BBC Radio 4 FM Schedule Saturday 17 October 2026

Schedule

Skip to:

Early
Morning
Afternoon
Evening
Late

Early
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?
Back to top
Morning
1. 06:00
  
  News and Papers—17/10/2026
  
  National and international news from BBC Radio 4
2. 06:07
  
  Ramblings—From Limpsfield Common to Everest with David Sullivan
  
  Clare explores Limpsfield Common with David Sullivan to hear about his Everest adventure
3. 06:30
  
  Farming Today—17/10/2026
  
  The latest news about food, farming and the countryside
4. 06:57
  
  Weather—17/10/2026
  
  The latest weather reports and forecast
5. 07:00
  
  Today—17/10/2026
  
  News and current affairs, including Sports Desk, Weather and Thought for the Day.
6. 09:00
  
  Saturday Live—17/10/2026
  
  Radio 4's Saturday morning show brings you extraordinary stories and remarkable people.
7. 10:00
  
  Curious Cases—Series 25, Yawn Chorus
  
  3/13 Hannah Fry and Dara O Briain try to stay awake long enough to explore contagious yawning.
8. 10:30
  
  Artworks—The Guitar Story, 2. My Generation
  
  2/4 John Wilson explores the story of the guitar as a driver of social and cultural change.
9. 11:00
  
  The Week in Westminster—17/10/2026
  
  Radio 4's assessment of developments at Westminster
10. 11:30
  
  From Our Own Correspondent—17/10/2026
  
  Insight and analysis from BBC correspondents around the world
Back to top
Afternoon
1. 12:00
  
  News Summary—17/10/2026
  
  The latest national and international news from BBC Radio 4.
2. 12:04
  
  Money Box—17/10/2026
  
  The latest news from the world of personal finance
3. 12:30
  
  The News Quiz—Series 121, Episode 7
  
  7/8 Andy Zaltzman quizzes the week's news.
4. 12:57
  
  Weather—17/10/2026
  
  The latest weather forecast
5. 13:00
  
  News—17/10/2026
  
  National and international news from BBC Radio 4
6. 13:10
  
  Any Questions?—16/10/2026
  
  Topical discussion posing questions to a panel of political and media personalities
7. 14:05
  
  Any Answers?—17/10/2026
  
  Listeners respond to the issues raised in the preceding edition of Any Questions?
8. 14:45
  
  The Archers—16/10/2026
  
  The storm clouds gather in Ambridge.
9. 15:00
  
  Drama on 4—Save the Hundred Acre Wood
  
  By Edward Kemp. With Robert Bathurst as Christopher Robin Milne.
10. 16:00
  
  Woman's Hour—17/10/2026
  
  Highlights from the Woman's Hour week
11. 17:00
  
  PM—17/10/2026
  
  Full coverage of the day's news
12. 17:30
  
  Political Thinking with Nick Robinson—17/10/2026
  
  Nick Robinson talks to people who shape our political thinking about what shaped theirs.
13. 17:54
  
  Shipping Forecast—17/10/2026
  
  The latest weather reports and forecasts for UK shipping
14. 17:57
  
  Weather—17/10/2026
  
  The latest weather reports and forecast
Back to top
Evening
1. 18:00
  
  Six O'Clock News—17/10/2026
  
  National and international news from BBC Radio 4
2. 18:15
  
  Loose Ends—17/10/2026
  
  Stuart Maconie and guests with an eclectic mix of conversation, music and comedy.
3. 19:00
  
  Profile—17/10/2026
  
  An insight into the character of an influential person making the news headlines
4. 19:15
  
  The Infinite Monkey Cage—Series 35, Guano: Liquid Gold
  
  Adam Rutherford and Jessica Fostekew investigate the remarkable story of bird and bat poo.
5. 20:00
  
  Archive on 4—The Fountain of Youth At 60
  
  Angela Barnes looks back at 60 years of the social history of menopause, and HRT.
6. 21:00
  
  Human Intelligence Omnibus—Recluses
  
  Naomi Alderman examines whether being a recluse has an impact on how we do our thinking.
7. 22:00
  
  News—17/10/2026
  
  National and international news from BBC Radio 4
8. 22:15
  
  The Food Programme—Regenerative Farming and Nutrition
  
  Does regenerative farming change the nutritional value of what we eat?
9. 23:00
  
  Your Mum—Series 2, 7. Lindsey Santoro and Bella Hull
  
  7/8 Laura Smyth hears about closing a vortex and talking to angels.
10. 23:30
  
  Brain of Britain—Brain of Britain - Heat 12, 2026
  
  General knowledge quiz. Spotlights on Japanese horror, F1 and pipe organs.
Back to top
Late
1. 00:00
  
  Midnight News—18/10/2026
  
  National and international news from BBC Radio 4
2. 00:15
  
  Take Four Books—Marlon James
  
  The Jamaican novelist Marlon James on his Booker-shortlisted novel The Disappearers.
3. 00:48
  
  Shipping Forecast—18/10/2026
  
  The latest weather reports and forecasts for UK shipping.
4. 01:00
  
  Selection of BBC World Service Programmes—18/10/2026
  
  BBC Radio 4 joins the BBC World Service.
5. 05:30
  
  News Summary—18/10/2026
  
  National and international news from BBC Radio 4
6. 05:34
  
  Shipping Forecast—18/10/2026
  
  The latest weather reports and forecasts for UK shipping.
7. 05:43
  
  Bells on Sunday—The Church of All Saints and Saint Lawrence, Evesham in Worcestershire
  
  Bells on Sunday comes from the Church of All Saints and Saint Lawrence, Evesham
8. 05:45
  
  In Touch—13/10/2026
  
  News, views and information for people who are blind or partially sighted

Sunday 18 October 2026