Wow, Vee,
I checked it out and it sounds/seems fantastic!
I have actually wished we in the U.S. had stories/books read like the BBC has on certain channels. I know we can get books on audiotapes and interesting talk on PBR, but this is one of thos cozy Britishy things!

I emailed you, Vee! Mollie

Great to be so prepared and be able to write the times down where I cant miss them - as I so often do - really looking forward to this.
Thanks Vee.

Our Dido is doing some good stuff! I wish I could get BBC radio.

American radio is unremitting bad news, talkshows and canned music. We used to have plays, serials, live concerts, comedies, kids' programming, and everything else; but except for a few things, such as "The Prairie Home Companion," they have evaporated -- actually I'm not even sure "PHC" is still on.

How many Brits, on average, tune in to this literary-type programming, Vee, and all of radio, for that matter; do you know?

Frieda, are you sure you can't get the BBC via 'Real Player' on your computer. Go to the site above and click onto either 'Audio Help', 'related links' or 'listen again' and see what happens. Failing that get one of those hunky men in your life to have a go. Sorry to you feminists I know it's not 'Way to go Sisters' but . . .

I've trawled through Google to find audience figures for the BBC and have put a site up below; it's not all that good.

As you know there are several national BBC radio channels and many locals ones which are OK for 'easy listening', traffic reports, gardening tips etc.
Radio 1 is pop music
Radio 2 'older' pop, jazz, big bands,
talks on for eg Buddy Holly, Dick Haymes, Ottis Redding.
Radio 3 is classical music with concerts, a composer of the week, eg Debussy from Monday, 'improving' talks eg history of the Civil Rights movt in the US, another from the US by Harry Allen on the Hispanics/Spanish Harlem, the Pan-African Congress and sometimes rather 'high-brow' plays.
Radio 4 (which our radios are tuned to) A huge mixture of news, discussions, readings, quizzes, comedy, finance, food, book readings, short stories, serials (where dido comes into her own), health. Everyday, as laid down in the BBC Charter, we have several shipping forecasts and the religious 'Daily Service' and a Sunday service from churches around the UK.
Children's progs have almost disappeared.
Radio 5 is news, sport, and phone-ins.

The above stations no longer need a licence but are paid for out of the �130 plus pa, we pay for a TV licence. The BBC carries no advertising. Thank God.

There are also any number of commercial stations.

Here is a link that might be useful: Radio Listening Figures

Sorry in the licence info. I was trying to write pound £ sign!

I've tried the RealPlayer bit several times-it tells me it's loaded, it tells me its there, it tells me its playing-and no sound comes out of the speakers-which are turned on, and which are turned up!
I"M the "hunky guy" in this family that does the computer-DH needs help with email.
grrr.

Hmmm, 90% of Britons listen to the radio. I tried to find the American statistics, but there was so much gobbledy-gook to wade through that I gave up. I imagine, though, that there's a high percentage of Americans who listen to the radio but what they listen to is bound to be different from that of Brits. Even if we had things divided out the way the BBC does it, the percentages for some channels would languish in the mud, ratings-wise.

Vee, all my hunky men are scattered to the four corners of the earth right now -- and will be for the foreseeable future. Like Cece, I can't seem to get the Real Player thing to work. I'll mess with it some more, but I tell you I'm pretty much inept at computer rigging. The computer I carry with me on trips doesn't have speakers, or if it does I don't know how the heck to turn them on.

Btw, I owe you some photos; but if you want them, you'll have to explain to me how to send 'em. I did get DS#2 to print out instructions for me, but I can't follow his byzantine process.

Is Dido keeping you apprised of what her future projects are? And is there an archive where I can find her past efforts?

I've only been able to get RealPlayer once, and then by chance.

It's my impression that most Americans don't listen much to radio programs. One exception might be those for niche audiences, lovers of certain music (folk, jazz, opera, classical guitar, for example).

The one person I know who listens religiously to radio for hours each day is a transplanted Englishwoman!

Thanks for your interest, friends. It's the 150th anniversary, almost to the month I think, of MB. What a wonderful book!

Frieda, I've asked Vee if she will put up a link for a website I know of which is the last word on BBC Radio Drama and dramatists. I can't put it up: I'm a walking disaster area when it comes to doing anything other than simple things on a computer. And you know my name, if you want to look it up.

Hey - Vee - useless as I am, I, too, am the only approximation to a computer 'expert' in this household. DP's computer is about 3,000 years old and he goes foetal if one suggests (gently) that he might like a more modern replacement.

