BBC Radio Scotland highlights - November 2011

November on the BBC is all about Children in Need and BBC Radio Scotland was no exception. November also saw Remembrance Sunday, the first of four specially recorded pieces of music about islands, and Clare English learning to tango!

Children in Need was very much the focus of November on BBC Radio Scotland. Bryan Burnett visited a number of organisations and people that have benefitted from the generosity of the British public in his often moving appeals. Jamie McDougall led a BBC Radio Scotland choir through a performance of You Raise Me Up...

On Children in Need day itself Fred MacAulay presented a special edition of MacAulay and Co with Susan Calman from the BBC Scotland Pacific Quay foyer with special guests including Cat Cubie, Tom Urie and Craig Hill. Tom Morton had live music from Frightened Rabbit and then Bryan Burnett and Catriona Shearer were in the foyer with an hour of sensational music from The Rezillos, Love and Money and The Bluebells.

Love and Money, The Rezillos and The Bluebells

November is also the month of Remembrance. Cathy Macdonald honoured and remembered both those who died in battle or were injured on a special edition of Sunday Morning. We also heard one family's moving story in The Family Has Been Informed: Letters From the Heart.

Ricky Ross brought us yet more high profile interviews with stars of the Americana music world - Ryan Adams talked openly about his career and new CD "Ashes and Fire", and Alison Krauss talked about working with Robert Plant and Union Station.

Vic Galloway had an exclusive session with sixties beat-pop band The Poets...

...and the first of four specially commissioned pieces of music relating to islands was broadcast on Mary Ann Kennedy's Global Gathering, Calum MacCrimmond's "When Birds Migrate".

The Jazz House broadcast an hour on the history of the saxophone, where saxophonist Gordon McNeil, with Richard Michael at the piano played us examples of different styles.

The Kitchen Café started preparing for Christmas with Kirsty Wark's Christmas cake recipe, as well as Moules Mariniere, Buttermilk scones, puff pastry, shortcrust pastry and tiramisu. All these recipes, and many more, are available for download via the blog.

New BBC Radio Scotland comedy PTA was broadcast. Producer Margaret-Anne Docherty shared some tips about scripting a comedy pilot and told us a bit more about the production of the series.

Finally Clare English was shown how to tango

Clare English learning to tango