British Public Radio: Recent Episodes
British Public Radio
British Public Radio is the new channel for speech radio in the UK.
Our aim is to bring the work of talented producers, podcasters and contributors to a wider audience, as well as creating exciting new programmes and features.
On British Public Radio you’re as likely to hear cutting edge comedy as you are Current Affairs. From gardening tips to gadget reviews; tense thrillers to travel, if it’s interesting, it’s here.
British Public Radio. All About Everything.
http://britishpublicradio.com (http://britishpublicradio.com/)
The Vegan Option takes a different perspective, and uncovers amazing stories.
Palm oil is everywhere – from cooking oil to soap to vegan margarine. Equatorial rainforest and peatland are cleared and replaced with serried ranks of oil palm trees (Elaeis guineensis). The biodiversity of Borneo and Sumatra, including the iconic Orang Utan, is threatened by habitat loss.
Some vegan activists say no product that causes so much destruction can be considered vegan. But is palm oil really worse than the alternatives? And can poor countries like Malaysia and Indonesia develop without it?
Environmentalist Catherine Laurence helps Ian McDonald disentangle the thicket of issues.
A comedy sketch show themed around current events on Kirrin Island, somewhere near the UK.
Shortly after launch "Live From Kirrin Island" became a Top20 comedy podcast on iTunes, and features in the Top 20 of the European Podcast Awards.
Having kids is often a weight loss trigger for many of us. Whether it’s having enough energy to kick a ball around in the park with your family, to simply wanting to enjoy a healthier lifestyle to set a good example, your children can often help spearhead a positive change in the weight loss stakes.
But how can we keep off the extra pounds so that you can make the most of every moment that you spend with your kids whatever their age?
Food guru Gregg Wallace tells us more about how adopting a healthy and active lifestyle has improved his life, and his looks!
Jade fled Uganda in 2001 after her home and family were violently taken from her. She is now a regular volunteer at The Refugee Council.
Her story is introduced by Vivienne Westwood who is a supporter of Refugee Council.
A British Public Radio presentation in association with Penguin Audiobooks and the Refugee Council's Children's Section
4amcab: a nocturnal comedy show, scenes from the small hours.
An independent production for British Public Radio
Is Gatsby Great?
Rob Chilver and Kate Neilan discuss books, comics, film, tv, theatre and music.
This week – “The Great Gatsby” by F. Scott Fitzgerald, and the latest film adaptation by Baz Luhrmann.
A British Public Radio Presentation is association with Adventures With Words.
More Zany stuff from the inimitable John Dredge.
http://www.britishpublicradio.com/2013/05/the-nothing-to-do-with-anything-show/
The illegal drugs trade is worth $321bn a year worldwide. An increasing number of high-profile activists, including former presidents and UN officials, are calling for an alternative to the failed ‘war on drugs’.
Sue Pryce’s book “Fixing Drugs: the Politics of Drug Prohibition” assesses the arguments that prop up the drug war. In this programme Sue talks to Roger Howard, formerly chief executive of the UK Drug Policy Commission, about the political and personal aspects of the drug problem.
A British Public Radio presentation in association with The Pod Academy.
http://www.britishpublicradio.com/2013/04/fixing-drugs/
Mati arrived in England, aged 14, from a small Afghan farming village. After both his father and brother disappeared, Mati’s mother arranged for an agent to smuggle him out of the country. He embarked on a three month journey, traversing seven countries by truck and on foot.
Today, Mati has been given leave to remain in the UK and as well as attending college he regularly volunteers with Refugee Council and Cricket 4 Change, helping other children who arrive in the UK in similar circumstances.
His story is introduced by Zoe Wanamaker.
A British Public Radio presentation in association with Penguin Audiobooks and the Refugee Council's Children's Section
A rare interview with one of the greatest pioneers of the video game industry. Ken Levine is the creative genius behind the 2007 BAFTA award winning BioShock.
http://www.britishpublicradio.com/2013/03/ken-levine-storyteller-of-the-decade/
Nearly three thousand schools have taken up the government's offer to become academies - but were they tempted by more than the simple promise of freedom?
This documentary explores how financial equations have played their part in the success of the coalition's flagship schools policy.
In a wide-ranging examination of the academies programme, reporter Paul Faulkner talks to schools and local authorities about the changing education landscape. Are academy freedoms as significant as they are portrayed? And what future for the local authority as its traditional role in education is marginalised? One council leader has a tough message for Whitehall - "Leave us alone!"
