Beebs Channel Guide

BBC Four TV Guide

BBC Four dives into culture, history, arts and world cinema with thoughtful documentaries, acclaimed drama and curated film seasons. See what's on BBC Four on Thursday 04 December 2025 with full listings and upcoming programmes.

Heads up: you're viewing listings from Thursday 04 December 2025. Jump to today's schedule.
Channels
BBC One (BBC1) BBC Two (BBC2) ITV1 Channel 4 Channel 5 ITV2 ITV3 ITV4 E4 Film4 More4 GREAT! movies Sky Arts RTÉ One BBC Three (BBC3) CBeebies BBC News BBC Four BBC ALBA BBC Parliament BBC Scotland CBBC S4C
Dates
Thu 04 Dec Yesterday Today Wed 31 Dec Thu 01 Jan Fri 02 Jan Sat 03 Jan Sun 04 Jan Mon 05 Jan Tue 06 Jan

Birth of the British Novel

Henry Hitchings explores the lives and works of the radical 18th-century British novelists such as Defoe, Swift and Fielding who established the literary genres we recognise today.
Runtime: 1 hr

The Magical World of Moss

A plant with hidden secrets
Documentary that explores the vital role that mosses played in the earth's evolution and how science is only beginning to unlock the secrets and potential of these amazing plants.
Runtime: 55 min i Available on iPlayer

The Lost Libraries of Timbuktu

The story of Timbuktu and its legacy of ancient manuscripts, proof that reading and writing books have been as important to Africans as to Europeans.
Runtime: 1 hr

This is BBC Four

This is BBC Four
Programmes start at 7.00pm.
Runtime: 1 hr 55 min

This is BBC Four

This is BBC Four
Daily from 7.00pm.
Runtime: 13 hr 28 min

This is BBC Four

This is BBC Four
Programmes start at 7.00pm.
Runtime: 2 min

Winter Walks

Sayeeda Warsi
Accompanied by the gentle soundscape of the great outdoors, Yorkshire peer Sayeeda Warsi takes time out from her political life to seek peace and calm in the Dales.
Runtime: 30 min

University Challenge

Exeter College, Oxford v Queen Mary University of London
Exeter College, Oxford, and Queen Mary University of London are represented by distinguished alumni in the fourth heat.
Runtime: 30 min

Dame Judi Dench: My Passion for Trees

The wisdom of woodlands
Documentary following Judi Dench as she explores the lives of trees, discovering how they feel, how they communicate and how they fight off invading armies and extreme weather.
Runtime: 1 hr i Available on iPlayer

Snooker: UK Championship

Day 6, Evening, Part 2
Live coverage from day 6 of the 2025 UK Snooker Championship.
Runtime: 1 hr

Quartet

Maggie Smith and Michael Gambon join a stellar cast
Ensemble comedy drama. An opera star arrives at a performers' retirement home amidst fraught preparations for a fundraising concert. Her presence offers an opportunity to reunite a successful quartet.
Runtime: 1 hr 30 min

Wogan

Pauline Collins, Simon Callow, Esther Rantzen, Desmond Wilcox
Terry Wogan chats to Pauline Collins, Simon Callow, Esther Rantzen and Desmond Wilcox.
Runtime: 45 min
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Frequently Asked Questions

What is on BBC Four tonight?

Tonight (Thursday 04 December) on BBC Four, you can watch This is BBC Four, Winter Walks, University Challenge, and Dame Judi Dench: My Passion for Trees. Check the full schedule for more details.

How can I watch BBC Four live?

You can watch BBC Four live on the official bbc.co.uk website or app. Use the 'Watch Live' button to go directly to the player.

When does programming end on BBC Four today?

Today's programming on BBC Four ends at 00:15 with Wogan.

Is this TV schedule shown in UK time or my local time?

All times shown on this page are automatically converted to your local device timezone for easy viewing, though the original UK broadcast time is also displayed.

Watch BBC Four Live