BBC Radio 4 FM Schedule Monday 19 January 2026

Schedule

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Early
Morning
Afternoon
Evening
Late

Early
1. 00:00
  
  Midnight News—19/01/2026
  
  National and international news from BBC Radio 4
2. 00:15
  
  Crossing Continents—The Netherlands - ten new cities?
  
  The Netherlands is experiencing a housing crisis. Could ten new cities be the answer?
3. 00:45
  
  Bells on Sunday—The church of St Michael in Framlingham, Suffolk
  
  Bells on Sunday comes from the church of St Michael in Framlingham, Suffolk.
4. 00:48
  
  Shipping Forecast—19/01/2026
  
  The latest weather reports and forecasts for UK shipping
5. 01:00
  
  Selection of BBC World Service Programmes—19/01/2026
  
  A selection of BBC World Service news and current affairs, arts and science programmes.
6. 05:00
  
  News Summary—19/01/2026
  
  National and international news from BBC Radio 4
7. 05:04
  
  Yesterday in Parliament—19/01/2026
  
  Alicia McCarthy reports from Westminster.
8. 05:34
  
  Shipping Forecast—19/01/2026
  
  The latest weather reports and forecasts for UK shipping
9. 05:43
  
  Prayer for the Day—Blue and Brew
  
  A reflection and prayer to start the day with Andrew Roycroft.
10. 05:45
  
  Farming Today—19/01/26 Mercosur trade deal between Europe and South America, winter feed.
  
  Warnings that Mercosur trade deal between Europe and South America threatens UK farms.
11. 05:57
  
  Weather—19/01/2026
  
  The latest weather reports and forecasts for farmers
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Morning
1. 06:00
  
  Today—19/01/2026
  
  News and current affairs, including Sports Desk, Weather and Thought for the Day.
2. 09:00
  
  Start the Week—Rethinking politics
  
  Tom Sutcliffe explores how we might reform politics
3. 09:45
  
  Café Hope—Change Please
  
  How a social enterprise is using coffee sales as a means of tackling homelessness.
4. 10:00
  
  Woman's Hour—Andra Day, Breast Cancer, Autistic Barbie
  
  Andra Day: Grammy award-winning US R&B singer-songwriter and actress on her new film.
5. 11:00
  
  Understand—An American Journey, 1. The Pursuit of Happiness
  
  1/4 How have Americans understood the connection between economic and democratic freedom?
6. 11:45
  
  The Trust Shift—Local Trust
  
  Rachel Botsman on the intriguing history of trust.
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Afternoon
1. 12:00
  
  News Summary—19/01/2026
  
  The latest national and international news from BBC Radio 4.
2. 12:04
  
  You and Yours—Fake Expert Reviews, Standing Charges and Insulation Complaints
  
  Can you trust expert online reviews?
3. 12:57
  
  Weather—19/01/2026
  
  The latest weather forecast
4. 13:00
  
  World at One—Starmer: Trump's Greenland threat is 'completely wrong'
  
  Prime Minister Keir Starmer says a trade war with the US is in no-one’s interest.
5. 13:45
  
  Understand—US Foreign Policy in Five Doctrines, 1. The Monroe Doctrine
  
  1/5 What is the 1823 doctrine, and how has it been used since by US presidents?
6. 14:00
  
  The Archers—18/01/2026
  
  Accusations fly in Ambridge.
7. 14:15
  
  Disordered—Series 2, 4. Fathers, Urinal Cakes and Decisions
  
  4/4 Hector faces up to his dad and numerous dilemmas in his love life. Stars Jamie Sives.
8. 14:45
  
  Opening Lines—Heart of Darkness
  
  John Yorke explores Conrad’s controversial and deeply enigmatic novella Heart of Darkness.
9. 15:00
  
  Great Lives—Pianist and broadcaster Keelan Carew nominates Russian composer Nicolai Medtner
  
