SATURDAY 16 MAY 2026
SAT 00:00 Midnight News (m002w8d5)
National and international news from BBC Radio 4
SAT 00:30 Weimar: Life on the Edge of Catastrophe by Katja Hoyer (m002w8by)
1927-1929: An Age of Optimism
The story of the residents of Weimar during the rise and reign of Hitler.
Weimar – On the Edge of Catastrophe is written by Katja Hoyer.
The reader is Sian Thomas.
The abridger is Julian Wilkinson.
The producer is Lu Kemp.
The young democracy is starting to find some economic recovery and life is becoming slightly easier for Germans, but division within the political parties has resulted in the middle classes feeling politically homeless. Meanwhile the Nazi party is building strength.
A chance meeting with Hitler enables Baldur von Schirach to nudge his way into Hitler’s inner circle – convincing him to speak to university students. Disillusioned by their parents’ loss of status, Hitler would find some of his most fervent supporters from the university.
Weimar is attempting to build their place in the German economy with a new national sports stadium, and the Graf Zepelin flies over Weimar to the joy of its citizens.
At first the Wall Street Crash is barely registered by ordinary Germans, but by December the impact of American economic crash has hit Germany hard.
And President Hindenburg is aging… he will not last long. A new leader must be found.
Weimar explores ‘the question of how and why a nation that prided itself on its culture and civility enabled the catastrophe of Nazism haunts us to this day because we fear a repeat.’ The book is about the tension between individual and collective responsibility and sounds a warning for our own times.
Katja Hoyer is a German-British historian, journalist and the author of the international bestseller Beyond the Wall as well as Blood and Iron. A visiting Research Fellow at King's College London and a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society, she writes for Bloomberg and Berliner Zeitung and is a commentator on German current affairs for many British newspapers. She was born in Germany and is now based in the UK.
SAT 00:48 Shipping Forecast (m002w8d7)
The latest weather reports and forecasts for UK shipping.
SAT 01:00 Selection of BBC World Service Programmes (m002w8d9)
BBC Radio 4 joins the BBC World Service.
SAT 05:30 News Summary (m002w8dc)
National and international news from BBC Radio 4
SAT 05:34 Shipping Forecast (m002w8df)
The latest weather reports and forecasts for UK shipping.
SAT 05:43 Prayer for the Day (m002w8dh)
Hit the pause button
Good morning.
My mobile phone rarely leaves my side. Notifications are silenced, but its presence alone puts me slightly on edge. When it’s out of my sight, I can feel my mind and body start to relax. I have message notifications silenced so I can check on my schedule, but I still feel the constant tug of my perceived need to check for urgent information.
A few weeks ago, my husband and I went for a day out and half-way into our journey I realised my phone was at home. There was no time to go back and retrieve it, so I had a decision to make—stress about the messages I might be missing, or focus on the present and enjoy the day. I chose the latter and we had a wonderful time on the coast without phone distractions. We truly had a day of rest.
It’s easy to get sucked into a perceived need to check and respond to every call and message, just like we might be compelled to fill every waking moment with activity or distraction until we have no time left to rest; yet that constant anticipation and focus deprives us of appreciating what is right in front of us.
For the Jewish community, today is Shabbat, a day of rest and spiritual recharge. Shabbat is the one day of the week that provides us with an opportunity to disentangle from our daily demands and focus on our blessings. It can be a powerful invitation for any of us to “hit the pause button”, take a breath, and enjoy.
May we all set aside time in our week for rest and renewal, enabling us to disconnect from everyday concerns and be fully present with nature, our friends, our family, and ourselves.
SAT 05:45 The Hackers (m0012flt)
Series 1
Press Ganged
Biella uncovers the story of how in the 1980s and 90s the French government forced hackers to work for them, drawing young men who had skirted the law into the depths of international cyber warfare.
SAT 06:00 News and Papers (m002wj0f)
National and international news from BBC Radio 4
SAT 06:07 Open Country (m002w61x)
Bluebird returns to Coniston
When Donald Campbell died on Coniston Water in Cumbria in January 1967, attempting to break his own water speed record it was, to many people, the end of an era. Many would always remember where they were when the images of Bluebird K7, the jet hydroplane he was piloting, crashing and disintegrating on the lake appeared on TV screens and the story broke across the world.
In March 2001, after 34 years underwater, Donald Campbell’s ill-fated craft was raised from the deep by wreck-finder and engineer, Bill Smith. Later that year, at the request of Donald’s daughter Gina, his remains were also recovered - and in September 2001 he was finally laid to rest in the churchyard at Coniston. A painstaking restoration project began and in 2026, over 20 years after she was raised from the depths, Bluebird is set to finally return to Coniston Water.
Caz Graham visits Coniston Water to discover what Bluebird means to the Lake District as she returns to the water 70 years after Donald Campbell set the water speed record in 1956.
Producer: Helen Lennard
SAT 06:30 Farming Today (m002wj0k)
16/05/26 Farming Today This Week: too many pigs, new strategy to tackle animal disease, call for caged eggs ban, Balmoral Show
Too many pigs, not enough space: farmers struggling to sell their livestock.
New strategies for tackling the spread of animal disease. We ask, how much is being done to stop it getting here in the first place.
Vets' organisations are calling for a ban on imports of eggs produced by caged hens, and a phasing out of the legal 'enriched colony' cages in the UK.
And prize winning sheep at the Balmoral Show in Northern Ireland.
Presented by Anna Hill and produced by Beatrice Fenton.
SAT 06:57 Weather (m002wj0p)
The latest weather reports and forecast
SAT 07:00 Today (m002wj0t)
News and current affairs, including Sports Desk, Weather and Thought for the Day.
SAT 09:00 Saturday Live (m002wj0y)
JJ Chalmers, Ruth Rogers, Matthew Carter & Lawrence Price plus the Inheritance Tracks of Jason Watkins
Adrian Chiles presents Radio 4's Saturday morning show.
Our wonderful guests today include JJ Chalmers, who has been a design-technology teacher, Royal Marine and Invictus games medallist. He is now a regular presenter on Television and Radio.
We also have with us a legend of the food and restaurant world, Ruth Rogers.
And a couple of podcasting Dads - Matthew Carter and Lawrence Price - who’ve got fellow fathers to come together and share their feelings by offering classes in braiding girls’ hair.
Plus the Inheritance Tracks of the actor Jason Watkins.
Producer: Gareth Nelson-Davies
Assistant Producer: Ribika Moktan and Lowri Morgan
Researcher: Jesse Edwards
Editor: Andrea Kennedy
SAT 10:00 The History Podcast (m002wlk2)
Sixty Years of Hurt
1. England v The World
'Sixty Years of Hurt with David Baddiel' explores the meaning of England and Englishness through the history of the England Men’s Football team. This is a social and cultural history as much as a sporting one, examining the story England tells about itself and how it's changed, via the medium of the international game.
“Football is singularly the most important cultural institution in the country for defining Englishness” says Historian David Goldblatt, as the series begins looking at the most famous moment in English football – the world cup win in 1966. Comedian, writer and football fan, David Baddiel, sees how the victory adorned swinging London, and yet the characters in the team spoke to a very different kind of England. David also travels back to the very origins of the game in England (discovering that Henry VIII had a pair of football boots), checks in with Elis James for a view from Wales, and muses on the meaning of national anthems.
The series delves deep into how national myths are both forged and reflected in the fate of eleven young men with three lions on their shirts. It takes in the view from England’s sporting rivals, from Wales to Argentina, and asks what light the success of England’s Woman casts on the story of England’s Men.
Across the series, David Baddiel will be joined by contributors including Stephen Fry, Alex James, Maisie Adam, Elis James, Barney Ronay, Roy Williams, Des Lynam, Stuart Pearce, Jean Williams, David Goldblatt, Pippa Grange, Jonathan Wilson, David Seaman, Omid Djalili and many more.
Sixty Years of Hurt with David Baddiel is produced by BBC Studios Audio for BBC Radio 4, in collaboration with Left Bank Pictures who are producing the upcoming drama Dear England for BBC iPlayer and BBC One.
The producers are Rich Power and David Baddiel.
SAT 10:30 The Kitchen Cabinet (m002wj0b)
Series 52
Postbag
Jay Rayner is joined by Jeremy Pang, Sophie Wright, Melek Erdal and Jocky Petrie in the studio for a postbag special, tackling listeners’ questions on everything from leftover chocolate bars to kitchen design.
They kick things off with a classic dilemma - what to do with a surplus of mini Bounty bars. Creative ideas range from indulgent milkshakes and ice cream, to coconut‑infused vodka and homemade fudge.
They also dive into more savoury territory, sharing tips on cooking herring roes and turning tins of sardines in tomato sauce into everything from bolognese to Southeast Asian‑inspired dishes.
A listener’s concerns about Jerusalem artichokes spark a lively discussion about foods that come with side effects, before the panellists discuss what kitchen essentials are truly non‑negotiable.
Elsewhere, there’s advice on rescuing overcooked vegetables (including bubble and squeak, pakoras and biryani) and a final look at the clothes and comforts that make cooking at home just that bit easier.
Producer: Dan Cocker
Assistant Producer: William Norton
A Somethin' Else production for BBC Radio 4
SAT 11:00 The Week in Westminster (m002wj11)
Caroline speaks to the Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson, who is also Minister for Equalities and Women, about the tumultous week for Sir Keir Starmer as almost 100 Labour MPs called on him to go.
Claire Ainsley, who was policy director for Keir Starmer when he was in opposition and is now at the Progressive Policy Institute and Robert Colville, director of the centre right think tank, the Centre for Policy Studies assess whether Labour is doing enough to promote growth, in the week that the UK economy unexpectedly grew by 0.6% during the first three months of the year.
Conservative peer Matthew Elliott, who was the Chief Executive of the Vote Leave campaign during the Brexit referendum ten years ago and the Liberal Democrats’ Business spokesperson Sarah Olney debate whether Europe is once again becoming a defining issue in British politics after the prime minister vowed to put “Britain at the heart of Europe”.
And two long-term Westminster insiders discuss Labour's leadership challenge: the Labour peer, Ayesha Hazarika, who worked as an adviser to several senior Labour party politicians and LBC presenter and writer Iain Dale.
SAT 11:30 From Our Own Correspondent (m002wj15)
Donald Trump's China summit with Xi Jinping
Kate Adie introduces stories on President Trump's visit to China, the Palestine marathon, the Venice Biennale boycott, a young woman's search for her mother in India, and living in the fast lane with Sierra Leone's First Lady.
Laura Bicker has been in Beijing where military parades, red carpets and singing choirs of children greeted Donald Trump as he arrived for talks with President Xi. So what progress was made in China-US relations after a frosty period?
Wyre Davies has been in Bethlehem watching on as runners from around the world took part in the 10th Palestine Marathon - a burst of positivity after the race was postponed amid the war between Hamas and Israel, following the October 2023 attacks.
The Venice Biennale and the Eurovision song contest were both founded with the intention of bringing nations together through art - but Kirsty Lang finds, upon visiting Venice, an art festival swept up in a clash with global politics.
In the Indian state of Maharashtra, Tanya Datta travels with a young woman in search of her birth-mother after she was adopted by a French family and grew up in France. As she goes to the place of her birth, she finds an unexpected connection.
And Megha Mohan recounts a hair-raising journey travelling in the motorcade of Sierra Leone's first lady, Fatima Bio - en route to interview her in the Presidential Palace.
Series Producer: Serena Tarling
Production Coordinators: Katie Morrison & Sophie Hill
Editor: Richard Fenton-Smith
SAT 12:00 News Summary (m002wj19)
The latest national and international news from BBC Radio 4.
SAT 12:04 Money Box (m002wj1f)
Lack of Wills and "Savvy Squirrel"
Millions of adults across the UK, have not told their families what they want to happen to their money and property when they die. STEP, the Society for Trust and Estate Planners, reported this week on a survey which found 8 out of 10 adults had kept their loved ones in ignorance of their wishes. A third of them did not even have a will, leaving its distribution to complex legal rules rather than what the family itself might want. What should people do to avoid this?
It is nearly forty years since the government sold off British Gas and encouraged us all to Tell Sid as part of Margaret Thatcher's 1986 dream of a share owning democracy. Today, the present Labour government wants people to invest more and it has appointed the Investment Association, alongside 19 of the UK's leading financial services firms, to lead an industry wide initiative to persuade people with savings to move at least some of them into shares. This "Invest for the Future" campaign has its own mascot - Savvy Squirrel. Could this lead to cultural change in the way we invest?
And when might you have to pay tax on the interest you earn on savings? We'll explain all.
Presenter: Paul Lewis
Reporters: Dan Whitworth and Jo Krasner
Researcher: Catherine Lund
Editor: Jess Quayle
News Editor: Justin Bones
(First broadcast at 12noon, Saturday 16th May 2026)
SAT 12:30 The News Quiz (m002w8cn)
Series 120
5. Starmer psychodrama
What a week it's been for the Prime Minister. In the aftermath of seismic local elections results, there's been non-stop Labour party in-fighting. Wes Streeting has resigned as Health Secretary so the race for Labour leader is seemingly on - who will throw their hat in the ring? Will Andy Burnham, i.e. the King of the North, make his move? In other news, the panel discuss Trump's state visit to China and why the Royal Navy has to redesign women's uniforms over 'inappropriately placed' buttons.
Helping Andy make sense of it all this week is Nish Kumar, Ian Smith, Katy Balls and Mhairi Black.
Written by Andy Zaltzman.
With additional material by: Alex Kealy, Ruth Husko and Claire Rammelkamp
Producer: Georgia Keating
Executive Producer: Richard Morris
Production Coordinator: Asha Osborne-Grinter
Sound Editor: Marc Willcox
Recorded by David Thomas
A BBC Studios Production for Radio 4.
SAT 12:57 Weather (m002wj1k)
The latest weather forecast
SAT 13:00 News (m002wj1p)
National and international news from BBC Radio 4
SAT 13:10 Any Questions? (m002w8cv)
Lord Finkelstein, Stephanie Flanders, Layla Moran MP, Mike Tapp MP
Alex Forsyth presents political debate from the Royal Dockyard Church in Chatham, Kent with the Conservative peer and Times columnist, Lord Finkelstein; Bloomberg's head of economics and government, Stephanie Flanders; Liberal Democrat MP Layla Moran MP who chairs the Commons health committee; and the minister for migration and citizenship, Mike Tapp MP.
Producer: Paul Martin
Assistant Producer: Jo Dwyer
Production Coordinator: Ishmael Soriano
Lead broadcaster engineer: Kate Barker
Editor: Andrea Kennedy
SAT 14:05 Any Answers? (m002wj1t)
Listeners respond to the issues raised in the preceding edition of Any Questions?
SAT 14:45 The Archers (m002w8cq)
George is disappointed his online video for the Borchester Show is hardly getting any views. Amber reminds him of her suggestions to maximise impact. George grudgingly accepts Amber’s offer to help, after a pep-talk on feminism. Later, Amber emphasises recognising their separate strengths and playing to them when working as a team, both for the video and when the baby’s born. When Lilian comes over Amber remarks on Brian’s kindness investing in George’s drone. Lilian doesn’t comment, but she’s happy to have George back at the Bull, so long as he keeps in line.
Erik and Kirsty talk about Carol, and Anna’s difficulties over care issues. Erik wishes he could stay longer, but Kirsty’s grateful for the time they’ve had. Erik makes a surprise, spontaneous marriage proposal. Assuming he’s joking Kirsty accepts a twig ring, but says no: she never wants to go there again. So long as Erik’s there for the baby, that’s the main thing. Jakob later queries Kirsty rejecting Erik’s proposal, but she assures Jakob she wasn’t being harsh. It’s just there’s no need for marriage – and she loves the fact that Erik is a carefree spirit, hoping the baby will inherit some of that. Erik then offers to buy farewell drinks, but they turn him down. After Jakob and Erik head to the airport, Lilian tells Kirsty she should make an honest man of Erik - but Kirsty’s fine with how things are.
Kirsty bumps into Amber and they share a moment when Amber’s baby kicks for the first time – she’ll go and tell George.
SAT 15:00 Hardy's Women (m000wyws)
Jude the Obscure
Episode 3
Sue and Jude are now living together, with their three children, but their unmarried status makes them perpetual outcasts. And the strains of their situation take a tragic toll on young Juey. Starring Robert Emms, Kirsty Oswald, Julius D'Silva and Elinor Coleman. Dramatised by Graham White.
Directed by Emma Harding
Sue ..... Kirsty Oswald
Jude ..... Robert Emms
Phillotson ..... Julius D’Silva
Arabella ..... Elinor Coleman
Juey ..... Rafferty Railton
Mrs Edlin ..... Jessica Turner
Taylor/ Policeman ..... Nicholas Murchie
Landlady ..... Marilyn Nnadebe
Vicar ..... David Sturzaker
Gravedigger ..... Toby Turner
Woman ..... Jane Slavin
Girl ..... Megan McInerney
Friend 1 ..... Joshua Riley
Friend 2 .... Stewart Campbell
Production co-ordinator: Maggie Olgiati
Sound designer: Caleb Knightley
SAT 16:00 Woman's Hour (m002wj1y)
Weekend Woman's Hour: Loan Sharks, Menopause and ADHD, Bra fitting
Women are being forced to turn to loan sharks due to a "hidden" but devastating form of economic abuse, according to new research. Scottish Women's Aid has published a study on the problem of coerced debt – where an abusive current or ex-partner builds up debt in their victim's name, either without consent or knowledge or through force, threat or coercion. Anita Rani is joined by Dr Jenn Glinski, author of the report and the national policy lead for economic abuse at Scottish Women's Aid, to talk about the report findings.
Menopause can be challenging for many women, but for those with ADHD, the experience can often feel like life is completely unravelling. For some women in their 40s, 50s and 60s it can also be the first time they realise they may have ADHD, as fluctuating hormones amplify their challenges with sleep, mood, attention and overwhelm. GP and Menopause expert Dr Helen Wall joined Anita to talk about her new book Menopause and ADHD, which aims to debunk some of the myths and support women navigating the combination.
A new medical device to assist at birth is now in use in eight NHS trusts in the UK and 40 hospitals in the whole of Europe. The OdonAssist can replace forceps in many situations and is a much gentler way to deliver a baby which is stuck in the birth canal. NHS Specialist registrar Dr Emily Hotton has worked on the UK clinical trials. She describes how the device works and why it can give a much better outcome for both mothers and babies.
M&S has announced that following a successful trial they are ditching the measuring tape for bra fittings. Other underwear retailers have done this for years, but how does it work fitting a bra by eye? Joanna Wakefield-Scurr, Professor of Biomechanics at Portsmouth University, and virtual bra fitter Katie Weir join Nuala McGovern to discuss.
Canwen Xu was born in China and moved to the US when she was two years old. She grew up in predominately white areas – North and South Dakota and Idaho. When she was 18 she gave a TEDx talk, titled, I Am Not Your Asian Stereotype, which has been watched more than 3.7 million times. Canwen joins Anita to discuss her debut novel - Boring Asian Female – and its themes of identity, ambition, failure, and obsession.
Love it or dread it, flat-pack furniture tests us all. But for Hayley McAuley from Wigan, it’s a sport - she’s just defended her title as Flatpack World Champion and tells Anita about the win.
Presenter: Anita Rani
Producer: Dianne McGregor
SAT 17:00 PM (m002wj22)
Streeting enters the leadership race
Wes Streeting calls for the UK to 'one day' rejoin the EU as he announces leadership bid. Meanwhile, Andy Burnham has said the contest is needed to 'fix politics'. Laura Kuenssberg explains the proposals coming from all likely candidates. Plus: an update on the attack that took down the Islamic State's second-ín-command in Nigeria. And has the UK been punching below its weight at Eurovision?
SAT 17:30 Political Thinking with Nick Robinson (m002wj26)
Why the PM has to go: Miatta Fahnbulleh on being the first minister to break with Starmer
The former Communities Minister Miatta Fahnbulleh, who was the first Minister to resign from Keir Starmer's government after the elections, discusses reaching breaking point, who should lead Labour now, and why she's terrified of where politics is going.
She also talks about her experience as a civil servant working with Conservative Ministers, and why her children are her toughest critics.
Senior Producer: Hannah Wilkinson
Producer: Flora Murray
Sound: Jack Wilfan
Editor: Giles Edwards
SAT 17:54 Shipping Forecast (m002wj2b)
The latest weather reports and forecasts for UK shipping
SAT 17:57 Weather (m002wj2g)
The latest weather reports and forecast
SAT 18:00 Six O'Clock News (m002wj2j)
Wes Streeting confirms he'll stand to be Labour Leader
Wes Streeting has confirmed he'll challenge Sir Keir Starmer for the Labour leadership. The Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, has said he is standing in the Makerfield constitutency to "save" the party.
A massive police operation has taken place in central London where two major protest marches -- one led by the right wing activist, Tommy Robinson and the other a pro-Palestinian rally -- have passed off largely without incident. More than 30 people have been arrested.
The last senior Hamas leader thought to have been involved in planning the October the 7th attacks has been killed in an Israeli air strike in Gaza.
SAT 18:15 Loose Ends (m002wj2l)
Conn Iggulden, Bank of Dave musical, Cally Beaton, Guvna B, Emma Kenny
Best-selling historical novelist Conn Iggulden on influencers in the Roman Empire, why Emperor Nero wasn't entirely a baddie and why we have far more in common with ancient Romans than we think.
The stand-up comedian Cally Beaton didn't get into comedy until she was in her 40s, but after a chance conversation with Joan Rivers, she left the boardroom for evenings telling funny stories from sticky stages at the back of pubs. She has plenty to say about career swerves.
Emma Kenny is best known as a TV parenting guru, but her dark side hustle is true crime tours - more gristle than toddler grizzle - and audiences love it.
Also, music from Rob Madge's joyful Bank of Dave Musical and from MOBO winner Guvna B's new album, The Bed I Made.
Presented in Salford by Stuart Maconie
Producer: Olive Clancy
Assistant producer: Sam Nixon
Technical producers: John Cole and Helen Williams
SAT 19:00 Profile (m002wj2n)
Christopher Harborne
British cryptocurrency investor and billionaire Christopher Harborne made headlines when it was revealed he gave £5million to Reform Party leader Nigel Farage before he was an MP.
Last year Harborne also gave a single donation of £9m to Reform UK - the biggest ever donation to a UK political party by a living person. He has also previously donated to the Brexit Party and the Conservatives.
Very little is known about the Cambridge-educated businessman, who is also known as Chakrit Sakunkrit.
So how did he make his fortune? And why is he so interested in British politics when he has lived abroad for the last few decades?
Mark Coles talks to journalists Tom Burgis and Ceri Thomas, and family friend Mark Vellacott, to paint a picture of one of the most powerful men funding British politics.
Presenter: Mark Coles
Producers: Keiligh Baker, Beth Ashmead Latham, Kirsteen Knight
Editor: Matt Willis
Programme Coordinators: Sabine Schereck, Maria Ogundele
Sound Engineer: Neil Churchill
SAT 19:15 This Cultural Life (m002w61d)
Felicity Lott
The soprano Dame Felicity Lott talks to John Wilson about her distinguished career and cultural influences. One of Britain's best-loved sopranos, her breakthrough role was as a last minute stand-in for Pamina in The Magic Flute in 1975. Over the next four decades, she built an international career, performing at opera houses and concert halls around the world, singing works by composers including Richard Strauss, Schubert and Mozart. At home, she was seen frequently on television, sang regularly at the BBC Proms and was made a Dame in 1996. She was also the recipient of the Légion d’Honneur, France’s highest cultural award.
Dame Felicity sadly died on 15 May 2026, shortly after this programme was first broadcast.
