RADIO CHOICE

JAMES BLUNT, currently on a tour of Britain and Ireland, is in the studio with KEN BRUCE (RADIO 2, 9.30AM). James (pictured) will be in the Radio 2 Piano Room for a live session of past hits and music from his latest album, The Afterlove.

THE Dark Ages were not as dark as some historians would have us believe. Scholars travelled through the western Roman Empire, sharing their knowledge. Northumbrian-born poet and teacher Alcuin of York was summoned to the court of Charlemagne, but was allowed to spend his final years back in Britain, working on mathematics. He is credited with coming up with three famous brainteasers known as rivercrossing problems, among a collection of puzzles to sharpen young minds. For this week’s instalment of SCIENCE STORIES

(RADIO 4, 9PM) Philip Ball looks back at the life of the mathematician monk.

‘THE bells are ringing for me and my gal. The birds are singing for me and my gal.’ The songs that were popular during 1917 swung from the cheerful and optimistic to wearily cynical ones sung by disillusioned soldiers, including We’re Here Because We’re Here. Russell Davies presents THE SONGS AND SHOWS OF WORLD WAR I (RADIO 2, 10PM), looking at the music sung on stage as well as in the trenches, and recounting how U.S. soldiers brought ragtime to the troops.