BBC Radio 4 Extra Schedule Thursday 1 January 2026

Schedule

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Early
Morning
Afternoon
Evening
Late

Early
1. 00:00
  
  Archive on 4—Old Year's Night
  
  James Naughtie probes the history and traditions behind Hogmanay.
2. 01:00
  
  Whodunnits—Hercule Poirot - Sad Cypress, 3. A Poisoning and Investigations
  
  3/5 Belgian sleuth Hercule Poirot is called in to track down the killer.
3. 01:30
  
  Whodunnits—A Charles Paris Mystery - The Cinderella Killer, 3. Suspects
  
  3/4 Is whoever shot Cinderella the same person who is sending Charles threatening texts?
4. 02:00
  
  Little Blighty on the Down—Series 3, Episode 4
  
  4/5 Council leader Mrs Roberts insists an electrical substation should be raffled off.
5. 02:30
  
  Hancock's Half Hour—Series 4, The Diary
  
  12/20 The Lad speculates on what events might have been.
6. 03:00
  
  North by Northamptonshire—North by Northamptonshire: Full Stop
  
  The friends are excited to see a starry show at the Hippodrome on New Year's Eve.
7. 03:45
  
  Ladies of Letters—Series 1, 3. Mistake
  
  3/6 Will Vera and Irene’s friendship survive an unfortunate hotel incident?
8. 04:00
  
  The Museum of Curiosity—Series 14, Episode 6
  
  6/6 John Lloyd and Bridget Christie with Philippa Perry, Carlo Ratti and Doug Allan.
9. 04:30
  
  Getting Nowhere Fast—Series 1, Episode 1
  
  1/4 Ex-lovers turned cafe-bar owners Pam and Merv discuss love, life and a revamp.
10. 05:00
  
  Mattie: The New Look by Juliet Ace—3. Celluloid Lady
  
  Mattie is fascinated by Mona's daydreams of film stars.
11. 05:45
  
  Her Infinite Variety by Juliet Ace—3. Diary of a Dutiful Daughter
  
  3/5 Modern Shakespearean Goneril is faced with a doddering dad and running a business.
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Morning
1. 06:00
  
  Whodunnits—Hercule Poirot - Sad Cypress, 4. Murder!
  
  4/5 It seems Mary Gerrard wasn't the first murder victim...
2. 06:30
  
  Whodunnits—A Charles Paris Mystery - The Cinderella Killer, 4. They're Behind You
  
  4/4 Bill Nighy stars as the actor cum amateur sleuth who's never far from a murder.
3. 07:00
  
  Yes Minister—Series 1, The Writing on the Wall
  
  4/8 Jim's plans to slim the Civil Service come home to roost.
4. 07:30
  
  Give Or Take—1. Marital Disharmony
  
  1/8 Bank clerk Sam Baker dreams of winning the football pools. Stars David Roper.
5. 08:00
  
  Ability—Series 1, Taking Advantage
  
  3/4 Matt and Bob decide to see how far they can go - and attempt shoplifting.
6. 08:30
  
  Short Works—The Third Wave by Iain Finlay Macleod
  
  An overcrowded yacht returning sailors home from the Great War is in trouble.
7. 08:45
  
  Ladies of Letters—Series 1, 4. Surprise
  
  4/6 Irene’s unsettling news is surpassed by Vera’s family revelations.
8. 09:00
  
  Unspeakable—Christmas Special 2025
  
  Good news! A new word is born unto us, in an Unspeakable seasonal spectacular.
9. 09:30
  
  Prime Ministers' Props—Series 2, Winston Churchill's Cigar
  
  David Cannadine explores how Churchill's cigar became synonymous with his image.
10. 09:45
  
  Daily Service—Light in the Darkness - Walking in the light
  
  Christian worship, a Bible reading, prayer and music led by Archbishop Stephen Cottrell
11. 10:00
  
  Great Lives—Konnie Huq on Ada Lovelace
  
  TV presenter Konnie Huq chooses the mathematician Ada Lovelace.
12. 10:30
  
  Sleeve Notes
  
  Laura Barton explains her love for vinyl album sleeve notes.
13. 11:00
  
  Whodunnits—Hercule Poirot - Sad Cypress, 4. Murder!
  
  4/5 It seems Mary Gerrard wasn't the first murder victim...
14. 11:30
  
  Whodunnits—A Charles Paris Mystery - The Cinderella Killer, 4. They're Behind You
  
  4/4 Bill Nighy stars as the actor cum amateur sleuth who's never far from a murder.
Back to top
Afternoon
1. 12:00
  
  Yes Minister—Series 1, The Writing on the Wall
  
  4/8 Jim's plans to slim the Civil Service come home to roost.
2. 12:30
  
  Give Or Take—1. Marital Disharmony
  
  1/8 Bank clerk Sam Baker dreams of winning the football pools. Stars David Roper.
3. 13:00
  
  Ability—Series 1, Taking Advantage
  
  3/4 Matt and Bob decide to see how far they can go - and attempt shoplifting.
4. 13:30
  
  Short Works—The Third Wave by Iain Finlay Macleod
  
  An overcrowded yacht returning sailors home from the Great War is in trouble.
5. 13:45
  
  Ladies of Letters—Series 1, 4. Surprise
  
  4/6 Irene’s unsettling news is surpassed by Vera’s family revelations.
6. 14:00
  
  Say the Word—Episode 1
  
  1/6 Language panel game with Sandi Toksvig, Tommy Pearson, Laura Wright, Christopher Matthew.
7. 14:30
  
  Ballylenon—Series 7, Episode 5
  
  5/6 Bernard Gallagher makes a shockingly gruesome discovery.
8. 15:00
  
  Mattie and Bluebottle by Juliet Ace
  
  Until Mattie leaves home she seeks refuge in her dreams - and The Goons.
9. 15:45
  
  Her Infinite Variety by Juliet Ace—4. And All That Jazz
  
  4/5 Modern Shakespearean Viola’s offered a spectacular Twelfth Night.
10. 16:00
  
  Great Lives—Konnie Huq on Ada Lovelace
  
  TV presenter Konnie Huq chooses the mathematician Ada Lovelace.
11. 16:30
  
  Sleeve Notes
  
  Laura Barton explains her love for vinyl album sleeve notes.
12. 17:00
  
  Whodunnits—Hercule Poirot - Sad Cypress, 4. Murder!
  
