The Day the Jellyfish Came
Jellyfish - mysterious, dangerous, beautiful. But what do they have to tell us about our changing oceans?
The oceans cover more than 70 percent of our planet. And yet, most of us live unaware of what lies beneath those waters 鈥� and what impact our actions might be having there. In the summer of 2025, Gravelines Nuclear Power Station shut down after a 鈥渕assive and unpredictable鈥� bloom of jellyfish clogged its filters. Weeks later, the same thing happened at a second plant along the French coast. How could such simple creatures disrupt infrastructure 鈥� and what might they reveal about what is going on in the oceans?
Part poem, part plea, part love letter to the sea, BAFTA Games Award-nominated actor, best known for Baldur's Gate 3 and The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, Samantha B茅art explores the complex relationship between humans and jellyfish 鈥� and asks a question that sounds like video game science fiction: in the face of a global environmental crisis could jellyfish inherit the oceans?
Through conversations with science writer Juli Berwald, marine biologist Dr Cathy Lucas and endurance swimmer Lewis Pugh The Day the Jellyfish Came uncovers how jellyfish live, reproduce and form vast blooms 鈥� seasonal explosions that can disrupt industries and reshape ecosystems.
Reflecting both the concerns of the scientific community and the frustration many feel at the ongoing climate crisis and human interference in natural environments, Samantha asks what these charismatic, gelatinous creatures might be telling us about the future of our planet.
Producer: Elizabeth Ann Duffy
Researcher: Minnie Harrop
Sound Engineer: Murray Collier
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Samantha B茅art
Their extensive career also includes Random in 鈥淭he Hitchhiker鈥檚 Guide to the Galaxy鈥� for 麻豆社 Radio 4 and national theatre tours, Calliope in Neil Gaiman鈥檚 鈥淭he Sandman鈥� for Audible, and Orr in 鈥淭orchwood鈥� for Big Finish Productions. Other game roles include Cider in 鈥淎bsolum,鈥� Darth Nul in 鈥淪tar Wars: The Old Republic,鈥� One in 鈥淔ading Echo,鈥� the 鈥淒emon鈥檚 Souls鈥� remake and Bithell Games鈥� 鈥淭he Solitaire Conspiracy鈥�.
Samantha is also the creator and host of 鈥淚t Takes A Village鈥�, a streaming chat show on Twitch featuring a live audience Q&A. The show shines a spotlight on those who are so often overlooked 鈥� the people who make our games 鈥� on themes of collaboration, co-advocacy, and community. VODs can be found on Samantha鈥檚 YouTube Channel.
Broadcasts
- Wed 8 Jul 2026 15:30麻豆社 Radio 4
- Tue 14 Jul 2026 21:00麻豆社 Radio 4