BBC Radio 4 FM Schedule Thursday 20 August 2026

Schedule

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Early
Morning
Afternoon
Evening
Late

Early
1. 00:00
  
  Midnight News—20/08/2026
  
  National and international news from BBC Radio 4.
2. 00:30
  
  The Fire in the Mountain: Sicily, Etna and her People by Helena Attlee—Episode Three - The Breasts of Saint Agatha
  
  3/5 Life in the shadow of Mount Etna, Sicily’s most dangerous and alluring landmark.
3. 00:48
  
  Shipping Forecast—20/08/2026
  
  The latest weather reports and forecasts for UK shipping.
4. 01:00
  
  Selection of BBC World Service Programmes—20/08/2026
  
  BBC Radio 4 joins the BBC World Service.
5. 05:00
  
  News Summary—20/08/2026
  
  National and international news from BBC Radio 4.
6. 05:04
  
  Sideways—The Stranger
  
  The remarkable power in all of us to help complete strangers.
7. 05:34
  
  Shipping Forecast—20/08/2026
  
  The latest weather reports and forecasts for UK shipping.
8. 05:43
  
  Prayer for the Day—The in-betweens
  
  Spiritual reflection with Prof Alison Jack of Edinburgh University's School of Divinity.
9. 05:45
  
  Farming Today—20/08/26 Salmonella in eggs, bees in drought, roof-top solar
  
  Investigating an outbreak of salmonella - believed to come from imported eggs.
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Morning
1. 06:00
  
  Today—20/08/2026
  
  News and current affairs, including Sports Desk, Weather and Thought for the Day.
2. 09:00
  
  Natalie Haynes Stands Up for the Classics—Series 12, Hypatia
  
  4/7 The Greek mathematician and philosopher who vanished from history because she was a woman.
3. 09:30
  
  Artworks—The Guitar Story, 3. Gods and Monsters
  
  3/4 John Wilson explores the story of the guitar as a driver of social and cultural change.
4. 10:00
  
  Woman's Hour—Amelia Dimoldenberg, Vaping, Bigamy, Angel Blue
  
  Amelia Dimoldenberg, creator of Chicken Shop Date, on her career and creative academy.
5. 11:00
  
  This Cultural Life—Sebastian Faulks
  
  Author Sebastian Faulks on his influences and formative cultural experiences.
6. 11:45
  
  The Fire in the Mountain: Sicily, Etna and her People by Helena Attlee—Episode Four - Into the Woods
  
  4/5 Life in the shadow of Mount Etna, Sicily’s most dangerous and alluring landmark.
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Afternoon
1. 12:00
  
  News Summary—20/08/2026
  
  The latest national and international news from BBC Radio 4.
2. 12:04
  
  Scam Secrets—QR Code Scams
  
  Do you know where that code is taking you?
3. 12:32
  
  Sliced Bread—Sliced Bread - Series 16, Experimental Peptides
  
  Is it OK to take experimental peptides like the Wolverine Stack?
4. 12:57
  
  Weather—20/08/2026
  
  The latest weather forecast.
5. 13:00
  
  World at One—Kyiv faces overnight bombardment
  
  Why is Ukraine lacking much needed anti-ballistic missile systems?
6. 13:45
  
  Human Intelligence—Provocateurs, Eugène-Francois Vidocq
  
  The mind that invented modern detective work and transformed criminal investigation.
7. 14:00
  
  The Archers—19/08/2026
  
  The Malik family have a bone to pick.
8. 14:15
  
  Drama on 4—The Observer's Book
  
  Amanda Dalton's lyrical drama about friendship, loss and renewal.
9. 15:00
  
  Open Country—Ancient Technology Centre
  
  Martha Kearney tries her hand at ancient skills like forging a knife and flint knapping.
10. 15:27
  
  Radio 4 Appeal—The National Childbirth Trust
  
  Robyn Love makes the Radio 4 appeal on behalf of NCT, National Childbirth Trust.
11. 15:30
  
  Illuminated—The Metaphor Consultant
  
  The poet Jack Underwood offers his services as a metaphor consultant, for a reasonable fee
12. 16:00
  
  The Briefing Room—How do we prepare for a future water shortage?
  
