Could Attenborough's Planet Earth be on the verge of extinction? Cuts to BBC Natural History unit 'put future blockbuster science shows at risk'
- Millions tuned in tonight to watch premiere of the new Planet Earth series, ten years after the previous one
- Amid acclaim from viewers, there is concern for the future of documentary making at the BBC due to cuts
- Gerry Morrissey from broadcasters' union claims quality that the BBC has built its reputation on is at risk
- His claims were made after the BBC announced 25 proposed cuts at BBC's Natural History unit in Bristol
Acclaimed shows like the BBC's flagship documentary series Planet Earth will be the next to suffer swingeing cuts to the corporation's budget.
The corporation has proposed 25 job losses at the Natural History Unit in Bristol as part of plans to find 300 voluntary redundancies across the factual, music and events departments.
Gerry Morrissey, general secretary if Bectu, the broadcaster union, slammed the plans, which he claimed could impact the quality of internationally renowned shows such as Planet Earth.
Two Komodo dragons wrestle on the island of Rinca, near Komodo
A pygmy three-toed sloth swimming on Escudo. They live on the Caribbean island of Escudo de Veraguas
Thousands of penguins in stunning scenes from the show's trailer that helped draw millions of viewers
A swift-footed Verreaux’s sifaka lemur – with baby on board – in Madagascar
Attenborough himself, pictured in the new series at 90, has talked of the importance of using expensive new technology to bring rare moments from nature to millions of viewers
But the acclaimed new series premiered amid concerns over cuts to the BBC, with 25 job losses announced at the Natural History Unit in Bristol (pictured)
Speaking to the Sunday Times, he said it was 'incomprehensible' that the corporation would risk losing the talent and reputation it has built up with decades of groundbreaking broadcasting.
His comments come tonight as the new series of Planet Earth premiered to huge acclaim from the millions of viewers who tuned in to watch the highly anticipated nature documentary.
The first episode, which cost millions to make, was hailed as 'absolutely incredible' by one viewer, with another saying 'David Attenborough is everything' on Twitter.
And Attenborough himself talked of how cutting edge technology, funded by the licence payer, had helped make the series the most stunning and groundbreaking yet.
In Madagascar, David the indri examines researcher Emma Brennand's camera
Chilean flamingos fly over the country's Torres del Paine National Park
Recalling the previous series made ten years ago, he talked about how developments in technology had allowed millions to see moments usually only seen by a handful of people on the planet.
Talking about memorable footage of the snow leopard captured in the first series, he explains how new, more advanced cameras, have allowed the filmmakers to get more rare, dramatic insights into their natural lives.
Writing in the Daily Mail, he says: 'Does all this matter? Has all this technical invention and human endeavour provided us with anything more than a wonderfully watchable and visually unforgettable television series? I believe it does. Since those early days, the human population of this planet has tripled, meaning the space for the other creatures we share it with has become more restricted.
'Series such as Planet Earth II manage to bring us greater understanding of the natural world, the way it works and what it needs to survive. And its survival could not be more important to us. We depend on the natural world for all the food we eat, for the very air we breathe. Its health is our health. Its survival is essential for ours.'
An indri lemur feeds on leaves in the forest canopy
Zavodovski island is home to more than 1.5 million penguins, the largest colony in the world
A pygmy three-toed sloth mother cradling her baby. The sloths have a problem common to island inhabitants. Cut off from the rest of the world, animals adapt to their environment
Amid cuts to BC budgets, Sir David Attenborough has backed government plans to force the BBC to reveal top presenter's wages, saying the corporation should be 'held to account'.
The much-loved BBC documentary star argued that TV licence payers should have the right to see how the broadcaster spends their money.
In September, the government announced it is forcing the BBC to make public the salaries of its on-air talent, some of whom earn more than ££150,000.
When asked about the BBC having to publish wages of presenters like himself, and what he thinks about the pressure that the broadcaster is under, he replied:
'The BBC will always be under pressure, the BBC spends a lot of money and it comes from all our pockets so it's right an proper that it should be under pressure.
"It's right and proper that the BBC should be held to account, of course.'
When asked about cuts to BBC funding, he added: 'Of course I worry about it. Anybody who doesn't worry about it, deserves to lose it - of course you worry about it and we argue the point all the time, we don't drop our guard.
'We are very lucky and we know programs like Planet Earth are holding their own because they sell worldwide.
'They take the BBC's name round the world but they also bring back proper income which makes it conceivably possible.
'So the viewer gets a very good bargain from their license, he really does.'
Attenborough has a career with the BBC Natural History Unit spanning 60 years and is a former senior manager at the BBC. Now aged 90, he said he has no plans to retire.
Marine iguanas in the Galapagos, with their precious babies perched high for safety
When asked if he would take a step back following the release of the second part of the Planet Earth Series he said: 'No I'm not having a break. I'm making a film about a fossil in the south of England, I'm doing various things, I'm going to Australia and I'm going to go to America. All I can say is that I'm extremely lucky.
'It's not a secret that I am 90 but I know an awful lot of dear friends and relatives of my age, who can't remember much (even though I can't remember much).
'But they can't get about and it's not their fault and it's not a virtue of mine, I've done nothing good to make me walk about.
'But as long as I walk about it would seem to me grossly wasteful and ungrateful not to take advantage of it.'
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