BBC World Service Europe and the Middle East Schedule Friday 20 March 2026

Europe and the Middle East Schedule

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Early
Morning
Afternoon
Evening
Late

Early
1. 00:00GMT
  BBC News—20/03/2026 00:01 GMT
  The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
2. 00:06GMT
  The Explanation—The Media Show: Reporting from Inside Iran
  How CNN’s Frederik Pleitgen was one of the first journalists to gain access to the war(R)
3. 00:30GMT
  BBC News Summary—20/03/2026 00:30 GMT
  The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
4. 00:32GMT
  Unspun World with John Simpson—How is the Iran war impacting the global economy?
  John Simpson analyses the economic effects of the war in the Middle East
5. 01:00GMT
  BBC News—20/03/2026 01:01 GMT
  The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
6. 01:06GMT
  The Newsroom—20/03/2026 01:06 GMT
  The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
7. 01:30GMT
  BBC News Summary—20/03/2026 01:30 GMT
  The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
8. 01:32GMT
  The Global Story—The war in Lebanon, explained
  The BBC’s correspondent in Beirut on how we got here and what’s next(R)
9. 02:00GMT
  BBC News—20/03/2026 02:01 GMT
  The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
10. 02:06GMT
  The Newsroom—20/03/2026 02:06 GMT
  The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
11. 02:30GMT
  BBC News Summary—20/03/2026 02:30 GMT
  The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
12. 02:32GMT
  Tech Life—Screen time ‘rewiring our brains’
  The effect of screen time on young children. Plus a listener tells us his AI voice story.(R)
13. 03:00GMT
  BBC News—20/03/2026 03:01 GMT
  The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
14. 03:06GMT
  Outlook—The fighter pilot who saved 148 lives
  Fighter pilot Tammie Jo Shults calmy landed a passenger plane saving 148 people on board(R)
15. 03:50GMT
  Witness History—The 'Cyprus Emergency'
  In 1955, a paramilitary group called EOKA rebelled against British colonial rule(R)
16. 04:00GMT
  BBC News—20/03/2026 04:01 GMT
  The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
17. 04:06GMT
  The Newsroom—20/03/2026 04:06 GMT
  The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
18. 04:30GMT
  BBC News Summary—20/03/2026 04:30 GMT
  The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
19. 04:32GMT
  Heart and Soul—Can yoga be Christian?
  Can yoga be Christian? We meet practitioners and teachers debating a new type of practice
20. 05:00GMT
  BBC News—20/03/2026 05:01 GMT
  The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
21. 05:06GMT
  Newsday—Israel says it 'acted alone' in strikes on Iranian gas field
  The Israeli attack was followed by Iranian attacks on Qatari gas installations
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Morning
1. 06:00GMT
  BBC News—20/03/2026 06:01 GMT
  The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
2. 06:06GMT
  Newsday—Israel says it will hold off future attacks on Iranian gas fields
  Israeli Prime Minister rejected accusations that he'd dragged Trump into Iran war
3. 07:00GMT
  BBC News—20/03/2026 07:01 GMT
  The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
4. 07:06GMT
  Newsday—Gulf countries and Israel are under renewed attacks by Iran
  In Kuwait, multiple drone attacks have caused a fire at the Mina Al-Ahmadi oil refinery
5. 08:00GMT
  BBC News—20/03/2026 08:01 GMT
  The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
6. 08:06GMT
  The Interview—Ali Bahreini, Iran’s UN Ambassador: No surrender
  Evan Davis and Iran UN Ambassador Ali Bahreini discuss the war and strikes on Gulf states.
7. 08:30GMT
  BBC News Summary—20/03/2026 08:30 GMT
  The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
8. 08:32GMT
  Business Daily—The struggle to find care that sparked a business
  Greymate Care founder and CEO, Chika Madubuko, built a platform to make caregiving easier
9. 08:50GMT
  Witness History—Women's rights in independent Tunisia
  In 1956, Tunisia gained independence and soon gave new rights to women
10. 09:00GMT
  BBC News—20/03/2026 09:01 GMT
  The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
11. 09:06GMT
  The Newsroom—20/03/2026 09:06 GMT
