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Charles Darwin and the Tree of Life
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Wikipedia article
'Charles Darwin and the Tree of Life' is a 2009 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. Official ratings from BARB show that it attracted an audience of 6.34 million viewers,[http://www.barb.co.uk/whats-new/weekly-top-30? Weekly Top 30] at BARB.co.uk (available by searching weekly archive) a healthy figure for a factual programme. Overnight data suggested 23% of the available audience was watching.[https://www.theguardian.com/media/2009/feb/02/ross-kemp-afghanistan-tv-ratings TV ratings], 'The Guardian', 2 February 2009
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."[https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2009/feb/02/last-nights-tv Last night's TV], Sam Wollaston, 'The Guardian', 2 February 2009
* In 'The Times', Andrew Billen praises Attenborough's "grace and fluency," in demonstrating "that what always comes to Darwin's rescue is scientific evidence," [http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/tv_and_radio/article5621471.ece Weekend TV], Andrew Billen, 'The Times', 2 February 2009 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."[http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/tv_and_radio/article5620495.ece Sunday's Top TV], David Chater, 'The Times', 31 January 2009
* 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."[https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/reviews/the-weekends-television-ross-kemp-return-to-afghanistan-sun-sky1brbrgood-arrows-sat-itv4brbrcharles-darwin-and-the-tree-of-life-sun-bbc1-1522847.html The Weekend's Television], Tom Sutcliffe, 'The Independent', 2 February 2009
* 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."[http://www.herald.ie/entertainment/tv-radio/thrilling-life-of-a-charming-species-1624087.html Thrilling life of a charming species], Pat Stacey, 'Evening Herald', 2 February 2009
Associated material and DVD
* The region 2 DVD has been released by 2 Entertain on 2 March 2009 (BBCDVD2938) containing the full 60-minute documentary.[http://www.bbcshop.com/Science+Nature/Charles-Darwin+The-Tree-of-Life-DVD/invt/bbcdvd2938 Charles Darwin & The Tree of Life (DVD)] 'BBC Shop'
* The Open University has produced supporting material on its website.[http://www.open2.net/darwin/treeoflife/index.html open2.net: Charles Darwin and the Tree of Life], Open University The Wellcome Trust made the animated "Tree of Life" from the documentary available online.
Awards
The Grierson Awards 2009, Winner, Best Science Documentary, 'Grierson Awards' 2009
References
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