THIS WEEK’S RADIO PICKS

MONDAY

LUCY LOVES DESI: A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE SITCOM RADIO 4, MON-FRI, 10.45AM & 7.45PM

Five-part drama about the influential 1950s TV sitcom I Love Lucy starring Lucille Ball and her husband Desi Arnaz (right). Written by Gregg Oppenheimer, son of the show’s producer, it features Anne Heche as Ball – who became the first woman to run a major TV studio. THE MILLER’S DANCE

RADIO 4, 12PM AND 10.45PM

For those who miss Poldark, here’s book nine of Winston Graham’s Cornwall novels, set ten years after the BBC series ended. Here, Ross is 52, still an MP and happily married to Demelza with three children, who embark on their own journeys of love and courtship.

TUESDAY

SCOTLAND’S UNCIVIL WAR RADIO 4, 8PM

As the Scottish government investigates the handling of sexual allegations against former First Minister Alex Salmond – of which he was acquitted – Dani Garavelli looks at his claims of a conspiracy, the schism within the SNP and how it could affect Scotland’s future.

WEDNESDAY

GROUNDED WITH LOUIS THEROUX RADIO 4, 8PM

The documentary-maker won’t have to exercise his usual techniques to extract something interesting out of actress Miriam Margolyes. She reveals how she fared with lockdown (not well) and talks frankly (of course) about sexuality, antisemitism and her hatred of housework. WOOF: HONEST MISTAKES AT HOME AND ABROAD, RADIO 4, 11PM

The third series of Chris Neill’s comic exploration of love, lust and mediocrity, which has a lovely tinge of Victoria Wood. In episode one, he addresses the subjects of Haribo, diabetes and ageing.

THURSDAY

THE COUNTRY SHOW WITH BOB HARRIS RADIO 2, 9PM

Celebrating 50 years of the softly voiced broadcaster, best known for his Radio 2 show and The Old Grey Whistle Test on TV in the 1970s and 1980s. He recalls his early days co-founding Time Out, countless starry interviews and writing sleeve notes for a then unknown Elton John.

SATURDAY

THE CALIFORNIAN CENTURY RADIO 4, 7.45PM

Stanley Tucci plays a hard-boiled scriptwriter imagining the story of modern California, from Hollywood to Silicon Valley, as a screenplay in ten parts, each about a real person. The Body On The Backlot concerns pioneering silent movie director Francis Boggs, who was shot dead by a janitor.