David Attenborough's Life Stories

Original version

BBC Radio 4 Extra

Factual: Pets & Animals

Factual: Science & Nature: Nature & Environment

Series of talks by Sir David Attenborough on the natural histories of creatures and plants

Series of talks by Sir David Attenborough on the natural histories of creatures and plants from around the world

BBC Radio 4

BBC Radio 4 FM

BBC Radio 4 LW

David Attenborough's Life Stories: Series 2: Earthworms

Earthworms

Series 2

BBC Radio 4 Extra - David Attenborough's Life Stories, Series 2, Earthworms

David Attenborough recalls visiting Australia to find the giant earthworm - using his ears

An earthworm species in Australia can grow to over two metres long. They stay underground making intriguing sounds. From 2011.

Although Charles Darwin is especially well known for his work on the Theory of Evolution through his seminal work "On the Origin of Species", he also published a lot of his research on earthworms. 

Earthworms fascinated Darwin, so much so that his observations led him to believe that they showed marked intelligence. And earthworms fascinate Sir David Attenborough too. 

He recalls a visit to Australia to film the giant earthworm and intriguingly used his ears more than any other sense to find them. 

What did they sound like and what did they look like? 

Sir David reveals all.

Producer: Julian Hector

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in March 2011.

David Attenborough's Life Stories: Series 2

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.

Accessibility links

Programme Index

David Attenborough's Life Stories

Series 2

Earthworms

Genres

Brand

Series

BBC Radio 4 Extra

About BBC Radio 4 Extra