BBC Natural History Unit
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2008-06-22T15:25:39Z
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[[Image:BBC Natural History.png|right|200px]]
The '''BBC Natural History Unit''' ('''NHU''') is a department of the [[BBC]] dedicated to making TV and radio programmes with a [[natural history]] or [[wildlife]] theme, especially [[nature documentary|nature documentaries]].
The NHU has been based in [[Clifton, Bristol]] since its formation in 1957. The Unit is presently headed by [[Neil Nightingale]] as part of the BBC's Vision Studios. Every year it makes about 100 hours of television and 50 hours of radio making it the largest wildlife documentary production house in the world<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.iawf.org.uk/directory.aspx?page=5&dcatid=1000|title=Directory of Production Companies|work=The International Association of Wildlife Filmmakers|accessdate=2007-07-06}}</ref>.
A commercial arm of the NHU, Wildvision, produces a variety of programmes for both the BBC and external broadcasters, notably [[Discovery Communications|Discovery]]'s [[Animal Planet]] digital channel, in which the BBC is a joint partner with [[Discovery Communications#Discovery Networks International|Discovery Networks]].
==History==
===First steps in natural history broadcasting===
The BBC’s natural history links to [[Bristol]] date back to the 1940s, when [[Desmond Hawkins]], a young producer, joined the West Region staff. His personal interest in the subject led to a radio series called ''The Naturalist'', which began on the [[Home Service]] in 1946 and proved an immediate success, later augmented by ''Birdsong'', ''Out of Doors'' and ''Birds of Britain''.
By the early 1950s, Hawkins had been promoted to Head of Programmes, West Region and was keen to translate his success to the developing medium of [[television]]. At the time, [[radio]] still commanded much higher audiences than the fledgling television service but Hawkins was not alone in recognising the potential for natural history programmes in the audiovisual form. His vision was shared by Frank Gillard, the regional Head, and the two men would become the driving force behind the establishment of the Natural History Unit (NHU) in Bristol.
Until such formalities were completed, natural history programmes were the responsibility of the Features office of the West Region Film Unit. One of the first programmes was an [[outside broadcast]] from [[Slimbridge]] in 1953, the first TV collaboration between the BBC and [[Peter Scott]]. Occasional programmes continued the following year, but it wasn’t until 1955 that a regular studio-based series presented by Scott began: it was called ''Look''.
One of the early problems for the Film Unit was the difficulty in sourcing [[film stock]]. At the time, the only wildlife cameramen were amateurs and the footage wasn’t always good enough for broadcast. Some of Scott’s own expedition films were used for early episodes of ''Look''. One particularly outstanding film from 1955, shot by [[Heinz Sielmann]], showed [[woodpecker]]s inside a nest hole.
===The Unit is formed===
By 1957, with ''Look'' firmly established and Gillard and Hawkins lobbying hard, the BBC management in [[London]] approved the official formation of a Natural History Unit. Gillard was on the search for a senior producer to head the new Unit, and asked [[David Attenborough]] to take on the role. Attenborough had impeccable credentials (he was a trained [[zoologist]]) but declined, having recently settled in London with his young family. Instead, he was placed in charge of the newly-formed Travel and Exploration Unit, striking a deal which would allow him to continue to film his popular ''[[Zoo Quest]]'' (1954-1963) series whilst the NHU built up its own portfolio of specialist wildlife films from around the world.
Nicholas Crocker, a senior producer with West Region, was installed the Unit’s first Head in September 1957. Founder members included [[Tony Soper]] (producer) and Christopher Parsons (assistant [[film editor]]), both of whom would go on to play a major part in the Unit’s development.
