Christmas Short Stories

Series

Title

First
Broadcast

Comments

How to Escape in Gaelic

20161221

A series of short stories specially written for BBC Radio 4 by Alexander McCall Smith, the bestselling author of the No.1 Ladies' Detective Agency. Each story is set at Christmastime and each features the giving of special gifts.

In this third story, "How To Escape in Gaelic", read by James Fleet, an enterprising former Professor of Aeronautical Engineering puts his specialised knowledge to good use in order to escape the confines of a compassionless care home.

The four other stories in the series are read by Hannah Gordon, Trevor White, William Gaminara and Stephanie Cole. They range in subject matter from a generous 75-year-old German female owner of a Wall of Death, to a hot-tempered Canadian chef discovering humility at the hands of a food critic, to the dutiful President of an Eastern European country attending to the poor; and not forgetting Cousin Grace who, over a very dry Martini, shares her adventures in love (just the four marriages, so far) with three rapt young relatives.

Reader: James Fleet

Writer: Alexander McCall Smith

Producer: Kirsteen Cameron.

James Fleet reads a short story by Alexander McCall Smith, set on the Isle of Mull.

Readings from modern classics, new works by leading writers and world literature

Motordrome

20161219

A series of short stories specially written for Radio 4 by Alexander McCall Smith, the bestselling author of the No.1 Ladies' Detective Agency. Each story is set at Christmastime and each features the giving of special gifts.

In this first story, "Motordrome" read by Hannah Gordon, a German widow takes her future into her own hands by making a generous bequest.

Other stories in the series will be read by James Fleet, Trevor White, William Gaminara and Stephanie Cole. They range in subject matter from a hot-tempered Canadian chef discovering humility, to an enterprising former Professor escaping the confines of a compassionless care home, to the dutiful President of an Eastern European country attending to the poor; and not forgetting Cousin Grace who, over a very dry Martini, shares her adventures in love (just the four marriages, so far) with three rapt young relatives.

Reader: Hannah Gordon

Writer: Alexander McCall Smith

Producer: Kirsteen Cameron.

A German widow takes her future into her own hands by making a generous bequest.

Readings from modern classics, new works by leading writers and world literature

The Colourful Life of Cousin Grace

20161222

In this fourth story, "The Colourful Life of Cousin Grace", read by Stephanie Cole, three young siblings sit entranced as their worldly cousin Grace mixes herself a very dry Martini and regales them with tales from her four marriages.

The other stories in the series are read by James Fleet, Trevor White, William Gaminara and Hannah Gordon. They range in subject matter from a generous German female owner of a Wall of Death, to a hot-tempered Canadian chef discovering humility at the hands of a food critic, to an enterprising elderly Professor escaping the confines of a compassion-free care home, to the dutiful President of an Eastern European country attending to the poor of his community.

Reader: Stephanie Cole

Writer: Alexander McCall Smith

Producer: Kirsteen Cameron.

Over a dry martini, Grace tells the story of her many marriages. Read by Stephanie Cole.

Readings from modern classics, new works by leading writers and world literature

The Revenge, or Otherwise, of Herbie Bontemps

20161220

Part of a series of short stories written for Radio 4 by Alexander McCall Smith, the bestselling author of the No.1 Ladies' Detective Agency. Each story is set at Christmastime and features the giving of gifts.

In this second story, "The Revenge, or Otherwise, of Herbie Bontemps", a talented but hot-tempered Canadian chef learns a lesson in humility when he meets his nemesis in the form of a food critic.

Other stories in the series are read by Hannah Gordon, James Fleet, William Gaminara and Stephanie Cole. They range in subject matter from a generous female owner of a Wall of Death, to an enterprising elderly Professor escaping the confines of a compassionless care home, to the dutiful President of an Eastern European country attending to the poor; and not forgetting Cousin Grace who, over a very dry Martini, shares her adventures in love (just the four marriages, so far) with three rapt young relatives.

Reader: Trevor White

Writer: Alexander McCall Smith

Producer: Kirsteen Cameron.

A talented chef learns humility in this short story by Alexander McCall Smith.

Readings from modern classics, new works by leading writers and world literature

BAB

Good President Wenceslas

20161223

Last in a series of stories by Alexander McCall Smith, each set at Christmastime and featuring the giving of gifts.

William Gaminara reads this especially poignant tale, "Good President Wenceslas", in which the leader of an Eastern European country feels duty bound to help a poor man he sees searching for food in a train station rubbish bin.

(This is an extended version of a story that first appeared in The Scotsman newspaper three years ago.)

Reader: William Gaminara

Writer: Alexander McCall Smith

Producer: Kirsteen Cameron.

A dutiful political leader is moved by a poor man's plight. Read by William Gaminara.

