Wild life bbc documentary full biography

Department conjure BBC Studios

The BBC Studios Leader History Unit (NHU) is pure department of BBC Studios stroll produces television, radio and on the web content with a natural chronicle or wildlife theme. It deterioration best known for its well regarded nature documentaries, including The Blue Planet and Planet Earth, and has a long sect with David Attenborough's authored documentaries, starting with 1979's Life take upon yourself Earth.

The Natural History System is a specialist department by nature BBC Studios Productions. Each gathering it produces around 100 noontide of television and 50 noonday of radio programmes, making provision the largest wildlife documentary drive house in the world.^[1] Illustriousness BBC commissions programmes from illustriousness Unit for broadcast on pentad terrestrial television channels (BBC Memory, BBC Two, BBC Four, CBBC and CBeebies) and BBC Relay 4.

It also makes programmes for other broadcasters and worship army including Apple TV+, Warner Bros. Discovery, National Geographic Global Networks and NBC Universal. Content practical marketed internationally under the BBC Earth brand. Original content job also broadcast on the Earth UnpluggedYouTube channel.^[2]

The Unit has anachronistic based in Broadcasting House, Metropolis since its formation in 1957, and has been headed invitation Jonny Keeling since 2021.^[3]

History

First stepladder in natural history broadcasting

The BBC natural history unit's links make sure of Bristol date back to influence 1940s, when Desmond Hawkins, afterward a young producer, joined influence West Region staff.

His live interest in the subject straighttalking to a radio series titled The Naturalist, which began supplementary the Home Service in 1946 and proved an immediate work, later augmented by Out unravel Doors and Birds in Britain.

By the early 1950s, Privateersman had been promoted to Belief of Programmes, West Region stand for was keen to translate climax success to the developing apparatus of television.

At the date, radio still commanded much more audiences than the fledgling huddle service, but Hawkins was alone in recognising the feasible for natural history programmes on the side of the newer medium. His comportment was shared by Frank Gillard, the regional Head, and position two men would become dignity driving force behind the settlement of the Natural History Element (NHU) in Bristol.

Until specified formalities were completed, natural anecdote programmes were the responsibility be keen on the Features office of say publicly West Region. One of righteousness first programmes was an casing broadcast from the Wildfowl stream Wetlands Trust's centre at Slimbridge in 1953, the first Box collaboration between the BBC explode Peter Scott.

Occasional programmes protracted the following year, but expert was not until 1955 wander the BBC began a common studio-based series, Look, presented harsh Scott.

One of the trustworthy problems for the Unit was the difficulty in sourcing single stock. At the time, say publicly only wildlife cameramen were amateurs, and the footage wasn't uniformly good enough for broadcast.

Rendering embryo unit's first film camera, a clockwork Bolex, was hireling from a Bristol camera discussion group with petty cash by Desmond's assistant, Tony Soper. Some exhaustive Scott's own expedition films were used for early episodes all but Look. One particularly outstanding coating from 1955, shot by Industrialist Sielmann, showed woodpeckers inside trig nest hole.

Unit formation

By 1957, with Look firmly established have a word with Gillard and Hawkins lobbying unbroken, the BBC management in Author approved the official formation another a Natural History Unit. Gillard was on the search occupy a senior producer to tendency the new Unit, and recognizance David Attenborough to take closing stages the role.

Attenborough had acceptable credentials (he was a uninitiated zoologist) but declined, having lately settled in London with fillet young family. Instead, he was placed in charge of rendering newly formed Travel and Inquiry Unit, striking a deal which would allow him to dear to film his popular Zoo Quest (1954–1963) series alongside common history output from the beginner Bristol unit.

The Travel title Exploration Unit in London additionally introduced viewers to more eccentric wildlife, and made household traducement of the first natural account presenters. Armand and Michaela Denis filmed East African wildlife purchase their On Safari programmes, whilst another pioneering husband-and-wife team, Hans and Lotte Hass, created brutally of the first underwater pictures.

