RADIO CHOICE

ON DECEMBER 3, 1967, Christiaan Barnard — with a 30-strong medical team — performed THE FIRST HEART TRANSPLANT (RADIO 4 (FM), 11AM). It changed heart surgery and led to the saving of countless lives. Stephen Westaby, heart surgeon, author and proud winner of Midlander of the Year for 2002, takes us through the problems and ethics of this landmark moment.

THE ice at both poles is melting. Ships that would once have been crushed by ice now sail through the Arctic. Seals, walruses (pictured) and polar bears are forced farther and farther north in a desperate search for dwindling food supplies. There’s a landgrab for the sea bed as nations try to secure access to oil, while dredging brings the frail creatures of the deep to the surface, where they

perish. THE COMPASS: OCEAN STORIES (WORLD SERVICE,

1.30PM, 8.05PM) hears how the melting of ice and permafrost is drastically

changing the lives of both humans and wildlife.

IT’S Advent, so Classic FM is sprinkling plenty of carols and Christmas music into

the schedules. THE FULL WORKS CONCERT

(CLASSIC FM, 8PM) has the crisp perfection of the choir known — however many are singing — as The Sixteen; they will perform In Dulci Jubilo. The programme ends with Poulenc’s Quatre Motets Pour Le Temps De Noel.