News / BBC Natural History Unit
Attenborough: ‘environmental movement is unstoppable now – that does give one hope’
Sir David Attenborough has praised wildlife filmmakers for their role in raising awareness of the climate emergency – adding the message is hitting home a bit late.
Speaking at a one-off preview of the BBC’s new documentary series Seven Worlds, One Planet in Bristol on Wednesday, the broadcasting veteran told the audience that the growing environmental movement across the globe does give him hope for the future.
Some 80,000 people applied for one of 300 free tickets to attend the exclusive screening at Showcase Cinema de Lux in Cabot Circus – more than 25 times the number that applied for the London Marathon.
is needed now More than ever
Julian Hector said these stories have never been more important to tell. Photo copyright BBC, by Olumide Osinoiki
“Never have these stories been more important to tell,” said Julian Hector, head of BBC Studios’ Natural History Unit just before the film started.
You could have heard a pin drop in the packed cinema as the stunning, dramatic footage filled the big screen for the first episode of a series that took 1,749 days of filming across 41 countries to make.
Following the one-hour episode, there was a panel discussion chaired by the BBC’s Sabet Choudhury, with Sir David, alongside executive producer Jonny Keeling, producer of the Antarctica episode Fredi Devas, production manager Caroline Cox and assistant producer Abi Lees.
L-R: Sabet Choudhury, Sir David Attenborough, Jonny Keeling, Caroline Cox, Fredi Devas. Photo copyright BBC, by Olumide Osinoiki
The panel talked about the damaging impact of climate change on Antarctica. Photo copyright BBC, by Olumide Osinoiki
Speaking about the city’s long-running history of wildlife filmmaking, Sir David said: “Bristol is the home of natural history, it’s the centre of wildlife filming in the world.
“The BBC put out natural history programmes because they believed in them when a lot of people didn’t. America didn’t want to know. We are part of an ongoing awareness around the world – if you ask me, it’s coming a bit late.”
Reflecting on the important message within the series, Fredi said: “It’s an enormous privilege to witness these things but there is a feeling of how long can it last unless we make some drastic changes.”
Asked if people are listening to warnings about the climate emergency, Sir David continued: “We all know the damage plastic does and we have been saying it for years in the programmes, but now suddenly the message is hitting home. That does give one hope.
“Rome was not built in a day, but the movement has started and it’s unstoppable now. There are really major problems, but I honestly believe awareness and understanding has started.”
He added: “It’s not good enough to go around wagging fingers, we have to explain how the natural world works and why it’s important that we behave ourselves in an ecologically sensitive ways.
“That’s what we show in the film.”
Many of the people who worked on the series attended the screening. Photo copyright BBC, by Olumide Osinoiki
Sir David Attenborough waves to the crowd at the premiere of Seven Worlds, One Planet
Some 80,000 people applied for tickets to the screening. Photo copyright BBC, by Olumide Osinoiki
You could have heard a pin drop ion the packed cinema
Main photo by Olumide Osinoiki (copyright BBC)
Read more: Attenborough praises Bristol as the ‘undeniable home of natural history’
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