BBC Radio 4 - Called To Account - 14:00 14th July 2007

[flamesong]

I get the impression that nobody on this forum listens to Radio 4 as there seems to be more discussion about Big Brother than the Radio 4's total output.

Well, if anybody is remotely interested, The Saturday Play today (14:00, 14th July 2007) is 'Called To Account':

In early 2007, two leading barristers tested the evidence as to whether there would be sufficient grounds to indict the British Prime Minister for the crime of aggression against Iraq. They examined a number of distinguished witnesses, including Members of Parliament, diplomats, United Nations officials, Intelligence experts and journalists.

Their revealing testimony was re-told by actors in The Tricycle Theatre's critically acclaimed tribunal play Called to Account - The Indictment of Anthony Charles Lynton Blair for the crime of aggression against Iraq - A Hearing.

To mark the resignation of Tony Blair, the original cast return in this specially adapted version for BBC Radio 4.

[Sixy]

Just to let people know that the play begins at 2.30pm.

[John White]

Its good, trying to avoid screaming "pull the other one" at various points (LOL)

Should be "listen again" through the Radio 4 website over the next week

[flamesong]

[Mark Gobell]

I listened to this today whilst on a long journey and with great expectations, was slightly bemused.

The presentation was excellent. The actors were very believable, notwithstanding the caricature of Michael Mates.

The actress who voiced Clare Short was superb.

Whilst not knowing if her line about Robin Cook not turning up for the cabinet debate was true or just dramatic licence, I was, like her character, perplexed that he was replaced by the Attorney General Goldsmith, Bliar's mate, sitting in Cook's chair, after he had resigned.

I was also puzzled as to the array of characters called for the prosecution.

This was supposed to be a hearing to determine whether Bliar was indictable for going to war with Iraq.

Yet we had an array of interested parties, all apologising for not being legal experts, explaining their own, anti Bliar views !

I applaud their sentiments, but it hardly fulfilled the billing it received imo.

However, I did think that the prosecutions summing up was very compelling.

Pity we didn't get a verdict.

That's for our minds for now and for our efforts later I hope.

Originally produced by the Tricycle Theater Company

[Craig W]

[flamesong]

I started listening to Radio 4 since 1979 when I was about 19 in a very solitary job in the Fleet Air Arm. I'd listen virtually all day long. I still can't get used to Woman's Hour being on in the morning!

That said, I haven't forgotten where the on/off switch is and there are a few programmes I can't bear which I switch off; Gardeners Question Time, Just a Minute and until supersnob Sue Lawley was recently mummified (apart from polluting the otherwise excellent lectures by Daniel Barenboim) Desert Island Discs.

There is a lot of talk on here about the injustice of the TeeVee licence but whenever I see that there are hardly any members logged on here at peak viewing time I wonder what must be captivating them on the propaganda box - and that's not to say that it isn't wise to have filters activated when listening to Radio 4.

Simply being able to get on with other stuff whilst being intellectually engaged is brain food rather than brain poison.

I recorded 'Called to Account', and the first part of 'A Second To Midnight' (part two next Friday) and will share them via BitTorrent just as soon as I have some bandwidth to do so - I'm currently fulfilling my upload obligations to maintain a positive share ratio and hence good karma - hopefully in the next 24 hours. I'll post a link here.

Anyway, 'I'm Sorry I haven't A Clue' is just starting...

[blackcat]

"One moment Lionel was feeling Happy - the next minute he came all over Grumpy"

[flamesong]