The Infinite Monkey Cage Explained
The Infinite Monkey Cage is a BBC Radio 4 comedy and popular science series. Hosted by physicist Brian Cox and comedian Robin Ince,[2] The Independent described it as a "witty and irreverent look at the world according to science".[3] [4] Since 2013 the show has been accompanied by a podcast, published immediately after the initial radio broadcast, which features extended versions of most episodes.[5] The programme won a Gold Award in the Best Speech Programme category at the 2011 Sony Radio Awards,[6] [7] and it won the best Radio Talk Show at the 2015 Rose d'Or awards.[8] The name is a reference to the infinite monkey theorem.
Each show has a particular topic up for discussion, with previous topics including the apocalypse and space travel. There are normally three guests; two of these are scientists with an interest in the topic of discussion, offering an expert opinion on the subject. The other guest is usually a comedian, who takes a less serious view of the subject, and often makes the show more accessible by asking the "stupid" questions that the other guests may have overlooked.
Ince and Cox headed an Uncaged Monkeys live tour in 2011, and toured the United States in 2015.[9]
In April 2018 a book titled Infinite Monkey Cage – How to Build a Universe was released. Its audiobook was read by Cox and Ince.
Humour
The programme features a number of running themes and gags. Robin Ince regularly pokes fun at Brian Cox's hair, good looks and former career as a rock musician. Ince often imitates and quotes Carl Sagan. Cox often ridicules chemistry, astrology and Creationists and occasionally returns to the subject of how and when a strawberry can be considered dead.[10]
Theme song
The programme's theme song was written by Eric Idle and recorded by Idle and Jeff Lynne.[11] Idle and his band performed the song live on the show when it toured in Los Angeles in 2015 and it appears in the 2016 TV show "The Entire Universe".
List of episodes
The following is an episode list of the BBC radio series The Infinite Monkey Cage. As of July 2023, there have been 167 episodes spanning 27 series plus 8 specials; two responding to viewers' questions, Christmas Specials in 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017 and a 100th Episode special. All episodes are available to stream via the website and as podcast downloads.[12]
Since 2013, podcasts are longer than the broadcast episodes at around 45 minutes, frequently adding mild spats between Cox and Ince, and occasionally language unsuitable "for the 4:30pm school run slot".
In addition to the regular programmes, a special entitled "An Infinite Monkey's Guide to General Relativity" was broadcast in two half-hour episodes on 8 and 15 December 2015.[13] Their 100th Episode (according to their own manner of counting which differs from the one listed on Wikipedia), simply titled "Monkey Cage 100", was also recorded on Video and is currently watchable on the BBC iPlayer.
Series One
Series Two
Series Three
Series Four
Series Five
Series Six
Series Seven
Series Eight
Series Nine
Series Ten
Series Eleven
Series Twelve
Year-end specials
To commemorate the 100th anniversary of Albert Einstein's theory of general relativity, two special episodes were added in December 2015:
Series Thirteen
Series Fourteen
Series Fifteen
Series Sixteen
Series Seventeen
Series Eighteen
Series Nineteen
Moon landing anniversary special
To commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 Moon landing, a special episode was added in July 2019:
Series Twenty
Series Twenty-one
Series Twenty-two
Series Twenty-three
Series Twenty-four
Series Twenty-five
Series Twenty-six
Series Twenty-seven
Series Twenty-eight
Series Twenty-nine
Series Thirty
External links
Notes and References
- Web site: BBC Sounds – The Infinite Monkey Cage. BBC. 2023. 15 July 2023.
- News: A cat in a wheelie bin can help us ponder how the universe works . Ince . Robin . 27 August 2010 . . https://web.archive.org/web/20100830052452/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/space/7968327/A-cat-in-a-wheelie-bin-can-help-us-ponder-how-the-universe-works.html. dead. 30 August 2010.
- News: Maume . Chris . . The Infinite Monkey Cage, Radio 4, Monday; Take one boffin. Mix with comedy writers, and hear them gently fizz . https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220618/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/reviews/the-infinite-monkey-cage-radio-4-monday-2139595.html . 18 June 2022 . subscription . live . 21 November 2010.
- Web site: Radio GaGa: Infinite Monkey Cage, Moyles & Bacon!. Tim Minchin. 12 September 2011.
- Web site: BBC Radio 4 – The Infinite Monkey Cage . BBC . 10 March 2014 . 23 June 2014.
- Web site: Frank Skinner and Jason Byrne win at Sony Awards 2011. The British Comedy Guide. 9 May 2011. 9 May 2011.
- Web site: TV scientist scoops top radio award. Express & Star. 9 May 2011. 9 May 2011.
- Web site: 54th Rose D'Or Awards Honour the Best in TV and Radio Entertainment. 9 December 2015. rosedor.com. en-UK. 2017-02-26.
- Web site: Uncaged Monkeys, New Theatre Oxford & touring, review. 3 May 2011. Telegraph.co.uk.
- Web site: Infinite universes and dead strawberries: an interview with Brian Cox and Robin Ince. 4 March 2015. theverge.com.
- http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b04bn0gp The Infinite Monkey Cage, season 10, episode 4. Eric Idle states that Jeff Lynne played all the instruments on the recording.
- Web site: BBC Radio 4 – The Infinite Monkey Cage – Episodes . BBC . 23 June 2014.
- Web site: BBC Radio 4 – The Infinite Monkey Cage – Episodes 2010s > 2015 > December. BBC . 19 July 2016.