  Pianist and broadcaster Keelan Carew champions the pianist and composer Nicolai Medtner.
10. 15:30
  
  You're Dead to Me—Philippe, Duc d’Orléans: in the shadow of the Sun King
  
  Join Greg and his guests to learn all about Philippe, Duc d’Orléans, brother of Louis XIV.
11. 16:00
  
  Currently—Inside ARIA
  
  Evan Davis goes inside the UK’s ambitious new Advanced Research and Invention Agency.
12. 16:30
  
  Soul Music—Cranes in the Sky by Solange
  
  Solange's hit song from 2016 muses on themes of isolation and depression.
13. 17:00
  
  PM—Trump: I'm 100% serious on Greenland tariffs
  
  President Trump: we will press ahead with tariffs on those who oppose us on Greenland.
Back to top
Evening
1. 18:00
  
  Six O'Clock News—Sir Keir Starmer seeks to de-escalate Greenland row
  
  The Prime Minister criticises President Trump's tariff threat
2. 18:30
  
  The Unbelievable Truth—Series 32, 5. Sugar, Saints, Spiders and Heavy Metal
  
  5/6 Comedians try to smuggle truths past opponents in David Mitchell's comedy panel game.
3. 19:00
  
  The Archers—19/01/2026
  
  There's worry at Meadow Farm.
4. 19:15
  
  Front Row—Beryl Cook at 100
  
  We celebrate artist Beryl Cook at 100.
5. 20:00
  
  Rethink—Rethink...middle age
  
  People are living longer and settling down later. Should we rethink middle age?
6. 20:30
  
  BBC Inside Science—Why is Nasa sending people around the moon?
  
  Nasa’s Artemis II rocket is about to be rolled out. What is the mission hoping to achieve?
7. 21:00
  
  Start the Week—Rethinking politics
  
  Tom Sutcliffe explores how we might reform politics
8. 21:45
  
  Café Hope—Change Please
  
  How a social enterprise is using coffee sales as a means of tackling homelessness.
9. 22:00
  
  The World Tonight—President Trump says he will ‘100%’ carry out Greenland tariffs threat
  
  He's vowed to impose tariffs on nations opposing his demand to take control of Greenland
10. 22:45
  
  The Memory Police by Yoko Ogawa—Episode 1
  
  1/10 Things disappear on the island, but not everyone forgets about them.
11. 23:00
  
  Limelight—Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Firewall, Episode 1
  
  1/8 Thrilling drama based on the video game, Splinter Cell. A new recruit tests Sam Fisher.
12. 23:30
  
  Today in Parliament—19/01/2026
  
  Sean Curran reports as Yvette Cooper tells MPs a trade war with the US would serve nobody.
Back to top
Late
1. 00:00
  
  Midnight News—20/01/2026
  
  National and international news from BBC Radio 4
2. 00:30
  
  The Trust Shift—Local Trust
  
  Rachel Botsman on the intriguing history of trust.
3. 00:48
  
  Shipping Forecast—20/01/2026
  
  The latest weather reports and forecasts for UK shipping
4. 01:00
  
  Selection of BBC World Service Programmes—20/01/2026
  
  A selection of BBC World Service news and current affairs, arts and science programmes.
5. 05:00
  
  News Summary—20/01/2026
  
  National and international news from BBC Radio 4
6. 05:04
  
  Yesterday in Parliament—20/01/2026
  
  Alicia McCarthy reports as MPs question the foreign secretary over the future of Greenland
7. 05:34
  
  Shipping Forecast—20/01/2026
  
  The latest weather reports and forecasts for UK shipping
8. 05:43
  
  Prayer for the Day—True Unity
  
  A reflection and prayer to start the day with Andrew Roycroft.
9. 05:45
  
  Farming Today—20/01/26 Water sector reforms and farming, forage shortage, glyphosate
  
  Government plans to overhaul the water system, what will it mean for agriculture?

Tuesday 20 January 2026