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: 12/03/2009

12/03/2009

BBC Radio 4 - Shipping Forecast, 12/03/2009

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: 12/03/2009

BBC Radio 4 - News Briefing, 12/03/2009

Prayer for the Day

Prayer for the Day: 12/03/2009

BBC Radio 4 - Prayer for the Day, 12/03/2009

Daily prayer and reflection with Rev Sharon Grenham-Toze.

Farming Today

The latest news about food, farming and the countryside

Farming Today: 12/03/2009

BBC Radio 4 - Farming Today, 12/03/2009

News and issues in rural Britain with Charlotte Smith.

With Charlotte Smith. Producer Steve Peacock

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: 12/03/2009

BBC Radio 4 - Today, 12/03/2009

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.

John Dunford, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, says councils are struggling with the huge responsibilities of social work.

Science correspondent Tom Feilden visits the Science Museum and reports on an exhibition demonstrating how technology from Formula One racing influences more pedestrian pursuits.

Edward Leigh, Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee, discusses how plans for a multi-million pound central database on offenders failed because of poor management and a lack of budget control.

Thomas Kielinger, of German newspaper Die Welt, discusses the reaction to a shooting spree by a 17 year old student on pupils and teachers at his former school.

Economics editor Stephanie Flanders speaks to some of the officials involved in the G20 summit to examine what sort of preparations are needed for such a meeting.

Dr David Walker and Professor Roger Corder discuss if chocolate should be taxed.

China has sealed off Tibet to foreigners but correspondent James Reynolds, who has managed to get onto the Tibetan plateau without being arrested, reports on the situation in the region.

Thought for the day with Professor Mona Siddiqui, of the University of Glasgow.

Babar Sattar, a lawyer based in Islamabad, discusses why lawyers and politicians are protesting in Pakistan.

Reporter Sanchia Berg, Deputy Children's Commissioner for England Sue Berelowitz and Dr Eileen Munro discuss if reforms to child protection have been properly implemented.

Columnists Liz Jones and Minette Marrin discuss the merits of personal newspaper columns. 

Scottish Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill and lawyer Tony Kelly discuss payouts for human rights offences.

Samuel Beckett's play Waiting for Godot is being taken on tour by four of the UK's greatest actors. Jim Naughtie visits acting stars Sir Ian McKellen, Patrick Stewart, Simon Callow and Ronald Pickup and discuss how this partnership had come about.

Sir Christopher Meyer, former British Ambassador to Washington, and columnist Anatole Kaletsky, discuss if the G20 meeting will meet expectations.

With Sarah Montague and James Naughtie. 
6.25,7.25,8.25 Sports News 
6.45 Yesterday in Parliament 
With Robert Orchard and David Wilby. 
7.48 Thought for the Day 
With Professor Mona Siddiqui. 
8.31 L W only 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 Library of Alexandria

The Library of Alexandria

BBC Radio 4 - In Our Time, The Library of Alexandria

Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the Library of Alexandria.

Melvyn Bragg and guests Simon Goldhill, Serafina Cuomo and Matthew Nichols discuss the Library of Alexandria, one of the greatest libraries in history.

Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the Library at Alexandria. Founded by King Ptolemy in the 3rd century BC the library was the first attempt to collect all the knowledge of the ancient world in one place. Scholars including Archimedes and Euclid came to study its grand array of papyri. the legacy of the library is with us today, not just in the ideas it stored and the ideas it seeded but also in the way it organised knowledge and the tools developed for dealing with it. It still influences the things we know and the way we know them to this day.With Simon Goldhill, Professor of Greek at the University of Cambridge; Matthew Nicholls, Lecturer in Classics at the University of Reading; Serafina Cuomo, Reader in Roman History at Birkbeck College, University of London.

The Library of Alexandria. Melvyn Bragg and his guests Simon Goldhill, Serafina Cuomo and Matthew Nichol discuss the greatest library in history and how it continues to influence our understanding of the world today.
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 Settler's Cookbook

Book of the Week: The Settler's Cookbook: Episode 4

Episode 4

The Settler's Cookbook

BBC Radio 4 - Book of the Week, The Settler's Cookbook, Episode 4

Yasmin recounts her tumultuous teenage years, in the wake of independence in Uganda.

Yasmin recounts her tumultuous teenage years. She enrols at Makerere University, but begins to realise that life for the Ugandan Asians is becoming more precarious than ever.

Yasmin Alibhai-Brown reads her memoir of her childhood in Uganda and move to Britain in the 1970s. 

