I have up until tonight been able to download radio shows from iplayer onto my computer, then able to put them on my phone for listening to in the car. Now tonight I go to download a couple of shows as usual, and the program I was using has been asked by the BBC to discontinue.

"Following a request from the BBC, I have removed the Radio Downloader source and installers. They will return shortly minus the BBC Radio Provider plugin (e.g. the ability to download BBC Radio programmes).

My apologies for the disappointment that this will cause but I hope that you will understand. I believe that the BBC is planning to offer downloads of radio programmes from 2014."

The program I was using was from Nerd of the herd. Fantastic program and couldn't rate it highly enough.
Does anybody know of any similar programs that can download the bbc radio shows?

Why not just use bbc iplayer radio, I've just checked and it's working fine.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio/

I want to be able to listen to the shows in the car. So I download the complete shows onto my computer and then transfer them to my phone.

Well get a laptop and a headset and have a crash at will.

Surely if he is paying little attention to the road then he is just driving like most Canadians and is just assimilating

Have a look at get_iplayer. It's not quite as simple to use as Radio Downloader but I've have been able to get my fix of Radcliffe and Maconie with it.

WeeGem

I use unotelly to make it look like I'm living in the uk so I can download iPlayer links like normal.

www.unotelly.com

I just downloaded fri night news quiz (Radio 4) with no probs using the BBC's new podcasts and downloads site. I think they only appear here after the 7 days is gone though - before that, you have to listen online.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/podcasts

Hope that helps.