Steve Roud was Local Studies Librarian for the London Borough of Croydon and served as Honorary Librarian of the Folklore Society for over fifteen years. He has been researching British folklore for over thirty years and is the joint author of the Oxford Dictionary of English Folklore, plus other books on traditional drama and folk song, and the Penguin Guide to the Superstitions of Britain and Ireland, which won the Katharine Briggs Folklore Award in 2004. His publications include London Lore (2008) and The Lore of the Playground (2010). He also compiles the Folk Song Index and the Broadside Index, two internationally acclaimed computer databases of traditional folk and popular song. He lives in Sussex.

Steve Roud

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Festival of the Spoken Nerd

Get ready to enjoy both series 1 and 2 of the heady combination of maths, science and comedy that is Domestic Science. 
Featuring Matt Parker, Steve Mould and Helen Arney as Festival of the Spoken Nerd, these 8 episodes use stand-up, songs and experiments to investigate the world around us with a level of scientific accuracy not normally found in your average comedy series. 
 
If you've ever pondered where the mint in your toothpaste really comes from, or wondered what The Hot Chocolate Effect is, then come explore and play along at home. The team also investigate everything from radioactive bananas and musical bicycle tyres to assisting you with mathematically efficient sock storage and how to host your very own static electricity party. 
 
UK science comedy phenomenon Festival of the Spoken Nerd created this truly experimental radio show for BBC Radio 4, alongside appearances on BBC2’s QI and sharing stages at the Hammersmith Apollo and Royal Albert Hall with comedian Robin Ince, Professor Brian Cox and Commander Chris Hadfield. They toured their most recent stand-up science show to over 50,000 curious nerds (and non-nerds) and have accumulated millions of views on YouTube for their stand-up maths, songs and science explanations. 
 
Produced by Julia McKenzie

Domestic Science: Series 1 and 2

The BBC Radio 4 comedy

Lynne Truss

Three series of funny natural history tales from Lynne Truss, featuring a star cast of narrators 
 
Recorded in front of a live audience, these wry, funny tales introduce us to the varied creatures who make their homes on the shoreline, in garden ponds and in our attics. In 18 comic monologues, they reveal the truth about what life is really like in their respective habitats - and it's much more eventful than you might think... 
 
Tidal Tales from the Rock Pool features salty stories from a roving, joke-loving Periwinkle (Bill Wallis); a house-proud Hermit Crab (Geoffrey Palmer); a figure-conscious Sea Anemone (Alison Steadman); a tough talkin' Goby Fish (Sean Power); a poetic, love-struck Limpet (Samantha Bond) and a diligent Lugworm (Tony Robinson). 
 
In Gossip from the Garden Pond, we peek between the lily pads to meet a Tadpole who loves wiggling and doesn't want to grow up (Julian Rhind-Tutt); a beautiful, highly-sexed Dragonfly (Alison Steadman); a hotly pursued Water Boatman (Sandi Toksvig); a ferocious Great Diving Beetle (David Ryall); a timid, arachnophobic Garden Spider (Amanda Root) and a self-righteous Great Pond Snail (James Fleet). 
 
And in Rumblings from the Rafters, we venture into the draughty attic of a rambling old house in Amersham to hear from a subversive, head-banging Death Watch Beetle (Bill Paterson); a bossy, stressed Queen Wasp (Alison Steadman); a fast-thinking, acrobatic House Fly (Lee Mack); a big-hearted Soprano Pipistrelle Bat (Pam Ferris); an Edible Dormouse who's convinced he's a Russian spy (Hugh Dennis) and a Peacock Butterfly with a feisty past (Amanda Abbington). 
 
Written and introduced by Lynne Truss, with wildlife soundscapes by Chris Watson, these hugely entertaining, surprisingly informative anthropomorphic tales teem with drama and adventure - you'll never look at a rock pool, pond or roof space in the same way again... 
 
Written and introduced by Lynne Truss 
Produced by Sarah Blunt 
Sound design by Chris Watson 
 
Tidal Talk from the Rock Pool 
The Periwinkle and the Hermit Crab 
The Anemone and the Goby Fish 
The Limpet and the Lugworm 
 
Gossip from the Garden Pond 
The Tadpole and the Dragonfly 
The Water Boatman and Great Diving Beetle 
The Garden Spider and Great Pond Snail 
 
Rumblings from the Rafters 
Death Watch Beetle and Queen Wasp 
House Fly and Soprano Pipistrelle Bat 
Edible Dormouse and Peacock Butterfly 
 
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 1-15 May 2012 (Tidal Talk from the Rock Pool), 7-21 Sept 2014 (Gossip from the Garden Pond), 26 June-10 July 2016 (Rumblings from the Rafters) 
 
© 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Natter from the Natural World

A BBC Radio Comedy Collection

Brian Cox

Robin Ince

Four more series of the multi-award-winning science/comedy show 
 
Celebrating the wonders of the universe since 2009, The Infinite Monkey Cage combines wit and wisdom to explore scientific concepts in an entertaining, accessible way. In these four series, physicist Brian Cox and comedian Robin Ince are back to 'put a smile on the face of science' (The Independent). They're joined by a wealth of boffins, brainiacs and celebrity science enthusiasts, all keen to share their hard facts, soft theories and bold comic deviations. 
 
Beginning with the end of the universe, they tackle topics including black holes, the human brain, Neanderthals and the science of cooking - and attempt to answer profound philosophical questions such as 'What is life, and how did it start?', 'Is time an illusion?' and ''What is reality?' There's also an astronaut's guide to isolation, featuring Helen Sharman, Chris Hadfield, Nicole Stott and Apollo 9's Rusty Schweickart; a look back at 60 years of chimpanzee research with Jane Goodall; and a history of rock (not in the Rolling Stones sense, but actual rolling stones). 
 
Plus, the duo play Animal Top Trumps to find out whether we should prefer beautiful bats to much-maligned flies; travel deep below the ocean waves to see what lies beneath; discover how trees communicate using the Wood Wide Web; and learn why two brains are definitely better than one... 
 
Among their special guests are Eric Idle, Steve Martin, Matt Lucas, Tim Minchin, Bill Bailey, Mark Gatiss, Steve Jones, Ross Noble, Sara Pascoe, Prof Alice Roberts, Carlo Rovelli, Harold McGee, Dr Janna Levin, Dave Gorman, Brendan Hunt and Katy Brand. 
 
Production credits 
Presented by Brian Cox and Robin Ince 
Producer: Alexandra Feachem 
 
© 2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

The Infinite Monkey Cage: Series 22-25

Helen Keen

Miriam Underhill

Helen Keen, Peter Serafinowicz and Susy Kane star in this funny, off-beat but factual expedition through the universe, boldly going where no Radio 4 comedy show has gone before. 
 
 
“A pithy sweet programme … with a joke stuffed script” Miranda Sawyer, The Observer 
“Beautiful...A gem” The Sunday Express 
“Informed, enthusiastic and funny” Daily Mail 
“A sort of stand up version of The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy” The Times 
 
This “shamelessly nerdy…deeply silly” (Radio Times) space extravaganza features fewer close-ups of Professor Brian Cox looking cool in front of a rocket than Wonders of the Universe, but more weird, wonderful and occasionally woeful stories about the geniuses, Nazis and Satanists who plotted to propel humankind to the stars. Find out the many and varied ways to leave the planet as It Is Rocket Science! takes you on a “gleefully irreverent” (The Scotsman) whistle-stop comic tour of the Great Brains who put monkeys, ladies, dogs and gentlemen into orbit. 
 
