Radio 4 for beginners

[strawberrie]

So, I've decided that in a bid to become better informed about current affairs, culture and generally the world beyond my immediate neighbourhood I'd like to get into radio 4. Once the kids go back to school/nursery next week I'll have a bit of time around the house and would like some good informed, witty and interesting stuff to listen to. So what's good? Anything's got to be better than Jeremy Vine...

I listen to Radio 4 podcasts in the car. I have the following on subscription:

Womans Hour
You and Yours highlights
Moneybox
Food programme
Friday night comedy (Now show and News Quiz)
Infinite Monkey cage
Elements
More or Less
Punt PI
Kitchen Cabinet

I drive for work so spend quite a lot of time in the car - sometimes I get a bit behind and skip through things I am less interested in.

Obviously The Today Programme for current affairs, then Start the Week, Mid Week etc, really interesting guests, Women's Hour, Desert Island Discs and Broadcasting House on Sunday Morning - and of course, The Archers if you fancy.

If I could actually remember everything I learnt on R4, I would be so cultured!

Any questions also good, and some of the afternoon dramas although these can be a bit hit& miss. Also enjoy the moral maze and inside the ethics committee, both very thought privoking

Just have it on all day. It's amazing. Especially In Our Time and....everything else.

Oooh, lots of things. With Great Pleasure - in fact I suggest you start with iPlayer and listen to the recent one that John Finnemore did. When it's on, The News Quiz - usually 6.30 on Fridays. Women's Hour. I'm sorry I Haven't a Clue. You and Yours. Witness. Inside the Ethics Committee. And many more.

One of the things I really love about Radio 4 is that you can just put it on at random times of day and become immersed in a fascinating, quirky programme that you didn't know was on. It is one of the main reasons why the BBC has to be kept free of commercial interests, a commercial station would never broadcast that type of programme.

I loathe You and Yours and The Moral Maze - too Daily Mail for me.
I'm really enjoying Inside the Ethics Committee at the moment, it's a tough listen but very thought provoking.
Woman's Hour is a must - either the daily one or the "best bits" at the weekend.
PM is good - but maybe a bit late if you are listening during the school day.
There is usually a good short drama in the afternoon which ends at 3pm - perfect timing for me.
I also enjoy the Book of the Week - which comes on after Woman's Hour and is repeated in the evening.
More or Less is brilliant.
I've learned huge amounts listening to In Our Time - if it's not being broadcast then have a look at all the old episodes on line - it is pretty much a complete education.
A Life Scientific is much better than Desert Island Discs IMO.
In fact, I listen to it all. Except for You and Yours and The Moral Maze - then I turn off. Oh and I turn off Any Answers too - it is too close to being like Down the Line to be comfortable listening.

just everything on radio 4...I started listening 2.5 yrs ago when I was falling apart emotionally and just heartbroken..couldn't bear any music/songs as ll the lyrics were huge triggers (I know melodramatic and indulging my inner teenager but at the time was horrific).
I learnt so much from listening to stuff I previously would have thought dull.
My faves are The Food Programme, and Just a minute is very funny.
I am also now addicted to the archers !
Just tune in an listen to everything...

Everything everyone has said.

However, I wouldn't do R4 on its own; there's too much you will want to avoid You And Yours and non-stop insincere, performed anger (every discussion prog) might put you off the whole idea.

Alternate with R3 - particularly after 9pm and all day on Saturday.

If you get into The Archers you will wonder how you ever lived before it. And you will definitely want to come and join us on the Archers thread!

I agree with PerspicaciaTick - I'll listen to anything except The Moral Maze, Any Questions and Any Answers. And I don't really like Poetry Please, though I often enjoy individual poems.

Inside the Ethics Committee is very good, isn't it? More or Less is also brilliant in a very different way. I'm enjoying Punt PI a lot as well.

Another vote for Women's Hour. I usually pop radio 4 on throughout the day - there usually seems to be something on... which can often grab your attention. The recent Misogyny Book Club is worth catching on iPlayer. And when I've had enough I switch over to radio 6 for a good eclectic mix of music!

