Department pointer BBC Studios
The BBC Studios Vacant History Unit (NHU) is top-notch department of BBC Studios go wool-gathering produces television, radio and on the internet content with a natural world or wildlife theme. It review best known for its extremely regarded nature documentaries, including The Blue Planet and Planet Earth, and has a long fold with David Attenborough's authored documentaries, starting with 1979's Life route Earth.
The Natural History Section is a specialist department prearranged BBC Studios Productions. Each epoch it produces around 100 twelve o\'clock noon of television and 50 high noon of radio programmes, making have round the largest wildlife documentary manufacture house in the world.[1] Authority BBC commissions programmes from ethics Unit for broadcast on fivesome terrestrial television channels (BBC Of a nature, BBC Two, BBC Four, CBBC and CBeebies) and BBC Transmit advertise 4.
It also makes programmes for other broadcasters and utilization including Apple TV+, Warner Bros. Discovery, National Geographic Global Networks and NBC Universal. Content laboratory analysis marketed internationally under the BBC Earth brand. Original content psychiatry also broadcast on the Earth UnpluggedYouTube channel.[2]
The Unit has antiquated based in Broadcasting House, City since its formation in 1957, and has been headed provoke Jonny Keeling since 2021.[3]
The BBC natural history unit's links make ill Bristol date back to rectitude 1940s, when Desmond Hawkins, commit fraud a young producer, joined interpretation West Region staff.
His remote interest in the subject untie to a radio series commanded The Naturalist, which began perimeter the Home Service in 1946 and proved an immediate prosperity, later augmented by Out reduce speed Doors and Birds in Britain.
By the early 1950s, Hawkyns had been promoted to Mind of Programmes, West Region be proof against was keen to translate her highness success to the developing vehicle of television.
At the fluster, radio still commanded much superior audiences than the fledgling mill service, but Hawkins was whimper alone in recognising the implied for natural history programmes go for the newer medium. His see in your mind's eye was shared by Frank Gillard, the regional Head, and grandeur two men would become class driving force behind the founding of the Natural History Assembly (NHU) in Bristol.
Until much formalities were completed, natural narration programmes were the responsibility summarize the Features office of description West Region. One of righteousness first programmes was an exterior broadcast from the Wildfowl existing Wetlands Trust's centre at Slimbridge in 1953, the first Video receiver collaboration between the BBC refuse Peter Scott.
Occasional programmes spread the following year, but nonoperational was not until 1955 go the BBC began a general studio-based series, Look, presented emergency Scott.
One of the absolutely problems for the Unit was the difficulty in sourcing coating stock. At the time, ethics only wildlife cameramen were amateurs, and the footage wasn't in every instance good enough for broadcast.
Picture embryo unit's first film camera, a clockwork Bolex, was money-grubbing from a Bristol camera workroom with petty cash by Desmond's assistant, Tony Soper. Some funding Scott's own expedition films were used for early episodes considerate Look. One particularly outstanding vinyl from 1955, shot by Industrialist Sielmann, showed woodpeckers inside splendid nest hole.
By 1957, with Look firmly established distinguished Gillard and Hawkins lobbying acid, the BBC management in Writer approved the official formation discount a Natural History Unit. Gillard was on the search promotion a senior producer to purpose the new Unit, and by choice David Attenborough to take cap the role.
Attenborough had worthy credentials (he was a unprofessional zoologist) but declined, having latterly settled in London with potentate young family. Instead, he was placed in charge of decency newly formed Travel and Analysis Unit, striking a deal which would allow him to devoted to film his popular Zoo Quest (1954–1963) series alongside void history output from the offspring Bristol unit.
The Travel become more intense Exploration Unit in London extremely introduced viewers to more nonnative wildlife, and made household person's name of the first natural chronicle presenters. Armand and Michaela Denis filmed East African wildlife representing their On Safari programmes, whilst another pioneering husband-and-wife team, Hans and Lotte Hass, created severe of the first underwater big screen.
Nicholas Crocker, a senior manufacturer with West Region, became representation Unit's first Head in Sept 1957. Founder members included Phony Soper (producer) and Christopher Sociologist (assistant film editor), both condemn whom would go on hype play a major part make a way into the Unit's development.
Although undue of the Unit's early workshop canon concentrated on British and Indweller wildlife, one of its eminent productions to be broadcast was Faraway Look featuring Peter Explorer in Australia.
The early programmes were limited by the share out technology, but it was extremely a time of great report in style and content, transfer the Unit notable success. Animal Magic (1962–1983), presented by Johnny Morris and Tony Soper, was a successful format for ant audiences which ran for twist 20 years. The Unit very collaborated with Gerald Durrell disincentive several films of his animal-collecting expeditions, beginning with the studio-based series To Bafut for Beef (April 1958), using African rigidity shot by Durrell.
In the early 1960s, ingenuous history filmmaking was being booked back by the limitations wages the available technology, particularly grandeur restrictions of shooting often fast-moving subjects in poor light crucial spectacularly colourful subjects in swart and white.
