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: 06/01/2009

06/01/2009

BBC Radio 4 - Shipping Forecast, 06/01/2009Close 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: 06/01/2009

BBC Radio 4 - News Briefing, 06/01/2009Close menu

Prayer for the Day

Prayer for the Day: 06/01/2009

BBC Radio 4 - Prayer for the Day, 06/01/2009

Daily prayer and reflection with Andrew Graystone.

A pause for reflection with Andrew Graystone.

Farming Today

The latest news about food, farming and the countryside

Farming Today: 06/01/2009

BBC Radio 4 - Farming Today, 06/01/2009

News and issues in rural Britain with Anna Hill.

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: 06/01/2009

BBC Radio 4 - Today, 06/01/2009

Including Sports Desk; Weather; Thought for the Day.

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

Presented by James Naughtie and Sarah Montague.

Energy analyst Jonathan Stern reacts to claims that gas supplies to Bulgaria have been turned off. 

Katya Adler reports from Gaza's border and Dr Musa el Haddad, a retired physician who lives in Gaza City, explains his experiences of the ongoing conflict

Greg Wood investigates how US financial regulators missed the repeated warning signs about the business practices of Bernard Madoff.

Simon Rubinsohn, chief economist at the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, discusses how surveyors are coping with the economic downturn.

Journalist Colin Freeman discusses how he was abducted while reporting on piracy in Somalia in November.

Thought for the day with Dr Indarjit Singh.

Andrew Baker of the Alternative Investment Management Association and Lib Dem treasury spokesman Vince Cable discuss if short-selling should be introduced into trading.

Former Prime Minister Tony Blair, now a Middle East envoy, says an immediate ceasefire could be reached in Gaza.

Nick Robinson explains how the Conservatives would pay for a proposed tax cut.

Tom Brook reports on the British films likely to appear in the Oscar nominations.

James Rodgers in Moscow and Chris Mason in Brussels discuss views on energy supplies across Europe.

Former colleague Mikael Ekman and fan Joan Smith discuss the Swedish crime novelist Stieg Larsson.

Sir Alan Walters, the man best known as Margaret Thatcher's economics guru, has died at the age of 82. Professor Patrick Minford of Cardiff Business School discusses Mr Walters views on recession.

Dore Gold, former Israeli ambassador to the UN, and Price Hassan of Jordan discuss if some Arab governments would like to see Israel succeed in Gaza.

With James Naughtie and Sarah Montague. 
6.25, 7.25, 8.25 Sports News 
7.48 Thought for the Day With Indarjit Singh.

In Our Time

Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the ideas, people and events that have shaped our world.

In Our Time: Darwin: In Our Time

In Our Time: Darwin: In Our Time: Episode 2: Darwin: The Voyage of the Beagle

Episode 2

Episode 2: Darwin: The Voyage of the Beagle

Darwin: In Our Time

Darwin: The Voyage of the Beagle

BBC Radio 4 - In Our Time, Darwin: In Our Time, Darwin: The Voyage of the Beagle

How Darwin's work during the Beagle expedition influenced his theories.

Melvyn Bragg presents a series about the life and work of Charles Darwin. Darwin's expedition aboard the Beagle and how it influenced and provided evidence for his theories.

To celebrate the 200th anniversary of the birth of Charles Darwin and the 150th anniversary of the publication of On the Origin of Species, Melvyn Bragg presents a series about Darwin's life and work.Darwin's expedition aboard the Beagle in December 1831 and how his work during the voyage influenced and provided evidence for his theories.Featuring contributions from Darwin biographer Jim Moore, Steve Jones, geneticist at University College London, David Norman, Fellow of Christ's College Cambridge and Jenny Clack, curator of the University.

Melvyn Bragg presents a series about the life and work of Charles Darwin

To celebrate the 200th anniversary of the birth of Charles Darwin and the 150th anniversary of the publication of On the Origin of Species, Melvyn Bragg presents a series about Darwin's life and work

In Our Time: The Voyage of the Beagle

2/4 The Voyage of the Beagle. In December 1831, Darwin set sail on HMS Beagle. Melvyn Bragg describes Darwin's voyage and discusses with his guests, Jim Moore , Steve Jones , David Norman and Jenny Clack , its influence on Darwin's evolutionary theory. For details see yesterday 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: And Did Those Feet: Walking Through 200 Years of British and Irish History

Book of the Week: And Did Those Feet: Walking Through 200 Years of British and Irish History: Episode 2

And Did Those Feet: Walking Through 200 Years of British and Irish History

BBC Radio 4 - Book of the Week, And Did Those Feet: Walking Through 200 Years of British and Irish History, Episode 2

Charlie Connelly recreates a series of famous journeys in search of King Harold.

