BBC Radio 4 FM Schedule Wednesday 17 December 2025

Schedule

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Early
Morning
Afternoon
Evening
Late

Early
1. 00:00
  Midnight News—17/12/2025
  National and international news from BBC Radio 4
2. 00:30
  Artworks—When I Met Jane Austen, Val McDermid on suspense and psychology in Northanger Abbey
  3/10Writers and thinkers tell Dr Paula Byrne when they met Jane Austen. Today, Val McDermid.
3. 00:48
  Shipping Forecast—17/12/2025
  The latest weather reports and forecasts for UK shipping
4. 01:00
  Selection of BBC World Service Programmes—17/12/2025
  A selection of BBC World Service news and current affairs, arts and science programmes.
5. 05:00
  News Summary—17/12/2025
  National and international news from BBC Radio 4
6. 05:04
  Yesterday in Parliament—17/12/2025
  Alicia McCarthy reports as MPs welcome a review of foreign interference in UK elections.
7. 05:34
  Shipping Forecast—17/12/2025
  The latest weather reports and forecasts for UK shipping
8. 05:43
  Prayer for the Day—The Lord of the Dance
  Radio 4's daily prayer and reflection with Father Dermot Preston.
9. 05:45
  Farming Today—17/12/2025 Planning reforms and the environment, rural churches.
  Planning reforms announced - what will they mean for the countryside and the environment?
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Morning
1. 06:00
  Today—17/12/2025
  News and current affairs, including Sports Desk, Weather and Thought for the Day.
2. 09:00
  More or Less—Do we really have ‘superflu’?
  The NHS is warning of an unprecedented flu season - we check.
3. 09:30
  Shadow World—Anatomy of a Cancellation, 6. Post Mortem
  6/6Today, what lessons can be drawn from what happened to Kate Clanchy and her critics?
4. 10:00
  Woman's Hour—Romance fraud, the Sex Discrimination Act, Slady tribute band at Christmas
  How can you spot a romance fraudster?
5. 11:00
  File on 4 Investigates—Firefighting's forever chemical legacy
  The story of firefighting foam’s toxic legacy.
6. 11:40
  This Week in History—15th to 21st December
  Fascinating, surprising and eye-opening stories from the past, brought to life.
7. 11:45
  Artworks—When I Met Jane Austen, Andrew Davies on Darcy, Darwin and Desire
  5/10Writers and thinkers tell Dr Paula Byrne when they met Jane Austen. Today, Andrew Davies
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Afternoon
1. 12:00
  News Summary—17/12/2025
  The latest national and international news from BBC Radio 4.
2. 12:04
  You and Yours—Mileage Blocking, Driving Test Delays, Christmas Prepayment Clubs
  How mileage blocking devices are being used to tamper with mileage on used cars.
3. 12:57
  Weather—17/12/2025
  The latest weather forecast
4. 13:00
  World at One—The UK rejoins the EU student exchange deal
  The UK rejoins the Erasmus EU student exchange scheme: is it good value?
5. 13:45
  Artworks—When I Met Jane Austen, Amy Heckerling on confidence, Clueless and Emma
  6/10Writers and thinkers tell Dr Paula Byrne when they met Jane Austen. Today, Amy Heckerling.
6. 14:00
  The Archers—16/12/2025
  Pat offers some pearls of wisdom.
7. 14:15
  Trust—Series 6 – 3. Mayonnaise for the Last Time
  Jonathan Hall's comedy drama about a Salford secondary school starring Julie Hesmondhalgh.
8. 15:00
  Money Box—Money Box Life: Blended Family Finances
  Introducing, Money Box Life and the conversation around the finances of blended families.
9. 15:30
  Child—Series 2, 7. Anxiety
  7/8A parent’s fear, the science of anxiety, and how play can shape children’s freedom.
10. 16:00
  When It Hits the Fan—Why Optimism is a PR Superpower
  David Yelland and Simon Lewis look at why PR needs reasons to be cheerful.
11. 16:15
  The Media Show—Jeremy Vine’s legal battle, Bondi Beach attack coverage, , BBC charter renewal pressures, Trump’s $5bn lawsuit and microdramas
  Jeremy Vine, Bondi Beach attack, Trump BBC law suit and licence fee renewal, microdramas.
12. 17:00
  PM—Nato secretary-general Mark Rutte talks to PM
  Rutte: 'Donald J Trump is good news for collective defence, for Nato and for Ukraine'.
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Evening
1. 18:00
  Six O'Clock News—Pro-Palestine protestors will face arrest over controversial slogans
  Greater Manchester Police and the Met plan a more 'assertive' approach
2. 18:30
  Unite—Series 2, The Welsh Fugitive
  5/6Tony decides the family should go for a digital detox weekend in Wales.
3. 19:00
  The Archers—17/12/2025
  David has concerns for a loved one.
4. 19:15
  Front Row—Actor Will Sharpe on playing Mozart in Amadeus
  A new TV adaptation of Peter Shaffer's Mozart.
5. 20:00
  Moral Maze—What's the bigger threat to Europe: "cultural erasure", or far-right populism?
  Live debate examining the moral issues behind one of the week's news stories.
6. 21:00
  The Reith Lectures—Rutger Bregman - Moral Revolution, 4. Fighting for Humanity in the Age of the Machine.
  4/4Dutch historian Rutger Bregman gives his fourth and final Reith Lecture.
7. 22:00
  The World Tonight—Arrests at London protest over "intifada" chants
  Met Police and Greater Manchester Police say they'll act against intifada chants
8. 22:45
  Mary Macdonald's Big Trip by Alexander McCall Smith—In Kathmandu
  3/5In the bustle of Kathmandu, Miss Macdonald learns an important lesson about karma.
9. 23:00
  Stand-Up Specials—David Eagle: See No Eagle, 1. Childhood
  1/4Blind folk singer and stand-up comedian David Eagle tells tales of his life in music.
10. 23:15
  No-Platformed—Series 1, Toilets
  3/4Comedy that drives a train through sitcom-land via a platform crowded with silly jokes.
11. 23:30
  Today in Parliament—17/12/2025
  The last PMQs of 2025.
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Late
1. 00:00
  Midnight News—18/12/2025
  National and international news from BBC Radio 4
2. 00:30
  Artworks—When I Met Jane Austen, Andrew Davies on Darcy, Darwin and Desire
  5/10Writers and thinkers tell Dr Paula Byrne when they met Jane Austen. Today, Andrew Davies
3. 00:48
  Shipping Forecast—18/12/2025
  The latest weather reports and forecasts for UK shipping
4. 01:00
  Selection of BBC World Service Programmes—18/12/2025
  A selection of BBC World Service news and current affairs, arts and science programmes.
5. 05:00
  News Summary—18/12/2025
  National and international news from BBC Radio 4
6. 05:04
  Yesterday in Parliament—18/12/2025
  Sean Curran reports on Prime Minister's Questions - and more.
7. 05:34
  Shipping Forecast—18/12/2025
  The latest weather reports and forecasts for UK shipping
8. 05:43
  Prayer for the Day—St Joseph Has Left the Building
  Radio 4's daily prayer and reflection with Father Dermot Preston.
9. 05:45
  Farming Today—18/12/25 Loss leaders, small ducks, historic houses
  Loss leader veg, small ducks, historic houses.

Thursday 18 December 2025