RADIO CHOICE

HARDACRE’S, though still the worst advertising agency in London, is now doing rather well. The second series of the enjoyable sitcom RELUCTANT PERSUADERS (RADIO 4, 11.30AM) — starring Nigel Havers (pictured), Mathew Baynton and Josie Lawrence — opens with the creatives coming up with a campaign to get people to part with large amounts of money for cans of ordinary H2O.

BBC 6 MUSIC makes an early start to the music festival season with a weekend’s worth of live music from a number of locations across Liverpool. STEVE LAMACQ (BBC 6 MUSIC, 4PM) gets the ball rolling with Cavern Club sessions from local bands The Mysterines and Red Rum Club. Later this evening, we can hear live sets from Marika Hackman, Bill RyderJones and Anna Calvi.

IN A cost-cutting manoeuvre, someone at the top of the BBC has made the decision to reduce the number of appearances made by the BBC Concert Orchestra. Which is a shame, as the Orchestra draws unstinting admiration from every star it works with, and has a vast and loyal band of fans. Catch the Orchestra while you can in a David Bowie special of

FRIDAY NIGHT IS MUSIC NIGHT (RADIO 2, 8PM),

featuring new symphonic arrangements of Life On Mars, Changes, Rebel Rebel, Under Pressure, Ziggy Stardust and Space Oddity.