Discover the daring Mercury 13 women - the astronauts and moonwalkers that never were, hear the adventures of Felix the French Space Cat, raise your eyebrows at the career trajectory of Wernher von Braun, from Nazi to Disney to NASA, meet the man who (metaphorically) connects rocket fuel to Aleister Crowley, explore your options in case an asteroid is heading directly your way, and discover some of the more surprising suggestions scientists have advanced for how to get in touch with life on other planets, from giant burning parallelograms in the Sahara to sending nude pictures into space.... 
 
“Factually accurate yet funny” (The Telegraph), the show won several major awards including The Association of British Science Writers’ Royal Society Radio Prize. 
 
“Harnessing a sharp comedy sensibility to an arsenal of fascinating facts, she’s a treat for anyone who matches a sense of humour with an inquiring mind” The Guardian [on Helen Keen]

It Is Rocket Science: The Complete Series 1-3

A BBC Radio 4 comedy show

Catherine Brinkworth

Kat Sadler

Jon Hunter

Jenny Laville

Nicky Roberts

Sue Perkins presents the 'Show and Tell' series that celebrates the natural world in alll its weird and wonderful eccentricity 
 
The world of wildlife is full of surprising and magical quirks - and Sue Perkins - comedian, broadcaster and Just a Minute host - is on a mission to discover them all. In this fantastic series, recorded at ZSL London Zoo and the Eden Project, she's joined by a diverse group of comedians and natural history experts for some entertaining sessions of 'Show and Tell'. 
 
Her special guests all bring along their amazing objects from the wild world and the stories that go with them - sparking lively, enlightening and hilarious discussion. There are also fun games and challenges, and in the episodes not recorded during lockdown, we hear from members of the public and staff as they share their own intriguing items, fascinating facts and amusing anecdotes. 
 
Among the celebrities taking part are zoologists Lucy Cooke and Billy Heaney, naturalist Nick Baker, actress Sally Phillips, and comedians Dave Gorman, Felicity Ward, Jessica Fostekew, Lucy Porter, Sindhu Vee, Desiree Burch, Josie Long and Shaparak Khorsandi. Their show and tell delights include a porcupine's spine, the jaw of a tiger shark, the fossilised eardrum of a whale, a beaver's anal gland, the feather of a lesbian albatross - and a head of broccoli from Tesco... And in an extended Christmas Special, actor Stephen Mangan helps Sue make sense of the gifts brought to her by presenters Chris Packham and Michaela Strachan and ethnobotanist James Wong - including reindeers, robins, turtle doves, holly and partridges. 
 
Find out why geckos have dispensed with the patriarchy, why menopausal orcas are so aspirational, why male redback spiders somersault during mating, how ergot could have caused the Salem Witch Trials, how the giant water lily changed the face of modern architecture - and more. You'll learn about our planet's astonishing flora and fauna, while at the same time having a giggle - so gather round the nature table and prepare to be amazed... 
 
Production credits 
Presented by Sue Perkins 
Written by Catherine Brinkworth, Kat Sadler, Jon Hunter, Jenny Laville and Nicky Roberts 
Music by Ben Mirin 
Sound Recordist &amp; Editor: Jerry Peal 
Additional sounds provided by The Macaulay Library at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology 
Produced by Simon Nicholls 
 
&copy; 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd.

Sue Perkins: Nature Table

Series 1-4 of the BBC Radio 4 Comedy Show

Four fantastic series of the multi-award-winning science/comedy show 
 
Brian Cox and Robin Ince return to take a witty, irreverent and unashamedly rational look at the mysteries of the universe in these four series. Joining them for some hot science and flagrant comic nerdery are a panel of eggheads and entertainers, all eager to take a deep dive into topics ranging from cosmic dust to coincidence. 
 
Starting with two shows recorded in Sydney, Australia, exploring southern skies and scary spiders, they go on to invent Infinite Monkey Cluedo and plot the perfect crime; scrutinise the secret life of sharks; peer review Hollywood movies set in space and unwrap the science of Egyptian mummies. Also featured are two battles of the species, as the team ask which is better: bees or wasps, and claw through the evidence to find out if cats are superior to dogs. 
 
In addition, they discover the magical world of mushrooms; discuss the pros and cons of AI; attempt to explain quantum physics and visit CERN&rsquo;s Large Hadron Collider in Geneva in search of the Higgs Boson. And in an out-of-this-world mash-up show, they meet Dara O&rsquo;Briain and Sky at Night presenters Dr Maggie Aderin Pocock, Chris Lintott and Pete Lawrence for some backyard astronomy, as they give us their ultimate guide to studying the stars from the comfort of your own garden. 
 
Other special guests in this collection include Ross Noble, Prof Hannah Fry, Susan Calman, Prof Sue Black, Sally Gunnell, Ed Byrne, Dr Chris van Tulleken, Harry Hill, Steve Backshall, Alan Davies, Marcus du Sautoy, Dave Gorman, Tim Peake, Jo Brand, Russell Kane, Richard Wiseman, Deborah Meaden, David Baddiel and Ben Miller. 
 
Production credits 
Presented by Brian Cox and Robin Ince 
Producers: Caroline Steel, Adrian Washbourne and Melanie Brown 
Executive Producer: Alexandra Feachem 
 
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4, 18 February-25 March 2023 (Series 26), 24 June-5 August 2023 (Series 27), 11 November-23 December 2023 (Series 28), 17 February-23 March 2024 (Series 29) 
 
&copy; 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

The Infinite Monkey Cage: Series 26-29

Shaun Prendergast

All sixteen episodes of the BBC radio comedy about two goldfish who contemplate life &ndash; and their human owners &ndash; from their bowl 
 
Anton and Liam are the Eric and Ernie of the fish world. Liam is a slippers-and-cardigan, Friday-night-in-with-a-Dick Francis-and-a-box-of-Terry&rsquo;s-All-Gold kind of goldfish; whereas Anton is erudite, philosophical, sophisticated and fluent in several languages. Thrown together by fate, their only company in their bowl is some gravel and a little plastic castle as they closely observe the tumultuous relationship between their owners, Martin and Susan. 
 
In these two series, Liam and Anton contemplate the meaning of their existence, ponder the concept of time, and learn about sex &ndash; and a hot new fantail called Pandora sparks jealousy in the bowl. Worried about the future when their owners&rsquo; quarrel, the duo try to put their best fin forward; but as Martin and Susan break up, is it the end for our piscine friends? 
 
As their owners move house, Anton and Liam go on a little holiday, and find themselves face-to-face with Horace the master criminal cat. They have 60 seconds to save the world, 007-style... Let loose on the mean streets of the fish tank, our be-scaled heroes find themselves in big trouble. First Liam is threatened by a piranha, then Anton finds himself at the mercy of an estate agent who really is a shark. And as Anton prepares to throw a party, Liam starts his own religion, and becomes the unwitting spiritual leader of all fishkind. 
 
Written by and starring Shaun Prendergast, this entertaining sitcom is full of underwater wit and fishy frivolity. Sean Foley and Hamish McColl star as Liam and Anton, with Sarah Parish and Tracy-Ann Oberman as Susan. 
 
Production credits 
Written by Shaun Prendergast 
Produced and directed by Sally Avens 
 
Cast 
Liam &ndash; Sean Foley 
Martin/Struan &ndash; Shaun Prendergast 
Anton &ndash; Hamish McColl 
Susan &ndash; Sarah Parish (Series 1), Tracy Ann Oberman (Series 2) 
Other parts were played by members of the cast 
 
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4, 26 August&ndash;14 October 1998 (Series 1), 2 February&ndash;22 March 2000 (Series 2) 
 
&copy; 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd.

