View source for BBC Radio 4

{{short description|British national radio station}}
{{for|other stations known as Radio 4|Radio 4 (disambiguation){{!}}Radio 4}}
{{Use British English|date=December 2012}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2020}}
{{Infobox radio station
| name = BBC Radio 4
| logo = [[File:BBC Radio 4 2022.svg|frameless|class=skin-invert]]
| logo_caption = Logo used since 2022
| city = London{{efn|Radio 4 also broadcasts some live and recorded programmes from [[Belfast]], [[Birmingham]], [[Bristol]], [[Cardiff]], [[Glasgow]] and [[Salford]].}}
| area = United Kingdom{{efn|Also available internationally via [[BBC Sounds]].}}
| frequencies = [[FM broadcast band|FM]]: 92.5–96.1 MHz, 103.5–104.9 MHz<br />[[Longwave|LW]]: 198 [[hertz|kHz]]<br />[[Digital Audio Broadcasting|DAB]]: 12B<br />[[Freesat]]: 704 <br />[[Freeview (UK)|Freeview]]: 704 <br />[[Sky (UK and Ireland)|Sky]] <small>(UK only)</small>: 0104 <br />[[Virgin Media]]: 904<br />[[Virgin Media Ireland]]: 910
| rds = BBC R4
| airdate = {{start date and age|1967|9|30|df=y}}
| format = [[All-news radio|News]], [[talk radio|talk]], [[comedy]] and [[drama]]
| language = English
| former_callsigns = [[2LO|2LO London]]<br>[[BBC National Programme]]<br>[[BBC Regional Programme]]<br>[[BBC Home Service]]
| former_names = BBC Radio 4 UK (1978–1984)
| former_frequencies = 200 LW<br>603 MW<br>692 MW<br>720 MW<br>756 MW<br>774 MW<br>809 MW<br>881 MW<br>908 MW<br>1052 MW<br>1088 MW<br>1151 MW<br>1340 MW<br>1449 MW<br>1457 MW<br>1485 MW
| owner = [[BBC]]
| licensing_authority = [[Ofcom]]
| sister_stations = [[BBC Radio 4 Extra]]
| website = [https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/live:bbc_radio_fourfm BBC Radio 4] via [[BBC Sounds]]
}}
{{BBC Radio sidebar}}

'''BBC Radio 4''' is a British national radio station owned and operated by the [[BBC]].<ref name="history1960s">{{Cite web|url=http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/historyofthebbc/1960s.pdf|title=History of the BBC: 1960s}}</ref> The station replaced the [[BBC Home Service]] on 30 September 1967 and broadcasts a wide variety of [[Talk radio|spoken-word programmes]] from the BBC's headquarters at [[Broadcasting House]], [[London]]. Since 2019, the station controller has been [[Mohit Bakaya]].<ref name="bbc.co.uk">{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/latestnews/2019/radio-controllers|title=BBC – Controllers for Pop Music, BBC Sounds and Radio 4 have been appointed – Media Centre|website=bbc.co.uk}}</ref> He replaced [[Gwyneth Williams]], who had been the station controller since 2010.<ref name="bbc.co.uk"/><ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/media/2010/jul/15/gwyneth-williams-bbc-radio-4-controller "Gwyneth Williams appointed BBC Radio 4 controller"] ''[[The Guardian]]'', 15 July 2010, Retrieved 15 July 2010</ref>

Broadcasting throughout the United Kingdom, the [[Isle of Man]] and the [[Channel Islands]] on [[FM broadcast band|FM]], [[Longwave|LW]] and [[Digital Audio Broadcasting|DAB]], and on [[BBC Sounds]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.statista.com/statistics/286892/uk-radio-stations-ranked-by-listeners-reached/|title=Radio stations ranked by listeners weekly UK 2018 {{!}} Statistic|website=Statista |access-date=2019-02-13}}</ref> it can be received in the eastern counties of [[Republic of Ireland|Ireland]], northern [[France]] and [[Northern Europe]]. It is available on [[Freeview (UK)|Freeview]], [[Freesat]], [[Sky (UK & Ireland)|Sky]], and [[Virgin Media]]. Radio 4 currently reaches over 10 million listeners, making it [[List of most-listened-to radio programs#Top stations in the United Kingdom|the UK's second most-popular radio station]] after [[BBC Radio 2]].<ref>{{cite web |title=RAJAR |url=https://www.rajar.co.uk/listening/quarterly_listening.php |access-date=2022-07-06 |website=www.rajar.co.uk}}</ref>

BBC Radio 4 broadcasts news programmes such as ''[[Today (BBC Radio 4)|Today]]'', ''[[The World at One]]'' and ''[[PM (BBC Radio 4)|PM]]'' heralded on air by the [[Greenwich Time Signal]] pips or the chimes of [[Big Ben]]. The pips are only accurate on FM, and LW; there is a delay on digital radio of three to five seconds, and online up to 23 seconds. Radio 4 broadcasts the [[Shipping Forecast]] which, in August 2017, was 150 years old.<ref>{{cite news |title=Radio 4's Shipping Forecast reaches 150-years-old |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-41030909/radio-4-s-shipping-forecast-reaches-150-years-old |access-date=24 August 2017 |work=BBC News}}</ref>