Charlie Connelly recreates a series of famous journeys in search of King Harold. Read by Martin Freeman.

Martin Freeman reads from Charlie Connelly's travelogue in which he recreates a series of famous historical journeys through the British Isles. 

Charlie goes in search of King Harold.

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.

By Charlie Connelly. Recreating famous historical journeys through Britain

Martin Freeman reads from Charlie Connelly's travelogue in which he recreates a series of famous historical journeys through the British Isles

Book of the Week:And Did Those Feet

2/5. Charlie Connelly goes in search of King Harold. Read by Martin Freeman. For details see yesterday Repeated at 12.30am

Daily Service

Led by Canon Noel Vincent. We Three Kings (Kings of Orient). Matthew 2, vvl-12. In the Bleak Midwinter (Darke). As with Gladness Men of Old (Dix, arr Willcocks).

Woman's Hour

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

Woman's Hour: Women in the Congo; Austerity cooking

Women in the Congo; Austerity cooking

BBC Radio 4 - Woman's Hour, Women in the Congo; Austerity cooking

Nurse Leah Chishugi on the plight of women in eastern Congo.

Nurse Leah Chishugi on the plight of women in eastern Congo. Plus, cook Gill Holcombe on no-nonsense austerity cooking, and living with your ex-partner.

With Jane Garvey. 
10.45 Writing the Century 2/5 The Woman's Hour drama. 
For details see drama repeat at 7.45pm

Birds and the Battlefield

BBC Radio 4 - Birds and the Battlefield

BBC security correspondent Frank Gardner examines the links between soldiers and birds.

BBC security correspondent Frank Gardner, himself a keen bird watcher, examines the links between soldiers and birds and the comfort troops can find in times of stress.

BBC security correspondent Frank Gardner, himself a keen bird watcher, examines the sometimes surprising links between soldiers and birds and the comfort soldiers find in such an interest in times of extreme stress. It is a relationship that can be traced from those who served in the First World War trenches to troops currently serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. Featuring interviews with current servicemen and women as well as letters from the front, poetry, music and birdsong.

A Ladbroke production for BBC Radio 4.

From those who served in trenches of the First World War to the servicemen and women in Iraq and Afghanistan today - birdsong has Deen a source of some comfort in times of extreme stress. The BBC security correspondent and birdwatcher 
Frank Gardner hears how birdsong has helped soldiers both past and present. Producer Merilyn Harris 
Radio features: pages 130-131

Femme Fatale: The Story of Nico

BBC Radio 4 Extra - Femme Fatale: The Story of Nico

The German chanteuse who sang on one of the most important records in rock history.

The story of Nico - christened Christa Paffgen – the Velvet Underground singer on Andy Warhol's influential album. From 2009. 

Marc Riley tells the story of Christa Paffgen, the German model and actress who would become better known as Nico, the singer with influential 1960s rock band The Velvet Underground. 

Featuring interviews with her son Ari; her manager during her time in Manchester, Alan Wise; her biographer Richard Witts; John Cale, one of her colleagues in The Velvet Underground; and James Young, author and musician who worked with Nico for six years.

Producer:  Nicola Swords

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in January 2009.

Femme Fatale: the Story of Nico

The story of the German chanteuse and model who sang on the iconic album The Velvet Underground & Nico, including All Tomorrow's Parties. Her distinctive vocal style influenced many who came after her, including Siouxsie Sioux and, some say, Patti Smith. DJ Marc Riley tells her story with contributions from Nico's son Ari and John Cale among others.

You and Yours

You and Yours: Call You and Yours

Call You and Yours

BBC Radio 4 - You and Yours, Call You and Yours

With Julian Worricker. Including Dame Joan Bakewell, the govt's Voice of Older People.

Consumer news and issues with Julian Worricker. Including Dame Joan Bakewell, the government's Voice of Older People. What should be top of her to-do list?

Presented by Julian Worricker.

Dame Joan Bakewell is the government's Voice of Older People. What should be top of her to-do list?

Writer John Killick reads the second of five poems fashioned from conversations with people with dementia.

