BBC Four HD TV Guide & Broadcast Schedule
united kingdom
..programmes start at 7.00pm
This is BBC Four
Programmes start at 7.00pm. [HD]
Marin Alsop's Pick of the Proms
The legendary conductor reflects on her history-making Last Night of the Proms in 2013 and a favourite moment from this year, Yunchan Lim's triumphant season opener. [S] [HD]
Rhapsody in Blue at the Proms
A trio of soloists play Gershwin's jazz infused classic like you've never heard it before. [S] [HD]
TOTP: 2000
Jamie Theakston presents the pop chart programme, featuring Santana, Savage Garden, Moloko, Precious, M2M, N'n'G ft Kallaghan, Beck and Melanie C ft Lisa 'Left Eye' Lopes. [S]
TOTP: 2000
Gail Porter presents the pop chart programme, first broadcast on 7 April 2000 and featuring B*Witched, Destiny's Child, Moloko, Atomic Kitten, Idlewild, Santana and Westlife. [S]
TOTP: 1986
Gary Davies presents the pop chart programme, featuring The Communards, MC Miker G & DJ Sven, Bruce Hornsby and The Range, Bon Jovi, Frankie Goes to Hollywood and Boris Gardiner. [S]
TOTP: 1989
Bruno Brookes presents the pop chart programme, first broadcast on 7 September 1989 and featuring Marillion, Alyson Williams and Jason Donovan. [S]
Bee Gees at the BBC... and Beyond
Classic Bee Gees studio performances, including rare 60s ones from European TV, the big hits of the 70s and some late performances from the 90s, with the trio in perfect harmony. [S]
Barry Gibb: Glastonbury 2017
Barry Gibb takes to the Pyramid Stage for the Sunday afternoon legends slot at Glastonbury 2017. Contains scenes of flashing images. [S] [HD]
TOTP2: Bee Gees Special
A Bee Gees special featuring an interview with Barry, Robin and Maurice Gibb, and performances specially recorded for TOTP2. [S]
TOTP: 1986
Gary Davies presents the pop chart programme, featuring The Communards, MC Miker G & DJ Sven, Bruce Hornsby and The Range, Bon Jovi, Frankie Goes to Hollywood and Boris Gardiner. [S]
TOTP: 1989
Bruno Brookes presents the pop chart programme, first broadcast on 7 September 1989 and featuring Marillion, Alyson Williams and Jason Donovan. [S]
TOTP: 2000
Jamie Theakston presents the pop chart programme, featuring Santana, Savage Garden, Moloko, Precious, M2M, N'n'G ft Kallaghan, Beck and Melanie C ft Lisa 'Left Eye' Lopes. [S]
Top of the Pops
Gail Porter presents the pop chart programme, first broadcast on 7 April 2000 and featuring B*Witched, Destiny's Child, Moloko, Atomic Kitten, Idlewild, Santana and Westlife. [S]
Bee Gees at the BBC... and Beyond
Classic Bee Gees studio performances, including rare 60s ones from European TV, the big hits of the 70s and some late performances from the 90s, with the trio in perfect harmony. [S]
This is BBC Four
Programmes start at 7.00pm. [HD]
..programmes start at 7.00pm
..programmes start at 7.00pm
..programmes start at 7.00pm
This is BBC Four
Programmes start at 7.00pm. [HD]
Africa's Lion Kings
A pride of lions has rewritten the rules - they have learnt to take down elephants. [S] [HD]
Life on Earth
12/13. David Attenborough's now-legendary encounter with young gorillas is featured in this episode as he looks at the history of primates. [S]
Great Railway Journeys:...
...Confessions of a Trainspotter. 5/8. Self-confessed railway enthusiast Michael Palin travels from Euston in London to the Kyle of Lochalsh, along routes steeped in history. [S]
New: Beck
A pastor dies in a fire, and Alex learns the other pastor is someone from her past. Contains some strong language, some violence and some upsetting scenes. [S] [HD]
To the Manor Born
5/8. Sitcom. DeVere hosts the traditional hunt ball but asks Marjory to organise it instead of Audrey, who in turn arranges an exquisite revenge. [S]
Keeping Up Appearances
4/7. Sitcom. Hyacinth volunteers to meet a special guest for the ladies' luncheon club, a retired commodore. It is a task that puts Hyacinth in a compromising position. [S]
The History of Pubs
The pub has been a cornerstone of British society since medieval times. But in the past 50 years, the pub has undergone massive change. Narrated by Arthur Smith. [S]
Steve Backshall's Extreme Mountain Challenge
1/2. Steve Backshall attempts to climb Venezuela's tepuis - ancient, sheer-sided mountains. Contains some strong language. [S,AD] [HD]
Life on Earth
12/13. David Attenborough's now-legendary encounter with young gorillas is featured in this episode as he looks at the history of primates. [S]
Great Railway Journeys:...
...Confessions of a Trainspotter. 5/8. Self-confessed railway enthusiast Michael Palin travels from Euston in London to the Kyle of Lochalsh, along routes steeped in history. [S]
This is BBC Four
Programmes start at 7.00pm. [HD]
..programmes start at 7.00pm
..programmes start at 7.00pm
BBC Four HD is a UK public television channel operated by the BBC, delivering high-definition broadcasts focused on arts, international drama, history, science, and music documentaries. This tv guide provides viewers with a clear overview of how the channel's schedule is structured, helping you locate upcoming broadcasts, daily programming, and evening showtimes.
