The latest shipping forecast.

The latest news from BBC Radio 4.

Daily prayer and reflection with Father Paul Clayton-Lea.

Farmers are set to lose 6 million pounds as Birds Eye pull out of East Anglia. Charlotte Smith hears how a coastal footpath around England could spell trouble for endangered birds. Show more

Kirsty Young's castaway is the Cambridge Professor of Classics, Mary Beard. Show more

Why are there still so few women in the House of Commons? Plus, the dangers of a rapidly rising population, and dating for the over-60s.

Richard Fallon MP has hired himself a publicist to up his profile in the media. But it's soon apparent that anonymity is the least of his problems. Show more

With the start of the winter Olympics in Vancouver, Lovejit Dhaliwal looks at what it means to be an indigenous person of so-called First Nations status. Show more

The latest weather forecast.

National and international news.

Roger Bolton airs listeners' views on BBC radio programmes and policy.

David's paternal instincts come to the fore. Show more

By Peter Jukes. As a police chaplain, it is Jake Thorne's job to offer counselling and comfort to officers in trouble, victims and young offenders. But Jake has lost his faith. Show more

Eric Robson chairs the popular horticultural forum. Matthew Wilson, Bob Flowerdew and Anne Swithinbank join gardeners in Linton, Cambridgeshire. Show more

Ivan Hewett examines the distinct characteristics of five different musical keys. Today, he looks at E flat major, as used by Beethoven, Mozart and John Allen. Show more

John Wilson presents the obituary series. Marking the lives of Sir Percy Cradock, Lucienne Day, Lieutenant-Colonel Lee Archer and Pernell Roberts. Show more

Morgan Freeman reveals the secrets of playing Nelson Mandela in Clint Eastwood's new biopic, Invictus. Show more

The latest national and international news from BBC Radio 4.

Sandi Toksvig chairs the topical comedy quiz. The panellists are Francis Wheen, Jeremy Hardy, Micky Flanagan and Jack Dee.

Annette makes a surprise decision. Show more

Dominic West, Katie Jarvis and co-creator of The Wire Ed Burns feature in a special edition of Front Row exploring the trend for casting non-professional actors for the screen. Show more

A History of the World celebrates the arrival of writing into our history with a 5,000-year-old Mesopotamian clay tablet that deals not in poetry but in describing the local beer! Show more

Jonathan Dimbleby chairs the topical debate from Edgware in Middlesex. The panellists are Benedict Brogan, Francis Crook, Esther Rantzen and Brian Paddick. Show more

Lisa Jardine reflects on the need for climate scientists to take scrupulous care when they inform and persuade.

An omnibus edition of Shelagh Stephenson's drama about psychotherapist Martha and her dealings with a series of patients. Show more

The latest weather forecast.

News and analysis with Robin Lustig. Four politicians are to face criminal charges in connection with their expenses claims. What's the answer to southern Europe's economic woes? Show more

With the secrets of Julia's family finally laid bare, she and Simon must find a way to resolve the distance between them and to confront their unspoken fears. Show more

4 Extra Debut. Richard Dawkins explains why he believes Bill Hamilton was one of the great evolutionary theorists of the 20th century. With Mary Bliss. From February 2010. Show more

News, views and features on today's stories in Parliament with Mark D'Arcy.

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

A History of the World celebrates the arrival of writing into our history with a 5,000-year-old Mesopotamian clay tablet that deals not in poetry but in describing the local beer! Show more

The latest shipping forecast.

BBC Radio 4 joins the BBC World Service. BBC Radio 4 resumes at 5.20am.