Short Cuts

BBC Radio 4
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Short documentaries and adventures in sound presented by Josie Long.

  1. 27/08/2025

    Someone to Watch Over Me

    In the first programme of this series of Short Cuts, Josie Long presents a selection of short documentaries which peel back the curtain, peer into the darkness and look out at those who are watching us. By turns delightful and unsettling, today's audio adventures include the secret games teachers play when they're invigilating exams, a photographer whose ambition is to capture 'still lives' of people unawares in their homes at night, and a glimpse of the devices you can buy to spy on those supposedly close to you. The items featured in the programme are: Someone to Watch Over Me Produced by Sara Parker Stand by Me Produced by Benjamin Partridge I Was Bruce Lee Produced by Leo Hornak Cracking the Love Code Produced by Bob Carlson All Eyes on Us Produced by Steve Urquhart She Sees Your Every Move Produced by Jonathan Mitchell Produced by Eleanor McDowall A Falling Tree production for BBC Radio 4.

    28 min

  2. 27/08/2025

    Taking Flight

    Josie Long presents a selection of short documentaries in which people hurl themselves into the air with the hope of taking flight. We glide through the air, fall into the sea and explore grand leaps of the imagination, which cross the border between dreaming and reality. From comedian Holly Walsh's tale of hurtling off the edge of a pier in a handmade helicopter, through to the story of a trapeze artist balancing on the edge of falling as he casts himself upwards. The items featured in the programme are: The Fall Featuring Charlie Morley Sky Boy Produced by Hana Walker-Brown Falling for Rambo Featuring Holly Walsh Produced by Benjamin Partridge The Dreamers Featuring Charlie Morley Looking Up Originally broadcast in 'Space' from Radiolab http://www.radiolab.org Produced by Eleanor McDowall A Falling Tree production for BBC Radio 4.

    27 min

  3. 27/08/2025

    Split

    Josie Long presents a series of delightful and adventurous short documentaries, brief encounters, true stories and found sound. We examine rips in the fabric of the universe as Josie Long delves into stories of splits, divisions and tears. From broken hearts to divided personalities. We hear from a woman who was so tired of being in two minds that she surrendered all of her decision making to a piece of string, a mimic who taught herself how to assume alternate personalities and we recover from heartbreak using the 'Automated Relationship Replacement Hotline'. The items featured in the programme are: Automated Relationship Replacement Hotline Originally broadcast in WireTap http://www.cbc.ca/wiretap/ String Produced by Natalie Kestecher The full version of this story can be found here: http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/360/string/4010328 Split Voices Produced by Sarah Cuddon Other Halves Produced by Dennis Funk Produced by Eleanor McDowall A Falling Tree production for BBC Radio 4.

    27 min

  4. 27/08/2025

    Lines of Communication

    Josie Long presents a selection of short documentaries about communication - messages that could break your heart, rescue you from a fight or save you from a long stay in jail. The writer Glenn Patterson explains why sometimes we should ignore the writing on the wall, and musician Tom Robinson describes the unlikely message he sent at a time when he was in a lot of trouble. Stories of last words, lost love and lights being knocked out. The items featured in the programme are: Guess Who Found sound from the collection of Mark Vernon http://www.meagreresource.com/ L'Esprit De L'Escalier Produced by Hana Walker-Brown Yanto Featuring Glenn Patterson Produced by Rachel Hooper Message from Above Featuring Tom Robinson Produced by Alan Hall Dear Sophie Produced by Sara Parker Conversations with Nic Featuring Esther Baker Produced by Eleanor McDowall A Falling Tree production for BBC Radio 4.

    27 min

  5. 27/08/2025

    Lost and Found

    Josie Long presents a selection of short documentaries with stories of loss and discovery. From being lost in the music to lost love - Josie delves into tales of forgotten cassette tapes, voices rediscovered and teenage rebellion. Hide and Seek Feat. Steve Colgan Lost in Music Produced by Steve Urquhart I am Luther Blissett Produced by Rosanna Arbon Fluctuations Produced by Phil Smith Lost Voices Feat. Jude Rogers Looking for Layla Produced by Hana Walker-Brown Producer: Eleanor McDowall A Falling Tree Production for BBC Radio 4.

    27 min

  6. 27/08/2025

    Escape

    Josie Long presents a showcase for delightful and adventurous short documentaries and makes her escape as we hear stories of running away, flight and car chases. From breaking away to disappearing into escapism - we hear the tale of a narrow escape as three young Australian men desperately try to manoeuvre themselves out of trouble, alongside the story of a 93 year old wing walker getting lost in the clouds. The items featured in the programme are: Swimming in Snafu Produced by Meagan Perry River Guard Feat. Laura Barton Drive for Portugal Produced by Leo Hornak Head in the Clouds Produced by Sara Parker Road Warriors Produced by Bob Carlson Originally featured in Unfictional http://www.kcrw.com/etc/programs/uf/uf111202the_road_warriors Series Producer: Eleanor McDowall A Falling Tree Production for BBC Radio 4 Rpt Producer: Eleanor McDowall A Falling Tree Production for BBC Radio 4.

    27 min

  7. 07/01/2025

    Midnight

    Josie Long presents short documentaries and audio adventures as the clock slips closer to midnight. In the last Short Cuts on BBC Radio 4, 13 years after the broadcast of our first ever episode 'Misadventures', we listen to radio waves after dark with the Shortwave Collective, tumble into a radio poem alongside a sleeping child, tune into a late night pirate radio station from the early 1960s, and raise a parting glass. At Least Featuring Xelis de Toro Produced by Phil Smith Voice of Nuclear Disarmament With thanks to the British Library Sound Archive, and the family of John Hasted Produced by Jonny Matfin Perhaps at Midnight, When All Boundaries Are Lost Produced by the Shortwave Collective Good Company Featuring Jesse Lawson, Izzy Yon and Femi Oriogun-Williams Produced by Jesse Lawson Curated by Axel Kacoutié, Eleanor McDowall and Andrea Rangecroft Series Producer: Eleanor McDowall Mix by Mike Woolley Executive Producer: Alan Hall A Falling Tree production for BBC Radio 4

    35 min

  8. 29/12/2024

    Earth

    A friendship forged working the land, memories of volcanic eruptions from 800,000 years ago frozen in Antarctica’s ice cores, and the importance of wild, patient gardens. Short documentaries presented by Josie Long that rise up from the earth. Wintering Music by Jules Bradley Produced by Jules Bradley Melt Tones Featuring Dr Dieter Tetzner Produced by Anton Spice Sue’s Garden Featuring Sue Trolle Music by Sóley Produced by Rikke Houd Produced by Andrea Rangecroft Curated by Axel Kacoutié, Eleanor McDowall and Andrea Rangecroft A Falling Tree production for BBC Radio 4

    28 min
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About

Short documentaries and adventures in sound presented by Josie Long.

Information

  • Creator
    BBC Radio 4
  • Years Active
    2013 - 2025
  • Episodes
    249
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © (C) BBC 2025
  • Show Website
    Short Cuts
  • Provider

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