BBC Radio 4 FM Schedule Friday 2 January 2026

Schedule

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Early
Morning
Afternoon
Evening
Late

Early
1. 00:00
  Midnight News—02/01/2026
  National and international news from BBC Radio 4
2. 00:15
  Raising Hare by Chloe Dalton—Secret Paths
  5/5Chloe Dalton’s memoir about her unlikely and transformative relationship with a wild hare.
3. 00:30
  Larkin Revisited—Bridge for the Living
  Simon Armitage explores Bridge for the Living.
4. 00:48
  Shipping Forecast—02/01/2026
  The latest weather reports and forecasts for UK shipping
5. 01:00
  Selection of BBC World Service Programmes—02/01/2026
  A selection of BBC World Service news and current affairs, arts and science programmes.
6. 05:00
  News Summary—02/01/2026
  National and international news from BBC Radio 4
7. 05:04
  Echo
  An elephant destined for fame, and a legacy that will echo in time.
8. 05:34
  Shipping Forecast—02/01/2026
  The latest weather reports and forecasts for UK shipping
9. 05:43
  Prayer for the Day—Loving the Sun
  A spiritual comment and prayer to start the day with singer and musician Ruth Jennings.
10. 05:45
  Farming Today—02/01/26 Wildlife or Pest? The Wild Goats of Langholm Moor
  Wild goats: culling, conservation and controversy.
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Morning
1. 06:00
  Today—02/01/2026
  News and current affairs, including Sports Desk, Weather and Thought for the Day.
2. 09:00
  Desert Island Discs—Jojo Moyes, writer
  Jojo Moyes, writer, shares the soundtrack of her life with Lauren Laverne.
3. 10:00
  Woman's Hour—Living at home during university, Child violence in the DRC, What is RED-S?
  With more university students than ever living at home, what is student life like today?
4. 11:00
  The Food Programme—A Wild Mushroom Chase
  Sheila Dillon goes foraging for wild mushrooms in the Peak District in Derbyshire.
5. 11:45
  Larkin Revisited—Aubade
  Simon Armitage explores Philip Larkin's poem Aubade.
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Afternoon
1. 12:00
  Pick of the Week—Pick of the Year 2025 (Part 2)
  Jeanette Winterson presents a selection of audio highlights from 2025 across the BBC.(R)
2. 12:45
  Multitrack—A Northerner’s Guide to London
  Satirical audio fiction about a lost northerner in London. Written by Antonia Gospel.
3. 13:00
  World at One—The search continues for victims from the deadly Swiss ski resort fire
  Authorities say at least 40 people have died and many are in hospital seriously injured.
4. 13:45
  An Almanac for Anxiety: In Search of a Calmer Mind—Episode 5 - Earth
  Exploring how interacting with the natural elements can improve mental wellbeing
5. 14:00
  The Archers—01/01/2026
  It's panic stations in Ambridge
6. 14:15
  Limelight—Spores: Series 2, Episode 3. Fool’s Sickener
  3/5The team in Canada bring in bonobos while in Europe a frightening discovery is made.
7. 14:45
  You're Dead to Me—Dead Funny History, The Brontës
  Tragedy and triumph in the Brontë story.
8. 15:00
  Gardeners' Question Time—Postbag Edition: Sefton Park Palm House
  Kathy Clugston and the GQT team venture to the Sefton Park Palm House in Liverpool.
9. 15:45
  Short Works—A New Way to Live by PT McAllister
  Kathleen learns that even after years of marriage, her husband John can still surprise her
10. 16:00
  Last Word—Brigitte Bardot, Sir Alec Reed, Alwyn Crawshaw, Dame Shân Legge-Bourke
  Jon Kay on an actor, a businessman, an artist, a landowner
11. 16:30
  More or Less—Numbers of the Year 2025
  A plethora of interesting numbers you may not know about.
12. 17:00
  PM—Swiss authorities say sparklers likely to blame for fire
  Police are still trying to formally identify victims from the fire in a Swiss bar.
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Evening
1. 18:00
  Six O'Clock News—Officials say they believe sparklers caused fire which killed 40 people in Swiss bar
  Fire at Swiss bar believed to be "caused by sparklers attached to champagne bottles"
2. 18:30
  The News Quiz—Best of The News Quiz 2025
  A satirical smorgasbord of the best of 2025
3. 19:00
  The Archers—02/01/2026
  A vigil is held at the hospital
4. 19:15
  Screenshot—Courtroom Drama
  Ellen E Jones and Mark Kermode explore the tricks and tropes of trials in film and TV.
5. 20:00
  Correspondents' Look Ahead—Looking Ahead to 2026
  BBC journalists gaze into their crystal balls to predict what 2026 might have in store.
6. 20:55
  This Week in History—29th December to 4th January
  Fascinating, surprising and eye-opening stories from the past, brought to life.
7. 21:00
  Free Thinking—Travel
  Travel past and present and broadening the mind? Travel journalists and historians debate.
8. 22:00
  The World Tonight—Iran warns against US intervention
  Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has criticised comments from President Trump
9. 22:45
  A Long Winter by Colm Tóibín—Episode Five
  5/5As the thaw begins, Miquel searches the roads for his mother.
10. 23:00
  Americast—02/01/2026
  Join Americast for insights and analysis on what's happening inside Trump's White House.
11. 23:30
  BBC National Short Story Award—BBC National Short Story Award 2025, Little Green Man by Edward Hogan
  Edward Hogan's tender story is in the running for the 20th BBC National Short Story Award.
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Late
1. 00:00
  Midnight News—03/01/2026
  National and international news from BBC Radio 4
2. 00:30
  Larkin Revisited—The Whitsun Weddings
  Simon Armitage explores Philip Larkin's poem The Whitsun Weddings.
3. 00:48
  Shipping Forecast—03/01/2026
  The latest weather reports and forecasts for UK shipping
4. 01:00
  Selection of BBC World Service Programmes—03/01/2026
  A selection of BBC World Service news and current affairs, arts and science programmes.
5. 05:30
  News Summary—03/01/2026
  National and international news from BBC Radio 4
6. 05:34
  Shipping Forecast—03/01/2026
  The latest weather reports and forecasts for UK shipping
7. 05:43
  Prayer for the Day—Gifts that keep giving
  Radio 4’s daily prayer and reflection, with Bishop Mary Stallard.
8. 05:45
  You're Dead to Me—Dead Funny History, The Brontës
  Tragedy and triumph in the Brontë story.

Saturday 3 January 2026