TODAY’S RADIO

NEIL GAIMAN’S THE SLEEPER AND THE SPINDLE

3PM, RADIO 4 HHHHH

Let yourselves be transported to a faraway mountain kingdom, where a trio of dwarves accompany a soldier queen on her mission to rescue a sleeping princess. Neil Gaiman has woven old fairytales with the golden thread of his imagination to produce a magical bit of radio that will enchant listeners of all ages. Game Of Thrones’ Gwendoline Christie plays the queen who bravely sets forth to save the princess – and her realm – from a mysterious foe.

SATURDAY NIGHT AT THE MOVIES

4PM, CLASSIC FM HHH Andrew Collins unwraps a Boxing Day selection of music from films

Gwendoline Christie (3pm, R4) that are now Christmas favourites. Love Actually didn’t sweep the critics off their feet, but became a box-office hit and essential Christmas family viewing. Andrew evokes memories of Hugh Grant’s dancing with tracks from the film, and also plays music from The Muppet Christmas Carol, Toy Story and other festive delights.

OPEN BOOK

5.30PM, RADIO 4 HHHH Charles Dickens was viewed with a certain lofty contempt by many of his literary contemporaries. They thought he was flashy, vulgar and too much of a showman. The comedian and writer Armando Iannucci, a big Dickens fan, joins fellow scribblers to celebrate Dickens’s work.

50 NOT OUT

8PM, RADIO 2 HHHH

The first record Bob Harris played on Radio 2 was Start Me Up by the Rolling Stones. It’s the opening track for this show, which has

Greg James – an old friend of ‘Whispering’ Bob’s – looking back with him on his 50 years in broadcasting. A programme that’s full of good music and memories. SUSAN JEFFREYS