BBC Radio 4 FM Schedule Friday 16 May 2025

Schedule

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Early
Morning
Afternoon
Evening
Late

Early
1. 00:00
  Midnight News—16/05/2025
  National and international news from BBC Radio 4
2. 00:30
  The North Road by Rob Cowen—Episode 4 - Mine
  4/5Doncaster's mining past takes up the next stop on the award-winning writer's journey.
3. 00:48
  Shipping Forecast—16/05/2025
  The latest weather reports and forecasts for UK shipping
4. 01:00
  Selection of BBC World Service Programmes—16/05/2025
  BBC Radio 4 joins the BBC World Service.
5. 05:00
  News Summary—16/05/2025
  National and international news from BBC Radio 4
6. 05:04
  Yesterday in Parliament—16/05/2025
  Sean Curran reports as MPs question the government about the early release of prisoners.
7. 05:34
  Shipping Forecast—16/05/2025
  The latest weather reports and forecasts for UK shipping
8. 05:43
  Prayer for the Day—Finding words
  A spiritual comment and prayer to start the day with Elizabeth Rawlinson-Mills
9. 05:45
  Farming Today—16/05/25 -The Balmoral Show
  Helen Mark reports from the Balmoral Show in Northern Ireland.
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Morning
1. 06:00
  Today—16/05/2025
  News and current affairs, including Sports Desk, Weather and Thought for the Day.
2. 09:00
  Desert Island Discs—Danny Dyer, actor
  Danny Dyer, actor, shares the soundtrack of his life with Lauren Laverne.
3. 10:00
  Woman's Hour—Teaching 'grit', Amnesty International UK, Brain Aneurysm play, New Age of Sexism
  Pupils need more robust mental health, says Education Secretary Bridget Philipson.
4. 11:00
  The Food Programme—From York to Dubai: The Rise of Chocolate
  Leyla Kazim visits York to discover how the Quakers pioneered the first chocolate bars.
5. 11:45
  The North Road by Rob Cowen—Episode 5 - Achavanich
  5/5The journey along the Great North Road concludes with an archaeological discovery.
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Afternoon
1. 12:00
  News Summary—16/05/2025
  The latest national and international news from BBC Radio 4.
2. 12:04
  AntiSocial—Island of strangers?
  How careful should politicians be with emotive language on immigration?
3. 12:57
  Weather—16/05/2025
  The latest weather forecast
4. 13:00
  World at One—Two firefighters and member of public die in fire at former RAF site
  Two firefighters among three killed in large fire at former RAF airfield in Oxfordshire.
5. 13:45
  Welcome to Holland—5. Rembrandt
  When parenting journeys are flipped upside down after a diagnosis
6. 14:00
  The Archers—15/05/2025
  The Archers react to a shocking bombshell.
7. 14:15
  Limelight—Pretender Prince, Episode 1: The King of Birds
  1/5Jack Lowden presents drama on the rise and fall of Bonnie Prince Charlie.
8. 14:45
  Child—Series 1, 19. Time Warp
  What happens to our perceptions of time when you have a newborn baby?
9. 15:00
  Gardeners' Question Time—From the Archives: Foliage Frenzy
  Kathy Clugston prunes the GQT archives in search of advice on all things Foliage.
10. 15:45
  Short Works—Flash Annie by Lisa Blower
  A new story for Radio 4 from Lisa Blower, about loss, grief and ghosts from the past.
11. 16:00
  Last Word—Sir Tom Farmer, Elaine Wynn, Sue Stapely, Joseph Nye
  Matthew Bannister on a businessman, a casino owner, a solicitor and a political analyst.
12. 16:30
  Life Changing—The Yachtsman Survivor
  When yachtsman Robin was violently attacked, a life-or-death decision had to be made.
13. 17:00
  PM—MPs vote on assisted dying amendments
  MPs vote to allow staff to opt out of assisted dying process. Plus, Ukraine talks latest.
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Evening
1. 18:00
  Six O'Clock News—Two firefighters are among three people killed in a fire in Oxfordshire
  The huge blaze broke out at a former RAF base in Bicester
2. 18:30
  The News Quiz—Series 117, 5. An Island of Strangers
  5/8Alasdair Beckett-King and Sara Barron join host Andy Zaltzman for the topical quiz.
3. 19:00
  The Archers—16/05/2025
  Tom has serious concerns.
4. 19:15
  Screenshot—Summer Blockbusters
  As Jaws turns 50, Ellen E Jones and Mark Kermode explore the summer blockbuster.
5. 20:00
  Any Questions?—Dame Jackie Baillie MSP, Jim Fairlie MSP, Douglas Ross MSP, Lorna Slater MSP
  Alex Forsyth presents political debate from Ardfern on the Craignish peninsula
6. 20:55
  This Week in History—May 12 - May 18
  Fascinating, surprising and eye-opening stories from the past, brought to life.
7. 21:00
  Free Thinking—Political Visions
  Anne McElvoy sets off in search of the sunlit uplands.
8. 22:00
  The World Tonight—Israel tells people to leave northern Gaza, ahead of expected escalation in its offensive
  Israel has told people in northern Gaza to leave the area.
9. 22:45
  The Boy from the Sea by Garrett Carr—Episode Five
  5/10Brendan’s visits to their neighbours cause concern.
10. 23:00
  Americast—Is Trump's free plane a gift too far for Republicans?
  And what does it say about the new US approach to the Middle East?
11. 23:30
  Today in Parliament—16/05/2025
  Alicia McCarthy reports as MPs debate plans to legalise assisted dying in England & Wales.
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Late
1. 00:00
  Midnight News—17/05/2025
  National and international news from BBC Radio 4
2. 00:30
  The North Road by Rob Cowen—Episode 5 - Achavanich
  5/5The journey along the Great North Road concludes with an archaeological discovery.
3. 00:48
  Shipping Forecast—17/05/2025
  The latest weather reports and forecasts for UK shipping
4. 01:00
  Selection of BBC World Service Programmes—17/05/2025
  BBC Radio 4 joins the BBC World Service.
5. 05:30
  News Summary—17/05/2025
  National and international news from BBC Radio 4
6. 05:34
  Shipping Forecast—17/05/2025
  The latest weather reports and forecasts for UK shipping
7. 05:43
  Prayer for the Day—A Tapestry of Tongues
  Spiritual reflection to start the day with the Rev Dr Rosa Hunt.
8. 05:45
  Child—Series 1, 19. Time Warp
  What happens to our perceptions of time when you have a newborn baby?

Saturday 17 May 2025