The Goldfish Bowl: The Complete Series 1 and 2

A BBC Radio 4 Sitcom

Chris Packham

Lionel Kelleway

Brett Westwood

Wildlife presenter Chris Packham leafs through the Living World archives, revisiting classic episodes and bringing them up to date 
 
For over half a century, landmark natural history series Living World has provided an inspiring introduction to the flora and fauna of Great Britain and beyond. Filmed on location at key ecological sites, it sees BBC wildlife presenters joined by guest experts for enthusiastic discussions and close encounters with our native wildlife. 
 
These classic archive programmes have all been specially selected by Chris Packham, who introduces each episode and gives us an overview of the places, people and species featured on the show. Twenty are hosted by veteran broadcaster Lionel Kelleway, with the remaining two presented by Brett Westwood. Accompanied by ornithologists, biologists and a host of other specialists, they take us on a tour around the British Isles in search of amazing plants and animals. 
 
Among their discoveries are swifts, stag beetles, sticklebacks and red squirrels - as well as the endangered white-clawed crayfish; the slumbering dormouse or 'seven-moth sleeper'; the diminutive wren (known as the King of the Birds) and the under-appreciated wasp (more benign and beneficial than people realise). In addition, they hunt for crabs in a Scottish rockpool; take a festive look at mistletoe; await the arrival of roosting rooks and listen to the call of the booming bittern. 
 
Full of fascinating facts and surprising stories, this carefully curated collection will transport you to Britain's mountains, moorlands, woodlands and coasts, immersing you in the wonder and importance of our natural world. 
 
Production credits 
Produced by Andrew Dawes 
 
Episode guide 
 
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 on the following dates: 
 
Swifts 3 May 2015 
Presented by Lionel Kelleway with Chris Perrins 
Mayfly and the Chalkstream 12 July 2015 
Presented by Lionel Kelleway with Mike Ladle 
The Stag Beetle Hunt 26 July 2015 
Presented by Lionel Kelleway with Jonathon Spencer and Roger Key 
The Seven-Month Sleeper 11 October 2015 
Presented by Lionel Kelleway with Michael Woods 
Water Vole 18 October 2015 
Presented by Lionel Kelleway with Rob Strachan 
Lichens of Scotland 25 October 2015 
Presented by Lionel Kelleway with Brian and Sandy Coppins 
Herons 8 November 2015 
Presented by Lionel Kelleway 
The Wader with the Crest 10 January 2016 
Presented by Lionel Kelleway with Andy Wilson 
A Life of Slime 17 January 2016 
Presented by Lionel Kelleway with Mary Seddon 
Rooks and a Winter Roost 24 January 2016 
Presented by Lionel Kelleway with Joe Cullum and Ian Henderson 
Sticklebacks 12 June 2016 
Presented by Lionel Kelleway with Iain Barber 
The Highland Midge 19 June 2016 
Presented by Lionel Kelleway with Alison Blackwell 
The Ways of the Wasp 21 August 2016 
Presented by Lionel Kelleway with Tom Ings 
Catching Crabs 11 September 2016 
Presented by Lionel Kelleway with Stephen Wiseman 
Crayfish 4 December 2016 
Presented by Lionel Kelleway with Martin Frayling 
Red Squirrels 11 December 2016 
Presented by Brett Westwood with Jason Reynolds 
A Very Berry Christmas 18 December 2016 
Presented by Lionel Kelleway with Jonathan Briggs 
Wren Hunt 25 December 2016 
Presented by Lionel Kelleway with Matthew Evans 
Fieldfares in a Winter Orchard 1 January 2017 
Presented by Lionel Kelleway with Steve Dodd and Dave Cocker 
Freshwater Pearl Mussels 5 March 2017 
Presented by Lionel Kelleway with Mary Seddon 
Toads (The Toad) 12 March 2017 
Presented by Lionel Kelleway with Julia Wycherley 
Booming Bitterns 19 March 2017 
Presented by Brett Westwood with Ian Hawkins and Ken Smith 
 
© 2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd.

Chris Packham’s Living World from the Archives

A BBC Radio 4 nature series

Brian Cox and Robin Ince present a witty, irreverent look at the world according to science. 
 
The Infinite Monkey Cage has become one of BBC Radio 4’s most popular science based programmes. In each episode physicist Brian Cox and comedian Robin Ince delve into a particular field of science, with the help of guests from the worlds of science, academia and entertainment. 
 
In these 24 episodes the programme looks at topics as diverse as Oceans, Science Mavericks, Parallel Universes, Science v Art, Space Exploration, Brain Science, Creating Life, The Science of Christmas Behaviour, Space Tourism, Death and Risk. 
 
Helping them to discover more are guests including Dave Gorman, Marcus Brigstocke, Andy Hamilton, Alan Moore, Dr Marcus Du Sautoy, Patrick Stewart, Ben Miller, Katy Brand, Professor Matthew Cobb, Simon Singh, Dr Sue Black, Ed Byrne, Mark Gatiss, Steve Jones, Ross Noble, Eric Idle and Graeme Garden.

The Infinite Monkey Cage

Series 6, 7, 8 and 9

Olga Koch

Charlie Dinkin

Olga Koch explores the world via computer science in this STEM stand-up show 
 
Comedian Olga Koch has a masters degree in the social science of the Internet and can turn almost any file into a PDF. In these three series, she looks at life through the eyes of a computer scientist, taking the universal truths you hold dear and tearing them to shreds using logic. 
 
With the help of her sassy digital assistant ALGO (played by Sindhu Vee, Tia Kofi and Rajiv Karia), she uses stand-up and storytelling to unpack concepts such as Nationality, Beauty, Health, Privacy, Fun, Intelligence, Friendship and Family. She talks us through what you need to know to become a British citizen (including what time the pubs open, and every single line-up of the Sugababes since 2007); uses recursion and Harry Styles to examine what being beautiful means; goes on a mission to get healthy, and wonders if encryption really works and why no one can set a good password. 
 
What are the fundamentals of fun? What can Colonel Sanders and the Creation Museum tell us about intelligence? Can you be best friends with a bot – or a politician? And can your family be more than just your random relations? These questions, and many more, are tackled by Olga, as she and ALGO take a hilarious journey through the inherent absurdities of our modern world. 
 
Production credits 
Written by Olga Koch and Charlie Dinkin 
Additional Material from Rajiv Karia, Cody Dahler and Kate Dehnert 
With Sindhu Vee, Tia Kofi and Rajiv Karia as ALGO 
Producer: Benjamin Sutton 
Production Co-ordinator: Katie Baum 
 
Series 1 
Nationality 
Beauty 
Health 
Privacy 
 
Series 2 
Fun 
Intelligence 
Friendship 
Family 
 
Series 3 
Love 
Religion 
Money 
Death 
 
First broadcast 8 Jul-29 Jul 2021 (series 1), 23 May-13Jun 2023 (series 2), 17 Oct-7 Nov 2024 (series 3). 
 
© 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd.

