BBC Radio 4 FM Schedule Thursday 18 December 2025

Schedule

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Early
Morning
Afternoon
Evening
Late

Early
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.
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Morning
1. 06:00
  Today—18/12/2025
  News and current affairs, including Sports Desk, Weather and Thought for the Day.
2. 09:00
  In Our Time—Dickens
  Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss Charles Dickens.
3. 09:45
  Strong Message Here—Words of the Year (with Natalie Haynes)
  Armando Iannucci and Natalie pick through some of the words of the year.
4. 10:00
  Woman's Hour—Violence against women and girls, Jenny Colgan, Weight loss jabs
  We look at the government's violence against women and girls strategy.
5. 11:00
  The Infinite Monkey Cage—Series 34, Monkey Business - Robin Dunbar, Dave Gorman and Jo Setchell
  Robin Ince and Brian Cox go bananas for our monkiest episode yet, all about primate love.
6. 11:45
  Artworks—When I Met Jane Austen, Gurinder Chadha on class, cleverness and Pride and Prejudice
  7/10Writers and artists tell Dr Paula Byrne when they met Jane Austen. Today, Gurinder Chadha.
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Afternoon
1. 12:00
  News Summary—18/12/2025
  The latest national and international news from BBC Radio 4.
2. 12:04
  Scam Secrets—Could You Grab Me Some Gift Cards?
  Your boss isn't sending those messages.
3. 12:32
  Sliced Bread—Toast - Farepak's Christmas Hampers
  What led to the collapse of the Christmas savings club Farepak?
4. 12:57
  Weather—18/12/2025
  The latest weather forecast
5. 13:00
  World at One—18/12/2025
  News, analysis and comment from BBC Radio 4
6. 13:45
  Artworks—When I Met Jane Austen, Marlon James on villains and Georgians
  8/10Writers and thinkers tell Dr Paula Byrne when they met Jane Austen. Today, Marlon James.
7. 14:00
  The Archers—17/12/2025
  David has concerns for a loved one.
8. 14:15
  Drama on 4—Happy Holidays
  Kate overstays her US visa by one day and finds herself incarcerated just before Christmas
9. 15:00
  This Natural Life—Dara McAnulty
  Martha Kearney meets the young naturalist at Murlough Nature Reserve in County Down.
10. 15:27
  Radio 4 Appeal—Eco Brixs
  Liz Earle makes the Radio 4 Appeal on behalf of Eco Brixs.
11. 15:30
  Feedback—Feedback's Interview of the Year 2025
  Andrea Catherwood announces the winner of Feedback's Interview of the Year 2025.
12. 16:00
  The Briefing Room—Should we worry about America’s security strategy?
  What does the new US National Security Strategy mean for Europe and the rest of the world?
13. 16:30
  BBC Inside Science—How did President Trump transform science in 2025?
  President Trump continues to shake up science. We look at the impact it’s already having.
14. 17:00
  PM—18/12/2025
  News and current affairs, reporting on breaking stories and summing up the day's headlines
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Evening
1. 18:00
  Six O'Clock News—The Government lays out its plans for tackling violence against women and girls
  Teachers in England will be trained to spot and deal with signs of misogyny in boys
2. 18:30
  Rum Punch—Series 1, 4. Celebrating to the Max
  4/4The family scramble to put on a last minute party for Angie's birthday.
3. 19:00
  The Archers—18/12/2025
  Susan has cause for celebration.
4. 19:15
  Front Row—Reviews of the film Marty Supreme, Into the Woods on stage and Natalie Haynes on Immersive Exhibitions
  Plus we review the film Sentimental Value starring Stellan Skarsgård.
5. 20:00
  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.
6. 20:15
  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.
7. 21:00
  Loose Ends—Sharon Rooney, Jonathan Watson, Clive Anderson, Banjo Beale, Flora Shedden, Malin Lewis, Ballad Lines
  Clive Anderson and guests with an eclectic mix of conversation, music and comedy.
8. 21:45
  Strong Message Here—Words of the Year (with Natalie Haynes)
  Armando Iannucci and Natalie pick through some of the words of the year.
9. 22:00
  The World Tonight—EU leaders try to thrash out a plan on Russia's frozen assets
  EU leaders try to thrash out a plan on Russia's frozen assets
10. 22:45
  Mary Macdonald's Big Trip by Alexander McCall Smith—A Meeting by the River
  4/5After a spiritual encounter in Kathmandu, Miss Macdonald's ascent begins in earnest.
11. 23:00
  Radical with Amol Rajan—Information Crisis: Why Social Media Bans Aren't The Answer (Naomi Alderman)
  The best-selling author on why we need to prioritise human connection in the digital age.
12. 23:30
  Today in Parliament—18/12/2025
  Sean Curran reports as a minister sets out plans to cut violence against women and girls.
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Late
1. 00:00
  Midnight News—19/12/2025
  National and international news from BBC Radio 4
2. 00:30
  Artworks—When I Met Jane Austen, Gurinder Chadha on class, cleverness and Pride and Prejudice
  7/10Writers and artists tell Dr Paula Byrne when they met Jane Austen. Today, Gurinder Chadha.
3. 00:48
  Shipping Forecast—19/12/2025
  The latest weather reports and forecasts for UK shipping
4. 01:00
  Selection of BBC World Service Programmes—19/12/2025
  A selection of BBC World Service news and current affairs, arts and science programmes.
5. 05:00
  News Summary—19/12/2025
  National and international news from BBC Radio 4
6. 05:04
  Yesterday in Parliament—19/12/2025
  Alicia McCarthy reports on the strategy to combat violence against women and girls.
7. 05:34
  Shipping Forecast—19/12/2025
  The latest weather reports and forecasts for UK shipping
8. 05:43
  Prayer for the Day—Angels 12 O’clock High
  Radio 4's daily prayer and reflection with Father Dermot Preston.
9. 05:45
  Farming Today—19/12/25 Farm profitability review, charcuterie, mill stones
  Major changes needed to make farming profitable - we hear from Baroness Batters.

Friday 19 December 2025