The Essay

To mark the centenary of Roald Dahl's birth Frank Cottrell Boyce writes about the myth that the celebrated storyteller Dahl constructed out of his near fatal plane crash during the Second World War, and how he so perceptively captured a child's-eye view in his writing. Cottrell Boyce also recalls his very first encounter with Dahl's writing, which ended in outrage. The award-winning Frank Cottrell Boyce's first novel, Millions, was made into a feature film. He is a successful screenwriter and helped devise the Opening Ceremony for the London 2012 Olympic Games.Roald Dahl at 100 is a celebration of the storyteller's work and legacy ahead of the centenary of his birth in September 2016. Five acclaimed writers, the screenwriter and children's novelist, Frank Cottrell Boyce; the screenwriter and co-creator of The League of Gentleman, Jeremy Dyson; the author and performance poet, Laura Dockrill; the writer and former children's laureate, Michael Rosen, and the biographer Donald Sturrock, explore their passion for Dahl's dazzling worlds, his dark humour and wild language and how it inspired their own work.Written and read by Frank Cottrell Boyce Produced by Justine Willett.

In a week of broadcasts tracking the 100th anniversary of the first week of the Battle of the Somme, Radio 3's Essay series is featuring five new poems written in response to the battle. The poems have been commissioned by 14-18Now and these programmes will broadcast the poems for the first time and also hear from the poets about their inspiration and writing. 4th July: Paul Muldoon: July 1st 1916, With the Ulster Division 5th July: Yrsa Daley-Ward: When your mother calls you, come. 6th July: Bill Manhire: Known Unto God 7th July: Jackie Kay: Private Joseph Kay 8th July: Daljit Nagra: On your 'A 1940 Memory'Daljit Nagra's poem was commissioned by 14-18 NOW:WW1 Centenary Art Commissions, Norfolk & Norwich Festival and Writers' Centre Norwich. It was published by Gatehouse Press.Producer: Tim Dee.

In a week of broadcasts tracking the 100th anniversary of the first week of the Battle of the Somme, Radio 3's Essay series is featuring five new poems written in response to the battle. The poems have been commissioned by 14-18Now and these programmes will broadcast the poems for the first time and also hear from the poets about their inspiration and writing. 4th July: Paul Muldoon: July 1st 1916, With the Ulster Division 5th July: Yrsa Daley-Ward: When your mother calls you, come. 6th July: Bill Manhire: Known Unto God 7th July: Jackie Kay: Private Joseph Kay 8th July: Daljit Nagra: On your 'A 1940 Memory'Jackie Kay's poem was commissioned by 14-18 NOW:WW1 Centenary Art Commissions, Norfolk & Norwich Festival and Writers' Centre Norwich. It was published by Gatehouse Press.Producer: Tim Dee.

In a week of broadcasts tracking the 100th anniversary of the first week of the Battle of the Somme, Radio 3's Essay series is featuring five new poems written in response to the battle. The poems have been commissioned by 14-18Now and these programmes will broadcast the poems for the first time and also hear from the poets about their inspiration and writing. 4th July: Paul Muldoon: July 1st 1916, With the Ulster Division 5th July: Yrsa Daley-Ward: When your mother calls you, come. 6th July: Bill Manhire: Known Unto God 7th July: Jackie Kay: Private Joseph Kay 8th July: Daljit Nagra: On your 'A 1940 Memory'Bill Manhire's poem was commissioned by 14-18 NOW:WW1 Centenary Art Commissions, Norfolk & Norwich Festival and Writers' Centre Norwich. It was published by Gatehouse Press."Producer: Tim Dee.

In a week of broadcasts tracking the 100th anniversary of the first week of the Battle of the Somme, Radio 3's Essay series is featuring five new poems written in response to the battle. The poems have been commissioned by 14-18Now and these programmes will broadcast the poems for the first time and also hear from the poets about their inspiration and writing. 4th July: Paul Muldoon: July 1st 1916, With the Ulster Division 5th July: Yrsa Daley-Ward: When your mother calls you, come. 6th July: Bill Manhire: Known Unto God 7th July: Jackie Kay: Private Joseph Kay 8th July: Daljit Nagra: On your 'A 1940 Memory'Yrsa Daley-Ward's poem was commissioned by 14-18 NOW:WW1 Centenary Art Commissions, Norfolk & Norwich Festival and Writers' Centre Norwich. It was published by Gatehouse Press."Producer: Tim Dee.

