Robin Ince and Brian Cox, the hosts of the programme | |
| Genre | Comedy, popular science |
|---|---|
| Running time | approx. 30 minutes |
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| Language(s) | English |
| Home station | BBC Radio 4 |
| Starring | Brian Cox Robin Ince |
| Produced by | Alexandra Feachem |
| Executive producer(s) | Deborah Cohen |
| Recording studio | Radio Theatre, Broadcasting House, London RADA Studios, London |
| Original release | 30 November 2009 |
| No. of series | 27 |
| No. of episodes | 175[1] |
| Website | bbc |
| Podcast | bbc |
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.
- ^ "BBC Sounds – The Infinite Monkey Cage". BBC. 2023. Retrieved 15 July 2023.
- ^ Ince, Robin (27 August 2010). "A cat in a wheelie bin can help us ponder how the universe works". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on 30 August 2010.
- ^ Maume, Chris (21 November 2010). "The Infinite Monkey Cage, Radio 4, Monday; Take one boffin. Mix with comedy writers, and hear them gently fizz". The Independent. Archived from the original on 18 June 2022.
- ^ "Radio GaGa: Infinite Monkey Cage, Moyles & Bacon!". Tim Minchin. Retrieved 12 September 2011.
- ^ "BBC Radio 4 – The Infinite Monkey Cage". BBC. 10 March 2014. Retrieved 23 June 2014.
- ^ "Frank Skinner and Jason Byrne win at Sony Awards 2011". The British Comedy Guide. 9 May 2011. Retrieved 9 May 2011.
- ^ "TV scientist scoops top radio award". Express & Star. 9 May 2011. Retrieved 9 May 2011.
- ^ "54th Rose D'Or Awards Honour the Best in TV and Radio Entertainment". rosedor.com. 9 December 2015. Retrieved 26 February 2017.
- ^ "Uncaged Monkeys, New Theatre Oxford & touring, review". Telegraph.co.uk. 3 May 2011.