telling him they never watch television; Fathia, who is originally from Tunisia and loves Scotland but still has problems with the weather and is scared of snow; David, an academic, who has just written a book interpreting religious art; Will and Rob, who moved away from Aberdeen to a quiet village nearby because their dog didn't like the busy city; and Sheila, who introduces Alexei to Doric, the local dialect of north-east Scotland.
And, on his coastal journey by train, Alexei also passes through the town which lays claim to being the birthplace of the deep fried Mars bar.
Comedy icon Alexei Sayle travels by train across the stunning countryside of Northern Ireland from Belfast to Londonderry.
In this programme, Alexei meets Robert who is on a trip to Londonderry to explore its history with his family. Robert tells Alexei how, at age 15 after he left school with no qualifications, his father took him to be interviewed by a local butcher for his first job. Now on the verge of retiring age he looks back on spending his whole working life as a butcher, work he disliked at first but grew to love as the local butcher in a close knit community Alexei also meets Sheri and Howard from Florida who spend many months each year travelling the world; William and Heather, who tell Alexei how Belfast has become a hugely successful tourist destination: Gabriel and Kate who are visiting a relative in hospital after a major operation - with Kate describing how she is one of the many cross border workers who live in the Republic but work and pay taxes in Northern Ireland- and Judith and Lisa who are married with a young son and feel they are part of a new future for their country.
Comedy icon Alexei Sayle takes his final trip in this series of train journeys across Gt. Britain as he travels from London to Berwick on Tweed.
In this programme, Alexei meets ex-teacher Christina, who is returning to Yorkshire after being scared of taking on such a long journey to London - especially the perils of travelling on the underground - but happily found a knight in shining armour to help her at King's Cross station. Alexei also meets train manager Steven who, apart from working on the railway, has carved out a budding career as a playwright; Sally, who spent 24 years in the Army and now works as a philanthropy manager helping a leading cancer charity to raise money for its work; Rahul and Priya, who are heading for Scotland on a short break sightseeing - and tasting whiskey and chocolate; Philomena and Mark who describe the delights of their home town of Dunbar to Alexei; Meg, who was at the start of the computer revolution, demonstrating and programming some of the first office computers; and Gemma who works on the railway, but also has a passion for beauty pageants.
In this episode, he travels from London to Blackpool.
Among his many fellow travellers, he meets:
* Michael, who is on his way to a major international dance competition at the Winter Gardens Ballroom in Blackpool, with his first ever invitation to be a judge.
* Julie and Sarah who are out on a trip and determined to have fun, including turning the tables on Alexei and deciding they will interview him - with very surprising results.
* The woman who runs the most famous fleet of trams in the country, which has been carrying holidaymakers along Blackpool's seafront since 1885.
In this episode, he travels from Shrewsbury to Pwllheli on the Cambrian coast line.
Among his many fellow travellers, he meets:
* Barry, an old school friend from Liverpool
* Denise, who has been given an extraordinary set of directions in order to deal with the complex arrangements for her holiday
* Geoff, who on a whim, decided to buy one of the UK's oldest cinemas, in a tiny Welsh seaside town
* Isabel, who is off to monitor dolphins
* Margaret, who has been going to the same spot on the Cambrian coast for her holiday every year for more than 50 years - and now her extended family is following the same tradition.
In this episode, he travels through Devon and Cornwall from Exeter to Newquay.
Among his many fellow travellers, he meets:
* Finn who has swapped his job at Nandos for a life in the Royal Navy looking after helicopters
* Andrew who is about to run up the Cornish coastal path to meet his girlfriend who is running down it the other way
* Paula and James who share a love of music, especially in Paula's case, the harpsichord
* Julian who has just returned from being a volunteer crew member on an historic Brixham trawler
* Eta and Rowan who are both determined travellers and tell Alexei of a visit to Chernobyl - while Alexei surprises them with his own very unusual insight into the historic city of Petra in Jordan.
In this episode, he travels north to south across Wales from Llandudno to Cardiff.
