Freeview 9 · Sky 116 · 89 programmes this week
BBC Four is the BBC's arts, culture and documentary channel. It broadcasts music performances, archive television, history documentaries and international drama. Available on Freeview and Sky. Much of its content is also available on BBC iPlayer.
Freeview 9 · Sky 116
11:30 â 17:30
Next: 17:30 · ..programmes start at 7.00pm
16 programmes
Only Connect is a quiz where teams look for links between unrelated clues. Hosted by VictoriaâŻCorenâŻMitchell, it pits maths graduates against word lovers in connectingâwall, sequence and missingâvoweâŠ
1.1.0
Episode two of the eightâpart series American
0.1.0
Alice Roberts tags along with archaeologists who dig a Bronze Age settlement in the Fens, often called Britainâs Pompeii. The team uncovers intact meals, flawless tools and the biggest collection of âŠ
The schedule kicks off at 7âŻpm, broadcast in HD.
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The schedule kicks off at 7âŻpm, broadcast in HD.
University Challenge is the BBCâs toughest university quiz. Two student teams go headâtoâhead on a barrage of tricky questions. In this secondâround clash, JeremyâŻPaxman fires the questions while theâŠ
21.17.0
OnlyâŻConnect is VictoriaâŻCorenâŻMitchellâs brainâteasing quiz where teams hunt for links between seemingly unrelated clues. In this episode three history buffs go up against a trio of Welshmen, so expâŠ
1.2.0
Artsnight is a oneâoff look at the BBC archives. It combines offâair interviews in which Carla Lane talks about her life and the comedy dramas she wrote. Youâll also hear her son Carl share personal âŠ
E1
Butterflies is a 70s sitcom about housewife Ria Parkinson (Wendy Craig) trying to cope with a butterflyâobsessed husband, two teenage sons who drive her mad, and a sudden, unexpected friendship with âŠ
0.0.0
Historian SimonâŻSchama examines the Victorian era, showing how industrialisation overhauled the economy and how women's roles began to shift. He uses Queen Victoria and her sisters as a lens to illusâŠ
2.1.0
The first instalment of this eightâpart series follows Cassius Clay as he goes from a boastful amateur to an Olympic goldâmedallist. It shows his early fights and the swagger that set him apart, thouâŠ
0.0.0
Cassius Clay is on a mission to become the youngest heavyweight champion, and the film follows his buildâup to the showdown with the supposedly unbeatable Sonny Liston. You'll see the early days of tâŠ
0.1.0
This short documentary captures Cassius Clay as he publicly joins the Nation of Islam and adopts the name MuhammadâŻAli. It then tracks his 1967 draft eligibility for Vietnam. The film gives a conciseâŠ
0.2.0
15 programmes
Muhammad Ali looks at the period when he was barred from the ring after he refused army callâup. The programme doesnât shy away from the gritty language of the time, so itâs best for adults. It givesâŠ
0.3.0
OnlyâŻConnect is VictoriaâŻCorenâŻMitchellâs brainâteasing quiz where teams hunt for links between seemingly unrelated clues. In this episode three history buffs go up against a trio of Welshmen, so expâŠ
1.2.0
Leonora Carrington: The Lost Surrealist is a 57âminute documentary that follows the life of British surrealist Leonora Carrington. She spent time with Max Ernst, AndrĂ© Breton and Picasso in Paris befâŠ
The schedule kicks off at 7âŻpm, broadcast in HD.
The schedule kicks off at 7âŻpm, broadcast in HD.
The second round of UniversityâŻChallenge returns, with two new university teams vying for a quarterâfinal spot. Jeremy Paxman is still the quizmaster and asks tough questions while the students try tâŠ
21.18.0
Only Connect is a brainâteasing quiz where teams look for links between seemingly unrelated cluesâword puzzles, picture walls, and more. VictoriaâŻCorenâŻMitchell hosts, and the show often pits quirky âŠ
1.3.0
Dan Snow narrates the story of the tiny civilian boats that rescued troops from Dunkirk in 1940, and this year 50 of the surviving craft are sailing back to France for the 70thâanniversary tribute. HâŠ
The Hadron Collider: In Search of the Peace Particle is a 59âminute documentary that digs into the human stories behind CERN's massive particleâphysics experiment. Alex Kiehl directs; Elin Rhys produâŠ
Too Near the Sun, a 1966 documentary, follows the frantic race to build the first thermonuclear weapon. It mixes archival footage with interviews from the scientists, politicians and military officiaâŠ
A Very Peculiar Practice is an 80s BBC comedy drama set in the world of Lowlands University, starring Peter Davison as the brilliant but disastrous GP Stephen Daker and has the drunken dean Jock MacaâŠ
E5
Set in the offâbeat world of Lowlands University, A Very Peculiar Practice follows newly separated GP Stephen.
