BBC Radio 4 Extra Schedule Wednesday 21 January 2026

Schedule

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Early
Morning
Afternoon
Evening
Late

Early
1. 00:00
  
  A Good Read—Sharleen Spiteri & Hugh Dennis
  
  Sharleen Spiteri and Hugh Dennis join Harriett Gilbert to discuss their favourite books.
2. 00:30
  
  Art for the Millions—Series 1, 2. Staging the New Deal
  
  2/2 The New Deal's Federal Theater enchanted millions and made powerful enemies of Congress.
3. 01:00
  
  Whodunnits—Baldi - Series 1, 3. Miss Lonelyhearts
  
  3/6 Baldi probes a death in an old people's home and uncovers an unlikely case of voyeurism.
4. 01:45
  
  Decameron Nights: Ten Italian Indelicacies Remixed from Boccaccio—The Wager
  
  7/10 When a man makes a bet on his wife's chastity, it changes his life forever.
5. 02:00
  
  Oh Mother!—The Boyfriend
  
  1/5 Beverley invites nerdy Rupert to lunch. Will her mum Nelly approve?
6. 02:30
  
  The Goon Show—Series 9, The Battle of Spion Kop
  
  9/17 The British mount a South African attack, but something is lacking.
7. 03:00
  
  Simon Evans Goes to Market—Series 3, Death
  
  4/4 From paying for funerals to cryonics, what are the economics of death?
8. 03:30
  
  Castle Rackrent by Maria Edgeworth—5. To Mount Juliet's Town in a Jaunting Car
  
  5/8 Faithful castle retainer Old Thady recalls his service to the Rackrents: the jaunting car
9. 03:45
  
  Ladies of Letters—Ladies of Letters.com, 2. Saag Aloo
  
  2/10 Vera emails Irene the first recipe for her travel cookbook, whilst Irene stirs things up.
10. 04:00
  
  Hidden Treasures—Petworth House
  
  1/8 The antiques quiz visits Petworth House in West Sussex.
11. 04:30
  
  Ring Around the Bath—Series 1, Car Boot
  
  4/6 Stella tries to dejunk the house.
12. 05:00
  
  The Barchester Chronicles—Anthony Trollope's Barchester Towers, 2. Things Unsaid
  
  2/3 Will the Archdeacon's new vicar of St Ewold's be a challenge to the slippery chaplain?
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Morning
1. 06:00
  
  Whodunnits—Baldi - Series 1, 4. The Emerald Style
  
  4/6 The priest is entertaining Father Troy at a hotel, when a body is found in the kitchen.
2. 06:45
  
  Decameron Nights: Ten Italian Indelicacies Remixed from Boccaccio—A Job for the Boys
  
  8/10 Masetto gets a new job at a convent. But all is not what it seems with the nuns...
3. 07:00
  
  If You're So Clever, Why Aren't You Rich?—Series 3, Happy New Year
  
  1/4 The London flatmates throw a party, with a date to impress - and a sandwich-maker to mend.
4. 07:30
  
  Hancock's Half Hour—Series 6, The Waxwork
  
  8/14 The Lad is set to be immortalised in wax, but it's not quite how he had envisaged.
5. 08:00
  
  Plum House—Series 1, Trust the Trust
  
  3/6 The team suspect that a mysterious visitor has been sent by the Trust to spy on them.
6. 08:30
  
  Castle Rackrent by Maria Edgeworth—6. Tens, hundreds, thousands
  
  6/8 Faithful castle retainer Old Thady recalls his service to the Rackrents: thousands...
7. 08:45
  
  Ladies of Letters—Ladies of Letters.com, 3. Melbourne
  
  3/10 Vera fears malaria, while puzzled Irene thinks her house is being staked out.
8. 09:00
  
  Stand-Up Specials—Why in the Name of Pierre Novellie, 2. Why Have We Stopped Reading?
  
