This is a list of current and former programmes broadcast on BBC Radio 4.
When it came into existence – on 30 September 1967 – Radio 4 inherited a great many continuing programme series which had been initiated prior to that date by its predecessor, the BBC Home Service (1939–1967), and in some cases even by stations which had preceded the Home Service. Such inherited programmes are included in the list.
The years indicated in brackets after programme titles refer to the dates, where known, of each programme's first, subsequent, and final broadcasts – and, in cases where Radio 4 programmes began their run on stations other than the Home Service, the names of those originating stations are also shown.
Note that many of Radio 4's past comedy and drama productions have been, and continue to be repeatedly rerun on Radio 4, as well as on the digital radio channel BBC Radio 4 Extra (previously BBC Radio 7).
News and current affairs The Africans (2007) Americana (2009–11) Analysis (1970–) Any Answers? (1955–) Any Questions? (1948–) Asian Diasporas (2007–) The Bottom Line (2006–) Broadcasting House (1998–) Checkpoint (1973–85) (became Face The Facts) The Commission The Copysnatchers Crossing Continents (2002–) Does He Take Sugar? (1977–98) Face the Facts (1984–2015) Farming Today (1964-) Farming Today This Week File on 4 (1975–) From Our Own Correspondent (1955–) In Business (1975–) In Search of the British Work Ethic (2010) In Touch (1961–) Inside Money iPM (2007–?) Law in Action Letter from America (1946–2004) Midnight News Money Box (1977–) More or Less Nice Work (2002–05) Newshour (From September 2026–) The Pariah Profession PM (1970–) A Point of View (2005–2025) The Politics of Hunger Profile Seven Days Six O'Clock News Sport on Four (1977–98) Straw Poll Straw Poll Talk Back Taking Issue Taking a Stand Talking Politics Today (1957–) Today in Parliament (1945–) United Nations or Not? Week in Westminster The Westminster Hour With Us or Against Us The World at One (1965–) The World This Weekend The World Tonight (1970–2026) Yesterday in Parliament (1947 Light Programme; 1957–)
Drama 15 Minute Drama A Touch of Mistletoe The Archers Cashcows Children of the Stones Classic Serial Dr, Finlay's Casebook Drama The Friday Play The Lovecraft Investigations Neverwhere Paul Temple Saturday Night Theatre (1943–96) The Stone Tape Talk to Sleep, 4-part comedy-drama by John Dryden Tracks Tumanbay
Arts The Afternoon Reading Back Row Book at Bedtime (1949–57 Light Programme; 1962–) Book of the Week Bookclub Bookshelf (created by Frank Delaney in 1978) The Film Programme Front Row A Good Read Kaleidoscope (1973–98) Loose Ends (1985–) The Heard Moving Pictures Open Book Poetry Please Radio Lives, (1990–96) profiles of radio personalities Radio Roots, profiles of radio personalities The Saturday Play Saturday Review Soul Music White Nights With Great Pleasure
Quizzes Counterpoint (1986–) Brain of Britain Masterteam, general knowledge quiz (2001–2006) Prompt!, theatre quiz (1986–1988) Round Britain Quiz The 3rd Degree Wildbrain, natural history quiz (1997–2002) X Marks the Spot (1998–2006)
Comedy
Panel games Armando Iannucci's Charm Offensive (2005–08), satirical quiz Does the Team Think? (1957–67 Light Programme; 1968, 1970–73 Radio 2; 1970–71, 1974–76 Radio 4; 2007–09 Radio 2), parody of Any Questions? Foul Play, writers are asked to solve a murder mystery written by host Simon Brett Heresy (2003–), the presenter and a panel of guests commit "heresy" by challenging people's most deeply held opinions on a subject I Guess That's Why They Call It The News (2009), satirical news-based quiz I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue (1972–), nonsensical word and musical games played by comedians Inspiration, quiz about inventions presented by Chris Stuart It's Your Round (2011), game in which each contestant suggests a game to play for one round Just a Minute (1967–), parlour game involving speaking without