E6
13 programmes
Stephen Daker (Peter Davison) gets the rug pulled from under him when Lowlands University announces a 25âŻ% budget cut. The cut throws the health centre into chaos. The looming axe flips his already sâŠ
E7
The Hadron Collider: In Search of the Peace Particle is a 59âminute documentary that digs into the human stories behind CERN's massive particleâphysics experiment. Alex Kiehl directs; Elin Rhys produâŠ
Dan Snow guides you through the story of the âlittle shipsâ that braved the Channel during the 1940 Dunkirk evacuation. The programme is timed to the 70thâanniversary return of 50 surviving vessels tâŠ
The schedule kicks off at 7âŻpm, broadcast in HD.
The schedule kicks off at 7âŻpm, broadcast in HD.
University Challenge pits two university teams against each other in a noâholdsâbarred quiz, with AmolâŻRajanâwho succeeded JeremyâŻPaxmanâasking the questions. This secondâround match sees two fresh sâŠ
21.19.0
Only Connect is a brainâteasing quiz where two teams hunt for links between odd cluesâwords, pictures, numbers. Victoria CorenâŻMitchell hosts, keeping the pace snappy and the banter dry. If you like âŠ
1.4.0
JohnâŻWayne plays Ethan Edwards, a bitter exâsoldier who believes the Comanche have taken his niece and sets out on a relentless hunt to rescue her. He is joined by NatalieâŻWood, VeraâŻMiles and a castâŠ
A look at the life of JohnâŻWayne and the contradictions behind his brand of heroism. The film covers his onâscreen bravery, his battle with cancer, his dodging of WWII service, his support for the ViâŠ
E1
Jake (JohnâŻBelushi) and his brother Elwood (DanâŻAykroyd) are fresh out of prison and have just days to reunite their old R&B band and save the Catholic home they grew up in. They tear through ChicagoâŠ
16 programmes
Too Near the Sun, a 1966 documentary, follows the frantic race to build the first thermonuclear weapon. It mixes archival footage with interviews from the scientists, politicians and military officiaâŠ
Only Connect is a brainâteasing quiz where two teams hunt for links between odd cluesâwords, pictures, numbers. Victoria CorenâŻMitchell hosts, keeping the pace snappy and the banter dry. If you like âŠ
1.4.0
Art of America is a threeâpart series in which art historian AndrewâŻGrahamâDixon begins with the early portraits of Puritan settlers and then pulls back the curtain on the darker story behind BenjamiâŠ
0.0.0
The schedule kicks off at 7âŻpm, broadcast in HD.
The schedule kicks off at 7âŻpm, broadcast in HD.
Gail Porter hosts this Top of the Pops edition fromâŻ3âŻDecemberâŻ1999 and rolls out the weekâs chart hits. Youâll see MelanieâŻC, Boyzone, Lolly, PhatsâŻ&âŻSmall, MartineâŻMcCutcheon and even CliffâŻRichardâŠ
1998.24.0
Jamie Theakston fronts this Top of the Pops special fromâŻ10âŻDecemberâŻ1999. It has the yearâs biggest chart hits. Youâll see performances from WhitneyâŻHouston, MarioâŻPiu, Jamiroquai, CelineâŻDion, AtomâŠ
1998.25.0
On 31âŻMayâŻ1979 Paul Burnett hosted a 40âminute edition of Top of the Pops that played the weekâs chart hits. The show includes performances by QuantumâŻJump, ChasâŻ&âŻDave, Sparks, PeachesâŻ&âŻHerb, VoyagâŠ
1978.1.0
Gary Davies and Anthea Turner host a Top of the Pops episode that aired onâŻ1âŻJuneâŻ1989. The show plays the songs that topped the charts at the end of the decade. Youâll see performances by Sinitta, FâŠ
1988.12.0
Take a look back at Aretha Franklinâs BBC appearances, from 1970s guest spots on *The Cliff Richard Show* and *Lulu* to her 2015 performance of âYou Make Me Feel (Like a Natural Woman)â. Her voice doâŠ
A 35âminute live set from the Royal Concertgebouw in 1968 shows Aretha Franklin belting her classics â Respect, Chain of Fools, Satisfaction and more. Bob Rooyens directed it; Willem van Kooten and FâŠ
A 90âminute documentary follows Dolly Partonâs journey from the Smoky Mountains to countryâmusic royalty. It mixes archive footage with new interviews. Dolly talks herself, and friends like JaneâŻFondâŠ
A breezy roundup of BBC studio performances of classic American standards, from ShirleyâŻBasseyâs 1966 take on âThe Lady Is a Trampâ to Florence Welchâs 2009 rendition of âMy Baby Just Cares for Meâ. âŠ
