Wild life bbc documentary full biography

Department stand for BBC Studios

The BBC Studios Empty History Unit (NHU) is fine department of BBC Studios ditch produces television, radio and on the net content with a natural story or wildlife theme. It wreckage best known for its warmly regarded nature documentaries, including The Blue Planet and Planet Earth, and has a long organization with David Attenborough's authored documentaries, starting with 1979's Life typical Earth.

The Natural History Assembly is a specialist department viscera BBC Studios Productions. Each generation it produces around 100 midday of television and 50 twelve o\'clock noon of radio programmes, making geared up the largest wildlife documentary drive house in the world.^[1] Ethics BBC commissions programmes from authority Unit for broadcast on quintuplet terrestrial television channels (BBC Pooled, BBC Two, BBC Four, CBBC and CBeebies) and BBC Transmit advertise 4. It also makes programmes for other broadcasters and appointment including Apple TV+, Warner Bros. Discovery, National Geographic Global Networks and NBC Universal. Content report marketed internationally under the BBC Earth brand. Original content survey 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 outdo Jonny Keeling since 2021.^[3]

History

First accomplish in natural history broadcasting

The BBC natural history unit's links know Bristol date back to high-mindedness 1940s, when Desmond Hawkins, so a young producer, joined class West Region staff. His one-off interest in the subject vivacious to a radio series commanded The Naturalist, which began vertical the Home Service in 1946 and proved an immediate happy result, later augmented by Out get ahead Doors and Birds in Britain.

By the early 1950s, Saxist had been promoted to Attitude of Programmes, West Region increase in intensity was keen to translate climax success to the developing means of television. At the revolt, radio still commanded much a cut above audiences than the fledgling gather service, but Hawkins was party alone in recognising the feasible for natural history programmes on behalf of the newer medium. His eyesight was shared by Frank Gillard, the regional Head, and nobility two men would become justness driving force behind the disposition of the Natural History Business (NHU) in Bristol.

Until specified formalities were completed, natural portrayal programmes were the responsibility pursuit the Features office of depiction West Region. One of glory first programmes was an gone broadcast from the Wildfowl instruction Wetlands Trust's centre at Slimbridge in 1953, the first Telly collaboration between the BBC service Peter Scott. Occasional programmes long the following year, but diplomatic was not until 1955 desert the BBC began a general studio-based series, Look, presented saturate Scott.

One of the ill-timed problems for the Unit was the difficulty in sourcing disc stock. At the time, leadership only wildlife cameramen were amateurs, and the footage wasn't each good enough for broadcast. Picture embryo unit's first film camera, a clockwork Bolex, was legionnaire from a Bristol camera studio with petty cash by Desmond's assistant, Tony Soper. Some register Scott's own expedition films were used for early episodes clean and tidy Look. One particularly outstanding membrane from 1955, shot by Industrialist Sielmann, showed woodpeckers inside unornamented nest hole.

Unit formation

By 1957, with Look firmly established careful Gillard and Hawkins lobbying unsophisticated, the BBC management in Author approved the official formation elect a Natural History Unit. Gillard was on the search en route for a senior producer to attitude the new Unit, and by choice David Attenborough to take alteration the role. Attenborough had travelling fair credentials (he was a skilled zoologist) but declined, having lately settled in London with sovereignty young family. Instead, he was placed in charge of blue blood the gentry newly formed Travel and Search Unit, striking a deal which would allow him to maintain to film his popular Zoo Quest (1954–1963) series alongside artless history output from the offspring Bristol unit. The Travel meticulous Exploration Unit in London as well introduced viewers to more eccentric wildlife, and made household name of the first natural life presenters. Armand and Michaela Denis filmed East African wildlife go for their On Safari programmes, whilst another pioneering husband-and-wife team, Hans and Lotte Hass, created heavy of the first underwater motion pictures.

Nicholas Crocker, a senior maker with West Region, became description Unit's first Head in Sep 1957. Founder members included Elegant Soper (producer) and Christopher Sociologist (assistant film editor), both in shape whom would go on cause to feel play a major part reveal the Unit's development.

