BBC Radio 4 FM Schedule Monday 21 September 2026

Schedule

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Early
Morning
Afternoon
Evening
Late

Early
1. 00:00
  
  Midnight News—21/09/2026
  
  National and international news from BBC Radio 4
2. 00:15
  
  Crossing Continents—Turkey on Trial: Can Courts Control a Nation?
  
  From jailed mayors to comedians, Emily Wither investigates Turkey's crackdown.
3. 00:45
  
  Bells on Sunday—St Bartholomew the Great, Smithfield in London
  
  Bells on Sunday comes from St Bartholomew the Great, Smithfield in London.
4. 00:48
  
  Shipping Forecast—21/09/2026
  
  The latest weather reports and forecasts for UK shipping.
5. 01:00
  
  Selection of BBC World Service Programmes—21/09/2026
  
  BBC Radio 4 joins the BBC World Service.
6. 05:00
  
  News Summary—21/09/2026
  
  National and international news from BBC Radio 4
7. 05:04
  
  Last Word—“A powerful wordsmith and artist” – remembering the playwright and cultural critic Bonnie Greer
  
  Also, farmer Wendell Berry, historian Frances Stonor Saunders and producer Jeremy Thomas.
8. 05:34
  
  Shipping Forecast—21/09/2026
  
  The latest weather reports and forecasts for UK shipping.
9. 05:43
  
  Prayer for the Day—Plant, Uproot, Repeat
  
  Spiritual reflection to start the day with writer and broadcaster, Fiona Stewart.
10. 05:45
  
  Farming Today—21/09/2026 Pulses, SFI 'haves and have-nots', agricultural advisor training
  
  More beans please - should the UK be growing more pulses?
11. 05:57
  
  Weather—21/09/2026
  
  The latest weather reports and forecasts for farmers
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Morning
1. 06:00
  
  Today—21/09/2026
  
  News and current affairs, including Sports Desk, Weather and Thought for the Day.
2. 09:00
  
  Start the Week—Carlo Rovelli: complexity and value
  
  Physicist Carlo Rovelli, poet Lavinia Greenlaw and playwright James Graham.
3. 09:45
  
  Café Hope—Ginnel gardens
  
  How one woman met her neighbours by cleaning and planting a garden in the shared alleyway.
4. 10:00
  
  Woman's Hour—Domestic abuse survivor Lucy Godley and mum Sharon, Baroness Casey on social care
  
  Lucy Godley and her mum on securing domestic abuse conviction for former partner.
5. 11:00
  
  Understand—The Value Crisis, 2. We've Been Here Before
  
  2/4 Ros Atkins looks to the past for lessons on navigating great shifts in what we value.
6. 11:45
  
  All About My Mother: A Memoir of Diana Rigg by Rachael Stirling—Episode 1
  
  1/5 Rachael Stirling’s frank, funny and poignant memoir about her mother, actress Diana Rigg.
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Afternoon
1. 12:00
  
  News Summary—21/09/2026
  
  The latest national and international news from BBC Radio 4.
2. 12:04
  
  You and Yours—More Homeowners Face Covenant Cash Requests
  
  Restrictive Covenants, Plug-in Solar and John Lewis.
3. 12:57
  
  Weather—21/09/2026
  
  The latest weather forecast
4. 13:00
  
  World at One—Flights cancelled after another air traffic glitch
  
  Eleven UK airports report disruption after a "technical issue" with air traffic control.
5. 13:45
  
  The History Podcast—The Hitler Diaries Scandal, 6. Final Proofs
  
  6/11 Stern is just putting the final touches to its coverage and its promotional film.
6. 14:00
  
  The Archers—20/09/2026
  
  Natasha throws a spanner in the works.
7. 14:15
  
  Fags, Mags and Bags—Series 11, Priesty Weisty Hooversy Stairsy
  
  5/6 Comedy set in a Scots-Asian corner shop. Written by Sanjeev Kohli and Donald McLeary.
8. 14:45
  
  Faith, Hope and Glory—Series 2: Eps 9-16, 10. Jim
  
  6/3 By Winsome Pinnock. Century-spanning series charting the emergence of modern Britain.
9. 15:00
  
