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: 05/02/2009

05/02/2009

BBC Radio 4 - Shipping Forecast, 05/02/2009Close 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: 05/02/2009

BBC Radio 4 - News Briefing, 05/02/2009Close menu

Prayer for the Day

Prayer for the Day: 05/02/2009

BBC Radio 4 - Prayer for the Day, 05/02/2009

Daily prayer and reflection with Prebendary Edward Mason.

Farming Today

The latest news about food, farming and the countryside

Farming Today: 05/02/2009

BBC Radio 4 - Farming Today, 05/02/2009

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: 05/02/2009

BBC Radio 4 - Today, 05/02/2009

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

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

Presented by Evan Davis and Sarah Montague.

Paul Bettison, from the LGA, and Derek Turner, from the Highways Agency, discuss how councils will cope if the snow continues.

Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg outlines plans to increase tuition for poor children.

Sanchia Berg visits the Museum of Childhood to find out about the history of the Golliwog.

Berlin correspondent Tristana Moore and historian Laurence Rees discuss if Nazi criminal Aribert Heim died in 1992.

Explorer Pen Haddow explains the damage being done to the North Pole.

Shadow Security Minister Baroness Neville-Jones examines the relationship between US and UK intelligence agencies.

Thought for the day with writer Rhidian Brook.

President Obama has put a limit on executive pay for US firms that need government aid. John McFall discusses if the same thing could happen in the UK.

Carol Thatcher has been fired for 'inappropriate behaviour' by the BBC. Jay Hunt, controller of BBC 1, says that no-one thought her remark was a joke and Miss Thatcher has not apologised. 

Alex Bushill reports on the heavy snow.

Dr Harry Cocks and Rowan Pelling discuss how personal ads have changed over the years.

Dr Edward Kessler, of the Centre for the Study of Jewish-Christian relations, and William Oddie, formerly of the Catholic Herald, discuss the outrage at the denial of the Holocaust by a UK bishop.

How does the judicial system deal with miscarriages of justice? Danny Shaw interviews Richard Foster, head of the Criminal Cases Review Commission. Criminal lawyer Michael Turner reacts.

Footage has emerged of Christian Bale in a furious outburst on a movie set. Michael Winner discusses such outbursts.

Scientist Duncan Forgan explains the University of Edinburgh's research on aliens.

With Evan Davis and Edward Stourton. 
6.25, 7.25, 8.25 Sports News 
6.45 Yesterday in Parliament 
With Sean Curran and David Wilby. 
748 Thought for the Day With Rhidian Brook. 
8.31  Yesterday in Parliament

In Our Time

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

In Our Time: The Brothers Grimm

The Brothers Grimm

BBC Radio 4 - In Our Time, The Brothers Grimm

Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the fairy tales collected by the Brothers Grimm.

Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the fairy tales collected by the Brothers Grimm and what they can tell us about the German imagination and 19th-century romantic nationalism.

Melvyn Bragg discusses the fairy tales of the Brothers Grimm with Juliette Wood, Marina Warner and Tony Phelan. The German siblings who in 1812 published a collection of fairy tales including Rapunzel, Hansel and Gretel, Cinderella and Rumpelstiltskin. But the Grimm versions are surprisingly, sometimes shockingly, different. Cinderella has no fairy godmother, her ugly sisters are not ugly but they do have their eyes pecked out by pigeons. Sleeping Beauty does not have an evil stepmother, Rapunzel is pregnant and Frog Princes do not get kissed but thrown against walls. They may not be the fairy tales as we know them, but without the Brothers Grimm we might not know them at all. But why did two respectable German linguists go chasing after fairy stories, what do the stories tell us about German culture and romantic nationalism at the time and why do these ever-evolving tales of horror, wonder and fantasy continue to hold us in thrall?With Juliette Wood, Associate Lecturer in Folklore at Cardiff University; Marina Warner, Professor in the Department of Literature, Film and Theatre Studies at the University of Essex; Tony Phelan, Professor in German at Keble College, Oxford.