hesitation, deviation, or repetition King Stupid, earlier version of panel game The 99p Challenge Many a Slip (1964–79), contestants must spot mistakes in texts and music The Motion Show My Music (1967–93), musical games My Word! (1956–90), word games played by comedy writers and journalists The News Quiz (1977–), satirical quiz on week's news The 99p Challenge (1998–2004), silly games and tasks The Personality Test (2006–07), a guest host asks questions about his or herself Petticoat Line (1965–1976), all female discussion Puzzle Panel (1998–2005), puzzles Quote... Unquote (1976–), quiz about quotations So Wrong It's Right (2010–12), Charlie Brooker asks his guests to invent or nominate really awful things The Unbelievable Truth (2007–), game in which contestants deliver a mostly untrue speech and panelists must identify true statements We've Been Here Before, historically oriented panel show with Clive Anderson Whispers (2003–05), quiz about celebrity rumours and gossip Who Goes There, biographical quiz Whose Line is it Anyway? (1988), improvisational comedy game The Write Stuff (1998–2014), questions about literature and writing parodies of a specific author Wing it (2024– ), an improv panel show
Sitcoms Absolute Power (2000–4), public relations company satire Acropolis Now (2000–2), the fictional adventures of historical figures in ancient Greece After Henry (1985–89), about three generations of women living together following a bereavement Alison and Maud (2002–04), sitcom about sisters running a bed and breakfast All Gas and Gaiters (1966–71), church farce starring Derek Nimmo All the Young Dudes (2001–02), comedy-drama written by and starring Jim Sweeney As Time Goes By (1997–99), radio adaptation of BBC TV sitcom (1992–2005) about a rekindled romance At Home with the Snails (2001–02), somewhat surreal family sitcom about the dysfunctional family of a man who is obsessed with snails The Attractive Young Rabbi (1999–2002), gentle comedy about the clash of attitudes between a young female Reform Rabbi and an older, more traditional male Orthodox Rabbi Ballylenon (1994-9 and 2009–10), sitcom set in a 1950s County Donegal village Beta Female The Big Business Lark (1969), sitcom set in the boardroom of a national plastics business The Big Town All Stars (1998–2001), sitcom about an up-and-coming a cappella group The Bigger Issues (2002–03), set in the world of fringe theatre Bleak Expectations (2007–2012), Dickensian parody Brian Gulliver's Travels (2011–12), a satirical modern pastiche of Gulliver's Travels The Brothers (2004–07), sitcom about two brothers who give up their careers to design websites Brothers in Law (1970–2), legal comedy with Richard Briers, based on the TV series The Cabaret of Dr Caligari, macabre comedy Cabin Pressure, comedy about a very small airline with one plane The Castle, medieval parody Chambers, legal sitcom, later moving to TV Clare in the Community, about a social worker Count Arthur Strong, adventures of elderly comedian prone to malapropism Dad's Army (1973–75), about the Home Guard during World War II Deep Trouble, nuclear submarine comedy Delve Special, investigative journalism parody The Department, satirical comedy about a mysterious organisation Do Nothing till You Hear from Me, about a trumpet player Double Income, No Kids Yet, about a childless couple surrounded by families Double Science, about school science teachers Ed Reardon's Week, a struggling and aging writer Elephants to Catch Eels, historical sitcom about Cornish smugglers ElvenQuest, fantasy parody The Embassy Lark, diplomatic comedy Fags, Mags and Bags (2007–), set in a newsagent/general store The Fall Of The Mausoleum Club (1988), macabre comedy starring Jim Broadbent Fallen Arches (1988–89) Four Joneses and a Jenkins, family comedy-drama set in rural Wales Flatshare by Beth O'Leary Flying the Flag (1987–92), Cold War diplomatic satire Flywheel, Shyster and Flywheel (on Radio 4 1990–2, originally