BBC Radio 4
Created | Updated Jan 28, 2002
Where to find it
- On the radio, at 92-95 FM and 198 Long Wave.
- Many programs are now also being webcast live1 on the Internet at www.bbc.co.uk/radio4.
Radio 4 is, arguably2 the only reason to pay your licence fee. It is the place to come for good radio comedy, drama and current affairs.
The Schedules
The best place to get program listings is the Radio Times, but the BBC website should soon have them as well.
The Weekday Schedule
News is every Hour, on the Hour.
- 5.30-6.00The Shipping Forecast, Farming Today
- 6.00-9.00Today
- 9.00-10.00 Interviews, such as Start the week, Midweek, and Desert Island Discs
- 10.00-10.45Woman's Hour
- 10.45-11.00Woman's Hour Drama Series
- 11.00-11.30 Features and series (various formats and agendas)
- 11.30-12.00Comedy, light drama
- 12.30-13.00You and Yours (consumer affairs), and, for lucky LW listeners, the Shipping Forecast at 12.30
- 13.00-13.30The World at One
- 13.30-14.00 Quizzes, games, and conversation. On Fridays, Feedback
- 14.00-14.15The Archers - yesterdays episode (see 19.00)
- 14.15-15.00The Afternoon Play
- 15.00-15.30 'Interaction'3
- 15.30-15.45 Reading
- 15.45-16.00 Features
- 16.00-16.30 Magazine, Conversation
- 16.30-17.00 Conversation, Magazine, cunningly chosen so that if the last was one, this will be the other
- 17.00-18.00PM
- 17.50 Those lucky LW listeners again get to hear the Shipping Forecast
- 18.00-19.00The 6 o'clock news - the original and the best
- 18.30-19.00Comedy
- 19.00-19.15The Archers - Please see below
- 19.15-19.45Front Row - snooty arts program
- 19.45-20.00The Woman's Hour Drama Series, repeated from this morning
- 20.00-21.00Documentary/Debate (two in this slot)
- 21.00 on FridaysThe Friday Play
- 21.00-21.30Science
- 21.30-22.00 Repeat of whatever was on at 9 o'clock this morning
- 22.00-22.45The World Tonight
- 22.45-23.00Book at Bedtime
- 23.00-23.30Comedy
- 23.30-24.00Today in Parliament
- 24.00-24.15The Midnight News and Weather
- 24.15-24.30The Late Book
- And then we have a little musical interlude4, one final Shipping Forecast, and the National Anthem. R4 then closes up for the night, and the insomniacs' favourite, the World Service, takes over. The World Service really deserves it's own entry, so please contact me if you've written one.
The Saturday Schedule
- 5.30-6.00The Shipping Forecast, Prayer, Leisure Report/Bulletin
- 6.00-6.10Ten Minute News Bulletin
- 6.10-1.00Open Country
- 7.00-9.00Today
- 9.00-10.00Home Truths
- 10.00-11.00Loose Ends
- 11.00-11.30Week in Westminster
- 11.30-12.00From Our Own Correspondent
- NoonNews Summary, and a Shipping Forecast on LW.
- 12.00-12.30Money Box
- 12.30-13.00Comedy - usually topical, repeated from yesterday
- 13.00-13.30The One O'clock News
- 13.30-14.00Any Questions?
- 14.00-14.30Any Answers?
- 14.30-15.00 History
- 15.00-16.00The Saturday Play
- 16.00-17.00Weekend Woman's Hour
- 17.00-17.30Saturday PM
- 17.30-18.00Back Row, offshoot of Front Row (the snooty arts program), this replaced the excellent Talking Pictures
- 18.00Weather, and a Shipping Forecast for both FM and LW.
- 18.00-18.15The 6 o'clock News
- 18.15-18.45Live From London or The Now Show
- 18.45-19.00Comedy
- 19.00-19.45Saturday Review
- 19.45-20.00Letter From America
- 20.00-21.00The Archive Hour
- 21.00-22.00The Classic Serial, repeated from last Sunday.
- 22.00-22.10The 10 o'clock News
- 22.10-23.00Moral Maze, the world's only guaranteed cure for insomnia
- 23.00-23.30 Music Entertainment
- 23.30-24.00Poetry Please
- 24.00The News and Papers, Weather
- R4 now shuts down for the night, and the World Service takes over.
The Sunday Schedule
- 5.30-6.00 First, the Shipping Forecast, then Bells, and the Weather.
- 6.00-6.05Five minute News Bulletin
- 6.05-6.30Something Understood
- 6.30-7.00On Your Farm
- 7.00-8.00Sunday
- 8.00-8.45Sunday Worship
- 8.45-9.00Letter from America
- 9.00-10.00Broadcasting House
- 10.00-11.15The Archers Omnibus, easily identifiable, because the theme tune is played on an accordion
- 11.15-12.00Desert Island Discs
- NoonNews Summary, and a Shipping Forecast on LW.