OK Computer: Series 1-3

A BBC Radio 4 Stand-Up Comedy Show

Phil Hammond

Tony Gardner

All three series of Phil Hammond and Tony Gardner's award-winning comedy show exploding the myths of medicine 
 
'Very funny indeed' Daily Telegraph 
 
Broadcaster Dr Phil Hammond and actor Tony Gardner are best known for their respective roles in Trust Me, I'm a Doctor and Fresh Meat. But in the 1990s, then junior doctors, they made their names as the comedy double-act Struck Off and Die. A huge hit at the Edinburgh Fringe, the show transferred to radio in 1993, winning both a Writer's Guild and a Sony Award. Mixing dark, irreverent jokes, sardonic sketches and improvised interviews, it demystified the mysterious workings of the medical profession - and 30 years on, it remains as hilarious and relevant as when it was first broadcast. 
 
Series 1 sees the two doctors bringing their scalpel-sharp wit to bear on public and private health care, exposing the plight of the NHS; debunking the widespread myth that 'doctor knows best' and giving us their insiders' view of topics including surgeons, GPs, nurses, and birth and death. 
 
In Series 2, they take a four-part satirical look at Shakespeare's 'Ages of Man', examining the important role doctors play in every stage of our lives. Together, they give us the lowdown on childhood, reveal everything we need to know about sex, consider marriage and the menopause and tell the unexpurgated truth about old age. 
 
And in Series 3, Struck Off and Die's Family Health Companion, Drs Hammond and Gardner tackle issues such as stress, embarrassing sexual problems, the doctor-patient relationship, medical politics and medical training. Plus, there's a speculative probe into the medicine of the future - including doctorless surgeries, do-it-yourself operations and the virtual-reality hospital... 
 
Also included are excerpts from Radio 4's Edinburgh 90, featuring the Struck Off and Die duo entertaining the 1990 Fringe Festival audience with their anarchic insights. 
 
Production credits 
Written by and starring Phil Hammond and Tony Gardner 
With Felicity Montagu, Julian Dutton, Joanna Brookes, Tom Berrington, Philippa Fordham and David Wolstencroft 
Produced by Jon Magnusson and Helen Williams 
Edinburgh 90 produced by Sarah Smith 
 
First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 13 July 1991 (Edinburgh 90), 13 August - 3 September 1993 (Series 1), 19 August - 9 September 1994 (Series 2), 29 March - 3 May 2000 (Series 3) 
 
© 2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd.

Struck Off and Die: The Complete Series 1-3

A Classic BBC Radio 4 Sketch Comedy

David Baddiel

David Baddiel attempts to unravel an array of life's conundrums, as suggested by the public on Twitter. In each episode he speaks to experts and the general public to make sense of common, yet little understood, subjects and impart his new-found knowledge on each topic in under 15 minutes. 
 
From the global economy to electricity, much loved comedian David Baddiel gets to the heart of issues that dominate random shower musings and dinner party debates. He attempts to understand areas including fracking, rugby, hacking, The Constitution, fashion and even the modern-day enigma, The Kardashians. 
 
Where do fossil fuels really come from? How do Bitcoins work? What does the International Monetary Fund actually do? Why is all my data stored in The Cloud? And when does a cry become a sob? 
 
Join Baddiel in his quest to understand these puzzling topics, and the world. 
 
 
© 2020 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd 
(p) 2020 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

David Baddiel Tries to Understand: Series 1-4

Josie Long

Josie Long presents four entertaining and educational comedic essays, aided by Maeve Higgins and special guests 
 
Award-winning comedian Josie Long has performed nine hit stand-up shows at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, subsequently touring them around the UK and internationally. This BBC Radio series was adapted from her hit 2009 stage show, and finds her attempting to unravel the mysteries of the universe through ad hoc research. Using the knowledge she's gleaned, she gives us the lowdown on her selected subject - with the help of her special guests, who join in with questions, illustrations and interruptions. 
 
In Astronomy for Dummies, Josie uses the textbook of the same name to try and get to grips with the complexities of the solar system. As she flicks through its pages, she learns how to identify constellations, joins the search for extra-terrestrial intelligence - and finds her cosmic twin... The Enlightenment sees her pondering the history of collecting things. From her childhood frog collection to the Pitts Rivers Museum, she considers why we love acquiring, categorising and displaying objects - and how doing so makes us better people... 
 
In Obscure Animal Facts, Josie attempts to level up, and become unbeatable at Trivial Pursuit. Sharing her favourite facts about the animal kingdom, she recalls her animal-activist past, interrogates her father over his quiz-buff history and reflects on the deep joy of being dorky. And in Propriety, Plants, Grandparents and Growing Your Own, she finds out how being outside connects us to nature, muses on apple names and adventure botanists, and discovers how her granny's gardening book holds the key to al fresco happiness. 
 
Among Josie's special guests are The Infinite Monkey Cage's Robin Ince; German comedian Henning Wehn; Josie's dad Geoff Long; and the host of Jordan, Jesse, Go!, Jesse Thorn. 
 
Production credits 
Written by and starring Josie Long 
Produced by Colin Anderson 
With Maeve Higgins, Robin Ince, Professor Stephen Maran, Henning Wehn, Daniel Harkin, Chris Neil, Jesse Thorne, Geoff Long, Isy Suttie 
 
First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 18 February-11 March 2009 
 
© 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd.

All of the Planet's Wonders

A BBC Radio 4 Comedy Series

Four more series of the multi-award-winning science/comedy show 
 
Brian Cox and Robin Ince are back to take a witty, irreverent look at life, the universe and everything in between in these four engaging series. From the tiniest molecules to the most distant stars, the inquisitive monkeys break down the science to reveal intriguing insights into the world around us and what lies beyond. 
 
Joined by a panel of scientists, experts and celebrity science enthusiasts, they delve into topics ranging from the wonder of trees and the science of board games to hedgehogs, elasticity and the sound of music. They also raid the archives of the Royal Society to uncover some surprising and wacky scientific endeavours, search for alien life at Glastonbury, venture to Bletchley Park to decode cyberwarfare and are put to the test by an audience of curious children in a ‘Beastly Bodies Kids’ Special’ from Cheltenham Science Festival. 
 
Additionally, the duo investigate where babies come from, ask if extinction is really the end, journey to the centre of the earth to unveil the high-pressured world beneath our feet, and embark on a cool adventure to the mysterious realm of ice. And as Saturn and Jupiter are pitted against each other in a planetary face-off, Brian and Robin referee the battle of the gas giants. Who will be awarded the coveted Kuiper Belt? 
 
Among the special guests in these entertaining episodes are Dame Judi Dench, Marcus du Sautoy, Steve Backshall, Adam Kay, Anneka Rice, Dave Gorman, Alan Davies, Pam Ayres, Maggie Aderin-Pocock, Sara Pascoe, Adam Rutherford, Ria Lina, Jo Brand and Brian Eno. 
 
Production credits 
Presented by Brian Cox and Robin Ince 
Produced by Melanie Brown 
Executive Producer: Alexandra Feachem 
Researcher: Olivia Jani 
A BBC Studios Audio production 
 
© 2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

The Infinite Monkey Cage: Series 30-33

Four more series of Brian Cox and Robin Ince’s multi award-winning science/comedy show – including the 100th episode and The Infinite Moonkey Cage, a special hour-long episode celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the Apollo moon landings 
 
One of BBC Radio 4’s most popular programmes, The Infinite Monkey Cage sees physicists Robin Ince and Brian Cox taking a witty, irreverent look at the world through scientists’ eyes. Aided by guests from the worlds of science, academia and entertainment, they delve into a variety of topics in a quest to explore the quirks and wonders of the universe. 
 
