THE REAL EUROVISION
Saturday, Radio 2, 7pm
That’s funny, I thought sneering at the Eurovision Song Contest was passé, and that this annual celebration of spangles, short skirts and cheerful inanity had gone beyond criticism. But no, for here comes Steve Lamacq to cast his gimlet ear over the musical scenes of France, Germany and Spain in a bid to winnow some wheat from the Eurovision chaff. Luckily, he is followed by the 50th contest itself (from 8pm), live from Kiev, home to last year’s winner Ruslana Lyzichko. Sensible Eurovisionists will, as ever, be watching it on TV while listening to Ken Bruce’s barbed but loving commentary on the radio. CHRIS CAMPLING

THE FREAK ZONE
Sunday, BBC 6 Music, 5pm
Stuart Maconie is joined by the groovy Donovan for a toddle back to the days when our 1960s psychedelic hero could come up with a line like “First there is a mountain/ Then there is no mountain/ Then there is” and have a catchy Top 10 hit with it.

BOOK OF THE WEEK: ON BEING AFRICAN
Monday to Friday, Radio 4, 9.45am/12.30am
Radio 3 is having an Africa Season. Next Wednesday is Africa Day on Radio 4. And all this week the days are being kicked off by the experiences of five African writers, including the British-born Ghanaian Ekow Eshun (right). That is a lot of light being shed on the Dark Continent. Cherry-picking through it, though, one’s imagination is caught by the quintet of writers — two from Southern Africa, two from West, and one from Central — describing countries, times and experiences very different from each other, but having their African-ness in common.

CASHIER NUMBER SIX PLEASE
Monday, Radio 4, 8.30pm
The producers Peter McHugh and John Goudie track down the owners of the disembodied voices that run our lives and put a person to the impersonal. We hear from the woman who says “The number you require is . . . ” on behalf of BT Directory Enquiries, and the man who apologises when trains are late for “any inconvenience this may have caused”. It seems strange that the rail services entertain the possibility that it has led to no difficulty whatsoever.

THE WRITE STUFF
Wednesday, Radio 4, 1.30pm
The clichéd pun of the title to this long-running literary quiz must have put off legions of potential listeners, so every time it comes up in the schedules it behoves the conscientious radio previewer to say: “Look, James Walton’s gang of literary guests are knowledgeable and witty and this is a great way to learn and have a laugh at the same time.” I thank you. CC

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