Sign up to save your podcasts
Or
Share George McGavin, entomologist and broadcaster
Share to email
Share to Facebook
Share to X
Share to email
Share to Facebook
Share to X
Or
George McGavin, entomologist and broadcaster
George McGavin is an entomologist, explorer and broadcaster, who has spread the word about the importance of insects to audiences in their millions.
Born in Glasgow, he grew up in Edinburgh where he studied zoology at university. Following a PhD in entomology, he went on to teach and research at the University of Oxford. He gave up his post as the assistant curator of the university’s Museum of Natural History after 25 years to follow his dream of becoming a television presenter.
He has presented documentaries from far-flung locations including Borneo, Guyana and New Guinea. He has made it his life’s work to uncover the mysteries of the largely uncatalogued world of invertebrates which he says makes up close to 80% of life on earth.
In 2018 he was diagnosed with a rare form of skin cancer and the following year he turned the camera on himself to present a very personal programme about his diagnosis and treatment.
DISC ONE: Love Reign O’er Me by The Who
DISC TWO: The Dark Island by The Pipes and Drums of The Black Watch
DISC THREE: Cello Concerto in E minor Op. 85, composed by Edward Elgar, performed by Jacqueline du Pré and London Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Sir John Barbirolli
DISC FOUR: Night Lament by Kate Rusby
DISC FIVE: To Begin at the Beginning read by Richard Burton, from Under Milk Wood
DISC SIX: Keep Talking by Pink Floyd
DISC SEVEN: Sola, Perduta, Abbandonata by Maria Callas and Philharmonia Orchestra, conducted by Tullio Serafin
DISC EIGHT: The Bog by Einojuhani Rautavaara
BOOK CHOICE: A History of the World in 100 Objects by Neil MacGregor
LUXURY ITEM: Hot sauce
CASTAWAY'S FAVOURITE: Cello Concerto in E minor Op. 85, performed by Jacqueline du Pré and London Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Sir John Barbirolli
Presenter: Lauren Laverne
Producer: Paula McGinley
View all episodes
By BBC Radio 4
4.7
14661,466 ratings
George McGavin is an entomologist, explorer and broadcaster, who has spread the word about the importance of insects to audiences in their millions.
Born in Glasgow, he grew up in Edinburgh where he studied zoology at university. Following a PhD in entomology, he went on to teach and research at the University of Oxford. He gave up his post as the assistant curator of the university’s Museum of Natural History after 25 years to follow his dream of becoming a television presenter.
He has presented documentaries from far-flung locations including Borneo, Guyana and New Guinea. He has made it his life’s work to uncover the mysteries of the largely uncatalogued world of invertebrates which he says makes up close to 80% of life on earth.
In 2018 he was diagnosed with a rare form of skin cancer and the following year he turned the camera on himself to present a very personal programme about his diagnosis and treatment.
DISC ONE: Love Reign O’er Me by The Who
DISC TWO: The Dark Island by The Pipes and Drums of The Black Watch
DISC THREE: Cello Concerto in E minor Op. 85, composed by Edward Elgar, performed by Jacqueline du Pré and London Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Sir John Barbirolli
DISC FOUR: Night Lament by Kate Rusby
DISC FIVE: To Begin at the Beginning read by Richard Burton, from Under Milk Wood
DISC SIX: Keep Talking by Pink Floyd
DISC SEVEN: Sola, Perduta, Abbandonata by Maria Callas and Philharmonia Orchestra, conducted by Tullio Serafin
DISC EIGHT: The Bog by Einojuhani Rautavaara
BOOK CHOICE: A History of the World in 100 Objects by Neil MacGregor
LUXURY ITEM: Hot sauce
CASTAWAY'S FAVOURITE: Cello Concerto in E minor Op. 85, performed by Jacqueline du Pré and London Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Sir John Barbirolli
Presenter: Lauren Laverne
Producer: Paula McGinley
More shows like Desert Island Discs
View all
Global News Podcast
7,747 Listeners
Newshour
1,066 Listeners
Woman's Hour
391 Listeners
In Our Time
5,475 Listeners
The Documentary Podcast
1,816 Listeners
6 Minute English
1,782 Listeners
Learning English Conversations
1,041 Listeners
The Infinite Monkey Cage
2,079 Listeners
Desert Island Discs: Archive 2005-2010
148 Listeners
THE ADAM BUXTON PODCAST
1,194 Listeners
Desert Island Discs: Archive 2011-2015
57 Listeners
Table Manners with Jessie and Lennie Ware
1,606 Listeners
How To Fail With Elizabeth Day
1,164 Listeners
You're Dead to Me
3,220 Listeners
Americast
744 Listeners
The Bomb
1,041 Listeners
Life Changing
102 Listeners
The Rest Is Politics
3,051 Listeners
Dish
739 Listeners
The Rest Is Entertainment
856 Listeners
The Louis Theroux Podcast
425 Listeners
Young Again
49 Listeners
Off Air with Jane & Fi
159 Listeners
Rosebud with Gyles Brandreth
496 Listeners
Desert Island Discs: Archive: 2016-2018
24 Listeners