Producer: Edwina Pitman
Music and archive used:
Ruhe sanft from Zaide, W A Mozart, sung by Felicity Lott
Rudolf the Red-nosed Reindeer, courtesy of Felicity Lott
The Last Night of the Proms, 1996, Ah! que j'aime les militaires from La grande-duchesse de Gérolstein, J Offenbach, sung by Felicity Lott
Overture to The Magic Flute, W A Mozart
An Die Musik, F Schubert, piano: Graham Johnston, sung by Felicity Lott
Licht und Liebe, F Schubert, piano: Graham Johnson, sung by Anthony Rolfe Johnson and Felicity Lott
Vier letzte Lieder: Im Abendrot, R Strauss, sung by Elisabeth Schwarzkopf
Closing scene from Capriccio, R Strauss
Act 1 from Der Rosenkavalier, sung by Anne Sofie von Otter and Felicity Lott
Act III from Der Rosenkavalier, sung by Anne Sofie von Otter, Barbara Bonney and Felicity Lott
Vier letzte Lieder: Beim Schlafengehen, R Strauss, sung by Felicity Lott
SAT 20:00 Archive on 4 (m002wj2q)
The Life and Many Deaths of the Local
Pubs are dying out. The end of the local is fast incoming. Last of the last orders is nigh. Worries about the future of that much loved British institution - the local boozer - have been swirling for decades, right back to the end of WW2.
And yet, the great British Boozer has weathered every crisis. Pubs have always been, and continue to be, a social leveller: a place of welcome and tradition - serving as community hubs, performance spaces, and informal parliaments fuelled by pints and opinions.
But, the last few years have set records for pub closures. Over 15,000 pubs have closed since the year 2000, hundreds last year alone. If closures continue at this rate Britain risks losing a vital part of its soul for good. But perhaps the answer on how to stop what many pub lovers view as a cultural calamity might be found in how they survived the struggles of the past.
Shane Richie dives in to the BBC Archive, discovering why the Victorian pub design is still so beloved, what happened on the night of the last pubs in a neighbourhood razed in the fever of post-war development, and how pubs have evolved to suit new communities as society shifts around them.
Producer: Elizabeth Ann Duffy
Executive Producer: Steven Hobson
SAT 21:00 Understand (m002wj2s)
Rinsed: Omnibus 1
What's happening to our rivers is a real stinker of a scandal. Kate Lamble investigates how a centuries-long battle between public good and private profit created an almighty stink.
SAT 22:00 News (m002wj2v)
National and international news from BBC Radio 4
SAT 22:15 The Food Programme (m002w8bw)
The future of our fruit and veg
Sheila Dillon visits fruit and veg growers across the country to ask what should the government put in its landmark plan to grow more in the UK.
With war in the Middle East driving up fertiliser and energy prices and a growing health crisis at home, more homegrown fruit and veg could hold the answers to many of our problems. But those on the ground tell a different story, as businesses prepare to invest more in farms overseas, increase imports or face an ongoing struggle to cover rising costs and competition.
Sheila meets a berry grower in Kent, and a tomato producer in Lancashire, who show her the realities of their farms today, and she hears from experts across the sector with their ideas for what could, and should, go into the government’s Horticulture Growth Plan.
Produced by Nina Pullman for BBC Audio in Bristol.
SAT 23:00 The Many Wrongs of Lord Christian Brighty (m0022zj4)
Series 1
4. The Lord I Shot
Brighty’s decision to right a wrong – killing a man in a duel – leads to a bust-up with Babs. Whilst she goes full tilt for revolution, Brighty and Churley are left mentoring a young proto-rake. Will the schism in the gang ever be repaired?
Lord Christian Brighty is the talk of the Regency 'Ton' - a celebrated libertine, a heartthrob and a hero to many. But close-up, he is a spoilt, impetuous, life-ruining bastard… Or at least he was. Because his carefree life of infinite privilege has been upended by an encounter with his new chambermaid - the uneducated but forthright Babigail - who became the first person to tell him the unvarnished truth about his selfish behaviour. Overnight, his lifelong trust that everyone loved him had been replaced with a gnawing fear that Babs was right.
So now, with his narcissism collapsing and a need to prove to Babs he is actually a good person, Lord Brighty is determined to fix all his past wrongs. And by extension all the ills of Regency society. Accompanying him in his quest are Babs (elevated beyond her station to a chambermaid-cum-adviser role), and his butler, Mr Churlington. Although Churley would prefer everything to stay exactly as it used to be (as would all Brighty’s friends, family and the entirety of high society).
Written by Christian Brighty & Amy Greaves
Cast:
Lord Christian Brighty ….. Christian Brighty
Babs ….. Jessica Knappett
Churlington ….. Colin McFarlane
Dowager / Fleetsbee ….. Nimisha Odedra
Monty ….. Joz Norris
Manon ….. Chiara Goldsmith
John ….. David Reed
Script Editor ….. David Reed
Sound & Recording ….. David Thomas
Photographer ….. Will Hearle
Production Assistant ….. Katie Sayer
Producer ….. Ben Walker
A DLT Entertainment Production for BBC Radio 4
Christian Brighty and Amy Greaves are award-winning comedians. Their viral sketches based on Bridgerton, Poldark and Jane Austen have catapulted them to viral stardom, securing Christian’s place as the internet’s answer to Mr Darcy and amassing 150 million views across TikTok and Instagram (@brightybuoy). Amy and Christian both have a deep love of the work Jane Austen, traditional regency romance (not smut), and historical romance set in the regency (smut).
SAT 23:30 Round Britain Quiz (m002w761)
6. Scotland vs Northern Ireland
Teams from all over the UK will face Kirsty Lang's cryptic questions across the series, with Kirsty offering support and the odd hint where it might be needed.
The sixth match in the series is between Scotland and Northern Ireland.
As always, they'll drop points every time they need a clue from the chair to steer them towards the right solution.
You can follow the questions for this episode which will appear below on the day of the match.
Teams:
Scotland - Val McDermid and Alan McCredie
Northern Ireland - Paddy Duffy and Freya McClements
Host: Kirsty Lang
Recorded by: Phil Booth
Sound Design: Chris Maclean
Production Coordinator: Caroline Barlow
Producer: Carl Cooper
A BBC Studios Production
Questions set by Lucy Porter, Martin Mor and by you, the listeners!
Questions in today's edition:
Q1 (From Neil Jenkins)
If you took a trip via an Italian lake resort, The Palatine Hill, modern day Thebes, a fictional Caribbean location, and a place of little precipitation, why might you lose your shirt in more than one way?
Q2 (From Andrew Green)
If you start at a port in NE Sardinia, find a suspect’s conditional release, then the Wuhan Institute for example, and, finally, an undergraduate’s aim. What valuable commodity did you lose along the way?
Q3 Music: Which duo might need to combine all of these to create a certain song? (5 clips)
Q4 (From Alan Hay)
Numerically speaking, if you had Gerry from The Falls and Elsie from The Street, the Fawlty Towers builder and Brother Leonard, Lord Summerisle and Willow MacGregor, why might you be out of Luck?
Q5 (From Alan Burnham)
If 6 and 20 might be Strictly permitted,
but too much 23 strictly forbidden if you are in charge of a 19,
and an 11 of 3 would be of interest to the drugs squad,
whose play is found in 18 and 10 ?
Q6 Music:
In this set of 3 tracks, two are looking backwards, but one is looking forwards.
It’s a one way for two, and another for one. We want to know the common thread, and which one would a famous artist suggest you 'keep an eye out' for?"
Q7 (From Ivan Whetton)
If, nominally, Byron’s mathematical daughter has a fondness for decorative fabric, what similarly would be the passions of
a fictional antiques dealer,
a Trumpet-Major and his brother,
and the proponent of the Gaia principle?
Q8 (From Alan Burnham)
Which group of nobles could transform
a Scottish hat into an English river,
anger into the Goddess of peace,
an Egyptian god into a sea monster,
an underground chamber into a Liverpool venue and
ladies’ underwear into a Danish astronomer?
SUNDAY 17 MAY 2026
SUN 00:00 Midnight News (m002wj2x)
National and international news from BBC Radio 4
SUN 00:15 Take Four Books (m002w75z)
Amitav Ghosh
Presenter James Crawford speaks to award-winning novelist Amitav Ghosh about his new book, Ghost Eye, and its three key literary influences.
Ghost Eye is told through the memories and recollections of its narrator, Dinu, who grew up in Calcutta and now lives in New York. Set during the COVID pandemic, the story unfolds as Dinu recalls a story his Auntie Shoma once told him - one that takes place in Calcutta in 1969. At the time, Shoma was a psychiatrist investigating cases of the reincarnation type, and her work led her to a particular case involving Varsha, a three-year-old girl.
Amitav Ghosh was shortlisted for the 2008 Booker Prize for his novel Sea of Poppies, and for the International Booker Prize in 2015 for his entire body of work. He was also awarded the Erasmus Prize for his writing on climate change in 2024.
For his three influences, Amitav chose: The Hungry Stones by Rabindranath Tagore (1895); The Willows by Algernon Blackwood (1907); and Is a River Alive? by Robert Macfarlane (2025).
Producer: Rachael O’Neill
Editor: Gillian Wheelan
This was a BBC Audio Scotland production.
SUN 00:48 Shipping Forecast (m002wj2z)
The latest weather reports and forecasts for UK shipping.
SUN 01:00 Selection of BBC World Service Programmes (m002wj31)
BBC Radio 4 joins the BBC World Service.
SUN 05:30 News Summary (m002wj33)
National and international news from BBC Radio 4
SUN 05:34 Shipping Forecast (m002wj35)
The latest weather reports and forecasts for UK shipping.
SUN 05:43 Bells on Sunday (m002wj37)
The church of Saints Patrick and Andrew in Elveden Suffolk
Bells on Sunday comes from the church of Saints Patrick and Andrew in Elveden Suffolk. Originally a medieval church much restored and with major alterations in the early 20th century. In the churchyard is buried Maharajah Duleep Singh the exiled last ruler of the Sikh Empire who lived on the nearby Elveden Estate and died in 1919. The unusual free-standing bell tower houses a ring of eight bells all cast by the Mears and Stainbank foundry of Whitechapel London in 1921. The Tenor weighs seventeen and a half hundredweight and is tuned to the note of E. We now hear them ringing Bristol Surprise Major.
SUN 05:45 In Touch (m002w5v8)
The RNIB's new CEO, Simon Antrobus
The UK's leading sight loss charity, RNIB, has a new CEO. Simon Antrobus took over the role at the beginning of the year, having spent the majority of his career within the charity sector, including the past ten years leading BBC Children in Need. In Touch speaks with him about the position of the charity's finances, their current recruitment situation, the organisation's priorities of the future and more.
Presenter: Peter White
Producer: Beth Hemmings
Production Coordinator: Helen Surtees
Website image description: Peter White sits smiling in the centre of the image and he is wearing a dark green jumper. Above Peter's head is the BBC logo (three separate white squares house each of the three letters). Bottom centre and overlaying the image are the words "In Touch" and the Radio 4 logo (the word ‘radio’ in a bold white font, with the number 4 inside of a white circle). The background is a bright mid-blue with two rectangles angled diagonally to the right. Both are behind Peter, one is a darker blue and the other is a lighter blue.
SUN 06:00 News Summary (m002wjhl)
National and international news from BBC Radio 4
SUN 06:05 Beyond Belief (m002w5tp)
One foot in the graveyard
Giles Fraser digs deep into graveyards and asks how we remember those we have loved and lost. He meets Johanna Holmes OBE, Chair of the Friends of Kensal Green Cemetery, to discover this graveyard’s hidden secrets.
He's joined by Madeleine Pennington, Head of Research at the religious think tank Theos and author of their 2023 report ‘Love, Grief and Hope – emotional responses to death and dying in the UK’, Glasgow-based author, journalist and blogger Peter Ross, author of ‘A Tomb With a View: The Stories and Glories of Graveyards’ and Rabbi Jonathan Wittenberg.
Producers: Katharine Longworth and Peter Everett
SUN 06:35 On Your Farm (m002wjhn)
The Kids That Took Over the Farm
Back in 2015, before their youngest child had even left school, farmer David McVeigh and his wife Sharon decided to start handing over the reins to their three children, to look after their own enterprises. For On Your Farm, Anna Hill was there to hear what they were undertaking: glamping, organising weddings, starting a cookery school, running their own herd of longhorn cattle, and managing crops on the 450 acres of arable land.
Eleven years on, David says he’s not in charge of the farm anymore, and Anna is back with the family in Suffolk, to hear how they got along.
The journey of the last decade has brought the children closer together through disaster and success, as they figure out how a relatively small farm can support all of them, and their children too.
Presented and produced by Anna Hill.
SUN 06:57 Weather (m002wjhq)
The latest weather reports and forecast
SUN 07:00 News and Papers (m002wjhs)
National and international news from BBC Radio 4
SUN 07:10 Sunday (m002wjhv)
Faith and politics; Holocaust memorial lecture; street preachers
The build up to the by-election in Makerfield is likely to be the only political story in town in the coming weeks. Reform UK is pledging to throw everything at the race to stop Andy Burnham's ambitions to be Prime Minister. Another potential contender in any contest, Wes Streeting, has spoken openly about his Anglican Christian faith. Angela Rayner has described herself as not being religious. We explore how faith can play a role in politics.
An evangelical church in Essex has launched an appeal against an order preventing “intimidating behaviour” by its members preaching on the street. The Bread of Life Community Church in Colchester, allegedly told passers-by they were going to hell. Colchester City Council has applied to police to issue a community protection notice. The Church maintains it's preaching a message of God's love. The case raises a lot of questions - not least about the lines preachers may or may not cross legally.
What is public opinion on street preachers and has that changed?
Who helped and who didn’t echoes still as one of history's most searing questions in the wake of the Holocaust. As well as the countries who fought against Nazis in the war - the light has often been shone on heroic individuals who risked their own lives to save persecuted Jewish people. Are there lessons to be learned in understanding which local communities, and specifically religious groups, refused to look the other way and which ones did? This is the subject of the annual Alfred Wiener Holocaust Memorial Lecture tomorrow by Professor Mary Fulbrook, who was brought up as a Quaker.
Presenter: Julie Etchingham
Producers: Katy Booth and Alexa Good
Studio managers: Becky Marcus and Catherine Everatt
Editor: Tim Pemberton
SUN 07:54 Radio 4 Appeal (m002wjhx)
Hope Support Services
Comedian Ashley Storrie makes the Radio 4 Appeal on behalf of Hope Support Services. The charity supports young people when a loved one is diagnosed with a serious illness through peer-to-peer support groups, residential trips and family days.
The Radio 4 Appeal features a new charity every week.
Each appeal then runs on Radio 4 from Sunday 0755 for 7 days.
To Give:
- Freephone 0800 404 8144
- Freepost BBC Radio 4 Appeal. (That’s the whole address. Please do not write anything else on the front of the envelope). Mark the back of the envelope ‘Hope Support Services’.
- Cheques should be made payable to ‘Hope Support Services’.
- You can donate online at bbc.co.uk/appeal/radio4
- Please ensure you are donating to the correct charity by checking the name of the charity on the donate page.
Registered Charity Number: 1135680. If you’d like to find out more about the charity’s work visit *https://hopesupport.org.uk/
*The BBC is not responsible for content on external websites
Producer: Katy Takatsuki
SUN 07:57 Weather (m002wjhz)
The latest weather reports and forecast
SUN 08:00 News and Papers (m002wjj1)
National and international news from BBC Radio 4
SUN 08:10 Sunday Worship (m002wjj3)
Risen, ascended, glorified
From Hoddinott Hall in Cardiff, the home of the National Chorus of Wales, this week’s service comes from within the Wales Millennium Centre. The Chorus open the programme with Vaughan Williams’ rousing setting of George Herbert’s Let all the world in every corner sing, and will lead the music throughout the broadcast.
The service is led by the Rev Dr Stephen Wigley, a Methodist minister based in Cardiff, with prayers from the Rev Cathy Gale, Superintendent Minister of the Cardiff Methodist Circuit.
Hymns:
‘Christ whose glory fills the skies’ (C Wesley; tune Ratisbon)
‘Lord enthroned in heavenly splendour’ (Bourne; tune St. Helen’s)
‘Brother, sister let me serve you’ (R Gillard; tune)
'Lord thy Church on earth is seeking’ (H Sherlock; tune Lux Eoi)
SUN 08:48 Witness History (w3ct74r4)
Creating Cluedo
Air raids and blackouts during World War Two helped Anthony Pratt invent one of the most popular family board games: Cluedo.
But the musician's real inspiration came from his job in the 1930s, playing piano at murder mystery parties in English country houses and hotels.
Once war broke out, Anthony killed time at home in Birmingham by developing rules for his new 'whodunnit' game. While he created the colourful characters and weapons, his wife Elva drew up the board, based on the rooms of a Tudor mansion.
The first version was launched in 1949, and since then more than 150 million copies have been sold around the world, including in the US where it’s known as Clue.
Anthony and Elva's daughter Marcia Lewis tells Jane Wilkinson about how her parent's idea became a global hit.
Eye-witness accounts brought to life by archive. Witness History is for those fascinated by the past. We take you to the events that have shaped our world through the eyes of the people who were there.
For nine minutes every day, we take you back in time and all over the world, to examine wars, coups, scientific discoveries, cultural moments and much more.
Recent episodes explore everything from the death of Adolf Hitler, the first spacewalk and the making of the movie Jaws, to celebrity tortoise Lonesome George, the Kobe earthquake and the invention of superglue.
We look at the lives of some of the most famous leaders, artists, scientists and personalities in history, including: Eva Peron – Argentina’s Evita; President Ronald Reagan and his famous ‘tear down this wall’ speech; Thomas Keneally on why he wrote Schindler’s List; and Jacques Derrida, France’s ‘rock star’ philosopher.
You can learn all about fascinating and surprising stories, such as the civil rights swimming protest; the disastrous D-Day rehearsal; and the death of one of the world’s oldest languages.
(Photo: Cluedo box, 1949. Credit: Family photo)
SUN 08:58 Tweet of the Day (m002wjj5)
Isabella Tree on the Nightingale
Author and conservationist Isabella Tree began inviting friends over to hear nightingales at Knepp, her home and rewilding project in West Sussex, 15 years ago. Nightingales used to be associated with coppiced woodland, but at Knepp they’re thriving in dense, thorny scrub which provides protection for their nests, which they build a foot or so above the ground. Though nightingales are still one of the UK's rarest birds, today Knepp has around 60 singing males a year – around 1% of the UK population.
Produced by Sophie Anton for BBC Audio in Bristol.
This programme features audio recorded by Hazel Reeves at Knepp.
SUN 09:00 Broadcasting House (m002wjj7)
The Sunday morning news magazine programme. Presented by Paddy O'Connell
SUN 10:00 Desert Island Discs (m002wjj9)
Gary O'Donoghue, journalist
Journalist Gary O’Donoghue is the Chief North America Correspondent for BBC News. Last year his coverage of the 2024 assassination attempt on Donald Trump won the Royal Television Society Breaking News Award. He made the news himself in 2025 when he secured a 20-minute exclusive phone interview with Trump who was by then the US President.
Gary was born in London and brought up in Essex. When he was eight he lost his sight and attended specialist schools for blind and partially sighted children. He read philosophy and modern languages at the University of Oxford before embarking on his BBC career.
He has reported on mass shootings, filed stories from the Macedonian border during the Kosovo conflict, covered the Iraq War and chronicled seven British general elections. He became the BBC’s Washington correspondent in 2014 and, as well as Donald Trump’s two terms, has covered the administrations of Presidents Obama and Biden.
Gary is based in Washington DC and when in the UK lives in West Yorkshire with his partner Sarah.
Presenter: Lauren Laverne
Producer: Paula McGinley
Desert Island Discs has cast other journalists away to the island over the years including Lyse Doucet, Clive Myrie and Lindsey Hilsum, You can hear their programmes if you search through BBC Sounds or our own Desert Island Discs website.
This episode was recorded before the shooting at the White House Correspondent's Dinner on 25th April 2026.
SUN 11:00 The Archers Omnibus (m002wjjc)
10th – 15th May 2026
Writer: Sarah Hehir
Director: Peter Leslie Wild
Editor: Jeremy Howe
Brian Aldridge … Charles Collingwood
Pip Archer … Daisy Badger
Ruth Archer … Felicity Finch
Lilian Bellamy … Sunny Ormonde
Alice Carter … Hollie Chapman
Ian Craig … Stephen Kennedy
Alan Franks … John Telfer
Amber Gordon … Olivia Bernstone
George Grundy … Angus Stobie
Jakob Hakansson … Paul Venables
Brad Horrobin … Taylor Uttley
Adam Macy … Andrew Wincott
Kirsty Miller …. Annabelle Dowler
Stella Pryor … Lucy Speed
Oliver Sterling … Michael Cochrane
Carol Tregorran … Mia Soteriou
Anna Tregorran … Isobel Middleton
Den … Laurence Saunders
Erik Hakansson … Steven Hartley
Helpline Volunteer … Yasmin Mwanza
SUN 12:15 Profile (m002wj2n)
[Repeat of broadcast at
19:00 on Saturday]
SUN 12:30 The Unbelievable Truth (m002w5qk)
Series 33
3. Words, Bears, The French and Mushrooms
David Mitchell hosts the panel game in which four comedians are encouraged to tell lies and compete against one another to see how many items of truth they’re able to smuggle past their opponents.
Tony Hawks, Zoe Lyons, Mark Steel and Fern Brady are the panellists obliged to talk with deliberate inaccuracy on subjects as varied as words, bears, the French and mushrooms.
The show is devised by Graeme Garden and Jon Naismith.
Producer: Jon Naismith
A Random Entertainment production for BBC Radio 4
SUN 12:57 Weather (m002wjjf)
The latest weather forecast
SUN 13:00 The World This Weekend (m002wjjh)
Is Britain ungovernable?
Pull on your flares and wait for the lights to go out: it's the 70s all over again. We speak to political grandee Lord Heseltine and ask what's behind the exhaustion many people feel with the state of the country. And, with the help of two former government insiders, we'll discuss how to tackle the political churn and change the direction of travel.
SUN 13:30 Currently (m002wj08)
Who’s Winning Muslim Voters?
Following last week’s local elections, it's clear there’s a huge shift happening when it comes to the voting habits of British Muslims across the country.
Why are so many British Muslims moving away from the Labour Party? And are they really all going to the Greens?
Presenter Rima Ahmed returned to her hometown of Harehills in Leeds, once a Labour stronghold, just before the local elections to speak to ordinary Muslim voters about what's important to them.
This episode of Currently... was made by Keiligh Baker. The technical editor was James Beard and the editor was Justine Lang.
SUN 14:00 Gardeners' Question Time (m002w8cb)
Serge Hill Project
In a special Gardeners’ Question Time episode to mark Mental Health Awareness Week, the programme is at the Serge Hill Project, an inspirational garden that promotes working with nature to radically transform people's health and well-being.
Renowned landscape architect Tom Stuart-Smith, and Tom’s partner, psychiatrist, and psychotherapist Sue Stuart-Smith, join regular panellists Pippa Greenwood, Christine Walkden, and Anne Swithinbank to answer listener questions.
The programme also features a generous and brave final appearance from GQT panellist Matt Biggs.
Matt has been a GQT panellist since 1994, and has been battling cancer for six years. Tragically, Matt’s cancer has now entered its end-stage. Matt wanted to record this programme, knowing it would be his last appearance on Gardeners’ Question Time, surrounded by his longtime friends and GQT colleagues.
Listeners will hear questions answered by the GQT panel of gardening experts, but they will also hear about Matt’s journey from initial diagnosis to his current mental and physical condition. At times Matt’s words are upsetting, raw, and honest, however it is Matt’s wish that his story is told partly as advice for other sufferers and also to serve as inspiration to all listeners.
Producers: Dan Cocker, Matt Smith and Rahnee Prescod
Assistant Producer: William Norton
A Somethin' Else production for BBC Radio 4
* If listening on BBC Sounds and you wish to view the plant list, please go to the Gardeners' Question Time website and open this week's episode page.
SUN 14:45 One to One (m001mllj)
Dharshini David meets fashion writer Anna Murphy
Are we as obsessed as ever with not looking old? It's six years since US beauty magazine Allure banned the term "anti-ageing" in its publications, and some big cosmetic brands have tried to portray a more positive attitude towards getting older. But with huge demand for so-called "tweakments" like Botox injections, does the "anti-ageing" narrative still dominate? BBC business correspondent Dharshini David and Times fashion director Anna Murphy discuss the culture of the beauty industry and what is driving people's desire to change the way they look.
