BBC Radio 4 FM

BBC Radio 4 is a radio channel that started transmitting on the 30th September 1967. It replaced BBC Home Service.

BBC Radio 4

Shipping Forecast

The latest weather reports and forecasts for UK shipping

Shipping Forecast: 23/04/2008

23/04/2008

BBC Radio 4 - Shipping Forecast, 23/04/2008Close menu

Intelligent speech, the most insightful journalism, the wittiest comedy, the most fascinating features and the most compelling drama and readings anywhere in UK radio.

News Briefing

News Briefing: 23/04/2008

BBC Radio 4 - News Briefing, 23/04/2008Close menu

Prayer for the Day

Prayer for the Day: 23/04/2008

BBC Radio 4 - Prayer for the Day, 23/04/2008

Daily prayer and reflection with Rev Roger Hutchings.

Farming Today

The latest news about food, farming and the countryside

Farming Today: 23/04/2008

BBC Radio 4 - Farming Today, 23/04/2008

News and issues in rural Britain with Charlotte Smith.

Presented by Charlotte Smith. Producer Chris Impey

Today

Radio 4's flagship news and current affairs programme; including Thought for the Day

Radio 4's flagship news and current affairs programme; including religious reflections from Thought for the Day at 0748

Today: 23/04/2008

BBC Radio 4 - Today, 23/04/2008

Including Yesterday in Parliament; Sports Desk; Weather; Thought for the Day.

With Sarah Montague and Evan Davis. Sports Desk at 6.25am, 7.25am, 8.25am; Yesterday in Parliament at 6.45am; Weather at 6.05am, 6.57am, 7.57am; Thought for the Day at 7.48am.

With Evan Davis and Sarah Montague. 
6.25,7.25,8.25 Sports News 
6.45 Yesterday in Parliament 
With Susan Hulme and David Wilby. 
7.48 Thought for the Day 
With the Rt Rev James Jones. 
8.31 L W only Yesterday in Parliament

Midweek

Lively and diverse conversation with weekly guests

Midweek: 23/04/2008

BBC Radio 4 - Midweek, 23/04/2008

Diverse and lively conversation with Libby Purves and her guests. 
Producer Chris Paling Shortened repeat at 9.30pm

Book of the Week

Serialised book readings, featuring works from various genres

Serialised book readings, featuring works of non-fiction, biography, autobiography, travel, diaries, essays, humour and history

Book of the Week: Isabella de' Medici

Book of the Week: Isabella de' Medici: Episode 3

Episode 3

Isabella de' Medici

BBC Radio 4 - Book of the Week, Isabella de' Medici, Episode 3

Isabella's marriage to Paolo is proving unfulfilling, but a welcome distraction arrives.

Isabella de' Medici: Caroline P Murphy's biography of the most celebrated woman of Renaissance Florence. 3/5: Isabella's marriage to Paolo is proving unfulfilling.

Caroline P Murphy's biography of the most celebrated woman of Renaissance Florence

Caroline P Murphy's biography of the most brilliant and celebrated woman of Renaissance Florence. Read by Fenella Woolgar

Book of the Week:Isabella de' Medici

3/5. By Caroline P Murphy. Isabella's marriage to Paolo is proving unfulfilling, with her husband often absent. A welcome distraction arrives in the form of handsome young soldier, Troilo. For details see Monday Repeated at 12.30am

Daily Service

Led by the Rev Peter Whittaker. Thou Art the Way (St James). John 14, vv1-7. The Way, the Truth, the Life (Cooman). All for Jesus! 
(Stainer). With the Choir of Royal Holloway, University of London. Organist Alexander Norman. Director of music Rupert Gough.

Woman's Hour

Women's voices and women's lives - topical conversations to inform, challenge and inspire.

Woman's Hour: Composer Roxanna Panufnik; Poet Patience Agbabi

Composer Roxanna Panufnik; Poet Patience Agbabi

BBC Radio 4 - Woman's Hour, Composer Roxanna Panufnik; Poet Patience Agbabi

Composer Roxanna Panufnik on the influence of her Polish heritage on her work.

