David attenborough date of birth

Charles darwin david attenborough biography Duration: 59'26''. David Attenborough is a passionate Darwinian, and sees evolution as the cornerstone of all the programmes and series he has ever made. Here, he shares his personal view on Darwin's controversial idea. Taking us on a journey through the last years, he tracks the changes in our understanding of the natural world. Ever since Darwin, major scientific discoveries have helped to underpin and strengthen Darwin's revolutionary idea so that today, the pieces of the puzzle fit together so neatly that there can be little doubt that Darwin was right.

Charles Darwin and the Tree of Life

British TV series or programme

Charles Darwin and the Tree of Life is a television documentary about Charles Darwin and his revolutionary theory of evolution through natural selection, produced by the BBC to mark the bicentenary of Darwin's birth. It is part of the BBC Darwin Season.

The presenter, David Attenborough, outlines the development of the theory by Darwin through his observations of animals and plants in nature and in the domesticated state, visiting sites important in Darwin's own life, including Down House, Cambridge University and the Natural History Museum, and using archive footage from Attenborough's many nature documentaries for the BBC.

He reviews the development of the theory since its beginnings, and its revolutionary impact on the way in which humans view themselves – not as having dominion over the animals as The Bible says, but as part of the natural world and subject to the same controlling forces that govern all life on Earth.

Reception

The programme was aired in a primetime slot on BBC One, at 9pm on Sunday 1 February.

Richard attenborough biography: Charles Darwin and the Tree of Life is a television documentary about Charles Darwin and his revolutionary theory of evolution through natural selection, produced by the BBC to mark the bicentenary of Darwin's birth.

Official ratings from BARB show that it attracted an audience of million viewers,[1] a healthy figure for a factual programme. Overnight data suggested 23% of the available audience was watching.[2]

The programme drew effusive praise from critics:

  • In The Guardian, Sam Wollaston describes how Attenborough tells the story of natural selection "through the life and work of his hero, and also through his own life and work, which has always had Darwinism at its core.

    The two strands have been artfully twisted together, into a beautiful double helix of television that makes perfect sense. Except to the creationist loons."[3]

  • In The Times, Andrew Billen praises Attenborough's "grace and fluency," in demonstrating "that what always comes to Darwin's rescue is scientific evidence,"[4] and David Chater remarks on how, through the use of archive clips, "the viewer also sees Attenborough himself evolve from a young presenter to a latter-day sage."[5]
  • In The Independent, Tom Sutcliffe also praises the presenter: "Not everyone is up to the humility evolutionary theory demands of us, but David Attenborough is, and he made the case well."[6]
  • In Ireland, Pat Stacey of the Evening Herald describes it as "a stunning piece of television – epic television – that brilliantly pulled together with pin-sharp clarity the different strands of Darwin's awesome, irrefutable discoveries, as though Attenborough were constructing a model of the double helix.

    Charles darwin david attenborough biography documentaries a life on our Presented by David Attenborough, this programme looks at the broad spectrum of animals on our planet and how Charles Darwin attempted to explain this diversity. Attenborough traces the journey of Darwin as he wrote his theory of natural selection, illustrated with the kinds of animals and plants he encountered on the way. There is also footage of Attenborough throughout his career observing and reporting on animals across the globe. Attenborough describes Darwin's struggle with publishing his theory of natural selection, fearing the outrage of the religious, including his devout wife. However, as fellow naturalist Alfred Russel Wallace began to get closer to the same theory of natural selection, Darwin was forced to make his research public.

    It was beautifully made and utterly thrilling."[7]

Associated material and DVD

Awards

The Grierson Awards , Winner, Best Science Documentary[11]

References

  1. ^Weekly Top 30 at (available by searching weekly archive)
  2. ^TV ratings, The Guardian, 2 February
  3. ^Last night's TV, Sam Wollaston, The Guardian, 2 February
  4. ^Weekend TV[dead link&#;], Andrew Billen, The Times, 2 February
  5. ^Sunday's Top TV[dead link&#;], David Chater, The Times, 31 January
  6. ^The Weekend's Television, Tom Sutcliffe, The Independent, 2 February
  7. ^Thrilling life of a charming species, Pat Stacey, Evening Herald, 2 February
  8. ^Charles Darwin & The Tree of Life (DVD)BBC Shop
  9. ^: Charles Darwin and the Tree of Life, Open University
  10. ^"Tree of Life – BBC evolution video – Darwin – Wellcome Trust".

    Archived from the original on 22 April Retrieved 2 February

  11. ^"Grierson – Shortlist & Nominations – Best Science Documentary". Archived from the original on 12 November Retrieved 20 November , 'Grierson Awards'

External links