Produced for BBC Audio in Cardiff by Paul Martin.
SUN 15:00 Drama on 4 (m002wjjk)
Milady
Part 3
Milady de Winter is believed dead. But that’s never stopped her before.
Alexandre Dumas’ iconic femme fatale returns in Lucy Catherine’s wicked retelling of the story of the Three Musketeers’ deadliest adversary.
Rescued from the executioner’s blade by her shadowy benefactor Cardinal Richelieu, Milady yearns for a fresh start and the chance to reunite with her long-lost love.
But the Cardinal isn’t done with her yet. He has a new mission for her – one that will propel her into the company of the most dangerous figures in all of Europe.
Milady . . . . . Selin Hizli
Richelieu . . . . . Carl Prekopp
Marie de Medici . . . . . Hattie Morahan
D'Artagnan . . . . . Ian Dunnett Jnr
Abbé . . . . . Simon Scardifield
Comtesse . . . . . Jasmine Hyde
Priest . . . . . Chris Lew Kum Hoi
Sound Design: Sharon Hughes, Peter Ringrose, Alison Craig
Directors: Sasha Yevtushenko and Ben Hollands
A BBC Studios production
SUN 16:00 Take Four Books (m002wjjm)
Katie Kitamura
The American writer Katie Kitamura speaks about her Booker-shortlisted novel, Audition, and together with presenter James Crawford they explore its connections to three other literary works.
Audition begins with two people meeting for lunch in a Manhattan restaurant. The woman is an accomplished actress and she's meeting a man who is young enough to be her son. But who is he to her, and who is she to him? Two competing narratives unspool and the novel begins to rewrite our understanding of the roles we play every day.
For her three influences Katie, who was a recent finalist for the Pulitzer Prize, chose: Rosemary’s Baby by Ira Levin from 1967, which was later made into a film directed by Roman Polanski; Tomorrow In The Battle Think Of Me, by Javier Marias, from 1994; and Bel Ami by Guy de Maupassant, from 1885.
Producer: Dominic Howell
Editor: Gillian Wheelan
This was a BBC Audio Scotland production.
SUN 16:30 Round Britain Quiz (m002wjjp)
7. Wales and Scotland - Third place play-off
Teams from all over the UK will face Kirsty Lang's cryptic questions across the series, with Kirsty offering support and the odd hint where it might be needed.
The seventh match is the third place play off between Wales and Scotland.
As always, they'll drop points every time they need a clue from the chair to steer them towards the right solution.
You can follow the questions for this episode, which will appear below on the day of the match.
Teams:
Wales: Myfanwy Alexander and Cariad Lloyd
Scotland: Val McDermid and Alan McCredie
Host: Kirsty Lang
Recorded by: Phil Booth
Sound design: Chris Maclean
Production coordinator: Caroline Barlow
Producer: Carl Cooper
A BBC Studios Production
Questions set by Lucy Porter, Martin Mor and by you, the listeners!
Questions in today's edition:
Q1: (From Joe Wainwright) Why might:
A moaning Muppet
A Venetian violinist’s favourite
A polite pilferer
A Brassica Oleracea
A Viennese chocolate original
all point to the same consonant?
Q2: (From Emma Brown) Why might all of these be your favourite
A bloody pirate’s drink?
A siphonophore, missing its Iberian connection
A salty American scone
And an Italian astronomer
Q3 Music: (From Phil Ware)
Why would the first have a familial bond to a macho man, the second to a Beatles influencer, and the third to someone on the lookout for a jive partner?
And the fourth to someone with a Buffalo Stance.
Q4: (From David Piper) How might each of the following cryptically suggest a possible way of emptying "a quart into a pint pot"?
Offenbach’s “Galop Infernal”
A Gungan from the planet Naboo
A traditional Caribbean festive dish
A young investigative journalist.
Q5: A Galilean fisherman’s triple-shaking of the head
A look back at Jimmy Porter.
A defendant’s plea to a lesser charge to avoid a trial.
Churchill’s shadowy companion.
And the speech every actor claims they haven’t prepared.
What am I going through?
Q6 Music: (From Simon Meara)
I wonder, what narcissistic host might be suggested by the following pieces of music?
Q7: (From Stephen Murphy) I’m going to describe three uniquely brilliant film or TV performances.
Firstly, tell me the names of the films or TV shows, and then tell me why the characters portrayed by these actors were also one of a kind?
Michael Grandage in an ITV show from the 1990s which starred Derek Jacobi.
Oscar Isaac in a 2010 Ridley Scott movie which starred Russell Crowe
Olivia Colman in a 2018 movie by Yorgos Lathimos which co-starred Emma Stone and Rachel Weisz
Q8: (From David Piper) What kind of social or political body might initially turn
A university postgraduate into an Asian fruit?
A military reserve force into an Argentinian dance?
A police officer into an Antipodean animal?
A head of a military unit into one of two African countries?
SUN 17:00 Witness History (w3ct74nx)
The Irish priest who built an airport
In May 1986, a new airport opened in Knock in the west of Ireland. It was the dream of an Irish priest, Monsignor James Horan, who raised millions to have it built.
The location for the airport seemed impossible – set in the boggy, foggy hills of rural County Mayo.
However, Knock attracts more than a million pilgrims every year, who come to visit the supposed site of an apparition by the Virgin Mary and other saints.
So, Horan convinced politicians that this remote western landscape could host a gateway to the world, and service the pilgrims who come to visit the shrine of Knock.
Pearce Concannon was working at the local Knock Shrine when the airport opened and remembers when Horan asked him to quit his job and become a firefighter at his new airport. He speaks to Colm Flynn.
Eye-witness accounts brought to life by archive. Witness History is for those fascinated by the past. We take you to the events that have shaped our world through the eyes of the people who were there.
For nine minutes every day, we take you back in time and all over the world, to examine wars, coups, scientific discoveries, cultural moments and much more.
Recent episodes explore everything from the death of Adolf Hitler, the first spacewalk and the making of the movie Jaws, to celebrity tortoise Lonesome George, the Kobe earthquake and the invention of superglue.
We look at the lives of some of the most famous leaders, artists, scientists and personalities in history, including: Eva Peron – Argentina’s Evita; President Ronald Reagan and his famous ‘tear down this wall’ speech; Thomas Keneally on why he wrote Schindler’s List; and Jacques Derrida, France’s ‘rock star’ philosopher.
You can learn all about fascinating and surprising stories, such as the civil rights swimming protest; the disastrous D-Day rehearsal; and the death of one of the world’s oldest languages.
(Photo: Monsignor James Horan in front of the first plane to arrive at the airport. Credit: Ireland West Airport)
SUN 17:10 Understand (m002t1dj)
How Reading Made Us
3. How Reading Made Our Politics
Learning to read permanently alters your brain. It changes the emotions you experience and the way you relate to others. When a society learns to read the consequences are dramatic: wars break out, revolutions erupt and new political systems spring into being. Reading made us who we are. With time spent reading - and even reading ability - starting to nosedive, Times writer James Marriott explores how reading changed humanity, and what might happen if we stop.
In this episode James digs into the question of whether literacy led to the invention of democracy, asks whether reading helps us proof ourselves against misinformation, and asks what happens to our politics if reading dies out?
Contributors include
- Jung Chang, author
- Robert Darnton, historian
- Steven Pinker, professor of psychology at Harvard University
- Naomi Alderman, writer and presenter
- John Burn-Murdoch, chief data reporter for the Financial Times
- Nick Harris, ideas editor at the New Statesman
- Professor Maryanne Wolf, Director of the Center for Dyslexia, Diverse Learners, and Social Justice at UCLA
Producer - Beth Sagar-Fenton
Editors - Chris Ledgard & Alasdair Cross
SUN 17:54 Shipping Forecast (m002wjjs)
The latest weather reports and forecasts for UK shipping
SUN 17:57 Weather (m002wjjv)
The latest weather reports and forecast
SUN 18:00 Six O'Clock News (m002wjjx)
Lisa Nandy: Starmer's future a 'personal decision' for him
Lisa Nandy, a member of Sir Keir Starmer's cabinet, backs Andy Burnham's bid to return to Westminster, and says she can't guarantee the prime minister will fight any leadership challenge. The BBC's political correspondent, Paris Gourtsoyannis, has the latest.
Also: Steve Rosenberg reports from Moscow on one of the largest Ukrainian drone attacks on Russia since the start of the war four years ago.
We hear from the BBC's Africa correspondent Thomas Mukhwana as a growing Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo prompts authorities to declare a health emergency of international concern -- with analysis from our health correspondent Dominic Hughes.
Our Scotland correspondent Katie Hunter has the latest from Glasgow, where police say two offiers were seriously injured in violence after Celtic's Premiership title win.
Patrick Gearey looks back at the life of the great Scottish rugby union player Scott Hastings, who has died aged 61.
And Jon Wilkinson has the rest of the day's sport.
SUN 18:15 Pick of the Week (m002wjjz)
Viji Alles
This week, we're hearing the revolutionary optimism that many have found in the song I Can See Clearly Now, and how the living can find peace amongst the dead in graveyards. Alan Dein squeezes into a photobooth as it celebrates its centenary, and more than 100 years later from their first broadcast, nightingales are crooning on the Today programme in memory of cellist Beatrice Harrison.
Presenter: Viji Alles
Producer: Anthony McKee
Editor: Steven Hobson
Production Coordinators: Finlay McMaster and Sylvie Conway
A BBC Audio Northern Ireland production for BBC Radio 4.
Programmes featured in this episode include:
Soul Music: I Can See Clearly Now
Artworks: A Century In A Click: 100 Years of the Photobooth
Take Four Books: Amitav Ghosh
Radical with Amol Rajan: Rivers Are Dying, So Give Them Rights
The Briefing Room: Are we still going to Mars?
Woman's Hour, 13/05: Parental domestic homicide
Weimar: Life on the Edge of Catastrophe by Katja Hoyer - 1945 and 1914: Germany in a Nutshell
Beyond Belief: One foot in the graveyard
This Week in History: May 11th to May 17th
Today, 11/05: Simon Lee and singing with nightingales
SUN 19:00 The Archers (m002wj02)
Enjoying a Sunday lunch with Helen at The Bull, Kirsty mentions being with Amber when her baby kicked on Friday and nearly revealing her own condition, then adds that she turned down a marriage proposal from Erik. With Kate still away in Scotland, Kirsty’s so far avoided telling her she’s pregnant – Kirsty worries Kate will smother her with herbal care and enforced yoga. As Tracy takes dessert orders, Helen asks if she’d consider more hours in the dairy – she was talking to Kirsty and sees Tracy as a natural artisan who can help her develop a new cheese. Tracy however seems impassive and Helen is surprised that she didn’t jump at the offer - who wouldn’t want to be involved in a new cheese?
Armed with a lemon drizzle, Leonard visits Carol at Glebe Cottage. She dismisses his concern that she’s not wearing her pendant alarm, before Leonard reveals the reason for his visit – Jill wants Carol to go to The Laurels and have a look around. She’d love Carol to use it for respite care, so that safety improvements can be made to Glebe Cottage. Leonard makes the case that Christine is very happy there, standards of care are excellent - and it would only be temporary. However, Carol refuses to visit until Anna arrives when, feeling pressured, Carol reluctantly agrees to see the care home. However, on arrival with Anna, she doesn’t even get out of the car. Carol says she’s seen enough and is adamant: there’s no way she’d spend a single day in The Laurels.
SUN 19:15 Illuminated (m002wjk1)
Tarot and the Art of Creativity
“Each one of us, we’re a constant radio station communicating and receiving. It’s just that we’re not taught how to read, how to interpret the energies and intuitions we pick up. The tarot card is a really important component in this… " Ben Okri
Tarot cards are rich in visual symbolism and the stories they tell help people make sense of the ups and downs of human experience. They’ve been around for hundreds of years - from simple card games to fortune-telling, divination tools, the occult and intuitive storytelling.
In this episode of Illuminated, we join four artists at their private readings to hear how tarot is part of their creative practice.
The Queen of Wands: Comedian and writer Jessica Knappett drives to Harrogate to meet Carla Greenwood who has news of an ominous block in her work.
Madame Sosostris: Writer Ben Okri has borrowed ‘the wisest women in Europe’ as a character for his latest novel. Where did she come from?
Five of Coins: Musician, writer and actress Lola Kirke is about to go on stage in Manchester. Jen Cownie asks her if the Five of Coins card tells a story about feeling like an outsider.
Pentacles: Poet and generative intelligence designer Adam Martin is embarking on a new project. Is he on the right path?
With Ben Okri, Jessica Knappett, Adam Martin, Lola Kirke, Jen Cownie, Carla Greenwood and Diane Whiteley.
Editor.............................. Ross Burman
Producer......................... Alexandra Quinn
Executive Producer......... Kris Dyer
A Rakkit production for BBC Radio 4
SUN 19:45 Just One Thing - with Michael Mosley (m001qm8t)
Have a Cup of Tea
Michael gets cosy with a cuppa to find out how drinking tea can boost your heart health, reduce stress and may even benefit your bones! With the help of Professor Andrew Steptoe, Head of Behavioural Science at University College London, Michael learns the surprising benefits of ordinary tea. They discuss the benefits of bioactive compounds in tea, including L-theanine and polyphenols. A tasty brew can not only help you recover from stress, it can even benefit your heart health and reduce inflammation…Meanwhile, our volunteer Kit enjoys adding more tea to her life.
New episodes will be released on Wednesdays, but if you’re in the UK, listen to new episodes, a week early, first on BBC Sounds: bbc.in/3zqa6BB
Producer: Nija Dalal-Small
Science Producer: Catherine Wyler
Assistant Producer: Gulnar Mimaroglu
Trainee Assistant Producer: Toni Arenyeka
Executive Producer: Zoe Heron
A BBC Studios production for BBC Sounds / BBC Radio 4.
SUN 20:00 Word of Mouth (m002w621)
Oracy: We Need to Talk
Oracy, alongside literacy and numeracy, is being encouraged in schools. Amy Gaunt, from the charity Voice 21, explains to Michael Rosen how children are learning to talk, and through talk. How does talking about a subject help children learn about it? And how does an oracy rich classroom help the less able as well as the more confident?
We also hear from Tia, who went to a school that works with Voice 21. Tia describes her experience with oracy.
Produced by Sally Heaven for BBC Audio Bristol, in partnership with the Open University.
Subscribe to the Word of Mouth podcast and never miss an episode: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/b006qtnz
SUN 20:30 Last Word (m002w8cg)
Ruth Slenczynska, Dame Bridget Ogilvie, Tony Worthington, Russell Tyner KC
The virtuoso pianist, Ruth Slenczynska was the last living student of Sergei Rachmaninoff. She began performing at the age of four, and was once reputed to be the greatest child prodigy since Mozart.
From the Australian outback to the forefront of British science, Dame Bridget Ogilvie was the daughter of sheep farmers who went on to help make the UK a leader in biomedical research.
Labour MP, Tony Worthington, survived a violent ambush in Somaliland and played a role in the Northern Ireland peace talks.
Crown prosecutor, Russel Tyner KC, was a pioneer in the prosecution of cyber-crime.
Presenter: Kirsty Lang
Producer: Ben Mitchell
Assistant Producer: Lowri Morgan
Researcher: Jesse Edwards
Editor: Andrea Kennedy
Archive:
BBC News, 12/01/2019; BBC, Hunting the Lorry Killers, 03/11/202; BBC, Eureka, 08/01/1997; BBC, Newsnight, 25/10/1999; BBC, Current Account, 16/10/1979; BBC, Reporting Scotland, 11/02/1994; BBC, Newsline, 06/05/1997; BBC, Panorama, 18/03/2003
SUN 21:00 Money Box (m002wj1f)
[Repeat of broadcast at
12:04 on Saturday]
SUN 21:25 Radio 4 Appeal (m002wjhx)
[Repeat of broadcast at
07:54 today]
SUN 21:30 From Our Own Correspondent (m002wj15)
[Repeat of broadcast at
11:30 on Saturday]
SUN 22:00 Westminster Hour (m002wjk3)
The latest on the Labour leadership and Andy Burnham's ambitions
Ben Wright's guests are the Labour backbencher Joe Powell, Conservative Richard Holden and the seasoned political journalist Michael Crick. They discuss the rupture at the top of the Labour party, Andy Burnham's path back to Parliament and a potential leadership challenge. The programme includes an interview with the Burnham-supporting MP Olivia Blake and an assessment of his record as Greater Manchester Mayor from Jennifer Williams, Northern Correspondent of the Financial Times. The editor of the House magazine, Sienna Rodgers, brings additional expert insight and analysis.
SUN 23:00 In Our Time (m002w616)
The Garamantes
Misha Glenny and guests discuss an ancient civilisation who lived over 2000 years ago in the southwest of modern-day Libya. During prehistoric times, the Sahara Desert was greener and even had large lakes, but for the last 5000 years it has been a hyperarid environment. Extreme swings of temperature and limited surface water might make the Sahara seem like an inhospitable place to live, but an ancient people in North Africa known to us as the Garamantes thrived there. Following descriptions of the Garamantes in Roman and Greek texts, the Garamantes have often been seen as pastoral nomads, or as tribal barbarians on the periphery of the Mediterranean world. But the work of archaeologists in recent decades has revealed something different. Evidence suggests a society with flourishing towns and cities, complex underground irrigation systems, a key role in trade routes across the Sahara – and may give us a broader view of ancient history.
With
David Mattingly
Emeritus Professor of Roman Archaeology at the University of Leicester
Farès Moussa
Visiting Fellow at the University of Southampton and Cultural Heritage Consultant
And
Josephine Quinn
Professor of Ancient History and Fellow of St John’s College, University of Cambridge
Producer: Martha Owen
Reading list:
C.M. Daniels, The Garamantes of Southern Libya (Oleander Press, 1970)
C. Duckworth, A. Cuénod and D.J. Mattingly (eds), Mobile Technologies in the Ancient Sahara and Beyond (Trans-Saharan Archaeology Volume 4, Cambridge University Press, 2020)
M.C. Gatto, D.J. Mattingly, N. Ray and M. Sterry (eds), Burials, Migration and Identity in the Ancient Sahara and Beyond (Trans-Saharan Archaeology Volume 2, Cambridge University Press, 2019)
R.B. Hitchner (ed.), A Companion to North Africa in Antiquity (Wiley-Blackwell, 2020), especially ‘Beyond barbarians: the Garamantes of the Libyan Sahara’ by D.J. Mattingly
D.J. Mattingly, Between Sahara and Sea: Africa in the Roman Empire (Michigan University Press, 2023)
D.J. Mattingly (ed.), The Archaeology of Fazzan, Volume 1, Synthesis (Society for Libyan Studies, 2003)
D.J. Mattingly (ed.), The Archaeology of Fazzan, Volume 2, Site Gazetteer, Pottery and other Survey Finds (Society for Libyan Studies, 2007)
D.J. Mattingly (ed.), The Archaeology of Fazzan, Volume 3, Excavations Carried out by C.M. Daniels (Society for Libyan Studies, 2010)
D.J. Mattingly (ed.), The Archaeology of Fazzan, Volume 4, Survey and Excavations at Old Jarma (Ancient Garama) Carried out by C. M. Daniels (1962–69) and the Fazzan Project (1997–2001) (Society for Libyan Studies, 2013)
D.J. Mattingly, V. Leitch, C.N. Duckworth, A. Cuénod, M. Sterry and F. Cole (eds), Trade in the Ancient Sahara and Beyond (Trans-Saharan Archaeology Volume 1, Cambridge University Press, 2017)
D. Mattingly, S. McLaren, E. Savage, Y. Fasatwi and K. Gadgood (eds), The Libyan Desert: Natural Resources and Cultural Heritage (Society for Libyan Studies, 2006), especially ‘The Garamantes: The First Libyan state’ by D. Mattingly
P. Mitchell and P. Lane (eds), The Oxford Handbook of African Archaeology (Oxford University Press, 2013), especially ‘Roman Africa and the Sahara’ by A. Leone and F. Moussa
M. Sterry and D.J. Mattingly (eds), State Formation and Urbanisation in the Ancient Sahara and Beyond (Cambridge University Press, 2020)
Some of these books are available for free from Open Access Books: British Institute for Libyan & Northern African Studies
In Our Time is a BBC Studios production
Spanning history, religion, culture, science and philosophy, In Our Time from BBC Radio 4 is essential listening for the intellectually curious. In each episode, host Misha Glenny and expert guests explore the characters, events and discoveries that have shaped our world.
SUN 23:45 Short Works (m002w8cd)
Algo by Kirstin Innes
A new short work from award winning author Kirstin Innes looking at the contentious issue of asylum hotels and social media. Once the house goes quiet and she has a moment to herself, a woman is gradually being reawaken to the world around her, but can the algorithm give her what she’s really looking for?
Reader Neshla Caplan
Producer Ellie Marsh
Kirstin Innes is an award winning Scottish writer, her novels include Fishnet, which won The Guardian’s Not The Booker Prize in 2015 and Scabby Queen which was nominated for the Gordon Burn Prize and Scottish Novel of the Year. She currently working on her third novel, The Book of Risk.
A BBC Audio Scotland Production for BBC Radio 4.
MONDAY 18 MAY 2026
MON 00:00 Midnight News (m002wjk5)
National and international news from BBC Radio 4
MON 00:15 Crossing Continents (m002w5vb)
Return to Khartoum: War, loss and hope
Since 2023, Sudan has been engulfed by a brutal civil war. More than 150,000 people have been killed and millions have been displaced. The war began as a power struggle between the Sudanese military and the powerful paramilitary group the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The capital Khartoum was the epicentre of the conflict. Millions fled as fighting wrecked the city. In 2025, the Sudanese military finally retook the capital from the RSF. One year on, Mohanad Hashim returns home to Khartoum to see how life is slowly returning to the battered city.
Reporter: Mohanad Hashim
Producer: Alex Last
Sound mix: Neil Churchill
Production Co-ordinator: Katie Morrison
Series Editor: Penny Murphy
MON 00:45 Bells on Sunday (m002wj37)
[Repeat of broadcast at
05:43 on Sunday]
MON 00:48 Shipping Forecast (m002wjk7)
The latest weather reports and forecasts for UK shipping.
MON 01:00 Selection of BBC World Service Programmes (m002wjk9)
BBC Radio 4 joins the BBC World Service.
MON 05:00 News Summary (m002wjkc)
National and international news from BBC Radio 4
MON 05:04 Last Word (m002w8cg)
[Repeat of broadcast at
20:30 on Sunday]
MON 05:34 Shipping Forecast (m002wjkf)
The latest weather reports and forecasts for UK shipping.
MON 05:43 Prayer for the Day (m002wjkh)
How not to make an argument
Good Morning.
Recently, after giving feedback, I was told 'you’re extremely judgemental'. And I said, 'yes, that’s probably true; all of us are at least a little judgemental'. Over the years I’ve worked hard to become less so because I know that the key to developing positive relationships requires awareness and sensitivity to how I interact with other human beings.
All around us are issues causing rifts between families, neighbours, and friends. Recently I heard two callers on a phone-in discussion shouting over each other. There was no civility, no consideration, just shouting. Questions felt like accusations—judgemental, not curious. I thought, how terribly sad. How can we hope to live alongside each other if we can’t even take the time to listen?
The Sages taught:
'Who is wise? One who learns from every human being, as it is said in Psalms "From all my teachers I grow wise"'.
I love this quote because it reminds me that every person has something to teach me. Every single person. They might teach me how to make a better argument—or how NOT to make an argument. They might teach me how to ask better questions. And, sometimes, they might even teach me a thing or two about myself.
May we all learn to enter each conversation from a place of curiosity and compassion, and may we come away having been enriched by the encounter with another human being.
MON 05:45 Farming Today (m002wjkk)
18/05/26: Grow more British flowers, new hands at the wheel of Red Tractor, hare coursing crackdown
Today is final judging day at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, ahead of the show's opening to the public tomorrow. This year, the Great Pavilion will include a mini flower farm, to promote British production. The display's been created by 8 growers from the organisation Flowers From The Farm. It says, after years of the market being dominated by cheaper imports, interest in British flowers is burgeoning. Now, more producers are needed to keep pace with the new demand.
