BBC Radio 4 FM Schedule Wednesday 21 January 2026

Schedule

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Early
Morning
Afternoon
Evening
Late

Early
1. 00:00
  
  Midnight News—21/01/2026
  
  National and international news from BBC Radio 4
2. 00:30
  
  The Trust Shift—In Institutions We Trust?
  
  Rachel Botsman on the intriguing history of trust.
3. 00:48
  
  Shipping Forecast—21/01/2026
  
  The latest weather reports and forecasts for UK shipping
4. 01:00
  
  Selection of BBC World Service Programmes—21/01/2026
  
  A selection of BBC World Service news and current affairs, arts and science programmes.
5. 05:00
  
  News Summary—21/01/2026
  
  National and international news from BBC Radio 4
6. 05:04
  
  Yesterday in Parliament—21/01/2026
  
  MPs debate the Chagos deal after President Trump calls it 'an act of great stupidity'.
7. 05:34
  
  Shipping Forecast—21/01/2026
  
  The latest weather reports and forecasts for UK shipping
8. 05:43
  
  Prayer for the Day—The Mystique of Concorde
  
  A reflection and prayer to start the day with Andrew Roycroft.
9. 05:45
  
  Farming Today—21/01/26 Minette Batters at Efra Committee, animal protein, organic feed
  
  Civil servants are told they should spend time in a lambing shed to understand farmers.
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Morning
1. 06:00
  
  Today—21/01/2026
  
  News and current affairs, including Sports Desk, Weather and Thought for the Day.
2. 09:00
  
  More or Less—How close is Greenland to the United States?
  
  Tim Harford investigates Greenland maps, climate costs, house prices and Traitors maths
3. 09:30
  
  The History Bureau—Putin and the Apartment Bombs, 1. The Four Bombs
  
  1/7 Four bombs. Twelve days. Hundreds dead. What really happened in Russia in September 1999?
4. 10:00
  
  Woman's Hour—Social media ban for under 16s, Class privilege at Cambridge, Women's sports coaches
  
  We discuss the pros and cons of a ban on social media for under 16s.
5. 11:00
  
  File on 4 Investigates—Thin on Information? Hair loss drug Finasteride
  
  Is the popular hair loss drug Finasteride being safely promoted?
6. 11:40
  
  This Week in History—19th to 25th of January
  
  Fascinating, surprising and eye-opening stories from the past, brought to life.
7. 11:45
  
  The Trust Shift—Distrust In The Institution
  
  Rachel Botsman on the intriguing history of trust.
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Afternoon
1. 12:00
  
  News Summary—21/01/2026
  
  The latest national and international news from BBC Radio 4.
2. 12:04
  
  You and Yours—Warmer Homes Plan, Padel, Customer Service
  
  The UK government's warmer homes plan is released today. What will it mean for consumers?
3. 12:57
  
  Weather—21/01/2026
  
  The latest weather forecast
4. 13:00
  
  World at One—President Trump addresses Davos
  
  We bring you live reaction from Davos in Switzerland as President Trump delivers speech.
5. 13:45
  
  Understand—US Foreign Policy in Five Doctrines, 3. The Nixon Doctrine
  
  3/5 How did the Vietnam War change America’s foreign policy?
6. 14:00
  
  The Archers—20/01/2026
  
  Chelsea offers her support.
7. 14:15
  
  Faith, Hope and Glory—Series 1, 8. Faith and Trevor
  
  By Winsome Pinnock. Century-spanning series charting the emergence of modern Britain.
8. 15:00
  
  Money Box—Money Box Live: Do Electric Cars Add Up?
  
  How much does it cost to go electric?
9. 15:30
  
  Cloning Jack
  
  You can now clone your pet in the UK, but should you?
10. 16:00
  
  When It Hits the Fan—A New Blueprint for PR
  
  David Yelland and Anoushka Mutanda-Dougherty look at how the rules of PR are changing.
11. 16:15
  
  The Media Show—Greenland coverage, Australia’s social media ban, Brand Beckham
  
  How are Danish and American journalists covering the Trump-Greenland story?
12. 17:00
  
  PM—President Trump wants Greenland - but won't use force
  
  The US wants 'immediate negotiations' to acquire Greenland but rules out the use of force.
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Evening
1. 18:00
  
  Six O'Clock News—President Trump says he wants "immediate negotiations" to acquire Greenland
  
  He has told world leaders at Davos that he "won't use force"
2. 18:30
  
  Stand-Up Specials—Why in the Name of Pierre Novellie, 3. Why Am I British?
  
  3/4 Pierre Novellie asks the big questions about booze, bowler hats and beefeaters.
3. 19:00
  
  The Archers—21/01/2026
  
  Amber faces some tough questions.
4. 19:15
  
  Front Row—Actor Claire Foy on her role in H Is For Hawk
  
  Claire Foy on the film adaptation of Helen Macdonald's award-winning memoir.
5. 20:00
  
  AntiSocial—Men and Loneliness
  
  Should society intervene to help lonely men?
6. 20:45
  
  Magic Consultants—The History
  
  The consultancy industry is worth billions. Should we be in awe of their wizardry?
7. 21:00
  
  Intrigue—Ransom Man, 1. Naked
  
  A woman's deepest secrets are stolen by a hacker called ransom_man.
8. 21:30
  
  Inside Health—Where does air pollution go inside our body?
  
  James inhales a lungful of fumes to see if he can see air pollution moving inside him
9. 22:00
  
  The World Tonight—President Trump backs down from tariff threat on allies
  
  Trump says he won't go ahead with tariffs on countries opposing his Greenland ambitions.
10. 22:45
  
  The Memory Police by Yoko Ogawa—Episode 3
  
  3/10 The Inuis disappear, and R shares a dangerous secret with the writer.
11. 23:00
  
  Doctors On Hold—Series 1, 2. A Letter from the Health Secretary
  
  2/5 Doctors Mike and Peter have strong words for the health secretary.
12. 23:15
  
  The Skewer—Series 15, 3. Greenland, Traitors, and Trump
  
  3/5 Greenland, Traitors, and Trump.
13. 23:30
  
  Today in Parliament—21/01/2026
  
  Sean Curran reports as MPs question Sir Keir Starmer at Prime Minister's Questions.
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Late
1. 00:00
  
  Midnight News—22/01/2026
  
  National and international news from BBC Radio 4
2. 00:30
  
  The Trust Shift—Distrust In The Institution
  
  Rachel Botsman on the intriguing history of trust.
3. 00:48
  
  Shipping Forecast—22/01/2026
  
  The latest weather reports and forecasts for UK shipping
4. 01:00
  
  Selection of BBC World Service Programmes—22/01/2026
  
  A selection of BBC World Service news and current affairs, arts and science programmes.
5. 05:00
  
  News Summary—22/01/2026
  
  National and international news from BBC Radio 4
6. 05:04
  
  Yesterday in Parliament—22/01/2026
  
  News, views and features on yesterday's stories in Parliament
7. 05:34
  
  Shipping Forecast—22/01/2026
  
  The latest weather reports and forecasts for UK shipping
8. 05:43
  
  Prayer for the Day—Love Poetry
  
  A reflection and prayer to start the day with Andrew Roycroft.
9. 05:45
  
  Farming Today—22/01/2026 Geopolitical factors in milk prices, sunflowers for feed, Mercosur vote, river restoration
  
  How geopolitical events are feeding into the milk price slump hitting UK farmers.

Thursday 22 January 2026