BBC World Service Online Schedule Thursday 21 May 2026

Online Schedule

View BBC World Service schedule variations

Skip to:

On air
Early
Morning
Afternoon
Evening
Late

Early
1. 00:00GMT
  BBC News—21/05/2026 00:01 GMT
  The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
2. 00:06GMT
  The Newsroom—21/05/2026 00:06 GMT
  The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
3. 00:30GMT
  BBC News Summary—21/05/2026 00:30 GMT
  The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
4. 00:32GMT
  The Global Story—Why Britain keeps losing prime ministers
  Britain has had six leaders in 10 years. Why might Keir Starmer be the next forced out?(R)
5. 01:00GMT
  BBC News—21/05/2026 01:01 GMT
  The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
6. 01:06GMT
  The Newsroom—21/05/2026 01:06 GMT
  The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
7. 01:30GMT
  BBC News Summary—21/05/2026 01:30 GMT
  The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
8. 01:32GMT
  The Documentary—When Shiraz calls
  Intimate conversations of two Iranian sisters - one in the UK, the other in Iran
9. 02:00GMT
  BBC News—21/05/2026 02:01 GMT
  The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
10. 02:06GMT
  Outlook—Grateful 'for a couple of hours of normal life'
  Tari Lang on teenage love, fear and making yoghurt during 1960s Indonesian dictatorship(R)
11. 02:50GMT
  Witness History—When Krishna Menon met Stalin
  A rare meeting between an Indian diplomat and Joseph Stalin took place in 1953(R)
12. 03:00GMT
  BBC News—21/05/2026 03:01 GMT
  The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
13. 03:06GMT
  The Newsroom—21/05/2026 03:06 GMT
  The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
14. 03:30GMT
  BBC News Summary—21/05/2026 03:30 GMT
  The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
15. 03:32GMT
  The Food Chain—The craft of the cocktail
  Three renowned bartenders on what it takes to create the perfect drink.
16. 04:00GMT
  BBC News—21/05/2026 04:01 GMT
  The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
17. 04:06GMT
  Newsday—US indicts Raul Castro of Cuba
  The former president, along with five others, indicted on murder and conspiracy charges.
18. 05:00GMT
  BBC News—21/05/2026 05:01 GMT
  The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
19. 05:06GMT
  Newsday—Former Cuban president charged with murder in US
  Raul Castro and five others were indicted on murder and conspiracy charges
Back to top
Morning
1. 06:00GMT
  BBC News—21/05/2026 06:01 GMT
  The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
2. 06:06GMT
  Newsday—US indicts former Cuban President
  Raul Castro and five others were charged with murder and conspiracy
3. 07:00GMT
  BBC News—21/05/2026 07:01 GMT
  The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
4. 07:06GMT
  The Inquiry—Are the Himalayan glaciers at a tipping point?
  Melting Himalayan glaciers are increasing the risk to communities and the ecosystem
5. 07:30GMT
  BBC News Summary—21/05/2026 07:30 GMT
  The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
6. 07:32GMT
  Business Daily—Musk v Altman: Tech bros battle
  Who actually wins after a courtroom battle between tech bosses Elon Musk and Sam Altman?
7. 07:50GMT
  Witness History—Montenegro votes for independence
  In 2006, Montenegro achieved independence from Serbia in the final break-up of Yugoslavia
8. 08:00GMT
  BBC News—21/05/2026 08:01 GMT
  The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
9. 08:06GMT
  The Newsroom—21/05/2026 08:06 GMT
  The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
10. 08:30GMT
  BBC News Summary—21/05/2026 08:30 GMT
  The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
11. 08:32GMT
  The Documentary—When Shiraz calls
  Intimate conversations of two Iranian sisters - one in the UK, the other in Iran(R)
12. 09:00GMT
  BBC News—21/05/2026 09:01 GMT
  The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
13. 09:06GMT
  The Explanation—The Media Show: Filming inside El Salvador’s mega-prison
  Richard Madeley on his documentary about El Salvador’s high-security CECOT prison
14. 09:30GMT
  BBC News Summary—21/05/2026 09:30 GMT
  The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
15. 09:32GMT
  Over to You—The art of the interview
