BBC Radio 4 FM Schedule Thursday 16 April 2026

Schedule

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Early
Morning
Afternoon
Evening
Late

Early
1. 00:00
  Midnight News—16/04/2026
  National and international news from BBC Radio 4
2. 00:30
  City of Lies: Love, Sex, Death and the Search for Truth in Tehran by Ramita Navai—Morteza
  3/5Revealing portraits of the challenges ordinary people face in the Islamic Republic of Iran
3. 00:48
  Shipping Forecast—16/04/2026
  The latest weather reports and forecasts for UK shipping.
4. 01:00
  Selection of BBC World Service Programmes—16/04/2026
  BBC Radio 4 joins the BBC World Service.
5. 05:00
  News Summary—16/04/2026
  National and international news from BBC Radio 4
6. 05:04
  Yesterday in Parliament—16/04/2026
  Susan Hulme with the best from Parliament.
7. 05:34
  Shipping Forecast—16/04/2026
  The latest weather reports and forecasts for UK shipping.
8. 05:43
  Prayer for the Day—Always a Reader
  A reflection and prayer to start the day with Andrea Rea.
9. 05:45
  Farming Today—16/04/26 Lough Neagh dredging, concerns about government labs in Northern Ireland, National Park dark skies, rural church crime
  New research suggests dredging is affecting water quality in Lough Neagh.
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Morning
1. 06:00
  Today—16/04/2026
  News and current affairs, including Sports Desk, Weather and Thought for the Day.
2. 09:00
  In Our Time—M.C. Escher
  The graphic artist's amazing paradoxical world, and the interplay between maths and art.
3. 09:45
  Strong Message Here—Only the Fake News Would Come Up with This (with Amol Rajan)
  Armando Iannucci and Amol Rajan look at politicians getting into their own media bubbles.
4. 10:00
  Woman's Hour—Jessie Ware, School readiness, Katriona O'Sullivan, Autism support
  Singer-songwriter Jessie Ware on how disco and funk inspired her new album.
5. 11:00
  This Cultural Life—David Szalay
  Booker prize-winning author David Szalay reveals his creative influences.
6. 11:45
  City of Lies: Love, Sex, Death and the Search for Truth in Tehran by Ramita Navai—Leyla
  4/5Revealing portraits of the challenges ordinary people face in the Islamic Republic of Iran
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Afternoon
1. 12:00
  News Summary—16/04/2026
  The latest national and international news from BBC Radio 4.
2. 12:04
  Scam Secrets—Behind the Fake Profiles
  How tech is under attack from criminals.
3. 12:32
  Sliced Bread—Infrared Saunas
  Are infrared saunas as effective as traditional ones?
4. 12:57
  Weather—16/04/2026
  The latest weather forecast
5. 13:00
  World at One—The government prepares for a prolonged war
  The chair of the National Preparedness Committee tells us how to ready ourselves.
6. 13:45
  About the Girls—4. Sex and Consent
  4/5Girls all over the country talk to Catherine Carr about sex, consent and relationships.
7. 14:00
  The Archers—15/04/2026
  Bert warns Chelsea not to be too trusting.
8. 14:15
  Drama on 4—King's Pawn, Smells of Bale
  1/3Comedy drama series set in a Cardiff pawn shop. With Lisa Palfrey and Julian Lewis Jones.
9. 15:00
  Open Country—Deer Stalking in Essex
  Mary-Ann Ochota finds out about deer culling.
10. 15:27
  Radio 4 Appeal—Born Free Foundation
  Jenny Seagrove makes the Radio 4 Appeal on behalf of the Born Free Foundation
11. 15:30
  Feedback—Radical with Amol Rajan. Faith, Hope and Glory. Interview of the Year
  Andrea Catherwood talks to the team in charge of a long-running drama.
12. 16:00
  The Briefing Room—Is the triple lock pension guarantee sustainable?
  Why is the state pension protected by the triple lock?
13. 16:30
  BBC Inside Science—Forty years on from nuclear disaster
  What was learnt from the Chernobyl disaster and how has it shaped UK energy production?
14. 17:00
  PM—Party leaders call for the Prime Minister to resign
  A report suggests Lord Mandelson failed his security vetting for the role of US ambassador
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Evening
1. 18:00
  Six O'Clock News—President Trump says Israel and Lebanon have agreed to a ceasefire
  The break in fighting is due to last for ten days
2. 18:30
  The Matt Forde Focus Group—Series 2, 6. The Politics of the Ban
  6/6Politicians love a ban. But does banning anything ever actually work?
3. 19:00
  The Archers—16/04/2026
  Pip goes to her appointment.
4. 19:15
  Front Row—Reviewing Lena Dunham's memoir, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, Big Mistakes
  Reviewing Lena Dunham's memoir, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, Big Mistakes.
5. 20:00
  The Bottom Line—The Decisions That Made Me, Sophie O’Brien (Pollen Careers, CEO)
  Sophie O’Brien on how she plans to disrupt the recruitment industry.
6. 20:15
  The Media Show—BBC job cuts, Journalist detained in Kuwait, HBO Max enters UK streamer market, Reporting the Artemis II launch
  BBC job cuts, journalist detained in Kuwait, HBO Max enters UK streamer market.
7. 21:00
  Loose Ends—Ralf Little, Nina Gilligan, Sam Riley, Janet Devlin, Will Brown, Kiri Pritchard-McLean
  Kiri Pritchard-McLean and guests with an eclectic mix of conversation, music and comedy.
8. 21:45
  Strong Message Here—Only the Fake News Would Come Up with This (with Amol Rajan)
  Armando Iannucci and Amol Rajan look at politicians getting into their own media bubbles.
9. 22:00
  The World Tonight—Lord Mandelson failed vetting but Foreign Office overruled decision
  The PM did not know Lord Mandelson failed security vetting for the role of US ambassador.
10. 22:45
  Few and Far Between by Jan Carson—Episode 4
  4/10Marion introduces Alex to the Sleepers.
11. 23:00
  Radical with Amol Rajan—Reclaiming the Centre: Is the Old Political Order Dead? (Adrian Wooldridge)
  The author and Bloomberg columnist argues for the revival of liberalism.
12. 23:30
  Today in Parliament—16/04/2026
  Susan Hulme reports as ministers announce help with bills for more energy-intensive firms.
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Late
1. 00:00
  Midnight News—17/04/2026
  National and international news from BBC Radio 4
2. 00:30
  City of Lies: Love, Sex, Death and the Search for Truth in Tehran by Ramita Navai—Leyla
  4/5Revealing portraits of the challenges ordinary people face in the Islamic Republic of Iran
3. 00:48
  Shipping Forecast—17/04/2026
  The latest weather reports and forecasts for UK shipping.
4. 01:00
  Selection of BBC World Service Programmes—17/04/2026
  BBC Radio 4 joins the BBC World Service.
5. 05:00
  News Summary—17/04/2026
  National and international news from BBC Radio 4
6. 05:04
  Yesterday in Parliament—17/04/2026
  News, views and features on today's stories in Parliament
7. 05:34
  Shipping Forecast—17/04/2026
  The latest weather reports and forecasts for UK shipping.
8. 05:43
  Prayer for the Day—Stepping out of your Expertise
  A reflection and prayer to start the day with Andrea Rea.
9. 05:45
  Farming Today—17/04/26 Uplands review, The Peak District National Park.
  New report suggests ways to transform uplands to support communities and landscapes.