A Good Read, Desert Island Discs, Gardener's Question Time (i don't even garden really but i have an odd fascination), i don't mind Any Qs and Any As, especially since i don't get to see Question Time much. The Now Show....

As others have said just put it on and you'll hear all kinds!

R4 has a wide variety of programmes. My favourites include In Our Time and the Life Scientific. I've been listening to the Archers sinceI was in the womb, and I sometimes sneaked the bathroom radio into my room so I could listen to the Saturday night edition of the Classic Serial. A lot of great comedy started out on R4 before movibg to TV (although some execrable stuff also did.) And there is loads of information on all sorts of stuff, be it Moneybox or other consumer programmes or health programmes or interviews or From Our Own Correspondent or an article on Women's Hour, or just a book adaptation or... And sometimes (11am quite often), there will be a programme on something you would never have thought would be interesting and yet you end up learning all sorts of really random stuff.

When I am home, R4 is usually on in the background - if you do this night and day, weekdays and weekends, you will become aware of the number of repeats, which is why my parents eventually got a TV. And not all programmes are always good - Desert Island Discs can be fascinating, but with some interviewees, it's a real struggle. So you might need to give it a bit of time (mind you, it's good that there is some duff programming, because it means I can get other stuff done.)

Whatever your interests, there should be something to suit you on R4.

Thank you all for your suggestions! As icimoi put it, I like the idea of finding out about something totally random. I don't necessarily have to be listening live so will investigate downloading the podcasts too. Lots to explore...

is all you need to know .

If I could actually remember everything I learnt on R4, I would be so cultured!

^^ this .

Also - I have discovered that early Saturday evening there is a really good jazz programme on R3 - I don't know much about jazz but it is really great in the background when making tea (or drinking wine).

I actually even listen to gardeners question time even though I have absolutely no interest in gardening what so ever...I have no idea what they are talking about most of the time but have learnt some stuff and the voices are very soothing !!!!

I love A Good Read, and have got lots of ideas about things to read out with my usual comfort zone there.

And Open Book.

Clare Balding's programme where she goes for a walk with people is another one I like.

Gardener's Question Time is do comforting

Also an Archers listener!

Hate You and Yours, and that Saturday Live show is an abomination on a par with the One Show.

theredjellybean I listened to GQT even when I didn't have a garden .

IndridCold that's brilliant. 'In our time, the programme that just starts'

I love PM, woman's hour and lots if the comedy. I really enjoyed Fair Cop recently.

I also enjoyed inside the ethics committee.

OP, my username comes from a R4 comedy that is currently being repeated on R4 extra so you can catch it on iplayer. Called Cabin Pressure, it's brilliant

Archive on Four is great too, last week I listened to a programme about cultural differences in "misunderstanding Japan" and one on the history of women broadcasters.

The World Service book club has an interesting interview with Jeanette Winterson about Oranges Are Not The Only Fruit that I'm half way through and The Food Programme interviewed Len Deighton about being a food writer, illustrator and creator of Harry Palmer.

There was also an interesting thing on Sunday about a dog walker on Morecambe Bay that may have found a piece of ambergris (sperm whale sick, used in perfume and very expensive, if genuine). The interview was flawless.

There really is an eclectic mix to listen too

TTL - I love cabin pressure

and its remarkable how gardeners question time soothed my broken heart , frankly when any song on radio 2 was sending me into crying fits listening to Doris from Dorset ask what she should plant in her south facing seaside borders was akin to the best councelling in the world...

"In our time, the programme that just starts" - brilliant!

That is a worryingly good spoof of it all. Especially the astute observation that 6pm is all the SAME STUFF we just listened to from 5pm-6pm with different voices and no jokes.

Indrid - that Jake Yapp clip is superb. Thank you.

The Now Show, I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue, The Today Show, Money Box, Gardener's Question Time. Ahhhh I love R4 .

Travelling did you hear John Finnemore on With Great Pleasure last week? He had Carolyn Stephanie Cole and Mr Birling doing the readings.

Broadcasting House on Sunday mornings and PM are favorites of mine, news but with a lighter touch.