According to [[RAJAR]], the station broadcasts to a weekly audience of 9.2 million with a listening share of 11.1% as of December 2023.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rajar.co.uk/listening/quarterly_listening.php|title=RAJAR|website=www.rajar.co.uk}}</ref>

==Overview==
BBC Radio 4 is the second-most-popular [[Radio in the United Kingdom|British]] domestic [[List of most-listened-to radio programs|radio station]] by total hours,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rajar.co.uk/docs/2012_03/2012_Q1_Quarterly_Summary_Figures.pdf |title=Listening Figures – Quarterly Listening – All Individuals 15+ for period ending March 2012 |publisher=[[RAJAR]] |date=April 2012 |archive-date=31 May 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120531121051/http://www.rajar.co.uk/listening/quarterly_listening.php |url-status=live}}</ref> after [[BBC Radio 2|Radio 2]]. It recorded its highest audience, of 11&nbsp;million listeners, in May 2011,<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/media/2011/may/12/radio-4-rajars-the-archers Guardian 12 May 2011] Retrieved 16 May 2011]</ref> and was "UK Radio Station of the Year" at the 2003, 2004, 2008 and 2023 [[Radio Academy Awards]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.radioawards.org/winners04/win04.htm |title=The Sony Radio Academy Awards: Winners 2004 |access-date=13 May 2004 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071006011029/http://www.radioawards.org/winners04/win04.htm |archive-date=6 October 2007 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.radioawards.org/winners/?category=UK_Station_of_the_Year&year=2008 |title=Sony Radio Academy Awards&nbsp;— Winners 2008 |publisher=Radioawards.org |access-date=19 March 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-date=9 January 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090109002807/http://www.radioawards.org/winners/?category=UK_Station_of_the_Year&year=2008}}</ref> It also won a [[Peabody Award]] in 2002 for ''File on 4:  Export Controls''.<ref>[http://www.peabodyawards.com/award-profile/file-on-4-export-controls 62nd Annual Peabody Awards], May 2003.</ref> Costing £71.4&nbsp;million (2005/6),<ref>{{cite web |url=http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/annualreport/pdf/2005-06/bbcannualreport_200506.pdf?page=106 |title=BBC Annual Report and Accounts 2005/2006, page 106 |access-date=19 March 2010}}</ref> it is the BBC's most expensive national radio network and is considered by many to be its flagship. There is no comparable British commercial network: [[Channel 4]] abandoned plans to launch its own speech-based digital radio station in October 2008 as part of a £100m cost-cutting review.<ref name="radio4rival">{{cite news |last=Plunkett |first=John |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2008/oct/10/channel4-radio |title=Channel 4 has abandoned its entire radio project, as it seeks to make £100m in savings |work=The Guardian |access-date=19 March 2010 |date=10 October 2008 | location=London}}</ref>

The station is available on [[FM broadcasting|FM]] in most of Great Britain, parts of Ireland and the north of France; [[Longwave|LW]] throughout the UK and in parts of Northern Europe, and the Atlantic north of the [[Azores]] to about 20 degrees west; [[Digital Audio Broadcasting|DAB]]; Digital TV including [[Freeview (UK)|Freeview]], [[Freesat]], [[Sky (UK & Ireland)|Sky]] and [[Virgin Media]], and on the Internet. Freesat, Sky and Virgin have a separate channel for Radio 4 LW output in mono, in addition to the FM output.

The longwave signal is part of the [[Royal Navy]]'s system of [[letters of last resort]]. In the event of a suspected catastrophic attack on Britain, [[Vanguard class submarine|submarine]] captains, in addition to other checks, check for a broadcast signal from Radio 4 on 198 kHz longwave to verify the annihilation of organised society in the United Kingdom.<ref>{{cite web |last=Rosenbaum |first=Ron |url=http://www.slate.com/id/2208219/ |title=Nuclear apocalypse and the Letter of Last Resort |work=Slate Magazine |date=9 January 2009 |access-date=19 March 2010}}</ref><ref>[https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/radio-silence-puts-subs-on-nuclear-1157478 "Radio silence puts subs on nuclear alert" 28 November 2003 Manchester Evening News] Retrieved 11 February 2018</ref><ref name="today facts">{{cite web |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/keyfacts/stories/today_programme.shtml |author=BBC Press Office |title=The Today Programme |publisher=BBC |url-status=dead |archive-date=25 May 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060525012132/http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/keyfacts/stories/today_programme.shtml |access-date=27 July 2010}}</ref>{{Not in citation|date=March 2025}}

