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: 04/09/2009

04/09/2009

BBC Radio 4 - Shipping Forecast, 04/09/2009

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: 04/09/2009

BBC Radio 4 - News Briefing, 04/09/2009

Prayer for the Day

Prayer for the Day: 04/09/2009

BBC Radio 4 - Prayer for the Day, 04/09/2009

Daily prayer and reflection with Rev Dr Robert Tosh.

Farming Today

The latest news about food, farming and the countryside

Farming Today: 04/09/2009

BBC Radio 4 - Farming Today, 04/09/2009

An abattoir worker has had his licence suspended following secret filming.

Secret recordings in an abattoir show a worker allegedly mistreating animals. Charlotte Smith asks how widespread this type of behaviour might be.

Animal rights group Animal Aid has carried out secret filming in three abattoirs; the footage shows a worker in one allegedly mistreating animals and he has had his licence suspended. 

Charlotte Smith finds out what was captured on film, which practices break the rules and how likely it is that illegal behaviour is happening elsewhere.

Farming Today „

With Charlotte Smith. Producer Anne-Marie BullocK

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: 04/09/2009

BBC Radio 4 - Today, 04/09/2009

Including Sports Desk; Weather; Thought for the Day.

With John Humphrys and Sarah Montague. Including Sports Desk; Weather; Thought for the Day.

Presented by John Humphrys and Sarah Montague.

Economics editor Stephanie Flanders reports on the difficulty of agreeing sanctions on bankers' pay by G20 countries.

Officials in northern Afghanistan say a Nato airstrike on hijacked fuel tankers killed at least 40 people. Chris Morris reports.

Dr Iain Stephenson, leader of a trial into a swine flu vaccine, explains his progress.

Gillian Hargreaves reports on the progress made by the Green Party over recent years. Green Party leader Caroline Lucas discusses how the Greens can get at least one MP at the next general election.

Former security minister Tony McNulty explains why Falkirk West MP Eric Joyce, a parliamentary aide to Defence Secretary Bob Ainsworth, resigned.

Karen Allen reports on the dispute between the soldiers' union and the government in South Africa.

Thought for the day with Catherine Pepinster, editor of the Tablet.

Two young brothers, who lured two boys aged nine and 11 to a South Yorkshire ravine before carrying out a brutal attack, have admitted assault. Home editor Mark Easton reports on the story of the brothers aged 10 and 12. Labour MP Graham Allen and social worker Joanna Nicolas discuss the comparisons drawn by many newspapers between this and the murder of toddler James Bulger. 

Chancellor Alistair Darling discusses stimulus efforts and the reform of the international banking system.

Gordon Brown is to give a major speech restating his commitment to the mission in Afghanistan, after a ministerial aide resigned over government strategy. Political editor Nick Robinson examines how the Prime Minister's speech might be affected by Eric Joyce MP's resignation. 

Pestival, described as a celebration of insects in art and the art of being an insect, is opening at the Southbank Centre in London. Cult musician and insect lover Robyn Hitchcock explains the reason behind a choral collaboration between humans and bees and the first ever human/cricket duet. 

UKIP's Nigel Farage explains why he is to stand down as party leader, but will continue to lead its MEPs.

German minister Wolfgang Tiefensee and author Peter Millar remember Germany in 1989 as the Berlin Wall fell.

What would happen if a writer was given unlimited access to President Obama? Author Richard Wolffe explains what he did with 'more access than anyone else'. 

'I do not think the public will accept for much longer that our losses can be justified by simply referring to the risk of greater terrorism on our streets', said Eric Joyce MP in a letter resigning as a parliamentary aide to the Defence Secretary. Andrew Mackinlay, a Labour member of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee, discusses Mr Joyce's view.

