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: 15/10/2008

15/10/2008

BBC Radio 4 - Shipping Forecast, 15/10/2008Close 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: 15/10/2008

BBC Radio 4 - News Briefing, 15/10/2008Close menu

Prayer for the Day

Prayer for the Day: 15/10/2008

BBC Radio 4 - Prayer for the Day, 15/10/2008

Daily prayer and reflection with Commissioner Betty Matear.

Farming Today

The latest news about food, farming and the countryside

Farming Today: 15/10/2008

BBC Radio 4 - Farming Today, 15/10/2008

News and issues in rural Britain, with Charlotte Smith.

Presented by Anna Hill. 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: 15/10/2008

BBC Radio 4 - Today, 15/10/2008

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

With James Naughtie and Sarah Montague. Including Sports Desk; Weather; Thought for the Day; Yesterday in Parliament.

Presented by James Naughtie and Sarah Montague.

Nick Bloom of Stanford University and Heather Alexander discuss Wall Street's reaction to the US financial bail-out plan.

Roger Harrabin reports on whether the target of 20 per cent greenhouse gas cuts by 2020 will still be hit.

Simon Reed of the Police Federation and Gavin Partington of the Wine and Spirit Trade Association discuss whether police resources are being stretched to breaking point.

Poet Laureate Andrew Motion and Rachel Foss of the British Library discuss the Ted Hughes collection.

Thought for the Day with the Right Rev James Jones, Bishop of Liverpool.

Children's Secretary Ed Balls explains why national tests for 14-year-old school pupils in England are to be scrapped.

Brendan Barber, General Secretary of the TUC, discusses what the effects of the financial crisis will be on UK businesses.

Author Aravind Adiga discusses his Man Booker Prize-winning novel The White Tiger.

Anna Holligan reports on allegations that the music industry is still unwilling to give black artists the same opportunities available to white acts. 

A group of shareholders is seeking legal advice over the rights issues earlier this year by HBOS, RBS and Bradford and Bingley. Roger Lawson, from the UK Shareholders Association, and Vince Cable, the Liberal Democrats' Treasury spokesman, discuss what this means for investors.

Chloe Palfreman of interview coaching firm Oxbridge Applications and author Elfi Pallis discuss how to prepare for Oxbridge college interviews.

Lord Donoghue and journalist Steve Richards discuss how the solutions of the 1970s have influenced the way the current financial crisis is dealt with.

With Sarah Montague and James Naughtie. 
6.25,7.25,8.25 Sports News 
6.45 Yesterday in Parliament 
With Sean Curran and David Wilby. 
7.48 Thought for the Day 
With the Rt Rev James Jones. 
8.31  Yesterday in Parliament

Midweek

Lively and diverse conversation with weekly guests

Midweek: 15/10/2008

BBC Radio 4 - Midweek, 15/10/2008

Lively and diverse conversation with Libby Purves and guests.

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: The Age of Wonder

Book of the Week: The Age of Wonder: Episode 3

Episode 3

The Age of Wonder

BBC Radio 4 - Book of the Week, The Age of Wonder, Episode 3

The impact of the discovery of electricity.

Douglas Hodge reads Richard Holmes' account of the scientific developments of the late-18th century. The impact of the discovery of electricity.

Douglas Hodge reads Richard Holmes' account of the scientific ferment that swept through Britain in the late-18th century. 

The impact of the discovery of electricity and how it affected the debate about the nature of life's vitality and the force of the soul.

An account of the scientific ferment that swept through Britain in the late-18th century

Douglas Hodge reads Richard Holmes' account of the scientific ferment that swept through Britain in the late-18th century

Book of the Week: The Age ofWonder

3/5. How the discovery of electricity fired the debate on the nature of life's vitality and the force that is the soul. By Richard Holmes. For details see Monday Repeated at 12.30am

Daily Service

Led by Canon Chris Chivers. Beauty for Brokenness (Kendrick). Luke 13, vv10-17. Just As I Am (Chilcott). Come Let Us Sing of a Wonderful Love (Wonderful Love).

Woman's Hour

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

Woman's Hour: Women's political engagement; Dervla Murphy

Women's political engagement; Dervla Murphy

BBC Radio 4 - Woman's Hour, Women's political engagement; Dervla Murphy

Why do women underestimate their knowledge of politics? Plus, travel writer Dervla Murphy.

Why do women underestimate their knowledge of politics? Plus, travel writer Dervla Murphy on Cuba; female genital cutting in Kenya; and women in the economic crisis.

