Latest news with #PlanetEarthIII
Metro
08-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Metro
'Don't ever call David Attenborough a national treasure – even if he is one'
In almost 100 years on this planet, Sir David Attenborough has made an incomparable impact on the world that he loves to marvel at with wonder. The natural historian and broadcaster – who turns 99 today – has played a pivotal role in educating the masses about the animal and plant kingdoms, and is widely regarded as one of Britain's most cherished stars. However, according to Mike Gunton, who worked as an executive producer on the acclaimed Planet Earth III, there's one thing you should never call Sir David, he told Metro. And if there's anyone who should know what to call the legendary broadcaster, it's Mike. His collaborations with Sir David date all the way back to the late 1980s, when he came on board to help make the BBC documentary The Trials of Life: A Natural History of Behaviour. According to the producer, the programme was supposed to be Sir David's last series… but of course, we know that prediction turned out to be absolutely, incredibly wrong To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Mike's since served as an executive producer on documentaries including The Green Planet, Dynasties, Planet Earth II and Africa, all of which featured Sir David's calm and knowledgeable narration. While chatting to Metro in 2024 ahead of the Planet Earth III Live in Concert event, we spoke about their work together, and couldn't help but point out that the biologist is frequently recognised as a 'national treasure' in the UK. However, the creative director of BBC Studios' Natural History Unit, stressed that Sir David is not particularly fond of that label. 'He hates it, by the way,' Mike revealed. 'I say hates it… If anybody says he's a national treasure, he sort of slightly raises his eyebrows and says, 'Really?' That's a generational thing.' Available on BBC iPlayer: Planet Earth trilogy Blue Planet I and II Frozen Planet I and II Africa Asia Life (of Birds, on Earth) Zoo Quest in Colour Dynasties I and II The full collection can be found here. Available on Netflix: David Attenborough: A Life on Our Planet Secret Lives of Orangutans Life in Colour Our Planet I and II Available on Disney+: Ocean with David Attenborough (from May 8) Secrets of Wild India We then noted that Sir David's work is of far greater importance than a title, to which Mike responded: 'You've hit the nail on the head.' Over the years of working together, there are countless fond memories that could take up several hours of discussion. One of Mike's highlights went back to their first collaboration on The Trials of Life, which came out in 1990 after taking more than three years to make. 'One of the reasons why I was hired was to go on location with him and come up with all these crazy things of getting him climbing termite mounds and all the rest of it,' he recollected. 'So lots of the things that I've done with him have been saying, 'I'd like you to do this, David, I'd like to climb up the top of this tree.' On the Private Life of Plants, when he was 94, 'I'd like you to row across this lake.' He's always been completely up for that.' The producer continued: 'The thing that he brings when he's on camera, on-screen is – and it goes back to what you're saying about the national treasure – he's not interested in himself at all. 'He's just interested in telling you, in the most interesting and joyful and intense way, what's exciting and interesting about this piece of natural history. That's unfakeable – that only comes from fantastic knowledge and fantastic passion.' More Trending Mike hailed the 'unbridled curiosity' that Sir David exhibits, adding that 'at 98, he's still absorbing science, absorbing knowledge'. In Planet Earth III, which was released in 2023, the team behind the nature documentary pushed the boat out even further with the scale of the production and the technology they used. They filming in 43 countries and several world firsts, gathering rare footage of blue sharks and humpback whales. A previous version of this article was published on July 30, 2024 Planet Earth III is available to stream on BBC iPlayer now Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you. View More » MORE: Race Across The World stars reveal 'weird mystery' of being separated as children MORE: Race Across The World fans fuming over 'injustice' of first couple eliminated MORE: I'm begging Stacey Solomon to put an end to her reality show
Metro
01-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Metro
Sir David Attenborough hailed a 'gift to humanity' days before 99th birthday
