RADIO CHOICE

DAVID SEDARIS (pictured), the American comedian and writer who has — with his own two dainty hands — cleared great swathes of litter from the English countryside, is back with a new series of MEET DAVID SEDARIS (RADIO 4, 6.30PM). His wit is sardonic, honed and elegant, contrasting to great effect with the often far from salubrious subject matter of his comic readings.

IT’S shocking to see how many town centres across the UK have turned into ghost towns. Shops are shuttered up, markets have closed down, and desolation blights the streets. As retail outlets collapse, the social life of a town diminishes and community spirit dwindles away. In an attempt to stop the rot, the government has set aside £1.6 billion for the Stronger Towns Fund. Ruth Alexander reports for

IN BUSINESS (RADIO 4,

8.30PM), visiting Northwich and Altrincham in Cheshire to hear about their differing approaches to urban renewal.

GYLES BRANDRETH gets funnier and funnier each passing year. GYLES BRANDRETH’S WHAT HO, YOUR MAJESTY?

(RADIO 4, 11.15PM), a specially written short story first broadcast as a birthday tribute to the Queen, takes us into the world of P.G. Wodehouse. Willie Dabney runs an errand for the Queen, but gets pulled into a world of corrupt politicians and gentlemen’s clubs.