2009 marks the 200th anniversary of Charles Darwin’s birth and the 150th anniversary of the publication of his Origin of Species, which generated a controversy that continues today.  In 1831 a young amateur scientist, Charles Darwin, boarded the HMS Beagle and set out on an epic five-year voyage of scientific discovery. His observations and later reflections would result in a book that profoundly impacted the world.

This enthralling documentary retraces Darwin’s journey, investigating the places and discoveries crucial to the formulation of his Theory of Evolution. Authentic period recreations are blended with scientific investigation and footage of historical locations central to the Darwin story, including his boyhood town of Shrewsbury, Christ’s College in Cambridge and his home at Down House in Kent, where he lived and wrote. The film is a rich tapestry of historic recreations, stunning natural history footage from global locations and interviews with eminent scientists, historians and philosophers. It was shot in the Galápagos, Argentina, Tierra del Fuego, Chile, North America, Europe, Australia and the UK.

Today we live in a scientific age in which Darwin's ideas have been merged into our ‘cultural DNA’. This programme provides a fascinating opportunity for a wide television audience to retrace Darwin's journey and gain new insight into the voyage that shook the world. On the eve of the Darwin anniversaries, The Voyage That Shook the World is a very different, thought-provoking and powerful documentary.