BBC Radio 4 broadcasts a wide variety of speech-related programming, including news, drama, comedy, science and history. Music is broadcast as in documentaries relating to various forms of both [[Popular music|popular]] and classical music, and the long-running music-based ''[[Desert Island Discs]]''. Sport is also not part of the station's output, apart from during news bulletins, although between 1994 and 2023, the station's longwave frequency was used to broadcast [[Test Match Special|ball-by-ball commentaries]] of most [[Test cricket]] matches played by England. Consequently, for around 70 days a year, listeners had to rely on FM broadcasts or DAB for mainstream Radio 4 broadcasts – the number relying solely on longwave was now a small minority. The cricket broadcasts took precedence over on-the-hour news bulletins, but not the [[Shipping Forecast]], carried since Radio 4's move to longwave in 1978 because longwave can be received clearly at sea.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/guide/weather/marine/shipping-forecast |title=Met Office Shipping Forecast key |publisher=Metoffice.gov.uk |date=11 February 2018 |access-date=11 February 2018}}</ref>

== History ==
{{see also|2LO|BBC Home Service}}
{{further|Timeline of BBC Radio 4}}
[[File:R4logo.jpg|thumb|right|upright=0.45|Logo of BBC Radio 4 until 2007]]
[[File:BBC Radio 4.svg|thumb|200px|Logo of BBC Radio 4 used from 2007 until 2022]]
Initially the power was 100 watts on 350 metres (857&nbsp;[[Hertz|kHz]]). 2LO was allowed to transmit for seven minutes, after which the "operator" had to listen on the wavelength for three minutes for possible instructions to close down. On 14 November 1922 the station was transferred to the new [[British Broadcasting Company]] which in 1923 took up the nearby [[Savoy Hill]] for its broadcasting studios. At midnight on New Year's Eve 1923, the twelve chimes of [[Big Ben]] were broadcast for the first time to mark the new year.<ref>{{cite book |last=Macdonald |first=Peter |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/56657409 |title=Big Ben: the bell, the clock and the tower |date=2004 |publisher=Sutton |isbn=0-7509-3827-7 |location=Stroud, UK |oclc=56657409 |quote=A few days earlier a microphone had been set up on the roof of a nearby building, No. 1 Bridge Street, just opposite the Houses of Parliament. As the time approached midnight the chimes of the Great Clock ringing out the old year were followed on the hour by the twelve deep strokes of Big Ben ringing in the new, and broadcast, by means of a temporary line running to the control room at Savoy Hill, to listeners tuned to 2LO, the BBC's first radio transmitter, then barely a year old.}}</ref>

The British Broadcasting Company began transmissions in London on 14 November 1922 from station [[2LO]] in [[Strand, London|the Strand]], which it had inherited from the [[Marconi Company]] (one of six commercial companies which created), but technology did not yet exist either for national coverage or joint programming between [[transmitter]]s. While it was possible to combine large numbers of [[Trunking|trunk]] [[telephone line]]s to link transmitters for individual programmes, the process was expensive and not encouraged by the [[General Post Office]] as it tied up large parts of the telephone network. The stations that followed the establishment of 2LO in London were therefore autonomously programmed using local talent and facilities.

By May 1923, [[Simulcast|simultaneous broadcasting]] was technically possible at least between main transmitters and [[broadcast relay station|relay stations]], the quality was not felt to be high enough to provide a national service or regular simultaneous broadcasts. In 1924, it was felt that technical standards had improved enough for London to start to provide the majority of the output, cutting the local stations back to providing items of local interest.

The company became the [[BBC|British Broadcasting Corporation]] in 1927. On 9 March 1930, 2LO was replaced by the [[BBC Regional Programme]] and the [[BBC National Programme]]. The letters ''LO'' continued to be used internally as a designation in the BBC for technical operations in the London area (for example, the numbering of all recordings made in London contained ''LO''). The code ''LO'' was changed to ''LN'' in the early 1970s.

===Main stations===
Each of these main stations were broadcast at approximately 1 [[watt|kilowatt]] (kW):
{| class="wikitable"
! Airdate
! Station ID
! City
! Initial frequency
|-
| 14 November 1922
| '''[[2LO]]'''
| [[London]]
| 822 kHz
|-
|rowspan="2"| 15 November 1922
| '''[[5IT]]'''
| [[Birmingham]]
| 626 kHz
|-
| '''[[2ZY]]'''
| [[Manchester]]
| 794 kHz
|-
| 24 December 1922
| '''5NO'''
| [[Newcastle upon Tyne]]
| 743 kHz
|-
| 13 February 1923
| '''5WA'''
| [[Cardiff]]
| 850 kHz
|-
| 6 March 1923
| '''5SC'''
| [[Glasgow]]
| 711 kHz
|-
| 10 October 1923
| '''[[2BD]]'''
| [[Aberdeen]]
| 606 kHz
|-
| 17 October 1923
| '''6BM'''
| [[Bournemouth]]
| 777 kHz
|-
| 14 September 1924
| '''[[2BE Belfast|2BE]]'''
| [[Belfast]]
| 689 kHz
|}

