TODAY’S RADIO

REWINDER 10.30AM, RADIO 4

★★★

When Mavis Bennett made her radio debut in 1925, the BBC switchboard was inundated by calls from listeners wanting to hear more from the soprano whose voice sounded like a violin. She became known as the ‘Nightingale Of The Wireless’, but a botched throat operation ended her career. Greg James includes a recording of Mavis’s voice, which sounds a little strange to our ears, in this selection of archive gems and oddities.

BBC 100 1PM, RADIO 3

★★★★

The BBC has been a source of support, inspiration and audiences for the UK’S many and varied choirs and orchestras. This programme, focusing on the National Orchestra

of Wales, includes Aaron Copland’s much-loved music for the 1944 ballet Appalachian Spring.

DESERT ISLAND DISCS 7.15PM, RADIO 4

★★★★ Fashion designer Paul Costelloe made stylish outfits for Diana, Princess of Wales. The Princess looked confident and elegant in his designs, and he found her both warm and genteel. Paul started his career in the family raincoat business in Ireland, then trained in Paris, Milan and New York. He tells Lauren Laverne about his life in fashion and working with the Princess, and picks the records, book and luxury he’ll be taking to the mythical desert island.

MICA’S GOSPEL GOLD 9PM, RADIO 2

★★★★

As a child, Mica Paris sang in the choir of her grandparents’ church, and has recorded many gospel music tracks. In this opening episode of her new series on gospel music, Mica plays spiritlifting songs, introduces some of her favourite artistes, and looks at the role gospel music has played in the fight for racial equality and civil rights. SUSAN JEFFREYS

Singer Mica Paris (9pm, Radio 2)