BBC Radio 4 FM Schedule Wednesday 30 September 2026

Schedule

Skip to:

Early
Morning
Afternoon
Evening
Late

Early
1. 00:00
  
  Midnight News—30/09/2026
  
  National and international news from BBC Radio 4
2. 00:30
  
  Empire at the Edge of the World by Giles Milton—2. Trapped in the Ice
  
  2/5 Trapped in the ice, the Karluk's crew face scurvy and starvation. Read by Edmund Kingsley.
3. 00:48
  
  Shipping Forecast—30/09/2026
  
  The latest weather reports and forecasts for UK shipping.
4. 01:00
  
  Selection of BBC World Service Programmes—30/09/2026
  
  BBC Radio 4 joins the BBC World Service.
5. 05:00
  
  News Summary—30/09/2026
  
  National and international news from BBC Radio 4
6. 05:04
  
  BBC Inside Science—Do you have the correct time?
  
  How do we measure time accurately and why is the rotation of the Earth causing problems?
7. 05:34
  
  Shipping Forecast—30/09/2026
  
  The latest weather reports and forecasts for UK shipping.
8. 05:43
  
  Prayer for the Day—A day of pausing, endings and new beginnings
  
  A spiritual comment and prayer to start the day with Haydon Spenceley.
9. 05:45
  
  Farming Today—30/09/26 Nitrogen in soil, organic veg scheme, student bursaries.
  
  A new way of looking at the nitrogen cycle helps reduce agricultural emissions.
Back to top
Morning
1. 06:00
  
  Today—30/09/2026
  
  News and current affairs, including Sports Desk, Weather and Thought for the Day.
2. 09:00
  
  More or Less—Does the UK really have nine out of the ten poorest regions in Northern Europe?
  
  Tim Harford investigates regional inequality, migrant costs, donkey donations and honey.
3. 09:30
  
  I'm Not A Monster Presents...—Where Is Austin Tice?, 4. The Driver
  
  Josh and Sara piece together Austin’s final route into Damascus.
4. 10:00
  
  Woman's Hour—The Women's Art Collection at 40; school uniforms in porn; the history of widowhood
  
  The campaign to ban school uniforms in porn and 40 years of The Women's Art Collection.
5. 11:00
  
  File on 4 Investigates—Tinderbox Britain - Are we ready for more wildfires?
  
  After a record breaking wildfire season, are we prepared for the growing threat?
6. 11:40
  
  This Week in History—September 28th to October 4th
  
  Fascinating, surprising and eye-opening stories from the past, brought to life.
7. 11:45
  
  Empire at the Edge of the World by Giles Milton—3. Presumed Dead
  
  3/5 Unaware of the Karluk's fate, Stefansson strikes out across the frozen Beaufort Sea.
Back to top
Afternoon
1. 12:00
  
  News Summary—30/09/2026
  
  The latest national and international news from BBC Radio 4.
2. 12:04
  
  You and Yours—Energy Price Cap; Right to Light; Bacon Backlash
  
  No-win-no-fee "right to light" case.
3. 12:57
  
  Weather—30/09/2026
  
  The latest weather forecast
4. 13:00
  
  World at One—Pilots taken to hospital after reported cockpit stabbing on Israel-bound flight
  
  Passengers say pilot was stabbed before the plane was diverted to Saudi Arabia.
5. 13:45
  
  Understand—Seven Ages of Man, with Michael Rosen, 5. Lias Saoudi's in his 40s
  
  5/8 Fat White Family singer Lias Saoudi reveals how he has transformed in his 40s.
6. 14:00
  
  The Archers—29/09/2026
  
  Ed has a controversial suggestion.
7. 14:15
  
  Drama on 4—A Place Called Home, 2. The Grove
  
  2/6 For one it's a home of memories but to another it's a route to a deposit for a first house
8. 15:00
  
  Money Box—Money Box Live: Unmarried Couples and Their Cash
  
  More rights are planned for couples living together, what does that mean for your money?
9. 15:30
  
  The Artificial Human—Are we losing control of AI?
  
