BBC Radio 4 FM Schedule Sunday 17 May 2026

Schedule

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Early
Morning
Afternoon
Evening
Late

Early
1. 00:00
  Midnight News—17/05/2026
  National and international news from BBC Radio 4
2. 00:15
  Take Four Books—10/05/2026
  James Crawford discusses an author's new book and its connections to three other works.
3. 00:48
  Shipping Forecast—17/05/2026
  The latest weather reports and forecasts for UK shipping.
4. 01:00
  Selection of BBC World Service Programmes—17/05/2026
  BBC Radio 4 joins the BBC World Service.
5. 05:30
  News Summary—17/05/2026
  National and international news from BBC Radio 4
6. 05:34
  Shipping Forecast—17/05/2026
  The latest weather reports and forecasts for UK shipping.
7. 05:43
  Bells on Sunday—The church of Saints Patrick and Andrew in Elveden Suffolk
  Bells on Sunday comes from the church of Saints Patrick and Andrew in Elveden Suffolk.
8. 05:45
  In Touch—12/05/2026
  News, views and information for people who are blind or partially sighted
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Morning
1. 06:00
  News Summary—17/05/2026
  National and international news from BBC Radio 4
2. 06:05
  Beyond Belief—12/05/2026
  Exploring the place and nature of faith in today's world.
3. 06:35
  On Your Farm—17/05/2026
  Getting to the heart of country life with a look at individual farming endeavours
4. 06:57
  Weather—17/05/2026
  The latest weather reports and forecast
5. 07:00
  News and Papers—17/05/2026
  National and international news from BBC Radio 4
6. 07:10
  Sunday—17/05/2026
  A look at the ethical and religious issues of the week
7. 07:54
  Radio 4 Appeal—Hope Support Services
  Comedian Ashley Storrie makes the Radio 4 Appeal on behalf of Hope Support Services.
8. 07:57
  Weather—17/05/2026
  The latest weather reports and forecast
9. 08:00
  News and Papers—17/05/2026
  National and international news from BBC Radio 4
10. 08:10
  Sunday Worship—Risen, ascended, glorified
  A service from Hoddinott Hall with the National Chorus of Wales.
11. 08:48
  Witness History—Creating Cluedo
  Blackouts during World War II helped Anthony Pratt invent the popular family board game.
12. 08:58
  Tweet of the Day—Isabella Tree on the Nightingale
  Fascinating stories about birds inspired by their calls, songs and behaviour.
13. 09:00
  Broadcasting House—17/05/2026
  The Sunday morning news magazine programme. Presented by Paddy O'Connell
14. 10:00
  Desert Island Discs—Gary O'Donoghue, journalist
  Gary O'Donoghue, journalist, shares the soundtrack of his life with Lauren Laverne.
15. 11:00
  The Archers Omnibus—17/05/2026
  Alan gets involved in village life, and Kirsty faces an emotional moment.
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Afternoon
1. 12:15
  Profile—16/05/2026
  An insight into the character of an influential person making the news headlines
2. 12:30
  The Unbelievable Truth—Series 33, 3. Words, Bears, The French and Mushrooms
  3/6Tony Hawks, Zoe Lyons, Mark Steel and Fern Brady try to find the hidden truths.
3. 12:57
  Weather—17/05/2026
  The latest weather forecast
4. 13:00
  The World This Weekend—17/05/2026
  A look at the week's big stories and preview of the week to come.
5. 13:30
  Currently—How the Green Party won the Muslim Vote
  Why is the Labour party losing so many Muslim voters?
6. 14:00
  Gardeners' Question Time—15/05/2026
  Horticultural programme featuring a group of gardening experts.
7. 14:45
  Off air
  Programmes will resume at 15:00
8. 15:00
  Drama on 4—17/05/2026
  Milady de Winter, one of literature’s greatest villains, is back from the dead.
9. 16:00
  Take Four Books—17/05/2026
  James Crawford discusses an author's new book and its connections to three other works.
10. 16:30
  Round Britain Quiz—17/05/2026
  Radio's most fiendish quiz, with cryptic questions on unpredictable fields of knowledge
11. 17:00
  Witness History—The Irish priest who built an airport
  In 1986, a priest raised millions to open an airport at Knock in Ireland.
12. 17:10
  Understand—How Reading Made Us, 3. How Reading Made Our Politics
  3/3Did reading create democracy? And what does it mean for our politics if reading dies out?
13. 17:54
  Shipping Forecast—17/05/2026
  The latest weather reports and forecasts for UK shipping
14. 17:57
  Weather—17/05/2026
  The latest weather reports and forecast
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Evening
1. 18:00
  Six O'Clock News—17/05/2026
  National and international news from BBC Radio 4
2. 18:15
  Pick of the Week—Viji Alles
  Viji Alles presents a selection of highlights from the past week on BBC radio
3. 19:00
  The Archers—17/05/2026
  Leonard goes on a mission.
4. 19:15
  Illuminated—Tarot and the Art of Creativity
  What will the tarot cards reveal for creatives Ben Okri, Lola Kirke and Jessica Knappett?
5. 19:45
  Off air
  Programmes will resume at 20:00
6. 20:00
  Word of Mouth—Oracy: We Need to Talk
  Michael Rosen talks to Amy Gaunt about how children are learning oracy, also known as talk
7. 20:30
  Last Word—15/05/2026
  Radio 4's weekly obituary programme
8. 21:00
  Money Box—16/05/2026
  The latest news from the world of personal finance
9. 21:25
  Radio 4 Appeal—Hope Support Services
  Comedian Ashley Storrie makes the Radio 4 Appeal on behalf of Hope Support Services.
10. 21:30
  From Our Own Correspondent—16/05/2026
  Insight and analysis from BBC correspondents around the world
11. 22:00
  Westminster Hour—17/05/2026
  Radio 4's Sunday night political discussion programme.
12. 23:00
  In Our Time—14/05/2026
  Misha Glenny and guests discuss the ideas, people and events that have shaped our world.
13. 23:45
  Short Works—Algo by Kirstin Innes
  One woman faces a reckoning when asylum hotel protests dredge up unwelcome memories.
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Late
1. 00:00
  Midnight News—18/05/2026
  National and international news from BBC Radio 4
2. 00:15
  Crossing Continents—12/05/2026
  Insight and analysis from BBC correspondents around the world
3. 00:45
  Bells on Sunday—The church of Saints Patrick and Andrew in Elveden Suffolk
  Bells on Sunday comes from the church of Saints Patrick and Andrew in Elveden Suffolk.
4. 00:48
  Shipping Forecast—18/05/2026
  The latest weather reports and forecasts for UK shipping.
5. 01:00
  Selection of BBC World Service Programmes—18/05/2026
  BBC Radio 4 joins the BBC World Service.
6. 05:00
  News Summary—18/05/2026
  National and international news from BBC Radio 4
7. 05:04
  Last Word—15/05/2026
  Radio 4's weekly obituary programme
8. 05:34
  Shipping Forecast—18/05/2026
  The latest weather reports and forecasts for UK shipping.
9. 05:43
  Prayer for the Day—18/05/2026
  Radio 4's daily prayer and reflection
10. 05:45
  Farming Today—18/05/2026
  The latest news about food, farming and the countryside.
11. 05:57
  Weather—18/05/2026
  The latest weather reports and forecasts for farmers

Monday 18 May 2026