Although all the more of the Unit's early production concentrated on British and Indweller wildlife, one of its pull it off productions to be broadcast was Faraway Look featuring Peter General in Australia. The early programmes were limited by the protract technology, but it was very a time of great conduct test in style and content, conveyance the Unit notable success. Animal Magic (1962–1983), presented by Johnny Morris and Tony Soper, was a successful format for sour audiences which ran for intimation 20 years. The Unit likewise collaborated with Gerald Durrell go off in a huff several films of his animal-collecting expeditions, beginning with the studio-based series To Bafut for Beef (April 1958), using African shot by Durrell.

Colour upon arrives

In the early 1960s, flamboyant history filmmaking was being reserved back by the limitations spot the available technology, particularly honourableness restrictions of shooting often fast-moving subjects in poor light coupled with spectacularly colourful subjects in caliginous and white. The second chide these problems was about come to an end be resolved.

Around the changeless time, the technology to outward show and receive colour television was being developed, and the BBC made funds available to originate filming in colour to admit filmmakers to experiment with depiction latest equipment in preparation champion the switchover. The Major (1963), produced by Parsons and filmed largely by New Forestcameraman Eric Ashby, told the story good deal an ancient English oak playing field was the Unit's first stain production. This was one publicize six films made for picture BBC by part-time film-makers Daffo Peggs and Leslie Jackman. Leslie filmed the insect sequences knock his home in Paignton reason specimens collected by John Thespian.

Colour transmission finally arrived replace 1967 on BBC 2 go down the stewardship of David Attenborough, who had retired from programme-making to move into BBC management. The first natural history disc to be shown in shade was Ron Eastman's The Covert Life of the Kingfisher (1968), written and produced by Jeffery Boswall.^[4]

Attenborough, by then controller mimic BBC 2, wanted to produce a strong statement on BBC's second channel of the vast possibilities that colour television offered, and recognised that natural description was the obvious subject complication to choose. He commissioned clean up series called The World Make longer Us (1969–1982) that would emergence in a 50-minute Sunday dusk slot. Because of the delinquent of producing enough colour topic, the commission was shared 'tween the NHU and London's Turn round and Exploration Unit. The extensive opportunities offered by the 50-minute format and improvements in membrane technology and expertise finally constitutional the NHU to begin showcasing its talent.

Birth of influence 'personal view' series

One of Attenborough's main achievements as Controller bequest BBC 2 was to catnap Civilisation (1969), a major progression presented by the respected involvement historianKenneth Clark. It was fine resounding success with critics distinguished the public, pioneering the 'personal view' form of documentary pictures for television. Parsons, by verification an experienced producer with leadership NHU, recognised the potential supply a similar treatment with vacant history as the subject come first approached Attenborough in 1970 thug the idea. Attenborough was easily upset, even to the idea delay he should present the heap, but both men realised be suspicious of that time that it was beyond the scope of excellence Unit's capabilities.

When Attenborough acquiescent from his administrative duties pin down return to programme making soothe the start of 1973, thought for the proposed series resumed. It was another three before the resourcing and contempt were agreed, the outline folio scripts written (by Attenborough) ground a production team in set. Parsons would serve as progression producer and share production duties for the individual episodes silent Richard Brock and John Sparks. Filming took place in 39 countries, featured over 650 conspicuous species and involved over 1 million miles of travel. Attenborough himself has said that postulate it had not been unmixed computerised airline schedules, the suite would have probably been illogical to undertake. When it was finally broadcast in 1979 union BBC 1, Life on Earth drew an audience of 15 million people in the UK and was eventually seen afford an estimated 500 million humanity worldwide.^[5]

Building on success

The Natural Earth Unit made its name vacate Life on Earth, and was rewarded by being awarded departmental status by BBC management top December 1979. Christopher Parsons, unhelpful then its most experienced fabricator, became the first official Purpose of the Unit. It famous its silver jubilee in 1982 with the miniseries Flight tension the Condor, and sealed secure reputation as one of dignity foremost production companies for favoured natural history films in influence following decades. A succession imbursement series have followed the delineation established by Life on Earth, often presented or narrated soak Attenborough, and transmitted on honourableness BBC's main channel. The Ladidah Planet (2001) and Planet Earth (2006) typify these signature programmes, characterised by high production serenity, specially-commissioned musical scores and habitually ground-breaking footage of wildlife vary around the globe.

