Radio choice Charlotte Runcie

Friday Night Is Music Night

RADIO 2, 8.00PM

Jazz singer Cleo Laine, known for her stunning voice and remarkable almost-four-octave range, celebrates her 90th birthday in style with this concert at the Town Hall in Birmingham. Conducted by Guy Barker, Dame Cleo performs alongside the BBC Concert Orchestra and the BBC Big Band, as well as a host of special guests, including Clare Teal, Kandace Springs, Jacqui Dankworth, Alec Dankworth and Charlie Wood, in a programme of hits from across her career at the forefront of British jazz.

The Prince RADIO 4 EXTRA, 10.00AM

Should the word “Machiavellian” be a compliment? Jonathan Myerson adapts Niccolo Machiavelli’s provocative 16th-century political treatise to put Machiavelli himself (played by Damian Lewis) in the dock before an infernal court. Myerson argues that his book has been used as a blueprint by successful leaders ever since it was written. This vivid drama also stars Nigel Cooke as the Judge, Christian Rodska as the Prosecution, Helen Mccrory as the Defence, Meera Syal as the Clerk and Joseph Kloska as Cesare Borgia.