On Start the Week Andrew Marr celebrates myth and fairy tales. With the coming 200th anniversary of the first edition of the Grimm Brothers' Tales, Philip Pullman presents new versions of his favourite stories, from the classic quests and romance to the lesser-known tales of villainous kings and wicked wives. Sara Maitland explores the idea that these fairy tales are intimately connected to forests. The theatre director, Tim Supple looks east to the tales of life and death in One Thousand and One Nights. And at the Royal Opera House, Keith Warner, presents his production of the vast, mythical world of Richard Wagner's Ring Cycle. Producer: Katy Hickman.
More or Less: Behind the Stats - Investigating crime statistics
Ruth Alexander investigates Sweden's high rape rate, and finds out which countries are the surprise leaders of the world kidnap league. Plus, who went home from the London 2012 Games with more medals ? Olympians or Paralympians? This programme was first broadcast on the BBC World Service
Start the Week - Salman Rushdie
In a special edition of Start the Week Andrew Marr talks to Salman Rushdie. For a decade the writer was forced to live under police protection after being 'sentenced to death' by the Ayatollah Khomeini following the publication of his novel, The Satanic Verses. He talks about living in hiding, under an alias, Joseph Anton, and how he gradually secured his freedom. Rushdie argues that we are 'story-telling animals', but more than twenty years since his controversial book was banned around the world, Andrew Marr asks what impact this has had on the stories we tell.
More or Less: Behind the Stats - Where are the Paralympics Medals?
Why did the USA top the gold medals league in the Olympics, but not the Paralympics? Ruth Alexander examines the performance numbers of the London 2012 Paralympic Games and discovers which countries are punching above their weight, and which below. And Yan Wong tries to calculate how many opening bars are possible in music. This programme was first broadcast on the BBC World Service.
More or Less: Behind the Stats - How to explain infinity to a 4-year-old
?What?s the number before infinity?? asks Claudia, aged 4. We challenge Johnny Ball, legendary British TV presenter, to explain. And in celebration of the voice of Sesame Street?s Count von Count, Jerry Nelson, who?s died aged 78, there?s another chance to hear our 2009 interview with the Count, in which he revealed his favourite number: 34,969. Presented by Ruth Alexander, this programme was first broadcast on the BBC World Service.
More or Less: Behind the Stats - Are African leaders more likely to die in office?
The Prime Minister of Ethiopia is the fourth African premier to die this year alone. Are African leaders more likely to die in office, than their counterparts elsewhere? Also: does marriage make economic sense?
More or Less: Behind the Stats - Levelling the statistical playing field
Given that some countries are richer than others, and some have larger populations, what should the Olympic medal tally really have looked like? Also: numbers help us understand the world. But for Daniel Tammet, author of ?Thinking in Numbers". They don't just help him to understand the world - but to be a part of it.
More or Less: Behind the Stats - The great playing field sell off?
Given that some countries are richer than others, and some have larger populations, what should the Olympic medal tally really have looked like? Also: numbers help us understand the world. But for Daniel Tammet, author of ?Thinking in Numbers". They don't just help him to understand the world - but to be a part of it.
More or Less: Behind the Stats - How to lose money – fast!
Last week Knight Capital lost a lot of money very quickly. It was the latest chapter in the story of something called ?high frequency trading?. Investors have always valued being the first with the news. But high frequency trading is different: algorithms execute automatic trades, conducted by computers, at astonishing speeds. We ask: is the rapid growth of high frequency trading progress, or ? as some think ? a threat to the stability of the entire financial system?
More or Less: Behind the Stats - How to lose money – fast!
Last week Knight Capital lost a lot of money very quickly. It was the latest chapter in the story of something called ?high frequency trading?. Investors have always valued being the first with the news. But high frequency trading is different: algorithms execute automatic trades, conducted by computers, at astonishing speeds. We ask: is the rapid growth of high frequency trading progress, or ? as some think ? a threat to the stability of the entire financial system?