Among his many fellow travellers, he meets:
* Mags, Karen, Anne and Nicky who call themselves the 'cycling widows' and are determined to enjoy themselves while their partners are off on two wheels somewhere
* 16 year-olds Isaac and Finlay are aspiring footballers and share their dreams with Alexei of one day playing in the Premier League and for their country
* Dewi is travelling to a retreat for help with his mental health problems
* Sarah and David surprise Alexei with their tales of long distance rail travel – including a trip on the Trans-Siberian Express fuelled only by pot noodles and vodka and thousands of miles in India in second class carriages meeting some of the 23 million people who take a train there every day.
ALEXEI SAYLE'S STRANGERS ON A TRAIN: SERIES 1 (320kns-m4a/378mb/2hrs45mins) BBC Radio 4 broadcast: 10th July to 14th August 2022
Author, actor and comedy icon, Alexei Sayle begins his travels across the country by rail in the first of a new six part series for Radio 4.
Alexei's mission is to break the golden rule of travelling by train and actually talk to his fellow passengers in a quest for conversations that reveal their lives, hopes, dreams and destinations. There's humour, sadness and surprise as people talk about what is going on in their lives and, as Alexei passes through familiar towns and cities, he also tells stories and memories from his career and childhood.
Alexei has a lifelong "ticket to ride" in his DNA. His father was a railway guard and the Sayle family benefitted from free travel in the UK and across Europe. As a boy, Alexei and his family roamed far and wide from the family home in Anfield, Liverpool. At a time when most people thought an exciting trip by train was to Brighton or Blackpool, Alexei travelled thousands of miles to mysterious towns with unpronounceable names in far flung corners of the continent.
In each programme in the series, Alexei embarks on a rail journey, taking a chance on who he might meet and inviting them to have a conversation with him.
Producers Peter Lowe and Nick Symons A Ride production for Radio 4
In this first episode, Alexei travels from Cardiff to Portsmouth. Among his many fellow travellers, he meets David who looks after tunnels for a living, Tess who speaks Russian and Ukrainian and has been trained to drive a tank, and technician Megan from the National Oceanography Centre who, while many of us might be daunted by trying to deal with a leaking washing machine, loves fixing things and takes on the maintenance of mass spectrometers as part of the centre's work on climate change.
In this episode, Alexei travels from London to Glasgow and meets Roshny and Sharon, on holiday from Indonesia, who have just fulfilled a lifetime's dream of watching Liverpool play at Anfield. He also talks to Laurence who has been to his public speaking club which he joined to overcome his extreme shyness and Kirsty who has lived most of her life on a sheep farm overlooking the stunningly beautiful Holy Loch in Argyll and Bute.
In this episode, Alexei travels from Bristol to Penzance and meets Bert, a Cornish Bard, Marissa and Leanne who have travelled the world working on cruise liners, Angela who for many years ran one of Cornwall's most famous and historic pubs, and Astra who is learning the ropes at circus school.
In this episode, Alexei travels from Manchester to Bournemouth and meets Moira who, as a dedicated Manchester City fan, has sky blue hair, sky blue clothes and even a sky blue house. He also talks to Jean who has been to visit a lifelong friend who worked alongside her as a psychiatric nurse, Steven and Simon who are both accountants but spend their leisure time travelling the world together to go to top music gigs, and rail enthusiast and veteran record producer Pete Waterman on one of his thousands of trips on the west coast line.
In this episode, Alexei travels from London to Holyhead and meets Alex who is an actor and musician on his way to perform in a musical in Llandudno, Elaine who has been to London to visit her two very eccentric aunts, Jessica, an organisational psychologist whose work involves helping people discover what they really want to do in life, and Stephany who has just celebrated her 20 year service award as a customer service assistant on the railway and tells Alexei of her meeting with two of her most famous customers - Prince William and Kate Middleton.
Alexei Sayle takes another train journey and breaks the golden rule of travelling by train in the UK - by actually talking to his fellow passengers.
In this episode, he travels from Hull to Liverpool.
Among his many fellow travellers, he meets:
* Oscar who hopes to become a barrister specialising in human rights cases.
* Nick and Rachel who've taken up a more simple life after Nick's stressful career as a consulting engineer working on huge projects like the Shard in London
* Mother and daughter Jill and Isobel reveal how their lives have changed after they both lived through the Ariana Grande concert bombing in Manchester.
Alexei Sayle takes a train journey and breaks the golden rule of travelling by train in the UK - he actually talks to his fellow passengers.
