Changing Climates

Episode

Title

First
Broadcast

Repeated

Comments

Early Warnings

20250421

20250422 (BBC7)

The meteorologist, John Hammond explores the way that science fiction has served as a barometer for our wonder, curiosity and sometimes anxiety about the environment. With expert insight from Sarah Dillon - Professor of Literature and the Public Humanities and Professor of Human Geography, Mike Hulme, we find out how writers imagined – sometimes very accurately – the changing world around them.

Today, we focus on the early decades of the 20th century, a period rich in technological optimism and environmental unease.

First, we hear E.M. Forster's chillingly prescient 'The Machine Stops';

A world in which people can only communicate through a machine sounds like the internet today. But this story, written in 1909, takes us to a future where the machine has become an all-powerful God.

EM Forster's story dramatised by Gregory Norminton and first broadcast in 2001.

Vashi - Gemma Jones

Kuno - John McAndrew

Computer - Jillie Meers

The Four Voices - Anne Carroll, Christian Rodska, Connie Walker, Fergus Webster

Director: Jane Morgan

Producer: Marilyn Imrie

Made for BBC Radio 4 by Catherine Bailey Productions.

And then we move onto Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's explosive 'Professor Challenger: When The World Screamed';

Conan Doyle's irascible academic sets out on a bold mission to be recognised by Mother Earth, dramatised by Robert Parry and first broadcast in 2011.

Starring Bill Paterson, Gunnar Cauthery, John Rowe, Sally Orrock and Stephen Darcy.

Director: Fiona Kelcher

Prescient visions of a world out of balance from E.M. Forster and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.

E.M. Forster's 'The Machine Stops' and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's 'When the World Screamed' convey prescient environmental concern, long before decisive evidence for climate change.

[LISTEN NOW]

Post-war Interest

20250422

20250423 (BBC7)

The meteorologist, John Hammond explores the way that science fiction has served as a barometer for our wonder, curiosity and sometimes anxiety about the environment. With expert insight from Sarah Dillon - Professor of Literature, we find out how writers imagined – sometimes very accurately – the changing world around them.

Today, we move forward to the mid-20th century, when environmental fears deepened and fiction imagined humanity facing dramatic ecological upheaval. J.G. Ballard's visionary story 'The Drowned World' looks to a waterlogged future.

Graham White's adaptation of JG Ballard's novel, sees Earth's atmosphere destroyed.

As a scientific mission surveys England's drowned capitals before their final abandonment, two lovers find themselves reverting to a primitive state of consciousness.

Beatrice - Hattie Morahan

Kerans - James D'Arcy

Strangman ....Tim McInnerny

Colonel Riggs - Robert Blythe

Dr Alan Bryant - Paul Stonehouse

Lieutenant Hardman - Ben Crowe

Daley - Matthew Watson

Caesar - Don Gilet

Written by JG Ballard

Adapted by Graham White

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 2008.

Producer: Peter Kavanagh

And then we hear Brian Aldiss's short story, 'Song Of The Silencer';

A galaxy is changed but also threatened by mankind's technological ambitions. To establish universal peace, scientists have constructed a massive computer called The Ultimate Machine - based on the human brain. However, a dissenting group believes that activating this machine will trigger the end of the human race.

Written by Brian Aldiss

Reader: Nigel Anthony

Producer: Gemma Jenkins

John Hammond continues exploring climate fiction with J.G. Ballard's 'The Drowned World.

In the mid-20th century, fiction imagined humanity facing ecological change. We hear J.G. Ballard's visionary 'The Drowned World.

[LISTEN NOW]

Growing Awareness

20250423

20250424 (BBC7)

The meteorologist, John Hammond explores the ways in which science fiction has served as a barometer for our wonder, curiosity and sometimes anxiety about the environment. With expert insight from Sarah Dillon - Professor of Literature and the Public Humanities at Cambridge University, we find out how writers imagined – sometimes very accurately – the changing world around them.

Today, we journey into the 1980s, when ecological thrillers were reflecting our environmental fears. We hear James Follett's gripping story, 'Ice.

