Charlotte Moore, BBC Director of Content, has unveiled a series of landmark natural history programmes.
There will be three new series in the Planet strand.
Perfect Planet will be a fusion of blue chip natural history and earth sciences explaining how the living planet operates. This five part series will show how the forces of nature – weather, ocean currents, solar energy and volcanoes – drive, shape and support Earth’s great diversity of life. It will broadcast in 2020.
Frozen Planet II will take audiences back to the wildernesses of the Arctic and Antarctica. Ten years on from the original Frozen Planet, this series tells the complete story of the entire frozen quarter of our planet that’s locked in ice and blanketed in snow. It will broadcast in 2021
Planet Earth III will be the “most ambitious” natural history landmark ever undertaken by the BBC. It will combine “the awe and wonder of the original Planet Earth, the new science and discoveries of Blue Planet II and Planet Earth II, and the immersive character-led storytelling of Dynasties.” It will broadcast in 2022.
These three series will be in addition to the previously announced One Planet: Seven Worlds (transmitting 2019) and Green Planet (transmitting 2021).
This new five-strong slate is expected to involve over 10,000 days of filming. Alongside the latest addition to the Planet series the BBC is also announcing three further natural history commissions.
The Mating Game for BBC2, Primates for BBC One and Earth’s Paradise Islands, for BBC Two focussed on the islands of Madagascar, Borneo and Hawaii.
Charlotte Moore, BBC Director of Content, says: “The BBC is world famous for its natural history programming and these new series will raise the bar even higher. We know that audiences want shows that bring them the richest narratives, the best camerawork and the highest quality production values and they look to us to deliver this. Viewers around the globe have been captivated by the incredible stories that the Planets series have told and now new technology allow us to explore even more of the natural world than ever before.
“We’re also announcing three new series that will look in depth at specific aspects of the natural world, giving revealing and sometimes surprising insights to animals and the habitats they live in. It’s our biggest ever commitment to natural history and one we are proud of.”
Tom McDonald, Head of Commissioning, Natural History and Specialist Factual, says: “Planet Earth II, Blue Planet II and most recently Dynasties reinvented landmark natural history at BBC – delivering record breaking global audiences and receiving awards around the world.
“These new titles reveal the scale of our ambitions in natural history – with a rich and innovative pipeline of titles up to 2022: the biggest commitment we have ever made in the genre.
“Alongside new titles such as The Mating Game and Primates, I’m delighted to be bringing the long awaited Frozen Planet back to our screens a decade after the first series was on air, and of course thrilled that Planet Earth will be back in the BBC’s centenary year. Both will continue our pledge to reveal not just the world’s greatest wonders and animal behaviour but reflect the very real challenges the natural world faces.”
Perfect Planet, a 5×60’ for BBC One, is made by Silverback Films, co-produced by Tencent Penguin Pictures, France Télévisions and The Open University. The Executive Producer is Alastair Fothergill, and the Series Producer is Huw Cordey. It was commissioned by Charlotte Moore, BBC Director of Content, and Tom McDonald, Head of Commissioning, Natural History and Specialist Factual. It will tx in 2020.
Frozen Planet II, a 6×60’ for BBC One, is made by BBC Studios Natural History Unit, co-produced by BBC America and The Open University. The Executive Producer is Mark Brownlow and the Series Producer is Elizabeth White. It was commissioned by Charlotte Moore, BBC Director of Content and Tom McDonald, Head of Commissioning, Natural History and Specialist Factual. It will tx in 2021.
Planet Earth III, an 8×60’ series for BBC One, is made by BBC Studios Natural History Unit, co-produced by BBC America and The Open University. The Executive Producer is Mike Gunton and the Series Producer is Jonny Keeling. It was commissioned by Charlotte Moore, BBC Director of Content and Tom McDonald, Head of Commissioning, Natural History and Specialist Factual. It will tx in 2022.
Primates, a 3×60’ for BBC One, is made by BBC Studios Natural History Unit, co-produced by PBS. The Executive Producer is Mike Gunton and the Series Producer is Gavin Boyland. It was commissioned by Charlotte Moore, BBC Director of Content, and Tom McDonald, Head of Commissioning, Natural History and Specialist Factual. It will tx in 2020.
The Mating Game (w/t), a 5×60’ series for BBC Two, is made by Silverback Films. The Executive Producer is Alastair Fothergill and the Series Producer is Jeff Wilson. It was commissioned by Patrick Holland, Controller, BBC Two and Tom McDonald, Head of Commissioning, Natural History and Specialist Factual. It will tx in 2021.
Earth’s Paradise Islands, a 3×60’ for BBC Two, is made by BBC Studios Natural History Unit, co-produced by PBS. The Executive Producer is Mark Brownlow and the Series Producer is Kathryn Jeffs. It was commissioned by Patrick Holland, Controller, BBC Two and Tom McDonald, Head of Commissioning, Natural History and Specialist Factual. The Commissioning Editor is Tom Coveney.
Staff Reporter
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