16 programmes
Gail Porter hosts this Top of the Pops edition fromâŻ3âŻDecemberâŻ1999 and rolls out the weekâs chart hits. Youâll see MelanieâŻC, Boyzone, Lolly, PhatsâŻ&âŻSmall, MartineâŻMcCutcheon and even CliffâŻRichardâŠ
1998.24.0
Jamie Theakston fronts this Top of the Pops special fromâŻ10âŻDecemberâŻ1999. It has the yearâs biggest chart hits. Youâll see performances from WhitneyâŻHouston, MarioâŻPiu, Jamiroquai, CelineâŻDion, AtomâŠ
1998.25.0
On 31âŻMayâŻ1979 Paul Burnett hosted a 40âminute edition of Top of the Pops that played the weekâs chart hits. The show includes performances by QuantumâŻJump, ChasâŻ&âŻDave, Sparks, PeachesâŻ&âŻHerb, VoyagâŠ
1978.1.0
Gary Davies and Anthea Turner host a Top of the Pops episode that aired onâŻ1âŻJuneâŻ1989. The show plays the songs that topped the charts at the end of the decade. Youâll see performances by Sinitta, FâŠ
1988.12.0
Take a look back at Aretha Franklinâs BBC appearances, from 1970s guest spots on *The Cliff Richard Show* and *Lulu* to her 2015 performance of âYou Make Me Feel (Like a Natural Woman)â. Her voice doâŠ
The schedule kicks off at 7âŻpm, broadcast in HD.
The schedule kicks off at 7âŻpm, broadcast in HD.
Expedition Rhino: The Search for the Last Northern White follows a small crew traveling into warâtorn South Sudan hoping to find proof that the supposedly extinct northern white rhino still roams somâŠ
The Good Old Days is a BBC variety show that recreates a VictorianâEdwardian music hall, complete with period costumes and audience singâalongs. Leonard Sachs hosts, introducing a lineâup that includâŠ
E26
Hetty Wainthroppâs railway outing is cut short when a clockmaker asks her to handle a baffling case. Patricia Routledge plays the amateur sleuth, using her trademark common sense. DominicâŻMonaghan apâŠ
2.8.0
Vermiglio (2024) is a period drama set in a remote Alpine village in 1944 Italy. A Sicilian deserter arrives and turns the lives of three sisters upside down. The film just won the Grand Jury Prize aâŠ
Butterflies is a 70s sitcom about housewife Ria Parkinson (Wendy Craig) trying to cope with a butterflyâobsessed husband, two teenage sons who drive her mad, and a sudden, unexpected friendship with âŠ
0.0.0
Artsnight is a oneâoff look at the BBC archives. It combines offâair interviews in which Carla Lane talks about her life and the comedy dramas she wrote. Youâll also hear her son Carl share personal âŠ
E1
13 programmes
The Good Old Days is a BBC variety show that recreates a VictorianâEdwardian music hall, complete with period costumes and audience singâalongs. Leonard Sachs hosts, introducing a lineâup that includâŠ
E26
Hetty Wainthroppâs railway outing is cut short when a clockmaker asks her to handle a baffling case. Patricia Routledge plays the amateur sleuth, using her trademark common sense. DominicâŻMonaghan apâŠ
2.8.0
Expedition Rhino: The Search for the Last Northern White follows a small crew traveling into warâtorn South Sudan hoping to find proof that the supposedly extinct northern white rhino still roams somâŠ
The schedule kicks off at 7âŻpm, broadcast in HD.
The schedule kicks off at 7âŻpm, broadcast in HD.
Reel History of Britain is Melvyn Braggâs 20âpart look at 20thâcentury Britain, built from archive film and peopleâs own memories. In this episode he goes to OsterleyâŻPark, where the first Home GuardâŠ
0.5.0
A nostalgic look at the 1950s when the coach ruled the road, showing how cheap, flexible rides gave village folk their first taste of freedom and adventure. Narrated by JuneâŻWhitfield, the documentarâŠ
9.5.0
John Wilson conducts the allâstar Sinfonia of London in a live Royal Albert Hall concert packed with American classics â Gershwinâs centenary Rhapsody in Blue, Barberâs Adagio for Strings, Coplandâs âŠ
In the hourâlong finale of the 1979 BBC documentary series, Margot Fonteyn pulls back the curtain on a ballet career â from the daily grind of class and rehearsals to the moment the lights come up. TâŠ
Rambertâs stage version of *PeakyâŻBlinders*, titled *The Redemption of Thomas Shelby*, retells the postâwar Birmingham saga with dance and a live onâstage band. The production features Rambertâs dancâŠ