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The Balancing Bluebottle

Tim Boon tells the story of Percy Smith, natural history film pioneer, who made movies in his back garden in the 1920s.

Percy Smith was the greatest pioneer of the natural history film-making - tackling subjects from flies to slime mould.

During the 1920s in his principal studio, the back garden of his home in north London, he developed innovative microscope - and time-lapse photography which still looks impressive today.

Tim Boon of London's Science Museum talks to historians and Sir David Attenborough.

Producer: Tim Dee

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in April 2009.

Available now

30 minutes

Last on

Sat 19 Mar 202202:30
BBC Radio 4 Extra

Credit

ProducerTim Dee

Broadcasts

  • Thu 30 Apr 200911:30
    BBC Radio 4
  • Sun 5 Jun 201113:30
    BBC Radio 4 FM
  • Sat 17 Aug 201307:30
    BBC Radio 4 Extra
  • Tue 5 Jun 201806:30
    BBC Radio 4 Extra
  • Tue 5 Jun 201813:30
    BBC Radio 4 Extra
  • Tue 5 Jun 201820:30
    BBC Radio 4 Extra
  • Wed 6 Jun 201801:30
    BBC Radio 4 Extra
  • Fri 18 Mar 202214:30
    BBC Radio 4 Extra
  • Sat 19 Mar 202202:30
    BBC Radio 4 Extra