Phone-in on consumer issues, presented by Julian Worricker. 
PHONE: [number removed] (Lines open from 10am) email: youandyours@bbc.co.uk

Weather

Weather: 06/01/2009

BBC Radio 4 - Weather, 06/01/2009Close menu

World at One

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

World at One: 06/01/2009

BBC Radio 4 - World at One, 06/01/2009

National and international news with Martha Kearney.

The World at One

Music Feature

Programmes exploring music and music-related subjects

Music Feature: Playing Castro's Tune

Music Feature: Playing Castro's Tune: Episode 2

Playing Castro's Tune

BBC Radio 4 - Music Feature, Playing Castro's Tune, Episode 2

Is the economic pressure placed on Cuban musicians detrimental to the national culture?

Cuba's musicians are one of the few sources for bringing in much-needed foreign currency to the ailing economy, but is the pressure placed on them detrimental to Cuban culture?

Stephen Evans travels to Cuba to look for the links between the country's music, its revolution and the impact that socio-political and social changes have had on the music and musicians' lives. 

Cuba's musicians are one of the few sources for bringing in much-needed foreign currency to the ailing economy, but is the pressure placed on them detrimental to Cuban culture?

Stephen Evans examines the links between Cuba's music and the 1959 revolution

Stephen Evans travels to Cuba to look for the links between the country's music, its revolution and the impact that social political and social changes have had on the music and musicians' lives

Music Feature: Playing Castro's Tune: II

2/2. Fifty years after the revolution in Cuba, its musicians are one of the few sources available to bring in much needed foreign currency to its ailing economy. But is the pressure on them to deliver to the detriment of Cuban culture? Stephen Evans continues his journey in Havana. 
Producer Paul Evans Repeated on Saturday at 3.30pm 
2.00 The Archers Repeated from yesterday at 7pm

The Archers

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

The Archers: 05/01/2009

05/01/2009

BBC Radio 4 - The Archers, 05/01/2009

Jazzer and Hannah are putting their new pig-weighing system together. Tom appears and Hannah explains the scheme. Jazzer can't believe he isn't more enthusiastic. Tom says the pigs will have smaller pens, although this mightn't matter. And it's good creative thinking - he'll stand them a pint.

Brian sends Adrian the student home with the flu, and takes over his lambing shift. Later, in the lambing shed, Brian's getting tired. Eddie should have taken over by now, but isn't answering his phone. 

Hannah and Jazzer wait for Tom in the Bull. Jazzer asks if she's got plans for Thursday - there's an electro night in Felpersham. 

Tom's on his way to the Bull, and notices Eddie's van stuck in the mud. He helps Eddie pull it out. Eddie says he should be at Home Farm but there's no phone signal for him to explain.

Eddie follows Tom into the Bull with Tom's phone, which he'd left in his van. Tom's phone rings - it's Brian, asking if he's seen Eddie. Tom tells him they're in the Bull. Brian's furious. 

Eddie arrives to take over, late, and Brian jumps to conclusions. Eddie tells him no-one speaks to him like that. He's on his own.  

Episode written by Simon Frith.

Drama on 4

Drama from BBC Radio 4 and Radio 4 Extra.

Afternoon Drama

Drama on 4: Apes and Angels

Apes and Angels

BBC Radio 4 - Drama on 4, Apes and Angels

A clash over the teaching of creationism at an academy school causes embarrassment.

By Jim Eldridge. A clash over the teaching of creationism at a flagship academy school looks set to embarrass the schools minister and the industrialist behind the academy.

By Jim Eldridge. 

A clash over the teaching of creationism at a flagship academy school looks set to bring damaging publicity to the PFI programme in education and embarrass the schools minister, who has close links to the industrialist behind the academy.

James White ...... Richard Katz
Diane West ...... Anna Madeley
Sir Reginald Thwaite ...... Robert Lister
Sir Gerald le Vaux ...... Terrence Hardiman
Lynne Gilbert ...... Miranda Keeling

Directed by Peter Leslie Wild.

Afternoon Play: Apes and Angels

A clash over the teaching of creationism as science at a flagship academy looks set to bring damaging publicity and embarrass the schools minister, who has close links to the industrialist behind the academy. By 
Jim Eldridge , creator of King Street Junior.  
Producer/Director Peter Leslie Wild

Home Planet

Programme answering listeners' questions about planet Earth and our impact upon it

Home Planet: 06/01/2009

BBC Radio 4 - Home Planet, 06/01/2009

Richard Daniel and his team discuss listeners' questions about the natural world.

