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.
Heads up: you're viewing listings from Thursday 12 March 2026. Jump to today's schedule.
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Dates
Thu 12 Mar
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BBC Four Schedule — Thu 12 Mar
Programming hasn’t started yet.
The first program is at ( UK Time )
Light and Dark — 00:15
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 — 01:15
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.
Canal Walks with Julia Bradbury — 01:45
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 — 02:15
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 — 03:15
This is BBC Four
Programmes start at 7.00pm.
Runtime:
2 hr 15 min
This is BBC Four — 05:30
This is BBC Four
Daily from 7.00pm.
Runtime:
13 hr 28 min
This is BBC Four — 18:58
This is BBC Four
Programmes start at 7.00pm.
Runtime:
2 min
Villages by the Sea — 19:00
Thorpeness
Archaeologist Ben Robinson uncovers the secrets of the Edwardian village of Thorpeness in Suffolk, the first purpose-built seaside village in the UK.
Canal Walks with Julia Bradbury — 19:30
The Llangollen Canal
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 — 20:00
Conquest
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 — 21:00
The first casualty of war is innocence
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 — 22:55
Oliver Stone
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 — 23:30
Courage under fire
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.