Sir David Attenborough fans are celebrating his mammoth legacy ahead of a new documentary coinciding with his birthday. The beloved broadcaster, who turns 99 in just days, recently opened up about 'nearing the end of his life' as he continues his decades-long mission to protect the Earth with a new film about the health of the world's oceans, aptly called Ocean with David Attenborough. As an acclaimed documentarian and seasoned biologist, Attenborough's work has proved an invaluable source of knowledge, hope and inspiration about our ever-changing world and the threats it faces due to climate change. Metro readers have taken to Facebook to applaud his contribution to British television over the past seven decades and counting. 'Diane Allison wrote: 'Absolutely love his programmes and attitude towards the planet and climate change. He has worked tirelessly to spread the word about the importance of the environment and the impact this has on our earth. 'So much respect for him and he should get recognised for all his hard work. It will be a sad day for us when he leaves our world!!' Carlos Arias echoed: 'Absolutely a star in our hearts he is! 99 years and still leaving one of our greatest heritage as humans and is the privilege to share life with such amazing wildlife that we do not know enough about as individuals! Thanks for such wonderful work!' 'Absolutely Love this man. He's brought nothing but sheer joy into my life and billions of others on the planet !!!' Helen Shine shared. Elizabeth Petty praised: 'Easily one of my favourite presenters ever and every single one of his documentaries are incredible pieces of film.' 'Sir David Attenborough has truly been a great asset to the natural world. His contributions to showing us all the wonders and diversity of life forms have been second to none. He's such a talented man and will be impossible to replace,' Kausar Abbas agreed. 'You've been a gift to humanity sir,' Saj Iqbal declared. In the trailer for his upcoming documentary, the Blue Planet star explained: 'When I first saw the sea as a young boy, it was thought of as a vast wilderness to be tamed and mastered for the benefit of humanity. 'Now, as I approach the end of my life, we know the opposite is true. After living for nearly a hundred years on this planet, I now understand that the most important place on Earth is not on land, but at sea.' 'The thing that he brings when he's on camera, on-screen is [that] he's not interested in himself at all. 'He's just interested in telling you, in the most interesting and joyful and intense way, what's exciting and interesting about this piece of natural history. That's unfakeable – that only comes from fantastic knowledge and fantastic passion,' he told Metro in July 2024. Planet Earth III also had a Live in Concert edition (the soundtrack is created by the inimitable Hans Zimmer). The combination of Sir Attenborough's firm commitment to uncovering the natural world and his mastery over documentaries will hopefully inspire generations to come to 'do something'. At it's core, Sir Attenborough's shows like Planet Earth are all about 'embracing the animals, the planet, the environments, the ecosystems, and try to do things that nobody else attempts or has done before'. Sir David Attenborough has had a decorated career which started in the 1950s when he joined the BBC as a trainee producer, where he quickly climbed the ranks. In 1954, he became the writer and presenter of a new nature show called Zoo Quest which ran for seven series and visited locations including Sierra Leone and Guyana before coming to a halt in 1963. Just two years later, he was promoted to Controller of BBC Two and by the end of the decade, he was the BBC Director of Programmes. Despite his grand title, Sir Attenborough's passion lay in filmmaking and so he resigned his position to continue his vital work within the field of natural history. Zoo Quest; Life On Earth; Blue Planet; Planet Earth; Frozen Planet and their respective sequels are all available to stream on BBC iPlayer. Ocean with David Attenborough will arrive on BBC One and BBC iPlayer on May 8. His next major documentary was the culmination of four years of work – 1979's Life on Earth – which traced the entire history of the planet and launched his Life series spanning several years. A handful of years later, in 1983, he bagged an appointment as Fellow of the Royal Society. Then, In 1985, he received his first of two knighthoods where he was appointed Knight Bachelor by Queen Elizabeth II. Sir Attenborough's three-part documentary, State of the Planet, was released in 2000 and 'examined the ecological and conservation crises that threaten the world, kickstarting his vocal advocacy around global warming and its dangers. The most expensive documentary series ever made – Planet Earth – was released in 2006 and was filmed over the course of five years. His other major documentary series, Blue Planet, had already come out, with Frozen Planet following a handful of years later in 2011. In 2016, he turned 90 and was the subject of a BBC documentary with broadcaster Kirsty Young reflecting on his extraordinary career highlights that have taken him around the world. Just two years later, in 2018, he received his second Knighthood, this time with an even higher honour as Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael And St George. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video As a close friend to the royal family, Prince William said of his legacy: 'Every generation, you know, after yours, David, has grown up listening and seeing all the things that you've shown them. And, hopefully, each generation listens a little bit more.' More Trending He was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize in 2022 with the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) for 'their efforts to inform about, and protect, Earth's natural diversity, a prerequisite for sustainable and peaceful societies.' Now he is returning with a new documentary, Ocean with David Attenborough, with his most urgent plea yet – to save the Earth's oceans before it is too late. View More » Ocean with David Attenborough is releasing as a Global Cinema Event from May 8. It will also be made available on National Geographic, Disney Plus, and Hulu later this year. Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you. MORE: Race Across The World fans convinced they know who's eliminated in major spoiler MORE: Fan-favourite The Traitors star lands dream BBC Radio 1 job in presenter shake-up MORE: All 6 episodes of 'phenomenal' BBC show's final season are streaming now
