Sir David Attenborough to return with new nature TV series

It will be a five-part series

Sir David Attenborough
Author: Anna Sky MagliolaPublished 16th Aug 2022
Last updated 16th Aug 2022

Sir David Attenborough is well-known for his nature series such as The Green Planet, The Blue Planet, and Dynasties, and at the age of 96 he's not showing any sign of slowing down!

The TV presenter, who was knighted earlier this year for the second time, has been revealed as the narrator on a new five-part series on the BBC, provisionally named Wild Isles.

The news was confirmed by the BBC Press Office who shared a photo David along with a close-up photo of a puffin, writing: '📢 Calling all wildlife enthusiasts! Sir David Attenborough is to present a major new series on UK wildlife for @BBCOne'.

Following the announcement, fans couldn't contain their excitement tweeting: 'Is there any way we can keep Sir David alive for forever? He is a national treasure', and 'Sir David truly inspires me every day!'.

The new show is filmed in crystal clear 4K and will see amazing time-lapse photography documenting the changes to the natural world across the UK and Ireland, capturing the local woodlands, grasslands and marine life.

Speaking about his Wild Isles show, David said: "In my long lifetime, I have travelled to almost every corner of our planet.

"I can assure you that in the British Isles, as well as astonishing scenery there are extraordinary animal dramas and wildlife spectacles to match anything I have seen on my global travels."

The series will use aerial photography to show off the amazing British and Irish countryside, and viewers will get to see 'wild horses battling for access to females in Cambridgeshire' and 'a bee that rides a broomstick in Dorset'.

Alastair Fothergill who is the executive producer of the show said: "I have always wanted to make a landmark series that really does justice to our own extraordinary wildlife. I am sure people will be amazed at what is happening right on their own doorstep."

The series has been filmed over three years and co-produced by The Open University, the RSPB and WWF.

When is the start date for Wild Isles?

The start date for Wild Isles has not yet been announced.

How can I watch Wild Isles?

Wild Isles will be on BBC One, the start date has not yet been revealed.

Take a look at David Attenborough through the years:

Marriage

David Attenborough married Jane Elizabeth Ebsworth Oriel on 11 February 1950. Having graduated from Cambridge three years earlier, David was working in an educational publishing house at the time of the marriage. The couple were married for 47 years, until Jane's death in 1997 from a brain haemorrhage.

Family life

The couple had two children called Robert and Susan. Sir Attenborough has talked of his absence during their childhood due to work commitments. In an interview with Louis Theroux published in the Radio Times, he said: "If I do have regrets, it is that when my children were the same age as your children, I was away for three months at a time. If you have a child of six or eight and you miss three months of his or her life, it's irreplaceable; you miss something."

His first on screen appearence

Sir Attenborough joined the BBC in 1952 as a producer for non-fiction programmes. Prior to starting his traineeship, he did not own a television and had only ever seen one TV programme. However he quickly made his way on screen, becoming the presenter of Zoo Quest in 1954 by accident after filling in last minute as sick cover. The show filmed trips abroad to collect animals for London Zoo.

Controller of BBC Two

David Attenborough was appointed controller of BBC Two in March 1965. In the role, he oversaw the first ever colour broadcast in Europe. He also rejected Terry Wogan's job application to work on the channel, due to the fact they already had one Irish presenter.

Head of Programming at the BBC

In 1968 Sir Attenborough was appointed Head of Programming at the BBC. He was responsible for commissioning Monty Python's Flying Circus which went on to become a global phenomenon, credited with inspiring comedians around the world.

A return to programme making

During a press conference in November 1972, Sir Attenborough announced that he was stepping down as the Head of Programming in order to return to creating programmes himself. He became a freelance broadcaster, travelling to every continent in the world in order to create wildlife and nature series spanning many years.

The Life series collection

After standing down from his role, Sir Attenborough went back to creating programmes. Life on Earth was first released in 1979, which marked the beginning of the Life collection. The series was the first of its kind and saw Sir Attenborough travel the world offering insight into the wonders of the natural world. An estimated 500 million watched the programme worldwide. The collection of life series spans over 20 years.

The author of multiple books

He has written 29 books spanning from 1956 to 2020, focussing on wildlife and the environment.

A personal award from the Queen

In 2005, Sir Attenborough, who had received a knighthood in 1985 for services to broadcasting, was awarded the Insignia of the Order of Merit. This is a personal award from the Queen herself, recognising outstanding contribution to advancement of arts, learning, literature and science. Sir Attenborough received a second knighthood in 2020 at the age of 94.

32 honorary degrees

Sir Attenborough has received 32 honorary degrees from Universities across the UK.

RRS Sir David Attenborough

In 2016, a research vessel owned by the Natural Environment Research Council was named the RRS Sir David Attenborough after a public vote. The ship is not the only thing Sir Attenborough is namesake to- over 20 species and plants have been named after him, including a dragonfly called the Acisoma attenboroughi.

Multiple BAFTA wins

He is the only person to have won a BAFTA in black and white, colour, HD, 3D and 4K. He was also recognised with the fellowship award at the 1980 award ceremony.

World class narrator

Sir David Attenborough is a world class narrator, having voiced various wildlife and nature series, including Our Planet, which premiered in 2019.

Broadcaster turned activist

Nowadays Sir Attenborough is best known as both broadcaster and climate activist, and regularly speaks out on the issue of climate change. He has collaborated with fellow activists such as Greta Thunberg, and has presented at a range of high profile climate conferences, including the launch of the UN Campaign to Promote Climate Action by the People.

The Earthshot Prize

In 2020 Sir Attenborough joined forces with Prince William to launch the £50 million Earthshot Prize, which aims to encourage people to find solutions to solve some of the world's biggest environmental issues.

Speaking at a session of the UN Security Council

Sir Attenborough speaks at many events on the matter of climate change, including a session of the UN Security Council on climate and security in February 2021, which was watched virtually by leaders including Boris Johnson.

Environmental activism

Recently, Attenborough has been a key figure in highlighting the climate crisis. His 'Seven Worlds, One Planet' showed how humans and animals across all continents are affected by global warming. At the COP 26 Climate Conference, Attenborough offered cautious hope to the audience - 'In my lifetime, I have seen a terrible decline. In yours, you could, and should, see a wonderful rebirth'.

David Attenborough receives another knighthood

The broadcaster was first knighted back in 1985 by the Queen, but in 2022 he became a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael And St George. This higher knighthood has been given to him for services to television broadcasting and to conservation.


David Attenborough announced for Wild Isles

David Attenborough has been announced as the narrator on a new five-part series on the BBC, provisionally named Wild Isles.

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