Sir David Attenborough, Hans Zimmer and Dave join forces for Planet Earth: A Celebration

Sir David Attenborough, Hans Zimmer and Dave join forces for Planet Earth: A Celebration

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Monday, 3rd August 2020
Credit: BBC
Credit: BBC

BBC One has commissioned Planet Earth: A Celebration, combining stunning visuals and stirring music for a one-off natural history special.

Planet Earth: A Celebration takes eight of the most jaw-dropping moments from Planet Earth II and Blue Planet II, combining Attenborough’s melodic narration, with music from world-famous composer Hans Zimmer and rapper Dave.

The documentary takes viewers around the world, from the North of Norway, to the East Cape of South Africa, to the Indian Ocean, revealing how animals are adapting to their changing environments.

Hans Zimmer, Jacob Shea and the team at Bleeding Fingers, have created some stirring new compositions and adapted original scores, with the BBC Concert Orchestra performing the string section and rapper Dave performing on the grand piano.

Dave (Credit: BBC)
Dave (Credit: BBC)

The special sees some favourite scenes replayed and the struggles animals face to survive in such extreme environments, such as the nerve-wracking racer snakes vs iguana sequence, which saw marine iguanas on the run from a mob of racer snakes in the Galapagos, and the mesmerising dance of the Andean flamingo in the salt lakes of the Salar de Atacama, Chile, both from Planet Earth II.

Blue Planet II will replay the iconic scene of the octopus vs pyjama shark, which took place off the coast of Southern Africa, and saw an octopus fight for its life against a pyjama shark by pushing its arms into the shark’s gills and suffocating it.

“Working with David on so many of his magnificent programs celebrating nature and our planet has been a joy for me,” said Hans Zimmer.

He added: “I am constantly inspired by what he is able to capture, and the collection of sequences featured in Planet Earth: A Celebration is truly special.”

As a fan of natural history documentaries, Dave described it as a “pleasure” to work with Sir David Attenborough and Hans Zimmer.

Dave said: “This is a programme where nature and music come together, so it was only right that I lent my talent, my time, and my attention to this project.”

Tony Hall, the BBC Director General, commented: “With brand new narration from the brilliant David Attenborough, a new score from Hans Zimmer and the team at Bleeding Fingers played by the BBC Concert Orchestra with Dave on the piano, this thrilling journey around the world promises to lift everyone's spirits.”

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BBC One has commissioned Planet Earth: A Celebration, combining stunning visuals and stirring music for a one-off natural history special.