BBC expands natural history slate with insect & killer whale docs

Hamza Yassin (Source: Ellie Hilton/Silverback Films/BBC)

UK public broadcaster the BBC has commissioned three new natural history shows and a chess themed competition format.

The natural history titles include Hidden Planet, a 5 x 60-minute series for BBC One and VOD service iPlayer from the BBC Studios Natural History Unit and The Open University.

The show will explore the lives of insects in “unprecedented” detail, including how some are doting parents that care for their offspring and defend their families, while others are accomplished architects that build incredible structures and some are sophisticated communicators, enticing and manipulating large animals, including us. The executive producer is Mike Gunton, while the series producer is Paul Williams and series editor is Scott Alexander. Line producer is Natalie Cross.

Hamza’s Hidden Wild Isles, also for BBC One and iPlayer, hails from Silverback Films, alongside the National Trust and The Open University. The 4 x 60-minute series follows wildlife cameraman Hamza Yassin as he finds and films incredible species and spectacles hidden amongst both the urban and wilder landscapes of the UK.

The series producer and director is Laura Howard, while the executive producer is Alastair Fothergill and the line producer is Siobhan Brook.

Expedition Killer Whale is a 1 x 60-minute documentary for BBC Two and iPlayer that follows a group of killer whales under threat in a remote corner of Antarctica.

Using the latest technology, scientists and camera teams record everything they can about the killer whales, decoding the language they use to co-ordinate their hunting rituals and assessing their chances for survival in the modern world.

The film is produced by the BBC Studios Natural History Unit for the BBC and PBS in the US, with The WNET Group. The director and producer is Vanessa Coates and the executive producer is Orla Doherty.

Meanwhile, the BBC has also commissioned factual entertainment competition format Chess Master for BBC Two and iPlayer. Across eight episodes, passionate and highly skilled players from all backgrounds will battle it out across a series of rapid chess games before one will be crowned the title of Chess Master.

The 8 x 30-minute series is produced by Curve Media, with Camilla Lewis and Charlie Bunce attached as executive producers.