BBC making a new programme about Darwin

leon_heller · 3rd July 2008, 02:34 PM

I just heard on the local BBC TV news that the Beeb is making a new film about Darwin, presented by Sir David Attenborough and Andrew Marr.

Leon

Soapy Sam · 3rd July 2008, 03:03 PM

Well with those two on board, it should at least be factual.

Actually, the man I would like to see a full biopic of, is Robert Fitzroy- sometimes seen by Darwinists as some sort of bogey man for his later opposition to Darwinism. He got that wrong, but he got a great deal right in his life. He was no mean scientist himself, as well as a highly professional seaman. I was pleased when the Met Office finally acknowledged his contribution by naming a sea area after him.

TX50 · 3rd July 2008, 03:24 PM

Originally Posted by Soapy Sam

Robert Fitzroy [...] He was no mean scientist himself...

A Fellow of the Royal Society, no less. One of my [few remaining] personal
heroes - after James Cook.

Lothian · 3rd July 2008, 03:33 PM

Marr promoted Darwin in the 100 greatest Britians programme a few years back.

leon_heller · 3rd July 2008, 03:38 PM

There was a BBC radio programme about Fitzroy a few weeks ago. He ended up as a Vice-Admiral and committed suicide by cutting his throat with a razor. He seems to have suffered all his life from what is now called bipolar disorder.

Leon

UnrepentantSinner · 4th July 2008, 02:18 AM

Sounds interesting. I wonder who'll air it in the U.S. (other than BeebA).

Mojo · 4th July 2008, 02:29 AM

Originally Posted by Soapy Sam

I was pleased when the Met Office finally acknowledged his contribution by naming a sea area after him.

I kind of miss Finisterre though.

Deetee · 4th July 2008, 09:56 AM

Do the Spanish still have one?

TX50 · 4th July 2008, 10:17 AM

Originally Posted by leon_heller

There was a BBC radio programme about Fitzroy a few weeks ago. He ended up as a Vice-Admiral and committed suicide by cutting his throat with a razor. He seems to have suffered all his life from what is now called bipolar disorder.

Leon

Fitzroy was rather more than just an admiral (by seniority) and a
suicide:

Passed out with distinction from Royal Naval College, Portsmouth.

Got a perfect score in his examinations for Leutenant (a feat never
before achieved by anyone).

Surveyed the coasts of South America and did much scientific work
there.

Won a gold medal from the Royal Geographical society.

Member of Parliament.

Governor of New Zealand. Fired from that post largely because he held
that the Maoris should be dealt with in a fair and equitable manner.

Superintendent of Woolwich Royal Dockyard.

Elected fellow of the Royal Society (nominated, among others, by Charles
Darwin).

Head of British Meteorological department. Invented a barometer, practically
invented weather forecasting. Devised a storm warning system.

Dragon · 5th July 2008, 02:44 AM

From the BBC Press Office

Quote:

The BBC today announces a season of landmark content to mark one of the most astonishing and influential scientific ideas ever conceived.

February 12 2009 is the 200th anniversary of the birth of Charles Darwin, and 24 November 2009 is the 150th of the publication of his book On the Origin of Species, which laid out the theory of evolution by natural selection.

Looks very good indeed - several TV and radio programmes across the network.

Mojo · 5th July 2008, 03:15 AM

Originally Posted by Deetee

Do the Spanish still have one?

Yes, but I can't imagine a Spanish Finisterre sitting in an armchair at the end of the shipping forecast, wearing a smoking jacket and enjoying a large scotch, like a slightly more raffish Rowley Birkin QC.

3rd July 2008, 02:34 PM	#1
leon_heller Graduate Poster Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: St. Leonards-on-Sea, E. Sussex, UK. Posts: 1,090	BBC making a new programme about Darwin I just heard on the local BBC TV news that the Beeb is making a new film about Darwin, presented by Sir David Attenborough and Andrew Marr. Leon
	__________________ Leon Heller G1HSM

3rd July 2008, 03:03 PM	#2
Soapy Sam NLH Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 25,885	Well with those two on board, it should at least be factual. Actually, the man I would like to see a full biopic of, is Robert Fitzroy- sometimes seen by Darwinists as some sort of bogey man for his later opposition to Darwinism. He got that wrong, but he got a great deal right in his life. He was no mean scientist himself, as well as a highly professional seaman. I was pleased when the Met Office finally acknowledged his contribution by naming a sea area after him.
Soapy Sam NLH Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 25,885	Last edited by Soapy Sam; 3rd July 2008 at 03:08 PM.

