BBC Radio 4 Extra Schedule Wednesday 5 August 2026

Schedule

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Early
Morning
Afternoon
Evening
Late

Early
1. 00:00
  
  Free Thinking—My Neighbour Totoro
  
  Japanese ideas about childhood innocence and the influence of a 1988 Studio Ghibli film.
2. 00:45
  
  The Essay—The Little Secrets of Great Works, Spirited Away
  
  Essays on the small, underappreciated aspects of famous artistic pieces.
3. 01:00
  
  The Waiting Game—1. In Which Tom Naismith Comes North
  
  1/6 Tom, a former soldier, moves to Lancaster to work in his uncle's carrier business.
4. 01:30
  
  Limelight—Who Killed Aldrich Kemp?, Chapter 2: The Man Who Sold The World
  
  2/5 Clara finds herself back amongst friends - or does she? Stars Phoebe Fox.
5. 02:00
  
  Yes Minister—Series 2, A Question of Loyalty
  
  4/8 With a war on waste at the Civil Service, what does Jim Hacker think?
6. 02:30
  
  The Goon Show—The Last Goon Show of All
  
  Spike Milligan, Harry Secombe, Peter Sellers, Ray Ellington and Max Geldray reunite.
7. 03:30
  
  Following Pappano—2. The Repetiteur
  
  2/5 Sir Antonio Pappano prepares for the Royal Opera's new production of Puccini's La Bohème.
8. 03:45
  
  Small Island by Andrea Levy—Episode 7
  
  7/15 Hortense's landlady Queenie tells of her war job - and her boring husband.
9. 04:00
  
  Hoax!—From 14/09/1993
  
  Can Ray Cooney, Brian Johnston and Barry Cryer hoax Tim Brooke-Taylor?
10. 04:30
  
  The Brothers—Series 1, Episode 4
  
  4/4 Nigel and Michael are brothers who share everything - home, work, and acute neuroses.
11. 05:00
  
  A Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula K Le Guin—1. Equilibrium
  
  1/2 A young wizard releases an evil shadow into the world.
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Morning
1. 06:00
  
  The Waiting Game—2. Ale for the Garrison
  
  2/6 Will the ale waggon ever reach the local garrison?
2. 06:30
  
  Limelight—Who Killed Aldrich Kemp?, Chapter 3: Liberty Flights
  
  3/5 Mrs Boone is proving to be a model patient. Stars Phoebe Fox.
3. 07:00
  
  After Henry—Series 2, The Married Man
  
  6/8 Clare's latest love affair proves difficult to keep secret from granny Eleanor.
4. 07:30
  
  Hancock's Half Hour—Series 2, The Rail Strike
  
  8/12 The Lad gets a green signal, but a bumpy ride lies ahead.
5. 08:00
  
  Bridget Christie: Mortal—Death
  
  3/4 Comedian Bridget Christie contemplates mortality and takes a look at death.
6. 08:30
  
  Following Pappano—3. The Commentary
  
  3/5 Sir Antonio Pappano prepares for the Royal Opera's new production of Puccini's La Bohème.
7. 08:45
  
  Small Island by Andrea Levy—8. Gilbert
  
  8/15 Gilbert faces prejudice as he trains to serve in his mother country.
8. 09:00
  
  Best Medicine—Series 3, 1 - Rubbish, Home Births, Collaboration
  
  1/6 Michelle Wolf brings home births. Rubbish can become medicine. Collaboration saves lives.
9. 09:30
  
  Behind The Taverna—Portugal
  
  3/5 Lizards, birds and daffodils in Portugal's Algarve.
10. 09:45
  
  Daily Service—Model Villages: Saltaire
  
  A week-long series exploring Britain's model villages.
11. 10:00
  
  Sound of Cinema—Joe Hisaishi
  
  Matthew Sweet celebrates the work of Studio Ghibli composer Joe Hisaishi
12. 11:00
  
  The Waiting Game—2. Ale for the Garrison
  
  2/6 Will the ale waggon ever reach the local garrison?
13. 11:30
  
  Limelight—Who Killed Aldrich Kemp?, Chapter 3: Liberty Flights
  
  3/5 Mrs Boone is proving to be a model patient. Stars Phoebe Fox.
Back to top
Afternoon
1. 12:00
  
  After Henry—Series 2, The Married Man
  
  6/8 Clare's latest love affair proves difficult to keep secret from granny Eleanor.
2. 12:30
  
  Hancock's Half Hour—Series 2, The Rail Strike
  
  8/12 The Lad gets a green signal, but a bumpy ride lies ahead.
3. 13:00
  
  Bridget Christie: Mortal—Death
  
  3/4 Comedian Bridget Christie contemplates mortality and takes a look at death.
4. 13:30
  
  Following Pappano—3. The Commentary
  
  3/5 Sir Antonio Pappano prepares for the Royal Opera's new production of Puccini's La Bohème.
5. 13:45
  
  Small Island by Andrea Levy—8. Gilbert
  
  8/15 Gilbert faces prejudice as he trains to serve in his mother country.
6. 14:00
  
