Five Fever Tales

Original version

BBC Radio 4 FM

BBC Radio 4 is a radio channel that started transmitting on the 30th September 1967. It replaced BBC Home Service.

BBC Radio 4

Radio 4

Radio 4 (FM)

BBC Radio 4 Extra

BBC Radio 4 LW

Siobhan Redmond

Russell Boulter

Richard Bremmer

David Collins

Jasmine Hyde

John MacKay

Tim Dee

Lavinia Greenlaw

Lavinia Greenlaw - Five Fever Tales: 1. The Question of Why

Drama

Factual: Health & Wellbeing

1. The Question of Why

Lavinia Greenlaw - Five Fever Tales

BBC Radio 4 - Lavinia Greenlaw - Five Fever Tales, 1. The Question of Why

Exploring ancient ideas about malaria and scientific attempts to defeat the deadly disease

Five dramas exploring ancient ideas about malaria, and scientific attempts to defeat the deadly disease. Stars Siobhan Redmond.

A five-part drama serial about one of the oldest of human diseases.

Malaria has blighted human life in parts of the world for as long as humans have been humans. 

The mosquito, the parasite it carries, and the human bloodstream are evolving together. In many places the parasite still has the upper hand. The Question of Why: the first of five dramas based on facts and taking in ancient historical itches and ideas about the disease and the latest scientific attempts to understand and outwit it.

The disease caused by a parasite carried in the saliva of female mosquitoes came to humans probably from gorillas a long time ago. Through recorded history the fever-prompting disease has shadowed humans almost everywhere warm enough for mosquitoes to live between the Poles. We have evolved together. 

It is still the biggest killer of children in parts of the world.

Written by Lavinia Greenlaw. 

Narrator: Siobhan Redmond.

Other parts played by: 

Russell Boulter
Richard Bremmer
David Collins
Jasmine Hyde
John Mackay

Made with the research assistance of Wellcome Trust.

Medical/science adviser: Julian Rayner, Sanger Institute.

Music and sound design: Jon Nicholls.

Producer: Tim Dee

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in March 2014.

Intelligent speech, the most insightful journalism, the wittiest comedy, the most fascinating features and the most compelling drama and readings anywhere in UK radio.

By Lavinia Greenlaw. Five fact-based dramas about malaria

By Lavinia Greenlaw. Five fact-based dramas about malaria, one of the oldest human diseases

Accessibility links

Programme Index

Lavinia Greenlaw - Five Fever Tales

1. The Question of Why

Contributors

Genres

Series

BBC Radio 4 FM

About BBC Radio 4