BBC Radio 4 Extra Schedule Thursday 23 April 2026

Schedule

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Early
Morning
Afternoon
Evening
Late

Early
1. 00:00
  
  Archive on 4—Encounters with Elizabeth
  
  Tales of meetings - official and unexpected - with Queen Elizabeth II.
2. 01:00
  
  John le Carré—The Spy Who Came in From the Cold, 1. Berlin
  
  1/6 Alec Leamas is at a checkpoint waiting for an agent to cross over to the West....
3. 01:30
  
  Falco—Shadows in Bronze, 1. Vipers
  
  1/6 After a plot to depose the Emperor, the Roman detective uncovers a nest of vipers.
4. 02:00
  
  After Henry—Series 1, Gossip
  
  5/8 Gossip galore as Sarah and her mother unwittingly conspire.
5. 02:30
  
  The Missing Hancocks—Series 1, The Hancock Festival
  
  Inspired by Somerset Maugham's pay packet, the Lad becomes a writer.
6. 03:00
  
  What Does the K Stand For?—Series 3, Let's Talk About Sex
  
  4/4 Stephen plucks up the courage to reveal a secret.
7. 03:30
  
  I Am, I Am, I Am by Maggie O'Farrell—3. Abdomen
  
  3/5 Complications during labour leave Maggie close to death.
8. 03:45
  
  Under One Roof—Stairway to Heaven, 3. Cleaning
  
  3/5 Domestic routines wear Gillian down. Her mother has a solution....
9. 04:00
  
  The Write Stuff—Series 4, John Updike
  
  4/6 Sebastian Faulks, John Walsh, Tracey Macleod and Gary Younge on the literary quiz
10. 04:30
  
  Alison and Maud—Series 2, Golf Is a Four-Letter Word
  
  3/6 Maud seeks solace in Test Match Special, while Alison's in a flap.
11. 05:00
  
  Queen Lucia by EF Benson—2. Some Arrivals and a Precipitant Departure
  
  2/5 Disaster strikes in 1920s Riseholme and must be hushed up to spare blushes.
12. 05:45
  
  Anita and Me by Meera Syal—7. Grandmother
  
  7/10 Meena sets about healing the rift with Anita.
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Morning
1. 06:00
  
  John le Carré—The Spy Who Came in From the Cold, 2. Outside
  
  2/6 Fired from British Intelligence, Alec Leamas must cope with life outside...
2. 06:30
  
  Falco—Shadows in Bronze, 2. Resort
  
  2/6 The Roman sleuth probes the murder of a conspirator against the Emperor.
3. 07:00
  
  Tales From the Mausoleum Club—Jess of the B'ournevilles
  
  6/6 Mr Sturdy shares a tale of West Country paganism. Stars Timothy Spall.
4. 07:30
  
  The Burkiss Way—Series 2, Skive from School the Burkiss Way
  
  9/13 Can Moses Minor lead the boys of Greyfriars away from the clutches of their oppressors?
5. 08:00
  
  Hennikay—Series 1, 1. Close-Contact Paint-Based Combat Manoeuvres
  
  1/4 Guy and Hennikay go on an adventure-based, corporate team-building day out.
6. 08:30
  
  I Am, I Am, I Am by Maggie O'Farrell—4. Lungs
  
  4/5 Maggie and her son face difficulties swimming in Africa.
7. 08:45
  
  Under One Roof—Stairway to Heaven, 4. Installation
  
  4/5 Gillian’s secret stairlift plan gets underway but will her mother approve?
8. 09:00
  
  The Matt Forde Focus Group—Series 2, 6. The Politics of the Ban
  
  6/6 Politicians love a ban. But does banning anything ever actually work?
9. 09:30
  
  Networking Nation—4. The World of Work
  
  4/5 A look at how the world of work runs on human networks and networking.
10. 09:45
  
  Daily Service—Living Faithfully - The Good Samaritan
  
  Christian worship with a Bible reading, prayer and music led by Bishop David Walker
11. 10:00
  
  Great Lives—Josiah Wedgwood
  
  Tristram Hunt on Josiah Wedgwood, vase maker general to the universe!
12. 10:30
  
  Miniature Mountains
  
  Horticulturist Stephen Anderton explores rock gardening fashions.
13. 11:00
  
  John le Carré—The Spy Who Came in From the Cold, 2. Outside
  
  2/6 Fired from British Intelligence, Alec Leamas must cope with life outside...
14. 11:30
  
  Falco—Shadows in Bronze, 2. Resort
  
  2/6 The Roman sleuth probes the murder of a conspirator against the Emperor.
Back to top
Afternoon
1. 12:00
  
  Tales From the Mausoleum Club—Jess of the B'ournevilles
  
  6/6 Mr Sturdy shares a tale of West Country paganism. Stars Timothy Spall.
2. 12:30
  
  The Burkiss Way—Series 2, Skive from School the Burkiss Way
  
  9/13 Can Moses Minor lead the boys of Greyfriars away from the clutches of their oppressors?
3. 13:00
  
  Hennikay—Series 1, 1. Close-Contact Paint-Based Combat Manoeuvres
  
  1/4 Guy and Hennikay go on an adventure-based, corporate team-building day out.
4. 13:30
  
  I Am, I Am, I Am by Maggie O'Farrell—4. Lungs
  
  4/5 Maggie and her son face difficulties swimming in Africa.
5. 13:45
  
  Under One Roof—Stairway to Heaven, 4. Installation
  
  4/5 Gillian’s secret stairlift plan gets underway but will her mother approve?
6. 14:00
  
  Foul Play—Series 4, Deadline News
  
  1/6 Crime writers Ruth Dudley Edwards and Robert Richardson tackle a model's murder.
7. 14:30
  
