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COMMISSIONING ROUND, SPRING 2014

Proteus round: 2015 2016 – 1 Welcome to the Radio 4 commissioning round. This commissioning process is open to all BBC departments and registered independent companies with the necessary expertise, as indicated in each commissioning brief. Please only offer a proposal if you can demonstrate that you have this expertise.

1 THE COMMISSIONING PROCESS 2

TIMETABLE 2

HOW TO SUBMIT AN IDEA TO RADIO 4 2

HOW THE COMMISSIONING BRIEFS WORK 5

FAQ ON THE COMMISSIONING PROCESS 6

RESPONSES TO PROPOSALS 8

BBC EDITORIAL GUIDELINES & COMPLIANCE 9

2 SUPPORTING MATERIALS 10

3 THE BBC RADIO 4 AUDIENCE 12

4 COMMISSIONING BRIEFS 14

4.1 COMEDY & ENTERTAINMENT 14

4.2 SPECIALIST FACTUAL 33

4.3 GENERAL FACTUAL 51

4.4 ARTS 70

4.5 SPECIAL EVENTS & SEASONS 86

5 WORKING WITH RADIO 4 88

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1 THE COMMISSIONING PROCESS

TIMETABLE

This is the main round for this year. We aim to commission most factual slots for the financial year 2015-2016. We will commission comedy for the first half of 2015-16. There will be a second round in autumn 2014. For details of our drama commissioning requirements, see: http://www.bbc.co.uk/commissioning/radio/what-we-want/radio-4.shtml

Guidelines published

20th February 2014

Briefing in the Radio Theatre, Broadcasting House

24th February 2014

Briefing in Media City, Salford

25th February 2014

Pre-offers deadline

27th March- 12 noon

Pre-offers results

17th April

Final offers deadline

22 May 12 noon

Results released

Late July

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HOW TO SUBMIT AN IDEA TO RADIO 4

Pre-offers submissions This first stage of the round invites you to submit brief outlines of your ideas. These will be sifted by the commissioning team who will shortlist those they think worth developing for the final offers stage. All ideas must be entered in the Proteus website by the stated deadline. We do not require hard copies of any proposal.

Enter factual and comedy proposals, selecting: 2015 2016 – 1 (Drama proposals must be entered in: 2015 2016 – 5)

At the top of each commissioning brief there is an indication of the track record we require in suppliers to that slot. Please do not offer proposals unless you have the necessary expertise. For pre-offers we require only the minimum information to enable short-listing. The following must be entered for each proposal:

title (of your proposal, not the slot)

commissioning brief number Enter each proposal in one schedule slot only. If we consider it suitable for another slot, we will transfer it.

delivery date Enter a nominal date e.g. 01/10/2015

number of episodes

duration

short synopsis: maximum 200 words Price per episode This information is managed by us. The guide prices quoted in these guidelines is – with only the rarest exceptions – the maximum we will pay. Long synopsis Do not enter anything in this field at this stage. It will not be read. When commissioning editors have read all pre-offers and selected those they consider worth further development, we release the results to you in Proteus. Proposals will show as either ‘rejected’ or ‘re-requested’. If your offer is ‘re-requested’, this means we want to consider it in the final submission stage. A re-requested proposal does not have to be set up from scratch when entered as a final offer. It will of course need to be edited to reflect the requirements for the final offers stage (see below). Owing to the large number of submissions at this stage (typically over 3,000) we are unable to provide feedback on rejected pre-offers.

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Final submissions You are invited to discuss short-listed ideas with commissioning editors. Time pressures may require this to be by phone rather than face to face. After your conversations with commissioning editors, the ideas you develop for final submission should be entered in Proteus. Generally, final submissions will be those which we “re-requested” at the pre-offers stage. It is also possible to submit fresh offers which have not been discussed. All proposals must be submitted in Proteus by the deadline.

Enter factual and comedy proposals in: 2015 2016 – 1 (Drama proposals must be entered in: 2015 2016 – 5) At the top of each commissioning brief there is an indication of the kind of track record we require in suppliers to that slot. Do not offer proposals unless you can demonstrate the necessary expertise. Be realistic in the number of proposals you submit, in view of the number of programmes available, and observing the cap where this has been applied. If the cap says a maximum 10 proposals per supplier, we will only read your first 10. Fewer, better ideas are more likely to get through. In slots where each commission is for multiple episodes, the number of commissions will be far fewer than the number of individual programmes available. The following must be submitted for each proposal:

title If your idea is commissioned you must not subsequently change this title without written agreement of the commissioning editor.

brief number Submit each proposal in one slot only. If we think it suitable for another slot, we will transfer it.

achievable delivery date (linked to anniversary / event dates where relevant)

price per episode Radio 4 has a set price it expects to pay for the majority of programmes. This is entered automatically. If your idea requires a budget significantly above or below the guide, make this clear in the long synopsis and explain your reasoning. Only by very rare exception will we agree to commission a programme above the guide price.

producer

executive producer Include CV in long synopsis field, if the exec is new to R4.

number of episodes

duration

The short synopsis for the final proposal must be under 50 words. It should convey the essence of the programme.

The long synopsis must not exceed 2 x A4 pages of size 11 type.

key talent Any intended presenter/writer/abridger/performer etc should be shown in the long synopsis. You do not have to secure talent agreement before submitting an idea but you should let us know the degree to which named talent have expressed an interest in the project or have intellectual ownership of it.

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Proteus style guide

Don’t use the Notes field. Anything in this field will be deleted.

Don’t insert a space or dots or asterisks before beginning the title.

Don’t put double spaces in the title.

Don’t put quotation marks around the title.

Don’t start the title with a slot name, e.g. The Wednesday Debate.

Do begin titles in Proteus with The or A as appropriate, e.g. A Short History of…

If you are preparing proposals offline to cut and paste into Proteus, keep the formatting simple: bold, underline and italics only. Proteus will remove other formatting, including bulleted and numbered points, as well as converting your font to the equivalent of Arial size 11.

Supporting material (audio, books, scripts etc) must be delivered to the Radio 4 commissioning office by the closing date of the round. Complete the pro-forma in section 2 of this document to provide us an inventory of what is sent.

HOW THE COMMISSIONING BRIEFS WORK Section 4 contains the commissioning briefs, arranged by genre: comedy and entertainment, specialist factual, general factual, arts and special events. Each brief provides the following information. Programme type The name of the commissioning brief

Reference number This 5-digit number appears alongside the name of the brief in a drop-down menu when you enter your proposal in Proteus. NB: Proteus gives each proposal a reference number unrelated to this one. Also, neither of these numbers is related to programme or tape numbers!

Slot Day/s and time of broadcast

Eligibility Radio 4 always requires producers and executive producers to have a considerable track-record in the relevant type of programme making. Independent companies must have registered on the BBC Radio & Music commissioning list. Duration Programme length, including opening and closing announcements Estimated number of programmes Remember this is the number of individual programmes, not of individual commissions. In the 1830 Comedy slot 16 programmes available might result in 3 or 4 commissions, each being for between 1 and 6 episodes. Transmission period The period when your programme is likely to be broadcast. Please flag clearly if your idea needs to be transmitted outside this period.

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Guide price Radio 4 expects to pay no more than the guide price for commissions so please budget at this level. If the cost is expected to be significantly above or below the guide price you must note this in the long synopsis of your proposal, explaining the reason. Only in rare cases will prices above the guide be agreed.

If you have queries about budgeting or prices, speak to your business manager or to Githa Weerasinghe, our Finance Partner.

Independent producers should contact Lesley Eaton, Legal and Business Affairs. Editorial guide Details of the kind of programme needed for this slot Programmes commissioned in the last round This is to help you avoid offering ideas too close to what has already been commissioned. The list might not be complete. Often, if contract or budget negotiations are outstanding, commissions cannot be listed, so you may also wish to check with the relevant commissioning assistant. Proposal to include This cannot be a definitive list, as only you can fully know what your idea needs for it to be properly assessed. Make your own judgement but if in doubt put something in rather than leave it out. However, your long synopsis should not be longer than two A4 pages.

FAQ ON THE COMMISSIONING PROCESS Q: What’s the role of the commissioning editor? The commissioning editor’s job is primarily to commission and review programmes, not to be the executive producer or series editor. Commissioning editors work as editorial deputies to the Controller, BBC Radio 4. In line with her strategy for the station, they support the development of proposals by commissioning and reviewing them. They will not normally intervene in a production unless this has been specified at the commissioning stage, or compliance matters arise, e.g. language referrals and editorial policy issues. However, they are available to provide guidance, if necessary. They may, at their discretion, feel it appropriate to be more closely involved in development, casting, scripting and editing. Q: Do I need to have an agreement from talent before I put forward names? If you name a presenter, please say whether you hope to be able to interest them, whether they have already expressed an interest, or whether they have any intellectual ownership of the proposal. Only in exceptional cases would we expect you to have agreement from actors, as they are often only booked within a few weeks of production. Citing possible casting is useful, though, as it helps explain how you “hear” a character.

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It would be unusual to quote a writer or abridger if you had not already spoken to them, but in some cases it will happen. If so, please make this clear. If you want to pitch for an open commission for a writer, speak to a commissioning editor before you approach the writer. It would also be unusual to have gained the agreement of contributors, guests or panellists ahead of an agreed commission. Again, it is useful for us to know the lines you are thinking along, so potential running orders and cast lists do help. Q: How do I know if an idea has already been commissioned? Each commissioning brief gives an indication of what was commissioned for that slot in the last round. In addition, the commissioning assistant can check specific titles. Q: Once I’ve received a conditional acceptance and all four conditions have been agreed, do I need to talk to a commissioning editor before starting work? Normally not, but sometimes the commissioning editor will want a pre-production meeting. This is most likely to apply to major new series and we will initiate the meeting. It will be designed to make sure everyone has the same understanding of how the programme or series is to be made and what it is trying to achieve. Q: How much should I contact the commissioning editor while making the programme? It is your responsibility to deliver the programme as agreed. The commissioning editor will not normally get involved. The exception would be if changes are made to what has been agreed, e.g. presenter, title, producer, executive producer. Independent companies are expected to initiate at least one work-in-progress conversation with the commissioning editor before recording their programme, and must ensure the station is informed of any editorial policy issues. Q: Does the commissioning editor need to hear it before broadcast? No, but independent productions must be heard and approved prior to broadcast by the Editor, Editorial Standards (sometimes referred to as the compliance editor). It is the responsibility of your executive producer or editor to deliver a programme which matches the editorial brief, complies with BBC Editorial Guidelines and is technically fit for broadcast. The Editorial Guidelines set out the referral procedures for issues of sensitive content or impartiality. Q: What’s my proposal reference number? You will find this to the left of the title in Proteus

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RESPONSES TO PROPOSALS Results will be released in Proteus. We do not send out hard copies. Proteus will display one of four standard responses to each offer:

rejection

shortlist

pilot

conditional commission Rejection We will provide brief feedback on our reasons for not commissioning a proposal. Shortlist Shortlisting happens for 3 principal reasons:

We are seriously interested in the idea but feel more work is needed. In this case, the commissioning editor will explain what we are looking for.

Competing offers delay the commissioning decision. We need more information before deciding between them.

We do not have space to commission the idea but want to keep it in reserve in case gaps appear in the schedule later. We try to clear proposals from the shortlist quickly and we review it every 3 months or so to see whether we are in a position to move an idea forward or to reject it. If you ever need to know about the progress of a shortlisted idea, do get in touch. Should you ever wish to withdraw an idea from the shortlist, just let us know. Pilot We need to hear a pilot before committing ourselves. You should discuss this with the commissioning editor before doing further work. Conditional commission Final acceptance of all ideas is conditional on the following issues. Radio 4 is not responsible for any costs incurred prior to the full agreement. o Price and rights

Each conditional commission will be made with a fixed price offer that has been judged as value for money by the Commissioning and Finance and Business Affairs teams. It is intended that most will be at the published guide but we reserve the right to propose an alternative price if we believe it appropriate. If our price is accepted by you in writing there will be no need to submit a detailed budget. Contracts will be issued immediately to independent suppliers. If, however, you wish to challenge the offer made, a detailed budget in Proteus will be requested and scrutinised by our Finance and Business Affairs team with the aim of reaching agreement. Conditional acceptances may be withdrawn if agreement on price is not reached within a reasonable period.

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Radio 4 requires an appropriate set of rights dependent on the type of programme. This will vary only in exceptional circumstances. The price quoted on the commissioning brief is based on buying the standard set of rights for that programme. If fewer rights are bought, the price may be reduced.

o Internet use

Rights should be cleared for simultaneous or near-simultaneous internet use, together with a 14-day “Listen again” window. Independent suppliers' rights clearance should include BBC Primary New Media rights (streaming and audio on demand).

o Schedule and delivery dates

Each proposal should include your ideal delivery date, though our conditional acceptance will not necessarily be able to reflect this date. We will not issue precise transmission dates for programmes not pegged to a particular anniversary or season but will give the calendar quarter in which we intend to place them. If you cannot deliver to meet the given transmission quarter, notify Tony Pilgrim, Head of Planning and Scheduling. Precise delivery dates will be confirmed well before the start of each calendar quarter.

o Editorial Conditional acceptance might have specific editorial conditions attached to it, e.g. that a particular presenter is available, and fulfilment of them must be confirmed before the commission is finalised and before you start work.

BBC EDITORIAL GUIDELINES & COMPLIANCE BBC Editorial Guidelines http://www.bbc.co.uk/guidelines/editorialguidelines/ All programmes, whether commissioned in-house or from an independent producer, are subject to the BBC Editorial Guidelines. These set out the BBC’s editorial standards, policy on sensitive content, legal and political issues, and the system for consultation and referrals during the production of programmes. Failure to comply with these guidelines may lead to the commission being withdrawn and/or a claim for breach of contract. Compliance We require that every recorded programme be heard by a production person of appropriate seniority and formally signed off by them. BBC programmes are signed off by their executive producer or editor. But independent productions must be heard and approved prior to broadcast by Radio 4’s Editor, Editorial Standards (sometimes referred to as the compliance editor). These decisions are logged in a compliance form, where editorially sensitive content must be flagged. The form is available to in-house producers on Proteus and to indies on the BBC commissioning site: http://www.bbc.co.uk/commissioning/radio/compliance-and-policy/index.shtml

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2 SUPPORTING MATERIALS These must be delivered by 1700 on the day of the commissioning round deadline. A complete inventory of materials supplied must be included. See below.

o Submit audio and video via an online file-sharing service. Make clear which

proposal it is for. Audio must be in mp3. Always identify which offer it is for within the filename.

o Material related to comedy briefs should be sent to tamsin.green@bbc.co.uk

o Material related to factual briefs should be sent to shauna.todd@bbc.co.uk

o Unpublished written material should not be put in Proteus. Send it by email to one of the addresses above. Make it clear which offer it is for.

o Physical supporting material (published books, DVDs etc) must be delivered to:

Radio 4 Commissioning Assistants Room 4028 Broadcasting House London W1A 1AA

o Label each item with your name, department or company, the title and the commissioning brief number of the proposal.

o The package should be accompanied by a complete list of supporting materials,

using the form below. o Indicate in the long synopsis that you are supplying supporting materials.

With the exception of published books and DVDs, we cannot return supporting materials to you.

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INVENTORY OF SUPPORTING MATERIALS FOR FINAL OFFERS TO RADIO 4

SUPPLIER DEPARTMENT / COMPANY

COMMISSIONING BRIEF NUMBER

TITLE

SUPPORTING MATERIALS

SIGNATURE………………………………………………… CONTACT NAME ………………………………………….. EMAIL ……………………………………………………….. MOBILE............................................................................. TEL ………………………………………...………………… DATE………………………………………………………….

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3 THE BBC RADIO 4 AUDIENCE

Reach: One in five adults listen to Radio 4 each week, or 21% of the population. At 11.2m each week, this is Radio 4’s highest record ever – beating its previous record by 227K listeners (Q2 2013, which saw 10.98m tune in).

Hours: Radio 4 continues to have a very loyal audience, tuning in for over 11 hours per week. Based on the most recent RAJAR data (Q4 2013) the average Radio 4 listener tunes in for 11 hours and 30 minutes each week. In total that makes 129m hours every week.

Share: Share takes all the minutes listened to any radio, and works out what proportion of this Radio 4 makes up. According to the latest RAJAR results, Radio 4’s share of listening is 12.5% - level with where it has been in previous years. This equates to one in every eight minutes of radio consumed.

Genre: News attracts the largest number of listeners, at 9.6m per week according to RAJAR. Drama attracts a strong 7.0m average listeners a week, and comedy reaches 5.5m.

Online: Radio 4 sees almost 1 million unique browsers to its site each month. December 2013 saw 902K UBs – two in five of these coming from mobile or tablet. We also saw 16.4m iPlayer requests for Radio 4 programmes, and a further 13.3m podcasts downloaded – providing Radio 4 with a huge digital footprint.

Who is tuning in?

In terms of gender, age and social grade, Radio 4’s listener profile remains pretty stable.

Figures = audience numbers in millions per relevant demographic group

The station continues to have a fairly balanced audience in terms of gender (51% male / 49% female) – however, our female listeners typically tune in for longer than our male listeners (13:18 vs. 09:47). The average age of the Radio 4 listener is 55yrs old. The station also continues to have an upmarket bias – 75% of those tuning in fall into the ABC1 demographic.

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When do they listen?

What other radio stations do they listen to?

