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: 11/08/2009

11/08/2009

BBC Radio 4 - Shipping Forecast, 11/08/2009Close 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: 11/08/2009

BBC Radio 4 - News Briefing, 11/08/2009Close menu

Prayer for the Day

Prayer for the Day: 11/08/2009

BBC Radio 4 - Prayer for the Day, 11/08/2009

Daily prayer and reflection with George Craig.

Farming Today

The latest news about food, farming and the countryside

Farming Today: 11/08/2009

BBC Radio 4 - Farming Today, 11/08/2009

With Anna Hill. Including a look at the sport of grouse-shooting.

With Anna Hill. A look at the sport of grouse-shooting as the season starts on 12 August and the Vegetarian Society offers its view on how to achieve reliable food supplies.

News and issues in rural Britain with Anna Hill. With the grouse-shooting season starting on 12 August, Farming Today takes a look at the sport. And with the government urging a rethink on what we grow and what we eat, the Vegetarian Society offers its view on how to achieve reliable food supplies.

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: 11/08/2009

BBC Radio 4 - Today, 11/08/2009

Including Sports Desk; Weather; Thought for the Day.

With James Naughtie and Edward Stourton. Including Sports Desk; Weather; Thought for the Day.

Presented by Edward Stourton and James Naughtie.

David Barnes of the British Association of Social Workers discusses the naming of the couple responsible for the death of Baby P, after a court anonymity order expired.

Ed Young of Cancer Research UK explains why the number of cancers of the lip, mouth, tongue and throat among men and women in their 40s has risen.

Burmese pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi has been sentenced to an additional 18 months under house arrest by a court in Rangoon. Correspondent Karishma Vaswani explains the conviction of the Nobel Peace Laureate. 

Adam Fleming visits Salford to gauge opinion on the idea that vandalism to Hazel Blears's car might be related to anger about her expenses claims. Criminologist Roger Graef discusses whether this is the kind of crime children commit when they are bored. 

Martin Patience reports on the latest attacks in Afghanistan, and Michael Semple, former EU representative to Afghanistan, examines vows made by the Taliban to disrupt the elections.

Scotland correspondent Colin Blane reports from the shore of Loch Tay on a replica Bronze Age logboat made from a single Douglas Fir tree trunk.

Thought for the Day with Canon Dr Alan Billings, an Anglican priest.

Shadow Chancellor George Osborne discusses how he believes Tory plans can preserve the quality of front line services.

A court in Burma has sentenced pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi to three years jail and hard labour. Foreign Office minister Ivan Lewis and historian Dr Peter Carey discuss the importance of the verdict. 

Mark Easton reflects on why, as one paper puts it, 'alarm bells never rang' about Baby Peter's safety. Wes Cuell of the NSPCC and Haringey MP Lynne Featherstone discuss what releasing the names of the couple responsible will achieve.

Professor Hugh Pennington discusses the side effects of the antiviral drug Tamiflu.

Dr Richard Simmons of the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment and John Stewart of the Home Builders Federation examine if there is a lack of room in modern housing.

Michael Schumacher has abandoned his Formula 1 comeback with Ferrari because of a neck injury. Jonathan Legard, one of the BBC's F1 commentary team, reacts to the news.

A number of rare and endangered tortoises have been stolen from an animal sanctuary in Cornwall. Mrs Joy Bloor, the owner of the sanctuary, describes her devastation over the theft. 

Nick Donovan, head of campaigns at anti-war crimes group the Aegis Trust, discusses the loophole that allows war criminals to stay in the UK without prosecution.

Philosopher Julian Baggini and Liberal Democrat MP Lembit Opik consider whether or not there needs to be a more honest relationship with error-making in public.

With James Naughtie and Edward Stourton. 
6.25,7.25,8.25 Sports News 
7.48 Thought for the Day With Canon Dr Alan Billings.

Fry's English Delight

Stephen Fry explores the highways and byways of the English language

Fry's English Delight: Series 2

Fry's English Delight: Series 2: Episode 1: So Wrong It's Right

Episode 1

Episode 1: So Wrong It's Right

Series 2

So Wrong It's Right

BBC Radio 4 - Fry's English Delight, Series 2, So Wrong It's Right

Stephen Fry examines how 'wrong' English can become right English.

4 Extra Debut. When wrong English becomes right English, by dint of usage. Stephen Fry explores the English language. From August 2008.

Stephen Fry explores the highways and byways of the English language.