The first series broadcast under the banner of the new unit was ''Faraway Look'' featuring Peter Scott in [[Australia]]. Over the next few years, the output was to diversify. ''On Safari'' with [[Armand Denis|Armand]] and [[Michaela Denis]] introduced viewers to [[East Africa]]n wildlife, and ''Undersea World of Adventure'' with [[Hans Hass|Hans]] and Lottie Hass did the same for marine creatures. ''[[Animal Magic]]'' (1962-1983), a series for children presented by [[Johnny Morris]] and Tony Soper. [[Gerald Durrell]] allowed his animal-collecting expedition to Australia and [[New Zealand]] to be filmed by the BBC for the series ''Two in the Bush'' (1963).
===Colour television arrives===
In the early 1960s, natural history filmmaking was being held back by the limitations of the available technology, particularly the restrictions of shooting often fast-moving subjects in poor light and spectacularly colourful subjects in black and white. The second of these problems was about to be resolved.
Around the same time, the technology to broadcast and receive [[colour television]] was being developed, and the BBC made funds available to begin filming in colour to allow filmmakers to experiment with the latest equipment in preparation for the switchover. ''The Major'' (1963), produced by Parsons and filmed largely by [[New Forest]] [[cameraman]] Eric Ashby, told the story of an ancient [[English oak]] and was the Unit’s first colour production.
Colour transmission finally arrived in 1967 on [[BBC Two]] under the stewardship of David Attenborough, who had retired from programme-making to move into BBC administration. The first natural history film to be shown in colour was Ron Eastman’s ''Private Life of a Kingfisher'' (1967), produced by Jeffrey Boswall.
Attenborough wanted to make a strong statement on BBC Two of the boundless possibilities that colour television offered, and recognised that natural history was the obvious subject matter to choose. He commissioned a series called ''[[The World About Us]]'' (1969-1982) that would broadcast in a 50-minute Sunday evening slot. Because of the challenge of producing enough colour material, the commission was shared between the NHU and London’s Travel and Exploration Unit. The extended opportunities offered by the 50-minute format and improvements in film technology and expertise finally allowed the NHU to begin showcasing its talent.
===Birth of the blockbuster===
One of Attenborough’s main achievements as Controller of BBC Two was to commission ''[[Civilisation: A Personal View|Civilisation]]'' (1969), a major series on [[art history]] presented by the respected [[Kenneth Clark]]. It was a resounding success with critics and the public and spawned the birth of the ‘blockbuster’ [[Documentary film|documentary]] series. Parsons, by then an experienced producer with the NHU, recognised the potential for a similar treatment with natural history as the subject and approached Attenborough in 1970 with the idea. Attenborough was receptive, even to the idea that he should present the series, but both men realised at that time that it was beyond the scope of the Unit’s capabilities.
When Attenborough resigned from his administrative duties to return to programme making at the start of 1973, planning for the blockbuster series resumed. It was another three years before the resourcing and financing were agreed, the outline episode scripts written (by Attenborough) and a production team in place. Parsons would serve as series producer and share production duties for the individual episodes with [[Richard Brock]] and John Sparks. Filming took place in 39 countries, featured over 650 different [[species]] and involved over 1 million [[mile]]s of travel. Attenborough himself has said that if it hadn’t been for computerised airline schedules, the series would have probably been impossible to film. When it finally broadcast in 1979 on [[BBC One]], ''[[Life on Earth (TV series)|Life on Earth]]'' drew an audience of 15 million people in the [[UK]] and was seen by an estimated 500 million people worldwide.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.time.com/time/specials/2007/article/0,28804,1663317_1663319_1669883,00.html |title=David Attenborough biography |publisher=BBC website |accessdate=2008-03-11}}</ref>
===Building on success===
The Natural History Unit made its name with ''Life on Earth'', and was rewarded by being awarded departmental status by BBC management in December 1979. Christopher Parsons, by then its most experienced producer, became the first official Head of the Unit. It celebrated its [[silver jubilee]] in 1982 with the miniseries ''Flight of the Condor'', and went on to seal its reputation as one of the foremost production companies for popular natural history films in the following decades. A succession of 'blockbuster' series have followed the format established by ''Life on Earth'', often presented or narrated by Attenborough and transmitted on BBC One. ''[[The Blue Planet]]'' (2001) and ''[[Planet Earth (TV series)|Planet Earth]]'' (2006) typify these signature programmes, characterised by high production values, specially-commissioned [[musical score]]s and often ground-breaking footage of wildlife from around the globe.
