BBC Radio 4 LW

Shipping Forecast

The latest weather reports and forecasts for UK shipping

Shipping Forecast: 28/12/2009

28/12/2009

BBC Radio 4 - Shipping Forecast, 28/12/2009Close menu

BBC Radio 4

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: 28/12/2009

BBC Radio 4 - News Briefing, 28/12/2009Close menu

Prayer for the Day

Prayer for the Day: 28/12/2009

BBC Radio 4 - Prayer for the Day, 28/12/2009

Daily prayer and reflection with Rev Dr Martyn Atkins.

Farming Today

The latest news about food, farming and the countryside

Farming Today: 28/12/2009

BBC Radio 4 - Farming Today, 28/12/2009

Including an in-depth look at pig production.

Farming Today takes an in-depth look at pig production and follows one sow on a Yorkshire farm through her pregnancy.

Farming Today takes an in-depth look at pig production, following one sow on a Yorkshire farm from pregnancy to progeny. From artificial insemination to electronic feeders controlled by the sows themselves, modern pig breeding is a hi-tech business driven by market forces. Sarah Falkingham also finds out why some boars are on farms but never mate, how pigs develop a hierarchy and can even, it seems, measure time.

Weather

Weather: 28/12/2009

BBC Radio 4 - Weather, 28/12/2009Close menu

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: 28/12/2009

BBC Radio 4 - Today, 28/12/2009

Including Sports Desk; Weather; Thought for the Day.

With Evan Davis and Justin Webb. Including Sports Desk; Weather; Thought for the Day.

Test Match Special

Test Match Special: 28/12/2009

BBC Radio 4 - Test Match Special, 28/12/2009

Coverage of the third day of the Second Test between South Africa and England in Durban.

Coverage of the third day of the Second Test between South Africa and England from Kingsmead, Durban. Commentary by Jonathan Agnew, Gerald De Kock and Simon Mann.

Coverage of the third day of the Second Test between South Africa and England from Kingsmead, Durban. Commentary by Jonathan Agnew, Gerald De Kock and Simon Mann and summaries from Michael Vaughan, Geoff Boycott and Vic Marks.

BBC Radio 4 is a radio channel that started transmitting on the 30th September 1967. It replaced BBC Home Service.

Daily Service

Spiritual reflection with a Bible reading, prayer and a range of Christian music.

A space for spiritual reflection with a Bible reading, prayer and a range of Christian music.

Daily Service: 28/12/2009

BBC Radio 4 - Daily Service, 28/12/2009

Christian worship and music led by Dr Michael Ford.

Coverage of the third day of the Second Test between South Africa and England from Kingsmead, Durban. Commentary by Jonathan Agnew, Gerald De Kock and Simon Mann and summaries from Michael Vaughan, Geoff Boycott and Vic Marks. 

Including Shipping Forecast.

A View Through a Lens

Wildlife cameraman John Aitchison on human experience and the beauty of nature

Wildlife cameraman John Aitchison combines location recordings with personal narratives which highlight the uniqueness of human experience and the beauty of nature

A View Through a Lens: Series 1

A View Through a Lens: Series 1: Episode 1: Seals

Episode 1

Episode 1: Seals

Series 1

Seals

BBC Radio 4 - A View Through a Lens, Series 1, Seals

John films grey seals giving birth at night off the Northumberland coast.

Wildlife cameraman John Aitchison highlights the beauty of nature. Despite a raging storm, John films grey seals giving birth at night off the Northumberland coast.

Wildlife cameraman John Aitchison often finds himself in isolated and even dangerous locations across the globe filming wildlife, and in this series he reflects on the uniqueness of human experience, the beauty of nature, the fragility of life and the connections which unite society and nature across the globe.

1/3 GREY SEALS: Despite a raging storm John struggles across the rocky shore of Brownsman Island off the coast of Northumberland to film grey seals giving birth at night. 

Wildlife sound recordist is Chris Watson
Producer Sarah Blunt.

