The History of Timekeeping
You're Dead to Me
BBC
4.7 • 11.8K Ratings
🗓️ 26 August 2022
⏱️ 57 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Greg Jenner is joined by Dr David Rooney and Desiree Burch at the literal beginning of time to explore the history of timekeeping. Covering everything from the origins of timekeeping to time in space, we even learn how you can smell the time! Above all, we finally find out who you can blame for daylight savings and the real reason it was invented.
You’re Dead To Me is a production by The Athletic for BBC Radio 4. Research by Rosie Rich Written by Emma Nagouse and Greg Jenner Produced by Emma Nagouse and Greg Jenner Assistant Producer: Emmie Rose Price-Goodfellow Project Management: Isla Matthews Audio Producer: Steve Hankey
Transcript
Click on a timestamp to play from that location
| 0:00.0 | BBC Sounds Music Radio Podcasts |
| 0:04.4 | Hello and welcome to your Dead To Me, the Radio 4 comedy podcast that takes history |
| 0:10.3 | seriously. |
| 0:11.3 | My name is Greg Jenner, I am a public historian author and broadcaster and I was the chief |
| 0:15.2 | nerd on the BBC comedy show Horrible Histories. |
| 0:18.0 | And today we are winding our watches, ringing the bells and turning back the clocks to learn |
| 0:21.8 | all about one of my Fave subjects, the history of timekeeping. |
| 0:25.3 | Yes, I am very excited. |
| 0:27.0 | And to help me tell my sundials from my stopwatches, I am joined by two very special guests. |
| 0:31.6 | In History Corner, he is a best-selling author and timekeeping expert. |
| 0:35.1 | Now I research associate at Royal Holloway University, but previously he was curator at |
| 0:39.1 | both the science museum and the Royal Observatory in Greenwich. |
| 0:42.6 | You may have read his brilliant book about time, a history of civilization in 12 clocks. |
| 0:46.8 | I absolutely loved it. |
| 0:48.1 | It's Dr David Rooney, welcome David. |
| 0:49.9 | Hello Greg, thanks for that. |
| 0:52.0 | That's very kind of you. |
| 0:53.0 | And in Comedy Corner, she's a comedian, writer and TV host who hardly needs any |
| 0:57.0 | introduction on this show. |
| 0:58.3 | Indeed, she is our all-time top scorer on the quiz. |
| 1:01.6 | You'll have seen her on Live at the Apollo, the Mash Report, Mock the Week and of course |
| 1:04.4 | Taskmaster and you'll definitely remember her from previous appearances on your dead |
... |
Please login to see the full transcript.
Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from BBC, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.
Generated transcripts are the property of BBC and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.
Copyright © Tapesearch 2026.