====Relay stations====
Each of these [[broadcast relay station|relay stations]] were broadcast at approximately 120 [[watt]]s (W):
{| class="wikitable"
! Airdate
! Station ID
! City
! Relay of
! Frequency
|-
| 16 November 1923
| '''6FL'''
| [[Sheffield]]
| 2ZY
| 980 kHz
|-
| 28 March 1924
| '''5PY'''
| [[Plymouth]]
| 6BM
| 887 kHz
|-
| 1 May 1924
| '''2EH'''
| [[Edinburgh]]
| 5SC
| 914 kHz
|-
| 11 June 1924
| '''6LV'''
| [[Liverpool]]
|rowspan="5"| 2ZY
| 906 kHz
|-
| 8 July 1924
| '''2LS'''
| [[Leeds]] and [[Bradford]]
| 935 kHz
|-
| 15 August 1924
| '''6KH'''
| [[Kingston upon Hull]]
| 896 kHz
|-
| 16 September 1924
| '''5NG'''
| [[Nottingham]]
| 920 kHz
|-
| 21 October 1924
| '''6ST'''
| [[Stoke-on-Trent]]
| 996 kHz
|-
| 12 November 1924
| '''2DE'''
| [[Dundee]]
| 2BD
| 952 kHz
|-
| 12 December 1924
| '''5SX'''
| [[Swansea]]
| 5WA
| 622 kHz
|}

The [[BBC Home Service]] was the predecessor of Radio 4 and broadcast between 1939 and 1967. It had [[regional variations]] and was broadcast on [[medium wave]] with a network of [[VHF]] FM transmitters being added from 1955. Radio 4 replaced it on 30 September 1967, when the BBC restructured and renamed its domestic radio stations,<ref name="history1960s" /> in response to the challenge of [[offshore radio]]. It moved to long wave in November 1978, taking over the 200&nbsp;kHz frequency (1,500 metres) previously held by [[BBC Radio 2|Radio 2]] - later moved to 198&nbsp;kHz as a result of [[Geneva Frequency Plan of 1975|international agreements]] aimed at avoiding interference (all [[International Telecommunication Union region|ITU Region]] 1 MW/LW broadcast frequencies are divisible by 9). At this point, Radio 4 became available across all of the UK for the first time and the station officially became known as Radio 4 UK, a title that remained until 29 September 1984.

For a time during the 1970s Radio 4 carried regional news bulletins Monday to Saturday. These were broadcast twice at breakfast, at lunchtime and at 17:55. There were also programme variations for the parts of England not served by [[BBC Local Radio]] stations. These included ''[[Roundabout East Anglia]]'', a VHF opt-out of the ''Today'' programme broadcast from [[BBC East]]'s studios in [[Norwich]] each weekday from 6.45&nbsp;a.m. to 8.45&nbsp;a.m.<ref name="round">{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/norfolk/content/articles/2005/09/09/local_radio_25_years_book_feature.shtml|title=BBC Radio Norfolk's 25th anniversary|date=9 September 2005|access-date=10 February 2012|publisher=BBC}}</ref> ''Roundabout East Anglia'' came to an end in August 1980, ahead of the launch of [[BBC Radio Norfolk]].<ref name="round"/>

All regional news bulletins broadcast from BBC regional news bases around England ended in August 1980, apart from in the southwest as until January 1983 there was no BBC Local Radio in the southwest so these news bulletins and its weekday morning regional programme, ''[[Morning Sou'West]]'', continued to be broadcast from the BBC studios in Plymouth on VHF and on the Radio 4 medium wave Plymouth relay until 31 December 1982.

The launch of [[BBC Radio 5 (former)|Radio 5]] on 27 August 1990 saw the removal of [[Open University]], schools programming, children's programmes and the ''Study on 4''/''Options'' adult education slot from Radio 4's FM frequencies. Consequently, the full Radio 4 schedule became available on FM for the first time. However, adult educational and Open University programming returned to Radio 4 in 1994 when Radio 5 was closed to make way for the launch of [[BBC Radio 5 Live]] and were broadcast until the end of the 1990s on Sunday evenings on longwave only.

Between 17 January 1991 and 2 March 1991 FM broadcasts were replaced by a continuous news service devoted to the [[Gulf War]], [[Radio 4 News FM]], with the main Radio 4 service transferring to long wave. Before this, Radio 4's FM frequencies had occasionally been used for additional news coverage, generally for live coverage of statements and debates in Parliament.

By the start of the 1990s, Radio 4 had become available on FM in most of the UK - previously FM coverage had been restricted mainly to England and south Wales. This meant that it was possible for the main Radio 4 service to be transferred from LW to FM, and this took place on 16 September 1991 with opt-outs - extra shipping forecasts, ''[[The Daily Service|Daily Service]]'' and ''[[Today in Parliament|Yesterday in Parliament]]'', joined in 1994 by ''[[Test Match Special]]''. Longwave also occasionally opted out at other times, such as to broadcast special services, the most recent being when [[Pope Benedict XVI]] [[Pope Benedict XVI's visit to the United Kingdom|visited Britain in 2010]].

