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 Brahmacharini Shripriya Chaitanya. Show more

Campaigners have launched a legal challenge to the government over the rules about fertilising farmland with sludge from sewage works. Show more

The latest weather forecast for farmers.

Michaela Strachan presents the story and sound of the house sparrow. Show more

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

Composer Errollyn Wallen, conductor and harpsichordist Laurence Cummings and jazz singer Emma Smith discuss musical composition and interpretation, with Adam Rutherford. Show more

Suella Braverman is sacked as home secretary, we speak to Lucy Fisher and Claire Pearsall. Show more

Dr Chris van Tulleken explores what it takes to make a chicken happy, and whether or not we're prepared to foot the bill. Show more

How to come up with a billion-dollar medicine, and who pays for it - Evan Davis and guests discuss the science, serendipity and price tags of major pharmaceutical products. Show more

A charity representing shop workers says half of retail staff feel unsafe. We find out why. M&S took a big gamble on fewer stores. Has it worked? Liverpool gives us its verdict. Show more

The latest weather forecast

Forty-five minutes of news, analysis and comment.

New documents reveal chaos as Horizon is built and commissioned. Show more

Alan finally sees the light, and Kate is not impressed. Show more

Fun new drama of a wannabe teenage DJ navigating friendships, grief and fame. Written by Michael Southan, who makes his BBC Radio 4 debut. Show more

Russell Davies is in the chair for the second of the semi-finals in the prestigious general knowledge tournament Show more

Dan Saladino explores the Mexican spirit mezcal and the diverse world of agave spirits. Show more

Brian Cox and Robin Ince uncover the mysterious and alien-like lives of octopuses with the help of comedian Russel Kane and octopus experts Dr Tim Lamont and Dr Amy Courtney. Show more

Aleks explores how AI can be used to better the lives of people with dementia, and help the people caring for them cope with the cognitive decline of someone they dearly love. Show more

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

The latest shipping forecast

Suella Braverman has been sacked and replaced by James Cleverly as Home Secretary

Jack Dee hosts a recording of Radio 4's antidote to panel games from the Pavilion Theatre in Bournemouth. Show more

Joy comes to the rescue, and Lilian faces the wrath of a dissatisfied customer. Show more

Todd Haynes on directing Natalie Portman and Julianne Moore in his latest film May December and super producer Trevor Horn on re-imagining 1980s classic tracks. Show more

Ash Bhardwaj travels to Finland to find out how this northern European country came to abandon nearly 80 years of military non-alignment and become Nato’s newest member. Show more

Research suggests that reading for pleasure is a key indicator in a child's future outcome. But how can we foster that love of reading? Author Julia Donaldson investigates. Show more

Kirsty Young finds out what advice actor and talk show host Jada Pinkett Smith would give her younger self. Show more

Composer Errollyn Wallen, conductor and harpsichordist Laurence Cummings and jazz singer Emma Smith discuss musical composition and interpretation, with Adam Rutherford. Show more

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

Katherine Brown looks back on the mid 1960s, when she first met the Goldman family, whose lives would become so entwined with her own. Show more

Documentary adventures that invite a closer listen. The story of Reggie, whose move to London to find a queer community risks financial insecurity. Show more

News, views and features on today's stories in Parliament

The latest news and weather forecast from BBC Radio 4.

Joshua Paul Dale, a pioneer in the field of cuteness studies, explores how the cute aesthetic spread around the globe. Show more

The latest weather reports and forecasts for UK shipping

BBC Radio 4 joins the BBC World Service.