The NHU has also diversified into other programme formats. Its ''Diary'' series have featured African [[big cat]]s, [[elephant]]s, [[orang-utan]]s and [[bear]]s in a nightly wildlife [[soap opera]]. One of the longest-running programmes was David Attenborough's ''[[Wildlife on One]]'' (1977-2005) which broadcast in a regular early evening slot.
The ''Continents'' strand on BBC Two has featured series on all the world’s major land areas over the past fifteen years, including ''[[Land of the Tiger]]'' (1997), ''[[Andes to Amazon]]'' (2000) and ''[[Wild Down Under]]'' (2003). Also on BBC Two, the annual ''[[Springwatch]]'' (since 2005) and ''[[Autumnwatch]]'' (since 2006) series have brought live pictures of British wildlife into millions of homes.
===50 years of wildlife filmmaking===
In 2007, the Unit celebrated its 50th anniversary and was rewarded with a special award at the [[International Broadcasting Convention]] in recognition of its unique contribution to wildlife film and documentary making.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.4rfv.co.uk/industrynews.asp?id=66138|title=IBC Honours BBC Natural History Unit For Contribution To Wildlife Film|date=2007-09-21|publisher=4rfv.co.uk}}</ref>
On television, the anniversary was marked with the broadcast of ''[[Saving Planet Earth]]'', a conservation-themed series which helped to raise over £1.5 million for the BBC Wildlife Fund.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/savingplanetearth/aboutus/index.shtml|title=Saving Planet Earth - The Fund|accessdate=2008-01-03}}</ref>
In October 2007, the BBC announced that the NHU would suffer cuts of a third in both staff numbers and its £37 million annual budget, as a result of the Government’s decision to impose a below-inflation increase in the television licence fee. The cutbacks were widely condemned by industry and media figures and by programme-makers including David Attenborough.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/bbc-flagship-natural-history-unit-budget-to-be-cut-by-a-third-395352.html |title=BBC flagship Natural History Unit to be cut by a third |date=2007-10-26 |publisher=[[The Independent]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://news.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,91248-1301626,00.html |title=Sir David Attenborough attacks BBC over wildlife budget cuts |date=2008-01-21 |publisher=[[Sky News]]}}</ref>
In response to the criticism, Keith Scholey, Factual Controller of BBC Vision, promised that the BBC would "continue to make and show the ambitious, large-scale, truly memorable series that audiences associate with BBC natural history output".<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/no-extinctions-at-the-bbc-when-it-comes-to-broadcasting-natural-history-790434.html |title=No extinctions at the BBC when it comes to broadcasting natural history |date=2008-03-03 |publisher=[[The Independent]]}}</ref> Titles affected by the cuts include the BBC Two ''Wild'' strand, adventure-style series such as ''Amazon Abyss'' (2005) and ''Incredible Animal Journeys'' (2006) and the long-running ''[[Big Cat Diary]]'' (1996-2008), which is only likely to return for one-off special editions.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://media.guardian.co.uk/broadcast/story/0,,2198273,00.html|title=Shock at BBC Natural History Unit cuts|date=2007-10-24|publisher=[[The Guardian]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/bbc-flagship-natural-history-unit-budget-to-be-cut-by-a-third-395352.html |title=BBC flagship Natural History Unit to be cut by a third |date=2007-10-26 |publisher=[[The Independent]]}}</ref>
== Filmography ==
{{main|NHU Filmography}}
== In production ==
As well as returning series such as ''[[Natural World]]'' and ''[[Springwatch]]'' and natural history content for BBC One's ''[[The One Show]]'', the Unit has a number of major commissions currently in production:
* '''''[[Pacific Abyss]]''''' is the third in the ''Abyss'' series of diving documentaries. It was originally due to be broadcast in 2007 but has now been put back to 2008.
