BBC Radio 4 Programmes A to Z - O

Use the A to Z to find a programme by name

  1. All
  2. 0-9
  3. a
  4. b
  5. c
  6. d
  7. e
  8. f
  9. g
  10. h
  11. i
  12. j
  13. k
  14. l
  15. m
  16. n
  17. o
  18. p
  19. q
  20. r
  21. s
  22. t
  23. u
  24. v
  25. w
  26. x
  27. y
  28. z

102 programmes

  1.

    O Henry Stories

    Short stories by the American writer that warm the soul and intrigue the listener

  2. O Lucky Man!

    Documentary investigating the life and work of film director Lindsay Anderson.

  3. O'Kane and Co

    Irish comedienne Deirdre O'Kane in conversation with Jackie Clune and Rowland Rivron.

  4. The Oath

    What should be in a Hippocratic Oath for scientists?

    Listen now

  5.

    Obama's Babies

    Across the world, parents, inspired by Barack Obama, have given his name to their children

  6. Obama: Professor President

    Kwame Anthony Appiah investigates president-elect Obama's academic career.

    Listen now

  7.

    Occupation

    Mark Whitaker looks at the debate over what an occupying force is allowed to do.

  8. Oceans: What Lies Beneath

    Gabrielle Walker explores why we know so little about the planet's oceans

    Show available episodes

  9.

    Octavia

    Historian Tristram Hunt MP considers the legacy of Octavia Hill, 100 years after her death

  10. The Odd Half Hour

    Sketch show looking at the pains and irritations of modern

  11. OedipusEnders

    What do Greek tragedy and soap opera have in common? Comedian Natalie Haynes investigates.

  12. Off the Page

    Series featuring new writing and stimulating discussion

  13. Oh My What A Rotten Song!

    Michael Rosen celebrates the work of 1920s songwriting duo RP Weston and Bert Lee.

  14. Oh What a Lively War

    Martin Sorrell explores the work of French First World War poet Guillaume Apollinaire.

  15. Oh! Dad

    Lloyd Robson explores a lesser-known side of the late Hollywood idol Robert Mitchum.

  16. Oktoberfest!

    John F Jungclaussen explores Munich's Oktoberfest as it celebrates its 200th anniversary.

  17. Old Harry's Game

    Devilishly funny sitcom set in the infernal kingdom of Hell. With Andy Hamilton

    Show available episodes

  18.

    Old Photographs Fever - The Search for China's Pictured Past

    Historical photographs are rare in China, but now the pictured past is being reclaimed.

    Listen now

  19.

    The Oldest Bible

    Roger Bolton tells the story of the Codex Sinaiticus, the world's oldest bible.

    Listen now

  20.

    Olympic Arts

    Mark Whitaker tells the story of arts contests at the Olympic Games.

  21. The Omnipresent Mr Handel

    How Handel became, through his oratorios, a favourite of the working and middle classes.

  22. On Being Inferior

    Michael Rosen explores what being inferior actually means

  23. On Closer Inspection

    Marcus Brigstocke is forced to reassess his prejudices about the character of politicians

  24. On the Bench

    Jenny Cuffe examines the role of local magistrates and the proposed court closures.

  25. On the Borderline

    Writer Clare Allan on the controversial diagnosis of borderline personality disorder.

  26. On the Brink

    Short stories looking at the Cuban Missile Crisis through the eyes of ordinary people

  27. On the French Fringe

    Kirsty Lang and Lucy Ash present cultural snapshots off the beaten track in France

    Show available episodes

  28.

    On the Fringe with Stephen K Amos

    Stephen K Amos presents comedy and stories from the heart of the 2010 Edinburgh Fringe.

  29. On the Map

    Self-confessed map addict Mike Parker explores modern cartography

  30. On the Migrant Beat

    Ray Furlong meets Paul Higgs, a police officer who liaises with Cornwall's migrant workers

  31. On the Outside it Looked Like an Old Fashioned Police Box

    Mark Gatiss explores the hugely popular Doctor Who novelisations of the 1970s and 80s.

  32. On the Road

    Greg Proops celebrates Jack Kerouac's seminal road trip novel.

  33. On the Road Again

    Series of four stories to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Jack Kerouac's On The Road

  34. On the Ropes

    Exploring the lives of successful people who have weathered storms in their careers

    Show available episodes

  35.

    On the Top Deck

    Ian Marchant talks to people affected by the increase in teenagers using London's buses.

  36. On the Trail of the American Honeybee

    How honeybees and their keepers travel vast distances pollinating America's crops.

    Listen now

  37.

    On the Trail of the Templars

    Martin Palmer traverses England to explore the mysteries surrounding the Knights Templar.

  38. On Your Bike

    Martin Ellis presents a history of the bicycle

  39. On Your Farm

    Getting to the heart of country life with a look at individual farming endeavours

    Show available episodes

  40.

    Once in a Blue Moon: The Songs of Lal Waterson

    The story of one of the great folk singers and writers of our time, Lal Waterson.

  41. Once upon a Time on the Front Line

    Story of the families of British soldiers recording bedtime stories for their children.

  42. One

    The all-new sketch show where no sketch features more than one voice

    Show available episodes

  43.

    One Day in Summer

    Traffic police, tourists and farmers talk about life in Cornwall on one busy summer's day.

  44. One Hundred Years of Concrete

    Brazil: How architect Oscar Niemeyer brought his extraordinary building designs to life.

