BBC Four TV Guide & Listings (Ireland Timezone)

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 Tuesday 20 January 2026 in the Ireland timezone with full listings and upcoming programmes.

Times shown in the Ireland timezone.

Heads up: you're viewing listings from Tuesday 20 January 2026. 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 RTร‰ One BBC Three (BBC3) CBeebies BBC News BBC Four BBC ALBA BBC Parliament BBC Scotland CBBC S4C
Dates
Yesterday Today Thu 22 Jan Fri 23 Jan Sat 24 Jan Sun 25 Jan Mon 26 Jan

The Fairy-Tale Castles of King Ludwig II with Dan Cruickshank

Dan Cruickshank looks at the extravagant 19th-century castles and palaces of King Ludwig II of Bavaria, believing them to be the work of an architectural genius ahead of his time.

I Am Martin Parr

Capturing Britain on camera
Discover the maverick behind some of the most iconic images of the past century on an intimate and exclusive road trip with a photographer whose work has revolutionised contemporary photography.
Runtime: 1 hr 5 min i Available on iPlayer

Face the Music

Joseph Cooper invites viewers to match their musical wits against guests Angela Down, Robin Ray and John Julius Norwich. With guest musician Bernard Haitink.
Runtime: 30 min

Art of Persia

Episode 1
Documentary series. Samira Ahmed journeys to places rarely seen by western audiences to reveal how the Persian Empire was born.

This is BBC Four

This is BBC Four
Programmes start at 7.00pm.
Runtime: 1 hr 50 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

Great British Railway Journeys

Preston to Rawtenstall
Michael Portillo strikes out to explore the Britain of his youth, starting at Prestonโ€™s Fulwood Barracks and heading across to Bury Bolton Street station in Greater Manchester.
Runtime: 30 min

Wainwright Walks

Helvellyn
Series in which Julia Bradbury explores the work of fell walker and author Alfred Wainwright. She sets off to climb Helvellyn via the fearsome ridge of Striding Edge.
Runtime: 30 min i Available on iPlayer

Yes, Prime Minister

Official Secrets
Classic political sitcom. When Jim Hacker's predecessor decides to publish his memoirs, the PM tries to suppress a chapter in which he appears unfavourably.
Runtime: 30 min i Available on iPlayer

Yes, Prime Minister

A Diplomatic Incident
Classic political sitcom. When Jim Hacker discovers the French are planning some dirty tricks to get political advantage, the PM turns the tables on them.
Runtime: 30 min i Available on iPlayer

JLB: The Man Who Saw the Future

Profile of John Logie Baird, the man who invented television, concentrating on how his dedication and drive made his achievements possible, presented by his son, Malcolm.
Runtime: 1 hr 15 min

The Birth of Television

Leslie Mitchell traces the origins of television, from the beginning of the 20th century to the first outside broadcast - the coronation of George VI in 1937.
Runtime: 1 hr 30 min

The Lost World of Tibet

Uncovering a hidden kingdom
Dan Cruickshank presents a documentary revealing the story of the Dalai Lama, his secret Himalayan kingdom and his exile, using eyewitness accounts and colour archive footage.
Next Day →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is on BBC Four tonight?

Tonight (Tuesday 20 January) on BBC Four, you can watch This is BBC Four, Great British Railway Journeys, Wainwright Walks, and Yes, Prime Minister. 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 00:45 (00:45 your time) with The Lost World of Tibet.

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