Today’s radio

A SMALL TOWN MURDER

10.45AM, 7.45PM,

RADIO 4 HHHH

This is the 14th series of the crime drama starring Meera Syal as police family liaison officer Jackie Hartwell; sadly, it will also be the last. Each series has been grounded in truth, strong on plots and powered by a convincing performance from Syal. In this final run, which continues daily, Jackie is due to retire, but ongoing cases leave her uneasy about her last weeks in the force.

BURMA

2.15PM, RADIO 4 HHHH

Eric Blair left Eton with no real plans for his future. He set sail for what was then Burma, joined the Indian Imperial Police, and rose quickly through the ranks.

Meera Syal (10.45am, Radio 4) Blair learnt Burmese, immersed himself in the country’s culture, and took the first steps on the road towards becoming the writer George Orwell. In this first of a fourpart drama series, starring Joseph Millson as Blair/orwell, we hear what a profound effect Burmese life had on the rest of the writer’s life. Continues daily until Thursday.

THE FULL WORKS CONCERT

8PM, CLASSIC FM HHH

The thrilling opening bars of Rhapsody In Blue get this selection of George Gershwin’s music off to an exciting start. We are swept along with music from An American In Paris and Porgy And Bess to the quieter charms of the final number, Someone To Watch Over Me, featuring Alison Balsom on trumpet.

SCIENCE STORIES

9PM, RADIO 4 HHH

Electric eels can deliver a shock strong enough to kill a horse. This lethal ability gave rise to all kinds of theories – and it also, as we hear tonight in this accessible science series, led to the invention of the battery and changed the direction of the study of neuroscience.