Schedule
Early
00:00
Midnight News—20/03/2026
National and international news from BBC Radio 4
00:30
Shock and War: Iraq 20 Years On—9. Broken Trust
As public trust disappears, deep scars begin to take their toll.
00:48
Shipping Forecast—20/03/2026
The latest weather reports and forecasts for UK shipping
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.
05:00
News Summary—20/03/2026
National and international news from BBC Radio 4
05:04
Yesterday in Parliament—20/03/2026
Susan Hulme reports as MPs question the foreign secretary about overseas aid.
05:34
Shipping Forecast—20/03/2026
The latest weather reports and forecasts for UK shipping
05:43
Prayer for the Day—Being Happy
A reflection and prayer to start the day with Father Martin Magill.
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.
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Morning
06:00
Today—20/03/2026
News and current affairs, including Sports Desk, Weather and Thought for the Day.
09:00
Desert Island Discs—Professor Stephen Westaby, surgeon and writer
Professor Stephen Westaby, surgeon, shares the soundtrack of his life with Lauren Laverne.
10:00
Woman's Hour—FIFA's women's football tournaments, Women in Cuba, Adoption
Women's football tournaments must now include a female head or assistant coach.
11:00
The Food Programme—Is Food Processing the ‘Missing Middle’?
Is the missing link in increasing the UK's food self sufficiency actually food processing?
11:45
Shock and War: Iraq 20 Years On—10. Legacy
Have new generations of Iraqis got the freedom they were promised?
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Afternoon
12:00
News Summary—20/03/2026
The latest national and international news from BBC Radio 4.
12:04
Rare Earth—America and the Planet
How will the second Trump presidency really impact the future of our environment?
12:57
Weather—20/03/2026
The latest weather forecast
13:00
World at One—World faces "most severe" energy crisis in history
The International Energy Agency warns the impact of the Iran war is being underestimated.
13:45
The Race to Control the World—5. Power Plays
5/5AI is incredibly thirsty for energy, which is fuelling a renewables revolution in China.
14:00
The Archers—19/03/2026
Esme gets an important message.
14:15
Limelight—The Dentist, Episode 4
As Kerry digs deeper into her deception, she uncovers a criminal underworld.
14:45
Life Without—Life Without Sex
Gen Z are famously having less of it. Do we even need it all?
15:00
Gardeners' Question Time—From the Archives: Water
The team look back through the archives for solutions to water-based gardening challenges.
15:45
Short Works—The Real Housewives of the Wife House
An uncanny new comedy by Andrew Doherty, read by Ambika Mod.
16:00
Last Word—Yanar Mohammed, MP Phil Woolas, Professor Robin Weiss, Jane Lapotaire
Matthew Bannister on a campaigner, a politician, a virologist and an actor.
16:30
Sideways—85. The Hands of Forgiveness
An act of forgiveness sets off a chain of events that alters the life of one woman.
17:00
PM—Iran's new Supreme Leader issues defiant statement for Persian New Year
Iran's new Supreme Leader claims to have dealt his enemies a 'dizzying blow.'
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Evening
18:00
Six O'Clock News—Three victims of IRA bombs in England halt their civil court case
They had claimed Gerry Adams was involved in the decision to carry out the attacks
18:30
The Naked Week—Series 4, Shipping, Shopping and Shagg... you know what, never mind
3/6The Naked Week team go shopping, shipping and shagg... you know what, never mind.
19:00
The Archers—20/03/2026
Brian tries to cut a deal.
19:15
Add to Playlist—Anne Dudley and Guy Barker are Thunderstruck
Anne Dudley and Guy Barker join Anna and Jeffrey to choose the next five tracks.
20:00
Any Questions?—Jess Brown-Fuller MP, Dame Meg Hillier MP, Peter Hitchens, Paul Holmes MP
Alex Forsyth presents political debate from The Point Theatre in Eastleigh.
20:55
This Week in History—March 16th to March 22nd
Fascinating, surprising and eye-opening stories from the past, brought to life.
21:00
Free Thinking—Oral tradition and oracy
Anne McElvoy and guests look at speaking fluently in politics, the classroom & communities
22:00
The World Tonight—Britain allows US to use bases to strike Strait of Hormuz targets
The UK has agreed to allow the US to use UK bases to launch strikes on Iranian sites
22:45
Banshee—Diarmuid and Gráinne by Megan Nolan
A contemporary retelling of the legend of the doomed young couple.
23:00
Americast—Trump v Anthropic: The battle over who controls AI
AI company Anthropic labelled a national security risk after saying "No" to the Pentagon
23:30
Today in Parliament—20/03/2026
Peers continue their debate on the assisted dying bill.
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Late
00:00
Midnight News—21/03/2026
National and international news from BBC Radio 4
00:30
Shock and War: Iraq 20 Years On—10. Legacy
Have new generations of Iraqis got the freedom they were promised?
00:48
Shipping Forecast—21/03/2026
The latest weather reports and forecasts for UK shipping
01:00
Selection of BBC World Service Programmes—21/03/2026
A selection of BBC World Service news and current affairs, arts and science programmes.
05:30
News Summary—21/03/2026
National and international news from BBC Radio 4
05:34
Shipping Forecast—21/03/2026
The latest weather reports and forecasts for UK shipping
05:43
Prayer for the Day—Celebrating Difference
A spiritual comment and prayer to start the day Fleur Dorrell.
05:45
Lent Talks—Power and Vulnerability
A series of personal reflections on power.