For any questions about the Radio 4 audience, please contact Elizabeth Lane, Research Manager for Radio 4 and 4 Extra: Elizabeth.lane@bbc.co.uk

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4 COMMISSIONING BRIEFS

4.1 COMEDY & ENTERTAINMENT BRIEFS Commissioning Editor: Caroline Raphael Commissioning Assistant: Tamsin Green 11.30 Comedy 18.30 Comedy 23.02 Entertainment Sunday Comedy is not open in this round. Programmes for broadcast on a Sunday will be picked from the other briefs. Recommission offers for programmes previously broadcast on Sunday should be entered into the next most suitable brief. Duration: All slots are 28’. At 2302 we commission some 14’ programmes. Transmission period: April 2015 to October 2015 Guide price for all slots: £11,300 (28’) £5,650 (14’) GENERAL NOTES ON COMEDY AND ENTERTAINMENT (see individual briefs below for detailed guidance) Very few new programmes are commissioned in any round. There are a lot of returning series. New series can only start if another stops. Your ideas need to bring something distinctive to Radio 4. That might be a great talent or a clever new format. Programmes that mimic that already on air in any slots (not just comedy) or have specifically not been requested in the following briefs, will be turned down at pre-offers.

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When you get a proposal commissioned it is the start of a long process. The idea may have to be piloted; writers will need to be coaxed and supported to write a minimum of four scripts. Casting for a scripted comedy or a stand up show means your knowledge of performers and their skills has to be superb. You then need to be able to direct and produce the programme – a stand up can need as much production to help make the move from comedy club to radio as an actor reading someone else’s lines. Therefore, to stand a chance of being successful, your company or department will need to be able to demonstrate substantial and considerable experience in radio comedy and/or television comedy. Companies and departments with no radio experience who are invited to a pre-offers meeting will be asked to name the experienced radio producer(s) who will work with them on developing and then producing the programme if it is commissioned. Work online is useful and interesting but will not be enough to demonstrate you can provide broadcast quality programmes that meet the editorial, talent development, compliance and technical levels we require. Diversity We are determined to continue broadcasting comedy that reflects the rich diversity of modern Britain. So, please consider how your programme can help us achieve that. Celebrity-guest shows We are not looking for any new ones. We have many shows across the network that revolve around a different celebrity guest appearing or being interviewed in each programme; think of established programmes such as Desert Island Discs, Great Lives, A Good Read, With Great Pleasure and I’ve Never Seen Star Wars and newer titles such as One to One and My Teenage Diary. Series or serials? In a series, programmes can, to a greater or lesser extent, be placed in any order and do not need a detailed explanation each week to explain what has happened so far. Serials do. We want series. We do not want serials. ARE YOU READY TO OFFER? As you read through the following paragraphs please ask yourself – do I really have enough material, the commitment from the on-air talent and writer(s), and the rights if appropriate, to offer in this round?

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THE PURPOSE OF PRE-OFFERS Please don’t skip this part of the offers process. It is in your best interests and the interests of your talent to submit a pre-offer, otherwise you might lose out on essential guidance and support. At pre-offers I am looking for new ideas featuring exceptional new or established talent (writing or performing) that are not already appearing regularly on BBC Radio 4; and innovative brave formats that match the needs detailed in the following guidelines. This stage of the process allows us to ensure we are developing the right mix and number of programmes and that we are not encouraging work that will be too close to programmes already in development or returning. When making this judgement I will be seeing it from the audience's point of view. Nuanced differences to something already on air are not going to convince me there is not a clash. We want to take audiences to the widest variety of places, through a myriad of emotional experiences and let them enjoy the greatest range of comedic talent. And make them laugh. Obviously we cannot judge the quality of the writer's work or talent's skills - but we can and will judge the subject matter. Use your 200 words carefully to sum up what the show will be about. Do not waste space telling me how wonderful the show will be or how brilliant the talent - that is taken as read! WHAT TO INCLUDE IN PRE-OFFERS Returning series Returning series must be submitted at the pre-offers stage. Programmes that have gone out or will be going out before the end of September 2014 that are seeking a further commission must be offered in this round. The Sunday Comedy slot is not open this round so please offer returning series that broadcast there previously into the next most suitable slot. If you are unsure which this might be please contact the commissioning editor to discuss. Offering work that has previously been rejected If you have not been asked to re-offer it then we would politely suggest you don't.

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Presenters and talent If the programme is the talent’s or the presenter’s idea or they have been involved in its development, please make this clear to save possible confusion and awkwardness later. Choice of talent Unless you are building a show around a named individual you are not expected to approach performers at the pre-offers or final offers stage. It is a waste of time and can cause embarrassment if the programme is not commissioned. We also know that by the time a commissioned programme is ready to be recorded the chance of said individual still being available is negligible. Audience or non-audience? This is key. Please tell us at pre-offers if this is or is not an audience show. And we will discuss this further if you are invited to a pre-offers meeting. Very rarely is it an either/or. The writing, the speed of the jokes, the structure, the nuance of performance you may want to achieve, the importance of acoustic variety – all need to be taken into consideration when determining what is best for the show and the listeners. Television ideas It is perfectly ok to offer ideas that have been turned down by television. But do tell us. It is perfectly ok to offer ideas that have been turned down by another radio station. Again, tell us. AT PRE-OFFERS MEETINGS If your offer gets through the initial pre-offers stage we will meet to discuss the idea in more depth and in particular focus on the following: Your writer Are they ready? Have you actually seen samples of their radio writing? If the writer has not written for radio before and you have not ready anything they have written for radio how do you know they can write for Radio 4?

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With your final offer you will need to submit either a full draft script or substantial scenes from the series specifically written for radio. Plus storylines for following episodes, plus character descriptions. The need for a full script or sample scenes will differ from offer to offer and writer to writer. We will discuss this when we meet at pre offers. So, to repeat, are they, are you, ready to offer? If you are not wait till the next round. Comedy is commissioned twice a year. Talent If you offer is built around named key talent, are you sure they want to work with you? Have you asked them or their agent/management who else they are talking to? It is not the end of the world if talent offer different ideas through different suppliers – but make sure it is not the same idea. Rights and permissions It is pointless to clear rights ahead of a commission. This wastes your time and money. It is not the end of the world if an offer falls over later because rights are not available. However, where we know there are historical difficulties with the rights holders, we may ask you to clear them. We will agree this at the pre-offers meeting. Preparing for the final offer We will discuss how to write the final offer to make the proposition as clear and attractive as possible! FOR FINAL OFFERS Writers Please include details of writers’ past commissions for radio and/or experience elsewhere. Please make it clear if television or radio programmes were pilots only or if went to series. Rights and permissions If, as above, you were asked to clear rights in advance of the offer, please indicate if you have been able to do so.

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Choice of talent Unless you are building a show round a named individual you are not expected to approach performers at pre-offers or final offers stage. But, for final offers, indicative names are needed so that we can judge the tone or attitude of the programme. Please consider these carefully and ensure that there is a spread of talent across your offers. We take diversity seriously. Too many of the same names are still cropping up again and again, most of whom are on the network already. Offers for returning series When offering these you must include your critical thoughts on the series to date and how you might develop the show further. Do not worry about including press cuttings – we will provide those. Length of the offer The final offer must not be longer than two sides of A4 apart from the Proteus front business page. Supporting material This is only required for final offers. See section 2. Apart from published books and commercially published DVDs, all work must be sent electronically. Examples of Presenters and Talent If they have work online (YouTube, blogs, podcasts etc) please include a link in your offer rather than sending in downloads etc. Delivery of Supporting Written Material Written material (e.g. CVs, sample dialogue or scripts) should not be put on Proteus. It must be sent by email to tamsin.green@bbc.co.uk. Please identify which offer it is for within the filename. Delivery of Supporting Audio and Video Submit via an online file-sharing service to tamsin.green@bbc.co.uk. Audio must be .mp3 format. Please identify which offer it is for within the filename. You do not need to include audio for returning series as we already have access to the programmes.

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1130 Comedy: Monday, Wednesday, Friday

Reference number: 47013 Commissioning Editor: Caroline Raphael Commissioning Assistant: Tamsin Green Duration: 28’ Transmission period: April 2015 to October 2015 Guide price: £11,300 Estimated number of programmes available for open competition: We will put two or three new titles into development only, alongside returning series. This is because of the high number of returning series in this slot (see General Notes on Comedy & Entertainment above). Please read the General Notes on Comedy & Entertainment first. This slot introduces a lighter note to the mid-morning schedule. It is the main slot for situation comedies, entertaining light dramatizations and comedy dramas. We will also broadcast sketch shows and other new formats. Shows recorded in front of an audience bring energy and warmth to this time of the day and repeat well at 1830. This round the slot is only open for the following submissions:

Programmes from those departments with an output guarantee.

and / or:

Series for recommission. This applies to all series due to be broadcast before

the end of September 2014.

and / or:

Audience situation comedies.

Audience sketch shows with experienced performers and writers

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Audience Comedy Dramas This is the challenge for writers for this slot this round. A strong central character or double act defines many of our best loved and recognised comedies on Radio 4. Indeed the same might be said of most genres of comedy. Gloriously egotistical, hopeless, dysfunctional, delusional, exasperating, solipsistic and infuriating but equally charming, endearing, hopeful, optimistic …. Listeners have and continue to have enjoyed the company of Clare trying to do good in the community, shared recipes with Damien Trench in and out of his kitchen. They have tuned into Count Arthur Strong’s Radio Show and listened from the touchline to the sporting legend that is or was Dave Podmore. They have spent a week with Ed Reardon. These characters control the action. They are absolutely at the heart of the programme. Listeners latch onto them – they talk to us about them by their first name. They are all contemporary characters reflecting parts of own lives back to us. As acting parts, they woo the best of our comedy actors to the network. As it happens none of the above are double acts; although the presence of superb supporting characters beautifully cast and played are essential to their success. But a new partnership would be equally welcome. Offers must be audience shows as the sound of laughter is a boon at this time of the day and it also makes repeating them into the 1830 and other slots more effective. We will put two or three new ideas into development. Diversity We are determined to continue broadcasting comedy that reflects the rich diversity of modern Britain. So, please consider how your programme can help us achieve that. We are not looking for:

Comedy Chat shows

Anything set in the past or recent past

Topical comedy

Comedy crime

Spoofs or parodies of television or radio programmes or formats or programmes

about those who work in the media or creative industries

Series set in a work place

Serials

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1830 Comedy: Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday

Reference number: 47031

Commissioning Editor: Caroline Raphael Commissioning Assistant: Tamsin Green Duration: 28’ Transmission period: April 2015 – October 2015 Guide price: £11,300 Estimated number of programmes available for open competition (i.e. not guaranteed to any supplier): We will put two or three new titles into development only, alongside returning series. This is because of the high number of returning series in this slot (see General Notes on Comedy & Entertainment above). This slot provides a variety of energetic “as live” entertainment formats performed and written by the best of the experienced and newly established talent for early-evening listeners, many of whom have arrived home from work or are still travelling. It is also a recognised entry point for certain listeners new to the network and is popular with ‘replenishers’ - the 35 to 54 year olds - as they are available to listen at this time of day. This is not the slot to test the boundaries of taste or form. This round the slot is only open for the following submissions:

Programmes from those departments with an output guarantee.

and / or:

Series for recommission. This applies to all series due to be broadcast before the

end of September 2015.

and / or:

Scripted comedy to be recorded in front of an audience. We will only put a very

small number of such ideas into development each round.

and / or

Single programmes featuring major comedy talent who cannot commit to a full

four or six-part run.

Diversity

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We are determined to continue broadcasting comedy that reflects the rich diversity of modern Britain. So, please consider how your programme can help us achieve that. What we are not looking for:

Quizzes – these are placed at 1330 but we are not currently looking for new titles.

Topical and satirical shows - we already have The Now Show and The News

Quiz at 1830.

Interview / chat show formats. We have several here and across the network all

vying for very similar guests.

Spoofs or parodies of television or radio programmes or formats or programmes

about those who work in the media or creative industries.

Serials

Stand Up Shows

Impressionists

Improvised shows

Panel Shows

Audiences Programmes at 1830 will be recorded with an audience. The act of sharing laughter with the studio audience enriches and energises the listening experience at this busy time of the evening. You may hear programmes broadcast at 1830 without an audience; these will almost exclusively be repeats from other slots.

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Late Night Entertainment 2302: Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday

Reference number: 47058

Commissioning Editor: Caroline Raphael Commissioning Assistant: Tamsin Green Duration: Mostly 28’, some at 14’ Transmission period: April 2015 – October 2015 Guide price: £11,300 (28’) £5650 (14’) Estimated number of programmes available for open competition (i.e. not guaranteed to any supplier): We will put two or three new titles into development only, alongside returning series. This is because of the high number of returning series in this slot (see General Notes on Comedy & Entertainment above). What this slot is for: This slot will remain a performance space for those with an idiosyncratic voice who – through entertainment, performance or conversation – want to explore the world in a way not afforded by other parts of the schedule at a time of the day when listeners are prepared to see the world differently. It will continue to be a safe space in which less experienced talent can find their radio legs and where established talent can try something new. We encourage programmes that play with genre, form and sound in a clever and entertaining fashion for intelligent and curious listeners. Short form programmes with a simple but highly imaginative centre and first class writing have worked particularly well at 2302. Careful consideration should be given to how audiences and location might enhance the show. In order to aid development we will also continue to develop a few titles late night with an eye to eventually moving them, if they prove to be successful, and appropriate, to the daytime slots.

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This round the slot is only open for the following submissions:

Programmes from those departments with an output guarantee.

and / or:

Series for recommission. This applies to all series due to be broadcast before the

end of September 2015.

and / or:

Surprising ideas of high imagination and inventiveness that really refresh the

schedule at this time of day. We will put two or three such ideas only into

development.

Diversity We are determined to continue broadcasting comedy that reflects the rich diversity of modern Britain. So, please consider how your programme can help us achieve that. We are not looking for:

Chat or interview shows. We have several.

Panel Shows

Spoofs or parodies of television or radio programmes or formats or programmes

about those who work in the media or creative industries.

Topical satirical programmes, as there is a full range of these scheduled at 1830.

Studio based monologues – as this programme follows Book at Bedtime, these

are discouraged and should always be discussed with the commissioning editor

before they are offered or too much development has been done on them.

Serials

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ALL PROGRAMMES COMMISSIONED IN OR SINCE THE LAST ROUND Please note this list is prepared for producers use only to facilitate clash checking talent and ideas. The list is subject to change for all sorts of reasons. We are including a list of programmes commissioned, shortlisted or agreed for pilot. Please check earlier Commissioning Guidelines for previous commissions. You are advised to match your idea against programmes listed for all comedy slots. Returning series are in bold.

1130 Comedy

Believe It Comedy Drama

Richard Wilson's "Radiography" returning for a third

series. Written by Jon Canter.

Blofeld and Baxter: Memories of Test

Match Special

Conversation

Two of Test Match Special's finest bastions have

joined forces for a side-splitting insight into 40 years of

broadcasting.

Boswell's Lives Scripted Comedy

Boswell does for other legends what he did for Dr.

Johnson. Written by Jon Canter.

Clare in the Community Scripted Comedy

A further series about Clare Barker, the Social Worker

with a dedicated social conscience - unless it's

inconvenient.

Cleaning Up Scripted Comedy

We spend the night with a team of night cleaners who

work in a Manchester office block. Written by Ian

Kershaw.

Deborah Frances-White's Risky

Business

Stand Up

Four extraordinary true life stories. Each tale sees

Deborah roll the dice with her own life.

Hobby Bobbies Scripted Comedy

Our local community support officers are back on their

beat. Written by Dave Lamb.

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On The Rocks Scripted Comedy

Continuing the adventures of the inhabitants of pre-war

Scilly Isles St. Martin's. It's 1938 and the threat of war

is looming large. Written by Christopher William Hill.

Shush! Scripted Comedy

They are closing libraries throughout the land but,

somehow, this one is surviving. What is the secret of

its success? Written by Morwenna Banks and

Rebecca Front.

So On & So Forth Sketch Comedy

Gentlemen of sketch 'So On & So Forth' present a live

audience sketch show.

Start/Stop Scripted Comedy

Do you really want to know what your other half is

thinking? The sometimes dark inner and outer view of

marriage and relationships. Written by Jack Docherty.

The Architects Scripted Comedy

A comedy series set in a struggling architects' practice

based in London. Written by Jim Poyser and Neil

Griffiths.

Who Does Dave Podmore Think He

Is?

Scripted Comedy

2014 is the thousandth anniversary of a game invented

by a Podmore, which our own Pod has resented

playing ever since. Written by Christopher Douglas,

Nick Newman and Andrew Nickolds.

1830 Comedy

Chain Reaction Conversation

A chain of interviews where one week's interviewee

becomes the next week's interviewer.

Best Behaviour Panel Show

Holly Walsh has impeccable manners. Not so sure about

her guests.

Britain Versus The World Panel Show

Chairperson Ed Byrne (Irish) with Hal Cruttenden (English)

and Henning Wehn (German) are joined by the cream of

international comedians to sort it out once and for all.

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Chat Show Roulette Improvisation

The chat show where our 'guests' have no idea what they

are going to be asked next. Hosted by Justin Edwards.

Dilemma Panel Show

Sue Perkins presents the next series of the show that gets

to the heart of modern morality,

Don't Make Me Laugh Panel Show

David Baddiel challenges his guests to not make us laugh.

Heresy Panel Show

Challenging the unthinkable.

I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue

In Transit Scripted Comedy

The Idiot Bastard Band (Ade Edmundson, Neil Innes,

Rowland Rivron and Phill Jupitus) are on tour and may be

coming to a town near you. Hopefully not. Written by the

band with Mark Evans.

It's a Fair Cop Stand Up

Serving policeman and comic Alfie Moore challenges his

audience to be police officers for one night as he takes

them through a real-life scenario and asks them what

they'd have done in his shoes.

Jocelyn Sketch Show

Jocelyn Jee Esien stars in her own audience sketch show,

presented and linked by her playing herself and full of new

characters with a couple of returning favourites.

Just a Minute

Mark Steel's In Town Stand Up

A further series of the award winning show that travels

around the country, researching the history, heritage and

culture of six towns that have nothing in common but their

uniqueness.

