Hercule Poirot's ghost is grilled on Today, while two great outsiders are remembered
*Today* (Radio 4) | iPlayer
*The Brave New World* (Radio 4) | iPlayer
*Bright, Black and Looking for Work* (Radio 4) | iPlayer
*Junior Just a Minute* (Radio 4 Extra) | iPlayer
There is a mischievous spirit at large at BBC news, it seems, with Newsnight's Kirsty Wark showing us her Thriller moves, Paxo sporting knuckle tatts and the *Today* programme making some oddly left-field moves. Recently, John Humphrys gave a series of suspiciously well-informed band descriptions for the Mercury prize ("Disclosure... tear-drenched soul melodies and spidery basslines"; "Foals... mesmerisingly chaotic live shows"; and, my favourite, "Rudimental... you probably get them mixed up with Chase and Status. I don't"). And last week, James Naughtie interviewed the ghost of Hercule Poirot.
Poirot's ghost was reflective, as ghosts can be – "I died with a feeling of great guilt, because of what I had done"– which Naughtie handled well. There has been some negative reaction to Today's new fripperies, but, personally, I like a laugh before the school run.
Back to more familiar BBC ground: a documentary based on an anniversary. Except that this doc – *The Brave New World* – used JFK's assassination in November 1963 not to consider his own legacy, but to explore the lives of two other great men. On the day that the US president was murdered, both CS Lewis and Aldous Huxley also died: Lewis in Oxford, from renal failure; Huxley, in California, from cancer and via two doses of LSD administered, on his request, by his wife. This programme explored both men's lives – how they were both affected by war and faith and new technology, how they both remained outsiders from the British establishment – Lewis through his Irishness (he turned down a CBE) and Huxley because he lived in America for much of his life and would keep trying to expand his already vast mind through illegal drugs.
I liked the construction of the programme: no presenter, just a series of sound clips mingled with experts and biographers contextualising each writer's approach. Lewis and Huxley went to Oxford around the same time; Lewis was conscripted and served during the first world war; Huxley volunteered but was rejected for being semi-blind in one eye.
Their approach to writing and philosophy changed as they grew older – Lewis was once an atheistcorrect, which I didn't know – and they were much concerned with the state and fate of the human race. It was lovely to hear them speak, too, in those extravagant yet clipped voices of the early 20th century. An absorbing audio portrait; a nice surprise, somehow, in the Radio 4 schedule.
Another Radio 4 surprise: *Bright, Black and Looking for Work* let us hear from young black men and it was only when you heard them speak that you realised how rare their voices were on the station. Dotun Adebayo reconnected with a group of black boys who, in 2006, when they were 12, were selected to go on a scheme called Generating Genius. This was headed by a man called Tony Sewell, who we didn't hear much from: we didn't miss him, as the boys themselves were such great interviews. In 2006, they were taken to Jamaica to study for four weeks in a high-achieving environment surrounded by successful black people. The next few summers were spent in Britain, at various universities, again with strong black role models (crucially, not just from the worlds of music or sport).
We met four of these GG kids as impressive young adults, studying science subjects, planning to be teachers, doctors or engineers or to make money in the City. They know the stats are against them – in the UK, 49% of black men aged 16-24 are unemployed, compared with 21% of white men – but they are prepared and determined. It would be nice to hear from them in another seven years. Also, from some other Generating Genius graduates: the scheme has had to expand, as now it's young white boys who are underachieving.
No underachievers on 4Xtra's new series, *Junior Just a Minute*: young chatterboxes joined forces with the likes of Jenny Eclair and Josie Lawrence to talk with the familiar restrictions. And they were great. I could have done without Nicholas Parsons's patronising tone, however. I know he means to be nice, but no child – nobody – likes being talked down to. Reported by guardian.co.uk 2 days ago.
*Today* (Radio 4) | iPlayer
*The Brave New World* (Radio 4) | iPlayer
*Bright, Black and Looking for Work* (Radio 4) | iPlayer
*Junior Just a Minute* (Radio 4 Extra) | iPlayer
There is a mischievous spirit at large at BBC news, it seems, with Newsnight's Kirsty Wark showing us her Thriller moves, Paxo sporting knuckle tatts and the *Today* programme making some oddly left-field moves. Recently, John Humphrys gave a series of suspiciously well-informed band descriptions for the Mercury prize ("Disclosure... tear-drenched soul melodies and spidery basslines"; "Foals... mesmerisingly chaotic live shows"; and, my favourite, "Rudimental... you probably get them mixed up with Chase and Status. I don't"). And last week, James Naughtie interviewed the ghost of Hercule Poirot.
Poirot's ghost was reflective, as ghosts can be – "I died with a feeling of great guilt, because of what I had done"– which Naughtie handled well. There has been some negative reaction to Today's new fripperies, but, personally, I like a laugh before the school run.
Back to more familiar BBC ground: a documentary based on an anniversary. Except that this doc – *The Brave New World* – used JFK's assassination in November 1963 not to consider his own legacy, but to explore the lives of two other great men. On the day that the US president was murdered, both CS Lewis and Aldous Huxley also died: Lewis in Oxford, from renal failure; Huxley, in California, from cancer and via two doses of LSD administered, on his request, by his wife. This programme explored both men's lives – how they were both affected by war and faith and new technology, how they both remained outsiders from the British establishment – Lewis through his Irishness (he turned down a CBE) and Huxley because he lived in America for much of his life and would keep trying to expand his already vast mind through illegal drugs.
I liked the construction of the programme: no presenter, just a series of sound clips mingled with experts and biographers contextualising each writer's approach. Lewis and Huxley went to Oxford around the same time; Lewis was conscripted and served during the first world war; Huxley volunteered but was rejected for being semi-blind in one eye.
Their approach to writing and philosophy changed as they grew older – Lewis was once an atheistcorrect, which I didn't know – and they were much concerned with the state and fate of the human race. It was lovely to hear them speak, too, in those extravagant yet clipped voices of the early 20th century. An absorbing audio portrait; a nice surprise, somehow, in the Radio 4 schedule.
Another Radio 4 surprise: *Bright, Black and Looking for Work* let us hear from young black men and it was only when you heard them speak that you realised how rare their voices were on the station. Dotun Adebayo reconnected with a group of black boys who, in 2006, when they were 12, were selected to go on a scheme called Generating Genius. This was headed by a man called Tony Sewell, who we didn't hear much from: we didn't miss him, as the boys themselves were such great interviews. In 2006, they were taken to Jamaica to study for four weeks in a high-achieving environment surrounded by successful black people. The next few summers were spent in Britain, at various universities, again with strong black role models (crucially, not just from the worlds of music or sport).
We met four of these GG kids as impressive young adults, studying science subjects, planning to be teachers, doctors or engineers or to make money in the City. They know the stats are against them – in the UK, 49% of black men aged 16-24 are unemployed, compared with 21% of white men – but they are prepared and determined. It would be nice to hear from them in another seven years. Also, from some other Generating Genius graduates: the scheme has had to expand, as now it's young white boys who are underachieving.
No underachievers on 4Xtra's new series, *Junior Just a Minute*: young chatterboxes joined forces with the likes of Jenny Eclair and Josie Lawrence to talk with the familiar restrictions. And they were great. I could have done without Nicholas Parsons's patronising tone, however. I know he means to be nice, but no child – nobody – likes being talked down to. Reported by guardian.co.uk 2 days ago.