BBC Radio 4 FM Schedule Monday 4 May 2026

Schedule

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Early
Morning
Afternoon
Evening
Late

Early
1. 00:00
  Midnight News—04/05/2026
  National and international news from BBC Radio 4
2. 00:15
  Crossing Continents—Driving Against Net Zero
  How populists are driving against the politics of Net Zero.
3. 00:45
  Bells on Sunday—St Swithin Clunbury, Shropshire
  Bells on Sunday comes from St Swithin Clunbury in Shropshire.
4. 00:48
  Shipping Forecast—04/05/2026
  The latest weather reports and forecasts for UK shipping.
5. 01:00
  Selection of BBC World Service Programmes—04/05/2026
  BBC Radio 4 joins the BBC World Service.
6. 05:00
  News Summary—04/05/2026
  National and international news from BBC Radio 4
7. 05:04
  Last Word—01/05/2026
  Radio 4's weekly obituary programme
8. 05:34
  Shipping Forecast—04/05/2026
  The latest weather reports and forecasts for UK shipping.
9. 05:43
  Prayer for the Day—04/05/2026
  Spiritual reflection with Philip Blackledge of Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, Melrose.
10. 05:45
  Farming Today—04/05/2026
  The latest news about food, farming and the countryside.
11. 05:57
  Weather—04/05/2026
  The latest weather reports and forecasts for farmers
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Morning
1. 06:00
  Today—04/05/2026
  News and current affairs, including Sports Desk, Weather and Thought for the Day.
2. 09:00
  Start the Week—Laurie Anderson: Strange and Disorientating Landscapes
  Naomi Alderman talks to Laurie Anderson, plus JG Ballard's writing and Nancy Holt's art.
3. 09:45
  Café Hope—04/05/2026
  Café Hope is our virtual Radio 4 coffee shop with Rachel Burden.
4. 10:00
  Woman's Hour—04/05/2026
  Women's voices and women's lives - topical conversations to inform, challenge and inspire.
5. 11:00
  Writing the Atom—The mystery of quantum mechanics
  Jim Al-Khalili on how writers and metaphors translate quantum mechanics into stories.
6. 11:45
  The Dark Frontier by Jeffrey Marlow—Episode 1: A Portal to Another Realm
  1/5Marine microbiologist Professor Jeffrey Marlow explores the deep ocean.
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Afternoon
1. 12:00
  News Summary—04/05/2026
  The latest national and international news from BBC Radio 4.
2. 12:04
  You and Yours—04/05/2026
  News and discussion of consumer affairs
3. 12:57
  Weather—04/05/2026
  The latest weather forecast
4. 13:00
  World at One—04/05/2026
  News, analysis and comment from BBC Radio 4
5. 13:45
  Naturebang—Giant Anteaters and Power Posing
  What shape does an anteater make when threatened? And is there real power in a power pose?
6. 14:00
  The Archers—03/05/2026
  Brad has something on his mind.
7. 14:15
  Conversations from a Long Marriage—Series 7, 1. Changing Places
  1/6Starring Joanna Lumley & Roger Allam. They've moved to the seaside but no-one’s friendly.
8. 14:45
  Opening Lines—Don Quixote - Episode One
  John Yorke explores Miguel de Cervantes’ seminal epic, Don Quixote.
9. 15:00
  Great Lives—Peter Cook picked by Count Binface, aka comedian Jon Harvey
  Comedian Jon Harvey picks Peter Cook as his hero for Great Lives.
10. 15:30
  Illuminated—Strong Women
  World champion Strongwomen redefine power and what it really means to be strong.
11. 16:00
  The Documentary—How to Spend Billions – Fast: Carney’s Defence Deadline
  Inside Canada's sprint to hit NATO’s 2% by 31 March 2026
12. 16:30
  The Kitchen Cabinet—Series 52, Swindon
  4/7Jay Rayner hosts a culinary panel show packed full of tasty titbits.
13. 17:00
  PM—04/05/2026
  Full coverage of the day's news
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Evening
1. 18:00
  Six O'Clock News—04/05/2026
  National and international news from BBC Radio 4
2. 18:30
  The Unbelievable Truth—Series 33, 2. Pets, The Brain, Breakfast and Shopping
  2/6Alan Davies, Celya AB, Ian Smith and Angela Barnes play The Unbelievable Truth
3. 19:00
  The Archers—04/05/2026
  Leonard has a proposition for Carol.
4. 19:15
  Front Row—04/05/2026
  Live magazine programme on the worlds of arts, literature, film, media and music.
5. 20:00
  The Briefing Room—30/04/2026
  David Aaronovitch presents in-depth explainers on big issues in the news.
6. 20:30
  BBC Inside Science—30/04/2026
  A weekly programme looking at the science that's changing our world.
7. 21:00
  Start the Week—Laurie Anderson: Strange and Disorientating Landscapes
  Naomi Alderman talks to Laurie Anderson, plus JG Ballard's writing and Nancy Holt's art.
8. 21:45
  Café Hope—04/05/2026
  Café Hope is our virtual Radio 4 coffee shop with Rachel Burden.
9. 22:00
  The World Tonight—04/05/2026
  In depth reporting, intelligent analysis and breaking news from a global perspective
10. 22:45
  The Prisoner by Sally Carson—Episode Six
  6/10The sequel to Sally Carson’s rediscovered masterpiece Crooked Cross.
11. 23:00
  Drama on 4—Talawa Stories: NSA by Charles Entsie
  A clandestine encounter for two Black men sparks unexpected outcomes.
12. 23:30
  Hotel Room Art
  Ian McMillan gets close to the art in hotel rooms.
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Late
1. 00:00
  Midnight News—05/05/2026
  National and international news from BBC Radio 4
2. 00:30
  The Dark Frontier by Jeffrey Marlow—Episode 1: A Portal to Another Realm
  1/5Marine microbiologist Professor Jeffrey Marlow explores the deep ocean.
3. 00:48
  Shipping Forecast—05/05/2026
  The latest weather reports and forecasts for UK shipping.
4. 01:00
  Selection of BBC World Service Programmes—05/05/2026
  BBC Radio 4 joins the BBC World Service.
5. 05:00
  News Summary—05/05/2026
  National and international news from BBC Radio 4
6. 05:04
  The Documentary—How to Spend Billions – Fast: Carney’s Defence Deadline
  Inside Canada's sprint to hit NATO’s 2% by 31 March 2026
7. 05:34
  Shipping Forecast—05/05/2026
  The latest weather reports and forecasts for UK shipping.
8. 05:43
  Prayer for the Day—05/05/2026
  Spiritual reflection with Fr Philip Blackledge of Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, Melrose.
9. 05:45
  Farming Today—05/05/2026
  The latest news about food, farming and the countryside.

Tuesday 5 May 2026