BBC Four TV Guide & Listings (United States 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 today in the United States timezone with full listings and upcoming programmes.

Times shown in the United States timezone. How to watch BBC iPlayer in the USA

Tonight's highlights

      
        7:00 PM
        
          Secrets of Skin
        
      What is the most toxic animal on earth? Why is a rhino armour plated? Professor Ben Garrod discovers the complex ways in which skin helps defend animals against threats of all kinds.

7:30 PM Weatherman Walking Derek Brockway learns how New Quay on Cardigan Bay inspired some of Thomas's greatest work, before touring Laugharne with Dylan Thomas's granddaughter.

8:00 PM What Are UFOs? After years in the shadows, UFOs are being studied seriously. Follow scientists as they try to unravel the mystery of the strangest objects in our skies.

8:50 PM Building Sights Architect Sir Norman Foster looks at the jumbo jet, a unique 'building' that flies. First broadcast in 1991.

Channels

BBC One (BBC1) BBC Two (BBC2) ITV1 ITV1 Anglia ITV1 Anglia West ITV1 Border ITV1 Central East ITV1 Central West ITV1 Granada ITV1 Meridian East ITV1 Meridian North ITV1 Meridian South ITV1 North ITV1 Tyne Tees ITV1 Wales ITV1 West Country ITV1 West ITV1 Yorkshire East ITV1 Yorkshire West STV Central STV North UTV Channel 4 Channel 5 BBC Three (BBC3) Film4 BBC Four CBeebies BBC News BBC ALBA ITV2 ITV3 ITV4 E4 More4 GREAT! movies Sky Arts RTÉ One Al Jazeera English BBC Parliament BBC Scotland Blaze Bloomberg TV Europe CBBC Challenge Challenge (IE) Channel 4+1 Court TV Dave ja vu DMAX DMAX+1 Drama+1 E4 Extra E4+1 Eden Eden+1 Euronews English Film4+1 Food Network Food Network+1 GREAT! action GREAT! action+1 GREAT! mystery GREAT! mystery+1 GREAT! romance GREAT! tv GREAT! tv+1 ITV Quiz ITV1+1 ITV1+1 Granada ITV1+1 Meridian ITV1+1 Midlands ITV2+1 ITV3+1 ITV4+1 LBC News Legend Legend Xtra Legend Xtra+1 London Live More4+1 Movies24 Movies24+ Newsmax TV PBS America Quest Red+1 Quest+1 Really Really+1 Rewind TV RTÉ Kids Jr RTÉ News RTÉ One+1 RTÉ Two RTÉ Two+1 S4C Sky Arts (IE) Sky Mix (IE) Sky News STV Central+1 STV North+1 Talking Pictures TV TG4 TLC TLC+1 True Crime True Crime Xtra True Crime+1 Virgin Media Four Virgin Media One Virgin Media One+1 Virgin Media Three Virgin Media Two W+1 Yesterday+1

BBC Four Schedule — Today

Programming hasn’t started yet.

The first program is at 12:20 AM (12:20 AM UK Time )

12:20 AM

Secrets of Skin — 00:20

Professor Ben Garrod explores how skin has evolved remarkable ways to enable animals to communicate with each other, from vibrant displays of colour to skin pouches to amplify sound.

Runtime: 30 min

12:50 AM

Weatherman Walking — 00:50

Derek Brockway walks in Dylan Thomas's footsteps around Swansea before heading to the Llansteffan Peninsula and the Three Rivers estuary.

Runtime: 30 min

1:20 AM

The Normans — 01:20

Professor Robert Bartlett explores the impact of the Normans on southern Europe and the Middle East, as they spread south in the 11th century.

Runtime: 1 hr

2:20 AM

Secrets of Size: Atoms to Supergalaxies — 02:20

In this mind-bending film, Jim Al-Khalili explores the universe at its smallest, from tiny insects to living cells and viruses, before finally arriving at the atom.

Runtime: 1 hr

3:20 AM

This is BBC Four — 03:20

This is BBC Four

Programmes start at 7.00pm.

Runtime: 2 hr 10 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

Secrets of Skin — 19:00

Defence

What is the most toxic animal on earth? Why is a rhino armour plated? Professor Ben Garrod discovers the complex ways in which skin helps defend animals against threats of all kinds.

Runtime: 30 min

7:30 PM

Weatherman Walking — 19:30

New Quay and Laugharne

Derek Brockway learns how New Quay on Cardigan Bay inspired some of Thomas's greatest work, before touring Laugharne with Dylan Thomas's granddaughter.

Runtime: 30 min i Available on iPlayer

8:00 PM

What Are UFOs? — 20:00

Out of the shadows

After years in the shadows, UFOs are being studied seriously. Follow scientists as they try to unravel the mystery of the strangest objects in our skies.

Runtime: 50 min i Available on iPlayer

8:50 PM

Building Sights — 20:50

Boeing 747

Architect Sir Norman Foster looks at the jumbo jet, a unique 'building' that flies. First broadcast in 1991.

Runtime: 10 min i Available on iPlayer

9:00 PM

Television's Opening Night: How the Box Was Born — 21:00

Dallas Campbell, Professor Danielle George and Dr Hugh Hunt attempt to restage the very first official broadcast on British television, exactly 80 years after it made history.

Runtime: 1 hr 30 min

10:30 PM

The Fools on the Hill — 22:30

Dramatisation of the events of 1936, as the BBC prepares for the world's first high-definition TV service. However, behind the scenes at Alexandra Palace complications arise.

Runtime: 1 hr 15 min

11:45 PM

Televison Comes to London — 23:45

Television Comes to London

A short film from 1936 that gives viewers an insight into how television came to Alexandra Palace.

Runtime: 20 min

Coming up tomorrow

Tomorrow on BBC Four — 5 November 2026

12:05 AM

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.
1:20 AM

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.
2:50 AM

Secrets of Skin

What is the most toxic animal on earth? Why is a rhino armour plated? Professor Ben Garrod discovers the complex ways in which skin helps defend animals against threats of all kinds.
3:20 AM

Weatherman Walking

Derek Brockway learns how New Quay on Cardigan Bay inspired some of Thomas's greatest work, before touring Laugharne with Dylan Thomas's granddaughter.
3:50 AM

This is BBC Four

Programmes start at 7.00pm.
5:30 AM

This is BBC Four

Daily from 7.00pm.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is on BBC Four tonight?

Tonight (Wednesday 04 November) on BBC Four, you can watch This is BBC Four, Secrets of Skin, Weatherman Walking , and What Are UFOs?. 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 00:05 (19:05 your time) with Televison Comes to London.

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.

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