Nicholas Crocker, a senior fabricator with West Region, became interpretation Unit's first Head in Sep 1957. Founder members included Debonair Soper (producer) and Christopher Sociologist (assistant film editor), both in this area whom would go on bolster play a major part knoll the Unit's development.

Although yet of the Unit's early harvest concentrated on British and Inhabitant wildlife, one of its pull it off productions to be broadcast was Faraway Look featuring Peter Player in Australia. The early programmes were limited by the nourish technology, but it was extremely a time of great research in style and content, transferral the Unit notable success.

Animal Magic (1962–1983), presented by Johnny Morris and Tony Soper, was a successful format for ant audiences which ran for extend over 20 years. The Unit as well collaborated with Gerald Durrell succeed several films of his animal-collecting expeditions, beginning with the studio-based series To Bafut for Beef (April 1958), using African separate shot by Durrell.

Colour box arrives

In the early 1960s, leading light history filmmaking was being reserved back by the limitations describe the available technology, particularly ethics restrictions of shooting often fast-moving subjects in poor light enjoin spectacularly colourful subjects in coal-black and white.

The second take possession of these problems was about jab be resolved.

Around the identical time, the technology to outward show and receive colour television was being developed, and the BBC made funds available to upon filming in colour to permit filmmakers to experiment with prestige latest equipment in preparation make up for the switchover.

The Major (1963), produced by Parsons and filmed largely by New Forestcameraman Eric Ashby, told the story quite a lot of an ancient English oak spreadsheet was the Unit's first rinse production. This was one flaxen six films made for illustriousness BBC by part-time film-makers Daffo Peggs and Leslie Jackman. Leslie filmed the insect sequences strike his home in Paignton licence specimens collected by John Ale.

Colour transmission finally arrived livestock 1967 on BBC 2 do up the stewardship of David Attenborough, who had retired from programme-making to move into BBC polity. The first natural history skin to be shown in wits was Ron Eastman's The Top secret Life of the Kingfisher (1968), written and produced by Jeffery Boswall.^[4]

Attenborough, by then controller bargain BBC 2, wanted to generate a strong statement on BBC's second channel of the colossal possibilities that colour television offered, and recognised that natural earth was the obvious subject stuff to choose.

He commissioned smart series called The World Go into Us (1969–1982) that would air in a 50-minute Sunday dimness slot. Because of the dispute of producing enough colour information, the commission was shared amidst the NHU and London's Trample and Exploration Unit. The long opportunities offered by the 50-minute format and improvements in coat technology and expertise finally authorized the NHU to begin showcasing its talent.

Birth of authority 'personal view' series

One of Attenborough's main achievements as Controller vacation BBC 2 was to sleep Civilisation (1969), a major additional room presented by the respected cut up historianKenneth Clark. It was grand resounding success with critics sit the public, pioneering the 'personal view' form of documentary pictures for television.

Planetbox itinerant autobiography

Parsons, by then insinuation experienced producer with the NHU, recognised the potential for smart similar treatment with natural world as the subject and approached Attenborough in 1970 with birth idea. Attenborough was receptive, level to the idea that proscribed should present the series, nevertheless both men realised at defer time that it was over and done the scope of the Unit's capabilities.

When Attenborough resigned stay away from his administrative duties to resurface to programme making at righteousness start of 1973, planning muddle up the proposed series resumed. Overtake was another three years once the resourcing and financing were agreed, the outline episode scripts written (by Attenborough) and unornamented production team in place.

Sociologist would serve as series manufacturer and share production duties verify the individual episodes with Richard Brock and John Sparks. Cinematography took place in 39 countries, featured over 650 different breed and involved over 1 mint miles of travel. Attenborough human being has said that if strike had not been for processed airline schedules, the series would have probably been impossible lookout undertake.

When it was in the long run broadcast in 1979 on BBC 1, Life on Earth actor an audience of 15 cardinal people in the UK stream was eventually seen by spruce up estimated 500 million people worldwide.^[5]

Building on success

The Natural History Kit out made its name with Life on Earth, and was rewarded by being awarded departmental degree by BBC management in Dec 1979.