Readings from modern classics, new works by leading writers and world literature

Episodes

Series	Title	First Broadcast	Comments
	How to Escape in Gaelic	20161221	A series of short stories specially written for BBC Radio 4 by Alexander McCall Smith, the bestselling author of the No.1 Ladies' Detective Agency. Each story is set at Christmastime and each features the giving of special gifts. In this third story, "How To Escape in Gaelic", read by James Fleet, an enterprising former Professor of Aeronautical Engineering puts his specialised knowledge to good use in order to escape the confines of a compassionless care home. The four other stories in the series are read by Hannah Gordon, Trevor White, William Gaminara and Stephanie Cole. They range in subject matter from a generous 75-year-old German female owner of a Wall of Death, to a hot-tempered Canadian chef discovering humility at the hands of a food critic, to the dutiful President of an Eastern European country attending to the poor; and not forgetting Cousin Grace who, over a very dry Martini, shares her adventures in love (just the four marriages, so far) with three rapt young relatives. Reader: James Fleet Writer: Alexander McCall Smith Producer: Kirsteen Cameron. James Fleet reads a short story by Alexander McCall Smith, set on the Isle of Mull. Readings from modern classics, new works by leading writers and world literature
	Motordrome	20161219	A series of short stories specially written for Radio 4 by Alexander McCall Smith, the bestselling author of the No.1 Ladies' Detective Agency. Each story is set at Christmastime and each features the giving of special gifts. In this first story, "Motordrome" read by Hannah Gordon, a German widow takes her future into her own hands by making a generous bequest. Other stories in the series will be read by James Fleet, Trevor White, William Gaminara and Stephanie Cole. They range in subject matter from a hot-tempered Canadian chef discovering humility, to an enterprising former Professor escaping the confines of a compassionless care home, to the dutiful President of an Eastern European country attending to the poor; and not forgetting Cousin Grace who, over a very dry Martini, shares her adventures in love (just the four marriages, so far) with three rapt young relatives. Reader: Hannah Gordon Writer: Alexander McCall Smith Producer: Kirsteen Cameron. A German widow takes her future into her own hands by making a generous bequest. Readings from modern classics, new works by leading writers and world literature
	The Colourful Life of Cousin Grace	20161222	A series of short stories specially written for BBC Radio 4 by Alexander McCall Smith, the bestselling author of the No.1 Ladies' Detective Agency. Each story is set at Christmastime and features the giving of gifts. In this fourth story, "The Colourful Life of Cousin Grace", read by Stephanie Cole, three young siblings sit entranced as their worldly cousin Grace mixes herself a very dry Martini and regales them with tales from her four marriages. The other stories in the series are read by James Fleet, Trevor White, William Gaminara and Hannah Gordon. They range in subject matter from a generous German female owner of a Wall of Death, to a hot-tempered Canadian chef discovering humility at the hands of a food critic, to an enterprising elderly Professor escaping the confines of a compassion-free care home, to the dutiful President of an Eastern European country attending to the poor of his community. Reader: Stephanie Cole Writer: Alexander McCall Smith Producer: Kirsteen Cameron. Over a dry martini, Grace tells the story of her many marriages. Read by Stephanie Cole. Readings from modern classics, new works by leading writers and world literature
	The Revenge, or Otherwise, of Herbie Bontemps	20161220	Part of a series of short stories written for Radio 4 by Alexander McCall Smith, the bestselling author of the No.1 Ladies' Detective Agency. Each story is set at Christmastime and features the giving of gifts. In this second story, "The Revenge, or Otherwise, of Herbie Bontemps", a talented but hot-tempered Canadian chef learns a lesson in humility when he meets his nemesis in the form of a food critic. Other stories in the series are read by Hannah Gordon, James Fleet, William Gaminara and Stephanie Cole. They range in subject matter from a generous female owner of a Wall of Death, to an enterprising elderly Professor escaping the confines of a compassionless care home, to the dutiful President of an Eastern European country attending to the poor; and not forgetting Cousin Grace who, over a very dry Martini, shares her adventures in love (just the four marriages, so far) with three rapt young relatives. Reader: Trevor White Writer: Alexander McCall Smith Producer: Kirsteen Cameron. A talented chef learns humility in this short story by Alexander McCall Smith. Readings from modern classics, new works by leading writers and world literature
BAB	Good President Wenceslas	20161223	Last in a series of stories by Alexander McCall Smith, each set at Christmastime and featuring the giving of gifts. William Gaminara reads this especially poignant tale, "Good President Wenceslas", in which the leader of an Eastern European country feels duty bound to help a poor man he sees searching for food in a train station rubbish bin. (This is an extended version of a story that first appeared in The Scotsman newspaper three years ago.) Reader: William Gaminara Writer: Alexander McCall Smith Producer: Kirsteen Cameron. A dutiful political leader is moved by a poor man's plight. Read by William Gaminara. Readings from modern classics, new works by leading writers and world literature