BBC Radio 4 FM Schedule Thursday 22 October 2026

Schedule

Skip to:

On air
Early
Morning
Afternoon
Evening
Late

Early
1. 00:00
  Midnight News—22/10/2026
  National and international news from BBC Radio 4
2. 00:30
  Stalin's Apostles by Antonia Senior—3. Sheep's Clothing
  3/5A radical new look at how the Cambridge Five spies helped Stalin build his Red Empire.
3. 00:48
  Shipping Forecast—22/10/2026
  The latest weather reports and forecasts for UK shipping.
4. 01:00
  Selection of BBC World Service Programmes—22/10/2026
  BBC Radio 4 joins the BBC World Service.
5. 05:00
  News Summary—22/10/2026
  National and international news from BBC Radio 4
6. 05:04
  Yesterday in Parliament—22/10/2026
  Alicia McCarthy reports on Prime Minister's Questions - and more.
7. 05:34
  Shipping Forecast—22/10/2026
  The latest weather reports and forecasts for UK shipping.
8. 05:43
  Prayer for the Day—Wellness
  A spiritual comment and prayer to start the day with Angad Kaur.
9. 05:45
  Farming Today—22/10/26 Grazing and arable, apples and agroforestry, BBC Food & Farming Awards
  Why arable farmers are inviting sheep onto their fields.
Back to top
Morning
1. 06:00
  Today—22/10/2026
  News and current affairs, including Sports Desk, Weather and Thought for the Day.
2. 09:00
  In Our Time—Ishtar, the Mesopotamian goddess of love, sex and war
  The ancient goddess responsible for both the fertility of life and the bloodshed of war.
3. 09:45
  Strong Message Here—Don't Insult My Intelligence (with Chloe Petts and Marianna Spring)
  Are we all getting more stupid?
4. 10:00
  Woman's Hour—E L James's new novel, Maternity workplace protections, Catherine Bohart
  The Fifty Shades of Grey author talks about her new novel, Land of Ghosts.
5. 11:00
  The Infinite Monkey Cage—Series 35, Nothing Really Matters - Hugh Dennis, Ria Lina, Harry Cliff and Yvette Fuentes
  Jessica Fostekew and Adam Rutherford explore the weird physics concealed within the void.
6. 11:45
  Stalin's Apostles by Antonia Senior—4. Operation Valuable
  4/5A radical new look at how the Cambridge Five spies helped Stalin build his Red Empire.
Back to top
Afternoon
1. 12:00
  News Summary—22/10/2026
  The latest national and international news from BBC Radio 4.
2. 12:04
  The Bottom Line—Unlocking the North
  How do you get good economic growth going across every postcode in the north of England?
3. 12:32
  Sliced Bread—Hydrogen Water
  Are hydrogen water bottles worth the hype?
4. 12:57
  Weather—22/10/2026
  The latest weather forecast
5. 13:00
  World at One—22/10/2026
  News, analysis and comment from BBC Radio 4
6. 13:45
  The History Podcast—How Houdini Made Magic, 4. Advertise
  4/11Derren Brown explores how Houdini became a master self-marketer to stand out
7. 14:00
  The Archers—21/10/2026
  Ben attempts to make a difference.
8. 14:15
  Drama on 4—Tyrant
  On the anniversary of his rise to power, President Galkin receives an unexpected visitor.
9. 15:00
  Ramblings—Seatoller to Castle Crag
  A circular walk out of Seatoller in the northern Lake District.
10. 15:27
  Radio 4 Appeal—Willow Foundation
  Broadcaster John Wilson makes the Radio 4 Appeal on behalf of Willow Foundation.
11. 15:30
  Feedback—BBC Radio 4 Extra closure, Matthew Parris on Great Lives, and All Kinds of Minds
  Andrea Catherwood presents your thoughts on more cuts to BBC Radio.
12. 16:00
  The Briefing Room—Has France become ungovernable?
  After mass protests and violence, what will persuade the French to accept economic reform?
13. 16:30
  BBC Inside Science—Is there time on Mars?
  A Japanese spacecraft could become the first ever to bring Martian samples back to Earth.
14. 17:00
  PM—22/10/2026
  Full coverage of the day's news
Back to top
Evening
1. 18:00
  Six O'Clock News—Cyber-security flaw affects millions of websites
  Experts say it is one of the most serious cyber-security incidents of recent years
2. 18:30
  Do Gooders—Series 1, 3. The Bully
  3/6A bullying scandal causes havoc in the Alzheimers Alliance office.
3. 19:00
  The Archers—22/10/2026
  Lily has major concerns.
4. 19:15
  Front Row—Reviewing Fatherland, Possible Love and Martin Guerre
  Reviewing films Fatherland and Possible Love, and Martin Guerre, the musical.
5. 20:00
  When It Hits the Fan—Can F1's Christian Horner Regain Pole Position?
  David Yelland and Lauren Beeching discuss Christian Horner's concerted comeback campaign.
6. 20:15
  The Media Show—Taking stock of the BBC cuts
  Our panel of politicians and current and ex-BBC execs reflect on the cuts announced so far
7. 21:00
  On air
  Listen live
  Loose Ends—Alexander McCall Smith, Big Country Redux, Vicky Featherstone, Clive Anderson, Marc Jennings, Zoe Graham
  Clive Anderson and guests with an eclectic mix of conversation, music and comedy.
  Listen live
8. 21:45
  Strong Message Here—Don't Insult My Intelligence (with Chloe Petts and Marianna Spring)
  Are we all getting more stupid?
9. 22:00
  The World Tonight—22/10/2026
  In depth reporting, intelligent analysis and breaking news from a global perspective
10. 22:45
  Partita by Barbara Kingsolver—Sarabande & Prelude IV
  4/10Livia remembers the relationship that strained her commitment to music as a young prodigy.
11. 23:00
  Radical with Gabriel Gatehouse—Future of Film: Can AI Turn Anyone into a Movie Maker? (Jenny Krakovsky)
  A filmmaker on why she made a totally AI movie, and the controversy it caused.
12. 23:30
  Today in Parliament—22/10/2026
  Alicia McCarthy reports as peers question the government about the cyber security flaw.
Back to top
Late
1. 00:00
  Midnight News—23/10/2026
  National and international news from BBC Radio 4
2. 00:30
  Stalin's Apostles by Antonia Senior—4. Operation Valuable
  4/5A radical new look at how the Cambridge Five spies helped Stalin build his Red Empire.
3. 00:48
  Shipping Forecast—23/10/2026
  The latest weather reports and forecasts for UK shipping.
4. 01:00
  Selection of BBC World Service Programmes—23/10/2026
  BBC Radio 4 joins the BBC World Service.
5. 05:00
  News Summary—23/10/2026
  National and international news from BBC Radio 4
6. 05:04
  Yesterday in Parliament—23/10/2026
  Sean Curran reports from Westminster as peers debate the cyber security crisis.
7. 05:34
  Shipping Forecast—23/10/2026
  The latest weather reports and forecasts for UK shipping.
8. 05:43
  Prayer for the Day—Autumn & Change through the Seasons
  A spiritual comment and prayer to start the day with Angad Kaur.
9. 05:45
  Farming Today—23/10/26 Wild fire summit, Farming for the Future award winner, picking plums by rowing boat
  Following a year of devastating wildfires, the Government holds a wildfire summit.