Where to start then?

Try tuning your radio to between 90 and 93 FM.

Don't forget to tuck your shirt into your slacks as well.

And iron creases into your socks.

Eh? I'm often naked when I listen to it.

Some top stuff on 'Late Junction'. Usually listen to it early morning when going through the post. You'll usually hear a couple of gems during the show. They also produce some good compilations:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Late-Junction-Compilation-No-1/dp/B000067UD1

Andy Kershaw used to do a show on it for a while which I sometimes listened to. But he doesn't anymore. Is there a sort-of equivalent world music show still?

Late Junction touches on a lot of WM. Worth checking out World Service for Charlie Gillet's show: http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/programmes/charlie_gillett.shtml

There does seem to be an equivalent show in one of the Late Junction time slots when LJ isn't on, but can't remember name of show or the night it's on - sorry to be unhelpful. Check their website, you should be able to get details from there.

Late Junction regularly prompts me to buy records by people I hadn't previously heard of, which is about the best recommendation I can think of for a radio show. Usually country or folk style things.

I also like the Building A Library prog on Saturday mornings, which assesses available recordings of a piece of music with the aim of guiding the listener to the 'best' two or three - great for people like me who enjoy classical music but don't know very much about it.

The Through the Night programming is cool too, and the concerts.

I really like Building A Library, where they compare all the available renditions of a particular piece. Even if the particular work under scrutiny isn't something you're keen on, the way they identify passages to contrast the different interpretations really opens your ears. You get a sense of why the music has been constructed the way it has, and the part the performer plays in realising or developing further the composer's intentions (or indeed failing to do so). It heightens your perception and develops your appreciation immensely, I find.

That sounds great; when's that on? I rarely listen to R3, but I've been meaning to do it more often.

Oh yeah, I love that show too! It's the most nerdy music show imaginable, more or less. It's terrific.

I listen to it on Saturday mornings, but I think it's repeated in the week.

Or, of course, on the Listen Again service.

Except, on listening more closely, that edition of CD Review doesn't have a Building A Library segment. It seems that it takes an annual summer break and will start up again in september.

Late Junction is absolutely the best radio show around, a gateway to worlds you never knew existed with knowledgeable presenters. R3 is pretty much my regular music radio at home, obviously you must enjoy classical and jazz but it feels great to not have some shouting loon feeling obliged to share with me his "opinions" like on most other radios...