About BBC Four HD
Launched in 2002 (with its high-definition feed introducing native HD resolution in 2013), BBC Four HD serves as a dedicated platform for culturally rich and intellectually stimulating programming. Operating primarily during evening and late-night hours, the channel shares multiplex capacity with CBeebies, which broadcasts earlier in the day. As part of the British Broadcasting Corporation's public service mandate, BBC Four HD operates free of commercial advertising and is available across digital terrestrial (Freeview), satellite (Freesat, Sky), cable (Virgin Media), and online streaming platforms such as BBC iPlayer within the United Kingdom.
BBC Four HD TV Guide and Daily Schedules
Understanding the tv guide for BBC Four HD allows viewers to plan their evening entertainment efficiently. Because BBC Four HD begins its broadcast day in the evening—typically around 19:00 GMT/BST—its daily schedule focuses heavily on primetime and late-night viewing windows.
A standard daily schedule includes:
- Early Evening (19:00 – 21:00): In-depth documentaries covering history, science, fine art, and architecture, often accompanied by archive music performances.
- Primetime (21:00 – 23:00): Acclaimed foreign-language drama series (often referred to as "Nordic Noir" or international thriller strands), feature-length arts retrospectives, and original topical documentaries.
- Late Night (23:00 Onwards): Performance art, classic music concerts, archival re-runs, and full-length documentary repeat broadcasts.
TV Guide Listings for Tonight on BBC Four HD
When searching for tv guide listings for tonight, viewers can expect a curated lineup designed for targeted interests. Evening schedules on BBC Four HD are usually structured around themed nights or dedicated weekly strands.
To check what is playing tonight:
- Review the evening airtimes starting from the channel's 19:00 sign-on.
- Check whether tonight features a single feature-length documentary, a double-bill episode of an international drama series, or an archive music theme night.
- Note whether programs are broadcast in native HD or upscaled from classic archive tapes.
- Verify episode details to distinguish between brand-new premiere broadcasts and archival re-runs.
Because exact program times can vary due to live arts coverage, special events, or seasonal adjustments, always consult the active electronic program guide (EPG) or digital listings for the exact minute-by-minute schedule for tonight.
Key Programming Categories
BBC Four HD specializes in specific genres that distinguish it from mainstream entertainment channels:
- Documentaries: Comprehensive explorations of visual arts, classical music, world history, literature, philosophy, and modern science.
- International Drama: Subtitled foreign-language series from Europe, Scandinavia, and beyond, providing specialized crime, mystery, and period drama broadcasts.
- Music & Performance: Dedicated archive footage of classic pop and rock performances, opera, classical concerts, jazz retrospectives, and live theatrical events.
- Archival Treasures: Curated selections from the extensive BBC television archive, including classic interviews, historical news programs, and classic comedy or cultural retrospectives.
How to Use the TV Schedule Efficiently
Navigating the schedule for BBC Four HD is straightforward when keeping a few viewing practicalities in mind:
First, identify the air date and confirm that you are viewing times aligned with UK local time (GMT or BST depending on the season). Second, look out for multi-part series or themed evenings, where connected documentaries or drama episodes run back-to-back. Finally, if you miss a scheduled linear broadcast, most BBC Four HD programs remain accessible for catch-up viewing via the BBC iPlayer platform shortly after their airtime.
Regional and Availability Information
BBC Four HD is broadcast nationally across the United Kingdom. While the core television schedule remains uniform across England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, minor variations in broadcast delivery may occur depending on your transmission platform:
| Platform | Availability | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Freeview / Digital Terrestrial | UK-wide | Shares channel capacity with CBeebies HD. |
| Freesat & Sky Satellite | UK-wide | Broadcasts free-to-air in high definition. |
| Virgin Media Cable | UK Cable areas | Included in basic HD channel tiers. |
| BBC iPlayer | UK-wide (Internet) | Offers live HD streaming and on-demand catch-up. |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the BBC Four HD TV guide?
The BBC Four HD TV guide is a broadcast schedule detailing program names, start times, episode descriptions, and genre details for all shows airing on BBC Four HD throughout the evening and night.
What time does BBC Four HD start broadcasting each day?
BBC Four HD typically begins its daily evening broadcasts at 19:00 UK time, following the conclusion of CBeebies daytime programming on the same channel frequency.
Where can I find tv guide listings for tonight on BBC Four HD?
You can find tonight's listings on digital EPGs via your TV set-top box, online TV guide directories, or directly on the official BBC iPlayer schedule page.
Does BBC Four HD broadcast 24 hours a day?
No, BBC Four HD does not broadcast 24 hours a day. It operates as an evening and late-night channel, typically closing down in the early hours of the morning (around 03:00 or 04:00).
Are schedules for BBC Four HD the same across the UK?
Yes, the core linear schedule for BBC Four HD is nationally synchronized across the UK, though viewers should always ensure their provider listings account for seasonal daylight saving time changes.