Charles Darwin and the Tree of Life
| Charles Darwin and the Tree of Life | |
|---|---|
BBC Natural History Unit Open University | |
| Original release | |
| Network | BBC One |
| Release | 1 February 2009 |
| Related | |
| BBC Darwin Season | |
Charles Darwin and the Tree of Life is a 2009 television documentary about
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
BARB show that it attracted an audience of 6.34 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 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. It was beautifully made and utterly thrilling."[7]
Associated material and DVD
- The 2 Entertain on 2 March 2009 (BBCDVD2938) containing the full 60-minute documentary.[8]
- The Open University has produced supporting material on its website.[9] The Wellcome Trust made the animated "Tree of Life" from the documentary available online.[10]
Awards
The Grierson Awards 2009, Winner, Best Science Documentary[11]
References
- ^ Weekly Top 30 at BARB.co.uk (available by searching weekly archive)
- ^ TV ratings, The Guardian, 2 February 2009
- ^ Last night's TV, Sam Wollaston, The Guardian, 2 February 2009
- ^ Weekend TV, Andrew Billen, The Times, 2 February 2009
- ^ Sunday's Top TV, David Chater, The Times, 31 January 2009
- ^ The Weekend's Television, Tom Sutcliffe, The Independent, 2 February 2009
- Evening Herald, 2 February 2009
- ^ Charles Darwin & The Tree of Life (DVD) BBC Shop
- ^ open2.net: Charles Darwin and the Tree of Life, Open University
- ^ "Tree of Life – BBC evolution video – Darwin 200 – Wellcome Trust". Archived from the original on 22 April 2012. Retrieved 2 February 2009.
- ^ "Grierson 2008 – Shortlist & Nominations – Best Science Documentary". Archived from the original on 12 November 2008. Retrieved 20 November 2009., 'Grierson Awards' 2009
External links
- Charles Darwin and the Tree of Life at IMDb
- Charles Darwin and the Tree of Life on the Eden website
