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

Nic keeps the peace and Helen is overloaded. Show more

Oscar-winning filmmaker Nick Park joins Kirsty Young to choose his Desert Island Discs. Show more

Nicholas Parsons invites Paul Merton, Sheila Hancock, Gyles Brandreth and poet Ian McMillan to show who has the gift of the gab. From December 2010. Show more

Panettone and chocolate logs - Sheila Dillon embraces two of the newer cakes to grace our Christmas tables and ponders just how traditional they really are. Show more

The latest weather forecast.

A look at events around the world.

Dotun Adebayo looks at why Islam is providing an attractive religious alternative to Christianity for Black Britons seeking spiritual answers. Show more

Pippa Greenwood, Anne Swithinbank and Matthew Wilson are guests of the Purleigh & District Gardeners' Society in Essex. Peter Gibbs is the chairman. Show more

Euan McIlwraith investigates the identity of 'star jelly', a mystery jelly found across the British countryside and beyond - which has scientists and outdoor enthusiasts stumped. Show more

When the Emperor Tiberius dies, the young and popular Caligula succeeds his Uncle. Claudius will be the first to learn his secret. Show more

Mariella Frostrup picks her personal highlights from a year in the Open Book studio and novelist Rose Tremain discusses the literary and dramatic potential of sibling rivalry. Show more

The Gate of the Year: Peggy Reynolds hears the story behind the poem King George VI quoted in his first Christmas broadcast on 25th December 1939. Show more

The International Monetary Fund has played a key role in efforts to fix the global financial crisis. Can it fix the global economy too? Stephanie Flanders reports. Show more

Poet Ian McMillan creates an imaginative response to a story from the week's news. Show more

The latest shipping forecast.

The latest weather forecast.

The latest national and international news from BBC Radio 4.

Sheila McClennon selects her highlights from the past seven days of BBC Radio. Show more

Helen struggles to forgive and forget, and Nigel works his charm on Jill. Show more

Washington DC's 'Mayor For Life' Marion Barry on the real truths about the capital. And it's not quite Christmas yet, but don't tell that to the citizens of North Pole, Alaska. Show more

The red herring inspires a new story by leading crime writer Donna Leon. The pleasure of a sumptuous meal beguiles a taciturn husband. Read by Greta Scacchi. Show more

Tim Harford and the More or Less team offer another numbers-eye view of the news. This week: council funding, inflation and the magic More or Less monkey. Show more

Matthew Bannister on US diplomat Richard Holbrooke, film director Blake Edwards, Russian poet Bella Akhmadulina and New York restaurateur Elaine Kaufman. Show more

How much will British taxpayers suffer from the economic fallout in Ireland? Morland Sanders hears from communities affected and reveals the extent of Irish bad debts in Britain. Show more

Europe is reeling from the troubles of dealing with one crisis after another. Is the Euro on the rocks? Peter Day asks the experts what is happening and why it matters. Show more

Phyllida Law presents the Radio 4 Appeal on behalf of the charity Fight for Sight. To give call 0800 404 8144 [free from BT landlines] or visit the Radio 4 website. Show more

The latest weather forecast.

Carolyn Quinn talks to MPs and a commentator about the big political stories. We hear why parties change their leaders so often. And there's a report on ministerial statements. Show more

BBC Radio 4 brings back a much loved TV favourite. Kevin Maguire takes a look at how the broadsheets and red tops treat the week's news. Show more

Francine Stock talks to director Peter Weir, and hears from the directors of Catfish, one of the big hits of the Sundance Film Festival. Show more

In a Christmas edition of Something Understood, Mark Tully considers traditional nativity stories with historian Diarmaid McCulloch and with readers Derek Jacobi and Isla Blair. Show more

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

What created the stereotype of the naturally gifted black athlete? Laurie discusses race and sport. Also, why did people say WWI would be over by Christmas? Show more

The bells of St Michael, Kingsteignton, Devon.

The latest shipping forecast.

BBC Radio 4 joins the BBC World Service.

Commentary on the fifth day of the third Ashes Test from the WACA ground in Perth, with Jonathan Agnew, Christopher Martin-Jenkins, Jim Maxwell and Simon Hughes. Show more