On a journey from Birmingham to Edinburgh, he shares their funny and moving moments, their favourite jokes, their tales of weddings, work, funerals and holidays, and explores the lives of strangers by simply asking the questions that we might want answered - if only we were there too.
Along with the unplanned conversations, Alexei gives us his reaction to everything he can see as it passes his carriage window. Perhaps it's the stunning coastline north of Newcastle or the remains of Britain's industrial heritage as he chugs through the Midlands. After all, there must be a little bit of Alexei's DNA devoted to the railways - his father was a railway guard and Alexei travelled thousands of miles by train as a child.
Character-based sketch comedy from Lenny Henry, featuring old favourites like Deakus (musing about Covid from his care home) and Brixton-based DJ Delbert Wilkins, who's with his mate Winston talking about homeschooling.
There's also new characters such as Mr Stone, the former Special Forces operative-turned-teacher, and paranoid Aaron, who sees crime everywhere. And there's an outtake from the Repair Shop, an appeal by parents who have been cancelled by their kids, and a debut from Northern grime artist The Yorkshire Moor, rapping about lockdown.
Cast includes Lenny Henry, Vas Blackwood, George Fouracres, Llewella Gideon, Freya Parker, and Cherrelle Skeete.
Written by Lenny Henry and Max Davis, with Nathan Bryon and Tom Melia, Tasha Dhanraj, Kim Fuller, Benjamin Partridge and Nathan Roberts.
Music by Lawrence Insula, with Lockdown based on an original song, Shutdown by Skepta.
Another helping of character-based sketch comedy from Lenny Henry - including Gideon de Witt, the politician who can never answer a question straight, Mr Stone, the former Special Forces operative-turned-teacher, and paranoid Aaron, who sees crime everywhere.
There's also the trailer for a gritty new Netflix movie that's heaven sent and more from Deakus discussing British-ness, while Delbert and Winston talk racist statues, and there's another song from Northern grime artist The Yorkshire Moor, this time celebrating all things Northern.
Cast includes Lenny Henry, Vas Blackwood, George Fouracres, Freya Parker, and Cherrelle Skeete.
Written by Lenny Henry and Max Davis, with Tasha Dhanraj, Kim Fuller and Benjamin Partridge.
Another helping of character-based sketch comedy from Lenny Henry, including more from Delbert and Winston who discuss getting out into the countryside after lockdown.
We also hear from Cecilia and Barrington, two elderly Jamaican friends, and about a new TV show Britain's Next Great Occultist. There's more adventures from Gavin Stone, the Special Forces soldier-turned-teacher, and we meet Paul and Madison, who run Brixton's best black studies book shop - if only it wasn't so close to Waterstone's.
Cast includes Lenny Henry, Vas Blackwood, George Fouracres, Llewella Gideon, Freya Parker and Cherrelle Skeete.
Written by Lenny Henry and Max Davis, with Nathan Bryon and Tom Melia, Tasha Dhanraj, Kim Fuller, Athena Kugblenu, and Benjamin Partridge.
Another helping of character-based sketch comedy for modern times from Lenny Henry.
There's more from Paul's Brixton Bibliotheque, Batman learns how to be woke, Deakus talks about his kids and how he met Claudette, and we go into space to meet new character Tyrone who's just trying not to be the black guy who gets killed first on every time.
Also, there's highlights from music podcast Vinyl's Great No Matter What My Ex-Wife Says, which features an interview with famous blues musician Charlie Johnson III, and the first instalment from outrageous Jamaican gameshow Box Mi Down, where contestants have to answer questions correctly or else get, well, boxed down.
Cast includes Lenny Henry, Vas Blackwood, George Fouracres and Cherrelle Skeete.
Written by Lenny Henry and Max Davis, with Athena Kugblenu and Kim Fuller.
Another helping of character-based sketch comedy from Lenny Henry, this time including more from outrageous Jamaican gameshow Box Mi Down, hosted by the great Glenroy Livingstone.
We're back in space to see if Tyrone can stop himself getting killed again. Delbert and Winston are back on the Brixton Broadcasting Co-operative to discuss celebrities they nearly met and there's more from bookseller Paul's Brixton Bibliotheque. Also, we drop in on Raheim X Davies's art history audioguide.
