BBC to mark the life and work of Charles Darwin

The BBC has announced a season of landmark content to mark one of the most astonishing and influential scientific ideas ever conceived. February 12 2009 is the 200th anniversary of the birth of Charles Darwin, and 24 November 2009 is the 150th of the publication of his book On the Origin of Species, which laid out the theory of evolution by natural selection.

David Attenborough, Andrew Marr and Jimmy Doherty are just some of the well-known names who will be helping the BBC and the nation to mark the life and work of Charles Darwin on the BBC Winter 08/09.

The BBC announcement dovetails with the anniversary of the first public reading of Darwin and Alfred Russel Wallace's papers on evolution to the Linnean Society on 1st July 1858.

The season sets out to explore evolution, regarded as one of the most far-reaching and influential scientific ideas ever.

It is an idea which has robustly stood the test of time.

George Entwistle, Controller Knowledge Commissioning, BBC Vision said: "The key Darwin anniversaries provide an excellent opportunity for the BBC to explore in real depth this revolutionary idea, and the man behind it.

"The season will stretch across the BBC landscape and we're delighted to have content from across television, radio and online.

"We hope it will connect our audiences to Darwin the man, as well as Darwin the scientific revolutionary.

"I hope this season will inspire our audiences and deliver real insight into his ideas and what they mean for contemporary society."

Andrew Caspari, Commissioning Editor, Radio 4 said: "Radio 4 is commissioning a range of documentaries and short features to mark the anniversaries of Charles Darwin.

"We will look at his work and his life and assess his significant legacy for science and for society."

John Lynch, Head of Science, BBC Vision said: "2009 and 2010 are years of great significance for science and will see a major push from the BBC in the public understanding of science.

"The BBC has commissioned some of the biggest science landmarks we have ever done, covering some of the most important fundamentals of scientific literacy.

"The Darwin Season is a good example of this focus on science."

A range of BBC content from BBC Science, Natural History Unit, Religion and Ethics and CBBC will deliver across television, radio and online an array of stories and voices about this mould-breaking scientific theory.