In Our Time: Brothers Grimm

The Brothers Grimm. Melvyn Bragg and his quest Marina Warner discuss how the fairy tales collected by the Brothers Grimm provide a glimpse into the German imagination and a lesson in 19th-century nationalism. Shortened repeat at 9.30pm Melvyn Bragg remembers John Mortimer: p145

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 Last Supper

Book of the Week: The Last Supper: Episode 4

Episode 4

The Last Supper

BBC Radio 4 - Book of the Week, The Last Supper, Episode 4

The family see Rafael's masterpieces in Florence and then head south to Naples and Pompeii

Holly Aird reads Rachel Cusk's story of her family's three-month tour of Italy. The family see some of Rafael's masterpieces in Florence and then head south to Naples and Pompeii.

Holly Aird reads Rachel Cusk's story of her family's three-month tour of Italy, during which they discover some of the country's rich artistic heritage and enjoy adapting to a more relaxed way of life.

The family see some of Rafael's masterpieces in Florence and then head south to Naples and Pompeii.

Holly Aird reads Rachel Cusk's story of her family's three-month tour of Italy

Holly Aird reads Rachel Cusk's story of her family's three-month tour of Italy, during which they discover some of the country's rich artistic heritage and enjoy adapting to a more relaxed way of life

Book of the Week:The Last Supper

4/5. Rachel Cusk 's family visits Florence where they view some of Raphael's masterpieces. They then head south to Naples and Pompeii. For details see Monday Repeated at 12.30am

Daily Service

Led by Becky Harris. Jesus, My Lord, 
My God, My All (Corpus Christi). Luke2, 
W48-52. On Eagle's Wings (Joncas). Be Thou My Vision (S/ane).

Woman's Hour

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

Woman's Hour: Author Charlotte Roche; Women's politics in the US

Author Charlotte Roche; Women's politics in the US

BBC Radio 4 - Woman's Hour, Author Charlotte Roche; Women's politics in the US

Author Charlotte Roche on her explicit novel Wetlands. Plus, women's politics under Obama.

Author Charlotte Roche on her explicit debut novel Wetlands. Plus the changing face of women's politics under President Obama, and the re-release of the music of Victoria Spivey.

With Jenni Murray. 
10.45 The Lady of the Camellias 4/5 The Woman's Hourdrama. For details see drama repeat at 7.45pm

From Our Own Correspondent

Kate Adie introduces insight, wit and analysis from BBC correspondents and writers.

Kate Adie introduces insight, wit and analysis from BBC correspondents, journalists and writers telling stories from around the world.

From Our Own Correspondent: 05/02/2009

BBC Radio 4 - From Our Own Correspondent, 05/02/2009

Kate Adie introduces BBC foreign correspondents with the stories behind the headlines.

BBC foreign correspondents with the stories behind the world's headlines. Introduced by Kate Adie.

A lively collection of dispatches from the BBC's foreign correspondents, who report on stories in their regions. Presented by Kate Adie. Producer Tony Grant . 
RT DIRECT: More From Our Own Correspondent is available for £ 8.54 (RRP £8.99) inc p&p. Call [number removed] (national rate) quoting RT. or visit www.rtdirect.sparkledirect.com

The Monsarrat Archive

BBC Radio 4 - The Monsarrat Archive

Barry Norman explores the archive of material amassed by author Nicholas Monsarrat.

Barry Norman explores the newly-opened archive of material amassed by writer Nicholas Monsarrat, author of The Cruel Sea.

Barry Norman explores the newly-opened archive of material amassed by writer Nicholas Monsarrat, author of The Cruel Sea. 

Monsarrat was a meticulous recorder of the minutiae relating to his work and personal life, and during the course of his lifetime amassed a vast archive of scrapbooks, manuscripts, letters, accounts and other memorabilia. Barry is granted access to this collection, which gives an intimate insight into the writer's life and work.

Nicholas Monsarrat , author of The CruelSeo, amassed a vast archive relating to his life and work. Barry Norman assesses this remarkable and intimate insight into the writer's life and work. Producer ceciiewngm

You and Yours

You and Yours: 05/02/2009

BBC Radio 4 - You and Yours, 05/02/2009

With Winifred Robinson. Including an interview with Higher Education Minister David Lammy.

Consumer news and issues with Winifred Robinson. Including an interview with Higher Education Minister David Lammy.

Presented by Winifred Robinson.

