BBC Four


19:0019:30 (30 min)

World News Today

The latest national and international news, exploring the day's events from a global perspective.
Current affairs
(widescreen)
teletext
19:3020:00 (30 min)

Coal House at War

Three Welsh families give up their 21st century creature comforts and travel back in time to 1944 to face the hardships of life during the Second World War. The women take on a secret mission at the munitions factory while the men struggle down the mine. Just as it seems things are looking up with a variety show, the families are brought face to face with the grim realities of war.
Documentary
(widescreen)
teletext
20:0021:00 (1 hr)

Darwin's Struggle: The Evolution of the Origin of Species

Documentary telling the story of how Charles Darwin came to write On the Origin of Species. In the 20 years he took to develop his ideas into a book, Darwin went through a personal struggle every bit as turbulent as that of the natural world he observed. Fortunately, he left a record of his insights, observations of nature and expressions of love for those around him. The story is told using Darwin's secret notes and correspondence, featuring contributions from leading biographers and scientists.
Documentary
(widescreen)
teletext
21:0021:30 (30 min)

Early Doors

Comedy series set in a small Manchester public house. The chance to win a box of chocolates has the regulars racking their brains in an attempt to win at The Grapes quiz night and Eddie soon finds himself in a pickle as he reveals his specialist subject. Ken and Tanya's relationship steps up a notch as Tanya lays on her charms for Ken and he lays on free sarnies. Mel and her new boyfriend Dean get close and personal as they think about getting a place of their own.
Sitcom
  • John Henshaw (actor)
  • Susan Cookson (actor)
  • Mark Benton (actor)
  • Lee Ingleby (actor)
  • Phil Mealey (actor)
  • Christine Bottomley (actor)
(widescreen)
teletext
21:3022:00 (30 min)

I've Never Seen Star Wars

John Humphrys

Marcus Brigstocke hosts a chat show in which he invites someone to step out of their comfort zone and try five new cultural experiences, from playing bingo to reading Proust. Journalist and broadcaster John Humphrys is Marcus's guest.
Talk show
  • Patti Marr (director)
(widescreen)
teletext
22:0022:50 (50 min)

Mad Men

The Gold Violin

Relationships between the personnel are starting to shift in this beguilingly brilliant series. The luscious Joan meets her match in a new secretary, while married, closeted-gay Sal develops an unrequited passion for a colleague. Don Draper's problems, meanwhile, are domestic . . . Radio Times reviewer - Alison Graham
Drama
  • Jon Hamm (actor)
  • John Slattery (actor)
  • Elisabeth Moss (actor)
  • Vincent Kartheiser (actor)
  • January Jones (actor)
  • Christina Hendricks (actor)
  • Phil Abraham (director)
(widescreen)
teletext
22:5000:10 (1 hr, 20 min)

Law and Order

A Detective's Tale

Four-part drama series about the British judicial system, dealing with an investigation presented from the perspectives of the police force, the criminal, the solicitor and the prison system. The first of the four plays is about the law: those who keep it, those who break it and those who live off it. A Detective's Tale tells the detective's view of a crime.
Documentary
  • Derek Martin (actor)
  • Alan Ford (actor)
  • Roy Sone (actor)
  • Billy Cornelius (actor)
  • Alex Gladwell (actor)
  • Fred Haggerty (actor)
(widescreen)
teletext
00:1001:10 (1 hr)

The Real Life on Mars

Documentary which looks at the world of policing before the 1980s and asks whether 'old-style policing' was as bad as that portrayed on TV in Life on Mars or whether it might have actually been more effective than the political correctness and forensic paraphernalia of today. Includes interviews with ex-cops, criminals, academics and writers.
Documentary
(widescreen)
teletext
01:1002:10 (1 hr)

Darwin's Struggle: The Evolution of the Origin of Species

Documentary telling the story of how Charles Darwin came to write On the Origin of Species. In the 20 years he took to develop his ideas into a book, Darwin went through a personal struggle every bit as turbulent as that of the natural world he observed. Fortunately, he left a record of his insights, observations of nature and expressions of love for those around him. The story is told using Darwin's secret notes and correspondence, featuring contributions from leading biographers and scientists.
Documentary
(widescreen)
teletext
02:1003:40 (1 hr, 30 min)

Proms on Four 2008

King's Singers - 40th Anniversary

Suzy Klein introduces a concert by the King's Singers, who return to mark their 40th anniversary with a wide-ranging Anglo-French programme including French folk songs by Poulenc, French renaissance madrigals, English Victorian part-songs and more recent arrangements of traditional English folk songs of the type they have made their own.UPDATED LISTING: Slot duration change - now runs for ten minutes fewer than billed.
Music and Arts
(widescreen)
teletext
03:4004:10 (30 min)

The Book Quiz

Kirsty Wark presents the literary panel game. Historical novelist Philippa Gregory and pop culture writer Paul Morley fight it out against author Julie Myerson and another historical writer Antony Beevor.UPDATED LISTING: Was originally scheduled to transmit at 3:50am.
Game show
  • Sue McMahon (director)
(widescreen)
teletext deaf-signed

Summary