Yasmin recounts her tumultuous teenage years, in the wake of independence in Uganda. After being disowned by her father for playing Juliet alongside a black Romeo in her high school play, Yasmin finds herself at a political bootcamp where she comes face to face with the country's future leader, the ruthless Idi Amin. 

Trying to ignore the darkening political situation, Yasmin enrols at Makerere University, but when the night raids by Amin's henchmen begin and students start to disappear, Yasmin realises that life for the Ugandan Asians is becoming more precarious than ever.

Yasmin Alibhai-Brown reads her memoir of her childhood in Uganda and move to Britain

Yasmin Alibhai-Brown reads her memoir of her childhood in Uganda and move to Britain in the 1970s

Daily Service

Led by the Rev Ernie Rea. Jerusalem the Golden (Ewing). Revelation 21, vv 1-8. And I Saw a New Heaven (Archer). Lift Up Your Hearts! (Woodlands).

Book of the Week:The Settler's Cookbook

4/5. After Independence, Yasmin realises that life for the Ugandan Asians is becoming more precarious than ever. Yasmin Alibhai -Brown reads from her own memoir. For details see Monday Repeated at 12.30am

Woman's Hour

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

Woman's Hour: Epidurals; The life of Elisabeth Welch

Epidurals; The life of Elisabeth Welch

BBC Radio 4 - Woman's Hour, Epidurals; The life of Elisabeth Welch

Jenni Murray debates the place of epidurals in childbirth, and the life of Elisabeth Welch

Jenni Murray debates the place of epidurals in childbirth, plus the life of American singer and actor Elisabeth Welch, and the Pakistani children being recruited by the Taliban.

With Jenni Murray. 
10.45 Writing the Century 4/5 The Woman's Hour drama. 
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: 12/03/2009

BBC Radio 4 - From Our Own Correspondent, 12/03/2009

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.

9/9. A collection of dispatches from the BBC's foreign correspondents. Presented byKateAdie. Producer Tony Grant

With Great Pleasure

Series bringing fresh insight into lives through literature, with guest presenters

Series bringing fresh insight into lives through literature, in which guest presenters pick readings from their favourite pieces of poetry and prose

With Great Pleasure: Les Dennis

Les Dennis

BBC Radio 4 - With Great Pleasure, Les DennisSearch BBC

Les Dennis’s literary favourites include Pygmalion, Wuthering Heights and Winnie the Pooh.

4 Extra Debut. Comedian and actor Les Dennis’s literary favourites include Pygmalion, Wuthering Heights and Winnie the Pooh. From 2009.

The comedian and actor Les Dennis shares literary favourites, including Pygmalion, Wuthering Heights, Brideshead Revisited and Winnie the Pooh.

Les reads some of the passages, with actors Christopher Cazenove and Jodie McNee.

Producer: Christine Hall

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in March 2009.

New series 1/4. Les Dennis introduces an eclectic programme of readings reflecting some of the ups and downs of his personal and professional life. The readers are 
Christopher Cazenove and Jodie McNee. Producer Christine Hall

You and Yours

You and Yours: 12/03/2009

BBC Radio 4 - You and Yours, 12/03/2009

Consumer news and issues with Winifred Robinson.

Presented by Winifred Robinson.

Failed investors fear they may have been fleeced by European Mediation Ltd, registered in Rochdale, which promised to help them get their lost money back. 

Some councils are arming crossing wardens with cameras in order to catch dangerous drivers on film. This has prompted the poet Ian McMillan to wonder where our 'surveillance society' will end.

An advisory group called the Fat Panel says that lots of recipes produced by celebrity chefs are full of saturated fat and are contributing to the obesity epidemic.

The watchdog Passenger Focus could be given the power to scrutinise the performance of our airports. So does it want the job and would it make much difference to passengers themselves?

Delays at the Office of the Public Guardian are causing problems for some people trying to obtain lasting power of attorney - the legal ability to look after the financial affairs of loved ones who are incapacitated by illness such as dementia.

The cost of seeing Michael Jackson play live in London soars even higher as those claiming to have got their hands on tickets try to cash in by selling them on. And even the concert promoters themselves are cashing in on the secondary market.

Weather

Weather: 12/03/2009

BBC Radio 4 - Weather, 12/03/2009Close menu

World at One

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

World at One: 12/03/2009

BBC Radio 4 - World at One, 12/03/2009

National and international news with Shaun Ley.

The World at One

News and analysis presented by Shaun Ley.

Off the Page

Series featuring new writing and stimulating discussion.

Off The Page

Off the Page: Imposter Syndrome

Imposter Syndrome

BBC Radio 4 - Off the Page, Imposter Syndrome

Dominic Arkwright chairs a discussion on the theme of feeling like an impostor.