On 30 May 2023, the BBC announced that Radio 4 will stop broadcasting opt-outs on long wave<ref>{{Cite web |title=BBC Radio 4 begins information campaign to transition listeners from Long Wave |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/articles/2023/bbc-radio-4-long-wave-transition/ |access-date=2024-02-19 |website=BBC |language=en}}</ref> with the last opt-outs airing on 31 March 2024.<ref name="RXTV">{{cite web |last=Thornham |first=Marc |title=End of an era for BBC despite Long Wave reprieve |url=https://rxtvinfo.com/2024/end-of-an-era-for-bbc-despite-long-wave-reprieve/ |website=RXTV |date=15 March 2024 |access-date=1 September 2024}}</ref> The two displaced programmes, ''Daily Service'' and ''[[Yesterday in Parliament]]'' moved to [[BBC Radio 4 Extra]], although the latter was returned to the early morning Radio 4 schedule in April 2025. The daily amount of ''[[Shipping Forecast|Shipping Forecasts]]'' was reduced to be broadcast 2 times on weekdays and 3 times on weekends. ''Test Match Special'' moved to [[BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra]] on 31 July 2023. These end ahead of a planned switch-off of long wave transmissions by 2025.<ref name="RXTV"/>

On 15 April 2024 at 12:27 PM BST, Radio 4's medium wave frequencies switched off for good. These previously served as relays in areas with a weak LW signal to provide reception of Radio 4 LW, such as Northern Ireland and south west England. A continuous closedown loop message was broadcast until 30 April 2024<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-04-24 |title=MWLIST quick and easy: Europe, Africa and Middle East |url=https://www.mwlist.org/mwlist_quick_and_easy.php?area=1&kHz=720 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240424155425/https://www.mwlist.org/mwlist_quick_and_easy.php?area=1&kHz=720 |archive-date=2024-04-24 |access-date=2024-04-24}}</ref>, informing listeners to retune to other methods of reception.<ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-z3kYvzXfEs |title=BBC Radio 4 'AM retune loop' - 15/04/2024 |language=en |access-date=2024-04-15 |via=www.youtube.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-03-21 |title=Date set for the closure of BBC Radio 4 medium wave frequencies |url=https://radiotoday.co.uk/2024/03/date-set-for-the-closure-of-bbc-radio-4-medium-wave-frequencies/ |access-date=2024-03-21 |website=RadioToday |language=en-GB}}</ref>

== Programmes and schedules ==
=== Daily schedule ===
As of April 2025, Radio 4 is on air from 05:00 to 01:00 every Monday to Friday, and 05:30 to 01:00 every Saturday and Sunday. The station simulcasts the [[BBC World Service]] during its downtime overnight. An online schedule page lists the running order of programmes.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/schedules/p00fzl7j/ |title=Radio 4 Daily Schedule page |publisher=BBC |date=8 February 2010 |access-date=19 March 2010}}</ref>

=== Production ===
The station broadcasts a mix of live and pre-recorded programmes. Live programming includes breakfast programme ''[[Today (BBC Radio 4)|Today]]'', magazine programme ''[[Woman's Hour]]'', consumer affairs programme ''[[You and Yours]]'', and (often) the music, film, books, arts and culture programme ''[[Front Row (radio programme)|Front Row]]''. [[Continuity (broadcasting)|Continuity]] is managed from [[Broadcasting House]] with news bulletins, including the hourly summaries and longer programmes such as the ''Six O'Clock News'' and ''Midnight News'', and news programmes such as ''Today'', ''The World at One'' and ''PM'', which by early 2013 had returned to Broadcasting House after 15 years at [[BBC Television Centre]] in [[White City, London|White City]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/998847.stm |title=New era for Broadcasting House |work=BBC News |access-date=19 March 2010 | date=31 October 2000 | location=London}}</ref> The news returning to Broadcasting House has also meant that newsreaders can provide cover for continuity, which regularly occurs at 23:00 each night and 16:00 on a Sunday. This has reduced the total number of continuity announcers required each day down from four to three.

The [[Greenwich Time Signal]], popularly known as "the pips", is broadcast every hour to herald the news bulletin, except at midnight and 18:00, and 22:00 on Sunday, when the chimes of [[Big Ben]] are played. There is no Greenwich Time Signal at 15:00 on Saturday or 11:00 and 12:00 on Sunday due to the Saturday Afternoon drama and the omnibus edition of ''[[The Archers]]'' respectively. Only pips broadcast on FM and LW are accurate. On digital platforms there is a delay of between three and five seconds, and up to 23 seconds online.

=== Programmes ===
<!-- Please add programmes to [[List of BBC Radio 4 programmes]] -->
{{Main|List of BBC Radio 4 programmes}}

Radio 4 programmes cover a wide variety of genre including news and current affairs, history, culture, science, religion, arts, comedy, drama and entertainment. A number of the programmes on Radio 4 take the form of a "magazine" show, featuring numerous small contributions over the course of the programme—''[[Woman's Hour]]'', ''[[From Our Own Correspondent]]'', ''[[You and Yours]]''. The rise of these magazine shows is primarily due to the work of [[Tony Whitby]], controller of Radio 4 from 1970 to 1975.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Life on Air: A History of Radio Four|first=David|last=Hendy|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=9780199248810|year=2007|pages=78–79}}</ref> The station hosts a number of long-running programmes, many of which have been broadcast for over 40 years.

