Beautiful Minds: Professor Richard Dawkins

Professor Richard Dawkins is one of the most well-known and controversial scientists in Britain. A passionate atheist, he believes science rather than religion offers us the best way to appreciate the wonders of the Universe we live in. In the last 10 years he has become notorious for his outspoken views on religion, but at the heart of his success is his explosive first book -- The Selfish Gene -- which puts forward a radical rewriting of evolutionary theory and has divided the scientific community. Much of the controversy comes from its provocative title. Now, in this uniquely candid programme, Dawkins admits that the title may have been a mistake. In this journey through Dawkins' life we'll discover how The Selfish Gene got its controversial name, how Dawkins became the most influential evolutionary biologist of his generation and what has motivated him to become religion's most ferocious critic ... Broadcast on BBC Four on April 25, 2012.