BBC Radio 4 FM Schedule Sunday 16 August 2026

Schedule

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Early
Morning
Afternoon
Evening
Late

Early
1. 00:00
  
  Midnight News—16/08/2026
  
  National and international news from BBC Radio 4.
2. 00:15
  
  Take Four Books—David Sedaris
  
  American author and humourist David Sedaris on his new collection of essays.
3. 00:48
  
  Shipping Forecast—16/08/2026
  
  The latest weather reports and forecasts for UK shipping.
4. 01:00
  
  Selection of BBC World Service Programmes—16/08/2026
  
  BBC Radio 4 joins the BBC World Service.
5. 05:30
  
  News Summary—16/08/2026
  
  National and international news from BBC Radio 4.
6. 05:34
  
  Shipping Forecast—16/08/2026
  
  The latest weather reports and forecasts for UK shipping.
7. 05:43
  
  Bells on Sunday—St Mathew’s church in Chapel Allerton, Leeds in West Yorkshire.
  
  Bells on Sunday comes from St Mathew’s church in Chapel Allerton, Leeds in West Yorkshire.
8. 05:45
  
  In Touch—11/08/2026
  
  News, views and information for people who are blind or partially sighted.
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Morning
1. 06:00
  
  News Summary—16/08/2026
  
  National and international news from BBC Radio 4.
2. 06:05
  
  Heart and Soul—A Church without Walls
  
  Johannesburg pastor builds a church for those excluded by traditional faith.
3. 06:35
  
  On Your Farm—Tinderbox Harvest
  
  Sarah Swadling joins a Berkshire farming family reflecting on a drought-hit harvest.
4. 06:57
  
  Weather—16/08/2026
  
  The latest weather reports and forecast.
5. 07:00
  
  News and Papers—16/08/2026
  
  National and international news from BBC Radio 4.
6. 07:10
  
  Sunday—16/08/2026
  
  A look at the ethical and religious issues of the week.
7. 07:54
  
  Radio 4 Appeal—The National Childbirth Trust
  
  Robyn Love makes the Radio 4 appeal on behalf of NCT, National Childbirth Trust.
8. 07:57
  
  Weather—16/08/2026
  
  The latest weather reports and forecast.
9. 08:00
  
  News and Papers—16/08/2026
  
  National and international news from BBC Radio 4.
10. 08:10
  
  Sunday Worship—Discovering Mary at Walsingham
  
  Tina Beattie travels to Walsingham to explore the mysteries of the Virgin Mary.
11. 08:48
  
  Witness History—The world's first perfume archive
  
  In 1990, L'Osmothèque opened in Versailles, France, with a collection of 400 perfumes.
12. 08:58
  
  Tweet of the Day—Horatio Clare on the Herring Gull
  
  Writer Horatio Clare on why he finds the herring gull to be a mighty and surprising bird.
13. 09:00
  
  Broadcasting House—16/08/2026
  
  The Sunday morning news magazine programme. Presented by Paddy O'Connell.
14. 10:00
  
  Desert Island Discs—Chaka Khan, singer and songwriter
  
  Chaka Khan, singer and songwriter, shares the soundtrack of her life with Lauren Laverne.
15. 11:00
  
  The Archers Omnibus—16/08/2026
  
  Heartbreak is in store for Lynda.
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Afternoon
1. 12:15
  
  Last Word: Doing Death Differently—The Power of Things
  
  4/5 Matthew Bannister on changing attitudes to dying, death and how we memorialise our dead.
2. 12:30
  
  Just a Minute—Series 97, 4. "The left-hand area"
  
  4/6 Julian Clary, Desiree Burch, Tony Hawks and Cariad Lloyd.
3. 12:57
  
  Weather—16/08/2026
  
  The latest weather forecast.
4. 13:00
  
  The World This Weekend—16/08/2026
  
  A look at the week's big stories and a preview of the week to come.
5. 13:30
  
  Currently—Pride Before the Fall
  
  Have we fallen out of love with Pride?
6. 14:00
  
  Gardeners' Question Time—14/08/2026
  
  Horticultural programme featuring a group of gardening experts.
7. 14:45
  
  Opening Lines—Libra - Episode Two
  
  John Yorke explores Don DeLillo’s 1988 novel Libra.
8. 15:00
  
  Drama on 4—Libra, Episode 2
  
  2/2 By Ben Lewis. Adaptation of Don DeLillo’s reimagining of the assassination of JFK.
9. 16:00
  