Stephen examines how 'wrong' English can become right English. For example, nowadays, more people use the word 'wireless' in a computer context than in a radio one. With help from a lexicographer, an educationalist, a Times sub-editor and a judge, Stephen examines the way in which usage changes language. 

He applauds the council leader who claimed the services provided by her local authority should be seen as strawberry-flavoured and castigates attempts at banning government jargon like step change and synergy. Banning words is fruitless; he favours blue sky thinking, and strawberry flavouring.

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.

Fry's English Delight: So Wrong it's Right

New series. 1/3. So Wrong it's Right With the help of a judge, a lexicographer, a computational linguist, five buffalo and a strawberry, Stephen Fry demonstrates how wrong English can become right English by dint of modern usage. Producer Nick Baker Radio features: pages 118-119

Lost, Stolen or Shredded

Rick Gekoski tells the stories that lie behind five very different missing works of art

Antiquarian book dealer Rick Gekoski tells the stories that lie behind five very different missing works of art

Lost, Stolen or Shredded: Series 2: Episode 1: The Great Omar

Episode 1: The Great Omar

The Great Omar

BBC Radio 4 Extra - Lost, Stolen or Shredded, Series 2, The Great OmarSearch BBC

The story behind the fabulous jewelled binding of the Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam.

Rick Gekoski tells the story behind the fabulous jewelled binding of the Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam, which went down with the Titanic and is still lying at the bottom of the ocean.

Series of programmes in which antiquarian book dealer Rick Gekoski tells the stories that lie behind five very different missing works of art. 

Rick tells the story behind the fabulous jewelled binding of the Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam, which was encrusted with over a thousand diamonds, rubies and emeralds and was regarded as the finest work produced by the bindery of Sangorski and Sutcliffe. Sadly it went down with the SS Titanic and is still lying unclaimed at the bottom of the ocean.

A Pier production for BBC Radio 4.

Lost, Stolen or Shredded: Series 2

Antiquarian book dealer Rick Gekoski tells the stories behind missing works of art

New series. 1/5. The Great 
Omar Antiguarian book dealer Rick Gekoski examines the stories behind five missing works of art. He begins with the fabulous jewel-encrusted binding of a copy of The 
Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam , regarded as tne finest work produced by the bookbinders 
Sangorski and Sutciiffe. Sadly, the book went down with the SS Titanic - and still lies unclaimed at the bottom of the ocean. Producer Angela Hind

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: Bluestockings

Book of the Week: Bluestockings: Episode 2

Episode 2

Bluestockings

BBC Radio 4 - Book of the Week, Bluestockings, Episode 2

The bluestockings quietly begin to make their mark.

While, even as late as 1897, women students at Cambridge face burnt effigies and fireworks being hurled at them, the bluestockings begin, quietly, to make their mark.

Miriam Margolyes reads from Jane Robinson's account of the pioneering British women who overcame all odds to get a university education. 

Women had to wait until 1869 before they could enrol at Cambridge University, and even then the odds were stacked against them. Female brains were considered too small to compete with those of men, and the country's leading doctors warned that if women studied too hard their wombs would wither and die. 

Faced with the eternal chaperone problem, prejudice from lecturers and the attentions of the so-called 'odd fish', life isn't always easy for the first 'undergraduette'. Yet while, even as late as 1897, women students at Cambridge face burnt effigies and fireworks being hurled at them, the bluestockings begin, quietly, to make their mark.

Jane Robinson's account of the first British women to receive a university education

Miriam Margolyes reads from Jane Robinson's account of the first British women to receive a university education, at Cambridge at the end of the 19th century

Book of the Week:Bluestockings

2/5. Faced with the eternal chaperone problem, prejudice from lecturers ana tne attentions of so-called odd fish, life is not easy for the first female students. By Jane Robinson , read by Miriam Margolyes. For details see yesterday Repeated at 12.30am

Daily Service

Led by the Rev Sharon Grenham-Toze . Prayer Is the Soul's Sincere Desire 
(Beatitudo). Matthew 6, vv5-15. What a Faithful God (Critchley, arr 
Leddington Wright ). Son of God, Eternal Saviour (Everton).

Woman's Hour

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

Woman's Hour: Fertility MOTs; Japanese hostesses; Pessimism

Fertility MOTs; Japanese hostesses; Pessimism

BBC Radio 4 - Woman's Hour, Fertility MOTs; Japanese hostesses; Pessimism

The benefits of fertility tests discussed. Plus, Lucie Blackman's life and death in Japan.

