BBC Radio 4 Extra Schedule Friday 9 January 2026

Schedule

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On air
Early
Morning
Afternoon
Evening
Late

Early
1. 00:00
  Great Lives—Hanif Kureishi on David Bowie
  Hanif Kureishi nominates his friend David Bowie as his hero.
2. 00:30
  Calvin and Hobbes
  Phill Jupitus on the comic strip boy and his tiger, named after two philosophers.
3. 01:00
  Sherlock Holmes—The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes Series 2, The Naval Treaty
  4/5Why is Watson's old school chum facing ruin?
4. 01:45
  The Pillow Book—Series 1, 4. Motive
  4/5With suggestions of the supernatural, Shonagon searches for a more human motive...
5. 02:00
  Yes Minister—Series 1, Jobs for the Boys
  5/8Sir Humphrey has a warning, while Jim learns it takes two to quango.
6. 02:30
  Give Or Take—2. Oh! Baby?
  2/8Sam's been deceiving his wife - and has he won the pools at last?
7. 03:00
  Ability—Series 1, The Voice
  4/4Bob persuades Matt to exploit his voice app by becoming the voice of a sex bot.
8. 03:30
  Beatrix Potter: A Life in Nature by Linda Lear—4. The Wedding
  4/5Beatrix finally feels like her own person and begins to establish a life in the country.
9. 03:45
  Ladies of Letters—Ladies of More Letters, 4. Oz
  4/10Irene heads down under, whilst Vera's daughter moves in.
10. 04:00
  Say the Word—Episode 2
  2/6Frank Delaney's language game from the Cheltenham Festival of Literature.
11. 04:30
  Ballylenon—Series 7, Episode 6
  6/6Vera and Muriel face the fallout from their claim about Guard Gallagher.
12. 05:00
  Loving by Henry Green—2. Lucky Charley
  2/2An unexpected visitor sparks disruption for Castle Tennent's new butler.
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Morning
1. 06:00
  Sherlock Holmes—The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes Series 2, The Final Problem
  5/5The Baker Street sleuth must prepare to meet his nemesis.
2. 06:45
  The Pillow Book—Series 1, 5. Danger
  5/5The Palace criminal is discovered, but it may cost Shonagon her life
3. 07:00
  Taking It Up the Octave—2. Complications
  2/5Blackmail and throat nodules plague the cast of Opera Sunderland's Carmen.
4. 07:30
  Steptoe and Son—Series 3, Two's Company
  2/8Albert introduces his fiancee to a surprised Harold.
5. 08:00
  The Break—Series 1, Cold Mountain
  2/6Andy and Jeff find an abandoned fridge and think their luck has changed.
6. 08:30
  Beatrix Potter: A Life in Nature by Linda Lear—5. Old Age
  5/5Beatrix faces old age, world war and a legacy.
7. 08:45
  Ladies of Letters—Ladies of More Letters, 5. News
  5/10Irene delights in spreading Vera's family news first.
8. 09:00
  Time of the Week—Series 2, 3. Feminist Poetry, Betrayal, Pool Parties
  3/4Host Chloe Slack is joined by a guest editor, and it’s time for the annual charity appeal.
9. 09:30
  Naturebang—Vole-love and Fidelity
  Lessons on love, and how to be faithful, from a rodent the size of a satsuma.
10. 09:45
  Daily Service—Epiphany - Ancient Wisdom: Wisdom and power
  Christian worship with a Bible reading, prayer and music led by Bishop John Inge.
11. 10:00
  Soul Music—David Bowie - Life on Mars?
  The enigmatic beauty of Bowie's classic song 'Life on Mars?'
12. 10:30
  A Portrait Of...—Juliet Stevenson
  Follow portrait artist Fiona Graham-Mackay as she paints actor Juliet Stevenson.
13. 11:00
  Sherlock Holmes—The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes Series 2, The Final Problem
  5/5The Baker Street sleuth must prepare to meet his nemesis.
14. 11:45
  The Pillow Book—Series 1, 5. Danger
  5/5The Palace criminal is discovered, but it may cost Shonagon her life
Back to top
Afternoon
1. 12:00
  Taking It Up the Octave—2. Complications
  2/5Blackmail and throat nodules plague the cast of Opera Sunderland's Carmen.
2. 12:30
  Steptoe and Son—Series 3, Two's Company
  2/8Albert introduces his fiancee to a surprised Harold.
3. 13:00
  The Break—Series 1, Cold Mountain
  2/6Andy and Jeff find an abandoned fridge and think their luck has changed.
4. 13:30
  Beatrix Potter: A Life in Nature by Linda Lear—5. Old Age
  5/5Beatrix faces old age, world war and a legacy.
5. 13:45
  Ladies of Letters—Ladies of More Letters, 5. News
  5/10Irene delights in spreading Vera's family news first.
6. 14:00
  The Personality Test—Series 1, John Sergeant
