BBC Radio 4 FM Schedule Thursday 19 March 2026

Schedule

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Early
Morning
Afternoon
Evening
Late

Early
1. 00:00
  Midnight News—19/03/2026
  National and international news from BBC Radio 4
2. 00:30
  Shock and War: Iraq 20 Years On—8. The Retreat
  The failures in post-war Iraq have far reaching and unexpected consequences.
3. 00:48
  Shipping Forecast—19/03/2026
  The latest weather reports and forecasts for UK shipping
4. 01:00
  Selection of BBC World Service Programmes—19/03/2026
  A selection of BBC World Service news and current affairs, arts and science programmes.
5. 05:00
  News Summary—19/03/2026
  National and international news from BBC Radio 4
6. 05:04
  Yesterday in Parliament—19/03/2026
  News, views and features on yesterday's stories in Parliament
7. 05:34
  Shipping Forecast—19/03/2026
  The latest weather reports and forecasts for UK shipping
8. 05:43
  Prayer for the Day—Sleeping and Dreaming
  A reflection and prayer to start the day with Father Martin Magill
9. 05:45
  Farming Today—19/03/26 Land Use Framework, oat drink production
  What difference will England's Land Use Framework make?
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Morning
1. 06:00
  Today—19/03/2026
  News and current affairs, including Sports Desk, Weather and Thought for the Day.
2. 09:00
  In Our Time—Dadaism
  How, in 1916 in Zurich, artists responded to the absurdity of war by creating absurd art.
3. 09:45
  Strong Message Here—You Don't Have to Worry (with Marina Hyde)
  Is the optimism and positive language of the US administration encouraging or worrying?
4. 10:00
  Woman's Hour—Glasgow fire, Sibling relationships, Artist LR Vandy
  Female business owners unite after their retail units were destroyed in Glasgow fire.
5. 11:00
  The History Podcast—The Second Map, 2. The Secrets in the Safe
  The other story of the Second World War.
6. 11:45
  Shock and War: Iraq 20 Years On—9. Broken Trust
  As public trust disappears, deep scars begin to take their toll.
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Afternoon
1. 12:00
  News Summary—19/03/2026
  The latest national and international news from BBC Radio 4.
2. 12:04
  Evan Davis's Heat Pump Challenge—Episode 2: The Spark Gap
  2/3Evan explores why electricity is so expensive, and why that's a barrier for heat pumps.
3. 12:32
  Sliced Bread—Dough - Eyewear
  Will smart glasses replace smartphones? Greg Foot investigates the future of eyewear.
4. 12:57
  Weather—19/03/2026
  The latest weather forecast
5. 13:00
  World at One—Iran and Israel target oil and gas in the Gulf and energy prices soar
  Energy prices increase rapidly as Iran and Israel target oil and gas sites in the Gulf.
6. 13:45
  The Race to Control the World—4. Space Race 2.0
  4/5Satellites are driving the new space race for commerce, communications - and warfare.
7. 14:00
  The Archers—18/03/2026
  Brian learns something new.
8. 14:15
  Drama on 4—Good People, 6. The Reckoning
  6/6Back at Faith's home for the final time, a reckoning awaits.
9. 15:00
  Open Country—Stroudwater's missing mile
  Martha Kearney finds out about ambitious restoration plans for the Stroudwater canal.
10. 15:27
  Radio 4 Appeal—Bone Cancer Research Trust
  Supporter Ben Phelps makes the Radio 4 Appeal on behalf of Bone Cancer Research Trust.
11. 15:30
  Feedback—Inside Health, Radio 4 Extra, and Jeremy Bowen on Today.
  Andrea Catherwood hears your views on a recent episode of Inside Health.
12. 16:00
  The Briefing Room—What's the current state of the UK's armed forces?
  How ready to fight are the UK's armed forces?
13. 16:30
  BBC Inside Science—Is quantum computing having its moment?
  The UK government announces a £2billion investment in quantum computing.
14. 17:00
  PM—US demands thanks despite war raising energy prices
  Defence Secretary Hegseth says allies should be grateful as strikes send gas costs soaring
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Evening
1. 18:00
  Six O'Clock News—Iran vows 'zero restraint' as it launches new attacks
  The focus of the war shifts to key oil and gas infrastructure across the Middle East
2. 18:30
  The Matt Forde Focus Group—Series 2, The Politics of Incentives
  2/6Good intentions, bad incentives and the politics that result.
3. 19:00
  The Archers—19/03/2026
  Esme gets an important message.
4. 19:15
  Front Row—Review: La Grazia, the latest film from The Great Beauty director Paolo Sorrentino
  Summerfolk at the National Theatre in London and epic novel The Tribe by Michael Arditti.
5. 20:00
  When It Hits the Fan—Can You Spin ChatGPT?
  David Yelland and Lauren Beeching look at the secretive world of influencing the chatbots.
6. 20:15
  The Media Show—Lisa Nandy on saving local news and the future of the BBC, reporting from inside Iran & behind the scenes at the Oscars
  Lisa Nandy interview, reporting from inside Iran and behind the scenes at the Oscars
7. 21:00
  Loose Ends—Chris McCausland, Flo and Joan, The Orielles, Dallas Campbell, Kiri Pritchard-McLean, Dorothy Koomson
  Kiri Pritchard-McLean and guests with an eclectic mix of conversation, music and comedy.
8. 21:45
  Strong Message Here—You Don't Have to Worry (with Marina Hyde)
  Is the optimism and positive language of the US administration encouraging or worrying?
9. 22:00
  The World Tonight—Israeli PM denies dragging US into war with Iran
  Benjamin Netanyahu says President Trump is acting in the interests of the US
10. 22:45
  Banshee—plus she can drive your getaway car faster than any by Wendy Erskine
  A modern retelling of The Labour Pains of the Ulaid.
11. 23:00
  Radical with Amol Rajan—The Legacy of Empire: How to Reckon with the Past (Simukai Chigudu)
  Is removing statues and decolonising the curriculum the answer?
12. 23:30
  Today in Parliament—19/03/2026
  Alicia McCarthy reports as MPs protest over cuts to overseas aid.
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Late
1. 00:00
  Midnight News—20/03/2026
  National and international news from BBC Radio 4
2. 00:30
  Shock and War: Iraq 20 Years On—9. Broken Trust
  As public trust disappears, deep scars begin to take their toll.
3. 00:48
  Shipping Forecast—20/03/2026
  The latest weather reports and forecasts for UK shipping
4. 01:00
  Selection of BBC World Service Programmes—20/03/2026
  A selection of BBC World Service news and current affairs, arts and science programmes.
5. 05:00
  News Summary—20/03/2026
  National and international news from BBC Radio 4
6. 05:04
  Yesterday in Parliament—20/03/2026
  Susan Hulme reports as MPs question the foreign secretary about overseas aid.
7. 05:34
  Shipping Forecast—20/03/2026
  The latest weather reports and forecasts for UK shipping
8. 05:43
  Prayer for the Day—Being Happy
  A reflection and prayer to start the day with Father Martin Magill.
9. 05:45
  Farming Today—20/03/26 Commoners excluded from environmental schemes, bean processing, new science at the Commonwealth Potato Collection
  Why nearly 4,000 farmers are excluded from the new environmental support schemes.

Friday 20 March 2026