The benefits of fertility tests discussed. Plus, Lucie Blackman's life and death in Japan; the positive side of pessimism; and what music can tell us about who we are.

Presented by Jenni Murray. 
10.45 Villette 7/10. Woman's Hour drama. For details see drama repeat at 7.45pm

Test Match Special

Commentary on the fifth and final day of the Fourth Ashes Test at Headingley. 
For commentators see Saturday *approximate times 
Commentary also on 5 Live Sports Extra from 10.45am 
TV highlights of today's play are on Five at 7.15pm

The Partisan Coffee House

04/12/2008

BBC Radio 4 - The Partisan Coffee House

Mike Berlin tells the story of an influential left-wing London coffee house set up in 1958

Historian Mike Berlin tells the story of a short-lived but influential left-wing coffee house set up in London's Soho in 1958 and considers its legacy.

Historian Mike Berlin tells the story of a short-lived but influential left-wing coffee house set up in London's Soho in 1958 and considers what happened to the political and cultural optimism that flourished after it closed in 1961. 

Founded by Raphael Samuel, a young radical historian, the Partisan aimed to recreate a European-style meeting place for politically engaged young people in the wake of such events as the Suez Crisis and the Hungarian Revolution.

Featuring interviews with surviving Partisan participants including historian Eric Hobsbawm and sociologist Stuart Hall.

Mike Berlin recalls the story of the short-lived but influential Partisan Coffee House, founded in Soho in 1958, and explores what happened to the political and cultural optimism that flourished there. Producer Beaty Rubens

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: Vivienne Westwood

Vivienne Westwood

BBC Radio 4 - With Great Pleasure, Vivienne WestwoodSearch BBC

Fashion designer Vivienne Westwood chooses some of the pieces of writing which inspire her

Fashion designer Vivienne Westwood chooses some of the pieces of writing which inspire her, from Alice in Wonderland to Bertrand Russell.

Guest performers select their favourite pieces of writing.

Fashion designer Vivienne Westwood chooses some of the pieces of writing which inspire her, from Alice in Wonderland to Bertrand Russell. The readers are David Morrissey and Lucy Briers.

Westwood exploded onto the fashion scene at the beginning of the 1970s, the decade whose look she would do so much to create. Since then she has been consistently and uncompromisingly original in her designs, moving from anarchy and pornography to a deep interest in classic British tailoring. In a programme recorded at the Latitude Festival in Suffolk, Vivienne presents an eclectic mixture of readings which have influenced her.

3/5. At the Latitude festival in Suffolk, the fashion designer Vivienne Westwood chooses some of the pieces of writing that inspire her. The readers are David Morrissey and Lucy Briers. Producer Christine Hall

You and Yours

You and Yours: 11/08/2009

BBC Radio 4 - You and Yours, 11/08/2009

Consumer news and issues with Julian Worricker.

You and Yours: Volunteering

Call You and Yours

Phone-in presented by Julian Worricker. PHONE: [number removed] (Lines open from 10am) EMAIL: [web address removed]

Weather

Weather: 11/08/2009

BBC Radio 4 - Weather, 11/08/2009Close menu

World at One

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

World at One: 11/08/2009

BBC Radio 4 - World at One, 11/08/2009

National and international news with Martha Kearney.

The World at One

Tales Before the Stave

BBC Radio 4 - Tales Before the Stave

Francis Fyfield unpicks the hidden codes of a beautiful 11th-century musical manuscript.

Francis Fyfield unpicks the hidden codes of a beautiful 11th-century manuscript that confirms that the English were pioneers of musical notation long before the arrival of staves.

Francis Fyfield unpicks the hidden codes of a beautiful 11th-century manuscript that confirms that the English were pioneers of musical notation long before the arrival of staves. 

With the help of Professor Susan Rankin and the French performer Dominique Vellard, Francis tells the story of the Winchester Troper, a tiny book belonging to Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, and written in Winchester around the year 1030, and how scholars have used it to clarify the way musical notation developed in the 11th and 12th centuries.

The magical discovery in the Troper was that polyphony, the use of two-part harmony, which many thought did not appear in manuscript form before the 13th century, was actually captured by the cantor scribbling in the Troper at a time when Winchester was at the heart of Anglo Saxon culture.  This little book provides us with insights into the soundscape of Edward the Confessor's England.
But it only does so thanks to the scholars like Susan and Dominique who have deciphered what looks like modern shorthand notation.  