* A brace of three-part, high-definition series in the ''Expedition'' strand have been commissioned for BBC One. '''''Expedition Guyana''''' follows a team of scientists and biologists deep into the South American rainforest on a month-long expedition filmed in September 2007 for broadcast in summer 2008. The challenges of '''''Expedition New Guinea''''' include filming [[birds of paradise]] displays, exploring new cave systems and encountering remote tribes. <ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2007/11_november/08/expedition.shtml |title=BBC charters new territories with two new Expedition series |date=2007-11-08|publisher=BBC Press Office}}</ref>
* '''''[[Life (UK TV series)|LIFE]]''''' is one of several high-profile commissions to mark the 150th anniversary of the publication of [[Charles Darwin]]'s ''[[The Origin of Species]]'' in 2009. The Natural History Unit will contribute a 10-part series for BBC One in which David Attenborough will tell the story of evolution, the first time he has tackled the subject since his seminal 1979 documentary ''[[Life on Earth]]''. The series will be filmed in high-definition. Oher series marking the occasion will include '''''The Human Race''''' and '''''The Human Planet''''', both airing on BBC Two and expected to feature content by the NHU. The former is a study of hisory of mankind and the latter a celebration of our anthropological diversity, spearheaded by [[Bob Geldof]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://media.guardian.co.uk/bbc/story/0,,2059233,00.html |title=Geldof helps map human A-Z |date=2007-04-17|publisher=[[The Guardian]]}}</ref>
* '''''[[The Frozen Planet]]''''' is a second new collaboration with David Attenborough. Six episodes filmed in high-definition will present the most comprehensive study of life in the [[polar region]]s ever filmed. Billed as the follow-up to ''[[Planet Earth (TV series)|Planet Earth]]'' <ref>{{cite news|url=http://media.guardian.co.uk/broadcast/story/0,,2174349,00.html?gusrc=rss&feed=4 |title=Attenborough is back - again |date=2007-09-21|publisher=[[The Guardian]]}}</ref>, filming began in late 2006 with a shoot on [[South Georgia]], enlisting the help of [[Royal Navy]] helicopters for aerial footage.
* '''''Nature's Great Events''''' will be an in-depth portrait of six natural phenomena from around the globe, including the Alaskan salmon run and the greening of the [[Okavango Delta]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/news/terrestrial/2008/01/bbc_to_explore_forces_of_nature_worldwide.html|title=BBC to explore forces of nature|work=Broadcast|accessdate=2008-01-28}}</ref> It is expected to air in 2009 and is the first BBC co-production with [[Spain]]'s Wanda Films.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.imca.fr/blog/archives/blogs/|title=Nota Buzz #82 - March 12th 2007|work=IMCA Blog Archive|accessdate=2007-07-06}}</ref>
* '''''Yellowstone''''', a profile of the [[USA]]'s famous [[National Park]] for BBC Two which will adopt the recent format of a three-part series on locations rich in wildlife (''[[Galápagos (TV series)|Galápagos]]'', ''Ganges'').<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/news/bbc_natural_history_heads_to_yellow_stone.html|title=BBC natural history heads to Yellowstone|work=Broadcast|accessdate=2008-01-28}}</ref>
* '''''South Pacific''''', a six-part series for BBC Two, for which filming began in April 2007 and is expected to continue until late 2009.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://media.guardian.co.uk/bbc/story/0,,2056954,00.html |title=BBC sets sail for South Pacific |date=2007-04-16|publisher=[[The Guardian]]}}</ref>
* '''''The Meerkats''''' is a feature film co-produced by [[BBC Films]] and [[The Weinstein Company]] and will aim to build on the popularity of ''[[Meerkat Manor]]''.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2006/11_november/01/meerkats.shtml |title=The Meerkats: BBC Films and the BBC Natural History Unit collaborate on ambitious first feature film |date=2006-11-01|publisher=BBC Press Office}}</ref>
* In an interview with ''[[The Daily Telegraph]]'' to promote ''[[Earth (2007 film)|Earth]]'', senior NHU producer [[Alastair Fothergill]] announced he was working on a feature-length documentary on chimpanzees. It will take five years to film.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/main.jhtml?xml=/earth/2007/11/17/eaearth117.xml|title=Revolutionary look at planet Earth|date=2007-11-17|publisher=[[The Daily Telegraph]]}}</ref>
== Awards and recognition ==
The Natural History Unit as a whole was awarded the Gold Medal at the 2001 [[Royal Television Society]] awards for its "outstanding contribution over the past 44 years to broadcasting about the natural world". It was praised for being a "a national resource for people's understanding and love of wildlife on our planet, and a symbol of both quality and talent in public service broadcasting"<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rts.org.uk/awards_det.asp?id=1366&sec_id=337|title=RTS Programme Awards - 2001|work=[[Royal Television Society]]|accessdate=2007-07-01}}</ref>.
