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 on Thursday 21 May 2026 in the United States timezone with full listings and upcoming programmes.
Times shown in the United States timezone.
Channels
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Dates
BBC Four Schedule — Thu 21 May
Programming hasn’t started yet.
The first program is at 12:00 AM (12:00 AM UK Time )
12:00 AM
Andrew Davies: Rewriting the Classics — 00:00
How Andrew Davies transforms the classics into prime-time television. A profile exploring both his creative process and the influence of his childhood in Cardiff.
1:00 AM
From Ice to Fire: The Incredible Science of Temperature — 01:00
Helen Czerski explores the narrow band of temperature that has led to life on Earth and shows how all living creatures depend on temperature for its survival.
Runtime:
1 hr
2:00 AM
The Ruth Ellis Files: A Very British Crime Story — 02:00
Episode 3
Series re-examining the Ruth Ellis case. Gillian Pachter looks at Ruth's execution and the last-minute attempts to save her life, though Ruth herself was determined to die.
3:00 AM
This is BBC Four — 03:00
This is BBC Four
Programmes start at 7.00pm.
Runtime:
2 hr 30 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
University Challenge — 19:00
Episode 12
The universities of Bangor and Nottingham put fingers on buzzers for the first time. Jeremy Paxman asks the questions.
Runtime:
30 min
7:30 PM
Only Connect — 19:30
Episode 12
Quiz show presented by Victoria Coren in which patience and lateral thinking are as vital as knowledge, and connections need to be made between apparently unconnected things.
Runtime:
30 min
8:00 PM
Eve and Marilyn — 20:00
Eve Arnold photographed Marilyn Monroe in the 1950s and 60s and became the star's trusted confidante. She talks about Monroe and how their friendship developed.
Runtime:
30 min
8:30 PM
Gentlemen Prefer Blondes — 20:30
Classic comedy musical. A transatlantic trip brings romantic problems for showgirls Lorelei and Dorothy, seeking different things from men.
Runtime:
1 hr 30 min
10:00 PM
Scene by Scene — 22:00
Jane Russell
Hollywood sex symbol Jane Russell talks about her difficult childhood as the eldest and only girl of six siblings, her film career and working with Marilyn Monroe.
Runtime:
45 min
10:45 PM
How to Marry a Millionaire — 22:45
Monroe, Grable and Bacall star
Three New York models, looking for rich husbands, rent a luxurious apartment together to impress affluent bachelors, but things do not go to plan.
Runtime:
1 hr 30 min
Frequently Asked Questions
What is on BBC Four tonight?
Tonight (Thursday 21 May) on BBC Four, you can watch This is BBC Four, University Challenge, Only Connect, and Eve and Marilyn. 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 00:15 (19:15 your time) with How to Marry a Millionaire.
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.