Composer Roxanna Panufnik on the influence of her Polish heritage on her work. Plus, poet Patience Agbabi; and mother and baby groups in Ethiopian refugee camps.

Presented by Jenni Murray. 
10.45 An Expert in Murder 3/10 The Woman's Hour drama. 
For details see drama repeat at 7.45pm

Document

Historical investigation programme, taking a document as a starting point

Historical investigation programme, taking a document as a starting point from which to shed new light on past events

Document: Stop Pakistan

04/02/2008

Stop Pakistan

BBC Radio 4 - Document, Stop Pakistan

What actions did America contemplate to prevent Pakistan from becoming a nuclear power?

Stop Pakistan: How close did America come to launching a pre-emptive attack in order to prevent Pakistan from becoming a nuclear power?

3/3. Stop Pakistan. With the help of formerly top-secret papers and a number of key participants, Mike Thomson uncovers how close the US came in the1970s to attacking a nuclear facility in Pakistan in order to prevent it from building an "Islamic bomb". Producer Roger Hermiston

No Commitments

Sitcom about the lives and squabbles of three very different sisters. By Simon Brett

No Commitments: Series 9: Imaginary Friends

Imaginary Friends

Series 9

BBC Radio 4 Extra - No Commitments, Series 9, Imaginary Friends

Victoria is keen to meet her daughter's new boyfriend, but is he all that he seems?

Victoria is keen to meet her daughter's new boyfriend, but is he all that he seems? Stars Angela Thorne. From January 2003.

Victoria is keen to meet her daughter's new boyfriend.

But is he all that he seems?

Simon Brett's sitcom about the lives and squabbles of three very different sisters.

Anna..............Rosemary Leach
Victoria.........Angela Thorne
Charlotte......Felicity Montagu
Emily.......Lisa Coleman
Richard.......Jason Done
Paula........Natalie Casey

Music by Elizabeth Parker.  

Written and produced by Simon Brett.

First broadcast on BBC Radio in January 2003.

No Commitments: Series 9

BBC Radio 4 Extra

Your digital radio entertainment station showcasing the best in comedy and drama

Your digital radio entertainment station showcasing the best in comedy and drama. With recent favourites from BBC Radio 4.

No Commitments: Model Behaviour

3/6. Emily's baby hasn't even arrived yet, but Victoria is already into competitive-granny mode. And is it really possible that Eddie the dentist has a girlfriend? Comedy by Simon Brett.

You and Yours

You and Yours: 23/04/2008

BBC Radio 4 - You and Yours, 23/04/2008

Consumer news and issues with Winifred Robinson and Sheila McClennon.

Consumer reports presented by Sheila McClennon and Winifred Robinson.

Weather

Weather: 23/04/2008

BBC Radio 4 - Weather, 23/04/2008Close menu

World at One

Forty-five minutes of news, analysis and comment, with Sarah Montague.

World at One: 23/04/2008

BBC Radio 4 - World at One, 23/04/2008

National and international news with Martha Kearney.

The World at One

Analysis of current affairs reports presented by Martha Kearney.

The Music Group

Dr Phil Hammond asks each of three guests to play the track of their choice

Comedian, broadcaster and GP Dr Phil Hammond asks each of three guests to play the track of their choice for the delight or disdain of the others

The Music Group: Series 2

The Music Group: Series 2: Episode 3

Series 2

BBC Radio 4 - The Music Group, Series 2, Episode 3

Guests are poet John Hegley, design guru Stephen Bayley and cookery writer Rosamund Grant.

Comedian and GP Dr Phil Hammond asks three guests to play the track of their choice. He is joined by poet John Hegley, design guru Stephen Bayley and cookery writer Rosamund Grant.

Comedian, broadcaster and GP Dr Phil Hammond asks each of three guests to play the track of their choice for the delight or disdain of the others.

He is joined by poet John Hegley, design guru Stephen Bayley and cookery writer Rosamund Grant.

- 3/6 Poet John Hegley , design guru 
Stephen Bayley and cookery writer 
Rosamund Grant are invited to play the track of their choice to the delight or disdain of the others. Hosted by Dr Phil Hammond. Producer Alison Vernon-Smith

The Archers

An intense and gripping week of events unfolds in Ambridge. Listen to all the drama here.