Meet David Sedaris Stand Up

More stories and diaries from the keyboard of one of

America's finest satirists.

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Mooney's Law Scripted Comedy

A small corner of the British Army…tucked away in an

office, somewhere. Written by Chris Martin and Geoff

Northcott.

My Teenage Diaries Conversation

Rufus Hound wants you to share your teenage diaries with

him and the entire Radio 4 audience!

Paul Sinha's General Studies

(w/t)

Stand Up

Paul Sinha casts his fearsome eye over another aspect of

contemporary life.

Reluctant Persuaders Scripted Comedy

Can this group of advertising gurus persuade us to buy

anything? Written by Robert Frimston and Edward Rowett.

The Casebook of Max and Ivan Scripted Comedy

Private detectives for hire. Written by Max Olesker and

Ivan Gonzalez.

The Museum of Curiosity

The News Quiz

The Now Show

The Unbelievable Truth Panel Show

Are our panellists passing lies off as truths?

Tom Wrigglesworth's Hang Ups Stand Up

Enjoy a bit of legal phone hacking as we listen into a

second series of Tom Wrigglesworth's weekly calls home

to his parents in Sheffield.

What Does the K Stand For?

Series 2

Scripted Comedy

Young Stephen K Amos is still growing up in the 1980s.

Written by Jonathan Harvey and Stephen K Amos.

The Brig Society Sketch Comedy

Marcus Brigstocke returns to tell us what he thinks about

life today using a finely tuned combination of stand up and

sketches.

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Late Night Entertainment 2302

2525 Sketch Comedy

The audience sketch show set a minimum of 500 years

from now.

Andrew O Neil; Pharmacist Baffler Stand Up

Confounding expectations and preconceptions,

Andrew O'Neill uses his own personal experience he

examines sexual and gender identity, what they are

and how we get them.

Before They Were Famous Sketch Comedy

Agony Aunt letters from Ernest Hemingway, Butlins

travel reviews from Cormac McCarthy a political

manifesto by the young JK Rowling and a car manual

written by Dan Brown....a fascinating glimpse into the

embryonic development of our best-loved literary

voices. Written by Ian Leslie.

Best Wishes by Richard Marsh Scripted Comedy

Richard is a poet who writes rhymes for greetings

cards, whose constant worrying and vivid imagination

means he over-thinks everything leaving him incapable

of making the right choice.

Colin Hoult's Carnival of Monsters Sketch Comedy

Monsters lurk everywhere in the most surprising

places.

Festival Of The Spoken Nerd Stand Up

A wise lollop through the underlying realities of our

universe from the brain squad that is - Festival Of The

Spoken Nerd

Hannah Gadsby Speaks from her Art Stand Up

An irreverent look at how the language of art has

developed over the past 600 years.

Hell Is A City Drama

Cult classic of British crime fiction, set in Manchester in

the 1950s.

John Kearns - The Ticket Scripted Comedy

Combining fantastical internal monologues, and his

painful conversations with others, a tiny glimpse into

the life of a mundane man.

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John Moloney: Gospel (w/t) Stand Up

Working class Londoner, John Moloney, would like to

share with the listeners his finely nuanced observations

of life.

June & Jean Scripted Comedy

Character comedy series developed from Croft &

Pearce's Suicidal Ladies sketches. Written by Hannah

Croft and Fiona Pearce.

Liam Williams Stand Up

A new show for Radio from the pen of storyteller and

comedian Liam Williams.

Life of Barry Scripted Comedy

Barry from Watford is trying to write his life story.

Written by Alex Lowe.

Muju

Sketch Comedy

The world's greatest (indeed the world's only) Muslim-

Jewish comedy sketch group.

Nurse Scripted Comedy

They call them Service Users, our Nurse prefers to call

them her patients. Join our Community Psychiatric

Nurse on her sometimes sad and bewildering but

mostly funny daily rounds. Written by Paul Whitehouse

and Dave Cummings.

Seekers Scripted Comedy

Down at the job centre Stuart and his mates are still

waiting for a job. Written by Stuart Burge.

Small Scenes Sketch Show

Daniel Rigby, Sara Pascoe, Mike Wozniak and Henry

Paker take us into the nooks and crannies of

contemporary Britain.

Tim Key's Late Night Poetry

Programme Series 3

Scripted Comedy

Tim Key's with sometimes baleful support from Tom

Basden attempts to deliver his anarchic 'poetry'

programme.

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Sunday Comedy

The Rest is History Panel Show

“The time has come,” Frank Skinner said, “to talk of

many things: of shoes - and ships - and sealing wax -

of cabbages - and Kings”. A new panel show about

history.

The Write Stuff Panel Show

James Walton challenges both the knowledge and the

writing skills of his literary guests.

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4.2 SPECIALIST FACTUAL BRIEFS

ARCHIVE ON 4 Reference number: 47088 Commissioning Editor: Mohit Bakaya Commissioning Assistant: Shauna Todd Eligibility: We invite proposals from BBC departments and independent production companies who can clearly demonstrate considerable experience in radio or TV documentary production at both producer and executive producer level. If you have not previously made programmes for Radio 4, you should include your production track record at the end of the long synopsis in your final offer. Slot: Saturday, 2002 Duration: 57’ Transmission period: April 2015 – March 2016 Guide price: £8,000 Estimated number of programmes available for open competition: 23 EDITORIAL GUIDE Archive on 4 has become an important part of the Radio 4 schedule. It has evolved into a classy storytelling hour using the archive, rather than a simple showcase for archive material. We are looking for ideas that maintain the quality and range of subjects in this Saturday night slot. Story is key here. The best “Archives on 4” deploy analysis, argument, wit, revisionism, new interviews and authorship along with compelling archive material. Here are some pointers that may prove helpful when putting your offer (and programme) together:

This strand should include a wide variety of ideas: individual life stories or biographies, cultural, scientific, social, political, sporting or entertainment history.

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The authority, charisma and energy of the presenter are all vital to the success of programmes in this slot. The presenter needs to actively engage with the archive and do more than simply link clip A to clip B.

One of the challenges for those making programmes in the Archive on 4 slot is to tell stories that can sustain the hour. Proposals should set out how the idea justifies a 57 minute origination, has enough twists and turns to keep the listener engaged.

Don’t forget this goes out on Saturday night . Programmes should seek to entertain and engage, as well as inform and educate.

Programmes can include new interviews, where appropriate, but the slot is not funded or designed to feature a large amount of new material. You are also allowed out of the studio on occasion!

Please think hard about whether your idea is really an Archive on 4. Too many offers come in where the bulk of archive available is written or where the fact that some new archive has come to light becomes the sole reason to submit to this slot. Offers should demonstrate why the story is best told through audio archive.

Archive sources beyond the BBC’s have worked well. Indeed, some of these are better suited to providing longer inserts than much of the BBC News material. But beware offering programmes simply because the archive has become available.

There will always be a place for simpler programmes that just make use of fantastic archive without much else besides, but the archive needs to be just that – fantastic!

In the past, we have had too many anniversary pegged programmes that move gently, but rather predictably, through their story, offering few new insights. If you are submitting an anniversary pegged proposal do say how you might introduce surprise and challenge expectations.

When choosing the presenter do think carefully about how his/her voice would contrast with the type of archive that will dominate the hour.

Be mindful of the cumulative effect of an hour of very old archive…it can make listening hard work!

We could do with more women presenters in this slot. And more ethnic diversity too.

Please indicate whether the presenter has been involved in the development of the proposal.

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Downloads Radio 4 may wish to include programmes from this slot in one of its downloads. With your agreement, the Radio 4 Interactive team would publish the download from the supplied programme. Radio 4 will meet any additional clearance costs attributable to the download. When we ask for your agreement to the download, we'll also ask for an estimate of clearance costs to enable us to decide whether it is practical to proceed. SOME PROGRAMMES COMMISSIONED IN THE LAST ROUND Please check earlier Commissioning Guidelines for previous commissions.

The Stranger in the Mirror

Michael Blastland traces the interplay of public perception and medical struggle with autism since the 1940s.

Atlantic Crossing Christine Finn takes the last of these evocative aural journeys, tuning in to pilots, controllers and those who listen in, overhearing other sounds of Atlantic crossings.

Fail Again, Fail Better Examines what happens when the personal and sociological value of stuffing up is taken from us.

Rebel Rebel (Cricket Tours)

Jonathan Agnew looks back at the Rebel Tours of 1982-90 and discovers what happened to those who decided to risk their careers and reputations in exchange for hard cash.

The Eccentric Entrepreneur

Dominic Sandbrook tells the story of the man behind the earliest commercial radio successes that gave Reith's BBC a fright

Malled: 60 Years of Undercover Shopping

Will Self visits an out-of-town mall of the mind.

Imagining the Audience Who did early broadcasters think they were talking to?

Wehrmacht Voices Sean Street explores an extraordinary Nazi sound archive held here, but never before heard by British listeners, and scarcely anyone else.

The meaning of life by AJ Ayer

Twenty-five years after his death, this programme explores what Freddie had to say about meaning of life, the universe and everything through his regular appearances on television and radio as well as his newspaper columns.

Angus Wilson: Dead and Buried?

What makes a reputation endure? DJ Taylor offers an erudite and amusing thesis on why the quality of the writing alone isn't always enough to ensure survival

Dark Horse: An Alec Guinness Archive

Alistair McGowan reveals the private side of Alec Guinness.

Sentimental Journey Gyles Brandreth investigates 250 years of sentimentality.

Singing Together Jarvis Cocker uncovers the history of a much-loved schools radio programme and charts the influence it had on the musicians of today.

The Interviewer Stole The Show

Lynn Barber examines the rise of New Journalism, a style of news reporting that dared to interpret, ruminate and reflect on the situation in focus.

BURROUGHS AT 100 Iggy Pop creates an intimate portrait of William S. Burroughs on the 100th birthday of America's most cataclysmic author

JOAN LITTLEWOOD AND THE PEOPLE'S THEATRE

Richard Eyre celebrates Joan Littlewood's centenary with a magnificently illustrated and entertaining profile of the woman who changed British theatre.

Militant and the City that Dared to Fight

How did the popular account of Militant shape the way that Britain sees Liverpool and the way the city sees itself?

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Wars, Lies and Audiotape

50 years on, historian D.D. Guttenplan explores what really happened in the Gulf of Tonkin on August 4, 1964

Gone With the Wind: A Legacy

75 years on we use exclusive never before broadcast archive recordings with the cast and crew to help assess just how big Gone With The Wind really was.

Meeting Myself Coming Back, Series 6

Public figures replay their own sound archive and use the experience to re-evaluate their lives and careers.

You Are Feeling Sleepy...

Louisa Foxe delves into the extraordinary history and compelling science of hypnosis.

The Benjamin Broadcasts

The first ever English-language recreation of the Benjamin broadcasts, this programme goes on the trail of their author - a Jewish Marxist who killed himself rather than fall into the hands of the Gestapo.

PROPOSAL TO INCLUDE

List of possible subjects / themes to be covered

Clear details of audio archive available and whether access has been secured

Treatment

CVs of presenter and producer NB: Where the programme is to comprise clips of archive recordings/pre-recorded material, details of ownership and availability of rights should (wherever possible) be provided. If no preliminary enquiries have been made, this should be stated. As far as entire or complete programmes are concerned (i.e. where we would normally expect to take a licence to broadcast), details of availability of broadcast rights, ownership and price per broadcast must be provided.

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The Specialist Factual Documentary Reference number: 47194 Commissioning Editor: Mohit Bakaya Commissioning Assistant: Shauna Todd Eligibility: We invite proposals from BBC departments and independent production companies who can clearly demonstrate considerable experience in radio or TV documentary production at both producer and executive producer level. If you have not previously made programmes for Radio 4, you should include your production track record at the end of the long synopsis in your final offer. Slot:

Monday 2002 Sunday 1330 Tuesday 1602

Duration: 28’ Transmission period: April 2015 – March 2016 Guide price: £8,300 Estimated number of programmes available for open competition: 33 EDITORIAL GUIDE This is the 28’ politics, history, current/social affairs documentary slot. This is a place for important political and current affairs stories, emerging trends, and big or revisionist history that is relevant to today. The Specialist Factual Documentary should explore the issues and stories that will help the Radio 4 audience understand better the world they inhabit. One of the important roles of this slot is to provide context forming documentaries that complement the rest of the schedule and News output. The key to success here is pitching documentary ideas that go beyond what Radio 4 does week in, week out through its strands and news sequences. We cannot emphasise this point enough; it is the single biggest reason ideas do not get through. Some further guidance:

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As stated, programmes or series that deepen our understanding of the world and events are valued here.

Revisionism is welcomed here - documentaries that uncover new evidence about the past or feature new arguments challenging the received wisdom regarding a historical event or period.

Sometimes this slot is used to tell quite complicated stories. Where the subject matter is dense, proposals should suggest ways in which actuality and texture will be used to give the audience time to absorb and reflect. Too often evening features go in assuming too great a level of background knowledge and then travel at a pace that is unrealistic for an audience that is often doing other things whilst listening. Sometimes, less is more.

Please consider UK history as well as foreign. We have Crossing Continents immediately after the Monday slot half the year.

More polemic and thesis driven programmes and series would be welcome in this slot.

Note that documentaries commissioned here go out in a variety of slots.

Beware anniversary pegs. They are rarely sufficient in their own right.

Most importantly, think why this story should be told in long form documentary and would not be best covered as an item or series of items on a regular Radio 4 strand. Listen to the other strands that sit in the evening like Analysis, In Business, Crossing Continents, File on Four and the Report.

Where your story is very specifically located please explain how you will make documentary of interest to a national audience.

We will also take reactive ideas in this slot.

We are keen to encourage more women and people from ethnic communities as presenters in this slot.

Please indicate whether a named presenter has been involved in at proposal stage.

Where the series is big enough we may want to explore the possibility of a book spin off. However, where there is a pre-existing book deal involved, this MUST be flagged up in the proposal.

Radio 4 reserves the right to commission some of the individual ideas and schedule these under an umbrella with work from other suppliers.

Downloads

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Radio 4 may wish to include programmes from this slot in one of its downloads. With your agreement, the Radio 4 Interactive team would publish the download from the supplied programme. Radio 4 will meet any additional clearance costs attributable to the download. When we ask for your agreement to the download, we'll also ask for an estimate of clearance costs to enable us to decide whether it is practical to proceed. SOME PROGRAMMES COMMISSIONED IN THE LAST ROUND Please check earlier Commissioning Guidelines for previous commissions. Can Peter Mandelson Save the Republicans?

What could today Republicans learn from the 1980s struggle in the Labour Party?

'Good News is No News'

The deep (and slowly growing) popular frustration with the overwhelming negativity of the news agenda

Look What They Did to My Schlong, Ma!

The ancient practice of male circumcision has recently pitted Western liberal rationalism against unlikely allies This explores the ties that bind and the fault lines of liberal anxiety.

Walking Round in Circles

Acclaimed Northern Ireland poet Nick Laird returns home to consider the culture of marching.

Thatcher's Mad Monk or True Prophet?

In the comment after Baroness Thatcher's death, few mentions were made of Sir Keith Joseph - yet he made Thatcher's revolution possible.

Burying Lenin With increasing calls for Lenin's burial, Daniel Sandford explores what lies behind the debate. Should Russia's revolutionary hero finally be put to rest along with his ideas?

Black Britain Gary Younge meets people from African and Caribbean backgrounds, their friends and family, and explores what it's like to be young, British and black today.

Love Your Country? In a year that could see Scottish Independence and the fragmentation of the Eurozone, Professor Sir David Cannadine presents provocative new thinking about the nation state.

The Special Relationship

Peter Hitchens re-examines the relationship between the USA and UK.

Disabled and Broody: My Impossible Choice

A documentary from Julie Fernandez. Drawing on her own experience, she explores an agonising decision: whether or not to have children, if it means passing on disabilities?

The Crime Conundrum

Should policymakers try harder to escape the rhetoric of "tough" or simplistic views of the causes of crime?

The Invention of Brazil

Misha Glenny continues the successful format with this history of Brazil.

Night Hospital Investigates the troubling concerns about how hospitals often function poorly at night and at weekends

Machiavelli - Devil or Democrat?

This programme explores Machiavelli’s lesser known role as the bridge between ancient Rome's republic, the renaissance city-state of Florence and republicanism today.

Keeping It Real Comedian and author Jane Bussmann is on a quest to discredit the cult of authenticity.

Invalid Password Tim Samuels presents a social history of the password as we prepare for its demise and ask what can protect us online?

Fear Of The Brain What is the reality of the emigration of skilled people? Research

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Drain indicates that the UK has benefitted from a "brain gain" in the last decade, as young academics have returned here from abroad.

PROPOSALS TO INCLUDE

Synopsis of story

Short description of characters

Description of style of presentation and treatment of subject matter

Reasons why we should hear this programme now

CVs of presenter and producer

Where you are seeking one of the earmarked “innovative” commissions an outline of how you will approach the subject differently.

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SCIENCE DOCUMENTARY Reference number: 47051 Commissioning Editor: Mohit Bakaya Commissioning Assistant: Shauna Todd Eligibility: We invite proposals from BBC departments and independent production companies who can clearly demonstrate considerable experience in radio or TV documentary production, preferably with a track record in science, at both producer and executive producer level. Where your offer is journalistic, we expect a proven track record at both producer and executive producer level. If you have not previously made programmes for Radio 4, you should include your production track record at the end of the long synopsis in your final offer.

Slot: Tuesday/Wednesday 2102 Duration: 28’ Transmission period: April 2015 – March 2016 Guide price: £8,100 Estimated number of programmes available to open competition: 10 EDITORIAL GUIDE Scientific discovery and technological innovation are changing our world at a rapid pace, and this is a place to make programmes that help our audience understand how these changes will affect their lives. These will mostly be built feature/documentary-style programmes which will reveal areas of discovery, new developments or issues in science. However, there is also opportunity for well told history of science here, especially when the past shines a light on contemporary events. Please note we also have topical weekly magazine strand Inside Science, as well as the feature series Frontiers, which explores big ideas and developments in science. Also, please note that there have been two new additions to Radio 4’s science portfolio – The Life Scientific and Inside Health.

