BBC Radio 4 Extra
Comedy, drama and entertainment from the BBC archive
Listen live to BBC Radio 4 Extra online for BBC comedy, drama, plays, stories, archive shows, readings and spoken-word entertainment.
About BBC Radio 4 Extra
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Frequencies & locations:
- DAB – Available nationally on DAB Digital Radio across the UK.
- Freeview – Available on Freeview channel 708.
- Sky – Available on Sky channel 0126 in the UK.
- Virgin Media – Available on Virgin Media channel 910.
- BBC Sounds – Available through BBC Sounds as BBC Radio 4 Extra.
- Online – Listen live online through Radio Player UK.
BBC Radio 4 Extra is the BBC’s national digital station for comedy, drama, stories, readings and archive spoken-word entertainment. It is closely linked to BBC Radio 4, but its job is different: instead of live news and current affairs, Radio 4 Extra gives listeners a place to hear classic BBC speech programmes, radio plays, sitcoms, serials, book readings and character-led storytelling.
The station is especially useful for listeners who want radio with depth, imagination and a bit of escape. Its schedule draws heavily from the BBC spoken-word archive, so the output can move from vintage comedy to crime drama, science fiction, literary adaptations, panel shows, short stories, documentaries and classic entertainment. That range gives the station a different feel from both modern talk radio and music-led digital stations.
BBC Radio 4 Extra began life as BBC 7 before being relaunched under the Radio 4 Extra name in 2011. Its strength is the way it keeps older and much-loved audio programmes alive while also giving listeners an easy route into BBC drama, comedy and storytelling. For fans of radio plays, archive comedy, serialised fiction and spoken-word shows, it remains one of the most distinctive BBC radio services.
Notable shows & presenters are:
- David McFetridge: Listed as a BBC Radio 4 Extra presenter and associated with continuity and station presentation, linking the schedule together around comedy, drama and archive programming.
- The Unbelievable Truth: A BBC comedy panel show frequently associated with Radio 4 and Radio 4 Extra repeats, built around lies, truths and quick-witted comic performances.
- Paul Merton: A major BBC radio comedy figure whose work and archive appearances connect strongly with Radio 4 Extra’s comedy output and archive entertainment.
- Hancock’s Half Hour: Classic BBC radio comedy often associated with Radio 4 Extra’s archive comedy appeal, starring Tony Hancock and built around one of British radio’s most influential sitcom formats.
- The Goon Show: Landmark BBC radio comedy featuring Spike Milligan, Peter Sellers and Harry Secombe, representing the kind of influential archive comedy Radio 4 Extra listeners look for.
- Saturday Drama: A drama strand associated with Radio 4 and Radio 4 Extra schedules, giving space to longer-form plays, adaptations, thrillers and character-led storytelling.
- Short Works: A short-form storytelling strand used for compact fiction, literary voices and standalone audio stories within the wider BBC speech archive.
- Podcast Radio Hour: A BBC speech programme that has appeared in Radio 4 Extra schedules, guiding listeners through podcast recommendations, audio storytelling and spoken-word listening.
Contact Information
Official website:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4extra
Studio email:
radio4extra@bbc.co.uk
BBC Switchboard:
+44 20 8743 8000
Postal address:
BBC Radio 4 Extra
BBC Broadcasting House
London
W1A 1AA
United Kingdom
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BBCRadio4
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bbcradio4/
X / Twitter: https://x.com/BBCRadio4Extra
BBC Radio 4 Extra FAQ
What is BBC Radio 4 Extra?
BBC Radio 4 Extra is a national BBC digital radio station focused on comedy, drama, plays, stories, readings, archive shows and spoken-word entertainment.
Can I listen to BBC Radio 4 Extra live online?
Yes. You can listen to BBC Radio 4 Extra live online through Radio Player UK using the player on this page.
What programmes are on BBC Radio 4 Extra?
BBC Radio 4 Extra features BBC comedy, radio drama, archive entertainment, short stories, book readings, plays, serials, panel shows and spoken-word programmes.
Is BBC Radio 4 Extra available on DAB?
Yes. BBC Radio 4 Extra is available nationally on DAB Digital Radio in the UK, as well as on Freeview, Sky, Virgin Media, BBC Sounds and online.
Is BBC Radio 4 Extra the same as BBC Radio 4?
No. BBC Radio 4 focuses on live speech radio, news, current affairs, documentaries, drama and comedy, while BBC Radio 4 Extra is mainly built around archive comedy, drama, stories, plays and spoken-word entertainment.