With John Humphrys and Sarah Montague. 
6.25, 7.25, 8.25 Sports News 
7.48 Thought for the Day 
With Catherine Pepinster. Editor Ceri Thomas

The Reunion

Series which reunites a group of people intimately involved in a moment of modern history

The Reunion: 1983–1985 famine in Ethiopia

30/08/2009

1983–1985 famine in Ethiopia

BBC Radio 4 - The Reunion, 1983–1985 famine in Ethiopia

Key players in the relief effort mounted in response to the famine in Ethiopia in 1984.

Sue MacGregor is joined by some of those involved in the international relief effort mounted in response to the famine in Ethiopia in 1984, culminating in the Live Aid concerts.

Sue MacGregor presents the series which reunites a group of people intimately involved in a moment of modern history. 

In Ethiopia, close to eight million people became famine victims during the drought of 1984, and over one million died. The international relief effort that followed was the largest ever mounted, culminating in the Live Aid concert in 1985. 

Reporter Michael Buerk, nurse Claire Bertschinger, former head of Oxfam Hugh Goyder, Major Dawit Wolde Giorgis of the Ethiopian relief effort and Sir Brian Barder, Ambassador to Ethiopia at the time, join Sue to recall the events.

A Whistledown production for BBC Radio 4.

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: Newton And The Counterfeiter

Book of the Week: Newton And The Counterfeiter: Episode 5

Episode 5

Newton And The Counterfeiter

BBC Radio 4 - Book of the Week, Newton And The Counterfeiter, Episode 5

Chaloner faces trial at the Old Bailey and the threat of the gallows at Tyburn.

Thomas Levenson's account of Isaac Newton's rivalry with the daring criminal William Chaloner. Chaloner faces trial at the Old Bailey and the threat of the gallows at Tyburn.

Crawford Logan reads from Thomas Levenson's biography of Isaac Newton and his rivalry with one of 17th-century London's most accomplished and daring criminals, William Chaloner. 

Chaloner faces trial at the Old Bailey and the threat of the gallows at Tyburn.

Thomas Levenson's account of the rivalry between Isaac Newton and William Chaloner

Crawford Logan reads from Thomas Levenson's biography of Isaac Newton and his rivalry with one of 17th-century London's most accomplished and daring criminals, William Chaloner

Book of the Week:Newton and the Counterfeiter

5/5. Chaloner faces trial at the Old Bailey and the threat of Tyburn gallows. For details see Monday Repeated at 12.30am

Act of Worship

From Cardiff, led by the Rev Mary Stallard.

Woman's Hour

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

Woman's Hour: Rheumatoid arthritis; Lubna Hussein discussed

Rheumatoid arthritis; Lubna Hussein discussed

BBC Radio 4 - Woman's Hour, Rheumatoid arthritis; Lubna Hussein discussed

Have feminists ignored the case of Sudanese journalist Lubna Hussein?

Have feminists ignored the case of Sudanese journalist Lubna Hussein? Plus, treatment for Rheumatoid arthritis; and what does a moustache say about a man?

Writing the Century

5/5 The Woman's Hour drama.

(For details see drama rpt at 7.45pm)

Journey of a Lifetime

Following the travels of the winners of the annual BBC/RGS's dream journey competition

Following the travels of the winners of the annual BBC/Royal Geographical Society's dream journey competition

Journey of a Lifetime: 2009: Dan Box. The Sinking Islands

2009: Dan Box. The Sinking Islands

BBC Radio 4 - Journey of a Lifetime, 2009: Dan Box. The Sinking IslandsSearch BBC

Dan Box visits the Carteret Islands, where evacuation is taking place as sea levels rises.

Dan Box attempts to reach the Carteret Islands where a mass evacuation is taking place as the sea level rises. From 2009.

In 2009 Dan Box was awarded the Royal Geographical Society (in association with the BBC) prize for the most enterprising dream travel idea.

The Anglo-Australian journalist's Journey of a Lifetime is a visit to the remote South Pacific coral atoll group known as the Carteret Islands, part of Papua New Guinea. But these low-lying islands rise barely a metre above the level of the surrounding ocean.