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We will also consider some natural history material here - features which reflect the inter-relationship between the animal kingdom and the environment as a whole. But please be mindful of the Natural History Unit’s output on Radio 4. We understand that, at this stage, it is harder to think about treatment than content, but please be aware that offers that clearly explain how they will use location, actuality and other techniques to liven up the airwaves in the evening, will be warmly received. Clearly, some stories are best told in a more studio based, talking heads format, but we are keen to make the evening schedule more lively and engaging. Some further guidance.

Think carefully about what Radio 4 already does in this area and what science might be covered by returning strands. Too many offers are simply ideas that would sit best as a 7 minute item in a magazine programme.

The history of science can work well here, especially revisionist history and/or sometimes where the story involves a compelling human dimension.

Please take special care when writing your proposal to show how you will make the story come alive for the (non-scientist) audience at home; this is of particular importance when dealing with the “non-human” sciences.

We should not shy away from complex science here, but need to continue to work on ways of making this accessible (proposals should address this).

Whilst ideas about health and the environment are welcome here, producers should also bear in mind that Tuesday at 2102 is dedicated to health and Costing the Earth runs in this slot for half the year.

We are keen to encourage more women and people from ethnic communities as presenters in this slot.

Please indicate whether the presenter has been involved in the development of the proposal.

Radio 4 reserves the right to commission some of the individual ideas and schedule these under an umbrella with work from other suppliers.

Downloads Radio 4 may wish to include programmes from this slot in one of its downloads. With your agreement, the Radio 4 Interactive team would publish the download from the supplied programme. Radio 4 will meet any additional clearance costs attributable to the download. When we ask for your agreement to the download, we'll also ask for an estimate of clearance costs to enable us to decide whether it is practical to proceed.

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SOME PROGRAMMES COMMISSIONED IN THE LAST ROUND Please check earlier Commissioning Guidelines for previous commissions.

At Death's Door New advances in resuscitation science and how doctors are reversing the established process of death.

Chrysanthemum Expands the science of the Chrysanthemum through personal narrative, on location recording and literary fragments.

Into the Abyss Investigates the deep ocean’s enormous potential for both scientific discovery and commercial exploitation - and the conflict between the two.

Personality Politics

This explores the implications of the latest research connecting political and social attitudes to underlying psychological traits.

Save the Moon! Protect the Moon from governments, big business and space tourists, argues Apollo historian Professor Chris Riley. Before it's too late.

The Listeners Listening is about more than hearing, as we discover from people who 'listen for a living'.

Are You Sitting Comfortably?

New research tells us our sedentary lives are killing us. How reliable is the evidence? And are we really on the brink of a public health disaster?

How To Dismantle a Nuclear Power Station

2014 marks the 20th anniversary of the decommissioning of Dounreay Nuclear Power Plant. We explore exactly what's involved in its dismantling.

Heal Thyself: A History of Self-Help

An exploration of our urge to better ourselves.

Everything We Know Is Wrong

Investigates an overlooked scandal in modern research and finds out why so many published findings are just not true, and what that means for us.

Raising Allosaurus: The Dream of Jurassic Park

The Dream of Jurassic Park might be on the cusp of reality. But even if the science could deliver, some argue it would be better spent protecting current species from extinction,

Deep Down Inside

Geoff Watts investigates a revolutionary technique which could offer a paradigm shift in how we understand the brain.

PROPOSAL TO INCLUDE

Reasons for why we should do this story now

Details of presentation and production style

CVs of presenter and producer

Series ideas should give an indication of what each edition might include.

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TUESDAY DOCUMENTARY Reference number: 47038 Commissioning Editor: Mohit Bakaya Commissioning Assistant: Shauna Todd Eligibility: We invite proposals from BBC departments and independent production companies who can clearly demonstrate considerable experience in radio or TV documentary production at both producer and executive producer level. We expect a proven track record in the relevant sphere of journalism at both producer and executive producer level. If your proposal involves journalism in foreign countries we expect to see experience of such work in countries relevant to your offer. Foreign travel to countries where conflict or other factors incur high risk will require proof of accredited hostile environment training. Radio 4 will not be able to pay for such training. If you have not previously made programmes for Radio 4, you should include your production track record at the end of the long synopsis in your final offer. Slot: Tuesday, 2002 (repeat: Sunday, 1702) Duration: 37’ Transmission period: April 2015 – March 2016 Guide price: £10,200 Estimated number of programmes available to open competition: 11

EDITORIAL GUIDE These programmes run in the File on 4 break. In the past this has been the place for one-off investigative documentaries covering a large range of subjects: arts, religion, politics, social affairs, science, health, sport and international stories. The key to this slot is depth and ambition. This is a place for long term investigations, big stories of national importance, ground breaking journalism. It’s where we run our exclusive access documentaries. It is also where we will run heavyweight intellectual projects of enquiry and the biggest foreign stories. In short, this is a slot that is all about impact.

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Some further guidance

What’s your story, what’s your angle? It is not enough to identify an area of interest. Too many proposals fail to clearly set out a specific line of enquiry and are too general in their approach.

If you are piching an access doc, please consider the editorial challenges proximity might throw up and address how you will meet them. Also, access needs to have a purpose, not just because you can.

File on 4 sits in this slot for the majority of the year. Think hard about why your documentary idea wouldn’t be the kind of story that the File on 4 team would get to in the usual course of events.

We understand that it might not be possible to supply all the data for an investigation at the proposal stage, but the proposal should indicate the approach taken and the evidence so far that further work can be justified.

This is also a place to run stories that need more space than a 28’ doc will allow but need to be housed in a single narrative rather than being split into a series.

Careful consideration should be given to the potential resonance of the idea in a year or mores time, when the programme will likely be transmitted.

We will also take reactive ideas in this slot.

We are keen to encourage more women and people from ethnic communities as presenters in this slot.

Sometimes this slot is used to tell quite complicated stories. Where the subject matter is dense, proposals should suggest ways in which actuality and texture will be used to give the audience time to digest and reflect. Too often evening features can sound relentless, giving the listener little chance to catch their breath and absorb all the fascinating things they are being told.

Please indicate whether the presenter has been involved in the development of the proposal.

Downloads Radio 4 may wish to include programmes from this slot in one of its downloads. With your agreement, the Radio 4 Interactive team would publish the download from the supplied programme. Radio 4 will meet any additional clearance costs attributable to the download. When we ask for your agreement to the download, we'll also ask for an estimate of clearance costs to enable us to decide whether it is practical to proceed.

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SOME PROGRAMMES COMMISSIONED IN THE LAST ROUND

How Do Eight Year Olds Learn History?

Adam Smith sidesteps the war over the history curriculum to find out how children learn the subject: a question oddly absent from the debate.

The Business Covenant

Explores the nature of the relationship between businesses and the state today and asks whether it has broken down in a struggle for survival.

Trick or Trust Explores how recent work in evolutionary biology on self-deception and reciprocal altruism feeds into understanding today's political controversies and dilemmas.

Calling me Racist?

Mukul Devichand meets people across Britain who have been called "racist." Through these tales he gradually reveals the increasingly subtle faultlines of racial animosity in a changing country.

Planet London (w/t)

It's 2030, and we imagine a future in which London has just won independence from the rest of the UK.

Rubbish - the great waste crisis

The former environment minister Chris Mullin investigates what happens to our waste and asks if there is a better way of dealing with it.

Afghanistan: The Lessons of War

As Britain withdraws the last of its troops from Afghanistan, Radio 4 provides a definitive military assessment of the 13 year campaign

Gettysburg 150 years on, James Naughtie examines the relevance of the Gettysburg Address for today.

PROPOSAL TO INCLUDE

Synopsis of story, presenter, locations, number in run

We understand that, at this stage, it is harder to think about treatment than content, but please be aware that offers that clearly explain how they will use location, actuality and other techniques to liven up the airwaves in the evening will be warmly received. Clearly, some stories are best told in a more studio based, talking heads format, but we are keen to make the evening schedule more lively and engaging.

CVs of presenter and producer

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NEW IDEAS WEDNESDAY FEATURE Reference number: 47207 Commissioning Editor: Mohit Bakaya Commissioning Assistant: Shauna Todd Eligibility: We invite proposals from BBC departments and independent production companies who can clearly demonstrate considerable experience in relevant types of radio or TV production at both producer and executive producer level. If you have not previously made programmes for Radio 4, you should include your production track record at the end of the long synopsis in your final offer. Slot: Wednesday, 2002 (repeat Saturday 2215) Duration: 43’ Transmission period: April 2015 - March 2016 Guide price: £8,000 Estimated number of programmes available for open competition: 12 to 16 EDITORIAL GUIDE You’ve lived This American Life, experimented with Radiolab, and 99% Invisible has been a revelation, now help Radio 4 create a new format to reinvent factual storytelling. As part of Radio 4’s ambition to explore the new ideas that are shaping the world we live in, and publish the best new thinking first, we are creating a new slot for a new type of programme - one that has the digital experience at its heart. Each programme should seek to illuminate an area of thinking that is changing, or will, change our world. However, this is not be a place for a series of academics and experts intoning around a linking script, but rather an opportunity to engage and fascinate the audience with a fresh format that presents specialist material in a new way. We don’t want to be too prescriptive about the content of this new show. It will take the listener on a journey into the heart of the future, but it may well visit the past to do so. The subject areas it will explore will probably sit within the specialist factual area, i.e. politics, the economy, health, science, education, social policy, law, business, technology, religion etc.

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* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * We expect you to think about emotion as well as intellect as a means to creating compelling, must listen audio that will appeal both to an audience not necessarily well versed in speech radio as well as, of course, the traditional Radio 4 crowd.

“There can be no knowledge without emotion. We may be aware of a truth, yet until we have felt its force, it is not ours. To the cognition of the brain must be added the experience of the soul.” Arnold Bennett

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * The digital presence and personality of this new programme should be developed as an integral part of the new format, not as an add-on. To this end, you will need to think about what the online experience of this show will be and be prepared to fund this within the guide price (the size of the business should ensure some economies of scale here). Visualization may be an important element here. The challenge is to create a brand which can establish an online presence and impact of its own, but also push the boundaries of radio storytelling.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * If you decide to pitch for this business, you should be prepared to submit a detailed description of how your programme will sound, how it will challenge the established factual radio model and who you would have at the helm (we remain open minded about the nature of presentation, but it is likely that the successful offer will have identified a regular presenter(s) for this slot). Your proposal should describe a format that can work across the new strand. We are hoping to do something more ambitious than simply recreate the American radio models mentioned earlier. Of course it will be hard to fully explain on paper, especially at pre-offers, but you need to do enough to intrigue and excite us to take it to the conversation stage. For your final submission it might be a good idea to take a specific subject and explain in detail how your format will seek to explore the territory. Once we’ve gone through the pitching and final offers stage, we will probably shortlist the most innovative, exciting formats and then invite suppliers to discuss further with a view to making a pilot. We will take account of previous experience of relevant creative programme making when deciding what to shortlist. We also reserve the right to commission more than one supplier into this slot.

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WEDNESDAY DEBATE Reference number: 47040 Commissioning Editor: Mohit Bakaya Commissioning Assistant: Shauna Todd Eligibility: We invite proposals from BBC departments and independent production companies who can clearly demonstrate considerable experience in relevant types of radio or TV production at both producer and executive producer level. If you have not previously made programmes for Radio 4, you should include your production track record at the end of the long synopsis in your final offer. Slot: Wednesday, 2002 (repeat Saturday 2215) Duration: 43’ Transmission period: April 2015 - March 2016 Guide price: £8,000 Estimated number of programmes available for open competition: 10 EDITORIAL GUIDE This slot is home to the Moral Maze for 26 weeks of the year. In the past, we have commissioned debate formats, such as Decision Time, Leader Conference and Bringing Up Britain in this slot. Proposals should also be aware of the Any Questions? format on Friday evenings. Some further guidance:

A debate at this time should lift the tone of the evening schedule and inject some energy into proceedings.

Think about light as well as heat. Whilst, it is important that a diversity of views is heard, debates should be illuminating and not simply seek out heat for heat’s sake.

Wit can be an important component even though this is an authoritative factual programme.

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This is a chance to develop fresh formats which could turn into returning strands on the network.

Beware of overly mannered programmes – ones where the format is laid out a little too heavily.

Do keep diversity in mind. Too many of our debates in the past have under-represented both women and people from ethnic communities.

Do think about how the programme might interact with listeners beyond the usual “Oxford Union” or phone-in formats.

One-off debates are possible, though these need to command their place in this slot in particular rather than being a special edition of a specialist of magazine programme.

Where a format is proposed and it is not possible to look forward to issues for 2015/16, it would be useful to include an indication of the subjects that would be covered were this series about to be transmitted.

Presenter

The right presenter who is able to hold the ring with authority and wit is essential to these programmes.

Please indicate whether the presenter has been involved in the development of the proposal.

The ability to create some kind of sense of event and manage a complex, often audience-based format, is essential.

SOME PROGRAMMES COMMISSIONED IN THE LAST ROUND

Fit For Purpose. Parliament, the police, the Church; Britain's institutions are struggling. Let's rethink them.

Leader Conference

Six live, studio debates taking the form of newspaper morning leader conferences.

Pass the Turkey Twizzlers

Our food has never been safer, yet fear is rife. Columnist Lucy Kellaway challenges the prevailing panic at a dinner party for her foodie friends.

Would that Work Here?

Four studio debates on something another country does incredibly well, and we don't in the UK. Could we import the model?

PROPOSAL TO INCLUDE

Outline of the subject, presenter, locations, number in run

Treatment: breakdown of “live” vs. taped elements

Audience or studio based.

Format

CVs of presenter and producer

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4.3 GENERAL FACTUAL BRIEFS

1102 FEATURE Reference number: 47011 Commissioning Editor: Jane Ellison Commissioning Assistant: Shauna Todd Eligibility: We invite proposals from BBC departments and independent production companies who can clearly demonstrate considerable experience in radio features production at both producer and executive producer level. Where your offer is journalistic, we will expect a proven track record in the relevant sphere of journalism at both producer and executive producer level. If your proposal involves journalism in foreign countries we expect to see experience of such work in countries relevant to your offer. Foreign travel to countries where conflict or other factors incur high risk will require proof of accredited hostile environment training. Radio 4 will not be able to pay for such training. If you have not previously made programmes for Radio 4, you should include your production track record at the end of the long synopsis in your final offer. Slot: Monday / Tuesday / Wednesday / Friday, 1102 Duration: 28’ Transmission period: April 2015 – March 2016 Guide price: £8,200 Estimated number of programmes available to open competition: 55 EDITORIAL GUIDE This slot is the place where creative storytelling and journalistic insight combine to

document the world we live in. Audio has a unique role to play as discreet and

unobtrusive observer. It can be thought provoking and provocative, inquisitive and

insistent, witty and human. Increasingly listeners are expecting access to these

pieces to be time shifted thorough listen again and/or download. The wealth of what

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Radio 4 has to offer at 11am needs to cut through more decisively in a multi-platform

world - finding the best way to ensure that occasional listeners and committed

specialists are more aware of the riches on offer.

These features, whether in series or in one-offs, should reflect a Radio 4 that is modern, relevant and representative of the contemporary Britain we live in. Finding fresh ways of reflecting the UK is a key priority. This of course should not discount ideas that are international in ambition but that will feel relevant to the Radio 4 audience. Your ideas should be borne out of your own passions to both challenge and inspire our audience's views on modern life and society. There were so many good programmes over the last year, it is difficult to mention them all. “Lives in a Landscape” has continued with high production values and a wide range of stories. The Young Devolutionaries was an innovative attempt to use an ambitious format and “Bright Black and Looking for Work “was recognised for bringing different voices to the network. The Welsh M1 presented by Cerys Matthews was beautifully crafted and Maths and Magic widely commented on. Please check the list below to see the full range of programmes commissioned for the coming year. With reactive commissioning now established, we expect to buy about two thirds the programmes available for 2015/16. Our aim is to get the big building blocks of the slot in place (returning series and longer term projects) without compromising the network’s ability to react to a fast moving world. Reactive commissioning last year included Cappucino Careers, Riding the Graphene Wave and David Attenborough’s My Life in Sound to accompany Tweet of the Day. In this round we will be looking for series that promise unique access, revelation and original first-hand testimony. We are looking for a range of approaches to more vivid feature making. Even at paragraph stage, your proposals should suggest how the material lends itself to well-crafted and powerful storytelling. Finding the right range of material to bring lightness of touch and thoughtful treatments – or just ingenious fun – is also a challenge at 11am. This slot is hugely popular with an average of around 800,000 listeners a day, and always presents us with very tough choices. We are therefore continuing to invite fewer pre-offers ideas to achieve a more realistic balance between proposals and the volume of business available. For that reason we are asking you to submit fewer offers with more development relevant to the brief behind your best ideas. Please do not enter more than 10 offers for 11.02 and for Saturday 10.30 slots combined. For BBC departments with an output guarantee, please limit your total offers to twice the number remaining in your guarantee. Do not exceed two written pages of A4.