3rd July 2008, 03:24 PM	#3
TX50 Graduate Poster Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 1,555	Originally Posted by Soapy Sam Robert Fitzroy [...] He was no mean scientist himself... A Fellow of the Royal Society, no less. One of my [few remaining] personal heroes - after James Cook.
TX50 Graduate Poster Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 1,555

3rd July 2008, 03:38 PM	#5
leon_heller Graduate Poster Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: St. Leonards-on-Sea, E. Sussex, UK. Posts: 1,090	There was a BBC radio programme about Fitzroy a few weeks ago. He ended up as a Vice-Admiral and committed suicide by cutting his throat with a razor. He seems to have suffered all his life from what is now called bipolar disorder. Leon
	__________________ Leon Heller G1HSM

4th July 2008, 02:18 AM	#6
UnrepentantSinner A post by Alan Smithee Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: USAian is not a word Posts: 26,357	Sounds interesting. I wonder who'll air it in the U.S. (other than BeebA).
	__________________ I am an American citizen who is part of American society and briefly served in the American armed forces. I use American dollars and pay taxes that support the American government. And yes, despite the editorial decison to change American politics to the nonsensical "USA politics" subforum, I follow and comment on American politics.

3rd July 2008, 03:33 PM	#4
Lothian Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: https://twitter.com/CV4UK Posts: 10,373	Marr promoted Darwin in the 100 greatest Britians programme a few years back.

4th July 2008, 02:29 AM	#7
Mojo Mostly harmless Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Nor Flanden Posts: 22,091	Originally Posted by Soapy Sam I was pleased when the Met Office finally acknowledged his contribution by naming a sea area after him. I kind of miss Finisterre though.
	__________________ "You got to use your brain." - McKinley Morganfield "The poor mystic homeopaths feel like petted house-cats thrown at high flood on the breaking ice." - Leon Trotsky

4th July 2008, 09:56 AM	#8
Deetee Illuminator Join Date: Jul 2003 Posts: 3,790	Do the Spanish still have one?
Deetee Illuminator Join Date: Jul 2003 Posts: 3,790	__________________ "Reci bobu bob a popu pop." - Tanja "Everything is physics. This does not mean that physics is everything." - Cuddles "The entire practice of homeopathy can be substituted with the advice to "take two aspirins and call me in the morning." - Linda "Homeopathy: I never knew there was so little in it." - BSM

4th July 2008, 10:17 AM	#9
TX50 Graduate Poster Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 1,555	Originally Posted by leon_heller There was a BBC radio programme about Fitzroy a few weeks ago. He ended up as a Vice-Admiral and committed suicide by cutting his throat with a razor. He seems to have suffered all his life from what is now called bipolar disorder. Leon Fitzroy was rather more than just an admiral (by seniority) and a suicide: Passed out with distinction from Royal Naval College, Portsmouth. Got a perfect score in his examinations for Leutenant (a feat never before achieved by anyone). Surveyed the coasts of South America and did much scientific work there. Won a gold medal from the Royal Geographical society. Member of Parliament. Governor of New Zealand. Fired from that post largely because he held that the Maoris should be dealt with in a fair and equitable manner. Superintendent of Woolwich Royal Dockyard. Elected fellow of the Royal Society (nominated, among others, by Charles Darwin). Head of British Meteorological department. Invented a barometer, practically invented weather forecasting. Devised a storm warning system.
TX50 Graduate Poster Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 1,555

5th July 2008, 02:44 AM	#10
Dragon Graduate Poster Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: London, UK Posts: 1,403	From the BBC Press Office Quote: The BBC today announces a season of landmark content to mark one of the most astonishing and influential scientific ideas ever conceived. February 12 2009 is the 200th anniversary of the birth of Charles Darwin, and 24 November 2009 is the 150th of the publication of his book On the Origin of Species, which laid out the theory of evolution by natural selection. Looks very good indeed - several TV and radio programmes across the network.
	__________________ "We must favour verifiable evidence over private feeling. Otherwise we leave ourselves vulnerable to those who would obscure the truth." Richard Dawkins - The Enemies of Reason Last edited by Dragon; 5th July 2008 at 02:46 AM.

5th July 2008, 03:15 AM	#11
Mojo Mostly harmless Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Nor Flanden Posts: 22,091	Originally Posted by Deetee Do the Spanish still have one? Yes, but I can't imagine a Spanish Finisterre sitting in an armchair at the end of the shipping forecast, wearing a smoking jacket and enjoying a large scotch, like a slightly more raffish Rowley Birkin QC.
	__________________ "You got to use your brain." - McKinley Morganfield "The poor mystic homeopaths feel like petted house-cats thrown at high flood on the breaking ice." - Leon Trotsky Last edited by Mojo; 5th July 2008 at 03:16 AM.