BBC Radio 4 Extra Schedule Wednesday 30 September 2026

Schedule

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Early
Morning
Afternoon
Evening
Late

Early
1. 00:00
  
  A Good Read—Sir Jeremy Isaacs and Professor Mary Douglas
  
  Jeremy Isaacs, Mary Douglas and Bonnie Greer talk favourite books.
2. 00:30
  
  The British Film Studios - Pinewood
  
  John Huntley traces the history of one of Britain’s most iconic centres of film making.
3. 01:00
  
  The Doomed Oasis by Hammond Innes—2. Bahrain-Sharjah-Dubai
  
  2/6 Lawyer George Grant lands himself in a maze of political intrigue.
4. 01:30
  
  Whodunnits—Paul Temple and the Jonathan Mystery, 1. The Fergusons
  
  1/8 After meeting the parents of a student on a plane, the sleuth must investigate his murder.
5. 02:00
  
  Rent—Series 1, Episode 4
  
  4/6 Time to party for students Paul and Ruby, as Maria and Richard hit a posh hotel.
6. 02:30
  
  The Goon Show—The Collapse of the British Railway Sandwich System
  
  Captain Seagoon gets his teeth into a sandwich mystery at Clapham Junction station.
7. 03:00
  
  Charlotte and Lillian—Series 3, The Car
  
  3/4 Determined to pass her driving test, Charlotte enlists the help of Lillian.
8. 03:30
  
  The Diaries of Adrian Mole—Adrian Mole and The Weapons of Mass Destruction, 7. The March in London
  
  7/10 Adrian goes on an anti-war march with Daisy - but holds his tongue..
9. 03:45
  
  Tristram Shandy by Laurence Sterne—2. Birth
  
  2/10 Tristram tries to recount the tale of his birth but gets distracted.
10. 04:00
  
  The Unbelievable Truth—Series 30, Episode 2
  
  2/6 Comedians try to smuggle truths past opponents in David Mitchell's comedy panel game.
11. 04:30
  
  Hazelbeach—Series 1, Mother
  
  2/6 Nick's worst fears come true, and Ronnie sells heart rate monitors…
12. 05:00
  
  Drama on 4—Road to Heaven by Lettie Precious
  
  A young person’s life is forever changed after they read a genderless love story.
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Morning
1. 06:00
  
  The Doomed Oasis by Hammond Innes—3. Escape to Saraifa
  
  3/6 A lawyer on the trail of a missing client in Arabia is taken to an oasis.
2. 06:30
  
  Whodunnits—Paul Temple and the Jonathan Mystery, 2. That Good Old Intuition
  
  2/8 Investigating a student’s 'murder', Paul Temple wonders if he’s really dead.
3. 07:00
  
  Men of Intelligence—6. Molecatcher
  
  6/6 Hunt the mole! A spycatcher extraordinaire is on the case.
4. 07:30
  
  The Missing Hancocks—Series 1, The New Neighbour
  
  Tony has a new and very suspicious neighbour...
5. 08:00
  
  Conversations from a Long Marriage—Series 4, 1. She Drives Me Crazy
  
  1/6 Joanna Lumley and Roger Allam return as the couple still in love with life and each other.
6. 08:30
  
  The Diaries of Adrian Mole—Adrian Mole and The Weapons of Mass Destruction, 8. The Iraq War Begins
  
  8/10 Adrian battles to write Marigold a letter ending their relationship.
7. 08:45
  
  Tristram Shandy by Laurence Sterne—3. Dr Slop
  
  3/10 Still intent on recounting the story of his birth, Tristram introduces us to Dr Slop.
8. 09:00
  
  Jessica Fostekew: Sturdy Girl Club—Series 2, Wrestling
  
  3/4 Stand-up series about big strong women who do 'unladylike' sports.
9. 09:30
  
  Oliver Burkeman Is Busy—It's not Busyness but Bandwidth
  
  3/5 Oliver Burkeman asks if our problem might not be lack of time - but lack of head space?
10. 09:45
  
  Daily Service—PEACE - The Peacemakers
  
  Christian worship with a Bible reading, prayer and music led by Ann Easter.
11. 10:00
  
  Archive on 4—Lives in a Landscape
  
  Alan Dein tells the story of 10 years of BBC Radio 4's observational documentary series.
12. 11:00
  
  The Doomed Oasis by Hammond Innes—3. Escape to Saraifa
  
  3/6 A lawyer on the trail of a missing client in Arabia is taken to an oasis.
13. 11:30
  
  Whodunnits—Paul Temple and the Jonathan Mystery, 2. That Good Old Intuition
  
  2/8 Investigating a student’s 'murder', Paul Temple wonders if he’s really dead.
Back to top
Afternoon
1. 12:00
  
  Men of Intelligence—6. Molecatcher
  
  6/6 Hunt the mole! A spycatcher extraordinaire is on the case.
2. 12:30
  
  The Missing Hancocks—Series 1, The New Neighbour
  
  Tony has a new and very suspicious neighbour...
3. 13:00
  
  Conversations from a Long Marriage—Series 4, 1. She Drives Me Crazy
  
  1/6 Joanna Lumley and Roger Allam return as the couple still in love with life and each other.
4. 13:30
  
  The Diaries of Adrian Mole—Adrian Mole and The Weapons of Mass Destruction, 8. The Iraq War Begins
  
  8/10 Adrian battles to write Marigold a letter ending their relationship.
5. 13:45
  