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Please note that this is not the place for arts features. Analytical current affairs investigations and science documentaries will be more likely to succeed in the evening. There is less scope for “round-up” programmes, anniversaries, well known history and unquestioning nostalgia. We will continue to look for one or two projects that we can broadcast as series across the Monday/Tuesday/ Wednesday of the same week. PROPOSAL TO INCLUDE

a clear date for any peg

brief synopsis explaining focus of the idea and indicating style and treatment

proposals for series should give an idea of the breakdown into episodes

suggested presenters should be included, where appropriate, with a note on

whether they have been approached or involved in developing the idea

any book deal or other commercial activity linked to the material

Downloads Radio 4 may wish to include programmes from this slot in one of its podcasts. With your agreement, the Radio 4 Interactive team would publish the download from the supplied programme. Radio 4 will meet any additional clearance costs attributable to the podcast. When we ask for your agreement to the podcast, we'll also ask for an estimate of clearance costs to enable us to decide whether it is practical to proceed. SOME PROGRAMMES COMMISSIONED/SHORTLISTED IN THE LAST ROUND

Title Short Synopsis

Cold Water California Amidst a crippling recession Ireland's surrounding oceans are starting to stir. A road trip to consider the surprising boom in the nation's surfing industry.

Tibet Remembered A portrait of pre-invasion Tibet built from archived memories of the British servicemen, climbers and officials posted there in the years before the Chinese arrived.

Hot Gossip! We explore gossip's cultural and scientific origins and the industry of scandal that's built up over the last 200 years.

Negotiating the Maze Daniel Libeskind, negotiates his way through the labyrinthine planning and construction of a new 'Peace Building and Conflict Transformation Centre' at the site of the former Maze prison outside Belfast.

AL Kennedy: Holding Hands

The fierce mind of the writer AL Kennedy addresses what some might consider to be the cosy, swoony act of holding hands.

The Georgians: Restraint, Revolution and the Right

Right-wing political historian Amanda Foreman marks 300 years since the beginning of the Georgian period in 1714, in partnership with the British Library and a major tie-in exhibition.

The Move Those driven by a need for work are packing up their bags and moving from North to South and South to North, crossing invisible barriers of Britain.

Midwives to Be It's harder now to secure a place on a midwifery degree course than to get in to Oxbridge. Sarah Taylor follows an intake of midwifery students throughout their first training year

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The Life Sub-Aquatic This documentary explores how the lure of the deep is enticing scientists, astronauts, and holidaymakers into a life sub-aquatic.

Born In Bradford Winifred Robinson follows doctors and researchers in Bradford as they track 14,000 babies and their families in an effort to better understand childhood illnesses.

A Gripping Yarn Over the last 10 years the world of knitting has been transformed - it's not just acceptable, it's positively cool!

The Paper Commonwealth

Historian Joya Chatterji digs back through the dusty Cabinet memos and long forgotten treaties to unearth the accidents, arrogance and ambitions that formed the bedrock of the British Commonwealth

The Birth of Love Laura Ashe explores the peculiar circumstances of the birth of love, in the century following the Norman Conquest.

The Culture War Novelist Lionel Shriver returns to Northern Ireland to find out how the peace is being waged.

A Needle Pulling Thread

A montage exploration of our relationship with the sewing needle.

Vive les Empereurs! Will the real Napoleon Bonaparte step forward?

As 15,000 humans and horses prepare to recreate the Battle of Waterloo on its 200th anniversary, Max Cotton goes inside the weird world of Napoleonic re-enactment.

On Language Location Series on language in Bhutan and Burma.

COLD WAR CONFIDENTIAL

Analysis of previously secret intelligence material from M15, dating from the early post-war period.

The Bronze Age Man of Jodrell Bank

The author gives a rare interview to Professor Martin Goodman, Head of Creative Writing at Hull University about the direct line he believes exists from the Bronze Age through to today and paints a unique portrait of his life at Blackden.

Seven Round a Cauldron

Peter White meets the seven youngsters nominated by sporting legends to light the 2012 cauldron

Meet The Wainwrights A portrait of a family and musical dynasty whose relationships have been played out in public and in song.

The New Viking Invasion

Journalist and fertility expert Kate Brian assesses the demand for - and suitability of - Danish sperm donors.

Bird-Mothers Of The Border

A tale of two cities, and two groups of women revolting against the status-quo. Raven-mother or mother-hen: Which role would you choose?

FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE

The 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, have been mired in controversy from the beginning, with accusations of spectacular levels of corruption, and worries that a new mafia war might be brewing.

Hail Marys and Miniskirts

For every thousand Irish men who came to build England's motorways in the 50s and 60s, over a thousand women came too. This is their story.

How To Hire A Master Examining the mysterious world of the head-hunter, in the search for high-profile candidates for prestigious positions.

The Singing Fish of Batticaloa

Retired correspondent Prince Casinader reflects on his love for the singing fish, the cultural symbol of his hometown Batticaloa in eastern Sri Lanka.

World War Is A Mickey Mouse Business

Marking the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II, Gerald Scarfe tells the remarkable story of how Walt Disney helped defeat Hitler.

Keeping Mum Radio 4 and Radio 1 join forces to meet the young people sacrificing their school work and social life and altering the course of their lives to look after their parents.

Same Sex Parents A mother of two boys and part of a same sex couple, talks to others in the same position in the UK issues of raising 'happy' children.

Vulcan's Revenge (w/t) April 2015 sees the 200th anniversary of by far the most violent volcanic eruption in human recorded history. Mount Tambora, Indonesia.

Recycled Radio Old radio, recycled.

Three Continents, Three Generations.

Thousands of Indians were sent to Kenya by the British from the end of the 19th century, mainly as construction workers on the railways. On Kenyan independence, facing discrimination, many Kenyan Indians utilized their link with Britain to settle in the UK.

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Rockets in the Desert With NASA laying off staff and shutting down facilities, an unlikely group of Internet millionaires, engineers, pilots and thrill seekers is filling the void and pushing at the final frontier.

My Family and Other Ibex

Vittorio Sella is regarded by many as the greatest of all mountain photographers. Andrea Sella goes in search of his ancestor and returns to the mountains of his childhood to see how the icy world has changed over the past 100 years.

Tutor Proof Peter White delves into attempts to "tutor proof" a whole range of school entrance exams. Why is it important and with over-zealous parents and an army of private tutors is there any hope of succeeding?

Lives in a Landscape Alan Dein and selected guest presenters explore documentary stories that reflect the often surprising reality of living in Britain today.

Common As Muck He is set to wed the 'Quality Street' heiress and yet is, by his own admission, "as common as muck." Professor Green, compares backgrounds - his and hers - through his lyrics and life

The Mother of the Sea Quentin Cooper tells the story of the unlikely connection between English Botanist Dr Kathleen Drew Baker and the booming worldwide Sushi industry.

Steve the Sweep Steve Carver spends a week working as a chimney sweep - a recession-busting business which is booming thanks to the rise in fuel prices, and the growing trend for log-burners.

The War Widows of Afghanistan

A look at one of the saddest legacies of the 10 year war: the many widows of British and Afghan security forces killed during the conflict.

Penelope's Party 80 year old artist Penelope Simpson invites her friends round to decorate her coffin.

Charting the Border (New Maps of Ireland)

The writer Garret Carr charts the Irish border; a place of mythology and controversy and creates a new digital map for the R4 audience.

Child Versus Book Follows a handful of illiterate children on their journey towards being able to read.

The Flaw at the Heart of the Wirtschaftswunder

Germany has the oldest population in Europe and the lowest birth rate. But is Germany ready for mass immigration?

The Leadership Gap There is a vast cadre of 'leaders', running through the private and public sectors, who are overpaid and often underperforming. How come?

Pilgrims' Path How you use landscape as a weapon?

The Indian Girls' Football Club

Samira Ahmed tells the story of the Indian girls who avoid marriage by playing football.

The Radio 4 Psalter Explores the remarkable place of the Psalter in the history of faith and society.

The Secretaries Of Juliet

Every year, thousands of letters arrive in Verona, addressed to "Juliet". Jolyon uncovers the real stories of love from all over the world.

Wittgenstein's Jet This programme tells the story of Wittgenstein's earliest research programme, and tests his theories.

Churchill's Grave The stories of visitors to Winston Churchill's final resting place - St Martin's Church in Bladon, Oxfordshire

Tales from the Ringroad The undiscovered intrigues and dramas played out on three of Britain's ring roads

Anti-establishment and uber-capitalist

Gillian Tett explores the politics behind the UK's start-up revolution.

With humble duty reports...

Janet Anderson was Vice-Chamberlain of the Royal Household which involves writing a daily message to Her Majesty on proceedings in Parliament.

Inside the Hammersmith Gender Identity Clinic

Inside the largest and oldest gender identity clinic in the world to explore the issues around gender dysphoria.

Reclaiming the Swastika

Recent archaeological and DNA research is casting surprising new light on the origins and meaning of the swastika

THE WAITING Fiona Shaw explores the pleasure and pain of waiting in this gloriously sound rich feature.

African Gap Years This programme reverses the cliche of the gap year in Africa by seeing life in the UK through the eyes of two Ghanaian students

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In Defence of Pushy Parents

Setting out to defend a much maligned figure within society - the pushy parent.

Rise of the WILLIES The London commuters who come from way outside zone 9.

The Boneyard Health and Safety has come to gravedigging.

Caribbean Domino Club Benjamin Zephaniah charts the stories of the Caribbean domino clubs of London and his hometown Birmingham.

SANDHURST AND THE SHEIKHS

The link between Sandhurst and the current Arab leaders (and their military chiefs of staff) is examined by Matthew Teller.

Gambo and Franklin A maritime disaster nearly 200 years ago, still remains the greatest mystery of the Arctic waters, but may be solved as we join a British crew in a race across the icy seas.

The Last Wish of a Prince

The campaign trail to have the last Maharaja of the Sikh Empire's remains exhumed and returned to India.

Shopping with Mother Mothers and daughters shopping together - a fantasy of feminine togetherness but also a real battleground.

Lives in a Landscape Takes small personal stories that reflect a wider narrative from contemporary Britain.

Voices from Our Industrial Past

Unpicking the dark myth of Britain's industrial revolution using accounts of everyday life written by working people

Out of the Ordinary Jolyon Jenkins investigates those stories that start in everyday experience but end up in the realms of the bizarre and fantastical.

The Meeting The drama of two crucial meetings on different sides of the country which will change lives and reveal truths about life in Britain today.

Mending Young Minds Following the work of The Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at the Royal Free Hospital.

Salt The history of one of the world's oldest and most important trades - Salt.

First There Was The Word

Eexploring the new - and fluctuating - relationships between British Muslims, books, readerships and the written word.

Are Human Rights Really Universal?'

Exploring the worldwide origins of human rights.

Laurence of America Laurence Okoye has been offered a key spot in one of America's top football teams: his journey throwing light on the sport itself.

A Call from Joybubbles The story of a blind genius whose peculiar talents led to him being first prosecuted and then employed by the phone company.

Linard's Travels Talkative, eccentric and nearing retirement, African American parcel and baggage attendant Linard deals with everything that the airlines don't.

Black inventors Tim Pemberton reveals the neglected stories of some remarkable men.

PODCASTING - THE FIRST TEN YEARS

Celebrateing ten years of the podcast, meeting those who paved the way for its explosion in popularity.

The Hunt for Future Classics

We explore the practice of contemporary collecting.

The Shetland Dividend Alex Salmond wants Scotland to draw an oil dividend from the North Sea. One part of Scotland has been doing so for 35 years. What lessons can be drawn from Shetland's experience?

A Family Without A Child

Explores what it means to be childless, how society treats women who aren't mothers and whether our centuries-old image of childlessness is keeping up with the facts.

The Civil Rights Act: 50 Years On, What's Changed?

The Civil Rights Act outlawed discrimination against racial, religious and ethnic minorities and women. But in the 50 years since, how successful has America been in eradicating discrimination?

Little Chechnya on the Steppes

The story of the Chechens exiled by Stalin in 1944.

Called Up and Sent Down

The story of the Bevin Boys, a secret underground movement that exposes hidden seams in the social fabric of our country.

A Tale of Two Rivers; The Tigris and the Euphrates

Following the two rivers that have done so much to shape human civilisation.

Nan-Kids Quarter of a million children in the UK today are being brought up by their grandparents.

Mapping the Void Just hours after the earthquake hit Haiti in January 2010, a group of

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students started a 24 hour stake-out of a university dorm in Boston, USA. Each had a laptop and their task was to save lives.

Fan Power How being a fan has changed.

Indira's Children The children caught up in the assassination of Indira Gandhi in 1984 relate how they grew up in an India reeling from the shock.

Hack My Hearing Frank's personal story of losing his hearing, but finding a new world of 'hearing hackers' hoping to create a superhuman experience.

Essex, My Essex Ian Sansom attempts to reclaim this historic county as the home of radicals, artists and revolutionaries, from William Morris to Ian Dury.

Oligarchs of Londongrad

London is now the destination of choice for Russia's millionaires. Olga Betko goes beyond all the front page controversies and finds out what really means for new Russians to settle in Londongrad.

Controlling Our Borders The Government is scrapping the UK Border Agency, but will the new structure work any better?

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SATURDAY FEATURE Reference number: 47144 Commissioning Editor: Jane Ellison Commissioning Assistant: Shauna Todd Eligibility: We invite proposals from BBC departments and independent production companies who can clearly demonstrate considerable experience in radio features production at both producer and executive producer level. Where your offer is journalistic, we will expect a proven track record in the relevant sphere of journalism at both producer and executive producer level. If you have not previously made programmes for Radio 4, you should include your production track record at the end of the long synopsis in your final offer. Slot: Saturday, 1030 Duration: 28’ Transmission period: April 2015 to March 2016 Guide price: £8,200 Estimated number of programmes available for competition in this slot: 20 EDITORIAL GUIDE The Saturday Feature is an invitation for bold, fun and surprising programme-making. There is a heavy, though not exclusive, leaning towards popular culture and high profile presentation. With audience figures in the region of one million, the Saturday morning feature is a showcase for accessible, creative story-telling. Programmes here need a good narrative but at its most successful, the slot explores fresh perspectives on popular culture in its broadest sense. A lot of the programmes in this slot have been pegged. That may be inherent in the way Saturday 10.30 has developed but we are keen to make sure we do not have too many anniversaries marked here. They are better avoided unless it is a major moment that can be approached with original thinking rather than a straight retelling of the story.

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Over the past year Will Gompertz’s interviews with “Zeitgeisters” and “Don’t Log Off” both explored stories reflecting digital creativity in different ways. Sanjeev Bhaskar’s Bollywood history also broadcast on Asian Network was well reviewed; Jamie Cullum’s Piano Pilgrimage and Soweto Kinsch re-imagining his native Birmingham were also highlights. “Punt PI” continued his unique investigations and “The Enfield Thunderbolt” was an original story crafted with skill and a sense of fun. Saturday morning can also be the place for big series that connect to events of national significance – popular reminiscence if you like - done in a thoughtful way for the audience. “The Cultural Front “series part of World War One on the BBC is one example “Choristers of the Coronation”, last year is another. This is not a specialist arts strand (11.30 weekday is for more specific arts commissioning). With Jay Rayner’s Kitchen Cabinet to be scheduled for part of the year in this slot, we are looking for a maximum of 25 programmes for Saturday morning with a good range of voices and presenters. Strong presentation is important. Please could you indicate clearly whether you have signed up key talent or whether your idea for presentation is just indicative? Please do not enter more than 10 offers for 11.02 and for Saturday 10.30 slots combined. For BBC departments with an output guarantee, please limit your total offers to twice the number remaining in your guarantee. Do not exceed two written pages of A4. PROPOSAL TO INCLUDE

Details of your proposed presenter. Please indicate clearly if the presenter has been approached or is involved in the creation of the proposal

A clear date for any peg if there is one

A brief episode breakdown for any series PROGRAMMES COMMISSIONED / SHORTLISTED IN THE LAST ROUND

Title Short Synopsis

STATE OF GRACE A cultural attempting to understand our contemporary conception of 'grace'.

Likely Tour baht 'at... As Yorkshire gets ready to host the world's greatest cycle race, the Tour De France in 2014, we hear the remarkable story of how they won the bid.

Punt PI Steve Punt reopens Radio 4's very own detective bureau.

D-Day Dames In June 1944 a group of American women journalists were gathering in London, pushing to be part of the forthcoming D-Day invasion. It was a

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turning point in the opportunities for women to report from warzones.

Glad to be Grey Proudly grey-haired Mary Beard combs through the history, science and significance of the hair-colour revolution.

The Cultural Front Landmark series charts how the war transformed the arts, drawing on newly-digitized archives and research to argue that these were years of rapid cultural response, artistic innovation and technological change.

Lights, Camera, Akshun! Sanjeev Bhaskar reveals the long and intimate relationship between Bollywood and Britain, in a surprising and previously untold story.

Don't Log Off Alan Dein returns to the world of Skype and Facebook capturing a series of new and on-going dramas with people in every corner of the globe

DEALING WITH DIFFICULT PEOPLE

Sandi Toksvig explores a growing industry offering training and advice for "dealing with difficult people."

Who's a Pretty Boy Then? The culture and the people of the North East - and their love of budgerigars.

The Art of Keynes The extraordinary and largely unknown story of how Keynes persuaded the British government to take paintings in lieu of France's war debt.

J.D. Salinger's Spiritual Quest Through recently discovered letters, Vishva Sodhi explores how iconic American writer, J.D. Salinger, maintained a deep and enduring relationship both with Eastern philosophy and a New York based Swami.

The Grace of Jeff Buckley The story of a prescient moment from Jeff Buckley's breakthrough tour of England twenty years ago.

Moulin Rouge - Frou-Frou and Femmes

A celebration of cabaret and can-can as the Moulin Rouge celebrates 125 years of Frou-Frou and Femmes but also a new era.

The Frequency of Laughter A social history of the world of radio comedy.

In Search Of The Holy Tail Marc Riley and some famous friends take off after something that, despite their best efforts, they stand very little chance of finding.

Zeitgeisters Series of profiles of the cultural entrepreneurs who are shaping our lives and defining the very spirit of our age, often without us even knowing it.

Kate Tempest & The New Romantics

Kate explores the parallels between the rebellious Romantic poets and contemporary rappers, and examines the fusion of influences in today's vibrant youth poetry scene.