Imposter Syndrome: Dominic Arkwright, Julian Baggini, Kathy Sykes and Xanthe Clay discuss feeling insecure. From December 2009.

4/6. Dominic Arkwright and his guests, including the philosopher Julian Baggini , talk about feeling like an impostor, as if you re pretending to be someone you re not .. Producer Beth O'Dea Repeated on Monday at 11pm

The Archers

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

The Archers: 11/03/2009

11/03/2009

BBC Radio 4 - The Archers, 11/03/2009

David goes to Bridge Farm to borrow a tarpaulin for Ben's birthday assault course. Pat and Tony tell him about their visit to the lagoon waste treatment system. They're going to ask a consultant to visit.

Eddie and Joe go to the Bull, with one of the chocolate bar wrappers. They look on a language identification website for clues to the ingredients, but the site only offers Latin as a possibility.

Pat calls at the Dower House to ask Lilian to look after Jack for a few hours. Pat thinks Lilian doesn't seem herself. Lilian tells her she's caught Matt's cold, so Pat thinks she probably shouldn't look after Jack in that case. Matt appears, looking for the power drill. Pat goes and Matt tells Lilian he's keeping busy, putting up shelves. Lilian says Matt has plenty to do, like telling Russell to approach the SFO. Matt says he needs to speak to Chalkman. If he rats on Chalky, he'll have to plead guilty himself. 

Later, Matt says Chalkman's PA has promised that Chalky will phone. Lilian doesn't believe this. Maybe Chalky's talking to the SFO himself. Matt says he knows Chalky. He's lying low, thinking of a way out. Matt needs to stay in the game for now. 

Episode written by Adrian Flynn.

Drama on 4

Drama from BBC Radio 4 and Radio 4 Extra.

Afternoon Play

Drama on 4: Getting to Zero

Getting to Zero

BBC Radio 4 - Drama on 4, Getting to Zero

Three real-life Carbon Busters tackle one family's emissions in Sarah Woods' green comedy.

George Monbiot, Paul Allen and Peter Harper are the real-life experts, challenging one ordinary family to live a zero carbon lifestyle, in Sarah Woods' comedy reality show.

GETTING TO ZERO
By Sarah Woods
With George Monbiot, Paul Allen and Peter Harper.

Have you got what it takes to get to zero carbon? Our expert panel set one average family the task of eliminating their carbon footprint... and living with the consequences. Originally broadcast in March 2009.

Sue ..... Kate Ashfield
Ian ..... Don Gilet
Chloe ..... Poppy Lee Friar
Jack ..... Ryan Watson
Bill ..... Malcolm Tierney
Meter ..... Jonathan Tafler
Narrator ..... Janice Acquah
Delivery Man ..... Stephen Hogan

Producer/Director: Jonquil Panting.

Afternoon Play: Getting to Zero

A drama documentary by Sarah Woods that asks: have you got what it takes to get to zero carbon? In the documentary section, a panel of three experts from the Centre for Alternative Technology, in Wales - George Monbiot , Paul Allen and Peter Harper - set one average (fictional) family the task of eliminating their carbon footprint. The drama component follows the family's attempts to achieve zero carbon emissions, with interjections and advice from the panel. Producer Jonquil Panting

Open Country

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: 07/03/2009

07/03/2009

BBC Radio 4 - Open Country, 07/03/2009

Helen Mark visits Scotland to find that the freshwater pearl mussel faces new threats.

Helen Mark visits Scotland to find that the freshwater pearl mussel faces new threats from thieves who kill all the mussels they gather in the hope of finding a precious pearl.

Countryside magazine. Helen Mark visits Scotland's rivers to find that the freshwater pearl mussel, already endangered, now faces new threats from unscrupulous thieves who kill all the mussels they gather in the hope of finding a precious pearl inside.

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: Iraqi Association

08/03/2009

Iraqi Association

BBC Radio 4 - Radio 4 Appeal, Iraqi Association

Canon Andrew White appeals on behalf of the Iraqi Association.

Afternoon Reading

Short stories or abridged books, often from new writers

Afternoon Reading: Virginia Gilbert - Abroad

Afternoon Reading: Virginia Gilbert - Abroad: Episode 3: The Conversation

Episode 3

Episode 3: The Conversation

Virginia Gilbert - Abroad

The Conversation

BBC Radio 4 - Afternoon Reading, Virginia Gilbert - Abroad, The ConversationSearch BBC

A husband is disturbed from his sleep by the conversation of a couple in the next room.

In bed, a husband is disturbed from his sleep by the couple in the next room, who are having a conversation which gives him pause for thought. Read by Brian Gilbert.

