TODAY’S RADIO

TALES FROM THE STAVE

4PM, RADIO 4 HHHH

Franz Schubert was a dying man when he wrote his final song cycle, Winterreise. The title translates as Winter Journey, and tells of a heartbroken young man, travelling through an icy landscape towards an unknown destination. Schubert sang the work to a group of his friends shortly before he died, terribly aware of his approaching fate. Clemency Burton Hill takes a look at the original score for Winterreise, and sees clues that it was written by a tortured man on a final journey.

CONVERSATIONS FROM A LONG MARRIAGE

6.30PM, RADIO 4 HHHH Joanna Lumley and Roger Allam

Clemency Burton Hill (4pm, R4) star in this beautifully written sitcom series about a couple who have now been married for more than 40 years. They have a lively, sometimes edgy relationship, but still love each other. This week, a health scare and some bad news casts a shadow over them, but, as always, they still find plenty to laugh about.

THE FOLK SHOW

9PM, RADIO 2 HHHH

Fay Hield is a traditional English folk singer who loves all those strange old songs about ladies running off with gypsies, ancient curses and wicked spells. She’s been in many a band, runs a couple of folk clubs, and has a busy solo career. Fay, who’ll be in her Yorkshire home, talks to Mark Radcliffe on tonight’s show, and will give us a song or two.

MYSTERIES OF SLEEP

9PM, RADIO 4 HHHH

Jackie rides her motorbike while she’s fast asleep, and James suffers from violent night terrors. In this first of a three-part series, the neurologist Guy Leschziner gives details of case histories of some of the patients he has treated at his sleep clinic. SJ