Cast includes Lenny Henry, Vas Blackwood, George Fouracres and Cherrelle Skeete.
Written by Lenny Henry and Max Davis, with Kim Fuller and Michael Odewale.
Another dose of character-based sketch comedy from Lenny Henry, including more from Paul and his Brixton-based black studies bookshop.
Tyrone is still in Space desperately trying not to get killed, Glenroy Livingstone has more outrageous antics from his Jamaican game show Box Mi Down, and we meet new character Nick, a bouncer who can't get used to letting anyone in.
Also, Theophilus P Wildebeeste is back from retirement - but this time the P stands for "progressive".
Cast includes Lenny Henry, Gemma Arrowsmith, Vas Blackwood, George Fouracres and Cherrelle Skeete.
Written by Lenny Henry and Max Davis, with Tasha Dhanraj and Nathan Roberts.
"Music may go or come but almost always it is African."
Gambian musician Moses Biama is invited to London to make an album with fading English rock star, Frank.
But the recording doesn't work out the way Frank has planned...
Starring Lenny Henry and Bill Nighy.
Annie Caulfield's comedy drama about cultural cross purposes and the Music Industry.
Moses .... Lenny Henry Frank .... Bill Nighy Moses's Brother .... Curtis Walker Binta .... Joy Elias-Rilwan Fatima .... Donna Croll Tara .... Joanna Myers Jack .... James Greene Journalist .... Mark Straker
Music composed by Dominique Le Gendre.
Music played by Trevor Francis, Amadou Saho and Chuku Modo.
Lenny Henry travels to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to tell the story of August Wilson, contemporary America's greatest black playwright.
When Lenny won the London Critics' Circle award for best-actor in August Wilson's 'Fences', many admitted they knew little about this great black playwright, whose work brought the lives of working-class Pittsburgh African Americans to Broadway and across the USA.
Although at his untimely death in 2005, Wilson had been living for many years on the west coast in Seattle, his plays and his soul had long remained in the east, in the venerable old steel town of Pittsburgh where he was born and grew up.
Lenny travels to the city of three rivers and many bridges, now slowly recovering from post-industrial gloom, to visit the old, multiracial Hill District, where August lived as a child, and whose geography and characters run through his plays like the Allegheny River through the city.
In a sequence of ten plays, known as the 'Pittsburgh Cycle', Wilson charts the stories of black Americans across ten decades of the 20th century. Vibrant, real, yet filled with the original African rhythms and spirit that the playwright believed should underpin and shape his works, these plays are a magisterial account.
At the now semi-derelict childhood home, Lenny meets surviving members of Wilson's family, and encounters those who knew and loved him, like Sala Udin, who helped Wilson in the 1970s set up a powerful black theatre group to tell the stories of the Hill's residents.
DICK CLEMENT & IAN LA FRENAIS - WHATEVER HAPPENED TO THE LIKELY LADS? (320kbs-m4a/824mb/5hrs57mins) BBC Radio 4 Extra broadcast: 18th April to 11th July 2022
Starring James Bolam and Rodney Bewes.
Created and scripted for BBC TV by Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais.
Producer: John Browell
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in July/August/September/October 1975.
Best mates Bob and Terry haven't spoken for 7 years.
So there's a lot to catch up on when they bump into each other on a train heading back north.
Adapted for BBC Radio by Patrick Tilley.
Terry Collier ...... James Bolam Bob Ferris ...... Rodney Bewes Thelma Chambers ...... Brigit Forsyth Lady on Train ...... Lois Daine Barman ...... Peter Whitman
Originally lost from the archive, the audio was provided by BBC producer Stan Was.
On the day of a big England football match, Bob takes Terry to the hairdressers for a long overdue restyle.
Adapted for BBC Radio by Patrick Tilley.
Terry Collier .... James Bolam Bob Ferris .... Rodney Bewes Flint .... George Layton Audrey .... Sheila Fearn Gary .... Brian Godfrey The Vicar .... Donald Gee Rita/The Barmaid .... Jo Beadle
Originally lost from the archive, the audio was recovered in a BBC Treasure Hunt.
Terry Collier .... James Bolam Bob Ferris .... Rodney Bewes Susan Chambers .... Anita Carey Mrs Ferris .... Barbara Ogilvie Norma .... Brenda Cavendish Waiter .... Anthony Smee
Originally lost from the archive, the audio was recovered in a BBC Treasure Hunt.
