BBC announces new Natural History commissions

• Liz Bonnin reveals the full scale of the world’s plastic problem in new film Drowning In Plastic and discovers what can be done about it
• Stacey Dooley investigates the true cost of our clothes in The Truth About What You Wear
• The next generation of state-of-the-art spy creatures go undercover to infiltrate nature’s greatest gatherings in new four part ‘Spy’ series
• Gordon Buchanan makes an epic 25,000-mile journey around the centre of the world to reveal the Equator From The Air

Tom McDonald says: “2017 was an extraordinary year for Natural History at the BBC with awards across BAFTA, Grierson and the Emmys; as well as stand out performances for Spy In The Wild, Wild Alaska Live, and Blue Planet II and we have a fantastic range of titles commissioned for 2018 and beyond.

"These new commissions signal not only our continued commitment to capturing extraordinary new animal behaviour but also our responsibility to capture the unprecedented speed at which the natural world is changing.

"Habitats and species all over the world are under threat and many of our new commissions will tackle the big issues head on, with some of our most recognised talent exploring the global challenges our planet faces.”

EDA

BBC One

BBC One’s hit series Blue Planet II has had a huge impact in drawing attention to the problem of marine plastic pollution. But do we really understand the impact of this new environmental crisis? How exactly does the plastic we use get into the ocean and what happens to it when it gets there? And can anything be done to save our seas?

In a timely special for BBC One, science and wildlife presenter Liz Bonnin sets out to reveal the full scale of the world’s plastic problem - and explore ways in which the biggest environmental disaster of our time might be averted and whether science can offer a solution.

Over 8 million tonnes of plastic enter the sea every year and, by 2050, some experts predict that there will be more plastic in our oceans than fish. Liz will track and follow plastic waste to discover where it travels once it gets into the sea, creating a detailed picture of how plastic is carried around the world on ocean currents - and revealing that British plastic is reaching and polluting the Arctic.

She’ll travel to some of our planet’s 'plastic hot spots' to investigate the problem at its worst, and find out why these regions dump so much plastic in the sea. She’ll meet animals struggling to cope with a daily deluge of plastic waste - such as seabirds who’ve eaten so much plastic they feel perpetually full and starve to death, and seals deformed by entanglement in plastic nets - and see if she can do anything to help them.

Crucially, Liz is also going to investigate the amazing ways that scientists around the world are trying to rectify this seemingly unsolvable problem – from engineers developing alternatives to plastic to teams of experts who are developing innovative ways of cleaning our seas. Is it too late to stop our planet drowning in plastic? Liz Bonnin is determined to find out…

Lin Bonnin says: “I've been studying wildlife in some of the most remote and spectacular parts of the planet for over a decade now and I've had the great privilege of exploring many of our magnificent oceans and even their depths. All of it has instilled in me an enormous admiration and respect for our marine environments. But I've also been horrified at the scale of the plastic pollution I've found along countless shorelines and out in the open sea.

"As an island nation and as a global species we have a responsibility to address the way we view, use and dispose of plastics to prevent this problem from becoming a catastrophe. Hope lies in scientific research, but each and every one of us can become a part of the solution as responsible custodians of our blue planet. I hope that our film will serve to inform and inspire to this end.”

Drowning In Plastic (1x90) was commissioned by Tom McDonald, Head of Commissioning Natural History and Specialist Factual and Charlotte Moore, Director of Content. The Commissioning Editor is Craig Hunter. It is being made by Raw TV where the Exec Producer is Exec is Dominique Walker and the Director is Tom Watt-Smith.

The Truth About What You Wear

BBC One

It’s known as the second most environmentally damaging thing in the world - and you’re wearing it.

Few people are aware that alongside the oil, coal and palm oil industries, the clothing industry is one of the most damaging to the environment and our wildlife. With the recent rise in 'fast fashion', British consumers are buying clothes at rate faster than ever before and it is estimated that we have around £30 billion worth of unwanted clothes in our wardrobes, meaning British consumers are some of the biggest contributors to catastrophic rainforest deforestation, water contamination and pollution - and many are not even aware of it. Now, in a new documentary special, Stacey Dooley will investigate the true cost of the clothes we wear.

Revealing how our passion for fast fashion is also threatening endangered species such as orangutans and jaguars, Stacey will hold some of the big clothing brands to account and challenge them to change their practices and help save the planet’s wildlife.

Stacey Dooley says: “Ten years ago I was involved in Blood, Sweat and T-shirts which brought to the attention of young consumers like myself, the human rights abuses in the clothing industry. Although there’s still a long way to go, some real improvements have been made here. However many consumers, myself included, are unaware of the devastating environmental impact that the clothing industry is having on our natural world. It’s hugely important that we all become aware of the damage being caused and to show consumers that we have the power to make positive change.”

The programme will be accompanied by specially commissioned new short form content on BBC Three.

The Truth About What You Wear (1x60) was commissioned by Tom McDonald, Head of Commissioning Natural History and Specialist Factual and Charlotte Moore, Director of Content. The Commissioning Editor is Craig Hunter. It is being made by Hello Halo Productions and Oak island Films and exec produced by Wendy Rattray and ted Oakes.

Spy In The Wild II (w/t)

BBC One

Following the success of this year’s Spy in the Wild, which was watched by audiences of over 5 million, the programme returns for a thrilling new four part spy series. This time, the next generation of state-of-the-art spy creatures go undercover to infiltrate nature’s greatest gatherings. Featuring a whole new team of spy creatures who look and behave even more like the real thing, viewers will be taken right into the heart of the action to witness amazing natural events from a completely new perspective.

Across the world, the planet’s seasonal clock provides the trigger for many animals to assemble and create awe-inspiring natural spectacles. Now, for the first time, the spy creatures will be travelling alongside the animals, sharing the challenges involved, to discover first-hand how and why they travel so far to be together. Their all-seeing camera-eyes will capture a uniquely immersive viewpoint allowing us to experience what it feels like to be part of these exciting natural phenomena.

This innovative series delivers an epic global story, spanning continents to take us to exactly the right place at the right time. The new generation of spy creatures will reveal first-hand what triggers these astonishing natural gatherings, and why timing is so crucial for their success, taking us into the heart of what are truly the greatest shows on earth.

Spy In The Wild II (4x60) was commissioned by Tom McDonald and Charlotte Moore. The Executive Producer is John Downer for John Downer Productions.

Equator From The Air

BBC Two

Between the tropics lies an incredible range of ecosystems, and a remarkable diversity of species. As a wildlife cameraman, Gordon Buchanan has filmed some of its most iconic sights - but from his travels along the equator, he knows there's another story to tell.

The region is also home to some 40% of the world's population, the site of huge supplies of valuable resources, and the perfect place to grow cash crops on a grand scale. The equator is where modern dilemmas come into sharp focus.

To keep up with these changes, scientists and conservationists look increasingly to the air. Helicopters and light aircraft are used to apprehend poachers, and round up invasive species. Satellite sensing can now be used to spot wildfires, monitor pollution and even track wildlife. Closer to the ground, drones are an incredible tool, allowing researchers to count otherwise-inaccessible populations of everything from dolphins to apes - and even at night.

Across four episodes, Gordon will make an epic 25,000-mile journey around the centre of the world - over tropical islands, snow-capped volcanoes and sweeping savannah - to conduct a planetary health-check from the air, at a defining moment for the natural world.

Equator From The Air was commissioned by Tom McDonald and Patrick Holland, Controller BBC Two and the commissioning editor is Craig Hunter. The Executive Producer is Richard Bond for Dragonfly.