BBC Radio 4 FM Schedule Saturday 31 January 2026

Schedule

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Early
Morning
Afternoon
Evening
Late

Early
1. 00:00
  
  Midnight News—31/01/2026
  
  National and international news from BBC Radio 4
2. 00:30
  
  Craftland—Episode 5
  
  5/5 The story of a craft is often the story of a single individual whose skills are hard won.
3. 00:48
  
  Shipping Forecast—31/01/2026
  
  The latest weather reports and forecasts for UK shipping
4. 01:00
  
  Selection of BBC World Service Programmes—31/01/2026
  
  A selection of BBC World Service news and current affairs, arts and science programmes.
5. 05:30
  
  News Summary—31/01/2026
  
  National and international news from BBC Radio 4
6. 05:34
  
  Shipping Forecast—31/01/2026
  
  The latest weather reports and forecasts for UK shipping
7. 05:43
  
  Prayer for the Day—Winter this one out
  
  A spiritual comment and prayer to start the day with Michael Kelly.
8. 05:45
  
  Materials of State—Black Rod
  
  David Cannadine looks the history and symbolism of Black Rod.
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Morning
1. 06:00
  
  News and Papers—31/01/2026
  
  The news headlines, including a look at the newspapers.
2. 06:07
  
  Ramblings—Ghosts of the Farm with Nicola Chester
  
  Clare joins writer Nicola Chester for a circular walk out of Inkpen, West Berkshire.
3. 06:30
  
  Farming Today—31/01/26 Farming Today This Week: Sustainable Foods 2026, extreme weather and rural resilience, octopus bloom
  
  How to make farming better for the environment, and the bottom line.
4. 06:57
  
  Weather—31/01/2026
  
  The latest weather reports and forecast
5. 07:00
  
  Today—31/01/2026
  
  Including Sports Desk, Weather and Thought for the Day.
6. 09:00
  
  Saturday Live—Amanda Owen, Curious Incidents, Brain Rest, and the Inheritance Tracks of Mika.
  
  Amanda Owen joins Adrian for extraordinary stories and remarkable people.
7. 10:00
  
  You're Dead to Me—Geoffrey Chaucer: the medieval father of English literature
  
  Join Greg and his guests to learn all about the life of medieval author Geoffrey Chaucer.
8. 10:30
  
  Rewinder—Ping Pong Pussy
  
  Greg James digs into the BBC's archives, using current stories as a portal to the past.
9. 11:00
  
  The Week in Westminster—31/01/2026
  
  Sonia Sodha assesses the latest developments at Westminster.
10. 11:30
  
  From Our Own Correspondent—Iran Protests: Stories of a massacre
  
  Iranians reveal what happened during the brutal crackdown on anti-government protests.
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Afternoon
1. 12:00
  
  News Summary—31/01/2026
  
  The latest national and international news from BBC Radio 4.
2. 12:04
  
  Money Box—Report Fraud and Student Loans
  
  We'll speak to the head of the new service for reporting fraud and scams.
3. 12:30
  
  The News Quiz—Series 119, 4. By-elections, hello defections
  
  4/8 Kiri Pritchard-McLean and Holly Walsh join Andy for some News Quizzing.
4. 12:57
  
  Weather—31/01/2026
  
  The latest weather forecast
5. 13:00
  
  News—31/01/2026
  
  National and international news from BBC Radio 4
6. 13:10
  
  Any Questions?—Stuart Andrew MP, Annabel Denham, Lilian Greenwood MP, Ash Sarkar
  
  Alex Forsyth presents political debate from St Paul's Church in Fazeley, Staffordshire.
7. 14:05
  
  Any Answers?—31/01/2026
  
  Listeners respond to the issues raised in the preceding edition of Any Questions?
8. 14:45
  
  The Archers—30/01/2026
  
  It's a big day for Ben.
9. 15:00
  
  Spotlight—Bacon in Moscow
  
  Francis Bacon’s ground-breaking 1988 exhibition in the USSR. With Timothy Spall
10. 16:30
  
  Woman's Hour—Weekend Woman's Hour: Pensions gender gap, Winter Olympics, Paris Paloma
  
  Research shows that there is a pensions gender gap, what can be done about it?
11. 17:00
  
  PM—Epstein files reveal new photograph of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor
  
  How will the Royal family react to a new photograph of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor?
12. 17:30
  
  Political Thinking with Nick Robinson—Vitali Klitschko, Mayor of Kyiv: From boxing to politics
  
  How did a world heavyweight champion end up running a city of 3 million people in wartime?
13. 17:54
  
  Shipping Forecast—31/01/2026
  
  The latest weather reports and forecasts for UK shipping
14. 17:57
  
  Weather—31/01/2026
  
  The latest weather reports and forecast
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Evening
1. 18:00
  
  Six O'Clock News—Latest Epstein Photos Appear to Feature Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor
  
  The latest enormous release of Epstein files continue to be investigated.
2. 18:15
  
  Loose Ends—Marcus Brigstocke, Ashley Storrie, Louise Welsh, Stuart Maconie, Rum Ragged, Hen Hoose Collective
  
  Stuart Maconie is in Glasgow for folk and world music festival Celtic Connections.
3. 19:00
  
  Profile—Stephen Miller
  
  Stephen Miller’s rise from outspoken California teen to Trump’s key immigration adviser.
4. 19:15
  
  This Cultural Life—Jonathan Pryce
  
  Actor Sir Jonathan Pryce talks to John Wilson about his cultural influences and career.
5. 20:00
  
  Archive on 4—Taxi Driver at 50: New York, Then and Now
  
  The film Taxi Driver is 50 years old. Michael Goldfarb looks at New York then and now.
6. 21:00
  
  Artworks—Three Transformations of Virginia Woolf, 1. Inner Lives
  
  Fiona Shaw celebrates 100 years of Virginia Woolf's novel Mrs Dalloway.
7. 21:30
  
  Off air
  
  Programmes will resume at 22:00
8. 22:00
  
  News—31/01/2026
  
  National and international news from BBC Radio 4
9. 22:15
  
  The Food Programme—The Honey Trap
  
  Sheila Dillon investigates the scale of global honey fraud.
10. 23:00
  
  Dan Does Dating—Series 1, 3. Chloe
  
  3/4 Could Dan be compatible with someone much posher than him?
11. 23:30
  
  Counterpoint—Series 39, Heat 4, 2026
  
  4/13 The general knowledge music quiz chaired by Paul Gambaccini.
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Late
1. 00:00
  
  Midnight News—01/02/2026
  
  National and international news from BBC Radio 4
2. 00:15
  
  Take Four Books—Ali Smith
  
  The Scottish writer on her new novel, Glyph, and its connections to three other works.
3. 00:48
  
  Shipping Forecast—01/02/2026
  
  The latest weather reports and forecasts for UK shipping
4. 01:00
  
  Selection of BBC World Service Programmes—01/02/2026
  
  A selection of BBC World Service news and current affairs, arts and science programmes.
5. 05:30
  
  News Summary—01/02/2026
  
  National and international news from BBC Radio 4
6. 05:34
  
  Shipping Forecast—01/02/2026
  
  The latest weather reports and forecasts for UK shipping
7. 05:43
  
  Bells on Sunday—The Cathedral Church of St Peter in Bradford, West Yorkshire
  
  Bells on Sunday comes from the Cathedral Church of St Peter in Bradford, West Yorkshire.
8. 05:45
  
  In Touch—Disability Confident Scheme, Blind Sailing
  
  The government are planning to overhaul the work-related Disability Confident Scheme.

Sunday 1 February 2026