Editing Channel 4 (section)

==Programming==
{{Main|List of Channel 4 television programmes}}
Channel 4 is a "publisher-broadcaster", meaning that it commissions or "buys" all of its programming from companies independent of itself. It was the first UK broadcaster to do so on a significant scale; such commissioning is a stipulation which is included in its licence to broadcast.<ref name="schools"/> In consequence, numerous independent production companies emerged, though external commissioning on the [[BBC]] and in ITV (where a quota of 25% minimum of total output has been imposed since the [[Broadcasting Act 1990]] came into force) has become regular practice, as well as on the numerous stations that launched later. Although it was the first British broadcaster to commission all of its programmes from third parties, Channel 4 was the last terrestrial broadcaster to outsource its transmission and playout operations (to [[Red Bee Media]]), after 25 years in-house.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2007/nov/14/channel4.television1 |work=The Guardian |location=London |title=Channel 4 outsources to Red Bee |first=Caitlin |last=Fitzsimmons |date=14 November 2007 |access-date=1 April 2010 |archive-date=9 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210309034109/https://www.theguardian.com/media/2007/nov/14/channel4.television1 |url-status=live }}</ref>

The requirement to obtain all content externally is stipulated in its licence.<ref name="licence"/> Additionally, Channel 4 also began a trend of owning the copyright and distribution rights of the programmes it aired, in a manner that is similar to the major Hollywood studios' ownership of television programmes that they did not directly produce.{{citation needed|date=June 2011}} Thus, although Channel 4 does not produce programmes, many are seen as belonging to it.

It was established with a specific intention of providing programming to groups of minority interests, not catered for by its competitors, which at the time were only the [[BBC]] and [[ITV (TV network)|ITV]].<ref name="tbsseefour">{{cite web |url=http://www.transdiffusion.org/emc/seefour/yes.php |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070124205530/http://www.transdiffusion.org/emc/seefour/yes.php |archive-date=24 January 2007 |title=Yes it's no |author=Russ J Graham |website=Transdiffusion Broadcasting System |date=11 September 2005 |access-date=23 March 2007}}</ref>

Channel 4 also pioneered the concept of 'stranded programming', where seasons of programmes following a common theme would be aired and promoted together. Some would be very specific, and run for a fixed period of time; the ''[[4 Mation]]'' season, for example, showed innovative animation. Other, less specific strands, were (and still are) run regularly, such as ''[[T4 (Channel 4)|T4]]'', a strand of programming aimed at teenagers, on weekend mornings (and weekdays during school/college holidays); ''Friday Night Comedy'', a slot where the channel would pioneer its style of comedy commissions, ''4Music'' (now a separate channel) and ''4Later'', an eclectic collection of offbeat programmes transmitted in the early hours of the morning.

For a period in the mid-1980s, some sexually explicit [[arthouse]] films would be screened with a ''[[Red triangle (Channel 4)|red triangle]]'' graphic in the upper right of the screen.

In recent years concerns have arisen regarding a number of programmes made for Channel 4, that are believed missing from all known archives.<ref>{{cite web |title=Whatever Happened to the Channel 4 Archive? |url=https://transdiffusion.org/2023/04/14/whatever-happened-to-the-channel-4-archive/}}</ref>

=== Most watched programmes ===
The following is a list of the 10 most watched shows on Channel 4 since launch, based on Live +28 data supplied by [[BARB]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.barb.co.uk/whats-new/weekly-top-30 |title=Weekly Top 30 Programmes |publisher=Barb.co.uk |date=28 October 2012 |access-date=7 November 2012 |archive-date=19 September 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140919035351/http://www.barb.co.uk/whats-new/weekly-top-30 |url-status=live }}</ref> and archival data published by Channel 4.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.channel4.com/media/documents/corporate/foi-docs/4_at_25.pdf |title=Top 50 Programmes on Channel 4 1982 – 2007 |access-date=9 February 2016 |archive-date=25 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210225102039/http://www.channel4.com/media/documents/corporate/foi-docs/4_at_25.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Rank !! Programme or film !! Viewers (millions) !! Date
|-
| style="text-align:center;"|1 || ''[[A Woman of Substance (1985 TV series)|A Woman of Substance]]'' || 13.85 || 4 January 1985
|-
|style=text-align:center;  |2 || ''[[Big Brother (British TV series)|Big Brother]]'' ||13.74|| 27 July 2001
|-
|style="text-align:center;"|3 || ''[[A Woman of Substance (1985 TV series)|A Woman of Substance]]'' || 13.20 || 3 January 1985
|-
| style="text-align:center;"|4 || ''[[Four Weddings and a Funeral]]'' || 12.40 || 15 November 1995
|-
| style="text-align:center;"|5 || ''[[A Woman of Substance (1985 TV series)|A Woman of Substance]]'' || 11.55 || 2 January 1985
|-
| style="text-align:center;"|6 || ''[[The Great British Bake Off]]''|| 11.21 || 22 September 2020
|-
| style="text-align:center; |7 || ''[[Gregory's Girl]]''|| 10.75 || 8 January 1985
|-
| style="text-align:center; |8 || ''[[The Great British Bake Off]]'' || 10.54 || 30 October 2018
|-
| style="text-align:center; |9 || ''[[The Great British Bake Off]]'' || 10.13 || 31 October 2017
|-
|style="text-align:center; |10 || ''[[The Great British Bake Off]]'' || 10.03 || 27 August 2019 
|}