Terry helps stressed Bob prepare for his wedding to Thelma.
Adapted for BBC Radio by John Browell.
Terry Collier .... James Bolam Bob Ferris .... Rodney Bewes Thelma Chambers .... Brigit Forsyth Mrs Chambers .... Jo Hickson Mr Chambers .... Bill Owen Susan .... Anita Carey Shop Assistant .... Robin Parkinson
Terry enlists Bob’s help to try and get rid of his sister’s Italian boyfriend.
He formulates a plan involving a trip to the pub...
Bob Ferris .... Rodney Bewes Terry Collier .... James Bolam Audrey .... Sheila Fearn Mrs Collier .... Olive Milbourne Mario the boyfriend .... George Layton
Bob buys a moped in the hope that it will give him a cool image and impress the girls.
But things don't quite go plan...
Bob Ferris .... Rodney Bewes Terry Collier .... James Bolam Garage Salesman .... Reginald Jessup Carol .... Rosalind Shanks The Nurse .... Cheryl Molineaux
The new canteen manageress is Terry's latest object of desire.
Bob also has a date lined up, but with a much younger woman.
Bob Ferris .... Rodney Bewes Terry Collier .... James Bolam Mrs Windsor .... Rhoda Lewis Jack .... Donald McKillop Mr Clough .... Bartlett Mullins Elsie .... Madeleine Mills
Terry and Bob meet a couple of nurses and plan a double date.
When they have nowhere to take them, they offer to babysit for colleague Jack, to take advantage of his flat.
Bob Ferris .... Rodney Bewes Terry Collier .... James Bolam Audrey .... Sheila Fearn Jack .... Donald McKillop Margaret .... Dorothy White Rose .... Kate Story June .... Janet Kelly Jane .... Shirley Jaffe
Terry has to overcome his fear of the countryside when they organise a holiday weekend up the coast.
But things don't go to plan and they're forced to camp.
Bob Ferris .... Rodney Bewes Terry Collier .... James Bolam Scoutmaster .... Peter Hawkins Postmistress .... Kathleen Helme Valerie .... Janet Kelly Susan .... Kate Story Lorry Driver .... David Brierley Jack .... Donald McKillop
All eyes are on Bob when he takes Thelma to a boozy engagement party.
What did they get up to?
Terry Collier .... James Bolam Bob Ferris .... Rodney Bewes Jack .... Donald McKillop Cloughy.... John Henderson Audrey .... Sheila Fearn Mum .... Kathleen Helme Elsie .... Madeleine Mills Thelma .... Susan Jameson Duggie .... Michael Kilgarriff Blakey .... Douglas Hankin
Bob persuades Terry to go on a boating holiday on the Norfolk Broads.
But will he be pleased when Terry finds romance?
Terry Collier .... James Bolam Bob Ferris .... Rodney Bewes Mum .... Julie May Sally .... Sara Kestelman Denise .... Madeleine Mills Sam .... Wilfrid Carter
Long before the invention of the MP3, there was a way of getting hold of music, speech, and other audio sensations, free of charge - in the form of flexidiscs.
Originally developed in the 1930s to play at 78rpm, by the 1960s, seven-inch, 45rpm flexidiscs were so cheap to produce, and so light and bendy, that they were often given away free with a magazine.
In the Soviet Union, though, where flexidiscs were called roentgenizdat, and were recorded on disused medical x-ray sheets, the audio was usually of an illegal nature, such as jazz music, or, later, punk rock.
Their story features plenty of music, some of which is now valuable (such as the Rolling Stones Exit on Mainstreet Blues, given away with New Musical Express in 1972).
In tracking down the story of flexidiscs, presenter Paul Bayley meets collector Jez Randell, journalist Ian Shirley, and the novelist Tim Lott, who co-founded Flexipop magazine in the early 1980s (which gave away a free flexi with every issue).
Listen out for extracts from flexidiscs galore, including several advertisements for products as diverse as crisps, hair pieces and rat poison.
Plus music from big band jazz to beat groups to punk rock, as well as some of the most famous recordings made on flexidisc including Beatles fanclub records, Private Eye's satirical flexidiscs and the sound of humpback whales, from the world's biggest circulation flexidisc ever.