Dido

Frieda, actually, in my part of the US we can and do get live radio concerts. In the Tidewater part of Va. in which I live, we have a classical radio station. I've fallen out of the habit of listening to it of late for various reasons. Various programs are on it dealing with classical guitar, Scottish and Irish folk, sometimes Klezmer music, jazz, et al. also.As recently as last year, Prairie Home Companion was on, as well. As for the all "bad news", there are many who find National Public Radio interesting and entertaining. The last time I listened to it, there was even a BBC program, which was ca. a year ago....

Here is the site that Dido mentioned. Lots of interesting things once you start wandering around. We really don't know how lucky we are in the UK, with all the quality stuff on the 'wireless'.

Here is a link that might be useful: Radio Drama

Mary, as much as I hate to admit it, the eastern states have more audience for diverse, aesthetic programs than the western states, including Hawai'i. As for NPR, I have listened to it sporadically and haven't been very interested in what I heard -- perhaps if I listened more, I would hear better things.

Thank you, Dido and Vee. Yes, you really are lucky to have high-calibre entertainment, especially on the radio. I know you have your share of rubbish on television and radio, but comparatively...

It irks me no end that while we Americans do eventually get the best of the British media, we export too much of our garbage television and godawful overblown films. When I was in Australia a couple of months ago, I was appalled at all the bad American stuff that was on there. I wanted to see Australian television, but unfortunately what I viewed couldn't have been their best (which wasn't much, because my hosts were watching the American crud -- I guess for the novelty of it, or something; it beats me). I listened to some Aussie radio too, but I could never find a channel that wasn't pop music so I still don't know what they really have available. Thing is, we do have good stuff, too, but it gets buried in all the muck.

Hands up who's been listening to Dido's adaptation? Still available at the BBC site, with re-runs until the end of next week.

Things are certainly hotting-up for Emma Bovary.
My goodness, we had to pour a bucket of cold water over the radio this morning.

My DH has XM radio in his car, for the sports and retro music, and I've listened there to BBC, but BBC America isn't quite what I wanted-not enough of the dramas, too much of world news-that's depressing enough in an American accent! I listen to NPR all day, at home and in the car. (We are also happy to be supporting members. Hate to see it disappear from my car dial!) I'd rather do that than have the TV going in the background, like some friends-I dislike American talk shows like Oprah and Dr. Phil. And if I put on the shows I enjoy, cooking and home improvement, I'd sit down to watch and never get anything accomplished.
On NPR, I like classical music, but also enjoy the morning and late afternoon news, discussion and interview shows. My favorite day on NPR is defintely Saturday for the news and funny shows-Weekend Edition; Car Talk; Wait Wait Don't Tell Me; Prairie Home Companion. I've been known to sit in the drive-through bank line howling with laughter and getting some strange looks.

Okay, I've written a lenghty post 3 times already and somehow keep loosing it. You guys would have been impressed, too, I included tons of links. Anyhow...

I missed the first week. Sorry, Dido.

Sorry, too, that some of you cannot listen to all the on-line resources. As far as I know all Public Broadcasting is available. Ten years of A Prairie Home Companion are all on line for your listening pleasure. I frequently listen to the Diane Rehm Show online - she interviews guest authors for her second hour and opens the phone lines for questions.

Frieda, most any stereo earbuds would probably work for your laptop - cheap and easy to stash.

CeCe, have you gone into your Control Panel to see if the Sound is muted?

it's not-I can watch the videos from Project Runway with no problem...(my secret vice!)

I just got that Realplayer downloaded (I had lots of problems initially), thinking that I could listen to the first week but it appears to be gone! Did anyone save the first week. I didn't realize that it was on every day for a week for 15 minutes--I thought it would be on for an hour at least, and that it was a weekly event.
Please help!

When I went to Vee's link, I noticed that Small Island is up. I would love to hear the accents. But what does the following mean?:

Monday 18 September - Friday 10 September

Small Island

Surely that must be a typo on the website?

janalyn I think this must be a typo, but it does start on Mon 18 Sept.

We will now be able to hear the 'hissing through the teeth' sound made by Jamaicans.

btw the actress who played Madame B. should get an award for all the sound effects she did . . . passionate panting, crying, choking to death etc.
Well done Dido!

janalyn Small Island starts this am (Monday 18th) and will be on for three weeks.
I hope I'm not the only RP'er listening to it.

Here is a link that might be useful: Small Island

Oh I am! The accents are wonderful and since the book is so fresh in my mind, I am thoroughly enjoying it. I am still waiting to hear the "sucking teeth" sound. lol