Garry Martins has had a few bad mornings in his time, but being run over by an articulated lorry and having to argue for the future of his soul in the afterlife probably puts this one in the bottom three…
Starring Stuart Moss as St. Peter, Rob Beale as Garry, Harriet Main as Epiphany and Elizabeth Kaplunov as Ruby
Written by: Thomas Oléron Evans
A British Public Radio presentation in association with University College London Union
http://www.britishpublicradio.com/2013/03/i-wanted-to-be-useful/
Sam's life was already pretty full, but it's about to get a lot more complicated…. but she won't know until she gets home to hear her voicemail messages.
Performed by Lisa Carlisle, Helena Gullen, Paul Matthews, Lawrence Fanning and Des McFarlane.
Produced and written by James Large and the cast.
A British Public Radio presentation in association with Audioshorts
http://www.britishpublicradio.com/2013/03/after-the-tone/
In the past, Comic Relief has seen celebrities take up huge challenges, pushing their bodies to the limit for a great cause.
This year Miranda Hart has embarked on a week-long mission shrouded in secrecy, scaling the length of the country to complete a madcap challenge every day as part of the BT Red Nose Challenge: Miranda’s Mad March.
The mission has involved five frantic challenges across five UK cities, all in aid of Comic Relief. Miranda joined Alex Purkis with an update.
http://www.britishpublicradio.com/2013/03/miranda-hart-on-comic-relief/
Akilea was trafficked to the UK from Tanzania at the age of 15.
In her story, Akilea reflects on the run-up to her eighteenth birthday, describing the difficulties she encountered on trying to forge a life for herself as a young person in the UK without the support of her family.
Her story is introduced by Vivienne Westwood.
A British Public Radio presentation in association with Penguin Audiobooks and the Refugee Council's Children's Section
Chris Berrow looks at pitch in music, exploring what it means to us and showing us how important it can be in everyday life.
We’ll also discover how the ear can be fooled just as easily as the eyes with some “audio illusions.”
A British Public Radio Presentation in association with The Pod Academy.
http://www.britishpublicradio.com/2013/03/the-art-of-listening/
Comedy from the inimitable John Dredge.
Series 1, Episode 2
This week’s long-range programme comes to you from a burgon dispensing plant in Frinton, and includes fabulous adventures concerning artichokes and a special mention of New Malden for fans of New Malden.
There’s an unedited interview with a slightly odd person, an unusual quiz about sideboards, and one of Britain’s oldest actors makes a special appearance inside a fish tank.
http://www.britishpublicradio.com/2013/02/the-nothing-to-do-with-anything-show/
We take you back to the very earliest days of sound recording and explore some of the very first recordings ever made, featuring pioneering work by Édouard-Léon Scott de Martinville, Thomas Edison and Alexander Graham Bell.
It’s a fascinating journey into the beginning of a technology which these days we take for granted.
The fact that you can hear us via a computer or mobile device is because of experiments that first began in 1860…
A British Public Radio presentation in association with MindLabs/Cornucopia Radio
A bitter sweet love story set against the turmoil of the Great War. It is April 1916 and Toby Hartwell, a 19 year old British Corporal in the Artillery Regiment is on leave from France and plans to visit Amy Bishop, a 17 year old Munitions factory worker living at home in London with her parents and 2 younger brothers.
This is a full-on story of love, loss, new beginnings and endings.
A British Public Radio presentation in association with The Bunbury Banter Theatre Company.
http://britishpublicradio.com/2013/01/a-letter-to-flanders/
Director of Public Prosecutions Keir Starmer on the law surrounding the misuse of social media, and how it is changing.
http://www.britishpublicradio.com/2013/02/social-media-free-speech-and-the-law/
Kerri Smith and the Nature team talk to the people behind the science. There’s also in-depth commentary and analysis from journalists covering science around the world.
This week, the Earth’s missing crust, the hidden genetic factors that explain trait heritability, and what we don’t know about ice.
A British Public Radio presentation in association with The Nature Publishing Group
Summer holiday booking may be in full swing as travel companies and airlines go into marketing overdrive but they could be wasting their time. An increasing number of us are now considering forgoing our annual break altogether because we can’t afford to holiday.
