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Today (News)

  • Next available on BBC Radio 4 LW 198
  • With James Naughtie and Sarah Montague. Including Sports Desk, Yesterday in Parliament, Weather, Thought for the Day.
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  • Host: James Naughtie, John Humphries
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Last updated 334 days ago Update show info

Today: 'Call of darkness' inspired Bacon

Wed, Dec 9 Listen
Did sado-masochism play a pivotal role in artist Francis Bacon's creativity? John Richardson, an art historian who knew the artist from the 1940s, writes in the latest edition of the New York Review of Books that Mr Bacon was at his artistic best during his tumultuous relationship with George Dyer, and never recovered his previous form after Mr Dyer's suicide in 1971. John Richardson reflects on Bacon's works and life.

Today: Bonus supertax 'all about politics'

Wed, Dec 9 Listen
The Chancellor Alistair Darling will stake his government's future on tax rises for the rich to bring down a record budget deficit in today's pre-budget report (PBR). With the promised economic recovery still on hold and an election due in less than six months it is the most eagerly anticipated PBR since Gordon Brown introduced them in 1997. Robert Chote, director of the Institute for Fiscal Studies, and Lionel Barber, editor of the Financial Times discuss the expected policies. Political...

Wed, Dec 9 Listen
Including Sports Desk; Weather; Thought for the Day.

Today: 100th UK Afghan death 'increases determination'

Tue, Dec 8 Listen
Yesterday saw another grim milestone in Afghanistan: the 100th British soldier to be killed there this year. General Sir Richard Dannatt was head of the army until August this year. He has since become an adviser to the Conservatives and has granted the Today programme his first public interview since retiring.

Today: Knox guilty verdict 'stuns' US

Tue, Dec 8 Listen
The American public are angered at the guilty verdict passed on Amanda Knox for the murder of British student Meredith Kercher in Italy. Newspapers and broadcasters have been discussing the best strategies for a successful appeal for Ms Knox, who was sentenced to 26 years in prison in an Italian court last week. Correspondent Kevin Connolly reports from Washington on the reaction to the case.

Tue, Dec 8 Listen
Including Yesterday in Parliament; Sports Desk; Weather; Thought for the Day.

Today: Who is in Who's Who for 2010?

Mon, Dec 7 Listen
The 2010 edition of Who's Who goes on sale today. Richard Fitzwilliams was the editor of International Who's Who for 16 years and says it should be more up to date.

Today: 'A deal consistent with the science'

Mon, Dec 7 Listen
Delegates from 192 countries are gathering in the Danish capital Copenhagen for the opening of the long-awaited UN summit on climate change. The conference has been described by some scientists as the most important the world has ever seen. Climate Change Secretary Ed Miliband outlines the conference's aims.

Mon, Dec 7 Listen
Including Sports Desk; Weather; Thought for the Day.

Today: Politicians 'want science certainty'

Sat, Dec 5 Listen
How do you balance scientific facts with public policy? Scientists are faced with pressure to present evidence on issues of public policy, and to lobby for a particular outcome. Leaked emails from the University of East Anglia which imply that climate change data was manipulated have demonstrated the clash between politics and science. Correspondent Tom Feilden reports on the latest 'emailgate' developments, and Professor Malcolm Grant, President and Provost of UCL, discusses how far...

Today: Rankin 'cack-handed' with technology

Sat, Dec 5 Listen
Do you prefer to write with a keyboard or pen? A typewriter belonging to American novelist Cormac McCarthy has sold for 150,000 at an auction in New York. The old light blue Olivetti machine was used by the novelist for 50 years, and has shocked some writers who use a computer to work. Crime writer Ian Rankin, who uses a computer, and author Philip Henshaw who writes his works with a green pen, discuss writers' implement of choice.

Sat, Dec 5 Listen
Including Sports Desk, Weather, Thought for the Day; Yesterday in Parliament.

Today: Intelligent cinema 'a casualty'

Fri, Dec 4 Listen
Does an all-star cast make or break a movie? The film "Nine" which had its UK premiere in London last night, is notable for its long list of big name stars including Daniel Day-Lewis, Nicole Kidman, Judi Dench, Penelope Cruz, Sophia Loren, and Marion Cotillard. Oscar wining director Ken Russell and The Times' film critic James Christopher debate how far a cast-list contributes to a film's success.