Rising sea levels are threatening Carteret Islanders due to the threat of King Tides and global warming. The previous winter's great storm resulted in the islands being badly flooded, with their productive soil rendered useless by the salt in the water. 

This left the locals with no way of growing crops in their plots, or 'gardens' so local authorities started a process of mass evacuation. Eventually thousands of men, women and children will be resettled in the neighbouring island community of Bougainville.

Dan Box was determined to watch the world's first organised exodus as a result of climate change as it got underway. But first he had to negotiate the tricky journey - diplomatic as well as physical - that would take him to these tiny spikes of coral amid the vastness of the Pacific Ocean.

Producer: Simon Elmes

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in September 2009.

The Sinking Islands. This year s winner of the Royal Geographical 
Society Journey of a Lifetime award, Dan Box , reports on his dream trip to the . Carteret Islands, part of Papua New Guinea. Producer Simon Elmes 
Radio features: pages 118-119

The Pickerskill Reports

By Andrew McGibbon. English master Dr Henry Pickerskill looks back on his favourite pupils

By Andrew McGibbon. Dr Henry Pickerskill, the now-retired English master of Haunchurst School for boys, looks back on his favourite pupils and their fortunes in the adult world

The Pickerskill Reports: Series 1

The Pickerskill Reports: Series 1: Episode 2: Kaws and Effect

Episode 2

Episode 2: Kaws and Effect

Series 1

Kaws and Effect

BBC Radio 4 Extra - The Pickerskill Reports, Series 1, Kaws and EffectSearch BBC

Retired English master Dr Henry Pickerskill recalls a pupil with engineering talents.

Retired English master Dr Henry Pickerskill recalls a pupil with engineering talents. Stars Ian McDiarmid. From August 2009.

Ian McDiarmid stars as Dr Henry Pickerskill, retired English master of Haunchurst School for boys, looking back on his favourite pupils and their fortunes in the adult world - based on their school reports and their letters to him after they left.

Dr Pickerskill encourages Francis Kaws, whose great engineering talents are being wasted on clever and inventive school pranks, putting him in danger of being expelled. 

Pickerskill harnesses the boy's gifts, encouraging him to adapt an old tractor to run on Haunchurst College's defunct narrow-gauge railway line. 

Dr Henry Pickerskill ..... Ian McDiarmid 
Elfyn Wynn Thomas Evans ..... Philip Madoc
Francis Kaws ..... Louis Williams
The Colonel ..... Richard Johnson
Mike Poulson Jabby ..... Mike Feast
Stanislaw ..... Mike Sarne
Jack Rousseau ..... Tony Gardner

Written and directed by Andrew McGibbon.

Producers: Nick Romero
A Curtains For Radio production for BBC Radio 4.

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.

The Pickerskill Reports: Kaws and Effect

2/4. Pickerskill encourages Francis Kaws, whose talents are being wasted on pranks. He harnesses the boy's gifts by encouraging him to adapt an old tractor to run on Haunchurst College's defunct narrow gauge railway line. By Andrew McGibbon.
Producer Nick Romero ; Director Andrew McGiODon

You and Yours

You and Yours: 04/09/2009

BBC Radio 4 - You and Yours, 04/09/2009

Consumer news and issues with Peter White.

You and Yours: 4 September

With Peter White. 
Series editor Andrew Smith

Weather

Weather: 04/09/2009

BBC Radio 4 - Weather, 04/09/2009

World at One

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

World at One: 04/09/2009

BBC Radio 4 - World at One, 04/09/2009

National and international news with Shaun Ley.

International One-Day Cricket

England v Australia  
Commentary from the Oval on the first fixture of the seven-match series by Jonathan Agnew , Jim Maxwell and Simon Mann. With analysis by Phil Tufnell and Vic Marks. 
Producer Adam Mountford *approximate times 
Commentary also on 5 Live Sports Extra at 12.45pm

The World at One

Presented by Shaun Ley. Editor Jamie Angus

More or Less

Tim Harford explains the numbers and statistics used in everyday life

Tim Harford explains - and sometimes debunks - the numbers and statistics used in political debate, the news and everyday life

More or Less: 04/09/2009

BBC Radio 4 - More or Less, 04/09/2009

Investigating estimates of the number of people who illegally share files on the internet.