NHU filmmakers are regularly nominated and rewarded at film festivals such as [[Wildscreen]], the [http://www.wildlifefilms.org/ Missoula International Wildlife Film Festival] and the [http://www.jhfestival.org/ Jackson Hole Wildlife Film Festival] and their output has been recognised by the wider broadcasting industry too, winning several [[Emmys]] and [[BAFTA]]s and the coveted [[Prix Italia]] on three occasions. Further details are provided in the relevant articles for specific series.
Recognition has also come in the form of high [[Audience measurement|audience viewing figures]] and audience approval ratings, particularly for 'blue-chip' series such as ''Planet Earth''. When first screened in the UK it was watched by more than 8 million people<ref>{{cite news|url=http://observer.guardian.co.uk/business/story/0,,1749763,00.html |title=BBC finds a treasure in Planet Earth |date=2006-04-09|publisher=[[The Observer]]}}</ref>. In 2008, episodes of ''[[Life in Cold Blood]]'' and the ''[[BBC Wildlife Specials|Wildlife Special]]'' miniseries ''Tiger: Spy in the Jungle'' both reportedly achieved the highest-ever [[audience appreciation index]] (AI) rating for a factual programme<ref>{{cite web|url=http://naturewatchuk.blogspot.com/2008/04/tiger-spy-in-jungle-sunday-8pm-bbc-one.html |title=Tiger: Spy in the Jungle - Sunday 8pm BBC One |publisher=NatureWatch blog |date=2008-04-01}}</ref>.
== Heads of the NHU ==
* Nicholas Crocker (1957 - 1959)
* Bruce Campbell (1959 - 1962)
* Nicholas Crocker (1962 - 1973)
* Mick Rhodes (1973 - 1979)
* Christopher Parsons (1979 - 1983)
* John Sparks (1983 - 1988)
* Andrew Neil (1988 - 1992)
* [[Alastair Fothergill]] (1992 - 1998)
* Keith Scholey (1998 - 2003)
* [[Neil Nightingale]] (2003 - present)
== References ==
{{reflist}}
;General references
Information in the [[#History|History]] section is largely drawn from the following sources:
* Parsons, C. (1982) ''True to Nature: Christopher Parsons looks back on 25 years of wildlife filming with the BBC Natural History Unit''. Patrick Stephens Limited. ISBN 0-85059-530-4
* Attenborough, D. (2002) ''Life on Air: Memoirs of a Broadcaster''. BBC Books. ISBN 0-56348-780-1
The list of Heads of the Natural History Unit is taken from the following source:
* BBC/[[2entertain]] ''Great Wildlife Moments'' DVD (2003). Bonus feature: Heads of the BBC Natural History Unit
== External links ==
{{Portal|BBC}}
*{{bbc.co.uk|id=sn|title=BBC Science and Nature}}
*[http://www.tvfactual.co.uk BBC Factual Programmes unoffical site]
*[http://www.wildfilmhistory.org Wild Film History]
{{BBC}}
[[Category:BBC television|Natural History Unit, BBC]]