  England faces a five billion litre a day shortfall by 2055, so how does it fix it?
13. 16:30
  
  BBC Inside Science—Is the era of the cancer vaccine upon us?
  
  Has a personalised cancer vaccine become reality?
14. 17:00
  
  PM—Crackdown on fly-tipping
  
  The Prime Minister promises new powers and punishments - do they go far enough?
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Evening
1. 18:00
  
  Six O'Clock News—Prince Harry and Meghan are coming back to live in the UK
  
  Questions remain after the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's surprise announcement
2. 18:30
  
  Icklewick FM—Series 1, 4. The Fundraiser
  
  4/6 Get out your chain wallets and jump in a bath of beans. Icklewick FM are fundraising.
3. 19:00
  
  The Archers—20/08/2026
  
  Robert is pushed to the limit.
4. 19:15
  
  Front Row—Review Show: Rachel Cusk's new novel and the return of the Looney Tunes
  
  Plus a comedy disaster movie from RuPaul's Drag Race universe.
5. 20:00
  
  At Your Own Peril—The Precipice
  
  Lucy Easthope explores the history of risk.
6. 20:15
  
  The Media Show—Jason Arday: examining the media coverage after his death
  
  Questions over journalism, proportionality and the coverage of Jason Arday.
7. 21:00
  
  Loose Ends—Andrew Hunter Murray, Dilly Carter, Hannah Byczkowski, David Eagle, Chris Brain, Daisy Peacock, Kiri Pritchard-McLean
  
  Kiri Pritchard-McLean and guests from the Crossed Wires Festival in Sheffield.
8. 21:45
  
  The Cows Are Mad—7. Factor X
  
  An organic farmer turned self-taught scientist investigates his own BSE theories.
9. 22:00
  
  The World Tonight—Major Western powers condemn Israel's West Bank settlement project
  
  The UK, France, Germany, Italy and Canada say the project is “unacceptable”
10. 22:45
  
  Mr Sidhu's Post Office by Amman Brar—Episode Four
  
  4/10 Set in 2007, this is a heartwarming tale of community and change.
11. 23:00
  
  Radical—Influence After Empire: Is Britain Still a Great Power? (Professor Brendan Simms)
  
  Has Great Britain underestimated its own power and influence in the world?
12. 23:30
  
  Poetry Please—Pippa Haywood
  
  Actor Pippa Haywood chooses some of her favourite poems from listener requests.
Back to top
Late
1. 00:00
  
  Midnight News—21/08/2026
  
  National and international news from BBC Radio 4.
2. 00:30
  
  The Fire in the Mountain: Sicily, Etna and her People by Helena Attlee—Episode Four - Into the Woods
  
  4/5 Life in the shadow of Mount Etna, Sicily’s most dangerous and alluring landmark.
3. 00:48
  
  Shipping Forecast—21/08/2026
  
  The latest weather reports and forecasts for UK shipping.
4. 01:00
  
  Selection of BBC World Service Programmes—21/08/2026
  
  BBC Radio 4 joins the BBC World Service.
5. 05:00
  
  News Summary—21/08/2026
  
  National and international news from BBC Radio 4.
6. 05:04
  
  The Briefing Room—How do we prepare for a future water shortage?
  
  England faces a five billion litre a day shortfall by 2055, so how does it fix it?
7. 05:34
  
  Shipping Forecast—21/08/2026
  
  The latest weather reports and forecasts for UK shipping.
8. 05:43
  
  Prayer for the Day—Already enough
  
  Spiritual reflection with Prof Alison Jack of Edinburgh University's School of Divinity.
9. 05:45
  
  Farming Today—21/08/2026: Drought farmer, biodiversity on solar farm, choral work
  
  Drought farmer, biodiversity on solar farm, sheep music.

Friday 21 August 2026