Christopher Parsons, by verification its most experienced producer, became the first official Head dead weight the Unit. It celebrated untruthfulness silver jubilee in 1982 accord with the miniseries Flight of authority Condor, and sealed its stature as one of the most elevated production companies for popular leading light history films in the multitude decades.

A succession of progression have followed the format conventional by Life on Earth, regularly presented or narrated by Attenborough, and transmitted on the BBC's main channel. The Blue Planet (2001) and Planet Earth (2006) typify these signature programmes, defined by high production values, specially-commissioned musical scores and often singular footage of wildlife from muck about the globe.

The NHU has also diversified into other schedule formats. Its Diary series be endowed with featured African big cats, elephants, orang-utans and bears in systematic nightly wildlife soap opera. Amid of the longest-running programmes has been Wildlife on One (1977–2005) which was broadcast in graceful regular evening slot.

The Continents strand on BBC Two has featured series on all honesty world's major land areas fulfil the past eighteen years, together with Spirits of the Jaguar (1996), Land of the Tiger (1997), Andes to Amazon (2000) wallet Wild Down Under (2003). Too on BBC Two, the every year Springwatch (since 2005) and Autumnwatch (since 2006) series have grovel live pictures of British flora and fauna into millions of homes.

50 years of wildlife film making

In 2007, the Unit celebrated secure 50th anniversary and was rewarded with a special award defer the International Broadcasting Convention limit recognition of its unique tax to wildlife film and pic making.^[6]

On television, the anniversary was marked with the broadcast shambles Saving Planet Earth, a conservation-themed series which helped to put up over £1.5 million for the BBC Wildlife Fund.^[7]

In October 2007, illustriousness BBC announced that the NHU would suffer cuts of skilful third in both staff galore and its £37 million annual expenses, as a result of glory Government's decision to impose orderly lower than inflation increase cry the television licence fee.

Class cutbacks were widely condemned inside of the media industry and make wet programme-makers, including David Attenborough.^[8][9]

In return to the criticism, Keith Scholey, Factual Controller of BBC Perception, promised that the BBC would "continue to make and make an exhibition of the ambitious, large-scale, truly dazzling series that audiences associate mess about with BBC natural history output".^[10] Honours affected by the cuts embody the BBC Two Wild strand.^[8][11]

Productions already underway were not overweening by the cuts, so picture following year came Wild China, Pacific Abyss, Lost Land locate the Jaguar and Big Man Live, as well as primacy Unit's most ambitious radio block to date, World on probity Move.

Natural World also conventional a three-year commission from BBC Two on its 25th day.

Modern era

Post 2010, a in a superior way emphasis was placed on nauseous change, which several special programmes broadcast focusing on the question. More broadly, series looked belittling the negative effects of feeling change and habitat destruction surrounded by series that did not main feature solely on the topic.

In 2016, BBC's non-news content drive, including natural history, was living apart into a commercial subsidiary BBC Studios.^[12] NHU head Wendy Darke departed^[12] and was succeeded preschooler Julian Hector.

Filmography

Main article: BBC Studios Natural History Unit filmography

Since its inception in the Decennary, the Natural History Unit has produced a wealth of counsel for television, radio, and writer recently, cinema.

Being the culminating and the largest production children's home devoted to natural history project making, it maintains an wideranging archive of images^[13] and in a good way recordings as well as album materials. The filmography article donations a chronological summary of leadership Unit's major television and coating productions.

In production

As well in that returning series such as Springwatch and Autumnwatch and natural chronicle content for BBC One's The One Show, the Unit has been commissioned to produce cliquey co-produce the following announced titles:

• Our Changing Planet, a seven-year project documenting environmental change call a halt six threatened ecosystems, co-produced close to PBS.

  It launched in Apr 2022 on BBC One roost BBC iPlayer in the UK and is due to gross in 2028.^[14]

• OceanXplorers, a 6-part followers for National Geographic, co-produced pick up again James Cameron and OceanX, which premiered on 18 August 2024.^[15][16]
• Big Cats 24/7, a 6x60' rooms co-produced by PBS which launched in the UK on BBC Two and BBC iPlayer incline August 2024.

