Free Thinking
| Other names | Night Waves (1992–2014) |
|---|---|
| Running time | 60 minutes |
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
| Home station | BBC Radio 3 (1992–2024) BBC Radio 4 (2024–present) |
| Hosted by | Various |
| Original release | 15 September 1992 – present |
| Audio format | Stereophonic sound |
| Website | www |
Free Thinking is a British radio programme broadcast on BBC Radio 4 every Friday night. It was previously broadcast on Radio 3 as part of its "After Dark" late night programming.
The programme is a rebranded version of Night Waves, "Radio 3's flagship arts and ideas programme" that had been broadcast since 1992. Night Waves was broadcast every Monday to Thursday evening, except during the Proms season. Radio 3 rebranded Night Waves as Free Thinking from 7 January 2014, and reduced the number of first-time broadcasts per week from four to three (plus one repeat). It had a 45 minute running time on Radio 3 (from 10pm-10:45pm). In April 2024, the show was moved to Radio 4 where it is transmitted just once a week, but with a 60 minute running time (from 9pm-10pm).