  Tristram Shandy by Laurence Sterne—3. Dr Slop
  
  3/10 Still intent on recounting the story of his birth, Tristram introduces us to Dr Slop.
6. 14:00
  
  The Write Stuff—Series 6, Franz Kafka
  
  5/5 James Walton quizzes Sebastian Faulks, John Walsh, Tracey MacLeod and Jonathan Myerson
7. 14:30
  
  The Great Pursuit—3. Proposals
  
  3/4 Is literary agent Frederick Frensic getting out of his depth?
8. 15:00
  
  The Life and Loves of a She Devil by Fay Weldon—1. Revenge
  
  1/2 A wronged wife plans diabolical ways to punish her husband and his mistress.
9. 16:00
  
  Archive on 4—Lives in a Landscape
  
  Alan Dein tells the story of 10 years of BBC Radio 4's observational documentary series.
10. 17:00
  
  The Doomed Oasis by Hammond Innes—3. Escape to Saraifa
  
  3/6 A lawyer on the trail of a missing client in Arabia is taken to an oasis.
11. 17:30
  
  Whodunnits—Paul Temple and the Jonathan Mystery, 2. That Good Old Intuition
  
  2/8 Investigating a student’s 'murder', Paul Temple wonders if he’s really dead.
Back to top
Evening
1. 18:00
  
  Men of Intelligence—6. Molecatcher
  
  6/6 Hunt the mole! A spycatcher extraordinaire is on the case.
2. 18:30
  
  The Missing Hancocks—Series 1, The New Neighbour
  
  Tony has a new and very suspicious neighbour...
3. 19:00
  
  Conversations from a Long Marriage—Series 4, 1. She Drives Me Crazy
  
  1/6 Joanna Lumley and Roger Allam return as the couple still in love with life and each other.
4. 19:30
  
  The Diaries of Adrian Mole—Adrian Mole and The Weapons of Mass Destruction, 8. The Iraq War Begins
  
  8/10 Adrian battles to write Marigold a letter ending their relationship.
5. 19:45
  
  Tristram Shandy by Laurence Sterne—3. Dr Slop
  
  3/10 Still intent on recounting the story of his birth, Tristram introduces us to Dr Slop.
6. 20:00
  
  The Write Stuff—Series 6, Franz Kafka
  
  5/5 James Walton quizzes Sebastian Faulks, John Walsh, Tracey MacLeod and Jonathan Myerson
7. 20:30
  
  Our Country's Good by Timberlake Wertenbaker
  
  Renowned play about the convicts and Marines sent to Australia in 1787.
8. 22:00
  
  Jessica Fostekew: Sturdy Girl Club—Series 2, Wrestling
  
  3/4 Stand-up series about big strong women who do 'unladylike' sports.
9. 22:30
  
  Mitch Benn's Crimes Against Music—Series 2, The Love Song
  
  2/6 Mitch Benn goes in search of the perfect love song.
10. 23:00
  
  Everyone Quite Likes Justin—Series 2, Episode 4
  
  4/6 Justin has to cope with a game of golf.
11. 23:30
  
  The Skewer—Series 17, The Days of Earl(y) Spencer
  
  4/5 The Days of Earl(y) Spencer, as Jon Holmes remixes the news into a satirical soundscape.
12. 23:45
  
  The Goldfish Bowl—Series 1, Episode 4
  
  4/8 As Susan turns 40, her goldfish ponder the concept of time.
Back to top
Late
1. 00:00
  
  Archive on 4—Lives in a Landscape
  
  Alan Dein tells the story of 10 years of BBC Radio 4's observational documentary series.
2. 01:00
  
  The Doomed Oasis by Hammond Innes—3. Escape to Saraifa
  
  3/6 A lawyer on the trail of a missing client in Arabia is taken to an oasis.
3. 01:30
  
  Whodunnits—Paul Temple and the Jonathan Mystery, 2. That Good Old Intuition
  
  2/8 Investigating a student’s 'murder', Paul Temple wonders if he’s really dead.
4. 02:00
  
  Men of Intelligence—6. Molecatcher
  
  6/6 Hunt the mole! A spycatcher extraordinaire is on the case.
5. 02:30
  
  The Missing Hancocks—Series 1, The New Neighbour
  
  Tony has a new and very suspicious neighbour...
6. 03:00
  
  Conversations from a Long Marriage—Series 4, 1. She Drives Me Crazy
  
  1/6 Joanna Lumley and Roger Allam return as the couple still in love with life and each other.
7. 03:30
  
  The Diaries of Adrian Mole—Adrian Mole and The Weapons of Mass Destruction, 8. The Iraq War Begins
  
  8/10 Adrian battles to write Marigold a letter ending their relationship.
8. 03:45
  
  Tristram Shandy by Laurence Sterne—3. Dr Slop
  
  3/10 Still intent on recounting the story of his birth, Tristram introduces us to Dr Slop.
9. 04:00
  
  The Write Stuff—Series 6, Franz Kafka
  
  5/5 James Walton quizzes Sebastian Faulks, John Walsh, Tracey MacLeod and Jonathan Myerson
10. 04:30
  
  The Great Pursuit—3. Proposals
  
  3/4 Is literary agent Frederick Frensic getting out of his depth?
11. 05:00
  
  The Life and Loves of a She Devil by Fay Weldon—1. Revenge
  
  1/2 A wronged wife plans diabolical ways to punish her husband and his mistress.

Thursday 1 October 2026