In these 25 episodes, they celebrate their 100th show with some very special appearances from Monkey Cage alumni including Brian Blessed, Eric Idle and Andy Hamilton; talk cryptography and codebreaking at GCHQ; look at the origin of numbers; and learn how to build a bionic human. There’s also a discussion about dinosaurs; a sleepy look at the science of dreaming; and a Brits in Space special featuring astronauts Tim Peake and Helen Sharman – plus The Infinite Moonkey Cage, a 60-minute episode in which they are joined by some of the key players involved in landing the first men on the moon on July 20th 1969. 
 
Among the many other guests featured in these four series are Neil deGrasse Tyson, Danny Wallace, Shappi Khorsandi, Beardyman, Ed Byrne, Chris Addison, Jo Brand, Rufus Hound, Bridget Christie and Mark Steel. 
 
Producer: Alexandra Feachem

The Infinite Monkey Cage: Series 18-21 plus Apollo Special

Chris Addison

Award-winning comedian Chris Addison explores the funny side of human evolution and Western civilisation in two BBC Radio 4 spoof lecture series 
 
Chris Addison – the thinking idiot's pretend anthropologist – takes us on a comic journey through the vast and rich subject of human history in these eight hilarious comedy lectures. Aided by Professor Austin Herring (aka Geoffrey McGivern), Dan Tetsell and Jo Enright, who put their considerable talents to use in sketches illustrating the lectures, he examines how Homo sapiens became Top Species, charts the rise and fall of the Western world and looks at what’s next for the future of mankind. 
 
In the Sony Gold Award-winning show The Ape that Got Lucky, he muses on the topics of Language and Communication, Social Development, Science and Progress and Man or Monkey. He asks why it’s fortunate the original human language developed in Africa rather than England; tells the real story of why our brains are so big; considers how many things, including penicillin and the light bulb, have been discovered by accident and reflects that a lot of the characteristics we imagine to be uniquely human are really just animal ones. 
 
The follow-up series Civilization sees Chris explaining why Western civilisation is on its last legs, and pondering how we can build ourselves a new one. Over four themed episodes – Controlling the Universe, Cities and Laws, A Working Society and A Sense of Identity – he investigates the ways we’ve tried to influence our physical environment; the flaws in our urban democratic system; the rocky road we’ve travelled over the past 5,500 years and how ‘culture’ gives civilisation a sense of identity. And most importantly, he reveals why he chose to spell ‘civilisation’ with a Z… 
 
 
Cast and credits 
Starring Chris Addison, with Geoffrey McGivern, Jo Enright and Dan Tetsell 
Written by Chris Addison and Carl Cooper 
Produced by Simon Nicholls 
 
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4, 4-25 August 2005 (The Ape That Got Lucky), 5-26 April 2006 (Civilization) 
 
© 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Chris Addison: A BBC Radio Comedy Collection

The Ape That Got Lucky & Civilization

Will Young

Dermot O’Leary

Sue Perkins

Monty Don

Bird lovers including Will Young, Samuel West, Dermot O'Leary, Greta Scacchi and Sue Perkins introduce us to their favourite birds - plus, Alison Steadman presents The Twelve Tweets of Christmas 
 
Since 2013, Tweet of the Day has been a daily delight for early risers, with its 90 seconds of beautiful birdsong and fascinating ornithological stories. But what of the people who tune in to this avian chorus? In this collection, we bring to the airwaves the conversational voices of an array of wildlife enthusiasts, all eager to recount their encounters with birds - among them 'Birdgirl' Mya-Rose Craig, writers Joe Harkness, Amy Liptrot, Melissa Harrison and Mark Cocker, Springwatch host Lindsey Chapman and the staff at Slimbridge Wetland Centre, the RSPB, BirdLife International and the British Trust for Ornithology. Together, they guide us through the year, from May to March, and introduce us to the birds that have inspired them. 
 
We also hear from some unexpected celebrity sources, who share stories of the birds that catch their eyes - and their ears. Will Young tells us about seeing a Woodland Kingfisher as a child in South Africa; Sue Perkins recalls coming face to face with a Great Horned Owl and Greta Scacchi reveals her fondness for the magnificent Goldfinch. 
 
Other famous names include Samuel West, who counts the turkey-like Capercaillie and the dapper, white-bibbed Dipper among his ten picks; and Dermot O'Leary, whose five choices include 'the Alsatian of the skies', the Greater Black-Backed Gull. Jimi Goodwin, the lead singer in Doves, swerves his band's titular bird in favour of the Cuckoo and the Mallard; while musician Fyfe Dangerfield celebrates the two birds that gave his bands their names - Guillemots and Gannets - along with eight others, and uses his own birdsong recordings to experiment in music. 
 
Also featured is The Twelve Tweets of Christmas, in which Alison Steadman provides a selection of festive editions inspired by the well-known carol 'The Twelve Days of Christmas'. 
 
Production credits 
Produced by Maggie Ayre, Miles Warde, Tom Bonnett, Eliza Lomas, Mark Ward, Karen Gregor, Tim Dee, Sarah Blunt and Andrew Dawes 
 
© 2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd.

Tweet of the Day

A Year of Bird Lovers

New Generation Thinkers

The most exciting emerging thinkers of our age present their ideas 
 
Since 2010, the Arts and Humanities Research Council and the BBC have joined forces to find the best and brightest academic minds whose cutting-edge research deserves to be shared with a wider audience. Each year, 10 pioneering scholars are selected as New Generation Thinkers, and given the unique opportunity to bring their groundbreaking work to life on radio. New Generation Thinkers have explored the arts, history, philosophy, science, religion and beyond, and continue to share ideas, bring people into their world, and expand horizons everywhere. 
 
To mark ten years of this incredible scheme, this collection brings together the 100 winners from the past decade. Many have gone on to become prominent public figures, and all have fascinating insights to share. Charlotte Blease questions the relationship between doctors and patients; Sarah Dillon explores roles for women in science fiction and whether the genre is sexist; Anindya Raychaudhuri discusses the 1947 Partition of India and how it is remembered; Edmund Richardson tells the story of Alexander the Great's lost city; and Ben Anderson explains how trespassers in the early 20th Century helped create new attitudes to nature by going off-piste. 
 
With topics ranging from a pirate's cookbook to prison breaks, from shaving to Shakespeare and from Berlin techno music to the Glasgow rag trade, these intriguing radio essays will inform, provoke, stimulate and surprise. 
 
© 2021 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (p) 2021 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd 
 
If you'd like to learn more about New Generation Thinkers, visit the Arts and Humanities Research Council website at ahrc.ukri.org

Instant Expert

100 of the best ideas from New Generation Thinkers

Jacob Hawley

Stand-up comedian Jacob Hawley explores every corner of the UK drugs scene, from nightclubs to prisons 
 
In his first BBC radio series, New Comedy Award finalist Jacob Hawley examines one of the most important issues affecting young people today, looking into every aspect of British drug culture to discover its scope and effects. As a recreational drugs user for almost a decade, Jacob thought he knew more than most about the topic - but was shocked by how much he still had to learn. 
 
Beginning with a debate about legalisation, these 16 episodes examine the highs and lows of drug use and abuse, from psychedelics, ayahuasca and chemsex to addiction, County Lines gangs and drugs behind bars and on the streets. Jacob visits a rehab clinic to talk to recovering addicts, meets families who have lost loved ones to drugs and speaks with dealers and policemen to canvass opinions from both sides of the law. In addition, he probes the murky world of doping and performance-enhancing drugs, investigates prescription drug abuse and antidepressants, and looks at the damaging effects of one of the most widely-used drugs in the world: alcohol. 
 