Series of three edgy tales of people abroad, by Virginia Gilbert. 

In bed, a husband is disturbed from his sleep by the couple in the next room, who are having a conversation which gives him pause for thought. His wife is uninterested and unaware, wrapped up as she is in her own needs. Read by Brian Gilbert.

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.

Series of three edgy tales of people abroad, by Virginia Gilbert

Abroad

3/3. The Conversation. In bed, a husband is disturbed from his sleep. The couple in the next room are audibly having a conversation that gives him pause for thought. Brian Gilbert reads the last of three stories by Virginia Gilbert. For details see Tuesday

Wildlife and the Marine Bill

Wildlife and the Marine Bill: Episode 4

BBC Radio 4 - Wildlife and the Marine Bill, Episode 4

How the promised coastal walking access could have an impact on wildlife.

The Bill promises the public the chance to walk around the coasts of Britain. Kelvin assesses the potential impact on wildlife and explores the crumbling Dorset Heritage Coast.

Kelvin Boot explores how plants, animals and sand habitats around Britain could benefit from the proposed new Marine and Coastal Access Bill. 

The Bill promises the public the chance to walk around the coasts of England, Wales and Scotland. Kelvin assesses the potential impact on wildlife and explores the crumbling Dorset Heritage Coast, where the Bill will offer solutions to the problems of coastal erosion. He also hears from landowners and conservationists about the advantages and possible drawbacks for wildlife along the route.

The potential benefits of the proposed new Marine and Coastal Access Bill

Kelvin Boot explores how plants, animals and sand habitats around the Britain could benefit from the proposed new Marine and Coastal Access Bill

4/5. The Marine and Coastal Access Bill promises everyone the chance to walk around the coasts of the UK. Kelvin Boot assesses the potential impacts on wildlife and explores the crumbling Dorset coast where the Bill may well offer solutions to the problems of coastal erosion. He also hears from landowners and conservationists about the advantages and possible drawbacks for wildlife along the route. For details see Monday

Open Book

Programme looking at new fiction and non-fiction books

Programme looking at new fiction and non-fiction books, talking to authors and publishers and unearthing lost classics

Open Book: Dame Joan Bakewell on writing a novel

Dame Joan Bakewell on writing a novel

BBC Radio 4 - Open Book, Dame Joan Bakewell on writing a novel

Dame Joan Bakewell explains why she has waited until her eighth decade to publish a novel.

Mariella Frostrup talks to Dame Joan Bakewell, who explains why she has waited until her eighth decade to publish a novel.

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: Nature’s Best Kept Secret

Nature’s Best Kept Secret

BBC Radio 4 - Material World, Nature’s Best Kept Secret

Quentin Cooper hears about the DNA reading machine, the ribosome.

Quentin Cooper hears about the ribosome - the DNA code reading machine in every cell in our bodies, indeed in all cells in every living organism.

Nature’s Best Kept Secret
Quentin Cooper hears about nature's best kept secret - the factory of life. It is well known that genes written in DNA are the code of life, carrying information from generation to generation. But without a code-reading machine, our DNA would be useless. 

Quentin learns about the biological machine that does just that in every cell in our bodies, indeed in every cell in every living organism - a machine called the ribosome. This single, extraordinarily adaptable device manufactures every protein in our body, constantly working to keep our metabolism and life processes going. When we take antibiotics, it is usually to block the ribosomes in infectious bacteria. Tiny variations mean that those in our cells can keep going. 

Because the ribosome is built out of DNA's simpler cousin RNA, this biological constructor provides the strongest clue that life developed out of a primordial soup of simple reacting RNA molecules.

Material World: Nature's Best Kept Secret

The Material World

Nature's Best-Kept Secret - the Factory of Life Genes written in DNA are the code of life, carrying information from generation to generation. But without a code-reading machine, our DNA would be useless. Quentin Cooper hears about the biological machine that does just that in every cell in our bodies, indeed in every cell in every living organism - a machine called the ribosome. This single, extraordinarily adaptable device manufactures every protein in our bodies, constantly working to keep our metabolism and life processes going. Producer Roland Pease

Afternoon news and current affairs programme

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

PM: 12/03/2009

BBC Radio 4 - PM, 12/03/2009

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: 12/03/2009

BBC Radio 4 - Six O'Clock News, 12/03/2009

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

12/03/2009

Genres

Formats

Brand

Weather

12/03/2009

Genres

Brand

Open Country

Open Country

07/03/2009

Genres

Brand

Weather

12/03/2009

Genres

Brand

Shipping Forecast

13/03/2009

Genres

Brand

BBC Radio 4 FM

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