TODAY’S RADIO

ALEXEI SAYLE’S THE ABSENCE OF NORMAL 11.30AM, RADIO 4 HHHH

Every day, Jade takes her wheelchair-bound brother, Jason, to a park with no name in Liverpool. Jason seems to enjoy the change of scene, and everyone thinks Jade is being a wonderful sister – but, in this short drama by Alexei Sayle, we discover that Jade has her own ideas about a change of scene.

COMPOSER OF THE WEEK 12 NOON, RADIO 3 HHHH

During the First World War, Maurice Ravel served as a lorry driver, transporting goods by night under heavy bombardment. During and after the war, he became homeless and adrift, yet produced his best-known work, Bolero. Donald Macleod looks at the effects of trauma on Ravel’s compositions, and hears how the war turned his life upside down.

JO WHILEY 7.30PM, RADIO 2 HHHH

Dodie joins Jo Whiley this evening for a live Sofa Session of songs from her new album, Build A Problem. Dodie has a soft, vulnerable voice – and millions of fans who have helped her to notch up nearly half a billion Spotify streams – and she gives sellout performances both here and in the US.

THE FOLK SHOW 9PM, RADIO 2 HHHH

Jason Manford, the actor and comedian, is no slouch when it comes to the singing. He has a smooth tenor voice, an effortless upper range and a stock of songs. Jason’s grandparents were a folk duo whose children formed a successful show band, so Jason grew up surrounded by music. Jason draws on this musical heritage when he stands in for Mark Radcliffe this week, and selects some of his favourite folk and traditional music tracks. SJ

Jason Manford (9pm, Radio 2)