susan jeffreys’ Radio Week

JOCK

SATURDAY, 9PM, RADIO 2 HHHH Jock (Gary Lewis), one of football’s great managers, waves goodbye to a stadium of cheering fans and heads to the world of retirement in a tough-talking, funny, oneoff sitcom co-written by Greg Hemphill.

PATRICK KIELTY’S COMEDY HEROES

SUNDAY, 9PM, RADIO 2 HHHH

Mel Brooks keeps up a volley of good gags and anecdotes in this entertaining interview with patrick kiel ty. mel also reveals how regular lunches with

Cary Grant could be a bit of a strain.

THE ESSAY: PAUL ROBESON IN 5 SONGS

MONDAY-FRIDAY, 10.45PM, RADIO 3 HHHH

The life of the African-american singer Paul Robeson is told through five of his songs, including the powerful spiritual No More Auction Block.

A NORMAL UNIVERSE

TUESDAY, 6.30PM, RADIO 4 HHHHH The poet, comedian and writer Henry Normal gives a stand-up routine full of jokes and poems about the origins of the universe. Funny – and rather amazing.

HOW TO PLAY

WEDNESDAY, 9AM, RADIO 4 HHHH Lost souls from the First World War, as well as the spirit of the late Jacqueline du Pre, seem to hover over Elgar’s Cello Concerto. Musicians talk about the strange power of the work that the composer said his ghost would whistle on the Malvern Hills.

THE FOLK SHOW

WEDNESDAY, 9PM, RADIO 2 HHHH The veteran folk-rock fiddle player Peter Knight has teamed up with some bright young sparks to form the Gigspanner Big Band. They join Mark Radcliffe for a live session of tracks from their latest album.

BIRD ISLAND

FRIDAY, 10.30PM,

RADIO 4 EXTRA HHHH

The ice creaks, the birds scream and Ben (Reece Shearsmith), marooned on an observation station in sub-antarctica, tries to keep his spirits up by joining a dating website in this offbeat four-part comedy.