Beardyman and the Mimics

Champion beatboxer "Beardyman", aka Darren Foreman, is a master of vocal artistry.

He's able to make all manner of noises, including entire percussive music tracks, using only his mouth, throat and tongue.

Darren's been inspired by the Lyrebird, king of the animal mimics and able to replicate sounds ranging from a kookaburra's laughing call to a tourist's camera shutter to a chainsaw.

In fact, he's been so mesmerised by this bird's Oscar-worthy performance, that he's venturing on a personal journey to unveil the secrets of animal vocal mimicry.

Along the way, he'll encounter ornithologist and musician Bill Oddie, birdsong scientific experts and a whole new world of sounds.

Producer: Kirsty Henderson

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in August 2008.