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´óÏó´«Ã½ Radio 1's Festive Festival returns to the legendary ´óÏó´«Ã½ Maida Vale Studios for a night of festivities and live performances from rising stars and returning acts tipped for big things in 2011.

Hosted by Zane Lowe and Nick Grimshaw, Festive Festival will feature various Radio 1 specialist music DJs introducing an eclectic line-up of artists they have been championing, including headliners Bullet For My Valentine.

Throughout the night Kissy Sell Out, Benji B, and Jaymo and Andy George provide party mixes to get listeners into the festive spirit.

The Festive Festival strongly reflects Radio 1's specialist music output and in previous years it has included several breakthrough acts; 2009's line up included Mumford & Sons, The xx and Marina And The Diamonds.

Presenters/Zane Lowe and Nick Grimshaw, Producer/James Bursey

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Listeners are invited to join Westwood's camp all week for his Nightmare Before Christmas and channel the "bah humbug" by offloading all their Christmas joy.

Presenter/Tim Westwood, Producer/James Clark

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Ken Bruce kicks off his week with two-and-a-half hours of top music and banter. Every day this week, Annie Lennox selects two of her all-time favourite Christmas tracks in Tracks Of My Christmas Years.

Ken's show also features one of Nine Alternative Lessons And Carols each day, a complementary celebration to the traditional Bible readings and carols with nine modern stories of Christmas that have been specially commissioned from writers including Willy Russell, Ian McMillan and Simon Armitage.

Among the stories is an account of a rough sleeper's Christmas in a doorway and a narrative about a soldier's wife reading her beau's last letter home. The tales are read by recognisable voices including Bob Hoskins, Sean Bean, Zoe Wanamaker and Noddy Holder, and each story is accompanied by a Christmas song.

Plus there's The Love Song and the Popmaster Quiz thrown in for good measure.

Presenter/Ken Bruce, Producers/Gary Bones for the ´óÏó´«Ã½ and John Leonard for Smooth Operations

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From Monday to Thursday this week, alongside Ken Bruce, Jeremy Vine's show will also feature one of Nine Alternative Lessons And Carols. These are modern-day stories of Christmas, specially commissioned by writers including Willy Russell, Ian McMillan and Simon Armitage. Each story is read by a recognisable voice including Sean Bean, Bob Hoskins and Zoe Wanamaker. The stories are intended to provide a complementary celebration to the more traditional Bible readings and carols.

Presenter/Jeremy Vine, Producers/Phil Jones for the ´óÏó´«Ã½ and John Leonard for Smooth Operations

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Presenter of ´óÏó´«Ã½ 6 Music's Funk And Soul show Craig Charles covers for Steve Wright this week and fills the Big Show Christmas Stockings once again. Craig is joined by special guests all week, as well as some fun festive features.

Presenter/Craig Charles, Producer/Adam Utyman

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Billy Bragg looks at the life of the much-loved singer and writer Kirsty MacColl, to mark the 10th anniversary of her death.

Kirsty was killed in a tragic accident while on a diving holiday with her sons in Mexico. Much has been documented about the circumstances of her death, but this programme focuses on Kirsty's life and legacy.

The programme features excerpts from a series she made for ´óÏó´«Ã½ Radio 2 just a month before she died, in which she visited her favourite place in the world – Cuba. Listeners hear Kirsty interviewing her musical heroes, musing on the Cuban way of life, learning how to make a daiquiri and witnessing cigars being rolled in the famous Partagas factory in Havana.

Rob Miller, director of the Cuba Solidarity Campaign, talks of the work Kirsty had begun to bring musical aid to Cubans, and her mother, Jean Newlove, talks of the Music Fund for Cuba, the committee for which she is chairwoman.