Eight thousand square miles of solid ice which have become detached from the Antarctic are drifting inexorably towards New York Harbour. The combined might of the US military seems powerless to avert the collision but if it occurs, the whole city will 'ring like a bell'.

CAST:

Julia Hammond - Carol Drinkwater

Glyn Sherwood - Anthony Hyde

Oaf - Eric Allan

Captain Hagan - Ed Bishop

Admiral Pearson - Don Fellows

US President - Alan Tilvern

Angus Brill ... Brian Hewlett

Walter Krantz - Peter Marinker

TV reporter - Kim Wall

Maguire - Bruce Boa

Stevens - Jonathan Tafler

Steward - Peter Howell

Mason - Andrew Branch

Lieutenant Klein - David Goodland

Greaser - Stephen Hattersley

Chief Engineer - Paul Gregory

TV announcer - Rachel Gurney

Narrator - Sean Barrett

Director Alec Reid

James Follett's story 'Ice,' where a vast iceberg is drifting ominously towards New York.

In the 1970s, ecological thrillers reflected our environmental fears. In James Follett's gripping story 'Ice,' a vast iceberg is drifting ominously towards New York.

[LISTEN NOW]

The Rise Of Cli-fi

20250424

20250425 (BBC7)

The meteorologist, John Hammond explores how science fiction has long served as a barometer for our wonder, curiosity and sometimes anxiety about the environment. With expert insight from Sarah Dillon - Professor of Literature and the Public Humanities and Professor of Human Geography Mike Hulme, we find out how writers imagined – sometimes very accurately – the changing world around them.

We also hear from John's BBC Weather Centre colleague and friend, Sarah Keith-Lucas about the challenges of communicating complex science in an accessible and relevant way.

As we reach the turn of the millennium on our journey through fiction, we hear Patricia Cumper's powerful drama 'Biomass' from 1999.

CAST:

Daniel - Eddie Nestor

Janet ....Rakie Ayola

Sailor - Oscar James

Precious - Angela Wynter

Roddy - Felix Dexter

Minister Collins - Stefan Kalipha

Hopeton - Lloyd Notice

Smith - Stephen Critchlow

Minder - Jude Akuwudike

Director: Marion Nancarrow

And then we move onto Ian Sansom's evocative letter to the pioneering author Octavia Butler in an episode of The Essay, which was first broadcast last year on BBC Radio 3. Produced by Conor Garrett.

Patricia Cumper's drama 'Biomass' and Ian Sansom's letter to Octavia E. Butler.

At the turn of the 21st Century, climate fiction became more urgent. We hear Patricia Cumper's drama 'Biomass' and Ian Sansom's letter to the visionary author Octavia E. Butler.

[LISTEN NOW]

05 LAST

Modern Understanding

20250425

20250426 (BBC7)

The meteorologist, John Hammond explores how science fiction has served as a barometer for our wonder, curiosity and sometimes anxiety about the environment. With expert insight from Sarah Dillon - Professor of Literature and the Public Humanities and Professor of Human Geography Mike Hulme, we find out how writers imagined – sometimes very accurately – the changing world around them.

We explore near-future anxieties, when climate tensions reach boiling point in John Lanchester's 'The Wall', a stark drama of survival, isolation, and a world reshaped by rising seas.

Ravaged by the Change, an island nation has built the Wall, a high concrete barrier around its entire coastline. Joseph Kavanagh, a new Defender, has one task: to protect his section of the Wall from the Others, the desperate souls who are trapped on the rising seas beyond and are trying to get in. Failure will result in death or a fate perhaps worse: being put to sea and made an Other himself.

Read by Ben Norris

Produced by Mair Bosworth

Abridged for radio by Eileen Horne

And then following our drama - John's joined by Dr. Jennifer Francis, a Senior Atmospheric Scientist, to learn about the surprising effects of a warming world.

John Lanchester's 'The Wall', a drama of survival in a world reshaped by rising seas.

