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 12 March 2026 with full listings and upcoming programmes.

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
Yesterday Today Thu 05 Mar Fri 06 Mar Sat 07 Mar Sun 08 Mar Mon 09 Mar Tue 10 Mar Wed 11 Mar Thu 12 Mar

Light and Dark

Professor Jim Al-Khalili tells the story of how we went from thinking we were close to a complete understanding of the universe to realising we had seen almost none of it.
Runtime: 1 hr

Villages by the Sea

Staithes
Archaeologist Ben Robinson visits the village of Staithes in North Yorkshire and unearths its role in kickstarting the chemical industry in the north east of England.
Runtime: 30 min i Available on iPlayer

Canal Walks with Julia Bradbury

Julia Bradbury walks along a 20km stretch of the Kennet and Avon Canal and tells how it was restored after being awarded a big lottery heritage grant.
Runtime: 30 min

Timeshift

From early call boxes to the Post Office Tower, Timeshift tells the story of how Britain's phone network was built over the course of 100 years, and its impact on the public.
Runtime: 1 hr

This is BBC Four

Programmes start at 7.00pm.
Runtime: 2 hr 15 min

This is BBC Four

Daily from 7.00pm.
Runtime: 13 hr 28 min

This is BBC Four

Programmes start at 7.00pm.
Runtime: 2 min

Villages by the Sea

Thorpeness
Archaeologist Ben Robinson uncovers the secrets of the Edwardian village of Thorpeness in Suffolk, the first purpose-built seaside village in the UK.
Runtime: 30 min i Available on iPlayer

Canal Walks with Julia Bradbury

Julia Bradbury walks along a six-mile stretch of the Llangollen Canal in Wales, where Thomas Telford built a mighty aqueduct that is now a world heritage site.
Runtime: 30 min

The Normans

Documentary series. Robert Bartlett explores the impact of the Norman conquest of Britain and Ireland, and looks at how England adapted to its new masters.
Runtime: 1 hr

Platoon

Vivid, Oscar-winning war drama following a 19-year-old college drop-out who signs up for service in Vietnam in 1967 and is plunged into the bloody chaos of life on the front line.
Runtime: 1 hr 55 min

Face to Face

American film-maker Oliver Stone, director of Platoon and Wall Street, talks to Jeremy Isaacs about his career and politics. First broadcast in 1990.
Runtime: 35 min

The Bridge at Remagen

The war in Europe enters its final stages as the Allies prepare to cross the Rhine. Hitler has ordered the destruction of all bridges across the river, but one small iron structure remains intact.
Runtime: 1 hr 55 min

Frequently Asked Questions

What is on BBC Four tonight?

Tonight (Thursday 12 March) on BBC Four, you can watch This is BBC Four, Villages by the Sea, Canal Walks with Julia Bradbury, and The Normans. 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 01:25 with The Bridge at Remagen.

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