LAUDED by the public, princes and prime ministers alike, it is no surprise that the Blue Planet brand continues to thrive.
While it might seem odd to speak of such an environmentally sound project in stark business terms, Sir David Attenborough’s two series exploring the seas have been huge commercial successes for the corporation. Blue Planet II was sold to more than 30 countries.
Currently touring the country is Blue Planet II Live in Concert, which was set to reach Glasgow last Thursday. According to reports it had a sticky start at the O2 in London last Sunday, with audience members rushing to social media to complain about Anita Rani taking Attenborough’s place as narrator. One tweeter accused the presenter of being unable to distinguish between her posterior and her elbow when it came to nature, which seems unfair given her day job on Countryfile.
One can only hope the presenters of Blue Planet Live, showing across the week on BBC1, have better luck with audience feedback. Steve Backshall, Chris Packham and Liz Bonnin, a likeable trio if ever there was one, are spreading out across the globe to find out how the seas are faring. With 18 years now passed since the first series, a thorough check-up is long overdue.
In three instalments, the team will be assessing known markers of the oceans’ health, including the condition of the Great Barrier Reef, whale numbers in the Baja Peninsula and shark populations in the Bahamas. Closer to home, Blue Planet UK, showing at 4.30pm, will visit locations including St Abbs in the Borders.
Featuring a mix of films and live coverage, there is no telling yet if the programmes will result in the kind of spectacular and moving scenes that made Blue Planet I and II so unforgettable. But if Blue Planet Live proves as much of a hit as Springwatch and Autumnwatch, Auntie is definitely going to need a bigger boat for next time.
Blue Planet Live: Sunday, Wednesday, Thursday, 8pm, BBC1; Blue Planet UK, Monday to Friday, 4.30pm, BBC1.
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