Listings:

"Diaries are like conversation...even if the conversation is with oneself." Alan Bennett. The eighties were a busy time for Alan Bennett. His insider's ear on the arts world - Thora Hird and Coral Browne, Denholm Elliot and Maggie Smith - is eccentric and unmissable. But Bennett's canvas also includes his mother, a writer's tour of Russia, life in New York and Camden, filming in Egypt, the Falklands War, Mrs Thatcher and Yorkshire. Bennett's eye-view of the decade confirms him as one of life's great observers - clear-eyed, compassionate and funny.

Alistair Cooke's biographer introduces a selection of archive recordings, including radio and television interviews and extracts from Letter From America, in a fascinating in-depth look at the career of the veteran journalist."Such experience, wisdom and education are unlikely ever again to combine in one journalist" - ciritic Mark Lawson.

Anneke Wills has had an extraordinary life. Born in 1941 and raised by her eccentric mother, the presence of a violent and oppressive step-father cast a shadow over her otherwise fairytale childhood. Anneke became a child actress, appearing in her first film at 11, and became one of the busiest British actresses of the 1960s. In Self Portrait, she tells of her amazing life, from living with one of Britains foremost musical families while at drama school, to embracing the swinging sixties. Anneke counted among her close friends the leading lights of the time including Peter Cook, Sammy Davis Jnr., Michael Caine and Mary Quant. Anneke studied at RADA alongside Edward Fox and Sarah Miles. She had a relationship with legendary star Anthony Newley which ended in heartbreak and scars that would last a lifetime. Being at the heart of The Chelsea Set, she spent her time at trendy jazz clubs, the legendary Troubadour Caf and the satirical nightclub, The Establishment. Annekes fascinating career had a backdrop of a unique personal life. Her marriage to distinguished actor Michael Gough became turbulent as his jealousy, temper and infidelity grew. In 1966 Anneke set the standard for sexy Doctor Who girls, having already appeared in many classic TV productions, including working with Roger Moore in The Saint, and roles in The Likely Lads and The Avengers. After a lead role in the classic series Strange Report, and having suffered a terrible personal tragedy, Anneke moved to Norfolk to focus on her marriage and children. There, this story leaves her, the second half of her unique life will be covered in her second book, due for release at the end of 2008. Self Portrait is an extraordinary voyage, from post-war childhood to the most important decade of recent times.

Born in 1951 in the middle of the United States Des Moines, Iowa Bryson is perfectly positioned to mine his memories of a totally all-American childhood for twenty-four carat memoir gold. Like millions of his generation, Bill Bryson grew up with a rich fantasy life as a superhero: in his case, he ran around the house wearing a jersey with a thunderbolt on it, and a towel round his neck that served as his cape, leaping tall buildings in a single bound and vanquishing evildoers (in his head) as The Thunderbolt Kid. Using his old fantasy life as a springboard, Bill Bryson recreates the life of his family in the 1950s in all its transcendent normality. Warm and laugh-out-loud funny, The Thunderbolt Kid is full of Bill Bryson's inimitable, pitch-perfect observations. Complete and unabridged.

Hardly anyone ever leaves Des Moines, Iowa. But Bill Bryson did, and after ten years in England he decided to go home - to a foreign country. In an ageing Chevrolet Chevette, he drove nearly 14,000 miles through 38 states to compile this hilarious and perceptive state-of-the-nation report on small-town America. From the Deep South to the Wild West, from Elvis' birthplace through to Custer's Last Stand, Bryson visits places he re-named Dullard, Coma and Doldrum (so the residents don't sue or come after him with baseball bats). But his hopes of finding the American dream end in a nightmare of greed, ignorance and pollution. This is a wickedly witty and savagely funny assessment of a country lost to itself - and to him. Travel through small-town America with Kerry Shale's popular BBC Radio 4 reading of Bill Bryson's comic travelogue.

Dylan Thomas is one of the 20th century's most celebrated poets. His rich rhetoric created poems of magical imagery - nowhere is language more rich and fantastic than in his best-known work, Under Milk Wood. He was also a popular radio entertainer and the BBC Archives contain a wealth of material featuring Dylan Thomas - not only readings of his own work, but also dramatic readings of other work such as Dr Faustus. These, together with interviews with the poet, form a fascinating audio portrait of a brilliant man. Dylan Thomas at the BBC is presented by Paul Ferris, biographer of Thomas and editor of his letters.

This stunning release includes the highly acclaimed re-make of Dylan's definitive play, Under Milk Wood with Richard Burton and Sian Phillips as the first and second voices. Dylan Thomas's lyrical masterpiece traces the lives of a group of villagers in a tiny Welsh seaport. With words good enough to eat, Dylan Thomas portrays their innermost thoughts from fantastic dreamworlds to waking lives full of a riotous mix of prudery and bawdiness. Also included is Dylan Thomas at the BBC, the BBC Archives contain a wealth of material featuring Dylan Thomas - not only readings of his own work, but also dramatic readings of other work such as Dr Faustus. These, together with interviews with the poet, form a fascinating audio portrait of a brilliant man. Released to coincide with the 50th anniversary since Under Milkwood won the Prix Italia and the 90th anniversary of Dylan Thomas's birth.