=== Comedy ===
During the station's early days, the screenings of innovative short one-off [[comedy films]] produced by a rotating line-up of alternative comedians went under the title of ''[[The Comic Strip Presents]]''. ''[[The Optimist (TV series)|The Optimist]]'' was the world's first dialogue-free television comedy, and one of the channel's earliest commissioned programs. ''[[The Tube (1982 TV series)|The Tube]]'' and ''[[Saturday Live (British TV programme)|Saturday Live/Friday Night Live]]'' also launched the careers of a number of comedians and writers. Channel 4 broadcast a number of popular American imports, including ''[[Cheers]]'', ''[[The Cosby Show]]'', ''[[Roseanne]]'', ''[[Home Improvement (TV series)|Home Improvement]]'', ''[[Friends]]'', ''[[Sex and the City]]'', ''[[Everybody Loves Raymond]]'', ''[[South Park]]'', ''[[Family Guy]]'', ''[[Futurama]]'', ''[[Frasier]]'', ''[[Scrubs (TV series)|Scrubs]]'', and ''[[Will & Grace]]''. Other significant US acquisitions include ''[[The Simpsons]]'', for which the station was reported to have paid £700,000 per episode for the terrestrial television rights back in 2004, and continues to air on the channel daily.

In April 2010, Channel 4 became the first UK broadcaster to adapt the American comedy institution of [[Roast (comedy)|roasting]] to British television, with ''[[A Comedy Roast]]''.<ref name="Guardian5Apr2010">{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2010/apr/05/comedy-roasts-channel-4 |title=Channel 4 launches comedy roast shows |newspaper=The Guardian |date=5 April 2010 |access-date=8 April 2010 |location=London |first=Stephen |last=Armstrong |archive-date=9 April 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100409092243/http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010/apr/05/comedy-roasts-channel-4 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Channel4AComedyRoastEpisodeGuide">{{cite web |url=http://www.channel4.com/programmes/a-comedy-roast/episode-guide |title=A Comedy Roast – Series & Episodes |publisher=Channel 4 |website=www.channel4.com/programmes/a-comedy-roast/episode-guide |date=n.d. |access-date=8 April 2010 |archive-date=16 April 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100416012250/http://www.channel4.com/programmes/a-comedy-roast/episode-guide |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 2010, Channel 4 organised ''[[Channel 4's Comedy Gala]]'', a comedy [[benefit show]] in aid of [[Great Ormond Street Children's Hospital]]. With over 25 comedians appearing, it billed it as "the biggest live stand up show in United Kingdom history". Filmed live on 30 March in front of 14,000 at [[The O2 Arena]] in London, it was broadcast on 5 April.<ref name="Channel4Sales11Feb2010">{{cite web |url=http://channel4sales.com/news/11/02/2010/comedy+royalty+unite+for+channel+4s+comedy+gala |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100926195042/http://channel4sales.com/news/11/02/2010/comedy%2Broyalty%2Bunite%2Bfor%2Bchannel%2B4s%2Bcomedy%2Bgala |archive-date=26 September 2010 |title=Comedy Royalty unite for Channel 4's Comedy Gala |publisher=Channel 4 |website=www.channel4sales.com/news |date=11 February 2010 |access-date=30 March 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref> This has continued to 2016.

In 2021, Channel 4 decided to revive [[The British Comedy Awards]] as part of its Stand Up To Cancer programming. The ceremony, billed as The National Comedy Awards was due to be held in the spring of 2021 but was delayed twice due to the Coronavirus pandemic and eventually held a year later.<ref>{{cite web|url = https://www.comedy.co.uk/tv/news/6644/national-comedy-awards-postponed/|title = C4's new National Comedy Awards postponed – News| website=[[British Comedy Guide]] |date = 7 December 2021|access-date = 23 December 2021|archive-date = 14 December 2021|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20211214185959/https://www.comedy.co.uk/tv/news/6644/national-comedy-awards-postponed/|url-status = live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.thenationalcomedyawards.com/about|title= About the show|access-date= 23 December 2021|archive-date= 28 October 2021|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20211028232806/https://www.thenationalcomedyawards.com/about|url-status= live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tvzoneuk.com/post/c4comedyawards-postponed|title=C4 Postpones National Comedy Awards Ceremony|date=8 December 2021|access-date=23 December 2021|archive-date=8 December 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211208193950/https://www.tvzoneuk.com/post/c4comedyawards-postponed|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.chortle.co.uk/news/2021/12/07/49792/omicron_halts_national_comedy_awards|title=Omicron halts National Comedy Awards : News 2021 : Chortle : The UK Comedy Guide|access-date=23 December 2021|archive-date=8 December 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211208194657/https://www.chortle.co.uk/news/2021/12/07/49792/omicron_halts_national_comedy_awards|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Factual and current affairs ===
Channel 4 has a strong reputation for history programmes and documentaries. Its news service ''[[Channel 4 News]]'' is supplied by [[ITN]], whilst its long-standing investigative documentary series, ''[[Dispatches (TV programme)|Dispatches]]'', gains attention from other media outlets. Its live broadcast of the first public [[autopsy]] in the UK for 170 years, carried out by [[Gunther von Hagens]] in 2002 and the 2003 one-off stunt ''[[Derren Brown]] Plays Russian Roulette Live'' proved controversial.

