TODAY’S RADIO

MARK FORREST 10AM, SCALA RADIO

HHHH We know King Lear had a wife, or even wives, as he has three legitimate daughters, but the fate of his Queen, or Queens, remains a mystery. J.R. Thorp has a new novel out called Learwife, in which Lear’s Queen is alive throughout the action of Shakespeare’s play and busy with plots of her own. Thorp joins Mark Forrest this morning to talk about her novel.

RADIO 3 LUNCHTIME CONCERT 1PM, RADIO 3

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We get a concert of sweet melodies and lyrical ballads as the tenor Ben Johnson and the pianist Llyr Williams perform a medley of English folk songs, arranged by Elgar, Britten, Vaughan Williams and other

British composers. Down By

The Salley Gardens, Early One Morning and I Will Go With My Father A-ploughing are on the bill.

THE CLASSIC FM CONCERT 8PM, CLASSIC FM

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John Suchet fends off the approaching darkness of winter with a selection of bright, breezy, sunny music. Capriccio Italien, written by Tchaikovsky while he was on holiday in Italy, plus Mozart’s Paris Symphony and Grainger’s charming Country Gardens help to keep winter at bay.

THE COUNTRY SHOW 9PM, RADIO 2

HHHH Twenty-five years ago, Deana Carter brought out her debut album, Did I Shave My Legs

For This? It had a big effect on the way women were seen in the world of country music, and lifted Deana’s career from touring small venues to topping the bill at big arenas. Deana will be joining Bob Harris on his show tonight for an exclusive acoustic session of Strawberry Wine, We Danced Anyway and, of course, the title track from Deana’s hit album.

Deana Carter (9pm, Radio 2)