The 49th series of Antiques Roadshow has concluded, and BBC viewers now have a new series to look forward to in its Sunday evening slot. Blue Planet III, narrated by David Attenborough, begins tonight (Sunday, November 1) at 8pm on BBC One, taking over from the long-running antiques programme.
What happened in the latest Antiques Roadshow series
Throughout the recent series, the roadshow visited historic sites, castles, museums, and regional landmarks across the country, with thousands of local visitors queuing up with items they wanted evaluated. The series aired every Sunday evening at 8pm on BBC One and iPlayer, featuring locations including the Dartington Estate in Devon, Caerphilly Castle, and the Souter Lighthouse in Tyne and Wear.
Specialists were reportedly thrilled by various items, including Indiana Jones props, a Beatrix Potter collectable, and a vinyl single by Led Zeppelin. Fiona Bruce presents the show, which has been a staple of the BBC schedule for decades.
What to expect from Blue Planet III
Blue Planet III travels from the tropics to the depths, unveiling creatures more extraordinary and complex than previously imagined. The third chapter of the nature documentary builds on the achievements of the first two series, transforming what is achievable in underwater wildlife film-making.
The official synopsis teases: "It will reveal brand new and untold stories from magical underwater worlds. Combining our deeper understanding of the oceans with a whole new generation of camera technology, including splash drones, long-term remote underwater cameras and a 'mini dome', we can now showcase stunning stories and extraordinary behaviours, previously impossible to film or only recently discovered."
The synopsis continues: "Where Blue Planet II exposed the threats to our oceans, Blue Planet III will also explore stories of adaptation and resilience in this changing world, along with stories of hope and recovery. The series will focus on the planet's five key underwater habitats: Tropical Seas, Open Ocean, Seasonal Seas, Polar Waters and The Deep."
Music and audience reaction
The opening episode delves into the Tropical Seas. At the northern tip of Australia, a tawny nurse shark can be spotted prowling the shallows in pursuit of its next meal, while coral reefs play host to an endless battle between predators and prey.
BRIT Award-winning and Mercury Prize-nominated singer-songwriter JADE and multiple Academy Award-winning composer Hans Zimmer have joined forces on a track called Into The Deep (Seas Cry), created exclusively to mark the launch of Blue Planet III. Written by JADE, Zimmer, and Thom Lukas of the Emmy and BAFTA-winning Bleeding Fingers Music team, the piece arrives 25 years after the original The Blue Planet first aired.
Audiences have expressed anticipation for the new instalment. One person wrote on X: "Can't wait, love this." Another added: "Blue Planet II showed many of us deep-sea life we'd never seen before, and its final episode got people talking about plastic in the ocean long after the credits. Curious how much deeper Blue Planet III can go." A third said: "Blue Planet II showed us a whole hidden world down there. Can't wait for Blue Planet III."
Both Antiques Roadshow and Blue Planet III are available to stream on BBC iPlayer.
