A TIMELESS SLICE OF SUNDAY AFTERNOON BLISS - MARCH 15 - 9.58am

Classy, smart and full of rhythm

Finishing this week’s three-part peek at those events which might thrill you in surprising ways - 3. BBC World Service Live (Sunday, March 18, 2.00pm) Okay, technically it IS sold out but standby tickets are available. And trust me, if you can bear the unbearable tension, it’s worth ‘standing by’ and for two reasons: not only is its host, BBC arts editor Will Gompertz good value for money (not that it frankly matters since the event is FREE) but it’s venue, the Lecture Theatre at Worcester College is alone worth the price of a free ticket. Attended for the first time last year, I don’t think the hairs on my arms settled down for at least two weeks afterwards. It’s a two-hour live BBC World Service broadcast - so chances are you’ll be joined by millions of other culture vultures from around the world - and features interviews and discussions with authors, academics and musicians including well-known Cuban ballet dancer Carlos Acosta, Booker prize-winning novelist Ian McEwan, author of Educated Tara Westover, academics Anders Sandberg and Professor Ian Goldin, vocalist Nicole Panizza, violinist Min Kym and Oxford folk band Xogara. A bit like the vibe on BBC’s Saturday Kitchen Live but without the kitchen or food.