RADIO CHOICE

ANDREW McGIBBON returns with a new run of I WAS . . . (RADIO 4, 11.30AM), the series that analyses great artists at a significant time in their careers, from the perspective of someone who worked for them. In the first episode, we hear from a smokyvoiced Annie Ross (pictured) about the day she became a last-minute stand-in at the Apollo theatre in Harlem for the great Billie Holiday. The audience was enraged about the change in the line-up, but Billie gave Annie the courage to go on, and the two became friends.

A HUNDRED years ago today, on a warm evening, people were doing some last-minute shopping ahead of the Whitsun weekend. No one took much notice at first of the sound of a lone plane circling above Folkestone; then, the bombs fell.

Today’s HOME FRONT (RADIO 4, 12.04PM), set on the day of that devastating air raid, weaves together memories from some of those who survived with characters from the popular daily drama.

GARRY TALLENT is the bass player and a founding member of the E Street Band, which has been backing Bruce Springsteen since he was a lad. Garry, who’s off on a tour of the UK and Ireland with an all-star band, gives us a live studio session this evening on BOB HARRIS COUNTRY (RADIO 2, 7PM).