  4/5 It seems Mary Gerrard wasn't the first murder victim...
13. 17:30
  
  Whodunnits—A Charles Paris Mystery - The Cinderella Killer, 4. They're Behind You
  
  4/4 Bill Nighy stars as the actor cum amateur sleuth who's never far from a murder.
Back to top
Evening
1. 18:00
  
  Yes Minister—Series 1, The Writing on the Wall
  
  4/8 Jim's plans to slim the Civil Service come home to roost.
2. 18:30
  
  Give Or Take—1. Marital Disharmony
  
  1/8 Bank clerk Sam Baker dreams of winning the football pools. Stars David Roper.
3. 19:00
  
  Ability—Series 1, Taking Advantage
  
  3/4 Matt and Bob decide to see how far they can go - and attempt shoplifting.
4. 19:30
  
  Short Works—The Third Wave by Iain Finlay Macleod
  
  An overcrowded yacht returning sailors home from the Great War is in trouble.
5. 19:45
  
  Ladies of Letters—Series 1, 4. Surprise
  
  4/6 Irene’s unsettling news is surpassed by Vera’s family revelations.
6. 20:00
  
  Say the Word—Episode 1
  
  1/6 Language panel game with Sandi Toksvig, Tommy Pearson, Laura Wright, Christopher Matthew.
7. 20:30
  
  Ballylenon—Series 7, Episode 5
  
  5/6 Bernard Gallagher makes a shockingly gruesome discovery.
8. 21:00
  
  Mattie and Bluebottle by Juliet Ace
  
  Until Mattie leaves home she seeks refuge in her dreams - and The Goons.
9. 21:45
  
  Her Infinite Variety by Juliet Ace—4. And All That Jazz
  
  4/5 Modern Shakespearean Viola’s offered a spectacular Twelfth Night.
10. 22:00
  
  Unspeakable—Christmas Special 2025
  
  Good news! A new word is born unto us, in an Unspeakable seasonal spectacular.
11. 22:30
  
  Brian Gulliver's Travels—Series 1, Sham
  
  4/6 Brian tells the story of his visit to a country where alternative therapies abound.
12. 22:55
  
  The Comedy Club Interviews—Jimmy Carr 1/4
  
  Paul Garner chats to Jimmy Carr.
13. 23:00
  
  Alex Horne Presents The Horne Section—Series 2, With Matt Lucas & Liane Carroll
  
  6/6 Alex and his band explore the theme of seasons.
14. 23:30
  
  Old Harry's Game—Series 7, Episode 1
  
  1/6 Hell faces confusion when a dog turns up, as animals are not evil... except dolphins.
Back to top
Late
1. 00:00
  
  Great Lives—Konnie Huq on Ada Lovelace
  
  TV presenter Konnie Huq chooses the mathematician Ada Lovelace.
2. 00:30
  
  Sleeve Notes
  
  Laura Barton explains her love for vinyl album sleeve notes.
3. 01:00
  
  Whodunnits—Hercule Poirot - Sad Cypress, 4. Murder!
  
  4/5 It seems Mary Gerrard wasn't the first murder victim...
4. 01:30
  
  Whodunnits—A Charles Paris Mystery - The Cinderella Killer, 4. They're Behind You
  
  4/4 Bill Nighy stars as the actor cum amateur sleuth who's never far from a murder.
5. 02:00
  
  Yes Minister—Series 1, The Writing on the Wall
  
  4/8 Jim's plans to slim the Civil Service come home to roost.
6. 02:30
  
  Give Or Take—1. Marital Disharmony
  
  1/8 Bank clerk Sam Baker dreams of winning the football pools. Stars David Roper.
7. 03:00
  
  Ability—Series 1, Taking Advantage
  
  3/4 Matt and Bob decide to see how far they can go - and attempt shoplifting.
8. 03:30
  
  Short Works—The Third Wave by Iain Finlay Macleod
  
  An overcrowded yacht returning sailors home from the Great War is in trouble.
9. 03:45
  
  Ladies of Letters—Series 1, 4. Surprise
  
  4/6 Irene’s unsettling news is surpassed by Vera’s family revelations.
10. 04:00
  
  Say the Word—Episode 1
  
  1/6 Language panel game with Sandi Toksvig, Tommy Pearson, Laura Wright, Christopher Matthew.
11. 04:30
  
  Ballylenon—Series 7, Episode 5
  
  5/6 Bernard Gallagher makes a shockingly gruesome discovery.
12. 05:00
  
  Mattie and Bluebottle by Juliet Ace
  
  Until Mattie leaves home she seeks refuge in her dreams - and The Goons.
13. 05:45
  
  Her Infinite Variety by Juliet Ace—4. And All That Jazz
  
  4/5 Modern Shakespearean Viola’s offered a spectacular Twelfth Night.

Friday 2 January 2026