If you can't get a mortgage from a bank or building society, might your local authority step in to lend you the money you need? Steve Reed, the Labour leader of Lambeth Council, and Chris Leslie, director of the New Local Government Network, discuss.

The Home Office has announced a joint project between the Association of Chief Police Officers and the British Transport Police to tackle metal theft which is estimated to cost the UK 360 million pounds every year. Paul Crowther, assistant chief constable for the British Transport Police, explains more.

Extra university places for the next academic year have been scaled back. The Higher Education Minister, David Lammy, explains why.

Some post offices have re-opened in Essex after the county council stepped in to support them, but other councils aren't finding it so easy to prevent their post offices from shutting for good. Reporter Henrietta Harrison investigates.

Audio description gives visually impaired people a commentary on the action taking place on screen. It has existed for many years but still only a small proportion of programmes have it. Hear from the charity RNIB, which has been campaigning for more programmes to feature audio description.

Three hundred 'smart' fridges, which turn themselves on and off according to energy demand, are being tested by Npower at the moment. But should our domestic appliances be used to regulate supply and demand across the national grid?

Weather

Weather: 05/02/2009

BBC Radio 4 - Weather, 05/02/2009Close menu

World at One

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

World at One: 05/02/2009

BBC Radio 4 - World at One, 05/02/2009

National and international news with Martha Kearney.

The World at One

Costing the Earth

Fresh ideas from the sharpest minds working toward a cleaner, greener planet

Costing the Earth: Totally Uncool

02/02/2009

Totally Uncool

BBC Radio 4 - Costing the Earth, Totally Uncool

Investigating the harmful effects of the over-use of air conditioning and chiller cabinets

Tom Heap investigates those businesses and organisations that over-use air conditioning, and in doing so make a significant contribution to global warming.

Tom Heap investigates those businesses and organisations that over-use air conditioning, and in doing so make a significant contribution to global warming. 

It is a little-known fact that the gases used in air conditioning and chiller cabinets are between two and three thousand times more potent in terms of global warming than CO2. And yet air conditioning is becoming more commonplace in modern buildings and the home. 

The other major source of these harmful HFC gas emissions in Britain is supermarket chiller cabinets. Some supermarkets are making efforts to switch to natural 'green freeze' refrigerants, though others are reluctant to act.

5/6. Totally Uncool. Top Heap investigates damage to the environment caused by air conditioning and chiller cabinets. Repeated from Monday at 9pm

The Archers

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

The Archers: 04/02/2009

04/02/2009

BBC Radio 4 - The Archers, 04/02/2009

Jill and Ruth are in the Brookfield orchard, inspecting a damaged hive. Jill's so upset. Ruth asks what Jill thinks about Shula leaving St Stephen's. Jill can't believe this - she had no idea. She goes to see Shula, and tries to persuade her otherwise. If she must leave St Stephen's, maybe time away will help her realise how much she misses it.

Shula phones Neil, to tell him she won't be ringing any more. Tony appears to talk to Neil about the flat. But he's stopped in his tracks by Neil who tells him they've decided Chris won't be moving in. Neil tells him not to tell Chris what's happened. Tony reassures him, telling him he couldn't be happier about it.

Lilian finds Stephen Chalkman on her doorstep, looking for Matt. She tells him Matt's in London, so Chalky goes to leave. Lilian says his trip shouldn't be wasted and invites him for coffee. He tells Lilian he's got to talk business with Matt. She tells him she's worried: Matt's very stressed. Chalky agrees. Maybe Matt should go on holiday? Lilian thinks this is a brilliant idea. Chalky says he'll look after the business. Lilian's grateful. She'll drag Matt away on holiday whether he likes it or not.

Episode written by Tim Stimpson.

Drama on 4

Drama from BBC Radio 4 and Radio 4 Extra.

Afternoon Drama

Drama on 4: Monkeyface

14/09/2006

Monkeyface

BBC Radio 4 - Drama on 4, Monkeyface

By Linda Marshall Griffiths. Siddy, eight, and his big sister search for their father.

By Linda Marshall Griffiths. Eight-year-old Siddy and his big sister Frannie search for their father. All they have is a newspaper cutting and a memory of a trip to Scarborough.

