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Words and Music Episodes

  1. Sand and Deserts

    Seroca Davis and Tommy Sim'aan with readings from Robyn Davidson to Alex Garland.

  2. Two

    Famous couples and pairs, present in nature and in cultures, inspired by the number two.

  3. Modernism in the 1920s

    Lisa Dwan and Anthony Howell with readings from the age of Joyce, Eliot and jazz.

  4. 惭辞濒颈猫谤别

    With speeches about hypochondria miserliness and self deception from the French playwright

  5. Seven Ages of Christmas

    Robert Webb and Nina Sosanya present a mix of festive music, poetry and prose.

  6. Madame Bovary and independent women

    Emma Fielding and Alex Jennings read from Flaubert's novel about a frustrated wife.

  7. Dungeons and Dragons

    From George and the Dragon to Puff the Magic Dragon to dungeons in The Pilgrim's Progress.

  8. Twilight

    With music by Bernard Herrman, Frank Bridge, Simon Holt and Sally Beamish.

  9. Mushrooms

    With extracts written by John Cage, Merlin Sheldrake, Margaret Atwood and Emily Dickinson.

  10. Keats

    The Romantic poet's writings on beauty, the seasons, his own health woven with music.

  11. Planes, Trains and Automobiles

    Actors Martins Imhangbe and Ruth Bradley at Contains Strong Language in Coventry.

  12. Translation

    From the idea of the interpreter and language differences to translating emotions in music

  13. Light and Shade

    Today's theme is prompted by contrasts in the work of Renaissance artist Caravaggio.

  14. Dante

    Visions of heaven and hell from the writings of Dante, set alongside musical evocations.

  15. Red

    The red-headed Tom Goodman-Hill and Bettrys Jones bring us red shoes, paint, love, death.

  16. The Dance

    From Bharatanatyam to ballroom, tango and tap to the tarantella.

  17. Walter Scott

    From gothic novels and history to music by Rossini, Thea Musgrave, Schubert and Berlioz.

  18. The Tudors

    From Shakespeare to Hilary Mantel, Byrd and Tallis to Britten.

  19. Happiness

    Helena Bonham Carter and Tim McInnerny with readings on the pursuit of happiness.

  20. Building and Sound

    Prose and poems inspired by architecture and music recorded for and in particular places.

  21. Two-tone

    Inspired by the musical fusion in 70s Coventry, we celebrate the mix of black and white.

  22. Bees

    Poetry and prose abuzz with apiarian delights, read by Sartaj Garewal and Verity Henry.

  23. Pictures at an Exhibition

    A programme celebrating the inspiration we find in galleries and museums as they re-open.

  24. Napoleon

    Simon Russell Beale and Natalie Simpson with readings from fact and fiction about Napoleon

  25. The Trumpet

    Poetry and prose about the trumpet, with readings by Madeleine Potter and Joseph Ayre.

  26. Coming of Age

    Josh O'Connor and Lydia Wilson with readings from Shakespeare to a bar mitzvah poem.

  27. 150 Years of The Royal Albert Hall

    Josie Lawrence and Petroc Trelawny with readings and music performed at the London venue.

  28. Theatre

    Rory Kinnear and Indira Varma pull open the curtains for a celebration of acting

  29. Twelve

    Twelve jury members, Norse gods, eggs, tone composition, bar blues and Force 12.

  30. Money

    Jonathan Keeble and Emily Pithon with readings from Trollope to Larkin and Imtiaz Dharker.

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