Most programmes are available for 30 days or over a year after broadcast as streaming audio from Radio 4's ''listen again'' page<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/progs/listenagain.shtml |title=Radio 4: Listen Again |publisher=BBC |access-date=19 March 2010 |archive-date=21 August 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190821234152/http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/progs/listenagain.shtml |url-status=dead }}</ref> and via [[BBC Sounds]]. A selection of programmes is also available as [[podcasts]] or [[download]]able audio files.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/podcasts/radio4 |title=Radio 4 – Downloading and Podcasting |publisher=BBC |access-date=19 March 2010}}</ref> Many comedy and drama programmes from the Radio 4 archives are broadcast on [[BBC Radio 4 Extra]].
Due to the capacity limitations of DAB and increasing sport broadcasts on [[BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra]], BBC Radio 4 DAB has to reduce its bit rate most evenings, such that after 7 p.m. its DAB output is usually in mono, even though many of its programmes are made in stereo (including its flagship drama "The Archers"), these can be heard in stereo only on FM, Digital TV on Freeview & Freesat (Ch. 704), Sky, Virgin and on line via BBC Sounds. BBC World Service, which uses BBC Radio 4 FM & DAB frequencies between 01:00 and 05:20, is in stereo, but only on Radio 4 FM & DAB and not on its own dedicated DAB channel. BBC Radio 4 Extra broadcasts in mono on DAB, but has always been in stereo on Digital TV (Freeview / Freesat Ch 708), Sky, Virgin and online.

== Notable continuity announcers and newsreaders ==
Announcers carry out the following duties from Broadcasting House:
* Provide links (or junctions) between programmes
* Read trails for programmes
* Provide reassurance to listeners during a programme breakdown
* Read the [[Shipping Forecast]] (except the 05:20 broadcast, which is covered by [[BBC Weather]])
* Read the [[BBC Radio 3]] news summaries at 13:00 and 18:00 on weekdays

Newsreaders read hourly summaries and longer bulletins from New Broadcasting House.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/presenters/newsreader.shtml |title=Being a newsreader by Harriet Cass |publisher=BBC |date=30 April 2008 |access-date=19 March 2010| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080628083029/http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/presenters/newsreader.shtml| archive-date = 28 June 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/radio_newsroom/radio_newsreaders/ |title=List of BBC Radio newsreaders |work=BBC News |date=11 July 2007 |access-date=19 March 2010 | location=London}}</ref> In 2012 the BBC announced that it would be reducing its main presentation team from 12 to ten.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-19486182|title=Cass and Green to leave Radio 4|date=5 September 2012|website=BBC News}}</ref>

=== BBC ===
<!--Any non-notable presenters or staff added to this article will be removed - if an editor considers someone is notable, write a Wikipedia article on them first, or provide multiple reputable independent sources to show they deserve an article and are associated with the station-->

{{col-start}}
{{col-2}}
* Viji Alles
* Ron Brown
* Lisa Costello
* [[John Hammond (weather forecaster)|John Hammond]]
* Amanda Litherland
* Caroline Nicholls
{{col-2}}
* [[Tom Sandars]]
* [[Alan Smith (radio presenter)|Alan Smith]]
* Jane Steel

{{col-end}}

=== Freelance ===
{{col-start}}
{{col-2}}
*[[Chris Aldridge]]
* Kelsey Bennett
* Charles Carroll
* [[Richard Evans (radio presenter)|Richard Evans]]
* Arlene Fleming
* [[Danielle Jalowiecka]]
{{col-2}}
* Joanna Kean
* [[Jim Lee (radio)|Jim Lee]]
* [[Neil Nunes]]
* [[Andrew Peach]]
* Tina Ritchie
* Al Ryan
{{Col-end}}

=== Former ===
{{Div col|colwidth=30em}}
* [[Alice Arnold (broadcaster)|Alice Arnold]] (1994–2012; now with Mellow Magic)
* [[Carolyn Brown (newsreader)|Carolyn Brown]] (left 2015)
* [[Harriet Cass]] (left 2013)
* [[Corrie Corfield]] (1988–2021)
* [[Peter Donaldson (newsreader)|Peter Donaldson]] (1973–2012)
* [[Mark Forrest (radio presenter)|Mark Forrest]] (2018-2025)
* [[Charlotte Green]] (1988–2013)
* [[Peter Jefferson (Radio)|Peter Jefferson]] (left 2009)
* [[Astley Jones]] (left 2006)
* [[Laurie Macmillan]] (died 2001)
* [[Rory Morrison]] (died 2013)
* [[Charles Nove]] (left 2019; now with [[Scala Radio]])
* [[Jamie Owen]]
* [[Brian Perkins]]
* [[Iain Purdon]] (retired from BBC World Service in 2016)
* [[Susan Rae]] (left 2021)
* [[Vaughan Savidge]] (left 2018)
* Neil Sleat (1998–2021)
* [[Zebedee Soanes|Zeb Soanes]] (left 2022; now with [[Classic FM (UK)|Classic FM]])
* [[Moira Stuart]] (left 1981 to move to TV; now with [[Classic FM (UK)|Classic FM]])
{{div col end}}