  2/4 Pierre Novellie asks the big questions about rugby balls, elves, AI and the French.
9. 09:30
  
  Encounters with Victoria—8. An Encounter With Death
  
  8/10 Lucy Worsley explores Queen Victoria's life in the wake of the death of her husband.
10. 09:45
  
  Daily Service—Week of Prayer for Christian Unity - United in Equality
  
  Christian worship with a Bible reading, prayer and music led by Stewart Rapley.
11. 10:00
  
  Archive on 4—Paul Verhoeven's American Futures
  
  Explore the American futures of Paul Verhoeven from Robocop to Starship Troopers.
12. 11:00
  
  Whodunnits—Baldi - Series 1, 4. The Emerald Style
  
  4/6 The priest is entertaining Father Troy at a hotel, when a body is found in the kitchen.
13. 11:45
  
  Decameron Nights: Ten Italian Indelicacies Remixed from Boccaccio—A Job for the Boys
  
  8/10 Masetto gets a new job at a convent. But all is not what it seems with the nuns...
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Afternoon
1. 12:00
  
  If You're So Clever, Why Aren't You Rich?—Series 3, Happy New Year
  
  1/4 The London flatmates throw a party, with a date to impress - and a sandwich-maker to mend.
2. 12:30
  
  Hancock's Half Hour—Series 6, The Waxwork
  
  8/14 The Lad is set to be immortalised in wax, but it's not quite how he had envisaged.
3. 13:00
  
  Plum House—Series 1, Trust the Trust
  
  3/6 The team suspect that a mysterious visitor has been sent by the Trust to spy on them.
4. 13:30
  
  Castle Rackrent by Maria Edgeworth—6. Tens, hundreds, thousands
  
  6/8 Faithful castle retainer Old Thady recalls his service to the Rackrents: thousands...
5. 13:45
  
  Ladies of Letters—Ladies of Letters.com, 3. Melbourne
  
  3/10 Vera fears malaria, while puzzled Irene thinks her house is being staked out.
6. 14:00
  
  The Write Stuff—Series 3, 3. Geoffrey Chaucer
  
  3/6 The radio panel game of literary correctness. With James Walton.
7. 14:30
  
  Getting Nowhere Fast—Series 1, Episode 4
  
  4/4 Merv gains strong support from an unlikely source when the cafe faces closure.
8. 15:00
  
  The Barchester Chronicles—Anthony Trollope's Barchester Towers, 3. Games at Ullathorne
  
  3/3 Miss Thorne organises a summer fete and then develops a cunning plan for Eleanor.
9. 16:00
  
  Archive on 4—Paul Verhoeven's American Futures
  
  Explore the American futures of Paul Verhoeven from Robocop to Starship Troopers.
10. 17:00
  
  Whodunnits—Baldi - Series 1, 4. The Emerald Style
  
  4/6 The priest is entertaining Father Troy at a hotel, when a body is found in the kitchen.
11. 17:45
  
  Decameron Nights: Ten Italian Indelicacies Remixed from Boccaccio—A Job for the Boys
  
  8/10 Masetto gets a new job at a convent. But all is not what it seems with the nuns...
Back to top
Evening
1. 18:00
  
  If You're So Clever, Why Aren't You Rich?—Series 3, Happy New Year
  
  1/4 The London flatmates throw a party, with a date to impress - and a sandwich-maker to mend.
2. 18:30
  
  Hancock's Half Hour—Series 6, The Waxwork
  
  8/14 The Lad is set to be immortalised in wax, but it's not quite how he had envisaged.
3. 19:00
  
  Plum House—Series 1, Trust the Trust
  
  3/6 The team suspect that a mysterious visitor has been sent by the Trust to spy on them.
4. 19:30
  
  Castle Rackrent by Maria Edgeworth—6. Tens, hundreds, thousands
  
  6/8 Faithful castle retainer Old Thady recalls his service to the Rackrents: thousands...
5. 19:45
  