Ivy Benson: Original Girl Power

Bandleader Ivy Benson‘s all-girl big band was the first in Berlin to entertain the troops at the end of WW11. Melanie Chisholm celebrates Ivy's achievements with the remaining members of that band.

Mallorca and Middle-Aged Men in Lycra

Cycling's rock star, Bradley Wiggins is in Mallorca. He's joined by real rock star, cycling enthusiast, Paul Heaton as he trains in Mallorca.

The Art Of The Loop Matthew Herbert explores the art of the music loop, and the million-dollar industry around it; and asks whether loops are setting musicians free or killing creativity.

The Soul of Ireland Parish tours were the only way to get your record heard by the youth of Ireland in the sixties. We navigate the winding roads of Ireland to discover the memories of the tours and the music that was played

The Folklorist Folk singer Seth Lakeman travels to New York to meet the man regarded as the world's leading expert on Folk music, 85 year old Izzy Young

Re-imagining the City - series 2

Passionate and persuasive guides ask listeners to "re-imagine" a city they think they know.

ALL YOU NEED IS LAB - HOW SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY INSPIRED INNOVATION IN MUSIC

Most histories of pop music stress the role of the creative individuals, but Midge Ure argues that most of the innovative ideas have come from technological advances.

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NARRATIVE HISTORY Reference number: 47169 Commissioning Editor: Jane Ellison Commissioning Assistant: Shauna Todd Eligibility: We invite proposals from BBC departments and independent production companies who can clearly demonstrate considerable experience in radio features production at both producer and executive producer level. If you have not previously made programmes for Radio 4, you should include your production track record at the end of the long synopsis in your final offer. Slot: Monday-Friday, 13.45 Duration: 14’ Transmission period: February 2015 to March 2016 Guide price: £3,100 per episode Estimated number of programmes available for open competition: 90 episodes EDITORIAL GUIDE Narrative history is now established as a major touchstone of Radio 4 broadcasting attracting reviews and comment. Linda Colley’s “Acts of Union and Disunion” broadcast in January is the most recent example of the impact the slot can make. These series are rooted in the unique ability of 15’ audio vignettes to captivate and inspire listeners; they focus on pieces of original source material and connect them to a broader story. It is the opportunity to construct chronological, thematic or other narratives from these brilliant building blocks that makes this slot both challenging and exciting. The combination of expertise and original authorship with dynamic and imaginative use of audio offer huge potential for creative and intellectual ambition. These are also programmes that work well as digital downloads, with short episodes building over a number of weeks. In this round we are asking for a small number of proposals for 2015 and some ideas to develop for 2016. We are looking for original insights into the past across a wide

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range of subjects - especially as new source material and new methods open up new avenues of enquiry. Over the past year, the slot has focused on three thought provoking and illuminating aspects of UK history. As well as “Acts of Union and Disunion” Britain’s economic history was dissected in Andrew Dilnot’s Britain in Numbers and Ann McElvoy analysed British Conservatism last autumn. Lucy Kellaway told the story of the office in an insightful and fresh way and Peter White’s series Disability:A New History was packed with revelation and surprise. A Cause for Carolling was a treat before Christmas and The Ideas that Make Us presented by Bettany Hughes has captured the imagination. Coming up will be Martin Sixsmith’s History of Psychology and a major new series on the British Navy for the summer of 2014. The coverage of WW 1 will also be reflected in this slot with a series of essays Month of Madness and Voices of the First World War, combining the sound archives of the BBC and IWM over 4 years. We have also already commissioned proposals on Germany, India and we are developing an idea about fiction. We also plan a partnership with Kew on the history of plants. Not all the series in this slot are of the same length; one or two will be broadcast over 4 to 6 weeks. Other commissions will be around 10 episodes. All narrative history commissions of 10+ episodes will normally include a weekly 58’ omnibus version. To give the slot variety and to create changes of pace in the schedule over the year, we also intersperse the history series with short runs of general features commissioned under the 15’ features brief - number 47006. An offer in this slot should explain why you want to introduce or reintroduce the Radio 4 audience to the history you are passionate about. Are there new things to say about it? Is it in some way relevant to today? We would expect to know who will write and present the series – this is key to understanding how the editorial authority of the project will be guaranteed and how it will sound on air. We would like to know if you are using an adviser or consultant. There are many ways of making these programmes giving them texture and drama. You will need to establish why the 15’ format is right for the idea. Atomising complex subject matter into short episodes has implications for the narrative, the number of characters or ideas you can introduce to the audience, the level of detail. There are important structural and dramatic issues to consider. The end result elucidates and informs without becoming reductive. We would expect a rough indicative outline of how the series might work across a number of weeks. We will also consider ideas for a substantial online presence with interactivity – especially for a proposal of scale. So please feel free to include this in your thinking.

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To be commissioned in this slot, programme areas or companies will have to demonstrate that they have a significant track record in the making of major history series, going beyond the ad hoc documentary. The ability to craft complex arguments over several episodes will be key, as well as the expertise that will be brought to the project, either from within the team or through advisers. The proposal should include:

a clear but not over-detailed synopsis of the idea

an editorial motivation for the events you have chosen

a preliminary sense of how the breakdown into weeks might work

detailed thoughts about authorship and presentation

ideas about treatment

realistic budget assumptions

a proposition for online NARRATIVE HISTORIES COMMISSIONED

Title Short Synopsis

The History of Brazil is Round David Goldblatt journeys with the ball through a footballing history of Brazil, the nation where life really is a pitch.

Portraits of India The story of three millennia of Indian civilisation through the dramatic life stories of the children of the subcontinent – both real and fictional

Voices of the First World War audio recordings of those involved in the Great War in partnership with IWM

What is a Story? A detailed analysis of the state of 'The Story', in world fiction

History of British Food Sheila Dillon takes us through British eating

Narrative History of the Royal Navy The Royal Navy has had a crucial role in the story of Britain. This is its history, told with passion and new insights by Admiral Lord West.

Five Hundred Years of Friendship Exploration of how the meaning of friendship has changed over the last five hundred years.

London v Paris The gripping story of a battle of two cities, London and Paris, and a battle of two competing cultures in history

Lucy Kellaway’s History of Office Life Lucy Kellaway traces the stories of the people who have been at the sharp end of this new form of economic and social organization.

Our Dreams, Ourselves How our interpretation of dreams has changed from ancient cultures, via Freud, to contemporary neuroscience.

British Conservatism - The Grand Tour A journey through the many mansions of our most powerful, but least discussed, ideology.

Acts of Union As Scotland considers independence, our premier historian of Britishness examines our 500 year history of unions and disunions.

Germany A History of Germany

Historic Backdrop John McCarthy uses photographs taken, as a lens through which to view the broader changes that have swept across the Middle East

Narrative History of Scottish Nationalism

The story of the rise of Scottish Nationalism from William Wallace to the Independence Referendum of 2014.

In Search of Ourselves – The Story of Psychology

A thirty-part history of psychology.

Greenback: How the Dollar came to Rule the World

How the dollar became the currency of the United States – a process that took the nearly 80 years, and was no easy task.

A History of Disability Peter White presents a history of disability

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All 15’ FEATURES

Reference number: 47006 To avoid confusion, all ideas for 5 x 15’ features programmes should be entered here. If you have an idea that would be better scheduled on consecutive days, please flag it up in your proposal. Narrative History series of 10 episodes or more are entered under brief 47169. Commissioning Editor: Jane Ellison Commissioning Assistant: Shauna Todd Eligibility: We invite proposals from BBC departments and independent production companies who can clearly demonstrate considerable experience in radio features production at both producer and executive producer level. Where your offer is journalistic, we will expect a proven track record in the relevant sphere of journalism at both producer and executive producer level. If your proposal involves journalism in foreign countries we expect to see experience of such work in countries relevant to your offer. Foreign travel to countries where conflict or other factors incur high risk will require proof of accredited hostile environment training. Radio 4 will not be able to pay for such training. If you have not previously made programmes for Radio 4, you should include your production track record at the end of the long synopsis in your final offer.

Slot: Weekdays, 0930 and 1345 Duration: 14’

Transmission period: April 2015 to March 2016

Guide price: £3,100 Estimated number of programmes available for open competition (across 0930 and 1345 weekdays): 50 episodes EDITORIAL GUIDE

The fifteen minute feature can range from the funny, to the provocative to the challenging - but always clear and coherent. Four or five episodes are preferred but proposals for occasional single features are also welcome. These features need to stand out as key building-blocks in the schedule.

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The short features open up opportunities for audiences to engage with storytelling with a different rhythm and pace, introducing some new ideas with new voices and presenters. They can be very powerful, memorable and exquisitely crafted. The 15 minute programmes are placed in high profile parts of the schedule, often between well know Radio 4 strands.

They provide a bridge between The World at One and The Archers for example when there are breaks in the narrative history commissions at 13.45. Features that change theme and texture are particularly welcome. Please do not offer too many history ideas so that we can vary the range of ideas at lunchtime.

Getting On Air: the Female Pioneers and Publishing Lives felt very timely at 13.45 as the debates about women in broadcasting and the future of British publishing respectively were topical. Europe’s Trouble Makers was a good example of a more reactive series. The beautifully crafted Thames Crossings provided a real contrast with texture and pace

With One to One now a key building block in the schedule, the 15 minute programmes will also generally be broadcast for half the year at 9.30 am. Essays and talks have not been commissioned here because of the reading which follows at 0945. Over the past year, Roger Law’s Wow How Did They Do That and Pop Up Ideas originated at 9.30 am.

It is important that the features should be crafted to stand out whilst remaining surprising and fresh. We are looking for mix and range as well as clever use of the form. Ideas with a bit of a twist can work very well. With the long commissioning lead times, ideas must stand the test of time and not date too quickly. Some slots will be held back for reactive commissioning. We expect to be able to repeat programmes between these slots and - when needed - in other parts of the schedule. Just So Science, and 15 by 15 with Hardeep Singh Kohli are examples of programmes that have spanned both slots. To avoid confusion, all ideas for 5 x 15’ features programmes should be entered here. If you have an idea that would be better scheduled on consecutive days, please flag it up in your proposal. Narrative History series of 10 episodes or more are entered under brief 47169. Proposal to include

brief synopsis explaining focus of the idea and indicating style and treatment

proposals for series should give an idea of the breakdown into episodes

suggested presenters should be included, where appropriate, with a note on whether they have been approached or involved in developing the idea

any book deal or other commercial activity linked to the material

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LATEST PROGRAMMES COMMISSIONED OR SHORTLISTED

Title Short Synopsis

CYBERSPACE CEMETERY An imaginative series of features exploring digital death through part factual exploration, part fantastical gothic romance.

THE REAL STORY OF TECHNOLOGY

In its new gallery, Information Age, the Science Museum is using novel approaches to bring technology to life, focusing on the ordinary people who used, and adapted, communications technology in remarkable ways.

Manchester: Alchemical City Jeanette Winterson explores of the story of Manchester.

Picture Power Five award-winning photographers turn witness to major events.

Just So Science Series 2 Vivienne Parry returns with a new series of fascinating scientific tales woven around more of Rudyard Kipling's memorable Just So Stories.

The New Networks The power of networks in Britain and bringing together people who think they don't 'do' networking.

Alice In Carroll-Land Ruth Padel decodes 5 aspects of Lewis Carroll in the characters from "Alice in Wonderland" to mark the 150th anniversary of the book's publication.

The Sound of Space Solar scientist Dr Lucie Green plays her favourite sounds from space and describes what these celestial noises reveal about our universe.

The Value of Failure Five people with experience of failure talk about the role it played in their life and how it is regarded in their sphere of expertise.

Quietest New Year On Earth New Year's Day in Bali, is a day of complete silence. What sounds are left?

The Town Is the Menu

Local residents gather round a roving kitchen table to share anecdotes, insights and ingredients all of which provide a local chef inspiration to design a signature dish uniquely from, of and about their town.

World Agony The doyenne of agony aunts, writer and broadcaster Irma Kurtz talks to 5 agony aunts from around the world to hear the concerns of their homelands.

Lucy Mangan's literary solutions to the economy

Lucy Mangan selects five different economic remedies from literature and tries them out.

Last Day Five short stories capturing a strange day - the very last time of going to work.

Penguin Post Office On a tiny Antarctic island, there's a hut. It's a post office, and every summer it becomes surrounded by 4000 Gentoo penguins which come here to breed.

Martin Wainwright's Myth of the North

I Martin Wainwright will ask how such a limited and limiting identity for the North evolved?

"Open or wrapped..?" Bernard Cribbins has agreed to present this series featuring a three day course on how to run your own Fish & Chip shop.

About A Mountain Charles Emmerson travels around Mount Ararat, charting the stories of the Kurds, Turks, Armenians, Azeris and Iranians who live in its shadow.

James and the Giant Trees of Strutt

Tree-climber James Aldred explores the lives of five iconic trees.

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9 O’CLOCK SERIES Reference number: 47004 Commissioning Editor: Jane Ellison Commissioning Assistant: Shauna Todd Eligibility: You must be able to demonstrate a track record in production relevant to your proposal. Slot: Weekdays, 0900 Duration: 28' Transmission period: April 2015 to March 2016 Guide Price: £7,000 (interview and studio formats) Estimated number of programmes available for open competition: 2 or 3 series EDITORIAL GUIDE The 9 am slot is one of the most high profile showcases on Radio 4. It is the home of some of the network’s best known, well-loved and long running factual programmes: Start the Week, Midweek, In Our Time and Desert Island Discs. Series such as The Reunion, The Long View, Stephen Fry’s English Delight The Life Scientific have also established themselves here. And there have been more ad hoc series such as Voices from the Old Bailey or Public Philosopher. Space will be left for more reactive commissions like the recent history of the Middle East Uncovering the Arab World or the MINT season. As in previous rounds, we will be considering the very best documentary and long form feature ideas from the material that is submitted at 20:02 and 11:02 into this high profile slot. In this round, we are also interested in ideas for a small number of potential new formats based around interview or studio that might work here. We are keen to encourage innovative and surprising ways of thinking about the mix at 9 am. Depending on the idea we might commission a pilot rather than going into production.

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We expect proposals to be editorially ambitious with high profile presentation and where appropriate a multi –platform dimension. This slot is broadly based and not just focused on current affairs. Please do not enter documentary ideas under this brief as we will consider some of the offers submitted for other slots for placing here. This brief is specifically focused on new format ideas for 9am. Given the scale of the ideas required, we do not expect more than one or two proposals from any company or department for 9am at pre-offers. Proximity to Today should also be borne in mind when establishing the tone of a 0900 programme. The style of production, potential power of the material, strength of the contributors and the promise of revelation will be essential ingredients. How you will hold the attention of the audience at this key junction should be highlighted in your proposal. Please check the full range of strands and series that Radio 4 already broadcasts to avoid duplication of programmes already commissioned. Budget Radio 4 expects to pay the guide price for programmes in this slot so please budget at that level and use the guide price as the budget. If the expected price differs significantly from the guide price please discuss it with the commissioning editor during pre- offers meetings and include a note in the long synopsis of the final offer explaining the reason. Podcasts Radio 4 may wish to include programmes from this slot in one of its podcasts. With your agreement, the Radio 4 Interactive team would publish the podcast from the supplied programme. Radio 4 will meet any additional clearance costs attributable to the podcast. When we ask for your agreement to the podcast, we'll also ask for an estimate of clearance costs to enable us to decide whether it is practical to proceed. Proposal to include

clear treatment and explanation why the format will sound fresh and new

suggested cast list, suggested presenter(s) and whether he/she has been approached.

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SOME PROGRAMMES COMMISSIONED / SHORTLISTED IN THE LAST ROUND

The Long View The programme which examines current events in the light of their historical precedents.

No Triumph No Tragedy Posing the questions about disability which other programmes are too embarrassed, or too politically-correct, to ask.

FRY'S ENGLISH DELIGHT SERIES 7 Another series of the audacious language programme.

A Law Unto Themselves A series of illuminating and entertaining interviews with some of the world's most brilliant and influential lawyers.

INSIDE THE ETHICS COMMITTEE Debate programme about medical ethics, Inside the Ethics Committee, chaired by Joan Bakewell.

Decision Time Discussion programme which sheds light on the process by which decisions are taken and implemented.

Uncovering The Arab World How decisions made by the great colonial powers in the dying days of the Ottoman Empire during WW1 created seismic changes which are still reverberating to this day in the modern Arab World.

A Brave New World Lives and ideas of three great men, CS Lewis, Aldous Huxley, and John F Kennedy, who all died on the same day, 50 years ago.

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4.4 ARTS BRIEFS Commissioning Editor: Tony Phillips Commissioning Assistant: Vanessa Morris & Karen Howe

General Notes for all Arts Features Consider all of our arts features slots as beautiful open spaces, inviting audiences in for a huge range of cultural storytelling. Radio 4 is a destination for curious minds - our audiences have a hunger on the one hand for stories defined by rigour and clarity and on the other for entertainment and wit; both have their place. In every case our arts features should be defined by being original, entertaining and informative – we should also of course be striving to reflect the diverse world we live in subject matter, in presenters and in interviewees . They can also be global stories and they should shine the spotlight on establishment cultural output as well as the fringe. The network has a wide range of daily and weekly arts programmes from Front Row to Open Book to The Film Programme. It is important therefore to ensure that what you are offering as a feature is a big enough and bold enough idea to stand alone outside of our regular arts output. Therefore alongside offering original and engrossing analysis, Radio 4 could therefore be reimagined as a space for artists to play and experiment. So as with the best of any feature-making we are looking for depth, originality and compelling storytelling. Please don’t feel you have to be a slave to the anniversary; but do feel confident that arts features can and should be award-winning.

