BBC Radio 4 FM Schedule Friday 16 October 2026

Schedule

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Early
Morning
Afternoon
Evening
Late

Early
1. 00:00
  
  Midnight News—16/10/2026
  
  National and international news from BBC Radio 4
2. 00:30
  
  Sideways—Appetite for Distraction, 4. Attention Shortfall?
  
  Matthew Syed asks what it means to be distracted in a media world vying for our attention.
3. 00:48
  
  Shipping Forecast—16/10/2026
  
  The latest weather reports and forecasts for UK shipping.
4. 01:00
  
  Selection of BBC World Service Programmes—16/10/2026
  
  BBC Radio 4 joins the BBC World Service.
5. 05:00
  
  News Summary—16/10/2026
  
  National and international news from BBC Radio 4
6. 05:04
  
  Yesterday in Parliament—16/10/2026
  
  News, views and features on today's stories in Parliament
7. 05:34
  
  Shipping Forecast—16/10/2026
  
  The latest weather reports and forecasts for UK shipping.
8. 05:43
  
  Prayer for the Day—16/10/2026
  
  A spiritual comment and prayer to start the day with Jo Moir
9. 05:45
  
  Farming Today—16/10/26 What will a farmer be?
  
  The Archers at 75: what will it mean to be a farmer in the next 75 years?
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Morning
1. 06:00
  
  Today—16/10/2026
  
  News and current affairs, including Sports Desk, Weather and Thought for the Day.
2. 09:00
  
  Desert Island Discs—11/10/2026
  
  Castaway guests share the soundtrack of their lives.
3. 10:00
  
  Woman's Hour—16/10/2026
  
  Women's voices and women's lives - topical conversations to inform, challenge and inspire.
4. 11:00
  
  The Food Programme—Regenerative Farming and Nutrition
  
  Does regenerative farming change the nutritional value of what we eat?
5. 11:45
  
  Winnie-the-Pooh 100—Piglet is Entirely Surrounded by Water by AA Milne
  
  Read by Hayley Atwell and celebrating a century of Pooh.
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Afternoon
1. 12:00
  
  News Summary—16/10/2026
  
  The latest national and international news from BBC Radio 4.
2. 12:04
  
  AntiSocial—16/10/2026
  
  Peace talks for the culture wars.
3. 12:57
  
  Weather—16/10/2026
  
  The latest weather forecast
4. 13:00
  
  World at One—16/10/2026
  
  News, analysis and comment from BBC Radio 4
5. 13:45
  
  Farming Today—16/10/26 What will a farmer be?
  
  The Archers at 75: what will it mean to be a farmer in the next 75 years?
6. 14:00
  
  The Archers—15/10/2026
  
  Freddie’s feelings are hurt.
7. 14:15
  
  Limelight—Underground, Episode 5
  
  As Thornfield burns, Axel has an offer for Charly.
8. 14:45
  
  Life Without—Life Without Bats
  
  The night sky loses its bats and their secret soundscape. What happens next?
9. 15:00
  
  Gardeners' Question Time—16/10/2026
  
  Horticultural programme featuring a group of gardening experts.
10. 15:45
  
  Short Works—Let Them Have Their Fun by Lauren Mackenzie
  
  A sightseeing trip takes an unexpected turn for Grace and her family.
11. 16:00
  
  Last Word—16/10/2026
  
  Radio 4's weekly obituary programme
12. 16:30
  
  More or Less—14/10/2026
  
  Tim Harford explains the numbers and statistics used in everyday life.
13. 17:00
  
  PM—16/10/2026
  
  Full coverage of the day's news
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Evening
1. 18:00
  
  Six O'Clock News—16/10/2026
  
  National and international news from BBC Radio 4
2. 18:30
  
  The News Quiz—Series 121, Episode 7
  
  7/8 Andy Zaltzman quizzes the week's news.
3. 19:00
  
  The Archers—16/10/2026
  
  The storm clouds gather in Ambridge.
4. 19:15
  
  Screenshot—Young People In Care
  
  Screenshot delves into the ubiquity of young people in care on screen.
5. 20:00
  
  Any Questions?—16/10/2026
  
  Topical discussion posing questions to a panel of political and media personalities
6. 20:55
  
  This Week in History—October 12th to October 18th
  
  Fascinating, surprising and eye-opening stories from the past, brought to life.
7. 21:00
  
  Free Thinking—Bread
  
  Shahidha Bari and guests look at the way bread comes up in history, religion and economics
8. 22:00
  
  The World Tonight—16/10/2026
  
  In depth reporting, intelligent analysis and breaking news from a global perspective
9. 22:45
  
  Who Are You in Winnie-the-Pooh?—Eeyore
  
  5/5 Frank Cottrell-Boyce talks with children’s writers Nadia Shireen and Charlie Higson.
10. 23:00
  
  Americast—16/10/2026
  
  Join Americast for insights and analysis on what's happening inside Trump's White House.
11. 23:30
  
  Today in Parliament—16/10/2026
  
  News, views and features on today's stories in Parliament
Back to top
Late
1. 00:00
  
  Midnight News—17/10/2026
  
  National and international news from BBC Radio 4
2. 00:30
  
  Sideways—Appetite for Distraction, 5. The Future of Attention
  
  Matthew Syed asks what it means to be distracted in a media world vying for our attention.
3. 00:48
  
  Shipping Forecast—17/10/2026
  
  The latest weather reports and forecasts for UK shipping.
4. 01:00
  
  Selection of BBC World Service Programmes—17/10/2026
  
  BBC Radio 4 joins the BBC World Service.
5. 05:30
  
  News Summary—17/10/2026
  
  National and international news from BBC Radio 4
6. 05:34
  
  Shipping Forecast—17/10/2026
  
  The latest weather reports and forecasts for UK shipping.
7. 05:43
  
  Prayer for the Day—17/10/2026
  
  A spiritual comment and prayer to start the day with Angad Kaur
8. 05:45
  
  Life Without—Life Without Bats
  
  The night sky loses its bats and their secret soundscape. What happens next?

Saturday 17 October 2026