Tim Harford and the team investigate widely-reported estimates of the number of people who illegally share files on the internet, and examine the abuse of maths by the PR industry.

Tim Harford and the More or Less team investigate widely-reported estimates of the number of people who illegally share files on the internet, and examine the abuse of maths by the public relations industry.

An Open University co production for BBC Radio 4.

More or Less: Illegal File-Sharing

5/6. Tim Harford investigates the numbers that are everywhere. Producer Richard Knight Repeated on Sunday at 8pm

The Archers

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

The Archers: 03/09/2009

03/09/2009

BBC Radio 4 - The Archers, 03/09/2009

Wayne hits the bullseye with the darts team.

David gets a call from Pip saying she's missed the bus and wants a lift home. Fortunately Ian is passing and gives her a lift. Pip's annoyed that she can't drive yet. Ian tells her it's never too early to learn - look at Daniel! 

Ian tells Adam to forget his footpath meeting and go straight to planning, hoping nobody notices. Adam thinks it's best to be upfront with the locals. 

Annoyed David tells Ian he doesn't need him putting ideas about driving into Pip's head. However, he agrees the menu for their 'Meet the farmer, cook the dish' event with Ian and Adam.

Sid's being snappy with Mike, saying that Wayne's the problem and he's got to go. Mike's more worried about his darts match. Roy has let them down. Wayne volunteers, but hasn't played for ages. Sid isn't keen but Mike doesn't want to lose and needs a full team. 

The darts match is at a crucial point when Wayne steps up. The Bull's buzzing and it all hangs on Wayne's turn. Mike tells Wayne to stay focused and they'll be rooting for him. Wayne then thrashes the Crown's star player. Sid begrudgingly gets Wayne a pint for saving the day. 

Episode written by Simon Frith.

Drama on 4

Drama from BBC Radio 4 and Radio 4 Extra.

Afternoon Play

Drama on 4: Sons

Sons

BBC Radio 4 - Drama on 4, Sons

By Nell Leyshon. Two mothers react very differently when their sons fall in love.

By Nell Leyshon. Two mothers, teacher Elizabeth and stay-at-home mum Jane, react very differently when their sons fall in love with one another.

By Nell Leyshon. Teacher Elizabeth and stay-at-home mum Jane have just one thing in common: they each have a son. Gabriel and Ryan met at the local secondary school, where they fell in love. The mothers reacted very differently to their sons' relationship. Then something happens which forces  Elizabeth to confront Jane. 

Jane ...... Noreen Kershaw
Elizabeth ...... Lorraine Ashbourne.

Afternoon Play: Sons

By Nell Leyshon. Gabriel and Ryan met at school, where they fell in love. Their mothers, Elizabeth and Jane, reacted very differently to their relationship, but something happens that forces a confrontation.   Producer Susan Roberts

Gardeners' Question Time

Horticultural programme featuring a group of gardening experts

A panel of horticultural experts answer gardening questions from a live audience. Recorded in a different location each week

Gardeners' Question Time: 04/09/2009

BBC Radio 4 - Gardeners' Question Time, 04/09/2009

Peter Gibbs chairs. With Matthew Biggs, Bunny Guinness and John Cushnie.

Eric Robson chairs the popular horticultural forum. Matthew Biggs, Bunny Guinness and John Cushnie answer questions posed by gardeners in Essex.

Eric Robson chairs the popular horticultural forum. 

Matthew Biggs, Bunny Guinness and John Cushnie answer questions posed by gardeners in Essex. 

John presents a guide to coastal shelter-belts and explains how these are created with the help of a local gardener. 

Matthew reports from the Fruit Focus industry event, where he unveils a new super-yielding crop and reveals how we are soon to benefit from new extra water-efficient strawberry plants.