Stephen Mangan is an award winning actor who is also a presenter and writer. His prolific career includes comedic roles in TV hits Green Wing; Episodes and Adrian Mole. He also plays the much loved Nathan in BBC drama The Split and has appeared in many award winning theatre productions in the UK and on Broadway.
Born in London to Irish immigrant parents, Stephen studied Law at Cambridge University. His passion though was for acting and after taking time out to care for his mother, he spent three years at RADA before pursuing a successful career on stage, screen and film.
Stephen lives in London with his wife and three sons.
BOOK CHOICE: Collected Works of Seamus Heaney LUXURY ITEM: A piano CASTAWAY'S FAVOURITE: Stayin Alive - Bee Gees
Presenter: Lauren Laverne Producer: Sarah Taylor
Roger Miller - King Of The Road [Archive Of Folk & Jazz Music] Don Williams - I Recall A Gypsy Woman [Geffen] John Lennon - Beautiful Boy (Darling Boy) [Beatles Catalog MKT (C91)] Fairport Convention - Who Knows Where The Time Goes? [UMC (Universal Music Catalogue)] Bee Gees - Stayin' Alive [Bee Gees Catalog] Maurice Ravel - Piano Concerto In G Major, M. 83: II. Adagio Assai George Gershwin - Rhapsody In Blue Jackie Wilson - (Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher And Higher [EMI TV]
Singer and songwriter Neil Tennant is castaway by Kirsty Young.
Neil is best known as one half of The Pet Shop Boys which, over the past 20 years, has been one of Britain's most successful and popular bands, noted for combining dance music with witty lyrics and delivering them in a uniquely English style.
As a teenager growing up in Newcastle upon Tyne, he felt himself to be an outsider at school, but found friends in an amateur theatre company. Yet he always felt his life would be different to theirs and used to tell them that he would become a celebrated pop star.
But Neil was 30 when he finally left his day job as a writer for Smash Hits magazine to pursue the musical interests that had dominated his life since he was a teenager. By that time, he was anxious that he had missed the boat.
Now, as well as continuing to release records with The Pet Shop Boys, he has branched out into other forms of composition,.
He's written a live score for the film Battleship Potemkin, a West End musical and has collaborated with Robbie Williams and the Scissor Sisters, amongst many others.
CASTAWAY'S FAVOURITE: Dusty Springfield - I Don't Want to Hear It Anymore BOOK CHOICE: The Human Comedy - Honore de Balzac LUXURY CHOICE: DVD projector and DVDs
Producer: Leanne Buckle
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in February 2007.
Rex Harrison - Why Can't The English? The Beatles - She Loves You Sinfonia of London Orchestra, conducted by Sir John Barbirolli - Ralph Vaughan Williams's Fantasia On A Theme by Thomas Tallis David Bowie - Changes Shannon - Give Me Tonight Billie Holiday - Good Morning, Heartache Dusty Springfield - I Don't Want To Hear It Anymore New York Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Leonard Bernstein - Dmitry Shostakovich's Symphony No. 5 in D minor (1st movement)
Joel Vandroogenbroeck - Cascades Max Cilla - La Flûte Des Mornes Cybe Bali - Pulau Bagus Boards Of Canada - Staircase Whip Jonjon De Segunda - À Sexta Paul Johnson - Back To The Ghetto DJ Boobie - You Know How We Do It Faxotxoal - A Suite Deal Stevie Wonder - If You Really Love Me Random Logic - Mirego Neil Landstrumm - Takks Tropa do Bruxo - Baile do Bruxo Kelbin & Aleph - Unknown Random Logic - Mirego G-Man - Quo Vadis DBX - Two People Doussala Demba - Terra Batida DJ Nehpets - Na Na Na Colin Jackman - D'Jab Jab Dance (Bad Lad Mix) Binary Digit - Untitled 38490 Jim C - Nedd Maleka Orch. D.O.7 Shirati Jazz - Mika Owiti Gor Suicide - Dream Baby Dream Jonjon De Segunda - À Sexta
Ricki Lee Jones - A Conversation The Avalanches - We Will Always Love You Vegyn (feat. John Glacier) - A Dream Goes On Forever College - Can You Kiss Me First Siriusmo - Nights Off Vegyn - 4 Year Break Ricki Lee Jones - A Conversation Pt. 2 Stereolab - Come And Play In The Milky Night Unknown - Untitled Doris - Jerk Dean Blunt & Elias Rønnenfelt - Lucre Sonic Youth - Superstar Vegyn - Mystery Or Misery Red House Painters - Medicine Bottle Portraits Of Tracy - WIP Akira Yamaoka - The Day Of Night Unknown - Untitled Cinamon Chasers - Luv Deluxe Headache - The Beginning Of The End Lauren Duffus - N.U.M.T.E Lykke Li (feat. NATURE) - TЯAƎH ЯUOY OT YAWHӘIH Leyla Ebrahimi - U Can Keep The Fire
Back to back bangers, as we shake off the week with wall of sound and hurtle towards the Friday Guest Mix. We also celebrate our favourite music from the Near Future and take a moment to relax with our Hit Reset moment.
