Child

Original version

BBC Radio 4 LW

Documentaries

Podcasts

Factual: Life Stories

Factual: Families & Relationships

Factual: Science & Nature

A new telling of the extraordinary story of where we all begin. Presented by India Rakusen

In this new look at the beginnings of life, we tell the story of a child from fertilisation to first birthday through the lens of society, history and science.

In this new look at the beginnings of life we tell the story of a child from fertilisation to first birthday through the lens of society, history, and science.

BBC Radio 4 FM

Child: 1. The Dance Begins

Factual

1. The Dance Begins

BBC Radio 4 - Child, 1. The Dance Begins

Where do we begin? India Rakusen speaks to leading cell biologist Magdelana Zernika-Goetz, child psychologist Graham Music and historian Elinor Cleghorn.

After that very first moment, when sperm meets egg - the life of a human begins to unfold. But how does that one cell begin to divide and differentiate into the billions of complex parts of a human being. How much do those very first cells know? 

India Rakusen heads to a lab in Cambridge to look at a human embryo and speaks to leading cell biologist Magdelana Zernika-Goetz. 

And a baby isn’t a baby without the people and the world around it. We speak to Child psychologist Graham Music and historian Elinor Cleghorn about how intertwined we are with our world, and the instant effects on the mother.

Presented by India Rakusen. 
Producer: Ellie Sans.
Series Producer: Ellie Sans.
Executive Producer: Suzy Grant. 
Commissioning Editor: Rhian Roberts.
Original music composed and performed by The Big Moon.
Mix and Mastering by Olga Reed. 

A Listen production for BBC Radio 4 and BBC Sounds

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.

Accessibility links

Programme Index

Child

1. The Dance Begins

Genres

Formats

Brand

BBC Radio 4 LW

About BBC Radio 4