Today: 'The political implications of this are huge'

Fri, Dec 4 Listen
Emails stolen from the University of East Anglia's Climate Research Unit reveal that figures on global warming were changed to exacerbate the threat. The UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has told the BBC it is taking the matter very seriously and will investigate the emails. Saudi Arabia has said that the emails will have a "huge impact" on the talks and that countries will now be unwilling to cut emissions. Environment correspondent Richard Black outlines the accusations....

Fri, Dec 4 Listen
Including Sports Desk; Weather; Thought for the Day; Yesterday in Parliament.

Today: Bhopal's victims 25 years on

Thu, Dec 3 Listen
25 years ago today the central Indian city of Bhopal awoke to the horror of the world's worst industrial disaster. 40 tons of a deadly gas had leaked from the Union Carbide pesticide plant, killing more than 8,000 people living in the poor and densely populated neighbourhoods nearby. Correspondent Allan Little reports from Bhopal and investigates how people are still trying to cope with the damage.

Today: Care review's 'very mixed picture'

Thu, Dec 3 Listen
A comprehensive account of adult care services by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) is published today. The CQC identified eight councils where services are in urgent need of improvement - Poole, Cornwall, Solihull, Surrey, South Tyneside, Southwark, Peterborough and Bromley. With an increase in the number of elderly people in care homes, or receiving care at home, the quality of social care is urgent. 'Pamela', who is campaigning for better standards in care reflects on her experiences, and...

Thu, Dec 3
Including Sports Desk; Weather; Thought for the Day; Yesterday in Parliament.

Today: 'Too late to worry' about Afghan cost

Wed, Dec 2 Listen
President Obama has announced that he will send another 30,000 troops to Afghanistan, taking the total number of US troops in the country to more than 100,000. The president warned that America's commitment was not open-ended and that the military would start withdrawing in 2011 and urged other Nato countries to do more. Britain confirmed this week that it would send another 500 troops, taking its total deployment to 10,000. Chief of the Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshall Sir Jock Stirrup,...

Today: Sri Lanka tsunami recovery 'remarkable'

Wed, Dec 2 Listen
Former cricketer Sir Ian Botham is visiting Sri Lanka five years after the tsunami. Sir Ian outlines how sport has helped the island's communities to recover from the disaster.

Today: The agricultural impact of conflict

Tue, Dec 1 Listen
Olive trees across the West Bank provide a livelihood to Palestinian farmers. But many olive groves lie close to Jewish settlements and for years there have been attacks on Palestinian trees. An Israeli human rights group says complaints of damage to thousands of trees are failing to result in charges. Correspondent Bethany Bell reports from the West Bank.

Today: 'Regions key to Afghan success'

Tue, Dec 1 Listen
Western powers are increasing their offensive in Afghanistan. President Obama is set to make his long awaited speech on US strategy in Afghanistan, where it is expected he will send up to 35,000 more US forces. Yesterday Gordon Brown announced 500 more British troops would be sent to the region. Foreign Secretary David Miliband, and Michael Clarke, Director of the Royal United Services Institute, discuss Afghan policy.

Today: The Royal Society puts historic papers online

Mon, Nov 30 Listen
The Royal Society celebrates its 350th anniversary next year, launching a new website featuring some of the most exciting and influential discoveries published in its journals from Isaac Newton's explanation of the rainbow to Crick and Watson's description of the structure of DNA. Our science correspondent Tom Feilden reports on the fascinating archive.

Today: 'A lot of people are living in a fools paradise'

Mon, Nov 30 Listen
Share prices have fallen sharply in the United Arab Emirates, as investors react to the debt crisis in Dubai. Economics correspondent Stephanie Flanders, Sir Howard Davies, Director of the London School of Economics and Terry Smith, chief executive of the money brokers Tullett Prebon, debate the future of the Emirate's economy.

Today: What makes bad sex in literature?