A season of television programmes about [[masturbation]], called ''[[Wank Week]]'', was to be broadcast in the United Kingdom by Channel 4 in March 2007. The series came under public attack from senior television figures, and was pulled amid claims of declining editorial standards and concern for the channel's [[public service broadcasting]] credentials.<ref>{{cite news|last=Deans|first=Jason|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2007/feb/02/broadcasting.channel4 |title=Channel 4 postpones 'wank week' programming |work=The Guardian |access-date=11 December 2016 |archive-date=18 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210618155005/https://www.theguardian.com/media/2007/feb/02/broadcasting.channel4 |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== FourDocs ===
FourDocs was an online documentary site provided by Channel 4. It allowed viewers to upload their own documentaries to the site for others to view. It focused on documentaries of between 3 and 5 minutes. The website also included an archive of classic documentaries, interviews with documentary filmmakers and short educational guides to documentary-making. It won a [[Peabody Award]] in 2006.<ref>{{cite web|title=four docs|url=https://peabodyawards.com/award-profile/four-docs/|access-date=26 February 2022|website=The Peabody Awards}}</ref> The site also included a strand for documentaries of under 59 seconds, called "Microdocs".

=== Schools programming ===
Channel 4 is obliged to carry schools programming as part of its remit and licence.<ref name="schools"/>

==== ITV Schools on Channel 4 ====
{{main|ITV Schools on Channel 4}}

Since 1957 ITV had produced schools programming, which became an obligation.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.schoolstv.com/itvschoolsonitv_history.shtml?1 |title=schoolsTV.com – ITV for SCHOOLS & COLLEGES – HISTORY |access-date=16 February 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070706195151/http://www.schoolstv.com/itvschoolsonitv_history.shtml?1|archive-date=6 July 2007}}</ref> In 1987, five years after the station was launched, the IBA afforded ITV free carriage of these programmes during Channel 4's then-unused weekday morning hours. This arrangement allowed the ITV companies to fulfil their obligation to provide schools programming, whilst allowing ITV itself to broadcast regular programmes complete with advertisements. During the times in which schools programmes were aired [[ITV Central|Central Television]] provided most of the [[continuity (broadcasting)|continuity]] with play-out originating from Birmingham.<ref name="itvschools">{{cite web|date=6 July 2007|title=schoolsTV.com – ITV SCHOOLS on CHANNEL 4 – HISTORY|url=http://www.schoolstv.com/itvschoolson4_history.shtml?1|access-date=26 February 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070706195104/http://www.schoolstv.com/itvschoolson4_history.shtml?1|archive-date=6 July 2007}}</ref>

==== Channel 4 Schools/4Learning ====

After the restructuring of the station in 1993, ITV's obligations to provide such programming on Channel 4's airtime passed to Channel 4 itself, and the new service became Channel 4 Schools, with the new corporation administering the service and commissioning its programmes, some still from ITV, others from independent producers.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.schoolstv.com/ch4schools_9397_history.shtml?1 |website=SchoolsTV.com |title=Channel 4 Schools: 1993–1997 History |access-date=16 February 2008 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070705142339/http://www.schoolstv.com/ch4schools_9397_history.shtml?1 |archive-date = 5 July 2007}}</ref>

In March 2008, the 4Learning interactive new media commission Slabovia.tv<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.slabovia.tv/ |title=Home |website=Slabovia.tv |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160120045545/http://www.slabovia.tv/ |archive-date=20 January 2016}}</ref> was launched. The Slabplayer<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.slabovia.tv/SlabPlayer |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130706142013/http://www.slabovia.tv/SlabPlayer |archive-date=6 July 2013 |title=Capsulink |access-date=14 July 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref> online media player showing TV shows for teenagers was launched on 26 May 2008.

The schools programming has always had elements which differ from its normal presentational package. In 1993, the Channel 4 Schools idents featured famous people in one category, with light shining on them in front of an industrial-looking setting supplemented by instrumental calming music. This changed in 1996 with the circles look to numerous children touching the screen, forming circles of information then picked up by other children. The last child would produce the Channel 4 logo in the form of three vertical circles, with another in the middle and to the left containing the Channel 4 logo.

A present feature of presentation was a countdown sequence featuring, in 1993 a slide with the programme name, and afterwards an extended sequence matching the channel branding. In 1996, this was an extended ident with timer in top left corner, and in 1999 following the adoption of the squares look, featured a square with timer slowly make its way across the right of the screen with people learning and having fun while doing so passing across the screen. It finished with the Channel 4 logo box on the right of the screen and the name 'Channel 4 Schools' being shown. This was adapted in 2000 when the service's name was changed to '4Learning'.{{citation needed|date=April 2018}}

In 2001, this was altered to various scenes from classrooms around the world and different parts of school life. The countdown now flips over from the top, right, bottom and left with each second, and ends with four coloured squares, three of which are aligned vertically to the left of the Channel 4 logo, which is contained inside the fourth box. The tag 'Learning' is located directly beneath the logo. The final countdown sequence lasted between 2004 and 2005 and featured a background video of current controversial issues, overlaid with upcoming programming information. The video features people in the style of graffiti enacting the overuse of CCTV cameras, fox hunting, computer viruses and pirate videos, relationships, pollution of the seas and violent lifestyles. Following 2005, no branded section has been used for schools programmes.{{citation needed|date=April 2018}}

