Zoo Quest In Colour

Thanks to a recent discovery in the BBC’s Natural History Unit’s vaults, BBC Four showcases Zoo Quest In Colour, uncovering extraordinary new-found colour film of the best of David Attenborough’s early Zoo Quest adventures - and with it the remarkable story of how this pioneering television series was made.

First broadcast in December 1954, Zoo Quest was one of the most popular television series of its time and launched the career of the young David Attenborough as a wildlife presenter. Zoo Quest completely changed how viewers saw the world, revealing wildlife and tribal communities that had never been seen or filmed before.

Broadcast 10 years before colour television was seen in the UK, Zoo Quest was thought to have been filmed in black and white - until now. Using this extraordinary new-found colour 16mm film, together with new behind-the-scenes stories from David Attenborough and cameraman Charles Lagus, this 90-minute special showcases the very best of Zoo Quest To West Africa, Zoo Quest To Guiana and Zoo Quest For A Dragon in stunning HD colour for the very first time!

David Attenborough says in the programme: “I was astonished when someone said we’ve got nearly all the film of the first three expeditions you did in colour. I said it’s impossible - we shot in black and white.”

Charles Lagus says in the programme: "I was absolutely staggered at the quality. At its best it's as good as any colour you see now… quite staggering for the period that it was filmed in."

Publicity contact: EK