BBC Radio 4 FM Schedule Friday 30 October 2026

Schedule

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Early
Morning
Afternoon
Evening
Late

Early
1. 00:00
  
  Midnight News—30/10/2026
  
  National and international news from BBC Radio 4
2. 00:30
  
  Three Hundred Years of Gulliver's Travels—Gulliver and the wonders of science.
  
  4/5 Ian Hislop celebrates the 300th anniversary of Jonathan Swift's Gulliver's Travels.
3. 00:48
  
  Shipping Forecast—30/10/2026
  
  The latest weather reports and forecasts for UK shipping.
4. 01:00
  
  Selection of BBC World Service Programmes—30/10/2026
  
  BBC Radio 4 joins the BBC World Service.
5. 05:00
  
  News Summary—30/10/2026
  
  National and international news from BBC Radio 4
6. 05:04
  
  Yesterday in Parliament—30/10/2026
  
  News, views and features on today's stories in Parliament
7. 05:34
  
  Shipping Forecast—30/10/2026
  
  The latest weather reports and forecasts for UK shipping.
8. 05:43
  
  Prayer for the Day—What We Inherit
  
  A spiritual comment and prayer to start the day with the Reverend Canon Dr Mark Clavier.
9. 05:45
  
  Farming Today—30/10/2026
  
  The latest news about food, farming and the countryside.
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Morning
1. 06:00
  
  Today—30/10/2026
  
  News and current affairs, including Sports Desk, Weather and Thought for the Day.
2. 09:00
  
  Desert Island Discs—Harlan Coben, novelist
  
  Harlan Coben, writer, shares the soundtrack of his life with Lauren Laverne.
3. 10:00
  
  Woman's Hour—30/10/2026
  
  Women's voices and women's lives - topical conversations to inform, challenge and inspire.
4. 11:00
  
  The Food Programme—Food and Magic
  
  Exploring the unique connection between food and magic.
5. 11:45
  
  Three Hundred Years of Gulliver's Travels—Horses and Apes
  
  5/5 Ian Hislop celebrates the 300th anniversary of Jonathan Swift's Gulliver's Travels.
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Afternoon
1. 12:00
  
  News Summary—30/10/2026
  
  The latest national and international news from BBC Radio 4.
2. 12:04
  
  AntiSocial—30/10/2026
  
  Peace talks for the culture wars.
3. 12:57
  
  Weather—30/10/2026
  
  The latest weather forecast
4. 13:00
  
  World at One—30/10/2026
  
  News, analysis and comment from BBC Radio 4
5. 13:45
  
  The History Podcast—How Houdini Made Magic, 10. Cement your legacy
  
  10/11 Houdini’s untimely death sends shockwaves around the world and helps eternalise his fame
6. 14:00
  
  The Archers—29/10/2026
  
  Helen finds herself in a web of deception.
7. 14:15
  
  Limelight—Out of Time, 2. Shake On It, Captainess Lee
  
  2/6 Stranded in the Arctic, the Epsilon crew face an unexpected and deadly arrival.
8. 14:45
  
  Life Without—Life Without Plankton
  
  No plankton means no fish and chips. But that is only the beginning of the story.
9. 15:00
  
  Gardeners' Question Time—30/10/2026
  
  Horticultural programme featuring a group of gardening experts.
10. 15:45
  
  Short Works—They Know Me Here
  
  Dawn French reads a new short story written by David Quantick.
11. 16:00
  
  Last Word—30/10/2026
  
  Radio 4's weekly obituary programme
12. 16:30
  
  Life Changing—My family was ‘jumbled up’
  
  Rachel’s family holidayed with neighbours - and returned as ‘mixed up’ families.
13. 17:00
  
  PM—30/10/2026
  
  Full coverage of the day's news
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Evening
1. 18:00
  
  Six O'Clock News—30/10/2026
  
  National and international news from BBC Radio 4
2. 18:30
  
  The Matt Forde Focus Group—The Politics of Trick-or-Treat (Halloween Special)
  
  Hand over the sweets or face the consequences: is this how modern politics really works?
3. 19:00
  
  The Archers—30/10/2026
  
  There’s a surprise visitor for Alan.
4. 19:15
  
  Screenshot—Serial Killers
  
  Ellen and Mark explore film and televisions morbid fascination with serial killers.
5. 20:00
  
  Any Questions?—30/10/2026
  
  Alex Forsyth presents political debate from Horam in East Sussex.
6. 20:55
  
  This Week in History—28/10/2026
  
  Fascinating, surprising and eye-opening stories from the past, brought to life.
7. 21:00
  
  Free Thinking—Brown
  
  Shahidha Bari and guests look at the different meanings given to the colour brown.
8. 22:00
  
  The World Tonight—30/10/2026
  
  In-depth reporting, intelligent analysis and breaking news from a global perspective.
9. 22:45
  
  Partita by Barbara Kingsolver—Al Fine
  
  10/10 Past and present are about to collide on the day of Livia's concert.
10. 23:00
  
  Americast—30/10/2026
  
  Join Americast for insights and analysis on what's happening inside Trump's White House.
11. 23:30
  
  Today in Parliament—30/10/2026
  
  News, views and features on today's stories in Parliament
Back to top
Late
1. 00:00
  
  Midnight News—31/10/2026
  
  National and international news from BBC Radio 4
2. 00:30
  
  Three Hundred Years of Gulliver's Travels—Horses and Apes
  
  5/5 Ian Hislop celebrates the 300th anniversary of Jonathan Swift's Gulliver's Travels.
3. 00:48
  
  Shipping Forecast—31/10/2026
  
  The latest weather reports and forecasts for UK shipping.
4. 01:00
  
  Selection of BBC World Service Programmes—31/10/2026
  
  BBC Radio 4 joins the BBC World Service.
5. 05:30
  
  News Summary—31/10/2026
  
  National and international news from BBC Radio 4
6. 05:33
  
  Shipping Forecast—31/10/2026
  
  The latest weather reports and forecasts for UK shipping.
7. 05:43
  
  Prayer for the Day—31/10/2026
  
  Radio 4's daily prayer and reflection
8. 05:45
  
  Life Without—Life Without Plankton
  
  No plankton means no fish and chips. But that is only the beginning of the story.

Saturday 31 October 2026