The latest news headlines. Including a look at the papers.

William Crawley with the religious and ethical news of the week. Show more

Rev Nicholas Holtam presents the Radio 4 St Martin-in-the-Fields Christmas Appeal. To give call 0800 082 82 84 [free from BT landlines] or visit the Radio 4 website. Show more

The latest weather forecast.

The latest news headlines. Including a look at the papers.

The Bishop of Sheffield, Dr Steven Croft, preaches for the second of our Advent services from St Mary's Church, Bramall Lane, Sheffield. Leader: Canon Julian Sullivan. Show more

Joan Bakewell reflects on the process of ageing and the efforts of scientists to reverse it and she considers the pros and cons of adding many more years to the human span. Show more

News and conversation about the big stories of the week with Paddy O'Connell.

Received with Thanks. Libby Purvess on how the money from the 2009 appeal has helped vulnerable people across the UK. To give call 0800 082 82 84 [free from BT landlines]. Show more

Fallon and Harry get creative and there's a nasty surprise at Brookfield. Show more

Writer and historian Frances Wood joins Kirsty Young to choose her Desert Island Discs. Show more

Nicholas Parsons chairs the devious word game, with Paul Merton, Sheila Hancock and Ian MacMillan trying to speak without hesitation, deviation or repetition. From November 2010. Show more

Caribbean, Thai and Vietnamese - Simon Parkes looks at some of the latest trends in British street food and takeaway meals. Show more

The latest weather forecast.

A look at events around the world.

Ahead of the release of 'The Way Back', a Hollywood movie version of one of the greatest tales of escape and endurance, Tim Whewell separates fact from fiction. Show more

Bob Flowerdew, Matthew Biggs and Eric Robson pay fellow panellist Anne Swithinbank a visit at her home in Devon. Here they answer some of the questions sent into the programme. Show more

Prof Sir Hugh Pennington delves into the life of the scientist he admires most, Joseph Lister, whose work in controlling infection he is carrying on today. Show more

Robin Brooks' dramatisation of Robert Graves' histories of Roman political vice. Growing up amid the intrigues of the Imperial family, Claudius learns Livia's true ambition. Show more

James Naughtie and readers talk to Sarah Hall about her novel The Carhullan Army, recorded at the Chapter and Verse Literature Festival in Liverpool. Show more

Peggy Reynolds opens a new series of Adventures in Poetry by asking what it is about Stevie Smith's poem "Not Waving but Drowning" which has kept it relevant since 1957. Show more

As EU member states make harsh spending cuts, Angus Stickler tracks how European funds are really being spent. Can widespread fraud and abuse be prevented? Show more

Received with Thanks. Libby Purvess on how the money from the 2009 appeal has helped vulnerable people across the UK. To give call 0800 082 82 84 [free from BT landlines]. Show more

The latest shipping forecast.

The latest weather forecast.

The latest national and international news from BBC Radio 4.

Russell Davies makes his selection of highlights from the past seven days of BBC Radio. Show more

Clarrie gets her skates on and Joe's determined to make a quick bob. Show more

Christian Lander, the blogger and self-styled White American Liberal, with a self-deprecating view of his kind. Plus actor Robert Duvall praises small town USA. Show more

Short stories to mark the 100th anniversary of the SOS call. An elderly fish-gutter spins an unconvincing yarn in Stuart MacBride's darkly humorous tale of murder and ice cream. Show more

BBC in the headlines. RadioSwap results. How to have your say on the future of the Beeb. Presented by Roger Bolton. Show more

Matthew Bannister on the Dean of Southwark, Colin Slee, Airplane star Leslie Nielsen, computer pioneer Sir Maurice Wilkes and Peter Christopherson of the group Throbbing Gristle. Show more

Paul Lewis asks: if you miss your flight or train due to snow, will your insurance cover you? Do 'contactless' cards pose a risk to customers, and are online energy deals unfair? Show more

Rev Nicholas Holtam presents the Radio 4 St Martin-in-the-Fields Christmas Appeal. To give call 0800 082 82 84 [free from BT landlines] or visit the Radio 4 website. Show more

The revolution in the operating theatre is only just beginning, but robotic surgery could change the way we think about healthcare. Peter Day hears from British robot pioneers. Show more

The latest weather forecast.

Preview of the week's political agenda at Westminster with MPs, experts and commentators. Discussion of the issues politicians are grappling with in the corridors of power. Show more

BBC Radio 4 brings back a much loved TV favourite - What the Papers Say. Sam Leith takes a wry look at how the broadsheets and red tops treat the week's news. Show more

Award winning composer Sir Richard Rodney Bennett discusses his career in films. Show more