  Aleks and Kevin ask if recent concerns about "rogue" AI behaviour are justified.
10. 16:00
  
  When It Hits the Fan—I'm a Billionaire... Get Me Out of Here!!!
  
  David Yelland and Farzana Baduel on why some of the super rich are slagging off the UK.
11. 16:15
  
  The Media Show—Man City verdict, Dead Internet Theory, The Art of Casting
  
  We speak to reporters who investigated Manchester City over the years.
12. 17:00
  
  PM—Passengers of FlyDubai land in Tel Aviv after mid-air attack
  
  Israel says co-pilot attacked pilot and tried to down the plane in 'jihadi terror attack'.
Back to top
Evening
1. 18:00
  
  Six O'Clock News—Pilot arrested after 'stabbing co-pilot in cockpit'
  
  Israel's PM says the pilot launched the attack in an airliner heading for Tel Aviv
2. 18:30
  
  Jessica Fostekew: Sturdy Girl Club—Series 2, MMA
  
  4/4 Stand-up series about big strong women who do 'unladylike' sports.
3. 19:00
  
  The Archers—30/09/2026
  
  There’s light at the end of the tunnel for Lily.
4. 19:15
  
  Front Row—Actors David Harewood and Sir Simon Russell Beale
  
  Simon Russell Beale on playing Liberace on stage and David Harewood on his new legal drama
5. 20:00
  
  Here for the History—Why Are We Dog Obsessed?
  
  Dogs are man’s best friend - but has it always been that way.
6. 20:30
  
  Top Comment—Has Hunter Biden fumbled the bag?
  
  How a crypto collapse could ruin his redemption arc.
7. 21:00
  
  The Life Scientific—Gillian Forrester on gesturing gorillas, babbling babies and the origins of human language
  
  Professor Gillian Forrester on how we became the walking, talking great apes we are today.
8. 21:30
  
  All in the Mind—How do we judge someone’s emotions?
  
  Plus, we reveal the All in the Mind Awards judging panel.
9. 22:00
  
  The World Tonight—Dame Esther Rantzen dies at 86 after lifetime of campaigning
  
  The former That's Life! presenter turned campaigner for assisted dying
10. 22:45
  
  Stations by Louise Kennedy—Episode 3
  
  3/10 Christmas 1984, Róisín visits her father in London.
11. 23:00
  
  Eleanor & Pals
  
  Comedian Eleanor Morton brings her hilarious online comedy characters and pals to Radio 4.
12. 23:15
  
  The Skewer—Series 17, Hope, Pope, and Clarkson's Terrorism Farm
  
  5/5 We're off to Clarkson's Terrorism Farm as Jon Holmes satirically soundscapes the news.
13. 23:30
  
  Great Lives—Eric Ashby, Silent Watcher of the New Forest
  
  Famous guests pick someone they love or admire.
Back to top
Late
1. 00:00
  
  Midnight News—01/10/2026
  
  National and international news from BBC Radio 4
2. 00:30
  
  Empire at the Edge of the World by Giles Milton—3. Presumed Dead
  
  3/5 Unaware of the Karluk's fate, Stefansson strikes out across the frozen Beaufort Sea.
3. 00:48
  
  Shipping Forecast—01/10/2026
  
  The latest weather reports and forecasts for UK shipping.
4. 01:00
  
  Selection of BBC World Service Programmes—01/10/2026
  
  BBC Radio 4 joins the BBC World Service.
5. 05:00
  
  News Summary—01/10/2026
  
  National and international news from BBC Radio 4
6. 05:04
  
  More or Less—Does the UK really have nine out of the ten poorest regions in Northern Europe?
  
  Tim Harford investigates regional inequality, migrant costs, donkey donations and honey.
7. 05:34
  
  Shipping Forecast—01/10/2026
  
  The latest weather reports and forecasts for UK shipping.
8. 05:43
  
  Prayer for the Day—Rest is hard to keep to at times
  
  A spiritual comment and prayer to start the day with Haydon Spenceley.
9. 05:45
  
  Farming Today—01/10/26 Red diesel; Labour party conference; getting into farming; the sound of worms.
  
  Why spiralling red diesel prices could put some farmers in the red.

Thursday 1 October 2026