BBC Radio 4 FM Schedule Wednesday 4 February 2026

Schedule

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Early
Morning
Afternoon
Evening
Late

Early
1. 00:00
  Midnight News—04/02/2026
  National and international news from BBC Radio 4
2. 00:30
  Constable's Year by Susan Owens—Episode 2: Spring
  2/5The story of how John Constable’s relationship with the seasons shaped his life and art.
3. 00:48
  Shipping Forecast—04/02/2026
  The latest weather reports and forecasts for UK shipping
4. 01:00
  Selection of BBC World Service Programmes—04/02/2026
  A selection of BBC World Service news and current affairs, arts and science programmes.
5. 05:00
  News Summary—04/02/2026
  National and international news from BBC Radio 4
6. 05:04
  Yesterday in Parliament—04/02/2026
  Susan Hulme reports as MPs debate legislation that will remove benefit restrictions.
7. 05:34
  Shipping Forecast—04/02/2026
  The latest weather reports and forecasts for UK shipping
8. 05:43
  Prayer for the Day—According to the Celtic calendar, it is already spring
  A spiritual comment and prayer to start the day with Michael Kelly.
9. 05:45
  Farming Today—04/02/26 The cost of decarbonising agriculture, young farmers in Northern Ireland, new entrant crofters
  New report says the cost of decarbonising agriculture could leave many farmers in the red.
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Morning
1. 06:00
  Today—04/02/2026
  News and current affairs, including Sports Desk, Weather and Thought for the Day.
2. 09:00
  Sideways—79. The Scientist and the Miracle
  Matthew Syed considers whether miracles can be compatible with scientific thinking.
3. 09:30
  The History Bureau—Putin and the Apartment Bombs, 3. The TV Show
  3/7What if the truth behind the bombs could be revealed, on a television show?
4. 10:00
  Woman's Hour—Foster care expansion, Romola Garai, Greenland’s Gender Equality Minister
  We discuss government plans to create new foster care places in England.
5. 11:00
  Today—The Today Debate: Social Media
  Amol Rajan is joined by an expert panel to discuss social media.
6. 11:45
  Constable's Year by Susan Owens—Episode 3: Summer
  3/5The story of how John Constable’s relationship with the seasons shaped his life and art.
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Afternoon
1. 12:00
  News Summary—04/02/2026
  The latest national and international news from BBC Radio 4.
2. 12:04
  You and Yours—We R Blighty, Buying Ex-Rental Homes, Psychology of Complaining
  We look at concerns over the practices of veterans organisation We R Blighty.
3. 12:57
  Weather—04/02/2026
  The latest weather forecast
4. 13:00
  World at One—Starmer: Mandelson "lied repeatedly" about Epstein links
  The Prime Minister says he regrets appointing Lord Mandelson as US ambassador.
5. 13:45
  In Detail...—Sanctuary: An Act of Defiance, Episode 3
  A man begs for Sanctuary in a church. The vicar protects him, defying the government.
6. 14:00
  The Archers—03/02/2026
  Will there be good news for Stella?
7. 14:15
  Deacon—Deacon: A Reckoning
  Supernatural drama from Edson Burton. With Don Warrington and Ram John Holder.
8. 15:00
  Money Box—Money Box Live: Student Loan Debate
  What you need to know about student loans and how they're repaid.
9. 15:30
  The Artificial Human—AI's Bubble Trouble?, 2. What are the consequences of an AI economic crash?
  2/3Aleks and Kevin ask, what are the consequences of the AI financial bubble bursting?
10. 16:00
  When It Hits the Fan—Are Andrew and Mandelson Beyond the Fan?
  David Yelland and Simon Lewis look at reputational black holes.
11. 16:15
  The Media Show—Tina Brown on the latest Epstein files, the boundaries of behind-the-scenes access in sport, reporting on a rocket launch
  The Epstein files, cameras in sport, and why covering space launches is so unpredictable.
12. 17:00
  PM—Backbench anger over Mandelson appointment
  Government bows to backbench pressure over Mandelson document release.
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Evening
1. 18:00
  Six O'Clock News—The Prime Minister says Lord Mandelson lied about his relationship with Epstein
  Sir Keir responds to questions about the peer's vetting process for US ambassador
2. 18:30
  Crossing The Floor
  Political satire. Former Tory MP Rosie Holt defects to Labour to become a useful fool.
3. 19:00
  The Archers—04/02/2026
  George makes his feelings clear.
4. 19:15
  Front Row—Musician Martin Carthy on retiring from performing live
  Folk musician Martin Carthy; a retrospective of artist Gwen John in Cardiff.
5. 20:00
  AntiSocial—Child-free spaces
  Should we have more child-free spaces?
6. 20:45
  Magic Consultants—Affairs of State
  How close is the relationship between management consultants and the government?
7. 21:00
  Intrigue—Ransom Man, 3. For the LOLz
  Someone is suspected of being ransom_man. Jenny looks into his wild past.
8. 21:30
  Inside Health—Unlocking the mystery of Epstein-Barr Virus
  How is EBV triggering autoimmune disease?
9. 22:00
  The World Tonight—Pressure mounts on Starmer over what he knew when Mandelson named US ambassador
  Labour MPs expressed anger over Number Ten's handling of the Jeffrey Epstein controversy
10. 22:45
  The White Lady of Morecambe by Jenn Ashworth—3. King Tide Night
  3/5Julie Hesmondhalgh continues Jenn Ashworth's eco-gothic story, set in the very near future
11. 23:00
  Doctors On Hold—Series 1, 4. Peter Has a Bit of a Meltdown
  4/5When Peter's wife is caught on the job, his tantrum goes viral, can AI save the day?
12. 23:15
  The Skewer—Series 15, 5. This Charming Mandelson
  5/5This Charming Mandelson.
13. 23:30
  Today in Parliament—04/02/2026
  Susan Hulme reports as MPs vote to release documents relating to Lord Mandelson.
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Late
1. 00:00
  Midnight News—05/02/2026
  National and international news from BBC Radio 4
2. 00:30
  Constable's Year by Susan Owens—Episode 3: Summer
  3/5The story of how John Constable’s relationship with the seasons shaped his life and art.
3. 00:48
  Shipping Forecast—05/02/2026
  The latest weather reports and forecasts for UK shipping
4. 01:00
  Selection of BBC World Service Programmes—05/02/2026
  A selection of BBC World Service news and current affairs, arts and science programmes.
5. 05:00
  News Summary—05/02/2026
  National and international news from BBC Radio 4
6. 05:04
  Yesterday in Parliament—05/02/2026
  Alicia McCarthy reports on a tense Prime Minister's Questions.
7. 05:34
  Shipping Forecast—05/02/2026
  The latest weather reports and forecasts for UK shipping
8. 05:43
  Prayer for the Day—Pompeii speaks of humility before nature’s power and the preciousness of now.
  A spiritual comment and prayer to start the day with Michael Kelly.
9. 05:45
  Farming Today—05/02/26 EFRA Committee report on EU/UK agri-food trade deal, seed science, starting out in agriculture
  MPs call for a 'national conversation' on EU/UK agri-food trade agreement.

Thursday 5 February 2026