== Frequencies and other means of reception ==

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+ Radio 4 is broadcast on:<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/98FthRzhxJ4z0fXYJnsvlM/about-radio-4 |title=How to Listen|publisher=BBC |date=11 February 2018|access-date=11 February 2018}}</ref>
|-
! Broadcast type !! Frequency
|-
| [[FM broadcasting|FM]] ||
* 92–95 MHz FM in England
* 94.6–96.1 and 103.5–104.9 MHz in Scotland<ref name="analogue">{{cite web |url=http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/reception/pdfs/FMScotlandtrans.pdf |title=Radio transmitters Scotland FM transmitters |publisher=BBC |access-date=11 January 2018 |archive-date=16 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160316054947/http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/reception/pdfs/FMScotlandtrans.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* 92.8-95.5 and 103.5-104.9 MHz in Wales
* 93.2–96.0 and 103.5–104.6 MHz in Northern Ireland
|-
| [[Longwave]] || 198&nbsp;kHz ([[Droitwich Transmitting Station|Droitwich]], [[Burghead Transmitting Station|Burghead]], and [[Westerglen transmitting station|Westerglen]])
|-
| [[Digital Audio Broadcasting|DAB]] || 12B multiplex ([[BBC National DAB]])
|-
| [[Terrestrial television]]|| [[Freeview (UK)|Freeview]] channel 704<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.freeview.co.uk/freeview-play|title=Get Freeview Play|website=Freeview.co.uk}}</ref>
|-
| [[Satellite television]] ||
* [[Freesat]] channel 704
* [[Sky (UK & Ireland)|Sky]] channel 0104<ref name="sky">{{cite web|url=http://www.wickonline.com/fta.htm |title=Free Channels on the Sky Digital Satellite Platform |publisher=Wickonline.com |access-date=19 March 2010| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100405132207/http://www.wickonline.com/fta.htm| archive-date= 5 April 2010 | url-status= live}}</ref>
|-
| [[Cable television]] ||
* [[Virgin Media]] channel 904
* [[Virgin Media Ireland]] channel 910 in Republic of Ireland
|-
| Internet || [[BBC Sounds]] live streaming
|}

=== Former frequencies ===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
!Broadcast type
!Recent frequencies
!Switch off date
|-
| rowspan="4" | [[Medium wave]]
|
* 603&nbsp;kHz in [[Newcastle upon Tyne]]
* 720&nbsp;kHz in [[London]], [[Derry]] and [[Belfast]]
* 756&nbsp;kHz in [[Redruth]]
* 774&nbsp;kHz in [[Plymouth]] and [[Enniskillen]]
* 1449&nbsp;kHz in [[Aberdeen]]
* 1485&nbsp;kHz in [[Carlisle, Cumbria|Carlisle]]
|15 April 2024
|-
|
* 1088 kHz
* 1151 kHz
* 1457 kHz
|1973
|-
|
* 1340 kHz (Northern Ireland)
|1975
|-
|
* 692 kHz
* 809 kHz (Scotland)
* 881 kHz (Wales)
* 908 kHz
* 1052 kHz
|1978
|-
|[[Longwave|Long wave]]
|
* 200 kHz <small>(changed to 198 kHz)</small>
|1988
|}

== Criticisms==
Criticism voiced by centre-right newspapers in recent years have a perceived left political bias across a range of issues,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/yourview/1541751/Is-Radio-4-alienating-its-core-audience.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/yourview/1541751/Is-Radio-4-alienating-its-core-audience.html |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=Is Radio 4 alienating its core audience? |newspaper=The Telegraph|date=6 February 2007 |access-date=11 February 2018 | location=London | first=Tracy | last=Fisk}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Brooks |first1=Richard |last2=Gadher |first2=Dipesh |title=BBC report damns its 'culture of bias' |url=https://www.thetimes.com/article/bbc-report-damns-its-culture-of-bias-lv9v8j9bn2t |access-date=1 September 2024 |work=[[The Sunday Times]] |date=17 June 2007 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240901152300/https://www.thetimes.com/article/bbc-report-damns-its-culture-of-bias-lv9v8j9bn2t |archive-date=1 September 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Leonard |first=Tom |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/personal-view/3633619/The-BBCs-commitment-to-bias-is-no-laughing-matter.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/personal-view/3633619/The-BBCs-commitment-to-bias-is-no-laughing-matter.html |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=The BBC's commitment to bias is no laughing matter |newspaper=The Telegraph|date=27 October 2006 |access-date=11 February 2018 | location=London}}{{cbignore}}</ref> as well as [[sycophancy]] in interviews, particularly on the popular morning news magazine ''Today''<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/commentators/stephen-pollard-i-dont-want-bias-with-my-cornflakes-92101.html |title=Stephen Pollard: I don't want bias with my cornflakes&nbsp;— Commentators, Opinion |work=The Independent |date=20 October 2003 |access-date=11 February 2018 | location=London}}</ref> as part of a reported perception of a general "malaise" at the BBC. Conversely, the journalist [[Mehdi Hasan]] has criticised the station for an overtly "[[social conservatism|socially]] and [[cultural conservatism|culturally]] conservative" approach.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.newstatesman.com/uk-politics/2009/08/mehdi-hasan-bbc-wing-bias-corporation|title=Bias and the Beeb|last=Hasan|first=Mehdi|date=27 August 2009|work=New Statesman |access-date=5 November 2009}}</ref>