His guests include controversial scientist Professor David Nutt; 'Acid Countess' Amanda Feilding, grime artist and DJ Faze Miyake and Olympic gold medal winner Luke Campbell - and, in a special episode live from the BBC 6Music Festival, Jacob catches up with actor and presenter Tyger Drew-Honey, who discusses his struggle with drink and drugs. 
 
This acclaimed series earned Jacob a Radio Academy Silver Award for Best New Presenter. Enlightening, informative and insightful, it will expand your mind and make you rethink the way you look at drugs. 
 
Created and presented by Jacob Hawley 
Produced by Nick Coupe 
Music by Buddy Peace 
Art by Charles Williams at Made Up 
Jacob Hawley: On Drugs is a BBC Studios production for BBC Sounds 
 
With guests including: Professor David Nutt, Dr Kevin Sabet, Lizzie McCulloch, Jack Barry, Adam Deacon, Sabina Osbourne Gray, Tom Huggins, Carl Donnelly, Amanda Feilding, Harry Shapiro, Joshua Levitas, Elizabeth Burton-Phillips MBE, James Wharton, Denholm Spurr, Monty Moncrieff MBE, Luke Laws, Faze Miyake, Ryan Walker-Edwards, Fiona Measham, Bradley Laurencin, Shaun Attwood, Lawrence Gibbons, Paul Sharky, Joseph Kaz, Dr Michael Shiner, Chloe Petts, Laura Pilcher, Nathan Harmer, Ed Warner, Emily Robinson, Luke Campbell, Thomas Maw, Tyger Drew-Honey, Dr Tom Yerburgh, Michael Ritchie, Nikki Holland, Sonya Jones, Tanayah Sam, Ahir Shah, Angela Barnes, Emma Carrington, Dr David Healy, Lou Sanders, Jon Long, Tom Blackwood, Dr Richard Piper 
 
 
If you've been affected by any of the issues discussed in this podcast, you can find help and support here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/1kS7QTDB16PWkywhsXJLzxz/information-and-support-addiction-alcohol-drugs-and-gambling

Jacob Hawley: On Drugs

Exploring the UK drug scene

Henry Normal

Henry Normal uses poetry, storytelling and comedy to tackle big subjects with his trademark humour. This collection includes five of his funny and moving BBC Radio 4 shows: 
 
A Normal Family is centred around Henry's son, Johnny, who was diagnosed with autism. Through stand-up and poetry, Henry explores what this means for Johnny, for himself, and for his wife, Angela. 
 
A Normal Life continues to draw on Henry's experiences of bringing up a child with autism, and tackles the subjects of life, death, loneliness, loss, human frailty and other classic conversation stoppers. 
 
A Normal Love sees Henry explore love, romance and other unreasonable expectations. 
 
A Normal Imagination looks at the reasons why humans create. 
 
A Normal Nature is an exploration of unsung nature, from the point of view of a busy urban human. 
 
These extended episodes include material never broadcast on the radio. 
 
‘It's a rare and lovely thing: half an hour of radio that stops you short, gently demands your attention and then wipes your tears away while you have to have a little sit down’ - The Guardian 
 
A Normal Life was awarded a Silver ARIA for Best Comedy/Entertainment production at the 2017 Radio Academy Awards. 
 
Written and performed by Henry Normal. 
Produced by Carl Cooper. 
A BBC Studios Production.

A Normal…Family, Life, Love, Imagination & Nature

The BBC Radio 4 stand up shows

BBC Radio Comedy

Brian Cox and Robin Ince present a witty, irreverent look at the world according to science. 
 
The Infinite Monkey Cage has become one of BBC Radio 4’s most popular science-based programmes. In each episode physicist Brian Cox and comedian Robin Ince delve into a particular field of science, with the help of guests from the worlds of science, academia and entertainment. 
 
These 25 episodes feature subjects ranging from music to Frankenstein, from particle physics to the science of sleep, and from astronauts to insects. Also included are the 2016 and 2017 Christmas Special episodes. 
 
Well-known guests featured in this collection include Dave Gorman, Phil Jupitus, Sara Pascoe, Ross Noble, Eric Idle, Noel Fielding, Katy Brand, Mark Gatiss and Dara O'Briain.

The Infinite Monkey Cage: The Complete Series 14-17

The complete series 1-5 of the Sony Award Winning BBC Radio 4 show, The Infinite Monkey Cage, presented by physicist Brian Cox and comedian Robin Ince. 
 
Described by Judges of the Sony Award as; 'A brilliant way of being both innovative and instructive, bringing humour to what some will see as a dull subject. It's listenable, educational and brings a whole new audience to both the subject and the station'. 
 
The duo, assisted by a panel of experts and entertainers, tackle subjects such as biology, cosmology, physics and why Brian’s hair is always so perfect. Guest include Dara O'Brian, Jon Ronson, Stephen Fry and Dave Gorman, amongst many more. The Infinite Monkey Cage is an engaging, entertaining and educational show that puts the fun back into science.

Infinite Monkey Cage

The Complete Series 1-5

Brian Cox and Robin Ince present a witty, irreverent look at the world according to science. 
 
The Infinite Monkey Cage has become one of BBC Radio 4’s most popular science-based programmes. In each episode physicist Brian Cox and comedian Robin Ince delve into a particular field of science, with the help of guests from the worlds of science, academia and entertainment. 
 
These 29 episodes feature subjects ranging from the solar system to war, from UFOs to climate change, and from the mathematics of love to artificial intelligence. This collection also includes two special episodes from December 2015 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Albert Einstein's theory of General Relativity, and the 2014 and 2015 Christmas specials. 
 
Well-known guests featured in this collection include Dave Gorman, Sara Pascoe, Dara O Briain, Alexei Sayle, Ross Noble, Eric Idle, Jo Brand, Lee Mack, Josie Long, Katy Brand and Stephen Fry.

The Infinite Monkey Cage: The Complete Series 10-13

Richard Mabey

Nature writer Richard Mabey reflects on his lifelong relationship with science and the natural world in this collection of episodes originally broadcast on Radio 4 in September 2009 and repeated as part of The Essay series on Radio 3 in April 2010. 
 
In Episode 1, 'The Greenhouse and the Field', Richard talks about his very first laboratory - his father's greenhouse, a magician's chamber, where as a nine-year-old he would conduct his own experiments with chemicals bought with his pocket money. 
 
In Episode 2, 'The Lens and the Lichen', he explores how a lens can enhance and at times distort our view of nature. He discusses how the late 18th-century Claude glass influenced the Picturesque movement in art and the excitement of looking at lichens through a microscope. 
 
In the third episode, 'The Stinkhorn and the Perfumier', he ponders why we are all so good at remembering scents, despite their having little relevance for our survival. 
 
In Episode 4, 'The Songbird and the Sol-Fa', he presents his own thoughts on why birds sing and recounts how writers through the ages have had wildly different interpretations on the meaning of birdsong. 
 
Episode 5, 'The Map and the Word', concludes with him considering how maps are not just a tool for getting from A to B; for him, they are a kind of 'cryptogram'. 
 
©2004 Richard Mabey (P)2010 AudioGo Ltd

Scientist And The Romantic, The (BBC Radio 3 Documentary)

Award-winning wildlife presenter Brett Westwood explores our relationship with birds and reptiles, and their impact on human culture and society 
 
Ever since the first prehistoric artist etched animal paintings onto a cave wall, humans have been inspired by the living world. It has enriched our lives in science, art, literature and music, defining society at every level across the globe. In these 13 episodes from Radio 4's groundbreaking Natural Histories, presenter Brett Westwood looks at two remarkable types of animals: birds and reptiles, who share a common ancestor and are often thought to belong to the same group. 
 