Including Gardening weather forecast.

Gardeners' Question Time: Essex

Matthew Biggs , Bunny Guinness and John Cushnie answer questions from gardeners in Essex. Matthew Biggs looks at a new crop of extra water-efficient strawberry plants. Eric Robson is in the chair. Including at

Gardening Weather Forecast.

Producer Lucy Dichmont Rptd on Sunday at 2pm

I Was a Child Prodigy

I Was a Child Prodigy: Episode 5

BBC Radio 4 - I Was a Child Prodigy, Episode 5

Retired civil servant David Heigham's schooling failed to fully nurture his talents. Why?

Chris Ledgard looks at the lives of people who were labelled child prodigies. David Heigham spent years trying to find out why his schooling failed to fully nurture his talents.

Chris Ledgard presents a series looking at the lives of people who were labelled child prodigies.

Retired civil servant David Heigham spent years looking for someone to explain why his schooling left him incapable of fulfilling his intellectual talents. Then he found Professor Carol Dweck of Stanford University, whose theories David believes offer important lessons to anyone dealing with a gifted child.

Chris Ledgard looks at the lives of people who were labelled child prodigies

Chris Ledgard presents a series looking at the lives of people who were labelled child prodigies

5/5. David Heigham , a retired civil servant, discusses his deep regret at having wasted his intellectual gifts. For details see Monday

Last Word

Radio 4's weekly obituary programme, telling the life stories of those who have died recently

Last Word: 04/09/2009

BBC Radio 4 - Last Word, 04/09/2009

Matthew Bannister presents the obituary series.

Matthew Bannister on the lives of environmentalist Edward Goldsmith; 60s radio and TV star Simon Dee; Scottish ballad singer Stanley Robertson and songwriter Ellie Greenwich.

Matthew Bannister presents the obituary series, analysing and celebrating the life stories of people who have recently died. The programme reflects on people of distinction and interest from many walks of life, some famous and some less well known

Focusing on the lives of environmentalist Edward Goldsmith; 60s radio and TV star Simon Dee; Scottish ballad singer and storyteller Stanley Robertson; and songwriter Ellie Greenwich.

Last Word: Simon Dee

Matthew Bannister and guests reflect on the lives of notable people who have recently died. Producer Neil George Repeated on Sunday at 8.30pm

The Film Programme

The latest releases, the hottest stars and the leading directors, plus news and insights

The latest releases, the hottest stars and the leading directors, plus news and insights from the film world

The Film Programme: 04/09/2009

BBC Radio 4 - The Film Programme, 04/09/2009

Francine Stock talks to Janet Suzman about the 1972 movie A Day in the Death of Joe Egg.

Francine Stock talks to Janet Suzman about the 1972 movie A Day in the Death of Joe Egg, now available on DVD. While Actor Michael Fassbender discusses his career.

Director Marc Webb discusses his film, 500 Days of Summer, a romantic comedy that stands romantic ideals on its head. 

Actor Janet Suzman remembers her role in the jagged-edged 1970s drama A Day in the Death of Joe Egg, newly released on DVD. She also reveals the unconventional casting technique for her starring role in the film Nicolas and Alexandra.

Plus an interview with Michael Fassbender, an an actor who gives versatility a new dimension and who appears in radically contrasting films: Quentin Tarantino's Inglourious Basterds and Andrea Arnold's controversial movie Fish Tank.

The Film Programme: Janet Suzman

Janet Suzman talks to Francine Stock about A Day in the Death of Joe Egg. Producer Stephen Hughes Repeated on Sunday at 11pm

Afternoon news and current affairs programme

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

Accessibility links

Programme Index

Shipping Forecast

04/09/2009

Genres

Brand

Writing the Century

Contributors

Weather

04/09/2009

Genres

Brand

Gardening Weather Forecast.

Contributors

Weather

04/09/2009

Genres

Brand

Shipping Forecast

04/09/2009

Genres

Brand

BBC Radio 4 FM

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