=== Religious programmes ===
From the outset, Channel 4 did not conform to the expectations of conventional religious broadcasting in the UK. John Ranelagh, first commissioning editor for religion, made his priority 'broadening the spectrum of religious programming' and more 'intellectual' concerns.<ref name=":0">{{cite journal |last=Wallis |first=Richard |date=27 January 2016 |title=Channel 4 and the declining influence of organized religion on UK television. The case of Jesus: The Evidence |journal=Historical Journal of Film, Radio and Television |volume=36 |issue=4 |pages=668–688 |doi=10.1080/01439685.2015.1132821 |s2cid=147313606 |issn=0143-9685 |url=http://eprints.bournemouth.ac.uk/22578/4/Wallis._01_02_2016_Channel_4.1.pdf |doi-access=free |access-date=5 July 2019 |archive-date=24 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210224020832/http://eprints.bournemouth.ac.uk/22578/4/Wallis._01_02_2016_Channel_4.1.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> He also ignored the religious programme advisory structure that had been put in place by the BBC, and subsequently adopted by ITV. Ranelagh's first major commission caused a furore, a three-part documentary series called ''[[Jesus: The Evidence]]''. The programmes, transmitted during the Easter period of 1984, seemed to advocate the idea that the Gospels were unreliable, Jesus may have indulged in witchcraft, and that he may not have even existed. The series triggered a public outcry, and marked a significant moment in the deterioration in the relationship between the UK's broadcasting and religious institutions.<ref name=":0" />

=== Film ===
Numerous genres of film-making – such as comedy, drama, documentary, adventure/action, romance and horror/thriller – are represented in the channel's schedule. From the launch of Channel 4 until 1998, film presentations on C4 would often be broadcast under the "Film on Four" banner.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.screenonline.org.uk/film/id/840487/index.html |title=Channel 4 Films/Film on Four/FilmFour |website=BFI Screenonline |access-date=20 July 2019 |archive-date=25 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210225163627/http://www.screenonline.org.uk/film/id/840487/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.screenonline.org.uk/film/id/1304135/index.html |title=Channel 4 and Film |last=Brooke |first=Michael |website=BFI Screenonline |access-date=20 July 2019 |archive-date=29 October 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191029174304/http://www.screenonline.org.uk/film/id/1304135/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

In March 2005, Channel 4 screened the uncut [[Lars von Trier]] film ''[[The Idiots]]'', which includes unsimulated sexual intercourse, making it the first UK terrestrial channel to do so. The channel had previously screened other films with similar material but censored and with warnings.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/channel-4-faces-investigation-for-breaking-last-sexual-taboo-on-tv-528238.html |title=Channel 4 faces investigation for breaking last sexual taboo on TV: Ofcom inquiry into screening of unpixellated penetrative sex in Lars von Trier's 'The Idiots' |last=Barnes |first=Anthony |date=13 March 2005 |work=The Independent |access-date=20 July 2019 |archive-date=26 December 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171226131848/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/channel-4-faces-investigation-for-breaking-last-sexual-taboo-on-tv-528238.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.campaignlive.com/article/channel-4-avoids-action-complaints-idiots-orgy/476762 |title=Channel 4 avoids action on complaints about Idiots orgy |last=Farey-Jones |first=Daniel |date=24 May 2005 |website=Campaign |access-date=20 July 2019 |archive-date=10 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210310062853/https://www.campaignlive.com/article/channel-4-avoids-action-complaints-idiots-orgy/476762 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Since 1 November 1998, Channel 4 has had a digital subsidiary channel dedicated to the screening of films. This channel launched as a paid subscription channel under the name "FilmFour", and was relaunched in July 2006 as a free-to-air channel under the current name of "[[Film4]]". The Film4 channel carries a wide range of film productions, including acquired and Film4-produced projects. Channel 4's general entertainment channels [[E4 (TV channel)|E4]] and [[More4]] also screen feature films at certain points in the schedule as part of their content mix.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.tvwhirl.co.uk/presentation/channel-4/film4/ |title=Film4 |last=Burridge |first=Terence |website=TV Whirl |access-date=20 July 2019 |archive-date=11 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210411034603/https://www.tvwhirl.co.uk/presentation/channel-4/film4/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Global warming ===
{{See also|Climate change in the United Kingdom}}
On 8 March 2007, Channel 4 screened a documentary, ''[[The Great Global Warming Swindle]]'' stating that [[global warming]] is "a lie" and "the biggest scam of modern times".<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2007/mar/6/20070306-122226-6282r/ |title=Global warming labeled a 'scam' |newspaper=The Washington Times |access-date=10 January 2017 |archive-date=28 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210428023516/https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2007/mar/6/20070306-122226-6282r/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The programme's accuracy were disputed on multiple points, and commentators criticised it for being one-sided, observing that the mainstream position on global warming is supported by the scientific academies of the [[G8|major industrialised nations]].<ref name="Houghton">{{cite web |last=Houghton |first=John |title=The Great Global Warming Swindle |publisher=The John Ray Initiative |url=http://www.jri.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=137&Itemid=83 |access-date=12 March 2007 |archive-date=18 March 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090318203906/http://www.jri.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=137&Itemid=83 |url-status=live }}</ref> There were 246 complaints to [[Ofcom]] as of 25 April 2007,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/science/2007/apr/25/controversiesinscience.channel4 |title=Move to block emissions 'swindle' DVD |date=25 April 2007 |access-date=25 April 2007 |work=The Guardian |location=London |first=David |last=Adam |archive-date=10 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210610040727/https://www.theguardian.com/science/2007/apr/25/controversiesinscience.channel4 |url-status=live }}</ref> including allegations that the programme falsified data.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.independent.co.uk/media/article2521677.ece |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070510030950/http://news.independent.co.uk/media/article2521677.ece |archive-date=10 May 2007 |title=C4 accused of falsifying data in documentary on climate change |access-date=20 May 2007 |work=The Independent |location=London |first=Steve |last=Connor |date=8 May 2007}}</ref> The programme was criticised by scientists and scientific organisations, and various scientists who participated in the documentary claimed their views had been distorted.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2007/mar/11/broadcasting.science |title=Climate scientist 'duped to deny global warming' |last1=Goldcare|first1=Ben|last2=Adam|first2=David|date=11 March 2007 |work=The Guardian |access-date=20 July 2019 |archive-date=10 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210610021042/https://www.theguardian.com/media/2007/mar/11/broadcasting.science |url-status=live }}</ref>

