Sir David Attenborough will narrate Blue Planet III when it airs on BBC1 this autumn. The veteran broadcaster, who celebrates his 100th birthday today, has already recorded his voice-over for the six-part series, which returns 25 years after the first edition.
A New Chapter for Blue Planet
This time around, the series aims to take the Blue Planet brand “to extraordinary new depths.” In 2001, it became the first natural history series to dive deep into the state of the world’s oceans, attracting huge global audiences. In 2017, Blue Planet II spurred a major campaign to rid the seas of single-use plastic, with Sir David even appearing at the Glastonbury Festival to drive the message home.
Where Blue Planet II exposed threats to the oceans, Blue Planet III explores stories of adaptation and resilience, highlighting hope and recovery. The first five episodes focus on key underwater habitats: Tropical Seas, Open Ocean, Seasonal Seas, Polar Waters, and The Deep. The sixth and final episode, Future Seas, turns to conservation and examines further necessary changes.
Behind the Scenes
Jonny Keeling, head of BBC Studios' Natural History Unit, expressed excitement about having the world-famous naturalist lead the landmark programme. “We are so excited to have David narrate this new blockbuster series. It’s full of never-before-seen animal behaviour, new locations, new science, and heartfelt storytelling. David is the perfect voice to inspire audiences across the globe to love, understand and protect the oceans,” he said.
BBC specialist factual boss Jack Bootle added: “I’m thrilled that David is taking the helm of Blue Planet once again. His extraordinary talent for storytelling has shaped how generations understand and connect with the natural world, and his voice remains synonymous with the best of BBC natural history. I’m delighted he’ll bring his unique skill and authority to Blue Planet III.”
Scientific and Technological Breakthroughs
Expert oceanographer Dr. Phillip Sexton, an academic consultant on the series, said this third run builds on the groundbreaking legacy of the previous two and “offer rays of hope” for saving the planet. “Blue Planet II catapulted ocean health issues into public consciousness and changed attitudes and behaviour. Underpinned by marine science breakthroughs and cutting-edge technology, this new series will transform our view of what is possible for life on Earth and offer hope to conserve ecological wonders beneath the waves,” he explained.
The series features new underwater film-making breakthroughs thanks to a “whole new generation” of camera technology, including splash drones and long-term remote underwater cameras, revealing brand new stories from magical underwater worlds.
Birthday Celebration
Blue Planet III was announced by Liz Bonnin and Steve Backshall at an event at the Royal Albert Hall last night to mark Sir David’s milestone birthday. The glittering show included music from the BBC Concert Orchestra and clips from his decades of programmes. Tributes were paid by King Charles and Prince William, along with a heartfelt message from Felix Ndagijimana at the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund in Rwanda, updating on the gorillas since Sir David’s visit 50 years ago.
Celebrities sending birthday wishes included Chris Packham, Michael Palin, Dame Judi Dench, Chris Martin, Hamza Yassin, Kate Winslet, Paddington Bear, Leonardo DiCaprio, Cate Blanchett, Nile Rodgers, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Louis Theroux, Camila Cabello, and Alan Titchmarsh. Musical performances from Bastille, Sigur Rós, and Sienna Spiro featured music used in series like Planet Earth. The evening closed with a clip of Sir David recording his narration for Blue Planet III, followed by him reading the lyrics of “What a Wonderful World” accompanied by stunning wildlife footage.