  The Ultimate Choice—Series 2, 1: Jane Austen v Where's Wally
  
  1/6 Steph McGovern poses devilishly devious dilemmas to guests Jason Cook and Lauren Pattison.
7. 14:30
  
  Getting Nowhere Fast—Series 3, Episode 1
  
  1/6 An uncle's gift leaves menopausal flower child Merv yearning to discover his inner cowboy.
8. 15:00
  
  A Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula K Le Guin—2. A Battle Against Evil
  
  2/2 As young wizard Ged battles evil, the Dragon of Pendor has risen again.
9. 16:00
  
  Sound of Cinema—Joe Hisaishi
  
  Matthew Sweet celebrates the work of Studio Ghibli composer Joe Hisaishi
10. 17:00
  
  The Waiting Game—2. Ale for the Garrison
  
  2/6 Will the ale waggon ever reach the local garrison?
11. 17:30
  
  Limelight—Who Killed Aldrich Kemp?, Chapter 3: Liberty Flights
  
  3/5 Mrs Boone is proving to be a model patient. Stars Phoebe Fox.
Back to top
Evening
1. 18:00
  
  After Henry—Series 2, The Married Man
  
  6/8 Clare's latest love affair proves difficult to keep secret from granny Eleanor.
2. 18:30
  
  Hancock's Half Hour—Series 2, The Rail Strike
  
  8/12 The Lad gets a green signal, but a bumpy ride lies ahead.
3. 19:00
  
  Bridget Christie: Mortal—Death
  
  3/4 Comedian Bridget Christie contemplates mortality and takes a look at death.
4. 19:30
  
  Following Pappano—3. The Commentary
  
  3/5 Sir Antonio Pappano prepares for the Royal Opera's new production of Puccini's La Bohème.
5. 19:45
  
  Small Island by Andrea Levy—8. Gilbert
  
  8/15 Gilbert faces prejudice as he trains to serve in his mother country.
6. 20:00
  
  The Ultimate Choice—Series 2, 1: Jane Austen v Where's Wally
  
  1/6 Steph McGovern poses devilishly devious dilemmas to guests Jason Cook and Lauren Pattison.
7. 20:30
  
  Getting Nowhere Fast—Series 3, Episode 1
  
  1/6 An uncle's gift leaves menopausal flower child Merv yearning to discover his inner cowboy.
8. 21:00
  
  A Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula K Le Guin—2. A Battle Against Evil
  
  2/2 As young wizard Ged battles evil, the Dragon of Pendor has risen again.
9. 22:00
  
  Best Medicine—Series 3, 1 - Rubbish, Home Births, Collaboration
  
  1/6 Michelle Wolf brings home births. Rubbish can become medicine. Collaboration saves lives.
10. 22:30
  
  Mitch Benn's Crimes Against Music—Series 1, Death
  
  2/4 The funny musician discovers how death for a rock star can be the start of a new career.
11. 23:00
  
  Dave Podmore—Dave Podmore's Cricket Night, Episode 4
  
  4/4 After meeting Rory McGrath on TV, the legendary player is called to Buckingham Palace.
12. 23:30
  
  Dial M for Pizza—Series 2, Episode 4
  
  4/6 More spicy sketches from politics to an unusual geography field trip.
Back to top
Late
1. 00:00
  
  Sound of Cinema—Joe Hisaishi
  
  Matthew Sweet celebrates the work of Studio Ghibli composer Joe Hisaishi
2. 01:00
  
  The Waiting Game—2. Ale for the Garrison
  
  2/6 Will the ale waggon ever reach the local garrison?
3. 01:30
  
  Limelight—Who Killed Aldrich Kemp?, Chapter 3: Liberty Flights
  
  3/5 Mrs Boone is proving to be a model patient. Stars Phoebe Fox.
4. 02:00
  
  After Henry—Series 2, The Married Man
  
  6/8 Clare's latest love affair proves difficult to keep secret from granny Eleanor.
5. 02:30
  
  Hancock's Half Hour—Series 2, The Rail Strike
  
  8/12 The Lad gets a green signal, but a bumpy ride lies ahead.
6. 03:00
  
  Bridget Christie: Mortal—Death
  
  3/4 Comedian Bridget Christie contemplates mortality and takes a look at death.
7. 03:30
  
  Following Pappano—3. The Commentary
  
  3/5 Sir Antonio Pappano prepares for the Royal Opera's new production of Puccini's La Bohème.
8. 03:45
  
  Small Island by Andrea Levy—8. Gilbert
  
  8/15 Gilbert faces prejudice as he trains to serve in his mother country.
9. 04:00
  
  The Ultimate Choice—Series 2, 1: Jane Austen v Where's Wally
  
  1/6 Steph McGovern poses devilishly devious dilemmas to guests Jason Cook and Lauren Pattison.
10. 04:30
  
  Getting Nowhere Fast—Series 3, Episode 1
  
  1/6 An uncle's gift leaves menopausal flower child Merv yearning to discover his inner cowboy.
11. 05:00
  
  A Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula K Le Guin—2. A Battle Against Evil
  
  2/2 As young wizard Ged battles evil, the Dragon of Pendor has risen again.

Thursday 6 August 2026