  Take Four Books—M. John Harrison
  
  On his latest novel - The End of Everything - and the three texts that helped to shape it.
10. 16:30
  
  Brain of Britain—Heat 4, 2026
  
  General knowledge quiz. Spotlights on the Cold War, Baz Luhrmann and gemstones.
11. 17:00
  
  Witness History—Roddy Doyle writes Paddy Clarke Ha Ha Ha
  
  In 1993, the Irish writer Roddy Doyle won the prestigious Booker Prize for Fiction.
12. 17:10
  
  Behind the Crime—Sophie
  
  A woman from Texas whose life is upended by a conviction for stealing an air conditioner.
13. 17:54
  
  Shipping Forecast—16/08/2026
  
  The latest weather reports and forecasts for UK shipping.
14. 17:57
  
  Weather—16/08/2026
  
  The latest weather reports and forecast.
Back to top
Evening
1. 18:00
  
  Six O'Clock News—16/08/2026
  
  National and international news from BBC Radio 4.
2. 18:15
  
  Pick of the Week—Rima Ahmed
  
  Rima Ahmed presents a weekly selection of the best bits of audio across the BBC.
3. 19:00
  
  The Archers—16/08/2026
  
  Alarm bells ring for Azra.
4. 19:15
  
  Illuminated—The Grand North Atlantic Home Video Archive
  
  Séamas O'Reilly unravels the mystery of his father's unusual film archive.
5. 19:45
  
  Just One Thing - with Michael Mosley—Track Your Exercise
  
  How simply tracking your exercise could help you move more and improve your health.
6. 20:00
  
  Feedback—13/08/2026
  
  Radio 4's forum for comments, queries, criticisms and congratulations.
7. 20:30
  
  Last Word—14/08/2026
  
  Radio 4's weekly obituary programme.
8. 21:00
  
  Sliced Bread—Toast - Series 7, Paperchase
  
  Sean Farrington examines another succesful business that still ended up 'toast'.
9. 21:25
  
  Radio 4 Appeal—The National Childbirth Trust
  
  Robyn Love makes the Radio 4 appeal on behalf of NCT, National Childbirth Trust.
10. 21:30
  
  From Our Own Correspondent—15/08/2026
  
  Insight, and analysis from BBC correspondents around the world.
11. 22:00
  
  Archive on 4—Marlon Brando: The Ultimate Contender
  
  Antonia Quirke defines the archival A-Z of essential Marlon Brando, who changed acting.
12. 23:00
  
  Great Lives—Pen Hadow nominates Sir Peter Scott
  
  Conservationist Peter Scott, founder of Slimbridge, is picked by Pen Hadow.
13. 23:30
  
  Hoax—1. The Planted Plants of Rum
  
  Could the Isle of Rum miraculously have escaped the Ice Age? Tori Herridge investigates.
14. 23:45
  
  Short Works—Staying Alive by Roisín O’Donnell
  
  To celebrate Orla’s fortieth birthday, her friend Gemma suggests they try paddleboarding.
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Late
1. 00:00
  
  Midnight News—17/08/2026
  
  National and international news from BBC Radio 4.
2. 00:15
  
  Crossing Continents—Victoria Falls: Wilderness on the edge
  
  How to preserve one of the natural wonders of the world.
3. 00:45
  
  Bells on Sunday—St Mathew’s church in Chapel Allerton, Leeds in West Yorkshire.
  
  Bells on Sunday comes from St Mathew’s church in Chapel Allerton, Leeds in West Yorkshire.
4. 00:48
  
  Shipping Forecast—17/08/2026
  
  The latest weather reports and forecasts for UK shipping.
5. 01:00
  
  Selection of BBC World Service Programmes—17/08/2026
  
  BBC Radio 4 joins the BBC World Service.
6. 05:00
  
  News Summary—17/08/2026
  
  National and international news from BBC Radio 4.
7. 05:04
  
  Last Word—14/08/2026
  
  Radio 4's weekly obituary programme.
8. 05:34
  
  Shipping Forecast—17/08/2026
  
  The latest weather reports and forecasts for UK shipping.
9. 05:43
  
  Prayer for the Day—17/08/2026
  
  Radio 4's daily prayer and reflection.
10. 05:45
  
  Farming Today—17/08/2026
  
  The latest news about food, farming and the countryside.
11. 05:57
  
  Weather—17/08/2026
  
  The latest weather reports and forecasts for farmers.

Monday 17 August 2026