Camel

Brett Westwood follows the route trodden by the camel from being a revered subject of Arabic eulogies to being reviled by European explorers. In its latest incarnation it's being ridden by robot camel jockeys in silks and sunglasses and taking part in beauty contests... But is the camel a figure of fun or something rather sadder?

Producer Beth O'Dea

Taking part:

Rebecca and Joseph Fossett, owners of Joseph’s Amazing Camels

Robert Irwin, novelist and Middle East expert and author of Camel

Dr Richard Reading, Director of Conservation Biology, Denver Zoological Foundation

James Rawson, journalist and film maker

Mark Heap, Reader