Sir David Attenborough’s ultra high-definition Planet Earth II is more impressive than ever
Let’s be honest – whichever words we use to describe Sir David Attenborough’s remarkable new series, none of them will do it justice. So we’ll leave the introduction to the man himself.
Opening the show with a commanding view over the Alps in a hot-air balloon, David surveys the mesmerizing landscape.
“Looking down from two miles above the surface of the Earth, it’s impossible not to be impressed by the sheer grandeur and splendour and power of the natural world,” he marvels.
“Ten years ago, in a television series called Planet Earth, we revealed many of those wonders; today much has changed. We can now show life on our planet in new ways, bringing you closer to animals than ever before.”
Filmed in ultra-high definition, Planet Earth II took three years to make and is a visual masterpiece; a masterclass in broadcasting of a nature series – camera stabilisation techniques mean the crew can directly follow, at speed, in the footsteps of the animals, unmanned drones provide an aerial view, and camera traps get so close to the animals you can hear them breathing.
For that, David credits the BBC. “I can’t think of any other broadcasting organisation that is prepared to say: ‘We’ll keep you going for three years,’” he smiles.
“It’s very important that television should, every now and then, take an in-depth view of something quite important. Animals are in peril, which we have to know. They’re great stories, important stories, they’re stories that take time and, of course, money, and the BBC is prepared to devote both.
“There are a dozen ways of making naturalistic programmes and one of them is to make a narrative, which is always a powerful one and very compelling, but it’s also very expensive, because you’ve got to follow these animals and sometimes you won’t get all you need for that story in one year, so you go back the next year.
“Increasing demands are being made on the BBC and there are continuous cuts being made. I understand why, but it has an effect. You can say you will go on being more efficient, but you’ve been doing that every year for donkey’s years. The moment comes when the knife hits the bone and you can’t do any more. The effect will be seen on the screen.
"So I’m just delighted the BBC thinks it’s so important to lavish the amount of care and attention [on natural-history shows] as it would if it were putting on a Shakespeare play. You recognise this is worth spending money on, it creates worldwide standards. Nobody does it better.”
The first series of Planet Earth in 2006 took five years to make and was the most expensive nature documentary ever commissioned by the BBC. It was a phenomenon, attracting an average of more than 11 million viewers, being shown in over 130 countries and winning an Emmy award.
“There is going to be a decrease in terms of audience as there are so many channels now than when I started. I joined the BBC [in 1952] when it was a monopoly,” explains David.
“The world in which it operates has changed beyond recognition, but these natural-history shows are holding their own quite spectacularly. And for me, it’s just as much fun making these programmes as it was 50 years ago.”
That’s because, at the age of 90, Natural Sciences graduate David is still learning. The habitats featured in this series are islands, mountains, jungles, deserts, grasslands and, for the first time, cities, and David was overjoyed to capture four snow leopards together in their natural habitat in the Himalayas – another first.
“That was certainly the sequence I found revelatory and most moving. It captured my heart,” says David, shaking his head in wonder as he explains how camouflaged cameras were set on scenting posts for the big cats to brush up against.
“To be able to re-create what it’s like to be there and how near to them you are… The animal is aware of all of these other things around it, but it may never meet them. You see this lonely animal padding through the vast wilderness. Then, finally, they encounter one another. Snow leopards are beautiful animals.
“And I hadn’t seen racer snakes in the Galapagos islands before. Of course, you have to be in the right place and at the right time of year. The Galapagos is quite an expensive place, so you don’t spend more than two or three weeks there. I’m just making excuses now!”
David’s continued passion for his hobby and job never ceases to amaze. But he insists modestly: “No, no. I’m much lazier than I was. I cope. The schedules are very reliable.”
With the knowledge and experience David has from an unparalleled 64-year broadcasting career, he’s in a unique position to influence the subjects he cares about, from animals to climate change: “We need to understand how important that is, there are a lot of dangers ahead and this world won’t be as rich in 10 years’ time.”
When David talks, the country listens. Indeed, he’s been voted Most Popular Trusted Person in Britain in a public poll.
“It’s nice for people to say these things,” he says. “It depends on what programmes you appear in and how often you appear, and I have been doing this for a long time.”
As well as that accolade, David has three BAFTA awards, a Royal Television Society gong and a National Television Award at home. Mark our words – Planet Earth II will bring another trophy to his ever-growing cabinet.
“It’s nice to receive them, but you can spend too much time looking at an award,” he says. “It would be nice if they went to everyone involved in the shows. I’m just a small cog in the wheel.”
NEW! Planet Earth II, Sunday 8pm, BBC One
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