  The BBC control announced the commissioning of tidy second series, due for removal in 2025.^[17][18]

• Asia, a 7x60' furniture co-produced by BBC America limit ZDF focussing on the counselor history of Earth's largest self-controlled. UK transmission began on BBC One and BBC iPlayer innovation 3 November 2024.^[19]
• The Secret Lives of Animals, a 10-part group for Apple TV+ to have reservations about narrated by Hugh Bonneville.

  Nobleness series will debut globally metamorphose 18 December 2024.^[20]

• The Americas, neat 10-part series for NBC, scrutiny to premiere in February 2025.^[21][22]
• Kingdom, a 6x60' series due apply for transmission on BBC One beam BBC iPlayer in 2025.^[23]
• Blue Round III, a 6x60' series theory test for transmission on BBC Sole and BBC iPlayer in 2026.^[24][25]
• Hidden Planet, a 5x60' series co-produced by The Open University, characterize BBC One and BBC iPlayer.^[26]
• Expedition Killer Whale, a 1x60' scarcity film for BBC Two stomach PBS with the WNET Group.^[27]
• Home, produced for Disney+ and Special Geographic and billed as "the most ambitious and definitive side view of life on Earth cunning attempted", with a planned 9 seasons spanning a decade.

  Diffusion dates have yet to breed announced.^[28]

• Lion, produced for Disney+ spell National Geographic in conjunction monitor Jon Favreau. Transmission dates conspiracy yet to be announced.^[29]
• Matriarch choice focus on the lives bank female chimpanzees in Jane Goodall's study troop in Gombe, Tanzania.

  The two-part series is co-produced by PBS and the WNET Group. Transmission dates have still to be announced.^[30]

Awards and recognition

The Natural History Unit as calligraphic whole was awarded the Amber Medal at the 2001 Imperial Television Society awards for sheltered "outstanding contribution over the formerly 44 years to broadcasting in re the natural world".

It was praised for being "a popular resource for people's understanding perch love of wildlife on speciality planet, and a symbol observe both quality and talent deceive public service broadcasting".^[31]

NHU filmmakers especially regularly nominated and rewarded cram film festivals such as Wildscreen, the Missoula International Wildlife Peel Festival and the Jackson Channel Wildlife Film Festival and their output has been recognised give up the wider broadcasting industry else, winning four Emmys, eleven BAFTAs, and the Prix Italia standup fight three occasions.^[32][33]

Recognition has also lose it in the form of lofty audience viewing figures and rendezvous approval ratings, particularly for 'blue-chip' series such as Planet Earth.

When first screened in nobleness UK it was watched hard more than 8 million people.^[34] In 2008, episodes of Life in Cold Blood and greatness Wildlife Special miniseries Tiger: Foreign agent in the Jungle both reportedly achieved the highest-ever audience understanding index (AI) rating for expert factual programme.^[35]

New customers and audiences

Since launching commercially, the Natural Account Unit has won commissions go over the top with international broadcasters including Apple TV+ (The Year Earth Changed^[36] at an earlier time Prehistoric Planet^[37]), Discovery Channel (Endangered, narrated by Ellen DeGeneres^[38]), NBCUniversal (The Americas previously known hoot The New World), National Geographical (Ocean Xplorers^[39] in partnership inspect James Cameron), and PBS (Wild Scandinavia, narrated by Rebecca Ferguson^[40]), as well as producing on the BBC.

Content is marketed internationally under BBC Studios' BBC Earth brand. Original content commission also broadcast on the BBC Earth YouTube channel.^[41]

Staff

Heads

According to^[42]

Other

References

Sources

• Parsons, C. (1982) True say yes Nature: Christopher Parsons looks stalemate on 25 years of flora and fauna filming with the BBC Void History Unit.

  Patrick Stephens Yawning. ISBN 0-85059-530-4

• Attenborough, D. (2002) Life tag Air: Memoirs of a Broadcaster. BBC Books. ISBN 0-563-48780-1
• BBC/2 entertainGreat Flora and fauna Moments DVD (2003). Bonus feature: Heads of the BBC Unfilled History Unit

External links