Radio choice Charlotte Runcie

Claudia Roden – A Book of Middle Eastern Food

RADIO 4, 10.45AM

Anjum Malik has dramatised the enormously influential cookery classic from 1968, Claudia Roden’s A Book of Middle Eastern

Food, for this week’s drama serial. It’s a book that has inspired and been admired by cooks including Nigel Slater. Former Eastenders star Tracy-ann Oberman plays Roden herself, and there are cameos from Yotam Ottolenghi and Claudia’s granddaughter, Nelly Wolman, in the story of Roden’s early life, from her birth in Cairo in 1936 and her growing love of Middle Eastern food. Andrew Lloyd-webber – Variations

RADIO 2, 8.00PM

Andrew Lloyd-webber is celebrating his 70th birthday, and Radio 2 has decided to say many happy returns in the form of a series of musical tributes. Various artists have been invited to record their own versions of favourite Lloyd-webber numbers, all broadcast tonight in a programme presented by DJ Jo Whiley. Contributions include Rick Astley singing Don’t Cry For Me Argentina, Mica Paris performing Only You from Starlight Express, and The Shires putting their own spin on Memory from Cats.