His imagination takes flight as he considers the rich, tangled life of the cuckoo; soaks in the sound bath of a nightingale's song; and probes the paradox of the pigeon with fellow presenter Verity Sharp. Brett also explores a bird that has become a byword for male beauty: the peacock, and guides us through the history of the ethereal swan, from ancient Greece to Swan Lake to Putin's Russia. Plus, he analyses birds' eggs as a symbol for new life, a metaphor for the origin of the universe - and a delicious staple of cookery. Turning to the reptile world, Brett tracks down nature's master of disguise, the chameleon; learns how the crocodile can boast of being a god, a sports logo, a sly trickster and a comic book hero; and marvels at the magnificent dinosaurs, who ruled the earth for 160 million years and still captivate us today. 
 
Weaving together nature, history, biology and biography, these fascinating programmes illuminate the complex connections between human beings and our feathered and scaly friends, revealing the unexpected ways we have interacted with them, and how they have changed the way we see the world. 
 
Production credits 
Presented by Brett Westwood with Verity Sharp (Pigeon) 
Produced in partnership with the Natural History Museum, London 
Producers: Andrew Dawes, Sarah Blunt, Melvin Rickarby, Tim Dee, Tom Bonnett, Sarah Pitt 
Series producer: Mary Colwell 
 
Episode guide 
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 on the following dates: 
Birds Eggs 1 September 2015 
Peacock 31 July 2018 
Parrots 22 September 2016 
Hornbill 13 October 2015 
Honeyguide 18 October 2016 
Swallow 3 October 2017 
Cuckoo 8 August 2017 
Nightingale 12 September 2017 
Swan 25 September 2018 
Penguin 18 September 2018 
Dinosaurs 28 July 2015 
Crocodiles 29 September 2015 
Chameleon 11 October 2016 
 
© 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd.

Natural Histories: Birds and Reptiles

A BBC Radio 4 nature collection

Adam Rutherford

Hannah Fry

Dr Adam Rutherford and Dr Hannah Fry solve more of your everyday mysteries in these five fantastic radio series 
 
Inquisitive investigators Dr Adam Rutherford and Dr Hannah Fry are back to crack open another batch of baffling cases sent in by the great British public. Using the power of science, they find the surprising solutions to tricky questions such as 'Is anything really random'?, 'Why do we have hangovers?', 'Is hypnotism real?' and 'How do you make gold?' 
 
As broadcast on BBC Radio, these 29 episodes encompass classic cosmic conundrums - including whether there is intelligent alien life out there, if infinity exists, and how wormholes could allow us to time-travel - as well as probing more down-to-earth human quirks like our differing pain thresholds, our attraction to 'bad' foods like chips and chocolate, and our varied regional accents. Plus, the duo embark on a cheery evolutionary thought experiment as they wonder what would happen if humanity became extinct... 
 
Also included is a Valentine's episode about how love affects our brain, and a two-part Halloween special on why horror bewitches us so - and it's Rutherford and Fry squared when Stephen Fry joins the show to find out why he struggles to remember faces. 
 
Among the many guest experts aiding the two Doctors in their investigations are quantum physicist Jim Al-Khalili, cosmologist Andrew Pontzen, 'The Angry Chef' Anthony Warner, stage hypnotist Ben Dali, psychologist Claudia Hammond, neuroscientist Sophie Scott, and Phil Plait, AKA The Bad Astronomer. 
 
Presented by Drs Adam Rutherford and Hannah Fry 
This collection contains the original episodes of The Curious Cases of Rutherford and Fry as they first appeared on BBC Radio 4 on 3-7 September 2018 (Series 11), 21 November-26 December 2018 (Series 12), 3 April-8 May 2019 (Series 13), 30 October-4 December 2019 (Series 14), 5 February-11 March 2020 (Series 15) 
Producer: Michelle Martin 
 
Series 11 featuring: Monica Grady, Seth Shostak, Matthew Cobb, Sara Rugheimer, Peter Weyand, Polly McGuigan, Steve Haake, Colva Roney-Dougal, Bill Thompson, Tilly Blyth, Jim Al-Khalili, Irene Tracey, Steve Pete 
Series 12 featuring: Janina Ramirez, Mark Thomas, Marina Tyndall, Trevor Cox, Steven Strogatz, Eugenia Cheng, Sean Carroll, Andrew Pontzen, Mark Miodownik, Linda Bartoshuk, Anthony Warner, Sally Adams, Andrea Sella, Adam Rogers 
Series 13 featuring: Ben Dali, Wendy Moore, Devin Terhune, Dawn Shaughnessy, Philip Ball, Jim Al-Khalili, Matt Chandler, Wayne Urquhart, Trevor Cox, Zoe Laughlin, Maggie Aderin-Pocock, Sara Russell, Brendan Owens, Neil Comins, Steve Brusatte, Julia Clarke, Al Nelson 
Series 14 featuring: Mathias Clasen, Margee Kerr, Claudia Hammond, David Poeppel, Sophie Scott, Brad Duchaine, Frank Close, Andrew Pontzen, Andrew Blum, Helen Willetts, Steven Strogatz, Matthew Cobb, Kate Jones, Phil Plait 
Series 15 featuring: Mark Miodownik, Lucie Green, Andrew Pontzen, Dr Helen Fisher, Claudia Hammond, Irene Tracey, Dr Nick Davis, Dr Giulia Poerio, Claire Jones, Jonathan Ball, Wendy Barclay, Carl Philpott. Richard Warren, Heather Massey, Kathryn Jeffs, Jim Al-Khalili, Jennifer Oullette 
 
©2021 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2021 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

The Curious Cases of Rutherford and Fry: Series 11-15

BBC science sleuths solve everyday mysteries

Derek Jones

Derek Jones meets celebrities with a love of wildlife in these 38 episodes from the classic nature-themed interview showBetween 1970 and 1980, broadcaster Derek Jones invited a host of famous names to chat about their enthusiasm for nature and their encounters with animals. Delving into the BBC Sound Archive to select some of their favourite natural history recordings, they reveal their hitherto unknown passions – from birds and butterflies to the countryside and conservation.In these specially selected shows, Brian Blessed talks about his fascination with dinosaurs, keeping big cats and overcoming his fear of mountaineering, Bing Crosby tells us about wildfowling, ‘Mister Meadowlark’, naming racehorses and landing salmon; distinguished actress Dame Flora Robson speaks of her years in Hollywood, and her worries that the Los Angeles smog is killing the local flora and fauna; and Goon Show stars Harry Secombe and Spike Milligan let us in on their love for travel and wildlife photography (Harry) and ridiculous animal noises and names (Spike).Many of Jones’ guests share an interest in twitching, including Eric Morecambe, who relates how his curiosity about birds began when he went fishing with his father in Morecambe Bay, and Bobby Charlton, who developed his bird-spotting hobby while becoming a Manchester United legend. Humphrey Lyteltton reminisces about observing birds on holidays in North Wales, on tour with the band and in his back garden, and Peter Cushing recalls rescuing red shanks and watching oystercatchers and whimbrels on the Kent estuary with his late wife Helen. And, thirty years before Springwatch was a twinkle in Auntie’s eye, Bill Oddie confesses that when he wasn’t busy being a Goodie, he was busy birdwatching.Whether they’re mad about ornithology or hooked on angling, every one of the celebrities featured has a wealth of compelling personal stories to share, and fascinating insights to impart. Part natural history show, part nostalgic memoir, this wonderfully entertaining series is sure to inspire and delight.Cast and creditsPresented by Derek JonesProduced by John Burton and Michael Bowen 
 