Jean also talks about Kirsty's upbringing, and there's archive material of Kirsty recalling her earlier days. Musical colleagues and friends such as Holly Johnson (Frankie Goes To Hollywood), Janice Long, David Byrne (Talking Heads), Johnny Marr (The Smiths), Radio 2 presenter Johnnie Walker, ´óÏó´«Ã½ 6 Music presenter Tom Robinson and Phil Chevron (The Pogues) comment on Kirsty as a singer, songwriter and a much-missed friend.

Presenter/Billy Bragg, Producer/Nick Barraclough for Smooth Operations

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Clare Teal presents a special Christmas concert featuring the ´óÏó´«Ã½ Big Band and singer Paul Carrack. Together they perform seasonal favourites including Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer, Let It Snow, Winter Wonderland and Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas.

Presenter/Clare Teal, Producer/Terry Carter

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Composer Of The Week – Bach In Cothen

Monday 20 to Christmas Eve Friday 24 December

12.00noon-1.00pm ´óÏó´«Ã½ RADIO 3

Johann Sebastian Bach spent just six years in service at the court of Cothen. It wasn't even a prestigious posting. In fact, the ruling prince's ineptitude with matters political meant it barely figured on the map. But for the greatest composer alive it was just the ticket, a chance to explore fresh musical ground and open himself up to new styles of music-making.

But it wasn't all plain sailing. Bach might have loved the break from church music but, while away from court, he suffered the greatest tragedy of his life, the death of his first wife. It was a hammer blow of course but also turned out to be inspirational. Bach turned to the needs of his many children and it was while putting together teaching materials for them that he stumbled on some of his greatest musical ideas. New love came his way too, in the form of talented singer Anna Magdalena, who became indispensable as copyist, musical collaborator and cornerstone of his rapidly expanding family.

But for all the support of his employer, Bach suffered itchy feet in Cothen. First in Hamburg, then in Leipzig, he found himself navigating appointment processes which would trump the bureaucracy of even the most convoluted public processes today. Eventually he got an offer he couldn't refuse, but only after composing some of the most accomplished music of his career.

In the first programme, after years of putting up with the petty feuding of his previous employers, Bach arrives in the tranquil environment of his new posting. Donald Macleod explores his first months in the job, under the admiring gaze of a cultured and sympathetic royal boss who proves to be everything Bach could ask for.

Presenter/Donald Macleod, Producer/Michael Surcombe

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´óÏó´«Ã½ Radio 3 celebrates the talents of its New Generation Artists in a two-week series of early evening programmes showcasing some of the studio and concert recordings made by members of the scheme over the past year.

The New Generation Artists scheme exists to provide support to some of the brightest talents in the world of classical music, offering unrivalled opportunities for concerts and studio recordings. Since its foundation in 1999 it has included artists such as the Belcea String Quartet, Paul Lewis, Janine Jansen and Alice Coote among its distinguished members.

Presenter/Sarah Walker, Producer/Lindsay Kemp

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Book Of The Week – Finishing The Hat Ep 1/5

Monday 20 to Christmas Eve Friday 24 December

9.45-10.00am ´óÏó´«Ã½ RADIO 4

Musical theatre legend Stephen Sondheim

To mark his 80th birthday, musical theatre legend Stephen Sondheim appraises his long career and dissects his own lyrics from West Side Story to Sweeney Todd.

In Finishing The Hat – a title borrowed from one of his most autobiographical songs – Sondheim provides a forensic account of the lyric-writing process.

Stephen discusses the lyrics for several of his major musicals from 1954 to 1981, including West Side Story, Gypsy, Company, A Little Night Music and Sweeney Todd. He offers an illuminating insight into the lyric-writer's art, as well as a number of warm and witty anecdotes about the remarkable figures with whom he has worked.

Stephen also discusses his relationship with his mentor, Oscar Hammerstein II, and his collaborations with talents such as Leonard Bernstein, Arthur Laurents, Jule Styne, Ethel Merman and Harold Prince.

Additional readings are by Juliet Stevenson.

