Programme Information

DARWIN SEASON
Darwin's Dangerous Idea Ep 1/3

Thursday 5 March

9.00-10.00pm BBC TWO

• www.bbc.co.uk/darwin

Andrew Marr traces the widespread impact of Charles Darwin's work

Andrew Marr traces the widespread impact of Charles Darwin's work from its inception to the modern day in a new series for BBC Two. He shows how much of the way the world is seen is fundamentally shaped by Darwin's Dangerous Idea.

Darwin's theory of evolution by the mechanism of natural selection is one of the most powerful and influential scientific theories ever proposed. Its impact has reached far beyond the world of science. It has been used to challenge the place of religion in society and it has been appropriated – and often misappropriated – for political ends. It has profoundly shaped society, economics and the arts.

In Darwin's Dangerous Idea, Andrew Marr explores the impact of Darwin's ideas on religion, politics and the understanding of our place in the natural world. He traces Darwin's idea across Europe, the United States and to South America, where he discovers some of the experiences which shaped Darwin's thinking during his five-year voyage on The Beagle.

The opening programme looks at Darwin's impact on religion and morality, and how the great debate about his ideas is still raging. For many Muslims, Jews and fundamentalist Christians, his work is still regarded as heresy. As Marr examines Darwin's influence on beliefs and ideas about what it really means to be human, it becomes clear that Darwin's ideas are as explosive today as they were 150 years ago.

Co-produced by The Open University, Darwin's Dangerous Idea is part of the BBC's season of programmes in 2009 marking the 200th anniversary of Darwin's birth and the 150th anniversary of the publication of On The Origin Of Species. More information can be found at bbc.co.uk/darwin, where viewers can also request a free Open University Tree of Life poster.

VAA

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DARWIN SEASON
Jimmy Doherty In Darwin's Garden – Dangerous Ideas Ep 1/3

Thursday 5 March

8.00-9.00pm BBC TWO

• www.bbc.co.uk/darwin
• Feature

Jimmy Doherty gets closer to understanding Darwin's theory of evolution

Jimmy Doherty, scientist, farmer and presenter of Jimmy's Farm, recreates some of Darwin's groundbreaking experiments to reveal the untold story of Darwin – the ingenious experimentalist.

Filmed largely in Darwin's gardens at Down House in Kent, Jimmy uses his hero's notebooks to carry out the "hands-on" experiments that Darwin undertook following his expedition on The Beagle.

In the film, Jimmy describes the importance of the experiments: "Darwin turns his house, his gardens and his greenhouse into a laboratory and embarks on what I think is one of the most exciting series of experiments and observations in scientific history. Piece by piece Darwin builds up his picture of evolution. This journey is as full of adventures and unexpected challenges as the one he made around the world."

Many of these experiments have never been done since Darwin first designed them 150 years ago, and they help Jimmy gain a truly original insight into the theory of evolution.

Jimmy recreates one of Darwin's first experiments by soaking a range of seeds in salt water for a month. The smelly results would help Darwin try to solve the puzzle of how the same plants could be found on opposite sides of the oceans.

In the garden at Down House, Jimmy digs up a piece of turf. He wants to recreate Darwin's experiment to demonstrate the struggle for existence between plant seedlings and their natural predators – using nothing more than a patch of bare ground and a handful of sticks.

It was these and other investigations that helped give Darwin the confidence to first publish his seminal work, On The Origin Of Species, in 1859, which set out his controversial theory of evolution by natural selection.

Jimmy Doherty In Darwin's Garden is part of the BBC's Darwin season, marking the 200th anniversary of Darwin's birth and the 150th anniversary of the publication of On The Origin Of Species. It has been co-produced by The Open University. For a free Open University Tree of Life poster, viewers can visit bbc.co.uk/darwin or call 0845 300 88 54.

BR/LS2

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Rocket Science Ep 1/3

Friday 6 March

9.00-10.00pm BBC TWO

Teacher Andy Smith hopes his science classes will go with a bang

From Isaac Newton to Stephen Hawking, the UK boasts a proud and prestigious heritage of scientific endeavour. The future, however, may be a different story. Recent research by the Royal Society Of Chemistry has shown that the take-up post-GCSE of all sciences has dropped by an incredible 25 per cent.