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POPULAR ARTS FEATURE Commissioning Editor: Tony Phillips Commissioning Assistant: Vanessa Morris & Karen Howe

Reference number: 47165 Eligibility: You must be able to demonstrate a track record in production relevant to your proposal. Slot: Mon 1602, Thursday 1130 Duration: 28’ Transmission period: April 2015 – March 2016 Guide price: £6.2k Estimated number of programmes available for competition: 30 EDITORIAL GUIDE Popular arts features offer audiences an opportunity to engage deeply with a single story or short series of programmes. They are scheduled between general factual features and You and Yours, this slot then introduces a distinctive note to the mid-morning schedule by focusing on the eclecticism of modern culture in the UK and around the world. We are looking for the most engaging and adventurous single programmes and series. These will often be driven by a strong narrative and a burning passion to tell stories that offer audiences fresh insights into aspects of literature, drama, visual arts etc. We are also looking for opportunities to financially support a select number of ideas that have accompanying multiplatform components such as film, audio-slideshows and animations.

Please do not enter more than 10 offers for each of the arts slots. For BBC departments with an output guarantee, please limit your total offers to three times the number remaining in your guarantee.

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SOME PROGRAMMES COMMISSIONED / SHORTLISTED IN THE LAST ROUND 47165 Popular Arts

Title description

In Search of Barney Bubbles The hunt for the truth about the most influential and enigmatic of graphic designers.

Black is a Country This two part series explores the musical underground of the Black Power movement.

Merzman: The Art of Kurt Schwitters How a leading German modern artist's greatest work was rediscovered in a barn in Cumbria.

I'm Rather Worried about Jim... Penelope Keith explores the radio serial Mrs Dales Diary 40 years after it ended.

The Mystery of the Mystery of Edwin Drood

Frances Fyfield explores the manuscript of Dickens' last and unfinished novel.

A Last Excuse Me Dance The first reunion in 70 years of writer Shirley Hughes and her 1940s dancing partner

Vic Oliver - The First Castaway Remembered

David Baddiel explores the mercurial life of entertainer Vic Oliver.

Holy Mackerel - It's My Life! How Frank Dickens' record-breaking cartoon strip Bristow has survived 60 turbulent years.

Famed For Its Knitting The life and changing times of Woman's Weekly as it celebrates its centenary

Writing in Three Dimensions: Angela Carter's...

Angela Carter's friends, colleagues and admirers remember her innovative plays for radio

Al Read Rediscovered Robert Powell explores the recordings of Salford born comedian Al Read.

OSCAR SINGS Andrew Collins explores how the award for 'Best Song' reflects a changing film landscape

Tarzan: Lord of the Jungle How Tarzan has enjoyed a hundred years swinging through the jungle of popular culture.

The 12 Inch Single Paul Morley on the 7 inch single's grand relative - the 12 inch - and its peak in the 80s.

Fever Pitched: Twenty Years On Nick Hornby on the 20th anniversary of his best-selling football memoir 'Fever Pitch'.

In The Lounge With Rich Morton Comedian and musician Rich Morton explores the laid-back world of lounge music.

THE ROAD HOME: REMAKING HOMER'S ODYSSEY

Tom Holland explores the continuing appeal of Homer's Odyssey.

Architects of Taste Ian Kelly explores the theatricality and architecture of food and feasting.

There is Business Like Show Business

Will Young explores the hidden world of industrial musicals.

Writing Madness Vivienne Parry takes her diagnoses of literary heroines into the early 20th century.

What the Scandinavians Know About Children's Literature

Mariella Frostrup looks at Scandinavian children's literature.

Art Disrupted: Damien Hirst and Co Damien Hirst and co, reflect on the forces that produced a brash, bold group of artists.

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Word for Word Paul Allen examines the use of verbatim eyewitness accounts and legal evidence in theatre

Jack London's People of the Abyss Dan Cruickshank re-traces Jack London's 1902 footsteps he made among the East End poor.

Who's angry now? John Harris investigates the current state of contemporary British protest music.

ALTON TOWERS: A JOURNEY INTO PUGINLAND

The Rise, Fall and Rebirth of Pugin's Gothic masterpiece, Alton Towers.

Alain-Fournier's Lost Estate Julian Barnes and Hermione Lee visit the places which inspired a classic novel.

One in a Million One million books given away for free - how did it affect those involved?

Ampers-Fan Alastair Sooke investigates the history of the ampersand.

Move Over Wodehouse Mukti Jain Campion reports on the changing reading habits of India's growing middle class.

The Library Returns Jonathan Glancey argues that amid closures the public library is also being re-invented.

Poetry, Texas The Danish poet Pejk Malinovski stumbles upon a small town in Texas called Poetry.

Follow Up Albums Pete Paphides tells the story behind Dexys Midnight Runners' Don't Stand Me Down.

Miles Jupp in a Locked Room Miles Jupp investigates the appeal of mind-bending crime novels set in locked rooms.

It's Fun But Is It Theatre? Punchdrunk, YouMeBumBumTrain, and other immersive theatre companies under the microscope.

Pina Bausch - Dance For Your Life Deborah Bull takes us into the life and work of Pina Bausch's Tanztheater

Pump Up the Volume John Wilson looks at the role of music in professional sport.

Slippered Pantaloons If all the world's a stage, how do actors face old age dramas?

Forced Entertainment Bob Dickinson follows this acclaimed experimental theatre group evolving a new production.

Staff No Fee: The Other Life of Brian Barry Johnston explores the early career of the legendary commentator Brian Johnston.

Stuart: A Face Backwards Mark Burman strips away the layers of Stuart Freeborn's remarkable life in movie make-up.

The Uncanny How has The Uncanny shaped fiction, film, architecture and art?

The Voice of God Ricard Coles on the various ways that the voice of God is depicted, and what this reveals.

The Godfather of Ulster Punk Alan Dein meets figurehead of the Northern Irish punk scene, Terri Hooley

Ann Widdecombe's Hell Hounds and Night Hags

Ann Widdecombe explores the supernatural lore and legend of Dartmoor.

Ulster's Forgotten Darling Fionola Meredith goes in search of medieval scholar, author and poet, Helen Waddell.

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Raising a Glass to Cheers Stephen Merchant presents an appreciation of one of America's best-loved TV sitcoms.

Challenging Kane Matthew Sweet asks if Citizen Kane should again be voted the greatest film ever.

The Best of Everything The Best of Everything - the steamy 1950s novel that was ahead of its time.

Steptoe and Son... and Sons Paul Jackson and a team of script writers assess the legacy of Steptoe & Son, 50 years on

The Magic Theatre of Hermann Hesse

Tracing the legacy of the cult Swiss-German writer Hermann Hesse.

Rock 'n' Roll in Four Movements Stuart Maconie on rock musicians who combined symphony and pop music in the 60s and 70s

Lewis' Return Home The life-story of Ted Lewis, author of the novel which became the popular film Get Carter

The Floating World of Hokusai Audrey Niffenegger catches Hokusai's 'Great Wave' to trace his far-reaching influence...

Mr Jupitus In The Age of Steampunk Phill Jupitus journeys back to the steam-powered future to party like it's 1899.

Dancing with Mountains Writer Andrew Greig explores the connections between mountain climbing and art.

Stir It Up - 50 Years of Writing Jamaica

Poet Salena Godden considers the impact of her Jamaican heritage on her literary identity.

Walter Kershaw: The UK's First Street Artist?

Uncovering the life and work of a pioneering and under-appreciated British painter

"Messy, Isn't It?": The Life and Works of Richard Brautigan

Jarvis Cocker's love for one of literature's most extraordinary figures, Richard Brautigan

True Tales From the Crypt Roger Luckhurst goes in search of the original Curse of the Mummy's Tomb...

Big Shot John Sugar explores an evolving music industry and the changing role of music manager.

Duration, Duration, Duration Pop songs are 3 minutes, movies about 90. Grace Dent looks at how duration shapes culture.

Happy Days: The Children of the Stones

Writer and comedian Stewart Lee explores the television series Children of the Stones.

Was Dracula Irish ? Irish novelist Patrick McCabe explores the Irish influences on Bram Stoker's Dracula.

In Search of Richard Yates Nick Fraser makes the case for rediscovering the work of Richard Yates

Scream Queens Reece Shearsmith meets the female screen stars of horror.

Hollywood on the Tiber Mukti Jain Campion looks back at the heyday of Rome's most famous film studios.

IN SEVEN DAYS...Inside a Historic Campaign

Artist Nicola Green charts her journey to capture images of Barack Obama's 2008 campaign.

Justice between the Covers Helena Kennedy QC explores the power of law in the pages of classic fiction.

Tim Key and Gogol's Overcoat Comedian Tim Key spins his own surreal tale of one of Russia's greatest short stories.

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Words on Water The views of writers who use fishing to explore our relationship with nature and our place

Expressing Pain Stuart Flanagan explores how art can help in the consulting room.

Mockery with Monocles: The Western Brothers Revealed

Geoffrey Palmer celebrates variety act The Western Brothers.

When Harry Potter Met Frodo: The Strange World of Fan Fiction

Naomi Alderman investigates the sub-culture of internet fan fiction

The Beat Hotel How a down-at-heel Parisian hotel became the world's avant-garde headquarters.

Songs of the Sacred Harp Cerys Matthews visits Alabama to uncover a sacred choral tradition.

The Physicist's Guide to the Orchestra

Trevor Cox on the physics behind the way orchestral instruments make their unique sound

Blackout Ballet Ismene Brown uncovers the story of Mona Inglesby and International Ballet.

Mr X: Julian Maclaren-Ross Did drink and drugs rob Britain of a literary genius?

Stage Door Rachael Stirling reveals strange tales from theatre's back doorstep.

Neil Tennant's Smash Hits Christmas Neil Tennant recalls his stint, from Christmas 1982, on pop's most successful magazine.

Grease Was Our World Grease has entertained audiences for over 40 years, Alan Dein searches for its true roots.

Beatrix Potter's Favourite Tale Beatrix Potter's The Tailor of Gloucester restored with its original Chistmas music

Bute: Dreams of the World's Richest Man

Jonathan Glancey on the amazing cultural legacy of the third Marquis of Bute

Roger, The Eagle Has Landed Mark Radcliffe recalls the influential life of cult DJ and club promoter, Roger Eagle.

Forgetting a Revolutionary: Lawrence Durrell at 100

Tim Marlow encourages us not to forget the novelist Lawrence Durrell.

Johnny Cash and the Forgotten Prison Blues

Danny Robins explores the little-known story of Johnny Cash the prison reformer.

A Menace to Society Lifelong fan Danny Wallace celebrates the Beano comic in its 75th anniversary year.

Cornershop The story of a ground breaking record, its impact and its legacy.

The Men Who Painted Paradise: The Hudson River School

Susan Marling reports from the Hudson Valley on the painters that shaped America.

The Art of Sequencing Guy Garvey on the challenge of turning a collection of songs into a single piece of art.

The World Cup for Writers Joe Dunthorne's England Writers Football Team plays against the Scotland Writers Team.

Lyrical Journey How The Proclaimers' song 'Sunshine on Leith' became an anthem for a changing city.

Blind Date With Runyon Peter White hears about Damon Runyon, who captured New York's lowlife vibes in the 1920s.

Who Was Rosalind? Susan Hitch finds out about the boys created the female roles in Shakespeare's plays.

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Marseille 2013 Philip Sweeney on music, crime and culture in Marseille, 2013 European City of Culture.

30 Years of the Bradshaws John Henshaw explores the unrelenting success of one of the longest running comedy series.

The Meaning of Liff at 30 John Lloyd celebrates 30 years of The Meaning of Liff with Matt Lucas and Helen Fielding.

Was Gertrude Stein Any Good? I am a genius. Gertrude Stein. A genius. I. Gertrude Stein. Am I a genius?

Sound Painting Tim Marlow explores the kinds of sounds and music that influence an artist's art and work.

Dreamers of the Black Metropolis The story of how Chicago's black artists of the 20th Century forged a new identity.

The Curse of the Confederacy of Dunces

The Confederacy of Dunces, one of the great comic books of the 20th century, had a difficult gestation as a book; attempts to film it over the past 30 years have been similarly cursed.

Rhymes of Passion Laura Barton tells the true story behind By Grand Central Station I Sat Down and Wept.

I Wandered Lonely as a Cat: Poetry and Jazz.

Ian McMillan reveals the heart of Poetry and Jazz and detects its strong beats today

The Arthur Cravan Memorial Society Arthur Smith convenes the last ever meeting of the Arthur Cravan Memorial Society and pieces together an unreliable portrait of this charlatan and genius - the Dada-ist James Dean.

Foot Notes

They communicate our sexual desires, aesthetic sense, social status and personality. And whilst our eyes may be windows to the soul - psychologists say that it is in fact our shoes that are the gateway to our psyche.

Destination Freedom

It's often assumed that the drive for black emancipation in America began with Martin Luther King and the civil rights movement. This feature challenges the perception, taking us back years earlier to the arts broadcasting of Chicago radio's 'Destination Freedom!'

The Butterfly Effect

Lesley Garrett examines the story of Cio-Cio San, who evolving from a short novel was brought to the stage by Puccini in Madama Butterfly, and captured the imagination of writers, performers and directors remaining one of popular cultures most enduring characters.

The Original Be Bop Man: A Story of Bob Kaufman

Bob Kaufman was a pioneer of the Beat Movement and the most influential African-American artists of the Beat Generation. The distinctive jazz influence on his work meant he was often referred to as The Original Be Bop Man or The American Rimbaud.

Are You There God? It's Me, Sarah Teen Novels from America in the 70's featured crazy mixed up kids, girls mainly. Sarah Cuddon loved them

Motown: Speaking In The Streets

In 1970, Berry Gordy, the founder of the Motown record label, set up a Motown spoken word label. It was called Black Forum records and recorded poetry, civil rights speeches, political gatherings...

The Concrete and the Divine

Designing churches requires a certain kind of architect - it's about bringing together the divine with the concrete, creating a space separate from the secular world. Under the umbrella of the Glasgow practice of Gillespie Kidd; Coia (GKC), Isi Metzstein and Andrew MacMillan seized on the momentary experimentalism of the Catholic Church to revolutionise church design.

Norway's Soul: Re-evaluating Knut Hamsun

The author of classics such as Hunger, Mysteries, Victoria and Pan, Hamsun is considered by many to be the Godfather of Modern Fiction….

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Capra-esque

"The art of [my films] is very, very simple... it's the love of people. Add two simple ideals to this love of people: the freedom of each individual and the equal importance of each individual and you have the principle on which I've based all my films." - Frank Capra, 1982

And Calm of Mind Ex-soldiers with stress disorders take a Shakespeare play about the costs of war to a paying public.

The Gatsby Factor

Baz Luhrmann's much anticipated film version of The Great Gatsby opens in the UK on May 17th Here, Sarah Churchwell offers her take on what makes the slimmest of Fitzgerald's novels not only an enduring classic, but a huge force in American fiction and, some would say, the greatest American novel.

The Poet and the Painter We go into the artist's studio to follow royal portrait painter Fiona Graham-Mackay as she paints the poet Seamus Heaney.

Everybody Loves Bernard (w/t)

Bernard Cribbins OBE, is one of our most enduring - and endearing all-round entertainers having starred in everything - from Dr. Who to doing all the voices of The Wombles - during his 65 years of showbusiness. In this revealing personal reminiscence, he recalls his extraordinary career and ponders on what he thinks has made him so successful an actor. With contributions from colleagues and fellow entertainment legends - we'll discover his secret and why it is, that everybody loves Bernard.

When Washington Came to Brum The stories Rip Van Winkle and The Legend of Sleepy Hollow are two of the formative texts in modern American literature, and were written, naturally enough, in Birmingham.

Wireless Nights

Jarvis Cocker prowls the darkness, eavesdropping on stories of the night people.

A Room for a View: The Artist's Studio

Paula Rego's studio is an old garage complete with forklift trucks and a costume wardrobe; David Gentleman's' a neat white attic. How does an artists' studio reflect their art and do they still need one? We send artist Susan Aldworth in with sharpened palette knife and microphone.

Poetry in Translation w/t The magazine Modern Poetry in Translation was started by Ted Hughes after WW2...

In Godzilla's Footsteps The Artists who are walking in Godzilla's Footsteps to come to terms with Japan's Tsunami.

Ebony: Black on White on Black Ebony Magazine changed the face of Black publishing and Black America. Gary Younge charts it's irresistible rise and fall.

Lowry Revisited In 'Lowry Revisited' Michael Symmons Roberts will offer his own personal re-appraisal of the artist and the man.

Letting the Walls Speak The story of Derry's controversial 400 year old walls as told by 'Anna Nicole' composer Mark Anthony Turnage and poet Paul Muldoon.

Arthur Machen and the Borders

Arthur Machen was a novelist and mystic whose greatest work was the novella The Great God Pan (Stephen King calls it the greatest horror story in the English Language).

Hersch on Herschel

Musician and comedian Rainer Hersch on the life of near namesake William Herschel - a German-born British composer and astronomer who discovered Uranus, and infrared radiation. He also composed 24 symphonies.

John Dos Passos Documentary maker Adam Curtis pays homage to the writer who inspired him.

Absinthe Makes the Art Grow Fonder For the 150th anniversary of Toulouse-Lautrec's birth, an art history of the drink that fuelled Bohemia.

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Playing Ping Pong with Henry Miller

A sexist, pornographic, macho, misogynist - Henry Miller sounds the perfect subject for acclaimed feminist poet Kim Addonizio, as she visits those who knew him, were inspired by him, were related to him, during his two decades in California - where he coincided with the birth of the 'personal growth'era.

From Derry to Mostar: Siege Cities and the Conquest of Happiness w/t

Following the development of a theatre production in Derry~Londonderry, the first UK City of Culture, which will travel to two other divided cities.

The Road to the National Theatre

For its 50th anniversary in October 2013, James Naughtie traces the history of the struggle to create a National Theatre, exploring what such an institution is and should be in a nation such as Britain.

The Art of Radio Times Peter Day presents the story of the art commissioned and showcased by Radio Times from its earliest editions, celebrating 90 years of publication in September 2013, to today.

