BBC Radio 4 FM Schedule Thursday 1 October 2026

Schedule

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Early
Morning
Afternoon
Evening
Late

Early
1. 00:00
  Midnight News—01/10/2026
  National and international news from BBC Radio 4
2. 00:30
  Empire at the Edge of the World by Giles Milton—3. Presumed Dead
  3/5Unaware of the Karluk's fate, Stefansson strikes out across the frozen Beaufort Sea.
3. 00:48
  Shipping Forecast—01/10/2026
  The latest weather reports and forecasts for UK shipping.
4. 01:00
  Selection of BBC World Service Programmes—01/10/2026
  BBC Radio 4 joins the BBC World Service.
5. 05:00
  News Summary—01/10/2026
  National and international news from BBC Radio 4
6. 05:04
  More or Less—30/09/2026
  Tim Harford explains the numbers and statistics used in everyday life
7. 05:34
  Shipping Forecast—01/10/2026
  The latest weather reports and forecasts for UK shipping.
8. 05:43
  Prayer for the Day—01/10/2026
  A spiritual comment and prayer to start the day with Haydon Spenceley
9. 05:45
  Farming Today—01/10/2026
  The latest news about food, farming and the countryside.
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Morning
1. 06:00
  Today—01/10/2026
  News and current affairs, including Sports Desk, Weather and Thought for the Day.
2. 09:00
  In Our Time—01/10/2026
  Misha Glenny and guests discuss the ideas, people and events that have shaped our world.
3. 09:45
  Strong Message Here—01/10/2026
  Armando Iannucci and guests decode the utterly baffling world of political language.
4. 10:00
  Woman's Hour—01/10/2026
  Women's voices and women's lives - topical conversations to inform, challenge and inspire.
5. 11:00
  This Cultural Life—01/10/2026
  In-depth conversations with some of the world's leading artists and creatives.
6. 11:45
  Empire at the Edge of the World by Giles Milton—4. The Friendly Arctic
  4/5Stefansson turns bestselling author, selling the Arctic as a paradise ripe for settlement.
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Afternoon
1. 12:00
  News Summary—01/10/2026
  The latest national and international news from BBC Radio 4.
2. 12:04
  The Bottom Line—01/10/2026
  Evan Davis hosts the business conversation show.
3. 12:32
  Sliced Bread—Series 18, Acne Treatments
  1/14What really helps to treat acne?
4. 12:57
  Weather—01/10/2026
  The latest weather forecast
5. 13:00
  World at One—01/10/2026
  News, analysis and comment from BBC Radio 4
6. 13:45
  Understand—Seven Ages of Man, with Michael Rosen, 6. Marvin Sordell's in his 30s
  6/8Former footballer Marvin Sordell opens up about his breakdown and new life after 30.
7. 14:00
  The Archers—30/09/2026
  There’s light at the end of the tunnel for Lily.
8. 14:15
  Drama on 4—The Chain, 3. Meanwhile
  3/6When a van-dweller falls for a landlord's son, a coastal housing row turns personal.
9. 15:00
  Open Country—Walter Scott country
  Martha Kearney explores Walter Scott country in the Scottish borders.
10. 15:27
  Radio 4 Appeal—Lymphoma Action
  Beneficiary Jacqueline Durban makes the Radio 4 Appeal on behalf of Lymphoma Action.
11. 15:30
  Word of Mouth—On the Mark - Punctuation
  Michael Rosen discovers punctuation through the ages with writer Florence Hazrat.
12. 16:00
  Rethink—01/10/2026
  Rethink looks at the issues of our time and considers how we can approach them differently
13. 16:30
  BBC Inside Science—01/10/2026
  A weekly programme looking at the science that's changing our world.
14. 17:00
  PM—01/10/2026
  Full coverage of the day's news
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Evening
1. 18:00
  Six O'Clock News—01/10/2026
  National and international news from BBC Radio 4
2. 18:30
  Stand-Up Specials—Omid Djalili: Namaste, 4. Still Human
  4/4Omid Djalili asks what might save us from all this noise.
3. 19:00
  The Archers—01/10/2026
  Pip has a decision to make.
4. 19:15
  Front Row—01/10/2026
  Live magazine programme on the worlds of arts, literature, film, media and music.
5. 20:00
  When It Hits the Fan—30/09/2026
  Who's in the news for all the wrong reasons? With David Yelland and Farzana Baduel.
6. 20:15
  The Media Show—30/09/2026
  This is the programme about a revolution in media.
7. 21:00
  Loose Ends—John Cooper Clarke, Jackie Kay, Antony Szmierek
  Stuart Maconie and guests live at the BBC's Contain's Strong Language festival.
8. 21:45
  Strong Message Here—01/10/2026
  Armando Iannucci and guests decode the utterly baffling world of political language.
9. 22:00
  The World Tonight—01/10/2026
  In depth reporting, intelligent analysis and breaking news from a global perspective
10. 22:45
  Stations by Louise Kennedy—Episode Four
  4/10Róisín settles into life in the squat in Pimlico.
11. 23:00
  Radical—01/10/2026
  Conversations about the global forces reshaping our world and ideas defining the future.
12. 23:30
  Great Lives—Ruby Tandoh on Brian Jacques author of the Redwall series
  Ruby Tandoh picks the author of the Redwall series, Brian Jacques.
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Late
1. 00:00
  Midnight News—02/10/2026
  National and international news from BBC Radio 4
2. 00:30
  Empire at the Edge of the World by Giles Milton—4. The Friendly Arctic
  4/5Stefansson turns bestselling author, selling the Arctic as a paradise ripe for settlement.
3. 00:48
  Shipping Forecast—02/10/2026
  The latest weather reports and forecasts for UK shipping.
4. 01:00
  Selection of BBC World Service Programmes—02/10/2026
  BBC Radio 4 joins the BBC World Service.
5. 05:00
  News Summary—02/10/2026
  National and international news from BBC Radio 4
6. 05:04
  Rethink—01/10/2026
  Rethink looks at the issues of our time and considers how we can approach them differently
7. 05:34
  Shipping Forecast—02/10/2026
  The latest weather reports and forecasts for UK shipping.
8. 05:43
  Prayer for the Day—02/10/2026
  A spiritual comment and prayer to start the day with Haydon Spenceley
9. 05:45
  Farming Today—02/10/2026
  The latest news about food, farming and the countryside.

Friday 2 October 2026