made for NBC Blue Network), law firm satire featuring the Marx Brothers Giles Wemmbley Hogg Goes Off, adventures of a posh idiot travelling the world Gloomsbury, a parody on the Bloomsbury Set Hinge and Bracket, musical comedy from female impersonators: At Home with Hinge and Bracket (1990) The Enchanting World of Hinge and Bracket (1977–1979) The Random Jottings of Hinge and Bracket (1982–1989) The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (1978, 1980, 2004–5), science fiction comedy by Douglas Adams Hordes of the Things, parody of The Lord of the Rings The House of the Spirit Levels, parody of business and northern family sagas Hut 33 (2007–09), set among code-breakers at Bletchley Park I Think I've Got a Problem, musical comedy with Bob Monkhouse and Suggs In the..., black comedies based on Mark Tavener's writing In the Red In the Balance In the Chair In the End King Street Junior, junior school Knowing Me, Knowing You (1992–93), parody celebrity chatshow with Steve Coogan's incompetent presenter character Ladies of Letters, sitcom with Patricia Routledge and Prunella Scales playing elderly correspondents Legal, Decent, Honest and Truthful, advertising satire starring Martin Jarvis Lenin of the Rovers Linda Smith's A Brief History of Timewasting The Little Big Woman Show, sitcom about a wannabe singer working as a temp Little Blighty on the Down (1988–92), satirical village comedy A Little Night Exposure (1978) Living with the Enemy, former left-wing comedian and right-wing politician forced into house-share The Long Dark Tea-Time of the Soul, Douglas Adams adaptation Man of Soup, sitcom set in post-Soviet eastern Europe The Masterson Inheritance, improvised historical comedy parodying costume drama McKay the New (1989–91), sitcom The Men from the Ministry (1962–77), civil service farce Millport, set in main town of Great Cumbrae, island in River Clyde Milton Jones, pun-driven stories: Another Case of Milton Jones The House of Milton Jones The Very World of Milton Jones Mr and Mrs Smith, marriage guidance sitcom by British comedian Will Smith Mr Blue Sky show about an optimistic family man by Andrew Collins More Mr Mulliner, from PG Wodehouse's stories The Motorway Men (1972), sitcom about labourers building motorways Nebulous, post-apocalyptic The Next Programme Follows Almost Immediately, 1970s show set in a comedy factory starring David Jason The Nick Revell Show, absurdist sitcom about a writer and his talking geraniums Night Class, Johnny Vegas sitcom about a pottery teacher No Commitments, about three sisters Not Today, Thank You, absurdist comedy about broadcasting Old Dog and the Partridge, pub sitcom Old Harry's Game, Andy Hamilton comedy about Satan Our Brave Boys, set in British Ministry of Defence Parsley Sidings, set in a quiet railway station Party, about young people founding a new political party The Quanderhorn Xperimentations (2018), a science fiction spoof by Rob Grant and Andrew Marshall The Rapid Eye Movement, sitcom about a writer with tiny actors living in his head Reluctant Persuaders, London's worst advertising agency. Written by Edward Rowett. Stars Nigel Havers, Josie Lawrence, Mathew Baynton, Rasmus Hardiker, Olivia Nixon and Kieran Hodgson Rent, house share comedy Revolting People, set in North America in the run-up to the American Revolutionary War Rigor Mortis, in hospital pathology department Ring Around the Bath, domestic sitcom Robin and Wendy's Wet Weekends Romantic Friction, sitcom about a romance writer Ronan the Amphibian (2003), about a financial adviser turned into an amphibian by aliens Rudy's Rare Records, set in a reggae record store starring Lenny Henry Scenes from Provincial Life, adaptation of William Cooper's novel Sean Lock: Sean Lock, 15 Storeys High, sitcom Sean Lock's 15 Minutes Of Misery, sitcom Seymour the Fractal Cat, science fiction Share and Share Alike, sitcom about two brothers who must learn to live peacefully with each other