24 Hours on Earth
A look at how the changing position of the sun in the sky affects the behaviour of animals and plants across our planet, from solar-powered chameleons to sun-worshipping lemurs.
The changing position of the sun in the sky affects the behaviour of animals and plants across our planet.
From the moment it rises, animals are waiting, ready to take advantage of the opportunities that the sun creates. A quirky chameleon uses solar power to survive, while a family of lemurs get a morning heat fix. But, as the day progresses and the sun climbs higher in the sky, becoming more powerful, animals must also react as it pushes them toward moments of crisis.
As the sun sets and its great heat and light are extinguished, a night-time world wakes, full of characters who have carved a niche in the darkness. But even in the dead of night, the sun is not lost. Its rays are reflected in the moon, our 'ghost sun.'
We take the rising and setting of the sun for granted, but it is the ultimate game changer. The way the natural world responds will be the difference between success and failure, life or death.
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Clips
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Trail: 24 Hours on Earth
Duration: 00:20
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Chameleon solar panel
Duration: 02:23
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Morning hunt
Duration: 02:06
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Jellyfish lake
Duration: 01:57
Meet the narrator
On graduating from RADA, Matthew Macfadyen joined the innovative Cheek by Jowl theatre company which toured to the USA. He also performed with the (RSC).
Matthew early films included ,聽with Hugh Laurie and Joely Richardson; ; ; and Brad McGann鈥檚 . The latter attracted attention from the worldwide film industry, earning him the New Zealand Screen Award and a British Independent Film Award (BIFA) nomination for Best Actor.
In addition to his acclaimed portrayal of , Matthew previously starred opposite Keira Knightley in the celebrated , for which he received a London Critics鈥� Circle Film Award nomination.
He is also well-known to audiences worldwide for his portrayal of government agent Tom Quinn in the first three seasons of the long-running hit series .
Matthew was nominated for a Royal Television Society Award for his first television starring role, in Peter Kosminsky鈥檚 BAFTA Award-winning 麻豆官网首页入口 drama . He won a 聽for his role in .
Credits
| Role | Contributor |
|---|---|
| Narrator | Matthew Macfadyen |
| Executive Producer | James Honeyborne |
| Producer | Chloe Pearne |
Broadcasts
- Mon 21 Apr 2014 19:00
- Sun 31 Aug 2014 14:30
About the music
Composer Ty Unwin on composing for 24 Hours on Earth
