Freeview 9 ¡ Sky 116 ¡ 72 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
12 programmes
Horizon takes you to Iceland, where a crew of volcanologists compare Earthâs eruptions with the massive volcanoes on Mars, Jupiterâs moon Io and Saturnâs icy moon Enceladus. NASA footage and computerâŚ
The Houdini Myth is a 48âminute Timewatch documentary that looks at the legendary escapologistâs huge earlyâ20thâcentury appeal. It mixes newly restored footage of Houdini with interviews from historâŚ
Jim AlâKhalili takes you into the remote Sellafield site, the UKâs most controversial nuclear complex, and shows what really goes on behind its highâsecurity doors. He gets up close with deadly substâŚ
The schedule kicks off at 7âŻpm, broadcast in HD.
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The schedule kicks off at 7âŻpm, broadcast in HD.
Day five of the World Snooker Championship is live from the Crucible in Sheffield. Hazel Irvine, Seema Jaswal, Rishi Persad and Catrin Heledd host the BBC coverage. Legends such as SteveâŻDavis, StephâŚ
This Life follows five young lawyers sharing a southâLondon flat while they juggle new careers, love, jealousy and the occasional binge. The ensemble has Jack Davenport, Andrew Lincoln, Amita Dhiri, âŚ
Concorde: A Supersonic Story is a 59âminute documentary about the iconic supersonic airliner. Engineers, technicians and passengers recount their experiences. SophieâŻOkonedo narrates, and the film inâŚ
10 programmes
Horizon takes you to Iceland, where a crew of volcanologists compare Earthâs eruptions with the massive volcanoes on Mars, Jupiterâs moon Io and Saturnâs icy moon Enceladus. NASA footage and computerâŚ
Concorde: A Supersonic Story is a 59âminute documentary about the most glamorous jet ever built, told by the people who designed, maintained and flew it. SophieâŻOkonedo narrates, and engineers, flighâŚ
The schedule kicks off at 7âŻpm, broadcast in HD.
The schedule kicks off at 7âŻpm, broadcast in HD.
DayâŻ6 of the World Snooker Championship is on at Sheffieldâs Crucible. The action is live on BBC One, Two and Four. HazelâŻIrvine, SeemaâŻJaswal, RishiâŻPersad and CatrinâŻHeledd host the coverage. AnalyâŚ
A puritan police sergeant arrives on a remote Scottish isle to find a missing girl, but the pagan locals claim she never existed. The film stars Edward Woodward, Christopher Lee, DianeâŻCilento and BrâŚ
13 programmes
Historian Jeremy Black breaks down the economic, social and political reasons Britain sparked the Industrial Revolution, from its coal reserves to a climate of political liberalism. He points to inveâŚ
Archaeologist DrâŻFraserâŻHunter takes you from the first Roman camps in Scotland to the siege at Burnswark, covering three centuries of conflict. He explains how the Romans, at the height of their powâŚ
Shark: Beneath the Surface follows an international crew of marine biologists, journalists and shark fans who try to change the way we think about sharks. Youâll meet DrâŻMike Heithaus in Fiji and a BâŚ
The schedule kicks off at 7âŻpm, broadcast in HD.
The schedule kicks off at 7âŻpm, broadcast in HD.
DayâŻ7 of the World Snooker Championship is on at the Crucible, with defending champ Zhao Xintong, Ronnie OâSullivan still chasing a record eighth title and world NoâŻ1 Judd Trump in the mix. Itâs all âŚ
Gary Davies presents this Top of the Pops episode, first shown onâŻ23âŻAprilâŻ1987, that counts down the weekâs biggest hits. Performances include FiveâŻStar,
Jakki Brambles hosts this classic Top of the Pops episode first shown on 19âŻAprilâŻ1990, with performances by Sonia, FaithâŻNoâŻMore and Adamski. It shows the UK chart scene as it moved into the new decâŚ
RoyâŻOrbison at the BBC pulls from the BBCâs vaults to bring the Big Oâs classic UK performances â âOnly the Lonelyâ, âCryingâ and âOhâŻPrettyâŻWomanâ. The 32âminute film also includes his stint with thâŚ
The 59âminute blackâandâwhite concert was filmed at LAâs Coconut Grove in 1988. Roy Orbison sings his classics with Elvisâs TCB Band. He is joined by Bruce Springsteen, TomâŻWaits, Elvis Costello, JacâŚ
12 programmes
Roy Sings Orbison is a 30âminute live set. Roy Orbison sings his biggest hitsââOnly the Lonelyâ, âCryingâ, âBlue Bayouâ, âOh, Pretty Womanâ. Itâs just him and his band, playing straight to the cameraâŚ
Gary Davies presents this Top of the Pops episode, first shown onâŻ23âŻAprilâŻ1987, that counts down the weekâs biggest hits. Performances include FiveâŻStar,
Jakki Brambles hosts this classic Top of the Pops episode first shown on 19âŻAprilâŻ1990, with performances by Sonia, FaithâŻNoâŻMore and Adamski. It shows the UK chart scene as it moved into the new decâŚ
RoyâŻOrbison at the BBC pulls from the BBCâs vaults to bring the Big Oâs classic UK performances â âOnly the Lonelyâ, âCryingâ and âOhâŻPrettyâŻWomanâ. The 32âminute film also includes his stint with thâŚ
The schedule kicks off at 7âŻpm, broadcast in HD.