  The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
12. 09:30GMT
  BBC News Summary—20/03/2026 09:30 GMT
  The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
13. 09:32GMT
  BBC Inside Science—Is quantum computing having its moment?
  The UK government announces a £2billion investment in quantum computing.(R)
14. 10:00GMT
  BBC News—20/03/2026 10:01 GMT
  The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
15. 10:06GMT
  Unexpected Elements—In the name of science
  Katy Perry vs Katie Perry, a trademark war has us exploring the science of names
16. 11:00GMT
  BBC News—20/03/2026 11:01 GMT
  The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
17. 11:06GMT
  The Newsroom—20/03/2026 11:06 GMT
  The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
18. 11:30GMT
  BBC News Summary—20/03/2026 11:30 GMT
  The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
19. 11:32GMT
  The Global Story—Netanyahu is not dead. So why did the internet think he was?
  Is Iran the first AI slop war?
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Afternoon
1. 12:00GMT
  BBC News—20/03/2026 12:01 GMT
  The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
2. 12:06GMT
  Outlook—Outlook Mixtape: On your bike
  Cycling to find love, redemption and a university education
3. 12:50GMT
  Witness History—Women's rights in independent Tunisia
  In 1956, Tunisia gained independence and soon gave new rights to women(R)
4. 13:00GMT
  BBC News—20/03/2026 13:01 GMT
  The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
5. 13:06GMT
  The Newsroom—20/03/2026 13:06 GMT
  The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
6. 13:30GMT
  BBC News Summary—20/03/2026 13:30 GMT
  The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
7. 13:32GMT
  Heart and Soul—Can yoga be Christian?
  Can yoga be Christian? We meet practitioners and teachers debating a new type of practice(R)
8. 14:00GMT
  BBC News—20/03/2026 14:01 GMT
  The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
9. 14:06GMT
  Newshour—Iran marks Persian new year under US-Israeli bombardment
  Several gulf countries are also celebrating Eid al-Fitr amidst Iranian attacks
10. 15:00GMT
  BBC News—20/03/2026 15:01 GMT
  The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
11. 15:06GMT
  The Interview—Ali Bahreini, Iran’s UN Ambassador: No surrender
  Evan Davis and Iran UN Ambassador Ali Bahreini discuss the war and strikes on Gulf states.(R)
12. 15:30GMT
  BBC News Summary—20/03/2026 15:30 GMT
  The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
13. 15:32GMT
  Business Daily—The struggle to find care that sparked a business
  Greymate Care founder and CEO, Chika Madubuko, built a platform to make caregiving easier(R)
14. 15:50GMT
  World Business Express—'Work from home and limit flights', urges IEA, as fuel crisis deepens
  The International Energy Agency says everyone needs to cut their energy consumption
15. 16:00GMT
  BBC News—20/03/2026 16:01 GMT
  The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
16. 16:06GMT
  Outside Source—Iran war: The global impact
  BBC correspondents give their analysis of the Iran war
17. 17:00GMT
  BBC News—20/03/2026 17:01 GMT
  The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
18. 17:06GMT
  Outside Source—Trump calls Nato allies 'cowards' over Strait of Hormuz
  Energy fears have kept oil prices high, hovering around $109 a barrel
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Evening
1. 18:00GMT
  BBC News—20/03/2026 18:01 GMT
  The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
2. 18:06GMT
  Outlook—Outlook Mixtape: On your bike
  Cycling to find love, redemption and a university education(R)
3. 18:50GMT
  Witness History—Women's rights in independent Tunisia
  In 1956, Tunisia gained independence and soon gave new rights to women(R)
4. 19:00GMT
  BBC News—20/03/2026 19:01 GMT
  The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
5. 19:06GMT
  The Newsroom—20/03/2026 19:06 GMT
  The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
6. 19:30GMT
  BBC News Summary—20/03/2026 19:30 GMT
  The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
7. 19:32GMT
  Sport Today—2026/03/20 GMT
  BBC sports correspondents tell the story behind today's top sporting news, with interviews and reports from across the world.