  45. One in a Million

    One million books given away for free - how did it affect those involved?

    Listen now

  46.

    One Man's War

    Katie Derham delves into the fascinating world of musical life during the Second World War

    Listen now

  47.

    One of the Three Great Plots of All Literature

    Kate Adie dissects the plot of Henry Fielding's Tom Jones.

  48. One to One

    Interview series. Broadcasters talk to the people whose stories interest them most

    Show available episodes

  49.

    One Woman's Struggle: The Story of the MOBO Awards

    The Story of the MOBO Awards: Kanya King tells the story of her original vision.

  50. One Woman's Struggle: The Story of the MOBO Awards

    The Story of the MOBO Awards: Kanya King tells the story of her original vision.

  51. Online Damage: Porn in the 21st Century

    Penny Marshall examines the effects of the rapid expansion of online porn on UK society.

    Listen now

  52.

    Open Air

    Series of audio interventions by artists, to mark the launch of the Open arts initiative

    Show available episodes

  53.

    Open Book

    Mariella Frostrup with the best in new fiction and non-fiction.

    Show available episodes

  54.

    Open Book

  55. Open Book

  56. Open Country

    Countryside magazine featuring the people and wildlife that shape the landscape of Britain

    Show available episodes

  57.

    Open Country

  58. Open Country

    A tour of the British countryside.

  59. An Open Letter to Richard Branson

    Stand-up comedian Tom Wrigglesworth recounts his tale of taking on the jobsworths.

  60. Open Mic Night: No Electrickery Required

    A collection of open-hearted tales from a mic-less open mic night at The Catweazle Club.

  61. Open Sesame: Science in the Desert

    David Shukman travels to Jordan to find out if science can bring peace in the Middle East.

    Listen now

  62.

    Open Source

    Paul Bennun finds out how Free and Open Source software is making its impact felt.

    Listen now

  63.

    Open the Vaults

    Razia Iqbal examines the tradition of banks as patrons of art.

  64. Opened Ground

    A sound celebration of historical events

  65. Opening Lines

    Series showcasing first-time and emerging writers

  66. Opening the Boxes: A Soprano's Secrets

    Michael White uncovers the life of the soprano singer Jennifer Vyvyan.

    Listen now

  67.

    An Operating Manual for Spaceship Earth

    The writer Tom Dyckhoff looks at the life and work of Richard Buckminster Fuller.

    Listen now

  68.

    The Original Godfathers

    Paul Jackson celebrates the prolific writing partnership of Frank Muir and Denis Norden.

  69. The Original Playboy

    Former Loaded editor James Brown examines Hugh Hefner and his Playboy magazine.

  70. Original Shorts

    Short stories by well-known authors

  71. The Original

    Writer and journalist Alkarim Jivani asks why we value originality.

  72. Origins Revisited

    Exploring newly uncovered archaeological evidence concerning mankind's origins

  73. Oscar and Al Pacino

    An exclusive interview with Al Pacino about his passion for Oscar Wilde.

    Listen now

  74.

    Oscar Marzaroli: The Man Who Captured Scotland

    Ricky Ross examines the life and work of the photographer and film-maker Oscar Marzaroli.

  75. Oscar Sings

    Andrew Collins explores how the award for Best Song reflects a changing film landscape.

  76. Ossian

    The story of James MacPherson's 'discovery' of the ancient poems of Ossian in the 1760s.

  77. The Other Heartlands

    How history and landscape have shaped political allegiances in remote parts of Britain

  78. The Other Man

  79. The Other Man

  80. Ouch! Men and Shaving

    Brian Perkins shaved off his beard after 30 years. But how did he maintain his good looks?

  81. Oulipo

    Ben Schott investigates Oulipo, the French experimental literary group.

  82. Our Daily Bread

    Jonathan Kent looks at a staple we take for granted and explores what it reveals about us

  83. Our First Plural City

    Tim Whewell reports from Leicester, predicted to soon become Europe's first 'plural city'.

  84. Our Food, our Future

    Tom Heap examines the global food crisis and its impact on Britain

  85. Our Language in Your Hands

    Linguist Mark Turin explores the fate of the world's endangered languages

    Show available episodes

  86.

    Our Woman in Norton Tripton

    A new comedy starring Jenny Eclair as jaded community website journalist Ros Moss.

  87. Out of the Ordinary

    Jolyon Jenkins presents a documentary series uncovering stories from the left field

    Show available episodes

  88.

    Out of the Vortex

    Irish poet Matthew Sweeney with his choice of poems influenced by depressive illnesses.

  89. Out Of This World

    Mark Miodownik explores the dwindling supplies of a host of important metals.

  90. An Outcast of the Islands: Lady Grange

    Kenneth Steven traces the forced journey of Lady Grange, abducted & imprisoned on St Kilda

  91. Outfoxed: The Story of Hunting in Britain

    Dr Emma Griffin finds out why fox hunting is still flourishing despite the seven-year ban.

  92. The Outsourced

    Chris Mullin explores what working life is like for some outsourced workers.

    Listen now

  93.

    Over the Boundary

    Cricket was almost wiped out in Ireland. Kevin Connolly tells the story of its revival.

    Listen now

  94.

    Over The Rainbow With Yip Harburg

    Broadcaster Stephen Evans explores the life and work of lyricist Yip Harburg.

  95. Overexposed

    The story of a group of photojournalists who set out to witness world events.

  96. Owl Prowl