BBC Radio 4 FM Schedule Friday 12 December 2025

Schedule

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Early
Morning
Afternoon
Evening
Late

Early
1. 00:00
  Midnight News—12/12/2025
  National and international news from BBC Radio 4
2. 00:30
  Upon a White Horse by Peter Ross—North
  4/5In Unst, Peter Ross witnesses one of the Shetland Island's famous Up Helly Aa festivals.
3. 00:48
  Shipping Forecast—12/12/2025
  The latest weather reports and forecasts for UK shipping
4. 01:00
  Selection of BBC World Service Programmes—12/12/2025
  A selection of BBC World Service news and current affairs, arts and science programmes.
5. 05:00
  News Summary—12/12/2025
  National and international news from BBC Radio 4
6. 05:04
  Yesterday in Parliament—12/12/2025
  Sean Curran reports on MPs' reaction to President Trump's national security strategy.
7. 05:34
  Shipping Forecast—12/12/2025
  The latest weather reports and forecasts for UK shipping
8. 05:43
  Prayer for the Day—Glorious Monotony
  Spiritual reflection to start the day with Ennette C Lainchbury.
9. 05:45
  Farming Today—12/12/25 Abattoirs, Farm sitters, Welsh rare breeds
  Abattoirs, farm sitters, Welsh rare breeds.
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Morning
1. 06:00
  Today—12/12/2025
  News and current affairs, including Sports Desk, Weather and Thought for the Day.
2. 09:00
  Desert Island Discs—Margaret Atwood, writer
  Margaret Atwood, writer, shares the soundtrack of her life with Lauren Laverne.
3. 10:00
  Woman's Hour—SEND, Race Across the World, Toxic masculinity
  Analysing the announcement by the government on Special Educational Needs & Disabilities.
4. 11:00
  The Food Programme—Going Cold Turkey: Alternative Christmas Dinners
  Annie Gray rejects turkey and the trimmings at Christmas. She explores alternative dinners
5. 11:45
  Upon a White Horse by Peter Ross—Scion
  5/5In Northumberland, journalist Peter Ross walks Hadrian’s Wall in search of absence.
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Afternoon
1. 12:00
  News Summary—12/12/2025
  The latest national and international news from BBC Radio 4.
2. 12:04
  Rare Earth—City Transport: Faster, Cheaper, Greener
  Tom Heap and Helen Czerski examine how we get around our towns and cities.
3. 12:57
  Weather—12/12/2025
  The latest weather forecast
4. 13:00
  World at One—The economy shrinks by 0.1%
  The economy unexpectedly shrinks, when economists had been expecting it to grow.
5. 13:45
  Beautiful Strangeness by Rebecca Stott—Episode 5: The Flickering
  Five original essays on how the mysterious is woven into the ordinary and the everyday.
6. 14:00
  The Archers—11/12/2025
  There's an emergency at the surgery.
7. 14:15
  Limelight—Murder on Mars, Episode 5
  With the hub evacuated, Rita and Jaz are alone. Can they find the killer in time?
8. 14:45
  New Storytellers—Charles Parker Prize - 2025, Life in Numbers
  A creative insight into living a life - where numbers are vital to survival.
9. 15:00
  Gardeners' Question Time—Dundee: Amaryllis, Monkey Puzzles and Australian Plants
  Kathy Clugston and the GQT Panel visit the V&A in Dundee.
10. 15:45
  Radio 4 Christmas Appeal—Making a Difference
  Hugh Dennis reports on some lives changed since last year's Radio 4 Christmas Appeal
11. 16:00
  Last Word—Iain Douglas-Hamilton, Vera Weisfeld, Frank Gehry, Martin Parr
  Matthew Bannister on a zoologist, a businesswoman, an architect and a photographer.
12. 16:30
  Illuminated—The Findhorn Garden
  In search of sonic transmissions from the nature spirit realm.
13. 17:00
  PM—Will Europe unlock frozen Russian assets to help fund Ukraine's defence?
  The Belgian PM meets Sir Keir Starmer to discuss legal concerns.
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Evening
1. 18:00
  Six O'Clock News—More photos from Jeffrey Epstein's estate released.
  Democrat politicians released the images, some featuring President Trump.
2. 18:30
  Dead Ringers—Christmas Specials 2025, Farage Goes to School, The Snowman v Keir, and Alan Carr: Special Negotiator
  1/2The Dead Ringers team are back to train their vocal firepower on the week’s news.
3. 19:00
  The Archers—12/12/2025
  Akram makes a decision.
4. 19:15
  Add to Playlist—Katy Richardson and Ben Gernon head to Mongolia
  Katy Richardson and Ben Gernon add five more tracks.
5. 20:00
  Any Questions?—Sir Jake Berry, Tobias Ellwood, Josh Simons MP, Sonia Sodha
  Alex Forsyth presents political debate from Wigan & Leigh College.
6. 20:55
  This Week in History—8th to 14th December
  Fascinating, surprising and eye-opening stories from the past, brought to life.
7. 21:00
  Free Thinking—Idleness
  Is idleness ever a virtue? Matthew Sweet investigates.
8. 22:00
  The World Tonight—King Charles shares 'good news' about his cancer
  He said in a personal message his treatment will be reduced next year
9. 22:45
  Heart Lamp by Banu Mushtaq—Episode 2
  2/2Part 2 of the title story from Banu Mushtaq's 2025 International Booker Prize-winner.
10. 23:00
  Americast—How far will Trump go in his 'war' with Venezuela?
  The Trump administration defends its seizure of an oil tanker off the Venezuelan coast
11. 23:30
  Today in Parliament—12/12/2025
  Alicia McCarthy reports on the assisted dying bill.
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Late
1. 00:00
  Midnight News—13/12/2025
  National and international news from BBC Radio 4
2. 00:30
  Upon a White Horse by Peter Ross—Scion
  5/5In Northumberland, journalist Peter Ross walks Hadrian’s Wall in search of absence.
3. 00:48
  Shipping Forecast—13/12/2025
  The latest weather reports and forecasts for UK shipping
4. 01:00
  Selection of BBC World Service Programmes—13/12/2025
  A selection of BBC World Service news and current affairs, arts and science programmes.
5. 05:30
  News Summary—13/12/2025
  National and international news from BBC Radio 4
6. 05:34
  Shipping Forecast—13/12/2025
  The latest weather reports and forecasts for UK shipping
7. 05:43
  Prayer for the Day—Stargazer
  Radio 4's daily prayer and reflection with Father Dermot Preston.
8. 05:45
  New Storytellers—Charles Parker Prize - 2025, Life in Numbers
  A creative insight into living a life - where numbers are vital to survival.

Saturday 13 December 2025