Darwin Season 2009

To mark the 200th anniversary of Charles Darwin's birth and the 150th anniversary of the publication of 'On the Origin of Species', the BBC is airing a season of landmark TV and radio programmes.

Simple yet profound, Darwin's theory of evolution by natural selection is one of the most influential scientific ideas ever conceived. Even today, its conclusions and implications impact religion, politics, economics and art as well as our understanding of the natural world.

The Darwin Season continues from 12 October 2009 with 'Life', narrated by David Attenborough.

Watch Life on BBC iPlayer

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  • BBC's Darwin Season

    Intro to Darwin Season

    Playing clip now...

    Find out why 2009 is a special year, watch the animated TV trail and take a look at the Season's programmes.

  • In Our Time presenter Melvyn Bragg

    In Our Time

    Listen to a clip

    Melvyn Bragg asks why Darwin's writing remains such an influence on our understanding of nature.
    Listen again at Radio 4

  • Darwin letters and drawings

    Dear Darwin

    Listen to a clip

    Five eminent contemporary thinkers write personal letters to the great man.
    Listen again at Radio 4

  • Painting of HMS Beagle

    Hunting the Beagle

    Listen to a clip

    Maritime historian Robert Prescott tracks down HMS Beagle's last resting place.
    Listen again at Radio 4

  • Leading Edge presenter Geoff Watts

    Leading Edge

    Geoff Watts on 'Darwin's Sacred Cause' - a controversial new book which claims that Darwin was driven by his anti-slavery beliefs.
    Listen again at Radio 4

  • Biologist Armand Leroi

    What Darwin Didn't Know

    Watch a clip

    Biologist Armand Leroi explores the evolution of evolution theory in the 150 years since Darwin.
    Visit the programme page

  • Sir David Attenborough

    Charles Darwin and
    the Tree of Life

    Watch a clip

    David Attenborough, a passionate Darwinian, shares his personal views on Darwin's theory.
    Visit the programme page

  • Crawling beetle

    Darwin's Struggle

    Watch a clip

    The story of Darwin's twenty-year personal struggle that mirrored the natural world he observed.
    Visit the programme page

  • A giraffe feeding

    The Origins of The Origin

    More info

    Examining the connections between French and English evolutionary thought - and how giraffes evolved long necks.

    Visit the programme page

  • Darwin Season newsletter

    Make a date with Darwin

    Don't miss more Darwin programmes in this BBC Season.

    Sign up here for e-mail reminders.

  • Actor Jo Stone-Fewings

    The Beagle Diary

    Jo Stone-Fewings reads Charles Darwin's own account of his epic five-year voyage on board HMS Beagle at the age of 22.
    Visit the programme page

  • Martin Johnson Heade, Cattleya Orchid and Three Hummingbirds, 1871, oil on panel, National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C., Gift of the Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation

    Darwin's Children

    More info

    Five essays explore Darwin's influence on art, literature, economics, religion and even online social networks.
    Visit the programme page

  • Portrait of the young Charles Darwin

    Darwin, My Ancestor

    Listen to a clip

    Writer Ruth Padel's personal journey looking at the genius of her great-great-grandfather.
    Listen again at Radio 4

  • Sunset on the Galapagos islands

    Voyages of Descent

    The tale of Captain Robert Fitzroy, who's decision to invite Darwin to sail with him ultimately ended in a mix of tragedy and fame.
    Visit the programme page

  • Three starfish

    Night Waves

    More info

    Looking at the legacies of three titans of 20th century thought - Darwin, Marx and Freud.
    Visit the programme page

  • Darwin letter © Cambridge University Library

    Like Confessing a Murder

    More info

    This moving drama, based on Charles and Emma Darwin's own words, recreates their private fears about Charles' ideas.
    Listen again - details

  • Reverend Angela Tilby

    Darwin's Conundrum

    More info

    The Reverend Angela Tilby explores Darwin's complex relationship with religion.
    Visit the programme page

  • Jimmy Doherty facing a gorilla

    Darwin's Garden

    Watch a clip

    Across three programmes, Jimmy Doherty recreates Darwin's ingenious experiments to show that evolution is all around.
    Visit the programme page

  • Andrew Marr

    Darwin's Dangerous Idea

    Watch a clip

    Andrew Marr's three-part series looks at how Darwin's idea escaped the world of science and took on a life of its own.
    Visit the programme page

  • Professor Conor Cunningham

    Did Darwin Kill God?

    Watch a clip

    Conor Cunningham argues that it's possible to be a Christian and accept the theory of evolution.
    Visit the programme page

  • Leaves x-ray

    Darwinian Sistine Chapel

    More info

    14 April, 11am Radio 4
    The difficulties of conceiving and erecting 'Tree' - The Natural History Museum's recently unveiled art installation.

  • BBC's Darwin Season

    Darwin Season 2009

    Watch a clip

    Find out why 2009 is a special year for science, and how it is being marked by the BBC.

Explore evolution

'Devolve' yourself game

Take things further with The Open University's expert articles, experiments and online discussion.


• Watch: Dawkins on Darwin's Five Bridges

• Experiment: Join the Megalab snail hunt

• Discuss: Join the Darwin debate

Free Tree of Life poster

 Tree of Life poster

Explore evolution in your own home, with this lavishly illustrated wall poster from The Open University.


The poster is full-colour, double-sided and completely free - order yours here.

BBC News

BBC News - Darwin stories

Even today, Darwin is headline news. Follow the interactive map, the diary and the stories below:


 • Watch scientists' videos on evolution

 • At home with Darwin... 200 years on

 • Richard Dawkins on Charles Darwin

Email reminders

Darwin Season email reminders

Don't miss the upcoming TV and radio programmes in this BBC Season.


To make a date with Darwin and receive free e-mail reminders - sign up here.

Related links

• BBC Kent - Darwin audio slideshow

• BBC Topics - Charles Darwin

• BBC Topics - David Attenborough

• BBC News - Galapagos blog and videos

• BBC Radio 3 - Darwin homepage

• BBC Radio 4 - Darwin homepage

• BBC Manchester - Darwin's moth

• BBC Shropshire - Darwin Festival 2009

• BBC Staffordshire - Darwin connections

• BBC History - Darwin profile

• BBC Films - Creation the Movie

• The Wellcome Trust - Darwin 200

• Natural History Museum - Darwin 200

• Darwin Online - the complete works

• Darwin Correspondence Project

• English Heritage - Darwin's House

• Westminster Abbey - Darwin's grave

• Fitzwilliam Museum - Endless Forms

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