Presented by Jane Garvey. 
10.45 The Color Purple 8/10 The Woman's Hour drama. 
For details see drama repeat at 7.45pm

Byzantium Unearthed

Byzantium Unearthed: Episode 2

Episode 2

BBC Radio 4 Extra - Byzantium Unearthed, Episode 2

Historian Bettany Hughes turns to archaeology to reveal what life was like in Byzantium.

Historian Bettany Hughes turns to archaeology to reveal the public and private life of the Byzantines. From October 2008.

Historian Bettany Hughes presents a series that uses the latest archaeological evidence to learn more about the empire of Byzantium and the people who ruled it.

Bettany examines the public and private life of the Byzantines. Women had unprecedented power in the Empire, as did the mysterious 'third sex' of eunuchs. But in this part-Roman, part-fundamentalist Christian state, dangerous political factions would keep the blood of political dynasties flowing.

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.

Bettany Hughes uses the latest archaeological evidence to learn about the Byzantine empire

Historian Bettany Hughes presents a series that uses the latest archaeological evidence to learn more about the empire of Byzantium and the people who ruled it

2/3. Bettany Hughes uses the latest archaeological evidence to rediscover the forgotten empire of Byzantium, which lasted for more than a thousand years. Uniquely for the Middle Ages, women had unprecedented power in the empire, as did eunuchs, but in this part-Roman, part-fundamentalist 
Christian state dangerous political factions ensured the survival of political dynasties. Producer Philip Sellars

Inspector Steine: Series 1

Inspector Steine: Episode 5: The Woman

Episode 5

Episode 5: The Woman

Inspector Steine

The Woman

BBC Radio 4 - Inspector Steine, The Woman

By Lynne Truss. Inspector Steine falls in love with the woman from the chip shop.

Comedy drama series by Lynne Truss, set in 1950s Brighton. Steine falls in love for the first time when he bumps into Adelaide Vine, the beautiful owner of a fish and chip shop.

Comedy drama series by Lynne Truss, set in 1950s Brighton. 

Steine falls in love for the very first time when he bumps into Adelaide Vine, the beautiful owner of a fish and chip shop in Oriental Place. But is there more to Adelaide than meets the eye? Brunswick thinks so.

Inspector Steine  ...... Michael Fenton Stevens
Mrs Groynes ...... Jan Ravens
Brunswick ...... John Ramm
Twitten ...... Matt Green
Adelaide ...... Janet Ellis

Music by Anthony May.
Directed by Karen Rose.

Comedy drama by Lynne Truss, set in 1950s Brighton

Comedy drama by Lynne Truss, set in 1950s Brighton. Inspector Steine believes that he has solved the crime problem, but long-suffering Sergeant Brunswick suspects otherwise

4/10. The Woman. Steine falls in love for the very first time when he bumps into Adelaide Vine, the beautiful owner of a fish-and-chip shop in Oriental Place. But is there more to Adelaide than meets the eye? Brunswick thinks so. Continuing Lynne Truss 's cop comedy set in 1950s Brighton.   
Music by Anthony May ; Producer/Director Karen Rose  RT DIRECT: To order Inspector Steine on CD for £11.99 (RRP £15.99) inc p&p, call [number removed] (landline calls charged at standard rate) quoting RTD265, or visit www. bbcshop.com

You and Yours

You and Yours: 15/10/2008

BBC Radio 4 - You and Yours, 15/10/2008

Consumer news and issues with Winifred Robinson.

Presented by Winifred Robinson.

Paul Lewis, presenter of Radio 4's Money Box, examines the security of offshore accounts with Icelandic banks.

Cheap wine is now a regular feature of supermarket price wars, but most of what we are tempted to buy is just cheap rubbish according to wine writer Malcolm Gluck.

Winifred interviews Digby Jones, the former head of the CBI and advisor to Gordon Brown, on selling Britain abroad.

Actor Matt Fraser and artist Kathryn Rennie, both Thalidomide impaired, discuss an exhibition of portraits of Thalidomide victims.

Corinne Sweet, psychologist and eating disorder counsellor, discusses the adverts for Maltesers and Jaffa Cakes that have been banned for making misleading claims.

Radio stations in the Thames Valley area have been advertising the services of Speed and Son solicitors. Their claim to reduce prison sentences and provide guilt counselling for drivers caught speeding is really a road safety campaign in a very different guise. We speak to Dan Campsall of the Safer Roads Partnership.