Rocket Science, a new three-part documentary for BBC Two, aims to fire the scientific enthusiasm of everyday kids in a typical comprehensive – Woodchurch High School in the Wirral – with a project to unravel the secrets of firework design.

Science teacher Andy Smith has been teaching the subject for 10 years and is passionate about the practical side. He hopes that being involved in Rocket Science will inspire Class 8XS to re-evaluate their opinions. Thirteen-year-olds can be a notoriously tricky audience, so how does he plan to make science more enticing?

Working with some of the world's leading fireworks safety experts and display companies, Andy aims to take the teenagers on a fascinating journey to illustrate how fireworks have their origins in a marriage of chemistry and physics.

As the series begins, it's the start of the summer term and the pupils are disillusioned with science; it's simply not cool. From postman to pilot, PE teacher to model, the collective career aspirations of Class 8XS does not feature one scientist.

To fire their enthusiasm, Andy tries to motivate them by meeting a fireworks professional and watching a display. All does not go to plan, though – many of the fireworks don't work and the sometimes truculent 13-year-olds aren't impressed.

Not to be daunted, Andy ploughs on with an innovative "glow-in-the-dark lesson" that sees the kids getting to grips with some of the chemicals that create light. The children love every minute of the lesson and Andy's confidence is restored.

With the aim of presenting a firework display for the retirement party of head teacher Mrs Holt at the end of the summer term, Class 8XS start work in earnest. With a whirlwind schedule of lessons and educational trips, the majority of the class begins to engage with science for the first time.

However, behind the scenes, Andy is struggling. Despite his best efforts, some of the kids just aren't interested – cheeky Charlie's behaviour has caused real problems in class and, if Andy can't rein him in, he will jeopardise the project.

In addition, a family bereavement for Mrs Holt means that her retirement party and the kids' forthcoming fireworks display is cancelled. With the summer holidays looming, Andy must urgently think of a way to re-engage his class with the project.

JF

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Grow Your Own Drugs Ep 1/6

Monday 2 March

8.30-9.00pm BBC TWO

www.bbc.co.uk/growyourowndrugs
(website available closer to transmission)
• Feature

James Wong demonstrates how to grow and transform familiar plants into simple natural remedies

Many people think of plants as purely ornamental, something to brighten up back gardens and window boxes, but there are many other uses for them. Ethnobotanist and gardener James Wong demonstrates how to grow and transform familiar plants into simple natural remedies that could help ease the symptoms of a variety of minor everyday ailments. He also rustles up some pampering beauty treatments.

A delicious mix of gardening, cooking, health and beauty, Grow Your Own Drugs is packed with useful and practical information and gives viewers an insight into the science and history of plants used as natural remedies.

In the first episode, the focus is on fruit. James shows how figs can be used to prepare a remedy which could help to relieve constipation. For those who have trouble dropping off, he shows how hops aren't just for making beer, revealing how they could aid getting a good night's sleep.

James transforms kiwi and papaya into a soothing face mask and creates a warming soup using goji berries to help feed a cold. The ingredients he uses can be picked up in local supermarkets or even grown in back gardens.

Next week, James takes a closer look at flowers.

KA

Model Danielle Lloyd embarks on a journey to uncover the true extent of violence in teen relationships in the UK today and to understand the impact "dangerous love" is having on Britain's young women.

Visiting organisations funded by Comic Relief, Danielle hears the real stories of teenagers who have violent boyfriends. She meets 21-year-old Sam, an inspirational young woman who, having survived violence in her teenage years, is now supporting others. Danielle also meets 19-year-old Gareth, who has beaten his partner in the past but has attempted to deal with these violent tendencies through a programme designed for perpetrators.

Danielle's search for answers also involves going back to school with children in Hendon to see ground-breaking solutions in action. Determined to stop more teens finding themselves in abusive relationships, Danielle's journey ends finding out about a campaign to directly spread the word and make a difference.
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FS