BBC Radio 4 FM Schedule Wednesday 13 May 2026

Schedule

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Early
Morning
Afternoon
Evening
Late

Early
1. 00:00
  
  Midnight News—13/05/2026
  
  National and international news from BBC Radio 4
2. 00:30
  
  Weimar: Life on the Edge of Catastrophe by Katja Hoyer—1919-1921: A New Heart
  
  2/10 The story of the residents of Weimar during the rise and reign of Hitler.
3. 00:48
  
  Shipping Forecast—13/05/2026
  
  The latest weather reports and forecasts for UK shipping.
4. 01:00
  
  Selection of BBC World Service Programmes—13/05/2026
  
  BBC Radio 4 joins the BBC World Service.
5. 05:00
  
  News Summary—13/05/2026
  
  National and international news from BBC Radio 4
6. 05:04
  
  BBC Inside Science—Should Pluto become a planet again?
  
  We explore whether Pluto should regain its title as the solar system’s ninth planet
7. 05:34
  
  Shipping Forecast—13/05/2026
  
  The latest weather reports and forecasts for UK shipping.
8. 05:43
  
  Prayer for the Day—Integrity during hard times
  
  A spiritual comment and prayer to start the day with Marie-Elsa Bragg.
9. 05:45
  
  Farming Today—13/05/26 Pig supply, Northumberland National Park, profitability of farms in Northern Ireland
  
  Some farmers lose supermarket contracts as the pig supply chain takes a downturn.
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Morning
1. 06:00
  
  Today—13/05/2026
  
  News and current affairs, including Sports Desk, Weather and Thought for the Day.
2. 09:00
  
  Life Changing—The courage to ask for help
  
  GP Trevor dutifully nursed his ailing partner, but struggled to ask for help for himself.
3. 09:30
  
  Intrigue—To Catch a King, 1. Kardo
  
  A secret meeting, a missing person and a worried family. Who is the man connecting them?
4. 10:00
  
  Woman's Hour—VAWG Minister resignations, Parental domestic homicide, Author Eleanor Anstruther
  
  The impact of parental domestic homicide on children.
5. 11:00
  
  File on 4 Investigates—Locked and Downloaded: The rise in 3D printed guns
  
  How much of a threat to the UK are homemade printed weapons?
6. 11:40
  
  This Week in History—May 11th to May 17th
  
  Fascinating, surprising and eye-opening stories from the past, brought to life.
7. 11:45
  
  Weimar: Life on the Edge of Catastrophe by Katja Hoyer—1922-1924: A Slow Creep
  
  3/10 The story of the residents of Weimar during the rise and reign of Hitler.
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Afternoon
1. 12:00
  
  News Summary—13/05/2026
  
  The latest national and international news from BBC Radio 4.
2. 12:04
  
  You and Yours—Driving Tests, Food Prices, Wedding Listings
  
  In an attempt to clamp down on bots, driving tests can only be booked by learners.
3. 12:57
  
  Weather—13/05/2026
  
  The latest weather forecast
4. 13:00
  
  World at One—King's Speech overshadowed by leadership turmoil
  
  Keir Starmer meets potential leadership rival Wes Streeting at No10.
5. 13:45
  
  Understand—Rinsed, 3. Turd Nerds
  
  3/13 The 'Dossier of Despair' that reveals what's happening to some of Britain’s rivers.
6. 14:00
  
  The Archers—12/05/2026
  
  Ruth tries to stay positive.
7. 14:15
  
  Drama on 4—Bettaney
  
  The story of MI5 traitor Michael Bettaney's relationship with the IRA. With Daniel Weyman.
8. 15:00
  
  Money Box—How to Live Long and Prosper
  
  Money Box Live on living longer and keeping your finances in the best of health.
9. 15:30
  
  Illuminated—A Lemur’s Song
  
  What can a critically endangered species of lemur tell us about the origins of music?
10. 16:00
  
  When It Hits the Fan—Knowing When To Quit
  
  David Yelland and Farzana Baduel on the PR art of knowing when to resign.
11. 16:15
  
  The Media Show—Munya Chawawa; journalists and access to prisoners in jail; Family influencers and the boundaries of parenting online.
  
