TODAY’S RADIO

DEATH BY CONSPIRACY? 9.45AM, RADIO 4

★★★★ Gary Matthews went for a Covid-19 test in January 2021. He had been feeling ill, but had refused earlier tests. Gary tested positive, and was found dead in his flat the next day. He was 46. Gary, a popular man in his home town of Shrewsbury, had got caught up in the dangerous world of conspiracy theories; he thought Covid was a hoax, never wore a mask, and paid for his folly with his life. This ten-part series looks at the

lead-up to Gary’s lonely death.

THE TRAINSPOTTER’S GUIDE TO DRACULA 4PM, RADIO 4

★★★★ Jonathan Harker takes the train from Munich to Vienna as he makes his fateful journey to

Count Dracula’s castle. He’s a bit putoutthatthetrainislate,but as we well know, it would have been better for Harker if it had never arrived at all. Miles Jupp, with Bram Stoker’s novel at hand, plots his way across Europe to see if he can get to Dracula’s doorstep more quickly

than the doomed young solicitor.

THE CLIMATE QUESTION 10PM, WORLD SERVICE

★★★ Storing power from solar and wind farms is tricky. As things stand, batteries can’t hold enough energy to guarantee a constant, reliable supply of low-carbon power. Kate Lamble and Jordan Dunbar talk to experts about the progress of battery development.

THE ESSAY: PAUL ROBESON IN FIVE SONGS

10.45PM, RADIO 3 ★★★★ The story of the great bassbaritone Paul Robeson is told through five songs this week. The series starts with the powerful spiritual about slavery that probably dates from the American Civil War, No More Auction Block. SJ

Miles Jupp (4pm, Radio 4)