What’s On BBC Four Today Wednesday 18 January 2023
A full run down of everything airing on BBC Four today.
19:00
Great British Railway Journeys
S10E05
How a radical reformer made his mark on Birmingham
Armed with his Bradshaw’s guide, Michael Portillo reaches Birmingham and discovers how a radical reformer made his mark on the `city of a thousand trades”. At Highbury Hall, he finds Joseph Chamberlain’s mansion home and hears how he established a political dynasty including a prime minister and a foreign secretary. Next stop is Cradley Heath, once one of five chain-making towns in the West Midlands. At the centre of Britain’s ceramic industry in Stoke-on-Trent, Michael visits Wedgwood, established by `Queen’s Potter” Josiah Wedgwood in 1759 and visited in 1913 by King George V and Queen Mary
19:30
The Joy of Painting
S01E05
A scene depicting a cloudy sky above crashing waves
20:00
Michael Palin’s New Europe
S01E02
Travels in Bulgaria and Turkey
The presenter joins the mystical White Brotherhood sect in Bulgaria’s Rila Mountains and travels to Sofia, where he meets a transvestite singer who has become an unlikely Balkan superstar. He then heads to the Asian side of Istanbul, where he learns belly dancing and discovers how many people in the country now consider themselves to be European. Michael also marvels at a camel-wrestling festival and visits a converted rock monastery
21:00
The Beginning and End of the Universe
S01E01
Professor Jim Al-Khalili unravels the cosmic mystery of science’s creation story
Professor Jim Al-Khalili unravels the cosmic mystery of science’s creation story, recreating key experiments to tackle the greatest question in science, beginning with how the universe came into being
22:00
Ken Loach: This Cultural Life
The film director discusses his influences and inspirations
22:30
Up the Junction: The Wednesday Play
Drama, starring Carol White
A well-to-do girl leaves her parents and comfortable home in fashionable Chelsea to sample life in working-class Battersea, but is not prepared for the culture shock awaiting her. Drama, starring Carol White, Geraldine Sherman and Vickery Turner. Directed by Ken Loach
23:40
Michael Palin’s New Europe
S01E02
Travels in Bulgaria and Turkey
The presenter joins the mystical White Brotherhood sect in Bulgaria’s Rila Mountains and travels to Sofia, where he meets a transvestite singer who has become an unlikely Balkan superstar. He then heads to the Asian side of Istanbul, where he learns belly dancing and discovers how many people in the country now consider themselves to be European. Michael also marvels at a camel-wrestling festival and visits a converted rock monastery
00:40
The Beginning and End of the Universe
S01E01
Professor Jim Al-Khalili unravels the cosmic mystery of science’s creation story
Professor Jim Al-Khalili unravels the cosmic mystery of science’s creation story, recreating key experiments to tackle the greatest question in science, beginning with how the universe came into being
01:40
Great British Railway Journeys
S10E05
How a radical reformer made his mark on Birmingham
Armed with his Bradshaw’s guide, Michael Portillo reaches Birmingham and discovers how a radical reformer made his mark on the `city of a thousand trades”. At Highbury Hall, he finds Joseph Chamberlain’s mansion home and hears how he established a political dynasty including a prime minister and a foreign secretary. Next stop is Cradley Heath, once one of five chain-making towns in the West Midlands. At the centre of Britain’s ceramic industry in Stoke-on-Trent, Michael visits Wedgwood, established by `Queen’s Potter” Josiah Wedgwood in 1759 and visited in 1913 by King George V and Queen Mary
02:10
The Joy of Painting
S01E05
A scene depicting a cloudy sky above crashing waves
02:40
Britain’s Lost Masterpieces
S03E03
Bendor Grosvenor believes a portrait once attributed to Rubens may in fact be a painting by Anthony Van Dyck
Petworth House in West Sussex is one of the great baroque treasure houses of England, and there Bendor Grosvenor finds two paintings that he feels warrant investigation. A portrait of a Lady from Genoa, that was once attributed to Rubens but Grosvenor is convinced is by Anthony Van Dyck, and a portrait of a young cardinal `in the style of” Titian, which Bendor believes may be by Titian himself. If this turned out to be the case it would be his greatest discovery so far
03:40
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