TODAY’S RADIO

Louis B. Mayer And

The Bolshevik Beast

2.15PM, RADIO 4

In 1934, the writer Upton Sinclair launched a campaign to become the Governor of California. His slogan was End Poverty In California, and his manifesto included sweeping land reforms, taxes on the movie studios and a massive programme of public works. All this was a red rag to the bull that was Louis B. Mayer. The movie mogul threw himself into an anti-Sinclair campaign, making fake documentaries that were shown in cinemas and threatening to move his studios out of California. Toby Jones stars as Louis B. in this comedy drama about a bitter and dirty political battle.

Costing The Earth

3.30PM, RADIO 4

The Great Barrier Reef in the Coral Sea off Australia is a 1,420-milelong ecosystem that comprises thousands of reefs and hundreds

Sara Pascoe:

The Modern Monkey

6.30PM, RADIO 4

Sara mixes comedy with psychology as she looks at the evolutionary importance of an emotion we don’t like to admit to – jealousy.

Marc Riley

7PM, BBC 6 MUSIC

The New Zealand rock band Unknown Mortal Orchestra join Marc in the studio. The band’s sound is a bit 21st-century Beach Boys, which is a good thing, and their singles include Can’t Keep Checking My Phone and First

World Problem. The Mortals give a stripped-down session this evening.

Listen To The Band

11.30PM, RADIO 2

Music tuition in schools is fast becoming a luxury, making it difficult for children from cashstrapped homes to learn how to play an instrument. Thank goodness, then, for the brass bands of Britain, who do more than their bit for promoting talented young musicians. You can hear some of these players tonight as eight junior brass musicians compete for a place in this year’s Young Brass Award final.

Toby Jones (2.15pm, Radio 4) of islands. Oil spills, overfishing and pollution threaten the Reef, but, as marine biologist Ellen Husain reports, there is a dedicated group that is fighting to save it.