11:00 PM - 12:00 AM
Uncanny - Christmas Special
Christmas 1973, and two climbers have a terrifying paranomal encounter in a Scottish bothy. Five decades on and Danny returns to where it happened. Will he survive the night?
12:00 AM - 12:15 AM
Midnight News
National and international news from BBC Radio 4.
12:15 AM - 12:30 AM
Christmas Meditation
A reflection on the meaning of Christmas with poet, priest and writer Malcolm Guite.
12:30 AM - 12:48 AM
The Dead of Winter by Sarah Clegg
3/5. Sarah Clegg explains how some ancient midwinter festivals became Christmas traditions. Today wassails, hoodenings and a ghostly horse skull that goes door-to-door in Wales.
12:48 AM - 01:00 AM
Shipping Forecast
The latest weather reports and forecasts for UK shipping.
01:00 AM - 05:20 AM
World Service
BBC Radio 4 joins the BBC World Service.
05:20 AM - 05:30 AM
Shipping Forecast
The latest weather reports and forecasts for UK shipping.
05:43 AM - 05:45 AM
Prayer for the Day
A spiritual comment and prayer to start the day with Canon Ann Easter.
05:45 AM - 06:00 AM
Farming Today
Solomon the shorthorn, who's known as The Department Bull and loaned by the Scottish government to crofters for livestock breeding.
06:00 AM - 07:00 AM
But First, This...
Normally, we only hear them in the short gaps between the programmes, but, as it's Christmas, the Radio 4 continuity announcers have been given a whole hour to play with.
07:00 AM - 09:00 AM
Today
Nick Robinson and Justin Webb hear from the UK's Chief Scout, Dwayne Fields, in this guest edited episode of Today.
09:00 AM - 09:45 AM
In Our Time
Jenny Uglow, Rosemary Sweet and Caroline McCaffrey-Howarth join Melvyn Bragg to explore why eighteenth-century collectors and consumers became so enthusiastic about ancient vases.
09:45 AM - 10:00 AM
Strong Message Here
Helen Lewis and Armando Iannucci present a journalist and a comedy writer's take on words and phrases that defined politics in 2024.
10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Woman's Hour
In a Boxing Day special, Anita Rani celebrates a favourite Christmas activity: puzzles and games, from Jenga to World of Warcraft via Agatha Christie.
11:00 AM - 11:45 AM
The Infinite Monkey Cage
Brian Cox and Robin Ince delve into the Royal Society archives unearthing the unexpected history of the body with Sir Mark Walport, Prof Helen King, Ed Byrne and Keith Moore.
11:45 AM - 12:00 PM
The Dead of Winter by Sarah Clegg
4/5. Lurking in the night's shadows of Sarah Clegg's whirlwind tour of Europe's weirdest winter traditions, we meet Krampus, the horned devil who punishes naughty children in Austria.
12:00 PM - 12:04 PM
News Summary
The latest national and international news from BBC Radio 4.
12:04 PM - 12:57 PM
The Reunion
Series which reunites a group of people intimately involved in a moment of modern history.
12:57 PM - 01:00 PM
Weather Forecast
The latest weather forecast.
01:00 PM - 01:45 PM
World at One
Forty-five minutes of news, analysis and comment.
01:45 PM - 02:00 PM
My Poetry and Other Animals
The poet laureate, Simon Armitage, meets horses, to help inspire a new animal poem.
02:00 PM - 02:15 PM
The Archers
Joy has a big question to ask, and the Aldridge family face an alternative Christmas.
02:15 PM - 03:00 PM
John Finnemore's Souvenir Programme
John Finnemore and the Souvenir Programme team return to Radio 4 with a one-off, 45-minute episode packed with sketches and song.
03:00 PM - 03:27 PM
This Natural Life
Martha Kearney visits Martin Clunes at his farm in Dorset, to hear what the natural world means to him. He talks about his love of animals as they take his five dogs for a walk.
03:27 PM - 03:30 PM
The Radio 4 Appeal
Model and former health worker Mollie Pearce makes the Radio 4 Appeal on behalf of ERIC, The Children's Bowel and Bladder Charity.
03:30 PM - 04:00 PM
Feedback
Andrea Catherwood announces the results of Feedback's Interview of the Year.
04:00 PM - 04:30 PM
The Briefing Room
What threats and opportunities does the Arctic face?
04:30 PM - 05:00 PM
BBC Inside Science
This festive season, we look at the science of games, from why we play them to the randomness of dice rolls. Who will win the Inside Science games special?
05:00 PM - 06:00 PM
PM
Afternoon news and current affairs programme, reporting on breaking stories and summing up the day's headlines.
06:00 PM - 06:15 PM
Six O'Clock News
National and international news from BBC Radio 4.
06:15 PM - 06:30 PM
The Wombles to the Rescue
4/7. Great Uncle Bulgaria reports back on his and Bungo's travels and Wellington is inspired by his recent encounter with Humans. Performed by Richard E Grant, directed by Johnny Vegas.
06:30 PM - 07:00 PM
Michael Spicer: No Room
3/4. When train station names attack. Not a documentary. Almost.
07:00 PM - 07:15 PM
The Archers
There's a Boxing Day challenge for Paul and the events of the year catch up on Will.
07:15 PM - 08:00 PM
This Cultural Life
Artist Frank Auerbach talks to John Wilson about his life and some of the influences on his work.
08:00 PM - 09:00 PM
With Great Pleasure at Christmas
Comedian Jo Brand reflects on her life through favourite pieces of writing in this festive special, with readers Alan Davies and Isy Suttie.
09:00 PM - 09:45 PM
Loose Ends
Toyah Willcox, Grace Dent, Adam Riches and John Kearns join Clive Anderson with festive music by Georgia Cecile and Tony Mortimer with Edele Lynch.
09:45 PM - 10:00 PM
Mythical Creatures
Rhianna Pratchett seeks out shape-shifting selkies as she continues her quest to meet mythical creatures and discover what they reveal about us.
10:00 PM - 10:45 PM
The World Tonight
In depth reporting, intelligent analysis and breaking news from a global perspective.
10:45 PM - 11:00 PM
South Sea Tales by W. Somerset Maugham
4/5. Warburton, a government official in Borneo, behaves immaculately. But his precise world is upended by the arrival of an uncouth assistant who ignores the niceties of colonial life.
11:00 PM - 11:30 PM
Alison Spittle: Petty Please
Who hasn't waited 30 years to get revenge on the girl who stole their role in the nativity? With special guests Ian Smith and Natalie Cassidy.
11:30 PM - 12:00 AM
Natalie Haynes Stands Up for the Classics
Expect gifts, special pyjamas, drinking games and cross-dressing. Natalie celebrates the mid-winter festival of Ancient Rome, Saturnalia, with André Vincent and Llewelyn Morgan.