Reader/Stephen Sondheim, Producer/Emma Harding for the ´óÏó´«Ã½

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Woman's Hour Drama – The Art Of Deception 2 Ep 1/5

Monday 20 to Christmas Eve Friday 24 December

10.45-11.00am ´óÏó´«Ã½ RADIO 4

The Art Of Deception 2 sees the return of Philip Palmer's serial about a notorious art forger. Two years after faking his own death, Daniel Ballantyne re-emerges to resume his cat-and-mouse game with biographer Jessica Brown.

Ballantyne is one of the greatest and most successful forgers of all time. He is a rich man. And he is, officially, dead.

His "death", however, is just another forgery. He paid a body double who was dying of cancer to impersonate him. Now Ballantyne has nothing to fear. He has everything he needs to enjoy a contented and quiet retirement. But instead, Ballantyne goes out of his way to make enemies because he loves the danger.

Ballantyne's nemesis is art expert Jessica Brown who, after writing her book on him, knows him better than anyone; and she is on his trail. Ex-policeman Andrew Jarrold, released from prison, has intimidated Jessica into finding Ballantyne.

When Jessica does find Ballantyne, everything changes; he has come to respect her as an equal and she is the only person in the world for whom he truly cares.

The cast stars David Schofield as Daniel Ballantyne, Hattie Morahan as Jessica Brown, Matt Addis as Ben, Harry Myers as Andrew Jarrold, Stephen Greif as Moisha Perez and Pandora Colin as Lisa.

Producer/Toby Swift for the ´óÏó´«Ã½

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Sarfraz Manzoor looks at the highs and lows of booze in Britain, and how to get by without it.

Sarfraz is teetotal. During his time at Manchester University and in his professional life he has become accustomed to being on the edge of things as a non-drinker. But with more and more people choosing to abstain, this may be a changing situation.

However with Christmas parties looming, alcohol plays a major role in both leisure and business.

In this programme he looks at the importance of alcohol in Britain and asks if it is possible to be British if one doesn't drink.

Presenter/Sarfraz Manzoor, Producer/Mark Rickards for the ´óÏó´«Ã½

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Jeeves In Manhattan Ep 1/2

Monday 20 December

11.30am-12.00noon ´óÏó´«Ã½ RADIO 4 (Schedule change 25 November)

Actor Martin Jarvis as Jeeves

In a one-man tour-de-force Martin Jarvis performs The Artistic Career Of Corky, for a packed audience at this year's Cheltenham Festival of Literature.

The Artistic Career Of Corky is the first of two of PG Wodehouse's celebrated New York stories, starring blithe Bertie Wooster and his urbane valet Jeeves.

As well as the characters of Jeeves and Wooster, Jarvis also portrays spineless American artist Corky, choleric Manhattan millionaire Alexander Worple and winsome chorus girl Muriel Singer.

Wodehouse wrote these stories in 1925 during the period when he was enjoying success in Manhattan as a lyric writer for American musicals.

Producer/Pete Atkin for Jarvis and Ayres Productions

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The Bus Pass Roadtrips Ep 1/5

Monday 20 to Thursday 23 December and
Boxing Day Sunday 26 December

3.45-4.00pm ´óÏó´«Ã½ RADIO 4

Dominic Arkwright meets senior citizens who have used their bus passes to take to the high road.

In the first programme, he meets the parishioners of St Edburg's Church, Bicester who went on a bus-pass pilgrimage.

Seeking a novel way to support their 900-year-old church and raise funds for a much-needed £1m refurbishment, but with little experience of adventuring far by bus, they travelled from Canterbury to York, staying with fellow Christians along the way.

The week continues with Dominic meeting Olwen Leebrook on Tuesday, a Welsh pensioner who set out to visit all 13 of the old Welsh counties by bus. In Wednesday's programme, Dominic meets a man who set out to prove that the humble bus pass could be used to travel the entire length of the country for free. And in Thursday's programme he meets a free-wheeling woman who makes it up as she goes along.