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Sir David Attenborough, 98, comments on ‘nearing the end of his life' in emotional admission
Sir David Attenborough has reflected on his life at the age of 98, making a heart-wrenching admission about his time on planet Earth. In a new documentary about the state of the world's oceans, titled Ocean with David Attenborough, Sir David - who turns 99 next month - has spoken about the challenges that are facing our planet, and specifically how our oceans are being impacted. The documentary is set to be released on 8 May, which is the same date as Attenborough's birthday. Explaining how the ocean has changed during his almost 100 years on Earth, Sir David spoke about approaching the 'end of [his] life'. "When I first saw the sea as a young boy, it was thought of as a vast wilderness to be tamed and mastered for the benefit of humanity," he said. "Now, as I approach the end of my life, we know the opposite is true. "After living for nearly a hundred years on this planet, I now understand that the most important place on Earth is not on land, but at sea." In the doc, Sir David speaks about how the ocean is 'our greatest asset against climate change' but added: "Today, it is in such poor health I would find it hard not to lose hope were it not for the most remarkable discovery of all. "If we save the sea, we save our world. After a lifetime of filming our planet, I'm sure nothing is more important." After so many decades on our screens - with Attenborough's first ever TV show airing in 1953 - we can all agree that Sir David is basically the definition of a 'national treasure'. However, it turns out that Attenborough 'hates' the accolade, with a Planet Earth III executive producer explaining it's the one title you should never give him. Speaking to the Metro at the Planet Earth III Live in Concert event, Mike Gunton revealed that the presenter 'hates' being referred to as a 'national treasure'. "He hates it, by the way," Mike said. The producer, who has been working with David since the late 1980s, continued: "I say hates it… If anybody says he's a national treasure, he sort of slightly raises his eyebrows and says, 'Really?' That's a generational thing." Ocean with David Attenborough will be available in cinemas on 8 May and on National Geographic, Disney+, and Hulu later this year.
Boston Globe
25-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Boston Globe
‘You,' ‘Conclave,' and more TV shows and movies to stream this weekend
Tom Hardy in "Havoc." Netflix 'Havoc' Tom Hardy and gritty action movies go together like cheese and crackers with a fine wine. The Available on Netflix 'The Return' Not to be confused with director Christopher Nolan's upcoming film 'The Odyssey' (starring Matt Damon), director Uberto Pasolini already brought the legendary work of Homer to the big screen last year in 'The Return,' streaming on Paramount+ with Showtime. Ralph Fiennes plays the Greek hero, now bedraggled and broken as he returns after 20 years to find his kingdom in disarray following the end of the Trojan War. Available on Paramount+ with Showtime Advertisement Bonus pick: After steaming up video-on-demand platforms with its TV shows now available to stream Travis Fimmel in "Black Snow." Sundance Now 'Black Snow' Travis Fimmel ( Available on AMC+ Advertisement 'You' Penn Badgley's Joe Goldberg is ready to come home in the fifth and final season of Netflix's fan-favorite thriller 'You,' which debuted this week. An obsessive killer and possibly the world's worst boyfriend/husband, Joe has a lot of blood on his hands as he returns to the Big Apple following his murderous escapades across the pond in season 4. But will the ghosts of his past come back to haunt him? Available on Netflix Binge-worthy weekend TV pick "Planet Earth III" arrived on Max this week. Florian Schulz Productions/BBCA/BBC STUDIOS 'Planet Earth III' When it comes to nature documentaries, there's no better presenter than Sir David Attenborough, who returned for BBC's 'Planet Earth III' in 2023. The latest installment in the Emmy-winning series, which is now streaming on Max, reexamines the relationship between man and the planet, putting a spotlight on the natural world and the people who dedicate their lives to protecting it. Available on Max Movie night pick From left: Ralph Fiennes and Stanley Tucci in "Conclave." Focus Features 'Conclave' A lot of people decided to watch Available on Prime Video Matt Juul is the assistant digital editor for the Living Arts team at the Boston Globe, with over a decade of experience covering arts and entertainment. Advertisement Matt Juul can be reached at
