RADIO CHOICE

‘UNLESS th’ Almighty Maker them ordain/His dark materials to create more worlds.’ Writer Philip Pullman gets much inspiration, as well as arresting book titles, from Milton’s mighty Paradise Lost. In today’s instalment of the week-long series DAEMON VOICES (RADIO 4, 1.45PM, 12.30AM) Pullman (pictured) celebrates the resonant power of this epic poem.

THERE are around 700 pubs in the UK called The Red Lion. In this week’s edition of their regular programme WORD OF MOUTH (RADIO 4, 4PM) exploring the world of words, Michael Rosen and Laura Wright look at the meaning of that name, its significance and the reason why there are so many Red Lion pubs. They will also be taking in other names on their etymological pub crawl,

including The Dog And Duck — and some even odder names — along the way.

ED REARDON, the dubious hack about town, returns with a new series charting his descent towards the gutter. A spell at a university has come to a shabby end, with Ed being sent down for misappropriation of funds. His hopes of making a quick buck by writing detective novels are dashed, and penury beckons. Then, a ray of hope lights up Ed’s path. ED REARDON’S WEEK (RADIO 4, 6.30PM), written by Andrew Nickolds and Christopher Douglas, is a mainstay of radio comedy.