In the final programme, on Sunday, Dominic meets the lifeboat man who took on a national tour of RNLI stations. Bill Walton travelled around the UK on his free bus pass to raise money for the RNLI. Dressed as a lifeboat man the whole way, he took 23 days to complete the journey. With an average travelling time of seven hours per day, he caught 124 buses and clocked up 2,250 miles.

Presenter/Dominic Arkwright, Producer/John Byrne for the ´óÏó´«Ã½

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In this one-off comedy special, Kevin Bishop plays radio show host Les Kelly, who aims to draw attention to some of the unsung heroes who make Britain great.

Les is opinionated, sincere and stupid. The guests, who are mostly mad, bad or tragic, include a campanologist who plays Away In A Manger with only one bell, a man campaigning for guide dogs for sighted people and a lollipop lady with OCD.

The programme is written by Bill Dare with Julian Dutton and features Dave Lamb, Vicki Pepperdine, Julian Dutton, and Laurence Howarth.

Producer/Bill Dare for the ´óÏó´«Ã½

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Nicky Campbell and Shelagh Fogarty present news from the UK including the latest from the business world, travel updates and the day's big sports stories. There's also news and updates from day five of the Third Ashes Test in Perth.

Presenters/Nicky Campbell and Shelagh Fogarty

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Mark Chapman presents football debate on the big stories from the weekend in The Monday Night Club.

From 8pm there's live Premier League commentary on Manchester City versus Everton at The City of Manchester Stadium, followed by post-match reaction at 10pm.

Presenter/Mark Chapman, Producer/Mike Carr

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Highlights of the fifth day of the Third Test between Australia and England in Perth, includes close-of-play analysis from Jonathan Agnew and Geoffrey Boycott.

Producer/Jen McAllister

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Alexis Krauss and Derek Miller, aka Sleigh Bells, are one of the most exciting new bands to emerge from Brooklyn this year. They mix chaotic energy and brutally distorted guitar attacks with hip-hop beats and pop hooks.

Their debut album Treats has been widely praised while Alexis was also featured in this year's NME cool list. Sleigh Bells have recently finished touring with LCD Soundsystem in America and are currently supporting MIA across Europe.

The band share their musical loves for a special lunchtime Sleigh List, including tracks from The Supremes, The Marvelettes and The Shangri-Las.

Presenter/Nemone, Producer/Jax Coombes

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Gideon Coe looks back at a year of live music broadcast on ´óÏó´«Ã½ 6 Music, including tracks recorded at Glastonbury, the Mercury Music Prize and various 6 Music shows, including Gorillaz and Midlake from Worthy Farm.

Presenter/Gideon Coe, Producer/Mark Sheldon

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In preparation for a very special, and much anticipated, Christmas return to the Big British Castle for Adam Buxton and Joe Cornish, listeners can hear a selection of their bygone shows, then download the podcasts straight after from the ´óÏó´«Ã½ 6 Music website to keep them entertained during the last few days of Christmas shopping.

In this show from 11 October 2008, entitled Dedicated Follower Of Fashion, the boys ask if Blue Peter lost the plot.

Presenters/Adam Buxton and Joe Cornish, Producer/James Stirling

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Tommy Sandhu celebrates some of the year's highlights all week, including interviews with stars from Bollywood, Bhangra and UK TV and not forgetting his World Cup song, the Foot-bolyian!

Kicking off the week, Tommy revisits his meeting with Desi pop-star Raghav, who talks about his music and a secret Bollywood project. Listeners also hear from legendary actor Om Puri and newcomer Aqib Khan about their film West Is West.

Presenter/Tommy Sandhu

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Laura Lynch asks how much power judges should have, and why they are so important in the modern world.

In the concluding part of her investigation, she travels to Turkey, where the ruling party is trying to reform the judiciary, and talks to the country's most senior judges as well as to the government.

Presenter/Laura Lynch

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