The UK's largest food and farm assurance scheme, Red Tractor, has had a difficult couple of years. Its new Chief Executive, Paul McLaughlin, tells Anna he's confident a standards overhaul will make the scheme work better for farmers and consumers.
Hare coursing has been a long-standing problem for farmers, damaging crops, fencing and land. New sentencing guidelines for hare coursing will come into effect next month taking into account the impact of the crime on farms and rural communities. We hear from a farmer in Essex says he’s been targeted almost 200 times in eight months.
Presenter: Anna Hill
Producer: Sarah Swadling
MON 05:57 Weather (m002wjkm)
The latest weather reports and forecasts for farmers
MON 06:00 Today (m002whzf)
News and current affairs, including Sports Desk, Weather and Thought for the Day.
MON 09:00 Start the Week (m002whzh)
Farming, food production and rural life
What is the future of farming and rural life? Adam Rutherford hosts Radio 4's discussion programme which starts the week, asking about the future of food production and the communities that support it.
Minette Batters was the first female president of the National Farmers’ Union. Born and raised on the family farm that she took over running, she became a committed advocate for the UK farming industry. UK agriculture has faced challenges from Brexit, Covid as well as international conflict and energy crises. Her new book, Harvest, part memoir and manifesto, makes a case for how and why we must rally to support British farming and rural life.
Dave Goulson is Professor of Biology at the University of Sussex. Modern, intensive farming systems producing pesticide-laced foods at scale, he says, are bad for us and bad for the planet. He believes that it is time to change the way we produce food today, making the case for sustainable agriculture. In Eat the Planet Well he argues that consumers can lead this change, even where governments fail to act.
Melissa Harrison has written columns, nature diaries, a series of novels and non fiction books including All Among the Barley, Rain and At Hawthorn Time, and a book for children. Her latest novel, The Given World, is a portrait of rural society, village life and the English countryside which explores a way of life, exploring social tension and the rhythms of the natural world.
Producer: Ruth Watts
Assistant Producer: Emily Channon
MON 09:45 Café Hope (m002whzk)
Community connections
The Refugee Buddy Project helps families and individuals from refugee backgrounds. The charity's founder Rossana Leal, tells Rachel Burden about how her experience of fleeing Chile in the 80s inspired her to help others coming to the UK.
Café Hope is our virtual Radio 4 coffee shop, where guests pop in for a brew and a chat to tell us what they're doing to make things better in big and small ways. Think of us as sitting in your local café, cooking up plans, hearing the gossip, and celebrating the people making the world a better place.
We're all about trying to make change. It might be a transformational project that helps an entire community, or it might be about trying to make one life a little bit easier. And the key here is in the trying. This is real life. Not everything works, and there are struggles along the way. But it's always worth a go.
You can contact us on cafehope@bbc.co.uk
Presenter: Rachel Burden
Series Producer: Uma Doraiswamy
Sound Design: Nicky Edwards
Editor: Tom Bigwood
MON 10:00 Woman's Hour (m002whzm)
Harshita Brella, England Rugby, Olivia Chaney, Lauren Elkin
In November 2024 Harshita Brella's body was found in the boot of a car in Ilford, East London, approximately 100 miles away from where she lived in Corby, Northamptonshire. Now her family have arrived in the UK to appeal for renewed action by police in the stalled investigation into her death; bringing the alleged murderer to justice. Nuala McGovern is joined by Harshita’s sister Sonia Dabas and Poonam Joshi, founder of Indian Ladies UK who support Indian victims of domestic abuse.
The England Rugby team now has 38 straight victories, 8 Six Nations titles, the Rugby World Cup title and a world number one ranking after their latest victory in the Six Nations yesterday. The BBC pundit Ruby Tui said they may just be the best team ever, in any sport. But is their dominance hurting the game at large? Nuala is joined by Katy Daley-McLean, who was captain of the England team when they won the 2014 Women's Rugby World Cup.
Folk and classical singer-songwriter Olivia Chaney has collaborated with some of the biggest names in folk music, including Shirley Collins and Richard Thompson, and her The Queen of Hearts collaborative album with the Decemberists was Grammy nominated. She discusses her current album and how it felt to have her music included in the box office hit film Wuthering Heights.
Vocal Break: On Women, Music and Power is the title of the new book from Lauren Elkin. For millennia women singing were cast as sirens: mythical creatures who lured sailors to their death. But in this part memoir, part feminist manifesto, Lauren Elkin explores how women from Cyndi Lauper to feminist punk rockstar Kathleen Hanna to Beyonce have used their voices as women to defy convention, genre, capitalism, racism and sexism.
Presenter: Nuala McGovern
Producer: Andrea Kidd
MON 11:00 Behind the Crime (m0020xv8)
Sobanan
Sobanan was struggling to manage his money at university, and got involved in dealing small amounts of cannabis to fellow students to top up his income.
A bright, likeable young man, his business-mind allowed him to scale the operation. But it came crashing down when the police discovered what was going on.
Sobanan was sent to prison, where he experienced shocking living conditions. But he also found ways to thrive and remain safe, using his charm and his sharp mind.
Dr Sally Tilt and Dr Kerensa Hocken are forensic psychologists who work in prisons. Their job is to help people in prison understand the harm they’ve caused, identify why it happened and work out how to make changes to prevent further harm after they’ve been released.
In Behind the Crime, they take the time to understand the life of someone whose crimes have led to harm and prison.
Through this extended interview with Sobanan, we learn about a man with an astonishing ability to ignore risk and threat – an ability that led him to fall foul of the law.
For details of organisations that can provide help and support, visit bbc.co.uk/actionline
Producer: Andrew Wilkie
Editor: Clare Fordham
Behind the Crime is a co-production between BBC Long Form Audio and the Prison Radio Association.
MON 11:45 Weimar: Life on the Edge of Catastrophe by Katja Hoyer (m002whzp)
1930: Democracy to Dictatorship
The story of the residents of Weimar during the rise and reign of Hitler.
Weimar – On the Edge of Catastrophe is written by Katja Hoyer.
The reader is Sian Thomas.
The abridger is Julian Wilkinson.
The producer is Lu Kemp.
The coalition need the Nazi party, and Hitler negotiates control over the Ministry of the Interior (civil service and policing) and the Ministry of Education (schools and cultures). Wilhelm Frick becomes their first Nazi minister – he is sworn in in Weimar.
Meanwhile circumstances for ordinary Germans is increasingly hard. Homelessness and unemployment are rife. Carl Weirich is desperately trying to stabilise his mortgage payments and to feed his family. Reparations are having a devastating effect on Germany.
Meanwhile Frick’s sojourn in parliament is incendiary but effective. He removes opponents of the Nazi Party from public office, replacing them with his own loyalists, and does the same with professions of standing (Doctors and Police). He oversees the police standing back when Nazi troops ambush left-wing protests in the streets. The central government attempts to push back, but to no avail. Frick then goes after culture – ensuring that only ultra conservatives programme the arts in Weimar...
Weimar explores ‘the question of how and why a nation that prided itself on its culture and civility enabled the catastrophe of Nazism haunts us to this day because we fear a repeat.’ The book is about the tension between individual and collective responsibility and sounds a warning for our own times.
Katja Hoyer is a German-British historian, journalist and the author of the international bestseller Beyond the Wall as well as Blood and Iron. A visiting Research Fellow at King's College London and a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society, she writes for Bloomberg and Berliner Zeitung and is a commentator on German current affairs for many British newspapers. She was born in Germany and is now based in the UK.
MON 12:00 News Summary (m002whzr)
The latest national and international news from BBC Radio 4.
MON 12:04 You and Yours (m002whzt)
EV Repairs, Conveyancing Delays, Bluetooth Backlash
The number of electric cars on the roads has hit the 2 million mark for the first time this year. But there's a warning that there aren't enough qualified people to repair them meaning potential delays for car owners. Just 35 percent of motor technicians are trained to work on EV or hybrid cars according to recent figures. We hear from one You and Yours listener who's been waiting 6 months for their car to be returned following repairs. And Nick Connor from The Institute of the Motor Industry explains what needs to happen to tackle the issue.
The time it takes to sell a property has reached a record high. New research from estate agent Connells has found its taking on average 98 days to exchange on a freehold property and 155 for those that leasehold. We hear from someone who's faced delays with their sale and Aneisha Beverige, head of research at Connells, explains why its taking longer and the plans to tackle it.
And we hear how wireless tech isn't working for everyone when it comes to headphones. Easier to lose and often more costly, some shoppers have switched back to the wired versions. Trevor Cox, Professor of Audio Engineering at Salford University, is in the studio to explain the pros and cons of each.
PRESENTER: WINIFRED ROBINSON
PRODUCER: CATHERINE EARLAM
MON 12:57 Weather (m002whzw)
The latest weather forecast
MON 13:00 World at One (m002whzy)
The World Health Organisation declares the Ebola outbreak an international emergency
An Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo has been declared an international emergency by the WHO. Former Africa Minister Rory Stewart warns cuts to international health budgets are putting lives at risk. Also on the World at One, The Deputy Prime Minister of Lebanon Tarek Mitri says a true ceasefire is needed to help his government tackle Hezbollah. Also: police have been called to restore order in queues in the UK for a new Swatch pocket watch. Why is this model holding such appeal? One of the best watchmakers in the world gives his expert opinion.
MON 13:45 Understand (m002wj00)
Rinsed
6. The Lion's Cage
The view from inside the Environment Agency, the body which enforces environmental standards for water companies in England.
Reported and presented by Kate Lamble
Producer: Elle Scott
Sound Design: Andy Fell
Executive Producer: Joe Kent
Commissioning Executive: Tracy Williams
Commissioning Editor: Dan Clarke
Rinsed is a BBC Studios production for BBC Radio 4
MON 14:00 The Archers (m002wj02)
[Repeat of broadcast at
19:00 on Sunday]
MON 14:15 Conversations from a Long Marriage (m002wj04)
Series 7
3. Love and Affection
Joanna Lumley and Roger Allam return as the loving, long-married couple, in the 7th series of Jan Etherington’s award-winning comedy.
This week, Joanna's friend, Paula's, Alzheimer's worsens and a heartbroken Joanna goes to help move her into a hospice. But Joanna's attempts to comfort grieving husband Ray confuse him.
Written by Jan Etherington
Producer: Claire Jones
Production coordinator: Giulia Lopes Mazzu
Studio Engineer: Wilfredo Acosta
Sound Designer: Jon Calver
A BBC Studios Production for Radio 4
MON 14:45 One to One (m001mt3l)
Dharshini David meets cosmetic dermatologist Dr Sam Bunting
Are we as obsessed as ever with not wanting to look old? And does the beauty industry respond to or fuel that desire?
BBC business correspondent Dharshini David and cosmetic dermatologist Dr Sam Bunting discuss people's motivation for wanting beauty treatments and procedures, the way advertising has changed over the years, and the ethics of the industry.
Produced for BBC Audio in Cardiff by Paul Martin.
MON 15:00 Great Lives (m002wj06)
Ade Edmondson on singer Sandy Denny
Ade Edmondson - star of The Young Ones, The Comic Strip Presents, Bottom and much more besides - chooses the singer Sandy Denny.
"I think a large part of my Englishness comes from Sandy Denny," he says of the singer perhaps best known for her work with Fairport Convention.
The programme includes archive of Richard Thompson, Mick Houghton and Sandy herself, plus help from Patrick Humphries, who interviewed Sandy Denny shortly before her early death aged just 31.
The producer for BBC Studios is Miles Warde
MON 15:30 The History Podcast (m002wlk2)
[Repeat of broadcast at
10:00 on Saturday]
MON 16:00 Currently (m002wj08)
[Repeat of broadcast at
13:30 on Sunday]
MON 16:30 The Kitchen Cabinet (m002wj0b)
[Repeat of broadcast at
10:30 on Saturday]
MON 17:00 PM (m002wj0g)
Full coverage of the day's news
MON 18:00 Six O'Clock News (m002wj0l)
Two women tell BBC Panorama they were raped while filming Married at First Sight UK
Two women have told the BBC they were raped during the filming of one of Channel 4's biggest shows. Channel 4 said it had commissioned an external review into contributor welfare on the programme in April. Also: Sir Keir Starmer says he won't walk away from Downing Street. And The Prince of Wales is to sell twenty per cent of his Duchy of Cornwall estate to help fund social housing and environmental projects.
MON 18:30 The Unbelievable Truth (m002wj0q)
Series 33
4. Advertising, The Beatles, Theatre and Underwear
David Mitchell hosts the panel game in which four comedians are encouraged to tell lies and compete against one another to see how many items of truth they’re able to smuggle past their opponents.
Henning Wehn, Holly Walsh, Miles Jupp and Lucy Porter are the panellists obliged to talk with deliberate inaccuracy on subjects as varied as advertising, The Beatles, theatre and underwear.
The show is devised by Graeme Garden and Jon Naismith.
Producer: Jon Naismith
A Random Entertainment production for BBC Radio 4
MON 19:00 The Archers (m002wj0v)
When Leonard retrieves Jill’s cake tin from Glebe Cottage, Carol confesses that she visited but didn’t actually go inside The Laurels. Later, meeting Alan, who’s worried about repairing a cracked bell at St Stephens, Leonard confides that he’s finding Carol’s intransigence a challenge. He wonders if Alan might perhaps have more luck persuading her to have a safety camera fitted close to the stairs. Calling in, Alan helps Carol narrowly avoid a nasty fall, which shakes her. She admits Anna had flagged the rug as a trip hazard but doesn’t want her to know. Alan tells Carol that Anna is on her side. Carol agrees to have the camera installed if Alan doesn’t disclose her near miss.
As Brad prepares to take Bert for a walk, Den arrives. Although reluctant to chat, Brad agrees to Den joining them to view Chelsea’s horse box, as that’s on Susan’s ‘designated list of walks’ for Bert’s health. They’re all impressed with the horse box, although the renovation’s cost more than Chelsea had anticipated. Bert then praises Clive for how well he’s doing now. Den sees this as proof that people can change, but Brad says pointedly that sometimes change comes too late. Back at 6 The Green, Den speaks to Tracy about seeing Brad more often after his exams. He wants to plan something really special, to prove it’s not too late to save their relationship. Tracy is sceptical – why is he suddenly wanting more contact? She gives Den a warning, to never, ever hurt Brad or Chelsea.
MON 19:15 Front Row (m002wj0z)
White Lotus and Bridget Jones star Leo Woodall on his new film
Leo Woodall stars in the film Tuner, about a young piano prodigy who turns to crime, in cinemas on the 29th May.
The classical music world has been paying tribute to the soprano Dame Felicity Lott, who died on Friday at the age of 79. Critic David Benedict joins us to discuss her life in music.
Ronald Firbank is considered a pioneering queer voice of modernist fiction, but he's often overlooked. Sir Alan Hollinghurst and the poet and critic Jack Parlett join us to assess his literary impact and his legacy, a century on from his death.
Mary Astell championed women’s education and spoke out against what she saw as the tyranny of marriage in the early 18th century. But despite her impact she's in danger of being forgotten. Now a new play imagines her in conversation with another famous feminist philosopher, Virginia Woolf, encountering each other in a celestial waiting room. We speak to the playwright, Shelagh Stephenson about her play Astell & Woolf, playing now at Newcastle's Live Theatre.
Presenter: Samira Ahmed
Producer: Harry Graham
MON 20:00 The Briefing Room (m002w623)
Ten years of The Briefing Room
It's ten years since the Briefing Room was first transmitted in May 2016. And what a decade it's been. To mark the tenth anniversary the programme looks at the biggest changes at home and abroad since that momentous day in British broadcasting. We’ve had Brexit, a pandemic, the Gaza war, the Russian invasion of Ukraine and Donald Trump - twice. It is hard to remember such a time. So David Aaronovitch's three expert guests will help him answer the question: are we even the same people as we were back then?
Guests:
Anand Menon, Professor of European Politics and Foreign Affairs, King’s College London
Bronwen Maddox, Director and CEO, Chatham House
Meg Russell, Professor of British and Comparative Politics in the Department of Political Science at University College London.
Presenter: David Aaronovitch
Producers: Caroline Bayley, Kirsteen Knight, Sally Abrahams
Production Co-ordinator: Maria Ogundele
Sound engineers: James Beard and Neil Churchill
Editor: Richard Vadon
MON 20:30 BBC Inside Science (w3ct977l)
The science behind hantavirus
Following three deaths linked to the deadly hantavirus disease on a cruise ship this month, the scientific community is racing to answer the many unknown questions surrounding the outbreak.
Tom Whipple speaks to Dr Emma Hodcroft, an epidemiologist at the University of Basel and co-founder of Pathoplexus, an online database of pathogen genomes, to explore what the new hantavirus genomic sequences can tell us.
He also hears from Dr Nicole Luri, Executive Director of Emergency Preparedness and Response from the NGO The Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness (CEPI), to hear what steps would be taken if the hantavirus strain had the potential to become a pandemic, and how far their "100 days" mission has come.
With less than a month until the men’s football World Cup kicks off in the United States, Canada and Mexico, there are warnings from climate scientists that football’s global governing body FIFA needs to do more to combat the risks from the high temperatures both players and fans are expected to face. We speak to Dr Theodore Keeping from the World Weather Attribution team at Imperial College London to hear about the predicted conditions and the concerns they are raising.
Plus, mathematician Kit Yates from the University of Bath brings us his pick of the week’s science news you might have missed, including new hearing technology that might help you follow conversations in rowdy parties.
Presenter: Tom Whipple
Producer: Alex Mansfield
Editor: Ilan Goodman
Production Co-ordinator: Jana Bennett-Holesworth
MON 21:00 Start the Week (m002whzh)
[Repeat of broadcast at
09:00 today]
MON 21:45 Café Hope (m002whzk)
[Repeat of broadcast at
09:45 today]
MON 22:00 The World Tonight (m002wj14)
Elon Musk loses lawsuit against Open AI
A jury has tonight thrown out a lawsuit by Elon Musk against Open AI and its boss Sam Altman, saying he took too long to file the claim.
Alongside the Labour leadership crisis, the Brexit debate is back. Andy Burnham says he's not proposing the UK rejoins the European Union. We'll hear how the EU is viewing events.
And at least 100 people have now died from Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo - we'll speak to a man who was part of the British response to a previous outbreak.
MON 22:45 Hunger and Thirst by Claire Fuller (m002wj18)
The Letter Box
A contemporary gothic thriller from award winning author Claire Fuller.
After years in and out of the care system Ursula is finally getting on her feet when a shocking discovery threatens to derail her.
Read by Juliet Aubrey
Abridged by Siân Preece
Produced by Eilidh McCreadie
MON 23:00 Limelight (m001nh1w)
Bitter Pill
1. Fight or Flight
An audio drama series about memory and trauma.
After a traumatic car crash, Mary joins a clinical drug trial that promises a cure for PTSD. The medication triggers intense flashbacks of the accident that left her fiancée comatose. But is Mary simply remembering the event, or reliving it? And if she is actually returning to the past, does that mean she can change her future?
Cast:
Mary ….. Séainín Brennan
Jackie ….. Charlotte McCurry
Carl ……. Shaun Blaney
Barista ….. Christopher Grant
Board Member ….. Richard Croxford
Warren ….. Martin McCann
All other roles were played by the cast and crew.
Writers ….. Michael Patrick & Oisín Kearney
Producer ….. Michael Shannon
Executive Editor ….. Andy Martin
Music composed by Denis Clohessy.
Sound Design by Bill Maul.
A BBC Northern Ireland production.
MON 23:30 Today in Parliament (m002wj1d)
News, views and features on today's stories in Parliament
TUESDAY 19 MAY 2026
TUE 00:00 Midnight News (m002wj1j)
National and international news from BBC Radio 4
TUE 00:30 Weimar: Life on the Edge of Catastrophe by Katja Hoyer (m002whzp)
[Repeat of broadcast at
11:45 on Monday]
TUE 00:48 Shipping Forecast (m002wj1n)
The latest weather reports and forecasts for UK shipping.
TUE 01:00 Selection of BBC World Service Programmes (m002wj1s)
BBC Radio 4 joins the BBC World Service.
TUE 05:00 News Summary (m002wj1x)
National and international news from BBC Radio 4
TUE 05:04 Yesterday in Parliament (m002wj21)
Susan Hulme reports as Justice Secretary David Lammy unveils plans to reform the youth justice system in England and Wales.
TUE 05:34 Shipping Forecast (m002wj25)
The latest weather reports and forecasts for UK shipping.
TUE 05:43 Prayer for the Day (m002wj29)
Slugs
Good morning.
Recently I was annoyed to see a large slug sliding across my kitchen windowsill. My plants had been nibbled and slimed and I was not amused. Tossing the slug outside, I closed all access routes. Then I noticed near the original spot, four other slugs—a slug family!— the tiniest less than a centimetre long. Feeling guilty for my treatment of the largest slug, I gently placed the others on a safe surface outside. Come morning, they were gone.
These gastropods brought me back to my science teaching days when I gave sea snails to my year-9 students to study. These young people lived by the ocean yet never noticed the small creatures right under their noses. As they sketched and recorded their observations, one group sang to their snails, discovering that some melodies caused the snails to retreat while others encouraged the animals to emerge and explore. Replaying this scene in my mind, I smiled. Just as I’d taught my students to slow down and really see their snails, my windowsill slugs had taught me to pay attention to the small details.
In the book of Psalms we read: 'Teach us to treasure each day, that we may open our hearts to Your wisdom'.
Many of us may be so busy rushing from one task to the next that everyday wonders and blessings slip away.
Let us treasure each day, and find blessings in the small things, that we open to wonder and wisdom.
TUE 05:45 Farming Today (m002wj2f)
19/05/26 Pollution from moorland burning, Duchy of Cornwall regen tenancies, tulips.
Researchers at Leeds University say a new study shows deliberate burning of moorland for grouse shooting leads to an additional half a million people, on average, being exposed to unsafe levels of particulate pollution - that's on top of the pollution cause by wildfires. The study was co-authored by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, which is calling for a licensing scheme for controlled burning to be brought in for England. In Scotland a plan to bring in licensing was temporarily put on hold by the Scottish Government in the aftermath of extensive wildfires last summer. Moorland managers argue that wildfires cause more pollution than controlled burning - and that controlled burning reduces the risk of wildfires.
A fifth of the Duchy of Cornwall's property, owned by the Prince of Wales, could be sold in the next 10 years to help invest £500m into tackling housing and nature crises. The Duchy has a large number of tenant farmers and is introducing a new tenancy agreement, which concentrates on regenerative farming. We find out what's different about this type of tenancy.
All week we're celebrating British flowers and today we visit a commercial grower in Norfolk which grows 35 million tulips every year and supplies most of the UK’s leading supermarkets. It's invested five million pounds in new technology so it can stay competitive and compete with imported blooms.
Presenter = Anna Hill
Producer = Rebecca Rooney
TUE 06:00 Today (m002wj61)
News and current affairs, including Sports Desk, Weather and Thought for the Day.
TUE 09:00 The Gift (m002wd8x)
Series 3
3. Fathers
Technology catches up with sperm donors in ways they could never have imagined.
In The Gift, Jenny Kleeman has always looked at extraordinary truths that unravel when people take at-home DNA tests. For Series 3, Jenny is asking what it means to belong in a world where the global DNA database keeps expanding.
Presenter: Jenny Kleeman
Producer: Conor Garrett
Production Coordinator: Juliette Harvey
Commissioning Executive: Tracy Williams
Commissioning Editor: Dan Clarke
The Gift is a BBC Studios production for BBC Radio 4
TUE 09:30 All in the Mind (m002wj65)
What do out-of-body experiences tell us about consciousness?
What would you say is the difference between the mind and the brain?
Claudia delves into this complex question after listener Paul got in touch to ask about Near Death Experiences. What can they tell us about the mind, the brain and who we are? Anil Seth, Professor of Cognitive and Computational Neuroscience at the University of Sussex and author of Being You tackles this profound topic.
Studio guest Catherine Loveday discusses brand new research on how exactly the brain brings old memories from our pasts into our minds.
