Three new programmes are set to be released to mark Sir David Attenborough’s 100th birthday.
The BBC announced the shows as part of a week-long schedule celebrating Sir David’s “extraordinary milestone” on May 8, with both new and classic content planned for the week.
As well as new shows, special episodes from some of Sir David’s best-loved series will also air.
Making Life on Earth: Attenborough’s Greatest Adventure, will go behind the scenes of the BBC One series from 1979 (Image: BBC/PA Wire)
Among the new titles is Making Life on Earth: Attenborough’s Greatest Adventure, which takes viewers behind the scenes of the landmark BBC One series Life on Earth, first broadcast in 1979.
Sir David explored 40 countries and documented 600 species in the original series.
The anniversary programme includes fresh interviews with Sir David and the original production team, as they reflect on the challenges they faced, including a coup in the Comoros, being shot at, and the broadcaster’s now-legendary encounter with gorillas in Rwanda.
Sir David will also appear in Secret Garden, a new series that uncovers the hidden worlds within Britain’s gardens.
Over five episodes across the UK, the series will capture the rich diversity of life in Britain’s back gardens while also reflecting on how the public can do their bit to save struggling species.
David Attenborough’s 100 Years on Planet Earth, a live event from the Royal Albert Hall featuring the BBC Concert Orchestra and special guests, will also form part of the week’s programming.
The BBC will also broadcast special episodes from many of Sir David’s best-loved series, including Planet Earth II, Seven Worlds, One Planet, Blue Planet II, Planet Earth III, Frozen Planet II, and his most recent film Wild London.
A collection of 40 of Sir David’s most-loved programmes will also be featured on iPlayer.
Jack Bootle, head of commissioning for specialist factual at the BBC, said: “It’s impossible to overstate what Sir David Attenborough has given us.
“His programmes have not only defined science and natural history broadcasting, but they have also changed how we see our planet and our place within it.
“This special week is a celebration of an extraordinary milestone and of a body of work that continues to inspire awe, curiosity and care for the natural world.
“It’s also a moment for all of us at the BBC to say thank you to David — for his generosity, for his brilliance and for a lifetime spent bringing the wonders of nature into our homes.”