Shot In Belfast w/t The story of Northern Ireland's burgeoning film industry.

Bingo, Barbie and Barthes: 50 years of Cultural Studies

Fifty years after Richard Hoggart established Cultural Studies with the founding of the Birmingham Centre for Cultural Studies, Lynsey Hanley looks at what this new discipline has given us - has it really narrowed the separation between high culture and real life, or just been an excuse for some of the worst writing imaginable.

Troubled Walls By replacing it's murals is Belfast's history being white-washed?

Dinner at Annaghmakerrig Colm Toibin invites us for dinner at the ancestral home of theatre impresario Sir Tyrone Guthrie.

The Art of the Nation

The vast majority of the Nation's Art is not held in our public institutions - the Tate or National Gallery - they are housed in the sixty million front rooms all over the country. Will Gompertz assesses the importance of this national treasure trove, and tells their story for the first time.

Houses of Creativity Bridget Kendall examines the Soviet concept of the Houses of Creativity: the soviet answer to providing the artists with inspiration and the State with cultural masterpieces.

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MUSIC FEATURE Commissioning Editor: Tony Phillips Commissioning Assistant: Vanessa Morris & Karen Howe

Reference number: 47133 Eligibility: You must be able to demonstrate a track record in production relevant to your proposal. Slot: Tuesday, 1130 Duration: 28’ Transmission period: April 2015 – March 2016 Guide price: £6.2k Estimated number of programmes: 15 EDITORIAL GUIDE What are we looking for? Extraordinary and original stories that will immerse the audience deep into the worlds of music, musicians and those whose lives are or have been touched by music. Radio 4 is of course not primarily a music network so it’s important that your ideas reflect the sensibility of a speech based network. The treatments that will be most successful will be those that acknowledge and reflect the fact that the network is primarily a speech–based network. As a result music stories should be driven by strong narratives that explore and investigate music through the prism of personal narratives, cultural movements or events.

Please do not enter more than 10 offers for each of the arts slots. For BBC departments with an output guarantee, please limit your total offers to three times the number remaining in your guarantee.

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SOME PROGRAMMES COMMISSIONED / SHORTLISTED IN THE LAST ROUND

47133 Music

Title description

How Folk Songs Should Be Sung Folk singer Martin Carthy examines the rise and fall of Ewan MacColl's Critics Group.

Bach's Choir Stephen Evans traces the 800 year history of the boys choir of St Thomas' Church, Leipzig.

The Brontes' Piano Catherine Bott explores the Bronte sisters' musical world through their restored piano

Robert Winston's Musical Analysis Robert Winston brings a scientist's ear to his passion for music.

The Topping Tooters of the Town William Lyons conjures the brash and brilliant music of the 500 year old town Waits

North Of The Border - The Rise of Mexican Music

Robin Denselow examines the growing influence of the Mexican drug ballad, or Narco-corrido

Balalaika Born Again The intriguing tale of Alexey Arhipovskiy and his new balalaika sound.

Folk Song, Art Song Christopher Maltman debates the place of folk song in the classical recital repertoire.

Conjuring Halie Cerys Matthews celebrates one of her musical heroines, gospel singer Mahalia Jackson.

The First LP In Ireland The extraordinary story of how classic Irish folk songs were saved from extinction.

Modern Day Griot Gaylene Gould meets modern musicians who are adapting traditional West African music.

Cerys Matthews' Blue Horizon Cerys Matthews indulges her passion for the seminal British Blues record label

The Songs of Milne John Kember rediscovers the original song settings of children's verses by A.A. Milne

John Barry - The Lost Tapes Presenter Eddi Fiegel explores the song writing of John Barry through a lost interview.

Changing My Voice Christopher Gabbitas explores the effects on singers of changing the pitch of their voice.

Sibelius: A Symphony that Burned The story of Sibelius's notorious 'lost' Eighth Symphony...and its remarkable rediscovery.

Madam Mao's Golden Oldies Anna Chen explores the history of the famous Chinese Model Operas

Making Tracks Paul Morley charts a history of music through recording studios. 1. Rockfield in Wales

A Sound British Adventure Comedian Stewart Lee explores the early pioneers and rumblings of electronic music.

Composing LA How Western classical music underpinned the golden age of the Hollywood film score.

The Voices of Robert Wyatt An intimate portrait of the musician Robert Wyatt in his own words.

One Man's War Katie Derham delves into the fascinating world of musical life during the Second World War

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Spellbound: Siouxsie and the Banshees Miranda Sawyer looks at one of music's most distinctive artists Siouxsie and the Banshees.

Swansong A new series in which Stuart Maconie looks at four final albums, and tells their stories.

Blues Run the Game Laura Barton tells the poignant story of singer-songwriter Jackson C Frank.

Who's Drummer? Nick Barraclough finds out about the fifteen minutes of fame for one young fan of The Who.

Rebuilding The LSO Matthew Bannister tells the story of the London Symphony Orchestra from the 1980s to now.

An Alternative Christmas Reverend Richard Coles on the buried and forgotten Alternative Christmas recordings.

Riot Grrrls A noisy exploration of the punk and politics of Riot Grrrl.

Bellydancing and the Blues Guy Schalom hunts out the spirit of the new Egypt in the musical roots of the bellydance

Jazz is Dead Paul Morley tests the contention that jazz is dead - a victim of its own history.

Scoring Father Brown Debbie Wiseman guides us through the world of the film composer

Baaba Maal and the Senegalese Kingdom of Music

Meeting musicians at the Blues du Fleuve Festival, organised by Baaba Maal in Senegal.

Feel the Chant: The Brit Funk Story David Grant revisits a unique era in British music when jazz funk exploded onto the scene.

Studio in the Sand Robin Denselow hears the music of the Saharawi people in the refugee camps of Algeria.

Flashmob Flamenco Spain's current economic crisis is seeing the return of flamenco as a form of protest

Julie Fowlis' Heritage Well (w/t)

Acclaimed Gaelic singer and multi-instrumentalist Julie Fowlis has taken the songs she learnt from her native Outer Hebrides to Hollywood. In this programme she charts her very personal musical journey and, through a special concert Solas Ur Tobar An Dualchais, inspires other young Scots to follow her lead.

Comme Je Suis: A Portrait of Juliette Greco

Laura Barton (who featured in our profile of Francoise Hardy) presents a portrait of Juliette Greco, singer, resistance fighter and muse to Miles Davis, Jean Paul Sartre, Boris Vian et al .... Greco is now 86. We'd like to record an interview with her while we still can. In terms of treatment, think of a cross between our 'Voices of Robert Wyatt', 'Under Jacques Demy's Umbrella' and Russell Finch's 'Brel et Moi' ...

Lady Gaga v Heavy Metal: The Confusing World of Pop in Indonesia

Lady Gaga was banned but Death Metal is cool - From the streets of Jakarta, we hear the contradictions that make up the burgeoning Indonesian pop scene.

Ella in Berlin

On 13 February 1960 at Berlin's Deutschlandhalle, where Hitler had roused the masses to embrace National Socialism, Ella Fitzgerald took to the stage with a tribute to the people of Berlin; for the first time she sang the Bertolt Brecht song, Mack the Knife - and she forgot the words.

Paul Mason on Wagner To mark the bicentenary of the birth of Richard Wagner, Paul Mason investigates the amazing phenomenon of his work and reputation through three investigative features.

The Science of Music Robert Winston looks at music with a scientist's eye, questioning, experimenting, proving and provoking in a series which seeks to fully understand our relationship with the power of sound.

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Tales from the Stave

The series that finds the magic of the creative moment in the hand-written manuscripts of some of the greats of the classical repertoire heads towards its tenth series with a humdinger of a collection.

Soul Music The stories behind pieces of music with a powerful emotional impact told in montage form.

The Secret Life of J S Bach

Scientist, handyman, architect, council employee. That's the real J S Bach.

Tom Ravenscroft's One Man Band Tom Ravenscroft is fascinated by the one man band and for Radio 4 he goes in search of the musical characters who prefer to go solo.

In Search of Nic Jones Stuart Maconie tracks down the legendary lost figure of British folk music, Nic Jones.

The Night Singer For a thousand years the nightingale has been the most celebrated song-bird in the western world.

Harmony of the Spheres: Planet Rock 'So tun'st this World below, the Spheres above, Who in the Heavenly Round to their own Music move' (Henry Purcell)

Loving You

Every year the Welsh seaside town of Porthcawl holds the most important Elivs festival outside the legendary singer's homelands in the states.

About A Boy

From Mahler's "Das Klagende Lied" to Leonard Bernstein's "Chichester Psalms" and Howard Blake's "The Snowman", the singing voice of the solo boy has taken on a potency for many composers through the centuries.

Far Distant Chords Reem Kelani revisits migrant musicians who were putting down roots in the UK a decade ago

Kitch! Poet and musician Anthony Joseph pays tribute in storytelling, poetry and song to his hero, the Windrush calypsonian Aldwyn Roberts aka 'Lord Kitchener'.

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POETRY FEATURE Commissioning Editor: Tony Phillips Commissioning Assistant: Vanessa Morris & Karen Howe

Reference number: 47114 Eligibility: You must be able to demonstrate a track record in production relevant to your proposal. Slot: Sunday 16.30 (repeat: Saturday, 23.30) Duration: 28’ Transmission period: April 2015 – March 2016 Guide price: £6.2k Estimated number of programmes: 10 EDITORIAL GUIDE What are we looking for? There has always been a close relationship between poetry and radio, and in particular Radio 4. We know that people often turn to poetry at significant moments in their lives – in sorrow or in celebration; Poetry Please is testament to that. Fresh and original features that can offer the audience new, original and thoughtful perspectives on poets, poems or the craft of writing or listening to poetry will be most welcome. Challenge us with new work, new writers, new formats, new voices. BBC Bristol responded to this last year with Paul Farley presenting an engagingly original format for new poetry, The Echo Chamber. Indicative names of presenters at pre-offers stage is always useful. And remember the guide price is a guide we try to adhere to – but for the occasional project that is offering an ambitious multi-platform idea, please make this clear at pre-offers and final offers stage. If the idea is the presenter’s or they have been involved in its development, please make this clear at the pre offers and final offers stage.to save confusion or embarrassment later. This is the home of the long-running and popular anthology series Poetry Please. Between runs we broadcast complementary works celebrating and investigating poetry, poets and the experience of writing and reading poetry.

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Please do not enter more than 10 offers for each of the arts slots. For BBC departments with an output guarantee, please limit your total offers to three times the number remaining in your guarantee. SOME PROGRAMMES COMMISSIONED / SHORTLISTED IN THE LAST ROUND 47114 Poetry

Title description

The Narrow Road to the Disaster Zone

Stephen Henry Gill in the poet Basho's path to areas of Japan devastated by the tsunami.

Adventures in Poetry Satirising politicians and patriotism is at the heart of a provocative poem by ee cummings

A Foreigner Everywhere Paul Farley explores the American poet Elizabeth Bishop's extraordinary years in Brazil.

The Person From Porlock Paul Farley seeks out the famous visitor who interrupted Coleridge's writing of Kubla Khan

Poems from the Pennines Poet Simon Armitage takes us on a journey to the Stanza Stones.

The New Group Ian Sansom on the contemporary poetry scene emerging in Northern Ireland.

Poetry 2012 - the Power of the Poem

Poetry 2012 - the Power of the Poem: offering a window into each Olympic nation

My Heart is in the East Medieval historian Miri Rubin explores the history of the most famous of Hebrew poems.

An Outcast of the Islands: Lady Grange

Kenneth Steven traces the forced journey of Lady Grange, abducted & imprisoned on St Kilda

THE SEAFARER Simon Armitage takes us to sea to explore one of the oldest poems in the English language.

Learning to Love Dafydd Gwyneth Lewis, the first Welsh Poet Laureate, goes in search of the Welsh language Chaucer

Return to Oasis Mike Greenwood visits Alamein on the trail of a unique anthology of World War Two poems.

Poetry Workshop Ruth Padel works on poems in progress with The Dove Cottage Poets in Grasmere.

A Few Don'ts The poet Lavinia Greenlaw revels in Ezra Pound's manifesto, A Few Don'ts by an Imagiste.

No Ideas But In Things: The Poetry of William Carlos Williams

Annie Freud explores the work of the all-American poet, William Carlos WIlliams.

Liz Lochhead: Poems for a New Scotland

A year in the life of Liz Lochhead, Scotland's 'Makar' or poet laureate

The Echo Chamber Adventures in strong language - the best of new poetry - introduced by Paul Farley.

Ursula Vaughan Williams, Poet and Muse

Irma Kurtz tells the story of poet Ursula Vaughan Williams, the composer's second wife.

Broken Paradise Poetry from 3 decades of Sri Lanka's civil war

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The Bards of Whitelocks Bar

Poet Jean Sprackland props up the bar of the oldest pub in Leeds - described by John Betjeman as 'the very heart of Leeds' and, in the company of bar staff, drinkers and poets, tells the story of the overlooked 'Leeds school' of poetry.

What I Read to the Dead: Wladislaw Szlengel

As life in the Warsaw Ghetto became first unbearable and then unliveable many sought out the words of the poet Wladislaw Szlengel. His poetry, written in the last months before final annihilation, gave hope and solace.

Sonnets to Orpheus

A feature about the creation and extraordinary appeal of a great modern masterpiece, Maria Rainer Rilke's 'Sonnets to Orpheus'.

Lindisfarne: Poetry in Progress

In the summer of 2013, after a 400 year absence from the North East, the Lindisfarne Gospels will be making their way home from the British Library to be displayed in Durham. The Gospels were originally created on the Holy Island of Lindisfarne - a place of spiritual and natural harmony, even today.

Poetry Please Roger McGough presents a selection of listeners poetry requests.

Poetry Idol Shahidha Bari goes on set for the 2014 season of The Million's Poet, broadcast from Abu Dahbi, to find out why poetry is rocking the Middle East.

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4.5 SPECIAL EVENTS and SEASONS

Commissioning Editor: jointly managed by the whole commissioning team

Reference number: 47132 Do not also put ideas for component programmes into other briefs unless asked to by a Commissioning Editor, once we have all assessed the special events proposals and decided which we want to proceed with. Eligibility: We invite proposals from BBC departments and independent production companies who can clearly demonstrate considerable experience in the relevant genres of radio production at both producer and executive producer level. Transmission period: April 2015 – March 2016 Guide price: Not applicable EDITORIAL GUIDE What distinguishes a Special Event or Season is that it should be a proposal on a single theme which crosses strands or day parts. The impact will be different and distinctive from the rest of the station’s schedule. A sense of occasion or celebration may be created. Special Events proposals might span a variety of commissioning briefs and their coherence becomes obvious only when the various parts are assembled. Sometimes, small, carefully constructed clusters of programmes might be commissioned from one supplier in their entirety, but more often Radio 4 management will want to take an active role in scoping out the scale and scheduling of a season. Therefore, ideas for Special Events that get past the pre-offers stage should be discussed with Commissioning Editors and the Controller before you do any work on the detail. Anniversaries and seasons might be celebrated on several or all stations. What we need is for your proposal for Radio 4 to be utterly distinctive and clearly shaped for our audience.

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However, we can be over-reliant on anniversaries. Therefore, we particularly welcome suggestions of events or a focus on a subject that will surprise the audience and be distinctive. Innovative treatments of more predictable events are also welcome. Some of our Special Events are contained within one day. The King James Bible, Bloomsday and Big Bang Day are examples. Others have spread more widely, in terms of programme style and timetable. These include MINT, Tweet of the Day, Comedy Advent Calendar, New Elizabethans, Foreign Bodies, The Real George Orwell, Listening Project, History of the World in a 100 Objects, Dangerous Visions, Martin Luther King’s Dream Speech, Cultural Exchange. Our World War coverage I has begun. With the big drama and factual strands that are launching we are unlikely to look for very much more. In addition, the following BBC clusters and seasons are already planned for 2014/15: Coding, Magna Carta and Waterloo. There are other specific Radio 4 plans in development that we will be able to discuss anon. With such events, the core programmes and the idea might come from one group of producers, but other programmes might subsequently be commissioned from elsewhere. We have recently found that event ideas which have been created collaboratively between different teams with varied expertise can be particularly striking. So, a seasonal event or idea might come from one source. But the station reserves the right to create a portfolio of programmes from other sources to provide the listener with the best possible schedule. So, Radio 4 is looking for:

special days or nights

landmark events

programmes, across the genres, which merit a different duration from what

the normal schedule allows.

Interactive Proposals for special events should also outline any interactive component they may have. This does not mean that every event has to have a big interactive wing or a “vote” – but it is an important consideration. Note the success of the Big Bang Day and History of the World online component. We are looking for big ideas with a fully integrated interactive dimension. Remember, though, that we are looking to commission only a very few such ideas this year, so do be realistic about the development time you devote to this area. Do not enter a budget estimate for the interactive element of your proposal. This will be considered on an ad hoc basis once we decide to take an idea forward.

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5 WORKING WITH BBC RADIO 4 Working with BBC Radio 4 is the essential handbook for all suppliers. Available at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/commissioning/radio/what-we-want/radio-4.shtml It covers:

Who’s who at Radio 4, with contact details

Delivery

Schedule information

Editorial requirements

Compliance

Title changes

Technical requirements

Listening copies

Live programmes

Durations

Announcements and credits

Programme Descriptions (billings, promotion notes & presentation details)

On-air promotion and written trails

Repeats

Scheduled and revised repeats

Delayed repeats

Publicity

Marketing

Audience Research

Audience Lines

Arranging Audience Lines support

Trailing Audience Lines on air

Feedback

Radio 4 Interactive

Broadcasting on the internet

Health and safety

Radio 4 contacts

Appendices A: Topicality status B: Credits on Radio 4 C: Making better trails D: Synopses for serials E: Summary of paperwork requirements F: Programme paperwork templates