BBC Radio 4 FM Schedule Tuesday 17 March 2026

Schedule

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Early
Morning
Afternoon
Evening
Late

Early
1. 00:00
  Midnight News—17/03/2026
  National and international news from BBC Radio 4
2. 00:30
  Shock and War: Iraq 20 Years On—6. The Day After
  As Saddam’s regime is removed, Iraq plunges into chaos.
3. 00:48
  Shipping Forecast—17/03/2026
  The latest weather reports and forecasts for UK shipping
4. 01:00
  Selection of BBC World Service Programmes—17/03/2026
  A selection of BBC World Service news and current affairs, arts and science programmes.
5. 05:00
  News Summary—17/03/2026
  National and international news from BBC Radio 4
6. 05:04
  Yesterday in Parliament—17/03/2026
  Alicia McCarthy reports on the government's efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
7. 05:34
  Shipping Forecast—17/03/2026
  The latest weather reports and forecasts for UK shipping
8. 05:43
  Prayer for the Day—St Patrick’s Quiet Resilience
  A reflection and prayer to start the day with Father Martin Magill.
9. 05:45
  Farming Today—17/03/26 Energy bills in rural homes, new livestock worrying laws, processing venison
  Government pledges £53 million to help vulnerable rural households pay for heating oil.
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Morning
1. 06:00
  Today—17/03/2026
  News and current affairs, including Sports Desk, Weather and Thought for the Day.
2. 09:00
  The Life Scientific—Jens Juul Holst on the gut hormone discovery behind weight-loss drugs
  Physiologist Jens Juul Holst on how gut hormone GLP-1 paved the way for weight loss drugs.
3. 09:30
  Inside Health—What's driving the outbreak of meningitis among students?
  James Gallagher examines the outbreak of bacterial meningitis in Kent.
4. 10:00
  Woman's Hour—AI heart health mammogram, Prison family visits, The manosphere
  Researchers have developed an AI mammogram tool to assess the risk of heart problems.
5. 11:00
  Add to Playlist—Nicholas McCarthy and Amy Harman watch the clock
  Nicholas McCarthy and Amy Harman add five more tracks to the playlist.
6. 11:45
  Shock and War: Iraq 20 Years On—7. Terror
  Did the invasion turbo-charge extremism in Iraq and the UK?
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Afternoon
1. 12:00
  News Summary—17/03/2026
  The latest national and international news from BBC Radio 4.
2. 12:04
  You and Yours—Call You and Yours: Royal Mail
  Does the Royal Mail deliver for you?
3. 12:57
  Weather—17/03/2026
  The latest weather forecast
4. 13:00
  World at One—Israel claims killing of Iran's security chief
  Ali Larijani has been killed along with Basij commander Soleimani, according to Israel.
5. 13:45
  The Race to Control the World—2. Robot Wars
  2/5Brains versus body: how the US and China are winning in different areas of AI robotics.
6. 14:00
  The Archers—16/03/2026
  Ruairi's got a lot on his mind.
7. 14:15
  Drama on 4—The Counsellor
  Abby Walker's award-winning debut audio drama.
8. 15:00
  History's Heroes—The Fairytale Life of Hans Christian Andersen
  A Danish man writes a story about human suffering with an unusual hero at its heart.
9. 15:30
  Heart and Soul—The Divine Gift of Sex
  Sex and faith are intertwined, sex therapist Dr Rica Cruz explains why.
10. 16:00
  Artworks—Under a Cloud
  The poet laureate, Simon Armitage, gets his head in the clouds.
11. 16:30
  What's Up Docs?—How can you look after your hips?
  Drs Chris and Xand van Tulleken want to know how to look after your hips.
12. 17:00
  PM—President Trump say the US 'no longer needs' NATO allies
  The US is 'disappointed" with Sir Keir Starmer and NATO over Iran war support.
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Evening
1. 18:00
  Six O'Clock News—A senior US counter-terrorism official has resigned
  Joe Kent is the first senior White House official to resign over the war against Iran
2. 18:30
  Wing It—Series 2, 3. A Miracle at Spoons
  3/4Excited nuns, enemies who become lovers, and a fairy godmother.
3. 19:00
  The Archers—17/03/2026
  Ruairi helps George out.
4. 19:15
  Front Row—Gentleman Jack ballet, BTS reunited, Irish myths - a feminist retelling, Len Deighton remembered
  Gentleman Jack ballet, BTS reunited, Irish myths - a feminist retelling, Len Deighton.
5. 20:00
  Today—The Today Debate: Is Donald Trump leading us to all-out war?
  Anna Foster and an expert panel consider whether the war in the Middle East could escalate
6. 20:45
  In Touch—The 50th Winter Paralympic Games
  In Touch wraps up the 2026 Winter Paralympic Games.
7. 21:00
  The Law Show—Is it legal for police to use live facial recognition technology?
  Is live facial recognition vital to fight crime, or a step towards a surveillance state?
8. 21:30
  Evan Davis's Heat Pump Challenge—Episode 1: Heat Pumps in the home
  1/3Evan Davis explores how heat pumps work and why government wants us to install them.
9. 22:00
  The World Tonight—Scottish MSPs reject assisted dying
  The Scottish Parliament has voted down a bill that would have legalised assisted dying
10. 22:45
  Banshee—The Swans by Naoise Dolan
  A modern reimagining of The Children of Lír.
11. 23:00
  Illuminated—Swimming with Jimmy
  There’s joy and peace in the depths of a swimming pool, if only you can learn to let go.
12. 23:30
  Today in Parliament—17/03/2026
  Health Secretary Wes Streeting updates MPs on an 'unprecedented' meningitis outbreak.
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Late
1. 00:00
  Midnight News—18/03/2026
  National and international news from BBC Radio 4
2. 00:30
  Shock and War: Iraq 20 Years On—7. Terror
  Did the invasion turbo-charge extremism in Iraq and the UK?
3. 00:48
  Shipping Forecast—18/03/2026
  The latest weather reports and forecasts for UK shipping
4. 01:00
  Selection of BBC World Service Programmes—18/03/2026
  A selection of BBC World Service news and current affairs, arts and science programmes.
5. 05:00
  News Summary—18/03/2026
  National and international news from BBC Radio 4
6. 05:04
  Yesterday in Parliament—18/03/2026
  Susan Hulme reports as Ukraine's President Zelensky makes a speech to Parliament.
7. 05:34
  Shipping Forecast—18/03/2026
  The latest weather reports and forecasts for UK shipping
8. 05:43
  Prayer for the Day—When in Rome
  A reflection and prayer to start the day with Father Martin Magill.
9. 05:45
  Farming Today—18/03/27 England's new land use framework
  The government launches its new land use framework for England.

Wednesday 18 March 2026