''[[Against Nature (documentary)|Against Nature]]'': An earlier controversial Channel 4 programme made by [[Martin Durkin (director)|Martin Durkin]] which was also critical of the environmental movement and was charged by the UK's [[Independent Television Commission]] for misrepresenting and distorting the views of interviewees by selective editing.<ref name=":1">{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2008/jul/21/climatechange.carbonemissions1 |title=Why does Channel 4 seem to be waging a war against the greens? |last=Monbiot |first=George |date=21 July 2008 |work=The Guardian |access-date=20 July 2019 |archive-date=9 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210609101504/http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2008/jul/21/climatechange.carbonemissions1 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.badscience.net/2007/03/against-nature-channel-4-tonight/ |title=Against Nature – Channel 4 tonight |last=Goldacre |first=Ben |date=8 March 2007 |website=Bad Science |access-date=20 July 2019 |archive-date=8 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308092949/https://www.badscience.net/2007/03/against-nature-channel-4-tonight/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

''[[The Greenhouse Conspiracy]]'': An earlier Channel 4 documentary broadcast on 12 August 1990, as part of the ''[[Equinox (TV programme)|Equinox]]'' series, in which similar claims were made.<ref name=":1" /> Three of the people interviewed (Lindzen, Michaels and Spencer) were also interviewed in ''[[The Great Global Warming Swindle]]''.

=== Ahmadinejad's Christmas speech ===
In the ''[[Alternative Christmas message|Alternative Christmas address]]'' of 2008, a Channel 4 tradition since 1993 with a different presenter each year, Iranian President [[Mahmoud Ahmadinejad]] made a thinly veiled attack on the United States by claiming that Christ would have been against "bullying, ill-tempered and expansionist powers".

The broadcast was rebuked by human rights activists, politicians and religious figures, including [[Peter Tatchell]],<ref name=":2">{{cite news |url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/anger-as-ahmadinejad-delivers-christmas-message-on-channel-4-28461412.html |title=Anger as Ahmadinejad delivers Christmas message on Channel 4 |last=Belfast Telegraph |date=25 December 2008 |work=Belfast Telegraph |access-date=20 July 2019 |archive-date=21 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190721002154/https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/anger-as-ahmadinejad-delivers-christmas-message-on-channel-4-28461412.html |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Louise Ellman]],<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/7799652.stm |title=Ahmadinejad show 'causes offence' |date=25 December 2008 |work=BBC News |access-date=20 July 2019 |archive-date=21 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190721002159/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/7799652.stm |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Ron Prosor]]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/europe/2008/12/2008122614288623436.html |title=UK criticises Ahmadinejad broadcast |last=Agencies |date=26 December 2008 |access-date=20 July 2019 |archive-date=21 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190721002156/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/europe/2008/12/2008122614288623436.html |url-status=live }}</ref> and Rabbi Aaron Goldstein.<ref name=":2" /> A spokeswoman for the [[Foreign and Commonwealth Office]] said: "President Ahmadinejad has, during his time in office, made a series of appalling anti-Semitic statements. The British media are rightly free to make their own editorial choices, but this invitation will cause offence and bemusement not just at home but among friendly countries abroad".<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2008/dec/25/channel4-iran |title=Government slams C4 over Ahmadinejad Christmas message |work=The Guardian |location=London |first=Haroon |last=Siddique |date=25 December 2008 |access-date=14 February 2017 |archive-date=15 February 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170215212203/https://www.theguardian.com/media/2008/dec/25/channel4-iran |url-status=live }}</ref>

