ITV has ordered new factual series World’s Wildest Cities for TX next year, from Plimsoll Productions.
Coming to ITV, ITVX, STV and STV Player, “this groundbreaking six-part series will reveal the extraordinary ways city animals not just survive but thrive in our major cities.”
Today over half of the human population lives in cities and we are now joined by a surprising cast of wild animals – from possums to penguins, giant monitor lizards to cheeky monkeys who through ingenuity, bravery and cunning are now calling our cities home. These savvy city slickers don’t always play by our rules, but that’s okay – they’ve learnt how to conquer the city life.
New York City mice are adapting to break down inedible pizza cheese, London’s urban foxes are developing shorter snouts that are better at ripping open bin bags, and are almost appearing dog-like. And in Rio de Janeiro, marmosets are altering their calls to be heard over the roar of the traffic. Animals aren’t just adapting to their new, fast-paced homes – they’re thriving.
Each episode focuses on one city: Rio de Janeiro, New York, Melbourne, Singapore and London, concluding with a Behind the Scenes episode, which reveals how the series was made, and the science behind the stories. The six-part series is produced in association with and distributed internationally by ITV Studios.
“State of the art cinematography captures the breath-taking dramas, unfolding love stories and hustles for food, as our wild neighbours adapt in fast forward to life in the concrete jungle. And, at a time when wild areas degrade, for many creatures our cities are becoming their sanctuary.”
The series features the work of BAFTA and Emmy award-winning Mark Brownlow and Alex Rankin as Executive Producers, and award-winning Series Producer, Doug Mackay-Hope.
ITV Factual Controller, Jo Clinton Davis, said: “We’re delighted to bring this unique and revolutionary wildlife series, free-to-air, on ITV next year. Working with the top class wildlife programme makers at Plimsoll Productions, the six-part series encapsulates the heart and soul of the wildlife that lives among us in our cities. World’s Wildest Cities showcases the constant challenges urban animals face in these hostile environments and the ever-changing wild landscape, as more animals emigrate and make special adaptations to survive.”
Mark Brownlow, Executive Producer, Plimsoll Productions, said: “We are really proud of World’s Wildest Cities, our latest timely Natural History series, because right now our cities are fast becoming the new wild frontiers. Through this groundbreaking and entertaining series, we introduce the audience to a whole new cast of surprising animal characters that live right under our noses. And if we make our cities more welcoming to nature, it benefits us all.”
Jon Creamer
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