The latest weather reports and forecasts for UK shipping

National and international news from BBC Radio 4

A spiritual comment and prayer to begin the day with Rev Virginia Luckett Show more

Why the Defra and the Climate Change Committee are big fans of hedges. And what makes the perfect potato for the farmers growing them? Show more

The latest weather forecast for farmers.

Liz Bonnin presents the gaunt undertaker-looking marabou stork in Africa. Show more

News and current affairs, including Sports Desk, Weather and Thought for the Day.

How do we treat people, often against their will, under the Mental Health Act? Show more

As Saddam’s regime is removed, Iraq plunges into chaos. Show more

Women’s football World Cup predictions with Diane Bronze, mum of defender Lucy Bronze. Show more

Anita Anand treks to the ruins of Scotland’s 1930s Lennox Castle Hospital to uncover a dark chapter in the history of care for the learning-disabled. Show more

Entire countries, athletes and companies can all face boycotts for a myriad of reasons, but does this form of activism ever lead to permanent change? David Baker investigates. Show more

Wilko has gone into administration - what went wrong? Also - July's washout hits the staycation sector, and are takeaways ready for the next plastics ban? Show more

The latest weather forecast

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

Consultants miraculously turn around businesses and conjure up ideas. Adam Shaw asks why is this $billion industry so mysterious and should we really be in awe of their wizardry? Show more

Lynda’s interest is piqued and Pip has plans Show more

Actor, writer and broadcaster Stephen Fry talks to John Wilson about the formative influences that inspired his creative life. Show more

Russell Davies welcomes competitors from around the UK to compete for the prestigious title Brain of Britain 2023. Show more

World leaders met in Rome to fix the food system. Dan Saladino reports on what happened at the United Nations summit and looks at some of the big ideas put forward for change. Show more

Struck by the beauty of spider webs Tomás Saraceno made them into sculptures and discovered that when spiders move the silken strands make tiny sounds - that he makes into music. Show more

In the first of a new series, Aleem Maqbool speaks to David Baddiel and asks whether we have a desire to believe in God. Recorded at The Hay Festival in front of a live audience. Show more

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

The latest shipping forecast

The NHS says the move will mean patients get seen and diagnosed more quickly

A return visit to Northampton for Rachel Parris, Milton Jones, Fred Macaulay and Sandi Toksvig with Jack Dee the reluctant arbiter. Show more

There’s an awkward encounter for Ian and Adil finds himself under pressure Show more

Christy Lefteri's The Book of Fire; What is behind the resignations of so many theatre artistic directors? ; The history and art of Palestinian needlework Show more

The warning is that the UK is 'sleep walking' into a steroid addiction crisis. Is this the case in the police? Show more

Tens of thousands of Russian criminals - murderers, rapists, robbers - who fought for the mercenary group Wagner in Ukraine, have now gone home, and local people are terrified. Show more

Dr Kat Arney explores why it is so hard to cure cancer today, with modern technology revealing more of the incredible complexity of this ancient disease. Show more

How do we treat people, often against their will, under the Mental Health Act? Show more

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

Still grieving his own wife’s murder, Quirke is surprised to find himself growing closer to Molly. Show more

Michael Bond talks to Michael Rosen about the ways in which fans talk to each other. Show more

Whether displaced by war or working overseas - Alan Dein uses social media to connect with people living away from home. Show more

The latest news and weather forecast from BBC Radio 4.

In Anna Funder's revelatory biography of Eileen, George Orwell's forgotten first wife, we discover a sharp, witty and fearless woman. Fenella Woolgar reads. Show more

The latest weather reports and forecasts for UK shipping

BBC Radio 4 joins the BBC World Service.