BBC Radio 4 FM Schedule Saturday 21 March 2026

Schedule

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Early
Morning
Afternoon
Evening
Late

Early
1. 00:00
  Midnight News—21/03/2026
  National and international news from BBC Radio 4
2. 00:30
  Shock and War: Iraq 20 Years On—10. Legacy
  Have new generations of Iraqis got the freedom they were promised?
3. 00:48
  Shipping Forecast—21/03/2026
  The latest weather reports and forecasts for UK shipping
4. 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.
5. 05:30
  News Summary—21/03/2026
  National and international news from BBC Radio 4
6. 05:34
  Shipping Forecast—21/03/2026
  The latest weather reports and forecasts for UK shipping
7. 05:43
  Prayer for the Day—Celebrating Difference
  A spiritual comment and prayer to start the day Fleur Dorrell.
8. 05:45
  Lent Talks—Power and Vulnerability
  A series of personal reflections on power.
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Morning
1. 06:00
  News and Papers—21/03/2026
  The news headlines, including a look at the newspapers.
2. 06:07
  Open Country—Stroudwater's missing mile
  Martha Kearney finds out about ambitious restoration plans for the Stroudwater canal.
3. 06:30
  Farming Today—21/03/26 Farming Today This Week: Land Use Framework; heating oil help; new livestock worrying law; oat drink.
  What difference will England's Land Use Framework make?
4. 06:57
  Weather—21/03/2026
  The latest weather reports and forecast
5. 07:00
  Today—21/03/2026
  Including Sports Desk, Weather and Thought for the Day.
6. 09:00
  Saturday Live—John Lloyd, Sailing, Punk Rock, and the Inheritance Tracks of Dr Sian Williams
  John Lloyd joins Adrian for extraordinary stories from remarkable people.
7. 10:00
  You're Dead to Me—Medieval Irish Folklore (Live)
  Join Greg and his guests at the Hay Festival to learn about medieval Irish folklore.
8. 10:30
  The Kitchen Cabinet—Series 51, Bolton
  5/6Jay Rayner hosts a culinary panel show packed full of tasty titbits.
9. 11:00
  The Week in Westminster—21/03/2026
  Isabel Hardman reports on the latest developments at Westminster.
10. 11:30
  From Our Own Correspondent—Iran War: A sharp escalation in the Gulf
  Strikes on the world's biggest gasfields prompted rebukes by Qatar and other Gulf nations
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Afternoon
1. 12:00
  News Summary—21/03/2026
  The latest national and international news from BBC Radio 4.
2. 12:04
  Money Box—Heating Oil Guide and Banknotes
  How will schemes to help people struggling with the rising cost of heating oil work?
3. 12:30
  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.
4. 12:57
  Weather—21/03/2026
  The latest weather forecast
5. 13:00
  News—21/03/2026
  National and international news from BBC Radio 4
6. 13:10
  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.
7. 14:05
  Any Answers?—21/03/2026
  Listeners respond to the issues raised in the preceding edition of Any Questions?
8. 14:45
  The Archers—20/03/2026
  Brian tries to cut a deal.
9. 15:00
  Spotlight—The Bacchae
  Euripides’ Greek tragedy reimagined to explore the root causes of rebellion.
10. 16:30
  Woman's Hour—FIFA's women's football tournaments, Glasgow fire, Pilgrimages
  Women's football tournaments must now include a female head or assistant coach.
11. 17:00
  PM—Iran 'targets' UK base on Diego Garcia
  One missile reportedly failed in flight, while the other was intercepted by a US warship.
12. 17:30
  Political Thinking with Nick Robinson—'It's been a whirlwind': Zack Polanski on storytelling, Zionism and Zackonomics
  Nick Robinson talks to Zack Polanski about early life and his rapid rise to political fame
13. 17:54
  Shipping Forecast—21/03/2026
  The latest weather reports and forecasts for UK shipping
14. 17:57
  Weather—21/03/2026
  The latest weather reports and forecast
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Evening
1. 18:00
  Six O'Clock News—UK criticises Iran for firing missiles at Diego Garcia
  The Foreign Secretary, Yvette Cooper, has condemned Iran's "reckless strikes".
2. 18:15
  Loose Ends—Sam Lake, One Day: The Musical, Alana Jackson, Candice Chung, Stuart Maconie, Vitamin String Quartet
  Stuart Maconie soaks up Glasgow International Comedy Festival.
3. 19:00
  Profile—Ed Miliband
  The former Labour leader’s journey from bacon sandwich to energy secretary.
4. 19:15
  The History Podcast—The Second Map, 2. The Secrets in the Safe
  The other story of the Second World War.
5. 20:00
  Archive on 4—Into the Ether
  Unearthing audio treasures from the radiophonic past.
6. 21:00
  Moral Maze—Economic shocks: is there a duty to accept sacrifice?
  Live debate examining the moral issues behind one of the week's news stories.
7. 22:00
  News—21/03/2026
  National and international news from BBC Radio 4
8. 22:15
  The Food Programme—Is Food Processing the ‘Missing Middle’?
  Is the missing link in increasing the UK's food self sufficiency actually food processing?
9. 23:00
  The Matt Forde Focus Group—Series 2, The Politics of Incentives
  2/6Good intentions, bad incentives and the politics that result.
10. 23:30
  Counterpoint—Series 39, Semi-final 2, 2026
  11/13The general knowledge music quiz chaired by Paul Gambaccini.
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Late
1. 00:00
  Midnight News—22/03/2026
  National and international news from BBC Radio 4
2. 00:15
  Take Four Books—Susan Choi
  On her Booker-shortlisted novel, Flashlight, and its links to three other literary works.
3. 00:48
  Shipping Forecast—22/03/2026
  The latest weather reports and forecasts for UK shipping
4. 01:00
  Selection of BBC World Service Programmes—22/03/2026
  A selection of BBC World Service news and current affairs, arts and science programmes.
5. 05:30
  News Summary—22/03/2026
  National and international news from BBC Radio 4
6. 05:34
  Shipping Forecast—22/03/2026
  The latest weather reports and forecasts for UK shipping
7. 05:43
  Bells on Sunday—The church of Saints Peter and Paul Lavenham, Suffolk
  Bells on Sunday comes from the church of Saints Peter and Paul Lavenham, Suffolk.
8. 05:45
  In Touch—The 50th Winter Paralympic Games
  In Touch wraps up the 2026 Winter Paralympic Games.

Sunday 22 March 2026