- 12.00-12.30Comedy
- 12.30-13.00The Food Programme
- 13.00-13.30The World This Weekend
- 13.30-14.00 Music Entertainment
- 14.00-14.30Gardeners' Question Time
- 14.30-15.00 Leisure Feature
- 15.00-16.00The Classic Serial
- 16.00-16.30Open Book / Book Club
- 16.30-17.00Poetry Please
- 17.00-17.30File on Four
- 17.30-18.00Letter
- 18.00-18.15The 6 o'clock News
- 18.15-19.00Pick of the Week
- 19.00-19.15The Archers
- 19.15-20.00 Entertainment
- 20.00-20.30Feedback
- 20.30-21.00 Magazine
- 21.00-21.30 Documentary
- 21.30-22.00Analysis / In Business
- 22.00-22.15The 10 o'clock News
- 22.15-23.00Westminster Hour / Political Talk
- 23.00-23.30The Learning Curve
- 23.30-24.00Something Understood
- 24.00-24.30The Midnight News, Weather
- And now over to the World Service.
Current Affairs
The phone-ins should be avoided like the plague5, with the possible exception of Gardener's Question Time. But only if you like gardening... If you want phone-ins, listen to Radio Five Live.
Today
The home of John Humphries, scourge of government ministers and other professional procrastinators. Many people hold that this is the worlds best news program (of any media). I disagree, but it is very convenient if you want to know what's going on, without spending too much time on finding out.
The racing tips are best described as 'satirical', which means that no-one in their right mind would ever bet on them.
A national institution is the yearly6 April Fools' news story7.
The Hourly news bulletins
There isn't much to say about these, really. So I shan't try, but just tell you that they are there, and infinately better that Radio 1's. Since the replacement for James Boyle is an ex-current affairs editor, many expect these to increase to quartly hour ;-)
PM
Weekdays, 17.00-18.00; Saturday, 17.00-17.30I find this program better than Today.
There is a little known fact about one of the presenters, but it is irrelevant8.
The World at One
How am I supposed to know, I'm still in full time eduation?
Sunday
Sunday, 8.00Religous current affairs.
Broadcasting House
Sunday, 9.00Humerous current affairs.
From Our Own Correspondent
The BBCs network of correspondents report from other countries. This is a great format, nicked by BBC 2.
Feedback
Friday, 12.30; Sunday, 20.00.
This is where listeners get to have their say about how all BBC radio is run.
You may contact the program at [email protected]
Comedy
The usual slots for comedy are weekdays, 12.00-12.30, 18.30-19.00, 23.00-23.30; Saturday, 12.30-13.00, 18.15-19.00; and Sunday, 12.00-12.30.
Radio comedy can be both far better, and far worse, than it's visual equivalent. Some of the better shows have been transferred to TV, including9 Goodness Gracious Me, People Like Us, The League of Gentlemen, Harry Hill's Fruit Corner.
Particular shows worthy of note include:
Just A Minute
I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue
As soon as someone writes an official Guide entry, a link shall be put to it here. This show contains some of the funniest material on the Network, and it is vital that you listen to it, whenever you get the chance.
This is the home of such radio classics as Mornington Crescent, One Song to the Tune of Another, Cheddar Gorge, and What is Time Mister Wolf? (a dumbed-up version of the children's game, with bio-engineer, and well-known eccentric, professor Heinz Wolf).
People Like Us
Super-incompetent reporter Roy Mallard (Chris Langham), goes around producing documentaries about people, and their jobs. Hysteric, although not so successful as a TV series.
The Sunday Format
Basically, the idea is to produce a Sunday Format newspaper, but for the radio. It is made by the same team that did People Like Us.
This series was really exceptionally excellent, and I believe that a new series has been commissioned.
The Now Show
Saturday, 18.15; repeated Tuesday 22.00Hosted by Steve Punt and Hugh Dennis10, this show replaced Week Ending in the scheduling changes of 1997. Few think it is as good.
The show is a sketch based review of the weeks news. It's the only regular source of stand-up comedy on R4, and you can find a wide variety of people here.
The News Quiz
Fridays, 18.30; repeated Saturday 12.30Topical news quiz, similar to 'Have I Got News for You'. This is very funny.
Do Go On
Wednesdays, 18.30
Presented by Gryff Rhys Jones, this show sets out to be a satire on topical discussion programs. It is very variable, but worth a try.
The six part radio comedy
These are highly variable, and depend upon the author.
Things like Old Harry's Game were good for one or two series, but some are not even worth that.
The six part comedy adventure serial type thing
This is a distinctive genre, and the calibre of these productions is usually very high11.
Some particularly good examples include Paradise Lost in Space, Paradise Lost in Cyberspace12, Seymore the Fractal Cat, and the House of the Spirit Levels13.
A Useful Tip
There are a some people who can do no wrong, in my opinion. These include Colin Swash, Peter Serafinowicz, Peter Jones, Andy Hamilton, Chris Langham, Harry Hill, Martin Hyder, Geoff McGivern. Basically, anything with which they are involved will be at the very least enjoyable.
Factual/Documentary
Documentaries
These are usually worth listening to. Recent examples have included attempts to explain quantum theory in four episodes, and Mark Carwardine spotting whales.