As we reach the present day on our journey through science fiction, we hear John Lanchester's 'The Wall', a drama of survival in a world reshaped by rising seas.

[LISTEN NOW]

Episodes

Episode	Title	First Broadcast	Repeated	Comments
01	Early Warnings	20250421	20250422 (BBC7)	The meteorologist, John Hammond explores the way that science fiction has served as a barometer for our wonder, curiosity and sometimes anxiety about the environment. With expert insight from Sarah Dillon - Professor of Literature and the Public Humanities and Professor of Human Geography, Mike Hulme, we find out how writers imagined – sometimes very accurately – the changing world around them. Today, we focus on the early decades of the 20th century, a period rich in technological optimism and environmental unease. First, we hear E.M. Forster's chillingly prescient 'The Machine Stops'; A world in which people can only communicate through a machine sounds like the internet today. But this story, written in 1909, takes us to a future where the machine has become an all-powerful God. EM Forster's story dramatised by Gregory Norminton and first broadcast in 2001. Vashi - Gemma Jones Kuno - John McAndrew Computer - Jillie Meers The Four Voices - Anne Carroll, Christian Rodska, Connie Walker, Fergus Webster Director: Jane Morgan Producer: Marilyn Imrie Made for BBC Radio 4 by Catherine Bailey Productions. And then we move onto Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's explosive 'Professor Challenger: When The World Screamed'; Conan Doyle's irascible academic sets out on a bold mission to be recognised by Mother Earth, dramatised by Robert Parry and first broadcast in 2011. Starring Bill Paterson, Gunnar Cauthery, John Rowe, Sally Orrock and Stephen Darcy. Director: Fiona Kelcher Prescient visions of a world out of balance from E.M. Forster and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. E.M. Forster's 'The Machine Stops' and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's 'When the World Screamed' convey prescient environmental concern, long before decisive evidence for climate change. [LISTEN NOW]
02	Post-war Interest	20250422	20250423 (BBC7)	The meteorologist, John Hammond explores the way that science fiction has served as a barometer for our wonder, curiosity and sometimes anxiety about the environment. With expert insight from Sarah Dillon - Professor of Literature, we find out how writers imagined – sometimes very accurately – the changing world around them. Today, we move forward to the mid-20th century, when environmental fears deepened and fiction imagined humanity facing dramatic ecological upheaval. J.G. Ballard's visionary story 'The Drowned World' looks to a waterlogged future. Graham White's adaptation of JG Ballard's novel, sees Earth's atmosphere destroyed. As a scientific mission surveys England's drowned capitals before their final abandonment, two lovers find themselves reverting to a primitive state of consciousness. Beatrice - Hattie Morahan Kerans - James D'Arcy Strangman ....Tim McInnerny Colonel Riggs - Robert Blythe Dr Alan Bryant - Paul Stonehouse Lieutenant Hardman - Ben Crowe Daley - Matthew Watson Caesar - Don Gilet Written by JG Ballard Adapted by Graham White First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 2008. Producer: Peter Kavanagh And then we hear Brian Aldiss's short story, 'Song Of The Silencer'; A galaxy is changed but also threatened by mankind's technological ambitions. To establish universal peace, scientists have constructed a massive computer called The Ultimate Machine - based on the human brain. However, a dissenting group believes that activating this machine will trigger the end of the human race. Written by Brian Aldiss Reader: Nigel Anthony Producer: Gemma Jenkins John Hammond continues exploring climate fiction with J.G. Ballard's 'The Drowned World. In the mid-20th century, fiction imagined humanity facing ecological change. We hear J.G. Ballard's visionary 'The Drowned World. [LISTEN NOW]