And Anita got in touch after hearing our discussion of knowledge theft, asking what motivates idea-stealing and whether it’s always intentional. Lillian Ellis, Assistant Professor at the Darden School of Business at the University of Virginia shares the evidence on 'cryptomnesia' - the common act of plagiarising ideas unconsciously.
Presenter: Claudia Hammond
Producer: Erika Wright
Editor: Ilan Goodman
Production coordinator: Jana Bennett-Holesworth
Studio engineers: Mary Stone and Sue Maillot
TUE 10:00 Woman's Hour (m002wj69)
Married at First Sight allegations, Falling pupil numbers, Fibromyalgia and breast implants, Ladies loos on stage
Two women have told a BBC Panorama investigation they were raped during the filming of one of Channel 4's biggest shows, Married at First Sight UK, while a third has described an allegation of a non-consensual sex act. Channel 4 has now removed all episodes of the programme from its streaming and linear services and commissioned an external review of welfare on the show. The programme makers CPL have said its welfare system was ‘gold standard’. Nuala McGovern is joined by BBC News' Lizo Mzimba and Helen Wood, Professor of Media and Cultural Studies at the University of Aston in Birmingham.
Many women live with fibromyalgia for life - chronic pain, exhaustion, brain fog - with no clear cure. But some doctors say that for women with breast implants, the story may be different. Rheumatology Professor Jan Willem Cohen Tervaer from the University of Alberta explains why some patients improve after their implants are removed, and why he believes the condition of Breast Implant Illness deserves recognition from the medical community. Nuala is also joined by Professor Lynda Wyld, President Elect of the Association of Breast Surgeons in the UK to explain the position currently held by the medical profession in the UK.
We discuss a new play that unfolds entirely in the ladies loos. April Hope Miller wrote and performs in ‘Flush’, it was a hit at the Edinburgh Fringe and it’s just opened at the Arcola Theatre in London. April and co-star Jazz Jenkins tell Nuala why the real drama on any night out is always to be found in the women’s toilets. And why it took an ensemble cast of five, playing no less 16 different characters between them, to capture something universal about women's lives.
School closures in England may be disproportionately affecting children with special educational needs and disabilities. File on Four Investigates has been looking into this in the run up to government reforms of the SEND system, and Nuala is joined by BBC education reporter and former primary school teacher Hayley Clarke.
Presenter: Nuala McGovern
Producer: Helen Fitzhenry
TUE 11:00 Screenshot (m002w8cs)
Spoofs
The anarchic comedian, writer and filmmaker Mel Brooks turns 100 years old this June. Across a career spanning more than seven decades, Brooks has turned cinematic satire into an art form, through razor-sharp spoofs like Blazing Saddles, Young Frankenstein and Spaceballs.
But while these films are now acclaimed as all-time comedy classics, the broader genre of the spoof has often struggled for respectability. Not least Scary Movie - one of the most commercially successful film franchises of recent years, despite widespread critical panning.
With Scary Movie 6 on the horizon, Ellen E Jones and Mark Kermode ask - what makes for a truly great movie spoof?
Critic and Screenshot regular Anne Billson talks Ellen through a selection of spoofs, from classic Hollywood-era films from the Marx Brothers and Bob Hope, to the parody boom of the 2000s, including films like Date Movie and Epic Movie.
Mark talks to David Zucker - one third of the filmmaking trio Zucker Abrahams Zucker -about the landmark disaster spoof Airplane!, and why he believes the recent attempt to revive the team’s hit The Naked Gun series missed the mark.
And Ellen speaks to Keenen Ivory Wayans, the creative force behind the Wayans entertainment dynasty, and the director of a string of spoofs, including I’m Gonna Git You Sucka and Scary Movie - about why he feels his films have been misunderstood.
Producer: Jane Long
A Prospect Street production for BBC Radio 4
TUE 11:45 Weimar: Life on the Edge of Catastrophe by Katja Hoyer (m002wj6f)
1932: Flying Flags
The story of the residents of Weimar during the rise and reign of Hitler.
Weimar – On the Edge of Catastrophe is written by Katja Hoyer.
The reader is Sian Thomas.
The abridger is Julian Wilkinson.
The producer is Lu Kemp.
Despite the economic stress Germany is under, Weimar is celebrating the 100th anniversary of Goethe. The town is alive with all things Goethe – busts and postcards are sold, Goethe cake is eaten and people can go to the theatre to see Goethe plays. The Nazis seize the opportunity to take Goethe for themselves – to make him an emblem not of globalism, but of all things German.
The Nazi party becomes the largest party for the first time – getting 33% of the vote. And, despite Hindenburg’s resistance, being leader of the biggest party, Hitler navigates opposition to become Chancellor of the Reichstag. The Weirich's listen to the broadcast on their new Seibt radio.
Jews in Weimar are doing their best to show they are patriotic Germans. Jewish shop owners fly the flag of the republic, but SA troops tear them down. Investigations into ancestry to identify Jews begin, and baptismal registers are checked. Forced sterilisation begins in Weimar.
After Hitler assumes office, 38 million people vote for Hitler to have total power transferred to himself.
Weimar explores ‘the question of how and why a nation that prided itself on its culture and civility enabled the catastrophe of Nazism haunts us to this day because we fear a repeat.’ The book is about the tension between individual and collective responsibility and sounds a warning for our own times.
Katja Hoyer is a German-British historian, journalist and the author of the international bestseller Beyond the Wall as well as Blood and Iron. A visiting Research Fellow at King's College London and a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society, she writes for Bloomberg and Berliner Zeitung and is a commentator on German current affairs for many British newspapers. She was born in Germany and is now based in the UK.
TUE 12:00 News Summary (m002wj6l)
The latest national and international news from BBC Radio 4.
TUE 12:04 You and Yours (m002wj6r)
Call You & Yours: Are you feeling more optimistic about your finances?
On today's Call You and Yours, we're asking: How optimistic are you feeling about your finances? According to the International Monetary Fund, the UK's growth forecast has increased from 0.8 to 1%. As a result, the UK is the fastest-growing of any G7 European economy, despite predictions last month that it would be one of the worst hit by the conflict with Iran. However, with consumer confidence still at its lowest for years, has this filtered through yet to individuals? Are you having to cut back less than you thought? Is your business doing well? Or are you still feeling cautious when it comes to spending?
Let us know. You can call 03700 100 444 after
11am.
Or you can email us at youandyours@bbc.co.uk.
TUE 12:57 Weather (m002wj6x)
The latest weather forecast
TUE 13:00 World at One (m002wj71)
Met Police seek Grenfell charges
The Metropolitan Police say a decision will be made on whether criminal charges will be brought over the Grenfell fire before next summer. We'll speak to Michael Mansfield, a lawyer who represented some of the victims, and Emma Dent-Coad the former MP for the area. Also, Lord Beamish, the chair of the Intelligence and Security Committee joins us live to explain his concerns on redactions of the Mandelson files. And, with Andy Burnham and Wes Streeting both being snapped in athletic clothing, we ask why politicians are so drawn to going on a run?
TUE 13:45 Understand (m002wj75)
Rinsed
7. The Eureka Moment
The data scientist, the ex-detective and the politician trying to clean up our rivers.
Reported and presented by Kate Lamble
Producer: Elle Scott
Sound Design: Andy Fell
Executive Producer: Joe Kent
Commissioning Executive: Tracy Williams
Commissioning Editor: Dan Clarke
Rinsed is a BBC Studios production for BBC Radio 4
TUE 14:00 The Archers (m002wj0v)
[Repeat of broadcast at
19:00 on Monday]
TUE 14:15 Drama on 4 (m002wj79)
Trimerous
Episode One: The Wilful Miss Willmott
Three-petal flowers, known as 'trimerous' flowers, are distinct from the conventional floral structure of radial symmetry. They break the mould.
Trimerous is a two-part drama from writer and horticulturalist, Kamal Kaan celebrating the remarkable stories of three great British female horticulturalists, Gertrude Jekyll, Ellen Willmott and Beatrix Potter. Their colourful stories are drawn from factual research, intertwined with a present-day narrative set at the Chelsea Flower Show and featuring a cameo appearance from the much-loved horticulturalist, Carol Klein.
Episode 1: The Wilful Miss Willmott
Romantic. Rebellious. Revolutionary - the true story of the unbelievable life of Ellen Willmott, who goes from riches to rags. 1897, Ellen Willmott, at the peak of her career, is a leading horticulturalist. The RHS panel is waiting to award the gold medal to Ellen, the first woman to win it. To everyone's surprise, she's absent. But why?
Cast in order of appearance:
Gertrude Jekyll.....................................................Juliet Stevenson
Iris Setosa / Rose Willmott..............................Amy-Leigh Hickman
Carol Klein.............................................................Carol Klein
Hussain Malik / Sir Trevor................................Arian Nik
Jane Setosa Malik / Georgiana Tufnell.......Tessa Parr
Ellen Willmott.......................................................Anna Tolstoy
Richard / Mount Stephen................................Dan Parr
Frederick Willmott..............................................Wayne Forester
Mrs Ellen Willmott..............................................Rachel Bavidge
Princess Mary.......................................................Thomas McKeon
Servant Gardener................................................James Lewis
Other voices provided by members of the cast.
Written by Kamal Kaan
Original music by Louis Rost, featuring violin played by Daniel Garvin
Sound Design by Alisdair McGregor
Directed by Kamal Kaan and Sally Harrison
Produced by Sally Harrison
A Woolyback production for BBC Radio 4
TUE 15:00 History's Heroes (p0mq472g)
Wat Tyler and the Peasants’ Revolt
For six days in thirteen eighty-one, Wat Tyler a mysterious, charismatic figure appears to hold the balance of power in England. Fired by a vision of social equality, he leads a peasants' revolt that threatens to overturn the ruling order.
Stories of bold voices, with brave ideas and the courage to stand alone. Historian Alex von Tunzelmann shines a light on remarkable people from across history.
A BBC Studios production.
Producer: Michael LaPointe
Written and presented by Alex von Tunzelmann
Executive Producer: Paul Smith
Commissioning editor for Radio 4: Rhian Roberts
TUE 15:30 Beyond Belief (m002wj7m)
The Gospel according to Bob
The Gospel According to Dylan. Sixty years ago, Bob Dylan was on stage at the Free Trade Hall in Manchester when a fan shouted "Judas!" from the audience. Giles is joined by Michael Gray, and writer, poet, philosopher, priest, and blues-singer, Malcolm Guite to discuss the spiritual side of Bob Dylan. He also speaks to Gospel legend, Regina McCrary about touring with Dylan at the height of his Christian period.
Producers: Katharine Longworth and Peter Everett
TUE 16:00 Artworks (m002wj7p)
Mother: 100 years of Martha Graham Dance
Martha Graham is known as the Mother of modern dance - but would she have wanted that title? 100 years after she started her company, Kelly Windsor Burgin traces the life and legacy of America's greatest cultural revolutionary and asks whether she still has something to say to us today.
TUE 16:30 What's Up Docs? (m002wj7r)
Why do we get hay fever?
Welcome to What’s Up Docs?, the podcast where doctors and identical twins Chris and Xand van Tulleken explore the ideas shaping our health and wellbeing.
In this episode, they turn their attention to hay fever. What is it, why do so many of us get it, and is it getting worse? They break down what’s happening in the body, how to tell it apart from a cold, and why timing matters when it comes to treatment. They also explore what actually works to manage symptoms, and what doesn’t.
To help them get to the root of it, they’re joined by Stephen Till, Professor of Allergy at Guy's and St Thomas' Hospitals and King's College London.
If you want to get in touch, you can email us at whatsupdocs@bbc.co.uk or WhatsApp us on 08000 665 123.
Presenters: Drs Chris and Xand van Tulleken
Producer: Maia Miller-Lewis
Executive Producer: Rami Tzabar
Editor: Jo Rowntree
Researcher: Grace Revill
Tech Lead: Reuben Huxtable
Visual Producer: Leon Gower
Digital Lead: Richard Berry
Composer: Phoebe McFarlane
Sound Design: Melvin Rickarby
At the BBC:
Assistant Commissioner: Greg Smith
Commissioning Editor: Rhian Roberts
A Loftus Media production for BBC Radio 4
TUE 17:00 PM (m002wj7t)
Grenfell fire: 57 could face charges
Do campaigners feel justice will be served? We hear reaction from a resident who lives next to Grenfell, and from the local MP, Joe Powell. The Government announces additional delays and higher costs for the HS2 project. We ask former Conservative Minister for Rail and HS2, Huw Merriman, what the future holds for high speed rail in the UK. Also on the programme, Strictly Come Dancing gets a trio of new presenters. The former Strictly contest and tennis star Annabel Croft gives her reaction.
TUE 18:00 Six O'Clock News (m002wj7w)
Grenfell fire charges sought for up to 57 people
The Metropolitan Police says it is sending evidence to the Crown Prosecution Service for a decision on criminal charges, in relation to the Grenfell Tower fire, for 57 individuals and 20 companies and organisations. Also: The Transport Secretary says the HS2 high speed rail link may end up costing more than a hundred billion pounds. And three presenters have been chosen to replace Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman as the hosts of Strictly Come Dancing.
TUE 18:30 One Person Found This Helpful (m002wj7y)
Series 4
1. Mozart vs A Screaming Goat
Frank Skinner and guests Dee Allum, Pierre Novellie, Zoe Lyons and Hasan Al-Habib discuss the tactics of Genghis Khan, the ethics of mousetraps and the morals of forgetting to wear trousers. Also, Swedish sheep wagons.
Everyone has an online life, and when the great British public put pen to keyboard to leave a review, they almost always write something hilarious. And our all-star panel have to work out just what they were reviewing – and maybe contribute a few reviews of their own. So if you’re the person who went on Trip Advisor to review Ben Nevis as “Very steep and too high”, this show salutes you!
Written by Frank Skinner, Catherine Brinkworth, Sarah Dempster, Jason Hazeley, Karl Minns, Katie Sayer & Peter Tellouche
Devised by Jason Hazeley and Simon Evans with the producer David Tyler
A Pozzitive production for BBC Radio 4
TUE 19:00 The Archers (m002wj81)
Leonard asks Ben if Ruth has decided whether to be tested for the BRCA gene variant. Ben’s still annoyed with Josh for not wanting to know, an attitude he thinks is typically selfish. Following yesterday’s chat with Alan, Leonard considers how lucky he is being retired, and that life seems more stressful these days. Ben agrees - the surgery has so many people saying they’re struggling. He hopes the mental health initiatives he’s trying to set up with Azra will help address these pressures.
Adam has spoken to Ruairi, who agrees that Brian must be made to let go of the business. Ian’s surprised Ruairi agreed, considering the George attack cover–up, but Adam insists it’s for Brian’s own good. Brian’s out of his depth, plus his dinosaur attitudes and lack of futureproofing are no good for Home Farm. It needs to be addressed at the partnership meeting. Kate’s horrified by the idea of caravan storage and agrees with Adam. Ian is concerned that the family are being misled by inaccurate dementia speculation, but Adam feels he has no choice. Having invited Alice to dinner, Adam pleads with her to help form a united front against Brian. Alice wants more time though - Brian really doesn’t think he’s got dementia. Instead of rocking the boat, can’t they just persuade him to get some kind of cognitive fitness test? Frustrated, Adam insists the clock is ticking – he sees Brian floundering badly and if they don’t act quickly, Home Farm is going to fail.
TUE 19:15 Front Row (m002wj83)
Winston Churchill: The Painter, and Smoggie Queens creator and star Phil Dunning
The paintings of Winston Churchill are being exhibited at the Wallace Collection in London. Xavier Bray, Director of the Wallace Collection, and Katharine Carter, curator at Chartwell, Churchill’s country house in Kent, discuss what we learn about Churchill from his art.
Creator and star Phil Dunning talks about series two of Smoggie Queens, which follows a close-knit group of friends; it’s a celebration of queer culture and a love letter to Middlesbrough and its community.
As questions are being asked about the use of AI in one of the regional winning entries of a prestigious short story prize for unpublished fiction, writer and journalist Hari Kunzru talks about the impact of AI on writing.
And Tom visited the RHS Chelsea Flower to see the Tate Britain show garden, which offers a taster of the forthcoming Clore Garden.
Presenter: Tom Sutcliffe
Producer: Claire Bartleet
TUE 20:00 File on 4 Investigates (m002wj85)
Adding Up: How Councils meet the costs of Special Educational Needs
As the government plans major reform of the England's Special Educational Needs system, File on 4 Investigates goes back to the floor, spending time with councils as funding decisions are made and with families trying to navigate a system in flux.
From home-schoolers in Whitley Bay to getting on board a school bus in Hackney, we'll hear about the challenges of delivering services to tens of thousands of children with SEN each year. As the number of young people who need extra support rises how will Councils balance their books?
Over a hundred schools have closed in England in the last five years. Analysis by the BBC’s Data team has shown that pupils with special educational needs have been disproportionately affected by school closures. These pupils made up 29% of those whose school has closed, which is higher than the national average.
We'll hear how the disruption of a school closing can affect those with additional needs, and their families.
Presenter: Hayley Clarke
Producer: Nicola Dowling
Technical Producer: Craig Boardman
Production Co-ordinator: Tim Fernley
Editor: Tara McDermott
(Thanks also to the BBC News Data Journalism team)
TUE 20:40 In Touch (m002wj87)
Probing the SEND Reforms, RNIB Newsagent Service
The government has recently announced a reform of the provisions for Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) pupils. It promises more resources for children in need of support. However, there are worries about how these reforms will work for blind and visually impaired children.
Joining us for this episode is Dr Rachel Hewett from the Visual Impairment Centre for Teaching and Research (VICTAR). Dr Hewett is the author of a report that examines the benefits offered by specialist schools for blind and visually impaired children - and the fear these schools may be overlooked in the new reforms. We’re also joined by Victoria Ward, head of visual impairment education at New College Worcester, a specialist school for children with visual impairments.
The RNIB's "Newsagent" service provides newspapers and magazines in an accessible format. Although now resolved, the service has recently been affected by IT problems. Iain Lackie is a regular user of the service and he joins us to share his concerns about how the problems were handled.
Presenter: Peter White
Producer: Fern Lulham
Production Coordinator: Helen Surtees
Website image description: Peter White sits smiling in the centre of the image, wearing a dark green jumper. Above Peter's head is the BBC logo (three individual white squares house each of the three letters). Bottom centre and overlaying the image are the words "In Touch"; and the Radio 4 logo (the word Radio in a bold white font, with the number 4 inside a white circle). The background is a bright mid-blue with two rectangles angled diagonally to the right. Both are behind Peter, one of a darker blue and the other is a lighter blue.’
TUE 21:00 Crossing Continents (m002wj89)
Victim or Accomplice? The Story of Jeffrey Epstein’s Pilot Girlfriend
Nadia Marcinko, originally Marcinková, was born in Slovakia and met Jeffrey Epstein as an 18-year-old model. Later, she became a successful aircraft pilot. For seven years, she was Epstein’s main girlfriend. And she’s one of four women that US prosecutors named in a 2008 plea deal as his “potential co-conspirators”. But she’s never been accused of any crime. And she’s described herself a victim who was abused physically and psychologically by Epstein.
Now, a committee of the US Congress is beginning to address the sensitive question of whether it’s possible for someone to be both a victim and an accomplice, as it takes testimony from two of the “potential co-conspirators”, Epstein’s former assistants Sarah Kellen and Lesley Groff. Nadia Marcinko, who disappeared from public view several years ago, may also be called to testify.
BBC reporter Tim Whewell and independent Slovak journalist Jakub Pohle have talked to people who’ve known her, and dug deep into the Epstein files, to put together the most detailed account yet of her life.
Presented and produced by Tim Whewell and Jakub Pohle
Additional research: Oscar Brophy
Actors: Tara Gadomski, Kerry Shale, Simona Vrabcova, Rebeka Jurcackova, Jozef Radovsky
Sound mixing: Neil Churchill
Production co-ordinator: Gemma Ashman
Editor: Penny Murphy
TUE 21:30 Great Lives (m002wj06)
[Repeat of broadcast at
15:00 on Monday]
TUE 22:00 The World Tonight (m002wj8c)
Fears number of Ebola cases could double
More than 130 people are believed to have died in the latest outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda. The World Health Organisation has declared it a public emergency of international concern, and warns the number of infections could soon reach the thousands.
Also on the programme: celebrations in north London as Arsenal win the Premier League for the first time in 22 years.
And as President Putin arrives in China for talks with Xi Jinping, we ask what their ‘friendship with no limits’ really means.
TUE 22:45 Hunger and Thirst by Claire Fuller (m002wj8f)
The Garage
A contemporary gothic thriller from award winning author Claire Fuller.
Ursula has resolved to come clean about the shocking events at the Underwood, but is anybody ready to hear the truth?
Read by Juliet Aubrey
Abridged by Siân Preece
Produced by Eilidh McCreadie
TUE 23:00 Uncanny (m002wj8h)
Cold Cases
Case 7: Spring-heeled Jack
Danny Robins and the team unpack a terrifying mystery that has remained unsolved for almost 200 years - Spring-heeled Jack.
The demonic character stalked the streets of Victorian England at night, reportedly slashing his victims with sharp claws, breathing blue-white fire, and evading the police by making impossible leaps over rooftops.
But was he a real person, a supernatural entity, or the product of mass hysteria?
Presented by Danny Robins
Experts: Evelyn Hollow and Dr Ciaran O’Keeffe
Story sections by Tom Neenan
Research by Nancy Bottomley and John West
Filming and editing by Robb Leech
Editing and sound design by Charlie Brandon-King
Theme music by Katherine Priddy
Theme co-produced by Jennifer Ann Keller
Incidental music by Evelyn Sykes
Commissioning executive: Paula McDonnell
Commissioning editor: Rhian Roberts
Produced by Simon Barnard and Victoria Lloyd
A Bafflegab and Uncanny Media production for BBC Radio 4
TUE 23:30 Today in Parliament (m002wj8k)
News, views and features on today's stories in Parliament
WEDNESDAY 20 MAY 2026
WED 00:00 Midnight News (m002wj8m)
National and international news from BBC Radio 4
WED 00:30 Weimar: Life on the Edge of Catastrophe by Katja Hoyer (m002wj6f)
[Repeat of broadcast at
11:45 on Tuesday]
WED 00:48 Shipping Forecast (m002wj8p)
The latest weather reports and forecasts for UK shipping.
WED 01:00 Selection of BBC World Service Programmes (m002wj8r)
BBC Radio 4 joins the BBC World Service.
WED 05:00 News Summary (m002wj8t)
National and international news from BBC Radio 4
WED 05:04 Yesterday in Parliament (m002wj8w)
Alicia McCarthy reports as the Transport Secretary announces that the price tag for the high speed rail link, HS2, could increase to over £100 billion.
WED 05:34 Shipping Forecast (m002wj8y)
The latest weather reports and forecasts for UK shipping.
WED 05:43 Prayer for the Day (m002wj90)
Stars
Good morning.
I have two powerful memories of looking up at the sky. The first was at night in the New Hampshire mountains. Leaving our campfire, I lay down in a depression in the rocks and beheld a wide-angle view of the heavens. Lost in that sight, I suddenly felt like I was falling into the sky and reflexively grabbed onto the rock around me. Reassured of being safely nestled there, I relaxed and lay in awe of the beauty.
My other memory also took place in the mountains. I was in my tent and felt nature’s call. But, the wind howled and whipped through my fragile shelter. I was too terrified to get up and go where I needed to, and I sat, frozen in fear. As my needs became more urgent, I crawled outside, slowly stood and looked up. There, above, was a sky full of stars. And I realised that even as the wind threatened to blow me and the tent away, the stars remained in place just as they always had. The universe continued just as it always had.
In Jewish prayer, we acknowledge the Creator whose 'word brings on the evening, whose wisdom opens Heaven’s gates, whose understanding changes times and seasons, and whose will sets the stars in their courses in the sky'.
May we remind ourselves that whatever difficulties we may face in life, there are things that remain beautiful and constant. By opening our eyes to behold them, they can pull us back to the grandeur and wonder of creation and the world.
WED 05:45 Farming Today (m002wj92)
20/05/26 Climate Change Committee report, EU alignment, flower grower hub.