Kendrick Lamar - The Heart Part 5 [Polydor] ROSALÍA - SAOKO [Columbia] SHERELLE - 160 Down The A406 [SHERELLE] Kim Gordon - Dream Dollar [Matador] Deftones - Digital Bath [Maverick] Richie Culver - Slow Car [Richie Culver] Nils Frahm - Forever Changeless [Erased Tapes] Tom Waits - Such A Scream (Live In Milan, Italy 2008) [Tom Waits] PJ Harvey - Rid Of Me [Island] Aya - Off To The ESSO [Hyperdub] Pa Salieu - Betty [Warner Music UK] Kode9 & The Spaceape - Kingstown [Hyperdub] Lucrecia Dalt (feat. David Sylvian) - Cosa Rara Azu Tiwaline & Al Wootton - Nine Points [Livity Sound] Joy Division - Love Will Tear Us Apart Blackhaine (feat. Iceboy Violet & Blood Orange) - Prayer [Fixed Abode] Moor Mother - After Images [Don Giovanni] Beyoncé - FORMATION [Parkwood] Paleman - Munch Doc Scott - Ghost 25 [Metalheadz]
With an ICONS mix from Adam F on the release of his new album Colours Revisited, a revision of Adam F's MOBO Award-winning 1997 debut album.
Marcus Intalex - Temperance [Soul:r] Adam F & Paul T - Aromatherapy Revisited (Adam F VIP & Paul T Reboot) [181] Adam F - Circles Revisited (Adam F VIP & ALIBI Reboot Bootleg) [181] MC Conrad & Total Science - Soul Patrol [CIA] LTJ Bukem - Music [Good Looking] MC Conrad & LTJ Bukem - Promised Land [Higher Land] Goldie & Nookie - Inner City Life (Nookie Remix) [London] Roy Ayers - Everybody Loves The Sunshine (Adam F VIP) [Polydor] L‐Side & Makoto & Frank H Carter III - What You Won't Do For Love [V] Motiv - Walkin' Jazz [Liquid V] MC Conrad & Makoto - Golden Girl [Good Looking] Adam F & LTJ Bukem - Atlantis & Music In My Mind Revisited (Adam F VIP) [181]
The weekend is almost within our reach, you dance towards it and we'll provide the tunes.
2Pac (feat. K‐Ci & Jojo) - How Do You Want It [Death Row] Pangaea - Router [Hessle Audio] Loraine James (feat. Eden Samara) - Running Like That [Hyperdub] David Bowie - Subterraneans [RCA] Nubya Garcia - Together Is A Beautiful Place (Nala Sinephro Remix) [Nubya Garcia] Savages - I Need Something New [Matador]
WALLY K DALY - THE CHILDREN OF WITCHWOOD (320kbs-m4a/325mb/2hrs21mins) BBC Radio 4 Extra broadcast: 9th to 13th August 2021
College student Jackie Lamont mysteriously goes missing. When she reappears, just as mysteriously, she seems to possess special telepathic powers.
Meanwhile, the Cranford Family have guarded a secret for hundreds of years - and Jackie Lamont is now a threat. B.Q. Brown, of the Ministry of Defence, investigates a possible link between the burning of six children as witches in the 17th century and Jackie's disappearance.
Starring Wendy Baxter.
The last drama series which Wally K Daly wrote for radio.