  Ladies of Letters—Ladies of Letters.com, 3. Melbourne
  
  3/10 Vera fears malaria, while puzzled Irene thinks her house is being staked out.
6. 20:00
  
  The Write Stuff—Series 3, 3. Geoffrey Chaucer
  
  3/6 The radio panel game of literary correctness. With James Walton.
7. 20:30
  
  Getting Nowhere Fast—Series 1, Episode 4
  
  4/4 Merv gains strong support from an unlikely source when the cafe faces closure.
8. 21:00
  
  The Barchester Chronicles—Anthony Trollope's Barchester Towers, 3. Games at Ullathorne
  
  3/3 Miss Thorne organises a summer fete and then develops a cunning plan for Eleanor.
9. 22:00
  
  Stand-Up Specials—Why in the Name of Pierre Novellie, 2. Why Have We Stopped Reading?
  
  2/4 Pierre Novellie asks the big questions about rugby balls, elves, AI and the French.
10. 22:30
  
  The Harpoon—Series 2, Episode 4
  
  4/4 Here comes a Muffin the Mule shock in the spoof boys' adventure paper from yesteryear.
11. 23:00
  
  Jamie MacDonald: Life on the Blink—Series 1, To The Stage
  
  Jamie MacDonald shares jokes about his first attempts at stand up comedy.
12. 23:15
  
  Damien Slash—The Damien Slash Mixtape. Series 1, Episode 3
  
  3/4 Fast-paced, one-man sketch comedy show from YouTube star, Damien Slash.
13. 23:30
  
  The Skewer—Series 15, Episode 2
  
  2/5 Jon Holmes brings you the week's biggest stories like you've never heard them before.
14. 23:45
  
  Holland's Shorts—Episode 2
  
  2/6 Dominic ponders boarding aircraft with children and chucking coins on to football pitches.
Back to top
Late
1. 00:00
  
  Archive on 4—Paul Verhoeven's American Futures
  
  Explore the American futures of Paul Verhoeven from Robocop to Starship Troopers.
2. 01:00
  
  Whodunnits—Baldi - Series 1, 4. The Emerald Style
  
  4/6 The priest is entertaining Father Troy at a hotel, when a body is found in the kitchen.
3. 01:45
  
  Decameron Nights: Ten Italian Indelicacies Remixed from Boccaccio—A Job for the Boys
  
  8/10 Masetto gets a new job at a convent. But all is not what it seems with the nuns...
4. 02:00
  
  If You're So Clever, Why Aren't You Rich?—Series 3, Happy New Year
  
  1/4 The London flatmates throw a party, with a date to impress - and a sandwich-maker to mend.
5. 02:30
  
  Hancock's Half Hour—Series 6, The Waxwork
  
  8/14 The Lad is set to be immortalised in wax, but it's not quite how he had envisaged.
6. 03:00
  
  Plum House—Series 1, Trust the Trust
  
  3/6 The team suspect that a mysterious visitor has been sent by the Trust to spy on them.
7. 03:30
  
  Castle Rackrent by Maria Edgeworth—6. Tens, hundreds, thousands
  
  6/8 Faithful castle retainer Old Thady recalls his service to the Rackrents: thousands...
8. 03:45
  
  Ladies of Letters—Ladies of Letters.com, 3. Melbourne
  
  3/10 Vera fears malaria, while puzzled Irene thinks her house is being staked out.
9. 04:00
  
  The Write Stuff—Series 3, 3. Geoffrey Chaucer
  
  3/6 The radio panel game of literary correctness. With James Walton.
10. 04:30
  
  Getting Nowhere Fast—Series 1, Episode 4
  
  4/4 Merv gains strong support from an unlikely source when the cafe faces closure.
11. 05:00
  
  The Barchester Chronicles—Anthony Trollope's Barchester Towers, 3. Games at Ullathorne
  
  3/3 Miss Thorne organises a summer fete and then develops a cunning plan for Eleanor.

Thursday 22 January 2026