Alan Davies

We share ancestry with rats from millions of years ago, and our DNA is about a 90% match, and that's why we test everything on them.

We owe them our health, and frankly, an apology for treating them like disposable tools.

Stephen, in a world with no rats, does medical progress just stop?

So, we're a month in and I can't help but feel that a world in which rats are sniffing out diseases and driving bumper cars is one I prefer to live in.

Now, we're one year in.

One thing rats are notorious for is chewing on, well, everything.

Car wires, lead pipes, even soft concrete.

So, Stephen, give me the good news.

Are our buildings, our cars, our infrastructure finally safe?

I have to admit, I am conflicted about this year without rats.

It's only realised the taboo subject that is human as vermin, which is something that people are very resistant to hearing.

It's time to take a long hard look at ourselves, perhaps.

Yeah, we are pests just as much as rats.

And perhaps this year without rats, maybe we'll lead to a bit more introspection from the human race.

If a rat runs a maze today, tonight its brain will run that same path again in its sleep, practising, learning and memorising every turn.

And, as a relation, I think I should follow their lead.

I'm going to sleep on everything we talked about today.

But my dream, it's that one day we can finally call a truce in this forever war and maybe, just maybe, learn to share the planet with our furry friends.

Thank you to my brilliant guests, Steve Abelmane and Joe Shute.

Next time on Life Without, what happens when the ground beneath our feet stops breathing?