The Documentary - Birding The Gender Gap

THE DOCUMENTARY - BIRDING THE GENDER GAP (320kbs-m4a/61mb/26mins)
BBC World Service broadcast: 14th August 2026

During the annual World Series of Birding in New Jersey, US, teams compete to see who can identify the most bird species in 24 hours. For team Galbatross the goal is different and much harder - they only identify female birds. This self-imposed restriction is a form of activism, calling into question centuries of ornithology that has focused primarily on male birds, with their bright plumage, elaborate dances, and loud songs.

We follow team Galbatross as they attempt to break their own record for the most female birds spotted during the World Series of Birding. Along the way, we hear from scientists and birders alike about how we got where we are, and how expanding science to be more inclusive of species of all genders can change our perspective on ourselves and the environment.

Producer and presenter – Daniel Semo
A Dennis Funk for Written in Air production

Mark Steel's In Town: Series 14 - 6. Unst (Shetland Part 2)

MARK STEEL'S IN TOWN: SERIES 14 - 6. UNST (SHETLAND PART 2) (320kbs-m4a/87mb/38mins)
BBC Radio 4 Extra broadcast: 11th November 2025

6/6 - Unst - 'The Island Above All Others'.

After performing in Lerwick earlier in the series, Mark's Shetland adventure concludes in Unst, as far north as you can get.

There will also be extended versions of each episode available on BBC Sounds.

Written and performed by Mark Steel

Additional material by Pete Sinclair
Production co-ordinators Caroline Barlow and Katie Baum
Sound Manager Jerry Peal
Producer Carl Cooper

A BBC Studios production for Radio 4

Mark Steel's In Town: Series 14 - 5. Lerwick (Shetland Part 1)

MARK STEEL'S IN TOWN: SERIES 14 - 5. LERWICK (SHETLAND PART 1) (320kbs-m4a/94mb/41mins)
BBC Radio 4 Extra broadcast: 4th November 2025

For the fifth stop of the series, Mark travels to Lerwick, the capital of Shetland, perched at the far edge of Britain, where everyone's on first-name terms with the fog.

It's a place where Viking heritage meets oil rigs and knitting patterns, where the winter fire festival Up Helly Aa lights up the darkness, and where the locals are masters of making their own fun.

This is the first of Mark's two shows from Shetland, recorded in front of an audience in Lerwick. Later in the series he'll also be visiting Unst, the UK's most northerly inhabited island.

This is the 14th series of Mark's award winning show where he travels around the country visiting towns that have nothing in common but their uniqueness. After thoroughly researching each town, Mark writes and performs a bespoke evening of comedy for a local audience.

As well as Shetland, in this series, Mark be will also be popping to Oakham in Rutland, Wrexham, Lewisham and Cambridge.

There will also be extended versions of each episode available on BBC Sounds.

Written and performed by Mark Steel

Additional material by Pete Sinclair
Production co-ordinators Caroline Barlow and Katie Baum
Sound Manager Jerry Peal
Producer Carl Cooper

A BBC Studios production for Radio 4

Mark Steel's In Town: Series 12 - 3. The Isles Of Scilly

MARK STEEL'S IN TOWN: SERIES 12 - 3. THE ISLES OF SCILLY (320kbs-m4a/96mb/42mins)
BBC Radio 4 Extra broadcast: 5th September 2022

Mark Steel is back with the 12th series of his award winning show that travels around the country visiting towns that have nothing in common but their uniqueness. After thoroughly researching each town, Mark writes and performs a bespoke evening of comedy for a local audience.

In this third episode Mark visits The Isles of Scilly.

In this series, Mark will also be popping to Nottingham, Tring, Salisbury, Newport and Paris. And for the first time, there will be extended versions of each episode available on BBC sounds.

Written and performed by Mark Steel

Additional material by Pete Sinclair
Production co-ordinator Sarah Sharpe
Production co-ordinator Katie Baum
Sound Manager Jerry Peal
Producer Carl Cooper

A BBC Studios production for BBC Radio 4

Ring-necked Parakeet, Vale Park, Wallasey 6th January 2026

There's been a pair of Ring-necked Parakeets resident in Vale Park, Wallasey for a few months. I wandered over there today & had pretty good views as the pair moved about the trees, calling, at the back of the bandstand. They also landed on the guttering of the bandstand to drink.

Since birds have been inhabiting Liverpool parks for a while, having spread from south Manchester, it's reasonable to assume that's where this pair originated from.