Programme Index

Discover 11,128,835 listings and 281,614 playable programmes from the BBC

Bringing Up Britain

Series 6

Episode 3: Birth Order

Duration: 43 minutes

First broadcast: on BBC Radio 4 FMLatest broadcast: on BBC Radio 4 LW

Available for over a year

Does being the eldest child give you an advantage in life? Does the youngest get away with more? Whether you're the youngest or eldest child, or somewhere in the middle, your position in the family may influence your attitude to school, careers and relationships. In this edition of Bringing Up Britain, Mariella and her guests will be looking at the evidence and experience of how important your place in the family pecking order is, and its potential consequences.

Why are more astronauts first borns?

Can it really be true, as one study revealed that the first born child has an IQ 2.3 points higher than their subsequent siblings and as one longitudinal study has revealed, the younger you are in your family, the shorter you are likely to be.

Mariella is joined around the table by anthropologist, Professor Ruth Mace, clinical psychologist, Linda Blair and family relationship counsellor Suzy Hayman to sift and debate the evidence.

Producer: Sarah Taylor. Show less

About this data

This data is drawn from the data stream that informs BBC's iPlayer and Sounds. The information shows what was scheduled to be broadcast, meaning it was/is subject to change and may not be accurate. More