  We explore how presenters prepare for and conduct interviews
16. 10:00GMT
  BBC News—21/05/2026 10:01 GMT
  The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
17. 10:06GMT
  The Newsroom—21/05/2026 10:06 GMT
  The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
18. 10:30GMT
  BBC News Summary—21/05/2026 10:30 GMT
  The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
19. 10:32GMT
  The Global Story—"The Doping Olympics": a look inside the Enhanced Games
  The controversial games where athletes compete with the aid of performance enhancing drugs
20. 11:00GMT
  BBC News—21/05/2026 11:01 GMT
  The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
21. 11:06GMT
  Outlook—Escape from Castro’s Cuba: ‘Singing saved my sanity’
  A country girl's dream of singing led Candi Sosa into exile in the United States
22. 11:50GMT
  Witness History—Montenegro votes for independence
  In 2006, Montenegro achieved independence from Serbia in the final break-up of Yugoslavia(R)
Back to top
Afternoon
1. 12:00GMT
  BBC News—21/05/2026 12:01 GMT
  The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
2. 12:06GMT
  The Newsroom—21/05/2026 12:06 GMT
  The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
3. 12:30GMT
  BBC News Summary—21/05/2026 12:30 GMT
  The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
4. 12:32GMT
  The Food Chain—The craft of the cocktail
  Three renowned bartenders on what it takes to create the perfect drink.(R)
5. 13:00GMT
  BBC News—21/05/2026 13:01 GMT
  The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
6. 13:06GMT
  Newshour—Outrage after Israeli minister taunts Gaza flotilla activists
  A rights group representing the detainees said they had been physically abused
7. 14:00GMT
  BBC News—21/05/2026 14:01 GMT
  The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
8. 14:06GMT
  The Inquiry—Are the Himalayan glaciers at a tipping point?
  Melting Himalayan glaciers are increasing the risk to communities and the ecosystem(R)
9. 14:30GMT
  BBC News Summary—21/05/2026 14:30 GMT
  The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
10. 14:32GMT
  Business Daily—Musk v Altman: Tech bros battle
  Who actually wins after a courtroom battle between tech bosses Elon Musk and Sam Altman?(R)
11. 14:50GMT
  World Business Express—Inside Space X's IPO plan
  Elon Musk's Space X is going public, in, maybe, the biggest initial public offering ever
12. 15:00GMT
  BBC News—21/05/2026 15:01 GMT
  The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
13. 15:06GMT
  Outside Source—M23 rebels announce first suspected Ebola death in South Kivu
  We have the latest on the outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo
14. 16:00GMT
  BBC News—21/05/2026 16:01 GMT
  The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
15. 16:06GMT
  Outside Source—Gaza flotilla activists deported from Israel
  We have the latest on the backlash to a video released by Ben Gvir
16. 17:00GMT
  BBC News—21/05/2026 17:01 GMT
  The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
17. 17:06GMT
  Outlook—Escape from Castro’s Cuba: ‘Singing saved my sanity’
  A country girl's dream of singing led Candi Sosa into exile in the United States(R)
18. 17:50GMT
  Witness History—Montenegro votes for independence
  In 2006, Montenegro achieved independence from Serbia in the final break-up of Yugoslavia(R)
Back to top
Evening
1. 18:00GMT
  BBC News—21/05/2026 18:01 GMT
  The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
2. 18:06GMT
  The Newsroom—21/05/2026 18:06 GMT
  The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
3. 18:30GMT
  BBC News Summary—21/05/2026 18:30 GMT
  The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
4. 18:32GMT
  Sport Today—2026/05/21 GMT
  BBC sports correspondents tell the story behind today's top sporting news, with interviews and reports from across the world.
5. 19:00GMT
  BBC News—21/05/2026 19:01 GMT
  The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
6. 19:06GMT
  The Documentary—When Shiraz calls
  Intimate conversations of two Iranian sisters - one in the UK, the other in Iran(R)
7. 19:30GMT
  BBC News Summary—21/05/2026 19:30 GMT
  The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
8. 19:32GMT
  BBC Inside Science—El Niño is nigh, but so what?