  1/4The former political correspondent quizzes a panel about himself.
7. 14:30
  King Street Junior Revisited—Series 2, Play On
  6/6School sports day fever takes over, but not everyone's infected.
8. 15:00
  Peter Tinniswood—Age Gap
  Two women are thrown together in a rest home. Dark comedy.
9. 15:45
  Short Works—Long Distance by David Szalay
  A long distance lorry driver parks up overnight - but it's not the same old story.
10. 16:00
  Soul Music—David Bowie - Life on Mars?
  The enigmatic beauty of Bowie's classic song 'Life on Mars?'
11. 16:30
  A Portrait Of...—Juliet Stevenson
  Follow portrait artist Fiona Graham-Mackay as she paints actor Juliet Stevenson.
12. 17:00
  Sherlock Holmes—The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes Series 2, The Final Problem
  5/5The Baker Street sleuth must prepare to meet his nemesis.
13. 17:45
  On air
  Listen live
  The Pillow Book—Series 1, 5. Danger
  5/5The Palace criminal is discovered, but it may cost Shonagon her life
  Listen live
Back to top
Evening
1. 18:00
  Taking It Up the Octave—2. Complications
  2/5Blackmail and throat nodules plague the cast of Opera Sunderland's Carmen.
2. 18:30
  Steptoe and Son—Series 3, Two's Company
  2/8Albert introduces his fiancee to a surprised Harold.
3. 19:00
  The Break—Series 1, Cold Mountain
  2/6Andy and Jeff find an abandoned fridge and think their luck has changed.
4. 19:30
  Beatrix Potter: A Life in Nature by Linda Lear—5. Old Age
  5/5Beatrix faces old age, world war and a legacy.
5. 19:45
  Ladies of Letters—Ladies of More Letters, 5. News
  5/10Irene delights in spreading Vera's family news first.
6. 20:00
  The Personality Test—Series 1, John Sergeant
  1/4The former political correspondent quizzes a panel about himself.
7. 20:30
  King Street Junior Revisited—Series 2, Play On
  6/6School sports day fever takes over, but not everyone's infected.
8. 21:00
  Peter Tinniswood—Age Gap
  Two women are thrown together in a rest home. Dark comedy.
9. 21:45
  Short Works—Long Distance by David Szalay
  A long distance lorry driver parks up overnight - but it's not the same old story.
10. 22:00
  Time of the Week—Series 2, 3. Feminist Poetry, Betrayal, Pool Parties
  3/4Host Chloe Slack is joined by a guest editor, and it’s time for the annual charity appeal.
11. 22:30
  Elvenquest—Series 4, The Bard
  5/6The Questers get a chance to kill Lord Darkness, but face a challenge first.
12. 23:00
  The Masterson Inheritance—Series 2, Last Word to the Mastersons
  3/6Living off the land, will there be family tears before milking time?
13. 23:30
  Laura Solon - Talking and Not Talking—Series 1, Episode 2
  2/6Meet the Daniel Bedingfield-loving East European couple.
Back to top
Late
1. 00:00
  Soul Music—David Bowie - Life on Mars?
  The enigmatic beauty of Bowie's classic song 'Life on Mars?'
2. 00:30
  A Portrait Of...—Juliet Stevenson
  Follow portrait artist Fiona Graham-Mackay as she paints actor Juliet Stevenson.
3. 01:00
  Sherlock Holmes—The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes Series 2, The Final Problem
  5/5The Baker Street sleuth must prepare to meet his nemesis.
4. 01:45
  The Pillow Book—Series 1, 5. Danger
  5/5The Palace criminal is discovered, but it may cost Shonagon her life
5. 02:00
  Taking It Up the Octave—2. Complications
  2/5Blackmail and throat nodules plague the cast of Opera Sunderland's Carmen.
6. 02:30
  Steptoe and Son—Series 3, Two's Company
  2/8Albert introduces his fiancee to a surprised Harold.
7. 03:00
  The Break—Series 1, Cold Mountain
  2/6Andy and Jeff find an abandoned fridge and think their luck has changed.
8. 03:30
  Beatrix Potter: A Life in Nature by Linda Lear—5. Old Age
  5/5Beatrix faces old age, world war and a legacy.
9. 03:45
  Ladies of Letters—Ladies of More Letters, 5. News
  5/10Irene delights in spreading Vera's family news first.
10. 04:00
  The Personality Test—Series 1, John Sergeant
  1/4The former political correspondent quizzes a panel about himself.
11. 04:30
  King Street Junior Revisited—Series 2, Play On
  6/6School sports day fever takes over, but not everyone's infected.
12. 05:00
  Peter Tinniswood—Age Gap
  Two women are thrown together in a rest home. Dark comedy.
13. 05:45
  Short Works—Long Distance by David Szalay
  A long distance lorry driver parks up overnight - but it's not the same old story.