BBC Radio 4 FM Schedule Wednesday 7 October 2026

Schedule

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Early
Morning
Afternoon
Evening
Late

Early
1. 00:00
  
  Midnight News—07/10/2026
  
  National and international news from BBC Radio 4
2. 00:30
  
  To Go or Not to Go by Sara Wheeler—2. Surface Bubbles
  
  2/5 Does travel help us discover ourselves or something bigger?
3. 00:48
  
  Shipping Forecast—07/10/2026
  
  The latest weather reports and forecasts for UK shipping.
4. 01:00
  
  Selection of BBC World Service Programmes—07/10/2026
  
  BBC Radio 4 joins the BBC World Service.
5. 05:00
  
  News Summary—07/10/2026
  
  National and international news from BBC Radio 4
6. 05:04
  
  BBC Inside Science—The future of particle physics
  
  What are the next steps for the world's largest and most powerful particle accelerator?
7. 05:34
  
  Shipping Forecast—07/10/2026
  
  The latest weather reports and forecasts for UK shipping.
8. 05:43
  
  Prayer for the Day—Never forgotten
  
  A reflection and prayer to start the day with Ruth Jennings.
9. 05:45
  
  Farming Today—07/10/26 Sugar beet, flagstone walls, dairy show.
  
  Negotiators agree price for sugar beet. Will it be enough for farmers to plant again?
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Morning
1. 06:00
  
  Today—07/10/2026
  
  News and current affairs, including Sports Desk, Weather and Thought for the Day.
2. 09:00
  
  More or Less—Is the UK state pension really the lowest in Europe?
  
  Tim Harford investigates UK pensions, Russia’s GDP and heatwave deaths.
3. 09:30
  
  I'm Not A Monster Presents...—Where Is Austin Tice?, 5. The Video
  
  A video appears online titled: Austin Tice Still Alive.
4. 10:00
  
  Woman's Hour—Woman's Hour celebrates 80 years from the Glasgow Women's Library
  
  Nuala McGovern is joined by guests and launches the theme of our 80th birthday year.
5. 11:00
  
  File on 4 Investigates—Forced Adoption: Is it happening today?
  
  If some birth mothers were better supported, would fewer babies need to go into care?
6. 11:40
  
  This Week in History—October 5th - October 11th
  
  Fascinating, surprising and eye-opening stories from the past, brought to life.
7. 11:45
  
  To Go or Not to Go by Sara Wheeler—3. Frozen Beards
  
  3/5 Do women approach travel differently to men?
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Afternoon
1. 12:00
  
  News Summary—07/10/2026
  
  The latest national and international news from BBC Radio 4.
2. 12:04
  
  You and Yours—Sensory Education, Drunk Shopping, Side Hustles
  
  We investigate customer complaints about online retailer Sensory Education.
3. 12:57
  
  Weather—07/10/2026
  
  The latest weather forecast
4. 13:00
  
  World at One—Kemi Badenoch pledges to scrap inheritance tax on family homes
  
  We speak to shadow home secretary Chris Philp on the last day of Conservative conference.
5. 13:45
  
  The Turning Point—Good Man, Real Man
  
  Can one workshop change what a boy thinks a man should be?
6. 14:00
  
  The Archers—06/10/2026
  
  There’s a complication at the vets.
7. 14:15
  
  Drama on 4—A Place Called Home, 5. The Slide
  
  5/6 A family reunion exposes old cracks and new tensions in Testament's comedy drama.
8. 15:00
  
  Money Box—Money Box Live: Care costs, will you pay less?
  
  How might care costs change in future, and who currently pays the bill?
9. 15:30
  
  The Artificial Human—Can AI be my new lab partner?
  
  Aleks and Kevin explore what happens when AI becomes part of scientific discovery.
10. 16:00
  
  When It Hits the Fan—'The Race We Can't Afford to Lose'
  
  David Yelland and Farzana Baduel on big tech's battle for our hearts and minds.
11. 16:15
  
  The Media Show—Reporting on the Cornell rape investigation; Woman’s Hour at 80; Anneka Rice
  
  How did student, national and social media report on the Cornell rape investigation?
12. 17:00
  
  PM—Badenoch: Tories would scrap inheritance tax on family homes
  
  The promise was made at the Conservative Party Conference.
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Evening
1. 18:00
  
  Six O'Clock News—Jailed former bankers have their convictions quashed
  
  Campaigners say there's been a major miscarriage of justice
2. 18:30
  
  Stand-Up Specials—Glenn Moore's Almanac, Royal Wedding
  
  1/8 A nation celebrates as Glenn fails to be invited to Kate and William’s wedding.
3. 19:00
  
  The Archers—07/10/2026
  
  Clarrie’s concerns bubble to the surface.
4. 19:15
  
  Front Row—Does the discovery of a 'talkie' made in 1926 change cinema history?
  
  News of a film made in 1926 which pioneered the use of new sound and audio technology.
5. 20:00
  
  Here for the History—Why Don’t We Wear Hats Anymore?
  
  Alice and Ben put on their thinking caps to unravel the demise of the hat.
6. 20:30
  
  Top Comment—How the 'Cornell 7' rape case became a call to action
  
  Women are sharing scathing critiques of toxic culture and opaque accountability measures.
7. 21:00
  
  The Life Scientific—Robert Ballard on finding the Titanic and other deep-sea discoveries
  
  Oceanographer Bob Ballard discusses his 60-year career in deep-sea exploration.
8. 21:30
  
  All in the Mind—Depression that's hard to treat
  
  A special show on hard to treat depression, exploring new research and treatments.
9. 22:00
  
  The World Tonight—Conservatives to scrap inheritance tax on family homes
  
  Kemi Badenoch pledges inheritance tax overhaul if party wins next election
10. 22:45
  
  Stations by Louise Kennedy—Episode 8
  
  8/10 Róisín returns to London on a mission.
11. 23:00
  
  Kiri's Farm—1. The Idea
  
  Take off your shoes and wear patchouli.
12. 23:15
  
  Big Little Questions—Freddie Asks...
  
  1/6 Amy Gledhill and Chris Cantrill with an inventive question from Freddie.
13. 23:30
  
  Great Lives—Lea Ypi on Kant
  
  Biographical series in which guests choose someone who has inspired their lives.
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Late
1. 00:00
  
  Midnight News—08/10/2026
  
  National and international news from BBC Radio 4
2. 00:30
  
  To Go or Not to Go by Sara Wheeler—3. Frozen Beards
  
  3/5 Do women approach travel differently to men?
3. 00:48
  
  Shipping Forecast—08/10/2026
  
  The latest weather reports and forecasts for UK shipping.
4. 01:00
  
  Selection of BBC World Service Programmes—08/10/2026
  
  BBC Radio 4 joins the BBC World Service.
5. 05:00
  
  News Summary—08/10/2026
  
  National and international news from BBC Radio 4
6. 05:04
  
  More or Less—Is the UK state pension really the lowest in Europe?
  
  Tim Harford investigates UK pensions, Russia’s GDP and heatwave deaths.
7. 05:34
  
  Shipping Forecast—08/10/2026
  
  The latest weather reports and forecasts for UK shipping.
8. 05:43
  
  Prayer for the Day—October Joy
  
  A reflection and prayer to start the day with Ruth Jennings.
9. 05:45
  
  Farming Today—08/10/2926: Fly tipping, History of barbed wire, Energy from heat
  
  Fly tipping, history of barbed wire, energy from heat.

Thursday 8 October 2026