BBC Radio 4 Programmes A to Z - S

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94 programmes

  1.

    Sacred Election: Lessons from the Biggest Democracy in the World

    Dr Mukulika Banerjee learns about the processes involved in an Indian general election.

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  2.

    Safari Surgery

    Ayisha Yahya reports on the growing demand for cosmetic surgery in Africa.

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  3.

    Saturday Drama

    Radio 4 drama

    Show available episodes

  4.

    Saturday Live

    Extraordinary stories and remarkable people. With Sian Williams and Richard Coles

    Show available episodes

  5.

    Saturday Review

    Sharp, critical discussion of the week's cultural events, with Tom Sutcliffe and guests

    Show available episodes

  6.

    Save our Seeds

    Jonathon Porritt explores our agricultural biodiversity and how to preserve it

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  7.

    Saving Species

    Examining the world of nature and the challenges of wildlife conservation

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  8.

    Science Betrayed

    Dr Adam Rutherford investigates topical science stories

    Show available episodes

  9.

    Science in the Making

    Stephen Webster examines the way scientists work and asks why we should believe them

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  10.

    The Science of Music

    Prof Robert Winston looks at music with a scientist's eye

    Show available episodes

  11.

    Science: From Cradle to Grave

    Dr Ben Goldacre explores what happens when science takes the long view.

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  12.

    Scientists Advise, Ministers Decide

    Former government chief scientist, Lord May, looks at the role of politics in science.

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  13.

    Scientists Go To Hollywood

    Adam Rutherford talks to the scientific advisors behind some well-known films and TV shows

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  14.

    Scientists of the Subprime

    Ehsan Masood examines how science could help prevent future banking crises.

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  15.

    Scott's Legacy

    Amundsen may have beaten Scott to the South Pole but Science was the real winner.

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  16.

    A Scottish Hotel in the Holy Land

    Why is the Church of Scotland funding a luxury boutique hotel in the Holy Land?

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  17.

    The Search for Growth

    Stephanie Flanders sets out on the search for growth in Britain's economy

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  18.

    Secret Britain

    Series examining the role of state secrecy in Britain

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  19.

    The Secret Catacombs of Paris

    Jonathan Glancey investigates Paris's secret underground maze of tunnels.

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  20.

    The Secret History of Social Networking

    Rory Cellan-Jones traces its roots

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  21.

    The Secret Life of Reservoirs

    Hermione Cockburn uncovers the historical role of dams and reservoirs in Britain

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  22.

    Secret Museum

    Secret Mueum looks at the explicit erotic, sexual and pornographic art of Pompeii.

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  23.

    The Secret Power of Trees

    Ian Marchant explores whether trees really do have miraculous powers.

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  24.

    Secret Science

    Vivienne Parry meets the scientists whose work remains unknown to the general public

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  25.

    Secrets of the Super Old

    How the oldest people on the planet are helping scientists to unlock the secrets of ageing

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  26.

    Securing the Games

    Behind the scenes of the security operation at the Olympic Games.

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  27.

    Selection of BBC World Service Programmes

    A selection of BBC World Service news and current affairs, arts and science programmes

  28. The Sex Test

    Chris Ledgard asks if gender testing will mean a level playing field for female athletes.

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  29.

    Sexual Nature: A Brief Natural History of Sex

    Adam Rutherford explores the deep history of sex

    Show available episodes

  30.

    Shakespeare's Restless World

    Neil MacGregor uncovers the stories twenty objects tell us about Shakespeare's world.

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  31.

    Shipping Forecast

    The latest weather reports and forecasts for UK shipping

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  32.

    The Shipwrecked Bears

    Gyles Brandreth investigates the mystery of the missing teddy bears, the first ever made.

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  33.

    Short Cuts

    A showcase for delightful and adventurous short documentaries from the UK and abroad

  34. Sid James: Not Just a Dirty Laugh

    Lee Mack marks the centenary of Sid James with a fascinating look at his lesser-known work

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  35.

    Signing Up at 16

    Penny Marshall presents a series that follows 16-year-olds through a year of army training

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  36.

    Simon Singh's Numbers

    Simon Singh takes a quirky look at some of the most important numbers in mathematics.

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  37.

    Simpson in Afghanistan

    John Simpson reports from Afghanistan and asks how things have gone wrong.

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  38.

    The Simulated Patient

    Documentary looking at an unusual aspect of medical training.

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  39.

    Six O'Clock News

    The latest national and international news from BBC Radio 4

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  40.

    Sketchorama

    Up-and-coming sketch groups from the live UK comedy circuit

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  41.

    The Sleep Diaries

    In a series mixing science with art, myth and poetry, Paul Farley explores sleep

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  42.

    Slums 101

    Paul Mason visits Manila to assess the benefits of life in the world's poorest slums.

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  43.

    The Smell of Money

    Materials scientist Mark Miodownik asks whether we could live without cash.

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  44.

    Smile

    Kate Williams explores the history and development of the modern winning smile.

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  45.

    Sniffing Out Danger

    Amber Marks explores the science of olfactory detection.

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  46.

    So You Want To Be an Exorcist

    The exorcism business is booming - Jolyon Jenkins asks if and why demonism is on the rise.

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  47.

    Soft Power Hard News

    How the power of the news media is used as a global government tool for influence

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  48.