03	Growing Awareness	20250423	20250424 (BBC7)	The meteorologist, John Hammond explores the ways in which science fiction has served as a barometer for our wonder, curiosity and sometimes anxiety about the environment. With expert insight from Sarah Dillon - Professor of Literature and the Public Humanities at Cambridge University, we find out how writers imagined – sometimes very accurately – the changing world around them. Today, we journey into the 1980s, when ecological thrillers were reflecting our environmental fears. We hear James Follett's gripping story, 'Ice. Eight thousand square miles of solid ice which have become detached from the Antarctic are drifting inexorably towards New York Harbour. The combined might of the US military seems powerless to avert the collision but if it occurs, the whole city will 'ring like a bell'. CAST: Julia Hammond - Carol Drinkwater Glyn Sherwood - Anthony Hyde Oaf - Eric Allan Captain Hagan - Ed Bishop Admiral Pearson - Don Fellows US President - Alan Tilvern Angus Brill ... Brian Hewlett Walter Krantz - Peter Marinker TV reporter - Kim Wall Maguire - Bruce Boa Stevens - Jonathan Tafler Steward - Peter Howell Mason - Andrew Branch Lieutenant Klein - David Goodland Greaser - Stephen Hattersley Chief Engineer - Paul Gregory TV announcer - Rachel Gurney Narrator - Sean Barrett Director Alec Reid James Follett's story 'Ice,' where a vast iceberg is drifting ominously towards New York. In the 1970s, ecological thrillers reflected our environmental fears. In James Follett's gripping story 'Ice,' a vast iceberg is drifting ominously towards New York. [LISTEN NOW]
04	The Rise Of Cli-fi	20250424	20250425 (BBC7)	The meteorologist, John Hammond explores how science fiction has long served as a barometer for our wonder, curiosity and sometimes anxiety about the environment. With expert insight from Sarah Dillon - Professor of Literature and the Public Humanities and Professor of Human Geography Mike Hulme, we find out how writers imagined – sometimes very accurately – the changing world around them. We also hear from John's BBC Weather Centre colleague and friend, Sarah Keith-Lucas about the challenges of communicating complex science in an accessible and relevant way. As we reach the turn of the millennium on our journey through fiction, we hear Patricia Cumper's powerful drama 'Biomass' from 1999. CAST: Daniel - Eddie Nestor Janet ....Rakie Ayola Sailor - Oscar James Precious - Angela Wynter Roddy - Felix Dexter Minister Collins - Stefan Kalipha Hopeton - Lloyd Notice Smith - Stephen Critchlow Minder - Jude Akuwudike Director: Marion Nancarrow And then we move onto Ian Sansom's evocative letter to the pioneering author Octavia Butler in an episode of The Essay, which was first broadcast last year on BBC Radio 3. Produced by Conor Garrett. Patricia Cumper's drama 'Biomass' and Ian Sansom's letter to Octavia E. Butler. At the turn of the 21st Century, climate fiction became more urgent. We hear Patricia Cumper's drama 'Biomass' and Ian Sansom's letter to the visionary author Octavia E. Butler. [LISTEN NOW]
05 LAST	Modern Understanding	20250425	20250426 (BBC7)	The meteorologist, John Hammond explores how science fiction has served as a barometer for our wonder, curiosity and sometimes anxiety about the environment. With expert insight from Sarah Dillon - Professor of Literature and the Public Humanities and Professor of Human Geography Mike Hulme, we find out how writers imagined – sometimes very accurately – the changing world around them. We explore near-future anxieties, when climate tensions reach boiling point in John Lanchester's 'The Wall', a stark drama of survival, isolation, and a world reshaped by rising seas. Ravaged by the Change, an island nation has built the Wall, a high concrete barrier around its entire coastline. Joseph Kavanagh, a new Defender, has one task: to protect his section of the Wall from the Others, the desperate souls who are trapped on the rising seas beyond and are trying to get in. Failure will result in death or a fate perhaps worse: being put to sea and made an Other himself. Read by Ben Norris Produced by Mair Bosworth Abridged for radio by Eileen Horne And then following our drama - John's joined by Dr. Jennifer Francis, a Senior Atmospheric Scientist, to learn about the surprising effects of a warming world. John Lanchester's 'The Wall', a drama of survival in a world reshaped by rising seas. As we reach the present day on our journey through science fiction, we hear John Lanchester's 'The Wall', a drama of survival in a world reshaped by rising seas. [LISTEN NOW]