8. 20:00GMT
  BBC News—20/03/2026 20:01 GMT
  The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
9. 20:06GMT
  BBC Conversations—Navigating the Strait of Hormuz
  Sailors share their experiences of navigating the Strait
10. 20:30GMT
  BBC News Summary—20/03/2026 20:30 GMT
  The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
11. 20:32GMT
  CrowdScience—Can I unlock my car using my head?
  Wireless keys work better if you press them against your skull. But why?
12. 21:00GMT
  BBC News—20/03/2026 21:01 GMT
  The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
13. 21:06GMT
  Newshour—Trump calls Nato allies 'cowards'
  US President says Nato allies are "cowards" for refusing to help open Strait of Hormuz
14. 22:00GMT
  BBC News—20/03/2026 22:01 GMT
  The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
15. 22:06GMT
  The Newsroom—20/03/2026 22:06 GMT
  The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
16. 22:30GMT
  BBC News Summary—20/03/2026 22:30 GMT
  The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
17. 22:32GMT
  World Business Report—IEA warns looming global energy crisis is worst in history
  The body says the world faces the “greatest global energy security challenge in history”
18. 23:00GMT
  BBC News—20/03/2026 23:01 GMT
  The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
19. 23:06GMT
  The Interview—Ali Bahreini, Iran’s UN Ambassador: No surrender
  Evan Davis and Iran UN Ambassador Ali Bahreini discuss the war and strikes on Gulf states.(R)
20. 23:30GMT
  BBC News Summary—20/03/2026 23:30 GMT
  The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
21. 23:32GMT
  Heart and Soul—Can yoga be Christian?
  Can yoga be Christian? We meet practitioners and teachers debating a new type of practice(R)
Back to top
Late
1. 00:00GMT
  BBC News—21/03/2026 00:01 GMT
  The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
2. 00:06GMT
  Unexpected Elements—In the name of science
  Katy Perry vs Katie Perry, a trademark war has us exploring the science of names(R)
3. 01:00GMT
  BBC News—21/03/2026 01:01 GMT
  The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
4. 01:06GMT
  The Newsroom—21/03/2026 01:06 GMT
  The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
5. 01:30GMT
  BBC News Summary—21/03/2026 01:30 GMT
  The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
6. 01:32GMT
  The Global Story—Netanyahu is not dead. So why did the internet think he was?
  Is Iran the first AI slop war?(R)
7. 02:00GMT
  BBC News—21/03/2026 02:01 GMT
  The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
8. 02:06GMT
  The Newsroom—21/03/2026 02:06 GMT
  The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
9. 02:30GMT
  BBC News Summary—21/03/2026 02:30 GMT
  The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
10. 02:32GMT
  This Is Africa—Senzaa and Josiah De Disciple
  DJ Edu meets the Togolese Beyonce, Senzaa, and amapiano pioneer Josiah De Disciple
11. 03:00GMT
  BBC News—21/03/2026 03:01 GMT
  The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
12. 03:06GMT
  Outlook—Outlook Mixtape: On your bike
  Cycling to find love, redemption and a university education(R)
13. 03:50GMT
  Witness History—Women's rights in independent Tunisia
  In 1956, Tunisia gained independence and soon gave new rights to women(R)
14. 04:00GMT
  BBC News—21/03/2026 04:01 GMT
  The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
15. 04:06GMT
  Unexpected Elements—In the name of science
  Katy Perry vs Katie Perry, a trademark war has us exploring the science of names(R)
16. 05:00GMT
  BBC News—21/03/2026 05:01 GMT
  The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
17. 05:06GMT
  The Newsroom—21/03/2026 05:06 GMT
  The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen
18. 05:30GMT
  BBC News Summary—21/03/2026 05:30 GMT
  The latest two minute news summary from BBC World Service.
19. 05:32GMT
  Dear Daughter—Being a girl dad
  Ajit from India talks about how tough it is for his daughters in a male dominated society
20. 05:50GMT
  More or Less—Paul Ehrlich: The man who bet England wouldn’t exist by the year 2000
  Why Paul Ehrlich’s dire predictions about a population collapse failed to materialise

Saturday 21 March 2026

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