BBC Radio 4 FM Schedule Friday 5 December 2025

Schedule

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Early
Morning
Afternoon
Evening
Late

Early
1. 00:00
  Midnight News—05/12/2025
  National and international news from BBC Radio 4
2. 00:30
  Tom Stoppard: A Life by Hermione Lee—4. Arcadia
  4/5Sir Tom creates his mid-life play, Arcadia.
3. 00:48
  Shipping Forecast—05/12/2025
  The latest weather reports and forecasts for UK shipping
4. 01:00
  Selection of BBC World Service Programmes—05/12/2025
  A selection of BBC World Service news and current affairs, arts and science programmes.
5. 05:00
  News Summary—05/12/2025
  National and international news from BBC Radio 4
6. 05:04
  Yesterday in Parliament—05/12/2025
  Susan Hulme reports as MPs unite to condemn Russia's role in the Salisbury poisonings.
7. 05:34
  Shipping Forecast—05/12/2025
  The latest weather reports and forecasts for UK shipping
8. 05:43
  Prayer for the Day—Fun, feasts, flowers, faith
  Spiritual reflection with Ronnie Convery of the Catholic Archdiocese of Glasgow
9. 05:45
  Farming Today—05/12/25 Rural traditions, Adjudicator, Livestock
  Rural traditions, dairy adjudicator, winter livestock jobs.
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Morning
1. 06:00
  Today—05/12/2025
  News and current affairs, including Sports Desk, Weather and Thought for the Day.
2. 09:00
  Desert Island Discs—Gordon Buchanan, cameraman and presenter
  Gordon Buchanan, film-maker, shares the soundtrack of his life with Lauren Laverne.
3. 10:00
  Woman's Hour—Women leaders, Hair loss, Maria Friedman
  Despite women gaining leadership roles, a new report suggests trust in women is declining.
4. 11:00
  The Food Programme—The Food Books of 2025
  Leyla Kazim discusses some of the year's best food writing with Ruby Tandoh and guests.
5. 11:45
  Tom Stoppard: A Life by Hermione Lee—5. On Leopoldstadt
  5/5Tom turns to Leopoldstadt.
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Afternoon
1. 12:00
  News Summary—05/12/2025
  The latest national and international news from BBC Radio 4.
2. 12:04
  Rare Earth—Hiding in Plain Sight
  A celebration of city wildlife from across the world.
3. 12:57
  Weather—05/12/2025
  The latest weather forecast
4. 13:00
  World at One—05/12/2025
  News, analysis and comment from BBC Radio 4
5. 13:45
  The History Podcast—The Arrest, 5. The Arrest
  5/5Augusto Pinochet receives an unwelcome late night visit.
6. 14:00
  The Archers—04/12/2025
  Ed faces a heartbreaking situation.
7. 14:15
  Limelight—Murder on Mars, Episode 4
  Jaz finds a surprise resident on Mars. And Rita and Jaz venture onto the surface.
8. 14:45
  New Storytellers—In Living Memory
  A sister speaks to the brother she never got to meet who died 17 years before her birth.
9. 15:00
  Gardeners' Question Time—Waltham Forest: Coriander, Sow-By-Date and Perennials
  Kathy Clugston and the GQT panel are in Waltham Forest to answer your gardening issues.
10. 15:45
  Short Works—Evening Routine by Natasha Kaeda
  Rumour has it the Northern Lights will be seen over Haverfordwest tonight.
11. 16:00
  Last Word—Sir Tom Stoppard, Pam Hogg, Yanxin He, Jack Shepherd
  Matthew Bannister on a playwright, a designer, a language speaker and an actor.
12. 16:30
  Life Changing—Turning agony into award-winning art
  Former engineer Michael Ashcroft explains how art emerged from personal agony.
13. 17:00
  PM—President Trump to receive "peace prize" from FIFA
  The US President talks up the World Cup his country is co-hosting as draw takes place.
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Evening
1. 18:00
  Six O'Clock News—A BBC investigation throws new light on the historical use of electro-shock therapy on gay men and women
  Electric shock treatment was used in NHS hospitals decades ago
2. 18:30
  The Naked Week—Series 3, Parties, polycules, and pardoning
  6/6This week the team enjoy parties, polycules and pardons.
3. 19:00
  The Archers—05/12/2025
  George faces a dilemma.
4. 19:15
  Add to Playlist—Emma Rawicz and Keelan Carew enjoy the vibes
  Keelan Carew and Emma Rawicz join Anna and Jeffrey to add five more tracks.
5. 20:00
  Any Questions?—Baroness Chakrabarti, Christopher Hope, Graham Stuart MP, Gillian Tett
  Alex Forsyth presents political debate from Northfield School & Sports College on Teesside
6. 20:55
  This Week in History—1st to 7th December
  Fascinating, surprising and eye-opening stories from the past, brought to life.
7. 21:00
  Free Thinking—Influencing History
  Matthew Sweet and guests ask who makes history and debate arguments in the Reith lectures.
8. 22:00
  The World Tonight—Trump takes centre stage at FIFA World Cup draw
  FIFA president Gianni Infantino lavished praise on the US president at the cup draw
9. 22:45
  Small Boat by Vincent Delecroix—Episode 5
  5/8Help is promised but none arrives. Nor is any sent.
10. 23:00
  Americast—Is Trump giving the FIFA World Cup a MAGA makeover?
  What’s behind Trump’s relationship with FIFA president Gianni Infantino?
11. 23:30
  Today in Parliament—05/12/2025
  Alicia McCarthy reports as peers debate the age someone could ask for an assisted death.
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Late
1. 00:00
  Midnight News—06/12/2025
  National and international news from BBC Radio 4
2. 00:30
  Tom Stoppard: A Life by Hermione Lee—5. On Leopoldstadt
  5/5Tom turns to Leopoldstadt.
3. 00:48
  Shipping Forecast—06/12/2025
  The latest weather reports and forecasts for UK shipping
4. 01:00
  Selection of BBC World Service Programmes—06/12/2025
  A selection of BBC World Service news and current affairs, arts and science programmes.
5. 05:30
  News Summary—06/12/2025
  National and international news from BBC Radio 4
6. 05:34
  Shipping Forecast—06/12/2025
  The latest weather reports and forecasts for UK shipping
7. 05:43
  Prayer for the Day—All the Lost Things
  Spiritual reflection to start the day with Ennette C Lainchbury.
8. 05:45
  New Storytellers—In Living Memory
  A sister speaks to the brother she never got to meet who died 17 years before her birth.

Saturday 6 December 2025