Directed at BBC Birmingham by Jenny Stephens.
Made for BBC7 and first broadcast in September 2005.
Jackie Lamont .... Wendy Baxter Mandy Lamont .... Emily Chennery Sion Lamont .... Scott Gray Jason Cranford .... Laurence Saunders Cheever Cranford .... Jez Thomas Becky Cranford .... Becky Wright DC Danny Sparks .... Daniel Settatree WPC Polly Bell .... Lorraine Coady Mother .... Jilly Bond Sergeant .... Michael Cochrane
College student Jackie Lamont mysteriously went missing, but she's reappeared with some very strange powers.
This has come to the attention of BQ Brown, of the Ministry of Defence, who investigates a possible link to a set of grisly murders in the 17th century...
Jackie Lamont .... Wendy Baxter Many Lamont .... Emily Chennery Sion Lamont .... Scott Gray Jason Cranford .... Laurence Saunders Cheever Cranford .... Jez Thomas Becky Cranford .... Becky Wright DC Danny Sparks .... Daniel Settatree WPC Polly Bell .... Lorraine Cody Mother .... Jilly Bond B.Q. Brown/Sergeant .... Michael Cochrane Iron Peter/Dentist .... Robert Lister
More is revealed about the mysterious Cranford family who have inhabited the village for years.
And the mystery surrounding Jackie's earlier disappearance deepens as the strength of her powers becomes apparent...
Jackie Lamont .... Wendy Baxter Mandy Lamont .... Emily Chennery Sion Lamont .... Scott Gray Jason Cranford .... Laurence Saunders Cheever Cranford .... Jez Thomas Becky Cranford .... Becky Wright DC Danny Sparks .... Daniel Settatree WPC Polly Bell .... Lorraine Coady Mother/Minister .... Jilly Bond B.Q. Brown Michael .... Cochrane Iron Peter .... Robert Lister
After her mystery disappearance, Jackie Lamont has gained strange powers of telepathy.
BQ Brown of the Ministry of Defence continues his investigation linking this to sinister events back in the 17th century...
Jackie Lamont .... Wendy Baxter Mandy Lamont .... Emily Chennery Sion Lamont .... Scott Gray Jason Cranford .... Laurence Saunders Cheever Cranford .... Jez Thomas Becky Cranford .... Becky Wright DC Danny Sparks .... Daniel Settatree WPC Polly Bell .... Lorraine Coady Mother/Minister .... Jilly Bond B.Q. Brown .... Michael Cochrane Iron Peter .... Robert Lister
BQ Brown of the Ministry of Defence pays a visit to the Cranford family council – as many secrets are finally revealed...
B.Q. Brown .... Michael Cochrane Jackie Lamont .... Wendy Baxter Mandy Lamont .... Emily Chennery Sion Lamont .... Scott Gray Jason Cranford .... Laurence Saunders Cheever Cranford .... Jez Thomas Becky Cranford .... Becky Wright DC Danny Sparks .... Daniel Settatree WPC Polly Bell .... Lorraine Coady Mother .... Jilly Bond Iron Peter .... Robert Lister
WALLY K DALY - 625Y (320kbs-m4a/135mb/59mins) BBC Radio 4 Extra broadast: 14th & 15th April 2021
Starring Amanda Root and Geoffrey Whitehead.
Wally K Daly's intriguing two-part sci-fi drama.
Kate Brown .... Amanda Root Professor Slingsby .... Geoffrey Whitehead Joe Barnard .... Jon Strickland Reporter .... Elizabeth Conboy Prime Minister .... Chris Tranchell Minister of Defence .... Ian Masters Major Peters .... Brett Usher Danny Flowers .... Stuart Milligan Lab Technician .... Harry Myers Minister of Health .... Sandra Clark
Director: Gordon House.
First broadcast as a one hour drama on BBC Radio 4 in January 1999.
Under fire, Mike, Janey and Peter end up in the midst of war, pursued by a deadly enemy.
Mike ...... Judy Bennett Janey ...... Abigail Docherty Peter ...... Simon Radford Uncle Brian ...... Frank Windsor Auntie Vi ...... Jo Manning Wilson Grandfather ...... Edward Kelsey
With Tariq Alibai, Amerjit Deu and David Bannerman.
