BBC Radio 3, BBC Radio 4, and BBC Radio 7 are joining forces to launch a new season of SFF audio (hey thanks BBC). These dates and times could change (think of it as a long-term weather forecast), but here’s the schedule for present…
BBC Radio 3 – Sunday 22nd February 20:00-21:40 The Time Machine by H.G. Wells (Stars Robert Glenister)
BBC Radio 4 – Sunday 1st March 15:00 Rendezvous With Rama by Arthur C. Clarke (Stars Richard Dillane)
BBC Radio 4 – Monday 9th March 14:15 Cry Babies by Kim Newman (Stars Alex Jennings)
BBC Radio 4 – Wednesday 11th March 14:15 Homesick by Anita Sullivan (Stars Maxine Peake)
BBC Radio 4 – Friday 13th March 14:15 Mayflies by Mike Maddox (Stars Derek Jacobi)
Were not sure that this is a complete list, these details are from the latest issue of Radio Times. No title is specifically listed for BBC7, though Iain M. Banks is also mentioned as a writer who’ll be included.
[Thanks Roy!]
Posted by Jesse Willis
BBC Radio 4 – Thursday 5th March 14:15 The State of the Art by Iain M. Banks adapted by Paul Cornell (Stars Sir Anthony Sher, Nina Sosanya and Paterson Joseph). This and the other R4 14:15 programmes are in the 45 minute Afternoon Play slot.
The BBC7 programme is a new 10 part serial called Planet B.
Rendezvous with Rama is in the Classic Serial slot and so should be two 60 minute episodes.
The Time Machine details at http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00hr4hq
Nice find Dave! Drop me a line if you’d be interested in contributing posts on a regular basis.
Yep, here is an excerpt of the announcemnt:
“The 7th Dimension, which has been established as part of our output since Day 1 proved to be so popular on Radio 7 that we extended broadcasting sci-fi/fantasy and horror from initially 30 minutes to 60 minutes daily.
However, one of our challenges was that there is not a huge amount of material suited to this slot available in the archive – and some of it, unfortunately, includes programmes for which we cannot get digital rights, e.g. The Hitchhikers’ Guide to the Galaxy, and Asimov’s Foundation Trilogy.
So I was thrilled when, a few months back, I was invited to a meeting to discuss a possible cross network sci-fi season involving Radios 3, 4 and 7.
The plans are all in place, so now over to Jeremy Howe, Commissioning Editor for Drama, Radio 4, who will fill you in on the background and give you some information on programmes which have been commissioned for this exciting season:
Science fiction is about brilliant story telling, and that is what we are after for the season.
When I took over commissioning the drama on Radio 4 three years ago I noticed an absence of Science Fiction in our schedules. Some of my best experiences in the cinema have been watching films like Alien, Blade Runner, Sunshine, Cloverfield, etc, and I thought the best way to kick start the process was by running a season on Radio 4, not aimed just at Science Fiction afficianados but any listener who likes to be taken into another world and go on unexpected journeys.
I was delighted at both the response from Radios 3 & 7 to join in on the venture and the enormous enthusiasm from writers and producers. I think we have some brilliant stories from classic adventures such as Arthur C Clarke’s Rendezvous with Rama and HG Wells’ The Time Machine to new stuff like the specially commissioned Mayflies, Homesick and Cry Babies on 4, and the exhilarating and ambitious Planet B on 7.
We want to take you on a journey – fasten your seat belts and enjoy!” Via Mary Kalemkerian BBC Radio 7 Email Newsletter. (BBC7 has recently been “knighted” by being called Radio 7 officially) :-)
Did anyone grab the Iain M Banks “State of the Art” play on Radio 4 today? It seems to be the only thing not available on Radio 4 “listen again” or iPlayer and I JUST MISSED IT!! AAAARGH!
I have several of the others BTW and the Radio7 PlanetB series is on iTunes as a podcast if anyone is interested.
ah – seems the beeb are incapable of using the word “yet”
“This not available” and a link to all the reasons some things aren’t, is nowhere near as user-friendly as the same statement with the word “yet” in it!
Panic over.
try over at radioarchive.cc george.
it would be amazing to see for the first time some of the other works of hg wells made into audio formats , one story that would have made a great film is ” the war in the air “