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 Wednesday 04 February 2026 with full listings and upcoming programmes.
Heads up: you're viewing listings from Wednesday 04 February 2026. Jump to today's schedule.
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Dates
Wed 04 Feb
Yesterday
Today
Sat 11 Apr
Sun 12 Apr
Mon 13 Apr
Tue 14 Apr
Wed 15 Apr
Thu 16 Apr
Fri 17 Apr
BBC Four Schedule — Wed 04 Feb
Programming hasn’t started yet.
The first program is at 1:10 AM (1:10 AM UK Time )
1:10 AM
Great British Railway Journeys — 01:10
Michael Portillo continues his railway exploration of the postwar Britain of his youth on a journey from London to Cambridge, starting at South Bank.
Runtime:
30 min
1:40 AM
Coastal Path — 01:40
Explorer Paul Rose sets off on the walk of a lifetime - 630 miles of the South West Coast Path, discovering wildlife, wild traditions and wild adventure along the way.
Runtime:
30 min
2:10 AM
Wild China — 02:10
Series about the creatures that live in China's most beautiful landscapes. This episode looks at the remote Tibetan Plateau, home to chiru antelopes, wild yaks and bears.
Runtime:
1 hr
3:10 AM
This is BBC Four — 03:10
This is BBC Four
Programmes start at 7.00pm.
Runtime:
2 hr 20 min
5:30 AM
This is BBC Four — 05:30
This is BBC Four
Daily from 7.00pm.
Runtime:
13 hr 28 min
6:58 PM
This is BBC Four — 18:58
This is BBC Four
Programmes start at 7.00pm.
Runtime:
2 min
7:00 PM
Great British Railway Journeys — 19:00
Paddington to Ongar
Michael Portillo ventures deep underground onto London’s newest railway: the Elizabeth Line. He travels across London before transferring to the Epping Ongar Heritage Railway.
Runtime:
30 min
7:30 PM
Coastal Path — 19:30
Episode 2
Five-part series in which explorer Paul Rose walks the South West Coast Path. Here, he explores the rugged north Cornish coast and takes a grand tour of Tintagel Castle.
Runtime:
30 min
8:00 PM
Brian Cox's Adventures in Space and Time — 20:00
Aliens: Are We Alone?
Brian Cox looks at our attempts to answer one of the most profound questions we can ask – are we alone in the universe? In this film, he explains why this search should be taken seriously.
9:00 PM
Tribe (2005) — 21:00
Nenets
Explorer Bruce Parry travels to the frozen tundra of Northern Siberia, spending a month with a brigade of Nenet reindeer herders during their winter migration.
10:00 PM
Smiley's People — 22:00
Episode 5
Seminal 1982 spy drama series. Smiley is hot on the trail leading to Karla but must make the ultimate sacrifice - cutting off his wife Ann.
11:00 PM
Smiley's People — 23:00
Episode 6
Seminal 1980s spy drama series. The final confrontation between Smiley and Karla takes place. But in this game there are no victors, only losers.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is on BBC Four tonight?
Tonight (Wednesday 04 February) on BBC Four, you can watch This is BBC Four, Great British Railway Journeys, Coastal Path, and Brian Cox's Adventures in Space and Time. 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 00:00 with Smiley's People.
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.