The Climate Change Committee has published a new report about the consequences of a 2% rise in global temperatures and what the UK needs to do about it. The CCC, which reports to UK government on adapting to climate change, says that by 2050, 92% of homes are likely to overheat, peak river flows will be up to 45% higher, and water supply shortfalls could exceed five billion litres per day. It points out that the cost of doing nothing is far greater than acting now, and it proposes investment of around £11 billion a year, split evenly between public and private funding. We ask what it means for farmers.
The prospect of closer ties with the European Union continues to make political headlines, and farmers are watching closely as the government works towards EU re-alignment and a new sanitary and phytosanitary or SPS agreement which should ease trade in food and agricultural goods between the UK and the EU. The House of Lords European Affairs Committee has been hearing what an SPS agreement could mean for farmers, the meat industry and ports.
All week we're celebrating British flowers - locally grown flowers account for a tiny fraction of the UK market even though we spend some 2.2 billion pounds on cut flowers. We visit a flower grower who is trying to change that, connecting local producers and florists and promoting home-grown flowers via the South Yorkshire Flower Hub.
Presenter = Anna Hill
Producer = Rebecca Rooney
WED 06:00 Today (m002wjl9)
News and current affairs, including Sports Desk, Weather and Thought for the Day.
WED 09:00 More or Less (m002wjlc)
Are refugees more likely to commit crime?
Tim Harford investigates some of the numbers in the news. On the programme:
Last week, Annunziata Rees-Mogg took to X to post a claim about the proportion of sex offences in Dorset that are committed by asylum seekers, writing that “asylum seekers make up 0.8% of Dorset’s population and 44% of alleged sex offenses. So unbelievable I had to check.” We checked too, and the number isn’t right.
In the last series of More or Less we suggested that nuclear power plant Hinkley C was spending so much on protecting the fish population that it would cost something like £250,000 per fish saved. We’ve had to take a look at that one too.
Last year, we looked at a report by the Bible Society based on polling from YouGov. The Quiet Revival suggested that churchgoing was on the rise in the UK, with young men leading the trend. YouGov now have an update on that survey.
How many caterpillars does a blue tit chick eat before it leaves the nest? In a recent nature documentary, Sir David Attenborough said the right number was 20,000. We’re not so sure.
If you’ve seen a number in the news you think we should take a look at, email the more or Less team: moreorless@bbc.co.uk
CONTRIBUTORS:
Madeleine Sumption, Director of the Migration Observatory at Oxford University
Professor David Voas, Emeritus Professor of Social Science in the UCL Social Research Institute
Annette Jäckle, Professor of Survey Methodology at the University of Essex and a Deputy Director of the UK Household Longitudinal Study
Dr Malcolm Burgess, Principal Conservation Scientist at the RSPB
CREDITS
Presenter: Tim Harford
Reporter: Lizzy McNeill
Producer: Nathan Gower and Josh McGinn
Series producer: Tom Colls
Production co-ordinator: Brenda Brown
Sound mix: James Beard
Editor: Richard Vadon
WED 09:30 Intrigue (m002wjlf)
To Catch a King
2. The Bullet Train
Gangs exert power through fear, but where are they getting weapons from?
A journalist and an ex-soldier search for the identity of a people smuggler believed to be responsible for thousands of illegal crossings to the UK by small boats and lorries.
They start with a false name: Kardo Ranya. A man who has evaded arrest for several years by keeping his real identity a closely guarded secret. It makes it near impossible for law enforcement agencies to issue and international arrest warrant.
Sue and Rob know what he looks like from social media posts advertising his crossings and lifestyle. Their search takes them across Europe and to the Middle East, where they discover a network of powerful smugglers operating from a town in Northern Iraq.
It’s two years since Sue and Rob located a gang leader in their podcast Intrigue: To Catch a Scorpion and the illegal business of migrant journeys is more dangerous and ruthless than before.
Their investigation reveals the inner mechanics of the smuggling trade and shows in close focus the people who currently control it as they search for a kingpin behind dangerous crossings to the UK by boat and lorry.
A secret meeting, a missing person and a worried family. Who is the man connecting them?
The series is recorded and presented by Sue Mitchell
It’s produced by Joel Moors
Original music is by Mom Tudie and sound design and mix is by Tom Brignell
WED 10:00 Woman's Hour (m002wjlh)
Dawn French, Assault in Scottish schools, BBC's Two Weeks in August
Comedian, actor and writer Dawn French is best known as one half of one of the UK’s most successful comedy double acts, and as the fictional vicar Geraldine Granger. She’s also a bestselling author, and her latest book, Enough, is her fifth novel — her eighth book in total. It blends dark humour with some tougher themes she thinks are important to explore. She joins Nuala to discuss.
More than 10,000 pregnant women and girls, primarily unmarried mothers, passed through mother and baby homes in Northern Ireland from the 1920s to the 1990s. Survivors have long campaigned for compensation and have criticised Stormont’s proposed redress scheme. The current bill limits compensation to the families of victims who died after 29 September 2011. Yesterday, an amendment to remove the cut-off date was not selected for debate at the Assembly. Campaigners say this excludes many women who were 'failed in life and now failed in death.' The legislation will also establish an inquiry into the institutions. Nuala is joined by BBC Ireland Correspondent Chris Page and Mechelle Dillon from the campaign group Birth Mothers and their Children for Justice.
There were 35,000 assaults on staff in Scotland’s schools in the last academic year, according to a BBC investigation. New figures suggest assaults by pupils have increased by 55% in just two years. Unions say the true total is likely to be far higher, as not all incidents are recorded. Nuala is joined by the BBC education and social affairs correspondent in Scotland, Lucy Adams, who’s been investigating the issue, and Mandy MacDowell, UNISON Scotland’s education lead, which represents support staff.
Two Weeks in August is a new BBC One drama series centred on a group of old university friends who reunite in Greece for what’s meant to be a relaxing holiday, but when an illicit kiss sparks escalating tensions, things unravel in unexpected, even slightly supernatural ways. Nuala is joined by its writer and creator Catherine Shepherd and one of its stars, Jessica Raine, known for Call the Midwife, Wolf Hall and The Devil’s Hour.
Presenter: Nuala McGovern
Producer: Dianne McGregor
WED 11:00 File on 4 Investigates (m002wj85)
[Repeat of broadcast at
20:00 on Tuesday]
WED 11:40 This Week in History (m002wjlk)
May 18th to May 24th
Fascinating, surprising and eye-opening stories from the past, brought to life.
23 May 1618 - Second Defenestration of Prague leads to the Thirty Years War
24th May 1844 - first telegraph message sent
21st May 1780 - Elizabeth Fry is born
WED 11:45 Weimar: Life on the Edge of Catastrophe by Katja Hoyer (m002wjlm)
1935 and 1936: The Shine of Nazism Wears Thin
The story of the residents of Weimar during the rise and reign of Hitler.
Weimar – On the Edge of Catastrophe is written by Katja Hoyer.
The reader is Sian Thomas.
The abridger is Julian Wilkinson.
The producer is Lu Kemp.
The first military barracks are being built on the Ettersburg, as Hitler prepares for the reintroduction of conscription. The Death’s Head Unit the SS arrive in Weimar. And their commander has ideas about how to use the concentration camp – previously used only to hold political dissidents – for racial hygiene. The status of being ‘Jew’ is defined legally for the first time. The Schmidt’s have to work extremely hard to keep their heritage a secret.
For Carl Weirich the shine of Nazism is starting to wear off. The Nazi government is only awarding contracts to Nazi party memberships, so his work for the Bookbinders association is threatened. But at school his son is taught that the greatest form of fraternal love is ‘death for the fatherland’.
A young Weimarian woman is held against her will and sterilised because she is deemed to be schizophrenic – despite no prior record of mental disturbance.
The first hall of the People’s Community is built in Weimar, and the park at the centre of Weimar is ripped up to build Adolf Hitler’s square.
Weimar explores ‘the question of how and why a nation that prided itself on its culture and civility enabled the catastrophe of Nazism haunts us to this day because we fear a repeat.’ The book is about the tension between individual and collective responsibility and sounds a warning for our own times.
Katja Hoyer is a German-British historian, journalist and the author of the international bestseller Beyond the Wall as well as Blood and Iron. A visiting Research Fellow at King's College London and a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society, she writes for Bloomberg and Berliner Zeitung and is a commentator on German current affairs for many British newspapers. She was born in Germany and is now based in the UK.
WED 12:00 News Summary (m002wjlp)
The latest national and international news from BBC Radio 4.
WED 12:04 You and Yours (m002wjlr)
Unopened Parcels, RTS Switch Off and Flood Prevention
The charity Christians Against Poverty says it's now harder for people to escape their debts than when it was founded, 30 years ago. With the cost of living dominating the news, it's a timely warning. Inflation is down, but energy bills are expected to rise later this year - we'll find out what the outlook is for our bills.
A signal that controls thousands of old-fashioned electricity meters is finally being switched off - so what's the impact is on people still using them? We'll ask the energy companies if they're doing enough to support customers.
We'll hear from the Chelsea Flower Show, where a star exhibit is all about flood prevention.
And people are queuing up in shopping centres to buy unopened parcels - where are they from and is it worth it?
PRESENTER: WINIFRED ROBINSON
PRODUCER: TOM MOSELEY
WED 12:57 Weather (m002wjlt)
The latest weather forecast
WED 13:00 World at One (m002wjlw)
Russia sanctions row
There's claim and counter-claim in Parliament over sanctions on Russian oil products. We'll unpack it with our PMQs panel. Also today, government advisors warn most homes will overheat in future hot summers - do we need more air conditioning in British homes? And corks are popping as English sparkling wine triumphs at the International Wine Challenge. With Sarah Montague.
WED 13:45 Understand (m002wjly)
Rinsed
8. Sorry?
New legislation promises to slash the sewage released into rivers, but will it become law?
Reported and presented by Kate Lamble
Producer: Elle Scott
Sound Design: Andy Fell
Executive Producer: Joe Kent
Commissioning Executive: Tracy Williams
Commissioning Editor: Dan Clarke
Rinsed is a BBC Studios production for BBC Radio 4
WED 14:00 The Archers (m002wj81)
[Repeat of broadcast at
19:00 on Tuesday]
WED 14:15 Drama on 4 (m002wjm0)
Trimerous
Episode Two: The Persistent Miss Potter
Three-petal flowers, known as 'trimerous' flowers, are distinct from the conventional floral structure of radial symmetry. They break the mould.
Trimerous is a two-part drama from writer and horticulturalist, Kamal Kaan celebrating the remarkable stories of three great British female horticulturalists, Gertrude Jekyll, Ellen Willmott and Beatrix Potter. Their colourful stories are drawn from factual research, intertwined with a present-day narrative set at the Chelsea Flower Show and featuring a cameo appearance from the much-loved horticulturalist, Carol Klein.
Episode 2: The Persistent Miss Potter
(1866 - 1942) This is Beatrix Potter's origin story. Beatrix finds her voice in a patriarchal society - rising from rejection to international success. 1887: A young Potter is fascinated by fungi. Their ephemeral qualities stimulate her fantastical imagination. Perceived as an eternal child, she's determined to forge a career as a mycologist. Continually ousted by the elitists, despite her groundbreaking discoveries, she uses this to fuel her ambition in creating her children's stories.
Cast in order of appearance:
Gertrude Jekyll....................................................Juliet Stevenson
Iris Setosa / Rose Willmott............................Amy-Leigh Hickman
Hussain Malik / Rupert Potter......................Arian Nik
Beatrix Potter......................................................Manjinder Virk
Helen Potter........................................................Rachel Bavidge
Charles McIntosh / John Everett Millais...Wayne Forester
Rabbit.....................................................................Kamal Kaan
Henry Roscoe / William Heelis.....................Dan Parr
Ellen Willmott......................................................Anna Tolstoy
Jane Setosa Malik.............................................Tessa Parr
Carol Klein...........................................................Carol Klein
Other voices provided by members of the cast.
Written by Kamal Kaan
Original music by Louis Rost, featuring violin played by Daniel Garvin
Sound Design by Alisdair McGregor
Directed by Kamal Kaan and Sally Harrison
Produced by Sally Harrison
A Woolyback production for BBC Radio 4
WED 15:00 Money Box (m002wjm2)
Money Box Live: Invest or Save?
If you’re fortunate enough to have set some money aside for a rainy day the Government wants you to invest more rather than keep it all in cash savings accounts.
The Treasury, has appointed the Investment Association, alongside 19 financial services firms, to lead an industry initiative to persuade people with savings to move at least some of that money into shares.
As a nation, we invest much less than in other similar countries, but why? What puts you off and what would you need to take the plunge?
Presenter Felicity Hannah is joined by Karen Northey, Director of Corporate Affairs at the Investment Association, and David Dodgson, an Independent Financial Advisor with The Private Office to answer listener questions.
Presenter: Felicity Hannah
Producer: Craig Henderson
Editor: Jess Quayle
Senior news editor: Sara Wadeson
(First broadcast
3pm on Wednesday 20th May 2026)
WED 15:30 The Friendly Virus (m002wjm4)
Our antibiotics are failing us. In 2025, the UK Government said antibiotic resistance (AMR) contributes to more than 35 thousand deaths each year in the UK. Emergency doctors say they are losing patients on a regular basis when they run out of ways to treat them.
Antibiotics have saved countless lives, but alongside them, there is another unlikely sounding ally in this fight. Viruses, so small that they can attack and kill the bacteria causing these devastating infections. They are called Bacteriophages, or phages for short. There are more of them than any other commonly occurring natural entity on the planet. And we could be about to see doctors using them on very ill patients in the UK.
The thing is scientists have studied bacteriophages for nearly a century. They are used routinely in other countries, and science journalist Marnie Chesterton has been following this story for nearly a decade. There is promise, but there are problems. So why, suddenly, is phage all the rage?
Presented by Marnie Chesterton
Produced in Cardiff by Clare Salisbury
WED 16:00 When It Hits the Fan (m002wjm6)
Did Swatch PR Backfire?
Not every product launch comes complete with tear gas, police dogs and angry crowds.
But those were the scenes at various cities around the world as a new Swatch went on sale.
This week, David Yelland and Farzana Baduel discuss whether the chaos that surrounded the launch was PR heaven or hell. Advisors are paid handsomely to try and create such buzz - but can too much hype be a bad thing?
On the extended edition on BBC Sounds, a PR path that is not well trodden. Because Pippa Middleton owns it and she doesn't want you anywhere near. The sister of the Princess of Wales is finding out being rich and famous is no use when it comes to matters of planning. It's all very public and trying to win over the locals is no easy matter.
Also, tall tales. The mysterious case involving President Trump and President Xi Jinping of China. They are, apparently, wildly different heights. But when seen side by side, they seemed to be exactly the same height. Are dark PR arts at play when trying to make the boss look dominant?
Producer: Duncan Middleton
Editor: Sarah Teasdale
Executive Producer: Eve Streeter
Music by Eclectic Sounds
A Raconteur Studios production for BBC Radio 4
WED 16:15 The Media Show (m002wjm8)
The new BBC Director General Matt Brittin, MAFS under investigation & Richard Madeley goes inside El Salvadore's CECOT mega jail
The BBC’s new Director General Matt Brittin joins Katie Razzall and Ros Atkins live on his third day in the job.
We examine serious allegations revealed by BBC Panorama that have led to Married At First Sight being pulled with BBC Culture Correspondent Noor Nanji. Richard Madeley on his new documentary inside El Salvador’s mega jail CECOT and there'll be analysis from the Sunday Times Media Editor Rosamund Urwin throughout.
Producer: Lisa Jenkinson
Content Producer: Lucy Wei.
WED 17:00 PM (m002wjmb)
Israel Security Minister taunts detained activists
We speak to Irish Senator Tom Clonan as Israeli National Security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir posts a video of him taunting detained flotilla activists. Former Chancellor Kenneth Clarke reflects on the government’s approach to inflation, and we discuss new research revealing which sums children struggle with most when learning their times tables.
WED 18:00 Six O'Clock News (m002wjmd)
The government extends the 5 pence cut to fuel duty
The government has announced an extension to the 5 pence cut to fuel duty until the end of December. Also: The UK condemns Russian jets which flew within six metres of an RAF plane. And Southampton appeal against their disqualification from the Championship play-off final.
WED 18:30 Stand-Up Specials (m002wjmg)
Ian Smith Is Stressed - Series 2
1. Community
Ian Smith is back on his quest for calm. In this episode, Ian is going through one of the most stressful life experiences... moving house. Is he middle class now? How can he keep in touch with his friends? And just how much damage can an entire chickpea cause? Let’s find out together in Ian Smith is Stressed.
Written and performed by Ian Smith
Additional Material from Mike Shephard and Rhiannon Shaw
Featuring Stuart Laws
Assistant Producer - Em Humble
Production Manager - Laura Shaw
Produced by Benjamin Sutton
A Daddy’s SuperYacht Production for BBC Radio 4
WED 19:00 The Archers (m002wjmk)
Akram tells Azra he’s frustrated Tom hasn’t got back to him about his care farm idea, despite promising he would. Akram then finds Helen, who confirms Tom and her decided against it. There’s no way they have the capacity, what with family and farm commitments, plus developing the farm generally. Akram pushes that it would be just one day per week and he’d manage it, but Helen reminds him they’re a working farm, not a care facility. However, Helen asks later if he’d be interested in working in the dairy, should Tracy not want the extra hours. Akram declines, saying he wants to be outside, growing things. For him, farming’s just not about cheese.
Den takes Brad on a surprise trip to see Worcestershire play cricket. He’s organised lunch and they’ll look inside the score box. Den questions Brad about his future plans, suggesting he could use his skills in sports performance analysis. Brad’s not sure – he’s hoping to study up to PhD level. Den encourages him to think bigger - having a maths degree could be lucrative, Brad could be a banker! Meanwhile, Den suggests moving away from portering at Grey Gables and using his maths brain right now, maybe as a croupier? Brad doesn’t need to be poor all his life. Later, Brad finds himself confiding in Ben that his dad’s sudden interest in his life is confusing. Is he being nice or is he after something? Brad admits the attention is weird but really nice. Ben advises him to keep low expectations, but enjoy spending time together.
WED 19:15 Front Row (m002wjmm)
Heated Rivalry author Rachel Reid
Canadian author Rachel Reid talks to us about the the phenomenon which has followed the publication of her books about the romantic relationship between rival ice hockey players.
We speak to author Yang Shuang-zi and translator Lin King, the author and translator of this year's International Booker Prize winning book, Taiwan Travelogue.
And Mull Historical Society's latest album In My Mind There’s A Photograph sees singer-songwriter Colin Macintyre work with lyrical contributions from a panoply of world-leading authors. He reveals his collaborative process with the likes of Irvine Welsh, Ali Smith, Irenosen Okojie, Yiyun Lee, and Sir Alexander McCall Smith, and performs a track live in the Front Row studio.
Presenter: Kirsty Wark
Producer: Mark Crossan
WED 20:00 AntiSocial (m002w8c2)
Queerbaiting
Harry Styles' new music video prompts allegations of queerbaiting: some say he's appropriating queer culture to sell his music; others argue it's a welcome rewriting of the rules of masculinity. We explore what queerbaiting means, where the term came from, and ask whether it's ever OK to accuse an individual of doing it. The allegation has been levelled at a range of stars, films and TV shows - we take a look at some high-profile examples. Plus, why is there such a large female audience for gay male romance?
Presenter: Adam Fleming
Production team: Annabel Deas, Simon Tulett and Ellie House
Studio manager: Jack Wilfan
Production coordinator: Janet Staples
Editor: Penny Murphy
WED 20:45 Human Intelligence (m002751w)
Series 1
Collectors: Charles Darwin
Darwin asked big questions. His theory of evolution transformed our understanding of life on Earth. But Naomi Alderman discovers that he did it by looking at small things and tiny changes that other people had overlooked. From earliest childhood, he’d been a collector – pocketing shells, coins, minerals, bits of pottery and rooftiles – and his travels on HMS Beagle allowed him to amass a vast collection of specimens and observations that he and others would puzzle over for decades.
Special thanks to Dr John van Wyhe, historian of science at the National University of Singapore and the Director of The Complete Work of Charles Darwin Online.
Produced by BBC Studios Audio in partnership with The Open University.
Presenter: Naomi Alderman
Executive editor: James Cook
Assistant producer: Sarah Goodman
Researcher: Harry Burton
Production coordinator: Amelia Paul
Script consultant: Sara Joyner
WED 21:00 The Gift (m002wd8x)
[Repeat of broadcast at
09:00 on Tuesday]
WED 21:30 All in the Mind (m002wj65)
[Repeat of broadcast at
09:30 on Tuesday]
WED 22:00 The World Tonight (m002wjmq)
Chancellor prepares to outline measures on cost of living
Chancellor Rachel Reeves will announce plans to curb the use of judicial reviews into clean energy projects of “critical national importance” in England and Wales. We speak to those for and against the measures.
Also on the programme: the US government has indicted former Cuban president Raúl Castro on charges of conspiracy to kill US nationals over a fatal attack on two planes in 1996.
And Mancunian music stalwart Mike Pickering speaks to us about the Beatles, M People and discovering Calvin Harris.
WED 22:45 Hunger and Thirst by Claire Fuller (m002wjms)
Bad Seeds
A contemporary gothic thriller from award winning author Claire Fuller.
With no word from Sue, Ursula finds herself in the uncomfortable position of being taken in by her missing friend's family.
Read by Juliet Aubrey
Abridged by Siân Preece
Produced by Eilidh McCreadie
WED 23:00 Stand-Up Specials (m001ptjv)
Sarah Keyworth: Are You a Boy or a Girl? S2
2: 'Think of the children'
In this episode, Sarah discusses why our brain's initial response to a new person is to instinctively work out what they gender they are. Is this because we are taught to do it as children? To help Sarah analyse why they think this is the case, they look back on their own childhood which includes a vivid memory of being on a beach in France with a man selling donuts - the baked goods, not the inflatable rings.
Award-winning comedian Sarah Keyworth returns with their Radio 4 series Are You a Boy or a Girl?. Since the first series aired in 2020, the debate around gender has exploded and taken on a life of its own, all culminating with one question ‘should I be allowed to decide who I am?’. Sarah has recently come out as non-binary (a subtle soft-launch in the Guardian newspaper) and is ready to share some more of their own brand of mx-information. That’s gender non-conforming information, the cool non-binary cousin of misinformation.
Written by and starring Sarah Keyworth with additional material from Ruby Clyde. This award-winning series was first broadcast in August 2023.
Producer: Georgia Keating
Executive Producer: James Robinson
Production Co-ordinator: Becky Carewe-Jeffries
Sound Engineer: Paul Brodgen
Editor: Joshan Chana
Photo credit: Matt Crockett
A BBC Studios Production for Radio 4
WED 23:15 The Skewer (m002wjmv)
Series 16
5. Married At First Sh*te
All hail The King of the North and all condemn Married At First Sh*te.
The multi-award-winning satire is back as Jon Holmes mashes up the news with pop-culture to create a current affairs satirical comedy concept album.
Producer: Jon Holmes
An unusual production for BBC Radio 4
WED 23:30 Today in Parliament (m002wjmx)
Alicia McCarthy reports on Prime Minister's Questions - and more.
THURSDAY 21 MAY 2026
THU 00:00 Midnight News (m002wjmz)
National and international news from BBC Radio 4
THU 00:30 Weimar: Life on the Edge of Catastrophe by Katja Hoyer (m002wjlm)
[Repeat of broadcast at
11:45 on Wednesday]
THU 00:48 Shipping Forecast (m002wjn1)
The latest weather reports and forecasts for UK shipping.
THU 01:00 Selection of BBC World Service Programmes (m002wjn3)
BBC Radio 4 joins the BBC World Service.
THU 05:00 News Summary (m002wjn5)
National and international news from BBC Radio 4
THU 05:04 Yesterday in Parliament (m002wjn7)
Susan Hulme with the main news from Westminster.
THU 05:34 Shipping Forecast (m002wjn9)
The latest weather reports and forecasts for UK shipping.
THU 05:43 Prayer for the Day (m002wjnc)
Trees
Good Morning.
I’ve been adapting to life after a broken knee—twice—and have finally stopped fighting with my crutches. But the greatest challenge has been my absolute reliance on other people. I can be stubbornly independent, and it took this recent mishap to drive home how important it is to have other people in my life.