Richard Daniel and the team discuss listeners' questions about the environment and the natural world.

Home Planet: Energy

New series 1/13. Richard Daniel and the team discuss listeners' questions about the environment and the natural world.
Address [Address removed] Email: [web address removed] Phone: [number removed]

Shorts

Radio 4 short stories. A showcase for new and original writing.

Shorts: Series 9

Shorts: Series 9: Episode 1: The Astronaut

Episode 1

Episode 1: The Astronaut

Series 9

The Astronaut

BBC Radio 4 - Shorts, Series 9, The Astronaut

By Jason Donald. A lethargic jobseeker spies an opportunity to be a hero.

By Jason Donald: A lethargic jobseeker spies an opportunity to be a hero for once. Read by Iain Robertson.

Scottish Shorts

A lethargic jobseeker 
1/3. The Astronaut.  spies an opportunity to be the hero for once. lain Robertson reads Jason Donald 's story, the frirst in a series showcasing new writing from scotland. Producer Eilidh McCreadie

Dear Darwin

Dear Darwin: Episode 2

BBC Radio 4 - Dear Darwin, Episode 2Search BBC

Sir Jonathan Miller on advances in the study of genetics.

Leading scientists write letters to Charles Darwin. Sir Jonathan Miller on the advances in the study of genetics that have filled the holes in Darwin's ideas about inheritance.

Five leading scientists address letters to Charles Darwin, expressing their thoughts on his work and legacy. 

Sir Jonathan Miller takes issue with Darwin's thoughts on reproduction. Darwin had no conception of modern genetics, but by the very nature of his work was tempted to speculate on the mechanism of reproduction. Jonathan questions why in this, one of the most central problem of biology, Darwin deviated from his otherwise exacting empirical standards, and support a just-so story of reproduction that could not even explain why circumcision was not inherited.

Leading scientists address letters to Charles Darwin

Five leading scientists address letters to Charles Darwin, expressing their thoughts on his work and legacy

writes a personal letter 
2/5 Jonathan Miller to Charles Darwin in which he describes the leaps in knowledge of genetics that filled the holes in Darwin's understanding of inheritance. For details see yesterday

Word of Mouth

Series exploring the world of words and the ways in which we use them

Word of Mouth: 06/01/2009

BBC Radio 4 - Word of Mouth, 06/01/2009

Michael Rosen takes another journey into the world of words, language and the way we speak

Michael Rosen takes another journey into the world of words, language and the way we speak.

7/8. Michael Rosen presents the series examining vocabulary and language. 
Producer Beatrice Fenton Repeated on Monday at 11pm

Great Lives

Biographical series in which guests choose someone who has inspired their lives.

Great Lives: Series 17

Great Lives: Episode 5: Bette Davis

Episode 5

Episode 5: Bette Davis

Bette Davis

BBC Radio 4 - Great Lives, Bette Davis

Tracy-Ann Oberman champions the life of one of the silver screen's most enduring icons.

4 Extra Debut. Actress Tracy-Ann Oberman champions the life of one of the silver screen's most enduring icons. With Matthew Parris and Davis expert Robyn Karney. From 2009.

Series of biographical discussions with Matthew Parris. 

Actress Tracy-Ann Oberman champions the life of Hollywood actress Bette Davis. Joining the discussion is Davis expert Robyn Karney who explores her complex character and achievements.

Great Lives: Bette Davis

5/9. Bette Davis. Tracy-Ann Oberman champions Bette Davis , one of the silver screen's most enduring icons, for great-life status Presenter Matthew Parris is joined by Martin Shingler to explore the complex character and achievements of the woman who was called the "fourth Warner Brother." 
Producer Miles Warde Repeated on Friday at llpm

Afternoon news and current affairs programme

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

PM: 06/01/2009

BBC Radio 4 - PM, 06/01/2009

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: 06/01/2009

BBC Radio 4 - Six O'Clock News, 06/01/2009

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

Laura Solon: Talking and Not Talking

Laura Solon - Talking and Not Talking

Perrier Award-winning comedian Laura Solon's sketch and character comedy series

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Programme Index

Shipping Forecast

06/01/2009

Genres

Formats

Brand

Weather

06/01/2009

Genres

Formats

Brand

The Archers

05/01/2009

Genres

Brand

Weather

06/01/2009

Genres

Formats

Brand

Shipping Forecast

07/01/2009

Genres

Formats

Brand

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