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CrowdScience

Why can't I recognise faces?

CrowdScience

BBC

Science

4.81K Ratings

🗓️ 1 May 2026

⏱️ 27 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

CrowdScience listener Jeroen finds it hard to remember people's faces - and he wants to know why. He wonders if it's to do with getting older and if there’s any way of improving.

Presenter Caroline Steel has the same problem and is keen to find an answer too.

She meets Professor Zaira Cattaneo, a neuroscientist based in Italy who researches face perception. Zaira has discovered which parts of the brain are engaged in facial recognition. She explains how we recognise faces and why ageing could be a factor in Jeroen’s difficulty.

Caroline travels to Bournemouth in the UK to meet researcher Professor Sarah Bate, who assesses Caroline's ability to recognise faces and explains the causes of face blindness.

And she compares notes with fellow CrowdScience presenter Marnie Chesterton, who also has difficulty remembering faces. Around two per cent of the population have the condition. Could there be a reason why more than a third of CrowdScience presenters experience face blindness?

If you’ve got a science question you’d like us to answer, email crowdscience@bbc.co.uk.

Presenter Caroline Steel

Producer Jo Glanville

Editor Ben Motley

(Photo:Packaging cardboard on the head with different emotions - stock photo Credit: Flying broccoli via Getty Images)

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.

0:38.8

Sort of expecting that every week now. Oh, yes, he's familiar. Don't recognise her. Don't recognise him.

0:50.2

You're listening to Crowd Science from the BBC World Service, the show that answers your science questions.

0:56.9

I'm Caroline Steele and I'm doing my best to recognise a series of famous faces.

1:03.9

Oh God.

1:05.2

Okay.

1:06.6

That could be David Attenborough and I should 100% recognise him.

1:10.1

Embarrassed I'm not sure because I've seen literally everything he's ever done.

...

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