Schedule
Early
00:00
Midnight News—21/04/2026
National and international news from BBC Radio 4
00:30
Self-Help from the Middle Ages by Peter Jones—Sloth
1/5Peter Jones explores the medieval condition of Acedia, or as we know it, depression.
00:48
Shipping Forecast—21/04/2026
The latest weather reports and forecasts for UK shipping.
01:00
Selection of BBC World Service Programmes—21/04/2026
BBC Radio 4 joins the BBC World Service.
05:00
News Summary—21/04/2026
National and international news from BBC Radio 4
05:04
Yesterday in Parliament—21/04/2026
Sean Curran reports as MPs dial up the pressure on the PM over the Mandelson affair.
05:34
Shipping Forecast—21/04/2026
The latest weather reports and forecasts for UK shipping.
05:43
Prayer for the Day—Open to new light
A spiritual comment and prayer to start the day with Elizabeth Rawlinson-Mills.
05:45
Farming Today—21/04/26 Sustainable pork production, biochar and chicken muck, rare breed cattle
New 'roadmap' for producing pork to reduce environmental impact of pig farming.
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Morning
06:00
Today—21/04/2026
News and current affairs, including Sports Desk, Weather and Thought for the Day.
09:00
The Life Scientific—Helen Hastie on the future of human-robot relations
Professor Helen Hastie on the positive future role for robots in our world.
09:30
Through Persian Eyes—Episode 3
3/3Ali Ansari concludes his grand tour of Iranian history travelling from the 1700s to today.
10:00
Woman's Hour—Jo Whiley on Couch to 5k, Coercive control and suicide, Queen's legacy
As the Couch to 5k app turns 10, we hear from its most popular coach, Jo Whiley.
11:00
Screenshot—Boxing
Ellen and Mark explore cinema's most heavyweight genre, 50 years on from Rocky.
11:45
Self-Help from the Middle Ages by Peter Jones—Pride
2/5Historian Peter Jones explores the deadly sin of Superbia, or as we know it - pride.
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Afternoon
12:00
News Summary—21/04/2026
The latest national and international news from BBC Radio 4.
12:04
You and Yours—Call You and Yours: What's the rental market like now if you're a tenant or a landlord?
Call You and Yours: What's the rental market like now if you're a tenant or a landlord?
12:57
Weather—21/04/2026
The latest weather forecast
13:00
World at One—Fired civil servant accuses PM of 'dangerous misunderstanding' over Mandelson affair
Sir Olly Robbins tells MPs that Lord Mandelson never failed his vetting.
13:45
Last Word: Doing Death Differently—The funeral
2/5Matthew Bannister on changing attitudes to dying, death and how we memorialise our dead.
14:00
The Archers—20/04/2026
Adam thinks about the future.
14:15
Takeover—Series 1, Episode 1
1/4High-stake deals and sibling rivalry set in the world of the super wealthy.
15:00
History's Heroes—Nellie Bly Goes Undercover
Can a young reporter expose the horrors of a New York asylum?
15:30
Heart and Soul—Can yoga be Christian?
Can yoga be Christian? We meet practitioners and teachers debating a new type of practice.
16:00
Moving Pictures—Portrait Miniatures by Nicholas Hilliard
A long, slow look at great artworks, photographed in extraordinary detail.
16:30
What's Up Docs?—How do we care for our voices?
Drs Chris and Xand van Tulleken explore how we can take better care of our voices.
17:00
PM—Where do Olly Robbins revelations leave Starmer's authority?
The civil servant, who was sacked last week, said he felt pressured by Downing Street.
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Evening
18:00
Six O'Clock News—The senior civil servant sacked from the Foreign Office defends Lord Mandelson's vetting
Sir Olly Robbins accuses Downing Street of taking a "dismissive approach"
18:30
Nature Table—Series 5, 3: Unwise Tawny Owls & Mischievous Mitten Crabs
3/6Mischievous Mitten Crabs wow the guests.
19:00
The Archers—21/04/2026
Ruth has things on her mind.
19:15
Front Row—Vivaldi film, author Ben Lerner and V+A East's Music Is Black exhibition
A film about Vivaldi, author Ben Lerner and the V+A East's The Music Is Black exhibition
20:00
Today—The Today Debate - The future of the monarchy
Anna Foster chairs a debate on the future of the monarchy.
20:45
In Touch—Seeing with My Dog
In Touch discusses Seeing with My Dog, a semi-autobiographical play about sight loss.
21:00
Crossing Continents—In Iceland's Defence
Iceland is one of the few nations without a military. Is this a sustainable strategy?
21:30
Great Lives—William Gladstone, four-time PM
Trevor Lyttleton picks William Gladstone, Victorian prime minister and tory turned liberal
22:00
The World Tonight—Official sacked by Starmer says No 10 attitude to vetting "dismissive"
Sir Olly Robbins insists he followed proper process for Mandelson appointment as US envoy
22:45
Few and Far Between by Jan Carson—Episode 7
7/10Alex and Darragh disagree about the future of the Ark.
23:00
Uncanny—Cold Cases, Case 3: The White Mountain UFO
3/12Danny Robins has a close encounter with the original UFO abduction case.
23:30
Today in Parliament—21/04/2026
Sean Curran reports as the former Foreign Office mandarin Olly Robbins is grilled by MPs.
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Late
00:00
Midnight News—22/04/2026
National and international news from BBC Radio 4
00:30
Self-Help from the Middle Ages by Peter Jones—Pride
2/5Historian Peter Jones explores the deadly sin of Superbia, or as we know it - pride.
00:48
Shipping Forecast—22/04/2026
The latest weather reports and forecasts for UK shipping.
01:00
Selection of BBC World Service Programmes—22/04/2026
BBC Radio 4 joins the BBC World Service.
05:00
News Summary—22/04/2026
National and international news from BBC Radio 4
05:04
Yesterday in Parliament—22/04/2026
Susan Hulme reports as ex-Foreign Office chief Sir Olly Robbins talks to MPs in Parliament
05:34
Shipping Forecast—22/04/2026
The latest weather reports and forecasts for UK shipping.
05:43
Prayer for the Day—Held in loving arms
A spiritual comment and prayer to start the day with Elizabeth Rawlinson-Mills.
05:45
Farming Today—22/04/26 Bird flu jab for people, fairness in supply chain, vertical farming
New vaccine trial to protect people against bird flu.
