BBC Radio 4 FM Schedule Thursday 22 January 2026

Schedule

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Early
Morning
Afternoon
Evening
Late

Early
1. 00:00
  Midnight News—22/01/2026
  National and international news from BBC Radio 4
2. 00:30
  The Trust Shift—Distrust In The Institution
  Rachel Botsman on the intriguing history of trust.
3. 00:48
  Shipping Forecast—22/01/2026
  The latest weather reports and forecasts for UK shipping
4. 01:00
  Selection of BBC World Service Programmes—22/01/2026
  A selection of BBC World Service news and current affairs, arts and science programmes.
5. 05:00
  News Summary—22/01/2026
  National and international news from BBC Radio 4
6. 05:04
  Yesterday in Parliament—22/01/2026
  News, views and features on yesterday's stories in Parliament
7. 05:34
  Shipping Forecast—22/01/2026
  The latest weather reports and forecasts for UK shipping
8. 05:43
  Prayer for the Day—Love Poetry
  A reflection and prayer to start the day with Andrew Roycroft.
9. 05:45
  Farming Today—22/01/2026 Geopolitical factors in milk prices, sunflowers for feed, Mercosur vote, river restoration
  How geopolitical events are feeding into the milk price slump hitting UK farmers.
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Morning
1. 06:00
  Today—22/01/2026
  News and current affairs, including Sports Desk, Weather and Thought for the Day.
2. 09:00
  In Our Time—The Mariana Trench
  Misha Glenny and guests discuss the exploration of the world's deepest ocean trench.
3. 09:45
  Strong Message Here—U-Turns and Turncoats (with Stewart Lee)
  Can politicians use language to convince us they have changed their minds?
4. 10:00
  Woman's Hour—Denise Gough, Gymnastics post birth, Endometriosis tribunal
  Olivier award-winning actress Denise Gough on her personal and professional journey.
5. 11:00
  This Cultural Life—Katie Mitchell
  Theatre and opera director Katie Mitchell on her career and formative influences.
6. 11:45
  The Trust Shift—Distributed Trust
  Rachel Botsman on the intriguing history of trust.
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Afternoon
1. 12:00
  News Summary—22/01/2026
  The latest national and international news from BBC Radio 4.
2. 12:04
  The Bottom Line—Airport Lounges: For the Many or the Few?
  How should operators balance the tension between demand and exclusivity?
3. 12:32
  Sliced Bread—Testosterone Replacement Therapy
  Can taking testosterone help with low libido and energy?
4. 12:57
  Weather—22/01/2026
  The latest weather forecast
5. 13:00
  World at One—22/01/2026
  News, analysis and comment from BBC Radio 4
6. 13:45
  Understand—US Foreign Policy in Five Doctrines, 4. The Reagan Doctrine
  4/5How US policy changed towards the Soviet Union and the challenge of communism.
7. 14:00
  The Archers—21/01/2026
  Amber faces some tough questions.
8. 14:15
  Drama on 4—Tinsel Girl and the Problem Parent
  Comedy drama about wheelchair user Maz, starring and inspired by Cherylee Houston.
9. 15:00
  Ramblings—Bredon Hill with Steve Boycott
  Clare hears about an outdoor initiative helping young people build resilience.
10. 15:27
  Radio 4 Appeal—The Benedetti Foundation
  Violinist Nicola Benedetti makes the Radio 4 Appeal on behalf of The Benedetti Foundation.
11. 15:30
  Word of Mouth—Can AI be our friend?
  Michael Rosen talks to Jennifer Cearns about the rise of AI companions.
12. 16:00
  Rethink—Rethink... regeneration
  With building and land costs high can we avoid gentrification when reviving urban areas?
13. 16:30
  BBC Inside Science—How is air travel returning to supersonic speeds?
  50 years since Concorde’s first commercial flight, is aviation going supersonic again?
14. 17:00
  PM—Greenland PM speaks out about President Trump's 'total access' deal
  The Prime Minister of Greenland says he doesn't know the details of the rumoured US deal.
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Evening
1. 18:00
  Six O'Clock News—President Trump has signed the founding charter of his Board of Peace initiative
  UK holds off joining Trump's Board of Peace over Putin concerns.
2. 18:30
  What's the Story, Ashley Storrie?—Series 3, 3. Fan Friction
  3/4‘Dead Mum’ branding ideas, unhinged interactions with strangers and fantasy meets reality.
3. 19:00
  The Archers—22/01/2026
  One resident receives some life-changing information.
4. 19:15
  Front Row—Review of films No Other Choice, The History of Sound and Julian Barnes' final novel
  Plus reactions to the Oscar nominations.
5. 20:00
  When It Hits the Fan—A New Blueprint for PR
  David Yelland and Anoushka Mutanda-Dougherty look at how the rules of PR are changing.
6. 20:15
  The Media Show—Greenland coverage, Australia’s social media ban, Brand Beckham
  How are Danish and American journalists covering the Trump-Greenland story?
7. 21:00
  Loose Ends—The Charlatans, Stuart Maconie, Jill Halfpenny, Ian Smith, Jess Robinson
  Stuart Maconie and guests with an eclectic mix of conversation, music and comedy.
8. 21:45
  Strong Message Here—U-Turns and Turncoats (with Stewart Lee)
  Can politicians use language to convince us they have changed their minds?
9. 22:00
  The World Tonight—President Zelensky slams Europeans for being in ‘Greenland mode’
  At Davos, the Ukrainian president attacked his European allies for their passivity.
10. 22:45
  The Memory Police by Yoko Ogawa—Episode 4
  4/10The old man helps the writer pre-pare her house for hiding R.
11. 23:00
  Radical with Amol Rajan—Children in Care: How to Fix the Fostering Crisis (Louise Allen)
  Foster carer Louise Allen says the problem isn’t the children, it’s the system.
12. 23:30
  Today in Parliament—22/01/2026
  Mandy Baker reports as plans to postpone council elections upset opposition MPs.
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Late
1. 00:00
  Midnight News—23/01/2026
  National and international news from BBC Radio 4
2. 00:30
  The Trust Shift—Distributed Trust
  Rachel Botsman on the intriguing history of trust.
3. 00:48
  Shipping Forecast—23/01/2026
  The latest weather reports and forecasts for UK shipping
4. 01:00
  Selection of BBC World Service Programmes—23/01/2026
  A selection of BBC World Service news and current affairs, arts and science programmes.
5. 05:00
  News Summary—23/01/2026
  National and international news from BBC Radio 4
6. 05:04
  Yesterday in Parliament—23/01/2026
  Sean Curran reports as the Local Government Secretary defends cancelling some elections.
7. 05:34
  Shipping Forecast—23/01/2026
  The latest weather reports and forecasts for UK shipping
8. 05:43
  Prayer for the Day—Spring around the Corner
  A reflection and prayer to start the day with Andrew Roycroft.
9. 05:45
  Farming Today—23/01/26 Illegal meat, farm incomes, winter feed on the Western Isles
  The trade in illegal meat smuggled in from the EU and the risk it poses to UK livestock.

Friday 23 January 2026