However, Channel 4 was defended by [[Stonewall (charity)|Stonewall]] director [[Ben Summerskill]] who stated: "In spite of his ridiculous and often offensive views, it is an important way of reminding him that there are some countries where free speech is not repressed...If it serves that purpose, then Channel 4 will have done a significant public service".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2008/12/24/channel-4-under-fire-for-allowing-homophobe-mahmoud-ahmadinejad-to-deliver-christmas-message/ |title=Channel 4 under fire for allowing homophobe Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to deliver Christmas message |last=Staff Writer |date=24 December 2008 |website=Pink News |access-date=20 July 2019 |archive-date=21 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190721002155/https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2008/12/24/channel-4-under-fire-for-allowing-homophobe-mahmoud-ahmadinejad-to-deliver-christmas-message/ |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Dorothy Byrne]], Channel 4's head of news and current affairs, said in response to the station's critics: "As the leader of one of the most powerful states in the Middle East, President Ahmadinejad's views are enormously influential... As we approach a critical time in international relations, we are offering our viewers an insight into an alternative world view...Channel 4 has devoted more airtime to examining Iran than any other broadcaster and this message continues a long tradition of offering a different perspective on the world around us".<ref name=":2" />

=== 4Talent ===
4Talent is an editorial branch of Channel 4's commissioning wing, which co-ordinates Channel 4's various talent development schemes for film, television, radio, new media and other platforms and provides a showcasing platform for new talent.

There are bases in London, [[Birmingham]], Glasgow and [[Belfast]], serving editorial hubs known respectively as 4Talent National, 4Talent Central England, 4Talent Scotland and 4Talent Northern Ireland. These four sites include features, profiles and interviews in text, audio and video formats, divided into five zones: TV, Film, Radio, New Media and Extras, which covers other arts such as theatre, music and design. 4Talent also collates networking, showcasing and professional development opportunities, and runs workshops, masterclasses, seminars and showcasing events across the UK.

==== ''4Talent Magazine'' ====
''4Talent Magazine'' is the creative industries magazine from 4Talent, which launched in 2005 as ''TEN4'' magazine under the editorship of Dan Jones. ''4Talent Magazine'' is currently edited by Nick Carson. Other staff include deputy editor Catherine Bray and production editor Helen Byrne. The magazine covers rising and established figures of interest in the creative industries, a remit including film, radio, TV, comedy, music, new media and design.

Subjects are usually UK-based, with contributing editors based in Northern Ireland, Scotland, London and Birmingham, but the publication has been known to source international content from Australia, America, continental Europe and the Middle East. The magazine is frequently organised around a theme for the issue, for instance giving half of November 2007's pages over to profiling winners of the annual 4Talent Awards.

An unusual feature of the magazine's credits is the equal prominence given to the names of writers, photographers, designers and illustrators, contradicting standard industry practice of more prominent writer bylines. It is also recognisable for its 'wraparound' covers, which use the front and back as a continuous canvas – often produced by guest artists.

Although ''4Talent Magazine'' is technically a newsstand title, a significant proportion of its readers are subscribers. It started life as a quarterly 100-page title, but has since doubled in size and is now published bi-annually.

===Scheduling===
{{Overly detailed|section|date=January 2023}}
Since the 2010s, Channel 4 has become the public service broadcaster most likely to amend its schedule at short notice, if programmes are not gaining sufficient viewers in their intended slots. Programmes which have been heavily promoted by the channel before launch and then have lost their slot a week later include ''Sixteen: Class of 2021''. This was a fly-on-the-wall school documentary which lost its prime 9pm slot after one episode on 31 August 2021, even after a four-star review in ''The Guardian''. Channel 4 moved the next episode to a late night (post-primetime) slot on a different day and continued to broadcast the remainder of the four-part series in this timeslot.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.channel4.com/programmes/sixteen-class-of-2021|title=Sixteen: Class of 2021 – All 4|access-date=19 February 2022|archive-date=28 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211028010147/https://www.channel4.com/programmes/sixteen-class-of-2021|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url = https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2021/aug/26/sixteen-class-of-2021-review-what-its-really-like-to-be-a-teen-today|title = Sixteen: Class of 2021 review – what it's really like to be a teen today|website = The Guardian|date = 26 August 2021|access-date = 19 February 2022|archive-date = 23 October 2021|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20211023224149/https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2021/aug/26/sixteen-class-of-2021-review-what-its-really-like-to-be-a-teen-today|url-status = live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/channel-4/sixteen-class-of-2021-channel-4/5163074.article |title=Sixteen: Class of 2021, Channel 4 &#124; Behind The Scenes |publisher=Broadcastnow.co.uk |date=7 September 2021 |access-date=20 February 2022 |archive-date=7 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210907215620/https://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/channel-4/sixteen-class-of-2021-channel-4/5163074.article |url-status=live }}</ref>