  HR—Series 3, Married
  
  3/6 With worthless pensions, will a lodger help out Sam and Peter?
8. 15:00
  
  Queen Lucia by EF Benson—3. A Fresh Rebellion
  
  3/5 The uncrowned Queen of Riseholme, Lucia faces rebellion...
9. 15:45
  
  Anita and Me by Meera Syal—8. Conflict
  
  8/10 Meena and Anita begin to tackle the tricky subject of sex.
10. 16:00
  
  Great Lives—Josiah Wedgwood
  
  Tristram Hunt on Josiah Wedgwood, vase maker general to the universe!
11. 16:30
  
  Miniature Mountains
  
  Horticulturist Stephen Anderton explores rock gardening fashions.
12. 17:00
  
  John le Carré—The Spy Who Came in From the Cold, 2. Outside
  
  2/6 Fired from British Intelligence, Alec Leamas must cope with life outside...
13. 17:30
  
  Falco—Shadows in Bronze, 2. Resort
  
  2/6 The Roman sleuth probes the murder of a conspirator against the Emperor.
Back to top
Evening
1. 18:00
  
  Tales From the Mausoleum Club—Jess of the B'ournevilles
  
  6/6 Mr Sturdy shares a tale of West Country paganism. Stars Timothy Spall.
2. 18:30
  
  The Burkiss Way—Series 2, Skive from School the Burkiss Way
  
  9/13 Can Moses Minor lead the boys of Greyfriars away from the clutches of their oppressors?
3. 19:00
  
  Hennikay—Series 1, 1. Close-Contact Paint-Based Combat Manoeuvres
  
  1/4 Guy and Hennikay go on an adventure-based, corporate team-building day out.
4. 19:30
  
  I Am, I Am, I Am by Maggie O'Farrell—4. Lungs
  
  4/5 Maggie and her son face difficulties swimming in Africa.
5. 19:45
  
  Under One Roof—Stairway to Heaven, 4. Installation
  
  4/5 Gillian’s secret stairlift plan gets underway but will her mother approve?
6. 20:00
  
  Foul Play—Series 4, Deadline News
  
  1/6 Crime writers Ruth Dudley Edwards and Robert Richardson tackle a model's murder.
7. 20:30
  
  HR—Series 3, Married
  
  3/6 With worthless pensions, will a lodger help out Sam and Peter?
8. 21:00
  
  Queen Lucia by EF Benson—3. A Fresh Rebellion
  
  3/5 The uncrowned Queen of Riseholme, Lucia faces rebellion...
9. 21:45
  
  Anita and Me by Meera Syal—8. Conflict
  
  8/10 Meena and Anita begin to tackle the tricky subject of sex.
10. 22:00
  
  The Matt Forde Focus Group—Series 2, 6. The Politics of the Ban
  
  6/6 Politicians love a ban. But does banning anything ever actually work?
11. 22:30
  
  Alex Edelman's Peer Group—Series 3, The Future
  
  4/4 Alex looks into the future of humankind.
12. 23:00
  
  Beyond The Back of Beyond—2. Death
  
  2/6 Will a mysterious tribe like their gifts from explorers Mark and Brian?
13. 23:15
  
  Life on Egg—Series 1, Mistress of Disguise
  
  2/6 Harry and the team must find an escaped prisoner. But what does she look like?
14. 23:30
  
  The Pin—Series 4, Crimewave
  
  3/4 Ben and Alex are forced to take drastic measures during a crimewave.
Back to top
Late
1. 00:00
  
  Great Lives—Josiah Wedgwood
  
  Tristram Hunt on Josiah Wedgwood, vase maker general to the universe!
2. 00:30
  
  Miniature Mountains
  
  Horticulturist Stephen Anderton explores rock gardening fashions.
3. 01:00
  
  John le Carré—The Spy Who Came in From the Cold, 2. Outside
  
  2/6 Fired from British Intelligence, Alec Leamas must cope with life outside...
4. 01:30
  
  Falco—Shadows in Bronze, 2. Resort
  
  2/6 The Roman sleuth probes the murder of a conspirator against the Emperor.
5. 02:00
  
  Tales From the Mausoleum Club—Jess of the B'ournevilles
  
  6/6 Mr Sturdy shares a tale of West Country paganism. Stars Timothy Spall.
6. 02:30
  
  The Burkiss Way—Series 2, Skive from School the Burkiss Way
  
  9/13 Can Moses Minor lead the boys of Greyfriars away from the clutches of their oppressors?
7. 03:00
  
  Hennikay—Series 1, 1. Close-Contact Paint-Based Combat Manoeuvres
  
  1/4 Guy and Hennikay go on an adventure-based, corporate team-building day out.
8. 03:30
  
  I Am, I Am, I Am by Maggie O'Farrell—4. Lungs
  
  4/5 Maggie and her son face difficulties swimming in Africa.
9. 03:45
  
  Under One Roof—Stairway to Heaven, 4. Installation
  
  4/5 Gillian’s secret stairlift plan gets underway but will her mother approve?
10. 04:00
  
  Foul Play—Series 4, Deadline News
  
  1/6 Crime writers Ruth Dudley Edwards and Robert Richardson tackle a model's murder.
11. 04:30
  
  HR—Series 3, Married
  
  3/6 With worthless pensions, will a lodger help out Sam and Peter?
12. 05:00
  
  Queen Lucia by EF Benson—3. A Fresh Rebellion
  
  3/5 The uncrowned Queen of Riseholme, Lucia faces rebellion...
13. 05:45
  
  Anita and Me by Meera Syal—8. Conflict
  
  8/10 Meena and Anita begin to tackle the tricky subject of sex.

Friday 24 April 2026