RADIO CHOICE

IN 1894, Lord Rosebery became Prime Minister after the resignation of William Gladstone. Rosebery faced the challenge of leading a minority government and a fractious Cabinet. His authority was constantly questioned, and he proved to have no heart for the political fray. In the first of a new run of THE LONG VIEW (RADIO 4, 9AM, 9.30PM), the series that sheds light on present events by looking at the past, Jonathan Freedland compares Rosebery’s minority government to Theresa May’s.

REINDEER (pictured), as we learn in this week’s instalment of NATURAL HISTORIES (11AM, RADIO 4), are so wellinsulated by their thick coats that they don’t melt the snow they lie on. Tilly Smith, who herds reindeer up in the Cairngorms,

passes on some curious facts about these creatures of the far north to Brett Westwood. Reindeer experts, palaeolithic archaeologists and Sami herders also share their understanding of how reindeer made human life in subzero climates possible and tell myths and stories about them.

THE singer-songwriter Anoushka Lucas is a regular at Ronnie Scott’s jazz club, has written stage shows and last year appeared in the role of Mary Magdalene in Jesus Christ Superstar. She joins JAMIE CULLUM (RADIO 2, 7PM) in the studio this evening.