Best of 2012 - Part 2

Bonne année! Here's another helping of 2012 highlights. Featuring the day the show took to the waves, including the Heart of Darkness jamma session; John Cooper Clarke praising the poetry of Baudelaire; and some of Scott Walker's interview. There's a Month of Sundays lesson about dub music from David Rodigan; Kathy Burke remembers meeting The Clash; and we look back on the time the show went a bit martial arts. Jarvis reviews the A-Z of Peel and plays an energetic example. We revisit the culture of 'balling' amongst pro poker players. Jarvis wishes us all a happy new year. Birthdays: Bo Diddley.

Best of 2012 - Part 1

Can you hear bells jingling, and boots trudging through the snow? As you dash about preparing for Christmas, Jarvis presents some of his 2012 highlights, the coins in the JCSS Christmas pudding. Featuring Michael Clark talking about David Bowie; Kraftwerk quotes; Edna O'Brien on Francis Bacon's surprising Christmas gift; some of Leonard Cohen's interview; and a clip from when Pam Hogg sat in. Another deputy, Marianne Faithfull, chats to Jefferson Hack and reads some lyrics she's written about 'magical midnight'. Plus, apple nachos; Johnny Trunk praises Dory Previn; the poetic intro to the Sheffield Sunday show; and a clip from A Month of Sundays with Underworld's Karl Hyde. Birthdays: Carla Bruni and Chet Baker.

Release the Pressure

Pfffffft: that's the sound of all that pent-up pressure releasing. Relax, help yourself to the chocolate coins and let the show wash over you. We catch up with some of the last new records of the year. Today in history, the Taj Mahal was opened to the public, and The Jimi Hendrix Experience released Hey Joe. Jarvis scoffs at the 12-12-12 Apocalypse. We hear about Beck's unusual new album. Also On This Day, Oliver Cromwell took charge, and the Boston Tea Party occurred: a historian explains why. James Worse recites Ducksong of Pelliqunetus. An excitable Jarvis declares that the end of this show will be his office party. And the Peel M is for Mad Professor. Birthdays: Jane Austen, Karl Denver, Quentin Blake, Benny Andersson (who says ABBA's music wasn't cheery), Bill Hicks (joking about family road trips), Pierre Delanoë and Noël Coward (recalling his showbiz debut).

JOHN COOPER CLARKE Sits In (4)

John Cooper Clarke sits in again. He notes that Little Richard was 80 last week; observes that today in 1875, America's oldest active gun club was founded; and proposes a musical 'Battle of the Dons'. His boiler has broken down, so he picks some tracks with a chilly resonance. Plus: today is International Anti-Corruption Day; this year is the 45th anniversary of The Velvet Underground's debut album; and On This Day in 1960, soap opera Coronation Street premiered. And speaking of northern things, John recalls hanging out at The Twisted Wheel, the birthplace of Northern Soul. John also highlights this week's featured album, Nuggets, a groundbreaking compilation of 1960s garage rock.

Scott Walker (1)

We begin with facts about the Andes and the Andean condor, as Jarvis has been gigging in South America. Scott Walker pays a visit to chat about his album Bish Bosch. Jarvis asks about his writing process and recalls their time working together on a Pulp album. Scott discusses how he's influenced by visual art and cinema, performing 'in character', and slipping humour into his lyrics. Plus, how Ceaușescu inspired a Christmas song! On This Day, toddler Pu Yi ascended the Chinese throne, Napoleon crowned himself emperor (Stuart Hall explains why Napoleon is his hero) and Ringo Starr had his tonsils out. The Peel L is for Laibach. Birthdays: Maria Callas (advising on performance), Julie Harris (reading a poem about winter) and Britney Spears.