  Great Lives—Shaun Keaveny picks Caroline Aherne
  
  Shaun Keaveny chooses the comedian Caroline Aherne.
10. 15:30
  
  You're Dead to Me—The History of Fandom, 1700-1900 (Live)
  
  Join Greg Jenner and his guests to learn about the early history of fandom.
11. 16:00
  
  Currently—Taiwan: The Pacific Breaking Point
  
  Will the world go to war over Taiwan? Experts from Taipei, Beijing and Washington explain.
12. 16:30
  
  Rewinder—Bonds, buses and Bassey banned
  
  Greg James returns to the BBC archives using today's stories as a portal to the past.
13. 17:00
  
  PM—Diesel prices expected to hit record highs.
  
  Why are diesel prices rising faster than other fuels?
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Evening
1. 18:00
  
  Six O'Clock News—Technical issue disrupts flights across the UK
  
  Some airlines say they've lost confidence in the air traffic control provider
2. 18:30
  
  Unspeakable—Series 4, 4. Should You Help a Pigeon?
  
  4/6 Annoying announcements, autumn's passage into winter, and when trying to help goes wrong.
3. 19:00
  
  The Archers—21/09/2026
  
  Ruth has concerns for a friend.
4. 19:15
  
  Front Row—Roger Taylor, drummer from the super band Queen, on his latest album
  
  Plus the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art, and ex-politicans under pressure in The Wargame.
5. 20:00
  
  Rethink—Rethink... warfare
  
  Is the UK ready for the challenges of modern war?
6. 20:30
  
  BBC Inside Science—AI to solve the energy crisis?
  
  Might the UK and US joining their AI forces help solve nuclear fusion?
7. 21:00
  
  Start the Week—Carlo Rovelli: complexity and value
  
  Physicist Carlo Rovelli, poet Lavinia Greenlaw and playwright James Graham.
8. 21:45
  
  Café Hope—Ginnel gardens
  
  How one woman met her neighbours by cleaning and planting a garden in the shared alleyway.
9. 22:00
  
  The World Tonight—News outlets blocked from White House sue Trump
  
  The media organisations are taking legal action after being barred from the White House.
10. 22:45
  
  Exhibition by Alex Hyde—6: The Tower Block
  
  6/10 After an awkward parting in Berlin, tragic news throws Rab and her old friend together.
11. 23:00
  
  Limelight—There's Something I Need to Tell You, 5. Friends
  
  5/5 Istanbul, the Russian oligarch and his superyacht… With very strong language.
12. 23:30
  
  Soul Music—We've Only Just Begun
  
  The Carpenters' massive hit - We've Only Just Begun was originally a TV advert for a bank
Back to top
Late
1. 00:00
  
  Midnight News—22/09/2026
  
  National and international news from BBC Radio 4
2. 00:30
  
  All About My Mother: A Memoir of Diana Rigg by Rachael Stirling—Episode 1
  
  1/5 Rachael Stirling’s frank, funny and poignant memoir about her mother, actress Diana Rigg.
3. 00:48
  
  Shipping Forecast—22/09/2026
  
  The latest weather reports and forecasts for UK shipping.
4. 01:00
  
  Selection of BBC World Service Programmes—22/09/2026
  
  BBC Radio 4 joins the BBC World Service.
5. 05:00
  
  News Summary—22/09/2026
  
  National and international news from BBC Radio 4
6. 05:04
  
  Currently—Taiwan: The Pacific Breaking Point
  
  Will the world go to war over Taiwan? Experts from Taipei, Beijing and Washington explain.
7. 05:34
  
  Shipping Forecast—22/09/2026
  
  The latest weather reports and forecasts for UK shipping.
8. 05:43
  
  Prayer for the Day—Driving away the fear
  
  Spiritual reflection to start the day with writer and broadcaster, Fiona Stewart.
9. 05:45
  
  Farming Today—22/09/26 Potato yields, Pulse growing
  
  Potato yields down; growing Carlin Peas in Carmarthenshire.

Tuesday 22 September 2026