BBC Radio 4 FM Schedule Thursday 8 January 2026

Schedule

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On air
Early
Morning
Afternoon
Evening
Late

Early
1. 00:00
  Midnight News—08/01/2026
  National and international news from BBC Radio 4
2. 00:30
  Overwhelmed by Claudia Hammond—3. No Regrets
  3/5Award-winning author Claudia Hammond on the 21st-century phenomenon of overwhelm.
3. 00:48
  Shipping Forecast—08/01/2026
  The latest weather reports and forecasts for UK shipping
4. 01:00
  Selection of BBC World Service Programmes—08/01/2026
  A selection of BBC World Service news and current affairs, arts and science programmes.
5. 05:00
  News Summary—08/01/2026
  National and international news from BBC Radio 4
6. 05:04
  Yesterday in Parliament—08/01/2026
  Sean Curran reports on Prime Minister's Questions.
7. 05:34
  Shipping Forecast—08/01/2026
  The latest weather reports and forecasts for UK shipping
8. 05:43
  Prayer for the Day—I thought I knew
  Radio 4’s daily prayer and reflection, with Bishop Mary Stallard.
9. 05:45
  Farming Today—The opening of Oxford Farming Conference 2026
  The Oxford Farming Conference 2026.
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Morning
1. 06:00
  Today—08/01/2026
  News and current affairs, including Sports Desk, Weather and Thought for the Day.
2. 09:00
  More or Less—The Stats of the Nation, Older People, Education, Prisons and the Weather
  4/5Tim Harford explores the stats on pensioners, exams, justice and climate change.
3. 09:30
  Multitrack—Lost and Found: The Methodists
  A tale of faith and migration. A Zimbabwe mother rediscovers her spiritual home in the UK.
4. 09:45
  Strong Message Here—Regime Change (with Natalie Haynes)
  With Venezuela under new management, why won't the boss call it regime change?
5. 10:00
  Woman's Hour—Breast screening, MET police vetting, Female punk bands
  Should the age for breast screening be reduced from 50 to 40?
6. 11:00
  This Cultural Life—Guillermo del Toro
  Oscar-winning Mexican film-maker Guillermo del Toro reveals his cultural influences.
7. 11:45
  Overwhelmed by Claudia Hammond—4. Too Much Confidence and Imposter Syndrome
  4/5Claudia Hammond continues her new book on the 21st-century phenomenon of overwhelm.
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Afternoon
1. 12:00
  News Summary—08/01/2026
  The latest national and international news from BBC Radio 4.
2. 12:04
  The Bottom Line—What Is the UK Good At?
  From award-winning theatre to life-saving drugs, what are the UK’s biggest strengths?
3. 12:32
  Sliced Bread—Weight-loss Injections
  Is it OK to stay on weight-loss injections?
4. 12:57
  Weather—08/01/2026
  The latest weather forecast
5. 13:00
  World at One—08/01/2026
  News, analysis and comment from BBC Radio 4
6. 13:45
  Human Intelligence—Series 2, Exiles: Sor Juana Inés De La Cruz
  How did exile enable a self-taught intellectual and proto-feminist to do her best work?
7. 14:00
  The Archers—07/01/2026
  Emma makes a decision.
8. 14:15
  Drama on 4—The Goblin King and Me
  A story about a real-life encounter with David Bowie, marking ten years since his passing.
9. 15:00
  Ramblings—Walking Back to Happiness
  Clare joins Glenn Meyer in Happy Valley for a walk celebrating resilience and recovery.
10. 15:27
  Radio 4 Appeal—Practical Action
  Krishnan Guru-Murthy makes the Radio 4 Appeal on behalf of Practical Action.
11. 15:30
  Word of Mouth—The Story of A-Z
  Michael Rosen journeys down the A-Z on an alphabetical odyssey with linguist Danny Bate.
12. 16:00
  The Briefing Room—Venezuela – what now?
  The Briefing Room asks what’s next for Venezuela?
13. 16:30
  BBC Inside Science—How rare are Greenland’s rare earth elements?
  What rare earths have been found in Greenland, and why do we want them?
14. 17:00
  PM—Protestors and federal agents clash in Minneapolis
  US Secretary of Homeland Security defends ICE officer, after woman shot dead.
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Evening
1. 18:00
  Six O'Clock News—Storm Goretti hits the UK
  The Met office issues a rare Red Warning for high winds in south west England
2. 18:30
  What's the Story, Ashley Storrie?—Series 3, 1. The Best/Worst of Times
  1/4A peek into Ashley’s kaleidoscopic, autistic mind as her life is forever changed.
3. 19:00
  The Archers—08/01/2026
  There's a change of heart at the Bull.
4. 19:15
  Front Row—Jessie Buckley on her starring role in the film Hamnet
  Plus reviews of the novel Palaver by Bryan Washington and Sheridan Smith in Woman in Mind.
5. 20:00
  Multitrack—The Alcoholic's Tarot
  Artist Leon Clowes traces addiction recovery through the lens of a bespoke tarot deck.
6. 20:15
  The Media Show—US raid on Venezuela & what it says about military-media relations, Actors & AI, Influencers at Westminster & the lobby system
  Venezuela raid and military-media relations; actors and AI; influencers at Westminster.
7. 21:00
  Loose Ends—Sally Magnusson, Ray Bradshaw, Grado, Clive Anderson, Nathan Evans x SAINT PHNX, Mairi Campbell
  Clive Anderson and guests with an eclectic mix of conversation, music and comedy.
8. 21:45
  Strong Message Here—Regime Change (with Natalie Haynes)
  With Venezuela under new management, why won't the boss call it regime change?
9. 22:00
  The World Tonight—Anger in Minnesota over ICE killing of Renee Good
  Protests take place in the city where a federal officer shot dead the mother of three
10. 22:45
  The Wedding Suit by Rachel Joyce—4. The Letter
  4/5A newly commissioned five-part serial by best-selling novelist Rachel Joyce.
11. 23:00
  Radical with Amol Rajan—Knowledge and Nostalgia: Why a University Education Should Be Free (Louisa Munch)
  Academic Louisa Munch argues that you shouldn’t have to pay for higher education.
12. 23:30
  On air
  Listen live
  Today in Parliament—08/01/2026
  Sean Curran reports on plans to cut the number of deaths on Britain's roads.
  Listen live
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Late
1. 00:00
  Midnight News—09/01/2026
  National and international news from BBC Radio 4
2. 00:30
  Overwhelmed by Claudia Hammond—4. Too Much Confidence and Imposter Syndrome
  4/5Claudia Hammond continues her new book on the 21st-century phenomenon of overwhelm.
3. 00:48
  Shipping Forecast—09/01/2026
  The latest weather reports and forecasts for UK shipping
4. 01:00
  Selection of BBC World Service Programmes—09/01/2026
  A selection of BBC World Service news and current affairs, arts and science programmes.
5. 05:00
  News Summary—09/01/2026
  National and international news from BBC Radio 4
6. 05:04
  Yesterday in Parliament—09/01/2026
  Susan Hulme reports as the government unveils its new road safety strategy.
7. 05:34
  Shipping Forecast—09/01/2026
  The latest weather reports and forecasts for UK shipping
8. 05:43
  Prayer for the Day—Lifted
  Radio 4’s daily prayer and reflection, with Bishop Mary Stallard.
9. 05:45
  Farming Today—09/01/26 Politics, protests and Charlotte Church at the Oxford Farming Conferences
  We hear from the Defra Secretary and Charlotte Church at the Oxford Farming Conferences.