BBC Radio 4 FM Schedule Sunday 4 October 2026

Schedule

Skip to:

Early
Morning
Afternoon
Evening
Late

Early
1. 00:00
  
  Midnight News—04/10/2026
  
  National and international news from BBC Radio 4
2. 00:15
  
  Take Four Books—Louise Kennedy
  
  The award-winning writer on her latest novel - Stations - and its three key influences.
3. 00:48
  
  Shipping Forecast—04/10/2026
  
  The latest weather reports and forecasts for UK shipping.
4. 01:00
  
  Selection of BBC World Service Programmes—04/10/2026
  
  BBC Radio 4 joins the BBC World Service.
5. 05:30
  
  News Summary—04/10/2026
  
  National and international news from BBC Radio 4
6. 05:34
  
  Shipping Forecast—04/10/2026
  
  The latest weather reports and forecasts for UK shipping.
7. 05:43
  
  Bells on Sunday—The Church of St James in Deeping St James, Lincolnshire.
  
  Bells on Sunday comes from the Church of St James in Deeping St James, Lincolnshire.
8. 05:45
  
  In Touch—Cost of Living Research, Non-Visual Noticing in Poetry
  
  In Touch celebrates National Poetry Day with two visually impaired poets.
Back to top
Morning
1. 06:00
  
  News Summary—04/10/2026
  
  National and international news from BBC Radio 4
2. 06:05
  
  Beyond Belief—Texts of Terror
  
  Giles and the panel grapple with the horrific passages in holy scripture.
3. 06:35
  
  On Your Farm—BBC Food & Farming Awards finalist: FarmED
  
  Charlotte Smith and Mali Harries visit FarmED in the Cotswolds.
4. 06:57
  
  Weather—04/10/2026
  
  The latest weather reports and forecast
5. 07:00
  
  News and Papers—04/10/2026
  
  National and international news from BBC Radio 4
6. 07:10
  
  Sunday—04/10/2026
  
  A look at the ethical and religious issues of the week
7. 07:54
  
  Radio 4 Appeal—PEAS (Promoting Equality in African Schools)
  
  Singer Sabrina Washington makes the Radio 4 Appeal on behalf of PEAS.
8. 07:57
  
  Weather—04/10/2026
  
  The latest weather reports and forecast
9. 08:00
  
  News and Papers—04/10/2026
  
  National and international news from BBC Radio 4
10. 08:10
  
  Sunday Worship—Open thou our lips - A Celebration of Choral Evensong
  
  A celebration of Choral Evensong.
11. 08:48
  
  Witness History—Mstislav Rostropovich: Virtuoso cellist
  
  In 1978, Rostropovich lost Soviet citizenship for 'unpatriotic activity'
12. 08:58
  
  Tweet of the Day—Sophie Pavelle on the Merlin
  
  Nature writer Sophie Pavelle has been searching for the merlin, but is yet to see one.
13. 09:00
  
  Broadcasting House—04/10/2026
  
  The Sunday morning news magazine programme. Presented by Paddy O'Connell
14. 10:00
  
  Desert Island Discs—Professor Dame Parveen Kumar
  
  Doctor Prof Dame Parveen Kumar shares the soundtrack of her life with Lauren Laverne.
15. 11:00
  
  The Archers Omnibus—04/10/2026
  
  Reality sets in for Amber, and there’s light at the end of the tunnel for Lily.
Back to top
Afternoon
1. 12:15
  
  Profile—Claudia Winkleman
  
  The award-winning broadcaster and The Celebrity Traitors host.
2. 12:30
  
  Unspeakable—Series 4, 5. Time Files When You're Having Fun?
  
  5/6 Time flying too fast, rose-tinted spectacles and the curse of autocorrect.
3. 12:57
  
  Weather—04/10/2026
  
  The latest weather forecast
4. 13:00
  
  The World This Weekend—04/10/2026
  
  A look at the week's big stories and preview of the week to come.
5. 13:30
  
  Currently—America’s Gerrymandering Arms Race
  
  What if you could map the outcome of an election before a single vote was cast?
6. 14:00
  
  Gardeners' Question Time—Sidmouth
  
  Peter Gibbs and the panel are in Sidmouth answering questions from local gardeners.
7. 14:45
  
  Ten Second Showdown—Allan Wells
  
  Defying Thatcher to race behind the Iron Curtain
8. 15:00
  
  Drama on 4—The Soldier's Return, A Son of War
  
  2/2 Melvyn Bragg’s story of a Cumbrian family trying to rebuild after the war.
9. 16:00
  