The Food Programme

Investigating every aspect of the food we eat

Food Programme

The Food Programme: Bread Skills

27/12/2009

Bread Skills

BBC Radio 4 - The Food Programme, Bread Skills

Sheila Dillon celebrates 'real' bread and those who make it.

Most British bread is highly processed and packed with additives, but all over the country enthusiastic bakers are working to bring back 'real' artisan bread. Sheila Dillon reports.

Sheila Dillon celebrates the rise of real bread. 

The majority of Britain's bread is highly processed, packed with additives and often made with cost, rather than quality, in mind. But countless bakers, amateur and professional, are fighting back. 

Sheila finds out about some of the new ventures that are making artisan bread more widely available, and at a competitive price. Reporter Gerard Baker visits the Handmade Bakery in West Yorkshire, a community-supported bakery with dozens of local subscribers. 

Sheila also hears about St Mary's Bakery in Frensham in Surrey, where Richard Dean started his venture by offering his bread to the neighbours. Sunday Telegraph food columnist Bee Wilson explains what happened to bakers in the Middle Ages when their bread was not up to scratch. In the studio, food writer Rose Prince launches her idea for extending breadmaking skills to the young as well as encouraging more people to enjoy 'real' bread.

Beyond Belief

Series exploring the place and nature of faith in today's world

Beyond Belief: 28/12/2009

BBC Radio 4 - Beyond Belief, 28/12/2009

Ernie Rea and his guests discuss the popularity of angels in contemporary culture.

Ernie Rea and his guests discuss the popularity of angels in contemporary culture. What are they and why are so many people prepared to believe in angels but not in God?

Ernie Rea and his guests discuss the popularity of angels in contemporary culture. Angels appear in almost every religious tradition; what are they and why are so many people prepared to believe in angels but not in God?

1989: Day by Day

1989: Day by Day: Episode 85: 28th December 1989

Episode 85

Episode 85: 28th December 1989

28th December 1989

BBC Radio 4 - 1989: Day by Day, 28th December 1989

Jimi Hendrix is deployed against General Noriega.

Sir John Tusa looks back at the events making the news 20 years ago. Jimi Hendrix is deployed against General Noriega.

Sir John Tusa looks back at the events making the news 20 years ago.

Jimi Hendrix is deployed against General Noriega.

A Somethin' Else production for BBC Radio 4.

Sir John Tusa looks back at the events making the news 20 years ago

Afternoon news and current affairs programme

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

PM: 28/12/2009

BBC Radio 4 - PM, 28/12/2009

Coverage and analysis of the day's news with Carolyn Quinn.

Full coverage and analysis of the day's news with Carolyn Quinn. Plus Weather.

Six O'Clock News

The latest national and international news from BBC Radio 4

Six O'Clock News: 28/12/2009

BBC Radio 4 - Six O'Clock News, 28/12/2009

National and international news from BBC Radio 4.

The latest national and international news from BBC Radio 4.

The News at Bedtime

Twin presenters John Tweedledum and Jim Tweedledee present in-depth news analysis.

Twin presenters John Tweedledum and Jim Tweedledee present in-depth news analysis covering stories happening this 'once upon a time'.

The News at Bedtime: Series 1: Episode 3

Episode 3

BBC Radio 4 Extra - The News at Bedtime, Series 1, Episode 3Search BBC

Food campaigner Jack Spratt and the Tooth Fairy debate the nation's nutrition.

Jack Spratt and the tooth fairy debate nutrition. Jack Dee and Peter Capaldi are John Tweedledum and Jim Tweedledee. From 2009.

Twin presenters John Tweedledum and Jim Tweedledee present in-depth news analysis covering the latest stories happening this 'once upon a time'. 

Food campaigner Jack Spratt and the Tooth Fairy debate the nation's nutrition. 

Written by Ian Hislop and Nick Newman

Starring Jack Dee and Peter Capaldi.

With:

Jack Dee
Peter Capaldi
Charlotte Green
Lewis MacLeod
Lucy Montgomery
Vicki Pepperdine
Dan Tetsell. 

