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Attenborough's 'Life on Earth' Revisited for 100th Birthday
27 Apr
Summary
- New show explores stories behind Attenborough's 1979 'Life on Earth' series.
- Attenborough faced army detention and threats during filming expeditions.
- Rare footage of a baby gorilla and a lioness hunt will be featured.
To mark David Attenborough's 100th birthday, a new BBC show titled "Making Life on Earth: Attenborough's Greatest Adventure" will premiere next Sunday. This special program revisits the iconic 1979 series "Life on Earth," offering deeper insights into its production and showcasing additional footage.
The documentary will reveal the challenging circumstances Attenborough and his crews faced, including encounters with the Rwandan army and security threats in Iraq. The presenter shares anecdotes from his diary about the difficulties of filming abroad, from slow communication to transporting precious film reels.
"Making Life on Earth" also features more details about the hunt for the elusive coelacanth, a fish described as a "living fossil." The crew successfully filmed this creature for the first time alive, thanks to a fortunate encounter with a local fisherman.
Attenborough, born on May 8, 1926, began his BBC career in 1952. After managing departments, he returned to nature filmmaking in his late 40s, conceiving "Life on Earth" to chronicle evolution. Alongside the new show, other birthday tributes include a concert in London and museum events across Britain.
