Latest news about BBC Radio 4

Sue Perkins to host Just a Minute on BBC Radio 4

Broadcaster, comedian and writer Sue Perkins is the next host of BBC Radio 4’s Just a Minute programme. As a recent guest host and 58-time panellist, Sue takes the host’s chair for the 87th series of Just a Minute, to keep in check fellow long-time participants Paul Merton, Gyles Brandreth and many more all bringing their linguistic A-game to proceedings...

The Poet Laureate Has Gone to His Shed returns to Radio 4

Simon Armitage is heading down the garden path for a second series of The Poet Laureate Has Gone to His Shed on Radio 4. Smiths guitarist Johnny Marr, accompanied by his 12-string acoustic, will be Simon’s first guest. Later in the series the Yorkshire Shepherdess Amanda Owen, West End theatre director John Tiffany, broadcaster, DJ and gardener Jo Whiley, author JK Rowling and poet Imtiaz Dharker all pay Simon a visit – with further guests to be announced...

Kirsty Wark to explore Scotland in new BBC Radio 4 series

Kirsty Wark is to explore Scotland’s literary landscape in a new four-part series for BBC Radio 4. Starting on 24 June, each episode will explore Scotland’s past and present literary landscape, produced by Brian McCluskey and Whistledown Scotland. Kirsty will unpick how Scottish authors distinctively and sometimes controversially reflect the perception of their country, and asks if literature still has an influence on the country’s national image...

Bill Bailey leads new comedy special on BBC Radio 4

Comedian, actor, musician and Strictly winner Bill Bailey is taking the lead in a brand new Radio 4 comedy special called Hennikay. Bill plays Guy Starling, a middle-aged man who, after 45 years, suddenly meets up with his imaginary childhood friend, Hennikay. Written by David Spicer, the cast also features Sanjeev Bhaskar (Goodness Gracious Me) and Elizabeth Carling (Casualty). It’s the biggest day in his career and he is on the brink of closing the biggest...

BBC Radio 4 celebrates Bob Dylan’s 80th birthday

BBC Radio 4 is marking the 80th birthday of Bob Dylan with a series of essays, an original audio drama and a documentary. From Monday 17th May Professor Sean Latham presents It Ain’t Me You’re Looking For: Bob Dylan at 80. Latham is Director of the Institute for Bob Dylan Studies at the University of Tulsa, and in this five part series, illustrated with music, he looks closely at the songs and draws on the Bob Dylan Archive, including material never broadcast before...

BBC Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour programme extended

Woman’s Hour will become an hour-long show as it reaches its 75th anniversary later this year. The change comes after new presenters Emma Barnett and Anita Rani took the reins in January. Karen Dalziel, Editor of Woman’s Hour said: “Woman’s Hour may be nearly 75 years old but there’s still so much to talk about! It’s fantastic to have more time dedicated to the issues that really matter in women’s lives...

Jane Garvey returns with Life Changing interviews

Jane Garvey returns to Radio 4 this April with her new interview series: Life Changing. In this new programme, Jane meets people who have experienced extraordinary moments that have set their lives on an entirely different course. Each of the seven episodes in this first series will offer Radio 4 listeners a personal insight into some of the darkest and most uplifting moments in human life. Jane Garvey said: “You can talk to some of the most famous people in the world but everybody knows..."

History of the human body explored by BBC Radio 4

Independent radio production company Made in Manchester has made a ten part series for Radio 4 and BBC Sounds about the history of the human body. Written and presented by anatomist, anthropologist and broadcaster Professor Alice Roberts, Bodies also includes drama from voice actor Jonathan Kydd. Alice’s time travelling tour of anatomical knowledge traces the history from cave men to DNA. Executive producer and MIM Creative Director Ashley Byrne says: “This is a brilliant and most enlightening series authored expertly by Alice and peppered with great drama from Jonathan. The shows are equally informative and entertaining.” ...

Two new presenters for BBC Radio 4’s Open Book

Elizabeth Day and Johny Pitts are the new presenters of BBC Radio 4’s Open Book. Elizabeth’s first programme will be Sunday 17 January and Johny’s on 31 January. Elizabeth is an author, journalist and broadcaster and the presenter of the podcast How To Fail. Her other broadcast work includes co-presenting Sky Arts Book Club Live. As an author Elizabeth has written six books, both fiction and non-fiction, including The Party and How To Fail: Everything I’ve Ever Learned from Things Going Wrong. She is a judge for the Women’s Prize for Fiction 2021...

Anita Rani to host Woman’s Hour on BBC Radio 4

Anita Rani is to join BBC Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour as presenter every Friday and Saturday. She joins alongside Emma Barnett, who became the show’s main host in early January. Anita is well known as one of the lead presenters on BBC One’s Countryfile, and has been a regular on Radio 2. Previously, Anita hosted weekend breakfast on BBC Asian Network and started her radio career at Sunrise Radio in Bradford when she was 14. Anita’s first programme will be Friday 15 January and she will present the Friday and Saturday editions of the programme...