The Time Machine (Archive Episode)

In Our Time

BBC

History

4.6 • 9.2K Ratings

🗓️ 16 October 2025

⏱️ 53 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the ideas explored in HG Wells' novella, published in 1895, in which the Time Traveller moves forward to 802,701 AD. There he finds humanity has evolved into the Eloi and Morlocks, where the Eloi are small but leisured fruitarians and the Morlocks live below ground, carry out the work and have a different diet. Escaping the Morlocks, he travels millions of years into the future, where the environment no longer supports humanity. With Simon Schaffer Professor of History of Science at Cambridge University Amanda Rees Historian of science at the University of York And Simon James Professor in the Department of English Studies at Durham University We are also remembering Simon James who passed away this summer and who, we are told, really enjoyed this recording. Producer: Simon Tillotson

Transcript

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0:00.0	BBC Sounds, music, radio, podcasts.
0:06.1	Can I just say?
0:07.6	You're about to listen to a BBC podcast.
0:10.0	It's such a wonderful listen.
0:11.7	So nice.
0:12.5	There are loads more like it on BBC Sounds.
0:14.8	Different paces, different heights, the roof is buckling.
0:17.9	Where you can also listen to live sports commentary.
0:20.2	It's right foot goes for goal.
0:21.6	Oh!
0:22.7	And then enjoy even more podcasts full of analysis and reaction to the big stories.
0:27.7	The stat that is astonishing is they ended with the lowest amount of possession.
0:31.2	And she's had to live with that.
0:32.8	So if you love sport, a passion, it's almost like a religion.
0:35.8	Listen on BBC Sounds.
0:38.7	Sort of expecting that every week now. Hello, I'm Simon, producer of In Our Time. Following Melvin's announcement
0:45.5	that he's stepped down from In Our Time after almost 27 years, we're taking the time to celebrate
0:51.6	his outstanding work with some favourite episodes from our archive,
0:55.9	and thanks to everyone who's been in touch.
0:58.1	In due course, we'll return with new programmes and a new presenter,
1:01.8	but till then, here's Melvin with The Time Machine from 2019.
1:06.8	Hello, in 1895, HG Wells wrote The Time Machine, in which the wealthy time traveller
	...

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