Also in 2021, the channel launched ''Epic Wales: Valleys, Mountains and Coast'', a version of its More4 documentaries ''The Pennines: Backbone of Britain'',<ref>{{cite web|title=The Pennines: Backbone of Britain – All 4|url=https://www.channel4.com/programmes/the-pennines-backbone-of-britain|access-date=26 February 2022|website=www.channel4.com}}</ref> ''The Yorkshire Dales and The Lakes''<ref>{{cite web|title=The Yorkshire Dales and The Lakes – All 4|url=https://www.channel4.com/programmes/the-yorkshire-dales-and-the-lakes|access-date=26 February 2022|website=www.channel4.com}}</ref> and ''Devon and Cornwall''.<ref>{{cite web |last=Seale |first=Jack |url=https://www.radiotimes.com/programme/b-1vwe2t/devon-and-cornwall-season-4/?episode=b-5jwm2y |title=Devon and Cornwall Season 4 |publisher=Radio Times |date=21 June 2021 |accessdate=20 February 2022 |archive-date=20 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220220095148/https://www.radiotimes.com/programme/b-1vwe2t/devon-and-cornwall-season-4/?episode=b-5jwm2y |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>[https://www.channel4.com/programmes/devon-and-cornwal]{{dead link|date=February 2022}}</ref> set in Wales. ''Epic Wales: Valleys, Mountains and Coast''.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2021/aug/06/tv-tonight-exploring-the-epic-wonders-of-wales |title=TV tonight: exploring the epic wonders of Wales &#124; Television & radio |work=The Guardian |date= 6 August 2021|accessdate=20 February 2022 |archive-date=27 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220127130921/https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2021/aug/06/tv-tonight-exploring-the-epic-wonders-of-wales |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Williams|first=Kathryn|date=6 August 2021|title=Epic Wales: All about the new Channel 4 show|url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/lifestyle/tv/epic-wales-voice-over-narrator-21242203|access-date=26 February 2022|website=WalesOnline}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.radiotimes.com/programme/b-jrnf6g/epic-wales-valleys-mountains-coasts-season-1/ |title=Epic Wales: Valleys, Mountains & Coasts Season 1 |publisher=Radio Times |date= |accessdate=20 February 2022 |archive-date=20 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220220095158/https://www.radiotimes.com/programme/b-jrnf6g/epic-wales-valleys-mountains-coasts-season-1/ |url-status=live }}</ref> was initially broadcast in a prime Friday night slot at 8pm, in the hour before its comedy shows,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/tv-listings/?sd=19-02-2022%2020:00 |title=TV Guide |publisher=Radio Times |date= |accessdate=20 February 2022 |archive-date=20 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220220095156/https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/tv-listings/?sd=19 |url-status=live }}</ref> but was dumped by the channel before the series was completed and replaced by repeats. In February 2022, the channel scheduled a new version of the show under the title ''Wonderous Wales'' with a Saturday night slot at 8pm<ref>''Radio Times'' 12–18 February 2022, Channel 4 listings for 12 February 2022</ref> but after one episode, it decided to take this series out of its schedule, moving up a repeat of ''Matt Baker: Our Farm in the Dales'' to 8pm and putting an episode of ''Escape to the Chateau'' in Baker's slot at 7pm.<ref>{{cite web |last=Rackham |first=Jane |url=https://www.radiotimes.com/programme/b-nc852j/escape-to-the-chateau-season-8/?episode=b-jeqtlz |title=Escape to the Chateau Season 8 |publisher=Radio Times |date=24 October 2021 |accessdate=20 February 2022 |archive-date=20 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220220095201/https://www.radiotimes.com/programme/b-nc852j/escape-to-the-chateau-season-8/?episode=b-jeqtlz |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/tv-listings/?sd=19-02-2022%2017:00 |title=TV Guide |publisher=Radio Times |date= |accessdate=20 February 2022 |archive-date=20 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220220095147/https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/tv-listings/?sd=19 |url-status=live }}</ref> Other programmes moved out of primetime in 2022, include ''Mega Mansion Hunters'',<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/tv-listings/?sd=23-02-2022%2023:00 |title=TV Guide |publisher=Radio Times |date= |accessdate=20 February 2022 |archive-date=20 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220220095152/https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/tv-listings/?sd=23 |url-status=live }}</ref> Channel 4's answer to ''Selling Sunset'',<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2022/feb/09/tv-tonight-mega-mansion-hunters-we-are-england |title=TV tonight: Selling Sunset meets The Apprentice in this new megabucks property show &#124; Television |work=The Guardian |date= 9 February 2022|accessdate=20 February 2022 |archive-date=18 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220218023924/https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2022/feb/09/tv-tonight-mega-mansion-hunters-we-are-england |url-status=live }}</ref> which saw its third and final episode moved past midnight with repeats put in the schedule before it,<ref>{{cite web |last=Crawford |first=Gill |url=https://www.radiotimes.com/programme/b-8uk2rw/britains-most-expensive-houses-season-1/?episode=b-nvin7t |title=Britain's Most Expensive Houses Season 1 |publisher=Radio Times |date= |accessdate=20 February 2022 |archive-date=20 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220220095156/https://www.radiotimes.com/programme/b-8uk2rw/britains-most-expensive-houses-season-1/?episode=b-nvin7t |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.radiotimes.com/programme/b-002cos/first-dates-season-18/?episode=b-g47j3f |title=First Dates Season 18 |publisher=Radio Times |date= |accessdate=20 February 2022 |archive-date=20 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220220095141/https://www.radiotimes.com/programme/b-002cos/first-dates-season-18/?episode=b-g47j3f |url-status=live }}</ref> and ''[[Richard Hammond|Richard Hammond's Crazy Contraptions]]'',<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/tv/0/richard-hammonds-crazy-contraptions-tries-take-youtube-fails/ | title=Richard Hammond's Crazy Contraptions tries to take on YouTube (And fails) | newspaper=The Telegraph | date=29 April 2022 | last1=Wilson | first1=Benji }}</ref> a primetime Friday night competitive engineering show which saw its grand final moved to 11pm on a Sunday night.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.radiotimes.com/programme/b-2zsiz7/richard-hammonds-crazy-contraptions-season-1/?episode=b-wwjkmn | title=Richard Hammond's Crazy Contraptions Season 1 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/tv-listings/?ts=1654462800000 | title=TV listings guide | date=7 August 2023 }}</ref> Instead of Hammond's competition, Channel 4 decided to schedule the fifth series of ''Devon and Cornwall'' in its place at 8pm on Friday nights,<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/tv-listings/?ts=1654880400000 | title=TV listings guide | date=7 August 2023 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.radiotimes.com/programme/b-q0nv12/devon-and-cornwall-season-5/?episode=b-tfiuqf | title=Devon and Cornwall Season 5 | access-date=5 June 2022 | archive-date=5 June 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220605140019/https://www.radiotimes.com/programme/b-q0nv12/devon-and-cornwall-season-5/?episode=b-tfiuqf | url-status=dead }}</ref> with this documentary being put up against Channel 5's ''World's Most Scenic Railway Journeys'' in the same timeslot.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.radiotimes.com/programme/b-bp6gnn/worlds-most-scenic-railway-journeys-season-6/?episode=b-q0wdke | title=World's Most Scenic Railway Journeys Season 6 | access-date=5 June 2022 | archive-date=5 June 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220605134512/https://www.radiotimes.com/programme/b-bp6gnn/worlds-most-scenic-railway-journeys-season-6/?episode=b-q0wdke | url-status=dead }}</ref>

