A seven-part series based on the life of the famous naturalist. Malcolm Stoddard as Charles Darwin
Andrew Burt as Captain FitzRoy
5: 'I felt myself brought within reach of that great fact ... that mystery of mysteries.'
In 1835 an earthquake destroyed the town of Concepcion in Southern Chile. The effect of it was felt on board the Beagle, and a few days later Darwin witnessed the devastation for himself. It confirmed his view that the whole range of the Andes had been pushed up from the bed of the ocean.
'To experience an earthquake at once destroys the oldest associations. One second of time conveys to the mind a strange idea of insecurity which hours of reflection would never create.'
But even greater revelations awaited him on the Galapagos Islands, 600 miles to the west.
Script by ROBERT REID
Music by WILFRED JOSEPHS
Sound recordist MICHAEL TURNER Associate producer NED KELLY DirectorMARTYN FRIEND
Producer CHRISTOPHER RALLING (For cast see Friday at 6.0 pm)
Book (same title), £6.75, from bookshops on 30 November