Broadcast timeline
Channel 4 — Channel 4 News
Wednesday 12 August 2026 · 19:00 BST · 1h · 6 stories · 6 annotated moments · 55 of 60 min on news stories (92%)
Broadcast overview
An AI-generated overview based on this broadcast's transcript.
The programme led with extensive live coverage of a near-total solar eclipse across the UK, with correspondents in Cornwall and London describing the spectacle, and later a total eclipse seen from Spain. The broadcast also reported on the ongoing heatwave and drought, including a Cobra meeting, wildfires, and a warning about disposable barbecues.
The sentencing of Simon Levy to a whole life order was covered, with details of his crimes and missed opportunities by authorities. The government's early release scheme faced criticism from police chiefs, and an interview with a prison charity founder highlighted uncertainty. In Colombia, the aftermath of a deadly earthquake continued, with a rescue and survivors' stories. Other items included a report on President Trump's decoy plane and a US primary result, plus an investigation into a Cambridge professor's appointment.
- 0:00
- 3:04
Claim Total solar eclipse to be visible across Europe and Arctic
A partial solar eclipse will be visible across the UK, with up to 96% of the sun covered, peaking around 7:10-7:15pm, and causing a temperature drop of about 5°C.
Channel 4 HD, Channel 4 News, 12 August 2026, 3:04-3:10
- 3:04
Claim Total solar eclipse to be visible across Europe and Arctic
A partial solar eclipse will be visible across the UK, with up to 96% of the sun covered, peaking around 7:10-7:15pm, and causing a temperature drop of about 5°C.
Channel 4 HD, Channel 4 News, 12 August 2026, 3:04-3:10
- 3:21
Claim Total solar eclipse to be visible across Europe and Arctic
A partial solar eclipse will be visible across the UK, with up to 96% of the sun covered, peaking around 7:10-7:15pm, and causing a temperature drop of about 5°C.
Channel 4 HD, Channel 4 News, 12 August 2026, 3:21-3:23
- 16:30
- 17:38
Claim UK set for hottest summer on record with amber heat warning
The Met Office issued a rare amber extreme heat warning for Thursday, with temperatures up to 38°C.
Channel 4 HD, Channel 4 News, 12 August 2026, 17:38-17:45
- 22:22 Story begins Simon Levy convicted of double murder and rape
- 32:33
- 39:36
- 43:58 Story begins Trump switches planes over assassination threat
- 44:13
Claim Trump switches planes over assassination threat
Democrats demanded a congressional briefing, with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer saying it was unacceptable that Congress was kept in the dark.
Channel 4 HD, Channel 4 News, 12 August 2026, 44:13-44:16
- 45:03
Claim Trump switches planes over assassination threat
Cabinet officials including Marco Rubio and Scott Bessent, as well as Stephen Miller, were on the decoy plane, while Pete Hegseth traveled with the president.
Channel 4 HD, Channel 4 News, 12 August 2026, 45:03-45:09
- 54:55 ~5 min without annotations
Source: Channel 4, "Channel 4 News", Wednesday 12 August 2026. Transcript excerpts and stills are shown only to support the analysis annotated alongside them. Search-result excerpts are distinct from the editorial annotations — see our copyright basis. The full broadcast is not reproduced.