A lot of us may think leaving a holiday booking to the last minute works out better, or flying at night means we grab an off-peak bargain. But what is the best way to get an affordable deal? Is it all in the time of year, or even the day you book? Or could considering other options such as private house rental over hotels mean you could afford a holiday after all?
Travel journalist Simon Calder and Nilan Peiris from HouseTrip give their top travel tips on how to ensure you get a holiday this year without breaking the bank.
Chris Scott explores the wine scene in the UK. The UK Wine Show includes interviews with winemakers, consumers, critics, wine bar owners, you name it… if it’s about wine in the UK it’s here!
Almost all the good wine from around the world washes up on these shores and here’s where you’ll find out more about the people behind the wines that make a splash.
This week, Chris talks to Mark de Vere about the Napa Valley in California. Mark is an Master of Wine and is based in Napa with Mondavi wines. We get a feel for geology and how this influences the climate. We also discuss the changes in the style of wines coming from Napa, as well as those eye watering cult wines.
A British Public Radio presentation in association with the wine tasting company ThirtyFifty
Comedy from the inimitable John Dredge.
Series 1, Episode 1
In tonight's holdall-packed episode, Frinton TV's Twig Harper will be presenting the first of a 200-part series about something or other.
There's also the first ever appearance on radio of an alarm clock with a tuba nailed to the side, and a Dalek will be appearing as himself.
Plus, find out what to do if a bowler hat is fired at you from a cannon.
All this and a genuine policeman tonight on tonight's collection of audio accoutrements tonight, presented by string consultant and banjo tuner to the Royal Family, John Dredge, tonight.
"Arms crossed and they don’t fancy you..."
We all think we know a little bit about body language, especially the basics.
But this field of study was first laid out 50 to 60 years ago, so how has it changed in that time?
Adam Smith goes speed dating with Dr Harry Witchel to observe a unique experiment in body language.
A British Public Radio presentation in association with The Pod Academy
http://www.britishpublicradio.com/2013/02/body-language-and-speed-dating/
Is the Blackberry backberry? The T3 team give the lowdown on the phone Blackberry hopes is going to be its saving.
A British Public Radio presentation in association with T3 magazine
For more go to http://www.britishpublicradio.com/2013/02/tech-talk/
A scientific study from Boston University shows that ten minute bursts of exercise can give you the same health benefits as hours in the gym.
So are you wasting time on lengthy workouts and money on expensive gym memberships?
Fitness expert Julia Buckley investigates.
http://www.britishpublicradio.com/2013/01/the-ten-minute-workout/
Ben Fogle is no stranger to adventure. He’s not yet 40, but already he has sprinted across the Sahara, raced by foot across Antarctica to the South Pole and rowed across the Atlantic. And he’s just become an ambassador to a group of islands in that ocean – The Azores.
The Azores have been selected as one of the World Top 10 Trips for this Summer by National Geographic Traveller. But what can you expect when you get there? Ben tells you more.
http://britishpublicradio.com/2013/01/travel-talk-2/
Can you really burn calories while driving? Who better to tackle that one than Helen and Olly from Answer Me This!
A British Public Radio presentation in association with Answer Me This!
http://www.britishpublicradio.com/2012/12/answer-me-this/
It may be winter, but there's still plenty to be done in the garden. Geoff Hodge gives you the lowdown.
A British Public Radio presentation in association with radiogardening.co.uk
http://britishpublicradio.com/2013/01/garden-time/
From a series put together to mark 18 years of The Refugee Council’s Children’s Section, written and read by refugees. Tariq’s story provides a nostalgic snapshot of the day before he turned 18, and is introduced by the artist Grayson Perry. A British Public Radio presentation in association with Penguin Audiobooks. For more, visit http://turning18.co.uk
One man every hour is killed by prostate cancer. An astounding statistic, and one reason why comedian Bill Bailey has put his weight behind a campaign to raise awareness of the disease.
Bill joins Prostate Cancer UK Chief Executive Owen Sharp to explain more.
British Public Radio is proud to bring you Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II's Christmas message to the nation.
More than 5000 people sleep rough on the streets of London alone. For them and many thousands more, Christmas is the worst time of year.
This fly-on-the-wall documentary was recorded at The Manna Day Centre in London, which provides much-needed help for the homeless and destitute, year round.
Produced by Kelly Steer and Max Knifton.