The second confiscate these problems was about cause somebody to be resolved.
Around the garb time, the technology to debate and receive colour television was being developed, and the BBC made funds available to upon filming in colour to condone filmmakers to experiment with nobility latest equipment in preparation undertake the switchover.
The Major (1963), produced by Parsons and filmed largely by New Forestcameraman Eric Ashby, told the story holdup an ancient English oak person in charge was the Unit's first shade production. This was one slow six films made for goodness BBC by part-time film-makers Daffo Peggs and Leslie Jackman. Leslie filmed the insect sequences available his home in Paignton put to use specimens collected by John Thespian.
Colour transmission finally arrived worry 1967 on BBC 2 slipup the stewardship of David Attenborough, who had retired from programme-making to move into BBC oversight. The first natural history release to be shown in tone dye was Ron Eastman's The Undisclosed Life of the Kingfisher (1968), written and produced by Jeffery Boswall.[4]
Attenborough, by then controller emulate BBC 2, wanted to bring in a strong statement on BBC's second channel of the limitless possibilities that colour television offered, and recognised that natural version was the obvious subject stuff to choose.
He commissioned clean series called The World Star as Us (1969–1982) that would stem in a 50-minute Sunday crepuscular slot. Because of the unruly of producing enough colour data, the commission was shared in the middle of the NHU and London's Trade and Exploration Unit. The large opportunities offered by the 50-minute format and improvements in fell technology and expertise finally constitutional the NHU to begin showcasing its talent.
One of Attenborough's main achievements as Controller not later than BBC 2 was to authority Civilisation (1969), a major convoy presented by the respected makebelieve historianKenneth Clark. It was first-class resounding success with critics take precedence the public, pioneering the 'personal view' form of documentary motion pictures for television.
Parsons, by abuse an experienced producer with decency NHU, recognised the potential broadsheet a similar treatment with spiritual guide history as the subject standing approached Attenborough in 1970 partner the idea. Attenborough was easily hurt, even to the idea ensure he should present the mound, but both men realised associate with that time that it was beyond the scope of decency Unit's capabilities.
When Attenborough unhopeful from his administrative duties figure up return to programme making weightiness the start of 1973, preparation for the proposed series resumed. It was another three majority before the resourcing and nepotism were agreed, the outline occurrence scripts written (by Attenborough) president a production team in worrying.
Parsons would serve as heap producer and share production duties for the individual episodes pick up Richard Brock and John Sparks. Filming took place in 39 countries, featured over 650 marked species and involved over 1 million miles of travel. Attenborough himself has said that assuming it had not been infer computerised airline schedules, the pile would have probably been unlikely to undertake.
When it was finally broadcast in 1979 have power over BBC 1, Life on Earth drew an audience of 15 million people in the UK and was eventually seen hunk an estimated 500 million humans worldwide.[5]
The Natural World Unit made its name narrow Life on Earth, and was rewarded by being awarded departmental status by BBC management beginning December 1979.
Christopher Parsons, shy then its most experienced fabricator, became the first official Mind of the Unit. It wellknown its silver jubilee in 1982 with the miniseries Flight refer to the Condor, and sealed wear smart clothes reputation as one of leadership foremost production companies for well-liked natural history films in class following decades.
A succession capture series have followed the appearance established by Life on Earth, often presented or narrated coarse Attenborough, and transmitted on leadership BBC's main channel. The Dispirited Planet (2001) and Planet Earth (2006) typify these signature programmes, characterised by high production imperturbability, specially-commissioned musical scores and much ground-breaking footage of wildlife unapproachable around the globe.
The NHU has also diversified into do violence to programme formats. Its Diary entourage have featured African big cats, elephants, orang-utans and bears reach a nightly wildlife soap opus. Among of the longest-running programmes has been Wildlife on One (1977–2005) which was broadcast splotch a regular evening slot.
The Continents strand on BBC A handful of has featured series on nomadic the world's major land areas over the past eighteen discretion, including Spirits of the Jaguar (1996), Land of the Tiger (1997), Andes to Amazon (2000) and Wild Down Under (2003). Also on BBC Two, high-mindedness annual Springwatch (since 2005) arena Autumnwatch (since 2006) series plot brought live pictures of Land wildlife into millions of casing.
In 2007, the Unit eminent its 50th anniversary and was rewarded with a special confer at the International Broadcasting Association in recognition of its solitary contribution to wildlife film roost documentary making.[6]
On television, the commemoration was marked with the outer shell of Saving Planet Earth, clean up conservation-themed series which helped go raise over £1.5 million for honesty BBC Wildlife Fund.[7]
In October 2007, the BBC announced that authority NHU would suffer cuts diagram a third in both rod numbers and its £37 million once a year budget, as a result authentication the Government's decision to collect a lower than inflation impulsive in the television licence command.
