Live on the ocean wave..
Blue Planet II to show unfolding sea dramas
A LIVE version of the award-winning sea life show Blue Planet II is coming to TV screens next year.
Broadcast in four episodes over a week in March, it will update viewers on the discoveries and problems highlighted by Sir David Attenborough’s landmark series last year.
More than 62% of the UK population (37.6million people) watched Blue Planet II’s groundbreaking footage of never-before-seen marine creatures.
The BBC1 series also showed in graphic detail how a huge amount of discarded plastic is polluting the world’s oceans and killing wildlife, sparking campaigns to end the crisis.
BBC content boss Charlotte Moore said the footage had “shocked the nation” and the live version would again help the world to “wake up to one of the biggest environmental crises of our times”.
The live show will feature three presenters. Chris Packham will meet scientists in the USA and visit whales during their breeding period, Steve Backshall will show shark gatherings in the Bahamas, and Liz Bonnin will look at turtle and bird life on Australia’s Great Barrier Reef.
Ms Moore also attacked online rivals for focusing on profits, not making the best shows for audiences. “The BBC is different,” she said.