TODAY’S RADIO

The Golden Thread

9.45AM (FM), 12.30AM, RADIO 4

When it first came on to the market, rayon was called ‘art silk’, to make it sound exclusive; it was also, less kindly, known as ‘mother-in-law silk’. In 1894, British chemists Edward John Bevan and Charles Frederick Cross came up with their version of this material, calling it viscose to reflect the fact that it was made from a viscous solution of cellulose. In her continuing series on fabrics that changed history, Kassia St Clair looks at a material that brought a silk-like stuff to the masses.

Ramblings

3PM, RADIO 4

Walkers along Scotland’s Speyside Way tend to start at the coast, where the going is easier, then head up into the mountains.

Clare Balding joins a group of graduates who have their own reasons for following the River Spey from its source to the sea.

In Tune

5PM, RADIO 3

The trees of New Hampshire grow tall and straight. In the days of sailing ships, these trees supplied many of the masts for the British Navy. At this time of the year, these forests blaze with colour as fall comes to this beautiful part of the world. In this programme, we will hear some of New Hampshire’s fine musicians giving special performances among the golden leaves of the state’s forests.

The Full Works Concert

8PM, CLASSIC FM

Howard Shore’s thrilling Return Of The King Suite – from the third Lord Of The Rings film – features on tonight’s show. Renee Fleming’s soprano voice, Viggo Mortenson’s tenor and James Galway’s flute soar above a score of drama and solemnity. Howard Shore himself conducts the London Philharmonic Orchestra, and Catherine Bott is featuring this track to mark Howard’s 72nd birthday.

CMA Music Festival 2018

9PM, RADIO 2

Blake Shelton has sold ten million albums and more than 30 million singles; he also owns a chain of restaurant franchises, and supplied the voice of a pig in The Angry Birds Movie. Busy Blake, along with Carrie Underwood, Old Dominion and Luke Combs, will be on this recorded programme of the second night of this year’s Music Fest 2018.

Carrie Underwood (9pm, Radio 2)