TODAY’S RADIO

A HISTORY OF THE WORLD IN 100 OBJECTS 1.45PM, RADIO 4 HHH

The empty eye holes of the ancient Sutton Hoo helmet seem to stare out from another world. The helmet was found by archaeologists on a burial ship in Suffolk in 1939, and probably belonged to an

East Anglian king who died circa 625 AD. Neil Macgregor explains what the helmet and other grave goods found on the buried ship tells us about seventh-century Britain.

THE FIRST ACTION MOVIE

2.30PM, RADIO 4 EXTRA HHH In 1903, Frank Mottershaw cranked up his camera to make the first-ever action film, A Daring Daylight Burglary. Shot on location, this short silent film

included a chase sequence, and can now be seen online. Frank and his son were based in Sheffield, where they made a steady stream of films that sold internationally. Penny Woolcock tells the story of the Mottershaws, who were leading lights in the film industry – until Hollywood’s sunshine lured film-makers to America.

THE JAZZ SHOW 9PM, RADIO 2 HHHH

Jon Batiste has worked with Prince, Stevie Wonder and other big names, and is an international star in his own right. The pianist, composer and band leader tells Jamie Cullum about his new album, co-writing the soundtrack to the Pixar film Soul, and being a member of a New Orleans musical dynasty.

FREE THINKING 10PM, RADIO 3 HHH

As we get ready to fill in our census forms, John Gallagher sifts through census details from 1911 to 2011 to see what they can tell us about a turbulent century of change. We also hear some oral history recordings about the devastation caused by the terrible flu pandemic of 1918.

Sutton Hoo helmet (1.45pm, R4)