Sir David Attenborough to present ‘mind-blowing’ look at world of plants
Sir David Attenborough will present The Green Planet – a “mind-blowing” look at the “unseen” world of plants.
The veteran broadcaster, 93, will front the landmark BBC One series, which will track “remarkable new behaviour” and even “emotional stories”.
Sir David recently filmed Seven Worlds, One Planet, which was four years in the making and featured wildlife firsts.
This time, and despite his advancing years, he will be doing even more, travelling to the US, Costa Rica, northern Europe and Croatia to turn his attention to the plant world.
The five-part series, from BBC Studios Natural History Unit (NHU), will look at the planet “from the perspective of plants”.
Airing in 2021, it will go “beyond the human eye” by using technological advances in robotics, moving time-lapse and super-detail thermal cameras to uncover the “hidden life of the green planet”.
Sir David said: “This is a wonderful opportunity to explore a neglected yet truly remarkable part of the natural world.
“Once again, the innovative approach of the NHU and groundbreaking technology will reveal new and surprising wonders to the audiences on BBC One and around the world.”
The programme will feature deserts, mountains, rainforests and the frozen north.
Executive producer Mike Gunton said: “This series will take viewers into a world beyond their imagination – see things no eye has ever seen.
“The world of plants is a mind-blowing parallel universe, one that we can now bring to life using a whole range of exciting new camera technology. This is Planet Earth for plants!”
Highlights will include seeds that can outlive civilisations, the “largest living things that have ever existed, trees that care for each other, and plants that breed so fast they could cover the planet in a matter of months”.
It is likely to highlight environmental issues. Seven Worlds, One Planet – the most watched factual programme of this year – put conservation “at the heart” of each episode.