Sat, Nov 28 Listen
The winner of the Bad Sex in Fiction awards will be announced on Monday. The annual awards, now in their 17th year, celebrate the most embarrassing passage of sexual description in a literary novel from the last 12 months. Although last years winner was a women, Rachel Johnson, the shortlist this year suggest that the serial offenders are male novelists of a certain age. Authors Lionel Shriver and Howard Jacobsen discuss what makes a cringe-worthy prose.

Today: Commons 'will bury Chilcot report'

Sat, Nov 28 Listen
What has been learnt from the first week of the Chilcot inquiry into the Iraq war? Guardian columnist Simon Jenkins likened the inquiry to a circus. Mr Jenkins and Peter Hennessy, Whitehall historian, discuss whether the inquiry will have any affect.

Today: How to solve a cryptic crossword

Fri, Nov 27 Listen
How do you complete a cryptic crossword? A new book published today provides tips and pointers for answering the clues. Colin Dexter, author of the book and creator of Inspector Morse, and Sandy Balfour, author of Clue to our Lives: 80 years of the Guardian Cryptic Crossword, discuss how best to approach a crossword's cryptic teasers.

Today: NHS ratings 'can be misleading'

Fri, Nov 27 Listen
A taskforce is being sent to Basildon and Thurrock NHS trust after Care Quality Commission inspectors identified serious concerns in emergency care, hygiene and cleanliness. The Trust, which has a mortality rate a third higher than the national average, was rated as "good" on quality of service in the CQC's 2008/09 assessment and marked "excellent" for its financial management. Martina Davies, a former patient at the hospital, comments on her experience of care. Sir Brian Jarman, of Imperial...

Today: Iran's youthful opposition

Thu, Nov 26 Listen
Mohsen Makhmalbaf, Iranian filmmaker and overseas spokesman for Iranian presidential candidate Mir-Hossein Mousavi, is in London to receive the 2009 Freedom to Create Prize. He was presented with the award last night and has dedicated it to Grand Ayatollah Montazeri who has become the spiritual leader of the Iranian opposition. Mr Makhmalbaf discusses the support for the opposition movement.

Today: Water price cuts 'could stop leak programmes'

Thu, Nov 26 Listen
Water companies and industry regulator Ofwat are engaged in discussions over the future pricing of water. Ofwat advise that bills should be reduced by 2015, but water companies insist bills need to rise to pay for improvements and repairs, warning that jobs will be lost. Business presenter Adam Shaw examines the discussions and Pamela Taylor, chief executive of Water UK, discusses water pricing.

Including Yesterday in Parliament; Sports Desk; Weather; Thought for...

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With James Naughtie and Sarah Montague. Including Sports Desk, Yesterday in Parliament, Weather, Thought for the Day.

Including Sports Desk; Weather; Thought for the Day; Yesterday in...

Sat, Dec 12
With James Naughtie and Justin Webb. Including Sports Desk, Weather, Thought for the Day, Yesterday in Parliament.

Including Sports Desk; Weather; Thought for the Day.

Mon, Dec 14
With James Naughtie and Justin Webb. Including Sports Desk; Weather; Thought for the Day.

Including Yesterday in Parliament; Sports Desk; Weather; Thought for...

Tue, Dec 15
With Evan Davis and Sarah Montague. Including Sports Desk, Yesterday in Parliament, Weather, Thought for the Day.

Including Sports Desk; Weather; Thought for the Day, Yesterday in...

Wed, Dec 16
With Justin Webb and Sarah Montague. Including Sports Desk; Weather; Thought for the Day, Yesterday in Parliament.

Including Sports Desk; Weather; Thought for the Day.

Thu, Dec 17
With Justin Webb and Sarah Montague. Including Sports Desk; Weather; Thought for the Day.

Including Sports Desk; Weather; Thought for the Day.

Fri, Dec 18
With John Humphrys and Evan Davis. Including Sports Desk; Weather; Thought for the Day.

Including Sports Desk, Weather, Thought for the Day.

Sat, Dec 19
With Evan Davis and John Humphrys. Including Sports Desk; Weather; Thought for the Day.

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