TODAY’S RADIO

GRAHAM NORTON

10AM, RADIO 2 HHHH

The geologist Christopher Jackson is in the studio for Graham’s final Saturday-morning show on

Radio 2. Dr Jackson will be the first black scientist to give one of the annual Royal Institution Christmas Lectures. Graham will be hosting weekend shows on Virgin Radio in the new year.

SATURDAY NIGHT AT THE MOVIES

5PM, CLASSIC FM HHH

Irving Berlin’s White Christmas was one of the first big secular Christmas hits, paving the way for countless nostalgic tracks about snow and sleigh bells. It’s still a winner after all these years, and Andrew Collins includes it in his round-up of seasonal film music.

THE ARTS HOUR

8PM, WORLD SERVICE HHH The Scots have more than their fair share of top-class crime writers, which inspired Aberdeen to host the Granite Noir festival, which draws big international crime writers to the city. Tonight, we hear from some contributors, including Sara Paretsky, who transformed the role of women in crime fiction, and Dorothy Koomson, who, until recently, did not write sequels, instead creating fresh characters for each book.

DOLLY PARTON’S GOOD LIST

9PM, RADIO 2 HHHH

Dolly Parton has given us a catalogue of great songs – and a lot of fun – over the years, and has also given away several fortunes to charities and worked to make the world a better place. Now, Dolly – a living embodiment of a Christmas tree fairy – is determined to bring a little festive joy to the world. She will be at her home in Nashville, talking to Claudia Winkleman in London, sharing Christmas memories with us and playing tracks from her new album, A Holly Dolly Christmas. SUSAN JEFFREYS

Dolly Parton (9pm, Radio 2)