While Stephen Fry discourses on persuasive language (in advertising and so on) on Radio 4 here's an agreeable alternative, a brand new series of the sitcom where Ronnie Corbett plays a widower with a dog, a rather tarty lodger (Liza Tarbuck), a comfortable lifestyle - and a daughterwho wishes he'd hurry up and sell his house. Written by Ian Davidson and Peter Vincent who perfectly understand the way Corbett gently inflects a line into a joke. Produced by Liz Anstee for CPL Independent Productions Ltd. Don't worry. It'll be on Radio 4 before long.

When the Dog Dies (Radio 4, Friday) is a situation comedy by Ian Davidson and Peter Vincent with Ronnie Corbett for whom, long ago, they wrote the TV sitcom Sorry! This is an old fashioned series, with characters like cartoons and situations like comic postcards. It is also funny because, as with the best cartoons and postcards, it is recognisably lifelike and (again with Liz Anstee directing) very neatly set out. It's good to have heard the ring of confident production so often this week.