# What is the name of that crazy British science guy? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 22, 2003, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-name-of-that-crazy-british-science-guy/150097 "2003-01-22T00:17:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Brutus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@Brutus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brutus)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2003, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-name-of-that-crazy-british-science-guy/150097/1 "2003-01-22T00:17:20Z")
He did a series of TV shows (I forget the name of them). They would start with Invention A, the myriad events that lead up to that invention, and then what impact that invention has had on the modern world. Excellent stuff, with mini-reenactments, humorous anecdotes, and general hilarity. But what was the host’s name? And what was the name of the series? ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2003, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-name-of-that-crazy-british-science-guy/150097/2 "2003-01-22T00:23:47Z")
You’re probably thinking of [James Burke](http://us.imdb.com/Name?Burke,+James+(II)). ---
**Author:** ![Brutus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@Brutus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brutus)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2003, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-name-of-that-crazy-british-science-guy/150097/3 "2003-01-22T00:26:28Z")
You are officially my hero. ‘The Day the Universe Changed’ was the series…But damn [Amazon.com](http://Amazon.com) for not having the series on DVD!!! ---
**Author:** ![everton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ecb155/32.png) [@everton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/everton)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2003, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-name-of-that-crazy-british-science-guy/150097/4 "2003-01-22T00:52:51Z")
He’s been discussed elsewhere on these boards, notably in this thread: [Is James Burke reliable?](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=136211) The consensus there seemed to be that he isn’t, but that doesn’t stop his shows being entertaining and provocative IMHO. He used to present popular science shows on British TV in the '70s a lot (see list in **Robot Arm’s** link). The _Burke Special_ was taped in front of a live audience who took part in various experiments to test stuff like perception, memory, physiology and anatomy. _Tomorrow’s World_ is still running (with different presenters) and showcases advancements in technology etc. It’s notorious for telling us about things that will change our lives allegedly, yet are never seen or heard of again for some reason. Compulsory viewing for nerds though. ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2003, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-name-of-that-crazy-british-science-guy/150097/5 "2003-01-22T00:56:43Z")
My first thought on reading the OP was [Adam Hart Davis](http://aj.hd.org/index.html) ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2003, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-name-of-that-crazy-british-science-guy/150097/6 "2003-01-22T01:00:20Z")
But on reading his website that he’s more of a crazy British broadcaster guy than crazy British Science Guy. He is very entertaining. I love his TV shows. I love the way he shows real enthusiasm about everything. ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2003, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-name-of-that-crazy-british-science-guy/150097/7 "2003-01-22T01:02:12Z")
Whoops. I missed quite a few words from that first sentence! how did that happen? after ‘website’ add this - “I found out”