    Solar Max

    Astronomer Lucie Green looks at the dangers a solar superstorm could pose to us on Earth.

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  49.

    Something Understood

    Ethical and religious discussion that examines some of the larger questions of life

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  50.

    Songs for Madame Vasnier

    Richard Langham Smith on the songs Debussy wrote for his muse Madame Vasnier.

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  51.

    Songs for Tahrir

    Reem Kelani explores the role of music in the Egyptian revolution of early 2011.

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  52.

    Songs of the Sacred Harp

    Cerys Matthews visits Alabama to uncover a sacred choral tradition.

  53. Sore Fingers

    Bluegrass in the Cotswolds at the Sore Fingers Summer School.

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  54.

    Soul Music

    Series about pieces of music with a powerful emotional impact

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  55.

    Sound Architecture: The Spaces That Speak

    Science broadcaster Professor Trevor Cox explores the science of aural architecture.

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  56.

    The Sound of Fear

    Sean Street investigates the sound of fear, the noises and music that scare us, and why.

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  57.

    The Sounds of Science

    Trevor Cox investigates the science of sound research

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  58.

    South Africa Spits Back

    Roger Law, co-creator of Spitting Image, discovers South Africa's satirical puppets.

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  59.

    The Spanish Ambassador's Suitcase: Stories from the Diplomatic Bag

    Matthew Parris presents memorable despatches sent home by British diplomats down the ages

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  60.

    The Speaker, Behind the Scenes

    Mark D'Arcy examines the controversial approach of the Commons Speaker John Bercow.

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  61.

    Speculating the Emerald Isle

    An oil bonanza could be on the cards for Ireland, but who will benefit?

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  62.

    Spellbound: Siouxsie and the Banshees

    Miranda Sawyer looks at one of music's most distinctive artists Siouxsie and the Banshees.

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  63.

    Spooklights

    Chemist Andrea Sella investigates things that go flash in the dark.

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  64.

    Sport and the British

    Clare Balding charts how sport has shaped the British and how Britain has shaped sport

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  65.

    Squeezing Victoria's Curves

    Ayisha Yahya investigates the cause of the falling water levels in Lake Victoria.

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  66.

    Staff No Fee: The Other Life of Brian

    Barry Johnston explores the early career of the legendary commentator Brian Johnston.

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  67.

    Stage to Screen

    Series exploring how stage works have been adapted for the cinema

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  68.

    Start the Week

    Weekly discussion programme, setting the cultural agenda every Monday

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  69.

    The Stasi Jigsaw Puzzle

    Chris Bowlby tells the story of the attempt to rescue East Germany's Stasi secret files.

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  70.

    The State of Israel

    At a time of change and turmoil in the Middle East, what is happening inside Israel?

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  71.

    State of Mind

    Claudia Hammond tells the story of mental health care in the UK from the 1950s to today

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  72.

    State of Play

    Can computer games help to solve the problems of the world? Alex Butterworth investigates.

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  73.

    The State of Welfare

    What now for the welfare state, 70 years after the Beveridge report?

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  74.

    The Stationery Cupboard

    Lucy Mangan explores our obsession with pens, paper and the paraphernalia of office life.

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  75.

    Stephanomics

    Stephanie Flanders presents a series on the economics of our times

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  76.

    Steptoe and Son... and Sons

    Paul Jackson and a team of scriptwriters assess the legacy of Steptoe and Son, 50 years on

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  77.

    Stories from the Squeezed Middle

    Rosie Millard meets middle-income people for whom the Recession has meant tough choices.

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  78.

    The Story of Economics

    Michael Blastland lays out the history of economic ideas

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  79.

    A Straight Question

    Jackie Clune dated women for 12 years until she married a man. She explores this subject.

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  80.

    Street Science

    Five eminent scientists discuss controversial areas of science with members of the public

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  81.

    Stuart: A Face Backwards

    Mark Burman strips away the layers of Stuart Freeborn's remarkable life in movie make-up.

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  82.

    A Student Voice

    John Waite follows those student protesters most likely to be affected by funding changes.

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  83.

    Sugaring the Pill

    The NHS is paying people to be healthy. But does it really work? Claudia Hammond reports.

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  84.

    Summit Fever

    What really happens in intergovernmental summits? Jonathan Powell investigates.

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  85.

    Sun, Spoor and Spots: Counting Namibia's Cheetahs

    Frauke Jensen reports on a research project set up to count Namibia's cheetah population.

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  86.

    Sunday

    A look at the ethical and religious issues of the week

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  87.

    Sunday Worship

    Radio 4's Sunday morning service

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  88.

    Super Recognisers

    Claudia Hammond investigates the science of face recognition.

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  89.

    Supersize Surgeries

    Penny Marshall asks if new super-sized polyclinics will mean the end of the family GP.

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  90.

    The Swedish Invasion

    Comedian Danny Robins explores the global Swedish cultural explosion conquering the world.

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  91.

    Swimming Through Chocolate

    Chocolate, swimming and sport: life working at the Cadbury factory in Bournville.

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  92.

    Swinging for Survival

    Sue Broom explores new scientific research on female promiscuity across the animal kingdom

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  93.

    The Switching Point

    Edi Stark looks at the burgeoning field of epigenetics

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  94.

    Sylvie Simmons: The Rock Chick

    Islington-born Sylvie Simmons talks to Nick Barraclough about her life as a rock writer.

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