Radio

Published on Saturday 11 July 2009 14:50

TO MARK the 40th anniversary of the first Moon landing, BBC Radio gets astronomical with a season of lunar-inspired programmes. First to lift off is Moonbathing (BBC Radio 2, Saturday, 10pm), which looks at the musical legacy of the space age. Presenter Charles Hazlewood will be finding out how musicians captured the hopes and fears of the era by journeying through the sounds of Pink Floyd, David Bowie and Brian Eno.

Also beginning this week is the 115th BBC Proms. Highlights of the 58-day classical music festival include the first Bollywood Prom, the complete cycle of Stravinsky's ballet music and a debut performance from The Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain. First Night of the Proms 2009 (BBC Radio 3, Friday, 7.30pm) features the BBC Symphony Orchestra and chief conductor Jir Blohlvek providing a taster.

On the drama front, there's the chance to hear an updated version of a play by Kwame Kwei-Armah that was first staged at the National Theatre in 2007. Saturday Afternoon Play – Statement of Regret (BBC Radio 4, Saturday, 2.30pm) tackles racism in the black community, with actor Don Warrington playing the founder of a political think tank who makes a controversial decision while grieving his dead father.

Afternoon Play – The Night They Tried To Kidnap The Prime Minister (BBC Radio 4, Wednesday, 2.15pm) keeps things political with a fictional account of a reported plot by Aberdeen students to kidnap Sir Alec Douglas-Home. Blackadder actor Tim McInnerny stars as the former prime minister.