BBC Radio 4 FM Schedule Wednesday 31 December 2025

Schedule

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Early
Morning
Afternoon
Evening
Late

Early
1. 00:00
  Midnight News—31/12/2025
  National and international news from BBC Radio 4
2. 00:15
  Raising Hare by Chloe Dalton—Independence
  3/5Chloe Dalton’s memoir about her unlikely and transformative relationship with a wild hare.
3. 00:30
  Larkin Revisited—Toads Revisited
  Simon Armitage explores Philip Larkin's poem Toads Revisited.
4. 00:48
  Shipping Forecast—31/12/2025
  The latest weather reports and forecasts for UK shipping
5. 01:00
  Selection of BBC World Service Programmes—31/12/2025
  A selection of BBC World Service news and current affairs, arts and science programmes.
6. 05:00
  News Summary—31/12/2025
  National and international news from BBC Radio 4
7. 05:04
  Flight of the Vulture
  Sacha Dench investigates the plight of one of the world's most persecuted birds.
8. 05:34
  Shipping Forecast—31/12/2025
  The latest weather reports and forecasts for UK shipping
9. 05:43
  Prayer for the Day—A Trumpet at Midnight
  A spiritual comment and prayer to start the day with singer and musician Ruth Jennings.
10. 05:45
  Farming Today—31/12/25 Cider Apple DNA
  How DNA testing is unlocking the secrets of historic cider orchards.
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Morning
1. 06:00
  Today—Theresa May Guest Edits Today
  Former Prime Minister Theresa May is the sixth and final Today guest editor this year.
2. 09:00
  More or Less—Numbers of the Year 2025
  A plethora of interesting numbers you may not know about.
3. 09:30
  The History Podcast—Two Nottingham Lads, 2. Damascus to Donetsk
  2/4Aiden and Graham's separate paths from Nottingham to Ukraine converge in the Donbas.
4. 10:00
  Woman's Hour—Toni Collette, Women of the Year, Disciplining children
  The Muriel's Wedding actor on her new film
5. 11:00
  File on 4 Investigates—Can cash grants help end homelessness?
  Is a one-off cash payment a way to ending someone’s homelessness?
6. 11:40
  This Week in History—29th December to 4th January
  Fascinating, surprising and eye-opening stories from the past, brought to life.
7. 11:45
  Larkin Revisited—High Windows
  Simon Armitage explores Philip Larkin's poem 'High Windows'
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Afternoon
1. 12:00
  Archive on 4—Masters of the Impossible
  Richard Wiseman explores the strange world of mind magic and the life of David Berglas.
2. 13:00
  World at One—Hunt family bravery prompts Queen to share assault story
  The Queen: 'every woman has a story'. The special envoy for women and girls joins us.
3. 13:45
  An Almanac for Anxiety: In Search of a Calmer Mind—Episode 3 - Water
  Exploring how interacting with the natural elements can improve mental wellbeing.
4. 14:00
  The Archers—30/12/2025
  Hell is unleashed at the Horrobins
5. 14:15
  Drama on 4—Snow White’s Radio Drama Romance
  A further frolic for the Radio Drama Department as they record another Christmas pantomime
6. 15:00
  Money Box—Can You Make a Creative Job Pay?
  Creative industries add billions of pounds to the UK economy, but how do you make it pay?
7. 15:30
  What Is Quantum?
  Marnie Chesterton travels to the birthplace of quantum theory armed with just one question
8. 16:00
  The Ideas List—3. Intrusive Memories
  Claudia Hammond looks back to a study exploring intrusive memories in cancer patients
9. 16:15
  The Media Show—How to Make a Hit TV Show
  TV’s top format-makers reveal what works, and what doesn't, in unscripted TV.
10. 17:00
  PM—Britain prepares for the New Year
  We write 2025 into the history books and look ahead to 2026.
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Evening
1. 18:00
  Six O'Clock News—Queen praises Hunt family's bravery after triple murders
  Queen praises the bravery of racing commentator John Hunt's family after triple murders.
2. 18:15
  Ian Hislop's Oldest Jokes—Series 1, Animals
  The latest installment of Ian's series searching for early evidence of British comedy.
3. 18:30
  Unite—Series 2, Life and Death
  6/6Tony gets a new haircut to look like Paul Weller but ends up looking like Sue Perkins.
4. 19:00
  The Archers—31/12/2025
  George goes on the rampage with shocking consequences
5. 19:15
  Front Row—Hogmanay live from Glasgow with Belle & Sebastian
  Kirsty Wark is joined ahead of the bells by poet Michael Mullen and Belle & Sebastian.
6. 20:00
  Archive on 4—Marvel vs DC: Contest of the Champions
  Exploring the decades long, cosmic culture war between Marvel and DC comics.
7. 21:00
  The Life Scientific—Jehane Ragai on the science of authenticating artworks
  Egyptian chemist Jehane Ragai on proving forged paintings and uncovering masterpieces.
8. 21:30
  Ramblings—Arriving in Santiago de Compostela with Sharon, Shirley and friends
  Clare arrives in Santiago de Compostela with a group of friends completing the Camino.
9. 21:55
  A Carnival of Animals—The Glow-worm
  Katherine Rundell explores wonderful stories of 20 astonishing but endangered animals.
10. 22:00
  The World Tonight—Israel bars 37 aid organisations from Gaza
  One resident of Gaza tells us about her fears over the ban
11. 22:45
  A Long Winter by Colm Tóibín—Episode Three
  3/5The search for Miquel’s mother continues.
12. 23:00
  Stand-Up Specials—David Eagle: See No Eagle, 3. The Anti-Social Accordionist
  3/4Blind folk singer and stand-up comedian David Eagle tells tales of his life in music.
13. 23:15
  The Squid: Sketch a Minute
  Fast-paced comedy sketches from breakout online stars The Squid.
14. 23:30
  BBC National Short Story Award—BBC National Short Story Award 2025, Yair by Emily Abdeni-Holman
  Emily Abdeni-Holman's lyrical story is up for this year's BBC National Short Story Award.
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Late
1. 00:00
  Midnight News—01/01/2026
  National and international news from BBC Radio 4
2. 00:15
  Raising Hare by Chloe Dalton—Ultimate Trust
  4/5Chloe Dalton’s memoir about her unlikely and transformative relationship with a wild hare.
3. 00:30
  Larkin Revisited—To the Sea
  Simon Armitage explores Philip Larkin's poem To the Sea.
4. 00:48
  Shipping Forecast—01/01/2026
  The latest weather reports and forecasts for UK shipping
5. 01:00
  Selection of BBC World Service Programmes—01/01/2026
  A selection of BBC World Service news and current affairs, arts and science programmes.
6. 05:00
  News Summary—01/01/2026
  National and international news from BBC Radio 4
7. 05:04
  More or Less—Numbers of the Year 2025
  A plethora of interesting numbers you may not know about.
8. 05:34
  Shipping Forecast—01/01/2026
  The latest weather reports and forecasts for UK shipping
9. 05:43
  Prayer for the Day—A New Start Every Day
  A spiritual comment and prayer to start the day with singer and musician Ruth Jennings.
10. 05:45
  Farming Today—01/01/26 Isaac Fletcher's Farming Diaries
  The farming diaries of an 18th-century yeoman farmer.

Thursday 1 January 2026