By Linda Marshall Griffiths. Eight-year-old Siddy and his big sister Frannie search for their father. Armed only with a newspaper cutting of him at a peace demonstration and a memory of a trip to a beach in Scarborough, do they have any hope of tracking him down? 

Siddy ...... Aidan Parsons
Frannie ...... Rachel Brogan
Mother ...... Siobhan Finneran
Mr Sandman ...... Craig Cheetham
Nicky/Dave ...... Charlie Ryan

Directed by Nadia Molinari.

Afternoon Play: Monkeyface

Eight-year-old Siddy and his big sister Frannie decide to find their father but, armed only with a newspaper cutting of him at a peace demo and a memory of a trip to a beach in Scarborough, they don't seem to have any hope of tracking him down. By Linda Marshall Griffiths.  
Producer/Director Nadia Molinari

Open Country

Test Match Special

West Indies v England
Commentary on the second day of the First Test from Kingston, Jamaica. 
For details and commentators see yesterday *approx times Commentary also on 5 Live Sports Extra from 2A5

Countryside magazine featuring the people and wildlife that shape the landscape of Britain

Countryside magazine featuring the people and wildlife that shape the landscape of the British Isles

Open Country: Winter Wildlife Crisis

31/01/2009

Winter Wildlife Crisis

BBC Radio 4 - Open Country, Winter Wildlife Crisis

The sharp frosts and winter storms which have devastated the delicate wildlife of Cornwall

Helen Mark investigates the sharp frosts and winter storms which have devastated the delicate wildlife of Cornwall.

Radio 4 Appeal

Highlighting a charity and appealing for donations. The presenters donate their time.

A weekly programme highlighting the work of a charity and appealing for donations. The presenters give their time without payment.

Radio 4 Appeal: Sparks Charity

01/02/2009

Sparks Charity

BBC Radio 4 - Radio 4 Appeal, Sparks CharitySearch BBC

Ronnie Corbett appeals on behalf of Sparks Charity.

Afternoon Reading

Short stories or abridged books, often from new writers

Afternoon Reading: Three Stories by Haruki Murakami

Afternoon Reading: Three Stories by Haruki Murakami: Episode 3: The Mirror

Episode 3

Episode 3: The Mirror

Three Stories by Haruki Murakami

The Mirror

BBC Radio 4 - Afternoon Reading, Three Stories by Haruki Murakami, The MirrorSearch BBC

A caretaker catches sight of himself in a mirror and sees more than he bargained for.

The mundane becomes the extraordinary when a caretaker catches sight of himself in a mirror and sees more than he bargained for. Read by Hugh Ross.

Haruki Murakami was born in Kyoto in 1949. Following the publication of his first novel in Japanese in 1979, he sold the jazz bar he ran with his wife and became a full-time writer. It was with the publication of Norwegian Wood - which has to date sold more than 4 million copies in Japan alone - that the author was truly catapulted into the limelight. 

Known for his surrealistic world of mysterious (and often disappearing) women, cats, earlobes, wells, Western culture, music and quirky first-person narratives, he is now Japan's best-known novelist abroad. 

Blind Willow, Sleeping Woman is one of his acclaimed collections of short stories. In 'Crabs', 'The Year of Spaghetti' and 'The Mirror', Murakami confronts fundamental emotions: loss, identity, friendship, love; and questions our ability to connect with humanity, and the pain of those connections or the lack of them.

Read by Hugh Ross


Producer: David Roper
A Heavy Entertainment production for BBC Radio 4.

Series of three short stories by the Japanese novelist Haruki Murakami

Series of three short stories by the Japanese novelist Haruki Murakami, taken from his collection Blind Willow, Sleeping Woman

Three Stories byHaruki Murakami

3/3 The Mirror. Hugh Ross reads The Mirror, the final story taken from Blind Willow, Sleeping Woman. When a caretaker catches sight of himself in a mirror he sees more than he bargained for. For details see Tuesday

America, Empire of Liberty

America, Empire of Liberty: Episode 44: The Farmers and Workers Revolt

Episode 44

Episode 44: The Farmers and Workers Revolt

The Farmers and Workers Revolt

BBC Radio 4 - America, Empire of Liberty, The Farmers and Workers Revolt

The rise of unionisation and strikes across America. Will socialism take off?