In a week of broadcasts tracking the 100th anniversary of the first week of the Battle of the Somme, Radio 3's Essay series is featuring five new poems written in response to the battle. The poems have been commissioned by 14-18Now and these programmes will broadcast the poems for the first time and also hear from the poets about their inspiration and writing. 4th July: Paul Muldoon: July 1st 1916, With the Ulster Division 5th July: Yrsa Daley-Ward: When your mother calls you, come. 6th July: Bill Manhire: Known Unto God 7th July: Jackie Kay: Private Joseph Kay 8th July: Daljit Nagra: On your 'A 1940 Memory'Paul Muldoon's poem was commissioned by 14-18 NOW:WW1 Centenary Art Commissions, Norfolk & Norwich Festival and Writers' Centre Norwich. It was published by Gatehouse Press.Producer: Tim Dee.

As part of BBC Music Get Playing, supporting amateur music making around the UK this summer, 5 leading writers and artists contribute an Essay in this series, in which they talk about their little-known passions for playing an instrument. In the final programme of the series, the writer Alexander McCall Smith, author of "The No 1 Ladies' Detective Agency" describes how he learned to play saxophone which led to him starting The Really Terrible Orchestra.His career as an amateur saxophonist began with lessons' from his wife's flute teacher and then, during a stay in the US, he began to assemble a collection of saxophones, including a fine bass instrument.After returning home to Edinburgh, Alexander decided that he should encourage other amateur musicians to play together, no matter what their standard, and the Really Terrible Orchestra was born. In spite of its name, it has performed in concert halls to packed houses.Producer: Emma Kingsley.

As part of BBC Get Music Playing supporting amateur music making around the UK, 5 leading writers and artists contribute an Essay in this series, in which they talk about their little-known passions for playing an instrument. In the 4th programme of the series, the Guardian's film critic Peter Bradshaw describes how he was reunited with his electric guitar, decades after having given it away. He explores what playing the instrument meant to him as a youngster and assesses how he approaches it now as an adult. He examines the pleasures and pitfalls of relearning an instrument. And he marvels at the beauty of the electric guitar itself. For more information visit bbc.co.uk/getplayingProducer: Emma Kingsley.

As part of BBC Music Get Playing, supporting amateur music making around the UK, 5 leading writers and artists contribute an Essay in this series, in which they talk about their little-known passions for playing an instrument. In the third programme of the series, the poet Fiona Sampson explores how playing the violin to professional standard in her youth has informed her life and work today.She relives her youth spent at summer schools and in orchestras and describes playing the violin in the practice rooms at the Royal Academy of Music. And she describes how the shape that that her body made around the violin stays with her wherever she goes. For more information visit bbc.co.uk/getplaying Producer: Emma Kingsley.

As part of BBC Music Get Playing, supporting amateur music making around the UK, 5 leading writers and artists contribute an Essay in this series, in which they talk about their little-known passions for playing an instrument.In the second programme, the award-winning novelist Joanne Harris (best known for her novel "Chocolat") describes how she learned to play the flute as a child. This was followed by the bass guitar which she began after falling in love with a drummer in a band and wanting to join. When she heard the story told by her grandfather of how he had refused to hand his double bass over to a Nazi soldier in occupied France, the young Joanne Harris realised that a musical instrument could be a powerful force. She began playing herself, first the flute and then, as a 16 year old, the bass guitar. She's continued to play both instruments and is now developing a way of telling stories in performances which incorporates music. In this Essay, Joanne tells the story of her performing life and considers the way in which music can be an essential part of storytelling. for more information visit bbc.co.uk/getplaying Producer: Emma Kingsley.