BBC Radio 4 FM Schedule Tuesday 29 September 2026

Schedule

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Early
Morning
Afternoon
Evening
Late

Early
1. 00:00
  Midnight News—29/09/2026
  National and international news from BBC Radio 4
2. 00:30
  Empire at the Edge of the World by Giles Milton—1. The Race for a Lost Arctic Continent
  1/5The race for a lost Arctic continent.
3. 00:48
  Shipping Forecast—29/09/2026
  The latest weather reports and forecasts for UK shipping.
4. 01:00
  Selection of BBC World Service Programmes—29/09/2026
  BBC Radio 4 joins the BBC World Service.
5. 05:00
  News Summary—29/09/2026
  National and international news from BBC Radio 4
6. 05:04
  Currently—The Silence of the Oligarchs
  Russia's super-rich once ruled the country - could they restore their political influence?
7. 05:34
  Shipping Forecast—29/09/2026
  The latest weather reports and forecasts for UK shipping.
8. 05:43
  Prayer for the Day—Am I enough? Am I performing well enough?
  A spiritual comment and prayer to start the day with Haydon Spenceley.
9. 05:45
  Farming Today—29/09/2026: Precision breeding, Community farm, Mentoring on farm
  Precision breeding, Community farm, Mentoring on farm.
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Morning
1. 06:00
  Today—29/09/2026
  News and current affairs, including Sports Desk, Weather and Thought for the Day.
2. 09:00
  The Life Scientific—Gillian Forrester on gesturing gorillas, babbling babies and the origins of human language
  Professor Gillian Forrester on how we became the walking, talking great apes we are today.
3. 09:30
  All in the Mind—How do we judge someone’s emotions?
  Plus, we reveal the All in the Mind Awards judging panel.
4. 10:00
  Woman's Hour—'Empty nesters', Electronic tagging, Actor Lara Ricote
  How has becoming an 'empty nester' impacted your life - a loss, a joy or a bit of both?
5. 11:00
  Screenshot—Nature
  Ellen E Jones and Mark Kermode consider the role of natural history film and TV today.
6. 11:45
  Empire at the Edge of the World by Giles Milton—2. Trapped in the Ice
  2/5Trapped in the ice, the Karluk's crew face scurvy and starvation. Read by Edmund Kingsley.
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Afternoon
1. 12:00
  News Summary—29/09/2026
  The latest national and international news from BBC Radio 4.
2. 12:04
  You and Yours—Call You and Yours: "How are you affording to buy or rent a decent quality home?"
  Call You and Yours: "How are you affording to buy or rent a decent quality home?"
3. 12:57
  Weather—29/09/2026
  The latest weather forecast
4. 13:00
  World at One—Andy Burnham prepares to make his first Conference speech as PM
  We're in Liverpool, where the prime minister will promise to bring 'hope' to the country.
5. 13:45
  Understand—Seven Ages of Man, with Michael Rosen, 4. Matthew Todd's in his 50s
  4/8Journalist and writer Matthew Todd talks about self-acceptance in his 50s.
6. 14:00
  The Archers—28/09/2026
  Ian finds himself torn.
7. 14:15
  Drama on 4—A Place Called Home, 1. Riverbourne Rising
  1/6A tower block is falling apart and the tenants revolt when the landlords refuse to listen
8. 15:00
  History's Heroes—History's Secret Heroes - Series 4, Kiyoshi Tanimoto and the Atomic Bomb
  6/11Why did a minister run towards Hiroshima immediately after the atomic bomb?
9. 15:30
  Beyond Belief—Texts of Terror
  Giles and the panel grapple with the horrific passages in holy scripture.
10. 16:00
  Artworks—Pop Art Remixed
  Gavin Turk explores British pop art and its legacy.
11. 16:30
  What's Up Docs?—How can we better understand neurodiversity?
  Drs Chris and Xand van Tulleken explore the conversation around neurodiversity.
12. 17:00
  PM—Burnham pledges to scrap triple lock and change electoral system
  The prime minister says he's offering honesty, ideas and a clear direction.
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Evening
1. 18:00
  Six O'Clock News—Andy Burnham sets out his vision on social care
  The PM says he'll scrap the existing state pension triple lock to pay for it
2. 18:30
  Stand-Up Specials—Geoff Norcott's Working Men's Club S1, S1 E2: Should we just 'man up'?
  2/4Modern masculinity. Should we just ‘man up’?
3. 19:00
  The Archers—29/09/2026
  Ed has a controversial suggestion.
4. 19:15
  Front Row—BBC National Short Story Award and Young Writers Award 2026
  The winners of both prizes are announced live from BBC Broadcasting House.
5. 20:00
  File on 4 Investigates—Tinderbox Britain - Are we ready for more wildfires?
  After a record breaking wildfire season, are we prepared for the growing threat?
6. 20:40
  In Touch—Cost of Living Research, Non-Visual Noticing in Poetry
  In Touch celebrates National Poetry Day with two visually impaired poets.
7. 21:00
  Crossing Continents—Nepal: In the shadow of a glacier
  The 1000-year-old Himalayan community now facing an existential threat.
8. 21:30
  The Bottom Line—Drones: Small machines, big business
  Drones are getting cheaper, smarter and longer-range. So where does the industry go next?
9. 22:00
  The World Tonight—The PM vows to end existing triple lock on pensions in 2030
  Andy Burnham sets out his vision for the country at Labour conference in Liverpool
10. 22:45
  Stations by Louise Kennedy—Episode 2
  2/10As Red and Róisín grow closer, tensions at home rise.
11. 23:00
  The History Podcast—Half-Life, 6. Tranquility
  Joe's great-grandfather settles in the United States where his mental health deteriorates.
12. 23:30
  Great Lives—Pauline Black of The Selecter on Poly Styrene of X-Ray Spex
  Famous people pick someone they love or admire.
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Late
1. 00:00
  Midnight News—30/09/2026
  National and international news from BBC Radio 4
2. 00:30
  Empire at the Edge of the World by Giles Milton—2. Trapped in the Ice
  2/5Trapped in the ice, the Karluk's crew face scurvy and starvation. Read by Edmund Kingsley.
3. 00:48
  Shipping Forecast—30/09/2026
  The latest weather reports and forecasts for UK shipping.
4. 01:00
  Selection of BBC World Service Programmes—30/09/2026
  BBC Radio 4 joins the BBC World Service.
5. 05:00
  News Summary—30/09/2026
  National and international news from BBC Radio 4
6. 05:04
  BBC Inside Science—Do you have the correct time?
  How do we measure time accurately and why is the rotation of the Earth causing problems?
7. 05:34
  Shipping Forecast—30/09/2026
  The latest weather reports and forecasts for UK shipping.
8. 05:43
  Prayer for the Day—A day of pausing, endings and new beginnings
  A spiritual comment and prayer to start the day with Haydon Spenceley.
9. 05:45
  Farming Today—30/09/26 Nitrogen in soil, organic veg scheme, student bursaries.
  A new way of looking at the nitrogen cycle helps reduce agricultural emissions.

Wednesday 30 September 2026