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Gossip from the Garden Pond

Lynne Truss

Sandi Toksvig

David Ryall

Sarah Blunt

Gossip from the Garden Pond: Episode 2: The Water Boatman and Great Diving Beetle

Drama

Episode 2

Episode 2: The Water Boatman and Great Diving Beetle

The Water Boatman and Great Diving Beetle

BBC Radio 4 - Gossip from the Garden Pond, The Water Boatman and Great Diving Beetle

The Water Boatman and Great Diving Beetle reveal the truth about life between the ripples.

A water boatman and a great diving beetle reveal the funny side of life in a garden pond. Stars Sandi Toksvig and David Ryall.

The Water Boatman played by Sandi Toksvig and the Great Diving Beetle played by David Ryall, reveal the truth about life in a garden pond, in the second of three very funny tales, written and introduced by Lynne Truss, with sound recordings by Chris Watson and Tom Lawrence.

Messing about in water is what the Water Boatman loves to do most of all. Well actually the Water Boatman is a Boatwoman and in truth she is a Backswimmer not a Water Boatman, but she prefers to be called Water Boatman and being a decisive no-nonsense type, so be it! Her days are spent rowing around the pond and scooping up whatever tasty morsel takes her fancy and trying her hardest to ignore the 'singing' of her ardent admirer, Reg. Stridulation is the technical term for Reg's singing; moving one part of his body against another (a bit like crickets and grasshoppers) to create a courtship 'song'. His persistence finally pays off, but does he win her heart?

Meanwhile, the Great Diving Beetle soars up and down through the depths, spreading fear wherever he goes. With his coat of armour, fantastic mandibles for tearing prey to pieces and a highly unpleasant habit of ejecting toxic fumes at potential predators, he's a creature to avoid! He did have a mate once, but he ate her, and brothers and sisters too, but he ate them. So all alone, he has plenty of time to think and armed with his ballistic missiles he daydreams about being a film star; a hero with super powers, and a match for any creature ... even Batman! One evening though, whilst flying round the neighbourhood, he comes across a shocking scene at a nearby pond, and drawing on his armoury of weapons, he defends the rights of his fellow beetles in a vicious battle.

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

Three tales written and introduced by Lynne Truss, with sound recordings by Chris Watson.

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Episode 2: The Water Boatman and Great Diving Beetle

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