Some might view needing others as weakness. I see it as a strength, especially when we actively learn to rely on each other. This idea was reinforced for me in reading the work of Suzanne Simard, a scientist born into a logging family in the Pacific Northwest, who spent over 30 years researching trees and connections between and within species. Dr. Simard proved how trees look after each other-even nurturing more vulnerable saplings - through the relationships they have with fungi that live on and around the roots. A lone tree cannot thrive like a tree surrounded by 'relatives' and other species. And it will die without the nutrients that fungi help supply.
The Rabbis teach 'that if not for the trees, human life could not exist'. I think this is not just about oxygen. Trees teach us that we need each other to thrive. Human beings do not do as well on their own as they do when they are in relationship with each other.
May we not need the lesson of a broken knee, but only look to the trees, to realise just how much we need each other to flourish.
THU 05:45 Farming Today (m002wjnf)
21/05/26 Drought report, impact of Middle East war on berry growers, farm flower garden.
'The taps could run dry' - that's the warning from a new report by the House of Lords Select Committee on Environment and Climate Change. The report, in response to last year's drought, says water supplies need to be better managed to overcome the contrary challenges of drought and flooding, which it says are both a consequence of climate change.
Farmers have just had some respite from hikes in fuel prices with a government announcement that a cut on the duty on red diesel will last until the end of 2026. Despite that, the cost of growing our food is still higher than before the conflict in the Middle East. British Apples and Pears which represents top fruit growers, says producing Gala apples has risen by 4.5% since the start of March. We visit a big strawberry grower in Kent to discuss the challenges.
All week we're celebrating British flower growing - from intensive tulip production to farm-grown bouquets. One way you can be extremely nosy about how other people are growing their flowers is to join in with the National Garden Scheme and visit gardens locally in July. We visit a farmer who opens her garden on the edge of Exmoor - it's full of old farming equipment and brings back memories for farmers who visit.
Presenter = Anna Hill
Producer = Rebecca Rooney
THU 06:00 Today (m002wkhn)
News and current affairs, including Sports Desk, Weather and Thought for the Day.
THU 09:00 In Our Time (m002wkhq)
The Levellers
Misha Glenny and guests discuss the group which came to be known as the Levellers and emerged during what would become arguably one of the bloodiest and most turbulent periods of English history. After the First English Civil War, the Levellers started calling for reforms to achieve legal and social equality. They pushed for a new constitution, extended franchise, popular sovereignty, and religious toleration. To do this, the Levellers pioneered the use of pamphlets and petitions, as well as taking to the streets in their thousands to demonstrate wearing their signature sea-green ribbons and sprigs of rosemary. To some they were radical, and to others not radical enough. Though the Leveller movement itself may have been short-lived, the arguments that they made have both inspired and challenged generations since.
With
Teresa Bejan
Professor of Political Theory and Fellow of Oriel College, University of Oxford
Ted Vallance
Professor of History and Dean of Research and Doctoral Study at the University of Roehampton
And
Clare Jackson
Honorary Professor of Early Modern History and Walter Grant Scott Fellow in History at Trinity Hall, University of Cambridge
Producer: Martha Owen
Reading list:
Teresa M. Bejan, First Among Equals: Visions of Equality before Egalitarianism (Belknap Press, forthcoming in 2026)
Michael Braddick, The Common Freedom of the People: John Lilburne and the English Revolution (Oxford University Press, 2018)
Rachel Foxley, The Levellers; Radical Political Thought in the English Revolution (Manchester University Press, 2013)
Christopher Hill, The World Turned Upside Down (Penguin, 1972)
Ann Hughes, Gender and the English Revolution (Routledge, 2011)
John Rees, The Leveller Revolution: Radical Political Organisation in England, 1640-1650 (Verso Books, 2016)
John Rees (ed.), John Lilburne and the Levellers: Reappraising the Roots of English Radicalism 400 years on (Routledge, 2017), including 'Reborn John: The Eighteenth-Century Afterlife of John Lilburne' by Edward Vallance
Andrew Sharp (ed.), The English Levellers (Cambridge University Press, 1998)
Edward Vallance, A Radical History of Britain: Visionaries, Rebels and Revolutionaries - the men and women who fought for our freedoms (Abacus, 2010)
Blair Worden, Roundhead Reputations: The English Civil Wars and The Passions of Posterity (Penguin, 2002)
In Our Time is a BBC Studios production
Spanning history, religion, culture, science and philosophy, In Our Time from BBC Radio 4 is essential listening for the intellectually curious. In each episode, host Misha Glenny and expert guests explore the characters, events and discoveries that have shaped our world.
THU 09:45 Strong Message Here (m002wkhs)
A Febrile Atmosphere (with Tom Peck)
How do you capture the atmosphere of the commons? Parliamentary sketch writer for The Times, Tom Peck, joins Armando to discuss his most detested political buzzwords.
We look at why people get so bloodthirsty in politics when 'the herd moves', who 'an anonymous source' might be, and whether Keir Starmer can draw a pig.
In other news, we look at the demise of PearTree Productions, Ed Davey's wetsuit strategy, and a short-lived Reform councillor who may have taken to political language quickly in his political tenure, but was undone by some shocking language he used elsewhere.
Got a strong message for Armando? Email us at strongmessagehere@bbc.co.uk
Sound editing: Chris Maclean
Production Coordinator: Giulia Lopes Mazzu
Executive Producer: James Robinson
Recorded at the Sound Company
Produced by Gwyn Rhys Davies and Sasha Bobak. A BBC Studios production for Radio 4.
THU 10:00 Woman's Hour (m002wkhv)
Alexis Ohanian on women's sport, Shadow banning, Malory Towers on stage, Margo from Race Across the World
Best known as the co-founder of Reddit, Alexis Ohanian is now turning his focus to the future of women’s sport. Once overlooked and underfunded, it is now undergoing rapid change. Alexis is today announcing he's bringing his all-female track and field meet series, Athlos, to London. He tells Anita Rani why, and talks about being married to one of the most successful and well known sports stars of all time - Serena Williams.
Some social media posts relating to menstruation, menopause, fertility and sexual health are being incorrectly flagged as 'adult content', then removed or their visibility limited - a practice described as 'shadow banning'. Charities and health professionals have signed an open letter to Meta - who own Facebook and Instagram - asking for an explanation for what they call the 'hiding' of information about women's health. Anita speaks to the BBC's Shona McCallum, the CEO of gynaecological charity The Eve Appeal Athena Lamnisos, and Tania who has personally experienced the benefit of this sort of content.
The Emma Rice Company’s theatre show adaptation of Enid Blyton’s 1940s boarding school books, Malory Towers, is touring the UK. It’s the brainchild of the company’s director, Emma Rice, formerly artistic director at Shakespeare’s Globe in London. And it comes in the same year that Blyton’s series celebrates its 80th anniversary. Emma joins Anita.
Margo Oakley tells Anita about her experience on the current series of the BBC TV show Race Across The World, making it to the final, and the incredible feedback she's had from audiences on her combination of optimism and vulnerability. She talks about grieving the loss of her sister Julia and coming together with her brother-in-law for this mammoth challenge.
Presenter: Anita Rani
Producer: Sarah Crawley
THU 11:00 This Cultural Life (m002wkhx)
George Saunders
The Booker Prize winning American author George Saunders talks to John Wilson about his cultural influences. He made his name as a writer of satirical or absurdist short stories which often explore contemporary consumerist society, always underpinned with a strong sense of human compassion and empathy. In 2017, his first full length novel Lincoln In The Bardo - about Presidential grief amid a cacophony of spiritual voices - won the Booker Prize and became a global bestseller. His latest novel Vigil once again explores death and the afterlife. George Saunders teaches creative writing at Syracuse University, New York, and is widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in American literature.
Producer: Edwina Pitman
THU 11:45 Weimar: Life on the Edge of Catastrophe by Katja Hoyer (m002wkhz)
1937-1938: Darkness
The story of the residents of Weimar during the rise and reign of Hitler.
Weimar – On the Edge of Catastrophe is written by Katja Hoyer.
The reader is Sian Thomas.
The abridger is Julian Wilkinson.
The producer is Lu Kemp.
1937, the construction of Buchenwald concentration camp begins in earnest. An argument over the name breaks out with the town of Weimar objecting to the name being linked so closely to German classism.
The sign for Buchenwald ‘To Each What He Deserves’ is designed by ex-Bauhaus student, Franz Erlich - an inmate of the concentration camp.
Weimar explores ‘the question of how and why a nation that prided itself on its culture and civility enabled the catastrophe of Nazism haunts us to this day because we fear a repeat.’ The book is about the tension between individual and collective responsibility and sounds a warning for our own times.
Weimar explores ‘the question of how and why a nation that prided itself on its culture and civility enabled the catastrophe of Nazism haunts us to this day because we fear a repeat.’ The book is about the tension between individual and collective responsibility and sounds a warning for our own times.
Katja Hoyer is a German-British historian, journalist and the author of the international bestseller Beyond the Wall as well as Blood and Iron. A visiting Research Fellow at King's College London and a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society, she writes for Bloomberg and Berliner Zeitung and is a commentator on German current affairs for many British newspapers. She was born in Germany and is now based in the UK.
THU 12:00 News Summary (m002wkj1)
The latest national and international news from BBC Radio 4.
THU 12:04 Scam Secrets (m002wkj3)
The Knock at the Door
A roofer's at your door - they've spotted a couple of loose tiles and they can fix them straight away. It's only a quick job. Would you know what to do?
Almost all of the scams we've dissected so far have been done remotely - on the phone, by text or online. But what if the criminal is standing right in front of you - perhaps even inside your home? That's what the Scam Secrets team are looking at in this episode. Because while criminals have embraced the digital world and AI, they'll still steal from you face to face too - and many of the techniques are the same.
We hear from Jane, who got one of those knocks on the door from a 'roofer' - before long, she'd had thousands of pounds stolen by criminals who even used a fake video of birds on her roof to try to steal more.
It's not just rogue traders though - who can resist helping someone in need? We'll hear what happens when a man approaches people at a motorway service station with a simple-sounding request for help...
PRESENTER: SHARI VAHL
PRODUCER: TOM MOSELEY
THU 12:32 Sliced Bread (m002wkj5)
Food Containers
Is it ok to store food in plastic containers?
That's the question put by listener Joe Tattersall in this, the last episode in the current series of 'Sliced Bread'. Joe's noticed scuffs and abrasions on his reusable plastic containers and is concerned about whether that increases the risk of 'chemical leaching' into his food, or ingesting microplastics. He's keen to know if alternatives like glass, silicon, or metal containers could better for our health, as well as for the planet.
And what about putting them in the microwave to heat food, using them to freeze food after batch-cooking, or putting them in the dishwasher to clean?
To find out more, presenter Greg Foot is joined by Dr Stephanie Wright, Senior Lecturer in Environmental Toxicology at Imperial College London; and Jane Muncke, Managing Director and Chief Scientific Officer at the Food Packaging Forum.
We're taking a break to prepare another batch of Sliced Bread but we're as hungry as ever for your suggestions of wonder products to investigate. Please do send your ideas to us either on email to sliced.bread@bbc.co.uk or to our WhatsApp number, 07543 306807.
RESEARCHER: PHIL SANSOM
PRODUCERS: SIMON HOBAN AND GREG FOOT
THU 12:57 Weather (m002wkj7)
The latest weather forecast
THU 13:00 World at One (m002wkj9)
Net migration halves in a year
But have the public noticed? We'll assess the figures and explore the gap between perception and reality. Also on the programme, files related to Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor's appointment as trade envoy have been released. The documents highlight the role of the Queen and shows "no evidence" of a formal vetting process. We'll speak to a former Cabinet Secretary, Lord Turnbull. And, are those born in the sixties the luckiest generation ever to have lived? We had a huge response from listeners Evan and Sarah figure it the answer out in their weekly chat.
THU 13:45 Understand (m002wkjc)
Rinsed
9. Vultures
As Thames Water’s finances deteriorate, “vultures” circle.
Reported and presented by Kate Lamble
Producer: Elle Scott
Sound Design: Andy Fell
Executive Producer: Joe Kent
Commissioning Executive: Tracy Williams
Commissioning Editor: Dan Clarke
Rinsed is a BBC Studios production for BBC Radio 4
THU 14:00 The Archers (m002wjmk)
[Repeat of broadcast at
19:00 on Wednesday]
THU 14:15 Drama on 4 (m002wkjf)
Nanny
Nanny is a play with songs about female friendship, ambition and the realities of modern caregiving.
Set over six weeks at a stay-and-play toddler group, it follows actor-nannies Amy and Leanne as they juggle demanding employers, financial instability and dwindling creative opportunities, while attempting to build a comedy double act.
Episodic in structure, the piece explores the tension between nurturing other people’s children and sustaining your own ambitions, asking what it means to “grow up” when life hasn’t unfolded as expected. As pressures mount — from work, relationships and the question of motherhood — their partnership is tested.
The radio version of the debut play for stage, written by actors Alana Ramsey and Lizzie Stables, with Jenny Rainsford.
With original songs by Matthew Floyd Jones, co-creator of West End musical Kathy & Stella Solve a Murder! and one half of Frisky & Mannish.
Directed by comedian and writer Sara Pascoe and produced by David Morley for Perfectly Normal productions, Nanny is funny, sharp and deeply relatable - a love letter to big dreams, messy friendships, and the invisible work that keeps everything going.
Alana Ramsey plays Amy
Lizzie Stables plays Lea
Matthew Floyd Jones plays Kim
Writers: Alana Ramsey, Lizzie Stables, Jenny Rainsford
Music: Matthew Floyd Jones
Sound Design: Chris O'Shaughnessy
Producers: David Morley, Alana Ramsey, Lizzie Stables
Director: Sara Pascoe
A Folio Theatre / Perfectly Normal production for BBC Radio 4
THU 15:00 Ramblings (m002wkjh)
Bailies of Bennachie
Clare heads up Mither Tap, a distinctive hill in the Bennachie range in Aberdeenshire.
Leading the way are the Bailies of Bennachie, a group of volunteer conservators formed over 50 years ago as a “Voice for the Hill.” Peter Stock, Allan Will, Stella Gauld, Lorna Bell and Anne Watson are just some of the many Bailies who care passionately about Bennachie - its wildlife, archaeology, landscape, history and future.
Their walk begins at the Bennachie Visitor Centre. From there, they climb steadily towards the ancient Pictish hillfort that crowns the summit. After enjoying the views on a very blowy top, they head back down. On the way, they pause to hear the story of the Bennachie Colony and see the remains of this crofting settlement first established in 1825.
The Bennachie Visitor Centre: Grid ref NJ698216
What3Words: ///sedative.info.equal
Presenter: Clare Balding
Producer: Karen Gregor
THU 15:27 Radio 4 Appeal (m002wjhx)
[Repeat of broadcast at
07:54 on Sunday]
THU 15:30 Word of Mouth (m002wkjk)
The World of Words: editing, typography and print
Michael Rosen finds out about fascinating literary errors from editor Rebecca Lee, the author of Rogues, Widows and Orphans: Mischief and Misadventures in the World of Books. They share favourite famous typos and find out where the phrase "out of sorts" originated.
Produced for BBC Audio Bristol by Beth O'Dea, in partnership with the Open University.
Subscribe to the Word of Mouth podcast and never miss an episode: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/b006qtnz
THU 16:00 The Briefing Room (m002wkjm)
Is Russia under pressure from Ukraine?
The war between Russia and Ukraine has shifted closer to Moscow. In the past week Ukraine has sent drones, made by Ukraine, to Moscow. While many were intercepted, 3 people died when an apartment block was hit. For many Russians the war - or special military operation as President Putin calls it - has been far away. But not any longer. At the same time though, Russia continues to hit cities across Ukraine and civilians continue to die. David Aaronovitch and his guests discuss whether Putin is under greater pressure now and whether the trajectory of this conflict has changed with the use of drone-warfare?
Guests:
Steve Rosenberg, BBC Russia Editor
Christopher Miller, Ukraine Correspondent, The Financial Times
Angela Stent, Senior Fellow at the American Enterprise Institute and former US National Intelligence Officer for Russia and Eurasia
Presenter: David Aaronovitch
Producers: Caroline Bayley and Kirsteen Knight
Production Co-ordinator: Maria Ogundele
Sound Engineer: James Beard
Editor: Richard Vadon
THU 16:30 BBC Inside Science (w3ct977m)
El Niño is nigh, but so what?
With 2023’s El Niño – a recurring pattern of extreme weather across the pacific basin - still leaving a bad taste in people's mouth, 2026 sees an El Niño stirring in the Pacific Ocean and there are warnings that this will be one of the strongest yet.
Roland Pease speaks with Amanda Maycock, a climatologist from Leeds University, to discuss what this climate phenomenon is and how it will impact the world from October to early next year.
He also hears from Scott Evans from the American Museum of Natural History, who has been exploring the Mackenzie mountains of Canada’s Northwest Territory to better understand the biology and ecology of life on earth before anything we might recognize - from the Ediacara era. This was before the explosion of different animal types with hard shells and bones in the later, Cambrian, time. In certain places around the world, much older rocks from the ancient ocean floor reveal an ecosystem abounding with soft, squidgy animal wierdness.
In Canada Scott has found a new trove of these fossils, but from far deeper below the surface of those ancient seas. Did animal life begin deep in the darkest depths rather than paddling in pools nearer the land?
Today, over half a billion years later, bottom trawling, a common fishing method involving dragging heavy nets across the bottom of the seafloor, is an environmentally destructive process that rips up everything in its path to maximise catch. We talked to Amanda Vincent, a professor at the Institute for the Oceans and fisheries of the British Columbia university and founder of the international Project Seahorse conservation group, about what bottom-trawl bans can achieve, in the light of results published about a renaissance of biodiversity off the coast of Scotland in an area where trawling has been banned for several years.
Plus, we talk to science journalist Gareth Mitchell, who explains how bottom trawling can also have negative consequences on technology, as well as other science news you may have missed, including updates on solar storms and robotic wolf shortages in Japan.
Presenter: Roland Pease
Producers: Alex Mansfield and Dan Welsh
Editor: Martin Smith
Production Co-ordinator: Jana Bennett-Holesworth
THU 17:00 PM (m002wkjq)
Late Queen "very keen" for Andrew to be made envoy
The revelation comes as more details emerge about Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor's appointment to the government role of trade envoy. Evan is joined by the late Queen's biographer Robert Hardman. Plus: the government releases new guidance on the use of single sex spaces.
THU 18:00 Six O'Clock News (m002wkjs)
UK net migration falls sharply
The Prime Minister says the government is delivering on its promise to regain control of the UK's borders, after official figures showed that net migration fell sharply last year. Also: New papers released by the government suggest the late Queen Elizabeth was "very keen" for Prince Andrew to be made a trade envoy. And Aston Villa players take part in an open top bus parade in Birmingham to mark their Europa League victory.
THU 18:30 Ellie Taylor's Safe Space (m001kh34)
Series 3
1: The Internet
Ellie Taylor welcomes you to "Safe Space", a place where anyone can offload their controversial opinions without fear of judgment.
This week she wants to abolish the Internet, arguing that the online world isn't real and as a society we're far too reliant on it. Joining Ellie to help prove her point is regular sidekick Robin Morgan.
With special guest: Author, Filmmaker and Co-Host of MTV's Catfish UK, Oobah Butler. Oobah's best known for creating The Shed at Dulwich, a fictional restaurant which in 2017 became the top-rated venue in London on TripAdvisor, despite having never served a dish. He chats to Ellie about how he used the Internet to create his fictional restaurant and why he thinks people are too ready to trust what they read online.
This series was first broadcast in March 2023.
Written by and starring Ellie Taylor and Robin Morgan.
Producer: Georgia Keating
Executive Producer: James Robinson
Production Co-ordinator: Becky Carewe-Jeffries
Sound editor: Marc Willcox
A BBC Studios production for Radio 4
THU 19:00 The Archers (m002wkjw)
When Anna comes to check on her mum, she can’t find the new security camera, which is supposed to be in the hall. Carol confirms that Leonard fitted it in the loft because Carol wanted it somewhere she could watch her bats. And besides, what good would it do in the hall if she fell in the living room again? Frustrated Anna spots that Carol is still not wearing her pendant alarm either and Carol accuses her of ranting and raving. When Alan calls in, Anna notices that the living room rug has moved, before the truth emerges that Alan moved it and covered up Carol’s near miss earlier in the week. To keep the peace Carol suggests gin and tonics all round while promising to wear her pendant, as long as she can keep the camera trained on her bats.
Tracy’s rushing from job to job while caring for Bert in between. Keen to help, Brad offers to cook his grandad’s tea, but Bert wants fried egg and chips, not the turkey stir fry Tracy’s prepared. Bert reflects that Clive wouldn’t insist on exercise and all these healthy meal choices, before revealing that Clive has invited him to move in. Shocked, Tracy tries unsuccessfully to ring her brother to investigate. She can’t believe Clive will have everything set up suitably for Bert, reckoning he’ll be after his pension money. Tracy also thinks Bert will be lonely and Clive won’t have a clue how to care for him properly – it’ll be a disaster.
THU 19:15 Front Row (m002wkjy)
Review Show: Douglas Stuart's John of John and Cannes Film Festival
Samira Ahmed is joined by writer Matt Cain and critic Suzi Feay to review:
Booker Prize-winning author of Shuggie Bain, Douglas Stuart's new novel John of John, set on the Isle of Harris.
New series The Boroughs, which stars Alfred Molina and Geena Davis in a retirement community, executive produced by Stranger Things' Duffer Brothers.
And Holy Pop!, a new exhibition at Somerset House in London that celebrates fandom.
Also, film critic Tim Robey joins Samira from the Cannes Film Festival to talk through some of his highlights.
Presenter: Samira Ahmed
Producer: Lucy Collingwood
THU 20:00 When It Hits the Fan (m002wjm6)
[Repeat of broadcast at
16:00 on Wednesday]
THU 20:15 The Media Show (m002wjm8)
[Repeat of broadcast at
16:15 on Wednesday]
THU 21:00 Loose Ends (m002wj2l)
[Repeat of broadcast at
18:15 on Saturday]
THU 21:45 Strong Message Here (m002wkhs)
[Repeat of broadcast at
09:45 today]
THU 22:00 The World Tonight (m002wkk0)
Government publishes single-sex spaces guidance
The government has published its long-awaited guidance on single-sex spaces. The guidance states that spaces such as changing rooms and toilets must be used on the basis of biological sex. We'll find out what this means for businesses, organisations and transgender people who access these spaces.
Also on the programme - the streets of Birmingham are a sea of claret and blue as Aston Villa revels in its Europa League triumph, but we'll hear about a Villa fan club in Ghana that is also celebrating. And a marine mammal scientist explains how she's proved that beluga whales can recognise themselves in a mirror.
THU 22:45 Hunger and Thirst by Claire Fuller (m002wkk2)
The Lithopedion
A contemporary gothic thriller from award winning author Claire Fuller.
Years after the shocking events at the Underwood, Ursula has carved a new life for herself but is always looking over her shoulder.
Read by Juliet Aubrey
Abridged by Siân Preece
Produced by Eilidh McCreadie
THU 23:00 Radical with Amol Rajan (m002wkk4)
The Future of Food: Can Regenerative Farming Save Our Soil? (Andy Cato)
This week, guest host Oli Dugmore, speaks to Andy Cato, one half of electronic music duo Groove Armada and a leading advocate for regenerative farming.
Andy argues that modern agriculture is reaching a breaking point. He says that a reliance on chemical farming has degraded our ecosystems, taken agency away from farmers, and made us over reliant on fragile international trade systems. Through regenerative farming, he believes it’s possible to restore ecosystems, rebuild soil health and create a more resilient food system for the 21st century.
They discuss Andy’s unlikely journey from global touring musician to farmer, including selling his music catalogue to buy land, and the founding of Wildfarmed, a business aiming to help farmers transition to regenerative agriculture while remaining profitable. Andy also explains why he believes traditional farming is no longer sustainable, how a different model could be financed, and what the benefits could be for farmers, consumers and the environment alike.
