BBC Radio 4 FM Schedule Friday 2 October 2026

Schedule

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Early
Morning
Afternoon
Evening
Late

Early
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.
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Morning
1. 06:00
  Today—02/10/2026
  News and current affairs, including Sports Desk, Weather and Thought for the Day.
2. 09:00
  Desert Island Discs—27/09/2026
  Castaway guests share the soundtrack of their lives.
3. 10:00
  Woman's Hour—02/10/2026
  Women's voices and women's lives - topical conversations to inform, challenge and inspire.
4. 11:00
  The Food Programme—The Food Innovators: 2026
  Dan Saladino looks at innovative projects around the world, from fishing to rice growing.
5. 11:45
  Empire at the Edge of the World by Giles Milton—5. The Reckoning
  5/5Rescuer Harold Noice finally reaches Wrangel Island. Read by Edmund Kingsley.
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Afternoon
1. 12:00
  News Summary—02/10/2026
  The latest national and international news from BBC Radio 4.
2. 12:04
  AntiSocial—02/10/2026
  Peace talks for the culture wars.
3. 12:57
  Weather—02/10/2026
  The latest weather forecast
4. 13:00
  World at One—02/10/2026
  News, analysis and comment from BBC Radio 4
5. 13:45
  Understand—Seven Ages of Man, with Michael Rosen, 7. Vittorio Angelone's in his 20s
  7/8Can comedian Vittorio Angelone learn to like himself, after his tumultuous 20s?
6. 14:00
  The Archers—01/10/2026
  Pip has a decision to make.
7. 14:15
  Limelight—Underground, Episode 3
  Guests arrive at Thornfield. But what is Edward hiding from Charly?
8. 14:45
  The Banksy Story—When Banksy Comes to Town, 4. Share and Shares Alike
  4/6What happens when Banksy takes a shine to your wall? And would you buy shares in his art?
9. 15:00
  Gardeners' Question Time—02/10/2026
  Horticultural programme featuring a group of gardening experts.
10. 15:45
  Short Works—02/10/2026
  An original short work for radio.
11. 16:00
  Last Word—02/10/2026
  Radio 4's weekly obituary programme
12. 16:30
  More or Less—30/09/2026
  Tim Harford explains the numbers and statistics used in everyday life
13. 17:00
  PM—02/10/2026
  Full coverage of the day's news
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Evening
1. 18:00
  Six O'Clock News—02/10/2026
  National and international news from BBC Radio 4
2. 18:30
  The News Quiz—Series 121, Episode 5
  5/8Andy Zaltzman quizzes the week's news.
3. 19:00
  The Archers—02/10/2026
  Lily extends an invitation.
4. 19:15
  Screenshot—Leading Men
  Ellen E Jones and Mark Kermode look at the evolution of the leading man in Hollywood.
5. 20:00
  Any Questions?—02/10/2026
  Topical discussion posing questions to a panel of political and media personalities
6. 20:55
  This Week in History—30/09/2026
  Fascinating, surprising and eye-opening stories from the past, brought to life.
7. 21:00
  Free Thinking—02/10/2026
  Leading thinkers discuss the ideas shaping our lives.
8. 22:00
  The World Tonight—02/10/2026
  In depth reporting, intelligent analysis and breaking news from a global perspective
9. 22:45
  Stations by Louise Kennedy—Episode Five
  5/10Róisín visits her new sister Mary in Sydenham.
10. 23:00
  Americast—02/10/2026
  Join Americast for insights and analysis on what's happening inside Trump's White House.
11. 23:30
  Great Lives—Russell Kane on Iris Murdoch
  Famous guests pick someone they love or admire... or both.
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Late
1. 00:00
  Midnight News—03/10/2026
  National and international news from BBC Radio 4
2. 00:30
  Empire at the Edge of the World by Giles Milton—5. The Reckoning
  5/5Rescuer Harold Noice finally reaches Wrangel Island. Read by Edmund Kingsley.
3. 00:48
  Shipping Forecast—03/10/2026
  The latest weather reports and forecasts for UK shipping.
4. 01:00
  Selection of BBC World Service Programmes—03/10/2026
  BBC Radio 4 joins the BBC World Service.
5. 05:30
  News Summary—03/10/2026
  National and international news from BBC Radio 4
6. 05:34
  Shipping Forecast—03/10/2026
  The latest weather reports and forecasts for UK shipping.
7. 05:43
  Prayer for the Day—03/10/2026
  Radio 4's daily prayer and reflection
8. 05:45
  The Banksy Story—When Banksy Comes to Town, 4. Share and Shares Alike
  4/6What happens when Banksy takes a shine to your wall? And would you buy shares in his art?

Saturday 3 October 2026