The Archers: 22/04/2008

22/04/2008

BBC Radio 4 - The Archers, 22/04/2008

David lets Ruth help him move an electric fence. Ruth feels great and ready to get back in the swing but David insists she must only do a little at a time. They discuss the digester. Neither want to lose family control of the scheme but both accept that if Borchester Land comes on board they gain the benefit of Matt's ruthlessness.

Borsetshire police and Natural England surprise Will, following allegations of an illegal killing of a red kite on estate property. Will vehemently protests his innocence, insisting there's some mistake, but the men instruct Will to show them around. They look everywhere for poison but to Will's disbelief they also want to check his house. Realising this includes George's bedroom, Will loses it, and asks what sort of father do they take him for.

Brian wants to know what's going on, and advises Will to be completely honest. Will can't believe that Brian even has to ask if he was responsible but Brian needs to be sure. Realising something's obviously gone wrong, Brian intends to lodge a complaint but Will wants to forget it. He's got nothing to hide and just wants the whole stupid thing to die away.

Episode written by Adrian Flynn.

Drama on 4

Drama from BBC Radio 4 and Radio 4 Extra.

Afternoon Play: To Serve them All my Days

Drama on 4: To Serve them All my Days: Episode 1

Episode 1

To Serve them All my Days

BBC Radio 4 - Drama on 4, To Serve them All my Days, Episode 1

Davy Powlett-Jones, invalided out of the trenches in 1918, faces a new start in life.

To Serve Them All My Days: Shaun McKenna's dramatisation of RF Delderfield's classic novel. 1/5: Davy Powlett-Jones, invalided out of the trenches in 1918, faces a new start.

Drama on 4: To Serve them All my Days

Shaun McKenna's dramatisation of RF Delderfield's classic novel of life between the wars

Afternoon Play: To Serve Them AllMv Days

1/5. 1918: Davy Powlett Jones , invalided out of the trenches, faces a new start in life. 
Shaun McKenna 's dramatisation of the novel hv RF Delderfield.      producer/Director Marc Beeby

Gardeners' Question Time

Horticultural programme featuring a group of gardening experts

A panel of horticultural experts answer gardening questions from a live audience. Recorded in a different location each week

Gardeners' Question Time: 20/04/2008

20/04/2008

BBC Radio 4 - Gardeners' Question Time, 20/04/2008

Eric Robson chairs. With Matthew Biggs, Bunny Guinness and Bob Flowerdew.

Eric Robson chairs the popular horticultural forum. Matthew Biggs, Bunny Guinness and Bob Flowerdew answer questions from gardeners in Lincolnshire.

Matthew Biggs , Bunny Guinness and Bob Flowerdew answer questions from gardeners in Lincolnshire. Eric Robson is in the chair. 
At 3.25 Gardening Weather Forecast. Shortened repeat from Sunday at 2pm

Afternoon Reading

Short stories or abridged books, often from new writers

Afternoon Reading: Follow the Instructions

Afternoon Reading: Follow the Instructions: Episode 3: Astronomy

Episode 3: Astronomy

Follow the Instructions

Astronomy

BBC Radio 4 - Afternoon Reading, Follow the Instructions, AstronomySearch BBC

By Gerard Woodward. When his wife buys Clark a telescope, he attempts some space-gazing.

Stories exploring the ways in which we interact with technology. 3: Astronomy, by Gerard Woodward. When his wife buys Clark a telescope, he dutifully attempts some space-gazing.

Stories exploring the ways in which we interact with technology and machines

Specially commissioned stories exploring the ways in which we interact with technology and machines

3/5. Astronomy. By Gerard Woodward. Clark is given a telescope for his birthday, and dutifully attempts to "do some astronomy". Read by Paul Panting. For details see Monday

Hunting the Beagle

Hunting the Beagle: Episode 3

BBC Radio 4 Extra - Hunting the Beagle, Episode 3

The search leads to the bleak and flat landscape of the Essex mudflats.

