
What’s the deal with eels? – Lucy Porter, David Righton and Caroline Durif
From The Infinite Monkey Cage by BBC Radio 4
November 26, 2025 · 42 min
About this episode
Brian Cox and Robin Ince explore the mysteries of eels with marine scientists and comedian Lucy Porter.
Fishing rods at the ready, Brian Cox and Robin Ince attempt to reel in a creature that has baffled scientists since Aristotle: the eel. Wriggling in to help them uncover the mysteries of one of nature’s slimiest subjects are marine scientists David Righton and Caroline Durif, and comedian Lucy Porter. How do eels navigate such vast distances so deep under water? Why has no one ever seen them reproduce? And WHY would anyone eat them jellied with pie and mash?! The panel discovers that Spanish eels are always late and that eels from all different countries are thought to meet up somewhere in the Atlantic Ocean for a huge annual orgy. Producer: Melanie Brown Assistant Producer: Olivia Jani Executive Producer: Alexandra Feachem A BBC Studios Production
People in this episode
Hosts: Brian Cox, Robin Ince
Guests: Lucy Porter, David Righton, Caroline Durif
Topics covered
- eels
- marine biology
- navigation
- reproduction
- comedy
- fishing
Keywords
- eels
- marine scientists
- navigation
- reproduction
- comedy
- fishing
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: BBC Radio 4, BBC Studios
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