The programme describes the process of unravelling the musical language and how that fits in to the broader story of the development of musical notation in Europe. Frances tries to get an idea of who this cantor was who managed to preserve a golden era of Anglo Saxon music well before the universal staves and notes were developed to simplify the process.

Tales before the Stave

Frances Fyfield unpicks the hidden codes of a beautiful 11th-century musical manuscript, the Winchester Troper, written long before the use of staves, that has helped scholars clarify the way musical notation developed in the early medieval period.

(Repeated on Saturday at 3.30pm)

The Archers

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

The Archers: 10/08/2009

10/08/2009

BBC Radio 4 - The Archers, 10/08/2009

Vicky wins Brownie points at Willow Farm.

As Roy, Hayley and Brenda sit in the garden at Willow Farm, Mike brings round the revamped gardens plans for approval. 

Brenda quietly says that the plans have improved, and Roy and Hayley are pleased with the features for the children. Hayley says Phoebe's not happy with her at the moment. They've spent the afternoon buying her school uniform for Borchester Green. Roy and Hayley tell Mike they've accepted Vicky's offer to look after Abbie for a day each week. They're delighted. Brenda is put out but Roy and Hayley say Brenda can still help - they just need something regular arranged.

Tom and Helen are busy enjoying the responsibility of looking after Bridge Farm. Helen tells Tom she's going out with Kirsty tomorrow evening. Now Annette's in with Alice's crowd, she doesn't need to worry so much. 

Later, Tom gets home. Tony has rung and asked Tom to visit Peggy. Brenda knows Tom's busy, so she'll go, but Tom says she doesn't need to. Brenda's upset. Why doesn't anyone trust her to do anything? She complains about Vicky looking after Abbie. The more Vicky pushes her way into things, the more Brenda feels she and her Mum are shoved out. 

Episode written by Adrian Flynn.

Drama on 4

Drama from BBC Radio 4 and Radio 4 Extra.

Afternoon Play

Drama on 4: The Mouse House

The Mouse House

BBC Radio 4 - Drama on 4, The Mouse House

By Adrian Penketh. Wannabe cultural terrorist Mike is determined to make a splash.

By Adrian Penketh. Wannabe cultural terrorist Mike is determined to make a splash; make a statement; make more of his life. But has he got what it takes to pull it off?

By Adrian Penketh. Wannabe cultural terrorist Mike is determined to make a splash; make a statement; make more of his life. But has he got what it takes to pull it off and light up the skies above London? 

Mike ...... Adam Kotz
Kate ...... Raquel Cassidy
Steve ...... Nicholas Gleaves
Will ...... Giles Fagan
Mike's Colleague ...... Stephen Hogan.

Afternoon Play:The Mouse House

Wannabe cultural terrorist Mike is determined to make a splash and make more of his life. But has he got what it takes to pull it off and light up the skies above London? By Adrian Penketh.  producer Toby Swift

Home Planet

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

Home Planet: 11/08/2009

BBC Radio 4 - Home Planet, 11/08/2009

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

Richard Daniel is joined by planning expert Professor Yvonne Rydin, forest ecologist Dr Nick Brown and Professor Philip Stott to discuss listeners' questions.

Do we truly appreciate the role that trees play in moderating our climate? Do Tree Preservation Orders fail to protect trees and why do trees split as they grow? 

Why has hemp not made a bigger impact on the building industry? 

Concern over so-called 'kinetic plates', designed to generate electricity as cars drive over them. Are they really producing power for free or are they yet another way big business can extract income from the customer?

Tackling these conundrums are planning expert Professor Yvonne Rydin, forest ecologist Dr Nick Brown and Professor Philip Stott. As always we want to hear your comments on the topics discussed and any questions you might want to put to future programmes.

Don't forget we want to hear your observations of House Martins; have they returned this year and when, and have they bred successfully?

Home Planet: Preservation Orders

6/13. Richard Daniel and the team discuss listeners' questions about the environment. Address: [address removed] Email: [web address removed] Phone: [number removed]

Afternoon Reading

Short stories or abridged books, often from new writers

Afternoon Reading: We Are Stardust, We Are Golden...

Afternoon Reading: We Are Stardust, We Are Golden...: Episode 1: Dreams of Milk and Honey

Episode 1: Dreams of Milk and Honey

We Are Stardust, We Are Golden...

Dreams of Milk and Honey

BBC Radio 4 - Afternoon Reading, We Are Stardust, We Are Golden..., Dreams of Milk and HoneySearch BBC

By Patrick Neate. Tommy tells his rebellious and unconventional mother something important

By Patrick Neate. 39-year-old Tommy, conceived at Woodstock, goes to visit his rebellious and still unconventional mother to tell her something important. Read by Mark Bazeley.