The schedule kicks off at 7âŻpm, broadcast in HD.
DayâŻ8 of the World Snooker Championship is at the Crucible. Defending champion Zhao Xintong and 50âyearâold Ronnie OâSullivan are still in the hunt for the title. Hazel Irvine, Seema Jaswal and the câŚ
This documentary follows the life of snooker legend Alex âHurricaneâ Higginsâfrom his Belfast upbringing and two world titles to the chaos that followed. It includes memories from Jimmy White, RonnieâŚ
11 programmes
The Houdini Myth is a 48âminute Timewatch documentary that looks at the legendary escapologistâs huge earlyâ20thâcentury appeal. It mixes newly restored footage of Houdini with interviews from historâŚ
Historian Jeremy Black breaks down the economic, social and political reasons Britain sparked the Industrial Revolution, from its coal reserves to a climate of political liberalism. He points to inveâŚ
This documentary follows the life of snooker legend Alex âHurricaneâ Higginsâfrom his Belfast upbringing and two world titles to the chaos that followed. It includes memories from Jimmy White, RonnieâŚ
The schedule kicks off at 7âŻpm, broadcast in HD.
The schedule kicks off at 7âŻpm, broadcast in HD.
DayâŻ9 of the 2026 World Snooker Championship is underway at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield, with every shot streamed live on the BBC. Defending champion ZhaoâŻXintong and 50âyearâold RonnieâŻOâSulliâŚ
River whisks you around the globe, from the Amazon to the Mekong, and offers a new view of the worldâs biggest waterways. Youâll see rivers from angles youâve never seen beforeâup close, from the skyâŚ
14 programmes
The documentary investigates Gershwinâs songâŻSummertime, tracing its origin in the 1935 allâblack operaâŻPorgy andâŻBess. It mixes archive footage with performances by Billie Holiday, Janis Joplin, MahâŚ
Bettany Hughes travels to Greece to follow Socratesâ life, the philosopher who paid with his life for his ideas. This is the second episode of BBC Fourâs âGenius of the Ancient Worldâ series. She comâŚ
Richard E. Grant walks the CĂ´te d'Azur and explains how the Riviera became both a hedonistic playground and a makeshift studio for modernâart legends. He points out the houses where artists lived, loâŚ
The schedule kicks off at 7âŻpm, broadcast in HD.
The schedule kicks off at 7âŻpm, broadcast in HD.
Adventurer Paul Rose heads to the Yorkshire Dales for a threeâpart bike tour. He rides through Wensleydale, finds out why locals love cycling and even runs into a family of Dales dormice. Next he goeâŚ
Robbie Cumming invites you onto his narrowboat as he battles through blanket weed on the Shropshire Union Canal, traveling from Ellesmere Port to Audlem. Along the way he reveals industrial secrets aâŚ
Lost Cities of the Ancients, on BBC Four, digs up forgotten civilisations. This episode looks at Piramesse, the lost capital Ramesses the Great built in ancient Egypt. Onâscreen experts piece togetheâŚ
The 1951 Festival of Britain: A Brave New World is a 58âminute documentary that looks back at the postâwar festival, showing how design and ingenuity helped lift the country out of austerity. Julian âŚ
In the first instalment Andrew GrahamâDixon looks at PaulâŻNash, the WWIâtrained painter whose battlefield memories haunted his later work. He walks you through Nashâs stark landscapes and shows how tâŚ