Consumer programme with Winifred Robinson.

Weather

Weather: 15/10/2008

BBC Radio 4 - Weather, 15/10/2008Close menu

World at One

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

World at One: 15/10/2008

BBC Radio 4 - World at One, 15/10/2008

National and international news with Martha Kearney.

The World at One

The Media Show

This is the programme about a revolution in media.

Social media, anti-social media, breaking news, faking news: this is the programme about a revolution in media.

The Media Show: 15/10/2008

BBC Radio 4 - The Media Show, 15/10/2008

Steve Hewlett presents a new topical programme about the fast-changing media world.

Steve Hewlett presents the topical programme about media in all its forms - print, television, radio, online and telecommunications. Key players from within the industry help to shed light on the issues of the day, including those making the decisions, driving the changes and developing the latest technology. Producer Sally Spurring

The Archers

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

The Archers: 14/10/2008

14/10/2008

BBC Radio 4 - The Archers, 14/10/2008

There's panic at The Dower House - the fire alarm has gone off. Matt tells Jack that someone had left toast under the grill.

After Matt's ineffective efforts that morning, Lilian is getting a confused Jack ready for his visit to hospital. He refuses to wear Matt's gaudy tie, saying he looks like a spiv. 

Peggy is delighted to see Jack looking so smart, but she's worried about him and wants to come home. Lilian reassures her that Matt has been marvellous and Jack's no trouble. 

Recently dumped Izzy is staying with Pip overnight. She's bored traipsing across a field checking cows with Pip, and can't understand why they're there. 

That evening in Pip's bedroom, Izzy drops her bombshell. She's convinced she's pregnant. Pip can't believe what she's hearing. She insists that Izzy doesn't keep the baby, as it will ruin her life and result in a dead end job. Realising how harsh she has been she offers to go with Izzy to the clinic for an abortion. 

Izzy's appalled. She plugs in her MP3 player and sticks on her headphones. She might be stuck at Brookfield for the night, but it doesn't mean she has to talk to Pip ... ever again. 

Episode written by Adrian Flynn.

Drama on 4

Drama from BBC Radio 4 and Radio 4 Extra.

Afternoon Drama

Drama on 4: The Letter

The Letter

BBC Radio 4 - Drama on 4, The Letter

A letter turns up 50 years after it was posted and threatens to upset a marriage.

A letter turns up fifty years after it was first posted, and the revelations it contains threaten to shake the bedrock of a marriage.

Afternoon Play: The Letter

3.00 Gardeners' Question Time 
Bob Flowerdew , Anne Swithinbank and Chris Beardshaw are guests of Knowbury Golden Jubilee Group, near Ludlow in Shropshire. Eric Robson is in the chair. Including at 
3.25 Gardening Weather Forecast. Shortened repeat from Sunday at 2pm

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: 12/10/2008

12/10/2008

BBC Radio 4 - Gardeners' Question Time, 12/10/2008

Eric Robson chairs. With Bob Flowerdew, Anne Swithinbank and Chris Beardshaw.

Eric Robson chairs the popular horticultural forum. Bob Flowerdew, Anne Swithinbank and Chris Beardshaw are guests of Knowbury Golden Jubilee Group, near Ludlow.

Eric Robson chairs the popular horticultural forum.

Bob Flowerdew, Anne Swithinbank and Chris Beardshaw are guests of Knowbury Golden Jubilee Group, near Ludlow. Tony Russell, one of Europe's leading tree experts, explains the fundamentals of growing deciduous trees. 

Including the Gardeners' Question Time gardening weather forecast.

Afternoon Reading

Short stories or abridged books, often from new writers

Afternoon Reading: Cheltenham Literature Festival Stories: Booker 40 Selection

Afternoon Reading: Cheltenham Literature Festival Stories: Booker 40 Selection: Episode 3

Cheltenham Literature Festival Stories: Booker 40 Selection

BBC Radio 4 - Afternoon Reading, Cheltenham Literature Festival Stories: Booker 40 Selection, Episode 3Search BBC

Five readings from the stage of the Cheltenham Literature Festival by Man Booker winners to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the prize. Penelope Lively.

Five readings from the stage of the Cheltenham Literature Festival by Man Booker winners to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the prize.

Penelope Lively.