Producer: Simon Nicholls

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in December 2009.

The News at Bedtime: Series 1

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.

Comedy by Ian Hislop and Nick Newman covering the news in the world of nursery rhymes

Comedy by Ian Hislop and Nick Newman. Twin presenters John Tweedledum and Jim Tweedledee present in-depth news analysis covering the latest stories happening this 'once upon a time'.

The Unbelievable Truth

Game show in which panellists are encouraged to tell lies.

Game show in which panellists compete to see how many nuggets of truth they are able to hide amongst their lies.

The Unbelievable Truth: New Year Special

New Year Special

BBC Radio 4 - The Unbelievable Truth, New Year Special

David Mitchell chairs. The panel includes Rob Brydon, John Lloyd and Stephen Fry.

David Mitchell hosts a special New Year's edition of the game show. The panel includes Rob Brydon, John Lloyd and Stephen Fry.

David Mitchell hosts a special New Year's edition of the game show in which panellists are encouraged to tell lies and compete to see how many items of truth they are able to smuggle past their opponents. The panel includes Rob Brydon, John Lloyd and Stephen Fry.

A Random Entertainment production for BBC Radio 4.

Part of the BBC Christmas 2009 season.

The Archers

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

The Archers: 28/12/2009

BBC Radio 4 - The Archers, 28/12/2009

Noticing an atmosphere, Annette's anxious when Helen suggests a girly night in. She relaxes when Helen tells her about finishing with Leon. Helen feels a fool but Annette's supportive, saying everyone was taken in except Ian. Leon did like Helen, he was just keen on everybody else too. Helen tells Annette she's a good friend.
 
Lilian helps Jennifer choose an outfit for New Year's Eve and worries about Matt; he won't open up to her and she struggles for conversation. When Jennifer offers to visit Matt with her, Lilian's thrilled.

Pip is moody while clothes shopping with Ruth. There's no point buying anything, she never goes out and she has no friends at college. When Pip goes off with Izzy and her work friends, relieved Ruth joins Lilian and Jennifer in Underwoods coffee shop.  

When Pip returns home from an evening with Izzy's friends, she tells a shocked Ruth that she doesn't want to go back to college. She's thought about it over Christmas, and her evening with Izzy has made her reassess things. She wants to get on with her life and to work at Brookfield. She won't need qualifications for that; Ruth and David can teach her all she needs to know. 

Episode written by Mary Cutler.

Front Row

Live magazine programme on the worlds of arts, literature, film, media and music

Front Row: 28/12/2009

BBC Radio 4 - Front Row, 28/12/2009

The lives of Somerset Maugham, Muriel Spark and William Golding in a biography special.

Arts news and reviews with Mark Lawson. The lives of Somerset Maugham, Muriel Spark and William Golding in a biography special.

Mark Lawson examines the lives of three acclaimed writers as revealed in three major new biographies.  

The novelist and playwright Somerset Maugham enjoyed immense literary success and wealth during his lifetime, but as his biographer Selina Hastings reveals, his personal life led to a 2009 newspaper headline describing him as possibly the most debauched man of the 20th century.  

John Carey's biography of Nobel Laureate William Golding also attracted headlines, in the light of details discovered in Golding's previously unseen journals. John Carey reflects on whether or not this new information changed his opinion of Golding as a writer. 

The complex life of Muriel Spark presented considerable problems for biographer Martin Stannard. He discusses his approach to the novelist still perhaps best known for The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, and Muriel Spark herself remembers key incidents from her life from a Front Row archive interview recorded in 2004, just two years before she died.

15 Minute Drama

Classic and contemporary original drama and book dramatisations

Woman's Hour Drama: My Mad Grandad

15 Minute Drama: My Mad Grandad: Episode 1

My Mad Grandad

BBC Radio 4 - 15 Minute Drama, My Mad Grandad, Episode 1

Touching and funny tale by Mike Scott of family quarrels and misspent old age.