  El Niño is stirring in the Pacific Ocean and may well be one of the strongest yet.
9. 20:00GMT
  BBC News—21/05/2026 20:01 GMT
  The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
10. 20:06GMT
  Newshour—Is an invasion of Cuba imminent?
  US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the chances of a negotiated deal were ‘not high’
11. 21:00GMT
  BBC News—21/05/2026 21:01 GMT
  The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
12. 21:06GMT
  The Inquiry—Are the Himalayan glaciers at a tipping point?
  Melting Himalayan glaciers are increasing the risk to communities and the ecosystem(R)
13. 21:30GMT
  BBC News Summary—21/05/2026 21:30 GMT
  The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
14. 21:32GMT
  On air
  Listen live
  The Food Chain—The craft of the cocktail
  Three renowned bartenders on what it takes to create the perfect drink.(R)
  Listen live
15. 22:00GMT
  BBC News—21/05/2026 22:01 GMT
  The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
16. 22:06GMT
  The Newsroom—21/05/2026 22:06 GMT
  The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
17. 22:30GMT
  BBC News Summary—21/05/2026 22:30 GMT
  The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
18. 22:32GMT
  World Business Report—AI, billions and the race to go public
  AI giants including OpenAI, Anthropic and SpaceX explore potential stock market listings.
19. 23:00GMT
  BBC News—21/05/2026 23:01 GMT
  The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
20. 23:06GMT
  The Explanation—The Media Show: Filming inside El Salvador’s mega-prison
  Richard Madeley on his documentary about El Salvador’s high-security CECOT prison(R)
21. 23:30GMT
  BBC News Summary—21/05/2026 23:30 GMT
  The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
22. 23:32GMT
  Unspun World with John Simpson—Are US-China relations at a turning point?
  John Simpson analyses whether there has been a shift in the US-China relationship
Back to top
Late
1. 00:00GMT
  BBC News—22/05/2026 00:01 GMT
  The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
2. 00:06GMT
  The Newsroom—22/05/2026 00:06 GMT
  The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
3. 00:30GMT
  BBC News Summary—22/05/2026 00:30 GMT
  The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
4. 00:32GMT
  The Global Story—"The Doping Olympics": a look inside the Enhanced Games
  The controversial games where athletes compete with the aid of performance enhancing drugs(R)
5. 01:00GMT
  BBC News—22/05/2026 01:01 GMT
  The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
6. 01:06GMT
  The Newsroom—22/05/2026 01:06 GMT
  The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
7. 01:30GMT
  BBC News Summary—22/05/2026 01:30 GMT
  The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
8. 01:32GMT
  Tech Life—Myth or mythos: Is the AI cyber threat real?
  We talk to an expert about the risks from AI hackers(R)
9. 02:00GMT
  BBC News—22/05/2026 02:01 GMT
  The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
10. 02:06GMT
  Outlook—Escape from Castro’s Cuba: ‘Singing saved my sanity’
  A country girl's dream of singing led Candi Sosa into exile in the United States(R)
11. 02:50GMT
  Witness History—Montenegro votes for independence
  In 2006, Montenegro achieved independence from Serbia in the final break-up of Yugoslavia(R)
12. 03:00GMT
  BBC News—22/05/2026 03:01 GMT
  The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
13. 03:06GMT
  The Newsroom—22/05/2026 03:06 GMT
  The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
14. 03:30GMT
  BBC News Summary—22/05/2026 03:30 GMT
  The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
15. 03:32GMT
  Heart and Soul—Fighting for the Children of Chernobyl
  Adi Roche, whose faith inspired a lifetime helping children affected by the disaster
16. 04:00GMT
  BBC News—22/05/2026 04:01 GMT
  The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
17. 04:06GMT
  Newsday—22/05/2026 04:06 GMT
  Live news, business and sport from around the world.
18. 05:00GMT
  BBC News—22/05/2026 05:01 GMT
  The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
19. 05:06GMT
  Newsday—22/05/2026 05:06 GMT
  Live news, business and sport from around the world.

Please choose the appropriate schedule