Speaking at The Radio Festival in Manchester, BBC Radio 4 Controller Gwyneth Williams revealed some major forthcoming highlights for the network.

Radio 4 will broadcast special programmes celebrating the art of sound, storytelling and listening from the More Than Words Festival in Bristol; a Melvyn Bragg series telling the story of the written word; and programmes to mark the 45th anniversary of Just A Minute.

Gwyneth announced that Radio 4 and St George’s concert hall in Bristol will host the More Than Words Festival next March. Several Radio 4 programmes will be broadcast from St George’s, and the festival will feature a host of other events celebrating creativity, culture, journalism and the art of listening. Radio 4 will also broadcast a special five part poem by Owen Sheers - a poetic re-telling and updating of Homer’s Odyssey set in modern–day Bristol.

Melvyn Bragg’s series, Written World, details the story of the written word, from its origins in the Middle East 6,000 years ago to the present day. The series will explore how writing has enabled the dissemination of thought worldwide and, featuring works from the British Library and input from its curators, will detail how writing has enabled different civilisations to pass on ideas, knowledge and culture.

Radio 4 also plans to broadcast a series of programmes to celebrate 45 years of Just A Minute (JAM).

A documentary presented by chairman Nicholas Parsons and regular panellist Paul Merton will explore JAM’s popularity in India. Just A Minute: A Crazy Adventure In Time will reveal JAM clubs which have sprung up all over the country, playing a team version of the game.

And the series will also include two special editions of JAM, chaired by Nicholas Parsons, to be recorded in India with Paul Merton, another regular panellist and two Indian guest panellists.

---

Related Articles:
Michelle Dignan Joins BBC Radio 5 Live as Breakfast Travel Reporter (02-11-2011) BBC Announces Launch of BBC Audio Drama Awards (29-10-2011) BBC Radio Ulster and Foyle Hold Top Spot in NI (29-10-2011) BBC Local Radio Sees 250k Increase in Q3, 2011 (29-10-2011) BBC Radio Sees Highest Listener Hours for Three Years (29-10-2011) BBC Radio 3 to Celebrate the Symphony this Autumn (29-10-2011) Ben Cooper Appointed Controller, BBC Radio 1 and 1Xtra (29-10-2011) BBC Radio Announces Remembrance Week Programming (29-10-2011) Fearne Cotton and Zane Lowe Host BBC Radio 1's Student Tour 2011 (16-10-2011) BBC Radio 1's Teen Awards Honour Inspirational Teenagers in Glittering Awards Ceremony (16-10-2011)