 
Guests in episode order:Robert Dougall, Cyril Fletcher, Nigel Stock, Kenneth Allsop, Humphrey Lyttelton, Percy Edwards, Peter Cushing, Barbara Mullen, Virginia McKenna & Bill Travers, Spike Milligan, Bernard Cribbins, Marghanita Laski, Adam Faith, Roger Whittaker, Flora Robson, Derek Nimmo, James Robertson Justice, Bobby Charlton, Bill Oddie, Susan Hampshire, Brian Blessed, Derek Waring, Sir Martin Furnival-Jones, Eddie Braben, Eric Morecambe, Henry Longhurst, Harry Secombe, Lord Home of The Hirsel, Bing Crosby, Eva Rueber-Staier, Esmond Knight, Andrew Sachs, Frank Thornton, Dulcie Gray, Norman Thelwell, HRH Prince Bernhard of The Netherlands, The Marquess of Bath, Windsor DaviesFirst broadcast on BBC Radio 4 from 3 May 1971 to 10 December 1980.© 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Sounds Natural

Award-winning wildlife presenter Brett Westwood explores our relationship with mammals, and their impact on human culture and society 
 
For as long as humans have existed, animals have got under our skin, enthralling us with their wildness, enriching our lives and influencing art, literature, science and religion. And we feel perhaps the deepest connection with mammals, as we too are members of this same vast group. In these engrossing episodes from Radio 4's landmark series, Natural Histories, Brett Westwood tells the stories of 10 of the most mesmerising mammals, illuminating the often surprising ways they have shaped society. 
 
Looking at our closest relatives, monkeys and apes, he discovers how they reflect our humanity, and how, from King Kong to the PG Tips chimps, we have exploited them for entertainment. Meeting an enthusiastic lurcher named Trevor, Brett finds out how dogs have changed us and vice versa, as he unpacks our close companionship with man's best friend. Drawing on tales of Dracula and Batman, he investigates our obsession with bats, and, in company with Verity Sharp, he gets up close to one of the weirdest, most endangered primates on Earth: the aye-aye. Plus, Brett experiences the magic of sloths with Joanna Pinnock; examines what a furry stuffed toy can teach us about our association with bears; and analyses how our perception of the enigmatic whale has undergone a transformation, from feared beast to icon of conservation. 
 
Packed with fascinating facts about the biology and cultural history of each animal, this carefully curated collection celebrates the wonder and infinite variety of mammals, and shows how our past, present and future are inextricably intertwined with theirs. 
 
Production credits 
Presented by Brett Westwood with Joanna Pinnock (Sloth) and Verity Sharp (Aye-Aye) 
Produced in partnership with the Natural History Museum, London 
Producers: Tom Bonnett, Melvin Rickarby, Sarah Blunt, Beth O'Dea 
Series producer: Mary Colwell 
Additional sound recordings of Narwhals courtesy of Dr Susanna Blackwell, Greeneridge Sciences Inc. 
 
Episode guide 
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 on the following dates: 
Monkeys And Apes 2 June 2015 
Bears 8 September 2015 
Whales 17 November 2015 
Elephant 27 September 2016 
Bat 1 August 2017 
Giraffe 7 November 2017 
Reindeer 21 November 2017 
Dog 4 September 2018 
Sloth 18 October 2019 
Aye-Aye 29 November 2019 
 
© 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd.

Natural Histories: Mammals

Sarah Woods

With George Monbiot, Paul Allen and Peter Harper.  Have you got what it takes to get to zero carbon? Our expert panel set one average family the task of eliminating their carbon footprint... and living with the consequences. Originally broadcast in March 2009. Starring Kate Ashfield, Don Gilet, Poppy Lee Friar, Ryan Watson, Malcolm Tierney, Jonathan Tafler, Janice Acquah, and Stephen Hogan. Producer/Director: Jonquil Panting.

Getting To Zero

A BBC Radio 4 dramatisation

Patrick Aryee

Season 1 of the hugely successful BBC radio series about the natural world and the awesome ways it has inspired us. 
 
 Over billions of years, animals have evolved and adapted, learning through trial and error the best strategies for surviving and thriving. So who better to help us humans when it comes to solving our own challenges? In this fascinating series, biologist and wildlife filmmaker Patrick Aryee tells the incredible stories of some remarkable animals, and the surprising ways they have enabled us to make technological and scientific breakthroughs. 
 
 From the kingfisher whose beak led to a redesign of the bullet train, to the spider's web that may help us detect the earth's vibrations and turn them into electricity, the animals in these 30 episodes all have extraordinary abilities that could revolutionise our world. There's the bloodsucking mosquito whose mouthparts might hold the key to a future of painless injections; the woodpecker whose hard head has given us ideas for better bicycle helmets and black box recorders; the shark whose scaly skin could show us how to fight superbugs, the tenacious mussel that could make risky foetal surgery safer and save lives - and many more. 
 
 And in the final, live show, we dig deeper into the world of biomimicry, and hear from listeners about other creatures who could spark innovation - including scorpions, tarantulas and hibernating bears... 
 
 Full of brilliant, bingeable tales and astonishing revelations, this mind-blowing natural history series will thrill animal lovers, science fans and anyone who's curious about our wonderful natural world. 
 
 
 Production credits 
 Presented by Patrick Aryee 
 Series producer: Sarah Blunt 
 Produced by Amelia Butterly 
 Live show produced by Mark Ward 
 Series and live show editor: James Cook 
 Music and sound design by Dan Pollard 
 Sound recordist: Chris Watson 
 
 First broadcast on the BBC World Service on the following dates: 
 
Track Listing 
 Kingfisher and bullet train 25 March 2019 
 Octopus and camouflage 1 April 2019 
 Mosquito and surgical needle 8 April 2019 
 Woodpecker and black box 15 April 2019 
 Bat and visual aid 22 April 2019 
 Tardigrade and vaccine transport 29 April 2019 
 Firefly and lightbulb 6 May 2019 
 Mussel and plywood 13 May 2019 
 Termite and ventilation system 20 May 2019 
 Cod and antifreeze 27 May 2019 
 Desert spider and Mars robot 3 June 2019 
 Sea otter and wetsuit 10 June 2019 
 Stenocara beetle and water collector 17 June 2019 
 Albatross and drone 24 June 2019 
 Shark and hospital surfaces 1 July 2019 
 Spider and rescue robot 8 July 2019 
 Gecko and adhesives 15 July 2019 
 Whale and wind turbine 22 July 2019 
 Spider and window glass 29 July 2019 
 Bat and unassisted flight 5 August 2019 
 Bombardier beetle and fuel injection 12 August 2019 
 Fish schools and windfarm 19 August 2019 
 Bat and robot 26 August 2019 
 Dolphin and tsunami detector 2 September 2019 
 Butterfly and butterfly house 9 September 2019 
 Mussel and foetal surgery 16 September 2019 
 Ant and networks 23 September 2019 
 Peacock and computer screen 30 September 2019 
 Butterfly and paints 7 October 2019 
 Spider and remote sensing 14 October 2019 
30 Animals LIVE 21 October 2019 
 
 ©2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

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