There has been criticism of ''Today'' in particular for a lack of female broadcasters.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/women/womens-life/10182986/Another-woman-on-Radio-4s-Today-programme-The-BBC-aint-joking.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/women/womens-life/10182986/Another-woman-on-Radio-4s-Today-programme-The-BBC-aint-joking.html |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Another woman on Radio 4's Today programme? The BBC ain't joking|first=Emma|last=Barnett|date=16 July 2013|access-date=4 January 2014|newspaper=The Telegraph|location=London}}{{cbignore}}</ref> In September 1972, Radio 4 employed the first female continuity announcers—Hylda Bamber and Barbara Edwards. For quite some time, the introduction of female newsreaders led to complaints from listeners; women discussing topics of feminist interest led to similar complaints.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Life on Air: A History of Radio Four|first=David|last=Hendy|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=9780199248810|year=2007|pages=99–100}}</ref> In addition, there has been long-running criticism by atheist and humanist groups of ''Thought for the Day'', a slot dedicated exclusively to religious discussion during Radio 4's flagship morning news programme.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Sherwood |first1=Harriet |title=BBC faces renewed calls to open Thought for the Day to atheists |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2018/nov/13/bbc-faces-renewed-calls-open-thought-for-the-day-atheists-sandi-toksvig |access-date=31 October 2020 |work=The Guardian |date=13 November 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Davies |first1=Gareth |title=Radio 4's Thought for the Day should be scrapped because it is discriminatory, says John Humphrys |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2019/10/02/thought-day-should-scrapped-discriminatory-says-john-humphrys |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2019/10/02/thought-day-should-scrapped-discriminatory-says-john-humphrys |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |access-date=31 October 2020 |work=The Telegraph |date=2 October 2019}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=BBC once more rejects non-religious voices on Thought for the Day |url=https://www.secularism.org.uk/news/2013/07/bbc-once-more-rejects-non-religious-voices-on-thought-for-the-day |website=National Secular Society |access-date=31 October 2020 |date=3 July 2013}}</ref>

Radio 4 has been criticised for being "too [[middle class]]" and of "little interest" to non-white listeners.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/bbc/8279381/BBC-Radio-4-too-middle-class-and-London-centric.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/bbc/8279381/BBC-Radio-4-too-middle-class-and-London-centric.html |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=BBC Radio 4 'too middle class and London-centric'|first=Neil|last=Midgley|newspaper=The Telegraph|date=8 February 2011|access-date=4 January 2014}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/organgrinder/2008/feb/22/amibovveredthatradio4is|title=Am I bovvered that Radio 4 is too middle class? No!|publisher=The Guardian Organ Grinder Blog|first=John|last=Mair|date=22 February 2008|access-date=4 January 2014}}</ref>

== See also ==
* [[ABC Radio National]]
* [[CBC Radio One]] - [[Canadians|Canadian]] talk radio station from [[Canadian Broadcasting Corporation|CBC]]
* [[List of former BBC newsreaders and reporters]]
* [[List of current BBC newsreaders and reporters]]
* [[National Public Radio]]
* [[Radio New Zealand National]]
* [[RTÉ Radio 1]] - [[Republic of Ireland|Irish]] talk and music radio station from [[RTÉ]]
* [[Sveriges Radio P1]]

== Notes ==
{{notelist}}

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== Further reading ==
* {{cite book|last= d'Arcy|first=Kevin|title=The voice of the brain of Britain: a portrait of Radio Four|year=2007|publisher=[[Rajah Books]]|isbn=978-0-9556706-0-2}}
* {{cite book|last=Elmes|first=Simon|title=And Now on Radio 4|year=2007|publisher=[[Random House]]|isbn=978-0-09-950537-2}}
* {{cite book|last=Hendy|first=David|title=Life on Air: A History of Radio Four|year=2007|publisher=[[Oxford University Press]]|isbn= 978-0-19-924881-0}}
* {{cite news |last=Mullen |first=Lisa |title=20 things you didn't know about Radio 4 |series=TV & Radio |work=[[The Times]] |date=29 September 2007 |url=https://www.thetimes.com/culture/tv-radio/article/20-things-you-didnt-know-about-radio-4-bv3lnc7dgth |access-date=2 October 2007 |location=London |archive-url=https://archive.today/20210709222259/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/20-things-you-didnt-know-about-radio-4-bv3lnc7dgth |archive-date=2021-07-09 |url-access=limited |url-status=live}}

== External links ==
{{Spoken Wikipedia|BBC Radio 4.ogg|date=2012-09-20}}
*{{Official website|http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4}}
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