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

44/90. The Farmers and Workers Revolt The rise of unionisation and strikes across America. For details see Monday

Bookclub

Led by James Naughtie, readers talk to acclaimed authors about their best-known novels

Led by James Naughtie, a group of readers talk to acclaimed authors about their best-known novels

Bookclub: Bernard Cornwell

Bernard Cornwell

BBC Radio 4 - Bookclub, Bernard Cornwell

James Naughtie talks to the novelist Bernard Cornwell.

James Naughtie talks to the novelist Bernard Cornwell. He joins an audience of readers to discuss the first novel in his series set in Saxon England, The Last Kingdom.

James Naughtie talks to the novelist Bernard Cornwell. He joins an audience of readers to discuss the first novel in his series set in Saxon England, The Last Kingdom. The novel centres on the story of Uhtred Ragnarson, a Northumbrian boy captured by the invading Vikings and raised as one of their own, who returns to the Saxons after the Danish warrior who raised him is killed.

Best-selling author Bernard Cornwell joins James Naughtie and readers to discuss the first in his series set in Saxon England, The Last Kingdom. Repeated from Sunday at 4pm

Material World

Science programme reporting on developments across the disciplines

Science programme reporting on developments across the disciplines. Each week, scientists describe their work, conveying the excitement they feel for their research projects

Material World: Up, Up and Away! - Iron in the Sea

Up, Up and Away! - Iron in the Sea

BBC Radio 4 - Material World, Up, Up and Away! - Iron in the Sea

Quentin Cooper hears about ambitious balloon flights carrying a special telescope.

Quentin Cooper hears from two brothers about balloon flights carrying a special telescope above the Arctic and Antarctic, and the equally ambitious attempts to film them.

Up, Up and Away!
Quentin Cooper hears from two brothers about ambitious balloon flights carrying a special telescope above the Arctic and Antarctic, and attempts to film the flights. 

Mark Devlin, an astronomer at the University of Pennsylvania, aims to study new stars in distant galaxies. He needs to look at them in wavelengths of light that do not penetrate the Earth's atmosphere, so he attempts to fly his fragile telescope beneath a high-altitude balloon which takes it to the top of the atmosphere. To keep it in the sky requires constant daylight, so he has to take it above the Arctic or Antarctic circle in mid-summer. 

Mark's brother, Paul, is an Emmy award-winning film-maker and has been making a documentary that follows Paul's team. He captures the trials and tribulations, delays and panics, disappointments and triumphs of attempted launches from Sweden and Antarctica.


Iron in the Sea
Almost half the carbon dioxide that’s emitted into the air ends up being absorbed by plankton in the sea.

Plankton are as important at fixing carbon dioxide as are plants on land.

But the vast belt of ocean surrounding Antarctica, the Southern Ocean, is not pulling its weight.

As a controversial Indian-German experiment, LOHAFEX, heads for the Antarctic waters to see if additional plankton can be encouraged, Quentin hears what’s known about ocean fertilization using iron, what the lessons from previous experiments have been, and what it all has to do with the Ice Ages.

Raymond Pollard, from the National Ocean Centre, Southampton, and ecologist Geraint Tarling from the British Antarctic Survey.

Material World: Up, Up and Away!

The Material World

In order for astronomer Mark Devlin to study new stars in distant galaxies he needs to look at them in wavelengths of light that don't penetrate the Earth's atmosphere. Space missions are too expensive so he attempts to fly his telescope beneath a high-altitude balloon. Quentin Cooper hears about his experiences.

Afternoon news and current affairs programme

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

PM: 05/02/2009

BBC Radio 4 - PM, 05/02/2009

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: 05/02/2009

BBC Radio 4 - Six O'Clock News, 05/02/2009

National and international news from BBC Radio 4.

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

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Programme Index

Shipping Forecast

05/02/2009

Genres

Formats

Brand

Weather

05/02/2009

Genres

Formats

Brand

Open Country

Winter Wildlife Crisis

Genres

Brand

Weather

05/02/2009

Genres

Formats

Brand

Shipping Forecast

06/02/2009

Genres

Formats

Brand

BBC Radio 4 FM

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