The science slot is weekdays, 21.00-21.30.
The Archive Hour
Saturday, 20.00
This to where the audio archives are trawled for source material, and this is assembled into interesting, and occasionally useful, documentaries.
A World in your Ear
Once a month, this program replaces the Archive Hour, and is is undoubtedly the best of the regular radio documentaries. It is simply the best selection of English language radio picked from around the world.
Desert Island Discs
Sunday, 11.15, repeated Friday 9.02.
This is a real classic. A worthy or interesting person14 is to be cast onto a desert island, and has 45 minutes to discuss their choice of 8 records that they may take with them with Sue Lawley, the presenter (no, they don't have to take her with them). What usually emerges is an interesting view of what made them who they are, etc. The music is usually quite good, as well.
Room for Improvement
Sunday, 19.15
In this program Lorrie Taylor and guests discuss everything related to self improvement. This is where to come to find out how to integrate words like "crepiscule" into your normal conversation. Having said that, it isn't snobby, and can be quite good fun.
Drama
In no particular order, here are the different types of radio drama:
- The Audio Movie, only broadcast on special occasions15, these are often superior to cinema movies in much the same way that novels are.
- The 90 minute play, please see the section below ('What to do if you meet Ms. Raphael, commissioning editor of the Network').
- The Hour long play, for example the Friday play, which is usually very good. Also, the Classic serial, which has recently included such things as 'the Aeneid', and other literary master works.
- The 45 Minute Play, for example the afternoon play. These vary wildly in quality.
- The Reading, as in The woman's hour serial, weekdays 10.45 and 19.45; Book at Bedtime, weekdays 22.45; and the Late Book, weekdays 24.30.
These are another of the best features of the Network. Admittedly, some are abridged, but even so, are usually excellent. Recent examples have included Going Loco, H.G. Wells' The First Men in the Moon, and a 30 part adaptation of Charles Dickens Nicholas Nickelby.
- The short story, weekdays 15.45, although formerly displaced by This Sceptred Isle, and we're still awaiting their return. These are some of the best radio to be had. They are everything a good short story can be: thrilling, traumatising, depressing, exiting, entertaining, and compulsive.
The Archers
The Archers is one of those topics that divides the nation. You either love it or you hate it. I hate it, but to show you my dedication to duty, I shall review it16. If you want to praise the Archers, please write your own entry ;-)
OK, then. The Archers is the archetypal soap opera, complete with 2-dimensional characters, empty plots, and boring story lines. It centres around the Archer family, who are like the Russian Mafia when it comes to vendettas, and the inhabitants of the village of Amberidge. You cannot expect to understand what's going on without weeks of dedicated study.
Having just said that, however, it is easy to be a hypocrite, and it is quite compulsive listening, although not, I think, for the reasons that the writers think. See the paragraph after next.
The Archers has a huge17 following, consisting mainly of people who have been listening for all their lives.
The Archers Addicts is a fringe group, well know for their militant action against anyone who makes attempts to publish pictures of the Archer's actors, and their near obsessive analysis of the plot. Their website is terrifying in it's completeness (how do they know that the doctor is a serial18 killer, for example?), and they are also well know for predicting with uncanny inaccuracy the future story lines (exploding Christmas turkeys, etc).
The Archers theme tune is well known, and goes dum-di-dum-di-dum-di-dum, dum-di-dum-di-dum-dumm, except on the Sunday omnibus edition where, for the sake of excitement, it goes da-di-da-di-da-di-da, da-di-da-di-da-daaargh.
What to do if you meet Ms. Raphael, commissioning editor of the Network
Ask her to bring back the 90 minute drama.
The lack of a 90 minute drama is a major obsession with R4 listeners, and provides one of the few pieces of evidence showing who the network is actually run for. 90 minute plays have been in decline for a number of years, and were removed all together in the scheduling changes of last year. However19, no evidence has ever been produced showing that the listeners want shorter plays, and everyone who I have ever asked, spoken to, or heard interviewed, has a definite desire to hear the longer plays. Still, there appears to be little20 chance of getting them back. Ho hum :-(
Phone-ins are cheap radio, which seems to make them low quality. Sometimes the Any Questions? / Any Answers? double has been quite good, but it is crippled by the half-hour slot, which hardly gives it time to get started, before it is finished.6Well, obviously...7Famous examples include the plight of the Spaghetti farmers, and the relocation of an island from the North Atlantic to the Mediterranean.8Oh, all right then, Nigel Wrench is gay.9And, of course, the Hitch-Hikers Guide to the Galaxy.10They only recently began to explore the full possibility of this description, but they now ask all their 'guests' to bring a bottle.11As anyone who heard the original Hitch-Hikers Guide to the Galaxy will testify
.And I'm sure most people reading this will have ;-)12The sequel.13By Nick Revel. This has now been published as a novel.14Ie, not just because they are famous.15Like Christmas, Coronations, contact with Extra Terrestrials, Once In A Blue Moon, etc.16Although not very favourably.17For a radio show...18Or even a surreal.19And this is where the plot thickens...20Or no...