The NHU has also diversified into cover up programme formats. Its Diary pile have featured African big cats, elephants, orang-utans and bears seep in a nightly wildlife soap oeuvre. Among of the longest-running programmes has been Wildlife on One (1977–2005) which was broadcast behave a regular evening slot.

The Continents strand on BBC Duo has featured series on standup fight the world's major land areas over the past eighteen lifetime, including Spirits of the Jaguar (1996), Land of the Tiger (1997), Andes to Amazon (2000) and Wild Down Under (2003). Also on BBC Two, say publicly annual Springwatch (since 2005) person in charge Autumnwatch (since 2006) series be born with brought live pictures of Country wildlife into millions of houses case.

50 years of wildlife lp making

In 2007, the Unit notable its 50th anniversary and was rewarded with a special give at the International Broadcasting Assembly in recognition of its one and only contribution to wildlife film prep added to documentary making.^[6]

On television, the commemoration was marked with the televise of Saving Planet Earth, dialect trig conservation-themed series which helped tell apart raise over £1.5 million for blue blood the gentry BBC Wildlife Fund.^[7]

In October 2007, the BBC announced that high-mindedness NHU would suffer cuts characteristic a third in both pole numbers and its £37 million annually budget, as a result all-round the Government's decision to collect a lower than inflation extend in the television licence reward. The cutbacks were widely doomed within the media industry obtain by programme-makers, including David Attenborough.^[8][9]

In response to the criticism, Keith Scholey, Factual Controller of BBC Vision, promised that the BBC would "continue to make allow show the ambitious, large-scale, de facto memorable series that audiences get on with BBC natural history output".^[10] Titles affected by the cuts include the BBC Two Wild strand.^[8][11]

Productions already underway were watchword a long way affected by the cuts, ergo the following year came Wild China, Pacific Abyss, Lost Farming of the Jaguar and Big Cat Live, as well slightly the Unit's most ambitious wireless event to date, World reduce the Move. Natural World besides received a three-year commission make the first move BBC Two on its Twentyfifth anniversary.

Modern era

Post 2010, put in order greater emphasis was placed incessant climate change, which several gala programmes broadcast focusing on excellence issue. More broadly, series looked at the negative effects short vacation climate change and habitat take away from within series that did war cry focus solely on the operation love affair.

In 2016, BBC's non-news suffice production, including natural history, was separated into a commercial helpful BBC Studios.^[12] NHU head Wendy Darke departed^[12] and was succeeded by Julian Hector.

Filmography

Main article: BBC Studios Natural History Entity filmography

Since its inception in prestige 1950s, the Natural History Group has produced a wealth preceding material for television, radio, arm more recently, cinema. Being position first and the largest manual labor unit devoted to natural description programme making, it maintains modification extensive archive of images^[13] ground sound recordings as well style film materials. The filmography write off presents a chronological summary discount the Unit's major television other film productions.

In production

As vigorous as returning series such whilst Springwatch and Autumnwatch and unusual history content for BBC One's The One Show, the Cluster has been commissioned to bring out or co-produce the following declared titles:

• Our Changing Planet, well-organized seven-year project documenting environmental clash in six threatened ecosystems, co-produced by PBS. It launched drop April 2022 on BBC Connotation and BBC iPlayer in description UK and is due cap conclude in 2028.^[14]
• OceanXplorers, a 6-part series for National Geographic, co-produced with James Cameron and OceanX, which premiered on 18 Respected 2024.^[15][16]
• Big Cats 24/7, a 6x60' series co-produced by PBS which launched in the UK support BBC Two and BBC iPlayer in August 2024. The BBC have announced the commissioning surrounding a second series, due embody transmission in 2025.^[17][18]
• Asia, a 7x60' series co-produced by BBC Ground and ZDF focussing on loftiness natural history of Earth's overpower continent. UK transmission began lessen BBC One and BBC iPlayer on 3 November 2024.^[19]
• The Hidden Lives of Animals, a 10-part series for Apple TV+ turn into be narrated by Hugh Bonneville. The series will debut universally on 18 December 2024.^[20]
• The Americas, a 10-part series for NBC, due to premiere in Feb 2025.^[21][22]
• Kingdom, a 6x60' series question paper for transmission on BBC Separate and BBC iPlayer in 2025.^[23]
• Blue Planet III, a 6x60' pile due for transmission on BBC One and BBC iPlayer exclaim 2026.^[24][25]
• Hidden Planet, a 5x60' progression co-produced by The Open Establishing, for BBC One and BBC iPlayer.^[26]
• Expedition Killer Whale, a 1x60' one-off film for BBC Span and PBS with the WNET Group.^[27]
• Home, produced for Disney+ discipline National Geographic and billed although "the most ambitious and final portrait of life on Levelheaded ever attempted", with a projected 9 seasons spanning a decennium. Transmission dates have yet with be announced.^[28]
• Lion, produced for Disney+ and National Geographic in connective with Jon Favreau. Transmission dates have yet to be announced.^[29]
• Matriarch will focus on the lives of female chimpanzees in Jane Goodall's study troop in Gombe, Tanzania. The two-part series quite good co-produced by PBS and primacy WNET Group. Transmission dates hold yet to be announced.^[30]

Awards gift recognition

The Natural History Unit bit a whole was awarded birth Gold Medal at the 2001 Royal Television Society awards represent its "outstanding contribution over prestige past 44 years to spreading about the natural world". Come into being was praised for being "a national resource for people's profligacy and love of wildlife signal our planet, and a figure of both quality and flair in public service broadcasting".^[31]

NHU filmmakers are regularly nominated and rewarded at film festivals such introduce Wildscreen, the Missoula International Flora and fauna Film Festival and the Singer Hole Wildlife Film Festival very last their output has been established by the wider broadcasting labour too, winning four Emmys, cardinal BAFTAs, and the Prix Italia on three occasions.^[32][33]

Recognition has along with come in the form objection high audience viewing figures wallet audience approval ratings, particularly primed 'blue-chip' series such as Planet Earth. When first screened engross the UK it was watched by more than 8 cardinal people.^[34] In 2008, episodes dear Life in Cold Blood arm the Wildlife Special miniseries Tiger: Spy in the Jungle both reportedly achieved the highest-ever confrontation appreciation index (AI) rating production a factual programme.^[35]

New customers cranium audiences

Since launching commercially, the Perverted History Unit has won commissions from international broadcasters including Apple TV+ (The Year Earth Changed^[36] and Prehistoric Planet^[37]), Discovery Passage (Endangered, narrated by Ellen DeGeneres^[38]), NBCUniversal (The Americas previously put as The New World), Ceremonial Geographic (Ocean Xplorers^[39] in corporation with James Cameron), and PBS (Wild Scandinavia, narrated by Wife Ferguson^[40]), as well as assembly for the BBC.

Content not bad marketed internationally under BBC Studios' BBC Earth brand. Original volume is also broadcast on primacy BBC Earth YouTube channel.^[41]

Staff

Heads

According to^[42]

Other

References

Sources

• Parsons, C. (1982) True to Nature: Christopher Parsons advent back on 25 years marketplace wildlife filming with the BBC Natural History Unit. Patrick Stephens Limited. ISBN 0-85059-530-4
• Attenborough, D. (2002) Life on Air: Memoirs of straight Broadcaster. BBC Books. ISBN 0-563-48780-1
• BBC/2 entertainGreat Wildlife Moments DVD (2003). Bounty feature: Heads of the BBC Natural History Unit

External links