BBC Radio 4 FM Schedule Friday 19 December 2025

Schedule

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Early
Morning
Afternoon
Evening
Late

Early
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.
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Morning
1. 06:00
  Today—19/12/2025
  News and current affairs, including Sports Desk, Weather and Thought for the Day.
2. 09:00
  Desert Island Discs—Lee Child, writer
  Lee Child, writer, shares the soundtrack of his life with Lauren Laverne.
3. 10:00
  Woman's Hour—Kate Hudson, Undercover policing, Sophie Blake, Women on the Left
  The Hollywood actor on her latest film and her love of Christmas.
4. 11:00
  The Food Programme—Dates: A User's Guide
  Dan Saladino finds out how the date became one of the most revered cultivated fruits
5. 11:45
  Artworks—When I Met Jane Austen, Colm Tóibín on Persuasion, the Navy, and a special letter
  9/10Writers and thinkers tell Dr Paula Byrne when they met Jane Austen. Today, Colm Tóibín.
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Afternoon
1. 12:00
  News Summary—19/12/2025
  The latest national and international news from BBC Radio 4.
2. 12:04
  Rare Earth—Love of a Cold Climate
  What will warmer winters mean for the natural world?
3. 12:57
  Weather—19/12/2025
  The latest weather forecast
4. 13:00
  World at One—EU agrees €90 billion loan for Ukraine
  Ukraine's President Zelensky said the deal truly strengthens our resilience'.
5. 13:45
  Artworks—When I Met Jane Austen, Philippa Perry on Austen's psychology, letters and last days
  10/10Writers and thinkers tell Dr Paula Byrne when they met Jane Austen. Today, Philippa Perry.
6. 14:00
  The Archers—18/12/2025
  Susan has cause for celebration.
7. 14:15
  Limelight—Spores: Series 2, Episode 1. False Hunter
  1/5The supernatural horror returns set amid the mysterious world of mycelium.
8. 14:45
  You're Dead to Me—Dead Funny History, Ramesses the Great
  Ancient Egypt’s big king, big statues, big laughs. Presented by Greg Jenner.
9. 15:00
  Gardeners' Question Time—Wrexham County Borough: Rose Cuttings, Begonias and Hydrangeas
  Kathy Clugston and the team visit Wrexham County Borough to answer your gardening issues.
10. 15:45
  Short Works—Dreaming
  A Nottingham lad gets stuck and breaks free in the same afternoon. By Henry Normal.
11. 16:00
  Last Word—Rob Reiner, Joanna Trollope, Stanley Baxter, Sophie Kinsella
  Matthew Bannister on a film-maker, a comedian and two authors.
12. 16:30
  More or Less—Do we really have ‘superflu’?
  The NHS is warning of an unprecedented flu season - we check.
13. 17:00
  PM—Ukraine attacks one of Russia's ‘shadow fleet’ of oil tankers in the Mediterranean for first time
  Ukraine strikes a Russian ‘shadow fleet’ oil tanker in the Mediterranean for first time.
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Evening
1. 18:00
  Six O'Clock News—President Putin has accused the west of making Russia the enemy
  The EU has approved an £80 billion loan for Ukraine
2. 18:30
  Dead Ringers—Christmas Specials 2025, A Very Kemi Christmas and a Lammy New Year
  2/2The Dead Ringers team are back to train their festive firepower on the week’s news.
3. 19:00
  The Archers—19/12/2025
  The Archers come together for the festive season.
4. 19:15
  Add to Playlist—Joe Stilgoe and Heidi Fardell celebrate Yuletide Classics
  Joe Stilgoe and Heidi Fardell enjoy five cracking festive tracks
5. 20:00
  Any Questions?—Dame Harriett Baldwin MP, Michael Crick, Lord Purvis, Karin Smyth MP
  Alex Forsyth presents political debate from Areley Kings Village Hall in Worcestershire.
6. 20:55
  This Week in History—15th to 21st December
  Fascinating, surprising and eye-opening stories from the past, brought to life.
7. 21:00
  The Verb—The Christmas Adverb
  Testament's festive guests are Jackie Kay, Brian Bilston, John Hegley and Sam Lee.
8. 22:00
  The World Tonight—US Department of Justice releases Epstein files
  Long-awaited documents relate to investigations into late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein
9. 22:45
  Mary Macdonald's Big Trip by Alexander McCall Smith—This Karma Business
  5/5After a mysterious encounter by the river, more questions are coming Miss Macdonald’s way.
10. 23:00
  Americast—Has Trump’s chief of staff revealed White House secrets?
  Susie Wiles hits back at Vanity Fair after giving rare interviews
11. 23:30
  Currently—Fixing the Chain
  What happens to smaller suppliers when a big company is held to ransom online by hackers?
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Late
1. 00:00
  Midnight News—20/12/2025
  National and international news from BBC Radio 4
2. 00:30
  Artworks—When I Met Jane Austen, Colm Tóibín on Persuasion, the Navy, and a special letter
  9/10Writers and thinkers tell Dr Paula Byrne when they met Jane Austen. Today, Colm Tóibín.
3. 00:48
  Shipping Forecast—20/12/2025
  The latest weather reports and forecasts for UK shipping
4. 01:00
  Selection of BBC World Service Programmes—20/12/2025
  A selection of BBC World Service news and current affairs, arts and science programmes.
5. 05:30
  News Summary—20/12/2025
  National and international news from BBC Radio 4
6. 05:34
  Shipping Forecast—20/12/2025
  The latest weather reports and forecasts for UK shipping
7. 05:43
  Prayer for the Day—20/12/2025
  Spiritual reflection with Fiona Stewart, a writer who runs a Christian arts charity.
8. 05:45
  You're Dead to Me—Dead Funny History, Ramesses the Great
  Ancient Egypt’s big king, big statues, big laughs. Presented by Greg Jenner.

Saturday 20 December 2025