Read by Mark Bazeley

These three short stories were commissioned by Radio 4 to mark the 40th anniversary of the famous Woodstock Music Festival. With different themes reflecting that momentous time, We Are Stardust We Are Golden begins with Dreams of Milk and Honey by Patrick Neate. 

The narrator, Tommy, is a child of Woodstock whose parents' relationship blossomed during the festival. On his way to visit his rather remarkable mother, still in some ways a child of the 60's, he has to break some news to her about his personal life and finds himself contemplating how she will take it. But it is not at all as he had imagined. 


Producer: Cherry Cookson
A Sweet Talk Production for BBC Radio 4.

Series of stories celebrating the 40th anniversary of the Woodstock Festival

We Are Stardust, WeAre Golden

1/3. Dreams of Milk and Honey. Tommy, a child of Woodstock. visits his mother to tell her something important. She is "as rebellious and selfish as a 60-year-old teenager". Patrick Neate 's story, read by Mark Bazeley , is the first of a trilogy marking Woodstock's 40th anniversary. Producer Cherry Cookson

The Fortune Hunters

The Fortune Hunters: Episode 2

BBC Radio 4 - The Fortune Hunters, Episode 2

A building society which turned detective and found 10,000 pounds for a local charity.

Max Flint investigates the 15 billion pounds in unclaimed assets in the UK. Max talks to a building society which turned detective and found 10,000 pounds for a local charity.

Series in which Max Flint investigates the 15 billion pounds in unclaimed assets in the UK and asks if and how these funds are distributed to their rightful owners. 

The Dormant Banks and Building Society Accounts Bill dictates that, after 15 years or dormancy, any assets that lie unclaimed in accounts can be used for charitable purposes.

Max talks to a building society in north Staffordshire which turned detective and found 10,000 pounds for a local charity.

A Tinderbox Broadcast production for BBC Radio 4.

Max Flint investigates the 15 billion pounds in unclaimed assets in the UK

Series in which Max Flint investigates the 15 billion pounds in unclaimed assets in the UK and asks if and how these funds are distributed to their rightful owners

2/5. Max Flint talks to one building society that has turned detective and found EIO,000 lying in unclaimed accounts for a local Charity. For details see yesterday

Word of Mouth

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

Word of Mouth: 11/08/2009

BBC Radio 4 - Word of Mouth, 11/08/2009

Chris Ledgard discovers the rules of conversational engagement for everyday encounters.

Chris Ledgard discovers the rules of conversational engagement for everyday encounters such as being in the dentist's chair, the taxi rear seat and the hairdresser's salon.

The dentist's chair, the taxi rear seat, the hairdresser's salon; just what are the rules of conversational engagement for these everyday encounters? Chris Ledgard goes for a ride, a trim and a filling to find out.

5/6. What are the rules of conversational engagement when in the dentist's chair, the back seat of a taxi or at the hairdresser's? Chris Ledgard goes for a filling, a ride and a trim to find Out. Producer John  Byrne  Rptd Mon 11pm

Great Lives

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

Great Lives: Series 19

Great Lives: Episode 2: Joe Slovo

Episode 2: Joe Slovo

Joe Slovo

BBC Radio 4 - Great Lives, Joe Slovo

David Miliband discusses the life of Joe Slovo, a leading member of the ANC.

4 Extra Debut. Politician David Miliband chooses South African anti-apartheid politician, Joe Slovo. With Gillian Slovo and Matthew Parris. From August 2009.

Matthew Parris presents the biographical series in which his guests choose someone who has inspired their lives.

David Miliband discusses the life of Joe Slovo, a leading member of the African National Congress and the first housing minister in Nelson Mandela's government. Slovo's daughter, Gillian, joins in the discussion.

Great Lives: Joe Slovo

2/9. The Foreign Secretary David Miliband nominates Joe Slovo , leading member of the African National Congress, for great-life status. Slovo's daughter Gillian joins presenter Matthew Parris. Producer Miles Warde Repeated on Friday at llpm

Afternoon news and current affairs programme

Accessibility links

Programme Index

Shipping Forecast

11/08/2009

Genres

Brand

You and Yours

11/08/2009

Genres

Brand

Call You and Yours

Contributors

Weather

11/08/2009

Genres

Brand

Weather

11/08/2009

Genres

Brand

Shipping Forecast

11/08/2009

Genres

Brand

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