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Sir David Attenborough knew that Life on Earth was an important project when he began planning it out in 1975. Along with a team of producers and assistants, he spent three pivotal years filming the 13-part series across the world to tell the remarkable story of the development of life on Earth. Attenborough, a writer, broadcaster and naturalist, didn’t know just how much the nature documentary would resonate with audiences upon its 1979 premiere on BBC Two.
When filming concluded, his team had visited 40 countries and documented 600 species in full color. You can watch the extraordinary behind-the-scenes journey in a new documentary called Life on Earth: Attenborough’s Greatest Adventure. It alternates between the BBC’s archival materials and 2024 interviews with Attenborough, his producers, camera operators, and producer assistants. The program comes to PBS Passport and stations at the right moment: on Life on Earth‘s 50th anniversary, and perhaps even more exciting, Attenborough’s 100th birthday!
From BBC Trainee to Leadership
As a BBC trainee and later producer in the early 1950s, Attenborough didn’t expect to be on camera in documentaries. But when Zoo Quest presenter Jack Lester became ill, the BBC tapped him to take over. Attenborough loved the new presenting duties immensely, but career promotions brought him to managerial roles at the BBC offices.
By the 1960s, he was serving as an accomplished Controller of BBC Two and Director of Television Programming. However, he didn’t want a promotion to Director-General of the BBC, another executive desk job. By 1972, Attenborough resigned and pursued his dream of making what became Life on Earth.
On Planning
The Life on Earth adventure began with lots of research and script writing. As the late producer Richard Brock recalled, everyone was aware that Attenborough had been “numero uno in the BBC.” Brock and other BBC Bristol producers reviewed the finished scripts and debated logistics and filming locations. He said that Attenborough “could be very charming, but he could be tough.”
Producer assistants Jane Wales and Pamela Jackson also worked on the project, handling the travel arrangements and scheduling with overseas contacts. Those contacts provided great insights in interviews recounting the challenges of organizing things before today’s technology was available. Wales said, “It took weeks for responses to come back.”
Filming Time
As filming commenced in 1976, the team contended with a range of problems, including elusive animals, bad weather, and many surprises. One distressing surprise emerged during their donkey rides down into the Grand Canyon. Attenborough realized that he was allergic to the dust coming off the donkey’s back. “By the time we got to the bottom, my eyes were almost closed.”
The most harrowing circumstances occurred in war-torn Iraq, the Comoros, and Rwanda. The team encountered tanks, guns, and instability. They met difficult officials who claimed the proper permits weren’t in place and they faced long waits before they could leave. The team captured footage as quickly as they could and then breathed a collective sigh of relief on their plane out.
On Being First
Life on Earth was filmed in vibrant color and assembled into a 13-part series. One of the goals was to do things that had never been done before in a nature program. It was one of the most expensive programs to make back then, and everyone felt pressure to get it right.
It’s incredible to hear in the recent interviews about their accomplishments and see how the team overcame obstacles to get the shots they needed. Rodger Jackman waited for days at a temporary studio in his grandmother’s house to film a baby Darwin’s frog hopping out of its father’s mouth. In Africa, Mike Salisbury, an assistant producer, managed the filming of an entire lion hunt. It was a remarkable achievement; the team had “tried twice to film lion kills before and failed.”
Adventures Beyond ‘Life on Earth’
Life on Earth: Attenborough’s Greatest Adventure is an enjoyable watch, serving as a wonderful celebration of the hard work Attenborough and his team put in 50 years ago. The wildlife blockbuster brought nature scenes to televisions worldwide and inspired greater interest in conservation. The archival footage of birds, coelacanths (a fish), and gorillas holds up extremely well today.
In his interview, Attenborough reflected with amusement about the old footage in a screening room. To paint a complete picture, he also shared excerpts out loud from diary entries he’d written on the trips. The triumphs and disappointments recounted in the reminiscences are full of humor, fun, and suspense. It’s valuable to hear about these ups and downs, and it’s easy to see why Attenborough is still one of the best naturalists on TV today.
In the decades since Life on Earth, Attenborough has kept busy with astonishing documentaries. Indeed, he shows little sign of slowing down at 100 years old. He already recorded some narration for a new series of The Blue Planet, so keep an eye out for the ocean-focused documentary later in 2026.
If you haven’t yet, take some time to celebrate Sir David’s birthday with your family and friends. You can watch Life on Earth: Attenborough’s Greatest Adventure on PBS Passport and your local PBS station.
