BBC Radio 4 FM Schedule Friday 23 January 2026

Schedule

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Early
Morning
Afternoon
Evening
Late

Early
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.
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Morning
1. 06:00
  Today—23/01/2026
  News and current affairs, including Sports Desk, Weather and Thought for the Day.
2. 09:00
  Desert Island Discs—Adeel Akhtar, actor
  Adeel Akhtar, actor, shares the soundtrack of his life with Lauren Laverne.
3. 10:00
  Woman's Hour—ADHD and women, Author Claire Lynch, Gaming for good
  We discuss new figures showing a 20-fold rise in UK women over 25 using ADHD medication.
4. 11:00
  The Food Programme—The Low-Alcohol Drinks Revolution: Can Wine Keep Up?
  Jaega Wise asks if wine can keep up with the low-alcohol revolution.
5. 11:45
  The Trust Shift—New AI Frontiers
  Rachel Botsman on the intriguing history of trust.
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Afternoon
1. 12:00
  News Summary—23/01/2026
  The latest national and international news from BBC Radio 4.
2. 12:04
  AntiSocial—The Traitors and unconscious bias
  Are contestants on the TV show guilty of unconscious bias?
3. 12:57
  Weather—23/01/2026
  The latest weather forecast
4. 13:00
  World at One—Furious response to President Trump's Afghanistan comments
  President Trump's claim that Nato avoided the front line in Afghanistan provokes anger.
5. 13:45
  Understand—US Foreign Policy in Five Doctrines, 5. The Bush Doctrine
  5/5How the September 11 attacks led to conflict in Iraq and Afghanistan.
6. 14:00
  The Archers—22/01/2026
  One resident receives some life-changing information.
7. 14:15
  Limelight—Wolf Valley, Episode 1
  A missing journalist, an isolated fjord and a chilling discovery.
8. 14:45
  Materials of State—The Ballot Box
  David Cannadine examines the history of the ballot box.
9. 15:00
  Gardeners' Question Time—Caterham
  Peter Gibbs and the GQT panel are in Caterham.
10. 15:45
  Short Works—A Whole Giant's Daughter Quest Thing by Jo Lloyd
  An original short work for radio by Jo Lloyd. Read by Alexander Vlahos.
11. 16:00
  Last Word—Molly Burkett, Sir James Munby, Edith Flanigen, Aldrich Ames
  Matthew Bannister on a conservationist, a judge, a chemist and a spy.
12. 16:30
  More or Less—How close is Greenland to the United States?
  Tim Harford investigates Greenland maps, climate costs, house prices and Traitors maths
13. 17:00
  PM—Starmer: Trump's Afghan war comments 'insulting'
  The PM is 'appalled' by the president's claim Nato troops weren't on the front line.
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Evening
1. 18:00
  Six O'Clock News—Prime Minister reacts to comments from Donald Trump about NATO allies in Afghanistan
  Sir Keir Starmer calls Trump's remarks 'insulting and frankly appalling'
2. 18:30
  The News Quiz—Series 119, 3. Bored of peace
  3/8Alasdair Beckett-King joins Andy Zaltzman for more News Quizzing.
3. 19:00
  The Archers—23/01/2026
  The Grundys face some surprising revelations.
4. 19:15
  Screenshot—The Older Woman
  Ellen and Mark look at what changes when the woman is older in a screen romance.
5. 20:00
  Any Questions?—John Glen MP, Quentin Letts, Jake Richards MP, Anna Sabine MP
  Alex Forsyth presents political debate from the Corn Exchange in Blandford Forum, Dorset.
6. 20:55
  This Week in History—19th to 25th of January
  Fascinating, surprising and eye-opening stories from the past, brought to life.
7. 21:00
  Free Thinking—Double Lives
  From spying behind enemy lines in WWII France to lives lived online.
8. 22:00
  The World Tonight—“Appalling” - Starmer reacts to Trump’s claim about NATO troops
  The US president claimed that NATO forces hung back from the front line in Afghanistan
9. 22:45
  The Memory Police by Yoko Ogawa—Episode 5
  5/10The writer braves a visit to the headquarters of the Memory Police.
10. 23:00
  Americast—Are ICE immigration agents acting outside the law?
  Immigration raids in Minneapolis are dividing America
11. 23:30
  Today in Parliament—23/01/2026
  Susan Hulme reports as peers debate the NHS's role if assisted dying was legalised.
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Late
1. 00:00
  Midnight News—24/01/2026
  National and international news from BBC Radio 4
2. 00:30
  The Trust Shift—New AI Frontiers
  Rachel Botsman on the intriguing history of trust.
3. 00:48
  Shipping Forecast—24/01/2026
  The latest weather reports and forecasts for UK shipping
4. 01:00
  Selection of BBC World Service Programmes—24/01/2026
  A selection of BBC World Service news and current affairs, arts and science programmes.
5. 05:30
  News Summary—24/01/2026
  National and international news from BBC Radio 4
6. 05:34
  Shipping Forecast—24/01/2026
  The latest weather reports and forecasts for UK shipping
7. 05:43
  Prayer for the Day—Back to School
  A spiritual comment and prayer to start the day with Virginia Luckett.
8. 05:45
  Materials of State—The Ballot Box
  David Cannadine examines the history of the ballot box.

Saturday 24 January 2026