The Infinite Monkey Cage

Original version

BBC Radio 4 LW

Podcasts

Factual: Science & Nature

Comedy

Entertainment

Comedy: Chat

Brian Cox and Robin Ince host an irreverent look at the world through scientists' eyes.

Brian Cox and Robin Ince host a witty, irreverent look at the world through scientists' eyes.

BBC Radio 4 FM

The Infinite Monkey Cage: Series 23: Neanderthals

Neanderthals

Series 23

BBC Radio 4 - The Infinite Monkey Cage, Series 23, Neanderthals

Brian Cox and Robin Ince explore the extraordinary lives of the Neanderthals.

Brian Cox and Robin Ince are joined by comedian Alan Davies, Rebecca Wragg Sykes and Tori Herridge to learn about our much misunderstood, early human cousins, the Neanderthals

The Neanderthals

Brian Cox and Robin Ince are joined by hominids Alan Davies, Neanderthal expert and author Rebecca Wragg Sykes, and paleontologist and woolly mammoth expert Tori Herridge and learn just how misunderstood our ancestors have been.  The image of the lumbering, ape like, simple, grunting Neanderthal has been turned on its head with the discovery that we are far more related to Neanderthals then we ever thought possible.  Nearly all Europeans will have around 2% Neanderthal DNA, and the revelation of widespread interbreeding between Neanderthals and modern humans has turned the idea of our exceptionalism on its head.   It seems that what defines us may have defined the Neanderthals as well, and we are not so different after all. 

Producer: Alexandra Feachem

The Infinite Monkey Cage: Series 23

BBC 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.

Irreverent look at the world through scientists' eyes. With Brian Cox and Robin Ince.

Accessibility links

Programme Index

The Infinite Monkey Cage

Series 23

Neanderthals

Genres

Formats

Brand

Series

BBC Radio 4 LW

About BBC Radio 4