  Munya Chawawa on the smackdown world of wrestling and President Trump's media strategy.
12. 17:00
  
  PM—The King's Speech
  
  The Government sets out its policy plans as speculation of leadership challenge continues.
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Evening
1. 18:00
  
  Six O'Clock News—Allies of Wes Streeting tell the BBC he will launch a Labour leadership challenge
  
  They say the health secretary will resign from the government tomorrow
2. 18:30
  
  Stand-Up Specials—John Tothill Forgives Your Sins
  
  Comedian John Tothill takes confessions from his audience to absolve them of their sins.
3. 19:00
  
  The Archers—13/05/2026
  
  Adam is seeking support.
4. 19:15
  
  Front Row—Mark Cousins on his 16-hour epic documentary
  
  Director Mark Cousins on his 16-hour epic The Story of Documentary Film.
5. 20:00
  
  AntiSocial—Michael, the movie
  
  The controversial biopic, and whether Michael Jackson should be cancelled.
6. 20:45
  
  Human Intelligence—Series 1, Collectors: Samuel Johnson
  
  Working in chaos at a desk strewn with papers, 'Dictionary Johnson' left a great legacy.
7. 21:00
  
  The Gift—Series 3, 2. Twins - Part 2
  
  2/6 Michelle digs deeper into Lavinia’s test results – but Lavinia doesn’t want to know.
8. 21:30
  
  All in the Mind—Overcoming OCD
  
  We take a deep dive into treatment for obsessive-compulsive disorder.
9. 22:00
  
  The World Tonight—Streeting allies say he's poised to challenge Starmer
  
  Allies of the Health Secretary say he is planning to resign and launch a leadership bid
10. 22:45
  
  Hunger and Thirst by Claire Fuller—The Charcoal Sketch
  
  3/10 Ursula settles into the Underwood as her friendship with Sue deepens.
11. 23:00
  
  Stand-Up Specials—Sarah Keyworth: Are You a Boy or a Girl? S2, 1: "Where are we now?"
  
  1/4 Comedian Sarah Keyworth explores their personal journey with gender fluidity and androgyny
12. 23:15
  
  The Skewer—Series 16, 4. Hard Labour
  
  4/5 Streeting wants in and Starmer styles it out as Jon Holmes mashes up the week's news.
13. 23:30
  
  Today in Parliament—13/05/2026
  
  Pomp and politics on King's Speech day.
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Late
1. 00:00
  
  Midnight News—14/05/2026
  
  National and international news from BBC Radio 4
2. 00:30
  
  Weimar: Life on the Edge of Catastrophe by Katja Hoyer—1922-1924: A Slow Creep
  
  3/10 The story of the residents of Weimar during the rise and reign of Hitler.
3. 00:48
  
  Shipping Forecast—14/05/2026
  
  The latest weather reports and forecasts for UK shipping.
4. 01:00
  
  Selection of BBC World Service Programmes—14/05/2026
  
  BBC Radio 4 joins the BBC World Service.
5. 05:00
  
  News Summary—14/05/2026
  
  National and international news from BBC Radio 4
6. 05:04
  
  Yesterday in Parliament—14/05/2026
  
  Alicia McCarthy reports on a very peculiar State Opening.
7. 05:34
  
  Shipping Forecast—14/05/2026
  
  The latest weather reports and forecasts for UK shipping.
8. 05:43
  
  Prayer for the Day—An offering for Ascension
  
  A spiritual comment and prayer to start the day with Marie-Elsa Bragg.
9. 05:45
  
  Farming Today—14/05/26 New strategy to combat pig disease, farming issues in the King's Speech, sepsis risk for farmers
  
  New strategies for tackling African Swine Fever.

Thursday 14 May 2026