Dr Robert Prescott searches for the final resting place of the Charles Darwin's ship. 3/5: The search leads to the bleak and flat landscape of the Essex mudflats.

Dr Robert Prescott searches for the final resting place of Charles Darwin's ship.

Dr Robert Prescott searches for the final resting place of the ship aboard which Charles Darwin began to formulate the ideas which would eventually become his theory of evolution.

Hunting the Beagle : 3/5

From the mud flats of Essex, Dr Robert Prescott recounts HMS Beagle's later life as an anti-smuggling coastguard vessel.
For details see Monday

Thinking Allowed

Thinking Allowed: Cook Books and Identity - Culture and Globalization

Cook Books and Identity - Culture and Globalization

BBC Radio 4 - Thinking Allowed, Cook Books and Identity - Culture and Globalization

Laurie Taylor and Andrea Tonner discuss celebrity cook books and Britain’s food culture.

Laurie Taylor discusses celebrity cook books and Britain’s food culture with social scientist and author of the research Andrea Tonner and food critic and cultural commentator Jonathan Meades.

COOK BOOKS and IDENTITY
New research shows that people’s choice of cook books is governed by the kinds of lifestyles or ideologies that they represent rather than by the recipes and skills imparted within; it also reveals that celebrity chefs may have less to do with a food renaissance in this country and more to do with the collapse of cooking traditions within families. Laurie Taylor discusses celebrity cook books and Britain’s food culture with social scientist and author of the research Andrea Tonner and food critic and cultural commentator Jonathan Meades. 

CULTURE AND GLOBALIZATION 
A new collection of essays entitled Cultural Politics in a Global Age raises questions about globalisation and cultural identity.  Henrietta Moore, Professor of Social Anthropology at the London School of Economics and co-editor the book talks about the resilience of such identity in the face of external threats, about the relative success of campaigns against globalisation and about the manner in which the opportunities provided by global communication can provide alternative centres of power and influence.

Thinking Allowed: Cook Books and Identity

Laurie Taylor talks to key thinkers as he explores new research on how society works. 
Producer charlie Taylor Repeated on Sunday at 12.5am

Case Notes

Medical programme exploring a different topic each week

Medical programme exploring a different topic each week, with reports and input from experts

Case Notes: Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid Arthritis

BBC Radio 4 - Case Notes, Rheumatoid Arthritis

Dr Mark Porter reports on the latest treatments for rheumatoid arthritis.

Dr Mark Porter reports on the latest treatments for rheumatoid arthritis. Drugs were formerly used just to deal with the pain, but now there are some that can prevent the disease.

CaseNotes

4/8. Dr Mark Porter reports on the latest treatments for rheumatoid arthritis. Repeated from yesterday at 9pm

1968: Day-by-Day

It's not safe on the streets of Glasgow. For details see Saturday

1968 Day by Day

A look back at the events making the news 40 years ago

1968: Day by Day

1968 Day by Day: 23rd April 1968

23rd April 1968

BBC Radio 4 - 1968 Day by Day, 23rd April 1968

Dockers march on Parliament in support of Enoch Powell. Decimal coins are introduced.

John Tusa looks back at the events making the news 40 years ago. Dockers march on Parliament in support of Enoch Powell. Decimal coins are introduced.

John Tusa looks back at the events making the news 40 years ago.

Dockers march on Parliament in support of Enoch Powell. Decimal coins are introduced.

Afternoon news and current affairs programme

Afternoon news and current affairs programme, reporting on breaking stories and summing up the day's headlines

PM: 23/04/2008

BBC Radio 4 - PM, 23/04/2008

Full coverage and analysis of the day's news with Eddie Mair.

Full coverage and analysis of the day's news with Eddie Mair. Including Weather at 5.57pm.

Accessibility links

Programme Index

Shipping Forecast

23/04/2008

Genres

Brand

Weather

23/04/2008

Genres

Brand

1968: Day-by-Day

1968 Day by Day

23rd April 1968

Genres

Brand

Weather

23/04/2008

Genres

Brand

Shipping Forecast

23/04/2008

Genres

Brand

BBC Radio 4 FM

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