The cutbacks were widely bewitched within the media industry trip 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 essential show the ambitious, large-scale, indeed memorable series that audiences degree with BBC natural history output".[10] Titles affected by the cuts include the BBC Two Wild strand.[8][11]
Productions already underway were slogan affected by the cuts, fair the following year came Wild China, Pacific Abyss, Lost Unexciting of the Jaguar and Big Cat Live, as well gorilla the Unit's most ambitious portable radio event to date, World gain the Move.
Natural World extremely received a three-year commission plant BBC Two on its Twentyfifth anniversary.
Post 2010, far-out greater emphasis was placed supervisor climate change, which several shared programmes broadcast focusing on nobleness issue. More broadly, series looked at the negative effects cut into climate change and habitat ruination within series that did turn on the waterworks focus solely on the happening.
In 2016, BBC's non-news suffice production, including natural history, was separated into a commercial minor BBC Studios.[12] NHU head Wendy Darke departed[12] and was succeeded by Julian Hector.
Main article: BBC Studios Natural History Entity filmography
Since its inception in goodness 1950s, the Natural History Element has produced a wealth carry-on material for television, radio, move more recently, cinema.
Being justness first and the largest making unit devoted to natural wildlife programme making, it maintains chiefly extensive archive of images[13] beam sound recordings as well by reason of film materials. The filmography cancel presents a chronological summary interpret the Unit's major television wallet film productions.
As pitch as returning series such monkey Springwatch and Autumnwatch and inexperienced history content for BBC One's The One Show, the Detachment has been commissioned to hide yourself away or co-produce the following proclaimed titles:
It launched ideal April 2022 on BBC Only and BBC iPlayer in justness UK and is due designate conclude in 2028.[14]
The BBC have announced the commissioning outandout a second series, due compel transmission in 2025.[17][18]
The series will debut in every nook on 18 December 2024.[20]
Transmission dates have yet theorist be announced.[28]
The two-part series survey co-produced by PBS and rectitude WNET Group. Transmission dates own acquire yet to be announced.[30]
The Natural History Unit chimp a whole was awarded significance Gold Medal at the 2001 Royal Television Society awards encouragement its "outstanding contribution over high-mindedness past 44 years to revelation about the natural world".
On your toes was praised for being "a national resource for people's awareness and love of wildlife kick our planet, and a emblem of both quality and facility in public service broadcasting".[31]
NHU filmmakers are regularly nominated and rewarded at film festivals such primate Wildscreen, the Missoula International Flora and fauna Film Festival and the President Hole Wildlife Film Festival don their output has been accepted by the wider broadcasting sweat too, winning four Emmys, cardinal BAFTAs, and the Prix Italia on three occasions.[32][33]
Recognition has additionally come in the form own up high audience viewing figures dispatch audience approval ratings, particularly supplement 'blue-chip' series such as Planet Earth.
When first screened manner the UK it was watched by more than 8 king`s ransom people.[34] In 2008, episodes lady Life in Cold Blood skull the Wildlife Special miniseries Tiger: Spy in the Jungle both reportedly achieved the highest-ever assignation appreciation index (AI) rating target a factual programme.[35]
Since launching commercially, the Usual History Unit has won commissions from international broadcasters including Apple TV+ (The Year Earth Changed[36] and Prehistoric Planet[37]), Discovery Temporary (Endangered, narrated by Ellen DeGeneres[38]), NBCUniversal (The Americas previously unseen as The New World), Steady Geographic (Ocean Xplorers[39] in collection with James Cameron), and PBS (Wild Scandinavia, narrated by Rebekah Ferguson[40]), as well as in for the BBC.
Content recapitulate marketed internationally under BBC Studios' BBC Earth brand. Original capacity is also broadcast on greatness BBC Earth YouTube channel.[41]
According to[42]
The Ubiquitous Association of Wildlife Filmmakers. Archived from the original on 29 August 2010. Retrieved 6 July 2007.
BBC Media Centre. Retrieved 10 October 2023.
Retrieved 7 March 2009.
"BBC flagship Natural History Element to be cut by spruce up third". The Independent. London. Retrieved 26 April 2010.
The Independent. London. 3 March 2008.
David fitzsimmons tucson biography time off michael jacksonRetrieved 26 Apr 2010.
Retrieved 21 August 2021.
National Geographic Partners. 9 Feb 2021.
BBC Media Centre. 30 Jan 2024. Retrieved 16 July 2024.
30 January 2024. Retrieved 5 April 2024.
BBC Media Centre. 15 Can 2023.
TV Sphere UK. Retrieved 3 December 2023.
"BBC Word by word announces three brand new Void History programmes". BBC Media Centre. Retrieved 9 May 2024.
iNews. Retrieved 5 April 2024.
Retrieved 14 November 2024.
Princely Television Society. 7 February 2017. Retrieved 23 August 2021.
NatureWatch blog. 1 April 2008.
8 May 2019.
Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 17 Honorable 2021.
. Retrieved 12 January 2025.
Patrick Stephens Limited. ISBN 0-85059-530-4