BBC Radio 4 FM Schedule Friday 21 August 2026

Schedule

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Early
Morning
Afternoon
Evening
Late

Early
1. 00:00
  
  Midnight News—21/08/2026
  
  National and international news from BBC Radio 4.
2. 00:30
  
  The Fire in the Mountain: Sicily, Etna and her People by Helena Attlee—Episode Four - Into the Woods
  
  4/5 Life in the shadow of Mount Etna, Sicily’s most dangerous and alluring landmark.
3. 00:48
  
  Shipping Forecast—21/08/2026
  
  The latest weather reports and forecasts for UK shipping.
4. 01:00
  
  Selection of BBC World Service Programmes—21/08/2026
  
  BBC Radio 4 joins the BBC World Service.
5. 05:00
  
  News Summary—21/08/2026
  
  National and international news from BBC Radio 4.
6. 05:04
  
  The Briefing Room—20/08/2026
  
  Combining original insights into major news stories with topical investigations.
7. 05:34
  
  Shipping Forecast—21/08/2026
  
  The latest weather reports and forecasts for UK shipping.
8. 05:43
  
  Prayer for the Day—21/08/2026
  
  Radio 4's daily prayer and reflection.
9. 05:45
  
  Farming Today—21/08/2026
  
  The latest news about food, farming and the countryside.
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Morning
1. 06:00
  
  Today—21/08/2026
  
  News and current affairs, including Sports Desk, Weather and Thought for the Day.
2. 09:00
  
  Desert Island Discs—16/08/2026
  
  Castaway guests share the soundtrack of their lives.
3. 10:00
  
  Woman's Hour—21/08/2026
  
  Women's voices and women's lives - topical conversations to inform, challenge and inspire.
4. 11:00
  
  The Food Programme—21/08/2026
  
  Investigating every aspect of the food we eat.
5. 11:45
  
  The Fire in the Mountain: Sicily, Etna and her People by Helena Attlee—Episode Five - Sicilian Emeralds
  
  5/5 Life in the shadow of Mount Etna, Sicily’s most dangerous and alluring landmark.
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Afternoon
1. 12:00
  
  News Summary—21/08/2026
  
  The latest national and international news from BBC Radio 4.
2. 12:04
  
  Rare Earth—Volcano
  
  Helen Czerski and Tom Heap investigate the environmental impact of volcanoes.
3. 12:57
  
  Weather—21/08/2026
  
  The latest weather forecast.
4. 13:00
  
  World at One—21/08/2026
  
  News, analysis and comment from BBC Radio 4.
5. 13:45
  
  Human Intelligence—Provocateurs, Elinor Ostrom
  
  Elinor Ostrom challenged economics and reimagined shared human cooperation.
6. 14:00
  
  The Archers—20/08/2026
  
  Robert is pushed to the limit.
7. 14:15
  
  Limelight—Central Intelligence: Series 3, Episode 7
  
  One of the CIA’s most daring operations: the hunt for Che in the Bolivian jungle.
8. 14:45
  
  Living on the Edge—Portrush
  
  Lisa Abernethy shows Richard King around the RNLI station in Portrush.
9. 15:00
  
  Gardeners' Question Time—21/08/2026
  
  Horticultural programme featuring a group of gardening experts.
10. 15:45
  
  Short Works—Song of The Ocean by Natasha Carthew
  
  A young Cornish lad named Jago dares to dream of a life beyond the small fishing village.
11. 16:00
  
  Last Word—21/08/2026
  
  Radio 4's weekly obituary programme.
12. 16:30
  
  Sideways—19/08/2026
  
  Matthew Syed explores the ideas that shape our lives, making us see the world differently.
13. 17:00
  
  PM—21/08/2026
  
  Full coverage of the day's news.
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Evening
1. 18:00
  
  Six O'Clock News—21/08/2026
  
  National and international news from BBC Radio 4.
2. 18:30
  
  The People Have Spoken—21/08/2026
  
  Channelling populist exasperation into the oldest outlet for outrage: satire.
3. 19:00
  
  The Archers—21/08/2026
  
  There’s a surprising development for Lily.
4. 19:15
  
  Add to Playlist—David Arnold, Nadine Shah and Charlotte Harding celebrate the BBC Proms
  
  Nadine Shah, David Arnold and Charlotte Harding celebrate the BBC Proms.
5. 20:00
  
  Any Questions?—21/08/2026
  
  Topical discussion posing questions to a panel of political and media personalities.
6. 20:55
  
  This Week in History—19/08/2026
  
  Fascinating, surprising and eye-opening stories from the past, brought to life.
7. 21:00
  
  Natalie Haynes Stands Up for the Classics—Series 12, Roman True Crime
  
  Hallie Rubenhold, author of The Five, joins Natalie to solve the murder of Regilla in Rome
8. 21:30
  
  Shadow World—Breakin' the Cycle, 4. A New Direction
  
  4/6 Colin takes over directing, but the lines between gangland fact and fiction begin to blur.
9. 22:00
  
  The World Tonight—21/08/2026
  
  In depth reporting, intelligent analysis and breaking news from a global perspective.
10. 22:45
  
  Mr Sidhu's Post Office by Amman Brar—Episode Five
  
  5/10 Set in 2007, this is a heartwarming tale of community and change.
11. 23:00
  
  Americast—21/08/2026
  
  Join Americast for insights and analysis on what's happening inside Trump's White House.
12. 23:30
  
  Illuminated—All Under One Magnetosphere
  
  Discover the magic of ‘natural radio’ - a hidden electromagnetic soundscape.
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Late
1. 00:00
  
  Midnight News—22/08/2026
  
  National and international news from BBC Radio 4.
2. 00:30
  
  The Fire in the Mountain: Sicily, Etna and her People by Helena Attlee—Episode Five - Sicilian Emeralds
  
  5/5 Life in the shadow of Mount Etna, Sicily’s most dangerous and alluring landmark.
3. 00:48
  
  Shipping Forecast—22/08/2026
  
  The latest weather reports and forecasts for UK shipping.
4. 01:00
  
  Selection of BBC World Service Programmes—22/08/2026
  
  BBC Radio 4 joins the BBC World Service.
5. 05:30
  
  News Summary—22/08/2026
  
  National and international news from BBC Radio 4.
6. 05:34
  
  Shipping Forecast—22/08/2026
  
  The latest weather reports and forecasts for UK shipping.
7. 05:43
  
  Prayer for the Day—22/08/2026
  
  A spiritual comment and prayer with Rev'd Dr Mariama Ifode-Blease.
8. 05:45
  
  Living on the Edge—Portrush
  
  Lisa Abernethy shows Richard King around the RNLI station in Portrush.

Saturday 22 August 2026