The Format
The Christmas Lectures have been produced by Windfall Films in collaboration with the Royal institution since 2000. The lectures offer a leading scientist in their field the chance to inspire and entertain children (and adults) with dazzling ideas and spectacular demonstrations.
The lectures were first televised in 1936 – the year that the BBC started broadcasting television in Britain – but they date back to the Royal Institution’s most famous scientist, Michael Faraday, who gave the first Christmas Lectures in 1825.
Many world-famous scientists have given the lectures including Sir David Attenborough, George Porter, Carl Sagan, Dame Nancy Rothwell and Sir John Sulston.
In recent years lecturers have included Monica Grady, Mark Miodownik, Hugh Montgomery and Danielle George.