By Mike Scott. Touching and funny tale of family quarrels and misspent old age, drawing on Scott's own childhood in Lancashire.

By Mike Scott. Touching and funny tale of family quarrels and misspent old age, drawing on Scott's own childhood in Lancashire. 

After being moved away from bad influences to live in a quiet village, 12-year-old Gil finds his new best mate is the oldest, blackest sheep in his family - his grandad, just released from the asylum, who thinks boys need catapults and stink bombs and sips of beer. 

Mum ...... Alison Steadman
Dad ...... Matthew Kelly
Old Gil ...... Bernard Hill
Grandad ...... Kenneth Cranham
Haryley ...... Johnny Vegas
Mercy ...... Gwyneth Powell
Gil ...... Stephen Rac
Kenny ...... Joshua Swinney
Muffin ...... Tomas Brennan

Directed by Dirk Maggs

A Perfectly Normal production for BBC Radio 4.

15 Minute Drama: My Mad Grandad

By Mike Scott. Touching and funny tale of family quarrels and misspent old age

By Mike Scott. Touching and funny tale of family quarrels and misspent old age, drawing on Scott's own childhood in Lancashire

Things We Forgot to Remember

Series examining overlooked but noteworthy historical events, with Michael Portillo

Michael Portillo presents a series revisiting the great moments of history to discover that they often conceal other events of equal but forgotten importance

Things We Forgot to Remember: Series 5

Things We Forgot to Remember: Series 5: Episode 4: The Glorious Revolution

Episode 4

Episode 4: The Glorious Revolution

Series 5

The Glorious Revolution

BBC Radio 4 - Things We Forgot to Remember, Series 5, The Glorious Revolution

Michael Portillo reconsiders the uncomfortable facts behind The Glorious Revolution.

Michael Portillo reconsiders the uncomfortable facts of invasion and occupation which lie behind the popular celebration of The Glorious Revolution of 1688.

Michael Portillo presents a series revisiting the great moments of history to discover that they often conceal other events of equal but forgotten importance.

The Glorious Revolution of 1688 is remembered for establishing the supremacy of Parliament over the Crown, setting Britain on the path towards constitutional monarchy and parliamentary democracy. Yet what's forgotten is that the events of 1688 actually constituted a foreign invasion of England by another European power, the Dutch Republic. 

When William of Orange landed at Torbay in Devon on 5 November 1688, with a fleet four times the size of the Armada of the previous century, it was ostensibly at the invitation of seven Whig supporters who were anxious to avoid a Catholic succession to James II's reign. But William's invasion was central to his plan of war with France, ensuring that England would not add her armed force to that of the French; he was set on becoming king himself and was leading his troops as an occupying force. The last comparable event was a previous William's invasion in 1066.

Even though bloodshed in England was limited - though far from the entirely 'Bloodless' revolution that has been mythologised - the revolution was only secured in Ireland and Scotland by force and with much loss of life. Michael investigates the uncomfortable facts of invasion and occupation which lie behind the popular celebration of 1688.

Michael Portillo revisits great moments of history that conceal other important events

Crossing Continents

Series focusing on foreign affairs issues

Crossing Continents: Sweden

24/12/2009

Sweden

BBC Radio 4 - Crossing Continents, Sweden

Andrew Brown tries to find out if the rural heart of Sweden lives on in the modern age.

Writer Andrew Brown tries to find out if the rural heart of Sweden still lives on in the modern age.

Writer Andrew Brown tries to find out if the rural heart of Sweden still lives on in the modern age. In an entertaining and unpredictable journey he goes in search of wolves, egg-tossing merrymakers and the ideal of the Swedish summer.

The Dragons' Lab

BBC Radio 4 - The Dragons' Lab

Trevor Cox goes behind the scenes at a multi-million pound science funding event.

Trevor Cox lifts the lid on the funding game as he spends a week with researchers who are out to win their share of several million pounds of public money in a unique funding event.