Taken from the new book of the same name, these are Tony Benn's diaries from 1991 - 2001, read by Tony Benn. Free at Last encompass's the Gulf War, the rise of New Labour, and the global consequences of the attack on the World Trade Center in September 2001. These political observations are entwined with a moving personal account of family life to produce a unique view of the contemporary world from a senior Labour figure.

An abridged reading of the autobiography of John Barrowman, star of Doctor Who and its spin-off series Torchwood, judge on BBC1s top-rating talent shows How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria? and Any Dream Will Do, and all-round star of stage and screen. It is the life story of one of show businesss best-loved figures. Tracing Johns life from his Glaswegian childhood and American adolescence, this no-holds-barred insight into the career of a multi-talented star includes his first big break (when he triumphed in an Anything Goes open casting to star opposite theatre legend Elaine Paige), his unmatched West End achievement, his move into American primetime television, his successin in films such as De-Lovely and The Producer; and his current mainstream appeal as the hottest talent on the BBC.

John Peel Remembered includes the Radio 4 Book of the Week serialisation of Margrave of the Marshes, Peel's part-written autobiography completed by his wife, Sheila Ravenscroft and a Home Truths Special, a special programme to mark the anniversary of John Peel's death, in which Tom Robinson visits Peel Acres to meet John's wife Sheila and their four children

Playwright, actor, singer, songwriter, poet and scriptwriter, Sir Nol Coward used his talent to amuse to spectacular effect for almost sixty years. Sir Laurence Olivier, Lord Mountbatten and Joyce Carey are just some of the voices heard paying tribute to the elegant star in this audio biography which is linked by the broadcaster and critic Sheridan Morley. Extracts from interviews with Coward himself, several of his songs and moments from his plays come together to form a fascinating picture of one of the twentieth centurys theatre greats.

Michael Palin sifts through the long comic career of Peter Cook and comes up with one great comedy nuggett after another. "A strange and funny man, and a loss to comedy" Daily Mail 30.10.2004. The first voice you hear is the immortal E L Wisty. Alan Bennett amongst many other well known names also pays tribute to this comedy genius. A must for all fans of Peter Cook or anyone who appreciates British comedy at its very finest.

In this documentary portrait of Kenneth Williams, who died in 1988, the much-loved comedy actor's diaries are drawn upon to illustrate his life and career. David Benson, who won acclaim for his one-man show in which he portrayed Kenneth Williams, reads extracts from the diaries, whilst archive clips from such programmes as Round the Horne and Beyond Out Ken show the madcap versatility of Williams the performer. This Radio Collection version features material additional to the original Radio 4 broadcast. 'What makes this worth listening to...is David Benson's readings from Williams's diaries.' Radio Times

'To get a job where the only thing you have to do in your career is to make people laugh...well, it's the best job in the world,' says Ronnie Barker. And few are better at it, as this compilation of highlights from over three decades in radio and television shows. From his early radio career in shows such as The Navy Lark and Lines From My Grandfather's Forehad to his television successes The Frost Report, Porridge, Open All Hours and, of course, The Two Ronnies, it's Barker at his brilliant best.

Researched and written by Russell Davies, and presented by Denis Norden, this one hour documentary was broadcast on BBC Radio 2 on Christmas Eve 2002. In telling Spike's life story it will make extensive use of broadcast material as well as his music, books, poems, war memoirs and writings for children. Most particularly, it will utilise correspondence from and to Spike, taken from the BBC Written Archives, much of it never before seen or heard by a wide audience. Spike's correspondence with the BBC covered many topics and was never less than hugely entertaining; this tribute will contain the best of it.

Terry Wogan is one of Britain's best-loved radio and television celebrities - witty, charming and relaxed - and has undoubtedly captured the nation's heart. Here, Terry tells his life story from his beginnings as a young Limerick boy to his incredible success as an enduring celebrity with shows such as Wogan and The Eurovision Song Contest.

In this much-praised interview, octogenarian Peter Ustinov talks to John Bird. The man of many talents has an astonishing range of accomplishments behind him as an Oscar-winning film and theatre actor, author of novels, plays and screenplays. He is also a raconteur, graphic artist, photographer, stage director and designer and the recipient of many humanitarian awards for his work with UNICEF and UNESCO. In this interview he talks about his hectic life and times, about family life, schools sports, the army, spying, Hollywood and radio comedy with Peter Jones, Nero and Pol Pot, God and Andre Agassi. Originally broadcast on Radio 4 in April 2001, unheard material and an introduction by John Bird is included

An exceptional audio portrait of the life and career of one of Britains greatest leaders in one special collection. Churchill Remembered Drawing on a wealth of archive broadcasts, including Churchill himself, this is a fascinating and illuminating recording of his remarkable life, recounted in his own words and by those who knew him from the BBC archive Never Give In! Winston Churchills Greatest Speeches, digitally remastered. Selected and produced by his grandson Winston S. Churchill, they include: Blood, toil, tears and sweat, This was their finest hour, The Few, An Iron Curtain has descended and Give us the tools. Speaking for Themselves A fascinating blend of fact, memory and sheer romance, this collection of personal letters between Winston Churchill and his wife Clementine paints an intimate and occasionally poignant portrait of one of this centurys most successful and long-lasting partnerships.These three recordings together make up a unique portrait of a unique man.