Radio Week

The picks of the best of this week’s radio

ENTERTAINMENT

The Poetry Programme

SUNDAY, 7.30PM, RTÉ RADIO ONE ★★★★ The final programme of the spring series of The Poetry Programme was recorded at the National Botanic Gardens in Glasnevin in Dublin, an appropriate setting to talk about nature, our environment and the climate crisis. Presenter Olivia O’Leary meets four contributors to Empty House,a book of writing about climate change, edited by Alice Kinsella and Nessa O’Mahony and published in April 2021 by Doire Press.

Tara Stewart

SUNDAY, 9PM, 2FM ★★★★ Tara (pictured) showcases the best in new music from the biggest chart singles to the most underground bands and chats to the most exciting artists in music right now.

Game On

MONDAY, 6PM, 2FM ★★★★ Marie Crowe, Donncha O’Callaghan and Ruby Walsh bring you a pacey, informative, interactive and agenda setting sports show straight from the 2FM studios.

FACTUAL Why Time Flies (And How To Slow It Down)

TUESDAY, 11AM, BBC RADIO 4 ★★★★ The comedian Armando Iannucci asks experts why sometimes time flies and why, in a dangerous situation, it feels as if everything is happening in slow motion.

Composer Of The Week

MONDAY-FRIDAY, 12 NOON, BBC RADIO 3 ★★★★ Mary Lou Williams was glamorous, talented and an inspired pianist and composer. She had a tough life, but found – as we hear in this week-long series – solace in religion, writing some superb sacred jazz music in her final years.

Down To Business

SATURDAY, 10AM, NEWSTALK ★★★★ This lively show focuses on Irish businesses and industry. Bobby Kerr talks to the people behind Irish businesses, both big and small, to get their insights into their industries, other industries and what it takes to be successful

DRAMA

The Lyric Feature

SUNDAY, 6PM, LYRIC FM ★★★★

A look at the relationship between poetry and reality in the work of Seamus Heaney in the light of his own public utterances as found in the archives. This programme was first broadcast in 2009 as part of RTÉ’s Heaney at 70 series.

The System

FRIDAY, 2.15PM, BBC RADIO 4 ★★★★ Jake is unfit and depressed; then, his mate Alex introduces him to members of a secretive organisation called The System. They have the power to turn Jake’s life around, but there’s a price to pay. This sixpart thriller gets off to a promising start.