BBC Radio 4 FM Schedule Wednesday 27 May 2026

Schedule

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Early
Morning
Afternoon
Evening
Late

Early
1. 00:00
  Midnight News—27/05/2026
  National and international news from BBC Radio 4
2. 00:30
  Frostlines by Neil Shea—Episode 2
  2/5Neil Shea continues his adventures in the Arctic.
3. 00:48
  Shipping Forecast—27/05/2026
  The latest weather reports and forecasts for UK shipping.
4. 01:00
  Selection of BBC World Service Programmes—27/05/2026
  BBC Radio 4 joins the BBC World Service.
5. 05:00
  News Summary—27/05/2026
  National and international news from BBC Radio 4
6. 05:04
  BBC Inside Science—El Niño is nigh, but so what?
  El Niño is stirring in the Pacific Ocean and may well be one of the strongest yet.
7. 05:34
  Shipping Forecast—27/05/2026
  The latest weather reports and forecasts for UK shipping.
8. 05:43
  Prayer for the Day—The little poor man of Assisi
  A spiritual comment and prayer to start the day with Mark Oakley.
9. 05:45
  Farming Today—27/05/26 Heatwave and water shortages - the impact on farming, Scottish farm co-operative.
  How are livestock farmers keeping their animals cool in the heat?
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Morning
1. 06:00
  Today—27/05/2026
  News and current affairs, including Sports Desk, Weather and Thought for the Day.
2. 09:00
  More or Less—Does a fall in the UK's healthy life expectancy mean what you think it means?
  Tim Harford explores healthy life expectancy, HS2 costs, VAT cuts and his marathon time.
3. 09:30
  Intrigue—To Catch a King, 3. Stormy Weather
  A pause in small boat crossings and a coincidence that reveals how boats are delivered.
4. 10:00
  Woman's Hour—Rugby star Ellie Kildunne, Abuse scandal update, Women at GCHQ, Singer-songwriter Kamille
  The lasting effect of the abuse scandal at Winterbourne View 15 years on.
5. 11:00
  File on 4 Investigates—Hair Strand Tests in the Family Court
  Questions are raised about how hair strand tests are interpreted in Family Courts.
6. 11:40
  This Week in History—May 25th to May 31st
  Fascinating, surprising and eye-opening stories from the past, brought to life.
7. 11:45
  Frostlines by Neil Shea—Episode 3
  3/5Neil Shea learns when to ask questions and when not to as he discovers Arctic life.
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Afternoon
1. 12:00
  News Summary—27/05/2026
  The latest national and international news from BBC Radio 4.
2. 12:04
  You and Yours—Warma UK, Energy Price Cap, Bicycle Sales
  Household energy bills will rise by 13% from July - how can you keep energy costs down?
3. 12:57
  Weather—27/05/2026
  The latest weather forecast
4. 13:00
  World at One—Tony Blair takes a swipe at Keir Starmer's Labour government
  Former PM accuses Labour of having no "coherent plan" for the country.
5. 13:45
  Tick Tock: The Working Week in 5 Days—Wednesday
  3/5Phil Tinline charts the progression of the working week over five days.
6. 14:00
  The Archers—26/05/2026
  Susan enters the lion’s den.
7. 14:15
  Trust—Series 3 – 1. Lost Time
  Comedy drama about an inner-city school.
8. 15:00
  The Law Show—The Renters Rights Act - In Detail
  What landlords and tenants need to know about the new law in England.
9. 15:30
  The Artificial Human—AI: War Machine?, 1. Is AI transforming Warfare?
  1/2Aleks Krotoski and Kevin Fong find out how AI is transforming warfare.
10. 16:00
  When It Hits the Fan—Lower Value Humans
  David Yelland and Farzana Baduel on why words really matter, especially around job cuts.
11. 16:15
  The Media Show—Lord Grade, Media access to local councils, Vincent Bolloré profile, Reporting on the heatwave
  Ex-Channel 4 and Ofcom boss Michael Grade joins Katie in the studio
12. 17:00
  PM—The government hits back after Tony Blair critique
  Minister Torsten Bell says the former prime minister's words lack "understanding".
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Evening
1. 18:00
  Six O'Clock News—Energy bills to rise for millions as price cap increases
  The regulator Ofgem says its because of volatility from the conflict with Iran
2. 18:30
  Stand-Up Specials—Ian Smith Is Stressed - Series 2, 2. Sleep
  2/4Ian Smith has heard that rest is good for you and he’s determined to give it a go.
3. 19:00
  The Archers—27/05/2026
  Alice tries to get to the bottom of recent events.
4. 19:15
  Front Row—Ann Patchett, plus why launch an all-male publishing house?
  Nashville novelist Ann Patchett on her tenth novel, Whistler.
5. 20:00
  Moral Maze—Are networks the glue of society or the architecture of privilege?
  Special debate from the Hay Festival examining the morality of networks.
6. 21:00
  The Gift—Series 3, 4. Puzzles
  4/6Kathy is confronted by a shocking true crime story that helps explain who she is.
7. 21:30
  All in the Mind—How does reading fiction impact our imagination and mental health?
  What does reading novels do for our minds, our imaginations and our well-being?
8. 22:00
  The World Tonight—Fifa ordered to explain World Cup ticket pricing
  Authorities probe allegations of 2026 World Cup ticket prices being artificially inflated
9. 22:45
  John of John by Douglas Stuart—Episode 3 - a trì
  3/10Douglas Stuart's epic novel about belonging.
10. 23:00
  Stand-Up Specials—Sarah Keyworth: Are You a Boy or a Girl? S2, 3: 'Think of the women'
  3/4Comedian Sarah Keyworth explores their personal journey with gender fluidity and androgyny
11. 23:15
  Misguided Meditations—4. The Enchanted Wood
  A series of surreal stories parodying the guided meditation boom. Starring Mina Anwar.
12. 23:30
  Soul Music—Ghost Town
  Stories of what this iconic song by two-tone band The Specials means to different people.
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Late
1. 00:00
  Midnight News—28/05/2026
  National and international news from BBC Radio 4
2. 00:30
  Frostlines by Neil Shea—Episode 3
  3/5Neil Shea learns when to ask questions and when not to as he discovers Arctic life.
3. 00:48
  Shipping Forecast—28/05/2026
  The latest weather reports and forecasts for UK shipping.
4. 01:00
  Selection of BBC World Service Programmes—28/05/2026
  BBC Radio 4 joins the BBC World Service.
5. 05:00
  News Summary—28/05/2026
  National and international news from BBC Radio 4
6. 05:04
  More or Less—Does a fall in the UK's healthy life expectancy mean what you think it means?
  Tim Harford explores healthy life expectancy, HS2 costs, VAT cuts and his marathon time.
7. 05:34
  Shipping Forecast—28/05/2026
  The latest weather reports and forecasts for UK shipping.
8. 05:43
  Prayer for the Day—Prisoners of Conscience
  A spiritual comment and prayer to start the day with Mark Oakley.
9. 05:45
  Farming Today—28/05/26 Rural crime, restoring signposts, Welsh food project
  Rural crime - how countryside communities working together foiled organised criminals.

Thursday 28 May 2026