Episodes
| Episode | Title | First Broadcast | Repeated | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Award-winning Singer Linda Ronstadt On Her Battle With Parkinsons | 20171225 | Journalist Nina Myskow presents this two part series on singer Linda Ronstadt and actress Mary Steenburgen - two very talented women, celebrated and creative, independent and determined. An unexpected turn of events caused them both to re-evaluate their lives and changed their outlook and future forever. In Part One - Award winning singer Linda Ronstadt looks back on her life and career and discusses her toughest battle. In the late 60s, Linda Ronstadt, newly arrived on the L.A. music scene, unleashed a voice that took the world by storm. She remembers her early days singing rock 'n' roll, performing at the Troubador with the Eagles and touring with the Doors. Her collaboration with Peter Asher encouraged Linda to focus on singing ballads and he supported her when she wanted to record her beloved album of Mexican songs. Linda adored working with Nelson Riddle, is justifiably proud of her work with Emmylou Harris and Dolly Parton, and loved harmonising with Aaron Neville. At the height of her success, when she felt she was singing at her best, Linda noticed her voice was losing its strength. Linda talks candidly about her Parkinsons diagnosis and how the disease robbed her of her voice and she finally lost her ability to sing. Yet Linda remains practical about the turn of events and upbeat about her life now, with her family and good friends. Award-winning singer Linda Ronstadt looks back on her life & discusses her toughest battle Nina Myskow presents a series on singer Linda Ronstadt and actress Mary Steenburgen. | |
| 01 | The Undertaker's Tale | 20090519 | 20101030 (R4) 20101023 (R4) | Series of three short stories by major writers which have only recently come to light. By Mark Twain. Newly published in the book 'Who Is Mark Twain?' and The Strand Magazine, Twain's tale about the funeral industry had lain undiscovered for 130 years. Twain tackles the same problems that we are challenged with today and pokes fun at the same type of characters that inhabit our present-day world. This world broadcast premiere is read by Hector Elizondo. A Jarvis and Ayres production for BBC Radio 4. By Mark Twain. Sharply ironic satire on the commercial aspects of funeral undertaking. Series of three short stories by major writers which have only recently come to light. By Mark Twain. Newly published in the book 'Who Is Mark Twain?' and The Strand Magazine, Twain's tale about the funeral industry had lain undiscovered for 130 years. Twain tackles the same problems that we are challenged with today and pokes fun at the same type of characters that inhabit our present-day world. This world broadcast premiere is read by Hector Elizondo. A Jarvis and Ayres production for BBC Radio 4. By Mark Twain. Sharply ironic satire on the commercial aspects of funeral undertaking. Series of three short stories by major writers which have only recently come to light. By Mark Twain. Newly published in the book 'Who Is Mark Twain?' and The Strand Magazine, Twain's tale about the funeral industry had lain undiscovered for 130 years. Twain tackles the same problems that we are challenged with today and pokes fun at the same type of characters that inhabit our present-day world. This world broadcast premiere is read by Hector Elizondo. A Jarvis and Ayres production for BBC Radio 4. By Mark Twain. Sharply ironic satire on the commercial aspects of funeral undertaking. |
| 02 | Award-winning Actress Mary Steenburgen On The Day Her Life Changed | 20171226 | Journalist Nina Myskow presents this two part series on singer Linda Ronstadt and actress Mary Steenburgen - two very talented women, celebrated and creative, independent and determined. An unexpected turn of events caused them both to re-evaluate their lives and changed their outlook and future forever. In Part Two - Award winning actress Mary Steenburgen looks back at the day her life changed. Growing up in small town Arkansas, Mary moved to New York to study acting. She got her big break when she was discovered by Jack Nicholson in the reception room of Paramount's New York office and was cast as the female lead in his movie, the 1978 Western Goin' South. Lead parts in Melvin and Howard, Parenthood, Dirty Girl, The Help, Last Vegas followed and Mary is currently starring in the TV sitcom The Last Man On Earth. Happily married to actor Ted Danson, a mum, step mum and grandmother, Mary's life changed ten years ago when she went under general anesthetic for a routine operation. When she woke, she began to hear music and that music accompanied her everywhere. Mary describes it as if a previously untapped part of her brain had somehow been opened. She began to write down the music that only she could hear. Encouraged to go to Nashville, she began writing with the likes of Melissa Manchester, Lori McKenna, Barry Dean, John Osborne, Lucie Silvas, Andrew Dorff, Nathan Chapman, and Matraca Berg. The result is a recording studio in Nashville, an album, the respect of her fellow song writers, a raft of songs and a whole new career at the age of 64. Mary found a new voice through music. Award-winning actress Mary Steenburgen looks back on her life and the day her life changed Nina Myskow presents a series on singer Linda Ronstadt and actress Mary Steenburgen. | |
| 02 | Blackberry Day | 20090520 | 20101107 (R4) | Malachi Whitaker was the pen name of Marjorie Olive Whitaker. She wrote a number of short stories in the twenties and thirties and was regarded as one of the finest authors of that time. Whitaker chronicled the lives of ordinary folk in the north of England, with sensitivity and humanity. She died in 1975. Her forgotten story, 'Blackberry Day' is a moving account of a woman in the Yorkshire Dales finding it hard to come terms with her husband's retirement from the mill. Reader: Rosalind Ayres Producer/Director: Martin Jarvis A Jarvis & Ayres Production for BBC Radio 4. By Malachi Whitaker. Betty finds it hard to come to terms with Ben's retirement. Series of three short stories by major writers which have only recently come to light |
| 03 | Providence And The Butler | 20090521 | 20101114 (R4) | This cannily observant early P.G. Wodehouse story was lost for 99 years, now recently discovered. It has some classic "Plum" ingredients: an eccentric Earl, an irresponsible young man, a chorus girl, and of course a butler, not Jeeves (Wodehouse hadn't created him yet!) but the ancient 'Keeling', who has more worldly wisdom than anybody. Reader: Martin Jarvis Director: Rosalind Ayres A Jarvis & Ayres Production for BBC Radio 4. By PG Wodehouse. Martin Jarvis performs the rediscovered witty tale of aristocratic angst. Series of three short stories by major writers which have only recently come to light This cannily observant early P.G. Wodehouse story was lost for 99 years, now recently discovered. It has some classic "Plum" ingredients: an eccentric Earl, an irresponsible young man, a chorus girl, and of course a butler, not Jeeves (Wodehouse hadn't created him yet!) but the ancient 'Keeling', who has more worldly wisdom than anybody. Reader: Martin Jarvis Director: Rosalind Ayres A Jarvis & Ayres Production for BBC Radio 4. By PG Wodehouse. Martin Jarvis performs the rediscovered witty tale of aristocratic angst. Series of three short stories by major writers which have only recently come to light |