THU 23:30 Today in Parliament (m002wkk6)
Susan Hulme reports as MPs question the chancellor about measures to stem the economic effects of the Iran war.
FRIDAY 22 MAY 2026
FRI 00:00 Midnight News (m002wkk8)
National and international news from BBC Radio 4
FRI 00:30 Weimar: Life on the Edge of Catastrophe by Katja Hoyer (m002wkhz)
[Repeat of broadcast at
11:45 on Thursday]
FRI 00:48 Shipping Forecast (m002wkkb)
The latest weather reports and forecasts for UK shipping.
FRI 01:00 Selection of BBC World Service Programmes (m002wkkd)
BBC Radio 4 joins the BBC World Service.
FRI 05:00 News Summary (m002wkkg)
National and international news from BBC Radio 4
FRI 05:04 Yesterday in Parliament (m002wkkj)
David Cornock reports from Westminster as the chancellor announces cost of living help for families this summer.
FRI 05:34 Shipping Forecast (m002wkkl)
The latest weather reports and forecasts for UK shipping.
FRI 05:43 Prayer for the Day (m002wkkq)
Shavuot & Cheesecake
Good morning.
Today the Jewish community marks the festival of Shavuot when we celebrate the receiving of the 10 Commandments at Sinai. It’s the culmination of a 7-week spiritual journey from Passover, during which we work on refining our character traits to prepare us for the day, traits such as respect, humility, and gratitude. We also eat a lot of cheesecake because, among other reasons, words of Torah such as the 10 Commandments are seen as sweet spiritual sustenance—milk and honey.
So, as part of the celebrations, I once offered a virtual cheesecake-making session, guiding the others through the measuring and mixing until we reached whipping the cream and soft cheese, at which point I removed the hand blender from the drawer and discovered it had no plug. Don’t ask! I could panic, act like nothing was wrong, which also wouldn’t have worked; or share what happened. So, the participants heard offscreen, “oh, there’s no plug”. And then I showed them and said, “well, we’ll do this the old-fashioned way” and proceeded to use a wire whisk to whip the mixture. The cheesecake turned out great!
What does this story of baking near-disaster have to do with refining character traits for Shavuot? Actually, quite a lot. I respected my audience enough to let them in on the mishap, I responded with humility rather than covering it up, and I thanked everyone for their patience with the extra time we had to take.
May we all strive to develop respect, humility and gratitude toward each other, even when dealing with those pesky mishaps in life.
FRI 05:45 Farming Today (m002wkkv)
We ask what the latest government cost of living measures mean for farmers.
How a Fenland farmer must decide whether to keep on his struggling family farm.
We've been talking flowers all week: the cut flower market in the UK is worth around £2.2 billion but the bulk of flowers sold in supermarkets and florists don’t come from British farms.
The BBC Food & Farming Awards are back and this year we’re teaming up again with the Archers for the ‘Archers and Farming Today Farming for the Future Award’. We’re looking for those people or organisations who are models for how farming can be more resilient and sustainable. You can nominate by going to bbc.co.uk/foodawards - entries close at midday on the 15th of June.
Presented by Caz Graham and produced by Beatrice Fenton.
FRI 06:00 Today (m002wkw1)
News and current affairs, including Sports Desk, Weather and Thought for the Day.
FRI 09:00 Desert Island Discs (m002wjj9)
[Repeat of broadcast at
10:00 on Sunday]
FRI 10:00 Woman's Hour (m002wkw3)
New single-sex spaces guidance, Natalie Cassidy, Southport attack survivors
Yesterday, the Government published guidance on how the Equality Act should be implemented in relation to single-sex spaces. This follows the landmark Supreme Court ruling in April last year that the definition of a woman under the Equality Act should be based on biological sex. According to the new guidance, single-sex spaces - such as changing rooms and toilets - must be used on the basis of biological sex. This means, for instance, that a trans woman - a biological male who identifies as a woman - should not use female toilets or changing rooms, or a trans man - a biological woman who identifies as a man - should not use men's toilets. Alison Holt, the BBC's social affairs editor, joins Anita Rani to explain the guidance.
Natalie Cassidy is the actor best known for playing Sonia Fowler in the BBC soap, EastEnders. She’s also been a presenter and has a successful podcast, Life with Nat. She's now returned to the classroom to study Health and Social Care. Inspired by supporting her dad through end-of-life care at home, Natalie has enrolled to study towards a Level 3 qualification, with the aim of becoming a professional carer. She joins Anita to discuss the experience, which is documented in an eight-part BBC series, Natalie Cassidy: Caring Together.
It’s been nearly two years since the attack on a group of girls at a Taylor Swift–themed dance class in Southport. Three were murdered and others seriously injured. The families of those who survived say a court order protecting their identities has also left them feeling invisible. BBC Special Correspondent Judith Moritz has been hearing about the long-term impact on their daughters, and she joins Anita.
And genre-defying musician and composer Hannah Peel joins us to talk about forging her unique career, whispers of encouragement she received from Paul McCartney and her new collaboration with Chinese percussionist Beibei Wang.
Presenter: Anita Rani
Producer: Simon Richardson
FRI 11:00 The Food Programme (m002wkw5)
The BBC Food & Farming Awards 2026 Launch: Belfast here we come
The BBC Food & Farming Awards come from Belfast this year. Jaega Wise heads to the Balmoral Show, the largest agri-food show in Northern Ireland, to find out what makes this such an amazing place for food and farming. Jaega will be meeting head judge Paula McIntyre to talk about why Northern Ireland is home to some of the UK's most exciting food and drink businesses. She also meets Eve Blair, presenter of Your Place and Mine on BBC Radio Ulster and the judge of this year's Northern Ireland award, to talk about why the Balmoral Show is so important to her.
To nominate for this year's awards go to bbc.co.uk/foodawards where you can find the terms and privacy notice. Nominations are open from
6am 22 May 2026 to
12pm 15 June 2026.
Producer: Sam Grist
FRI 11:45 Weimar: Life on the Edge of Catastrophe by Katja Hoyer (m002wkw7)
1939 and 2026: The Furies of War
The story of the residents of Weimar during the rise and reign of Hitler.
Weimar – On the Edge of Catastrophe is written by Katja Hoyer.
The reader is Sian Thomas.
The abridger is Julian Wilkinson.
The producer is Lu Kemp.
Hiking in the Ettersberg Carl Weirich is conscious of how the concentration camp has ruined the beautiful natural landscape of his local area. Meanwhile the net is drawing in around Rosa, as more and more demands are made to authenticate her heritage.
In the early 2020s historian Katja Hoyer visits Weimar to research the story of the people who lived there, and meets those who remember them.
Weimar explores ‘the question of how and why a nation that prided itself on its culture and civility enabled the catastrophe of Nazism haunts us to this day because we fear a repeat.’ The book is about the tension between individual and collective responsibility and sounds a warning for our own times.
Katja Hoyer is a German-British historian, journalist and the author of the international bestseller Beyond the Wall as well as Blood and Iron. A visiting Research Fellow at King's College London and a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society, she writes for Bloomberg and Berliner Zeitung and is a commentator on German current affairs for many British newspapers. She was born in Germany and is now based in the UK.
FRI 12:00 News Summary (m002wkw9)
The latest national and international news from BBC Radio 4.
FRI 12:04 Rare Earth (m002wkwc)
World of Flowers
Tom and Helen explore why the evolution of flowers created the world we know today, uncover some of the fascinating ways flowers use shape, colour and scent to bewitch pollinators, and dig into how pollen can reveal the secrets of ancient crime scenes and help us restore lost landscapes. Guests will include writer David George Haskell, pollen expert Michelle Farrell and botanist Sandra Knapp, Director of Research at the Natural History Museum.
Presenters – Tom Heap and Helen Czerski
Producer – Beth Sagar-Fenton
Produced in association with the Open University
FRI 12:57 Weather (m002wkwf)
The latest weather forecast
FRI 13:00 World at One (m002wkwh)
Andrew investigation could look into sexual misconduct allegations
Detectives have issued a fresh call for information in relation to Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor. It's understood that they don't want the public to think they are only interested in alleged leaks of confidential government files. A former Director of Public Prosecutions joins us to explain the breadth of misconduct in public office. Also on the programme: we have a report from the occupied West Bank on how settler activity there is affecting Palestinian communities. And it's officially the warmest day of the year so far in the UK. We'll hear how you're getting prepared.
FRI 13:45 Understand (m002wkwk)
Rinsed
10. New Tricks
Could the water industry be nationalised? Should the water industry be nationalised? And who will bear the ultimate costs for cleaning up our rivers?
Reported and presented by Kate Lamble
Series Producer: Elle Scott
Sound Design: Andy Fell
Researchers: Isaac Fisher and Amy Woods
Production Coordinator: Juliette Harvey
Production Manager: Debbie Waddell
Executive Producer: Joe Kent
Head of Audio of Audio (BBC Studios): Richard Knight
Assistant Commissioner: Chris Walsh-Heron
Commissioning Executive: Tracy Williams
Commissioning Editor: Dan Clarke
Rinsed is a BBC Studios production for BBC Radio 4
FRI 14:00 The Archers (m002wkjw)
[Repeat of broadcast at
19:00 on Thursday]
FRI 14:15 Limelight (m002w9lb)
Wraith
Episode 3: Control
A cutting-edge thriller about an Artificial Intelligence takeover, written in consultation with leading AI and cybersecurity experts.
In Episode 3, the streets of London are in chaos, with traffic and public transport at a standstill and emergency services communications down. Reeling from the killings carried out by the AI, Iain and Mel fall out and decide to go it alone. Nisha realises the AI is trying to hack the London Internet Exchange and spread to the rest of the UK. Despite the patchy communications and ongoing deepfakes, the government manages to send an SAS team to the UT building as Nisha tries to cope with the spiralling situation in Whitehall.
Cast:
Iain - Edward Bluemel
Mel - Corinna Brown
Zaina - Fatima Adoum
Roland - Philip Bretherton
Jess - Alix Wilton Regan
Nisha - Seyan Sarvan
Sam - Kenneth Omole
Andrea - Beth Chalmers
Oliver - Sean Rigby
Marcus - Wilf Scolding
John - Joseph Mydell
Susan - Karen Bryson
Lyssa - Catriona Stirling
Supporting roles - Sean Baker
Created by James Dobbyn and Anthony Povah
Written by James Dobbyn
Original Music by Steven D Griffiths and Isla Noir
Artificial Intelligence consultant: Saffron Huang
Cybersecurity consultant: Adam Orton
Sound Designer: Lucinda Mason Brown
Director: John Wakefield
Story Producer: Sarah Olley
Producer: Chris Grezo
Executive Producer: John Scott Dryden
A Strange Boy production for BBC Radio 4
FRI 14:45 The Hackers (m0012fwt)
Series 1
Aaron
Biella explores the legacy of Aaron Swartz. From the age of 14, Aaron was a prolific hacker, inventor and activist. He was integral in the creation of Creative Commons and the Internet Archive, co-founder social media site Reddit, and was passionate in his activism work that culminated in the dismissal of the Stop Online Piracy Act in the USA. But Aaron took his own life at the age of 26 when he was charged with violating the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act, facing decades in prison and millions of dollars in fines - a court case that many at the time felt was completely unjustified.
Biella speaks with Harvard Professor Lawrence Lessig who worked with Aaron on the Creative Commons project, and a Lisa Rein, co-founder of ‘Aaron Swartz Day’ that works to carry on projects started or inspired by Aaron’s work, and discusses why it’s important to remember Aaron’s story, the legacy of his work, and to find out if a recent Supreme Court ruling on the CFAA means that people like Aaron may be safer in the future.
FRI 15:00 Gardeners' Question Time (m002wkwm)
Chelsea Flower Show 2026 - Postbag
Kathy Clugston and Peter Gibbs are at the Chelsea Flower Show for a special postbag episode of Gardeners' Question Time.
From the showground of the world’s most celebrated horticultural event, they're joined by a stellar panel - former Chelsea exhibitor and medal-winning designer Matthew Wilson, one of the world's leading authorities on plant pests and diseases, Pippa Greenwood, and making her press-day debut at Chelsea with GQT, Head Gardener at Birmingham Botanical Gardens, Bethan Collerton.
As Kathy and the panel roam the show gardens answering questions submitted by listeners, they catch up with several garden designers behind this year’s show, including Frances Tophill (The RHS and The King’s Foundation Curious Garden), Sarah Fisher and Janice Molyneux (The Sightsavers Garden) and Patrick Clarke (The Children’s Society Garden). They explore the ideas, craftsmanship and planting inspiration behind their Chelsea creations, from sensory container gardens to spaces designed for well-being and connection.
Meanwhile, Peter takes the roving reporter mic inside the Great Pavilion, discovering the science behind our gardens, speaking to exhibitors, and uncovering the latest innovations in horticulture and biodiversity research.
The panel tackles everything from gardening in challenging coastal conditions, to choosing the right trees for privacy and produce, as well as tips on drying flowers for wedding confetti, and solving the mysteries of struggling container plants and stubborn succulents.
Producers: Dan Cocker, Matt Smith and Rahnee Prescod
Assistant Producer: William Norton
A Somethin' Else production for BBC Radio 4
* If listening on BBC Sounds and you wish to view the plant list, please go to the Gardeners' Question Time website and open this week's episode page.
FRI 15:45 Short Works (m002wkwp)
Lane Seven by Emily Koch
At his local swimming pool, Jack is confused to see his ex-girlfriend in the next lane. Hadn’t she always said she was afraid of the water?
A new short story written by Emily Koch, read by Sam Swann.
Emily Koch is an award-winning journalist and author of three novels, If I Die Before I Wake, Keep Him Close and What July Knew. Her debut, If I Die Before I Wake, was shortlisted for the Crime Writers’ Association Steel Dagger award, won France’s Prix du Bureau des Lecteurs Folio Policier, was longlisted for the Authors’ Club Best First Novel Award, and was selected as a Waterstones Thriller of the Month. She lives in Bristol.
Produced by Beth O'Dea and Mair Bosworth in Bristol for BBC Audio
FRI 16:00 Last Word (m002wkwr)
Michael Pennington, Cynthia Shange, Scott Hastings, Beverley Martyn
Kirsty Lang on Michael Pennington, the Shakespearean actor who preferred a life on stage to the glamour of Hollywood. For Dame Judi Dench, he was her 'Mr Plum', she recalls his life.
Cynthia Shange defied apartheid to become the first Black woman to represent South Africa at Miss World.
Scott Hastings the rugby legend, who was once Scotland’s most capped player. He went on to become a well-known commentator and campaigner for mental health charities, following the death of his wife after her long battle with depression.
And Beverley Martyn, the singer songwriter, a star of the British folk scene, who was signed by Beatles producer George Martin aged 16, but her career was not a smooth ride.
Please note this programme references suicide. Support and information is available at bbc.co.uk/actionline.
Interviewee: Dame Judi Dench
Interviewee: Nonhle Thema
Interviewee: John Beattie
Interviewee: Joe Boyd
Producer: Catherine Powell
Assistant Producer: Ribika Moktan
Researcher: Jesse Edwards
Editor: Andrea Kennedy
Archive:
Miss World 1972. BBC TV, 01 Dec 1972; Bob Harris Sunday : Beverley Martyn plays live, BBC Radio 2, 27th April 2014; Five Nations, Rugby Union, Scotland v England, 17th March 1990; Scrum V, Live Pro12: 2016/2017, Edinburgh v Blues, 24th Feb 2017; BBC News Breakfast, 21st Dec 2020; Richard II, writer William Shakespeare, dir Gregory Doran, Royal Shakespeare Company, 2013; Gift of Gorgon, writer Peter Shaffer, dir Peter Hall, RSC, 1993; Henry V, dir Michael Bogdanov, The English Shakespeare Company in The War of the Roses, Produced by John Paul Chapple and Andy Ward, A Portman Classics production in association with Contracts International and Windmill Lane Productions, 1990
FRI 16:30 More or Less (m002wjlc)
[Repeat of broadcast at
09:00 on Wednesday]
FRI 17:00 PM (m002wkwt)
UK scientists developing Ebola vaccine
Researchers at Oxford who are developing an Ebola vaccine say it could be ready for trials in the next few months. We speak to Dr Andrew Pollard who’s been working on the vaccine. Also: an update from Havana, where supporters of the Cuban Revolution have been protesting against the indictment of former leader Raúl Castro. Plus, the musician Phil Collins on whether a comeback is afoot, and the author Elif Shafak talks about the need - and a new initiative - to help support literature across the country. PM today is presented by Katie Razzall.
FRI 18:00 Six O'Clock News (m002wkww)
A new Ebola vaccine could be tested soon
A team of scientists from Oxford University say the new Ebola vaccine could be ready for clinical trials within months. Also; police investigating Andrew Mountbatten Windsor could look into allegations of sexual misconduct as part of their inquiry into potential misconduct in public office. He's denied wrongdoing. And, there's mixed messages from a NATO summit about US troop deployments in Europe.
FRI 18:30 The News Quiz (m002wkwy)
Series 120
6. Brexpressionism
Recorded at Hay Festival, Andy asks the panel the dreaded question - is Brexit back on the table? Also on the menu is Welsh independence, the National Conversation and an update on just how much money has been wasted on HS2.
This week’s panellists are Kiri Pritchard-McLean, Robin Morgan, Stephen Bush and Chloe Petts.
Written by Andy Zaltzman.
With additional material by: Maisie Adair, Catherine Brinkworth, Angela Channell and James Farmer
Producer: Georgia Keating
Executive Producer: James Robinson
Production Coordinator: Asha Osborne-Grinter
Sound Editor: Marc Willcox
Recorded at Hay Festival
A BBC Studios Production for Radio 4.
FRI 19:00 The Archers (m002wkx0)
Just as the partnership meeting begins, Debbie walks in, to everyone’s amazement. Delighted Brian claims he hasn’t lost his touch, highlighting the farm’s financial resilience. Adam begs to differ: he’s been running things and any recent increase in profits is down to him. Uncomfortable Alice supports Adam, but Brian claims it’s been under his supervision, with Ruairi’s help. Adam reckons Ruairi’s been a liability, then outlines his vision. He proposes being left to run the farm his own way, but also suggests Brian leaves the land to him. Debbie has another suggestion: leave the land to her and Adam. Heatedly, they argue that otherwise, when Brian dies, it will be chaos. Alice isn’t on board with this – all she wants is to persuade Brian to retire properly and relax.
Horrified, Brian then hears their concerns about his stress levels and mental health. Brian retorts that his recent stresses have nothing to do with his mental health, but won’t admit any more. Adam pushes for a decision on leaving the land to him and Debbie, but Brian points out they’re not even his own children. Alice is shocked, but Brian reasons that Adam doesn’t have the skills to run a business and Debbie has no right, having been away so long. Debbie’s furious, angrily listing Brian’s failings. She declares she’s done, she can’t fight Brian anymore. She doesn’t want the partnership, the land, or a relationship with him. Brian retaliates: he’ll withdraw the land from the partnership altogether. There will be no business with them anymore. He’ll go it alone.
FRI 19:15 Add to Playlist (m002wkx2)
Ben Gernon and Heidi Fardell launch a new series
Conductor Ben Gernon and baroque recorder player Heidi Fardell open the new series alongside Jeffrey Boakye and Anna Phoebe as they add the first five tracks, taking us from a steamy New York summer to a celebrated Bach composition that violinist Joshua Bell has described as 'not just one of the greatest pieces of music ever written, but one of the greatest achievements of any man in history'. Throw in Gershwin, Louis XIV and a very serious musical accident, and you've got a cornucopia of an opening episode.
Producer Jerome Weatherald
Presented with musical direction by Jeffrey Boakye and Anna Phoebe
The five tracks in this week's playlist:
Summer in the City by The Lovin’ Spoonful
An American in Paris by George Gershwin
Overture to Phaëton by Jean-Baptiste Lully
Ain’t It Strange by Patti Smith
Violin Partita No. 2 in D Minor (the Chaconne) by J.S. Bach
Other music in this episode:
Batman Theme by Neil Hefti & his Orchestra
12 Sonatas Op. 11 'Parensi': No 7 in A Minor: II. Allegro by Robert Valentine, performed by Heidi Fardell
Because The Night by Patti Smith
FRI 20:00 Any Questions? (m002wkx4)
Chris Curtis MP, Mariella Frostrup, Damian Hinds MP, Mark Littlewood
Alex Forsyth presents political debate from Warminster Civic Centre in Wiltshire with the Labour MP Chris Curtis, chair of the Labour Growth Group of backbenchers; journalist, broadcaster and campaigner Mariella Frostrup; Conservative MP and former education secretary Damian Hinds; and Mark Littlewood, director of the Popular Conservatism campaign group.
Producer: Paul Martin
Assistant Producer: Jo Dwyer
Production Coordinator: Ishmael Soriano
Lead broadcaster engineer: Mark MacDonald
Editor: Andrea Kennedy
FRI 20:55 This Week in History (m002wjlk)
[Repeat of broadcast at
11:40 on Wednesday]
FRI 21:00 Free Thinking (m002wkx6)
Thinking with Food
The links between food and philosophy, ideas about experimentation, taste and how food and traditions become part of our identity are explored by Matthew Sweet in Radio 4's round-table discussion programme. His guests are:
Author John Lanchester, who writes restaurant reviews and whose latest novel is called Look What You Made Me Do
Food writer Felicity Cloake, who writes a Cook the Perfect column for The Guardian newspaper and has published books called Red Sauce, Brown Sauce: A British Breakfast Odyssey, Peach Street to Lobster Lane: Coast to Coast in Search of Real American Cuisine and now her debut novel The Underdog.
Professor Barry Smith, director of the Institute of Philosophy at the University of London's School of Advanced Study
Philosopher Suki Finn, whose book What's in a Donut Hole? uses food to explore classic philosophical puzzles
Author Samantha Ellis, whose book Chopping Onions on My Heart is a memoir about Iraqi Jewish food, language and culture
Producer: Eliane Glaser
FRI 22:00 The World Tonight (m002wkx8)
Trump reverses decision on Poland troops
After threatening to withdraw 4,000 troops from Poland, President Trump today reversed the plan and promised 5,000 troops would now be deployed in the country. Former US Ambassador to NATO, Kurt Volker, gives us his view on the confusing messages from Washington.
Also on the programme, we hear about the potential schism appearing between the US President and Senate Republicans, take a look back at CBS Radio on the night is closes down for good, and the founder of the slow movement, Carlo Petrini has died.
FRI 22:45 Hunger and Thirst by Claire Fuller (m002wkxb)
Dark Descent
A contemporary gothic thriller from award winning author Claire Fuller.
Ursula and Ray have found their way back to one another, but the release of the Dark Descent documentary threatens everything.
Read by Juliet Aubrey
Abridged by Siân Preece
Produced by Eilidh McCreadie
FRI 23:00 Americast (w3ct8lz3)
Will Trump invade Cuba?
What is President Trump’s plan for the future of Cuba? His oil blockade has crippled the island’s economy and could lead to a humanitarian catastrophe. He has indicted former President Raul Castro for murder and put sanctions on Cuba’s military leaders, but what might be his next steps? Is he thinking about using the Venezuela playbook and snatching the 94 year old leader?
In this episode, Sarah and Anthony discuss what Trump’s options are in Cuba and whether military action is feasible and likely.
We also hear from Carlos Cubelo - a former Republican Congressman from Florida who is the son of Cuban immigrants and ask what do Cuban Americans think about Trump’s course of action?
HOSTS:
• Sarah Smith, North America Editor
• Anthony Zurcher, North America Correspondent
GET IN TOUCH:
• Join our online community: https://discord.gg/qSrxqNcmRB
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• Or use #Americast
This episode was made by Tom Gillett, Grace Reeve and Purvee Pattni. The technical producer was Mike Regaard. The series producer is Purvee Pattni. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.
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Top Comment BBC Sounds - Top Comment - Available Episodes
FRI 23:30 Today in Parliament (m002wkxf)
Sean Curran reports on the ballot for backbench MPs to get the chance to bring in their own laws and an inquiry into England's water supply issues finds the taps could run dry. Also, what are the Chiltern Hundreds and why can't MPs just quit their job like the rest of us?