BBC Radio 4

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

Radio 4

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

BBC Radio 4 FM

Radio 4 (FM)

Gold Fever 

Paul Ritter

Sara Markland

Steve Boggan

Libby Spurrier

Joanna Green

Steve Boggan - Gold Fever: Episode 4

Gold Fever

Episode 4

Steve Boggan - Gold Fever

BBC Radio 4 Extra - Steve Boggan - Gold Fever, Episode 4

The author heads off along the North Yuba River to try his hand at prospecting alone.

Steve Boggan heads off along the North Yuba River to try his hand at prospecting alone. Read by Paul Ritter and Sara Markland.

Having learnt the basics from a host of helpful characters, Steve heads off along the North Yuba River to try his hand at gold prospecting alone.

Read by Paul Ritter and Sara Markland.

Gold - for centuries people have been entranced by the riches it promises, thousands have gone wild in their search for it, and since the Financial Crisis the price of gold has reached peaks never seen in history. All over the world, particularly in the US, people with no experience of prospecting began shopping for shovels, pickaxes, gold pans, tents, generators, and all manner of equipment they had no idea how to use. And off they went mining.
 
Steve Boggan decided to follow in their footsteps. In 2013 he packed his bags and flew to San Francisco to join the 21st century's gold rush (the 'New 49ers') in a quest to understand the allure of the metal – and maybe find a bit for himself too.
 
He meets a selection of colourful characters - those who left desk jobs and family life behind to work by the river in scorching heat and fresh mountain air, in the hope of striking it rich. Most of them only make enough money to scrape a living, but Steve is surprised how happy they seem to be. From them, he gets a crash course in small-scale prospecting.
 
He also takes us back in time to the original gold rush, two centuries ago, tracing the path of the first intrepid 49ers (in particular, a woman called Sarah Royce and her family) who abandoned their roots and trekked thousands of miles across perilous terrain, risking death for the chance of riches.

Abridged by Libby Spurrier
Producer: Joanna Green

A Pier production for BBC Radio 4 first broadcast in May 2015.

BBC Radio 4 Extra

Your digital radio entertainment station showcasing the best in comedy and drama

Your digital radio entertainment station showcasing the best in comedy and drama. With recent favourites from BBC Radio 4.

Documentaries

Factual: Arts, Culture & the Media

Steve Boggan's account of his adventures on the trail of the American gold rush.

Accessibility links

Programme Index

Steve Boggan - Gold Fever

Episode 4

Contributors

Genres

Series

BBC Radio 4 FM

About BBC Radio 4