A new series of ''Unreported World'' was due to start on 18 February 2022<ref>''Radio Times'' 12–18 February 2022: Channel 4 schedules for 18 February 2022</ref> with a report by Seyi Rhodes in South Sudan, but was dropped due to an extended storm report on ''Channel 4 News''. When the programme was rescheduled for following Fridays, it was dropped again as ''Channel 4 News'' was extended due to the [[2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/tv-listings/?sd=04-03-2022%2019:00|title = TV listings guide| date=7 August 2023 }}</ref> ''Winter Paralympics: Today in Beijing'' was due to take the ''Unreported World'' slot from 11 March 2022<ref>''Radio Times'' 5–11 March 2022: Channel 4 schedules for 11 March 2022 2022</ref> though this sports programme also stood a chance of being moved around the schedule to continue the extended news programmes reporting on the conflict. The invasion of Ukraine has also prompted Channel 4 to acquire and schedule the comedy series ''[[Servant of the People (2015 TV series)|Servant of the People]]''<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.radiotimes.com/programme/b-7ka419/servant-of-the-people-season-1/?episode=b-jg1drx|title = Servant of the People Season 1}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/tv-listings/?sd=06-03-2022%2016:00|title = TV listings guide| date=7 August 2023 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tvzoneuk.com/post/c4-zelenskycomedy|title = Channel 4 Acquire Ukraine's Zelensky Comedy|date = 2 March 2022}}</ref> as a last minute replacement. The programme stars the current [[President of Ukraine]] [[Volodymyr Zelenskyy]] as an ordinary man who gets elected to run the country, and was shown on 6 March 2022 along with the documentary ''Zelenskyy: The Man Who Took on Putin''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.radiotimes.com/programme/b-6akfnf/zelenskyy-the-man-who-took-on-putin/|title = Zelenskyy: The Man Who Took on Putin (TV Series)}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/tv-listings/?sd=06-03-2022%2022:00|title = TV listings guide| date=7 August 2023 }}</ref>

In addition to these shows, [[O.T. Fagbenle]]'s sitcom ''Maxxx'' was pulled from youth TV channel E4, after one episode from the series had been broadcast on 2 April 2020, with Channel 4 deciding to keep the series off-air until Black History Month, with the series going out on the main channel from October 2020.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/comedy/maxxx-channel-4-tv-series-repeat/|title=Maxxx is back – but why was the Channel 4 sitcom pulled from schedules?|website=Radio Times|access-date=19 February 2022|archive-date=31 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210831034251/https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/comedy/maxxx-channel-4-tv-series-repeat/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.comedy.co.uk/tv/news/5734/maxxx-on-e4-delayed/|title=E4 delays broadcasts of Maxxx|first=British Comedy|last=Guide|date=9 April 2020|website=British Comedy Guide|access-date=19 February 2022|archive-date=9 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210409102416/https://www.comedy.co.uk/tv/news/5734/maxxx-on-e4-delayed/|url-status=live}}</ref>

In May 2022, the reality dating show ''Let's Make a Love Scene'' was [[List of television series canceled after one episode|scrapped after one episode]] with the second programme in the series, hosted by [[Ellie Taylor]], pulled from the 20 May schedule and replaced with an episode of ''[[8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown]]''. The first edition was negatively received,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/tv/0/channel-4s-smut-obsession-reaches-new-low-bizarre-make-love/|title=Channel 4's smut obsession reaches a new low with the bizarre Let's Make a Love Scene|first1=Anita|last1=Singh|work=The Telegraph |date=13 May 2022}}</ref> with Anita Singh, the arts and entertainments editor for ''The Telegraph'' writing that the show was "the most ill-conceived programme idea since Prince Edward dreamt up ''It's a Royal Knockout''".