Today’s radio

SURFACING

9.45AM (FM), 12.30AM, RADIO 4 HHHH

The skies are still and silvery above the Alaskan coast, where wraithlike shapes form in the mist.

On a Scottish island, the hearths and homes of Neolithic people emerge. Artefacts from these long-dead people are found by the hands of the living. The poet Kathleen Jamie weaves together memories of archaeological digs in this week-long series of finely crafted essays.

24 KILDARE ROAD

10.45AM, 7.45PM, RADIO 4 HHH

Two young boys, brilliantly played by Harry Grasby and Aaron Gelkoff, are playing in the park when they find a dead woman in the snow. Over the next ten episodes, we hear from the people who knew the woman, and follow the story

Gina Mckee (2.15pm, Radio 4) of how she came to be there. There are some terrific performances and writing in this drama by Katie Hims, but the story gets bogged down in all the peripheral detail.

THE HARTLEPOOL SPY

2.15PM, RADIO 4 HHHH During the Napoleonic Wars at the turn of the 19th century, a French ship went down near the port of Hartlepool. Legend has it that there was only one survivor – a monkey dressed in French uniform. The story goes that the locals thought the poor creature was a Frenchman, and hanged it. This comedy drama, with a stellar cast that includes Gina Mckee, Michael Palin and Toby Jones, uses this incident as its starting point, and follows events from the moment that the enemy ship is spotted.

THE FULL WORKS CONCERT

8PM, CLASSIC FM HHHH

Each year, in the foothills of the Bavarian Alps, top-class musicians gather at an exclusive retreat to perform in the Verbier Festival at Schloss Elmau. Jane Jones presents this impressive concert of music from the castle. SJ