What happens when economists, neuroscientists, biologists, engineers and psychologists spend a week in the same room trying to think of ways to spend a few of million pounds? Trevor Cox lifts the lid on the funding game as he spends a week with some hopeful researchers out to win their share of several million pounds of public money in a unique funding event called The Ideas Factory - or, as he dubs it, The Dragons' Lab.

Each year the UK research councils share out 2.8 billion pounds of taxpayers' money. But how do they decide who should get it? With grants dwindling under new government spending plans, research funding squabbles are getting more fraught.

But the UK research council model for funding science is often intrinsically conservative: if you know what the outcome of research will be, why do you need to spend all that money on it? Furthermore, grants are awarded by the cognoscenti to the cognoscenti, and there is often little space for fresh perspectives or interdisciplinary overlap. There is a also a gap in the public's awareness of how these important decisions are taken on its behalf.

Start the Week

Weekly discussion programme, setting the cultural agenda every Monday

Start the Week: 28/12/2009

BBC Radio 4 - Start the Week, 28/12/2009

Leading scientists Sir Roy Anderson, Richard Dawkins, John Shepherd and Barbara Sahakian

In a special edition, Andrew Marr talks to four leading scientists about the issues that dominated 2009, and those that will be vitally important in 2010.

Andrew Marr looks at the ideas and issues that have dominated the world of science in the past year, and those that will be vitally important in the year ahead. 

Sir Roy Anderson looks at the developments and mutations of swine flu and how the world deals with global pandemics. As a former government advisor, he also explores that thorny issue of when politics and science collide. Richard Dawkins reflects on a year dominated by Darwin, Professor John Shepherd on the blue-sky thinking to combat climate change with a report on geoengineering, and Barbara Sahakian considers whether taking pills to make us clever, well-behaved and sociable will become the norm in the years ahead.

The World Tonight

In depth reporting, intelligent analysis and major breaking news from a global perspective

The World Tonight: 28/12/2009

BBC Radio 4 - The World Tonight, 28/12/2009

With Roger Hearing. A Briton found guilty of drug smuggling in China is to be executed.

News and analysis with Roger Hearing. A British man found guilty of drug smuggling in China - said by his family to be mentally ill - will be executed in the morning.

National and international news and analysis with Roger Hearing.

A British man found guilty of drug smuggling in China - said by his family to be mentally ill - has been told he will be executed in the morning. 

Prominent opposition figures have been arrested in Iran, a day after violent protests left at least eight people dead. 

Plus, can nation states deal with climate change?

Book at Bedtime

Readings from modern classics, new works by leading writers and world literature

Readings from modern classics, new works by leading writers and literature from around the world

Book at Bedtime: Tove Jansson - The True Deceiver

Book at Bedtime: Tove Jansson - The True Deceiver: Episode 1

Tove Jansson - The True Deceiver

BBC Radio 4 - Book at Bedtime, Tove Jansson - The True Deceiver, Episode 1

Katri offers to run errands for an aging artist. But what does she want in return?

4 Extra Debut. Katri offers to run errands for an aging artist in a Swedish village. But what does she want in return? Read by Indira Varma.

Indira Varma reads from the novel by Tove Jansson. 

Winter settles over the Swedish fishing village of Västerby. Katri offers to run errands for the ageing artist who lives on the outskirts. But what does this strange young woman want in return from Anna Aemelin?

Abridged by Jeremy Osborne.

A Sweet Talk Production for BBC Radio 4.

By Tove Jansson. The story of two very different women, set in the winter snows of Sweden.

By Tove Jansson. The story of two very different women, set in the deep winter snows of the fictional Swedish hamlet of Västerby

Accessibility links

Programme Index

Shipping Forecast

28/12/2009

Genres

Brand

Weather

28/12/2009

Genres

Brand

1989: Day by Day

Episode 85: 28th December 1989

Genres

Series

Shipping Forecast

28/12/2009

Genres

Brand

Weather

28/12/2009

Genres

Brand

Weather

28/12/2009

Genres

Brand

Shipping Forecast

29/12/2009

Genres

Brand

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