Sunday

BBC Radio 4
Sunday
Latest episode

520 episodes

  • Sunday

    Archers at 75, Lebanese Icon, Religious language of war

    16/04/2026 | 43 mins.
    As talks between the United States and Iran get underway, Edward Stourton discusses the vivid use of religious language in the rhetoric surrounding the war in the Middle East with Dr Toby Matthiesen, Kamin Mohammadi and Dr Brian Klug.
    Uzbekistan has decided to include Sharia banking in the country's financial system. It's said it will unlock a trillion dollars in foreign investment. Atty Arsalan Tariq, a lawyer who specialises in Islamic and conventional finance explains how this will work.
    For many Lebanese the trauma of the current conflict with Israel stands out against the backdrop of Lebanon's long recent history of violence. For Toufic Diab, from Lebanon who lives in the UK, the icon of a Lebanese saint helps his faith and brings solace during this worrying time for his family back home.
    For 75 years the Archers has graced the airwaves with the story of everyday country folk in the fictional village of Ambridge. Like the village pub, the church has been at the centre of village life. John Telfer, who plays the Rev Alan Franks and Nick Warbuton, a writer on the show, look back at the role religion has played in this long running drama.
    Presenter: Edward Stourton
    Producers: Amanda Hancox and Jay Behrouzi
    Studio Managers: Tom Clarke and Nat Stokes
    Editor: Tim Pemberton
  • Sunday

    05/04/2026

    05/04/2026 | 41 mins.
    Less than two weeks since her installation as the new Archbishop of Canterbury, Dame Sarah Mullally is to give her first Easter sermon in the role. There is also controversy with the news that the King is not publishing an Easter message this year. Some point out that the King published a video message with greetings to Muslims during Ramadan, and wonder why the Supreme Governor of the Church of England is seemingly silent on the most important day in the Christian calendar.
    At a White House Easter event on Wednesday, evangelical pastors compared Donald Trump’s political troubles and a failed assassination attempt to the experience of Jesus on the cross, calling him God’s chosen champion in a “spiritual" battle that included the Iran war. Pope Leo and others believe peace-making is not only necessary, but possible.
    The crew of Artemis II are on their way to the moon, one of the personal items is a copy of the bible. Many astronauts have spoken of their experience of seeing the earth from deep space in spiritual terms, describing what has been described as an 'overview effect' - a sense of awe upon looking at Earth suspended in space.
    Presenter: William Crawley
    Producers: Katy Booth and James Leesley
    Studio managers: Lynsey Akehurst and Catherine Everatt
    Editor: Tim Pemberton
  • Sunday

    Bible Society 'Quiet Revival' report withdrawn over 'fraudlent' responses

    30/03/2026 | 44 mins.
    Sunday guides you through the religious and ethical issues of the week, including the news that a report claiming the number of young people attending church in England and Wales had skyrocketed, has now been retracted. It comes after the underlying data was found to be flawed. The Bible Society's "Quiet Revival" report had been widely reported on since its publication last year and became an accepted part of discourse among many Christians.
    Sir James MacMillan’s new 70-minute, 12-piece choral oratorio "Angels Unawares" has received it's world premiere in the Sistine Chapel. It's a moving piece about angelic encounters set to poetry by the late Robert Willis, the former Dean of Canterbury who died in 2024. William speaks to Sir James about the historic performance and his connection to faith.
    And as Christians around the world prepare for Palm Sunday, worshippers in Jerusalem are facing an unprecedented disruption to Holy Week, we explore the latest.
    PRESENTER: William Crawley
    PRODUCERS: Bara'atu Ibrahim and Linda Walker
    EDITOR: Chloe Walker
  • Sunday

    The enthronement of Archbishop Sarah Mullally at Canterbury Cathedral

    22/03/2026 | 43 mins.
    Sunday guides you through the time-honoured rituals of the enthronement of an Archbishop of Canterbury - and how the service will break new ground with an anthem based on the words of 14th century female mystic Julian of Norwich, put to music by Joanna Marsh.
    We will be hearing the stories of people in Iran as they mark Persian New Year and Eid in the midst of war.
    And the story of a new film that brought the first Christian hymn from papyrus to the big screen.
  • Sunday

    15/03/2026

    15/03/2026 | 43 mins.
    For Iranians living in the UK, the past weeks have been filled with uncertainty and fear for loved ones and growing concern about what happens next. We hear from Rev Mohammad Eghtedarian and his wife Maryam, who both fled Iran around the year 2000. Maryam was already a Christian and Mohammad converted on the journey he took as an asylum seeker coming to Britain.
    It can be difficult to think of what we want to happen to our remains after death. A step forward in providing an alternative to burial or cremation has been legalised in Scotland, known as aquamation. Could other parts of UK soon follow? There are theological considerations for those who believe in ‘the resurrection of the body and the life everlasting'.
    There is a new superhero on our screens. The Ninth Master is an English language film that follows a Sikh warrior who discovers martial arts. There are now touring screenings around the UK. Its director and lead actor, known as Flex Singh, has been speaking to Sunday.
    Presenter: Julie Etchingham
    Producers: Katy Booth, Rebecca Kelly and Felin Gakwaya
    Studio managers: Chris Mather, Phil Booth, Amy Brennan and Catherine Everatt
    Production co-ordinator: David Baguley
    Editor: Tim Pemberton

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About Sunday

A look at the ethical and religious issues of the week
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