  Bookclub—Daniel Mason
  
  The American writer speaks to a Bookclub audience about his 2023 novel, North Woods.
10. 16:30
  
  Brain of Britain—Brain of Britain - Heat 11, 2026
  
  General knowledge quiz. Spotlights: crime fiction, makeup brands and Friday Night Dinner.
11. 17:00
  
  Witness History—Sulawesi's cave art and the origins of storytelling
  
  In 2012, cave art found in Indonesia challenged the idea that storytelling began in Europe
12. 17:10
  
  The Verb—Poems that shake up autumn from Contains Strong Language
  
  Ian McMillan with poems and poets that shake up autumn - from Contains Strong Language
13. 17:54
  
  Shipping Forecast—04/10/2026
  
  The latest weather reports and forecasts for UK shipping
14. 17:57
  
  Weather—04/10/2026
  
  The latest weather reports and forecast
Back to top
Evening
1. 18:00
  
  Six O'Clock News—04/10/2026
  
  National and international news from BBC Radio 4
2. 18:15
  
  Pick of the Week—Felicity Finch
  
  Felicity Finch presents a weekly selection of the best bits of audio across the BBC.
3. 19:00
  
  The Archers—04/10/2026
  
  Fallon decides two can play that game.
4. 19:15
  
  Illuminated—Third Man Syndrome
  
  Kathleen Jamie on the unseen presence that walks beside climbers at the edge of survival.
5. 19:45
  
  Shadow World—Thief at the British Museum, 4. Seeds of Doubt
  
  Ittai is convinced he’s found his thief, but not everyone is so sure.
6. 20:00
  
  Word of Mouth—Where Did Punctuation Come From?
  
  Michael Rosen discovers punctuation through the ages with writer Florence Hazrat.
7. 20:30
  
  Last Word—From Childline to Silverline to assisted dying: the campaigning life - and death - of Dame Esther Ranzten.
  
  Matthew Bannister on a TV presenter and campaigner, a civil servant and a physicist.
8. 21:00
  
  Money Box—Pension Inheritance Tax and Access to Work
  
  Six months to go until changes bring unspent pension pots into Inheritance Tax.
9. 21:25
  
  Radio 4 Appeal—PEAS (Promoting Equality in African Schools)
  
  Singer Sabrina Washington makes the Radio 4 Appeal on behalf of PEAS.
10. 21:30
  
  From Our Own Correspondent—Nepal: Living on the Edge of Disaster
  
  Recent catastrophic floods have raised fears among Nepal's at-risk mountain communities.
11. 22:00
  
  Westminster Hour—Live discussion from the Conservative Party conference
  
  Radio 4's Sunday night political discussion programme.
12. 23:00
  
  In Our Time—Casablanca
  
  The classic 1942 movie that convinced Americans the Second World War was worth fighting.
13. 23:45
  
  Short Works—Night Eater by Louise Welsh
  
  An original short work for BBC Radio 4.
Back to top
Late
1. 00:00
  
  Midnight News—05/10/2026
  
  National and international news from BBC Radio 4
2. 00:15
  
  Crossing Continents—Nepal: In the shadow of a glacier
  
  The 1000-year-old Himalayan community now facing an existential threat.
3. 00:45
  
  Bells on Sunday—The Church of St James in Deeping St James, Lincolnshire.
  
  Bells on Sunday comes from the Church of St James in Deeping St James, Lincolnshire.
4. 00:48
  
  Shipping Forecast—05/10/2026
  
  The latest weather reports and forecasts for UK shipping.
5. 01:00
  
  Selection of BBC World Service Programmes—05/10/2026
  
  BBC Radio 4 joins the BBC World Service.
6. 05:00
  
  News Summary—05/10/2026
  
  National and international news from BBC Radio 4
7. 05:04
  
  Last Word—From Childline to Silverline to assisted dying: the campaigning life - and death - of Dame Esther Ranzten.
  
  Matthew Bannister on a TV presenter and campaigner, a civil servant and a physicist.
8. 05:34
  
  Shipping Forecast—05/10/2026
  
  The latest weather reports and forecasts for UK shipping.
9. 05:43
  
  Prayer for the Day—05/10/2026
  
  Radio 4's daily prayer and reflection
10. 05:45
  
  Farming Today—05/10/26 Pig industry in crisis, beating the bounds, Green Party conference
  
  Pig farmers say they're facing a crisis.
11. 05:57
  
  Weather—05/10/2026
  
  The latest weather reports and forecasts for farmers

Monday 5 October 2026