The Green Planet: When is David Attenborough’s new BBC series released, how was it filmed and what is it about

David Attenborough’s latest documentary series began on BBC One on 9 January.

The Green Planet is about the world from the perspective of plants, with pioneering filming techniques to allow an even more detailed look at nature.

Here is everything you need to know about The Green Planet

What is The Green Planet about?

The Green Planet is a five-part series made using pioneering new filmmaking technology. It’s been described as “Planet Earth from the perspective of plants”.

Each episode covers a different theme: Tropical Worlds, Water Worlds, Seasonal Worlds, Desert Worlds and Human Worlds. The production team visited 27 different countries while filming the documentary, with Attenborough himself visiting Costa Rica, Mexico, and California.

What technology was used to film The Green Planet?

The Green Planet was filmed using a special camera called “the Triffid” which allowed the team to get even closer and more intimate footage of different plants. They also employed special microscopic cameras.

Attenborough said The Green Planet was a significant advance on his 1995 series The Private Life of Plants, commenting “you now have the ability to go into a real forest, you can see a plant growing with its neighbours, fighting its neighbours or moving with its neighbours, or dying.”

When is it on and how can I watch it?

The Green Planet begins on BBC One on Sunday 9 January at 7pm.

The five episodes will air weekly.

Where can I watch the trailer for The Green Planet?

You can watch the trailer right here. David Attenborough narrates over some impressive natural vistas.

When is the next David Attenborough series out?

You won’t have to wait long for another new David Attenborough documentary, as The Green Planet is the first of three major projects for the veteran broadcaster across 2022.

Dynasties II will follow later in the year, with this documentary sequel series looking at the animal kingdom, in particular families of elephants, cheetahs, pumas, and hyena.

Planet Earth III will arrive in October 2022, as part of the BBC Centenary celebrations. It’s been described as the most ambitious natural history programme ever made by the BBC.

Attenborough’s other recent documentary, Attenborough and the Giant Mammoth, is still available on BBC iPlayer also.

Why should I watch The Green Planet?

Because it’ll be another classic Attenborough documentary, this time with a genuinely new look at the natural world because of its special filming techniques.

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