BBC Radio 4 FM Schedule Saturday 17 October 2026

Schedule

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On air
Early
Morning
Afternoon
Evening
Late

Early
1. 00:00
  Midnight News—17/10/2026
  National and international news from BBC Radio 4
2. 00:30
  Sideways—Appetite for Distraction, 5. The Future of Attention
  Matthew Syed asks what it means to be distracted in a media world vying for our attention.
3. 00:48
  Shipping Forecast—17/10/2026
  The latest weather reports and forecasts for UK shipping.
4. 01:00
  On air
  Listen live
  Selection of BBC World Service Programmes—17/10/2026
  BBC Radio 4 joins the BBC World Service.
  Listen live
5. 05:30
  News Summary—17/10/2026
  National and international news from BBC Radio 4
6. 05:34
  Shipping Forecast—17/10/2026
  The latest weather reports and forecasts for UK shipping.
7. 05:43
  Prayer for the Day—Poverty and Creating Prosperity for All
  A spiritual comment and prayer to start the day with Angad Kaur.
8. 05:45
  Life Without—Life Without Bats
  The night sky loses its bats and their secret soundscape. What happens next?
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Morning
1. 06:00
  News and Papers—17/10/2026
  National and international news from BBC Radio 4
2. 06:07
  Ramblings—From Limpsfield Common to Everest with David Sullivan
  Clare explores Limpsfield Common with David Sullivan to hear about his Everest adventure
3. 06:30
  Farming Today—17/10/26 Farming Today This Week: The Future of Farming
  As The Archers turns 75, Farming Today is looking ahead to the future of British farming.
4. 06:57
  Weather—17/10/2026
  The latest weather reports and forecast
5. 07:00
  Today—17/10/2026
  News and current affairs, including Sports Desk, Weather and Thought for the Day.
6. 09:00
  Saturday Live—Sir Nick Park, Janett Bickley, Dr Xand van Tulleken and the Inheritance Tracks of Marisha Wallace
  Radio 4's Saturday morning show brings you extraordinary stories and remarkable people.
7. 10:00
  Curious Cases—Series 25, Yawn Chorus
  3/13Hannah Fry and Dara Ó Briain try to stay awake long enough to explore contagious yawning.
8. 10:30
  Artworks—The Guitar Story, 2. My Generation
  2/4John Wilson explores the story of the guitar as a driver of social and cultural change.
9. 11:00
  The Week in Westminster—17/10/2026
  Isabel Hardman assesses the latest developments at Westminster.
10. 11:30
  From Our Own Correspondent—Saudi Arabia hit by the Houthis
  An attack on Riyadh airport has exposed the limitations of Saudi Arabia's air defences.
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Afternoon
1. 12:00
  News Summary—17/10/2026
  The latest national and international news from BBC Radio 4.
2. 12:04
  Money Box—Capita Investigation and ISA changes
  National Audit Office to review of the administration of the Civil Service Pension Scheme.
3. 12:30
  The News Quiz—Series 121, 7. Team Calm vs Team Panic
  7/8What links Poundland and Bumble?
4. 12:57
  Weather—17/10/2026
  The latest weather forecast
5. 13:00
  News—17/10/2026
  National and international news from BBC Radio 4
6. 13:10
  Any Questions?—Paul Frew MLA, Chris Hazzard MP, Tina McKenzie, Sarah Owen MP
  Chris Page presents political debate from Belfast
7. 14:05
  Any Answers?—17/10/2026
  Listeners respond to the issues raised in the preceding edition of Any Questions?
8. 14:45
  The Archers—16/10/2026
  The storm clouds gather in Ambridge.
9. 15:00
  Drama on 4—Save the Hundred Acre Wood
  By Edward Kemp. With Robert Bathurst as Christopher Robin Milne.
10. 16:00
  Woman's Hour—Weekend Woman's Hour: Navi Pillay, Women in tech, Caroline Hirons
  The first BBC interview with the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize winner.
11. 17:00
  PM—17/10/2026
  Full coverage of the day's news
12. 17:30
  Political Thinking with Nick Robinson—Suella Braverman: 'I'm not imposing my idea of Englishness on anyone else'
  The former Home Secretary speaks to Nick about identity, personality and religion.
13. 17:54
  Shipping Forecast—17/10/2026
  The latest weather reports and forecasts for UK shipping
14. 17:57
  Weather—17/10/2026
  The latest weather reports and forecast
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Evening
1. 18:00
  Six O'Clock News—17/10/2026
  National and international news from BBC Radio 4
2. 18:15
  Loose Ends—Alexander McCall Smith, Big Country Redux, Vicky Featherstone, Clive Anderson, Marc Jennings, Zoe Graham
  Clive Anderson and guests with an eclectic mix of conversation, music and comedy.
3. 19:00
  Profile—Navi Pillay
  Human rights judge and winner of Nobel Peace Prize.
4. 19:15
  The Infinite Monkey Cage—Series 35, The First Britons - Tim Minchin, Prof Chris Stringer and Dr Selina Brace
  Jessica Fostekew and Adam Rutherford step back and encounter the first people in Britain.
5. 20:00
  Archive on 4—The Fountain of Youth at 60
  Angela Barnes looks back at 60 years of the social history of menopause, and HRT.
6. 21:00
  Human Intelligence Omnibus—Recluses
  Naomi Alderman examines whether being a recluse has an impact on how we do our thinking.
7. 22:00
  News—17/10/2026
  National and international news from BBC Radio 4
8. 22:15
  The Food Programme—Regenerative Farming and Nutrition
  Does regenerative farming change the nutritional value of what we eat?
9. 23:00
  Your Mum—Series 2, 7. Lindsey Santoro and Bella Hull
  7/8Laura Smyth hears about closing a vortex and talking to angels.
10. 23:30
  Brain of Britain—Brain of Britain - Heat 12, 2026
  General knowledge quiz. Spotlights on Japanese horror, F1 and pipe organs.
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Late
1. 00:00
  Midnight News—18/10/2026
  National and international news from BBC Radio 4
2. 00:15
  Take Four Books—Marlon James
  The Jamaican novelist Marlon James on his Booker-shortlisted novel The Disappearers.
3. 00:48
  Shipping Forecast—18/10/2026
  The latest weather reports and forecasts for UK shipping.
4. 01:00
  Selection of BBC World Service Programmes—18/10/2026
  BBC Radio 4 joins the BBC World Service.
5. 05:30
  News Summary—18/10/2026
  National and international news from BBC Radio 4
6. 05:34
  Shipping Forecast—18/10/2026
  The latest weather reports and forecasts for UK shipping.
7. 05:43
  Bells on Sunday—The Church of All Saints and Saint Lawrence, Evesham in Worcestershire
  Bells on Sunday comes from the Church of All Saints and Saint Lawrence, Evesham
8. 05:45
  In Touch—Getting Active
  A group of sporty visually impaired people provide tips and advice on how to keep active.