A British Public Radio presentation in association with Bournemouth & Poole College.
http://britishpublicradio.com/2012/12/the-manna-project/
This week, how climate change is affecting wine making, the benefits for birds that flock together, plus the top nature stories of the year.
Kerri Smith, Geoff Brumfiel, Geoff Marsh and the team talk to the people behind the science. Plus, in-depth commentary and analysis from journalists covering science around the world.
A British Public Radio presentation in association with The Nature Publishing Group http://www.britishpublicradio.com/2012/12/nature/
From a series put together to mark 18 years of The Refugee Council’s Children’s Section, written and read by refugees.
Valentina is introduced by Zoë Wanamaker.
A British Public Radio presentation in association with Penguin Audiobooks.
For more, visit http://turning18.co.uk
Helen and Olly from Answer Me This! sprinkle festive words of wisdom on a moral conundrum surrounding this famous Grimm Brothers tale.
A British Public Radio presentation in association with Answer Me This!
http://www.britishpublicradio.com/2012/12/answer-me-this/
100 years on from The Piltdown Man hoax, what have we learnt? New ways to keep computers cool, and the latest science and nature news.
Kerri Smith, Geoff Brumfiel, Geoff Marsh and the team talk to the people behind the science. Plus, in-depth commentary and analysis from journalists covering science around the world.
A British Public Radio presentation in association with The Nature Publishing Group
http://www.britishpublicradio.com/2012/12/nature/
Kerri Smith, Geoff Brumfiel, Geoff Marsh and the team talk to the people behind the science. Plus, in-depth commentary and analysis from journalists covering science around the world.
This week, a baby star with a bright future, mending broken hearts, and radical reactor designs get a second chance.
A British Public Radio presentation in association with The Nature Publishing Group
http://www.britishpublicradio.com/2012/12/nature/
It's ten years since the beginning of the SARS outbreak, with the first known case of a strange type of pneumonia being recorded in the Guangdong Province of China on 16 November 2002. The elimination of SARS from human populations is one of the most significant international public health victories in recent times, and its legacy is evident.
Connor Walsh was a student in Beijing during the outbreak, and shares his experiences with others who were in danger of exposure to the virus. He's joined by Professor David L Heyman, then Executive Director in charge of communicable diseases at the World Health Organisation.
A British Public Radio presentation in association with Chatham House
Marco Pierre White with some failsafe advice on how to take the stress out of cooking Christmas dinner.
A British Public Radio presentation in association with leanonturkey.co.uk
http://www.britishpublicradio.com/2012/12/marcos-top-tips-for-christmas/
Just the kind of burning question that was begging to be answered by the font of all knowledge, Helen Zaltzman and Olly Mann of Answer Me This! A British Public Radio presentation in association with Answer Me This! http://www.britishpublicradio.com/2012/12/answer-me-this/
When to buy your tree.... When to bring it inside.... How to make it last longer.... Andrew McTurk gives Ken Crowther (and you) some really useful tips on getting the most out of your Christmas tree. A British Public Radio Presentation in association with radiogardening.co.uk http://www.britishpublicradio.com/2012/11/garden-time/
You know those little sachets that come with....well pretty much everything in a box; what is it and what's it for? Helen and Olly answer that in their own inimitable style.
A British Public Radio presentation with Answer Me This!
http://www.britishpublicradio.com/2012/11/answer-me-this/
Jane Farnham is joined by a panel of book experts to provide gift ideas for book lovers this Christmas. A British Public Radio presentation in association with Foster Grant. http://www.britishpublicradio.com/2012/11/books-for-christmas/
Jane Farnham is joined by a panel of book experts to provide gift ideas for book lovers this Christmas. A British Public Radio presentation in association with Foster Grant. http://www.britishpublicradio.com/2012/11/books-for-christmas/
Jane Farnham is joined by a panel of book experts to provide gift ideas for book lovers this Christmas. A British Public Radio presentation in association with Foster Grant. http://www.britishpublicradio.com/2012/11/books-for-christmas/
Bill Neely, ITV News International Editor chairs a discussion on the future for Syria with David Butter, Associate Fellow, Chatham House Middle East and North Africa Programme, and Martin Chulov, The Guardian’s Middle East Correspondent A British Public Radio presentation in association with Chatham House http://www.britishpublicradio.com/2012/11/world-view-2/