... Festival Stories: Booker 40 Selection. Readings from Cheltenham Literature Festival

Five readings from the stage of the Cheltenham Literature Festival by Man Booker winners to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the prize

Cheltenham Literature FestivalReadings: Booker 40 Selection

3/5 Penelope Lively takes to the stage to read a new work in celebration of 40 years of the Man Booker Prize. For details see Monday

America, Empire of Liberty

America, Empire of Liberty: Episode 23: The Indian Trail of Tears

Episode 23

Episode 23: The Indian Trail of Tears

The Indian Trail of Tears

BBC Radio 4 - America, Empire of Liberty, The Indian Trail of Tears

Indian tribes are forced to either assimilate or move west of the Mississippi.

Series charting the history of America, written and presented by David Reynolds. Indian tribes are forced to either assimilate or move west of the Mississippi.

Series charting the history of America, written and presented by David Reynolds.

Indian tribes are forced to either assimilate or move west of the Mississippi.

Series charting the history of America, written and presented by David Reynolds

23/30. The Indian Trail of Tears. Indian tribes are forced to assimilate or to move west of the Mississippi. A history of America, written and presented by David Reynolds. For details see Monday

Thinking Allowed

Thinking Allowed: Predicting the Financial Crisis - Work/Life Balance

Predicting the Financial Crisis - Work/Life Balance

BBC Radio 4 - Thinking Allowed, Predicting the Financial Crisis - Work/Life Balance

Richard Dale discusses his recipe for financial crisis with Laurie Taylor.

Laurie Taylor is joined by Richard Dale one of the very few professional economists who predicted the present crisis.  They discuss his recipe for crisis.

PREDICTING THE FINANCIAL CRISIS
Laurie Taylor is joined by Richard Dale, Emeritus Professor of International Banking at Southampton University, one of the very few professional economists who predicted the present crisis.  They discuss his recipe for crisis.

WORK/LIFE BALANCE
Dr Ben Fincham, Lecturer in the School of Social Science at the University of Brighton claims to have found a group – cycle couriers – for whom a clear distinction between work and leisure is virtually meaningless.  Dr Ben Fincham and Richard Reeves, author of Happy Mondays: Putting the Pleasure back into Work debate the meaning of the ‘work life balance’.

Thinking Allowed: Predicting the Financial Crisis

Laurie Taylor talks to key thinkers as he explores new research on how society works. Producer Charlie Taylor Repeated on Sunday at 12.15am

Am I Normal?

Series exploring how doctors decide what is normal and what is not

Am I Normal?: Series 5

Am I Normal?: Series 5: Episode 3: Blood Pressure

Episode 3: Blood Pressure

Series 5

Blood Pressure

BBC Radio 4 - Am I Normal?, Series 5, Blood Pressure

Vivienne Parry discovers what doctors think is normal blood pressure.

Vivienne Parry continues her quest to find out what is normal. She discovers what doctors think is normal blood pressure.

Vivienne Parry continues her quest to find out what is normal. She discovers what doctors think is normal blood pressure and considers whether the food industry has a role to play in helping us reduce our chances of having a heart attack or stroke.

Vivienne Parry continues her quest to find out what is normal

Afternoon news and current affairs programme

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

PM: 15/10/2008

BBC Radio 4 - PM, 15/10/2008

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

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

Six O'Clock News

The latest national and international news from BBC Radio 4

Six O'Clock News: 15/10/2008

BBC Radio 4 - Six O'Clock News, 15/10/2008

National and international news from BBC Radio 4.

The latest national and international news from BBC Radio 4, followed by Weather.

Six o'clock News

The Castle

Hie ye to The Castle,a rollicking sitcom set way back then with James Fleet & Neil Dudgeon

Hie ye to The Castle, a rollicking sitcom set way back then, starring James Fleet (The Vicar Of Dibley, Four Weddings and a Funeral) and Neil Dudgeon (Life Of Riley)

The Castle: Series 1

The Castle: Series 1: Episode 4

Episode 4

Series 1

BBC Radio 4 Extra - The Castle, Series 1, Episode 4

Sir John plans to turn his home into a theme park, and serf Sam becomes an eco warrior.

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Programme Index

Shipping Forecast

15/10/2008

Genres

Formats

Brand

Weather

15/10/2008

Genres

Formats

Brand

Gardeners' Question Time

12/10/2008

Genres

Formats

Brand

Weather

15/10/2008

Genres

Formats

Brand

Shipping Forecast

16/10/2008

Genres

Formats

Brand

BBC Radio 4 FM

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